The Gaunt family line can be traced back to Salazar Slytherin, one of Hogwarts' four founders.
They barely qualify as descendants of Slytherin, and according to the books the line died out decades ago.
Marvolo Gaunt, Morfin Gaunt and Merope Gaunt were the last three members of the Gaunt family.
Lynn instinctively filed away those three names and the origin of the Gaunt family, merging the information with the vast amount she had already read.
She could retrieve it whenever she needed, allowing the facts to interlock like a huge net.
'Good evening, Lynn,' said Maranhao as she and Marietta walked into the Dormitory. They had stayed in the Library to finish homework after dinner, so they were only getting back now.
When they entered they saw Lynn reading at her desk. Marietta shot Maranhao a meaningful look.
Why is Lynn back? Didn't she go to comfort Hermione?
Maranhao blinked, signalling back with her eyes.
She only went to comfort Hermione; of course she'd come back once she was done.
Maranhao looked perfectly matter-of-fact, while Marietta seemed disappointed.
Knowing her best friend well, Maranhao could tell exactly what Marietta was thinking from her expression.
Rolling her eyes helplessly, Maranhao leaned in and whispered fiercely, 'They're both still young!'
Marietta guiltily touched her nose and whispered back, 'I know, but… Hermione's being so obvious.'
'Still no,' Maranhao murmured, watching Lynn turn toward them. 'At least wait until they're third-years, and even then Lynn would have to return Hermione's feelings.'
'True.' Marietta nodded, accepting her friend's point.
'Good evening, Senior Maranhao, Senior Marietta,' Lynn greeted politely once their whispering stopped.
She had already broken out of her study mode when they'd called her full name earlier, but had stayed quiet so as not to interrupt their silent conversation.
Silent communication counts as conversation, and interrupting would have been impolite; she wouldn't do that.
Maranhao and Marietta smiled at the greeting; their junior was clever and well-behaved—impossible not to like.
Maranhao stepped forward and 'lovingly' patted Lynn's head, then noticed the book on the desk and blinked.
'A book introducing Pure-blood families in the Wizarding World? You're interested in this?'
At Maranhao's surprise Lynn answered evenly, 'I'm reading through the Library in order; I reached this one. No book is meaningless—each deserves to be read.'
Maranhao felt herself choke on the reply. Why had she even asked? She knew Lynn's reading 'rules'; her brain must have short-circuited.
'All right, carry on.' Maranhao smiled and left her in peace, turning to gather her things for a shower with Marietta.
Lynn turned back to her book and instantly re-entered study mode.
Next morning's class was again Defense Against the Dark Arts, currently voted second-most unpleasant by the student body.
First place, of course, went to Professor Snape's Potions class—his tongue was too sharp, and he never awarded full marks or points to non-Slytherins.
Many Young Wizards were convinced nothing during the rest of their school lives could surpass Potions for misery.
Hermione, however, considered Snape's Potions far superior to Lockhart's Defense Against the Dark Arts.
'At least in Professor Snape's class I learn something. What can I learn from Lockhart—stage acting?'
Hermione delivered her scathing verdict on Lockhart's unique teaching style.
After the fiasco of his first lesson, Lockhart had apparently realised that becoming a Hogwarts Professor did not turn ineptitude into expertise.
So he changed his approach, managing to make his lessons completely useless instead of merely farcical.
He had the students act out scenes from his books in turn, to the annoyance of all four Houses.
'Harry, Harry, I think you should play me. And Neville—you too. Come on, shy boy, no need to be bashful in my class.'
Lockhart beamed and pointed to Harry and Neville.
His favourite 'actor' was Harry, whom he especially loved to cast as himself.
Privately Harry suspected Lockhart simply enjoyed watching him make a fool of himself; otherwise why keep asking him when he always performed so badly?
Lynn sat watching Harry and Neville trudge to the front and begin their lifeless performance.
At first Lockhart had often called on Lynn, but after two turns in which she delivered every line deadpan and expressionless he stopped asking.
She couldn't be accused of refusing—she came up whenever called and showed no resentment, giving him no excuse to deduct points.
Yet she put no emotion or expression into the acting; even Neville performed better.
Consequently Lynn was now the safest student in Lockhart's class.
Watching Harry and Neville's 'passionate' performance, Hermione propped her chin in her hand.
'Lynn, by comparison you're an absolutely brilliant teacher. Do you ever plan to stay on and teach here?'
She turned to Lynn as she spoke. Planning a career at their age seemed premature, but the topic had come up.
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