The first lesson of the sixth year was Defence Against the Dark Arts. Cassius, Percy and the other Gryffindor students entered the classroom. Black wasn't even surprised to see the walls completely covered with portraits of the teacher. The Slytherins were already sitting at their desks, looking around with disgust.
"Quirrell's was nicer," muttered a burly Slytherin, whom Cassius recognised with some surprise as Marcus Flint.
"He's an excellent wizard and a good writer," replied Oliver Wood, Slytherin's eternal opponent.
The girls from both houses rolled their eyes. The two could argue about anything, but they respected each other. As captains of the rival Quidditch teams, they preferred to settle their differences on the field. In class, they liked to just tease each other.
The new teacher burst into the classroom in all his glory. It felt like he had come not for a lesson, but for a photo shoot at Witch's Gazette. The portraits hanging on every wall repeated the writer's smile.
"Hello, young people! I am pleased to welcome you to the Defence Against the Dark Arts course. My name is Gilderoy Lockhart. I am a third-class knight of the Order of Merlin, an honorary member of the League Against the Dark Arts, and a five-time winner of the Magic Weekly's "Most Charming Smile" award.
Lockhart continued to praise himself, but Cassius was no longer listening. He immediately became bored and wanted to take a walk in the forbidden forest. The last time he had been there, he had gathered enough useful herbs for potions to last him several weeks of experimentation. Black always enjoyed standing at the cauldron and creating something new. He enjoyed tracking the slightest changes in colour, smell and density. He loved watching the unappetising concoction transform into something magical under the influence of magic and heat. Cassius snapped out of his reverie just as Lockhart was handing out assignments. They had to answer a series of questions about Lockhart's books, which Cassius had enjoyed reading over the summer. Narcissa was a big fan of the famous writer, and Cassius also enjoyed following the hero's adventures. However, it would never have occurred to him that DADA would be taught at Hogwarts. But knowing this discipline more from the arts, he found even this lesson interesting. A person who knows about Occlumency never complains. Cassius quickly fished the correct answers to all the teacher's questions out of his memory and handed in his parchment for checking, causing puzzled looks from his classmates and delight from Lockhart.
When all the other students had also handed in their work, Lockhart noted with some disappointment:
"Yes, unfortunately, your class has not demonstrated excellent mastery of the subject either. But never mind, we will go through my books in class so that you can understand how to act in a given critical situation," continued the new teacher with his usual radiant smile. "You won't have Frog in class until next year, so you still have time.
"Sir," Cassius smiled crookedly, "do you know that according to the programme approved by the Ministry for the sixth year at Hogwarts, we have to deal with three 'unforgivable' curses this year? And not from your wonderful books, but from DADA's textbook, 'Confronting the Faceless'? And as additional material, we have to master the Patronus charm this year, not read your 'Holidays with Witches'. Although I won't hide it," Black added to the audience's laughter, "the book is very interesting.
Lockhart uttered with horror:
"Unforgivable?!
"Yes, sir," Percy Weasley replied immediately. "Mr. Black is absolutely right.
Gilderoy first blushed, then turned pale, his smile disappeared, and he announced in a crumpled voice that the lesson was over and they would talk about the programme next time.
As he walked out into the corridor with everyone else, Cassius grimaced inwardly: "How are the students going to pass their Ministry exams with a professor like that?"
The next lesson was potions, a lesson Cassius had been eagerly awaiting. It was wonderful to learn from a true master, and Black remembered the level of knowledge Snape had demonstrated at the tournament at Durmstrang, easily determining the stage of readiness of a particular potion. The grumpy professor was even able to determine the quality and composition of any potion at a glance. So, in Cassius's opinion, Severus Snape was an outstanding potions master.
Entering the potions classroom, the students took their usual places at the cauldrons. Snape was already sitting at his desk, checking the students' essays. When everyone was seated, he put down his quill and looked around the classroom attentively. Noticing an unfamiliar face in Gryffindor colours, he said with obvious displeasure:
"We have a new student, Mr Black. And another Gryffindor... The last Black studied in this faculty," the teacher continued with a sarcastic smile, "and his passion and stupidity led him to Azkaban!"
Cassius waited calmly for the teacher to continue, his expression unchanged. His potions master at Uagadug was also extremely sarcastic, instilling a truly stone-cold composure in his students. In five years at school, Cassius had mastered this skill to perfection. Therefore, harsh words never affected the young wizard; he judged people by their actions. And Severus hadn't done anything bad to him yet, so was it worth taking offence at his words?
"Since you passed the Ministry exam with flying colours, Mr Black, there must be something in your head besides Quidditch," the teacher glanced at the Quidditch team captains. "Today, gentlemen, we will be working on an interesting potion called 'A Sip of Living Death'. Snape threw his cloak off the board, revealing the recipe. "If your friend is cursed and you can't get him to the Mungo infirmary in time," he continued insinuatingly, "you can pour a few drops of the potion into your friend and he will fall into a state very close to death. All his bodily functions will slow down so much that you will definitely have time to save the person you care about. Gather the ingredients," Snape nodded towards the table by the wall. "Take valerian root, sleepy beans, goldenseal and wormwood infusion.
Cassius, among others, immediately moved to the indicated table. It was necessary to choose the most suitable ingredients, as it would be much more difficult to brew a really good potion from poor ingredients. Having gathered the necessary ingredients, he habitually set to work. The recipe on the board was slightly different, and Cassius paused for a moment, analysing the differences between the textbooks. The potion according to the recipe written on the board was no better, but it was somewhat easier to prepare than the one in the textbook. Deciding to follow the professor's instructions, Cassius put the scroll aside and began preparing the ingredients for cooking.
Quickly crushing the sleep-inducing beans, he earned an attentive glance from his teacher. The recipe said "cut," but Cassius knew from experience how capricious these beans were and how difficult they were to cut. Even now, the beans were jumping out from under the students' knives and flying around the room with a cheerful whistle. Snape continued to glance sideways at Black's cauldron, but said nothing about how the ingredients were being cut. After stirring in the right order and at the right speed, Cassius removed the pot from the heat. The potion, which had been cloudy until then, became as clear as water.
Snape looked into the cauldron in surprise and clicked his tongue.
"Excellent, Mr Black, I did not expect such skill from a Gryffindor, especially from a member of your family. Where did you learn this?" The teacher's black eyes fixed on Cassius demandingly.
Cassius shrugged indifferently:
"Home schooling, sir. I've had various teachers."
Snape snorted but did not continue the conversation. He strode quickly across the classroom, announcing the grades and often adding sarcastic comments.
"You are all dismissed," he announced. "Mr. Burke, Miss Guskell, Mr. Black, you may collect your work. The rest of you, just clean out your cauldrons.
After filling a few bubbles with the well-brewed potion, Cassius gave the rest to the teacher. The potion had turned out well, and the professor would surely find a use for it. Snape just grunted as he took the cauldron.
***
On the way to the Great Hall, Oliver Wood started asking him about Quidditch, but Cassius said he didn't know how to play and preferred to "cheer." Entering the Great Hall with his classmates, Cassius took his place at the table and caught Draco's smug glance. Knocking on his brother's protective barrier, he received permission and found himself in the Slytherin common room, which Draco had mentally conjured up.
"Hello," his brother muttered into Cassius' chest, hugging him cheerfully.
"Hello, Draco, why are you so happy?" Cassius replied with a smile.
Draco happily told him that, first of all, he had been selected for the faculty Quidditch team, and secondly, his father had bought new Nimbus 2001 broomsticks for the entire Slytherin team.
"Did Devlin Whitehorn take your father as a partner?" Cassius laughed. "Is he trying to advertise his new company in such a simple way?"
The brothers laughed merrily.
"Now I'll show Potter who's the best Seeker! He used to fly around our faculty with his Nimbus 2000, but now that's over," the little one said proudly.
"Oh, brother," Cassius facepalmed, "you read the book from our library about hereditary gifts, didn't you? Being good at Quidditch is a Potter gift. You can't beat him at it. Just like he can never become a healer like you, because you have a hereditary predisposition for it. It's not for nothing that your wand contains a unicorn hair, is it?
Draco stubbornly frowned and said, puffing himself up:
"I'll try to beat him anyway, Potter annoys me. He's got his fingers in every pie!"
"Your Potter really does get himself into trouble all the time," Cassius laughed. "You try not to get yourself into trouble like you did in your first year.
Draco grinned:
"You won't believe it, brother, today in DADA class, the new teacher let the pixies out of their cage, and then he couldn't get them back in and ran away! We immediately ran out of the classroom after the professor, while the heroic Gryffindors stayed behind to catch the pixies. One of the slowpokes even got pulled up into the chandelier, can you imagine?
Cassius even snorted with laughter when he saw the picture in his brother's head.
After chatting a little more and showing Draco what the Gryffindor common room and his bedroom looked like, Cassius said goodbye and looked away. In the real world, seconds flew by, although in their minds they chatted for almost an hour. At that moment, refreshments appeared on the table, and Cassius immediately began to eat.
The senior students ate quite neatly, occasionally exchanging a few words. The second-year students, sitting closer to the teachers' table, were quite the opposite. Postal owls began to fly into the Great Hall, diving over the tables and dropping messages from relatives to the students. Near the second-year seats, a small, dishevelled owl dropped a letter, which landed opposite Ronald Weasley and unfolded into a "thunderer".
His mother's piercing scream, scolding him from the bottom of her heart for taking his father's Ford without permission and crashing it, echoed throughout the hall. Many snickered at the hapless redhead, who only blushed harder and hunched his shoulders. His bespectacled friend, supporting the unfortunate Weasley, put his hand on his shoulder and began whispering something fervently. After lunch, everyone went on to their classes.
***All the school days passed in the usual way, until the day before Halloween, when Cassius, walking down the corridor, heard the shrill cries of the unpleasant old man Filch. The nasty squib annoyed him with his unkempt appearance and the old mangy cat that followed him around, constantly covered in some kind of lichen and boils. The whole of Hogwarts couldn't stand this cat because it helped Filch catch intruders at night. How many couples in love had been caught at the most crucial moment by the cat's piercing meows, accompanied by the sound of the caretaker's shuffling footsteps, how many bottles of firewhisky had been confiscated from students who had lingered too long. Nevertheless, no one even tried to curse this vile creature, as all the students knew that the headmaster would immediately catch the offender and the punishment would be severe.
Climbing the stairs, Cassius saw a crowd standing near the wall, on which someone had written in red paint: "The Chamber of Secrets is open again, tremble, enemies of the heir!"
In the front row stood Granger, Weasley and Potter, who was being jumped on by Filch. Draco, who was also there, added something sarcastic, causing the crowd to roar even louder. Suddenly, Dumbledore appeared from another corridor, accompanied by several professors. They approached the inscription, removed the cat, and after a while, taking the inseparable trio with them, went to Lockhart's office. Pondering what it all meant, Cassius headed for the library. After ordering materials on the secret room, Black carefully read the legend and went to his room, lost in thought.
The students discussed what had happened in the common rooms. No one felt sorry for the cat, so they took the situation as an amusing curiosity. Only the trio of Gryffindors looked gloomy. It had been raining since morning, and wet players were running around the field, trying to throw as many balls as possible into their opponents' rings. Cassius even saw the Snitch several times, the last time when the small winged ball hovered right above Draco Malfoy's ear, but his brother didn't even notice. Someone had enchanted a bludger, and it began chasing Potter, much to Draco's amusement as he commented on Potter's ridiculous attempts to dodge the ball.
Taking advantage of the moment, the enchanted ball hit the boy with all its might, nearly knocking him off his broom. This seemed to give Potter strength, and when he noticed the Snitch fluttering above Draco, he rushed towards it. Draco, deciding that Potter was about to get hit on the head, jumped aside. Harry heroically grabbed the golden ball and began to descend onto the field, clinging desperately to his broomstick. While the stunned Malfoy stared at his opponent, the ever-present Quidditch commentator, Lee Jordan, was already shouting something joyful, celebrating his house's victory.
Cassius had previously cast Imperius on himself and sat calmly in the rain, completely dry, like some other students, while the rest were completely soaked, but it didn't seem to bother them in the least. Black was more interested in watching the spectators than following the match, and despite the general excitement, Cassius was bored. His school friend Hassan was the captain of the Quidditch team, but Cassius himself had always considered the game more of a diversion than a sport...
Potter was lying wet on the field, his friends and Professor Lockhart rushing to his aid, while Cassius decided to take a walk. His classmates were still just sizing up the new student, and he hadn't even tried to make friends in the faculty, so no one would ask where he had been.
Cassius carefully left the school grounds and ventured deeper into the Forbidden Forest. His natural Malfoy greed would not let him rest: there were so many interesting ingredients nearby, and he was bored in useless lessons. Therefore, whenever he had the opportunity, Black spent his time in the forbidden forest or in the library. The animals that sometimes wandered into the forest were also often suitable for the cauldron, and Cassius would rub his hands together with glee when he encountered another creature from the magical world.
Sometimes they crossed paths with a huge snake that preferred to hunt in the depths of the forest. The basilisk loved giant spiders, which crunched so nicely on his fangs, but he treated them more like a dessert.
"Hello, talking one.
Cassius jumped out into the clearing and saw a huge snake lying in the sun, its emerald scales glistening on its skin. Judging by the thickening in several places on its enormous body, the snake had recently hunted and was now simply basking in the sun. The boy greeted the well-fed monster respectfully.
"Hello, Nyoka Vakubwa!" Cassius smiled.
He sometimes called the ancient basilisk in Swahili, but the creature was indifferent to human language, as Parseltongue was more of a mental communication, with hissing being a side effect. After chatting with the contented reptile, Cassius learned that there was a passageway in the women's restroom on the second floor that led to a secret room where the snake lived.
It turned out that not long ago, a first-year student had come down this way, holding a diary in her hands. The girl was captivated by the spirit of his former acquaintance, who had studied here before and sometimes treated the old snake to delicious cows. The spirit wanted the basilisk to start killing half-blood students, but he refused.
Salazar Slytherin had made him the protector of Hogwarts when he created the imperatives, his last line of defence, and the snake simply could not kill students. He could, of course, immobilise them and then break the spell, but why? Another talking snake supplied him with tasty cows and sheep in exchange for poison and skins, and the spirit couldn't even do that in the body of a little girl.
Therefore, the most the spirit could negotiate with the basilisk in exchange for future deliveries of delicacies was that the mercenary snake would crawl in the passages between the walls and hiss maliciously about mudbloods and the possibility of occasionally appearing in the secret room. While still a student, the spirit found Slytherin's quarters in one of the attics. There he hid books from the restricted section and valuables stolen from other students.
Cassius promised the snake that he would visit soon and see the secret room, but naturally, he preferred not to go to the lair of the ever-hungry basilisk empty-handed.
***
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