"Why are you researching the mind-repair arts anyway?" Aaric asked Daphne as they exited the Room of Requirement.
Daphne shrugged. "I'm researching much more than that. I just want to improve upon the mind arts."
Aaric nodded at her response as they went to their respective dorms.
The next day the Ravenclaws had Potions with the Gryffindors. Aaric was paired with Neville Longbottom, and they were making the Fire Protection Potion.
"Now add a pinch of this and reduce the heat," Aaric said, and Neville did as instructed.
The potion was coming along nicely—amber with faint gold sparks. Aaric smiled and fist-bumped Neville. Neville didn't know what it was, so Aaric just ended up tapping his shoulder lightly.
Neville looked at him and then back at the cauldron. "You shouldn't have done that… I'll ruin the potion," he said in dejection, staring down.
Aaric shook his head. "Nah, it's good. You did everything exactly as I told you." Neville gave a small smile as Aaric poured the potion into a vial.
Snape went around inspecting the potions the students had made, insulting every single one of them.
He sighed as he reached Aaric's table. "With you both together, I wonder what potion you have brewed. One is an idiot and the other arrogant." He started inspecting the vial.
"I assume the arrogant one did all the work here, as the potion is not a poison at least…" Snape said, setting it down.
"Actually, sir, Neville did all the work. Surprising how instructions are better than insults for learning, huh?" Aaric said, resting his hand on his chin as if he'd made a great discovery.
Snape looked at Aaric silently and, after a moment, scoffed. "Ten points from Ravenclaw for your insufferable cheek, Hawthorne."
Aaric gasped dramatically. "Oh no… what a tragedy," he said, as if he were truly heartbroken.
Neville nudged his shoulder at that, seeing Snape's expression. Snape noticed and looked at the boy.
"Tell me every step you used in making this potion, since you claim to be the one who made it."
Neville looked down and stuttered.
Snape sneered. "At least keep your lies within the realm of reality, Hawthorne." He cut his eyes back to Aaric.
Neville clenched his fists and, surprisingly, started speaking—each step, each measure, each stir direction. The class fell quiet. Hermione nodded after every step he got right, she nodded in the end and gave a smile.
Snape sighed. "That took an eternity," he said, referring to Neville's stutter more than the method. He turned away. "Five points from Gryffindor, Longbottom—for imagining you could contribute anything worthwhile."
Neville made a fist at that remark, then looked at Aaric with a small smile. Aaric just shrugged and patted his back. "You brewed it," he murmured. "That's what matters."
The Dementors were removed from the school after Christmas; there were no signs Sirius would be coming after Harry, and the Minister couldn't justify them any longer.
Later, Luna and Aaric were in the garden—Luna needed Aaric's help finding a magical creature only she knew about.
Aaric fed the giant squid from the shore while Luna searched the reeds. "Luna, how do you know these creatures exist?" he asked as she paused and looked at him.
"I can see them," she said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
Aaric wanted to retort, then thought better of it. He stepped closer, studying her silvery eyes. He'd had a theory for a while—that there was something different about the way she saw.
"Tell me if you find something," he said at last, giving up and poking her nose. She giggled.
Luna hopped off to keep looking just as Draco joined Aaric, haggard and weary.
"Hang in there, buddy," Aaric said, taking in his friend's face.
Draco clenched his fists. He knew what had happened; his father had told him everything that had happened in the graveward "He is—" he began, but Aaric stopped him.
"I know."
"What do I do?" Draco whispered.
"I told you—stay strong, brother. It won't be long. And work on your Occlumency defences." Aaric handed him a small bundle of potions and a couple of slim books.
"He's too strong," Draco said.
"Not strong enough," Aaric scoffed. "He'd have been dead as soon as he was born. It was just bad timing."
"I need to get stronger," Draco whispered.
Aaric nodded and gave him instructions for the Room of Requirement, times to join him and Daphne, and what to practise first.
Draco thanked Aaric and pulled him into a quick side hug.
"The Wrackspurts are gone," Luna said from behind them. Draco let out a genuine laugh.
"What did you find?" Aaric asked Luna with a smile.
She shook her head. "No luck today."
Draco parted ways with determined steps and a little hope in his eyes, clutching the books like a promise.
Aaric and Luna also walked towards the Ravenclaw common room—well, one was walking and one was skipping.
They saw Daphne sitting on the couch, reading something in the common room as they entered. Luna approached her, prompting a smile from her, while Aaric sat in front of her.
"What are you reading?" Luna asked Daphne to make conversation.
"I am reading about how the brain works," Daphne answered as she closed her book.
"Oh? Can you tell me why we dream?" Luna asked as Daphne chuckled, beginning to answer but then pausing and starting to write something instead.
"Luna, can you see a Lumos orb shining above her head?" Aaric asked with a chuckle, and Luna shook her head.
Daphne ignored the comment as she wrote for a minute and then stopped. "Let's go, we will talk more in the girls' common room," she said, ignoring Aaric completely.
A/n: Please leave reviews and power stones.