Chapter 46 - Bonus Update — The Conversation

"Miss Granger, how do you define the relationship between us?" Praeris wrote.

"I thought we were, at most, pen pals who learn from each other. At best, I gave you some heartfelt advice. But that was only because the Chamber of Secrets disrupted my peaceful academic life. I would rather it vanish so I could get back to my studies."

"Most of that was for my own benefit, with at most a sliver of concern for an innocent little girl. It does not mean I am especially kind, and it certainly does not mean I would betray my friends. If you imagine me as the Virgin Mary, I will be too nauseated to eat breakfast tomorrow."

"I trust you have heard this saying: the only lesson humanity learns from history is that humanity learns no lessons from history. Your friend Hagrid is no different. Because Aragog did not die, he thinks keeping dangerous creatures that cannot be fully controlled around him, and bringing them in front of students, is no big deal. After all, Dumbledore will always clean up after him, won't he? Once leads to twice."

"If Buckbeak faces any crisis, believe me, Draco Malfoy is at most the trigger. The root cause is that Hagrid brings them into a world that is not theirs — letting them face fragile students and cruel humans without ever understanding what dangers they might encounter themselves."

"Perhaps you think my words are sophistry. Yes, they are. I won't deny that I am explaining everything from my own standpoint. If I were a Gryffindor, you would see me already working on Hagrid's behalf. Pity there is no 'if.'"

"Whatever you hope to get from me, I will only tell you this: you will get nothing. A teacher, no matter how excellent he wishes to be, must first ensure his students' safety. If he cannot keep everything under his control, then he should not be doing it at all."

Praeris stuffed the long letter into an envelope and gave a derisive snort. She had thought Hermione Granger was a bit smarter than the others, at least a talent worth cultivating. But in truth, Granger's impulsiveness was no less than any other Gryffindor's, naive to the point of being almost funny.

On Thursday morning, Draco Malfoy, who had been feigning illness for several days, finally deigned to swagger in halfway through Potions.

First he used his arm as an excuse to make Weasley cut his daisy roots. Then he used his arm as an excuse to make Potter peel his figs. He was grinning the entire time, bright and unbothered.

Praeris thought that if it were remotely possible, Madam Pomfrey would have kicked this boy out of the Hospital Wing long ago.

But she didn't move to stop him. This was a grudge between Draco Malfoy and those two. What did it have to do with her?

She finished brewing her Shrinking Solution quickly, then turned to watch Millicent Bulstrode and the others, keeping an eye out for any errors.

"Look at Neville Longbottom," Millicent Bulstrode said. "He's about to cry. The professor's going to feed his awful potion to his toad."

"It's a toad," Praeris corrected. "What is he so afraid of? The professor won't actually let it die. This might even unlock his potential. When Marcus made me put my head down and accelerate in the air, I was sure I was going to crash into the castle wall and die. Then I learned how to take a smooth turn."

Millicent Bulstrode could relate to that: "If I had to feed it to Nina, even if Nina wouldn't die, I would cry myself to death first."

Praeris nodded. "You have a point. If my first-year self had to feed you a potion I'd just brewed, I'd check it a few extra times too."

"Only a few extra times?"

"What else? Even if the potion had a problem, Professor Snape and Madam Pomfrey would save you."

"The professor seems to really hate him."

"Not just him," Praeris said. "Potter and his friends too."

By the time class ended, the professor really did tip the potion Neville Longbottom had brewed into the toad's mouth. The toad named Trevor successfully turned into a tadpole.

Millicent Bulstrode poked her. "Merlin, it actually works! Why did I have to find this out? Now I'm worried that when I can't keep up with revision at the end of term, I'll do something unforgivable to Nina."

Praeris shook her head. "You couldn't. Nina is your life. Look, just like I said — the professor was already prepared."

Professor Snape drew a small vial from his pocket and tipped it over Trevor. Trevor turned back into a toad.

"Five points from Gryffindor," Professor Snape said, his face expressionless.

Gryffindor lost five points. For Hermione Granger's generous help to a friend.

"How could he even tell?" Millicent Bulstrode asked, genuinely baffled.

Praeris almost smiled. "It's simple enough. If you saw Crabbe hand in an essay at Draco Malfoy's level, you'd find that strange too."

"You mean...?"

"His potion was mostly correct. Only a few minor flaws that didn't really matter. If he could do this in regular class, his grandmother would be very proud."

Millicent Bulstrode frowned. "I don't understand. Why can't he do it in class, but he can manage it when Granger walks him through it? Is she a better teacher than Professor Snape?"

"Marcus graduated because I tutored him. That doesn't mean Professor McGonagall, Professor Flitwick, or Professor Snape are inferior to me. I could work with Marcus one-on-one. Do you think it's possible for Professor Snape to teach Neville Longbottom and only Neville Longbottom?"

"Also, Professor Snape assigned me a large number of extra essays last term. He would never do the same for anyone else. Classroom teaching has to serve the majority. Neville Longbottom and I are both outside that majority, just in opposite directions."

"And Neville Longbottom is afraid of the professor. That part is undeniable."

What Praeris didn't say was that when she tutored Marcus, she never explained the deeper principles. She only told him what to do. It was not a study habit that would serve him well in the long run, but it got him to graduation. Hermione Granger's help worked on the same principle.

Millicent Bulstrode blinked, her train of thought derailing: "I understand — wait, you actually have no class next period?"

"No. But this afternoon I have Muggle Studies, Defense Against the Dark Arts, and Herbology."

Praeris patted her satchel. The solid thump it made suggested her shoulder might not survive the term. Millicent Bulstrode resolved then and there to get Praeris a bag with an Extension Charm for Christmas.

The Muggle Studies teacher was Professor Burbage. She was very fond of Muggles. She simply did not understand them very well. As someone who had actually lived in the Muggle world for at least six years, Praeris felt confident vouching for that.

For instance: Professor Burbage adored Muggles, and yet when it came to comparing football and Quidditch, she was of the firm opinion that Muggle football was simply inferior. Because wizards could fly while playing, and Muggles could not do that.

➤ Next: Moon