13 Second day of class Pt. 1
[AN: I already changed the title to "A Muggle's Quest for Truth: Death is but a Journey." I'd like to finish two chapters before his adventure begins. Sorry for not uploading yesterday, I was summoned by the headmaster... you know school stuffs.]
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The next day, after waking up early and doing my normal routine, my stomach started growling from hunger, so I decided to go to the Great Hall for breakfast.
I was about to exit the common room when a senior pushed me aside causing me to hit the wall.
"Get out of the way you filthy mudblood!" He yelled. It was just a casual push, so I wasn't hurt.
Things like this is unavoidable, since the whole common room is filled with students that hated people of impure blood.
I care nothing about how they treated me. Some will say I was being a coward or weak.
"Weaklings." Says the one of the student.
"… and a coward." say's the other.
Yes, I admit that I was weak, but I'm not a coward. And I am smart enough to admit it.
"Patience is a virtue." I laugh at myself.
Certainly, I do not believe in these words from my previous world. This is what they call "learning from experience"?
Haha! That really made me laugh.
[AN: Certainly, in my readers' point of view, patience and virtue were words (Stats/Skills/level) that cannot be unlocked.]
"What are you sneering, huh, bloody mudblood?"
"Nothing…"
He pushed me again, but I managed to balance myself so I was not pushed further.
Tss…
[AN: Guys, don't be hard on him. Even Snape endured his hardship. I can always proceed with a timeskip if you really want to see him kicking ass. But don't worry, just give him enough time to master his power and learn many spells. He will even create his own.]
The Great Hall. It was filled with laughter and clatter as student's take their breakfast when thousands of owls came flying carrying letters and all sorts of small items.
Each student received letters from one of these owls. Obviously, I wasn't able to get one, since my parents aren't familiar with wizarding post services. I decided to ask about it later and inform my parents. I'll write a letter to them after this afternoon class.
I saw Tom Riddle in one corner eyeing other students' letters and gifts. His eyes were filled with envy and hatred. I was about to mock him, but decided not to.
I always keep a close eye on him whenever possible. The fact that he will rise to become the most dangerous dark lord always concerns me.
We never got another chance to talk since our accidental meeting in Hogwarts Express. He is probably the most stubborn kid I had ever known and holds grudges deep into his heart.
Soon, people started whispering his name.
The news of his first attempt success in charms were carried by the ghosts.
Damn, I hate these ghost. Whenever I see one, I tried myself not to look scared. They were very scary that even in their incorporeal forms, blood seeps in their wound and/or maggots wiggling out in and out. They're nasty kind.
[AN: To those who said he is such a sheltered kid, being afraid of ghost (like in chap 2) but you have to really understand, he is a normal guy afterall. He is not a famous assassin, cia agent, mafia, that are accustomed to killings as a way of life. Are you not afraid of ghost? If not then good for you.]
These ghosts believed that geniuses had come to Hogwarts. Well, I am the other genius, only a tiny bit inferior to him or so they say.
There's an unofficial classification of students which professors at Hogwarts refers to as "potential identifier". Those who have the greatest potential to achieve great things were called a genius, followed by brilliant, outstanding, above ordinary, ordinary and then the dunderhead. The dunderhead is considered a squib with little magic.
"A genius, truly a genius!" Exclaimed Slugghorn talking to other professors, "Hogwarts is blessed to have two geniuses! No other school had nurtured more than one geniuses. Ah, we are blessed."
And the ghost sung a song and gossips of this genius. Chiefly Peeves the Poltergeist, "Tom Riddle a genius youth, he makes magic a simple chore, he only need one try, to charm people by his side… if Tom Riddle make a challenge, Alfred Stanford will never his match! Tom will make Alfred eat his dirt, and clean toilet in muggles house."
I got to admit, Peeves is really putting his effort to make us fight or hate each other. He is flying about, passing the wall and surprises student whenever he reappears.
We were then called "The Slytherin's Golden Duo" by these ghost which furthered the animosity of Slytherin's towards us. They believed we didn't deserve such title as for obvious reasons. Instead, they termed us "Mudblood Wretched Twins" or "The Two Mudblood Paupers".
I was seated far away from the group of Slytherin when Leslie came and sat next to me.
"I apologize for what happened the other night." She started.
"It's nothing."
"No. I am still very sorry."
"Leslie, I understand, alright? You don't need to feel sorry, since there's really nothing you can do about it."
"Just so you know, I don't hate you."
"I thought you hated me the first time?"
"Not really. I, I don't know…"
"Why? Is it because you pity me again?"
"No. I realize that they're wrong… I am wrong."
"You no longer hate mudbloods like me?"
"…"
"It's okay, I wasn't really affected at all. I know that, you alone, cannot hope to stop them."
"I should've called professor Slugghorn."
"But then again, you will be shunned by them as consequence. Don't worry, we are still friends."
"…"
"It warms my heart that you care for me. I thought, you're like the others. I am glad you're different." I paused as I prepared to leave, "I have to go now, I have a class."
"Why do I feel like you're a different person now?"
"Me, a different person? Ah no… I am still the better me. I just realized that I am too simple minded, naïve. But any more than that, nothing has changed. Anyway, I have to go. You shouldn't talk to me around these many people, especially when there's many Slytherin watching. This is also for your own good."
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The Potion Class takes place in the Dungeons. A spacious square room, there's two rows of long tables complete with brewing apparatus. There's a couple of big windows illuminating the place and in the corner resides a stone basin used to wash students' hands and ladles.
There's several shelves which is packed with books, cylinders, ingredients, books, cauldrons, preserved animal parts and other things.
Professor Catelyn Allison had done a great deal of giving introduction to potions.
"I tell you, my dearest students, that potions were wonder of great significance. Even without magic, one can still make miracles and wonders. You only need few essential ingredients to make potions… where a sip of liquid from a small vial and into one's mouth can prevent blood loss, reverse curses, curing maladies and even put a stopper to death."
"Ohh~" All of us, students exploded in amazement.
Professor Allison Continued, "Before we start, I would like to call on Alfred and Tom Riddle to take the place in front."
We took our place.
Tom and I are now facing each other in the opposite table. We can observe each other's brewing techniques. This must've been the professor's intention, to observe and learn from each other.
I was previously standing next to Silvanus and this arrangement made him to despair.
I saw Tom snicker so I said, "Enjoying the attention, Tom?"
"And so were you." He responded.
"I care less."
"Well, let's see."
Since we were still new to the subject, the brewing will come another time. She instead gave lectures on basics such as the complexities of timing, ageing, stirring techniques, and bottling.
She made her explanation easy to understand that every student can follow.
She then gave us a task which is to identify the ingredients of certain recipes and mention its uses. This task proved to be very difficult to most students that many had failed and only few barely made it.
However, this task in not a problem from me at all. As much as I can remember, most of the accurate description of those ingredients can be found in chapter 6, and 8. And since I read it, it shouldn't be a surprise that I passed with the highest remarks.
Out of 48 students, only 16 managed to passed where only 2 got the highest score – Tom Riddle and I.
I looked at Tom whose face is hard to be pictured. He is both stunned and frustrated that he didn't get the top spot. He scored only 91% while I scored 96%.
His desire for admiration and praise by others is really great and knows no limit. I wouldn't be surprise knowing who he is in the future.
Though, I didn't get a perfect score but considering that it was our first lesson, it isn't bad.
And at the end of the lesson, we were given 10 points for our house.
