33 Third Year Part 10

Kaiser got out of the RoR when it was time for dinner. It was convenient that the Chamber of Secrets was directly linked to the RoR, which means that now, he could go in and out from the seventh floor, with no risk of being seen in a girls' bathroom, opening a known entrance to the Chamber of Secrets.

One thing to note, however: anyone who went through there and made it far enough to meet the basilisk would die without a doubt, even if it was Voldemort himself. As he no longer had the locket, and the basilisk never liked him to begin with, but still had to listen to his orders, it would take pleasure in disposing of him.

Kaiser also found a vanishing cabinet in the living quarters, but since he didn't know where its sister cabinet was, he wasn't about to risk it. It may have been Salazar's exit point at the time, but right now, he didn't know where, if it was still the same place at all. The cabinet could be moved, after all.

"Where have you been? We didn't see you during lunch at all." Michael asked immediately after noticing him.

"Sorry. I was in my lab the whole time." Kaiser lied easily. He wouldn't tell them he was in the Chamber of Secrets, would he?

"You're not skipping meals, are you?" Tracey lectured in a 'McGonagall' kind of way. "That's not good for your health as a growing teenager." She said wisely.

"I have a kitchen in there, don't worry." Kaiser chuckled at her antics.

"Kitchen? I'm so jealous!" She said dramatically. "Say, can you introduce us some time, if it's possible?"

"Tracey! Don't give him requests you know he can't fulfill." Daphne reprimanded her.

"Can't blame a girl for trying." Tracey raised her hands in surrender.

"Are you guys ready for the exams?" Michael changed the subject. "They are scheduled in two weeks."

"I'm ready!" Tracey said cheerfully. "It's mostly thanks to Daphne pestering me about my studies." she complained. "For which I am VERY grateful." she added at her friend's glare. Daphne humphed and turned her head away.

"What about you, Luna?" Kaiser asked his silent friend. She talked less and less everyday, as she had trouble being accepted by her peers. She was viewed as a weirdo for many reason, one of which was her hobby of looking at books upside down. Whenever she was asked, she only said: 'You notice more things with a change of perspective.' and while that would make sense in a different context, it probably wouldn't in this very particular one, would it? Kaiser too found it a bit unusual, even with magic, but still believed her to be different in some way.

He didn't think she was crazy at all. In fact, she was very smart. She actually agrees that it's weird to read a book upside down, but she does it nevertheless. Was there more to it, and she simply refused to say? Kaiser was honestly tempted to check her mind for answers, but ultimately decided against it. He had to set some limits for himself, otherwise who knows what he might do next and justify it by saying things like: "It's for the greater good". He didn't want to end up like that hypocrite old man. Not that he hated him. In fact, he agreed with his views on certain things, and accepted that it is a 'necessary evil'. But that is a subject for another time.

Luna looked at Kaiser with shining pale silvery eyes, hiding behind them wit no one could perceive. Little did Kaiser know how correct he was when he guessed she must be different. As a matter of fact, she is very different from other witches. She had the uncanny ability of seeing the world differently, noticing details people failed to, and seeing a side of the world that no one else can see.

"I think I should be fine, I've studied a lot for them." she answered with her usual dreamy expression. She noticed his efforts to make her feel included, and was very grateful for it.

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Kaiser stayed late that night, thinking about the Chamber of Secrets, practicing Wandless Magic and meditation. He could now cast a Lumos spell, regrettably without enough power to call it a successful cast. It was all a matter of drawing your Mana to the spell, something his wand did automatically for him. Now, he had to do the whole process himself. It also required more concentration than just imaging, but more 'feeling' the spell coming to existence. Magic wasn't elusive for no reason after all.

He created a new exercise for himself, where he would draw his Mana to the tip of his finger, before canceling the spell formation. He wanted to manipulate pure Mana first, but that was easier said than done.

It was nearly midnight. Past curfew, no student was allowed to be outside of their common rooms. Kaiser occasionally checked the Marauder's map, hopeful he would stop any rape attempt before it happened. He did not wish to see another victim like last year's, as it was still giving him nightmares. He knew her life would never be the same again, especially not if people become aware of what happened to her.

He noticed something that set off all the alarms in his head. Luna was outside of the Ravenclaw Tower, wondering the empty corridors of the sixth floor. He checked the map for any other person, and apart from those on patrol duty, no one could be seen, which relieved him somehow. He had no idea what Luna was doing there, but it couldn't be normal. She wasn't the type to break the rules.

Kaiser left in a hurry, heading for the sixth floor, taking all shortcuts he could. He found Luna Lovegood walking slowly, and looking around her at the walls. Her dreamy expression intensifying by the second. She halted when she his footsteps reached her ears. She turned around and looked at him, or at least that's the illusion it gave. The white skin of her eyelids covered her eyes, unblinking. Was she walking the entire time with closed eyes?

"Oh, hello Kai." she said startling Kaiser that did not expect a word from her in this peculiar trance of hers. But he was still very worried. Why was she behaving like this? Why was she roaming the empty corridors alone at this late hour.

"What are you doing here, Luna?" He asked with a stern expression.

"Nothing particular. I'm just looking around." she answered innocently.

"With your eyes closed?" Kaiser said with raised eyebrows, not that she could notice it. Or could she?

"What do you mean, my eyes are closed?" she asked, tilting her head in confusion. "My eyes have never been more open." Kaiser didn't understand very well what she meant. "Don't worry. I am not under the Imperius Curse."

'Wait... What?' Kaiser looked at her dumbfounded. Why would she say that out of the blue? Was she reading his mind? That's preposterous, he was training his Occlumency relentlessly. If someone that young could read his mind, he might as well stop practicing magic. Not to mention, they didn't make eye contact with her eyes closed, and therefore even if it was a Legilimency probe, he would've certainly noticed. After all, not even Dumbledore himself could probe his mind without eye contact and stay unnoticed by him.

"That's what someone under the Imperius would say."

"That's also what someone not under the Imperius would say." Luna argued, her dreamy smile never leaving her face. 'Maybe she is high on pudding?' Kaiser chuckled internally.

"How did you find me, by the way? Was it thanks to that piece of parchment you have?" Kaiser froze at her question. She had no way to see the map, it was quietly hidden in his pocket.

"What parchment are you talking about, Luna?"

"The one in your pocket, silly." Kaiser studied her for a while. This is definitely cheating. Did she have some kind of X-Ray eyes?

"Why do you think so, Luna?" he finally asked for a moment of musing.

"It is obviously connected to the castle. It makes sense you'd use that to find me." she said nodded to herself. Kaiser could finally understand what is going on. The parchment is indeed connected to the castle. He's been studying how to make a communication device, and therefore had already researched known methods of runic communication in the Wizarding world. One of which is highly used in warding, where different components of wards communicate between themselves. It was the same for Hogwarts or any warded area. And the same principle applied to his magical parchment. The only downside is its very limited range, making it unsuitable for long range communication.

"Yes. It obviously is." Kaiser said with a chuckle. It was totally not obvious, and Kaiser had no idea how she could sense that connection, which only goes to prove that his initial judgment of her was not wrong. She is undoubtedly a gifted witch. "But I'd prefer if you didn't tell anyone."

"Of course."

"Let me escort you back. You shouldn't be here alone at this hour."

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Lucius Malfoy was not very happy at this moment. The Wizengamot session he just left was the worst he had since he was put on trial. The neutral faction seemed eager to release Sirius Black, something that did not benefit them in anyway, and earned them a lot of enemies on the dark faction. It made no sense at all.

Their case was ironclad, as Sirius' incarceration was against every law in Magical Britain. And now that they pointed it out, it would start a national scandal, especially since he didn't even receive a trial.

He was now negotiating with Karl Greengrass, but things were not looking good. This was more of a last effort of his part, as his family would lose the most if things proceeded smoothly. If they wanted compensation, they would have asked for it before taking extreme measures, or given ultimatums.

"Mr. Greengrass, I am sure we can reach an understanding. Freeing Sirius Black benefits neither sides. Even the light faction is not happy with this development." He was in a private room, trying to convince Karl Greengrass that the neutral faction's recent endeavor is a game changer for everyone.

"I do not see your point, Mr. Malfoy. A innocent man is thrown to Azkaban for a crime he did not commit. As fellow wizards, we cannot shut our eyes and let him rot there, can we?" Karl said wisely and vehemently, pure righteousness burning in his eyes.

Lucius was puzzled about why Karl was playing dumb. He was sure he understood the implication perfectly, otherwise he wouldn't have lasted that long in the game. Frustration built up in his chest.

"Mr. Greengrass. The neutral faction has never concerned itself with such matters. I don't understand why that would change now of all the times. Even in the previous war, you have always kept a neutral stance."

"Change is inevitable, Mr. Malfoy. The neutral faction has judged it unwise to let events unfold any longer. Especially when our interests are at stake." Now he was talking. 'Interest', that was something Lucius could understand. But what interest was he speaking of? They were basically declaring war on the dark faction with this move.

"We have never harmed your interests, Mr. Greengrass. I fail to understand your view."

"Really, now? Was your assassination attempt on one of our most important asset not a direct attack on our interests?"

"Assassination attempt?" Lucius looked shocked. He was obviously acting, and Karl knew it very well. "We would never allow such thing, Mr. Greengrass. Whoever they were, none of the lords ordered such stupid actions. We have always respected your interests, as you have ours."

"And clearly not enough, Mr. Malfoy." Karl was enjoying this, even though he had a frown on his face. "Let me be honest with you, Mr. Malfoy." He wasn't. "Their attack has angered some very… powerful people who invested in Mr. Lunar's most recent project." He didn't need to explain to him what he was talking about, as Lucius was informed enough to know about it. "They demanded actions to be taken… Violent action. But we managed to give them this harmless alternative, to ease their anger." It was harmless for the other lords, perhaps, but definitely not for Lucius. "If anything, you should be grateful to us."