Chapter 52

After the talk with Dumbledore, I somehow felt as if a load had been freed from my shoulders. All this while, I had not been able to be truly at ease. I always had this thought in the back of my mind that Dumbledore might just suddenly make a move against me despite my numerous attempts to avoid it.

Even though I had many contingencies prepared, but really, there's no end to the ways a person might attack another. Like, seriously. Imagine you're taking a piss, and the old man suddenly apparates right behind you and- boom. If you're not prepared, your runs out faster than your piss.

So, after knowing that the old man had future plans for me, I was more relieved than worried. Really, I'm already grateful to this mysterious family of mine.

Though just for the record, I actually don't care one bit if they're rich and powerful or not. Were Dumbledore, Grindelwald and Voldemort from rich and wealthy family? Nope. If you have the power and charisma, plus a healthy amount of cunning, you don't need any legacy because, you make your own legacy.

You don't need to be heirs to multiple ancient and noble houses like some people.

You make your own legacy so big that would be vast that even after being divided into several heirs.

"---ris? Chris!"

I was shaken out of my thoughts by Terry. I was sitting on the Ravenclaw table right now. It was dinner time, the same day.

"Huh? You were saying something?" I asked looked around to find everyone looking at me.

"Um, I asked why didn't you attend Bins lecture today? And... why the hell have you been smiling like your exams are over for the whole time today?"

'Well, I was, actually tested today, sorta.' I thought. And I skipped Bins lecture because I'm done with it. I had been attending every class previously in order to not draw negative attention of Dumbledore. To put it simply, I was holding all of my cards to my chest, not showing anything that might come in handy during my lying session with Dumbledore. But, now that I've lied sufficiently, I don't need to hold the unnecessary cards.

For example, if I had shown some negative or extraordinary qualities of mine in the school, then Dumbledore would checked my mind more thoroughly. And, the number of children who actually skip lectures regularly in first year are very low and they're no good. I didn't want Dumbledore to count me as one of those.

"I'm just happy today. So I skipped Bin's lecture." I said, and a few of them looked at me like I was going dark.

For a Ravenclaw, starting to skip lectures is like starting to become a delinquent. They'd look at the same way a goody-two-shoes would look at some smoker junkie in high school.

"B-but, you can't skip a class like that! It's... wrong!" said Sue li incredulously.

*Sigh*... Sometimes, I forget that they're just kids yet. Children with magic mature a bit faster, but these guys often find different ways of reminding me that they're not yet mature.

"Yes, but it's not like he missed much, did he?" asked Padma bit hesitantly.

'Haah, looks like someone is learning though.' I thought as I gave Padma a smile akin to the one McGonagall gives to a student who has given the write answer.

"Padma is right. What do you think Professor Bins has taught me that I haven't already just read from a book, in a much less boring and time-consuming way?"

"...."

There were hesitant nods along the table. Yeah! they're starting to see the light....They're, coming to the dark side~

I'll keep changing them slowly and gradually and, one day, I might even succeed in get them to use a....swear word!

Seriously, they're too innocent. Really, for someone who was used to using f*ck, sh*t, d*ck, *as, b"tch etc in every few sentences, I sometimes feel my vocabulary lacking when interact with these friends of mine. You know, when sometimes, a sentence just doesn't feel complete without adding a damn, fu*king, son of a, bast*rd etc. in it.

Though now that I think about it, I really didn't used to cuss when I was 12 nor did I used to skip classes.

I was actually a goody-two-shoes at that age.

"-But the seeker just quit midway. That's too irresponsible no matter the excuses."

It seems that I got lost in thoughts again. The topic had shifted to Quidditch.

"Yeah, but his NEWTS are also important. It's about his future after all."

"Hah! As if! He's just too ashamed after being defeated by that Hufflepuff seeker in our first match ."

"Yeah well, it was his fault that we lost though, otherwise, our team was in a big lead due to the due to our superior coordination and tactics."

I had to sigh at that. Seekers did decide the game most of the time. It was really the most faulty thing about Quidditch. It was as if the one who invented the game wanted a particular person of his/her choice to hog all the glory and play the most important role.

"But what now? That guy just left our team stranded in the middle of the house cup."

"They're saying they'll hold trials again."

Hearing that, I perked up. Previously, I hadn't participated because I didn't want to make Dumbledore unhappy by beating his golden boy. But now that I've mostly resolved that issue, this thing is just too convenient to miss.

I think I can do well as a seeker. I could enjoy playing keeper and beater as well though. But keeper is just too powerless. Even if I do save all the goals, if our team didn't have a 150 point lead and the seeker of the other team catches the snitch, it would be over. As for the beater, well I think I would enjoy it, immensely so, but.... it would hurt my public image if a first year was seen sending girls and boys alike to infirmary which a sadistic grin on his face. Ahem, so no beater.

That leaves chaser. And I do think I can do well there as well. But really, it's too much work to score 150 points even with a 100% accuracy rate. I rather sit back watch, until I easily catch the snitch when it's spotted and still be called the MVP.

Haha, now that I don't have Dumbledore's threat looming on me anymore, I can do a lot of fun things.

***

Two days after that, Weekend.

On the Quidditch pitch....

Along with some students of other houses, about 30% of the Ravenclaw house was sitting in the stands and that's saying something about the importance of the quidditch, considering the fact that many Ravenclaws would even skip the breakfast in they have something important to study. So, even 30% of the house squeezing time from their already fixed schedule for something completely unrelated to studies is.. a lot. Besides this isn't even an actual match.

It was of course the seeker trial. The trial for seeker wasn't held in the beginning of the season, since they already had a seeker who is in seventh year. And they wouldn't have anticipated that the seeker would unexpectedly (or expectedly?) quit under the NEWTS pressure.

"You sure you can do this?"

I looked to the side to face Dora, who was sitting in the stands with me.

I was in my sports gear, T-shirt, halfpants, sneakers, and my leather gym gloves, along with the protective gear.

I had, of course, decided to participate, since one of the things I've learned from playing sports in my previous life? You regret it if you miss an opportunity. And besides, Quidditch is actually fun. Did you know that the Quaffle is actually enchanted with a spell that makes it fall at a slower speed, yet it doesn't interfere with it's speed when it's thrown by the chaser to score a goal when it's passed. It also has a gripping charm on it, since it's actually really difficult to catch and throw such a big ball with just one hand. Yep, really didn't make that up. I actually read it on the internet in my previous life. Don't remember if it was in the books.

For the time being, I answer Dora who still hadn't seen me fly with a confident smile.

"Dora, have you seen me doing anything that I'm bad at?"

Dora didn't even need the time to think before she answered seriously, "You are actually very bad at humility and modesty."

"Hah, that's why don't 'do' humility and modesty. As I said, I only do things that I'm good at. Have you seen how I do awesomeness, handsomeness, confidence-"

"Just go already, Look! it's starting."

I hurriedly stopped joking around and stood up to see the pitch, but...it was still far from getting started.

"Haha gotcha!" (smug Dora)

"...Sometimes, I would who's the child among the two of us..."

Though I admit, I'm not any better.

***

A.N.: What? Were you expecting him to directly go to France to meet up the family? Not yet, since even if goes, he can't leave for long (he has to attend school). So he won't be able to meet them.