44 Chapter 44: Study group

Severus was not surprised by the news in the newspaper.

They said exactly what he already imagined they would say.

He still hadn't given much information about the potion he created and what he planned to do with his invention, only the judges of the contest knew the details of it along with the authorities of the Magic Congress USA.

The only thing published so far was that Severus Prince had reached an agreement with the president of MACUSA to provide a large quantity of these potions every month.

Obviously, this was known since MACUSA did not miss the opportunity to mention that they were the first country to obtain the potion created by Severus that could help werewolves.

And Severus was very pleased with the effects of these news reports, as they made it known that he would deliver and sell the potions to them without an inflated price as it usually is when it is the first batch that exists.

Now the public opinion did continuously favor him and the knowledge that he now had a lot of power in the public opinion of the American community was a great endorsement to continue to develop.

The most important thing was to create strong foundations for his new beginning and he was now on the right path.

From now on he should continue to do this, he knew that many in Britain would seek to oppose him, but for now, as long as he was in the USA no one there could touch him easily.

For Severus it was a victory, he no longer had to hide like a rat and now he could start making noise.

After the Potion Preparation class with Katrina Scott, Severus said goodbye to Gwen and Freyja to go to his next dueling class.

But Gwen grabbed him by the shoulder before he left and whispered, "Hey Prince, with Freyja we're going to make a study group."

"That's good, I'm happy for you then, it's going to be very useful for you, now Gwen I really have to go, I don't want to be late," Severus told her threatening again to leave.

But Gwen again stopped him.

"Well, you know, with Freyja we usually get together to study quite a lot and you usually help us a lot when we don't understand some things, so we thought it would be good for you to join our study group."

"Gwen, I would love to, really, but there is nothing I need to join for, I'm sure there are plenty of others interested."

"Oh come on Prince, don't make me beg, come on, join...you won't regret it, I promise," Gwen told him coquettishly.

While Freyja just nodded at what she said as she liked the idea of a study group with her two friends, but she didn't understand that Gwen was only looking for Severus' help to pass, nor did she understand that she was flirting with that end.

Severus rolled his eyes because he already expected this to happen sooner or later.

"Gwen, when you and Freyja don't understand something, you know you can ask me, but a study group wouldn't bring me anything new, sorry Freyja I know you were excited about the idea."

"Oh and if in return I were to offer you..." said Gwen to Severus quietly in his ear so that only they would hear what she was saying.

Severus seemed to react surprised for a moment, almost embarrassed, which made Freyja who was watching the conversation wonder what happened.

But Severus quickly pulled himself together and shook his head.

"Tempting, but as I said, I really wouldn't get anything out of this study group and I currently have a lot on my plate."

"You know Prince, sometimes I wonder if you don't like women," Gwen told him feigning anger at his refusal, but in reality, she had a small smile that betrayed that it didn't bother her in the least.

Severus just glared at her for the over-the-top comment she made but decided not to argue further at the nonsense.

"Wow, looks like I'm not the only one asking that question, Gremprince, tell us the truth, come on," Ethan commented coming to repent where Freyja, Gwen, and Severus were.

"Sparky, what are you doing here, you are not supposed to be going to dueling classes?"

"Yeah, well, I overheard you were talking about a study group and I'm just looking for one, so I came to ask if you are in, nothing better than having the current contest winner in the group, I actually even know people who would pay a lot for that."

"First, I'm not interested in the money, second I don't plan on being in any study groups, but maybe you can join them?"

"Join?, yeah sure, because I'd love to have a disrespectful guy who doesn't even know how to say hello properly in my group," Gwen said sarcastically.

"Oh, looks like your friend doesn't like me very much huh," Ethan smirked.

As Freyja looked at the situation worried that they would start fighting.

"Yeah, I can understand her, if you weren't good at dueling I wouldn't want you around either" nodded Severus with a smile.

Freyja grew even more worried at this.

While Gwen looked at Severus with surprise as she hadn't expected that comment from him.

Ethan on the other hand looked seriously at Severus for a few moments.

But then he started laughing like a maniac.

Making both Gwen and Freyja wonder if he was stupid.

"Hahaha, yeah, I'm pretty sure if it wasn't for that you'd still be ignoring me" laughed Ethan.

"Yeah, well, now, how about we go to our class before we're late."

"Wait a second Prince, I still haven't told you the best part of the proposal for you to be part of the study group yet."

"Oh, interesting, come on Grimprince, listen to her, don't be desperate for classes, we still have plenty of time," said Ethan making the three of them look at him strangely for being so intrusive.

"Alright, I listen, I hope it's not like your previous proposal because it's a no," said Severus tiredly.

"Mmmm looks like including Freyja wasn't it then," said Gwen making Severus almost fall over in surprise and then look at her ominously.

"Oh come on Prince, just kidding, what a poor sense of humor" Gwen scoffed.

"Include me in what? I don't know, but I'm joining in, if it's with you two it sure is fun, come on Severus, pleas" said Freyja quickly happily, despite not knowing what they were about, making both Gwen and Severus dumbfounded.

While Ethan who had just arrived and didn't quite understand the situation just looked at them strangely.

Severus was the first to recover and speak.

"Well, Freyja, this ... Gwen just promised me... invite me to a dinner if I joined the group, didn't she?"

Gwen seemed to react after that.

"Uh....yeah, dinner, and I figured if we both recommended him to dinner maybe convince him obviously to join the study group, but he seems to be reluctant to do that" Gwen said with her trademark smile again

"Mmmmm, but Gwen, wasn't the idea to do a general study group, where each would teach the others what they specialize in," said Freyja innocently who stood thoughtfully before him because Gwen didn't tell him from the beginning what she had told her.

Hearing what Freyja said, Severus stared at Gwen who just smiled innocently at him.

'I knew she was just joking to get me to join the study group, but I didn't expect that she actually had a good deal in mind from the beginning' Severus thought as he discovered this.

"Oh that's a great idea, that would make it so Grimprince wouldn't have to object, no doubt there's more than one thing he can learn that way, it's a win-win for everyone. I'm joining!" said Ethan interrupting them again, making them look at him again for the impudence he had.

"And who said you could join?" asked Gwen sharply.

"Well, I'm sure Grimprince would like to learn a thing or two about my fire magic, so if you want him to join, joining me just increases the probabilities, doesn't it mate?" said Ethan with a smile, while Gwen just looked at Severus waiting for him to just deny.

But Severus didn't answer instantly because the truth was that he was quite interested in learning transfigurations from a genius like Gwen and if he added to that Ethan's expertise in fire magic and perfect control of it, they only made everything more interesting

"Well, okay, even if I'm still not completely convinced, I might accept if the 4 of us are in the group" Severus finished saying making Gwen curse him under her breath.

"Yey, we have a study group with Severus, it's going to be great!" Freyja said happily with the idea.

"Don't forget about me, I'm awesome too," Ethan said making Freyja look at him with confusion seeing nothing cool about him.

"You know Grimprince, whoever that guy was who said that {one look can hurt more than a thousand words} wasn't wrong," said Ethan very frustrated seeing that Freyja seemed to look at him as if he was nothingness itself.

Severus just smiled amused and looked at Gwen waiting for her answer.

"Alright Prince, you win, Sparky guy can join" helped Gwen rolling her eyes and dismissing the group along with Freyja.

"Oops... looks like she really hates me man," Ethan said to Severus as they watched Gwen leave with Freyja.

"Yeah, you usually cause that feeling."

"You know, once is fun, twice is not anymore."

"And who said I wanted to be funny?" said Severus and started walking to his dueling class without waiting for an answer from Ethan.

"I think I'm starting to understand how Gwen feels about me, right now because I feel the same way about you," Ethan said as he followed Severus to the dueling classes.

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