110

*****

 A green flame flashed. Opening my eyes, I again found myself in Hogwarts, the ritual hall of the medical wing.

 Stepping onto the stone floor, he began to look for the teacher. The person I was looking for was found quickly, lying on the sofa and enthusiastically reading something. After watching her swing her legs for a moment (she was lying on her stomach), I shook my head, threw out unnecessary thoughts, and headed in her direction.

 As soon as I approached about two meters, the girl looked up at me, now with amber eyes, and smiled maliciously.

 - How do you like "practice"? - in an unctuous voice, clearly parading someone (and why did the image of a person in a pink dress come to my mind? Damn, it sent shivers down my spine), she sang. "I can see from your face that I liked it," this witch smiled brightly, blinding me with her pearly white teeth.

 So I look at her and think: should I bury her alive or should I torture her first and then bury her? Oh, dreams, dreams.

 "Couldn't you have warned me?" - With a slight sigh, he asked her. - What, faith doesn't allow?

 - What about interest, intrigue? — she seemed to ask again indignantly, but the smile gave her away completely.

 "Well, "small"," I showed with my fingers how small it was. - Mockery of my beloved, right?

 "That too," Poppy nodded, not even denying it. Eh, the roots are immediately visible...

 After being indignant, for the sake of appearance, at her for a few more minutes, I tiredly sat down in a chair, settling comfortably in it.

 As soon as I sat down, on the table, as if by magic (hah), there was a cup of black tea, as well as a bar of real, dark chocolate.

 "Thank you," I said into the void, thereby thanking the little housekeeper. She knows perfectly well what I like.

 Having sipped some tea and bitten a little chocolate (just the thing to restore mental strength), I met the gaze of the teacher who was still watching me.

 Apparently I'll have to tell...

 "To summarize, I liked the practice," I finally began the story, under an inquisitive gaze. "Of course, Smethwick's teaching methods are a little eccentric," Poppy barely resisted laughing at these words. Just wait and there will be a holiday on my street. "However, I cannot deny its effectiveness." This is exactly what you need to achieve the title of Master of Healing at an accelerated pace.

 - I'll guess right. Have you experienced the same illness as your patient? — finally taking a sitting position (and no, I wasn't staring. I have almost no emotions. That's how I assessed it.) she said.

 "That's right," I nodded, drinking a little of this life-giving liquid. Well, the lizard infected me with a love for this drink. True, no offense to the people here, I have never come across such delicious tea as Croco's. I wouldn't be surprised if he grows this tea himself, by hand. - First cure the patient, understand how to deal with the disease, and then cure yourself. If this situation happens again in the future, then you will be ready for it," I slightly parodied Hippocrates. "It's true that one moment doesn't give me peace," I said, a little puzzled.

 - And what? — the teacher asked me, already drinking from her cup.

 — How did Smethwick achieve such a rapid spread of the disease? "I finally asked, choosing my words carefully. "He didn't do magic, and the "tool" itself was ordinary. I didn't "feel" the magic in his actions," at the end, fleetingly, he pointed to his eyes.

 - Oh, that's what you're talking about. Well, there's nothing surprising here. While you won't be able to "feel" it," she began her answer, relaxingly sipping tea. "The thing through which he achieved this result is called prana." You already know about it, since we went through it," I nodded. Yes, I know quite a lot about this life-giving energy. Although I am sure there is a lot more hidden in it. — As you remember, prana is the energy thanks to which organisms generally live. In other words, it is the life energy of living beings. Its supply is limited, of course, if you do not develop prana. As you already understand, Hippocrates is fruitfully engaged in its development and has achieved quite impressive results. Especially as a person. 

 Does magical vision "yet" not see prana? Interesting. And the method of using prana is also worthy of special attention.

 — Is his truly "titanic" figure the result of these trainings?

 "Yes," she confirmed my guess. Perhaps by "creating" such a body, he was able to artificially increase the prana reserve? If this is true, then this may help me find a solution to the problem. True, I don't want to become a living giant. - For people prana, for vampires - vitae. This energy has many names, but it all comes down to one thing: without it there is no life. All that remains is "not life," but everything is a little different there.

 - Nekros, right? — somehow it came out of my mouth.

 "Oh, I see little Susan has enlightened you to a small part of her art," Poppy said, looking at me carefully. I bet she's up to something again. We need to get out before it's too late.

 - Okay, I'll go. "It's almost dinner, and I'm hungry as a wolf," I told her, getting up from the chair and heading towards the exit.

 - Good luck! — she shouted mischievously, waving a white handkerchief at me. Ulcer.

 What can you say about practice? Well, as stupid as it may sound, she is practical. Everything is absorbed simply at a phenomenal speed. This cannot be taken away from here, hmm.

 What about Poppy? Well, this time, surprisingly, there was nothing beyond "secret". Perhaps this is for now, but I'm not relaxing. There is no faith in her, at least not yet. Although, most likely, it's a waste of time.

 Eh, many would say: why did you become her student if you had a library at that time? It took all two reasons to take this step.

 First, (it was completely up to me) I told Flitwick that I wanted to become a medic. During the first weeks he showed his interest in me and everyone else noticed it. What would happen if I refused the offer to meet Poppy? Well, apart from the fact that I would be a windbag in the eyes of a half-goblin (and I try to keep my promises), then Filius's attitude towards me could have deteriorated significantly. "Observers" might have questions: why? How? What's happened? And I'm not talking about the possibly damaged relationship with Poppy, the very famous Grand Master of Healing. To have bad relations with two grandees at the very beginning of your journey. Do I need it? I think this is clear.

 True, I could have simply failed the probation period. But then I simply didn't know that magicians memorize this material so slowly. Hmmm, keep learning.

 Well, and secondly, (not depending on me. After all, I could still refuse, but...) empathy. A castle full of children who were filled with excitement, interest, a thirst to learn something new (especially in Ravenclaw Tower). Then I didn't know about my "gift", and there's nothing to say about the amulet. So, passing through this whole "flow", I, without realizing it, got lost in it. Perhaps this is happening to me at the moment.

 Just two reasons, but how much they changed my life.

 Okay, that's enough for now. It's time for dinner, and after it you need to get to the Room of Rescue. It's time to look for a solution to your problems.

 *****

 Morning exercises, what could be better? And if you add a contrast shower to it, then life begins to play with new colors.

 Going down to the living room, I sat down in an easy chair and began to wait. Ask what? Your "companions".

 Even though today is Sunday and everyone is still asleep, today one hyperactive person wanted to have a picnic on the shore of the Black Lake.

 "You won't understand, Kol," Astoria exclaimed, placing her hands on her hips. — When can we still go on a picnic? Warm days are coming soon," she waved her hand, as if chasing something away. - They will disappear. Right Luna? - She said, looking at her friend expectantly.

 The designated person, currently sitting on my lap (this look is impossible to resist), only shrugged her shoulders indifferently.

 - I do not care.

 - Here you see. I'm not the only one..." I started, but.

 — At the bottom of the lake lives a giant squid, one of Hog's protectors. What if he shows up? - she hissed, like a snake, making the face of some temptress.

 That's right... Hearing this, Luna suddenly exploded and looked at me pleadingly.

 - Calder.

 - Well, I have my own plans. The training is there," I began to make excuses.

 "You train every day," Astoria didn't let me evade. Snake.

 - Do your homework...

 "It's already ready for you," the small piglet again did not let you finish.

 I sit, looking intently at a small snake. She looks at me with a grin. Then Luna tugged at my sleeve. Lowering my gaze, I meet the shine of silver under the moonlight.

 - You do not want?

 There was silence. Luna looks at me expectantly and Astoria grins triumphantly.

 "Okay," I sighed tiredly. — Tomorrow we're going on a picnic.

 - Hooray! Daphne will be glad," the chalk shouted, and then covered her mouth with her hands, looking at me lost.

 - Daphne, huh? — I drawled somehow threateningly.

 - Luna, let's go. We should rest," quickly grabbing the lost girl's hand, the blonde rushed upstairs with incredible speed.

 At the very top of the stairs, Luna slowed down a little and, waving her hand at me, disappeared into the darkness of the stairs."

 Oh, how tired I am of these snakes. There is no peace for them. It would be better to continue searching for a solution to the problem with emotions. For now, unfortunately, everything is empty. But regarding the problem with prana, I seem to have found a thread leading to a solution to my problem.

 Yes, and Inviz should be brought to the second stage. The first one has already submitted to me, the second remains.

 "Good morning, Kol," Astoria shouted to me as soon as she and Luna appeared in the living room.

 "Good," I nodded, looking at the outfits. And while Astoria's was quite ordinary: trousers and a blouse, as well as a casual robe draped over his shoulders. Everything is in dark colors, except for the white blouse. Luna's is almost the same, just add to it decorations made from beer caps, as well as pumpkins. Eccentric, but it suits her. - It suits you.

 - Hooray! "I told you Luna," she exclaimed, turning to her friend.

 "Uh-huh," she muttered barely audibly.

 "Okay," I said, getting up from my chair. - Since you're ready, we can go. True, I have one question addressed to you, Astoria.

 — Yes?

 - What will we eat? — I asked her, feigning a grin. "You're the organizer, you should have taken care." A picnic after all.

 "Well... I... This...," the girl drawled lostly, as if she had just remembered this.

 There was silence. I look at the "snake" in anticipation, and she, flushed with shame, buried her gaze on the floor.

 - Eh, okay. Let's go," I muttered as I headed out.

 Seven minutes of wandering along the corridor, and we stopped at a wooden door.

 - And what's there? - Ask Astoria puzzled.

 - Hogwarts kitchen. This is where all the dishes are prepared and then come to our table," I shrugged and entered this room.

 As always, this kitchen resembles a concentration of chaos. Flying dishes, food, bags, brooms! In general, creative chaos.

 Some of the food was cooked right in the air (fried, boiled, steamed), and some, at the snap of a finger, turned into crumbs. 

 "Wow," Gringras said, and Luna only nodded in agreement, devouring this action with her eyes.

 Smiling at their reaction, I headed towards the brownies.

 It was very easy to come to an agreement with them. Just ask and they will do anything. After picking up sandwiches, some fruits, vegetables and juice, I headed back. I also took something else, I hope they like it.

 "Let's go," I told them, smiling slightly.

 At the end, when the girls left the kitchen into the corridor, I shared part of my mana with each house elf. Because of this, they all froze in place for a moment, and then hit me with a kaleidoscope of bright emotions. 

 Ten minutes of wandering through the corridors of the magical castle, and we finally found ourselves on the street. Another five minutes and we were already near the black lake.

 "Look for a place you like," I said. "Neville should come to us soon."

 "Okay," the girls nodded and ran along the shore of the lake. Eh, children.

 It didn't take long to wait for the Neva and the girls. After ten minutes of waiting, Neville came up. After greeting him, we walked together in the direction where the girls had run away.

 Three minutes later we met them.

 - We found! Let's go faster! - they shouted mischievously and grabbed us by the hands and pulled us along with them.

 Another minute of running and we found ourselves in a small clearing overgrown with clover. One of its borders abutted the Forbidden Forest, and the other, smoothly turning into some kind of beach, came into contact with the black surface of the lake.

 "It's really beautiful," Nev muttered, looking around at this splendor. I must say I completely agreed with him. True, this clearing was familiar to me...

 Taking off the basket of food, I conjured a large blanket with a wave of my wand. One more swing, and it will not get wet from the morning dew, and will also be warm for a long time.

 Handing the basket to Astoria I said:

 "You're the organizer, it's up to you to serve."

 Looking at me, she nodded confidently and, taking Luna with her, began to lay out our food.

 Oh, how beautiful it is.