63

Eighth of May, Hogwarts Castle, Hospital Wing, Early morning.

 The door closed behind him without making a sound, which was surprising. Its dimensions somehow do not facilitate quiet opening and closing, at least at first glance. Huge, massive, on steel "hinges".

 After examining the room and not finding anything new, as well as the bear herself, I went to the teacher's office. The magical instinct with which I "felt and examined" the room showed the absence of people in the hospital wing. It seems that at the end of the year, on the eve of exams, no one wanted to sleep on a bed in this hall. They can be understood. Who would want to submit exams separately? Personally, I definitely don't want to waste my free time on this nonsense. There isn't enough of him anyway.

 He knocked on the door and opened it without waiting for an answer. The office was empty, the witch was not in her usual place. Approaching her desk, I noticed a note. Carefully taking it in his hands, before examining it with magical vision, he ran his eyes over what was written:

 "Training room" - that's exactly what the inscription looked like. As soon as it was read, the paper burned, leaving no ashes. Comfortable. For an ordinary person or a magician - an ordinary piece of paper, and for a seer - an inscription. An interesting way of transmitting information, it's a pity that it is not durable.

 Walking down the dark corridor, I tried to figure out what to do next. Poppy will definitely notice the changes in me, as well as in my magic. And her healing abilities will also not escape her watchful eye. All morning I've been trying to come up with an adequate reason for the growth of my abilities, but I can't find it. Talking about the test is such an idea. Yes, it will clarify many issues between us, but it will also add even more. A trivial question: "How did I find it?" can lead to a dead end.

 Although there is another option. She may simply "not pay attention." Yes, this is unlikely, but still possible.

 Having stepped into the huge hall, so mysterious, but so familiar, I began to look for the bear with my eyes. The desired person was found near the bookshelves, which contained countless amounts of knowledge, both enlightened and not so enlightened. Individual copies are a one-way trip. Azkaban will be happy to welcome new guests, and how happy the Dementors will be...

 Approaching her, I stood up in anticipation. I'm sure she noticed me back in her office, and even more so here. There is no need to rush, there is time.

 Standing next to her and not thinking about anything, I felt like time flew past me. The mind still needs rest, not to mention the emotional shell. The teacher was looking for something, and I, like a statue, stood nearby. A silent guardian, like a golem, only alive. Hah.

 "Good morning, Calder," she finally took her gaze off the book after about fifteen minutes and turned it to me. "Today you are unusually silent," she noted.

 "There is a little," he shrugged slightly. - Good morning to you too, teacher. I see you have fewer and fewer patients.

 "Yes," she nodded, looking intently at me for something. It seems that she finally noticed, but there was a small spark of hope that everything would work out, but alas. — By the end of the year, as always, there are few visitors. Exams, last month with friends, loved ones and so on. The reasons are very different, but the result is the same. Nobody has time for "adventures."

 - Well, that makes you feel better. Less hassle, he made the obvious conclusion. It seems that the end of the year for the teacher is actually a sort of "unloading" period. But summer is still ahead. What is she doing at this time?

 "Okay," she closed the book and put it in its place. - Let's go to. Today is another day of practice," she walked around the table and headed towards the altar.

 Stopping near him, she called the man with a wave of her hand. A real one, slightly shabby looking, but still a person. Having examined it again with my magic vision, I was once again convinced that this was not an illusion.

 - Human? Isn't it too early? — asked an interesting question. Although now this is not a problem for me. There was a lot of multidirectional practice, huh.

 - No, just right. Especially now," she said the last part of the phrase barely audibly, knowing full well that I would hear her. In response, I pretended that I didn't understand her. It even seemed childish somehow. - You can start.

 "Okay," I nodded my head and headed towards the patient.

 The initial examination, both with a spell and with magic vision, revealed to me all the "ins and outs" of the patient. Male, about thirty-five years old. Four ribs were broken, one suffered a slight concussion. This is something that is easy, something that is easily curable. Then he discovered several more problems that required more attention. These are the heart, liver and kidneys.

 Having commented on all this out loud for Madam Pomfrey, he began the operation itself. Practiced, smooth movements and magical control. This was the only thing I needed for the operation. Of course, what I could, I hid. He slowed down the treatment process, spent a long time examining problem areas, as if they were difficult for me (ha, how difficult. But I almost automatically began to quickly patch up the man). In general, I hid about fifteen percent of my abilities. Well, he hid it, rather tried.

 Having finished with the patient, I stepped aside to give the teacher time to check the work. In general, after the test, and for me it was more of a nightmare, although I won't admit it to anyone, my skills jumped up a lot.

 In general, with my achievements in magical disciplines, a rather interesting picture emerges. Officially, I didn't even become a magician because I didn't finish school. In fact, I have knowledge for almost the entire school course, excluding a couple of disciplines in which I am at the level of the fifth or sixth year. This is one fact from my biography.

 Let's move on - reserve and control. It so happened that magicians, in most cases, have more reserves than they should have according to their rank. For example, it is not uncommon for, say, a three-star apprentice to have a reserve at the level of a one-star master. Yes, this happens everywhere and there are many such magicians. The division of magicians is not absolute in itself. Basically, it happens based on skills and control, which is much more important than reserve. The reserve is secondary.

 I don't stand out much against this background. The reserve and core are at the three-star level. This is not surprising if you do not take into account my age. Of course, there are others like me, but they come from rich homes and from more developed countries, magically speaking, than England. I'm not like that. But in general, I don't stand out much from this picture. There Potter has a reserve like mine and nothing. The only thing that stands out from the overall picture is control. He is an anomaly in the flesh. A four-star apprentice is exactly the control I have at the moment. If someone finds out about this, there will be trouble.

 In this operation I demonstrated the skills of a journeyman of two races. Perhaps it's worth clarifying what actually distinguishes a healing apprentice from the same magician. I'll start from the very beginning.

 Neophyte - just started to learn about this school. These are mainly theorists who teach the basics of the body structure of humans and animals, as well as various diseases and their symptoms.

 Mage - able to heal ordinary animals, as well as minor injuries to people. Dislocations, bruises, cracked bones, torn muscles.

 An apprentice is an accomplished healer. Can treat fractures, concussions, and solder limbs back together. At the top level of this rank, he can treat serious illnesses. Similar to diabetes mellitus.

 The Master is a self-propelled healing base. He can get rid of the plague, regrow limbs, and restore organs. Grow new nerves, but most importantly it can work with the brain. Not a concussion, but, for example, being hit by an arrow, swelling, etc. In general, more serious injuries and illnesses.

 The Grand Master is everything the same as the Master, but only much faster, easier, and he also has the ability to resurrect someone who died no later than an hour ago. They can also heal the soul itself. An incredible achievement. Well, nothing is known about archmages, or rather, I have not yet found information on their abilities.

 "Well," Poppy's voice brought me out of my thoughts, as she had just finished examining the patient and sent him on his way with a wave of her hand. — The patient is alive, healthy, and does not plan to die in the near future. The work was done with high quality, there are small flaws, but they are typical for," after a pause, she stared at me intently. I didn't even try to somehow hide my gaze; on the contrary, I looked back at her. - Journeyman. Since when has my student, who has not even undergone normal practice, been able to perform operations at the level of an apprentice, although he himself has only just reached the rank of magician?

 She fell silent, and so did I. I had nothing to answer. She's right about everything, only about a month ago I officially reached the level of a five-star magician in healing, in a month, it's not realistic to achieve such progress. Especially in control, but here, alas. My control has been at the journeyman level for about six months. All I needed was practice. And I recently received a lot of it.

 "I can't tell you about this, teacher." But I don't want to lie," I finally answered after a couple of minutes. - For now, let's agree that I really am a genius. And when the time comes, I will tell you everything. Do you agree?

 I looked expectantly straight into her eyes. Still, I really don't want to lie. In response, she began to look even more closely for something in me. I don't know, but in the end she either gave up or found what she was looking for, but the smile appeared on her face again.

 - Okay, Col. I understood. I hope over time you will tell me everything and there will be no secrets left between us," tilting her head to the side, she smiled again. She knows how to make an impression.

 "And I hope for the same, but on your part," I couldn't resist the reverse hairpin. My answer reached the addressee, the smile became a grin, and a strange sparkle appeared in my eyes. She has much more of these secrets than I do, perhaps more than one closet.

 "Everything is possible," she answered and headed towards the soft chairs. Having sat down on one of them, she waited until I also took my place, and then continued. "I wanted to have this conversation in the next year, just at that moment you were supposed to become an apprentice, but everything happened much as before.

 - And what is the topic of this conversation? And why exactly after receiving the title of journeyman?

 "As you know, having received the title of apprentice, you automatically become an "adult" in the eyes of the magical world," I nodded. Yes, there is such a topic. From now on, you can provide your services and charge a low fee. True, in my case everything is a little more complicated. School is not over, which means my rights are still limited. "So, my friends, from the Mercenaries Guild, but in fact these are ordinary adventurers who have been making forays into one interesting place for a year," she fell silent and smiled mysteriously. Perhaps this is actually something unusual? "Actually there are two," her finger raised in a "v" shape. "Greenland and the Amazon Forests," she fell silent and stared at me, waiting for my reaction. I must say, I did not disappoint her. I couldn't hold my face.

 Greenland and the Amazon? These are two anomalies that are protected by a veil. It is not known for certain what exactly is there now, but this "something" greatly excites minds. Well, of course, the amount of mana that comes out of the veil seems to hint at the unusualness of that place.

 I must admit, I had an impulse to immediately agree. This chance comes once in a million. Even as a child, when I opened the first book on the magical world and learned about its true dimensions, I was seized by the desire to visit these places. What can I say, after school I planned to join the mercenaries and take part in this expedition. It's really tempting and interesting. And how much is unknown there...

 Having already agreed, I pulled myself away. No matter how tempting it may be, there is always a risk. Moreover, we should not forget about my parents, who must agree to this trip. Yes, and you need to prepare for this properly.

 "I need to think," I finally answered the waiting witch.

 Smiling as if she had been waiting for this, she said:

 "I'm glad for your answer," seeing the bewilderment on my face, she continued. "If you had agreed right away, then on the contrary, I would have refused you." As tempting as this may be, it is still dangerous. Let you be in a conditionally safe zone.

 "That's logical," nod. - Why me?

 "Everything is simple here," she began to bend her fingers. - You are a healer - you can provide support. Metamorph - hide your true appearance. Seer - with you there is a greater chance of discovering something.

 - But you yourself spoke about not revealing your "gift".

 "Don't worry," she waved away my statement as if she were an annoying fly. "They are my trusted friends, but if that's not enough for you, then I can reassure you." A magical agreement will be concluded on non-disclosure of information. Everything is covered on this side," shrugging her shoulders, she drank from a cup that appeared straight out of thin air. In front of me, by the way, too, apparently the housewife contributed.

 Taking the cup in my hands, I drank from it. Everything seems to be fine, everything is under control, but something haunts me. But on the other hand, such chances do not come often. Dilemma.

 - As I said earlier, I need time to think. But this is not the main problem.

 - Which one?

 - My parents. I need to persuade them to let me go. This is not to mention the belief about my safety on this trip.

 - Don't worry. I'll talk to them myself.

 "Well, great," I smiled at the end.

 So we sat, enjoying tea and each thinking about our own.