Chapter 35: Diving In

Simon was drained after the practice runs with Fred, George and Cedric for infiltrating the Slytherin common room. At this point, he honestly wished Gryffindor would just crush Slytherin in the match so they could just spike some pumpkin juice at breakfast, do a few charms and be done with it. However, Slytherin did have the best beater in recent Hogwarts history, Erika Rath, who vowed to slam Charlie Weasley off his broom, so there was still a solid chance that Simon would be taking part in some insane Marauders-level hijinks very soon.

With all this going on, Simon did not forget about his plans to go for a swim to learn more about the mysteries of the Great Lake and planned to do so during the match. Everyone would be too engrossed to notice he slipped off with Raze. He had even mastered the bubble-head charm and spells to keep himself warm and dry ahead of time. Lord Lian even advised Simon to invest in a special bracelet in the future, if he wished to pursue further marine studies – apparently, there were some in China that allowed the wearer to spend three hours underwater without the aid of a bubble-head charm.

Quickly, the game day arrived and the Great Hall was bustling with energy as Gryffindor and Slytherin students cheered on their respective teams' players while lobbing jeers at their opponents. Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs joined in, to some extent, mainly in support of the Gryffindor team.

At the Ravenclaw table, Jake was excitedly showing off the omniculars he ordered through the mail. "It can even pause and replay! It is like a hand-held TV set! This is THE FUTURE!"

If they all made it out alive by the end of the Harry Potter canon series, Simon vowed to be the first to buy Jake a touch screen phone.

Meanwhile, Fahim and Roger were in a heated debate about which team would win. "Look mate, it's got to be Gryffindor! Charlie Weasley is a beast and Esther was telling me that many professional teams were scouting him already, although he seems more interested in pursuing an academic career researching dragons…"

"Yeah, but Rath is also being scouted and is actually considering a professional career. She even joined the Holyhead Harpies summer training camp last year. And she has an additional year of experience over Charlie in leading her house's quidditch team," Fahim analysed.

"Well, I trust Charlie," George said confidently, "Plus, have you seen the new gloves Fred and I got him during the last game with Hufflepuff. That grip is different."

Simon just nodded here and there, saying he expected Gryffindor to win but not much more. He was waiting for the opportunity to slip away unnoticed. Finally, as everyone began to file out of the Great Hall to head to the Quidditch pitch, Simon nudged one of his roommates, "Hey, think I had a bit too much pumpkin juice this morning. I'll see you guys later that the pitch!"

"Okay, see you later," Fahim said as the boys were all too focused on chattering about the match. Once inside the bathroom, Simon checked to make sure he was alone before whispering a *"Muffiliato"* spell and summoning Mitty.

"Hey Mitty, can you bring me down to the Great Lake."

"Sure, Mister Li."

With a pop, Simon found himself by the lakefront.

"Thanks, Mitty," Simon said gratefully, "Also, can you not tell my friends I came down here? It is kind of an extra assignment I got involved in."

Mitty paused for a moment, "Sure Mister Li. It is only fair for Mitty to help keep your secret. The cookbook you gave Mitty is making Mitty quite popular in the kitchen."

Indeed. After Simon came back from Christmas with a muggle cookbook for Mitty, Mitty had been incorporating some new methods into his cooking. Even the gruff Pitts became a fan of the pasta and roasts that Mitty was cooking up. At this rate, if Simon provided Mitty with a cookbook with more international dishes, he was certain next school year's Hogwarts menu would start including some delicious butter chicken and teriyaki fried rice.

"Thank you, Mitty. But really, the cookbook was no big deal. It only helps you to serve Hogwarts better."

"And for that Mitty is grateful. Good luck with your project, Mister Li." With that, the house-elf popped away.

*"Raze, are you ready for a swim?"*

---

*"You are looking quite cute with that bubble on your head."*

*"If only I could breathe underwater like a horned serpent," Raze sighed, "This bubble is hiding my devilish good looks."*

Simon snorted or did something similar to that due to the constraints of having a bubble on his head. *"I feel like your ego has only gotten bigger in Hogwarts."*

Most students had never seen an occamy before and would be in awe when Raze flew around campus. Even Professor Kettleburn and Hagrid were Raze's resident fanboys, often tempting Raze to visit with a delicious array of insects. Honestly, Raze might have gotten fatter too.

Simon must have thought of that a little too loudly in his mind, as his sassy familiar retorted back *"Hey, I did not! You are just jealous of how popular I am. Even the Giant Squid loves me!"*

Simon rolled his eyes as Raze made a series of hissing sounds that attracted the friendly wave from a large tentacle. The occamy and the Giant Squid had gotten along swimmingly (no pun intended), since the Giant Squid did not have many friends of similar size around Hogwarts. An occamy's ability to change its size to fit available spaces as a choranaptyxis meant the Giant Squid suddenly had a huge playmate. These playdates were once again, highly encouraged by Professor Kettleburn and Hagrid, who enjoy watching the two beasts frolic in the waters. The students who loved to picnic near the Great Lake, not so much, as the frolicking often led to colossal waves hitting the shores that were once prime spots to lie down and enjoy the outdoors. Meanwhile, the two playmates had gotten so close they kind of had a way to reach out to each other, even though they did not speak the same tongue.

*"Anyways, enough about your popularity. The notebook only says the vault is somewhere on the northside of the lake. It's not much information but let's swim over there and see what is up."*

Simon muttered the "Point me!" spell and followed the direction in which his wand spun towards shakily underwater.

After what felt like 10-20 minutes, Simon noticed figures from the distance.

*"Can you fight grindylows underwater?"* he asked Raze.

*"I would have a better chance if I can grow in size but the bubblehead limits my abilities to do so," Raze replied, "Or I can call my large friend to help but I don't think they are grindylows."*

As the figures drew closer, Simon's hand tightened around his wand holster. He was soon met by reptilian-looking figures with yellow eyes and green hair.

*"Stop, young human. What do you seek?"*

Simon recalled the mermish he practiced using the library books and tried to impress the merpeople of the lake. "I am just a student exploring the lake. I come in peace."

*"That accent is atrocious,"* said an authoritative voice coming from a merperson holding an elaborately designed spear, *"Just speak naturally while holding your wand."*

Embarrassed, Simon did as he was told and spoke again after pulling out his wand.

*"Much better. But that was not because of your linguistic talents."* Simon felt like he was double gut-punched by a heavy dose of shade. The merperson continued, *"You sound much better thanks to wielding a wand blessed by our forefathers."*

*"Oh right, my wand contains a hair kindly gifted by a merperson according to my wandmaker."*

*"A merperson from the East, I assume? That is the magical signatures we could detect,"* the merperson queried.

*"I assume so? My wandmaker was from China."*

*"I see. You may not know young human, but many of us inhabiting this lake were descended from forefathers from the Far East,"* the merperson stated, *"The lake is, after all, connected with many seas."*

*"So there are connected waterways under the lake? I knew it!" *Simon excitedly replied, *"By the way, my name is Simon Li. I am just a first-year student who is very fascinated by the lake."*

*"And I am Murcus, fifth of her name and Merchieftainess of the Seklie Colony of the Great Lake,"* she replied. At the announcement of her title, the merpeople around her all gave their spears a ceremonial swing. Simon noticed a magical glean pass through all the patterns on their spears, with symbols similar to Chinese wards Simon had seen in his ancestral manor glowing briefly during their swing.

*"Are the runes you all use in this lake also similar to those in the Far East? Sorry but I cannot help but notice the spears,"* Simon asked sheepishly.

Murcus glanced at Simon's robes and chuckled. *"A Ravenclaw? That makes sense. I recall stories of your house founder asking the then chief many questions. At least she was wise enough to know how annoyed he was and did not return with any more questions until many years had passed and a new chief had since been pronounced."*

*"Sorry…"*

*"Given the wand you carry and your young age – even if you are a magical genius I am certain my guards here could stop you easily should you try anything…"* Simon really hated how much the Merchieftainess thought out loud and had no qualms roasting him so openly.

*"…I will answer three of your questions. Afterwards, you leave immediately. Sounds good?"*

*"Yeah-"*

*"Actually, you have no choice. Because this is my jurisdiction. First question?"*

Simon was blown away by how matter of fact the Merchieftainess was about how little she thought of the boy and young occamy in front of her. Actually maybe just the boy. The occamy was clearly enjoying the show and sniggering at how flustered Simon was along with the rest of the Merchieftainess' guards. For all Simon knew, Raze would have probably befriended the guards too if given more time together.

While Simon knew the magic of merpeople were runes-based as they could not use wands underwater, there really was very little he knew about them. Looking at the impatient stare the Merchieftainess was giving him, he decided to clarify his understanding of their magic first, as it would likely also answer the questions he has about the vault.

*"My first question is – Is the magic of your people similar to those in the Far East due to your forefathers?"*

*"Yes and no. While we are dictated by the same basic principles such as lunar and wave patterns and have derived the symbols from our forefathers, we are not a stagnant society but an innovative one. We have developed new rune compositions over time that are unique to the Selkie Colony of the Great Lake. Next question."*

*"How did you detect the magical signatures of my wand?"*

*"As peoples who do not use wands but runes, we have adapted to be highly sensitive to waves of magic and the more emotive sides of magic. Merpeople magic is unique and has its own signatures, which were clearly emitting from your wand. Last question,"* She paused before adding, *"Make it fun."*

Oh, it was going to be fun.

*"I read somewhere there are cursed vaults in Hogwarts, including one in the lake. Is that what you guys are blocking me from?"*

The Merchieftainess' face darkened and all the guards' tightened the grips on their spears.

*"Oh boy, what did you just do Simon?"* Raze hissed.

*"There is no 'vault', only the Heart of the Selkie. You shall not disrespect the beating heart of this magical ecosystem! Also, we are not blocking you, but saving you, you foolish child!"*

Simon felt strong currents of water slamming into him as the Merchieftainess spoke, as if to signify how loudly she was shouting at him underwater.

*"Only those who have an actual purpose to enter the Heart would be given entrance. If we noticed you were cursed or looked like some tomb raider types we would have just let you through, because the Heart of the Selkie could do a lot worse to you than what we could do. It is living and breathing and could kill even the most experienced of wizards who are there for malicious intents."*

*"…what if it is just for academic research?"*

*"That is not an 'actual purpose' and also that was a fourth question! Dammit, I am getting soft on children,"* the Merchieftainess said, *"Guards, send young Simon away."*

She turned to face Simon directly and added *"And don't come back ever again."*

Two merpeople guards grabbed Simon's arms and propelled him to the surface with a few powerful strokes of their fins. Another grabbed Raze and did the same.

Raze hissed in delight. *"Wow, that was like those rollercoaster rides your dad took you and Sue on!"*