A return to calm
// THIS IS AN OLD CHAPTER. THE NEW CHAPTERS ARE IN VOLUME 2. YOU CAN READ THESE CHAPTERS IF YOU WANT SOME INSIGHT ON WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN LATER BUT SOME EVENTS CAN BE DIFFERENT BETWEEN THE OLD AND NEW CHAPTERS.
After two tumultuous first weeks, calm had finally returned to the castle.
Snape had secured the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher job he had coveted for so many years, and he also continued to teach as many potions classes as possible, even sacrificing his Saturdays while waiting for his replacement. I think I even saw him smile once?
Albus was able to convince Horace Slughorn to return to potions class, and it wasn't long before he started his little collection of talented students again. Potter had of course been among the first invited thanks to his fame but not only, his results had taken off since the beginning of the second year and he had finally obtained the position of Seeker of the Gryffindor team he so desired.
Speaking of the seeker position, Malfoy tried to do the same bitch move he did in the movie, buying the whole team 2001 nimbus, like I needed Draco to pay me a broom. On the other hand, the others were rather happy. After all, nimbus 2001 aren't cheap, and few wizards can easily afford them. It is professional level equipment after all.
Marcus decided to play the seeker position in a 10-round competition, Draco failed to catch a single snitch. So to not lose the brooms offered by Lucius, Marcus placed Draco at the position of beater, position in which Draco is particularly good.
Our first match against Gryffindor was easy, with the advantage of better equipment we left them miles behind and Potter had the greatest difficulty following me when chasing the snitch. The match ended with our overwhelming 260-20 victory.
My mother has not been bored during my absence, she enlarged the shop in Diagon Alley and sign some contract with the American and Japanese government for the opening of shops in their equivalent on Diagon Alley.
Arthur Weasley has been transferred to the new research and development division for the Magiphone. I sent them my plans for the numbers in addition to the magic signature and we hired a master runomancer to fill their gaps on the subject.
Everything is going well, my research on the essence of magical creatures is going well and I hope to have completed the extraction ritual by the end of the year. I have completely completed the Hogwarts curriculum and I think I will be able to get the Optimal mention in all the subjects that are important to NEWTs.
We started talking with Daphne again and even if the situation has become a little less awkward than in the beginning, it's still pretty weird. On the other hand, she started to become more daring, she tends to follow me everywhere, to sit next to me at the table. I think since the start of the year she's never been more than five meters away from me except when she need to go to the bathroom and sleep.
One thing that has changed compared to last year is my circle of friends, I particularly worked on that. Rose, Ginny, and Luna often come with me to study in the library, so the table where I study is always packed with people. Usually, the same people always sit next to me and take the opportunity to ask me for help. Hermione who has her regular place in the library, Daphne who follows me everywhere, Susan who takes advantage of the big-headed meeting to get help with her homework and who is almost always accompanied by her friend Hannah, Blaise and Edward are also there because we are often in groups for projects, and finally Colin Crivey that I suspect more to have a crush on Rose than to really want to study.
All these people gave us the good grace of McGonagall who was very happy to see so many students from all houses working together to improve. Because of this, we usually don't get too shush down when we talk in the library.
We also had Harry and Draco passing by occasionally, rarely at the same time and when it did happen, they didn't speak to each other but that's encouraging for the future.
The only thing that I haven't been able to achieve during this semester is the creation of a dueling club by Professor Flitwick, the ex-dueling champion, but I am not giving up. If I can convince my aunt to put pressure on the school in order to improve the level of the students who want to become an Auror, it is possible that she will support the project.
Today is the last day of the semester and I am packing my suitcase to take the train that will take me back to London. I'm almost done when I hear someone knocking on my door.
"Come in" I said, watching the door open for Daphne and Rose.
"We're about to leave, are you finished with your suitcase soon?"
"Um, yeah, I was just thinking. I just need to put my socks away and we can go."