Chapter 40: Chapter 40: DP’s Guests
Hogwarts Castle, Somewhere in the Scottish Highlands
November 24th, 1992, 5:06 PM
"Keep the spell up, Mr. Longbottom, and channel some more power to it."
Erik ordered the boy, who nodded weakly and concentrated, showing a face that looked like he had some stomachache. He noticed that the light would quickly flicker in random intervals. Erik expanded his senses and focused it on the boy's magic.
'His magic seems strong and normal.'
He thought. Erik then focused his senses in the wand, and immediately changed the focus to the connection wand-caster. As he reached his conclusions, Erik spoke.
"You can stop, Mr. Longbottom."
"Nox."
The boy said the counter-spell and finished the wand-lighting charm. He then looked at Erik with a face of whom wanted to ask 'what was that about'.
"I noticed during the class that you seemed to have some problems casting the spells that I asked, Mr. Longbottom. That's why I asked you to cast a channeling charm for me."
Erik explained to the boy, who let out a sigh.
*sigh*
"I always had difficulty in casting. It's just that my magic is not strong…"
Mr. Longbottom said in a resigned way.
"There is nothing wrong with your magic, Mr. Longbottom. By what I could sense your magic is perfectly normal and strong for your age. If I would compare your reserves with the ones of another student of the same year, I would say that Mr. Potter is the only one with magic as strong as yours."
Erik explained to the boy.
"But them…"
"Tell me, Mr. Longbottom, who is the owner of the wand that you are using?"
Erik asked him. The boy looked at Erik with wide eyes. His mind was working at high speed trying to understand things.
"It's my father's wand. When I received the Hogwarts' letter on my eleventh birthday, my grandma gave me my father's wand, saying that 'if it worked well for him, it will work well for you'."
Mr. Longbottom explained. Erik shook his head in a negative way.
"That's not how wands work, especially not one with this combination of wood and core. Tell me, Mr. Longbottom, is your father dead?"
Erik spoke, asking the boy about his father's status.
"No, no. My father is not dead."
The boy said first. He made a pause, trying to decide if he could tell Erik more about the situation. He ended up deciding to do it.
"But he is in the irrevocable spell damage ward in St. Mungos."
"If he is still alive, then you should get a new wand for you."
Erik said bluntly. Mr. Longbottom made a gesture to speak against it, but Erik signaled with his hand for him to stop and hear him out first.
"The problem that you are having right now is because of the wand. Your father's wand is made of English Oak wood, and this wood demands partners of strength, courage and fidelity. It also means that this wand is as loyal as the wizard who wields it. It can feel that your father is still alive, and so it refuses to bend to another wizard's will, even if that wizard is its 'master's' son. In summary, while your grandmother seems to have given up on your father, his wand didn't. It still waits for his master's return."
Erik explained calmly to the boy, who had moist eyes after hearing all of it. He then caressed the wand lovingly, with a small in his face. Erik gave the boy a little time to himself. He then spoke.
"If you want, I can ask Hagrid to escort you to Diagon Alley tomorrow."
The boy dried his eyes with his uniform and replied to Erik.
"There's no need for it, Professor. I would like to write to my grandma first and tell her all what you said about my father's wand, and then I will go with her to get a fitting wand."
"Do as you like, Mr. Longbottom. Just remember your grandmother to warn your head of house about it first."
Erik spoke. The boy was happy with what he had just heard.
"Ok, off you go. Dinner will be ready soon."
Erik said to Mr. Longbottom, making 'shooing' motions with his hands. The boy gave Erik a nod and bowed his head slightly.
"Thank you for your help, Professor Ravenclaw."
He said, thanking Erik. The boy then turned and walked out of the classroom. Erik watched the boy, and as he was exiting the classroom, Erik turned and walked up to his desk.
Arriving at it, Erik took a seat in his chair and started to take notes about what he had taught the second year students from Gryffindor and Slytherin. It was fifteen minutes later when he finished his notes and stored them together with the ones from the past classes in the desk's drawer. Erik then got up and walked out of the classroom, not forgetting to lock the door.
Hogwarts Castle, Somewhere in the Scottish Highlands
November 24th, 1992, 7:50 PM
Erik had finished his dinner in the Great Hall early and was now in the practice rooms that he had talked about to students during classes. Rooms '3D' and '3E'. He had spent his time tutoring the few students that had looked for the rooms to practice after dinner and was now waiting for the reporter's arrival for the interview.
It was then that the wards alerted him of the two new visitors. He scanned the grounds with the wards and saw that Hagrid was already going to open the gates to the visitors. Erik had warned Hagrid earlier, during dinner, about the reporters and had, too, asked him to escort Ronald Weasley to the Diagon Alley for a new wand.
Erik excused himself with the few students that were in the practice room and walked out of it. He quickly went down the stairs and arrived in the Great Hall in time to see Hagrid escorting two wizards inside the castle. One of them was a relatively young man. He looked to be around twenty five years old and had a big photographic camera attached to his neck though a letter belt. The second one, Erik supposed, was the Editor in Chief of the Daily Prophet. He looked like a seasoned man, around his fifties, and was smartly dressed with a badge pinned in his robes that had the letters 'D' and 'P', in gold, on it, that showed his allegiance with the publication which he worked for. Looking again, Erik saw that the photographer had, too, the same badge pinned in his chest. Erik then walked to the trio.
"Welcome to Hogwarts."
Erik welcomed the duo that Hagrid was escorting.
"Thank you, Hagrid, for escorting the guests."
Erik said, thanking Hagrid.
"No problem, Lord Ravenclaw."
The big man said, and recognizing the dismissal, he walked out of the castle to complete some tasks before retiring for the night.
"Good evening gentleman. I am Erik Ravenclaw, Lord of Ravenclaw and the Hogwarts' castle."
Erik greeted the duo, introducing himself and extending his hand to them. The older man shook his hand first, and introduced himself.
"Good evening, Lord Ravenclaw. I am Baranabas Cuffe, Editor in Chief for the Daily Prophet."
He then let go of Erik's hands and introduced his photographer, presenting him to Erik with a hand gesture.
"And this is Robert Cool, he will be our photographer for the night."
Erik extended his hand to the photographer, something that the man seemed to not be expectating, but managed to compose himself in time and shake Erik's hand.
"Nice to meet you both. If you will please follow me, my wife, Selena, is waiting for us in our office in the Owners' chambers."
Erik said, turning and walking out of the Great Hall. The duo nodded to Erik, and followed after him. The trio then walked up the staircase in silence until their desired floor, the fourth. Erik then guided them to the entrance to the owners' chambers, which were guarded by a pair of armors crossing their spears. As he approached the pair, the armors pulled back their spears and the wall opened up showing the chamber's entrance.
"Welcome to the owner's chambers."
Erik spoke making a presenting gesture to the entrance of the chambers. Robert, the photographer, didn't waste time and clicked a photo in enough time to show the pair of armors moving their spears and the entrance appearing with Erik presenting it. Mr. Cuffe nodded in approval of his employee action. Erik didn't mind it. He knew that it was necessary and it was favorable to them and the school. Erik invited them in, and walked inside the chambers.
As he entered the chambers, he saw his three wifes, Selena, Joan, and Leona, seated in the sofas around a low round table, talking and drinking tea. The two guests entered after Erik and were looking around the room with curiosity. The girls had put down their tea cups and got up from their seats. At that, the guests' attention went to them.
"These are my wives that decided to accompany me in this summons to 'fix' the school. This is Selena Ravenclaw, Lady of Ravenclaw and the Hogwarts' castle."
Erik presented Selena, who gave the guests a short nod.
"This is Joan of Arc."
Erik presented Joan, in all her armored glory, who gave the guests a short nod too.
"And this is Leona Da Vinci."
Erik presented Leona, who gave the guests a short nod too. Erik then inverted the introductions.
"Girls, this is Editor in Chief Barnabas Cuffe, for the Daily Prophet, and his photographer, Robert Cool."
Erik spoke, presenting the guests to his girls.
"Nice to meet you all, my ladies."
Mr. Cuffe said to Erik's wives, giving them a short bow. The girls, in reply, gave the Editor another nod.
"Let's start this interview?"
Erik stated to all.
"Lord Ravenclaw, before we start, can we take some pictures of you all together?"
Mr. Cuffe asked. He knew that it was better to take pictures before the interview because some questions could get people angry and everyone had more energy before it too. Both were things that he had learned during his years as a reporter.
"Sure, how about a photo by the fireplace?"
Erik agreed and asked the photographer while pointing to the intricately carved and decorated fireplace. Mr. Cool looked at the fireplace and agreed to the place.
"Seems cool to me."
He said and started preparing his photographic camera. Erik and the girls walked to the fireplace front and took their positions. Erik was in the middle, with Selena to his right side and Joaan and Leona to his left side. As they prepared themselves, they heard the photographer's voice.
"Attention."
Mr. Cool said and after five seconds he shot his photo with a flash of light from the camera.
"Perfect."
He said while lowering his camera. Mr. Cuffe smiled at it. He could already imagine all the sales for tomorrow's edition. Erik then walked to the office's door, opened it and invited the guests inside. The duo entered the office and were followed in by Erik and Selena. Joan and Leona were 'dodging' out of this event, each going to do their own things while it happened.
The office was beautifully decorated. It had a lounge area with a sofa and two armchairs around a low center table, where a tea set was already waiting for them with some finger sized snacks, that would be the perfect spot for the interview. It had a big, heavy, and old looking desk made of solid wood too, with a high back chair behind it that had Hogwarts' shield carved on the top of it. In front of the desk, two more simple chairs were placed.
"Lord Ravenclaw, can we, please, have a photo of you and your Lady behind the office desk?"
Mr. Cuffe asked, recognizing the opportunity for a good photo.
"Sure."
Erik shrugged and said, walking to behind the desk, followed by Selena. Erik then moved the chair away from the desk and took a seat. Selena positioned herself standing by his side for the photo, but Erik would have none of it. He grabbed Selena's arm and pulled her to his lap, hugging her waist as she took her new seat. Erik grinned at Selena, who just gave her husband an eye roll and snuggled herself better on his lap. Both of them then looked at the guests. Mr. Cuffe had a big smile on his face.
"Attention."
Mr. Cool called and after five seconds he shot his photo with a flash of light from the camera.
"Cool."
He said. Selena then got up from Erik's lap, and Erik walked with Selena to the sofa in the lounge area and invited the guest to take a seat. Mr. Cuffe took a seat on an armchair and Mr. Cool, prepared for another photo. Understanding the photographer's intention, Erik sat on the sofa and Selena took his side. After the sat trio prepared, Mr. Cool took another photo with a flash of light from his camera. This photo had the objective of showing the interview being done. Selena then served four cups of tea, while Mr. Cuffe prepared his material and Mr. Cool took his seat on the empty armchair.
Selna offered the guests the tea first, giving a third cup to Erik and taking a fourth one to herself. Having prepared a dicta-quill with a self-ink charm and pile of parchments in a quickly conjured table by his side, Mr. Cuffe took out all his notes for the interview. It contained all the prepared questions in the best order possible to be asked.
"Are we ready to start?"
He asked the Lord and Lady, who were taking small sips from their tea cups. The couple nodded in affirmation in reply to the Editor's question. Mr. Cuffe took his wand out again and pointed it to the dicta-quill, which got up from its resting place and stood on the top of the parchment, ready to write everything said.
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a/n: Next chapters will be the interview. Some of them could take more than the normal time to be published. Just a warning to all readers if that indeed happens.
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DonnutHermit
DonnutHermit Chapter #40 done!
Chapter #41 incoming in one, max two days.
Stay 'tuned'!
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