NOVEL NEXT Chapter 32: Chapter 32: Mistaken?
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"I remember well when he joined the fight against Gellert. Turned himself in and offered to help fight in exchange for his former crimes being expunged. His skills were vital in ending the war."
"Having your wife and child murdered were no doubt a great motivator."
"And I take it that he has finally found his worthy apprentice in you?" His eyes narrowed suspiciously as he stopped and turned to face the Headmaster.
"Yes, he has, and he's passed on every aspect of magic that he's learned." Dumbledore did not respond to that, but a frown was fixed on his face.
They were quiet for a moment before the old man spoke again.
"I was surprised at the nature of your wand. I know the phoenix that provided the tail feather for two of Ollivander's wands and yet I do not know which gave it for yours. Basilisk venom, as well as yew and holly. There seems to be much conflict in your wand and yet it responds perfectly for you."
Aries had tensed at the mention of his wand and dared to hope that Dumbledore did not know his secret lineage.
"I had hoped that, perhaps, you'd allow me to study it for a moment."
"You want to see my wand?" Aries asked.
The last thing he wanted was for the old man to examine his most prized possession.
His aunt's warning went through his head, until a cunning idea formed. It was the perfect opportunity to confirm his theory and he smirked wickedly.
"That's a rather intimate request Professor, though I hope you do not intend for me to act like Grindewald." He should not have said that but seeing the quick flash of anger in Dumbledore's eyes when he was so normally calm was worth it.
"I'll allow you to examine my wand, if you allow me to see yours first." The twinkle in Dumbledore's eyes was gone, but he nodded, flicking his wand into his left hand, before handing it to Aries.
Two things stuck out to him that were immediately wrong: first was that Dumbledore was right handed, and second was that this was not the wand he had used at the welcoming feast nor the First Task.
"Professor, perhaps you are mistaken but this is not your wand."
Dumbledore looked immensely troubled. "You are the one mistaken, this is the wand I've had since I purchased it at the age of eleven."
"Are you sure?" Aries could barely keep the smirk off his face. "The wand you used when you turned my 'dragon trap' into water seemed much more intricate. And the carvings looked like they resembled clusters of elderberries running down its length. . ."
"That is my wand Mr. Black. I have no other." The edge in Dumbledore's voice was clear and he wondered just how close he was to pushing the man past his limit. Aries fixed an innocent smile on his face before returning the wand.
"Forgive me Headmaster, it was wrong of me to doubt you. After all, you are my elder." Dumbledore visibly flinched and took a step away from him, confirming Aries' suspicions at last.
"However, since you won't show me your real wand, I feel no desire to show you mine. Good day, Professor."
….
Aries made a point to avoid Arianna the next two days. It was a coward move, seeing as he was still putting off the conversation he knew he had to have with the girl.
His memory charm had been flawless, and the Spanish girl had woken up the next morning assuming her headache was from getting magnificently wasted.
He had probed the minds of all the Durmstrang students and had been relieved to see that none of them had witnessed their unfortunate intimate moment.
Tuesday night came, and Aries could see that Daphne was disappointed with his lesson.
She had gotten a taste of the Dark Arts and now wanted to learn even more, but Occlumency was necessary.
The techniques of guarding one's mind were useful in controlling the darker effects of the Dark Arts and while her own Occlumency was adequate it could still be improved.
Potions continued to be enjoyable and at the same time disappointing.
Professor Snape had them brewing exceptionally difficult potions in preparation for the Hogwarts students' coming OWLs and Aries welcomed the challenge, though the professor had yet to actually brew anything himself.
The potions master often commented on his exceptional brewing and noted that he was glad to see a Black showing some potential for once.
Cassiopeia had told him often of the potion master's rivalry with Potter and his uncle during their school days, and Aries could only laugh at the fact that the three had continued a school yard rivalry into their adulthood.
Transfiguration, unlike Potions, had taken a turn downhill. McGonagall had been excited about Ivan and his abilities, though recently that admiration had turned to a certain skeptical outlook.
She often asked him to perform difficult transfigurations, some even seventh year material, with a veiled comment about how she doubted he could accomplish it.
Never one to back down from a challenge, Aries completed every task she presented, and rather enjoyed frustrating the old woman.
Charms was by far the extreme, as Professor Flitwick had decided that he was far too advanced to be learning and had taken to having him help demonstrate and teach the lessons, much to his friends' amusement.
Battle Magics had continued its trend of teaching creatures and spells commonly used in Tri-Wizard tournament and Professor von Reich had amused himself that Thursday by giving a lesson title: Why it is unwise to tickle a sleeping dragon, unless your name is Aries Black.
Much of the lesson had been the delegation playfully ribbing the champion, and he gave it back just as well he received it. Perhaps if the other schools saw the students like this, then they wouldn't think that every student of Durmstrang was evil. Dark yes but not evil.
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