The morning mist swirled around the stone pillars of the Hogwarts front gates.
"Lucian, about that deduction method you mentioned for adapting elemental rune arrays to composite materials... I went back and thought about it, but I'm still not quite getting it," Leman said.
Two figures gradually came into focus through the fog. Ever since the spots for the Tri-School Exchange were finalized, Leman had been picking Lucian's brain about alchemy. The more they talked, the more Leman realized that what Lucian had shown during the qualifiers was just the tip of the iceberg.
Many of the points and techniques Lucian brought up were things Leman had never even heard of. But once he actually tried them out, he realized just how brilliant and practical they were.
Lucian pulled a small piece of mithril and moonstone composite from his pocket and began tracing a wind element rune onto it with his wand, answering Leman's questions as he worked. Leman nodded along, looking like a man who had finally seen the light.
By the time they reached the gate, the mini-tutoring session was over. Lucian looked at the carriage waiting in the white mist, which was hitched to two jet-black Thestrals. In Leman's line of sight, however, the front of the carriage appeared completely empty.
Lucian reached out and patted a Thestral on the cheek. He chuckled as he interpreted its low whinny. "Yeah, waking up early is rough. Sorry you guys have to do the heavy lifting for such a long trip today."
He summoned a jar of feed from his suitcase and fed the two creatures one after the other. Today was the day they left for Beauxbatons, and this Thestral-drawn carriage was their ride.
"You can see the Thestrals, Lucian?" Leman asked, watching Lucian's movements. He knew that meant his younger classmate had already witnessed death firsthand.
Lucian nodded simply. "Yeah. Is Professor Shafiq not here yet?"
Leman leaned against the side of the carriage and sighed. "Our Alchemy professor? She doesn't exactly believe in 'early.' Being fashionably late is pretty much her brand..."
Click—
Suddenly, the carriage door swung open from the inside, hitting Leman right in the back of the head.
Thump!
"Badmouthing your professor behind her back, Leman? You've got some nerve. Maybe I really should have a long chat with your mother," a voice said.
Angela Shafiq, with her usual messy black curls, poked her head out of the door, giving Leman a look that promised trouble. Leman's face went pale instantly. He spun around with a frantic, sycophantic smile.
"Auntie Angela! Come on, you're the bigger person here—let's just pretend you didn't hear that. I'm about to graduate; a home visit would be a bit much, don't you think?"
Lucian raised an eyebrow at the word "Auntie." He hadn't realized Leman and Professor Shafiq were related. Then again, it made sense. One was a Shafiq, the other a Selwyn. Among the pure-blood families, everyone was basically cousins with everyone else.
Professor Shafiq gave Leman's forehead a sharp rap with her knuckles. "At school, it's 'Professor.' Now get inside, both of you. We're leaving."
Stepping into the carriage was like entering a different building. Thanks to an Extension Charm, the interior was over a thousand square feet, complete with a living room, bedrooms, a kitchen, and even a full bathroom.
"Pick a room for yourselves. I'm going back to sleep," Professor Shafiq announced before diving into a bedroom and slamming the door.
Lucian looked around, wondering if the professor had just slept here overnight. Too lazy to wake up early, but doesn't want to be late... so she just sleeps at the meeting point? Genius.
Through the window, Lucian watched the ground fall away as they ascended into the thick clouds. He couldn't wait to see what Beauxbatons had in store for him.
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