Knowledge is Power

Chapter 7

Mag got through the school year with high marks, even in transfigurations, because she pushed herself to rise above her dislike for the class. Though she never really connected with any of her fellow students, she did have one friend other than Nightshade nonetheless.

She'd struck up a friendship with the Bloody Baron when he made a comment on the book she was reading one day at lunch. He criticized the shallow spellwork in a book on rune wards, so she'd asked him to teach her better ones. To her surprise he had. The ghost was probably lonely, she reasoned, and perhaps a little surprised that someone wanted to talk to him and actually learn from what he had to offer.

The ghost who taught history may be dull, but The Bloody Baron certainly wasn't. Mag was honored he'd talk to her, because she had a feeling he didn't like many people either. When school ended for the summer, she knew she'd miss him. It was a little sad because she nearly told him to have a nice summer, but...what was he going to do? The same old thing, of course because he couldn't leave the grounds.

When it was time to return to Hogwarts for her second year, she had a friend to sit with on the train.
"I can't wait to meet all your school friends," Kereston Boxwood gushed as she and Mag sat together eagerly waiting for the snack cart.

The two girls had known one another for most of their lives as their parents were school chums and now worked together at the Ministry for Magic, though in different departments. Kereston was a small blonde with long sausage curls and a cheerful personality. She was very intelligent and loved books, so Mag wouldn't be surprised if she ended up in Ravenclaw.

The only thing about Kereston was that she talked a lot...all the time. She always tended to talk about something interesting...just a lot...with a lot of words. Still Mag usually didn't mind because when she had something to say, Kereston was a good listener as well.

Nightshade hunched down onto the floor of his cage, large round eyes squinted shut as tightly as he could get them. The owl was breathing hard in silent panic at the small space and confining bars the cage provided. In other words, he was panicking just like last year. Mag had tried to talk to him, to explain why he had to ride in the cage, but Nightshade wasn't the least receptive.

"Is my cat frightening him do you think," Kereston asked worriedly, glancing down at her cat carrier which sat on the floor of the train at their feet beside Nightshade's cage.
Mag shook her head. She hadn't told Kereston that Nightshade was far smarter than other owls or that he was telepathic because he'd made her promise not to tell anyone other than her parents last year and hadn't ever changed his mind. For this reason Mag chose her words carefully.

"He doesn't seem to be frightened of cats, and he was this panicked last year when no cats were around. He just really hates the cage."

As she could do nothing for Nightshade until they arrived at Hogwarts, she was glad to switch to talking to Kereston instead
"I don't really have a lot of friends," she answered slowly. "I mean it's just that I'd rather read than bother with people and none of the other students seem particularly interesting to be quite honest. I talk to the Bloody Baron at lunch sometimes."
"Isn't that the Slytherin house ghost," Kereston asked. When Mag nodded, Kereston continued. "I heard all about him from my parents. I hope I get sorted into Slytherin or Ravenclaw. I suppose Hufflepuff would be alright too."
"Anything but Gryffindor," Mag said and Kereston nodded.
"Right," the blonde agreed.
"Gryffindors are so brash. It's stupid. Like they're mental barbarians," Mag complained. "So many confuse bravery with stupidity or self destructiveness."

"Self destructiveness," Kereston repeated the word thoughtfully.

"Yes. I read that in a Muggle psychology book," Mag said. "It's all very interesting."

"How'd you get Muggle books," Kereston wanted to know.

"My family has prided itself on having the largest personal wizarding library for generations," Mag matter-of-factly reminded Kereston. "We have everything."

//I hate this cage and I hate you for putting me into it, and I hate your parents for not just fucking apparating both of us so we don't have to fuck with this stupid train,// Nightshade snarled angrily into Mag's mind, distracting her from whatever Kereston was saying.

She had to be careful not to seem odd when he was talking to her with others around because it wasn't as if she could explain. He was terrified of 'being put in a 'fuckin' lab". She'd promised as had Heather and Raislen as it was just easier to give him his way on the matter. So she couldn't explain to Kereston why she'd missed whatever the little blonde had said next. Instead she mentally replied to her owl.

//You know if we do that it will draw the attention to you you didn't want. People will want to know why I can't just ride the train like everyone else.//

"Well," Kereston asked.
"What, sorry," Mag replied.
"I asked if you think Muggles know more about psychology than wizards," Kereston repeated.

Mag thought about that for a moment. Kereston may talk more than anyone she'd ever met, but at least she talked, if a lot, about interesting things. "Perhaps so. They don't have many other things with which to distract themselves and life is harder for them without magic so they have more time to delve into mental matters," she decided. "They probably have more mental problems too, due to the life being harder bit."

Later during the sorting when Kereston was sorted into Slytherin, Mag actually bothered to put down the book she was reading to cheer and clap for her friend.