Knowledge is Power

Chapter 39

There were two things Mag wanted to do that she felt would be wisest to put off until graduation. The first, she'd taken care of yesterday with Severus, and the second had to do with Professor Flitwick. After breakfast she approached the staff table and asked if she could speak to him in private. As she addressed the small charms master, Mag could feel Severus's eyes on her. She hoped he wasn't having second thoughts, and for a moment was too nervous to even glance in his direction.

"Of course," Filius replied readily.
"Let's talk in my classroom, shall we?"
Mag nodded and he rose from the table. As she turned to follow him from the great hall, her gaze moved to Severus, who gave her a slight nod. He didn't smile, but nor did he wave her over to tell her he'd changed his mind, so she nodded back before following Flitwick.

Once in his classroom with the door shut she drew in a deep breath.
"First of all, I wanted to say that I'll really miss you and I hope we can keep in touch, Professor Flitwick."
He smiled warmly.
"I wouldn't expect anything less, Mag."
She drew in a deep breath, suddenly concerned that her question would offend him. So consumed with what she believed was her discovery, that she hadn't considered how he may be offended if she happened to be wrong.

"There is something I've always been curious about, and if I am wrong, I truly mean no offense. It's just that you're so magical...the way your magic works, the extra touch your charms have that I feel everyone else lacks...I was wondering...Are you half leprechaun, by any chance?"

She was shocked when all the color drained from Flitwick's face.
"Please, Miss WestCraven. Do not speak to anyone else of this. You haven't already, have you," he asked, bright green eyes becoming even brighter with alarm.
"No...Well perhaps Severus once, but he didn't say much...He said he didn't know when I asked. It was a bit ago," she said, striving to remember.
Had it been last year, or when he'd told her to go bother Filius for a bit when she was stressing out over her O.W.L.S?

Filius let out a relieved sigh.
"Oh well...Severus wouldn't say anything. It's just that...you're too smart for your own good sometimes! I always lamented that you didn't end up in Ravenclaw. Same for both of your parents and Severus too for that matter. Slytherin and Ravenclaw can often cross boundaries, cunning and brilliance often working together as one form of applying intelligence. But I distract myself...To answer your question, yes. My father is a leprechaun... His side wants nothing to do with me and I never felt I fit in with regular wizards due to my height...I suppose I often felt overlooked," he admitted.
His expression was fleetingly bitter but he smiled and shrugged it off.

"I keep my bloodlines to myself even though I've been treated poorly by some who assume I'm half goblin or some such. Not that there is anything wrong with most goblins, mind...Leprechauns have specialized powers that many human wizards would love to exploit. I'd prefer not to have to fight or hurt anyone who could attempt to push me into doing anything for them that I did not wish to do. My father's people would not enjoy their powers being used for wizards, and I would be punished even were I forced to do so."

"That's hardly right," Mag objected and he nodded.
"Leprechauns keep to themselves and aren't overly forgiving or charitable. They suffer me, just. Fairness is probably too much to ask, considering that."
"I'm sorry that you have to deal with unfairness from both sides, and I promise never to mention it to anyone. I just read some things a few years back on leprechaun magic, and it made me think of yours."

Filius grinned.
"As I said, too smart for your own good."
Mag chuckled and moved to hug him.
"Thank you so much for all you've done for me over the years," she said, choking up and feeling the first burst of graduation sentiment.
Gods she'd cried twice in less than twenty-four hours! It would be a relief when the day was over.