The atmosphere at Hogwarts had shifted subtly since that fateful day by the lake. I felt a constant weight on my shoulders, knowing Lestrange and Avery were aware of my secret. Their knowing glances and smirks followed me through the halls and I feared the moment they would decide to reveal what they knew.
One morning, we had Care of Magical Creatures with Professor Newt Scamander. I noticed Lestrange and Avery whispering in the corner of the class. My stomach burmed with anxiety.
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Professor Scamander cleared his throat drawing our attention. "Good morning, class. Today we will be discussing a fascinating chapter from my book 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.' We will be diving into the magical world of aquatic creatures."
He scanned the class, his eyes twinkling. "Can anyone tell me what they know about merfolk?"
Tom raised his hand eagerly. "Merfolk are magical creatures that live underwater. There are different types, like the Selkies in the Black Lake, who are known for their intelligence and musical abilities"
"Very good, Tom. Five points to Slytherin!" Professor Scamander said with a nod. "Indeed, the Selkies of Scotland have a humanoid form with fish-like tails and are known for their intelligence and barbaric nature. Now, can anyone else add to that?"
Fleatmont Potter raised his hand. "Sirens are another type of mer creatures found mainly in the Mediterranean Sea. They also have the most enchanting voices that they use to lure sailors and they are incredibly rare and powerful. They can live for centuries, sometimes even up to a thousand years."
"Excellent Potter. Five points to Gryffondor." Professor Scamander smiled. "Sirens are indeed fascinating. They're known to be the most beautiful kind of the merpeople. Unlike Selkies, Sirens are known for their ability to sing both above and below water."
Lestrange's eyes gleamed with interest. He raised his hand. "Professor, how can one identify a siren if they were to encounter one?"
Professor Scamander glanced around the class. "Sirens often have unique physical characteristics that set them apart, such as their beautiful scales and an aura of enchantment. Selkies and Merrows tend to look scarier as their upper isn't very human-like."
The class listened intently as Professor Scamander started reading from his book, "The oldest recorded merpeople were known as sirens and it is in warmer waters that we find the beautiful mermaids more frequently depicted in Muggle literature and painting. The Selkies of Scotland and the Merrows of Ireland are less beautiful, but they share that love of music which is common to all merpeople."
I struggled to keep my composure as Lestrange's eyes bore into me. "What makes a Siren die or vulnerable?" he asked, his voice dripping with mock curiosity.
"Sirens can live for centuries" Professor Scamander replied. "However, they are not invincible. Dehydration is a significant risk. If a merman or mermaid stays out of water for too long, they will dehydrate. Pollution can also make merpeople ill. Additionally, if someone takes a mermaid or merman's object, they will remain bound to that person unless they recover it. They are naturally afraid of fire, though this could be interpreted as a fear of any forms of general warmth, which can cause them to dry out and die."
Lestrange's voice took on a provocative edge. "So Professor, is it possible to encounter a siren here on land? Maybe live among us and pretend to be a human with two legs?"
The class fell silent, everyone turning to look at Professor Scamander. He glanced at Lestrange with a measured expression before responding. "In theory... yes... a siren could transform and live among humans with the help of magic. However, such occurrences are exceedingly rare. Sirens are typically bound to their aquatic environments and won't survive too long on land. The only known siren who walked on land was the princess Ariel, who fell in love with a human prince. I guess you're all familiar with the tale of the Little Mermaid?"
Lestrange's smirk widened as he turned his gaze to me. "Isn't that fascinating? Imagine if a siren were hiding among us right now. How would we even know?"
I felt a surge of anger and stepped forward, my voice trembling. "Why would a siren live on land, Lestrange? What would be the point? They're not exactly here for the gourmet Hogwarts cuisine."
The class erupted in murmurs and giggles at my sarcastic tone but Lestrange's smirk only widened. "Defensive, aren't we, Adrian? Could it be that you know more about Sirens than you're letting on? Perhaps you have something to share with us?"
