Dark Forces

Pomona could not help suspecting that whoever arranged Hufflepuff's schedule had done so deliberately.

Everyone knew that Hufflepuff's common room was closest to the kitchens, and that they often held get-togethers after dinner. Hufflepuff students had farther to run between classrooms than any other House. Exercise kept people from getting fat, but there was not much time between classes, so Hufflepuff always seemed to be in a great hurry. After finishing two sessions of theoretical and practical Potions, they had to rush off to Charms. Thank goodness it was the last class of the morning; their afternoon lessons would be in the greenhouses and the Forbidden Forest, provided the rain stopped.

The girls supported the boys' plan to settle things with Slytherin on the Quidditch Pitch. No matter how charming the Slytherin boys might be, driving a girl out of school was going too far. During this special time, even couples from different Houses tried to see each other less often.

Rule Forty-Nine of the Hufflepuff Code of Conduct: Violence cannot solve every problem, but sometimes you will need it.

The Quidditch Pitch could be seen from the Charms classroom atop Ravenclaw Tower. In rain this heavy, everyone else was resting, yet the Hufflepuff players were still practicing. Pomona remembered the promise she had made to Pete. She would buy him a new broomstick as thanks for helping her find such a good roommate.

"Good morning, ladies and gentlemen." Professor Flitwick, Head of Ravenclaw, was exceptionally small. Many people suspected that he was half-goblin.

There was a rumor in the wizarding world that, in order to solve the problem of the dwindling wizard population, Grindelwald had once assigned people to a project: pairing wizards with women of other magical races to see whether they could have children.

Cases like Pomona's father marrying a Veela were relatively acceptable. She truly could not imagine how a wizard could be with a giant or a goblin, and then give birth to Hagrid or Professor Flitwick.

The mental image was far too awful. It made her sick just thinking about it, but there was nothing to be done. There were simply too few wizards.

"Please raise your hands. How many of you had never encountered magic before receiving your Hogwarts acceptance letter?"

Though Ravenclaw girls were not very likable, Professor Flitwick was quite kind. His voice had a rhythmic quality, and he wore a smile at all times. Quite a few Muggle-born wizards hesitantly raised their hands.

"One, two, three, four... Oh, that's quite a few." After counting them, Flitwick adjusted his glasses. "Charms and Defense Against the Dark Arts are Hogwarts's most important subjects. As you can see, only one House attends my class at a time, unlike other subjects where two Houses study together. Charms is compulsory for both the Ordinary Wizarding Levels and NEWT. These two examinations differ from ordinary quizzes; they will determine your future employment. The Ordinary Wizarding Levels are held at the end of your fourth year, and NEWT at the end of your seventh year, so you truly do not have much time. I hope you will remain focused in class and not neglect your practice afterward. Charms are the foundation of magic. If you do not know how to wave a wand and recite an incantation, you cannot continue with the lessons ahead. And I must repeat: magic is not meant to hurt people. Under no circumstances will I permit you to use the magic I teach you to harm innocent people."

"The Head of Ravenclaw isn't so awful after all," Mary whispered to Pomona.

"Watch Walter. He looks like he's about to throw up again," Pomona whispered back to Mary. Her own stomach already felt as if it were churning violently.

The concept opposed to Dark Magic was White Magic, including healing, household, and culinary magic. Dark Magic, meanwhile, could be used for murder, disease, deception, and enslavement. Parents in normal families would never teach their children how to murder, yet pure-blood families thought nothing of it.

Just as the Prince family was famously skilled at Potions, the Black family was well known for its mastery of ancient Dark Magic. When Slytherin founded Hogwarts and established Defense Against the Dark Arts, he had not considered Dark Magic evil. As the subject's name implied, Dark Magic was an art.

Deep in her mind was a shadow. He hid within the mist, draped in darkness. He looked lonely, yet Pomona did not pity him, because his back was always ramrod straight.

He was a potion. Before drinking it, no one knew what effect it would have. It might be poisonous, or it might not. Its terrible taste was nothing like delicious food that left one wanting more, yet many people would still close their eyes and drink it.

Sometimes Madam Sprout's radio picked up Muggle stations. Pomona remembered a song that went like this.

Wise men say only fools rush in love, but I could not help falling in love with you. Could I stay? Would that be a sin?

If I could not help falling in love with you, as surely as a flowing river meets the sea, darling, that was simply how it was meant to be.

So take my hand, and take my whole life too, because I could not help falling in love with you.

"Miss Martin!" Professor Flitwick's voice jolted Pomona awake.

She felt unbearably embarrassed. Her cheeks instantly burned with pain, but Professor Flitwick merely smiled at her. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Pomona Martin."

While Pomona was still dazed, Professor Flitwick continued taking attendance with the parchment in his hand. Every student whose name was called answered, "Here."

"What were you thinking about just now?" Mary looked at her with concern.

"I was thinking about a song," she said against her true feelings.

"What song?"

"A Muggle song. I happened to hear it on the radio, but I don't know what it's called." Pomona pressed her lips tightly together. In truth, she knew the song's name, but it was far too mushy for her to say aloud.

"Oh." Mary did not think much of it. Her attention shifted to Pomona's wand. "What is your wand made of?"

"Beech wood with a Veela hair core. What about yours?"

"Fir wood and unicorn hair, thirteen inches." Mary proudly held it up. "Dad said he'd take me to Bavaria once I pass my Ordinary Wizarding Levels."

"You're not planning to join the House Quidditch team?" Susan asked.

"It's too violent, and after playing Quidditch you're covered in smelly sweat." Mary looked Susan up and down. "Don't tell me you want to play with those stinky boys?"

"What's wrong with that? Girls play on other House teams too," Susan said indignantly.

"But there are very few girls who achieve anything in Quidditch. You can't expect those boys to trail after you in crowds, screaming like the girls who chase male Quidditch stars."

Susan glared furiously at Mary, and Mary glared right back without backing down.

See? Conflicts between girls were almost always caused by boys.

Pomona sighed. Ravenclaw girls really could be wise sometimes. Magic could be understood, but love could not.

She could not find a reason to love him, yet because of him, she could not love anyone else. That feeling was loyalty. Being a loyal person was far too difficult, so they would rather believe in no one.

As long as one did not believe, one would not be hurt. Knowledge could not hurt people, but people could use knowledge to hurt others. Being a powerful person really did seem quite happy.