The Fourth School Year Begins

After spending a little over two weeks at home, Evita entrusted Nagini to Lily, packed up and left for school. At the platform, she ran into the Weasley family, who were also seeing their children off to school.

Fred and George charged over like a pair of young calves and demanded:

"George and I-"

"Fred and I-"

"Wrote you loads and loads of letters!"

"More than the beans Mum cooked this morning!"

"And invited you to come over to our house!"

"We were very serious!"

"But!" Fred and George looked at her, angry and hurt. "You forgot all about us! And you brushed us off!"

Evita's conscience sprang up to attack her. She crouched down and explained very, very sincerely, "I went to Albania over the summer to take care of some things. I didn't mean to brush you off. I'm very sorry."

She pointed at her heart. "Every day, I felt my conscience burning. So I brought you some presents. Can you forgive me? Would you like to come to my house during the holidays? There are lots of interesting things there."

She took out two boxes. Fred and George hesitated for a moment before reaching out to accept them, muttering, "All right..."

Evita relaxed, feeling that she was growing more and more skilled at placating children.

Then she added with a smile, "There are also two shopping vouchers for the Nonexistent Shop. You can give them to Lupin or Nagini to use them. You might not know yet, but Nagini is the new shop assistant."

The Weasley Twins, as loyal customers, cheered as they accepted them. "Of course we know!"

"She's gentle and kind, and she doesn't stop us from trying out those gadgets," the twins said happily. "Everyone else likes her too."

Evita smiled, turned and boarded the train.

Bill sat across from her and teased, "Apart from when they were pulling pranks, they were miserable all summer. So you were the one who toyed with their feelings."

"Thankfully, Fred and George forgave me," Evita said, feigning melancholy. "Otherwise, my conscience would torment me day and night."

"Oh, right." She took out three more boxes. "Presents I brought back from Albania."

Luckily, there was magic. Otherwise, Evita thought, she wouldn't have known how to bring back gifts for more than a dozen people.

The usual proceedings after school officially began were still the Sorting Ceremony and the opening feast. The only difference was that Professor McGonagall stopped Evita afterward.

"Come and have a look at this," Professor McGonagall called.

"What is it, Professor?" Evita walked over and eyed the letter in Professor McGonagall's hand with some curiosity.

"This is yours, Evita. It was just sent to Hogwarts," Professor McGonagall said, looking delighted. "Go on, open it."

[Dear Miss Lorand:

In recognition of the outstanding ability in Transfiguration you have demonstrated during your time at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, we are pleased to inform you that our publication will be presenting you with the "Most Promising Newcomer Award."

Yours faithfully, Transfiguration Today]

[Congratulations on receiving an academic honor. You have obtained one quarter of an incomplete potion formula. Current progress: one half]

Evita asked silently, Then shouldn't I have received rewards for the Quidditch Cups I won in the past two years too?

"That didn't belong to you alone, Weiwei. The other Quidditch Cup team members worked hard too... But if you want a reward, I can tell you where a certain room is."

Evita nodded, while promptly saying aloud, "Thank you, Professor McGonagall."

"The medal and trophy will be delivered to you soon," Professor McGonagall said gently. "All right, off you go."

But Evita changed direction and headed straight for Snape's office.

"I believe it is past curfew, Miss Lorand." Snape stood in the doorway, his gaze unfriendly.

"I know," Evita replied, "but I was discussing some things with Professor McGonagall, and I need to give you something right away, Professor."

She held the very large wooden box she had taken out beforehand where Snape could see it. If she hadn't mastered some difficult potions in advance, she wouldn't have been able to successfully brew the Blood Curse alleviation potion on her first try. In that case, any further delay might have led to an accident she didn't want to see.

So Evita said loudly, "Professor, this is my one request of a lifetime. Please accept it!"

Snape was just about to make a few cutting remarks when he saw the box slowly open, revealing a dazzling assortment of potion ingredients inside.

The cutting words suddenly wouldn't come out. He stared at the ingredients, utterly serious, and wanted them.

Evita raised an eyebrow proudly, snapped the lid shut, shoved the box into Snape's hands and turned to run.

She was a genius.

Once again, she was a gift-giving genius.

Snape made a few cutting remarks for show, then hurried back to his office with the wooden box in his arms and sat at his desk, examining its contents one by one.

Acromantula venom, cooled Ashwinder Eggs, Erumpent horn, dragon blood, dragon horn, Occamy Eggs...

He put everything away in his private storeroom, and the next day he practically had a spring in his step as he walked into the classroom.

"Professor Snape looks especially happy." Bill was a little surprised. Gryffindor had class with Hufflepuff again this year, and Evita was still standing beside him.

"Who knows? Why don't you go and ask him?" Evita suggested jokingly.

"Better not," Bill answered from the heart. "I hope Professor Snape is this happy every day."

"Weasley," Snape said darkly, appearing as if out of nowhere. "Not paying attention. Five points from Gryffindor."

Evita immediately looked away and fixed her attention on her cauldron.

He can't see me, he can't see me, he can't see me...

Fortunately, Snape showed great mercy and turned away.

"Merlin's beard." Bill continued preparing the ingredients for the antidote. "I really must learn to watch my mouth."

Evita smiled and took her ingredients to brew the potion, earning a reasonably satisfied look.

She was perfectly content. As Potions Class happened to be the last lesson of the day, she changed course on her way back to the dormitory and headed for the spot opposite the tapestry of Trolls clubbing Barnabas the Barmy on the castle's Seventh Floor.

The wall was completely bare. Following the method Adele had told her, Evita concentrated on imagining a place where she could practice spells and walked past that stretch of wall three times.

Soon, a very smooth door appeared in the wall. She walked through it and found a very cozy sitting room.

She sat on a soft beanbag chair and read through the letter Queenie had sent her about Legilimency. Although Queenie had been born with Legilimency, she had never stopped trying to understand the ability.

Evita had always wanted to learn it, but her age had been a major obstacle for the past few years. Only today had she finally gotten her wish.

Legilimency was the ability to extract emotions and memories from another person's mind... She slowly began to read the letter.