Kindred Spirits (S. Sallow X MCFem Reader)

part 2; chapter 5

"Yes, yeah, you're right. It is indeed uncanny, though." Try as I might, I couldn't shake this feeling.

"Don't worry, Y/N – her looks don't even compare to you." He tried to reassure me.

"Thanks, I think."

As we finished up dinner and Black dismissed us, we headed back to the common room for the evening. The four of us sat around the fire, breaking down all of the happenings of earlier that evening.

"I mean, did you hear Black? Hospitable? Hogwarts? If I didn't know any better, I'd say someone used a polyjuice potion and turned into Black. That was unbelievable." Sebastian commented on Professor Black's unusual cheerfulness as I suppressed a laugh.

"You know, it really isn't all that hard to nick a piece of Black's hair..." I said suggestively, shrugging my shoulders.

"What do you...wait a minute..." Sebastian's eyes widened as he began to put the pieces together. "That's how you knew immediately what the polyjuice potion was in Sharp's class last year! You walked around as Professor Black?!" His voice raised in disbelief.

"Shush! Fig brewed the potion, I merely drank it. It was all for the greater good of saving Hogwarts." That was what I had told myself at the time, at least.

"Hang on...I had a rather odd interaction with Professor Black once last year. He started rambling on about mixing dittany with bubotuber pus to create a mustache paste. I was left absolutely baffled by that conversation. I couldn't flee quickly enough. Please tell me that was you?" Ominis' face reflected the disbelief in his words.

I could only burst out into fits of laughter at the memory, confirming Ominis' speculation.

"Oh, thank Merlin, that was by far the strangest conversation I think I have ever had to take part in in my life. I couldn't listen to Professor Black for weeks after that." Ominis' lips tugged upwards in a smile, now that he knew what really happened.

"You should have seen the look on your face. I toyed with so many people that day. Poor Garreth. It was a little nerve-wracking, though, when I had run into Professor Weasley. I thought she would catch on."

"No one could figure out why for weeks afterward the dining hall had Slytherin banners...nice move. Very cunning of you. A true Slytherin." Sebastian was smiling as well, clearly impressed by all that I had managed to pull off.

"Oh, I am so disappointed I missed out on that!" Anne exclaimed.

"Sorry, Anne. It was not something I had ever imagined doing, I had to have a little fun with it." I shrugged my shoulder.

"Hey...what if...hear me out. What if that Ilvermorny student took some polyjuice potion to turn into you?" Sebastian pondered aloud.

"That is the most idiotic theory I have ever heard, Sebastian. First off, they would have to have obtained a hair or something from Y/N beforehand in order to do so. Secondly, from the way she was described, her features were vaguely different from Y/N." Ominis shut Sebastian down.

"It was just an idea." Sebastian shrugged.

We turned our attention to discussing the various magical schools and communities that had at one point been unknown to us.

"I'm surprised that Ilvermorny came all this way, if I were to be perfectly honest. Especially with Durmstrang here. They have quite the opposing views on who should be able to practice magic." Ominis' voice was incredulous.

"Oh? And what would those be?" My curiosity was piqued.

"Well, for one thing – Durmstrang does not admit muggle-borns into their institution. They believe magic learning should be kept within pure bloodlines. Much like Salazar." Ominis' head hung low when he mentioned his ancestor. "Secondly, they place a particular emphasis on learning the dark arts."

A chill ran down my spine after he spoke.

"Ilvermorny, on the other hand, was founded by a witch by the name of Isolt Sayre and her muggle husband, James Steward. It started off as a small cottage, intended for homeschooling. As the need for accommodations grew, more muggle-born students were admitted, and Ilvermorny became what stands today. Isolt Sayre desperately attempted to defy her aunt's beliefs. She felt that magic should not be limited to only those whose blood ran pure. Hence, why she founded Ilvermorny."

"Ominis, how do you know so much about Isolt Sayre?" Sebastian pressed on.

"Because Sebastian, Isolt Sayre's mother was Rionarch Sayre, whose maiden name was Gaunt. Isolt's aunt was Gormlaith Gaunt. They are both ancestors of mine."

"Bloody hell, Ominis. How many magical schools have your ancestors founded? Is there any more we should know about?" Sebastian laughed.

"As far as I am aware, that is it. I wouldn't be caught surprised if Durmstrang was also founded by my more intolerant ancestors, though." Ominis shrugged his shoulders. "For every terrible thing my family has done, I try to remember the good of it; such as Hogwarts and Ilvermorny. Both schools are accepting of all witches and wizards."

The night wore on as more students began to retreat to their dorms. Finally, when it was just the four of us left, I couldn't suppress my yawn, signaling it was time to end our own gathering.

Sebastian and Ominis escorted Anne and I to our dorms, where they bid us goodnight.

While I lay awake a little while longer after that, my mind circled with images of this American girl.