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"Two consenting adults should be able to duel each other to death without legal repercussions."
"Bel, no —"
"You are right, I am still underage."
"That's — that's not the problem!"
"Oh?"
The twins trying to make Betelgeuse understand
the impracticality of cold-blooded duels.
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The team's euphoria at the final Quidditch winning lasted at least a week. Even the weather seemed to be rejoicing. The days became cloudless and bright, and all anybody felt like doing was strolling onto the grounds and flopping down on the grass with several pints of iced pumpkin juice. They all wanted to play a casual game of Gobstones or watch the Giant Squid move dreamily across the surface of the lake.
The twins would have loved to continue the festivities that followed Gryffindor victory. But after successfully having dragged Betelgeuse to the Hog's Head for some Ogden's Old Firewhisky and having left the pub arm in arm with a vampire instead of their best friend, they decided that it was time to stop the partying.
Exams and O.W.L.s. were nearly upon them, and instead of lazing around outside, the students were forced to remain inside the castle. Even Fred and George had been spotted working with Betelgeuse. She thought they were brilliant and academically gifted; they only lacked motivation.
Betelgeuse stood in Professor Lupin's class, observing him stroll around as he spoke. "Today we will be learning the Protego spell. Does anyone know what the spell does? Yes, Ms Johnson?"
"It's a shield spell. It's a charm that protects and blocks physical entities."
"Excellent! Now, to be able to produce the spell, you have to say it with strength. Everyone, lean back now and say Protego!"
"Protego!"
"More conviction!"
"Protego!"
"Brilliant! Now, settle down, settle down. Can I have a volunteer — you don't even know what for — willing to help show the class the spell against me." Professor Lupin's eyes scanned the crowd of students. His green eyes met the bored eyes of the only student with her hand not raised. "Ms Black, care to join me up front?"
Betelgeuse moved placidly forward away from the twins to stand across Lupin. He began talking once again, "Not to fear, I will be using a tickling charm."
"I do not hold fear in my heart, Professor," The Black aloofly commented.
"Right —" Professor Lupin cleared his throat, "Ms Black, I will cast the spell at you several times, and I want you to block it using the Shield Charm, verbally." Lupin finished, eyeing the girl knowingly.
Betelgeuse charmingly smiled, "Of course, Professor."
She stood with her feet apart, widening her stance; her ebony wand was ready. Professor Lupin shot the spell without warning her first. Betelgeuse quickly held her wand out, "Protego!" An invisible shield was conjured in front of the Black's wand, creating a protective barrier between them. There was a small round of applause before Lupin continued to use the spell. Betelgeuse kept blocking his attacks with surgical precision until she cast a silent Shield Charm. It revealed itself to be a peculiarly powerful one because she accomplished in knocking Lupin off his feet.
Silence fell on the previously cheering crowd. Betelgeuse lowered her wand, approaching the stunned Professor. "Twenty points to Gryffindor!" He shouted suddenly, getting to his feet. "Excellent, Betelgeuse, just excellent!" The scarred man complimented her, squeezing her shoulder. He turned to the whole class, "Now, I want all of you to pair up and practise — Ah, yes? How can I help you?"
Betelgeuse turned around towards the wooden door where a younger Gryffindor had appeared. "Excuse me? Yes, Professor McGonagall wants to see Betelgeuse Black."
"Whatever it is, I did not do it."
The class was filled with snickers at her response; even Lupin cracked a smile. The boy shook his head, not knowing what to reply to the older girl.
"Go on, Betelgeuse," Professor Lupin encouraged her.
"I will see you in Charms," Betelgeuse murmured to the twins, making her way out of the class. The younger boy tried to smile at her; what she saw was a painfully obvious grimace before he dashed away. She stared perplexed after the running boy for a moment, then she continued towards Professor McGonagall's office. She had an inkling of what she wanted to discuss with her.
"Ah, Ms Black, I was waiting for you," the austere voice of Minerva McGonagall welcomed her. "Please, take a seat."
"Apologies, Minnie. I was held back by my thoughts. I do not understand why the boy you sent to call me ran for his life after setting his eyes upon my form. Is it my personality?" Betelgeuse saw an aggravated expression make its way on the stern face of McGonagall. She continued undeterred. "They say I got something called Narcissistic Personality Disorder. I do not know what Muggle devilry it is. But the truth is this lustrous hair, and the sparkling eyes are merely chapter one. I am a veritable cornucopia of high-octane maladies such as Outrageous Intelligence Syndrome and a little Obsessive Successful Disorder."
A moment of silence followed her articulated speech.
"Are you finished?" Professor McGonagall asked flatly.
Betelgeuse rakishly grinned.
"Well, Ms Black. This meeting is to talk about any career path you might want to pursue and to help you decide which subject you should continue into your sixth and seventh years." Professor McGonagall declared with a steady voice. "Have you had any thoughts about what you would like to do after you leave Hogwarts?"
"Is dilapidating the Black fortune a suitable career path?" Betelgeuse haughtily asked. The vein on the Professor's forehead was becoming frightfully visible. "I daresay that was a no."
"I have here your list of recommendations based on your progress in your classes." She began to go through Betelgeuse's academic achievements. "Your proficiency is at a high level in all your classes. Professor Snape quite surprisingly sings your praises often, and Professor Sinistra told me of your affinity to her subject. The same can be said about Professor Flitwick. I believe you could achieve an O in all these classes and mine."
Betelgeuse nodded, "If I say Transfiguration is my favourite class, will you give me extra credits?"
"No."
"At least I tried," Betelgeuse stated, leaning against the high backrest chair.
"Professor Lupin gave me some reports about your progress in his class, and he is highly impressed. Professor Babbling and Professor Vector are equally happy with you, Ms Black. Alas, Professor Sprout and Professor Binns have described you as a brilliant student but with a — let's say — improvable ambition."
Betelgeuse raised an eyebrow, "That is profoundly questionable, Minnie. I do not fancy History of Magic, and I find Herbology fascinating enough if not sometimes quite repugnant."
Professor McGonagall nodded, scribbling some notes on her journal. She began listing off all the possible jobs Betelgeuse could think of.
"Let's see — Astronomer?"
Betelgeuse shook her head, "I adore staring at the stars above; I do not want to taint that affection with the frustration of a job."
"Magizoologist?"
"No, Professor. My capability to deal with animals and children is minimal. So, I suggest glossing even over becoming a Professor."
"Healer? It would be a challenging but rewarding path for you. You would need at least five N.E.W.T.s, with a high mark of either 'Outstanding' or 'Exceeds Expectations' at Potions, Transfiguration, Herbology, Charms, and Defence Against the Dark Arts."
"I do not know," Betelgeuse mused, "I sense my ability to cause harm is greater than my desire to treat injuries."
"That —" Professor McGonagall began, regarding the Black with a bemused glare, "I trust you are jesting, Ms Black."
"Of course, of course," she waved her hand dismissively. "I have been thinking of something that concerns more than one subject. So, I would discard Arithmancer or Potioneer."
"Professional Quidditch Player? It is a career not too much involved in academics but rewarding nonetheless."
"I will leave it to Wood, Professor," Betelgeuse smirked.
"This is proving to be harder than expected. Do you have something in mind, Ms Black?" Professor McGonagall asked with a slightly vexed tone of voice.
Betelgeuse nodded, "I have narrowed my choices down to Curse-Breaker, Auror, or Alchemist."
Professor McGonagall's eyebrows shot upward, "These are hard and taxing careers. You will need top grades and constant commitment, Ms Black."
Betelgeuse laid her hand on her heart, "Are you implying I am not always committed to my duties? You wound me, Minnie."
Professor McGonagall pursed her lips, refraining a smile to blossom. "Curse-Breaking is a challenging career involving travel, adventure, and danger. You would need to be employed by the Gringotts Wizarding Bank. In order to qualify, an O.W.L. in Arithmancy is required, Ms Black., and N.E.W.T.s in Defence Against the Dark Arts, Potions, Transfiguration, and Charms, as well as one in Ancient Runes."
Betelgeuse silently nodded.
"Alchemy is an elective subject offered at Hogwarts only when there is sufficient demand." Betelgeuse frowned; she doubted that there would ever be adequate demand. "It is taught to sixth and seventh-years only. You will need to talk with Professor Snape about the possibility to take extra Potion classes involving alchemical processes at the N.E.W.T. level."
"Lastly, You'd need top grades to become an Auror," Professor McGonagall said, extracting a small, dark leaflet from under the mass on her desk and opening it. "They ask for a minimum of five N.E.W.T.s, and nothing under 'Exceeds Expectations' grade, I see. Then you would be required to undergo a stringent series of character and aptitude tests at the Auror office. It's a difficult career path, Ms Black; they only take the best. In fact, I don't think anybody has been taken on in the last three years."
"Do I need to mention again, Professor, my veritable cornucopia of high-octane maladies? Do you remember? " Betelgeuse inquired.
"Of course, Ms Black. 'Outrageous Intelligence Syndrome and a little Obsessive Successful Disorder'." Professor McGonagall drily replied. "I would also advise Transfiguration because Aurors frequently need to Transfigure or Untransfigure in their work. And I ought to tell you now, Ms Black, that I do not accept students into my N.E.W.T. classes unless they have achieved 'Exceeds Expectations' or higher at Ordinary Wizarding Level. But I'd say you're averaging 'Outstanding' at the moment, so you won't have any problem putting in some more good hard work. Then you ought to do Charms, always useful, and Potions." she added, with the merest flicker of a smile. "Poisons and antidotes are essential studies for Aurors. And I must tell you that Professor Snape absolutely refuses to take students who get anything other than 'Outstanding' in their O.W.L.s, so —"
"I will not have any problem achieving an O in Potions, Professor. The subject fascinates me."
"— and I've heard from Professor Lupin your marks have been flying. He stated you show a pronounced aptitude for his subject — Yes, I think being an Auror would be a good fit." Betelgeuse smiled brightly.
"Any questions, Black?"
"Yes," Betelgeuse replied, "What sort of character and aptitude tests do I need to undergo at the Ministry if I get enough N.E.W.T.s?"
"Well, you'll need to demonstrate the ability to react well to pressure and so forth," Professor McGonagall said, "perseverance and dedication because Auror training takes a further three years, not to mention very high skills in practical defence. It will mean a lot more study even after you've left school."
Betelgeuse nodded, taking the booklets on Aurors, Curse-Breakers and Alchemists. "I will reflect on what you disclosed, Professor." She rose to her feet and inclined her head in farewell.
"Ms Black," Professor McGonagall called after her. Betelgeuse turned back, gazing at one of her favourite teachers in the entire school. "I wonder — Did you ever find what you were looking for in the Restricted Section about Animagi?"
Betelgeuse paused. "I did. My interest in the subject has always been purely academic. Any further actions would have been highly illegal. Am I correct?"
Professor McGonagall's keen eyes watched her closely, Betelgeuse charmingly smiled. The professor's eyes narrowed. "Indeed, you are."
"Rest assured, Professor. I would never perform anything resolving in breaking the law," Betelgeuse unconvincingly stated.
Professor McGonagall watched the Black leave her office with the firm conviction that Betelgeuse Altair Black could indeed do something determining in her breaking the law.
☆☆☆
After her meeting with Professor McGonagall, Betelgeuse immersed herself even more in her studies. She reviewed every note she had taken over the years; she read additional books to refine her knowledge and pulled plenty of all-nighters, much to the twins' dismay. Betelgeuse had talked with them about her career advice meeting, receiving their enthusiastic support and their endless teasing about being a female version of their older brother Percy.
O.W.L.s. were a treacherous affair. Of that, Betelgeuse was sure. She sat on the floor of her dorm, surrounded by books, parchments, and notes. Angelina and Alicia were studying with the bright black-haired witch.
"I'd rather bruise my ribs again than study for these blasted O.W.L.s," Angelina groaned as she read the summary she had made for Charms.
"I would rather have you bruise your ribs again, too, if that meant not having O.W.L.s," Betelgeuse casually replied, not taking her eyes away from her Arithmancy notes.
"Blimey, thanks," Angelina muttered as Alicia snickered beside her.
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