After sending Ron to McGonagall, I hurried straight to Snape.
I’d be dumping tomorrow’s work onto today’s me, but there was nothing else for it.
"Professor! Professor!"
"Leonard Oppenbach! What face do you have to come and show me? Did you come to mock me? Get out!"
"Come on, Professor, calm down a little."
"Calm down? Calm down, you say? How could you do this to me! You’ve brought this humiliation upon your own teacher! Do you know what kind of public shaming I’m going to get from Minerva McGonagall tomorrow? This is why those damned Gryffindors are hopeless. Repaying kindness with betrayal!"
I listened quietly for a while as the professor vented his rage.
Once Snape had finally started to come to his senses, I said, "Professor, you can yell at me later. I’m here to talk business."
"...Business?"
"Yes, about that vow. Ron hasn’t been able to make it yet."
"Why not?"
"When Fred and George were little, they tried to prank Ron and nearly got him to make that vow, so their parents were furious."
"Ah, those Weasley twins again. So? You haven’t done it because you were worried their parents would be angry if they found out?"
"Yes."
"As expected, Gryffindors are soft to the core. If the boy has your secret in his hands, you should not be handling it so carelessly. If he had come to Slytherin, none of this would have happened..."
"Anyway, Mrs. Weasley is coming soon. But no matter how you look at it, it’s really strange for students to make a vow like that between themselves. So please talk to her for me."
"If that’s all, why not speak to your head of house instead of coming to me?"
"Because... Professor McGonagall doesn’t know my secret. It wouldn’t be a good idea to make one more person aware of it."
"Hmm... That was wise. The fewer people who know a secret, the better. Even if it is an Unbreakable Vow."
"So, please."
"...Very well."
Knock, knock, knock.
Looks like they were here.
"Come in."
Ron and Mrs. Weasley opened the door and came in.
"Ah, Mrs. Weasley. Please, have a seat."
"Hello, Professor Snape. It’s been a while. Ron said he had something important to discuss, so we came here... What is this about?"
"I’ll get straight to the point. This student and Ronald Weasley must make an Unbreakable Vow."
"What? An Unbreakable Vow? Why? You know very well that’s not the sort of vow students should be making."
"It is very dangerous. Nevertheless, it must be done."
"If Professor Snape is saying it like that, then it must really be important. In that case, can I make it on his behalf?"
"You cannot do it in his place. Mr. Weasley has learned a very important secret about this student, and that secret must never spread. If it does, Death Eaters will target this child."
"A secret? What kind of secret is it...?"
"The moment you hear it, you will have to make the vow as well. No one is exempt, not even Professor Dumbledore."
"That serious? Then it really must be important. For even Professor Dumbledore to have to make a vow... Still, I’m this boy’s mother. I have a right to know why Ron has to do something so dangerous. I’ll make the vow too."
"If that is your decision, so be it. Oppenbach, will you make the vow with this lady and reveal your secret?"
"I will."
"Oh? You’re that boy from King’s Cross Station, aren’t you?"
Ron’s mother recognized me and spoke up.
"Hello, ma’am. I should have thanked you back then, but the train was leaving and I... I was grateful for your help then."
"Yes, you’re a good boy. I remember your face. So you were sorted into Gryffindor. Are you close with Ron?"
"Mom, this is him. Leonard Oppenbach. He’s the one who told me to change my wand. Harry and Leonard and I are the closest."
"Oh, is that so? Mr. Oppenbach. May I call you Leonard?"
"Of course, ma’am. Please do."
"Then thank you, Leonard, for telling Ron about his wand. You nearly ruined Ron’s future. I had no idea a wand made with unicorn hair could have that effect. How did you know something like that?"
"I learned it all in the library."
"The library? Good. A student should be going to the library, after all. Could you perhaps take our Ron there too?"
Ah... Should I tell her or not?
"Of course. From now on, I’ll take Ron to the library with me too."
"How sweet of you. You heard him, Ron? Study hard with this boy from now on."
"...Yes, Mom."
"That sounded a bit slow, didn’t it? You’re not planning to hate studying like Fred and George, are you?"
"No, Mom."
"Good. Studies come first for a student."
Apparently dissatisfied that we were only talking nonsense after coming here to make a vow, Professor Snape urged us on.
"We should make the vow now."
"Oh dear, look at me. I always do this."
I made an Unbreakable Vow with Mrs. Weasley.
"Now you can hear your secret, yes? The reason Ron had to make such a vow."
"I have the gift of prophecy."
"Prophecy? You?"
"It seems hard to believe. Would you like me to show you?"
Professor Snape agreed as well.
"Yes, show us."
I drew out my wand and focused.
Hmm... What should I show them?
Right. That’ll do.
Magic flowed from my wand and formed a circle.
I showed them a vision of the Weasley family flying off to Egypt, where Bill worked, using the Galleons they won in the lottery for a holiday.
A commemorative photo taken in front of the pyramids appeared in the Daily Prophet. Yes, and there was that rat-faced thing too.
"Hmm... From what I can see, you’ve won the lottery. Congratulations. I didn’t bother checking exactly when, but judging by Ron’s height, it should be around next year or the year after."
"We won the lottery...? My boy, thank you so much."
Mrs. Weasley’s face lit up.
"Don’t mention it. I didn’t give you the lottery ticket or anything. I just saw what would happen."
"Yes... Thank you, Leonard."
"Um... This may be presumptuous, but if you do win the lottery, I hope you’ll buy Ron new things. Those pure-blood Slytherin brats always pick on him for wearing old clothes whenever they see him. Especially Malfoy."
"...Is that so? I understand. I’ll make sure to do that. I really can’t stand those people. How do they always manage to do things just like their fathers?"
Ron thanked me too.
"Leonard, thank you! We’re going to win the lottery!"
"Ron, you don’t need to thank me. I only showed you a future where you win. I didn’t make you win. Just don’t go bragging about it to everyone."
"Yeah, got it."
"Mrs. Weasley, then I may make the vow with Ron now, yes?"
"Just call me Molly, dear. Yes, you may make the vow now."
And so I finished making the vow with Ron as well. Now I could worry a little less about the secret leaking out.
Once business was done, Professor Snape showed the two of them the door.
"Then that concludes our business. Mrs. Weasley, you may go."
"I will keep today’s matter strictly secret, Professor. Then I’ll be going. Oh, is our Ron doing well in Potions?"
Professor Snape’s expression did not look especially good. Which meant he couldn’t even manage a polite compliment.
Molly seemed to read that expression too, because her face hardened.
"No, I don’t need an answer. My apologies for the trouble. Ronald Weasley! Come with me this instant!"
The Weasleys left the office, and I stayed behind, planted firmly in place.
"Why are you still here?"
"Hey, why not? Is it strange for a student to stay by his teacher’s side?"
"What? Ah, right. You ungrateful little wretch. How dare you bring such humiliation upon me!"
"No... Didn’t you mock Professor McGonagall first?"
"What? When did I ever do that?"
"Professor McGonagall said you were bragging about Slytherin winning three years in a row..."
"How is that mocking her? I wasn’t mocking Professor McGonagall. I was sneering at Gryffindor."
???
What kind of logic was that?
"Well, whether you were mocking someone or not, it’s none of my business."
"Still, I didn’t expect you to like Quidditch. You’re the sort who always goes to the library, so what wind blew you into wanting to play Quidditch?"
"Ah, Professor McGonagall hired me. One hundred Galleons per match."
"What? You betrayed your teacher for that little pocket change?"
"How is that pocket change, Professor? That’s three pints of Acromantula venom a year."
"Hmm? Now that you mention it, that does sound reasonable. Three pints of Acromantula venom is hard to pass up."
"I’d like to ask you something too, Professor. Why are you so obsessed with Quidditch? You don’t look like the type."
"I do hate it."
"If you hate it, why do you get so worked up over it?"
"I hate Quidditch, but I like it when Slytherin beats Gryffindor at Quidditch. Mocking and tormenting Gryffindor is the only pleasure left in my life."
Ah...
"Good grief, for a professor and all. Didn’t you tell me before that things weren’t that bad when the school was first founded? That pure-bloods shouldn’t be hated and all that... Is this really how Hogwarts is run?"
"That was then and this is now. Those disgusting Gryffindors deserve everything they get."
"I’m a Gryffindor too, you know."
"You’re the biggest problem of all!"
"Hmph..."
"Stop making that noise and get out. If you’re done here, leave."
"Oh, right. When is our next private lesson?"
"How about after lunch tomorrow? It’s Sunday, so there shouldn’t be anything else going on."
"Sure, then let’s do it after lunch tomorrow."
"Good. What will you learn tomorrow?"
"Hmm... I had a question like this recently. So I discussed it with Professor Flitwick."
I told Professor Snape about the question I’d had.
After hearing it, Professor Snape nodded.
"Yes, there are certainly spells that require very little wand movement. Other than the [Patronus] you learned, that is. I made one myself."
"Really? Could you show me here?"
"Nothing to it. [Sectumsempra]!"
When Professor Snape swished his wand, one side of the office wall split open exactly along the path of the wand.
"Oh! What spell is that?"
"A spell I created when I was a student. Its name is Sectumsempra. It’s a spell that fires a blade of magic from the wand. No particular wand movement is required. The blade is formed by the wand swing itself."
"Then please teach me Sectumsempra next time. It looks incredibly cool."
"You know a thing or two when you see it. It is a truly remarkable spell. But it is very dangerous, so do not attempt it carelessly before I teach you tomorrow."
"Yes, sir!"
"You do answer quickly. Now go on, I have work to do."
*
I returned to the Gryffindor common room.
Most people had scattered, but a few Gryffindors were still throwing a party. The Weasley twins, for example.
"Has the super rookie arrived? / Where did the star of the party go, only to show up now?"
"I had something to take care of. How much longer are you two planning to stay like this?"
"We beat Slytherin for the first time too. / We’ve got to enjoy it while we can. Want a butterbeer?"
"I’m still a first-year. What do you mean, butterbeer? Take it easy and head in."
I could hear the twins behind me saying it wasn’t beer but a drink, but I pretended not to hear them and went straight up to my room.
No, that wasn’t beer?
Then why was beer in the name?
That wasn’t my fault. It was the fault of whoever named it that way.
Anyway, I cooled my flushed face and took out parchment and quill.
It was finally time to send a letter to the orphanage.
I kept thinking I’d send it, then forgetting. This time I really had to do it.
'To the Headmistress.
I’m Leonard, Headmistress. Don’t be surprised when the owl brings this letter. I’ll take care of my own food, so you don’t need to send any, though I’d be happy if you did. And if you want to reply, please don’t send the owl right back. It’ll bring the letter to me.
I’m doing very well here. Classes are fun, and my friends are all kind.
I’ve also joined a sports team for wizards. It’s called Quidditch, and it’s a sport where you fly on broomsticks. I think I have a talent for it.
The boys I’m closest with are Harry and Ron. They’re both really good kids.
Oh, and I’ve started dating a girl. Her name is Hermione Granger, and she’s really beautiful. Hermione and I usually go to the library together. There aren’t many places at Hogwarts for dating, after all. When I grow up, I definitely want to marry Hermione. If I get the chance, I’d really like to introduce her to you.
Also, I don’t think I can go back to the orphanage this Christmas. This is my first time in the wizarding world, and there’s still so much I don’t know. I’m planning to stay at school and study more, so please keep that in mind.
I think that’s about all the useful things I had to say.
Love, Leonard.'
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