Leave the past behind. Don't look back. Just take that danburite and throw it far away. Far, far away.

Danburite

The next morning, Peregrine and Rose noticed immediately that Savannah was depressed. They roped Scorpius and Albus into figuring out how to cheer her up at breakfast.

“Morning Savannah. We have Defense in a few minutes. Excited to meet my dad?” Albus chirped as he bounced into the seat next to her. Savannah looks up from her porridge and straightens her shoulders, her face hardening.

“I met him last night, after my tutoring lesson.” A few seats down, where a snobby seventh year named Gladys Elliott sits, gives a laugh. She had never been particularly nice to Savannah since her arrival.

“Tutoring? You?” It was obvious that she was being intentionally cruel. By the second day of classes, the rumor mill was spinning at full force with Savannah’s poor performance in every class involving a wand.

“Yes, her, Gladys. Is that a problem with you?” Rose snaps. She had never liked the girl, always wanting to be the center of attention and going through boys like they were cookies.

Gladys sneers, her slightly pointed nose accenting her pretty French looks of auburn hair and brown eyes the colour of chocolate. With her flawless cream skin, she was overly beautiful.

“No, no why would it be?” She says airily.

“If that’s the case, then please keep your opinion to yourself.” Peregrine grumbles. Gladys narrows her eyes.

“At least my opinion is worth more than yours, Kendance.” Peregrine’s eyes fill slightly, aware of her falling grade in Potions and in Charms and her family’s constant disappointment in her. Savannah sits up, turning to look at Gladys full in the face.

“In that case, please tell me your opinion on the latest capture of the death eater Jakeston?” Gladys’ mouth drops slightly.

“I don’t know anything about that.”

“Then what about the new discovery of a possible cure to lycanthropy? Or maybe your views on which Minster for Magic candidate is likely to win next spring?” Gladys blushes slightly under Savannah’s even gaze.

“I don’t know.” Gladys spits. Savannah nods.

“Well, for your highness’s information, Peregrine finds that the capture was sloppy and the death of the muggle bystander could have been prevented had they stunned the death eater from behind instead of approaching with wands out. The new break through is a likely success because it centers on changing the affected cells from wolf to human, instead of simply killing the infected cells, which usually leads to the death of the treated patient. And as for the election, well I find that Ernie Macmillan is a way more sensible answer to society’s problems today than Marietta Edgecombe and Peregrine agrees.” Savannah sweeps a cold and disdainful look over Gladys, taking note of her too short school skirt and the way her shirt is unbuttoned three buttons down. She was a borderline whore.

“Logically, Peregrine’s opinion is worth more than yours, on matters of importance in this day and age. Of course, that is a question of which matters are of consequence, so I shall dissipate that point and move on to the question of who is favoring the person who is giving the opinion. In this matter, it is her friends and family, and those of the Professors who teach her. We care greatly for her opinion and find it highly illuminating and refreshing to speak with her on a daily basis. Whereas your opinion, to me, is not worth much since you can only speak of the newest fashion and what matches what. Highly admirable and useful though the knowledge may be, I care not for them. So, with a great certainty, you are wrong and also interrupting a content breakfast among myself and my friends. Good day.” Savannah finished easily, even giving a slight smile and turning her back on the indignant, furiously blushing girl. Peregrine’s mouth is to the table and Rose is covering her mouth with both hands to keep from laughing. Scorpius is appraising Savannah with new eyes and Albus is still resisting the urge to cover Peregrine’s hand with his own in comfort for the harsh words.

“You’re just jealous that—” Gladys erupts shrilly.

“I believe I said good day to you Miss Elliott. That means that I am done talking with you and also done being in your presence. I wish to eat without you blathering on around me.” Savannah says crisply, without looking up. Gladys shrieks and stalks away without another sound. Rose breaks into applause and Peregrine smiles widely.

“Thanks for that.” Savannah smiles slightly back, feeling her temper cooling.

“Any time.” Owls swoop into the Hall, dropping off packages from home, news and magazines, and some tidbits of information from the family to various students.

A note is dropped into Savannah’s lap by a handsome screech owl. She picks it up, her brow furrowed in confusion.

“I have no one to write me.” She murmurs as she opens the seal and unfolds the piece of parchment.

Miss Merlin,

Sorry for the delay, but it is required for all students to have flying lessons in their first year at Hogwarts. Though you may be in your sixth, it is your first year here at this school. Please meet me after your classes at three for a flying lesson. Your tutoring sessions have been cancelled for today.

Sincerely,

Professor O. Wood.

“Flying lessons?” Scorpius questions. Savannah shrugs.

“Sounds fun. You guys wanna come?”

“Sure!” Rose breaks in immediately. The others nod their consent and finish their breakfast. Savannah is peculiarly quiet the rest of the day, going through her lessons with detached interest and hardly smiling when she manages to complete the charm that was taught in today’s lessons. When they walked to their Defense class, they slowed to talk to her.

“Savannah, when did you figure out how to use your wand?” Rose asks. Savannah looks down at her wand in her hemline.

“I got really mad last night in tutoring. I figured out what it felt like. I can’t do it all the time, but it was a start.” She says lowly. Peregrine nudges her shoulder.

“Why are you so down?”

“Later” She tells them as they enter the classroom. It’s decorated in posters from the past thirty years, of wanted criminals and of little quips on wand work and certain spells. There was even one of Sirius Black.

Professor Potter stood by his desk, welcoming his students and watching as they sat down at random desks.

“Welcome back for another year. Looks like we’re stuck with each other for a while longer.” The class rumbles with laughter. Harry smiles briefly before going to his desk and sitting in his seat, regarding his students.

“Today, we are going to be doing two things. First, we shall practice the Reducto Curse for thirty minutes. But,” He stops those already pulling out their wands. The class regards him curiously.

“While practicing, I want you all to think upon what I’m about to tell you and give me answers and opinions when practice time is up.” He stands up, glancing briefly at the letter open on his desk.

“In the past 25 years, the ministry has improved and perfected its departments of authority of crimes and investigations. Or so it would seem. What I want you to think about is that is it possible that there are flaws in the system at this moment? Are there things that could be changed or perhaps implemented? Many of you have parents or family in these very departments, so I expect thoughtful answers. Get to work.” He sits back down, reading through his letter again while the desks immediately pull to the side and dummies popping up for the students to practice on. Savannah glares at her dummy, sharing it with Rose and Peregrine. Scorpius and Albus, along with Jonathon, take the one next to them.

“Of course there are flaws. They don’t always know who cast what in fights, nor do they use enough force in hunting down criminals that aren’t past death eaters or who don’t do particularly horrifying acts.” Rose speaks up immediately, pointing her wand at the dummy.

“Reducto!” The dummy rocks back with a mighty bang, but is put upright once more so Peregrine can have a go.

“It also needs to be more specific about underage magic. We have summertime homework to complete, and that’s fine to do when you have magical parents. Muggleborns are screwed over because their parent’s magic cannot shield their own when practicing spells. They get constant reminders and fines. My dad had a problem with that when he was a kid. And most of the time, it wasn’t even him!” Albus argues. Scorpius joins in, taking the case of the prejudice of the aurors and police. Peregrine keeps silent, her own parents being naturalists and only knowing of the Auror department. Savannah says nothing as she stands before the dummy, her wand pointed at its stomach, attempting to scoop her wild magic to her wand, as she did last night. Sweat beads at her temples and her braid is looking rather frizzy.

“Reducto!” Savannah shouts as soon as she feels a tendril of magic in her wand. A small spurt of the curse flies out, but nothing more. She grits her teeth, blocking out the other voices. She is desperately attempting not to think of what Professor Potter had assigned them. She had plenty to say about the issue, oh she most certainly did, but her temper would flare and her magic might lash out. She couldn’t hold it in, though, as they finished their practicing and sat once more at the returned desks. Professor Potter stood before them, regarding them curiously.

“Your answers please?” Hands rose everywhere and much of what Rose, Albus, and Scorpius had said was repeated and argued over. Some took the stance that the force could never be perfect but were giving it a good go while others argued it would continue to deteriorate if something wasn’t done. When most everyone had spoken, Professor Potter locked his gaze on Savannah, who had been staring fixedly out the window, attempting to ignore the discussion.

“Miss Merlin, your answer?” Savannah turns her body around to face him, her lips in a straight line and her gaze on her desk. Her hand grips the other to stay calm.

“They are too superior and arrogant when it comes to strange or curious cases.” She says reluctantly.

“If you would elaborate?” Harry asks. Savannah bites her lip but lifts her head and looks at the black board.

“The police and the aurors do not take seriously cases that are too odd or maybe reported by unreliable or unlikely people. For instance, say a little child sent out a cry for help because they claim their parents had been murdered by death eaters, only to receive a reply saying that no other alerts had been reported and telling the child to turn on a light to stop another nightmare from happening.” Savannah says sharply. Voices break out instantly, arguing against such accusations and several agreeing.

Professor Potter was hiding his astonishment. That couldn’t have happened, could it have?

“Homework is to practice shield charms. We’re having a small dueling competition on Monday. Class dismissed.” As it was the last class of the day, the students stampeded out. Savannah fled, leaving her friends to run to catch up to her as she walked towards the grounds.