Chapter 17
After Moody’s intense lesson on the Unforgivable Curses, Lilim followed the other students to their next class, History of Magic. The moment she stepped into the classroom, she could feel the oppressive weight of boredom settle over her. The room was dimly lit, the air stale, and the walls lined with dusty old books that looked as if they hadn't been touched in decades.
Professor Binns, the ghostly teacher, drifted through the chalkboard and began his lecture in a droning monotone that immediately made Lilim’s eyes droop. She had never encountered something so mind-numbingly dull in her life. His voice seemed to be a sleep spell in itself, and most of her classmates had either given in to the drowsiness or were entertaining themselves with quiet games.
Not wanting to waste her time, Lilim pulled out her sketchbook and continued working on the design for the gun she was planning. It was a new project that had occupied much of her free time. The idea was to develop a weapon that could bypass standard magical protection spells like Protego. Most wizards relied on such defensive charms, believing their attacks would always overpower their opponents. If she could get this weapon to function as intended, it would be a game changer for their soldiers.
As she sketched, she noticed Hermione Granger, the Gryffindor bookworm, attempting to glance over at her work. Of course, the charm Lilim had placed on the sketchbook ensured that anyone other than her would only see blank pages. Hermione frowned in frustration, clearly puzzled, but eventually gave up and returned to her own notes.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the two-hour history lesson ended. The students eagerly packed up their things and made their way to the last class of the day: Potions.
Potions class was held in a cold, dimly lit dungeon that smelled faintly of herbs and something acrid. Despite the unwelcoming atmosphere, Lilim found the concept of potion-making intriguing. Potions required precision and understanding of magical ingredients, a skill that demanded patience and focus.
Professor Snape began the class in his usual stern manner, pointing to the board where he had written the day’s assignment. "Today, you will be brewing a potion of Dreamless Sleep," he announced. "The recipe is on the board. Get to work."
Not exactly the most engaging teaching style, Lilim thought, but she went along with it. As she opened her textbook, she noticed that the recipe for the potion in the book was slightly different from the one Snape had written on the board. Intrigued, she compared the two and quickly realized that Snape's version was more efficient and likely to yield a more potent result.
She gathered her ingredients from the shelves and began working meticulously, following Snape’s instructions to the letter. As she worked, she glanced around the room. Most of the Gryffindors, including Harry and Ron, were following the book's instructions without question. It became clear to her why Slytherins often appeared more talented in Potions—they paid attention to detail and were willing to adapt.
After some time, Lilim had a perfectly brewed potion of Dreamless Sleep in front of her. The color was spot on, and it emitted the correct faint, lavender scent. She carefully poured it into a vial and brought it to the front for Professor Snape to inspect. He nodded approvingly, though his expression remained as impassive as ever.
Without another word, Lilim left the classroom, satisfied with her work. She made her way back to the Slytherin dormitory, her mind already wandering to what she might do next. Upon entering her room, she closed the door and pulled out her communication device to contact Cid.
Activating the device, Lilim saw Cid’s image appear on the screen, though this time he was in his Shadow persona, cloaked in dark, mysterious robes. She immediately bowed her head, greeting him with the respect he was due. "Master Shadow," she began, "I hope all is well on your end."
Shadow nodded slightly, his face partially obscured by his hood. "Lilim, I’ve been busy. Today, I found something rather... interesting."
Lilim raised an eyebrow, waiting for him to continue.
"While exploring Knockturn Alley, I discovered a shop full of these tiny elf-like creatures," Shadow said, his tone a mix of amusement and curiosity. "At first, I thought they were just small, underfed wizards, but no—they were elves. House-elves, I think they’re called."
Lilim stifled a smile. "And what did you do with them, Master?"
"I decided to... liberate them," Shadow replied with a mischievous glint in his eye. "I blew up the shop and took them with me. They're quite eager to work for us now. Strange little creatures, but very useful."
Lilim couldn't help but chuckle at the image of Shadow casually blowing up a shop in Knockturn Alley. "That sounds like quite the adventure, Master."
"It was," he agreed. "I also found a lot of interesting shops down there. Might explore them further, but for now, the elves are helping out with our operations."
He paused for a moment before adding, "I’ll be coming to Hogsmeade soon to meet with you. We can discuss more then."
Lilim bowed her head again. "Thank you, Master. I look forward to it."
"Until then, keep an eye on things at Hogwarts. Report anything unusual."
"Of course, Master," Lilim replied.
With that, the communication ended, and the device went dark. Lilim set it aside and leaned back in her chair, reflecting on the day’s events. Hogwarts was proving to be an interesting place, full of both challenges and opportunities. She had much to prepare for, but she was confident in her abilities.
After a long day, Lilim decided to take a shower before bed. The hot water relaxed her muscles, and she let her mind drift as she planned for the days ahead. Once she was finished, she slipped into bed, her thoughts still buzzing with everything she had learned.
As she lay in the dark, she knew that things were only going to get more interesting from here.