Khaos

A few days later, Natrix got a letter back from Amelia Bones, director of the DMLE. Natrix opened it and found enclosed copies of records of emancipation along with a request to go to the goblins to sort out the Black heir thing. She smiled and handed Hannah’s to her before saying. “We’re legally emancipated. We just have to go to Gringotts to figure out the Black heir situation considering Sirius Black was disowned by Walburga Black and the ministry doesn’t know if he was ever disowned formally.” We’ll have to request to have one of the teachers take us to Gringotts, Professor Flitwick is our best bet, he’ll take any excuse to visit the Goblin Nation during the school year. I was talking to him about the whole child of death thing and we got to talking about the whole finding out you’re mixed species thing. He’s also very nice and will understand completely.”

Theo asked, “When did you start being friends with Professor Flitwick?”
Natrix responded, “First day of term! I’ve disowned Snape as my head of house, and Professor Flitwick has offered to fill that role. He’s also apparently bragged to Snape about it, to the horror of Professor McGonagall. In Professor Flitwick’s words, “Minerva believes I am too chaotic for my own good. I disagree and I encourage you to follow in my footsteps and start chaos, especially to annoy the hell out of Snape for being an asshole to you.” He’s a very good role model.”
Romulus sighed and said, “He’s a chaotic role model, but I suppose that’s fine. Just don’t start any schemes”
Natrix gasped and responded, “Romulus, you think so little of me, even if I did scheme, I’d never be caught!”
Hannah looked up at the baron floating over them and asked, “Your name is Romulus?”
The baron nodded and said, “Yes, Romulus the fifth, I mostly go by “The Baron” now, but Natrix calls all the ghosts by their proper names.”
Natrix said simply, “It’s rude to call someone by the manner of their death or their appearance!”
Paige nodded and said, “I’m sure that the Hufflepuff ghost doesn’t like being called fat all the time, so I just call him “The friar” since I don’t want to hurt his feelings and he seems so nice!”
Romulus agreed, stating, “That has bothered him for centuries.”
Theo said, “I don’t know what anyone was thinking when they decided that was what they would call such a nice ghost.”
Natrix seemed angry about that and grumbled, “People are assholes who don’t think!” before promptly looking at the time and realizing they needed to head to charms. She grabbed her book bag and said, “Hannah, we need to get to charms, I refuse to be late to one of Professor Flitwick’s classes! He is too nice to be late to one of his classes for anything other than an emergency, and even that is partially unacceptable!”

They were walking to charms class, or rather, Hannah was walking at a proper pace while Natrix was speedwalking. Hannah said, “Nat, you can slow down, we aren’t going to be late.”
Nat responded, “I already feel like I’m late, I am usually there before he unlocks the classroom!”

Hannah had known that Nat was always the first person in Charms but hadn’t realized that she was usually there before Professor Flitwick. She’d always assumed that Nat brewed in the morning because she did often brew in the morning. Hannah wondered if Nat could be compared to a mad scientist sometimes. Only, a very potions and genetics-focused mad scientist. Mad Potionist? Hannah wondered if potionist was a word and figured that if it wasn’t, it should be, especially in Wizarding society. Hannah also wondered what characteristics Nat shared with Dr. Frankenstein, and decided it was best not to think about these things so early in the morning.

They got to the classroom as Professor Flitwick was unlocking it and Nat immediately grinned, “Good morning Professor! How are you this morning?”
Professor Flitwick smiled back returned the smile and said, “Absolutely splendid! I switched Snape’s coffee for decaf this morning out of spite, so just be careful! Also, I was wondering if I could talk to you after class?”
Hannah snorted at the mention of Professor Flitwick messing with Snape and Natrix looked unsurprised before saying, “Oh, well I was wondering if Hannah and I could talk to you after class anyways so of course.”
Professor Flitwick said, “Amazing! Well, I’ll talk to you both after class since students will be arriving any second now!”

⭑⛤★☆★⛤⭑

After class, once everyone left, it was Professor Flitwick’s work period and a free period for the first years. Professor Flitwick said, “I’d like to start with what you wanted to talk about because I feel as though what I wanted to talk about may potentially become emotional.”
Natrix cocked her head in confusion, accepting that with a nod before saying, “Well, you know how I was talking about how Hannah and I are in line for the same heirship since our fathers are brothers and from the direct Black line?”
Filius nodded and Hannah gaped, “We’re first cousins!?”
Natrix nodded and continued as if she’d known for ages, “We’ve both been emancipated and we need to go to Gringotts as soon as possible to figure out the whole heirship thing because of Sirius Black being publicly disowned but nobody is sure if he was formally disowned. I was wondering if you’d take us since you’d mentioned you take any excuse to go during the school year.”
Filius smiled softly and said, “Of course, I’ll take you both. I’m pretty sure my brother would be your account manager as well. Either the Blacks or the Potters, I always forget which one. I’ll help you both with any legal jargon. Is that all you wanted to talk about?”
Hannah nodded, and said, looking surprised, “That was much easier than I thought it would be.”
Filius responded, “Well I’d do anything to help my students, as long as I can defend it legally and not be put in prison over it, that is. All they have to do is ask. I also think it might be a goblin thing, My father always did manage to find the children with the least amount of proper guardians.”

Filius looked like he was thinking before breaking thought and speaking, “Oh, now to the thing I wanted to talk about.”
Natrix tilted her head again, this time the opposite way, and asked, “What did you want to talk about?”
Filius said, “Well, I’ve noticed that you have a lot of trouble with dizziness despite the corset you obviously wear to help with it. You most likely have a circulation issue. I noticed at the sorting that you lean on things when you’re extremely dizzy, which seems to help. What I really want to say, is that I have a present for you.”
Nat was immediately starting to tear up at the realization that he’d paid so much attention. Filius went around behind his desk and pulled something out, a cane. He came back and handed it to her. “I made this for you because it is so clear that it will help you improve your quality of life and I want you to be able to do everything you want to.” The cane was made out of ebony wood and had protection, runes, and sigils carved into the handle along with a beautifully carved vine and anemone flower pattern down the entire thing.
Natrix stared at it before saying in shock, “I-I’ve never been given a gift like this before,” immediately bursting into tears, her shoulders shaking as she sobbed.. Filius looked sad at that and knew that this wasn’t Natrix crying because she was sad, it was crying because she had never had anyone do something so nice before. She hugged him and couldn’t help but keep saying thank you over and over while he patted her hair.

Hannah wondered what sort of family looked at their child, who clearly needed a mobility aid, and just decided, “Nope, we’re not helping her.” Then again, Hannah reminded herself, the ones that raised Natrix were kidnappers.