Chapter 6
Chapter 6
Tuesday
Hadrian was this close to murdering a plant. The sheer audacity the stupid thing had to not like his singing was exponentially frustrating. Hadrian might not make it into Year 6 Herbology because of a single plant and he was considering homicide against a sentient plant. Maybe he was being a little dramatic, but he was annoyed. Two tests in a row being horrible wasn't exactly making his week enjoyable.
"Hello." He looked up from his little anger fest and blinked at Trill in surprise.
"Bensoir, hi." Hadrian smiled tiredly. "What's up? Don't you have Charms?"
"It's one in the afternoon." Trill raised an eyebrow. "My Charms Exam was two hours ago." Hadrian looked down at his watch, a little stunned, and then promptly slumped onto his study table in defeat.
"Kill me now." He groaned.
"I'm guessing Herbology didn't go well?" Hadrian heard a chair scuff against the floors as Trill took a seat across from him.
"No, the plant I was working on hates my singing apparently." Hadrian complained, sitting up so that he could complain properly. "Musical plants are so picky! You don't even have to be a good singer, necessarily. You just have to sing in the right octave, or maybe the plant hates lyrics and you should hum instead, or maybe the plant just hates you and will refuse to give you fruit no matter what you do!" Hadrian leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms. "If I don't make it into Year 6 because of that stupid plant I'm burying it at the bottom of the lake."
"That's a tad excessive, don't you think?" Trill asked, raising an amused eyebrow. "I'm sure it'll be fine. Wasn't there more to the test than a single plant?"
"Well yeah, but the musical tree sprouts were the main focus, we did those individually." Hadrian sighed. "Besides that we did a general knowledge test that any third year could pass in their sleep, plus a hands-on gardening section with carnivorous plants."
"Ah, so easy, of course." Hadrian rolled his eyes at Trill's sarcasm. "Seriously though, it sounds like they'll understand the trouble you had with the one plant and overlook it. You did well on the other two sections, didn't you?"
"Well yeah…"
"Then don't worry about it." Trill smiled. Hadrian sighed, but he smiled back.
"I'll try." He said finally. "Anyway, how were your tests?"
"Well I'll probably be in Year 5 Charms, which isn't too bad since it's my Year." Trill said thoughtfully. "And yesterday I did Drama and Transfiguration."
"Oh, you were excited for Drama." Hadrian remembered. "How'd it go?"
"Really good!" Trill said brightly. "Samîel and I paired up for mock scenes and had to practice with the enchanted artifacts."
"How'd that go?"
"It was a little hard to get the hang up, especially since the props kept changing the scene prompt." Hadrian tilted his head.
"What does that mean?" He asked curiously.
"Oh, the props choose the scene." Trill explained brightly. "We have a backdrop that is the setting, we have furniture which usually matches the setting, and several other props on set that we have to interact with." Hadrian nodded in understanding. "Throughout the Exam the props changed shape, color, category, the whole nine yards. Every time they changed we had to shift ourselves as well. Some of the kids were super talented, switching personalities and coming up with scripts just on the spot!"
"That sounds really hard." Hadrian laughed.
"It was, but it's also really fun." Tril told him, "In previous years the tests all involved magical scripts, remember?"
"Yeah, and costumes." Hadrian nodded. "Why d'you think it's different?"
"Probably because I was testing with the sixth years." Trill grinned. "Because I'm going for my Mastery, I asked to test one year up because sometimes they'll just put you in Year 7 and give you the Mastery next testing period."
"It's sounds like you really enjoyed, it, so either way it'll be good for you." Hadrian said thoughtfully. "If they make you wait a month, that's a month of a subject you'll enioy. If they give you the Mastery, that's just great regardless."
"Yeah, that's what I thought too." Trill laughed. "Testing up a Year was fun. I'm glad I asked." Hadrian smiled at him.
"I'm glad you did too, since it made you so happy." Trill's cheeks tinted with a light pink, and it made Hadrian sigh fondly. "Sorry if that made you uncomfortable."
"No no, it didn't." Trill waved his hands around, a little embarrassed. "Thanks, I appreciate that." He gave a wobbly smile that made Hadrian laugh lightly.
"Anytime."
"Anyway, how did Care of Magical Creatures go? You were worried about it." Trill cleared his throat. "Didn't you have that yesterday?"
"Don't remind me." Hadrian groaned, leaning back in his chair and shutting his eyes. "Herbology was easier, if you can believe it."
"Ah, that bad?" Trill winced. "Care can be hard."
"Hadrian nearly flunked." Jaecen strolled over and plopped down in Hadrian's lap without warning. Hadrian laughed in surprise, shifting so the seventh year could be more comfortable. "It was almost sad seeing him struggle so hard."
"Jae!" Hadrian leaned forward to drop his head against the back of Jaecen's shoulder, making the other boy laugh. "It wasn't that bad. Year 5 is looking more and more realistic, though."
"Well that's not a bad thing." Trill said. Hadrian looked over Jaecen's shoulder at Trill, who looked a little bit sad for some reason.
"I know." Hadrian said, sitting up slightly so Jaecen had to shift again. He wiggled around, and Hadrian playfully slapped his shoulder as Jaecen grinned teasingly. "I'm just disappointed in myself. I could've done better."
"Nah, you did well enough." Jaecen waved him off, wrapping an arm around Hadrian's shoulder. He was now seated perfectly sideways in Hadrian's lap, his legs hanging off on Hadrian's left with his hips on Hadrian's right thigh. Trill sat across the table, but looked slightly flushed, oddly enough.
"You said the teacher was bad last year, right?" Trill said to Hadrian, eyes narrowing at Jeacen's grin.
"Yeah, he was unreliable." Hadrian sighed, leaning into Jeacen's arm. "At least he taught us something. Nifflers were cool."
"May I interrupt?" All three looked up at Henry as he stopped near their table with his hands on his hips.
"Mm yes, Henry?" Hadrian tilted his head.
"Hiya stunning." Henry winked. "Hate to bother you, but don't you have an exam in… basically now?" Hadrian looked down at his watch and gasped.
"Oh shoot! Yeah!" Jaecen hopped off him so Hadrian could stand. "Thanks Henry, bye Jae, Bensoir!" Hadrian then hurried off and prayed he wasn't late as he headed from the lounge to the north wing. At least he was already on the fifth floor…
—————
"I'm doomed." Mind complained as she and Hadrian exited the exam room. "I still hate History. It's the worst."
"I actually like History." Hadrian hummed. "It's cool we were in the same testing group again." He'd nearly ran into her on his way in because of the hurry he was in.
"Oh, yeah." Mind said sarcastically, "You got to see me absolutely butcher the Goblin Rebellion Unit."
"It wasn't so bad." Hadrian disagreed. "You had all the facts right, you just messed up the years."
"Ugh, nobody actually knows what year each rebellion was."
"I do." Hadrian smiled. "1612, Hogsmeade Village, the British wizards used the Three Broomstick Inn as their main base. 1752, they went through three Ministers during the rebellion. Minister Albert Hoot resigned due to poor leadership skills, Minister Basil Flack resigned two months later once the goblins allied with the werewolves, and Minister Hephestaus Gore was elected after that. 1890—"
"Oookay that's enough." Mind sighed, making Hadrian laugh. "Fine, some people know everything. I, obviously, am not one of them."
"That's perfectly fine. The way you flawlessly went through the Global Wizarding War of 1920 will probably carry you to Year 6." Hadrian smiled.
"Everyone knows about the Grindelwald War." Mind rolled her eyes. "It's not impressive."
"It is." Hadrian hummed. "Jaecen didn't have full understanding of Grindelwald's cause until he was a sixth year."
"Yeah well…" Mind fumbled for a moment before she sighed. "Fine. You win. For now."
"I'll take it." He grinned.
"So what's next for you?" She asked as they reached the student lounge.
"Ah, Astronomy at one." Hadrian sighed as they sat down. "It's technically tomorrow, but since I'm not sleeping then it's basically today."
"Mine was today, at midnight." Mind hummed. "I guess it'd be yesterday, but your standards."
"Oh!" Hadrian blinked. "Amelie was in that group."
"I wouldn't know.* Mind shrugged. "Heir Williams was in my group so I just talked to them."
"Heiress Amelie Windswell. She's our year." Hadrian then tilted his head. "Hold on, isn't Williams a sixth year?"
"Yeah, but they've been at Level 5 for two years, so the Professors stuck them with us." Mind elaborated as Hadrian hummed in remembrance.
"Like Jaecen." He nodded. "My friend, Monsieur Samîel, is in a similar situation with Care of Magical Creatures. That's why we had the same testing group even though he's a seventh year."
"He's having that much trouble?" Mind frowned in concern.
"Not really, he just doesn't try." Hadrian shrugged. "I don't really approve, but he says Care of Magical Creatures shouldn't be a required class."
"Will he even graduate, then?" She raised an eyebrow. "You said he's a seventh year."
"He'll graduate." Hadrian sighed. "I don't doubt he'll have his Mastery by May."
"Is he aiming for a Mastery degree?"
"No, just regular graduation." Hadrian shook his head.
"Who would actively go for a Mastery degree?" Amelie slid in next to Hadrian with a teasing grin. "Nobody I know would do that." Hadrian rolled his eyes.
"Ha ha, very funny."
"Well met." Mind nodded to Amelie. "You're getting a Mastery?" Mind asked Hadrian curiously.
"Hadrian would rather die than graduate without all eleven Masteries." Amelie snickered, making Hadrian shove her lightly. "Well met."
"Heiress Mind, this is Heiress Windswell." Hadrian introduced.
"You must be new to Hadrian if you don't know how ambitious he is." Amelie laughed. "He reaches for the stars."
"Getting to Year 7 in all your classes before graduating is considered difficult." Mind grinned. "That's why so many people stay for an eighth year."
"But Masteries guarantee you've learned all Beauxbaton has to offer!!" Hadrian exclaimed, ignoring the way Amelie smiled fondly. "Sure, getting your Masteries in all your classes can be difficult, but it's so worth it!"
"Uh huh." Amelie rolled her eyes. "I'll definitely be graduating the regular way. I don't think I'll ever be able to get a Charms Mastery."
"You've been doing better." Hadrian hummed. "I bet you'll get it before graduation."
"Easy for you to say, Lord and possessor of four Masteries." Amelie huffed. "How many Masteries will you have by the end of the year?"
"This is a trap." Hadrian pouted, crossing his arms. The girls laughed, which made him sigh. "Seven." Mind choked on spit, and then hacked a cough.
"Seven?" She exclaimed, coughing still.
"Well I already have four, so by the end of the year I should have seven." Hadrian explained, glaring lightly at Amelie's smug expression. "I'm Year 7 in Etiquette and Astronomy, so I'll definitely have those, and I made a bet that I'd get my Drama Mastery by March. That's three."
"You're right, he's insane." Mind said to Amelie, making her burst into laughter. "You're insane." She repeated to Hadrian.
"I know." He huffed with a smile.
—————
"Alright, now you'll have ten minutes to observe the sky before we move on to constellation mapping." Monsieur Treace said lightly, "We'll be heading outside now, and then we'll come back here for the mapping."
Hadrian didn't need to follow the group to know where he was being led. The Astronomy room was on the east wing of the third floor, and they star gazed outside on the pavilion with the Flamel Fountain just outside the Entrance Hall.
Astronomy at Hogwarts hadn't been a big focus for him because it was taught so differently. The students also never really looked forward to it. The class was nobody's favorite. He'd just followed along and not really put in his best effort, which he didn't even regret.
At Beauxbaton they were taken outside and allowed to lay on the ground. Hadrian and all his fellow examinees brought blankets or tarps to lay on specifically for Astronomy. Soon enough, all fifty-four of them were sprawled at the entrance of Beauxbaton and looking up at the stars.
Hadrian had always liked the stars. They weren't overly bright like the sun, they couldn't be too warm or too cold; stars just were. They existed and were always there, even during the day, even when they were behind clouds, even when nobody could see them. They were a constant.
Astronomy wasn't talked about enough, in Hadrian's opinion. It was a solid and useful subject that most people ignored or flippantly disregarded. They deemed it less important because they thought 'why should I waste time learning that?' The better question was 'why shouldn't I?' There's no downside. It's a required class and a useful skill. Well, mainly useful for Muggles, but still. In general, it was also a beautiful subject.
"Alright, time's up." Monsieur Treace called. "Time for mapping."
Hadrian climbed slowly to his feet and folded his blanket, smiling to himself as he headed back inside.
Beauxbaton really was home.