Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

Golden Hearts	By : BetaBloodLust Category: HP Canon Characters paired with Original Characters > Slash - Male/Male Views: 3689 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: See Full Disclaimer Below--Any chapters containing explicit material will begin with warnings for the wary

Chapter List
- 10
- 11
- 12
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor do I own the characters within the Harry Potter series. J. K. Rowling owns the Harry Potter series and all original characters introduced within the series. I make no money from this story. All noncanonical characters are fictional fabrications. They belong to me. Any resemblances to real persons or groups of people are coincidence and should be summarily disregarded, and the doppelganger perpetrators should be shot for impersonating my creations. Have a nice day.

Golden Hearts: Chapter 11: The Proof of an Adept

Arumus settled into the tempo of life at Hogwarts. He spent long hours in the excellent library, sometimes accompanied by Jordan and Percival, but more often he sat alone there for hours, devouring books, pamphlets, and old newspaper articles. One slightly dreary evening, he made his way back toward the dungeons.

A tall, slim figure barred his way. Arumus ceased walking and gazed at the form of the headmaster. Albus Dumbledore, dressed in blue robes trimmed with a silver that matched his beard, met Arumus' dark blue azure eyes with his own, electric gaze, and the intensity of Dumbledore's bright blue eyes was singularly arresting. A flash of recognition seemed so fleeting that Arumus doubted he had actually seen it, but he certainly recognized the signs of a truly powerful and compelling Legilimens. Those sharp, searching eyes were not entirely inherited.

"Professor Dumbledore," Arumus acknowledged him with a slight bow. The headmaster was a fascinating man. Arumus had devoured several of his published works, and even if Lucius detested the man, he still owned most of his books.

"Arumus Lestrange..." The headmaster murmured musingly.

"Yes, sir." Arumus felt slightly uncomfortable meeting those eyes, which searched his own so thoroughly.

Dumbledore spoke in quiet, calm tones. "I'm sorry to have stopped you, but, you see, I once knew your father quite well. Your resemblance is so very striking that I quite lost my head for a moment, believing I had somehow traveled back in time." Dumbledore smiled, and his eyes seemed to become less electrifying and kinder.

"Yes, sir," Arumus responded, unsure of how to react. Part of him wanted desperately to ask Dumbledore whether his father truly was Rodolphus Lestrange, but something in the headmaster's gaze warned him that he should refrain from asking.

Dumbledore regarded the library books Arumus held against his chest. "May I?" He asked.

Arumus wordlessly handed him the two books, and Dumbledore glanced briefly at the titles. "Ah, I see you are doing some light reading." He smiled conspiratorially down at Arumus through his half-moon spectacles.

"Yes, sir." Arumus contained his surprise at Dumbledore's casual reaction. Both books were considerably more than light.

Dumbledore handed the books back to Arumus. He moved aside, beckoning Arumus to continue on his way. "Have a good evening, Arumus."

"Please, have a pleasant evening as well, sir." Arumus walked past the headmaster, and even once he moved past, his neck prickled as if Dumbledore was still watching his progress. However, the headmaster was gone when Arumus peered over his shoulder. He was, Arumus decided, a very formidable man. Arumus thought anyone who tried to pull stunts under Dumbledore's long, crooked nose would be very stupid indeed, if they did not think all plans were known, or at least guessed at.

He continued down the corridors and soon entered the Slytherin common room. It was half past eight, and the common room was partially populated by his fellow students. Jordan spotted him upon entry and beckoned him to the table he and Percival had commandeered. Arumus sat, placing the two books he had checked out from the library on the table before him.

"Arumus, glad to see you. We were just discussing you..." Jordan said. He glanced at Arumus' library books. "You don't ever seem to be reading or even referencing your textbooks. Instead, you constantly have your nose in library books. We think that fact is very... interesting."

"Oh?" Arumus replied in a cool tone.

"Yes," Percival piped up, hefting one of Arumus' library books. "The Exquisite Art of Potion-Making? This book contains highly complex potions... Not necessarily first-year reading material." He glanced at the second book, his eyes widening. "And this book is half written in runes..."

Arumus shrugged one shoulder, speaking defensively. "Just some extracurricular reading. Nothing to do with my classes."

Percival glanced meaningfully at Jordan, and Jordan continued the conversation, his green eyes regarding Arumus sharply. "I found this particularly telling..." He held up one of Arumus' homework essays from Potions, waving it before Arumus and then flattening it on the table.

Jordan spoke. "First, you wrote over four feet of parchment! That is madness. Second, Snape writes, and I quote, 'The analysis you have offered about the multiple uses of powdered dragon's horn in such a myriad of potions exemplifies a deep understanding of the essence of potion making. Your thoughts reveal singular intuition and an inspired approach to the subtle art...' Well, that should be enough. He practically wrote a foot of parchment in reply, and you received full marks..."

Percival interrupted. "Professor Snape usually skins first years alive. And this doesn't count all your other homework we read."

Jordan nodded. "Full marks in Transfiguration. Full marks in Charms. Full marks--"

Arumus interrupted Jordan. "Do you guys have nothing better to do than go through my returned homework assignments?"

Percival smiled. "You are the most intriguing mystery we've investigated in some time."

"So," Jordan continued, "At first we thought you were just a very avid reader. Natural assumption. But then we began watching you complete your homework..."

Arumus finally realized why both Jordan and Percival had begun sitting with him while he worked over essays in the evening. He gave them mental points for successfully employing such devious designs.

Percival spoke. "You have never cracked one of your textbooks. So, can you explain how you do it? You know we are trustworthy... Why not share your secret to success?"

Jordan nodded in agreement. "Yes. Also, we won't stop bothering you until you confess..." He smiled slyly.

Arumus shook his head, slightly surprised. No one had ever gone to so much trouble to find things out concerning him. He had to admit that their interest was strangely flattering, though he thought they could have gone about it in a less creepy fashion.

"Alright," Arumus agreed. "On one condition: you will keep this entirely to yourselves."

"Of course," Said Percival.

"Absolutely," Jordan agreed.

Arumus regarded them with his cool, searching gaze before continuing. They both seemed so honestly, openly interested that he couldn't see why he shouldn't tell them at least a portion of the truth. Additionally, they were both very bright, and they had a flair for completely disregarding rules without anyone discovering their misdeeds. Arumus could appreciate such subtlety.

Arumus took a deep breath and spoke. "I read all the normally assigned school textbooks several years ago, as my uncle owns copies."

"When you were six or seven?" Percival asked, both brows lifting in surprise.

"Yes," Arumus replied calmly.

"So you claim to remember everything in the books?" Jordan seemed disbelieving.

Arumus shrugged. "Sure."

Jordan's eyes narrowed. "Percival, hand me your book bag." Percival passed him the bag, and Jordan pushed it under the table, removing a book so Arumus couldn't see it. He glanced down. "Name the book with this quote: 'The specifics of nomenclature are vague, but the spell is a prime example of the foundational premise that targets cannot be manipulated effectively without possible detrimental changes to the ultimate conscious state...'" He smiled in a superior fashion.

Arumus thought for a moment. "Intermediate Transfiguration, page 53, and the quote is from the third paragraph, I believe..." He smiled slightly at Jordan's surprise.

"How did you...?" Jordan frowned, holding up the book. Arumus had been correct. "This is third year and above, Arumus."

"I know." He shrugged. "I've read it."

"You didn't just read it, you bloody memorized it!" Jordan accused. "Have you done this with all the school textbooks?"

Arumus looked slightly abashed. "I don't think it's controllable. I can't help it. Once I read something, I can't get it out of my head. I can just see the page in my mind. It can be disturbing at times, depending on the book..."

Jordan smirked. "I'll bet..." He paused, and his eyes sparkled mischievously. "I propose we give you a test."

Arumus smiled. He excelled at tests.

Jordan handed Percival back his book bag and stood to fetch his own. Then, he pulled out a quill, an inkbottle, and some rolls of fresh parchment. "I will give you thirty minutes to write at least a foot and a half answering this prompt: explain the philosophical arguments regarding a vanished object's entry and persistence in a state of non-being, and argue whether vanished objects remain forever in the state of non-being or eventually return to a state of existence."

Arumus arched a brow. "Let me guess... That’s your transfiguration homework?"

Jordan grinned evilly. "Yes." He handed Arumus a roll of parchment and pushed the quill and inkbottle toward him. "Ready?"

Arumus nodded.

"Go."

Arumus unrolled the parchment, flattening it with his hand. He uncorked the ink calmly, dipped the quill, and began writing in his quick, neat hand.

He began by discussing the nature of non-being from a philosophical point, and then he provided the necessary mathematical formulae involved in vanishing up to the point where the mathematics broke. As the complexity of the vanished object increased, the concentration required increased exponentially.

He wrote on about the near impossibility of vanishing sentient life, referencing several articles about Cherindrov's illegal experimentation upon non-human creatures of intelligence, and he rounded the discussion by finishing with a complex argument, based largely off the math, that objects vanished will remain so unless called into being once more. He cleaned the nib of the quill with a spare scrap of parchment from his pocket, set the quill upon the table, corked the inkbottle, and glanced up at Jordan and Percival with a mild expression.

Jordan picked up the parchment, careful not to smudge the drying ink, and began to read.

Percival smiled at Arumus. "You don't like people to know you are a brainiac, do you?"

"No. But as you two already stumbled on my secret, I thought I might as well prove myself adequately." Arumus smiled his small, cool smile.

Jordan looked up from the parchment. "I'm going to have to rewrite this in the bloody English language!"

Arumus arched a brow. "It is in the English language, Jordan."

"Then what does the phrase, 'homologous intent will invariably cause unspecified and incalculable consequences unless following the necessary exponential gradient,' mean?"

Arumus shrugged. "Similar and equal intent when performing vanishing will fail to yield desired results, without an increase in concentration."

"Oh." Jordan paused. "Why didn't you just write that, then?"

"Because my original words are much more accurate, precise, and poetic."

Jordan smiled ruefully. "I see... You did it so I couldn't just copy your work. Instead, I have to understand it, or I will be accused of submitting someone else's work. Very sly, Arumus."

"Ingenious," Said Percival.

"Thanks," Arumus replied coolly. His eyes suddenly flashed with mischief. "You kids are quite impressive as well... No one has ever gone to such lengths to discover one of my secrets."

"Who are you calling kids, kid?" Jordan asked in a slightly mocking tone.

Arumus laughed.
- 10
- 11
- 12
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Golden Hearts