Chapter Text
The next morning, Even had slept better than he had in days. His first class was Transfiguration, and he felt more than ready to make up all the lessons he screwed up. After breakfast, he and Yousef made their way down the classroom and they’re surprised it’s not their usual professor standing in front.
“Good morning, everyone.” Headmistress McGonagall announced. “I’ll be filling in for professor Patil this week as she is on a research trip to Bosnia.” She waved her wand and a set of parchments began distributing themselves around the classroom.
Even and Yousef sat down and began their lesson, feeling extra motivated to do good today because they were facing the Headmistress. About halfway through an attempt at Crinus Muto wherein Yousef’s eyebrows regrettably didn’t change colour, one of the Gryffindor students, Even believed her name was Ellie, raised her hand.
“Miss, can I ask a bit of an unrelated question?” She hesitatingly said.
McGonagall nodded, and the class stilled. “Go ahead, miss Cattermole.”
“Do you know anything about the curse on the Black Lake?”
Even almost dropped his wand that was pointed at Yousef, and immediately turned his attention to what McGonagall was going to say.
The Headmistress closed her eyes for a second before replying. “There is no confirmed curse on the Lake, I’m sure you’re referring to the accidents happening there?”
Ellie nodded, and cast her eyes on Even for a moment before looking back at their teacher. He frowned.
“We don’t know what caused these accidents to happen, so we can’t confirm anything. Although it may be best to stay away from the lake for the time being.”
“I heard a curse breaker was coming to Hogwarts.” Another voice called, from the back of the class.
“That is but a rumour, as of now there is no curse breaker involved.” The Headmistress walked back to the front of the class rather sternly, and no one dared ask any more questions.
Only Even had to, he couldn’t just let this slip away.
“Does it have anything to do with the disappearance of a student a hundred years ago?”
McGonagall turned, and a couple people gasped from this new information.
“Not to my knowledge.’ She turned Even down completely. “Please join me in my office after class, mister Bech Næsheim.”
If the stares were bad before, they were unbearable now. His head was as red as a beet. He should have never brought it up, but her reaction showed she knew something. It showed that it was something Even wasn’t supposed to know, wasn’t supposed to ask questions about.
He was nervous for what was awaiting him in her office, but also hopeful for new information on Isak’s mystery.
+
“Even, may I ask you how you came about the information you have?”
They were alone in the Headmistress’ office. She stood next to her desk while Even hovered nervously before her at the bottom of the stairs.
“I don’t think I can tell you…” He hesitated, he couldn’t compromise Isak’s privacy for his own curiosity. It had already gone too far when he had asked McGonagall about him, but he couldn’t go back now.
“Very well, I understand.” She responded very calmly, much to Even’s surprise. “To answer your question, I don’t know if that particular disappearance has anything to do with what’s happening right now. There seems to be little correlation except location.”
Even looked up at her with big eyes. “You know what happened?”
She nodded once, placing her fingers lightly on some documents on the desk. “I do. It’s a very delicate subject matter here in Hogwarts, so you should consider yourself lucky you happened to ask me about it. I will tell you what I know, but you have to be very careful with this information.” She had a serious look in her eye while she looked at him.
With clammy hands, he nodded in understanding. He hadn’t imagined he would be in a situation like this where the Headmistress would tell him about the circumstances regarding Isak’s disappearance, but there he was getting more nervous and excited as it was happening.
“I won’t ask again how you know this, but I do want to know how much you know about it.” She carefully started opening the old looking documents she had on her desk.
“I know that in 1890 a Slytherin boy disappeared during a Quidditch match, I know it happened by the lake and I know his name is Isak Valtersen.”
She hummed and beckoned him over.
“These are Isak’s student records. Normally they are kept in Filch’s office, but Trimble, then Headmaster, had them brought up to this office after the incident. We can only guess why he decided to do it, but there isn’t much left of it.”
She showed him the file, which stated Isak’s name, status and house. All else, his accomplishments and grades, Quidditch matches and so on, were poorly blanked out by magic.
“Why?” Even asked.
“We believe it was out of embarrassment. I’ve only heard stories passed along from the older professors, but Valtersen didn’t have an easy time in Hogwarts. You must remember it was a very different time back then, but that doesn’t make this any more justifiable. He was bullied for who he liked, because he was different in that way. People found out, and when he had his confrontation with those Slytherin boys, the school chose their side.”
Even couldn’t believe his ears. “They weren’t expelled?” He all but exclaimed.
“No.” McGonagall voice was small. “Of course, looking back, it’s horrible, but as bad as they were, those were the times. Unfortunately, there is nothing we can change about the situation, no matter how much we want to set things right. It’s a dark spot in Hogwarts history, and Isak did not deserve to die so unprotected.”
There were tears forming in Even’s eyes as he listened to McGonagall talk. Isak died because he liked boys, because he was gay.
“I-” Even’s head suddenly felt so heavy and he buried his hands in his hair. A sob escaped from his lips.
“Even.” It wasn’t McGonagall’s voice that said it. Tears spilled over as he heard it.
“It’s okay, Even.” Isak stood high above them in one of the windows, barely illuminated as it was already dark outside.
“No, no, no… This will never be okay.” Even looked up and forgot McGonagall was still in the room. “How could they do this to you?”
“It was my mistake, they found out because I was careless.”
“But they shouldn’t have gotten away with it, Isak, they’re the bad guys.”
After he’d said it McGonagall let out a small “Oh.” and looked at Isak with wide eyes. Isak paid her no mind.
“No, I’m the bad guy. It’s my own fault I’m like this now.” Isak faded away even more, becoming smaller and smaller in the stained glass.
Even was crying, and stepped closer to the window as not to lose Isak in it. “No, Isak, you’re-” But Even couldn’t finish his pleading sentence.
There was a knock on the door, and Isak was already gone as Filch appeared in the doorway.
“There’s been another accident at the Lake, ma’am.”