Chapter Text
Art by gen_binggi
Lumine was headed down the Great Hall accompanied by Xiangling to grab some breakfast before their first period, which was Herbology with Professor Baizhu. It’s been 3 weeks since they started their 3rd year at Hogwarts, and all the buzz and hype have finally died down for the start of another year back in school.
“Why do we have to be up so early for Herbology?” Xiangling grumbled. “We should still be in bed or enjoying our breakfast! Not grabbing some bread and rushing to the greenhouse to tend some plants! Right Guoba?” She asked her familiar, which was a bearcat she brought along with her from China. Her familiar just sniffed at her and jumped out of her arms. The little guy ran away to probably get some food himself. Lumine saw Xiangling pout, with her arms crossed watching her familiar go.
Lumine giggled and just shook her head at Xiangling’s antics and looped her arm on her best friend’s and tugged her towards the Great Hall.
“You know if you only woke up early, we wouldn’t be in a hurry,” Lumine flicked her friend’s forehead which earned her a glare.
There were still a lot of students inside the Great Hall, either eating, studying or chatting with their friends. As they walked towards the Gryffindor table, Lumine looked around the other house’s tables searching for Aether. They don’t have classes together since Hufflepuffs have their classes with Ravenclaws, while they have theirs with Slytherin, unfortunately.
There were no more animosity between the houses like before. Since the second Wizarding War, equality has thoroughly been implemented. There have been consequences to those who still uphold bigotry and their pureblood ideals. It was hard, but after 20 years, there has been peace in the Wizarding World. Although of course not everyone’s a good person, some are just good at hiding their distaste and opinions to themselves lest they want to be called to the Ministry. As for the houses, they were no longer hostile towards each other. Inter-house unity was heavily enforced and throughout the years, what was left from the old rivalry between houses were now just friendly competition. Students were no longer shy from making friends towards others from different houses. Yes, they still have designated tables and such but they can freely sit with their friends from other houses unlike before. Which was how she found her brother, who was loudly speaking with his friends from Ravenclaw, Chongyun and Xingqiu. She was a bit surprised to see Professor Zhongli, the head of Hufflepuff house and their History of Magic teacher, standing by the Hufflepuffs table conversing with her brother and his friends. He seemed to be listening to what her brother was saying and was commenting here and there. She found it odd but at the same time curious as what might caught Professor Zhongli’s interest in Aether and his friends’ conversation. What she found funny was that he was standing there, a book stuck on his left arm and holding a teacup on his right hand. It was a very comical scene. She shook her head with a smile on her face and sat down beside Xiangling on their table.
“Professor Zhongli doesn’t seem to age does he?” Noticing what Lumine was looking at. Lumine grabbed a knife and spread butter on her bread. She nodded at her friend’s comment.
“I agree, but he doesn’t compare to Professor Albedo,” Lumine said after drinking from her glass of orange juice. “Professor Albedo can pass off as a student! He’s over a hundred years old but he looks like a teenager.” She exclaimed, wide-eyed, shaking her head.
Professor Albedo is their teacher in Ancient Runes, who also teaches Alchemy to sixth and seventh years.
“You’re right. It’s so cool that he apprenticed under Nicholas Flamel. He must have learned how to make something that will let you age slower than normal while he studied and trained under Flamel. Sometimes, I still can’t believe that wizards get to live longer than a hundred.” Xiangling said with wonder in her eyes.
“Because we’re…magic!” Lumine said dramatically, widening her eyes. Her smile turned into a huge grin which then turned into a laugh. Xiangling laughed along with her and bubbles of laughter filled their side of the table. A few students threw them some weird looks, which the two just shrugged off and burst into another set of laughter. The two hurriedly packed a few sweets onto their bags and ran off to their first lesson, with giggles in their wake.