Chapter 664 - The Book of the Dead

In the days following the unexpected departure of Professor Zephyros from Hogwarts, the students were abuzz with gossip and rumors. Some whispered that the Professor had run off to live with the centaurs found within the forbidden forest. Others said he owed a debt and had run off before his debtors could catch him. While the rest truly believed that he had run off to communicate with the Spirits of the Great Beyond. The professor had been caught enough times daydreaming in the middle of the class that most of his students truly believed that was in fact the case.

On the other hand, the Prefects, Head Boy, and Head Girl had been relieved of their duties at the announcement during breakfast. It had been tedious enough to wake up early, but to do so for more than one morning would be exhausting and severely set them back for the day. However, the Professors were most unhappy at having to teach another class especially that of Divination. Thankfully, there a few Professors, who volunteered such as Slughorn, and a few others.

Still, unlike the time before with Professor Stricken, there was no guilt on Rowan's part as she had not even been the one to kill Professor Zephyros. And yet, she found her mind often returning to the event. What bothered her was not the divination professor's death, but rather what had occurred afterward! Maybe, she had watched the movie, "ANACONDA," one too many times, but she had always been perturbed at the thought of being eaten alive by a giant snake. She just never thought that one of her nightmares would become a reality….

Dumbledore had announced at breakfast that Professor Zephyros had left a note explaining his hasty departure. But Rowan knew the truth and as such, that could not be possible as he had been killed by Nadira. Tragically, her body was at its limits after days of patrols and countless tasks and responsibilities that even if she had wanted to keep watch the entire night, her body would not have been capable of achieving such a feat.

That and Rowan had been having headaches as of late that caused her left eye to throb painfully. She knew that the problem would continue to worsen, but she had no choice, but to wait. The Goblin Master Crafter Wulm had said that the artifact would not be completed until the winter holidays. She could only take a pain-relieving potion for now, but she feared that at the present frequent rate of headaches, she might have to increase the dosage.

Excluding Rowan's physical burdens, she had learned one crucial fact, which was there was at least another vessel of Hydra present at Hogwarts. Which could only fill her with unease as she did not have a signal clue of who in the entire Hogwarts population it could be. Because truthfully it could be anyone.

Bursting out of her reverie, Rowan entered the Ancient Studies Classroom running a bit behind, but not late as Professor Salah, who had yet to enter the classroom. Already seated at the back of the classroom are their three Ravenclaw classmates, Barrett Boone, Ackerley, and Quirke. The latter Barrett Boone is just as handsome as ever flashes her a tiny smile, which causes her to snort and hide a faint fond smile. She hated to admit it, but she did have a bit of a soft spot for the Ravenclaw Quidditch Captain. And the two of them had become friends of sorts during their fake romantic relationship.

Severus snorts upon seeing the lips of his twin sister twitching upon spotting Barrett Boone, who studied his twin sister with a confused gaze. Severus darkly glared at the Ravenclaw Quidditch Captain, who had so cruelly dumped his sister. He knew that the rumors said that it had been the other way around, but he knew better. Rowan would have never done so such a thing to someone she genuinely liked!

Barrett Boone seemingly shakes himself awake and turns away to speak to his friends. But his gaze keeps drifting back to Rowan, who sits down next to Severus at the of the class. While Rowan unpacks, Severus continues to send Barrett Boone occasional dark looks as Barrett Boone kept glancing at his twin sister as if befuddled for some peculiar reason.

Not long after the figure of Professor Salah is seen, who is dressed in her traditional dark blue robes with golden intricate designs on the upper bodice and sleeves. Her olive-skinned curved form looks in the peak of health, while her honey-colored eyes are lined with kohl, while her lips are rich and full. Her dark hair has intricately, tiny woven golden beaded tassels that sway and musically tinkled with each of her movements.

Ever since the discovery of the puzzle block curse-breaking method, Professor Salah had much higher expectations out of Severus and Rowan to their vast chagrin. Not that they were not honored by her thoughts, but they simply did not have the time nor energy to put even more effort into Ancient Studies than they were already doing. They were already spread thin enough as it was!

Turning to the chalkboard, Professor Salah waves her wand as the check rises in the air and begins to write ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs on the board, before finally turning to face them. "All Hallow's Eve will soon be upon us at the end of this month. As we all well know that All Hallow's Eve is known by many names including Samhain, the Day of the Dead, Halloween, and various others. And I am certain that many of you have practiced in the celebration of this day in some form or another."

Professor Salah points at the short figure of Ackerley as his bright eyes perk up at being gestured too. "Mr. Ackerley, what do you know about the Book of the Dead?"

The Ravenclaw blinks for a moment, before replying, "It is much like the muggle book tilted the Bible, which describes the path to the afterlife. In the muggle, Book of the Dead, it is described the perilous journey that the dead undertakes in the afterlife. And which requires the living to perform spells and cast charms on the behalf of the deceased to aid them on their journey through the Great Beyond."

"Correct, Mr. Ackerley, ten points to Ravenclaw," Professor Salah said, before pointing at the Ravenclaw with neatly combed hair, and perfect robes with nary a stitch out of place. "And as for Mr. Quirke, what is the Book of the Dead known to wizardkind?"

Quirke solemnly replies, "It is an evil manuscript forged by an evil wizard by the name of Apep."

"Five points to Ravenclaw, Mr. Quirke," Professor Salah said, before beginning to recount the tale.

"The true and literal Book of the Dead is said to have been created by a wizard most foul, Apep. Whether he had gone mad or simply thirsted for absolute power is unknown, however, he was in fact a parselmouth and one of the most notorious to ever live," Professor Salah recounted.

Rowan's lips pressed into a thin line as she too was a parselmouth. It seemed to be the fate of most parselmouth's to be seen as villains and only a few as good, and those that were their deeds were always overshadowed by those that had committed such foul and unredeemable crimes. But the world is cruel like that and humans alike are prejudiced, and so once it is formed, an entire race, group, or being is commended for the sins of another.