“Did you know?”, Hermione gave Harry a mock-suspicious look.

“That Latin is her second native language and that she read the classics in the original? Of course”, he smirked. “Since we were thirteen”.

“And you never told me”, her look became judgmental.

“A gentleman never tells”, he took a bite of his croissant. Viktor choked on his coffee, while Lyra pretended not to notice and smiled into her cup.

Hermione pointed a finger at Harry, tried to say five things at once, was left without words, and just stood like that while everybody broke into laughter in earnest.

“I’m pretty sure this statement wasn’t meant to cover those circumstances, but I do applaud your discretion”, Hermione eventually finished and smiled.

“We talked about lots of stuff that was private, and I felt comfortable talking about it only if it were politics, and stuff I felt both of us would feel comfortable talking about in the mess hall, to others”, he got serious. “It felt sacred. I still feel I’m allowed to mention any of it only if she already told you herself”.

“Thank you”, Lyra whispered.

“I think it’s a wonderful family tradition”, Viktor nodded. “Knowing the langue of the ancient family books really gives you a sense of connection to your ancestry, makes you able to participate in it properly”, he smiled at Lyra. “Will you teach the kids? And I’m including myself”.

“I would be honoured, if everybody agrees”, she looked at them and they all nodded. “And if you don’t mind, I would like to include Lucius as a fellow teacher, since he’s feeling pretty low and abandoned; and Narcissa can teach them the family lore and lineage, the way she taught me, because Lucius wasn’t the only caring and diligent parent”, she smiled.

“That’s a great idea. They must feel terribly lonely and possibly guilty in that big house, all alone”, Hermione nodded. “And honestly, I would love to learn enough Latin to be able to actually read that book you gave me”.

“De incantationibus by Apollodor of Syracuse?”, Lyra winked. “Oh, I might actually read from it to all of you and translate; that’s a much better way to learn than cramming declinations”.

“What is it about?”, Harry was curious.

“Oh, ancient spells and basics of verbal magic. The original was in Greek, and this is a second century BC translation. Interestingly, the spells themselves were in Latin, but slightly messed up, as if created by a non-native speaker who didn’t really know the grammar. I think the original was written around second century BC, soon after the Roman conquest of Syracuse, so the author might have been a contemporary of Archimedes, or close enough. He even explains how he made his wand from Phoenix feather and olive, and consecrated it to Athena and Apollo, invoking their blessings upon both components as their gifts”, Lyra explained.

“Woah”, Viktor was the first one managing to speak.

“Exactly”, Harry nodded. “Now you see why I spent my school years feeling like a dumb kid who somehow lucked into being taught stuff by the two smartest girls in the world”.

Hermione blushed. “To their credit, they never actually bragged or treated me like an idiot, they just slowly brought me up to speed”, Harry smiled at both women.

“I felt guilty when I realized how poorly you were treated by those horrid muggles, while I was pampered, taught and loved”, Lyra took his hand and kissed it. “The least I could do is share”.