\u201cDid you know?\u201d, Hermione gave Harry a mock-suspicious look.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat Latin is her second native language and that she read the classics in the original? Of course\u201d, he smirked. \u201cSince we were thirteen\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd you never told me\u201d, her look became judgmental.<\/p>\n
\u201cA gentleman never tells\u201d, he took a bite of his croissant. Viktor choked on his coffee, while Lyra pretended not to notice and smiled into her cup.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m pretty sure this statement wasn\u2019t meant to cover those circumstances, but I do applaud your discretion\u201d, Hermione eventually finished and smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe 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\u201d, he got serious. \u201cIt felt sacred. I still feel I\u2019m allowed to mention any of it only if she already told you herself\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you\u201d, Lyra whispered.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s a wonderful family tradition\u201d, Viktor nodded. \u201cKnowing 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\u201d, he smiled at Lyra. \u201cWill you teach the kids? And I\u2019m including myself\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would be honoured, if everybody agrees\u201d, she looked at them and they all nodded. \u201cAnd if you don\u2019t mind, I would like to include Lucius as a fellow teacher, since he\u2019s feeling pretty low and abandoned; and Narcissa can teach them the family lore and lineage, the way she taught me, because Lucius wasn\u2019t the only caring and diligent parent\u201d, she smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s a great idea. They must feel terribly lonely and possibly guilty in that big house, all alone\u201d, Hermione nodded. \u201cAnd honestly, I would love to learn enough Latin to be able to actually read that book you gave me\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cDe incantationibus<\/i> by Apollodor of Syracuse?\u201d, Lyra winked. \u201cOh, I might actually read from it to all of you and translate; that\u2019s a much better way to learn than cramming declinations\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat is it about?\u201d, Harry was curious.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, 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\u2019t 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\u201d, Lyra explained.<\/p>\n
\u201cWoah\u201d, Viktor was the first one managing to speak.<\/p>\n
\u201cExactly\u201d, Harry nodded. \u201cNow 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\u201d.<\/p>\n
Hermione blushed. \u201cTo their credit, they never actually bragged or treated me like an idiot, they just slowly brought me up to speed\u201d, Harry smiled at both women.<\/p>\n
\u201cI felt guilty when I realized how poorly you were treated by those horrid muggles, while I was pampered, taught and loved\u201d, Lyra took his hand and kissed it. \u201cThe least I could do is share\u201d.<\/p>\n
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\u201cDid you know?\u201d, Hermione gave Harry a mock-suspicious look. \u201cThat Latin is her second native language and that she read the classics in the original? Of course\u201d, he smirked. \u201cSince we were thirteen\u201d. \u201cAnd you never told me\u201d, her look … Continue reading