Тейлор Поттер и философский виал / Taylor Potter and the Philosophical Vial: Глава 5. Первые уроки и учителя

Chapter 5. First Lessons and Teachers
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Camrad_RIP 31.12.25 в 10:03

The next day, Wormwarts presented its first surprises. While descending to the Great Hall for breakfast, five girls — Lisa, Amy, Taylor, Parvati, and Lavender Brown ( Changer - 4, the fifth occupant of the first-year girls' dormitory at Herofindor) — suddenly found themselves lost.

Camrad_RIP 31.12.25 в 10:21

"Okay, stop," Lisa said when the group realized they didn't know where they were. "We were going the same way as yesterday, right?"

Camrad_RIP 31.12.25 в 11:39

"Right,” Taylor nodded.

Camrad_RIP 31.12.25 в 11:40

“Yes, the same,” Parvati confirmed, “the texture of the walls and a couple of stains matched."

Camrad_RIP 31.12.25 в 11:42

"So, part of the path changed, and," Lisa paused, then continued confidently, "we were transported to a different part of the castle. The configuration of the rooms, walls, and corridors remained unchanged, so the castle itself didn't change; we're simply in a different part of it."

Camrad_RIP 31.12.25 в 12:51

“But why?” Lavender asked warily.

Camrad_RIP 31.12.25 в 11:42

"Oh, I remember!" Amy clasped her hands. "That's right, Eric and Crystal were telling me about this! The castle is rebuilding, changing, setting traps where there weren't any yesterday, moving things randomly, changing signs and markers, giving false directions, sealing rooms, and displaying paintings in the windows that don't correspond to what's actually there. And you think you're in the south wing, but in reality you're making your way through a huge shooting range where McGonagall brought the seventh year to practice with grenade launchers!"

Camrad_RIP 31.12.25 в 12:52

Her words did not add any peace of mind to the other girls.

Camrad_RIP 31.12.25 в 12:53

"Good training," Lisa remarked, grinning and looking around. "Even with cameras, interactive screens, and scanners everywhere, the system knows where we are and won't let us disappear completely."

Camrad_RIP 31.12.25 в 12:54

"What system?" Taylor looked around.

Camrad_RIP 31.12.25 в 12:54

"The system that controls Wormwarts, of course," Lisa smiled admiringly. "A real Artificial Intelligence... mmm, I sense a challenge... no, Challenge with a capital C!"

Camrad_RIP 31.12.25 в 11:43

She pulled out her tablet and started tapping on it.

Camrad_RIP 31.12.25 в 13:01

"So, work access, map, hmm, everything is blocked."

Camrad_RIP 31.12.25 в 13:02

The other girls stood and looked at Lisa, not forgetting, however, to glance warily around. Yes, it was a featureless corridor with lamps and darkened windows, but who knew what might happen next?

Camrad_RIP 31.12.25 в 13:02

"There's no one around," Taylor whispered to Amy, just in case. "There aren't many insects here, but there are some, and there's no one around."

Camrad_RIP 31.12.25 в 13:03

By this point, Lisa was already tapping her fingers on the interactive screen hanging on the wall. The image of the flag being raised on Iwo Jima stubbornly refused to change. All Lisa had achieved was turning the US soldiers into samurai and the flag into a Japanese one.

Camrad_RIP 31.12.25 в 13:08

And suddenly, out of nowhere, a huge, one-meter-tall, grey-black cat appeared.

Camrad_RIP 31.12.25 в 13:08

"Trespassers!!" the cat meowed shrilly. "Trespassers! Attempted break-in!"

Camrad_RIP 31.12.25 в 13:09

"Knock her out!" Lisa shouted. "I'm almost there!"

Camrad_RIP 31.12.25 в 13:09

Parvati fired a green beam that slid off her fur, and in response, the cat spat a small black ball at her. The ball stuck to her sleeve and began to rapidly grow in size. Lavender clenched her fist, covered in spikes and growths, and struck, sending the ball flying into the wall. The cat was already spitting at Taylor, who deftly dodged.

Camrad_RIP 31.12.25 в 13:12

"She's not alive!" Amy screamed hysterically, managing to get to the side and touch the tail.

Camrad_RIP 31.12.25 в 13:12

"Everyone, stand still and don't move!" a menacing voice rang out.

Camrad_RIP 31.12.25 в 13:13

Taylor turned around, and yes, there stood the man Dumbledore had introduced yesterday as the caretaker of Wormwarts.

Camrad_RIP 31.12.25 в 11:43

"I am Tagg Filch, young offenders," the tall and almost bald man grinned unpleasantly, "and if you don't know, every crime in Wormwarts is followed by a punishment!"

Camrad_RIP 31.12.25 в 11:53

He rubbed his hands together so smugly that Taylor felt scared and melancholy. She associated punishment with being locked in the closet and spanked, so she vividly imagined how this Tagg would take her somewhere far away, deep inside the castle, beat her, lock her up there, and forget about her forever.

Camrad_RIP 31.12.25 в 11:54

"Only this time it will be small, tiny," Lisa, the only one who did not lose her composure, showed with her fingers how small everything would be.

Camrad_RIP 31.12.25 в 13:24

"Smart, huh?" Tagg croaked, glaring at Lisa.

Camrad_RIP 31.12.25 в 13:24

"Not without it," she said, smoothing her tousled ash-blond hair with a dramatic gesture and turning to the others. "TSR, three-strike rule."

Camrad_RIP 31.12.25 в 11:44

"Yes, you were caught the first time," Tagg managed to squeeze out, still wheezing, "but at least you were caught red-handed! Mrs. Norris filmed you resisting!"

Camrad_RIP 31.12.25 в 13:29

"Who?" came a chorus of surprised voices.

Camrad_RIP 31.12.25 в 11:45

"Mrs. Norris," Tagg pointed at the cat, "Miniature System: Violations, Identification, Tracing, and Containment."
T.N. абревиатура

Camrad_RIP 31.12.25 в 13:30

"Miniature?!" Amy couldn't help but laugh nervously, also pointing at the meter-high cat.

Camrad_RIP 31.12.25 в 13:40

"The standard model of this robot, unlike the school one, is disguised as a tiger and is equipped, in addition to restraining devices, with serious weapons," Lisa intervened.

Camrad_RIP 31.12.25 в 11:55

"That's it. So next time I advise you not to resist," Tagg declared maliciously. "One point each from Potter, Weasley, Patil, and Brown, and minus five from Granger for interfering with Wormwarts' systems."

Camrad_RIP 31.12.25 в 13:42

Before anyone could say anything, Tagg and his robot cat disappeared with a soft pop.

Camrad_RIP 31.12.25 в 13:43

"I don't really feel like having breakfast anymore," Amy said.

Camrad_RIP 31.12.25 в 13:44

"We just didn't know the cat's abilities, that's why we lost," Taylor said consolingly, and hugged her friend with one arm. "Next time we'll beat her, as a team!"

Camrad_RIP 31.12.25 в 13:44

They were, of course, late for breakfast and had to run straight to class, grabbing a sandwich from the table.

Camrad_RIP 31.12.25 в 11:56

In addition to optional classes, independent study, homework assignments, and practical training at countless training grounds and various laboratories in Wormwarts, first-year students had classes in seven core subjects.

Camrad_RIP 31.12.25 в 13:45

Long, orderly rows of greenhouses, beyond Wormwarts, on the side opposite the lake, occupied a vast area. The horticulture teacher, Ray Sprout, also the dean of Legendpuff, rubbed his hands as he informed them that after his lessons, they would know everything about living organisms, not to mention that the students would have to grow their own new project! But for now, he allowed the first-years into only one greenhouse, where a variety of small, elbow-long trees grew in pots.

Camrad_RIP 31.12.25 в 13:46

"I told you we'd have a proper education!" Lisa chuckled. "Basics of biology, starting with plants, trees, grasses, and bushes of all sorts."

Camrad_RIP 31.12.25 в 13:46

"And then?" Amy asked, touching the nearest tree.

Camrad_RIP 31.12.25 в 13:47

"And then more complicated living organisms, but that’s a separate subject,” Lisa answered, observing the changes in the plant after the touch.

Camrad_RIP 31.12.25 в 13:48

She rubbed her temples and glanced at Amy, but she didn't get the hint. Ray, in a green suit, rubbing his hands contentedly, began giving a lecture on trees, accompanying his words with a demonstration of practical materials. Catching his breath, everyone began hurriedly recording the lecture on their tablets and memorizing Professor Sprout's words.

Camrad_RIP 31.12.25 в 13:50

The teacher of the art of Power, Accord Fleetwick, Dean of Alexanclaw, was very small, shorter than the first-year students. However, this did not prevent him from looking and behaving as if he were taller and more important than everyone else in the room. The classroom was covered with maps and diagrams, filled with cabinets containing various teaching aids, and everything was kept in strict order, in a kind of ascetic, businesslike style.

Camrad_RIP 31.12.25 в 11:58

"Open your textbook to the first page," the professor said when the students had sat down.

Camrad_RIP 31.12.25 в 11:59

Everyone opened the "Book of Standard Tactics, Schemes, and Powers," tapping the textbook's icon.

Camrad_RIP 31.12.25 в 12:00

"The most important thing for a cape is the ability to quickly formulate a proper plan," Accord said in a didactic voice, adjusting a crease on the sleeve of his suit. "To do this, a cape must be able to use its most important weapon. Who can tell me what it is?"

Camrad_RIP 31.12.25 в 12:02

"Superpower!" someone exclaimed.

Camrad_RIP 31.12.25 в 12:02