Тейлор Поттер и философский виал / Taylor Potter and the Philosophical Vial: Глава 13. Тайна третьего этажа

Chapter 13. The Mystery of the Third Floor
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Camrad_RIP 06.01.26 в 17:17

As always, exams arrived unexpectedly. It seemed like just yesterday they were on holiday, escaping the Forbidden Forest's robot guards, and suddenly it was the end of spring and the school year. No one had disturbed the lock on the door leading to Fluffy, but Taylor remained vigilant and continued to keep watch. Her and Amy's suspicions of Snape were heightened by the fact that the Intrigue professor was so securely protecting his "base" — his quarters, his classroom, and the surrounding area for a hundred meters. Some form of mild electric shock reliably and quickly killed all insects, and as if that weren't enough, drones were also circling the area, their antennas flashing and their vigilant buzzing.

Camrad_RIP 06.01.26 в 20:08

Still, it seemed the unknown villain had retreated after failing in the Sphere, and so Taylor was more or less at peace as she headed off to take her exams. The first was a basic survival test, and Potter handled it well, deftly finding her way, starting a fire, fighting off some strange six-legged bears, gathering berries and mushrooms, and so on. Lisa had once called it all "summer camp," and now, as Taylor roasted a mushroom on a stick, she wholeheartedly agreed. Nature, fresh air, insects fetching twigs for the fire, no mosquitoes buzzing around her ear—all the conditions for relaxation and a wonderful time.

Camrad_RIP 07.01.26 в 14:11

The second exam was a real challenge. Timed assembly and disassembly of an AKSU (Kalashnikov assault rifle with a shortened stock) while simultaneously explaining the assault rifle's performance characteristics and how to use it against capes on the battlefield. Still, McGonagall was pleased and spent a long time reprimanding Lisa, who kept trying to prove she didn't need an assault rifle, but a pistol!

Camrad_RIP 07.01.26 в 14:12

Professor Flitwick handed each student a personalized diagram, a tactical situation chart detailing the capes involved, their powers, and the current situation. Although the diagrams were hand-drawn, they seemed to have been created by some artificial intelligence obsessed with drawing and the strict harmony of lines. They were required to devise and justify possible scenarios within one hour, outlining the outcomes and consequences.

Camrad_RIP 07.01.26 в 14:15

Taylor was confused at first, but then realized it was Quidditch, and the patterns gradually began to form. Beside her, Lisa was pensively struggling, grabbing pens of different colors, drawing arrows directly on the pattern, and comically sticking out her tongue so that the tip almost touched her nose. Amy, on the opposite side of Taylor, was puffing, poking her finger at the paper, as if coaxing it into becoming the answer. Potter saw Amy's pattern out of the corner of her eye; the answers had come naturally; now all she had to do was find a way to prompt them.

Camrad_RIP 07.01.26 в 14:16

The problem was that the students certainly possessed superpowers, but the teachers knew about it and weren't shy about taking countermeasures. Standard procedure, for example, was to nullify all powers in the exam room. Surveillance cameras, darkened windows, and so on, including burning out Tinker devices with electromagnetic pulses.

Camrad_RIP 07.01.26 в 14:17

The disappearance of power further confused and unnerved the young capes.

Camrad_RIP 07.01.26 в 14:17

Professor Snape filled the room with terminals accessing the PHO, and it was necessary to plant information and convince others of its veracity. Not everyone realized they were competing against each other, and as a result, a heated argument, to say the least, erupted on the "school" branch of the PHO. Snape, keeping an eye on everyone, smirked and graded, expelling those who failed. He didn't resort to resetting their powers, and Lisa helped her friends through this stage by giving a sly hint to Taylor, who then transmitted the communication and the necessary answers to Amy using insects.

Camrad_RIP 07.01.26 в 14:27

It also unexpectedly turned out that Amy could transmit sensations back through the insects.

Camrad_RIP 07.01.26 в 14:27

*
Professor Sprout, smiling, placed a potted plant in front of each student. The students were asked to identify it, describe it, and explain its properties and uses. The diagram from Snape's lesson worked perfectly here, but Weasley acted as the source of information. She only had to touch the nearby plants when Ray Sprout wasn't looking (and the cameras were suddenly covered in dirt).
*

Camrad_RIP 07.01.26 в 14:29

Jack Quirrell, smiling and stroking his beard, looked at the students, praised them all, awarded them good grades, and dismissed them, to the general delight of everyone present. Jack's words, that he already knew what everyone was capable of after nine months of lessons, found deep understanding and approval in the minds of the young capes.
*

Camrad_RIP 07.01.26 в 14:29

The final exam was History of Capes with Jess Bins, and the room was once again power-nullified. The particularly clever students had prepared cheat sheets in advance, drawn on the walls and ceiling, and come up with a hundred other tricks, but none of them worked. The students' standard tricks weren't working, and Lisa, grinning (because her headaches had vanished along with her power-nullification), vowed to trick the system. Taylor, with difficulty, recalled why the Guild had been created, who had been at its origins, and quickly began typing out the answers while they were still spinning in her head.
*

Camrad_RIP 07.01.26 в 14:31

One hour of torment and sweating, and the exams were over.

Camrad_RIP 07.01.26 в 14:31

The joyful cry died on Taylor's lips before it was born.

Camrad_RIP 07.01.26 в 14:32

"Someone tore down the cobwebs!" she turned to Amy and Lisa.

Camrad_RIP 07.01.26 в 14:35

They froze, and a traffic jam formed at the door; the students, eager to get free, shouted in displeasure.

Camrad_RIP 07.01.26 в 14:35

"We need to tell the headmistress!" Lisa shouted.

Camrad_RIP 07.01.26 в 14:46

The traffic jam broke, and the friends were thrown into the hallway, pinned against the wall. Taylor, despite Chris crashing into her, was already sending a letter to the headmistress.

Camrad_RIP 07.01.26 в 14:47

"The answering machine is on!" Potter bit her lip immediately.

Camrad_RIP 07.01.26 в 19:03

"So she's not in Wormwarts! It has its own server, schtichs!" Lisa cursed. "We should have been hucking the communication lines, not the food delivery ones!"

Camrad_RIP 07.01.26 в 19:04

"Deans should be able to contact the headmistress," Amy noted.

Camrad_RIP 07.01.26 в 14:48

"What are you even talking about?" Chris asked, standing up. "Lisa, you broke into something and hacked it..."

Camrad_RIP 07.01.26 в 19:05

"Quiet!" Lisa’s hand sealed Chris’s mouth. "Not in the corridor!"

Camrad_RIP 07.01.26 в 19:06

"Okay, let's go, I'll tell you everything, but not here," Lisa removed her hand and thought for a second. "Let's go to Hannah McGonagall, she's our Head of House, after all."

Camrad_RIP 07.01.26 в 19:06

Along the way, she and Taylor conversed silently, agreeing that Chris was unnecessary. So, as soon as the four entered Herofindor's tower, Chris was paralyzed by a bite, and Amy added to the effect, simultaneously removing any potential damage.

Camrad_RIP 07.01.26 в 19:09

"Contact Headmistress Dumbledore?" McGonagall asked, surprised. "Why?"

Camrad_RIP 07.01.26 в 19:09

"Because someone broke into the third floor and wants to steal the Philosopher's Vial! It's Snape, I know it!" Taylor cried, unable to contain herself.

Camrad_RIP 07.01.26 в 19:10

"You know, Potter?" Hannah's tone turned icy. "And can you prove it?"

Camrad_RIP 07.01.26 в 19:10

"If you come with us to the third floor, you will see that Fluffy…"

Camrad_RIP 07.01.26 в 19:12

"Stop," McGonagall raised a finger. "One more word, Potter, and I'll have to expel you from Wormwarts. Honestly, I don't want to lose such a wonderful Tactician."

Camrad_RIP 07.01.26 в 19:13

Taylor bit her lip, trying to keep from speaking. Lisa tugged her sleeve roughly.

Camrad_RIP 07.01.26 в 19:13

"Yes, it wasn't the best idea," Granger admitted in the hallway.

Camrad_RIP 07.01.26 в 19:14

"What now? Should we go to another dean?" Weasley suggested.

Camrad_RIP 07.01.26 в 19:14

"No," Taylor clenched her hand into a fist. "Let's go. There."

Camrad_RIP 07.01.26 в 19:15

“So much time has been lost,” Lisa sighed.

Camrad_RIP 07.01.26 в 19:17

"But the battle isn't lost yet," Taylor snapped. "I'm not going to lie down and surrender to the Dark Cape's mercy. Let's hurry!"

Camrad_RIP 07.01.26 в 19:17

True, despite her own words, Taylor popped into the bedroom for a minute. Lisa had managed to arm herself with one of Chris's laser pistols, and Amy had transformed a palm tree standing in the corner into a semblance of armor.

Camrad_RIP 07.01.26 в 19:18

"If you can't break the lock, break the door," Lisa commented on the spectacle.

Camrad_RIP 07.01.26 в 19:19

The thick steel door slab lay on the floor, scorched and melted by something caustic. The room was no better; the smell of blood and flesh assaulted the nostrils. One of Fluffy's heads hung lifeless, its neck bent unnaturally. A broken paw, huge holes all over its body, Fluffy was breathing heavily, as if in agony. Seeing his three friends, he sat up and growled.

Camrad_RIP 07.01.26 в 19:20

"He pushed Pushka into a corner and passed by; he didn’t need to kill, just pass by," said Lisa.

Camrad_RIP 07.01.26 в 19:20

"I doubt it now," Amy began, but was interrupted by a whistle.

Camrad_RIP 07.01.26 в 19:21

Fluffy snorted and growled, retreating to the corner of the room and opening the hatch frame in the floor. Taylor pocketed the whistle and walked toward the door. The security system had been breached; all it took was the press of a button.

Camrad_RIP 07.01.26 в 19:21

"Local teleport," Lisa immediately narrowed her eyes. "This isn't a descent; we could be thrown out anywhere."

Camrad_RIP 07.01.26 в 19:23

“It doesn’t matter,” Taylor snapped, stepping into the opening.

Camrad_RIP 07.01.26 в 19:24

Lisa shrugged and followed. Fluffy perked up, growled again, and Amy quickly followed her friends. She could, of course, run away, but then their friendship would be ruined forever. Or she could try to paralyze the dog by plunging her hand deep into the wound, risking losing her head.

Camrad_RIP 07.01.26 в 19:24

It would have been easier to step into the abyss.

Camrad_RIP 07.01.26 в 19:42

Lisa wheezed, trying to tear the strangling appendage away from herself.

Camrad_RIP 07.01.26 в 19:43

Taylor struggled silently, her teeth biting into the wood. Amy felt a grip on her throat and reflexively applied power.

Camrad_RIP 07.01.26 в 19:43