Тейлор Поттер и философский виал / Taylor Potter and the Philosophical Vial: Глава 3. Первые уроки в новом году

Chapter 3. First Lessons of the New Year
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Camrad_RIP 10.01.26 в 19:23

Taylor took a bandage out of her pocket and wrapped it around her arm.

Camrad_RIP 10.01.26 в 19:23

"The flying carts are part of the Wormwarts system," Lisa noted, studying the transport closely, "but it's true, it's true.

Camrad_RIP 10.01.26 в 21:25

"If anything happens, I'll take you all away!" Victoria exclaimed, raising her hand to the heavens.

Camrad_RIP 10.01.26 в 21:26

“You don’t have enough hands,” Lisa giggled.

Camrad_RIP 10.01.26 в 21:26

"Taylor can sit on my neck," Victoria said modestly, looking down, crushing the stone under her feet with the toe of her shoe.

Camrad_RIP 10.01.26 в 21:26

"Okay, let's just get in and get there," Amy said angrily. "A flying car, big deal!"

Camrad_RIP 10.01.26 в 21:28

"A high-comfort antigravity platform, each seating four people, is controlled from a central hub in Wormwarts. "Simply put, no one will be allowed behind the wheel, due to the lack of one," Granger declared, jumping onto the platform itself. "Therefore, the name 'flying cart' most accurately conveys the essence of our transport. What? I'm a growing Thinker, I need to develop my powers!"

Camrad_RIP 10.01.26 в 21:28

As Taylor climbed onto the platform, which truly resembled a wheelless car hovering half a meter above the ground, she realized she, too, would need to work on developing her powers. This year, the Snitch wouldn't be so easy to catch in Quidditch matches, which meant she'd need new tricks and tactics!

Camrad_RIP 10.01.26 в 21:38

Contrary to Taylor's expectations, no one in the Great Hall glared at her or reproached her for the train delay or anything like that. They simply glanced disapprovingly, nothing more, and didn't even make any particular gestures behind her back. The Sorting Ceremony went much faster this time, probably because Taylor was sitting in the Hall rather than standing among the first-years in line for the Sorting Helmet. Victoria Weasley, as expected, was sorted into Herofindor and immediately flew back to Amy, Taylor, and Lisa to boast about her success.

Camrad_RIP 10.01.26 в 21:39

"It's okay, classes will start, and she'll leave you alone. You know what the workload is in the first year," Lisa noted encouragingly.

Camrad_RIP 10.01.26 в 21:40

Taylor shrugged. There were no Dursleys in Wormwarts, which was already a lot.

Camrad_RIP 10.01.26 в 21:40

*
September 2, 2022, Wormwarts

Camrad_RIP 10.01.26 в 21:41

"It was boring swimming with the dogs," Victoria chattered as the four of them went down to breakfast in the common room, "but I took off and lifted the dog, and it immediately became fun, and Hagrid shouted at me."

Camrad_RIP 10.01.26 в 22:03

"You'll have to go and apologize to her," Taylor said firmly.

Camrad_RIP 10.01.26 в 22:03

After all, Rachel Hagrid had opened Wormwarts for her, not to mention she was the first Cape Taylor had ever met. Aside from her parents, of course, but Taylor barely remembered them. And overall, Rachel was a good person, except, of course, that Hagrid wasn't particularly fond of people, preferring dogs.

Camrad_RIP 11.01.26 в 09:31

"Oh, of course, and she'll show us the Forbidden Forest, too?" Victoria continued to chatter.

Camrad_RIP 10.01.26 в 22:13

People were looking at them; the youngest Weasley was speaking too loudly and beaming, but then, to Taylor's relief, it was over. Declaring that she needed to watch her figure and that breakfast was unhealthy, Victoria soared into the air and flew off somewhere toward the lake.

Camrad_RIP 11.01.26 в 09:32

"Now don't break the rules!" Carol Weasley flew up and ran after her little sister.

Camrad_RIP 11.01.26 в 09:32

"Is skipping breakfast a violation?" Taylor asked Lisa.

Camrad_RIP 10.01.26 в 22:13

"It's all... complicated," she scratched her nose, hiding her invariable smirk under her hand. "Remember, I told you last year about the Houses and what the Wormwarts system is aimed at?"

Camrad_RIP 11.01.26 в 09:55

"Yes, yes, I remember, the thirst for conflict, restraint, and so on."

Camrad_RIP 11.01.26 в 09:56

"Not everyone succeeds in socializing and learning to curb their thirst for conflict enough to live among ordinary people and go to the dentist without fear," Lisa said, suggestively wiggling her eyebrows and puffing out her cheeks.

Camrad_RIP 11.01.26 в 09:57

Taylor giggled behind her back, and Amy frowned, causing her freckles to seem to all converge into one spot.

Camrad_RIP 10.01.26 в 22:14

"I'm not afraid of going to the dentist," she said.

Camrad_RIP 11.01.26 в 10:02

"Of course not," Taylor replied, putting her arms around her friends' shoulders and towering between them, "and I'm sure Lisa didn't mean anything like that, we're not having a lesson in intelligence and intrigue with Snape, are we?"

Camrad_RIP 11.01.26 в 10:02

Anyone else might have glanced over to see if Snape, the "Professor of Intriguebrewing," as Lisa had nicknamed him, was standing behind them. But Taylor, thanks to the insects, "saw" everything around her and knew there was no one behind them except the Patil sisters and Lavender Brown, walking fifteen meters behind.

Camrad_RIP 11.01.26 в 10:04

"Yes, I just wanted to say that the rest of the capes live in enclaves, in pocket dimensions, alongside other capes," Lisa explained, "and that still requires some minimal level of socialization. If a student breaks away from the group... it could all end badly. For Victoria, of course, even her beautiful figure won't save her then."

Camrad_RIP 11.01.26 в 10:05

“Okay, I’ll talk to her,” Amy sighed.

Camrad_RIP 11.01.26 в 10:06

"Or Taylor could do it," Granger grinned, "and to keep it secret, the conversation needs to be held where the castle can't overhear it, that is, in the shower!"

Camrad_RIP 11.01.26 в 10:11

"Or by putting on a Dragon armband," Taylor countered.

Camrad_RIP 11.01.26 в 10:12

“That’s not bad either,” Lisa approved, “not bad.”

Camrad_RIP 11.01.26 в 10:13

Taylor looked at her friend and decided to talk to her later. It was clear that Granger was a Thinker, and that this was how she used her superpowers to gather information, manipulate, and so on; however, it wasn't right to treat her friends in that manner.

Camrad_RIP 11.01.26 в 10:16

At least, not without a good explanation.

Camrad_RIP 11.01.26 в 10:16

After breakfast, classes began, the school year began, and Taylor felt herself getting better. The teachers and subjects were familiar, and even though the material was expected to be more challenging this year, Taylor believed in herself; she believed she could handle it.
*

Camrad_RIP 11.01.26 в 10:17

Hannah McGonagall immediately began the lesson by checking the knowledge gained last year.

Camrad_RIP 11.01.26 в 10:17

"Okay," she announced. "I see everyone remembers the rules for handling bladed weapons and firearms. This year, we'll be studying pistols and everything related to them, but not just theory and assembly/disassembly, but practical application. In Survival class with Professor Sinistra, you'll be using pistols in practice, in Planning class with Professor Flitwick, and in Intrigue class with Professor Snape, you'll be using them in calculations, not to mention classes with Professor Lockhart. Is everything clear to everyone?"

Camrad_RIP 11.01.26 в 10:21

Granger was delighted, Amy was indifferent, but overall, Taylor sensed, the class was rather dissatisfied. Following Jack's lead, Taylor tried to understand what was going on here — after all, guns are a great supplement to superpowers. Was it possible that guns interfered with others' superpowers? Or did they not want to waste time on them, believing their own superpowers were more reliable and superior? Or was this a manifestation of that same thirst for conflict, the desire to fight, as they say, with fists and fangs?

Camrad_RIP 11.01.26 в 10:28

There was no answer, but Taylor made a note to think about it later.

Camrad_RIP 11.01.26 в 10:29

*
Jess Binns, the History of Capes teacher, wheeled up to the board in her wheelchair and informed the second years of Herofindor and Legendpuff.

Camrad_RIP 11.01.26 в 10:30

"Last year, you gained a general understanding of the history of capes, their origins, and their influence on world events. This year, we'll examine in detail the foundational period, which some mistakenly call the "golden age of capes" — specifically, the years from 1908 to 1914, from the Tunguska meteorite impact to the outbreak of World War I. We'll also examine World War I itself, from the perspective of Cape history, and the contribution of capes, especially the early Tinkers, to the war, but that will be next year. The aftermath of World War I will also be addressed, as it was the event that saw many of the events that are now considered the unshakable foundations of Cape society. Let's begin with the aftermath of the meteorite impact."

Camrad_RIP 11.01.26 в 10:31

Jess moved aside and released a projection that began to fly around the holographic board and mark the areas affected by the Tunguska meteorite on a three-dimensional map of the Earth.
*

Camrad_RIP 11.01.26 в 10:31

On her way to the greenhouses where Ray Sprout, the dean of Legendpuff, was teaching, Taylor noticed something wrong with the surrounding landscape.

Camrad_RIP 11.01.26 в 10:33

"Stop," said Lisa, beating her to it by a split second. "That tree wasn't here!"

Camrad_RIP 11.01.26 в 10:33

Not far from the greenhouses, between them and the lake, stood a huge tree. Some kind of hybrid, which Taylor couldn't identify. Lisa, judging by her frown, also couldn't figure out what it was or how it had grown there. The friends looked at Amy, who shrugged and walked over to the tree to touch it and determine what was inside.

Camrad_RIP 11.01.26 в 10:34

As Weasley approached, the tree suddenly lurched forward, its nearest branches bending, reaching toward Amy, who yelped and jumped back. The longest branch finally reached her, lashing out at her leg with a flexible branch, and Amy jabbed a finger in response. The tree swayed and rustled, its branches flailing angrily, trying to reach her, but Amy was already retreating toward her friends.

Camrad_RIP 11.01.26 в 10:35

"A cross between willow, oak, sequoia, baobab, and larch," she said, rubbing her leg, where a welt from the stinging blow had swelled. "Damn it! Why can't I heal myself?!"

Camrad_RIP 11.01.26 в 10:35

“But you can heal us,” Lisa sang sweetly, hugging the bent-over Amy from behind.

Camrad_RIP 11.01.26 в 10:35

Ray Sprout, who had appeared from behind a tree, saw this and couldn't help but whistle, and Niceguy Lockhart, who had followed him, smoothed his golden hair with his hand and remarked conciliatorily.

Camrad_RIP 11.01.26 в 10:36

"A student simply decided to help another student by carrying her on her back. The Capes of Indonesia also have a similar ritual associated with passing..."

Camrad_RIP 11.01.26 в 10:36