Chapter 11
Leaving the Director's office, we were in a rather elevated mood. After all, putting aside the initial fear that arose due to the contamination of our memory with fanon , this meeting was extremely beneficial for us. We received, in essence, an apprenticeship with a wizard who is not without reason considered the most powerful in the modern world. Although we are more than sure that there are those who are stronger, simply not interested in publicity. For example, some genius like Barty studied at the school Crouch Jr., who got excellent grades in all subjects and instead of idiotically joining the Death Eaters or building a career in the Ministry of Magic, focused on magic and his research, some of which would undoubtedly have drawn a Dementor's kiss . Unfortunately, genius does not equal smart. It is precisely the mindset that allows geniuses to succeed where someone who would seem to be considered really smart would get stuck.
Oh and besides all this there is another rather big benefit. Although perhaps not everyone will agree with this, but we believe that if a secret like ours is known by someone reliable, with whom it will be possible to freely talk about it. This is an undoubted benefit. Again, there may be different situations and where we may not guess about a possible threat due to our state of one soul in two bodies, a person like Dumbledore can and most likely will save if it is life-threatening.
- Vega! You're finally out. - Hermione suddenly called out to us, who seemed to have been waiting for us all this time and was clearly worried. - You weren't punished, were you?
- Punished? Why should we be punished? - we asked with slight bewilderment.
- Well, for that incident with Malfoy, or for the fact that you ordered brooms even though first-years are forbidden to have their own broom, or... - the girl began to list her assumptions, but we stopped her through Andromeda.
- Stop, stop. We understand. Don't worry, the director just wanted to talk to us.
- Let's go to the room of requirement and we can tell you everything there, - said Regulus .
- Okay. - the girl nodded quickly, full of curiosity. And together we went to the eighth floor.
And soon we found ourselves in the room of help itself, which, unlike the usual one, was now completely different. It was a small room in black tones, with bookshelves along the walls, furniture at the far end, and right in the middle stood one large marble bowl. Next to which was a small stand with a book.
- What request did you make of the room? - Hermione looked at us with a little doubt.
"The room of oaths," we said calmly.
- The vows room? - the girl asked again, trying to understand what we had in mind.
- You see, Hermione, - Andromeda began, - we have secrets, and we would like to be able to be completely honest with you, but to do this we need to protect ourselves from those who might try to find out information through mind reading.
"And it will also help you get rid of any doubts that we will ever betray you," Regulus added , so that what we had planned would not look like a purely one-sided deal that would only benefit us.
- I don't understand, - the girl shook her head slightly, frowning. - What exactly do you want to do? Speak directly.
- It will be easier to show. - Andromeda took the book from the stand and leafed through it a bit until she found the right page, after which she handed the book to Hermione.
- Blood oath? - after reading the table of contents, she looked at us with skepticism, but nevertheless returned to reading. The very essence of this oath was that some specific condition was chosen, which the magicians must observe, while the magic itself would help in observing this condition.
For example, by swearing never to fight each other, such mages will no longer be able to directly harm each other, and if they keep secrets, then magic will become like a shield that will protect the secrets of the other.
Why do we need all this, if, it would seem, there is such a convenient Occlumency or artifacts that protect the mind? The answer is quite simple - giving such an artifact is not at all like how we bought brooms for our team, which will eventually be given to those who will replace the current team in the future. This is simply too expensive a gift, which should not be given without a proper reason, like at least a birthday, in addition, since such artifacts are in the form of jewelry, then even despite our age this can be interpreted as an attempt at courtship, and perhaps in modern England early engagements are no longer practiced. But in magical England this is still common, most couples get married right after Hogwarts, and with how much Hermione loves to read, she could well have thought of something a little different. Also, although, undoubtedly, she will grow up to be a wonderful girl in the future, we are not interested in the relationship between us being closer than best friends.
As for Occlumency , firstly, it takes a long time, and secondly, it is not as reliable as it seems. After all, in fact, it does not work on the principle of once you create a shield, all your memories are protected. Then Harry would not have been able to receive information from Voldemort, as, for example, when he learned that the Horcrux was in Hogwarts and was connected to Ravenclaw , or if we take the films as an example, where Harry, having reflected the Leglimency spell , saw the memories of Snape, who did not expect such a thing, while Snape is such a seasoned veteran that he successfully deceived Voldemort. The essence of Occlumency is active protection. By replacing your memories with false ones, and also thanks to it, you can better control yourself and organize your memory, due to which nothing will be forgotten. Another thing is that we already have eidetic memory and it seems that Hermione's memory is not much worse.
In general, through searching for a simpler option, we came to the blood oath.
"Do you really have to cut your hand to do this?" Hermione asked, seemingly the only thing that confused her about the whole thing.
- Well, yeah, - we shrugged.
"I don't like cuts," Hermione muttered and put the book back in its original place before standing next to the bowl.
- So does that mean you agree?
- Yes. But… how do we make the cut? I don't know the right spell. – As soon as her words were spoken, a small silver dagger that looked quite sharp fell into the bowl with a clang.
- That looks like the answer, - we said, and Regulus stood in front of the bowl opposite Hermione, taking the dagger in his hand first.
- Well, shall I begin? - We looked at Hermione.
- Uh-huh, - the girl nodded slightly nervously.
- Okay. - Sighing nervously, we put the blade to Regulus's right palm , pausing for a moment. After all, cutting yourself is just so damn scary. But after a couple of seconds of hesitation, we finally carefully ran the blade across the palm. And although we hardly pressed, the cut came out quite deep, releasing blood.
- Ssss . - Hissing in pain, not even caring that we did it at the same time, Regulus handed the dagger to Hermione, warning her. - Be careful, it's sharper than it looks.
- O-okay. - She stuttered and took the knife, and Regulus took out his wand and ran the tip over the cut, saying.
- I swear to keep your secrets. Ouch ! - When he said that, we felt another flash of pain that we were not prepared for this time. A cut appeared on Andromeda's right palm, exactly the same as the cut on Regulus' hand . This was clearly not how it was supposed to work, but eventually, before the blood could hit the floor, Andromeda walked over to the bowl so that her blood would flow into it as well.
- Ow! - Another scream was heard, and we looked at Hermione, whose eyes were watering from pain, but she still put the dagger aside and ran the tip of her wand over the cut, grimacing in pain as she said, - I swear to keep your secrets.
As soon as these words were spoken and her blood mixed with ours inside the bowl. All the collected blood and our cuts glowed red. The pool of blood that had flowed out was compressed into one small drop, and then a perfectly fitting bottle magically appeared around it, which the next moment fell back into the bowl with a thud.
"Is that all? I don't feel anything." Hermione asked, looking in surprise at the vial of blood and then at her completely healed palm.
"It seems so," we answered as Andromeda took the bottle in her hand.
- And now, we will reveal our main secret to you. - They said, looking seriously at the girl, who immediately pricked up her ears, ready to hear what kind of secret it was that required such security measures.
- In fact, we are not just twins who know each other well. We have one mind for both of us.
"Oh, so it's true?" Hermione blinked, although it seemed like this news wasn't anything new to her.
- ... - hearing such an answer, we froze like stone statues. Is our secret really nothing more than a joke?