12 Dec 2022, 20:38
Ab Uno Disce Omnes - From One, Learn All
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THE MOMENT Irene turned 10, Victoria Hatchet had begun to teach her Latin. Learning the language of Ancient Rome, however cryptic and dead it may be, was fascinating to both mother and daughter. Early mornings were spent going over common phrases and snacking on blueberries, Irene's favorite fruit. Even in the dead of night, numbers and letters swam through the air, enveloping her in a warm, soothing hug. She had even brought along her journal in which she had practiced her latin, a simple sentence written neatly on the inside cover in blue pen.
Ab Uno Disce Omnes: From One, Learn All.
"Promise me, Irene, that when you arrive at Hogwarts, you will treat your classmates and teachers with respect. If you want to fulfill your dreams of being a well-educated witch, you need to learn how to be one first, and of course the only people who can teach you that are the professors at Hogwarts. Ab uno disce omnes, Irene. Remember that." her mother had stated the morning of Irene's departure for the train station, the many frown lines on her symmetrical face creasing once more like old newspaper. Even now, as Irene hurried to her first class, she could almost feel her mother's icy breath down her neck, snapping at her for every incorrect wand movement or her poor pronounciation. At least here, she wouldn't have to worry about her.
Stepping into the large room in which Charms class would take place, Irene observed she was one of the early few who had arrived, as there were only 5 other people (not including the teacher) in the room. She smiled softly. She liked being early. Inching towards the front of the classroom, she spotted an empty seat in the first row and sat down instantly, eager to learn. Textbooks, quill, and parchment arranged neatly on her desk, she looked around as she waited for the bell to ring. What would she learn today? Most likely a simple spell; she had leafed through the textbooks at home in curiosity to see what she would be doing this year.
It was quite overwhelming, Irene thought, being at Hogwarts. But she loved it.
A sudden shout drew her attention behind her, and she noticed two students laughing loudly as they waved indistinctly and erupted into more laughter. They seemed to both be first-years and were clearly good friends. Irene frowned, turning back to the front of the classroom. She really should try and become more social. What was it Pericles had said? If Irene doesn't go looking for company, it would most definitely find her.
And something about that statement didn't sound very friendly.
Sighing, Irene picked up her quill, dipping the tip into the small crystal inkwell she had placed on her desk and writing her name neatly along the top of her parchment, along with the date and class. She gasped softly when the bell rung suddenly, the sounds of hundreds of footsteps barreling down the halls echoing through the empty classroom. In a matter of seconds, the classroom flooded with a startling amount of students, panicked looks strewn across their faces.
A disapproving frown spread across Irene's face as she sighed in dismay. How were they so late? As she thought this over, the seat next to her was suddenly occupied by another student, Katherine a first-year, she assumed, who quickly took out their textbook. Irene watched them curiously as the professor walked to the front of the class, mildly intrigued. Turning back to the teacher, she waited patiently for instructions.
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𝙰 𝚍𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚖𝚎𝚛, 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝'𝚜 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚜𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚜.
𝐓𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐨𝐫 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞, 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.