Chapter 54: La Mora Fish
It was still early, and the breeze blew gently across the lake, rippling the surface with waves.
Beneath the clear water, silver flashes glimmered—it was the rare Lamora fish. They shouldn't be here. These magical creatures weren't native to this region.
"Kate, what do you think this is?" asked Alexander, who always enjoyed playing the role of a teacher.
"Let's see... fish?" Kate stood on tiptoes and looked down at the lake from the window. A dozen silver streaks darted below the surface, shining like flying meteors.
"What kind of fish?"
"I have no idea," Kate replied flatly, rolling her eyes. She suspected Alexander was trying to rope her into another impromptu magical biology lesson.
She wasn't sure what had gotten into Penelope lately, organizing surprise review sessions for the final exam. Admittedly, they were quite interesting—entertaining, even—but like a tasty burger eaten too often, the novelty was wearing off. As a proud Ravenclaw, Kate didn't mind learning, but she was beginning to feel the burden of too much of a good thing.
"That's the Lamora, a magical creature usually found in the Indian Ocean," Alexander explained.
"Kate, do you know what kind of magic it possesses? It's related to ships. Let me give you a hint."
"There's a non-magical fish, discovered by Muggle scholars, called the Remora. Its English name is very similar to Lamora. The most notable feature of the Remora is a suction cup on top of its head. It latches onto large fish—or even boats—to hitch a ride," Alexander added.
"Suction cup?"
"Adsorption?"
"Used on ships?"
"Aha! I know—it slows down boats!" Kate exclaimed, clenching her little fists in triumph.
"Exactly! The Lamora has powerful magical properties. It can immobilize ships at sea and is often considered a guardian spirit for sailors."
"It's also protected under international wizarding anti-poaching laws," he continued.
"Lamora magic is eerily similar to the Muggle superstition that certain fish can prevent ships from sailing—only this one actually can. There's even a legend that ties this creature to the death of the ancient Greek wizard Shrimachus Antony during the Battle of Actium... and another linking it to Emperor Caligula's accidental death."
"That superstition likely came from the Lamorella species, a cousin of the Lamora."
"So, in Muggle stories it became myth, while in our world, it transformed into the Lamora fish," Alexander concluded, closing the window. He noticed Kate's cheeks were tinged pink from the cold wind.
"But I didn't see the sucker you mentioned," Kate said innocently.
"That's on the Remora—the Muggle fish," Alexander corrected.
"But there are Lamora fish here. Is this lake connected to the Indian Ocean? Or did a wizard bring them from the Horrible Journey exhibit?" he pondered aloud, stroking his chin.
"But that's unlikely. Zombies are usually found in South America, and the Indian Ocean is far from here," Kate reminded him.
"No, this place has been heavily enchanted with Confundus spells. The Horrible Journey never said it was America. Zombies might be a South American specialty, but that doesn't mean—"
"—Doesn't mean we're in South America," Kate finished for him.
"With your skills, Alexander, it shouldn't be hard to figure out where we are."
"Nope. That's a secret. Try and guess which of my theories is correct," Alexander said slyly.
"You little brat!" Kate nearly blurted, frustrated.
She wasn't the type to give up on a mystery. That question would likely nag her until lunchtime.
"And to think I was just worried about Ignotus," Alexander thought, before his focus shifted. "Quirrell… just wait for me."
"Alexander, please, just tell me where we are!"
"Which guess is right?"
"Have you been stringing me along ever since you brought up the Lamora fish?" Kate muttered under her breath.
As she sulked, time drifted toward 11 a.m.
Suddenly, cheerful music drifted down from the second floor, sounding like raindrops pattering on grass and leaves. At the same time, a spicy, mouth-watering aroma wafted through the air.
"It's lunchtime," Alexander said to Kate, who was still brooding and hugging her tablet.
"Aha! I can tell by the smell!" Kate sprang to life and bolted toward the second floor.
Wow, she reacts that strongly to food?
But yes, they were in Romania now. And the local cuisine was indeed something to look forward to.
"Curious to see if Kate can figure it out?" Alexander thought as he followed her up the creaky wooden stairs.
The second floor greeted him with a bright yellow carpet. Next to the balcony stood a long dining table, already set with chickpeas, steak, roasted potatoes, fried chicken, and pasta.
Kate sat at the table, looking defeated. Sunlight streamed through the windows, landing on the bridge of her nose, making her look golden and ethereal.
"Was this place decorated by a Hufflepuff?" Alexander joked.
But Kate didn't respond. She just savagely tore a piece from a chicken drumstick.
If even Hufflepuff jokes couldn't get a rise out of her, she must have really been annoyed. Normally, she'd have made fun of their "tragic taste."
"Well, you know, India was ruled by Britain once, so this English-style lunch—"
"Means this place is India!" Kate leapt up, triumphant.
"And the yellow carpet? Must be the terrible taste of Hufflepuff decorators!"
Soon night fell. All the lights in the wooden cabin suddenly went out.
Then, the eerie growls of zombies echoed from the right side of the hut.
"Alexander, is there no dinner here?" Kate's voice came from a shadowy corner.
Just then, loud metal music blasted through the darkness, drowning out the zombie roars. The lake surface began to shimmer—it was the Lamora fish again!
They spiraled in perfect circles at the lake's center. A large stone platform slowly emerged from the depths, slick with water except for its dry center.
The Lamora fish swam in formation, forming a silver, glowing underwater bridge from the platform to the cabin.
Alexander took Kate's hand and led her across the water, stepping onto the shimmering path.
It was like something from a dream. Walking on water—even for wizards—was rare and impressive. A memory worth cherishing.
Zzzt zzzt zzzt!
As they reached the platform, two stone chairs and a table rose from its center. The table was covered in dishes: long-grain Indian rice and a variety of curries—chicken curry, egg curry, chickpea curry—all served with masala fritters and fried noodles.
Raw green peppers and onions sat on the side, and, thankfully, there was proper tableware.
Without those, the magical atmosphere would've been completely wasted.
The Lamora fish dispersed once more, diving to the lake's depths. The zombies' growls faded into the distance, and the nearby graves remained quiet.
After all, who could enjoy dinner with the stench of rotting corpses in the air?
"Kate, eat up. I doubt we've seen the last of the zombies," Alexander warned.
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