"What's wrong, Sylas?"
Arwen noticed his sudden stillness and the slight crease between his brows. Worried, she leaned in and asked softly.
Seeing the concern in her eyes, and her round, swollen belly, Sylas's expression softened immediately.
He shook his head lightly and joked,
"Nothing. I just felt like some student was staring at me in secret. Probably a little admirer."
Arwen, amused by her overly-confident husband, put aside her suspicion and placed his favorite dragon cutlet onto his plate.
"Thank you, darling!" Sylas grinned, then lowered his head to eat, while silently activating his Soul-Seizing Talent.
In an instant, a flood of chaotic thoughts poured into his mind, stabbing pain through his temples.
Sylas kept eating normally, but his attention was razor-sharp. He focused on each student's thoughts, searching for anything strange.
Time passed. Thought after thought drifted by, nothing but ordinary childish chatter, louder in their minds than in their mouths.
Sylas slowly withdrew his Legilimency. His expression didn't change, but a deep seriousness flickered behind his eyes.
Because he continued eating calmly, no one noticed.
When everyone finished dinner, Sylas rose from his seat. With a light flick of his wand, a shimmering ribbon of text unfurled in the air.
"Everyone, sing the school song to your favorite tune!" Sylas announced cheerfully.
"Ready, sing!"
The professors either looked expectant or helpless, and the whole hall erupted as students belted out the school song loudly and completely off-key.
The second-year students, already seasoned troublemakers, were the loudest, practically shouting the song as if competing to be heard above everyone else. Their voices drowned out the entire hall.
Sylas simply watched them with amusement, making no attempt to interfere.
The hall filled with a chaotic mixture of clashing tunes, the magical noise causing portraits and statues to slap their hands over their ears.
A few professors had wisely inserted earplugs ahead of time.
As every student sang, an invisible bond strengthened between the castle and its students.
At the same time, the students' emotions and stray magical energy flowed toward a single point deep within the castle.
Sylas directed the chant with his wand and scanned the children below.
As the master of the castle, he could clearly feel each thread of connection between Hogwarts and its students, protective in nature, but also a subtle check, ensuring they would not harm the castle.
He inspected these bonds carefully, searching for anything unusual. But even when the last note of the school song faded, he found nothing wrong.
Satisfied, Sylas prepared to end the banquet.
Just as he opened his mouth;
A violent surge of magic erupted from deep within the castle.
Everyone felt it, even the first-years.
A low, resonating hum spread through the Great Hall.
Outside, all the thunderbirds roosting in the Mallorn trees shrieked like crashing thunder. Lightning flashed everywhere as they burst from their nests, circling the castle in a storm of wings and crackling electricity.
The enchanted night sky on the ceiling darkened, rumbling with storm clouds and streaks of lightning, carrying a sharp tang of ozone.
Deep beneath the castle, Smaug opened his eyes, and let out a thunderous roar.
"An earthquake?!"
"I heard something underground, was that a dragon?"
"Is the castle collapsing?"
Panic spread instantly through the students. Even the professors were startled.
Only Gandalf and Galadriel remained composed, though even they looked surprised.
"Quiet!"
Sylas's voice boomed like thunder across the hall. Instantly, all noise vanished. Hundreds of wide-eyed students stared at him in fear and expectation.
"Headmaster… what happened?" Professor Edward asked tensely, clearly shocked by the sudden disturbance.
The other professors turned to Sylas as well, hoping for an explanation.
Sylas, his face showing a mix of surprise and delight, smiled reassuringly and said,
"Don't worry, everyone. There was just a small mishap in the castle, but it's a good thing. One of our companions is eager to meet you all."
Companion?
Everyone exchanged confused looks, whispering in surprise.
The next moment, Sylas raised his wand and called out,
"Please lift your wands!"
Though bewildered, the students all obeyed. The professors followed as well.
Then Sylas flicked his wand. A streak of silver shot upward, piercing through the clouds on the enchanted ceiling. Instantly, the clouds began to glow with a silvery radiance, as though producing a mysterious magnetic pull.
From every raised wand, even those belonging to first-years who didn't yet know a single spell, wisps of silver light were drawn out against their will, rising into the glowing clouds.
Everyone stared in shock.
The first-years, in particular, were stunned; most had never cast magic in their lives, yet here they were, being forced into some unknown magical phenomenon.
Seeing this, Gandalf and Galadriel simultaneously raised their hands. Their rings, visible only to them, shimmered faintly as they released enormous magic.
The ceiling clouds grew brighter and brighter under the combined magic, becoming saturated with silvery light until they looked almost alive.
Finally, the clouds dissolved, and a figure slowly formed within the silver glow.
It looked like a ghost, yet not quite. It had color, unlike the usual gray pallor of ghosts, and its form seemed strangely solid.
It was short, hobbit-height, with a wide face, a big mouth, and round, lively eyes. It had black hair, black eyes, pale skin, and wore brightly colored clothing, a tie, a pointed nightcap, clown-like shoes, the whole appearance rather comical.
Its eyes darted restlessly. The moment it spotted the students, it let out a muffled screech, then swooped down excitedly.
It leapt over the students' heads, sending them ducking and covering their hair in fright. He snatched several hats right off their heads, tossing them around wildly and cackling with chaotic laughter.
The children could only stare at the creature in shock.
"What is that? Is it a ghost?" one student asked nervously.
Just as the creature was about to continue wreaking havoc, Sylas shouted from above,
"Alright, Peeves, that's enough!"
The "ghost" froze mid-air at once. Then, moving hesitantly, it floated up to Sylas.
The moment it looked at Sylas, a strange sense of familiarity washed over it. Its round black eyes blinked rapidly, and it tilted its head.
"Peeves? Is that my name?"
Before Sylas could even respond, the creature spun in the air in delight.
"Haha! Peeves! I love that name! From today onward, I am the great Mr. Peeves!
...
Stones PLzz
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