Chapter 20 (~11k words):
– Harry –
I was still sitting at the Gryffindor breakfast table, wrapping up my conversation with Fred and George, when Professor McGonagall suddenly approached. She stopped next to me, adjusting her glasses as she gave me a slightly stern but kind look.
"Mr. Sitri," she said calmly, "Professor Dumbledore would like a word with you before your classes start today." She paused briefly, then softened her expression a bit. "You have Transfiguration with me first, so I'll excuse your tardiness if the meeting runs long."
"Thanks, Professor," I replied with a grateful smile.
She nodded crisply, turned on her heel, and quickly walked away to resume supervising the Great Hall. I stood up from the table, glancing back at Fred and George.
"Wonder what the old man wants now," Fred commented with a casual grin.
George chuckled, giving me a mock-serious salute. "Best of luck, Harry."
"Thanks," I said, rolling my eyes at their theatrics. "See you two later."
Hermione was seated nearby, deep in conversation with Ginny. As I prepared to leave, I leaned towards Hermione, giving her a gentle smile. "I've got to go meet Dumbledore," I said softly, pressing a quick kiss to her cheek. Hermione's cheeks turned faintly pink as she smiled back warmly.
Ginny watched the exchange with a playful pout, eyes narrowing slightly. Chuckling softly at her expression, I hesitated briefly before leaning towards her as well. "I wouldn't forget about you," I teased, giving her a quick peck on the cheek too. Her face lit up in delight at being included.
Fred and George immediately erupted in exaggerated indignation. "Oi! Potter, that's our sister!" Fred exclaimed dramatically.
"Have you no shame?" George chimed in as they both feigned outrage.
I laughed, holding up my hands in surrender. "My deepest apologies, gentlemen," I said, unable to suppress a grin.
The twins mock-scowled, but their eyes twinkled with humor, clearly amused rather than truly offended. I stood up from the table, still smiling as I left the Great Hall.
I left the noisy hall behind, making my way through the familiar corridors of the castle toward Dumbledore's office. I moved quickly up the marble staircase, eventually reaching the stone gargoyle standing guard in front of the spiral staircase.
"Take 5," I said clearly, speaking the password Dumbledore had recently set. The gargoyle nodded stiffly and rotated aside, revealing the hidden stairway. I stepped forward and walked up the twisting staircase.
When I reached the top, the heavy wooden door was already slightly open. I pushed it inward and stepped into the Headmaster's comfortable, cluttered office. Immediately, a joyful trill echoed through the room as Fawkes, Dumbledore's magnificent phoenix, took flight from his perch and landed gracefully on my shoulder. His feathers felt pleasantly warm, and he let out another affectionate chirp as I reached up and scratched gently beneath his chin.
"Good morning, Fawkes," I said warmly, smiling as the phoenix leaned happily into my touch. "It's always good to see you, too."
"Fawkes does seem to have taken quite the liking to you, Harry," Dumbledore remarked cheerfully from behind his ornate desk. His bright blue eyes twinkled with gentle amusement. He was wearing his usual vibrant robes, today colored deep purple with glittering silver stars.
Standing nearby, close to the Headmaster's desk, was a stern-faced woman I didn't recognize. She was tall, with vibrant red hair neatly tied back, and wore the official robes of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Her sharp gaze studied me carefully, assessing me from head to toe. Underneath her official robes, it was impossible to ignore the massive curves of her chest. Probably the biggest breasts I'd seen on a human woman who wasn't a devil or Veela.
Definitely impressive.
My eyes lingered just a bit too long on her abundant assets, and she noticed instantly. The woman made a soft, disapproving 'tut' sound and crossed her arms over her generous chest, giving me a mildly irritated glare.
Quickly realizing my mistake, I cleared my throat awkwardly, fighting the heat rising in my cheeks. "Sorry about that," I mumbled softly.
"Harry Sitri, I presume," she said firmly. Her voice was strong and confident, carrying natural authority. "I'm Amelia Bones, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Pleasure to meet you."
My eyes widened slightly in surprise. Amelia Bones herself was here—the top witch in charge of Britain's magical police force. This must be important indeed if someone of her rank had personally come all the way to Hogwarts.
"Wow," I said honestly, regaining my composure and offering her a polite smile. "It's very nice to meet you, Madam Bones."
She nodded curtly, her gaze still serious but noticeably less cold. Up close, I could see the resemblance—she definitely looked related to Susan Bones, a Hufflepuff student around my age. In fact, Susan herself was quite famously curvy among the student population. Clearly, the Bones family genetics had been incredibly generous in certain areas.
Dumbledore smiled indulgently at our exchange, gently clearing his throat to regain my attention.
"Apologies for pulling you away from breakfast and classes, Harry," he said kindly, stroking his beard thoughtfully. "But Madam Bones here has come personally to discuss an urgent matter, and unfortunately it couldn't wait until later in the day."
"Indeed," Amelia agreed briskly, fixing me with her steady gaze again. "I appreciate your time, Mr. Sitri, and I'll try not to keep you too long."
I glanced back to Dumbledore curiously. "Of course," I agreed easily, my interest piqued. "I'm happy to help however I can. What's this about?"
Amelia took a step forward, uncrossing her arms and standing tall as she prepared to speak. "Mr. Sitri," she began calmly, "I'm here because recent events surrounding this tournament have escalated rapidly, and we have reasons to believe there may be threats against you personally. I'd like to ask you a few questions to help keep both you and the other participants safe."
"Of course, Madam Bones. Ask away."
Madam Bones took a slow breath, straightening her back before beginning her explanation. "Mr. Sitri, the situation we find ourselves in is deeply troubling," she started, her voice controlled but tense. "We are currently just entering the third week of this school year, and there have already been two confirmed assassination attempts directly targeting you."
Honestly, it was actually three attempts if we counted the recent Lupin incident in the woods. But I quickly decided not to bring that one up.
It wouldn't help to drag Professor Lupin or my mother Serafall into an official Ministry investigation. So I kept quiet about that particular night.
Instead, I gave a slow nod, showing that I took her concerns seriously. "Yeah, I have to admit it's pretty crazy," I said truthfully. "But, isn't this kind of how magical school usually goes? I mean, the TV shows always make the magic world look exciting and dangerous…"
"Haha," Dumbledore chuckled gently from behind his desk, clearly amused by my comment.
Madam Bones, however, was less amused. She let out an irritated sigh, crossing her arms beneath that massive chest of hers, unintentionally emphasizing it even more beneath the thick fabric of her robes. "Those ridiculous TV shows drive me crazy," she muttered with obvious annoyance. "My niece Susan is completely obsessed with them as well," she grumbled.
Dumbledore laughed again, his eyes twinkling mischievously behind his half-moon spectacles. "I must admit, I tend to prefer books myself," he said cheerfully. He leaned forward slightly, a sly smile forming beneath his beard. "In fact, lately I've been reading a rather steamy tale about—"
"Headmaster!" Madam Bones sharply interrupted, her cheeks turning slightly red as she quickly raised her hand, clearly uncomfortable with wherever Dumbledore was taking that conversation. "Can we please return to the actual issue at hand?"
Dumbledore chuckled warmly, sitting back in his chair, completely unfazed by her reaction. "Of course, Amelia. Continue."
She cleared her throat pointedly, quickly regaining her composure and looking directly at me once more. "Right," Madam Bones began again, speaking clearly and seriously. "First was the poisoning incident involving Ronald Weasley, who nearly died because he unknowingly ingested poison intended for you, Mr. Sitri."
I winced at that memory. Yeah that was fucked up. And I definitely was not going to be pointing out anytime soon that Lyra and Lyna had actually poisoned Ron. After he had tried to poison me first.
"And then Viktor Krum—an internationally famous star, no less—was victim of an Imperius Curse and forced to attack you publicly in the first task. Even though it's considered the least dangerous of the Unforgivable Curses, the backlash has not been good." She shook her head sharply, irritation flashing clearly in her eyes. "The media, especially the international newspapers, have been eating Magical Britain alive over this," she said, frustration thick in her tone. "The Bulgarian Ministry has lodged multiple complaints. Public perception of our country is rapidly deteriorating. The whole world is demanding answers about what happened, and rightfully so." Madam Bones stared directly into my eyes, her expression grim and serious. "Your safety is my personal priority, Mr. Sitri. So you understand why I'm taking this matter very seriously."
"Of course, Madam, I'll help however I can," I told her.
She straightened slightly, adjusting her stance and looking down at me with those sharp, attentive eyes of hers.
"Tell me honestly, Mr. Sitri," she asked calmly, "have you noticed anything unusual around Hogwarts recently? Specifically over the weekend. Have you been keeping up with what's been reported in the newspapers at all?"
Before I could respond, Dumbledore cleared his throat gently, giving Madam Bones a friendly smile. "I'm afraid Harry couldn't have kept up with anything here this weekend, Amelia," he explained pleasantly. "He wasn't at Hogwarts at all. Neither was Miss Hermione Granger—Harry's closest confidant—nor was his aunt, Miss Sona Sitri, or her friend Miss Tsubaki Shinra, for that matter."
At Dumbledore's blunt statement, I turned my head slightly to the side and awkwardly whistled, pretending sudden fascination with a random shelf of trinkets on the headmaster's wall. Fawkes let out a soft trill of amusement from my shoulder, clearly sensing my discomfort.
Madam Bones stared at the headmaster, momentarily dumbfounded. Her mouth opened slightly as she processed the revelation, then snapped shut with a sharp click. Her eyes narrowed as she glared at Dumbledore in disbelief.
"Headmaster, are you telling me that students are allowed to just blatantly come and go from the grounds as they please?" she demanded sharply. Her tone made it clear she considered the idea ridiculous. "That is an absolute security nightmare!"
Dumbledore's smile didn't falter at her reaction. If anything, his eyes just twinkled more brightly with amused mischief.
"No, Amelia," he assured her gently, calmly lacing his fingers together on his desk. "Only Mr. Sitri and his close companions—his friends and family—have permission to leave. And that is simply because I trust Harry implicitly to be responsible about it. Besides, according to the official rules established from the Triwizard Tournament itself, champions such as Harry are actually allowed considerable freedom of movement. He may come and go as he pleases during this tournament." Dumbledore's smile widened slightly as he added casually, "Though I will admit, the rules regarding whether or not he may take other students with him are somewhat… ambiguous, to say the least."
He glanced pointedly in my direction, and I quickly coughed awkwardly. Madam Bones turned her attention sharply back to me, her eyebrow arching upward skeptically.
"It was just for the weekend," I explained, raising my hands defensively. "I promise, Madam Bones, I'm not planning to vanish every weekend. I just…" I paused, trying to think of the right way to say it. "I just needed to get away for a bit."
And had to get my new peerage members adjusted. Went unsaid.
Her expression softened slightly at my honesty.
I didn't particularly care much for the Ministry of Magic. From everything I'd seen and heard since arriving in Britain, it was a failing government, barely held together by nepotism, incompetence, and blatant corruption. But even so, it was clear Madam Bones at least genuinely cared about my safety. That counted for something. I think.
"Thank you again for taking this so seriously, Madam Bones," I said sincerely, meeting her gaze. "I do appreciate your concern."
She relaxed just a fraction, her expression softening. "Just please be cautious, Mr. Sitri. For your own sake."
"I will," I promised, meaning it.
Before anyone else could speak, there was a soft knock at Dumbledore's office door. I turned my head slightly, sensing two magical signatures outside, patiently waiting. A faint smile curled my lips as I instantly recognized one of them. A brand-new member of my peerage who I'd grown more familiar with over the past weekend.
The door opened smoothly, and Narcissa Black strode gracefully into the room, head held proudly, her posture confident and regal as if she owned the entire castle. Already, a weekend away from her toxic husband clearly had already done her a world of good. She carried herself with renewed strength, confidence, and an elegant poise that demanded respect. Her platinum blonde hair shone softly in the warm light, framing that stunningly beautiful face I'd grown rather fond of in such a short time.
Our eyes met briefly, and she gave me a subtle, playful wink that sent a pleasant warmth through me.
Standing just behind Narcissa was another witch, this one much younger, with vibrant bubblegum-pink hair framing a beautiful, heart-shaped face. She wore simple Auror robes, but even beneath the standard clothing, I could see she was undeniably attractive, her figure slender but still softly curved in all the right places.
However, for some reason, this pink-haired witch was casting distinctly distrustful glances at Narcissa, carefully watching her every movement. She seemed so distracted by observing Narcissa suspiciously that she completely forgot to watch her own feet. Her shoe caught awkwardly on the rug as she entered, causing her to stumble forward suddenly.
"Oh, bloody hell—!" she gasped sharply, her eyes widening in surprise as she started falling straight toward me.
Reacting instantly, I stepped forward, opening my arms smoothly to catch her before she could hit the ground. Her soft, slender body tumbled directly into my chest. Instinctively, my arms wrapped securely around her petite waist to steady her, holding her gently but firmly against me.
"Hello there," I said with a small smirk, looking down at the adorably clumsy slightly older witch in my arms. "You alright?" she was in her mid 20s, probably graduated Hogwarts a few years ago.
She blinked up at me, clearly startled, cheeks flushing a bright shade of pink that nearly matched her vibrant hair. Our eyes locked together for a brief moment, and to my astonishment, her vivid pink locks suddenly began shifting colors rapidly—cycling through shades of violet, blue, orange, and then settling back to pink again.
Well, that was an interesting ability.
"I'm—I'm fine, thanks," she stammered, embarrassed. Her large, expressive eyes darted away nervously as she quickly righted herself, stepping carefully out of my embrace. She glanced awkwardly at Madam Bones.
Madam Bones sighed deeply, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Really, Tonks?" she muttered dryly, exasperation clear in her voice. "Way to make a great first impression on your new charge."
The younger witch cringed, shooting her superior an apologetic look. "Sorry, ma'am."
Madam Bones shook her head lightly, clearly used to the younger woman's clumsiness by now. She turned back toward me, gesturing toward the embarrassed pink-haired Auror.
"Mr. Sitri, allow me to introduce Auror Nymphadora Tonks," she said clearly. "She is a fully trained and highly capable Auror and has been specifically assigned as your personal guard here at Hogwarts. Given the circumstances, it was decided you needed someone close by who could protect you from any further attempts on your life…"
I hated how that made sense from an outside perspective.
"Please just call me Tonks," the pink-haired witch quickly chimed in, giving me an awkward but hopeful smile. "I really can't stand my first name."
"Tonks, then," I said easily, returning her smile warmly. "It's nice to meet you."
"You too," she replied, cheeks still slightly flushed.
Madam Bones finally seemed to notice Narcissa fully, and immediately her entire demeanor changed. Her eyes narrowed sharply, turning even icier and more suspicious than the look Tonks had been giving Narcissa earlier.
I felt a sudden powerful urge to step forward and defend Narcissa. But I quickly pushed down the impulse. The close relationship between Narcissa and me was supposed to stay secret for now. Although it probably wouldn't last very long when other students eventually saw us spending time together. As a brand new member of my peerage, with her magic still needing to settle for years to come, she would need to be spending at least an hour a day around me.
Madam Bones crossed her arms beneath her considerable chest and spoke in a clipped, hostile tone. "Forgive me, but I'd very much like to know what the wife of Lucius Malfoy is doing here, Headmaster." The sheer venom in her voice when she said the name "Malfoy" was palpable. Clearly, Amelia Bones held nothing but hatred for the Malfoy family. It wasn't exactly surprising, given Lucius's past as a Death Eater.
Narcissa, however, was completely unfazed by Madam Bones's hostility. She lifted her chin confidently. "I am no longer that bastard's wife, Amelia," she announced clearly, voice firm and unwavering. "As of yesterday, I have officially filed for divorce from Lucius Malfoy. My legal representative is Ted Tonks, and he's currently handling all necessary proceedings."
At that, Madam Bones immediately turned toward the young pink-haired Auror beside me, her expression utterly astonished. "Is that true, Nymphadora? Why wasn't something this significant reported to me immediately?"
Tonks flinched slightly at the use of her first name, shifting uncomfortably from one foot to another. "I'm really sorry, boss," she admitted awkwardly. "Mum specifically told me to keep quiet about it. She said it was Black family business and shouldn't be made public yet."
Madam Bones huffed sharply, clearly irritated, but she didn't press the issue further. Instead, she turned back toward Narcissa, still wary but at least slightly less hostile than before.
Tonks, though, stepped forward a bit, eyeing Narcissa cautiously. "I just want it clearly understood, I still don't entirely trust her yet. You know how miserable my mum has been most of her life? Having both her younger sisters turn out to be complete monsters took a toll."
I felt Narcissa tense subtly at the mention of her sisters, Bellatrix and Andromeda, but her voice was calm as she responded. "You must understand, Nymphadora," she said gently but clearly, "I was trapped under an old-world marriage contract and essentially lived as Lucius's slave. My… ex-husband forbade me from ever speaking to my sister Andromeda again, or from ever associating with you—my own niece." Narcissa paused, eyes lingering on Tonks thoughtfully. "You certainly have an interesting hairstyle, and your fashion choices are quite… unique," she said carefully, lips curling into a gentle smirk. "But I sincerely hope we'll get to know each other better now."
Tonks blinked in surprise, her guarded expression wavering slightly as she met Narcissa's genuine gaze. Her hair flashed briefly from pink to orange, betraying her emotions, but she didn't reply right away.
In the brief silence that followed, Dumbledore spoke up cheerfully from behind his desk, his eyes twinkling with genuine delight. "Ah, it's always good when family works things out, isn't it?" he commented warmly.
Fawkes chirped happily from my shoulder, clearly agreeing, and I absently reached up to gently stroke the phoenix's feathers again.
Madam Bones sighed softly, giving Narcissa a look that held at least some sympathy now. "I honestly wasn't aware those archaic marriage contracts were still in use. I'm…sorry to hear that you went through that, Narcissa."
Narcissa inclined her head respectfully in acknowledgment, and I felt a brief surge of pride for how composed she was being in such an uncomfortable situation.
Tonks cleared her throat awkwardly, turning slightly pink again before speaking up nervously. "Just don't expect me to suddenly get along with your son Draco, though," she warned Narcissa. "I met that little bastard briefly when he was 16, during his first year at Hogwarts. Even then, he was an arrogant, entitled brat, and I can't imagine he's improved with age."
He has not…
Narcissa's eyes instantly hardened at the mention of Draco, her voice becoming icy cold in a way I'd rarely heard from her. "Let me make one thing very clear, Nymphadora," she said slowly and clearly, her gaze unwavering. "I no longer have a son."
Tonks's eyes widened, visibly startled by Narcissa's cold declaration. Beside her, Madam Bones also looked taken aback, eyebrows shooting upward in shock.
I quietly glanced toward Narcissa, subtly offering her a sympathetic look. She caught my gaze and gave me a small, grateful smile in return.
Sensing the sudden tension in the room, Dumbledore cleared his throat gently, breaking the uncomfortable silence. "On a slightly brighter note," he announced cheerfully, "Miss Narcissa Black has made a rather interesting proposal to me—one I was very pleased to accept. She has volunteered to become Hogwarts's new Assistant Professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts." The headmaster continued with a mild chuckle, clearly trying to find a polite way to phrase his next words. "You see, even though the school year is still young, I've come to realize our current Defense professor, Gilderoy Lockhart… er…" He paused awkwardly, struggling to find a diplomatic way to admit he'd hired an incompetent fraud. "Professor Lockhart could perhaps use a bit more… assistance."
I had to bite back a grin. Yes, it was a shame The Wizarding World didn't have a thing for stand-up comedy, because Lockhart would have been so rich otherwise. The guy came to this school with half of the female students thirsting after him, and yet it only took a handful of lessons for them all to realize he was a complete and utter fraud. If he had any thoughts of getting laid this year with any of those young women, those had been thoroughly dashed at this point.
Amelia Bones, however, simply nodded sternly at the old man, muttering something quietly under her breath about getting letters from Susan complaining about that class not meeting expectations. She turned sternly to Narcissa again. "If you're to take this role, Miss Black, you'd best do it well," Madam Bones warned firmly.
Narcissa smiled confidently, lifting her chin with pride. "Of course," she replied smoothly, her voice brimming with genuine assurance. "I do hold a mastery-level certification in Defense Against the Dark Arts, after all."
Tonks let out a soft whistle of appreciation, visibly impressed. "Blimey, even I couldn't manage that," she admitted freely. "The practical exams were bloody brutal!"
I chuckled lightly at her candid honesty. The bubbly Auror was definitely nothing like what I'd imagined an elite magical police officer to be. Narcissa gave her niece a faint smile.
Dumbledore clapped his hands together cheerfully, clearly satisfied that tensions were now easing. "Well, I'm quite confident things will proceed smoothly from here," he announced brightly. "Harry, I'd ask that you do your best to welcome Auror Tonks and Miss Black as they settle into their new roles here at Hogwarts."
I glanced briefly at Tonks, who gave me a shy smile, and then at Narcissa, whose eyes twinkled mischievously as she subtly winked at me again. "Of course, Headmaster," I agreed easily. "I'll do whatever I can to make them both feel at home."
Auror Nymphadora Tonks gave me an amused, playful look after I spoke up. She placed her hands lightly on her hips and tilted her head at me. "Oh, I'm absolutely sure you'll do whatever it takes to make us feel at home," she said teasingly, clearly placing an emphasis on those words. "You know, there's quite a few rumors swirling around the British Wizarding World right now. Some people claim the famous Boy Who Lived has already started himself a proper harem here at Hogwarts." She shot a deliberately exaggerated glance toward Narcissa while wiggling her eyebrows playfully. "Watch yourself, Auntie. According to the gossip mill, beautiful single witches seem to be falling left and right for our young hero here."
I bit the inside of my cheek to hold back laughter, because Tonks clearly missed the ironic twinkle shining in Narcissa's eyes after that statement. It was too late for one of them already.
I took a casual step closer to Tonks. Her eyes widened just slightly in surprise at my bold approach. I reached out to gently capture Tonks's slender hand in mine, feeling the warmth and softness of her skin.
She blinked in surprise, her mouth opening slightly as I lifted her hand gracefully to my lips. My eyes locked onto hers with deliberate intensity as I pressed a lingering kiss to the back of her delicate hand. Tonks's reaction was immediate and delightfully entertaining. Her cheeks flushed vividly, turning a bright shade of pink that matched her hair. Within seconds, her hair rapidly shifted colors—first flashing purple, then red, then briefly settling into an eye-catching rainbow hue as her emotions clearly spiraled in embarrassment and surprise.
"I assure you, my beautiful colorful lady," I murmured smoothly, holding her gaze and smiling slowly, "that everything you've heard about me is absolutely true."
Tonks stared at me in momentary shock, clearly not expecting my confident response. Her blush deepened even further, and she began stammering awkwardly, eyes darting nervously around the room. "Ah—w-well—I mean—I was just teasing you, Harry—I didn't think—bloody hell," she muttered sheepishly, glancing quickly toward Narcissa as if for help.
Narcissa merely raised one elegant eyebrow at her niece, her expression one of amused innocence. "Careful, Nymphadora dear," she teased gently. "You might just find yourself getting caught up in that so-called 'harem' you mentioned."
Tonks huffed softly, giving me a shy but playful glare. "Right. I'll, uh, keep that in mind…"
"Don't get pregnant while you're on duty, Tonks…" Amelia simply said with a sigh before the meeting came to an end.
"I can't wait to see you later in Defense Against the Dark Arts," I told Narcissa before leaving Dumbledore's office and heading to Transfiguration class.
– Tonks –
Damn bloody sexy famous wizards, Tonks thought irritably, feeling her cheeks heat up uncontrollably as she tried desperately—and failed—to keep her composure. Her Metamorphmagus powers normally let her disguise her emotions, but whenever she was flustered or embarrassed, they had a mind of their own. And right now, her feelings were anything but steady.
Ever since Harry Sitri—the so-called "Boy Who Lived"—had returned to the wizarding world after nearly nineteen years, she'd seen his picture splashed across newspapers every single day. Of course, she'd always noticed he was handsome, even in those blurry newspaper photos.
But seeing him in person was something else entirely.
Harry was tall and muscular, with broad shoulders and a confident stance. His dark black hair was slightly messy in an effortlessly attractive way, framing a face that was nothing short of sinful perfection. And those baby-blue eyes—Merlin, those eyes seemed capable of seeing straight through her, as if they could pull out her very soul.
Just thinking about it now sent a heated shiver racing through her body, and Tonks pressed her thighs tightly together, trying to suppress the hot, achy sensation that had formed between them. She was painfully aware that her panties had grown decidedly damp from the combination of embarrassment, arousal, and sheer flustered attraction. It certainly didn't help matters that Harry had effortlessly caught her in his strong, muscular arms just moments ago. And then he'd had the audacity—the sexy, infuriating audacity—to gently lift her hand to his lips and press a suave, confident kiss to her knuckles, sending her heart into a frantic rhythm.
Smooth bastard, she thought grudgingly, but the thought was accompanied by a rush of heat rather than annoyance. No wonder half the witches in Britain fantasize about him.
Tonks shuffled awkwardly on her feet, her mind completely distracted as she stared at the empty space where Harry had been standing just moments before. Her hair continued shifting through a rainbow array of colors, betraying her conflicted emotions. She had almost forgotten where she was until a sharp, irritated cough from her boss brought her abruptly back to reality.
"Tonks," Amelia Bones said sternly, fixing the younger Auror with an icy glare. "Are you perhaps forgetting something?"
Tonks jumped slightly, her eyes widening as she snapped back to attention. "Uh…ma'am?"
Amelia sighed deeply, clearly exasperated, as she gestured pointedly toward the office door. "I'm fairly certain that the young man you're assigned to protect just walked out of this office, Auror Tonks. And yet you're standing here, looking like a lovesick teenager, instead of following him." She leaned forward slightly, voice dropping into a dangerously stern tone. "Let me make this perfectly clear, Nymphadora. Until we apprehend whoever is responsible for these attacks, your entire job is to shadow Mr. Sitri at all times. You are to attend every single class he attends. You are to sit beside him at every meal he takes. And above all, you are to keep him safe. Is that understood?"
Tonks flushed furiously at her own embarrassing lapse, feeling her heart sink slightly at the sheer stupidity of letting her guard down so easily. "Oh, fuck," she muttered in embarrassment before straightening quickly, eyes wide as she snapped to attention. "Right! I'm so sorry, ma'am! On it!"
Tonks spun around hurriedly, nearly tripping once more as she rushed toward the door of Dumbledore's office. Behind her, she heard the soft, melodic sound of her Aunt Narcissa chuckling amusedly, clearly entertained by her niece's clumsy exit.
Tonks frowned slightly to herself as she moved quickly down the winding staircase. She wasn't entirely sure how she felt about Narcissa Malfoy—well, Narcissa Black now?—suddenly re-entering her family's life. Her mother, Andromeda, had suffered deeply when she'd lost contact with both of her younger sisters years ago. It had left a lasting scar on their family. So Tonks couldn't help but be cautious about Narcissa suddenly claiming she wanted to repair the family bonds.
But now wasn't the time to dwell on family drama. She had a critical job to do.
"Bloody hell, it's been years. Where was the Transfiguration classroom located again?" she muttered under her breath.
– Narcissa –
Narcissa arrived at the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom just a few minutes before her first lesson was scheduled to begin. Enough time to introduce herself to the obvious fraud, Gilderoy Lockhart, but not nearly enough time to be forced into prolonged interaction. Not that she had any intention of spending even a moment longer than necessary with the insufferable fool.
She adjusted her pristine, elegantly tailored teaching robes, lifting her chin confidently before grasping the door handle and pushing it open smoothly. Narcissa stepped inside, heels clicking sharply against the polished stone floor.
Immediately, her eyes fell upon Lockhart, who was perched shamelessly on top of his desk at the front of the classroom. He held a small, ornate hand mirror in front of his face, staring deeply at his own reflection with an utterly besotted expression.
"Who's the handsomest, sexiest professor that's ever lived?" he whispered softly to himself, his voice dripping with an absurd amount of self-admiration. "You are, Gilderoy. Yes, you are. This school is lucky to have you, isn't it? Oh, yes, it absolutely is!"
Narcissa raised one perfectly shaped eyebrow, immediately feeling a surge of disgust and irritation. Merlin's beard, she thought dryly, shaking her head slightly, how did this utter buffoon ever fool anyone into hiring him? Even standing here in his classroom doorway, she had already come up with at least a dozen ways she could permanently remove him from his position so she could swiftly become the full-time Defense professor herself.
And it was still only her first day. She hadn't even taught a single class yet.
Narcissa cleared her throat deliberately, the sound echoing crisply through the room. Lockhart jumped in fright, letting out a high-pitched squeal as the small mirror flew from his hand, sailing through the air before crashing loudly onto the stone floor and shattering into pieces.
"O-oh! Er—Hello, Narcissa!" Lockhart stammered nervously, his handsome face instantly flushing bright red with embarrassment. He hastily slid off the desk, fumbling awkwardly as he tried to regain his composure, straightening his extravagant robes.
"It's been a long time, hasn't it?" he added weakly, giving her a forced, unsteady smile.
"Indeed it has, Lockhart," Narcissa replied coolly, strolling closer with measured, graceful strides until she stood directly in front of him, deliberately invading his personal space.
She tilted her head slightly, openly studying him with faint contempt. It was true—they had unfortunately attended Hogwarts during the same years. Somehow, this ridiculous fraud had managed to get sorted into Ravenclaw, something she'd always found utterly baffling. Especially since she vividly remembered him having literally the lowest grades in the entire history of that house. Everyone had assumed he'd fail spectacularly, but rumors had persisted that Lockhart had managed to pass by seducing certain impressionable female professors in exchange for better marks.
Narcissa momentarily frowned, briefly contemplating an unsettling question: Had the vain idiot even slept with Professor McGonagall? She immediately pushed that disturbing mental image aside, shuddering inwardly. Not that McGonagall would ever admit it, she supposed.
Lockhart laughed nervously, shifting his feet uneasily beneath her penetrating gaze. Narcissa allowed herself a small smirk, knowing exactly why he was so uncomfortable. Years ago, during their Hogwarts days, Lockhart had made the fatal mistake of attempting to flirt with her once—just once.
In response, Narcissa had calmly threatened to hex off his bits in front of the entire Great Hall. He had wisely avoided her ever since, apparently never quite recovering from that particular humiliation.
Strangely enough, Narcissa found herself briefly comparing him to Lucius. Was it truly pathetic that even a hopeless fool like Lockhart might have made a less abusive, less horrible husband than Lucius Malfoy?
Yes. It most definitely was. And Narcissa quickly banished the thought from her mind.
After all, Lucius was behind her now. She belonged, body and soul—quite literally—to a far better man. Harry Sitri. Her beloved master and king.
Lockhart coughed awkwardly again, clearly unsure how to deal with her silent contemplation. Narcissa blinked once, quickly regaining her composure. She narrowed her eyes slightly, speaking clearly and calmly, making sure Lockhart understood her meaning perfectly.
"Let me be blunt, Lockhart," she said smoothly, her voice a mix of ice and velvet. "I'm here to help you teach this subject properly. I highly recommend you stay out of my way entirely. If you manage to do that, I'm certain we'll both get along splendidly."
Lockhart swallowed audibly, eyes wide, nodding rapidly in clear agreement. "Y-yes! Yes, of course, Narcissa—I can absolutely do that!"
Narcissa smiled faintly, enjoying the obvious fear she still inspired in him after all these years. "Good," she purred softly, turning away smoothly as she began setting down her teaching materials on her new desk beside his. "And just what exactly is the lesson plan you've prepared for today's third-year class?"
He jumped slightly, clearly startled at having a legitimate question asked of him. Lockhart stumbled through his response, nervously stammering out an explanation. "Ah—Professor Snape actually gave me an idea. He suggested teaching about werewolves, seeing as there was a full moon last Friday. Apparently, some of the students claim they heard mysterious howling from the Forbidden Forest." Lockhart quickly laughed weakly, dismissing the idea with a wave of his hand. "Not that I personally believe any of it, of course! Hogwarts is supposed to be entirely safe, after all!"
Narcissa barely suppressed a sigh of annoyance. She knew, for a fact, that the howling in question had been very real indeed. She remembered Harry recounting the story to her—how he and his mother, Serafall, had been confronted by a werewolf last Friday in the Forbidden Forest.
But she wasn't about to reveal that to Lockhart.
Instead, she merely inclined her head smoothly. "I suppose that topic will do," she said coolly. "At least for today. Let's hope you can manage to teach it without further embarrassing yourself."
Lockhart winced at her words, but quickly plastered on a strained smile. "Yes…well, I'm sure it'll be splendid! You'll see!"
"I sincerely doubt that," Narcissa murmured softly under her breath as she glanced away, hearing the first students arriving outside the classroom door.
She straightened her posture elegantly, eyes sharpening as she prepared herself mentally. It was time to show everyone precisely what she was capable of.
And perhaps, if Lockhart proved as incompetent as she expected, she'd be rid of him even sooner than anticipated.
– Sona –
"That man was utterly unpleasant," Fleur muttered irritably, tossing her platinum-blonde hair back over one slender shoulder. Her thick French accent was particularly pronounced now, betraying her frustration. "Such an uncouth and barbaric way of teaching potions."
Beside her, Gabrielle scowled fiercely, blue eyes blazing with indignation as she let loose a rapid-fire string of creative French curses. Several of them were colorful enough that Sona had to press one hand delicately to her lips to hide a soft chuckle of amusement.
Yes, despite the tournament openly promoting inter-school cooperation and teachings, Professor Snape wasn't very happy with foreign students in his class. Or maybe it was just because the two Veella were so distracting—on top of Sona and Tsubaki already being usually very distracting to young men.
Over half of the male students ended up blowing up their cauldrons—too busy staring at the four beautiful non-human women in class.
Tsubaki had gone on ahead, wanting to get some private studying done in the library.
Sona glanced at the two Veela sisters with quiet interest, studying them carefully as the three women walked slowly down the corridor away from the dungeons. Fleur and Gabrielle Delacour were undeniably beautiful, their graceful figures and ethereal features making them stand out vividly amidst the bustling crowd of students hurrying through the halls. Heads turned, conversations paused, and many students openly stared at the striking trio as they passed by.
Of course, Sona herself was no stranger to that sort of attention. Her poised elegance, silky black hair, intelligent pink eyes behind her glasses, and the refined air of nobility she naturally carried often attracted plenty of interest as well.
Maybe even more, she thought smugly.
Today, Sona had invited Fleur and Gabrielle to accompany her to all of her own classes, partly to get to know the two sisters better—but also to subtly evaluate them.
Especially now that her nephew Harry was finally starting to actively recruit peerage members. So far, his peerage was small, consisting only of Hermione Granger—who Sona already approved of—and Narcissa Black—whom she still held slight reservations about. But she suspected that Fleur and Gabrielle would eventually be offered positions as well. Hence, her careful evaluation.
She was intimately aware of how deeply her beloved nephew, Harry Sitri, cared for both Fleur and Gabrielle. As far as she knew, her own grandparents, Sebastian and Selene Sitri, as well as Sona's older sister, Serafall, fully intended for her to eventually marry Harry herself. That meant that they would all be spending a lot of time together in the coming centuries, and with a blush, she suspected a lot of that time would also be spent together in the bedroom.
It would be good if they could at least get along—hopefully as friends.
At least she found both of their attitudes to be amusing. They almost reminded her of her closest female friend Rias.
Fleur sighed again in annoyance, interrupting Sona's thoughtful contemplation. "Honestly, that man Professor Snape is utterly intolerable!" the older Veela sister continued, her full lips pursing into a delicate frown. "How dare he claim all of those students failed today because of us. All we were doing was sitting there and observing! And he had the audacity to tell us to never come back to his classroom!"
"Oui," Gabrielle added bitterly, still fuming. "If he spoke to us like that at Beauxbatons, Madame Maxime would toss him out by the scruff of his greasy hair!"
Sona chuckled softly again, enjoying Gabrielle's fiery temper and vivid imagination. "Well, I can certainly understand your frustration," she remarked calmly, adjusting her glasses with one elegant finger. "Professor Snape is indeed an acquired taste. Although I find him manageable enough. Then again, I haven't given him reason to dislike me. I've never given him anything but perfect results in his class," she added smugly. And yes she knew that was because of her Sitri bloodline.
Fleur and Gabrielle continued venting about Snape and his terrible teaching style for a few more hallways. Sona walked quietly alongside the two sisters, listening patiently as they expressed their irritation. The Veela sisters' accented voices echoed softly off the castle walls, drawing appreciative glances from the students they passed by.
Finally, Fleur stopped abruptly, turning to face Sona. A soft blush tinted the older veela's pale cheeks. "Sona," Fleur began slowly, her French accent growing slightly thicker with nervousness, "Gabrielle and I… we're very happy you invited us to spend the day with you. Honestly, we weren't completely sure whether you actually liked us or not."
Gabrielle bit her lower lip softly, nodding beside her older sister. Her pretty face turned serious, almost melancholy. "We… We are used to most other women hating us. It's always been that way," she admitted quietly.
Sona regarded the two Veela thoughtfully, adjusting her glasses carefully as she understood their meaning immediately. It was something she herself could relate to all too well. Back when she attended the human Kuoh Academy, the situation had often been similar for her. At least half of the female students adored her, idolizing her as their graceful and intelligent student council president.
But the other half of the girls had either been intimidated by her or deeply jealous, resenting the attention she'd unintentionally attracted from the male students. She'd never been interested in a single one of those human boys, of course, but that didn't seem to make a difference. Jealousy didn't require logic or reason—it simply was.
After a moment, Sona finally offered the sisters a gentle, understanding smile. "Actually," she admitted softly, her tone sincere, "I understand exactly how you both feel."
Both Fleur and Gabrielle immediately perked up, their expressions turning hopeful.
"You do?" Gabrielle asked earnestly, eyes wide and searching. A cautious smile was slowly forming on the younger girl's lips.
"Yes, unfortunately," Sona replied wryly, a faint chuckle escaping her as she shook her head slightly. "Back at my old school, Kuo Academy, my situation was similar. Many of the other girls either disliked me or felt intimidated by my presence. I was student council president, highly capable academically, and received plenty of attention—even though I never wanted it from those particular boys."
Gabrielle's smile widened instantly, clearly relieved that Sona genuinely did understand them. "You really do get it, Sona," she said happily, stepping a bit closer as her posture relaxed noticeably.
"Unfortunately," Sona repeated, smirking lightly in amusement, "I most certainly do. I even had my own stalker…" she admitted. Although she would refuse to ever admit that she was foolish enough to invite her own stalker into her own peerage… Freaking Saji—the memories of his creepy bedroom would follow her to her grave.
"Oui!" Gabrille giggled. "Both Fleur and I have had numerous of those over the years. Thankfully all our stalkers so far have been highly flammable! What a coincidence, non?"
With the tension now eased, Sona changed the topic smoothly, deciding she wanted to know a bit more about these sisters personally. She gave both of them a small, mischievous smirk. "So, what do you two usually do in your free time? When you're not practicing magic—or busy having sex with my nephew Harry, of course." Sona had meant it as a teasing jab, intending to fluster the Veela sisters. But as soon as the words left her lips, she realized she'd badly miscalculated.
Rather than blushing or getting embarrassed, Fleur and Gabrielle both smirked openly, clearly enjoying the topic.
Right, Sona realized silently, of course they'd be shameless about it. They're Veela.
Fleur was the first to respond. "Well, to be perfectly honest, Sona, in my free time, I would very much prefer to be having a lot more sex with your nephew Harry."
Gabrielle giggled softly beside her sister. "It truly is a tragedy that, thus far, Harry and we have only spent a single very long—and very memorable—night together. Honestly, I almost regret signing up for this tournament, considering how much of our time it's eaten up. It has left us so little time for more pleasurable activities."
Fleur nodded along with her younger sister. "Oui, it's true. Now, the money and the fame that initially seemed so appealing appear utterly pointless. But at least we have a good magical challenge to test ourselves with. That's something, I suppose."
Sona blinked once, then, gradually, she felt her initial surprise fade into quiet amusement. Really, she should've expected no less from these two confident, passionate women. "I have to agree with you both about the challenge, at least," Sona admitted lightly. "If there's one thing I genuinely enjoy, it's proving my capabilities through competition—magical or otherwise."
Fleur chuckled knowingly, her eyes twinkling with playful challenge. "Ah, then we're not so different after all, oui? You enjoy winning as much as Gabrielle and I do, I suspect."
Sona met Fleur's gaze directly, matching the older veela's smirk with a confident one of her own. "Absolutely. I freely admit I can be quite petty. I hate losing more than almost anything else."
Gabrielle giggled brightly, looping an arm through Sona's own, pulling her gently forward. "Then we'll get along just fine, Sona! We can all be beautifully petty together!"
Sona, Fleur, and Gabrielle reached the Great Hall for lunch. Together, the three elegant young women made their way smoothly toward the Ravenclaw table, gracefully slipping onto the bench. Fleur and Gabrielle sat across from Sona.
Instinctively, Sona's eyes drifted toward the Gryffindor table, subtly searching the crowded bench for a familiar dark-haired figure. She felt a tiny tug of disappointment when she realized that Harry wasn't there yet. She briefly wondered if he had gotten caught up in yet another incident or meeting—both seemed equally plausible, given Harry's eventful life.
She forced herself to return her attention to Fleur and Gabrielle, who were now staring at her curiously, obviously noticing her distraction. Sona adjusted her glasses smoothly, deciding to change the topic and refocus the conversation. "You know," she began calmly, a soft sigh escaping her lips, "I have a feeling we might soon have another beautiful—and competitive—woman joining our little group."
At her unexpected statement, both Fleur and Gabrielle tilted their heads to the side at precisely the same moment. Their identical expressions of confusion and curiosity brought a slight smile to Sona's lips.
"Who are you talking about?" Gabrielle asked curiously, leaning forward slightly.
"Oh? Is there going to be even more competition for our beloved Harry's heart now?" Fleur teased.
Sona chuckled softly, shaking her head gently as she reached for her glass of water. "Well," she replied, "I'm not certain you can even call it competition at this point."
Gabrielle was obviously intrigued now. "What does that mean?" she asked eagerly.
Sona sighed again, setting her glass down carefully. "It means she's technically already a shoo-in. You see…" Sona hesitated for a second, choosing her next words carefully, "Harry doesn't exactly know it yet—but he already has a fiancée."
The moment those words left her mouth, Fleur and Gabrielle froze. Both sisters gaped at her in complete shock, their mouths opening and closing soundlessly as they struggled to process this unexpected revelation.
"He—what?" Fleur finally gasped.
Gabrielle seemed equally astonished. "Wait, wait, wait—fiancée? HARRY HAS A FIANCÉE?" she repeated loudly, incredulously, drawing attention from the entire table with her shout!
– Rias –
Rias gazed quietly out the window of the Gremory Clan private jet as it glided smoothly above the seemingly endless expanse of ocean below. It was beautiful, calming, but Rias herself felt anything but calm.
She sighed deeply, leaning her head back against the plush leather seat as she allowed herself a brief moment of doubt. Was she really doing the right thing?
Of course I am, she thought bitterly, her delicate fists clenching in frustration. Anything was better than being trapped in a loveless marriage with that arrogant, insufferable prick, Riser Phenex.
Still, she couldn't shake the faint feeling of guilt nagging at the edge of her mind. After all, in order to escape her own terrible engagement, she was effectively forcing her problem onto someone else—a young man she'd never even met in person.
Harry Sitri. Sona's nephew, Serafall's beloved son, and now—though he didn't know it yet—her fiancé. Rias chewed her lower lip softly, worrying it between her teeth. She genuinely didn't want to burden him unfairly. But she was desperate. She'd pleaded endlessly with her older brother, Sirzechs Lucifer, for help, and this had been his solution.
On the bright side, this Harry must have been exceptional indeed to have so thoroughly captured Sona's heart. She smiled faintly at that thought. Any young man capable of making Sona fall for him was surely going to be exceptional.
Taking a slow breath to calm her nerves, Rias shifted slightly in her seat and turned to glance at her fellow peerage members, scattered throughout the spacious cabin.
Her gaze settled first on Gasper, who was huddled as far away as physically possible, completely withdrawn from the group. He sat curled up, a paper bag placed firmly over his head, enormous headphones covering his ears. His slim fingers rapidly tapped buttons on a vintage Game Boy console as he attempted desperately to tune out the world around him.
Rias frowned slightly at the sight. Yes, Gasper would certainly require the most attention and care moving forward. The poor boy struggled constantly with anxiety, shyness, and sensory overload. But they'd help him through it, as they always did.
Shifting her gaze, Rias looked affectionately at the rest of her beloved peerage—her chosen family. Akeno, Kiba, and Koneko sat closer to her, each with varying expressions. She cleared her throat gently, drawing their attention.
"I just want to apologize again," she said sincerely, her blue-green eyes filled with genuine regret. "I know how much all of you loved Kuoh Academy, and I'm truly sorry to uproot your lives so abruptly."
Koneko didn't even bother looking up from the food she'd been numbly nibbling on, blandly responding in her usual deadpan voice, "I didn't love that place at all. It fucking sucked and was full of perverts everywhere…"
Rias's mouth fell open slightly, her eyes widening in surprise as she stared incredulously at her typically quiet rook. "Wait—Koneko, are you serious? You hated it the whole time?"
The petite white-haired girl nodded again. "Yes. Especially all those annoying perverts always trying to sneak glances up my skirt. Glad we left. I was so close to punching them."
And a punch from her was lethal…
Akeno giggled, pressing a hand lightly to her lips in amusement. "Ara ara, our sweet little kitty certainly has a sharp tongue today."
Rias chuckled softly despite her shock. She turned her attention to Kiba next. "What about you, Kiba?"
Kiba smiled politely, but his eyes held a slightly uncomfortable expression. "Honestly? I wasn't much of a fan of Kuoh either. Constantly having girls throw themselves at me was incredibly awkward."
A pang of guilt tightened Rias's chest again as she winced sympathetically. She knew Kiba's preferences leaned toward men rather than women—something he'd struggled with expressing openly. Gently, she reached across and placed her hand comfortingly over his. "I'm truly sorry, Kiba. I understand it wasn't easy for you. Hopefully, from everything I've heard, the wizarding world is far more tolerant in that regard. You'll find it easier there, I hope."
Kiba's soft, grateful smile warmed his features as he squeezed her hand briefly. "Thank you, President. I hope you're right."
She knew she would be. Despite never being in a real relationship, Rias knew she was an expert when it came to romance! She'd one hundred percented numerous dating sim games after all!
Finally, Rias turned toward her queen. Akeno lounged elegantly in her seat, a teasing, sultry smile curving her full lips. Seeing that familiar playful expression made Rias slightly wary as she addressed her friend. "And you, Akeno? I'm guessing you didn't have many issues at Kuoh?"
Akeno tilted her head slightly. "Oh, playing the role of a normal human schoolgirl was certainly an interesting experience," she purred lightly, "but I think I'll enjoy being able to openly use some of my… more exciting abilities again." As if to emphasize her point, a playful spark of electricity danced across Akeno's fingertips. The lights flickered briefly in the cabin, and Rias immediately felt her stomach drop in mild panic.
"Akeno!" she scolded quickly, eyes widening as she leaned forward urgently. "Please, not on the plane! The last thing we need is you shorting out the electronics mid-flight!"
Akeno laughed softly, sheepishly pulling her hand back and dispelling the tiny sparks with a wink. "Ara ara, sorry, President. I couldn't help myself."
The voice of the pilot came on. "We've reached cruising altitude and should be in Scotland by around 5:00 p.m. their time."
"Ara ara… just in time for dinner," Akeno teased. "I wonder what our new magic school is like? Is it dangerous? How exciting!"
Rias rolled her eyes. "I'm sure there will be some danger since, you know—all the hormonal young adults with access to magic. But it shouldn't be that dangerous otherwise! The Faculty is supposed to be top-notch at the very least."
– Lockhart –
The last echoes of footsteps faded away down the corridor, leaving Lockhart standing alone at the front of his classroom, shivering slightly in humiliation.
Narcissa Black, his newly appointed assistant, had just swept from the room—leaving behind only the sharp clicking sound of her high heels against the stone floors.
Lockhart slumped against his desk, head in his hands, face burning with shame. She'd completely taken over every one of his lessons today, effortlessly pushing him aside and dominating the classroom. It was as though he'd been reduced to a mere spectator, an afterthought in his own class.
The indignity was almost unbearable.
Yet he hadn't spoken a word against her—not a single complaint. He shuddered again, feeling the cold chill of genuine fear trickle down his spine. There was something about the Black family women—their dangerous beauty and notoriously merciless dispositions were legendary in pureblood society.
Narcissa was certainly no exception. Her intense stare alone was enough to send ice through his veins. There was also the uncomfortable knowledge that she, like the rest of her family, was rumored to be a master Occlumens. That meant all of Lockhart's usual tricks, his sly charms and subtle memory manipulations, would fail miserably against her impenetrable mental barriers.
Still, he couldn't deny that Narcissa Black was devastatingly beautiful. The way she held herself, that perfect poise, those full, red lips, and of course, her impressively voluptuous figure—Lockhart sighed heavily, feeling an uncomfortable tightening in his trousers. She truly was an incredibly sexy MILF, though not quite as mouthwateringly gorgeous as the famed Lady Serafall, the boy-who-lived's mother.
Still, Narcissa came close enough to make him regretful that he'd never have a chance with her.
"I suppose it's just you and me again tonight, old friend," Lockhart muttered glumly, glancing down at his hand with a pitiful sigh. He was deeply frustrated. Who would have guessed that Hogwarts' female population would be so prudish? Every time he'd approached one of the older, of-age students with a thinly veiled proposition, he'd been met with glares of open disgust and annoyance!
Did they somehow know he was a fraud? Had rumors spread already?
Lockhart shook his head violently, dismissing that terrifying possibility. "No, impossible," he muttered under his breath. "They couldn't know!"
They were simply shy, intimidated by his immense fame and undeniable charisma. Yes, that had to be it.
With another heavy sigh, Lockhart pushed himself off the desk, smoothing down his rumpled robes. He needed to freshen up and change before dinner. Perhaps things would look brighter after a good meal, a fresh change of clothing, and some of his favorite cologne.
He walked briskly down the hall, humming softly to himself, trying desperately to shake off the lingering embarrassment. But as he approached the door to his private quarters, his steps slowed uncertainly. Something wasn't right. His door was slightly ajar, when he clearly remembered shutting it that morning.
"Damn those Weasley twins," Lockhart whispered nervously, pulling his wand out with trembling fingers. Those red-haired troublemakers had already terrorized him multiple times this year. If they'd gotten inside his room again, Merlin only knew what kind of humiliating prank they'd set up this time.
Wand shaking, he cautiously pushed the door further open, peering hesitantly inside.
To his astonishment and rising indignation, a scruffy, ragged-looking man with wild hair and a manic gleam in his eyes lounged casually in Lockhart's favorite plush armchair. He looked up slowly at Lockhart's arrival, a twisted smirk curling the corners of his mouth.
Lockhart raised his wand with as much bravado as he could muster, despite the nervous tremor in his voice. "Excuse me! Who in Merlin's name are you, and what are you doing in my quarters?"
The intruder chuckled darkly, eyes glittering dangerously. "Heh. Hello there, Lockhart. Name's Barty. And you and I are going to be good friends for the next couple of months. Very good friends indeed!"
Lockhart stared blankly, confusion twisting his devastatingly handsome features. "Friends? What in the blazes are you talking about? I—"
Barty interrupted smoothly, his voice cold and mocking, "After all, I'll need you alive and fresh for collecting hair samples for my Polyjuice Potion."
Lockhart's heart skipped painfully in sudden terror, his wand slipping uselessly from numb fingers as the full horror of the intruder's words finally sank in. His eyes widened, voice trembling in panic. "Polyjuice? Wait, what are you—"
"Stupefy!"
A flash of crimson filled Lockhart's vision, slamming into his chest with blinding force. He felt his consciousness ripped away as darkness claimed him instantly, his body collapsing helplessly to the cold stone floor.
– Tonks –
Tonks stretched her arms above her head with a groan as she followed her charge down the hallway toward the Great Hall. Harry Sitri walked confidently beside his pretty girlfriend, Hermione. Tonks trailed just behind them, keeping her sharp eyes trained on their surroundings, though she couldn't help but let out a frustrated sigh.
"Merlin's saggy balls," she muttered under her breath, running her fingers through her currently bright pink hair. "I forgot just how bloody boring some of these Hogwarts classes could get."
Harry turned his head slightly at her comment, shooting her a teasing glance with his clear blue eyes. "What's the matter, Tonks? This morning, in Dumbledore's office, you seemed pretty confident about protecting me." A handsome smirk played on his lips, causing her cheeks to heat up a bit.
"Oi!" she protested immediately, putting her hands on her hips defensively. "I am confident, it's just—this is my first real assignment, y'know? I really, really don't wanna screw this up. The boss-lady Amelia will hex my arse if I botch it."
Hermione glanced back at Tonks over her shoulder and offered a friendly smile. Tonks had to admit the bushy-haired brunette was much nicer and more welcoming than she'd initially expected. Especially because Tonks was pretty sure that Hermione had witnessed Harry openly flirting with her a couple times today. Or was it actually flirting or maybe he was just teasing her? Ugh, Tonks hadn't had a boyfriend in years now and it showed.
"Don't worry, Tonks," Hermione said kindly, clearly sensing Tonks's anxiety. "I'm sure you'll do just fine. You managed to pass Auror training, didn't you? I've heard that's incredibly tough."
Tonks immediately perked up at Hermione's encouraging words, nodding eagerly as some pride returned to her voice. "Yeah, you're not kidding. It was brutal. Mad-Eye Moody alone kicked out half a dozen trainees on the very last day. Told 'em right to their faces that they'd end up as nothing but corpses if they ever came face-to-face with real Death Eaters." A faint shudder rippled through Tonks as she recalled Moody's grizzled face and intense magical eye. "Blimey, I'm glad I was too young to properly remember the first war. Sounded like absolute nightmare fuel."
Harry chuckled softly, giving her a reassuring grin. "You'll be fine, Tonks. I trust you."
Tonks felt her cheeks warm again at the sincere faith in Harry's voice. She cleared her throat awkwardly, trying to maintain her tough, professional aura. "Yeah, well—thanks, Harry," she said, attempting to brush off her embarrassment.
As they continued walking toward the Great Hall, Tonks's gaze absently wandered down toward the stone floor of the hallway. She immediately frowned, noticing something odd. "Huh? That's weird."
Both Harry and Hermione stopped and looked at her curiously.
"What is it?" Hermione asked.
Tonks knelt down, peering at the floor closely. There, streaming steadily across the corridor, was a long, orderly line of spiders. They were all scurrying rapidly in the same direction, crawling neatly in single-file toward an open window nearby. "I don't remember Hogwarts having this many spiders," Tonks said slowly, her brow furrowing. "And they're all marching together like they're escaping something…"
Harry stepped up beside her, looking thoughtfully at the spiders.. "Huh. Now that you mention it, this does seem pretty weird," he murmured, carefully reaching out to poke gently at one of the spiders. It instantly scurried away faster.
"Honestly, it's Hogwarts. Spiders acting strange is probably one of the least weird things we've encountered here lately," Hermione pointed out.
Tonks chuckled wryly, standing up again and brushing off her robes. "Fair point. I saw some weird stuff in my student days as well," she admitted.
But still, a small, worried knot formed in her stomach. What could be so bad that even spiders were desperately running away?
– Rias –
Rias approached the towering iron gates of Hogwarts with wide eyes, pausing briefly to marvel at the spectacular sight before her. Rising majestically on the horizon stood the enormous medieval castle, bathed in soft golden hues from the setting sun.
"It's absolutely amazing," Rias breathed softly, awe evident in her voice. She had to admit she felt a bit jealous that her dear friend Sona had discovered this incredible place weeks earlier. But she reassured herself it was still early enough in the school year. Surely they hadn't missed anything too critical yet.
Her queen, Akeno, stepped up beside her, bumping Rias's shoulder playfully with a teasing smirk. "Ara ara," Akeno purred mischievously, her violet eyes sparkling with excitement. "It's an ancient medieval castle. Who knows what kind of dangerous secrets could be lurking in the dungeons below?"
Rias let out a small sigh, giving her playful queen a mildly exasperated glance. "For the last time, Akeno," she said patiently, brushing a long strand of crimson hair behind her ear, "this school is not going to be nearly as dangerous or mysterious as you think."
Kiba chuckled softly behind them, clearly amused at their exchange. Even the stoic Koneko allowed herself the smallest hint of a smile at their familiar teasing banter. Gasper, however, just whimpered nervously, tugging his cloak tighter around his shoulders.
"Are you absolutely sure about that, President?" Kiba asked, his polite smile widening into a playful smirk as he glanced around curiously. "I mean, it's an old magical castle. I'm sure it has at least one or two interesting secrets."
Rias shook her head slightly, allowing herself a small smile at her peerage's antics. "Just don't get your hopes up too much," she said dryly. "I'm certain Hogwarts is completely safe and—"
Her sentence abruptly died on her lips as heavy footsteps echoed across the grounds. The gates slowly swung open, and a massive figure stepped toward them from the shadows.
"Oh my," Akeno murmured softly, eyes widening in genuine surprise. "You were saying, President?"
Rias couldn't help staring. Approaching them was an enormous man—or rather, half-giant, she quickly corrected herself—who towered impressively over them all. He wore thick, rugged clothes beneath an enormous furry coat, his bearded face warm and welcoming despite his intimidating stature.
The giant of a man stopped in front of the group, looking down at them kindly. "Ah! Yeh mus' be them new students Dumbledore told me about," he said cheerfully in a deep, booming voice. "Welcome ter Hogwarts! The name's Hagrid—Rubeus Hagrid. Keeper o' keys an' grounds here and your care of Magical Creatures professor if any of ye take me class."
Oh? He was a teacher? Now Rias felt rude for judging the big scruffy guy so quickly and shot glares at her family as well. All of them looked equally sheepish. Devils shouldn't discriminate!
Rias quickly composed herself, smiling warmly at the gentle giant. She stepped forward confidently, giving a polite bow of greeting. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Hagrid. My name is Rias Gremory, and these are the members of my peer—my friends," she corrected quickly, mindful that devils and peerages weren't common knowledge here yet. "We're excited to join Hogwarts!"
Hagrid chuckled heartily, his big brown eyes twinkling with kindness beneath his bushy brows. "Please, jus' call me Hagrid. Follow me then, I'll take yeh up ter the castle."
XXX