Lucien entered the Great Hall with Angelina and Penelope, the familiar buzz of voices washing over them.
As they walked, Lucien's eyes briefly drifted toward the Ravenclaw table.
Hermione Granger was there, animated and smiling, deep in conversation with several Ravenclaws. She looked comfortable—happy, even.
Lucien noted it calmly.
She fits better there than Gryffindor, he thought. Just like canon… only sooner.
Satisfied, he turned away.
Angelina waved and headed toward the Gryffindor table, while Penelope peeled off toward Ravenclaw—Alolan Vulpix hopping back onto Lucien's shoulder before she left.
Lucien made his way to the Hufflepuff table.
🦡 Hufflepuff Chaos
Akeno and Susan were already there, clearly enjoying themselves.
Tonks sat between them, arms crossed, pouting—while Cedric Diggory looked far too pleased.
"And then," Cedric said cheerfully, "you tripped over your own prank string."
Tonks scowled. "It was a tactical retreat."
Lucien sat down beside her smoothly.
He leaned in slightly.
"What happened to my princess?"
Tonks snapped her head toward him, eyes blazing.
"Don't call me—!"
She punched him.
Lucien caught her fist with one finger, without even looking.
The table froze.
Lucien gently pressed her hand down onto the table—and intertwined their fingers.
Tonks stiffened.
Her face stayed neutral through sheer force of will.
Her hair, however, betrayed her completely—turning a bright, unmistakable pink.
Cedric stared. "Huh."
Susan bit her lip to stop laughing.
Lucien smiled innocently.
🪄 Transfiguration Stories
"So," Cedric said, recovering quickly, "I heard Transfiguration was… interesting today."
Lucien nodded. "It was."
Tonks leaned closer. "Explain."
Lucien did.
In detail.
He described McGonagall's transformation, Ron's expression, the exact moment Ron's soul visibly left his body.
By the end—
Cedric was laughing openly.
Tonks was wheezing.
Susan had her face buried in her hands.
"I can see his face," Tonks managed between laughs. "Oh Merlin—"
Lucien shrugged. "It was educational."
🧑🏫 Professors' Table Reactions
At the staff table, Professor Sprout was positively glowing.
"I told you," she said happily to Flitwick, "Hufflepuff has found a gem. Lucien and Akeno both."
Flitwick beamed. "And Miss Granger is doing wonderfully in Ravenclaw! Exceptional focus already."
Snape, listening quietly, allowed himself the smallest smile.
McGonagall, meanwhile, sighed into her tea.
"My house," she muttered, "has potential."
She paused.
"…Very limited potential."
Her mind briefly replayed Ron Weasley's bent matchstick.
Even after Lucien had explained everything in the simplest terms possible.
She sighed again.
Sprout had Lucien.
She had Harry—talented, yes, but reckless.
And Ron Weasley.
McGonagall straightened, dignity intact.
"…I will persevere."
Snape's smile widened just a fraction.
At the Hufflepuff table, Lucien leaned back comfortably, Vulpix dozing on his shoulder, Tonks still very pink beside him.
Hogwarts, he decided, was becoming far more entertaining by the day.