"Secrets, Schemes, and Teacups"
Some Slytherin students were recounting what had happened during their trip to Hogsmeade, while Juliette sat quietly, listening with serene interest as she enjoyed her afternoon tea. Her eyes gleamed faintly with each word she heard, watching everything with an almost aristocratic calm.
With her sitting there and all the Slytherin students standing around her, the scene looked very much like that of a queen receiving reports from her subjects. Those young wizards, known for their ambition and hunger for power, showed an unusual degree of respect and submission toward her. She was a foreigner, merely an exchange student who had arrived that very year from Beauxbatons, yet she had managed to do something few at Hogwarts ever could—bend the will of Slytherins without even raising her voice.
Juliette, president of the Beauxbatons Student Council, had crossed the Channel only a week ago; but that short time was more than enough for her influence to spread through Hogwarts' corridors like an elegant and dangerous breeze.
"Mmm… well, they were always stubborn and slippery, even back at Beauxbatons," Juliette commented, setting her teacup gently on its saucer. Her tone was calm, almost indifferent, as if the failure of the strategy being discussed did not concern her in the slightest. "It's fine. We'll just have to make a few adjustments."
She waved her hand lightly, as though brushing away a trivial nuisance, and a subtle smile curved her lips. There was something in her expression that suggested she was enjoying all of it—a playful spark in her eyes, the hint of someone who took delight in the simple act of playing with power. Being in another school, in another country, seemed to her nothing more than an opportunity to have fun… and to prove who she truly was.
…
Meanwhile, in the Defense Against the Dark Arts office, Professor Dominic sat with his legs crossed, staring into the void with an ambitious smile. His thoughts turned with the precision of a well-oiled clock.
"Mother and son… they never cease to amaze me," he murmured, gazing at the old wardrobe he had used days earlier during one of his most memorable lessons yet. "Perhaps I should make a few changes to my plans… His mother is far too powerful."
He drummed his fingers against the desk rhythmically, lost in thought, when suddenly a sharp pain ran through his hand. He looked down, and a chill crept up his spine. His skin, once smooth and youthful, began to wrinkle before his very eyes; his nails turned dark, as if life itself were draining from them, and a weak, trembling motion—almost senile—shook his arm.
"Why?" Dominic shouted in panic, staring at his hand in horror. "It's only been a short time…" he repeated with a trembling voice, fear twisting his expression.
He pressed the withered hand against his chest, as if trying to hide it from view. "Time shortens much faster than before… with every change," he muttered, his eyes glinting with a sick, manic light before abruptly rising from his chair and storming out of the office.
His hurried footsteps echoed down the castle halls. Halfway through, three familiar figures appeared before him: two blondes and a redhead—Astoria, Luna, and Ginny.
Dominic's eyes flickered for an instant with a dark reflection, as though some unknown hunger had stirred within him. But he froze immediately, glancing uneasily at the nearby portraits.
"No... no. This place isn't safe. I'll have to go to the village," he muttered to himself, reorganizing his thoughts.
"Uh, Professor?" Astoria asked, noticing his presence behind them.
"Hello. I'm a bit busy; I'll see you in class later," he said quickly, brushing past them with a forced smile and hurried steps.
The three girls watched him leave. Ginny and Astoria quickly dismissed it, but Luna continued to stare after him with quiet curiosity, her usual dreamy expression a bit more focused than usual.
"Come on, Luna," said Astoria, snapping her friend out of her thoughts. "We have to introduce Red to Ginny."
Luna nodded with a serene smile. "I'm sure they'll get along. They're both red," she said in her usual dreamy, cheerful tone.
Ginny, however, didn't look nearly as excited. She knew perfectly well about Red's chaotic reputation at the school; even her brothers' mischief paled compared to the antics of the little dragon and his gang. Still, she was certain that if her brother Charlie found out there was a "dragon that never grew" living at Hogwarts, he would come running all the way from Romania just to meet it—even if the story was nothing more than a rumor.
…
Harry and his group entered the castle with a tense air surrounding them. Daphne and Hermione both wore deep frowns, clearly upset, while Draco and Harry maintained a deceptive calm; their cold stares said more than any words could.
They made their way toward the Ravenclaw common room and, along the corridor, ran into two familiar faces—Luciel and his fiancée, Katerina. The pair were strolling leisurely, holding a half-drawn map and a parchment filled with scribbles.
"Hello there," greeted Luciel with his usual gentle smile. "Why the long faces?"
"Mm… nothing. Just some strange things happening in Slytherin," Harry replied, letting out a tired sigh.
"Slytherin… ah, yes. The house where that woman ended up," said Luciel, his expression barely hiding a hint of distaste.
"Luciel, show a little more respect for our student council president," Katerina scolded softly, though her gaze suggested she shared at least part of his sentiment.
"And what are you two up to?" Hermione asked, perhaps to change the subject before the conversation grew any more uncomfortable.
"Oh, us? We thought it would be fun to discover some of those famous secret passages in the castle," replied Luciel with an amused smile. For him, anything was entertaining as long as he could spend time with Katerina.
"Oh? Have you found any?" Harry asked with interest. After all, he was also searching for those places—to install a few magical surveillance charms, of course.
"Yes, actually, it's quite fascinating," said Katerina enthusiastically. "There are enchanted butterflies that follow the light and have to be guided back to their places, and there are murals with drawings of magical creatures; each one represents a specific number. I used to think they were just decorations, but several of them are actually hidden doors."
Her voice carried a genuine happiness, as if uncovering the castle's secrets truly delighted her. "Even the torches on the bridge have a small magical riddle," she added, smiling brightly.
Harry and the others exchanged glances; none of them had ever paid that much attention to such details. Meanwhile, Luciel watched his fiancée's excitement with quiet amusement. When Katerina noticed his gaze, her face turned bright red. She usually carried herself with a calm and composed aura, but right now she looked like a little girl discovering something wonderful for the first time.
To spare her from further teasing, Luciel cleared his throat and spoke again with a light smile. "It's interesting, though we probably look ridiculous casting Revelio every five steps," he said, with a hint of gentle sarcasm.
Harry rested his hand on his chin, thinking. "The bell tower… some of its bells are slightly out of place. Maybe there's another puzzle hidden there," he said.
Katerina's eyes widened with excitement. "Really? Then we have to go there!" she exclaimed, clearly eager for the adventure.
"Are you two also searching for the secret places?" asked Luciel, casting a duplication charm over the map they had been working on. "We could exchange information," he offered, smiling as he noticed how happy it made his fiancée.
"Sure," Harry replied, taking the map to mark down the locations they had found during the day, along with the ones the Weasley twins had shared with him.
Luciel, seeing that Katerina was already eager to head out before nightfall, bid farewell with a polite smile. Harry watched them walk away and, for a moment, couldn't help but laugh softly. He had gained several new points of interest without much effort, which helped lighten the bad mood the day had left him in.
"Why didn't you tell us you were looking for the secret places?" Hermione asked in a reproachful tone, crossing her arms.
"Because you said you were going to help Hagrid," Harry replied with a calm smile.
"You're the one who sent us to help him!" she retorted, narrowing her eyes at him.
"And you didn't even do that; you just find ways to start arguments everywhere. By Merlin…" he muttered exasperatedly, shaking his head as he walked away at a brisk pace. As always, his greatest power wasn't his magic, but the way he could shift any conversation to his advantage.
Draco followed him with a mocking smile, throwing out a comment without losing his usual poise. "There must be plenty of stupid laws to study… written by the Ministry of Idiots," he said in a tone of fake sympathy, catching up to Harry before Hermione could respond.
Daphne looked at Hermione, then at the two boys walking away, and let out a long sigh. "Can I quit?" she asked, resigned.
"No. You're helping me," Hermione replied immediately, grabbing her by the arm before she could escape.
Daphne groaned in frustration. Her initial annoyance faded into pure exasperation and disappointment. She had thought they would be coming up with an escape plan for Buckbeak and Hagrid—complete with disguises and daring ideas—not spending the afternoon studying archaic wizarding laws.
And those laws, honestly, seemed written just "because they could." Some didn't make any sense at all, and the few that did were completely contradictory.
For example, the prohibition on using love charms… while several shops in Diagon Alley sold them openly to the public, and anyone could brew one easily since the recipes were everywhere. There wasn't even a clear unit or guideline defined to regulate that sort of thing.
All Daphne could do was let herself be dragged away by her friend, frowning and looking utterly bored the entire way.