The Quidditch match still echoed through Hogwarts — students buzzing about Harry Potter's daring flight and the strange incident with his broom. But now, the rhythm of castle life returned to its academic cadence. Elise, seated near the common room hearth the morning after, tapped his quill against the edge of his Transfiguration homework, his mind clearly elsewhere.
He had earned another few Fate Points after the Quidditch match — quietly awarded by the system for two things: his swift intervention in stabilizing Seamus's spell mid-class and his reflexive shielding charm when chaos broke out in the stands. "Small deeds," the system had commented, "still echo loud in the weave of fate."
[Current Fate Points: 87]
But for now, Hogwarts was calm again, as if it wanted to lull its students into the illusion that the troll, the sabotaged broom, and the politics were all a bad dream.
Morning Classes
The bells rang out for a new day. Elise walked calmly to the Charms classroom, where Professor Flitwick — the tiny but energetic master of enchantments — stood atop his usual stack of books at the front of the room.
"Good morning!" he squeaked. "Today we continue our practice of Wingardium Leviosa — I expect many of you to be floating objects more gracefully than last time!"
Elise worked quietly, with practiced ease. The feather on his desk obeyed him on the second attempt, lifting smoothly into the air, and he gently curved it into a spiral. Professor Flitwick gave an excited clap.
"Marvelous, Mr. Blake! Five points to Gryffindor!"
Hermione, seated beside him now more often than not, had also raised her feather neatly, but shot Elise a quick glance — a mixture of intrigue and irritation. She hated being second in class.
Ron muttered something about "swots," earning a glare from Hermione.
After class, Professor Flitwick pulled Elise aside. "Your wandwork is remarkably refined for a first year, Mr. Blake. Almost… intuitive. May I ask — have you had any tutoring before Hogwarts?"
Elise offered a modest smile. "Just a bit of theory at home, sir. My family keeps to the old traditions."
Flitwick nodded, not pressing further.
Afternoon: Herbology
At Greenhouse One, Professor Sprout had them transplanting Puffapods — gentle pink plants that burst into bloom when dropped. Elise kept his head down, working methodically. Neville managed to plant his upside-down, again, and nearly caused a small explosion of blooms. Elise helped replant it without much fuss.
"You're good at this," Neville said sheepishly.
"I've spent time in old gardens," Elise replied simply.
Hermione, a row over, kept glancing at him, as if she couldn't decide what to make of him.
Evening: A Quiet Common Room
Back in Gryffindor Tower, the fireplace flickered. Ron and Harry were playing wizard chess. Seamus and Dean were arguing about the Holyhead Harpies. Hermione sat with a book open, occasionally stealing glances at Elise's notes.
Elise stared at the parchment before him, not writing. Instead, he was deep in system interface.
[System Interface Open]
*Skill Progress:
Charms: Intermediate (44%)
Transfiguration: Novice (89%)
Potioneering: Novice (60%)
Herbology: Novice (70%)
Occlumency: Initiated (Entry-Level Barrier formed)*
Fate Point Options Available:
Upgrade Occlumency to Beginner: 40 FP
Access Room of Requirement Binding: Locked until Discovery
Unlock Personalized Study Chamber (via Key Port Access): Requires Room Discovery + 100 FP
Thoughts swirled in Elise's mind:
He needed more privacy to grow — not just in knowledge, but in power. The Room of Requirement… he'd heard rumors. Whispers. He had walked past that stretch of corridor three times, but nothing had appeared yet. Maybe… he wasn't asking the right question in his heart. Maybe he had to need it.
Soon.
He closed the system. He had plans — before year-end:
Master basic Occlumency
Begin self-training in shield and disarming spells
Discover Room of Requirement
Unlock the hidden chamber system
Investigate who or what cursed Harry's broom — was it Quirrell? Or something deeper?
Elise sat back in the armchair and watched the fire dance. Around him, Hogwarts breathed — ancient, alive, and filled with secrets.
And he intended to claim them all.