First Part: The Unexpected Visit at the Burrow
The summer afternoon sun bathed the Devon countryside with a golden light that seemed tailor-made for the cozy atmosphere of the Burrow. The Weasley house, with its seemingly random magical additions and lush garden, breathed life in every inch of its leaning structure. Inside, chaos reigned supreme, but it was a familiar chaos, domesticated by the love that permeated every room.
Harry Potter watched the Weasley twins testing a new invention in the garden, his light and confident steps showing the security of someone who had grown up under loving care. At twelve years old, he carried on his back a history that few wizards his age could bear, but the years of being raised by Lily Potter had forged in him a remarkable resilience. His green eyes, so identical to his mother's, shone with a light that went beyond mere physical health - it was the light of someone who knew they were unconditionally loved.
In the kitchen, Molly Weasley commanded dinner preparations with the efficiency of a general on the battlefield. Pots stirred themselves, knives chopped vegetables in synchronized rhythm, and the aroma of a meat stew filled the warm air. Lily Potter, standing near the central table, peeled apples for a pie with precise movements of her wand.
"Sometimes I think these frogs have a special sense of timing," Lily commented with a smile that illuminated her face. "They always choose the busiest moments to make their escapes."
Molly paused her work for a moment, looking at her friend with an expression of affection mixed with admiration. "I still remember it like it was yesterday, Lily. When you woke up at St. Mungo's after those four long years... We had all lost hope. Even the best healers didn't understand how you had survived the attack."
Lily touched her own chest lightly, an almost unconscious gesture she always made when the subject was her time in the hospital. "They said my sacrifice should have cost me my life, Molly. That the magic of love I used to protect Harry was so powerful it should have consumed my own life force. But something... something intervened." Her green eyes clouded for a moment, as if trying to focus on a memory that insisted on escaping. "The healers called it a miracle. Something beyond their understanding kept my spark of life burning."
Before Molly could respond, a firm, authoritative knock on the main door cut through the house's bustle like a knife. It wasn't the casual knock of a neighbor, nor the hurried tapping of one of the Weasley children. It was a precise, measured sound that echoed through the house and instantly silenced all conversations and activities.
Arthur Weasley, who was in a corner fixing a Muggle radio, stood up suddenly, his glasses slipping down his nose. "That's... unusual," he murmured, adjusting the lenses as he headed for the door.
The door opened before he reached the knob. Under the golden late afternoon light, three imposing figures stood out against the pastoral backdrop. The woman in front was tall and slender, with black hair tied in an impeccable bun that didn't allow a single strand out of place. Her robes were of a silver-gray that seemed woven from moonlight itself, without a single wrinkle. Behind her, two guards of impressive stature wore robes of a darker gray, with neutral masks of light wood that completely concealed their faces. The insignia of the Court of Owls - a stylized owl whose wings merged elegantly with an unrolled scroll - shone discreetly on their chests.
Cassandra Greengrass, the Court's emissary, made a respectful bow of her head, her features serious but visibly respectful. "Councilwoman Potter," she said, her tone clearly different from the usual formality - it was the tone used with someone of equal hierarchy, not a common member. "The Council sends its greetings."
Lily raised her head, a professional smile appearing on her lips. "Cassandra. It's a surprise to see a Council emissary here. Does something important bring the Court to the Burrow?"
"I bring direct orders from the Council, Councilwoman," replied Cassandra, maintaining her formal posture but with a slight softening in her eyes when addressing Lily. "We report to the Weasleys about the acceptance of their sons into the apprentice program."
Molly Weasley seemed to be having difficulty processing the scene. Her eyes went from Lily to the emissary and back to Lily, as if trying to decipher a complex puzzle. "Apprentices? From... from the Court?" She looked at Arthur, who seemed equally stunned, but now with a new respect as he observed the interaction between Lily and the emissary.
Arthur Weasley, recovering some of his composure, took a step forward. "Miss Greengrass... this is an unexpected honor, I must say. But... Lily, are you involved in this?"
Lily smiled calmly, addressing the Weasleys first before turning back to Cassandra. "The Council makes all important decisions together, Arthur. And yes, I personally supported Fred and George's nomination. Their unique talents are exactly the kind of potential the Court values and seeks to cultivate."
At that moment, the Weasley twins appeared in the kitchen doorway, drawn by the unusual silence. Their normally carefree faces were full of curiosity as they saw the imposing figures in the living room.
"What's happening?" whispered Fred (or George) to his brother.
Cassandra turned her penetrating gaze to the twins. "Fred and George Weasley," she said, and for the first time there was a slight touch of something that seemed like... approval? in her voice. "The aptitude tests you took last summer were, in a word, remarkable. The Court identifies exceptional talent wherever it may be found, and your potential for Applied Magical Innovation and Creative Problem Solving is... singular, to say the least. The Council would like to offer you positions as Apprentices in our Talent Development Program."
The twins stood paralyzed. For the first time since Molly had known them, her sons seemed genuinely speechless. Their mouths were slightly open, their eyes wide with disbelief.
"But... but they haven't even graduated!" exclaimed Molly, her voice trembling between motherly panic and an incipient pride struggling to emerge.
"The program is designed to work in conjunction with your education at Hogwarts, Mrs. Weasley," explained Cassandra, her tone patient but firm. "It would involve summer internships, supervised correspondence, and mentorships with some of the world's best magical innovators. It's an opportunity that very few wizards receive in a lifetime."
Molly's eyes filled with tears of pride as she realized that not only had the Court noticed her sons, but her friend - a Councilwoman of the legendary organization - had interceded for them.
"The complete terms will be sent by official owl tomorrow morning," informed Cassandra, with a last respectful nod to Lily before turning to leave. Her guards turned with military precision, making way for her to exit.
When the door closed behind them, a charged silence hung over the room for a long moment, until broken by George (or Fred) letting out a low whistle.
"Merlin... the Court of Owls," he said, his voice full of admiration.
Second Part: Twilight Confidences
Later that night, after Harry had been settled to sleep in Ron's room - a tradition the families maintained before each school year - Lily returned to her home in Godric's Hollow. The residence, unlike the Burrow, breathed a serene tranquility. The stone walls held memories both painful and happy, and Lily felt the weight of the day drain from her shoulders as she crossed the entrance door.
Filius was waiting for her in the living room, sitting in his favorite armchair near the fireplace. The flames danced softly, casting cozy shadows around the tastefully decorated room. Two goblets of Fairy Wine - a rare sky-blue beverage that shimmered with tiny stars - waited on a nearby oak table.
"Harry loves spending nights at the Burrow," Lily commented, dropping her bag on a nearby sofa before nestling in Filius's lap with the naturalness of someone who had found their safe harbor. "It's good for him to have that feeling of a large family, of belonging."
Filius wrapped an arm around her, his hand tracing gentle circles on her back. "The Weasleys are special people," he agreed, his voice a calm whisper in the room's quietness. "They offer Harry something that neither you nor I could give alone - the experience of growing up with siblings."
Lily picked up her goblet and took a small sip, staring at the shimmering liquid. "I still dream about those years sometimes, Filius," she said, her voice low and thoughtful. "Four years in the hospital... the healers didn't understand how I was alive. They had theories, of course. They said my sacrifice should have cost me my life, that the magic of love I used to protect Harry was so powerful it should have consumed my own life force. But something... something intervened." She looked at him, her green eyes full of a silent question that had always hung between them. "You never told me everything about what happened that night, besides finding me and taking me to the hospital. Sometimes I have flashes... shadows moving, a voice I can't identify..."
Filius kept his serene gaze, but Lily noticed the slight tension that arose in his shoulders. "Some mysteries need to remain that way for a time, Lily," he said, his voice soft but firm. "The important thing is that you're here, alive and well, and Harry has his mother. The rest... the rest will come at the right time."
She sighed, accepting the answer as she had many times before. It was a familiar dance between them - Lily seeking answers, Filius offering comfort without fully revealing the truth. "And now he's going into his second year. I can hardly believe how time has passed. When I woke up, he was only four years old... so small, frightened of a world he barely knew. Sometimes I wonder what it would have been like if I hadn't lost those years."
"He grew up well," Filius observed calmly. "And you've done a wonderful job with him, all things considered. And this year, I'll be there to protect him, to ensure nothing like what happened with Quirrell repeats itself."
Lily squeezed his hand, her fingers intertwining with his. "I know. And knowing you'll be at Hogwarts... someone with the power of Dumbledore, of you..." She shook her head, marveling. "Sometimes I forget you're only twenty-two years old. Most wizards don't even dream of achieving what you've already accomplished. And yet, here you are, one of the most powerful wizards in the world, sitting with me on a quiet night in Godric's Hollow."
Filius kissed her forehead softly. "Power isn't a matter of age, Lily, but of purpose. And my purpose has always been to protect those who matter."
They sat in silence for a while, watching the flames in the fireplace, each lost in their own thoughts. For Lily, these moments of quiet with Filius were a precious refuge - a chance to simply be, without the demands of the Court Council or the worries of being a single mother in the wizarding world.
"The twins were impressed today," Lily commented after a while, a playful smile returning to her face. "I think it was the first time I've ever seen them truly speechless."
Filius returned the smile. "They have unique talent. The Court knows how to recognize potential, even in its most... explosive forms. It's better to have them as allies than as competitors in the mischief market."
Lily's smile softened again, and she turned to face him more directly. "Speaking of potential... Harry. His first year was a nightmare, Filius. A possessed professor, Quirinus Quirrell with Voldemort stuck to the back of his head... those deadly traps he and his friends faced... they're just children." Her voice was laden with that maternal worry that never completely left her, an echo of the nightmares that had haunted her since the night James gave his life to give them time to escape.
Filius pulled her closer, his touch firm and comforting. "I know, Lily. I read the reports. I heard the Ministry gossip. But this year will be different. I'll be there."
She looked at him, her green eyes searching his silver ones, looking for any shadow of doubt. "You promise? You won't just be there as a teacher, but... you'll be vigilant? Like you were for me, that time?" She referred to the day, years before Harry was born, when Filius, moved by a hunch he didn't fully understand at the time, saved her from a Death Eater ambush - an event that changed the course of her destiny in ways she was still discovering.
"I promise," his voice was calm, but laden with an absolute certainty that was more comforting than any grand oath. "Nothing will hurt him while I'm at Hogwarts. You know what I'm capable of."
Lily sighed, a tension she had carried on her shoulders for months finally dissolving. She sank deeper against him, allowing herself the rare luxury of trusting someone completely. "I know," she whispered, her confidence in him as solid as the ancient walls of Hogwarts. "That's why I can sleep at night. Knowing you're there, with the power you have... it's like having Dumbledore and... well, Voldemort... on our side, but in a way that doesn't fill me with fear, but with hope." She kissed his cheek softly, a gesture of affection and deep gratitude. "It's good to have you back. The house was too quiet when you were busy with the Court's projects."
They remained like that for a long time, twilight giving way to night outside, the magical wine shimmering softly between them, two souls intertwined by fate, magic, and a secret that still awaited the right moment to be revealed.
Third Part: On the Way to Hogwarts
King's Cross Station buzled with the chaotic energy characteristic of the day the Hogwarts Express departed. Wizarding families crowded around luggage-loaded carts, owls hooted in cages, and the air was charged with the palpable excitement of children and teenagers about to return to the magical world.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione tried for the third time to cross the barrier between platforms 9 and 10, only to be repelled by an invisible force.
"It's blocked!" said Ron, alarmed, rubbing his shoulder where he had hit the seemingly solid brick wall.
"But that's impossible," Hermione protested, her expression confused. "The barrier has always worked before."
It was then that Lily Potter appeared, her face showing professional concern. "I noticed a strange fluctuation in the barrier's magic when we arrived," she explained, examining the wall with trained eyes. "Come on, I'll take you through the alternative access that the Express staff uses."
As they followed Lily through a secret passage hidden behind a deactivated telephone booth, Harry spoke animatedly: "I can't wait for Professor Umbra's classes! He's so cool when he visits us at home."
Hermione looked at him, curiosity stamped on her face. "Do you know him well, Harry?"
"Of course! He's my mum's friend. He always visits our house, brings me cool magical gifts. Once he showed me how to make shadows dance!" Harry smiled, remembering. "He said the Court of Owls is a club of very smart wizards who try to make the magical world better."
Ron shook his head, impressed. "My parents say the Court is the most important organization in the wizarding world, but nobody really knows what they do. Dad once said they have more real influence than the Ministry itself."
Harry shrugged, his childish naivety evident. "I don't know, I think it's like a fancy study club. Filius is really powerful - once I saw him fix our magical kettle just by looking at it - but everyone says Dumbledore is powerful too, so it can't be that special."
Hermione and Ron exchanged a significant look. Harry's limited understanding of the Court's true influence and Filius's power was both adorable and revealing of how he had been protected from the more political and darker side of the wizarding world.
When they finally reached Platform 9¾, the familiar scene greeted them - the imposing, steaming Hogwarts Express, families saying goodbye, and the air charged with magic and expectation.
As they boarded the train and found an empty compartment, the conversation naturally returned to Filius Umbra.
"Bill once told me," Ron shared, lowering his voice as if sharing a state secret, "that Professor Umbra faced a bunch of dark wizards in Ukraine alone, and when the dust settled, they were all petrified in fleeing positions."
Hermione opened her bag and pulled out a book that clearly wasn't on the required reading list. "According to 'Influential Figures of the Contemporary Magical World,' Lord Umbra is considered by many experts to be on the same power level as Dumbledore and... well, You-Know-Who. And he's only twenty-two years old!" She opened the book to a marked page. "It says here that he completely redesigned the defense systems of several wizarding embassies after Voldemort's fall."
Harry listened to everything with growing interest, but still seemed unable to fully connect the friendly figure who visited his house with the powerful wizard described in the book. To him, Filius was simply his mother's cool friend who did impressive shadow tricks and always had helpful advice when Harry was having trouble with his wand.
When the train began to move, leaving London behind, Harry looked out the window, his thoughts turning to the year ahead. For the first time since the incident with the Philosopher's Stone, he was genuinely excited to return to Hogwarts. The prospect of learning to truly defend himself, with someone he knew and trusted, was incredibly attractive.
Fourth Part: The Welcoming Feast
The Great Hall of Hogwarts was more spectacular than ever. Thousands of candles floated in the air, casting a golden light over the four long house tables. The enchanted ceiling showed a breathtaking starry night sky, with wizarding constellations slowly rotating in their celestial courses.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione settled at the Gryffindor table, their eyes automatically turning to the teachers' table at the top of the hall. Besides the familiar faces - Dumbledore with his silver beard flowing over his robes, McGonagall with her stern but fair expression, Snape with his habitual air of disdain - there were two notable additions that captured everyone's attention.
In a seat near Dumbledore was Lily Potter, her presence bringing smiles to many students. She would be teaching Muggle Studies, a subject gaining new prestige and interest with a teacher who not only understood both worlds but valued them equally.
And next to Professor Babbling, in the chair for Dueling and Magical Battle, was Filius Umbra. He didn't wear flashy robes or elaborate accessories - just a simple robe of dark gray that seemed to absorb the light around it, making the candles near him burn a little brighter, as if compensating for the darkness his garments emanated. His silver eyes calmly scanned the hall, and a slight sensation of serenity and power emanated from him, calming the new students' nerves without them knowing why.
To his right, a woman with straight black hair and an elegant red robe observed everything with silent intensity. It was Ada Wong, his teaching assistant - the second of the so-called "Three Brides" - whose calm and observant posture hid abilities that few in the wizarding world could match.
The old Sorting Hat, patched and worn by time, sang its annual song, and then the selection process began. One by one, the new students were called, sat on the stool, and had their houses announced to the hall.
Harry watched the process with renewed interest, remembering his own selection a year before. When the last student - a small, frightened girl named Cressida who went to Hufflepuff - sat at her new table, Dumbledore stood up.
His voice, amplified by magic, echoed through the hall full of warmth and authority. "Another school year begins! And as usual, I would like to remind you that the Forbidden Forest remains off-limits to all students." His eyes twinkled as several students laughed nervously.
He made a dramatic pause before continuing. "I am especially happy to welcome our new teachers this year... Lily Potter, who will take over Muggle Studies, bringing with her a unique and valuable perspective on the non-magical world." Warm applause filled the hall, with Gryffindor students banging especially hard on their tables. "And Filius Umbra, who has kindly agreed to return to bless us with his incomparable knowledge in Dueling and Magical Battle." This time the applause was mixed with excited whispers and admiring looks directed at the calm figure at the teachers' table.
Dumbledore raised his hands to silence the hall. "Have an excellent year! And now... eat!"
With a fluid movement of his wand, the feast appeared on the golden tables - roasted turkeys, mountains of mashed potatoes, bowls of salads of all kinds, and an impressive variety of desserts that would make any Muggle pastry chef blush with envy.
Harry could hardly take his eyes off the teachers' table as he ate. He watched his mother talking animatedly with Professor McGonagall, her expressive gestures illustrating some point she was making. And then his eyes rested on Filius, who was leaning to the side, whispering something to Ada Wong. The teaching assistant listened attentively, her face a mask of professionalism, but Harry noticed the slight nod of understanding she gave.
What caught his attention most, however, was the way the other teachers interacted with Filius. It wasn't just respect - it was something deeper. Professor Sprout, normally talkative and expansive, became noticeably more restrained when addressing him. Professor Snape, whose disdain for almost everyone was legendary, slightly inclined his head when Filius made a comment in his direction. And Dumbledore himself... there was a different quality in how he interacted with Filius. It wasn't the mentor-student relationship he had with other teachers, but something closer to equality.
When the last crumb disappeared from the tables and tiredness began to settle on the students' faces, Dumbledore stood up once more.
"Now that our appetites are satisfied and our spirits renewed," he began, his eyes twinkling in the candlelight, "tiredness certainly begins to call. Therefore, before anyone falls asleep in the pudding - an occurrence more common than you imagine - let us declare the welcoming feast officially over."
He paused, his gaze sweeping the hall full of young, expectant faces. "Prefects, lead your students to the dormitories. May you have a good rest, and be prepared for your classes to begin promptly tomorrow. Good night everyone!"
A buzz of scraping chairs filled the air as students stood up and began to crowd to leave. Harry cast one last look at the teachers' table before following the crowd. Filius had stood up and was exchanging some final words with Dumbledore. For a brief moment, his silver eyes met Harry's through the crowd, and there was a silent recognition - a slight, almost imperceptible nod - before he turned and exchanged a brief nod with Lily.
As he followed the other Gryffindor students toward their tower, Harry felt that his second year at Hogwarts would undoubtedly be memorable. The presence of his mother as a teacher and Filius as a Dueling and Magical Battle instructor created a safety net under his feet, allowing him to see Hogwarts not as a potential battlefield, but as a place of discovery and growth. He could hardly wait for classes to begin.