The Hogwarts Express thundered onward, carrying trembling first-years, gossip-hungry second-years, and a collection of upper-years who were already wondering whether they could transfer somewhere that didn't involve biannual near-death experiences.
Cassius, however, was not thinking about classes, or sweets, or the dementors that had only moments ago drifted through the train like carrion birds scenting weakness.
His mind was elsewhere.
Planning.
Sorting.
Anticipating.
The things that mattered.
Ginny had stretched out along the seat, her legs resting against Cassius' knee.
Astoria had cozied herself against his left shoulder, reading with the calmness of someone who knew the world could burn and she would remain perfectly centered.
Luna dozed lightly in Cassius' lap, humming something about crystalline moon-frogs.
To anyone else, the scene would have looked like typical teenage infatuation.
To Cassius?
It was his command unit.
His inner circle.
His future generals.
And this year… this year would be the one where he shaped them properly.
~
Cassius let his eyes drift to the frost still melting from the compartment window.
Defense Against the Dark Arts.
Finally—finally—he could look forward to education rather than remedial farce.
Lupin was competent.
Thoughtful.
Disciplined.
More importantly, now that he was a fully stabilized Arcanum-grade lycan, he was powerful.
Sirius Black, while rough around the edges, was a duelist with instincts sharp enough to slice through steel.
His teaching style would be chaotic, unpredictable, and most likely dangerous—but effective.
Together, they would be the best DADA staff Hogwarts had seen in decades.
Cassius almost smiled.
When the news first reached him he could only break out in smile that threatened to take over his entire face.
Lupin was almost a guarantee, but thanks to the expanded number of students year after year increased teaching staff was required, resulting in Sirius the private detective with no real job to likewise be extended the offer of employment, one he happily took up.
This would let him see more of the lil pup while also getting the chance to meet with his other godson at the same time so who was he to refuse, even if it meant being under the employ of the man who'd given up on him and let him rot in prison for 10 years without bothering to try and prove his innocense just likse his godson had done.
He wouldn't have to un-teach stupidity this year.
He could actually build skill atop a real foundation.
And the girls—his girls—would excel under Lupin and Sirius.
Ginny's raw aggression would be refined.
Astoria's precision would sharpen.
And Luna's intuitive magic… well, she was Luna.
As for Cho, Daphne, and Hermione.
Each of them was already a competent and wise witch beyond their years after years of hard training under himself and Lady Draconis, but it was never a bad thing to gain additional teachers who could offer up an alternative lesson plan that might fit better with each of their styles.
Afterall even chaos had potential.
~
The train clattered into a long curve.
Cassius exhaled quietly.
Draconis House was strong.
More than strong.
Elite.
But no matter how many wide-eyed hopefuls whispered about joining, the answer was the same:
No.
He would not weaken the House with mediocrity.
He had no interest in rescuing other students from their own laziness or lack of ambition.
Let Gryffindor raise arrogant heroes, Hufflepuff raise reliable workers, Ravenclaw raise those only with booksmarts, and Slytherin raise schemers.
Draconis raised weapons.
And true weapons were not mass-produced.
His House had the numbers it needed.
The ones who remained were loyal, trained, and enhanced in ways no other Hogwarts students were.
He did not have the bandwidth—or the interest—to sculpt more.
~
Cassius' attention drifted briefly toward the rolling countryside.
Grindelwald.
His teacher.
His mentor.
His inspiration.
Gone from exile now, shadows stretching across Europe like a long-awaited storm front.
Not rallying his armies.
Not making speeches.
Just reminding the world he was not dead.
A whisper of a legend breathing again.
And Dumbledore—of course—was chasing that whisper, dragging his attention away from Britain, dividing his forces.
Good.
Let the old man run himself ragged, searching for threats where there were none.
The true revolution—the real storm—would not come from Grindelwald's return.
It would come from Cassius.
And by the time Dumbledore realized it, the shift would be unstoppable.
Cassius rested his chin thoughtfully on his knuckles.
Five escapees.
Five dangerous individuals by Ministry standards.
Bellatrix, the Carrows, Pettigrew, Barty Crouch Jr.
Of the five, only one piqued Cassius' interest.
Not Pettigrew—coward.
Not the Carrows—brutish.
Not Crouch Jr.—powerful, but unhinged beyond usefulness, and utterly devoted beyond question to the dark lord.
Bellatrix, though—
That one had potential.
Fanaticism sharpened into brilliance, a mind broken but not dull.
A killer with discipline, training, and just enough ambition to be interesting.
If Cassius encountered her… well.
The result would depend on the circumstances.
The Ministry would prefer capture.
Dumbledore would prefer redemption.
Cassius meanwhile was considering conversion.
If he could manage to capture and convert Bellatrix to becoming on of his inner circle, she would be a welcome addition albeit a specifically yandere sort of addition.
The bigger question would be how to pull it off.
Cause no doubt the dark lord would be sending his forces to act on his behalf, either to go after Harry in an attempt to kidnap him for the ressurection ritual, or to slay Cassius the meddler who'd ruined his perfect plan two years ago.
If the situation permitted it, that would give him ample opportunities to capture Bella at that time, after that well the rest should give up for the time being until their own power was restored enough to stand against him.
The girls were content as they recharged on the special element Cassium until finally the Express that wasnt so express finally rolled into the Hogsmede station delivering yet another year of students to the school grounds.
With the fleet of first year boats setting off across the black lake, as the senior students rose their thestral carried carriages up the slopes into the waiting castle courtyard.