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Hogwarts The Hogsmeade Farmer
Hogwarts Targaryen Dragonborn
Hogwarts: The Heiress
Hogwarts Bloodline Wizards
The carriage went quiet.
Every member of the study group was staring at Rock.
Because if he could see Thestrals, that meant Rock had witnessed death.
Even Hermione had stopped fretting about Harry and Ron. She turned to him with open concern.
"What's wrong?"
Rock had been watching the Thestrals and hadn't heard the rest of Theo's comment. He turned around.
The moment he saw their faces, he waved a hand. "Relax. It was just a coincidence. Nothing serious."
He had looked straight into the final moments of Nicolas and Perenelle Flamel. That counted. And during the trip with Newt, he'd seen a few other examples too.
"Remember what Headmaster Dumbledore always says—death may be the next great adventure."
"Cool!" Neville's mouth opened and closed. He didn't fully understand the words, but they sounded badass.
Rock gave a small laugh. "Dumbledore does have a way with words, doesn't he?"
The tension eased. The group started talking about the new term as the carriages rolled on. The sky darkened around them. By the time the line of carriages reached the castle gates and stopped, night had fallen.
Filch stood at the entrance, barking orders. "Hurry up!"
Rock hopped down and gave the caretaker a polite nod. "Mr. Filch, how was Mrs. Norris over the summer?"
Filch looked momentarily thrown by the courteous tone, but at the mention of his cat his mouth twitched into something that was almost a smile.
"She's fine. Those cat treats you kept sending her—she loves them. I can barely pick her up anymore."
"That's good to hear."
Rock nodded again and walked inside with his friends.
"First time I've ever heard Filch sound almost gentle," Theo said, shaking his head. "Even if it was kind of stiff."
"Seriously," Michael added. "I heard from some older girls that Filch loves interrupting them when they're—"
He caught himself mid-sentence and shut up. That particular rumor probably wasn't appropriate for their age group.
"Stop listening to gossip," Padma said dryly. "If you paid half that much attention in class you wouldn't be scraping by."
Hermione glanced toward the castle. "I'm going ahead. It's been too long—I need to check on Harry and Ron. Rock, I'll be at the study room tomorrow like usual!"
She took off at a run.
"Let's go," Rock said quietly.
He already had a feeling this year was going to be anything but ordinary.
They stepped into the Great Hall. It was loud and bright, but the first-years hadn't arrived yet.
"Feels different, doesn't it?" Theo dropped into his seat and looked around. "Being an upper-year."
"Not really," Adam said, glancing around. "Just means we don't have to stand in that little room like idiots anymore."
"Can't talk to the landlord's idiot son," Theo shot back, using the phrase he'd picked up from Rock.
"Piss off," Adam said, flipping him off. The two immediately started shoving each other.
Michael looked toward the staff table. "Where's the Headmaster?"
Rock followed his gaze. Dumbledore was missing. So was Snape.
But there was someone new—a man in a ridiculously flashy outfit. Gilderoy Lockhart. He was chatting with Professor Flitwick, flashing his trademark eight-tooth smile every few seconds. Flitwick did not look impressed.
While the students whispered among themselves, the doors opened. Professor McGonagall led the line of new first-years inside.
"Everyone! Quiet!"
The Hall fell silent at once.
"The Sorting Ceremony will now begin," McGonagall announced. "Headmaster Dumbledore is occupied elsewhere, so I will be conducting it."
Murmurs rippled through the long tables. Everyone was wondering why Dumbledore wasn't here.
"Looks like the trio caused some serious trouble this time," Theo muttered.
The others nodded but didn't comment. Their attention shifted to the line of nervous first-years.
Rock's eyes found the girl with pale-blonde hair. Luna Lovegood stood calmly, looking around the Hall with quiet curiosity instead of the usual first-year terror.
"Hey, Rock—what are you staring at?"
Theo's voice pulled him back. When Rock turned, the whole group was giving him the same odd look.
"Nothing," he said quickly, shaking his head.
How many times had he spaced out today?
"Luna Lovegood!"
McGonagall's voice rang out. Rock looked back at the Sorting Hat. It still looked as battered as ever.
A full minute passed. The Hall buzzed with speculation about which House she'd end up in.
Then the Hat shouted, "Ravenclaw!"
"Whoo!"
Ravenclaw's table erupted in cheers—especially loud from Theo, Adam, and Michael.
Rock stared at them, confused.
"Bros, we all get it," Michael said, clapping him on the shoulder before joining the welcoming crowd.
Rock's expression went blank. Those idiots had definitely been gossiping about him.
Luna walked calmly to the Ravenclaw table. Padma was already waiting and pulled her down onto the bench.
"Come sit here, new girl."
Theo and the others leaned in, whispering among themselves. Rock deliberately kept his eyes away from Luna. The last thing he needed was another distraction.
His gaze drifted toward the entrance just in time to see two very disheveled figures slip inside.
"They're here," he said quietly.
Theo and the others looked over. Their eyes widened.
"Merlin's beard. Where the hell did those two come from?"
At the Gryffindor table, Hermione and Neville had already spotted them and jumped up to meet them.
Dumbledore's voice filled the Hall, drawing every eye back to the staff table and sparing Harry and Ron from more stares.
"Thank you, Professor McGonagall, for overseeing the Sorting," he said with a warm nod. "Now, as we begin this new term, I'm pleased to introduce our newest member of staff."
Lockhart rose at once, swirling his gold-trimmed lilac robes and flashing his perfect smile.
"Ah, Hogwarts! It feels like coming home. It reminds me of a scene I described in my latest book, Magical Me—"
Rock looked away immediately. The man had transitioned into self-promotion with terrifying smoothness.
Still, he couldn't help noticing that quite a few witches at the other tables were gazing at Lockhart with stars in their eyes.