It was a peaceful weekend afternoon when Ethan finally emerged from his office into the castle corridors. Hogwarts carried its familiar hum, but the usual weekday tension had melted away. Saturday had arrived, and with it the gift of free time—students wandered the halls and grounds, laughing, teasing, and simply being young together.
He strolled at an easy pace, hands clasped loosely behind him, his dark robes brushing gently against the stone floor with each step. The castle felt different today—lighter, freer. Students wandered the corridors in small, animated groups. Some laughed out loud, their voices bright with the simple joy of an open afternoon. Others moved with quiet determination, Quidditch robes slung over their shoulders, brooms carried like treasures.
Today was one of the informal recruitment days. The house captains were holding small trials to scout fresh talent before the new season began in a month. Already the approaching Quidditch year had begun to ripple through Hogwarts, awakening old rivalries and kindling fresh competitive fire.
Ethan smiled at the eager, hopeful faces of his students, all dreaming of securing spots on their house Quidditch teams. Some who passed him even stopped to invite him—'come see the trials, Professor, it'll be brilliant!` Their excitement was infectious. He declined with warm encouragement: 'go out there and make us proud.'
He had no intention of heading toward the Quidditch grounds today. He had other plans.
He continued through the corridors until the heavy doors leading outside came into view. The moment he stepped out into the open air, a gentle breeze brushed against his face, carrying with it the faint scent of grass and lake water. The sky was painted in soft afternoon hues, the sun hanging high yet mellow, bathing the castle grounds in warm gold.
Instead of joining the stream of students heading along the path to the Quidditch pitch, Ethan turned and took the quieter route behind the castle. This part of the grounds was always calmer, far from the usual crowds.
Students were scattered across the lawns. Some rested beneath trees with books in hand. Others gathered in small groups, practicing spells in low voices. A few wandered without destination, simply enjoying the rare freedom of an open Saturday afternoon.
Ethan walked past them quietly and continued until he reached the long stone path that stretched toward the distant village of Hogsmeade.
This path was one of his favorites.
On one side lay the vast, shimmering surface of the Black Lake. Its waters reflected the sky like a living mirror, rippling softly whenever a breeze stirred its surface. On the other side loomed the dark, endless edge of the Forbidden Forest, its towering trees standing like silent sentinels. The forest always carried an air of quiet mystery. Not threatening in daylight, but never entirely welcoming either.
The contrast between the two sides had always drawn him in: light and shadow, calm and danger, beauty and mystery, walking side by side. It was the eternal path every person who had passed through Hogwarts' gates had followed, and the one every future student would one day walk.
A small smile formed on Ethan's lips as he continued forward. Magical plants lined parts of the path, some glowing faintly in the afternoon light. Tiny winged creatures fluttered lazily above patches of wildflowers. A pair of golden snidgets darted across the path and vanished into the trees before he could properly follow their movement.
He slowed slightly, allowing himself to simply observe.
It was peaceful and beautiful.
As he admired the view, his eyes fell on a solitary figure walking ahead.
A woman with long red hair.
He knew who she was even from afar.
Realizing she was heading in the same direction, Ethan felt a small pull of curiosity. He lengthened his stride just a touch to walk with her.
After a couple of minutes, he closed the distance between them. When he was near enough, he spoke gently.
"Good afternoon, Miss Evans."
Lily let out a small, startled sound and turned sharply. Her green eyes widened for a brief moment before recognition replaced surprise.
"Oh," she said, placing a hand lightly over her chest. "Good afternoon, Mr. Thorne. I am sorry, you startled me."
Ethan immediately inclined his head slightly. "My apologies. I did not mean to startle you."
Lily gathered herself quickly, but he did not miss the faint blush of embarrassment dusting her cheeks. It only made her look younger than she already did.
To ease the moment, Ethan smiled lightly. "Are you heading to the gathering as well?"
She nodded. "Yes. Most weekends, some of the professors gather for a small afternoon outing. Nothing formal. Just butterbeer and conversation." She paused, then added with a soft smile, "I suppose this will be your first time."
"It will," Ethan replied. "Professor McGonagall invited me. I thought it would be a good opportunity to get to know my colleagues better."
Lily's smile softened and widened. "It's actually the one time we professors can really relax together. No lesson plans, no duties, nothing that ties us to being 'in school.' Just… being ordinary people for a few hours—sharing laughs, talking about our students, and catching up on the little things in life."
Ethan chuckled softly. "Then I am glad I accepted the invitation."
There was a brief pause between them before he added, "Shall we walk together? It would be unfortunate to be late to my first gathering."
"Of course," Lily replied warmly.
They fell into step beside one another, walking side by side along the stone path.
For a while, silence settled between them.
Not an uncomfortable silence. But not entirely natural either. The kind that often existed between two people still learning the rhythm of each other's presence.
Ethan decided to bridge it.
"So, Miss Evans," he said gently, "did you graduate from Hogwarts?"
"Yes," she replied immediately. "More than a decade ago now. I studied here as a student."
"That must be a special feeling," Ethan said thoughtfully. "Returning to teach at the very place where you grew up."
Lily let out a soft laugh. "It is. Though it was not always easy at the beginning."
He glanced at her with curiosity.
"I came from a non magical family," she continued. "So my first months here were overwhelming. Everything felt unfamiliar. Strange. I remember feeling completely out of place."
Her voice softened slightly as she spoke, touched with nostalgia.
"But then… Hogwarts has a way of changing people. The magic, the castle, the friendships, the professors. Slowly, it stopped feeling foreign. It began to feel like home."
She smiled faintly.
"And when graduation came, I remember feeling something I had never expected. Sadness. The thought of leaving Hogwarts hurt more than I thought it would."
Ethan listened quietly, matching his steps to hers.
"And now here you are," he said gently. "You returned as a professor."
"Yes," she said, smiling ahead. "Life has a funny way of circling back."
A moment later, she turned slightly toward him. "What about you? I heard you graduated from Beauxbatons. How different is it from Hogwarts?"
Ethan exhaled softly, considering the question.
"There are quite a few differences," he admitted. "Hogwarts has a very academic atmosphere. Structured and traditional. Strongly rooted in history."
He paused briefly, choosing his words carefully.
"Beauxbatons is academic as well, of course. But it places more emphasis on refinement and the arts. Students learn magical dancing, decorative enchantments, magical music. Even cultural etiquette is treated almost like a subject of its own."
Lily listened with clear interest.
"There is also a great diversity among the students," he continued. "Many come from different parts of Europe. Different traditions. Different magical customs. It creates a very… vibrant environment."
She tilted her head slightly and smiled teasingly. "So you are saying it is more fun than Hogwarts?"
Ethan laughed softly. "Don't misunderstand me. Hogwarts is beautiful in its own way. It has a depth of history that is unmatched. A kind of gravity that Beauxbatons does not possess."
His voice warmed slightly.
"But I grew up there. I have memories tied to those halls. So I will naturally be biased. That is only human."
Lily laughed at that. "That is fair. For me, Hogwarts will always be special. It is where I first discovered magic. Nothing could replace that."
She hesitated before adding, almost shyly, "Still… I would love to visit Beauxbatons someday."
Ethan glanced at her with a small smile. "If you truly wish to, I could arrange that. I spent years there as both a student and an assistant professor. I might still be able to guide you around."
She raised an amused brow. "You are making promises now. You cannot take them back later."
"I have no intention of doing so," Ethan replied lightly.
They both smiled, and this time the silence that followed felt easier.
As the path stretched on, the distant outline of Hogsmeade began to form ahead of them.
After a while, Ethan asked casually, "Where is Aria? You did not bring her along?"
Lily shook her head. "She insisted on staying behind with Nina. I tried to convince her, but she refused."
Ethan chuckled quietly. "Well, at least she will not be alone."
"Last year I brought her to the gathering," Lily admitted. "She was terribly bored. Sitting with adults discussing things she could not understand."
"That sounds about right," Ethan said. "Children have little patience for adult conversations."
Lily smiled faintly. "These days she spends most of her time playing with Nina. She seems very happy."
She paused before adding thoughtfully, "I had a cat once when I was younger. It was very antisocial. Never affectionate. That experience made me hesitant to get another one."
She glanced at him briefly. "But seeing Aria with Nina makes me wonder if I was wrong."
Ethan smiled gently.
"Nina is not exactly sociable," he admitted. "She does not like most people. But she is very attached to Aria."
His expression softened slightly.
"I raised her since she was a newborn kitten. So she is deeply bonded with me. But these days… she spends more time with Aria than with me."
He turned to her with a mock-sad sigh, a mischievous glint in his eye.
"It makes me jealous, honestly. My little girl barely has time for her old man these days—she's always running off to her new friend."
Lily laughed softly at his words.
"Then I should thank you," she said warmly. "For letting your daughter spend time with mine."
Ethan laughed as well. "As parents, it is always a joy to see our children making friends."
Her laughter grew brighter at his words, clearly amused by the way he spoke of a cat with such sincerity.
By then, they had reached the stone bridge that marked the entrance to Hogsmeade.
The village lay just beyond, its cozy rooftops and chimneys rising like something out of a winter postcard. Even from a distance, the faint hum of life could be felt. The promise of warmth, laughter, and butterbeer lingered in the air.