"Alright, class dismissed." Anthony tucked the survey results into his lesson plan. "Oh, Davies, do you have another class?"
"No, Professor." Roger Davies looked slightly confused.
Anthony nodded. "Stay behind for a moment. There's something we need to discuss."
"Of course." Roger gestured for his waiting friend to go ahead.
His friend glanced at him with concern. "I'll wait outside. Did you fail the last quiz?"
Anthony smiled. "No need to worry. Just unrelated matters. I promise Davies will appear at the Ravenclaw table completely intact."
The friend laughed sheepishly, taking Roger's textbooks and notebooks to carry back to the dormitory.
Anthony watched them with amusement. Unlike his sister, Roger had found real friends at Hogwarts.
His friend left, thoughtfully closing the door. Sunset broke through the clouds in golden flashes, lighting Roger's hair with an unusual warmth.
The moment they were alone, Roger asked sharply, "This is about Tracey, isn't it?" He didn't wait for confirmation. "I've been inviting her to watch Quidditch practice. She agreed at first, but she got tired of it quickly."
Perhaps because he'd lost his mother young, Roger was a remarkably responsible older brother. He'd begged Anthony to keep watching the situation and had been trying repeatedly to get Tracey to talk.
After their library conversation, Roger had started visiting the Slytherin dungeons so frequently that even Anthony had heard about it.
Professor Flitwick thought his player was harassing Slytherin's captain—their last match hadn't been pleasant. Professor McGonagall suspected Roger was courting some girl. Anthony hadn't known his colleagues possessed such vivid imaginations.
The truth was simpler: Roger was trying to show concern by dragging his sister to the Quidditch pitch.
"Quidditch practice?" Anthony asked, amused.
Roger nodded miserably. "She used to be interested. Professor, has something else happened?"
Anthony shook his head. He wouldn't tell Roger about the Calming Draughts. Adding to his worries served no purpose.
"I spoke with Professor Snape."
Roger tensed.
Anthony spoke honestly. "I realized I might have oversimplified things. You don't need to tell me details, Mr. Davies. I just wanted to remind you—Miss Davies might see this situation very differently than we do."
If the Slytherin Head of House took that attitude, Tracey might share similar views. It was her House, after all.
He didn't want his interference to drive the siblings apart.
"You're right, Professor." Roger nodded with complete confidence. "But I know Tracey. At least, I know who she used to be. As long as she knows I care, no matter how annoyed she gets, she won't actually shut me out."
He spoke with certainty. "After the zoo trip, if everything goes well, I want to take her somewhere else. Unlike her classmates, our father never demanded we succeed in the magical world. Actually, I don't think he cares what we do.
"I'm interested in the natural history you've taught us, Professor. I'll probably travel the world someday, become a scholar who knows a little about everything. I want to be the wizarding world's naturalist. If I can't manage that, at least my magic will keep me safer exploring the Muggle world than most. I'm confident I'll do well. And if that doesn't work..." He paused. "I'm also pretty good at Quidditch.
"Of course, Tracey could have more choices too, but she's not interested. She told me her goal is clear: survive in the magical world without Father, ideally with an enviable job. To achieve that, she doesn't care what she has to go through."
Anthony asked gently, "She's made herself clear. What do you think?"
Roger said optimistically, "If she won't depend on Father, I'll show her she can depend on me. She just lacks security. I can't blame her for that. Professor, you know how Father treats us."
Anthony studied him. Even mentioning his father's indifference, Roger's eyes shone with confidence and hope.
He thought of Professor McGonagall's explanation of Sorting criteria. He'd once asked how the Hat decided a student's living situation for seven years in mere minutes.
"Through their hidden aspirations," McGonagall had said. "Ravenclaw students respect knowledge and wisdom, full of curiosity. Gryffindor values inner courage. Slytherin prizes cunning and power. And Hufflepuff..." She'd looked to Sprout.
Sprout had added with quiet pride, "Hufflepuff is tolerant and kind. We accept all confused young witches and wizards. Our only hope is that they become good people."
Watching Roger's confidence, Anthony understood why he was in Ravenclaw while Tracey had gone to Slytherin.
Roger believed his love of knowledge would sustain him in either world. He trusted that intellectual fulfillment would support his future happiness.
But Tracey wasn't like that.
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