Three days after exams ended, Gryffindor faced Hufflepuff in the final Quidditch match of the year. Gryffindor won, with Harry catching the Golden Snitch. It was a clean victory, but it didn't change the overall standings.
Gryffindor had lost to Slytherin earlier in the season, and Slytherin, led by Rowan Mercer, remained undefeated.
With all classes finished and Quidditch concluded, the final House Cup totals were announced.
Fourth place: Hufflepuff, 335 points.
Third place: Ravenclaw, 352 points.
Second place: Gryffindor, 353 points.
First place: Slytherin, 734 points.
The gap was obscene. Slytherin had swept all three Quidditch matches, Rowan alone racking up points like a machine, helped along by Snape's unapologetic generosity. There was never any suspense this year.
On the fourth day after exams, the end-of-year feast began.
The Great Hall was draped in green and silver, celebrating Slytherin's overwhelming return to the top after last year's defeat. A massive banner bearing the Slytherin serpent hung behind the High Table. Rowan, the first-year who had contributed more points than anyone else in his year, naturally became the center of attention.
Dumbledore gave an energetic speech, recapping the year's events and praising several students, including Rowan and Harry, for their role in resolving the basilisk incident. This time, however, there was no dramatic last-minute redistribution of points. Even Dumbledore knew the numbers were too lopsided for theatrics.
Slytherin won the House Cup outright.
A week later, exam results were posted. Rowan ranked first among the first-years. Hermione took the top spot in second year.
The following day, Hogwarts officially closed for summer.
Dormitories emptied almost overnight. Trunks replaced wardrobes, and notices were distributed to every student. One rule stood out above the rest: no magic during the holidays.
In practice, that rule was flexible. Rowan already knew the exceptions. Magic was tolerated on the Hogwarts Express, in Diagon Alley, and in wizard-heavy areas. Minor spells that didn't attract attention were often ignored. But visible magic in front of Muggles was a fast way to earn a summons from the Ministry.
Under Hagrid's supervision, the students crossed the Black Lake by boat and boarded the waiting Hogwarts Express at Hogsmeade Station.
This time, Rowan wasn't sitting with Ginny, Luna, or Colin. He traveled with fellow Slytherins from his year. As the most prominent Slytherin student, it made sense. And there were benefits. Many of their parents held influence in the wizarding world, and casual conversation often turned into useful intelligence.
The train pulled away from Hogwarts, leaving the wards and towers behind as the scenery shifted into ordinary countryside. Robes were traded for jackets and shirts. Villages blurred past the windows.
At around four in the afternoon, the train arrived at King's Cross, Platform Nine and Three-Quarters.
Unlike Christmas, nearly everyone was heading home. It took over an hour just to exit the station, with an elderly guard allowing only a few students through the barrier at a time to avoid attracting Muggle attention.
"Come visit this summer."
"I'll write to you."
"Don't forget to reply."
"Call me sometime."
Rowan waved back as familiar faces disappeared into the crowd. Harry left with his relatives, looking about as pleased as ever to see them.
In the end, Rowan stood alone outside King's Cross.
No one had come to meet him. In this world, his adoptive father was already dead by his own hand. Strangely, he felt nothing about it. If anything, the quiet suited him. No noise. No obligations.
He raised his wand and summoned the Knight Bus.
Soon, he was back in Knockturn Alley, inside his own shop.
After tidying up, Rowan placed two objects on the table. Tom Riddle's diary. And a basilisk fang.
He had already extracted most of the fifth-year-level dark magic contained within the diary. Worse, the entity inside had begun to grow suspicious of him. Keeping a Horcrux close was a liability. Voldemort wasn't stupid, and one mistake could unravel everything.
And if anyone ever discovered the diary in his possession, there would be no explaining his way out of it.
Rowan picked up the fang.
The diary suddenly began to shake. Dark magic surged outward, attempting to seize control of him.
Rowan merely smiled.
Holy light flared from within him, sealing the dark influence away as if it had struck a wall.
"You'll regret this," a voice hissed. "You will regret this!"
Rowan drove the fang into the diary.
Once.
Twice.
Again and again.
When it was done, he conjured a small burst of cursed fire and reduced the ruined diary to ash. Cursed fire could destroy Horcruxes too. This was simply cleaner.
With the danger gone, Rowan leaned back and considered the summer ahead.
Two full months without Hogwarts restrictions. Staying inside to practice magic felt like a waste. The freedom opened far more possibilities.
"Maybe," he murmured, "this is the summer I finally learn Apparition."
The thought had surfaced before, especially during his battle with Jose. Having a guaranteed escape mattered. Even in the Fairy Tail world, true teleportation magic was exceptionally rare.
And Rowan intended to have it.