Author's Note: Don't forget to vote, comment and leave a 5 star review to help the story grow and reach more people.
Read upto +30 Chapters worth of content ahead and receive extra updates daily by going to my Patreon and becoming a fellow Patreon.
Patreon: mrfanfiction140
Be sure to read my other Novels as well:
- Naruto: Multiverse Adventures
- Hunter x Hunter : The Alchemist.
----
Along the long railway line, the Hogwarts Express puffed white smoke as it sped across the vast Scottish countryside.
Inside one of the compartments, the atmosphere was relaxed.
On the small folding table in front of Lynn lay a small bag of Galleons, the compensation given by Ms. Tonks. There was no need to detail the negotiation process; in any case, the expression on Tonks's face when she shelled out the money was the very definition of heartache.
Beside him, William was engrossed in a thick History of Magic almanac. He looked up as if suddenly remembering something. "Oh, guess who I saw while shopping in Diagon Alley yesterday?"
Lynn shook his head. "How could I guess with so many people in Diagon Alley every day? Did the Gringotts Goblins get new bowties?"
"It was Professor Lupin," William said. "He was in 'Obscurus Books,' the second-hand bookstore next to Flourish and Blotts, seemingly working a part-time job organizing books."
"Working a part-time job?!" Edgar's eyes widened in shock at the news. "Is the salary for a Hogwarts professor... really that low? He needs to work part-time in a bookstore during the holidays?"
In his mind, the situation of a Hogwarts professor—especially one teaching such an important subject as Defense Against the Dark Arts—shouldn't be like this.
William shrugged and closed his book. "Who knows. Maybe Professor Lupin just really loves reading and went to help out while hunting for some rare editions."
At this point, Ollie, who had been listening quietly, turned his head and said softly, "Is it possible... that Professor Lupin won't be teaching us this year? So he needs to find a new job."
The compartment fell silent for a moment.
"Surely... not?" Edgar said hesitantly.
...
Time slipped away, and the sky outside gradually darkened.
It was already evening when the Hogwarts Express slowed down and came to a steady halt at Hogsmeade.
Lynn, who had slept through half the journey, rubbed his eyes. Just as he sat up straight, he heard the rumble of thunder from outside the window. Immediately after, pea-sized raindrops pitter-pattered against the carriage window, quickly forming a sheet of rain.
"Tsk~" Edgar peered out the window and shivered. "What ghastly weather! It won't be a pleasant experience for the first-years crossing the lake by boat; they'll definitely be soaked like drowned rats. Luckily, we're taking the carriages."
In the rainy night, the procession of carriages pulled by Thestrals moved steadily through the downpour.
When the carriage Lynn and the others were in stopped before the massive oak doors of Hogwarts, the rain had eased slightly, but the air remained damp and cold.
As Lynn stepped into the Entrance Hall, he caught a glimpse out of the corner of his eye of a round balloon flying straight toward him from the shadows of a side corridor.
It wasn't moving fast, and its trajectory was obvious.
Almost instinctively, Lynn shifted half a step to the side.
"Why are you dodg—" Edgar, who was following behind him, was speaking and completely failed to notice the incoming "air raid."
Splash—!!!
The water balloon burst squarely on his face. Ice-cold water instantly plastered his face, pouring down his hair and neck and into his collar, soaking him to the bone.
"Agh—!!!" Edgar let out a yelp and jumped up, frantically wiping the water from his face.
Furious, he whipped his head toward the direction the water balloon had come from—but the shadows in that corridor were empty; the prankster had long since made their escape.
In his fury... Edgar could only remain furious for a moment.
Just then, the two large doors of the Great Hall were pulled open from the inside.
Professor McGonagall, alerted by the scream outside, stepped out quickly. Her gaze swept over the hall and finally fixed on Edgar.
"Mr. Bones?" Professor McGonagall's voice carried its usual authority. "What happened?" Her eyes fell on Edgar's soaking wet hair, robes, and the puddle of water on the floor, her brow furrowing slightly.
Edgar shrank his neck. "No... nothing, Professor. Really... nothing."
He certainly didn't want to lose points for his house on the first day of school for "making a racket in the hall" and "suspected participation in a water fight."
Professor McGonagall glanced suspiciously at the water still dripping from his face, clearly not believing the "nothing" claim.
But with the new students about to enter, she had more important things to attend to. Ultimately, she just gave Edgar a stern look. "Mind your appearance and behavior, Mr. Bones. Go on in, the feast is about to begin."
As if granted a royal pardon, Edgar nodded hurriedly and, with a squelching gait, followed Lynn and the others into the Great Hall.
The Great Hall of Hogwarts was as magnificent as ever, with the four long house tables already set with gleaming plates and goblets.
Thousands of candles floated in midair, illuminating the hall. The enchanted ceiling was currently simulating the stormy weather outside.
Lynn and the others went to the Hufflepuff table and sat down.
Soon, the tables of the other three houses were also filled with returning students. The Great Hall, which had been empty all summer, was instantly filled with the hum of conversation. Everyone seemed excited, eager to share their summer experiences with friends.
The most mentioned topic, naturally, was the recently concluded Quidditch World Cup. Excited discussions drifted from every corner:
"The Irish team's Keeper was unbelievably fast!"
"Veela! I swear I almost jumped off the stands!"
"I kept one of the Leprechaun's gold coins as a souvenir, though it turned into a stone by the next morning..."
One of the loudest arguments came from the Gryffindor table. Even across several tables, Lynn could clearly hear Ron's voice rising in excitement as he debated fiercely with another boy, Seamus Finnigan:
"Krum is the best seeker! That dive he did, Merlin, it was practically suicidal! But that's genius!" Ron's voice was full of unquestioning admiration.
"But he lost the match."
"You don't understand! That was a tactic! He caught the Snitch and fulfilled his duty as a seeker! It's just that the Bulgarian Chasers were too weak! Krum's flying skills and decisiveness are unparalleled!" Ron tried to win the argument from a technical standpoint.
"But he lost the match," Seamus repeatedly used his "ultimate rebuttal weapon."
"You...! It's a team sport! No matter how brilliant an individual is..." Ron's voice sounded a bit exasperated.
Just as the discussions at the long tables about the World Cup, summer adventures, and various gossip reached a fever pitch—
Creeeeak—
The doors to the Hogwarts Great Hall were slowly pushed open once again.
All the clamor stopped instantly. Hundreds of gazes turned toward the doorway in unison.
The first-year students, led by Professor McGonagall, walked in timidly in two lines.
Peeves appeared out of nowhere, circling beneath the vaulted ceiling, letting out cackling laughs and deliberately making faces at those below. This caused several new students to shrink back, drawing suppressed chuckles from the older students.
The annual traditional program—the "New Student Intimidation" segment—was late, but it arrived nonetheless.
Fortunately, this year's Sorting Hat seemed exceptionally efficient. The Sorting Hat only hummed a few short, oddly tuned melodies—the gist being the usual platitudes about "unity is important, but house individuality shouldn't be lost"—and then got straight to work.
Within seconds of touching almost every new student's hair, the hat shouted the result.
William clapped along with the rhythm and nodded slightly, whispering to his roommates, "So efficient, much faster than the year I started. I remember the hat spent nearly ten minutes debating whether to put me in Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff."
Edgar, who had already quietly dried most of his clothes with magic, was excitedly guessing which house the next student would go to, betting Ollie tomorrow's breakfast pudding on the outcome.
As for Lynn... to be honest, Lynn was getting a bit hungry while waiting.
The Sorting Ceremony continued, but it was indeed very fast. After about half an hour, as the last boy was sorted into Hufflepuff, Professor McGonagall rolled up the parchment with the list of new students and stepped aside with the Sorting Hat.
The Great Hall fell silent again, and all the students' eyes focused on the Principal as he slowly stood up.
"I believe that after such a long journey, everyone must be hungry? So—"
"Eat!"
As soon as the words were spoken, mountains of food appeared on the four house tables.
The older students, who had been waiting impatiently, immediately sprang into action. The sound of cutlery clashing against plates instantly filled the entire Great Hall.
With lightning speed, Lynn accurately speared a piece of succulent roast rib and placed it on his plate. He bit into it with satisfaction, thinking: the food at the start-of-term feast is as reliable as ever.
While Lynn was feasting, a dull rumble of thunder sounded outside, and the Great Hall doors were roughly burst open.
A strange man appeared at the entrance to the Great Hall, immediately drawing everyone's attention.