The training session wrapped up in a sweaty, adrenaline-charged haze. The gym echoed with the sound of heavy breathing, the occasional grunt, and the clink of weapons being dropped or hastily thrown aside. Harry wiped the sweat from his brow and spotted Jean and Susan huddled with Katie and Angelina, reviewing strategies from their sparring sessions. Fred and George had already vanished to tinker with some of their latest explosive inventions—probably something that could blow up the moon if they felt like it.
Harry strode over, feeling the burn in his muscles but pushing it aside for the moment. "Hey," he called, raising a hand to get Jean and Susan's attention. "Can we talk for a second?"
Jean looked up, an eyebrow quirked, her expression giving away nothing. She was so Jean, all sharp edges and a mix of curiosity and caution. If she were a superhero, her powers would be straight-up unbeatable sarcasm and a deadly stare.
"What's up, Potter?" she asked, crossing her arms. Her eyes flicked briefly to Cedric on the other side of the room, clearly sizing up the situation. Typical Jean, Harry thought. Always two steps ahead of him.
Harry glanced at Cedric, who was busy talking to Katie and Alicia. He could practically feel the weight of Cedric's nervous energy from here. "It's about Cedric," Harry said, voice quieter now, "and Cho Chang."
"Okay, you've got my attention," Jean said, her voice laced with skepticism. "What's he done now?"
"Well, he wants to bring her in. Cho, I mean. Into the MageX thing." Harry rolled his eyes. "I know it's a lot, but Cedric's been friends with her since forever. He trusts her. And he wants to tell her about what we're doing—what we can do."
Susan snorted. "Oh, great. And here I thought we had standards for who we let into this whole mess."
"I know," Harry said, rubbing the back of his neck. "And I'm not saying we bring her in right away. But he's asking for a chance to explain. He trusts her, and he wants us to trust him on this. But I told him, we need to talk it over first."
Jean raised a brow. "Trust him, huh? You know trust isn't exactly our strong suit when it comes to bringing people into this. Not everyone is as trustworthy as you, Potter." She flashed him a sly grin, and Harry felt his pulse speed up a little. Of course, she has to throw in a burn like that, he thought.
"She's right, Harry," Susan chimed in, her arms crossed tightly across her chest. "We can't just let anyone in. There's a lot more riding on this than a simple 'he's my friend' excuse."
Harry leaned back against the wall, rubbing his chin as he looked between them. "I know. I'm not saying we rush into anything. But I figure, at least hear him out, yeah? Let him explain why he thinks she deserves to know, then we can make the call."
Jean sighed, clearly torn. "Alright, fine. But I'm not promising anything. If he doesn't convince us, it's a hard no." Her eyes flicked toward Susan for confirmation, and Susan gave a curt nod in agreement.
Harry smiled, his relief palpable. "Thanks. I'll grab him. Be right back."
Turning on his heel, Harry spotted Cedric talking with Alicia and Katie. He waved him over. "Oi, Cedric! Come on over! Time to face the firing squad."
Cedric's face fell a little. He looked over at the group with a hesitant expression, clearly picking up on the tension in the air. Harry shot him a reassuring grin. "Don't sweat it, mate. They're all about the big decisions. Just tell them why Cho deserves to know, and you'll be golden."
"Yeah," Cedric muttered, taking a deep breath. "Right. No pressure."
Harry's grin widened as Cedric made his way over to where Jean and Susan stood, arms crossed like they were about to grill him. Jean looked positively intimidating—arms folded, mouth set in that stubborn line. Seriously, how do I end up in these situations? Harry thought. Oh yeah, because I can't resist drama.
"So," Cedric began, standing straighter now that the moment had come, "I know this isn't an easy ask, but Cho—she and I go way back. We've been friends since we were kids, and I trust her completely. I know it sounds crazy, but I think she deserves to know about this. I think she can handle it."
Susan raised an eyebrow, her voice low and deliberate. "You think she can handle this?" She swept her hand around the room, as if the entire MageX operation was in the air around them. "This isn't just about trust, Cedric. It's about keeping this whole thing under wraps. People could get hurt. And if Cho finds out—what happens if she can't handle it? What then?"
Cedric swallowed, but his voice remained steady. "I know Cho. She's a Seeker, right? She's quick on her feet, sharp as a tack. She's used to making split-second decisions and handling pressure. I wouldn't bring her in if I didn't think she could keep a secret. She's got the brains for it, and the loyalty. I trust her, and I think you guys could, too."
Jean narrowed her eyes, clearly mulling it over. "Okay. But if she's in, she needs to understand exactly what she's getting herself into. We're not running a summer camp here." She paused, leaning in slightly. "And I'm not letting anyone near our operation if they aren't ready to handle the truth."
Cedric nodded earnestly. "I get that. If she's in, I'll make sure she knows the risks. I'd never put her in danger if I didn't think she could handle it."
There was a long silence, the kind where everyone in the room seemed to be holding their breath. Harry could practically hear the mental gears turning in Jean and Susan's heads. Finally, Jean sighed.
"Alright, Cedric. We'll think about it. But we need to be sure. We need to know Cho is ready for this." She gave him a hard look. "No pressure, right?"
Cedric let out a breath he'd clearly been holding in. "Thanks. I appreciate it. Really."
Susan crossed her arms, giving him a small nod. "We're not saying yes, Cedric. But we'll keep it in mind. But remember, this isn't just about her. It's about the bigger picture."
Harry grinned and clapped Cedric on the shoulder. "See? That wasn't so bad, was it?"
Cedric cracked a half-grin. "Not bad at all, actually. Thanks, guys."
Jean shot Harry a warning look. "I'm watching you, Potter. No funny business."
Harry raised both hands in mock surrender, his best who, me? face plastered on. "Wouldn't dream of it, Jean. Wouldn't dream of it."
And just like that, the conversation was over. For now.
But Harry couldn't help but think that when it came to Jean, this was just another round in a much larger game.
—
As the crowd of students filtered out of the Room of Requirements and began heading to the Great Hall, the scent of food in the air was so thick you could practically taste it. Everyone seemed to be in a rush—Fred and George were probably already arguing about whether their latest invention would explode or simply create a huge mess, Ginny and Neville were absorbed in a conversation about something that seemed entirely too complicated for Harry's brain to process, and Luna was wandering off with a dreamy expression, talking to what appeared to be an invisible squirrel. Typical.
Harry, Jean, and Susan, however, were not in quite the same hurry. They lingered near the door, exchanging glances and waiting for the others to clear the path before they could have their say. It wasn't that they didn't want food—they did—but this whole "Cho Chang" situation was bugging Harry more than he liked to admit. And he wasn't about to ignore that nagging feeling that something wasn't quite right.
"So, Cho Chang, huh?" Harry said, breaking the silence with an exaggerated sigh as he stretched his arms above his head. "Anyone else think we're about to get dragged into a massive soap opera?"
Jean shot him an unimpressed look, but the corners of her mouth twitched with a suppressed grin. "Yeah, Cho Chang. Who exactly is she? Because, last time I checked, the only time I've heard her name was from Cedric Diggory, and let's just say that guy's got a bit of a… well, a thing for her. If you know what I mean."
Susan snorted, folding her arms. "You know what you mean. He's obsessed with her. And by 'obsessed,' I mean, I've never seen anyone so focused on someone who has no idea he's even alive. Poor Cedric, though. It's like watching a dog chase its tail. Endless, pointless, but adorable in its own weird way."
Harry raised his hands in mock surrender. "Hey, I'm not the one getting dragged into this, okay? I'm just here for the drama. Which, trust me, is about to get way juicier than anything we've ever seen in this school."
Jean raised an eyebrow. "Are you seriously saying you want to see how Cedric's 'secret crush' unfolds? Because last time I checked, I'm the one who deals with the fallout from this kind of stuff. You're just going to sit back and watch from the sidelines, huh?"
Harry smirked. "I mean, who wouldn't want to sit back and watch a trainwreck in slow motion? It's entertainment at its finest."
Susan groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose. "You're incorrigible. But listen, let's be real for a second. We don't know Cho Chang from Adam. We can't just judge her because she's in Ravenclaw, or because she makes Cedric's eyes go all googly. We've got to actually figure out if she's someone we can trust, especially with everything that's going on."
Harry narrowed his eyes, then nodded slowly. "Yeah, I know. But that doesn't mean I'm thrilled about it. I've got a good system going, and I don't want to let just anyone waltz in and muck things up."
Jean shot Harry a side-eye. "I get it, but are you seriously telling me you're going to be the one to stand in the way of Cedric Diggory and his 'true love'?" She placed air quotes around "true love," clearly mocking the whole idea.
Harry smirked again, his usual sarcasm flaring. "What can I say? I'm a sucker for a good love story—so long as it's not mine. I can't deal with the whole 'will-they-won't-they' drama. You're right, though. Cedric's a good guy, and if he trusts her, then maybe we should too."
Susan raised an eyebrow, her tone shifting into something more thoughtful. "But just because he trusts her doesn't mean we have to let her in. We've been careful, Harry. Real careful. And that's worked out pretty well for us so far. Do we really want to risk blowing that because Cedric's got a thing for someone?"
Harry sighed, glancing back over his shoulder at Cedric, who was striding ahead like he had the world figured out. "I don't know, Susan. I don't know. It just feels like... if we say 'no' to Cedric on this, he's not going to just drop it. He's going to keep pushing. Like a Bludger to the face."
Jean laughed, the sound rich with amusement. "Oh, please. Cedric Diggory? Pushy? Never. He's got all the subtlety of a Hippogriff on a sugar rush."
Susan rolled her eyes but couldn't help smiling. "True. But Harry's right. If Cedric's serious about her, he'll fight for it. We owe it to him to at least hear him out."
"Right," Harry agreed, running a hand through his hair. "But here's the thing: Cedric's not exactly the type to make snap decisions. If he's backing Cho Chang, it's because he genuinely believes she's the right choice. I trust him to make that call. But we've still got to be cautious."
Jean grinned, clearly enjoying the banter more than the actual decision-making. "Cautious? You? The guy who once tried to convince us to sneak into the Forbidden Forest in the middle of the night for fun? And you're the one preaching about caution?"
Harry grinned back, unbothered. "Hey, that was different. I was making an intelligent decision to gain some field experience. Don't act like you didn't have fun running from Filch that night."
Susan snorted. "Yeah, because there's nothing more fun than nearly getting caught by a cranky caretaker and a giant spider."
Jean's eyes sparkled with mischief. "Honestly, sounds like a typical Wednesday to me."
Harry shot her a sidelong glance. "You're a nightmare. You know that, right?"
"I've been told," Jean replied airily, not a care in the world.
As they walked toward the Great Hall, the sound of Fred and George's voices reached their ears. "Oi, you lot better hurry up!" Fred called over his shoulder. "We're about to have a feast and you wouldn't want to miss the Weasley Surprise! It's a surprise, but trust us, it's explosive!"
Harry snorted. "Yeah, because that's what we need. More explosions."
Jean shot him a teasing look. "Come on, you can't deny it. The drama is what keeps this school from being a total snooze fest."
Harry raised an eyebrow. "I'm not going to deny it, but let's be clear here: I'm the one who gets to be the star of the show."
"Of course," Jean said, rolling her eyes but grinning. "You're the one who creates all the chaos, then stands back and watches it unfold. Heroic."
"Well, someone has to keep the world interesting." Harry winked at her.
Susan shot them both a knowing look. "You two are something else. But alright, let's see what Cedric has to say. We'll keep an open mind. But no promises."
Harry and Jean both raised their hands in mock surrender. "No promises," they chorused in unison.
They continued on toward the Great Hall, walking side by side but feeling a little more connected than before. After all, they might be facing down some tough decisions, but at least they were facing them together.
And if nothing else, they could count on a healthy dose of drama to keep things from getting too boring.
—
As Harry and Jean strolled into the Great Hall, the first thing that hit him was the familiar mix of excitement, chaos, and the distant aroma of roast beef. The ceiling, stretching high above them, shimmered with a perfect reflection of the starry night sky outside—complete with a few wandering clouds. Honestly, Harry wasn't sure how they managed to do it. Some days, it felt like Hogwarts was just a giant magic trick designed to distract him from the constant mess of his life. And right now, he was definitely in need of a distraction.
"Here we are," Harry muttered under his breath, not exactly feeling the grandeur of the place. "A room full of teenagers, awkwardness, and weirdly shaped food. What could possibly go wrong?"
Jean, walking a few paces behind him, snorted. "Oh, you don't think much of the grandeur, huh? If you ask me, it's just waiting for you to stir up some drama. I mean, look at you, Potter. You're practically a walking headline for Hogwarts Gossip Weekly."
"Gossip Weekly? Nah, I'd need a better scandal for that," Harry said, raising an eyebrow. He flopped down at the Gryffindor table, immediately bumping elbows with Fred and George, who were already deep in their latest shenanigans. "Like, a full-on love drama. Maybe I should start a podcast: Drama at Hogwarts: The Cho Chronicles."
Jean rolled her eyes, her lips curling into that teasing, almost dangerous grin of hers. "The Cho Chronicles? Really? You've got a knack for picking the most chaotic situations, don't you? If this were a reality show, you'd be the one everyone's tuning in for. The James Potter of the 21st century. And trust me, that's not a compliment."
Harry shot her a dry look, settling in and stretching out his legs under the table. "What? You don't think I'm the drama king around here? I'm basically a walking disaster zone. Someone's got to keep it interesting, right?"
Jean leaned in, her smirk widening. "Yeah, you're definitely an expert in chaos. But I've seen a thing or two in my life. Don't think you're the only one who can turn the place upside down. In fact, you should watch out. You're not the only one who can start a scene."
"Well, maybe I'm just waiting for you to make your move," Harry teased, leaning back with his hands behind his head. "Besides, I'm just here for the fun. But sure, if you want to try and outdo me, be my guest."
Before Jean could respond with that spark in her eyes that said she had an even snarkier comeback ready, Fred suddenly popped up beside them, grinning mischievously. "Oi, you two making eyes at each other? You're about one dramatic glance away from a soap opera. Harrikin's Love Life: Hogwarts Edition—buy your tickets now."
Harry turned to Fred with a deadpan look. "You're just jealous because I'm the main character of every mess that happens around here."
"Oh, mate, we are the mess. You're just the poor soul who gets dragged along with us," Fred replied, winking. "But seriously, though. You two—are you getting cozy, or is this all just pre-show banter?"
Harry didn't have time to respond before Jean shot him a sly grin. "Potter, I've got to admit, you've got a knack for drama. But I'd be careful. The last person who tried to start a rivalry with me ended up with a few less hairs on their head. And that's before we even talk about hexes."
"I'm not starting anything!" Harry said, looking between Jean and Fred, who was now giving him an exaggerated wink. "I'm just here for the food and whatever chaos happens next. And maybe a little hexing. You know, just a teeny bit."
"Look, if you're not going to hex anyone, can we at least talk about Cho?" Fred chimed in. "Seriously, you've got that whole 'being-in-the-middle-of-a-love-square' thing down. At this rate, you might as well take over for Cupid. You just need a better bow."
"Please, Fred, I don't do love squares," Harry said, flipping his hair for dramatic effect. "I'm just in a complicated situation that involves a lot of feelings, one too many misunderstandings, and probably a broken broomstick. It's called being a teenager, you know?"
Jean laughed, leaning back in her seat. "Oh, trust me, Potter. I know. But while you're busy with your little love dramas, I'm over here, calculating my next move. The art of making chaos elegant, as it were."
"You're really leaning into this chaos thing, aren't you?" Harry remarked, raising an eyebrow. "Tell me, Jean, do you plan to start every conversation like you're auditioning for Hogwarts Most Wanted?"
"Of course I do," she said, grinning. "And you'd be lucky to be my sidekick. Imagine the fun we'd have!"
"I'm already having fun, thank you very much," Harry replied, casting a glance across the table at Ron, who was currently stuffing his face with an unholy amount of bread rolls. "And speaking of sidekicks, do you think Ron's ever going to figure out that food is not a personality trait?"
Jean snorted, her smile softening as she looked over at Ron. "Oh, he's very committed to the role. I'm pretty sure he's been training his whole life for this moment. But if you're lucky, he'll pass you some of those rolls, and you can pretend it's a sign of friendship."
"You're so kind," Harry said with a sarcastic bow. "But I'll stick with my own snack choices, thanks."
"Suit yourself," Jean said, rolling her eyes again, the gesture a mix of affection and amusement. "But you know, when you're stuck in a situation as awkward as this Cho thing, a good snack might be the only thing that makes it bearable."
"True," Harry said, suddenly feeling the weight of it all. He glanced at the Hufflepuff table where Susan was chatting animatedly with her friends, probably strategizing for a peace treaty in the middle of this chaos. "Susan's already got her mental flowchart ready, I bet. She's like the Hufflepuff version of Sherlock Holmes. And probably more reliable than me."
Jean looked over, her eyes narrowing as she took in the scene at the Hufflepuff table. "Don't underestimate Susan. She might be all sunshine and daisies on the outside, but on the inside? She's a strategist. And she's got your back. Not that you deserve it right now."
"Hey, I deserve a lot of things," Harry said with a cheeky grin. "But right now? I'm just here for the ride. Who knows, maybe I'll even get through dinner without accidentally offending someone... again."
Jean raised an eyebrow. "Sure, Harry. Sure."
As the evening wore on, and Fred and George began their usual antics—setting off fireworks under the table and sending passing students into hysterics—Harry couldn't help but feel at home in the madness of it all. Hogwarts, it seemed, would never get boring.
—
The Curse of Halloween
(Or: Why Harry Potter is So Over This Holiday, and Everyone Else Is In Denial)
Ron Weasley was on a personal quest to discover just how much food one human could consume before turning into a cautionary tale. Currently, he was shoveling mashed potatoes into his mouth at speeds that defied logic, physics, and possibly the Ministry of Magic's laws on improper use of magic.
Hermione, who had long since abandoned hope of reforming his table manners, sighed dramatically. "So," she said, turning to Harry, "what's the plan for Halloween?"
Harry, who had been deep in a very important discussion with Jean Grey—namely, whether Fred and George were actually two people or just one entity split between two bodies—froze mid-sentence. His usual smirk vanished. His posture stiffened. His entire aura shifted from "Prank War General" to "Haunted War Veteran" in under two seconds.
"I'm not celebrating Halloween anymore," he declared.
Silence. Utter, pin-drop silence. Even Ron, mid-bite, paused. His mouth was still full, but his wide-eyed expression clearly translated to: Mate. What?
Hermione frowned. "Wait—you're serious?"
Harry gave her a deadpan look. "No, I'm secretly a Boggart testing out stand-up comedy. Yes, I'm serious."
Jean, who lived for chaos, perked up immediately. "Ooh, interesting. You can't just drop that and not explain."
Harry leaned forward, drumming his fingers on the table like he was about to deliver the most important courtroom argument of all time. "Let's review the evidence, shall we? First year: a troll. In the castle. Nearly killed me."
"Accurate," Ron admitted, finally swallowing. (Miracle in itself, honestly.)
"Second year: the Chamber of Secrets was opened. And surprise! A giant snake was slithering around, petrifying students. You'll never guess which poor sod had to go down and deal with it."
Across the table, Ginny went pale. She ducked her head, suddenly very invested in her pumpkin juice.
Harry either didn't notice or didn't care about being subtle today. He was on a mission. "So, yeah. Two years in a row, Halloween has meant something absolutely life-threatening for me. At this point, I think the universe is just screwing with me."
Hermione pursed her lips. "Harry, just because bad things happened before doesn't mean they'll happen again. Correlation doesn't equal causation."
Harry let out a sharp, humorless laugh. "Oh, sure, let's ignore the glaring pattern. You know what? Let's pretend I'm just being dramatic." He spread his hands. "Tell me, Hermione—tell me, everyone—what else happened on Halloween?"
Nobody answered.
Because they had all conveniently forgotten.
Harry's voice dropped, quieter but somehow heavier. "Voldemort killed my parents on Halloween."
And boom. Just like that, all the fun got sucked out of the room.
Ginny stiffened. Hermione looked like she'd been hit with a Bludger. Ron's ears turned that specific shade of red that meant I really should have remembered that before opening my mouth. Even Fred and George—who could find humor in anything—exchanged guilty looks.
Then, just as the moment threatened to spiral into full-blown awkward territory—
Jean launched a spoonful of mashed potatoes directly at Harry's face.
It splattered against his nose.
The Gryffindor table collectively gasped.
Harry sat there, completely still, like his brain had temporarily shut down from the sheer audacity. Slowly, he wiped the potatoes off his face and turned to Jean with the deliberate menace of a man plotting elaborate, world-ending revenge.
"Oh. You did not just do that."
Jean, utterly unrepentant, smirked. "You were getting all broody. It was annoying."
"Broody?!" Harry sputtered. "I was being factual!"
"Yeah, well, your factuality was making the vibe weird."
Fred leaned over to George. "I love her."
"She's insane," George whispered back.
"Yeah, but in a fun way."
Meanwhile, Jean was still grinning at Harry like she hadn't just declared war. "Look, Potter, you're absolutely right—Halloween is cursed for you. I'd be worried too. But let's be real: avoiding it isn't gonna change anything. Chaos follows you like a lost puppy. You could lock yourself in a room with a 'DO NOT DISTURB' sign, and the universe would still find a way to mess with you."
Harry groaned and dropped his head onto the table. "I hate that you're right."
"I love that I'm right," Jean said cheerfully.
The tension cracked, the awkwardness fading just enough for normal conversation to resume. Ron, sensing an opportunity, grinned. "Sooo… does this mean I can have your Halloween sweets, then?"
Harry lifted his head just enough to glare at him.
Ron held up his hands. "Okay! Bad timing! Bad timing!"
Fred and George immediately pounced on this. "But let's not ignore the real problem here," George said.
"Yes," Fred agreed solemnly. "Potter's tragic and unnecessary surrender of free sweets."
Alicia Spinnet snorted. "Clearly the biggest crime."
Angelina Johnson, ever the voice of reason (sort of), raised an eyebrow. "You do realize if you give up Halloween, the rest of us have to deal with all the first-years asking why the Chosen One is sulking in a corner, right?"
Percy, who had just arrived, frowned in disapproval. "It's not sulking. It's reflection."
Katie Bell gave him a flat look. "Percy, I once caught you crying over an improperly formatted essay. You don't get to judge."
"It was a travesty," Percy muttered.
Neville, who had been quiet up until now, cleared his throat. "I mean… Jean has a point."
Jean smirked. "See? Longbottom gets it."
Neville flushed but kept talking. "You are the 'Boy Who Lived' and all. And people do celebrate Halloween because of—well, you know."
And there it was. The other reason Halloween sucked.
Because it wasn't just the day his parents died. It was also the day Harry became the bloody Boy-Who-Lived. And people actually celebrated that.
Like, "Happy Harry Potter Day! Let's all eat chocolate while completely ignoring the fact that he was an orphaned baby who watched his parents get murdered in front of him!"
Yeah. Super fun times.
Harry sighed. "Look. I'm just saying, if anyone needs me on Halloween, I'll be locked in my dorm, ignoring whatever catastrophic nonsense is obviously going to happen."
Jean crossed her arms. "And what if something does happen?"
Harry shot her a look. "Then I'll deal with it. But until then? I am not tempting fate."
"Fair," she said. Then, after a beat, "Still coming to the feast, though?"
Harry groaned again. "You don't give up, do you?"
Jean grinned. "Nope."
Fred elbowed George. "Oh, they're gonna get married."
George nodded. "Definitely."
Harry grabbed a roll and chucked it at them.
The Great Hall burst into laughter, and just like that, the tension finally, fully dissolved.
Of course, deep down, everyone knew Harry wasn't wrong. Halloween was cursed.
And if Hogwarts had taught them anything, it was that the third time wasn't going to be the charm.
Something was going to happen.
And knowing Harry Potter's luck?
It was probably going to be big.
—
Somewhere off the misty British coastline, a boat rocked against the choppy waves. It wasn't a fancy boat—more of a weathered, barely-floating relic that looked like it had survived a hundred storms and probably the occasional werewolf attack. But hey, when you're Fenrir Greyback and your idea of a good time is ripping things apart under a full moon, you're not exactly worried about luxury cruise liners.
The air smelled like salt and something much less pleasant—wet fur, a mix of musk, and a faint trail of blood, like the aftermath of a bad family reunion.
Fenrir, of course, looked like he belonged in a bad horror movie. He grinned as the boat creaked under him, his sharp teeth catching the moonlight. He was all muscle and madness, with a face that had seen a hundred fights and given none of them a chance to win. His eyes were dark, gleaming with that particular brand of hunger—hungry for something far more satisfying than food.
"Smell that?" he growled, stretching his arms wide, letting the night air whip around him. The sound of his deep voice made the hair on the back of everyone's neck stand up. "That's the scent of fresh meat, boys. We're home."
The pack behind him shifted. Some of them were half-turned already, their claws glinting like knives, their mouths twisting into snarls. They were twitchy, jittery—the kind of crew that made you wish you'd packed an extra set of clothes... and some holy water.
One of the younger ones, a gangly wolf barely out of his first full moon, scratched at his head nervously. "Uh, so, what's the plan, boss?"
Fenrir turned and shot him a look like the kid had just asked if it was a good idea to wrestle a dragon. "The plan? Really?" Fenrir chuckled darkly, the sound scraping like nails on stone. "The plan's simple. We break stuff. We hunt. We scare 'em silly. We rip 'em to shreds." He held up a clawed finger, pointing at the moon, his grin widening like a predator about to pounce. "And we start with Hogwarts."
The rest of the pack perked up. There was something about Hogwarts that had always gotten Fenrir going. Something about the fear, the chaos, the smell of teenage angst mixed with spells and old stone that made his heart race—because why not terrorize some kids who had a history of nearly blowing up the world in their school yearbooks?
"Yeah, but…" The nervous werewolf from before scratched his head again. "Aren't we supposed to be, like, sneaky about this? You know, avoid the whole 'getting caught by the Ministry' thing?"
Fenrir gave him a look like he was considering eating him for lunch, which, knowing Fenrir, he probably was. "Sneaky? Sneaky's for people who don't have a reputation. We're wolves. We make noise, we scare 'em out of their knickers. This is our night. And no one—not even the bloody Ministry—is gonna stop us."
His voice dropped lower, darker, like he was inviting the storm to come closer. "And we're gonna make sure they know who's in charge. You can hide in the shadows all you want, but the moon's gonna find you."
The pack nodded, their eyes wild with excitement. Some were practically drooling, others twitching in that way that only a werewolf on the hunt could twitch.
"I love the sound of this," one of the older wolves said, rubbing his hands together. "Terror, mayhem, and all the blood we can drink. Who's with me?"
The others growled in agreement, their voices vibrating with eagerness. Fenrir let out a laugh that could have peeled the paint off a building.
"Good. Now let's make it a bloody Halloween. Let's go say hello to Hogwarts." He turned to the horizon, where the distant lights of the castle twinkled faintly in the distance. The very same castle that, for years, had seen more than its fair share of disaster. "This'll be fun."
And with that, they rowed their creaky boat toward the school, every one of them grinning like they were about to show up to a party no one had invited them to—and they were about to wreck it.
---
Hey fellow fanfic enthusiasts!
I hope you're enjoying the fanfiction so far! I'd love to hear your thoughts on it. Whether you loved it, hated it, or have some constructive criticism, your feedback is super important to me. Feel free to drop a comment or send me a message with your thoughts. Can't wait to hear from you!
If you're passionate about fanfiction and love discussing stories, characters, and plot twists, then you're in the right place! I've created a Discord server dedicated to diving deep into the world of fanfiction, especially my own stories. Whether you're a reader, a writer, or just someone who enjoys a good tale, I welcome you to join us for lively discussions, feedback sessions, and maybe even some sneak peeks into upcoming chapters, along with artwork related to the stories. Let's nerd out together over our favorite fandoms and explore the endless possibilities of storytelling!
Click the link below to join the conversation:
https://discord.com/invite/HHHwRsB6wd
Can't wait to see you there!
If you appreciate my work and want to support me, consider buying me a cup of coffee. Your support helps me keep writing and bringing more stories to you. You can do so via PayPal here:
https://www.paypal.me/VikrantUtekar007
Or through my Buy Me a Coffee page:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/vikired001s
Thank you for your support!