The wind blew, carrying a solemn tone across the world.
It felt like the end of the world was coming for muggles and wizards alike.
There was a sinisterness in the air.
As one learned of the events happening in their countries and overseas, especially the events that they had once ignored as coincidences before, the sinisterness became something much more deplorable —the beginning of death, destruction, madness, and doom.
In this atmosphere, the students of Hogwarts joined the feast after the incident of the Chamber of Secrets had been resolved… by a group of five 2nd years!
But some things remained the same, despite the lack of obvious enthusiasm.
More than the downfall of the Slytherin's beast, her fans celebrated Darcie's reappearance more. Of course, all those who had been petrified had regained their health.
Karkaroff and Madam Maxime had taken their students to Durmstrang and Beauxbatons, worrying about their Schools' security.
The Triwizard Tournament of the 1st Group, with students from the 2nd to 4th year, was canceled. However, based on the two stages' performances, the minister of magic still promised rewards to the students at the top of the point list.
Another thing that was canceled was exams, bringing out smiles on the students' faces.
Harry, Ron, and Draco won a hundred points each for Gryffindor, surpassing Gryffindor by 50 Points to win the House Cup again.
Based on the limited matches, they even won the Quidditch Cup, as Darcie hadn't played after her match with Gryffindor.
Professor Lockhart had been taken away by the Aurors to the Prison of Azkaban for colluding with the Dark Lord to manipulate Umbridge and later Ginny, as he admitted under the effects of Veritaserum.
Surprisingly, after learning that the Yellow Warlock attacked Ilvermorny School and MACUSA had fallen, Umbridge disappeared…
With Hagrid returning to Hogwarts, the rest of the final term passed in a haze of blazing sunshine.
…
"I am surprised they are letting us go home," Hermione squeaked. She looked better, but there was still a paleness on her face.
Darcie, Hermione, Daphne, and Ginny were sharing a compartment among themselves, the new Hogwarts Express whistling through the open fields.
Through the window, Darcie spied a few dozen Aurors flying on the brooms on either side of the train. They had added two new compartments at the front and the end of the train, each holding a company of Aurors, as well.
With the sheer number of charms on the train, the Hogwarts Express was like a hooting, magical fortress.
Darcie eyed the Trolley Witch as she passed their compartment.
"Aren't you, Darcie?" Hermione asked, bringing her attention back to the girls.
Darcie shook her head. "Holing ourselves in School seems logical, but it's not practical from a psychological point of view," she told them. "Ilvermorny School is still recovering… in a country that now belongs to the Dark Alliance.
"I can only guess, but… if I were leading the Dark Alliance, I would do my best to claim more territory in foreign nations, riding on the wave of terror. As such, the grown-ups need to strengthen the Schools' defenses and make sure that what happened with MACUSA doesn't repeat itself with another ministry.
"Even though the Yellow Warlock seems to target children, it could very well be a traumatizing and demoralizing strategy. Attacking harmless children in their homes doesn't make sense, either.
"The best thing to do now is to let children catch up with their parents and prepare themselves mentally for the upcoming year… which is bound to be rougher."
Hermione and Ginny gaped at Darcie, their jaws hanging lower and lower.
This was the first time they heard her speaking… so much.
Daphne giggled from the side. "That's Darcie, alright."
"Why is your guess so detailed than what the Professors told us?" Ginny complained, pouting. After spending a week at Hogwarts, and with most classes and exams suspended, she had gained a bit of her spirit lately. "Why didn't anyone tell us this? Do they think we can't understand?"
Hermione slammed the book shut on her lap. "I am just glad…" she said, grinning, "… that Darcie's on our side."
Smiling assuringly at her friends, Darcie looked outside, her poisonous, green eyes letting out a yellow glow.
…
"He said what?!" Black screamed, his brows rising high on his forehead.
Sitting opposite Black, Harry held a graveness on his face. Ron was next to Harry, his face going half pale as well.
"Yeah… That's the reaction we had, Mudblood," Draco said, looking outside the window over Black's head.
Black turned his head and stared at Draco. "… Gay."
"…?"
Harry and Ron lunged and separated them from each other.
"Can't you twospend just one day without fighting?!" Harry blurted as he looked at Black's reddening ears where Draco had grabbed him.
On the other side, Draco's nose had earned a scratch.
Black adjusted his hair, looking at the window like a mirror. "I still can't believe that you told Professor Dumbledore about Spells… And he just told you to ignore everything and keep using them…"
Surprisingly, that's exactly what had happened.
Harry and Draco had prepared themselves to give up on their Spells.
Then, Dumbledore, going against common sense, advised them to keep using Spells, but only if their lives were on the line.
At first, they hadn't told Dumbledore about Hermione, Daphne, Ron, and Black also having Spells. However, seeing that the Headmaster wasn't sending them to Azkaban, they let him know about the other Spells as well.
Suddenly, Black told them about meeting a black-bearded Dumbledore.
Harry, Ron, and Draco had gone so quiet that they could hear noise coming from the adjacent compartment.
"Maybe that's how he went to Ilvermorny so fast!" Ron exclaimed.
Harry and Draco nodded, both lost in their thoughts as they recalled the white-bearded and blue-eyed Dumbledore.
Ron suddenly looked at Black. "You should come and live with us. Your parents, too. Hermione is shifting to Greengrass Manor with her parents…"
Draco's lips twisted in a scowl. "Are you sure about that, Weasley? Your parents can't afford even a decent owl!"
"You…"
"Alright…" Harry rubbed his scar. He looked at Draco.
Draco flattened his mouth in a thin line. "No… There's no way. I won't even invite him… Darcie will kill me… I have a feeling she can cast the Killing Curse…"
"I don't even want to!" Black hissed. "Under one roof… with that thing? I'd rather start praying to Yellow Warlock."
That brought out a chuckle from Harry and Ron.
"Anyway…" Black said, smiling, ignoring the murderous scowl on Draco's face, "… I want to tour London. My parents shifted there last year. What about you, Harry? You should live in the Malfoy Manor. I bet if Darcie tried to kill you, you would just gain another scar or two…"
Before Black could finish, Draco was on him again, both boys falling on the compartment's floor as Harry and Ron laughed their asses off.
Outside the compartment, seeing the boys having fun, the Trolley Witch smiled a little.
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Volume 21 - The Chamber Of Secrets - Ends!!!
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