The castle halls echoed with footsteps as Cael and Cassandra made their way toward the Great Hall. They walked in easy stride, the sun dipping behind the towers outside the windows, casting long shadows across the floor.
"So," Cassandra said, arching a brow, "I heard you embarrassed the Malfoys—both of them."
Cael gave her a sideways glance. "Depends on who's telling the story."
She smirked. "Well, in Pureblood circles, it's quite the story. You humiliated Lucius and his son in Diagon Alley, and now there are whispers… scandalous ones."
"Oh?" he asked, feigning innocence.
"Rumors," she said, voice dropping slightly. "That Lucius has… inappropriate interests in young boys. Apparently, something happened when you punched him—some say he was harassing you and Hermione. Others say it was political. But now that you're publicly a Black, you're at the center of it all."
Cael's jaw tensed. "He called Hermione a Mudblood. Smirked at us like we were dirt. And you know he was behind a lot of last year's mess—feeding Hermione that diary."
"I heard about that," Cassandra said coolly. "So you were in Diagon Alley with Hermione?"
Cael nodded. "Yeah. Well—when I was in France. Hermione was there too. I invited her to explore some French magical places."
Cassandra stopped mid-step and turned to him sharply. "You both went to France? Together?"
"Not together," Cael said, raising a hand. "She was already there. I just… invited her along when I found out."
Cassandra studied him for a beat, then smiled thinly. "I see. That's… thoughtful of you."
They entered the Great Hall, the scent of roast beef and treacle tart wafting toward them. But Cael stopped short as his eyes landed on Lyra Potter, seated at the Slytherin table—laughing, loudly, with Draco Malfoy.
He frowned. "Since when have they become so friendly?"
Cassandra followed his gaze and narrowed her eyes. "That's… unusual. Rather fast for her, isn't it? She knows her brother hates Malfoy."
Cael muttered, "It's like she's doing it on purpose…"
Before he could finish the thought, movement at the Gryffindor table caught his attention. Harry had stood up, his jaw clenched, eyes locked on the pair at the Slytherin table. Ron was already rising beside him. Hermione followed quickly, tension in her steps.
"Oh no," Cael muttered. "Here it comes…"
The Hall fell gradually silent as Harry stormed across the floor, Ron and Hermione flanking him. Every eye followed them, forks frozen halfway to mouths, and hushed murmurs spread like wildfire.
Harry didn't stop until he was standing behind Draco and Lyra.
"Stay away from my sister," Harry said sharply, his voice cutting through the silence like a blade.
Draco turned, looking up at him with cool amusement. "Why, Potter? Jealous? Or just too protective?"
"Don't play games with me, Malfoy," Harry said through gritted teeth. "She's my sister. I don't want her anywhere near you."
Lyra stood now too, confused and defiant. "Harry—"
He cut her off. "He's a bully. And his father is a Death Eater."
"Don't talk about my dad!" Draco snapped, jumping to his feet.
Ron smirked. "What, you mean the same 'dad' who was knocked into the mud in Diagon Alley by Cael?"
Cael, still standing with Cassandra by the entrance, buried his face in his hand. Merlin's beard, Ron… was this the time?
Draco's face turned red with fury. "You little—!"
He lunged at Ron, swinging a punch that hit squarely across Ron's cheek. Chaos erupted.
Harry grabbed Draco by the collar and yanked him backward, fists flying. Students scrambled out of the way as the two boys crashed into the bench. Lyra pushed between them, shoving Harry back with surprising strength.
"STOP IT!" she shouted. "This is NONE of your business, Harry!"
Harry's jaw dropped. "He's MALFOY, Lyra! He's my enemy. That makes it my business!"
"You're not my father, Harry!" Lyra screamed. "And you don't get to decide who I talk to!"
There was a moment of stunned silence, broken only by Lyra's heavy breathing. Then, without another word, she grabbed Draco's hand and stormed out of the Great Hall. Malfoy smirked back at Harry with smug satisfaction as he followed.
Harry stood frozen, rage boiling just beneath his skin. His eyes fell on the goblet of pumpkin juice on the Slytherin table—and without thinking, he picked it up and hurled it at the floor. The cup shattered, juice splattering across the stone tiles.
"Harry, calm down!" Hermione shouted.
"She's a Slytherin," Ron muttered. "What do you expect?"
Harry spun on him. "Don't—"
But then he looked around. Hundreds of eyes were still on him, whispering behind hands, exchanging gleeful glances. With a growl of frustration, he turned and stalked out of the Hall, Hermione and Ron quickly following behind.
Back at the entrance, Cassandra folded her arms. "Well… that was dramatic."
Cael sighed. "Sibling drama. That's always messy."
Cassandra tilted her head. "Still… being a Slytherin certainly doesn't help. Especially after two years of Malfoy antagonizing Harry. She's bound to get caught in the crossfire."
"Malfoy got exactly what he wanted," Cael said grimly. "He baited Harry… and Harry took it. Hook, line, and cauldron."
"Anticlimactic," Cassandra mused. "Expected more of a duel."
They shared a quiet moment, listening to the growing noise in the hall now that the show had ended. Then Cael gave a nod. "I'll catch you later."
He broke away and made his way to the Gryffindor table, sliding in beside Fred and George Weasley, where Lee Jordan was already recounting the chaos with wide eyes.
"Well, that was something," Fred said. "Didn't expect Harry to explode that fast."
"He's been boiling since the train ride," Lee said, biting into a chicken leg. "Malfoy's been taunting him nonstop. I guess today was the last straw."
George smirked. "Slytherin snogging your sister in front of the whole school? That'd drive anyone mad."
Cael leaned back and rubbed his temple. "This year's going to be wild."
"You say that like last year was normal," Fred laughed.
"The school's surrounded by Dementors," Cael said dryly. "Hard to top that."
"Well, if this is the opening act," George grinned, "then I can't wait for the finale."
Lee raised his goblet. "Here's to Hogwarts: the best magical soap opera in Britain."
They all burst into laughter.