"Gryffindor hero, why are you still lurking in the Ravenclaw common room? Weren't the Weasley twins talking about petitioning for your house transfer?"
"Please don't mention it. Before showing my talent, I was Gryffindor's rising star. Now I'm their hero... which makes me practically a spiritual Gryffindor."
Sterling held up a book to hide his face and made a face at Terry.
"Who told you to become the first young wizard to render Snape speechless? Now those Gryffindors practically want to worship you as their anti-Snape banner..."
Terry looked at the unusually spacious Utopia, suddenly realising only the two of them had come today.
The entire Utopia was now beautifully decorated. Sterling had asked Hogwarts house-elves to help during classes, using their individual designs.
The centre, where they now sat, featured a large round table so they wouldn't need to push tables together for discussions anymore.
Other areas were divided into seven personal zones.
Sterling's area, besides the oak desk and chairs, prominently featured a waist-high cauldron suspended on a frame for easy stirring.
Hermione and Padma had connected their areas, decorating them homily with Padma's favourite dolls and Hermione's beloved books.
Terry sat beside Sterling's area. Loving astronomy, he'd bought a large planetary motion model enchanted to rotate perpetually according to natural laws.
Harry and Ron's area was typically Gryffindor, all gold and red. Harry had even brought his broomstick here, teaching Ron and others how to score well on flying exams when idle.
Neville was most unique. Loving Herbology, he'd placed many potted plants in his area, originally wanting to bring fertiliser too, but Hermione and Padma had jointly suppressed this.
"Don't you feel that just days later, Night of Terror's impact has mostly disappeared?"
"Very normal. Though it looked spectacular, it didn't really concern us. Didn't Professor Dumbledore beat down the Dark Lord?"
Terry fiddled with Mars on his planetary instrument, forcibly moving it to Mercury's orbit, watching them collide and fall from orbit to the floor.
"Aren't you afraid of breaking it? Didn't your father have trouble getting this?"
"Not much trouble. My father's an Unspeakable in the Department of Mysteries. His position at the Ministry is quite high. Getting such things is just a matter of extra Galleons."
"Department of Mysteries? I don't think I saw this department in Ministry introduction books... wait, some impression, but no detailed explanation."
"That's normal. Everything in the Department of Mysteries is classified. Even I only know my father works in the Planetary Room. No idea what he researches."
"I see. Your love of planets is probably family influence."
Terry was about to nod when wind chimes sounded. The door suddenly opened, and Harry and Ron tumbled in as if something were chasing them.
"What's wrong? Careful not to knock over Neville's plants. What he's growing looks disgusting. I don't want it touching my carefully selected carpet."
Terry's warning made them eye Neville's area warily. That thing called "Bubotuber" looked terrible, pitted and bumpy like a skinned caterpillar.
For this, Sterling had cast a temporary air barrier preventing the Bubotuber smell from escaping.
When Neville first brought the plants, a little gasoline odour leaked out, nearly making afternoon tea-drinking Padma vomit.
Harry casually pulled out a chair beside Sterling and took a cookie from the small plate.
He seemed to have just returned from Quidditch practice, carrying light sweat and rich grass scents.
Sterling sneezed. He'd noticed his sense of smell seemed stronger lately.
"Hi! Today Wood had Harry and others do simulation training. Harry performed brilliantly! I dare say the Quidditch Cup is already reserved for us!"
Ron said happily. Sterling and Terry exchanged glances. As members of Ravenclaw, this "Quidditch-weak house", they couldn't relate to such feelings.
"Is Quidditch season approaching?"
"Exactly! I'll play my first match soon... Honestly, I'm still worried about meeting everyone's expectations, but I'll do my best!"
Harry's expression looked more confident than worried.
Having gradually shown talent befitting the "Saviour", he no longer struggled with "whether I deserve the fame". He was becoming more like a standard Gryffindor.
Meaning his body moved before his brain.
Sterling rubbed his forehead, looking at the letter placed before him.
Hagrid, Hogwarts' Keeper of Keys and Grounds, invited Harry to bring friends to his hut.
"Professor Dumbledore reopened the Forbidden Forest... and let Hagrid move back to his hut at the forest's edge..."
Terry adopted Sterling's same posture. He also had a headache.
"Professor Dumbledore told me he'd used many methods to search the Forbidden Forest... completely no trace of that Dark wizard... but you agreeing to go to the forest edge so simply is too..."
Considering Harry, the complete Night of Terror story only circulated among Ravenclaw's quartet. The Gryffindor trio received edited versions, mainly changing the Dark Lord to "unknown Dark wizard".
So Harry and others weren't as wary of the "Dark wizard" hiding in the forest as Sterling's group.
Sterling's group now felt anxious even leaving the castle for nearby greenhouses, fearing grey-white Killing Curses might suddenly emerge from the forest.
They actually wanted to actively approach the forest... Even just the edge, given Harry's identity, he was practically Dark Lord bait.
"You've already agreed... Fine, I'll accompany you. But Hermione, Terry, and others are out because..."
Sterling gave Terry a look. He immediately understood and took over:
"Ravenclaw first-years have internal activities that day. Prefect Robert will teach us upcoming Charms knowledge. Except Sterling, who's excused for exceptional ability, everyone must attend."
Actually false, but Sterling alone could at most watch two people. More would prevent guaranteed delays.
They'd also need to arrange for Neville to "have something" that day, preventing him from visiting Hagrid's hut.
"Alright... see you Wednesday then!"
Harry wasn't disappointed. Besides Ron, Sterling was actually the friend he most wanted to invite.
He remembered that Utopia exchanges and learning had allowed his magical talent to manifest, and the person who established this organisation and let them join was Sterling.
Harry always felt grateful to Sterling.
He and Ron scampered off to play Wizard Chess, leaving Sterling and Terry facing each other with sighs.
"Aren't Hermione and others recently helping Professor Sprout with Neville? Could we adjust timing so helper time conflicts with Hagrid time?"
Terry looked toward Padma's area. They weren't in Utopia now because they were helping.
"Should work. Neville's obsessed with Herbology, so if Hermione and Padma both move to that time, he'd probably choose to visit Hagrid another time."
Sterling drained his teacup's last sip, then frowned.
"Terry, your sugar packets are too cheap! There's undissolved sugar at the bottom!"
"That's because you added four sugar packets to one cup of tea! Damn, the house-elves should refuse to serve you tea. You're purely wasting tea leaves!"