The castle of Hogwarts stood tall and basking in the early fall sun. Owls flew around the tower delivering mail and sending.
Inside the one of the towers the headmaster and grand wizard Dumbledore sat behind his desk. The desk was filled with letters, papers and candy.
The phoenix Fawkes sat to his left looking at what the old wizard was doing.
As the wizard was about to open another letter the phoenix suddenly perched up a little which caught the attention of Dumbledore. "Looks like we are about to have a visitor" he said looking at the fireplace in his office.
And with a woosh a boy clad in red clothes and a black bear pelt on his shoulders stumble out of the smaller fireplace.
The boy waved his arms to create a little gust of wind to remove the sot that had spread throughout the office.
Emerging from the cloud of dust and ash stood Linus.
Dumbledore waved his hand. "Welcome to Hogwarts Mr. Gray" he said casually as if they were used to talking to each other and this was nothing new.
Linus stretched a little after the journey, it had made him a little dizzy as the journey had taken longer than normal. He sat down in a chair Infront of the desk.
"It really isn't the most funk form of travel." Dumbledore added. Linus just gave him a glare.
"It is nice to see you again headmaster Dumbledore." Linus said as he had regained composure.
Dumbledore nodded, "Agreed, after your lite feud with the whole of Britain." He chuckled and reached out towards him with a bowl of candy. "Want some?"
Linus just raised his hand to refuse the offer. But he did put the package from Igor on the desk. Dumbledore looked at the package for a moment before opening it. "Its from the headmaster, I don't know what's inside." Linus added, he didn't want to get blamed for what could be inside.
The wizard looked inside the package an laughed a little. "so very thoughtful" he said before closing the package again and putting it down on the desk with a little thud. "You've been busy, both training magic and body I see." He added before standing up from his chair.
It was true that Linus had gained a lot of muscle and weight from his training and eating, Aswell as magical strength, but how Dumbledore could sense that was still a mystery to him.
Linus also took this time to rally look around the office of the headmaster. Filled with books and other items. The room wasn't really big but still gave the impression that is was, and odd thing he thought. And the thing that stood out most, the fire phoenix.
"Really and extraordinary creature isn't it." Dumbledore remarked as he stood beside it.
The phoenix was a wonder even in the wizard world. Being able to be reborn from its own ashes. And the uses of its feathers and tears.
"but enough of that, how about we take a walk around the school." Dumbledore said as he walked towards the door, Linus followed him with his hands behind his back.
The doorway led into a spiral staircase before entering out into one of the towers.
They walked for a bit alone, Dumbledore told some of the history of Hogwarts.
They walked slowly, footsteps echoing softly against the stone as they descended from the tower. The castle seemed alive in a way Durmstrang never was. The walls shifted subtly as they passed, staircases adjusting their angles, portraits turning their heads to observe the pair with open curiosity rather than suspicion.
Linus listened carefully. He noticed how Dumbledore spoke about the school as if it were a living being rather than stone and spellwork. Durmstrang was a forge. Hogwarts felt more like a garden. Beautiful, but chaotic if left untended.
They passed a group of first years clustered near a suit of armor that kept bowing at them repeatedly. The children laughed, one of them squealing when the helmet slipped and clanged against the floor.
"At Durmstrang," Linus said quietly, "first years would already be learning how to break shields."
Dumbledore smiled faintly. "And here they learn how to mend them."
They emerged onto a covered walkway overlooking the grounds. The early autumn sun painted the hills gold and green, the Black Lake shimmering gently in the distance. Students crossed the lawns below, laughing, arguing, complaining about homework. To the untrained eye, it was peaceful.
But Linus could feel it, they were watching.
"They are close." He said to the Headmaster.
Dumbledore followed his gaze. Beyond the treeline, where the light dimmed unnaturally, shapes drifted slowly.
"Yes," Dumbledore said softly. "Too close, if you ask me."
Linus scoffed. "All this for one man." The ide to him was funny, surround the school with what is much like demons to hinder a man to sneak in, a man who somehow escaped from the place that these very demons guard.
'its only a matter of time before he is in' Linus thought as he looked over the grounds once more.
Dumbledore changed the subject gently. "You will attend classes tomorrow. I have spoken with the professors. You will be observing only. Igor knows about it so don't worry."
He didn't think he would be staying here for more than today, but he didn't mind. A change of scenery could do him well.
Dumbledore turned around. "Look at the time, we don't want to miss the dinner."
They both turned to walk towards the great hall as it was called. On the way there were a lot of students already on their way. Some stopped and pointed and whispered about the red guest.
Linus felt every stare without acknowledging a single one. His posture remained relaxed, hands folded behind his back, pace unhurried. Durmstrang had taught him early that reacting to attention only fed it.
Dumbledore, on the other hand, seemed entirely unbothered by the murmurs. He greeted passing students warmly, returned bows from professors, and navigated the corridors as though nothing unusual were happening at all.
The doors to the Great Hall opened with a low resonant sound.
Warmth spilled out immediately, along with light, laughter, and the smell of food. Compared to Durmstrang's darker halls, the Great Hall felt almost excessive. Long tables gleamed beneath floating candles, their flames steady and calm. The enchanted ceiling reflected the twilight sky, clouds drifting lazily overhead.
"It really is a stark contrast against our dark and gloomy hall" Linus said
Dumbledore just chuckled.
As the began walking slowly into the hall several heads turned to watch the walking headmaster and the guest.
The chatter dipped noticeably as Dumbledore entered, then dropped further when Linus followed at his side. Students leaned forward, trying to get a better look. Some stared openly. Others whispered behind hands.
At the Gryffindor table, a messy haired boy with round glasses froze midsentence, eyes widening slightly as he noticed Linus. The redhaired boy beside him followed his gaze, brows knitting in confusion.
"That's him," someone whispered. "Linus Gray"
As the walked beside the magical boy, famous all over the world Linus turned his head to get a look at the boy wonder. Dumbledore paused Aswell.
"Pleasure to meet you Harry Potter" Linus said calmly. "My name is Linus Gray"
Harry nodded. "Pleasure to meet you."
Linus turned his head towards someone familiar. Next to the redhead boy sat a brownhaired girl, she was very familiar. And then he remembered, during his first year when he had visited the British embassy, he had met the girl in the bookstore in Diagon alley.
"Nice to meet you again" Linus said with a nod. "But I never got your name." he said to the girl.
Harry looked at the girl and so did the redhead sitting next to her. They both had this confused look on their faces.
"Hermione Granger, pleasure to meet again, even if out meeting was short. I'm impressed you remember me" she said, she had a little smile on her face as the spoke.
Harry and Ron as his name was looked on as Linus and Hermione had a small little talk about the books they bought that day.
After a while Dumbledore and Linus kept walking down the hall towards the staff table, "You may sit here." he said as he pointed towards a seat on the far left side of the table.
He sat down and looked around the hall, he looked at the four different houses and noticed differences directly. The griffindor table was louder, the Hufflepuff table was filled with food hungry kids, ravenclaw was quiet, and slytherin was filled with arrogant laughing and posh looking kids.
The food was good but he liked Durmstrang stew better as it was more efficient food.
The atmosphere was a lot better her, it felt happy even if he wasn't sitting with the students. Laughter could be heard a lot, meanwhile this was a rare thing during dinner at Durmstrang. But there was also something else that bothered him, they were undisciplined. Sloppy eating style and just way to loud, some even ran around. This didn't fit his thinking of how one should act during dinner.
Linus ate in silence, posture straight, movements controlled. He noticed the way several professors glanced his way, some curious, some cautious. Snape, in particular, stared at him with open suspicion from further down the table, black eyes narrowing slightly every time Linus shifted.
As the dinner went on, more and more students cleared out of the hall. Dumbledore stood up and Linus took this as a signal to leave, the walked out if the hall and spoke about the students and such.
"There are quest rooms prepared, and there are even rooms inside some of the houses if you would like to join the students a little." He said casually. "Tomorrow you will attend class together with the Gryffindor's, so just join them." after some more information, he was now roaming the school freely.
He had requested it himself and got a surprised look from the headmaster, but no questions about it.
He walked the old halls with calm steps, looking at the paintings and just taking in the feeling of the school.
While going around there were multiple students going past and going up to talk to him.
"Are you really a Durmstrang student?" one of the Hufflepuff girls asked
One after the other they asked a lot but Linus didn't mind answering and giving tips about things as well.
As night fell upon the school, the amount of students dwindled in the halls, Linus had gotten directions to the Gryffindor common room from some of the student who thought he should sleep there.
Once at the painting with the 'fat lady' as she was called the painting opened with him having to say anything. He shrugged and walked in.
The common room was cozy if that how to would describe it. there was almost a family home vibe to it, almost directly when you walked in you got this feeling of being calm. He looked around the room and noticed students sitting on the couches and on the floor. Harry potter was one of them.
Linus walked up to the reading trio sitting on the couch in front of the fireplace. This time with a calmer vibe as he had his hands in his pockets.
Hermione looked up towards him.
"potion study, interesting" Linus said as he saw the book.
That made the rest look up as well.
"hello again" Harry said.
Linus gave him a nod, "mind if I sit down?"
Harry moved a bit to make room.
"Im not disturbing I hope" Linus asked as he looked at the trio.
They all shock their heads.
As he sat down, he noticed the pile of books next to Hermione, and the stack of snacks next to Ron. It was a familiar scene for even him.
"Professor snape gave us assignments for tomorrows potion class already." Hermione complained, she closed the book but put a bookmark where she was.
"of course he did." Ron muttered. "Bloke probably assigns homework in his sleep."
Linus allowed a faint smile at that, he new this feeling all to well. "is he a good teacher?" he asked to the trio.
Ron was the first to speak up without hesitation. "NO"
Hermione gave him an annoyed look. "He is, but he favors his house over others, and gives us a hard time because of it." she was implying favoritism or rivalry.
"he evil I just know it." Harry muttered under his breath,
Linus pretended not to hear but did take not of it.
"tell me do you like Hogwarts?" Linus asked.
The trio nodded and talked about the professors, the classes, food and just the feeling of being at the school. During this conversation he learned allot. It seemed that the student all loved the school not because of the classes but more the feeling. The felt home away from home so to say. This was the same feeling that Linus had at Durmstrang, but as he enjoyed the stricter life style he thought about the possibility that is was very much just a thing they learned to feel during the first few years of school.
"is it true that Durmstrang allows dueling? Even in class?" Ron asked and this made everyone around also listen, these things were hot topics as everyone was interested in learning more about the different magical schools.
Linus nodded. "Yes, we duel a lot. I even dueled a fifth year just before coming here." as soon as he said this, whispers started going around the room
Hermione blinked. "You… dueled a fifth year?"
Linus nodded calmly. "Yes."
"And won," Ron added, already convinced.
Linus did not correct him.
Harry studied Linus with a new kind of focus now. Not awe exactly, but curiosity sharpened by instinct. "Is it normal?" he asked. "I mean, dueling someone older."
"At Durmstrang," Linus replied, "rank matters less than ability. If someone challenges you, you answer. If you challenge someone, you accept the consequences."
Ron let out a low whistle. "Blimey."
Hermione frowned slightly. "That sounds… dangerous."
"It is," Linus said simply. "That is the point."
The fire popped again, sparks briefly illuminating Linus's face. In that light, he looked older than he was. More carved than grown.
"I heard you were one of the smartest here in school Hermoine." Linus said recalling his conversation he had with Dumbledore in the great hall. "which is your favorite subject?"
The girl thought for a moment. "I like them all, but if I had to choose. Transfiguration probably." She said with pride. She picked up her wand and turned a mug into a beautiful vase.
Linus nodded "Impressive" it truly was, most in that age barley could make a needle still.
He pointed towards the vase with his finger and with a little flick the vase turned into a black cat.
The reaction was instant.
The black cat landed lightly on the rug, tail flicking once as it looked around with sharp golden eyes. A few nearby students gasped. Someone dropped a book. Ron's mouth fell open so far it looked painful.
Hermione froze mid breath.
"You… didn't use a wand," she said slowly.
Linus lowered his hand. "No."
The cat padded a few steps, sniffed the air, then sat neatly, wrapping its tail around its paws like it had always belonged there.
Hermione stood up without realizing she had done so. "That was controlled transfiguration. Nonverbal. Wandless. And stable." Her voice had shifted into something sharper, brighter. "That's beyond NEWT level."
"a lot of trail and errors, everyone can learn it." Linus said as he looked at the cat. The cat stretch on the carpet by the fire place but was soon turned back into the cup it had once been.
Hermoine finally sat down after a while of staring at the cup that had just before been a cat. Wandless magic wasn't unknown at all, but a third year and the same age as herself she just couldn't believe it.
After a while of casual chatting a new face emerged from the starirs leading up to the dorms.
"Curfew starts soon, get ready for bed" he said out loud so everyone could hear.
The room filled with groans and sighs at the prefects command. Everyone slowly stood up and walked to the stairs.
Harry turned around at the stairs and looked towards Linus. "Are you staying here for the night?"
Linus nodded towards him, but he had something he wanted to do before going to be so he stayed at the common room a bit.
After everyone had walked up into their dorms. The red guest casually walked out into the halls of Hogwarts. There was a place he had always wanted to visit that is forbidden and even has it in the name. The forbidden forest. To Linus that just sounded like a must visit destination.
He soon apparated outside the school walls. There was a little hut with someone in it but it didn't bother Linus who just walked past it.