"Lucian…"
Hermione lowered her head, nervously twisting the edge of her robes.
It seemed to take all her courage to speak.
"Um… during the summer… would you… would you like to visit my house?"
She glanced up quickly before lowering her head again, her cheeks turning bright red.
"My parents… they're dentists… and they really want to meet you—the boy who saved their daughter."
Before Lucian could answer, another cheerful voice joined in.
"That's right, Lucian! Come to our place too!"
Ron approached Fred, George, and Ginny.
"The Burrow might be small and messy," Ron said enthusiastically, "but Mum's cooking is the best in the world!"
The Weasleys extended their invitation with warm sincerity.
Faced with two heartfelt offers, Lucian looked thoughtful for a moment.
He glanced at Hermione's hopeful eyes.
Then at the Weasleys' friendly smiles.
Finally, he shook his head.
"Sorry."
"I have some things to handle this summer."
Hermione and the others couldn't hide their disappointment.
Lucian didn't elaborate.
He needed quiet time to analyze everything he had learned from Tom Riddle's memories about Horcruxes.
However, seeing Hermione's dimmed expression made him pause.
A New Spell
Lucian raised his hand.
Heaven-Defying Comprehension — Activated
Research Topic:
Create a teleportation method immune to anti-apparition barriers.
Solution:
Bind a spatial anchor through causal linkage to a target's soul.
Instant wormhole creation regardless of distance or magical restrictions.
Spell Created:
Spatial Coordinate Mark
Lucian pointed his finger toward Hermione.
A faint golden thread of light entered her forehead.
She blinked.
Her skin felt briefly warm—like sunlight.
Then it vanished.
Lucian repeated the gesture toward Dobby, who stood respectfully nearby.
Another golden mark entered the house-elf.
Lucian lowered his hand.
"I've left a mark on both of you," he explained calmly.
"No matter where you are… no matter what barriers exist…"
"If I wish, I can appear beside you instantly."
Hermione's mind exploded.
Ignore distance?
Ignore magical barriers?
Instant teleportation?
That sounded less like magic—
And more like something only a god could do.
Her eyes shone brightly again.
The Wizarding World Reacts
When the Hogwarts Express departed, the school year officially ended.
But the real storm was just beginning.
Students excitedly wrote home.
Rumors spread quickly.
"Did you hear? The Chamber of Secrets monster was a basilisk!"
"And a second-year student subdued it!"
"My sister says the basilisk crawled at his feet like a kitten!"
"Even Dumbledore's phoenix perched on his shoulder!"
Soon, The Daily Prophet published Rita Skeeter's massive three-page report.
The article exaggerated dramatically—but the core truth remained.
Lucian Thornwick had:
Uncovered the diary conspiracyCreated the cure for petrificationConquered the basiliskSaved Hogwarts
His name exploded across the wizarding world.
Reactions Across the Wizarding World
The Ministry of Magic
Minister Cornelius Fudge stared uneasily at the newspaper photo of Lucian standing beside a phoenix and basilisk.
A powerful wizard outside his control made him nervous.
Quiet surveillance began.
Pure-blood families
Ancient houses discussed Lucian constantly.
Some sought to form alliances.
Others distrusted his mysterious background.
Knockturn Alley
Dark wizards whispered about him in filthy taverns.
To them, Lucian wasn't a hero.
He was a walking treasure trove of power.
A target.
Across the wizarding world:
CuriosityGreedFearAdmiration
All focused on one person.
Lucian Thornwick.
Return to Diagon Alley
Near the end of summer, Lucian finished his research.
Now he needed rare materials for alchemy.
So he visited Diagon Alley.
The streets were crowded with families buying school supplies.
Lucian walked down a quieter side street filled with specialty shops.
After purchasing dragon blood powder from Borgin and Burkes, he prepared to leave.
Then he heard a familiar voice.
"Oh! Look who it is! Hogwarts heroes!"
Lucian glanced toward Flourish and Blotts.
There stood Gilderoy Lockhart.
He wore an absurdly bright yellow robe and looked slightly sunburned.
Hermione, Harry, and the Weasleys were nearby.
Lockhart dramatically spread his arms.
"Miss Granger! Surely you can see how the Egyptian sun has enhanced my charm!"
"I battled mummy spirits inside the pyramids—far more dangerous than Cornish pixies!"
Ron rolled his eyes.
Harry looked bored.
Lucian had no intention of approaching.
But something caught his attention.
Scabbers
A small gray rat peeked from Ron's pocket.
Its black eyes scanned the surroundings nervously.
One of its front toes was missing.
Ron proudly pulled it out.
"This is my new pet! Dad bought him with his Ministry bonus!"
"His name's Scabbers!"
Harry and Hermione leaned closer to look.
Lucian's gaze lingered on the rat.
His calm eyes showed something unusual.
Recognition.
Amid the noisy street, Lucian quietly thought:
Animagus.
Peter Pettigrew.
The coward who betrayed the Potters.
The traitor who framed Sirius Black.
The servant who helped Voldemort return.
So.
He had finally appeared.
Lucian watched Scabbers for a moment.
Then he smiled faintly and disappeared into the alley shadows.
Breaking News
Not long after, the wizarding world was shaken by shocking news.
An emergency edition of The Daily Prophet appeared everywhere.
The front page showed a moving photograph.
A gaunt man with wild black hair laughed madly.
His prison robes were torn.
His eyes burned with dangerous intensity.
The headline screamed in red letters:
AZKABAN BREACH!
MASS MURDERER SIRIUS BLACK ESCAPES!
The wizarding world erupted in panic.
Azkaban—the prison guarded by Dementors—was supposed to be impossible to escape.
And Sirius Black…
The man believed to have:
betrayed James and Lily Potterkilled thirteen people with a curse
Everyone reached the same conclusion.
"He's coming for Harry Potter."
"He's Voldemort's most loyal servant."
"He wants revenge."
At the Burrow, Mrs. Weasley layered protective spells around Harry.
Across Britain, fear spread quickly.
The entire wizarding world braced for disaster.
But one person knew the truth.
Lucian Thornwick.
And somewhere in Ron's pocket—
Peter Pettigrew continued pretending to be an ordinary rat.
~~--------------------------
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