"I will visit you whenever I can—and maybe you can co to us too? Do whatever old people do," Aaric was talking to Elder Huo when his last comnt earned him a bonk on the head.
Elder Huo patted his disciple’s head. "I’ll visit soti soon. I’ve made sure to push all my responsibilities onto the Sect Master. A man needs to rest, you know."
The master and disciple both grinned at that.
Elder Huo then brought out a small booklet from his sleeve. "This is everything I’ve noted about using fla in combat. Keep it. Improve on it."
Receiving the gift, Aaric returned the gesture, offering the elder so rare herbs that nourished fla—along with a few magical materials only found on Nightshade Island.
Harry said goodbye to the friends he’d made during the visit. That night, the family returned to Nightshade Castle to spend one last night, then left for their main mansion the following morning.
The next day, Aaric, Harry, and Nibbin went to Diagon Alley for second-year shopping. As they walked around, Harry drew whispers from many Muggle-borns, while Aaric got more attention from older students and pure-blood families. After all, he had killed a troll in his first year and was heir to what many now called the most powerful wizarding family in modern Britain.
On the way to Flourish and Blotts, they saw a massive crowd gathered for autographs. Gilderoy Lockhart was in full performance mode, basking in the attention like a Niffler in a gold vault.
As soon as he spotted Harry and Aaric, his grin widened unnaturally, and he strutted toward them, dragging them into a photo and handing out self-signed books before either could say a word.
Soon after, they bumped into the Weasleys.
"Hello, Harry and Aaric. Is that a bright frog in your arms, Harry? It’s bloody big," Ron comnted, eyeing Pyra. He earned a slap to the back of the head from Mrs. Weasley for his language.
Ginny was half-hiding behind her mother, occasionally peeking at Harry, earning Harry a playful poke and a grin from Aaric.
To the side, Mr. Weasley noticed Lucius Malfoy. Lucius hadn’t seen Aaric yet, as the boy was partially hidden among the crowd. As the two adults began bickering—which naturally escalated into a physical scuffle—Draco tried to disappear behind a shelf.
Aaric, spotting him, smirked. "Draco! Where are you going? Co give your brother a hug!"
Draco’s face turned pale. "Who’s Draco? And why are you walking toward ? I’ve never seen you before in my life."
Lucius looked up sharply, catching sight of Aaric and hastily adjusting his composure. Arthur was already being dragged away by Molly as Lucius stood straight and offered a strained smile.
"Aaric, it’s good to see you getting along with Draco and looking after him," Lucius said smoothly, even as Draco tried to wriggle free of Aaric’s grip.
Aaric greeted him politely, and Draco—despite his embarrassnt—was roped into tagging along with Aaric and Harry for the rest of their shopping. He refused to acknowledge Lucius’s existence for the remainder of the day.
A few days later, the family got ready for the journey to King’s Cross Station.
Edwina hugged both boys tightly. This ti, Harry also got the sa piece of motherly advice: "Don’t hit girls."
Simon gave a quiet farewell and walked them to the platform. On the way, they t up with Daphne and Draco. The four chatted casually, boarded the train, and found a compartnt. Draco eventually left to sit with his usual Slytherin group, claiming they were his friends and not lackeys.
Ron joined the group with Ginny in tow. Daphne smiled at her. "Co, sit with . Let’s not sit with the animals over there," she said, nodding toward Aaric and Ron, who were currently trying to transfigure Scabbers into a teacup.
Ginny, though shy, was comfortable enough with Daphne to sit beside her.
"What’s that?" Daphne asked Harry, pointing at Pyra curled in his lap.
Harry blinked. "It’s a salamander. We’re... good friends."
The girls in the compartnt imdiately crowded around Pyra, cooing and asking to hold her.
"You’re not allowed to have salamanders as pets at school," ca a voice from the doorway.
Hermione Granger stood there, arms crossed.
"Thank you for that crucial legal update," Aaric said dryly. "We were going to serve ti in Azkaban if you hadn’t intervened. Quick—let’s throw her out the window before we get caught!"
He made an exaggerated motion toward the salamander.
Hermione snatched Pyra out of his hands and glared at him while hugging the creature tightly.
"How could you?" gasped the three girls in unison as they launched an attack on Aaric, joined gleefully by Harry.
A few minutes later, Aaric sat bruised and beaten on one side of the compartnt while Pyra basked in attention from the girls. Harry threw a betrayed look her way.
Just as Aaric was recovering, the compartnt door slid open again.
A girl stood there—perhaps a year younger—her pale blonde hair falling in ssy waves and wide, silvery-grey eyes full of daydreams. She was holding The Quibbler upside down in one hand and keeping the door open with the other.
"Hello," she said serenely. "You’ve got a salamander in here. That’s very lucky. They keep away the Wrackspurts."
Everyone stared.
Aaric blinked twice.
Hermione tilted her head. "Wrack... what?"
"Wrackspurts," the girl replied, stepping inside. "They float into your ears and make your brain go fuzzy. But she—" she pointed at Pyra— "would scare them off. Bright creatures like her always do."
"Ah, a recognized Wrackspurt-repelling guardian," Aaric muttered with mock seriousness. "We were wondering if we’d be safe this year. Good to know Pyra pulls double duty."
Harry tried not to laugh. Failed.
Ron leaned over to Daphne. "Is she real?"
"I hope so," Daphne whispered back.
"I’m Luna. Luna Lovegood. I’ll be starting Hogwarts this year. Probably Ravenclaw. My mum was one—before the accident with the spell that went backward."
"I’m sorry to hear that," Harry said, rembering what Edwina had taught him.
But Luna just smiled. "It’s alright. I can still hear her in the wind sotis."
There was a beat of silence before Aaric slowly clapped. "Congratulations, Luna. That’s officially the most poetic thing said on this train ride."
Luna giggled, then offered Pyra a small treat, which the salamander happily accepted. She chatted comfortably with the group—eccentric, yes, but not so outlandish that no one could even have a chat with her.
"I hoped I’d make lots of friends when I got to Hogwarts," Luna said, looking around at the others. "And my wish ca true before I even got to the school."
Without a word, Daphne hugged her.
"When you get sorted into Ravenclaw," she said firmly, "I’ll protect you forever."
Luna giggled in her arms as, unknowingly, she gained several very devoted protectors.
A/N:Thoughts and stones, friend.
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