章節 7: Classes and Classmates

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Chapter 07: Classes and Classmates

- Dumbledore -

Sitting at his desk, he chuckled to himself as he looked over the immense amount of paperwork piled up on his desk.

Truly, he brought it upon himself.

During the summer, he had an idle thought that burrowed into his head and would not leave.

Wasn't it a waste to have two schools bring dozens of their best students to Hogwarts for the better part of a year... only for them to watch the champions do three tasks?

He came to the conclusion that they were wasting an excellent opportunity to give the rest of the students a chance to shine, and decided to convince the other organisers to agree to a series of competitions for the other students to compete in.

Duelling, Academic Quizzes, Quidditch, a nice variety to give people of different talents to show their skills and prowess. It would help encourage the students to study and train harder than usual.

Madame Maxime liked the idea, and Karkaroff agreed as well in the hopes of embarrassing Hogwarts and Beauxbatons when Durmstrang won. He was the competitive sort. Ludo Bagman had been thrilled at the idea, though that was mostly because he was planning on betting on it, the boy did have a problem.

Bartemius Crouch almost had a heart attack at the amount of work the competition would make and the short amount of time to do it... but truthfully, Albus enjoyed watching the stern man flounder around.

Irritating politicians was one of his guilty pleasures.

In the end, they had all agreed if Dumbledore handled most of the arrangements, which he was happy to do.

He also needed to make arrangements for the small Auror presence that would be stationed at the school when the other schools arrived. There were some VIPs amongst the students and rumours of possessed dark wizards, basilisks, serial killers and werewolves had reached the other ministries. All taken out of context, but it wasn't like having some Aurors around was really an issue. With the growing darkness, he would even say they were welcome.

With the school year started again, he was rather busy... but that was why he had a personal time-turner. Changing the past was dangerous, but using it to do his paperwork wouldn't cause any issues.

How else would he do three jobs at the same time?

The question at the forefront of his mind at the moment was simple, who would be the Champion of Hogwarts?

He'd thought about it quite a bit, they would be representing his beloved school after all, and he had limited it to a few options.

Damian Raum would be his personal choice. Talented and powerful, though somewhat of a slacker, very popular amongst the Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors. He had the power and knowledge to pull it off...

But Morrigan Raum was the far more likely choice. More powerful than her brother, and far smarter. Far less popular due to her... antagonistic personality and hatred of the politics of the Slytherin House. He was well aware that she'd duelled most of her house, and crushed them all without breaking a sweat. She was another Yennefer Black, just without Yennefer's cunning and political mind.

Cedric Diggory, Angelina Johnson, Marian or Bethany Hawke were the other choices, but none of them had Morrigan's pure power and talent.

In truth, he'd been worried that she was a rising Dark Lady, her brutality with those who challenged her was clear to see, those that ended up in Poppy's tender care were the lucky ones, but many of the students who fought Morrigan ended up in St Mungo's from the sheer variety and power of the curses she rained upon them.

But Morrigan lacked the charisma to gather followers, and more importantly she showed signs of a kind woman beneath the prickly exterior.

The way she spent the feast glancing at her brother Grayson was endearing, her concern for him was warming to see, even if she tried to hide it.

Still, of all the students he would have thought would have returned to school hungover, Grayson certainly wasn't one of them.

He'd been the Headmaster for decades, and a teacher for even longer... he could spot a hangover, but in truth, Grayson hadn't done anything wrong. Drinking outside of school wasn't against the rules, as long as it didn't happen on the school grounds and he didn't turn up drunk.

If he did, Severus or more likely Minerva would set him straight.

It was always entertaining watching teenagers go through their rebellious phase... Why, the things he and Gellert-

Sighing, he started his paperwork with a nostalgic smile as he thought of the better days.

He'd need to use this year to get a better idea of Grayson and his politics, his thought process. Grayson Raum-Black was set up to become a political powerhouse, especially with his betrothal with the Greengrass Heiress.

When he left Hogwarts he had a place of power in the Wizengamot waiting for him, one that already had Cornelius and the various political factions paying attention. Grayson would undoubtedly be approached by one of the factions by the end of the year.

He needed to work out where Grayson would fall in the ever-approaching war.

- Rose Potter -

"What's up, Uncle Sev?" Rose asked as she tossed herself into the chair in front of his desk, watching his face twitch with annoyance.

"As I have said... many, many, times before, I do not mind you calling me uncle Severus in private, but do not shorten my name." Severus said with a long-suffering sigh.

"Sure thing... Sevvy." Rose continued with a smirk.

"...Thirty points from Gryffindor for being an annoying brat." Uncle Sev countered immediately making her shrug. "Yes, I'm well aware the Headmaster will give Gryffindor a thousand points at the end of the year for whatever insanity you get yourself into... which leads into why I asked you to come here. Rose, I will say this once and only once... do not try and enter the Triwizard tournament." Severus said sternly as she tried to hide her reaction. "I saw the look in your eyes when it was announced, and while Albus believes his age-line will keep you away, I know how... innovative you can be when you put your mind to it. I can think of three dozen ways you could get past the Headmaster's protections, so I am warning you... don't." Severus said with a cold stare.

"...I'll take your words under advisement." Rose countered, making his stare grow icy. So what if she wanted to enter? So did every other student in the school.

"See that you do, people better trained than you have died in the Triwizard tournament, and I can't keep my promise to keep you safe I made to your mother if you actively throw yourself into harm's way." Severus said with a sigh, making her flinch at the dirty move. Sev did like his guilt trips.

"Yeah, yeah... thanks for taking me to see her and father." Rose said with a frown.

Her mother had her own room in St. Mungo's, courtesy of the Headmaster. She wasn't dead... but she wasn't alive either. No one had a clue why she was in the state she was, and Uncle Severus had spent the over ten years trying to help her.

Her father, however, was buried in Godric's Hollow.

"You are welcome... how were the Dursley's this summer?" Sev asked, distaste filling his tone.

"The usual. Treated me like a slave the entire summer, made me cook for the fat pigs, clean up all their mess and do just about every chore imaginable to the point where I had two states... asleep and working. Oh, and my aunt spent every other word insulting my parents." Rose growled, making him sigh. "How long do I have to keep going back to that hellhole? Why can't the old man get Sirius a trial so I can live with him?"

"We have been over this, repeatedly. The blood-ward Albus made keeps you safe from the Dark Lord, and you need to spend time at Privet Drive to power them." Severus said, making her groan to herself. "And there are many... many people who do not want to see Sirius free, both followers of the Dark Lord and people who would have their reputation damaged by the controversy."

"You said yourself that you didn't know whether it was the Headmasters wards or whatever my mother did that kept me safe in first year! I have to spend months with people I despise, every year... on the chance it was the blood-ward that even the Headmaster barely seems to understand." Rose half-shouted.

"And as long as the mutt is a wanted criminal, Headmaster is your magical guardian, and as such can decide where you stay during the summer. As always, take it up with him." Sev said with a disinterested tone.

"I have... repeatedly." Rose pointed out.

"Then you know bothering me will not help the situation. Once the Headmaster sets his mind on something, he rarely changes it. You have been more... insistent this year, is your situation there getting worse?" Sev asked, making her roll her eyes.

"Stop with the vague questions, I get enough of them and half-truths dealing with the Headmaster, just ask what you want to." Rose said with a stare.

"...very well, has their treatment of you changed since you... bloomed?" Sev asked, making her just stare. "Since you hit puberty?" he corrected, making her smirk.

"Was that so hard? And no, I'm not being molested... despite the rumours that ferret-looking bitch spread. My uncles obsessed with normalcy, and being a child molester isn't very normal, is it? My aunt is jealous I already have A better figure than her, and Dudley tried spying on me in the shower once, but Vernon caught him and actually punished him for once, so he hasn't tried again. I just hate it there." Rose said with a scowl.

She basically saved Hogwarts... twice, and her reward was to have to work like a house-elf, while being insulted and having to listen to her bitter bitch of an aunt insult her mother for months?

"Petunia has always been a jealous shrew, that is unlikely to change. And must you and Lyra be at each others throats so much?" Sev said with a sigh.

"She's a stuck-up suprematist bitch with delusions of competency, and her dads a sociopath terrorist who bought his way out of prison." Rose countered stubbornly. "She's had it out for me since first year, just because I made friends with Hermione."

"Do not pretend you have not given as good as you have gotten... or are you going to pretend you had nothing to do with her uniform vanishing during the leaving feast?" Severus pointed out, making her look away.

"She tried to drug me with a love potion keyed to Ron Weasley of all people, she had it coming." Rose said, not bothering to lie. "She's lucky I've tested all my food and drinks since second year, if she'd actually gotten me I would have been far less merciful." Rose said making Severus sigh.

Ron Weasley was a creepy fanboy and she didn't want to think about what would happen if he got it in his head that she liked him in the slightest. She was not giving her first kiss, or first anything, to someone like him.

If she had, she would have vanished underwear as well, and maybe portkeyed her to Knockturn Alley for good measure.

Bitch.

She'd been testing her drinks since she realised something during Sev's lessons on magical nobility... she was the key to the Potter Fortune, and some of the more ambitious boys in the school would love to have her family name and wealth at their disposal.

Typically heiresses had their families protection, but her only family member was in a coma and Dumbledore was too busy and too trusting to keep a close eye on her, plus she kept her closeness with Uncle Sev mostly secret. She was on her own, as far as the Heirs (and some of their parents) were concerned.

She'd heard whispers of people hoping to get their hands on her, and it put her on edge, so she started testing her food, so far she had only caught some prank potions from Lyra or the twins, but it was better safe than sorry.

"I see. Lyra isn't that good to be able to make a love potion, but I have no doubt she was able to buy one. As always, I can't get involved in your little rivalry, Lyra is my goddaughter and I swore to your mother that I would protect you, so I must stay neutral." Sev said with a sigh.

"That's fine, I can handle her myself." Rose countered.

"I... don't want to know. I really don't." Severus said with a frown. "That will be all, go and... do whatever teenage girls do in their free time."

"Actually, I had something I wanted to ask you as well." Rose started.

"No." Sev replied bluntly making her pause. "I already know what you want to ask, and no. I won't protect Granger's sister." Sev explained making her scowl at him. "The Slytherin House is... complex, and while I might be the Head of Slytherin, I am a half-blood with little lineage to speak off. It is not that I do not want to... though I truly don't, it's that I have to tread carefully around the Heirs and Heiresses, a single letter home from the wrong student could make my position here... untenable." he explained as she took another moment to be thankful she told Malfoy to fuck off in first year.

"...How much trouble is Juliet in?" Rose asked. She'd met Juliet in second year, and she really liked the shyer version of Hermione.

"Truthfully? I expect her to drop out by winter. No muggleborn has ever made it to fifth year in Slytherin." Severus admitted.

Damn it... she needed to do... something?

But the Slytherins didn't exactly... like her. She'd have to think about what to do.

- Pansy Parkinson - 01/09/1994 – Thursday -

"Gr- Heir Raum... I..." Pansy stutters as Grayson stares at her with an icy stare, his dark eyes unblinking as they locked onto her.

"Heir Raum, now is it? What was your old name for me again? Ah, yes... I believe it was 'the useless squib'... or was it 'the worthless weakling'?" Grayson asked making her flinch harshly, tears forming in the corner of her eyes.

Grayson Raum was a nobody, a smart but pathetically weak nobody who would most likely vanish and never be heard of again once he graduated. Even with his family name and lineage, he was never going to be more than just the spare for a better wizard, even if Damian is a Dumbledore fanboy.

So even though her family were so much weaker than either of his, there was no real problem in bullying him for her entertainment, Grayson never tried to defend himself and knew his place...

At least that was the case before Damian just... gave up his Heir status and left it to Grayson. Now, Grayson Raum was the newest big thing, he'd shot from the bottom of the hierarchy to near the top... and he clearly hadn't forgotten the people who had taken joy in stomping on him when they were above him.

Now she was the one below him on the totem pole, and she hadn't caught on quickly enough to avoid his wrath.

"Well, I asked you a question. Which was it?" Grayson asked with a cold smirk.

"I-it... I called you both of them." Pansy admitted.

"Yes, yes you did... how close we must be that you had not one, but two nicknames for me." Grayson said with a small smile that didn't remotely reach his eyes.

As she opened her mouth to reply, her voice failed her. What could she say to make him forgive her for three years of mocking and bullying?

"In fact, if we are that close, we must be friends... right?" Grayson asked, still smiling his unnerving smile as his eyes glared holes into her.

"I... yes! Of- Of course." Pansy quickly agreed, just wanted the strangely oppressive feeling to leave. She was stronger than him... and yet even without the political threat, she was terrified. Even the very shadows around his room seemed to darken and surround her.

If she was more observant, she would have spotted the tiny black lizard glaring at her from under the bed, it's powers reacting as it sensed its master's anger.

"And as friends, it only makes sense that we'd do things for one another, right?" Grayson asked, his hand resting on a piece of parchment with something written on it, not that she could see the words as he folded it over. "Like me forgiving your... lapse in judgement and getting rid of this letter to my mother." he said making her eyes widen as he casual held it over one of his candles and letting it ignite and burn up.

Not that it would stop him from writing a replacement.

"And as my friend, I'm sure you wouldn't mind doing some things for me, right?" Grayson asked as he vanished the ash.

"I... of course not, what do you want me to do... friend?" Pansy asked, her voice cracking as she realised how badly she'd fucked up.

The boy she'd spent years mocking could hold her entire family's safety over her head for as long as he wanted, a single letter to Lady Raum-Black would see her ruined.

"Oh, nothing much... just a couple of small things, really." Grayson drawled, a light smirk touching his lips as he stared her down. "You see, I'm... worried about my adorable cousin, Lyra. She has a bad habit of getting into trouble and I would appreciate it if I knew what she was up to, for my peace of mind you understand?" Grayson said, making her eyebrows raise.

"You want me to spy on Lyra?" Pansy asked, her dread lowering as her lip quirked slightly. Grayson... was more cunning than she ever gave him credit for, mistaking him for just another bookworm who couldn't do anything but read.

She was friends with Lyra, but she was also a Slytherin... betraying Lyra for her own benefit was practically expected, and Grayson was higher up on the hierarchy than his cousin. Picking a side couldn't be more simple, even if he wasn't holding so much over her.

"Spy is such a... unpleasant word. I just think she could use a minder, all you have to do is spend time with her, like you already do, and let me know if she starts to make schemes that could get her into trouble, I wouldn't want mother to lose her notoriously lacking patience and disown her from the Black house after all, and Aunt Narcissa and mother have been at odds for years now." Grayson explained easily.

Just watch Lyra and tell Grayson when she was plotting against him? That she could do easily. She wouldn't even feel guilty since it would take a special kind of idiot to plot against the heir of the mothers family.

"You said a couple of things... what is the other?" Pansy asked, watching Grayson's smirk become more... lascivious, his eyes moving other her robed body as she felt her regrowing confidence drop. "I... and then you won't tell Lady Yennefer?" she asked, reluctance in her tone as her hand came to her robe.

"Oh, it's nothing as scandalous as you are thinking, you a taken woman after all. You see... I'm actually a bit of an artist, mother believes everyone should practice at least one of the arts, Keira learnt to sing though Morrigan and Damian both dropped their lessons. I want to get back into it before I get rusty, and that means I need a model to practice portraits." Grayson explained easily.

"...you draw? Are you any good?" Pansy asked before she could stop herself, making him chuckle as he flicked his wand, causing his chest to open and a rolled-up painting to fly out of it.

Grayson might be weak... but his control was incredible, even she could admit that.

Hovering in front of him, the painting unfurled, making her eyes widen at the sight of an incredibly lifelike coloured painting of Keira Raum, smiling at her as she lounges in a very... affluent living room. Raum Manor? She'd heard rumours of the wealth and extravagance of the famous manor, even if Yennefer Raum disliked letting people in and rarely held any events.

"Keira was happy to model for me, and so was Mother when she has the time, along with a few other family friends but drawing the same few people over and over again doesn't help me get better." Grayson said with a shrug as she tore her eyes away from the painting as he sent it back with another lazy flick.

"You want me to model?" Pansy asked, feeling her pride grow even as she admitted she was nowhere near as beautiful as Keira, Lady Yennefer or even Lyra and the other Slytherin girls... at least she was better looking than Millicent, not that that was hard.

She knew even Theodore didn't find her attractive, his constantly wandering eyes (and hands if rumours were to be believed), and he was stuck with her.

"I do, you aren't a classical beauty, your hair is too short and your figure... too flat." Grayson said bluntly, piercing her pride as she scowled. "But I have drawn plenty of those kinds, and you do have a certain... tomboyish appeal to you. You make it work rather well. It'll be nice to paint someone with a different look to them." Grayson said, making her sigh.

"It's not like I have a choice... what do I have to do?" Pansy asked, hating the fact that she was almost flattered at his words.

"Wonderful... first, strip down. I want to try painting a nude model... Oh, don't give me that look, painting nude figures is practically a painting tradition." Grayson scolded as she glared at him, even as her hands moved to her robes, undoing them and shrugging them off her shoulders with a scowl.

As she undid her uniform shirt, she glanced at him, hating how nervous she was as he summoned and set up an easel, barely glancing at her as she pushed her shirt off, hesitating before she undid her bra as well, letting it join the pile.

Her skirt, shoes and leggings met the same fate, and with some slightly shaking hands, she pulled her boring white panties down and stepped out of them.

Despite the indifference she tried to keep on her face, she was shaking inside. She had never been naked in front of a boy before, and while Theodore was permitted to take liberties with her as long as she remained a virgin until they married, he was uninterested in actually taking advantage of that clause, and had made no qualms about making it clear how uninterested he was in her boyish figure.

Not really knowing what to do, she fidgeted in place as she watched Grayson line up his paints and brushes with careful precision, realigning several of them as he ignored the naked girl standing a few feet away from him.

Turning to her, his eyes roamed over her naked body with a look of appreciation, lingering on her small, barely budding breasts and the large black bush above her virgin slit as she felt herself blushing at the amused look on his face.

"Hmm, you don't trim? Well, I know the charms for that." Grayson said walking towards her, swirling his wand in a counter-clockwise circle as her pubic hair simply... vanished, making her yelp as the cool air hit her sensitive mound.

"...can you teach me that spell?" Pansy asked, despite her embarrassment. She tried to deal with her bush once, and cut herself several times before she gave it up as a bad job.

"Hmm? Oh, sure. I'll lend you the tome I found it in." Grayson said as he moved a chair into the middle of the room. "Sit down, turn slightly to the side... no, a bit more. Hands in your lap." Grayson said sternly, grabbing her arms and moving them into place when she hesitated. "Push your chest out slightly, not that much." Grayson said, placing a hand on her naked chest and pushing her back slightly, his hand brushing against her breasts. "Chin up, smile. I said smile, you do know how to do that, right?" Grayson said with a sigh as he grabbed her cheeks, moulding them into the expression he wanted.

The way he just... forced her into position, the domineering tone he took on, she liked them far more than she should.

"That's it... one more thing to make it perfect." Grayson said, smiling as he looked over her body, swishing his wand again as she flinched as the blast of cold air, her nipples hardening as she turned bright red. "Perfect... now, hold that position." he ordered sternly as he moved back to the easel, grabbing a brush.

"How long does this usually take?" Pansy asked, not moving from her position. She was expecting to be forced to pleasure him, maybe even painfully sodomised if Grayson was holding a grudge. Sitting around naked was practically pleasant in comparison.

"Hmm, a couple of hours? Maybe more, why, do you have somewhere to be?" Grayson asked as he started.

"I... no." Pansy said, feeling her pride rage at how submissive she was acting. Theodore and Grayson had a point, she wasn't acting like a Slytherin. Losing her temper here could put her back in danger, and this really wasn't that bad.

Part of her wondered, as she sat there letting her mind wander to pass the time, Grayson too focused for small talk... what did Theodore think she was doing now?

What kind of man sent off his future wife to get used and abused to save his own skin? A pathetic one, and that was what she had realised. Theodore was a feeble coward who was too scared to ever stand out. That was the man she was stuck with, a lifetime follower who would never be anything more than a yes-man.

He was stronger than Grayson, but somehow she had the suspicion that even if Grayson hadn't become the heir of his houses, he'd still become more well-known and respected than Theodore ever would.

As the cold air hit her body, she realised a rather embarrassing truth... she was growing wet, a small pool of arousal under her, staining his chair. Grayson's intense stare as he painted excited her body, it almost felt like he was touching her naked body as his eyes focused on certain parts, his gaze moving from her hard pink nipple to her barely visible slit.

After what seemed like a matter of minutes, he stopped, a smile of satisfaction on his lips as he moved back.

"You can move now, I'm finished." Grayson said, putting his brush down.

"...Already?" Pansy asked, making him look at her in confusion.

"It's been almost four hours, Miss Parkinson, and we have classes tomorrow." Grayson said, making her eyes widen as she moved from the chair, her body stiff from lack of movement.

Moving over to him, her eyes widened seeing the painting sitting innocently on the easel.

"That's... me?" Pansy asked, more to herself than to Grayson as she looked over the beautiful young woman smiling back at her.

"Mhm. You really do look good when you smile, your usual scowl does nothing for your appearance, I'm afraid." Grayson chuckled.

"I... I guess. So, we are done now?" Pansy asked, making him smile at her, an almost shark-like smile putting her on edge.

"For now, but a friend like you won't mind posing for me again, right?" Grayson asked making her sigh.

"Understood... just- just tell me when you want me to model again." she said with a reluctant sigh. She'd almost forgotten that she was being blackmailed.

"Wonderful!" Grayson said, moving closer and wrapping her in a tight hug as her eyes widened, her naked body pressed against his still robed form, the feeling of something large... and solid, pressed against her waist as one of his hands rested on her bare ass, groping the firm flesh.

Returning the hug, even as he squeezed her ass roughly, she reminded herself that anything was better than losing her noble status, she'd be little better than the mudbloods if Yennefer Raum-Black turned her attention to her family.

"Now, I'll let you get back to your room, don't want to be late for class tomorrow after all." Grayson said letting her go with a smile, waiting until she reached for her clothes before he acted again. "Oh, you can leave those behind, just take the robe." he said smoothly, a hint of cruel amusement in his tone as he summoned her clothes away from her.

...He was definitely holding a grudge.

"F-fine." Pansy said, pulling her robe on tight. "Until next time, 'friend'." she said, turning and walking away as she reminded herself, it could definitely be worse. He could have taken her robe as well, making her walk back to her room naked.

Walking back to her room, she avoided the few people still around carefully and let out a sigh of relief as she reached her private room, locking it with a security spell and shrugging her robe off.

Her thighs were covered in her arousal, and there was no way Grayson hadn't noticed the wet patch on the chair... even if he didn't mention it, but she needed some private time, Theodore could wait till tomorrow.

- Grayson -

Burning the parchment had been a mistake, it seemed like the dramatic thing to do, but I kinda needed that owl-order catalogue from the Diagon Alley Apothecary. I'll have to send a letter to them to get a replacement.

Pansy does make a surprisingly good model, but I still really don't like her for all the shit she has given me over the last three years.

I am well aware that I could have had her in my bed tonight, but my vengeance towards her will be cold as the arctic, and I will happily put off instant gratification to ruin her in the future.

...But I'm still horny as fuck, and while Pansy is flat-chested, she really does pull off the tomboy look and frankly, hate-fucking her is going to be a pleasure.

Tonight, me and my hand are going to become quite acquainted.

Stripping down, I pause for a moment as I catch a glimpse of something in the mirror.

...when did I get a tattoo? And why does it feel... demonic?

Looking at the black heart on my ass, I read the script across it with a frown.

'Property of Maze, if lost return to her bedroom.'

...What the fuck?

Seriously, what happened in the three days I don't remember?

- Friday – 02/09/1994 -

Getting rid of my new tattoo has proven very difficult, but I have managed to place a concealing spell over it to hide it for now... and I've sent an owl to Lucifer to ask for advice on removing it... what a surreal sentence.

"Heir Raum-Black, may I have a moment of your time?" Theodore asks as I lounge in common room, enjoying my free period.

"Does this require privacy, or is here fine?" I ask without looking up from my book.

"Privacy would be better." he admits as I sigh, closing my book and standing up, heading towards my room.

I've already had breakfast brought to my room, and I've had a pep-talk with Juliet to make sure she keeps her emotions under control, she's a fast learner however and seems to be catching onto how Slytherin works quickly.

Moving to my desk, I sit down and stare at the teen with a bored look.

"What is it? Do be quick, I have Care of Magical Creatures soon." I say bluntly. I need to act the part to keep my place on the totem pole secure, being overly friendly or polite to someone so far down the pole would weaken my position after all.

"Of course, I simply wanted to say that as Pansy's betrothed, you have both my support and approval to discipline her for her offensive words and her attitude towards you over the past few years. The House Nott does not share her sentiments, nor do we endorse her discourteous behaviour." Theodore says quickly as my eyebrow raises. "I have used my control over her to order her to submit to any punishments or disciplining you wish to inflict upon her, and I have informed both our fathers of her actions, they agree that her punishment lies in your hands, as the insulted party."

He really is a coward... but in Slytherin that's a pretty good way to survive if you can throw aside your pride, I suppose.

I know a lot of people are scared of Mother, so I can't say I'm surprised that the Lord's Nott and Parkinson both folded so easily.

"I see, you have my thanks and assurance that Miss Parkinson's actions won't damage the reputation or prosperity of House Nott." I reply, watching him visibly let out a sigh of relief. "I always knew you were a smart one, Theodore." I praise making him smile slightly.

"The House Nott isn't powerful enough for me to stick my head out, neither is the House Parkinson, but Pansy always was a slow learner." Theodore admits with a shrug. "Do what you want with her, as long as she remains a virgin, things would become... unpleasant if she wasn't, for both of us."

Ahh, his father no doubt has warned him about trying to get out of his betrothal, and letting me fuck her would put him in hot water with his family.

"Of course, I appreciate your support." I say calmly, leaving the fact that I really don't need it unsaid. "Will that be all? Classes start soon..." I point out, making him bow slightly.

"It was, Heir Raum-Black." Theodore agrees.

Saying our goodbyes, I smile to myself.

His secrets were incredibly boring, he got a handjob from Tracey Davis and is longing for her, hating his less beautiful fiancée. He wanted to try and make her his mistress, but Tracey shot him down last night because of my contract with Daphne (not that he knows that), which put him in a terrible mood so he went after Juliet to cheer himself up, a lapse in his usual cowardice.

He's too cowardly to actually challenge me over Tracey, and he doesn't love her, he is just lusting for her. Give him a couple of weeks, and he'll find someone else to lust over, Tracey was just far more open to his flirting than any other... she appears to be a bit of a slut.

Heading to class, I immediately realise something as it starts.

...Hagrid has no business teaching.

"Just see if you can get them to eat! Not sure what they like just yet, but keep trying." Hagrid says easily, his beard on fire as he pats it out with a chuckle.

It's not that I share some of my house-mates opinions on half-breeds, Professor Flitwick is my favourite teacher in the school, he's brilliant... but I think Hagrid forgets that we don't all have his half-giant strength and toughness.

Who looks at a Fire-Crab and thinks 'It's good, but it could use more Manticore!'?

Blast-Ended Skrewts are unholy abominations, and that's coming from a Demon.

As the one I am assigned to attempts to set me on fire... again, I take a moment to thank magic for fire-proofing charms... and my demonic physiology that seems to be immune to the admittedly small flames from the young creatures.

"Look, creature... I have tried meat, fruits, flowers, and vegetables. What do you want from me, abomination?" I ask the stubborn creature as it sends another spurt of flame at me.

"Moving on to the bargaining phase?" a voice asks in amusement as I glare at the beast.

Turning around, I raise an eyebrow at Rose Potter as she approaches me, dragging her own creature behind her on a leash.

"The next phase involves me tossing it into the great lake and seeing if it can swim." I admit as I raise an eyebrow at her.

What in Merlin's name is she doing talking to me? Taking a moment, I cast a sound muffling spell to stop our conversation being heard. Just being seen talking to the Gryffindor Golden Girl will be a problem for me if I'm not careful. She is not popular in Slytherin, not in the slightest.

"Tried that, it just pissed the little guy off." Rose admits with a grin, her Skrewt sending some flames at her legs to punctuate her point, it's shell wet.

"Is there something I can do for you, Heiress Potter?" I ask, turning away from the unholy beast as it sets fire to my newest attempt to feed it.

"Hermione wanted to 'gather more information' first before we confronted you, but I've always preferred the straight forward approach. Why are you helping Juliet?" Rose asks immediately as Hermione finally notices that her partner in crime has wandered off, her eyes wide as she rushes over.

"Rose! You promised you wouldn't do this without me." Hermione says indignantly, leading her own crime against common sense to us.

"It's fine, Gray was just about to tell me what he is doing." Rose says with a smirk, she's always been a cocky, hot-tempered one. "I was planning on duelling a few of the Slytherins into the ground to make it clear Juliet was off-limits, but then the Hogwarts rumour mill did its work, and I heard that you went out of your way to stop Parkinson and Nott from bullying her, and that she was under the protection of the House Raum-Black. Wanna explain that?" Rose asks, crossing her arms as she stares me down.

Rose is very powerful, anyone who has seen her in Defence Class knows that, she's also rumoured to have personal training from Dumbledore himself, so if she decides to attack me, I'm fucked.

Maybe I could beat her with Hellfire if I caught her off guard, but that would be beyond stupid. Even if I won, even if I managed to do it in private and hide my involvement, killing the Girl-Who-Lived? With Demonic Magic?

Yeah, beyond insane.

"See, I didn't think you liked Hermione, or at least I didn't think you were closer than just acquaintances and rivals in class... and here you are, playing the hero." Rose continues with a frown before she smirks. "My bet is either you're scheming against Hermione, or you have a thing for her, so which is it?" she asks, making Hermione's cheeks darken as she looks away.

"Neither, Heiress Potter." I drawl, making her roll her eyes. "It may surprise you, but it has nothing to do with Miss Granger at all. I am well aware of how unpleasant dealing with people with a grudge against your siblings can be."

"...What?" Rose asks, off guard as she furrows her brow.

"I've dealt with Slytherins angry at Damian for his... pranks since first year, along with every house angry at Morrigan for her... less than diplomatic methods." I say with a sigh. "Damian and Morrigan are both excellent duellists, so I end up being targetted since Keira is also a good duellist... when she tries, and she has a lot of friends."

"You see yourself in Juliet?" Hermione asks, a look of pity on her face.

"Something like that, plus it worked well as a statement that my new Heir status is real and that I am not afraid to throw the power of my Houses around. Just a bit of Slytherin politics." I say with a slight smirk.

"Ugh, and here I was thinking just for a moment that you were actually a decent person, then you had to remind me that you're a Slytherin." Rose says teasingly, a smile on her face as her stance becomes less defensive.

"Well, we can't all be world-renown heroes." I retort, making her groan.

"Whatever... or did you want an autograph?" Rose asks sarcastically with a roll of her eyes, she's always hated her fame, but I think she's just too prideful to enjoy the benefits of something she did when she was in nappies. "Either way, thanks, Gray. Juliet's an adorable little bookworm, and she doesn't need some snakes giving her shit. I'll probably still give Pansy and Theodore a taste of what will happen if they try again." she says, making me wince.

"I... really wouldn't do that." I say weakly, making her scowl. "Juliet has to spend most of her time in the Slytherin Common Room... where you can't get when you aren't using Polyjuice." I point out, making her eyes widen as Hermione pales.

She was a shit actor, and Lyra was a moron for not noticing that Millicent suddenly became talkative and somewhat intelligent.

"If you threaten them, they'll just go for her when she's in the common room, and you are really not popular in Slytherin... either of you. You'll just make things much, much worse if you try and threaten or intimidate the rest of my house." I point out making her glower at me, displeasure on her face.

"Ugh, Slytherins... why you guys enjoy all that secrecy, I'll never know." Rose groans. "Fine, we'll do things your way, I guess. But I swear, if they hurt a single curly hair on her head, the kiddie gloves come off." Rose warns.

"I can handle my house, far better than you can. Pansy has already been put in her place and Theodore is a coward at heart. He won't try again... you want to help? Stay out of this." I say bluntly.

"We'll see, but seriously, Gray... thanks." Rose says with a small smile, less challenging than her usual one.

"I really appreciate this, Grayson, I couldn't sleep a wink last night worrying about Juliet." Hermione says with a warm smile, getting a casual nod from me.

I am well aware that half the class is watching us, even if they can't hear what we are saying.

"Obviously, otherwise you would have noticed your burning robes." I point out, making her eyes widen as she looks down, the edge of her robe alight from her beasts flames.

With the Golden Girls nice and distracted, I make my way out of the conversation, leaving them to deal with their demons as I get back to work.

Letting my eyes linger on the edge of the forbidden forest, I frown internally. Making a lair in there is going to be a... problem. It has immense potential, but just getting deep enough will be difficult without the right preparation.

The rest of the class passes quickly, and soon enough it is time for my first lesson with the infamous Mad-Eye Moody... is what I was expecting.

Bartemius Crouch Junior

Faction – Death Eaters

Thoughts about you – A Grudge over your mother's secret crusade against the Death Eaters

Lesser Secret – He is impersonating Alastor Moody on Voldemort's orders, he has his father under the Imperious curse

Major Secret – ???

Biggest Secret – ???

...I see Potters yearly adventure is starting early this time.

I... need to think carefully about what to do with this information, I'm certainly not confronting him over it or letting anyone else know, but the fact that he's taking orders from Voldemort tells me a lot more than anything else.

Voldemort, my fathers killer, is still around.

I'm not the vengeful type, at least not for someone I never met, but according to Mother, Voldemort wanted access to the Raum Family Library, and that could be a problem since I'm now the heir of that library. Plus, Mother and Triss have made a lot of issues for the Death Eaters, and I doubt Voldemort is the type to forgive and forget.

I need to make preparations, arrangements to make sure myself and my family are safe if the Dark Lord returns to power. I need to talk to mother, but this isn't something I am willing to put in a letter that could be intercepted.

The class itself is barely interesting, except for him handing out permission forms that we need to sign so he can use the Imperious on us all in a future class, and he doesn't teach anything I don't already know.

"Building a harem already?" Daphne asks as we work on revising the freezing spell, one we learnt last year (or in first year in my case).

"Hmm?" I ask, snapping to attention, I had zoned out.

"Pansy, Juliet Granger, me and Tracey... and now the elder Granger and Rose Potter herself? Anyone else you want to use to satiate your dark lusts?" Daphne asks, face blank before her lips twitch ever so slightly.

"I thought I'd add a couple Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs, to complete the set. Do you think Susan would be a good choice?" I ask sarcastically, glancing over at the incredibly bosomy redhead, even Hogwarts heavy robes failing to conceal her figure. "Is this the part where you curse me and rant about being proven right?"

"No, this is the part where I tell you that I don't care what you do with the rest of the girls in the school. You want to stick your dick in every girl from first year to seventh? Do it. I certainly don't care if you really are blackmailing Pansy to be your sex slave, honestly it might just shut her up for once. I care about what you do with me, Astoria and Tracey, the rest of the school aren't my problem. The more you bother them, the less you bother me." Daphne says bluntly, making me chuckle.

"And I promise not to do anything to you or Tracey without your permission." I repeat, making her roll her eyes. "And I'm just tutoring Astoria, or do you want to join us so you can glare at me suspiciously while Astoria bugs me about random things completely unrelated to potions?"

"I don't need to, if mother is to be believed, you're the one who needs protection from Astoria, not the other way around." Daphne says with a slightly mocking tone.

...She isn't wrong.

As class ends, I have lunch while going over my notes before I head to potions... which was basically the same as ever. We made potions while Professor Snape hovered around, mocking any mistake... but we are with Ravenclaw this year, and aside from Crabbe and Goyle, there aren't any idiots in our class. All the Slytherins are good at potions because we get extra classes... and the Ravenclaws are nerds. Anthony Goldstein messes up one of his steps, and gets ruthlessly mocked and docked points but other than that, the class passes without issue.

Which leads me to History of Magic, with Professor Margarita Laux-Antille. A beautiful blonde woman who manages to hold the classes attention far better than Binns ever did... mostly because of her low cut green dress-robe leaving more than a little cleavage on display.

I think Ron Weasley is actually drooling.

Binns leaving was long overdue, but I have my own problem with our new professor.

Margarita Laux-Antille

Faction – The Lodge of Sorceresses

Thoughts about you – She's intrigued about your Demonic Nature

Lesser Secret – She has infiltrated Hogwarts to keep an eye on the Lodge's investment, Grayson Raum-Black.

Major Secret – ???

Biggest Secret – ???

Wonderful.

A spy.

Catching my eyes, she gives me a kind smile as she lectures us on the history of the Ministry of Magic and the creation of the statue of secrecy.

She hasn't given me any more attention than the rest of the class, but I keep catching her glancing my way as I take notes. History of Magic is one class where I am around the same level of knowledge as the rest of my year... or the rest of the students at the top of my year at least.

Two other people have been paying attention to me as well... Padma Patil, who I expected.

She's number three in our year, and she doesn't like being beaten by Hermione and me.

She's not angry at me, she's just... silently competitive, eager to show that she can keep up with number one and two. Her secrets are utterly dull, she pretends to be her sister occasionally which makes her feel more confident and outgoing for some reason.

The one that gets my attention is Su Li, who I don't think I've ever heard speak in all my time at Hogwarts. She's been nervously glancing my way this entire time, and she was doing the same in Potions.

Su Li

Faction – The Cult of The Nine-Tailed Fox

Thoughts about you – She's terrified of being so close to a demon with unknown goals

Lesser Secret – She was born into a Demonic Cult worshipping the demon lord Da Ji. She has orders from her mistress.

Major Secret – ???

Biggest Secret – ???

...I'm starting to realise that Demon Cults and Secret Societies are far more common than I expected. Thank Merlin I have my eyes...

Also... Fuck. I'm pretty sure she shivered when I did that.

Da Ji... I vaguely know that name, but I don't remember it being linked with Demons? I need to do some research... and avoid Su Li before then, I want to go into this with as much information as possible.

Letting the class pass, I practically flee the scene the moment the lesson ends, catching a frown on Professor Laux-Antille's face and a panicked look on Su Li's.

I'm not moving fast enough for it to be suspicious, just power walking with a purpose as I avoid my watchers.

My rapid escape is intercepted by... someone I have never spoken to in my life.

"Heir Raum-Black... can we speak?" Marietta Edgecombe asks as I hide my confusion. She's one of Keira's 'friends', more like acquaintances that act closer than they actually are as I've heard Keira making fun of her in private. Keira has a lot of 'friends' and only a few Friends.

"Of course, Miss Edgecombe." I say easily, she looks a bit nervous, but I can't see any hostility from her.

She's a somewhat cute girl a year older than me with curly reddish-blonde hair, not quite as fiery as Rose Potter and not as ginger as the Weasleys.

Marietta Edgecombe

Faction – Hogwarts Students (Ravenclaw)

Thoughts about you – She doesn't care about you either way

Lesser Secret – She is bitter about how her half-blood status will hold her back in the future

Major Secret – ???

Biggest Secret – ???

Nothing noteworthy.

All I know about her is that she is in Keira's year, she's a mediocre student and witch and that she is the daughter of a low-level ministry employee. She's best friends with Cho Chang, a pureblood who came from China to study here, I believe her mother is a Chinese ambassador?

"In private, I know a place." Marietta says, leading me to a lesser-used corridor and into one of the unused classrooms.

Entering, I give her a slightly judging look at the security charm she uses to keep our conversation private before I replace it with a much better one, matching her flush.

"So, how do you want to do this?" Marietta asks, making my eyebrow raise.

"...how do I want to do what, Miss Edgecombe?" I ask, watching her turn bright red before she pales.

"You... you don't know? Keira hasn't spoken to you?" Marietta asks, watching my blank face with wide eyes.

"...What exactly should Keira have told me?" I ask with a blank stare.

"I... dammit, Keira, you had one job." Marietta mutters, embarrassment on her face.

Keira has put off something she should have done again to slack off, hasn't she?

"Should I go and track down my ever-slacking sister?" I ask, making her sigh.

"No, I can explain... Keira made me an offer I couldn't refuse." Marietta starts hesitantly. "Do you know much about my family?"

"I know your mother is a half-blood who works for the Ministry, in the Floo Network department, and I believe your father is a muggleborn though I don't know what he does." I admit, I'm used to knowing much more about the people I deal with than this.

"Pretty much, my father is a cleaner for a pub in Knockturn Alley... I don't know if you realise just how bad things can be for people who aren't Purebloods and don't have the support of a Pureblood family, but my father works two jobs constantly and barely makes anything, and my mother isn't doing much better. My family basically bankrupted themselves to put me through Hogwarts." Marietta admits, I already knew most of this. "I don't want... no, I will not follow their footsteps, working harder than any Pureblood for a pittance just because I don't have the right Lineage."

"So Keira offered you the support of our family?" I ask, making her shake her head.

"No, she can't make promises like that when she isn't the Heiress. She just offered me pure money, her weekly allowance is more than my mothers monthly wage, guess it's nice being born into two families as wealthy as the Blacks and Raum's." Marietta says with a half-laugh. "What is pocket change for her is a fortune for me."

...Do my siblings actually use their weekly allowance? I don't think I've ever managed to spend more than a quarter of mine before it reset.

I know Keira moves all hers into a personal vault since when it resets it always goes back to the same amount no matter how much she spent, so she's loaded even without it... and I have no idea what she does with her money other than buying sweets and food, and even Keira's appetite and her immense sweet tooth couldn't eat through that much money.

"And what service is she buying from you?" I ask with growing suspicion as Marietta's pale cheeks burn bright red.

This is precisely the kind of thing she'd find amusing.

"I... Umm... she told me about your... condition." Marietta says quickly, as my eyes narrow.

I'm almost certain Keira didn't tell Marietta the truth, and she's a surprisingly good liar when she wants to be.

"What, exactly, did my ever-interfering big sister tell you?" I ask.

"That you have Veela Malady." Marietta answers quickly. "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone, I'm not dumb enough to cross the Raum-Blacks."

Veela Malady...

Merlin damn it, Keira... we've been back for a day. You couldn't wait a week before complicating my life? Not that I don't see her reasoning.

I remember reading about this with Keira when we found a book in the family library on weird magical conditions throughout history.

It's a condition that appears during puberty in a very, very few magic users, and doesn't actually have anything to do with Veela.

Symptoms are... Nymphomania, a constant state of arousal, lack of self-control and various mood swings if the arousal builds up.

It got its name because it appeared in France and people assumed that the creatures that basically feed on sex, the Veela, were responsible as they are most common there. They were... probably wrong, but despite the Veela protesting the name for the past few hundred years its cause is still unknown.

The cure? Sexual relief, but self-gratification doesn't take the edge off, and the gratification has to come from another person. Magic is weird like that.

"I see. I will have to speak with my sister over her... inability to keep secrets." I say with a sigh, despite my growing amusement that I hide quickly.

Of course, Keira would tell people I have a magical condition making me horny. This is exactly what she would find hilarious. I bet she's giggling to herself wherever she is hiding.

I'm sure she'll tell me that she did it for my benefit, all while trying to force down her laughter. Keira can be rather... impish at times.

"You don't have to worry, she only told me, and I won't tell anyone." Marietta assures me as I sigh. "She... well, she hired me to help you handle it." Marietta admits with a growing blush and shame in her tone.

Prostitution, essentially? Hence the shame I can sense rolling from the older girl as she stands in front of me, it's actually feeding me and producing a tiny amount of Essence.

"I see. I do wish she'd consulted me before she did this, but I can't say I'm surprised." I admit with a fond sigh. "Are you sure about this, Miss Edgecombe?" I ask, making her smile slightly despite her glowing face and intense shame and self-loathing.

"My family owe a fair amount to Gringotts, and you know how bad the goblins can get when it comes to debts. I need the money, Keira has it, and she knew I needed the help. It's just a business deal. If I save enough up I can pay off my family's debt and immigrate to France or America where half-bloods are so disadvantaged. Look, I'll be honest, I'm not happy about this, and I'm not going to pretend I am... but it's a bit of embarrassment now to secure my future." Marietta says as she undoes her robes.

"How pragmatic." I praise as she hesitates before she pulls her jumper and starts unbuttoning her shirt, revealing a decently sized pair of breasts in a blue and bronze bra.

House loyalty, huh?

"How do you want me to... help you? Keira mentioned that you can't have normal sex yet though she didn't mention the reason and I don't want to lose my virginity for money..." Marietta trails off as she undoes her bra, hesitating before she lets it drop, her blush travelling down her neck.

Her breasts might not be massive, but they are rather perky, barely dropping even as her bra falls to the floor, each topped with a cute pink nipple.

Her shyness is easily noticed as she fidgets in place, her skirt untouched.

"Come here." I order, pulling my eyes from her chest as she moves closer, inching forwards slowly and hesitantly.

Willing, but hesitant. I can practically see her convincing herself that this is the right thing to do as she stops right in front of me, flinching back as my hand comes up to her chest, gently caressing the soft flesh, drawing a quiet moan out of her.

I have quite a bit of experience in drawing pleasure from my partners after this summer.

Honestly? After leaving Pansy unfucked, I can't resist a willing girl offering herself to me, even if I'd prefer to speak with Keira first. I have decent self-control, but I am a lust demon, and I have my needs.

"You're... inexperienced, aren't you?" I ask, making her blush harder, even as she mewls slightly from my touch.

"I've never gone further than groping, and that was on a dare." Marietta admits.

"Let's start small then." I say somewhat kindly as I kiss her, making her eyes widen before they close.

With my free hand, I reach down and part my robes, undoing my trousers and pull out my rock-hard shaft, grabbing her hand and moving it to my cock.

Her inexperience is downright noticeable. Her strokes are too rough, her grip too tight, and she keeps pausing hesitantly as she frowns against my lips, trying to work out what to do as my other hand moves under her skirt, stroking her surprisingly curvy ass.

Breaking the kiss, I move my hands to her shoulders and gently push down, making her face flush as she falls to her knees. I don't need to convince her to obey, she's done that herself.

"Slower, it's not a race... you'll just hurt it if you keep speeding up. Loosen your grip a bit as well." I advise as she stares at the throbbing shaft hovering in front of her face, slowing down as she stops squeezing so much. "That's it, use your other hand to massage my balls."

"O-okay... I can do that." Marietta says, more to herself as she takes my advice, gently cupping my ballsack and slowly fondling them with a focused look on her face.

Taking a chance, I peek into her mind to see what she's thinking. I'm usually a bit hesitant since you never know who knows Occlumency and will be able to detect you, but Marietta's mind is an open book, no mental shields to stop me.

Unsurprisingly she is trying to take her mind off what she is doing, she's ashamed that she's selling her body, her bitter that she ended up in a situation where she needed to do this, she's... thankful to Keira for the chance? She's grateful I'm letting her start slowly?

Huh, she's more reasonable than I expected. All her anger and disgust is pointed at society and herself. Her parents don't think she knows about their money problems, and they spoil her.

I might be able to use that in the future, but for now, I simply enjoy her rapidly improving touch, Ravenclaws are usually pretty smart after all.

Leaning against one of the slightly dusty desks, I sigh in pleasure as she surprises me, leaning forwards and hesitantly licking the tip of my cock, her eyes locked with mine as she starts to gently run her tongue along my length, my balls churning as I feel my climax approaching.

Last nights release was disappointing, my hand can't really bring me any true relief as I'm used better, so with a half-naked cute girl on her knees in front of me, I'm brought to completion fairly quickly.

"Marietta, I'm gonna cum soon..." I warn her, watching the indecision on her face before she sighs and aims my dick lower, stroking faster as I reach my climax, my seed splattering against her naked chest as she flinches, not stopping her stroking until every drop has been released onto her breasts and stomach.

"It's... still hard?" Marietta says, a hint of worry in her tone as she stares at it.

"It is, but it's more manageable now, It should go down on its own when I don't have a beautiful naked girl on her knees in front of me." I point out making her blush as she rises, pulling out her wand and cleaning herself off.

"R-right... Keira said she has an idea about how we can keep in touch, but she hasn't told me how and she obviously hasn't told you either... when she actually does what she said she would, you should have a way to... contact me when you need another relief session." Marietta says, she's been very careful not to mention prostitution, mostly for her own sanity.

"Ah, got it... I'll try and track the slacker down. Thank you, Marietta." I say as she pulls her clothes back on.

"Heh, I think I should be thanking you. You'd have gotten this taken care of either way, you're too rich and powerful not to, and I need this more than you." Marietta admits, self-loathing filling her again. "I'll go first, wait a few minutes then you can leave. We'll have to find somewhere more private in future..." she mutters, giving me a small smile before she kisses me on the cheek. "Thanks for not being a dick about this, I am well aware of how pathetic I am." she says as she turns away and leaves before I can respond.

Hmm.

Interesting.

...now to track down Keira.

- Later -

She's avoiding me, I'm sure of it.

She's not in any of her usual places, and her friend Bethany Hawke says she isn't in the Ravenclaw Common Room.

...turns out, Keira is a prefect. As baffling as the idea of my lazy and frankly irresponsible sister being in a position of power is, I have no idea who thought that was a good idea, and she is 'patrolling'. Which means she's hiding somewhere to avoid her responsibilities.

Even worse, Damian is Headboy. Damian.

Damian the responsibility hating prankster. Of all people?

What does Dumbledore have in his Lemon Drops that he thought that was a good idea? He might as well have made Morrigan the Headgirl and completed the set of utterly inappropriate choices.

I love Keira, I even love Morrigan and somewhat like Damian when he isn't targetting me... but none of them should be given power over anything.

Keira runs a small smuggling ring to get contraband from Hogsmeade through the secret passageways, and now she's the one who confiscates contraband?

Exploring the school, I go mostly unbothered due to a charm I placed on myself to make people mostly ignore me. It's an old favourite, but it isn't perfect.

If I draw too much attention with my actions, it will fail, and if people are actively looking for me, it can be a bit dodgy. I want to improve it in the future, but I need more Arithmancy knowledge before I try that.

Heading through the school, I decide to call it a night and track down my mischievous sister at breakfast or lunch tomorrow, she can't avoid me forever.

If I need to, I think I could use our connection through the contract she signed to force her to seek me out, but I'd rather not right now.

Moving through the corridors, my senses scream at me to move as I sense a spell being cast behind me, spinning around in place as I draw my own wand, thankful my sheathe has a quick-draw feature.

Despite my hastily cast shield, the red spell shooting towards me simply breaks through it, reminding me that my magic still mostly sucks even with the boost, and as the stunning spell hits me in the centre chest, a well-aimed shot, I make eye contact with my attacker.

Is it the Death Eater who somehow realised I knew his secret? Su Li attacking me on Da Ji's orders?

Seeing Damian's grinning face, I sigh even as me consciousness fades.

...I think I'd prefer the Death Eaters or Demon Cultists.

Here we go again. The Headboy, ladies and gentlemen...

- Bonus Scene – Yennefer –

"Sister, dearest... a pleasure as ever." Yennefer said calmly, staring at her little sister with a completely fake smile. "What brings you to my humble abode?"

"Do stop that, Yennefer." Narcissa said with a roll of her eyes and a slight sneer. "We both know you are no more happy to see me than I am you."

"Fine, what do you want, Narcissa?" Yennefer asked as she gave her little sister her patented 'you're an idiot' stare.

"I'm here to ask you to stop your crusade against Lucius." Narcissa said, continuing before she could claim innocence. "Every single time Lucius had tried to pass a law or legislation in the Wizengamot, you have made it your goal to make sure it fails. Need I remind you that Lucius's position as Minister Fudge's advisor allows me to influence the minister for the Lodge's own ends?" Narcissa said with a smirk.

"Please, Fudge can be influenced by a sack of sickles tied to a stick. The man is a fool and a puppet. It's the only reason he has lasted this long. Don't try and use the Lodge to suit your own ends... and certainly not your husbands. Lucius is certainly not needed." Yennefer retorted, watching as Narcissa scowled at getting caught out. "Don't try manipulating me, Narcissa. The only person you've ever been able to control was father, and he's dead and gone."

Cissy always was a daddy's girl, and she was always fathers favourite, always getting her way. Andromeda and Yennefer even had a bet going when they were younger over whether Cissy was sleeping with their father. Andromeda didn't believe Cissy would degrade herself like that, but Yennefer was still reasonably confident there was more to their father's constant favouritism than him just spoiling the youngest.

Her father was scum, the worst kind of Pureblood who wanted to marry her off to some old lord in Europe. It was terribly lucky for her that he dropped dead before he could finish the negotiations.

Her mother wasn't much better, and her fondness for using the Cruciatus Curse as a form of discipline went a long way to explain Bella's insanity.

"It doesn't change the fact that you are weakening the Lodge's influence to satisfy your petty grudge." Narcissa countered. "Every failed law makes Lucius look weak."

Petty grudge? Her hatred of Death Eaters was no petty grudge, the took Geralt from her, they were lucky Triss stopped her from hunting them all down and slaughtering the ones who escaped punishment.

Geralt wouldn't want her in Azkaban, so she decided to get her revenge more... subtly.

"Then he should learn his place and stop trying to pass laws. If that is all, dear sister... get out of my house." Yennefer said coldly.

"...It is not. I have some Lodge business to discuss with you as well." Narcissa said reluctantly, making her eyebrow raise.

"Indeed? How curious... since I am on the council and you are just a minor member, it's rather interesting that you have business with me that I don't already know about. Who was it? Assire? No... Francesca? Fringilla? Sheala? Ahh, Sheala." Yen confirmed, watching her sisters face for the slight twitch with a smug smile. "And what does Sheala want that she needed to send a messenger for?" she asked with an amused smirk.

Narcissa always had an overly generous view of her own talents and cunning, but Yen could read her as easily now as she could when they were children.

"She wants to correct your failures." Narcissa pointed out, scowling with a deep pout at being read so easily. She always was a brat, that hadn't changed. "With Grayson."

And like that, her amusement was gone.

"Choose your next words very... carefully, dear sister." Yen warned, her magic leaking out as the air crackled with power, making Narcissa's eye widen.

"Grayson needs to be powerful, and you've done well, giving him the drive to gain power." Narcissa started quickly, her face blanching in fear.

Hmph, she barely did anything. Grayson was ambitious even without her prodding.

"But he's too insular. I don't need to remind you why we need him to understand all the intricacies of nobility and politics. He does understand the simpler parts, but you haven't taught him enough." Narcissa explained making her scoff, even as the crackling air lessened.

"I had to focus on getting his mind arts up, so he didn't lose his mind to his sins, which is why he's likely a better Occlumens and Legilimens than half the lodge." Yen half-explained, half-bragged.

"And that's wonderful, truly it is... but does he even know how to dance? Does he know how to act at balls? You've kept him away from almost every single one that he has been invited to." Narcissa countered.

"He prefers the more... practical arts. And no, I haven't had him take dance lessons." Yen admitted. She brought them up when he was younger, and the look of pure disgust amused her so much she let him skip them.

"Which is why Sheala has ordered me to tutor him up to standards. You know the Yule Ball will be held at Hogwarts this winter, and as the heir, he won't be able to avoid the frequent balls held by various nobles without weakening his position and the position of the House's Raum and Black. Or would you rather he embarrass himself, then lose control of his wrath because of it?" Narcissa asked caustically.

Narcissa might be a weak, spoiled brat... but she did know her etiquette.

"...very well sister, but I am warning you, if you try and manipulate him to suit your ends, and your husbands, I will personally end you and the entire Malfoy line. Do not test me on this." Yen said, her voice cold enough to freeze water. "I will send him a letter to let him know to expect you, and one to Dumbledore to get permission for you to visit him." she agreed, watching the hint of triumph on her sisters face.

Narcissa thought she was smart... she was absolutely going to try and manipulate Gray, maybe to make him support Lucius's schemes, or perhaps she wanted to try and make Lyra the next Lady Black? Either way, Gray would be warned.

Frankly, she was sure that Gray would manipulate Narcissa long before Narcissa could do the same to him. It was the only reason she was allowing her conniving little sister near her favourite child.

"Thank you, sister... I'm glad you could see reason." Narcissa said, as if she hadn't been trembling in fear moments before.