[Note: Read up to Chapter - 164 on P patron at: p-atreon.com/Knockturn_Alley]
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"If I'd known this would happen… why did I even bother?"
Aris looked at the pair kneeling before him—one grown man, one boy—with a complicated expression.
Draco wasn't inherently bad; he was just a touch arrogant, used to everyone revolving around him. That sort of attitude had been drilled into him since birth. He'd had a charmed life, never known real hardship or failure. Lucius and his family doted on him endlessly—a fact clear from the way his life had unfolded in the original tale.
But, unfortunately for them, they'd picked the wrong person to mess with: Aris.
"Get up," the boy said softly, voice calm but firm. "I'm giving you a chance—a chance for the Malfoy family to rise again."
Aris regarded Lucius with calm eyes, a faint trace of authority glinting in them.
"But whether you make the most of this chance… that's entirely up to you."
As he spoke, a hint of boredom tugged at him. This whole display of devoted father and dutiful son was hardly entertaining. He'd long since lost interest in watching their melodrama unfold. It was dull—bloody dull!
With that, Aris turned on his heel and left the living room.
Henry, who'd been silent all this while, stepped forward.
"Get up—the young master's gone!"
At the sound, Lucius and Draco snapped their heads up.
"Thank you! Thank you, young master!" Lucius muttered, bowing repeatedly toward Aris' retreating back.
Draco, meanwhile, stood frozen, utterly bewildered by everything he'd just witnessed.
He didn't know how he'd face Aris at school… and he had no idea how to face his own family either.
In the east tower of the castle that night, Hermione lay awake, unable to drift off. She stared out at the dark sky beyond the window, the thin curtains barely stirring in the still air, and a chill ran down her spine, as if some unseen presence was watching her from the shadows.
Perhaps she was just a little frightened—alone in an unfamiliar place, it was easy to feel that way.
After a moment, she clenched her teeth, swung her legs out of bed, and moved quickly to the door. Pressing her ear against it, she listened intently to the sounds coming from the room opposite—Aris' bedroom.
"I have no idea what that bloke's up to…"
The little witch glanced again at the dark room, shrinking instinctively at the emptiness and silence.
"Ah, never mind… let's go see for ourselves."
With that, Hermione eased the door open and tiptoed quietly toward Aris' room, every step measured and careful.
She paused for a moment, then rapped gently on the door. "Aris… are you asleep?"
"No!" The familiar voice called back, and the door slowly creaked open.
"What's the matter? Can't sleep?"
Under the warm glow of the lamp, Aris was perched at his desk, a thick book open in his hands.
"Still reading at this hour, eh?" Hermione asked, trying to sound casual. She shuffled into the room, hands behind her back, a little wobbly on her feet. Then she quietly closed the door behind her.
"Oi, why'd you shut the door?" Aris asked, brow furrowed in mild confusion.
A girl barging into a boy's room at this hour and closing the door… anyone else seeing it would've had a hundred questions they couldn't answer.
"Nothing… just wanted a look around your room," Hermione mumbled, cheeks burning. She drifted toward the bookshelf, trying to act nonchalant.
"Blimey… you've got loads of books in here!"
Soon, Hermione found herself drawn to the bookshelves, her eyes flitting eagerly from shelf to shelf.
She picked up a book titled Research on the Development of Modern Witchcraft.
Ever since meeting Aris, Hermione had developed a growing interest in academic research books. Most of it went over her head, of course, but just skimming through them made her feel she'd learned something.
Her favourite pastime was asking Aris questions about things she didn't understand. What felt truly magical to her was that he always had the right answer, no matter how obscure the topic.
The sheer breadth of his knowledge was staggering. Hermione often wondered if even the professors at Hogwarts had as wide a grasp of certain subjects as Aris did. And she wasn't exaggerating one bit.
"You fancy a read too, eh?"
She watched Hermione clutch the book, leap straight onto the bed, lift the quilt with practiced ease, and snuggle in as if she owned the place.
Aris suddenly felt something odd he couldn't quite put his finger on.
She's so… natural! Completely unbothered. He thought. That's my bed, Miss Granger!
"Don't worry about me!" Hermione's cheeks tinged pink, but she carried on as if nothing had happened. "I'll just read for a bit. I'll fall asleep when I get tired."
She wanted him to know she was only in his room because she was a bit frightened.
"...…" Aris stared at her, blankly at first, then noticed the faint blush on her face.
Ah, he realised. Girls could be a little uneasy when sleeping somewhere unfamiliar for the first time…
He could only shake his head with a helpless smile, deciding not to fuss about it. No harm done.
Besides, the bed was huge, and considering the small frames of the two eleven-year-olds, there'd be plenty of space even if four or five of them were to pile in.
"Alright then, do as you like. I'll just read a bit more."
Aris cast one last glance at the girl. Seeing her keep her head down, too shy to meet anyone's eyes, he shook his head with mild amusement.
Soon, the room fell quiet again.
They both read in silence, the only sound being the occasional call of a nightingale from somewhere outside the castle. A cool breeze drifted in through the window, making the little witch instinctively curl up a little.
Aris waved his hand, using magic to close most of the window, leaving just a tiny gap. The little witch's face lit up with a small, grateful smile.
She shifted into a more comfortable position on the bed and lay down, already feeling drowsy. The book in her hands slipped aside without her noticing.
Soon, soft, even breaths filled the room—Hermione had fallen asleep, half-lying on the bed.
At that moment, Aris's gaze flicked toward the door once more.
"Another one?"
The boy was a little taken aback, but before the girl outside the door could knock, he waved his hand and used magic to open it.
"Cho, are you having trouble sleeping as well?" Aris asked bluntly.
The little witch at the door hadn't expected him to be so direct, and her face turned crimson instantly.
"Well… the castle… the rooms… they're so big. I… I'm not used to it…"
Cho hovered uncertainly at the threshold, unsure whether to step inside or run off. Embarrassment made her fidget nervously.
"It's alright, come in!" Aris said with a smile, pointing toward the bed. "Hermione was scared too, and she ended up falling asleep here with me."
Cho froze for a moment, then peered inside. Sure enough, Hermione was sound asleep on the bed.
"She…" Cho muttered, a twinge of resentment creeping in. "She came before me…"
Seeing Hermione already there seemed to steel her resolve. Cho stepped into the room and closed the door behind her. Under Aris's watchful gaze, she quickly slipped into the big bed like a timid little thief.
Not daring to look at him, she buried her head under the quilt.
"You'll be short of oxygen if you sleep like that…" Aris said, a note of helplessness in his voice.
Still, Cho didn't dare peek out, curling further into the blanket. Aris could only shake his head, helplessly amused.
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Drop Power Stonessssssssss!
[Note: Read up to Chapter - 164 on P patron at: p-atreon.com/Knockturn_Alley]