Present Day –
Hogwarts...
Leo's Office...
The gentle tapping of rain against the stained-glass windows of the Defence Against the Dark Arts office did little to ease the tension in the room.
Leo stood behind his grand, rune-carved desk, rubbing his temples in exasperation.
"____"
Sigh~
Before him stood five very familiar faces, each a troublemaker in their own way —
All sixth years, all impossibly talented, and all currently the source of his growing headache.
And also students of his house.
As the head of the house, Dragon, he was responsible for them.
The Five:
Severus Snape leaned lazily against the bookcase, twirling his large pet bat, Jig Saw, around his index finger like it was a yo-yo.
Superbly, it was weightless compared to its size due to its mixed heritage.
His usually sharp eyes had a dreamy, far-off look —
Which only made Leo more suspicious.
Snape looked like he'd just brewed up a brand-new mischief and named it after a moon phase.
Sirius Black, hands buried deep in his robe pockets, was purposely avoiding eye contact —
Not with Leo, but with Bellatrix, who stood by the door, arms crossed, radiating dangerous older-sister energy.
"____"
Her eyes were daggers, and Sirius knew better than to provoke her, even with a smirk.
He was visibly sweating.
Remus Lupin stood perfectly upright, the very picture of an obedient student —
Hands folded, hair neatly brushed, expression calm.
If it weren't for the guilty stiffness in his shoulders and the way his eyes flicked between Sirius and Snape, he might've convinced someone he was innocent.
But Leo could see through him easily.
This boy worshipped him.
That made things complicated.
Lily Evans stood with a playful smirk, brushing a loose strand of hair from her face.
Smirk~
She waited for the others to get yelled at, but when Leo's gaze passed over her, she caught him off guard with a wink, followed by a playful kiss-blow.
Wink~ Smooch~
"____"
Leo sputtered in disbelief, pretending not to notice while the tips of his ears turned faintly pink.
Even though he had quite a number of harem, this girl, since the 4th year, became bolder.
And even tries to express things like this publicly.
He misses those quite, Lilly Evans, who listens to him without these playful antics.
He even suspects it must be related to Setsura, whom Lilly met during her shopping at Diagon Alley.
Amelia Bones, ever the composed one, stood silently but shifted her weight nervously.
Her hand gripped the strap of her book satchel a little too tightly.
Among them all, she was perhaps the most sensible —
Which meant she probably came up with the idea and made the others execute it.
Leo finally sighed, lowered his hands, and gave them all a look of fatherly disappointment with just a hint of sarcasm.
Sigh~
"It's the end of your sixth year. You lot should be preparing for N.E.W.T.S, focusing on your future careers — not turning the corridors into a war zone between Gryffindor and Slytherin!"
His eyes swept across them.
"Snape, what did you lace the pumpkin juice with this time?"
"Just a mood enhancer… with a hint of truth serum,"
Snape mumbled, still distracted by Jig Saw, who had now perched upside down on his head.
"Sirius. What's this I hear about charming the suits of armour to chant 'Team Lupin' during Slughorn's class?"
"I plead the fifth,"
Sirius said, still not looking up.
"And you, Lupin?"
Leo asked, arms crossed.
"I told them it was a bad idea. Then I helped. Because… unity."
Leo groaned.
"And Lily—"
"Oh, come on,"
She said, stepping forward with a grin.
Grin~
"That duel between the Gryffindor and Slytherin sixth-years was already going to happen. I just… accelerated things."
She winked again.
Wink~
Bella rolled her eyes so hard it was almost audible.
Leo finally turned to Amelia.
"Tell me at least you weren't involved."
Amelia bit her lip.
"____"
"…They needed the distraction so I could break into Slughorn's supply closet."
"For what?!"
"To test a memory-erasing charm. Don't worry — I only used it on a rat."
Leo slowly sat down in his chair, leaned back, and stared at the ceiling.
"Why… am I not surprised?"
He muttered.
"Because you trained us too well, Professor,"
Lupin said brightly.
Leo shot him a look.
"Don't flatter me — I might decide to make you all write essays on the ethics of magical pranks. Twenty scrolls. Each."
A collective groan filled the room.
Moments After the Group Leaves
Click~
The door clicked shut behind the five students, their laughter fading into the distant echo of Hogwarts' ever-shifting halls.
Leo let out a long sigh, slumping back into his chair.
Sigh~
He conjured a tumbler of firewhisky, took a slow sip, and stared at the flickering green flames in the hearth.
"I knew bending the sorting was going to shake the board."
He muttered to himself.
"But this... this is an entirely new game."
Flashback Events–
During the Time skip:
Years ago, after gaining trust and influence among Hogwarts' faculty,
Leo had subtly invoked his influence on the Sorting Hat's decisions.
After he became the heir of the House of Dragon.
Not just for prestige, but to nurture those he saw as key to the future.
He used his influence to put talented wizards and witches he knew from his past knowledge to sort them into his house.
Among them were Severus Snape, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, Lily Evans and Amelia Bones
Leo had expected changes—
He'd planned for them.
But even he hadn't anticipated the butterfly effect that followed.
To everyone's surprise, especially Leo's, Snape did not fall for Lily. In fact, the two had become rivals in potions, pushing each other to greater heights with their competition. Friends? Barely. But mutual respect? Definitely.
Instead, something unexpected happened.
Snape fell for Lily's elder sister—Putenia Evans.
Who is two years older than him?
The same Muggle-born prodigy whose magic Leo had awakened with the Adaptability Pill.
Their chemistry was subtle at first: quiet conversations, shared books, long glances in the library.
But now? It was something deeper.
But unfortunately for him, Putenia has graduated from Hogwarts and is currently working at his shop branch in Hogsmade.
Even though it was small compared to other shops.
The shop is always busy with students and other wizards and witches.
Tomorrow was Snape's birthday, and Putenia is going to propose to him to make things official and was currently getting advice from Narcissa, who was also working at the same shop.
He had got a sniff of it from Narcissa last night.
"Guess he was always meant to fall for an Evans."
Leo mused, smiling faintly.
As for Sirius Black & Remus Lupin.
Their placement in the House of Dragon had cut ties with James Potter before the famed Marauders were ever born.
Without the Gryffindor bond, their friendship with James never bloomed—
Instead, it twisted into a rivalry.
Sirius and James became the Harry and Draco of their generation.
Not enemies—
No, it was more complex than that.
They respected James's raw magical talent.
But every prank James pulled, Sirius and Lupin returned in kind.
It was a game. A dance.
A chess match of chaos and wit.
And for Lily Evans
Leo had noticed her watching him since her first year.
Admiration, curiosity, and the usual starstruck look that most girls gave him.
But something changed during her fourth year,
After a summer visit to Diagon Alley.
There, Lily had bumped into Setsura when she came to the shop.
No one knew what they spoke about—
But ever since, Lily had grown bolder, sharper, confident in a dangerous way.
Now she winked at Leo in public, blew kisses, and often left anonymous (but very obvious) love letters in his desk—
signed L.E. in delicate calligraphy.
Setsura found the whole thing hilarious.
Leo… not so much.
She and Amelia Bones become best friends due to their common interest in reading books.
He leaned back, watching the fire dance.
"They were supposed to be just students. Now..."
A familiar sound chimed softly in Leo's mind—
The ethereal, crystalline tone of his System Notification.
A glowing blue panel opened before his eyes, visible only to him.
[DING...]
[Task 02-->The Dark Phoenix Returns
Objective:
Meet and establish an alliance with Gellert Grindelwald, who will arrive at Hogwarts during lunch today.
He seeks hope for the magical world—and sees that hope in you.
Task Details:
Gellert Grindelwald, after years of isolation and silence, has sensed a shift in the tides of magical destiny.
His reappearance signals the next phase in your overarching quest to reshape the magical world.
You must convince him to align with your vision.
Words alone may not be enough.
Prepare for a philosophical, magical, and strategic test.
Rewards on Completion:
🔺 Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan (Upgrade Unlocked – includes both advanced genjutsu and unique ocular abilities)
🌱 Soil Fertiliser Potion Recipe
Converts barren land—including deserts—into fertile ground.
Enhances the taste, magic, and energy of all crops.
Completely non-toxic and environmentally safe.
Revolutionises magical and Muggle agriculture alike.]
"____"
Leo blinked, staring at the floating panel as it slowly dissolved.
"...Grindelwald?"
He whispered, his voice barely audible.
It had been eight years.
Eight years since Gellert Grindelwald escaped his prison.
During these eight years since peace began stitching itself together, thread by fragile thread.
Since Grindelwald didn't make any move.
And now... Gellert Grindelwald was coming to meet him.
He slowly stood, his mind running through possibilities and preparation for the meeting.
His red eyes gleamed when he was in deep thought.
"So, the dark phoenix has seen a spark worth following."
He murmured.
He knew one thing clearly—
This meeting could decide the course of the next century.
Leo's eyes were still fixed on the now-vanished system panel, his mind racing with possibilities and strategies regarding Grindelwald's arrival.
But before he could even begin to process his next move—
A warm weight settled in his lap.
"____"
Bellatrix.
Without a word, her arms snaked around his neck, and she pulled him into a deep, possessive kiss.
Smooch~
Her black curls brushed against his face, and her familiar, intoxicating scent surrounded him.
"Mmmph—Bella—!"
But she didn't give him a chance to speak.
Her lips moved fervently against his, silencing any protest he might've considered.
When she finally pulled back, her eyes sparkled with mischief and frustration.
"You owe me, Leo."
She whispered, her tone a mix of teasing and demand.
"Last time we had a moment—your precious students barged in. That mutt Sirius and his mischief crew ruined everything."
She pouted, trailing her fingers down his chest, voice sulky and playful.
Pout~
"Honestly, I'm beginning to think you like it when they interrupt us."
Leo raised a brow, his hand gently brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.
"You're blaming me for Sirius being Sirius?"
"I'm blaming you,"
She said, pressing her forehead to his,
"For not putting up stronger wards."
He chuckled softly, finally grounding himself back into the present moment.
Chuckle~
Bellatrix could be wild, obsessive, even terrifying—
But in moments like this, there was a possessive tenderness to her.
One that made even chaos feel like comfort.
He rested his hand on her waist.
"Well, then…"
He said, eyes flashing briefly,
"Maybe I'll set a ward powerful enough to fry the next idiot who interrupts us."
Her lips curled into a grin.
Grin~
"Now that's the Leo Morningstar I fell for."
Suddenly, Leo paused.
He felt it, someone had entered Hogwarts, breaking the wards.
Leo's eyes flicked toward the direction of the forbidden forest.
Bella noticed.
Her gaze sharpened.
"What is it?"
Leo gently stood, letting her slide off his lap, his expression returning to one of focused seriousness.
"Grindelwald's arrival, I guess... I need to prepare."
Bella crossed her arms and leaned against the desk.
"Grindelwald, huh? The old ghost himself. Want me with you?"
Leo considered it.
Bellatrix was dangerous, loyal, and sharp.
But Grindelwald required finesse.
A blade was sometimes better sheathed when diplomacy danced at the centre.
"No. Probably he will meet me in the Great Hall."
She nodded, eyes narrowing.
Nod~
Leo smiled at her antics.
Both of them, after chatting for some time, left the office for the great hall.
Great Hall – Lunchtime...
The Great Hall was abuzz with the lively chatter of students enjoying their midday meal.
Plates magically filled with roasted meats, vegetables, pumpkin pasties, and sweets as the four long tables pulsed with the everyday life of Hogwarts.
Laughter echoed across the enchanted ceiling, which mirrored a bright, cloud-dappled spring sky.
At the professor's table,
The staff were seated in their usual places.
Professor Flitwick was cheerfully sipping his tea, McGonagall was reviewing some student parchments even while nibbling toast, and Dumbledore—
Ever the eccentric—
Had just pulled out a lemon drop with a whimsical smile on his face.
That smile didn't last long.
Leo Morningstar and Bellatrix Lestrange entered the hall side by side.
Their presence alone was enough to silence the nearby tables.
Bella's presence, intense as ever, drew unease—
Especially from older students who'd heard whispers of her legacy of fighting dark wizards and punishing them cruelly.
Leo walked with calm authority, his sharp eyes sweeping the hall before locking onto Dumbledore.
He approached quietly.
"Dumbledore,"
Leo said, voice low and calm,
"He's coming. Grindelwald. Today."
The headmaster, mid-movement, froze—
His fingers were just inches from placing the lemon drop into his mouth.
"____"
'Here goes my sweet time with my sweets.'
Were the only one thought in his mind.
The light in his eyes dimmed in realisation.
As he slowly set the candy down on the table.
His expression turned grim.
The colour drained from his face ever so slightly.
"Grindelwald…"
He whispered, more to himself than to Leo.
"Are you certain?"
Leo nodded.
Nod~
"Yes. He'll be here before lunch ends."
Dumbledore's voice was no longer airy or detached;
It dropped into that deep, calculated calm reserved only for real threats.
"How do you know this?"
"____"
Leo paused for half a second—
Then gave a small shrug.
"One of my spies picked up the trail. He's not being subtle."
Dumbledore studied Leo for a long moment.
He could tell Leo wasn't revealing the whole truth, but he also knew better than to press him too hard.
Especially not here.
"Very well,"
Dumbledore said, rising slowly.
"If he's here to speak… I shall allow it. But Hogwarts will not become a battlefield, Leo."
Leo gave him a small smirk.
Smirk~
"That depends on Grindelwald, not me."
Bellatrix scoffed, clearly unconcerned.
She had taken a seat near the end of the staff table, resting her chin on her knuckles as she watched the students with vague amusement—
especially Sirius, who was staring at his plate like it had just grown legs.
Suddenly—
The front door of the Great Hall creaked open.
All heads turned.
"____"
A figure stepped through, clad in elegant yet travel-worn robes, long silver-blonde hair swept back, and sharp blue eyes that gleamed with intent.
He held no wand in hand, no companion at his side.
Gellert Grindelwald had arrived at Hogwarts.
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(Author's POV)
(A/N)I hope you guys are enjoying the story.
Thanks for reading the chapter!
Please give a review and power stone!!! It will Motivate Me.