✨ 300 gems = 1 bonus chapter
✨ 500 gems = another bonus chapter
***********
[TL: I tried to change the writing/ translating style. What do you guys think? Which one is better?]
The next morning, way too early, George and Fred Weasley were already buzzing. They had a huge Hogsmeade order for their joke stuff. Some secret rich person was paying, lucky them.
Clattering down the Gryffindor stairs—probably waking everyone—they spotted someone they didn't expect: Aiden Prewett, fast asleep on a comfy common room sofa.
"Well, well, Freddie—look what we found," George whispered, nudging his twin with a huge, mischievous grin.
"Isn't that our little brother, Aiden?" Fred grinned back. This was going to be fun.
No words needed. Twins, right? They both whipped out their wands. Poof! A cloud of soft, super-tickly feathers floated down towards Aiden. They snuck closer, mischief practically glowing around them.
"Ugh, Lada… get off my face… It's too early…" Aiden mumbled, half-dreaming about his cat, Lada, probably walking all over him. He waved his hand a bit.
Sunlight was coming in. Gryffindors were waking up. They saw George and Fred teasing Aiden. A crowd gathered, whispering and giggling. A Ravenclaw in their common room? Juicy!
After a good deal of tickling with feathers—and a few pokes from the Weasleys—Aiden finally woke up. He blinked his cool, mismatched eyes—his right was ice blue, his left was golden with a sharp, vertical pupil—and looked totally shocked to see a crowd of Gryffindors staring. What the—?
"Nice one, Aiden!" George yelled, throwing an arm around Aiden's shoulders. "You actually stayed all night in Gryffindor! Awesome!"
"Brilliant! I want to try that!" Fred added.
"Everyone!" George and Fred shouted together, pulling Aiden up. "This is our youngest brother—Aiden Prewett!" They showed him off like a prize.
"Er… morning, Gryffindors," Aiden managed, still sleepy. He gave a charming, lopsided smile that made a few girls sigh.
The common room filled with laughter and hellos.
"Cool! I wanna visit Ravenclaw Tower!" one girl said. "Do you really have to answer a riddle?"
"He's actually cute when he's sleepy…" another whispered—loud enough for Aiden to hear.
Aiden blinked. Wait, he thought. Cute? Me? Weird. Gryffindors were definitely weird.
Aiden escaped the Gryffindors (and more Weasley teasing) and went back to Ravenclaw Tower. After a quick wash, he headed to breakfast. His roommates jumped him.
"Hold on—you guys know already?" Aiden asked, surprised. News travels fast.
"Know? Aiden, it's all over school!" Edmund said, mid-toast. "A Ravenclaw genius spent a scandalous night in Gryffindor! The stories are wild."
"What are Gryffindor dorms like?" Oliver asked, all excited. "Are their rooms round?"
"Dunno. Just slept on the sofa," Aiden shrugged.
"Aw, boring," Ethan said, disappointed. "No adventures?"
Turns out, with no internet, gossip was top entertainment. By lunch, the story was: a brilliant Ravenclaw couldn't stand his roommates and was moving to Gryffindor. Seriously, people needed hobbies.
After Transfiguration, even Professor McGonagall teased him! She had a rare smile and asked if he needed help transferring. Aiden just stammered, his face red. This was nuts.
That afternoon, Aiden decided: time to stop the gossip. He found Draco Malfoy strutting in the halls with Crabbe and Goyle. Perfect.
"Mr. Malfoy," Aiden said. His voice was calm, but his golden, slit-pupil left eye looked super intense. Draco and his goons froze. Uh oh.
"You… what do you want, Prewett?" Draco stammered. His usual swagger vanished. "My father…"
"You've shamed wizard duelling, Malfoy," Aiden said coldly. He looked at them like they were dirt. "And you've disgraced your family."
"You dragged me into your petty fights. That's not how nobles act. Plus, you keep breaking duelling rules with your cowardly tricks. So—I'm challenging you. Now. Bring older students. Bring your whole house, if they're brave. If pure-bloods can swallow their pride." Aiden's challenge hung in the air.
"Just you wait, Prewett! Slytherin isn't scared!" Crabbe and Goyle shouted, but they looked nervous. Draco just turned pale. Telling.
"Then", Aiden declared, "eleven o'clock tonight. Your Slytherin common room." He spun and walked off. Let them sweat.
Pure-blood families still had power and secrets Aiden wanted. Slytherins respect strength, right? So he'd start with them. A big show of power was coming.
[Ding, the road to the Dark Lord has been opened, reward...]
"Shut up; you don't have that function at all," Aiden muttered, rolling his eyes.
***
Later, Aiden went to Dumbledore's office for his Runes lesson. He got to the gargoyle statue.
"Password?" it grumbled.
Aiden sighed. "Liquorice Wand, Chocolate Frog, Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans, Lemon Sherbet…" He listed Dumbledore's favorite sweets. Seriously, Professor? Worst passwords ever.
"Password… accepted," the gargoyle said, surprised. It moved.
Aiden climbed the stairs to Dumbledore's awesome, round office. Dumbledore was at his desk, looking like Aiden had caught him napping. A bag of Sherbet Lemons peeked out from under some papers. Busted.
Dumbledore sat up fast, hiding the candy. "Ah, Aiden, my boy. What can I do for you?"
"Here for the runes lesson, Professor," Aiden said, giving Dumbledore a look: I saw the candy. "Don't say you're busy. I saw you chilling."
Dumbledore chuckled. "Alright, you got me. Let's start runes."
He got out a super old book—Nicolas Flamel's notes! Aiden was thrilled. Dumbledore opened it. "Aiden", he said, his voice wise, "runes aren't just old letters. That's how ancient wizards talked to the world and changed reality."
He pointed to the first rune. "This is 'Fire'. Super old, super powerful. Fire means civilization, creation, and power over darkness. This line," he drew it in the air, "is the spark. This one keeps it burning."
Aiden listened hard. He traced the rune in the air. He felt a tiny tingle—the old magic of runes.
Aiden learned fast. Dumbledore was a great teacher. Soon, the lesson was over.
Sweet. Rune Mastery: level up! Aiden thought.
After class, Dumbledore pulled out a box of cockroach clusters, looking hopeful. Aiden politely said no. Gross.
"By the way, Aiden," Dumbledore said as Aiden was leaving, "one more thing."
"Oh? What is it, Professor?" Aiden asked. He had a bad feeling.
"Tonight," Dumbledore said, his eyes twinkling, "try to go easy on them."
Aiden got it. The Slytherins. Of course.
"Professor," Aiden sighed, "that's not really up to me. Depends how many show up." He paused, then added, "Besides, you're a big reason Slytherin's gone downhill."
"Yes… you might be right," Dumbledore sighed, looking sad for a second. "Why did Slytherin lose its way?"
"So," Aiden pressed, a sly look in his eyes, "how many do you think will face me tonight?"
"My dear boy," Dumbledore smiled, all mysterious. "Aren't you the confident one? You'll just have to guess." He left it at that.
Aiden just smirked. Challenge accepted, old man. Tonight was going to be epic.
.
***********
Get access to advanced chapters at my P@treon.
[email protected]/meowthtl