Hogwarts classes were still going on the entire time the Triwizard tournament was happening.
But most of the coursework itself was already a breeze to Cassius.
Arithrimancy was probably the easiest elective thanks to his advanced mathematics gained from his studies under the muggle system.
The same was true for his girls who he had do distance learning in muggle schools thanks to getting a more formal education than what tutors or their own parents could offer them assisted with catapulting Draconis as the top house Academically much to the displeasure of Ravenclaw.
This caused more than a few girls of the house to become jealous, and actively seek out Cassius in the halls to petition him for bets with themselves as the prize, or to invite him to the ball hoping to draw his favor and cause him to chase after them himself instead.
He started moving around with transformation or illusions in place to cover up his presence and actively avoid the great majority of the females students at the school.
He already had enough of a headache with his current household, and to train up new members for the coming war... it just wasnt something he was willing to take on.
His inner circule of lieutenants was already made.
His foot soldiers the muggle-born awakened were completing basic training.
Each day he walked the halls or even sat in class.
Cassius was able to witness the ongoing drama of the approaching Yule Ball.
Boys openly confessing to girls, only to be accepted with tears of joy, or sulking off sullenly after being rejected.
Girls as they always did travelled in packs making any attempt to approach them the first true hurdle for the hogwarts boys.
But this wasnt an issue of the confident few.
Cedric quickly found himself a date.
Fred and George likewise managed it fairly easily without barely trying as they performed a simple mime routinue in study hall all the while under the gaze of Professor Snape.
Each successful pairing.
Lit the fire of competition in the girls eyes more.
The ball was now only a few weeks away and for some it was already looking like a lost cause.
1st Cassius
2nd Cho
3rd Daphne
4th Hermione
5th Fleur
6th Ginny
7th Luna
8th Astoria
There had been three such competitions so far and Cassius led in overall points a position highly contested as he only led the board by three points at present over Cho.
The handicap easily surpressed his normal overwhelming power and under the eyes of his mentor Grindelwald, he was incapable of cheating.
Thankfully the competitions were not limited to strictly battles.
Sure there were battles but after his own involvement into the tournament it was expanded to include subject matter, theory.
Even practical application of spells in real world conditions.
Going from a battle tournament to a more whose the best wizard witch overall comprehensive competition.
Cassius excelled at the battles, and scored high on theory.
But delicate control of his spells...
That was his current failing point.
Put into perspective, he was starting to feel a bit like Naruto.
He had all this Mana, and yet because of this his control was slipping.
Even on simple Wingardium Leviosa spells which he'd mastered years ago, now cause uncontrolled chaos.
He could life hundreds of Kilos with his spell, but try to lift a simple feather, and whatever it was resting on would be levitated along with it.
After each competition each member of House Draconis dove into additional training.
Most went with Master for spellcraft training to enhance their battle abilities.
Meanwhile Cassius himself went for the more apt Mana Control training.
His biggest failing was his control so that was what he focused on.
Previously his greatest asset had slipped to become the worst.
So the grind was started as he tried again and again to cast his simplest spells even going back to using his wand for greater control.
During classes he used controlled bursts of his mana to attempt a careful levitation of bearing balls in his hand.
The finesse required was aggrevating as he needed to remain calm, but the more he failed the less calm he became.
Mixing that with the ongoing antics around the school and within his own house.
This increased the difficulty even further.
~
The added pressure was also coming from his family members.
Well specifically one member in particular.
Stellatrix had been sending him three or four letters a day, and if he didnt reply that same day, she'd sent a bomb of like 30 all at once instead in a panic believing him to be in trouble or under threat.
Dealing with this with an auto-writer quill, Cassius couldnt help but look over the letters seeing them practically dripping in her love for him.
Her mind had been wiped and falsified memeries implanted.
The gaps were then filled in by himself, and the adults since she was recovered last year, but left to his own devices.
Sirius Black cleary had gotten his paws involved in this situation and had pushed the poor woman to become something akin to a Deredere, Yandere or possibly bordering on Scarydere.
Then came more interference as reports continued to pour in from Arcana.
Though this time something of note was presented to him that caused him to cock an eyebrow.
'Artificial Host creation successful'
This project has been one on the docket for years, even before Cassius had first arrived at Hogwarts.
The reason being was to perform an almost orochimaru style reincarnation.
And the reason behind this?
Well at first he felt Myrtle deserved a second chance, but after meeting her it was clear, resurrecting her would be almost a crime against humanity as her growing lust for teenage boys, and himself in particular was... not something he'd want to experience.
However Helena on the otherhand.
Bringing her back to life, and to life in such a way that the Ravenclaw name itself could be returned to the wizarding world.
Ressurrecting one of the founding fours lost houses.
This was something he hadnt promised but she was already teetering on the cusp of passing over to the otherside of the veil as things stood already.
And only the strict scolding of Lady Draconis, her own maternal grandmother kept her tethered to this mortal world.
Even as a ghost Helena had attended every training session keeping watch over proceedings.
If she were returned to life, she would probably instantly shoot to become the top of the girls in terms of power rankings.
This letter also caused him to raise the question to Lady Draconis herself.
But even when presented with the chance of ressurrection, she refused.
She had lived a full life.
Perhaps not one without regrets, but her own time to actively influence the world was over, and she was instead content with merely watching what her Heir would do in her stead.