The train steamed loudly at the platform as our guardians said their final goodbyes. A few last words were exchanged, a reassuring hand placed on a shoulder, and then one by one they disappeared with soft cracks of Apparition. The platform slowly cleared as students boarded the Hogwarts Express, its red engine hissing with clouds of white steam.
Kathey and I stepped into one of the compartments with our trunks and sat opposite each other as the train began to move. The familiar countryside rolled past the window while we settled in. Almost immediately our conversation turned serious.
"So," Kathey said, leaning back slightly in her seat, "same plan as before?"
"More or less," I replied. "But this year we push harder."
She tilted her head slightly. "N.E.W.T. level already?"
"For the base subjects, yes. Charms, Transfiguration, Potions and Defence. If we reach that level early, everything else becomes easier."
"And the electives?"
"At least post O.W.L. level before third year."
Kathey let out a low whistle. "Ambitious."
"You're the one who wanted the challenge," I reminded her with a small smile.
Before she could respond, the compartment door slid open and Victor and Elara stepped in with their luggage.
"Well well," Victor said with exaggerated suspicion, dropping his trunk down, "are you two plotting world domination again?"
Kathey instantly changed the topic. "We were just discussing our holidays."
Victor collapsed into the seat beside me while Elara sat quietly across from him. The conversation drifted into laughter as we shared stories about the summer, teasing each other about what we had been doing. Victor kept insisting that Kathey and I must have spent the entire holiday inventing something ridiculous, while Kathey simply smiled and refused to confirm or deny anything.
By the time the train finally arrived at Hogwarts Castle, the excitement of returning had already filled the air.
Everything felt just as magical as before. Within a few days we slipped back into our routines as if we had never left. Early mornings began with workouts near the lake where the cool air and the quiet waters made the perfect training ground. Classes filled most of the day, and the evenings were spent relaxing or studying.
Whenever we had free time, we often visited Hagrid's Hut to spend time with Hagrid, who always had some story about magical creatures or some strange animal he had recently encountered. Kathey and I also continued working on our projects inside the Room of Requirement, where we experimented with our potions , weapons and other ideas.
Academically everything was going smoothly. The breaks with our favorite teachers had become surprisingly productive as well. Professor Snape had begun watching my potion work with a slightly less critical expression, occasionally giving a short approving nod when a brew came out perfectly.
One afternoon after class Kathey nudged me lightly and whispered, "At this rate you'll earn Snape's trust before graduation."
"Give it a year," I replied.
"And Dumbledore?" she asked.
I shrugged. "That one might take longer."
Meanwhile the Quidditch season had begun. Matches between Gryffindor and the other houses filled the stadium with roaring cheers from the students.
But I had to admit something about Quidditch always felt unfair.
Seven players could work tirelessly for an entire match only for everything to be decided by whoever caught the Golden Snitch.
"See?" I muttered during one match. "All that effort and it ends in seconds."
Kathey only laughed. "Strategy still matters."
And she proved it.
Instead of simply targeting random players with her Bludgers, Kathey began aiming them at the opposing Beaters and Seekers. The tactic worked brilliantly. The enemy Seekers were constantly forced to dodge attacks while their Beaters scrambled to defend themselves, leaving our own Seeker with far more freedom to search for the Snitch.
Victor watched one of the matches and shook his head in admiration. "That's actually genius."
Kathey just smirked proudly.
Another interesting development that year was the arrival of two new Gryffindors, the infamous twins Fred Weasley and George Weasley.
They were every bit as mischievous as the stories suggested. Their pranks were constant and creative, but beneath that chaos both of them had sharp magical instincts and impressive spellwork.
Since they were in my house I occasionally helped them out. Not directly of course. Just small bits of advice, suggestions on how to modify a charm, or how to make a prank more… effective.
And yes, I did help them plan their very first prank on Argus Filch.
Victor laughed so hard he nearly fell over when Filch's broom suddenly began loudly insulting him in the middle of the corridor.
Our weekends were often spent with Rubeus Hagrid inside the Forbidden Forest. Hagrid had begun taking us deeper into the forest to observe magical wildlife. Sometimes we followed migrating creatures, sometimes we checked on the unicorn herds, and occasionally we spoke with the Centaurs.
The Centaurs were particularly fascinated by Kathey. When they learned she was a Seer and skilled with a bow, their interest grew even stronger.
One tall white haired Centaur studied her for a moment before nodding slowly. "A human who reads the stars and carries a bow. Rare."
Kathey was invited to practice archery with them occasionally, and naturally she accepted.
But the strangest incident of the year happened at the lake.
It started after one of our workouts when we were cooling off by swimming. The water of the Black Lake was calm and clear beneath the afternoon sun.
Victor suddenly grinned. "Why don't we go deeper?"
I looked at him suspiciously. "You mean really deeper?"
Kathey pulled out a small vial. "Already prepared."
She had brewed a modified Gillyweed potion. After swallowing it we dove beneath the surface, feeling the magic take effect as we swam downward.
For a while everything was peaceful.
Then Kathey suddenly froze.
"Taylen!"
My senses sharpened instantly.
Through the water I saw them.
Two spears cutting through the water straight toward us.
Kathey reacted first, flicking a wandless spell that knocked one spear aside. The other one came straight toward me, but I simply reached out and grabbed it mid flight.
Victor and Elara stared at me in disbelief.
Out of the shadows emerged several Merpeople. They looked exactly as described in the books. Pale skin, sharp eyes and powerful humanoid torsos connected to massive tails.
They spoke quickly in Mermish.
I tried replying in English. "We are humans. Just swimming."
One of them swam forward, a female wearing a crown of coral and shells. She examined me with interest.
"Hmmm… interesting young man," she said slowly. "You seem strong." With still broken english.
I instinctively swam back a little.
"Follow us," she said calmly.
I glanced at Kathey. She simply shrugged, so we followed.
Soon we reached an underwater city. Marble buildings stretched across the lakebed, glowing like polished glass beneath the filtered sunlight. At the center stood a large throne where a massive merman sat watching us.
The crowned female whispered something in his ear.
The king studied us carefully. "I see. My daughter tells me she is interested in one of you."
I blinked in confusion. "Eww, no. Not my type. Is that why you brought us here?"
The king's expression hardened instantly. With a sharp gesture he ordered the surrounding warriors forward.
"Not fair, is it?" I said calmly. "Attacking kids without arms."
The king chuckled. "You are a witty one. But we do not care."
The warriors rushed forward.
I raised my hand and a powerful whooshing sound echoed through the water as my chained axes appeared in my grip.
"Kathey, cover my back. Hugo and Elara, transfigure those marbles for defense."
They nodded immediately.
The first merman lunged at me, but I stepped forward and drove a powerful uppercut straight into his jaw, sending him spinning backward through the water. One of my axes slammed into another warrior's armor while the second flew through the water and struck another attacker.
With a flick of magic I released a wandless Stupefy that knocked back a group charging toward me. The axes returned to my hands and I snapped them together into their chained form. I spun them rapidly, the chains slicing through the water with terrifying speed as they formed a whirling barrier around me.
I had no intention of killing anyone, but every warrior who came too close was thrown back by the spinning blades.
Behind me Kathey moved just as fiercely. She twisted strands of underwater weeds with magic until they hardened into spinning sickles. With precise movements she sent them slicing through the merwomen approaching her, the enchanted vines wrapping around them and forcing them back.
Victor had disarmed one of the mermen and grabbed his spear. "Guess I'm learning spear fighting today," he shouted as he blocked another attack.
Elara calmly transfigured several marble stones into a floating sphere around herself. Whenever a merwoman approached, the stones shot outward like shields, forcing them away.
The entire underwater city had turned into chaos.
Then suddenly the king clapped.
The warriors stopped instantly. The injured soldiers began healing themselves with magic.
Fascinating.
The king leaned forward and smiled. "Enough. It was only a test."
He glanced proudly toward the crowned mermaid. "My daughter was right. You are warriors."
We spent some time speaking with him afterward, and to our surprise both Victor and I were invited to train with their warriors beneath the lake occasionally. Before we left he gifted us several bundles of fresh Gillyweed.
When we finally returned to the surface and climbed onto the shore, we dried ourselves and began putting our clothes back on.
The moment I finished dressing, Victor suddenly lunged forward and grabbed my collar.
"HOW THE HELL DID YOU GRAB THAT SPEAR AND PUNCH THEM HUH?!"
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