The Friday after exam week was the last day at Hogwarts before the holidays. Students busied themselves packing their luggage in their dormitories.
Sean owned only a small suitcase.
After all, he was so poor that he had bought only one set of robes, even though the Hogwarts admission letter clearly stated that students should prepare three.
Tonight he would attend the end-of-year feast wearing that same robe—the one that had been serving as all three for an entire year.
"Thank you for your hard work," Sean said solemnly to the robe lying on his bed. "You've endured pressure no robe your age should have to bear."
Since he wore it constantly, the robe had become far more worn than anyone else's.
If I manage to win the prize money from the Four-School Friendship Tournament next year, Sean thought, the first thing I'm doing is buying new clothes.
In the common room, Chris invited him to visit her family's estate during the summer.
"I'm afraid I can't," Sean replied politely. "The Leaky Cauldron gets very busy in the summer. Old Tom would never let me run off and enjoy myself. Besides, I already promised Kurt that I'd visit Malfoy Manor."
"Malfoy Manor?" Chris frowned. "What's so interesting about that? My father has mentioned Lucius Malfoy before. He's a hypocrite who bends with the wind. I heard he even worked for You-Know-Who in the past."
When she mentioned the Dark Lord, she deliberately lowered her voice.
Sean smiled faintly.
Lucius is a Death Eater, that's true.
But your uncle Barty Crouch Jr. is also a Death Eater—and a fanatic loyal to Voldemort.
Compared to him, Lucius was practically harmless.
After all, Crouch Jr. was ruthless enough to kill his own father.
Besides, Sean was curious about someone else at Malfoy Manor.
Draco Malfoy.
He wanted to meet that arrogant young aristocrat early and establish his authority as an upperclassman—before Draco arrived at Hogwarts and started causing trouble.
"You know Lucius Malfoy is one of Hogwarts' twelve school governors," Sean said apologetically. "It wouldn't be polite to refuse his invitation."
Chris sighed.
"Fine."
"An estate, huh? Chris, invite me instead! I've never been to an estate before."
Cassius suddenly popped up beside them, grinning shamelessly.
"Sorry," Chris replied mercilessly. "I'm moving this summer."
"Sean," Cassius said excitedly, "my mom will never believe that I'm friends with the Boy Who Lived. Starting this summer, my status in the family is definitely going up!"
Sean forced a slightly awkward smile.
Being a carefree little wizard really does make life simple.
At the end-of-year feast, Dumbledore gave a brief summary of the students' achievements before announcing the final House Cup standings.
"Now, let me announce the final points of the four houses," Dumbledore said.
"Fourth place: Ravenclaw, with 305 points."
The Ravenclaw students clapped politely, maintaining dignity despite the result.
The other houses joined in with polite applause.
"Third place: Hufflepuff, with 390 points."
Cedric sighed quietly but clapped along with his housemates.
"Second place: Gryffindor, with 415 points," Dumbledore announced loudly.
Fred and George immediately jumped to their feet, cheering proudly for Gryffindor.
Even though they had probably lost more points than anyone else, it didn't diminish their love for their house in the slightest.
"And in first place—"
Dumbledore paused, looking toward the Slytherin table.
"Slytherin, with 435 points."
The Slytherins didn't stand or shout.
But the satisfaction on their faces was obvious.
They clapped vigorously, determined to let Slytherin's applause dominate the Great Hall.
Sean had contributed a small part to this victory.
During the first month of school—and later when he and the Weasley twins exposed Yovitch's gambling scheme—Slytherin had gained a fair number of points.
After that, however, Sean rarely attended class.
Aside from Potions, where he earned Slytherin 30 points, he contributed little.
Snape even seemed to deliberately avoid awarding him more points afterward, never calling on him again.
What puzzled Sean most was that Dumbledore hadn't awarded him any points for outsmarting Yovitch.
Was it because Slytherin was already guaranteed the House Cup, Sean wondered, so there was no need for a dramatic last-minute point boost?
The feast was lively and cheerful.
After tonight, everyone would be separated for two months.
Students exchanged home addresses with their close friends, promising to keep in touch through letters during the summer.
"Sean, your address?" Cassius scratched his head and laughed awkwardly.
"Wait—never mind. You live at the Leaky Cauldron. I can just Floo there."
Pure-blood wizarding families usually didn't use telephones like Muggles.
Instead, they relied on magical transportation networks such as the Floo Network.
Compared to Harry's living situation, Sean was quite fortunate.
He lived in the wizarding world itself, right next to Diagon Alley, surrounded by magical curiosities every day.
After the feast, the Weasley twins ran over to invite Sean to spend part of the summer at the Burrow.
Sean politely declined again.
"You can visit the Leaky Cauldron instead. The Floo Network makes it easy."
Fred looked dreamy.
"I'm jealous. Living somewhere as interesting as the Leaky Cauldron must be amazing."
"Oh please," George scoffed. "Stop dreaming about sneaking butterbeer. Mum would kill us."
Sean's first year at Hogwarts ended peacefully, though not without danger.
His greatest gain this year was the Wizard's Heart hidden in Merlin's chamber—a treasure that might shape his entire future as a wizard.
One Defense Against the Dark Arts professor had already come and gone.
Who knew what unfortunate soul would take that cursed position next year?
The next day, students boarded the horseless carriages that carried them through the castle gates toward Hogsmeade Station.
Strangely enough, Hogwarts' main gate looked extremely ordinary.
It resembled nothing more than a simple wrought-iron gate to a countryside manor, overgrown with vines.
If someone hadn't told you it was the main entrance, you might think it was a back gate.
Cassius watched the carriage move on its own and asked curiously,
"What kind of magic makes it move like that?"
Sean simply smiled and said nothing.
Those who couldn't see Thestrals assumed the carriages were enchanted.
Those who could see them rarely bragged about it.
After all, only people who had witnessed death could see Thestrals.
After boarding the Hogwarts Express and saying goodbye at King's Cross Station, Sean took a bus back to the Leaky Cauldron on Charing Cross Road.
"My little Sean! You're finally back!"
Hearn squinted his narrow eyes and rushed forward with open arms.
"Uncle Hearn," Sean said weakly while being squeezed in the hug, "could you please not be so embarrassing?"
Old Tom laughed heartily from behind the bar.
"Hearn's been waiting all day for you to come back."
"Look who's here," said Jamie the Bald, greeting Sean with a grin.
Jamie was the wizard from whom Sean had first secretly learned magic.
They had gotten along quite well since then.
"You're early today, Jamie," Sean said.
"I knew you were returning from Hogwarts today," Jamie replied jokingly. "I came early so you could pour me a drink."
"Give me a minute," Sean laughed. "Let me put my luggage away first. I'll bring your drink in a moment."
Old Tom looked even more pleased.
Sean had barely returned and was already helping out at the bar.
What a good kid, Tom thought proudly.
Sean carried his suitcase upstairs toward his small room on the second floor.
Halfway up the stairs, a man wrapped in a black cloak with a hood descended from the upper floor.
They brushed past each other.
In that brief moment, Sean felt a cold, chilling aura.
It carried a strange, indescribable sensation.
A feeling he had experienced before.
A feeling that could only be described as—
death.
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