Duke Everlue whistled a joyous tune as he walked the halls of the school's museum. This part of the castle was newly added after the war. In the room were stands and on it were items and trinkets safely guarded by runes, charms and layers of protective magics. The room was large, about half the size of the Great Hall and filled to the brim of powerful magic.

History is in this room.

Everlue paused, standing in front of one particular stand. There, guarded by the most powerful curses, runes and spells known to man is the Ankhseram Book of Magic. Greed filled the heart of Everlue. The plump man inched over to the podium, slowly reached into the edge and just before he touched the protection field, Everlue jumped, recovering his senses and briskly walked away from the temptation.

"A powerful thing, Ankhseram's book."

Everlue swiftly turned his body to face the voice and released a sigh of relief. It was just Headmaster Makarov. The short headmaster conjured a cloud with a wave of his hand and on it, he sat and floated to where the Duke stood. The politician gazed upon the short man with awe and amazement on his features. Headmaster Makarov was known to be the one of the best headmasters of Hogwarts, and evidently backed up by his power, kindness, care for his students and dedication to the school. There was power radiating his small stature, there are only a few in the country who could equal his power, and even less who can overpower him.

"Good evening, Headmaster," Everlue gave a short bow. He then turned his features, giving the headmaster a grimace. It is never a good sign to be strongly compelled by the Black Book. It was rumored to influence only the weakest of minds, those who are easily persuaded and manipulated to others bidding. A politician like Duke Everlue should've never stood steps before the compelling book.

Makarov gave the plump man a chuckle, amusement in his features. The wise man knew just where Everlue's thoughts went.

"How was your visit to the school? Is it still as amazing as when you were a child?" The headmaster asked. He waved his wand and summoned a tray of tea and juice, and with it a couple of biscuits and finger food. "Don't tell Porly about this, okay?" He told Everlue with a wink as he reached underneath his robes and pulled out a small decanter, which by the smell of it, contained liquor.

Everlue grinned at the older man's actions. He could remember like it was yesterday, how the Head Healer would scream at the top of her lungs (and boy did she have a special set of them) for the man to take his health more seriously and, as much as everyone knew the headmaster didn't want, to put a stop to his drinking.

He then recalled the headmaster's query and replied, "Hogwarts is just as I remembered it to be." Everlue sighed a wistful sigh. Oh to be young again. "It feels like coming home. I wished I'd visit often."

"Hogwarts is always open to those who wish to come home. The school may be open to only wizards, but the castle is open for everyone to visit." The headmaster handed Everlue a goblet of pumpkin juice.

Duke Everlue smiled at the man. Hogwarts has truly come a long way. From forbidding muggles of even seeing the castle, to allowing all magical beings to visit the castle. Although plenty of people like to discredit Makarov, not one can change the fact that Fiore has become a better place because of his and his group's contribution to society.

"Thank you, Headmaster," Everlue bowed his head.

Makarov chuckled, "It's Makarov, Duke Everlue, I've not been your headmaster for years."

The man sipped from his goblet and grimaced at the sound of his moniker coming from the lips of the man he once called grandfather. He then sighed and gave the elder man a small smile, "Then it's Everlue, Makarov."

He ignored the pang of guilt that began its course through his veins.

…

Lucy huffed with frustration. Surely it isn't this difficult to look for a small girl in a big castle? Who was she kidding? At the rate they were going, they'd find the blue haired girl days or even weeks after she'd been missing. The golden haired girl quickly glanced at her friends: Gajeel was slamming the doors of empty rooms closed, Natsu ran a hand through his messy locks, and Levy was busy conversing with a dark haired girl on a portrait. Time was passing quickly and yet no sign of the blue haired girl.

Lucy ran across the hall, towards the portraits who were whispering at the sight of the group of first years. She quickly interjected with a greeting and a query if they'd seen a small blue haired girl. Seeing their negative reactions, the golden haired girl fought her frown and carried on to the door adjacent to the portrait. The customary three knocks and a quick peek into the room made known that the girl was yet to be found.

She fought another frustrated sigh, if she were to let one out it would make another chain of sighs, something Lucy would like to avoid. They were aware of the pessimistic situation, no need to make it even more obvious. Silently, she continued to the next portrait, and the next, then the nearest door, and so on it continued.

Minutes passed, to which no sign of the blue haired girl was found. A frustrated grunt left the lips of her dark haired companion. While the sound was nearly nonexistent, it was loud when it went through the air in the silent halls. Neither Lucy nor her other companions turned to look at the boy, among everyone else, it was Gajeel who worried the most for Juvia's safety. They had been together nearly all of the time until they had arrived in Hogwarts.

Gajeel growled, "We've got to be faster, Juvi's afraid of bein' 'lone in the dark."

Although he couldn't see it, Lucy, Natsu and Levy nodded at Gajeel's instruction, and then carried on at a swifter pace. She and the rest ignored how Gajeel wiped his eyes and went through the halls as though time would run out.

…

The halls of the castle were dark, most portraits were asleep and without the light, none of them could see the large figure hunched over. The large thing was silent, maybe even a little intelligent, ensuring that the sound of his footfalls were nonexistent and his presence undetectable. He utilized the dark with his capabilities and his sense of smell for direction.

He was given the task to wreak havoc. But not now, not while he's still so far away from the specific location his master asked. His master was very strict about him following orders, if he did as tasked, he'd be rewarded for a human for his next meal. And not just any human, but a human of his choice. Oh what a feast it would be, then. He was excited.

The creature gave a low growl. When was the last time his master fed him? A few days, almost weeks perhaps? A rumble sounded from the direction of his stomach. The large figure had paused in a number of corridors, savory smells have wafted to the air. The little creatures had eaten their meal, he thought. Better for them to be full and fleshy, ripe for the picking.

He continued his pace, footsteps quicker than before. If he wanted that reward then he should earn it first, his master would say. And he'd damn well earn it.

Just as the creature was about to pass by a pair of wooden doors, his nose detected a delectable scent. Rain, Ocean and Tears. He took a deeper breath, the scent consuming his mind. It was a young child, magical and human.

A sinister grin formed on the creatures' features. The salty scent of tears always brought him to a high. It was a sign for him to have an early meal, surely his master wouldn't know. The creature hunched, his large hands bearing the weight of his upper body; his ears strained and heard footfalls a few minutes away, but ignored them. His meal will be over in a few seconds.

He slowly opened the doors, opened both to accommodate his large stature, and once it was opened wide for him, he entered. Immediately, a light humming sound passed through, pleasing to the ear with a light pitch. However the humming sounded sad. What a pity, such a beautiful voice could go wasted if not utilized to its maximum potential. And any voice had the potential for more.

It would be better when used for screaming.

His stomach growled at the thought of his meal. Truly it's been more than days since his last, and his entire being thrummed with excitement. The humming stopped. A meek voice permeated the air.

"Who's there?"

The creature said nothing, his stomach however, greeted its future meal.

A whimper sounded out, and the creatures sinister grin became even more so.

He crawled onto the floor, towards the direction of the sweet scent that just became sweeter. The scent of tears became stronger, and a touch of fear spread through the air.

Oh what a delight.

…

A low growl permeated the air. The silence practically magnifying its sound.

Lucy's hair rose at the back of her neck. Her arms were tense, goosebumps all over. Her chest constricted, her breathing became labored. Once the sound passed neither student moved for a second, eyes wide open from the sudden growl. Something was in here.

"The fuck that came from?" Gajeel was holding his wand in his hand, eyes frantic and hair wilder than it ever was before. The group of four came closer together, the burly boy leading them towards the girls lavatory.

Lucy's breaths were frantic, with one hand she held her wand in a tight grip and in her other was her handkerchief, used to muffle the seemingly loud sounds of her breathing. She and her group were walking close together, with Gajeel at the front and Natsu near him. She and Levy were only steps behind them however Lucy knew that if worst comes to pass, she'd only be a nuisance to the group, having not yet connected to her magics core.

Even with this in her mind Lucy did not stop walking. She followed with Levy by her side towards the girls lavatory, where the growling had come from. With every step she took, her hands shook. There could be something that wasn't meant to be, there. As much as Lucy would like to dissuade herself from the thought, she couldn't cross it of from the possibilities, other than the growling to have come from someone else's familiar, it could be a creature from the Forbidden Forest that had made its way inside the castle.

Nevertheless, the group of four inched their way towards the growling sound. They had been tipped off by Zera, Levy's portrait friend, that the portraits by the hall had seen a crying blue haired girl passed by. The group had been ecstatic to hear a bit of news then, well until they hear the noises.

"Maybe it's Juvia? She did miss dinner after all," Levy's voice shook. She knew for a fact no child could make noises as loud as that.

As soon as the first years heard the sound, Zera, who had accompanied them, immediately left for the Headmaster's office. This was something that did not belong to the castle.

They were only a couple of steps away from the lavatory until they heard a shrill scream from it. Their reaction was immediate, the four had sprinted off towards the open doors and saw a large primate-like monster. The only scream that came from their mouths was one girl's name.

"Juvia!"

Upon hearing it, the tear-stained girl swiveled her head towards their direction and with panic, ran towards the open doors. With a bout of bravery, and a large reliance on desperation, she slipped under the large feet of the monster, and ran into the arms of her longest companion.

"Gajeel!" She cried out.

Lucy and the rest could not celebrate, for the monster's beady eyes were on them. Before Lucy could do anything, Levy waved her wand and immediately, the large doors of the lavatory banged itself closed, "Colloportus!"

Lucy breathed only for a second until Natsu pulled her hand. And then the group of five ran like their lives depended on it. Which, in this case, actually does…

The pounding of her heart drowned any other sound that could have entered her ears, if only she had noticed it, she could have remembered that every lavatory in Hogwarts had an immediate unlocking charm enchanted onto it. To prevent people from being locked inside.

A loud crash came from behind them, and Lucy did not have to look to see that it was the monster that forcefully opened the doors with its brute strength. Instead she screamed, "Run!"

And run they did.

…

The band of adults ran from stair to stair, utilizing every secret shortcut they knew, in hopes to reach the group of children who somehow had attracted the attention of a Vulcan, a creature whose habitat was nowhere near the territory of Hogwarts. Grunts, pants and curses left their lips as they slammed through walls, banged open secret doorways and vanished numerous armors that had guarded these secret spaces. Few steps behind them was Professor Warrod, his green broccoli curly hair mussed with curls askew, wand out as he cleaned the mess left behind by the distressed group of adults.

Beside the group of adults was Zera who ran through portrait to portrait, no longer giving out her customary apologies, a couple of firsties were on the line here!

"Where Zera!" Guildarts Clive ran as fast as he could, Makarov behind him on a floating cloud, his wand waved around, repeatedly checking the wards of the castle only to see that it had not been broken in. Loud curses left the elderly's mouth, as he individually checked and rechecked again every ward used by the large school, only for his results to come out negative.

If there wasn't a break in, then the creature was brought or summoned from the inside.

"I told you! In the first floor girls lavatory by the–"

A loud crash came from the hall across them. The adults then ran as fast as they could, wands at the ready, determination in their eyes and minds ready for nonverbal spells to be casted to protect the children.

Then they saw it.

This hallway was a dead end.

There, by the corner was a large hunched animal. It stood meters away from them, its back to the elder group, and yet they could clearly see how it towered over all of them, its body covering whoever the unlucky set of students were. Its fur was white, with large black spots. Its ears were long and pointed, shoulders wide with gargantuan arms and large hands that held its weight as it hunched over. Only steps away they could see one arm reaching towards the group of children, claws out. It's growls sounding ecstatic.

But before anyone else could wave their wand, a bright light shone in the hall.

…

Hello everyone! It's been so long since I've last updated, I am so so sorry, you guys have no idea. I actually already had this chapter prepared, it only needed a few edits before posting. I really couldn't find any time in between classes.

BTW, online classes stink, I can't count the number of times I broke down because of my scores, performance or because of my mental health. Anyways, I promise to continue with this sotry, I've already plotted down the entire story, the plot for every year and the final part. I'll do my best to write and post as much as I can, hopefully you guys will wait until the end.

Thank you! Please read and leave reviews.

DISCLAIMER: I own nothing but the plot. I do not own Harry Potter, nor do I own Fairy Tail.