"So how did you girls spend your break?" Krystal flopped into a chair in the living room of their dorm.
"It was pretty okay. Our parents took us back to Lucis for the break and we went shopping, to the beach, camping... It was pretty fun!" Athena smiled.
"She's right. And the bookstores and such there are pretty good, though not as good as the ones on dad's home planet of Romulea..." Anahita added.
"I would imagine since they're the Literature planet and all that..." Krystal said.
"Yeah... Our parents were off on their own vacation for a bit of the break so Nephele and I had the house all to ourselves. It feels so much different when your parents aren't home..." Rainer grinned.
"Any wild parties?" Roxy asked.
"You know it!" Rainer grinned. "Of course the house was never wrecked or anything like that but the party was hot! You guys should have come!"
"A party hosted by the Del Mar sisters? The only thing I think I wouldn't want to do even more is go shopping with Stella and Krystal at once..." Roxy snorted.
"Hey! There's nothing wrong with a good shopping spree every once in a while!" Krystal said defensively.
"Aren't you supposed to be part of the nobility of Andros? How do you even pull off something like that without your parents' approval, Lady Rainer?" Athena wondered.
"Well, they did say that we could have a few friends over. They just didn't say under what circumstances we could have them over." Rainer smirked. "Needless to say that they were a little miffed about it, but it was totally worth it..."
"Trust you to find the loophole there..." Anahita said.
"Of course. Little tricks like that are all a part of being nobility so they should be proud of me. Nephele invited her roommates Tammy and Rajani and some of our Androsian friends. I would have invited you all but you were all busy with your own plans..." Rainer said.
"I wish I could have come. It sounds like so much fun..." Krystal said wistfully.
"Anyways, what about you, Roxy? What did you do over the break, huh?" Rainer turned her attention to the animal fairy.
"I went back to Tir Nan Og to get more familiar with the Queendom I'm supposed to rule in the future..." Roxy said, purposefully leaving out anything about Harry.
While she was sure the twins wouldn't give her any grief, Krystal and Rainer were another story entirely...
"Why am I getting the feeling that there's more to the story than getting to know the Queendom?" Anahita asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah... Roxy, what's the deal? You're leaving something out..." Rainer said, sounding suspicious.
"If I leave out anything, it's none of your business." Roxy snapped.
"AHA! So you are hiding something! Don't worry, Roxy, we'll find out what it is!" Krystal declared.
Roxy rolled her eyes. "I won't hear the end of it, will I?"
"With people like those two around, no you won't..." Athena thumbed Krystal and Rainer.
"How are things at Hogwarts?" Harry asked Ron and Hermione via his own magic mirror while sitting in his room alone.
"Well, the mood over here is a lot more tense since that attack..." Ron said as he and Hermione sat alone in the Gryffindor common room.
"Luna's been a little less... quirky since the attack. Her father is still healing and she says he'll have a limp now that not even magic can fix..." Hermione said.
"What about Neville and Ginny?" Harry asked.
"Neville's as okay as one could get, I suppose. His grandmother had the protective spells around their house reinforced and apparently is looking at her properties to see which one would be best as a safe-house just in case..." Hermione said.
"Ginny's been a lot quieter since the fight. She doesn't seem to lose her temper as often as she used to and her Quidditch playing has been a bit off. I think she's still recovering from seeing all of that. We all are..." Ron said sadly.
"I can only imagine... Do I even want to know the full extent of what Voldemort and his pet Death Eaters did? I didn't have time to find out before I made my little escape, you see..." Harry said.
"Seventy-six deaths, one hundred and two serious injuries, forty-five relatively minor injuries last time we heard anything..." Hermione said.
Harry whistled. "Damn. That wanker did quite a bit of damage with his minions. I think I will be quite pleased when I finally get to end the bastard..."
Ron and Hermione looked at one another for a moment in mild shock.
"Harry? Are you actually so determined to face him down now? You really do sound like you'd like nothing more than to kill him with your bare hands..." Ron said, sounding nervous.
"Believe me, I'd like nothing more than to rip off his head with my bare hands and set his corpse ablaze by riding a dragon who'll help me with the fire part. The bastard's ruined enough lives as it is, including mine and yours in different ways so he deserves nothing less." Harry growled.
"I agree, but what are you doing to get ready for that moment when it comes? I know you don't really like or respect Dumbledore anymore but are you sure he wouldn't be the best person to help you... train?" Hermione asked.
"I don't need him trying to control my actions and how I go about things, Hermione. And as you saw in Diagon Alley, I'm not completely helpless. I really need to work on building my physical strength and the strength of my magical core though..." Harry thought aloud.
"How are you even doing that? Training, learning those new spells that everyone there saw?" Ron asked.
"I will tell you one day. I can't right now. Not with the way things are. I can't jeopardize... certain things in my life right now..." Harry said, thinking of Tir Nan Og and a certain Crown Princess associated with that Queendom.
"But..." Hermione started, but Harry cut her off.
"I can't tell you now. I've always told you a lot of things about my life so you know that the issue isn't that I can't trust you. It's certain people in Wizarding Britain around you that I can't trust. Don't you see that?" Harry said.
Ron sighed. "We get it, mate. You can't tell us because it could really screw up some things on both our ends. But you're our friend. You can't blame us for being concerned..."
"I know. I'm sorry, Ron, Hermione. I really wish I could say. I'm learning well here and I've met a lot of interesting people that I would like to introduce you to someday..." Harry smiled at the thought of the friends he had made in Magix and his budding relationship with Roxy.
"Does that include the mysterious female that made us these bracelets that helped save our lives?" Ron and Hermione each held up the arm that wore their Shield Bracelets.
"That's one question I'll answer for you directly: yes. She's one of the people the people I'd like you to meet and judging by what I've told her of you, she'd like the same." Harry smiled.
"Well, as long as you're safe, happy and keeping up with your magical education wherever you are..." Hermione smiled slightly.
"I wish I could say the same for you..." Harry said, somewhat sadly.
"It's not the most ideal environment, but we can survive it. We're tough. We've battled trolls, Acromantulas, survived a flying car crash and the Whomping Willow, haven't we? Not to mention what you've done on your own, Harry. We're tough. And when it comes time to take down You-Know-Who, you can count on us to be at your side." Ron declared.
Harry smiled. "I know. I really do miss you two you know..."
"We miss you too, Harry. When else are we going to get to make friends with a tiny little midget with messy black hair, giant glasses and a cool scar?" Ron joked.
"He's not so tiny anymore in case you haven't noticed, Ron. He came back looking much more buff than when he left and that long hair of his... Your mum would have a fit about that hair, judging by how she is with Bill all the time..." Hermione said. "The girls wherever you are must really be taking a liking to you now, wherever you are..."
"You have no idea..." Harry muttered. "But one girl is good enough for me, thanks. Plus I think she and her relatives would do something really... creative to me if I stepped out of line..."
Ron snorted in laughter and Hermione giggled.
"Anyway, I'll check in with you again some other time. I have things I need to go do now..." Harry said.
"Alright then, Harry. We'll see you!" They said just before Harry ended the communication.
"Harry, you do realize that our first class is in less than an hour and you're still in your pajamas, right?" Aki poked his head in the doorway, fully outfitted in his Red Fountain uniform.
"Yes, I know, Aki. I can be ready before then..." Harry swung his legs over the side of the bed and went to get ready.
"Hey Freida. It's been a while, hasn't it?" Harry said to his dragon as he approached her stable.
The dragon rumbled, looking grouchy.
"Don't be like that! I had some very important things to take care of and some... unexpected events kind of delayed my return..."
Wait, was he actually making excuses for himself to a dragon?
Hagrid would be proud of him...
Cordatorta called the students around him outside the stables.
"Alright, young men. You spent the last semester learning the basics of dragon handling. Now it's time that you moved onto more advanced things." He paced up and down in front of them.
"Some of you can become Dragon Riders and learn to harness a dragon's magical energy in battle. After your Freshman year, you can continue to study more advanced courses in Dragon Handling if you desire. I do expect you all to pass this course of course whether you do highly in the theory portion, the practical portion or the best way: a combination of the two."
"I'm going to have to pass the theory part with flying colours to pass at all. My dragon doesn't like me very much at all..." Darian whispered to Harry.
"Tough luck for you..." Harry whispered back.
"Now, your dragons are going to be released so, have at it, men!" Cordatorta pressed a button which released the dragons one by one into the yard where each student went to greet theirs.
"Looks like we get to so some real work together today, huh? Feel up to it?" Harry reached up to scratch Freida behind the ears, who rumbled contentedly.
"Let's see how you're feeling. Anything wrong with your scales... It doesn't feel that way... Your ears felt okay when I checked them earlier... I'm guessing you're in top health, aren't you?" Harry grinned.
The dragon rumbled contentedly.
"Okay then. Do you think I could... well, you know... sit on your back at least? Cordatorta said that some of us might be able to become Dragon Riders..." He said, looking hesitant.
Freida lowered herself and folded in her wings.
"I'll take that as a yes then..." Harry smiled, climbing up.
"Hm. It feels kind of nice up here... Definitely nicer than that wretched Hungarian Horntail..." Harry thought.
He looked around and his classmates to see how they were doing.
Darian was backing off from his dragon who was looking at him with a most displeased expression on his face, Lucas was still examining his dragon closely and Aki was already on his and waved across at him.
"Well then, Miss. Do you fancy a little walk around the yard?" He reached up and rubbed her neck lightly.
Freida stood up, stretched her wings slightly and started to walk.
"Don't walk too fast, girl. I'm still getting used to riding on the back of a living, flying creature. Buckbeak was scary enough to fly on. I don't know what it would be like flying on a dragon unprepared..." Harry shuddered at the thought.
"Hey Harry! How's your dragon steed treating you?" Aki called as he moved closer on his own dragon.
"She's a pretty cool girl. We get along well enough and she seems to understand everything I say..." Harry half-shrugged.
"Yeah. Dragons aren't just "wild beasts" as a lot of people think they are. They can actually be rather intelligent and helpful if you treat them right. Isn't that right, Zeus?" Aki rubbed his dragon's ears lightly, who rumbled contentedly.
"You named your dragon too? Mine is Freida..." Harry said.
"Oh yeah. He seems to like the name too, so I've been calling him Zeus ever since..." Aki shrugged. "Anyway, I'm gonna take Zeus for a run around this place. See you after class!" He called over.
"Yep. See you..." Harry waved back.
Harry looked down at Freida, who was looking back up at him.
"Fancy a little run? Not too fast now. I don't have a saddle on you and I don't much fancy falling off and injuring myself. I've had quite enough injuries to last me for a lifetime, thank you very much..."
"Very good, Roxy! Keep up the shield for a little while longer!" Griselda was with Roxy in the middle of a large circular lecture hall, throwing energy blasts at her.
Roxy was transformed and her light green energy shield was up, deflecting golden brown blasts.
Her roommates were sitting in the curved seats along the walls with the other students who were all transformed, paying close attention and looking excited.
Roxy put more power into her shield, but she kept being shoved backwards.
She waved her hands and the shield glowed even brighter and deflected one of Griselda's blast so hard that it knocked the Professor off her feet.
Her eyes widened and she dropped the shield.
"Oh my gosh! Professor Griselda are you okay? She flew over to the other side of the stage.
"I'm fine, Roxy. Your shield is improving. Unlike last semester, I couldn't break it this time without plenty of effort on my part. Good job. You can go take a seat." Griselda sent her back to sit with the other students.
She took a seat next to Athena.
"That was a pretty good job, Roxy. I don't think I've ever seen anyone's shields stand up to Griselda's magic before..." Athena complimented her.
"Thanks. It was a lot of hard work and my aunt really put my through my paces over the break..." Roxy said.
Griselda called Anahita next, so they began to pay more attention to the Professor.
Anahita's shield initially held out, but after a few more stronger blasts, her shield cracked, then shattered, sending the literature fairy skidding backwards on the edge of her heels, looking stunned.
Athena giggled at the expression on her twin's face.
"Alright girls. Your homework will be to do some research and write an essay on defensive charms. Minimum 2,000 words and I want it by next Friday afternoon at 4pm." Griselda dismissed the class after she'd put everyone through their paces.
Roxy and her roommates de-transformed right before they reached the exit of the classroom.
"I'd better get cracking on that thing now before I forget it..." Krystal said.
"How does one forget to do Griselda's homework?" Rainer looked at her incredulously.
"I don't know! Last semester when she gave us that essay to write on the capabilities of the basic level Winx transformation, I didn't remember a thing about it until the morning before it was due! I had to spend all my free time that day just throwing something together and hoping I'd pass!" Krystal exclaimed.
"Did you pass?" Athena raised an eyebrow.
"I got a B minus..." Krystal pouted.
"That's still decent for something put together at the last minute though..." Anahita acknowledged.
"But I could have done so much better... You girls were more prepared. What did you get on that essay?" Krystal asked.
"A+." The twins said in unison.
"A-" Rainer said.
"A." Roxy answered.
"See? You girls did better because you didn't forget! Now I'm not going to forget. I'm heading to the library to get started on this thing. Who's coming with me?" Krystal asked.
"I didn't even know that you knew where or what the library was..." Rainer said.
Roxy and the twins snickered.
"Ha, ha. Very funny, Rainer." Krystal narrowed her eyes at the Androsian fairy. "Are you all coming or not?"
"We're coming. We're coming. Don't worry about it!" Roxy said.
The girls went their separate ways once they reached the library except for Roxy and Athena, who had decided to work on their essays together.
"I find that having a study buddy helps you with your work, even if it's supposed to be an individual assignment. Anahita and I are always helping each other out. That's why we always get high grades..." Athena said as she reached for a book.
"That's not only it. You two have to be the smartest girls in our year. I mean, your parents come from two planets known for producing lots of highly intelligent people. You must have inherited some of that intelligence from them after all and put it to good use..." Roxy helped her pick out some books and carry them over to a nearby table.
They talked quietly as they worked through the different books and theories and wrote their essays.
"Well, that went quicker than I had expected..." Roxy said as she looked through her finished essay about two hours later.
"You see? Having a study buddy does work!" Athena said as she looked through her own essay.
"I wonder if having a study date works too..." Roxy smiled at the thought of her and Harry "studying" together.
Athena raised an eyebrow at her. "Roxy, is there something you're not telling us girls? Your roommates? Also known as the girls you'll most likely have to put up with throughout your entire duration of studies at Alfea?" She asked suspiciously.
"No, not at all!" Roxy said, starting to feel nervous.
"Roxy, you're a terrible liar. I can see right through you. Come. You can tell me what it is. I won't even tell Anahita and I usually tell her everything." Athena grabbed their essays and put them away in a folder in her bag.
"Athena, give me my essay." Roxy narrowed her eyes at the green-haired girl.
"Not unless you tell me what's up with you." Athena moved towards the exit of the library.
"I'm not telling you anything! Now give me back my essay!" Roxy exclaimed.
"Nope!" Athena took off suddenly, but Roxy gave chase, all the way back to their dorm room, getting incredulous stares from other student fairies all along their chase route.
"We're alone up here. Now can you tell me what's up with you?" Athena asked, waving the folder casually.
Roxy sighed. "If I tell you, will you give me my essay back and not tell anyone else? Especially Krystal and Rainer?"
"Cross my heart and hope to have my wings ripped out." Athena flopped into a chair.
Roxy did the same in the chair next to her. "Well... You know on the first day back when I told you all that I had just went back to Tir Nan Og?"
"Yeah, of course I remember. That was only a few days ago. Why?" Athena asked.
"Well, Harry came over to visit and we spent some time together and... he kissed me." Roxy admitted.
"Well what's the problem? Don't you like him?" Athena asked.
"Yeah, I do like him! It's just that... we kind of decided to date each other quietly after that to see if we could really get something going and... I don't even know how this relationship stuff is supposed to work!" Roxy exclaimed.
"You'll figure it out eventually. People in relationships for the first time usually do that. I know I first felt that way when I started dating on the down low this school year..." Athena smiled.
Roxy sat up straight. "Really? Who?"
Athena smiled even broader. "Harry's roommate Aki. We decided to try it out just before we all left for break. I've only told my sister and well, now you..."
"Really? Oh wow... At least I've got someone to talk about him with that won't go blabbing, right?" Roxy smiled back.
"You got that right. Now how's Harry? Is he really nice to you? Is he a good kisser?" Athena asked, smirking.
"Athena! You're almost as terrible as Rainer!" Roxy reddened.
"Oh please. No one is as terrible as Rainer when it comes to that sort of thing." Athena laughed.
"But seriously. What's he like?"
"ATHENA!"
"You look pretty happy, Harry. Not that I'm complaining since you had your miserable moments last semester, but why are you so happy now?" Aki asked as the two sat in their dorm room, reading.
Harry was actually smiling and humming as he read a book about dragons.
"Ah, nothing in particular, Aki. I've just been in a good mood lately..." Harry said, shrugging.
"Why?" Aki asked suspiciously.
"So a bloke can't just be happy?" Harry asked.
"A... "bloke" is never that happy for no reason, dude. Something's up with you. Did you finally meet a girl you like or something?" Aki asked.
"Nope." Harry responded coolly.
"Don't lie dude. Don't make me shock you. Because you know that I will shock you." Aki held up his hand, which crackled with electricity lightly. "Coming from Electra, wandless electric spells do come easier to me after all even if I cannot cast general magic spells like you can..."
"I'd like to see you try and catch me, Aki..." Harry chortled.
"Okay then. I will." Aki shrugged and lunged across the room suddenly, narrowly missing Harry who did a backflip and ended up on Aki's bed.
"What the bloody hell is wrong with you, Aki?!" Harry's hair fell in front of his face and he flicked it out, looking at his roommate exasperatedly
"You've got something on your mind and I want to know what it is after all. Come on dude, you can tell me. I won't tell any of the others. I swear it." Aki held a hand to his chest, above his heart.
"Well, I'm better you than I am with the others I suppose. Lucas is too absorbed in his books and Darian... yeah, I'm not telling him for now. I have a girlfriend." Harry said.
"So? That's a good thing! Why do you need to hide that?" Aki wondered.
"Roxy and I only just got together and we're just trying to figure out things right now..." Harry shrugged.
"You and Roxy? I knew it!" Aki beamed. "I knew it! Athena and I were wondering when you'd see it!"
"Athena and... are you two dating too?" Harry looked surprised.
"We only started a little before the break started. We're keeping it hush-hush too for now so I completely understand you. Maybe we could go double date sometime..." Aki said.
"Maybe... It sounds okay, I suppose." Harry nodded.
"Now can I please get back to my bed and to my book? I was on a pretty interesting chapter about the potential capabilities of dragon magic..." Harry got up.
"Oh yeah, sure. Sorry about trying to tackle you there, Harry. I guess I just got a little carried away..." Aki looked sheepish as he went back to his own bed.
"Apology accepted. I'll ask Roxy about a double date next Saturday and see what she thinks, huh?" Harry said.
"And I'll do the same for Athena. I'm sure they'll love it..." Aki smiled as he dug around for his own book, which had been lost to the sheets in their scuffle.