Update, sorry took a while. I got busy with life and work in mid of doing research, once I got free time I lost the plot, but it coming back to me so I manage to release this one out.

Calm Before The First Hunt

Another day at Hogwarts, another day to have fun. Draco Malfoy was feeling alright this morning as he started the day as usual, waking up in his dorm and seeing his dashing self in the mirror.

The night was blissful and he can confidently say last night was a great night, despite the overwhelming amount of homework being thrown at him. With his position as Slytherin prefect this year, (not to mention his status as a Malfoy) he can rest easy with all his homework done with the "help" of his "friends".

It was great in fact that he forgot what awaits him today after finally finishing dressing up and going down to the common room.

Draco Malfoy immediately loses his smugness. He curses under his breath, "Bloody hell…"

He looked at the strange lamp that seemed to burn eternally in the Slytherin common room. The lamp reminded him about that cursed teacher, the bloody new teacher who humiliated him on the first day at school. He started to remember the warning from his father, Lucius, about Professor Maria.

"Draco, listen to this very carefully. Keep about your wits with the new teacher and try not to get into her bad side- knowing your tendencies. She and Dumbledore thwarted my work and ministry plans before the school could even begin, let alone bailing you out of trouble."

At first, he doesn't think much about the warning but it started to make sense, she was indeed an old face to Hogwarts and even has a bit of History with Malfoy- specifically his great-grandfather and great-great-grandfather.

Draco let out a little shudder, he didn't like that teacher.

But enough of that! Today supposedly will be a good day because Gryffindor was said to have tryouts for their Quidditch team after class. Crabbe, Goyle, Pansy, and of course, yours truly will be having a field day harassing them to throw their focus off. Very productive activity, making sure Gryffindor will lose the Quidditch cup this year, all the while seeing how funny they are when they lose focus and get hit by a quaffle.

"Woods just graduated, isn't it?" He asked Pansy.

"Yep, the new Captain is that Johnson girl and from what I've heard she's very nervous about the new role." She answered. Who wouldn't think so? Angelina Johnson was seen blitzing around like a really busy person and can't even stand still to listen to the people she tried to get to.

"Lovely, something tells me that makes it easy to get into their head"

Draco gained his smugness back as they walked toward the class. The universe seems to hate that for a reason Malfoy cannot understand, but it has to be true because just as he was feeling better once again, that cursed professor appeared in his vision just across the hallway where they were supposed to go, talking with Professor Flitwick.

Professor Maria noticed the stare and she smiled at him as if that punishment she did to him never happened- a typical teacher blasted them all. Malfoy and the gang give forced awkward smiles back while Pansy seems fine and even waved back at the professor.

"In good terms with her, I see." Crabbe sneered.

"After what happened to Malfoy, I rather not get into her bad side", Malfoy and Crabbe winced at the statement, "besides, she has been very kind to students no matter what house they're in", Pansy trying to defend herself for being nice.

Hoyle decided to join in, "Oh, is she now? What exactly did she do-"

"Did you forget how much pocket money she gave Bulstrode just because of her cat?!"

He hates it when she's right, so Malfoy spends the rest of the way stomping. They stopped at the corner hearing something weird.

'Hem!'

Seeing Malfoy try to look around, the other three also started to try looking at something they didn't even know what he was trying to find.

"What was that?" Malfoy asked.

"What was what?"

'Hem!'

Another weird voice came out and Malfoy immediately called it out, "There just now! Did you hear that?"

They look around trying to find the voice but can't find what is that noise coming from.

"Must've been a wind…"

Immediately after that a high-pitched voice rudely banging on their ear drum, "Mr. Malfoy! How nice to see the son of Lucius here in Hogwarts!"

The other three jumped from their spot, not expecting Overseer Umbridge would appear out of nowhere.

"Ms. Umbridge?"

"That's Overseer Umbridge to you, Mr. Malfoy."

Malfoy looks uncomfortable and then glances at the other three and likewise, not sure what's going on.

"Is there something we can help you with?" He asked. As soon as that sentence left his mouth, Umbridge smiled with her toad-like smile like the creepy woman she is.

"Well, as a matter of fact…"

"...That is the rule of duelling. Anyone excited for their first duel?" Asked Professor Maria after explaining the rule to the first-year students.

Students in unison reply with high spirits and eagerness "Yes, Professor Maria!"

Maria bites her lip trying to contain her laughter and immediately starts to smile warmly. How she missed having such a bundle of energy around, her maternal instinct once again flared up like a dancing flame.

How can she not? Seeing tiny things just jumping up and down with their silly excited faces to each other, they didn't care if they looked ridiculous and some even resembled little goblins when they contorted their face out of excitement, they just wanted to have fun. 'Adorable'

When she looked around to let themself calm down, she noticed one student had a worried look on him the moment their eyes met. "Euan Abercrombie?"

The student immediately perked up and looked very nervous, as if terrified towards her. Other students stop chattering and give their attention to her, and then to Euan.

"What ails you, young one? You seem terrified, are you worried if you'll get hurt when duelling"

Euan glanced left and right a bit frantically before finally letting out a word, "N-no, professor. I know that y-you already put a safety spell…"

At the very least, Professor Maria is glad that Euan does pay attention to the class as she already told them about safety, "Then what is it that bothers you?"

"It's!- it's nothing, professor!"

His answer was clear but unconvincing with how much stammering and how his voice vibrated.

"It's an okay young one, if you have a question please don't hesitate to ask. It would be better for all of us, and for you too before we begin."

Euan seems to be in a dilemma, but with Professor never letting her eyes go from him looking very welcoming, he gains a sliver of courage to finally get out of it.

"Are you really a vampire?"

There was a loud gasp within the class, and Professor Maria was also a bit surprised as her eyes widened.

Euan instantly felt a regret with his questions and tightly shut his eyes, now it is finally out he is probably getting killed for knowing her secret, she will suck his blood dry right now, or somewhere after class in the middle of the night.

He really wants to go home, he is going to die a horrible death-...

Eh….?

huh?

Is that… a chuckle?

A giggle?

And now a muffled laughter…?

Euan opens his eyes and finds the Professor trying her hardest to muffled her own laugh with her palm, but it doesn't seem to be very effective as he still can hear her, see the teary eyes and slight redness on her cheeks.

A silent room slowly turned into giggles, small laughs, and then students finally burst out guffaws. Professor herself started to let out a tiny soft wheeze and Euan replaced his terrified feelings with awkwardness and sheepishness. Was the question that ridiculous?

"...Oh Flora, have mercy on me."

"Professor Maria can't be a vampire, silly!" His classmate beside him says.

"Alright children, don't belittle Abercrombie, it was a genuine question out of concern. You have to forgive me for laughing but I-..." She then almost lost herself once more but she saved it by letting out a little cough.

"I'm sorry little one, I hope I don't make you feel uncomfortable" said the Professor.

"...N-no, Professor," Euan replied.

"What makes you think that I'm a vampire?" She asked gently with a smile, encouraging him. "Do I look very pale compared to others?"

"I just heard about rumours… what people say, some say you have to be a vampire," he told her while fidgeting his own fingers.

"I see, I guess we can talk a little bit about this, considering this is also part of the curriculum for the first year" she waved her hand and the chalkboard floated towards her and facing the students to be seen clearly.

"Vampire…" She said as the chalkboard drew an illustration of a vampire by itself, "they are very popular dark beings, well known in the wizarding world and Muggle world. They have very specific characteristics, one of which is very pale."

As the chalkboard is finally done drawing a vampire along with the specific characteristics getting pointed at, professor Maria gets herself standing straight mimicking the drawing as if asking the students to compare her with it. She pointed out at the first point of a Vampire characteristic which is pale.

"Well I certainly got the pale part," she smiled and made the students chuckle, "they are usually very tall and I suppose I am quite tall for a woman."

"Hmm, they have a rather unique shape with their ears, slightly pointy don't you think?"

The students nodded in agreement, and then Professor Maria brush her hair with her fingers rather delicately behind her ears to show she has a normal looking one, it is actually very normal when they start to glance at Euan who has such prominent ears. Euan was quite conscious about it and realised what they were thinking made his ears go red.

"That one thing I don't have, how about my teeth? Do I have a fang I wonder, Vampire have a really long and sharp fang so they could eat and suck the blood of their prey."

Professor Maria opened her mouth, her cherry red tongue that weirdly clashes with her pale complexion are being pushed out so her white teeth are much easier to see, and it turns out she doesn't have a fang, although she has rather prominent canine teeth compared to their own. Some were mistaking it as a fang until other students corrected them that it's not a fang as it was too short and in the wrong position despite how sharp looking it was, the vampire based on the board have their fangs more up front while the normal human canine teeth is a bit more on the back.

"I don't have fangs, so from a physical standpoint I am not a vampire," she smiled once more. Some words like 'told you so' can be heard among students.

"There's more ways to identify a Vampire like how they can't walk under sunlight, and I love tending flowers in daylight. Perhaps we can continue this in appropriate time and manner. What's important now…" she then looked at Euan once more, "Does this put your mind at ease, Mister Abercrombie?"

Euan who finally saw and believed that it is impossible for the Professor to be a Vampire started to nod, "I'm very sorry Professor, I heard a prefect says you are definitely a vampire so I believe it…"

A prefect? Professor Maria wonder, she could see Euan wearing Gryffindor robe, which means either that Weasley boy or Granger said it, she didn't know they suspected her as such, something to think about for later.

"It's alright, perhaps this could be a lesson for all of us," she waved her hand and the blackboard floated away to the wall, "just because someone important like a prefect said it, does not mean it is true, they are just like us who can make a mistake. You are gifted with a mind that you can use for yourself, and so you should try to see things for yourself to find the truth. We all can learn something important from Abercrombie, something we can applaud him for is that he does try to understand by asking, and not many people do- like those people who spread the rumours."

"Well done, young one, for being a good example with your bravery to ask and avoiding misunderstanding." Professor Maria said.

Euan let out a sheepish laugh and other students also looked at him differently, making him blush for all the attention.

Something about it changed Euan, just because someone important says it, does not mean it's the truth, that is etched inside of him more than he knows. Lady Maria looked at Euan Abercrombie with a warm feeling within her chest, seeing how great his eyes are now compared to before, less flinching and emanating some confidence behind it, worthy of his house emblem that etched on his robe. Just a little pride towards her children doing great won't hurt, right?

"Alright, let's start the duel! Those whose names are called may move forward." She announced and the class cheered, filling the air with excitement once again.

Cho Chang was sitting alone in the entrance courtyard, all tidy up donned a Ravenclaw Quidditch uniform and gears. She hums lightly. Her eyes lit up when she saw professor Flitwick with a suitcase and the Ravenclaw Quidditch captain Roger Davies with him.

"Davies, Professor Flitwick!" Cho immediately stood up and hurried her little legs to them.

Professor Flitwick and Davies look around the courtyard but only find Cho makes them frown a bit, Davies then asks Cho "you're the only one that came?"

"I'm sure the rest will come soon enough," answered Cho but her face tells otherwise. This makes Professor Flitwick worried.

"I brought all the things we need to turn a valley into a makeshift Quidditch pitch with me and no one came?!" The goblin professor asked uncharacteristically. The two students can only give apologetic smiles. They decided to give it more time and wait at the entrance courtyard with Cho.

"Punctuality is supposed to be one thing a Ravenclaw has," Professor Flitwick said, rather disappointed. The half goblin looked at his pocket watch and let out a sigh.

"We'll wait for a bit," said Filius Flitwick. They end up talking about strategies and how they try to do these practices until someone walks through the door, finding Professor Maria walking with a girl they have never seen before beside her holding the Professor's hand.

The three immediately greeted them, "Good afternoon, Lady Maria", "Good afternoon Professor!"

"Good afternoon, Professor Flitwick, Mr. Davies, Ms. Chang" Lady Maria greeted them back.

"Is this young Yuliya that you mentioned the other day?" The Goblin professor asked with a smile, addressing the girl with braided pale blonde hair that rested on her right shoulder and also pale blue eyes, wearing a white dress with frills matching the white blouse Professor Maria is wearing.

"Ah yes, allow me to give an introduction. Yuliya, this is Professor Flitwick the head of Ravenclaw house, and that is Roger Davies and Cho Chang, one of my students"

"Nice meeting you Professor Flitwick, Roger Davies and Cho Chang of Ravenclaw," Then she bowed as courtesy. The captain of Ravenclaw Quidditch team was feeling a bit off his balance when the girl spoke, and Cho also felt a bit confused as to what to do. The air the girl has was that of a noble by the way she moves and carries herself, her grace is a bit overwhelming as if she was a doll turn alive with the perfect decorum under their belt, so all Roger could do was awkwardly nodded, while Cho was trying to mimic what Yuliya did albeit weirdly and stiffly unfamiliar with such custom.

"And this is Yuliya Muradasilova, my granddaughter," this time Davies almost fell off and struggling to catch his broom and Cho suddenly opened her eyes 50% wider. Professor Flitwick on the other hand seems happy without any hint of surprise.

"It's nice to finally meet you young lady" he bowed back to the girl.

"...m-me too." Added Cho and Davies.

"Are you about to have Quidditch practice?" Lady Maria asked out of curiosity. The other three then nodded.

"Just the two of you?" She asked slightly concerned.

"I'm sure they'll be here soon enough… maybe?" Cho once again tried to be positive albeit failed miserably.

"Punctuality is supposed to be one thing a Ravenclaw has…" Lady Maria said with disappointment.

Flitwick nodded in agreement with too much energy behind it.

"Why here? Why are you not in or near the Quidditch pitch?"

"Well, Gryffindor rented the pitch for Tryouts, their captain just graduated I believe." This time Roger Davies answered the Professor of Defence against Dark Arts. "We could wait for tomorrow to have our practice but we don't really have the luxury of getting laid back, so we push through having a practice today, if no one comes through that massive door then I will have to personally drag them here."

"Strange, having issues of low morale? Did our team don't do very well last year…?" The question surprised Cho and Davies a little bit, specifically with the use of the word 'Our', it was news to them that the professor was a Ravenclaw.

"Oh more than that, Ravenclaw keeps getting third place for years now" answered Flitwick, receiving a small gasp from Lady Maria.

"That is unacceptable."

Admittedly, the half goblin didn't know this fellow professor all that well other than what Dumbledore told him already, from how she act and carries herself, he sees her like some kind woman and gentle, respectful to anyone- a stark contrast with the obvious competitiveness she's showing right at this very moment. He thought that was an interesting reaction and unexpected, so he made sure to take a mental note on that.

"Is it really that bad, grandmother?" Ask Yuliya.

"Back in my day, Ravenclaw won 4 Quidditch cups consecutively, then won yet another one before I graduated. We are much better players compared to the other three."

The statement left the others mouth agape, Ravenclaw was a Queen of the Castle before?!

"W-when? When exactly does this happen?" Flitwick then asked.

"I think it was around the 1850s through 1860s when I was still a Ravenclaw student here in Hogwarts." Lady Maria answered.

"Oh, how our mighty raven has fallen…" Flitwick slumped to his suitcase.

"Talk with me, my boy, why Ravenclaw has little chance of winning this year?" Professor Maria crouched and demanded towards the half Goblin. "Tell me everything."

"Oh…. Davies if you will do the honour…." He answered weakly, Cho tried her best to console the head of the house by patting his back gently. The captain then leaned forward and tried his best to explain.

"Well, you see professor, our team is doing fine all around but that is exactly the problem. We are way too balanced that the only one stand out strong is how fast Cho is" he explained while pointing at Cho who can only give sheepish smile, "she's a godsend if you ask me, she appear one day with that Comet Two Sixty broom of hers flying like she is one with the wind, best seeker I ever had."

Lady Maria nodded, feeling proud to have Cho while said students can only blush with a sudden bombardment of praises.

"Sadly, Slytherin is full of filthy rich prat-"

"Language, my dear" lady Maria interrupted.

"-Pardon my French, and this Malfoy lad bought the whole team a Flying Nimbus Two Thousand One. Everyone knows that broom is an international standard made in Japan for the Quidditch world cup for a while now. The thing flies like a needle piercing through the wind. No matter how good Cho is, with Comet Two Sixty she will struggle against them but she is still able to compete. It is a huge problem for the rest of us who don't have such high quality brooms."

"So here comes the real problem, that spectacled Gryffindor boy…" said Davies with his face drowned and darkened.

"Harry Potter…" Cho added, trying to correct Davies from calling him 'Gryffindor boy'.

"How is he a problem?" Lady Maria asked, still confused what they were getting at.

"Well, Potter is a good seeker, a mean one at that. When we played against Gryffindor he was a boy with extreme focus, flying really well and really daring, unflinching against dangerous terrains, he broke a record for being the fastest seeker who managed to catch the golden snitch super early. I'm confident Cho can be on par with him but he has something that gives him an advantage to stay miles away ahead from us."

"He owns a broom that only he has in this school, a Firebolt, fastest broom ever existed to date." Now Cho chiming in, "great skill along with such a fast broom like that? Almost makes him untouchable."

"As I was saying, he is one mean seeker," Davies said, trying to emphasise what he meant by 'trouble'. "He is the carrier of Gryffindor for a while now, the rest of the team didn't own fancy brooms like Slytherin does, and they already play really well as is, and now with him around it gives such a boost to the Gryffindor team and even makes them win the cup a couple times over the last few years."

"They've been giving our team bad morale, probably why no one bothers to come today," Flitwick finally stood up from his slump.

"I see… then why not just buy these Firebolt brooms?" Said Lady Maria a bit too nonchalant, making everyone paused on their track.

"I-I beg your pardon?" Davies was caught off guard with the question.

"Just buy this Firebolt for Ms. Chang, if not for the whole team."

"Milady, I'm not sure you understand but this Firebolt broom was a luxury among luxury, even an international team can't afford to have their whole team owning such an item aside from how rare it is, even now only Bulgarians have it." Flitwick explained, "let alone buying one for something small like a school team."

Lady Maria and Yuliya look at each other, and back at the other three.

"Well, I suppose it can't be helped."

Harry and Ron walk to the changing room to gear up for Tryouts, with Oliver graduated, they are in need of a keeper. Ron is testing himself for the role so he and Harry are now together with the rest of the team and other students who want to join the team as well for the role, he belittles himself that it sounds stupid but Harry actually thinks it was a brilliant idea.

"Finally testing your luck joining the team like your brothers, Ron?" Vicky Frobisher asked.

"Yeah, I just thought I would try it out now I have a decent broom, see?" Ron meekly shows his Cleansweep Eleven broom that he got as a present for being a prefect, and for once it doesn't look like it is about to break in half from deterioration since this time it's a brand new broom instead of handed down from his older siblings, "Fred and George also make me the keeper every time they practise at home so I am getting alright with it."

"I suppose we'll see," Geoffrey Hooper added. "We'll be competing."

"You should have more confidence in you little brother," Fred said as he put his arm on Ron's shoulder.

"That is one thing that prevents you from greatness," George added, doing the same thing as Fred.

"Just don't be a Malfoy where all you have is confidence" said Harry and everyone laughed.

As they finally finish gearing up, they walk out from the changing room to the Quidditch pitch, and somehow they hear the bloody Slytherin's in the tribune, chanting mean words to annoy them.

Ron and Harry were about to shout something back before the newly appointed captain cut them fast.

"Nevermind them! Just focus on the tryouts, we got no time for worthless flies buzzing in our ears" Angelina Johnson said with an intense expression showing how serious she is.

"...can someone check whether Oliver is dead? She seems to be channelling his spirit" said Harry half joking.

"If you're thinking she'll be less strict, then I'm sorry to disappoint you, lad" Fred added.

They ride on their broom and fly around the pitch, Angelina Johnson has given the whole team a role to test the tryouts student while trying to turn deaf from Slytherin's verbal abuse.

Harry this time will be handling a quaffle, something that is rare for him. Angelina wants to test all the way through even to duress test, so all hands on decks and then they will try a mock match to be the final decider on who will be joining the team.

Before they could finally start however, they heard someone shouting, and for once it's not Malfoy and his cronies.

And then there's another one that can be heard, everyone starts to feel a bit curious.

'woohoooooooo…'

"What was that? A werewolf in broad daylight?" Said Ron.

And then there it is, they could see something flying very fast from the north, a couple of people going ham with the speed. It was only a matter of second before they went past the whole pitch from above with their loud shout of glee.

"WHOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

"Oooooooooo- Hi Harry! Oooooooo!"

One by one they flew past them, Harry could see their gear, it was the whole Ravenclaw team and Cho was the one who greeted him.

"By Merlin's beard! Is that Ravenclaw team?! How are they going so fast?!" Katie Bell shouted in disbelief.

"Wait! I saw it! They are all riding Firebolts!" Alicia Spinnet said, making everyone surprised.

"No bloody way!" Ron shouted as he put both his hands on his head. Even the Slytherin stopped chanting their stupid song.

Harry was smiling, really wide. He sees Cho and hears her greet him, it makes him feel even happier, the way the girl smiles really hard as she is riding the same broom as him, something tugged inside him itching to join Cho.

"Go for it Cho!" He screamed and laughed.

Angelina Johnson doesn't like what she sees, even one bit. Where do they get such rare expensive things?

Filius Flitwick the head of Ravenclaw House was shaking, sweating, a fish out of the water, Cho and Davies are in the same situation. In front of them is a pile of the state of the art flying broom, the Firebolt just laying on the ground, piling like a broom closet.

"Go on, take one," Lady Maria ordered the students.

"W-...ma-... Fire… what?" Professor Flitwick stammering.

"Fa- fa- fayaaahhhhuuuuh? I weeee…. ," Cho started muttering nonsense.

Davies glared at the pile of broomsticks, look at the nonexistent watch on his right wrist, and start to look at Professor Maria in front of him, face all weird as if he's drowned on a dry land, "Right, well turn out I have a sudden appointment with Madam Pomfrey at the hospital wing, so I should be going."

As soon as Davies turned around and took the first step, he fell flat on the ground unmoving.

"Grandmother, I think you killed them…" Said Yuliya in flat D minor.

"...Well, my dear Yuliya…. I'm not sure why the effect is the opposite of what I was hoping for." Lady Maria put one hand to hold her chin and the other hand resting on her hip, she was confused beyond measure, although she had to admit these things were quite expensive, but that supposed to make them happy to have a generous sponsor, not… dying.

Truly, this world can be more confusing than a multilayered plane of reality hosted by eldritch horrors lusting for virgins to bear their children.

Angelina Johnson snapped from her muse when Harry with a huge grin plastered on his face asked them to finally have a go.

"What are we waiting for then?! Let's crack on! We can't lose against Ravenclaw now can we?!" Harry has a huge boost of energy out of nowhere, it's like the energy was being passed to him when Ravenclaw is showing off to them.

Well, if anything she is glad that their morale has not plummeted from it, and she decides to capitalise that. "You've heard him, let's crack on!"

Harry is still looking at Cho who keeps going farther and farther towards Hogsmeade, she also keeps looking at him till she almost hits the other team member. Harry let out a chuckle.

Harry knows all too well how amazing it feels when you first ride the broom, he remembers how he did the same exact thing by just shout his voice letting out everything in his lung that cannot contain his excitement, and to see Cho having the same thing as he did gives him even more excitement and giddy.

Despite the whole charade meant to be showing off, Harry feels nice for once and gets even more excited than before. Who cares where and how Ravenclaw got the broom? For now, they need to test on how determined these new tryouts are.

The evening goes eventful.

"I should've gone over this differently, am I?"

Lady Maria stopped from her sandwich making when Dumbledore asked the question, he was standing at the nearby window looking to the view of the school below. Understanding what Dumbledore meant, Lady Maria thought for a second and continued doing what she was doing.

"You are asking the wrong question, bumblebee."

Dumbledore turns around to face her, "What is the question I should be asking?"

"Why not try to ask 'Can I ask you to get him back?' ".

Dumbledore frown, "I feel-"

"Rid the thought," Lady Maria finished making the last raspberry jam sandwich and put it at the top of the last stack, she licked any jam left stuck on her finger and stood up walking towards Dumbledore and grabbed his shoulder firmly.

"You've done well enough, the plan is sound but battling your wits with another will never let things go smoothly, no one can foresee this, not even his followers- that I assure you." she gave Dumbledore a reassuring smile.

Dumbledore let out a weak sigh, "...Can I ask you to get him back?"

"We'll be here by midnight." She patted him one last time and started dressing up with her hat and black coat.

Dumbledore let out a chuckle, "Anything you need that I could help?"

She sheathed her sword, tightened the belt, and then summoned a golden wand to be placed on her hip as she donned her full hunting uniform before finally making a request to Dumbledore, "Mind if I borrow that McGonagall girl?"

"I'm sure she would be delighted, I would against calling her 'girl' "

"Enjoy your meal 'my boy', I'll be back before bedtime." she smiled as she vanished leaving a wish of fog.

Dumbledore shook his head as he grabbed a sandwich chuckling from the joke, he took a bite and exhale, "I hate it how good and addicting this sandwich is... is she using blood magic or something? Unbelievable."

Chatters filled the grand hall as students filled their belly with assortments of delicious and tasty elf-made foods for their dinner. The usual trio try to do their homeworks while having dinner, still overwhelmed by it especially now every teacher gives them homeworks.

Harry glanced at an empty chair at the staff desks once in a while hoping that Hagrid would just show up and have dinner with them. Ron noticed his behaviour and tried to give comfort to Harry. Malfoy and the gang walk past them and unfortunately they seem to have picked up Harry's woe.

"Looking for someone Harry? Your boyfriend perhaps?"

Harry scowls and tries to stand up right there and now to punch Malfoy, but Ron manages to stop him before he could do all of that. Hermione feels a bit disturbed on how angry and how short fused Harry is, unusual behaviour even for Harry.

"Easy mate, easy… it's just Malfoy, he knows nothing but grating you for his sick psychotic sense of humour, it's not worth it."

Malfoy pulled up a smug visage, purposely edging them, "Oh might know a thing or two, you're looking for your disgusting hairy giant are you not?"

This time Hermnione is the one who lost her cool, "What did you say about Hagrid?! Take that back!"

"You talk big when the big guy is not around, cowards, just wait till he comes back and you'll get punished staying overnight in the room full of Doxy till you go mad." Ron added.

"You put a lot of faith in someone who probably…. Hurt?" Malfoy then leaned forward closer to the trio as his smug still plastered on his face.

"...Trapped?" his eyes narrowed as he grinned.

"...and probably will never return." his visage darken.

"I know things that you don't, Potter…. Be sure you remember that"

Harry is on his last leg but before he can broke out of his hold and retaliate disproportionately, a massively overwhelming presence just freeze them all, Crab and Goyle didn't even see since when a tall woman with her full hunter garb just appear behind Malfoy, none of them manage to move even a finger as soon as cold chilling voice escape her with how the temperature seemed to drop drastically.

"Are you now, Mister Malfoy?"

Draco Malfoy mustered all his strength to turn his head only to be greeted by silver dead eyes looking down at him, as if a corpse trying to peel his soul away- an abyss that stares directly at you.

"P-professor Maria…?!"

Lady Maria leaned her body forward so her ear was now directly in front of Malfoy's face, "Go on, boy, tell me what you know."

Malfoy stammered, "N-no I didn't k-know anything, I-I was j-just I was just pulling- Harry's l-leg you see, I-I mean nothing by it."

Chatters filled the hall as students went by having dinner together, and yet in this little circle they have, it feels as if the whole world has gone quiet as no one says anything nor does the Professor give any reaction with his answer.

The DADA Professor closed her eyes and her voice turned to normal, almost letting out a sigh as if she just felt defeated over something "Shame, I was hoping you actually do."

Everyone involved exhaled their breath they didn't know they held. Lady Maria stood up straight and gave Malfoy a head pat and warm smile, "Be nice to your fellow schoolmates, Malfoy, easier for you to get help when you are knees deep in trouble."

"As for you Mister Potter, control your anger." She shook her head and mouthed 'teenager', "The last thing we want in this school is more Delinquent."

"...Yes professor" Harry slumped, releasing the tenses he was holding on.

"Good boy, now be nice." She said, sending them a wink as she walked away to the staff desk signalling Professor McGonagall to come with her.

Nobody says anything until both professors are out of sight and the idle chatters of students that never left seem to return to their ears. Malfoy cussed and asked his gangs to hasten their way to their table and be done with their dinner. No one protested or said anything until Ron broke it.

"Bloody hell was that…."

Harry looked at both Ron and Hermione, "Is she actually part of… you know, the group?"

"What group?"

Harry tried to whisper because subtlety didn't work, "You know, the order?"

Both shook their heads.

"We don't know, we never saw her in HQ, and nobody mentioned her either." said Hermione.

Ron then added with a bit more enthusiasm as if he's into something big, "But you're right to ask that, that was too bold, she basically asked Malfoy if he actually knew anything about Hagrid…"

"Bold is understatement, that was unbearable pressure coming out of nowhere…" Hermione complained.

"Do you think he is in danger? Hurt? Trapped? We need to go to Hagrid's!" Harry panicked.

Ron pat Harry's shoulder trying to keep his cool with him, "Calm down, we shouldn't be reckless, remember we're supposed to just focus on school and trust the order, they are much more capable than we could ever be….. Though we might visit Hagrid's place sooner or later"

The moon is on the horizon nearing midnight, with little moonlight there is unable to pierce through a huge giant tree forest, Minerva McGonagall cast Lumos with her wand the entire way as she, Lady Maria, and Yulia tread the forest together.

"We're near" Lady Maria signalled them to stop.

She gave the Faerie wand to Yulia and handed a pistol to Minerva, however the Headhouse of Gryffindor looking at her confused- befuddled by the device.

"What is this?" she asked

"Back up Pistol, there shouldn't be an issue as long as you transfigure yourself into a cat, but if all else fails this pistol will be your final gambit."

"Blasted faeries…" Minerva takes the pistol and holds it in an awkward manner, not knowing how exactly she's gonna use it.

"Yulia, flow the time forward on my signal." Lady Maria ordered which replied with a firm nod.

She unsheathed both of her blades, Minerva flinched by the sound of the metal as it revealed its glory sheen under the moonlight. Minerva has her hair standing up as the air is completely changed, gone is the Professor of Defence Against Dark Arts that cares and is warm towards students, there's only Lady Maria of The Astral Clocktower, the hunter of beasts and astral beings.

Eyes fixated toward the small glimmer of fire in the distant deeper in the forest, counting Giants that will fall under her blades.

"Let the hunt begin…"

Omake

"Ooooo mama mama mama eu quero, mamãe eu quero, mamãe eu quero mamar~"

A man in his 30s can be seen singing to his heart's content in front of his wife's vanity, combing his hair and grinning.

"Money is back, money is back, I am a wealthy man once again mama~"

The door to the bedroom opened revealing a woman with long white hair, she heard the man singing and let out a sneering chuckle.

"Sounds like you're in a good mood." She commented, "something hit your head when I was getting Friewhatintheworld…?"

She loses her thoughts completely when she sees her own husband doing silly movements on her vanity with a wig on top of his bald head.

"Ah Yuria mi amor," he turned his body fast toward his wife now known as Yuria, "What say you we have a little honeymoon next week~?"

"Yoel, do you realise how ridiculous you look?"

"Nonsense, the only thing that is ridiculous is how much I love you, dear Yuria…" he winked and now put a rose between his teeth.

"...Okay what do you want?" Yuria said, a bit annoyed.

"What do you mean my dear?"

"Well, usually when you are being too nice to me, it means you want something or did something stupid!" she said as if it was a well known fact.

"But I really just want us to have a good time." Yoel defended himself. "I know you've been asking for a kid, and you know… maybe we can finally start with a second honeymoon? Now that I'm ready?"

"...Did you do some dumb investment again like getting that stupid expensive broom when no one is buying it?!"

"That is not a dumb investment!"

Yuria rolled her eyes, "felt like it with how much it cost for one. It is no wonder no one is buying it!"

Yoel then let out a smug face, which caught Yuria off guard, "Heh, well you see, that has changed."

"Huh…?"

"You see, some rich Lady just bought all of it, so now we have a lot of money to spare"

Yuria blinked, and then looked at her husband in disbelief, "No bloody way, someone finally bought those stupid brooms?!"

"Mhm!"

"All of it?"

"All of it!"

"...so we finally have our money back?"

"Couple times over."

Then there's a bit of silence until Yuria decides to break it with a 50 ton hammer words.

"Invest some baby in me, now!"

"Holy sh-"

A nun with mahogany hair and a priest with a rather large build are sitting still in the living room down below. From how they moved it was obvious they were feeling a bit uncomfortable, fidgeting all around, because little did the married couple know that everything they said could be heard all the way to the first floor.

*Thud* "Oh my goodness! Yuria sweetheart, I sure am happy for you but…" The nun kept getting startled whenever a loud thud could be heard. "...I got a feeling she forgot the guest in her living room. I hope you can forgive her, Father Ariandel, my sister has always been lacking in manners."

"This is a common occurrence, Sister Friede?" the priest gave her an eyebrow.

"Absolutely-" *Thud* "-NOT!" Sister Friede started to wave her hand towards her face, eyes looking around the room in a frantic manner. The room suddenly felt warmer. "No, never, usually they were simply arguing and bickering like what we just overheard before it turned into… this."

The Priest nodded in understanding, "So this is a welcome change?"

"This would be wonderful news for our family if the occasion happened not right when we just-" *thud* "Eep!... J-just arrived….?"

There was a moment of silence, both the nun and the priest were sitting still in anticipation looking up towards the second floor, wondering if things calmed down a bit.

*Craaash*

"Ooouuuh holy huuuuu praise be lord FatherAriandel'let'sfinda'nearbyinn'tostayforthenight." Sister Friede smiled awkwardly as she tried to talk as fast as possible with her face reddened and Father Ariandel could not agree more.

The nun was about to carry her flying farming tool as well, but when she about to extend her arm to pick her scythe, another loud thud can be heard and she jumped, startled, immediately lost her thoughts, she end up rotating around on the spot flustered until she decide to forget everything and just run towards Father Ariandel, holding his arm as if seeking for protection.

The priest hurried tidying up the table and walked as fast as he could with the nun, "London sure is lively compared to Londor…"

"T-that is an understatement."

Father Ariandel tried to look at the stair on the way out, hoping he could take a little peek on what caused the sound of shattered glass, but Sister Friede slapped his forehead immediately.

"Pull yourself together! We're-"

*Thud*

"-Eep!... We're going, now!"

The priest rubbed his forehead frowning, "That was much stronger slap than the usual."

"Wording!"