Chapter 56. The Masks People Wear
In Burrow's backyard, Harry patiently explained the basics of broomstick flying to Jeanne.
"Remember, you need to lean forward slightly to gain speed. And carefully pull the handle towards you to ascend," he calmly instructs.
Jeanne furrowed her brows in concentration, gripping the broom with pale fingers. With her platinum hair soaring, she pushed off the ground sharply. The broom jolted and almost threw off its rider.
"Take it easy!" shouted Harry, grabbing Jeanne's elbow and steadying her on the broom. "No need to rush."
Jeanne snorted irritably, shaking off his hand. Flames flickered and crackled around her fist, revealing her impatience.
"Relax," Cedric softly spoke, approaching them. "Imagine you are a bird. Smoothly flap your wings."
Taking a deep breath to calm the fire, Jeanne cautiously pushed off and gracefully guided the broom upwards.
"Excellent, you're doing great!" cheered Harry as he flew beside her.
Jeanne's amber eyes sparkled with a smile. After circling the house and executing a graceful turn, she landed skillfully, hopping off on her feet.
"Well, are you satisfied?" Sirius winked at her, watching the flight.
"Hmm, not bad for a first time," Jeanne replied, turning away, but Harry noticed the satisfied glimmer in her eyes.
While Harry taught Jeanne to fly, Mrs. Weasley bustled in the kitchen, preparing lunch for the whole family and guests. The house-elf Dobby was nearby, promptly handing her the ingredients.
In the living room, Tesla was reading a book about electricity, occasionally glancing out the window at his experimental tower.
Sirius soon joined Lupin, and they began to quietly converse in a corner of the room. Occasionally, a young woman with bright pink hair, Nymphadora Tonks, sent by Dumbledore with important news, joined their conversation.
Hermione sat nearby with a book on transfiguration, engrossed in her reading.
Ginny appeared in the kitchen, dressed in Quidditch robes.
"Mum, I'm going to fly a bit while Harry teaches Jeanne. "she shouted, and rushed out into the yard.
Upstairs, Ron secluded himself in his room. He skeptically looked at his right hand, where the command symbols of his Servant were clearly visible.
"Why hasn't the Servant responded yet?" Ron worriedly thought.
In the yard, Ginny soared upwards on her broom, relishing the flight and the fresh wind.
Mr. Weasley returned home tired after a busy work day. He warmly greeted everyone and, spotting Tonks, perked up, asking her numerous questions about new muggle inventions. Tonks patiently answered, although she struggled to keep up with his thoughts at times.
Excitedly, Arthur turned to Harry and said, "Harry, I recently learned about a wonderful muggle invention - the microwave! Do you think if I place a wand in it, it will make spells cook faster?"
Harry stammered, unsure of how to respond.
"Dad, I don't think that's a good idea," Ginny interjected. "It's better not to experiment with muggle inventions. By the way, how is Knockturn Alley doing? Have you checked that suspicious amulet vendor yet?"
Meanwhile, Fleur Delacour was helping Mrs. Weasley in the kitchen, slicing vegetables for the salad with her magic knife. She hummed something in French under her breath, and her long silvery hair glimmered in the rays of the setting sun streaming through the window.
Upstairs, quick footsteps could be heard as Ron descended, eager to share his concerns with his friends.
During dinner, the conversation turned to Harry's meeting with the mysterious King in Knockturn Alley. Hermione frowned, analyzing the meaning behind his words.
"I can't make sense of what he was saying!" she exclaimed. "What allies is he talking about? What storm?"
Jeanne, who had been silently picking at her plate, suddenly looked up with interest. A spark flickered in her amber eyes.
"What do you think, Jeanne?" Harry asked. "You're familiar with that kind of speech, aren't you?"
"Perhaps," she evasively replied. "But sometimes words have double meanings. I wouldn't rush to conclusions."
Impatiently fidgeting in her chair, Hermione clearly wanted to ask more questions, but Jeanne firmly added, "Sometimes it's better to wait for the puzzle to solve itself. It's too early to speculate now."
Her gaze conveyed understanding. Harry nodded, accepting her response.
"You're right. Everything will become clear in time."
After Jeanne's words, silence fell. Hermione was clearly disappointed by the lack of answers to her questions.
"What do you think, Professor Lupin, Sirius?" she turned to the two men. "You are closest to Dumbledore, after all."
But they only exchanged mysterious glances.
- I'm afraid Albus has not shared his thoughts with us yet, - Lupin said cautiously.
- Yes, he prefers to observe and analyze before drawing conclusions, - Sirius added.
Hermione sighed disappointedly and turned to Tesla.
- What do you think, sir? You are familiar with this vague style of speech too, aren't you?
But the inventor just smiled mysteriously in response, not uttering a word.
- It seems we have no choice but to wait, - Harry summed up. - Sooner or later, everything will become clear.
Tension lingered after the fruitless questioning. But then Fred and George exchanged glances and grinned, just like Robin Hood, and all three of them clearly held back laughter.
- What do you think King Arthur would say if he were in Severus Snape's shoes? - Fred asked.
- Potter, you insolent fool, just like your father! Minus 50 points from Gryffindor! - George imitated his manner.
This caused an explosion of laughter among everyone present. Even Hermione burst into laughter, and Harry and Ron applauded, wiping tears of amusement.
- Well, well! - Dudley said through laughter. - That was clever!
- It's a good thing we don't have to learn from him anymore, - Ron smiled and shook Harry's hand.
- Indeed, - Harry smiled back.
And soon everyone started going to their sleeping places, waiting for the new school year to begin.
On the appointed day, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and the others arrived at King's Cross Station in Ministry cars provided for their safety. Experienced Aurors, led by Kingsley Shacklebolt, awaited them on the station square.
Passing through the magical barrier to platform 9 and ¾, the group said goodbye to their escorts and hurried onto the train. Harry led the way with Dudley and Jeanne, searching for an empty compartment. Along the way, they met Neville and Luna, who joined their search.
The platform was bustling with the usual pre-departure chaos. First-year students roamed around with their parents, while older students greeted friends after the holidays. There was an air of anticipation for the new school year.
Harry looked around for familiar faces. He caught sight of Draco Malfoy's blond hair in the distance, but Malfoy quickly disappeared into the crowd upon noticing Harry.
On their way to a carriage, they bumped into Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnigan, engaged in a lively discussion about football. The girls giggled and whispered, looking in Harry's direction.
Finally, they found an empty compartment at the very end of the train. After storing their luggage, Harry sank onto the soft seat with relief. Soon, the train would depart, taking them back to the familiar walls of Hogwarts.
The train began to move, gaining speed. Houses and trees flickered past the window. Harry felt a sense of calmness wash over him—finally, he was going home, to Hogwarts.
In the corridor, first-year students ran past their compartment, peeking inside with curiosity. Laughter and the sounds of exploding stink bombs from the Weasley twins' shop could be heard from neighboring carriages.
Inside the compartment, Harry sat with Dudley, Neville, Jeanne, Luna, and some old and new acquaintances.
By the window, a delicate girl with chestnut hair sat—Katie Mallowhate. She grew up in a family of pure-blood wizards but had long been considered a squib, which caused her pain. Now, given a chance, Katie eagerly studied her textbooks, determined to prove herself and others what she was capable of.
Across from her, a cheerful, stocky boy with unruly dark curls smiled—Sam Brightwood. He grew up in a large family and played football with his brothers from a young age. Sam was the life of the party and always ready to support his friends. Currently, he enthusiastically shared his plans to join the Gryffindor Quidditch team.
Dudley listened with interest, absorbing all the new information about the magical world.
- Do you remember our last match against Slytherin? - Harry asked Dudley. - You scored the winning goal!
- Yes, it was an unforgettable moment! - Dudley smiled in response. - I knew for sure that I could outplay their goalkeeper. I just felt it... it was amazing somehow...
- You have great talent, - Harry praised. - You will be one of the key players on the team this season.
- And I still dream of making it onto the Gryffindor team! - Sam impatiently said. - Even though I'm a beginner in Quidditch, I'm ready to train until I drop!
- I'm sure you will succeed, - Katie encouraged him. - The most important thing is perseverance and patience.
Hills and meadows flashed by outside the window.
Soon, the familiar sound of a bell tinkling came - a trolley with sweets passed through the corridor.
Harry immediately bought some chocolate frogs, pastries, and packets of delicious Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans - and distributed them to everyone in the compartment.
- Help yourselves, friends! Today, it's my treat.
Dudley enthusiastically pounced on the sweets.
Katie timidly took one chocolate frog, thanking Harry. She wasn't used to being treated to things just like that.
Sam also took a pastry, smiling widely.
- Thanks, buddy! You're a true friend.
Neville blushed with embarrassment but also took the offered beans. Jeanne, on the other hand, snorted and pushed the sweets away.
- I don't eat junk like candy, - she declared. - It's a waste of money.
But Harry only smiled in response to her sharpness. He was already used to her character.
Jeanne initially pushed the sweets away, but when the others got distracted by their conversations, she discreetly took one chocolate frog. Taking a bite, she secretly glanced at Harry. He didn't notice.
Jeanne neatly ate the frog, trying to maintain a composed expression. In reality, she really enjoyed the chocolate. But she had no intention of admitting it.
Later, when Harry turned away, Jeanne couldn't resist and took another candy, quickly hiding it in the pocket of her robe.
- Nothing special, I just don't want the sweets to go to waste, - she thought to herself, justifying her actions.
But in reality, Jeanne sincerely enjoyed the candies Harry had given her, even though she didn't plan on showing it.
Harry breathed in the familiar scent of the Hogwarts Express with delight - a mixture of wood, sweets, and magic. They would be home soon.
The tranquility in the compartment was interrupted by the creak of the opening door. Draco Malfoy stood on the threshold, dressed in the black cloak of the Slytherin prefect.
Tense silence filled the air for a moment. All eyes turned to the uninvited guest.
Draco quickly surveyed the occupants with his eyes. His gray eyes lingered on Harry.
"May I join?" he asked quietly.
Harry frowned. He remembered all the clashes with Malfoy in previous years at Hogwarts. But now, there was no trace of the old anger in Draco's eyes—only uncertainty and... pain?
"Of course," Harry nodded, making a decision. "Come in."
The others exchanged tense glances but remained silent.
Draco carefully took a seat, making sure not to touch anyone. The atmosphere in the compartment remained electric.
When the heroes saw Malfoy, they exchanged surprised looks—he should be in the prefects' carriage.
"Did something happen in the prefects' compartment?" Harry asked cautiously.
"No, everything's fine," Draco replied, understanding their surprise. "I just wanted to visit you."
He fell silent awkwardly under their intense gazes.
"Alright, I admit, it was a bad idea," Malfoy finally muttered, getting up. "I'm sorry for disturbing you."
Wait, what? Malfoy apologizing? If Harry wanted to say something right now, his jaw would have dropped in astonishment. He even pinched himself to check, but no—what was happening was indeed real.
"Hold on," Harry stopped him. "You can stay if you want."
Draco sat back down, trying to hide his relief. The tension in the air didn't dissipate.
"And why did you come?" Jean suspiciously asked.
"Just thought... that we could start over," Malfoy answered quietly. "Without any hard feelings."
"And where are your faithful cronies Crabbe and Goyle?" Jean sarcastically asked. "Or Blaise Zabini? Did you really dare to come to us alone?"
Draco's expression darkened.
"I no longer communicate with Crabbe and Goyle", - he replied. - "And Blaise... he doesn't approve of my decision to reconcile with you. But I have made up my own mind."
"And we are supposed to believe that you are sincere?" - Jeanne asked doubtfully.
"I give you my word, I wish no harm", - Draco said seriously. - "I just want to start over. Without prejudice."
He reached out his hand for a handshake. Harry and Jeanne glanced at each other. What to do next?
Harry remembered Narcissa Malfoy's words about Draco needing real friends. Perhaps he really wanted to start again.
"Alright, let's give it a try", - Harry said, shaking Draco's outstretched hand. - "Everyone deserves a chance to prove they've changed."
Draco exhaled and smiled slightly. The others relaxed a little too.
"But we'll be watching you closely", - Jeanne added. - "Just so you know, I won't tolerate betrayal from a friend."
"I understand", - Draco nodded. - "And I'll try to prove my loyalty. At least for my mother's sake. She believes I can start a new life. And I really want to live up to her hopes."
Thus began a new stage in their lives. Fragile and uncertain, but it was a step towards reconciliation.
After an awkward handshake, an equally awkward silence followed. Draco looked confused and sad. It seemed like he was burdened with heavy thoughts.
"Well, I should be going", - he finally said, getting up. - "Thank you for giving me a chance. I won't let you down."
"Take care, Malfoy", - Harry extended his hand for a farewell. - "And know that you now have real friends."
Draco gratefully nodded and headed towards the door. His shoulders were slumped, but determination shone in his eyes. When the compartment door closed behind Draco, Sam remarked thoughtfully:
"You know, I saw him in Knockturn Alley with some guy. They were having a serious conversation."
"Who exactly?" - Harry asked curiously.
"I don't know his name, but he was a short guy with glasses and a vintage blue suit. He had blue hair."
"Seems like that was his Servant", - Neville speculated. - "Interesting, I wonder what they were talking about?"
"It seemed like that guy was trying to convince Malfoy to change something in his life, - Sam recalled. - He said he had a choice and could take a different path. Something like that. In general, it seems like this Servant wants Malfoy to become better."
"Curious", - Jeanne mused. - "Perhaps that also influenced his decision to reconcile."
Suddenly, there was a timid knock on their compartment door. Standing in the doorway was a fragile girl with large violet eyes - it was Mash Kyrielight.
"Excuse me for bothering you," she began, "but it seems that there has been a small incident in the neighboring compartment with the first-year students."
"What happened?" - Harry worried.
"One boy accidentally turned his friend into a hamster," Mash explained with a slight smile. "They are in a panic and asking for help. Could you..."
"Of course, we'll sort it out right away!" Neville jumped up.
When the group entered the neighboring compartment, chaos reigned. The first-year students were in a panic, chasing the escaped hamster.
"Quiet down, calm down!" Mash said friendly. "Let's figure this out."
It turned out that one of the boys, Billy, was trying to cast a spell and accidentally turned his friend, Tommy, into a hamster. He was now running around the floor, evading the hands.
- You need to say the spell Finite Incantatem to undo the charm," explained Neville.
Mash gently caught the hamster and with a smile pronounced the necessary spell. The hamster immediately turned back into a boy.
"Hurray, it worked! Thank you!" shouted the first-year students.
"You don't need to thank us," Mash said embarrassedly. "The main thing is that you don't repeat such mistakes. You need to be more careful with magic."
With the help of Mash and her friends, the unpleasant incident was successfully resolved.
The train slowed down smoothly, and familiar landscapes floated outside the windows - they were approaching Hogwarts.
"Hurry, it's time to get dressed!" reminded Jeanne.
The friends hurriedly put on their cloaks to be ready to disembark.
Finally, the train stopped at the platform in Hogsmeade. Enthusiastic exclamations could be heard outside the window - the first-year students had arrived, seeing the magical castle for the first time.
But for some reason, Harry did not share the general enthusiasm. Some anxiety squeezed his heart. Harry couldn't explain this feeling, but it didn't give him peace.
"Harry, are you ready?" Jeanne called out to him.
"Yes... I'm coming," he replied, trying to calm his anxiety.
Suddenly, Hagrid's loud voice sounded:
"First-years! Follow me, I'll show you the way!"
Harry followed his friends out of the carriage, lost in thought.
So many questions were swirling in his head. Who was hiding behind the golden lion mask? What did his strange hints mean? And what secrets does Malfoy keep?
It seemed that turbulent changes were coming. And Harry had to figure out all this confusion in order to protect his loved ones.
He looked back at the illuminated windows of Hogwarts. Whatever awaited him, he was ready to fight. For friends, for the future.
The adventures were just beginning.