The carriages came to a stop outside Hogwarts, the grand castle's silhouette stark against the starry sky. Gilda Harrow stepped down first, her boots crunching against the gravel. Her gaze lingered on the skeletal thestrals in their harnesses, their hollow eyes staring back at her as if they knew.
Caliban shifted on her shoulder, his sharp talons digging slightly into the fabric of her robes. He let out a low, guttural murmur that Gilda didn't bother to translate aloud. She understood him perfectly.
"Still staring?" Eleanor Selwyn asked quietly, coming to stand beside her.
"They're remarkable," Gilda said, her voice low. "And honest."
Eleanor frowned but said nothing, glancing nervously at the students milling around them. The Slytherins had barely stepped off the carriage before they were greeted by curious glances, judgmental stares, and hurried whispers.
"What are you gawking at?" Pansy Parkinson snapped at a passing Hufflepuff. The girl flinched and quickly scurried away, prompting a smirk from Draco Malfoy.
"Easy, Pansy," Blaise Zabini said lazily. "Remember what our fearless leader said."
Before Gilda could respond, a soft, dreamy voice cut through the murmurs.
"Your owl is... unusual."
The group turned to see Luna Lovegood approaching, her wide silver eyes fixed on Caliban with unfiltered curiosity. She moved lightly, her butterbeer cap necklace clinking softly as she stopped a few feet from Gilda.
Caliban tilted his head, his red eyes glinting as he let out another low murmur, this one sharp and quick, a string of syllables only Gilda could hear.
"What's he saying?" Luna asked, tilting her head as if she might decipher it herself.
Gilda hesitated, then smirked faintly. "He thinks your presence is... unsettling."
Luna smiled serenely. "I imagine I am. I've been told I'm quite disconcerting."
The Slytherins exchanged incredulous glances, and Pansy let out a short laugh. "She's got that right."
"Enough," Gilda said sharply, silencing Pansy with a glance.
Unperturbed, Luna stepped closer, her gaze never leaving Caliban. "Is he part wyvern? His tail looks almost draconic."
"Yes," Gilda replied, her voice softening slightly. "He's part wyvern. My parents had him bred for me."
"How extraordinary," Luna murmured. "Though I don't think I'd want to touch him. He's been muttering curses this whole time, hasn't he? It's probably good he doesn't have a wand."
Draco snorted. "He doesn't need one. You should've seen him on the train. He used a student's wand to blow out a window."
Luna gasped softly, her eyes wide with fascination. "Really? Was it intentional?"
"Hard to say," Blaise said with a grin. "But the look on everyone's face was worth it."
Luna tilted her head, studying Caliban as he hissed softly, his wings shifting against Gilda's back. "He's incredible," she said. "Though I imagine he's not easy to care for."
"He's not," Gilda admitted, stroking Caliban's feathers absently. "But he's loyal. And more intelligent than most people give him credit for."
"I can see that," Luna said thoughtfully. Her gaze flicked back to Gilda, and her voice grew quieter. "I imagine he's been good company for you... especially after what happened."
The Slytherins stilled.
"What do you mean?" Pansy asked, her tone sharp.
Luna didn't flinch under the sudden tension. "The Harbinger Tournament," she said simply, her eyes still on Gilda. "You killed Winnick Goldstein, didn't you?"
Draco let out a low chuckle, clearly anticipating a confrontation. "So much for pleasantries."
But Luna wasn't accusatory. Her expression remained serene, almost thoughtful. "I don't think I could do what you did," she continued. "But I don't judge you for it, either. You did what you thought you had to."
Gilda's lips thinned, but she nodded once, her voice measured. "I did."
The Slytherins exchanged uneasy glances. Even Blaise, always quick with a quip, seemed unsure how to respond.
"You're... not angry?" Eleanor asked tentatively.
Luna smiled softly. "Anger wouldn't change anything, would it? And besides, it's not my place to decide who deserves judgment."
Pansy muttered something under her breath, but Gilda ignored her. She found herself meeting Luna's gaze, searching for any hint of condescension or pity. There was none.
"I appreciate that," Gilda said finally.
Luna nodded, her smile warm. "Good. And your companion truly is marvelous. Goodbye, Gilda. Goodbye, Caliban."
As Luna turned to leave, Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger appeared, their expressions wary.
"Luna," Harry called, his tone steady. "Everything okay here?"
"Oh, yes," Luna said brightly. "I was just admiring Caliban. He's extraordinary."
Hermione glared at Ron. "I'm sure he is," she muttered.
Harry's gaze lingered on Gilda for a moment before he nodded toward Luna. "Come on. Let's go."
As the Gryffindors led Luna away, Draco let out a low laugh. "Didn't expect that from Lovegood."
"She's strange," Blaise said. "But not wrong."
"She's honest," Gilda corrected. "It was refreshing."
Caliban murmured again, his tone rising and falling in a cryptic cadence. Gilda smirked faintly.
"What now?" Eleanor asked.
"He's just upset," Gilda replied, adjusting her robes.
With that, she turned toward the castle, her companions falling in step behind her. The lights of Hogwarts gleamed ahead, promising challenges and chaos, and Gilda was ready to meet them head-on.
The students were still disembarking from the carriages as the commotion began. Rhys Dawlish stormed down the path, his broken wand clutched tightly in his hand. His face was red, his expression twisted with frustration and fury as he pushed through the crowd, seething and cursing under his breath.
"Here we go again," Ron muttered.
"He's not going to let it go, is he?" Harry asked.
Hermione sighed, already moving toward Rhys. "We can't let him do something reckless."
The three quickened their pace to intercept him, Luna trailing behind with her usual calm demeanor. As they caught up, they saw Rhys stop near the gates, showing the shattered wand to his friends, Faye Dunbar and Neville Longbottom, who were trying to calm him down.
"It's not just about the wand!" Rhys snapped. "She's mocking all of us—mocking Winnick!"
"Rhys, please," Faye said, her voice soothing. "We'll take you to Ollivanders first chance we get. You'll have a new wand in no time."
Rhys's grip tightened on the broken pieces. "It's not about a new wand!" His voice cracked, drawing stares from nearby students. "It's about her thinking she can get away with everything. They're laughing at us. She's laughing at us!"
"Mate," Neville said, stepping forward, his tone measured. "You've got to let this go. You're not going to fix anything by storming off to confront her. It'll only make things worse."
Rhys shook his head violently. "It's already worse! Someone has to make her pay for what she's done."
Harry stepped closer, his voice calm but firm. "Rhys, listen to Neville. You're not going to win by chasing her down. This isn't how you honor Winnick."
"You're all cowards!" Rhys snapped, shoving past them.
Before anyone could stop him, he broke into a run, heading straight for the gates where Gilda and her Slytherin entourage stood.
Gilda was leaning slightly against one of the stone posts, Caliban perched on her shoulder, surveying the crowd with his unnervingly intelligent red eyes. The group was engaged in quiet conversation, their laughter light and casual, as though oblivious to the tension they left in their wake.
Rhys was almost upon them when a black-robed figure stepped forward with impeccable timing.
"Professor Snape!" Hermione whispered in relief and apprehension.
Severus Snape blocked Rhys's path with an effortless movement, his dark eyes narrowing as he took in the scene. Rhys stumbled to a halt, his fury faltering under Snape's icy stare.
"This is neither the time nor the place for theatrics, Mr. Dawlish," Snape said, his voice dangerously low.
"She—she's right there!" Rhys stammered, pointing at Gilda with his broken wand. "Her owl destroyed my wand, then Zabini snapped it!"
Snape's expression didn't shift in the slightest. "Compose yourself, Dawlish. You are embarrassing your house and your memory of Miss Goldstein with this pathetic display."
"But—"
"Enough," Snape cut him off, his tone sharp. With a single, smooth gesture, he stepped to the side and physically moved Rhys to the edge of the path. "You will wait here until the rest of the students have filed in. Perhaps the delay will grant you some clarity."
Rhys stood frozen, his hands trembling with rage and frustration, but he didn't argue further.
Snape turned toward Gilda and her group, his tone cold but pointed. "Miss Harrow, proceed to the Great Hall and take your seat. I trust there will be no further disruptions tonight."
"Of course, Professor," Gilda replied smoothly, inclining her head. Her voice carried a subtle warmth. "It's nice to see you again so soon."
Harry frowned at her words, glancing at Hermione and Ron.
"So soon?" Ron whispered. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"She must've seen him over the summer," Hermione said quietly, her brow furrowing.
Snape shot a glance toward Harry and his friends, his expression unreadable, before turning sharply and heading into the castle.
Gilda lingered for a moment, her pale green eyes flicking to Rhys, who stood silently to the side. Her smirk was faint but unmistakable, and Caliban hissed softly from her shoulder, his red eyes fixed on the broken wand in Rhys's hand.
"Come on," Blaise said, tugging at his robes. "Let's go. Dinner's waiting."
Gilda nodded, falling into step with the Slytherins as they moved toward the castle. The whispers of the crowd grew louder as they passed, but Gilda ignored them, her composure unshaken.
Harry and his group stood by the gates, watching her retreating figure.
"She didn't even look rattled," Neville said softly.
"No," Faye added, her voice tinged with disbelief. "She looked... proud."
"She doesn't care," Hermione said, her arms crossed tightly. "None of them do."
Harry's jaw tightened as he watched Gilda disappear into the castle. "This year is going to be... complicated."
"Yeah," Ron agreed, his voice grim. "And it's only just started."