Chapter 5
While Hermione was busy preparing the farm for the reception, Sophie had gone to the port to greet her best friends and bridesmaids.
The trio had come straight from Athens, where Sophie had met them during her university years. Their friendship had been formed in a natural way, a connection evident from the first days.
When she revealed her magical heritage to them, she expected reactions of surprise, even disbelief... But instead, her friends burst out laughing.
Because they too had a very special heritage.
They were descended from pythias, lines of seers whose mystical gifts were passed down from generation to generation. Although they came from the magical world, they had chosen to study with the Muggles to deepen their knowledge and understand the world through another prism.
This detail, far from driving them apart, had brought them closer together.
They hadn't seen each other for several months, and the excitement grew as the shuttle approached the platform.
When Sophie saw their silhouettes descend from the boat, it was an explosion of joy.
Enthusiastic cries, loud laughter, embraces so tight that they almost fell into the water.
"Sophie! Leandra cried, jumping into his arms. By the gods, we have missed you!
"We almost missed the shuttle because of this walking disaster!" Iris joked, giving a falsely accusatory look at Naya, who rolled her eyes.
"Sorry to have wanted to have a coffee before leaving... replied the latter, laughing.
"No, Naya, it wasn't 'just a coffee,'" Iris said, hands on her hips. You literally ordered a banquet to go before you boarded!
"I was hungry!" Naya protested, before taking out a small paper bag. And then, you'll want a piece of it, right? It's baklava.
Sophie burst out laughing and raised her hands in surrender.
"You take me by the feelings... Give me that!
They shared a bite while chatting happily, enjoying the moment.
"Seriously, it's been forever!" Iris exclaimed, grabbing Sophie's hands excitedly. So, tell us everything! Are you ready for the big day?
Sophie sighed, a half-amused, half-anxious smile on her lips.
"If by 'ready' you mean I'm on the verge of running away on a boat and starting a new life under another identity, then yes, totally ready."
Leandra gave him a light tap on the shoulder, laughing softly.
"Oh no, my dear, you're not doing the trick of the bride on the run!" We've waited too long for you for that.
"And then, between us, your fiancé is not bad..." Iris added with a knowing wink.
"Oh no, don't start! Sophie protested, dramatically rolling her eyes.
They all burst out laughing, before Sophie continued with a smile:
"Come on, come, there are plenty of things to do on the farm..." And I warn you, mom is in military organization mode.
"Mrs. Papadakis on a mission?" We better be efficient then," joked Léandra.
"I feel that I am going to be requisitioned again for the cakes..." Naya sighed deceptively dramatically.
"As long as you don't eat half the desserts before the wedding, you'll be fine," Iris replied, laughing.
They exchanged a knowing look before bursting out laughing and following Sophie home, ready to celebrate this new chapter in her life.
The quartet arrived at the farm in a concert of laughter, their voices echoing in the sunny courtyard, accompanied by the song of the cicadas.
Hermione was waiting for them on the porch, arms crossed, an amused smile on her lips. When they arrived in front of her, she greeted each girl warmly, briefly hugging them before turning to Sophie.
"Honey, show them their rooms before they start scattering their stuff everywhere," she joked, arching an eyebrow.
Sophie put a hand to her forehead in an exaggerated military salute.
"Yes, chief!" she replied enthusiastically, triggering a collective burst of laughter.
They then climbed the wooden stairs, their suitcases swaying in their hands, and arrived in a spacious room, with whitewashed walls. The golden afternoon light flooded the room, revealing a breathtaking view of the Aegean Sea, where the infinite blue mingled with the horizon.
As soon as they put their belongings down, they collapsed on the beds, ready for their sacred ritual: a well-deserved gossip session.
Discussions were going well.
The unlikely couples of the university, the surprisingly attractive professors, the memorable evenings... Everything was there.
But suddenly, Sophie flashed a mysterious smile.
She rummaged through her bag and pulled out a small aged leather notebook.
Silence fell instantly.
Three pairs of eyes stared at the object of the mystery.
"Where did you get that?" asked Iris, her curiosity piqued.
"In the attic," replied Sophie, stroking the blanket with her fingertips. It's my mother's. It dates back to before I was born.
Immediately, the three girls straightened up on their elbows, more than attentive.
"Wait, wait... Leandra interjected, frowning. You mean that... Do you finally know who your father is?!
Sophie shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly.
"Not really... But let's just say that I have some leads.
"Any leads?!" Naya exclaimed, her eyes sparkling. You mean your mom left a clue in that notebook?!
Sophie giggled and flipped through a few pages, her finger following the lines of an elegant, familiar handwriting.
Then she stopped on a specific passage.
"It turns out that my mother's last summer before I was born was... She paused theatrically before looking up at them. Say... eventful.
The three girls exchanged incredulous looks.
"You're messing around..." Iris whispered. Your mother is a saint.
"Apparently, not when she was young," Sophie replied, smiling.
Leandra folded her arms, skeptical.
"I don't believe it. Mrs. Papadakis is a model of virtue. I saw her stare at us with disapproval every time we brought up a story a little... Crispy!
Sophie raised an eyebrow, mischievously.
"Oh, really?" She tapped the page of the notebook and cast a mischievous glance at her friends.
"Listen to this...
Sophie adopted a more composed voice and let her fingers slide slowly over the pages of the notebook, as if to savor the moment.
The three girls held their breath, their eyes fixed on her with an almost palpable impatience.
Then, in a clear voice, Sophie read:
— "We are all at the Burrow for the wedding. I can't believe that, in this storm, Lupin and Tonks had their hearts set on doing something like this. But hey, everyone does as they want. At least the stay here allowed me to see Viktor again.
Eyes met in a silence laden with innuendo.
She continued:
— "His years playing Quidditch professionally have had a beneficial effect on him: he's even more muscular than before... I got a good glimpse of it last night, near the lake, during our improvised midnight swim."
A silence.
Then an explosion of reactions.
"Wait, wait, wait!" cried Iris, almost snatching the notebook from his hands. Your mom took a midnight swim with a pro Quidditch player called Viktor?!
Sophie sneered, visibly delighted with their reaction.
Leandra, in shock, began to mumble in a low voice:
"Viktor... Viktor... She narrowed her eyes, as if trying to solve a riddle.
Then, as if struck by lightning, she put a hand to her head.
"No. NO. DON'T TELL ME THAT... She inhaled suddenly. Are you telling us that Viktor Krum could be your father?!
Sophie raised an eyebrow theatrically.
"It's a possibility, isn't it?"
A general burst of laughter shook the room.
"I can't believe that Mrs. Papadakis had such a secret life..." Naya sighed, collapsing on the bed, laughing.
"And especially with Viktor Krum... Iris whispered, her eyes sparkling. Can you imagine if it was really him?
The girls hadn't even had time to recover from the shock of Viktor Krum that Sophie was already leafing through further in the notebook, a mischievous smile on her lips.
"Wait... she said, her eyes sparkling with excitement. He wasn't the only one who had his attention to this wedding...
Three pairs of eyes were fixed on her, full of expectation.
"No... Leandra whispered, hanging on his lips.
"If—" Sophie confirmed, smiling.
She took a deep breath and read aloud:
"Ronald came to see me this morning, he wanted to talk to me privately. We walked to a secluded Burrow field and spent the whole afternoon there, enjoying the pleasures of life. Ron has always been special to me, and I'm happy to have been able to reconnect with him after the stressful year we've had."
Total silence. Then, an explosive reaction.
"Wait, wait... Ronald? Like... THE Ronald? Leandra exclaimed, her eyes round.
"Ron Weasley?!" Naya opened her mouth, closed it, and then opened it again like a fish out of water. The war hero? The Survivor's best friend?! WAS YOUR MOTHER WITH HIM?!
Sophie sneered, visibly delighted with their reaction.
"Well, it seems that my very wise and respectable mother has had her moments of madness.
"But it's huge!" Leandra cried, hitting the mattress enthusiastically. He's a living legend! Everyone knows his name, even in the Muggle world! He fought Voldemort, he survived the great battle... and he had an affair with your mother?!
"Your mother—" had a history with Viktor Krum AND Ron Weasley?! Naya exclaimed, completely overwhelmed.
"I can't believe it... Leandra whispered.
"I think we underestimated Mrs. Papadakis..." Iris added, incredulous.
"You don't think you're saying so well... Sophie whispered, an enigmatic smile at the corner of her lips.
"WHAT?!" Naya and Iris cried in chorus, their voices echoing across the room.
Sophie smiled, savoring the dramatic effect of his revelation.
She leafed through the notebook, leaving an unbearable suspense hanging, then continued in a calm voice:
"Harry came to meet me in the barn after dinner. Fortunately, no one noticed our absence. We really had to enjoy this time together before we left. The night was productive, and in the early morning, I was really at peace. Harry always knew how to relax me."
Silence total.
The three girls had their jaws hanging down.
"I'm going to faint," whispered Leandra, raising a trembling hand to her forehead.
"NO. NO WAY. Iris jumped out of bed, her hands on her head. Harry Potter? THE Harry Potter?!
"The one who saved the world?!" Naya continued, completely stunned. The one that the history books are still talking about?!
Sophie nodded slowly, an enigmatic smile on her lips.
"Apparently, he and my mother were... quite close.
"Close enough?!" Leandra choked. Sophie, he literally shared a "productive" night with her in a barn!
Naya covered her face with her hands, shaking her head as if trying to set her mind straight.
"I refuse to believe it. That's not possible. Your mother literally conquered the three greatest wizards of her time?!
"I'm reviewing my whole life," Iris whispered.
Sophie was hilarious at their reactions.
"I told you so... This notebook is a gold mine.
"A gold mine?!" Naya exclaimed. This is a HISTORIC revelation!
Leandra stared at her, suddenly serious.
"Wait...
Sophie immediately felt the tension in her voice.
"What?" she asked, intrigued.
"Your mother never wanted to talk about her past, did she?"
"No...
"I just know that she left England after my grandparents died, and isolated herself on this island to take over the farm of great-grandfather Nikos. I thought I would find other newspapers but there was only this one in the attic.
A heavy silence fell in the room.
Sophie's gaze shifted from one friend to another, her smile fading slightly.
"You're saying that..." My mother is hiding something bigger?
"I'm just saying that it's not normal. Leandra crossed her arms, looking serious. What if your mother wasn't just... an ex-girlfriend of Krum, Weasley and Potter?
- She may have gone to school with them, they seem to be the same age... the question remained unanswered
"It's no wonder your mother never said who your father is..." Leandra exclaimed, her mouth still half-open in shock. She must not even know it herself!
Naya burst out laughing, one hand pressed to her chest, visibly half in shock.
"And we thought she was a serious woman!" She was living her best life that summer!
Sophie, her cheeks slightly pink, gently closed the notebook, clutching it to her chest as she pondered everything she had just read. And what to understand.
A silence hung over the room.
Then, Leandra, unable to contain her curiosity, stepped forward on the bed.
"What's next in the paper?" she asked impatiently.
Sophie opened the last few pages and turned them slowly, as if she dreaded what she would find there.
"Nothing... she murmured finally.
The three girls leaned over, intrigued.
"What do you mean, nothing?" Iris wondered.
"After the wedding, there was no more news. Sophie lightly tapped the blank pages with her fingertips. The other pages are empty.
The girls looked at each other, torn between excitement and perplexity.
"But—" then... Naya began.
Sophie nibbled on her lower lip, deep in thought.
"Since there is no precise date..." If the wedding took place in June, then...
She paused.
"The dates correspond more or less with my birth."
A shiver ran through the four young women.
"Oh my god... Iris whispered, her eyes wide. That means that...
Sophie took a deep breath, then shrugged her shoulders with a grimace.
"That means I still don't know who my father is."
She paused, then added with a small nervous smile:
"But I have now three principal suspects.
The girls held their breath.
"And... Sophie swirled the notebook between her fingers, her smile widening. I found a way to find out.
Silence stunned.
Leandra, Iris, and Naya stared at her, waiting for her to clarify her words.
Then Iris blinked, looking puzzled.
"Wait, wait... You mean that...
Sophie raised an eyebrow and smiled mischievously.
"I have found a way."
Leandra, still incredulous, sat up on the bed, her arms crossed.
"What kind of means?"
Sophie deliberately kept the suspense going, turning the notebook in her hands before announcing in a satisfied tone:
"After some research...
She paused dramatically, savoring every second of anticipation, then dropped the bombshell:
"I invited Harry Potter, Ronald Weasley and Viktor Krum to my wedding.
The three friends froze.
As if they had received a spell from Stunne.
The silence was deafening.
Then, with one voice:
"WHAT?!"
Sophie burst out laughing when she saw the reaction of her friends.
"I sent them an invitation," she explained with feigned nonchalance, twirling the notebook between her fingers.
"Wait, this is crazy," Leandra choked, still in shock.
Sophie kept the suspense going, savoring the moment, before flashing a triumphant smile.
"And guess what?"
The three girls held their breath.
"They answered." They come.
The silence lasted a fraction of a second.
Then Leandra almost choked.
"No, but... Do you realize what you've done?!
Sophie shrugged her shoulders with a false innocent air.
"I call it an investigation into my origins.
Iris put a hand on her forehead, as if she had a sudden migraine.
"Oh by all the gods... she whispered. This means that they will be together in the same room... at the wedding...
She looked up at Sophie in horror.
"And that they don't even know why you invited them?!"
Sophie raised a mischievous eyebrow.
"Exactly.
Naya, who had been speechless, shook her head, halfway between admiration and fear.
"I admire your audacity... but, Sophie, it's going to be absolute chaos!
Sophie put on a deceptively innocent pout.
"Perhaps..."
She let a calculated silence hover, then shrugged her shoulders.
"Or... This will be an opportunity to finally get answers.
The weight of his words settled in the room.
Her friends stared at her, torn between fascination and panic.
Then, Leandra burst out laughing and raised her arms to the sky.
"This marriage is going to be the event of the year." And I want a front row seat to see that!
The girls burst out laughing, already imagining the surreal scene that was about to happen.
But, deep down, Sophie felt a burst of excitement mixed with apprehension.
She had no idea what would happen when these three men came face to face.
On the mainland, Harry and Ron watched as the shuttle sailed away, speeding toward the island without them.
Ron, visibly annoyed, crossed his arms and growled.
"We should have run faster..."
Harry raised an amused eyebrow.
"Or to arrive on time." he replied with a smirk.
- We would have arrived on time if we had been able to take a portkey directly to the island
- The island is in Muggle territory I remind you
Ron glared at him, but before he could reply, an enthusiastic scream rang out not far from the dock.
"Harry! Ron! It's you?
The two men jumped and turned their heads towards the voice.
On the deck of a white-hulled sailboat, an athletic figure was waving at them.
Viktor Krum.
Ron blinked, flabbergasted.
"You're kidding...
Before he could add anything, Viktor jumped up and down on the platform and walked towards them, a broad smile on his face.
"What a surprise! he said with his accent as marked as ever. What are you doing in Greece?
Harry and Ron exchanged puzzled looks, before Harry replied.
"We are invited to a wedding."
Viktor raised an eyebrow, obviously intrigued.
"Really? Me too!
A silence set in.
Ron, still suspicious, narrowed his eyes.
"And you know one of the bride and groom?"
"No. Viktor shook his head calmly. That's why I wanted to go to the island. I received an invitation with no explanation, so I decided to see what it was all about. Since the season is over I took the opportunity to come by boat from Monaco, I love this city there are lots of wizards celebrating there, you should come one of these days you would wreak havoc.
- Thank you for the invitation Viktor, but for the moment we had the same project as you.
A still heavier silence fell upon them.
Then, Ron rubbed the back of his neck, glaring suspiciously at Viktor.
"Wait a second..." He paused, as if the idea was too absurd to be true. The three of us are invited... and none of us know why?
Viktor shrugged slightly, visibly intrigued but not worried.
"It's been a long time since we've seen each other..." Maybe an old mutual acquaintance? News from Hermione
Harry frowned, a strange feeling creeping into his mind.
"Not since his departure. The last time the 3 of us were in the same room... It was...
"The tenth anniversary of the Battle of Hogwarts," Ron added, remembering the big reception organized by the Ministry.
Viktor nodded slowly.
"Yes." It's been a long time...
A moment's reflection interrupted the conversation, before Viktor nodded to his sailboat.
"Did you miss the shuttle?"
"yes... Ron growled, frustrated.
"Then go upstairs." Viktor smiled quietly. I'll take you to the island, it should take the day. We will have time to talk and understand this story.
Harry and Ron exchanged glances.
They knew something was wrong...
But they were already too involved to back down.
Harry shrugged.
"Why not?"
They climbed aboard the sailboat, without suspecting that this journey would lead them straight to unexpected revelations...