Chapter 1
As the shimmering light of the waypoint faded and the world around them solidified, the group found themselves standing in a dimly lit, cozy room. The scent of old books, faint herbs, and a lingering touch of something sharp, likely potions ingredients, filled the air. Severus’s house was a curious mix of practicality and comfort, with shelves lined with jars, books, and various magical oddities that gave the space an air of mystery.
Severus straightened his robes, brushing imaginary dust from his sleeves as he cast a critical eye over the room. “Home,” he muttered under his breath, though there was a faint note of relief in his voice.
Harry’s wide eyes darted around, taking in the space with a mix of curiosity and excitement. “Wow, Uncle Sev,” he teased, “I didn’t think you’d have a house that wasn’t a dungeon.”
Severus shot him a withering glare. “Potter,” he began, his tone low and threatening, but before he could finish, Jinx grabbed Harry by the arm, her energy bubbling over.
“Come on, Harry! Let’s explore this place before he can make us do anything boring!” Jinx’s voice was full of mischief as she tugged him toward the door, her eyes already scanning the room for the quickest exit to whatever adventures lay beyond.
“Jinx, wait-” Harry started laughing as she dragged him toward the hallway.
Severus pinched the bridge of his nose, exhaling slowly. “I would advise against running off-”
“We’ll be fine!” Jinx called over her shoulder, her grip on Harry firm as she whisked him out of the room and down the hall. The sound of their laughter echoed back as they disappeared from sight.
Severus watched them go with a long-suffering expression. “I give it ten minutes before something in this house explodes,” he muttered, though his tone was more resigned than genuinely concerned.
Jayce, who had been adjusting his hold on Viktor’s bag, chuckled softly. “You’re going to your hands full with teaching those two, huh?”
“You have no idea,” Severus replied flatly, gesturing for Viktor and Jayce to follow him further into the house. “Come. There’s much to discuss, and I’d prefer to do so before those two manage to destroy something irreplaceable.”
Meanwhile, Jinx and Harry had found their way into a side room filled with shelves of jars, vials, and other potion-related items. Jinx’s eyes sparkled with excitement as she picked up a jar filled with something that glowed faintly. “This place is so weird! Is everything here like… magic-y?”
Harry grinned. “Pretty much. Just don’t touch anything. Severus will actually murder us if we break something.”
Jinx gave him a playful nudge. “Relax, I’m just looking!” But the mischievous glint in her eyes said otherwise.
As the two wandered deeper into the house, their laughter and exclamations of surprise and delight at each new discovery filled the air, the sound a stark contrast to the house’s usual stillness.
Back in the main room, Severus sighed heavily. “I’ve made a terrible mistake,” he muttered, more to himself than anyone else.
Jayce grinned, setting down the bags. “They’re kids. They’ll be fine.”
Viktor, standing beside him, gave Severus a small, understanding smile. “Perhaps, but it seems your life is about to become much… louder.”
As Severus sat down, his long fingers tapping nervously on the armrest of the chair, he finally turned his attention to Viktor and Jayce. His face was as serious as Harry had ever seen it, his expression dark with something that lingered between caution and wariness.
“The situation at Hogwarts is more complex than you might think,” Severus began, his voice low. “There’s a threat in the wizarding world, a dark force that has been terrorizing it for years. He calls himself the Dark Lord, but we never speak his name here. Saying it… hearing it can set things in motion we’d prefer to avoid. It burns the marks on certain people’s skin.” He glanced down at the sleeve of his own robes, a subtle reminder of his past.
Jayce looked puzzled, while Viktor appeared thoughtful. “The Dark Lord?” Viktor echoed, the name rolling off his tongue with a strange weight.
Severus nodded, his face tight. “The less you know about him, the better. But if you’re going to be around Harry, and involved in this, you’ll need to understand what’s happening. For the past decade, this Dark Lord has been attempting to take control of the wizarding world. Many have resisted him, but his followers, Death Eaters, are a genuine threat. They’ve taken many lives, and they’re hunting anyone who stands in their way.”
Jayce frowned, his brow furrowing in thought. “And Harry… he’s a target?”
Severus’ eyes darkened. “Harry’s connection to the Dark Lord goes back to his infancy. He survived an attack that left him with a scar…” Severus paused, the weight of the words sinking in. “It’s not just a scar. The Dark Lord’s power, his essence, resides in Harry in some form. The only reason Harry is still alive is because of his mother’s sacrifice, and the strength of her love, which protected him.”
Viktor and Jayce exchanged a glance. “That’s…” Viktor’s voice trailed off, his mind whirring with the implications.
Severus leaned forward slightly, his tone low and deliberate. “Dumbledore,” he continued, his voice hardening, “is the Headmaster of Hogwarts. But I must warn you, he is not the man he seems. I would never trust him fully, and I will not allow you to do so, either. He’s played both sides of this war and manipulated many to get what he wants. His vision of the world and how to defeat the Dark Lord is not one I share, but I have to work with him for now. I do it to protect Harry.”
The room was quiet for a moment, the weight of Severus’s words settling heavily in the air. Viktor and Jayce both seemed taken aback by the sheer gravity of it all. They were used to conflicting, to danger, but this was on a scale they hadn’t quite anticipated.
“So, Harry…” Jayce began cautiously, “is being trained for something far greater than we knew?”
Severus nodded grimly. “Yes. He’ll have to be. The Dark Lord’s return is imminent. And Harry is at the center of it all.”
Jayce’s fingers clenched slightly, his mind spinning as he absorbed the information. “We’ll have to protect him,” Severus said quietly. “He’ll need guidance, especially in a place like Hogwarts.”
Viktor, who had remained mostly silent until now, finally spoke. “And what about us? What do we do?”
Severus met his gaze, his expression unreadable. “We’re going to help him, but not in the way you might think. I’ve got a plan. I’ve been in touch with the Ministry about adding new subjects to the curriculum. It’s the perfect opportunity to get both of you involved at Hogwarts.”
Jayce raised an eyebrow, his interest piqued. “You want us to teach?”
Severus thought for a moment, then nodded. “Exactly. They’re always looking for fresh ideas, especially with the rise of more unconventional magical practices. I was thinking you could propose a course on magical engineering, something that blends theoretical and practical magic with the sciences. The kind of magic that requires both creativity and precision.”
Jayce’s face lit up. “Magical engineering? That could definitely work.”
Viktor gave a small, approving smile. “We’ve both worked on innovations that could be useful for such a course. I like it.”
Severus leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers. “Exactly. You can use your expertise to help design the curriculum, and it’ll give you both a reason to stay close to Harry without raising suspicion. The Ministry will be eager to approve it.”
Jayce glanced at Viktor, his grin widening. “Sounds like a plan, then.”
Severus’s expression shifted slightly, a hint of something softer there. “Good. But remember, the Dark Lord isn’t the only danger. There are people within the school who will try to pull Harry toward him. We can’t let our guard down.”
Viktor and Jayce nodded, their resolve clear. They knew the stakes were high, and they were stepping into something far bigger than themselves.
Severus gave them a pointed look, his tone firm. “I’ll be counting on you both. For Harry’s sake.”
Jayce slapped Viktor on the back, grinning. “You can count on us, Severus. We won’t let anything happen to him.”
As the plans took shape, a quiet but determined resolve settled over the group. They didn’t fully understand what lay ahead, but they knew one thing for sure: they would stand by Harry, no matter what challenges or dangers awaited them. Together, they would face whatever darkness lay ahead.
Harry and Jinx wandered through the winding streets of Cokesworth, the air thick with the scent of the damp, industrial surroundings. The area was a stark contrast to the warm, bustling atmosphere of Hogwarts or even the more cheerful parts of London. The buildings here were old and crumbling, their brick facades smeared with soot, and the streets were narrow, littered with the remnants of a once-thriving neighborhood.
Jinx, always eager for exploration, darted ahead, her bright eyes scanning every nook and cranny for something interesting. Harry followed at a slower pace, his mind racing with the events of the past few days. It still felt strange to be in this unfamiliar world, with its own set of rules, dangers, and people. But there was something about the area that caught his attention. Despite the grime and decay, there was a peculiar sense of familiarity here, like a place caught between the past and the present.
“Hey, Harry!” Jinx called out, her voice carrying back to him. She was standing at the corner of an alley, peering into a darkened doorway. “Check this out!”
Harry hesitated but walked over, curious despite himself. Jinx was already pushing open the door, her face alight with excitement. As he followed her inside, the smell of dust and forgotten things hit him, and he felt a shiver run down his spine. The place was old, possibly abandoned, with shadows stretching across the uneven floor.
“Do you think anyone lives here?” Harry asked quietly, though he wasn’t sure if he was asking her or just voicing his own unease.
Jinx didn’t answer at first, but instead, she pointed to a small shelf in the corner. On it were a few scattered trinkets, all covered in dust. “Not anymore. But someone used to. Look at this stuff.” She picked up a small wooden carving, turning it over in her hands with fascination.
Harry stepped closer, his eyes drawn to the objects, which seemed out of place in the otherwise neglected space. “Wonder what happened to them,” he murmured.
Jinx shrugged, dropping the carving back onto the shelf. “Who knows? But it’s kind of cool, right? Feels like something big happened here.”
The air seemed heavier in the room, as though the past was pressing in around them, but Harry didn’t want to linger too long. He looked toward the door, half-expecting to see Severus, Viktor, or Jayce looking for them. The thought of them worrying about him made his chest tighten slightly.
“Yeah, let’s get going,” Harry said. “I’m sure they’re wondering where we’ve gone off to.”
Jinx raised an eyebrow but grinned. “You’re such a worrywart, Harry.” She led the way back out of the building, her usual confidence filling the space. “Come on, let’s go find something else to mess with.”
As they stepped back into the streets, the atmosphere outside seemed different somehow. The quietness of Spinner’s End had a strange, almost haunting quality to it, like there was something waiting in the shadows. Harry didn’t know what, but he had a feeling that he and Jinx were about to learn more about this world than they ever expected.
As Harry and Jinx made their way back to Spinner’s End, the familiar quietness of the area enveloped them again. The house, a tall, dark structure, stood in the center of the street like an anchor in the midst of a storm. Severus’s home, though not much to look at from the outside, felt like a sanctuary for Harry now. The scent of books and potions hung in the air, and there was a comfortable stillness that settled around them as they entered.
A low fire crackled in the hearth as Severus, Viktor, and Jayce gathered in the main room. The atmosphere had shifted from the earlier tension to a more purposeful calm as they began to prepare for their new living arrangements.
“Alright, everyone,” Severus said, his voice carrying the weight of authority, though there was a softness beneath it. “We need to assign rooms. This house is small, but we’ll manage.”
He turned to Harry, his gaze softening as it lingered on the boy for a moment. “Harry, you’ll be in the room at the end of the hall. It’s closest to mine, in case you need anything. I’ve already retrieved your belongings from your relatives’ house, so everything’s there.”
Harry nodded, though there was a slight unease in his chest. Being so close to Severus’s room felt strange, especially now that things between them were different. Still, he didn’t say anything, just gave a small, awkward smile.
Severus turned to Jinx. “You’ll have the room next to Harry. It’s a bit more private, given your age, and you can have the space to yourself.”
Jinx gave him a teasing grin. “Right, private room. Jinx teased him with a grin, saying, “Just like I need that much peace and quiet.” “Thanks.”
Severus then looked at Viktor and Jayce, his gaze flickering between them. There was a subtle tension between them, and Severus couldn’t help but notice the way they stood near each other, slightly leaning into one another in a way that seemed… more than just friendly.
“You two,” Severus started, raising an eyebrow, “can share the room at the top of the stairs. It’s spacious enough, and you’ll have plenty of privacy.”
Jayce and Viktor exchanged a quick glance, their faces flushing just slightly. Viktor cleared his throat, trying to mask his own flustered reaction. “That will be fine,” he said, his voice steady but a touch warmer than usual.
Jayce, who had been nervously glancing between Viktor and Severus, nodded quickly. “We can make it work,” he added, a faint smile tugging at his lips, though his gaze never fully left Viktor.
Severus gave a small, knowing smirk, though he didn’t comment further. The connection between Viktor and Jayce was clear enough, but he wasn’t going to pry. There were more pressing matters at hand.
After assigning rooms, they all stood in comfortable silence; the awkwardness lingered, but did not suffocate. Harry, still adjusting to the whole situation, finally broke the quiet with a question.
“Is there anything else we need to do before we settle in? I mean, this is all a bit overwhelming,” he admitted, shifting on his feet.
Severus gave him a long look, a slight sigh escaping him as he adjusted his robes. “You’ll get used to it, Harry. It’s not the most ideal setup, but for now, it’ll work.”
Jinx, always one to add some levity to the situation, grinned. “Yeah, and if we all start getting on each other’s nerves, we can just lock ourselves in our rooms and pretend we don’t exist.”
The others chuckled softly at that; the mood lightening a little. As everyone dispersed to settle into their new rooms, there was an unspoken sense of camaraderie, a shared understanding that this strange new chapter was just beginning. A shared unity, despite their differences, made Harry, Viktor, Jayce, and Jinx feel better prepared for upcoming challenges.
As Harry made his way to his room, his mind swirled with thoughts of the future. It felt like things were shifting, moving in ways he couldn’t fully comprehend yet, but for the first time in a long while, he felt like he had a place to belong.