Hogwarts Raven (Harry Potter)

You can read ahead up to 110 chapters on my Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/darkshadow6395

The world is unpredictable. The large intestine doesn't always hold the small one.

Ian had simply wanted to lower their opinion of him, but had unexpectedly run into a couple of Crouching Tigers and Hidden Dragons, interpreting his behavior as brilliance.

If Ian had been there to hear this…

His facial expression would have been legendary.

"Is that really so…"

Mrs. Greengrass clearly trusted her husband deeply. So even though she still had doubts, she nodded in thought.

"You're definitely the smarter one."

She looked more and more convinced as she spoke.

Once again—

Where the Crouching Dragon lurks, the Phoenix is sure to follow.

Birds of a feather really do flock together.

The couple chatted as they walked back toward the Feast Hall, now thoroughly cleaned by the house-elves.

"Make sure to talk to Daphne when we get back," Theodore Greengrass reminded his wife. "Have her work harder to make a good impression at school. At the very least, we've already positioned ourselves ahead of most of our friends in terms of allegiance."

"Mm, I know what to do,"

Armande Greengrass nodded, though a trace of worry appeared on her face.

"Theodore, you don't think that old Headmaster of ours is going to pull another stunt, do you?"

"It started with him… then it was Harry Potter… and now it's Ian Prince. Who knows when he'll change his mind again?"

Clearly, Armande Greengrass was developing a bit of PTSD toward Albus Dumbledore. But honestly, given the history, her concerns weren't unreasonable.

"I don't think our Headmaster is the only one making decisions this time," Theodore Greengrass countered with the opposite opinion. "He can't just veto things with a single word anymore."

He smiled confidently and glanced at the small, backroom wizarding newspaper that had been laid out as table talk. The headline about the upcoming production of Despicable Newt: The Fall of Grindelwald dominated the front page.

Of course, this didn't mean Theodore Greengrass was wise in all areas. Sometimes it's the clever people who overanalyze and overcomplicate things.

"What do you mean? Are you saying more than one person supports this new follower of the Order of the Phoenix?" Armande noticed his gaze and followed it, to the photo of a mustached wizard on the newspaper's cover.

Her expression became visibly uneasy.

And just as she began to realize that something more might be going on, Theodore's next words made her pupils constrict sharply.

"That's what sets Ian Prince apart from the others. What if, and I mean what if, Ian Prince isn't actually Dumbledore's chosen successor in the Order of the Phoenix?"

Theodore lowered his voice.

"What are you saying?"

Her eyes were shining with unease and suspicion.

"You've seen the people around him: Lupin, a core member of the Order of the Phoenix. Maybe our old Headmaster intends for the entire Order to serve this young wizard in the future."

"But that's not all."

"Looking at recent events, our old Headmaster has clearly changed his usual approach, he's actively promoting this boy, even pushing to get him a Order of the Merlin Medal. I suspect that whole business with breaking into Gringotts… it probably had something to do with Ian as well."

"Why do you think he's doing all this?"

"All signs suggest he's not just handing Ian the Order of the Phoenix… he's gambling his entire life's reputation on this boy."

"We only know he defeated You-Know-Who because of the memories he released. Everything we've seen, are things Dumbledore wanted us to see."

"When you put all that together, the answer becomes very clear."

Theodore's reasoning caused Armande's expression to flicker with disbelief.

"You mean… Dumbledore is trying to create a king?"

Her voice was laced with disbelief.

"My dear, your senses really should be sharper than this,"

As his wife stared at him in growing horror, Theodore looked up at the family crest on the wall and whispered with absolute certainty—

"Dumbledore is placing a bet… This time, he wants to be the follower." His voice echoed quietly through the silent Feast Hall.

"No! Heavens! That idea is completely berserk!" Armande's voice trembled.

"It's not berserk. It might very well be the truth. Why do you think I was in such a hurry to make our move? And if you think about it, there are more clues to back this up…"

The couple continued their intense discussion—

So immersed in their analysis…

That neither of them noticed—

The door behind them creak slightly open.

"Daphne! Daphne! Have Mommy and Daddy been eaten?!" A teary-eyed Astoria Greengrass whispered as she tugged at her older sister's sleeve.

"???"

Now deeply regretting her embellished bedtime story, Daphne was starting to worry whether her little sister might say the wrong thing at school and doom her to another long, humiliating year of school infamy.

…

A new day arrived.

Morning in Diagon Alley felt like an ancient dream gently awakened by magic, gradually breaking free from the silence of the night to blossom with vitality and life. As the first rays of sunlight pierced through the morning mist and brushed across the narrow, cobblestone-paved streets, the alley slowly began to stir awake.

On both sides of the street, the shopfronts, weathered by centuries of time, lit up with warm, welcoming lights or hung up brilliantly colored signs, each exuding its own unique charm.

In front of Ollivander's Wand Shop, the slender wooden shutters creaked open, revealing the neatly arranged wands inside, as if awaiting the arrival of new owners.

A faint aroma of wood and magic lingered in the air.

"This shop is mine too!"

Ian was enthusiastically introducing Diagon Alley to the wide-eyed Granger family, almost exclusively highlighting all the properties he personally owned.

"The owner of this place just loves conning people. Wait for me to take a potion and change appearances so I can go in and listen with you, see what new nonsense he's spouting this year. I need excuses and reasons to raise his rent, after all."

Clearly, Ian held grudges.

Before Hermione, mouth already forming a stunned "O", or her oddly smiling parents could say anything, a swaying, hunched figure slowly stepped out from the wand shop.

"Mr. Prince… I gave you that deed, remember…" The elderly man sighed helplessly.

"Ah?"

Ian was clearly caught off guard.

"You've got very sharp ears, sir,"

He could only smile awkwardly and play it off.

"I didn't know you had a relative in Slytherin House, too…"

Ian quickly changed the subject, noticing that Hermione had already excitedly rushed into the shop.

"Is this where I pick my wand? Will I be able to cast magic once I get it?"

Hermione's eyes sparkled with excitement as she gazed at the countless wands.

"Slow down, Hermione!" Mrs. Granger quickly followed her daughter inside.

"So… were you still planning on transforming?" Mr. Granger quipped, giving Ian a knowing look.

"Probably not." Ian's cheeks turned slightly red.

Just then, Ollivander, who had entered the shop with them, finally responded to Ian's earlier question.

"My grandson will be attending Hogwarts this year. But that's not why I invested in you, Mr. Prince. Just like I said the very first time we met—"

"You're destined to achieve something that has never been done before." Ollivander's tone was full of admiration as he pointed toward a corner of the shop near the window.

A blond-haired boy looked up and smiled.

Yet… that face felt strangely familiar to Ian.

(End of Chapter)