"Okay, let me play with Norbert for a while, and later I'll ask my dad to help you sort out this dragon," Draco said, swept up in Hagrid's excitement.
"You? What are you going to do, sell him to a potion shop?" Hermione retorted, raising an eyebrow.
"Of course not. My family has shares in a dragon reserve in Romania. Norbert will be well looked after," Draco replied, patting his chest with pride.
With Norbert's fate temporarily settled, everyone climbed out of the suitcase. It was already late, so they decided to head back and get some rest.
At the door of Hagrid's hut, the earlier joy faded. The old rivalry between Gryffindor and Slytherin rose up again, and the group started to eye each other with suspicion.
Aiden couldn't be bothered with their awkwardness. He cast a Disillusionment Charm on himself and left first, blending into the night.
Malfoy, Harry, Ron, and Hermione trailed behind, chatting loudly as they made their way back toward the castle. Their noise quickly caught the attention of someone inside.
As they stepped through the castle gates, a woman holding a candle was waiting for them.
"Oh, no," Ron muttered, paling.
They followed his gaze and found Professor McGonagall standing on the steps, her lips pressed into a thin line.
***
The next day, Gryffindor's hourglass was missing one hundred and fifty points, and Slytherin's was short by fifty. Aiden had thought that dragging Draco into things would prevent any trouble, but trouble had found them anyway.
"What were you thinking? Wandering around at night and chatting in front of the gate. Were you hoping the professors wouldn't notice you?" Aiden scolded his friends.
"We forgot," Ron admitted sheepishly.
"This is awful. I've brought shame to Gryffindor. One hundred and fifty points—I won't be able to earn that back before the end of the year," Hermione said, her voice heavy with guilt.
"It gets worse. Professor McGonagall has sentenced us to patrol the Forbidden Forest with Hagrid until the end of term," Harry groaned, burying his face in his hands.
"Aiden, how do you manage to sneak out at night without being caught by the professors?" Hermione asked, curiosity overcoming her frustration.
"In truth, the professors don't really mind us wandering around the castle at night. The rules aren't absolute. I've passed by professors plenty of times with a Disillusionment Charm on, and I'm sure they've noticed me, but they never stop me. Maybe it's a silent agreement between professors and students," Aiden explained.
"What kind of agreement? Can I get in on that?" Ron asked, half-joking.
"The agreement is simple. If you have the ability to explore the castle and seek out magical secrets, the professors won't stop you. But if you can't even cast a Disillusionment Charm properly and still want to sneak around, you'll just get caught and lose points," Aiden said, rolling his eyes.
"Aww..." Harry, Ron, and Hermione groaned together.
While his friends began their detention, Aiden carried his suitcase to the Room of Requirement, ready to research some new alchemical defences.
That day, as he reached the eighth floor, he found a glove floating in front of the Room of Requirement's door. The glove sensed Aiden's arrival and waved at him.
Aiden stared at it for a moment, then reached out to shake hands with the glove.
In a flash, he was transported to the Headmaster's office.
"Isn't Apparition supposed to be impossible at Hogwarts?" Aiden asked, surprised.
Dumbledore smiled. "This is an alchemical item I created. It mimics the magic of house-elves and isn't restricted by the castle's anti-Apparition spells."
"I see. So, what did you want to talk about?" Aiden replied, already guessing what the old wizard was up to.
Dumbledore took a sip of pumpkin juice and fixed Aiden with a twinkle in his eye. "I checked the Vice-Headmaster's report. It seems a duelling association has been established, but I haven't seen any duelling activities in the school."
"Tea," Aiden replied, ignoring the unspoken question.
Dumbledore poured him a cup. Aiden took a sip and winced at the sweetness.
"So, this association hasn't held any activities in the school, and it's not possible to hold them off campus. That leaves only one possibility—you're holding them in some magical place," Dumbledore said, winking.
Aiden shivered. "Professor, there's no way a wizard of your level wouldn't sense the fluctuations of the Distorted Illusion. Or maybe the other Heads of House have noticed and want to join, but they're too embarrassed to ask Professor Flitwick?"
Dumbledore grinned. "Aiden, you really are a clever child."
Aiden rolled his eyes. "So, what are you planning to do?" he asked Dumbledore. "Professor Flitwick and I built this Duelling Association."
Dumbledore extended his hand, as if proposing a deal. "I'll teach you the glove technique. As for Filius, he's been eyeing my charm research notes for ages."
"Deal," Aiden replied. "I'll gather the members later, but I want to choose who joins."
"Of course," Dumbledore agreed, looking satisfied. "That's the president's right."
Aiden left the office holding a small bottle of silver-white silk thread, a new alchemical material.
"That's how Legilimency masters teach people. I've learned something new," Aiden muttered as he walked down the spiral staircase.
He arrived at the Gryffindor common room entrance but was stopped by the password. He waited until George and Fred came running down the corridor, bickering as usual.
"Oh, Aiden, what are you doing here?" Fred asked, slinging an arm over Aiden's shoulder.
"Is there a girl you like? Want us to deliver a love letter? Only five Knuts," George teased, grabbing Aiden's other shoulder.
"No," Aiden said, stretching out his hands to land a playful scratch on each twin. They quickly dodged away, laughing.
"Help me get Ron and Harry—and Hermione too," Aiden said, deciding the trio should stick together.
"Oh, Hermione," George said, catching on.
Fred waved his hand. "Since you're our youngest brother, this one's free."
"It's not a love letter, and why would I want Harry and Ron on a date?" Aiden grumbled.
"He's getting anxious," George whispered to Fred.
"Who knows what you're planning," Fred replied.
"You two are impossible," Aiden muttered.
The twins ran off, laughing.
Inside the common room, Aiden found Harry, Ron, and Hermione together and walked over.
"Aiden?" they all said in surprise.
"I have something to ask. Do you want to learn wizard duelling?"
"Duelling? Cool! Where do we learn it?" Ron jumped in.
"Is it the kind where we cast spells at each other? I want to learn," Harry said, his eyes bright.
"But we don't know enough spells," Hermione said, a little uncertain.
"That's why you need to learn. You'll master spells and gain real practical skills. Are you in or not?" Aiden asked, cutting off their doubts.
"We're in," all three replied.
"Alright, sign this invitation," Aiden said, handing out three parchment letters.
Each of them wrote their names. As they did, a thin magical thread wrapped around their hands, sealing the contract.
"The contract is set. Keep your invitation letters. Don't break the rules—they're bound by an Unbreakable Vow. The club meets every Thursday night, so make sure you go to bed early that day."
With that, Aiden turned and left the room, already planning the next stage of Mind's Edge Duelling Club.
***********
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