Chapter 75 - Another Familiar Face

***** Regular Chapter ***** A/N: Took a little break past few days, as I needed to get the next few chapters in order to make sense timeline wise. You guys will kinda see starting this chapter tbh. Lots more soon to happen. *****

*FLASH*

Khan, Moody and Dumbledore appeared in a flash of flames, emerging from one of the many fireplaces littering the atrium.

It had been a few weeks since Khan's speech to the Ravenclaw students, and since then, there were quite a few changes to note in the school.

For the Ravenclaws, their reaction to his speech, had overall been positive.

And while there were a few students, like Roger Davies, who thought he was just trying to draw more attention to himself, many of the Ravenclaw students rallied around Jordan's rousing speech.

This in turn caused the Ravenclaws to unite like they never had before, all thanks to Khan!

Previously, before Khan arrived, Ravenclaws were mainly known 'the smart house' with many of them being antisocial/introverted, or simply too busy with their studies to maintain a large friend group.

They had few friends, and would rarely, if ever, trouble themselves with other people.

Now however, it was common to find Ravenclaws travelling, studying and even playing together, acting more like Hufflepuffs than actual Ravenclaws.

Whether this was because they were simply feeling bad for their bullying actions, especially towards someone of their own house, or just because they admired Jordan as a celebrity and just wanted to follow his lead, only the Ravenclaw students would ever know.

Unfortunately, as the changes in the Ravenclaw students were eventually noticed by the rest of the school, news about Khan's speech and his sudden appearance with Luna, Fleur and his Phoenix also spread like wildfire.

This came along with it, the various overblown school rumors that typically accompanied anything involving Khan these days;

'- Khan has his own Phoenix

- Khan is dating both Luna and Fleur

- Khan fought the entire Ravenclaw House in Defense of Luna

- Khan is a dark wizard controlling the Ravenclaw students (Ron being responsible for that particular rumor - Not that many people believed him with the rumor of him having a Phoenix also circulating at the same time)'

These 4 were among the most common rumors circulating amongst the school population, although there were a few others like 'Khan is building a Harem' or 'Khan is building an army, just like Voldemort had his Death Eaters' that were whispered as well.

For Jordan, he did not take notice of many of these changes or rumors himself, and many of the days ended up blending together, as he grew increasingly busier with his OWL exam studies, along with his other duties and responsibilities.

Not to mention, he had yet to work out the clue for the second task of the Triwizard tournament still.

And that was without also mentioning his looming prophecy possibly involving Sebastian and some unknown plot.

Even was so busy in fact, he almost completely forgot about the upcoming Yule Ball, especially since he had already secured himself a date!

It took one particular instance, with a redhead, to remind him.

Jordan and Fleur were seated down together in the Great Hall for Dinner one night, as was typical for them by this point, when suddenly they were interrupted by Ronniekins.

"D- D- D'you wanna go to the ball with me?" Mumbled out Ron from behind them, much to everyone's shock.

Fleur, who was sitting so close, that she was semi-leaning on Jordan, was taken aback, before she responded with a giant smile on her face, almost as if she were bragging to him. "No thank you, I am going with Jordan Khan!"

She was in fact, bragging, but not to Ron; Fleur was showing off to all the other female students, as if to say that their competition is complete and that she had won their imaginary race!

She proudly latched onto Khan's arm, bathing in the jealous dagger-eyes she was receiving at the hands of Jordan's fangirls.

While they always suspected that Fleur had entrapped Jordan with her veela charms, it had always been speculation or rumors. To actually hear her confirm that she was his Yule ball date, without Khan himself denying it right beside her, broke all their hearts.

More than a few girls would cry themselves to sleep that night, upset that their prince was now no longer single.

Jordan meanwhile, was quite surprised by the sudden question. Although he knew that Fleur was rather attractive, especially with her Veela Heritage, he was still a bit surprised that other males would still be trying to ask out Fleur, especially in front of him.

Perhaps he should look into making it more obvious Fleur was now dating himself.... mark his territory so to speak.

His arm subconsciously found its way around her hip once again, pulling her even closer towards him, as he eyed the now red-faced Ronniekins.

Appearing quite embarrassed both at Fleur rejection of him, and at Khan's stare-down, Ron proceeded to run away without saying another word.

He would later be spotted by Harry and Hermione in the Gryffindor Common Room, looking quite miserable, and being comforted by his younger sister Ginny.

As for Jordan, turns out that he didn't need to worry about making it more obvious that Fleur was dating himself.

In fact, it seemed over the next few weeks, more and more students appeared to ask either himself or Fleur to the Yule Ball, with the two of them both rejecting their fair share of invitations.

It happened so much, that It got to the point where it was now quite common knowledge that to know that Jordan Khan and Fleur Delacour were attending the Yule Ball together, with further rumors going on to state that they were now romantically involved/dating, with Fleur having successfully ensnared Khan, later taking him to France.

Regardless, time passed, and soon it was the end of the year, with the Yuletide Break stopping classes for the next few weeks.

Which also meant, it was time for Jordan's OWLs.

And since Khan was taking an alternate form of education with his Junior Professor Position, he was the only one taking the exam at that time, with the rest of the 5th years taking their exams at the end of the year.

This also meant that he had to take a trip to the ministry in order to meet his instructors and actually take his exams.

Which finally led him to today; Jordan Khan had arrived at the Ministry!

He had emerged out of an atrium fireplace, alongside 2 familiar figures, who also had business at the ministry.

Accompanied by his Mentor Moody, who wanted to tag along to talk to his Protégé Tonks as well as check in with the Auror department, Khan was also accompanied by the Newly styled Dumbledore, who apparently had some ministry work to do that involved certain investigations regarding one 'Tom Riddle'.

Khan however, suspected that similar to himself, they too had secret business to conduct at the ministry.

"Come along Jordan!" Dumbledore said once they all had gathered their bearings. "We shall accompany you to the Department of Magical Education where the Wizarding Examinations Authority will test you for your OWLs!"

Dumbledore appeared quite excited to be back at the ministry, setting off leading Moody and Khan at a brisk pace, stopping at the check-in area, before continuing on their way.

Walking along, Jordan noticed that they appeared to be attracting a significant amount of stares; it was in fact quite similar to how he felt walking around Hogwarts, with all his fans and students staring at him everywhere he went.

'I hope that the ministry workers also don't believe Skeeter's lies printed about me.' Khan thought to himself, as he felt numerous eyes on him. He saw no other reason for himself to be famous to these random ministry workers, especially when they had yet to learn of his other deeds and accomplishments.

With how busy he had been lately, he still had yet to follow Fleur's advice, with regards to their plan to win back the public.

Then again, with Dumbledore's Newly trimmed looks, Moody's bizarre appearance with his wooden leg and wandering magical eye, as well as Khan with his Exotic Asian features, it was no surprise that the small group attracted a significant amount of attention as they made they way through the ministry.

Not to mention, aside from the recently featured in the paper Khan, both Dumbledore and Moody each had their own relatively highly infamous public profiles.

Moody departed from the group eventually, upon passing by the Auror department, lessening the amount of stares a fair bit, albeit not eliminating them completely.

After what felt like a much longer walk than what was necessary to Jordan, probably due to all the staring, they appeared to had finally arrived at the Department of Magical education, as indicated by the giant sign.

Dumbledore himself stopped after entering the department, greeting a slightly older witch who appeared to be waiting for them.

"Ms. Marshbanks, lovely to see you again! You are looking younger than ever!"

"Hmph! Stand aside Albus!" The tiny witch yelled. "I'll have time for you and your old bones later!"

Khan watched as the short in stature older witch, shoved Dumbledore aside with the ferocity of a decades younger woman.

"Now where is h- Jordan Khan, as I live and breathe!" Making her way past Dumbledore, she arrived in front of Khan appearing to recognize him.

"Ma'am?" Khan replied hesitantly. "Do I know you from somewhere?"

"Hmph! I should hope so!" She snapped at him. "I was ONLY the Headgirl when you were attending Hogwarts as a 5th year!"

"Griselda? But wasn't your last name Roberts? I thought you had a sister named Nerida?" Khan somewhat remembered the Ravenclaw headgirl who had helped him a few times, getting him situated in the confusing castle, at the beginning of the year. Although he didn't remember her last name being Marshbanks, nor did he recognize her with her older appearance.

Truthfully, He didn't really interact with her however, on a regular basis, especially her with being a senior student, and him being busy with all his various adventures.

Instead, Jordan remembered much more clearly, her Slytherin sister, who he interacted with much more, Nerida Roberts. He even helped her out with a personal quest, helping Nerida successfully befriend some merpeople, going so far as to even retrieve a unique mermaid artifact for her, since she couldn't swim.

"Yes, indeed!" The tiny witch nodded excitedly, with an energy not matching her age.

It appeared that similar to Natty and Dumbledore, those individuals from his time were all powerful, with an energy level not matching their age.

"You remember correctly! My Husband, David Marshbanks, God rest his soul, passed away a few decades ago now." She continued, explaining her different last name. "And Nerida works for the ministry, just like me! She actually has a meeting with Little Albus here, in just a few minutes."

Casting a quick 'Tempus!' spell, she then turned towards Dumbeldore, shoo-ing him away. "Go on Albus! You know that my sister has been in a foul mood lately. Especially after you have been pestering her about the Triwizard tournament, even after she already agreed to the second task..."

"That's what I need to talk to her about....." Dumbledore sheepishly scratched his head, looking awkwardly at Khan, not wanting to give too much about the task away.

"You have a meeting with Nerida? And she already agreed to the second task huh...." Jordan also turned towards Dumbledore now, to clarify, a grin wide on his face. "So the task involves merpeople eh...."

Dumbledore appeared quite flabbergasted with his statement, while Griselda herself just returning Khan's grin.

"I may or may not have helped her befriend some merpeople in our lake, while retrieving a mermaid artifact offered to her as a gift, when we were students..." Khan explained. "My assumption based on context, is that you are meeting her to discuss your use of Merpeople in the second task, especially after the debacle of a first task, that resulted in unnecessary casualties."

He turned to Griselda to clarify briefly. "I am assuming that she too went on to complete her dream, and successfully found a department for Merpeople Relations at the Ministry?"

"Oh yes!" She replied chuckling. "Although I had no idea that you were the one responsible for retrieving that artifact. I always knew she was lying about learning how to swim that quickly!"

She laughs along with Khan, before turning to Dumbledore barking at him. "Why are you still here? Didn't I just tell you to go? Nerida is gonna be pissed!"

"Jord-" Dumbledore attempted to talk and reassure Khan, before getting cut off.

"GO YOU OLD BAT!" She barked at him, brandishing a broom out of nowhere, chasing him out of the department. "Jordan here is even more capable than you were! And I tested you, so I know what I am talking about! So Just leave already! He'll be done a few hours!"

"Ahhhh, yes ma'am!" Dumbledore yelled in response as he ran away to his meeting, away from the crazy old lady and her outstretched broom.

Khan meanwhile, was laughing to himself, at both Dumbledore and Griselda's antics.

Similar to Natty, it seemed that Griselda also seemed to treat the Headmaster still as an immature child, much to his amusement.

He couldn't help but wonder to himself, if he too would be treating Dumbledore like that, if he had grown up alongside his old friends.

"Well, come along Jordan! We might as well get started!" It seemed Ms. Marshbanks had returned, her broom, as well as Dumbledore, nowhere to be found.

"Time for your OWLs!"

***** A/N: So Griselda Marshbanks is kinda minor character, only really appearing for OWLs. She's shown to have known Dumbledore in the past, and even tested him for his NEWTs, so she's at the very latest, born in the 1870s, like our MC. So I decided create some unique history about her, to link her to a Hogwarts Legacy Character, while also explaining how she could know Dumbledore and Khan, since they are all from the same time period. Just so it makes sense with the overall timeline *****