Chapter 45 - Back to Hogwarts is not so exciting now is it?

Just as they were about to leave, a group of ten Aurors suddenly appeared in front of them, wands already out and ready to fight. Among them was a woman, who immediately glanced at Thomas since he was the only wizard there, surrounded by devils. The tension in the air was palpable, and Thomas could feel the weight of their gazes on him.

"What's going on here?" Amelia demanded, her wand still pointed at the group. "Why is there a youkai in London without special permission from the Ministry? As well as six devils?"

Leif stepped forward, his hands raised in a gesture of peace. "Good afternoon, ma'am. My daughter and her friend were attacked by this youkai, and they defended themselves," he explained calmly. "Sadly for them, they had no choice but to fight back."

Amelia's eyes narrowed as she looked over the two kids, taking in their exhausted expressions and the signs of battle on their clothing. "And who are you?" she asked, turning her attention to Thomas.

Thomas took a deep breath, trying to stay calm despite the adrenaline still coursing through his veins. "My name is Thomas Grayson, first-year student Ravenclaw student at Hogwarts," he said, holding his hands up to show that he meant no harm. "We were simply spending some time together when this youkai erected a barrier, raping us inside of it," he gestured towards Latia, "and despite us being outmatched, I had to fight and Latia helped me."

Amelia's gaze flickered over to Latia, who nodded her head in agreement. "It's true," she said softly. "We were just trying to defend ourselves. The assassin was sent to get my friend!"

Leif stepped forward again, adding his own testimony to the mix. "I can vouch for them, Madam Bones. My daughter has been trained in combat from a young age, and Thomas is a skilled wizard. They acted in self-defense, and they had no choice but to use force to protect themselves. Though I hate to admit that even I'm impressed by how two kids managed to take out a high-class youkai."

Amelia studied the group for a moment longer before finally nodding her head. "Very well. I'll need to take a statement from all of you, and we'll need to conduct an investigation into this attack. But for now, you're free to go. I'll send some Aurors to secure the area and collect the body of the youkai."

Thomas felt a wave of relief wash over him. He had been prepared for the worst, but it seemed that they had managed to avoid any serious trouble. He exchanged a look with Latia, who still looked a little shaken but also relieved.

Just as Thomas was about to leave with Latia and her father, Amelia Bones called out his name, causing him to turn back towards her.

"Mr. Grayson, could you stay behind for a moment? I would like to speak with you privately about this incident," she said, her tone serious. Thomas exchanged a worried glance with Latia and Leif before nodding his agreement.

"Of course, ma'am," he said, taking a step back toward her.

Latia and Leif waited for a few paces away, watching as Amelia led Thomas aside for a private conversation. Freja, Max, Klaus, and Christina stood guard, their expressions alert and ready for any trouble.

As Thomas walked over to Amelia, he could feel his heart pounding in his chest. He wasn't sure what she wanted to talk to him about, but he knew it couldn't be good. He tried to stay calm and composed, but his nerves were getting the better of him. Once they were out of earshot of the others, Amelia turned to face Thomas.

"Mr. Grayson, I want to commend you for your bravery in defending yourself and your friend against that youkai. Your quick thinking and resourcefulness likely saved both of your lives," she said, her voice firm but gentle.

Thomas felt a sense of relief wash over him at her words, but he remained wary. He knew there was more to this conversation than just praise for his actions.

"Thank you, ma'am," he said, his voice polite but guarded. "Is there something else you wanted to discuss with me?"

Amelia nodded, her expression growing serious once again. "Yes, I wanted to speak with you about the nature of the attack. We've received reports that some devils had appeared in London, and while there's no law that forbids other beings from the supernatural world to come into our country, they are not allowed to start a fight legally, and since a youkai. A creature that originated from Japan had come all the way to England to hunt you, an eleven years old boy, I have to say that this is more than you or that devil want to tell me. And that Mr. Grayson, is not something to be taken lightly," she said, her gaze steady on Thomas's face.

Thomas felt a chill run down his spine at her words. He had suspected as much, but hearing it confirmed by a member of the Ministry of Magic made the situation feel even more dire. "I understand, ma'am."

Amelia gave him a nod of approval. "That's good to hear. However, I must caution you against taking matters into your own hands. We have a team of Aurors who are investigating this matter and working to track down the man or woman behind this attack. It's important that you leave this to the professionals, rather than letting those devils dwindle in our home," she said, her tone firm but gentle.

Thomas nodded solemnly, understanding the gravity of the situation. "I won't take any actions on my own, ma'am, if I'm not forced to," he said, his voice low. "But I do have some information that might be helpful to your investigation."

Amelia's eyebrows rose slightly. "Oh? And what might that be?" she asked, her interest piqued.

Thomas hesitated for a moment, weighing his options, but then decided to tell the truth. "I know who sent the assassin after me," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "It was the main head of the Astaroth family."

Amelia's expression hardened at his words. "Are you certain of this, Mr. Grayson? Because that statement could start another war between the wizard and the devils," she asked, her eyes narrowing.

Thomas nodded firmly. "Yes, I'm certain. Leif, Latia's father, and she are from the branch family of the Astaroth. He and his peerage were the ones who found out about this plot and told me about the main family's involvement and even protected me from them."

Amelia's gaze flickered with surprise at Thomas's revelation. "I see," she said thoughtfully. "It seems that these devils from the branch family have been quite helpful to you."

Thomas nodded. "Yes, they have, ma'am. They've done everything they could to protect me from the main Astaroth family, and I'm grateful for their help."

Amelia gave him a nod of approval. "Well, it's good that you have friends in this matter. However, you must understand that this information is highly sensitive. If it were to get out that a devil family was involved in this attack, it could cause a great deal of tension between our two communities."

"I understand," Thomas, said, his tone serious. "I won't tell anyone else about this, I promise."

"Good," Amelia said, her expression softening slightly. "I'm glad we could have this conversation, Mr. Grayson. Now, I suggest you go home and rest. This has been a trying day for you, not to mention that if my memory serves me right tomorrow should be the day when you should get back to Hogwarts."

Thomas nodded and turned to leave, feeling a weight lifted off his shoulders now that he had told the truth. He walked for a while before he joined Latia, Leif, and his peerage, feeling at ease now that this whole thing have been dealt with.

After they left the alley, Leif, Freja, and Latia walked with Thomas back to his house.

Once they arrived at Thomas' house, they said their goodbyes. Latia hugged Thomas tightly, her eyes shining with unshed tears. "Thank you, Thomas," she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. "I'll write to you often, I promise."

Thomas hugged her back, feeling a sense of warmth spread through his chest. "I'll be looking forward to it," he replied, smiling at her. He turned to Leif and Freja. "Thank you both for everything. I don't know what I would have done without your help."

Leif nodded solemnly. "We're just glad we could help. Stay safe, Thomas. We'll be keeping an eye on things from our end."

Freja remained quiet for a moment, her expression serious as she looked at Thomas. "Just be careful, Thomas. While I doubt that the fossil of a family head would send someone after you after what happened with the last one, it doesn't hurt to be careful. And don't hesitate to contact us if you need any help or if you ever feel threatened," she said, her voice firm and sincere.

Thomas nodded gratefully at her words. "I will, Freja. Thank you."

Leif put a reassuring hand on Thomas's shoulder. "Don't worry too much, Thomas. You're a strong young wizard, and you've got a lot of people who care about you," he said, giving him a small smile.

That night, Thomas struggled to sleep. His body was in a lot of pain, and he felt utterly exhausted, his mind foggy and unfocused. His parents were worried about him when they saw him looking so battered and worn out, but they didn't want to say anything to his face, not wanting to worry him any further.

The next day, Thomas had to leave for Hogwarts. His parents drove him to the station, and Thomas sat quietly in the back seat, feeling too tired and sore to say much. He couldn't wait to get back to school, though, where he could rest and recover in the comfort of his own dormitory.

As they pulled up to the station, Thomas turned to his parents and gave them a weak smile. "Thanks for driving me," he said, his voice hoarse.

"Of course, dear," his mother signed, reaching over to give his shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "Are you feeling all right? Do you need us to stay with you for a while?"

Thomas shook his head. "No, I'll be fine," he said, forcing himself to sit up straighter. "I just need to rest."

His parents nodded, and his father handed him his trunk. "Well, you take care of yourself, all right? And write us as soon as you get settled in."

Thomas nodded, and with a final wave, he made his way into the station, wincing at the pain in his body with every step.

As he made his way toward the Hogwarts Express, he couldn't help but feel a sense of unease settling in his chest. The after-effects of his transformation still lingered, causing him to feel exhausted and in pain, his movements slow and unsteady. Thankfully, his thoughts were interrupted when he heard a familiar voice calling his name. Turning around, he saw James, Adam, and Michael, walking towards him. They all had excited expressions on their faces, eagerly anticipating the start of a new school year. But as soon as they saw Thomas, their expressions changed to concern. Thomas's heart lifted at the sight of his friends, James, Adam, and Michael, approaching him. It was a relief to see familiar faces, even though his body was still aching all over.

"Hey, guys," Thomas greeted them, his voice barely above a whisper.

James furrowed his eyebrows at the sight of Thomas. "Thomas, are you okay?" he asked, concern etched in his features.

Thomas attempted to give them a reassuring smile, but it came out more like a grimace. "Yeah, I'm fine," he said, his voice hoarse. "Just a little tired."

Adam stepped closer to him, placing a hand on Thomas's shoulder. "You sure you're up for this?" he asked, his tone gentle.

Thomas nodded, though he wasn't entirely convinced himself. He couldn't let his friends see him as weak, not after what had happened. "Yeah, I'm sure. Let's go."

Michael, who had been quiet until then, spoke up. "Thomas, if you need any help carrying your trunk, just let me know. We're here for you."

Thomas felt a pang of gratitude towards Michael for his offer. "Thanks, Michael. I appreciate it," he said, smiling weakly.

Together, they made their way toward the Hogwarts Express, and Thomas could feel the weight of his trunk dragging him down. He tried his best to keep up with his friends, but his body was protesting with every step.

As they approached the train, Thomas noticed the excited chatter of students filling the air. It was a stark contrast to how he was feeling. He couldn't muster up any enthusiasm, not when his body was still in pain.

"Hey there, lads!" they turned to see Matthew, and Emily, walking towards them.

"Matthew! Emily!" James exclaimed, grinning widely as he rushed over to greet them. Adam and Michael followed close behind, and soon the group of friends was engaged in a lively conversation about their winter vacations.

Thomas, however, remained quiet, his mind still preoccupied with the events of the previous night. He was grateful for the distraction of his friends, but he couldn't shake the feeling of unease that lingered within him.

"How was your winter, Thomas?" Emily asked, turning to him with a friendly smile.

Thomas hesitated for a moment, unsure of how much he wanted to reveal to his teammates. "It was...eventful," he finally said, choosing his words carefully.

Matthew raised an eyebrow at him, sensing that there was more to the story than what Thomas was letting on. "Everything all right?" he asked, his tone serious.

Thomas hesitated for a moment but then decided to tell the truth to his friends. "I was attacked by someone, but the Ministry took care of it," he said, omitting most of the important details.

James, Adam, and Michael exchanged concerned looks. "Are you really alright, Thomas? You look awful," Adam said, placing a hand on Thomas's shoulder.

Thomas swallowed hard but nodded. "Yeah, I'll be fine. Just a little banged up."

Emily stepped closer to Thomas, her expression worried. "Oh, Thomas, I'm so sorry. Is there anything we can do to help?"

Thomas felt a sense of warmth spread through his chest at Emily's concern. He shook his head. "No, I'll be alright. Thanks, though."

Suddenly, Emily stepped forward and hugged Thomas tightly. "I'm just glad you're okay," she whispered.

Thomas felt a lump form in his throat at her words. "Thanks, Emily," he replied, his voice hoarse.

Matthew still seemed suspicious, but he didn't press the issue further. "Well, if you need anything, just let us know," he said, his tone serious.

Thomas nodded, grateful for his friend's concern. "Thanks, guys. I appreciate it."

After Matthew and Emily walked away, the four boys found an empty compartment and settled in. James, Adam, and Michael turned to face Thomas, their expressions serious.

"Okay, Thomas, you can't just say you're 'fine' and leave it at that," James said. "We know you, man. Something's up."

Thomas took a deep breath and knew he couldn't keep it from them any longer. "You're right," he said, his voice low. "Something did happen. Last night, I was attacked by a youkai."

The three boys stared at him in shock. "A youkai? Are you serious?" Adam asked.

Thomas nodded. "Yeah. It was after me for something that happened a long time ago. It was trying to kill me, but I managed to fight it off with Latia's help."

"Latia huh? Michael asked.

"She's a friend," Thomas explained. "Anyway, we fought the youkai, and in the end, I had to use that transformation power to defeat it otherwise I wouldn't have been here talking with you."

"You used your transformation?" James asked, his eyes widening. "Are you okay? That power always leaves you feeling terrible afterward."

Thomas shrugged. "Yeah, I'm not feeling great, but I'll be okay."

The three boys looked at him with concern. "Is there anything we can do?" Michael asked.

Thomas smiled at his friends. "Thanks, guys, but I'm fine. I just needed to tell someone. I can't keep it inside anymore."

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