Chapter 7

The break after the last mission was incredibly refreshing for me. I spent those few days doing absolutely nothing, except for reading magical books. I just can't resist studying topics that fascinate and are important to me.

My parents traveled to Spain, leaving me home alone. I did go out once with Tamara, since she invited me, and I thought, why not? Overall, stepping out of my usual routine wasn't a bad experience, and my opinion of her improved slightly. Thankfully, there were no hugs or, heaven forbid, cheek kisses.

One Monday morning, I noticed several owls on my windowsill. I let them in and received their letters. One was from the Ministry, another from Hogwarts, and the third from Brock and the Hunter's Guild.

"Thank you," I said to the owls. The Hogwarts owl nuzzled my outstretched finger before flying off. The Ministry's owl gave me an indifferent look, messed up the table, and flew away. Brock's owl looked a bit bedraggled, but after I gave it some water, it seemed to calm down. Pecking me in thanks, it quickly flew off.

So, what do we have here?

First, I opened the letter from the Ministry of Magic's Department of Magical Education and Certification. It contained my O.W.L. results, as well as a magical certificate confirming them. All my grades were top marks. There was also a congratulatory note from the Ministry itself and a check for ten Galleons. The letter said it was a government grant awarded only to the most successful students of the magical school. Essentially, it was a reward for excellent grades.

I set the check aside and put the certificate and grades in another pile. To be honest, I didn't expect the Ministry of Magic to give me any money. Not bad, not bad at all. Ten Galleons is a decent sum, enough to buy something interesting or pay for some services.

Next was the letter from Hogwarts. It stood out with its elaborate style. If I'm not mistaken, there's even a term for this, the "Hogwarts letter style." The letter was from Dumbledore, signed by his deputy and the head of Gryffindor. It also included my O.W.L. scores and a congratulatory note about receiving tuition coverage for the Fall semester, plus a check for one hundred Galleons to buy everything needed for the upcoming school year. There was also a list of required items I needed to purchase and a train ticket. In short, everything necessary for a successful sixth year at Hogwarts was included.

I set the money aside with the Ministry's funds, and the important items for purchase went into a third pile.

Lastly, I opened the letter from Brock and the Guild. Inside were several papers and a card of a strange format. The card was incredibly light and semi-transparent, with white hexagons inside that shimmered in the sunlight. The letter congratulated me on obtaining the rank of apprentice in the Hunter's Guild. It outlined all my duties and privileges, as well as how to advance to the next rank. I didn't really have any duties, nor did I have many privileges... The only thing I could do was enter the Guild shop to buy some rare ingredients. I couldn't take on assignments by myself, only in partnership with a Guild member ranked Bachelor or higher.

Brock's letter included congratulations and the schedule for the next mission. The location was the same as before: the Leaky Cauldron. There was also a note saying I didn't have to come if I didn't want to, but I did want to, as it meant extra money for me.

I set everything aside and smirked. There's still a month before the new school year starts, which means I can use this time productively. I set the papers aside and started planning for August.

I won't plan too much, but I'll definitely get some things done. I need to keep working on my spells, learn new ones, help Brock with missions, and continue studying magical material. Lastly, I need to make my school purchases.

Today, I still have time, so I can work on spells and magic. I headed to Diagon Alley. It was still quiet, but I know when all the students receive their shopping lists, it will be packed with people. So maybe it's better for me to make my purchases now.

At the bank, I deposited the money into the account I had opened. The goblins, ever crafty, tried to push a contract on me for account insurance, a personal travel cart into to dungeons of the bank, and other unnecessary services. I had to politely decline. By the way, my honestly earned sickle also was added to those funds.

Next, I went to the training grounds, which were still empty. The old man sat with his eyes closed, but I'm sure he hears and understands everything. After practicing various spells and working on what I needed, I headed home.

I quickly made myself dinner and went back to reading books. I didn't bother with the TV since it didn't interest me at all. After watering the plants, I returned to my studies and then had a wonderful sleep.

In the morning, I got up, did some exercise, and headed to Diagon Alley. Today, I'm supposed to meet with Brock and discuss the mission. The Leaky Cauldron, as usual, was full of all kinds of wizards.

I spotted Brock in his usual spot. Since he was alone, I figured the mission would either be brief and not too difficult, or it was something very specialized that only Brock could handle.

"Good morning," I greeted the man.

"Good morning, Timothy," he replied, no longer using my nickname.

I sat down at the table and waited.

"Show me your card," the man suddenly said.

Shrugging, I pulled it out and handed it to him. Brock took it carefully and pulled out his own. After placing his card over mine, he returned it. A small dot appeared on my card.

"What's this?" I asked, surprised.

"It means you're going on a mission," the man explained. "When the dot turns green, it means the mission is complete. To advance to the next rank, you need to complete fifty missions, or pass your N.E.W.T.s, or take the Guild's internal exam. It's your choice."

Brock sounded more reasonable now than he had before.

"Is the internal exam difficult?"

"No more so than the N.E.W.T.s, but it costs five Galleons," he replied. "You won't gain much except the ability to advance further in rank. I wouldn't recommend rushing into it just yet. Finish at least one more term at Hogwarts, and then we can think about it."

"Okay, I'll consider it," I nodded, accepting his advice. "What's the mission for today?"

"Nothing too complicated," he smirked. "We have to go to a wealthy person's estate and destroy a magical creature that's taken up residence in their garden."

"They can't do it themselves?" I asked, surprised.

"They're rich," he chuckled. "Why do anything yourself when you can pay someone else to do it? Alright, enough talk, let's get to work. Ready?"

"Ready," I agreed.

We left the Leaky Cauldron and made our way through Diagon Alley, veering into a side area before Apparating. We arrived at a small house that looked far from new. In fact, it seemed like it hadn't been cleaned in ages. But on closer inspection, it was clear everything was well-maintained.

We stepped outside and immediately found ourselves on a narrow path.

Since I had begun to develop some skill in Spatial Magic, I noticed a slight shift in the space as we crossed a particular line. It was a very subtle sensation, but it made one thing clear: Apparating from here was impossible, as was Apparating within this space. Now I understood why we ended up here—it was likely part of the estate's defenses.

After about fifteen minutes of leisurely walking, we arrived at a tall fence towering over us. The stone section clearly indicated that this fence wasn't built recently. The top part was concealed by thick green foliage, making it impossible to simply jump over.

After another five minutes, we reached wrought-iron gates. They slowly began to open as we approached. Behind them awaited a strange creature with large ears, bulging eyes, and wearing a strange rag that barely covered its nakedness. A house-elf.

"Dobby will take you to the master and mistress," it said.

It grabbed both Brock and me by the pant leg and used its own magic to transport us instantly, without any unpleasant sensations. We found ourselves in a small garden by a fountain. Proud peacocks strutted around the fountain, looking down on everyone. The peacocks immediately made it clear that they weren't ordinary, but magical. Ordinary ones don't have feathers that shed golden sparks of magic when they spread their tails.

We were met by an incredibly beautiful woman dressed in dark clothing that covered everything, even her neck. On her head was a small hat that hid her blonde hair. She looked at us carefully, especially focusing on me.

"Lady Malfoy," Brock addressed her with a slight bow. "We're here to complete the mission."

"I see," she nodded with a calm and slightly cold tone. "State your names."

"Brock Tannerberry and Timothy Jody," he introduced us. "Master Hunter and Apprentice."

"An apprentice?" she looked at me closely. "Are you a Hogwarts student?"

"Yes, ma'am," I replied. "I just passed my O.W.L.s."

"Which house?" she asked.

"Gryffindor," I answered without hesitation. I saw no reason to hide which house I belonged to.

"Oh, so you're one of the Gryffindor trio who made it to the sixth year," she said, examining me more closely.

I felt Brock's surprised gaze on me. Yeah, I'm just that impressive. Heh.

"Yes, ma'am," I replied.

"And you're this year's only Hogwarts scholarship recipient," she added with a smirk. "My husband, Lucius Malfoy, is the head of Hogwarts' Board of Governors. He's supposed to know these things."

She looked me over again and then nodded.

"Alright, I won't keep you any longer."

Brock and I immediately headed in the direction the house-elf pointed. It grabbed us by the pants and transported us once more. This time, we found ourselves in a well-maintained forest that clearly showed signs of meticulous care.

"Well, I never would've guessed you're such a good student at Hogwarts," the hunter remarked. "Though now it all makes sense."

I just shrugged. What could I say? Nothing.

"Alright, let's forget about school and focus on the job," Brock said, pulling out his wand.

I drew my wand as well and followed him. He cast various spells, many of which I recognized or had a rough idea where to look them up. To assist, I created a shield to protect us from potential attacks. Fortunately, nothing dangerous happened.

"Ah! Found it!"

The wizard smirked and gave his wand a sharp wave. A red thread appeared, stretching deep into the garden before vanishing, replaced by a loud, guttural roar.

"Ruar!"

"Well, here we go."

We quickened our pace, ready to face whatever monster awaited us. Almost at the same moment, we spotted a shadow flying toward us. Brock cast a spell from his wand, and I followed suit, creating a spell to repel the creature.

The creature crashed to the ground with a heavy thud, then rolled over, toppling several trees. It looked rather unremarkable—a pile of stones with small, green, bead-like eyes. Moss with occasional flowers grew on its shoulders, glowing with a somewhat aggressive energy.

Brock waved his wand, and thick roots erupted from the ground, quickly and tightly wrapping around the monster, immobilizing it.

"And now for the finishing touch," the wizard chuckled.

With a flick of his wand, a transparent, silvery-yellow sword materialized above the monster. In an instant, it plunged into the creature's torso, causing it to emit a glow. The monster immediately fell silent as the roots loosened and retreated back into the ground, leaving the earth uprooted.

We approached the creature to examine it closely. Where the sword had struck, there was now a black hole through which the ground was visible, with cracks branching out in all directions.

"Not bad," the wizard chuckled.

"What spell was that?" I asked.

"Witch's Hammer, Volume Three. The Sword of Rauglir," he replied.

"I haven't read that book," I admitted.

"Of course not," Brock chuckled. "There's only one original in Rome. It costs a thousand Galleons per hour to study the book. I shelled out for two days. Do the math."

"That's a lot of money," I nodded.

Brock said nothing. He waved his wand a few times, checking the monster. Once he was sure it was completely dead, he clapped his hands. The familiar house-elf appeared beside us. It carefully inspected the monster, then nodded. We were immediately transported back to the fountain.

Narcissa Malfoy was still there. She sat on a small bench, reading a book. As soon as we appeared, she closed it and stood up. The house-elf nodded to her and stepped aside to do something.

"Gentlemen," she addressed us. "I see the task is complete. Is that correct?"

"Yes, Lady Malfoy," Brock nodded.

"Excellent," she smiled. "Your card."

With a magician's flourish, Brock produced his card and handed it to the woman. She drew her wand and touched a small dot on it. Then she returned the card to him.

"Thank you," he nodded.

"Thank you for quickly fulfilling my request," the woman said. "I wish you all the best."

The house-elf appeared beside us and immediately transported us to the estate's entrance. We walked out of the gates, and they slowly closed behind us.

"And that's the mission completed," the man said, adjusting his clothes. "Hand me your card."

I gave it to him, and he placed his card over mine. The single black dot on my card immediately turned green, indicating the mission was completed. I glanced at it for a moment, then put it back in my pocket.

"Since it's the Malfoys," he said as we crossed the boundary of the anti-Apparition field, "the reward will be substantial. They paid well for the quick completion of the task. You can collect the money at the Guild's main office. Have you ever been there?"

"No," I replied.

"Then I'll show you today," he said.

We Apparated to Diagon Alley. In front of us was a small door leading to a seemingly ordinary building. Above the door was a sign that read: Hunter's Guild. Brock pressed his card against the door, and it slowly opened.

"Press your card too."

I did as he instructed. Only then did we enter. The building was spacious and clean inside. On one wall was a board with paper assignments that people could take. On another wall was a small bar, where a young witch was working. Several hunters sat at tables, quietly chatting. It reminded me of a traditional guild hall in Fiore. The only thing missing was cute waitresses.

"See that administrator?" He pointed to a wizard sitting at a third wall, behind a small desk. "He handles payments, either in cash or by direct transfer to your bank account. Let's go."

I followed him. We stopped at the counter. The wizard looked up and nodded. Brock nudged me, indicating I should do something. Approaching the counter, I pulled out my card. The wizard snatched it and placed it against some artifact.

"Check, cash, or transfer?"

"Cash," I replied.

"Three Sickles," he said and handed me three silver coins. "Payment complete."

"Yeah, three Sickles," I repeated, slipping the coins into my pocket. I won't deposit them into my bank account; I might need them later. "Thank you."

The administrator didn't respond and returned to his work. Brock pulled me aside.

"That's how it works," he explained. "Over there is the assignment board. When you're eligible to take assignments, just pick a sheet, read it, and place it on your card. That will indicate that you've accepted the task. There's a bar-restaurant where you can order something to eat or drink. By the way, the prices here are a bit lower than at the Cauldron. Any questions?"

"Can you sleep here?"

"No," the wizard shook his head. "Anything else?"

"Not at the moment," I replied.

"Excellent," the wizard chuckled. "Then tomorrow, we'll meet here at the same time."

"Got it," I nodded. "See you then."

"See you, Timothy," the hunter waved and left. I was alone.

Since I didn't know anyone, I immediately left the place. I still don't feel very comfortable in such a setting. To kill the rest of the day, I went to the training grounds, then returned home in the evening. At home, everything repeated with studying and dinner.

The following days quickly became routine. The assignments were quick and not too difficult. Brock showed me the art of being a hunter. I could call it true training, which will eventually lead to mentoring. I learned a few clever spells from him that I hadn't encountered in my devoured books. Overall, it was interesting. I earned money for each assignment, sometimes very little, like a Knut, and sometimes a Sickle. All in all, it was quite good.

Of course, there weren't assignments every day, and often, I had a day or a few days off. I spent those studying and preparing for Hogwarts. My parents were pleased with my progress, especially my father, who was very proud.

I continued talking to Tamara, but not as much as she would have liked. For some reason, this only attracted her more, as if my distance made me more desirable. I don't get it. In Fiore, that wouldn't have worked… at least I don't think so. I warned her that I wouldn't be in touch much during the upcoming school year. She was a bit sad but promised to stay faithful. I don't know what's going on in her head or why she already considers me her boyfriend. But whatever… she's a girl.

I did my shopping for Hogwarts in the last days of August. I didn't spend much, but I'll head to school looking sharp. On August 22, I completed the last assignment with Brock because he decided to give me a chance to rest. I accepted it calmly and spent my free time training.

On September 1, 1990, I was on Platform Nine and Three-Quarters. My father and mother drove me to the station and walked me to the barrier. After saying goodbye to them, I passed through.

I immediately found myself in the chaotic hustle of wizards of all ages. Taking a deep breath, I plunged into the crowd and headed straight for the right train car. The students were divided by cars, allowing them to settle in comfortably without worrying about running out of space. There's enough room for everyone.

The conductor quickly checked my ticket, stamped it, and let me inside. I headed for an empty compartment and tossed my suitcase onto the upper shelf. Settling in, I stared out the window. Students were saying goodbye to their parents, and parents, relatives, and friends were waving farewell to their children. Some were already leaving, others were just arriving. Many were still talking through the window.

Owls and other birds fluttered under the ceiling. Pigeons looked down disapprovingly at the crowd, seemingly aiming for something. Aurors also moved among the crowd, greeting their friends and acquaintances and scowling at their enemies or rivals. In short, life was bustling.

Suddenly, the door to my compartment burst open. I turned to see Isolda Marigold and Dorsani Merrylittle. What can I say? Comparing them to how they looked at the beginning of summer, I can say they both looked much better. They both turned sixteen a while ago, just like me. My birthday is at the end of September, while theirs is in December.

"Oh! Look who it is!" Isolda exclaimed, sitting across from me. "Hello, Timothy!"

"Hello, Isolda," I nodded to her. "Dorsani."

Isolda's servant only nodded but said nothing.

"How was your summer?" she asked, waving to someone outside the window. "Phew, finally got rid of that attention. So, how was it?"

"Not bad," I replied neutrally. "I spent it studying and practicing magic."

"Practicing?" she asked, surprised. "Well, that's good. Where?"

"At the Hunter's Guild," I replied.

"Hmm, not bad, not bad," she said. "I practiced too, but at the Charms Guild. They praised me a lot."

"I'm not surprised," I nodded.

"And Dorsani underwent advanced maid training in France," Isolda continued, clearly pleased with herself. "So, if you're interested, my offer still stands."

The train started moving slowly, and Isolda fell silent, waving to a man surrounded by several wizards who looked like hawks scanning the crowd for danger—probably her father.

It seems I won't be able to enjoy peace during this trip. Oh well, it's not a problem since I don't think Isolda will want to chat the whole way. And oh boy how wrong I was. The girl talked almost non-stop, constantly trying to pry out how far I had progressed in my knowledge, what interesting spells I had learned, what assignments I had completed with the Hunter's Guild, and much more.

After a while, we had a moment of peace, but we played chess. Dorsani sat and indifferently didn't participate but always echoed Isolda in conversations. She couldn't do otherwise.

When the trolley with sweets arrived, Isolda smirked and offered, "Do you want me to buy you something too?"

"Thank you," I replied, "but I'll get something myself."

As if I'd let her buy me something. Who knows how that would play out in her mind. I don't want her to consider me in her debt and start exploiting the situation. Better not to give her the slightest reason. After all, give her an inch, and she'll take a mile.

"As you wish," she smirked. "I'll take three Sweet Sticks, one Chocolate Frog, and a Vanilla Heart, please."

"And I'll take the Hazelnut Spa," I pointed to a pack of nuts.

After paying, we closed the door.

Isolda handed one Sweet Stick to Dorsani and took the other for herself. As she sucked on it, she made various expressions that hinted at sexual intimacy. I won't deny it—it looked hot. Dorsani mirrored her actions, which certainly didn't help. If I didn't know who Isolda was, I might have been tempted by her charms. And who wouldn't be, especially at my age? I'm not made of steel.

But my strong will kept me from saying or doing anything impulsive. Instead, I relaxed and focused on the Archive. I should have done this earlier, but I didn't want to seem rude. So, I took the opportunity to unwind.

Spatial Magic is an incredibly fascinating subject that one could study for a lifetime. For some reason, this branch of magic comes to me naturally. Maybe it's because I've already been reincarnated, or perhaps I just have a better understanding of magic. I'm not sure.

I felt my body shift, but I didn't open my eyes. My head ended up resting on something quite firm. I continued studying for the rest of the journey to Hogwarts until the conductor's voice echoed through the speakers.

"Hogwarts. Fifteen minutes."

That was the signal that the school was near. Opening my eyes, I saw that I was lying on Dorsani's lap. The girl sat calmly, holding my head in her lap and playing with my hair. It looked rather strange. I carefully got up and looked at Isolda. She turned away and said:

"What? You were so relaxed lying on Dorsani's lap."

"Thank you," I nodded to the servant. She just shrugged, keeping her mouth shut like a fish out of water.

"Time to change clothes," Isolda sighed.

"I'll step out," I said. I won't embarrass the girls. Even if Isolda tries to be a bit of a tease, she's still a girl with rich parents.

Stepping into the corridor, I saw a few other students from other houses. They nodded to me and waited for the girls to finish changing. When it was safe to enter, the door clicked open. I stepped back in.

Isolda and Dorsani had already changed, so I could return to my seat. The train was slowly coming to a halt, and soon enough, it stopped. Outside, it was already quite dark, except for the night lamps and the large figure of the gamekeeper Hagrid, who was greeting the first-years.

We headed towards the carriages. Other students followed the same path. The carriages were drawn by magical creatures known as Thestrals. Let's just say these creatures look like something out of a nightmarish horror, not exactly something that would make you want to sleep afterward.

And naturally, Isolda and Dorsani joined me in the carriage, though I thought they would go with their friends, whom they were chatting with on the way to the carriages. But no.

"These Thestrals are fascinating creatures," Isolda said, showing she could see them. Many students and even adults can't see these creatures because they've never witnessed death. I've seen death, and apparently, Isolda has too.

"Yes," I nodded. "You don't come across them every day. But I don't think there are any better drivers for Hogwarts."

"Well, I can think of a few," the girl chuckled.

Our carriage started moving. I didn't particularly feel like talking, so we sat in silence. Exhaling, I leaned against the window, planning my next steps at school. First, I need to ensure that my scholarship isn't in jeopardy. That means I have to ace my exams and complete all my assignments with precision. Besides that, I need to keep uploading books to my archive and analyzing them. Everything else is secondary.

Hogwarts, as always, impressed with its grandeur and beauty. When we crossed a certain line, I realized Apparating here was impossible. The space was aligned in such a way that Apparition simply wouldn't work, and a person would be thrown somewhere into the forest or even split apart.

At the entrance, we left the carriage and headed to the school. The gates were open, inviting us into the warm Great Hall, where the feast tables were already set. The teachers were either sitting at the tables or welcoming their students at the entrance. These were the heads of houses, who immediately guided their students to their tables. As sixth-year students, we were seated relatively close to the exit. Seventh-years were closest to the door, and the younger students were nearer to the staff table. The conversations among the students were incredibly lively.

"Did you see the new Nimbus 1999?" asked some fifth-year student.

"Of course!" his friend replied. "Rumor has it that the French team Paris Saint-Germain bought it for their entire team."

"That won't help them."

There were other conversations about summer, about who did what and who saw what. Nothing unusual. The ceiling, as always, was covered with an illusion of the night sky. I noticed a bit of excitement at the teachers' table. It seemed the first-years were about to enter for their Sorting ceremony.

And yes, that's exactly what happened. The door swung wide open, and a group of wide-eyed first-years walked in, full of anticipation. And those expectations were justified. They saw the magnificent sight of the elite school of magic. Professor Sprout escorted them. The children were stopped near the small stool where the Sorting Hat was already placed.

Then the Sorting began. It wasn't particularly interesting since none of the students were of any notable standing or belonged to prominent families. In short, just ordinary kids from normal and wealthy backgrounds.

When the Sorting was over, the feast began. The table was laden with almost everything one could wish for. Suddenly, a note dropped onto my plate. Curious, I opened it and saw that it contained the new password for the Gryffindor common room. The note was destroyed immediately, under Isolda's interested gaze.

She started chatting with her neighbor from the seventh year, while I continued to eat in silence, enjoying the food. The food here is, as always, excellent, as I know well. Breakfast ended abruptly. The plates of food disappeared. Headmaster Dumbledore gave a speech about some rules, then dismissed us to our beds.

The prefects immediately took charge of the first-years. All the other students could head to their rooms. Their belongings should already be there. We made our way to our house tower in a large group, mixed with other years.

I could feel the curious glances from the younger girls, especially from the fifth years.

"I see you've finally got some admirers," Isolda chuckled, correctly interpreting the looks. "If they bother you, just let me know. I'll put a stop to it."

A sly grin appeared on her face.

"Sure, I'll keep that in mind," I nodded to her. Really, what else could I say to that?

Entering the Gryffindor common room, the students immediately started dispersing to their rooms. Since I was the only sixth-year boy in Gryffindor, the entire room was allocated just for me. In the center was a single bed, one wardrobe, a nightstand, and a chair.

Closing the door behind me, I was enveloped in pleasant silence. After sorting out my things, I was finally satisfied. Now I just need to see the class schedule, and I can get started on what's most important here.

In the morning, I quickly got myself ready, did a bit of exercise, and headed to breakfast. There were very few people there. Only Professor McGonagall, who immediately approached me as soon as she saw me enter.

"Good morning, Timothy," she greeted, sitting down.

"Good morning, Professor McGonagall," I replied.

"How did you sleep?"

"Thank you, quite well."

"That's good to hear," she nodded. "I wanted to discuss something with you. Yes, I could do it after class, but since there's no one else here right now, why not do it now? Don't you agree?"

"Of course, Professor," I nodded. "If something can be done now instead of later, it shouldn't be put aside."

"Exactly," she nodded. "My question is this: how comfortable are you with Transfiguration? Being the only sixth-year boy, and if you have the desire and talent, we could work on an advanced Transfiguration course. What do you think?"

"That sounds interesting," I nodded. After a brief pause, I asked, "Could I take my N.E.W.T.s this year?"

"You'll be turning seventeen," she nodded. "I think we can arrange that, but first, I'd like to assess your theoretical and practical knowledge. You didn't spend your summer idly, did you?"

"No, Professor," I nodded. "When can I prove my knowledge to you?"

"Let's say today at six in the evening," she said. "You'll come to see me. I'll give you a quick quiz on the sixth-year topics and see how well you know them. After that, I'll test your practical skills."

"Alright, Professor," I nodded. "Then I'll see you at six in the evening, in your office? Or in the Transfiguration classroom?"

"The Transfiguration classroom," she replied promptly. Then she stood up gracefully. "Enjoy your meal and have a good day."

"The same to you, Professor," I nodded.

Students began arriving for breakfast, first in ones and twos, then in small groups, and finally in a larger flow. The Great Hall filled with the voices of students discussing their plans for the day.

"Good morning," Isolda greeted. "I never would've guessed you're a morning person."

"Good morning. How did you sleep?"

"Oh," she exhaled with a smirk. "A girls' room just for me and my maid. What do you think we did?"

A sly grin appeared on her face. Dorsani, on the other hand, seemed a bit embarrassed, but it was barely noticeable. I think I understand what they were doing… Probably playing rock-paper-scissors...

"Too bad you couldn't join us," Isolda chuckled. "Or maybe I should lend you Dorsani for a few nights. She'd definitely brighten up your night. What do you think?"

"Thank you," I shook my head, "but not right now."

"Not right now," she chuckled, piling food onto her plate. "Make sure it's not too late when you change your mind."

"If it is, then I'll definitely decline," I chuckled back. "The world is big, and it doesn't end with just you and Dorsani."

"Hey!" she exclaimed. "I'm Isolda Marigold, and there's no one else like me!"