Chapter 30

To read up to 15 chapters ahead: https://www.patréon.com/SlyOW

-------------

"Mr Grindelwald, a word?"

The First Year Slytherins had just finished their Transfiguration Class, and Ethan was about to leave with his friends, when Professor McGonagall called him out.

Signalling his friends not to wait for him, Ethan approached his teacher's desk while the classroom emptied itself of students.

Once the two were left alone, McGonagall did not immediately speak, and instead looked hesitant. Something that greatly surprised Ethan, as if there was one thing he had learned in the past two months of Transfiguration Classes, other than Transfiguration that is, it was that McGonagall never doubted herself.

Not really sure of what to say, or whether he should even say anything, Ethan remained quiet.

Eventually, McGonagall sighed, and said, "Mr Grindelwald, I will no longer watch over your detentions, so I would appreciate it if you would stop working so hard at getting them."

Ethan's face changed rapidly as he asked, "What?! Why? Did I do anything wrong? I…"

He was cut off by the dry voice of his teacher, which seemed to hold a tinge of amusement, although her face showed none of it, "That is not exactly how it works. But to answer your question, no, you did not do anything wrong. And I must admit, I have grown to like these additional lessons, despite them taking some of my cherished free time."

Ethan scratched the back of his head in embarrassment, realizing he maybe had been a little selfish.

"Headmaster Dumbledore, myself, and the rest of the teachers had a discussion, following the events that took place a few days ago. And we were forced to realize our lack of effectiveness at foreseeing the attack, and protecting what had been the target of the attack."

Ethan's heart skipped a beat as he heard her mention a 'target', but as he was not supposed to know anything about it, he thought of asking about the students… But then, he changed his mind.

"The package, I assume?"

Whether McGonagall was surprised or not, Ethan did not know. If she did, her control over her expression was even better than Ethan's, as not a single muscle even twitched. However, she did ask, "How did you come to know about this package, Mr Grindelwald?"

"I don't know much about it, but during my confrontation against the Lamia, I was able to glimpse into its mind, and I learned of their objective there. That the attack on the students was merely a distraction."

McGonagall's eyes sharpened as she commented, "Severus did mention your surprising mastery of Legilimency. A family talent, maybe? Your grandfather was a prodigious Legilimens himself."

"I'm afraid you know more about him than I do, Professor."

McGonagall said nothing for a moment, before finally revealing, "It has come to the staff's attention that you have been negatively impacted by the Halloween Incident, and we are unfortunately helpless about it at the moment. However, finding the real criminal would definitely help your case. You have also proved to not only be able to defend yourself, but also…"

Ethan grinned, crossing his arms as he interrupted, "It's not like you to beat around the bush, Professor."

McGonagall threw a stern glance at Ethan, but still cut to the chase, "We have concluded that having the help of a student would be beneficial to our investigation."

Having already seen it coming, Ethan asked, "What does this have to do you no longer holding my detentions?"

"Because there is not point in keeping up with these detentions, we might as well officialize it and give you additional classes."

Ethan raised an eyebrow, and asked, "With all the teachers?"

McGonagall shook her head and replied, "Only the heads of house, as they are the only ones privy to information about the package. Transfiguration lessons with me, Charm lessons with Professor Flitwick, and Occlumency lessons with Professor Snape."

"What about Professor Sprout?"

"You would have to excel at Herbology first to get additional classes."

Ethan nodded, and said, "I accept then. Should I keep our classes a secret?"

McGonagall replied, "The less people know about it, the better. You aren't forbidden from speaking of the lessons, but it would be wiser not to speak of it. Out now, we have a Quidditch match to attend!"

Ethan rolled his eyes as McGonagall shooed him away from her office, leaving him alone to drag himself to the Quidditch Stadium.

It was already nearly packed full by the time he arrived, and as he did he noticed McGonagall had somehow managed to arrive before him. The match had already started by the time he arrived. Fortunately, his friends had kept a place for him.

Energetically waving her fists in the air while chanting the Slytherin hymn, Tracy took a moment to realize Ethan had arrived as she exclaimed, "What got you so late!"

Ethan sent a glance at Theodore, who looked like he wanted to be anywhere but here, and Daphne, whose attention was completely set on the game, and answered, "Nothing important."

Tracy nodded along, too into the game to really pick up anything, but Ethan saw Theodore react from the corner of his vision. He knew he was hiding something, but he didn't say anything either.

The match itself was intense, despite having just begun. Ethan remarked that Harry looked quite small compared to the rest of the players, but Cassia really hadn't only been bragging when she said he was gifted.

Harry weaved through the other players with practiced ease, making it look easy. Next to him, Ethan heard Daphne explain, "He is doing it on purpose."

His gaze not leaving Harry, Ethan asked, "What do you mean?"

Daphne explained analytically, "Our seeker is eating right out of his hand. His bursts of speed and slow downs are making everyone think he has spotted the snitch. If this continues, it won't be long before our seeker… ah, fuck."

Ethan wasn't sure of what was happening, but Daphne's worries turned almost prophetic as after a couple of seconds, the Slytherin Seeker, who was struggling to follow Harry, suddenly got hit by a stray bludger.

With the Slytherin Seeker off his broom, Harry was free to move around without worrying about someone following him as he suddenly sped into a certain direction, and following his path, Ethan spotted a glint of gold.

The Boy Who Lived did know where the Snitch was.

The situation seemed to have set into the minds of the Slytherin Team as well as Marcus Flint, the captain of the Quidditch Team, sped off in Harry's direction, intending on blocking him off. But Harry was too swift for him to catch, yet as he approached the Golden Snitch, his broom suddenly stopped in mid air.

Any other player would have been thrown off their broom from their momentum, but Harry reacted swiftly, barely managing to catch himself before he could fall off. Still, he was now hanging off his broom, and it once again started acting erratically.

It looked like he had lost control of his broom, but Ethan knew better. He knew that this was an opportunity.

His eyes swiping across the Slytherin part of the stadium, Ethan searched for the exchange student, Diego Basco.

Even in the original story, Harry would have never lost control of his broom, despite having just started using it, not to mention in this world with several years of experience, meaning someone had to be tempering with it. This being the first Quidditch game in the school year, this was a good opportunity to harm Harry, so whoever was doing this, was probably the one after the stone.

And sure enough, Diego was there. He did not look like he was concentrating much, merrily sucking on a red lollipop in his corner, but Ethan still decided to take action, even if just to disperse his suspicions.

Keeping his wand into his holster, Ethan silently waved his hand, and seeped his magic into the bleacher. Then, with a thought, he severely weakened the structural integrity of the part under Diego.

In the next moment, the weight of Diego's body was suddenly too much for the wood under him, and he abruptly fell down. Yet Diego showed an astonishing agility and reaction time as he caught himself before he could fall under the bleacher.

But even if he hadn't fallen all the way through, had Diego been concentrating on casting a spell, it would have been broken. Yet, as he looked back at Harry, Ethan noticed the Boy Who Lived was still struggling for dear life.

Casting a glance at the Professors' booth just in time to see Professor Snape's robes suddenly catching fire out of nowhere, and as he accidentally knocked Quirrell over in an effort to put it out, Harry's struggle magically stopped, allowing him to go and catch the Snitch.

But as the Gryffindors screamed in joy and the Slytherins sulked at their defeat, Ethan Grindelwald was left with a deep frown; the encounter having served to only confuse him more than he had already been.