64 He Returned

All of Hogwarts watched with bated breath from their windows, down to the small court yard in front of the giant gates. The usually bustling rooms and grounds were eerily silent, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

A hushed murmur rippled through the crowd as the air shimmered with magical energy. It didn't take long for Dumbledore and Lucas to walk though the stone gate onto the court yard.

Lucas stood tall, not shying away from the countless eyes he felt zooming in on him. His brown hair fluttered slightly in the evening breeze, his eyes sweeping across the castle that had once been his home. Yet all that was reciprocated was fear and disgust.

Gasps of shock and disbelief echoed high up through the rooms as students recognized the figure beside Dumbledore. Whispers spread like wildfire.

The massive castle gates creaked open with a groan, revealing Hogwarts' insides. Lucas took a step forward, his expression unreadable, but his every movement was observed with intense scrutiny.

Professor McGonagall stood inside by the main entrance, her face stern but with a flicker of concern. She exchanged a glance with Professor Snape, who stood in the shadows, with his usual scowl etched onto his face. Professor Flitwick stood on the other side of the doorway with Professor Sprout, both looking as concerned as she was.

From one of the windows, Draco Malfoy watched with narrowed eyes, a smirk playing on his lips. "Well, well, look who's finally shown up," he sneered to his companions, but even his voice was tinged with a hint of unease.

In another corner, Harry Potter stood alongside Ron, Hermione and Holly, their faces a mix of curiosity, concern, and suspicion. Holly's brow furrowed, deep in thought, while Ron couldn't hide his hatred at the sight of Lucas. He had been right with his allegations, Lucas was indeed a criminal, but he believed there was so much more to uncover.

Holly was more fascinated by the unique colour swirling around Lucas, it was a calm orange slowly dancing in the wind. She had not yet seen this colour with her newly aquired vision and she wasn't sure whether the book had mentioned this peculiar tone. She might have overlooked it.

She also never saw it around other people, only the usual red, yellow, violet, light blue and green when they cast spells. As a matter of fact no one had a permanent colour surrounding them. This one looked almost alive, with the way it behaved. Totally different from what she had seen up to now.

"Welcome back, Mr. Foster," McGonagall said, her voice holding a formal tone. "I wish the circumstances were more pleasant."

Lucas nodded curtly, his gaze flickering briefly to Snape, who watched him with cold, calculating eyes and then to Ms. Sprout, who wanted to say something but couldn't muster the will to actually speak.

Dumbledore led Lucas deeper inside, the large doors swinging open to reveal the familiar Great Hall of Hogwarts. What Lucas didn't expect was that a few students had already gathered inside with more hastily spilling in, however, it brought a small smile on his face. He thought the headmaster would keep them away from him, at least on his first day.

The Beauxbaton and Durmstrang students weren't present, as they stayed in their respective areas.

As Lucas walked into the Great Hall, the murmur of voices grew louder, the sound bouncing off the ancient stone walls. The banners of the four houses hung proudly, but the students beneath them were anything but divided in their feelings towards the new arrival.

Every step Lucas took, every move he made was accompanied by countless eyes. As they watched, the doors of the Great Hall closed behind Lucas, Dumbledore and the professors.

The headmaster stepped up to his lectern, raising his hand to quiet the murmurs that still echoed throughout the hall.

"Students," Dumbledore began, his voice calm but commanding, "as many of you have undoubtedly noticed, we have a returning student among us. Lucas Foster has been summoned back to Hogwarts under extraordinary circumstances."

A ripple of whispers spread through the hall at Dumbledore's words, but the headmaster continued, unfazed.

"As you all know, Lucas has been chosen by the Goblet of Fire to compete in the Triwizard Tournament," Dumbledore announced, his gaze sweeping across the hall. "This was not an expected outcome, nor one that was desired, but it is one we must respect. The Goblet's decision is binding."

The hall fell into a heavy silence. Lucas stood beside him, his face unreadable as he scanned the crowd, while no one dared to look directly at him. Regardless of that the artifacts that were meant to alarm their holders of Legilimency went off, all of them, not a single one remained inactivated.

"We expect all of you to treat Lucas with the same respect you would offer any other champion," Dumbledore added, his tone leaving no room for argument, as he briefly glanced at Lucas. "The tournament is a test of courage, skill, and endurance. It is not a place for old grudges or prejudice."

A lonely hand shot into the air.

"Yes, Ms Greengrass?"

Daphne stood up from her seat at the Slytherin table, her expression composed. "Headmaster, what about our own protection? What if he uses the mind arts on us again?"

Her question sent a fresh wave of murmurs rippling through the Great Hall. The tension in the room thickened as everyone waited for Dumbledore's response.

Dumbledore's gaze turned towards Daphne, his expression calm but firm. "Ms. Greengrass, I understand your concern. However, you don't need to worry, I will personally make sure he won't."

Daphne, still standing, didn't look entirely convinced but nodded slightly before sitting back down.

Dumbledore, sensing the unease, added, "I encourage you all to focus on the challenges ahead, and to put aside any past grievances. This tournament is an opportunity for unity, for showing the strength and integrity of our school. Let us not allow fear or prejudice to overshadow that."

With those final words, Dumbledore stepped back, allowing the murmur of conversation to rise again in the hall. He gave Lucas a subtle nod, signaling that it was time to move on.

Lucas, still flanked by the professors like his personal jailers, began walking towards the doors at the far end of the hall. 

Dumbledore remained in the hall, dismissing the thought that Lucas had awakened a talent for Divination. He didn't exhibit any signs of it, leaving the only option the Kitsune. One of them had to have told him about his arrival.

Lucas caught a glimpse of Harry and his friends as he walked thorugh the tables and gave them a fleeting smile.

Once they reached the doors, Professor McGonagall gestured for Lucas to follow her. "We'll take you to your quarters now," she said, her tone clipped but not unkind. "You'll be staying in a separate area for the time being, away from the other students."

Lucas nodded, following her down the corridor. The castle, with all its familiar sights and sounds, felt both comforting and suffocating at the same time. Every step he took echoed with memories, both good and bad, but he pushed them aside, focusing on the path ahead.

As they walked, McGonagall glanced at Lucas, her stern expression softening slightly. "I hope you understand that we didn't want to do this, Mr. Foster," she said quietly.

"I do," Lucas replied simply, his voice steady but distant.

They soon arrived at a set of stairs leading to a small, isolated tower. McGonagall stopped at the base of the stairs, turning to face Lucas. "This will be your quarters for the duration of your stay," she explained. "You'll find everything you need inside. If you require anything, you may contact me directly."

Lucas nodded, offering a polite "Thank you, Professor," before ascending the stairs.

At the top, he found a modest room, sparsely furnished but comfortable. A bed, a desk, and a small window overlooking the grounds were all that occupied the space. Lucas walked over to the window, gazing out at the landscape of Hogwarts.

----

The warm morning sun filtered through the small window, casting a soft glow across the room.

Rising from the bed, Lucas stretched, a comfortable sensation washing over him as his body popped in just the right places. Done with that, he walked over to the window, looking out at the sprawling grounds of Hogwarts.

He was interrupted by voices coming from outside the door. "Do we have to be here this early? I mean which 14 year old needs this much surveillance? He is 14 for god's sake."

"Frank, you know. Eventually, you will stop questioning these decisions and just do it. Give it a few years. There is no point in complaining." The older one of the two replied, his age and exhaustion clear in his voice.

"Still, when I signed up I thought we would hunt criminals and bust illegal gangs, but no. I have to stay here and do nothing."

Lucas listened to the conversation outside his door, the voices muffled but with his repertoire of skills they were clear enough to understand. It seemed like the Ministry had assigned Aurors to keep an eye on him, a precaution that didn't surprise him but still left a bitter taste in his mouth. It was just another way to keep him in line.

With a sigh, he pulled away from the window and started getting ready for the day. His thoughts drifted back to the Great Hall the previous day, the looks on the students' faces, the fear and mistrust and then back to the time right before he left Britain with his mom, when they would openly insult him in the hallways. It was hell compared to Japan, where he was free.

As these thoughts floated around his head he strongly balled his fists and let out a deep breath, "Not anymore."

Lucas opened the door, and the two Aurors immediately straightened up, their conversation coming to an abrupt halt. The younger one, looked somewhat embarrassed, while the older one, Albert, gave a curt nod.

"Good morning, Mr. Foster," the older Auror said, his tone professional. "We're here to escort you to breakfast."

Lucas regarded them for a moment before nodding. "Lead the way," he replied, his voice neutral.

As they walked through the corridors of Hogwarts, Lucas noticed how empty this part of the castle seemed, with most students likely never having been here. The Aurors, one walking before him and the other behind him, didn't let him out of their sight.

When they arrived at the Great Hall, Lucas paused at the entrance, his eyes scanning the room. The students were seated at their respective tables, chatting and eating, but the atmosphere shifted drastically when they noticed him. Conversations hushed, and all eyes turned toward him.

Lucas walked forward, ignoring the stares, and took a seat at the end of the Hufflepuff table, a spot that had been left conspicuously empty.

Harry and Ron were seated at the Gryffindor table, their attention drawn to him as well. Harry looked conflicted, as if unsure whether to approach Lucas or keep his distance. Ron's expression was a mix of suspicion and dislike, like always.

Holly and Hermione, who sat across from them, watched Lucas intently, their gazes curious but not unfriendly. The orange color surrounding Lucas still intrigued Holly, and she couldn't help but be fascinated by the way it moved.

After a few moments of awkward silence, Hermione leaned in closer. "We should talk to him," she whispered. "He might know something important about what's going on."

Ron scowled. "Hermione, have you forgotten what he has done. He's dangerous."

"But Dumbledore brought him back," Harry added, his tone cautious. "There has to be a reason. We should at least hear him out."

"Yeah, because he had to. He would have never brought that lowlife otherwise."

Hermione sighed, her eyes flickering between Harry and Ron. "I'm not saying we trust him again," she said softly, "but with his abilities he might know more about the tournament than we do and he might be able to help Harry."

Ron's scowl deepened, but he remained quiet, clearly not convinced but unwilling to argue further.

But before they could get up and walk over to him, someone else had already done so.