Harry Potter : Bloodraven

Muggle Science Classroom – Hogwarts

"Time's up! Quills down, everyone."

Maverick's voice rang out through the quiet concentration that had filled the room. The sound of quills scratching against parchment came to a stop, replaced by the soft rustle of papers and the faint creak of chairs as students moved in their seats.

Some students stretched their fingers, stiff from the long minutes of writing, while others exchanged quick glances, curious to gauge their classmates' reactions. But unlike a typical class, where tension and worry would linger after an exam, his students showed none of it.

From his place at the front of the room, Maverick saw that not just most, but all of the students seemed happy—relieved, even. They simply leaned back, their relaxed smiles hinting at quiet satisfaction with how the test had gone.

The Muggle Science class had been a surprise to everyone from the very start of the academic year. At first, many were doubtful about studying something so ordinary, so unmagical. But from the beginning, the students had embraced it.

In these few months, they had thrown themselves into experiments, asked thoughtful questions, and approached each lesson with a curiosity that rivaled their enthusiasm for any Charms class.

A quiet sense of pride settled in as he made the papers rise and hover briefly over the students' heads before guiding them back to his desk. Knowing they had done well in his test, he addressed the class again.

"Before you go, I have an announcement," Maverick said, drawing the students' attention. "Tomorrow marks the start of the Christmas holidays. And… I won't be assigning any homework for you to do during the break."

A few students gasped before quickly exchanging excited whispers. Every other professor had assigned them a pile of work for the break, but this was the only class where they got none.

"—because I want you all to enjoy your break. Rest well, have fun, and come back refreshed for the next term."

A cheer erupted from the students, and Maverick couldn't help but smirk.

"Alright, class dismissed!"

Chairs scraped against the floor as they all gathered their belongings and they made their way out, while chatting excitedly about their plans for the break.

---

Snow blanketed the castle grounds, the crisp air carrying the deep chill of late December over Hogwarts.

Some students braved the cold outside, bundled up in scarves and cloaks, running and tossing snowballs as they enjoyed a bit of last-minute fun.

Most remained in their common rooms, relaxing, while the rest gathered in the Great Hall. They were all waiting for the appointed time to board the Hogwarts Express and would soon head home for the holidays.

Meanwhile, the professors also gathered at the teachers' table in the Great Hall for a final lunch before the break.

Maverick sat with his colleagues, engaged in light conversation with the Charms professor seated beside him.

"Any plans for the holiday?" Flitwick asked between bites of his meal.

Maverick took a sip of his drink before answering. "I'll stay home for a bit, then head to America to spend some time with Bella."

"Ah, how lovely!" Flitwick beamed. "It's always nice to spend the holidays with loved ones."

"What about you?" Maverick asked, setting his glass down.

"I've been invited to sit on the judges' panel for the finals of the International Dueling Tournament," Flitwick said, a hint of pride in his voice.

"Sounds interesting. Maybe I'll take my fiancée along and come have a look."

Flitwick's face lit up. "You should! The tournament is held in Indonesia—it's a lovely country, even for sightseeing."

Just then, movement near the entrance of the Great Hall caught Maverick's eye. He turned to see Hermione Granger dragging a large suitcase—or was it a trunk? A coffin? Whatever it was, it looked oversized for her small frame.

She stopped by Harry and Ron, who were seated at the Gryffindor table, deeply engrossed in a game of wizard's chess.

He half-spread his Magical Sense, tuning in to their conversation as a memory from the first movie surfaced in his mind.

A small smile tugged at his lips.

It wasn't exactly like the scene from the movies, but it seemed the little witch had found some clues about what they had accidentally overheard from Hagrid's slip of the tongue.

This time, however, she hadn't hinted to the duo about sneaking into the Restricted Section.

Even so, Maverick had a feeling Harry might still try—especially if Dumbledore gave him his family cloak as a present, just like in the story.

He made a mental note to come into contact with it—accidentally and out of curiosity, of course—and see what extraordinary characteristics it might hold. But that would be for a later time, perhaps during the second semester.

As he mulled over the thought, he noticed little Miss Know-It-All glancing toward the teachers' table before leaving. Her eyes landed on him precisely, and she gave him a small wave.

Maverick raised his glass in acknowledgment and offered a small smile.

Ever since he had saved her during the Halloween night attack, she had become quite the admirer of his. Moreover, she now seemed especially eager to learn runes in his class.

Fortunately, her newfound enthusiasm wasn't to the point of being annoying, but he could still sense her emotions—a deep respect for him ever since.

However, he didn't treat her any differently from his other students just because of that. But if she truly wanted to pursue a career as an alchemist, he wouldn't mind taking her in as an apprentice.

Of course, that would be after another year or two—if her enthusiasm still remained the same.

---

After finishing lunch, he bid farewell to his fellow professors. While some would be leaving on the Hogwarts Express alongside the students to enjoy a relaxing journey, he had no desire to take the train when there were other means.

So, after arriving at his office, he cast a Disillusionment Charm over himself, then leaped out of the window, soaring upward until he passed beyond the school's protective wards. After that, it was a simple Apparition—and he vanished from the castle location.

A moment later, he arrived home in London, the familiar warmth of his house greeting him as he stepped inside.

As soon as he entered, he saw his mother and his sister, Sarah, sitting in the living room, going over some books.

"Brother!"

Sarah's face lit up the moment she saw him. She ran toward him and lunged into a hug.

Maverick smiled and rubbed her head. "Has your school holiday started already?"

The little girl nodded as she pulled back from the embrace. "Just today! I'm showing Mom my report card."

He smiled and walked over to the sofa, settling into one of the seats. Sarah quickly took the spot beside him.

"Are you back for the holidays as well?" his mother asked.

He nodded. "School starts again in three weeks." Saying that, he leaned back and sat comfortably.

His mother gave him a warm, motherly smile. "I never thought you'd become a teacher of all things."

Maverick chuckled. "Me neither, Mom. But somehow, I'm finding it quite enjoyable."

Sarah beamed at him with excitement. "Brother, when are you going to take me to see the magic school?"

He paused. He had promised her a tour.

"How about this…" he said after thinking for a moment. "I'll take you before school starts."

First, he had to meet with Isabella and spend some time with her. After that, before school started, he could make time to show Sarah around Hogwarts.

"Not now?" she pouted.

Maverick chuckled. "Right now, there's no one at school. And I can only take you there when the headmaster returns after the holidays," he said, making up a reason.

She sighed. "Okay then…" she said, though her disappointment didn't last long. Her eyes lit up again. "Brother, I've learned how to make flowers bloom without making them wither right away!"

"Oh?" Maverick raised a brow, then turned to his mother.

"That's right," she confirmed with a proud smile. "She's learned to control her powers much better now. Just last week, she managed to keep the little trees she accelerated the growth of intact after blooming."

"Really?" Maverick turned back to Sarah, intrigued. "Let's go. Show me."

Sarah nodded eagerly and immediately jumped to her feet, dashing toward a door inside.

Maverick and his mother followed behind, soon arriving at the basement—a space he had expanded with magic, enlarging it to the size of half a football field.

Overhead, bright lights illuminated the entire area, and along the sides, a variety of plants and vegetables were growing in neat rows.

Maverick turned to his mother, raising a brow. "Since when did you turn this place into a private garden?"

His mother huffed. "Hey, this place is too big. Unlike your teacher's mansion, we don't have a garden surrounding our home—just streets. I figured, since you made this basement so spacious, why not plant some trees?"

Maverick didn't know what to say to that. He had originally created this space as a training ground for Sarah to practice her powers. But his mother had somehow planted her flag and claimed a portion of it.

Then again, she was his mother—what could he say?

"Brother, come!"

Sarah's excited voice called him over, stopping near a bunch of tiny plants. From the looks of it, they were chili plants, barely sprouted from their seeds.

Her powers allowed her to control plants—much like a watered-down version of a certain Senju's Wood Release ability from a studio next door. But Maverick suspected there was much more to it than just making trees grow rapidly.

Perhaps her magic wasn't limited to just plants. What if it was tied to the very essence of the earth itself, to life's natural energy? If that was the case, then with time, training, and the right guidance, she could become something far more powerful than just some one who could manipulate trees.

A force of nature, literally. A true wielder of life and earth's energy.

But that was only his guess. And even if she never became someone that powerful, it wouldn't change the most important thing.

She was his sister now.

One of her biggest struggles had been that any plant she accelerated would quickly wither, as if it had burned through its life force while growing too fast. But apparently, she had found a way around this.

Maverick watched as she crouched near the small plants and placed her palm on the ground beside them.

Before his eyes, the plants began to grow.

Five centimeters.

Fifteen centimeters.

One foot.

Soon, the plants reached half his height. Their leaves remained a vibrant green, flowers budded, and small, plump chilies grew—ripening within seconds.

Maverick had been focusing his Magical-Sense as well. This time, he noticed something different—an energy from the earth itself was being drawn into the plants, rapidly nourishing them. Before, whenever she used her abilities, he hadn't sensed this.

Sarah sat back up, admiring her masterpiece for a moment before turning to him, waiting for his praise.

Maverick grinned, showing all his teeth. This time, he didn't have to wait and see—he could already tell the plants wouldn't wither. The energy fueling their growth had come from the earth itself, following the basic principle of energy conservation.

"Amazing…" he said, his smile widening. "Really impressive."

Then he turned to his mother. "I guess we don't have to worry about groceries anymore."

For the next half hour, Sarah eagerly demonstrated her newfound control over her ability to accelerate plant growth. And just like the first time, everything flourished—without the issue of withering away immediately after.

...

Maverick spent the rest of the day with her, indulging in the simple joys of family. They soared above the bustling city of London, Sarah clinging to him with excitement as she pointed out familiar landmarks. Along the way, she chattered endlessly about school, her teachers, and the little victories that made up her days.

By the time their father returned home after sunset, the family of four finally sat down together for dinner—a rare occasion these days. Conversation flowed easily as they shared their stories, laughter filling the home in a way that had been missing for far too long.

But the warmth of the evening faded the moment Maverick stepped into his room.

His Magical-Sense flared—sharp, deliberate. A warning.

Something had locked onto his presence.

It was deliberate. Whoever—or whatever—was observing him had made sure he knew they were watching.

His expression turned solemn immediately. He was an Arch-Magus now, and for someone to track him without him noticing until this moment meant only one thing.

They were not simple.

And what made him even more wary was that this was happening here—at home, where all his loved ones were gathered under the same roof.

If this was an enemy, things would become very difficult.

He raised his head, his senses sharpening, locking onto the source of the disturbance. His eyes narrowed.

With a decisive motion, he tore open a rift in space and stepped through.

In the next moment, about two kilometers above his house, space tore open once more as he stepped out—now dressed in full black, ready to confront whoever was so bold to target him.

But the sight that greeted him made his eyes widen.

Not one, but two figures hovered in front of him.

The first was a bald woman dressed in flowing gold and deep amber robes. Though she appeared calm, a single glance told him she was anything but simple—her very presence was unfathomable.

And the second was a middle-aged man—likewise a striking figure. He had silver hair that cascaded past his shoulders, a neatly trimmed beard, and sharp, intelligent eyes that gleamed with quiet wisdom.

He wore a tailored three-piece suit, midnight blue with silver embroidery tracing the cuffs and lapels. A pocket watch chain gleamed against his vest, and in his hand, he held a sleek, polished cane with a silver handle shaped like an ancient rune. Like the woman beside him, he carried an unmistakable weight—an aura of power, old and vast, like a storm held in quiet restraint.

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Author's Note:

Just a quick update — up to Chapter 141 is already available on P AT r30n!

PAT r30n [.] com / RyanFic