Hogwarts: Third Dark Lord

Cedric and Cassandra stared in disbelief at Wentworth's hands full of Galleons, utterly astounded by his unexpected move.

Recovering quickly, Cedric stepped in to smooth things over, saying:

"Underage wizards are not permitted to use magic freely outside of school. So, most first-years don't know any spells yet."

Cedric, worried that his new friend might be looked down upon by Ilona, Hogwarts' newly appointed professor, hastened to offer an explanation on Wentworth's behalf.

Wentworth, understanding Cedric's intention, nodded appreciatively as he gathered an assortment of snacks from the trolley, casting Cedric a grateful glance.

Meanwhile, Ilona gave a casual smile, clearly unbothered, and remarked,

"Sometimes, wealth wields greater power than magic. A commendable bit of spellwork. You're all gifted students—the future of the wizarding world rests in your wands."

Both Cedric and Cassandra beamed at the praise, clearly delighted. Wentworth, however, busied himself distributing the snacks, but if he had looked up at that moment, he might have found Ilona's gaze oddly familiar.

This "Ilona" aboard the train was, in fact, Rosier, who had consumed Polyjuice Potion. Rosier had already sent her resume to Hogwarts and received a reply.

Dumbledore had invited her to discuss the position in detail while accompanying the Hogwarts Express. If all went well, Ilona would join Hogwarts as the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor for the term.

Rosier's earlier words weren't merely pleasantries. As a seasoned witch, she genuinely recognized the talent of the two young first-years, who were already adept at spellcasting—a rarity for their age.

Watching the trio in the compartment, Rosier couldn't help but marvel inwardly.

Wentworth truly lives up to the Grindelwald legacy, she mused. Just like Gellert in his youth, he naturally attracts exceptional wizards to his side. While their reasons for gathering may differ initially, they all ultimately succumb to his charisma and follow him loyally.

"Professor Ilona, would you like a Chocolate Frog?"

Wentworth's voice pulled Rosier from her thoughts. Facing him, Rosier—still disguised as Ilona—smiled softly.

"Of course, why not? I must say, the Multiplicatio Galleons spell is quite a practical one, isn't it?"

She accepted the Chocolate Frog from Wentworth with a chuckle, her light-hearted comment prompting Cedric to laugh mid-bite into a Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Bean.

But Cedric's laughter quickly turned into a grimace as tears welled up in his eyes.

"Ugh! Mustard flavor! Just awful!"

Cassandra, in contrast, ate her chocolate cauldron cake with small, elegant bites, a stark difference to Cedric's animated reactions.

Curious, Wentworth picked up a Bertie Bott's bean and tasted it himself. It wasn't bad—not any identifiable flavor, but thankfully far from the infamous earwax one.

Leaning back in his seat, Wentworth savored the view outside the speeding train window. He nibbled on magical treats, thoroughly enjoying this new way of life.

By the time the Hogwarts Express pulled into Hogsmeade Station, the sky had already darkened completely.

Before disembarking, Wentworth glimpsed a towering, giant-like figure through the narrow corridor window. The figure, holding a lit torch, had a bushy beard and wild, unkempt hair.

There was no doubt—this was Hagrid, Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts.

Wentworth reminded himself: Another notable figure to observe from a safe distance.

As he joined the throng of students exiting the train, Wentworth saw that the first to speak wasn't Hagrid but a bespectacled witch stepping out from behind him.

"Excuse me, is Ms. Ilona here?"

Rosier, still in her Ilona guise, descended gracefully and approached the witch with a warm smile.

"That would be me. Hello, I'm Ilona."

The witch returned the smile, introducing herself.

"Hello, Ms. Ilona. I'm Professor McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts. On behalf of Headmaster Dumbledore, I'm here to welcome you. My apologies that the Headmaster couldn't greet you personally, but as you can imagine, the first day of term is an especially busy time."

Unperturbed, Ilona waved it off with a dismissive hand.

"Not at all, Professor McGonagall. Hogwarts' reputation as the finest wizarding school in the world owes much to the dedication of Headmaster Dumbledore and its esteemed faculty. Naturally, the Headmaster should be busy."

McGonagall gave a small, polite smile but soon turned stern again as she suddenly barked,

"Fred! George! Put those down this instant! What on earth are you two up to?!"

The twins, identical in every way, grinned cheekily, attempting to defend themselves.

"Relax, Professor, it's just fireworks!"

"Exactly, Professor! We prepared them for the first-years—it's far too dark out here, and we didn't want them losing their way."

McGonagall, unimpressed, snapped,

"Put them away! You're fortunate term hasn't officially started yet, or I'd be deducting house points already!"

Turning back to Ilona, she apologized with a hint of exasperation.

"This way, Ms. Ilona. My apologies for the delay—these students..."

However, for reasons he couldn't quite place, Wentworth had the distinct impression that as Professor McGonagall departed with Ilona, she cast one last, fleeting glance in his direction.

As McGonagall and Ilona faded into the distance, the chatter among the students resumed.

"First-years! First-years, gather here!"

Hagrid's booming voice rang out as he shook a bell, calling the new students to him.

"Wentworth, I suppose we'll have to part ways for a while," Cedric said, his voice tinged with regret. "Remember what I told you: first-years take a different route to the castle. But don't worry—I'll be waiting for you at Hogwarts."

"Of course, Cedric. I can't bear to part from you even for a moment, but since this is a Hogwarts tradition, I'll have to manage. I'll find you as soon as I can!"

Cedric, clearly moved by Wentworth's words, even gave him a hug before departing.

As Wentworth watched Cedric walk away, he turned to find Cassandra eyeing him with a peculiar expression.

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