Succubus System At Hogwarts

Ian exited Snape's office and made his way directly to Dumbledore's office.

Standing before the stone gargoyle, he leaned in and whispered, "Lemon Sherbet."

"Wrong password," the stone gargoyle responded coldly.

Eh? Did Dumbledore change the password again? Ian was momentarily stunned.

He frowned, pondering, before trying again. "Cockroach Cluster."

"Correct password," the stone gargoyle announced, jumping aside to reveal the spiral staircase. "You may enter."

Ian stepped onto the staircase, letting it carry him upward, and soon arrived at the door of the headmaster's office. He knocked lightly and called out, "Professor Dumbledore, it's Ian."

"Oh, Ian! Come in, come in," Dumbledore's warm, gentle voice replied from within.

Ian pushed the door open and stepped inside, immediately noticing the headmaster standing near the window with a small golden plate in his hand. The plate was filled with sizzling, buzzing candies.

Dumbledore turned toward Ian, his twinkling blue eyes crinkling with a smile. "Ah, Ian. What can I do for you?"

"Yes, Professor." Ian nodded, stepping closer. "I'd like to trouble you to take Harry and me back to the old house of the Potter family."

"The old Potter family home?" Dumbledore paused, a flicker of curiosity passing over his face before he chuckled. "Of course, Ian. But may I ask what you plan to do there?"

"I want to take control of all the Potter family's properties," Ian said bluntly, not bothering to beat around the bush. "Professor Snape mentioned that our house-elves manage everything, so I need to visit the old house to find them."

"Ah, I see." Dumbledore smiled, nodding sagely. "That does make sense. How about this: I'll arrange to take you and Harry to the old Potter family home during the Christmas holidays. How does that sound?"

Ian considered this for a moment and found it reasonable. "That sounds good, Professor. Let's plan for Christmas, then."

"Okay, Ian, I will arrange this matter." Dumbledore smiled and said, "It's getting late, you don't wanna be late for the Halloween dinner. I think the food tonight will not disappoint you."

"Okay, Professor Dumbledore." Ian nodded, turned to leave, but stopped midway and glanced back. "Professor Dumbledore, see you at the dinner."

Dumbledore smiled warmly and waved. "See you at the dinner, Ian."

After Ian left, the portraits in the headmaster's office began stirring, their occupants opening their eyes and murmuring to each other.

"This boy is quite straightforward. He directly asked about the Potter family's property," remarked Headmaster Armando Dippet.

"I always said the Sorting Hat didn't make a mistake placing that boy in Slytherin," Phineas Nigellus Black drawled. "Our Slytherin students always prioritize their interests."

Dumbledore chuckled softly but said nothing, his blue eyes twinkling as he returned to his desk.

...

Meanwhile, after washing his face and combing his hair neatly, Ian made his way to the Great Hall.

By the time he arrived, the hall was buzzing with activity, already filled with students. Ian scanned the Slytherin table and quickly spotted Draco, who was waving enthusiastically.

He headed over and slid into the empty seat next to Draco.

"Potter," Cassandra greeted him with a sideways glance.

"Yes, Miss?" Ian responded casually, stretching his long arm across the back of Cassandra's chair, creating an impression that he had her in his embrace.

Cassandra froze for a moment, her ears turning an unmistakable shade of red.

Draco, who was sitting nearby, stared at Ian in sheer disbelief.

Wait... did he just—did he really put his arm around her? And Cassandra wasn't even protesting! Draco's jaw nearly dropped.

"You..." Cassandra began, her lips pursed as she hesitated. "Ian, I heard that Grang—"

Before she could finish, the creak of the Great Hall doors opening cut her off.

"Sorry, Cassandra, we'll talk later," Ian said smoothly, patting her shoulder before turning his attention to the doors.

Dumbledore stood near the Great Hall doors, his serene smile directed at the gathered students. Clapping his hands gently, he announced, "Everyone, please quiet down. The Halloween feast is now officially beginning."

As Dumbledore spoke, the ceiling of the Great Hall lit up with a dazzling display of colorful fireworks, prompting gasps and exclamations from the young wizards who looked up in awe.

Once the announcement was made, plates of sumptuous food magically appeared on the long tables.

Ian scanned the spread and noticed a variety of Halloween-themed dishes: blood-red drinks, skull-shaped candies, and eyeball-adorned milk tea.

He couldn't help but twitch his mouth in mild discomfort. Sure, these are Halloween specialties, but do they have to look this unsettling?

"Cassandra, what was it you wanted to tell me earlier?" Ian asked, popping a skull-shaped candy into his mouth as he turned toward her.

"Didn't you notice that Granger isn't sitting at the Gryffindor table?" Cassandra replied, gesturing toward the Gryffindor table.

Ian followed her line of sight and quickly realized Hermione was missing from her usual spot beside Harry and Ron.

A pang of panic struck Ian. Before he could fully piece together the implications, Cassandra continued.

"I heard that after class, Weasley said something unpleasant about her—and she overheard it," Cassandra said, pursing her lips. "Her roommate tried to comfort her, but apparently, she said she wanted to be alone. Now she's crying in the girls' bathroom."

Ian couldn't sit still anymore. He shot to his feet, his face pale and full of alarm.

Hermione!

How could I have been so careless? he thought, panic rising. It's Halloween! Troll! Girls' bathroom! Hermione!

Before Ian could take another step, the Great Hall doors slammed open with a loud bang. Everyone turned to see Professor Quirrell, his purple turban askew, stumbling into the hall.

"Troll! In the dungeon! There's a troll in the dungeon!" Quirrell shouted, his voice unusually clear and rapid, free of its usual stutter. "I thought you should know—"

Before finishing his sentence, Quirrell's eyes rolled back, and he collapsed to the floor in a faint.

The Great Hall erupted into chaos in an instant. Screams echoed off the walls as panicked students nearly brought the enchanted ceiling crashing down with their uproar.

"Calm down, Cassandra," Ian said, taking a deep breath and forcing himself to remain composed.

Cassandra clung to Ian's arm, her face pale with fear.

"Troll! Troll! I'm going to tell my father!" Draco shouted, his voice rising above the noise.

"Shut up, Draco!" Ian snapped, delivering a swift flick to the back of Draco's platinum blond head. "You calm down too!"

Draco blinked, momentarily dazed, and turned to stare at Ian. Seriously? You're comforting Cassandra like a gentleman while hitting me? Hypocritical much, brother?

"Quiet!" Dumbledore's amplified voice echoed through the hall, instantly silencing the students.

"The prefects of each house will lead their students back to the common rooms in an orderly manner," Dumbledore instructed firmly. "The professors will come with me."

His words seemed to soothe the panicked crowd. The prefects quickly began organizing their respective houses, ushering students into neat groups.

"Draco, take the first-year boys and catch up with the rest of Slytherin," Ian directed calmly. Then, turning to Cassandra, who had regained some of her composure, he added, "Be careful, Cassandra."

With that, Ian turned and started toward the hall doors.

"Ian!" Cassandra called out, grabbing the sleeve of his robe. "Where are you going?"

Draco also looked worried: "Ian, it's dangerous outside, there is a troll!"

"I'm going to find Hermione," Ian replied without a moment's hesitation. "Don't worry, I'll be fine."

He gave Cassandra's hand a comforting squeeze before turning and sprinting out of the Great Hall.

Cassandra watched Ian's retreating figure, her hands clenching tightly as if she were trying to suppress her emotions.

Ian walked out of the hall quickly, with a noisy crowd behind him, but he couldn't hear anything. All he could hear now was the sound of his heart beating wildly.

________

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