Vita Magicis (HP SI-WC) (Patreon)

Chapter 22: Year Ends, New Adventure Begins

(March, 1993)

As the months rolled by, the relentless whispering and wary glances from the Hogwarts students slowly faded into the background. Harry could finally breathe easy, his days no longer overshadowed by the gossip surrounding his ability to speak Parseltongue.

Things became even easier when I casually mentioned to everyone that I could also speak the serpent language. It was a small revelation, but it made all the difference for Harry—no longer was he the only one with the burden of such a strange gift.

Aside from the usual teenage drama, life at school carried on as it always had, though there were a few memorable moments. Like the Valentine’s Day disaster, thanks to Lockhart’s ill-fated singing dwarfs.

As for me, I was bombarded with Valentine’s cards—much to my dismay. Rose, Ginny, and Astoria took it upon themselves to confiscate every single one and, in a fit of mischief, tear them all apart before I could even read a single word.

And speaking of Astoria... ever since I’d helped her, she’d been practically glued to my side, often accompanied by Daphne. Needless to say, this sparked more than a little jealousy from the others.

The only reason I hadn’t given in and asked them out yet was the simple fact that they were all still 14, or 13 in the case of Ginny, Astoria, and Luna. Despite the Body Tune-Up perk working wonders on them, I still couldn’t shake the discomfort of dating someone so young— even though I was 14 myself.

I decided to hold off until they turned 15 before making any moves. In the meantime, I could settle for spending time with Maya, Ilulu, Asako, and Tonks—whenever she had a break from her Auror training, of course.

Unfortunately, something else had been gnawing at my nerves lately.

Dumbledore had started paying an irritatingly excessive amount of attention to me—more than he did last year, when I first noticed the castle’s portraits keeping a suspiciously close eye on my movements.

Now, he’d taken to openly watching me during meals, the portraits had resumed their silent surveillance, and even the professors seemed to be scrutinizing me more closely than usual. Though, to be fair, that last part might’ve just been a side effect of my perks and magical abilities making me look like a natural-born prodigy.

As it stood, I needed a way to blow off some steam—and what better method than thinning the population of Acromantulas in the Forbidden Forest? Nothing like taking down a few hundred eight-eyed monstrosities to clear the head. I got to destress and do the world a favor. Honestly, it was a win-win in my book.

“Aaah~ Yeah…I definitely need to do this more often.” I sighed contentedly, slicing another Acromantula to ribbons with a blast wind magic— courtesy of Satou’s powers.

The poor bastards had given up trying to eat me and were now in full retreat mode. Not that it helped them. There were still thousands of the hairy freaks crawling around, so it’s not like I noticed much of a difference as I made my way toward Aragog.

The real perk? Thanks to Satou’s template, every kill dropped a ton of useful ingredients straight into my inventory—bodies included.

Might be worth using them to grind my crafting skill later. No sense wasting good loot.

Before long, I reached the heart of the nest—Aragog himself. He loomed ahead, flanked by his massive, trembling brood. The air was thick with tension, a heavy silence settling as I came to a stop before him.

“…Why?” Aragon finally spoke, his voice low and wary. “Why are you butchering my children? We have done nothing to warrant such a thing.”

I smiled easily, unbothered by the thousands of spiders still surrounding me. That probably unsettled him more than the trail of carnage I’d left behind.

I gave a casual shrug. “Don’t take it personally. This is just stress relief for me.”

Then I tilted my head slightly, my smile sharpening. “Besides, let’s not pretend. If I was weak, you wouldn’t be talking—you’d be watching your kids tear me apart without a second thought.

Aragog didn’t respond right away. His mandibles twitched, his many eyes watching me with a mix of fear and restrained fury. Around him, his children shifted restlessly, clearly unsure whether to flee or fight—and equally unsure whether either would matter.

“You speak truth,” he finally admitted, voice hoarse. “We are predators. That is our nature.”

I nodded. “Exactly. And now you know mine.”

I raised a hand, letting a faint swirl of wind gather around my fingers—just enough for the spiders to feel it, to remember what I’d done to their siblings.

“I’m not here to negotiate, Aragog. I’m here to unwind. But I’m willing to make you an offer.”

That got his attention. A flicker of curiosity amidst the terror.

“You and your brood leave this part of the forest. Go deeper. Farther. Disappear. In return, I’ll stop here. Right now.”

“And if we refuse?” he asked, though his tone already held the answer.

I smiled again, slow and deliberate. “Then you’ll be extinct by nightfall.”

Aragog was silent for a long moment. The forest itself seemed to hold its breath.

Then, with a guttural click of his mandibles, he answered—not with words, but with a shriek that echoed through the trees.

His children lunged.

Thousands of hairy legs skittered across the forest floor, a living tide of chitin and fangs surging toward me. I sighed, the wind around me erupting outward in a sharp gust, flattening the first wave of spiders before they even got within striking range.

“Wrong answer,” I muttered.

With a flick of my wrist, blades of wind sliced through the air, cutting swaths through the horde. I stepped forward calmly, each movement precise and effortless, tearing through the swarm like a storm through paper.

But I wasn’t here for them.

I was here for him.

Aragog roared and charged, his massive frame shaking the earth as he barreled toward me. He was fast—faster than something his size had any right to be—but I was faster.

I vanished in a flicker of movement, reappearing above him mid-air, my palm glowing with light magic I’d learned from Satou’s template.

“Bind,” I whispered.

Golden threads of energy erupted from my hand, wrapping around Aragog’s limbs mid-charge. He screeched, thrashing wildly as he was yanked back and slammed into the forest floor, the impact shaking trees and scattering his children in a terrified frenzy.

He tried to rise, but the threads tightened like a vice.

I landed in front of him, crouching slightly to meet his gaze.

“I told you. This wasn’t personal,” I said, summoning my stamp and pressing it firmly against his forehead. “But you made it a choice.”

“Now, sleep.”

A whisper of mind magic slipped into Aragog’s consciousness. He let out a final, choked screech before collapsing—unconscious, but alive. The bindings shimmered, disappearing a moment later as his body was pulled into my inventory with a flash of light.

Captured.

I casually dusted off my robes, the sounds of skittering fading as the last of the spiders scattered into the deeper forest.

“Well,” I exhaled, stretching with a satisfied groan, “that was way more satisfying than meditation.”

=====

The next morning at breakfast, I sat at the Ravenclaw table, calmly buttering a scone, the picture of discipline and composure.

Astoria leaned toward me, brow furrowed slightly. “You’re in a weirdly good mood.”

Rose, ever the observant one, followed her gaze. “You’ve got that tiny smile again. The one you get after beating us black and blue during training.”

“I slept well,” I said simply, taking a sip of tea.

Rose narrowed her green eyes, long red hair tumbling over her shoulder. “You never just sleep well. What happened?”

Before I could respond, a familiar voice called from across the Great Hall.

“Aether.” Ginny called out from the Gryffindor table behind us, catching the attention of several other students. “Why do you look so happy and relaxed somehow?”

Hermione, seated next to her and already halfway through her breakfast and a book, didn’t look up. “He always looks like that. He’s responsible. Disciplined. Unlike someone who forgot to review for Charms.”

“But he’s smiling,” Ginny said, squinting like she was trying to solve a riddle. “And he has that weird glow.”

“It’s called good posture,” Hermione said flatly.

Just then, Luna Lovegood glided over and sat down beside me at the Ravenclaw table without a word. She stared at me for a long moment, her wide, silvery-blue eyes seeming to look through me.

“You’ve been somewhere interesting,” she said dreamily, as she began peeling a tangerine. “The air around you feels cleaner. Did you run into any Acromantulas?”

Rose, Astoria, and even Hermione turned to me in unison.

“…You went where?” Hermione asked, voice sharp now as her eyes locked onto mine.

“I didn’t say anything,” I replied calmly, setting down my cup.

“But you didn’t deny it,” Astoria pointed out, watching me closely.

“I simply took a stroll,” I said, composed as ever. “It was refreshing.”

Hermione looked scandalized. “Aether! That’s incredibly irresponsible! The Forbidden Forest is—”

“Dangerous, yes,” I cut in smoothly. “But not for me. And I didn’t go unprepared.”

Rose let out a quiet sigh. “You’re supposed to be the mature one.”

“I am the mature one,” I said. “Mature people take necessary time to unwind.”

Luna nodded thoughtfully beside me. “Sometimes peace can only be found by facing monsters.”

Ginny stared between us, clearly lost. “Are we… still talking about jogging or…?”

Rose huffed beside me. “You know, if you weren’t so bloody composed all the time, we might’ve actually caught you lying just now.”

I offered a faint, knowing smile.

“You won’t catch me lying,” I said. “Because I didn’t.”

Luna popped a slice of tangerine into her mouth and whispered, “That’s what makes it fun.”

=====

March melted into April, and the weeks slipped by with surprising quiet.

No dark curses. No trolls. No deadly magical creatures roaming the halls. It was almost suspicious how uneventful the rest of the term turned out to be.

Sure, there were a few misfired spells in Charms class, the usual drama between houses, and Lockhart continued making a fool of himself at every available opportunity—but by Hogwarts standards, it was tame.

To the outside world, it was an ordinary year.

Nobody knew that the real crisis had been handled months ago—silently and efficiently. The diary never possessed Ginny. The Basilisk never roamed the pipes. And the Chamber of Secrets remained closed, its resident now back home with my other pets.

By the time exams wrapped up and the Great Hall was decorated for the end-of-term feast, Ravenclaw banners hung proudly from the enchanted ceiling. The final House Cup tally had been announced, and to everyone’s shock—including our own—Ravenclaw had won.

It wasn’t that we didn’t deserve it; we did. But Ravenclaw hadn’t taken the cup in years.

I suspected it had something to do with McGonagall personally awarding me fifty points last month for “Grasping every spell with an unheard-of ease”. Rose said it was because I was always helping the others during class and Astoria thought it was karma for “generally being better than everyone.”

The Great Hall erupted into cheers as blue and bronze filled the air. I let the others celebrate, my expression calm, even as I caught glimpses of smiles from across the hall—Hermione’s prideful glance, Luna’s soft nod, Ginny’s wide-eyed awe. Even Daphne gave a dignified little clap from the Slytherin table.

Rose leaned over and whispered in my ear, smirking. “You know you’re the reason we won, right?”

I smiled just a little. “Team effort.”

She rolled her eyes, but there was a faint blush on her cheeks.

As the feast continued and laughter echoed through the hall, I leaned back, feeling something rare at Hogwarts.

Peace.

Especially since Lockhart wouldn’t be returning next year since I planned to sell him to the Company.

=====

The Hogwarts Express rolled steadily toward London, the rhythmic chug of the engine blending with soft conversation and the occasional laugh echoing through the corridors.

Harry and Ron were two compartments down, sharing space with Dean and Seamus. From what I overheard earlier, Ron was trying to explain how the Cannons were due for a comeback, and Dean was challenging him with stats that clearly said otherwise. I let them be. They were good friends, and this downtime was well-earned.

Our own compartment had a different atmosphere—quieter, but full of layered energy.

Rose lounged near the window, long red hair catching the sunlight, her bright green eyes shining with her usual upbeat charm. “I’m just saying, we need to do something fun this summer,” she said, grinning as she twirled a curl around her finger. “No Lockhart, no ancient curses—just beach, books, and butterbeer.”

Hermione gave her a skeptical glance from her seat beside Ginny, a book half-open in her lap. “Rose, you say that now, but you’d be climbing the walls from boredom by July.”

“Only if I’m forced to read twelve volumes on potion theory with no breaks,” Rose teased, elbowing her lightly. “Not all of us are fueled by footnotes.”

Ginny, perched on the edge of the seat beside the window, perked up. “We should go see a Harpies match together—Gwenog Jones is incredible this season. I bet they’ll crush Puddlemore in the semifinals.”

Hermione sighed. “Honestly, I don’t know how you all enjoy flying around on broomsticks chasing enchanted balls. The game has no structure.”

Ginny gave her a wounded look. “That’s the structure, Hermione!”

Rose burst out laughing while Daphne, sitting in the corner with her usual aloof poise, gave a small amused huff. Her blonde hair fell effortlessly into place, and her green eyes briefly met mine with a knowing gleam. She hadn’t contributed much to the chatter, not being especially close with anyone besides me and her sister, but she didn’t seem uncomfortable either—more like a quiet observer letting the chaos wash past.

Astoria had claimed the spot next to me again, her head nestled on my shoulder, violet eyes fluttering closed as the warmth of the sun and the gentle motion of the train lulled her to sleep. She’d come a long way since I cured her of her blood curse. Now, she looked peaceful—radiantly healthy, almost serene.

Luna sat on the floor, her legs crossed beneath her robes, sketching runes in the air with her wand. Tiny trails of light floated up like stardust, dancing in the air above her head. Her soft, dreamy voice broke through the conversation.

“You’re going far away soon.”

All heads turned toward her. Only I didn’t react. Not really.

Rose blinked. “You mean back home, right?”

Luna tilted her head, her long blonde hair falling like moonlight over her shoulder. “Eventually.”

I smiled, gently. “It’s nothing serious. Just… the usual summer adventure.”

Hermione gave me a curious glance. “You’ve been acting strange lately. Not bad—just a bit more… thoughtful.”

Ginny leaned forward, her elbows on her knees. “Yeah, I thought maybe you’d found a secret room of snacks or something. You’ve been too calm.”

I gave a small laugh. “Not snacks. Let’s just say I’ve had my own way of unwinding.”

None of them could know about my plans for the summer, not now anyways.

Only Luna seemed a bit suspicious of me somehow which I didn’t find surprising. Luna would be Luna.

She looked up at me now and smiled, as if to say she knew I’d be okay—wherever I was going.

“I’ll write to you,” she said softly. “Even if it takes a while to find you.”

I gave her a nod, serious for a moment. “I’ll make sure you can.”

The train sped on, the sky outside glowing with the soft pastels of approaching evening.

For now, I was surrounded by friends. Some close, some even closer. But all mine in their own way.

The real journey would begin soon—but not yet.

=====

The train screeched to a halt at Platform 9¾. I stepped off first, letting the rush of summer warmth and the buzz of reuniting families wash over me.

“Make sure to write whenever you can, Aether.” Rose said as she hopped down beside me, green eyes narrowing in concern at how quiet I’d been during the ride.

“I’ll figure something out,” I replied with a faint smile. “But don’t expect anything until mid-August.”

Hermione followed close behind, trunk rolling behind her. “You’re acting mysterious again. What are you hiding!?”

Before I could answer, Ginny latched onto my arm, pouting. “So you won’t even be around for my birthday?”

I winced—Harry’s, Rose’s, and now Ginny’s. A hat trick of missed birthdays.

“Sorry,” I said gently. “I’ll make it up to you with a nice present.”

She shook her head, then leaned in to hug me tightly, whispering. “Just make sure you come back safe.”

Telling Ginny about the Horcruxes might’ve been a mistake—now she thought whatever I was hiding was dangerous. Unfortunately, she wasn’t wrong… just off-target. Maybe.

“I will.” I whispered back.

As she stepped aside, Daphne and Astoria approached, the younger Greengrass immediately throwing her arms around me. “Have a great summer, Aether. And… thank you. For everything.”

Daphne looked away but allowed herself to be tugged into the hug too, muttering under her breath. “Take care of yourself. I’m expecting a letter as soon as you can.”

I smiled at both. “You have my word.”

Then from seemingly nowhere, Luna appeared at my side, gaze dreamy as ever. “Strange things are coming. But I think you’ll be okay~”

I chuckled and pulled her into a warm hug. “I’ll count on that.”

In the distance, Harry and Ron laughed with Dean and Seamus, waving as they passed by. I returned the wave, then took a final glance back at the platform—at everyone I was leaving behind.

Not for long. But long enough.