"Harry Potter and the Shadows of Merlin"

Azkaban is a terrifying place for young wizards in the wizarding world. Demonized by parents from an early age, Azkaban is considered a childhood nightmare—

"If you don't behave, you'll be locked up in Azkaban when you grow up! It's full of villains who eat people without spitting out the bones, and there are terrifying Dementors guarding the prisoners!"

The phrase "when you grow up" is often used by parents as a warning, leading young wizards to associate Azkaban exclusively with adult criminals. But now, standing before them was a young man who had already spent years imprisoned there. How dangerous must someone be to "earn" that fate before even reaching adulthood?

Draco Malfoy was momentarily speechless, stunned by the boy named Daina.

"I know you!" Draco exclaimed. "Your last name wasn't always Emrys. You're from the Avery family!"

He instinctively took a step back, expecting the familiar presence of his two cronies behind him. But the reassuring bulk didn't come. He turned around, only to see Goyle and Crabbe already outside the compartment, their backs pressed tightly against the train window. They were terrified too.

Compared to the cowardly trio, Ron Weasley actually seemed much braver.

Draco glared at Harry. "Harry Potter, you'll regret rejecting the goodwill of the Malfoy family heir! You'll rot in the mud with scum and criminals!"

After shouting those final words, Malfoy spun around and bolted. Goyle and Crabbe, now released from their invisible chains, stumbled after him in a hurry.

Daina calmly picked up his book again, acting as if the confrontation was beneath his notice—and it truly was. He had survived four years surrounded by Dementors and criminals. Malfoy's childish taunts couldn't provoke even the faintest emotional ripple.

Ron, on the other hand, exploded a few seconds later.

"That bastard actually called me scum?" he barked. His mind had worked slowly through the insult. Once he realized that "criminal" referred to Daina, he understood that Malfoy was calling him the "scum."

The Weasley family had long been looked down upon by many pure-blood families as traitors or disgraceful bloodlines, but it was the first time Ron had been insulted to his face like this.

"Harry! That Malfoy is definitely going to Slytherin. His dad's a Death Eater! I don't even know how they pulled it off—his father wasn't caught by the Ministry of Magic!"

"Death Eater? What's that?" Harry asked.

"Oh, they're followers of the Dark Lord. They call themselves Death Eaters…"

. . . . .

The Hogwarts Express came to a stop. The young wizards disembarked in chaotic clusters, like ducks let loose from a pen—no formation, just loud chatter and excited movement.

"First-year students, over here! Gather around! Hey! Harry, come on!" shouted the half-giant, Rubeus Hagrid, raising his hand above the crowd.

Daina, Harry, and Ron squeezed their way through the sea of robes and luggage, finally reaching Hagrid.

"Hello, Hagrid!"

"Oh, Harry, did you enjoy the ride?" Hagrid asked, eyes warm but shifting subtly toward Daina.

"Yes, it was great," Harry replied.

Hagrid glanced again at Daina, but said nothing. Instead, he turned back to Harry. "Wait here for a bit. Once everyone's arrived, we'll head out."

Daina could clearly feel Hagrid's dislike. He had sensed it earlier, too—like when Hagrid refused to escort him to the station that morning. This wasn't paranoia. Hmph, Rubeus Hagrid, weren't you once in Azkaban too?

The first-years quickly gathered, and the group followed Hagrid down a narrow path. Trees rustled in the darkness on either side, and the only consistent sound was Neville Longbottom's nervous sniffing.

"Turn this corner and you'll see Hogwarts Castle!" Hagrid called back.

Sure enough, as they rounded the bend, a vast black lake stretched out before them, and across the water on a high cliff stood a majestic structure—Hogwarts.

"Each boat holds four people!" Hagrid shouted, motioning to the small vessels at the shore, though he himself would take up an entire one.

Daina followed Harry and was about to step onto a boat with him when Hagrid interrupted.

"Oh, Longbottom's boy, you get on this boat!" Hagrid called, pulling Neville into line. The result was Daina being pushed to the back, separated from Harry.

So, Hagrid was making it clear he didn't want Daina near Harry Potter?

Though Daina had mentally prepared himself for discrimination, it still stung that Rubeus Hagrid—someone he had once liked in the original stories—would treat him so unfairly.

Hermione, who had planned to board with Neville, noticed Daina standing alone. She considered inviting him to share a different boat—believing, as she did, that kindred spirits should stick together—when a voice called from the other side:

"Daina! Over here!"

It was Hannah Abbott, the little girl with golden pigtails from the Leaky Cauldron. Daina smiled and waved to Harry before making his way to Hannah. In any case, Harry, Ron, Neville, and Hermione would be on the same boat—there was no space for him there.

It seemed nice to be with Hannah. She was a kind little girl.

Their boat glided smoothly across the still, mirror-like surface of the Black Lake. As they neared Hogwarts, the towering castle loomed larger and more imposing, casting long reflections across the water.

The other first-years likely imagined the joys and adventures awaiting them inside the castle, but to Daina, Hogwarts under the moonlit sky bore a chilling resemblance to Azkaban. Both radiated ancient magic, cloaked in mystery, and evoked the same tightness in his chest.

He shook his head. No, this was Hogwarts, not Azkaban. He was free. He was no longer in prison!

The boats passed through a hidden entrance in the cliff, finally docking at a gravel-covered pier. Guided by the light of Hagrid's lantern, the new students followed like baby chicks, huddled and whispering, deeper into the fortress.

As they approached the castle, the magic in the air grew heavier. Daina felt the chill seeping in again, a creeping cold that made his fingers twitch and his breath catch—as if at any moment, a Dementor might emerge from the shadows.

Noticing the change in him, Hannah leaned closer and whispered, "What's wrong, Daina?"

He smiled faintly and shook his head. How ridiculous. There were no Dementors at Hogwarts. He was just letting his past mess with his mind.

Then, the massive doors opened.

Instead of a soul-sucking creature, the one who greeted them was Professor Minerva McGonagall. Light from inside spilled out, casting a golden glow on the stone steps.

"Professor, all the first-years are here," Hagrid said respectfully.

"Thank you, Hagrid." Professor McGonagall nodded and turned to address the group. "Come in with me. Form a line and behave yourselves."

Whether it was real or imagined, Daina thought he caught a subtle smile when McGonagall's eyes swept over him.

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