Harry Potter : Cael Vale’s journey to Hogwarts

The rustle of leaves and low hum of voices drifted through the forest clearing, sharp against the quiet background of birdsong. Cael and Cassandra crouched low behind a thick tangle of underbrush, peering through gaps in the branches.

What they saw made Cassandra's breath catch.

A group of five cloaked figures moved stealthily through the trees, their movements efficient and quiet despite their numbers. Two of them were levitating a large cage, shimmering with containment spells, while another carried a heavy burlap sack that twitched unnaturally.

Inside the cage, a young, trembling Hippogriff pressed itself against the bars. Its feathers were matted with dirt, wings bound tightly by thick ropes glowing faint blue with enchantments. The sack twitched again—a soft whimper escaped it, making Cassandra's stomach twist.

"Poachers," Cael muttered darkly, narrowing his eyes.

Cassandra's lips pressed into a thin line. "Filthy animal smugglers… they're stealing creatures from the Forest."

"Yeah… but let's just—go. Quietly." Cael tugged at her sleeve, whispering low. "We're not supposed to be here, they're armed, and honestly, this isn't our fight—"

But before they could retreat, a sharp snap of a twig beneath Cael's foot betrayed them.

Five heads turned as one.

"Oi! Over there! You little snots" barked one of the poachers, a burly man with a jagged scar across his jawline. Wands raised instantly.

Cassandra's heart jumped into her throat. She grabbed her wand just as spells began flying their way.

"Protego Totalum!" Cael cast, a shimmering shield erupting in front of them, blocking the first volley of spells.

But it wasn't enough. The poachers were fast—and skilled.

Three of them closed in, disarming the barrier with a quick "Finite Incantatem!", snapping their wands toward Cassandra and Cael.

Cassandra stood her ground, eyes blazing.

"Pretty little thing, aren't you?" sneered the scarred leader. "Bet there's good gold in ransoming you , if we sell you to a rich Arab Wizard they will give a huge price for your pretty face . Or Maybe more if we keep you for ourselves—"

"You'll regret not Casting spells the moment you saw me ," Cassandra hissed, wand flashing upward. "Expelliarmus!"

The spell collided with the man's chest, blasting his wand from his hand, but another poacher lunged from the side.

"Cael, left!" Cassandra shouted.

Cael spun, chanting "Rictusempra!", and the poacher was thrown back, laughing uncontrollably as the tickling curse overwhelmed him.

But there were more.

Two others, masked and silent, flanked them from the shadows, casting "Depulso!", sending Cael skidding backward, barely regaining his footing.

"Stupid kids!" snarled one, flicking his wand. "Tarantallegra!"

Cassandra's legs jerked uncontrollably, her feet dancing wildly—but she gritted her teeth, lifting her wand despite the chaos. "Finite Incantatem!" The spell ended, her limbs steadying.

"Flipendo!" She retaliated, hurling the caster into a tree with a thud.

From the other side, Cael gripped his wand, fingers tense. His runes shimmered faintly, etched into the band around his wrist. Muttering under his breath, he activated a series of glowing sigils, lines of ancient script flaring with blue light.

"Time to even the odds," he growled.

"Carpe Retractum!" A glowing rope shot from his wand, yanking a poacher's legs from beneath him.

A jet of water blasted toward them as another poacher cast "Aguamenti!", trying to blind them—but Cassandra countered with a fierce "Glacius!", freezing the water midair, icicles crashing to the ground.

They ducked behind a fallen log as spells flew overhead—"Stupefy!", "Reducto!", beams of red and blue lighting the clearing.

"We need to corner them before they get to close " Cassandra whispered, face flushed with adrenaline.

"Agreed," Cael muttered. "I will use Ancient runes so be careful ."

His palm pressed to the forest floor as glowing symbols spread in a circle—a containment glyph. The earth rippled as vines erupted, ensnaring one of the poachers' legs.

"Bloody—" the man swore, struggling.

Cassandra took the chance—"Levicorpus!" The poacher was lifted by his ankle, dangling upside down as she smirked.

Another opponent lunged from the side, casting "Bombarda!", blasting the ground near them—earth and debris showered the clearing.

Cael deflected with "Protego!", but the force knocked him back.

"Not so clever now, boy!" sneered the scarred leader, recovered and furious.

Cael's eyes burned with defiance. "Wanna bet?"

With a flick, "Accio!" yanked the leader's wand from his hand—but he wasn't done. Cael quickly followed with "Diffindo!", tearing the ropes binding the Hippogriff, setting the creature free.

The young Hippogriff reared, shrieking, slashing its claws at a poacher.

Chaos erupted.

The remaining poachers fired spells wildly—"Confringo!", "Depulso!", "Impedimenta!"—but Cassandra was ready, spinning and weaving spells with practiced precision.

"Tarantallegra!" One poacher's legs twisted and danced.

"Flipendo!" Another was thrown backward into a tree.

"Spongify!" softened the ground beneath them, making their footing unstable as they slipped and stumbled.

Cassandra's eyes sparkled with fury. "Protego Totalum!" she cast, shielding herself and Cael as they regrouped.

"Think you can just walk into our forest?" the leader snarled, blood trickling from his lip.

"It's not your forest," Cael shot back. His runes flared again, energy building. "You felty little maggots."

He unleashed a wave of energy, ancient runes glowing around him, the air humming with power. The glyph exploded outward, knocking poachers flat, vines binding them.

Cassandra stepped beside him, panting, hair wild, eyes blazing. "Told you—you'd regret that."

The poachers struggled, defeated, battered, wands scattered.

But suddenly, the leader fumbled with a glimmering object—a jagged silver key, faintly pulsing.

"Fuuuuck—!" Cael lunged, but it was too late.

The leader slammed the key into the ground—light flared, a whirl of magic swirling as a Portkey activated.

With a snap, the poachers vanished—injured, furious—but gone.

The clearing fell eerily quiet, the only sounds their heavy breathing and the distant cries of freed creatures deeper in the forest.

Cassandra exhaled slowly, frustration tightening her jaw. "They got away."

"For now," Cael said grimly, steadying her with a hand. "But they won't forget what happened here. We made sure of that." His eyes hardened. "And I'll be telling Hagrid about them."

Nearby, the young Hippogriff nuzzled Cael gratefully before disappearing into the trees, free once more.

Cassandra brushed a stray leaf from her hair. "I can't believe I let you drag me into this."

"You loved every second," Cael teased, grinning despite the bruises.

She didn't deny it—smiling faintly as they turned toward the path home, battle-worn but victorious.