Harry Potter : Cael Vale’s journey to Hogwarts

The walk back to Gryffindor Tower was quiet. Hermione walked beside Cael, hugging her books close to her chest, her face tense and pale. She looked like she was carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders. Cael didn't say much—there wasn't much to say. He could already guess how the common room would be after this morning.

As they reached the Fat Lady's portrait, voices drifted out through the cracks. Loud, angry voices. Cael exchanged a quick look with Hermione, then pushed the portrait open.

The common room was packed. Every Gryffindor student seemed to be there. Some were whispering to each other, some crossed their arms and frowned, and others just stood around watching. Right by the fireplace, Ron and Harry stood looking miserable, and towering over them was Percy Weasley, his face flushed red with anger.

"You think being famous gives you the right to run around like some outlaw?" Percy was saying, his voice rising with every word. "This isn't a playground for your little adventures, Potter. You're a student. You act like one. You respect the rules. Or have you convinced yourself that your name makes you untouchable?"

Ron's fists were clenched by his sides, his ears bright red. Harry's face stayed blank, but Cael could tell from his eyes—he was embarrassed. Furious. But holding it in.

"And you—" Percy turned to Ron, his expression tightening further. "You should know better! Dragging your friends into reckless schemes—risking expulsion, putting the whole House in jeopardy—do you think this is a joke? We lost one hundred and fifty points because of this idiocy!"

The crowd started to murmur again, people nodding or whispering to each other. Hermione froze beside Cael, her eyes wide as Percy's attention landed on her next.

"And you—" Percy's voice sharpened as he jabbed a finger toward Hermione. "I expected better from you. Top of the class, always so diligent, always so eager to obey the rules… But now? Breaking school laws, sneaking about like the rest of them? You've thrown away every ounce of respect for what? Some reckless, unlawful stunt?"

Hermione visibly shrank under the weight of Percy's words. Her face was pale, eyes shimmering with frustration and shame as the entire House's attention shifted to her. Whispers rippled through the crowd.

Cael's jaw tightened. His patience was thin to begin with after the morning's fiasco, and Percy's booming tirade was pushing him toward the edge.

As Percy puffed up, preparing for yet another condescending lecture, Cael stepped forward, his voice cutting through the crowded room like a blade.

"That's enough, Percy."

The room fell abruptly silent.

Percy froze mid-sentence, his head snapping toward Cael, eyes flashing. "Excuse me?"

"I said that's enough," Cael repeated calmly, folding his arms across his chest. "They're kids, Percy. You don't get to stand here and humiliate them like some pompous dictator."

A collective breath seemed to be drawn from the room. Students leaned in, eager to witness the clash.

Percy squared his shoulders, his face flushing crimson. "I have every right to correct their mistakes," he snapped. "I'm the Prefect. It's my duty to enforce discipline. You don't get to undermine my authority."

"Enforcing discipline is one thing," Cael shot back, voice steady, eyes narrowing. "But standing here and bullying them in front of everyone? That's not authority. That's insecurity."

The room tensed. Percy's jaw clenched so hard it looked as though his teeth might crack. "You've been nothing but a problem since you arrived here," he hissed, taking a step forward. "You justify every rule-breaking stunt, you insert yourself into situations that don't concern you, and you constantly—constantly—challenge the system meant to keep order in this House."

"Order?" Cael echoed, a cold chuckle escaping him. "This isn't the Ministry, Percy. It's Hogwarts. And last I checked, it's meant to foster curiosity, competition, and growth—not turn us all into puppets obeying every rule like sheep."

Percy's chest heaved, his expression somewhere between disbelief and rage. "Your arrogance is unbelievable—"

"My arrogance?" Cael interrupted sharply, his eyes glittering with intensity. "Or is it that I refuse to bow to your overinflated sense of authority?"

The common room buzzed with low murmurs. Even Fred, George, and Lee had gone quiet, their usual smirks replaced with focused curiosity.

"You think you're so high and mighty," Percy pressed on, voice climbing with frustration. "But this—this constant undermining—it chips away at the respect I'm supposed to uphold."

"Respect isn't demanded, Percy. It's earned," Cael countered coolly. "And standing here, barking insults at first-years and waving your prefect badge around doesn't exactly scream leadership."

"You think yelling at them earns respect?" Cael continued, taking another step forward. "It doesn't. You have to earn respect, Percy. You don't get it by waving your prefect badge around and making people feel small."

The room stayed silent, eyes bouncing between the two of them. Even Fred and George weren't laughing—they watched quietly now, waiting to see what would happen next.

For a moment, Percy's mouth opened, then closed, words seemingly stuck in his throat.

Cael took a step closer, his voice lowering but carrying enough force to command the room's attention. "You want to talk about lost House points? Fine, let's talk. Neville's lost seventy-five points this year alone because he forgets everything—every other day, it's a missing textbook or botched spell. Seamus? Blown up at least three cauldrons and set the curtains on fire twice—that's another thirty-five points gone. Dean forgot his Charms homework for two weeks straight—more points down the drain."

There were scattered chuckles, even a few nods of reluctant agreement.

"And don't get me started on the older years," Cael continued, sweeping his gaze across the room. "Fifth-years sneaking out after curfew. Sixth-years botching potions. Seventh-years getting points docked for dueling in the corridors."

He let the words sink in before adding, "But we don't see this—" he gestured at the tense, judgmental crowd, "—every time someone slips up, do we? Yet because they lost a large chunk of points in one night, suddenly it's pitchforks and torches?"

A few students shifted uncomfortably.

Cael turned his gaze back to Percy, eyes hard. "And you—don't stand there like you're spotless. You've lost points too, Percy. Twenty-five points docked last month because you fell asleep in the Astronomy Tower during rounds, remember? Or have you conveniently forgotten that?"

Percy flushed, but Cael pressed on.

"This school isn't about perfect obedience. It's about learning. About trying, failing, making mistakes. You don't get to weaponize your position to make others feel worthless. Especially not these three." His voice softened slightly, his eyes flicking to Hermione, Ron, and Harry. "They're children. Brave enough to risk punishment to help a friend. That's more Gryffindor than half the people in this room."

The crowd stirred, several students exchanging uncertain glances

Some students nodded, others looked down at their shoes, ashamed.

"And another thing," Cael added, his voice sharp again. "Stop dragging their families or reputations into this. Harry's fame isn't some excuse to scold him into the ground, and none of us need to hear how our parents would be 'disappointed' every time we make a mistake."

There was a pause—a heavy, electrified silence as Percy, red-faced and breathing heavily, glared at him

For a moment, the room stayed quiet. Even the crackling fire seemed to wait.

Cael's gaze didn't waver. "This is Hogwarts. It's a school. Mistakes are inevitable. What matters is how we support each other, how we learn from them—not how quickly we turn on our own."

For a long beat, neither spoke. The crackle of the fireplace filled the void, shadows dancing along the stone walls.

Finally, Percy's fists unclenched slightly, though his expression remained tight. "You think you're so clever," he muttered bitterly.

"I don't need to be clever to recognize when someone's abusing their authority," Cael replied flatly.

The tension hung for another breath before Percy spun on his heel, muttering under his breath as he stalked toward the dormitories, his back rigid with frustration.

Slowly, the room began to thaw. Conversations picked up again in cautious, fragmented whispers. The crowd dispersed, leaving Ron, Harry, and Hermione still near the hearth.

Hermione exhaled a shaky breath, eyes wide. "Cael… you didn't have to—"

"I did," Cael interrupted simply, offering her a faint smile. "You don't deserve to be paraded around like some criminal for doing the right thing."

Ron nodded, still visibly seething but grateful. "Thanks, mate."

Harry, quiet but sincere, echoed, "Yeah. Thanks."

Cael shrugged. "Someone had to remind him we're not in a Ministry courtroom." His eyes swept the common room, catching more than a few students still watching him warily. "And remind the rest of them that we're all human."

Hermione smiled faintly, tension easing from her shoulders.

"C'mon," Cael added, jerking his head toward the armchairs by the fire. "Let's get something to eat. You lot look like you've been through a storm."

They followed him, shoulders a little straighter now, heads held a bit higher.