Harry Potter : Cael Vale’s journey to Hogwarts

After lunch, seeing that he didn't have any more classes, Cael made his way back to the Gryffindor common room. The large space was already buzzing with students coming and going, some lounging by the fire, others deep in conversation. He found the Weasley twins sitting by the window, finishing their own classes for the day.

"Oi, there he is," Fred grinned as Cael dropped onto the couch beside them.

They chatted for a while, joking about classes, the mess in the Great Hall, and which first-year had nearly set their robe on fire during Charms. But soon, whispers started drifting across the room. A group of first-years huddled by the fireplace, speaking in low voices that still carried across the space.

"Did you hear? Potter broke Malfoy's nose!"

"What? Really?"

"Yeah! Malfoy called Ron Weasley a poor blood traitor, and Harry just punched him—blood everywhere! Now they're with Professor McGonagall, getting scolded."

The moment those words hit the air, Fred and George stood up so fast their chairs scraped against the floor.

"C'mon, Cael," George said quickly. "If Ron got into it with Malfoy, we need to see if he's alright."

"Yeah," Fred added, his face serious for once. "There's bad blood between the Malfoys and our family. This could be messy."

Cael followed them out, weaving through the castle's corridors until they reached the hallway outside Professor McGonagall's office. The door was closed, but McGonagall's sharp voice carried through the wood.

"Mr. Potter, I will not tolerate fighting among students over petty insults," she scolded. "It's the first day of classes, and already you're brawling in the corridors! And breaking noses! Do you think bleeding students and panicked first-years is the image Gryffindor should have?"

"But he called Ron a poor blood traitor!" Harry protested faintly from inside.

"Enough," McGonagall cut him off firmly. "You both will serve detention. Cleaning the statues and medals by hand. And I'm docking five points from each of you. Is that understood?"

A moment later, the door opened, and Harry and Ron stepped out, their expressions a mix of annoyance and defiance. Ron was rubbing his arm where McGonagall probably grabbed him, and Harry's green eyes were still blazing with anger.

"I don't regret it," Ron muttered. "I'd do it again if he insults my family."

"Yeah," Harry agreed. "Malfoy's a pain. I won't let him talk down to my friends."

As they walked down the corridor, they came face to face with Cael and the twins.

"What happened?" Fred demanded, eyes narrowing.

"Why were you fighting Malfoy?" George added.

Ron sighed, rubbing the back of his head. "He was pestering Harry. Told him not to be friends with me. Said he's of noble blood and should stick with 'the right sort'—not with poor blood traitors like me."

Harry's jaw tightened. "I punched him," he said simply. "I won't let anyone insult my friends."

Cael watched Harry closely. Up until now, he hadn't been sure what kind of person Harry Potter was beyond the stories. But after today, he decided to keep watching him, to see for himself what the famous Boy Who Lived was really like. He still had time to figure it out.

Ron turned to the twins, nodding toward Cael. "Who's he?"

Fred smirked. "Behold—the mastermind behind our pranks."

"The one Percy won't stop complaining about," George added.

Ron's eyes widened. "Oh, so you're the one Percy's been warning us about."

Fred chuckled. "Yep, that's him. Punchable face and all—too handsome for his own good."

Ron grinned and held out his hand. "Hello, Senior."

Cael shook it. "Nice to meet you, Ron."

"And you know him," Ron added, pointing at Harry. "Harry Potter."

Cael turned to Harry, offering his hand. "Hello, Harry. I've heard plenty about you—from books and otherwise."

Harry shook his hand firmly, with more confidence than Cael expected. "Nice to meet you, Cael. I'm sure you've heard the nonsense. But you'll see for yourself."

"Let's head back," Fred said, waving them along.

The group made their way toward the common room. Along the way, Cael noticed a few Slytherin students loitering nearby. They stared at Harry and Ron, but seeing the three older students with them, they slunk back into the shadows, deciding not to start anything—for now.

Inside the common room, Hermione was waiting, arms crossed, her foot tapping impatiently. The moment Harry and Ron walked in, she marched over.

"What were you thinking?" she hissed. "Punching Malfoy? We lost ten points because of you two! Ten points! Do you know how hard students worked for that? I got ten points in Transfiguration today—and now they're gone!"

"Enough," Harry snapped. "I don't need you lecturing me like you're my mum."

Hermione's face flushed with frustration, but she grabbed her books and stormed out without another word.

As the door swung shut behind her, Lavender and Parvati giggled nearby.

"She's so annoying," Lavender whispered. "Woke us up early, dragging us to the library like she owns the place."

Parvati snickered. "And correcting me in front of McGonagall today. 'You're doing it wrong! It's E-A-H!' I nearly died of embarrassment."

Ron groaned. "She was annoying on the train too. Now she's ten times worse."

Cael chuckled. "She's Muggle-born. Doesn't know much about the wizarding world yet. You could teach her."

Ron rolled his eyes. "If I had time to teach her, I'd rather use it on myself."

Cael laughed under his breath. "Fair enough."

Everyone drifted off to their own business—some playing games, others diving into homework. Cael slipped out quietly and made his way to the Room of Requirement.

Inside, he focused on the spells he needed—second-year magic, the kind he should be mastering early. The fight with Fischer Frey on the train had been a harsh reminder. He was weak. Far too weak.

But he had one advantage the others didn't: knowledge of the future. And with that, he planned to change everything—starting now.