HP: The Son of Tom

The routine at Hogwarts might seem the same to some: classes, homework, meals in the Great Hall, and occasional escapades through the castle's enchanted corridors. But for Aurelian, each day had a different texture, a new nuance that kept him alert.

Winter had slowly given way to the end of January, as the ice began to melt from the gargoyles on the roof, and Aurelian had found his own rhythm at school. The classes, though mostly easy for him, continued to offer opportunities to observe, measure, and learn.

He excelled without effort, though he never sought attention. Whether in Charms with Professor Flitwick, where he cast spells with a precision that surprised even those in higher grades, or in Potions, where Snape himself would reluctantly utter a faint, expressionless "acceptable," Aurelian moved with calm.

What had begun to attract the most attention, however, was not his talent. It was his companions.

Since returning from the Christmas holidays, the twins seemed to have attached themselves to him like an extension of his own shadow. They sat next to him in theory classes, waited for him outside the Great Hall, and even shared some of their free time with him in the library or the quiet corridors of the Astronomy Tower.

They were not intrusive, at least not in the eyes of others. Their presence was constant. They seemed to know exactly when to speak and when to remain silent, and although they rarely addressed anyone other than Aurelian with much enthusiasm, their behavior was not strange enough to raise any real alarm.

But the teachers noticed.

Professor McGonagall had mentioned in the staff room that "the Carrow sisters seem obsessed with Aurelian," while Lucan Rowle, the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, simply observed the situation with calculating eyes from the back of each class. Even Flitwick, somewhere between curious and a little cautious, asked Aurelian a couple of questions about it, to which he responded neutrally.

The students also whispered from time to time. Some with poorly concealed envy, others with simple intrigue. It was hard not to notice that wherever Aurelian went, they went too.

The Carrows, with their peculiar synchronicity, did not invade his personal space or demand his attention. But they did offer him constant, silent company, as if they could read his moods without the need for words. Aurelian, though reserved, had learned to recognize their usefulness: they kept people with hidden intentions or trivial interests at bay. Without saying so, the twins had become a social shield that he valued more than he let on.

One morning, as they walked together to Herbology class in the greenhouses, Hestia offered him a small jar.

"To help you sleep," she said in a neutral voice, whispering, "I've noticed you've been more tense this week."

Aurelian didn't respond immediately. He took the bottle and tucked it into his robe with a brief nod. Flora, on his other side, said nothing. She just looked at him a second longer than usual, her eyes seeming too fixed... too attentive.

He said nothing, but he thought about it.

_______

As the weeks went by, Aurelian began to enjoy the company of his friends more, especially Cedric and the Weasley twins. They were a strange group, if you thought about it logically: Cedric, always kind and noble in his view of the world; Fred and George, loud, brilliant in their own way, and eternally inclined toward the chaos of their pranks. Then there was him, Aurelian, quiet, calculating, thoughtful, someone who didn't seek to fit in... and yet he had found a small circle to which he belonged.

When they gathered in the library to study—or, in the Weasleys' case, to do something that resembled studying—the Carrow twins usually sat at the same table, often watching Aurelian in silence. They responded politely to greetings from Cedric and the Weasleys, though their tone always seemed too cold by the other students' standards.

"Wow," Fred commented one day, leafing through a potions book upside down, "Aurelian's silent bodyguards are efficient. If anyone approaches with bad intentions, they're sure to end up petrified."

"Petrified?" George laughed. "Won't they be poisoned?"

The twins didn't even blink. Hestia simply observed them as if evaluating an interesting insect; Flora, for her part, glanced at Aurelian with a small, barely visible smile. Already accustomed to the subtle threats and surveillance they exerted over their surroundings, he simply nodded.

"Don't mess with them," Aurelian said calmly, without looking up from the book he was reading. "They're smarter than they look."

Cedric let out a stifled laugh.

"That was clear to me from the moment I saw them cast that double spell in Charms. Not even Fred and George could coordinate like that, and they're twins."

"Hey!" they protested in unison.

The interactions were always like that: natural, and although the Carrows did not make an effort to integrate into the group, their presence was always constant. Hestia would sometimes hand Aurelian a new bottle of ink without saying a word. Flora would slide pieces of parchment with organized notes toward him when she saw him concentrating on some research. Neither was particularly effusive, but both began to show gestures that in other contexts might be considered affectionate.

They never competed with each other. On the contrary, it seemed that they had decided to share the space Aurelian devoted to them... without ever forcing his attention, but making it clear that they were not invisible to his eyes.

One afternoon, during a walk with Cedric through the corridors after an enchantment class, the boy commented:

"You know... it's strange, but... I think they trust you in a very intense way. The Carrows, I mean. I don't know if you've noticed how they look at you," he said.

Aurelian had noticed. For some time now.

"I think they have a purpose," he replied. "They've always been like that with me."

Cedric nodded slowly. It was one of the things he liked most about Aurelian: he didn't judge, he didn't ask more questions than necessary. He just observed, accepted, and kept walking.

In the days that followed, the twins began to change in small ways as well. Hestia called him by his name more often, in a soft, quiet voice. Flora sometimes stopped to wait for him, even if he was talking to Cedric or the twins. If before their gazes had been fixed and restrained, now they showed something warmer, though difficult to read for anyone who didn't know what their smiles hid.

Aurelian said nothing.

He did not reject them. Something inside him urged caution; it was a connection that was not entirely normal, but it was genuine.

________

As the final weeks of the school year approached, Aurelian spent more time alone. Not because he lacked company—the twins were always nearby, and his friends sought him out frequently—but because he felt the need to think.

From a high window in a tower of the castle, with night enveloping him and the stars marking his course, Aurelian let his thoughts flow.

It had been a strange year.

I have achieved more than I ever imagined in such a short time, he told himself, watching the moon slip between the clouds. My magic has been refined. My spells are more stable, my Occlumency deeper.

He closed his eyes for a moment, letting the cool wind caress his face. It was comforting, real, yet he couldn't help but remember.

In his other life, things had been different. Not necessarily worse, but more... simple. In this world, however, every step he took opened up infinite possibilities. His theories multiplied, his limits expanded. He was no longer just a child with memories of another life. He was someone with a purpose.

I've made friends... he thought with some surprise. Cedric, kind and talkative. The twins, with their indomitable energy, and the Carrows... they're another story. More complex. More delicate.

In his memories, the image of Flora holding a book silently as she waited for him to finish a page, or Hestia correcting a mistake in potions with a slight gesture, overlapped with the warm feeling of having been accepted. His emotions may be strange. But they are real. As real as mine.

Aurelian opened his eyes slowly.

"When this year is over," he murmured softly, "I will return to Gaunt Manor. I will plan GauntCorp's next moves with Kravix and resume the workshop in Godric's Hollow. In addition to continuing my training."

Because Aurelian wasn't fooling himself. The world was changing. He could feel it in the whispers of magic. And he would have to be prepared.

Hogwarts was only the first step.

With a sigh, he got up and quietly went downstairs, leaving the night behind to return to his dormitory.

________

The Great Hall glowed with a festive atmosphere. The floating candles gave off a warmer light than usual, as if sharing the students' joy at the end of the school year. The tables were laden with dishes and sweets, while conversations filled the air with a mixture of excitement, nostalgia, and relief.

Aurelian sat elegantly at the Slytherin table, dressed in his house robe. To his right, Hestia wore a faint smile, her hand resting casually on the table, close to his. To his left, Flora rested her chin on one hand, her eyes calmly fixed on Aurelian, as if just looking at him made her know that the world was all right. There was something about their closeness, a silent connection, that others were beginning to notice, though no one dared to comment.

From his table, Cedric sent him a friendly smile, which Aurelian returned with a brief nod. The Weasley twins also greeted him, raising their glasses with a teasing smile.

The metallic sound of a spoon tapping against a glass rang out.

On the central podium, Albus Dumbledore, in his elegant midnight blue robe and relaxed expression, stood up.

"Good evening, everyone!" he began, his warm voice seeming to fill every corner of the hall. "We have reached the end of another year at Hogwarts. A year of new beginnings, challenges overcome, and, of course, unexpected mischief."

There was some laughter from the Gryffindor table, where Fred and George pretended not to know who the headmaster was referring to.

"This school year has been full of memorable moments. We have seen friendships blossom, unique talents emerge, and our houses grow stronger. But as every year..." he paused with a smile, "...it is time to announce the winner of the House Cup."

The silence was palpable.

"With a total of..." Dumbledore pulled a small card from inside his robe. "492 points, the house that wins this year is..."

Another pause.

"Slytherin!" he shouted joyfully.

The ceiling of the Great Hall changed immediately, covered in emerald green and silver colors, the serpent emblem waving majestically above them. The Slytherin students burst into cheers. Some rose from their seats, others hugged each other, glasses clinking one after another.

Aurelian, however, did not applaud or cheer. He simply watched the celebration with a slight smile, while Hestia and Flora leaned subtly toward him.

"Good job," whispered Flora.

"It's been a brilliant year," added Hestia sweetly.

Aurelian accepted the words with a small nod and a smile.

Dumbledore raised his cup.

"To Slytherin! And to all the students, for another year in this castle full of history, magic... and possibilities," he said, glancing briefly at the green table.

The glasses were raised in a general toast. The banquet began with enchanted dishes and sparkling desserts. Aurelian ate. His mind already racing, he planned for the coming year... and what would come after.