Harry Potter : Bloodraven-Chapter 103: Time flies ( CH - 123)

Happy times never last long. The holidays ended quickly, and before anyone knew it, a new year had begun.

In the second week of January, all the students returned to school again and brought the castle back to life. The halls, which had been quiet during the break, buzzed with laughter and excited conversations as friends reunited and eagerly shared stories about their holiday adventures.

But starting from the second day, the routine of school life had settled in once more. In the mornings, the Great Hall was packed with sleepy students hurriedly eating breakfast before dashing off to class. By evening, the library buzzed with those scrambling to finish their homework, while common rooms were filled with quiet chatter and the steady scratching of quills on parchment.

Lessons resumed at full pace, and the excitement over the holidays slowly faded. Students focused on their studies, and professors carried on with their teaching, but that did not mean the castle had lost its energy. Hogwarts remained as lively as ever.

Quidditch practices picked up again, filling the frosty air with the sound of whizzing broomsticks and shouts from the pitch. Students whispered about upcoming Hogsmeade weekends, looking forward to warm butterbeer and a break from their studies. Outside, snow still covered the grounds, and the bitter cold made the cozy glow of the common rooms more inviting than ever.

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And just like that, January passed. The days blurred together in a steady routine of lessons, meals, and the occasional classroom mishap.

Nothing unexpected happened. There were no surprises, no disasters, nothing to shake up the steady rhythm of school life. But as more and more days of February went by, a growing buzz of anticipation filled the air.

Hogwarts prepared to welcome visitors once again, as the second round of the inter-school Quidditch tournament was scheduled for the final week of the month.

The professors on the organizing committee supervised all the preparations, double-checking the enchanted banners, reviewing security measures, and ensuring the guest quarters were properly arranged.

Meanwhile, the selected students on the same committee handled their own assigned responsibilities. They managed schedules, coordinated supplies, and ensured everything ran smoothly in time for the tournament.

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The first match saw Hogwarts face Koldovstoretz. The game was intense, with Koldovstoretz proving to be a formidable opponent. Their Chasers moved in perfect sync, weaving through Hogwarts' defenses and racking up points with precise goals. By the time Koldovstoretz had climbed to 140 points, Hogwarts was in serious trouble, trailing behind with only 90.

Fortunately for the British side, just as the tension in the stands reached its peak, Marcus Flint spotted the Snitch. With a desperate dive, he managed to snatch it from under the Koldovstoretz Seeker's nose, securing a narrow victory for Hogwarts.

The second match against Durmstrang, however, did not go as well. The Durmstrang team played with brutal efficiency, their Beaters relentless in sending Bludgers hurtling toward the Hogwarts players. Needless to say, it was an aggressive match, and Professor McGonagall had to stay extra vigilant to ensure her little lion in the commentator's box didn't let any inappropriate words slip.

Hogwarts fought hard, but Durmstrang's Chasers were simply faster. The score climbed steadily in their favor until they reached 150 points before anyone could catch the Snitch, sealing Hogwarts' defeat.

Koldovstoretz, despite their talent, faced a streak of misfortune. Their loss to Hogwarts came down to a last-minute stroke of luck, and against Durmstrang, they fought fiercely, keeping the score neck and neck throughout the game. But in the end, victory slipped from their grasp, and they suffered a narrow 130 to 150 defeat.

It was not a matter of skill—only bad luck.

At the end of the round, Durmstrang emerged victorious, winning both matches and securing their place in the finals with the highest points. Meanwhile, Hogwarts, despite their mixed performance, managed to secure second place and a spot in the finals, while Koldovstoretz, despite their strong showing, was eliminated from the tournament.

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This round of matches drew a much larger audience than before. More members of the public attended in person, and, more importantly, the number of people watching through Magic Vision had increased significantly.

Maverick, the mastermind behind both the tournament and the alchemical invention, took note of the change with satisfaction. Sales were rising steadily as more wizarding families purchased Magic Visions for their homes. However, it had yet to become a household staple, and the reason was clear—there simply wasn't enough content.

So far, it had only broadcasted the inter-school matches, which, while exciting, offered limited reach. But as more people tuned in, its potential was becoming undeniable.

He had already begun discussions with the ICW's sports committees and various Ministries of Magic, negotiating broadcasting rights on a larger scale. If successful, Magic Vision would soon expand beyond the tournament, covering everything from Quidditch finals to high-profile duels and even magical creature showcases. The possibilities were endless, and its limited reach would soon become a thing of the past.

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February ended with the thrilling conclusion of the second round of the inter-school Quidditch tournament. The students, still buzzing from the excitement of securing a spot in the finals, gradually settled back into their routines. Lessons continued, the castle returned to its usual rhythm, and the weight of homework and exams once again took priority.

Meanwhile, despite everything happening during this time, Maverick hadn't been simply teaching and handling his other responsibilities. During his off hours, he would occasionally visit home, or check in on the Stark couple as they adjusted to their new lives, and even found time to tinker with alchemy, further honing his craft.

But there was also the matter of the storyline—something he paid close attention to. Just as in the series, Harry had stayed at Hogwarts over Christmas break, and the old man had given him the invisibility cloak as a Christmas present.

Through some not-so-legal and ethical means, Maverick also confirmed that Harry had "accidentally" stumbled upon the Mirror of Erised. He was half certain this was all part of Dumbledore's plan—one more carefully placed step in whatever grand scheme the nosy old wizard was weaving.

Still, the fact remained: the legendary invisibility cloak, said to be one of the three Deathly Hallows, was now in the hands of a first-year boy with no real idea of its worth. And for someone like Maverick—who had mastered the art of Muggle infiltration and possessed numerous ways to conceal his presence—getting close to it was hardly a challenge.

In fact, it was almost too easy.

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Present day. March 1992. Alchemy Classroom.

The rhythmic tapping of hammers filled the room, blending into a steady beat as students worked with focused concentration. In front of each of them lay a rectangular brick, roughly half the size of a typical book, and its surface was gradually transforming under their careful hands.

Unfamiliar patterns were being carved into the bricks as students carefully followed the reference sketches laid out beside them. Their eyes flicked between the designs and their own work, seemingly making sure that each cut was precise and every marking was aligned correctly.

Fine dust hung in the air, catching the glow of the enchanted lights overhead, making the room feel less like an alchemy classroom and more like an ancient workshop for carving petroglyphs. And in a way, it was. Because today was one of the days Maverick dedicated to carving lessons—easily the class favorite.

Every student wore a mask and goggles to shield their face, with thick gloves covering their hands as they chipped away at the material. Some worked with confidence, their cuts smooth and precise, while others hesitated, double-checking their markings before making the next careful strike.

Now and then, a sharp snap rang out as a tool slipped, followed by a muffled groan or quiet grumble behind a mask. Though the students seemed extremely focused, the enthusiasm in the room was unmistakable, as not a single student was seen slacking off or distracted.

Maverick moved between the tables with slow and steady steps as he observed his students progress. Now and then, he paused to offer some instructions—adjusting an angle here, reminding a student to steady their hand there. Some nodded without looking up, too absorbed in their work, while others quickly corrected their mistakes before he moved on.

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Then, as he passed one of the desks, something caught his eye.

A slight bulge in Potter's backpack—and more tellingly, a glimpse of fabric unlike anything he had seen before. It had a smooth, silken sheen, but the way it caught the light was strange. Instead of simply reflecting it, the edges seemed to blur and fade, as if it wasn't meant to be fully seen.

Maverick's gaze paused on it for only a fraction of a second before he moved on. But inwardly, his thoughts sharpened with certainty. That was no ordinary piece of cloth, and he had a pretty good guess of what it should be.

But where was Mr. Savior planning to sneak off to? He thought as he walked past the end of the row and moved to the next. Only, that was what any student paying attention to him would have seen.

He brushed the earlier thought aside. Probably off to get into some childish trouble with his red-haired buddy, he mused.

He came close to Potter's desk once again, and a smile grew across his face, now taking a closer look at the piece of fabrick.

Moments later, he made his way toward his desk, while the students would have seen him approaching from another row—until the illusion and reality met.

He then did a sweep over the rows of students, all deeply focused on their work, before glancing at the watch on his wrist.

There were still a few minutes left before class ended.

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The lesson continued as usual, and Maverick didn't betray a single reaction all this time. When class ended, he strolled leisurely back to his office, and made no effort to rush.

The moment he stepped inside though, a wide grin tugged at his lips. But first, he locked the door, layering several protective enchantments to ensure complete privacy.

Only then did he settle into his chair, relax, and finally brought up the system notification.

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Author's Note:

Just a quick update — up to Chapter 156 is already available on P AT r30n!

PAT r30n [.] com / RyanFic