On Sunday, the new Wizard Daily arrived with two major news items for the students.
Hufflepuff prefect Hannah Abbott's mother had been killed by Death Eaters. In other news, Aurors had arrested Stan Shunpike, a Death Eater, at the Leaky Cauldron.
"Who's Stan Shunpike?" Ethan asked, looking at the name in the newspaper. It felt familiar, but he couldn't place it.
"The conductor on the Knight Bus, that chatty guy," Aiden said, setting down the newspaper. He vaguely remembered this talkative conductor.
"I don't know who you're talking about, but shouldn't we be more concerned about the other news?"
Edmund came over carrying a stack of parchment, looking nearly driven mad by assignments.
"Hannah Abbott? How is she now?" Ethan asked.
Aiden paused with his coffee in midair before answering. "She took a leave of absence from Dumbledore this morning. She's probably gone home to deal with her mother's affairs."
"Two people from our house were also taken home by their parents. The times are really chaotic," Ethan said with a sigh.
"What about you? What does your mother think?" Edmund asked.
"Her? She believes that anywhere Dumbledore is, is the safest place in the world, so she has me stay at school. In her exact words: 'Even if I were killed, you'd be a hundred percent fine.'"
Ethan pouted and mimicked his mother's voice with exaggerated head movements.
Aiden shook his head with a small laugh.
"Oh, right, we're holding Quidditch tryouts with Gryffindor later. Want to come watch?" Ethan asked.
"What do you mean by 'we're holding'? Sounds like you're hosting it," Aiden teased.
"Well, he is. He was appointed Ravenclaw Quidditch team captain this year."
Edmund pointed at Ethan, who gave him a proud smile.
"So there's a reason we haven't won since we enrolled," Aiden said with a sigh.
"What, are you looking down on me? Let's see on the field!" Ethan felt deeply offended and decided to let his skills do the talking.
Aiden and Edmund made their way to the Quidditch pitch.
At the entrance, they ran into Gryffindor's team. This year, due to Harry's restored reputation, the number of Gryffindor team applicants had exploded.
Aiden even spotted two Ravenclaws in the crowd.
"Hey, Edmund, those two are Michael and Anthony, right?"
Aiden pointed at two traitors in Gryffindor's tryout line.
"Where? Let me see," Edmund said, raising his telescope to look. "It really is them!"
He stood up and ran to find Ethan, preparing to give these two guys a lesson.
Aiden sat alone in the stands. Gryffindor's cheering section climbed up around him. Ron's admirer Lavender frantically blew kisses at him.
Ron looked smugly at his two friends, then headed up for tryouts.
Hermione rolled her eyes and separated herself from the Gryffindor crowd. She happened to spot Aiden sitting alone and walked over, hugging her book. She sat directly beside him, complex emotions drifting from her.
"So Ron's not paying you much attention?" Aiden made a knowing observation.
"What? How do you know!" Hermione was so surprised she forgot her sadness.
"I can see more than most people realize," Aiden said, not explaining clearly.
"And if you like him, just confess boldly. A Gryffindor girl shouldn't lack that kind of courage, right?" Aiden raised his eyebrows.
"I'm not that desperate," Hermione said huffily, picking up her book. Looking at Aiden, she suddenly got an idea.
"How about you and..."
"No way," the Discerner interrupted her dangerous thought.
"Just for a while. I'll write to Arthursi," Hermione requested.
"Even if she came in person, it wouldn't work. Matter of principle," Aiden said, shaking his finger.
"Aiden, please," Hermione said, clasping her hands together.
"I can use my ability to make Ron think you like me. Then you just need to keep your distance from him for a while. Will that work?" Aiden sighed.
"Okay, thanks so much," Hermione said, leaving satisfied.
Aiden looked at Ron on the field and silently mourned for him.
Ravenclaw's tryouts, or rather, assignments, because there was no choice at all.
Last year, Cho left the team due to her friend's and mother's situation, leaving the Eagles without a Seeker.
This year, two seventh-years had graduated, leaving them short one Chaser and one Keeper.
Ethan had used every trick in the book and pulled Aiden in as a draw, finally gathering enough people.
"By the way, what did you promise them to actually pull a few bookworms from the library to play Quidditch with you?"
Aiden looked at the proud Ethan and asked curiously.
"Secret," Ethan said, putting his hands on his hips.
"Then I'll look myself," the Discerner said, activating his ability and finding the answer directly from the collective unconscious sea.
"Good grief. Why do they want my class notes? Don't I post those on the common room bulletin board every week?" Aiden asked, puzzled.
"They want the originals because they believe it will grant them the exam god's blessing," Ethan said, lowering his head and not daring to look at Aiden.
"That's... quite wizardly," Aiden said, momentarily speechless.
As promised, after influencing Ron, Aiden stood and left the Quidditch pitch.
With tryout work complete, Aiden brought gifts to visit Hagrid. After all, regularly maintaining relationships with this magical creature master was important.
He carried the craft cherry wine that Arthursi had brought back from abroad to Hagrid's home.
The two had just wanted to open it for a taste when Hermione arrived, bringing her two best friends to apologize to Hagrid.
Hagrid's hut was, as always, full of pumpkins. Buckbeak was leisurely sunbathing in the field.
Harry walked over somewhat sentimentally to pet Buckbeak.
Then, gathering courage, he went to knock on Hagrid's door.
Hagrid pushed the door open, saw the three of them, and stubbornly shut the door.
Harry and Hagrid then put on a wonderful performance for Aiden.
"Open up! Hagrid," Harry said, knocking again. "Open up quick, or I'll blast the door open!"
"Ho ho ho, how would a little wizard like you dare blast my door? I'm a professor," Hagrid's voice came from inside the house.
"Why can't I? Ron, Hermione, step back!" Harry dismissed the others and pulled out his wand.
"You can't blast my door, Potter!" Hagrid panicked.
"I'm sorry, sir," Harry said, changing tactics.
"Hmm? Why are you calling me, sir?" Hagrid asked, puzzled.
"Then why are you calling me Potter?" Harry followed with a question.
"You really are humorous. Fine, come in, you ungrateful little brats," Hagrid said, opening the door.
The three walked into the hut and were immediately drawn to a pair of sharp horns. "Aiden?"
"Yo, nice show you put on, Harry," Aiden said, waving at him.