The Great Hall buzzes with morning chatter — parchment rustling, laughter echoing, owls sweeping low with letters and parcels. You hadn’t even set foot inside yet, but the air feels different, charged, almost humming.

At the Slytherin table, your brother Mattheo sits surrounded by his usual group — Theo, Draco, Blaise, Enzo — half-listening as he flips through the Daily Prophet. He doesn’t look up when an unfamiliar owl drops a letter onto his plate, splattering pumpkin juice across his sleeve.

Theo snickers. “Another admirer?”

Mattheo wipes his hand, unimpressed. “Not unless my admirers work for the Ministry now.”

He breaks the wax seal — and freezes. His eyes flick over the parchment once, twice, then widen slightly.

Draco leans forward, curiosity sharp. “Well? What’s it say?”

Mattheo’s voice comes low, quiet, and disbelieving. “She’s coming back.”

Theo frowns. “Who’s coming back?”

Mattheo glances up, his expression unreadable. “Lexi.”

The table goes silent for a moment.

Blaise whistles under his breath. “You mean the Lexi Riddle? The youngest Seeker in history to win the British & Irish Quidditch League Cup? That Lexi?”

Enzo smirks. “Didn’t think fame would ever let her come back here.”

Mattheo doesn’t answer right away. He just stares at the letter again, jaw flexing. “She’s not coming for fame,” he mutters. “She’s coming to finish what she started.”