The summer after the battle at the Department of Mysteries felt heavier than any before. Sirius was gone. Voldemort’s return was no longer a rumor whispered in shadow, it was fact. The wizarding world was waking up, and fear was settling over it like a thick fog.

You and Harry had spent much of the summer at the Burrow, where the warmth of the Weasley family offered some comfort. But there was no escaping reality. The war was here.

When the Hogwarts Express pulled away from King’s Cross, the air on the train buzzed with speculation. The Ministry was scrambling, Death Eater attacks were on the rise, and rumors swirled about changes at Hogwarts. You’d heard that Slughorn, a retired Potions Master, was returning, but no one knew why.

The first surprise came before you even reached school: Professor Slughorn himself, holding court in a plush, magically expanded compartment, surrounded by promising young witches and wizards. You’d been swept in alongside Harry, “The Potters! Both of them!” Slughorn had exclaimed with delight, his eyes glinting as though he’d just spotted a rare jewel for his collection.

He asked questions in that warm, rolling voice of his, clearly more interested in names and connections than in actual schoolwork. He chuckled over your famous lightning scars, reminisced about Lily and James, and hinted more than once that talented students had certain advantages if they knew the right people.

The feast that night was as grand as ever, but you couldn’t help scanning the staff table. Snape sat smug as always, but the real shock was his position: Defence Against the Dark Arts. You could feel the tension ripple across the Great Hall at the announcement.

After dinner, as you followed the crowd toward your dormitories, a soft, honeyed voice called out:

“Mr. Potter, Miss Potter, a word, if you please.”

Slughorn was waiting in the corridor, his smile as wide as it had been on the train.

“I’m having a small… gathering tomorrow evening,” he said, his tone dripping with charm. “A chance for like-minded, talented young people to mingle. I’d be simply delighted if you both would attend.”

You and Harry exchanged a glance. Whatever Slughorn wanted, it was clear he was setting his sights on the two of you.

And somehow, you knew it was only the beginning.