The Great Hall was a symphony of morning murmurs and the clatter of cutlery. Sunlight streamed through the tall enchanted windows, casting warm, golden rays across the long tables. The enchanted ceiling showed a bright, cloudless sky, a cheerful contrast to the cold winter air outside. Students chatted sleepily, some still rubbing the last traces of sleep from their eyes, while others eagerly helped themselves to platters of toast, eggs, and steaming porridge.
Ethan sat at the Ravenclaw table, quietly buttering a slice of toast while his mind wandered through the spells he had been practicing lately. His newfound focus on concealment charms and magical suppression had opened up an entirely new aspect of magic for him. He was beginning to understand that magic was not just about power but also about precision, control, and finesse. He was still thinking of ways to further refine his Silencing and Disillusionment Charms when a rush of wings swept through the Great Hall.
The daily arrival of the morning mail.
A flurry of owls swooped in through the high windows, some majestic and dignified, others small and fluttering, each carrying letters or packages. Ethan's gaze drifted to the flood of birds, not expecting anything for himself. Noctis, his sleek, black owl, was easy to spot among the crowd, a shadow cutting gracefully through the swarm. He was carrying a letter sealed with a familiar green wax, the emblem of his mother's family crest pressed neatly into it.
Ethan's interest piqued as Noctis landed gently before him, proudly offering the letter. Ethan gave him an affectionate stroke, offering a piece of his toast, which Noctis nibbled happily. He took the letter, watching as Noctis flew off to join the other owls roosting in the rafters for a brief rest.
Breaking the seal, he carefully unfolded the parchment, his mother's elegant handwriting greeting him.
My dearest Ethan,
I hope this letter finds you well and that your studies continue to bring you joy and fulfillment.
I have some promising news. After careful effort and quiet investigation, I have managed to collect enough credible evidence regarding Gilderoy Lockhart's actions. The Ministry has been informed, and while the process may take time, bureaucracy is ever slow, it is now only a matter of time before his misdeeds are exposed. It will likely not take long until this becomes public news.
Please take care of yourself, and write back when you can.
All my love,
Mother.
Ethan's lips curled into a small, satisfied smile. She had not only managed to uncover enough proof to expose Lockhart's fraudulent behavior, but she had also navigated the Ministry's slow and cautious processes without causing any backlash toward herself. For a moment, he imagined the famous Gilderoy Lockhart, all smiles and boasting, being stripped of his reputation as a hero. It was almost amusing.
But beyond his quiet amusement, Ethan felt something else, a sense of relief. He, a liar, who built his fame on the accomplishments of others. Worse, he had a habit of erasing the memories of the true heroes to hide his deceit. The idea of such a man teaching at Hogwarts had been more than unsettling, it had been a potential threat.
Ethan folded the letter carefully, tucking it into his pocket. The Great Hall seemed a little brighter, the conversations around him a little more pleasant. But even as he spread some jam on his toast, his mind turned to the question that naturally followed, who would teach Defense Against the Dark Arts next year?
Without Lockhart, the position would be vacant. In the original story, Lockhart had been the next professor, a disaster in waiting, but with him out of the picture, the future was now uncertain. Would Dumbledore be able to find another candidate? The position was notorious for being cursed, rumors and whispers in the wizarding world spoke of how every professor who took the role never lasted more than a year.
Ethan's thoughts turned to other potential candidates. Would Remus Lupin, the kind but tragically afflicted werewolf, take the position a year earlier than expected? That would be a positive change, in his opinion. Lupin was an excellent teacher and a genuinely good person, one of the few in this world who had earned Harry's trust and friendship without ulterior motives. But Lupin only accepted the role later, when Dumbledore reached out to him out of necessity. Would Dumbledore even consider him this early?
Or perhaps another candidate might appear, someone not from the original story. After all, with Lockhart out of the picture, the future was already shifting in subtle ways. Ethan wondered if a new professor, someone he didn't know, might be hired instead. Would they be competent? Dangerous? Or simply another pawn for the darkness that loomed over this world?
A troubling thought crossed his mind. What if Dumbledore couldn't find anyone? The curse of the position was well-known to him. Would Hogwarts simply forgo the Defense Against the Dark Arts class for a year? That would be disastrous. A generation of students left unprepared for the darker aspects of magic, a gap in their education that could leave them vulnerable.
But that seemed unlikely. Dumbledore was too resourceful, too stubborn to let the class be abandoned. Even if he had to teach it himself, the old wizard would ensure the subject was covered. Ethan's fingers tapped lightly against the table, his mind racing with possibilities. He would have to keep an ear out, this was his first meddling of the future, hopefully not towards disaster. It was yet another thing to watch for, another ripple in the flow of this world's story.
Yet even as these thoughts filled his mind, he reminded himself to remain cautious. It was too easy to become obsessed with every change, every tiny deviation from the original story. He had to keep his focus, continue his studies, and above all else, enjoy himself. Hogwarts was a place of endless potential, but it was also a place filled with prying eyes and hidden dangers.
Soon, he would begin to head back towards the Room of Requirement. There was still a problem with the Mauraders Map's existence. He had no way to escape that strange artifact which had been created just for sneaking around hogwarts.
Perhaps he should try and obtain it for himself. Didnt the Weasley Twin's have it right now?
Finishing his breakfast, Ethan rose from his seat, the letter still resting safely in his pocket. He decided he would write back to his mother later, thanking her for her efforts and sharing a bit about his studies.
As he left the Great Hall, he felt a quiet sense of satisfaction settle over him. Thanks to his mother's skill and persistence, Lockhart would be out of the equation. But even as he walked through the busy corridors, he would need to remind himself that this his actions would cause a ripple effect. But he wouldnt dwell on every action, only trying to have a good time at hogwarts learning magic.
Afterall, once he graduated from Hogwarts, he might just move onto another reality. Which one, he didnt know.