Teaching Malfoy a lesson was nothing more than a minor event for Vaughn.
But to Hermione, it stirred something altogether unfamiliar.
A strange flutter in her chest—something she had never felt before.
As Vaughn approached, Hermione had prepared a dozen proper ways to thank him. But somehow, the words tangled into a stammered scolding.
"You... You shouldn't have used a spell on them. What if they report you to the school?"
The moment it left her lips, she regretted it.
But Vaughn didn't seem to mind at all. He just smiled casually and replied, "At least they won't dare bother us for the next few hours. I'm heading back to the compartment for a rest. See you later, Miss Granger."
Merlin's beard!
Hermione Granger, what on earth is wrong with your brain?
She felt the overwhelming urge to knock some sense into her own head. Watching Vaughn walk away, she finally managed to call after him, "Thank you for earlier! And you, You can just call me Hermione!"
Vaughn nodded. "Alright, Hermione. You can call me Vaughn."
With that, he lifted his wand. Just like the very first time they'd met, a small spell brushed past her hair. Only this time, it didn't make it float. Instead, it gently settled her curls so they lay soft and neat against her cheeks.
He gave her a warm smile and added, "Don't listen to Malfoy's nonsense. You're actually quite pretty."
"..."
Hermione felt like her skull had just reached boiling point. Her cheeks were practically on fire.
Having successfully flustered the young witch, Vaughn whose mood had been soured earlier by Draco Malfoy, was once again humming merrily as he made his way back to the compartment.
He hadn't even opened the door when he heard Ron bragging, "...I found out it was Vaughn who hexed Malfoy. I bet he used some nasty curse. Did you see Malfoy's teeth? They were as long as a boar's tusks! Maybe they'll never go back to normal."
Harry, voice trembling with a mix of fear and awe, whispered, "What sort of spell does that? That was brilliant!"
"Who knows?" Ron shrugged dramatically. "Vaughn always knows weird stuff. He's got this mysterious vibe. Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if he hit Malfoy with an Unforgivable Curse!"
Vaughn rolled his eyes and pushed the door open. Both boys looked up, startled.
Without a word, Vaughn took out his wand and pointed it directly at Ron.
"AAAH--!"
Ron screamed loud enough to rattle the windows, flinging himself behind Harry, who yelped in surprise.
The speed at which Ron transformed him in a human shield was impressive and a little heartbreaking.
Unfortunately, he'd chosen poor Harry as his barricade.
Satisfied with the scare, Vaughn ignored the pair and settled into his seat, pulling out a Potions book and diving into it with visible delight.
Harry tried to stifle a laugh behind his hand as he glanced at Ron, who now looked just as pale as Malfoy.
Ron scowled and glared at him, clearly embarrassed but far too intimidated to say anything back.
Thankfully, the tension didn't last. Soon, the three boys were huddled together again, whispering excitedly about magic, classes, and curses.
Time passed uneventfully after that, with only a brief visit from the twins, Fred and George, who peeked in to check on Harry. Ever the entrepreneurs, they cheerfully announced they'd borrowed a camera from a seventh-year student and were planning to take pictures of Draco Malfoy's unfortunate new look.
"These'll be free copies, of course," Fred said, grinning. "A tribute to our darling brother's brilliant first-day achievement!"
As evening fell, the Hogwarts Express began to slow down.
By the time it came to a complete halt, darkness had blanketed the sky. A voice echoed through the train:
"First years, please leave your luggage. It will be brought to your dormitories. Robes on, everyone!"
Vaughn had already made Ron and Harry change into their uniforms well before the announcement. Now, both boys stood nervously behind him, Harry rubbing his knees anxiously, and Ron so pale his freckles looked like snowflakes.
Every terrifying tale they'd heard about the Sorting Ceremony played in their heads like a haunted picture book.
When the train finally stopped, the two followed Vaughn as if they were on autopilot, brains switched off entirely.
The platform was small and dark. Cold air bit at their skin, jolting them back to awareness.
Hagrid, Hogwarts' massive Keeper of Keys and Grounds, stood waiting with a lantern, waving it above the crowd of new students.
"Firs' years! Firs' years this way!"
Hagrid loomed into view, holding up a lantern that bobbed over the heads of the children.
"C'mon now, don't be shy… Harry! You alright, there?"
Hagrid's wide smile offered no comfort. Ron had latched onto Vaughn's robes like a drowning man to a lifeboat. Harry quickly grabbed on too.
Vaughn glanced down and hissed, "You two are pulling my robes off. Ease up!"
They both shook their heads furiously.
Once the older students had all gone ahead, Hagrid led the first years forward. The path was steep, narrow, and completely unlit except for his lantern. No one dared say a word.
Only the faint bobbing of light in the distance showed them the way.
Suddenly, Vaughn lifted his wand.
"Lumos."
A gentle glow blossomed at the tip of his wand, pushing back the darkness.
Like chicks spotting their mother hen, the other first-years shuffled closer to Vaughn, clinging to the safety of the light.
The group marched in silence for a while longer. Then, as they turned a bend, the path opened up and a collective gasp echoed through the crowd.
Before them stretched a vast, black lake that shimmered like obsidian in the night. On the distant hillside, towering high above them, stood a magnificent castle.
Sprawling stone walls and clusters of turrets loomed against the sky. Dozens of warm, golden windows twinkled like stars.
Vaughn found himself genuinely awestruck.
Even he had to admit, it was breathtaking.
Hagrid led them to the lake's edge, where a row of small boats bobbed gently in the water.
"Four ter a boat! No pushin', no more than four!"
Vaughn hopped into one and pulled Ron and Harry in behind him. A few other students began to approach, but Vaughn turned and called out:
"Hermione? Come sit with us!"
Thank Merlin it was dark, Hermione's face turned the color of molten lava. Pretending not to notice, she marched over with as much dignity as she could gather and climbed aboard.
Ron stared at her like she'd grown antlers.
Harry, on the other hand, looked delighted. Finally, a boat full of familiar faces.
Once everyone was seated, the boats glided forward, moving smoothly across the still water.
As they drew closer to the cliff and the towering castle above, even the most chatty students fell silent. The sheer scale of the place left them breathless.
It was like sailing toward a floating fortress suspended in the sky.
When they reached the cliffside, Hagrid helped them all disembark and led them along a cobbled path, up a flight of stone steps, until they stopped before an enormous oak door.
Hagrid raised his giant fist and knocked three times.
Moments later, the door creaked open and Vaughn recognized the figure standing in the doorway.
"First years, Professor McGonagall," said Hagrid.
"Thank you, Hagrid. I'll take them from here."
Professor McGonagall was as stern as ever, her gaze sharp enough to slice parchment.
The moment her eyes scanned the crowd, every student straightened up and stopped fidgeting.
Except Vaughn, who continued to look around with interest.
They walked through a stone archway into a hall lined with torches and filled with tall stone sculptures carved into the walls, stretching toward a distant ceiling that vanished into shadow.
The space felt ancient and solemn, as though centuries of magic lingered in the air.
But as they passed through another doorway, they stepped into a grand entrance hall bright, open, and dazzling.
A sweeping marble staircase curled upward into the upper levels of the castle, where secrets and stories awaited.