The early morning sun cast soft golden rays across the ancient stone towers of Hogwarts, but within the castle's highest spire, the atmosphere was anything but warm.
The staffroom had been summoned to an impromptu meeting, and despite the hour, every key member was present. Professor McGonagall sat with her hands clasped tightly, lips thin and drawn. Professor Snape leaned back in his chair, expression unreadable as ever, while Filius Flitwick sat upright and alert. Professor Sprout looked mildly irritated at being pulled from her morning greenhouse routine.
Dumbledore stood at the head of the table, his usual twinkle absent from his eyes. In his hand, he held two parchment scrolls—both sealed with the Blake family crest.
"Cassian Blake has sent a second letter," Dumbledore announced quietly, holding up the larger scroll. "One addressed to me. The other… to Elias."
McGonagall stiffened. "Another one? I thought we had settled this."
Dumbledore unfurled the letter and read a portion aloud.
"I trust you understand, Headmaster, that allowing a Blake to remain in Gryffindor is a stain on our legacy. My son must be reassigned to Slytherin—where his heritage, blood, and future belong. If not, I will be forced to escalate this matter to the Board."
He lowered the letter and looked up. "Escalation indeed."
Snape's eyes narrowed slightly, but he said nothing. McGonagall, however, scoffed.
"The Hat sorted Elias for a reason," she said, voice firm. "He's shown exemplary composure and focus. Frankly, I'm proud to have him in my House."
"I agree," Flitwick added. "The Sorting Hat has its wisdom. Interfering with it is… dangerous."
Dumbledore nodded. "And yet, Cassian insists. I believe we are seeing not just concern, but ideology taking form. His views on blood status and House superiority have not mellowed with time."
"He always was ambitious," Snape finally said, folding his arms. "And meticulous. He believes in bloodlines and order above all. If Elias does not fit his vision… he will try to mold him."
"Which is why we must be careful," Dumbledore said. "Elias is not to be burdened by his father's shadow. But neither can we be blind to the pressure placed on him."
He turned to Snape. "Severus. Observe him. Not interfere—just watch. I want to know how he adapts. And… if he's in danger."
Snape gave a shallow nod, offering no argument.
Dumbledore's gaze lingered on the letter for a moment longer before rolling it up and placing it aside. "I will write a formal reply. Polite… but resolute."
Later That Morning – Greenhouse Three
Elias stood at the entrance to the greenhouse, sunlight filtering through the misted glass as rows of strange, leafy plants swayed gently on their own. Beside him, Hermione clutched her textbook, eyes scanning the greenhouse with eager curiosity.
Professor Sprout, clad in her usual wide-brimmed hat and earth-stained robes, clapped her hands together.
"Welcome, first-years! Today we'll be learning about Fluttering Ferns and Nettlegrew Vines. Harmless-looking, but quite cheeky."
The class split into pairs. Hermione automatically paired with Elias—partly because everyone else had already grouped up, but also out of quiet interest. Their conversation remained neutral, mostly task-focused.
"You're unusually good at this," she said at one point, watching Elias snip a vine in a precise curve.
"I read ahead," he replied with a casual shrug, though in truth, he'd accessed a basic magical herbology manual from the Fate Divergence System the night before. That, combined with his prior-life memory of Hogwarts classes, made the work easier than expected.
Nearby, Neville struggled with a twitching fern that refused to sit still. Elias, without drawing attention, nudged the plant with a small flick of magic—just enough for Neville to regain control. He didn't notice, but the System did.
+2 Fate Points: Minor assistance without reward.
Hermione didn't comment, but she tilted her head at him, as if trying to understand a puzzle only she could see.
That Night – The Astronomy Tower
The night air was crisp and cool as the students climbed the spiraling staircase up to the Astronomy Tower. The stars above glittered in the velvet sky, far brighter than any Elias had ever seen in his previous life.
Professor Sinistra stood waiting, her robes silver-trimmed, a quiet smile on her face.
"Tonight," she said, "we begin our journey into the skies. Look up, and you see stories—histories told in light. Constellations of magical power."
They were each given brass telescopes. The lesson involved tracing out magical constellations and learning how certain star patterns aligned with magical surges.
Elias was focused, but more reflective than anything. The stars reminded him of warm summer nights in his past life, music playing in his ears, dreams not yet weighed down by the burden of fate.
A Hufflepuff girl beside him fumbled her telescope. Elias steadied it silently, giving her a small nod. She smiled, surprised, and returned her focus to the stars.
+1 Fate Point: Small unnoticed kindness.
Late That Night – Gryffindor Dormitory
Back in his four-poster bed, the others long asleep, Elias finally opened the System screen.
[Fate Divergence System]
Current Fate Points: 12
Available Perks:
▸ Tier 1 Occlumency – 10 Points
▸ Minor Spell Slot (Customizable) – 6 Points
▸ Increased Magical Focus – 8 Points
He selected the first option.
Confirm Purchase: Tier 1 Occlumency?
Yes / No
He selected Yes.
There was no dramatic surge of light, no cinematic transformation—just a piercing moment of clarity, followed by a slow, stretching sensation behind his eyes. His thoughts became… quieter. More compartmentalized. Sharper.
Occlumency (Tier 1) unlocked.
Passive Effect: Basic mental shielding. Improved memory retention.
Elias exhaled deeply and leaned back in bed, staring up at the ceiling.
For the first time in years—this life or the last—his mind was his own.