The Great Hall was abuzz with excitement as the students of Hogwarts gathered for the House Cup ceremony. Banners in green and silver adorned the walls, proudly signaling that Slytherin had secured victory once again. Toji sat at the Slytherin table between Daphne and Hermione, the two girls glancing at each other with smiles, pleased with the outcome. The room was filled with cheers from the Slytherin table, while the other houses sat in a more subdued silence.
Headmaster Dumbledore rose from his seat, his eyes twinkling despite the defeat of his favored house, Gryffindor. He made a speech, congratulating the students on their hard work throughout the year, but it was clear that the majority of the room's attention was on the Slytherin students. Snape, standing tall next to the Headmaster, had a smug smile etched on his face, glancing at the other heads of houses with pride.
"Another year," Snape muttered quietly, loud enough for Professor McGonagall and Flitwick to hear, "and another House Cup for Slytherin. I suppose I shouldn't be too surprised, given the exceptional talent in our house this year."
McGonagall gave him a sharp look but held her tongue, and Flitwick merely chuckled lightly, shaking his head.
Toji grinned, leaning back in his seat as Snape continued to gloat. As the feast went on, the doors of the Great Hall opened, and Tracey Davis, another Slytherin first-year, made her way over to their group. She had been watching them from a distance for a while, but tonight, emboldened by the victory and the celebrations, she approached with a confident stride.
"Mind if I join you three?" Tracey asked, her voice casual but curious.
Daphne smiled warmly and motioned for her to sit. "Of course. Welcome to the group."
As Tracey sat down, the conversation turned light and easy, but a subtle tension hung between the three girls. Daphne, Hermione, and now Tracey had all been growing closer to Toji over the year, and now they found themselves in quiet competition. After the feast concluded and the Great Hall began to empty, the three girls subtly drifted apart from Toji to have a private conversation.
"I've noticed it," Daphne began, glancing between Hermione and Tracey. "You two are feeling the same way about Harry as I am, aren't you?"
Hermione blushed slightly but nodded. "It's hard not to. He's… different. Strong, kind of reckless, but smart too. I didn't expect to feel this way."
Tracey sighed, running a hand through her hair. "I thought it was just me, but clearly we're all in the same boat."
The three shared a look of understanding, though the competitive edge in their gazes wasn't lost on each other.
"So what do we do?" Daphne asked.
"Whatever happens," Hermione said, "we should make sure it doesn't come between us."
There was a silent agreement between the girls, but none of them were quite ready to give up on Toji just yet.
As the trio, now joined by Tracey, boarded the Hogwarts Express to return home for the summer, Toji sat by the window, staring out at the passing landscape. The school year had been eventful, but his mind was already on the future.
"You seem deep in thought," Daphne remarked, sitting beside him.
Toji shrugged. "Just thinking about… next year, and what's coming."
Hermione glanced up from the book she was reading, intrigued. "You have plans?"
"A few," Toji replied cryptically, a grin spreading across his face. He wasn't ready to reveal everything just yet. His thoughts drifted to the Philosopher's Stone, the mysterious Flamels, and the countless secrets that still lay hidden in the magical world. He had ideas—grand ones—and now, with his growing power, nothing seemed out of reach.
Back at the castle, the professors had gathered in the staff room for a meeting after the students left for the summer. Dumbledore sat at the head of the table, a frown creasing his normally calm and composed face. The other professors exchanged curious glances, wondering what was troubling him.
Suddenly, the Headmaster's portrait that hung behind him spoke up, its tone urgent.
"Headmaster, we have noticed something... peculiar. Someone invisible entered your office recently."
Dumbledore's eyes widened. "What?"
The portrait continued, "Not only that, but they took some of your private notes—and your wand."
The room fell silent, the weight of the revelation sinking in. Dumbledore's mind raced. He recalled the incident that had occurred only a week prior—a harmless stroll through the castle, a cup of tea in hand, when he was suddenly disarmed by an invisible force. At the time, he had thought it a prank—perhaps the Weasley twins up to their usual antics. But now, with this new information, the situation was far more serious.
"Albus," McGonagall said, her voice cautious, "you don't think—?"
Dumbledore shook his head, not yet ready to leap to conclusions. "I must find out who the culprit is. No one but a highly skilled witch or wizard could have pulled off such a feat."
His thoughts turned dark as he considered the implications. One of the Deathly Hallows, the Elder Wand, had been taken from him. The most powerful wand in existence, stolen by an unseen foe.
Far from Hogwarts, Toji reclined in a grand chair inside the Potter mansion, which had long been abandoned but now belonged to him. The house was a reflection of his power and growing influence—a place where he could think, plan, and strategize. And tonight, his thoughts were on three particular girls, the Resurrection Stone, and his ambitions for the future.
He had felt the growing admiration from Daphne, Hermione, and Tracey, and he knew he would have to address it. But the thought of settling down, even in a romantic sense, wasn't something that frightened him. If anything, it intrigued him. Why not date all three? They were smart, capable, and seemed to share his goals. He smirked to himself.
The greater concern, however, was the Resurrection Stone. He knew its location was still a mystery, but he was determined to find it. He needed all three Deathly Hallows to solidify his place as the most powerful wizard alive.
With his invisibility cloak already in hand, and the Elder Wand recently acquired in a rather amusing fashion, all that was left was the Stone.
"To rebuild the Potter line," Toji mused, "I'll need more influence. More power."
He rose from his seat, walking over to a window that overlooked the vast estate. His mind was filled with plans for the future—his relationships, his growing power, the secrets he had yet to uncover. The summer break would be a time for reflection, preparation, and growing stronger.
"By the time I return to Hogwarts," he muttered to himself, "I'll be greater than anyone's ever been."
And with that, he set his gaze on the future—ambitions rising like the stars above.