A few days later, the exam results were posted, and to no one's surprise, Hermione secured the top spot in first year. David followed closely in second place, having lost several points in the History of Magic exam. Unlike Hermione, who devoured every word in the textbook with unwavering patience, David found the endless facts and dates unbearable. He struggled to memorize them and paid the price for his half-hearted attempts.
With their trunks packed and goodbyes exchanged, the students boarded the train back to Platform 9¾. As they emerged into the bustling Muggle world, Ron quickly spotted his family, and Harry was whisked away by his uncle. But David and Hermione stood there, looking around expectantly.
"Do you think they forgot about our holiday schedule?" David scanned the platform again, searching the crowd for familiar faces. There was no sign of Newt, Tina, or John.
Hermione looked equally puzzled. "They... wouldn't, would they?"
"David! Over here!" A familiar voice called out from behind them.
David spun around to see Tina, her silver-streaked hair glinting in the sunlight. Her warm smile put him at ease. Standing beside her were Hermione's parents, the Grangers, looking relieved as they waved to their daughter.
"Dad! Mom!" Hermione shouted with joy. She rushed past David and threw herself into her mother's arms, nearly toppling her over. Her trunk lay forgotten on the ground, and David shook his head, dragging it over to her.
"Grandma!" David grinned, giving Tina a hug. "Is Grandpa still away?"
Tina's smile faltered. "Yes, things in Romania are a bit... complicated. He won't be back for a while yet."
David's eyes lit up. "Can I go visit him, then? He's with dragons, right? The cool, fire-breathing kind!"
Tina laughed, her eyes crinkling at the corners. "You just got back, and already you want to leave me? You'll stay with Grandma for now."
"Of course!" David replied without hesitation.
Meanwhile, Hermione was saying her goodbyes. "David, remember to write, okay? I want to hear all about your summer!"
He waved as she walked off with her parents, then turned to Tina. "How do you know the Grangers?"
Tina's smile softened. "Mrs. Granger writes to us often, asking about the magical world. It's only natural she worries, with Hermione away in such a strange place."
David nodded, understanding their concern. With a gentle tug on his arm, Tina pulled him closer. "Alright, time to go home."
With a crack, they Apparated to the familiar little cottage, surrounded by blooming flowers. The garden was alive with vibrant colors, and the air was filled with the sweet scent of summer blossoms. In the midst of it all, Hobby, their playful raccoon, was pouncing around, chasing butterflies that danced just out of reach.
When Hobby spotted David, it launched itself into his arms, covering him in pollen. David sneezed repeatedly, his nose tickling. "Hobby, I missed you too!" he laughed, trying to fend off the raccoon's enthusiastic licks.
Inside the cottage, David looked around. It felt just as cozy as he remembered, but one person was missing. "Where's John? Did he go to Romania with Grandpa?"
Tina called out from the kitchen, her voice carrying over the clinking of dishes. "Yes, Newt relies on him quite a bit these days. John's really improved with his potions. He can even brew the Wolfsbane Potion now."
David's jaw dropped. "Seriously? That's one of the hardest potions to make!"
Tina appeared, carrying a tray of golden-brown meatballs. "Here, try these. I learned the recipe recently."
David didn't need to be told twice. He grabbed one with a fork and bit into the crispy shell, releasing a burst of juicy, flavorful beef. His eyes widened. "Grandma, this is amazing!"
Tina beamed. "I'm glad you like it. So, what's this about Dumbledore?"
David swallowed quickly. "Oh, he mentioned you were helping him with... something. But he didn't go into details."
Tina's expression turned serious. She set the tray down and sat across from him. "We intercepted a transport team. Dumbledore's curse hit their secret guard, purely by chance."
David's eyes widened. "What luck!"
"Yes, though I don't believe in coincidences. We found their base through the information we gathered, but they had a secret passage and most of them escaped. We only managed to capture a few."
David leaned in closer. "Where are they now?"
Tina's eyes darkened. "Dead."
David's heart skipped a beat. "Dead? How?"
"They were cursed to prevent them from revealing anything. As soon as they were captured, they convulsed and... that was it. We couldn't save them."
David stared at her, processing the gravity of the situation. "So... did you find out anything?"
"A little," Tina admitted. "We found documents, but nothing about controlling magical creatures, which is a relief. It looks like they're researching ancient spells instead."
"Ancient spells?" David echoed, intrigued.
Tina nodded. "You've learned about the origins of spells in class, right? The earliest spells were silent, cast purely with intent and power. They were faster and stronger, but also unstable and dangerous. Most of them were lost or adapted over time."
David's heart raced. He thought back to his picture book and the ancient symbols it contained. They matched Tina's description exactly. Was it just a coincidence, or was there a deeper connection? He looked up at his grandmother, his mind spinning with questions.
Tina reached out, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. "These people... whoever they are, they're trying to rediscover that power. And that worries me."
David swallowed, feeling a cold knot forming in his stomach. Whatever was happening, he had a feeling it was only the beginning.