Chereads / Harry Potter : Bloodraven / Chapter 6 - Heart and Harmony (V)

Chapter 6 - Heart and Harmony (V)

Author's Note:

Hey everyone! This is a fresh release after my novel got blocked before. I hope you enjoy it! 

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Three days later.

Maverick, Edward, and Silvia sat around the breakfast table, enjoying the most important meal of the day. The smell of crispy bacon and fresh pancakes filled the air, giving the room a warm, homey feel.

Maverick was finally back to full health, all thanks to Newt's healing skills. His teacher had been right—Scamander was truly an excellent healer. This whole experience had opened Maverick's eyes; even the characters he had known from the Harry Potter books had layers he never expected.

For the past three days, Newt and his wife had settled into the Garling home, with Newt checking on Maverick often to make sure he was healing well. When Maverick was strong enough, Newt invited him into his magical suitcase.

Maverick didn't have words for what he saw. Inside, Maverick was speechless. There were trees, rivers, and magical creatures everywhere—some familiar, others entirely new. The tour lasted half a day, and Maverick took in every sight, his eyes wide with wonder, like he was seeing magic for the first time.

The night before, before leaving, Newt and Tina gave Maverick a signed copy of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, with warm wishes written inside.

They weren't close friends yet, but they were certainly more than strangers now. Tina had even shared their address, mentioned their grandson, and invited him to visit.

Maverick promised to stop by soon and told them they could always reach out if they ever needed help. They appreciated his words, clearly touched by his promise. They might not know the full extent of Maverick's talent, but as Edward Garling's apprentice, they believed he would become someone truly remarkable.

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"Are you nervous?" Silvia asked, glancing at Maverick as she sipped her coffee, curiosity sparkling in her eyes.

Edward shot him a quick look as well but remained silent. After all, this was his apprentice.

Maverick paused mid-bite, chewing slowly as he thought. "Uh... I guess I'm a little nervous, but not really worried," he said with a slight shrug and a small, nervous smile.

Today was the big day. The results for the O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s would be released all over magical Europe and America. For many students, months of hard work—and a lot of sleepless nights—had led to this moment.

For his O.W.L.s, Maverick had taken eight subjects: History of the Magical World, No-Maj Culture, Arithmancy, Charms, Potions, Transfiguration, Defense Against the Dark Arts, and Alchemy.

For his N.E.W.T.s, he focused on just five: Charms, Potions, Alchemy, Defense Against the Dark Arts, and Transfiguration. He didn't have the time—or need—to study subjects like History or No-Maj studies for the advanced exams. Those were only useful for specialized jobs, and general knowledge in those areas would be enough to navigate the magical world.

"Bella should be here soon," Silvia added with a smile. "She's been on edge all morning. I guess even geniuses get nervous when results day rolls around."

Edward chuckled. "She'll be fine; it's only the O.W.L.s. Two years from now, when it's her N.E.W.T.s, that might be... No, even then she'll be fine." He paused, thinking. He knew just how talented his daughter was, so any worry he had disappeared quickly.

Maverick, on the other hand, tensed slightly when Isabella's name came up, though he quickly hid it, keeping his usual calm look.

"She's going to be fine, Aunt. Bella's a very smart witch," he added with a confident nod. Like Edward, he was fully aware of her capabilities.

Silvia sighed softly. "A mother worries, you know…" she said, smiling gently.

The table grew quiet for a moment.

Noticing the tension, Edward glanced at Maverick and changed the subject. "So, little Rick, are you planning to head back today, or will you stay a bit longer?"

Maverick hesitated, looking down at his plate. "Uh… probably tomorrow, maybe."

Maverick thought back to the talk he had had with his teacher a few days ago.

He had shared his plans for the next few years, including his decision to travel the world. When he asked for Edward's advice, his mentor had simply told him that once he felt confident in his training, it would be good to set off and learn through real-life experience.

Maverick had felt a wave of relief when Edward supported the idea. At first, he had been nervous, worried that his teacher might think he was just leaving after getting what he wanted.

But Edward had encouraged Maverick's plan. He explained that for Maverick's potential to truly grow, the best path was to step out into the world, test his skills, and learn from new experiences. Edward added that he had already taught Maverick the most important lessons, and that soon he wouldn't need supervision.

Hearing that his teacher was genuinely proud of him and his progress brought Maverick a true sense of happiness.

"So, when are you going to tell Bella?" Silvia asked, flashing Maverick a knowing smile as she leaned forward, resting her chin on her hands.

Maverick blinked, caught off guard, and glanced at Silvia. The look in her eyes told him everything. He knew he was in for a difficult conversation with one particular golden-haired girl—especially after the incident three days ago.

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Let's rewind to the day Maverick integrated his second Extraordinary Characteristic.

He was deep in thought, fully absorbed in the new ability he had acquired from the system. Time slipped by unnoticed until he was brought back to reality by a gentle knock at the door.

He dismissed the virtual screens with a wave and called out, "Come in."

Isabella entered, followed by a floating tray. It held a bowl of brown rice, some grilled chicken breasts, a salad, and a glass of juice—orange or mango by the look of it.

She wore a loose white shirt and black leggings, her golden hair spilling freely over her shoulders, catching the light in a way that made Maverick pause. Over the past months, she had changed—not only in looks, but in presence. The last traces of her sixteen-year-old's childish features were now maturing into something more striking.

Maverick lay there, momentarily speechless, watching as she brought the tray over with casual ease. She set it down and sat on the bed beside him.

"What?" she asked, arching an eyebrow at his dazed expression.

"Uh… is it lunchtime already?" he stammered, trying to brush aside the unexpected thoughts running through his mind.

"You've been resting for an hour," she replied, leaning in a little, her eyes studying him closely. "Everyone else already ate. I told you I'd bring yours up here, remember?"

"Right… thanks, Bella." He gave her a sheepish smile, still trying to shake off the odd thoughts in his head.

"Good!" she chirped, standing up and picking up a fork and knife. "Then I'll treat you."

"I—I can eat by myself," Maverick muttered, his hand twitching as if to stop her, before he remembered his arm was in a sling.

"Nonsense. Look at you." She nodded toward his bandaged arm. "Sit back, relax. Think of me as your nurse." Her tone was playful, but her cheeks had turned a soft pink.

Maverick opened his mouth to protest, but Isabella had already cut a piece of chicken, placed it on top of the rice, and added a few broccoli florets to the plate. Resigned, he leaned back, letting her do her thing.

The room fell into a quiet silence as Isabella finished preparing the plate, carefully mixing the greens and protein.

Maverick found himself watching her more than the food. Her expression was soft and focused, her cheeks still faintly flushed as she concentrated on the task. He couldn't remember a time when he had seen her like this—so... attractive.

And it wasn't just that. Lying there, Maverick started realizing that, over the past few months, he had begun noticing Isabella in ways he hadn't before. They had spent more and more time together—training, studying, talking about their magic, and sometimes, just sharing little everyday moments.

Ever since his system awakened and introduced him to magic, his life had taken a complete 180. He hadn't been the workaholic type, consumed by studying and training like he was now.

No.

Ever since he transmigrated to this world and discovered that his parents were both wealthy and influential, he had always taken life at a leisurely pace. His high grades and genius achievements in school and university were thanks to the memories from his past life, and repeating them was, quite simply, not difficult for him.

But after the system and magic, it was like he had become a completely different person. The excitement, the discovery of the extraordinary, and the endless possibilities that had only been a dream in his past life were now real. And with all of that, he hadn't even noticed how much he had changed.

The carefree life—spending time with the opposite sex, playing sports, enjoying simple entertainment—he had pushed all of that aside. So much so that, in the past year, it hadn't crossed his mind even once.

However, today, without meaning to, the thought finally crossed his mind.

All that pressure, the obsession with constant improvement, had eased, blending in with a bit of... normalcy.

It seemed to have happened without him realizing, just from that long glance at Isabella.

"Stop… staring…" Isabella murmured, her eyes on the plate as her cheeks grew redder.

Maverick blinked, jolted out of his thoughts. "Sorry. I don't know what came over me. Maybe it's… the potions." He chuckled, trying to brush it off.

Isabella glanced at him, hesitating as her gaze lingered on him a beat too long. Her eyes drifted, tracing his bruised yet rugged features, his messy hair, the sharp angles of his face—and when she realized what she was doing, her face turned even redder.

"Are you… okay?" Maverick asked, his voice soft with a hint of curiosity.

"Fine! I'm fine!" She thrust the plate toward him, her eyes squeezed shut.

Maverick looked at her, bewildered. 'Wasn't she going to feed me?' he wondered inwardly.

Realizing her mistake, Isabella opened her eyes and found him staring at her in confusion. "Sorry," she muttered. Taking a deep breath, she inched closer and sat down beside him on the bed.

Her hands shook slightly as she picked up the spoon. Now, with the silence thick around them, she leaned in closer than before, her gaze drifting to his as she lifted the spoon to his mouth.

Maverick's heart pounded. He couldn't tear his gaze away, even as his mouth went dry and he momentarily forgot to open it.

He didn't understand why he felt this way. This wasn't the first time they had been alone together.

As if in response, Isabella's eyes flicked up, meeting his. They were so close now that they could feel the warmth of each other's breath, and for a moment, the air between them was charged, thick with something neither of them could name.

Then, almost at the same time, they snapped out of it—Maverick leaning back, while Isabella jolted up from the bed, backing away with the plate of food in her hands.

A moment of silence hung between them, then both murmured, "Sorry," in unison, which quickly turned into nervous laughter.

The laughter broke the tension in the room. Maverick leaned back, patting his stomach with his good hand as the realization hit him—he had changed.

Since magic had entered his life, he had become a different person. No, not completely different, but his emotions—his emotional side—had changed.

He lay there, reflecting on it.

He was still a teenager, not even nineteen. Sure, he was a transmigrator—eighteen years of his previous life and another nineteen years in this one.

He had grown, but not from the eighteen-year-old he remembered from his past. No, the age doesn't stack up. It doesn't work like that.

He had started over, from scratch. The past life was just that—the past. Memories.

Now, he was a young man—with teenage emotions, teenage impulses. Then magic had come, turning him into something more like a machine. But today, here he was, rediscovering what he had forgotten: that he could feel, just like anyone his age.

It was Isabella. Somehow, over the months of spending endless hours together, he had developed feelings. He hadn't noticed it until now, but it was there, clear as day.

He remembered having crushes, feeling attracted—both before magic and even in his past life. And now, here he was again, experiencing that forgotten sensation.

He laughed, a deep, relieved laugh that seemed to echo in the quiet room.

Isabella, now watching him curiously, tilted her head. "What's so funny?"

"Nothing… nothing," Maverick said, still chuckling to himself. He wasn't about to explain it all to her. She was only sixteen, and he knew better than to act on these feelings—at least, not yet.

Ever since the system had appeared, his ambition had grown, evolving into an unrelenting desire for power and mastery over magic.

He had forgotten—no, he had buried all his teenage emotions, impulses, and urges deep inside, making room only for that ambition.

But lying there, not focused on training, studies, or his system, it was this moment with Isabella that made him realize those familiar feelings again.

In this life, he was Maverick. Just a teenager. Not someone who had to grow so strong to carry the weight of the world on his back.

He had time. He didn't need to dedicate every part of his consciousness to training and becoming stronger.

He could enjoy life too, like any other kid— and not just through magic.

Maverick gave Isabella a reassuring grin, patting the bed beside him. "Come, sit. Sorry I acted a bit strange just now."

Isabella raised an eyebrow, brushing off whatever questions crossed her mind as she took a spot beside him. Though her cheeks were still flushed, she steadied herself, carefully scooping a spoonful of food for him.

Maverick didn't hesitate, taking the bite without any awkwardness. "It's good," he mumbled through a mouthful, nodding in approval.

Isabella, though still a bit flustered, managed a small smile. Now, she was the only one feeling a bit out of sorts.

"Relax, Bella," he murmured, noticing her unease. He had sensed for a while that she had feelings for him—a crush, or maybe just attraction—but he had never given it any thought before. Now, though, he couldn't quite brush it off anymore.

"So… tell me about school. Ilvermorny," he said, trying to ease the tension.

Isabella's expression softened, her tension easing. "What do you want to know?"

"Anything, really," he replied. "I've never been to a magic school, so… what's it like?"

She glanced at him, noticing how comfortable he seemed. Bit by bit, she relaxed too, recounting tales of Ilvermorny—the houses, classes, and daily life. She shared stories of her friends.

Maverick noticed she didn't mention many friends. Isabella looked frustrated as she explained that most of the boys—and even girls—who would tried to befriend her were only interested in her connections to her father.

She explained that she had learned early on to read people by paying attention to what they said and did—a skill her parents had taught her well.

They talked for almost an hour, all tension between them long gone, replaced by an easy comfort.

"Enough about me," Isabella said, adjusting the pillow on her lap and facing him. "We've spent months together, and you only ever talk about magic or training. Tell me something I don't know."

"Uh… like what?" he asked, tilting his head.

"I mean, back before you knew about magic, we were just regular friends, right? Do you have any interesting stories from then? I couldn't really tell you anything back then because I had to keep the magical part of my life a secret."

"Hey, that was you," Maverick replied with a grin. "I didn't have any secrets. We were friends, true, so I guess you knew more about my life than I knew about yours. I wasn't hiding anything because I didn't even know magic was real back then."

Isabella paused, then nodded. "True… I had to hide it, and because of that, I couldn't fully be myself around you. That's why…"

"Stop pouting, Bella," Maverick said with a reassuring smile. "You had to hide that part of yourself, and I didn't need to know back then. But still, to me, you were a good friend."

She smiled at that, and the room fell into a brief silence.

After a moment, Isabella spoke up, changing the topic. "So, the exam results come out in three days. Are you nervous?"

"Nervous?" Maverick raised an eyebrow and leaned back, looking relaxed. "Not really. I'm confident I did well on my OWLs. The NEWTs, maybe not perfect, but still, I should be pretty close. How about you?"

Isabella flashed a confident smile. "Too easy."

Maverick laughed. "Well, you are the teacher's first apprentice."

At the mention of her father, Isabella's expression changed. "Actually, Dad mentioned he's finished supervising your training, that you're ready to continue on your own. So… what's next? Are you planning to work for his company? Or... join MACUSA?"

Maverick blinked, suddenly realizing he had never told her about his plans to travel for the next two years—plans to leave in just a few days.

Just as he opened his mouth, a knock sounded at the door, and Newt's voice called from the hallway.

Before Maverick could answer, Isabella called out, inviting Newt in.

Newt entered, glancing between the two of them before setting his handy suitcase on the nearby table.

"Get some rest, Ricky," Isabella said, rising from the bed. "I'll bring dinner tonight..."

"That won't be necessary, my dear," Newt interjected. "His arm should be fully healed in another hour or so."

Isabella paused for a moment, her expression dropping slightly before she quickly masked her disappointment, and began clearing the side table.

Maverick felt a bit down too, though he couldn't figure out why. He even forgot about the serious conversation he had planned to have with her—about leaving soon. It completely slipped his mind.

After Isabella left, Newt performed a few diagnostic spells on Maverick, leaving him with some additional potions and instructions to rest.

The clarity Maverick felt after his moment with Isabella made him feel calm, his mind lighter than it had been in a long time. Sleep seemed like a good idea, so he let himself drift off.

The next two days passed quickly, but there was no moment like before when they were alone together. Even so, things felt different. Maverick was more relaxed, and Isabella seemed happier and more at ease since their talk.

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Back to the Present...

"Maverick... Maverick! "

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Author's Note:

These chapters were a bit challenging to write since I'm introducing romance into the story—and it's my first time writing romance! 

It may not be perfect.

It might be just the way you like.

And some of you may find it cringe-worthy.

Nonetheless, please leave feedback. Good? Bad? Okay? I can handle criticism! 

P.S. No R18.

Just a quick update — up to Chapter 60 is already available on Patreon!

PAT r30n [.] com / RyanFic

Thanks for sticking with me, and Happy New Year to all of you!