As the second term progressed, Hogwarts buzzed with whispers surrounding the Boy Who Lived—Harry Potter. His arrival had caused a stir at the start of the year, and now, halfway through, Ezekiel had observed his journey unfold from a distance.
Harry was a Gryffindor through and through. He had formed an inseparable trio with Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, the former an easygoing, strategic thinker, and the latter a fiercely intelligent witch with a thirst for knowledge.
Ezekiel's interactions with Harry had been limited but notable.
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Ezekiel first took notice of Harry during the Sorting Ceremony. The boy's fame preceded him, and yet, Harry carried himself without arrogance, appearing almost uncomfortable with the attention.
In classes, Harry wasn't particularly exceptional, aside from Defense Against the Dark Arts, where he showed a natural instinct. In Potions, however, Snape seemed determined to make his life miserable. Ezekiel wasn't surprised—Snape had always favored his own house.
There were moments when Ezekiel crossed paths with Harry in the library or corridors. Their exchanges were polite, but Ezekiel kept his distance—the boy had enough attention on him already.
However, Harry, like most students, had heard of Ezekiel's name, especially due to his Ravenclaw Lordship and Quidditch reputation.
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One of the biggest moments between them came during the Gryffindor vs. Ravenclaw Quidditch match.
Harry, as Gryffindor's Seeker, was already proving to be a remarkable flyer. Ezekiel had seen his skills firsthand during their match, where Harry's raw talent nearly overshadowed Ravenclaw's strategy.
Though Ravenclaw ultimately lost, Ezekiel couldn't deny the boy's instinctive ability on a broom.
After the match, Harry had approached him with a hesitant but good-natured grin.
"You're a great Chaser. That feint you pulled off—brilliant."
Ezekiel had smirked. "And you're not bad for a first-year. But don't expect future matches to be that easy."
They had shared a competitive but respectful nod before parting ways.
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Rumors of Harry snooping around the castle spread like wildfire. Ezekiel knew something bigger was happening, though he chose not to interfere.
However, one night, their paths crossed in an unusual way.
Ezekiel had been returning from a late study session when he spotted Harry, Ron, and Hermione sneaking through the corridors. Their hushed whispers and hurried steps were obvious.
Instead of stopping them, Ezekiel simply observed, intrigued.
The next morning, he overheard whispers of three-headed dogs, secret corridors, and missing artifacts.
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By the end of the year, rumors of a dark plot involving the Forbidden Third-Floor Corridor intensified. While most of the school dismissed it as fairy tales, Ezekiel sensed the truth was far deeper.
When news broke that Professor Quirrell had been involved in a plot to steal the Philosopher's Stone, Ezekiel wasn't entirely surprised. The revelation that Harry had somehow stopped him—and survived a direct encounter with Voldemort—was another layer of mystery added to the boy's already infamous reputation.
Ezekiel found himself more curious than ever about Harry Potter.
As the Great Hall erupted in cheers when Gryffindor was awarded the House Cup, Ezekiel sat back, watching the Boy Who Lived celebrate with his friends.
He had a feeling that this was only the beginning of Harry Potter's story—and that their paths would cross many more times in the years to come.
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