Fleur crossed her arms defensively, her blue eyes flashing with determination. "Harry is the perfect man," she declared confidently, her accent thickening slightly with her rising emotion. "Why wouldn't you want to be with him, Tonks?"
Tonks's cheeks flared with color, matching the rapid shifts in her hair from pink to purple. She stammered, looking utterly flustered. "That's-that's not what this is about at all! This is my job!" She hesitated briefly, her embarrassment evident before she finally admitted, lowering her voice shyly, "Though yes, Harry is very good looking."
A chorus of grumbling erupted further down the Gryffindor table, catching my attention. Dean, Seamus, and a few other boys were clustered together, their expressions ranging from amused to genuinely frustrated. Dean threw his arms in the air dramatically, exaggerating his despair. "How is it fair? Harry's harem just keeps expanding, and we're left sitting here like complete idiots."
Seamus nodded vigorously, stabbing a sausage with his fork. "Exactly! It's not like we're trolls or something. We're decent-looking lads, aren't we?"
Neville chuckled good-naturedly, attempting to console them. "Come on, guys. Harry doesn't mean anything by it. It just sort of happens around him, you know?"
"That's the whole point!" Dean exclaimed in mock outrage. "He doesn't even have to try! Girls literally fight over sitting next to him. Meanwhile, I can't even get one of them to glance my way!"
I bit back a chuckle, taking the opportunity provided by their distraction. I quietly stood up from the table, leaving the two women arguing behind me, and swiftly scooted a short distance down the long Gryffindor bench. I slid comfortably onto the seat right next to Ginny, who was currently chatting animatedly with Lavender, Jasmine, and Parvati.
Ginny noticed me first, turning her head with surprise before her eyes lit up happily. Lavender, meanwhile, looked at me with raised eyebrows and a playful but slightly jealous smirk. "Really, Harry?" she teased, leaning closer with mock indignation. "You've got yet another girl fighting over you already? You're becoming quite the playboy."
I laughed softly, rubbing the back of my neck sheepishly. "Believe me, I didn't start that argument," I said honestly. "I'm just an innocent bystander."
Lavender rolled her eyes dramatically while Ginny giggled softly, her cheeks flushed as she leaned against me slightly.
"Sure, Harry," Lavender said dryly, but her smile was warm and playful. "Totally innocent. We all believe you..."
I glanced further down the table and spotted Hermione sitting by herself, tucked away toward the edge, her nose buried in a thick book. She looked completely absorbed, lips moving silently as she read. I wasn't bothered by it-sometimes Hermione just wanted to be alone, and I respected that. It was her way of unwinding and keeping ahead in her classes.
My gaze wandered to the Ravenclaw table, where Gabrielle was laughing softly with Sona and Tsubaki. The three of them looked like old friends, Gabrielle's silvery hair catching the light as she leaned in, smiling warmly at my aunt. It was strange but comforting, seeing my younger veela lover and Sona getting along so well. There was a calmness to their conversation, a quiet understanding that made the whole Great Hall feel less chaotic for a moment.
I turned my attention back to Ginny, who had just nudged me and was watching the older, pink-haired girl-Tonks-arguing with Fleur near the front of our table. "What's up with them?" Ginny asked, raising an eyebrow. "Who's the pink haired girl supposed to be?"
"That's Tonks-well, technically Nymphadora Tonks, but she'll hex you if you use her first name. She's an Auror, like a magical cop. The Ministry assigned her to keep an eye on me after all the assassination attempts."
Ginny's eyes widened a bit, clearly impressed. "She doesn't look like a cop," she said, sneaking another glance at Tonks's vibrant hair. "She looks more like she'd be fun at a party."
"Lavender was the first to speak up, her voice bright. "Honestly, I'm just glad the Ministry is finally taking Hogwarts security seriously for once," she said, tossing her hair back. Parvati nodded in agreement. "Yeah, it's kind of reminding me of our first year all over again."
I frowned, curiosity piqued. "Wait-what happened your first year? I didn't start until fourth, remember?"
Lavender grinned at me, clearly enjoying the chance to tell the story. "It was absolutely mental. We were sixteen and had no clue what we were doing. It all started on Halloween. A troll got loose in the castle while we were all at dinner-"
Parvati interrupted. "-and then one of our professors turned out to be completely evil! He tried to steal some magical stone. For some reason, the three of us thought it was a good idea to play heroes and stop him. We had to go on a whole quest at first to find clues and everything. And then we had to get through a maze of death traps."
Lavender rolled her eyes and smirked. "Yeah, we tried. Parvati and I got knocked out after that evil giant chess set. Jasmine was the only one still standing, so she faced him alone. His name was Quirrell. And she totes killed him, even though she won't openly admit it. He was never seen again after she confronted him. Our girl here is a badass," Lavender said while wrapping her arms around Jasmine's shoulder, making the glasses-wearing brunette blush for a moment before she looked sad.
I turned to Jasmine, raising an eyebrow, and she shrunk down in her seat. "I... I don't really want to talk about it," she muttered, fiddling nervously with her sleeve.
That story managed to tell me a whole lot about these girls and absolutely nothing at the same time.
"Also, that was the last time we got mixed up in anything that dangerous! We learned our lesson." Lavender finished explaining.
"We sure did," Parvati added, shaking her head. "My nerdy Ravenclaw sister told our parents and they almost pulled me out of Hogwarts. They only let me stay if I promised I wouldn't get involved in any more trouble. I had to swear I'd be a 'good girl.'"
That made me grin, unable to resist teasing her. I leaned in with a flirtatious smirk. "Oh, and are you a good girl now, Parvati?"
Parvati's dark skin flushed, and she squirmed in her seat, trying not to smile. "Shut up, Harry," she muttered playfully...
"It really sucks that Ron was born a year before me," Ginny cut in suddenly. She sighed softly, pushing a strand of fiery red hair behind her ear. "I always felt left out, you know? You lot-" she gestured to Lavender, Jasmine, and Parvati, "-always seemed so close. And apart from Luna, who's off in Ravenclaw anyway, there's not exactly a lot of girls my age to talk to."
Lavender leaned forward a little, giving Ginny an apologetic look. "Oh, Ginny, we're sorry. Honestly, we'd have loved hanging out with you more. It's just, you know...your brother Ron always kind of creeped us out."
Jasmine and Parvati both nodded immediately, looking guilty.
Parvati winced slightly. "Yeah. We never meant to ignore you or anything, Gin. But Ron was always so...awkward and weird around us. We ended up just avoiding you by association, I guess."
Jasmine's voice softened sympathetically. "But now we all feel pretty bad, considering what we found out about Ron. I mean, no one knew he'd been mind-controlled for four whole years."
Ginny quickly waved off their apologies, shaking her head firmly. "Don't worry about it. Honestly, none of my brothers noticed either-and my parents were totally clueless. No one's blaming any of you."
She paused for a second, glancing down at the table, before brightening just a little. "Anyway, Ron's getting better at St. Mungo's. They say he might even come back to Hogwarts in a week or two. So that's...good, I guess."
Lavender, Jasmine, and Parvati exchanged uneasy looks, then glanced toward me with uncertainty clear in their eyes.
I shrugged lightly, meeting Ginny's hopeful gaze. Truth be told, I didn't particularly care about Ron one way or the other. We'd never gotten along, and knowing his attitude wasn't fully his fault didn't suddenly make us best friends.
Still, Ginny clearly wanted some reassurance, and I wasn't about to disappoint her. Putting on a sympathetic expression, I reached out and lightly squeezed her hand. "That's good news, Ginny. I'm glad your family's finally getting some answers. I'm sure he'll be back to normal before long."
She visibly relaxed, smiling gratefully and squeezing my hand back. "Thanks, Harry. I really appreciate that."
Lavender leaned closer, giving Ginny a warm smile. "We'll make up for lost time, okay? Hang out with us anytime."
Ginny's eyes brightened happily. "I'd love that."
I suddenly snapped my head toward the large doors at the front of the Great Hall. My entire body instinctively tensed as I sensed multiple devils approaching. Ones whose magical signatures I didn't recognize.
Seconds later, the grand doors swung open with a heavy creak. Hagrid stepped inside, smiling proudly as he led a group of unfamiliar devils into the Great Hall. All around me, students turned in curiosity, a murmur of voices breaking out at the newcomers' dramatic arrival.
My attention immediately fixed on the two breathtaking women at the front of the group. My eyes widened involuntarily as I took them in.
The first girl who stepped into the hall was absolutely gorgeous, a tall beauty with cascading crimson-red hair that fell in silky waves around her shoulders. Her eyes were a vivid, striking blue that seemed to glow slightly, even from this distance. My gaze drifted lower, landing helplessly on her incredible figure. Her curves were mind-blowingly voluptuous, her bust so large and round beneath her tight clothing that I felt a rush of heat straight down to my groin just looking at her.
Hell, I'd thought Amelia Bones had massive tits this morning, but this girl might actually have her beat. She walked with a confident grace, her hips swaying hypnotically with every step she took.
Beside her was a second girl, easily just as captivating as the first, but with an entirely different allure. She was tall, strikingly beautiful, obviously of Japanese heritage, with sleek, midnight-black hair that flowed straight down her back like polished silk. Her eyes were a deep, enchanting purple, and her features held a seductive maturity. Like the redhead, this woman also had a body that was outrageously voluptuous. Her breasts were just as large and round, stretching the fabric of her clothes almost obscenely.
Just seeing these two beauties walking together caused a heated stirring beneath my robes, and I had to shift slightly in my seat, suddenly aware of just how aroused I was becoming.
Judging by their immense magical auras and the authoritative confidence they radiated, I knew instantly that they had to be the king and queen of this new devil peerage. It was clear by the way they carried themselves, stepping into the Great Hall as though they owned the place.
Behind them walked three more devils, two shorter girls and a handsome blonde guy who scanned the hall curiously. Their magic wasn't as powerful as the two stunning women in front, but it was still considerable.
All around me, students were whispering excitedly about these new arrivals, but I hardly paid attention to any of it. My focus was entirely captured by the two devastatingly sexy devils leading the way.
The red-haired girl lifted her eyes briefly, and for a moment, our gazes locked from across the hall.
Lavender leaned across the table, giving Ginny a teasing smirk. "Looks like you're not the sexiest redhead at Hogwarts anymore, Ginny. You've got some serious competition now."
Ginny shot Lavender an annoyed glare and quickly swung her foot under the table, delivering a sharp kick to Lavender's shin.
Lavender let out a surprised yelp, quickly jerking her leg back. "Ouch! Bloody hell, Ginny!"
Her friends Jasmine and Parvati both dissolved into fits of giggles, doing nothing to hide their amusement at Lavender's discomfort.
Ginny just folded her arms across her chest with an exaggerated pout. "She might have big boobs, but I'm still in perfect shape from all the exercise I get..." she muttered.
Ginny looked a little upset, her jaw clenched and lips pressed tight, so I slipped my arm low around her waist and pulled her close. My hand slid down to caress the soft curve of her thigh under the table, my palm pressing gently over the warm, bare skin just beneath her skirt. She shivered a little at my touch, glancing at me with those brown eyes that always seemed to flicker with challenge and affection at the same time. She turned her head and gave me a fond, almost possessive look before letting out a soft, shaky breath.
Lavender, noticing the way Ginny practically melted into me, pouted and crossed her arms.
Ginny stuck her tongue out at her, then shifted in closer, the muscles in her slender body tense but eager as she pressed herself against my side.
Dumbledore rose from his chair at the head table. Immediately, the room quieted down, students all turning their attention toward him. The Headmaster smiled gently, his eyes twinkling as he spoke. "Students, tonight Hogwarts is fortunate enough to welcome yet more transfer students into our halls. As per our proud tradition, these students shall be sorted into their houses."
Professor McGonagall stepped forward briskly, carrying the familiar stool and the raggedy old Sorting Hat in her hands. She placed the stool firmly in front of the staff table, then set the hat carefully atop it. McGonagall looked down at a piece of parchment in her hand. "Gremory, Rias," she announced clearly, her voice ringing through the hall.
My eyes widened immediately at the name. What the hell was Rias Gremory doing here at Hogwarts? She was the younger sister of Sirzechs Lucifer himself-one of the four Maous of the Underworld. Same as my mother.
Rias was supposed to be busy managing her own territory back in Japan. So why the hell was she suddenly transferring to Hogwarts?
Confused, I quickly glanced across the hall, catching Sona's eye at the Ravenclaw table. My aunt gave me a slightly sheepish, apologetic look, a faint blush on her cheeks. She obviously knew something about this and hadn't bothered telling me beforehand.
Great. More surprises.
Rias calmly stepped forward, confidently walking over to McGonagall. She moved with natural grace, drawing the attention of every student in the hall.
Professor McGonagall placed the Sorting Hat on Rias's head.
"Hufflepuff!" it shouted almost instantly.
Rias shrugged as she gently removed the hat and handed it back to McGonagall. She turned and walked gracefully toward the applauding Hufflepuff table, giving them a polite nod. The house was obviously thrilled to have her, eagerly making space for their gorgeous new addition.
