52. Threat.

As the feast continued, Ryan couldn't help but notice that Sirius was making himself very comfortable at the staff table—especially next to a particular professor.

Professor Aurora Sinistra, the Astronomy professor, was a striking woman with smooth dark skin and long, flowing black hair. She carried herself with quiet confidence, her sharp eyes and elegant features making her one of the more admired professors at Hogwarts.

Sirius, of course, had zero subtlety.

"You know," he drawled, leaning a bit too close to Sinistra, "I always had a fascination with the stars. Especially ones as beautiful as you."

Sinistra raised an unimpressed eyebrow. "Is that so, Professor Black?"

Sirius grinned. "Absolutely. Astronomy was my favorite subject, you know."

"You failed Astronomy," Snape interjected dryly.

Sirius didn't miss a beat. "Because you were blocking my view of the stars, obviously."

Sinistra hid a smirk behind her goblet. "And here I thought you spent most of your time sneaking out after curfew."

"Guilty as charged," Sirius admitted shamelessly, flashing her a boyish grin.

McGonagall, seated nearby, sighed heavily. "If I see you attempting to charm the Astronomy professor into late-night stargazing sessions, Black, I will hex you."

Sirius dramatically clutched his heart. "Minerva, you wound me! I am a professional now."

Snape muttered something about professional idiocy under his breath, while Sinistra merely shook her head in amusement, returning to her meal.

Ryan chuckled at the exchange before turning his attention to Luna. She had been unusually quiet—at least until he noticed what she was doing.

Using her mashed potatoes, she had carefully sculpted a tiny, winged creature with an elongated snout. It was oddly detailed for something made out of food.

"What exactly are you building?" Rachel asked, watching as Luna added a small broccoli tree beside it.

"A Crumple-Horned Snorkack," Luna said dreamily.

Yue blinked. "It… actually looks kind of cute."

Luna beamed at the compliment before turning her gaze toward Ryan, eyes shining. Without a word, she opened her mouth slightly.

Ryan sighed in amusement but obliged, spearing a small bite of food from his plate and offering it to her. Luna happily accepted, chewing contentedly before returning to her food-sculpting.

Rachel shook her head with a smirk. "You've created a monster."

Ryan chuckled, feeding Luna another bite before watching her add a mashed potato Thestral next to the Snorkack.

"This might be my favorite part of dinner," Yue mused, watching Luna construct an entire scene out of food.

Ryan just smiled, shaking his head as he slipped her another bite from his plate.

~~~~

As the group made their way toward Ravenclaw Tower, the excited murmurs of students filled the corridors. Luna walked happily beside Ryan, her hand in his as she hummed a little tune, completely at ease. Rachel and Yue followed closely behind, both watching the other Ravenclaws with unreadable expressions.

When they finally reached the entrance to their common room, students began filing inside, eager to settle in. The grand, book-filled space flickered with warm candlelight, casting dancing shadows along the walls. Conversations buzzed through the air as returning students reconnected with friends.

Then Ryan tightened his grip on Luna's hand.

"I have an announcement to make!" His voice rang out, clear and commanding, immediately silencing the room.

Heads turned. The hum of chatter ceased as every eye fixed on him.

With a firm yet gentle squeeze of Luna's hand, Ryan's gaze swept across the gathered students. His tone was calm, but there was an edge to it.

"Luna Lovegood is my friend and under my protection. If I find anyone bullying her or taking her things..."

The air itself seemed to crack.

A suffocating wave of pressure erupted from Ryan, crashing over the common room like a tidal wave. Conqueror's Haki poured out in an overwhelming burst, an unseen force pressing down on every student present.

Gasps and choked breaths filled the space. Knees buckled, books slipped from trembling hands, and a few younger students collapsed outright, struggling to breathe. A fifth-year boy clutched the arm of a chair, his face drained of color. A seventh-year prefect, Robert Clearwater, locked his knees, his jaw clenched tight as sweat dripped down his brow.

Only Yue, Rachel, and Luna remained unaffected. Yue smirked, Rachel watched with an amused glint in her eyes, and Luna… simply stood still, watching Ryan with an unreadable expression.

Ryan's next words came slow and deliberate, his tone carrying the weight of an unbreakable promise.

"I'll break your arms and legs and let you spend a month in the hospital wing."

The room was utterly still. Even those who had managed to stay standing refused to so much as shift in place. A thick, suffocating silence gripped the common room, the weight of Ryan's words settling into the minds of everyone present.

Then, as quickly as it had come, the pressure lifted.

The crushing weight disappeared in an instant, leaving students gasping for air. Some clutched their chests as if they'd just surfaced from drowning. A few shook, their bodies still remembering the phantom pressure.

Luna turned to Ryan, her silvery-blue eyes shining with something warm and deep. Without a word, she stepped closer and wrapped her arms around him, pressing her cheek softly against his chest.

Ryan blinked in surprise, but his expression quickly softened. He let go of her hand and gently returned the hug.

After a moment, Luna pulled back just enough to look up at him and whispered, "Thank you."

Ryan smirked, ruffling her hair as Yue chuckled and Rachel let out a quiet snort of amusement.

Clapping his hands together, Ryan flashed a bright, carefree grin as if he hadn't just traumatized half the common room.

"Well then! It's nice to see you all again. I hope we have a fun year—welcome back!"

The students, still pale and shaken, didn't dare respond. But one thing was certain—no one in Ravenclaw Tower would ever cross Luna Lovegood.