Little Heirs Gathering (1)

The air was still abuzz with excitement and curiosity after the reassessment tests.

As part of the process, each student had been given a duplicate of their results, conjured by the professors with the Geminio Charm.

Nero stared at his parchment one last time, his eyes lingering on the glowing symbols of "EX" and "SS." Pride bubbled up within him, but so did the relentless curiosity to uncover the secrets of the crystal that had evaluated them.

Tucking the parchment into his robes, he made his way to the Great Hall.

Lunch was in full swing, the hum of chatter and clinking cutlery filling the air. He quickly grabbed a seat, enjoying a plate of roast chicken and potatoes while the conversations of other students swirled around him. Despite the noise, his mind was elsewhere. 

Once he finished eating, Nero's gaze scanned the hall, locking briefly with Lilith, Alaric, and Ember. A subtle nod passed between them, and without a word, the four heirs moved in unison toward the garden.

They settled on the stone benches near a cluster of blooming flowers, the soft hum of magic emanating faintly from the enchanted plants. The calm serenity of the garden was a sharp contrast to the chaos of the Great Hall.

Ember was the first to break the silence, her usual energy undeterred. "You guys won't believe it," she began with a wide grin. "I've made a crazy amount of friends in Gryffindor! They're loud, chaotic, and hilarious. Just my kind of people!"

She leaned back, laughing to herself.

"Oh, and did you see Snape's face during lunch? It was still nothing compared to when I tried to hack at the crystal with my dagger? Priceless! I swear." 

Nero chuckled, raising an eyebrow. "You tried to hack at the crystal? Did you manage to chip it and get a fragment?"

Ember shook her head, still grinning. "Nope. Some weird magic repelled my dagger, sent it flying right back toward Snape! I thought I'd be in trouble, but honestly, the look on his face made it so worth it. He looked like someone just hexed his hair back to greasy mode."

Lilith smirked, crossing her arms. "That makes sense," she said thoughtfully. "When I cast Bombarda on it, it felt like the magic was absorbed entirely. It didn't even leave a scratch."

The others turned to her, curious. Ember tilted her head. "Wait, you tried to blow it up?"

Lilith's pale cheeks flushed a faint pink. "I thought it would be the best way to showcase my magical talent," she admitted, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.

Alaric burst out laughing, his deep voice carrying through the garden. "You lot are absolute lunatics."

He leaned back, his hands behind his head. "The professors must think we're disasters waiting to happen. At least I didn't try to destroy the thing. I simply attempted to communicate with it."

Lilith raised an eyebrow. "Communicate? With a crystal?"

Alaric nodded sagely. "There's more to it than meets the eye. I could sense the presence of an ancient being within it, likely tied to ancient magic. But, for whatever reason, it ignored me or stayed dormant."

He glanced at the others with a smirk. "To be blunt, the rest of you behaved like absolute weirdos. Don't be surprised if the teachers start keeping a closer eye on us."

Ember rolled her eyes, a playful smirk on her lips. "Oh, please. Like you're any less weird, Mr. 'I-talk-to-ancient-crystals.'"

"Come on, guys, you should know we don't get a second chance to make a first impression," Nero quipped, his laughter bubbling over as he wiped a tear from his eye. His friends' stories were nothing short of entertaining.

Lilith smirked, tilting her head curiously. "And what about you, heir Ravenclaw? What's your story? Surely you didn't just stand there like a model student."

Nero coughed, his face a picture of mock innocence. "Well, when it was my turn, I... uh... might have asked the professors if I could dismantle the crystal. You know, for research purposes."

For a moment, the group stared at him in stunned silence, their expressions a mix of disbelief and amusement.

Then Ember burst out laughing, doubling over as she clutched her sides. "You see? You're just like us!"

Her laughter was infectious, and soon all four of them were laughing together. For a brief moment, the weight of expectations and the grandeur of their lineage faded, replaced by the simple joy of camaraderie.

When the laughter subsided, Ember leaned forward, a spark of mischief in her eyes. "Alright, enough about the crystal. Let's compare our talents. I'm curious to see who's the real prodigy here."

Alaric chuckled, crossing his arms as he leaned back against the bench. "Alright then, but let's focus on our outstanding talents and above. No need to embarrass anyone with the lower stuff."

Lilith raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at her lips. "Confident, aren't we? Alright, heir Hufflepuff, why don't you start? Show us what makes you so special."

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2nd chapter of the day as promised (2/2)

50 chapters ahead on Patreon (Suiijin): Chapter 72: Sebastian's Test