The Return of Slytherin Chaos – Mandrakes, Pixies, and Howlers, Oh My!

As Harry, Raja, and Ron stumbled out of the battered flying car, they took a moment to reflect.

Harry sighed. "You know, for once, I'd like to arrive at Hogwarts normally."

Raja clapped him on the back. "Where's the fun in that? This is much more exciting."

Ron groaned. "Dad's gonna kill me."

Before anyone could reply, a very angry-looking Argus Filch appeared out of nowhere, glaring at them like they had personally insulted his ancestors.

"Well, well, well," Filch sneered, rubbing his hands together like a villain. "I knew you lot wouldn't last long this year."

Raja, ever the troublemaker, grinned. "Ah, Mr. Filch! How's Mrs. Norris? Still giving people heart attacks?"

Filch's left eye twitched. "She is in perfect health, thank you very much."

Before Filch could continue his verbal assault, Professor Snape swooped in, armed with a newspaper.

Snape slammed the paper on the desk. "Explain."

Harry and Ron peeked at the article:

MUGGLES SHOCKED AS FLYING CAR SPOTTED OVER LONDON

Raja whistled. "That's some front-page material. Good press for Hogwarts."

MAYA: "Master, this level of chaos is becoming routine for you."

Raja: "At this point, I should charge admission fees."

Snape's glare could have burned through steel. "You three have not only endangered the secrecy of the wizarding world but also damaged the Whomping Willow. If it were up to me, you would be expelled immediately."

Harry gulped.

Ron turned pale.

Raja yawned. "Boring."

Just then, Dumbledore and McGonagall entered.

McGonagall folded her arms. "They won't be expelled."

Snape's eye twitched. "Excuse me?"

"They will receive detention," McGonagall continued, completely ignoring Snape's suffering. "And letters will be sent to their families."

Harry and Ron sighed in relief. Raja gave Snape a smug grin, and Snape, in return, glared with the intensity of a thousand suns.

Dumbledore, seemingly uninterested in all of this, hummed. "Ah, shall we return to the feast? I've been dying to try the custard tarts."

As they left, Harry spotted a suspicious-looking envelope addressed to Filch titled 'The Basics of Magic'.

Filch snatched it like a guilty man hiding a secret hobby and scurried away.

Herbology class was off to a great start with Professor Sprout leading them into Greenhouse Three.

"Today," Sprout announced, "we'll be working with Mandrakes!"

Hermione's hand shot up. "Mandrakes are used to cure petrification, but their cries can be deadly."

Sprout nodded approvingly. "Five points to Gryffindor."

The students put on earmuffs before yanking out the small, shrieking plants.

Neville, despite having protection, looked seconds away from fainting. His Mandrake wiggled violently, making him wobble dangerously.

Raja, with reflexes sharper than Snape's sarcasm, grabbed Neville's robe and steadied him.

Draco, meanwhile, poked his Mandrake for fun.

The Mandrake bit him.

Draco shrieked louder than the plant itself. Raja cackled. "Oh, karma is a wonderful thing."

Professor Sprout sighed but awarded Raja points for both saving Neville and handling his Mandrake like a pro.

Back in the Great Hall, Ron was fighting for his life trying to fix his broken wand.

Meanwhile, a hyperactive first-year named Colin Creevey ran up to Harry, camera in hand.

"Can I get a picture with you, Harry? My Muggle family never believed me!"

Ron muttered, "Imagine that."

Then, Colin turned to Raja. "Oh! Can I get a picture of you, too?"

Raja immediately struck several model-like poses.

MAYA: "Master, are you truly incapable of resisting attention?"

Raja: "Maya, I am a gift to the world."

Colin, eyes shining, took way too many photos.

Before Harry could reply, Errol crash-landed into the table, delivering Ron's Howler.

"RONALD WEASLEY! HOW DARE YOU STEAL THAT CAR! YOU ARE IN SO MUCH TROUBLE—Oh, congratulations, Ginny, on making Gryffindor—BUT BACK TO YOU, RONALD—"

The letter exploded dramatically, and the Slytherins howled with laughter.

Defense Against the Dark Arts had barely started, and already Lockhart was unbearable.

He grinned at the class. "I am Gilderoy Lockhart—Order of Merlin, Third Class, and five-time winner of Witch Weekly's Most Charming Smile Award!"

The girls swooned.

The boys looked betrayed.

Raja, to everyone's horror, acted like a fanboy.

Lockhart beamed. "Ah, a man of taste!"

Then, he handed out a quiz—all about himself.

"What is Gilderoy Lockhart's favorite color?" (Answer: Lilac)

"What is his greatest achievement?" (His own hair-care potion line)

To everyone's shock, Hermione and Raja got perfect scores.

Ron, horrified, whispered, "You… actually read his books?"

Raja grinned. "Of course! The man is hilarious!"

MAYA: "Master, this is embarrassing."

Raja: "Let me have this."

Lockhart clapped his hands. "Time for practical defense!"

He released a cage full of Cornish Pixies.

The room erupted into chaos.

Neville was lifted onto the chandelier.

Hermione got her hair yanked.

Lockhart tried casting a spell—

"Peskipiksi Pesternomi!"

—And absolutely nothing happened.

A pixie stole his wand. A skeleton model crashed to the floor.

Lockhart, panicked, ran to his office and locked the door.

Raja, shaking his head, waved his wand. "Immobulus!"

The pixies froze mid-air.

Neville, still stuck on the chandelier, groaned. "Why is it always me?"

Then, Neville slipped—falling straight into Raja's arms.

Raja caught him princess-style.

Ron facepalmed. "This is getting ridiculous."

MAYA: "Master, your nickname 'Guardian Fairy' is truly living up to its reputation."

Raja grinned. "I aim to please."

To Be Continued…