Chapter 103: Button and Good News

The next morning, Sean and a remarkably composed Blaise walked into the Great Hall for breakfast, the drama of the previous night seemingly forgotten. The air was thick with the smells of bacon and toast and the cheerful, echoing din of hundreds of students catching up after a long summer apart.

As was tradition, halfway through the meal, a blizzard of owls swooped in through the high arched windows, dropping letters and packages onto the house tables below. Sean paid them little mind, methodically working his way through a plate of scrambled eggs, until he spotted a familiar, magnificent shape. His own owl, Rob, now noticeably larger than the other birds, soared through the rafters. Sean put down his knife and fork, clearing a space on the table.

With a soft thud, Rob landed, his talons clicking on the ancient wood.

"Here you go, Rob," Sean said, pushing a small bowl of nuts and smoked fish toward him. The owl immediately dipped his head and began to feast.

Sean untied the package from Rob's leg. Inside was a letter from his parents. As he read, his usually impassive expression shifted. A flicker of surprise, then a slow wave of something else—a deep, unadulterated joy that was so rare for him it felt foreign.

Blaise and Jensen, who had just sat down, noticed the change immediately. "Sean, what is it?" Blaise asked, leaning forward with undisguised curiosity. "You look like you've just won the lottery."

Sean carefully folded the letter along its original creases and slid it back into the envelope. A wide, genuine smile lit up his face, transforming his features. "A letter from home," he announced, his voice holding a note of quiet wonder. "My mother is pregnant. I'm going to have a brother or sister."

The news of a new life, a new anchor in this world, settled into a warm space in his chest he hadn't known was empty.

"That's fantastic news!" Blaise exclaimed, his own face breaking into a grin. "A little Bulstrode! Maybe in a few years, they can come to Hogwarts and see what a legend their big brother is." Sean and Jensen both chuckled at that.

Sean tucked the letter safely into an inner pocket, then reached back into the package Rob had delivered. His fingers closed around a familiar leather bag—the one Aldrich had enchanted for him at Beauxbatons. He could feel the dense, heavy presence of its contents within. His custom-made shield and flail, repaired and reinforced, had been returned.

Good, Sean thought, a grim sense of satisfaction settling over him. I have a feeling I'll need them this year.

Just as he was putting the bag away, a deafening roar echoed from the Gryffindor table, silencing the entire hall. He looked up to see Ron Weasley cowering before a scarlet-red Howler, which was bellowing in his mother's furious voice. The sheer volume of her maternal rage was a force of nature, quieting not only the Gryffindor table but most of the Slytherins as well.

After thoroughly dressing Ron down for the flying car incident, the Howler's tone softened as it offered a brief, proud congratulations to Ginny on her sorting into Gryffindor. Then, its duty done, it burst into flames and turned to ash, leaving a ringing silence in its wake.

"Whew," Blaise breathed, a look of genuine relief on his face. "It's finally over. You know, I sometimes complain about my mother, but at least she's gentle. If I had a mother who sent Howlers to school, I don't think I could ever show my face again."

Sean looked at his friend and smiled. "Every mother is different, Blaise," he said, his voice softer than usual. "They're people, just like us. They have their flaws. As long as you know they love you, you should try to tolerate them, just as they tolerate us."

He knew Blaise harbored a deep resentment toward his own mother, a painful subject he wouldn't dare broach directly. But his friend's comment had provided a small opening, a chance to offer what little wisdom he could.

Blaise seemed to understand the weight behind the words. He gave Sean a small, knowing smile, but for once, said nothing. He fell silent, slowly and thoughtfully finishing his breakfast. When the last bite was gone, the usual, carefree Blaise returned. He and Sean stood up, said their goodbyes to Jensen, and headed off to their first class of the term: Transfiguration, shared with the Ravenclaws.

The second-year curriculum was a clear step up from their first. When they entered the classroom, they found a small, transparent box on each desk. Inside each box was a single, thumb-sized beetle, its legs twitching nervously.

Professor McGonagall stood at the front of the room, her expression as stern and focused as ever. "I see no need for introductions," she began, her voice crisp and cutting through the low chatter. "Let us begin."

She held up one of the beetles for the class to see. With a single, elegant tap of her wand, the beetle transformed. There was no flash, no bang, just a seamless, fluid change, its chitinous shell melting and reforming into an exquisite, antique-looking agate button.

"There is a beetle in front of each of you," she instructed. "I want you to turn it into a button. Any kind will do. The more detailed and exquisite your creation, the better. The student with the most impressive result will earn ten points for their house."

As she finished, the eyes of nearly everyone in the room—Blaise, the Ravenclaws, even Professor McGonagall herself—all turned to Sean.

Under the weight of their collective gaze, Sean gave a light cough. He opened the box, took out the beetle, and raised his wand. There was a moment of intense focus, his eyes narrowing as he visualized the final product. With a gentle, precise tap, the beetle began to spin, a blur of motion. In seconds, it had transformed into a gleaming silver button, intricately inlaid with tiny shards of emerald, a design both luxurious and unmistakably Slytherin.

(End of Chapter)

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