Chapter 65: The Dragon's Display and a Summer Pact

"Alright," Molly said, her tone leaving no room for argument. "It's good that you have a plan. Now, let me see it."

Aiden blinked. "See what?"

"Don't you 'see what' me, young man," she said, plopping down into her armchair and crossing her arms as if settling in for a show. "Dragon-blooded, are we? You didn't think your aunt wouldn't figure it out after seeing those horns, did you?"

As if summoned by her words, the rest of the Weasley children thundered down the stairs.

"I want to see, too!" Ron announced.

"Hmm. A dragon-man," George mused, raising an eyebrow.

"Reckon we could pluck a few scales?" Fred added with a grin. "They'd fetch a fortune." Molly swatted him lightly on the arm.

Ginny followed them, her eyes wide with a mixture of awe and curiosity.

With a helpless smile, Aiden gave in. He pulled off his shirt and, with a sudden whoosh of displaced air, a pair of magnificent silver-white wings unfurled from his back.

The young man standing before them was a breathtaking sight, an image of otherworldly beauty. His heterochromatic eyes—one a deep sapphire, the other a warm, glowing amber—shone like twin stars. A fine layer of iridescent scales, like pearls from the deep sea, covered his skin, shimmering with every slight movement. They were arranged in a tight, perfect pattern that promised both resilience and flexibility. A slender, scaled tail, long and nimble as a serpent, swished gently behind him.

"Wicked," Ron breathed, his eyes glued to the transformation.

George and Fred, ever the opportunists, immediately reached out to touch him.

"Whoa, whoa!" Aiden yelped, sidestepping them. "Careful! Don't touch the base of the tail, it's… sensitive there."

Ginny, more reserved, reached out and gently brushed her fingers against the edge of one of his wings. The scales were impossibly smooth, and their cool touch seemed to chase away the summer heat.

After a moment, Aiden retracted the draconic features, his skin returning to normal.

"Aw, it's gone already?" Ron complained. "Let us see it a little longer!"

"No chance, you brat," Aiden shot back with a grin. "Not after you sold me out like that." He lunged for Ron, and the two began to wrestle playfully on the floor while the twins cheered them on.

Molly, satisfied, bustled off to the kitchen. Ginny, deciding she had no time for her childish older brothers, returned to her room.

After their roughhousing, the boys sat down, and Ron and the twins immediately resumed their assault on the snacks.

"Don't you eat too much of that! Dinner will be ready soon!" Mollyy's voice called from the kitchen.

The three of them jumped, and the snacks they were fighting over tumbled to the floor, saved only by their packaging.

"Poor Ginny," Ron said with mock sadness, though his hands never slowed their mission. "She's so obsessed with Harry, she doesn't even want any snacks. What a shame."

"What?" Aiden asked, his good mood souring. "Why is she obsessed with Harry? Didn't I tell you not to mention his name in front of her before I left?"

"You can't stop every newspaper and magazine in the wizarding world," George pointed out.

"Nor can you stop our History of Magic textbooks," Fred added.

The twins exchanged a look and shrugged in perfect sync.

'Right,' Aiden thought, a dark scowl forming in his mind. 'So that's how it is, dear Potter. You've stolen my sister's heart from afar. Just you wait until next term. You're going to pay for this.'

At noon, Arthur bustled in, looking exhausted. "Hi, kids! Oh, Aiden, you're back!"

The family gathered around the dining table.

"These last few days have been absolutely draining," Arthur sighed, taking a massive bite out of a sandwich. "Every available witch and wizard at the Ministry has been mobilized. We have Memory Charm specialists working around the clock at St. Mungo's."

He paused, noticing the unusual silence. Everyone was looking at Aiden.

"What is it?" Arthur asked, confused.

"Nothing, dear," Molly said quickly, changing the subject with a speed that the blissfully oblivious Arthur failed to notice. "It's just that we haven't seen Aiden for a while, and we've all missed him."

After the meal, Aiden and Arthur sat chatting while Ron and Ginny played a game of Wizard's Chess.

"So, tell me, Aiden," Arthur began eagerly, "how was your visit with your Muggle classmate?"

"It was… very good," Aiden said, trying to keep a straight face. "He and his father were very enthusiastic. Treated me very well."

"That's wonderful! By the way, did you happen to ask for me—what is the function of that yellow, duck-shaped… alchemy tool… that they have? It makes the most peculiar squeaking noise."

"Oh, that," Aiden improvised smoothly. "They said it's a toy, for passing the time while taking a bath."

"Fascinating!" Arthur beamed. "Speaking of which, I recently acquired a marvelous new item from a Muggle merchant. I'm planning to make a few… modifications. Interested in helping?" he asked, raising his eyebrows mysteriously.

"Of course, Uncle Arthur. Whenever you have the time," Aiden replied.

"It's a deal! I should be getting a nice long holiday once things at the Ministry calm down," Arthur said excitedly.

Aiden's gaze drifted over to Ron, who was idly watching the chess game. It struck him that his "Ron Training Regimen" had yet to begin. Excusing himself, he went to find Molly in the kitchen.

"Aunt Molly," he began, leaning against the doorframe, "I heard from Dumbledore that you have some… understanding… of Ron's situation." He gave her a conspiratorial wink.

Molly rolled her eyes, cutting him off before he could get too theatrical. "Ah, yes. That blasted prophecy. Honestly, I don't know what Dumbledore was thinking. If he'd just raised a proper army and finished off You-Know-Who back then, we wouldn't be in this mess."

"In that case," Aiden pressed, "have you considered using the summer holiday to… strengthen Ron's abilities?"

This caught her interest. The suggestion of improving Ron's magical strength was clearly appealing. "How would you propose we do that?" she asked.

Aiden gave her a wicked grin. "It's simple. Improving strength has two parts: theoretical knowledge and practical application. You might not have time for the theory, but you could personally train him in dueling." He then produced a massive stack of books from his spatial storage. "And I've already taken care of the theory part. Please, take a look."

He presented the books. The titles on the top few were clearly visible: Three Years of Theory, Five Years of Spellcasting, Charm Concepts for Champions, and The Advanced Magic Workbook.

Mollylooked at the pile skeptically. "Are these books reliable? I don't want you teaching Ron any bad habits."

"Don't worry, Aunt Molly. This is a curriculum I developed based on the collections of both the Prewett and Weasley families," Aiden explained. "And while the Weasley bloodline has an affinity for unicorns, its true strength lies in an incredible adaptability for guardian and defensive magic. This will build on that foundation."

Molly's eyes lit up.

"Alright," she said, her voice filled with a new determination. "It's settled. You are responsible for his theory, and I will handle his dueling instruction. We'll have Ron lapping the competition by the end of the summer."

And so, Ron's happy, relaxing holiday officially came to an end.

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