beasts & monsters [on hold]

- Chapter 2 -

Finally, being on his way to the great hall after putting away his clothes and books, Wilbur turns the corner and pushes open the doors to the hall.

Some other students taking notice of him as they turned their gazes to the entrance, although most aren't even remotely interested.

Wilbur made sure to avoid looking to the professor table as he was certain, his cousin would send him a smile with twinkling eyes behind those damned half-moon glasses of his.

Instead, the young Gryffindor decides to turn his gaze to the Hufflepuff table, catching the gaze of a strawberry blonde.

The Hufflepuff 5th year immediately lights up and pushes back his chair with enthusiasm as he waved at the younger student in delight.

"WILBUR! YOU'RE BACK!", he called out and immediately made a beeline to the unusually quiet 4th year. Tears started filling Wilbur's eyes, but he immediately blinked them away and instead sent a small tight-lipped smile the other student's way, who came to a stop before him.

"Lylyk, it's great to still see you in such high spirits.", he instead replied, making Artem scoff.

"I told you to call me by my first name, young man!", the taller boy said with a small frown, jutting his lower lip forward in a teasing pout.

Not even letting Wilbur say anything more, the freckled Weasley knock-off grabbed his arm and dragged the boy with him to the Hufflepuff table. Multiple smiles lighting up around them as they saw Artem accompanied by Wilbur once again.

Another few familiar faces came into view as the Gryffindor student half-heartedly listened to his peer with a set smile. Greeting the others with a nod mutely.

The brown-haired boy sat down with Artem and turned his head the Hufflepuff's way, ignoring how a specific gaze burned into the side of his face. He really didn't want to meet his eyes right now, so instead he met the gentle smile of Jackson. Surprised to see the other Hufflepuff so happy.

Even more surprising was his short hair. Since when-?

"Jackson... you have short hair now?", Wilbur asked with big eyes. He didn't remember that from his timeline. Why did that suddenly change? He was so sure that nothing would change from when he comes back to the past with time travel. But he also thought that he would be able to use the time turner to get back to the future as well, so now this probably means that everything how he remembers it will change.

Quickly, Wilbur focuses back on the story of how Jackson finally decided to cut off his rather long and bushy hair. Going against all his family's wishes of keeping it long.

Jackson Oxes had always been rather confusing to the young Gryffindor. The fellow Hufflepuff is normally seen with either a completely neutral mask or a deep-set frown. Especially when he's so focused on his books and taking notes, that the dark red-haired boy doesn't even notice his paper tearing from the force of his notes.

Or the way Jacksons gaze darkens in hatred and anger when he hears that Tom once again scored higher than him.

It is not unknown to any of the other students at Hogwarts that there is a specific one-sided rivalry ongoing between Jackson Oxes and Tom Riddle. Both competing for the top place amongst the other 4th years.

Although Tom is known for weaseling his way into a teacher's heart for his chivalry and courtesy.

Wilbur being the only one to notice the fakeness behind all that, smiles wistfully at the resentful looks sent towards Riddle.

Yes, sure, back then he had been one of the people admiring Jackson and Tom for their knowledge, but since finding out Tom's real persona, the brown-haired young man had been disgusted by Tom.

There is so much history between those two wizards, it would take years upon years to tell that tale and even so, one would need to live through it themselves to understand the mutual hatred.

But looking at the current timeline, Wilbur is intrigued if anything more is going to change.

Once again tuning back into the conversation and realizing that Artem had been trying to get his attention, the Gryffindor turns his head left, catching the dark brown eyes of a certain Slytherin along the way, before ripping away from the short but intense eye contact and pays attention to the story on how Artem Lylyk finally got his parents to buy him that new broom he had wanted.

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Leaving the great hall after dinner with his friend group of Hufflepuffs, Wilbur is engaged in a theoretical discussion about time turners and if there are more kinds of it with Jackson.

Both of them throwing in theory after theory, trying to figure out if it were possible to travel longer periods of time or if you're only able to travel back in time for a specific amount.

Of course, Jackson didn't know that the young Dumbledore already can answer some of those theories, but he's rather sure that the clever Hufflepuff will figure it out sooner than later.

Before Wilbur can depart to the Gryffindor common room, he once again feels the stare of a specific green robed student. Slowly he meets the curious and intense stare of his fellow student, keeping a steady stare. It involuntarily hardening as he observes Tom standing surrounded by his "knights" just outside of the great hall.

An involuntary shiver running down his back as he realizes that he once again caught the interest and twisted attention of Tom Marvolo Riddle.

No that was not his plan, he was hoping that he could avoid Riddle in this timeline, to keep his professor safe, his friends.

he didn't want to get involved with Riddles games and plans again, he didn't want that.

Wilbur didn't notice how his breathing got faster and his pupils widened, he didn't realize that he was suddenly turning away and speeding away from Riddle.

He also didn't notice how Levente Walker watched that moment with concern, seeing the terror in the young students' eyes.

And worse of all, Wilbur didn't notice how Toms eyes darkened with annoyance and twisted curiosity.

Instead, Wilbur Dumbledore ran. And he ran like he never did before. The only good thing being about this, is that he had learned how to blend out his surroundings, keep his steps nearly inaudible and still not run into anyone or anything.

Yes, others would be worried about Wilbur if they knew how he could look around, see masses of people but not once, register them.

But for the brown-haired boy, this was totally normal. He would even say that it had been like that even before his mother had died.

Finally, with a last deep intake of air, Wilbur comes to a stop before the painting of the Fat Lady, hurriedly searching his frazzled mind of the password.

But before he could even utter it, the Fat Lady softly smiled at him, waved and told him: "It's alright, get in, little lion."

With an odd expression of surprise, contempt and gratefulness, Wilbur steps into the Gryffindor common room, skipping the couches and immediately dragging his suddenly heavy feet up the stairs to the boys dormitory.

He was already sure that tonight, he wouldn't be getting any sleep.

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