𝗨𝗡𝗘𝗫𝗣𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗘𝗗 ━ Golden Trio Era

━chapter 24

Chapter 24
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HARRY'S HAND SHOT UP, ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT A DEFENCE LESSON FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS YEAR. He was smiling ear to ear, even Ron and Hermione threw strange looks in his direction. Perhaps he should've let them in on the plan.

Oh, well.

Professor Rosier, who was still teaching despite his new title as Headmaster, furrowed his brows when he saw Harry's hand in the air. He glanced around, but when he saw that Harry was the only one with a question, he had no choice but to pick him.

"Yes, Mr. Potter?"

Harry's cheeks hurt with the way he was smiling. He forced it away, trying to look confused and serious.

Adhara and he made this plan days ago, waiting for the right moment to initiate it. Rosier would have to start teaching them about pixies, and then another class had to go by during which they would be 'reading up on the creatures'.

"Professor Rosier, I've been reading up on pixies lately," Hermione's eyes went wide at the statement. She exchanged a disbelieving look with Ron, but Harry paid them no attention. "And I came upon this chapter on changelings, you see?"

Rosier blinked, mouth going tight. "Changelings?"

"Yes, uhm. I don't really remember which book..."

"Of course you don't."

Harry smiled. "Right. So, it said that they were like children of pixies that they exchanged with human ones? I was wondering if it was true or just folktales?"

Like the pureblood squibs they exchanged for muggleborns at Aleyne.

Ron and Hermione had picked up on what Harry was doing. They looked away, lips pressed tightly together. Rosier was giving Harry a hard stare, his jaw steeled, but Harry was the picture definition of innocent.

The class became quiet, unable to fully understand the rising tension in the room. After all, no one, save for perhaps some purebloods who were aware of the practice, understood the implications of Harry's question.

Harry tilted his head to the side. "Was it something I said?"

Rosier inhaled sharply, nostrils flaring. "No. Nothing at all. And yes, Mr. Potter, changelings are real. They aren't simply muggle fairytales."

Quiet whispers traveled around the room. Harry even heard a voice go "How terrible!". Rosier's eye twitched.

"Oh," said Harry. He knitted his brows, trying to look confused. "Then how do we recognize one? I mean, don't they blend right in? Can't anyone be a changeling?"

Rosier was gritting his teeth. His eyes flickered over the classroom. He couldn't exactly say anything in front of everybody.

"They are noticeable by the way they act," reported the man without looking directly at Harry. "Usually, they would behave very differently than the original child, despite being similar in appearance."

Ron coughed loudly, then faked a sneeze. Then coughed again.

Harry made an understanding expression. "Ohh. That's nice to know." He smiled, showing his teeth and trying to mimic the goblins from the bank. "Thank you, Professor. I'm sure we'll know how to identify changelings when we see one, now."

The man glared at Harry. "I'm sure you will."

Harry smiled to himself, pleased. Rosier looked irritated now, but this was only his class with Harry. Adhara was next.