With exams behind them, the castle of Hogwarts felt like a different place. The heavy silence of late-night revision sessions and the nervous whispers before each test were gone. In their place came laughter, relaxed conversation, and the light hum of a student body finally at ease. Though classes continued, the pressure had lifted. It was early June, and summer lingered on the horizon.
Louis and his friends had returned to their routine—but with a twist. The research notebooks were closed for now, their magical experiments set aside until the next year. Instead, they focused solely on refining their mana each evening, meeting in the Ravenclaw common room to share updates and laugh about small mistakes and old stress.
It was during one of these warm evenings, while golden sunlight streamed through the tower windows, that something changed.
Louis sat cross-legged on the rug, eyes closed, breathing steady. The mana inside him pulsed with rhythm and purpose, clearer than ever before. As he summoned it, it responded not only quickly—but with a sharpness and clarity that made him pause.
He opened his eyes.
"I think... I did it."
Cho looked up from her notes. "Did what?"
Louis smiled. "I think I've reached Rank 1."
There was a beat of silence.
Then Evangeline, sitting beside a softly glowing candle, broke into a wide grin. "Wait—seriously?"
Charles leaned forward. "Like, actual Rank 1? Verified resonance and clear purity?"
Louis nodded. "It all clicked just now. The mana isn't just responding—it's aligning with me. Like it's ready before I even reach for it."
Cho jumped up, clapping her hands. "That's incredible! Congratulations!"
Evangeline rolled her eyes, though she was smiling. "Of course you'd be the first. You've been almost there for weeks."
"I'm not surprised," Charles added. "You've been refining yours twice as efficiently as the rest of us."
They all gathered around, exchanging a mixture of playful groans and proud admiration. Louis, though modest as always, was clearly glowing—not just from his breakthrough, but from the joy of sharing it with his closest friends.
Over the next few days, Evangeline and Cho pushed even harder in their refinement. Both of them hovered just below the threshold, their mana improving with each attempt. Charles was slower, often frustrated, but patient. He knew his pace was different—and that was okay. They supported each other without pressure, always celebrating progress over perfection.
Evenings in the common room became their sanctuary. They lounged on chairs and rugs, books sometimes scattered around, but mostly just enjoying each other's company.
"No more theories until next year," Cho declared one night. "I need a break from chalkboards and glowing diagrams."
"Agreed," Evangeline said, sipping from a mug of warm butterbeer. "This summer is for rest. And maybe reading something that isn't about magical core structures."
Louis chuckled. "I'll try to restrain myself. No promises, though."
Time moved quickly after that. The castle slowly prepared for departure—the Great Hall was filled once more with travel notices, trunks stacked along corridors, and owls carrying letters home. Students lingered in their common rooms, soaking in the last few days with friends.
On the final day of classes, Louis and his friends sat together near the windows, watching the sun set behind the Black Lake. The sky was streaked with pink and gold, a reflection of the peace they all felt after such a challenging year.
"We did a lot," Evangeline said softly, resting her head on her hand. "Way more than I expected."
"We survived our first year," Cho added. "And invented a whole mana theory while doing it."
Louis smiled but remained quiet, letting their words wash over him. He looked around the room, at the people who had become his family over the past months. Friends who challenged him, supported him, and believed in him.
And then his thoughts wandered—across the Channel to Fleur. She had her exams this week, and though their mental bond was quieter than usual—likely from her focusing—he could still feel her presence like a calm warmth at the edge of his thoughts.
Now, with everything drawing to a close, he finally let himself reflect.
What a year it had been.
He had arrived at Hogwarts full of curiosity, ambition, and questions. And he was leaving his first year with answers—many of them self-discovered. He had learned not just about spells and history, but about identity, friendship, limits, and dreams.
He had found people who accepted him, who respected him, and who stood beside him through failures and breakthroughs alike.
He had reunited with Fleur in an unexpected way, strengthening their bond and deepening their connection. From the gardens of Versailles to the halls of Beauxbatons and the corridors of Hogwarts—they had woven their stories together.
As the stars began to appear above the lake, Louis stood and looked out one last time.
Tomorrow, the train would take them away.
But tonight—
Tonight was for memory.
He turned back to his friends, who were laughing about something Cho had said, and joined them with a smile.
The year had ended.