After the Sorting Ceremony, the Great Hall slowly emptied as students followed their prefects toward their house common rooms. The buzz of excitement still lingered in the air, especially among the first-years, who whispered about floating candles, enchanted ceilings, and the boy with the lightning scar.
Louis and his friends made their way up to the Ravenclaw Tower. The familiar bronze door greeted them, its guardian riddle already awaiting.
"I fly without wings, I cry without eyes. Wherever I go, darkness flies. What am I?"
"A cloud," Louis answered calmly.
The door swung open with a gentle creak. They entered the airy common room, its domed ceiling scattered with star-like lights, bookshelves running along every wall, and tall windows letting in the moonlight. Louis found his room quickly—just as he had left it before the summer. He unpacked his trunk methodically, adding the rare magical materials and notes he'd brought back. Once satisfied with the order of his belongings, he sat on his bed, closed his eyes, and activated the mental link he shared with Fleur.
"Bonsoir," he whispered in his mind.
"Louis!" Fleur's voice answered warmly, "I was just thinking about you. How was the Sorting?"
They exchanged stories—Fleur about the last quiet days before Beauxbâtons resumed, Louis about Harry Potter, the Sorting, and the curious new rule Dumbledore had mentioned.
"Something hidden on the third-floor corridor? Intriguing," Fleur said, her voice tinged with curiosity.
"Yes," Louis replied. "We'll look into it eventually. But for now, I just wanted to hear your voice."
She laughed softly, and after a few more minutes of gentle conversation, they said their goodnights. Louis drifted to sleep feeling connected, anchored, and ready for the term ahead.
The next morning marked the official beginning of classes. Students filed into their scheduled lessons, yawning and adjusting to the school rhythm. Louis and the rest of his group parted ways with Charles—who had his fourth-year electives—and began their day with Transfiguration.
Throughout the week, the pattern settled in. By day, they attended classes—Potions with Professor Snape, where Cho accidentally melted her cauldron, and Charms with Flitwick, where Evangeline showed surprising finesse. By night, they gathered—either in the library under its enchanted silencing dome or in their hidden research room deep beneath the castle.
Three days after term began, the group met in their usual alcove in the library. It was a quiet, cozy corner near a stained-glass window showing the Four Founders in swirling, animated light.
"I wanted to show you this," Louis said, carefully laying out several handwritten pages on the table.
They leaned in. His handwriting was neat and deliberate, the margins decorated with magical glyphs and theoretical notes.
"This is what I've been working on with Flamel. The link between magical potential and emotional states. It's part of the book we started last year—we've expanded the chapters."
Evangeline scanned a paragraph. "This part… the purity tiers of mana depending on emotional mastery—is this the finalized model?"
Louis nodded. "Mostly. We've categorized Four main tiers, but we're still debating if a fifth exists beyond the white stage."
Charles whistled low. "It's brilliant. We're really going to finish this book, aren't we?"
Cho smiled. "It still feels surreal that we're working on something that could redefine how the wizarding world understands mana."
They spent the next half-hour reviewing diagrams and confirming the structure of the next few chapters. Then, naturally, their conversation drifted to personal progress.
"How's your mana purification going?" asked Cho.
Louis exhaled, resting his hand on the crystal he wore. "I've nearly reached the midpoint of Rank 1. The summer work with Flamel helped a lot."
Evangeline lit up. "I think I'm close behind. Maybe one-fifth into Rank 1."
Cho nodded. "Same. I didn't expect to make so much progress, honestly."
They all turned to Charles, who grinned sheepishly. "I finally ranked up."
A small cheer rose from the table. Cho reached over to ruffle his hair. "Told you you'd get there."
"It's about time," Evangeline added, teasing.
Just as they were laughing, a voice interrupted them.
"Oh! Sorry—I couldn't help overhearing." A girl stood near their table, bushy-haired and visibly excited. "You were talking about mana purification and magical resonance ?"
Louis blinked, recognizing her. "Hermione Granger, right?"
"Yes!" she said, breathless. "I—I was looking for a book on potion ratios when I heard you. What you're discussing—it's amazing! Is this advanced magic?"
Evangeline chuckled. "You could say that. We're part of a research group."
Hermione's eyes widened. "A research group? But you're second-years!"
Charles leaned forward. "And fourth, in my case."
"I can't believe this…" she muttered, examining the notes still on the table. "This is more advanced than anything I've seen—and I've read ahead two years in most subjects."
"Would you like to sit?" Louis offered.
Hermione didn't hesitate. She dropped into the seat, scanning more of the parchment. "The emotional influence model is fascinating… You actually believe there's a quantifiable way to measure magical output tied to feelings and purity?"
"It's more than belief," Louis said gently. "We've tested it. And the results have been very convincing."
Hermione looked up at them, awestruck. "This… This is revolutionary."
The group exchanged amused glances.
"Don't be too impressed," Evangeline teased. "Louis is the one who makes it look elegant. The rest of us just provide the sarcasm."
Louis chuckled. "It's been a team effort. And we're still refining a lot of it."
Hermione's voice grew quieter. "Do you… think I could help? Maybe… join the research group?"
Her earnestness was almost disarming.
"We'll think about it," Louis replied, not unkindly. "For now, just keep being curious. That's how we all started."
Hermione smiled, her cheeks flushed. "Thank you. I'll go now—Neville's probably wondering where I went."
She hurried off, a mix of excitement and nerves trailing behind her. The group watched her leave, then burst into soft laughter.
"She's as intense as the first time," said Cho.
"But sharp," Charles added. "She understood most of the theory on sight."
Louis sat back, thoughtful. "I think she might be helpful. But we'll take our time. Our strength has always been trust and focus."
They nodded in agreement.