Bets, Harpies, and Unexpected Roses
"Aaah, this year went by so fast… only a couple more months and we'll be going back home," said Daphne, lounging with a carefree air on one of the armchairs in the common room.
Around her, the atmosphere was completely different. Everyone else was buried in tasks, with exams approaching and the tension thick in the air.
Hermione could only roll her eyes and shake her head before returning to her notes. Her quill moved quickly, a reflection of the iron concentration with which she reviewed each page.
Draco, sitting not far away, ignored Daphne without bothering to say a word. He wore a serious expression, immersed in a heavy book he held in both hands.
Harry, meanwhile, was next to Neville, patiently explaining the key points that might appear on the exams, pointing out the most important lines with his finger. Both were so focused that they didn't even glance at Daphne.
The blonde frowned at being ignored, pouting like a child before letting her gaze wander around the room.
The second-year common room was spacious, almost majestic, filled with tables, chairs, and students deeply engaged in their studies. The walls were lined with shelves of books carefully selected for their year. Closer to the fireplace stood plush, high-quality sofas forming a cozy resting area. The whole place seemed deliberately designed to encourage study, as if every detail had been thought out to keep students focused.
The curious part was that every year's common room was different. Daphne had confirmed it herself: the fifth-year room, for example, was much more specialized, even with academic instruments tucked in a corner to aid the students' projects. The final-year room, on the other hand, was so packed with books that she had almost compared it to the Potter Mansion library, where one could find volumes of every kind imaginable.
In contrast, the first-year room was simple, with corners dedicated to games and activities meant to help new students bond quickly with their peers.
Remembering all that, Daphne suddenly jumped up with a mischievous smile and dashed out.
Her friends raised their eyes for a moment to watch her leave. Then, they all sighed in unison before going back to what they were doing.
"How long do you think she'll take?" Draco asked suddenly, lowering his book.
Harry barely lifted his head, as if he had been expecting that question. "Mmm… about five minutes to get down the stairs. Then, a few seconds until she runs into Astoria and Luna. They'll see her and, as always, ask why she isn't studying. They'll scold her for being a bad student and a bad girl. Daphne will feel guilty and come back with her head down. Buuut… today is Wednesday, the day Luciel usually shows up early to pester Katerina since there's no club meeting. So she'll run into him in the hall as well. And since he knows Daphne perfectly now, he'll ask her the exact same question Astoria did. That'll force her to come back again. I'd say… twelve minutes and thirty-five seconds, approximately."
Harry calmly pulled out a pocket watch and started the timer.
Draco raised an eyebrow. "You're forgetting something. Astoria and Luna always bring the youngest Weasley with them now. Adding another person means Daphne will waste extra seconds answering new questions. That might keep her from crossing paths with Luciel, who'll probably just slip past her. So I say eleven minutes and… twenty seconds."
"Alright, then it's a bet. Whoever loses will have to walk through the barrier into the girls' section," Harry said with a mischievous grin, pointing with his chin toward the nearby door. They had chosen the closest spot to it since it was the only table free for all of them together.
Draco frowned instantly, but didn't back down. "Fine. Closest one wins."
Hermione lifted her head from her notes, glaring at them. "You two are so childish. You shouldn't be making bets about your frie—… Wait, do you also make bets about me?"
The two boys exchanged a glance, silent for a second. Both remembered the small wagers they had made about Hermione: how long it would take her to lift her eyes from a book, how far she would walk while reading before bumping into a wall, or how many times she'd say "I told you so" in a single day.
"Of course not," they replied in perfect unison, completely shameless.
Hermione narrowed her eyes suspiciously but decided not to press further.
Draco returned to his book with apparent indifference, and Harry kept helping Neville. Even so, both of them checked their watches from time to time, eager to see who would win the bet.
When the twelve minutes passed, Harry smiled triumphantly and looked at Draco.
The blond pressed his lips together, clearly annoyed.
At that moment, Daphne burst in like a runaway velociraptor, a little out of breath but stopping right in front of them.
"Guys, you're not going to believe what I just saw!" she exclaimed, catching her breath. "Professor Dominic was handing a bouquet of roses to Aunt Wanda!"
Harry, who only seconds earlier had looked victorious, instantly put on a serious expression. Draco, however, began to laugh with malicious delight.
Annoyed, Harry flicked his hand, and Draco went flying straight through the girls' section barrier. When he landed on the other side, he had already turned into the female version of himself.
"Aaah!" he squealed in a high-pitched voice, standing up furiously. "Harry!"
"Another fly," Harry muttered under his breath, ignoring Draco's complaints entirely.
…
"Then, the best way to…" Dominic was giving the lecture, though he couldn't help but pause for a moment when he noticed a fixed gaze on him. He turned his head slightly and saw Harry, sitting calmly in his seat, taking notes with apparent ease. The professor cleared his throat and continued as if nothing had happened.
"To know if a witch is actually a harpy is by her rudimentary magic. And, aside from being ugly, they only have four toes on each foot. Of course, it would be rather complicated to ask someone to show their feet… especially if that someone is a harpy."
Suppressed smiles spread throughout the classroom.
"Now then, their main diet consists of children and raw liver. Not all harpies are truly evil, but the vast majority give in to their craving for tender flesh." Dominic glanced at his watch and closed his notes. "Alright, that concludes today's lesson. I hope you are preparing for your exams. I have high expectations for all of you."
He returned to his desk, calmly putting away his materials.
The students began closing their books. They always enjoyed Dominic's classes: his voice was clear, his character kind, and he had a special talent for teaching how to perfect even the simplest spells until they became useful in combat.
Draco, sitting next to Harry, nudged his shoulder lightly to snap him out of his focus.
"Let's go," he said, standing up.
Harry nodded, packed up his things, and looked up just as he saw Daphne and Hermione waiting for them at the door. He joined them, casting one last glance at Dominic before leaving.
In the hallway, the four of them began walking together.
"Are you really going to switch into 'defender mode' now?" asked Daphne, with that gossipy tone that always accompanied her and a playful smile.
"You should stop worrying so much," Hermione cut in, crossing her arms. "Aunt Wanda doesn't need you protecting her from every man who comes near. And besides, it's her decision, don't you think? Also, Professor Dominic doesn't seem like a bad person. As a teacher he's excellent… and it's clear he's very skilled in magic as well."
Harry, Draco, and Daphne all looked at her in silence.
"What?" Hermione blurted, uncomfortable under their stares.
"Do you like Professor Dominic?" Daphne asked mischievously, practically savoring the moment.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Of course not! I'm just saying he's a good teacher. Although… he is handsome…" Her voice trailed off at the end, as if she had only just realized what she'd said.
The silence that followed was even more awkward.
"It's strange, isn't it?" Hermione murmured after a moment, touching her chin in thought. "When we see him, he's very attractive. But once he's out of sight… we don't feel the same way."
Daphne observed her, surprised, and then slowly nodded. "Now that you mention it… yes. It's like knowing he's handsome, but not feeling it. As if it remains only in your mind, not as a real impression."
Harry and Draco exchanged confused looks. They had never found Dominic attractive—nor any other man for that matter. It had nothing to do with orientation or anything like that; simply, no boy ever described him as handsome. Only the girls always seemed charmed when they saw the professor. But once he was gone, they acted as if nothing had happened.
"Did you really only just notice that after two whole semesters?" came a voice from behind them.
Luciel approached with one hand raised in greeting, his ironic smile ready to stir up even more trouble.