As Harry, Raja, and Ron stumbled out of the battered flying car, they took a moment to reflect.

Harry sighed. "You know, for once, I'd like to arrive at Hogwartsnormally."

Raja clapped him on the back. "Where's the fun in that? This ismuchmore exciting."

Ron groaned. "Dad's gonnakillme."

Before anyone could reply, a very angry-lookingArgus Filchappeared out of nowhere, glaring at them like they had personally insulted his ancestors.

"Well, well, well," Filch sneered, rubbing his hands together like a villain. "Iknewyou lot wouldn't last long this year."

Raja, ever the troublemaker, grinned. "Ah, Mr. Filch! How's Mrs. Norris? Still giving people heart attacks?"

Filch's left eye twitched. "She is in perfect health, thank you very much."

Before Filch could continue his verbal assault,Professor Snape swooped in, armed with a newspaper.

Snape slammed the paper on the desk. "Explain."

Harry and Ron peeked at the article:

MUGGLES SHOCKED AS FLYING CAR SPOTTED OVER LONDON

Raja whistled. "That's some front-page material. Good press for Hogwarts."

MAYA:"Master, this level of chaos is becoming routine for you."

Raja:"At this point, I should charge admission fees."

Snape's glare could have burned through steel. "Youthreehave not only endangered the secrecy of the wizarding world but alsodamaged the Whomping Willow.If it were up tome,you would beexpelled immediately."

Harry gulped.

Ron turned pale.

Raja yawned. "Boring."

Just then,Dumbledore and McGonagall entered.

McGonagall folded her arms. "They won't be expelled."

Snape's eye twitched. "Excuse me?"

"They will receive detention," McGonagall continued, completely ignoring Snape's suffering. "And letters will be sent to their families."

Harry and Ron sighed in relief. Raja gave Snape a smug grin, and Snape, in return,glared with the intensity of a thousand suns.

Dumbledore, seemingly uninterested in all of this, hummed. "Ah, shall we return to the feast? I've beendyingto try the custard tarts."

As they left, Harry spotted asuspicious-looking envelopeaddressed to Filch titled'The Basics of Magic'.

Filchsnatched it like a guilty man hiding a secret hobbyand scurried away.

Herbology class wasoff to a great startwith Professor Sprout leading them intoGreenhouse Three.

"Today," Sprout announced, "we'll be working withMandrakes!"

Hermione's hand shot up. "Mandrakes are used to cure petrification, but their cries can be deadly."

Sprout nodded approvingly. "Five points to Gryffindor."

The studentsput on earmuffsbefore yanking out the small, shrieking plants.

Neville, despite having protection,looked seconds away from fainting.His Mandrake wiggled violently, making him wobble dangerously.

Raja, with reflexes sharper than Snape's sarcasm,grabbed Neville's robe and steadied him.

Draco, meanwhile,poked his Mandrakefor fun.

The Mandrakebit him.

Draco shrieked louder than the plant itself. Raja cackled. "Oh, karma is a wonderful thing."

Professor Sprout sighed but awarded Rajapoints for both saving Neville and handling his Mandrake like a pro.

Back in the Great Hall, Ron wasfighting for his lifetrying to fix his broken wand.

Meanwhile, ahyperactive first-year named Colin Creeveyran up to Harry, camera in hand.

"Can I get a picture with you, Harry? My Muggle familynever believed me!"

Ron muttered, "Imagine that."

Then, Colin turned to Raja. "Oh! Can I get a picture ofyou,too?"

Raja immediately struckseveral model-like poses.

MAYA:"Master, are you truly incapable of resisting attention?"

Raja:"Maya, I am a gift to the world."

Colin, eyes shining, tookway too many photos.

Before Harry could reply,Errol crash-landed into the table, delivering Ron's Howler.

"RONALD WEASLEY! HOW DARE YOU STEAL THAT CAR! YOU ARE IN SO MUCH TROUBLE—Oh, congratulations, Ginny, on making Gryffindor—BUT BACK TO YOU, RONALD—"

The letterexploded dramatically, and the Slytherinshowled with laughter.

Defense Against the Dark Arts had barely started, and alreadyLockhart was unbearable.

He grinned at the class. "I amGilderoy Lockhart—Order of Merlin, Third Class, and five-time winner of Witch Weekly's Most Charming Smile Award!"

The girlsswooned.

The boyslooked betrayed.

Raja, to everyone's horror,acted like a fanboy.

Lockhart beamed. "Ah, a man of taste!"

Then, he handed out aquiz—all about himself.

"What is Gilderoy Lockhart's favorite color?" (Answer:Lilac)

"What is his greatest achievement?" (His own hair-care potion line)

To everyone's shock,Hermione and Raja got perfect scores.

Ron, horrified, whispered, "You... actually read his books?"

Raja grinned. "Of course! The man ishilarious!"

MAYA:"Master, this is embarrassing."

Raja:"Let me have this."

Lockhart clapped his hands. "Time forpracticaldefense!"

Hereleased a cage full of Cornish Pixies.

The roomerupted into chaos.

Neville waslifted onto the chandelier.

Hermionegot her hair yanked.

Lockharttried casting a spell—

"Peskipiksi Pesternomi!"

—And absolutelynothing happened.

A pixie stole his wand. A skeleton modelcrashed to the floor.

Lockhart, panicked,ran to his office and locked the door.

Raja,shaking his head, waved his wand. "Immobulus!"

The pixiesfroze mid-air.

Neville, still stuck on the chandelier,groaned."Why is italwaysme?"

Then, Nevilleslipped—falling straight into Raja's arms.

Raja caught himprincess-style.

Ron facepalmed. "This is gettingridiculous."

MAYA:"Master, your nickname 'Guardian Fairy' is truly living up to its reputation."

Raja grinned. "I aim to please."

To Be Continued...

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com