❝ The fire in my blood is both a blessing and a curse, for I will always need something to burn. ❞ —R. Sternberg

Professor Raymond has been absent the past week, so we've had a substitute for Defense. Her name is Petra Folick. The students don't seem to take her seriously. Except for me and a few others, hardly anyone bothers to do the homework she assigns us. But her presence doesn't unsettle me as much as where Raymond could be. It's like he disappeared without a trance, not bothering to tell anybody where he was heading.

Headmaster Dashawn has been absent too, for quite some time. Even longer than Raymond. Some are speculating they left the castle together. My immediate thought is they're meeting with professor McBon. Possibly at the Merryweather Manor in the island Wally took me to. Wherever that is. He wouldn't tell me the location or any further details, such as how many people work there and what they're currently up to.

During this week, Karson Richards has been weirdly approachable. Instead of giving off that air of an investigator looming over everyone's heads that we've grown to associate with him, he's more interactive. He asks students if they're doing alright, if there's any way he can assist them, if someone's giving them a hard time.

Even still, Karson keeps a perpetually watchful eye on his son, niece and nephew.

I tighten the grip on my heavy school bag. Astronomy starts in fifteen minutes and I've got to drop my O.W.L. prep textbooks in my dorm and grab my telescope. I make a left in the direction of the Gryffindor Tower, when my ears pick up the sound of arguing.

". . . Should've exposed you when I had the chance."

Rosalinda's voice.

"Honey, you wish you could." This time, Maddie Simmons. I come to a halt. "With the credibility I've gained, I could say whatever I want about you now, and people would believe me. Funny enough, I wouldn't even have to lie. I've got plenty dirt on you."

"Am I supposed to be scared?"

"You better. If you don't want to me to destroy you like I did Mayo, I suggest you keep your nose out of my bloody business."

Without a breath of hesitation, I turn the corner. My body freezes. Simmons has Rosalinda pinned to the wall by the collar of her shirt. Rosalinda's white face is beet red, her lips pursed tightly together. Just like the scenario Christine described to me some days ago.

Maddie is the first to turn her head. She lets go of Rosalinda, who wheezes as the grip around her neck loosens. I step forward.

"Threatening someone, Simmons? Should I be knocking any house points off?"

Maddie fixes her golden waves with one hand, her countenance unbothered. She throws Rosalinda a look of disdain before striding towards me in sure steps.

"If you knew anything about her," she leans in to whisper, "you'd threaten her yourself."

I frown and tilt my head. Her ice blue eyes meet mine knowingly for a second, then she brushes past me. Rosalinda's face has returned to its pale color-if not a shade whiter than natural. She adjusts her tie, her eyes darting back and forth.

"What was that all about?" I ask.

"W-what?"

"Was she threatening you? Christine told me she saw her do the same to you a couple of days ago."

She blinks rapidly. "Y-yeah, she was. She—well, she threatened to tell professor Tadlock that I—" There's a pause. "See, I didn't want you to know because . . . well, you're a Prefect and all . . . and I didn't want you to be disappointed in me." She bites down hard on her bottom lip. "I cheated on the last Charms exam, that's the thing. I'm—I'm sorry."

"You did?"

"I'm really sorry, Sibi," Rosalinda murmurs. Her voice cracks like she's about to burst into tears. "I know you don't like cheaters."

I like liars even less, I think. But I leave it at that.

The walk back to the Gryffindor Tower is awkward and silent. I can almost feel Rosalinda breaking out in sweats beside me. When we enter the common room, she spots some of her sixth-year friends at a desk and rushes over them, as if eager to get away from me.

I walk up to the girls dorm, where I find Christine curled up in bed.

"I'm awake," she speaks up before I can say anything.

Her voice sounds tired but she doesn't reek of smoke as usual, and her hair looks soft. She has showered. A small improvement, but an improvement nonetheless.

I put my O.W.L. prep textbooks on my nightstand and reach under the bed for my telescope.

"I think you were right about Rosalinda."

Christine props herself on one elbow to look at me. "What did you find out?"

I tell her about the heated interaction I walked in on, Maddie's warning and Rosalinda's explanation. A conflicted look flashes across Christine's face, like she's fighting an inner war.

"It's as I feared. Rosa's hiding something," she mutters under her breath. "I'll talk to her."

"No," I say calmly. "If something's going on and she's playing victim, do you really think she'd tell us if we got confrontational? We have to act like we've got no clue."

Her eyes are smoldering. She brings her hands to rub her face. "How many people are there left to trust, Sibi?"

"If only I could tell you for sure."

Christine shakes her head and walks to the bathroom, leaving me alone with my thoughts. Quickly, I fix my mascara on the mirror of my dresser. When she comes back out, she doesn't even bother changing out of her day clothes, but gets immediately under the covers and pulls down the curtains of her four-poster bed.

I open the door to head out of the dorm, when Rosalinda almost crashes into me. Her eyes widen in panic. She recovers by smiling briefly, then dashes inside. I say nothing.

What is she hiding? Promptly, I decide it doesn't matter. There are only two things that matter now. Who's trustworthy and who's not. Every answer that falls in between or comes with hesitations and question marks won't cut it. 

I replay Christine's words in my head as I walk out of the common room and towards the Astronomy Tower. How many people are there left to trust?

▼

Headmaster Dashawn showed up on March 12. I didn't see him, but Mike said he looked deeply troubled for some reason. His doubts were confirmed when Dashawn didn't show up during mealtimes in the Great Hall for a whole week. Professor Raymond, who also returned a couple days later, said he'd fallen sick.

"We were away," he tells me one day after class. "Had some private business to tend to and then Boden wasn't feeling too well, so he had to come back. I stayed behind to finish what we were doing, which is what delayed my return."

"Will he be okay, professor?"

Raymond clasps his hands together and clicks his tongue.

"Hard to say, Ms Mayo. I sincerely hope so." He looks up at me and attempts a tired smile. Dark bags swell under his eyes. "What have you been up to while we were away?"

I think about my secret trip to the Merryweather Manor with Wally. There's no point in hiding what I know. Raymond was there himself.

"I know about the Merryweather Manor," I say. "That's where professor McBon is hiding, isn't it?"

Raymond looks briefly confused. Then his mouth makes an 'O' shape in slow realization. He releases a light laugh and scratches his beard.

"We call it by a different name. But yes, that's correct."

I recall Wally's words. "Professor McBon's headquarters. The publishing house of our magazine."

"Precisely," he says after a pause. "How did you find out, Ms Mayo?"

Do I tell him it was Wally who showed me? I told myself if I found out anything that might help Polly, I wouldn't remain silent, despite what I promised Wally. But that didn't mean I'd sell him out. Not that Raymond would be mad at him, but I know Wally wouldn't forgive me for betraying his trust.

"Headmaster Dashawn," I lie on the spot. "When you were gone, I, um . . . snuck in his office again to see if I could find out anything, and I discovered . . . some letters from professor McBon."

Raymond's eyes scrutinize me for an uncomfortably long moment. Can he tell I'm lying? I stay as still as I can. Maintain eye contact. Not even twitch a finger.

"Interesting," he says eventually. "I mean, I certainly don't blame you for being curious. But as I told you when I first got here, there was only so much I could tell you without breaking Breeze's trust."

"I understand, sir. You've already been more helpful than both Headmaster Dashawn and Karson Richards combined, and for that I thank you." Something flits across my mind as soon as the words leave my mouth. Something Karson said that day in detention at Hagrid's. Professor Raymond doesn't know many things. And then Hagrid's words come to me. "He's been threatened."

"Pardon?"

"Headmaster Dashawn," I clarify. The realization hits me slowly. My mouth parts in a gasp. "The Ministry. That Willard bloke."

Raymond's face is blank. "I'm sorry, Ms. Mayo. I don't follow."

"That day in detention, Hagrid said the reason headmaster Dashawn has been silent is because he's been threatened. It slipped out, he didn't really want to say it. Now it makes perfect sense."

I leap to my feet and start pacing around the empty classroom to piece my thoughts together.

"It was Jeff Willard who threatened him. Karson Richards told us the story of how Willard got away with what he did during his school years and then rose to power. He doesn't want headmaster Dashawn to tell us about professor McBon's plans because if the prophecy gets fulfilled, Willard would have to pay for his crimes. You also mentioned that he did all he did out of cowardice, sir. Which means he wouldn't want to get exposed."

"I suppose not," Raymond says thoughtfully. "You're impressively intelligent, Ms. Mayo, and once again, correct. I'm afraid Jeffrey has indeed threatened Boden to keep quiet."

"That's why you had to tell me all these things instead, professor."

He nods. The bell rings before he can respond, signifying the start of lunch. Raymond rises from his seat.

"Don't worry too much, Ms. Mayo. As valid as your concerns are, nothing will happen to Boden as long as I'm here. I'll take care of it."

"Thank you, professor."

"Don't mention it." Before I can leave the classroom, he adds, "You would tell me if you found out anything else, wouldn't you, Ms. Mayo?"

"Of course, sir," I tell him. "You're the only adult I trust enough to talk about these things with."

His lips press into a thin smile. "Good."

I return the smile and bid him goodbye. Perhaps I should have asked him about Karson Richards' weirdly amicable behavior as of recently. Is there something they're hiding? I'm not as entitled as to expect professor Raymond to tell me all his business, but something seems off. Even his reaction when I realized the threat came from the Ministry . . . I expected more alarm, but his response was unnervingly calm.

How long has he known? Why didn't he tell me sooner? Has he been threatened too?

When I join Mike at the Gryffindor Table for lunch, I'm surprised to see I've received mail. Mike hands me the letter. It has my name on it. It's clearly addressed to me.

"Do you think it's from Vicky?" Mike asks.

I flip it around to check the sender. No name. No address. "Clearly not. She wouldn't be anonymous about it."

I tear the envelope and take out the letter. Crumpled old parchment. Sloppy handwriting in emerald green ink. One sentence only.

'Don't blame yourself for having trusted him.

-B.B.'

"BB . . . It's from professor McBon," I whisper. Mike leans in to peer at the letter. "Well, this was unexpected."

He looks just as puzzled as I'm feeling.

"Thoughtful of her. And she's not wrong, you know. Maybe since it's coming from a teacher this time, you'll finally listen."

"Oh, shut up." I frown and read the letter again. "Why would she send me something like this? How does she know what I'm feeling?"

"Professor Raymond must've told her. Or Dashawn. Or Karson Richards. I mean, Merlin, Sibi, you've been beating yourself up about it since the betrayal." Mike shrugs. "I'm just glad McBon's keeping an eye on us still."

"It's just so out of the blue. I didn't think she—"

"Cared that much?" I meet Mike's knowing stare. Nod. "Professor McBon is full of surprises. Honestly, one could tell me she was a Death Eater way back in the day and I wouldn't be shocked."

"She definitely wasn't a Death Eater."

"I'm just saying."

The sight of Melvin lumbering towards our table catches my eye. I fold the letter in half and shove it in my pocket.

"Hey Melvin," Mike greets him cheerily.

His smile drops when he takes notice of Melvin's expression. He's wide-eyed, face frozen in shock, his feet moving in shuffling steps. It looks like he's just seen a beast.

"Guys," Melvin says. "You won't—you won't believe what's happened."

"What's wrong?" I ask in concern.

Melvin licks his lips. Drops of sweat beam on his temples. He presses his palms on the table, his eyes darting frantically between me and Mike. I grab hold of his forearm to steady him gently.

"Headmaster Dashawn," he leans in to whisper. "He's dead."

▼

The news of headmaster Dashawn's death spread around the castle as fast as a lightning bolt strikes earth. Over the next couple of days, there wasn't anyone who hadn't heard about it. The cause of death was ruled a heart attack. The news came as a shock to everyone, but those who hadn't paid any mind to his absence or deteriorating health were the most taken aback.

The night after Melvin told me, I could hardly get any sleep. Neither could anyone else in Gryffindor. We stayed up past our usual bedtime talking about Dashawn's death, how sudden it all us, what disease he might have suffered from. Some teary-eyed, others struggling to process it.

The dejection didn't hit me until the day of the funeral. It was held near the Black Lake, two days after the news of his death broke. We raised our wands towards the sky and held a moment of silence in his remembrance, as Hagrid carried his body to the marble altar, sobbing in a way I never thought I'd ever see him sob. Perhaps it was then that the morbid reality dawned on me.

Or perhaps it was watching how many people showed up for the funeral—from Hogwarts teachers, students and ghosts, to Hogsmeade residents, the Hogwarts Express conductor and trolley lady, some shopkeepers in Diagon Alley, including Garrick Ollivander, and Hagrid's half-brother Grawp.

Boden Dashawn was adored by many. Though some thought he was a weak headmaster and magician compared to previous ones Hogwarts has had, there was no argument about his generous spirit and hospitality. Seeing him go like this, so soon, felt wrong.

I couldn't decide which was worse—the fact that Jeff Willard showed up and had to stand next to professor Raymond—or that professor McBon wasn't there. Several times during the funeral, I wondered if she even knew. Later Mike assured me she did, but was smarter than to show herself to the entire school and Ministry officials that thought her arrested.

Professor Raymond and Karson Richards held the longest speeches. Hagrid was too choked up to speak. It pained to even look at him. Jeff Willard settled on a simple 'he will be dearly missed', said in a tone devoid of any emotion. The Headboy Henry Kei, and Headgirl Stephanie Guin had prepared heart-wrenching speeches as well. There were tears.

It wasn't the first funeral I attended, but it was the one I never saw coming. Not now, not here, not like this. It wasn't Headmaster Dashawn's time.

A strange atmosphere hung around the castle after his death. An unsettling quiet. A looming sense of dread. Something about Hogwarts just didn't feel the same. First professor McBon disappeared—and everyone thought she was in Azkaban—and now headmaster Dashawn was gone. Nothing changed after his death right away, and yet it felt like everything did.

Karson Richards and professor Raymond filled in his role as admins, but it felt odd. The students who weren't part of our organization had no idea both these men were on our side. Most didn't care. I heard people in the corridors talking about how glad they were that Hogwarts was now in the safe hands of Ministry officials. It pained to hear, mostly because it was true.

The influence of the Ministry has overpowered our school now. What use are two trustworthy officials, when they couldn't openly admit they were on headmaster Dashawn's side? What use was professor McBon's freedom, if nobody had to know about it? If she couldn't even send me mail with her name and address on it, out of fear of being caught?

It wasn't until the Thursday of next week that Raymond broke the silence. A banquet was held in the Great Hall in commemoration of headmaster Dashawn. His throne chair at the center of the High Table remained empty. It looked like every teacher was avoiding even glancing at it. And then professor Raymond rose from his seat.

He approached the owl podium where headmaster Dashawn used to hold his welcoming speeches and important weekly announcements. He cleared his throat and pulled out a roll of parchment. All eyes shifted to him. Curious. Anticipating.

Raymond unfolded the parchment and placed it on the stand in front of him. His face looked morose, but younger. He had trimmed his long brown beard, and wore the same wrinkle-free grey suit and hat he had on when he first arrived.

"Students," he spoke up. "On this day last week, we lost an incredible man, and even more incredible wizard. Boden Grant Dashawn was one of the kindest souls I've had the pleasure of meeting, and I'm eternally grateful to be standing now where he once stood. His death was unexpected and sudden, so please forgive me if I repeat myself on anything I've already mentioned at his funeral. In truth, the reality of it has not fully dawned on me yet. We lost a wonderful spirit, not just as a school, but also as a wizarding community. There will be no second Boden Dashawn."

He pursed his lips and closed his eyes for a moment. Everyone clapped in meek encouragement. I remember shedding even more tears then. When Raymond continued, his voice was strained but determined, laced with pride.

"Because he kept a lot to himself, it wasn't all that shocking to find out Boden had written out a will, in case death came for him," he continued. "And the first thing on that will was his desire to pass down his post as Headmaster of Hogwarts to me. I was more than hesitant to accept. I've known Boden since we were children, we attended Hogwarts together. Twenty two years ago, I was desperate for a job and he had upgraded to the position of Deputy Headmaster. And out of the kindness of his heart, he generously offered me a position as Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher.

"I'm sure if some of you asked your parents, who attended Hogwarts at the time, they'd tell you they remember me. Returning to this position over a month ago was humbling and nostalgic. I enjoy every second that I get to teach each and every one of you. No words will ever properly convey how appreciative I am. So to be asked to step into his position as Headmaster of this wonderful school that was, is, and always has been a home for me . . . it's most surreal."

He inhaled sharply and I watched his eyes water from the distance. The enchanted ceiling overhead depicted a dark and stormy sky.

"I felt undeserving of such a title," Raymond continued, "a title I wasn't meant to have, at least not this soon and not like this. As tragic as this turnabout is, I have realized the only way I can show my gratitude towards this long-term friend and colleague, is to humbly accept his dying wish and do justice to the position he's asked me to step onto.

"Of course, I don't think myself capable of being a good leader with as little experience as I have. Another man that Boden asked to fulfill part of that role, is someone who is the embodiment of humility and integrity." Raymond gestured with his hand to Karson Richards. "Even though my name will take the title of Hogwarts Headmaster, it would be selfish to claim all the credit. I'll have major help from the person who will replace me as Deputy Headmaster, Karson Beau Richards."

There was applause. Karson stood up solemnly, hand pressed to his chest. He bowed his head. I remember the sound of thunder that made me jump in my seat, which came from the bewitched ceiling.

"Lastly, and most importantly," Raymond said. "Boden asked me to fulfill a duty he couldn't, due to his life being cut so short. A duty that is essential in this time more than ever. Some of you may be oblivious to the strained relationships between Hogwarts and the Ministry of Magic. That is, if you've been paying no mind to the numerous Daily Prophet articles and press conference in which the Minister, Zico Peterson and his Adviser, Jeff Willard have spoken on. But for most of you, I doubt this is news. One thing that needs to be addressed is what happened in this school no longer than two months ago."

There was a collective intake of breath. I looked at Mike incredulously then. Neither of us could believe what he was about to say.

"An undercover organization that ran a magazine by the name of The Case of Dolphinuses was exposed," he continued. Everyone's necks snapped to me, as if it was my name he called. Don't look at them, Sibi, I remember telling myself. Don't look at them. "Unless you've been living under a rock, you surely must have seen the warnings Jeff Willard has spread all over the press. About the lack of credibility of the magazine, about Breeze McBon's alleged motives for running it, about the revolt that former student and Dolphinus Polly Kin incited before being taken.

"Perhaps some of you were naive enough to think it all ended with their imprisonment and with the exposé published by two former members of the organization—whom I won't name, out of respect. But I'm afraid that's not the case."

I turned around and sought out Maddie and Akker's faces among the Hufflepuffs. Maddie's skin looked sickly pale. Her eyes were glued to the table. I could tell she'd trade anything not to be there. I avoided meeting Akker's gaze, but still managed to catch the fury in his expression before looking away.

"There is no denying, however," Raymond went on. "That such actions severely strained not only Hogwarts' relations with the Ministry of Magic, but also the relations between all of you with one another. Such actions brought about a division unlike any that Hogwarts has seen in years. Though I've been here for such a brief time, even I have managed to gather how unfriendly, withdrawn, distrustful and prejudiced all of you are towards one-another.

"And before someone tries to object, please bear in mind I don't mean that in a mean-spirited way. I have nothing but love for Hogwarts, for this wonderful staff I'm fortunate to be part of, and for all of you. But such seclusion and segregation must stop. It is time we all put aside our differences and unite to face the common enemy. The Ministry of Magic."

His eyes cut away from his script and he threw a long, meaningful look around the hall. There were murmurs. It was hard to tell what the general ambience was that day. Disapproval? Annoyance? Skepticism? Fear? Understanding? But despite what side they were on, almost everyone shared one common emotion. Confusion.

"The last thing Boden Dashawn included in his will, the one thing he couldn't manage to fulfill . . . was prepare you all for what is to come. Don't be fooled into thinking that the battle is over. The revolt, Breeze McBon's imprisonment, that was simply the beginning. The real war has started—and I don't mean an external, fully-blown Third Wizarding War, but rather an overt one. A quiet one. The tensions, the censoring of the press, this power dynamic built by the government that operates on fear and repression, it screams disaster waiting to happen. It may not be an actual war just yet, but the reality of it is like a dark cloud in the distance, like an inactive volcano just one spark away from erupting.

"Regardless of your beliefs or the friends you associate with, Boden Dashawn believed that everyone deserves to live in protection. And for a while now, with the Ministry's ongoing attacks on our prestige and beliefs as an institution, that protection has been at risk. So while I hope that we will continue to live in peace, and eventually get along as we once used to, there's no denying that looming possibility, that dark cloud in the distance, that volcano that may erupt at any given point."

He took another long pause to catch his breath. But there were no murmurs that time. The crowd was hanging on to his every word. The only sound was that of the sky breaking apart by a bolt of lightning over our heads. So close and loud it felt like a real storm.

"I will fulfill Boden Dashawn's biggest dying wish," Raymond's voice rang louder. "I will do justice to his memory and put everything I have in helping Hogwarts, my home, and all of you, who have a right to a secure education, but most importantly, a right to live. In peace and harmony. Because I may be a Ministry man in appearance and status, but Hogwarts always will be the only institution where my loyalties lie. I'd given my life for this place."

He lifted his head and raises both arms. It looked like he was summoning some invisible force from the underworld.

"I will prepare you to fight for that right to life and to a secure home, if the formidable time does come where you must. I will do everything to ensure you're well-trained, prepared and fearless in the face of potential danger. Because this is what Boden would've wanted. He wouldn't want any of you to let your differences tear you apart, when that's what the Ministry means to do with every word they say against us. Boden would want us to stand united. So if you want to honor his memory and fight for Hogwarts if push comes to shove, you will not hesitate to be part of this change."

I remember the moment when everyone held their breaths, when I glanced at Karson Richards and saw his eyes narrow and gleam with languid apprehension. I remember it more clearly than I remember anything in my life. More clearly than I'll ever remember anything else. Because that's the moment when everything changed.

Raymond picked up his parchment, rolled it up and tucked it in the inner pocket of his jacket. "This will be a new chapter in the history of Hogwarts. A new vision. The ending of an era, but the beginning of a new, and most necessary, one."

"Students," he concluded. His lips curled up in a smile, one corner rising higher than the other. I could've sworn he met my eye right then. "Welcome to the revolution."

◈

END OF PART III