While Einar was giving his class to the fourth-year students and above, he noticed something strange.
A sensation in the air… almost intangible.
The students seemed distracted, as if their thoughts were drifting beyond the classroom. This wasn't the case with the third-year students and below.
Well… in Luna's case, that was normal.
She always had her head in the clouds.
Now, however, she was accompanied by two small wolves that followed her wherever she went.
"Hello, little dragon professor," said Luna in her usual dreamy tone, holding one of the spectral wolves in her arms. The other walked beside her with a sad and slightly envious look.
"Hello," Einar replied, watching how the wolves of Oblivion behaved like domestic dogs. "What are you doing?"
"Mmm… it seems Croqueta and Bizcocho don't get along, so I have to keep them apart so they won't fight. If I carry one of them, they calm down," Luna explained cheerfully. Then, in a whisper, she added while covering what seemed to be Croqueta's ears, "I think they're jealous."
"I see…" said Einar, half-confused, but not surprised. After all, he was used to strange things.
"Well, I'm heading to the courtyard. I promised them we'd play fetch," Luna said with a bright smile as she began walking with her two pets in tow.
Einar watched her for a moment. Then, raising his voice, he stopped her:
"Wait."
She turned around curiously.
Einar pulled a magic book from his belt. A large rune glowed on its cover.
"If you like summoning creatures, this spell will let you summon a fire familiar. It explodes on impact with the enemy…
Don't worry, if it's destroyed, you can summon it again," he explained as he handed it to her.
"Really? But won't it hurt to explode?" Luna asked, concerned, with a slight pout on her face.
"No… summons don't feel…" he was about to say emotions, but his gaze shifted to the wolves following her. One of them looked at him happily… the other, with a clear hint of jealousy. Einar cleared his throat. "Pain," he said finally, offering her the book.
"Thank you!" said Luna enthusiastically, setting the wolf in her arms down. It gave Einar a slightly annoyed look before running after its companion. Luna took the book, waved, and ran off, her two spectral wolves joyfully following her.
Einar watched her leave with a slight smile.
"Well… with so many familiars around her, I doubt anyone will be stupid enough to bother her," he muttered to himself before turning and heading back into the classroom.
Upon entering, the feeling didn't fade.
It still lingered in the air.
The girls were staring at the boys intently, and the boys seemed too nervous to respond… as if waiting for something they didn't dare to provoke.
"Sigh… still going on with that, huh?" Einar sighed.
Noticing his presence, all the students quickly sat up straight, eyes forward.
"Alright then. Can someone explain to me why the entire school is brimming with floating emotions?" Einar asked as he sat at his desk.
"It's because of the Christmas Ball!" Lavender responded, unable to hide the excitement in her voice.
"Ball?" Einar repeated, raising an eyebrow with an indifferent tone.
"Didn't you know, Professor? All the teachers are supposed to know!" Seamus added, intrigued.
"They mentioned it, yes. But I didn't pay attention," Einar answered calmly. "I've been to too many of those silly dances, invited by nobles desperate to pair me with their daughters or force me to join their houses."
"Professor? Does that mean you're some kind of noble?" asked a Slytherin student, genuinely interested.
After what had happened with Snape, some Slytherins still kept a certain distance from Einar. But those who were half-bloods or rejected by the "pure-bloods" saw him as a role model. Many had joined the dueling club seeking strength, justice… and respect.
Of course, Einar had thoroughly studied their personalities before teaching them anything serious.
Though, deep down, a part of him longed to see the dark wizards of that world test his power. Perhaps then he would have a worthy battle.
Still, for the safety of his students… he held back.
"Yes. I hold several noble titles," Einar said without boasting. "I'm also a Legate, just below the General of the Army. And, by birth… I'm technically in a position close to the Emperor's crown. But that last part doesn't interest me.
Being Emperor involves a bloodbath. One I don't wish to bear."
"An Emperor?! That sounds awesome!" Seamus exclaimed.
"If you ignore the bloodbath part, sure," Hermione added with sarcasm. "Professor, you said you became a noble. Could you tell us that story?"
Einar looked at his students.
They were all watching him with shining eyes, completely absorbed.
Yes, giving a normal class that day would definitely be difficult.
"Alright," he said, smiling. "Listen closely.
Let me tell you how I earned the favor of the Jarls… and how my name was etched into the history of the Imperial Legion."
…And so Einar told the story of his adventures.
"Being a Thane is not just a title," Einar concluded, looking at his students. "It means you've earned the trust of a people… that you fought for something beyond yourself."
The classroom was silent.
Everyone watched him, moved, as if they had lived each battle by his side.
By the time Einar finished, the class had flown by.
"Alright, go to your next class," he said, standing up with a smile. "Looks like Snape has recovered… so you're in for a fun Potions class."
A wave of groans followed.
And Einar, amused, just shook his head as he watched his students drag themselves to their fate.
….
Einar walked confidently through the halls of Hogwarts, heading to the library. Lately, that place had become his refuge during moments of leisure"the perfect spot to continue his studies on the ancient runes of this magical world.
As he crossed the doors, he noticed the insistent stares of several older students who didn't bother to hide their attention as he approached Madam Pince's desk.
"As popular as ever, Professor Einar," the librarian remarked with a faint smile.
"I've always been, Madam Irma," Einar replied with an arrogant smile that gleamed as if he were part of a living legend.
The woman narrowed her eyes in a mix of complicity and warning.
"Even though there's no strict rule forbidding a relationship between a professor and a student… especially if the professor is the same age as the students, it would be wise to be cautious."
Einar made a face and shook his head.
"You make me sound like some seducer charming students in the hallways. I didn't even have a romance in my own country." He then muttered under his breath, "Though I do have several children…"
"With your looks, I don't believe a word of that," Madam Pince replied, her smile barely perceptible. "Just remember to return the books when you're done."
Einar nodded and headed straight to the restricted section of the library.
As he wandered through the aisles of shelves, he caught sight of Fleur hurrying out from between one of the rows. She froze the moment she saw him, as if time had stopped just for her. She had been trying to avoid him for weeks, especially since her fellow Beauxbatons students wouldn't stop teasing her, suggesting she had a secret romance with the enigmatic "professor" of Hogwarts. The very idea made her nervous every time she encountered him, afraid he might feel awkward about the rumors"especially since she was from a rival school.
"H-hi, Professor Einar," Fleur greeted with a slight tremble in her voice, remembering with embarrassment how her friends had laughed at the way she walked the last time she saw him.
"Hello," Einar replied calmly, looking at her with the usual serene expression that defined him.
"U-um… about what my classmates say… just ignore them, please. They're only playing around, that's all," she hurried to clarify, struggling not to trip over her own words.
"I have no idea what you're talking about," said Einar tranquilly, never taking his eyes off her.
"W-what? You don't?" Fleur asked, genuinely surprised.
"I don't usually pay attention to gossip… unless I'm looking for useful information." Then, his gaze dropped to the book Fleur was holding. Aquatic Creatures and How to Counter Them.(A/N: Epic name)
A slight smile curved Einar's lips.
"Looks like you've already found the clue."
"Eh? A-ah, yes… The Headmistress" I mean, I discovered it on my own yesterday," Fleur said quickly, trying not to betray Madame Maxime with her expression.
Einar let out a small laugh.
"Don't worry. All the champions get help from some professor. I, on the other hand, decided to let the two fools I'm looking after figure it out on their own. Though of course, I'm training them to make sure they're prepared."
"Yes, I've seen them. I'd like to practice my swimming too, but it's far too cold for me… I come from a much warmer place, and it shows," Fleur confessed, with a bitter smile.
"Now that you mention it… the Durmstrang boy also started swimming in the frozen lake. I suppose his endurance comes from being raised in a colder region."
Einar opened his leather bag and took out two items. One was a runic wooden mask: the Mask of Otar, imbued with resistance to fire, shock, and frost. The other, several bluish potions that bubbled gently.
"I think a fair competition is more interesting," he said, placing them in front of Fleur. "You'll need to return the mask after your training."
Fleur looked at him in genuine surprise.
"Are you sure? This is a competition between schools…"
"I know. And a rather stupid one, if I'm being honest. But I'd rather see you prepared than have you suffer because of the incompetents you have as headmasters. If you can, give the potions to the Durmstrang boy too. I'm sure if I approached his headmaster, he'd have a heart attack from fright."
With one last smile, Einar gave her a calm wave and disappeared among the restricted shelves. Fleur watched him go, holding the mask in her hands, an enchanting smile forming on her face.
...…
As soon as he stepped out of the library, Einar barely had time to take a step before a red-haired whirlwind with two heads rushed toward him.
"Einar! Lucky we found you! We did it!" Fred shouted, excited.
"Look!" said George, pulling a large crystal ball"and another, marble-sized one"from his robe.
Fred, mimicking Trelawney's mannerisms, waved his hands dramatically over the larger orb as if conjuring a prophecy. Suddenly, an image appeared: the three of them, viewed from above. Einar looked up, but there was nothing overhead.
"The camera is the crystal marble," George explained. "We tweaked the enchantments you taught us… Failed a lot."
"Way too many times," added Fred.
"Hundreds of broken orbs."
"We spent all our money."
"All the money we'd been saving."
"But in the end… we did it!" they finished together, drawing curious glances from nearby students.
"We changed the function. Instead of seeing through the other orb, the image now transmits directly from the small one."
"That way, if the champions carry it with them, they can be seen in full body during the tasks," they added proudly.
Einar picked up the marble with interest. It was a remarkable improvement. And commercially… brilliant.
"It's interesting. And how do you plan to sell them if the champions aren't supposed to carry anything other than their wands?" Einar asked, somewhat frustrated by that absurd rule.
"Easy," Fred said, pulling out a scroll. "Wands can have decorative handles. As long as they don't interfere with magic, it's legal."
"And then we just have to sell the large balls as viewing screens for the audience coming to watch the Tournament," George explained.
"And since the next task is underwater… they'll sell like hotcakes," Fred added with a sly grin.
"You cracked the egg?" Einar asked, surprised.
"Of course not! But we saw Krum running laps around the lake… and you're training Cedric and Harry in the water… and today we saw Fleur with books about marine creatures," they listed off.
"You're good," Einar admitted with a smile.
"Of course we are," they echoed proudly.
"Now we just need to figure out how to trick the Durmstrang and Beauxbatons champions," Fred said with a mischievous grin. "Although, if the romantic professor decides to use his charms, at least Beauxbatons will be easy pickings."
Einar sighed, offering a hand to both of them.
"Just tell them that if they use the orbs and ever find themselves in danger, I'll come to rescue them."
"Seriously?" George asked eagerly.
"Yes."
"Then… maybe we should charge them like it's a security contract," he said quickly, rubbing his hands with glee.
"Don't be so greedy," Einar replied, walking away. "You'll make enough just selling the crystal balls."
"Alright!" they said in unison, grinning contentedly as they watched him walk away.