The Hogwarts Express pulled into Hogsmeade Station beneath a sky still bruised by the memory of thunder. The air was crisp and clear, as if the storm had swept away not only the fog but something darker and more insidious. Students, groggy from their interrupted journey, gathered their belongings and filed out onto the platform, their laughter and chatter gradually returning as the castle's familiar silhouette came into view.
Sagar stepped off the train with practiced calm, his mind replaying the encounter with the Demodar. He glanced over his shoulder at Hermione, who lingered by the compartment door, her gaze fixed on him with a mixture of awe and suspicion. Around them, students compared notes on the "strange cold" and the "bad dream" that had swept through the train, but no one seemed to remember the true terror of what had happened. Sagar's magic—and perhaps the Demodar's own influence—had blurred the memory for all but Hermione.
Whispers and Warnings
As the carriages carried them up to the castle gates, the whispers began. Some students claimed the storm was just a freak of weather; others insisted it was a sign that dark times were returning to Hogwarts. The prefects did their best to keep order, but even the professors exchanged uneasy glances as they herded the students into the Great Hall for the start-of-term feast.
Professor McGonagall's sharp eyes swept the tables, noting the subdued mood. Professor Dumbledore, however, seemed almost amused, as if he alone sensed the undercurrent of magic that had passed through the train. Sagar caught the headmaster's gaze for a fleeting moment, and in that glance, an unspoken understanding passed between them: secrets had been kept, but the balance of power had shifted.
A Subtle Shift
The feast itself was as grand as ever—roast meats, golden potatoes, and puddings of every flavor—but the usual first-night excitement was tinged with caution. Sagar quietly observed his classmates, noting who seemed most unsettled and who brushed off the incident with bravado. Draco Malfoy boasted about how "nothing scares a true Slytherin," but his hands shook as he poured pumpkin juice. The Patel twins, now second-years, stuck close to Sagar, their eyes wide with unspoken questions.
Hermione, for her part, barely touched her food. She watched Sagar from across the hall, her mind clearly racing. When Harry and Ron pressed her for details about the strange events on the train, she hesitated, then simply said, "I'll tell you later," her gaze never leaving Sagar.
The Staff's Concern
Later that night, the staff convened in the staff room, voices low and urgent. Professor Snape demanded to know how a creature like the Demodar could have approached the train. Professor Sprout worried about the students' safety, while Professor Flitwick wondered aloud if the storm was a warning of greater dangers to come. Dumbledore, as always, listened more than he spoke, his fingers steepled and his eyes twinkling with hidden knowledge.
"We must be vigilant," he finally said. "But let us not underestimate the strength and resourcefulness of our students. Sometimes, the shadows are driven away by the most unexpected light."
Sagar's Quiet Resolve
In the Slytherin common room, Sagar sat by the window, watching the rain streak down the glass. He felt the weight of what he had done—not just the power he had wielded, but the choice to reveal a part of himself to Hermione, and perhaps to Dumbledore as well. The castle felt different now, as if it too sensed the boundary between order and chaos had been redrawn.
He knew Hermione would seek him out soon, her curiosity sharpened by what she had witnessed. He also knew that the Demodar's departure was not the end of strange happenings at Hogwarts. The year promised new mysteries, new dangers, and new opportunities for chaos and heroism alike.
As the castle settled into uneasy sleep, Sagar closed his eyes, ready for whatever the dawn would bring.