Witcher at Hogwarts

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Ethan was temporarily staying in Black's old house; what was once a crumbling relic had slowly begun to regain some of its former life.

After burying Regulus, Kreacher seemed to find a new purpose. He had cleaned the entire house from top to bottom.

Though he still didn't like Ethan, Kreacher no longer insulted him openly. Now when he saw Ethan, Kreacher would even offer a stiff salute.

"So, you're going to Poland?" Sirius asked, frowning, as he flipped through a home-buying magazine.

"Yes, for a commission," Ethan replied, sharpening his dagger with focused precision.

"I'll never understand you," Sirius said, tossing the magazine onto his lap with a sigh.

"You're not in need of money! Why keep risking your life?"

Ethan shot Sirius with a look of disdain as if he were addressing someone utterly clueless.

"A life of constant adventure—that's the true romance of a witcher! A wizard like you, who can barely handle a wand, could never understand," Ethan replied with arrogant confidence.

Sirius opened his mouth to retort, clearly irritated, but after a moment, he said nothing. The difference in their physical prowess was too great to argue over; Ethan could easily overpower him in a fight, and Sirius knew it.

As Sirius grappled for a comeback, the sound of a knock came from the front door.

"Kreacher will answer!" the house-elf yelled, scurrying toward the entrance.

Ethan followed, already guessing who it might be. Sure enough, as soon as the door creaked open, Tonks stood there with a wide grin on her face.

The moment she saw Ethan, Tonks threw her arms around him in a warm embrace. She was wearing a fitted purple coat and calfskin boots, her bright pink hair practically glowing—a clear sign of her excitement.

"Ready to go? Poland's waiting, and I can't hold in my excitement any longer!" she beamed, still gripping Ethan's hand.

Kreacher jumped at the sudden commotion.

"Merlin's beard!" he croaked in his usual toad-like voice.

"Kreacher knew better than to trust strange mutants! Now he's gone and brought a madwoman into the house! The poor mistress would be livid if she saw such chaos in her home!"

Tonks froze, momentarily taken aback by Kreacher's outburst. She'd never encountered a house-elf quite like him, and for a moment, she looked almost bashful.

"Kreacher! Shut it and get to the back!" Sirius' voice called out from the other room. He didn't need to see the door to know Kreacher was on one of his tirades.

Grumbling under his breath, Kreacher sulked off, muttering curses as he disappeared down the hallway.

"Sorry about him," Sirius said, appearing in the doorway and rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly.

"He's… a little unhinged. We don't get many visitors, so he gets jumpy."

Tonks gave him a forgiving smile, though she was clearly a little rattled

. "It's fine," she said politely. She knew Sirius was close to Ethan, and she didn't want to cause any friction.

Sirius soon motioned for her to come inside, his usual aloofness softening. As they stepped into the sitting room, Tonks turned to him with a somber expression.

"Sirius, your brother was an incredible man. May he rest in peace," she said sincerely.

"Thank you," Sirius said to Tonks, though his response had become almost automatic after hearing such words repeatedly over the past few days.

Soon, Ethan and Tonks left Black's old house and headed to Diagon Alley to pick up some supplies, primarily warm clothing. While much of Poland's climate is relatively mild, especially in its northern and western regions, the eastern part where Ethan was headed had a continental climate. Winters there were dry and cold, necessitating a severe preparation of thermal gear.

Tonks, however, approached the monster hunt as if it were a romantic getaway. She was more focused on the adventure and less on the practicalities. Often, she clung to Ethan's arm, chatting excitedly about their trip. She had eagerly researched travel tips using the Muggle network and even used her saved vacation time all at once to ensure she could enjoy the journey fully.

When Ethan chose bulky warm clothes for her, Tonks was less than thrilled. She felt the warmth spell on her windbreaker would suffice for the Polish winter. Despite her protests, Ethan discreetly bought several sets of thick clothing for her in case she needed them. He planned to keep the extra clothes handy when Tonks inevitably learned the hard way about the harsh weather.

After their shopping spree, Ethan and Tonks were ready to depart for Poland. Instead of using magical means of travel, which are risky and heavily regulated, they opted for a Muggle plane. Long-distance Apparition is dangerous and can lead to severe injuries if not performed perfectly. The International Confederation of Wizards also restricts such travel methods to prevent smuggling.

Portkeys and Floo Networks, though possible, involve cumbersome procedures and lengthy waiting times. Given the inefficiencies and bureaucratic delays, Ethan found the Muggle option to be the most practical.

On their way to the airport, Tonks excitedly discussed various plans for their trip, hoping Ethan would complete his commission quickly so they could explore Europe together. Her animated chatter drew curious glances from Muggle passersby, who, despite catching a few magical words, were mainly intrigued by her striking pink hair and fashionable outfit. They likely saw her as a free-spirited girl.

Eventually, they arrived at Heathrow Airport, Europe's busiest hub. The bustling crowd and the expansive waiting area greeted them, setting the stage for their journey.