Witcher at Hogwarts

Read up to 15 chapters ahead on Patreon - patreon.com/Dark_sym

-----

Harry was enjoying one of the most comfortable summers of his life.

His godfather, Sirius Black, had purchased a house next to the Dursleys.

This arrangement allowed Harry to spend his days with Sirius, returning to the Dursleys' house only in the dead of night to sleep.

Harry's newfound freedom left the Dursleys deeply frustrated. On the one hand, they preferred not to see Harry at all, but on the other, they couldn't stand watching him happy every single day.

What annoyed them the most, however, was their inability to bully Harry anymore.

Sirius had made that very clear during one of his "courtesy" visits to the Dursleys' home. In his usual dramatic fashion, Sirius had politely but firmly reminded them to treat Harry well—or else they might find themselves in a very unfortunate situation. Despite their vehement protests, the Dursleys were ultimately forced to agree.

Now, Vernon and Petunia could only seethe behind closed doors, muttering curses about Harry, whom they derided as an "ungrateful little brat."

Meanwhile, Harry sat leisurely in Sirius's living room, legs crossed, engrossed in a game of Gwent.

Sirius was squinting at the cards in his hand, desperately trying to devise a strategy, but it was no use. Harry claimed victory with ease, grinning from ear to ear.

"I have to say, this card game Professor Ethan invented is really fun," Harry chuckled.

Sirius grumbled, squinting at Harry.

'Ethan, Ethan, Ethan... Everyone's raving about him.'

"Harry," Sirius began cautiously, "what do you think of Ethan?"

"Professor Ethan? He's great! He's saved my life—and Hermione and Ron's—more than once!" Harry replied enthusiastically.

"Yeah… great," Sirius echoed, though his tone betrayed his unease.

He knew Ethan was a complicated man with grand ambitions; he wanted to warn Harry to keep his distance. But seeing Harry's admiration, Sirius hesitated, unsure of how to broach the subject.

Clearing his throat, Sirius decided on a different tactic. "By the way, Harry, how would you like to go to the Quidditch World Cup? I've got some fantastic tickets! You and your friends can join me!"

"Really? No way! That's incredible!" Harry exclaimed, grabbing the tickets from Sirius with wide eyes.

"I've got to write to Ron and Hermione about this right now!"

He bolted out of the room to fetch parchment and quill.

Sirius watched him go, a warm smile spreading across his face. Seeing Harry so happy filled Sirius with a sense of contentment he hadn't felt in years.

For the first time, Sirius felt truly at peace.

As the day of the Quidditch World Cup approached, the wizarding world buzzed with excitement. Shops sold out of team merchandise, and even the typically dour Ministry of Magic seemed infected with the festive atmosphere.

Wizards and witches chatted and laughed as they walked, their conversations revolving around the upcoming match.

But while the world celebrated, a far more serious scene was unfolding in Professor Ethan's office at Hogwarts.

A group of trembling senior students stood in a tense line, their nervousness palpable as they awaited whatever judgment or lecture Ethan had prepared for them.

Six young witches and wizards stood nervously in Professor Ethan's office—five boys and one girl. They were all recent Hogwarts graduates, gathered here because they had applied for internships with Ethan's Magical Crisis Response Team.

Each had met Ethan's rigorous requirements, boasting Outstanding grades in every subject. Ethan glanced over their records, a flicker of familiarity crossing his face when he saw one name: Penelope Clearwater, his former assistant.

"Well, it seems you're all exceptional," Ethan remarked, flipping through their transcripts.

"But before we proceed, I need you to think carefully. The work here is dangerous—on par with what Aurors face," he warned, his tone serious.

The young graduates straightened, their expressions resolute. They were all of Muggle or mixed-blood heritage, a fact that hadn't gone unnoticed by Ethan.

He knew why. Pure-blood families had long secured prestigious positions for their children, regardless of talent, leaving Muggle-born and half-blood students to carve their own paths, no matter how brilliant they were.

"We understand, Professor Ethan—uh, Mr. Ethan," one of the students stammered nervously.

Ethan chuckled, his stern demeanor softening.

"Professor is fine."

The smile lightened the atmosphere, and the tension in the room eased.

"Well, I'm willing to give you this opportunity," Ethan said, looking each of them in the eye.

At his words, the students' faces lit up with excitement. Despite their best attempts at composure, their enthusiasm shone through.

"Of course," Ethan continued, "you'll need to pass a little test first. With the Quidditch World Cup approaching, I want you to assist the Aurors in maintaining order. I'll be watching your performance closely."

"We'll do our best, Professor!" they replied in unison, standing taller now.

None of them had expected their first assignment to involve attending the World Cup. The prospect of watching the game up close only added to their excitement.

"Over the next few days, I'll provide you with some focused training," Ethan said, his voice firm but encouraging.

The days passed quickly, and as the World Cup drew closer, the interns stood assembled before Ethan once again. Their transformation was evident. They were more disciplined, their posture straighter, and their demeanor more confident.

Ethan's training sessions hadn't focused much on physical or magical skill—they had already proven their abilities by achieving top marks in Hogwarts' grueling exams.

Instead, Ethan prioritized teamwork and discipline, skills essential for the unpredictable challenges they would face in the field.

Today, they all wore matching uniforms: sleek black leather jackets, devoid of patterns or embellishments except for a single silver badge on the chest.

The badge bore a shield with an embossed letter M, crossed by two sharp swords. This was the emblem of the Magical Crisis Response Team.

The jackets themselves were no ordinary garments. Crafted from dragon-hide and lined with the skin of a poisonous horned serpent, they provided exceptional protection against both magical and physical attacks.

Ethan had ensured their gear would safeguard their lives.

As the students stood ready, their faces showed a mixture of determination and anticipation. Ethan regarded them with a rare flicker of pride.

"Your training has been solid. Now it's time to see how you perform in the real world. Remember: teamwork and discipline will be your greatest assets," Ethan said, his voice carrying the weight of both expectation and encouragement.

The group nodded, their resolve unshaken. The Quidditch World Cup awaited, and with it, their first chance to prove themselves in the field.