Hogwarts: Knight Wizard

Edward didn't share the information about the Black Knights with Daphne and Hermione. He trusted them, but he didn't want to drag them into this mess.

Or rather, he didn't want to drag any of his classmates into it.

For now, it was just a theory, one that needed more evidence to confirm.

Before reaching this conclusion, Edward had always believed Professor Dumbledore could handle the situation. But now, he wasn't so sure. After all, this was a secretive organization that had existed since the fifth century—older than Hogwarts itself. It might wield powers that modern wizards couldn't even comprehend.

Perhaps there wasn't a Black Knight lurking in the school, but whoever had tried to steal the Philosopher's Stone might have been acting on someone's orders—or a subtle hint.

Either way, Edward felt he couldn't completely step away from this. He had to keep an eye on the Philosopher's Stone and its safety.

Fighting evil was a knight's duty, especially when that evil was hiding so close.

But the two young witches beside him had no idea what was running through his mind. Daphne and Hermione were caught up in their own debate, going back and forth without settling on who—besides Snape—might want to harm Harry or steal the Philosopher's Stone.

Their argument was cut short by the sharp whistle of the train.

The icy wind howled through the station, the cold Scottish Highlands air biting harder than London's, urging everyone to pull their cloaks tighter. They had arrived at Hogsmeade Station.

Under the pitch-black starry sky, the distant spire of Hogwarts' Astronomy Tower peeked faintly through the forest.

"Thanks, Edward, and you too, Daphne—for everything!" Hermione called out, waving goodbye before hurrying back to her compartment to grab her luggage.

She promised to share the information with Harry and Ron and do her best to convince them to drop the matter. Staying safe, she said, was the priority.

"She's Muggle-born, but she's got a sharp mind," Daphne muttered, watching Hermione's figure disappear into the crowd. "And most importantly, she listens."

She shot a glance at Edward, who clearly wasn't paying attention to her.

"Still thinking about who it could be?" she sighed. "You'd be better off figuring out when you're going to start those lessons you owe me and Draco."

The two joined the throng of students heading toward the forest's edge.

Edward suddenly remembered—he still had to give Daphne and Malfoy those private Defense lessons. Before Christmas, he'd taught them the Shield Charm. After the holidays, it was time for the Disarming Charm.

"It's a bit late today," he said. "How about tomorrow? Though, I might need to check how well you two did on your holiday assignments first."

Edward hopped onto a carriage with ease, pulling Daphne up with him.

Only first-years got to cross the Black Lake by boat at the start of term. The rest of the time, students took the carriages from the station to the castle.

Each carriage was pulled by two pitch-black horses, skeletal and eerie, their presence almost chilling.

Edward felt a strange urge to leap onto one and ride it—maybe it was his knightly instincts—but he held himself back.

Wait. Horses? Where did they come from?

Something clicked, and Edward realized something was off.

"My assignments are done, no need to worry about me," Daphne said. "Draco, though? I can't speak for him—"

"Can't speak for what?" Malfoy's drawling voice cut in as he appeared beside Daphne, making her nearly jump out of her seat.

"Are you a ghost, Draco? Hogwarts should have you pulling these carriages!" she snapped, smoothing her robes.

"You think I want to ride in this thing? It reeks of moldy straw," Malfoy said, wrinkling his nose. "My dad sent me via Floo Network. I was hoping to pop out in the common room, but the castle's fireplaces are locked, so here I am, stuck waiting for a carriage."

"Speaking of which," Malfoy continued, picking up Daphne's thread, "I've always wondered—are these carriages enchanted? Why can't I see the horses pulling them?"

"Edward, what are you staring at?" Daphne asked, ignoring Malfoy and following Edward's gaze to the reins floating in midair at the front of the carriage.

But there was nothing there.

"Thestrals," Edward said quietly, his eyes fixed on the creatures, deep in thought.

Before leaving Hogwarts for the Christmas holidays, he'd ridden these same carriages to Hogsmeade Station. Back then, he hadn't been able to see the eerie, magical creatures.

"You can see them?" Malfoy's eyes lit up. "That's incredible! What do they look like? I've heard ghost stories about phantom horses!"

At first, returning to Malfoy Manor had felt great for Draco. He was back to being the young master, waited on by house-elves, strolling through maze-like gardens, sleeping on velvet sheets in a bedroom bigger than the entire Slytherin boys' dormitory.

But it got old fast.

He'd heard Edward mention the Disarming Charm and tried practicing it on his own, with no luck. It made him itch to get back to school—something he'd never felt so strongly about, especially when it came to studying.

Learning a new spell meant he could show off to Potter and Weasley. The thought alone made him grin in his sleep.

"You're not pulling our leg, are you?" Daphne asked, skeptical since she couldn't see anything either.

But then she remembered. "Oh, right. We're dealing with Mr. Can't-Tell-a-Lie over here. So, there really are two… Thestrals?"

"They're tall, bigger than normal horses, pitch-black, and bony—almost skeletal. Their faces are kind of dragon-like, with huge wings," Edward described, as vividly as he could.

His words alone sent a shiver down Malfoy and Daphne's spines.

"I think the air just got colder," Malfoy said, shuddering. "I'm starting to think I'm better off not seeing them."

"You should hope you never do," Edward said softly. "The only way to see Thestrals is if you've witnessed and accepted death."

A heavy silence fell over the carriage, as if the Thestrals themselves understood Edward's words. With a snort, the two creatures began pulling forward.

The hundred carriages rolled quietly toward the dark, looming gates of Hogwarts Castle.

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