Witcher at Hogwarts

Read up to 25 chapters ahead on Patreon - patreon.com/Dark_sym

-----

The entire hall gleamed with white marble, its polished glaze extending seamlessly across both the walls and the floor.

Intricate golden patterns adorned the marble, weaving a touch of timeless elegance into the grand design. Along the walls, a series of sculptures stood in quiet majesty, most depicting mermaids in various graceful poses.

But what truly captivated the eye were the glass passages scattered throughout the hall. These transparent corridors were filled with water, their contents alive with motion. Occasionally, a mermaid would glide through, her upper body unmistakably human, her lower half a shimmering fish's tail that left a trail of rippling light in her wake.

The mesmerizing sight drew Ethan and Tonks into a spell of curiosity.

"This is a Polish tradition," a girl nearby explained, noticing their intrigued expressions. "Mermaids are revered here, held in the same esteem as wizards."

"Why is that?" Ethan asked, his curiosity deepening.

She smiled knowingly, as though the question had been asked countless times.

"Because the city of Warsaw was built under their protection," she began.

"Warsaw—or Warszawa in Polish—takes its name from a legend about two lovers: Wars and Sawa. Wars was a young man, and Sawa was a female wizard. Together, they journeyed downstream, determined to build a home.

What they didn't know was that a mermaid, dwelling in the Vistula River near the Sea of Pilo, had been watching them from afar.

"Their dedication and love moved the mermaid. She became their guardian, using her magic to shield their growing settlement. Under her protection, the city thrived."

"Years later, an aging Polish king searching for a new capital came to the Vistula River. Enchanted by its beauty, he decided to rest there. As he did, the river fairy appeared, perched upon a rock. Her voice filled the air with a song that told of Wars and Sawa's journey and their labor of love."

"Moved by the tale, the king met the two wizards through the fairy. He agreed to build his capital there and named it Warszawa after the couple. Later, the sea king of the Baltic gifted the fairy a sword and an amber shield, charging her to protect the city. Over time, the city's name was shortened to Warsaw, and the mermaid became its eternal symbol."

As she finished her tale, the girl gestured to the center of the square. There, a towering statue commanded attention. It depicted a mermaid, much larger than the others that lined the hall. Her head was raised in defiance, a shield poised in her left hand and a sword held high in her right.

"This statue honors the river fairy," the girl said softly.

"That's such a beautiful story!" Tonks exclaimed, her eyes bright with wonder.

The girl beamed. "Everyone says that."

Her expression turned practical as she added, "By the way, what brings you here? I can help you register."

She led them toward a sleek machine resembling a vending machine, its surface lit with glowing symbols.

She tapped the machine lightly with her wand. It rattled noisily before spitting out a form and a quill.

"What should I write?" the girl asked, glancing at Ethan.

"Departure," Ethan said simply.

Nodding, she quickly scribbled the word "departure" onto the form with the quill.

"Your names?" she asked, looking up expectantly.

"Ethan of Toussaint and Nymphadora Tonks," he replied.

The girl's eyes widened, her face lighting up with recognition.

"Wait—are you the butcher of Knockturn Alley?"

Ethan blinked, caught off guard. "Uh... yeah, that's me."

"That's amazing!" she exclaimed, practically bouncing with excitement.

"My sister went to Hogwarts and told me all about you!"

Before Ethan could respond, she leapt forward and wrapped him in an enthusiastic hug.

Tonks's expression darkened as her protective instincts kicked in.

"Oi! Hands off!" she snapped, tugging the girl back with a firm grip.

The girl quickly stepped away, her face flushed.

"Sorry, I got a little carried away," she said sheepishly, sticking her tongue out in a playful apology.

Still brimming with excitement, she pulled out a dainty handkerchief.

"By the way, Mr. Ethan, could you sign this for me?"

Ethan chuckled, still adjusting to the unexpected attention.

"Sure, no problem."

Taking the scented handkerchief, he dipped the quill and carefully wrote:

To Kessia—wishing you good luck and a long life. Yours, Ethan of Toussaint.

He handed the handkerchief back, and her eyes sparkled with gratitude.

"Thank you so much!" she gushed.

Kessia leaned forward as if to hug him again, but Tonks shot her a look sharp enough to halt a Hippogriff. Kessia hesitated, then wisely stayed where she was.

Clearing her throat, she regained a professional tone.

"Alright, you just need to finalize your registration at the immigration office. After that, you're free to leave Poland."

She quickly explained the directions before waving them off with a cheerful smile.

Ethan and Tonks followed the road Kessia had indicated, eventually arriving at a small, unimpressive booth.

Inside, an elderly wizard sat hunched over a desk cluttered with papers. His white eyebrows were so bushy they nearly obscured his eyes. A large coffee pot steamed quietly in the corner.

As they approached, the old wizard looked up with painstaking slowness.

"What can I do for you?" he asked, his voice deliberate and gravelly.

"We're here to complete the exit formalities," Ethan said, handing him the form.

The wizard took the document with all the urgency of a sloth, placing it atop the towering stack on his desk.

Without a word, he retrieved a different file from the bottom of the pile and began leafing through it at a glacial pace.

Ethan and Tonks exchanged uneasy glances. This could take a while.

"Excuse me," Tonks ventured cautiously, "how long will this take?"

The old wizard didn't look up.

"Three days," he replied, as if three days were perfectly reasonable.

Three days? That was far too long, especially with a group of werewolf children awaiting their return.

"Is there any way to expedite the process?" Ethan asked, sliding a few gold Galleons across the desk.

The wizard's eyes flickered with interest. With surprising agility, he swept the coins off the desk and into his sleeve in one fluid motion.

Ethan couldn't help but marvel at the old man's sleight of hand—it was as if he'd been doing this for centuries.

"Consider it expedited," the wizard said, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.