"Slytherin is the perfect place to make connections and friendships. The friends you make in Slytherin will be really loyal and will help you when you need them. Very similar to a Hufflepuff, but don't tell them that. The difference is that Slytherins value friendship, but also the gains. As long as everyone gains something, their loyalty is unquestionable."
"Ravenclaw, on the other hand." Oberon continued. "As I have said before, they favour knowledge and wisdom the most. Maybe not every one of them comes from a powerful and rich family but will always be truly intelligent and talented. Most of them are very talented and hard-working people. Also, they are very curious about what surrounds them, and want to know and investigate it without caring about anything else. This one is a trait I like very much."
Hermione was left thinking about the Hogwarts' houses. Now she doesn't know what she really wanted.
"Have you heard the recent rumours?" Neville said.
"What rumours?" Hermione asked with a frown. Although she doesn't like gossiping, she also doesn't like not knowing about things, and this has happened a lot to her recently.
"They said that Harry Potter, The Boy Who Lived, is entering Hogwarts this year."
"It's true. I have seen him before in the train station." Oberon said.
Dots and Neville were amazed. After all, Harry Potter was like a celebrity in the magic Britain.
"Who is he?" Hermione asked, again.
"Around ten years ago, a powerful wizard known as Voldemort, although most people know him as You-Know-Who because of fear, terrorized the entirety of Britain. He killed muggles, wizards and everyone who opposed him or his ideals."
Hearing him, Neville and Dots shivered, while Oberon continued.
"He was called the Dark Lord by his followers, the Death Eaters, who carried a mark representing his loyalty to their lord, the Dark Mark. On the night of the 31st of October of 1981, he was killed by an infant, Harry Potter. He tried to use the Killing Curse to kill him and his mother, but the latter used the ancient magic of Love to protect her son and kill the Dark Lord." Oberon finished explaining.
"But then, the one who killed him was not Harry Potter, but his mother." Hermione said.
"And that's true. But the british wizarding community preferred to have a living hero with them than a dead martyr."
"But that's really sad! Harry Potter's mother died being a hero and no one remembers her for it." Hermione said outraged.
"Well, it was a decision taken by the sweet devourer, Albus Dumbledore. And as the 'most powerful' wizard, who would oppose his ideas?" Oberon said with disdain.
"Is that true?" Dots asked. She grew up being told that Harry Potter was a hero who killed You-Know-Who, but in reality, he did nothing!
"Yes. You can ask your grandmother, Augusta, and she will tell you the real story."
Dots and Neville were surprised.
"Why will our grandma know anything, she is just an old woman.
"I'm surprised you don't know this," Oberon said. "Augusta Longbottom is one of the most powerful witches in Britain and a famous martial wizard and duelist. In fact, she killed a lot of Death Eaters in the First Wizarding War. And for your information, she is a semi-Special Grade witch."
Now Dots and Neville were completely shocked with the news.
Her grandma, a fragile old lady who looked to be unable to kill an insect, not only was recognized as an incredible witch and killed various Death Eaters, whom most people feared but also was a semi-Special Grade Witch.
In Britain, there were only around ten recognized semi-Special grade Wizards and Witches.
"And also, there is another rumour," Neville said again. "People said that the hire of the Pendragon house has appeared. The true descendant of King Arthur, the original king of Britain!"
"That it's impossible. King Arthur is nothing more than a character from a children's tale." Hermione said.
"That's not true." Dots said. "King Arthur, Morgan Le Fay, and Merlin are more than real. They lived at the same time as the Hogwarts founders, and even Merlin went to Hogwarts to learn magic. People say he was one of Salazar Slytherin's personal students."
"What do you think, Oberon?" Hermione asked.
"I think it's 100% true. In fact, I think I know who he is." Oberon replied.
"Really?" Neville asked.
"Come on, tell us. Who is he?" Dots also asked Oberon.
"You will know it soon. After all, he also is a Hogwarts student."
…
After some time, the Hogwarts Express reached Hogsmeade.
"All right! First years, come here!" Hagrid shouted.
In the original Harry Potter novel, Hagrid was three and a half meters tall. But in this world, due to the heavy influence of Magic Energy, he was almost four meters tall.
"Ok, you must get on the boats to reach Hogwarts. No more than four in each, ok?" Hagrid explained. "Be careful, the lake is full of Cursed Spirits, but they are mostly inoffensive."
Hearing him, Neville started to tremble.
Oberon, Hermione, Neville, and Dots got on a boat and started sailing through the Black Lake.
Some Grindylows and Selkies were swimming in the waters of the lake that reflected the moonlight.
"Why is Hagrid so tall?" Hermione asked.
"He is a half-giant," Oberon replied.
"A giant?"
"A giant is a magical species that originated from a type of Cursed Spirit, that instead of being formed by negative energy, it's formed by Magic Energy of the Earth element. With time, they started mixing with other species and turned into more 'humanoid' creatures. As they are partially formed by Magic Energy, they are incredibly resistant to it."
They sailed through the lake and reached a cave where the underground harbour of Hogwarts was.
A mature-looking woman wearing a green robe and a witch hat was waiting there for them.
"Calm down, calm down." She said. "My name is Minerva McGonagall. I am the Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts and the Transfiguration teacher. Now, you will be sorted in one of the four houses, which will be like your family as you are in Hogwarts."
When McGonagall finished speaking, a torrent of ghosts appeared from the walls.
"Are ghosts also a type of Cursed Spirit?" Hermione asked.
"Yes. They are Cursed Spirits that manifested from cursing their own death. Most of the time they are bound to a specific place, but sometimes they are free to move and come here to Hogwarts. They are not dangerous as they maintain their sanity. And if one of them misbehaves, we have our cherished Special Grade Headmaster to defend us, don't we?" Oberon explained.
Hermione didn't stop asking all the time because she wanted to be annoying. She just discovered that she awakened an Innate Technique a few months ago and didn't know anything about the magic world. So, there is some common, and not so common, knowledge that she didn't know at all.
"Come students, the Sorting Ceremony starts now!" McGonagall exclaimed as the door to the Great Hall opened.
There were hundreds of students, seated at the tables corresponding to each house.
The new students followed Professor McGonagall until reaching a chair with a very old hat on top.
She grabbed the hat and started calling the First Year students.
"Hermione Granger!" She called.
Hermione walked to the chair and sat on it and Professor McGonagall put the hat on her head.
"Hmm…I can see you strive for knowledge…You want to know what is unknown. But there is also doubt about you…Ravenclaw suits you the best, but do you really want to go to Gryffindor? I see…You have already made a decision." The Sorting Hat mumbled in a way that only Hermione could hear it.
"RAVENCLAW!"
Everyone started to applaud, and Hermione went to the Ravenclaw table. She saw Oberon looking at her and smiling, which made a smirk appear on her face.
Harry Potter was called.
He was a true protagonist. Oberon, who has a good mastery over Magic Energy and a good vision thanks to his Grindelwald's Innate Technique, could see Harry's uncontrolled Magic Energy flaring.
Oberon's own energy was now situated at the same level as Gojo's. But he was sure he would suppress Sukuna's one in the near future.
Meanwhile, Harry's energy was between Gojo and Yuta.
But he could also see something else, a putrid and corrosive negative energy, characteristic of Cursed Spirits emanating from his scar.
"GRYFFINDOR!"
The Gryffindor table was very happy they had acquired The Boy Who Lived. Their hero, who in reality was nothing more than a cursed boy.
Everyone was called, and Neville and Dots were both accepted into Gryffindor.
"Oberon Grindelwald!" Professor McGonagall called.
He walked with confidence to the seat, and before he sat down, he looked at Dumbledore. The old fox smiled as he looked back at him.
Oberon still didn't know why Dumbledore accepted him into Hogwarts, the son of his worst and true enemy (Lover).
The Sorting Hat was put into his head.
"Hmm…What do we have here? The descendant of the swordy boy…He was a true Gryffindor that represented Godric's ideals, but I can sense your rejection to them…Clearly not a Hufflepuff, you only do things that benefit you in some way or another, a true Slytherin trait…But you also want to know things…things you are not destined to know...Wait!...No!...Not even Rowena and Salazar themselves would do those atrocities to discover anything!… Ok, I hope you maintain your distance from me. I can see your intentions." The Sorting Hat said, sometimes at a volume people could hear him.
"RAVENCLAW!"
The Ravenclaw table started to applaud and received Oberon in the table, who sat beside Hermione.
"I'm very happy you have also entered Ravenclaw!" Hermione said. "This is Cho Chang; she is a Second Year student."
Oberon greeted Cho Chang and looked to the next person called to be sorted.
"Gabriel Ollivander!"
This was unexpected, more than Neville having a sister.
The Sorting Hut was put on his head.
"RAVENCLAW!"
"This year we are having a lot of new students." Cho Chang said.
"Well, that means more people want to learn and study." Oberon replied.
Gabriel sat next to Oberon and greeted him.
"Hi, my name is Gabriel Ollivander. Maybe you know my grandfather, Garrick Ollivander."
"I think everyone knows your grandfather." Oberon said. "My name is Oberon Grindelwald, nice to meet you."
They both shook hands and Oberon presented him to Hermione and Cho Chang.
…
After the Sorting Ceremony ended and Dumbledore said the same words as usual, one of the prefects from Ravenclaw called Robert Hilliard guided them to Ravenclaw Common Room.
"To enter the Common Room, you need to answer a riddle." The prefect explained.
The eagle knocker spoke.
"Glittering points that downward thrust, sparkling spears that never rust. What are they?"
The prefect looked at the new students.
"Who will be the one to solve the riddle this year?" He asked.
Oberon stepped forward and spoke.
"They are icicles."
The eagle knocker furled and the door leading to the Common Room appeared.
The prefect applauded softly and signaled the students to enter.
The Ravenclaw Common Room was a wide circular room filled with windows that overlooked various Hogwarts landscapes.
Next to the entrance stairs, stood a big statue of Rowena Ravenclaw.
It was full of stars and constellations-themed decorations.
"Girls' dormitories on the right Boys' on the left."
Oberon went to his designated room and found that he wasn't sharing it with another three boys as in the original story. He was only going to share it with another classmate.
After he entered the room, he heard another person enter.
He turned to look at him and saw a familiar face.
"What a coincidence!" Exclaimed Gabriel Ollivander.
"Almost, I don't believe in coincidences." Oberon said.
"Just called it destiny then," Gabriel said. "But it is truly a relief. It would be more awkward sharing it with a complete stranger."
They talked for some time and went to sleep. When Oberon was sure that Gabriel was sleeping (not because he cast a silent Sleeping Charm on him).
Oberon cast the Disillusionment Charm on himself. It was taught to him by his father, whose mastery made him able to make himself invisible with it.
He went to the Common Room and headed to the Rowena Ravenclaw statue.
He could sense something coming from it, but he couldn't see what it was.
Oberon went to the rest of the Common Rooms and found similar responses.
From Helga Hufflepuff's portrait, Salazar Slytherin's portrait (though it was weaker) and Godric Gryffindor's tapestry.
He decided to set that matter apart and went back to sleep. Tomorrow the first classes will start.
…
Oberon, Hermione, and Ollivander went to the Defense Against the Cursed Arts class, a class they had at the same time as Hufflepuff.
The teacher was Professor Quirrell. And as he walked, a garlic aroma spread throughout the room.
Quirrell taught them about different Cursed Spirits like Imps, Vampires and Gytrashes. As Oberon and Hermione already knew a lot about them, they earned a total of 10 points for their house. Also, they were taught about the Vermillious Charm; which Oberon cast on the first try, followed by Hermione and Susan Bones, from Hufflepuff.
With the points earned in the theory class and the practical class, they earned a total of 20 points.
In this world, the wizards and witches didn't use Cursed Energy to fuel their Innate Techniques or Spells, or almost every wizard or witch didn't. They were powered by Magic Energy, which wasn't polluted by the negative energy and thoughts of the world.
Due to this, Innate Techniques could have a wide variety of traits. They could be of a holy type, or maybe earth type. You didn't need to have a Reverse Cursed Technique to be capable of healing.
Most Cursed Spirits were made of pure Cursed Energy, but the most powerful ones were composed of more than that. In this world, a Cursed Spirit like Jogo would be formed by Cursed Energy and Fire Energy. This made it difficult to exorcise it with only a holy Innate Technique or Spell, for example.
And Oberon could feel a strong Cursed Energy coming from Professor Quirrell's turban. It was a very malicious Cursed Energy.
…
The next class was History of Magic, taught by the boredom-killing Professor Cuthbert Binns.
Before the class began, Oberon used his Innate Technique and manipulated some threats of fate to cause a small incident that made that class end sooner.
…
In the break before lunch, Oberon called his house-elf, Frolic. It was a house-elf he found nearly dying in the streets on one of his visits to America.
He had a special trait, or illness for him, in which he needed a master with more Magical Energy than normal to live. His previous masters noticed the enormous amount of Magic Energy he consumed with their contract and left him to die.
With Oberon's astronomical amounts of Magic Energy, it wasn't difficult for him to take Frolic as his house-elf.
"What do you need Master?" Frolic asked as he bowed.
"Take me to the Gringotts bank in Diagon Alley." Oberon ordered.
Frolic flicked his fingers and both of them apparated to the entrance of Gringotts.
Oberon walked inside and spoke to a goblin on a counter.
"I want to see Ulbert right now." Oberon stated.
"Impossible. He is occupied right now." The goblin said without looking at him.
"Are you sure? You want me to file a complaint to your superior, Manager Bolgec."
Hearing him, the goblin got up and went to find Ulbert, the goblin responsible for Oberon's personal account.
After some minutes, the goblin led Oberon to Ulbert's office.
"What do you need Grindelwald?" Ulbert asked.
"How are the procedures with the Ministry going? How much do I have to wait till I am recognized as the true heir of the houses of Pendragon and Le Fay? And what about the Solomon house?" Oberon asked a little irritated.
"For the Solomon matter, it will need to wait more. The ICW (International Confederation of Wizards) is giving us problems to complete the process?" Ulbert replied.
"Is it the German Ministry or the French?"
"We are afraid it's a joint work between the two Ministries driven by their hatred towards your father. But we have our reasons to think it is a blockade being led by the German Minister, Alder Vogel." Ulbert explained.
"I will deal with that." Oberon said, "What about the British Ministry?"
"We have received an answer from the Ministry. They want you to go to the Wizenmagot to address the issue." Ulbert paused. "Personally, I think they will try to prove you have no relation to Pendragon nor Le Fay; as if you do they will suffer heavy losses."
"When is the date?" Oberon asked.
"Tomorrow." The goblin replied.
Oberon frowned.
"And when were you going to tell me? I will advise you about something. The next time you try to make me suffer a single loss; be it time, money or patience, be sure you will not be left untouched."
Oberon left the office and asked Frolic to take him to his room in Hogwarts.
He went to the Great Hall where Hermione, Ollivander and Cho Chang were waiting for him.
"Come on, you were almost late for lunch." Hermione said.
Just as Oberon sat, Professor McGonagall clapped her hands and food appeared in all of the houses' tables.
After lunch, he went to Professor McGonagall to ask her something.
"Professor McGonagall, please excuse the inconvenience. May I ask you a question?"
"Of course, Mr. Grindelwald. What do you need?" Minerva replied.
"Tomorrow, I need to go to the Ministry to carry out certain procedures, and I don't know who to ask for a permit of absence."
"Oh, you just need to fill a request and give it to your Head of House. After you complete your procedures, you just need to remember to bring a proof of absence from the Ministry."
Professor McGonagall finished speaking and gave Oberon a folded paper from her robes.
"Here you have the request paper."
Oberon took it and left for his next class, Tactic Arts, a class shared between the four houses.
This class was taught by his Head of House, Professor Flitwick.
It was about physical fights (martial arts and weapons use) and different spells that could be used in duelling and fights.
Many students were giggling and commenting about Professor Flitwick's stature, and how will he teach about fighting. It was clear that they didn't know about his reputation, being a World Dueling Champion in his youth, but still retaining the title of Dueling Champion.
"Come here students." Professor Flitwick said. "Before I teach you anything new, I would like to see how good your combat abilities are. I will call you two by two to fight in the ring."
A female student from Hufflepuff raised her hand.
"Yes?" Flitwick asked.
"Are we also going to fight boys against girls?" The Hufflepuff girl asked.
"Clearly yes. If you face a Rogue Wizard, he or she won't care about your gender or about your opinion, they will try to kill you." Professor Flitwick explained.
"OBERON GRINDELWALD VS DRACO MALFOY!"
Oberon laughed; it was really a funny coincidence.
Both of them got into the ring and prepared to fight. They may be 11-year-old boys, but both of them, and almost every student, were trained by their families to be able to fight and kill.
'Should I show off a little.' Oberon thought, 'Why not? If I am lucky, it will make the plans of the old fox more difficult.'