“System.
Open the panel.” — [Host Panel] Host: Lethean Styx World: Harry Potter Age: 24 Talent: Wizard Bloodline Partners: Art, Jason, Pennywise Items: Merlin’s Old Socks, Primary Lottery Tickets ×9 Evil God Points: 30,000 System Evaluation: An evil god?
More like a babysitter professor.
— “You think I asked for this job?
Look at your own track record.
You sit there for days without issuing a single quest like you’re in a coma.” [Host defiance detected.
Issuing quest: Seeker Training Program — From Rookie to Champion] [Reward: 5,000 Evil God Points, Primary Lottery Tickets ×2] Styx leaned back in his chair and stared at the new quest line for several long seconds.
“…You’re serious.” [Cry.] He decided the system had the personality of a particularly spiteful toad—poke it once and it jumped.
[ You ] He ignored the frantic censoring that followed and started planning properly.
Harry would catch the Snitch in the original timeline.
The first time the boy ever saw one he nearly swallowed it.
The talent was already there.
Harry just didn’t know it yet.
Lately the kid had been so wound up he barely touched breakfast.
If this continued, Quirrell wouldn’t even need to lift a wand—Harry would fall off the broom on his own.
“I already told him I’d train him on the weekends.
No half-measures.” The problem was the method.
There was only one Golden Snitch in circulation, and ordinary Shadowkhan were ground units.
Stacking them into some ridiculous human tower to simulate broomstick interference would look like a circus act.
Unusable.
He was still turning the problem over when the office door opened without a knock.
Styx looked up, mildly surprised.
“Malfoy.
Something you need?” Ever since the night at the manor the boy had treated him like a live curse.
Styx had expected the eventual conversation.
He had not expected it this soon.
“Professor… Professor Styx.” Malfoy’s eyes flicked away and back again.
The man sitting behind the desk looked nothing like the one who had stood over Umbridge in a pool of blood.
The contrast clearly unsettled him.
He clenched his fists hard enough that the nails bit into his palms, then forced himself to meet Styx’s gaze.
Residual fear still sat in the grey-blue eyes, but it was no longer the only thing there.
“I heard Potter say you’re giving him Seeker training this weekend.” Styx watched the fear slowly lose ground.
“That’s right.
Harry’s nervous.
I’m going to work with him a little.
Why?” “I…” Malfoy swallowed.
“I want to join the training as well, Professor Styx.” Silence stretched for a few seconds.
“Finally stopped hiding?” Styx’s tone carried a thin edge of amusement.
“I was starting to think you planned to live in the Slytherin dungeons until graduation.” Malfoy’s shoulders went rigid.
He looked down.
“I’m sorry, Professor.” “That night at the manor… I was terrified.
I’d never seen anything like it.
I thought—” “Thought I’d do to you what I did to the pink toad?” Malfoy shook his head hard.
“No.
I know you wouldn’t.
I just… didn’t know how to look at you after that.
My father said you were dangerous.
What I saw was different.
You stopped because you noticed me.” He lifted his head.
Something firmer had settled behind the fear.
“I don’t want to hide behind other people anymore.
Potter is working to get stronger.
If I stay where I am, the next time something happens I won’t even be able to protect myself.
Malfoys are not supposed to be cowards.” Styx studied the eleven-year-old in front of him.
The arrogance was still there, but the brittle shell had cracked.
Something real was growing underneath.
He reached out and ruffled the carefully arranged platinum hair into a complete mess.
“Apology accepted.” Malfoy’s eyes lit up—then dimmed again at the next sentence.
“You can join.
But the training won’t be gentle.
Harry is a Seeker.
So are you.
On the pitch the two of you are opponents.” “I’m not afraid.” Malfoy straightened at once.
“I’ll be better than Potter.” “Then prove it.” Styx stood and walked to the window.
“Saturday, nine o’clock, training ground at the edge of the Forbidden Forest.
One minute late and Art will wake you with a morning dance routine.” Malfoy shuddered and nodded once, hard.
“I’ll be there.” “Go.
And tell Ron and Hermione to come as well.
Seekers need interference.
I need a few proper targets.” Malfoy’s mouth twitched.
“Weasley as a target does seem appropriate—” “Malfoy.” The boy shut up instantly.
Styx spoke before the apology could form.
“I’m sorry I scared you that night.” “…Goodbye, Professor!” Malfoy fled.
The smile faded from Styx’s face as the door closed.
The system panel flickered open on its own.
[Quest progress update: Child of destiny in place.
Competitor has entered the field.] [Congratulations.
Your babysitting career has been promoted to kindergarten principal.] “…Shut up.” “Find me something useful for the training.
If you waste my time, don’t expect any more upgrades.” [Suggestion: Purchase the Bat Mask.] Styx’s eyes narrowed.
“The Shadowkhan.
Of course.
I’m a genius.” System: ⚆_⚆?
The Bat Mask—one of the nine shadow masks, the only one that summoned flying troops.
A silent Thestral legion.
Gliding speed close enough to a Golden Snitch to matter.
Far better than ground units for simulating airborne Chasers and Beaters.
“Borrow a Snitch from Madam Hooch.
Live simulation.
Multiple high-speed targets crossing paths while the real Snitch weaves between them.
Harry locks onto one moving point among a dozen.
Train under match conditions.” He closed the window and looked out toward the dark line of the Forbidden Forest.
Quidditch.
Dragon eggs.
The Forbidden Forest itself.
The Mirror of Erised.
Quirrell’s curse.
The Philosopher’s Stone waiting under the third-floor trapdoor.
The storm was already forming.
He needed these children ready for the wind.