Chapter 38: First day of school in London
When September 1st finally rolled around, Rick was unusually satisfied. Blissed out, even. His summer hadn’t just been good—it had been legendary. Easily the best he could remember. He’d completed his painstaking rebuild of the Nimbus 1000, a project that became equal parts craftsmanship and therapy, and now it gleamed like a personal shrine above his desk, suspended in pride of place like Excalibur on a floating wall-mount.
Of course, because he was a rebellious Gryffindor, he couldn’t resist poking the bear. Or rather, his mother. Just to see what she'd do, he’d moved Lily into his bedroom over the summer—with absolutely zero subtlety—and dared either parent to say something about it. Lily had squawked in horror, all flushed cheeks and moral panic, rambling about propriety and disrespect.
Rick heard none of it. He’d just tossed her over his shoulder like a caveman with a wand and carried her into his room. That was that.
Dorea hadn’t said a word at the time, only watched the spectacle with amused silence. But once the couple was out of earshot, she turned to Charlus with a feline smile blooming on her lips. She adored Lily. After spending weeks tinkering with her in the lab, she was already plotting how best to get her as a permanent daughter-in-law. Her complaint hadn’t been about morals. It had been about manners. Pureblood decorum. Which, for Dorea, was like a delicate garnish on an otherwise feral personality.
Rick also dabbled in ritual magic with his mother. Only the tame stuff, of course. Dark curses and forbidden rites? Absolutely not. His magical sensitivity made him react violently to Dark Magic. He’d once gotten a migraine that made him throw up just from being in the same room as a cursed locket.
The rest of his free time had been dedicated to someone who’d utterly stolen his heart: little Nymphadora. The toddler was a whirlwind of changing color hair, belly laughs, and boundless energy. She had absolutely no interest in books, puzzles, or anything that required sitting still for more than twenty seconds. If she wasn’t sprinting down the hall half-dressed, she was launching herself off furniture like a pygmy Puff on sugar.
When it came time to leave for King’s Cross, she absolutely lost it. Glued herself to Rick’s leg like a clingy barnacle. Fat tears. Sniffling. Wailing. It took a pinky promise and an oath sworn on chocolate frogs for her to let go—and even then, it was with sulking and dramatic sighs that would’ve made a Slytherin proud.
They arrived early on Platform 9¾, as usual. Creature of habit, that one. Same compartment, same vibe. Lily, naturally, had plans.
Except this time, her ‘celebration’ of the new school year came with an added twist. She made Rick drink a potion. Didn’t tell him what it was. Just handed it over with a mischievous glint and kissed his cheek. When he asked, she shushed him.
He found out what it did when he had his first orgasm. And dear Merlin, he found out. One minute he was relaxing; the next, Lily was on her knees working his cock with her mouth and hands and he was holding onto the seat like it his life depended on it. She finished him with all the enthusiasm of a girl playing her favorite instrument—and when he finally let go, the result was… catastrophic.
Her face. Her neck. Her breasts. Absolutely coated in cum all thanks to the potion. Rick was half-dead from the bliss.
She laughed a lot less when he came down her throat and nearly made her drown in round two. She still loved it though. That made Rick wonder if one day he wouldn’t be able to keep up with his very sexually enthusiastic girlfriend.
Thirty minutes before departure, they had everything cleaned up. Fresh clothes, fresh charm work. No sign of their carnal chaos. Anyone who walked in afterward would never suspect.
Except for Marlene.
The blonde sauntered in, took one look, and knew. Didn’t say a word. Just gave them a smirk that screamed ‘I know what you did and I am not even surprised anymore’. After the Prefect meeting, she pulled Lily away to catch up with the other girls.
An hour later when they came back, Rick was amazed. No screaming. No angry hissing. No thrown books. Something was off.
“No encounter with Potter?”
“We did.” Lily said snuggling to Rick.
“Or the thing that possesses him. He was acting like a decent human being for once.”
“Still flirted with me though.” Lily replied with a frown.
“Should I be worried?”Rick looked at his girlfriend quizzically and when she noticed, she simply rolled her eyes as if he had said the most stupid thing in the world. So stupid, she didn’t even entertain the idea of giving him an actual answer and completely ignored the question. He didn’t insist, not like he meant it in the first place, he was just teasing her to begin with.
Their arrival at Hogsmeade station was now something almost mundane. Get down the train, get on the carriage pulled by invisible horses of death then arrive at the castle. The wait, the sorting, the welcoming feast then sleep. All events were boring in Rick’s opinion because none were new. Even a new professor for DADA was not something you. After all, they had five teachers in as many years for the subject. Rumors that the job was cursed were going around and Rick couldn’t disagree with it.
The only real changes to the Hogwarts routine came the next morning at breakfast.
For the first time in six years, Marlene McKinnon was already up and fully functional when Rick and Lily entered with her in the Great Hall. She was walking, talking, and more than that: smiling.
The reason? Lily had snuck into her bed early that morning and offered an “appetite-awakening snack” to start the day. A very specific kind of motivation.
Marlene McKinnon. Awake. Upright. Functional.
Professor McGonagall nearly dropped her tea.
There she was—smug, and striding toward the Gryffindor table like she hadn’t spent the last five years being dragged to breakfast by the ankles.
McGonagall blinked twice and turned to her breakfast, muttering about the end of days.
The second change was Rick and Lily’s timetable. Now that they were in sixth year and studying for their NEWTs, new extra-curricular classes were available. Four to be exact.
Advanced Arithmancy, Alchemy, Ancient Studies and Apparition. The latter wasn’t actually a class per se. Students were taught to aparate but there were no NEWTs to get out of it, just a licence allowing them to aparate legally once they were seventeen. If you had mastered the skill you could skip the classes and just go straight for the exam.
For once, Rick and Lily were interested in something different. Lily was more interested in Advanced Arithmancy and Rick in Alchemy though they took both since they would share notes. Ancient Studies were interesting but they really didn’t have the time for it. The tight schedule they had was only possible because they had studies in advance over the year. Technically speaking, they could both pass their NEWTs in certain subjects if they wanted, unfortunately there was no skipping a class in the Wizarding World. Or at least Hogwarts. It was fine with them because they wouldn’t leave Marlene behind. No matter what.
There was a snag in their plans however.
“I regret to inform you,” said McGonagall, voice clipped and formal, “that there are not enough students signed up for either class. As such, they are canceled.”
Rick and Lily looked like someone had murdered their cat. Minerva saw it and actually winced.
“The instructors come from outside Hogwarts,” Lily guessed, brows furrowing.
“Yes,” McGonagall confirmed, “and are paid by student fees. If there aren’t enough students, it’s not profitable.”
“What about Alchemy?” Lily asked. “Isn’t Professor Dumbledore a certified Alchemist? He studied under Nicolas Flamel.”
Minerva paused.
“…He is. But I doubt he has the time.”
“Still worth asking,” Rick said.
“You can always study on your own,” came a casual voice.
Everyone turned to Marlene, who was eating an apple like she hadn’t just dropped a game-changer. “Just take the NEWTs at the end of the year.”
McGonagall blinked. “That is a valid option. Rare. But doable. You’ll need to register with the Department of Magical Education.”
Rick and Lily looked at each other. A full conversation passed in a single glance.
“We’ll do it,” they said together.
Minerva sighed. “Merlin, help me. Perhaps this year I’ll finally see you study, Mister Wald.”
Rick’s grin was immediate. “It’s good to have dreams, Professor. But it does not do to dwell on them and forget to live.”
The eye twitch that followed could’ve shattered glass.
“Mister Wald. Are you quoting to me the Headmaster? I have enough of Albus-”
“Yes?”
“ALBUS!”
Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, Headmaster, Supreme Mugwump, and known sweet addict, had appeared behind McGonagall like a conjured sugarplum ghost.
“That is me. I heard my name so I came to investigate. Curiosity is such a beautiful and awful trait at the same time.”
“I-...”
“Perfect timing, Headmaster. We were talking about the possibility of you teaching Alchemy. Since there are too few students for this class to hire an instructor, we thought of you.”
“Oh! I can certainly teach the subject but I’m afraid I do not have much time.”
“Well it was worth a try.” Lily was dejected and more than a bit but her boyfriend wasn’t giving up.
“Could the promise of very rare and tasty sweets instead of galleons as payment change your mind?”
McGonagall snapped, “MISTER WALD! This is bribery! Where did you-”
Dumbledore’s interest was already piqued. “Perhaps. What kind of sweets?”
“ALBUS! You’re not seriously thin-”
“Now, now, Minerva. Mister Wald and I are just talking about possible payment for my possible tutelage. There is nothing wrong about that.”
Hearing his rebuke the Transfiguration Professor was left speechless with an open mouth.
“What kind of sweets are we talking about?”
“The kind you will not find in Honeydukes.”
“Hmm…”
Dumbledore began to stroke his long white beard, thinking seriously at the offer. Rick’s heart was beating really fast. He really hoped the offer was tempting enough.
“If you give me a sample and I like them, I will find an hour or two to teach alchemy weekly.”
“You’ll get them by… Tomorrow? Before the week-end at the latest.”
“Then we are in agreement. Good luck, Mister Wald. I have quite the sweet tooth.”
Dumbledore left for the teacher table to take his seat and ate his breakfast. Minerva quickly followed him and began to speak in a hush tone.
“I can’t believe you tried to bribe Albus Dumbledore. In front of Professor McGonagall too!” Marlene was laughing her ass off.
“What did you expect from a Gryffindor?” Lily was shaking her head about the absurdity of what just happened. “Where will you get that kind of sweets? You don’t like them and I’m pretty sure the Headmaster has eaten all kinds there is over the years.”
“Muggle London.”
Lily snorted at how crazy her boyfriend was while Marlene nearly fell from the bench she was sitting on out of shock and disbelief.
“You’re kidding?! Muggle London? Are you mad?!”
“The variety of Wizardings sweets pale in comparison to muggles’. When was the last time someone came up with something new? They are always the same products at Honeydukes. In the muggle words there are new things almost every year. I’m sure I’ll find something.”
“Except, you said tomorrow at best.” Lily pointed out.
Rick showed her his timetable with a grin. “I have divination at the same time as runes in the afternoon.”
“So, you won’t go to either and each Professors will think you’re in each other's class. Clever.” commented Marlene.
“You’re not skipping class!”
“I am. Just this time.” the frown Lily was giving him made him uneasy. He knew she wouldn’t snitch but she would definitely nag at him later if it didn’t resolve things now.
“It’s not like I’ll go for fun. I’ll go so we have a good chance to be taught by the Headmaster.”
“...”
“And it’s not like the Professors are doing a roll call and comparing notes with each other.”
“Fine. Do what you want. You’re on your own!”
Rick raised an eyebrow at her declaration and Marlene gave her a look of consternation which could be interpreted as ‘girl, really?’. They knew perfectly well that Lily wouldn’t leave him on his own. She’d do her very best to help him while not getting caught.
“You’re using my love for you against me, that’s not fair!” she whispered.
“Do you really want to play that card? After all your…”
“My what?”
“Nevermind. I don’t want this conversation to turn into a pissing contest into who loves the other more. It doesn’t matter. I’ll be absent for two hours. Three at best and that’s counting lunch.”
Up at the teacher’s table Minerva had been giving Albus a piece of her mind regarding the arrangement she had just witnessed.
“Minerva, I doubt Mister Wald will find a single sweet by the end of the week that would make me change my mind.”
Thar brought her lecture to a stop. After a short pause she spoke up in a less animated manner. “Then why entertain him?”
“Why indeed. I’d like to see how determined and resourceful he is.”
Minerva wanted to say many things but knew it was a pointless exercise.
The trio finished their breakfast and went to class. This year they were starting right out of the bat with DADA to Marlene’s joy and potions. The later class had been quite awkward since it was with all students who studied it for their NEWT. Usually, Lily partnered up with Snape but with their falling out in June there was no way that would happen.
On one hand because Lily certainly didn’t want to spend time with her former friend and hear his incessant apology and winning on the other Rick and Marlene would not permit Snape to be closer than fifteen feet from the redhead. As such Marlene was the one who partnered up with Lily while Rick decided to work on his potion alone, right behind them.
The glare Snape was sending him didn’t bother him one bit. He knew from Lily and from the rumors he heard right and left that Snape was a very good wizard and knew much of the dark arts. Plenty of bullying spells going around Hogwarts were created by him after all. It didn’t matter to Rick who was confident in his own skills.
When the class ended, Rick darted out the door without waiting for the girls. He went up the stairs three by three and was in record time inside his own bedroom. Locking the door with multiple charms he removed his school robes and necktie which would attract the attention of muggles. He changed his pants for jeans but kept his shirt. Not forgetting his purse with a few galleons in them, he opened the window, transformed into a crow and flew outside. In no time he was in Hogsmeade where he took back his human form in a side alley. Going into the three broomsticks, he purposefully avoided Madame Rosmerta the owner of the pub and used the public floo to arrive in Diagon Alley. One short trip to Gringotts to change his money into pounds and Rick found himself in muggle London.
He knew from his previous outing with his mother during the summer where some shop specialized in sweets were and he visited them all. Sour sweets were prioritized first because he knew Dumbledore absolutely loves those. Especially lemon drops. That’s not the only kind he bought however. All kinds of candy but also chocolate bars anything and everything that a kid would love to eat all day everyday.
The bill was expensive, a hundred pounds in total. It was 500 galleons and he was sure his mother would have to say something about it, that is until he told her what that expense was for. Money wasn’t really a problem for the Potter family but 500 galleons was 500 galleons. Charlus and Dorea wanted Rick to use the money in his trust vault responsibly and taking 480 galleons out of it in one go (he had 20 galleons in his purse) would have made them curious.
Once he was out of money he went back to the Leaky Cauldron and did the journey in reverse. When he got back to his room the afternoon classes had just ended. Since it was the first day of class he knew he would find Lily and Marlene outside the castle, on the lawn to enjoy the end of the summer’s weather. He found them sitting on the grass against a tree talking. Feeling playful he laid down between them, squeezing his body as much as he could despite the narrow space.
“Did you have to do that?” asked Lily, a bit annoyed and she wasn’t the only one.
“What she said.”
“No. But I missed you girls and I wanted you both close.”
“It’s been three hours.”
“And that’s three hours too long, Marlene. You two are always together during the day and the night so you never miss each other. But I’m not and I feel left out!”
“We can’t always go to your bedroom with how much the idiots move around during the night and you can’t come to ours.” The blonde witch retorted.
“That’s it!”
“Rick, there is an anti-boy system that forbids them to get into the girls' dorm.” Lily immediately understood what went on in her boyfriend’s head. “You’ve been using it for the past six years to get us down every morning.”
“Yeah but I just thought of two ways to bypass it.”
“I sincerely doubt that.”
“Wanna bet?”
“...”
Lily hesitated. If there was really a way to go around the protection, her boyfriend was smart enough to find it. Thus betting on it may not be a smart idea for her to do.
“Whether you’re betting or not, I’m paying you a visit tonight. There is a blonde who earned a big thank you for what she did this morning.”
He grabbed Marlene's arm he was in contact with with his own and snuggled against her.
“I like the sound of that. I haven’t had good sex in two months.”
“What about this morning?”
“Oh, Lily. You’re wonderful but you’re missing the equipment to scratch my deepest part.”
“I can make something.”
“You certainly will not. What use would I have then?”
Both girls looked down at Rick for a moment then back up.
“That’s a good question. What use will we have of him?” asked Marlene.
“... I can’t think of any.”
“A bodyguard?”
“A servant?”
“You girls are pushing that joke way too far.”The girls laughed at his expense and Rick promised pay back.