LIGHTNOVELSTORY Chapter 11: Chapter 11: The Council of Houses
The quiet hum of magic filled the Room of Requirement as the space transformed into something new—a circular chamber, lined with banners representing each of the four Hogwarts houses. The center of the room held a round table of polished oak, large enough to seat representatives from every faction of the school. Kai Thornwood stood at the head of the table, his presence commanding but calm.
Around him, murmurs of dissent rose. Students from all four houses—Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw—filled the seats, their faces a mixture of suspicion, curiosity, and hope. Getting them all in one room had been a feat in itself. Keeping them from tearing each other apart would be even harder.
"Silence," Daphne Greengrass said sharply, standing beside Kai. Her icy tone was enough to quiet the crowd. She folded her arms, her expression daring anyone to argue.
Kai nodded his thanks to her before stepping forward. "You're all here because we share the same goal: stopping Voldemort and his followers. The war isn't coming—it's already here. And if we don't act together, we'll lose everything."
A Gryffindor—a fifth-year by the name of Seamus Finnigan—snorted. "Easy for you to say. Your lot probably agrees with him!"
Several Slytherins bristled at the comment, Theo Nott included. "Watch it, Finnigan, or you'll find out how wrong you are."
"Enough!" Kai's voice cut through the tension like a knife. He glared at both sides. "This is exactly what Voldemort wants. Division. Distrust. If we can't move past that, we might as well hand him the castle now."
Hermione stood, her voice calm but firm. "Kai's right. We've seen what happens when we let fear and prejudice take over. Cedric Diggory is already dead because of this war. How many more will we lose before we start working together?"
Her words struck a chord, and the room fell silent. Even Seamus looked chastened.
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The Plan Unveiled
Once order was restored, Kai motioned to the table. A glowing map of Hogwarts and its surroundings appeared, hovering in the air like a three-dimensional projection. Tiny red dots moved across the map, representing known Death Eater activity.
"The attacks are becoming more frequent," Kai said, pointing to key areas. "Hogsmeade. The Forbidden Forest. Even Diagon Alley isn't safe anymore. Voldemort's forces are gathering, and they're targeting the school."
Cho Chang, a Ravenclaw, raised her hand. "What can we do? We're students, not Aurors."
Kai met her gaze. "You're more than that. Hogwarts has resources that even Voldemort fears. The castle's wards, its secrets, its magic—these are weapons we can use. But we need everyone's help to unlock them."
Susan Bones, representing Hufflepuff, frowned. "And what happens when the professors find out? They won't let us fight."
"They won't have a choice," Harry said, stepping into the circle. His presence drew everyone's attention. "This is our school, our home. If we don't defend it, no one else will."
A murmur of agreement rippled through the room. Kai took the opportunity to press his point.
"We'll form teams," he said. "Each house will contribute their strengths. Gryffindors for bravery and raw determination. Ravenclaws for strategy and knowledge. Hufflepuffs for loyalty and resilience. And Slytherins—"
"For cunning and ambition," Daphne finished, her voice steady. "We'll handle the covert operations."
There were nods of approval, even from the Gryffindors. For the first time, the idea of unity didn't seem so far-fetched.
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Operation Shadowveil
The first major mission came a week later. A group of students had gone missing near the edge of the Forbidden Forest, and the council suspected Death Eater involvement. Kai led the operation personally, with Harry, Hermione, Daphne, and a few others forming the core team.
The forest was dark and oppressive, its ancient magic pressing against their senses. Kai's wand was out, his senses on high alert. The system had been feeding him constant updates, but even with its help, the forest was a dangerous place.
"Stay close," Kai whispered, his voice barely audible. "And keep your wands ready."
Theo, walking just behind him, muttered, "I hate this place. Feels like the trees are watching us."
"They probably are," Hermione said, her tone grim. "The forest has a mind of its own."
They reached a clearing where the tracks ended. Kai held up a hand, signaling for silence. He crouched, examining the ground. There were signs of a struggle—broken branches, scorch marks, and something else. A faint, dark residue.
"Dark magic," Daphne said, kneeling beside him. "They were here."
Kai nodded, his jaw tightening. "Spread out, but stay within sight. If you see anything—"
A bloodcurdling scream cut him off.
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The Battle in the Clearing
The scream came from their left. Without hesitation, Kai sprinted toward the sound, the others close behind. They burst into another clearing to find three Death Eaters surrounding a group of terrified first-years.
"Stupefy!" Harry shouted, his spell catching one of the Death Eaters off guard.
The battle erupted in an instant. Spells flew in every direction, lighting up the forest like a storm. Kai moved like a blur, his system-enhanced reflexes allowing him to dodge curses and counter with precision.
"Ignis Tempestas!" he roared, summoning a whirlwind of flames that forced the Death Eaters to retreat momentarily.
Hermione and Daphne worked together to shield the first-years, while Theo and Blaise flanked the attackers. Harry faced off against the largest of the Death Eaters, his determination shining through despite the odds.
Kai found himself facing the leader—a tall, hooded figure with a voice like gravel. "You don't belong here, boy," the figure sneered. "This isn't your fight."
Kai smirked, his wand steady. "Funny. I was about to say the same to you."
The duel was intense, the air crackling with energy as their spells collided. Kai's system offered him a new spell in the heat of the moment—Chrono Blitz—which allowed him to briefly slow time. He used it to disarm the leader, his wand flying into the darkness.
"Retreat!" the leader barked, realizing they were outmatched.
The Death Eaters disappeared into the shadows, leaving the students victorious but shaken.
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Aftermath
Back at the castle, the first-years were taken to the infirmary, while Kai and his team regrouped in the Room of Requirement. The exhaustion was palpable, but so was the sense of accomplishment.
"We did it," Harry said, his voice filled with awe.
"We survived," Theo corrected, slumping into a chair.
Daphne looked at Kai, her expression a mix of pride and concern. "You were incredible out there."
Kai smiled faintly, but his mind was elsewhere. The leader's parting words echoed in his ears, a reminder that the fight was far from over.
"We've bought ourselves some time," he said. "But this is only the beginning."
As the group settled into silence, the room shifted subtly, its magic responding to their resolve. The council of houses was no longer just an idea. It was a force to be reckoned with.
And Kai Thornwood would make sure they were ready for whatever came next.
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To be continued…