Magical Pets, Experiments, and New Potions

The young man in the half-mask stood at the doorway, the curve of his lips unchanged. His gaze swept from the end of the line to its beginning, from the faces of pure-blood families to those of half-bloods, from anxious parents to excited children.

He watched. He remembered. He waited.

He waited for those pets to be brought into Hogwarts. He waited for the blood-binding rituals to be completed. He waited for those anchors to be placed in every corner of the castle. He waited for that door to slowly open.

When Ginny led the pony into the entrance hall of Hogwarts' Great Hall, a crowd had already gathered around them.

The pony's mane flowed like silver silk, and its hooves rang crisply against the flagstones, as though someone were striking a set of chimes. It walked at an unhurried pace, occasionally tilting its head to glance at the students watching from either side, its eyes carrying an intelligence no ordinary animal possessed. Several Hufflepuff girls covered their mouths and cried out, while someone among the Ravenclaws had even pulled out a notebook and started sketching.

By the time Ron and Percy arrived, Ginny was talking to a Ravenclaw prefect. She wore a smile, but it was not particularly warm. The corners of her mouth lifted briefly before falling again, as though she was not used to the expression.

"Ginny!" Ron pushed through the crowd. "Where did this horse come from?"

Ginny turned and gave him an indifferent look. "The Nirvana Research Center sent it," she said. "You wouldn't understand even if I told you."

Percy stood beside her, adjusted his glasses, and examined the pony with a serious expression. "Its bloodline looks quite good," he said. "Its hooves are thick enough, and its coat is a proper color. Although