Through the Pages of Time: Joey’s Hogwarts Tale

Luther had taken a leave of absence. The reason he gave to the Auror headquarters in the United States was "emotional instability due to heart damage," which he claimed could lead to irreversible harm to his work and colleagues. The Minister of the U.S. Auror Headquarters, seeing Luther's haggard appearance through the Floo network, didn't press further. Instead, he wrote to Linda for clarification.

Linda's reply was brief: "His daughter is in love."

Everyone at the U.S. Ministry of Magic knew how much Luther doted on his daughter. The general consensus was that the boy who dared to date Joey would soon find himself turned into a frog. However, Luther's reaction was less dramatic. He couldn't lay a finger on Fred, so he resorted to keeping a close eye on Joey at home, effectively grounding her.

"You can't keep me locked up forever," Joey said, sitting on the sofa with her arms crossed. "I have to go back to school, and Fred will be there too."

"You should focus on your studies!" Luther retorted, his voice rising. "Students shouldn't be dating!"

Joey was at her wit's end. Her father had taken leave just to monitor her every move. He'd even sealed the fireplace with a blocking spell after Fred tried to visit and got stuck halfway. Ryan, showing a rare moment of compassion, had rescued Fred, but the incident had sparked a heated argument between Joey and Luther.

"Ha! You're one to talk!" Joey shot back, lowering her voice. "Grandpa told me all about your little romance with Irene in third grade. Two years of love letters, a first kiss in the wheat fields, moonlit dates... Should I tell Mom?"

Luther's face turned bright red. He glanced nervously toward the kitchen, where Linda was cooking, and hissed, "Don't you dare! Or I'll pull you out of Hogwarts and transfer you to Ilvermorny!"

"Mom! Dad's threatening to take me out of Hogwarts!" Joey shouted.

Linda's voice rang out from the kitchen. "Then he can go back to America alone!" A cabbage flew out and hit Luther squarely on the head.

Luther rubbed his head, glaring at Joey. "I didn't say that!"

"Oh, so we're talking about Irene now?" Joey smirked, opening her mouth to shout again.

Luther clamped a hand over her mouth. "What do you want?"

Joey pointed to her covered mouth, and when Luther released her, she said sweetly, "How about we agree not to interfere in each other's love lives?"

"But I don't like Fred," Luther grumbled.

"Of course you don't. You don't like "any" of your daughter's boyfriends," Linda said, emerging from the kitchen with a freshly baked pineapple and shrimp pie. "I, on the other hand, think Fred's lovely. Joey, come try this pie. My little princess is growing up so fast!"

Joey ran over and hugged Linda. "Mom, you're the best! Fred "is" the best boy in the world!"

Luther muttered under his breath, "What's so great about him besides being tall?"

"He's smart, lively, and handsome," Linda replied, cutting Luther off. "Very likable."

Joey nodded vigorously. "Mom, you get me!"

Luther, feeling outnumbered, changed tactics. "What about that Shafik kid? I thought you liked him."

Joey groaned. "Mom, why did you invite him over tonight?"

Linda looked at the clock. "Oh, it's almost half past four! He's coming at five-thirty, and my potato stew isn't ready yet!"

Joey didn't understand why Linda was so fond of Shafik. The guy was insufferable! "Why do you keep inviting him? Are you two that close?"

Linda swatted Joey's forehead. "Don't be ridiculous. He's interning at St. Mungo's this summer. The poor boy has no parents to look after him. I thought he could use a good meal."

"Then I'll go to the Burrow for dinner," Joey said, heading for the fireplace.

Linda grabbed her arm. "It's rude! Delton said you wouldn't want to see him, but I convinced him to come so you two could clear the air. You're staying put!"

"I don't like him!" Joey protested.

Linda sighed. "He's a motivated young man. I want you and Ryan to have friends who are not only kind and brave, like the Weasleys, but also ambitious and driven."

Joey reluctantly agreed, though she still thought Shafik was a snake in the grass.

At exactly 5:30, Shafik stepped out of the fireplace, impeccably dressed and carrying a small, elegantly wrapped gift. Joey watched coldly as he greeted Luther with polite humility before turning to her.

"Good evening, Joey," Shafik said, his voice smooth.

"Don't start anything," Joey warned under her breath. "I know what you're really like."

"Perhaps what you see isn't my true self," Shafik replied, his lips curling into a faint smile. His voice was low and slightly hoarse, sending a shiver down Joey's spine.

Linda bustled into the room, hugging Shafik warmly. "Delton, so glad you could make it! Dinner's almost ready. Joey, be nice to our guest!"

Joey rolled her eyes. As if she could bully a sixth-year Slytherin.

Dinner was a tense affair. Shafik's impeccable table manners put Ryan to shame, and Linda couldn't stop praising him. Joey, meanwhile, gnawed on a chicken wing with little regard for etiquette.

"Joey Forest! Mind your manners!" Linda scolded.

Joey shrugged. "If you didn't want me to eat chicken wings, you shouldn't have made them!"

Shafik, ever the diplomat, picked up a chicken wing and said, "Aunt Linda, I admire how relaxed your family is. It's refreshing." He took a small, delicate bite, earning a sympathetic smile from Linda.

Joey couldn't take it anymore. "Stop pretending. It's unnecessary."

Linda shot Joey a warning look, but Shafik merely smiled. "Joey's right. I should relax more here."

After dinner, Linda suggested Joey and Shafik take a walk outside. Reluctantly, Joey agreed.

As they walked, Shafik broke the silence. "Your family seems very happy."

Joey glanced at him. "So you want to join?"

Shafik's eyes widened in surprise. "You actually understand what I mean?"

The rain began to fall, light droplets glistening under the warm glow of the yard lights. Shafik took a step closer, his gaze intense.

"But my mom's only infatuated with you temporarily. She loves my dad. Don't waste your time," Joey said bluntly.

Shafik's expression darkened, and he turned to leave without another word.

Inside, Luther watched from the window, his expression uncharacteristically serious. Ryan, who had just sent a message to Fred via the fireplace, joined him.

"What's going on?" Ryan asked.

Luther's hand was in his pocket, gripping his wand. "Your sister's not wrong. Shafik's dangerous. Be careful at school. I'll talk to your mom—she's too quick to sympathize with a seemingly poor child, even when it's all an act."

Ryan was stunned. He'd thought Luther's earlier friendliness toward Shafik was genuine.

Luther smirked. "What, you think your old man's just a bumbling fool? I've been an Auror for years. I know a snake when I see one."