Adrian Bulstrode had always lived with a gnawing sense of unease.
As a Squib in a world of magic, he felt powerless, especially after marrying Margaret and welcoming Sean into their lives.
The dazzling spells and incredible feats he'd witnessed growing up only deepened his fear that without magic, he couldn't protect his family.
So Adrian fought to make himself stronger. After long workdays, he trained relentlessly, honing his fighting skills to ensure he could stand up for his loved ones when it mattered most.
His fist connected with Barnabas's face in a swift, brutal punch.
The sudden blow sent Barnabas sprawling to the ground outside Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour, his mind reeling in a haze of shock and pain.
By the time Barnabas snapped out of it, humiliation fueled his rage. Forgetting the crowd around him, he scrambled for the wand at his waist.
But Adrian was faster. He lunged forward, kicking Barnabas's wrist hard. The wand flew from his grip, skittering across the cobblestones. Before Barnabas could recover, Adrian swung again, his fist slamming into Barnabas's stomach.
Barnabas doubled over with a groan, clutching his gut in agony.
His mind blanked from the pain, and without his wand—or skill in wandless magic—he was helpless to cast a single spell.
Miles Bulstrode, watching his usually imposing father beaten down by a Squib, stood frozen, his face pale with disbelief. But he quickly shook it off, yanking out his own wand and aiming it at Adrian, his voice sharp with a spell.
"Herbivicus—"
Before Miles could finish, a hand clamped over his mouth, cutting off the incantation. A sharp punch to his stomach followed, and Miles crumpled to the ground beside his father, gasping in pain.
Sean, swift and decisive, snatched Miles's wand from his hand. He grabbed Adrian's arm, and the father and son stepped back, their eyes locked on their opponents.
Barnabas, his face bruised and nose bloodied, staggered to his feet.
He lunged for his fallen wand, ready to curse Adrian into oblivion. But before he could act, two figures appeared beside him and Miles, their presence commanding.
"Mr. Bulstrode, casting a spell on a non-magical person here will land you in Azkaban per Ministry law," one Auror said sternly.
"And I doubt your father, Mr. Gideon Bulstrode, would approve of such behavior, would he?"
The Auror's words cut through Barnabas's fury, cooling his temper.
He realized the truth: using magic on Adrian would bring Gideon's wrath, and even if the family's influence spared him from Azkaban, the punishment at home would be just as harsh.
Though he burned to lash out at Adrian and Sean, Barnabas forced himself to lower his wand. Without another word, he stormed off from Florean Fortescue's, dragging Miles—who looked ready to protest—along with him.
Sean watched them go, his jaw tight.
This wasn't over, he knew. But for now, Barnabas wouldn't dare act against him or his parents, not with the threat of Azkaban looming. And by the time Sean graduated from Hogwarts, he was sure he'd be strong enough to handle whatever Barnabas threw his way.
The two Aurors turned to Adrian, Margaret, and Sean.
"Please, all of you, follow the wizarding laws in Diagon Alley," one said calmly. "We won't trouble you further."
With that, the Aurors walked away.
As they left, the younger Auror glanced at his partner, confusion in his eyes. "Corey, why didn't we show more respect to the Bulstrode heir? Won't that cause trouble?"
Corey's lips twitched in a knowing smile. "Who do you think those three were? The Bulstrode family's internal drama isn't our concern. Right now, old Mr. Gideon Bulstrode calls the shots. If you're picking sides, stick with him. Got it?"
The younger Auror's eyes widened as he recalled a rumor about the Bulstrode family's tensions. Nodding, he fell silent, understanding his partner's point.
Sean caught the exchange, his sharp eyes tracking the Aurors. Their confidence and authority marked them as elites, like top-tier soldiers in the Muggle world.
These weren't the bumbling Aurors he'd seen in movies.
With a final glance at their retreating figures, Sean returned to his table, scooping up a bite of his now-melted chocolate-and-raspberry sundae.
As the sweet, sparkly flavor hit his tongue, he opened his mental panel, curiosity piqued.
During the scuffle with Miles, a notification had flashed across his panel, but he'd had no time to check it. Now, with the chaos settled, he wanted to see what it said.
[Win the duel and randomly select an ability of the duel opponent.]
[Drawing…]
[Drawing completed, obtained: Herbivicus]
Sean's eyebrows shot up. Before his panel upgraded, back when he was competing in school exams, winning against others earned him knowledge in their best subjects—math, literature, whatever.
These notifications were similar, but now they were tied to magic. Exams had turned into duels, and the stakes felt a lot higher.
He opened his character panel, eager to see the details.
[Sean Bulstrode]
[Occupation: Wizard Apprentice]
[Affiliation: Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry]
[Skills: Lumos (LV0), Herbivicus (LV0)]
[Equipment: Ebony Phoenix Wand]
The Lumos spell was one he'd tried learning from Gideon's notebook, fumbling without a wand and never quite getting it right.
But now, seeing it listed on his upgraded panel, Sean realized he'd mastered it. With his new wand, casting it should be a breeze.
He closed the panel, a slow grin spreading across his face.
With this system, he felt a surge of confidence about carving out a place at Hogwarts—and in the wizarding world beyond.
Barnabas might be out of his league now, but with the panel's help, Sean was sure he'd be ready to face wizards like him by his fourth or fifth year. He'd protect himself and his parents, no matter what.