The crunch of tires on gravel announced Elena's arrival twenty minutes later. Her Subaru Outback, mud-spattered from recent fieldwork, pulled into the lot with the practiced ease of someone who spent more time on remote forest roads than highways. Her headlights swept across the gathered group before cutting off, leaving them in the glow of Alex's modified exterior lighting.

Hazel's fingers danced across holographic interfaces, cycling through various local online channels. Her search pattern was methodical, filtering through social media, local news feeds, and obscure internet forums. The displays - what she would have once called cyberpunk back when such technology seemed extraordinary, but now were simply her standard work environment - shifted with each query, breaking apart and reassembling data streams in complex geometric patterns.

The pre-dawn light hung like a thin gray veil over Alex's property. Alex and Hazel moved through the covered walkway connecting the house to the equipment garage with practiced synchronicity. Each step was measured, deliberate - a habit born from years of survival in a world where the slightest miscalculation could mean death.

Pre- Chapter Note - This is a prologue chapter. The full story begins in Chapter 02. So, this and Chapter 01 are the setup for the story.

Hey guys I had help with AI when asking about what it would be like for Clark and friends to have received letters to join Hogwarts but as 3rd year students since the Hogwarts Legacy game states its possible to join as a 5th year. Clark and his friends Lana, Lois and Kara are all about 14 or so and going to Hogwarts instead of Smallville where they would have been Freshmen otherwise.

CLARK KENT GOES TO HOGWARTS

Chapter 1: The Hogwarts Express

The Thirteenth Witch
Chapter Nine
Raine Monday

Esmerelda Devereaux walked with the ladies' of the coven down the hill, and through the housing area.

Walking was quite a different chore now, than when she'd been Lydia.

She had to take much smaller steps, and her knees ached, her hips hurt, her back felt like it was on fire, and she couldn't put her shoulders back.

"We shall give you some remedies for the elderly ailments," Agatha said as they made their way through town.

The Thirteenth Witch
Chapter Six
Raine Monday

Been awhile since I've posted on this. Might want to read back from the beginning!
RM

The next morning, Agatha and several other witches came to collect the couple after breakfast. The changes in Lydia had continued their progression; her right foot now matched her left, and the aging had spread up her arms, nearly to her elbows.

Akari's frustration had been building for days, a relentless storm in her heart that she could no longer contain. As she sat alone in her dorm room, the weight of everything—the rumors, the fear, the isolation—crashed down on her. She slammed her fist against the desk, her breath quickening with anger, her eyes brimming with tears of helplessness.

In the shadowy halls of the grand temple dedicated to Bellatrice, the High Priest stood in front of an ornate altar, his expression twisted with frustration. The soft glow of candles flickered around him, casting long shadows dancing in sync with his growing anger. The assassin knelt before him, head bowed low in shame, trembling under the weight of the High Priest's piercing gaze.

Lingering in Lingery

"It wasn't me. I didn't do it. It's not fair. Why?" There was a lot of truth in what I was saying. I was just a 12 year old boy being dragged around a department store - why would I need to touch anything girly. So unlikely. But I WAS bored.

A summons from the king arrived just days after the battle with the dragon, delivered by a royal messenger with an air of urgency. Akari’s parents, the Duke and Duchess of Maylor, received the message with solemn expressions, understanding the gravity of the situation. The king was not someone who issued summons lightly, and to be called to the throne room with all of his advisors present meant that this was more than just a simple meeting.

The sun was just beginning to rise over the spires of Gale Haven Academy when Akari woke up on her first day of classes. Despite the early hour, her roommates, Lila and Mira, were already up and moving, chattering excitedly about what the day would bring.

“First day of school at Gale Haven!” Lila practically sang as she flung open the curtains, letting the morning light stream into their room. “This is going to be awesome!”