The sun blazed overhead, casting shimmering diamonds across the water's surface. The garden behind the Tonks' house had been temporarily transformed into a paradise of summer fun—thanks in no small part to Dora's enthusiastic planning and Andromeda's quiet approval. A few conjured parasols, floating lily-pad-like cushions bobbing on the grass, and of course, the centerpiece: the magically enhanced pool.
It was deep enough to dive into, warm enough to stay in for hours, and enchanted with a subtle ripple charm that made every splash feel like silk.
Hadrian surfaced from a dive and shook his head like a wet dog, water flying everywhere. "Twelve out of ten! I demand a judges' panel next time."
Dora, perched on a floating charm-enhanced pool chair, snorted. "Only if the panel includes me, and I'm giving you a six for the splash radius alone."
"You're just jealous," he replied, pushing himself up onto a magically anchored platform. "Watch and learn."
"Please don't do a cannonball," Iris called from the shallow end, where she was lounging on a float shaped like a mischievous mermaid. "The water level just stabilized."
Hadrian gave her a grin that promised trouble.
"Cannonball incoming!" he yelled.
The splash that followed was impressive. Not quite tidal wave levels, but enough to send Dora tumbling off her floating chair with a shriek.
"Traitor!" she coughed, surfacing with a wild laugh. "You soaked my towel on the side!"
Hadrian beamed. "Collateral damage in the name of joy."
"You're going to pay for that," Iris said sweetly, slipping into the deeper water with smooth strokes.
What followed could only be described as an all-out aquatic skirmish. Water spells flew—gentle jets and harmless geysers, courtesy of Dora's wandwork. Hadrian tried to conjure a tiny water dragon, only to end up with a soggy, confused-looking snake that looped around his arm before leaping back into the pool with a squeak.
Iris conjured a miniature waterspout and trapped Dora in a spiraling current—until Dora reversed it and sent Iris spinning with a gleeful shriek.
Eventually, breathless and smiling, they put their wands back into their water repelling holsters and collapsed onto the grass, towels wrapped around them and hair dripping. The sun was dipping low now, casting golden hues across the sky.
"That was the best pool battle in history," Dora said, grinning up at the clouds.
"Definitely a war to remember," Hadrian agreed, still dripping but happy.
Iris stretched, looking over at the others. "I think we deserved that. After all the exams, pranks, and chaos."
"Yeah," Hadrian murmured, "I feel supremely unburdened."
Dora didn't say anything, just nudging his foot with hers.