The news of a possible dark wizard was not officially released to the school body. Instead, Dumbledor simply choose to not reveal anything about it to the students, not confirming or denying any of the rumours flying around. Leaving them in the dark of what ever happened at Halloween night.
The students knew something had happened. They were not blind not to notice the tense atmosphere amongst the professors . Plus, students who had actively searched for the troll, like a couple of red headed twins, had seen the smoke and the shattered windows. And when they came to learn the unconscious three Griffindor first years, they were able to piece somethings together. And soon some rumours flew around, not particularly good ones.
But none of that seemed to matter to Richard. The news passing through one ear and out of the other. His mind was above cloud seven, almost in a state of enlightenment from total satisfaction in mind and soul.
A sword, and a swordsman has one purpose. To kill. No matter how fancy the style was, or how great the person was, in the end, a sword is a weapon used for killing. And the moment he killed the troll, Richard felt as if he fulfilled his purpose, achieving a something similar to the legendary sage mode. A total sense of accomplishment, that emerged from the deapths of his soul. As for the troll, well, he felt nothing towards it. Afterall, this was not his first kill, nor his most gruesome one. He was Riser Phenix in his past life. A devil who had literally burned others to death. Richard had long since discarded any squeamishness he had after he became a devil.
Quiddich season had arrived in Hogwarts. Students and the Professors alike excited as they were caught in the Quiddich fever. Even the studious students put aside their books for the time being and taking on the colors of their houses. Except for Richard, who found himself in the embrace of loneliness.
After Hermione integrated into the group, Richard began slowly distancing himself from them. Which, to his disappointment, the other two didn't even notice. Harry was busy either with his Quiddich training or researching about Quiddich along with Hermione and Ron. Though Richard quickly berated himself for acting like a jealous ex girlfriend.
The path of a sword is lonely. Nothing can stand infront of it without being pierced. Even the swordsman stands behind his sword.
Richard slowly distanced himself from the students of his age. They were simply too immature for him to associate with. Instead, he kept a casual friendship with the Weasly twins who regarded him as a side character. But that was fine by him because he found himself unable to invest himself in forming bonds with them either. He found himself channelling all his efforts in magic and his own training. Something he attributed to his changing mentality with the usage of his magic. He felt himself become more colder, sharp with his words and headstrong in action, no doubt the side effects of having sword as the main focus of his soul. It assimilating the characteristics of a sword into his own character . He needed a strong will and enough power to break the invisible strings around him.
Richard began to train even harder while others wasted their time on Quiddich. He started using the room of requirements more and more to practice hexes and charms after class making others question his whereabouts. He only trained the most useful ones. Like how he had practiced stealth charms earlier in the year. He categorised them into five groups for better memorisation. Stealth, aggressive offence, restrictive offence, defence and support. And he focused only on the most practical spells of them.
Then from the twilight in the morning till it came to classes, he exercised physically. Practicing calisthenics and poses he had come across his past lives. If one were to wake up early, they would've noticed him standing on his hands or sitting in horse stance or even moving and swinging an obsidian sword at the banks of the black lake. He felt himself crawling closer and closer to achieving the physical aspect of magic.
"Mate, what happened to you? " Harry questioned with wonder one day at the breakfast, when he saw Richard stuffing his face like a mad man.
"What do you mean?" Richard lifted his head from whatever he was inhaling to meet Harry in the eyes who scratched the back of his head as he contemplated on how to ask it without offending the other party.
"Well" he drawled "I mean, we hardly see you anymore. You always dissapear after class, and we never see you in the dorms in the morning. And now you're eating like you were starved."
Ron who had sat next to him looked up from his plate as well." Yeah . You didn't even come to see Harry's Quiddich training."
"Ronald, please talk after you swallow your food" Hermione said as she looked at both the hungry boys with disgust as she moved a bit away from them. "And as for you " she looked at Richard before admonishing him. "You do know that sneaking out in the middle of the night is going to cost us house points, right? What if Filch catches you? I had to work had to gain those points from Professor McGonagall. "
"I won't get caught" Richard simply replied before attacking his beans with a renewed vigour while reaching out for another hunk of bread from his free arm.
"I don't like Quiddich " Richard replied as he wiped his plate clean. Then ignoring Ron and Harry's horrified gaze, he continued." I need to practice my transfiguration. By the way, can you let me borrow your homework"
"Again!" Hermione asked ,exasperated. "Why can't you put a little more effort into your studies? "
Even though they were not close friends, Richard felt that he needed an explanation,. He was borrowing her notes after all.
" History of magic is basically full of lies the nobles of pure blood families want, DADA classes are a joke and Snape doesn't give an owl's hoot about us. He will just take points anyway"
"Speaking bad about a professor behind their back, that's 10 points from Griffindor"
A voice suddenly appeared from behind them making Ron almost choke on his food. Sure enough, when they turned back, they were greeted by the greasy wannabe vampire himself.
Richard never liked the man, even in the movies. No matter how hard Rowling tried to redeem the man, it doesn't change the fact that he was a death eater by choice who only came to help Dumbledor because the married woman he loved died. 'What a simp', Richard thought as he looked at the man, but Snape's attention seemed to be elsewhere.
"Good luck today Potter, afterall a game of Quiddich should be an easy work for you. Even if it is , against Slytherin. "
As Snape limped past, Harry seem to notice something. But before he could speak, Richard got up.
"Good luck in the match Harry. I'm sorry that I have to miss it "
Richard strode off leaving the golden trio flabbergasted at his sudden departure.