The next morning, the air in Durmstrang felt heavier than it had in weeks. Students shuffled into the Great Hall, their murmurs laced with nervous anticipation. Something was different, and everyone could feel it.
Dorian sat at his usual seat, his sharp eyes scanning the room. There was a palpable tension, even more intense than after Kara's death, or when Jannik's body had been found. He noticed how many students avoided making eye contact, their expressions guarded, as though each feared what they might learn today.
The headmaster, an imposing figure even on the most ordinary of days, stood at the front of the hall, his presence dominating the room. His sharp features were framed by his long, dark robes, his expression unusually grim as he surveyed the students before him. This was not the usual strict formality he carried. There was something more—an intensity behind his eyes, a weight to his stance.
Dorian's focus narrowed in on him, sensing that something significant was about to be revealed.
With a slight wave of his hand, the headmaster quieted the room. The murmurs died down, and silence fell like a thick blanket over the hall. The only sound was the soft crackling of the torches lining the stone walls.
"Students of Durmstrang," the headmaster began, his deep voice reverberating through the hall. "It has come to my attention that the past few weeks have been marked by unusual and tragic circumstances."
He paused, allowing the weight of his words to settle over the room. Dorian sat up straighter, his curiosity piqued. This wasn't going to be the usual vague reassurances about school safety. The headmaster was preparing to say something important.
"As many of you know," the headmaster continued, "two of our students, Kara Albrecht and Jannik Rookwood, have lost their lives under... suspicious circumstances. Their deaths were not accidents. They were not the result of carelessness, nor were they the kind of tragic events that, while unfortunate, occasionally occur in a school such as ours."
Dorian's mind whirred as he listened. The headmaster's tone was measured, but there was an edge to his voice, a subtle acknowledgment that these deaths stood apart from others Durmstrang had seen. It wasn't uncommon for students who dabbled in dangerous magic to meet their ends in foolish experiments. But this... this was different.
"These deaths," the headmaster said, his voice dropping to a more solemn tone, "were the product of deliberate, dark forces. Not simply magic gone awry, but magic used with intent—an intent to harm."
A ripple of unease passed through the room. Students exchanged nervous glances, whispers breaking out in pockets despite the heavy silence that had fallen. Dorian's pulse quickened. The words deliberate, dark forces, intent to harm—they were all clues that the faculty had dug deeper into the deaths than he had anticipated.
The headmaster raised a hand, silencing the whispers once again.
"We at Durmstrang take such matters with the utmost seriousness. Our institution has long prided itself on producing some of the most talented wizards in the world, but with such power comes responsibility. The actions that led to the deaths of Kara Albrecht and Jannik Rookwood were not the result of carelessness, nor were they isolated incidents of students experimenting beyond their knowledge. No," the headmaster's voice grew darker, "these were murders, and they will not be tolerated within these walls."
The word murders sent a shockwave through the hall. Dorian caught a glimpse of Thorne Yaxley from across the table, his face impassive, though his eyes narrowed in thought. Other students exchanged glances, their expressions ranging from fear to disbelief.
"As of today," the headmaster continued, "we have identified the student responsible for these heinous acts."
The tension in the room reached a fever pitch. Dorian's gaze flicked to Lyra, sitting a few seats down from him. She looked as composed as ever, but he could feel the subtle shift in her aura—like a coiled serpent waiting to strike.
"The culprit, Aric Lestrange, has confessed to the murders of both Kara Albrecht and Jannik Rookwood," the headmaster announced. "He will be removed from Durmstrang and handed over to the Ministry for prosecution. We expect that he will face the full extent of the law for his crimes."
There was a collective intake of breath as the room absorbed the information. Dorian's mind raced. Aric? Lestrange? It made sense—Aric had been close to Kara, and he was the type who could be easily manipulated into doing something reckless. But it was hard to believe that Aric had orchestrated both murders. He wasn't exactly... subtle.
Still, a small knot of tension eased in Dorian's chest. The incident, it seemed, was being neatly tied up. The faculty had found their scapegoat, and the deaths would soon fade into the background as Durmstrang returned to its normal rhythm.
But something about the whole situation felt... off. Dorian couldn't place it, but his instincts told him there was more going on than the headmaster was letting on.
"We understand that these events have shaken the foundations of trust and security within our school," the headmaster said, his voice regaining some of its usual authority. "Let me assure you that steps are being taken to ensure that nothing like this happens again. Durmstrang remains a place of excellence and learning, and we will not allow fear or darkness to rule these halls."
He paused, his gaze sweeping across the room. "For now, I ask that you return to your studies. This matter is closed, and those responsible have been dealt with. Let us focus on the future."
The headmaster's final words hung in the air as he stepped back, signaling the end of the speech. The hall remained silent for a few moments before the whispers started again—students leaning into each other, discussing Aric's fate, the deaths, and the implications of what had just been said.
Dorian remained still, his mind working through the pieces. Something didn't fit. Aric had never struck him as capable of pulling off such a clean series of murders—especially not under the radar like this. And why Jannik? He had been the one to find Kara's body... and now he was dead.
It all seemed too convenient, too neatly wrapped up.
Dorian glanced down the table at Lyra, who was speaking quietly with a few other students. Her face was calm, almost serene, as though the headmaster's announcement hadn't rattled her in the slightest.
No, he thought, dismissing the errant suspicion. It couldn't be Lyra. She wouldn't do something like that... would she?
His mind shifted to the unease that still lingered. Kara's death, Jannik's discovery... this was a darker force at work, something more calculated. Yet, with Aric now removed from the school and the official story in place, the focus would shift away from the deaths entirely. It was clear the headmaster wanted to move past this as quickly as possible.
Still, Dorian couldn't shake the feeling that this wasn't over.
As students left the hall, the conversation continued, quieter now but still thick with speculation. Lyra passed by Dorian as they walked to their next class, offering him a small smile. "Everything seems to be settling down now," she said, her voice casual, though there was something behind her words that Dorian couldn't quite place.
"Yeah, I guess so," Dorian replied, his mind still on the headmaster's speech. "Seems like they wrapped it up pretty quickly."
Lyra gave a slight nod. "They had to. Two deaths in such a short time—it was bound to cause panic. Now they've found someone to blame, and everyone can move on."
Her tone was reassuring, but Dorian couldn't help but wonder if she knew more than she was letting on.
As they parted ways for their respective classes, Dorian's mind was awhirl with thoughts. The headmaster had closed the case, but for Dorian, it felt anything but resolved. Kara, Jannik, and now Aric—this series of deaths was more than just a string of coincidences. He could feel it, lurking just beneath the surface, waiting for the right moment to reveal itself.