Chapter -59.
Under the bright, round moon that shone through the trees, the familiar surroundings of Slytherin's meeting room buzzed with the presence of upperclassmen.
It was worth noting that Marcus was absent this time.
"Alright, everyone, let's share any updates we have, keep it short and to the point. This could be one of our last gatherings since graduation is approaching, and our time at Hogwarts is running out," called out seventh-year prefect Richmond Carlo as he scanned the room.
His voice carried the same smooth, slightly oily tone as always.
Slytherin, by nature, felt more cohesive compared to the individualistic Ravenclaws or the disjointed Gryffindor group.
And as for Hufflepuff? They were more like a chaotic crowd.
With the presence of Dudley, an unusual addition this year, Slytherin's unity increased even further.
"The major event recently has been Mr. Dursley's behavior in the common room, but he's been behaving relatively well lately without causing trouble. His active participation in classes has significantly benefited Slytherin; he's earned half of the points in our hourglass. Even if we don't clinch the Quidditch championship this year, we're still in a strong position for the House Cup. And I heard that after spending time with him, Malfoy has become quite compliant, even working out with Dudley every morning?"
"On the flip side, Harry Potter has been anything but remarkable lately—average in studies, skills, and performance. He often seems awkward in class, as if he's encountering spells for the very first time."
The sixth-year prefect, serving as Carlo's deputy, highlighted Dudley and Harry. While he initially grumbled about Dudley, his attitude shifted to mild approval. Had it not been for the incident during the opening feast, Dudley's contributions to Slytherin would likely have earned him significant respect within the house. Slytherin's commitment to preserving its reputation was commendable.
However, there was hesitation and dismissal in reference to Malfoy, and an air of skepticism surrounded Harry.
As soon as he finished, Carlo voiced his admiration for Harry "That's classic Potter, throwing his cousin under the bus to draw attention while he sneaks around unnoticed. And of course, Mr. Dursley is quite the standout as well."
"Is that so?"
Carlo's comment sparked exchanged glances among the group.
Logically, there didn't seem to be anything wrong, yet it felt a bit off.
"Certainly! Have you all missed it? Besides Mr. Dursley, Miss Granger from Gryffindor has been the most active lately, while Mr. Potter has shown no standout qualities, making him seem like just another ordinary wizard."
"Isn't that right?" The sixth-year prefect expressed his confusion, which stemmed from his observations during this period.
Concluding, Carlo lightly tapped the table and went on, "Who is he? The legendary Harry Potter, the boy who defeated the Dark Lord. Do you really think he'd be just an ordinary wizard?"
"Definitely not."
"But…"
Everyone seemed to find some validity in the statement.
Still, it was a bit unconvincing…
Sensing the group's uncertainty, Carlo chuckled softly, shaking his head as he sipped his cup of red tea: "You all just haven't been paying close enough attention. No matter how well someone tries to hide, the truth can slip through."
"Daniel, you need to improve your information-gathering skills."
He pointed first at his assistant.
"Mr. Potter displayed impressive potion knowledge in our first class; I guess you didn't catch that?"
Daniel looked surprised: "I hadn't noticed that."
"He knew the entire potion-making process, the timing for results, the symptoms, and even the causes of death. I doubt anyone else was aware of that either, right?"
Carlo was referring to Harry's performance in their first Potions class.
"Do you genuinely think a typical wizard would know potions so thoroughly?"
Everyone shook their heads; not many would pay that much attention to potions.
"Mr. Potter has been trying hard to blend in, but there are still some slip-ups."
That made sense!
"And one more thing… I wonder if anyone noticed."
Carlo continued casually, "Miss Granger from Gryffindor should have logically been sorted into Ravenclaw, yet here she is in Gryffindor."
"To be straightforward, what kind of fools are those Gryffindors? I don't need to explain further, right? Of course, that doesn't include our Mr. Potter."
Carlo's comment caused soft laughter to ripple through the conference room.
The rivalry between Slytherin and Gryffindor wasn't fresh; the two houses had nearly become sworn enemies, and for these Slytherins, Gryffindors were often seen as reckless individuals who resorted to fighting without thinking.
What right did they have to share a school with them?
"They don't deserve someone like Miss Granger."
One of the seniors spoke first.
Had Hermione not come from a Muggle family, they would have readily accepted her into Slytherin.
Who needed Quidditch victories when you could boost points with a valuable addition?
"It's rumored that Miss Granger is quite close with Mr. Dursley, but that's not the main issue…"
Carlo mentioned this in passing but then changed his tone to a much lower one.
"The focus is… they're all connected to Mr. Potter."
His words sent a chill through everyone; having pointed this out so clearly, any further elaboration felt too blunt. The attendees were no fools; the naïve ones had already been kicked out.
Like a certain big-toothed individual.
An immediate hush fell over the meeting room.
The realization that they were all somehow linked to Mr. Potter was quite a chilling thought indeed.
"With graduation on the horizon for all of us, and myself this year, we're just having a casual chat; whatever happens at school isn't our concern anymore."
Carlo's remark helped ease some of the tension in the room.
Ultimately, they were all nearing their graduation, and as long as they stayed uninvolved, it was okay.
"However, I want to remind everyone that Mr. Dursley is Mr. Potter's cousin, and he's been pushed to the forefront by Mr. Potter himself. If Potter truly is a concealed dark wizard, what do you think that makes Mr. Dursley?"
"You mean…"
Daniel started to say something but suddenly caught himself and fell quiet.
"In fact, I have quite a bit of respect for that big guy."
"One person managing the first to third years; it's clear he's not just anyone."
A senior spoke up, and others quickly chimed in.
Carlo shook his head in exasperation; if they weren't all allies, he wouldn't even bother reminding them, considering they were all Slytherins.
"Alright, let's steer clear of them; don't get tangled up in their mess."
"What they do isn't our business, but we can extend a little courtesy when necessary, just not too overtly."
"Remember, Slytherin always stands with the victors."
"Mr. Carlo, you're absolutely correct."
One of them suggested, followed by agreement from the others.
Unlike Malfoy, who was convinced Dudley was a powerful dark wizard, Carlo firmly believed Harry was the one who brought down the Dark Lord.
One could only say both of them were overthinking it.
Meanwhile, outside Hogwarts Castle,
"Foolish Malfoy!" Harry shouted, pointing at Malfoy.
Malfoy shot back, "You idiot, Potter!"
"Expelliarmus!"
"Expelliarmus!"
The so-called savior Potter, lurking in the shadows according to the Slytherin seniors, was now throwing insults at Malfoy as if they were children.
The spark that ignited their argument? They had both shown up to watch Dudley train and found themselves unable to stand each other.
Note : Guys, some power stones will be really helpful.
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