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The next day dawned with a calm, clear sky. Everything seemed as usual, except for one detail:
Dyroth. Normally quiet and rule-abiding in class, today he was different. Instead of waiting to be called upon, his hand shot up frequently, eager to answer questions.
His impressive knowledge and practical experience shone through, leaving his classmates in awe and Professor McGonagall visibly pleased.
But not everyone was impressed. Ron Weasley sat fuming, jealousy etched across his face. Everyone, even Harry, noticed Ron's palpable dislike for Dyroth's sudden enthusiasm.
Ever since starting school, Ron had viewed Dyroth with suspicion, and this display of intellect only fueled his resentment.
To make matters worse, Ron's family, especially his mother, had taken a liking to Dyroth. Mrs. Weasley had even knitted him a sweater, something she hadn't yet done for Ron.
"That Slytherin is using dark magic, I'm sure of it!" Ron muttered angrily, his voice rising in frustration.
"Dyroth isn't a bad person…"
Harry tried to defend his friend, though a seed of unease lingered from his recent conversation with Dyroth and Dumbledore.
"No, he must be!" Ron continued, louder now. "He's always off somewhere, doing who knows what."
Before Ron could continue, Professor McGonagall interrupted.
"Mr. Weasley, if you don't pay attention, I will have no problem removing you from the class."
The other students burst into laughter as Ron's face flushed red, his embarrassment obvious.
Dyroth smirked slightly from across the room, a glint of amusement in his eyes.
He didn't need to actively antagonize Ron; the Gryffindor's own insecurities seemed sufficient.
After class, Ron and Harry quickly fled, leaving behind mocking whispers.
Meanwhile, Dyroth was surrounded by admiring classmates, laughing and talking as they headed toward the Slytherin common room.
Dyroth caught Ron's glare and offered a small, teasing smile, further igniting Ron's fury.
"I'm going to expose him one day!" Ron spat.
Harry, ever the peacekeeper, tried to calm him down. "Come on, Ron. He's just answering questions. You can do that too, you know."
"If I could, I would!" Ron snapped, his anger evident. "You're supposed to be my friend, not his! Why do you keep defending him?"
"Of course I am, but Dyroth... he is just my—"
"My what? He is a Slytherin! An evil one at that!" Ron shouted, cutting Harry off mid-sentence. "He is our enemy, Harry. The enemy of Gryffindor!"
Ron's voice trembled, betraying a mix of frustration and a deeper fear of losing his crucial friendship with Harry.
Ever since arriving at Hogwarts, Harry, the Boy Who Lived, had been his anchor. If that support wavered, his place felt less secure.
"I have to uncover his plan," Ron said, more to convince himself than anyone else. "There's something he is hiding. I just know it!"
Turning to Harry, his voice became almost pleading. "You'll help me, right? Harry?"
Harry hesitated, a conflict brewing within him. He didn't want to betray Ron, but he also felt Ron's judgment of Dyroth was premature and perhaps unfair.
Still, loyalty won out, and Harry reluctantly agreed to help Ron in his latest scheme: tailing Dyroth to see if they could catch him doing something suspicious.
That evening, as Dyroth finished his regular work in Professor Snape's office, a flicker of movement in the dimly lit corridor caught his eye.
He subtly adjusted his posture, pretending to organize his notes, and caught sight of Ron and Harry awkwardly attempting to conceal themselves behind a tapestry. A small, private smile touched his lips.
Trying to spy on me? Amateurs.
Later, after dinner in the Great Hall, Dyroth returned to the Slytherin common room with Draco and a group of friends. The students were already buzzing with excitement over Halloween, enthusiastically decorating the lounge.
Dyroth, sensing an opportunity, joined in, waving his wand and helping with the preparations. His sudden enthusiasm surprised some of his housemates.
Draco couldn't help but tease him. "I thought you preferred the company of dusty old tomes, not tinsel."
"Even I appreciate a good celebration," Dyroth replied with a grin. "Halloween is important, after all. Can't be a complete recluse."
The students laughed, enjoying the festive spirit. Casually, Dyroth steered the conversation toward their formidable Head of House.
"You know," he said, a thoughtful expression on his face, "Professor Snape always seems rather… solitary during the holidays."
Several older students picked up on his subtle suggestion. "You're right," one of them remarked. "In my three years here, I've never seen him join the festivities. Poor bloke."
Dyroth smiled inwardly. He didn't need to explicitly suggest anything. The seed of an idea had been planted. He anticipated that some of the more sympathetic students would now consider checking on Snape on Halloween.
If students from other houses catch wind of this, Dyroth mused, it might even become a sort of informal tradition.
And the more the professors interact with the students outside of lessons, the less scrutiny will fall on any individual's activities.
A convenient side effect, he thought. Even if Voldemort were aware of such a trivial manipulation, he could hardly fault me for a bit of harmless… social engineering. It has nothing to do with any larger plans.
As Dyroth continued to contribute to the Halloween decorations, Draco, Pansy, and the rest of his friends remained oblivious to the subtle currents he was setting in motion. His mind, however, was already several steps ahead, calculating the potential benefits of this seemingly innocuous act.
By the time Halloween arrived, he anticipated the stage would be subtly altered.
"....."