The aftermath of the Quidditch match still echoed through the halls of Hogwarts. Even weeks later, laughter followed whenever anyone mentioned the Slytherin Beaters—who had accidentally bludgeoned their own captain mid-game. The story had become school legend, retold with increasing exaggeration each time.
"Did you hear? Flint's face still twitches when he sees a Bludger!""They say the Beaters now flinch every time they hear the word 'dodge!'"
The Hufflepuff common room, once the quietest corner of the castle, now thrummed with new pride. Roy's name—Lord Shura—was whispered everywhere, even outside his own House. The once-overlooked badgers had found their roar.
Over the next two months, Roy truly began to enjoy his student life.
He attended classes with steady focus, but outside lessons he became the center of laughter and camaraderie. Hermione, Daphne, Cassandra Vole, Penelope Clearwater, and Cho Chang often gathered around him at lunch and dinner, where Roy's teasing charm made even the most composed witch blush.
"You know," Roy said once at the Great Hall, "Hermione, if books gave out awards, you'd have more trophies than Hogwarts has staircases.""And you'd probably trip over every one of them," Daphne added with a sly smile."Says the girl who tried to hex a portrait for staring too long," Roy teased back.
Daphne flushed crimson while Cassandra giggled behind her hand. The friendly banter among them had become a daily highlight for many watching from other tables.
When not surrounded by his friends, Roy spent evenings with Fred and George Weasley, helping them refine their prank inventions using his alchemical knowledge. Their faces lit up every time he explained the properties of a rune or an ingredient.
"So if we etch this sigil here…" George murmured."And stabilize the core reaction…" Fred added.Roy smirked. "Then you'll have a product that doesn't explode in your face this time.""A miracle!" both twins chorused.
He also made time for Cedric Diggory and the other Hufflepuff teammates, their bond forged in the Quidditch pitch's roaring winds.
And whenever the castle fell quiet at night, Roy would open the portal to his pocket dimension, where Articuno, Dvalin, and Fawkes played among crystalline trees and silver lakes—a secret sanctuary away from the eyes of Hogwarts.
❄ December Snow
The castle shimmered under a blanket of snow as Christmas approached. Icicles glittered like wands, and the air buzzed with anticipation of the upcoming holidays.
Roy noticed something unusual that week: Harry, Ron, and Hermione were spending an alarming amount of time in the library.
Curious, Roy decided to investigate—accompanied by Cassandra and Daphne, who wanted to borrow new reading material.
They pushed open the heavy wooden doors and stepped into the silent expanse of shelves. Near the corner table, they found the trio hunched over a pile of books.
Roy arched an eyebrow. "Well, this is new. I've never seen Potter and Weasley in the library voluntarily."
Hermione looked up sharply, while Ron fumbled to hide his upside-down book.
Roy crossed his arms, amused. "I don't know whether to call that dedication or an act of desperation."
Harry gave a sheepish grin, and Ron flushed red. "I—I was just checking the pictures!"
"In a dictionary?" Roy asked, deadpan.
Even Hermione couldn't suppress a giggle at that, though she quickly regained her composure.
"We're looking for information on Nicolas Flamel," Hermione said, ignoring Ron's embarrassed mumbling.
At that, Roy's expression softened slightly. "Ah… Flamel. I know who he is."
Cassandra and Daphne exchanged surprised looks, while Hermione leaned forward eagerly.
"You do? Who is he, then?"
Roy smirked. "A very interesting man. But…"
Before he could continue, Ron interrupted. "We don't need your help, Shura! We'll find out ourselves."
The air between them tensed. Cassandra's eyes narrowed slightly, and Daphne muttered under her breath, "Jealous fool."
Roy, unfazed, simply smiled. "Suit yourself." He led Cassandra and Daphne to the other side of the library, found a quiet table, and pulled out a tome from the forbidden section—one focused on Runes of Transcendent Binding.
As they settled into reading, Hermione lingered by the shelves, biting her lip. She was angry—not at Roy, but at Ron. His childish jealousy and habit of undermining others grated on her nerves. Finally, with a quiet sigh, she approached Roy's table.
"Roy," she said softly, "I'm sorry for Ron's behavior. He can be… thoughtless sometimes."
Roy looked up from his book and smiled gently. "It's fine, Hermione. He's loud, jealous, and stubborn—but not malicious."
Then, with a teasing glint in his eyes, he added, "Besides, I'd rather see you smile than waste time being upset about a Weasley."
Her face flushed pink instantly. "Y-you really shouldn't say things like that!"
Roy leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice. "How about we make it interesting, then?"
Hermione blinked. "What do you mean?"
"A bet," Roy said, eyes gleaming with mischief. "If you manage to find out who Nicolas Flamel is before Christmas holidays end, you win. You can ask me for anything in return."
Hermione, curious and competitive, smiled. "Anything?"
"Anything," Roy confirmed.
She thought for a moment, then declared, "If I win, I want you to teach me advanced spellcasting after the holidays."
Roy nodded. "Fair enough."
Hermione crossed her arms. "And if you win?"
Roy leaned closer, his breath brushing her ear as he whispered,
"Then you'll owe me a lap pillow."
Hermione's face turned scarlet. "W-what?!" she squeaked, clutching her book like a shield.
Roy chuckled. "You agreed—anything, remember?"
Hermione stammered for a moment, then looked away with a blush. "…Fine. But only if I lose." She hurried back toward Harry and Ron before her heart could betray her.
As her footsteps faded, Cassandra and Daphne stared at Roy, wide-eyed.
"Roy…" Cassandra muttered, cheeks tinged red. "Did you really say that?"
Roy grinned. "Maybe."
Daphne, trying to sound casual but failing, asked, "And… if we wanted to make a similar bet?"
Roy tilted his head teasingly. "You want to be my lap pillows too?"
Both girls turned crimson but nodded shyly. Roy laughed softly and said, "Then wait until after Hermione's bet is over. I don't want you two fighting over whose lap I'll use first."
Their embarrassment turned into laughter, and in that moment—amid the dusty books and flickering candlelight—something subtle changed between them.
Their friendship deepened into something warmer, something unspoken.
And for Roy Valvas, the Shura of Hogwarts, life at the castle was only beginning to grow more interesting.
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