The morning after Valentine's Day prank exploded through Hogwarts like wildfire. By breakfast, the story of the "Greasy Love Letter" to Professor Snape had reached every corridor, common room, and even the portraits — some of which were laughing so hard they forgot to move.
Lockhart didn't dare show his face at breakfast. Even the enchanted ceiling of the Great Hall seemed brighter, as if the castle itself was laughing.
At the Hufflepuff table, Roy sat calmly, eating pancakes while trying very hard not to smirk. Around him, Hermione, Daphne, Cassandra Vole, Penelope, Astoria, and Cho Chang were whispering and giggling.
Hermione leaned closer, her voice low. "Roy… you did write that poem, didn't you?"
Roy looked at her with the most innocent expression imaginable. "Me? The poet of greasy romance? Never. Though I must admit—whoever wrote it has… talent."
Daphne nearly choked on her pumpkin juice. "Oh Merlin, that poor man! I heard the dwarfs sang the whole thing in front of the Slytherin table!"
Cassandra added, "And then they threw petals and winked at him!"
Cho was laughing so hard she had tears in her eyes. "And Snape's face? It looked like someone brewed a cauldron of rage and regret!"
The Weasley twins appeared behind Roy, clapping him on the shoulders.
"Roy, mate," said George."Whoever wrote that masterpiece," Fred continued, "is our spiritual mentor. We're starting a Prank Poet Society in their honor!"
Roy smiled. "Good. I expect quality over quantity. Remember — elegance in chaos."
Both twins saluted dramatically.
Later that afternoon, Lockhart was spotted packing in a hurry, his face pale and twitching. He mumbled something about "urgent Ministry business" before disappearing for a week. Rumor said Snape's office had been filled with an awful smell of burnt perfume and melted chocolates — though no one dared to ask how.
By dinner, laughter had still not died down. Even McGonagall had the faintest twitch of a smile, though she hid it behind her teacup.
When Snape entered the Great Hall, silence fell instantly. His robes billowed like a thundercloud as he glared at everyone. Roy, sitting at the far end of the Hufflepuff table, met his eyes with a calm smile. For a moment, Snape's lips twitched — not in anger, but something that looked almost like reluctant amusement.
Hermione whispered, "Roy… he knows."Roy replied softly, "Let him know. It's Valentine's, after all — a day to spread love."
At that, the girls around him burst into laughter again, and the Great Hall filled once more with cheerful noise.
That night, as Roy walked back to his dorm, he passed by the suits of armor — and even they seemed to hum the rhythm of the dwarfs' song. Hogwarts hadn't been that lively in years.