Rodrick groggily made his way into the great hall, his hand covering a yawn as he plopped himself onto the seat opposite Malfoy, in between Blaise and Nott.
"Nundu's finally up," Nott started of amused.
Rodrick made a rude gesture with his hand in return.
Nott blinked, "That was uncalled for."
"I've had a difficult morning."
"Hardly, we don't even have lessons today." Malfoy remarked rolling his eyes, "It was your genius idea to forgo sleep last night,"
"Yes. Because we didn't have lessons today." Rodrick lazily replied back, piling food into his plate, he turned his attention towards the dais at the front, his eyes landing on the headmaster and his two favourite head of years.
"So anyone actually knows why lessons were cancelled or?" Rodrick questioned in between bites of food, his attention turned back to his three friends.
Blaise shook his head, "Rodrick what day is it today?"
Rodrick furrowed his brows, "Monday,"
Blaise shook his head, "Yes but the date itself,"
Rodrick simply stared wondering what the boy was trying to say before turning his attention to Malfoy and raising an eyebrow, he really had no clue.
"February," Malfoy remarked helpfully.
Rodrick twitched, "I could've told you that," he remarked.
"It's the 14th," Nott interjected.
"Ah..." Rodrick uttered before reaching into his pocket to take out a stack of cards, "That explains that then,"
Malfoy stared at the stack with a frown. "I am not sure what I expected,"
"You're just annoyed I got one and you didn't," Nott remarked amused.
Rodrick raised an eyebrow at the words before a grin took over his face, "Was it from a Hufflepuff?" Earning a snort from Malfoy. Blaise was still staring at the stack of cards, "Do you know who they're from?"
"The idea is to send it without letting the target know," Leave it to Nott to somehow turn the holiday dark.
"I know who they're from," Rodrick remarked easily, hearing several gasps from his own house. "Mostly second years," he added on frowning.
Nott blinked at that before taking out his card and questioning whether Rodrick knew who it had been from.
Rodrick focused his attention on the card in front of him, his mage sight letting him see a faint connection that went outside the hall, that had been how he'd found out where most of the cards he'd gotten had come from, however it seemed whoever had sent Nott the card had been surprisingly careful. "Huh, I actually can't tell," Rodrick remarked, he hadn't thought a psychopath capable of clear thought and careful planning. After all, anyone willing to send Nott a card must've had something wrong in their head.
Nott frowned at the words before sighing, his attention back on the cards on his left.
"I am surprised I got so many," Rodrick remarked, lazily pushing away the plate of food in front of him before laying down his head on top of his arms on the table, his eyes half closed.
"I am not," Nott spoke up, "Considering they're, as you said, second years,"
"What does that have anything to do with it?" Blaise questioned furrowing his brows. Malfoy on the other side had his attention on a card currently floating towards him.
Rodrick was trying to avoid falling asleep, his attention barely picking up Nott's words.
"During their first year a Basilisk showed up threatening the school, Naturally they'd feel somewhat grateful to the guy who put an end to it, you're basically a hero," his words earning a snort out of Rodrick.
"If only they knew..." He remarked, his eyes suddenly open, a strange glint in them as he stared at the card slowly approaching Malfoy.
"Knew what? That you're insane?" Blaise helpfully gave his thoughts.
Malfoy made to reach out towards the card before it exploded in his face, showering him with glitter. A Dazed Malfoy stared at the torn paper with a confused look, a look that quickly turned murderous. It didn't help that Rodrick, Theo and Blaise weren't even trying to hide their laughter.
"Not funny," Malfoy spoke up thinly, taking his wand out he quickly made to clear off the glitter from his face and clothes. He turned to Rodrick and questioned whether he knew where the letter had come from.
"Gryffindor," Grindelwald helpfully answered amused.
Malfoy twitched, he had been about to retort before Nott's voice swept over.
"Isn't it your birthday?" The lanky Slytherin questioned Blaise, amusement lining his face.
Blaise crossed his arms, "Of course not," Beside him he could hear Rodrick stifle laughter.
"It was three months ago," Malfoy deadpanned.
Rodrick quickly started laughing, earning a bemused look from Malfoy and Nott. Blaise turned to Rodrick, 'He wouldn't...'
"When is it?" Nott questioned, the joke long forgotten.
"March the 1st," Blaise answered quickly before hearing a scoff from Rodrick.
"Tell them the real date," Rodrick remarked stifling his laughter.
"Real date?" Nott questioned raising an eyebrow.
Blaise however merely stared at the boy, "Are you actively trying to be a Hufflepuff?"
Nott blinked at that before crossing his arms frowning, "You can't just call me a Hufflepuff for talking,"
"I can,"
"Not talking to you Rodrick," Nott replied exasperated.
"Wait he's allowed to and I am not?" Blaise questioned, "Not very Hufflepuff of you to treat people differently," He added on grinning.
"Rodrick?" Nott raised an eyebrow as he spoke.
Rodrick stared at the boy for a second before he took his wand out and cast off a couple of silencing charms around them, he was amused to hear several people in their house groan at the action.
"He can cast the unforgivables, you can't," Nott answered casually.
"So what is the real date?" Malfoy questioned, watching as Rodrick quickly dispelled a silencing charm surrounding them.
"February the 29th," Rodrick answered before Blaise could say anything, he watched as Malfoy and Nott quickly started laughing at his friend's misfortune. "It means I only need to buy him a gift every 4 years," he added on amused.
"And even then he just sends me a bloody history textbook," Blaise's voice barely above a whisper.
"You shouldn't be so ungrateful, it's not like I give the others anything substantial, hell I've never even gotten Nott a gift," Rodrick remarked, dramatically shaking his head at his friend.
"What gift did you give me?" Malfoy questioned, he didn't remember-
"My existence," Rodrick chuckled.
"You gave Tracey a Nimbus 2001 for her birthday," Blaise remarked incredulously.
Nott's eyes quickly widened at the words, "Seriously?" he questioned staring Rodrick. before frowning, "And why haven't you ever gotten me a gift anyway?"
"Yea that doesn't count," Malfoy's words fell on deaf ears.
The other two stared at Nott, surprise fritting over their faces, "What?" the boy in question remarked at the stares.
"I think we should get him resorted..." Blaise remarked quietly, not a hint of sarcasm in his voice.
Nott rolled his eyes, "Seriously I expect better." he remarked staring at Rodrick, "It's simple etiquette to gift something to someone who's already given you a gift," he added on.
"You got me a plack with my name on it," Rodrick remarked, raising an eyebrow at Nott.
"Still a gift," Theo shrugged.
"I'll get you a dorm in Hufflepuff then," Rodrick remarked smiling, "Hell, I'll throw in a resorting for free," the words seemed to crack through Nott's sudden tolerance to been called a Hufflepuff as he promptly lowered his head onto the table.
"I don't think that's your choice..." Blaise spoke up amused at the thought.
"I bought the house cup, really think I couldn't make that happen?" Rodrick scoffed.
The Slytherins cringed at the words, worried someone overhearing them before to their relief no one seemed to be paying them any attentio-
"Were under a silencing charm aren't we?" Malfoy grumbled.
Hearing Rodrick's chuckle confirmed it, the boy proceeded to remove the extra spell.
"When did you use that spell?" Nott questioned frowning.
"I used two earlier,"
"How?" Nott questioned again, Blaise and Malfoy listening in, Malfoy's gaze switching between the two purebloods.
"Hmm? Oh, one was verbal the other wasn't,"
Nott furrowed his brows at the words, "I wasn't aware you could do both at the same time..."
"There's no real limit on how many you could cast except one's magical power... And talent," he added on grinning causing Blaise to roll his eyes.
"How many can you cast at once?" The question came from Malfoy.
"Right now? I'd say my limit was three? Four if I really pushed it..."
Nott simply stared at him, suddenly remembering their train ride back to the castle, Blaise had only seen Rodrick cast off 7 spells...
"Though it mostly depends on the spell, I could probably cast a large number of Levitation charms and control them but If I were to use, say, Fiendfyre? I'd probably only manage the one spell..."
The others merely stared at the Grindelwald heir, taking in the words slowly.
"What?" Rodrick questioned at the looks he was getting.
"You went from a levitation charm to cursed fire..." Nott remarked uneasily.
Rodrick snorted, "Trust me, there's a spell way worse than that..."
"Killing Curse?" Blaise whispered carefully.
The dark glint in the boy's eyes made the only one opposite him, Malfoy, shudder. The unforgivable wasn't a light topic to talk about...
"Sure..." Rodrick remarked calmly.
Malfoy blinked at that before furrowing his brow, "You were right, we do need a resorting..."
Nott turned to glare at Malfoy but found the boy simply staring at Rodrick.
"For Nott?" Rodrick questioned, holding back a chuckle as he heard the boy beside him groan.
"For you," Malfoy deadpanned.
Rodrick blinked at the words, "What are you talking about, where on earth would I fit in more then Slytherin?" he questioned completely lost, if it weren't for his ridiculously bad riddle-solving skills he would've considered Ravenclaw.
"Azkaban," Malfoy answered amused.
Nott snorted at the choice before nodding his head in agreement.
Rodrick twitched at the two, "Says the sons of death eaters," he fired back a little loudly.
Malfoy's eyes widened as he stood up, exaggeratingly, he pointed a finger at the boy in front of him, "My father was Imperiused and you know it!" he remarked dramatically.
Rodrick didn't waste a second as he fired back, "So was my Grandfather!"
It took a second before Nott quickly started laughing at the idea of such a thing, Malfoy quickly joined in with Blaise following last. The rest of the hall merely watched on confused about the words, until one more voice joined in the laughter having heard the words. Rodrick had sat back down crossing his arms dramatically before the sudden laughter had caught his attention, it was coming from the Gryffindor table. Rodrick was amused to see the sound coming from Potter.
Malfoy turned around at the sound, "What are you laughing about Potter!?" he yelled off towards the other side of the hall.
"The same thing as you," Harry calmly replied, merely staring at Malfoy with a small smirk on his face. He was glad Ron and Hermione were still in their respective dorms. Ron asleep and Hermione apparently practising a spell.
Malfoy stared at the boy-who-lived before quickly understanding the words, he turned around to Rodrick before crossing his arms. His face scrunched up, 'Did he seriously tell POTTER his family name!?'
Seeing the look on Malfoy's face sent Nott into another fit of laughter.
"Oh shut it you bloody Hufflepuff." Malfoy growled out, turning his attention back to Rodrick, he found the boy mouthing the words ''Malfoy Plot'' towards him. Malfoy blinked once before sighing and sitting down, he wasn't sure how Potter knowing Grindelwald's family name helps his family in anyway but frankly his father was barely making any sense and his mother might've finally cracked under the supposed black madness.
At this point, he'll accept anything.
"I am not letting you ruin this for me," Nott spoke in between fits of laughter.
...
At the dais Dumbledore watched on with a passive expression on his face, his eyes staring at Rodrick. The three professors had had trouble keeping a straight face after hearing Rodrick consider the notion that his grandfather had started a war due to the Imperius curse.
"Still worried about him?" McGonagall questioned amused.
Dumbledore sighed, both his professors had talked him out of any potential plans, apparently trying to make sure a student didn't turn out into a dark wizard was a good way to turn that student into a dark wizard... His thoughts trailed to Fawkes before once again sighing, The Phoenix certainly liked him... He remembered the bird not been able to stand it whenever Tom Riddle had graced his office... It had been one of the reasons he'd been so suspicious of the dark lord's Hogwarts years... As he stared at the Slytherins laughing along to something he'd missed he decided to set the orphan caretakers words regarding the boy away, for all his years as headmaster, he'd never seen Slytherin so, peaceful?
"Other then the fact they're openly joking about unforgivables, your worries are rather unfounded. A squib caretaker is hardly the most reliable source of information, even if said person had shared a room with You-know-who," Snape's words washed over the headmaster.
...
Fawkes stared out into the sky, currently perched in the owlery he could make out several owls as they passed by or in the case of one snowy owl, straight into the castle. The phoenix's thoughts trailing towards his oldest friend, the headmaster currently been the only person capable of understanding him, the ability coming through a bond decades old. He had been rather worried the man would try to help prevent the curious child's development, out of rational fear... Fawkes merrily shook his wings, letting crimson feathers fall to the ground before watching them disappear... The Phoenix turned its eyes to the sky and a strange almost mournful sound came out. For while he was glad his companion was no longer trying to control that boy, as he knew without a doubt what sort of future was held in store for them should he have tried it... The bird unwillingly shuddered as it considered its thoughts. A future now avoided... However as Fawkes stared into the sky, he knew that while there was no longer a threat of the child turning evil, the future left for him was still covered in darkness.
The burning bird felt a chill go down its wings, for it knew death was coming.
...
Daphne and Tracey made their way into the great hall, eyes widening as they took in all the decorations placed in for the holiday. The green-eyed girl watched as Tracey nodded in approval at the state of affairs before they made their way over to their group.
"Nott get up," Rodrick remarked as he watched Daphne and Tracey walk towards them.
Nott stared at the boy with a frown, "Tell Blaise,"
"No," Rodrick calmly replied, "Or would you prefer Tracey right beside you?" he questioned.
Nott stared at him before promptly getting up, his Hufflepuff side didn't need any positive encouragement.
Daphne raised an amused eyebrow as she watched Nott quickly switch to another side of the table.
Tracey sat beside him anyway.
Daphne took the free seat by Rodrick before glancing towards the stack of cards on the table. A frown quickly taking over, one she hastily hid as she sported a neutral look.
Rodrick stared at her before reaching out his hand towards the girl.
Daphne stared at the outstretched hand before raising a questioning eyebrow.
"Card," Rodrick deadpanned.
Daphne stared at him before indicating the stack on the table, "You look like you've got enough," she remarked calmly.
Rodrick lowered his hand before turning his gaze towards the stack and back to Daphne, she could see him hold back the urge to laugh, causing her annoyances to spike. However, before she could even reply she watched with mild shock as Rodrick quickly burned the stack in front of him, an amused smile on his face.
"There, now," he started before he turned back to Daphne and reached his hand out again, "Card,"
Daphne stared at him before a sheepish smile took over her face, "I actually haven't made one yet..." She remarked feeling bad, she ignored the sudden whispers going around their house, it seemed the sudden burning had 'annoyed' certain particular students.
"Oh... Alright," Rodrick shrugged before changing the subject, causing the girl to shake her head at him, a fond look on her face. The two turned their attention back to the others, Rodrick idly wondering whether he was supposed to get Daphne a card or a gift, Daphne wondering why Malfoy suddenly chose to become a redhead, why Nott had a crazed look on his face as he covered his ears. Why Tracey was trying to pluck what looked like a fork with a mouth out of Nott's hair... Why said fork was currently running around the Slytherins head shrieking something inaudible, it seemed only Nott was capable of hearing it.
"Silencing charm," Rodrick remarked calmly as he stared at Daphne, "Gotta love them,"
Daphne chuckled at the words before calmly asking what the hell had happened.
"I believe Miss Greengrass that we have been ceremoniously pranked. By something that seems capable of becoming invisible." Rodrick shrugged, he hadn't thought Granger would join this soon. He idly followed the invisible girl, his mage sight letting him see a white floating chord in mid-air, before to his surprise the chord promptly vanished... That unsettled him a good deal, 'Grangers using a time turner... That's just cheating,' the orphan ironically thought.
"You haven't," Daphne chuckled watching as the fork tried to poke Malfoy in the eye.
"Well yea, people actually like me,"