CHAPTER THREE: The Purest of Wizards

SETH

Seth had spent the last two days pouring over every book in the library in search of clues about what might be coming. Books had never failed him before and he prayed they wouldn't fail him now.

"Eureka!" He proclaimed suddenly, which got him shushed by the librarians. He gathered up his books and headed to the place he knew Dean and AJ would be waiting.

"I found mention of a prophecy," he told them. "I think it's about Roman."

"Well done, Seth!" AJ said.

"Let's hear it," Dean said.

"Okay... In a time of peace, there shall be born a powerful wizard from the purest of the pureblood lines. He shall have a heart untainted by hate and shall use this to destroy the new darkness which threatens our world. Once a servant, now a new master shall rise to destroy all that is held dear. Only in killing the boy who dwells in the House of the Brave shall this evil be free to reign supreme."

"How do we know it's about Roman?" Dean asked.

"He's from the Anoa'i wizards! There's never been a family more pure. Not a single member of their line has ever turned evil, and that goes for their cousins the Fatus as well."

"So? Couldn't it be the twins then?"

"Jimmy and Jey are in Hufflepuff. That's the House of the Loyal. Gryffindor's the House of the Brave," Seth pointed out.

"Fine. Let's say it's about Roman... What do we do?"

"We need to protect him," AJ said.

"I always have his back."

"It will take more than that. If this threat grows as big as I suspect it will, we'll need to work together to keep him safe."

The three agreed. They had no way of knowing that nearby, someone was listening.

PAIGE

Sometimes, it really paid to have an invisibility cloak. They were extremely rare, but Paige had found one in the Room of Requirements her very first year at Hogwarts while she'd been hiding from her father. This was why she excelled at sneaking up on people. It was also how she learned the biggest secrets of the school.

"So our precious Roman Reigns is in danger," she said when she was safely out of earshot. "Whatever shall we do?" She might have let it go, but something made her stop.

"So why'd he need that hair, anyway?" Hunter was asking Stephanie. "Is your dad making a polyjuice potion or something?"

Stephanie stiffened. "Wait... Steph, why would your dad need polyjuice? What's he up to?" Hunter pressed her for more information.

"I can't tell you," Stephanie said automatically. "Daddy forbid me to speak of it."

"Come on... Just a hint?"

"I said no, Hunter! Daddy is a very important wizard and he's doing very important things."

"I can keep a secret. Steph, you're really stressed. Talking might help."

Stephanie sighed. "He's got a plot, Hunter... He's going to become the most powerful wizard in the world."

"Sounds cool. How can I help?"

"You don't understands... He means to rule all wizards. He's going to take over, like You-Know-Who tried to do, only he'll be successful. He always is."

"Great! I fully support that-"

"Hunter! Just stop. You don't get it. The things he'll have to do... This is huge, and I'm the only person who knows. He's counting on me."

"You're not alone, Babe. You've got me now, okay?"

Stephanie started snogging him and Paige quickly slipped away before she could be disgusted by any more of their public displays of affection. (Heaven forbid those two start bloody shagging each other in public! She wouldn't put it past them.) This still might not have been her problem, but if Vince McMahon wanted absolute rule, a lot of people were going to die. On top of this, she didn't like the idea of being forced to take orders from him.

"No one wizard should ever control every other," she said aloud. With that, Paige made a decision. She walked back toward Dean, Seth, and AJ and removed her cloak.

Seth let out a startled squeak. Dean glared at her. AJ smiled kindly and said, "Hello, Paige. How are you today?"

"I want in," Paige said.

"What are you babbling about, Slytherin?" Dean asked.

"Project Protect Prince Pretty-Hair. I want in."

"Wait... You want to help us?" Seth asked. "You?"

"Yes, me, Two-Tone. You lot couldn't save a mouse from a trap, let alone Reigns. You need me."

"Like hell!" Dean said. "Why should we trust you? You're a Slytherin. You hate us muggle-borns, so why would you work with us?"

"I didn't have to tell you guys I was here," Paige pointed out. "I did it because I know who's after Prince Pretty-Hair, but if you don't need my help-"

"Wait!" Seth said as she turned to leave. "What do you know?"

"A lot more than you, Ravenclaw," Paige said sweetly. "I know I'm brilliant. I know black is always in style. I know how to work an invisibility cloak. I know how to quietly spy on whomever I please. And I know why Stephanie's been even more uptight than usual lately... Her daddy's the next big evil of the wizarding world!"

"That makes sense," AJ said. "He is quite powerful."

"Vince McMahon?" Dean asked. "You've gotta be kidding me."

"Nope, 'fraid not. I heard it with my own ears. Stephanie's helping him with whatever it is he's plotting," Paige said. "So, can I join your little babbling bumbling band of baboons?" She'd heard Professor McGonagall use that expression once and had always wanted to use it herself. Now seemed like as good a time as any, because this lot reminded her of exactly that; clueless baboons destined to fail unless someone showed them the way. "Maybe together, we can actually get something accomplished."

"Fine," Dean reluctantly agreed. "But if you betray us, I swear I'll hex the shit out of you!"

Paige smiled at him. "I welcome the challenge." She hugged him and laughed as Dean quickly pulled away. "Look at us! Best buddies already!"

ROMAN

Something was watching him. Roman couldn't shake the feeling, even as he walked away from Quidditch practice. He looked around but didn't see anyone. It was quite unnerving.

"Hey Roman!" Fellow wizard greeted him. Everyone wanted to talk to Roman Reigns. He was the most popular guy in Hogwarts. Roman went out of his way to make sure he kindly acknowledged everyone who reached out to him. The Slytherins were ignoring him, and he was perfectly fine with that. Occasionally, the girls would flirt with him. Gryffindor or not, he was a pureblood, and his family was very respected, so the Slytherin girls viewed him as an acceptable conquest. The boys, however, only ever acknowledged him to start trouble, and he wasn't looking to do that. He just wanted to get inside and hopefully shake whatever was bothering him.

The sensation of being watched continued as he walked back to the Gryffindor Common Room. It didn't stop until he said the password, "Moose Ears," and stepped inside. He sat down on a couch and tried to ignore the sense of trouble, but it didn't go away.

When Dean finally came over, he distracted him with random conversation, but in the back of Roman's mind, he was still worried. Something was coming, and whatever it was, it wasn't good.

STEPHANIE

"What did you learn, Punky?" Stephanie asked.

"Punky followed Roman Reigns for hours, Madame McMahon. Punky watched Roman Reigns practice Quidditch. Roman Reigns is very good at Quidditch, Madame. Punky watched Roman Reigns with his friends. Roman Reigns is very popular," Punky said. "Roman Reigns is beloved by all and appears to have a very kind heart, for he greeted all who would greet him with equal kindness and enthusiasm, regardless of blood status."

"I knew it... Reigns is the one! I thought it could be Cena, but his family is so ordinary... There's nothing special about them. He hardly seemed prophecy-worthy."

"Shall I go inform Master McMahon?" Punky asked.

"Yes, Punky. Return home and tell him what you learned. You are dismissed."

Punky obediently left. Stephanie tried to focus. Roman Reigns would be no easy target. If he was truly the new "chosen one," her father had his work cut out for him.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Sorry for the delay! I have a lot going on right now and am writing too many stories at once. I'll try to update more frequently. Thanks for the reviews so far! There's a lot more to come!