Saturday morning came softly, with grey clouds hanging low over the castle and a light drizzle pattering against the stone windows. Most students took the opportunity to sleep in or gather leisurely in the common rooms. But for Richard Magus, Saturdays were for sharpening steel, quiet, consistent, and exacting.
He rose early, completing his routine in silence while his dormmates stirred one by one. When they finally met in the common room, the fire was still low and the Slytherin common room half-empty.
Colin rubbed his eyes, wand already in hand. "This better be worth getting up early for."
"It will be," Richard said calmly, fastening the last button of his dark coat. "You'll thank me for it."
The group, Colin, Arjun, Malcolm, and Elliot, followed Richard through the castle, past quiet corridors and empty classrooms. Richard had secured a forgotten practice chamber on the third floor: high-ceilinged, windowed on one side, and protected by old silencing charms that kept their exercises private.
They weren't alone for long. After a short owl exchange the night before, Lisa and Martin arrived, both with their wands clutched tightly and wide, eager eyes. Caroline followed quietly behind them, her stride measured and wand tucked neatly in her sleeve. Poppy Pomfrey came last, punctual as always, carrying a small notebook and already reviewing a spell list.
"Right," Richard said, stepping into the centre of the chamber. "I have called you all here today because I want to use some of this time to help you all with anything that you need to work on."
"You called us this early and on a weekend. Just to do more school work?" Malcolm said, yawning throughout.
"Well, I did tell everyone else the reason for it, just not you, because I knew you wouldn't wake up," Richard said with a smirk.
"You guys knew?" Malcolm, shocked and eyes wide open, looked to the rest of the group as they all shared a smirk as they returned his gaze.
"Let's get ready," Richard said with a clap.
The others gathered in a semi-circle, eyes on him, ready.
"Partners," Richard said, and they paired off.
He demonstrated first, standing opposite Arjun, who fired a sudden Expelliarmus. Richard sidestepped without raising his wand, the spell missing by inches.
"Read the wand, not the spell. You'll know the direction before it even comes at you."
They practised dodging, deflecting, and countering simple hexes and disarms. Colin stumbled once and fell flat when Lisa's Tripudio charm caught him off guard. He laughed from the floor. "She's faster than she looks!"
Arjun and Poppy duelled fluidly, the Ravenclaw girl using clever angles to outmanoeuvre him, her spells sharp and purposeful. Malcolm and Martin had less grace but grew steadily more confident with each exchange. Richard rotated between them, offering quiet feedback, correcting stances, and occasionally interjecting with a quick flick of his wand to redirect a spell gone wild.
Targets were transfigured along the far wall, some stationary, others drifting lazily through the air. A few mimicked defensive movements.
"Hit the centre. No exceptions," Richard instructed.
Elliot was the first to fire, his Stupefy crisp, striking the bullseye with a satisfying thud. Colin followed, a grin on his face as his Flipendo knocked a target spinning.
Caroline's spell was quiet but direct, threading a needle-sized beam of blue energy through a floating ring. She didn't smile, but her eyes gleamed.
Malcolm tried to blast his way through the exercise and grumbled when his third spell veered wide.
"Focus, Malcolm, just imagine the start stole your chocolate frogs," Richard said mildly, and Malcolm sighed.
Martin missed twice before hitting the edge of the target on his third attempt. He looked toward Richard uncertainly.
"You're improving each time," Richard said. "Well done, Martin."
Finally, Richard conjured a low fog over the room, limiting visibility. Targets appeared intermittently and randomly. Wand lights flickered like fireflies. Spells were launched instinctively.
"Don't rely on sight. Feel the motion. Try to anticipate the coming spells."
The fog turned the room eerie, but energy surged. Spells crisscrossed, and laughter broke out when Colin accidentally hit a wall and cursed in mock offence. Poppy and Elliot worked side by side, building tempo as they tracked movements by sound alone.
At the centre of it all, Richard was still, his wand never raised unnecessarily. His spell flew like a whisper and struck without fail.
When the fog lifted, they stood together, sweat-slicked and winded, but smiling.
"That's the most fun I've had all week," Colin admitted, flopping onto a conjured cushion.
"Didn't know practice could feel this fun," Lisa said.
"It was enjoyable," Caroline murmured, sitting beside her. "Training to be better than we were yesterday."
Richard nodded once, glancing over them all. "Seeing as all of you have had a nice time. We'll meet weekly. Every Saturday, here and we'll push further each time."
No one argued. They'd felt it too; the extra practice would benefit them in the future.
As they left the chamber, laughter and light chatter resumed. They had become closer as friends.
Richard lingered in the doorway last, watching them walk ahead.
The second day of the weekend dawned cooler than the last, with mist hanging over the castle grounds like a low ceiling. Richard rose early again, completing his routine and dressing with quiet precision. He left the dorm before his friends stirred, taking the long way through the dungeons.
Today wasn't for spellwork. Today was for something more than magic.
He made his way to the Great Hall. On the Slytherin's table, just as he expected, sat the three boys who had once tried to corner Caroline last year: Stephan Macmillan, Tim Flint, and Graham Avery.
Fourth-years now. Bigger, louder, maybe too arrogant.
As Richard stepped toward the older students' end of the Slytherin table, a few second-years looked up in surprise. Everyone knew about the confrontation that happened last year between Macmillan, Flint, Avery and Richard.
They quieted as Richard approached, all three turning toward him with wary curiosity. He stood calmly, one hand resting lightly on the back of a nearby chair.
"Mind if I join you?"
Graham gave a short, incredulous laugh. "You've got a spine after all."
Stephan leaned back, arms crossed. "Didn't think you'd come crawling to us, Magus."
Richard didn't smile. He simply sat. "I'm sorry, I think you guys are forgetting our little conversation from last year."
Tim squinted. "We didn't forget, Magus, but we are fourth years now, so I wouldn't try your luck."
Richard met his gaze steadily. "I've been paying attention. I know all of you are second sons or bastards used as a spare that have now been legitimised. All I want to know is everything you know about purebloods. Gossip and such."
The three shared a look, the beginnings of amusement flickering in their eyes. Stephan's sneer deepened, but it wasn't dismissive now; it was intrigued.
"And why should we help you?" Julian asked, tilting his head. "You're clever, sure, but not one of us."
Richard shrugged. "Maybe not. But it seems like only a couple of months have passed, and you've forgotten I beat you all in a fight. If you don't give me what I want, I will make your whole year torture. I'll get you when you least expect it, I'll make your whole being fill with fear."
That made them pause.
Graham leaned forward slightly. "You think you're big Magus? Making threats like you'll actually do something."
"I think I will," Richard said smoothly. "And I think you're smart enough to realise how much I could do to you."
Silence followed.
Stephan snorted. "You're so full of yourself."
"Yes, I am. I just want some information from you guys, and I'll leave you guys alone."
Graham smirked. "You know what, we could give you some information, of course, for a price."
Richard steepled his fingers. "No. The way this will go is, you give me the information I want and you guys live happily ever after."
Tim, not doing the best under the pressure of this conversation, said, "I can tell you some things, just don't do anything to me, please."
Over the next hour, their conversation turned quieter, Tim started, then Stephan and Graham joined in. The older boys, sensing an opportunity to posture and assert themselves, began listing family trees, old alliances, blood feuds, and the hierarchy within wizarding Britain. Richard listened and asked questions.
Most of it he already knew or could infer, but their perceptions were valuable.
They talked of the Blacks, the Notts, the Lestranges, of scandals, and political ambitions. They gossiped, but Richard didn't care about the tone, only the substance.
Eventually, they reached the end of their patience.
"You want to know how to move in pure-blood circles?" Vincent said. "It's not spells that matter. It's loyalty, image, and reputation. But more importantly, who you will marry in the future."
"Don't forget money," Graham added, grinning. "Old vaults talk loud."
Richard gave a faint nod, then stood.
"Thank you," he said calmly. "That was very informative."
Stephan eyed him. "So what now? You going to run back to your little group?"
Richard's gaze didn't waver. "That is none of your business, I'll see you around."
He turned and walked away, their laughter low and guarded behind him.
As Richard slipped through the common room later that morning, he passed younger students murmuring over spellbooks, older students boasting about duels.
Richard's eyes gleamed as he passed beneath the green-tinted light of the common room.
One more step forward. One more piece placed.
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