After returning from Gringotts, Roy and his companions arrived at the Valvas Mansion. The atmosphere was warm with the soft glow of evening light, but excitement hung in the air. Bela White and Nagini quickly relayed the events in the vault to the rest of the household: Grayfia, Albedo, Rem, Ram, Velenana, Narcissa, Penelope, and Rowen Ravenclaw.
The group's reactions ranged from shock to awe. Grayfia's eyes widened at the scale of Roy's wealth, while Albedo and Rem's mouths hung slightly open. Even the usually composed Narcissa could not hide her surprise.
Bela leaned back with a playful smirk. "You really hid all of that from us?"
Roy's lips curved into a teasing smile. "Of course I did. But more importantly," he glanced at the gathered women, "I managed to make the most beautiful women in front of me… fall for me."
A blush spread across their cheeks, their eyes dropping shyly. Each nodded silently, acknowledging silently what they all felt in their hearts: their loyalty—and love—belonged to Roy.
Grayfia whispered under her breath, "He always finds a way…"Velenana gave a small, reluctant nod of agreement.
Roy chuckled softly, the satisfaction of having both wealth and loyalty evident in his expression.
Malfoy Mansion: Lucius' Desperate Measures
Far from the comfort of the Valvas Mansion, the Malfoys were dealing with Voldemort's wrath. Lucius Malfoy had been tasked with finding a scapegoat for the destruction of his Horcrux, the Hufflepuff Cup.
Frantic, he scrambled to select a dark wizard he could blame for the deed. He hoped Voldemort would accept it without question.
Lisanna Malfoy (née Selwyn), Lucius' new wife, and Draco watched in fear, their hearts hammering in their chests. They had been made privy to the plan—and feared what would happen if Voldemort suspected the truth.
The poor dark wizard chosen as the scapegoat endured four grueling days of Voldemort's tortures, and in the end, paid with his life. Lucius silently vowed to himself that no one would discover his deception, no matter the cost.
Voldemort's Plans: Giants and Basilisk
After disposing of the scapegoat, Voldemort's attention turned to his larger schemes. He inquired about the giants, his cold eyes sharp with calculation.
"Half have agreed to aid us," Lucius reported, bowing slightly, "and the other half refused."
Voldemort's lips curved into a thin, dangerous smile. From the shadows behind him, a massive Basilisk slithered forward, its scales glinting in the dim light. Voldemort reached out and ran a pale hand along the creature's head, murmuring to it like an old friend.
The monster, which he named Ouroboros, had been created through the meticulous research of Salazar Slytherin's ancient magical experiments. A fusion of serpentine power and dark magic, the Basilisk was both a weapon and a symbol of Voldemort's growing mastery over the secrets of Hogwarts' founders.
Lisanna clutched Draco's hand tightly, her eyes wide as she watched the interaction. Draco's face was pale, frozen in terror, fully aware that no mistake—intentional or otherwise—would be forgiven in Voldemort's presence.
The contrast could not have been starker:
On one side, Roy, surrounded by allies, love, and wealth, prepared for future battles in quiet confidence.
On the other, Voldemort, torturing scapegoats and marshaling monstrous creatures, advanced his plans through fear and cruelty, unaware that the real power—both magical and political—was quietly gathering against him.