Erwin nodded approvingly at the group. They'd made progress, but it was modest at best. There was still plenty of room to grow.
The outcome was predictable. Charlotte and the others fell to Erwin, just as he'd anticipated. As he predicted, they had improved—but their mindset remained narrow. They charged in as individuals, ignoring teamwork, and failed to leverage the environment or external forces.
Erwin deactivated the dueling enchantment.
"Got it?" he asked.
Charlotte nodded. "Sorry, sir. I overlooked the basics."
The selections for the other houses wrapped up soon after. Curious students clustered around Erwin.
"Wizarding Duels serve two purposes," Erwin explained. "They sharpen your skills and teach a vital lesson. Fights between wizards aren't won by raw magic or spell precision alone. In my view, those are secondary. True power comes from mastering your surroundings and every tool at hand."
Charlotte and the rest looked pensive, absorbing his words.
"You lost because you ignored that, Charlotte," he continued. "To be a formidable wizard, adapt your strategy to the battlefield. Exploit every advantage."
The professors shared knowing smiles before slipping away, leaving Erwin to his charges.
He dismissed the students with a wave. He'd shared all he could; their growth was up to them now.
The other houses were secondary, but Erwin pinned real hopes on the Slytherins. If they internalized his lessons, they'd outmatch anyone of equal skill. As he often said, elite wizards thrived on spell synergy, environmental control, and borrowed strengths—not brute force.
Days blurred into weeks.
After the first-year Hufflepuff with the camera fell victim, a second-year Hufflepuff encountered the Basilisk. It mirrored the original tale, unfolding as expected.
Thanks to Erwin's interventions, Harry Potter escaped the worst. No false accusations pinned him as the Chamber's heir. Still, Erwin couldn't help but sigh—he'd shouldered far too much of Harry's misfortune.
Hogwarts stayed mostly calm, though ripples spread. Dumbledore's ousting, for one.
Lucius had owled Erwin beforehand, seeking his take. Erwin shrugged it off: Do what you want. It was Dumbledore's scheme from the start—a self-orchestrated exit. What was there to fuss over?
With the headmaster gone, Erwin's plans faced fewer hurdles.
One crisp morning, Erwin gazed out the window. A black diary lay on the table.
Charlotte stood at attention behind him.
"Any word from Potter and his lot?" Erwin asked.
She shook her head. "Nothing yet. When I swiped the diary, I tossed their dorm. They know it's key. The day Dumbledore left, they visited Hagrid. Per your orders, I tailed them into the Forbidden Forest. They spotted the Acromantula. Once they were gone, I invoked your name and extracted a dozen vials of venom. Latest report: They're in the library now, piecing together the Basilisk puzzle."
Erwin nodded. "Time to tie up loose ends. Return this diary to its 'rightful' owner. The Weasleys will owe me big after this."
Charlotte agreed. "They certainly will—from here on out."
Erwin chuckled. "Every term delivers its thrills. Speaking of, what's the latest on the Alva family?"
She hesitated. "I've dug up some details, but reliability's iffy. It didn't come from tricking Zoe—she volunteered it."
Erwin raised an eyebrow. "You got her to open up just like that?"
Charlotte nodded. "Her roommates struck out; she clocked their prying and came straight to me. Spilled a few secrets."
"Find a sharper source next time," Erwin said dryly. "What'd she say?"
"The Alvas are in deep trouble," Charlotte replied. "Zoe's the family Dragon Speaker heir, but someone's gunning for her."
Erwin frowned. "Someone wants her dead? Explain."
"That's the part I'm skeptical about," she admitted. "Zoe claims the Alvas are unique—first I've heard of it. Every generation produces twins."
"Twins?" Erwin echoed. "Same bloodline?"
She shook her head. "Not quite. One inherits the strong Dragon Speaker trait; the other gets a diluted version. The kicker: If the strong one dies, their power shifts to the weaker twin."
Erwin's brow furrowed deeper. "So they'd be at each other's throats every generation?"
"Not historically," Charlotte said. "They only discovered this quirk two generations back, when the previous heir was murdered."
"Murdered?" Erwin pressed.
She nodded. "By the Cavendish family."
He blinked. "Wait—the Cavendishes? My family?"
Charlotte smirked faintly. "I've heard the stories."
...
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