Chapter 103: Doro's Debut
Ryan explained the events of the past few months, one by one. He started with his suspicions about Professor Quirrell, the prophecy he had made, and the subsequent night when Quirrell and Voldemort had their falling out. He then recounted the duel between Malfoy and Ron, the incident with the cursed Galleon, and finally, the plan that he, the Headmaster, and the other professors had concocted to thwart Voldemort's scheme. He was careful to frame it as a plan to foil a plot, not to capture the Dark Lord himself.
Even so, the story of the dark currents swirling beneath the surface of Hogwarts left the three of them chilled. Even Vaisey, who had suspected some foul play, was shocked to learn that Voldemort had been inside the castle all along. To learn that he had scattered cursed coins to control students, that Ron had been one of his victims, and that if it weren't for Ron's courage, the entire plot might have remained a secret... it was a chilling revelation. The calculated, multi-layered deception gave them a glimpse into the mind of the Dark Lord at the height of his power and a new appreciation for what it meant to be a true master of evil.
"So, I may have underestimated that Weasley," Vaisey said after a moment of silence. He had always considered Ron to be a disgrace to the Weasley name, unworthy of being a Gryffindor. But to find the courage to speak the truth, even after being influenced by Voldemort... that was no small feat.
"We owe a great deal to Ron," Pablo said, a sheen of sweat on his forehead. "If it weren't for him, the Headmaster and Ryan would still be in the dark. Who knows what kind of chaos Voldemort would have unleashed?"
Penelope, however, seemed unfazed. From Ryan's description, the Voldemort lurking in the shadows was a pale imitation of the Dark Lord who had once terrorized the wizarding world. She had complete faith in Ryan's abilities and knew that with the combined strength of Hogwarts's staff, this weakened Voldemort stood no chance. Her main concern was getting everyone to the safety of the Adventurers' Club and letting Doro handle their protection. At the thought of the little golem, she began to playfully feed it an orange, still marveling at the fact that an alchemical creation could eat.
"So, that's the plan," Ryan said, taking a sip of his drink. "We're giving Voldemort the perfect window of opportunity. He's sure to take the bait. Which is why I need the three of you to attend the Order of Merlin ceremony in our place."
"So that's why you rushed the communicator launch," Vaisey said, the pieces of the puzzle finally clicking into place. "It was all for the Order of Merlin, to set a trap for Voldemort." He straightened his shoulders. "In that case, I will impersonate the Headmaster. Of the three of us, I believe I am the only one who can convincingly portray a wise and calculating old man."
"I'll be Professor Flitwick," Pablo said. "I know him well." He then shot a meaningful glance between Penelope and Ryan.
Penelope, the undisputed queen of Ravenclaw, lifted her chin, her elegant neck creating a striking silhouette. "I know Ryan," she said simply. "I'll be him."
"My thoughts exactly," Ryan said with a nod of approval. He had always known that a witch who studied the enchantment of Muggle weaponry was a kindred spirit, a firm believer in the principle of "Magic is Might." And as fellow Ravenclaws, their minds worked in similar ways. He was confident she could portray the public persona of Ryan Welles perfectly.
"Then it's settled," he said. "I've already contacted the Headmaster and the Professor. Their... contributions... should be arriving shortly, in a suitably spooky manner."
"For security, the three of us should stay here in the club until it's time to go," Pablo suggested.
"No," Ryan said, shaking his head. "Voldemort is almost certainly watching me. I don't know how many of the students I greet in the hallways are carrying one of his cursed coins. For the three of you to come to the club is normal. For the three of you to not leave... that would be suspicious."
He continued, "The Daily Prophet has already announced that the Headmaster and the Head of Ravenclaw will be attending the ceremony along with me. It all fits perfectly. We can't afford any slip-ups. Our opponent is the Dark Lord, with his wits about him. The slightest deviation from your normal routines could spook him."
"Is he really that meticulous?" Vaisey asked, shocked.
"We can't be sure," Ryan said, his voice grave. "But we are dealing with the wizard who dominated an entire era. We cannot afford to be careless. To do so would be to disrespect the memory of all those who died fighting him."
"Alright," Penelope said. "We'll stick to our normal routines and coordinate with the communicators. By the way, Ryan, can I borrow Doro? I'd like to introduce her to some of my friends."
"Of course," Ryan replied. "She's the official guardian of the Adventurers' Club and can control all of its magical defenses, but her power is not significantly diminished as long as she remains within the castle grounds."
As they were speaking, Fawkes the phoenix appeared in a flash of flame, dropped two hairs onto the table, and then vanished with a friendly trill. Ryan plucked one of his own hairs and handed it to Penelope. "Take care of these. The ceremony is in your hands."
"Don't worry," the three of them said in unison. "Nothing will go wrong."
Ryan couldn't help but feel that they were tempting fate. I hope everything goes smoothly, he thought, a knot of apprehension tightening in his stomach.
~~~
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