Chapter 70: Ron, of All People…
That evening, long after classes had been dismissed for all years, the students who had earned themselves detention began making their way to the offices of their supervising professors.
However, a rather large and conspicuous group—Vaisey Selwyn and Malfoy, Percy and the Weasley twins, along with Harry and Hermione—marched together through the corridors, drawing the eyes of their fellow students as they headed towards the Adventurers' Club on the second floor.
The stares they received were not of scorn or contempt, but of awe and envy.
Word had spread like wildfire. Yes, they had each lost their respective houses fifty points, but their detention was to be served under Professor Ryan Welles.
He was, without a doubt, the most popular professor in all of Hogwarts.
Furthermore, rumor had it that during the last Adventurers' Club meeting, Professor Welles had mentioned a new, groundbreaking idea for an alchemical device. An insider had even leaked that in the Headmaster's office, on the very day their detention was assigned, Professor Welles had declared he had a small project that required their participation.
The news was enough to make other students green with jealousy. Many of them would have gladly taken the punishment in their place.
One ambitious wizard even took it upon himself to break the rules intentionally, pelting Filch with Dungbombs during a late-night stroll before demanding detention. He was promptly assigned to Professor Snape, where he spent a week cleaning Horned Toad innards. According to witnesses, the brave student returned to his dormitory after the first night and was sick all evening, having received Snape's "personal guidance" throughout his task. The student body offered silent prayers for the poor soul, hoping he would survive the week with his mind and body intact.
When the group arrived at the second-floor entrance to the Adventurers' Club, they found Ryan standing outside, tinkering with something. Without turning around, he asked, "Is that everyone?"
"We're all here," Percy replied crisply.
"Good. Head on in and have a seat. I just need to calibrate this little door warden," Ryan said. A subtle shimmer of magical energy pulsed from his palm as he meticulously inspected a charming, foot-tall model standing by the door.
Hermione paused, her curiosity piqued. The model was a small, round-limbed creature with tufts of pink hair and a sweet, cherubic face dominated by large, expressive eyes. It clutched a tiny bag filled with oranges.
"What's its name?" she asked, her own eyes filled with adoration.
"I'm not sure what to call her anymore," Ryan answered, a shadow of melancholy in his tone. "Perhaps... Doro. I only ever saw her in a vision, a prophetic dream. But in that same vision, I saw so many people write such cruel endings for her."
"Cruel endings?" Hermione repeated. Though she didn't understand, the words felt utterly wrong when associated with the delightful creature before her.
Ryan said no more, instead carefully embedding several glowing Mana Beads into the model's joints. A moment later, it sprang to life. The creature lifted its little bag and chirped in a high-pitched, mechanical voice, "Hello, person! Have... an or-ange?"
"She's adorable!" Hermione exclaimed, carefully picking up the little Doro after getting a nod of permission from Ryan.
"Come on, time to get started," Ryan said, leading the way into the Adventurers' Club. Hermione followed closely, still cradling the model.
"Now that everyone's here, I'll keep this brief," he announced, taking his seat at the head of the table. "Tonight, we are going to attempt to build the alchemical device I mentioned at the last meeting—the one capable of autonomously producing its own key components."
He looked around the room. "You all saw the schematics I presented. If you have any final questions, now is the time. Once we begin, I'll need your complete focus."
Harry, who had been watching Ron with growing concern, raised his hand. Ron had been unnervingly silent since midday, and his face now looked paler than ever. "Sorry, Ryan," Harry began, "we've all seen the plans, but Ron hasn't—"
Suddenly, something entirely unexpected happened.
Ron shot to his feet, speaking in a rushed, frantic voice. "Professor Welles, there's something I need to tell you."
What?
Of all the scenarios Ryan had prepared for, this was not one of them. Still, he kept his composure. "What is it, Ron?"
"It's... a secret. I think we should speak outside," Ron muttered, his eyes fixed on the floor.
An invitation to a private conversation. Ryan felt a flicker of relief; he had been worried that the little Doro model in Hermione's arms wouldn't be enough to guarantee everyone's safety if things went wrong. Ron's suggestion was, on the surface, perfect.
But Voldemort would never be so considerate. He would never willingly help his opponent remove bystanders from harm's way.
A knot of suspicion tightened in Ryan's gut. "Can't you say it in here?" he tested.
"It's a very serious secret," Ron insisted, his voice trembling with what sounded like fear.
I've already placed countermeasures around the clubroom, Ryan thought, and Dumbledore himself cast a protective charm on Ron. Could that be it? Has Voldemort sensed the danger?
With his current abilities, Voldemort couldn't truly harm him.
It's worth a shot.
After all, Dumbledore was surely watching from somewhere nearby, especially when a student's safety was at stake.
After a moment of careful consideration, Ryan mentally cataloged the magical equipment he had on his person and nodded. "Alright. We'll talk just outside the door."
Ron turned and walked stiffly out of the room, head bowed. Behind him, the Weasleys watched with a mixture of confusion and worry. Not even his three older brothers had any idea what was going on. Harry looked completely lost.
Vaisey Selwyn, however, narrowed his eyes. Recalling his suspicions about Ron from the other night, he felt that things were spiraling far beyond his predictions. As Ryan passed him, Vaisey whispered, "Is it dangerous?"
Ryan clapped him reassuringly on the shoulder. "Don't worry," he murmured back. "It's all under control. You keep an eye on things in here. And trust me, that little model in Hermione's arms is more powerful than it looks."
"You can count on me."
The brief exchange seemed to settle both of them.
Once in the corridor, Ryan maintained a safe distance from Ron. "Alright, there's no one to overhear us now. What's this secret?" He casually stroked the silver bracelet on his wrist, fully prepared for a flash of green light to come hurtling his way. He was ready to Apparate at a moment's notice to dodge Voldemort's invitation to an early grave.
But Ron remained silent, his body trembling more violently by the second.
Ryan watched him, his senses on high alert. He theorized that Ron's genuine love and concern for his brothers were actively causing the piece of Voldemort's soul inside him immense pain. But that only made the situation more perilous. A cornered, wounded animal was the most dangerous, and Voldemort would surely realize where the source of his pain was coming from.
There was likely only one person in all of Hogwarts capable of placing a protective enchantment so subtle that Voldemort himself wouldn't detect it on his host. He would know he had been exposed. A desperate Voldemort was the last thing anyone needed.
Ryan covertly cast a silent Shield Charm on himself while channeling magic into his bracelet, priming it for instant Apparition.
Suddenly, Ron moved!
He snapped his head up, his mouth open wide, and yelled, "I'm sorry! I was wrong!"
Ryan, who had already Apparated behind Ron and was poised to strike a disabling blow to his kidneys, froze.
???
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