The Beginning of the Conflict

After scouring all seven years of Potions textbooks, Anduin walked back in a good mood. He estimated that he would be able to get the basics of Spells and Defense Against the Dark Arts for years one through seven within about another week. Once he had selected and practiced some defensive spells, he could start studying Potions, which would allow him to get his Potions business up and running sooner.

As Anduin headed towards the Great Hall, he passed a classroom on the third floor and suddenly heard rustling sounds. His keen senses told him that someone was in the surrounding classrooms.

Could someone be scavenging in classrooms like me? No, this is the first-year Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom.

Anduin, unable to contain his curiosity, cast a Whispering Spell on himself and slowly walked towards the classroom door. The classroom door was locked. If he tried to open it directly, he would surely alert them. His only goal was to find out who was inside; he didn't want any trouble.

However, this was no match for Anduin. Anduin raised his wand and pointed it at his ear, casting an Amplifying Hearing Spell. He had learned this at the last Spell Club meeting. It included some techniques for casting counter-spells to the Muffling Spell, which could increase one's hearing several times over. It was discovered by senior student Quirrell from Ravenclaw, whose research topic was related to Sonic Spells.

After casting the spell, Anduin suddenly felt the surroundings become noisy. This was one of the side effects of this spell technique. If someone shouted nearby after casting it, he might faint on the spot. Anduin took a few seconds to adjust, then pressed his ear to the classroom door. The intermittent sounds from inside came through.

"Tomorrow night... Charles... you guys... hahaha... fools... make him pay...", the voices inside the classroom were not very loud, and there were other environmental sounds around, causing Anduin to hear them intermittently.

After listening for a while, Anduin immediately dispelled the spell. This spell technique was still very immature; after two minutes, he felt dizzy.

However, Anduin managed to piece together the situation in the room. There were about five or six people inside. Anduin recognized one of the voices as Travers, but the others sounded unfamiliar, not like students from the same year. It seemed they were discussing something and preparing to do something to Charles or Gryffindor tomorrow night.

A group of people from different years, mixed together, wouldn't likely gather to plot against a single junior student.

Is a small war within Hogwarts about to begin? Is Slytherin preparing to make the first move? The Headmaster is basically never at school recently. It seems they are planning to cause some trouble while they have the chance. Anduin roughly sorted out the cause and effect.

But this had nothing to do with him. He didn't have the ability to intervene in inter-house conflicts right now. However, they mentioned Charles. As his friend, Anduin decided he would give him a heads-up if he had the chance.

With that thought, Anduin didn't linger any longer and hurried to the Great Hall.

Upon arriving at the Great Hall, dinner was already underway. Anduin sat at the Slytherin table and looked around. He noticed that several active members of the Pure-blood families were absent from the Slytherin table, and he understood what was likely happening. He then looked at the Gryffindor table, where Charles was happily roughhousing with his classmates.

Seeing this, Anduin nodded silently, a plan forming in his mind. He then buried his head and quickly ate some food. The taste was mediocre and very greasy, but Anduin still managed to fill himself up in no time.

After waiting for a while, Anduin noticed that several Slytherins had also returned to the Great Hall, as if nothing had happened, and were slowly eating their meals.

Soon after, Anduin noticed that Charles and a few classmates seemed to have finished their meals and were starting to pack up and leave.

At this moment, Anduin beat them to it, finishing his own meal and leaving the Great Hall first. He waited in a corner near the entrance.

As expected, Charles and his group emerged from the Great Hall shortly after.

"Charles!" Anduin called out softly to Charles. Seeing Charles turn to look at him, Anduin gently waved him over.

Charles was puzzled, but seeing it was Anduin, he said goodbye to his companions, told them to go ahead, and walked towards Anduin.

Seeing Charles approach, Anduin grabbed his arm and pulled him into a nearby corner.

"What's wrong, Anduin? You look so secretive," Charles asked, puzzled, as Anduin pulled him into a corner.

"I need to talk to you. I want to ask you something: do you have anything to do tomorrow night?" Anduin looked at Charles and asked him softly.

Hearing Anduin's words, Charles's heart skipped a beat, and he felt something was wrong. He did indeed have something planned for tomorrow night, but how did Anduin know? Although they had barely communicated since Anduin joined Slytherin, Charles instinctively trusted Anduin.

After thinking for a moment, Charles said to Anduin, "Yes, tomorrow night is one of our prefect's birthdays. We're going to sneak out to the Astronomy Tower for an adventure and celebrate his birthday."

Anduin heard this and thought, As expected. It seems they are planning an action against Gryffindor.

"Listen to me, you might be in danger tomorrow night. If possible, I suggest you don't participate, or at least warn your housemates to cancel the plan," Anduin said to Charles quickly, without beating around the bush.

"Are you saying...?" Charles's eyes widened as he looked at Anduin. Anduin nodded back at him.

"Don't tell anyone you heard it from me. Be careful yourself," Anduin said and left without waiting for Charles's reaction.

Charles was an acquaintance he had a good impression of, so warning him once was the least he could do. If the other party didn't believe him, it was no longer his concern. Besides, this was Hogwarts, and Anduin didn't really believe anyone would die. If the Gryffindors were going to be reckless, suffering and getting hurt would be their own fault.

Charles, left standing there, thought for a moment and felt that Anduin wouldn't lie to him. He then walked out thoughtfully.

Meanwhile, Anduin no longer dwelled on the petty inter-house matters. After the History of Magic class in the afternoon, he went straight back to his room.

He flipped through today's Daily Prophet, which gave him some insight into the current state of the Magical World.

"It seems the newly appointed Minister Millicent Bagnold is very determined," Anduin read in today's newspaper about Bagnold's public address, announcing her firm stance against the Dark Lord and the Death Eater organization, and granting Aurors permission to use the Unforgivable Curses on Death Eaters.