Silent Gravity

The relationship of "accomplices" was like an invisible contract, binding Tom and Ares even more tightly together. However, Ares was not Tom's shadow or subordinate. What flowed within him was a mixed bloodline of two legendary wizards—Albus Dumbledore's wise compassion and Gellert Grindelwald's seductive charm. This trait, at specific moments, would quietly radiate its own light, like hidden stars.

First-year studies were gradually entering deeper waters. Charms spells became more complex, Transfiguration required more precise transformations of form and material, and behind the dry timelines of A History of Magic, profound issues of power shifts and ideological conflicts began to be explored.

In one A History of Magic class, Professor Binns recounted the "official version" of the medieval goblin rebellions in his monotonous voice, portraying goblins as greedy and treacherous characters. Most students were drowsy or mechanically recorded dates and events.

When Professor Binns mentioned, "The goblins' demands for wand use were summarily rejected by the Wizarding Council and seen as a challenge to wizarding privilege," Ares, usually the quietest student in History of Magic, suddenly raised his hand.

Professor Binns' floating body paused, seemingly surprised. "Mr. Phoenix?"

Ares stood up, his heterochromatic eyes devoid of their usual haze, instead flickering with clear and calm analytical light. "Professor, if we look at it from the goblins' perspective, would refusing them the use of wands be equivalent to stripping them of their core rights to cast magic, defend themselves, and develop? Could this be considered a form of... institutional oppression, thus explaining why rebellions erupted periodically, rather than solely stemming from 'greed'?"

His voice was not loud, but it was like a stone dropped into still water, instantly breaking the classroom's monotony. All the drowsy students looked up, staring at him in surprise. Even Tom, sitting beside him, turned his head slightly, a flicker of astonishment in his dark eyes. Ares' question sharply pierced the textbook narrative, touching the sensitive nerves of power and fairness.

Professor Binns seemed stumped. He mumbled a few platitudes about "wizarding authority" and "management of non-human creatures," but was clearly unable to offer a convincing rebuttal. The classroom fell into a strange silence. Many Ravenclaw students began to seriously consider the question, and even a few Slytherin students, while not agreeing with Ares' implied stance, had to acknowledge the weight of the question.

Ares calmly sat down, as if he had merely asked a question about the weather. But he didn't notice that several older Ravenclaw students in the back rows were looking at him with a new, scrutinizing, and curious gaze. His unique appearance, now illuminated by his calm intelligence, seemed even more mysterious and intriguing.

A few days later, in Charms class, Professor Flitwick assigned a difficult cooperative task—in pairs, to attempt a simple joint protection spell, requiring high levels of synchronicity and magic power coordination. Most pairs failed, their magic either conflicting or unable to synchronize.

Tom and Ares naturally formed a team. Tom led the core structure of the spell; his magic was precise and powerful, but carried a strong personal imprint, making it difficult to accommodate external forces. Ares did not force his way in. He channeled the power of the "Eternal Cycle" wand, transforming his own magic, a blend of light and dark, more inclusive, into a soft, flowing "film" that gently enveloped the outer layer of the shield Tom had constructed. It was not confrontational, but complementary and strengthening.

While other pairs' shields shattered or shook violently under the impact of the test spell, the joint protection shield before them stood firm as a rock. It evenly dispersed and absorbed the impact, emitting a harmonious and stable aura.

Professor Flitwick shrieked in pleasant surprise, "Perfect! Absolutely perfect! Mr. Riddell, Mr. Phoenix! Slytherin gets ten points! This is a model of magic coordination! Not a simple superposition of power, but... complementarity and symbiosis!"

At this moment, what Ares displayed was not dependence, but a trait that could perfectly complement Tom's dominant power, even elevating it. Some students who had previously only seen Ares as "Riddell's strange follower" began to re-evaluate his worth.

Tom looked at the stable shield, then at the calm Ares beside him. What surged in his heart was not just the joy of cooperation, but also a subtle pride that he himself had not yet noticed. Ares' brilliance did not overshadow him; instead, it made their collective even more dazzling and... impregnable.

However, not everyone was pleased. Especially within Slytherin, some older students who adhered to extreme pure-blood ideals, or were simply jealous of Tom's talent, began to cast looks of discontent at Ares. They believed this outsider with questionable bloodline and heterochromatic eyes had too much influence over Riddell, potentially even "contaminating" this "diamond" from the Muggle world that they had their eyes on.

One evening, as Ares was heading to the library alone and passing through a secluded corridor, he was blocked by two fourth-year Slytherin students. They wore malicious smiles on their faces.

"Hey, Phoenix," the taller one drawled, "What kind of love potion did you give Riddell? Making him follow you around all day, you..."

His words trailed off, but his contemptuous gaze swept over Ares' heterochromatic eyes and markings, the meaning all too clear.

Ares stopped, showing no fear on his face, merely looking at them calmly. His heterochromatic eyes seemed unfathomably deep in the dim light. "It's none of your business."

"None of our business?" the shorter, plumper student scoffed. "We're just curious how a freak who doesn't even know who his parents are, has the right to..."

Just then, an icy voice sounded from behind them, carrying an undeniable authority:

"He said it's none of your business."

Tom Riddle appeared at the corridor entrance, seemingly out of nowhere. He stood there, his frame still youthful, but the aura emanating from him instantly froze the two fourth-year students. His dark eyes, like the coldest deep pool, were locked onto them. Though his wand was not raised, it already emitted dangerous magic fluctuations.

The two students' expressions changed. They clearly hadn't expected Tom to appear so suddenly, nor his attitude to be so firm. They shot Ares a disgruntled glare, muttered curses, and quickly left.

Tom walked up to Ares, his gaze still fixed on the direction the two had disappeared, his voice cold, "They won't bother you again."

Ares looked at his tense profile, sensing his suppressed anger. This wasn't to defend his own authority, but because... they had insulted Ares.

"I can handle it," Ares said softly.

"I know," Tom turned to look at him, his eyes complex. "But I won't allow it."

These simple five words carried more weight than any flowery vow. They declared that within his domain, Ares was under his protection, an... exceptional being that no one was allowed to infringe upon.

Just then, a system prompt sounded in Ares' mind. Unlike its usual lively tone, this one carried a sense of steady, opportune significance:

[Detected critical emotional node: Guardian and possessiveness achieve balance.]

[Triggering hidden long-term mission: Soul Anchor.]

[Mission Description: Establish an irreplaceable emotional connection within the target individual's heart, becoming the sole pivot of light and dark balance in the depths of their soul. This mission has no explicit reward; its process itself is the greatest safeguard against the ultimate darkness.]

[Hint: Trust, understanding, shared secrets and crises, and... unique companionship are all cornerstones for building the anchor.]

The system's prompt was perfectly timed. It didn't provide specific items or skills, but pointed out that emotion itself was the most important weapon. This perfectly aligned with Ares' actions all along.

Ares looked at Tom, at this boy who would stir up storms in the future, now showing genuine anger to protect him. He suddenly reached out, not to touch, but to gently adjust the collar of Tom's slightly disheveled school robe, which had become messy from his hurried approach.

"Thank you," Ares said, his voice very soft.

Tom's body stiffened almost imperceptibly, but he didn't pull away. He looked at Ares' face, so close, at the understanding and gentleness beneath the calm in his eyes, and the violent rage that had risen from being offended strangely subsided.

He said nothing, merely turned and walked towards the library alongside Ares.

The sunset's afterglow filtered through the tall windows, stretching their shadows long across the ancient stone floor, intertwining them. Tom's dominance and protection, Ares' wisdom and tolerance, formed a unique balance at this moment. Ares had no intention of vying for leadership, but the trait within him, stemming from his bloodline, that could discern people's hearts, mend divisions, and even attract followers, had begun to quietly exude its silent gravitational pull.

They were no longer just "accomplices," but were playing increasingly indispensable roles in each other's worlds. At the age of eleven, they might not yet understand the shape of love, but the deepening bond and protection had already surpassed simple alliance, quietly spreading towards the depths of soul resonance.