Having finally shaken off the Weasley twins, Roy returned to the dormitory alone.
Cedric and the others were all sitting at their desks, cramming for next week's final exams. Seeing Roy return after disappearing for an entire day, they finally had their chance to question him.
"Where did you go? Why didn't you come for lunch or dinner? What, after going to America, you can't stomach British food anymore?"
British food had never been much to write home about, but what had happened to him in the Forbidden Forest was far too bizarre. Roy did not want Cedric and the others to worry, so he concealed his problem.
"I ate outside. You should get back to studying."
There was something indescribably strange about Roy's words and behavior, but Cedric and the others did not notice much. After exchanging a few pointless remarks, Roy lay back on his bed and drew the thick yellow curtains shut.
Lying on the soft mattress with his eyes tightly closed, Roy replayed the bizarre events in the Forbidden Forest over and over in his mind.
That strange dream, and the endless enemies and slaughter, still left him shaken.
"Was I possessed by Khorne?"
Dumbledore's aged warning echoed in his ears.
"Dark Magic will erode the user's mind—"
"Will Aisling be affected too?"
Roy could not help thinking of Aisling and Dumbledore, who were still in America. Only Dumbledore could answer a question like this for him.
With a sigh, Roy closed his eyes and felt the surging magic within him, but he could not detect anything unusual.
"Ugh, would changing my name from Roy Smith to Rog Dorn help? I'm still young. I don't want to ascend into a daemon."
Roy raised his right hand toward the ceiling. Ancient Magic swirled around his fingers in