The Great Hall of Hogwarts was slowly returning to normal. The tables were once again filled with the chatter of students, the sound of spoons and forks interspersed with merry laughter. But in the shadows of the large balcony, just below the high ceiling, a few pairs of eyes were watching intently.
Albus Dumbledore stroked his beard as he looked down from high above the Great Hall. His blue eyes were focused on one spot in particular: William Dante Rosier sitting at the Slytherin table and Charlie Weasley chatting with him.
It was a sight Dumbledore rarely saw.
Charlie Weasley was a typical Gryffindor; brave, friendly, and outspoken. But the sight of him sitting at the Slytherin table, chatting with both Dante and Seth Mulciber, challenged years of Gryffindor-Slytherin tension. Dumbledore smiled slightly under his eyebrows.
"What an interesting development," he said calmly, turning to Severus Snape, who stood beside him.
Snape, his arms folded across his chest, his face as expressionless as ever, turned his gaze to the table below. His eyes lingered a little longer on William Dante Rosier in particular.
"It is surprising to see Slytherin students becoming more open-minded," Dumbledore added. "But even more surprising is that it was Rosier who brought about this change."
Snape snorted slightly. He found it ironic that a member of the Rosier family could have such an effect. But he did not comment immediately.
By this time, the other professors had come out on the balcony. Minerva McGonagall, Filius Flitwick and Pomona Sprout were among those who came to speak with Dumbledore.
McGonagall studied the scene below with curiosity and raised her eyebrows slightly. "I can't remember the last time I saw Gryffindor students sitting at the Slytherin table. I think this might be a first."
Flitwick nodded happily. "Oh, absolutely! Usually, this kind of friendly interaction only happens in class or between Quidditch teams. But this... this is something else!"
Sprout agreed. "This William Rosier boy may have more influence than we realize."
Snape was still speechless. Dumbledore looked at him, tilting his head slightly to one side. "What do you say, Severus? How do you think young Rosier's presence is affecting Slytherin?"
Snape pursed his lips slightly after a quick glance around the Great Hall. He was the head of Slytherin. He had always protected his house and defended his students. But Rosier was different. He didn't fit the traditional mold of a Slytherin student. Dominant, charismatic, resourceful... but also unorthodox.
Finally, Snape spoke in a low voice. "Slytherin has always been led by strong individuals. William Rosier is one of them. His presence not only strengthens Slytherin, but seems to change its very nature."
A faint smile appeared on Dumbledore's face. "An interesting observation, Severus."
McGonagall frowned slightly. "But would this change contradict the core values of Slytherin? I mean, competitiveness, individual achievement and ambition... those are inherent to Slytherin. How will Rosier's open-minded attitude affect Slytherin's identity in the long run?"
Snape's eyes narrowed at these words. "An open mind can be another way to gain power, Minerva. Rosier may intuitively understand this. His influence, if properly channeled, could make Slytherin an even greater power."
Flitwick nodded thoughtfully. "But as things stand now, it seems that not only Slytherin, but the entire dynamic of Hogwarts is beginning to change."
Sprout added with a smile: "Who knows, maybe one day the hard boundaries between the houses will disappear altogether."
Dumbledore clasped his hands together, his eyes twinkling. "The spirit of Hogwarts has always been open to change. And such changes are often initiated by unusual individuals. William Rosier seems to be such an individual."
Snape tilted his head slightly, reluctantly. "I may have been wrong about him."
The admission was a big one, given Snape's character. It was extremely rare for him to admit, let alone praise, a student.
Dumbledore turned to him and smiled slightly. "We are all fallible from time to time, Severus. But the important thing is to learn from our mistakes."
___________
As Dante Rosier moved silently through the corridors of Hogwarts, his mind was still preoccupied with the events in the Great Hall. The traditional enmity between Gryffindor and Slytherin... It was possible to change things in this world. But how?
For now, the only thing that mattered was to become stronger.
Arriving at the Room of Requirement, he took a deep breath and repeated to himself, "I want a place where I can train.
On his third pass, a large door appeared in front of him. When he opened it, he saw a large, dimly lit hall. The floor was stone, and the walls were carved with ancient runes. The cold air that filled the room gave him a strange sensation. This was exactly where he had to be.
Dante stripped off his robes, tossed them aside and grabbed his wand. The spells taught in the classes at Hogwarts were... too basic. He wanted more.
He looked at the empty space in front of him: Enemies.
Shadowy figures appeared through the mist. Slightly undulating shadows, in human form, but without faces. They had no wands, but their movements were swift. Good enough.
Dante raised his wand First, he had to start with something simple.
"Expulso!"
Explosive magic shot out of his wand, knocking back the first shadow. But it wasn't enough. The creature recovered quickly and lunged at him.
Dante frowned. I must be faster.
He stepped back and raised his wand. It was time to try another spell.
"Umbra Loris!"
Thin, black chains shot out from under the shadow warrior's feet and pinned him down. The chains coiled like living snakes, tightening as he moved.
Dante held his breath. He tried.
But suddenly the chains began to crackle. Could the creature escape its own shadow because it came from the darkness? This spell is not strong enough... I must improve it.
Before the spell could break, Dante moved on to his next move.
"Fulgura Tenebris!"
This was a lightning spell he had developed himself, but it was different from normal lightning. The deep purple light from his wand made direct contact with the chains, charging them. The shadowy figure trembled, shook, and disappeared in a few seconds.
Dante's eyes lit up. This is it!
But his breathing quickened as well. Trying new spells was not easy. His power felt like a weight on his body.
He put his hand to his chest and took a deep breath. I must continue.
The second figure moved. This time, it didn't dodge, but attacked directly. "Protego!" Dante shouted reflexively. The shield spell opened, but could not fully absorb the attack. The shadow creature's fist knocked him back a few steps.
Dante gritted his teeth and raised his wand again.
Defensive spells are not enough. It is my nature to attack.
He narrowed his eyes and concentrated on the spell.
"Noctis Spiculum!"
The shadows in the air changed shape and turned into small black spears, sharp as needles. In an instant, they all rose into the air and shot at the creature.
The shadow warrior let out a groan as he was pierced by the spears. Then it slowly disintegrated and disappeared.
Dante lowered his wand in satisfaction.
That spell was... quite effective. But I can do better.
He should leave the training here for now. The magic within him was a power he could not yet fully control.
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