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"Hey, you really didn't need to bring that up."
Robert clearly hadn't expected Penelope to air that kind of laundry. It wasn't exactly the "Ravenclaw way" of doing things. Theo, on the other hand, had eyes like saucers and immediately swarmed Penelope with questions.
Seeing Penelope besieged by Theo's curiosity, Robert finally let out a sigh of relief and turned his attention to Roque. "Wisdom is a sharp blade, but the hilt requires a gentle hand."
He paused, looking Roque in the eye. "While I don't entirely endorse your methods... I have to say, well done."
With that, Robert patted Roque on the shoulder again and turned to head toward the long table by the window.
That was the designated spot for the fifth-years' study groups. Robert greeted a few people and took a seat.
"Not a bad vibe, honestly," Adam remarked from the side. It was his first real taste of this different side of Ravenclaw.
"Is this what they call acceptance through understanding?" Adam asked, turning to look at Roque.
Roque just smiled, saying nothing.
---
Back in the dormitory, Roque slid his letter into an envelope.
He turned around to find Theo and Adam hovering right behind him. "What's up?"
Adam glanced at Theo before speaking. "I just wanted to ask... is this whole thing just over? Like that?"
"Not a chance."
"No way in hell."
Roque and Theo answered simultaneously, then exchanged a grin.
"I knew it! I knew you weren't the type to just roll over and take it," Theo said, grabbing Roque's arm, his face lighting up with the thrill of impending mischief.
"Cut it out, this is my mess to clean up," Roque said, slapping Theo's hand away. "The Malfoy family isn't as simple as they look."
"Oh, I know," Theo nodded calmly. He reached into his robes and whipped out a moving photograph.
It captured Malfoy in his most humiliating moment in the corridor, playing the embarrassing sequence on an endless loop.
"You've got a great eye for photography," Roque praised, genuinely impressed.
Theo spun around, dodging Roque's attempt to snatch the photo.
"We're friends, aren't we? We weren't there when it went down, but I'm not holding back now." Theo waved the photo with a playful smirk. "By tomorrow, this picture will be circulating all over the Wizarding World."
"If the Malfoys have a problem with it, they can come and see if the Cavendish family is made of glass."
Roque pinched the bridge of his nose. He knew Theo wasn't bluffing. It wasn't just his family background; it was his personality.
Without a word, Roque sat back down at his desk, pulled the letter out, and added a postscript.
"What are you doing?" Theo leaned in to ask.
Roque put down his quill and turned to Theo. "You want to make the Malfoys famous throughout the magical world? Well, I figure I should give Grandpa Theseus a heads-up."
He resealed the envelope, stuffing in the photos he'd taken over the last few days as well.
"Ooh, love it," Theo said, raising an eyebrow.
"So, I'm just stuck on cheerleader duty?" Adam pointed at himself. Coming from the non-magical world, his money didn't hold much weight here.
"Who says? Just trip Malfoy up whenever you get the chance," Theo said, draping an arm around Adam's shoulder.
---
Coming down from the Owlery, since it wasn't curfew yet, the three chatted as they walked.
Roque looked at Theo and Adam beside him.
This time, he could rely on the Scamander family's legacy to hold off the Malfoys, but what about the future?
Newt and Theseus had their own circles. What about his?
For some reason, Roque thought about what Professor Flitwick had said to the Ravenclaws today.
The upperclassmen, like Robert and Penelope, might not care too much—their values were already set in stone. But among the first-year wizards, Roque was already considered a somebody.
Was that an advantage right now?
Yes. Not only was it an advantage, but it all depended on how he played it.
Should he look for like-minded friends, or lead through fame and intimidation?
Roque immediately dismissed the second option. Like-minded friends were better.
Hogwarts wasn't going to be quiet in the coming years. What was his edge?
The "System Panel." With it, he could learn faster than anyone else, which meant he could pull people along in his wake.
The Dueling Club.
Roque remembered Professor Flitwick mentioning the Dueling Club.
Wasn't that a natural way to gather like-minded people?
But clubs usually needed professor approval. Ask Flitwick? No, even Flitwick had only managed to start a Charms Club.
Then... how about a study group? Just like the small groups the Ravenclaw seniors formed to study together.
Roque thought of Neville. Maybe it didn't have to be limited to just his House.
Having made up his mind, Roque looked at his friends. "Theo, Adam, what do you think about starting a study group?"
"A study group?"
Theo and Adam, who had been discussing the mechanics of Muggle Ludo, turned around.
"Right. A study group." Roque walked between them, throwing his arms around their shoulders. "Where like-minded students can learn from each other."
"Neville actually asked me about something like this a while ago."
"Like-minded..." Theo, whose family was deeply involved in the news business, latched onto the phrase immediately. He looked at Roque with disbelief.
"I'm in! Actually, I've noticed a lot of students are terrified of the ghosts. We could get together and figure out how to deal with them!"
Adam didn't overthink the politics of it; he just followed Roque's train of thought and offered his own idea.
Roque rubbed his chin. Adam had actually stumbled onto a great angle.
Dry studying always needed a hook to make it interesting, and Adam's idea would definitely attract people. Plus, every year brought a fresh wave of new students.
"Agreed!" Roque raised his hand in support.
Theo gave Roque a knowing look, then nudged him with his elbow. "I'm in too. Maybe we can discuss games and stuff, as well."
"Whatever works. The main theme is studying, but no rule says we can't do other things," Roque said.
This would help build the group's reputation. And he already had two recruits in mind.
The Weasley Twins.
He had a feeling those two would be more than happy to join in on something like this. After all, when it came to games and pranks, Theo could give them a run for their money.