章 31: Shadows of Friendship and Foes
A Duel at Midnight
Life at Hogwarts was already becoming a blend of mystery and wonder for Raja, especially with his knowledge of the events to come. He knew the magical world's secrets—about the Philosopher's Stone, about Quirrell, and even the dangers lurking in Hogwarts' darker corners. But he was cautious, careful to stay in the background, influencing events subtly without drawing too much attention.
The opportunity came one evening when Draco Malfoy sauntered over to Harry during dinner, issuing a midnight duel challenge.
"A wizard's duel, Potter. Unless you're too scared to accept," Draco sneered, his smirk full of arrogance.
Harry hesitated, his eyes flicking to Raja and Ron, uncertainty mixed with excitement on his face. Raja met his gaze and gave a brief nod, signaling his support. "We'll be there," he said simply, offering a reassuring smile.
Draco's smirk widened. "Trophy room. Midnight. Don't bring all your friends," he taunted, then walked away, glancing back with one final sneer.
That night, as the clock struck midnight, Raja, Harry, Ron, and Hermione slipped through the dark hallways. Raja's senses were heightened, ready to keep the group safe while ensuring no disruptions to the story he knew so well. It's time to play the part, he thought, a smile tugging at his lips.
But as they arrived in the trophy room, Raja sensed something was off. Instead of Draco and his cronies, they were greeted by silence. Suddenly, the faint sound of footsteps echoed down the corridor. Filch.
"Quick, hide!" Raja whispered, ushering everyone toward an alcove.
Filch's lantern cast an eerie glow as he passed by, muttering angrily. "Troublemakers… sneaking out in the middle of the night… I'll catch 'em…"
After Filch had moved on, the group exhaled in relief, but their escape took a wrong turn, leading them to the forbidden third-floor corridor. Raja couldn't help but feel a rush of anticipation. Here it comes, he thought as the enormous three-headed dog—Fluffy—came into view, each of its heads snarling.
"Run!" he shouted, tugging Harry and Ron backward as one of Fluffy's heads lunged forward. The friends dashed down the corridor, not stopping until they'd safely returned to Gryffindor Tower. Catching his breath, Raja smirked at Harry's wide-eyed amazement.
"That thing's guarding something," Harry panted. "Something important."
"Or dangerous," Raja replied, feeling the satisfaction of staying behind the scenes just as he'd planned. With each step, his journey at Hogwarts was unfolding precisely as he intended.
Halloween and the Troll
Weeks passed, and Halloween arrived, bringing a festive atmosphere to the castle. The Great Hall was decorated with hundreds of floating pumpkins, casting a warm, flickering glow over the tables. Raja found himself enjoying the holiday spirit, savoring the warmth of camaraderie with his friends as they shared laughs and stories.
But the laughter quickly faded when Professor Quirrell burst into the hall, his face pale and voice shaking. "Troll—in the dungeon!" he cried, collapsing in a dramatic faint. The students erupted into panic, but Dumbledore's steady voice soon restored order, instructing the prefects to lead everyone back to their common rooms.
But then Raja noticed something amiss—Hermione was nowhere to be seen.
"She doesn't know!" Harry exclaimed, realizing the danger. "She's still in the girls' bathroom!"
Without a moment's hesitation, Raja nodded to Harry and Ron. "Let's go. We need to find her before the troll does."
Navigating through the dark corridors, they finally spotted the hulking figure of the troll. Its thick, gray skin was pockmarked, and it wielded a massive wooden club. Just behind it was Hermione, frozen in terror, unable to move.
Time to act, Raja thought. Without hesitation, he used a small burst of psychokinesis to push the troll's club to the side, diverting its attention. "Hermione, move!" he hissed, helping her snap out of her trance.
Harry and Ron moved to distract the troll, and with a swift thought, Raja used his powers to nudge a loose stone on the floor toward the troll's feet. It stumbled forward, momentarily thrown off balance.
Ron pointed his wand at the troll, shouting, "Wingardium Leviosa!" The club floated above the troll's head, and before it realized what was happening, it dropped down, striking it squarely on the head. The troll collapsed with a thunderous thud, its body slumping onto the cold stone floor.
Raja turned to Hermione, giving her a quick, reassuring smile. "You're safe now," he murmured, noting the relief in her eyes.
When Professor McGonagall arrived, she looked both shocked and relieved, though her stern reprimand couldn't fully mask the pride in her gaze. She dismissed the students back to their common room, and Raja knew he had played his part well. Once again, he'd stayed in the background, subtly guiding events without altering the course of the story.
Quidditch Tryouts and the Match
As the days grew colder and November arrived, Raja couldn't help but feel excited about Gryffindor's first Quidditch match. Harry had joined the team as Seeker, the youngest in a century, and Raja felt a surge of pride in his friend's skill.
On the day of the match, the stands were alive with cheers as the teams took to the air. Raja joined Ron and Hermione in the Gryffindor stands, his gaze fixed on Harry as he darted through the sky with an instinctive grace.
From his vantage point, Raja noticed something strange. Harry's broom began to shake and twist, as if trying to buck him off. Raja immediately scanned the stands, his eyes landing on Professor Snape, who was intently focused on Harry. Raja felt a pulse of anger. Quirrell's already making his move, he realized, recognizing the trap being set for Harry.
Before Hermione could act, Raja sent a discreet telekinetic push, causing Quirrell to stumble forward, knocking into the professor beside him. Hermione seized the moment, pulling out her wand and muttering, "Incendio!" under her breath, causing Snape's robes to briefly catch fire.
The distraction worked, and Snape's focus was broken. Harry's broom steadied, and with a determined glint in his eyes, he spotted the Golden Snitch. Raja watched as Harry shot forward, his hand reaching out, and in one graceful motion, he caught the Snitch, securing Gryffindor's victory.
The stands erupted into cheers, and Raja joined in, a genuine smile on his face. He had maintained his role as the "Dark Hand Behind the Curtain," aiding his friends in moments of peril without directly altering the story's flow.
When the team celebrated in Gryffindor Tower that night, Harry pulled Raja aside, a questioning look on his face. "Did you see Snape's robe… it caught fire, didn't it?"
Raja shrugged, giving him an amused smile. "Could've been an accident," he replied, keeping his knowledge of events to himself. "But maybe someone up there is watching out for you, Harry."
Harry chuckled, though he still looked thoughtful, as if wondering how many unseen forces were truly at play.
The Aftermath and Reflection
As the common room quieted, Raja leaned back, reflecting on the day's events. Every encounter, every challenge, reminded him of the fine line he walked, helping when necessary while keeping his own presence hidden. But in these small moments, with friends gathered and laughter filling the room, he felt a deep satisfaction.
Ron turned to him, a look of admiration in his eyes. "You've got this way of showing up just when you're needed, Raja. It's like… I don't know, like you're always in the right place at the right time."
Raja smiled knowingly. "Just luck, I guess."
The night wore on, and as he made his way to bed, Raja couldn't shake the feeling that he was precisely where he was meant to be. This was just the beginning, and he would continue to be the unseen hand, guiding his friends and ensuring their safety as they journeyed through Hogwarts.
He'd seen the shadows looming in the distance—of dark wizards, of ancient magic, and of the trials his friends would soon face. But as long as he stayed true to his role, remaining the quiet support they needed, he knew they'd be ready for whatever lay ahead.
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