The Silent Letter
Late at night, under the glow of his study's silver lamps, Roy Valvas penned a letter on enchanted parchment — words written in ink that shimmered between shadow and flame.
He signed it not with a name, but with a sigil — a raven in flight wrapped in mist.The message was short, sharp, and devastating:
*"Lord Rosetti,
Be wary of your allies.
The Malfoy, Nott, and Parkinson families have conspired with the Flints. Once your house falls, they will divide your assets under Wizengamot arbitration.
— A Friend Who Knows"*
With a flick of his wand, the letter folded itself into a black paper raven and vanished into smoke, reappearing miles away inside the Rosetti mansion's sealed study.
The Rosetti Retaliation
At dawn, Lord Rosetti sat in silence, the letter clutched in his trembling hand.The implications were terrifying — if true, his family had been surrounded by serpents.
He didn't hesitate.
Within hours, ancient family archives were unsealed. Documents, ledgers, and forbidden correspondences from the Malfoy, Nott, and Parkinson lineages were leaked to European magical newspapers — scandals of bribes, slave labor in Knockturn Alley, illegal blood-curse experimentation, and underground trading with goblin separatists.
By nightfall, headlines spread across Europe:
"Malfoy Empire Tarnished — Illegal Curses Linked to Ancestral Holdings.""Parkinson Trade Network Collapses Amid Scandal.""Nott Family Under Investigation for Goblin Pact Breaches."
Wizengamot members whispered, trading favors and fear in equal measure.The once-proud houses that mocked Roy's rise were suddenly bleeding out publicly.
In desperation, Lucius Malfoy, Lord Nott, and Lord Parkinson turned to their last resort — an alliance with the wounded Flints.Four houses, cornered and furious, declared open economic war on Rosetti holdings.Europe's magical market plunged into chaos.
At Valvas Manor — Calm Amid Chaos
While the continent burned in financial warfare, Roy sat quietly by the fireplace of his manor, sipping tea.A faint smile curved his lips as reports arrived one after another — markets trembling, trade routes closed, fortunes lost.
At his side stood Narcissa Black, reviewing documents with precise grace.When she finished summarizing the day's chaos, Roy stood, reached out, and gently drew her into an embrace.
"You've done well, Cissa," he murmured softly, his tone unexpectedly warm."Consider this... the interest Lucius owes you for what he did."
Before she could respond, he placed a light kiss upon her forehead.For a moment, Narcissa froze — her composure cracking into a soft blush, eyes glimmering with something unspoken.
Across the room, Nagini and Bela White (Bellatrix) exchanged teasing glances.Nagini's serpentine smirk appeared first.
"My, my... how generous our lord has become."
Bela folded her arms, smirking.
"A kiss for good service? I'll start competing for promotions."
Roy only chuckled. "Then work harder."
The tension broke into laughter — light, affectionate, but underlined with a flicker of envy neither woman hid very well.
Afterward, Roy gathered his coat and travel bag.
"Handle the transitions. I'll be gone for a while — Hogwarts awaits."
Narcissa nodded, still flustered.
"Everything will be done as you ordered."
Platform 9¾ — Return to Hogwarts
The hum of chatter, laughter, and steam greeted him as he stepped through the barrier. The Hogwarts Express glowed crimson in the early morning mist.
In one of the compartments, he found Hermione, Daphne, Astoria, Cassandra Vole, Penelope Clearwater, and Cho Chang already waiting. Their faces lit up at his arrival.
Hermione smiled warmly. "You made it just in time."Daphne added with a teasing tone, "We were just talking about our gifts. Did you like them?"
Roy gave them a small, genuine smile.
"I did. Every one of them. Thank you."
Their cheeks flushed slightly — Hermione trying to hide her smile behind a book, Daphne and Astoria exchanging amused glances, Cho pretending to adjust her hair while her eyes sparkled.
As the train began to move, the group settled into light conversation — gossip about the chaos in the wizarding economy, Quidditch updates, and rumors about the Ministry's investigation into "mysterious black market buyouts."
Roy simply listened, his expression unreadable — content, detached, quietly amused.
When the train arrived at Hogwarts, the castle loomed majestic under a silver sky.At the station, Roy spotted Harry Potter walking alongside Professor Lupin.
He could tell from Harry's steady wand grip and tired smile that Lupin had begun Patronus lessons.
Roy approached with his usual calm.
"Morning, Harry. Professor Lupin."
Lupin nodded kindly. "Good to see you back, Mr. Valvas."
Harry grinned. "You too, Roy. I've been practicing that spell you mentioned last term."
Roy smirked faintly. "Then I'll expect a proper demonstration soon."
After a few more words, Roy turned and made his way toward his dormitory — leaving behind the noise of the station, the warmth of friends, and the hidden knowledge that while the wizarding world warred for dominance, its true master had just gone back to school.