...

What happened during the flying lesson quickly spread throughout Hogwarts.

Being ungrateful will be disliked wherever you are.

Not to mention that Dyroth had helped Gryffindor students on more than one occasion.

He even saved their lives!

This instantly made Gryffindor the laughingstock of everyone.

In the hospital wing, Harry and Draco, were situated at opposite ends of the room.

The two were living in vastly different environments.

A dozen little wizards, led by Dyroth, stood around Draco's hospital bed, bringing a large number of gifts and well-wishes.

On the other hand, Harry was the only one at Ron's bedside.

It was empty!

He was also receiving glares from the other students.

Harry and Draco looked at each other in silence, unsure of what to say.

Just then, an owl flew in through the window and dropped a red letter on Ron's bedside.

Ron's expression changed instantly.

"Oh no!"

Shaking, he reached out to pick up the letter, but still hesitated to open it.

"Look, Weasley got a Howler!" There was laughter from the crowd as they watched him with amused expressions.

"Go on, Weasley, let us hear what you've done!"

"Yeah, maybe Mrs. Weasley is praising you for the good things you've done!"

"Harry, maybe you should..." Ron swallowed and turned to Harry.

But Harry wasn't a fool. Even if he had never seen a Howler before, he could tell from everyone's reactions that this wasn't good.

He quickly shook his head, refusing to help.

Ron looked disappointed and hesitated before finally touching the seal of the Howler.

The letter exploded open immediately.

A deafening roar filled the room.

"RON WEASLEY! How dare you behave like this at school?"

"Causing trouble in class, stealing from your classmates! You're going to be the reason of my death!"

The letter formed the face of an enraged Mrs. Weasley.

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Ron stood frozen in terror as his mother's voice berated him.

"Professor McGonagall herself came to speak to me about you! If you get expelled, I wouldn't be surprised at all!"

"This is your own fault! If you cause any more trouble at school, your father and I will bring you straight home!"

"Do you hear me?"

Ron frantically nodded at the Howler, despite knowing his mother couldn't see him.

After her angry tirade, Mrs. Weasley's voice softened as the Howler turned to Harry.

"Hello, dear Harry. I'm so glad you're friends with Ron."

"You're welcome to visit us anytime!"

With that, the Howler tore itself into shreds, scattering across the bed.

"Hahahaha..."

The crowd erupted in laughter.

Ron, who had just been the focus of everyone's attention, once again became the butt of jokes.

One boy mimicked Mrs. Weasley's furious expression, repeating lines from the Howler.

"RON WEASLEY! How dare you behave like this at school!"

Another boy imitated Ron's fearful reaction, pretending to nod frantically.

Everyone burst out laughing again.

Ron's face reddened in anger, and he turned his head, avoiding their mocking gazes.

Harry couldn't bear to see his friend tormented like this, so he rushed over to Dyroth.

"Dyroth..."

"Harry, what they're doing isn't directed by me. Do you really want me to intercede for someone who repays kindness with ingratitude?"

Dyroth already knew what Harry was about to say before he even opened his mouth.

Was it because he was usually too kind at Hogwarts that people assumed he had no temper?

"You have to pay for your mistakes," Dyroth continued. "Ron should've thought of that before he tried to steal my book during flying lessons."

"Ron...Ron didn't mean to..." Harry stammered.

"Not intentional?" Dyroth laughed, but there was no humor in his voice.

If he hadn't needed Harry for his future plans against Dumbledore, he would've slapped some sense into him.

"Are you saying the broom flew to me on its own and then snatched my book on its own? You even crashed into Draco afterward, didn't you?"

"Dyroth, Ron already knows he was wrong!"

But Dyroth had had enough.

He wasn't Harry's nanny. As long as he could use Harry to maneuver against Dumbledore, that was all that mattered.

He turned his head away, refusing to look at Harry any longer.

With a flick of his wand, the knife on the table began peeling an apple, which he then held up to Draco.

"Madam Pomfrey said the bruises on your body will disappear with ointment. After a night's rest, you'll be able to attend class as usual tomorrow."

Draco nodded, but his gaze shifted to Harry, filled with disappointment.

Crabbe and Goyle stood like guards, ensuring that Harry didn't approach Dyroth.

Pansy Parkinson smirked, sneering at Harry. "Weasley hasn't even apologized to Draco or Dyroth after all this time. Is this what you call knowing you were wrong?"

"Get out of here, you're not welcome!"

Harry, speechless and embarrassed, turned red and hurried back to Ron's bedside.

Pansy wasn't done yet. She pointed at Ron's bed. "If it weren't for Dyroth's quick thinking during Potions class, do you think you'd have even made it to flying lessons?"

"How many people would have been harmed by that disaster of a potion you brewed?"

Ron's face burned with shame. Pansy's words brought tears to his eyes, but he couldn't argue back.

He buried his head in his blanket.

Dyroth sneered to himself.

Think this is bad, Ron Weasley? Your suffering has only just begun.

...

Back in the Slytherin common room that evening, Dyroth was about to head to the dormitory when he heard someone calling his name.

"Excuse me, is Mr. Grindelwald here?"

"Could someone please fetch him for us?"

Dyroth approached the door and saw three red-headed figures waiting—Percy Weasley and the Weasley twins.

"Mr. Grindelwald, we've come to apologize on Ron's behalf," Percy began, bowing slightly. "We spoiled him too much when he was younger, and it caused trouble for you. We're really sorry."

"As for the textbook Ron took, we'll compensate you or buy you a new one."

"When he's recovered, we'll bring him to apologize personally to you and Mr. Malfoy."

"I hope you can forgive him."

Dyroth wasn't one to hold grudges unnecessarily. Percy and the twins were future pieces in his plans, so he couldn't risk alienating them.

"There's no need for compensation. Just take care of your brother in the future," Dyroth said.

Percy seemed relieved. "Thank you. But, Mr. Grindelwald, there's one more thing I'd like to discuss with you..."

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