NOVEL NEXT Chapter 31: Handling Conflicts
One week into his fourth year at Hogwarts, Dante found himself heading to the Quidditch Pitch at Draco's insistence. His younger brother had been unusually persistent, claiming he had something to show him. As Dante approached the pitch, he was met with the sight of the Slytherin and Gryffindor Quidditch teams facing off, tensions running high.
Draco, wearing the Slytherin team uniform, was standing near Hermione Granger, his expression smug. It seemed he had said something provocative, as Ron Weasley stormed toward him, his face red with anger.
"You'll pay for that, Malfoy!" Ron shouted, raising his wand.
Draco, thanks to his rigorous training under Dante, reacted quickly. He sidestepped Ron's spell and retaliated with one of his own.
"Slugulus Eructo!" Draco incanted, sending Ron flying three meters backward. The redhead landed hard on the ground, his face paling as he clutched his stomach.
The two teams immediately broke into chaos, wands drawn and spells ready to fly. Dante, who had been calmly observing the scene, raised his wand. A burst of purple light shot toward the groups, and in an instant, all the wands were ripped from their hands and suspended in midair.
"What do you all think you're doing?" Dante's voice cut through the tension like a knife, drawing everyone's attention.
The Slytherins broke into smiles, their confidence bolstered by Dante's presence. The Gryffindors, however, looked uneasy. Dante's reputation as the student who had humiliated Lockhart and faced no serious consequences had made him a figure of both awe and fear.
Ron, still lying on the ground, groaned and vomited a slug. Dante glanced at him, then turned to Draco with a raised eyebrow. "Really? This disgusting spell"
Draco shrugged. "He tried to hit me with it first. I just paid him back."
Ron vomited another slug, his face turning green. Dante sighed and pointed his wand at the boy. A pale green light shot out, and Ron's complexion began to improve. The slugs stopped, and he sat up weakly, glaring at Draco.
Dante turned to his brother. "What's going on?"
Draco explained, "Professor Snape gave us permission to train today because I'm the new Slytherin Seeker. But the Gryffindors aren't happy about it."
Harry Potter stepped forward, his voice sharp. "The fight broke out because Draco called Hermione a filthy mudblood!"
Draco's face darkened. "Only after she insulted me!"
Dante's gaze shifted to Hermione, who took a step back, her expression nervous. She didn't fear Draco—if anything, she felt disdain for him and a slight jealousy over his academic performance. But Dante was a different story. The older Malfoy had taken down her idol, Lockhart, and sent him to the infirmary on the first day of class. Even the professors hadn't punished him properly.
Dante's eyes returned to Draco. "The moment you stooped to their level, you became part of the problem," he said firmly. "Be the bigger person and apologize first."
Draco hesitated, his pride warring with his respect for his brother. Finally, he muttered, "Sorry, Granger."
The apology shocked everyone, including the Slytherins. Hermione blinked, unsure how to respond.
Dante turned to the Gryffindor team. "Leave the pitch. If you have objections, take them to Professor Snape."
The Gryffindors exchanged uneasy glances but didn't argue. Dante's presence was too intimidating.
With a flick of his wand, Dante released the suspended wands, and they dropped back into their owners' hands. The Gryffindor team left the pitch, their heads hung in defeat, while the Slytherins stood victorious.
Dante turned to Draco, a faint smile on his lips. "So, you're the new Seeker?"
Draco nodded, a hint of pride in his expression.
Dante held out his hand. "Hand me your broom."
___________
Another week had passed, and the halls of Hogwarts were silent under the cover of night. The curfew had begun two hours ago, but Dante was still in the Astronomy Tower, engrossed in his work. His latest Magic Circuit, designed to counter the Cruciatus Curse, was progressing, but the runes weren't perfect yet. A stronger wizard could easily break through the current design.
"I need to improve its strength before translating it into a circuit," Dante muttered to himself, his silver eyes scanning the intricate runes on the parchment before him.
Realizing it was late, he decided to call it a night. He packed his notes and wand, then made his way down the tower. As he walked through the dimly lit corridors, he noticed a small figure wandering barefoot. It was Luna Lovegood, her dreamy expression unchanged despite the late hour.
Dante raised an eyebrow and disabled his Disillusionment Charm, appearing out of thin air. Luna was startled for a moment but then smiled warmly.
"Hello, Dante," she said, her voice soft and melodic.
"Why are you out after curfew?" Dante asked, his tone plain.
Luna sighed. "The door to the Ravenclaw common room was closed while I was outside, so I couldn't get back in."
Dante's gaze dropped to her bare feet. "And why are you walking barefoot?"
Luna smiled. "Nargles took and hid my shoes. Mischievous little things."
Dante raised an eyebrow. "Nargles?"
Luna's eyes lit up. "They're tiny creatures that like to play pranks. They have blue bodies and yellow heads, but they are invisible to most people."
Dante had a thoughtful look on his face. "They sound like Smurfs," he said. "Creatures that lived in Egypt thousands of years ago. Not everyone could see them back then and they were eventually exterminated because they spread disease. The pixies we know today are related to them."
Luna's eyes brightened. "You believe they're real?"
"I believe they were real and are now extinct," Dante replied. "But until someone proves otherwise, I'll keep an open mind. You can check on them in the library and make sure if Nargles are the same as smurfs, there is a description of smurfs in 'Extinct Magical Beast Encyclopedia'"
Then, he tore a sheet of paper from his notebook and transfigured it into a pair of shoes. "Here," he said, handing them to Luna. "Wear these. I'll help you get back into your dormitory and deal with the Nargles. I am their nemesis, after all."
Luna smiled and slipped on the shoes. As they walked, she chatted about the creatures she believed in and the things she had read. Dante responded with his own knowledge, treating her words with a seriousness she rarely encountered. Luna felt a warmth in her chest, grateful to have found someone who didn't ridicule her.
When they reached the Ravenclaw common room, Dante waved his wand at the eagle statue. The staircase appeared, and Luna looked at him in surprise.
"Why didn't it ask for a password?" she asked.
"Not everyone is interested in puzzles like Rowena," Dante explained. "So when the tower was created, a way to enter it without solving the riddle was created."
They stepped inside the common room, where a few older students were still awake. Among them was the Ravenclaw prefect, who stood up immediately upon seeing Dante.
"Luna go to sleep, I will deal with the Nargles then leave" Dante told Luna.
Luna hesitated for a moment then nodded and said "Good night"
Dante nodded then turned to face the approaching prefect.
"You're Dante Malfoy," the prefect said, his tone wary. "What are you doing here?"
Dante ignored the question. "Are you the prefect?"
The student nodded.
"Your house is bullying a first-year," Dante said, his voice cold. "You trapped her outside the tower barefoot and left her to wander the school alone. I'm disappointed. I expect you to make sure this doesn't happen again. I'll also inform Professor Flitwick."
The prefect's face paled, but he didn't argue.
Dante turned to leave but paused at the door. "If I see or hear of Luna Lovegood being bullied again," he said, his tone icy, "I'll personally correct the entire house's behavior."
With that, he left, leaving the prefect and the other students silent. The prefect knew better than to challenge Dante. The boy who had attacked a professor and faced no serious consequences was not someone to cross.
From that night onward, the treatment of Luna Lovegood within Ravenclaw House improved significantly. The older students, wary of Dante's warning and his fearsome reputation, made sure no one dared to bully or ridicule her. The prefect, in particular, took extra care to ensure Luna was included and treated with respect, knowing full well the consequences of crossing Dante Malfoy.
Rumors began to spread throughout Hogwarts that Dante had taken a liking to the first-year girl and was actively protecting her from bullies. Whispers circulated that he had threatened to destroy the Ravenclaw Tower if Luna was harmed, a claim that, while exaggerated, added to his growing legend. Students from all houses looked at Luna with a mix of curiosity and caution, wondering what made her so special to the genius and dangerous Dante Malfoy. For Luna, however, life became a little easier, and she could wander the halls with her usual dreamy smile, knowing she had a guardian watching over her.