[103] The Taste of Asphodel

Hall instantly understood what the upperclassman meant. The news hit him like a Bludger.

"Lucky you! Krum got your dorm room. I'm so envious." The upperclassman's smile was unmistakably gloating. "By the way, Malfoy's gone spare with jealousy in the common room. He's been barking at his two lackeys like dogs. You'd better watch out."

Hall raised an eyebrow. The blatant attempt to sow discord was almost laughable. Did this idiot think he wouldn't notice?

The upperclassman shrugged with a mocking expression. "Shame he already has a roommate."

It was clear this senior had a terrible relationship with Draco, which was hardly surprising given Draco's temper. But what about himself? Hall had no idea how he'd offended this upperclassman. He was usually low-key and never sought the limelight. He didn't even know this bloke's name.

As for the disastrous news, Hall's facial muscles twitched slightly, but he quickly regained his composure. He said goodbye to the gloating upperclassman and walked expressionlessly into the lounge, silently pondering recent events. They all seemed connected.

He was lost in thought when he heard Draco's exaggerated laughter as soon as he entered the lounge. Hall frowned and turned to head back to his dormitory. He needed to tidy up his room. Though Hall kept his things very neatly — he was a bit of a neat freak — better safe than sorry.

He'd just stepped into the corridor when someone called him again. He turned back, exasperated. What was going on today? Why did so many people want to talk to him?

"Hey, Weasley. I have something to say to you." It was Gregory Goyle.

Hall frowned. He didn't interact much with Goyle, though Draco often dragged him along. Goyle looked at Hall with an arrogant expression, a smug smile playing on his lips.

"What is it?" Hall asked.

"I heard you and Krum are in the same dorm room. That's lucky." Goyle's tone was full of mockery.

Hall didn't respond, just quietly looked at Goyle.

"Draco's furious." Goyle continued tauntingly. "Without Draco backing you up, what are you in Slytherin?"

Hall smirked coldly. He felt there was no point wasting his time with this idiot.

"Are you done? If not, I'm going back to my dorm." Hall turned and left.

Goyle, assuming Hall was scared, let out a loud laugh and left the common room.

Hall walked through the lounge, keeping close to the wall, trying not to attract the attention of the group making noise around the fireplace. It wasn't that he was afraid — he simply disliked the hassle.

But things rarely go as planned.

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"Hall! You're back!" Blaise suddenly shouted, feigning surprise.

Hall shot Blaise a murderous look. Blaise was sitting facing outwards — Hall had seen him as soon as he entered. He'd even given Blaise a subtle signal to pretend he hadn't noticed. But the idiot had given himself away immediately.

"Hey! Hall, you're back! Krum's been waiting for you." Draco turned around and beckoned Hall over. He gave Hall a jealous look. "You're really lucky the Headmaster assigned Krum to your dorm." Then he shot Blaise a disdainful glance and sighed.

Blaise covered his head, peeking at Hall through his fingers, desperately pleading for help with his eyes.

Hall rolled his eyes and decisively ignored him. He didn't share the same reaction as the two idiots he'd dealt with earlier.

Draco, at least, was different. Hall didn't think Draco would develop a rift over this — Draco had vested interests with the Malfoy family to consider.

"What a coincidence. I need to go back to my dorm to change first." Hall smiled politely and declined Draco's invitation, then nodded courteously at Krum. "Mr. Krum. See you later."

He turned and left without hesitation.

Back in his dorm, Hall found the room clean and tidy, everything in perfect order. He breathed a sigh of relief. The defences he'd set up indicated no one else had entered — only the house-elves had been there.

Hall quickly drew his wand and waved it, dispelling all the defensive charms and wards he had set up.

Damn it. Why was he assigned a roommate without being notified? These defensive spells couldn't stay. If the slightest anomaly was detected, it would be tantamount to admitting this room harboured a secret.

But Hall frowned. Snape's arrangement, coupled with the early Triwizard Tournament, gave him a bad feeling. He had to sound them out tomorrow. If it really was related to the Dark Lord's fragments —

But no. If it were, shouldn't they be more concerned about Harry? Why would they be concerned about him?

Still, Hall realised he had to move the important documents in the dormitory elsewhere. There were also some failed potions and hastily drawn sketches. After some thought, he decided to store them in Nurmengard temporarily. There was no safer place.

Hall pulled an empty suitcase from under the bed and quickly packed all the documents from the drawers into it. He carefully inspected the room, making sure he hadn't missed anything important, before letting out a sigh of relief. He pointed his wand at the suitcase and cast a Shrinking Charm. The suitcase shrank to the size of his palm. He placed it carefully into his inner pocket.

Having completed these preparations, Hall selected a few clean clothes and went into the bathroom. He washed up, then walked out with a towel, drying his wet red hair, dressed in comfortable loungewear.

He saw someone on the previously empty bed, their back to him, tidying up.

When Hall appeared in the common room, lost in thought, Draco caught him red-handed. He was holding the notebook Hall had given him earlier — meant to be part of the holiday enhancement plan.

Draco slammed the notebook down in front of him. "Still want to read, Hall? After all this time, are you just trying to get me to sit quietly and study those books my father prepared for me?" His voice rose several octaves. "What happened to the promised practical training? What happened to bravely picking up a wand? Hall, you'd better give me an explanation."

"Draco. A solid theoretical foundation is the basis for practical combat. It's like two armies facing off — is the most important thing how to fight? Of course not. It's strategy. And where do you learn strategy? From books. Only by thoroughly understanding and mastering the books can you apply what you've learned to other situations. Without a solid foundation in magical theory, how can you make quick, right judgments in actual combat? Those profound spells are built upon a deep understanding of magical principles. Just like learning Transfiguration — if you don't understand the nature of objects and the laws of transformation, how can you successfully turn one thing into another?"

Hall pushed the notebook back. "These books were chosen by me. Your father also thinks they're the best for you at this stage. Friendly reminder — there will be a test at the end of the month."

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