HP: Pure-Blood Glory

Luke's first reaction to this news wasn't surprise—it was speechlessness.

No matter how hard he thought about it, he couldn't understand how something so supposedly secretive and critical could be handled so poorly by Quirrell and Tom.

The twins knew about it, so the idea that Dumbledore didn't know about it? Luke dismissed that as utter nonsense.

Still, despite knowing all this, Luke had no intention of exposing it right now. It wouldn't benefit anyone involved.

Dumbledore wanted to sharpen his tools; Luke wanted to fish in troubled waters. Letting Tom stir up some trouble would work to everyone's advantage.

As for Tom?

'Well... he tried.'

Luke put on a serious expression and said, "You two shouldn't concern yourselves with Professor Quirrell's business anymore. I don't know what he's planning, but Dumbledore probably said something similar to you last time."

The twins exchanged glances and nodded in unison. Last time, Dumbledore had indeed told them not to meddle in this matter.

"We didn't go looking for trouble," George quickly explained. "It's just that when we were trying to use that secret passage ourselves, we happened to see Professor Quirrell coming out of it."

Fred stayed silent, simply watching Luke's expression. His face was calm, his gaze serene, but beneath that exterior was something far more complex—like a vast ocean, still on the surface yet hiding turbulent waves beneath.

"I'm not blaming you," Luke sighed softly, explaining to them.

"I'm just worried that he might notice you two. My opinion might not matter much to you, but you should take Dumbledore's words seriously. He's lived a long time, and he's on good terms with your parents. He won't put you in harm's way."

Though mischievous, the twins were sharp, and they understood this logic perfectly well. They also picked up on the unspoken layers in Luke's words.

"It's not that we don't trust you," Fred finally spoke, his tone sincere. "It really was just a coincidence."

Luke nodded and didn't press the issue further.

However, George frowned in thought for a moment before voicing his concern.

"Luke, shouldn't we at least warn one of the professors? The other professors might not believe us, but Professor McGonagall would."

"The other professors wouldn't dismiss it either," Fred added.

Though their reputation for pranks was well-known, the professors who had dealt with them over the years understood that the twins wouldn't joke about something this serious.

Unlike Harry and Ron, the twins were reliable in their own way—they might seem chaotic, but they were sharp and dependable.

Harry and Ron, on the other hand, often tried to appear responsible, but in truth, they were anything but.

As soon as they spoke, however, the twins realized something else.

"Forget it," Fred said, shaking his head. "You probably already have it all figured out."

They knew full well that Luke's words carried more weight with the professors than theirs ever could. To some, Luke might still be just a child, but to others, he was a head of his family—and naturally, he wasn't treated like just any kid.

Of course, the well-informed professors wouldn't have missed the fact that one of the school directors had recently changed hands.

Which meant Luke's words carried significantly more weight than those of the twins.

If Luke chose not to speak, then what was the point of them doing so?

George quickly caught on. Though he still didn't entirely understand Luke's reasons, he decided not to press the matter further.

Luke smiled lightly and said, "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

But just as he finished speaking, Fred asked with a peculiar expression, "Luke, is it true that Ron and Harry are also investigating this? And they've focused their suspicions on Professor Snape?"

Luke was momentarily stunned. He wasn't sure whether to marvel at George and Fred's incredible information-gathering skills or to curse Harry and Ron's inability to keep their plans under wraps.

'Probably a bit of both,' Luke thought, rubbing his temples in exasperation.

George and Fred, seeing his reaction, couldn't help but feel both amused and a little embarrassed. After all, it was their own younger brother causing this awkward situation.

After a moment, Luke raised his head and said helplessly, "I know about it. My original thought was that since those two had nothing better to do, it'd be best to let them keep busy. That way, they wouldn't stir up trouble elsewhere. And let's be honest, even if I told them to stop, they wouldn't listen—and they'd probably complain about me interfering. Better to let them bumble about on their own."

Fred sighed. "That really does sound like something Ron would get himself into…"

They knew their brother's tendencies better than anyone.

"You two are just too exceptional—it's probably put some pressure on him," Luke said with a smile, trying to console them.

It wasn't an empty compliment, either. Luke genuinely believed that Ron's tendencies—especially his bravado and his strong sense of pride—likely stemmed from this very dynamic.

George and Fred exchanged glances again, both letting out a resigned sigh. What else could they do?

Luke chuckled at the sight. The bond between the Weasley siblings was truly remarkable. They genuinely cared for each other, even if they expressed it in unconventional ways.

Even Percy, despite his occasional wayward behavior, always kept family in his heart—it was just that he sometimes strayed too far.

"Fred, George, I need your help with something"

Luke said, his smile fading as he adopted a more serious tone.

George looked a little puzzled, but Fred's expression turned solemn.

"Go on," Fred prompted.

"I need you two to help me investigate who among the students is particularly dissatisfied with me. Focus mainly on fifth, sixth, and seventh years."

As for the other years, Luke was confident that by the time they graduated, no one would have a bad word to say about him.

"No problem"

Fred responded decisively. This wasn't a difficult task, but it was an important one. He felt honored to be trusted with it.

George, still somewhat confused, nonetheless nodded as well. "Don't worry, it's no big deal. It'll be easy to find out."

Luke smiled and nodded in acknowledgment.

He would never force the twins to help him with something like this. He figured they wouldn't enjoy this kind of task, and if Fred showed interest, it was better to let him try. Just like with Gemma: if he didn't enjoy it, he could step away. No need for things to get tense.

Luke wasn't afraid of having enemies, but he wasn't about to turn those around him into adversaries without reason.

After exchanging a few more words, the three parted ways. Since it wasn't yet time for dinner, George and Fred decided to draft a plan.

Their long-standing habit of carefully planning their pranks had paid off in two ways: first, it was rare for anyone to catch them with concrete evidence; and second, even if they were caught, they could resolve matters without leaving a bad impression.

Meanwhile, Luke headed toward Snape's office. He was certain the day's events weren't over yet. He had a good sense of Flint's situation but was more curious about what punishment Leach and Nott would face.

Would it be a minor warning, or would one of them be expelled?

Thinking back, Hagrid had only been expelled for harboring dangerous magical creatures that allegedly caused a student's death, and even then, he later became the gamekeeper.

Though Hagrid himself wasn't directly responsible for the incident, it showed how far the school would go to protect its students.

At most, the punishment for Leach and Nott would likely be a stern warning and a slap on the wrist to curb their arrogance.

When Luke arrived at the office door and raised his hand to knock, it opened from the inside.

Flint stepped out, looking disheveled and defeated. But the moment he saw Luke, his eyes lit up.

"Luke, you're here too?"

Flint said with a mix of surprise and relief.

Before Luke could reply, a low, angry voice came from inside.

"Come in!"

Luke's mouth twitched slightly, while Flint shook his head and whispered, "Careful in there. He'll just yell a lot—don't provoke him…"

Then Flint gave Luke a meaningful look, one that seemed to say, 'There's always tomorrow; don't rush it.'

Luke was a little surprised at Flint's unexpected perceptiveness but nodded and said, "Got it."

With that, he stepped into the office.

Flint watched his retreating figure, wanting to say more, but when he looked up, his eyes met Snape's icy glare full of warning. Flint quickly shrank back like a startled quail, even going so far as to quietly shut the door behind him.

With Flint gone, Snape turned his sharp gaze onto Luke. His expression was far from friendly.

Luke could tell that the rage Snape had displayed on the Quidditch field earlier was mostly an act. But the cold hostility in his eyes now? That was real.

Realizing this, Luke decided to drop his usual playful demeanor. His relationship with Snape wasn't at the level where he could afford to banter lightly, as he might with Professor McGonagall.

Besides, Snape, a seasoned double agent, wasn't someone who could be easily won over. Any attempts at ingratiation would have to be timed carefully.

Nott, meanwhile, stood in the corner with his head down, his face a mask of frustration. His fists were clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white, and his body trembled slightly. Yet, he didn't dare lash out.

As a Potions Master and Head of Slytherin House, Snape held a position of authority that even the elder Nott wouldn't dare openly challenge.

Though some pure-bloods might look down on Snape for his half-blood heritage, such sentiments were never openly voiced in situations like this.

Luke decided to keep a low profile for now. Better to let Snape vent his anger before finding a way to deal with the situation strategically.

Morton's current state surprised Luke. Despite being a staunch advocate for pure-blood supremacy, he now appeared utterly subdued, trembling faintly instead of showing anger.

Luke activated his ability, confirming his suspicions: fear overwhelmingly dominated Leach's emotions, with only a faint trace of anger remaining.

The emotional backlash had clearly taken its toll.

Luke kept his expression neutral, but unease churned within him. If Leach's abnormality were noticed, suspicion would undoubtedly fall on Luke.

And while he could explain some of his inherited abilities, his gift for emotional control—a talent he intended to be a cornerstone of his future—was something he absolutely couldn't afford to expose.

While Luke studied Leach, Snape's sharp gaze was fixed on him. The professor remained wary of that moment on the Quidditch field when he felt as though Luke had seen right through him.

It had felt eerily similar to Legilimency, but not quite the same—subtle, almost imperceptible. If not for Snape's heightened vigilance, honed through years of practice and a lifetime of distrust, he might not have even noticed it.

Snape's voice broke the tension, laced with scorn and challenge.

"Mr. Leach, your proficiency with the Exploding Charm is truly remarkable. I take it you've been practicing diligently for this very moment? Go ahead, impress me. Show me the mighty spellwork that everyone's been gossiping about. Be bold—just like you were on the Quidditch field."

Leach kept his head down, refusing to respond, his eyes glistening as though on the verge of tears.

Snape's brow furrowed. Something felt off, but he dismissed it. People like Morton, outwardly arrogant and brash, often crumbled under real pressure.

Snape had seen plenty of such types during his time as a Death Eater—seemingly hard as nails, only to reveal their spineless nature when facing life or death.

For now, Snape turned his attention to Luke, a cold smile playing on his lips.

"Well, Mr. Gaunt, have you come to lecture me on how to discipline unruly students? Or perhaps to plead for leniency and gain a reputation for magnanimity while conveniently winning some loyalty?"

Luke barely spared the bait a thought. Snape's barbs were mild at best—hardly worth rising to.

"I'm not here to argue with you again, Professor. That was exhausting enough the first time," Luke replied, his tone light but firm. "I'm simply here to ask how you plan to deal with these two."

His gaze flicked briefly to Nott and Leach, both of whom instinctively turned to look at him.

"One of them smeared my name, and the other dragged me into this whole mess. If your punishment is fair, I won't interfere. If it's not… well, I'll handle things my way."

Luke's words hung in the air, and both Nott and Leach reacted differently.

Nott's eyes burned with resentment. To him, Luke was kicking him while he was down. Setting Luke up had been a harmless prank, at most designed to embarrass him.

It was never meant to cause any real harm or punishment. Yet here was Luke, acting vindictive and threatening revenge.

Leach, on the other hand, looked at Luke with an almost pitiful expression—tears shimmering in his eyes, his fear and helplessness palpable.

Luke found it difficult to maintain eye contact.

The boy's demeanor was unnervingly similar to that of a scorned and sorrowful lover, making Luke deeply uncomfortable.

Turning his attention back to Snape, Luke met his gaze head-on.

The two locked eyes, neither backing down. But this time, Snape didn't feel the eerie sensation of being "read."

His frown deepened.

'Could it have been my imagination after all?' he wondered.

*****

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