"Harry Potter and the Shadows of Merlin"

"Wow, with this, we'll never get caught by Filch during night excursions again!"

Dyna remained noncommittal to the twins' enthusiastic claim.

In the original story, even with the Marauder's Map, the twins got caught by Filch and the professors several times. It wasn't that they couldn't avoid them—it's just that they were fearless and often taunted Filch! They weren't exactly well-behaved, and with a tool as powerful as the map, they were bound to push the limits.

"Let's go—Slytherin common room."

He could have explored alone, but he insisted on bringing Fred and George. Their knowledge of Hogwarts saved him a lot of time.

Because of the twins' timely kindness, Dyna felt he owed them something in return.

The Slytherin common room and dormitories were deep in the Hogwarts dungeons—once used to imprison enemies in the Middle Ages. Hogwarts hadn't always been just a school; it was originally built like a fortress, born from centuries of wizards warring with Muggles.

"It's right here, Dyna."

They stopped at a sheer wall in the dungeon corridor. Dyna inspected it, but saw nothing unusual—it looked nothing like the entrance from Hogwarts Legacy. The real castle was far larger and more complex than portrayed in games or movies.

"What now, Dyna? Should we wait for Slytherins returning from night excursions, eavesdrop on their password?" George suggested. The twins, ever cunning with magic, supported this plan—they already knew Dyna could use the Disillusionment Charm.

Dyna shook his head. "No need to complicate things."

He stepped forward, raised his wand, and spoke: "Pure‑blood."

Instantly, two stone serpents carved into the wall twisted into position and formed an arch. A wooden door appeared within it.

"Wow, Dyna, how did you know the password?" Fred asked, eyes wide.

Dyna shrugged. "There are quite a few Slytherin guards in Azkaban. They told me their common room passwords: Pure‑blood, Glory, Elegance, Ambition… I just guessed. Never thought I'd get it on the first try."

"Seriously? That's worth living in Azkaban!" George joked.

Dyna smiled. Let's hope you say that after actually living there.

He pushed open the door and entered. The twins followed, visibly excited.

As they stepped inside, Dyna whispered, "We've got the Disillusionment Charm active—it'd be obvious if we moved together. Split up and we'll meet here in thirty minutes."

"Okay!" they chorused.

"This is so thrilling!"

They separated. Dyna glided to a dark corner and spotted Dunat Avery, leaning in close, bragging to two Slytherin girls.

"You know, our Avery family is huge in the wizarding world. Since my uncle died young and my cousin is now wanted by the Ministry, the family business will be mine soon."

The girls—no notable pure-bloods—hung on every word, whispering compliments. Dunat was beaming.

Dyna stayed hidden, judging Dunat wouldn't reveal anything meaningful while flirting. He decided a trick might yield more.

He crept silently behind Dunat's seat. Wary of overconfidence, Dyna was cautious—the Disillusionment Charm granted near-perfect concealment, but it wasn't foolproof. He assumed others were less adept.

Pressing his wand to Dunat's back, he whispered, "Imperio."

The spell's light was swallowed by Dunat's broad robes. Dunat's eyes glazed over abruptly.

"Dunat, you okay?"

"Oh, yes—never felt so… delightfully content," Dunat said, face serene.

The girls exchanged glances, giggling.

Dunat stood. "I need to go—how about another time?"

"Of course! It's late," one said. "We should head to the dorms."

He nodded at the girls and wandered to the common room's southeast corner by a large crystal window overlooking the Black Lake. There, Marcus Flint, the Slytherin Quidditch captain, sat surrounded by teammates.

"If you ask me, we're winning the championship this year!"

"The other houses don't stand a chance!"

"But Cedric Diggory from Hufflepuff got really good last year. We should watch out."

"It won't matter!" someone scoffed. "No matter their house, their bloodlines are strong."

Flint shook his head. "Don't underestimate them."

Dunat, still under Imperio, approached: "Marcus—are you free? I'd like to chat."

Flint stood. "Dunat! Of course. Scout us up."

He dismissed his teammates as he and Dunat exited the circle to talk privately.

They leaned near the window while Flint's teammates continued talking.

"Your family has an antique dealer called John Flint?" Dunat asked casually.

Flint nodded. "Yes—he's part of the family, deals in artifacts."

"I heard he got a medieval dragonhide armor from Wales. Know where he is now?"

Flint furrowed his brow. "I haven't seen him in three or four years. Last I know, he lived near Ponthas Town—our vineyard's near the outskirts, and he was tucked away in the back mountain."

"Thanks," Dunat said.

Flint chuckled. "You're unusually polite. Drunk?"

Dyna suppressed a smirk. He had what he wanted: John Flint's address without paying Borgin & Burkes. Free intel was always better.

Under Dyna's spell, Dunat nodded. They returned to the nearest door leading into the dormitories.

There stood a large grandfather clock, and it was quiet—an ideal place for a private question. Dyna shifted focus from external questioning to a mental command: as the Imperio caster, he could issue direct instructions.

Dunat leaned against the clock, appearing thoughtful. Inwardly, Dyna issued the next command.

"I know about the plan to replace Guy Avery in Azkaban. He's my cousin—he fled to France on a Muggle ship," Dunat murmured to himself, eyes unfocused.

"One question: which Ministry official conspired with Grandfather? Unless you were in on it, no one would know."

Another pause. "Aunt Donna… I haven't seen her in years. Only at our year-end gathering. Her complexion's been fading."

Dyna sighed. This time, aside from confirming that Guy fled to France, Dunat wasn't sharing anything else valuable.

They found an empty seat where Dunat could sit unnoticed. Dyna eased his wand behind Dunat's head.

"Obliviate."

Dunat's eyes snapped wide open for a moment, then rolled backward as he collapsed unconscious.

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