Chapter 34

The Christmas holiday flew by, and students steadily returned to Hogwarts, which buzzed with renewed energy. Joy permeated the halls as students, whether they had stayed at the school or returned from home, swapped tales of their holiday adventures with great enthusiasm.

However, not everyone shared in the merriment. Dolfin, in particular, experienced a less-than-joyful Christmas.

The Carrow family, once among the esteemed 28 pure-blood families, had seen better days. For generations, they staunchly opposed marrying Muggle-born wizards, adamant about preserving their "noble bloodline" through marriages only within the same elite pure-blood circles.

However, after centuries of intermarriage among these 28 families, their bloodlines grew perilously intertwined, verging on inbreeding.

Consequently, the Carrow family saw a decline in its numbers and a rise in the occurrence of squibs.

Inbreeding is notoriously linked to a significant risk of birth defects and cognitive impairments, though it occasionally, though rarely, results in the emergence of extraordinary talents. This phenomenon has fueled continued support for the notion of pure-blood supremacy, as many of history's most renowned wizards hailed from highly pure-blooded lineages.

Had the Carrow family succeeded in producing a prodigious genius, they might have spearheaded a resurgence. Sadly, fortune did not favor them.

Dolfin was the sole progeny of his generation, with almost every other family member having lost the ability to conceive. Compounding their woes, the Carrows had also depleted their financial reserves.

Clinging to their past splendor, the Carrow family continued to pursue opulent lifestyles in every aspect. It is not hard to see how quickly such descendants could exhaust the wealth accumulated by their ancestors.

Hence, Dolfin was escorted by his parents to the Christmas banquet at Malfoy Manor, where they hoped to find support from the Malfoys due to their mutual status as one of the 28 pure-blood families.

However, the evening did not go as planned. Dolfin faced ridicule from Draco and other children at the banquet. They mocked him because his name appeared in popular wizarding beverages, suggesting a close association with their sellers.

Growing up isolated and scorned by other wizarding families for his family's financial decline, Dolfin developed a deep-seated insecurity.

Faced with Draco's unyielding taunts, Dolfin reached his breaking point and struck Draco in the face. Draco reeled from the impact but managed to stay upright.

Fueled by anger, Draco and Goyle retaliated fiercely, beating Dolfin severely before kicking him and his parents from Malfoy Manor.

Battered and solitary, Dolfin returned to Hogwarts and immediately sought out Mike.

"You were serious about helping me, weren't you?" Dolfin asked, his voice strained and his face marked by bruises and pain.

"Of course, tell me what's bothering you," Mike said, rising from his seat by the fireplace, sensing an opportunity.

"I need you to deal with Draco. He attacked me and insulted my family!" Dolfin pointed to the bruises marring his face, his anger palpable.

Mike paced around Dolfin, scrutinizing the evident injuries. "He really did a number on you. I don't need the details; you're my friend, and that's enough for me to step in. However, there's the matter of payment..."

In a fit of rage, Dolfin seized Mike by the collar. "Didn't I share that potion formula with you? Haven't you promised to back me up? Do you even realize this mess is partly your fault..."

Before Dolfin could finish his tirade, Mike delivered a swift kick to his stomach, knocking the wind out of him and sending him to the floor.

"Mind your manners, boy!" Mike adjusted his collar coolly. "Who else will help you? Cedric? He's likely too preoccupied to care about your troubles. Here's the deal: if you want my assistance, you must offer something worthwhile."

"But I don't have any money," Dolfin said, curling up on the floor.

"Money isn't what I'm after," Mike replied with a smirk, sensing the upper hand. "The Carrows are one of the original 28 pure-blood families. Even if your family wealth is in the decline, you're still better off than many others. Surely, there's something of value left."

"All our family heirlooms are already gone," Dolfin muttered.

Mike's kick had been powerful, and Dolfin struggled to rise but couldn't manage it.

"Then there's nothing more to discuss?" Mike signaled to Franklin, who nodded and stepped towards Dolfin, preparing to eject him from the Ravenclaw common room.

"Wait! Wait! I have something I can offer!" Dolfin exclaimed, flinching, anticipating another blow, and shielding his head with his arms.

Mike gestured for Franklin to hold off and settled back into his chair. "I'm listening."

"Galeforce Charm—it's a Carrow family spell that boosts one's speed. I've perfected it," Dolfin said, his voice urgent as he knelt on the floor, sweat dotting his forehead. "It's truly valuable, I promise!"

Mike extended a hand to help Dolfin to his feet and murmured, "Deal!"

After Dolfin transcribed the intricacies of the Galeforce Charm, Mike and Franklin made their way to the Slytherin common room. On this occasion, Mike opted against subterfuge; it was his first time actively defending a teammate, and he intended to make a public spectacle of Draco to demonstrate his allegiance.

Mike was unconcerned about the school rules; his strong relationship with Professor Flitwick meant that expulsion was unlikely over such matters. Initially, Mike had ambitions of leading Ravenclaw to win the House Cup. However, he soon realized that Dumbledore had essentially reserved this year's Cup for Harry Potter.

Regardless of the points he accrued for Ravenclaw, Mike understood that by year's end, Dumbledore would find reasons to award additional points to Gryffindor, ensuring they secured the top spot.