Chapter 152: The Slytherins' Watchful Eyes
Ever since the last party, life gradually returned to its usual rhythm.
However, Russell began to notice something strange—recently, the Slytherin students seemed unusually interested in him.
They didn't approach or try to provoke him directly. Instead, they simply watched him from a distance. But whenever Russell looked back in their direction, they would hurriedly avert their eyes, acting suspiciously.
Russell didn't pay much attention to it at first. At worst, they were probably planning some kind of revenge.
If they had the courage, they could come try.
Still, being constantly stared at like that made him uncomfortable. He figured he should find a way to deal with it—but first, he needed to figure out exactly what they were planning.
---
"Fythorne spends the day either practicing spells with Cedric Diggory or hiding in classrooms with the Weasley twins doing who knows what," Gregory Goyle complained as he watched Russell from afar.
"There's never a moment when he's alone outside the castle."
"Even at night," he added irritably. "Does he never sneak out?"
"You two, shut up!" snapped Draco Malfoy. "This is serious business. Cyrian has already gathered people to teach Russell a proper lesson."
"Since one-on-one didn't work last time, they're planning to jump him together."
"Isn't that a bit dishonorable?" muttered Vincent Crabbe. "We're Slytherins, after all."
"Dishonor?" Draco let out a short, incredulous laugh. "Have you been reading those medieval knight novels again? What, do you think you're some noble chivalric hero?"
Seeing Crabbe still looking unconvinced, Draco spoke with clear frustration.
"What's the core principle of Slytherin? Absolute victory. No matter the means. Understand?"
"Fine… I get it," Crabbe muttered reluctantly.
Satisfied, Draco didn't press further. His gaze darkened as he glared at Russell across the distance.
"Fythorne… you filthy Mudblood. You've humiliated me in public too many times. This time, I'll make you pay it all back—with interest."
---
"Malfoy really said that?"
Russell's expression darkened slightly as he looked down at the Thing in front of him.
For some reason, Russell had never been able to understand what the Thing was trying to say in the past. It had always been Wednesday Addams who translated for him.
But at some point—he couldn't quite remember when—he had gradually begun to understand the creature's meaning on his own.
The Thing raised a finger and nodded repeatedly.
"Good work," Russell said with a nod, then fell into thought.
So they were waiting for a moment when he was alone.
Very well—he would give them that chance.
In truth, Russell often wandered the castle at night. The reason no one realized this was because he usually used the Disillusionment Charm. That was why the Slytherins had the mistaken impression that he never snuck out after curfew.
That explained something else, too. Recently, even during his night wanderings, he had sometimes felt someone watching him. He had assumed it was Filch.
Apparently not.
Their patience was impressive, he had to admit.
Since that was the case, the next time he went out at night, he simply wouldn't bother using the Disillusionment Charm.
Even if the Slytherins reported him to a professor for sneaking out, he had an excuse ready. He still had a signed note from Quirinus Quirrell—the reason written on it could be changed however he liked.
---
It was Wednesday night.
The weather was clear, the sky filled with stars, and moonlight flowed like silver across the grounds.
A perfect night for wandering into the Forbidden Forest.
Russell deliberately waited until after ten before leaving the Ravenclaw Tower. As he descended the stairs, he could clearly feel someone watching him from a distance.
He kept his expression blank and didn't turn his head.
Instead, he glanced casually—and noticed a brief flash of light.
Moonlight reflecting off glass.
I see… using tools now, are we?
Russell suppressed a smile and quietly made his way out of the castle.
---
"Quick, follow him. Send the signal," whispered Draco Malfoy.
He pulled a small mirror from inside his robes and wiped the surface clean.
Oddly, the mirror reflected nothing—not even Malfoy himself.
After a moment, the mirror's surface rippled like water.
Then a face appeared.
It was Cyrian, his expression dark and impatient.
"Well? Anything?" he asked, clearly not expecting much.
"There is," Malfoy whispered excitedly. "Come out quickly—he's heading toward the Forbidden Forest."
Cyrian's eyes immediately sharpened.
He hurried to gather several older students who also held grudges against Russell. Knowing Russell's strength, he deliberately recruited students from the fifth and sixth years—anyone younger might not stand a chance.
They quickly changed into hooded robes. To avoid being recognized, they even wore gas masks beneath their hoods.
It was a surprisingly effective disguise.
---
By the time they rushed out of the castle, Russell hadn't gone far.
He had intentionally slowed his pace, worried that if he moved too quickly the students following him might lose track.
Honestly, he thought, I'm being far too considerate.
"Stay close. We'll make our move once we're inside the forest," Cyrian instructed.
As for Malfoy, the moment he realized Russell was heading for the Forbidden Forest, his courage faltered.
After thinking it over, he quietly turned back toward the castle.
He had heard plenty of stories about the forest—werewolves, vampires, dark creatures, even fugitives and dark wizards.
Suddenly, his feud with Russell didn't seem worth risking his life over.
Cyrian and the others, however, had a different mindset. They knew that the Weasley twins often wandered into the forest at night and had never been harmed.
If even second- and third-year students dared to go in, how dangerous could it really be?
---
Russell soon disappeared among the dense trees.
Originally, his plan had been simple—lead them just inside the forest, then give them a thorough beating. Enough to scare them into leaving him alone afterward.
But to his surprise, even though he had slowed down considerably, the Slytherin students still lost track of him.
They had no idea where they'd gone.
Russell frowned slightly.
This could be troublesome…
If something actually happened to them in the forest, he might not be able to avoid responsibility.
And the person who had been watching him earlier hadn't followed him inside.
After a moment of thought, Russell simply turned around and began walking back the way he came.
---
"How did we lose him already?" Cyrian snapped in frustration.
The moment they entered the forest, Russell had vanished.
They tried to follow footprints—but the ground was covered with thick bushes and tangled roots. There were no tracks to follow.
"So… what now?" one of the students muttered nervously. "Maybe we should just go back."
At first he hadn't been afraid.
But as the cry of night crows echoed through the forest, an uneasy chill crept down his spine.