Solim didn't wait for Severus Snape to respond before leaving the office. In his opinion, the conditions he had offered were something Snape simply could not refuse. If he had refused, then the man in that office would not have been Snape.
It was Thursday.
That evening, Hermione Granger and Neville Longbottom were supposed to come for tutoring as usual. But because of the events during the afternoon Flying class, Solim had a different idea.
To be honest, Solim was not particularly attached to the so-called "plot."
This was a world of wizards and magic, not simply the story of Harry Potter.
Solim's background had given him a far broader worldview than the one people associated with Harry Potter.
Lord Voldemort?
If he truly threatened the real power structures of the wizarding world, he would be eliminated quickly Horcruxes or not.
.......
Solim always ate quickly.
Why?
Because this was Britain, and wizard food was not significantly better than Muggle food.
"Draco, hurry up and finish eating," Solim said to Draco Malfoy, who was currently wrestling with a chicken leg. "Then come with me."
Draco, his mouth full of food, shot him a questioning look.
"We're going to the Gryffindor table," Solim said. "And when we get there, don't say anything."
Solim stood up.
"If you're still hungry later, ask the house-elves to send a cake to the dormitory."
A moment later, Solim led a thoroughly confused Draco toward the Gryffindor table.
Hermione was finishing a bowl of soup.
Neville was working on a piece of cake.
Nearby, Ron's eating habits were… less refined.
Ron Weasley had cheeks so full he looked like he'd been slapped by a giant. Both hands held chicken legs, and he kept stuffing more food into his mouth before swallowing what was already there.
"My god," Solim muttered. "Do the Weasleys normally starve their children?"
Hermione and Neville looked up when they heard Solim's voice.
Then they noticed Draco standing beside him, wearing an expression of obvious disgust.
"Why did you bring him?" Hermione asked coldly. Her opinion of Draco had dropped sharply after the Flying class incident. She now knew exactly what the word "Mudblood" meant.
"You'll see in a moment," Solim said.
"Later, bring Potter and Weasley to our usual place. I want to talk to them."
He glanced again at Ron, who was still devouring food without noticing the Slytherins standing beside the table.
"You'd better hurry. It's Thursday. Don't let them take up your study time."
With that, Solim walked away, dragging Draco with him.
The moment Hermione heard that their study session might be shortened, she jumped to her feet.
Grabbing Neville who still had cream on his mouth she rushed over to Harry and Ron.
"Harry! Ron! Stop eating and come with us. Quickly!"
Hermione's ability to take action was truly impressive.
Meanwhile, Solim and Draco were walking along a corridor near the trophy room on the third floor. Portraits lined both sides of the hallway.
They stopped in front of a painting that depicted a door.
Solim tapped the painted doorknob three times.
A real doorknob appeared.
"What is this?" Draco asked, watching closely.
"A hidden room," Solim replied. "Hogwarts has plenty of them."
He opened the door and stepped inside.
Draco hesitated briefly before following.
As the door closed, the handle disappeared again, leaving only the painted door behind.
Draco looked around.
The room was circular, with three open archways leading to adjoining rooms.
"What is this place?" Draco asked. "I never knew Hogwarts had rooms like this."
"I tutor Neville here every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday," Solim said. "Hermione too."
He led Draco into a smaller room that resembled a lounge.
Several chairs were arranged around the room.
Both boys sat down.
"So," Solim said, putting his feet on another chair, "what exactly were you thinking this afternoon?"
"You usually seem pretty smart. Why do you turn stupid whenever Potter is involved?"
Before Draco could respond, Solim continued.
"Never mind. When Potter and Weasley arrive, don't talk. Let me handle it."
At that moment, the door to the circular room opened.
Hermione entered with the others.
"Draco," Solim said quietly, "don't let me hear that word again."
He meant "Mudblood."
Solim clapped his hands once everyone arrived.
"Now that we're all here, sit down."
Harry and Ron exchanged a glance but obeyed.
Apparently Hermione had said something convincing on the way.
"Everyone here knows each other," Solim began calmly. "So I'll speak directly."
"First, Draco was wrong today."
Solim shot Draco a warning glance before he could speak.
"I apologize on his behalf."
"Doesn't he have his own mouth?" Ron snapped.
Solim ignored him.
"Harry, may I call you that?"
Harry nodded.
"That's fine."
"Then you can call me Solim."
Harry actually had a fairly positive impression of Solim. At least he had never mocked him during Potions class like many other Slytherins.
"The truth is," Solim continued, "you were dragged into this conflict by accident. Both today and on the train."
He gestured around the room.
"The bad relationship between the Malfoy and Weasley families is well known. You just happened to be caught between them."
Solim raised a hand before anyone could interrupt.
"You've probably noticed something else. Most pure-blood families don't think highly of the Weasleys. Pure-blood students usually avoid them. The ones who associate with them tend to be half-blood or Muggle-born students."
Then he turned to Draco.
"And the Malfoys clash with the Weasleys constantly."
"Why?"
"Draco, tell me why you hate the Weasleys."
Then he turned to Ron.
"And you tell me why you hate the Malfoys."
Draco spoke first.
"They're blood traitors. Disgraces to wizardkind."
Ron immediately fired back.
"And the Malfoys are evil Dark Wizards! Why wouldn't I hate them?"
Solim sighed.
"Listen to yourselves."
He pointed at Draco.
"Explain exactly how the Weasleys are traitors."
Then he pointed at Ron.
"Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle's fathers also worked for Voldemort. Some Gryffindor families have produced Dark Wizards too. Why don't you hate them?"
Neither boy could answer.
Solim folded his arms.
"Let me guess."
"Your families told you from childhood: 'The Malfoys are Dark Wizards. Stay away from them.'"
"And your family told you: 'The Weasleys are blood traitors. Don't associate with them.'"
"Right?"
Both boys remained silent.
"You see the problem?"
"You two never actually had a personal feud. You inherited someone else's hatred."
Solim's tone softened slightly.
"I know more about your families' history than either of you."
"And honestly?"
"That feud should have ended long ago."
He paused.
"The price has already been paid. The damage has already been done."
"So what now?"
"Are your children and grandchildren supposed to keep fighting forever?"
Ron and Draco said nothing.
Hermione had been listening intently.
"Solim," she asked suddenly, "are you saying you actually know why the Malfoys and Weasleys hate each other?"
"Yes," Solim said.
"And their fathers know too."
"But I doubt either of them explained the full story."
"Why not?" Hermione asked.
Solim thought for a moment.
"That's a long story."
Then he asked her a different question.
"How much do you know about the real history of wizardkind?"
"The ancient wars between wizards and magical species," Hermione replied immediately.
Solim nodded.
"In the earliest times, wizards were incredibly weak."
Before the invention of the wand, almost any magical creature could overpower human wizards.
But once wands were created, everything changed.
Offensive magic was developed.
And slowly, the balance of power shifted.
Until wizards encountered elves.
Elves lived for nearly eight hundred years.
They possessed natural magical power from birth.
Compared to them, human wizards were weak.
But elves had one fatal disadvantage.
Their population was extremely small.
And they could not survive a war of attrition against humans.
Over time, the elves disappeared from the battlefield.
But they did not forget.
They waited.
And eventually they lured a group of wizards into a trap.
When that happened…
The outcome was inevitable.