It was dinnertime, and the Great Hall was buzzing with noise.
Harry Potter had become a legend. Not only was he not expelled, but he had also become the youngest Seeker in a century. This news made Malfoy's face twist with rage.
At this moment, Rove was sitting at the Hufflepuff table, completely absorbed in sharpening a table knife, creating a rhythmic shrr-shrr sound.
Next to him, Justin Finch-Fletchley watched, too scared to even cut his steak.
"Rove," Justin asked cautiously, "what... what are you doing?"
"Preparing for war," Rove muttered to himself. "The horn of battle has sounded. Whether it be Orcs or Death Eaters, my blade must remain sharp."
Suddenly, Malfoy, flanked by his two bodyguards Crabbe and Goyle, marched aggressively toward the Gryffindor table.
Rove's movements stopped.
> [Enemy Unit Approaching]
> [Threat Level: Moderate]
> [Status: Provoking]
He immediately sheathed his knife, grabbed the backpack at his feet, and stealthily maneuvered behind Harry and Ron.
"Potter!" Malfoy drawled. "I challenge you to a duel."
Harry was busy eating a treacle tart. He looked up: "A duel?"
"That's right, a wizard's duel," said Malfoy arrogantly. "If you're too scared, I understand. After all, you're just an uncultured orphan!"
"Who's scared?" Ron stood up. "I'm his second. Who's yours?"
Malfoy looked at Crabbe and Goyle. "Crabbe. Midnight, Trophy Room. It's the only place that's always unlocked."
Just as Malfoy thought the matter was settled and prepared to turn and leave, a voice rang in his ear.
"Hold on."
Malfoy jumped in fright. He turned around to find Rove standing there as if he had materialized out of thin air.
"Ba... Baggins?" Malfoy stammered. "This is none of your business."
"This is the Call of Honor."
Rove took a step forward, his imposing aura forcing Malfoy to involuntarily take a step back.
> [Quest Triggered: Duel of Honor]
> [Description: In the face of a corrupted young wizard's provocation, only blood can wash away the shame.]
"Since it is a duel, let us clarify the rules. Any weapon? Any terrain? To the death?"
The entire Great Hall suddenly fell silent.
Malfoy's eyes went wide. "Wha... what?"
"I mean, if I accidentally smash your skull open, or rip your entrails out of your belly... do I need to clean up the body too?"
Malfoy's face went instantly pale. Crabbe and Goyle looked dumbfounded.
"This... this is just a wizard's duel!" Malfoy shrieked. "Wands only! No physical contact!"
"Wands only? Like a coward waving a little stick? A true warrior dares to face steel and blood."
He leaned in close to Malfoy until their noses were almost touching.
"Listen, kid. If I see you in the Trophy Room tonight, you'd better pray your little stick can block my frying pan. Because in my hometown, a duel ends only one way—only one person walks away standing."
Malfoy swallowed hard.
"I'll be there!" he shouted, trying to sound brave but failing. "Potter, you just wait!"
With that, he and his two bodyguards fled in a panic.
Harry and Ron stared at Rove, stunned.
"Rove," Ron whispered. "You were... joking just now, right? You're not really going to rip his guts out?"
Rove turned around, putting on his "reliable teammate" face.
"Psychological warfare, Ron." Rove patted his backpack. "Destroy the enemy's will before the battle begins. Tonight, his hands will be shaking so bad he won't even be able to aim a hex."
...
11:30 PM.
The Common Room was empty. Harry and Ron were preparing to sneak out, but Hermione was waiting for them in a chair by the door.
"I knew it." Hermione looked furious. "You're really going to duel! Have you thought about how many points Gryffindor will lose if Filch catches you?"
"Hermione, move," said Harry.
"I won't!" Hermione stood up. "I'm going to tell the Fat Lady!"
Just then, a hand reached out from the shadows and gently pressed down on Hermione's shoulder.
Hermione nearly screamed. She turned around to see a "fully armed" Rove.
> [Encounter NPC: Elven Enforcer]
> [Alignment: Lawful Good]
> [Resistance Value: High]
"This is the path of men, Miss Granger." Rove made his voice sound deep and magnetic. "Some roads must be walked by us alone, even if they end at the fires of Mount Doom."
Hermione glared at him, snapping, "It's the Trophy Room! Rove! Not Mount Doom!"
She was so angry her hair seemed to crackle. "And you're not even a Gryffindor! Why are you joining in on this nonsense?"
"For the Oath." Rove looked up at the ceiling. "When the horn sounds, the Fellowship never abandons a member."
He looked down into Hermione's eyes with utmost sincerity.
"If we do not return by dawn... please tell Professor Sprout that my Mandrake in the greenhouse needs watering."
Hermione's mouth hung open, speechless for a long time.
"Crazy," she finally said in despair. "You're all crazy."
"Let's go." Rove waved to Harry and Ron. "Scouts in position. Maintain silence. Move out."
They climbed out through the portrait hole.
Hermione stood there for a moment, gritted her teeth, and followed them.
"I don't trust you lot!" she huffed. "If you get caught, I can at least prove I was trying to stop you!"
And so, a strange "Fellowship"—a Savior, a Pure-blood wizard, a heavily armed "Hobbit," and an "Elf" in a pink bathrobe—disappeared into the darkness at the end of the corridor.
Tonight, Hogwarts Castle had undergone a massive change in Rove's eyes.
The familiar corridors became deep mine tunnels. The whispers from the portraits became the hisses of dark creatures. And waiting for them ahead was not just Malfoy, but true darkness.
> [Entering Area: Mines of Moria]
> [Current Quest: Reach the Chamber of Mazarbul (Trophy Room)]
> [Warning: Something is wrong here. Drums... drums in the deep...]
Rove tightened his grip on the frying pan.
"Stay close to me."