...

Rodrick held in the urge to let his mind slumber, forcing a protective veil to cover him, his closed eyes slowly reopening, his hold over the burning half of his body, unlike the Basilisk's curse, far more controlled. The flames rapidly receding, his vision clearing, his arm slowly reforming itself.

His cursed side on the other hand though vastly tamer in appearance, the only hint of anything amiss been the strange markings arcing across his neck, was admittedly more difficult to deal with. The unknown language spread having at the very least been halted, hints of the edges of it starting to recede back.

The demonic residue filling the air around him; currently covering him and obscuring his surroundings, courtesy of opening a direct link to no-man's-realm and having said occupant figuratively attach itself to him. The only thing preventing it's movement and tainted touch from anything else been the protective albeit collapsing bubble surrounding him. His mind running through every spell he knew-

It was only then he noticed one very glaring problem.

His cursed hand minutely shook as he realised the weight felt off. His gaze rapidly turning to the sight of a closed fist. The sight of what should've been a wand, yet all he saw was air. The only remaining pieces of his wand literally held within the palm of his hand.

The momentary moment of panic, of course, didn't last long. His Occulemency bound shield however quickly sprang into control, holding his suddenly erupting emotions at bay.

Though it had unfortunately been enough for the sentient gaseous curse enveloping him, the essence quickly latching onto the first hint of magic since he'd apparated into the Slytherin common room.

The mind shield itself.

Yet, despite it all, despite expecting the worst- Rodrick blinked, his panicked expression gone in favour of bemusement, as he slowly straightened himself up. The fog of demonic magic covering him having latched onto both sides of his temple, rapidly disappearing into Merlin knew where.

Though he could practically feel it somehow latching onto the mind shield his mother had placed on him. The same one his grandfather had more then likely tweaked-

He almost couldn't help the sudden scoff as he felt his real face change, the transfigured form having long since disappeared. One finger idly touching the spot the cursed magic had seemingly entered through, his senses telling him he'd either scarred the side of his head, or he'd gotten a sentence for a tattoo.

Because of course, the mind shield had been rune based magic. The demonic residue having simply been, as far as he could tell, condensed down into runic format. Because of course, the two previous Grindelwald's decided, and were right to, such a safety measure? Could he even call it that? Regardless, the fact they thought it was necessary in the first place...

Honestly, he was starting to think the unhealthy obsession with fire was in his family's blood. Nor was he sure how he was suppose to feel about the fact his mother had more or less successfully managed to rewrite his brain. In a manner of speaking.

"Rodrick?" A voice echoed through, the protective veil disappearing as he turned his gaze towards the gawking Slytherins. Most of them out of their seats, the closest been his circle of friends. No one else brave enough to come anywhere near him.

Though Malfoy looked rather angry for some reason. Nott in the opposite mood entirely.

Idly pocketing the pieces of his wand, a wandless silencing charm covering him and his friends- The action, to his shock, draining him far more then expected. His vision for a moment blanking out entirely. His body swaying the slightest.

Evidently not collapsing was entirely out of the question, though the fact his eyes were apperantly going through something was a bit of surprise for the teen. Not feeling any discomfort whatsoever-

The moment he realised why, Rodrick had to hold in the urge to sigh.

His Basilisk curse had resorted to numbing his senses.

Evidently the coming backlash was bad enough to warrant such thoughtful, and admittedly creepy behaviour. Though a small part of him laid the blame at the necklace surrounding his neck.

Still, he could worry about that later. Given not being able to feel much, if anything of his body right now, meant not knowing when he was actually going to pass out. Not wasting another thought on it. Rodrick looked his silent, currently encompassing the entire emotional spectrum, friends in the eye and kindly in as few words necessary told them for the moment to back off.

He could apologise later. Quite frankly he knew he had enough good will to survive whatever it was running through their minds.

"I am done playing around." And with the flick of his non-cursed finger, ignoring the sudden wince it caused him, Rodrick lifted the silencing charm and addressed every Slytherin in the room.

And given the world-wide alert he'd set off in regards to the former Dark Lord, he was certain all of the ones he had to reach were likely in the room right now. And if they weren't, it wouldn't take long before they found out.

"I want all of you..." He started, his body loosening up the slightest as he raised his face. Giving each and every single viewer a good look at his real one. "To pay close attention, I am only going to say this once." He gave the transfixed crowd a grin, their silence not exactly voluntary, their expressions however telling him enough.A small part of him thankful none of them didn't bother trying to get rid of the encompassing silencer. Given it wouldn't take much to.

"This suggestion only concerns any and I mean anyone," He emphasised the word, "With aspirations of becoming a Death Eater," He stopped, not for dramatic effect, but rather to contain the largest attack on his eyes yet. White spots filling near half of what he could see.

"I strongly recommend transferring..." He rasped out, the grin never leaving his face even as he struggled to find his breath. "Because when I wake up? I am going to hunt down every Death Eater alive." He idly turned his gaze towards two of his friends. His grin ever present, "And to those whose family already share a history with that mad half-blood," He stressed the near final word out, his gaze glinting magically. The strain minimal compared to the earlier spells, though just as frustrating.

"They have one, single, chance to get out... While you're still breathing." He took in his own deep breath, his gaze tilting downwards, his eyes hidden by hair. His body mechanically taking it's first step towards the, thankfully nearby, entrance, his voice soft as it continued. "Spread the word,"

He could see, clear as day, the sheer turmoil going through Daphne's face as she watched him falter with every second step. The sheer determination, or perhaps the fact he was simply glaring, in his own eyes the only thing stopping her from rushing towards him.

Still he walked on, his body straightening up the slightest, one hand raised towards the wall before he stopped, quickly whispering the necessary password. His head turning back towards the swarm of silenced snakes, tilting the slightest in the process.

Rows of awe, of anger, of fear, of hate and yet, to his surprise, even peace, filled his fellow house. And those were the ones he could see.For what was supposed to be the most single-minded of the houses, there was a surprising diverse selection of mindsets.

Of course given he needn't bother worrying about that anymore, he wasn't settling for half-measures. He doubted he was going to keep the fact to himself after all- He ignored the sudden shudder that filled him, another attack coming. The largest one yet. He had maybe seconds before he was likely out cold.

"And if you have any qualms about me following through with my promise... If you for one second believe I won't do it," Rodrick turned back towards the opening door as he pocketed both hands.

"I recommend reading my biography." He took the first step through, a minor wandless spell setting off a second-long spotlight on his group of friends, his back to the house of snakes.

"A Grindelwald's tale," He finished, disappearing in a burst of flames.

His consciousness slipped just as he arrived into the infirmary wing, his body unceremoniously crashing into his usual bed.

...

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