Harry Potter : The Rise Of Shafiq

Over the past month, Warren had been completely consumed by his studies, locking himself away in his room to absorb every bit of magical knowledge he could. He rarely left, only venturing out for meals and bathroom breaks. However, he made an exception this time; feeling slightly perplexed about a potion's recipe, he decided to seek guidance from his godfather, only to find his godfather comfortably seated on the sofa with a coffee in hand.

"Godfather, what are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to have classes today?"

"It's vacation now. You must have read so much that you've gone a bit silly!"

"That reminds me, I need to ask you something. What's the correct amount of nettle powder to use in a scabies potion?"

"I have a recommendation for you: there's someone I know who's a genius. He's enhanced numerous potion formulas."

Warren looked at his godfather as if he were clueless. 'Isn't that you? The esteemed Half-Blood Prince? Taoist Lingxu told me about you. Tsk!'

"Who is this person? What's his name?"

"The Half-Blood Prince!"

"What a dreadful name! He must be a greasy, unkempt man who never washes his hair!"

Thanks to Taoist Lingxu, Warren's sharp tongue had reached masterful heights.

"...…"

"Hmph! You insolent little…"

"Expelliarmus!"

Warren performed wandless magic, disarming Snape of his birch wand. Snape stared blankly at his godson before retrieving an old textbook from his robes, shooting him an annoyed look and storming out.

Warren regularly exchanged letters with Hermione, Draco, Pansy Parkinson, and Harry Potter. Hermione expressed her eagerness for time to pass so she could showcase her magic. Draco arrogantly proclaimed he would be the strongest—a claim that invited doubt. Could he truly surpass Voldemort? (After all, Voldemort was the nephew of Warren's great-grandmother, who was part of the Gaunt family.) And could he really match the power of Albus Dumbledore or his husband, Gellert Grindelwald?

Harry Potter shared his excitement for magic.

September 1st marked the start of a new school year.

King's Cross Station was just a 20-minute walk from No. 12 Grimmauld Place.

Warren's entire family had gathered. The heir of the Shafiq family going to Hogwarts was a momentous occasion, particularly since Brian was an earl. Therefore, Mr. Brian spent the day in his room, using a Disguise Spell to change his appearance for an hour.

Warren had reserved a spacious compartment on the train. He dozed off shortly after boarding, and when he awoke, he found Harry sitting across from him. "Sorry, Warren, I didn't want to wake you up while you were sleeping so soundly."

"No problem. Are we just getting started?"

Just as he finished speaking, the compartment door swung open. A red-haired boy entered, asking, "Is there anyone sitting here?" while pointing to an empty seat. "Everywhere else is full." Harry glanced at Warren, who nodded, prompting Harry to say, "Please, come in."

"Hi, I'm Ron Weasley," the boy introduced himself.

"I'm Harry, Harry Potter."

"And I'm Warren Shafiq."

"Wait, are you really Harry Potter?" Ron blurted out, to which Harry nodded in response.

"Oh, I thought Fred and George were just messing with me!" Ron exclaimed. "So what you have is real—" he indicated Harry's forehead.

Harry brushed his hair aside, revealing his lightning-shaped scar. Ron's eyes widened.

"Did You-Know-Who do that?"

"Yes," Harry responded, "but I don't really remember it."

"Not at all?" Ron inquired eagerly.

"Well, I only remember lots of green light and nothing else." Warren was quite familiar with Ron Weasley. He was the youngest of the Weasley siblings, often overshadowed by his brothers and determined to prove himself. His bond with Harry resembled the legendary friendship of Sirius and James, yet it often seemed to be eclipsed by Harry's fame.

Growing up in the shadow of his five brothers meant he was constantly compared to them by their parents, and at Hogwarts, he appeared as little more than Harry's sidekick. He felt like a mere second fiddle, never quite matching the accomplishments of his siblings or being as prominent as Harry.

Some whispered that Ron had a more supportive family than Harry, which only fueled his insecurities.

Though friendship offered a sense of camaraderie, it raised questions about whether he truly wanted to share that warmth with Harry, a friend who often overshadowed him. In "Deathly Hallows," when facing the Horcrux in the form of Tom Riddle, was Riddle not revealing a truth about Ron's life?

Ron had always felt neglected.

He believed his mother favored his sister and lamented, "I've always been second best… always living in the shadow…" Such sentiments pierced through Ron's thoughts. His inferiority complex made him doubt his worth, leaving him feeling invisible.

Even professors seemed unable to remember his name, and receiving a legacy from Dumbledore must have shocked him as much as receiving a few points for Gryffindor years ago. Behind such rare acknowledgment lay motivation and ambition, yet perennial inadequacy gnawed at him. To Ron, it felt as if he had become a useless version of himself. This deep-seated inferiority bred narrow-mindedness that took root in the darker recesses of his soul, where sunlight rarely shone. Here, insecurities thrived quietly.

Not only did he feel smaller than others, but also as a member of a pure-blood family, he faced ridicule as a supposed traitor. This dual burden of family shame and personal inadequacy only deepened his resistance to other's mockery. In "The Philosopher's Stone," while discussing his family with Harry, Ron showed a hint of discontent; in "Chamber of Secrets," he lashed out at Malfoy when taunted about his family's financial struggles; and in "Half-Blood Prince," he grumbled when excluded from Slughorn's party. Yet, beneath it all, he yearned for validation and encouragement. Ron's apparent self-importance was, perhaps, a way to inspire himself and mask feelings of inferiority.

Ron Weasley may seem like a supporting character meant to highlight the lead, akin to Watson in "Sherlock Holmes" or Captain Hastings in "Golf Club Murders," yet every little psychological nuance he offered vividly depicted his struggles.

Now, back to the main story.

After a brief conversation, Warren fell asleep again, pulling his cloak over his face. When he awoke again, he noticed that Harry was visibly upset, leading Warren to instinctively ask, "What's wrong?"

"It's Malfoy!"

"Oh dear, not again! This kid is always asking for trouble."

"Sorry, Harry, Draco is my cousin; I'm sorry for his behavior!"

"What! Draco is your cousin? Then you must be a terrible person. Your whole family must be Death Eaters."

"Boy, if I were you, I'd cast Avada Kedavra right now."

"Then I'd end up in Azkaban!"

"Ron, remember, not every Slytherin graduate is a Death Eater—there are good folks like Merlin, Severus Snape, and Horace Slughorn. Sometimes, it's the choices we make that define whether we turn out good or bad."