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But anyway, putting aside thoughts about a future that might never even happen, I turned my focus back to my housemates.
I was genuinely happy — and even a little relieved — that my words had finally gotten through to them.
My whole speech, my answers, and all my attempts to convince them... thankfully, it all seemed to have worked exactly the way I wanted.
But for me, that small victory had only been the first step.
I had absolutely no intention of letting my words stay confined to the Ravenclaw Common Room alone.
In fact, I planned to have this same conversation with my friends from the other houses as well.
Just like I had done with the Ravenclaws, I wanted to make them reflect on the possible threat of a Dark Lord. And more than that, I wanted to convince them to leave and go far away too.
And honestly, I also hoped they would spread that idea among the other students. After all, the more students stayed away from this mess... the less I'd have to worry about their safety.
But, as the saying goes: talking was much easier than actually doing it.
I understood perfectly well that convincing the Ravenclaws — something I was still working on — was infinitely easier than convincing the other three houses.
Ravenclaw had never really been the type of house to rush into direct confrontations.
They tended to act based on logic, caution, and strategy — which made the idea of retreating seem much more acceptable to them.
The Gryffindors, on the other hand... would probably be the hardest to convince.
For many of those hot-headed lions, retreating was practically synonymous with cowardice.
In their recklessly brave little minds, it was better to face danger head-on — even if it meant dying — than to run away.
The Hufflepuffs weren't far behind either.
The difference was that, in their case, it wouldn't be pride or a desire for bravery keeping them there... but loyalty.
They would stay to protect the people they loved — family, friends, and classmates.
And in a way, that made their decision even harder to shake.
As for the Slytherins... the situation was even more complicated.
Even ignoring the fact that many of them came from families aligned — or at least sympathetic — to Voldemort, even those who had no connection to him would still be unlikely to flee.
But it was important to make one thing clear: it wouldn't be because of honor or loyalty. And definitely not because they wanted to help the Dark Lord.
In truth, they wouldn't run because of fear.
Ironically, they were the ones who understood better than anyone just how cruel, vindictive, and merciless Riddle could be.
They knew exactly what happened to people who disobeyed him... or simply refused to bow before him.
For many Slytherins, the choices were simple: either they joined him... or they remained neutral.
The problem was that, for someone like Voldemort, there was no middle ground.
Either you were with him... or against him.
And trying to run away in a situation like that was practically gambling with your life.
Because if those families were found and captured, the fate waiting for them would be obvious.
Death.
But that was something those neutral — or "gray" — families still didn't understand.
To them, Voldemort was still the same Dark Lord from the First Blood War.
A dangerous, cruel, and merciless wizard, but one who still respected pureblood families and the old traditional houses of the wizarding world.
Back then, he didn't care that much about the people who chose to remain neutral.
While building the foundations of his dark empire, Voldemort was far more interested in gaining the loyalty of the more influential and radical families, while simultaneously eliminating his direct opponents.
He didn't have time to worry about the neutral faction.
Or rather... he still didn't dare confront them directly.
But during his second rise in the original timeline, things changed completely.
At that point, Voldemort felt practically invincible.
After all, he had managed to prove to the world — and especially to himself — that he truly had conquered death, something no other wizard or witch had ever been capable of achieving.
And after that, whatever little prudence still existed inside him practically disappeared.
He feared absolutely nothing anymore.
On top of his massive ego and warped superiority complex, his mind had also become completely deteriorated.
Well... even more than usual, at least.
By that point, Riddle had already been completely consumed by his obsession with power, control, and greatness.
He wanted to prove to the entire world that he wasn't just some abandoned and unloved little boy with daddy issues.
At that moment, he had only one goal — a grand and completely insane one.
To conquer the world.
And anyone who stood in his way — whether enemies, opponents, or even allies — would be eliminated without hesitation.
That was exactly why, in the original timeline, after recovering his body and restarting his reign of terror, Voldemort stopped sparing the neutral families.
He came to believe that it was far better to eliminate those who were useless to him than risk leaving them alive and potentially becoming problems in the future.
Thinking back on everything that happened in canon, I could even say he was far more ruthless toward those neutral families than toward the Light ones.
And compared to them, the families aligned with the Light at least had one small advantage.
They owed Voldemort no loyalty whatsoever — and he didn't expect it from them either.
That was why, during the early stages of the war, Riddle left the Light families alone for a while, focusing more on controlling or suppressing the dark and neutral families instead.
After all, only they still had the potential to join him, strengthening his power and influence.
But anyway... getting back to the main point.
Let's say some Slytherins and their families decided to take the risk and flee far away from this mess.
In the context of the war, that alone would already be great, because besides saving innocent lives, it would also prevent the bald Dark Lord from pressuring or threatening those families into joining him.
And if Gryffindors, Hufflepuffs, and Ravenclaws left alongside them... then that would be even better.
Of course, looking at the bigger picture, I knew exactly what that meant.
Everyone running away and distancing themselves from the coming war would be great for them... but just like with Voldemort's forces, it would also inevitably weaken the Light side — or at the very least, significantly reduce the strength of the resistance.
Even so, I couldn't bring myself to care about that.
I wasn't going to drag innocent people into a war just because it would increase our chances of victory.
If I — with all my knowledge of the plot, past and future events, and the secrets of this world — still couldn't end this war without major losses... without having to sacrifice anyone...
Then my reincarnation really would've been pointless.
I trusted my plans.
I trusted my abilities.
And more than anything, I trusted that I would be able to defeat Voldemort and his racist minions before they could cause irreversible damage to the wizarding world.
All I needed was time... and a little planning.
'Sigh... I'm starting to realize that being a strategist is way harder than being a fighter,' I thought, tiredly.
Fighting was simple.
If an enemy showed up in front of me, all I had to do was knock them down. No politics, no manipulation, no need to think dozens of steps ahead.
Just act in the most Gryffindor way possible.
But leading?
Not gonna lie, that shit was exhausting.
Having to think about possibilities, predict consequences, analyze people, and still carry the responsibility for every decision... honestly, it drained me way more than any duel ever could.
Thinking about that, a disdainful look appeared on my face.
'Yeah... that quote I saw on the internet in my past life was completely right.'
'Only people who can't throw hands properly rely on plans.'
Did that sound dumb as hell? Of course.
But let's be real... just punching my problems away was way more exciting — and way easier — than acting like a rational person.
It was almost therapeutic.
Shaking my head lightly, I pushed those thoughts aside for now before glancing around the Common Room.
After the Ravenclaws' turbulent and conflicting emotions finally started to calm down, everyone gradually returned to acting normally again.
Conversations picked back up, students started joking around with each other, and some girls even started gossiping again.
Even my friends seemed lighter now, with Anthony and Stephen already cracking a few jokes as if they were trying to chase away the heavy atmosphere from earlier.
And as the room slowly returned to its usual cheerful and relaxed mood, I let out an almost imperceptible sigh.
'Man... thank God that's finally over,' I thought, finally feeling the exhaustion hit me — along with a certain sense of relief.
'I already knew that conversation wasn't going to be easy... but I didn't think it would wear me out this much.'
I shook my head, a small ironic smile forming on my face.
Even so, it felt good to finally have that important conversation with my friends and housemates.
After saying everything I needed to say, it felt like a huge weight had finally been lifted off my shoulders.
End.
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