After returning to Hogwarts from St. Mungo, Roy called Severus Snape to his office. The gargoyle shifted aside as Snape approached, his usual stern expression firmly in place.
"You wanted to see me, Principal?" Snape asked cautiously, crossing his arms.
Roy looked up from his desk, where papers and reports of Hogwarts' security and magical defenses were neatly organized. "Yes, Severus. I need an update on Voldemort. Has he made any direct contact with you or his known associates recently?"
Snape shook his head slowly. "No, sir. He's keeping his distance. From what I've gathered, he's sending letters to his subordinates, instructing them on various... operations, but he hasn't personally involved himself yet."
Roy leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers. "So he's communicating through his network, letting them handle the fieldwork while he avoids direct confrontation. Typical. That's exactly what I expected."
Snape's eyes narrowed. "And your plan, sir? What do you intend to do while he's playing it safe?"
A faint, calculating smile appeared on Roy's face. "We're going to let him overextend himself. His subordinates are skilled, but without him present, they lack the coordination and foresight he provides. I want us to watch them carefully, pick them off where possible, and force mistakes without risking our main forces."
Snape tilted his head slightly, an eyebrow raised. "So, a strategy of attrition, essentially?"
"Exactly," Roy said. "And I also need you to monitor magical correspondences. Any letter from him or to him must be intercepted. I want the content analyzed immediately—every detail could be useful. Prepare a list of our most reliable Aurors and senior students for potential fieldwork. If he's moving his pawns, we need to be ready to counteract them without him realizing we're watching."
Snape nodded slowly. "Understood, Principal. And the defensive measures at Hogwarts?"
Roy's expression hardened with resolve. "I've already reinforced the wards, both physical and magical. Remus and Sirius are in place to train students for real combat scenarios. Any attack within the castle will be met with overwhelming force. But I also want contingencies in place outside the castle, in case he decides to target his enemies elsewhere."
Snape scribbled notes, noting the meticulous planning. "It seems you've considered everything, sir."
Roy leaned forward, his eyes sharp. "Everything, Severus. Voldemort may be patient, but so am I. Let him overreach. Every move he makes is an opportunity for us. Now go—start preparing the reports, and make sure every correspondence is logged. I want nothing slipping past us."
Snape inclined his head, already formulating how to execute Roy's instructions efficiently. "Yes, Principal."
As Snape left, Roy turned back to the window overlooking the Hogwarts grounds. A faint smirk appeared. "Let him make a mistake… it's only a matter of time before he plays right into our hands."