Once everyone had eaten their fill, Dumbledore clapped his hands, and all the food on the tables vanished.
The prefects led the young wizards toward their respective houses' common rooms.
Allen walked slowly, gently massaging his protesting stomach as he reflected sternly on his behavior and resolved never to eat so much again.
Soon, they reached the gloomy underground passages. It was cold and damp here, with snake sculptures lining the walls on either side. Pale green light glimmered from their mouths or eyes.
Allen began to regret his choice.
His pampered streak resurfaced, and he regarded the dim surroundings with mixed feelings.
If only I'd chosen Ravenclaw. I heard their common room was in a tower. The natural light must be wonderful.
Still, at least I didn't go to Hufflepuff. Their common room was in the basement too, right beside the kitchens.
-How terrifying. I'd eat myself to death there!
Directly ahead stood a stone wall. The prefect stopped before it and said, "Pure-blood."
The moment he spoke the password, a door appeared in the wall. It opened slowly, and the little snakes filed in after the prefect.
The common room lay beneath the lake, bathed in an eerie green glow. The windows on all four walls reached almost to the ceiling. An enormous squid waved its massive tentacles, casting deep shadows across the glass.
Several sofas stood in the center of the common room, while a dozen or so tables on the other side provided space for the young wizards to study. A luxurious carpet covered the floor, soft beneath their feet.
The prefect was not aloof. On the contrary, he was rather lively. He stood before a medieval tapestry, looking relaxed.
"Congratulations on joining Slytherin! Our house emblem is a great serpent-one of the cleverest creatures. Our house colors are emerald green and silver.
"People always misunderstand Slytherin. I won't deny that our house has produced some dark wizards, but so have all three of the other houses. They simply refuse to admit it."
"You'll also find plenty of half-bloods here, so don't worry. We won't throw you out just because you have Muggle blood!"
At this point, he gave Allen a meaningful glance.
Although Slytherin tolerated half-bloods, someone who was entirely Muggle-born... this was a first.
He looked away and continued,
"Slytherin's goal is victory. We defend Slytherin's reputation and take pride in it. Outsiders may fear us because we dabble in Dark Magic, but we aren't bad people. Slytherin is more like a family of brothers and sisters.
"Now, remember this, first-years! Our common room password changes every two weeks, so keep an eye on the noticeboard.
"Don't tell students from other houses our password, much less bring them inside-no outsider has entered our common room in seven hundred years!"
"Now then..." The prefect looked toward the common room entrance, composed himself, and said quietly, "Head of House."
Snape strode in, his black cloak streaming behind him. The terrifying pressure of his magic kept all the young wizards silent. He looked for all the world like an enormous black bat.
Draco seemed familiar with this aura too, but he still could not help shrinking back.
Allen was unbothered. He had witnessed far more intimidating scenes and simply focused on listening to Snape.
The Serpent King strode onto the raised platform where the prefect stood. His black eyes, like empty corridors, surveyed them coldly.
After a long moment, his low, stern voice rang out, his words coming rapidly.
"Well, how unpleasant to see a pack of first-year trolls filling the common room yet again. As your Head of House, it is my duty to tell you a few things.
"Keep yourselves in line. Don't disgrace yourselves, don't lose points, and don't cause me trouble! We have won the House Cup six times in a row, and I have no desire to see it lost at your hands! Do you understand?"
The young wizards nodded hurriedly. Even the older students dared not make a sound.
"Very good!" the Serpent King said coldly, then swept away in a swirl of robes.
Until Snape had left, no one in the common room dared to speak.
The prefect gave his instructions. "All right, the girls' dormitories are on your right, and the boys' are on your left. Your names are posted on the doors, and your luggage has already been delivered to your rooms.
"Well then, good night, everyone."
The little snakes dispersed, heading off in twos and threes to find their dormitories.
Allen strolled past room after room until he found a nameplate bearing his name on a door farther inside.
And, yes, a certain little peacock's name was there too.
They were indeed sharing a room. Draco sauntered over and raised an eyebrow at him.
Allen did not know whether to laugh or cry. This really did seem to be Lucius's arrangement. The little peacock had carelessly given his own father away.
He turned sideways and rested his slender fingers on the handle.
His sea-blue eyes shifted slightly, their depths darkening in the dim light.
Lucius had time to arrange the school dormitories, yet not enough time to notify the pure-blood families...
Either the Malfoy family lacked that kind of influence-but Draco had already revealed that the Malfoys currently led the pure-blood families...
Or Lucius had never intended to pave the way for me. Perhaps he wanted to see not just powerful magic, but my ability to command and coordinate others as well...
After all, Malfoy had once been a trusted subordinate of the Dark Lord. With the Dark Lord's fate still unknown, openly associating with a Muggle crown prince would hardly be defensible.
Yet he was comfortable placing his heir with me, a Muggle crown prince, subtly signaling goodwill to Dumbledore and hedging his bets...
He really did know how to play both sides.
A hundred thoughts raced through his mind, but only an instant passed.
His slender fingers pressed down on the handle, and he pushed the door open.
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