The four quickly left Moaning Myrtle's Bathroom and ran to the vicinity of the Slytherin Common Room on the first basement level. Hermione hid in a nearby classroom, while Ron and Neville went to the Common Room entrance with the invisible Harry.
The Common Rooms of the four houses were all partly hidden.
Gryffindor's was behind a portrait, and Ravenclaw's was behind a statue. As for Hufflepuff's Common Room, although Harry and the others knew it was also in the basement, very close to the kitchens, they had never actually been there.
By comparison, the entrance to the Slytherin Common Room was even more concealed. Only when someone said the password in the right place would the entrance appear in the wall.
Fortunately, Harry and the others had already scouted the place before putting their plan into action, so everything went smoothly.
When Ron, who had turned into Crabbe, said the word "pureblood" to a wall, the stone door concealed within it slowly opened, revealing a passage.
Ron took a deep breath and walked in with Neville. The invisible Harry quietly followed behind them.
This was Harry's first time entering the Slytherin Common Room. Well, perhaps that was not quite accurate. Rather, this was Harry's first time entering any Common Room other than Gryffindor's.
Harry had passed Ravenclaw's Common Room several times-usually when walking Padma back, and once with Luna. He had never gone inside, though.
Compared with Gryffindor's Common Room, Slytherin's was slightly larger, but it was long and narrow, with a slightly lower ceiling.
That made sense. After all, this was a basement. Compared with a tower, it might have had plenty of room, but not enough height.
The walls and ceiling were built of stone, rough-hewn yet not remotely shabby. Instead, they gave the place an air