🪄 Chapter 1 – The Lake Crossing
The crowd of first years spilled onto the damp grass by the edge of the great black lake, the night air heavy with mist. Lanterns bobbed above the water like waiting fireflies, casting ripples of light across the glassy surface.
"Firs'-years, this way!" boomed a familiar voice.
Hagrid stood with his lantern raised high, beaming at the gathering of wide-eyed students. His giant frame looked almost mythic in the fog, a shadow of reassurance and intimidation rolled into one.
Harry's heart leapt at the sight of Hogwarts across the water — towering spires, windows glowing like jewels against the dark sky. But his excitement was steadied by the calm presence at his side.
Percy Chronos stood tall, hands tucked into his robes with a casual poise that seemed to command attention. At each of his arms clung Artemis and Athena, their beauty startling even in the mist, their closeness to Percy so natural that students whispered behind their hands.
"Merlin's beard," a boy muttered. "He's not even sorted yet, and he's—look at them!"
"Gold diggers," sneered another, voice dripping with envy. "Heirs always attract them."
If Percy heard, he gave no sign. He bent slightly toward Artemis, murmuring something that made her smirk and brush her lips near his ear. Athena rolled her eyes, though her hand lingered on Percy's arm possessively.
Harry, long since accustomed to their flirtatious rhythm, only shook his head with a crooked grin. He'd lived with them all summer; if anything, the familiarity of their bond eased his nerves.
Above, a powerful cry split the night sky. All heads turned as Kaal, the phoenix-dragon hybrid, wheeled in the air. His wings shimmered with firelight, scattering golden sparks across the lake's surface. He circled once, twice, before gliding to perch on a rocky outcrop, eyes glowing like molten gems.
Gasps rippled through the group.
"Is that—?"
"It can't be—"
"Bloody hell, he's brought a beast to Hogwarts!"
As if that wasn't enough, Hedwig, Harry's golden eagle, launched from his shoulder, wings wide and gleaming like polished bronze. She swept low over the water, talons brushing the surface, before swooping back to land proudly on Harry's arm. Her golden feathers reflected in the torchlight, dazzling the gathered students.
"Sweet Circe," one of the girls whispered. "They've got two creatures like that?"
Draco Malfoy's pale face was taut with barely contained jealousy. Crabbe and Goyle gawked like fish. Even Ron Weasley, red-haired and wide-eyed, couldn't stop staring at Hedwig.
"Oi, Harry," he said, almost tripping over a stone, "that's yours?"
Harry nodded, scratching Hedwig's breast as she puffed her feathers proudly. "Percy gave her to me in Diagon Alley. Named her Hedwig myself."
The way Ron gaped made Harry laugh, and even Hermione, walking just ahead, turned to look with a mix of awe and suspicion.
"Boats! No more'n four to a boat!" Hagrid bellowed, pointing to the little fleet rocking gently on the water.
The crowd surged, fumbling to obey. Percy led Artemis, Athena, and Harry toward one of the boats, the mist curling around them like they belonged to some otherworldly story. Whispers followed their every step.
"Malfoy's looking fit to explode," Athena murmured with a wicked grin as she climbed into the boat, settling elegantly at Percy's side.
"Let him," Percy replied smoothly. "It's a long night."
As their boat pushed off, Harry leaned forward, eyes locked on Hogwarts rising higher with each ripple of the oarless journey. His chest swelled with something he couldn't name — awe, belonging, anticipation.
Beside him, Artemis leaned her head lazily against Percy's shoulder. Athena's hand rested lightly on Percy's thigh, fingers tracing idle patterns that made him glance at her with a smirk.
Across the water, Seamus Finnigan hissed to Dean: "Are they—are they actually—on his lap?!"
Lavender Brown stifled a giggle. "It's scandalous."
The mist thickened as the boats drew closer to the shadow of the cliff. Harry felt his nerves twist, but then Percy's voice cut through, calm and steady.
"Breathe, Harry. You're walking into a home that doesn't know it's yours yet. But it will."
Harry swallowed, nodded, and kept his eyes fixed on the towering castle glowing like a beacon.
And for the first time in his life, he didn't feel small.
✨ Chapter 2 – First Glimpse of Hogwarts
The boats drifted silently toward the towering cliffs. Mist curled around the water, and the glow of lanterns bounced off its black surface. For most of the students, it was their first real sight of Hogwarts — and every inch of the ancient castle seemed larger than life.
Sprawling towers rose like jagged spears into the starry night, their windows blazing with golden light. Stone walls loomed with the weight of centuries, ivy clinging like old scars. The castle shimmered faintly, a hum of magic vibrating in the air, so strong Harry felt it tickle across his skin.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," Hagrid's booming voice echoed across the water.
Gasps broke out from the boats.
"Blimey, it's—massive," Seamus Finnigan muttered.
"Like something out of a fairy tale," Hermione breathed, eyes wide, hands clutching the edge of her boat.
"Fairy tale?" Draco scoffed from a nearby boat. "This is power. This is tradition. Look at the wards humming on the walls. My family helped build them."
Artemis tilted her head, unimpressed. "If your family had actually built this, Malfoy, I'd expect the stones to fall apart."
The boat carrying Percy's group rocked slightly as Athena stifled a laugh behind her hand. Percy's lips curved into a smirk, but he said nothing, letting the insult hang in the mist like a spark ready to catch fire.
Malfoy flushed crimson, but Crabbe and Goyle's confused grunts drowned out his spluttering reply.
As the castle loomed closer, Hedwig stretched her golden wings and took flight. She soared upward, circling a tower before crying out — a sound sharp and proud that echoed through the night sky. Kaal answered her with a low, rumbling note from his perch on Percy's boat, firelight sparking faintly along the ridges of his hybrid form.
The combination of the two creatures sent shivers down every spine.
"Bloody hell," Ron whispered. "It's like they own the place already."
"Maybe they do," Dean muttered, eyes darting toward Percy, who sat at ease with Artemis leaning into his shoulder and Athena tracing lazy circles along his sleeve.
Harry felt laughter bubble up in his chest. Their closeness had been shocking at first — Percy's girlfriends unashamedly affectionate — but now it felt like the most normal thing in the world. If anything, it made Harry feel braver, anchored.
"Don't they ever stop touching him?" Lavender whispered loudly to Parvati.
"Would you?" Parvati shot back, unable to hide her grin.
Percy, of course, caught every word, though his expression betrayed nothing. Artemis smirked and, just to fuel the scandal further, tilted her head and pressed a lingering kiss against his cheek. Hermione, catching sight, went pink and tried to look away, only to mutter under her breath, "Completely inappropriate."
Athena caught the comment, her silver eyes flicking toward Hermione. "Inappropriate to who?" she asked, voice calm but cutting. "Or is it only inappropriate because it's not you?"
Hermione's cheeks blazed, and she sank back into her boat. The surrounding students tittered, scandal dripping into every corner of the mist.
The boats slid into a cavern, water slapping softly against stone as the lantern light danced over dripping walls. A set of stone steps awaited, leading upward toward a pair of towering doors carved with runes.
"Out yeh get, this way!" Hagrid called, lifting his lantern higher.
One by one, the students clambered onto the damp stone, necks craning to catch another glimpse of the looming castle above. Harry's heart pounded as he joined the others.
Percy stepped onto the landing last, offering a hand to Artemis and Athena as if it were a dance at a ball instead of a damp stone dock. Artemis slipped her hand into his with a smirk, Athena following with a regal tilt of her chin. Their grace was so striking compared to the nervous shuffle of the others that even Hagrid blinked, eyebrows rising.
"Yeh lot—well—yer certainly not shy," Hagrid muttered, though his eyes twinkled in approval.
Whispers followed them up the steps:
"Who are they really?"
"They act like royals."
"Chronos… I've heard that name before—"
Harry, walking close to Percy, felt the castle's presence more strongly with each step. It was as though the walls themselves were alive, watching, judging, remembering.
The hairs on the back of his neck rose.
Then, just as they reached the doors, Harry heard it — a deep, resonant hum, like the castle itself was acknowledging something. Or someone.
He glanced sideways. Percy's eyes gleamed in the torchlight, unreadable, but Harry could swear he saw the faintest smile tug at his lips.
✨ Chapter 3 – The Castle Doors and Entrance Hall
The towering oak doors of Hogwarts loomed above them, carved with swirling runes that seemed to shimmer faintly in the torchlight. The crowd of first-years clustered together, some craning their necks nervously, others whispering excitedly.
Harry's palms were damp. Every step toward those doors made his heart beat faster. Hogwarts wasn't just a school—it was a new life, away from the Dursleys, away from the cupboard, away from loneliness.
Beside him, Percy strolled with infuriating calm, Artemis hooked lazily around one arm, Athena around the other. They looked as though they were arriving at an evening gala, not an ancient fortress full of unknown challenges.
Kaal padded behind them, scales glowing faintly in the torchlight, his presence commanding both awe and fear. More than one pureblood child glanced nervously at the creature but dared not comment. Hedwig soared above the group, her golden feathers catching firelight as she gave a piercing cry that echoed off the stone.
The hum Harry had felt earlier—an odd vibration in the air—grew louder as they approached the doors. It wasn't just his imagination. The stone beneath his shoes seemed to shiver faintly, and the runes etched into the doors flared brighter for a heartbeat, then dimmed.
Draco Malfoy noticed too. He stepped closer, his drawl cutting through the whispers.
"Strange. The wards of Hogwarts don't react to just anyone. Must be a trick."
Percy raised an eyebrow, his lips curving into that maddening half-smile. "If it comforts you to think so, Malfoy, by all means—keep telling yourself it's a trick."
Athena added, perfectly deadpan, "It takes the sting out of inadequacy, after all."
The surrounding students stifled laughter. Malfoy's ears went pink.
Before he could retort, the great doors creaked open with a thunderous groan, revealing Professor McGonagall standing tall in her emerald robes. Her sharp eyes swept over the group, missing nothing.
"First-years," she said crisply. "Welcome to Hogwarts."
Her gaze paused, just briefly, on Percy and his companions. Something flickered in her expression—was it recognition? Respect? Or suspicion?—before her mask of formality slipped back into place.
"If you will follow me," she continued, turning on her heel.
The students shuffled forward into the Entrance Hall.
The Entrance Hall was vast, lit by flaming torches and lined with tapestries that seemed to whisper as the air shifted. The ceiling soared above them, shadows gathering in its corners, and the polished stone floor reflected torchlight like a mirror.
Most students gaped openly. Hermione whispered, "It's bigger than anything I imagined…" while Neville clutched his toad, wide-eyed.
But Percy's entrance drew the most attention. As he stepped inside, the torches along the walls flared brighter, one after another, in perfect rhythm with his stride. The ripple of light chased across the hall until it reached the grand marble staircase.
The effect was impossible to ignore. Even the paintings along the walls stirred to life, whispering behind painted hands.
"What was that?" Dean muttered, staring.
"Did the castle just—respond?" Parvati asked, breathless.
"Impossible," Draco snapped, but his voice cracked halfway through.
McGonagall's brow furrowed. For a heartbeat, she looked almost rattled—but then her jaw tightened, and she swept forward.
"You will wait here," she instructed the group, "while I go to prepare for your Sorting. When I return, you will be taken into the Great Hall."
She gave Percy a particularly long, considering look, then briskly swept away.
The moment she was gone, whispers exploded.
"Did you see the torches?"
"No way that's normal—"
"Maybe he bribed the castle?" Seamus joked, earning a snort from Dean.
"Don't be ridiculous, castles don't take bribes," Hermione said, though her voice was tight. Her eyes flicked toward Percy, suspicious and curious all at once.
Artemis leaned lazily against a pillar, watching the chaos with a satisfied smirk. "Honestly, we didn't even do anything. Hogwarts seems to have good taste."
Athena, ever sharper, added, "The castle acknowledges power when it sees it. That shouldn't surprise anyone."
Her words sent another ripple of tension through the crowd. Some students looked envious, others nervous, and a few—the purebloods especially—looked outright hostile.
Harry, however, just felt his chest swell with something strange. Pride, maybe. Relief. Because whatever was happening, Percy didn't seem afraid of it. And that made Harry feel less afraid too.
The heavy doors at the far end of the hall opened again. McGonagall returned, her composure as flawless as ever, though her eyes lingered on Percy for one heartbeat too long.
"The Sorting Ceremony is ready," she announced.
The first-years straightened, nerves buzzing in the air like static.
"Form a line," McGonagall instructed. "Follow me."
The line began to form. Harry's pulse quickened. The Sorting. His future, his house, his place in this new world—all about to be decided.
As they moved toward the Great Hall, Percy casually bent to murmur something to Artemis. She giggled softly, kissed his cheek in full view of everyone, and the whispers started anew.
"Honestly," Hermione muttered, exasperated. "Completely shameless."
Athena, without missing a beat, replied, "That's the point, dear."
Harry nearly choked on his laugh as they stepped forward together, the torches flaring one last time before the Great Hall doors opened wide.
✨ Chapter 4 – The Sorting Ceremony
The doors of the Great Hall swung wide, and the first-years stepped into a chamber of wonder.
Thousands of candles floated in midair, their flames swaying as if they were curious eyes studying the newcomers. The enchanted ceiling above reflected the night sky, stars twinkling like diamonds on black velvet. Four long tables stretched the length of the room, filled with students craning their necks to see the new arrivals.
Harry couldn't breathe for a moment. He had never seen anything so beautiful, so alive.
Beside him, Percy walked with an unhurried grace, Artemis and Athena at his sides. The enchanted ceiling flickered—just once—as though acknowledging them. Kaal padded silently, wings folded, scales glowing faintly as whispers swept across the Hall. Hedwig circled above, her golden feathers catching starlight, earning gasps of admiration.
"Look!" one Ravenclaw whispered. "A golden eagle—so rare—"
"And what is that creature?" another hissed, pointing to Kaal.
"Some kind of… hybrid?!"
The professors seated at the staff table exchanged glances. Snape's lips thinned, his eyes narrowing at Percy with poorly concealed venom. Dumbledore, however, only twinkled in that infuriating way of his, though his fingers tapped idly against the table, betraying unease.
At the front of the hall stood a battered old stool and, resting atop it, the Sorting Hat. It looked ragged, patched, and harmless—until it yawned. A ripple of laughter spread through the older students.
McGonagall's voice cut crisply through the noise. "When I call your name, you will sit upon the stool, and the Sorting Hat will decide your house."
The Sorting began.
The Early Sortings
Names were called, and nervous students shuffled up, one by one.
"Hermione Granger!"
The bushy-haired girl sat determinedly, the Hat barely touching her head before shouting:
"RAVENCLAW!"
Hermione looked startled, then proud, striding off toward the clapping Ravenclaws.
"Neville Longbottom!"
A pause, the Hat mumbling to him for quite some time. Finally—
"GRYFFINDOR!"
Neville stumbled toward the cheering table, still clutching Trevor.
"Draco Malfoy!"
The Hat barely grazed his blond head before yelling:
"SLYTHERIN!"
The Slytherin table erupted in applause, Malfoy strutting to his seat.
Harry's Turn
"Harry Potter!"
The hall erupted into whispers at once. Every head turned. The Boy Who Lived.
Harry's legs felt like jelly as he walked to the stool. The Hat slipped over his head, plunging him into darkness.
"Well, well," a sly voice purred in his mind. "The famous Harry Potter. Bravery, yes. Cunning, oh my, quite a lot. And cleverness too… interesting. You could do well in Ravenclaw, oh yes. But… ah, I see it. A spark of darkness, the drive for greatness. Slytherin would help you on your way to true power."
Harry's heart pounded. "Not Slytherin. Please not Slytherin."
"Not Slytherin? You'd do well there, you know. And you'd have allies, more than you realize. Especially with young Chronos and his companions joining you…"
Harry froze. "Percy?"
"Oh yes. He is destined for Slytherin. His wives too. You could be with them… protected… challenged. But if not, Gryffindor fits your heart best."
Harry's thoughts spun. Slytherin with Percy—or Gryffindor, away from him? He clenched his fists. Percy had told him to make his own choices.
"Gryffindor," Harry whispered firmly. "Gryffindor."
The Hat sighed. "So be it. But don't be surprised if you wonder what might have been…"
"GRYFFINDOR!"
The hall erupted. Harry pulled the Hat off, cheeks burning, and hurried toward the cheering Gryffindor table, where Ron slapped his back enthusiastically. Percy gave him a small nod, as if to say good choice, little brother.
Percy, Artemis, and Athena
"Percy Chronos!"
The whispers that had followed Harry's name seemed to double in volume. Percy strode forward as if he owned the floor, his confidence radiating in every step. Artemis and Athena's eyes followed him, full of amusement and affection.
The Hat barely touched his head before it gasped aloud in his mind.
"Oh… oh my. What are you? You don't belong to this time. Ancient magic coils around you like chains, like wings. You are not a child at all."
Percy smirked. "I'm here to be sorted, not psychoanalyzed."
The Hat chuckled nervously. "Clever, cunning, powerful… every house clamors for you, but—ah. You know where you belong. Slytherin. Yes. A leader, not a follower. You'll shake that house to its roots."
"Finally, some honesty," Percy replied smoothly.
The Hat shouted to the hall:
"SLYTHERIN!"
The reaction was instant—gasps, cheers, and a ripple of disbelief. Percy slid off the stool, offering a lazy bow, before striding toward the Slytherin table.
Next came Artemis.
"Artemis…" the Hat began as soon as it touched her head. "Sharp as a blade, untouchable, ambitious. Slytherin suits you well—though Ravenclaw would love your wit. Still… you want to be with him, don't you? Ah, yes. So it shall be."
"SLYTHERIN!"
The cheers grew louder. Malfoy looked as though Christmas had come early.
Finally, Athena.
"Ah," the Hat whispered, "you are something else entirely. Cold logic, searing intellect. Ravenclaw would worship you, but Slytherin… Slytherin would fear you. And that is exactly what you want."
Athena's lips curved in satisfaction.
"SLYTHERIN!"
She joined Percy and Artemis, sliding into place beside them.
The Slytherin table was buzzing, half in awe, half in outrage.
The Staff's Reactions
At the staff table, Snape's face twisted with irritation. His "control" over his House had just been obliterated. Dumbledore's expression remained serene, but his eyes darted calculatingly between Harry and Percy.
McGonagall's frown deepened. Something here was wrong.
Flitwick, on the other hand, clapped his tiny hands together. "Fascinating, fascinating!"
The Feast
The Sorting concluded, and food appeared—platters of roast beef, steaming potatoes, pies, puddings. Laughter and chatter filled the hall.
At the Gryffindor table, Harry and Ron ate heartily, Hermione already lecturing about magical theory. Neville timidly joined in.
At the Slytherin table, Percy lounged like a king, Artemis feeding him a bite of treacle tart while Athena corrected a sneering fifth-year with a single, devastating line of logic that left him red-faced.
"Merlin's beard," whispered a second-year, "they're not students—they're… something else."
Kaal curled beside their bench, golden eyes glowing, tail swishing lazily. Hedwig swooped down from above, landing beside Harry and earning cheers from Gryffindor.
The Announcement
Just as dessert appeared, the enchanted voice of Hogwarts itself—deep, resonant, undeniable—rolled through the hall.
"To Percy Chronos and his companions, Artemis and Athena, personal quarters have been prepared, as decreed by Salazar Slytherin himself. The entrance may be found within the Slytherin common room. It may be entered only by them. So it has been written, so it shall remain."
The hall froze.
"What?!" Draco sputtered.
"They get private quarters?!" a Ravenclaw exclaimed.
"By Salazar himself?" gasped a pureblood at the Slytherin table.
The professors looked equally shaken. Dumbledore's smile had finally slipped, Snape's eyes narrowing to slits.
Percy only smirked, raising his goblet. "Well then… cheers to tradition."
Artemis clinked her glass against his. "And to scandal."
Athena added with a sly grin, "And to shutting down meddling professors before they even try."
Harry nearly spit out his pumpkin juice, laughter bubbling in his chest.
✨ Chapter 5 – The Private Quarters of House Chronos
The Great Hall still buzzed with shock long after the Sorting Feast ended. Rumors flew across tables like wildfire:
"Private quarters?!"
"Did the castle speak for them?"
"Salazar Slytherin himself!"
"Not even the Headmaster can do that—"
At the Gryffindor table, Harry was bombarded with questions.
"Are they your cousins? Your guards? Your—" Seamus asked, half out of breath.
"They're my friends," Harry said simply, smiling despite himself. "And you'll see—they're not like anyone else."
Ron, red-eared, muttered darkly into his mashed potatoes. "Friends, right… Merlin help us all if Slytherins are 'friends' now."
Escort to the Common Rooms
Professor Snape rose with the rest of the Slytherins, his black robes billowing like storm clouds. His glare at Percy could have curdled milk.
"You will follow me to the Slytherin common room," he intoned. His voice was silk over steel, but Percy only raised a brow.
"We'll manage," Percy said smoothly. "But you're welcome to watch the show."
Artemis giggled softly, slipping her hand into Percy's. Athena's smirk promised trouble.
The group of first-years trailed after Snape down twisting staircases, murmuring excitedly. Older Slytherins leaned in, desperate to overhear. Even prefects, usually aloof, whispered nervously about Salazar's decree.
The Common Room Entrance
At last, they arrived at a blank stretch of damp stone wall lit by green lanterns. The dungeons smelled faintly of the Black Lake—cold and dark.
Snape turned with his usual menace. "The password—"
But before he could finish, the wall rippled. A massive portrait frame appeared, its surface glimmering like silver water. Inside the frame, a tall, severe-looking wizard stepped forward. His robes were ancient, his beard forked, his eyes sharp and commanding.
The portrait of Salazar Slytherin himself.
Gasps tore through the crowd.
Snape froze mid-sentence, his face draining of color. Even the purebloods, usually quick with pompous commentary, stared in stunned silence.
Salazar's painted eyes swept over the gathered students before settling on Percy. His expression softened into something startling—respect.
"Percy Chronos," the portrait intoned, his voice resonating as though the stones themselves carried it. "At last, one of true bloodline and worth stands before me again."
The hall went deathly quiet.
"Your companions are welcome as well," Salazar continued, inclining his head toward Artemis and Athena. "This is your domain. No professor, no Headmaster, not even I may revoke it. It is your right, your inheritance by choice of the castle itself."
Percy inclined his head in return, calm and collected. "Thank you, Lord Slytherin."
Artemis and Athena each curtsied playfully, their eyes glittering with mischief.
The portrait swung open like a door, revealing a softly glowing corridor that led deeper into the rock.
Professor Outrage
"This is outrageous," Snape hissed, recovering himself at last. His hand twitched at his wand. "Private quarters? In my house? This undermines all traditions, all authority! You—"
Athena cut him off like a blade.
"Correction, Professor," she said coolly. "This is tradition. The oldest one. Hogwarts itself decreed it. You may dislike it, but you cannot overrule it. Not even your Headmaster can."
A ripple of laughter spread among the braver first-years. Even a seventh-year covered his grin.
Snape's nostrils flared.
Dumbledore, who had just arrived behind them with his ever-present calm, raised his hands placatingly. "Now, now, Severus. The castle has spoken. We must respect its will."
But his eyes twinkled less than usual. He had not expected this. Not at all.
The Quarters Revealed
The crowd pressed close as Percy, Artemis, and Athena stepped inside. The corridor opened into a breathtaking suite that seemed carved by magic itself.
Vaulted ceilings glowed with soft silver light. Walls of black marble veined with emerald shimmered faintly with enchantments. A central sitting room spread wide, its fireplace carved in the likeness of a coiled serpent, emerald flames crackling warmly.
Three adjoining chambers branched off, each fitted with four-poster beds draped in silk, bookshelves stacked high, wardrobes of polished oak.
The air smelled faintly of cedar and old parchment.
On the far wall hung another portrait of Salazar, this one smiling faintly. "Comfortable enough, I trust?"
"More than enough," Artemis said, twirling once with theatrical grace. She promptly flopped onto the nearest sofa, her silver hair spilling over the cushions. "I could get used to this."
Athena walked straight to the bookshelves, scanning titles with approving eyes. "Advanced Arithmancy, Runic Constructs… they've stocked this place well. Thoughtful of you, Percy."
Percy smirked. "I didn't do anything. Hogwarts wants us comfortable."
Student Envy
The Slytherins crowded the doorway, whispering furiously.
"They have their own fireplace—"
"Books we don't even have access to—"
"Did you see Salazar bow?"
Draco shoved his way forward, his pale face flushed with envy. "This isn't fair! They're just—just—" He flailed, unable to articulate the insult he wanted.
"Special?" Artemis supplied sweetly, resting her chin in her hand. "Yes, we are. Thank you for noticing."
The corridor erupted with laughter, half nervous, half delighted. Draco stomped away, humiliated.
Closing the Door
Percy, Artemis, and Athena finally ushered the gawkers back toward the common room. Percy's voice was calm but firm:
"This is our space. Respect that, and we'll respect yours. Fail, and you'll regret it."
The portrait swung shut with a decisive click, leaving stunned silence outside.
Inside, Artemis immediately curled up against Percy on the sofa, pulling his arm around her shoulders. Athena sat primly beside them, smirking as she kicked off her shoes.
Kaal padded in and curled by the fire, his wings folding majestically. Hedwig, who had flown down from Harry's side to visit, perched on the mantelpiece and gave a proud, approving screech.
For a moment, all was peaceful.
Artemis nuzzled Percy's cheek. "Well, my love, I think we've already won Hogwarts."
Athena's eyes glimmered with sharp humor. "Yes. Let's see how long before the professors realize they can't touch us."
Percy chuckled, pulling both of them close. "Let them stew. We have better things to enjoy."
Outside, the whispers grew into roaring gossip.
Inside, House Chronos had claimed its throne.
✨ Chapter 6 – Whispers in the Dungeons
The door to Percy's private quarters clicked shut, muffling the sound of awed whispers outside. Inside, firelight flickered against polished black marble, throwing warm shadows across the trio curled together on the sofa.
Artemis, lounging with her legs draped over Percy's lap, sighed dramatically.
"Well, that was fun."
Athena, cross-legged with a book already in her hands, arched a brow. "You call Snape's face turning the color of sour milk fun?"
Percy chuckled. "Admit it—you both enjoyed it."
"Immensely," Artemis said without hesitation, a mischievous glint in her eyes. She leaned over to kiss Percy's jaw, slow and teasing. "I think the whole school knows we've arrived now."
From the hearth, Kaal gave a low rumbling croon that was half-dragon, half-phoenix-song. Emerald sparks burst from his wings and drifted lazily upward, making the air shimmer. Hedwig, perched like a queen on the mantel, let out an indignant screech, clearly unimpressed with Kaal's theatrics.
"Behave," Athena muttered without looking up from her book. "You're both too loud."
"Both?" Percy asked, amused.
Athena glanced pointedly at Artemis still nuzzling Percy's neck. "Yes. Both."
Outside the Door
While the trio settled in, Slytherin house boiled like a cauldron. The common room, dim and green-lit beneath the Black Lake, buzzed with conversation.
"Private quarters!" one girl whispered fiercely.
"They had a conversation with Salazar!" another boy replied.
"And did you see Artemis? She just—just talked back to Snape like he was nothing!"
Draco Malfoy paced furiously, his pale hair glowing in the firelight. "This is a disgrace! Father will hear about this, I'll make sure—"
"Your father can't do anything if Salazar himself declared it," sneered Blaise Zabini, ever the calm observer. "Honestly, Draco, try not to look like you swallowed a lemon. It's unbecoming."
Pansy Parkinson hugged her books to her chest, scowling. "And the way Artemis was hanging on him. Ugh. As if the castle should reward that kind of shameless display."
A fifth-year smirked knowingly. "You're just jealous, Parkinson. Admit it."
The older students exchanged meaningful looks. The younger ones whispered in awe. For the first time in years, Slytherin's legendary pride had been shaken from within—not by outsiders, but by newcomers wearing the same green and silver.
Gryffindor Gossip
Across the castle, Gryffindors were no less restless. Their common room glowed with firelight as Harry tried to fend off an avalanche of questions.
"Are they your cousins?" Dean asked.
"No," Harry said firmly.
"Royalty, then?" Lavender squealed.
"No."
"Secret Aurors?" Neville whispered nervously.
Harry sighed. "They're just… Percy, Artemis, and Athena. Friends. That's all."
"Friends who just got their own quarters!" Seamus laughed. "You've got to admit, Potter, that's not normal."
Ron sulked in the corner, muttering. "Not normal at all… and Slytherins, no less."
Hermione, perched primly with a book in her lap, frowned. "It doesn't matter what house they're in. What matters is why Hogwarts itself would… well, choose them. That's not ordinary magic, Harry. That's something very old."
Harry leaned back, Hedwig's absence from her perch by the fire tugging at him. She was still with Percy, probably preening or watching Kaal like a hawk. "Yeah," he murmured softly. "Something very old."
Professors' Conference
Meanwhile, in the Headmaster's office, Dumbledore stood in front of his desk, staring into the fire. Snape paced furiously behind him.
"It is intolerable!" Snape spat. "Students with private quarters—in my house, no less—undermining my authority before the whole school—"
"Severus," Dumbledore said mildly, his eyes twinkling less than usual, "you saw as well as I did. The castle itself acted. Even Salazar's portrait acknowledged them. This is beyond us."
"Then strip them of privileges elsewhere!" Snape snarled. "Ban their creatures, restrict their—"
Athena's cool voice rang in his memory: 'Not even your Headmaster can.'
Snape's hands curled into fists.
McGonagall, seated stiffly in a high-backed chair, cleared her throat. "If the castle itself has chosen them, Albus, perhaps we should reconsider what role they're meant to play. You of all people know Hogwarts does nothing without reason."
Her eyes flickered—briefly, almost reluctantly—toward the boy who had only just arrived at her house: Harry Potter.
Dumbledore said nothing. But the silence was heavy.
Back in the Quarters
Percy leaned back against the cushions, Artemis curled happily against him while Athena read aloud snippets from an advanced transfiguration text with dry amusement.
"This one says it takes three years to master Animagus transfiguration. That's optimistic."
Artemis hummed. "Maybe for them. Not for us."
Kaal stretched luxuriously by the fire, sending little sparks into the air. Hedwig swooped down suddenly, landing squarely on Percy's knee. She nipped his hand, as if scolding him for letting Artemis monopolize him all evening.
"Ow—alright, alright," Percy laughed, scratching her feathers gently. "You're just as possessive as the rest of them, aren't you?"
Hedwig hooted triumphantly. Artemis pouted. Athena rolled her eyes.
"You're surrounded," she said dryly. "By women and jealous birds. Your life is tragic, Percy."
Percy grinned, drawing them both closer. "Tragic… and perfect."
The fire roared higher as if in agreement, Kaal's wings glowing faintly emerald in the dim room.
Beyond the walls, Hogwarts whispered with gossip and envy.
But within House Chronos, laughter reigned.
And so their first night in Hogwarts began—not with fear, but with defiance, desire, and the promise of chaos to come.
✨ Chapter 7 – Schemes in the Shadows
The Great Feast had ended, but Hogwarts was alive with restless murmurs. The Sorting may have been tradition, but what had happened tonight with Percy Chronos and his wives — their private quarters, the portrait of Salazar Slytherin bowing to them, the phoenix-dragon — it had shattered every sense of "ordinary" for the students.
Gryffindor Common Room
The fire crackled, but the air was thick with disbelief.
"Private quarters," Seamus muttered for the fiftieth time, hands waving wildly. "Private bloody quarters on the first night!"
Dean laughed from an armchair. "You sound like a jealous ex."
"I am jealous!" Seamus snapped.
Ron crossed his arms, muttering darkly. "It's wrong. Special treatment, right under our noses. Why does he deserve it?"
"Because Hogwarts thinks so," Hermione said crisply, parchment already spread across her knees. "The wards of the castle aren't exactly easy to bend. If it honored Percy… it means he's deeply tied to its magic."
Ron scoffed. "Or he's tricking everyone."
Hermione raised her brow. "If you think you can outwit enchanted stonework older than the Ministry itself, by all means, try."
Harry, quiet until now, looked up. "He's not tricking anyone. Percy doesn't care about approval. That's the difference. He doesn't need to."
The words silenced the room. For the first time, the Gryffindors realized Harry wasn't rattled by Percy's presence. He was calm. Trusting.
Slytherin Common Room
Emerald light rippled across the walls as the house buzzed with restless energy.
Draco Malfoy paced by the fire, fists clenched. "He's mocking us. Our house. Our traditions. Salazar Slytherin himself greeting him—what a joke!"
"Not a joke," Blaise Zabini countered coolly. "More like inevitability. You saw it — Salazar didn't bow to you, Draco."
The snickers cut sharper than any curse.
Pansy leaned forward with a smirk. "Honestly, I thought Artemis looked divine. And Athena? Terrifying in all the best ways. Maybe we should befriend them instead of whining."
Draco turned scarlet. "They're nobodies! Seducing him for his name and fortune."
"Then why did Hogwarts gift them private quarters too?" Blaise drawled.
The question hung heavy. No one had an answer.
Ravenclaw Tower
The firelight flickered against stacks of books, but even Ravenclaws had abandoned their studies for gossip.
Padma Patil tapped her quill against her parchment. "The wards must be extraordinary. How does one earn rooms like that?"
"By rewriting tradition itself," Terry Boot muttered, already scribbling diagrams of warding structures. "If the quarters are tied to Salazar's legacy—"
Cho Chang groaned, rolling her eyes. "Merlin's sake, Terry. Forget wards. Did you see the way Percy just brushed off Snape and the Headmaster? Like he wasn't even intimidated. That's not normal."
Michael Corner smirked. "It's bold. Honestly? I like it. The professors needed knocking down a peg."
Padma frowned. "Bold or foolish. He's painting a target on his back."
No one disagreed.
Hufflepuff Basement
The round room glowed warm, but conversations were hushed and serious.
Susan Bones leaned toward Hannah Abbott, whispering. "My aunt's going to hear of this. Private rooms, ancient wards — it's politics, not privilege."
Hannah bit her lip. "But Percy seemed… nice, didn't he?"
Cedric Diggory, calm as ever, leaned back with a thoughtful smile. "Nice or not, it doesn't matter. Hogwarts doesn't choose lightly. If the castle itself acknowledges him, then the rest of us had better adjust."
The statement carried weight. More than one student nodded.
Elsewhere in Shadows
Not all whispers stayed within common rooms. Pureblood heirs gathered in secret corners of the castle, their words sharp and poisonous.
"He's disrupting tradition."
"He makes the old names look powerless."
"We need leverage. Money. Influence. Blood."
But one reality was unavoidable: Percy Chronos wasn't interested in their game. That truth unsettled them more than anything.
Back in Percy's Quarters
Artemis lounged across Percy's lap, her silver hair spilling like moonlight, while Athena cataloged tomes already tucked neatly onto shelves. Kaal rumbled, sparks flickering from his feather-scales, while Hedwig perched regally near Harry, her golden wings glowing faintly in the candlelight.
"They're already scheming," Athena said flatly, not looking up.
"Of course they are," Percy replied, stroking Artemis's hair as though the world outside barely mattered. "Let them. The louder they plot, the less they'll see coming."
Harry chuckled, shaking his head. "You three act like it's all a game."
Percy smiled faintly. "Because it is. We just refuse to play by their rules."
And for the first time, Harry thought maybe that was exactly what Hogwarts needed.