"Welcome to Hogwarts!" said Hagrid, swinging the great castle doors open before us.
Something inside me, a remnant from that other life, froze for a moment as I crossed the threshold. Somewhere deep down, a child's dream had just come true, pity it wasn't in its own time. This was probably one of the most magical days of my life, one I would remember for the rest of my days.
Nearby, my future classmates were discussing something, but I only listened with half an ear. For the first time, I was seeing what had made the hearts of millions of book fans tremble with awe. This wasn't just a place. It was the living legacy of magic.
The huge castle doors swung open, and we were met by air so thick it felt like water. That was definitely magic… I couldn't see it, but I felt it with my entire being — so much denser here than out there.
We began to climb a wide, spiral stone staircase. Gradually, the initial wave of emotion subsided, and we started talking and discussing everything until we reached a landing where we were met by McGonagall — tall, stern, with a cold gaze, yet her movements held a certain grace.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," Professor McGonagall finally greeted us. "The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats, you will be sorted into your houses. There are four houses: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. The Sorting is a very serious ceremony because, from this day forward, your house will be your family and home here at school."
I heard someone nearby gulp. The Sorting… I knew I would be in Slytherin. It was obvious. I was a Malfoy, a pure-blood, the heir of an ancient and noble house. Yet, I felt a slight prick of anxiety. What if something went wrong? What if the Hat saw me as an outsider? I didn't want to raise any more suspicions, not to mention the clear displeasure of my parents — my father, most likely.
Perhaps a part of me might have wanted Ravenclaw, to simply study magic — for me, understanding magic was the top priority right now — but too many things pushed me towards the house of the serpent.
There wasn't much time for contemplation — the doors swung open, and we were led inside. We walked in a line, passing the long tables where students were chatting or examining the new first-years.
The Hall was enormous. I'd even say it was very enormous. You could feel the scale. Unlike the films, where I'd counted maybe 200 people at a stretch, there were clearly many more here. Several times more.
Candles floated in the air, the ceiling truly reflected the night sky — a beautiful sight. Honestly, it was truly magical, a veritable work of art from the magical world.
I caught a few glances from the staff table, though there were differences here too. Among the teachers were many faces unfamiliar to me, and there were more of them, which was logical given the number of students.
We reached the far end, where an old hat waited on a stool. The Professor called us up one by one. I was only half-listening, lost in thought, my brain only registering the names of characters I knew.
"Malfoy, Arcturus-Corvus Armand!"
I approached and sat down.
The Hat was lowered onto my head, and… it began. A feeling of an unpleasant itch in my mind made it hard to concentrate. Not pleasant.
"And what did you expect… I'm trying to see where to put you, but something is interfering."
I froze.
It sensed the difference. Ha-ha, so the ritual worked well, apparently.
"I can't quite figure you out, your mind is resisting. Where do you see your place?"
"Slytherin!"
"Are you quite sure Slytherin is your path?"
"Where else? My position demands it, and the green house will open more opportunities for me. And I am, after all, one of those people who desires and wants power." — Though, my history tutor often said that those who desire power should not be allowed to have it, but I couldn't care less.
"Perhaps you would suit brave Gryffindor, your thoughts are strong and brave!" the Hat began speaking aloud now, not just in my mind, putting on a bit of a show for the others and a chance to assess another first-year.
"I hope they come without the corresponding recklessness?" I whispered quietly.
"Not entirely," the Hat's chuckle spoke for itself. "But you certainly have a thirst for knowledge, fitting for Ravenclaw."
"How can one not value and crave that which grants you limitless possibilities and knowledge?" I said louder now. Let them all know how clever I am.
"Hmm… Interesting… Despite your thirst for knowledge, you are the scion of an ancient and noble line. Your ambitions reach as high as the stars… Very well, so be it… SLYTHERIN!"
Loud applause lifted my spirits even higher as I watched the Slytherin emblem appear on my robes. I calmly stood up and headed towards my house table.
"And it suits me," I said, a bit louder than intended. Those sitting nearby smirked.
I had a bad habit. When I was emotional, I couldn't control my volume. And now, excited, I'd blurted it out louder than I'd planned.
Avery, by the way, was already sitting and waiting for me; I see he even saved me a spot.
"Congratulations on making Slytherin," Avery said, extending his hand.
"And you, my friend." After shaking his hand, I finally sat down and calmed down a bit. Meanwhile, the Sorting continued. You know, it's more interesting to watch from here; back there you're just nervous, with everyone staring at you. At least I don't have stage fright; on the contrary, the more people watch, the more confidence — or rather, inspiration — I feel.
After the Sorting ceremony concluded, we received a short admonition not to enter the Forbidden Forest and not to wander after curfew.
Following a brief speech from Dumbledore, whose appearance was particularly striking — those half-moon spectacles, coupled with his long silver beard and eyes that seemed to pierce right through you, yet somehow made you want to trust him immensely — the feast began.
As expected, all the food appeared with a clap of his hands. It was everything a stomach could desire, and it all looked and smelled extremely appetizing. Meanwhile, dozens of various ghosts streamed out from under the tables and through the walls, astonishing the students, me included.
It was strange to see semi-transparent, floating people, knowing they were long dead, yet they spoke like people, existed, and even had personalities.
"Perhaps the most astonishing day of my life…" I muttered under my breath and then applied myself to the great feast. Honestly, I'm a neat-freak and in that other world, I liked to behave culturedly, so I knew how to use a fork and knife, but my current skills were on another level. Firstly, I'd been familiar with table etiquette since childhood, and Mother had been particularly demanding during every meal before school, just in case.
Though, as I could see, everyone else at our table was eating quite properly — well, they certainly weren't slurping, which was enough for children.
Although it's worth clarifying, they were all still children. The older students sat further from the staff table — literally, on average, the older you were, the further back. So, there wasn't a single upper-year student near us at all.
But even so, despite the age, everything here was much more civilized than at the Gryffindor table. Yeah… glad I'm not a Gryffindor; I don't particularly like noisy companies…
"There are more Gryffindors again," some guy, clearly not from our year, snorted with irritation. He was older.
"As always! But the House Cup will be ours once again," another replied, and then I got bored and stopped eavesdropping. Because I had really good hearing in that other world, I'd developed a not-so-great habit of eavesdropping. I confess, I'm guilty, but it's interesting!
We didn't have much moral or physical energy left, so the conversations were sluggish and few, although looking at the Gryffindors, one might think the opposite.
After the feast, the prefects approached us. A tall guy with perfectly combed dark hair and an expression on his face as if he were in charge here. Although, to be honest, he wasn't much to look at — overly angular cheekbones and features in general, sunken eyes, and extremely pale skin, even paler than mine!
I'd describe his face as owlish. I was starting to pay too much attention to appearances; I suppose I'd just gotten used to noticing details throughout the day.
"Welcome to Slytherin, first-years," he said, looking us over.
"I am Albert Rowle, one of the prefects of our glorious house," he continued with a certain laziness. Something about this prefect didn't sit right with me. "Our colours, as you know, are green and silver, and our symbol is the serpent. Alright, let's go. I'll show you the way to the common room. Emilia Greenwood will tell you the rest."
We got up from the table and followed the prefect. Instead of going up, we, of course, gradually delved deeper into the corridors of Hogwarts and descended. Well, at least there were fewer moving staircases; we passed briefly underneath them, and I wasn't particularly keen on navigating them. Seems scary.
We had little moral or physical energy for chatter, and everyone was on alert. We walked deeper and deeper. The stone walls reflected the torchlight, casting long shadows. The air grew cooler, damper. Somewhere in the distance, the sound of splashing water could be heard — probably the lake's current running very close by.
By the way, as we walked, I counted exactly 22 of us, Slytherin first-years. That meant, by modest estimates, there were about 80-90 first-years in total. Interesting.
Meanwhile, we stopped before a massive stone wall. Rowle turned to us and slowly said:
"Emerald Order."
The wall slid smoothly apart, revealing the entrance to the Slytherin common room.
"The password will change weekly, so pay attention and read what's posted on the notice board in the main hall of our common room."
Crossing the threshold, I understood: yes, this place truly suits the future elite of the nation and the coddled children of wealthy families.
The room was spacious but dark. Deep green and silver tones created a special atmosphere — elegant, yet cozy. And the furniture was beyond comment. Heavy leather armchairs and sofas, arranged in a semicircle, created the feeling of an exclusive, private club. And the common room was larger than in the film, even a bit larger than in Hogwarts Legacy, which I never finished. Everything looked extremely lively; students were sitting everywhere, some leaning against the wall chatting with acquaintances they hadn't seen all summer. Others were already engrossed in wizard's chess, not moving the pieces by hand. Magical chess… I hadn't played often in this life, but in my past one, I'd even participated in a couple of university tournaments — just amateur ones, never placed significantly — but in chess, I had decent results for a self-taught player! I sometimes even beat rated players in real life, though I never got a rating myself. Self-taught, what can you do.
The common room was done in a Gothic-Romanesque style. A tall, elaborate window in the center sloped downwards and offered a view into the depths of the lake. I saw a shadow glide past the glass — probably some fish… I hope. Scattered around the hall were several small tables with chess sets, stacks of books, even some alchemical apparatus. There were also many reading areas — small bookshelves with comfortable tables and armchairs nearby.
Albert gestured for us to stop.
"Congratulations, first-years. You are Slytherins."
He looked us over with a slight smirk.
"This means higher standards will be expected of you than of others."
Some of the first-years shifted uneasily. I listened intently.
"Slytherin is about ambition, power, and connections. We are not just students; we are the future leaders of magical society. But if you want respect here, you will have to prove you deserve it."
"Now for the rules," the prefect continued. "Rule one: do not disgrace the house. We are Slytherin, not Gryffindor. We do not put on shows, and we do not get involved in pointless conflicts."
"Rule two: If you sell out a fellow Slytherin to another house, you will be isolated. And believe me, loneliness at Hogwarts is an extremely unpleasant thing."
"Rule three: Earn house points and do not lose them. We have won the House Cup for three years running."
"Rule four: Obey us and our Head of House — Professor Snape. Do not forget that everyone at Hogwarts is equal only in theory." The rules laid out by the prefect cooled the heads of some of the children.
Yes, Slytherin wasn't just about ambition. It was about practicality.
Albert was about to say something else, but a dark-haired girl with a sweet smile, who also wore a prefect's badge, interjected.
"You've scared them enough, Rowle. Don't worry too much," she said. "As long as you're in your first year, none of the older students will bother you." As she spoke, she looked us over, noting something, and I just smirked. What a snake. Of course, the older students wouldn't touch us, but our fellow first-years...
"And now, let me congratulate you once more! I am Prefect Emilia Greenwood, and I welcome you to the HOUSE OF SLYTHERIN! Our emblem is the serpent, a symbol of wisdom and power; our colours are emerald green and silver. The common room is hidden in the dungeons; the windows look out into the Black Lake, where not only giant squids lurk in the depths but also something much more... dangerous." It was even interesting to listen to her; she really knew how to tell a story.
"Forget everything you've heard about us. Yes, we respect ancient traditions and the blood that flows in our veins, but there are half-bloods among us as well." She took a breath and continued. "Now, about us. Slytherin is the house of the ambitious and the determined, those who understand that greatness requires walking the edge. We are famous not only for our achievements but also for always being confident in our strength. They fear us, they respect us. We are serpents — quiet, refined, and sometimes dangerous. We don't need to speak aloud of the Dark Arts; we don't need to become Dark wizards — a mere hint is enough for most to think twice about crossing us."
"We know: the corridors of Hogwarts are a jungle, and in this game, you will be glad you are a cunning serpent, who can be both inconspicuous and dangerous. When the Hat chooses a Slytherin, it is no accident. Salazar Slytherin looked for a seed of greatness, and if the Hat chose you, it means there is something great within you."
"Funnily enough, many think we are similar to Gryffindors because we always see things through to victory. But make no mistake: we walk our own path, even if that path sometimes crosses with the lions."
"We also have our own ghost — the Bloody Baron. If he is in the mood, he might help you with certain... matters. But do not ask him why he is bloody. He does not like that."
"Our dormitories are a place for true Slytherins. Green silk hangings, beds covered with silver thread, and the shadows of old tapestries that hold more secrets than some books. Believe me, the softest beds and the best conditions are here in the dungeons, despite the seemingly absurd location. The Black Lake outside your windows will soothe you in the evenings after exhausting lessons. That is, of course, unless it becomes the cause of your nightmares."
"Welcome!" We even started applauding after her speech.
Then Rowle took the floor again.
"A splendid speech, Miss Greenwood, plus half a point for the joke about the lake," the prefect smirked at his own joke and continued. "Now, about your studies. You will receive your schedules tomorrow morning. Most of your classes will be shared with other houses. There are fewer of you this year, of course, but not so few that we'd expect more than two houses together for most subjects, and many classes will be without other houses at all."
"And now for the most important thing: the House competition."
At these words, many first-years tensed up.
"As I said before. We must keep Slytherin at the top. We must win the House Cup this year as well. Points can be awarded for correct answers in class, for good behaviour, and deducted for the opposite. I really don't want to be the first prefect in years under whom the green banners are removed from the Great Hall."
Some first-years nodded. Then some older student clapped Marcus on the shoulder and said.
"Well, and lastly," he grinned. "Everyone below fifth year, off to bed. We need to discuss some very important matters." The grins on the older students' faces spoke for themselves. That anticipatory expression was unmistakable.
"So, first-years, off to your rooms!"
We were split into groups. At our request, Marcus and I were placed in the same room.
The room was spacious, with massive beds and dark green canopies. Here, each of us even had a desk and a small wardrobe. And our belongings were already lying at the foot of our beds. Wow… now that's service.
I sat on the bed and exhaled. There were four beds in the room. But there were only three of us in this room, which meant it would be like this for all years. Different years weren't mixed with each other. After a moment's thought, I reluctantly got up from the bed and approached the unfamiliar roommate.
"Arcturus-Corvus Armand Malfoy," I said, extending my hand.
"Cassius Warrington. Pleased to meet a descendant of one of the Sacred Twenty-Eight." The guy shook my hand. He was fair-haired with light brown hair and blue eyes, with pleasant features too. Poor Albert Rowle… seems he wasn't lucky with anything in life.
He then introduced himself to Marcus as well. The guy seemed decent and clearly had a strong character; you could feel it in his demeanour. I think we could be friends with him.
"I've heard many renowned duelists came from your family. Planning to follow that path?" asked Avery, yawning slightly. Honestly, I was really feeling sleepy.
"Not sure yet, but duelling is definitely an interesting hobby. What do you two think about it?"
"Any wizard should have practice in duelling. It's a way to defend your honour if needed. And it's useful to have practice in such matters. You never know when you'll need self-defence skills." And that was the pure truth. Besides the fact that I planned to study duelling art very intensively, duels played a very important role in the magical world.
Let's say someone insults you, right? If you just take a spell and hit them from behind, you certainly won't get a pat on the head. But if you challenge them to a duel, then with serious grounds, you won't face consequences even for killing or causing extremely grave injury.
Though, this is more common among pure-bloods and magical families in general. For Muggle-borns, it seems barbaric, but to understand the essence, you need to delve into the social foundations, traditions, and way of life of wizards. Better to be… dealt with… in a duel than have some evil dark wizard curse your entire family or send fiendfyre upon your home later.
After chatting a bit more about duelling, we soon all went to bed. The day had been… eventful. And it seemed there was still a lot of work ahead. Especially for me. But for now, I could allow myself to relax a little. I closed my eyes, listening to the distant laughter from the common room. The older students had already started celebrating.
I smirked. Well then, welcome me to Slytherin. And now, sleep. I need to wake up early tomorrow.