The Draconis common room was a cathedral of glass and amythyst flame.
Its ceiling shimmered with aurora-like light, reflecting from crystal lanterns that burned without smoke.
Deep in the heart of the castle, it hummed softly with the same ancient pulse as the Chamber below — a secret life that answered only to its chosen heir.
Cassius entered in silence, the door whispering shut behind him.
The moment he stepped across the threshold, the room which had seemed cold, quickly filled with warmth as if it radiated from his very being.
The Lady Draconis was already there.
Her presence filled the room like velvet smoke — not oppressive, but commanding.
Seated upon the central dais, her robes of shadow and silver glimmered faintly in the low light, her eyes fixed on him with something dangerously close to amusement.
"Well," she began, voice like the soft ringing of chimes, "my hatchling returns victorious from his first battlefield. I take it the Ravenclaws learned a valuable lesson about pride?"
Cassius exhaled, setting his wand neatly on a marble side table before bowing slightly.
"They've issued a challenge, my lady. I accepted. It was… inevitable."
"Of course it was," she said, smiling faintly. "The House of wit and intellect, thinking themselves clever, more so than a dragon who has access to all of history."
Her tone was mocking, but in a way that made Cassius feel oddly reassured — a mentor's pride hidden beneath scorn.
"Children," Cassius murmured, almost to himself, crossing his arms. "Folly is their right. But it's a waste of time."
"Indeed," she agreed, leaning back in her chair. "But folly breeds opportunity, my dear boy. And opportunity, if well-played, becomes power."
Her eyes gleamed.
"So tell me, Cassius — what will you ask for when you win?"
Cassius blinked. "Ask for?"
"Your prize," she said lightly. "Surely you don't imagine these little games are without stakes. The challenge was public — and if memory serves, you accepted it in front of an entire class. The rules of such contests are clear: the winner sets the reward."
She carried on to explain that the house challenges once accepted were a form of magical contract, binding in that once agreed to there was no backing out without forfeit, and since the agreement was reached with only the cost on Cassius's side, that left the reward open for him to choose up to the 'price' of the cost itself.
Cassius frowned slightly, thinking.
"Points are meaningless. Even if I took all they had, it changes nothing, our house does not compete for the useless house-cup."
"Quite so," Lady Draconis purred. "You understand already. Prestige fades, numbers reset, for what is the use of a championship that can be so easily obtained just by attending school properly? Points are toys for children, and only really valued by them as well."
He hesitated.
"Then… what should I ask for? Their library? Rowena left behind a private archive within their Common Room?"
She chuckled softly, the sound both beautiful and unnerving.
"My dear Cassius. Ravenclaw's library is a trinket compared to ours. The Draconis collection has tomes older than Hogwarts itself — grimoires that make Rowena's ink look fresh, besides i've seen her 'collection' before, and besides a fairly clever challenge within no actual knowledge resides there."
Cassius smirked faintly, conceding the point.
"Then what remains?"
The Lady tilted her head, watching him closely.
"People."
He froze.
"People?"
She smiled wider, her eyes gleaming like quicksilver.
"Yes. People. Influence, loyalty — those are the true prizes of victory. The Draconis line has but one member at the moment. You. But that need not remain so."
Cassius was silent.
His mind spun, uncertain whether she spoke in jest.
"You mean… I can ask for them?" he said slowly. "For… students?"
"If the terms allow," she said softly. "And why not? Power is not hoarded — it is followed. Every dragon, no matter how mighty, still needs its court. Servants. Scholars. Protectors. Even…"
Her lips curled slightly, "…future concubines, to carry on the bloodline."
Cassius went very still.
He wasn't sure whether to laugh, to protest, or to faint.
"Concubines?" he echoed, as though the word itself might vanish if he said it too softly.
Even being a transmigree with a total age of over thirty, the concept caused him to have a very childlike reaction, as he blushed furiously at the thought.
Lady Draconis's laughter echoed through the vaulted chamber.
"Don't look so scandalized, my dragon. I speak of future generations — of legacy. You carry the Draconis name now, and that means more than spells and challenges. It means building something that endures, and will bring about a new age for Mankind."
Cassius, for once, was at a loss for words.
His usual calm cracked just slightly, revealing the boy beneath the title.
"I hadn't considered… people."
"Most wouldn't, at first," she said, voice turning almost kind. "In this day and age, the concept of slavery of even indentured servitude is frowned upon. But think on it. What better prize than human assets themselves, you can form a house of the best, and in doing to secure their loyalty by being magnanimous as their master? You can aquire Training partners, disciples, as i understand it the school intends to have you compete in quidditch so you can also gain additional players such that you need to face the school alone."
Cassius's brow furrowed in thought.
It was an audacious idea — one that appealed to the part of him that understood power not as cruelty, but as order.
Still…
"To compel them would be no different than their arrogance," he said finally. "If I am to have followers, I'd rather they come by choice."
Her smile softened. "A noble sentiment. One worthy of Draconis. But remember — choice is a luxury you grant after victory. The defeated seldom choose freely."
He looked up, meeting her gaze. "And if I asked for nothing?"
"Then you win nothing," she replied simply. "And the world learns that a dragon can be challenged without consequence. That," she added, voice sharpening like a blade, "is far more dangerous than arrogance. It invites imitation."
Cassius looked down at his reflection in the polished black floor.
His own eyes stared back — bright, calculating, faintly luminescent from residual magic.
He understood her meaning.
To be Draconis was to rule, not merely to survive.
Still, the idea of asking for people… unsettled him.
Not morally — but conceptually.
He had never thought of others as prizes.
Tools, yes; allies, perhaps.
But trophies?
He sighed softly.
"If I had to choose," he murmured, "I suppose… I'd pick those with potential. Someone worth the effort."
Lady Draconis arched a brow.
"Oh? And who might that be?"
Cassius thought for a moment.
"Hermione Granger, perhaps," he said finally. "She's a Muggle-born, but her talent is obvious. Cho Chang has skill, though she lacks focus. And…" He frowned. "Penelope Clearwater is already in Fifth year. Too old to be much use that would benefit me long term since she'll graduate in two years time."
The Lady's expression became almost mischievous.
"So you have been observing, and keeping an eye on the opposite sex i see..."
He flushed faintly.
"It's strategic awareness, not… whatever you're implying."
She laughed again, the sound rich with amusement.
"Of course it is."
Her mirth faded, and her tone turned softer, more serious.
"You have time to decide. It will take them time for the most stubborn to give in to your magical prowess, but you must decide which of the two you mentioned you'd want first, since the terms were your expulsion that would only equal the subsequent prize of a genius student, or in the case of Mrs. Chang, one of a higher year than yourself."
"I'll think on it."