Hogwarts, Slytherin Common Room, September 13, 2017, 2:00 PM
Saturday was different.
No classes. No strict schedules. The older students had gone to Hogsmeade (third years and up had permission). The younger ones were on the grounds, playing or exploring.
The Common Room was almost empty.
Perfect for what Solus had planned.
He was sitting in front of the fireplace with an Ancient Runes book open on his lap. He wasn't really reading it. He was just using it as an excuse to observe.
Albus and Stella were upstairs in the library, researching castle maps as he had asked them to.
Solus was alone.
And that was intentional.
At two o'clock sharp, the same third-year boy from a few days ago came down the stairs.
"Gray."
Solus closed his book.
"Is Rosier ready?"
"Yes. Follow me."
They climbed a few flights of stairs.
They passed through corridors Solus hadn't explored yet. The east wing of the castle. Quieter. Less traffic.
Finally, they arrived at a dark wooden door with a small plaque:
[STUDY ROOM - UPPER YEARS]
The boy knocked twice.
"Come in," said a voice from inside.
The boy opened the door.
"Gray is here."
"Thanks, Thomas. You can go."
Thomas nodded and walked away down the corridor.
Solus entered.
The room was small but comfortable.
Green leather couches (sofas). Shelves full of books. A window overlooking the lake. A fireplace with a fire crackling softly.
And sitting around a low table were five students.
Hadrian Rosier was in the center (centre). Platinum blonde hair. Impeccable robes. Warm smile.
To his right, a fifth-year girl with black hair and aristocratic features. She wore the Slytherin crest but there was something... international about her appearance. Maybe French.
To his left, a fourth-year boy with dark skin and an accent Solus identified as Caribbean. Possibly Jamaican.
On the other couch (sofa), two more students: a third-year boy with glasses and a scholarly look, and a sixth-year girl who watched Solus with calculated curiosity.
"Solus Gray," Rosier said, standing up. "Thank you for coming. Please, sit down."
He pointed to an armchair facing the table.
Solus sat.
Five against one. But it didn't feel hostile.
'It feels like... an interview like the ones Dad has done, but these are physical, not digital.'
Rosier sat down again.
"Let me introduce you. This is Amélie Dubois, fifth year. Exchange student from Beauxbatons."
The black-haired girl nodded elegantly.
"This is Marcus Bennett, fourth year. His family is from Jamaica."
The dark-skinned boy smiled.
"This is Oliver Greengrass, third year. Brother of your dorm mate."
The boy with glasses raised his hand shyly.
"And this is Cassandra Warrington, sixth year. Prefect."
The older girl smiled with an expression that didn't reach her eyes.
"Nice to meet you," Solus said neutrally.
"We meet once a week," Rosier explained. "To discuss... ideas. Projects. Future."
"What kind of ideas?"
"How to make Slytherin relevant again," Cassandra replied. "How to change the perception the rest of the world has of us."
"And why does that matter?" Solus asked.
Amélie spoke with a soft French accent:
"Because after the war, Slytherin became synonymous with Death Eater. In Beauxbatons, when I say I study in Slytherin, people... recoil."
"Same in Jamaica," Marcus added. "My family sent me here because Hogwarts is prestigious. But when I say my house, conversations become awkward."
Oliver adjusted his glasses.
"My father says Slytherin used to be the house of great wizards. Merlin was a Slytherin. But now we're just... the villains of the story."
Rosier leaned forward.
"We want to change that. Not by erasing the past. Not by pretending the war never happened. But by building something new. Something that shows that Slytherin is not a house of evil. It is a house of ambition. Of cunning. Of possibility."
Solus studied him.
'He's good. Very good.'
'Every word is perfect.'
'Every gesture is calculated.'
'He's not lying. But he's not telling the whole truth either.'
"And how do you plan to do that?" Solus asked.
"Projects," Cassandra replied. "Collaborations with other houses. Events that show Slytherin can work with Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff without conflict."
"Last year," Marcus said, "we organized a Wizard's Chess competition between houses. Slytherin and Ravenclaw won together."
"And a few months ago," Amélie added, "we helped organize a fundraiser for Muggle-born students who can't afford their books."
Rosier smiled.
"Small steps. But effective."
Silence.
Solus processed.
'It all sounds noble. Even admirable.'
'But...'
'Why do they want me?'
"Why did you invite me?" he asked directly.
Rosier didn't hesitate.
"Because you're different, Gray. Muggle-born but smarter than most pure-bloods. You stand out in classes. You think critically." He paused. "And because Slytherin needs people like you. People who don't carry the weight of ancient names. People who can show the world that ambition has no blood."
Perfect.
Too perfect.
"And what do you expect from me?" Solus asked.
"Nothing immediate," Rosier replied. "We just want you to know this group exists. That there are people here who think beyond house rivalries."
He leaned back. "If you want to join, you are welcome. If not, that's fine too. No pressure."
'Lie.'
'There is always pressure.'
Cassandra intervened:
"We also share resources. Notes from advanced classes. Family contacts in the Ministry. Information about international scholarships."
"Amélie is teaching us French," Marcus added. "And I'm teaching about Caribbean magic. We exchange knowledge."
Oliver nodded enthusiastically.
"It's like having older mentors. But more... accessible."
Solus looked at them all.
'They are genuine. Or at least, most of them are.'
'Oliver clearly believes in this. Marcus too.'
'Amélie is harder to read. Cassandra is calculating something.'
'And Rosier...'
'Rosier is the conductor. And everyone is playing his music.'
"Can I think about it?" Solus asked.
"Of course," Rosier said immediately. "Like I said, no pressure. Take your time."
He stood up.
"Thanks for coming, Gray. It means a lot that you considered our invitation."
Solus stood up too.
"Thanks for the invitation."
He walked toward the door.
"Gray."
He turned.
Rosier was standing with his hands in his pockets, the image of casual confidence.
"If you decide to join, we meet on Saturdays at two. Same room."
Solus nodded.
And left.
Corridor, way to the Common Room, 2:45 PM
Solus walked slowly, processing.
'Inter-house projects. Fundraisers. Cultural exchange.'
'But...'
'There was something.'
'Something that didn't fit.'
'Unless...'
'Unless this is recruitment.'
'Not for now. For later.'
'For when these students graduate and enter the Ministry. The real wizarding world.'
Solus stopped in the middle of the corridor.
'What if I'm wrong?'
'What if Rosier really just wants to improve Slytherin?'
'I can't know. Not without more information.'
'But I can use this.'
'If I join, I'll have access to resources. Contacts. Information.'
'Know your enemy.'
'Lucius had said it hundreds of times.'
He continued walking.
. . . . . . .
Library, 3:00 PM
Stella and Albus were at a back table, surrounded by books.
"Solus!"
Stella saw him first. "How was it?"
Solus sat down.
"Interesting."
"Interesting good or interesting bad?" Albus asked.
"I don't know yet."
He told them about the meeting. About Rosier. About the other students. About their projects.
Stella listened intently, chewing on a quill distractedly.
"Sounds... legitimate."
"Too legitimate," Solus said.
"What do you mean?" Albus asked.
"No one is that altruistic without reason. Rosier is building something. And I need to know what."
"So you're going to join?" Stella asked.
Solus thought about it.
"Yes. But carefully."
"Us too?" Albus asked nervously.
"No. You two stay out." Solus looked at both of them. "If this is a trap, I don't want all three of us inside. And if it's legitimate, I can bring you information."
Stella frowned.
"I don't like you going alone."
"I won't be alone. I'll be observing."
"Still."
"Trust me."
Stella sighed.
"Fine. But if Rosier tries anything weird, you tell us."
"I will."
Albus pulled a map of the castle from under a pile of books.
"We found this. It's from the 18th century. It shows passages that aren't on the official map anymore."
Solus studied it.
It was old. Yellowed.
But detailed.
And there, on the dungeon level, was something marked in faded ink:
Lower Chamber, Forbidden
"Is that...?" Stella began.
"I don't know," Solus said. "But it's a start."
He traced the path with his finger.
"The entrance would be... here. Near the Common Room. But it's not marked on modern blueprints."
"Because it was sealed?" Albus suggested.
"Probably."
"Can we look for it?" Stella asked excitedly.
"Tomorrow. Sunday. When there are even fewer people." Solus rolled up the map. "For now, we need to plan."
. . . . . .
Slytherin Common Room, 11:00 PM
That night, before sleeping, Solus checked his mother's letter again.
He reread it three times.
[The house feels empty without you]
[The garden is blooming]
[I miss you so much]
Everything sounded normal.
But that feeling of unease persisted.
'Something isn't right.'
'But I don't know what.'
'And I can't do anything from here.'
He put the letter in his trunk.
And tried to sleep.
But sleep didn't come easily.
. . . . . . .
Interlude
Ministry of Magic, Minister's Office, September 13, 2017, 11:00 PM (Local Time)
She read Rosier's letter for the third time.
Her office was austere.
Functional. Gray (grey) stone walls. A dark wooden desk. A window overlooking the Square, invisible to Muggles.
On her desk was a moving portrait: an eleven-year-old boy with black hair and green eyes. Her son.
She touched the portrait with a finger.
'My greatest achievement. And my greatest secret.'
She returned to the letter.
[Solus Gray. First year. Slytherin. Muggle-born]
She stood up and walked to the window.
The City, which was the epicenter (epicentre) of multiple battles and defenses (defences) in its long and exquisite history, shone under the night. Millions of Muggles. Unaware of the magical world that existed alongside them.
'Every day closer to discovering us.'
'Every day more dangerous.'
'And the ICW does nothing.'
'They only talk. Debate. Paralyze themselves.'
'Cowards.'
She had seen the future. She had calculated it.
In twenty years, maybe less, the Statute of Secrecy would collapse.
And when that happened, there would be chaos.
Or there would be order.
'My order.'
'But to build that order, I needed pieces in position.'
'Loyal agents.'
'Students who would become leaders. Wizards who would understand that the only way to survive was to take control.'
'Rosier is one of them at Hogwarts.'
'But if this Solus Gray is as notable as Hadrian suggests...'
'Maybe I need to observe him personally.'
She returned to her desk.
She took a blank parchment.
And began to write.
[Dear Hadrian,
Your report is interesting. This Solus Gray deserves attention.
Continue observing him.
But do not pressure him. Let him come to you naturally.
If he is as smart as you suggest, forcing him will only push him away.
And Hadrian... be careful.
Inform me of any development.
In confidence,N.M]
She sealed the letter.
Tomorrow she would send it.
For now, she looked at her son's portrait once more.
"Soon, my son," she whispered. "Soon you will have a world worthy of you."