Lucius Malfoy walked at the very front of the line, his voice, like an aria, clearly reaching the ears of every First-year Student: "First-year Students, stay close to me, and watch your step. The stairs at Hogwarts change from time to time, so be careful not to miss a step."
Thomas had already experienced the stairs at Hogwarts and nodded empathetically, feeling a sense of dread; they were indeed not good stairs.
"This path leads to the Slytherin Common Room. Now, remember every section we walk through. I don't want to hear from the portraits that any Slytherin has gotten lost."
Led by Lucius Malfoy, they moved through the ancient and mysterious Castle of Hogwarts.
They followed the spiraling stairs downwards, passing through one corridor after another.
As the group went deeper, the surroundings became increasingly quiet and profound. Thomas felt a faint mist in the air—was this... the bottom of the lake?
The expressions on the portraits hanging on both sides of the corridor grew more solemn. Most of them wore Slytherin uniforms and were likely portraits of outstanding Slytherin students from past generations... Finally, they arrived at the entrance to the Slytherin Common Room, located deep beneath Hogwarts.
The First-year Students' eyes were drawn in unison to the massive stone wall ahead. Above the stone wall, a lifelike Medusa statue stood proudly, its eyes closed, but exuding a heart-pounding power.
As the torches flickered, the statue's surface seemed to be gilded with a golden glow, both mysterious and alluring.
Lucius Malfoy stopped and turned around.
His sharp grey eyes swept over the group of First-year Students.
"Remember," he began slowly, his voice deep and powerful: "The Common Room of each House is a private space exclusive to its students and must be entered with a password."
"The password is one of the most vital secrets within the House and is strictly forbidden to be revealed to students from any other House. Violators will learn what 'regret' means."
Under the torchlight, his face appeared even more stern and profound, every movement conveying unquestionable authority: "This month's password is—'Glory'!"
As Lucius finished speaking, the Medusa statue seemed to come to life, its tightly closed eyes suddenly opening, emitting a sharp beam of light. Immediately after, the statue's body twisted slightly, and the stone wall slowly slid open to both sides, revealing a wide passage... Thomas: This wall, it's an old actor...
Slytherin Common Room.
When they turned the corner and entered the Common Room.
Thomas finally saw the scene inside, feeling as if he had walked onto the set of a horror movie.
The only light source in the dim Common Room came from circular lamps with a eerie green glow, suspended by metal chains. They were like the ghostly eyes in a deep forest, casting dappled shadows across this underground space.
Outside the French windows was the dark green, deep lake water, reflecting the lamps and giving the large Common Room a strange green hue.
Exquisitely carved tables and chairs were arranged in an orderly fashion.
But upon closer inspection, one would find that the decorations on the tables were actually skulls!
These skulls, illuminated by the green light, created an atmosphere that was both mysterious and slightly gloomy.
Students from other years had been waiting for a long time. These wizards in black robes, sitting or standing, all turned their chilling gazes towards you in unison... Thomas could clearly hear the sound of several young wizards beside him swallowing nervously. Was this Slytherin's welcoming ceremony?
Interesting.
"Ah ha, children." A voice broke the silence in the room.
In the central chair of the Common Room, a short, stout man stood up. He wore a brown wizard robe, which made him stand out in the dark room.
"I am Horace Slughorn. The Dean of Slytherin House, that is, your Dean. If you encounter any problems, you can always come to me; I am very happy to solve problems for you young wizards." He walked and spoke, and within a few sentences, he was beside the First-year Students, then suddenly his expression darkened, startling them: "But I hope you won't bother me with any idiotic questions."
Immediately, he resumed his smile and patted Lucius Malfoy's shoulder: "I'll leave the rest to you, Lucius."
"Yes, Dean." Lucius Malfoy bowed politely, and Thomas keenly caught a hint of disdain in his eyes.
After Lucius finished speaking, Slughorn left without looking back.
"Is this our Dean?" Severus looked at Thomas doubtfully. He knew Professor McGonagall was the Dean of Gryffindor, but the Dean of Slytherin didn't seem very reliable... Thomas shrugged and quietly mimicked Slughorn's tone: "Who cares, we don't have any 'idiotic' questions to ask him anyway."
Severus was amused.
After Slughorn left, Lucius Malfoy walked to the center of the Common Room, and several older students quickly and tacitly gathered around him.
Together, they waved their wands, chanting spells Thomas had never heard before. As the light at the tips of their wands grew, the tables and chairs in the Common Room swiftly slid to the sides along predetermined paths.
A moment later, the previously somewhat crowded center of the Common Room miraculously cleared, and a raised platform slowly ascended. It emitted a faint blue light, forming a stark contrast with the surrounding dim and mysterious atmosphere.
A wizard Dueling Platform, Thomas often saw it in wizard adventure stories.
The First-year Students were deeply captivated by this scene, some excited, some frightened. They whispered among themselves, discussing it...