"Hogwarts chooses Prefects as student leaders, but we Slytherins are different." Lucius Malfoy stood on the high platform. With a gentle wave of his wand, the 'Sonorus' charm ensured his voice permeated every corner of the common room. Even the First-year Students standing at the very edge could clearly hear his every word: "Slytherin respects only the strong."
"Today is the first day of school, and we will select the Year Head and House Head through duels. A Year Head will be chosen for each year, while only the strongest can assume the role of House Head."
At this, Lucius slightly raised his chin, an unspoken pride and confidence emanating from him. He scanned his surroundings, a hint of challenge in his gaze, as if declaring to everyone present: "And standing before you now is the current House Head – I, Lucius Malfoy. Any Slytherin student can challenge me, including First-year Students."
"But before that, we need to hold the Year Head duels, starting with the First-years. Alright, all First-year Students who wish to compete for House Head, please come up." As Lucius's words fell, the entire common room plunged into a brief silence. The older students were already familiar with this routine, while the First-year Students had not yet reacted.
"Rabastan Lestrange." As the first person stepped onto the platform, others quickly followed, unwilling to be outdone.
"..."
"Nox Avery."
"Kronos Mulciber."
"..."
Almost all the First-year Students stood on the dueling platform, except for... Although Thomas and Severus stood in an inconspicuous corner, many older students noticed the only two First-year Students still off the platform, their eyes filled with disdain and malice: "Half-bloods are indeed the shame of wizards..."
Thomas yawned lazily, leaning against a chair where Severus was sitting upright: There were fewer than thirty First-year Students in total. This number was less lively than the class monitor elections when they were children. What was there to argue about?
Lucius Malfoy's grey eyes swept over them, a flicker of interest in his gaze.
It seemed these two young wizards were afraid to step onto the dueling platform, but what kind of simple characters would First-year Students be, who remained unfazed under numerous malicious stares?
"Let the duels begin!" At his command, various magic flew across the dueling platform... Even young wizards raised in pureblood families had very limited knowledge of magic, so the First-year Students' duels quickly concluded.
The First-year Head was the first boy to step onto the dueling platform: Rabastan Lestrange.
As Rabastan's victory was announced, an older boy sitting not far away, whose face bore some resemblance to Rabastan's, couldn't help but curve his lips into a smug smile.
The subsequent duels, with each increasing year, became more and more spectacular.
They used a variety of spells, and their attack power grew stronger.
Light and shadow intertwined, spells flew, and various colors of light flashed wildly in the common room.
Fire, ice, explosions... young wizards who had not yet graduated could already unleash astonishing power, but the magical arena steadily absorbed the students' magic attacks. Not a single magic attack leaked beyond the dueling platform, and the surface, which looked like ordinary stone, did not even show a single crack.
It was almost deep into the night before all the Year Heads were selected.
To Thomas's surprise, no one challenged Lucius Malfoy's position as House Head.
Thomas didn't think Lucius Malfoy was truly invincible in terms of combat power within the House; at least in his perception, there were several students whose magic energy was higher than his.
This House truly valued bloodline and family background, just as the rumors said.
"The Head duels are over. Everyone can go to their respective dormitories."
"The First-year Students' dormitories are on this floor, boys to the left, girls to the right." As House Head, Lucius Malfoy diligently led the First-year Students to the floor where their dormitories were located: "Boys are not allowed into the girls' dormitories; ladies are free to do as they please."
"Your timetables and luggage have already been placed in your respective dormitories by the House-elf. I do not want to hear of any Slytherin being deducted points for being late to class!" He emphasized with a heavier tone, then let the First-year Students go find their dormitories.
As Thomas passed him, he heard that operatic voice again, this time very soft and with a hint of goodwill: "Severus and Thomas, if you have any issues with your dormitory, you can come to me. I would be happy to help you."
"Thank you, senior." Thomas smiled and nodded politely. Although he didn't know why this Slytherin leader would show them goodwill, one doesn't hit a smiling face.
He and Severus slowly walked to the end of the corridor, where they finally saw a small wooden plaque with their names hanging on a slightly conspicuous door.
Compared to the surrounding dorm doors, which were ornately decorated and shiny new, this door looked particularly old.
Thomas frowned and pushed the door open. It wouldn't be some old trope about giving impure-blood students a hard time, would it? Is that why that Malfoy senior said what he did?
Fortunately, the interior of the room was not small and was very clean.
Directly ahead were two wooden desks, one of which had a simple snake-shaped stone carving on it. Underneath the sculpture were two pieces of parchment – the timetables for the First-year Students.
There was a large glass window in front of the desk, looking out onto a deep, mysterious lake. No creatures could be seen at night.
Two solid wood four-poster beds were placed in the middle, already made with dark green bedding. Severus expressed great satisfaction with this color.
Thomas was also very satisfied. Wasn't this room quite good? Except for the old door... What he didn't know was that with the quiet rise of Lord Voldemort's power, Slytherin House had seen an unprecedented influx of students.
But most Slytherins came from noble families, and a two-person dormitory was already their bottom line!
Against this backdrop, mixed-blood students without strong backgrounds or family influence were assigned to dormitories that had been abandoned for various reasons.
Thanks to the diligent and responsible House-elf, Thomas and Severus did not feel that this dormitory had been abandoned for a long time.
It was late. The two simply tidied up their luggage, washed up, and then fell into a deep sleep.
Aegis twisted twice on Thomas's hand, and only then did a groggy Thomas remember it.
With his eyes closed, he felt Aegis's metallic scales: "Go play, Aegis, but don't let anyone discover your existence."
Aegis crawled down from the sleeping Thomas's hand and coiled around the snake-shaped sculpture: "Salazar..."
With an angry slap, he extinguished the erupting volcano at his bedside. Thomas sat up in bed, groggily hugging his quilt: "Good morning, Severus."
"Morning, Thomas. If you don't get up soon, volcanic ash will engulf your bed." Severus was already fully dressed, but he wasn't reading as usual. Instead, he had moved a chair to sit by the window, looking at the bottom of the lake.
"I hate this volcano setting the most. Can't we really get rid of it!" Thomas complained to his brother.
This so-called "alarm clock" was actually their alchemical creation, a 'discarded' version that had been wildly enhanced and was full of variables.
More like a prank toy than an alarm clock, it would randomly switch to thrilling scenes of volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, or avalanches when they overslept, making them tremble with fear and forcing them to wake up from their dreams.
However, all of this was just an illusion, not a real disaster.
As soon as it was turned off, all sensations would instantly disappear.
"No," Severus replied without turning his head. "Because you can't do it. Come on, Thomas, I hate those disco lights!"
Thomas scratched his head. Indeed, that was true.
Every runic component in an alchemical product is a precise and accurate setting, and together they form a complex and delicate balanced system.
Modifying such a system requires extremely high skill and deep alchemical knowledge, and he was currently far from that level.
Even this alarm clock was something he had stumbled upon by accident, and he couldn't even replicate it at the moment, so he couldn't bear to break it.
He sighed, jumped out of bed, and walked over to Severus, asking curiously, "So what are you looking at?"
Severus pointed his finger at the bottom of the lake: "Submerged grass, ironwood trees, barracuda slime, fluorescent coral, psychedelic scallops... all valuable potion ingredients that are hard to come by!"
Listening to Severus's detailed introduction of the marine flora and fauna, Thomas couldn't help but feel surprised.
This lake was truly strange; both freshwater and saltwater creatures coexisted, a miracle of the ecosystem.
Severus's tone heightened: "Look, there's even a Grindylow nest there. I've always wanted their horn powder!"
Thomas smiled and looked down, meeting his brother's bright, dark eyes: "I also saw many moonstones. It's truly magical."
Severus excitedly said, "Thomas, for our project this month, let's research diving equipment!"