Chapter 6: the Dungeon and the odd bunch
I followed the Slytherin Prefect to the dungeons along with my other first years.
"This is the entrance to the Slytherin common room and dorms," Gemma Farley, a Slytherin Prefect, said, waving her hand at a blank wall. "Ambition", she said to the wall, and a stone serpent rose from the ground and silvered on the wall to make an archway. Through the arch, there was no longer a wall but the entrance to the common room. I thought it was an incredible piece of magic. And from the gasps of surprise from the others, I think they agreed.
The common room was a dungeon-like room with greenish lamps and chairs. This dungeon extended partway under the lake, with three large windows on that side of the common room, providing an underwater view and giving the light in the room a green tinge. There was a grand staircase on the opposite side of the common room. The common room had many low-backed black and dark green button-tufted leather sofas, skulls, and dark wood cupboards.
Gemma pointed to a bulletin board near the entrance: "The password changes every two weeks. You can find the new one there." She explained. "Boys dorms are in the hallway throughout the left and first door on the left for your first years. Girls on the right and first right. It's 3 per room. Your names will be on the doors." Indicating two hallways near the grand staircase. "Don't think of trying the other gender dorms that are magically trapped and punishment are severe." She warned.
"Lastly, what happens in the common rooms stays in the common rooms; outside we are a united Slytherins." Gemma looked at Draco. "The prefects will punish anyone caught mistreating other Slytherins in public."
Right, I thought snake nest; you can't have the others thinking we all hate each other.
I headed off to my dorm room.
[Room 3]
[Edward Carter]
[Timothy Mathers]
[Grant Stewart]
Pushing open the door, I walked into my dorm. Three four-poster beds with green covers and green curtains, each had plague with our names on them. I found mine it was near a window, which I like. I looked over my furniture, bed, writing desk, and wardrobe. Taking out my wand, I taped my trunk and cast <service unseen>. It was a handy spell in cooking with magic, allowing mundane tasks to be achieved with magic. The truck unlocked my robes, flew out, and hung themselves in the wardrobe. Socks and jocks followed, folding themselves and placing them in drawers. I stood conducting the magic with waves of my wand. Humming classical music, my books put themselves on the writing desk, spare parchment and quills into the desk drawer. My walkman landed softly on my end table, and my cassettes were correctly organised. It had taken about 3 minutes for all this to happen. Once my trunk was empty, it closed, locked itself and slid under the bed.
"Cool", a voice said behind me. Startled, I turned around to see my two roommates. One who was sitting on his trunk, Grant Steward, had a smile on his lips and nodded to me. He was a blonde boy with green eyes and glasses who seemed to be brought up in a decent home. Tim, on the other hand, was short, with brown hair and brown eyes that were wide with wonder.
"Sorry, just putting things away," I said sheepishly. "Edward, but you can call me Eddie", sticking out my hand to Tim.
"I'm Tim, Tim Mathers," he said, shaking my hand. "What magic was that."
"Ah, just a simple household spell, service unseen; it just animates tasks, like scrubbing dishes or folding clothes." I said, " I found it in this", walking over and grabbing my copy of Cooking with Magic and handing it to Tim.
"Mother uses that spell a lot at home", Grant said. "Father still sometimes just sits and watches it with amazement", getting up. "Grant steward, half-blood", shaking Tim's and Eddie's hands.
"Ah, I'm a muggle-born", Tim said shyly
"I could be as well", I said to him and Grant. "Orphan raised by muggles", I explained.
"Ah, I see, so we're the odd ones then", Grant said.
"Odd ones?" Tim asked.
"Most of the Slytherins are pure of blood, meaning from wizard families", I explained to Tim, "They think it makes them better, but, really, it just divides them from the rest of the world."
"yes, that's what Mother says, too," Grant said.
"Whelp, I plan on not spending much time in the common room, so no skin off my nose." I said, "I'm off to bed; I'm a pretty early riser. I'll try not to wake you when I head off for my morning run."
"Run?" Grant asked
"Yeah, I exercise pretty much every day except weekends; you guys could join me if you want," I said, not sure if I wanted them to join or not.
"No thanks, I like my sleep," Tim said.
"Maybe another time" said Grant.
I could not help but feel a little disappointed and relieved at those answers.
I went to bed wishing that all this wasn't a big mistake. I woke early, checking the time. It was 5:15, perfect for a run. I probably wouldn't be able to get to the grounds, but the halls on the first floor were long and straight. Putting on runner sweatpants and a jumper, I snuck out of the dorm and common room and started to run. I did a few laps of the first floor till I was puffed, stopping in a courtyard. I began my exercises. Push-ups, squats, and crunches. Done with that, I walked to cool down back to the common room. I saw Professor Snape leaving his office.
"Morning professor," I said in greeting.
"Mr. Carter, I'm glad you are in my house. How was your workout," Snape said.
"Good sir, the Scottish morning air seems to agree." I said with a smile, "Ah, sir, I wanted to ask something."
"Fine, go on," he said
"At Gringotts, why didn't you inform me I could have taken an inheritance test?" I asked, trying not to make an accusation.
"Yes, I didn't think it would be necessary." Snape answered, "I assumed and still do, mind you. That you are muggle-born, because no one has heard of a wizarding Carter family."
"But the Sorting hat said he hadn't heard the Carter name for a long time", I Rebuttal.
"Well, maybe you should take the test, but it needs to wait till Christmas school has started." Snape replied, "Now on with you. Breakfast will begin in 20 minutes, and you don't want to miss it."
"Okay, professor," I said and walked to my dorm to grab my things for a shower.
Entering, Grant was up and ready. Tim was snoring like a lumberjack. I slammed the door, startling Tim out of his sleep. "breakfast in 20 minutes," I shouted.
"Yup, sure, dad", Tim muttered. Grant and I looked at each other and started laughing.
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