Disclaimer: This is a work of fanfiction based on the Harry Potter Universe. All recognisable characters, plots, and settings are the exclusive property of Joanne Kathleen Rowling.

I make no claims to ownership, nor am I making any profit.

Some lines have been taken from Harry Potter and the Philosopher's stone. I'm not the owner of Harry Potter else, Harry would've been way more competent, and Sirius would've never died.

Type:-Self-Insert OC Fanfic.

Pairings-Not decided yet.

Author's Notes: I'll be taking a lot of liberty with some canon knowledge of events, and specific facts have been liberally changed to better facilitate the story's plot.

Special thanks to AJAvenger01 and Madness Immortality & Magic for being the betas for the chapter.

My other fic, Dulce Periculum, is also something I've been working on. I hope you check it out. I also have a Discord Server where I talk more about the story and updates, the link for the server is in my profile as well as at the end of the chapter.

Sortes Qui Facit

by

Ares Alexander Peverell

Year1: Rising Powers and Sorcerer Stones

Chapter8: Division of Serpents

All in all, it had been a fun evening for him. Arriving at his dorm room, Ares was sure that there was nothing that could spoil his good mood.

Oh! How wrong he was in his assumption.

Ares had hardly entered his room and had just changed into a fresh pair of pyjamas when he heard someone knocking at his door.

"Foolisssh humansss and their behavioursss. Why you do not let me bite sssome of them, is beyond me." Belleza angrily spoke, disturbed from her nap by the loud bang.

Ares couldn't help but agree with his familiar.

"Ssometimes I quessstion that myssself," Ares admitted to her.

He opened the door to see Gemma Farley of all people standing on his door.

"May I help you, Miss Farley " Ares questioned the prefect in a polite voice.

"All the Slytherins are being called downstairs for a House meeting. You are required to attend in ten minutes," she spoke in a curt voice, although there was a slight note of something in her voice that made Ares a bit wary of the upcoming meeting.

"Of course. I will be present," he told the female prefect in a monotonous voice, giving her a curt nod which was reciprocated.

She moved on towards the other rooms after the short exchange.

Probably to inform the others. Ares thought in his mind.

"Come with me and ssstay hidden inside the robe. Don't do anything unless someone tries to hurt me or I tell you to." Ares gestured into his robe sleeve, gesturing her to enter.

Belleza simply disappeared into the shadows of the robe. Ares picked up his wand before putting it into his holster. He had a gut feeling that something was going to go wrong(as it usually happened to him).

Ares was sure that fate was out there somewhere laughing at him. Downing his final headache relief potion of the day, he exited the room. Getting caught unaware was the worst thing in the serpent's nest.

Ares entered the dormitories after reciting the password to the portrait only to find the common room empty. He walked through the portrait of house logo to enter the duelling chambers where the house meetings were usually held.

The room was almost empty, with only a very few members there. Ares silently took a corner position to ensure that he could observe everything that was happening in the room, something he was sure didn't go unnoticed by the other members. All the other members were as observant as him, if not more.

Soon, people started trickling in. Most arriving in groups of two's or three's, although most senior Slytherins came in larger groups.

Ares nodded as he observed Daphne and Tracey entering the room, followed by Malfoy's entire group who swaggered towards the corner, standing by the side of Rosier and Fawley. They were soon joined by Hydrus Yaxley and William Travers and all the people who Ares presumed were his supporters or friends in the house. The number was far less than he believed.

By far, it looked like the largest group on the side of the room.

Ares mused out of his thoughts, just in time to see Arianna Rosier arrive with another small group. Much to almost everyone's surprise, however, instead of joining the other group, they simply moved towards his side of the room. From being practically alone to such a group on his side, it was something that befuddled him greatly.

If their move was intentional or the fact that the position was advantageous to them, he did not know. But Ares suspected that something big was about to happen if the brief looks of surprise on the face of Travers and Yaxley were something to go by.

Adrian Selwyn entered the room, quieting the murmurings around the room as he took his place into the centre of the room.

"You might be wondering the reason for this abrupt meeting. But since I was informed about it just now, I'd like to ask Mr Travers and Yaxley regarding the purpose of this meeting." Selwyn spoke in a soft voice. Ares didn't miss the brief flicker of something unknown in his eyes.

"That's right, Selwyn," spoke Yaxley, pushing him aside as he claimed the centre spot in the room.

So a coup then. Guess my assumptions were not incorrect. Ares mused, a frown appearing on his face. It could prove troublesome for him.

"You've been a disgrace to the house of Slytherin, Selwyn. Siding with mudbloods and these filthy half-bloods." he gave a seething glance towards Ares, "You are not fit to be a member of the Slytherin seven, let alone the leader of it." he victoriously declared, eliciting a silence from the entire house as they processed his words.

"For too long have we let our traditions go to waste. Mudbloods dare attack us while the blood-traitors like you support and encourage them. Adrian Selwyn, you're the reason for it." announced Travers, eliciting a loud cheer from almost everyone assembled here.

"You know nothing about ruling Yaxley. I would advise caution against what you're trying to achieve. It won't end very well." hissed Arianna, interrupting the impromptu speech.

"You joined the group of blood traitors, cousin? And yet you dare threaten us. I would ensure that Father -"

"Your father would do nothing, Rosier. If he knows what is good for him." Selwyn spoke, cutting off the statement.

"And you have it, my fellow snakes. If threats are given at random matters and not even familial matters can stay private, is our pitiful condition truly a surprise? Instead of being feared, we are simply crushed under the combined might of the three houses. Those foolish houses have forgotten our legacy as they would stop at nothing to remove those filthy, slimy snakes." Yaxley orated smoothly with unimaginable grace.

"Is this the legacy you want? I ask you all," he asked, gesturing towards the students with his hands. Enticing the students into a rebellion was a smart move in Ares' opinion.

"NO." came the shout from a passionate Malfoy, egging the others to follow suit.

Ares could see that it had the desired effect as almost everyone started glaring, some even becoming outright hostile.

Slowly but surely, Slytherins subtly trickled out of the room. Within minutes, only two groups were standing there. He had ignored Daphne's indication of calling him to move and gestured both of them to continue without him.

The smarter Slytherins had left while the ones who wanted their factions left in groups.

Thankfully, the duo had done as he had wanted them to. They were not foolish, though Tracey wanted to stay and help. But she was forcefully dragged away from the ongoing conflict by an irate Daphne.

Ares focused on the current scenario. It appeared as if a fight could break down any minute. Wands were drawn, people were on different sides and there was an influx of magic and emotions in the air.

"Last chance to back off Adrian," spoke Yaxley, a hint of warning in his voice, wand twitching in his hands.

His words didn't have the intended reaction and the person in question just snorted in response.

"Do you find this funny?" thundered Travers, losing his temper for the first time in the conflict and his face red with anger.

"Don't consider me so foolish as to not recognize your powerplay. I was the scapegoat from the start, wasn't I?" Selwyn questioned the duo with a knowing look in his eyes, who just stared back at him with amusement, although there was a tinge of wariness present in their eyes.

"My father will hear about this, Selwyn. It will hardly take much effort to yield the fall of the Ancient and Noble House of Selwyn " Malfoy bravely interrupted, likely emboldened by the group behind him.

Ares couldn't help himself. He snorted in amusement at the words of the insolent child.

"And why are you even here, Mudblood?" Malfoy questioned, angry at being interrupted by a person he considered 'inferior' to him which emitted a burst of laughter from his group.

Ares remained perfectly indifferent to his rather pathetic attempt at insulting him.

"Aww... What's icicle Draco gonna do? Will mommy's little dragon send a letter to his daddy about me too?" Ares taunted in a mocking tone, a bright smirk plastered on his face.

Malfoy simply turned a lovely shade of red at that statement.

"You call us a hypocrite when you are involving firsties in the fights of Slytherin house?" Arianna fired back, apparently not at all fazed by Malfoy's presence.

Ares could see that Malfoy's involvement had complicated matters even further. He was frankly becoming a headache for him. And since it was all beyond his intellectual capabilities, Ares was sure that it was the work of Lucius Malfoy's attempt to elevate his heir to the top.

"ENOUGH. I'll show you your place now, you filthy mudblood. That's for daring to mess with my father." shrieked Alex Rosier, before pointing out his wand at Ares and firing a purplish-red spell with surprising agility, taking him by surprise. He knew he had been taken by surprise once again.

Before the spell could strike, a shining blue shield appeared in its path, rendering it useless.

Selwyn had still maintained the shield, anticipating further spells. As several more bone-breakers and cutters struck the shield, he was not disappointed, but it held against the onslaught.

"Secare, Percutio, Pierre Scutus, Relashio." Ares cast in retaliation, not giving his enemy any further chances. While Selwyn had managed to protect him, it was always better if the enemy was incapacitated.

However, Rosier was ready this time around. The first two caused large dents in the shield before the shield breaker almost shattered it. The banishing charm pushed Rosier back due to the onslaught of the spell chain battering his shield.

Within a fraction of a second, wands were raised and dozens of spells were on the tip of the wands of everyone around.

"ENOUGH. There's no need to escalate it any further. Selwyn, you're intelligent enough to know when you're beaten. Accept it." Yaxley advised.

"Yeah, yeah. Accept defeat like the loser you are, Selwyn." Malfoy taunted.

"Why! You little piece of shit. I'll-"

"He's right Arianna. I know when I'm beaten. No need to take it any further." Selwyn spoke in a soft voice, eliciting murmurings from the groups present.

Several members protested at the statement.

"I know. But we can't afford to be this divided. The other houses will chew us up faster than we could say Quidditch." Selwyn tried to explain to his allies.

"Maybe you still have control over your brain facilities, after all, Selwyn." drawled Travers, a winning smirk on his face.

"Don't misunderstand my intellect for weakness, Travers."

"Won't dream of it." came the reply.

"Also, take that filthy Mudblood Potter with you. He'd look better with a bunch of mudblood lovers." Fawley spoke, a cruel glint in his eyes.

"Take that Mudblood Potter with you." mimicked Ares, " This filthy Mudblood almost managed to take all of you out."

"Want to try that again?" quirked Fawley, twirling his wand.

"Why don't you ask that question from your right forearm." Ares mocked in return. "I must say, it looked better with your bones cut into pieces. I'd dare say that it was the only part of you that looked even half-decent."

It was a bit risky, playing with fire. But where there is a risk, there is always some fun.

"And you, Potter, don't be a thorn in my side. Else I would deal with you. I assure you of that." threatened Yaxley, facing him menacingly.

"You wouldn't. Potter is under my protection. You deal with him, you deal with me." Selwyn warned, shocking Ares with his proclamation.

"I won't allow that. That's against the Slytherin rules." barked Travers, giving Ares a headache. He was seriously annoyed with people younger than him acting as if they were older than him. However, he bit back the urge to retort and held his tongue.

"What about Malfoy then? Are you not breaking the rules in his case?" Arianna reminded him.

"Lord Malfoy have specifically asked us-"

"And yet, it doesn't matter. He's a mere firstie." Selwyn spoke with a tone of finality, gesturing to the group of firsties.

"I'm not a mere firstie, Selwyn. I'm a Malfoy." he proudly declared, puffing his chest out like a strutting peacock.

"Do you practise that stance every morning, Draco?" Ares taunted, earning a snort from Selwyn.

"Laugh it up. You three are gonna meet the same fate as your worthless parents anyway." Malfoy gestured to Ares, Selwyn and Arianna.

Something must've struck a nerve as Adrian had to physically restrain her from outright attacking the smirking Malfoy. He then almost dragged her to the entrance, being followed by his entire group.

"Are you coming, Potter?" Selwyn asked Ares.

Ares simply followed him. It was no use to stand there without the group, or his so-proclaimed "allies". It would prove to be an interesting conversation. He knew that Selwyn had his agendas, but Ares was not foolish enough to turn away an offer of protection, even from a much weaker faction. Considering the silent conversations in the group, more than half of them would be leaving it to create their separate factions. Ares had seen enough of that in his previous life.

Ares readjusted Belleza in his sleeves and silently stroked her. This impromptu alliance with Selwyn was good for him. For now at least. He could only wait to see what the future would hold for him.

Another chapter is done and expect regular updates from now on. I will already have another two chapters written by the time I post this chapter, so you can expect regular updates for the next two weeks.

I'm trying to increase the chapter-length but I can't replicate the element of anticipation that can be easily created in smaller chapters. Still, I'm aiming for 2k words minimum.

I have a request for my readers. I have a Discord server where I post contents that are relevant to the SQFverse, and I'd appreciate you there. The community also has several fellow writers and if you're interested in writing, that's the place you can get all the guidance and the start you need.

Discord Link-/6ngeKHXktN

You're all welcome to Thestral Manor. Our server is a lot more open-minded than most others, along with having several other writers. I also post a lot of spell and story aspects that are not feasible here. I'd love to see you there. :)

Thanking you,

Yours sincerely,

Ares Alexander Peverell.