Ashika knew her school life will not be as normal as she expected. It's true that she attended the magic school, Hogwarts. But at least she is not a Child of Prophecy or a side character to supporting the main character of this world. And she wasn't born into a family that related to the main character nor any of the wizarding families in this world.
Her fairly normal life in this second life was disrupted when she set her foot at Hogwarts. Sorted to Slytherin made her school life far from normal.
Seeing Lucius Malfoy carelessly throwing dirty and nasty curses at Murton, a third year student, in the Slytherin common room, and almost all Slytherins laughing scornfully behind their hands, makes Ashika aware that if you've been sorted in Slytherin, then your hopes of living a normal magic school life is gone.
Even if you keep your head down and do not want to do any business with anyone, it is still impossible in Slytherin.
The mentors given by Malfoy? Yeah, they teach and guide us, but their main job? Watching our movements, leading us to follow any of their plans. And brainwashing students? Definitely. For how long? Until the mentors graduate from Hogwarts.
It is true that the mentoring programme is only for one year. But under their little thumb and compensation for tutoring and afforded some protection? That is until they graduate.
We will be free from all of that when we are fourth year student and so on. And of course despite the freedom, the brainwashing and tradition will not easily disappear. The scars still be there for the rest of our life.
And Ashika only realised how serious it is when she heard some gossip from the Slytherins, that Murton acted against his mentor's command.
You acted against your mentor, the rex anguis will give you punishment and humiliated you in front of your housemates.
What the f-
How long Slytherin operated like this? Isn't anyone sick of this disgusting traditions and rules?!
Why why why the hat sorted her to Slytherin.
Oh my god.
Seeing the battered and bloody Murton made Ashika's body freeze.
Oh, she had seen typical violence like this before, but saw the people around her just staring blankly and laughing scornfully behind their hands at this poor boy?
What is wrong with this people? No humanity? Did their pureblood traditions and upbringing from childhood make them like this?
Ashika looked around again more carefully.
And oh, she can see more clearly, a hidden pity and disgust. The way some of them eyed Murton with pity, and a quick glance toward Malfoy with disgust, then quickly cover it up with their typical Slytherin sneer.
Ashika titled her head. She remember her first day on Slytherin no one step up to challenged Lucius Malfoy for his rex anguis spot. They'll need power if they want to change the tradition and step on Malfoy's reign...
Ashika snapped from her thoughts when Malfoy ordered his follower to take Murton to the hospital wing. And then people slowly scattered around.
Ashika blinked when Damien nudges her arms.
He raised his eyebrow. "Come on."
Oh right, kitchen.
This is second time Ashika felt someone casually followed her to the kitchen.
Ashika spun around to find a boy with black hair and green eyes. Sadly, it is not Harry Potter, he does not wear any glasses or has a lightning scar, he is just another snake in her year.
"What do you want Rookwood?"
"What? Can't I enjoy having some leisurely walk with our lovely Japanese resident?" Augustus Rookwood drawled and smiled slightly.
Ashika raised her eyebrow, smile sweetly."Watch it Rookwood, don't want your fiancée glared at me with her lovely blue eyes and thick eyelashes for the rest of her life. Surely you rather want her attention solely on you right?"
Ashika snorted when she saw Rookwood grimaced a bit after she mentioned his fiancée. A third year Slytherin girl, Cecilia Pucey, famous for her fiercely self-claimed lover of Rookwood, a first year.
Weird kids.
"Definitely not so scary as his mother's loud shrieking to Lord Rookwood when she caught his inappropriate act to a young witch in the middle of Yule." Damien snarked, stood beside her, crossed his arms on his chest.
Damn. Some foul mouth friend she got.
Not that Ashika minded about it. She is also like that. Or maybe worse.
Anyway, she knew Damien did not feel particularly anything towards the Rookwood's heir, he just talked like that to preventing Rookwood to follow them.
But damn. That Yule Party she heard lately sounds like fun and scandalous.
Rookwood paused then sniffed, "as if I care about that."
Ashika blinked, he doesn't care about his family? not expecting that from a pureblood Slytherin. Family issues lot of them.
Ashika eyed his hunched shoulder, lazy posture, still content following them to the kitchen. "Do you want to taste the wonderful natto gohan with me?"
"What is that?"
"I will show you." Ashika said cheerfully and grinning happily, "you will definitely like it!"
Rookwood just raised his eyebrow at her and nodded. Ashika can see Damien shuddered when she mentioned the food.
Damien with his poor taste buds, can not handle fermented soybeans. As soon as he tried to eat it, he vomited.
Rude.
Strangely Rookwood definitely did not mind eating fermented soybeans with rice. That or he has perfect mask to conceal his expression.
He seems enjoyed the food though.
Damien also did not forget to eyed them and their food with pure disgust face. Unconsciously scaring some poor house-elves.
Rude.
"You're not so bad, Japan girl, I will come around and ask you more for Japanese food."
...Okay.
"I'm sure Wilkes want to come around too. Bye." He waved lazily and walked out of the kitchen with hands on his pocket.
So that was his intention. Well, Ashika knew he will come around, probably curious about her after heard about how she helped his friend, Wilkes.
Wait... two mini death eaters will come and start hanging around? Yeah sounds like just normal school life.
Ugh.