The Slytherin Dungeons was just as Harry remembered; rough stone made up the walls and ceiling of the underground common room, just over half of the room extended under The Black Lake, making a soft green glow come from the windows. Dark wooden cabinets and shelves stretched across the walls, stairs of the same dark wood sat at the back of the room, leading to the sleeping dorms. The carpet beneath their feet was emerald green and soft to the touch, portraits of famous Slytherin's and tapestries of their adventures adorned the walls. The fire in the elaborate fireplace was already crackling, giving the room a comfortable warmth to it. The only difference was, that all the black leather furniture had been pushed to the sides leaving an open space in the middle of the common room. One by one the students, new and old, walked in and moved around the room waiting their Head of House. Thankfully they didn't have to wait long.
"First years" Severus Snape's voice was loud and clear, and just like the year before he had everyone silent and staring at him, giving him their full attention.
"You have been sorted into the proud house of Salazar Slytherin, you are cunning and ambitious, unfortunately you will face prejudice from the other three houses. Which is why the number one rule in Slytherin, you will have an united front. I do not care if you have your disagreements or fights. But they will be held in private. You will stand up for each other no matter what outside the common room" Harry had to hold in a snort, it was the exact same speech he received last year.
"Each first year will be paired up with an older Slytherin, at night before lights out you will sit down together, if you are struggling with anything they will try to help, if they cannot, they will bring you to me" He explained patiently. Harry zoned out when Severus began to pair up the first years, he wasn't bothered, most tutors were at least in their third year, if not fourth, before being picked. After what seemed like hours, but must of only been half an hour at the most, all the first years had been sorted with older students and the exciting part of the night would take place.
"Tonight is very special, for the first time in three years Slytherin House is in need of a new Acting Prince. Knights stand by the fireplace, everyone else, stand around the edges of the room, no need to fear, a barrier will be erected for your safety."
Grinning Harry stood up and moved to his spot, he expected to be at the end of the line as the second year Knight, but he was proven wrong when it appeared the first years had already rallied around their Knight. Surprisingly it wasn't either of the Carrows standing beside him, but Regan Harper, with a perfected blank mask.
"Anyone who wants to duel for Acting Prince or Princess step forward" Severus's voice rang out, Harry was curious over who would be trying for it this year, he had been excited for this ever since his Father had told him about it. Cassius Warrington stepped forward and knelt in front of his Head of House, he was a well built fifth year, his year mate and current Knight Peter Blishwick copied him. Sixth year Knight Gemma Farley stepped forward confidently and knelt next to the others. Harry raised an eyebrow at his sister across the room, there were more people stepping forward than he thought would. Sixth year Lucian Bole followed her but he was clearly apprehensive, knowing his year mate, Gemma, was lethal and shouldn't be underestimated. The last person to step forward and kneel was seventh year Captain and Chaser Marcus Flint. Severus stared down at the kneeling five with an impassive expression.
"You have stepped forward to stand for the proud House of Slytherin, to be a proxy to the true King, to lead and guide The Knights, to teach and defend The Soldiers." his voice was smooth and silky, everyone listened eagerly.
"Will you accept and complete your tasks with honor and to the best of your abilities, if the title shall be entrusted you?"
"I do" the five kneeling students murmured, still not looking up at Severus.
"You will all take an individual turn fighting against me, the two that fair the best shall proceed to fight each other, the winner will take the title, the runner up shall be their advisor and right hand. Is this clear?" Severus asked smirking as he shed his outer robe to reveal the dueling clothes he was wearing underneath. Harry's green eyes widened in shock, he didn't know they had to fight their Head of House first, that train of thought led to him snorting in amusement, his Father's Head of House had been the Potions Master Horace Slughorn. He had seen pictures of the man before, and it was nothing short of an amusing thought, from her twinkling eyes Harry knew Hermione was thinking the same thing. She was seated on a small couch on the other side of the room from him with Daphne, Pansy and Luna all whispering to each other quietly, Draco, Blaise and Theo were all watching intently and eagerly from the floor in front of the girls couch.
"Now for the rules" he said staring intensely at the five before him, if they didn't follow the simple rules they were told, they would automatically lose their chance, and not get another chance again.
"As we are still on Hogwarts grounds, any illegal or unforgivable spells will be detected by the Headmaster and the Ministry, if used I will not cover for you, you have been warned and if you are stupid enough to use them anyway you deserve the punishment" he said sneering.
"This is not a normal duel, this is a duel for leadership over your house mates, and as such you will not have a second to rely on. Only yourself." he said as he began to pace.
"Only magical means will have a place in this duel, any physical contact and you will lose your chance" this was an extremely common as a rule for duelling and no one was surprised to hear it.
"You will not go for a killing blow, once your opponent is unconscious, the duel is over!" he snapped loudly, before spinning around, erecting a ward to block the students from the duel.
"Now, shall we start?" Severus sneered as his eyes fell on Cassius Warrington, his father had been a low level Death Eater and had been rather pathetic, constantly messing up and trying to blame others. Even Tom had disliked the man, but they needed the numbers badly so he had avoided killing him, although he had enjoyed torturing the man.
Everyone watched at Severus and Cassius bowed to each other before taking up their dueling stances, Harry snickered as worry flickered across Warrington's face before the first spell was cast. It was a relatively boring duel with minor Jinxes and Curses thrown, it barely lasted three minutes before Warrington was hit with a Stupify and slumped to the ground knocked out. Rolling his obsidian eyes Severus revived him and sent him to stand off to the side while beckoning to Peter Blishwick. As a Knight, it was expected that he would last longer than Warrington. The fifth year did well, dodging and sending spells back, but he still only lasted seven minutes against the Potions Master. Taking a deep breath, Gemma Farley walked forward, her eyes focused, the sixth year bowed at her professor before moving back and taking up her own stance. It was more advanced than Warrington's, her blue eyes narrowed as she watched Severus for any sign of movement, her wrist holding her wand was loose and relaxed. The second Severus sent a spell towards her she leapt to the left before sending her own back at him fiercely. Harry was impressed as she twirled around avoiding more and more spells, she sent her own back, a few even Harry hadn't heard of before. She lasted around eight minutes, five whole minutes longer than Warrington who was now glaring at her from his spot beside the other competitors. Grinning she bowed at Severus in respect before retaking her place in the line. Lucian Bole stepped forward next, Harry grimaced in disgust as he wiped his sweaty hands on his robes, he wasn't the only one either Hermione had scrunched up her face, Gemma had wrinkled her nose delicately and Severus sneered at him. It was over rather quickly for Bole, he lasted longer than Warrington, but still four minutes shorter than Gemma, and three minutes shorter than Blishwick, he left the floor looking dejected. Marcus stepped forward, a dark smirk on his face, he knew he could do it, he only had to beat Blishwicks time to qualify for the final fight. Eight minutes and four seconds later Marcus bowed proudly after being revived, his dark eyes full of satisfaction as the other three males were sent away.
"The two fighting for the title are; Gemma Farley, sixth year and Prefect of Slytherin and Marcus Flint, seventh year and Captain and Chaser of Slytherin Quidditch team" Severus' voice bellowed around them using a mild version of the sonorus charm to be heard above the cheering from the students. Suddenly everyone changed their positions, without even talking to each other, Marcus was standing on the left side of the common room with his friends and other supporters behind him, the Quidditch team directly at his side. Gemma was on the right side with all her friends and supporters behind her, with her best friends Serah and Claire were on either side of her. Severus was in the middle of the room with his black robes back on, the robes were floating around him, sitting on the pure magic that was coming from his core and surging around him.
"The rules are the same as before, all other students remember to stay behind the containment ward. Flint, Farley, you ready?" Severus asked raising an eyebrow at them.
"Yes sir" they chorused, both calm and collected, smirking at each other in confidence.
"Bow to each other" he said watching them carefully as they bowed lowly but maintained eye contact with each other, he knew both were extremely good duelers and sneaky with their attacks, so it would be a good duel.
"3.. 2.. 1.. DUEL!"
"Avis" Gemma whispered conjuring a small flock of blue birds. Before pointing her wand at Marcus, she grinned wickedly at him, while shouting,
"Oppugno!" Marcus dodged quickly to the left as the birds dived at him.
"Tarantallegra" he shouted sending the Jinx back at her, she growled as her feet danced wildly.
"Finite!" she cried desperately, falling back with a thud she was released, thankfully avoiding the second spell sent from Marcus. She somehow managed to get up onto her feet and sent a spell back at her opponent at the same time he sent a third.
"Flipendo" the light blue spell forced Marcus to fly backwards into the shimmery containment ward, crashing to the ground.
"Reducto!" Gemma was forced to fall to the ground a split second second after she had sent her spell, the Reducto shattering the top of the fireplace causing debris to fall down around them.
The students of Slytherin watched as different colored spells went back and forth quickly, with each more brutal than the last. The air got tense and heavy as the duel past the ten minute mark, with no end or victor in sight. The first years gave yelps of fright when an extremely strong spell caused the containment ward in front of them vibrate and rumble.
"Petrificus Totalus!" Gemma only just dodged the attack that would have paralysed her, ending her fight for the title, as she threw another spell over her shoulder.
"Expulso!" the dark navy blue light that left the tip of the wand, blew the couch behind Marcus to pieces as he dodged with agility that looked impossible with his size.
"Bombarda Maxima!" everyone flinched at Gemma's scream of pain as her left leg broke right below the knee as the spell hit its mark.
"Incendio!" she whimpered as she struggled to her feet. Marcus grunted as the spell grazed his shoulder painfully.
"Obscuro!" Marcus cried smirking when the black blindfold wrapped around Gemma's eyes. She stumbled slightly before tripping backwards over her own feet and slammed to the ground.
"Glacius Tria!" he shouted as he stood above her, instantly she frozen solid in a block of ice.
It was over. Marcus Flint had won. The room erupted into chaos.
"YOU DID IT!" Harry screamed leaping on Marcus, the seventh year catching him easily, the rest of his friends surrounding him with their own exuberant yelling. Severus nodded at Marcus before walking over to the frozen Gemma and with a small complicated wave of his wand he pushed hot air around her body until all the ice had melted, then healed her broken leg easily.
"Rennervate" he said his silky voice monotonous. Gemma sat up as she awoke quickly, gasping for breath, her blue eyes darting around her before her memories of what happened returned to her. She sighed downheartedly, but got to her feet and walked over to where Marcus was surrounded by the screaming Quidditch team.
"Congratulations Flint" she said, holding her hand out as she reached him.
"Thanks, you fought well Farley, you were a good opponent. You will be a great advisor too." he grinned as he shook her hand. Severus waved his wand casting a non-verbal powerful 'Reparo' around the common room, fixing everything that had been hit in the duel before raising his hands for silence and speaking aloud.
"Both contenders for the Acting title fought bravely and with honor, bringing pride to the Slytherin name!" Severus said his eyes sweeping over his students.
"But there can only be one winner and leader of Slytherin. Please greet your new Acting Prince; Marcus Flint!" he shouted, Marcus walked proudly, with his back straight and a blank face, to stand by his Head of House, already back in pristine Slytherin robes.
As one the entire of Slytherin got down on one knee and knelt down. The knights in the front row side by side, the rest of them arranged in rows by year group behind them. Severus pulled out a small box from a glass shelf above the fireplace which had protective and unbreakable charms woven into it. He stood in front of Marcus and opened the box, inside rested a silver brooch on an emerald cushion. But it wasn't just any brooch, it was a replica of the one owned and worn by Salazar Slytherin at all times. A single large emerald lay in the middle, a silver snake wrapped around it then the open mouth at the bottom supporting the gem. Severus pinned it over Marcus' heart, on his robes, before walking backwards away from the seventh year. The rest of Slytherin stood back up, and together starting clapping madly for their new Acting Prince.
Hope everyone enjoyed this chapter, I have a few notes for my readers today:
Thank you to a reader: Child of Music and Dreams for pointing out a spelling error in one of the spells =)
Yes don't worry you will find out why Ron and Henry were late in a chapter or two.
You will find out about why the three girls were sorted into Ravenclaw at some point as well.
I do have vague plans to explore the soulmate relationships with both Harry and Hermione. I am not sure when yet, but it WILL happen.
If you feel I haven't covered something yet and you want it to happen let me know and I may be able to let you know when it will be covered.
If you head to my facebook ( . .79) I will posting pictures of what I imagine certain characters to look and also family trees eventually and I can keep you all updated on how the chapter progress is going.
The link below it to what the brooch of The Acting Prince wears looks like.
Thank you for reading and I will see you all next chapter. =) Also if anyone can pick up on the small (quite tiny) reference to a game let me know in the comments. (I have had three people read it so far and only one noticed it)
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