The day passed by quickly while in the charms class. You remember my doubt about how bad the relation between lions and snakes is. Apparently, it was bad enough for the girls to forget the morning incident and show a manner of support to me.

Though Daphne is still not taking to me. But at least she is showing support, with her comes her underling's support.

Soon it was time to meet on the second floor for History of Magic. When I filed in, I saw a place beside Tracy in the back. I immediately took the offer and sat beside her. I heard a cold voice from the other side of Daphne, "Shameless."

I cheekily replied to her, "Shame, what's that? Can you eat it?"

Daphne's hands started curling around her wand, Tracy ever the angel interrupted, "You messed up big time."

I sighed and said, "Hey! I was the first to cast the spell. If you didn't notice."

"You were so well until that point. In fact, even the next wouldn't be a problem if it was the claws or the badgers. But you had to declare a flag of friendship to a member of Gryffindor, a girl who seems to press every red button of Slytherin elite. Muggleborn , Prideful and talented too from her casting the spell in first class."

"Hey! I helped her there. Give me some credit."

I was taken aback by the show nods from the group. I forgot that these guys represent the neutral block. They are all for integrating the muggleborns, especially talented ones.

"So, Professor Flitwick was helping the rest of us too. Do you think you are better them him? So, everyone got competent advice, but her success is testament to her talent."

What is left unsaid is my mastering the Lumos and remarkable magical prowess compared to the other first years.

"No, I can't compare to him. He is a charms master. At his level it is possible to create a charm on the fly. It is in the description-He is a master of charms."

My excitement at Flitwick's charms capability got a laugh out of her. But she shook her head and continued,

"The point here is not about Flitwick but Hermonie. She is a talented, muggle-

"You already said that."

She hit my hand and continued, "Don't interrupt me. I know, but I am saying this so your thick skull can get it. You pissed off the dark faction here. Now, it's better you break the relation-"

"No."

"Ah! What?"

"I am not going to suddenly ignore Hermonie."

I felt amused at Tracy's gaping look. She looked kind of cute there. I immediately pinched her cheeks. The best way in teasing kids, Something I liked doing since my first childhood. Though it hurts getting one's cheeks pulled. It's not me, So I don't care.

Daphne's irritated voice came in with her question, "Are you serious?"

Again, one day in the future when the rest can get it-I will joke back I am Arjun.

"Yes, there are 2 reasons. Reason 1, you see the dark faction as you put it will never take any weakness shown. They understand power and straightforward stubbornness better. Ironic, considering it is rather similar trait seen in Gryffindors. Besides, I have no prejudice and it is better now than later.

Besides, taking back my current actions will not reflect well on the credibility of future actions. In a way that's why we are having this conversation. After the showing support last night and abandoning me now will look extremely callous."

"Is that why you think I am here?"

Tracy's shake of her head behind Daphne said it is not exactly the right thing to say, "Yes but it is not the only reason."

"Oh! Do tell me the other reasons."

"Well, I am good at my magic and smart. It's better to get a good relation now."

Daphne's narrowed in anger, I thought I am already approaching the limit and said the rest, "Also I am your friend."

Daphne stopped right outside History class and sneered out , "You say friendship is the reason I am risking this."

"Friendship and other reasons that I told. You see one thing I like about Slytherin house the most is it's friendship."

That got weird looks from everyone who is eavesdropping on the conversation.

"You see the thing in Slytherin house is that every relation is defined with clear expectations from the opposite party. Either is benefits in alliance or danger from enemies. I think heard from somewhere 'it's in Slytherin you find true friends'.

I can expect which one to backstab me, help me and turn coat on losing my worth. The political minefield that the Slytherin House will ensure it. Though, soon the alliance will turn into true friendship, as in midst of facing these circumstances and betrayals. The one's that are left in are true friends. That I can expect to trust my back in the future.

Unlike the other houses where friendships may form genuinely but are frail. Where any pressures from society can break it. I would rather spare my heart from that. I want those true friendships. The more the better."

The snakes turned thoughtful at my words until Draco Malfoy broke the silence, "It seems there is hope for you yet."

I snorted and replied, "While It's true I would like that true friendship with you Draco. I told her there are 2 reasons. I told reason meant for her to know but got diverted to other topics before telling the other."

His gears turned as he understood for whom the second one was,

"So, what's the second one."

"I don't like being told what to do."

Soon the class started and our teacher, Professor Binns, floated in and began roll call.

While Harry and Ron in the canon found the subject rather boring. I found it fascinating. I mean, who doesn't like learning about ancient wizard civilization. Our history is full of fascinating wars, even some magical disasters. Although I must admit, Professor Binns does speak in a monotone voice that makes even the most fascinating subjects like Hogwarts founding and Merlin seem rather boring.

"…. And fearing Merlin, goblins didn't rebel for a century."

"Why the hell he is going into goblins when explaining Merlin?"

Draco who I don't know why seating is beside me, explained in a bored tone, "Ghost are souls left behind in the world with their unfulfilled desires or manner of death as attachments. These attachments soon turn to obsession."

Considering that Binns died in a Goblin uprising and had no other social life other than teaching history when he was life. I banged my head on the table and moaned out loudly, "I can't bear 7 years of Goblin uprising. I can teach this class better than this guy."

Well, I curse the anime I saw before. Considering this mannerism is imitated from the characters there. It would have been glossed over but here in the real world in classroom filled with silence and bored kids, it's an insult to the Ghost who happened to be obsessed with teaching history.

The monotone voice chilled my back as Binns said, "You may teach the class now than Mr. Prasad."

I was like a deer in front of a headlight. Awkwardly staring back at the ghost professor.

"Come here and teach Mr. Prasad or Slytherin house will be deducted points."

Draco tapped me, urging me to go forward. Since, I am already in red with the stunt in charms class. I went ahead.

As I stood up the lights turned on in the Dim classroom,

"It's incredible that Salazar Slytherin managed to make automatic ward schemes back in medieval ages. Though, the credit for the it's endurance against time goes to Merlin. I am proud to say an alumnus of Slytherin house."

Yeah, I am praising the Slytherin house and it's ego. Since the conversation outside the class convinced Draco Malfoy . I decided to continue the same successful formula.

"You are lying."

Ron then interjected with an aggrieved tone. I lifted an eyebrow and asked, "Why do you think so ?"

"Slytherin's are dark wizards and Merlin is um Merlin, the greatest wizard ever born."

Seeing it in movies is different from seeing it in real life. It's unbelievable the sheer amount of bias he has against Slytherin. Then again from what I know both sides of his family both parental and maternal were killed in the previous war by death eaters. With Voldemort claiming his heritage as a Slytherin. It is kind of obvious where his bias is from.

"Ron , how many houses are in Hogwarts?"

"W-what?"

"How many houses are in Hogwarts?"

"4."

"I can understand where your anger for Slytherin comes from."

Ron turned red in embarrassment and anger, but I continued, " But you are just cussed one fourth of Hogwarts and one fourth of Wizarding world as dark wizards. These words will reach the rest of Hogwarts, Ron. The one thing Slytherins prize is there information gathering. You just offended an entire house; one I admit is overly prickly and prideful."

Ron spurted at that, "Please know the consequences from your actions. You made your life difficult when it was not necessary. I can't change your opinion but will help you in history."

I turned back to the rest of class,

"In wizarding world, Merlin's existence is documented, and legends are heard till this day.- a Slytherin graduate, a dragon Animagus, destroyer of armies and of course , the current Hogwarts.

Sure, Hogwarts was built by founders even the ward schemes for lights, lamps and moving staircases, protection schemes , anti-apparition wards and all the way to the sewer system was made by them. They even chose a Leyline intersection to power them. I read the AI prompt that opened in front me .

[Ting.

Leyline: A concept that existed as far as history till explained and documented by Helga Hufflepuff.

It's the flow of ambient magic of the world. This ambient magic is formed from unintended magic leakage from the world's magical inhabitants since time immemorial.

"Magic is our intent given form. Ambient magic is a whirlpool of magic fueled by multitude of intents ranging from joy, anger , sorrow, love, hatred , apathy to even wishes and dreams. Hence, in ancient times it was also called world magic. The magic of the world, powerful and temperamental but fair to all."

-an expert by Helga Hufflepuff in Hogwarts and its history.]

Back to the point, you see wards may grow stronger over time, but all the wards needed maintenance to survive. It may be once a decade, or century- in case of sacrifice-based wards.

It's like our muscles. They need exercise to grow stronger but need proper rest and proteins to grow too. Even Hogwarts needed that , until he came along."

I turned towards Ron and said, "Merlin, one acknowledged by the world as the greatest wizard ever born.

Merlin didn't make any new scheme or ward for Hogwarts. No, what he did was - take them all and link them together, making it a single Enchantment of Hogwarts Itself.

The man made an entire castle and its grounds stretching from black lake to the forbidden forest, a single magical artifact. A self-sustaining fortress with inbuilt magical biomes, protection that grows stronger over time.

In muggle world, Hogwarts can be classified as on the same level of importance as nuclear missiles. No, even better as Hogwarts at its core is meant for nurture and protection."

Yes, the Wizarding world knows about Nukes. People will find out if entire cities were vaporized. In fact, it is the one that re-ignited the fear in the magical world regarding muggles. From fear came hatred and Bias. In fact, the only reason war didn't come was that. Just a year before a wizard who foretold that was defeated in a legendary duel. He and his followers were locked in his own prison.

"Even for other magical it requires permission from the headmaster to enter Hogwarts. While muggle world can't store its location be it in memory , writing or even a dream. An ancient form of Fidelius charm found by Godric Gryffindor.

The founders and Merlin even with centuries of time difference between them, it was almost as if they made Hogwarts to survive some war or Holocaust.

It is said that magical Britain became leader of other societies due to Hogwarts. Grindelwald publicly acknowledged 2 reasons for diverting war from magical Britain, one Dumbledore and other Hogwarts."

In gamer terms, Conquering Hogwarts hell level quest for a Dark Lord.

The only reason Voldemort and death eaters have been able to invade Hogwarts was one the Headmaster Snape was their ally, and their former student identity. Though he was a double spy but didn't start it's protections is still confusing. So, I ended my speech with-

"Hogwarts for all its mysteries, significance, magical wealth and might is still a school."