As expected, Snape only delivered William to the first-floor hall.
After telling William the location of the Hufflepuff Common Room and the way to enter, he quickly left along the staircase on the other side of the hall, heading towards the direction of the Slytherin Dungeon and the Potions Classroom.
He didn't care if William might be stuck outside the Common Room due to entering the wrong command; quite the opposite, he was looking forward to such a thing happening.
Snape didn't engage in any further conversation with William on the way, leaving only a parting remark, "I'll be watching you, Richard," he said with his lips tightly pressed.
William always felt that Snape held a grudge ever since their first meeting on Privet Drive, when William suggested he wash his hair first.
The corridor was deserted at midnight, but the air was filled with whispering sounds, as the portraits lining the corridor were watching William—they rarely saw a little wizard roaming so "boldly" at night.
William walked down the corridor and soon saw several large barrels stacked on a dark stone trough to his right. He drew his magic wand and tapped the lids of the middle two barrels in the second row to the rhythm of "Helga Hufflepuff." Soon, the lid swung open, revealing a door just big enough for a person to pass through—
The circular Common Room was empty at the moment, warm flames flickering in the burning fireplace, and there were many yellow and black stitched soft sofas arranged in the empty space of the room. William crossed the hall, following the directions given by Prefect Truman before Snape took him away—
Hoping he hadn't gotten it wrong.
But luck was on his side, as he quickly found his suitcase in a dormitory with five beds, but no occupants—
It seemed luck was on his side; he had been assigned to a room all to himself.
Staring at the suitcase in the corner for a while, William sat down but then stood up again—
Oops, he just remembered he hadn't fed his wolf yet…
…Where was the kitchen again?
...
"…Stealing a car and almost getting Harry and Ginny killed! I don't know why they haven't expelled you, just wait until I deal with you! You don't know how ashamed we were when we received a letter from Dumbledore yesterday… So infuriating, your father will be under review at work, and it's all your fault! If you don't follow the rules, we'll take you back immediately!"
Early on the second day of school, a scarlet Howler exploded above the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall, soon prompting the two "culprits" to leave the hall with their heads hung low. Behind them was a girl carrying a thick book, lecturing them, judging by the expression of impatience on the red-haired boy's face.
"Your timetable, William." Prefect Truman patted William's shoulder, "Normally I'd have given it to you last night, but you were called away by Professor Dumbledore."
"Thanks—" William brushed off the sugar frosting from his fingers—his mouth was still stuffed with half a donut—and reached out to take the timetable.
Because he hadn't experienced elective choices in the third year and given the heavy study workload in the fifth year, Professor McGonagall agreed to William's request—to only keep Magical Creatures, Ancient Runes, and Muggle Studies as electives.
Of course, he couldn't skip mandatory classes like Potions, Transfiguration, and Defense Against the Dark Arts.
For instance, he now had to clutch a copy of "Intermediate Transfiguration Technique" and find his way to the Transfiguration Classroom.
Luckily, both the Great Hall and the Transfiguration Classroom were on the first floor, so as long as those pesky rotating staircases weren't involved, William could usually find the right destination on time.
"Alright, put everything away—"
William had just found an empty seat when Professor McGonagall quickly walked to the podium from the back of the classroom, "Today we will start learning the Vanishing Spell—this is a difficult point in the O.W.L exams, and you have a whole term to practice—"
She said this, supporting herself on the desk, her sharp eyes behind oval glasses sweeping over everyone present, "However, you only have one term. Therefore—" she extended her tone, "I don't want anyone causing trouble in my class—does everyone understand?"
"…Understood."
The response wasn't very unified but still managed to make Professor McGonagall nod, and before drawing her wand, she seemed to remember something. She glanced at William sitting in the second row with slightly gentler tones, "Mr. Richard, if you don't understand something, you can come to me after class—"
"Now—" She didn't wait for William's response, "Everyone, open your textbooks—"
Fifth-year courses were so… monotonous, with most teachers acting like the first four years hadn't been properly taught, eager to flood all this group of students' minds with knowledge as though using a sieve.
The sins committed by students in the first four years were repaid almost entirely in this one year—but why? William didn't have the pleasure of four happy years!
But fortunately, he was now experienced, disguised as a perfectly ordinary fifth-year student, intending to pass the O.W.L exams without a hitch… right?
Merlin bless, let's hope there's no Goblin Rebellion this year… and no Dark Lord… or the Black Lake flooding… Oh, and preferably not too much homework either…
...
Harry was starting to feel he's becoming slightly neurotic—
It's only been a week since the start of the school year, and multiple times having his life philosophy discussed by Lockhart, getting pestered for photos by the first-year student Colin, and seeing Draco Malfoy's face which always made his stomach queasy.
These people buzzed around him like flies— even during a weekend morning when Quidditch training was due.
"…Thanks, Colin, but I really need to go get changed now."
Harry was sure his smile was very forced, but it didn't dampen this first-year student's enthusiasm. The boy turned and rushed towards the Quidditch pitch stands not far away, "I'll find a good spot, Harry!" he shouted shrilly.
After enduring almost an hour of motivational attrition from Captain Oliver Wood in the changing room, Harry finally grasped his Nimbus 2000 and headed onto the pitch—he wished he could ride around a few laps now, while snatching the jam-filled bread from Ron and Hermione up in the stands.
But when one's luck is down, even drinking cold water feels like getting teeth stuck—at this moment, the Slytherin Quidditch team appeared on the pitch, bringing along their new Seeker Draco Malfoy—and seven Nimbus 2001s sponsored for the Slytherin Academy Team by the Malfoy family.
"Great, all we need now is Lockhart…" Harry muttered softly.
Things escalated quickly beyond everyone's expectations when Malfoy uttered the term "Mudblood" in a sharp and cutting voice, causing Ron to angrily aim his magic wand at him, his fingers trembling with rage—
"Zzzchhh…"
A faint green light shot from the tip of the wand, hitting Malfoy's chest. The boy was propelled backward, landing on the Quidditch pitch grass, with his platinum blonde hair standing on end—
The loud explosive sound plunged the entire field into a momentary silence.
"Malfoy—"
Someone broke the silence and Harry looked up to see the person was apparently the captain of the Slytherin Team… what was his name again? Marcus…
"Urgh—"
Malfoy opened his mouth attempting to respond, but instead of speaking, he burped, causing several slugs to tumble onto his lap, shiny streams of mucus hanging down his black robes.
"Hahahahahahaha—"
The Gryffindors almost burst with laughter, and Harry couldn't even straighten up, George was laughing as he toppled onto Fred… or was it Fred toppling onto George? And the "culprit" Ron, after a brief moment of panic, joined them in laughter.
"Click—"
The glaring flash of a camera was the trigger, and in the next moment, someone moved first, and bright flashes of light erupted across the Quidditch pitch.