After the last student was sorted, Professor Albus Dumbledore stood up.
The entire hall focused on him.
"Welcome! to another year at Hogwarts."
"The past few years have seen a great weight lifted from our world."
"The boy who lived, Harry Potter is safe, and the You-Know-Who is gone from our world."
Hearing this many of the old students nodded.
"This Hogwarts has seen many things at that time, but for now, it's your turn young Wizards."
"Remember, when you are at Hogwarts, your triumph will earn you House Points, while any rule-breaking will lose House Points."
"At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the House Cup, a great honour."
"I hope each of you will be a credit to your house."
"Okay, now, let the feast… BEGIN!"
Dumbledore lifted his hands dramatically.
"And here they are: Tweak. Fizz. Noodles. Splink."
Students all around the hall laughed—1984's first-years included.
Even Jacqueline giggled.
Soren also smiled faintly.
Soon, the golden plates and silver goblets filled instantly.
Roast chicken, roast beef, sausages Pumpkin pasties, Yorkshire pudding, Mashed potatoes, Bowls of steaming soup and Jugs of pumpkin juice.
Jacqueline attacked the mashed potatoes like she hadn't eaten in days.
Soren ate quietly, absorbing the atmosphere.
Cassie waved from the Ravenclaw table; Penny smiled shyly from Hufflepuff.
Older Slytherins eyed the new first-years with calculating glances.
A tall second-year leaned over.
Second-Year Slytherin: "So which of you is the ambitious one?"
Jacqueline nearly choked on a sausage. Soren pretended not to hear.
The feast ended with desserts—treacle tart, chocolate pudding, jam tarts, jelly, and more.
Then Dumbledore stood once more.
"First-years, note that the Forbidden Forest is strictly off-limits. And a reminder: any foolish attempts to access areas not meant for students will be… unadvised."
A few students whispered:
"He means the old vaults under the school…"
"Guess they still haven't sealed them all…"
Soren froze for a second. Hearing about the Vaults.
---
The feast ended, plates dissolved into nothing, and the prefects stood up to gather the students.
A beautiful fourth-year Slytherin girl with emerald-green eyes approached the first-years.
"First-years! Follow me. Stick close. The dungeons can be confusing."
Soren and Jacqueline exchanged nervous glances and followed her.
They walked down a set of stone stairs, leaving behind the warmth of the Great Hall and entering cooler, darker passages.
The deeper they went, the quieter it became.
Torches flickered greenish light along the walls.
Jacqueline whispered in Soren's ears, "It feels creepy down here…"
Soren rubbed her back, while he grinned, "It's… actually kind of cool."
She nudged him lightly. "Of course you'd like this."
The prefect Girl spoke, "I am Selina, if you have any problem with anyone, or you guys don't understand anything. You can tell me your problem."
"Now, pay attention. The Slytherin common room is hidden behind a stone wall. You'll need the password to enter."
They stopped before a blank stretch of stone.
"This week's password is Serpens Invictus."
The stone wall split open like a moving serpent.
Jacqueline gasped softly. Soren's eyes widened.
They stepped through it, and noticed,
The ceiling was low. Green lamps glowed softly underwater-like, the Black Lake shimmered through large windows.
Dark leather sofas and silver-trimmed tables gave an elegant, ancient feel. Older Slytherins talked in groups, some glancing at the newcomers.
Selina turned to them.
"This is your new home. Slytherin values ambition, cunningness, resourcefulness, determination… and loyalty to those you call your own."
She eyed Soren and Jacqueline meaningfully.
"Stick together. Protect each other. That is how Slytherins thrive."
Jacqueline smiled softly. Soren nodded.
They were Slytherins now.
Soren and Jacqueline stepped further into the Slytherin common room, taking in the eerie green glow, the underwater windows, and the sleek, ancient furniture.
Jacqueline whispered again at him. "It's… beautiful. And a little scary."
Soren nodded silently.
Suddenly—a shadow approached from behind a stone pillar.
A third-year Slytherin boy, tall and sharp-eyed, walked straight toward them with a cruel smirk.
"I can't believe Hogwarts allowed you in."
Soren frowned.
"What do you mean?"
The boy scoffed.
"After all… because of your sister, Hogwarts' reputation was nearly ruined."
Soren's heart skipped.
Jacqueline stepped closer to him.
"Ruined? How?"
Soren repeated firmly:
"Yeah—how?"
The third-year opened his mouth, but before he could speak—
A strong voice echoed through the room.
"You again?!"
Selina stormed over. Her emerald-green eyes flashed.
"I told you already—stop bullying first-years!
GET. OUT."
The third-year paled instantly.
"I—I wasn't bullying—"
Selina again warned him, "RUN before I deduct ten points."
That was enough.
The boy spun around and ran out of the common room, nearly tripping over a chair.
Jacqueline let out a breath.
Soren was still tense, he clenched his fists.
"You two okay? Don't listen to him. He likes causing trouble."
Jacqueline nodded.
"Thank you…"
But Soren asked something else, "What did he mean? About my sister? What did Elara do to 'ruin' Hogwarts?"
Selina hesitated, she knew more than she wanted to say.
Her eyes flicked to the underwater windows…
then back to Soren.
"That… is not something we talk about in the corridors."
She straightened up.
"You'll learn the truth soon enough. For now, settle in. Slytherin looks after its own."
She walked away to help other first-years.
Soren stood still, his pulse racing.
Jacqueline placed a hand gently on his arm.
Seeing his tense mood, she smiled and tried to change the atmosphere.
"I'm really happy, you know? We're finally here.
We'll get to learn everything—Charms, Potions, Herbology, Transfiguration… All the subjects I've read about my whole life!"
Her eyes sparkled.
"I can't wait to learn magic properly. Real magic."
But Soren's mind was still on the boy's words. Not only this, but he also heard many older students whispering about Elara looking at him.
He nodded. "Yeah… learning will be great."
He paused. Then a deeper seriousness entered his tone.
"But that's not the main reason I came here."
Jacqueline blinked, "Then why?"
Soren looked at the dark water behind the window, imagining his sister's shadow drifting somewhere in the depths of Hogwarts secrets.
"I came here to find my sister."
Jacqueline's excitement faded into quiet understanding.
She stepped closer, "We'll find out what happened to her. I promise."
Soren nodded slowly, "Yeah. No matter what it takes… I'm going to find Elara."
Seeing it was getting late, Jacqueline stretched her arms and yawned softly.
"It's getting late… we should sleep. Tomorrow we have our very first class of Charms! I heard Professor Flitwick is amazing."
Soren nodded, though his mind was elsewhere.
Jacqueline gave him a gentle smile, walking toward the girls' corridor.
"Goodnight, Soren. And… don't worry too much tonight, okay?"
Soren managed a small smile, "Goodnight, Jacqueline."
She waved once and disappeared into the girls' dormitory tunnel.
---
Soren walked down the dim stone hallway to the boys' dormitory.
There were few rooms, and many students were living together, containing five beds with dark green curtains, silver lanterns glowing faintly, and trunks placed neatly at the foot of each bed.
But few also have single rooms, and Soren has also the same. After entering his private dormitory. He looked around it.
It was to be decorated in a Slytherin style. The room has stone walls and a stone floor that looks slightly icy or damp. The overall lighting is dim and atmospheric, relying on scattered green and yellow glow.
There was Slytherin style bed, designed in, wrought-iron structure that resembles a metal tree or vine archway.
Beside it was a fireplace/hearth. It has a roaring fire visible behind a grate, with some snow-like blue/white material piled up around the base.
Hanging directly above the bed from the ceiling is an ornate, multi-tiered crystal chandelier.
Behind the bed is a large, tall window with a view Black Lake. At the left side, a white wooden dresser with three drawers is against the far-left wall. Various small items, including books, scrolls, and what looks like a few ornaments are placed on top.
To the immediate left of the dresser, there appears to be a green upholstered chair or armchair, partially visible.
The walls here and throughout have several hanging shields or plaques with golden trim and crests.
At the eight side. The entire right wall is dominated by a large, open wooden bookcase or shelving unit that is filled with various trophies and figurines.
Soren placed his Kneazle-mix cat on the end of his bed, who curled up instantly.
He opened his trunk, and took out his robes, books, wand box and also the special wand box. And a small family photo with Elara smiling brightly.
He sat on the bed, staring at her face.
"Elara… where are you?"
The lantern flickered as if answering.
Soren lay down, pulling the green curtains closed.
But sleep did not come easily.
The voices from earlier echoed in his mind:
"Elara Whitlock… Cursed Vaults… vanished…"
Soren clenched his fist on the blanket.
He made a silent promise in the dark.
"I'll find you. No matter what."
Eventually, exhaustion pulled him into a restless sleep.
On the opposite side of the common room, Jacqueline entered the girls' dormitory.
Her roommates were already chatting excitedly:
One girl bragging she wanted to make her parents proud
Another practicing wand movements with a quill
A third complaining about the scary dungeon stairs
Jacqueline smiled politely, unpacked her trunk, and sat on her bed.
But her eyes drifted toward the window, where faint green light shimmered from the Black Lake.
She thought about Soren.
About the way he looked when talking about his sister. About the heaviness in his voice. About how much pain he hid behind calm eyes.
She hugged her pillow lightly.
"He must feel so alone… I don't want him to go through this by himself."
She glanced toward the boys' corridor.
"I'll help him. I want to."
The dungeons were quiet, the lake whispering softly against the stones.
Both of them drifted into sleep with different dreams.
Jacqueline excited for Charms,
and Soren is haunted by the mystery of his sister.