Chapter 11: The Day of Serpents
The following morning, Alaric awoke to the soft, green-tinted glow of the enchanted ceiling, which reflected the rippling waters of the Black Lake above. The subtle light filtered through his curtains, casting an ethereal glow over the room. As he lay in bed for a moment, gathering his thoughts, he felt a surge of anticipation. Today was the day he would begin his formal education at Hogwarts, the first step in a journey that would define his future.
After dressing in his crisp, new Slytherin robes, Alaric left his private room and entered the common room. The Slytherin common room was just as impressive in the daylight as it had been the night before, with its rich green and silver decor, the dark wood furnishings, and the glowing embers of the fire that still crackled in the grand fireplace.
He found Draco, Blaise, Theodore, Daphne, Tracey, and Pansy already gathered near the fireplace, talking in low voices as they waited for the rest of their housemates to join them. There was a palpable sense of excitement in the air, mixed with the usual Slytherin reserve.
"Morning, Peverell," Draco greeted Alaric with a nod, his tone friendly but still tinged with that ever-present edge of rivalry.
"Morning, Malfoy," Alaric replied, taking a seat beside him.
The other first-years began to trickle into the common room, their faces alight with curiosity and nervous energy. They all knew that today was the beginning of something significant—something that would shape their lives in ways they could only imagine.
As they gathered, Ophelia Selwyn and Samuel Travers, the fifth-year prefects, appeared at the entrance to the common room, their expressions calm and composed. They stood in silence for a moment, waiting until all eyes were on them.
"First-years," Ophelia began, her voice carrying easily over the quiet chatter, "before you head to breakfast, there is one more thing you need to do. You will be receiving your class schedules this morning, and it is important that you familiarize yourself with them. Your performance in your classes is a reflection of this house, and we expect nothing less than excellence."
She paused, allowing her words to sink in. "Professor Snape will be here shortly to distribute your timetables and give you any additional instructions. Until then, please wait here and prepare yourselves for the day ahead."
The mention of Professor Snape's name had an immediate effect on the group. The first-years straightened up, their expressions becoming more serious. Alaric knew that Snape was not just their Head of House, but also one of the most respected—and feared—professors at Hogwarts. His reputation for strictness and high standards was well-known, and none of them wanted to disappoint him.
A few minutes later, the door to the common room opened, and Professor Snape swept in, his black robes billowing behind him like a shadow. His expression was as unreadable as ever, his dark eyes scanning the room with a critical gaze.
"Good morning," Snape said, his voice low and smooth, but with an edge that commanded attention. "I trust you all had a restful night."
There was a murmur of agreement from the group, though no one dared to speak up.
"Good," Snape continued, his tone softening slightly. "Because today, you begin your education at Hogwarts. Your performance in your classes will reflect not only on you, but on this house as a whole. I expect nothing less than your best efforts."
He began to distribute the timetables, handing each student a piece of parchment with their schedule for the term. As Alaric received his, he studied it carefully, noting the subjects and the times.
**Alaric Peverell's Timetable:**
- **Monday:**
- 9:00 AM - Potions (with Gryffindor) - Professor Snape
- 11:00 AM - Transfiguration - Professor McGonagall
- 1:00 PM - Lunch Break
- 2:00 PM - Charms - Professor Flitwick
- 4:00 PM - Herbology (with Hufflepuff) - Professor Sprout
- **Tuesday:**
- 9:00 AM - Defense Against the Dark Arts - Professor Quirrell
- 11:00 AM - Astronomy (Midnight Class, Tuesday Night) - Professor Sinistra
- 1:00 PM - Lunch Break
- 2:00 PM - History of Magic - Professor Binns
- 4:00 PM - Free Period
- **Wednesday:**
- 9:00 AM - Potions (with Gryffindor) - Professor Snape
- 11:00 AM - Transfiguration - Professor McGonagall
- 1:00 PM - Lunch Break
- 2:00 PM - Charms - Professor Flitwick
- 4:00 PM - Herbology (with Hufflepuff) - Professor Sprout
- **Thursday:**
- 9:00 AM - Defense Against the Dark Arts - Professor Quirrell
- 11:00 AM - Astronomy (Midnight Class, Thursday Night) - Professor Sinistra
- 1:00 PM - Lunch Break
- 2:00 PM - History of Magic - Professor Binns
- 4:00 PM - Free Period
- **Friday:**
- 9:00 AM - Potions (with Gryffindor) - Professor Snape
- 11:00 AM - Transfiguration - Professor McGonagall
- 1:00 PM - Lunch Break
- 2:00 PM - Charms - Professor Flitwick
- 4:00 PM - Herbology (with Hufflepuff) - Professor Sprout
Alaric noticed that his schedule was fairly well-balanced, with a mix of practical and theoretical classes each day. Potions with Professor Snape was the first class of the week, which seemed fitting given Snape's role as Head of Slytherin. Alaric was looking forward to it—Potions was a subject that required precision, skill, and a deep understanding of magical theory, all qualities that he prided himself on.
Defense Against the Dark Arts with Professor Quirrell would also be interesting, though Alaric had heard rumors that Quirrell was something of a coward, despite his subject matter. Transfiguration with Professor McGonagall promised to be challenging, as it was one of the most difficult branches of magic, requiring focus and discipline.
Charms with Professor Flitwick would likely be more lighthearted, but no less important, given its practical applications. Herbology with Professor Sprout was the only class shared with Hufflepuff, which Alaric noted with mild disinterest. He knew that Slytherin and Hufflepuff generally had little interaction, given their vastly different approaches to magic and life.
History of Magic with Professor Binns was the one class Alaric was least excited about. The subject was important, of course, but Professor Binns was known for being a monotonous lecturer who had a tendency to drone on for hours without realizing half the class had fallen asleep.
As Alaric folded up his timetable and slipped it into his robes, Professor Snape addressed the group once more.
"These schedules are tailored to provide you with a comprehensive education in the magical arts," Snape said, his tone serious. "I expect you to attend every class, complete all assignments, and show respect to your professors. Failure to do so will result in consequences, both from me and from your housemates."
He paused, his gaze lingering on Alaric for a moment before sweeping over the rest of the group. "Remember, you are representing Slytherin. Do not disappoint me."
With that, Snape turned and left the common room, his robes billowing behind him like a shadow.
There was a moment of silence as the first-years absorbed the weight of Snape's words. Then, slowly, the conversation began to pick up again as they discussed their schedules and what they expected from their classes.
"I'm looking forward to Potions," Draco said, his voice filled with confidence. "Professor Snape is one of the best. I'm sure we'll do well."
Blaise nodded in agreement. "It'll be interesting to see how Gryffindor handles the pressure. I've heard they're not exactly known for their subtlety."
Alaric smiled faintly. "It will be a good opportunity to see how they operate. Knowing your opponents is the first step to defeating them."
Daphne glanced at her timetable and frowned slightly. "I'm not thrilled about History of Magic, though. I've heard Professor Binns is... less than engaging."
Tracey laughed. "That's an understatement. My sister told me it's the best class to catch up on sleep."
The group chuckled, but Alaric remained focused. He knew that every class, no matter how tedious, could provide valuable information. He intended to excel in all of them, not just for his own benefit, but for the benefit of Slytherin as a whole.
As the time for their first class approached, the first-years began to gather their things and prepare to head to the dungeons for Potions. The atmosphere in the common room was one of focused determination, with each student