Chapter 3: Where am I?

Malach woke up to a startling realization—he had undergone one of those infamous reincarnations. He now inhabited a child's body, a shocking and yet strangely comforting turn of events. It meant that the dreadful crash he remembered was just a nightmarish dream, not a tragic reality. Though he couldn't recall any details about his past life, this new existence came with its own wealth of knowledge.

His newfound understanding centered on his current identity. Leaning back against the bed's headboard, he looked up at the ceiling and sighed, "Malach Slytherin, huh?"

Malach Slytherin, born in 1978, was now a two-year-old. The son of Veronica and Malcolm Slytherin, he had spent his early years in England as their only child. Unfortunately, Malcolm had met an untimely end in a confrontation with Death Eaters while protecting Veronica and one-year-old Malach, leaving Veronica to raise their child alone.

Yet, what struck Malach most profoundly in his memories was the presence of magic. Yes, magic with a capital 'M.' It became clear that he had landed in the world of Harry Potter, where wands were wielded with incredible power, and spells were cast with ease. His recollections revealed that despite being a descendant of Salazar Slytherin, his family had opposed the dark forces of Voldemort and the Death Eaters, aligning themselves with Dumbledore.

This revelation was surprising, considering his inherent Slytherin nature, but it seemed that family loyalty overrode any house affiliation.

Malach continued to sit on the bed, absorbing all of this new information. Despite the absence of panic regarding his unfamiliar surroundings, he couldn't help but feel uncomfortable in his current body. He placed his arm over his eyes, reflecting on his last memory.

He had experienced his first bout of accidental magic, and then he had fainted. Fortunately, his mother was nearby and had taken him to his room, carefully laying him down. Afterward, she had sought help from some healers.

"And then the dream," Malach thought, unsure whether it was indeed a dream. Deciding not to dwell on it further, he looked outside and realized that it was already late in the day, with the sun having set and night taking over the sky.

"How long have I been out? I should let Mother know that I'm awake," Malach concluded. He pushed back the duvet and was about to get out of bed when the door to his room swung open, revealing a woman who entered.

"Young master Malach! You mustn't get out of bed; your health is fragile. Please, lie down. I will inform Mistress that you have awakened," she urged him. It should be mentioned that the Slytherin family was exceptionally affluent, with centuries of wealth and a thriving business lineage.

This woman, known as Mariane, held a special position among the Slytherin household staff as the personal maid of Malach's mother. She also served as Veronica's confidante. Mariane was dressed in the standard maid outfit, much like those found in maid cafe shops, and despite being over 50 years old, she appeared as though she were in her thirties.

Wizardkind, or the magical community, boasted longer lifespans than their non-magical counterparts, aging more slowly. Therefore, it was no surprise that Mariane looked remarkably youthful.

Interrupting his train of thought, Malach attempted to communicate with Mariane while she attempted to tuck him in. "Mariane, I'm fine," he assured her.

Upon hearing his words, Mariane ceased her efforts and observed him closely for a moment before finally nodding. "If that's the case, you must be thirsty. I'll call the house-elf to fetch you some water or juice," she stated, looking toward an empty space beside Malach's bed. She then called out, "Holly."

Holly, as Mariane had named her, was a Slytherin family house-elf with all the usual characteristics. Unlike Dobby in the Harry Potter series, Holly wore a little outfit instead of rags.

Malach couldn't help but be amazed as he witnessed the pitcher of water floating and pouring into a glass, which then gently floated to rest by his side.

After Holly had vanished, most likely to inform his mother of his awakening, Malach took a sip of water to quench his thirst. He then turned to Mariane. "Sister Mariane, what happened to me?"

Mariane began to recount the events of the morning. "Young master, earlier today during breakfast, you suddenly began to radiate heat." Her voice carried concern for the young boy. "We had no idea what was happening, and when I checked your temperature by touching your forehead, you fainted."

She paused for a moment before her expression brightened with joy. "Congratulations, young master! You performed your first feat of accidental magic. Your unconsciousness was due to the exhaustion of your magic. It's unfortunate that it occurred under these circumstances, but as they say, all's well that ends well."

Before Malach could respond, the door swung open once more, and a woman rushed into the room. It was none other than Malach's mother.