Chapter 21: The First Duel in the Serpent's Den
INT. SLYTHERIN COMMON ROOM – NIGHT
The green torchlight flickered against the damp, stone walls of the Slytherin common room. Murky light shimmered through the underwater windows, casting slithering shadows across the floor—like serpents dancing in the deep.
ASHTON A.D. WILLSON, the newest first-year Slytherin, stepped through the arched entrance for the first time.
ASHTON
(V.O., quietly to himself)
So this is the infamous lair of the serpents…
As he moved deeper into the room, silence fell. Conversations stopped mid-sentence. Dozens of eyes turned to him—cold, judgmental, and unwelcoming. Some students sneered openly, others whispered behind hands, and a few simply snickered with cruel amusement.
A group of fifth-year girls exchanged glances, and one of them, sneering audibly to her friend, said loud enough for half the room to hear:
FIFTH-YEAR GIRL
"That's the one the Hat couldn't place properly. Filthy half-breed or something..."
Ashton didn't react. He walked past them without acknowledgment. The weight of disdain in the room was heavy, almost suffocating, but he kept his posture upright and his eyes focused ahead like a silent statue moving through a storm.
A boy nearby muttered under his breath, just loud enough for the insult to float over:
UNKNOWN BOY
"Barbelmouth…"
Laughter followed—the term a derogatory slur in wizard slang for someone with no real magical heritage.
ASHTON
(quietly, with calm nonchalance)
I've walked through worse shadows than this.
Without breaking stride, Ashton made his way toward the boys' dormitory stairs, ignoring the ridicule and venomous stares. But just before he could reach them—
SIXTH-YEAR SLYTHERIN
(mocking)
Oi, newbie. Going somewhere?
Three older students leaned lazily against a pillar. One tossed a golden Galleon into the air with a smug smirk dancing on his face.
SECOND SENIOR
You didn't forget about the Slytherin Prefect Duel, did you? It's tradition. Every new snake gets their fangs tested.
THIRD SENIOR
Or snapped off.
They laughed in unison. Ashton stopped and slowly turned to face them. He said nothing. His silence carried weight—an unsettling calm that made some shift uncomfortably. Then, after a moment, he gave a single nod and turned back toward the stairs.
At that moment, PROFESSOR SEVERUS SNAPE entered through the main passage. His expression was unreadable.
SNAPE
Let us begin.
INT. SLYTHERIN DUELING STAGE – LATER
A circular platform rose from the stone floor of the common room—enchanted, ancient, and glowing with an eerie green light. This was the Slytherin Dueling Arena, revealed only for tradition and spectacle.
After the older students had finished their bouts, the first-years were called to the stage. They stood to one side, watching warily as the seniors gathered like spectators at a coliseum.
On the dueling platform stood:
• DRACO MALFOY
• VINCENT CRABBE
• GREGORY GOYLE
• BLAISE ZABINI
• THEODORE NOTT
• ASHTON A.D. WILLSON
Ashton remained still, calm, his gaze never meeting the others. Draco smirked with pride, while Crabbe and Goyle cracked their knuckles like thugs preparing for a playground brawl. Blaise twirled his wand lazily between his fingers.
DRACO
Hope you're ready, mudblood. We've prepared a little... welcome party for you.
At that, Ashton's eyebrows arched slightly, the only sign he'd even heard the insult.
BLAISE
Nothing personal. Just house standards.
Theodore stood off to the side, visibly uncomfortable, his wand hanging loosely in his hand.
GOYLE
What? He's not even going to defend himself?
THEODORE
(softly)
I'm not joining this.
CRABBE
Coward.
Without warning, Theodore cast a spell—an awkward shimmering bolt of silver light that shot toward Ashton. The spell was basic, the best Theodore could muster as a first-year. Ashton raised two fingers and flicked them. A ripple of force neutralized the spell midair as if it had hit a barrier made of glass.
Ashton didn't move an inch. He simply raised his wand and with a fluid motion, flicked it downward. A gust of invisible force launched Theodore backward. He landed softly outside the ring, unharmed but undeniably defeated.
SENIOR STUDENT
One down.
Then, chaos.
DRACO
NOW!
Draco and Blaise fired their spells—simple and poorly aimed bolts of light. Meanwhile, Crabbe and Goyle lunged at Ashton, fists raised, charging like dumb trolls.
Ashton sighed. He closed his eyes.
The air vibrated.
With a mere gesture of his wand, a silent wave of energy exploded outward from him. All four boys were blasted backward, lifted off their feet as though struck by a violent shockwave. They slammed into the platform's edge and tumbled off, groaning in pain.
Silence.
The crowd froze. No one moved. No one spoke. The green flames along the walls flickered in ghostly awe.
Ashton lowered his hand, turned, and calmly walked away from the platform without a word or glance. Each of his footsteps echoed in the stone hall, the only sound in the stunned silence.
INT. SLYTHERIN NOTICE BOARD – MOMENTS LATER
Ashton stood in front of the notice board, scanning the weekly schedule. Potions with Snape. Transfiguration with McGonagall. Charms with Flitwick. His expression remained neutral.
Behind him, murmurs rose again.
WHISPERING GIRL
Did you see that? He didn't even say the spell aloud…
WHISPERING BOY
That wasn't just nonverbal magic. That... that was something else entirely.
Unseen in the corner of the room stood Severus Snape, arms crossed, eyes fixed on Ashton. His face remained unreadable, but internally, his thoughts swirled.
SNAPE (V.O.)
They don't understand what they saw. But I do.
That was the primal form of magic—untouched, original... dangerous.
INT. FIRST-YEAR BOYS' DORMITORY – NIGHT
The dorm room was dimly lit. Three beds, each neatly arranged, with enchanted nameplates glowing faintly at their posts:
• Blaise Zabini
• Theodore Nott
• Ashton A.D. Willson
Ashton entered in silence, scanning the room. He approached his bed and raised his hand. With a precise motion, he drew a glowing sigil in the air. A dome of silvery magic enveloped his bed and belongings—a protective ward shimmering gently in the darkness.
He sat, removed his shoes, and lay back. The mattress creaked quietly. Moments later, the door opened. Footsteps.
THEODORE
(softly, from outside the barrier)
You didn't have to go that hard on them...
But thanks for not aiming it at me.
There was a pause. Then Ashton opened his eyes, voice low but steady.
ASHTON
Relax. Don't be afraid. They pissed me off, that's all.
Sometimes, you just have to speak in a language bullies understand.
Theodore's lips twitched, almost forming a smile. He nodded, then retreated to his own bed.
Moments later, another set of footsteps entered—likely Blaise. No one spoke. Ashton's barrier sparkled faintly as it stabilized, separating him from the rest of the world.
He opened his eyes once more and stared at the ceiling.
ASHTON
(whispers)
If this is Slytherin...
Then they've forgotten what serpents were truly meant to be.
He closed his eyes.
The only sound that remained was the gentle lapping of the Black Lake's water outside the dormitory walls.
FADE OUT.
______
Author's Note:
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