After the opening feast ended, Sean found Dumbledore. The two stopped in the corridor outside the Great Hall and began talking.
"Professor, about this year's classes?" Sean asked.
"Same as always. The last Monday of September. If you pass the test, you can arrange this year's classes however you like," Dumbledore said. Hogwarts had always given preferential treatment to outstanding students, and for someone as exceptional as Sean, the treatment was even more special.
"I wouldn't dare skip Professor Snape's class. And there's the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Lockhart. He's quite famous, so I should attend his classes as well."
Sean's plan was the same as the past three years—he would keep Potions and Defense Against the Dark Arts. One required hands-on practice, and the other was… a chaotic mess of unpredictable situations.
"A famous figure, is he?" Dumbledore murmured, then added, "It's good that you attend Lockhart's classes."
If anyone else heard that last remark, they'd probably be confused. What did he mean by "good"?
But Sean understood a little. Dumbledore clearly had doubts about Lockhart's abilities and reputation.
"Pay close attention in Lockhart's class. I'll speak with you when I have time," Dumbledore said.
After their conversation, Sean returned to the Slytherin common room. On the first day of school, it was especially lively.
Students who hadn't seen each other for two months gathered and chatted enthusiastically. Not just here—other common areas in the school were just as crowded.
"Sean." Chris called out from the sofa.
Sean looked over. Sitting beside her were several members of the Ouroboros Wizarding Society, including Draco.
"Sean, we've been waiting for you," said Kaiden Boye, a seventh-year, in a cool tone.
Normally, after Theo graduated, the presidency should have passed to a sixth-year—Kaiden. But at the last meeting in June, Theo had proposed that Sean become the next president.
Kaiden had been the first to object. However, there was no rule that the president had to be from a higher year—only that the strongest would lead. And Sean's strength was undeniable.
So Theo had arranged a duel between Kaiden and Sean.
The result? Completely one-sided. Kaiden had lost badly.
"Senior Sean!" Bernard Lestrange, a third-year, greeted him enthusiastically.
This young master from a pure-blood family was practically Sean's biggest fan. He couldn't be happier about Sean becoming president.
Seeing the members gathered, Sean suddenly remembered—it was a new school year. That meant it was time to recruit first-year students into Ouroboros again.
Selecting new members was both the president's responsibility and privilege. Every member had at least some gratitude toward the president who invited them. That gratitude often turned into future favors.
Bernard, for example, had been invited by Kurt two years ago. He respected Kurt deeply. Even now that Kurt had graduated, if Kurt ever asked him for help, Bernard would gladly oblige.
Now, that power rested in Sean's hands.
He stepped closer and said after a moment's thought, "Are you discussing new recruits? It's only just the start of term. Let's observe for another half month."
There was no fixed schedule for recruitment. Usually, members would observe candidates for two to four weeks before reporting to the president.
Of course, there were exceptions. In Bernard's year, he had been the only student from a prominent pure-blood family. Theo had invited him just three days after term began.
Then there were cases like Draco's—someone already backed by a member. Kurt had informed Theo about him even before the school year started.
"There's a girl from the Greengrass family among the first-years this year," Chris said.
"So you want to invite her?" Sean glanced at the group.
"She's the only one from the Sacred Twenty-Eight this year. She's the best candidate," Kaiden replied.
It seemed they had paid close attention during the Sorting Ceremony. Every Slytherin name had been memorized.
Sean, on the other hand, hadn't even noticed how many students were sorted into Slytherin, let alone their backgrounds.
Everyone was recommending Astoria, but in the end, the decision was Sean's.
He didn't feel the need to oppose them just to assert authority. Instead, he glanced thoughtfully at Draco.
"Could it be that Draco and Astoria's future relationship starts here in Ouroboros?"
"Since everyone agrees on Greengrass, then we'll invite her," Sean decided. He turned to Chris. "Chris, I'll leave it to you."
"Got it," she replied.
Sean had become president this year. If nothing unexpected happened, he would likely hold the position for four consecutive years. Reappointments weren't unheard of—Kurt had served two consecutive terms before.
During Kurt's time, most meetings focused on studying Dark Magic. Theo had later reduced that, shifting the focus to helping members improve academically.
Ouroboros was a loose organization, and its direction changed with each president's style. However, studying Dark Magic remained a core tradition.
Still, since it wasn't part of official exams, how much time was spent on it depended entirely on the president—and their own level of mastery.
Theo hadn't been as interested or skilled in Dark Magic as Kurt, so he emphasized academic improvement instead.
With Sean's abilities, he could teach powerful and practical spells. The problem was—those spells were difficult. Mastering even one could take half a year.
In the original timeline, Harry had formed Dumbledore's Army in his fifth year, teaching students defensive magic not covered in class. But Harry's level was limited. Even with those lessons, it still wasn't enough.
"I'll probably stay president for four years… I should start cultivating a few capable allies," Sean thought.
He mentally reviewed the current members: seventh-year Kaiden Boye, sixth-year Keith Brent, fifth-year Paul Forsell, fourth-year Chris, third-year Bernard Lestrange, second-year Draco, and now first-year Astoria.
"Kaiden lost the presidency to me—best case, he won't target me. Keith has been against me since my first year. Paul… barely spoken to him."
Chris was his classmate and the one he knew best. Bernard had joined while Sean was busy with the Triwizard Tournament, but they had grown closer since.
Bernard openly idolized him, even secretly forming a fan club.
Draco… still needed observation. He was a key figure in future events—too unpredictable. As for Astoria, she hadn't even appeared in the original storyline. Changes in her wouldn't disrupt anything significant.
"Let's start with those three," Sean decided.
That night, after curfew, at midnight, Sean retrieved the Wizard's Heart he had left in Merlin's Chamber over the summer.
He slipped out through the hidden exit—the girls' bathroom on the third floor.
With the Marauder's Map tampered with by Wormtail, Sean couldn't rely on it anymore. He had to move carefully, avoiding Filch on his own.
Before he even stepped out of the bathroom, he heard footsteps echoing in the silent corridor.
"Seriously? First time sneaking out without the map and I run into Filch?" Sean pressed himself against the door, not daring to move or make a sound.
But something felt off.
Filch usually patrolled silently with his lantern. The person outside, however, was muttering non-stop.
"Adam… Adam, where are you?"
A chill ran down Sean's spine.
"Quirrell… revived?"
But he had seen Quirrell die with his own eyes, killed by Voldemort's curse—Serpent's Kiss. It was the first time Sean had witnessed a curse firsthand.
Which meant…
The person outside was more likely a subordinate sent by either Herpo or Voldemort.
Sean didn't dare open the door to check.
"If only the Marauder's Map still worked… I'd at least know who it is."
To Read 60+ ahead advanced Chapters, head over to P@treon
patreon.com/DarkVerse146