Beneath the Black Lake, the Slytherin first-years followed Gemma Farley down the winding stairs until they arrived at a stone wall etched with a scale-like pattern, resembling a giant python coiled in slumber.
"The password to the Slytherin Common Room is 'Pure-blood Supremacy', understood?" Gemma Farley, the Slytherin prefect, stated, emphasizing the key points for the new students.
Tom, walking behind the group, spoke without turning his head. "Severus, from this moment forward, the password shall be 'Strength First.'"
Snape, a few steps back, paused upon hearing Tom's voice, then quietly affirmed.
As the password was spoken, the snake at the base of the wall began to writhe and arch, forming a bridge that revealed the entrance to the Slytherin Common Room. They entered. Despite being located beneath the Black Lake, the common room felt surprisingly dry, perhaps due to the roaring hearth. The new students stared, curiosity piqued by the muted, dark green decor and metal ornaments. Through the windows, fish swam in the Black Lake, and occasionally more exotic magical creatures drifted past. Some of the bolder young wizards even tested the sofas, which bounced obligingly.
Two staircases branched off from the common room. Gemma approached their entrance. "The boys' dormitories are to the right, the girls' to the left. Your luggage has already been placed in your respective rooms."
As the new students turned, eager to explore, Gemma spoke again. "However…" She paused, then walked to the common room wall and tapped it lightly with her wand. "The hour is upon us."
With a resounding boom, the walls of the Slytherin common room opened automatically, revealing a dark, shadowy passageway.
"Our Head of House—Professor Snape—will be the referee for this duel," Gemma announced, casting a glance toward the back of the crowd. The young wizards parted to make way as Tom led Snape toward the passageway. "Let us proceed." With that, Tom stepped into the darkness.
Gemma looked at Snape, who simply nodded in response.
...
Beyond the passageway lay a vast dueling arena. Given its location at the bottom of the Black Lake, its creators had clearly aimed for maximum scale. Tom and Snape directed the older students to seats in the stands, while the first-year students dispersed into the arena.
Harry, who had been following the crowd in a daze, suddenly realized he didn't know a single spell! Those who entered Slytherin, even if not pure-blood, were generally half-bloods who had picked up a few spells from their families. But Harry Potter was different. He had toiled like a house-elf since childhood, his only skills being laundry and cooking.
Am I supposed to scrub them to death with a washboard? Harry thought, smiling bitterly.
A duel wouldn't wait for him to prepare.
The duel began the moment Snape uttered "Begin!" A faint, fluorescent spell shot toward Harry.
Malfoy tackled Harry, knocking him to the ground, and swiftly retaliated with a "Tooth-Pounding Jinx."
"Potter! What are you daydreaming about?" Malfoy helped Harry to his feet.
Harry shook his head, trying to focus. "Thanks, Malfoy." He looked up at the gaggle of young wizards who had surrounded him, chanting about "a thousand Galleons."
Seeing Malfoy raise his wand again to block them, Harry gritted his teeth, his eyes hardening. He grabbed his own wand and lunged at the nearest young wizard.
"Ouch! What are you doing?!"
Smack!
Harry slapped the young wizard across the face with his wand, leaving a red mark.
"Harry Potter!" Snape frowned and rose to his feet. Harry's behavior clearly violated the rules of wizarding duels. Moreover, Harry's ferocity reminded Snape of the man he hated most—James Potter.
"Severus," Tom said calmly, "sit down."
"..." Snape hesitated, his dark eyes fixed on Tom, before slowly responding, "Mr. Potter has broken the rules."
"Then change the rules." Tom's tone remained even, but the undeniable authority in his voice was clear to everyone. Tom raised the Elder Wand and gently pointed it at Harry. Harry's wand instantly transformed into a hammer.
The young wizards were completely bewildered. Seriously? Is this for real?
Snape remained silent for a long moment, then wordlessly sat back down.
"Seriously? Professor, say something!" The young wizards felt they were about to cry. Damn it! That scarred guy was bad enough with his wand, and now he's got a hammer?!
Even those who felt it was unfair knew better than to protest. The pragmatic Slytherins recognized that if Professor Snape backed down, this new professor's status was undoubtedly far from simple. The young wizards who had been bullied by Tom on the train and had already written to their parents felt a growing sense of unease.
Harry looked at the hammer in his hand, testing its weight. He turned to Tom and saw what he interpreted as an encouraging smile. Instantly, he felt moved to tears. He wiped his eyes, looked up at the young wizards with a malicious grin, and let out a strange, high-pitched giggle.
"What do you want?" The young wizards felt uncomfortable under Harry's gaze and subconsciously swallowed.
Harry didn't hesitate. He raised the hammer and charged forward.
"Fun, huh?"
"Betting on me for a thousand Galleons, huh?"
"Saying I raped an old sow, huh?"
Hammer in hand, Harry moved like a man possessed, each blow sending a child into unconsciousness without so much as a whimper. First-year wizards didn't have much magic to begin with, and their spells were mostly weak curses. Harry simply stopped dodging and took the spells head-on, then proceeded to beat them senseless.
And so, a bizarre scene unfolded.
Harry, with his prominent buck teeth and crooked eyes, was seen clutching his stomach and crying as he bullied others with a hammer.
"..."
Everyone in the audience fell silent. This was undoubtedly the most peculiar entrance duel in Slytherin history.
Even Albus Dumbledore, who had been spying on them using a Disillusionment Charm, was speechless. As usual, he could only blame it all on Tom.
---
Things are different this time.
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