"We pursue excellence."
She reached out a hand, pointing to the green tapestry embroidered with a silver snake on the common room wall.
"Because we are excellent, we are envied; because we are powerful, we are misunderstood."
"This is the fate of Slytherin."
The common room was pin-drop silent. Everyone was captivated by these words; even the hesitant upper-year students put down their books to look at this first-year freshman.
This speech was incredibly inflammatory.
It cleverly transformed the ostracization Slytherin faced into a sense of superiority born from others fearing their excellence, instantly soothing the freshmen's unease and igniting their collective sense of honor.
As for why they were ostracized, best not to ask.
"So, my friends."
Tamara's gaze became soft yet firm. She looked at everyone as if looking at her closest comrades-in-arms.
"Do not pay attention to the finger-pointing of those people; that is merely the bluster of the weak."
"In the next seven years, we only have one thing to do—"
"Prove our superiority."
"We will take the house cup, we will achieve excellence in every subject, and we will use our strength to show everyone why Slytherin is the greatest house at Hogwarts."
Having said this, she paused briefly, then looked at Draco and asked with a smile:
"Draco, are you willing to prove the excellence of the House of Malfoy to everyone for the glory of Slytherin?"
Being called upon, Draco felt his blood rush to his head.
"Of course!" Draco shouted excitedly, his voice cracking slightly. "I'll definitely show them! I'll show Potter what a real Wizard is!"
"Very good."
The smile on the corners of Tamara's mouth deepened. She looked around, and wherever her gaze landed, every freshman showed a look of fanaticism.
"Then, let us do it for Slytherin."
She said softly.
"For Slytherin!"
Someone shouted first, and then the entire common room erupted in a rhythmic and enthusiastic cheer.
"For Slytherin!"
[Ding! Highly inflammatory speech detected.]
[Achievement Triggered: Junior Leadership Charisma.]
[System Evaluation: Although your rhetoric is full of brainwashing techniques from pyramid schemes, it is undeniable that you have successfully united your classmates, eliminated the freshmen's fear, and motivated their ambition.]
[This is Positive Energy! This is the spirit of collectivism!]
[Rewards: Charisma +3, wisdom +2.]
[Current Attributes: Love 10, life 7, wisdom 17, Courage 5.]
Listening to the system's silly praise in her head, the smile on Tamara's face became even more gentle and moving.
"Positive Energy?" she sneered inwardly.
"This is called the Art of Manipulation, you idiot."
...After the speech, Tamara's popularity in Slytherin instantly reached its peak.
Those students who had originally been somewhat intimidated by her cold aura now crowded around, vying to introduce themselves to her.
Tamara dealt with them patiently.
She memorized everyone's name; even for those inconspicuous half-blood Wizards, she would nod with a smile and offer a compliment like "Your robes are very neat" or "Your gaze is very focused."
This "approachable" attitude made the little snakes, who were used to ranking themselves by family status, feel overwhelmed by the favor.
"She's perfect, isn't she?" Pansy Parkinson said with a blush to Daphne Greengrass beside her. "Powerful, elegant, and so... gentle."
Finally, the crowd gradually dispersed, and everyone began returning to their dormitories to rest.
Tamara walked into the corridor of the girls' dormitory.
Pushing open the door, she found a spacious circular room with five four-poster beds draped with green velvet curtains.
Besides Tamara, there were Pansy, Millicent, Daphne, and a girl named Tracy.
When Tamara walked in, the girls who had been chatting immediately stopped and looked at her somewhat stiffly.
"Goodnight, everyone."
Tamara gave them a slight smile, that perfect mask still fixed on her face.
"I hope we can spend a pleasant seven years together."
"Good... goodnight, Tamara," Pansy replied with a slight stutter.
Tamara walked to the innermost bed by the window—it was the best spot, clearly left for her specially by her roommates.
Her luggage was already by the bed, and that stupid cat named Nagini was sprawled out on the pillow, fast asleep.
Tamara flicked her wand lightly, pulling the heavy green curtains shut.
The world was finally quiet.
In that small, private space.
The gentle, elegant, and infectious smile on Tamara's face vanished without a trace, like a melting wax figure.
In its place was a deep exhaustion and a touch of inescapable gloom in the depths of her eyes.
"A bunch of easily manipulated fools," she murmured under her breath.
She murmured softly, throwing herself into the soft blankets.
Acting is so tiring.
Especially having to play a girl full of Positive Energy under the surveillance of that damn system.
She turned her head, looking at the black cat sleeping defenselessly by her pillow.
Nagini II seemed to feel its owner's presence. Half-asleep, it opened its eyes, reached out a paw to grab Tamara's finger, rubbed its furry head against her, and let out a meow.
"Meow."
Tamara's finger stiffened.
She had intended to shake it off.
But feeling the slight, real warmth coming from her fingertip, she ultimately didn't move.
"At least you don't have to act."
She looked at the cat, a trace of envy she hadn't even noticed herself flickering in her eyes.
"Goodnight, Nagini."
The Dark Lord closed her eyes.
And in her dreams, there was no Hogwarts, no system, only a flash of green light and herself lying in a pool of blood.