When Daphne Greengrass spoke, Jon had intended to refuse.
However, he didn't know the password needed to enter the Slytherin common room.
And as a first-year student newly arrived at Hogwarts, he wasn't supposed to know where it was located either.
With no other choice, Jon followed behind Daphne. Together, they reached the passageway between the Great Hall and the dungeons... then descended the stone steps into the corridor below.
The dungeon was faintly lit, with torches scattered far apart, their flickering light casting long shadows into the depths.
A soft light glowed at the tip of Daphne's wand, guiding the way forward.
The corridor was wide and empty, the silence broken only by the faint echo of their footsteps.
"This way." At every intersection, Daphne paused to show Jon the correct path.
Aside from that, they barely exchanged a word.
...
A few minutes later, they stopped in front of a bare, damp stone wall.
On the surface of the wall, a stone door appeared—its carving depicted a great serpent biting its own tail.
Facing it, Daphne Greengrass whispered, "Blood is thicker than blood."
At the sound of the password, the hidden door in the stone wall slowly swung open.
"The password changes every two weeks," Daphne said quietly. "Check the notice board—it'll be updated in time."
She stepped through the doorway first, leading Jon into the Slytherin common room.
It was a semi-transparent chamber located beneath the lake, its walls built from black Gothic marble. The ceiling was a clear crystal dome, through which the rippling light of the water above shimmered faintly.
Green-glassed lamps hung on long chains from the ceiling, filling the room with an eerie emerald glow.
The first thing Jon noticed was an ornate fireplace. Beneath it, a lively fire crackled, surrounded by several Slytherin students.
"Wait over there." Daphne pointed to a few empty chairs by the fire. "When the prefects return, they'll take you to your dormitory."
With that, she strode toward a doorway draped with silver curtains... and disappeared beyond them.
...
Jon sat down near the fireplace, his gaze wandering curiously around the room.
The chairs by the hearth were low and reclined, surprisingly comfortable to sink into.
When he looked up at the ceiling, he spotted the massive form of the giant squid drifting slowly past.
It was the first time he'd seen it so clearly from below—its dark, glassy eyes and faintly menacing mouthparts made him jump in surprise.
A Slytherin girl nearby let out a soft giggle.
"I heard Durmstrang's castle is built underwater too?" she said with a teasing smile, sitting down opposite him.
"Yeah... but we don't have any squids or octopuses like that. Plenty of whales, though!" Jon said quickly. "So it gave me quite a scare just now!"
Fortunately, she didn't seem suspicious.
"Selwyn." The girl, about Jon's age, offered her hand. "Tiffany Selwyn."
Jon, of course, knew who she was. They'd been classmates for three years—though never in the same house.
Christopher Patrick—but you can call me Chris," he replied, shaking her hand.
"I know." Selwyn nodded, then asked curiously, "You're Austrian?"
"Yes," Jon said stiffly. "I was born in Linz, Austria."
"My grandmother was Austrian too. She came to England when she was twenty, and then—"
"Ow..." Jon suddenly clutched his stomach, grimacing in pain.
"What's wrong?" Selwyn asked, concerned.
"Think I've got a bit of an upset stomach..." Jon said, struggling to keep his composure. "Guess I'm not used to Hogwarts food yet. Could you tell me where the bathroom is?"
Tiffany Selwyn frowned slightly but stood up and pointed him in the right direction.
...
Once safely inside the bathroom, Jon exhaled in relief.
Good thing he'd come up with that excuse in time!
If she'd learned even a few German phrases from her grandmother and decided to strike up a conversation... everything would've fallen apart.
Aside from the phrase "I'm all alone," Jon didn't know a word of German. So he decided then and there—unless he could confirm Selwyn didn't speak any, he'd keep his distance from her.
He hid out in the bathroom for quite a while, only stepping out when the sound of voices filled the common room.
As expected, Draco Malfoy and Pansy Parkinson—the new prefects—had returned with the first-year students.
"Chris!" Malfoy called, strutting proudly at the head of the group as he waved Jon over.
"Uh... Draco," Jon said, walking up to him. "I still don't know which dorm I'm in."
"Your dorm? Oh, right—I almost forgot!" Malfoy snapped his fingers. "You're with Avery and the others."
"Come on, then!" Malfoy handed the first-years off to Pansy Parkinson and gestured for Jon to follow.
Trailing behind him, Jon passed through the silver-curtained doorway and turned several corners until they reached a spacious room.
Three boys were already there—two lying on their beds, and one standing to greet them warmly.
Jon recognized him immediately. It was Sean Avery—the very first name the Sorting Hat had called out three years ago during their first year.
The dormitory had four beds, one of them still unoccupied. Jon's luggage sat beside it.
It was a classic four-poster bed, draped in green silk curtains with silver-thread embroidery along the canopy.
The walls were decorated with medieval-style tapestries, and several silver lanterns hung from the ceiling, glowing faintly.
Malfoy gave Jon a few brief instructions about life at Hogwarts before leaving.
...
Jon Hart lay on his bed, wrapped in a silver blanket.
Many thoughts flickered through his mind, but he quickly pushed them aside.
Lulled by the soft rhythm of the lake's waves brushing against the window, he drifted peacefully to sleep.
...