The Slytherin Council no longer convened in our common room with Avery and Cassius. Now we held our meetings in a specially designated room. Securing the place had required some… persuasion of the prefects.
Generally, the Slytherin dungeons contained a vast number of rooms, but most were sealed shut to preserve them. After all, three rooms for girls and three for boys for each new year was more than enough. A total of 42 rooms out of 90. That's how many were mentioned in the book about Hogwarts. As for the actual count, we couldn't tally it ourselves — many corridors were sealed with charms.
Even so, every year one or two rooms weren't fully occupied. In our own room, for example, there were three of us.
Though, of course, I wondered what the problem was — simply unseal all the rooms and reduce the maximum occupancy to two. Perhaps it was done to foster a better environment for developing friendships. And there would be fewer chances of mixing between the girls' and boys' wings: if only two shared a room, couples would inevitably arrange to move in together with their neighbors. With three or four in a room, pulling that off was extremely difficult.
Still, the task of fitting such a number of first-years into fewer rooms… proved not impossible. True, we had to move not the first-years, but three loyal second-years who answered to the Council, relocating them to other second-year rooms and to some of our compliant third-years. Naturally, only the boys were inconvenienced — securing a room in the girls' wing for the council… would have been lethally dangerous even for me. It's better for anyone but the girls to avoid entering the girls' wing altogether.
So, at the start of the term, after negotiating with my beloved prefects, we managed to pull it off. Unsuspecting first-years were essentially moved in, displacing three second-year boys. But it was fine — those three were ours. Besides, we'd compensate them after Yule, and during the move itself, I encouraged them, saying the Council wouldn't forget this and they'd have their own room again in the future.
The boys were friends, after all, and we separated them. One of them was quite a smart fellow with leadership qualities, who also understood whom to obey to maintain authority among his peers.
I'd also keep an eye on his loyalty. And so, through this simple scheme, we obtained a meeting room.
We, of course, cleared the room of beds and other junk, freeing up space. For now, it held only a simple but massive round table and a set of chairs. And a cabinet. All these wonders were procured by me from the Room of Requirement, specifically the room of lost/hidden things, full of old stuff. I often rummage there, trying to find the Diadem or other useful items, sometimes stumbling upon various useful junk.
After the winter holidays, I plan to bring a new, more massive round table of carved oak and more expensive armchairs with soft upholstery. And proper decor — heraldic banners, perhaps portraits of Salazar. For now, functionality was key.
The prefects allowed this renovation not just out of goodwill — despite their favorable attitude toward me, I didn't want to spend such a substantial favor on such a trifle. And in general, all these "reciprocal favors" were needed by me precisely to bind people to myself with a sense of obligation, after which they'd naturally sink deeper and deeper.
In short, I had to help them with first-year problems where, for image reasons, it was better for them not to intervene openly. In return, they not only helped but also enlisted the best craftsmen from the upper years. The door to the room was now reinforced with additional protective charms, and the interior walls were coated with a static silencing enchantment. Now conversations from inside wouldn't leak out, not even whispers. The entire system was tied to the castle's magic and powered by it, requiring only rare adjustments to the applied charms, as the foundation was runic. Our little "headquarters" had become truly private.
Generally, everyone tried to protect their rooms, and the upper-years wanted it most and, for obvious reasons, did it best. And our prefect, Lucian Foley, had as a friend the best craftsman in Slytherin. He even attends Ancient Runes — I saw him when a group of upper-years exited the classroom. A useful fellow overall; I should find common ground with him.
For now, the door could only be opened by knowing the magical key-password. In short, they installed a complex locking spell. The alternative to the key-password was only a brute-force breach with, say, an explosive curse. I set the key-password myself, and even Lucian's friend, who cast the charms, didn't know it. This required some ingenuity during the enchantment, but I wanted it that way!
Inside, besides the table and chairs, a cabinet immediately caught the eye, filled with literature I'd selected: works on blood purity, histories of Salazar Slytherin and the other Founders, several books on magical history without embellishments, genealogies of the Sacred Twenty-Eight, and a couple of symbolic books. Separately lay a journal with a safety manual and emergency protocol. It was still being written and wasn't complete, but Avery and I were working on it. I want instructions in case I can't attend a Council meeting and something urgent happens.
The main treasure, however, was the Book of Protocols — a thick diary-like book bound in green leather. It was activated with the phrase: "The Slytherin Council greets you!" Without the activation phrase, it was just a book with blank pages. This, by the way, was Avery's contribution to our Council.
Using a Quick-Quotes Quill, we entered basic information before each meeting: who attended, the meeting number, and the date.
Plans for improving everything in this room and generally lending more seriousness to our organization were numerous: enchanted rings for council members, to later create a two-factor security system, a more sophisticated recording system, perhaps even communication through our rings, and I could also attach a couple of dubious things few would agree to wear knowingly. But all that — after the winter holidays. For now, we had to be content with what we had, and even so, everyone here was pleased with how grand and solid everything already was.
My still-scant understanding of human psychology worked, and I'd achieved that at this stage, my comrades perceived the Council as something extremely important, to be protected, preserved, and developed. The shared idea united us very strongly, and gradually the whole of Slytherin would join this common idea. By the time we were in our final year, my authority would be so total that I could literally manage the entire house — hundreds of young minds growing up with the ideas I'd instilled. I would play the pipe of power, and I would attain absolute authority, not only in school but after school, having merely combined the methods of Grindelwald and Voldemort, though my goal was far more ambitious and global. And I did everything correctly and wouldn't lose, because I hate losing.
Today's meeting was routine but important, as always. I sat, slowly twirling my wand in my hand, tracing an endless figure-eight in the air.
The first item on the agenda was the first-years. Their adaptation was generally going well but required precise oversight. Especially considering the activity of second and third-year Gryffindors, who were passing on their long-standing grudges, handing the baton to the younger students.
"I declare the thirtieth official meeting of the Slytherin Council… open!" I announced solemnly.
We counted meetings starting from the first one after receiving the Slytherin Rings and the official adoption of the name. So the number was less than the actual total.
Avery immediately took the floor. He made additional corrections for the Quick-Quotes Quill.
"October 7, 1990, Sunday. The thirtieth official meeting has begun. All Council members are present: Head and Founder of the Council — Arcturus Corvus Armand Malfoy. Council Members: Amanda Rosier, Marcus Avery, Dexter Blackmore, Isabel Nox, Cassius Warrington."
"Shall we start with the newcomers?" Cassius asked simply, twisting the ring on his finger.
"We shall," I confirmed. "As I understand and see, adaptation is proceeding, but there are problems. Report, Marcus."
"There are a couple of issues," he began listing all incidents, a hint of laziness in his voice, briefly explaining each problem. "Let's start with the illegitimate son of Lord Parkinson…"
We then began to analyze each case and devise solutions. One must understand that the combined Slytherin student body, or rather the part below fourth year, wasn't a unified whole from a group perspective.
I had no goal of turning Slytherin into something like Hufflepuff. The Council was designed so that everyone obeyed it, and in return, it provided protection, support, and assistance. But internal strife among the snakes remained their own business, as long as it didn't concern Council members and those under its control.
That is, Slytherins remained snakes in a serpentarium, only in this serpentarium, a group of snakes had appeared that subjugated the smaller and weaker ones, then helped them grow to seize control of the entire serpentarium. And if one viper bit another — that was no longer the Council's problem.
"That's enough about the first-years for now. Many details may change today."
"Meaning?" asked Cassius.
"The Head Boy clearly wants something, summoning the Gryffindor and Slytherin prefects today," Amanda said thoughtfully, examining her nails. "Since we know it concerns the first year, it'll be intervention in the conflicts causing clashes among older years and new ones sparking among the younger ones for no reason."
"Amanda's right," I said, meeting the blonde's eyes. "It's a serious problem. Starting with our year, the number of conflicts has increased, and if it continues like this every year, the Slytherin-Gryffindor rivalry will engulf all years and turn into genuine hostility. And a fire, as we know, can ignite from any spark."
"Now I understand," Cassius said, scratching his chin. "He's afraid the whole school will live in constant squabbles."
"Well, you are slow, Warrington," Avery yawned, teasing our mutual friend. "Took you forever to get it. And by the way, you're not entirely right. He is the Head Boy, after all, and besides those reasons, he might have simply been rapped on the knuckles from above."
At Avery's words, Cassius and Dexter nodded meaningfully, as if they themselves wanted to say it. Maybe they did, but lately they'd been training like madmen. And not just them. After all, the guys also taught the younger ones — drilled them.
"Then we'll leave the first-year issue… for now, continue recruiting as before, and we've already decided how to handle their problems. I'll inform you of any changes after today's meeting, if there are any."
"May I raise the next point?" I shifted my gaze to Isabella's voice.
"We're listening carefully, Isabella. What happened?"
Instead of answering, she quickly glanced at Amanda, who, realizing something, shot her friend and simultaneously rival an expressive look.
"Actually, never mind. I apologize for the disturbance. I'll handle it myself — it's not worth attention."
Nox clearly wanted to say something but remained silent.
"Amanda? Does this concern you?" She didn't answer. "I hope you remember what happened at the Ministry Ball and understand my attitude toward secrets that concern me."
"Did anyone say the problem concerns you, Mr. Arcturus? As far as I recall, my personal affairs are none of your concern," Amanda retorted sarcastically. "I'll handle it myself, thank you for your concern."
She truly is too proud and touchy, just like me. Silence hung like a heavy blanket. Then came Avery's light, mocking sigh.
"Oh, dear Miss Amanda, 'handle it myself' is when someone steals your quill. Not when you're publicly humiliated at a club meeting."
Amanda's eyes shot a look full of fury and murderous intent at Avery.
"That's exactly how I expressed it… that THIS is my business!" She didn't raise her voice but hissed through her teeth.
"Enough," I said softly but with finality, and all eyes turned to me again. Inside, the familiar sensation of anger simmered. I took a deep, almost imperceptible breath, mentally erecting an icy wall between emotions and reason. "Avery, continue. What happened?"
Avery shrugged:
"Honestly, I don't know everything yet, otherwise I'd have said so right away. I just learned this morning that during their club meeting yesterday, there was an unpleasant incident involving Harriet Bullstrode and Clarissa Darley. Fourth years, our own little snakes."
Everything inside turned cold. Anger at the fact that they dared! Our own Slytherin girls. To challenge Amanda publicly. They offended her, and that was also a challenge to the Council's authority. Which meant it was my business! Stop, calm. Icy wall… between emotions and reason, an icy wall!
I looked at Amanda. She was looking at Avery with resentment, her ears flushed.
"You're wrong, Amanda. If you were offended, it concerns me," my voice was quiet but with such metallic firmness that everyone tensed. Amanda looked at me in surprise. "Moreover, when a member of this Council is insulted, it ceases to be a personal matter. It's an insult to all of us, and I want the details."
"In that case, I really was being selfish…" Amanda said sweetly and bashfully, pausing. "And I wouldn't mind your help, Arcturus. I already know how to shame them in return, so I'll tell you after the Council."
Saying this, she looked maximally sweet and harmless. Her beautiful and seemingly sincere smile, along with a radiant gaze, was even more disarming. But I finally saw this cunning beast with long blonde hair, who, batting her lush eyelashes and manipulating everyone, had achieved her goal.
It remained to understand what her true goal was. She almost made me doubt that she was the same Amanda. The one who could offend anyone herself.
Amanda Rosier, who, no matter how much time passed, remained an enigma to me. I couldn't find the key to understand what was going on in that pretty head of a snake who wouldn't swallow an insult anyway, and now she had heavy artillery in the form of me. And seemingly, here was the goal of her manipulation, but it was all too complicated for such a simple plan.
She managed to tell only me, separately from the Council. That's where the mystery lies, and I think I understand her motive, but internally I don't accept it. After that, the entire meeting passed to the accompaniment of Amanda's radiant smile, which, say what you will, was captivating.
I didn't even feel like punishing this cunning little vixen with her smug face. Although, logically, I should have been angry at her manipulation, but I was angrier that someone had offended her. I hope I haven't become a fool and it's not what I'm thinking…
In any case, I'll remind her it's dangerous to play with me, but my reason resisted, my heart didn't want to. Or maybe hormones… she is beautiful.
"Burke and Reed," Blackmore spoke up. "They're the ones truly against us now. After the shake-up last year, they only grumbled, but now they've gotten bold. Harassing our second-years in the library, setting them up on the stairs. Petty, but brazen, and constantly using the fact that they're third-years. Mainly targeting those not in groups and generally keeping to themselves."
"Couldn't get to us, so they're taking it out on the younger ones?" Avery asked rhetorically.
"I think they've just gotten bolder and, on the contrary, are trying to provoke us to get our attention," Nox's suggestion hit exactly what I was thinking.
"I think… Isabella's right," Avery said, yawning, having long since leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. I wouldn't be surprised if he fell asleep now.
"Cassius, someone's about to fall asleep!"
Noticing something amiss, we, of course, didn't allow Marcus to fall asleep, as we'd done since first year whenever we noticed him trying to nap during the day. A sharp bout of laziness was temporarily banished from Avery with a precise jab from a wand tip.
"Hey! That hurts!"
"Pfft-ha, you've got some nerve, Marcus. Sleeping during meetings now. 'Sleep-inducing,' indeed."
The three of us chuckled at the inside joke, though Avery, of course, wouldn't stop grumbling about it for the rest of the meeting.
"I think Isabella's right, and they're trying to step on the Basilisk's tail. But who's giving them courage…" I said thoughtfully. "They need to be watched. Find out their routines and who they associate with. Unlikely they'll be cautious enough not to reveal their hand in company, at least among other Gryffindors. Avery, who among Gryffindors can help us? I think last year we helped two young ladies quite well."
"What young ladies?!" the girls chimed in almost in unison.
Avery's grin widened.
"There are a couple of fifth-years who consider Burke and Reed a disgrace to their house tie. Besides, these ladies owe us a favor."
"Are those the ones we…" Cassius began.
"Quiet, fool!" Avery snapped, making our little snakes' gazes even more lethal and suspicious.