Common Room

The prefects led them through the dimly lit corridors of the dungeons, finally stopping in front of an unassuming wall. "Here we are," the prefect said, turning to face the group. "To enter the common room, you'll need the password, which changes every month. This month's password is 'Basilisk.'"

As soon as she said the word, the wall shifted, revealing the entrance to the Slytherin common room. They stepped inside, and Damian took in the dark, elegant decor—a large fireplace crackled in one corner, casting flickering shadows over the green and silver furnishings. The prefects began laying out the house rules. "In Slytherin, we expect unity," one of them said. "If there are any problems, they stay within the house. To outsiders, we present a united front. Our strength lies in our ambition, but also in our unity while facing problems."

She then pointed toward two staircases. "The boys' dormitories are on the left, and the girls' on the right. Boys, remember—you're not allowed in the girls' dormitory under any circumstances." With a nod, she added, "Your rooms are shared, two to each, and if you need anything, speak to a prefect."

Damian exchanged goodnights with Daphne and Tracey before heading to the boys' dormitory. The room was decorated in a similar style to the common room, with dark green curtains draping over each bed. His roommate, Blaise Zabini, stood nearby, eyeing the two available beds. "Pick whichever one you want," Damian told him, not particularly fussed about where he slept. After they both settled in, Damian quickly changed into his nightclothes, exhaustion from the journey taking its toll. Within minutes, he fell into a deep sleep.

The next morning, he woke at six, feeling well-rested despite the previous day's events. He slipped into his running clothes and left the common room, making his way through the cold corridors and out to the shore of the lake. The crisp morning air was perfect for a run, and he let the silence of the grounds fill his mind as he completed his laps. By the time he returned to the dormitory, it was seven. He showered, dressed in his school uniform, and headed back to the common room at half-past seven.

Daphne was already up, her blonde hair tied back into a neat ponytail. Tracey, however, looked far less awake, her eyes half-lidded as she slouched in her seat. He couldn't help but chuckle. "Still sleepy?" he asked with a teasing grin.

"What do you think?" she shot back with a groggy, half-hearted glare.

A few minutes later, Blaise joined them, and the four of them made their way to the Great Hall for breakfast. The hall was already buzzing with Slytherin and Ravenclaw, but there were also a few Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors.

They sat down to have breakfast when a beautiful owl landed on the table with a letter addressed to him. 

"Hey," Draco said, "That's my mother's owl. I told her about you in the letter yesterday. It would be an invitation to Christmas."

Damian opened the letter and began to read it.

Dear Damian, 

I hope this letter finds you well and thriving at Hogwarts.Though we haven't had the pleasure of meeting in person yet, I wanted to reach out and say how happy I am to hear about your time at Hogwarts. It brings me immense joy to know you're making friends and finding your way in this magical world.

As the holiday season approaches, I would like to extend a heartfelt invitation for you to join us at Malfoy Manor for Christmas. It has been far too long since we celebrated together, and it would mean so much to me to have you with us during this festive time. 

I have always cherished the traditions of our family, and I would love for you to partake in the festivities. Your presence would bring great joy to our home. 

Please let me know if you can make it.

With all my love, 

Narcissa Malfoy

Damian planned to write and send the reply that evening. As they continued having breakfast, Professor Snape approached, handing out timetables to each Slytherin. When he reached Damian, his sharp gaze lingered for a moment, almost as if he were sizing him up. "Do not lose house points," he said, his tone cold and authoritative, "or you'll regret it. I expect Slytherin to win the House Cup again this year."

Damian glanced down at the schedule and found they were having Transfiguration and Herbology with Hufflepuffs, Charms and History with Ravenclaws, and DADA and Potions with Gryffindors. There was also Astronomy on Wednesday afternoons. The first class they had was Charms with the Ravenclaws. 'Well, this is going to be eventful,' he thought.