Twins: A Different Life

Rekindling a Bond

"Well, that was a huge waste of time," Harry said mockingly, a bright tone in his voice. "I do apologize for taking you all away from your duties."

"Come, Mr. Potter. I must speak to my Slytherins, and you are one of them," Professor Snape instructed. "Headmaster."

"I will speak with you tomorrow, Severus," Dumbledore replied.

Harry happily followed Snape out of the office and down the familiar route to the dungeons. He genuinely believed that he could navigate the castle blindfolded and still find his way back to Salazar's domain.

They arrived at the plain stone wall that Harry knew served as the entrance to the Slytherin dormitories. Salazar had used the unremarkable wall as a constant reminder that appearances can be deceiving.

"This is the entrance to Slytherin House," Snape informed him. Harry blinked, recalling that this was supposed to be his first visit to the castle, so he nodded to show he understood. The current password is 'basilisk.' It will be changed each month, and the notice will be posted on the notice board."

As Snape spoke the word "basilisk," the wall slid open, revealing the Slytherin common room. The rest of the House was milling around, obviously waiting for something, and Harry guessed it was for the professor.

He glanced up at Snape to check if he was allowed to enter, and the man motioned for him to go inside. Harry took a place next to Draco, flashing a grin at his surprised expression.

"Everything is in order, sir," one of the prefects spoke from the far side of the room as Snape moved to stand in front of the grand black marble fireplace, a spot visible from all angles in the room.

"Welcome to Slytherin," Professor Snape began, directing his speech to the first years.

His voice was like silk—low and perfectly measured to carry across the entire common room without difficulty. He had a commanding presence that subdued the room into utter silence, but Harry felt no hostility or fear among the members of his House. All of the older years seemed to respect Snape greatly.

"I am Professor Severus Snape, your Head of House and the Potions Master of this school. As new members of this House, there are a few rules you must know and learn to abide by.

You will face prejudice and discrimination outside these walls because of your House selection: Slytherin House is not viewed favourably. Because of this, all Slytherins must present a united front when outside our territory.

Even if you utterly despise a fellow housemate, you must not allow this to show outside these walls. If you see a fellow housemate in need of aid, you will help them. This rule is non-negotiable." He looked at each of them to ensure they understood before continuing.

"We are Slytherin, and this House champions cunning. Should you happen to deviate from the written rules, remember: Do. Not. Get. Caught. If you think you might be caught, have an alibi ready. And if you are caught, make sure it is by me." Snape gave them a look that promised severe consequences should they be caught, and Harry almost grinned; Salazar had given him the same look countless times.

"The prejudice you face, unfortunately, also extends to some faculty members. They are likely to believe the words of another House over yours in an instant. Therefore, if you have any problems, issues, or concerns, you are welcome to come and speak to me at any time.

My office can be accessed through the painting of the stirring cauldrons. If you are unsure how to find it, a prefect or older student will guide you."

Harry's attention snapped around when two people emerged from the painting mentioned. His eyes widened slightly as he recognized his godfather and uncle stepping through to join Professor Snape.