The Headmaster's Only Mistake

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

(A/N: I've been streaming Driver's Licence by Olivia Rodrigo ever since it came out, and can I just say FUCK JOSHUA BASSETT. thank you for your attention, enjoy the chapter and important A/N at the end.)

If Harry had a list of things he wanted to accomplish, he knew total power over Slytherin would be at the very top.

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Once dinner ended and Dumbledore had given his speech and warnings, a short girl came up to them and introduced herself as Gemma Farley, the fifth year female prefect, with the largest smile Harry had ever seen on a Slytherin in public. Then again, prefects were supposed to be welcoming, so that could be it.

Gemma had strawberry blonde hair that reached barley past her shoulders and kind brown eyes. She was very pretty, and her words were sweet as she spoke to them. Harry realized that despite her Hufflepuff attitude, Gemma was very much a Slytherin, in the sense that she could butter herself up to anyone and get anything she wanted with a smile.

Harry looked to Gemma's left and saw a tall boy standing beside her with a scowl as he looked at the first years. He was quite handsome, with messy brown hair and honey eyes. His jaw was sharp and the arms that were crossed on his chest were definitely muscular. He also had a few thin white scars running over his hands and a large one that ran from the right end of his mouth to the inner corner of his left eye.

"This is Rafael Rosier, my male counterpart. If any of you need anything at all during this year, or in the future, don't hesitate to contact us or any of the other Slytherin prefects, we are here to help." she spared a glance at Rafael's sour face, and grimaced, her eyes flickering up to the ceiling where the almost full moon was shining. "Well maybe not Rafael; but the rest of us are always here to help!" 

The grin returned to her face.

Rafael, who seemingly took offence at that, stepped forward.

"Don't listen to Farley, I'm very helpful when I want to be. Anyways, follow me to the dorms." He stalked off, giving Gemma a meaningful glare as if to say 'see? I can be helpful too.'

Gemma cleared her throat, pursing her lips, "He's been in a mood all day, but don't worry, he's quite nice. Now come along, we should be heading to the dungeons."

The two prefects led the first years down a few corridors before climbing down the stairs and walking a bit more. As they walked, Gemma filled them in slightly on how Slytherin worked and tips on how to navigate Hogwarts.

"There is a large map in the common room, if you wish to memorize it." she had told them when Millicent Bulstrode asked if Gemma had ever gotten lost. "And if you do get lost, the paintings and the ghosts are always willing to help."

They all stopped in front of a blank wall. Rafael pulled down a torch and a keypad appeared on the wall.

Rafael turned to them. "The password changes every fortnight, the combination is a six number sequence and it's posted on the notice board. This fortnight's password is five, seven, two, four, eight, nine. Don't forget it while you're out unless you know someone else can get you in."

He punched in the number, and like in Diagon Alley, the stones started moving to create an arch,  allowing them to see the common room.

The Slytherin common room was a long, low underground room with rough stone walls and ceiling from which round, greenish lamps were hanging on chains. A fire was crackling under an elaborately carved mantelpiece ahead of them, and several Slytherins were silhouetted around it in high-backed chairs. (Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets)

"Well," Gemma smiled, moving her arm in a wide arc as if presenting the room, "make yourselves at home. Boys dormitories are down that hallway and to the left,  you'll find your names on the plaques. Same goes to the girls, just to the right." With that, Gemma walked off, greeting a few other Slytherins before stopping and facing Rafael who was sulking in a corner.