Chapter 572 - Gathering the Snakeling’s (1/2)
While the Hogwarts student body sang, Rowan and Severus merely mouthed the words to the song but did not sing a single word. They might be Prefects, but they could not be forced to sing a ridiculous song with no clear tune. In other words, it was awful like always.
Dumbledore sighs in pleasure and rather heartfelt says, ”Ah music. And now, bedtime, off you all go!”
Rowan and Severus by mutual decision had decided their roles. Severus would make sure all the older students got to the dorms first and Rowan would take the first years and transfer students. Head Boy Travers rather than introducing himself like Malfoy had quickly fled. Apparently, the Bloody Baron had finally got to him during dinner and Travers was fleeing as quickly as he could.
Seeing the confused first years and transfer students, Rowan sighs to herself. Strangely, Slytherin had the greatest influx of transfer students this year. Their second year and third year classes were going to double with their first-year class being the largest in near recorded history. But then again, the main characteristics needed to survive as a werewolf are resourcefulness, cunningness, determination, self-preservation, and cleverness. In other words, the exact criteria that determined if one was a Slytherin.
Clearing her throat, Rowan loudly says, ”I am Rowan Prince, I am this year's Slytherin female Prefect. My twin brother is Severus Prince and he is the male Prefect for our house. Either one of us can help you or any of the other Prefect's can as well.”
”First year and transfer students, please line up into two neat orderly lines, boys on one side and girls on the others,” Rowan promptly instructed. Some of the other Prefects are staring at her in surprise until they understand what she is doing. They quickly copy the idea and do the same.
Making sure that the rest of the Slytherin years were long gone, Rowan finally said, ”Now follow me,” as the girls and boys in the two lines followed right behind her.
Talking loudly over her shoulder, Rowan continues, ”First years, please don't worry about getting lost the first few days. I will personally take you up all up to your classes during the first three days. After that, you should all be able to find your way. This applies to the transfer students as well; your fellow year mates will escort you to your classes. However, if you are all still worried, during breakfast tomorrow, I'll pass out a simple map of the school showing the route to all of your classes.”
The first year's and transfer students sigh in relief and seem a lot less afraid as Rowan led them through the cool depths of Hogwarts. ”I'd like to warn you now,” Rowan said causing a few first years to stiffen.
”We are in the dungeons and it does get cold down here during the winter. Might I recommend asking your parents for a duvet or two or thicker pajamas and robes. It was something that I wish someone would have told me prior to winter's arrival,” Rowan explained as the first years and transfer students wisely their heads nodded in understanding at feeling the chill of the dungeons.
Rowan leads them to a bare stone wall and stops before moving to the side. Pointing to the tiny snake symbol engraved on the floor, she says, ”This is the symbol for our entrance. Our entrance is not flashy like the rest of the houses as we prefer cunning and hiding in plain sight. Much like our Slytherin house is.”
The first years and transfer students nod their heads like cute baby ducklings as Rowan continues, ”Now much like anything hidden there is a password. The password is changed every fortnight. But please do to worry, if you ever forget the password, it is always posted on the common room board inside.”
Rowan paused and slowly said n emphasis, ”You are not to bring friends inside nor ever give your password to another student of another house. Is that understood?”
”Yes, Prefect Prince,” the first years and transfer students chimed.
Rowan stifles a smile and says, ”The password is Foe-Glass.”
The wall silently creaks open to reveal an inner passageway. ”Go on inside,” Rowan instructed as they marched neatly into the common room.
Rowan waits for the awe to leave the first years as they gape at the Slytherin common room. The first year's and transfer students' glance at the rough stone walls and ceiling that hold elegant green lanterns aglow. For some of them the scene was something out of their wildest dreams. Largely the transfer students as they would have never believed it possible to attend Hogwarts in their lifetime.