The classroom filled with quiet bubbling sounds as cauldrons simmered.
Soren focused hard, carefully measuring ingredients exactly as Snape demonstrated.
Jacqueline hovered beside him, watching the color shift perfectly.
Penny, a few tables away, worked silently, her potion practically textbook-perfect.
Cassie stirred her cauldron with Ravenclaw precision.
Snape glided past them and sneered, "Finish your potions. I want to see how poorly you execute your work."
Soren swallowed, but continued stirring.
After a moment, Snape's eyebrows twitched with faint surprise.
Under his breath, he murmured, "Perhaps Whitlock isn't absolutely incompetent after all…"
Soren smiled a little. His first-ever potion… was perfect.
Jacqueline's eyes sparkled.
"You did it, Soren! In my research, hardly anyone brews their first potion correctly. You're practically a genius!"
Soren's chest warmed with pride.
But someone crept closer. Merula Snyde stepped behind them, looking at him with jealousy.
Before anyone noticed, she flicked something into Soren's cauldron. A pinch of Bulbadox Powder.
At first, nothing happened.
Then, bubble… bubble… bubble.
Penny looked over, and asked, "Soren, did you add Bulbadox Powder? From my studies, that reaction looks like the beginning of an explosive boil—"
"No! I didn't add anything—"
BOOOOOM!
The cauldron erupted in a blast of green steam. Metal cracked and split clean in two. The table shook. Soren stumbled back, coughing.
The room went silent. Snape's eyes blazed with fury.
"WHITLOCK!"
He stormed forward in anger, "You should have never been allowed in my class!"
Soren froze hearing it.
Snape leaned closer, "You are somehow worse than your sister."
Gasps filled the room. Jacqueline flinched. Soren's fists trembled in anger.
"Ten points from Slytherin!"
A collective groan echoed among the Slytherins.
Soren stepped forward in anger, "Professor, I didn't do anything wrong! Merula did something, she threatened me earlier—"
Snape's eyes narrowed. "Take responsibility for your incompetence."
"But she said she'd do anything to make my potion fail!"
Snape turned sharply toward Merula, "Is this true, Miss Snyde?"
Merula instantly made her face innocent and wide-eyed and replied in a sweet tone, "Absolutely not, Professor. Soren is just… mad. Just like his sister was. Maybe he also wants to ruin Hogwarts' reputation."
Several students whispered while hearing it.
Snape's expression hardened. "Your parents represent Slytherin House, Miss Snyde. Do not forget, I am watching you."
Merula blinked, momentarily thrown off.
Snape turned, and left to examine other cauldrons.
Soren stood there, feeling injustice. Jacqueline placed a comforting hand on his arm.
Penny hugged her books tightly, horrified by what happened.
Merula leaned in just long enough to whisper, in a snickered tone, "Haha, it's only going to get worse, Whitlock."
Then she walked away, like she won a big battle.
Soren stared at the shattered remains of his cauldron, and Merula walked away.
He walked through the dimly lit dungeon corridor, heading back toward the Slytherin common room.
His shoulders were heavy.
Ten points gone. On the first day. How will I face my housemates…? The thought looped in his mind.
Snape's voice echoed in his mind continuously, "You are somehow worse than your sister."
Soren clenched his jaw.
Just then, someone called out behind him:
"You're Soren Whitlock, right?"
Soren turned.
A nervous-looking boy with messy brown hair, trembling hands, and Gryffindor robes stood there.
His eyes darted left and right like he expected Merula to jump out at any second.
"Yes. I'm Soren."
The boy extended a shaky hand.
"I'm… um… Ben Copper. I-I'm also a first-year."
Soren shook his hand gently, "Nice to meet you."
Ben swallowed. "I—I just wanted to say… the way you faced Merula earlier… that was… really brave."
Soren raised an eyebrow, "How did you know about that?"
Ben rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, "Well… I was there. Sort of. Just… hiding behind a pillar."
Soren blinked.
Ben continued quickly. "Because if Merula sees me, I—at least have some time to run away from her."
Soren's heart tightened, "She bullies you?"
Ben nodded, eyes downcast, "From the moment I got inside Hogwarts. She calls me 'mudblood.' Threatens me. Says she'll hex me or make me fail every class."
Soren felt a surge of anger, "That's terrible."
Ben gave a sad, lopsided smile. "I feel terrible. I don't know why she hates me so much."
He paused, voice dropping to a whisper.
"Merula thinks she's the best witch in Hogwarts. She wants everyone to admit it. Like… she wants to control people."
Soren nodded slowly, "She tried that with Penny, too."
Ben's eyes widened, "Yeah… she bullies anyone. Except the older Slytherins. She's scared of them, especially Selene Avery."
Soren smirked slightly, "Selene saved me earlier."
Ben gasped, "Wow… she's so cool! She yelled at a fourth-year last week for stealing a first-year's book."
Soren's worry softened a little.
There were good people in Hogwarts, too.
Ben shuffled beside Soren as they walked down the dungeon corridor.
His steps were nervous, quick, like he wanted to speak but wasn't sure if he should.
Finally, he blurted out, "You know… it was kind of a joke that I got sorted into Gryffindor."
Soren looked at him, confused. "Why do you say that?"
Ben sighed and hugged his books tighter.
"Because everyone says Gryffindors are brave. And I'm… not."
Soren blinked, "Everyone is afraid of something, Ben."
Ben shook his head quickly.
"No, you don't understand. I'm afraid of everything here. Every corridor, every spell, every weird magical creature… And don't even get me started on the ghosts!"
He shuddered so hard that Jacqueline, who had been walking slightly ahead, turned to glance back at them.
Ben continued, his voice trembling, "I'm from a Muggle family. This whole world is new and strange and… terrifying."
Soren slowed his pace, letting Ben catch his breath. He placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Ben… it's okay to be scared. Truly."
Ben's eyes widened a little, "But you're here. You made it to Hogwarts. And you're trying. That already makes you braver than you think."
Ben swallowed hard, "Do… Do you really think so?"
Soren nodded firmly, "Yes. And listen, if Merula bullies you again, tell me. I'll deal with her."
Ben stared at him, a little shocked. Then a warm, grateful smile appeared for the first time, "Thank you, Soren. Really… thank you."
Soren smiled back, before they parted ways.
---
Soren and Jacqueline entered the Slytherin common room… Only to be met with cold stares. Whispers spread immediately.
"He lost ten points…"
"On the first day?"
"Because of him, we're in fourth place."
A few students didn't bother whispering.
"Thanks a lot, Whitlock."
"Great start to the year."
"Your sister caused problems, now you too?"
Soren froze, guilt twisting in his chest. Jacqueline stepped closer to him, protective.
But before things grew worse.
"ENOUGH!"
Selene Avery swept into the room, emerald prefect badge gleaming, her presence commanded instant silence. She glared at the rude students.
"If any of you have time to complain, you have time to study. Now shut your mouths."
The students backed off immediately.
Selene turned to Soren and Jacqueline, "You two. With me."
She guided them to a quieter corner by the Black Lake windows.
When they were alone, her tone softened.
"What happened, Soren? We've fallen to fourth place because of the points loss."
She crossed her arms, watching him carefully.
"As prefect, it's my job to keep order in the House and help first-years. If there's a problem, you tell me."
Soren swallowed and explained everything. How in potion class everything was going perfectly, but then his potion was sabotaged by Merula sneakly. Because of this an explosion happened, and Snape blamed on him taking the ten points from his house.
Selene listened without interrupting.
When he finished, she nodded slowly, "So that's what happened…"
She placed a steady hand on his shoulder, "Soren, listen. It's okay. Mistakes happen. We can win the points back."
Her expression warmed.
"You're new. You're trying. And honestly? From what you told me… it wasn't even your mistake."
Soren felt relief loosen the tension in his chest.
Jacqueline smiled proudly.
"Thank you… I'm glad you're our prefect."
Selene chuckled softly.
"And I'm glad you're in my House. If you ever have a problem, an issue, or need help, you come to me without any hesitation. Even if I'm in my dormitory."
Soren nodded gratefully.
Before they could continue, another Slytherin boy rushed over, panting heavily.
"S–Soren! Snape—Snape sent a message!"
Selene raised an eyebrow.
"What happened?"
The boy handed Soren a small folded parchment.
Soren opened it. Jacqueline leaned beside him to read.
The note said:
Mr. Whitlock,
Upon further consideration, I suspect your potion may have been tampered with. If you bring me a jar of pickled slugs, I will consider restoring your lost points.
– Professor Severus Snape
Below was a rough map of the Potion Storeroom.
Jacqueline gasped.
"So he did think something was wrong…"
Selene crossed her arms, impressed but also a little confused.
"I'm surprised. It's rare for Professor Snape to reconsider a punishment."
She tapped the parchment.
"Soren, hurry. If Snape wrote this, you have a very shorttime before he changes his mind."
Jacqueline grabbed Soren's sleeve.
"I'm coming with you. You're not going alone."
Selene nodded approvingly.
"Good. Go. Quickly."
Soren folded the note and pocketed it, and rushed towards the Potion Storeroom with together Jacqueline.