𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐥𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 | √

⎡100⎦

Whew, you made it! If you have gotten this far, kudos to you. I hope you enjoyed the journey thus far.

As soon we stepped off the train, our group was stopped by Filch holding Mrs. Norris in his arms.

    "Ah, Ms. Rosewood and Mr. Malfoy. Headmistress McGonagall wishes to see you in her office quickly before the start of the year feast."

    I looked down at Flich and back up at Draco who was glancing at me with worried eyes.

    "In trouble already? Faster than Ron even," Hermione joked. Ron mocked offense.

    I awkwardly laughed and went to grab my trunk, the others following behind. Draco and I parted from the group and walked up to the Headmaster's Tower. Instead of a door, there was a gargoyle. We stopped in front of it. I glanced at Draco.

    "Um... we weren't given a password, but we're Hazel Rosewood and Draco Malfoy," I said.

The gargoyle statue turned and revealed a circular stone staircase. We made our way up and into the room. It was just like I remembered. There were some silver instruments that stood on spindle-legged tables, whirring and emitting little puffs of smoke. The walls were covered with portraits of old headmasters and headmistresses, all of whom were sleeping in their frames. There was also an enormous, claw-footed desk, and, sitting on a shelf behind it, the Sorting Hat.

Sat behind the desk was McGonagall and behind her, in a painting, was Dumbledore, sleeping soundly in his portrait.

"Oh! Hello Miss. Rosewood and Mr. Malfoy. Take a seat."

We sat down in the seats in front of her and glanced nervously at each other.

"Nothing to worry about," she reassured, "Here, have a biscuit."

McGonagall held out a tin of biscuits. I reached for one. "Er- thanks."

Draco took one as well as I started to nibble on it.

"Now I'm sure you are both confused as to why you were immediately told to report to my office. I am to believe that you are aware of the tension between the Slytherins and the other students as a result of the war. "

We both nodded.

"Well, because of this, I have decided to make you two Slytherins the Head Girl and Boy of Hogwarts. I believe that this will change the way your House is seen. I intend for this to show the other Houses that Slytherins can be responsible and not abuse authority.

My jaw dropped slightly. Me? Head Girl? I was feeling a mix of excitement and confusion.

Next, to me, Draco frowned. "Why me though, Professor? I was a Death Eater. If anything, nobody will want me to be the Head Boy."

"Mr. Malfoy, I'm well aware of your past, but you trail behind Miss. Rosewood by a hair in top Slytherin grades and I believe you should have a second chance. It wasn't your choice to be who you were, and we are merely showing your fellow students how you aren't a horrible person as they chose to believe.

"The two of you will share living quarters. You will each have your own bedroom. However, you will be forced to share a bathroom. It is located in the old Room of Requirement."

Draco and I looked at each other remembering the last time we were in there. I started to fidget.

"Because of the destruction of the war, many of us will be making sacrifices to accommodate the first years. The password is 'Fluxweed,'" McGonagall stood up and pulled out her wand. With a swish, our bags disappeared. She walked over to the shelf behind the desk and grabbed the Sorting Hat. "Shall we head down to the Feast?"