After the feast the prefects took all the first years to their dorms, the Slytherin prefects lead the way. A girl said "remember the way to the dorm if you forget ask a prefect from any house, well maybe not Gryffindor sometimes they like to prank first years and send them on a wild goose chase, so unless you can't find another prefect 2nd year up or teacher then ask them, also my names Ash Laurel and the boy next to me is Axel Coil, where your Slytherin prefects there's another 2 in the dorm room you'll meet them in a minute"

Draco observed the way they went, it seemed to be heading to the dungeons but stopped on the ground floor. Ash and Axel gave them tips to remember the way, soon they came to a large stone wall the pair looked at the group of first years. "Now remember you do not share the password with anyone from another house unless you trust them even then you have to get permission from a prefect and professor riddle, you can bring visitors from other houses but never share the password unless you have been given permission to, we'll know if you have and it will be changed right away" the group nodded.

Axel looked at the wall and said "cunning" the wall parted and opened Ash said "alright in you go" the group went in and soon came to the common room. It was like the inside of a mansion once everyone was in, Ash and Axel went to the front of the group another two joined them. Ash said "these are the other two prefects Fen Kelpis" they nodded and said "hello" "and Dusk Lace" Dusk waved "hey like Ash said where the other two prefects here, Lace is the head prefect here, unfortunately, this year none of us made head boy or girl, but Lace luckily enough made head prefect here, which means they are in charge of us now any questions before professor riddle comes to speak?" Fen told them.

A girl raised her hand "yes" Ash said the girl said, "why did you say they for Lace?" Fen said "well Dusk is gender-neutral, do you know what that means? if so, raise your hand" one or two did Draco did since he had a muggle friend whose cousin was "alright then you, can you explain," Axel said pointing to Draco "well it means the person sees themselves as neither a boy nor girl, even if they are born as one gender so the person uses, they or them pronouns when describing themselves" a few ohs came from the first years who didn't know. Ash nodded "exactly those who are from the muggle world or have lived there, which clearly this one is one of the two examples I said knows about this as it's a big topic, there but it's something we witches and wizards are ok with, we are ok with same-sex couples and such but the muggle world is a bit unaccepting of it, you'll find the odd witch or wizard, like that but it's very rare now if you want to know more well be glad to teach you"

Some of them were interested since they a few had come from the muggle world or were raised there, so they wanted to see the difference "now am I interrupting your discussion?" everyone looked to see who'd spoke. It was Tom Dusk shook their head "no professor, we were finished everyone" the first years looked "this is professor riddle, he is our head of house but also our transfiguration teacher well let him speak, now so listen to what he says alright" the first years nodded. Tom came over and waited for them to calm down "as Lace told you I am professor riddle, your transfiguration teacher but also your head of house now I do not play favourites with you, in any way like some teachers do with their house I treat all houses equally, in lessons and punishments I don't see houses but students as I was taught, the punishment fits the crime meaning whatever you are in trouble for I will punish or take points from accordingly"

The first years wondered about this "now onto some house rules, yes we heads of houses set rules for our students to follow I do want you to think of Slytherin as your home until you leave, so think of me as if I am say father or uncle, I won't say grandfather as I'm sure some of your grandparents if alive are older than me" this caused alot to laugh. He chuckled himself and continued "and the older years your older siblings or cousins, so treat them as you would your family now rules rule 1 you are to talk to myself a prefect or 6th year up if you have a problem, and if an older student feels I need to know then they will tell me, rule 2 is school work, I expect all students not to be getting any Ts in their work, if you are then you'll be getting extra lessons on weekends from older students, but you are welcome to join the sessions to help with homework now my door is open to you about anything, and if its school related I have set hours for you to talk to me about or you can book a slot, I will never turn someone away unless I have a meeting or something along those lines, now rule 3 Slytherin sticks together we are a united front which means we look out for each other" "professor I have a question" a boy said. Tom looked at them to say continue "what if we have a disagreement with someone in our house?"

Tom smiled and said "this brings me to the next part of rule 3, if you fall out with someone in your house you sort it out in here we do not do like Gryffindor's do let everyone know our business, I do not care if you despise the person in here you want to kill them you leave it at the door, now most times I will leave you to resolve it yourselves as you know how best to handle it, but should it be a serious situation that an older year or prefect cannot resolve then I will be involved, do you all understand this?" the first years nodded 'that's smart to have that rule' Draco thought. Tom said "that is good, now Slytherin values tradition I know the headmaster does so we have our own tradition, we still do but I will explain that Tomorrow night after your lessons are over, it gives you all something to look forward to and the older years won't say what it is either, now Tomorrow morning a prefect will lead you to the hall this will happen for a month, an older student will take you to and from classes so you can get used to it, now girls to the left boys to the right your names are on your doors you will have roommates now goodnight"

He went through a portrait of Salazar to his office, Dusk said "alright you heard him go settle and get to know your room mates you'll be staying with them until you graduate, now girls can go into the boy's dorm and boys into the girls but the doors are charmed to lock if someone's changing now off you go" the students went to find their dorms. Draco walked to the boy's dorm there were a mix of all years on the floor he found his room it had their last names on, if someone had the same last name it would have their first initial on them. He looked to see the name of his room mate or room mates and saw it was Balise and Theo he was happy he got two people he knew. He went in and saw three beds with a window Comet was on a bed "so I guess that's going to be my bed?" Draco said Comet looked to say yes, it's the comfiest, he went over and sat on the bed his things by the foot of the four-poster King size bed, he had a desk for work, a wardrobe and a private bathroom he saw a big bay window that overlooked the lake.

Soon Blaise and Theo came in "I'm glad it's someone I know" Theo said Draco looked and said "the same, you can call me Draco since where room mates" "same just Blaise" "alright then, you can just call me Theo then" the other two boys got a bed they wanted. Each desk had a copy of the rules Tom had told them, and other important information they needed to know, the boys decided on an early night since they had classes the next morning.

The next morning Draco was woken up hearing his alarm go off he groaned "what is that?" Blaise asked hearing it waking him up too. Draco switched the alarm off "it's an alarm clock, my uncle got it for me it's how muggles get up, he charmed it to be loud enough so I won't sleep through it, don't worry it's just on school days so weekends and holidays it won't" he stretched going to the bathroom first. He changed into his uniform and fixed his hair, making himself look presentable he came out and waited for his friends.

Soon all three were ready and went down a few other students were there, Ash saw the boys and said "morning you three" they all said "good morning" it was about 15 minutes later all the first years were down and in their uniform. "Alright remember when we are with the rest of the school, we represent Slytherin, the house that the merlin studied in hold your head up high also always make sure you look presentable, also the password is the same as yesterday cunning make sure to check the notice board for any changes, if you're unsure ask someone from our house," Ash told them they nodded some fixed their ties and things. Most girls had their hair up or in an easy style as they walked a girl said "are we allowed to wear makeup?" Ash looked at them and said "while we have lessons, very light makeup nothing over the top also no rule about hair dying or hairstyles, but makeup and nails for lessons subtle so very light and natural makeup, for nails no false nails when lessons are on"

The girls were glad of this the headmaster didn't stop them from wearing it but set reasonable rules while they had lessons, that was the focus school work but weekends and such they could go all out. Once in the hall, most houses had their students sitting there, the first years sat down Theo, Blaise and Sumire sat near Draco the breakfast was a mix of hot and cold there were things, like the usual full English options but also toast, pancakes, waffles and such everyone picked what they wanted. Draco went with a small full English, which he picked eggs, toast, bacon, sausage and beans Theo went with some porridge, Blaise had some scrambled eggs and toast Sumire picked a small fruit salad and some cherry pancakes.

As they were having breakfast a few late students came in and being loud, that being Harry Potter and his friends "he's acting like he rules the school already" an older Slytherin said. Draco nodded "I saw him from the train, he walked around like were below him, but my aunt and uncles warned me his family is dark," Theo said "oh yeah, the potters are dark family" everyone ate talking amongst themselves "are we allowed to sit with other houses?" Sumire asked Fred nodded "yeah, we are the rule is important feasts like the sorting ceremony or first day we have to sit with our houses" "but any other time you can sit at any table" George finished.

As they ate and chatted Tom came over "I'm glad to see all my snakes made it on time, and are dressed presentable now here are your schedules and a map, take the time to explore the school when alone having guidance is good but going out on your own to explore and become familiar is also good" he passed each schedule to each student. First years had the map that had their classes marked on, the hall and dorm the first years looked at their schedules "what classes do you have?" Blaise asked "I have today transfiguration first, then defence it's a break, charms, potions then lunch after its history of magic and then etiquette class, what about you guys?" they told him their schedule. It was the same "looks like on Friday we have astronomy at 11 pm until about 1, at least it's a night we can sleep in the next day," Theo said the others nodded. "Oh, we have flying class this Friday too!" Blaise said the conversation moved to lessons and what they'd be doing and looking forward to.

"Alright, first years follow me!" Dusk said as they were the one who was taking them to their first class of the day, it seemed that Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw had a similar system to Slytherin. The headmaster didn't force the heads of houses to do this, as it was down to them all Slytherin first years made sure they had their bag with them and followed Dusk out in an orderly fashion not running. Tom smiled "seems your snakes are getting on well" Tom looked at the headmaster and said "yes it does which I'm glad about their making friends with each other, after all, they will be living with them until they leave here" he chuckled "true very true Tom, keep an eye on Draco see how he's doing," Tom said "I plan on that, but from what I've seen he's settling in well and has made a few friends, but also seems he is not getting along with young potter, but that can't be helped" Grindelwald nodded. "No, it can't we can't all be friends, we can't all get along but I'm sure if they don't get along, there's a valid reason to it rather than you don't like someone because of their looks"

Tom nodded "yes I'm sure, but I get the feeling this year will have some bumps in the road and hopefully young potter will not be like his father, hopefully, touch wood" Grindelwald chuckled at this and said "well he might be, if so, it can't be helped" he watched the students who were in the great hall still talking laughing eating. His mind wondering to her, had she come back had the last decade of peace and quiet been just temporary, if so, he had to prepare Draco but he couldn't let a child do that. No, he hoped that if she was, he had enough time to let Draco at least grow to an adult to fight, he would have to write to Bellatrix and get her opinion on the matter. He wouldn't dare go against Bellatrix Lestrange she was someone he feared when angry.

(The common room)

(The Slytherin library that is under water)