[Revisions: Tuesday, July 16, 2024]

Everyone happily chatted and ate their food while Basil sadly stared at his plate, playing with his fork. His sadness worried Draco, who didn't like seeing his dear friend looking upset.

"Amico! What's wrong? Even though I've only known you for a few hours, you seem like a cheerful guy," Blaise asked, wrapping his arm around Basil's shoulders.

"Just bummed, that's all," Basil mumbled, sounding disappointed.

"What disappointed you?" Blaise asked, sounding concerned.

"He's mopey because his brother, the so-called Wizarding Savior, isn't in Slytherin with us. Look! Face reality, Potter. Your brother, Harry, was always meant to be in Gryffindor. However, it is a shock that you are in Slytherin of all Houses since you know you are a Potter and all," Pansy said, rolling her light brown eyes.

Basil opened his mouth to respond but snickered when Daphne threw a french fry at Pansy.

"Shut it, Parkinson!" Daphne snapped, glaring at Pansy. "We do not want to hear you oinking. People are trying to eat in peace," she scowled, feeling angry.

Theodore took a sip of his tea, amusedly staring at Pansy and Daphne.

Pansy looked at Daphne, offended, then turned her gaze to Draco.

"Hah! She called you a pig," Blaise snickered, stuffing his face with mashed potatoes when Pansy briefly glared at him.

"Drakeypoo! Are you going to allow this girl to treat me like that?" Pansy asked.

Draco looked away from Basil and turned his gaze to Pansy, annoyed.

"She isn't just some mere girl, Parkinson. She is the Greengrass Princess. Her father is in charge of the Board of Magical Education. And besides, you started it," Draco said. "Just be quiet and eat," he added, looking back at Basil.

Basil looked surprised to hear that Daphne was the daughter of the Head of the Board of Magical Education.

'That means besides Hogwarts, Daphne's father also has the final say on what the school should teach. That means her father is Headmaster Albus Dumbledore's boss,' Basil thought, looking at Daphne in awe.

"Hey, Green Eyes," Draco called out, causing Basil to stare at him with an adorable, confused gaze.

"You should eat, or you'll get a headache," Draco motioned to the plate of food in front of Basil.

"You should listen to Malfoy if I were you. Because if you don't, he'll become a motherly hen," Blaise teased.

Draco grabbed a loaf of bread and threw it at Blaise, who caught it and took a bite.

"Eat your food!" Draco sternly said, glaring at Blaise, trying his best not to blush.

"See~," Blaise winked at Basil.

"Alright! Alright! I am going to eat!" Blaise raised his hands in surrender when he saw Draco about to throw a knife at him.

Basil amusedly stared at his friends, feeling a bit better. His stomach started to growl, causing him to blush and look embarrassed.

"Okay. I'll eat," Basil reassured his friends while grabbing a fork and eating his dinner.

Draco, Blaise, Theodore, and Daphne smiled when Basil ate, relieved to see him starting to feel better.

At the Staff's table, Severus looked relieved when he saw Basil looking a bit more cheerful. He was glad the young Wizard was now eating and interacting with his new Housemates.

'Many believe that Slytherin is evil because of what Lord Voldemort did after leaving Hogwarts. No one knows that Slytherin looks out for one another,' Severus thought.

Severus' cold black eyes were saddened as he recalled his Slytherin Housemate, Regulus Black, always looking out for him and ensuring his annoying older brother and friends would leave him alone.

Severus looked away and turned his gaze to the Gryffindor table. His cold black eyes narrowed when he saw Basil's younger brother, Harry, laughing and being quite talkative. Seeing the boy looking very cheerful reminded him of James.

After laughing at Ron's cheeks stuffed with food, Harry began to calm down, which reminded him of a squirrel. His bright green eyes blinked when he felt someone staring at him. He turned his gaze to the right and raised an eyebrow when he saw one of the Professors staring at him before looking away to converse with Professor Quirrell.

"Hey. That Professor. Who is he, and what does he teach?" Harry asked his new Housemates.

"Which Professor?" Dean Thomas asked, taking a bite of his chicken.

"The one wearing all black and speaking to Professor Quirrell," Harry motioned to the two Professors.

Ron elbowed his older brother, fifteen-year-old Percy Weasley.

"What?" Percy raised an eyebrow at his younger brother, annoyed at being interrupted during dinner.

"Do you know who that Professor is speaking to, Professor Quirrell? Harry wants to know," Ron asked with his mouth full.

"Eat, then speak," Percy stared at his younger brother disgustingly. He then turned his gaze to Harry and kindly smiled at the young Wizard.

"The one wearing all black and speaking to Professor Quirrell is Professor Severus Snape. He is Slytherin's Head of House and Hogwarts' Potions Master, meaning he teaches Potions," Percy told Harry.

Harry nodded in response. He looked away and turned his gaze to Severus. He uncomfortably winced when he felt his forehead throbbing.

'Why do I have this bad feeling in my gut telling me that Professor Snape hates me?' Harry asked himself, looking worried while gently rubbing his forehead.

Two hours later, the Start-of-Term feast ended. A clinking sound grabbed everyone's attention, and they turned their gaze to see Headmaster Albus Dumbledore on his feet.

"Before we leave, we must sing our Alma Mater," Headmaster Albus Dumbledore informed the students and teachers.

"Alma Mater?" Basil asked, looking and sounding confused.

"First-years, please follow along when you can," Dumbledore smiled and used his wand like a conductor's baton. Music began to play in the background.

"Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy Warty Hogwarts," second-year students and up started to sing.Basil raised an eyebrow since half of the older students sounded joyous while the other half sounded monotone.

"Teach us something, please, whether we be old and bald or young with scabby knees," older students sang and swayed to the beat of the music.

'What kind of song is this?' Basil asked, looking confused.

"Are you guys going to sing, too?" Basil asked his friends, finding the song quite embarrassing.

Draco, Blaise, Theodore, and Daphne shook their heads, agreeing the song was odd.

"For now, they're bare and full of air. Dead flies and bits of fluff," some students sang loudly but off-key.

"When is this song going to end?" Basil asked, slumping in his seat, feeling like he was back in preschool with the horrible singing.

Draco, Blaise, Theodore, and Daphne slumped, trying to stay hidden to avoid getting caught not singing.

"So teach us things worth knowing. Bring back what we've forgotten," most students sang.

"Oh, Bloody Hell! I feel like I lost some of my brain cells already," Basil mumbled, and his friends agreed.

"Do your best. We'll do the rest. And learn until our brains all rot!" everyone finished singing off-key.

"I think my brain has already been rotten thanks to this song," Basil sarcastically sang, causing his friends to snicker.

Dumbledore happily smiled and put his wand away.

"Such sweet music," Dumbledore clapped. "But, before we go, I want to say a few words," he coughed and fixed his clothing, causing everyone to stare at him.

"I thought he already said what he wanted to say. And besides, all this food is making me sleepy now," Basil muttered, and his friends amusingly stared at him.

"First-years," Dumbledore spoke, causing all the first-years to stare at him, "-The Forbidden Forest is off-limits."

"Good to know since you know the forest outside is called Forbidden for a reason," Basil whispered.

"This guy is so funny," Blaise snickered while hugging Basil, causing the young Wizard to blush.

"-Also, our caretaker, Mr. Filch, has asked me to remind you all that the third-floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a most painful death," Dumbledore reminded everyone.

Basil and his friends stared at one another wide-eyed, thinking Dumbledore had gone insane.

"Does your Dad know what this old man is hiding in this school?" Basil softly asked Daphne.

Daphne shook her head, looking at Dumbledore warily.

"Since you are Hogwarts' Champion, maybe Hogwarts can show you what the Headmaster is hiding," Theodore suggested to Basil.

Basil hummed, wearing a thoughtful expression.

'I want my first year to be a peaceful experience. Knowing something dangerous in the school should be a cause for concern,' Basil thought, nodding his head.

"That will be all. Good night!" Headmaster Albus Dumbledore kindly said, and everyone got up and followed their House Prefects.

"Finally," Basil sighed in relief, and he and his friends stood up.

A female witch named Gemma Farley, with long, wavy brown hair and blue eyes, walked toward the group of first-year Slytherins. Walking beside her was a male wizard named Adrian Pucey, with short black hair and brown eyes.

"Okay, first-years. My name is Gemma Farley, and the gentleman next to me is Adrian Pucey. We are your Prefects, and we will guide you to the Dungeons," Gemma kindly introduced herself and Adrian to the first-years.

"Dungeons?" Basil raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, our common room and dorms are in the Dungeons," Adrian responded.

Basil stared at the two Prefects in disbelief. "Why the Dungeons? Dungeons are used for prisoners and horrible people, right? They're saying from the get-go that all Slytherin will grow up as criminals," Basil bitterly spoke. He did not like that out of all places, Slytherin got put in the Dungeons.

"I agree with Tomato Head. Slytherin has gotten such a bad reputation because of a certain Dark Lord. Not many remember that the great Merlin was a Slytherin himself," a female witch named Cordelia Shacklebolt confessed.

Gemma and Adrian looked at one another, unsure what to say to Basil and Cordelia. Meanwhile, the first-year Slytherins exchanged glances with mixed emotions.

"If you want to voice your concerns, I suggest speaking to our Head of House, Professor Severus Snape," Adrian advised Basil and Cordelia while Gemma nodded in agreement.

"Okay," Basil and Cordelia nodded, looking at each other.

"Let's go, everyone," Gemma turned around, leading the first-years through a door that led to the Dungeons.

~*~

The Slytherin Six

Trevor Stines as Basil Potter

Tom Felton as Draco Malfoy

Louis Cordice as Blaise Zabini

Thomas Doherty as Theodore Nott

Dove Cameron as Daphne Greengrass

And China Anne McClain as Cordelia Shacklebot