During the dinner, Dumbledore, seated at the head of the hall, spoke about various rules and guidelines at Hogwarts. Among them, he emphasized the prohibition of wandering around the castle at night and the restricted areas that were off-limits.
Luke found this part of Dumbledore's speech rather nonsensical. Nighttime explorations were practically a tradition at Hogwarts and were even encouraged in some ways.
After dinner, the Slytherin prefect led the first-year students to their common room, while Hermione and the other Gryffindors followed their prefect to the Gryffindor common room.
Of all the common rooms at Hogwarts, Slytherin's was the most mysterious. Unlike the other three, which were within the castle, Slytherin's common room was located at the bottom of the dark lake, shrouded in perpetual darkness. The dimly lit room had windows that looked out into the green lake, where fish swam and a giant octopus occasionally tapped on the glass, creating an eerie yet fascinating atmosphere.
The prefect provided some information about the common room, including the fact that the entrance required the correct recitation of Slytherin's motto, which changed every Monday.
Upon reaching his assigned room, Luke was surprised by the décor. The room was a long, narrow, and low-ceilinged space made of rough stones, with a red carpet featuring peculiar and magical sculptures. An exquisite fireplace added to the room's unique charm, giving it a gothic ambiance.
Luke also received his Slytherin house uniform, which included a green tie and robes adorned with the Serpent House emblem.
As luck would have it, Luke's roommate turned out to be Draco Malfoy, the first Slytherin he had befriended. The other roommate was Vincent Crabbe, Malfoy's loyal sidekick.
"It seems our luck is holding," Luke remarked, holding a thick book and placing it on his bed.
Malfoy, standing nearby, couldn't help but wish he could change dormitories. Unfortunately, the senior prefects had already returned to their own rooms after the dormitory assignments were made.
"Don't be so nervous," Luke said, noting the stiffness of his roommates. "I won't eat you, after all, we're friends now, right?"
"Right," Crabbe chimed in quickly, and Malfoy nodded in agreement.
Although Malfoy's father was a powerful figure in the wizarding world, the current headmaster was Dumbledore, and even the influential Malfoy couldn't exert too much influence within Hogwarts.
Satisfied with their responses, Luke retrieved his wand and wiped it clean.
"Exactly," he said with a grin.
The book he had placed on his bed was "Growing with the Ghoul," borrowed from Hermione, written by the renowned adventure master Harold.
As Luke indulged in his late-night game of "Minecraft," his thoughts occasionally wandered back to that mysterious person who seemed like a liar. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but something about that person's story didn't sit right with him.
Yawning, he continued building his virtual world, engrossed in the pixelated landscape. Cola and snacks, provided by his ever-resourceful Frog, were ready at hand. Meanwhile, Malfoy and his cronies sat on their own beds, casting wary glances at the orphaned wizard who had shaken their confidence with his magic.
Malfoy's arms were still trembling from the earlier encounter, and they couldn't fathom how Luke had learned such a spell. Luke, however, seemed unfazed by their unease.
Breaking the silence, Luke proposed, "Want to play games together?" He understood that games like "Minecraft" were designed for multiplayer interaction, and playing alone could get boring.
At first, Malfoy and his friends hesitated, muttering excuses about needing to sleep early for classes the next day. Luke, however, was not one to take no for an answer. He reached for his wand, prompting them to reconsider their response.
Reluctantly, they agreed, and Luke handed each of them a game console. He also produced a connection cable he had acquired from the Marvel world years ago. These gadgets had been gathering dust, as he had never found anyone to play with until now.
As the screens lit up with the white glow of the game, curiosity got the better of Malfoy and his friends. They had never seen anything like this before and were drawn into the virtual world displayed on the screens.
Luke provided them with some basic instructions, and they quickly picked up the game mechanics. Humans, it seemed, were quick learners when it came to games, and they were essentially teaching themselves.
The world of cubes gradually unfolded before them, and the three of them became engrossed in the game. Luke, satisfied that they had grasped the basics, initiated an online session, connecting their consoles.
"Crabbe, you're in charge of cutting down trees," Malfoy assigned roles, understanding the game's objectives. They needed resources to build a shelter, so Crabbe was tasked with gathering wood.
"Malfoy, prepare the food, and I'll work on building the house," Luke directed. He was the master architect in this world, and he wasn't about to relinquish that role.
As they played and built their virtual world, time slipped away, and it was soon approaching midnight. Luke was the first to call it a night, quitting the game.
"Alright, you two," he said in the dark room, signaling the end of their gaming session.
Malfoy exchanged a glance with Crabbe and whispered, "We need to find a better place to build."
"Go and chop down some trees for me!"
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