The entire ceremony for the new students ended, and the house Monitors led the new students to their respective houses, heading toward their common rooms.
"The password to enter the Common Room is 'pure-blood,'" Marcus Flint, who took over as the Slytherin Monitors after his predecessor graduated, told all the new students. "Don't forget it, or you'll have to sleep outside or wait for someone to open the door for you."
Beside him, guiding the girls, was Clarissa Higgs, the female Slytherin Monitors who took over after her predecessor left. "Slytherin has strict rules, but you can read the rules in your respective dormitories," Ginny heard Clarissa say as she looked around, mouth agape, at the elegant and luxurious environment of the Common Room. Glancing out the window, she swore she saw a huge octopus tentacle appear for a moment.
"Are all the common rooms like this?" Still shocked by the luxurious appearance of the place, Ginny asked her new friend, Astoria, who was beside her.
"From what my sister said, each common room is unique in its own way, but only Slytherin's is this rich. We have individual or double rooms if two people want to share. In Gryffindor, you have to share the room with four or five other girls," Astoria replied in a whisper, her tone full of pride for Slytherin. Mentioning Gryffindor, Astoria herself felt a shiver run down her spine. Just thinking about sharing her own room with other people without a hint of privacy left a rich girl like her very uncomfortable.
Although she felt she wouldn't be too bothered by sharing a room with other girls, Ginny still nodded while continuing to look around the common room with great curiosity. Her gaze finally fell upon two chairs that resembled thrones next to the fireplace.
Something that the new students also looked at with curiosity, after all, were two thrones, even for the descendants of minor noble houses, it was something they had never seen before. Marcus Flint, seeing the looks from the new boys and girls, smiled and proudly introduced, "These are the seats of Lord Asterion Black and his fiancée, Lady Daphne Greengrass." He seemed so proud that one might think he was talking about himself.
The name of Asterion filled all the descendants of the minor noble houses with admiration and envy. After all, it was the name of the war hero who defeated the most evil wizard ever to set foot in Britain.
Hearing her sister's name, Astoria couldn't help but look with envy at the silver throne beside the black throne. Every girl was vain and very proud, always wanting to be the center of attention. She was no different in that regard, but Astoria knew she could never surpass her sister's popularity.
Clarissa Higgs, the female Slytherin Monitor, spoke at this moment, looking at the thirteen-year-old girls. "Girls can enter the boys' dormitory, but boys cannot enter the girls' dormitory, so no bringing boys into the girls' dormitory."
"Why would we bring boys into the girls' dormitory?" Ginny asked, confused by the rather specific rule.
Beside her, Astoria looked speechlessly at the innocent redheaded teenager. "Isn't it obvious?"
"What's obvious?" Ginny asked, genuinely confused, looking at Astoria.Seeing those innocent eyes, Astoria was at a loss for words. Had her mother not talked to her about these things?
Though surprised, Astoria didn't answer. She didn't want to tarnish the girl's innocence but thought it would be amusing to see her reactions when she found out about these things.
When everyone was about to head to their respective dormitories, Asterion's voice drew everyone's attention.
"Marcus, Clarissa. Miss Riddle will stay with me for a moment." Asterion, who had just arrived in the common room, looked at the girl with black hair and red eyes.
Marcus and Clarissa weren't surprised by Asterion's arrival. It was obvious given Ophelia's appearance that this would happen.
Looking at Ophelia, who didn't object, Marcus and Clarissa nodded and led the new students to the dormitories. Astoria and Ginny looked at their friend with concern for a second but followed Clarissa to their rooms.
---
Observing the boy sitting on the black throne by the fireplace, Ophelia's crimson eyes met his ruby ones. The notable resemblance between them had not escaped her since the moment she laid eyes on him.
"Miss Riddle." His voice, though calm, was as confused as she felt in this strange moment.
Even though she was new to this world that had just opened its doors to her, Ophelia knew the identity of the handsome boy in front of her.
Asterion Black. There were as many rumors about him as mushrooms sprouting after rain. A powerful Special Grade Wizard—though she didn't fully understand what that meant, she knew the young man before her was someone powerful in this magical world. And for some reason, given how similar they looked, this powerful figure had some blood relation to her, bringing conflicting feelings to the teenager's mind.
Growing up alone for thirteen years in a wealthy orphanage, believing she was alone in the world, it was a surprise to know she had some relative. This brought mixed feelings of joy and fear to her heart. Joy at knowing she wasn't alone and fear that it was just a coincidence they looked so alike.
"Believe me, I am more surprised than you are." Noticing the negative emotions growing within the girl as she looked at him, Asterion spoke calmly, waking her from her thoughts.
"Your appearance indicates that we are related, of that I have no doubt. This leads me to know who your parents are." Asterion spoke calmly, looking at the very nervous girl.
The girl seemed to relax with his words and looked at him with obvious joy, and probably many questions on her mind.
"I grew up in a very wealthy orphanage in West Yorkshire. I don't know who my parents are, but the headmaster of the orphanage said he found me in a basket on a winter night with a note bearing my name," Ophelia spoke each word without hesitation, her voice much happier as she looked at Asterion with a bright gaze. Their similar appearances made her feel an almost instant connection, knowing they were related.
A wealthy orphanage? Does such a thing exist anywhere?
Voldemort probably created a false orphanage to raise his own daughter in secret, something ironic given that he was also raised in an orphanage.
Asterion thought, looking strangely at the girl. Observing her confident and cheerful aura, he confirmed his thoughts. Orphans usually don't possess much of that while growing up, not only due to the bullying they suffer but also due to the less-than-luxurious conditions given the number of children an orphanage raises.
"Tell me about your childhood." Asterion crossed his legs and placed his hands on his knees. Any information about her would be useful in determining some questions in his mind.
---------------------------
Support me to write more and read chapters ahead of all regular readers!
P-atreon.com/HPSCB
(Just remove the hyphen to access Patreon normally.)
Next Chapter Second Volume: Chapter 116 – Doubts (1), Chapter 117 – Humbug (1), Chapter 118 - Ophelia's Mother (1), Chapter 119 - I Decided to Seduce Daphne (1), Chapter 120 - Arrival of the Twelve Schools of Witchcraft and Wizardry (1), Chapter 121 - Arrival of the Twelve Schools of Witchcraft and Wizardry (2), Chapter 122 - Arrival of the Twelve Schools of Witchcraft and Wizardry (3), Chapter 123 - Arrival of the Twelve Schools of Witchcraft and Wizardry (4), Chapter 124 - Conspiracy In Progress (1), Chapter 125 - Conspiracy In Progress (2), Chapter 126 - Ophelia, Narcissa And Andromeda (1), Chapter 127 - Ophelia, Narcissa And Andromeda (2), Chapter 128 - The Four Representatives of Hogwarts (1), Chapter 129 - The Four Representatives of Hogwarts (2), Chapter 130 - The Four Hogwarts Representatives (3), Chapter 131 - The First Trial (1), Chapter 132 - The First Trial (2), Chapter 133 - King's Game (1), Chapter 134 - King's Game (2), Chapter 135 - King's Game (3), Chapter 136 - King's Game (4).