The air in Dumbledore's office was heavy with the aroma of burning incense. Portraits of past headmasters dozed in their frames, their silence adding a peculiar feeling to the office. Fawkes, Dumbledore's phoenix, sat on his perch calmy assessing the situation. In this environment, sat Albus Dumbledore listening to Severus Snape's report.
"Albus," Snape began, his tone tingling with unease. "There is a new student in Slytherin called Adrian Blackthorn. He has shown a skill level that far surpasses his peers. During the first-year duels, he cast Protego and Levicorpus. Protego is not learnt until the fifth year and even some aurors cannot cast Protego as well as he did.
Dumbledore's blue eyes twinkled behind his half moon glasses as his expression remained unchanged "Interesting, The Blackthorn family is known for their influence and ambition yet, this level of talent at his age…"
Snape's gaze hardened. "It's not just talent Albus, He is also ambitious. It's like he wants to prove something to the wizarding world." He's already started positioning himself as a leader amongst the first years.
Dumbledore showed a faint smile on his lips before reassuring Snape "Ah, Severus, It's still too early to predict that child's development. Nonetheless, we must be cautious and prevent him taking the wrong path"
Snape gave a curt nod, his black robes fluttering before he turned and left. Dumbledore's gaze lingered on the closed door for a moment as Snape's words sunk into his head. "Adrian Blackthorn huh? Well I must keep an eye on this child. The wizarding world cannot afford another Dark Lord."
The Slytherin dormitory was nestled deep underneath the castle, surrounded by the Black lake. Adrian roommates were Draco Malfoy, and Theodore Nott
"Blackthorn "you've got talent. That duel… it was impressive. You'd be wise to stick with me as my father has… connections."
Adrian smirked before dismissing Malfoy "Connections are useful but they are not what makes a person strong."
Draco's brow furrowed, as if he contemplated the deeper meaning behind Adrian's words. The incident on the train came to his mind. He wondered whether Adrian was referring to that.
Adrian's plan was to influence Draco subtly. He didn't challenge the boy's assumptions outright yet, he planted seeds of doubt and curiosity hoping that Draco would start questioning his father's worldviews.
He waited for his dormates to sleep before he took his Ho-oh egg and polished it clean. He intended to take good care of it till the next week, until it hatched.
The next morning
The night after that duel quickly went by. Tomorrow was every first year's new class and Slytherins had transfiguration alongside the Gryffindors.
Adrian arrived to the transfiguration classroom early alongside Draco and Nott,
Adrian took a seat near the front as he looked at the cat. Beside him, Draco muttered, "Where's the professor? Surely they haven't left us with a cat."
The door burst open as Harry Potter and Ron Weasley stumbled in, panting and red-faced. They froze at the sight of the cat, sighing in relief at the fact that the professor had yet not arrived. In the blink of an eye, the cat that had bought them hope leaped from the desk transforming into the stern Professor McGonagall.
"Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley," she said while showcasing her authority, "tardiness is not tolerated in my classroom. Ten points from Gryffindor."
The Gryffindors groaned as Harry and Ron sat on their seats. McGonagall's sharp gaze swept over the room and soon she began her lecture. She first began by transforming the desk into a pig to show transfiguration and its potential before warning the students. "Transfiguration is some of the most complex and dangerous magic you will learn at Hogwarts. Anyone messing around in my class will leave and not come back. You have been warned. Today's task is a simple exercise where you all will be transforming a matchstick into a needle. It might seem straightforward yet for a newbie, it requires precision and focus."
She demonstrated with a flick of her wand as the matchstick on her desk instantly became a delicate embroidered needle. The students murmured in awe all thinking that they would easily achieve it.
Adrian picked up his wand as his mind already started working through the spell's complexities. Around him, the other students struggled as none of them could cause the slightest changes to the matchstick. There were a few exceptions, like Luciano and Hermione. Both of their matchstick's shape had started replicating the needle.
Adrian's wand moved with precision as his matchstick transformed into a delicate needle, embroidered with the Slytherin house crest. McGonagall paused by his desk as her eyes narrowed slightly as she examined his work.
"Impressive, Mr. Blackthorn," she said," It is very impressive you are able to do this on your first try. Five points for Slytherin. But remember, one needs consistent practice to improve. Don't let yourself get overconfident. "
Adrian nodded respectfully as he then started aiding everybody else in the class. Time went by and at the end, only Luciano and Hermione managed to finish the basic transformation.
As the students filed out of the classroom, Adrian noticed Hermione staring at him. He knew she was probably angry as she was outperformed, her competitive spirit being exactly like the books described. Ron trailed behind Harry , muttering under his breath about how unfair it all was.
Draco followed Adrian before asking him" How did you do it so easily? Both of us come from a pureblood family . Shouldn't we both be able to do it?"
"I have read ahead and have been practicing since a young age. That's what is making a difference." said Adrian in a comforting tone.
Draco scowled in frustration. He could not understand why he was outperformed by so many people. He was from a pureblood family and he therefore, should be inherently superior. The cog in his mind kept on spinning as he suddenly started questioning himself. "Does blood make me superior? Forget it, this is only the first class. My superiority will eventually show by itself."
As they made their way to the Great Hall for lunch, Adrian felt the feeling that his time at Hogwarts was already diverging from the original path he had expected. He needed to be careful, he needed to make sure that he was ready, ready for the unexpected.