Marin stood and addressed the group, his Hufflepuff badge gleaming on his robes. "I’m Marin McMillan, this year’s male seventh-year prefect from Hufflepuff. Most of you probably know me, so I’ll keep this short and to the point." He opened a well-worn notebook, his tone efficient yet approachable. "First, congratulations to all the new prefects. Being chosen is a big responsibility, but it’s also an honor. Now, let’s go over your daily duties and expectations as prefects."
Marin flipped a page in his notebook and spoke clearly. "Once the Hogwarts Express departs, prefects will need to patrol the train corridors. Two prefects will take shifts every half hour, rotating throughout the journey. The schedule will be posted shortly." He scanned the group, ensuring everyone was following. "When we arrive at school, prefects from Slytherin and Gryffindor must report to their respective Heads of House to receive the common room passwords. After the welcoming feast, you’ll lead your first-year students to the common rooms. Please keep an eye on the slower ones—no one wants a repeat of last year’s incident with the Gryffindor first-year who nearly got lost."
The mention of the Gryffindor mishap drew chuckles from the older prefects, a clear sign it was a well-known story among the upper years. "Next," Marin continued, "there will be regular night patrols. I’ll distribute the patrol routes and schedules at our first prefect meeting tomorrow morning at eight. The meeting will take place in the waiting room near the Great Hall. Don’t worry—it won’t interfere with breakfast." He flipped to another section of his notes.
"Monthly duty reports are mandatory and must be submitted promptly to your respective Heads of House. Additionally, you’ll attend regular prefect meetings with your Heads of House in the staff lounge. If your Head of House is unavailable, you’ll be responsible for passing along any updates or concerns. For Slytherin prefects, please note that Professor Snape’s schedule can be unpredictable, so extra diligence may be required to ensure nothing is overlooked."
The prefects nodded along, their expressions varying from serious to mildly amused. "Now, let’s talk perks," Marin said, his tone lightening. "As prefects, you have access to the Prefects’ Bathroom on the sixth floor. It’s located to the left of the statue of Boris the Bewildered—fourth door on the right. It’s a great place to relax after a long day."
Marin’s confident and well-organized delivery earned murmurs of agreement from the group. It was clear he was both knowledgeable and approachable, someone the prefects could rely on. Then Marin’s gaze shifted to Alex. "By the way," he said, "Slytherin’s two seventh-year prefects, Wilkes and Kelly, both chose to graduate early this year, so—"
Alex immediately understood. Wilkes and Kelly were pure-blood wizards who had been "under Alex’s watchful eye" for the past two years. It wasn’t surprising that they’d taken the first opportunity to leave, likely intimidated by Alex’s rise to prefect.
With their departure, Slytherin now had only four prefects, a potential challenge for managing the house and fulfilling Student Union responsibilities. The remaining prefects included Louis Ollerton, a pure-blood sixth-year; Wendy Dart, a mixed-blood sixth-year; and fifth-year Jane Moria, a half-blood. Alex had limited interaction with them in the past, mainly due to Slytherin’s internal divisions.
Louis was known for being relatively easy-going compared to other pure-bloods and had never directly clashed with Alex. Wendy, on the other hand, had a mild personality and was unlikely to oppose Alex’s involvement. Jane was new to the role but seemed eager to contribute. Alex broke the silence with a calm smile. "It’s not a problem, Marin. Losing two prefects won’t affect the Student Union’s work."
The two sixth-years—Louis and Wendy—nodded in agreement. Louis, having heard plenty about Alex’s reputation, knew better than to challenge him, and Wendy was too agreeable to object. "That’s reassuring," Marin replied, visibly relieved. As President, he was well aware of Slytherin’s internal struggles and had worried about potential conflicts. With Alex now in a leadership role, Marin felt more confident in the house’s ability to manage itself.
Marin continued with a subtle smile. "Alex, you’ve earned quite the reputation—both inside and outside Hogwarts. It’s good to have someone with your experience in a leadership position."
Marin’s comment drew curious glances from some of the newer prefects. Those familiar with Alex, especially members of the Charms Club, nodded knowingly. Alex’s achievements were well-known in academic circles. Beyond his recognition as a combat hero by the Ministry of Magic, he had made significant contributions to magical innovation. Among these accomplishments was the development of several new charms that had been praised by experts, including Professor Flitwick. At the most recent Cairo International Alchemy Conference, Alex’s echolocation mirror was nominated for the Pioneering Contribution Gold Award. Though he didn’t win—largely because the project was co-signed with Professor Burns—it was still an impressive feat for a student. What few knew, however, was that Alex had several other alchemical inventions yet to be unveiled.
Marin had no doubt that, given time, Alex would become a household name in the alchemy world. "Well," Marin concluded, "that’s all for now. Let’s work together to make this a great year. If anyone has questions, feel free to ask me or the Student Union officers."
‘With him around, Slytherin should be fine, right?’ Marin still had faith in Alex, but watching how the other Slytherin prefects interacted—or rather, avoided each other—left him feeling a bit uneasy. "Alright, that’s everything for this meeting," Marin announced, his tone crisp and efficient. "If you want to hold internal house meetings, go back to your respective compartments. I’ve also put the train patrol schedules in each house’s cubicle. Remember to patrol according to the assigned times." With that, Marin wrapped up the meeting.
As the prefects from the different houses began leaving, they moved in an orderly manner back to their respective compartments, Alex included. However, the Slytherin cubicle felt eerily empty. With so few prefects left, the space seemed too quiet. After settling into the Slytherin prefect compartment, the sixth-year prefect, Wendy, and the fifth-year prefect, Jane, huddled together, whispering in low voices. It was obvious the two shared a closer bond. Meanwhile, Louis sat awkwardly by himself, unsure of how to approach them—or Alex, for that matter.
Since becoming a prefect in his fifth year, Louis had barely exchanged words with Wendy beyond work-related discussions. Neither of them had taken their prefect duties seriously, and they usually muddled through their responsibilities. After all, with older prefects around before, they could get away with slacking off. But now, at the start of the new school year, two prefects had left, thrusting them into positions of leadership they weren’t prepared for.
Used to shirking responsibility, both Louis and Wendy felt overwhelmed by the mess they now faced. Giving up altogether seemed like an appealing option. As the three prefects sat there in a collective daze, Alex broke the silence. "Come here. All three of you," he said, pulling a clipboard from his bag. His tone was calm but firm.