The next morning, at precisely seven o’clock, Alex and the prefects began knocking on the dormitory doors. “Up and at it!” Alex’s sharp voice echoed through the dungeon corridors. “Get dressed and stand in front of your doors. Move it!”
Slytherin’s dormitories were unique in their layout. After passing through the main stone entrance, the corridor split into two passages—one leading to the boys’ dormitories and the other to the girls’. Along these passages, small rooms lined the walls, each symmetrically distributed.
As Alex made his way through the corridors, bleary-eyed students shuffled out of their rooms, nervously rubbing the sleep from their eyes. Some stood stiffly at attention, while others looked downright panicked. “Straighten up! It’s already morning; stop looking so sluggish!” Alex’s voice cut through the grogginess like a blade.
He moved methodically, inspecting each student’s appearance with a critical eye. “Hands out,” he ordered. “Fingernails still dirty? That’s not acceptable.” He pointed to another student. “Your collar’s crooked—fix it. What happened to your boots? They should shine! Polish them after breakfast.”
A girl nearby tugged self-consciously at her robes. “Your clothes are wrinkled,” Alex noted. “Learn the household charm to tidy them up. If you can’t, ask someone to teach you.” He didn’t spare anyone. “And your hair—what is this mess? You’re not a Gryffindor lion; comb it properly! And clean those sleepy eyes. You look like you’ve been rolling in dust.”
Moving from appearances to dormitory inspections, Alex entered the rooms with a sweeping gaze. He pointed out every deficiency with precision. “This floor is filthy. How can you sleep here? Get it cleaned, now!” He didn’t just reprimand; he demonstrated. With a flick of his wand, he cleaned and tidied one room, explaining as he went. “This is the standard. Follow it.”
Despite his thoroughness, Alex worked quickly. Within just over half an hour, every dormitory—both male and female—had been inspected. He gathered the prefects in the common room afterward. “Did you all pay attention?” Alex addressed the prefects, his tone firm but not unkind. “Today was a demonstration. From tomorrow onwards, inspections will be your responsibility. Every morning, except weekends, at exactly 7:00 a.m., you’ll inspect your respective grades. No exceptions.”
He turned to the gathered students in the corridor, making sure everyone could hear. “Each grade will be inspected as a group. If even one student fails to meet the standards, the entire grade stays in the common room. No one leaves for breakfast until everyone is up to par.” Pausing for effect, he added, “For today, I’ll let it slide since it’s the first day. But from tomorrow, I’ll personally deduct points from any grade that doesn’t meet expectations. Prefects, remember—you’re the example. If you fall short, you’ll face double penalties.”
“Yes, Prefect Alex!” the prefects chorused, echoing the response Joey had started the day before.
Alex nodded. “Good. Now, everyone can head to the Great Hall for breakfast. Grades 2 through 7, return to the common room by nine o’clock to prepare for the test. Welen, after breakfast, take the first years around the castle. Show them the classrooms, library, and other important places.”
The younger students, especially the first years, visibly relaxed at the mention of exploring the castle. They had been nervous about the inspections but now looked forward to the morning ahead. A few even started to rush out. “Hold it!” Alex barked, his voice sharp. The students froze mid-step. “What did I just say yesterday? We’re Slytherins, not a flock of headless chickens! Line up—two by two. No running, no jumping. Move in an orderly manner.”
Alex stood like an instructor, walking alongside the group, his sharp eyes scanning the flow of students as they moved through the castle corridors. “Those at the front, slow down a little. The ones behind can’t keep up,” he instructed firmly. “Watch where you’re going. Don’t daydream, and definitely don’t whisper to each other. When you reach intersections or stair corners, make room for others. If you fall behind the person in front of you, don’t panic. Just keep a steady pace—no one’s rushing you.”
As they marched, Alex kept issuing reminders, ensuring the group maintained order. Along the way, professors and students from other houses cast curious looks at the procession. It wasn’t every day you saw such a disciplined group, especially on a weekend. The neatly dressed Slytherins, walking in perfect formation without uttering a word, stood out like a sore thumb.
The stares from others made some of the younger Slytherins visibly uncomfortable. Faces turned red, and a few shifted awkwardly under the scrutiny. But none dared to break formation or speak up. When they finally arrived at the Great Hall, Alex had them circle around the long Slytherin table. Once everyone was in place, he gave clear commands: “Sit,” followed by “Eat.” The group obeyed as one, taking their seats and beginning their meal.
Throughout breakfast, Alex’s sharp gaze didn’t waver. If anyone whispered, played with their food, or even cut their meat too loudly, they were met with his stern expression. The unusual discipline at the Slytherin table caught the attention of others in the hall. Even the professors glanced over more than once, intrigued by the strange sight.
At the Gryffindor table, the students whispered and laughed openly, pointing at the Slytherins. Their behavior didn’t go unnoticed by Alex, though he paid it no mind. He saw the unease in some of his housemates, but he remained calm, his confidence unwavering. ‘Embarrassed? They’ll see soon enough who should feel embarrassed,’ Alex thought, suppressing a smirk.
Later in the morning, Louis, who had just returned from the prefects’ meeting, took the first-year students on a tour of the castle. Meanwhile, Alex led the rest of the group back to the Slytherin common room.
Once in the dungeon, everyone sat quietly on the newly arranged benches, their eyes fixed on Alex as he stood on the steps. They waited, knowing an exam was coming. “I know some of you felt uncomfortable earlier,” Alex began, addressing the group directly. “Walking through the castle with everyone staring at you like that can be embarrassing.”
A few students exchanged glances, nodding slightly in agreement. “But remember,” Alex continued, his tone calm but firm, “being different and standing out is part of what makes Slytherins who we are. We don’t need to explain ourselves to others. Strength doesn’t come from seeking approval. It comes from within. And right now, your focus should be on becoming stronger. Understood?”
“Yes, Prefect Alex,” they responded quickly, though many seemed to still be processing his words.
“Good. Now let’s get started. This first exam will be written. No practical magic for now. Answer carefully.” With a snap of his fingers, stacks of parchment, quills, and ink appeared before the students.