HP: Pure-Blood Glory

"Luke, I really do think what you said makes a lot of sense. We should make something of ourselves. For example, I want to become a world-famous Quidditch player. I'm sure that would make my family proud!" 

Marcus Flint, who had been sticking by Luke's side the entire time, was babbling on like he had found a long-lost soulmate. 

"You and you," Marcus pointed at two students in the group as they passed a room. "This is your dorm, go on in," he said before turning right back to Luke. "And I've always hated those who bully younger students and discriminate against half-bloods. Do they even realize how many top Quidditch players are half-bloods? Or how many new tactics Muggle-born wizards have brought to the game?" 

"I've also heard about something Muggles have called football and basketball. It's probably not as cool as Quidditch, but surely there's something we could learn from them, right?"

"Hey, you, you're on your own in this dorm." 

The boy he pointed at didn't hesitate, moving straight into his assigned dorm. Despite sticking to Luke like glue the whole time, Marcus was at least doing his job properly.

Out of around twenty rooms, he hadn't mixed up a single one, and didn't even need to check a list or call names. 

Luke didn't show any sign of impatience. Despite Marcus being talkative, a bit of a bore, and not exactly pleasant to look at, his views were important to Luke.

For whatever reason, this person was someone worth winning over, especially as he was from the Flint family, a name that could be useful.

"You're absolutely right, Marcus," Luke said thoughtfully. "And it's not just in Quidditch—we can learn a lot from Muggles in many areas. We also have to admit, both half-bloods and Muggle-borns can be powerful, even great. If we want to succeed, we can't see them as enemies. Instead, we should make friends with them." 

Marcus beamed, his large front teeth making the grin even wider. 

Draco Malfoy, listening in, felt the urge to say something like, 'What's the point of befriending filthy Muggle-borns?' But then he remembered his own grand speech from the feast earlier, and the admiring looks everyone had given him. He swallowed the words, silently repressing the unease building inside him.

Even if it felt a bit off, the attention was just too good to give up.

While Malfoy was lost in his thoughts, Marcus pointed at him and Goyle. "You two, this room."

Marcus didn't give them a second glance, turning back to Luke to continue their conversation. 

Malfoy, feeling disrespected, instinctively wanted to lash out. But then he caught sight of Marcus's broad frame and remembered he was the Quidditch captain.

Deciding to bide his time, Malfoy just scoffed and headed into his room with Goyle. 

Luke's dorm was at the very end of the hall, which he found oddly deliberate. 

"You really know what you're talking about, Luke. Do you play Quidditch? I could ask Professor Snape to let you join the team early—there are quite a few perks to being on the team, you know!" 

Marcus's tone turned somewhat playful at the end, which made Luke raise an eyebrow.

'Is this guy serious?' Luke thought, slightly exasperated. 

"Well, we'll see about that," Luke replied, not committing to anything.

The treatment of Quidditch players in each house, while not as extreme as the way American schools idolize football teams, still comes with plenty of perks.

However, Luke didn't have much interest in such privileges, nor in the sport itself.

If he had that kind of time, he'd rather spend it exploring the Forbidden Forest and observing magical creatures.

"Well, if you get the chance, you should definitely join!" Marcus said with a grin. "Here's your dorm. I need to head back myself. You've got classes tomorrow, so be careful with those tricky staircases. Best to get up early so you don't end up late."

"Don't worry, I'll manage."

Waving goodbye, Marcus disappeared around a corner.

What Luke hadn't mentioned was that they didn't actually have any classes in the morning—just a History of Magic lesson in the afternoon, shared with Ravenclaw. Luke planned to use the morning to familiarize himself with the castle's layout.

As he entered his dorm, the magical lamps flickered on, illuminating the room with a soft glow. The quiet sound of flowing water could be heard in the background, though the magically enchanted room remained dry and warm. A large snake emblem decorated the ceiling, and Luke's luggage was already set neatly beside his bed.

The room had just one bed, and unlike the four-person dorms, Luke's space allowed him to freely arrange things as he liked, making it feel more like his own private room.

If all went as expected, this could be his home for the next seven years.

But, as life often proves, things rarely go exactly as planned.

Booker, the small black cat, leapt from Luke's arms, stretched low to the ground, and gave a massive yawn.

They had walked a lot that day, burning a great deal of energy. Being just a kitten, Booker was already exhausted.

Luke chuckled at the sight of Booker's weariness and went to his trunk, pulling out a large, cozy cat bed.

Booker immediately curled up inside, purring softly as he drifted off to sleep.

Luke, moving quietly so as not to disturb his feline companion, began unpacking his own belongings.

His trunk, enchanted with an Undetectable Extension Charm, wasn't as absurdly spacious as Newt Scamander's from the movies but still offered a decent amount of extra space.

After about half an hour of organizing, the room felt much more homely to Luke.

Satisfied, he drew his wand and cast a Disillusionment Charm on himself.

Unlike the other students in shared dormitories, Luke had an advantage on his first night at Hogwarts—there were no new roommates to meet. Which meant he was free to roam the castle without anyone questioning where he was. 

He didn't rush out but rather waited patiently. He had been planning tonight's excursion since the feast.

When the castle finally fell silent, and all was still, Luke slipped out of his dormitory, ready for his first night of exploration. But as he reached the Slytherin common room, he was startled to find someone already there—Taylor, the girl with the bangs covering her eyes, was sitting quietly.

The unexpected sight nearly made Luke lose his composure, but he quickly regained his confidence, trusting in the effectiveness of his Disillusionment Charm.

As Luke tried to move silently past her, Taylor's voice suddenly rang out, clear and soft, like wind chimes.

"I'm not here to stop you. I just want to ask you a few questions."