A few minutes earlier...
The Great Hall was completely silent. Hermione, Ron, and Harry were surprised; none of them expected Leo, of all houses, to be selected for Slytherin.
It was well known that Slytherin was considered a reserve for dark wizards.
Although this was the subject of jokes among the students, it had some basis, so they did not think that Leo would enter.
As for the other houses, they did not remember such an unusual selection since they were students at Hogwarts; so, in silence, they inspected the young wizard with curiosity.
The Slytherin table, on the other hand, buzzed with murmurs. Looks of distrust and surprise were directed at Leo, an intruder in their small circle of pure bloods.
The expression of one particular young wizard, Draco Malfoy, and his followers was especially interesting; they seemed to have swallowed a bug.
Leo, although slightly uncomfortable with the situation, ignored the glances and walked with a firm step towards the Slytherin table, taking a seat.
You should know that, since ancient times, to be admitted to Slytherin, it was essential to be of "noble blood" or come from a renowned magical family.
In addition, they were expected to possess boundless ambition and a lack of scruples, always seeking the most advantageous option for themselves.
This was the reason why many of them, as soon as they were promised power and the death of the children of muggles, guaranteeing that only pure bloods could be wizards.
They followed Voldemort; at that time, young and strong, so powerful that, they believed, he would lead them to their ideal of pure blood supremacy.
To one side Draco, seeing him sit down with total calm, made a face of disgust and whispered something to his companions, causing muffled giggles that soon spread throughout the table.
Everyone looked at him strangely; the tension was palpable. It was evident that he was not welcome; there was not a single applause. He did not know if it was the constant murmurs of Draco or his mere presence, but everyone looked at him as if a rabbit had sneaked into a cave of snakes.
Of course, whether he was really a rabbit or not, he would have to see...
On the dais, Dumbledore, with his gaze fixed on the long tables, wore a deep black line on his forehead, a sign that he did not expect this result at all.
He let out a sigh of helplessness, brought his wand to his throat, and seemed to murmur something inaudible.
...
Dinner was full of discomfort.
Conversations ceased when he approached, and glances turned away with disdain.
Malfoy, true to his style, did not miss the opportunity to make sarcastic comments aloud, although he never spoke directly to Leo. It was clear that he had not forgotten the previous encounter.
"How curious," said Malfoy, with a calm smile, "that they now admit anyone to Slytherin. I suppose the standards have dropped." His companions responded with knowing giggles, but Leo simply turned a deaf ear.
He was already used to harassment since elementary school; he did not think he would take the words of a spoiled brat seriously.
In addition, he did not want to cause unnecessary problems. Before reaching the table, Dumbledore had conveyed to him in a low voice that he should refrain from using his demigod powers as much as possible.
Leo understood that the headmaster feared that he could not control himself and unleash a disaster; his strength was enormous since his demigod physique fully manifested.
But he was not so naive as to believe himself invincible either. Although in a hand-to-hand fight he could easily defeat any student and subdue him, he knew that they were wizards.
Leo was sure that many older wizards, with their powerful spells, could leave him defenseless in the blink of an eye.
Anyway, he still didn't know if his body possessed a certain resistance to magic since he hadn't had the opportunity to test it, and even if he did, the spells could affect the environment and cause him serious problems, so he would never make the mistake of underestimating someone.
Meanwhile, Leo, observing the faces of the people around him, and thinking about everything that had happened since his arrival, thought that his plan to go unnoticed wasn't working, his years at Hogwarts didn't seem to be as peaceful as he had hoped.
He had definitely started off on the wrong foot...
....
After dinner, the first-year students were led to the dungeons, to Slytherin territory.
At first, he saw Harry and Ron trying to approach him to talk, but they were soon overwhelmed by the crowd and dragged along by the other students following their prefects.
Leo kept to the sidelines, watching the others mingle and chat with each other.
Malfoy, of course, was the center of attention, recounting exaggerated stories of his supposed magical exploits and his illustrious lineage, with his two lapdogs at his side, as if they were personal bodyguards.
At the front was an older Slytherin student, guiding the first-year students while explaining a few things.
"I'm sure your families have already told you about Hogwarts, but still, I'll give you a review," he began in an authoritative voice.
"Hogwarts is over a thousand years old and is a magical castle that seems to live on its own. For many years, defense spells have been included everywhere, whether by the founders or by professors and students over the years."
"Therefore, I recommend that you be careful when exploring the place. Also, it is very large, so it is easy to get lost in your first year."
Soon we arrived at a place where numerous stairs overlapped gracefully. Without hesitation, we began to climb.
"These are the floating staircases," the older student explained. "They have an enchantment that allows them to change position from time to time. It's best to pass quickly, lest they change."
As we climbed, Leo contemplated the architecture of the castle with wonder. The paintings around him laughed and chatted animatedly; some even winked at the students.
Finally, we arrived at our destination.
"How did I end up in this situation...?", Leo murmured, with a hint of helplessness in his voice as he watched the imposing dormitory in front of him.
Huge banners with the emerald snake of Slytherin fluttered from the ceiling.
Green, without a doubt, dominated the environment. It wasn't just any green, but a deep and sophisticated tone that evoked power and mystery.
The furniture, fine and of a wood that seemed to cost a fortune, was arranged with a precision that bordered on obsessive.
Each piece, from the leather armchairs to the side tables, seemed to have been placed there with a specific purpose: to project an image of minimalist elegance and absolute control.
An entire wall was covered by a huge glass window that overlooked the bottom of a lake.
Although darkness reigned in the depths, the view was fascinating. Strange fish and unknown creatures glided in the shadows, momentarily revealing flashes of shiny scales and translucent fins.
Leo even thought he saw a gigantic tentacle scurrying among the algae, a fleeting vision that piqued his curiosity.
Meanwhile, many students in the room gathered to one side, conversing about their family situation and lineage.
Leo perfectly felt the exclusion.
"Haah..."
Leo headed from the common room to the dormitories, with a piece of paper in hand indicating where he would spend the rest of his stay.
Upon opening the large door, he found himself in the dormitory. The decor was true to Slytherin style, with shades of emerald green that were soothing.
...
Although there were no visible lights, everything seemed to be illuminated somehow.
The beds were single and large; each had a spacious trunk and were relatively far apart, providing enough personal space for each student.
According to what he remembered reading, Gryffindor rooms were not like this. Apparently, Slytherin had some benefits...
Leo noticed one of the beds farthest away, where a folded uniform and a suitcase lay next to the trunk. He quickly realized that these were his belongings.
He approached and flopped onto the bed, stretching out his arms.
At that moment, a feeling of relaxation washed over him. He couldn't remember the last time he had slept in such a soft bed.
The ones at the orphanage were hard and small, as if he were sleeping on a rigid piece of wood. And although the ones in the rented room were soft, they were full of strange fluids.
He felt satisfied with the place; behind it was a view of the seabed, and it had a small personal desk. Most importantly, it was quite far from the bathroom.
It was late; the train ride took many hours, and along with the welcome ceremony, the day had come to an end.
His roommates had not yet arrived; apparently, they were still chatting in the common room.
And although he would like to simply lie down, he still had some things to do.
He sat on the bed and took out all the school supplies. He sorted the books, wand, potion tools, divination tools, herbology tools, etc. Then, he placed them neatly in the trunk.
Then, he took out his clothes and placed them to the side, also in the trunk.
This, although it didn't seem to have much space, was surprisingly large; perhaps it had some spell attached to it.
Once almost everything was organized, he took the backpack off his back and took out his most intimate belongings: some gifts from the younger brothers and sisters of the orphanage, as well as some cheap treats.
He took a "family" photo of all the kids from the orphanage and put it on the desk. And finally, he took out the pendant.
He placed it on his neck and subsequently focused on it.
Status
Binding: Leo Jackson
Profession: Wizard (Novice)
Lineage: Demigod of the Sea (Poseidon)
Magical Weapons: None
Lineage Abilities:
- Demigod Physique (Awakened)
- Hydrokinesis (Semi-Awakened)
- Atmokinesis (Sealed)
- Electrokinesis (Sealed)
- Aerokinesis (Sealed)
- Geokinesis (Sealed)
- Cryokinesis (Sealed)
- Heat Resistance (Sealed)
- Toxikinesis (Sealed)
Magical Abilities: Lumos (Basic)
Basic Skills: Fencing Lvl [2]
Talents: Ancient Greek (Awakened), Fencing (Awakened)
For a month now, he had learned how to make that status panel appear. And, as far as he could tell, it didn't seem to have changed much, but the few changes were really significant.
Since he wanted to test his ideas, even though he didn't possess any magic books, he tried to practice the simplest spell he remembered, one that didn't have much complexity.
His purchases in Diagon Alley, including his wand, had been transferred by Dumbledore to Hogwarts until the first semester began.
But this did not prevent him from practicing the basics: at least one spell.
From the time he left the orphanage until the day he entered the school, he tried to use this spell.
He didn't know if it was because of doing it without a wand or because of a lack of talent; only recently did he manage to produce a small flash with his fingertips.
Which worried him a bit. Of course, when he practiced, he tried to do it as far away as possible, since Dumbledore warned him not to release his power as much as possible, since this would attract forces that he could not combat and would reveal his position.
For this reason, he did not use his hydrokinesis, which is why he did not make much progress in its use.
He focused primarily on the physical. Even with little food, he began exercising frequently and training in the art of swordsmanship. As well as reading books to increase his knowledge and ensure that his mythological knowledge did not suffer any changes from that of this world, and thus be prepared.
After what happened with the Fury, his strength and endurance seemed inexhaustible. As well as his defense and speed; every aspect of his body had improved greatly.
To better control it, Leo, who did not usually exercise and spent his time loafing around, began training.
Along with his strength and skill with the sword, Leo could not know specifically how strong he was, but at least he believed that there would be no problem in defeating a dozen people armed with bladed weapons.
While Leo had his eyes closed and was inspecting his condition and thinking about the past, the door burst open.
Leo, who opened his eyes, sat up and looked ahead.
Draco, Goyle, and Crabbe entered pompously. Draco, at the front, chatted animatedly while his followers behind him answered and praised him.
The three looked around and were quite satisfied.
"Not bad at all, although it doesn't compare to my house. It's acceptable," said Draco, with a tone of disdain.
"Hum," Crabbe nodded, while Goyle stared in amazement at the last available bed.
Subsequently, with an expression between amusement and surprise, he pointed forward. "You...?!".
Draco followed the direction of his finger, and his face contracted into a grimace of disgust. Crabbe, beside him, remained silent, expectant.
"Aaaaa... Look who it is! Leo Jackson, right?", said Draco, approaching slowly with a smile. "I didn't think my revenge was going to happen so soon. I told you, you'd pay, right?".
Leo, who until then had observed him with indifference, fixed his eyes on Draco's. His gaze was cold, intense, as if he could see through him.
Intimidated by the intensity of Leo's gaze, Draco stepped back instinctively, colliding with Crabbe and Goyle, who were closely following him.
After regaining his composure, he looked at Leo with barely contained rage. "Listen to me carefully! I don't know why the Hat assigned you to Slytherin, but this is not a place that any peasant can enter. You don't belong here."
"Mudblood, bastard, muggle!", he spat with venom.
Leo remained staring at him, unperturbed, without uttering a single word.
His provocation seemed pathetic, almost childish.
Seeing his silence, Draco mistakenly believed that he had finally managed to intimidate him. Filled with false courage, he approached even closer and grabbed him roughly by the collar of his shirt, while Crabbe and Goyle surrounded him, forming a wall.
"Cat got your tongue? Where's all that courage gone, little Mudblood?", Draco hissed, tightening his grip.
Leo remained silent for a few seconds, with the same glacial gaze. Then, a spark of irony flashed in his eyes. "Mudblood this and that...? Don't you have any more interesting words? You sound like an idiot repeating the same thing."
"You should work on your villain monologues," he added with a mocking tone.
Enraged, Draco tried to push him, but, to his embarrassment, he discovered that he could not move him an inch. It was as if Leo was anchored to the ground.
"You talk about me not belonging in Slytherin and how my blood isn't 'noble' or 'pure'," Leo said with an unnerving calmness.
"And you know what? You're right. I don't consider myself a true Slytherin, nor am I interested in being one. I just came here to study, not to play house with you lot."
"Also, like you said, I'm not 'pure' blood. My mother was a simple 'muggle' as you call them. And you are very right that I'm not pure, in fact, many may call me half-breed or half-blood. But even so, I can say that something much more noble and sacred than the sad and pathetic lineage of your little wizard family runs through my veins."
"Pff... Hahahahaj!", Draco burst into a loud laugh, although it was clear that he was trying to hide his growing discomfort.
"Goyle, Crabbe, did you hear what this idiot is saying! What the hell do you think you are?", he roared.
"I don't know. What do you think?", Leo replied, revealing an enigmatic smile that made Draco's blood run cold.
"Goyle, Crabbe, get him!", Draco ordered.
Hearing their master's order, Crabbe and Goyle lunged at Leo with clumsy brutality. It was evident that they were waiting for an excuse to unleash their frustration.
"Insolent! Now I'll show you why you shouldn't insult Young Master Malfoy", Crabbe growled, throwing a punch directly at Leo's temple.
At the same time, Goyle tried to punch him in the stomach.
To everyone's surprise, Leo seemed to anticipate their movements. With surprising agility, he placed his hands on the bed and executed a backflip, dodging both attacks with ease.
He ended up standing in front of Malfoy, with an expression that mixed annoyance and warning.
"I don't want to get into trouble, in fact, I hate it", Leo said, with a tired tone.
"But for some reason, I seem to possess a magnet that attracts it."
With a fluid movement, he tilted his head to the side, narrowly dodging a blow that Crabbe directed at his back. At the same time, he jumped slightly upwards, avoiding a kick from Goyle.
Taking advantage of the moment of imbalance of his attackers, he grabbed both of them by the collar of their shirts and threw them back with surprising force.
Draco only felt a gust of wind, and suddenly, his two bodyguards were lying several meters away, writhing in pain and rubbing their bruises. Although they had not suffered serious injuries, the surprise and the impact had stunned them.
Draco looked at Leo with a mixture of fear and disbelief. When in his short and protected life had he encountered something like this? Normally, everyone around him played along, and when he intimidated them, they remained silent because of his family's power and influence.
"...".
"I don't intend to be your friend. Just ignore me, I don't want to be dealing with you all the time", Leo said. Without waiting for a response, he lay down on his bed, closed his eyes and seemed to be falling asleep.
Crabbe and Goyle, still stunned, cautiously approached Draco. They seemed eager to avenge the humiliation suffered, but they were also visibly intimidated by Leo's speed and strength.
When they were about to launch another attack, Draco stopped them with an authoritative gesture.
"Leave him", Draco hissed, his voice laden with venom. "We'll have time to make him pay".
"But Draco, he...!", Goyle protested, clenching his fists in frustration.
"I know, but don't worry. Wizards have never excelled in hand-to-hand combat; I don't think his arrogance will last long in this place."
After that incident, everyone went to bed, fell asleep, and silence fell for the rest of the night...