Samuel was a tall, handsome Prefect with dark skin. He looked like he might be of mixed heritage and carried himself with an air of distinction. His family was pure-blood and moderately well-off. At a time when nearly half of the twenty-eight most sacred Pure-blood families were in decline, Samuel's family was definitely on the rise, like new money among the old guard. He was also friendly and clearly capable, so it was no surprise he became a Prefect.
His fellow Prefect, Irina, came from a smaller pure-blood family that wasn't hugely influential. However, Irina herself was incredibly talented—a standout, even among the ambitious girls in Slytherin House.
She was especially good at Charms and had joined the Charms Club back in her second year. When it was time to choose Prefects, some students in her year challenged her. But Irina coolly won three duels in a row, firmly proving she deserved the position.
Both Samuel and Irina clearly benefited from their family names and their own skills. Together, these things gave them a big advantage. They were perfect examples of students who had everything Slytherin valued. On the other hand, the most famous example of someone becoming a Prefect just because of their family was Draco Malfoy in his fifth year.
And if you wanted an example of someone becoming a Prefect purely through personal power? The most infamous, though people rarely said his name, was the one who later became Lord Voldemort—back when he was a Prefect named Tom Riddle.
Simply put, in Slytherin, two things mattered most. First, family background: this meant wealth, power, and connections. Second, personal ability: this was simpler. If you were skilled enough, you'd earn respect and be sought after, even in the tough world of Slytherin.
This was exactly what Irina was thinking when she quietly questioned Samuel.
Pure-blood wizards often formed relationships in childhood. But it was at Hogwarts that these connections were truly tested and strengthened. These networks would last long after they left school, much like fraternities and sororities in the Muggle world. In the wider world, these kinds of alumni connections could solve many future problems, and the wizarding world was no different.
Because of this, many smart Pure-blood students started to "invest" in promising younger students while still at Hogwarts. This could mean helping them out, siding with them, or just offering support—all things that could greatly benefit them later in life.
Right now, at the start of term, Irina and Samuel couldn't tell which new students had the most personal potential. So, they focused on family backgrounds. Draco Malfoy, from the powerful Malfoy family, and Millicent Bursde, from the Bursde family, naturally caught their attention.
"That boy, Sean Bulstrode, the one who hit Malfoy," Irina said softly, "he's also from the Bulstrode family, right?"
Between Samuel and Irina, Irina's opinion usually carried a bit more weight. They'd settled this after a private duel when they were chosen as fifth-year Prefects.
So, when Samuel heard Irina's question, he answered right away, "Yes. There was some gossip about the Bulstrode family just before school started. You don't usually pay attention to that sort of thing, Irina, so you might have missed it."
He went on, "Old Mr. Bulstrode, the head of the family, has three lines of descendants. His eldest daughter and youngest son are normal heirs. But his middle son was a Squib—someone born into a magical family without any magic. According to Bulstrode family rules, a Squib's children can keep the family name, but once they're adults, they're kicked out of the main family to live on their own.
"But then, about a month before school started, news got out. The child of this Squib son and a Squib woman—Sean, I suppose—had a sudden burst of magic, proving he was a wizard. According to Bulstrode family rules, this means the child will be welcomed back into the family, and his parents might be allowed back too."
"If that's all," Irina mused, her sharp eyes thoughtful, "it's just an interesting family update, not really gossip. Is there more to it, Samuel?"
Samuel nodded, took a sip of his pumpkin juice, and continued, "There is. People are saying that old Mr. Bursde has taken a real liking to this grandson, Sean. He even gave Sean a magical heirloom that was meant for Millicent. As you can guess, Millicent and her father were not happy about that. But old Mr. Bulstrode shut down their complaints. It seems he really does favor this grandson he's just found."
Irina carefully put her fork down, looking thoughtful. After a moment, she whispered, "I can't help but feel a bit sorry for this Sean Bulstrode. From what we saw earlier—he was impulsive, reckless, and didn't act very refined—he doesn't seem like someone who's good at dealing with complicated plans. If he actually believes old Mr. Bulstrode truly likes him for no reason… well, that could be a disaster for him."
Samuel raised an eyebrow slightly and leaned closer. "What do you mean, Irina?"
"Think about it," she explained, her voice very low. "A grandson of a Squib son, a son who was basically kicked out. A grandson the old man probably never even saw until now. If Mr. Bulstrode really cared so much, why was he absent all those years? Why suddenly give him a valuable heirloom—one that another grandchild desperately wanted—only after Sean showed magical talent? What he's trying to do here…"
She gave a small, knowing laugh. "Heh. Samuel, your Phillips family is not a minor one. Surely, you understand these kinds of family politics, don't you?"
Samuel blinked, looking surprised for a second. His eyes darted to Millicent, who was eating nearby, then to Sean at the far end of the table. Sean was eating with surprisingly proper manners, despite his earlier outburst. Samuel seemed to understand something. He nodded slowly. "If that's what's really going on, then yes, this Sean Bulstrode is in a very unlucky spot."
Irina shook her head with a soft sigh and didn't say any more about it, changing the subject. For them, Sean's situation was just a brief topic of interest, not something they needed to discuss further or act on. In their view, there was no point in investing in Sean right now. It made more sense to invest in Millicent, the official future heir of the Bulstrode family, even if her father was still in line. As they knew, investing early often paid off best.
Sean could feel many eyes on him from across the Great Hall, but he didn't pay much attention. Right now, his main goal at Hogwarts was to stay as unnoticed as possible while working to get stronger and better at magic quickly. Making friends or allies wasn't his top priority.
Just as Sean finished a bite of steak and was about to get some chicken, he glanced over at the Gryffindor table. He saw Harry Potter looking at him and giving a small, hesitant wave. Harry looked a bit sorry and confused. Sean gave him a polite, small smile and a slight nod, then turned back to his food.
But before he could take another bite, a young wizard with a plate sat down across from him. The boy smiled at Sean and said, "I just saw you wave at Harry Potter. Are you a fan of his too?"
Sean paused, fork in mid-air. He looked at the newcomer with a curious look in his eyes and replied, without directly answering the question, "I have to say, I didn't expect anyone to choose to sit opposite me right now."
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