Autumn was approaching at Hogwarts, its light mists mingling with the damp smell of the old stone walls. From the high window of the Slytherin common room, Marius Rosier watched with a piercing gaze the entrance courtyard where the first waves of students were flowing in. The castle was slowly waking from a long, silent summer, and he knew that this new school year would mark the beginning of a new chapter in his rebirth. He could not yet reveal his past, nor his true nature, but every gesture, every thought was a stone laid in the dark edifice he would patiently build.
Born into a discreet and unloving pure-blood family, Marius had never truly known parental affection. His parents, cold and distant, saw him as a brilliant but unstable child, often reserved, whose talents far exceeded those of his elders. What they did not know was that this child was actually the reincarnated soul of a forgotten Dark Lord, Sauron himself, who had come into this Muggle and magical world to reclaim what he had lost.
That morning, as the great bell of Hogwarts rang for the first classes, Marius slowly descended the tower stairs, his black cloak barely brushing the steps. His gait was fluid, almost regal, and his face of cold beauty, with angular features and dark eyes, showed no emotion. Yet, his mind was teeming with analyses, plans, and strategies.
Hogwarts. This name resonated with an ancient power, greater than anything he had perceived so far. The castle itself seemed charged with deep, thousand-year-old magic. Marius knew he could not afford to confront it head-on or reveal his identity. He had to advance masked, slowly, subtly. His most formidable strength lay in his ability to manipulate, infiltrate, and play on the emotions of others.
The Charms class was about to begin, and Marius headed to the classroom where the professor, an experienced but little-known wizard, would teach the first notions to the students. He knew that observing the professors and their methods would be crucial to understanding the weaknesses of this institution.
The professor was named Septimus Rowle, a rigid man with a stern gaze, specialized in defensive spells. Marius studied him from afar, noting every gesture, every intonation. The atmosphere in the room was tense. The students, for the most part, listened attentively, some clearly impressed by Rowle's rigor. Marius, on the other hand, smiled inwardly. The magic taught here was rudimentary compared to what he had already known, but he respected the discipline.
With a discreet gesture, Marius conjured a small flame in the palm of his hand and made it dance effortlessly, fascinating a few students behind him who watched him secretly. He felt their mixed looks of jealousy and admiration. Gradually, he began his work: attracting attention, seducing with his talents, embedding himself in their minds.
The hours passed, marked by classes and breaks. In the library, Marius devoured forgotten treatises, forbidden grimoires on dark magic and mind manipulation. His thirst for knowledge was insatiable. He learned how to adapt his ancestral power to this new world, how to create spells without a wand, simply by the force of his will.
But what interested him most of all was the study of human relationships. He understood that to reign, one had to master much more than raw magic. One had to understand desires, fears, and above all, the weaknesses of others. He observed the groups of students, friendships, and budding rivalries. He could already guess who his allies would be, and especially his enemies.
In the hustle and bustle of the dining hall, he briefly met the gaze of a boy with tousled hair and a frank smile: James Potter. The latter, surrounded by his friends, already seemed to be establishing himself as a natural leader. Marius did not know him yet, but he sensed in him a potential opposing force. This boy would, in the future, be a significant obstacle to his plans.
However, Marius was not yet ready to engage in an open confrontation. He preferred to wait, observe, and study. Patience was one of his virtues, and he knew that haste could lead to his downfall. In the secrecy of his thoughts, he began to sketch the outlines of a complex web, destined to gradually envelop this world.
As evening fell and the corridors emptied, with students returning to their dormitories, Marius stayed for a moment on the terrace of the Slytherin tower. The cool wind caressed his face, and he contemplated the stars. These distant lights reminded him of Middle-earth, his fall, his defeat at the hands of the hobbits.
But this defeat was just a closed chapter. A new world, a new incarnation, a new opportunity.
He closed his eyes for a moment, letting the dark magic bubble within him, blending into the silence of the night. This silence, he would break it soon, in a way that no one here would forget.