Charlotte nodded and rose to her feet. "Welcome to Slytherin! As tradition demands, let the Hidden Prefect Challenge commence!"
With Grodia Selwyn now graduated, Erwin had struggled to find a suitable referee. Cassius was meant to step into Charlotte's shoes, but the fifth-year was swamped this term. Unlike Draco, he couldn't balance prefect duties with exam prep, so Erwin had given him a pass to focus on his studies. Charlotte, ever reliable, had taken up the role instead.
Just like last year, the first-years' Hidden Prefect Challenge kicked off. As Erwin anticipated, Cassandra strode forward. She positioned herself in the center of the common room and drew her wand with a flourish.
"I, Cassandra, claim the title of Hidden Prefect! Who stands with me? Who dares oppose?"
Erwin stifled a gasp. Blimey, this girl's got nerve. No surprise she's one of Draco's infamous "arrogant siblings." At this rate, she'll end up with more bruises than he did.
The other hidden prefect candidates eyed her warily. Arrogance was Erwin's domain in Slytherin—no one else's. Their stares hardened, itching for an excuse to put the newcomer in her place. Unlike Erwin's year, Cassandra wasn't a household name in the wizarding world, which made her a prime target.
A handful of first-years stepped up to challenge her, wands at the ready. But Cassandra, true to her reputation as "Cassandra," dispatched them with ruthless efficiency—sharp flicks of her wrist sending spells that disarmed or stunned without mercy.
Erwin leaned forward, intrigued. She's no pushover. I may have underestimated her.
After felling the last challenger, Cassandra scanned the room. "Anyone else?"
The remaining first-years—those sly little snakes—stayed silent, slinking back into the shadows.
Cassandra turned to Charlotte. "Can we declare it now?"
Charlotte was about to nod when Erwin interjected. "Hold on, Charlotte. Send Zoe up to test her."
All eyes swiveled to Zoe, who was huddled in the corner, trembling like a leaf. She blinked up in confusion. "Me? What?"
Erwin's expression soured. He reclined against the sofa, arms crossed. Charlotte caught his drift after a beat—he wanted intel on the Alva family's talents. The top pure-blood families each had their secrets, and this was a perfect chance to probe.
"Zoe," Charlotte said firmly, "step forward."
Zoe flailed her hands in protest. "No, please! I can't fight—I forfeit!"
Erwin fixed her with a piercing stare. She froze, then bolted upright like a startled cat obeying its master. She shuffled to the center, facing Cassandra.
Cassandra's eyes narrowed, a chill glint in them. "Let's see what you've got."
She whipped her wand forward, unleashing a jet of light straight at Zoe.
Zoe's face drained of color. "Ahh! I'm done for!"
Erwin watched intently, curious about the Alva edge. The curse hurtled closer. Zoe squeezed her eyes shut, screaming.
Then, a surge of magic erupted from her—raw and uncontrolled. The spell veered off course, deflected harmlessly aside.
Erwin's eyebrows shot up. "Huh."
He straightened, replaying the moment. He could pull off a deflection like that by overwhelming an opponent's spell with his own superior magic reserves. But Zoe's power felt evenly matched with Cassandra's. How?
Intrigued, he studied her hands. Cassandra scowled, reassessing the quivering girl. Was she sandbagging, or was something off?
"Trying tricks on me?" Cassandra snarled. "Expelliarmus!"
Another spell lanced toward Zoe, who yelped and dodged clumsily. Cassandra followed with two more—quick, precise bursts that cut off her retreat.
Trapped, Zoe shrieked, eyes clamped shut as the curses closed in.
Erwin sighed. Show's over. Pity—I still don't know the Alva trick.
But gasps rippled through the room. Erwin's gaze snapped back. Ornaments from the common room—candlesticks, vases, trinkets—lifted into the air, propelled by an invisible force. They rocketed toward Cassandra like a makeshift barrage.
Her face twisted in alarm. "Protego!"
A shimmering shield snapped up around her. The objects shattered against it, clattering to the floor in a heap.
Zoe's magic ebbed away like a spent wave. Her eyes fluttered, and she collapsed in a faint.
Cassandra stared at the fallen girl, breathing hard, utterly baffled. What in Merlin's name was that spell?
Erwin furrowed his brow. Telekinesis? Straight out of a Muggle novel. Is that even proper magic, or some freakish gift? The Alvas' secret, perhaps?
Charlotte shot Erwin a questioning look. He nodded subtly.
"The first-year Hidden Prefect is Cassandra Worre!" Charlotte declared.
Polite applause echoed from the Slytherins. Cassandra exhaled, tension easing from her shoulders. Close call—that could've gone south. Lesson learned: never underestimate the quiet ones.
But her real goal tonight was just beginning. She turned to Erwin, chin high. "First-years can challenge older hidden prefects, correct?"
Charlotte confirmed with a nod. "They can. Planning to take on someone senior?"
Cassandra's voice rang clear. "I challenge Slytherin's Patriarch Prefect, Erwin Cavendish. He's a second-year—fair game, right?"
Laughter erupted from the crowd. A few snakes snorted outright, the absurdity hitting them all at once.
Cassandra held her ground, eyes locked on Erwin, unflinching.
Charlotte's gaze sharpened, a flicker of ice in her tone. "You're bold, little sister—too bold. How about you spar with me first?"
...
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