Phineas stood at the entrance of his new dormitory, mentally picturing how the space would transform.
According to Slytherin House rules, this dormitory would belong solely to him until he graduated.
Snap!
Phineas snapped his fingers, summoning Kreacher, the house-elf of the Black family, along with several other elves.
"Kreacher, lead them and start transforming this place. First, change that bed — I want something grander."
The standard Slytherin bed was too plain for Phineas, who had grown accustomed to the luxurious one at Grimmauld Place.
"Make it bigger. Add a plush carpet to the floor."
Since Hogwarts house-elves maintained the rooms, a thick, cozy carpet wouldn't be a problem. Phineas pointed to a corner.
"Place a cat climbing frame there. Stock it with chocolate toys, snacks, and whatever else fits a proper play area. By the window, where there's a fireplace, put a single sofa. I want two rows of bookshelves on either side, and bring all the books from my room at Number 12, Grimmauld Place. Use the Undetectable Extension Charm to make space."
All Hogwarts dormitories had permanent Undetectable Extension Charms, but the space was still limited.
Kreacher and the others worked efficiently, transforming the room to Phineas' liking until it felt just right.
Of course, most importantly, Phineas had Kreacher add protective enchantments to the door, ensuring no one could enter without permission.
He knew his unique position in the house. It was only wise to prepare for anything — even midnight attacks.
Fortunately, it was Friday night, and the next two days were a weekend, giving Phineas ample time to explore the castle often dubbed the safest place in the wizarding world.
Despite the late hour, Phineas couldn't sleep — partly due to the new surroundings, partly because he had unfinished business.
He hadn't had time to check the system since the Sorting Ceremony.
'Congratulations on joining Slytherin House. The House Treasure Chest is now unlocked. You may open it after earning 100 class merit points.'
'Achievement Unlocked: Noble Bloodline — All Dark Magic levels +1.'
'Mission Complete: Enroll in school and attend the Sorting Ceremony. Reward: Library Pass x1.'
Phineas smirked slightly as he looked at the Library Pass, then opened the system's Library interface.
As before, it required a binding.
"System, bind to the Hogwarts Library."
'Binding failed. Physical object scan required.'
He frowned. That meant a night trip was in order.
Night walks were practically tradition at Hogwarts — though mostly among the Gryffindors. Slytherins rarely risked it.
Ravenclaws wouldn't waste study time breaking rules, and Hufflepuffs typically hung around the kitchens near their common room.
Technically, wandering the castle at night was against the rules — but only if caught.
Phineas drew his wand, pointed it at his chest, and whispered:
"Disillusionment Charm."
He'd only recently learned the spell and hadn't fully mastered it yet.
It allowed the target to blend into their surroundings, like a chameleon — far more effective than an Invisibility Cloak in some ways, since it covered the entire body.
Gently, Phineas pushed open the Slytherin common room's stone door and stepped into the damp, shadowy corridor.
He remembered the Library's description from his previous life: located on the second floor of Hogwarts Castle, it housed thousands of bookshelves and tens of thousands of books — the primary reason he wanted the system to bind to it.
Nearly every book in the wizarding world could be found in the Hogwarts Library.
The Library closed at eight in the evening. It was long past that now — not a problem for Phineas. He'd just need an unlocking spell.
The vast room was just as he imagined — towering shelves, endless aisles, and the restricted sections at the far end.
"System, bind to the Hogwarts Library."
'Real object detected. Scanning and binding…'
'Binding successful. Rewards: Library Pass x3, gems x1.'
Phineas smiled, pleased. Now it was time to test his luck.
Standing in the center of the Library, he used one of his passes for his first card draw.
Some things never changed. Phineas had been lucky in his past life, and apparently, that hadn't changed.
From four card draws, he gained: Transfiguration x2, the Patronus Charm, and the Termination Curse — a powerful spell that ends all active curses.
Truly lucky. Transfiguration spells encompass many categories — Reparo, duplication, alteration — and Phineas's draw granted him +1 proficiency to all of them.
"Who's there?"
A raspy voice pierced the silence, thick with malice and resentment.
"Oh, a first-year, surely. Wandering into the Library on his first night. Let's catch him and string him from the ceiling — give him a good whipping. What fun that would be…"
It was Argus Filch, Hogwarts' cantankerous caretaker. Being caught by him would mean more than a mere point deduction. As a known Squib, his resentment of young wizards was palpable.
Phineas quickly re-cast the Disillusionment Charm to stay hidden.
After all, if no one sees you — it doesn't count as breaking the rules.
A moment later, Filch's hunched figure entered the Library, followed closely by his scrawny black cat, Mrs. Norris, whom he treated like a cherished companion.