The Great Hall of Hogwarts was alive as students, second year and above greeted their housemates and friends, it was a warm and comfortable atmosphere for everyone. Ravenclaws talked excitedly about what they learned over the holidays, and what classes they were looking forward to this year. Hufflepuffs mostly just hugged everyone hello and asked about the holidays. Gryffindors were the loudest, shouting at each other in happiness and trying to be heard over each other, Slytherin was the most refrained but even their table was noisy as they greeted each other and spoke of their break. Harry and Hermione sat opposite each other at the Slytherin table, they were seated at the top of the second years, next to the lowest of the third years. Slytherin house had a system that had been in place for centuries, it kept order and maintained peace within the students, there were rumours that Salazar himself had enacted it himself. Each year group had a selected "leader’ as such, Knights of Slytherin, each individual had Knight said before their name out of respect. They had the leadership of their year, and over the Knight of the year below them, the only way to lose the title would be to lose a duel for the position. As Knights, they would settle disputes and be obeyed at risk of being punished, harshly at that. Harry looked down the table at the other Knights, gaining respectful nods from them all, although the first years hadn’t been sorted, so they had no Knight. Harry had taken the role of his year groups, Knight, easily the year before, his friends had bowed to him without a fight, knowing he was right to lead them. His other housemates; Bulstrode, Crabbe, and Goyle, bowed because they outright feared him. But he knew Hermione had only bowed to him because she knew how much it meant to him, and having no interest in running their year group, preferring to advise Harry from behind the scenes. The third years were led by a boy called Terence Higgs, Harry didn’t actually understand how he had gained it, he wasn’t that great, and had thrown a fit over Harry being picked for seeker over him the year before. Fourth years were lead by Serenity Mcnair, she was a powerful witch in her own right and her Father Walden Mcnair worked for the Ministry after escaping persecution in the First Wizarding War. The fifth-year was led by Peter Blishwick, he was from a family who was classed as Neutral Purebloods until around three generations when a half-blood married into the family, other than that Harry didn’t know anything about the boy. The sixth-year was run by Gemma Farley, she was made Prefect the year before and was very talented in charms, Hermione adored the witch and was constantly found studying with her. The seventh year was run by Harry’s mentor and friend Marcus Flint, the Quidditch Captain who had maintained his role since his second year.