Disclaimer: I do not own the characters used herein. They are the property of JK Rowling and her publishers. I am not making any money from this. Have a nice day.
The Ancient Families of Slytherin
Draco Malfoy sat in his room staring out of the window. His room, at the rear of the Manor commanded an excellent view of the grounds. Draco could see all of the servents and house elves working on setting up for tonight.
Today was Draco Malfoy's eleventh birthday, and he wanted it to be the biggest eleventh birthday party he attended. Even bigger than Pansy's.
Pansy Parkinson's birthday occurred a week before Draco's, and Draco had attended his friend's party. She had shown off her Hogwart's letter to him, and proudly announced that the Head of Slytherin House had delivered it personally.
Draco had wondered why. He asked his father.
"Draco," his father explained, "when Hogwarts was founded, Salazar Slytherin chose only four students for his House. They were Arcturus Black, Cedrik Parkinson, Constantine Prince, and Deacon Malfoy. The progeny of these first four students are known as the Ancient Families of Slytherin. Through the years, and with few exceptions, all of the members of these four families have been sorted into Slytherin. As a special service for members of these families, the Head of Slytherin House personally delivers the first-year Hogwarts letter."
Hearing this, Draco had grown excited. He would be visited by the Head of Slytherin House, and his letter would be hand-delivered.
A knock on his door pulled Draco from his reverie. "What is it?" he called.
A small voice came back, a house elf, "Master Draco, Master wishes you to join him in the hall. There is a visitor."
Draco rushed to the door, and knocked the house elf out of the way to meet his parents.
From the top of the stairs, Draco examined the man standing in the foyer.
He was a tall man, covered from head to toe in black. Draco's father always wore black, but this man seemed to own the color. His robes were the darkest Draco had ever seen. He wore a long cloak that draped to the floor. His hair was a matted curtain of black that framed a long, pale face, with a hooked nose and piercing eyes.
Draco met a vampire once. The vampire seemed more cheerful than this man.
His parents started down the stairs, and Draco followed closely, unsure what to think of this stranger.
When they reached the bottom, one of the house elves (Draco did not care which, but it wore one of his old pillowcases) said, "Master, this is Professor Snape from Hogwarts."
Draco smirked when his father kicked the elf away.
Then his father turned to the visitor, who had not moved at all.
"Severus, a pleasure to see you," He offered his hand, and Professor Severus Snape shook it once then pulled his hand back.
His father continued, "Severus, you remember my wife, Narcissa."
She stepped forward and offered her hand as well. Snape shook it. Draco was surprised, most men kissed his mother's hand when confronted with her beauty.
"And this is Draco." He came forward when he heard his name.
"Delighted to meet you," Snape said in dry clipped voice. A hand appeared from beneath his cloak. He held out an envelope. "Do you understand what this is, Draco?"
Draco could barely contain his excitement as he reached for it, "My letter to Hogwarts."
Instantly, Snape pulled it back, holding it with two finger next to his face. "It is not simply a letter, young man. It is an invitation to power and excellence. Perhaps even glory itself."
His father stepped forward, "Spare us the theatrics, Severus."
Snape turned to his father, "Theatrics, Lucius. Hardly. I want Draco to understand the true power he is about to be privy to. Slytherins are cunning, ambitious, and we are bred for power and glory. I want the boy to understand that this is the first step on that road."
Snape lowered his hand with the letter. Draco took it.
"I expect great things from one of your pedigree." Snape said. He turned, his cloak flaring out around him. He walked for the door.
"Professor," Draco said, "I want to ask you a question."
Snape stopped, and turned on the spot, not wasting any energy or stride. "What do you want to know?"
"What class will I have you for?"
"I will instruct you in the difficult art of Potions-making." Snape turned again, and without another word, he swept out of Malfoy Manor.
