"Would you mind telling me what that was all about?" Theo snarled the second the five of them were securely shut in a compartment.
"Its not my fault!" Astoria cried, backing away from him. "Daphne's lost it! She's completely devoted to the 'cause' and Bellatrix Lestange is her fucking idol!"
Pansy slipped a comforting arm around the trembling girl's shoulders and glared threateningly at Theo, "What the hell are you playing at, Nott? Anyone could see that she was out of options. I don't think it would be presumptuous to assume that you of all people would understand."
He retreated then, taking a seat and lowering his head in his hands.
"Alright, look, the more we argue, the more likely we are to get ourselves to kill." Blaise, ever the peacemaker simply because he was too lazy to fight, spoke up. "Theo, lose the attitude, Astoria, we all know how proud you are, but next time, try not to flaunt it in your wannabe-death eater sister's face. And Pansy, for cripes sake, calm your tits!"
Pansy regarded Blaise with amusement, "Trust me, there is absolutely nothing about you that excites my tits, Zabini."
Draco rolled his eyes as Astoria giggled and Theo let out a light chuckle. "You're all bloody nuts." He sat down and pulled out a bottle of fire whiskey, taking a swig before offering it to his fellow Slytherins.
"You don't think it's a bad idea to be drinking in the train?" Astoria asked nervously.
Draco smirked, "Oh, you are such a fifth year! I'm Head Boy, which means even if some stupid student runs in here with out knocking, I can just threaten to dock points and we'll all be off scot-free."
"And if a teacher walks in?" She challenged.
Draco's haughty smirk remained in place. "The bottle is charmed to look like a pumpkin juice. Nott's handy-work."
Theo smiled at the paranoid fifteen year old and she felt her heart flutter. Theo was, in all honestly, a very attractive man. Intense brown eyes paired with lush chocolate brown hair gave him a sweet look. The shaggy cut of his gorgeous locks, and the light stubble he always wore, gave him a more dangerous look. He was the perfect combination of sensitive and bad-boy. He would probably never go for a little girl like her.
Being good looking was pretty much the norm for all high-ranking Slytherins. Although, there were some oddities such as Crabbe and Goyle, whose families were originally immensely wealthy and important, but inbreeding caused more and more squibs. It seemed a miracle that the two of them had even made it into Hogwarts. Their families had fallen from pureblood graces about a century ago, when their only heirs were squibs and unattractive ones at that. The magic in their blood had been weak ever since.
Then came families like the Malfoys. Draco Malfoy was completely gorgeous, powerful in magic, and as smart as it gets. The Malfoys, along with the Parkinsons, the Greengrasses, the Zabinis, and the Notts were the most powerful purebloods left. A shame compared to the large number of pureblood families that used to exist. In a sense, the blood purity ideals made sense if you were trying to preserve centuries of traditions. But, then there were people who took it to extremes.
People who would wipe out everyone in the world just to preserve outdated customs and use it as an excuse to satisfy there sadistic needs. They discussed this as the train took them to Hogwarts.
"I just don't see why this has to be so serious. Theo's got Dumbledore's protection, why don't we all do the same thing?" Blaise was saying, even as Pansy started to voice her argument.
"Because! Theo had no choice, but will you really be a coward and beg for protection at Dumbledore's feet? Don't you think you should take a stand against your mothers shit once and for all?"
"Wow, didn't take you for the noble type, Pans. Maybe you should have been a Gryffindor." Draco said, eyeing Pansy with cold eyes.
"Didn't take you for the groveling type, Draco." Pansy shot back. "Or has your lovely aunt, Bellatrix finally convinced you of her masters divinity?"
"Easy, Pansy." Blaise cautioned. Too late. Draco had her by the throat in a flash of movement, his face inches from hers.
"Never, ever imply that I am a coward. Don't pretend to know what I'm thinking. And if I ever hear your mention my relation to that psycho bitch again, I'll deliver you to the Dark Lord myself, got it, Parkinson?" He threatened harshly, tightening his grip with each sentence. Pansy met his icy glare dead on.
"Why don't you just choke the life out of me right here, Draco? Finish what my father started before you interrupted. Maybe you are meant to be one of them. You sure as hell act like it." Draco's hand loosened slightly, "No? Well if you don't have the balls to do it, then I suggest you let me go because we need to get changed." She pulled out of his grip and began pulling her school robes out the small bag she always brought on the train, not sparing the bastard a second look.
Astoria watched the violent interaction between Pansy and Draco with frightened eyes. Truth be told, she was new to this group and had only joined by default when Pansy had taken her under her wing to protect her from Daphne. She wasn't used to seeing friends attack each other. Apparently it was normal here, because no one made any move to step in. She watched with growing concern as Draco threatened Pansy, his hand tightening around her slim throat. And then she was really surprised as her protector met Draco's eyes fearlessly and dared him to do it, to kill her. When he made no move to do so, she tore away from his grasp and didn't look back. Neither looked shaken from the encounter, but then they were Slytherins. Deception was second nature.
She knew they wouldn't really hurt each other and she was safer here then almost anywhere. But still…
Hermione laughed as Ron and Harry played dodge ball with rolls at the Gryffindor house table. It had all started just before the sorting, they had taken bets on which first year would be in which house. Ron had won, but Harry had refused to offer up the ten galleons owed and instead chucked a roll at Ron, hitting him square in the face. If someone didn't do something soon, it would turn into an all-out food fight. And on the first night back! Seamus and Neville had already joined the fray when stray rolls had hit them.
Whipping out her wand, Hermione whispered, "Immobulus!"
They all froze, locked in the spell. Ron had one chicken leg halfway to his mouth and the other poised to throw. A spoonful of mashed potatoes that appeared to have come from Harry was just centimeters shy of hitting Neville, while Seamus held a bowl of pea soup over Ron's head. The spell had also caught Ginny, Lavender, and Katie who were all watching the boys with amused expression.
"Now really! On the first night back?" Hermione scolded, lifting the spell. The potatoes hit Neville with a loud splat! "Seamus Finnigan! If you let the bowl go, I'll hex you straight through to next week."
"Damn, Mione, do you have to be such a spoil sport?" Ron asked with a mouthful of chicken.
"Fine, get detentions on the first night back. Don't say I never tried to help." She said reproachfully, "If you'll excuse me, I'm to meet Professor Dumbledore at the entrance so that he can show myself and the Head Boy to our dormitories."
She left the table and strode towards the entrance. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Malfoy get up and walk parallel to her. He seemed angry. But then, he had watched one of his friends get tormented by her own sister. Now there was an interesting development. What had Astoria done to provoke her sister so? Harry would definitely be interested. After all, the Slytherins would play a huge roll in the up coming war. Though she had an odd feeling that their actions wouldn't be as predictable as everyone thought, seeing as Nott had defected and become neutral. He had also been present during the incident on the train along with Malfoy, Zabini, and Parkinson. It seemed ridiculous! The top Slytherins, all from powerful pureblood families who were known allies of Voldemort, defecting? Not a chance in hell, as far as Hermione was concerned.
"Professor," She greeted Dumbledore with a smile before acknowledging Malfoy. "Malfoy."
He nodded and turned his attention to the Headmaster, who was already well on his way down the hall. He turned to them, amusement in his eyes,
"Well? You won't find your new accommodations by just standing there." Hermione hurried to catch up, while Malfoy seemed content to stroll behind them. Dumbledore led them down several flights of stairs and into the dungeons. Hermione rubbed her arms as the chill of the dungeons bit into her, quietly following Dumbledore through the twists and turns. Eventually they reached a bare patch of wall. The only difference between it and the surrounding wall was that its bricks were green and red instead of the usual tan color. Pulling out his wand, Dumbledore indicated for them to look at the top four bricks. He tapped the first brick twice, the third one four time, the second one once, and then he slid his wand right across the fourth brick, finishing with a flourish as he swept it right across all four.
The bricks started folding in on themselves, revealing a doorway into their common room. It was a beautiful room, perfectly balanced between Slytherin and Gryffindor décor. The walls were glistening silver, the floors a rich, wine red. Three black couches with green stitching in the pattern of snakes surround the fireplace and a gold table. In the corner was small kitchenette with a similar color scheme. There were four doors, which Hermione assumed led to bedrooms, a bathroom, and perhaps even a balcony or study room. Smiling at the wonderful room that would be hers for the entire school year, she made her way over to the door with the majestic lion on it.
"Password?" It roared, eyeing her carefully. Sizing her up to see if she really fit the Gryffindor standards.
"Until the end," She said, staring straight back at the lion. It seemed satisfied. The door swung open, revealing a classic Gryffindor bedroom. A large four-poster bed, with a red comforter, pillows, and a smaller gold blanket on the end was in the center of the room. To the left of it was a large window with a desk beneath. Directly in front of the bed was a doorway, though she didn't know where it went. Finally, to the right was her dresser and another door that she soon found led to he bathroom she would be sharing with Malfoy. Lovely.
She eyed the unknown door, but decided to leave it for another day, she was exhausted. Pulling on her favorite pajamas, a small red tank top and matching boy shorts, she climbed into the bed and drifted off into a fitful sleep.
Astoria said goodnight to Blaise and Theo and followed Pansy into the girl's prefect dorms. Pansy was a seventh year prefect and she was a fifth year prefect. The number of prefect pairs had double this year, because of the inevitable war. There were now two girl prefects and two boy prefects from every year, in every house. So this years seventh year prefects were: Blaise Zabini, Theodore Nott, Pansy Parkinson, and… Daphne Greengrass. Her sister was a prefect. Astoria's life could easily become a living hell.
"Tori!" Pansy's sharp voice drew her out of her fearful thoughts. "You're room is that way, okay? Mines the second one down this hall…right past Daphne's."
"Did someone say my name?" Speak of the devil. Daphne's head popped out of the doorway. The second she saw them, she moved to block their way, her hands on her hips. "Blood traitors!" She hissed, her eyes narrowing.
"Move, Daphne." Pansy sighed, clearly not in the mood for a fight. "Before I summon the Head Girl."
"Oh, that's rich. Like Hermione Granger would ever help the likes of you." Daphne let out a cold laugh. "Even if you have decided to defect, you're still nothing but Slytherin scum in her eyes. Sorry Hun, but the prejudice runs both ways."
"Astoria," Pansy said, keeping eye contact with Daphne, "Go get the Head Girl."
Astoria's eyes widened, "But Pansy-"
"GO!"
Astoria took off running, just as the first hex flew. Her sister had seriously lost it. Pulling out her wand, she thought of the Heads' common room, shouting, "Point me!" She followed her wand as it swung in her hand and guided her through the twisting maze that was the Hogwart's dungeons. She finally reached a green and red patch of wall. This has got to be it, she thought to herself. She began banging on it and yelling for the Head Girl. The red and green bricks began to change until it formed a face.
"What the hell?" She shrieked, jumping back.
"Such vulgar language for one so young!" The wall exclaimed in a gravelly voice. "Now what is all the ruckus?"
"I need to see the Head Girl!" Astoria said, "Its important! My friend and my sister are dueling!"
"Dueling? Just a moment, young lady!" Moments later, a very surprised and tired looking Hermione Granger emerged.
"What's going on? Why the hell is my wall talking?" She exclaimed.
"We need to get to the Slytherin common room, Pansy and Daphne are dueling." Astoria told her, already hurrying down the hallway.
"What is with you Slytherins?" Hermione ran after Astoria, her wand in hand. They burst into the Slytherin common room and had to dodge hexes. Slytherin house was at war with itself. First and second years cowered against walls and behind over turned tables. Chunks of the stonewall had been gouged out. In the midst of it all, Pansy was dueling Daphne, Millicent, and Tracey. A seventh year by the name of Tamara Sparks who was renown for being firmly against all pureblood ideals, was at Pansy's side.
"Expecto Patronum!" Hermione cried. Everyone froze and watched the silver otter dance around the ruined common room. Pansy and Tamara took the opportunity to disarm their opponents. "Would anyone care to tell me what in Merlin's name is going on?" She eyed the room expectantly.
"Get out, Mudblood. You have no business here. You may be Head Girl but you have no authority over the Slytherins." Daphne spat coldly.
"Maybe not in your eyes, but as Head Girl she does demand respect. But if she isn't authority enough for you, I sure as hell better be," Draco said coolly as he made his way through the rubble. "Now what the fuck do you think you're doing, Daphne? Tamara, go get Snape and the rest of the prefects. It's going to take a lot of work to clean this mess up and get the students under control. Make sure someone warns Madame Pomfrey, she may have a great deal of patients tonight. You alright there, Pansy?"
She smiled at him sardonically, "I'll live." Her voice was hoarse from screaming hexes and insults at Daphne.
He nodded and turned to the rest of them, "Anyone who isn't injured, go to bed. Anyone who is, see Granger, or Astoria. They'll do what they can and see if you need the Hospital Wing."
Students began shuffling through out the room, some up the stairs to dorms, others over to the Head Girl and Prefects. Draco started casting repairing spells, doing his best to mend the broken furniture and walls.
Tamara walked in, a horde of people behind her.
"What is the meaning of this?" Snape asked, his eyes like hard and cold.
"Ask Daphne Greengrass." Draco didn't spare his godfather a glance.
"Well, Ms. Greengrass?" Snape turned to her.
"Well, nothing Professor." She smirked, "Apparently Slytherin house has been overrun by blood traitors. Their loyalties lie in the wrong places."
Snape had no choice. If he docked points, he risked his cover as a spy. If he took no action, questions would be asked about his abilities as a teacher. "Very well, I will leave it up to the Head boy and girl to decide your fate." He prayed to god Ms. Granger took the initiative. He grinned to himself when he heard her begin to give detentions to all the girls who had started the fight. His house was a war with itself and he would find out why. In the end, he would probably just corner Draco and demand answers. He passed many young Slytherins in the hall, all with injuries similar to those of a serious battle. Madame Pomfrey was going to have a bloody heart attack!