As above, so below, place your bets
Which way the head will roll
Made in your image, we are at least
As twisted and mean as thee
'Fore your eyes, what a curious site
Your children have turned on you
And you say, you don't sleep well at night
Well, we'll take care of that for you

Voltaire-The Headless Waltz

*

Chapter 2: Down with the Mudblood

Having been a Gryffindor for most of my school years, I had no intimate knowledge about the Slytherin house, about its unspoken rules, its inner principles, or its ancient tradition, therefore I had to count on the small things that I did know about them.

Usually, whenever Ron and Harry bickered about the "twats" and "pricks" in Slytherin, I disapproved, arguing that generalizing an entire community because of some mentally challenged figures within that community is discrimination. I tried to think of Slytherin as a normal house that implied certain key traits of character and personality. Well, perhaps I am being hypocritical. I did think that those traits weren't admirable, proof of which is my disbelief at having been recently sorted into this house.

I could never see myself in this house for the simple reason that I can't stand being unethical. And ethics aren't the basis of this house, are they? If one wanted to survive in this house, one had to use other abilities that I was against. I've noticed this throughout the years. Slytherins are usually quite smart, with some notable exceptions. But in order to achieve a certain goal they would use other means than intelligence. And they did not aim for knowledge for the sake of knowledge. Rather, knowledge was just a stop point in their way to something they considered bigger.

And if they did not resort to intelligence, they resorted to some actions that only shamed a wizard. Once again, I did not believe all Slytherins acted this way. But I had had my share of experiences in class where some Slytherins got away with many things simply because they ignored that annoying thing called conscience.

From all this, I drew an early conclusion in my First Year that I wouldn't be happy in Slytherin. The Hat had placed me in Gryffindor for a reason; because I was brave, kind and hardworking. Or at least I thought that had been the reason for its choice.

Now, I was starting to doubt that. I had paranoid thoughts about my sorting. I thought that perhaps the Hat had put me in Gryffindor only because Harry and Ron needed me there; otherwise I could have been a good candidate for Ravenclaw…and apparently Slytherin. Now that I was alone in 1943, there was no reason for the Hat to put me in Gryffindor anymore perhaps.

I tried to get this thought out of my mind, though. The Hat would never do something like that, I tried telling myself.

But what I couldn't get out of my mind and I presumed I never would, was the fact that in a couple of hours I would see Tom Riddle. To make matters worse I had just remembered what I tried not to remember all along. Tom Riddle had opened the Chamber of Secrets and killed a young Muggleborn girl. If I remembered well this had happened last year. Dumbledore hadn't told me anything about it, thinking I would probably be scared in my condition, but I already knew.

What the school probably didn't know was that the culprit had been Tom Riddle. It was frustrating that I couldn't just yell it at the top of my lungs for all to hear. I had no clear evidence. And no one would probably believe me since Dippet had told me himself what a "charming" young man Riddle was. Had he charmed them all? No. Most likely Dumbledore had his reasons to mistrust him.

But he didn't have the power to take action against Tom Riddle and I believe no one really had, because he was probably very careful and played his cards right.

So you can see why I was terrified of meeting him. My plan of not being seen by Riddle was obviously ridiculous since not only did we share a house, but most likely we'd be in the same classes too. I could probably camouflage as best as I could, but he would eventually notice me, even if never actually talk to me. This would set some nasty events in the future, I just knew it, but for now I couldn't do much about it.

I was in this position where I had to take what was given to me. I didn't like it at all because I wasn't in control like I used to be. I used to control everything.

Tonight, I'd have to face my fears and sit at the Slytherin table for the very first time. The feast wouldn't take long, but it would take long enough for me to sit there in agony and feel the other Slytherins watching me.

It would be a horrible experience, but it was probably a lot less bad than having to climb down in the dungeons after dinner and spend a night in the Slytherin common room.

At eight o'clock on the dot, I stepped shyly into the Great Hall. Once again, the room was lit with thousands of candles and all the House flags adorned the ceiling which showed a very clear night sky. All four tables were packed with people. I didn't even dare look at any of them particularly, I just walked by as if I was one of the ghosts and since no one had ever seen me before they might have thought I really was a new ghost.

I stole a glance at the Gryffindor table, where I should have gone and turned sadly away. That table was already filled with laughter. The Ravenclaws were very chatty and immersed in their own thoughts, barely looking at the people around them and the Hufflepuffs seemed moderately quiet, as if no one had much to share with anyone else. They just looked happy to be there.

The teachers' table was full of faces I'd never seen before, with the exception of Professor Flitwick, Professor Dumbledore and Headmaster Dippet himself.

Seeing as I couldn't stall anymore, I dragged my feet to the Slytherin table, but as soon as I reached it, the quiet conversation that had taken place there just a few minutes ago was suddenly interrupted. If I had been relieved before to see nothing distinct about this table, I was slowly becoming very uncomfortable as their intrusive eyes checked me up and down. They looked at me like they were watching a painting in an art gallery and they were trying to find its faults. They were a very united lot. And the suspicious kind that don't take very well to strangers.

One pretty girl was about to say something but she saw my Slytherin robes and closed her mouth.

I didn't look anyone in the eye and sat at the low end of the table.

Shortly afterwards, the doors flew open again and a mass of tiny heads entered the room meekly. They were very shy and didn't want to move from the entrance so the Professor that was guiding them had to push them a little to make them walk up to the teachers' table. Had I been in any other position, this would have seemed endearing and I would have laughed with Ron and Harry, but right now I was being watched by hundreds of inquisitive pairs of eyes.

I could feel their stares pricking my neck, but if I turned just then I'd probably be turned to stone by their presumptuous looks.

Not before long though, someone coughed loudly next to me. The person had apparently moved closer to me.

'Hi there,' a female voice spoke.

Now I couldn't just pretend I hadn't heard that.

'Hi,' I mumbled turning to face her. She was a very pretty girl, with long blonde hair and calm green eyes. She didn't seem to be bad-intentioned.

'Most of us are wondering,' she said in a somewhat crisped voice, 'what you are doing at our table. You have a Slytherin robe but I think we can all attest that none of us have ever seen you before. Are you a new student? One that's been transferred perhaps?'

'Well, yes, it's normal you haven't seen me before. I came to Hogwarts earlier this summer,' I told her, trying to sound nonchalant, but I don't think I was doing such a great job.

'Aha. You don't look like a Beauxbatton girl,' the girl told me, emphasizing the word "you". I felt like she was reprimanding me for something.

'No, I wasn't transferred from any school, I was home-schooled by a magical relative,' I told her simply.

'Home-schooled?' she asked bewildered and she looked back at some other girls who were obviously listening to our conversation. They shared a couple of meaningful smiles and turned to tell the rest of the table. I felt as if I was at this terribly important interview where first impression counted the most.

'Shouldn't you be up there with the First-Years?' she asked.

'No, they evaluated my magical skills and given my age I was placed in Sixth Year.'

'Sixth Year?! You must have some skills. Who was the person that educated you?' she asked, raising a quizzical brow. Behind her, I heard loud whispers and I could swear I heard something along the lines "she must be bluffing". To be frank, I wouldn't really believe myself either.

'My aunt. She was a brilliant witch, but she unfortunately died and I had to continue my education some other way,' I said.

'Died, eh? And where do you come from anyway?'

She didn't even notice she was being rather impolite with her questions, but I didn't mind.

'London,' I lied.

'And you were home-schooled,' she repeated, smirking. 'You never received a Hogwarts letter?'

'My aunt decided I shouldn't go and I didn't...'

'Huh. Interesting life-story. We generally like interesting life-stories, don't we?' she asked the other ones. No one nodded.

'So, how come you're in Slytherin?' she continued. Out of the blue, a very tall, dark-haired boy sat down next to the girl who was questioning me.

'Oh, enough with the boring questions, why not ask her something important Vicky? Like her blood?' he said smiling viciously towards me.

He had some wolfish features that made him look rather handsome, but his eyes were very dull and rather spiteful, like everyone around him had wronged him.

'Well, darling, snake got your tongue?' he asked again.

I breathed in, trying to give myself courage. I was proud of my heritage and I was proud of who I was even if I wasn't really being myself now. I was still Hermione deep down.

'I'm Muggleborn.'

He twitched and looked at the girl called Vicky meaningfully. Her face turned into an obvious frown of disapproval.

'Muggleborn?! You're Muggleborn and you're in Slytherin?' the girl asked reproachfully.

'Well, yes. Is there something wrong about that?' I asked feigning innocence.

'No, of course not darling, you're going to be truly welcome here,' the boy said, smiling sweetly. 'You have no idea how nice and friendly we are with Mudbloods.'

Vicky pushed him away disgusted and rearranged her tie.

'He…he didn't mean to say that,' she said, trying to sound apologetic.

'Of course I meant it, don't try to put words in my mouth,' he said grinning. 'Vicky here has something against Mudbloods, but I personally think they are wonderful chaps. I think I met with one in the train, a Hufflepuff by the likes. We had a great time together. The poor bloke isn't here right now unfortunately,' he said scanning the Hufflepuff table. 'He's probably visiting the Infirmary. It's his favourite place after all.'

'Enough!' Vicky said sternly. 'Stop scaring her with your stupid manly attitude. Muggleborn or not, she's still one of us. If you haven't got anything else to say, then bugger off and leave us alone.'

'Oh come on, Vicky! She knows I was joking! Don't you, sweetheart? Everyone will be so pleased to hear the news.'

He got up and said loud enough for everyone to hear.

'Everyone, we have a Mudblood in the house!'

In the midst of all the buzzing and talking at the other tables I didn't notice the still silence that followed this statement but I did notice the freezing stares everyone was throwing me.

'Sit down you stupid oaf!' Vicky chided him and pulled him down.

'Is she really Muggleborn?' a girl in the back shouted.

'Is this some sort of joke?' another one asked.

'Who is she? She can't be a Mudblood!'

Another guy showed up at our spot, but this one was rather bulky and short and had a huge nose that was the size of my head.

'Will, you arse, you totally insulted our guest. How are you doing lovely? Oh she's a bland one. I think she even looks like Mudblood, don't you think?' he said standing very close to me.

'Have you ever heard of personal space?' I asked, turning away angrily.

'Ooooh, mates, did you hear what she said? She said personal space! Hahahaha!'

'Warren, either move off or I hex you in the next seconds,' Vicky said in an icy tone.

'Oh, I'm so scared Victoria. What are you, a Mudblood lover?' he asked laughing.

'No, I'm a Slytherin and as a Slytherin I don't act like a complete pig,' she retorted. 'You both should be ashamed of yourselves. This is not the way to make an impression.'

'I'm sorry Vicky, I didn't know we had to make an impression on Mudbloods,' Will said.

'You don't, I already know your type,' I told him as calmly as possible, but my blood was boiling.

'Kitty's got claws,' Will said amused. 'Well, we'll have a blast tonight in the common room. I'll be expecting you. And to think this year was boring!'

With that he took off and Warren left with him, laughing all the way, but everyone was whispering about me and looking at me like I was a stray dog, so it didn't matter much that those two idiots had left.

'Excuse them, but they can't help themselves. You are a Mudblood,' Vicky said coldly. 'Which means you are low standard, I'm afraid. You probably should have lied.'

'I am proud of who I am,' I said firmly.

'Really? I wouldn't be if I were you. Blood determines many things. You won't have it easy in this house, that's certain,' she said looking back at her mates. 'You shouldn't have been sorted in this house.'

'I can't change that now so I will just have to get used to it.'

'Huh. You are clearly naïve. By the way, I'm Victoria. Trenton Victoria, that is,' she said. 'Oh, well you wouldn't know my name if you're Muggleborn.'

'I'm Jane Greystone,' I replied extending my hand but she didn't take it.

'Don't get too friendly with me. You're lucky I'm not against this sort of thing, but I don't make friends with Muggleborns,' she said pointing at me.

'I see…'

'We can be acquaintances, but that's all I can give. My friends over here are Catherine, Lucille and Bridget,' she said pointing at the girls at her back who were looking at me curiously.

I waved at them, but they immediately started chatting with one another.

'We're the only worthy people you should know. All the other ones are idiots and disgusting pigs,' she said rolling her eyes. 'However, there are some excellent people in this house, they're not all horribly couth. But you won't really get to know those people, they don't like to associate with just anyone.'

'I wouldn't like to know those people anyway. You aren't a very polite and amiable lot.'

I was actually surprised that they would go so far with their prejudice and discrimination as to reject a person in the first minutes of their acquaintance.

Victoria looked shocked for a moment before returning to her usual disapproving expression.

'Well, if you think that, there's nothing to be done,' she said stiffly. 'I was just trying to be civil you know.'

'Civil? I'm sorry it didn't sound like that. You act as if you're much superior.'

'I am, unfortunately. You can't change that,' she said, sighing. 'Purebloods are doomed to wear this title.'

'Doomed? What about character, personality, you don't take those into consideration?'

'Most of these things derive from social status, your blood. You might be an interesting person, but we don't really care.'

'What about you? Do you care?'

She looked down at her perfectly trimmed red nails and wrinkled her nose.

'Maybe. But what does it matter? It's not like I am going to be your friend.'

I would have wanted to reply, but Headmaster Dippet rose to speak and I had to remain silent. The whispering continued and it never really ceased. I was the main topic of conversation and I would remain that way for a while.

I was relieved I hadn't seen Tom Riddle. All I wanted to do now was to run off to the Gryffindor common room and be alone, but I wasn't going to get my wish very soon.

In my old house I was treated like a princess compared to the snide remarks and the whispered comments that welcomed me at the Slytherin table. Things like "she doesn't belong here", "What does she think she's doing at our table?", "take off those Slytherin robes, Mudblood" were audible enough. And this was just the first day.

I didn't let the comments affect me. My goal was to get out of there as soon as possible.

The feast took ages, or at least I felt it took eons of years until we could finally retire. By this point, everyone at the Slytherin table with the exception of the First Years knew who I was and what I was.

I was grateful that no one came to ask me any more questions, but I could see they all wanted to. I was an object of interest, like a play thing.

I looked at them leave silently, measuring their steps and pushing past the Hufflepuffs with a sort of elegance that only they were capable of.

'Aren't you coming?' Victoria asked when she saw I was still sitting down.

'Later. One of them will probably do me in if I get too close,' I joked.

'Suit yourself. The later, the worse,' she said and took off with her friends.

I thought I would have to go to the dungeons alone but after the Slytherin table was cleared up I saw someone approaching me from afar. It was a Professor by the looks of it. He was a stodgy, frail-looking man that had a way of walking like he was going to catapult into the air any minute now.

'Miss Greystone, I assume?' he said giving me his hand.

'Yes, Sir,' I said shaking it unsure.

'I'm Professor Slughorn, the Potions master and your new Head of House! I hope the Slytherins weren't too impolite, they tend to be wary of new people,' he said genially, a broad grin on his face.

Impolite? More like downright hostile.

'Welcome to Hogwarts dear. I heard all about you, Professor Dumbledore let me in on some details,' he said winking at me. 'I heard you got some top grades at that testing. I look forward to seeing your performance in Potions.'

'Oh, I don't know if…' I started, but he waved his hand.

'But you must be very tired right now and you probably need to find the Slytherin common room, so I will take you to it right away.'

'Everyone, I'd like to call your attention please.'

To say I was mortified was an understatement. I had known this man for five minutes and I was already beginning to develop a certain kind of grudge towards him.

The fact that the Slytherin common room looked bereft of any warmth and sported only the depressing colours of black and silver did not improve my mood.

'This is our new student, Miss Jane Greystone. She has been sorted into Slytherin and she will be joining you from now on as a Sixth Year. I wouldn't want to spoil this for Jane, so she will give you more details about herself. I'm sure you will make her feel our house is a paradigm of dignity and good breadth. I'll leave you now Jane, but I will see you tomorrow in class. Now everyone get ready for bed, don't dawdle! And please try not to scare those First Years.'

With that he nodded towards me and left the room, humming a song to himself.

I was left in the middle of the room surrounded by a bunch of belligerent Slytherins that seemed to be looking for the right reason to bite my head off.

From the crowd, I saw a familiar face.

'Come on, give the girl some room. Let's show her we have some manners. Welcome to our family, Mudblood,' Will said pulling me to him as he pushed me through the crowd.

'We should give you the tour of the common room, shouldn't we?' he asked.

'I think I can figure it out on my own,' I said backing away but I was stopped by a sofa.

'Nonsense! Mudbloods are known for bad sense of direction.'

'Leave me alone already,' I retorted. 'I just want to go upstairs.'

'And who do you think you are to be talking to a Nott that way?' a voice rang in my ears and when I turned I saw a tall, handsome, blond man, looking down at me with a pair of sharp blue eyes.

'And you are?' I asked.

'It's Malfoy to you,' he said roughly. 'And you'll learn your manners when you speak to us.'

'I'll be mannered when you are,' I replied.

'I think we're showing enough clemency. You might want to reconsider your situation.'

'This is ridiculous, I just want to get to bed,' I said pushing past them, but Nott caught my hand. I struggled against his grip but he just tightened it.

'Let me go.'

'And if I don't?' Nott asked grinning.

He wasn't fast enough and my wand was already pointing at his chest.

'So you're going to hex me! I'd like to see you try that.'

He was right; he was surrounded by five boys that looked quite menacing.

'Would you just stop? This is boring,' a girl spoke.

She was a brunette with long legs and a very red mouth. She smirked and pulled Nott away.

'She's not worth it. Can't you see she's shaking with fear?'

'I am not,' I answered coldly.

'Oh yes you are. You are a no one, coming from nowhere and you are on our territory. So you'd better calm down,' she said chuckling.

'Trust Goyle to be the pacifier,' Nott said, putting his hand lazily over her shoulder.

Goyle?? I couldn't believe this slender girl had anything to do with the obese, insolent boy I knew.

'Take your hands off my sister, Nott!' a voice shouted and when I looked in the back I saw a giant plump boy who had a very lost expression on his face. This looked more like a Goyle indeed.

'Lower your wand Mudblood,' Nott said coldly.

'Not unless you drop the adjective,' I replied. I was being stupidly brave, I know, but it was mad bravery.

'Drop the adjective?! You've got some nerve.'

'Put your wand down,' a voice from the crowd spoke. It was a vibrant, velvety voice that I felt I knew, but it had such a strange calming effect on me that I was almost tempted to follow the order.

The crowd dispersed around the common room and a young man came towards me. His eyes were grey and empty, but had a certain spark to them that drew you in without you wanting to. His long, white fingers played with his wand in a menacing way. He was good-looking, but his small smile looked so unusual on his face that it almost seemed contorted. Smiling didn't become him.

I saw how Nott, Malfoy and all the others drew back instinctively. Only the Goyle sister stood her ground, putting on a dopey smile and watching him from under her lashes.

'You'd better listen to him,' Malfoy told me.

And then I knew this was Tom Riddle.

I lowered my wand but I didn't exactly put it down.

Faster than the blink of an eye, I felt my wand snatched from my fingers. It flew into his hand.

I almost gasped. I hadn't seen him using his wand.

'Interesting,' he said fingering my wand.

'How did you do that?' I asked bewildered.

'Oh that little trick? Quite easy,' he replied, showing me that cruel, shuddering smile again.

'Give it back,' I said opening my hand.

He chuckled and kept playing with it. I almost felt pain for it.

'I hear everyone is talking about you. Why is that, I wonder?'

'Please, give it back,' I insisted.

'I rather like it. I think I'll keep it,' he said.

'You already have one,' I said and in my immense stupidity I tried snatching it away.

The Goyle sister started laughing and Nott joined her, sniggering in my general direction.

'I need my wand,' I said sternly, looking at Riddle straight in the eye. I could actually see my courage floating away from me.

'And what will you do for it?' he said stepping closer to me. His tall figure hovered over mine.

'This is ridiculous,' I said, trying to grab it again, but he just made it fly from hand to hand.

'Beg for it,' he said, revealing his teeth in a grin.

I looked at him incredulously as he expected me to plead for my wand. I folded my hands and shook my head.

'I will do no such things.'

'Beg for it on your knees,' his rasp voice repeated and he pointed his wand at me.

I felt a powerful force pulling me down, like I was the falling apple that would hit the ground. I couldn't help it. I tried fighting it, but I only felt heavier and heavier.

Nott and Goyle were still laughing rather raucously.

'Silence,' he told them. 'I want to hear her beg.'

When they heard him they both went as silent as a mouse.

Malfoy threw them a scowling look as if they had broken some unspoken rule and nodded his head in approval of the plan.

'Let's hear her beg,' he said.

The few people that had remained in the common room were quickly retiring to their dormitories. The light was poor and all the shades in the room looked double their size which did give the room an impressive effect. Every now and then, a dab of silver on the walls and on the mantelpiece reminded me I wasn't dreaming.

'Stop it,' I said, raising my hands and clutching his robe. He stepped back and laughed. It was a very light laugh, like a pealing of bells in winter. But it just made the scene more sinister.

I was sweating, trying not to fall on my knees but they were buckling and it was imminent that I would lose. I fell on my knees with a large thud.

I was red with anger. I couldn't see before my eyes, I was blinded by anger.

'Now, beg. I'd like to hear you beg.'

'I won't.'

'I didn't catch that.'

'I said I won't.'

'What did you say again?' he asked pointing his wand at me.

A stabbing pain in my chest prevented me from speaking. I felt a sharp dagger trying to cut my skin and penetrate my lungs and it gave me the sensation that I wouldn't be able to breathe soon. I shook my head and closed my mouth shut, but it seemed my mouth had other plans. It opened like it was about to scream.

'Speak up,' he ordered and I felt my vocal chords burn.

'I…b-beg of you…' I said, the words barely escaping my mouth.

'One more time so everyone can hear,' he said cheerfully.

'I beg of you,' I repeated. I was coughing and trying to breathe. My throat was scorched and I needed water desperately. My cheeks were on fire. I was too ashamed to look up in his defiant eyes. I just stood there helplessly.

He finally released me from the spell and I could move. I tried getting up but I almost fell down again. After two attempts I managed to be stable again.

My hands were trembling from the rage I was feeling. I only wanted to hurt him back. I didn't care for a moment about what would happen.

With all my strength, I reached out and scratched his left wrist. The Goyle sister gasped and made an incredulous face.

A small red scar appeared on Riddle's wrist. I felt some satisfaction in having inflicted it. I couldn't do anything more because I was very weak.

Small droplets of blood appeared on his hands. The girl started wailing like a banshee and tried touching his shoulder but he didn't let her.

Nott burst into a fit of anger and wrenched my hands in a vice grip.

'You dare harm him? You stupid little wench!'

'Let her go,' Riddle's voice rang in the almost empty room.

'But she had the nerve to…'

'I said let her go. I wouldn't want to get upset.'

He threw me a wrathful look and pushed me away like I was dirt. Right about now I was feeling a bit like the soot in the fireplace.

But I had to keep my dignity and stand tall in front of him.

'You're a bit brave aren't you?' Riddle asked amused as he looked at his scar with utter fascination.

'I don't see my own blood very often,' he said. 'It's a lovely sight.'

'It's a disgusting sight. I want my wand back,' I said breathing hard.

He came closer to me, until he was some meters away, but I didn't flinch or move away.

He lowered towards my face and whispered in my ear.

'Now that you saw my blood, you have to show me yours.'

'What if I don't want to show it?' I said, trembling from head to toe.

'I wouldn't want to break your pretty neck,' he said making a swishing move with his fingers over the skin of my neck and I felt a soft pang of pain and something warm trickle down my collarbone.

When he stepped away from me, I put my hand to my neck and drew blood.

I would have yelled but his stare stopped me.

'There, now it's much better,' Riddle said. 'I can always recognize you this way.'

I touched the scar and it was in the shape of a cross.

His wandless magic was by far the most frightening thing about him.

Suddenly, a young man rose from a seat by the fireplace. He had been hidden very well by the shadows. I had no idea he had been sitting there all along. To think he had witnessed all this and had said nothing.

'I think she needs to go,' he said pointing at me. 'It's very late.'

He looked warily at Riddle who considered staying more but ultimately decided against it.

'You are right, Black,' he told him, while staring at the scar he had left on my neck.

Without another word he turned around and left with the young man.

I saw my wand glinting in the glare of the fire on the floor.

I didn't dare pick it up until everyone left the common room. They all pushed past me disappointed. They had probably expected a more gruesome show.

When I finally found the courage to climb up to the girls' dormitory I was thankful to see most girls were asleep. Those who weren't eyed me with suspicion and drew their covers over their bodies.

I looked for my bed and finally found it at the end of a long row.

I dropped on it and started crying silently. I had never been this ashamed or felt this mistreated. I knew other people had suffered much worse at his hand, but for me, this meeting had been the most dreadful in my life.

Later that night I went to the bathrooms to take a shower and I rinsed the scar on my neck with hot water, hoping it would vanish soon.

Little did I know, it would never vanish.

Any good? Please tell me what you think. Thanks for reading:)