The day Kieran would leave for her new life had come, she had all her things packed up, and already in her robe and uniform, she waited for the Ministry worker that would escort them there, most probably Fairwater. The idea of living away from home, her Mother, Wasimbu, and the forest had her nervous – But the excitement of learning spells and potions had her restless, and eager to start. When arrived she had her pocket watch out before Kieran had the chance to step out the door.

"We're going to be late, hurry along." Fairwater urged. Kieran worried her new pet toad might be disemboweled when they apparated, but was surprised to see when they arrived that he had nearly been asleep the entire way, thanks to an enchantment put on the cage she carried him in. After several tedious forms of transportation they arrived in front of a large iron gate, where, just on the other side was a short man with a scroll. "Checking in Kieran Nathair." Fairwater said promptly.

The part-goblin-man opened his scroll and scanned down his list and nodded, checking off the name. "Alright." He said, then with a wave of his quill the gate shimmered and opened slowly, creaking all the way. Using his same hand he pointed to the luggage and it began to float, Kieran fumbled to catch the caged toad but it had slipped from her grasp and began to float with the rest of her belongings. The man checked off the items and little tags popped up around the handles of them, printed with her name.

The pine forest was massive, not unlike her own forest back home, though here it was colder, and somehow it loomed dangerously. Back home there were many creatures that Kieran had met and befriended, but here it felt like there were more than just vain Fairies and mischievous potato-headed Gnomes. Bracing herself she gripped her Mother's hand tightly and dreaded the moment she would have to leave, and Kieran would be left to fend for herself, for the first time ever.

"Your things will be put in your room by the end of dinner." The man snapped as Kieran reached for the toad. Nodding sharply she allowed herself to be pushed along by Fairwater and her Mother. "Please take a carriage to the end of the trail." As they approached the carriage Kieran could see a bony figure of a horse strapped to the front, squinting as they approached she noticed it fashioned a pair of bat-like wings.

"What's that?" Kieran asked.

"You.. can see that?" Arietty asked. Kieran nodded dumbly and approached it with eager, curious hands. "It's a Thestral… People can only see them if they have witnessed someone die." Kieran pinched her thick brows together and tried to recall something so horrible, the only things she could think of were mice in traps and an elk hit by the road. Her thoughts were banished as the creature huffed hard into her hand, beaming at it she stroked it's hard skeletal body and joined her mother in the carriage, more lost in the fact they still used carriages, rather than what strange creature was pulling it.

Kieran didn't question it, animals to her were people, so it made sense. But Arietty remained frowning, thinking about how something an infant could see would stick with them their entire life, or if that were the case at all. Left with those thoughts they made their way down the winding path, the sky had begun to look like watercolors of pinks and orange, and somehow the impending night unsettled Kieran, but as they rounded the corner and an ancient structure came into view all thoughts were silenced.

She was left gaping at the castle; each window lit reflecting over the dark lake that surrounded it like a moat. Nearly tripping over her robe, Kieran was unable to take her eyes off its glorious stone figure of high towers and long stretches of bridge. The blood orange hue of the sky illuminated it in the most enchanting way, and all her fears were brushed under her thick hair that bounced as she approached.

The castle was massive, and it took them a fair amount of time to reach their destination. Every turn and hallway had her lost, and a new fear of being unable to find her classes crept into her mind. The talking portraits that moved like actors and spoke in posh accents made her snicker, and curtsey awkwardly as they greeted her. There was too much distracting her, and by the time they reached a grand pair of doors, Kieran frowned deeply, realizing this was the end of the road.

"Do you have to go?" Kieran whined softly, battling the tears that stung her eyes.

"This place is amazing, you'll have so much fun." Arietty smiled, though she dreaded being separated too. Kieran whimpered, smashing her face into her mother for comfort. Arietty pet her hair, not so conspicuously trying to to finger out a knot, forcing the two of them to laugh."Subtle, i know. If you need anything you can ask your Headmaster, and I'll come right away… But you'll be fine, I know you will."

"I'm also at your disposal, if you are in need." Fairwater added as reassuringly as she was able.

"See?" Her Mother said with a forced smile. Their goodbye was interrupted as a group of young kids came bustling up the stairs behind them.

"Other first years, it looks like it's time to go." Fairwater commented. A pudgy woman in a beige pointed hat lead them to the top of the stairs. "Gather 'round, gather 'round." Mrs. Sprout ordered, and looking to Kieran she smiled warmly and gestured for her to join the group. Kieran gave her Mother one last farewell look and joined the group, watching as they made their way back the direction they had come.

Now the sky was dark and Kieran was uncomfortably aware of the prying eyes around her. She pleaded inwardly that they would focus elsewhere. "Now when we go inside please keep single file." The woman added once everyone had settled down to a reasonable level. Then, as the anticipation reached its climax the grand doors were pulled open; the Great Hall was a grand room with four tables down the length of it, and one at the end of its width, overhead was a sky of pastel clouds and stars, large dripping candles floating just below.

The first years followed Mrs. Sprout down the center aisle and gathered them along the platform that housed the Staff table. "Alright, settle down." Sprout insisted, pulling a scroll from thin air "Now when I call your name you will sit on this stool, and be sorted by the Sorting Hat into your appropriate Houses." The pudgy woman gestured to a rickety old stool in the center of the platform, and just atop it was a witch's hat, tattered and caked with years of dust. "Hogwarts is home to four houses, Gyrffindor-" she gestured to the table furthest right, draped in red. "Hufflepuff-" Then the table beside it draped in yellow "-Ravenlclaw, and Slytherin." then lastly the left where there was a table draped in blue, and the very far left, green.

Kieran noted several students who seemed lost at the whole event, but others stared at the hat as she did: wondering how such a famed hat could be so dull and useless looking. Kieran had been told of the four houses, as well as Hogwarts origins, briefly, but while none of the other information really stuck, she knew Slytherin had personally sorted her Ancestor into his house, as to why, the contents had been lost.

The hat came to life, jumping up and down on the stool and wiggling about, it sang in a snarky voice about the founders, of brave Gryffindor, wise Ravenclaw, fair Hufflepuff, and shrewd Slytherin. It sang of the brave Harry Potter who chose his house, and that together the houses were stronger, and all loyal. The hat made his song entertaining and detailed, helping ease some of the newer students, and gaining a few chuckles from the older ones.

As the first name was called Kieran moved to the center on the group to fill the empty space, her mouth became very dry as she watched the first student sit, the hat too large for his head fell, covering his eyes. The next moment it declared he was a Hufflepuff and the boy was sent on his way. Light-headed, Kieran focused on the floor, and despite not moving at all she felt as if she was doing cartwheels. A cruel little voice sounded from behind her, mocking her. Turning quickly to spot whoever it was, suddenly everything began to blur, and her mouth tasted of ash. The students gathered around her blurred together, and as every nerve in her body flared with unbearable pain, she fell to her knees.

-Then as she squinted through the agony, everything returned to normal, just like that. Kieran opened her eyes to see a new student propped on the stool. She looked around quickly, standing once more- she had never fallen to begin with. Baffled, no one had seemed to notice, and her throat no longer felt like it had turned to lava. Now, however, many of the students had been housed and she felt eerily hollow, angry, confused, and foolish. "Nathair, Kieran." Sprout called out again, clearing her throat. Realizing the witch meant her, Kieran approached the stool and sat down hard. For a moment she faced the entire student body, each staring at her with anticipation and judgment. But as the hat fitted over her matted hair, then slipping over her eyes, all that was left was the cryptic voice of the hat.

"Strange…" It began, the voice was far less pleasant than it had when it sang its song "I've seen this mind before- but oh, not yours?" it went on. Kierans thick brows pinched together in confusion, she wished it would stop with the riddles and just sort her so she could find somewhere to sit where eyes were not plastered on her, but she wanted to make sure the hat did its job properly, and put her into a house that would lead her to greatness, like Slytherin, the same as her ancestor.

"What an ambitious mind." The hat interrupted her thoughts, bemused "You leave a clear choice, but is that what fate would want?" The hat rambled, Kieran began to grow impatient, her fingers tensed. "Alright, it is settled… SLYTHERIN!" The hat rang in her ears. The table now to her right, draped in emerald, looked more charming than ever as they cheered for their new housemate. An overwhelming pride filled her little heart - she knew that was where she belonged "Let us hope history does not repeat itself.. so obviously.." the hat mumbled eerily as it was pulled from her head.

Kieran would not worry about some silly enchanted hat, because with no brain, it was surely mad. Now, It would be her goal to make sure her new House remained welcoming, and that, maybe, like in her dreams, they would eventually adore her. At the very least, Kieran would not make the same mistakes she had done in 'Muggle' school. Tucking her dark hair behind her ear she sat down daintily beside the few other first years that had been sorted previously, the second years just beside them, the third years later down, and so on.

A boy with dirty blond hair, tanned skin and bright blue eyes smiled wide, thrusting his hand out to greet Kieran with the utmost eagerness "Name's Roary - Roary Hart." His grin was infectious and Kieran couldn't help but return the gesture. After Roary came a girl with wide-set eyes and a sharp chin, her hair was straight, black, and her bangs were cut too short, making her forehead appear massive. Her face was stoic, but her eyes were like shrewd dark pits in her head, draining the motivation in Kieran as she stood to give a formal handshake "Amelia Emery" an introduction just as monotone as Kieran predicted.

Once Kieran had finished with those opposite her, she sat back down and turned to the girl beside her "Kieran Nathair." Kieran introduced, offering her hand out of courtesy. The girl, who looked eerily identical to Roary, glared momentarily at the offered before smiling thinly "Pleasure- Jacqueline Hart." her tone was snarky, but she meekly accepted the offending hand and turned back towards the second year she had been gossiping with to whisper something, before snickering quietly and eyeing Kieran gruesomely.

Kieran responded with an equally ugly expression, but trying to ignore it turned back to the front of the Great Hall to watch the rest of the students get sorted. The next to be sorted in Slytherin was a bored looking boy, tall enough to be repeating his first year, for the third time. His hair was dark and full of heavy curls that fell over his eyes and aquiline nose. He continued the same ritual of introductions and was unfazed at the same treatment he received from Jacqueline. Kieran gave him a very over enthusiastic greeting to make up for it. His response was the same, unphased.

Meanwhile, a portion of the Slytherin table burst into laughter as a short girl with golden hair and doe eyes fell off the stool, just barely missing it as she sat to be sorted. Her face turned a gross shade of pink as she turned away from the crowd, hiding behind her hair. "Stop that." Kieran hissed quietly, it wasn't a laughing matter. Roary cleared his throat, ashamed of himself, but Jackie only scoffed, ready to say something before the hat blared out "HUFFLEPUFF!" Kieran clapped louder than the masses, grinning smugly at Jackie. Kieran would be the better person, even if it was just to piss off the girl.

After all the new students had found their seats an ancient woman stood slowly from the center of the table, her emerald robes dragged behind her as she walked the length of the table to approach the pedestal. The golden owl posted on it blinked awake and extended its wings, freezing again in a pose, seemingly ready for flight. The woman adjusted her half moon spectacles on the edge of her nose and cleared her throat. Her silver hair was swooped into a low bun at the back of her head, loose strands falling out of it in soft curls. She was undoubtedly beautiful, and still held a presence of elegant and youth about her, but as she spoke it was obvious she was a stern and fair woman, passionate about this school and her duty.

"Welcome to another year at Hogwarts, and for those of you who have just arrived.. I give an extra warm welcome, and wish you a full education. I am Headmistress McGonagall-" She smiled softly "Hogwarts is like our home, and I hope all of you will keep it an open and loving one – though, there is always room for friendly competition, and at the end of each year the house with the most points will be awarded the House Cup. It is with great dedication, determination, passion, and compassion that you will have the chance to help your house do as such." She spoke firmly, then her speech went on, receipting rules such as 'Stay out of the forest – In dorms by nine'. All the while Kieran allowed herself to look in detail about the room and her new classmates.

There was a distinct difference in the people who sat at each table, the Slytherin table in particular were a proud looking bunch, each sitting straight, with their heads held high, and expressions alert. It was an attractive sort of characteristic, Kieran thought. Looking at the individuals of her house, she paused, almost frozen, as fierce, unnerving eyes gazed back. It was an older boy, most likely in his sixth year by where he sat. He was captivatingly beautiful, in an almost inhuman way; His eyes were an icy blue, his long hair tousled with care, framing a strong jaw. He was the sort of atractive boy, that 'knew' he was attractive.

Kieran looked away quickly, her heart thundered in her chest. His eyes still lingered on her, and she could feel them bearing into the side of her face. Hiding in her dark locks, Kieran focused back at the front of the room "-And so I think it is time that we fill our plates and prepare for the year… So let the feast begin." Headmistress McGonagall smiled warmly and with the raise of her hands the tables lit up with a feast fit for the gods. The students gasped in delight and didn't hesitate to dig in.

"-They should really let first years tryout, I could probably kick all their butts." Roary grumbled, gnawing at anything he could get his hands on without looking "I mean they let Harry Potter - it doesn't make any sense." He whined.

"Well, he did defeat a significant Dark Wizard, you can't even spell Quidditch." Emelia, also known by Em', replied. The mention of the man made Kieran frown, her appetite fading more and more by the moment.

"I could defeat a Dark Wizard if I had to – and Quidditch is spelled Q-I-…."

"Nice try." Em' stopped him before he could get ahead of himself. Roary grumbled, his tan skin turning red. "You should focus on your studies." Em went on "If you are half as bad as you were at primary school you'll never graduate."

"I'm much better at casting spells than maths." Roary stated matter of factly.

"Same here." Kieran managed to join, though her mind still loomed over the thought of the famed Harry Potter – and despite the fact she now understood who Potter had killed, it still made her uneasy. All the while Roary beamed at her over the little attention, food lodged in his teeth.

"Still, it's important to know both." Em' nodded "Otherwise you won't get anywhere."

"Enough talk, Em'. Your brain is large enough for the whole of the first years, we'll be fine." He shrugged off, practically shoving his face into more food.

"Roary." Jackie warned, using her napkin daintily. Roary paused, frowning deeply, he then shoved his napkin into his shirt.

After dinner, what was left of the food disappeared just at it had arrived. The students stood up and gathered around their Prefects. The older good-looking boy from before stood at the front of the group, his badge with a golden 'P' now more apparent that Kieran wasn't so mesmerized by his gaze. "Follow me, and stay close – we don't need anyone getting themselves lost." He warned, his voice was deep and cold, but strangely, it made her heart leap nonetheless. Kieran, not wanting to seem too eager stood back with the rest of the first years, following the Prefects, as well as the Head Students, out of the Great Hall, and down a few flights of stairs into the entrance foyer that lead to the dungeons.

As the doors were pulled open a gust of cold air washed over them, accompanied with the thick scent of mildew. Kieran wondered briefly why the other houses headed up to what she could only imagine as glorious towers, and why their dorms were in the dreary dungeons. But, as they made their way through the dark a sense of nostalgia washed over her; Kieran could imagine late nights creeping through these halls, up to nothing good, and like that the dungeons were no longer dreary at all.

They rounded several corners into the darkness until they came down a short flight of stairs to what seemed to be a dead end. The Prefects at the back of the group signaled to the Head Students at the front of the group with an 'O.K' "Now, our password is very important- it changes every fortnight- It will be on the notice board, remember it, unless you want to find yourself locked out, and in detentions - or even worse, at the hands of Peeves." The Prefect boy warned "And if I catch you giving out our password to another house, i'm sure the Bloody Baron will happily fill in for out Head of House, Slughorn - and you'll discover just exactly why he's stained with blood." His eyes gleamed with cold amusement.

He turned back toward the dark stone wall and hissed "Open to friends." Kieran noticed instantly it was in the same language her Ancestor used, and the same language her Mother made her promise not to use.

The wall slid away silently, revealing a small compartment with an actual door; Behind that door was a grand room with massive vaulted ceilings, supported by life-like serpent pillars. The walls were covered in tapestries of renowned Slytherin, and their adventures, as well as creeping plants and silver torches of green flames. But the centerpiece of it all, and what drew the eyes, was the grand fireplace on the back wall, above its intricately serpent-carved mantle was a portrait of a man in formal attire, his posture eloquent, and his expression shrewd. Large gothic stained glass windows took up the remaining spaces of the back wall to reveal the dark, bottomless lake, to which the Giant Squid swam by, glancing in for a moment, before darting away past the kelp.

"Was that parseltongue?" Em' asked aloud as all their house mates gathered inside. The other first years looked to the Prefect with the same question.

"Yes, and no. We can only mimic it, a true speaker would sound like simply the hissing of a snake. Not my poor imitation. It's a tradition we brought back recently." Kieran tried to act as ignorant as the rest of the group, even though in the back of her mind there was an itch to flaunt the ability. Quickly the Prefect went over the pronunciation with the first years, Kieran all the while followed along with the group, pronouncing it purposefully sloppy.

Afterwards the Head Boy stood in front of the students and gave a long agonizing list of rules to follow, Kieran eager not to break any payed close attention. Eyes wandering back to the man above the mantle Kieran asked "Who is that?" loud enough for only Emelia to hear. She pointed to clarify who, and after receiving a nasty look from the man, let her finger fall - she had forgotten that the portraits were, in a sense, alive.

"Salazar Slytherin, the house Founder." Em whispered nonchalantly, as if it were common knowledge. Kieran gapped "Oh, right.. I knew that." She lied half-heartedly. Em didn't notice, or if she had, said nothing.

"-To the left is the ladies dorms, to the right, the boys. Girls are not to go into boys dorms and boys are not permitted into girls dorms, understand?" The group nodded and groaned 'yes' in understanding. "In our house we are fiercely loyal, it is in the best interest for everyone here if we worked together - if you need help, ask a Prefect, or one us" The Head Boy gestured to himself as well as the Head Girl "- This is our Family now, and together we can accomplish anything." He let that statement settle, then gave an accomplished nod of his head "Alright, now head to your rooms and unpack, and welcome to Slytherin."

"Alright girls, come along." The Head Girl had dark auburn hair and a tall figure that stood out from the crowd, which made her easy to spot as they headed through the green-lit rooms. The hallway they stepped down into continued the theme of dark stone, silver lanterns, and vaulted ceilings, but replacing the intricate stone ceiling was glass, showing the way the dorms went deeper into geode caves under the castle. The hallway branched off two ways, one led directly to the pointed arch of the bathroom, while the other direction was lined with darkwood doors.

"First years to the first room, second years to the second, and so on. You will find your belongings already inside, bathroom schedules will be just here-" She gestured to the schedule posted onto the arch of the bathroom. "-Follow them and there will be no problems, take up a turn and you'll have the rest of the House to deal with. This is your family now Ladies, and I will be damned if we fall behind some damn Gryffindor due to a lack of discipline. Alright, go find your beds, unpack and if you have any questions feel free to ask a Prefect, or myself."

The girls dispersed into their respective dorms, in the first years room Kieran found her bed, and belongings at the furthest window. Each wall had a large window that looked out into the lake, as well as a glass centerpiece in the floor that showed a dense garden of kelp and other plant-life. The beds were designed to be accessed on a platform that sectioned off a more private seating area in the front of the room. Each four poster bed was draped in silver silk, and large enough for multiple persons to sprawl out comfortably.

"I feel so sorry for you, having to be bunked near a 'Mudblood'." Jackie's second year friend whined sarcastically as she moped around Jackie, whose bed was spaced only two beds away from Kierans. The pair of girls glared at Kieran, and snickered. It wasn't a term Kieran had heard before, but it bothered her all the same, and not just because it was clearly an insult.

"I know, it's dreadful." Jackie groaned, brushing her dirty blonde curls tediously as her goon unpacked her things for her. Emelia glared at the pair of them "Sara, shouldn't Jackie sort out her own belongings?" she asked, not pausing with her scrupulous folding and tweaking of her things. The older girl sneered for a moment, then went back to whining about one thing or another.

"What's a Mudblood?" Kieran asked quietly, so the girls couldn't tell it bothered her as it had. Or even worse, that she was too dumb to understand the insult at all.

Em looked to Kieran grimley and finished arranging her large first edition books. "It means dirty blood - It's a term Witches and Wizards call Muggles born with magic, or just about anything that isn't 'Pureblood'."

"I'm not muggle-born though." Kieran defended "Even if i was, there's nothing wrong with that, right?"

Emelia gave Kieran an appreciative smile, which forced Kieran to gauk. "My Mother was born that way, so i don't see anything wrong with it.. But many old families do, the Harts happen to be that way."

"Though, my Mom is a Squib - Could that be why they think that?"Kieran set down her mother's tattered sweater she had borrowed without consent. Emelia shrugged and let out a frustrated sigh, pinching the bridge of her nose she finally allowed herself time to rest and sat on her bed firmly "It could be anything with that one, i doubt she knows about your family at all, i think it has more to do with the way you look."

"Oh really." Kieran seethed, she glared at Hart for a moment, Jackie seemed shocked by the confrontation for a split second before realizing her mistake, and rolled her eyes in response.

"Don't worry about it." Em' actually smiled- it was barely much of anything, but it reassured Kieran greatly "Nothing is wrong with the way you look, but everything is wrong with the way she views people."

After about an hour of unpacking, reading the schedules and familiarizing themselves with the dorm, the bathroom and the Common room, the students began to go to sleep one by one. Kieran stared out the window and traced the curves of her bedpost subconsciously. Taking a moment before laying down, Kieran wrote out a quick letter; she told her mother about how she had been sorted into Slytherin, just like Seraphis, and how amazing the common room was. Rambling on and on with her sloppy handwriting, she went on to tell her mom how much she already missed her, as well as Wasimbu, and that she 'mistakenly' took her mother's sweater. By the end of the letter her heart had sank just a little more, and licking the folds of the envelope, she sealed it, keeping it under her pillow until she could find the time to mail it.

Tossing in her bed, Kieran swaddled the blankets around her body, and fiddles restlessly with the hem of her mother's sweater. The sound of water being gently churned by wind above lulled her exhausted mind, and just as her eyes began to flutter shut, a hiss rolled over her shoulder from behind. Throwing her sheets off, Kieran sprang out of the bed- but nothing was there. Wearily she looked around, desperately throwing her sheets about to make sure a snake hadn't wound up in them, and content no serpent carving had been charmed to life, Kieran allowed herself to melt back into the white sheets and emerald comforter. Her body aching with pleas for sleep and her mind reeling with paranoia and exhaustion, Kieran pulled her wand from her side table and held it close to her chest – though she had no knowledge of spells, she could at least use it to stab someone, surely.

Again, despite her fighting Kieran allowed her mind to warp into the darkness, and her eyes to flutter shut.. In the void of her mind she found herself standing barefoot, her dark robe now tattered and draped behind her, dampened by the slick floor. Her feet are pale, her toenails unkempt, and in her fingers, is her wand, hissing inaudibly. Another hiss forces her to look up, and there she can see through hazy eyes a statue, or rather, a head of a statue, the rest was submerged under flood-water. the face was ape-like and bearded – it was Salazar Slytherin, the man from the portrait.

She looks down again to the floor, only now, blanketed in snakes, hissing and slithering over her feet. She isn't scared of them however, in fact, she feels authority over them, and hissing deeply she commands them to move from her path. Gliding down the now clear path she approached the head, and knowing exactly what to do she commands the statue to open in Parseltongue, the same language she swore she wouldn't use. The mouth of Salazar shifts loudly, opening hauntingly to reveal nothing but more darkness- and just as Kieran begins to approach further she is met by familiar, red, slit-pupiled eyes-