Chapter 4. Welcome to the Dungeon
Rigel stayed after to discuss Head Boy duties in further detail with Professor Ingerson, so Willa found herself following Octavia down to the dungeon from the Great Hall. They were accompanied by the Greengrasses and Octavia's friend, Josephina Flint, whom Willa had met at Septimus' ball. It was a labyrinth of damp corridors until finally they arrived at the dungeon door. At least it was what Willa assumed was the dungeon door, imposing and carved with wrought iron snakes wrapping around one another to form an interlocking cross pattern. There was no lock and no handle. Willa noticed that no one had stopped walking.
"Is this not the entrance?" Willa asked to the group who continued down the hall.
"There is nothing there." Thomas Greengrass noted, scanning the area with confusion.
"Nobody can see this massive iron door?" Willa asked.
"You are ever so amusing, Wilhelmina. It is no wonder my father has taken you on." Octavia cooed. "Now, come on, the entrance is behind this wall. Hurry up."
Willa wondered precisely what Octavia meant with her comment, but quickened her pace to catch up with them. She fell into step with Thomas, who leaned down to ask, "You were making a joke, right?"
Willa smiled and nodded, "Of course." She would have to ask Elnath later about the door. Instead she said to Octavia, "Mr. Malfoy has taken me on? What do you mean?"
"You know, as his next protégé. I would not be surprised if he dismissed your cousin, Rigel, in preference of you." Octavia shrugged as if Septimus treating people as objects was a given. She continued, "You are directly related to the first Minister of Magic after all. Not to mention the rivalry with your father. It would be such a conquest for my father to lay political claim to Ardan Gamp's own child."
"Rivalry?" Willa laughed. "You are mistaken. My father has no qualms with Mr. Malfoy."
Octavia pursed her lips smugly, "If that is what he told you, then you should believe your father."
Willa refrained from response. She could clarify this with her mother in the letter she would need to write her tomorrow with updates. Her parents would be still be at sea, but Galanta would find them. As for Septimus' interest in her, she did not think it was political in nature, but it was better for Octavia to believe that above any alternative.
Willa almost let out her own smug smile when she realized that she could clarify all of this in a letter to Septimus himself. Not that she would be so blunt with him, but she had the direct access to him to do so. She thought that she might even encourage him to clarify with Rigel there was no threat to his apprenticeship next summer. Though it was equally likely Octavia would drop all this codswallop in a week's time and it would be of no consequence.
They arrived moments later at a false wall, which Octavia led the way around. On the other side was a wooden door.
"Mudblood." She said to the door.
Willa winced at the slur. Her mother had also warned that blood status was of much importance in Britain as compared with America. Until then though, no one had used such a filthy pejorative.
The door swung open and Willa realized she would have to say the undignified word herself simply to access the common room. What kind of impression was this for the first years? She wondered, appalled.
They followed Octavia inside, but Elnath stopped Willa and Abigail from passing through the entry vestibule into the common room.
"You two must first follow me." Elnath said. Her voice held no humor.
Abigail and Willa followed her to a small area where the group of twelve nervous looking first years stood awkwardly. Quintus was before the group next to a stone wall. When Elnath arrived with the pair, he pulled out his wand and moved in front of a specific brick.
Quintus tapped the stone brick three times with his wand and the front of it crumbled, revealing the crest of Slytherin etched into the stone. He looked to Elnath who nodded and pulled from her robes a black cloth encasing a small dagger with an exquisite pearlescent handle. Quintus held out his left hand to her and she sliced his palm. She wiped the blade clean and then cut her palm as well. Together they pressed their palms against the crest.
After a moment the scraping of stone could be heard as the bricks moved to reveal an entryway to a secret room. Elnath and Quintus blocked the entrance and turned to face the group of new Slytherins with grave faces.
"Those who seek greatness, enter at will." Elnath said, her voice ominous.
"Wary though be those who lack fidelity." Quintus added, equally somber.
Willa avoided any eye contact with Abigail so she would not fall into an uncontrollable fit of laughter. What she did not realize was that Abigail was taking it as seriously as the first years. All of whom started to enter the chamber. When it was Willa's turn to pass through the threshold, she gave Elnath a little smirk, but her cousin ignored her entirely. Apparently whatever happened in this room was serious business.
The room itself was circular, like the base of a turret. The section of the stones across from the entrance had narrow windows cut into it. She saw that the rest of the common room was beyond these windows, and every Slytherin was watching them.
In the center of the room was a simple, circular fountain that appeared to be gushing blood. An inscription on the base of the fountain read: Et aquam in sanguinem, tenetur ad animam. The water in the blood is bound to the soul.
Willa heard the stones move again and looked to see the entryway was shut, enclosing them inside the chamber. The first years had naturally formed a semicircle around the fountain, two layers deep to account for all twelve of them. Willa and Abigail stood behind them against where the entrance had been moments before.
Elnath and Quintus stood separate from the group, their backs to the windows, and the fountain centered between them. Willa wondered briefly if they had rehearsed this. Her Horned Serpent house at Ilvermorny had nothing similar to this on the first night. Only a congratulations and welcome speech followed by a mixer of sorts where everyone discussed what they would be studying that year.
"You stand here before us as pledges to the great and noble House of Slytherin." Quintus began. "But you will not prove yourselves as loyal until the end of this night."
"Before you is the Fountain of Purity. It contains the blood of every Slytherin who came before you. It flows eternal, as the House of Slytherin does." Elnath said.
"Tonight you will pledge yourself to this great house." Quintus said.
"In water." Elnath said.
"In blood." Quintus said.
"In life." They said together.
There was a long moment when the two stared out at the group, their eyes intense, relentless, as if to challenge each person's loyalty.
Finally Quintus called forth the alphabetical first year of the group, "Charlotte Avery!"
The small girl approached him, her jet-black ringlets bouncing ever so slightly, and he glared at her, unwelcoming.
"Point your wand at the fountain." He said.
She pulled out her wand and her hand shakily did as he asked.
"Now, with conviction, cast the spell aguamente." He said.
Charlotte took a deep breath and then said with force and clarity, "Aguamente!"
A stream of water flowed from her wand into the fountain.
"Now pledge 'et aqua'." Quintus said.
"Et aqua." Charlotte said, the water now only a trickle from her wand.
Elnath approached the girl then, dagger in hand. Charlotte's eyes widened and then returned to normal size as she processed what was about to happen.
"Hold out your hand." Elnath commanded.
Charlotte did as asked, and Elnath lightly sliced her palm. Willa watched Charlotte grimace through it and try to put on a brave face.
"Drop your blood into the fountain and pledge 'cum sanguine'." Elnath said.
Charlotte followed the orders, several drops joining the red liquid as she said, "Cum sanguine."
"Now, stand before your brothers and sisters and raise your wounded hand." Elnath said, leading Charlotte behind the fountain and directly in front of the windows.
"Pledge 'ad vitam'." Quintus said to Charlotte.
Charlotte raised her bleeding hand and said, "Ad vitam."
"Vitae!" the crowd of Slytherins called from the other side of the windows. They all held out their wands and cast, "Vulnera Sanentur!"
Charlotte's wound healed instantly. Elnath pulled her away from the windows and back to her previous spot. She gave her a dittany leaf and said, "Eat this."
Once Charlotte had swallowed the plant, her face betraying it was rather bitter, Elnath and Quintus were joined by the rest of the Slytherins in saying, "Charlotte Avery, welcome to the dungeon."
Quintus called "Mildred Crabbe!" and the process followed the same, with less direction required by the Prefects at each new member.
When it was Willa's turn, she shared a look with her cousin just before Elnath cut her palm. She felt closer to her than ever before, as if they now shared another bond of blood. When she held her hand over the fountain, she thought how Septimus' blood was inside this flow of liquid, her red drops of blood joining his from years before. The idea that her parents' blood flowed in it as well did not cross Willa's mind.
When she held her hand up to be healed, she could see the faces better. Rigel, Octavia, Thomas. All of them cast the healing charm with conviction and duty. The dittany was bitter, but it caused the wound on her hand to disappear completely. No scarring even probable.
Graham Goyle was next, then Abigail Greengrass.
The process went on until finally Reginald Yaxley was called. Once the ugly boy was finished, Willa heard the stones move to open the exit.
"Abigail Greengrass and Wilhelmina Gamp, please follow Josephina." Elnath said then added in a cold voice, "Everyone else must stay here. You are yet to be tested on your skills."
Willa and Abigail left the room quickly, finding Josephina Flint just outside the door. Her face was commanding and harsh, and she led the pair out to the common room where the crowd still looked in on the hidden room through its windows.
"Watch." Josephina said. "Then we will finish your initiations."
Willa wondered how the Fountain of Purity did not constitute the entirety of initiation, but watched as commanded. Quintus was walking through the remaining group of eleven year olds, his hands behind his back to garner authority. Elnath stood stagnant at the front of the room, hardly paying attention to the group.
Finally Elnath spoke.
"Everyone find a partner. Choose wisely, but quickly." She cautioned.
The children did so, uncomfortably looking to one another as if to determine a level of trust that Willa knew could only be developed over time.
"Now one member of each partnership shall raise their wand, point it at the other member and produce the spell conjunctiva caecum." Elnath said.
Willa gasped. Elnath had just instructed use of the Conjunctivitis curse on first years, by first years. She felt the warmth of a body move beside hers and looked to see it was Rigel. He leaned closer to whisper in Parseltongue, "It is only the hazing ritual. We have already brewed the Oculus potion." His breath smelled of Ogden's.
"Watch what happens." Josephina said to her and Abigail.
The first years looked at Quintus and Elnath, confused. Were they really supposed to know this spell already? Finally, Mildred Crabbe, who had not pulled her wand first, snarled at her partner, Reginald Yaxley, "If you are too scared to do it, I will."
The other first years waited, nervous. All except Charlotte Avery.
"That curse will blind him, you know." She said.
Reginald gaped at Mildred with shock, "You want to blind me?"
"I want to prove myself a loyal Slytherin, as should you." Mildred said, haughtily.
"I shall blind you first, stupid girl!" Reginald cried.
Both kids pointed their wands at each other, their eyes flashing with anger. Willa waited with bated breath along with everyone else in the common room, but neither first year would make the first move. Suddenly Charlotte took command by casting, "Expelliarmus!" at both Mildred and Reginald.
"Listen," the youngest Avery said once the two glared at her, "This is a test. Would a true Slytherin curse their own? Only in a proper duel. Certainly not at the behest of someone else."
"You are just scared." Mildred said.
"No, she is right." Graham Goyle said.
Others agreed. Eventually the wandless Mildred was the only person who still thought they needed to curse each other.
"There is one every year." Josephina said, then added to Abigail. "Our year it was Octavia."
Rigel said to Willa with an amused smile, "Your year it was Elnath."
Willa smiled at this. Elnath definitely would believe she must follow the rules with precision.
"What about your year, Rigel?" Abigail asked him, her voice slightly deeper than usual as though she was trying to sound older.
Rigel smiled loosely and looked between Abigail and Willa, giving the latter a quick wink as he took a swig from his bottle of firewhisky.
"I think it is time for you both to go with Josephina." He said.
"This way." Josephina said, her voice cool.
Abigail followed, but when Willa turned to go, Rigel's hand brushed against the top of her hip. It was an intimate spot and she fixed him with a reproachful look.
"You will see." He said softly before switching to Parseltongue, "Once you return, we can discuss the iron door."
Willa's expression became intrigued instead of disapproving.
"Go with Josephina." Rigel said and nodded her in the right direction.
Willa turned and caught up to Abigail and Josephina, who were at a small alcove in the very back of the common room, near the large window that faced the Great Lake. The lake emitted a translucent green light, allowing them to see into its depths for about twenty feet. Willa was temporarily entranced by it until Josephina barked, "Who is first?"
Willa looked to Abigail who shook her head. Neither knew what they would be first for, but Willa stepped forward.
"In here." Josephina said and walked into the alcove.
Willa followed her inside and Josephina closed a curtain that was not visible from the outside of the alcove due to a Concealment charm. The space was cozy, barely fitting the chaise and a table set up with what appeared to be ink and a set of needles.
"What is that for?" Willa asked.
"The final stage of initiation." Josephina readied a needle, not looking at Willa as she spoke. "All fourth years go through it, so naturally you and Abigail need to be brought into it. I finished the actual fourth years during the Fountain of Purity ceremony."
Willa said nothing and Josephina turned to her, needle in hand, full of ink.
"You will need to pull up your robes and dress." She said without emotion.
"Excuse me?" Willa asked, shocked.
"The tattoo goes here." Josephina pointed to the exact spot above Willa's hip that Rigel had recently touched.
"Tattoo?" Willa asked as Rigel's meaning of 'you will see' dawned on her.
"Everyone in Slytherin receives one. We are eternally bound to one another." Josephina explained impatiently, as if this was common knowledge.
"Why you though?" Willa pressed.
"I am the newest Prefect and conveniently our House's best artist." Josephina smiled.
Willa nodded, though she wondered if Josephina was a better artist than her. She had learned charcoal sketching from her Muggle neighbors in Dublin when she was only six, and then practiced nearly daily ever since. It was not her natural talent, but she had done it long enough to be good.
"Now, your robes." Josephina motioned upwards. Willa obliged and then lay back on the chaise.
The tattoo was administered in a magical art form Willa was yet to learn. The needle moved at Josephina's wand's casting. It did not take long and when Willa inspected the small Slytherin crest, she found it immaculately detailed. The snake even moved in and out of its place on the crest, as if it were a portraiture.
"It looks amazing!" she said, truly excited.
"Thank you," Josephina said. "You are now officially a Slytherin. Welcome to the dungeon, Wilhelmina Gamp."
Willa smiled and put her dress and robes back down. "I will send in Abigail."
Josephina nodded and began to ready another needle while saying, "Now you know you cannot mention this tattoo, correct?"
"To anyone?"
"Anyone outside of Slytherin. It is only known within our house. It can only be seen by other Slytherins." Josephina explained.
"Understood." Willa said, a small thrill going through her when realized Septimus too shared this secret with her. They were further bound to one another in secrets.
She sent Abigail in without explanation and found herself drawn back to the green light of the Great Lake. After a few moments, Rigel joined her, staring out into the water alongside her.
"Sometimes the resident giant squid swims by for a visit." He said.
"How longstanding is the tattoo tradition?" Willa asked, not looking at him.
"My parents both claim to have one. My father does for certain. My mother, I have not seen so much of her to know. Perhaps Elnath can confirm that for you." Rigel replied. He finally looked to her and asked. "Did it hurt too much?"
"No," Willa replied. "I have experienced the Cruciatus Curse, so nothing really hurts me anymore."
"What?" Rigel was aghast, looking around to see if anyone could hear her.
"Yes, my brother and I practiced quite a bit of dark magic together." Willa met his eyes and then added, "Though what is illegal here is not illegal everywhere."
"Surely the Unforgiveable Curses are illegal in America?" Rigel said. He thought they were, but perhaps he had been misinformed.
"They are. I did not mean those in particular." Willa said. She lightened her expression and said, "Sorry, I did not intend to alarm you. I thought you already knew this from Ciaran."
"Ciaran and I were not close. Not like you and Elnath." Rigel explained.
"So, the iron door?" Willa asked, moving the conversation on.
"Yes," Rigel brightened and moved them closer to the window for privacy. "You can see it?"
"Yes,"
"So can Elnath." He said. "I think it is because we are all Parselmouths."
"Or perhaps because we are all of the Gaunt bloodline, descendants of Salazar Slytherin?" Willa suggested.
"Yes, that seems more logical, now that you say it. Come, you should see this." He began towards a tapestry covered wall connected to the wall of windows facing the lake. "This is the Tapestry of Heritage."
Willa took in the vast fabrics and threads. Needlework portraits of every Slytherin before her adorned it. The very top of the wall featured a large portrait of Salazar Slytherin.
"This is me and Elnath." Rigel pointed to their portraits. They looked about thirteen in them. Their names were underneath their faces. Above them was their mother, named here as Nerodia Gaunt. Willa's mother was next to her, with no one underneath her. Beside both sisters was Corvinus Gaunt, and all three were underneath their father. Everyone appeared around age thirteen, so Willa assumed third year was when the portraits were done.
Their family's line went upwards reaching the wicked countenance of Gormlaith Gaunt rather soon, then eventually up to Salazar himself. Willa noticed the portraits higher on the tapestry bore a pair of skulls and crossbones outside their names. She assumed this to indicate the person as deceased.
"Where is Uncle Castor?" Willa asked.
Rigel pressed his wand to his mother's portrait and a snakelike silver thread appeared on the tapestry. It slithered its way to the Black family tree, which was almost as far reaching as the Slytherin one. The silver thread eventually found Castor's portrait and when Rigel removed his wand, the thread disappeared.
Willa pressed her wand to her mother's portrait, but nothing happened.
"Why will it not work for me?" she asked.
"It only shows Slytherins." Rigel said, as if this explained it.
She stared at him, confused.
"You do not know?" he said, lowering his voice to be sensitive. "Your father was a Gryffindor."
"No." Willa said flatly. "He never said. I just assumed he was Slytherin like my mother."
"There is no shame in it. Gryffindor is a fine house. All of the houses are." Rigel nodded.
A loud cheer from the rest of the common room drew their attention.
"Ah, the first years have completed their initial round of tests!" Rigel exclaimed cheerfully, bounding towards the group of students.
Willa lingered a moment longer at the Tapestry of Heritage. Abigail and Josephina rushed past her to the crowd, Abigail going directly to Rigel who brushed her off easily. At his rebuff she sought out Octavia. Willa found herself in front of the Malfoy tree, which was as far reaching as the Black lineage, but far less populated. The Malfoys either usually only had one child per generation, or the others were not Slytherins.
Willa glanced back at the crowd to ensure no one was watching and then pushed her wand against Septimus' young portrait. A silver thread appeared, winding its way to the Burke family tree, specifically to Lila Burke. When Willa approached the portrait, she saw the skull and crossbones around her name. Lila had wild red hair and a permanent scowl. She stared at the portrait for longer than she should have, her hand drawn to its threads. As she touched it, the skull and crossbones disappeared and she felt a cold sensation grow from the tips of her fingers backwards. It was the exact sensation as when she touched the tapestry in Malfoy Manor.
Finally Elnath's loud voice tore her attention away as she boomed from the top of a table, "Welcome to the dungeon, new Slytherins!"
"Let the festivities begin!" Quintus declared, standing next to Elnath.
The crowd erupted and Willa hurried to join in. She found Rigel easily and he shoved a glass with two fingers of firewhisky into her hand.
"Cheers, cousin!" he smiled, holding up his own glass.
"Cheers!" Willa said and clinked his glass before they both drank.
"Now, let us collect Elnath and go see what is behind that door." He said in Parseltongue with a sly smile.
"You have never been in it?" Willa asked in Parseltongue as well.
"It only appeared this year." He explained, continuing in the snake language.
They arrived at Elnath just after Quintus helped her down from the table. When she saw their faces, she immediately knew what they were up to. She grabbed Quintus' sleeve as he moved to walk away.
"Under fourth year is in bed by ten." She said to him.
"I know." He smiled. "Good job tonight."
"You too." She said.
He disappeared into the crowd in search of wine and Elnath nodded to her cousins to indicate she was ready to go. Willa and Rigel finished their firewhisky and the trio snuck out the common room door.
"Have you spoken to him?" Willa asked once they were in the outside hallway. Her tone clearly implied she meant Quintus.
"Not yet, we have been with the first years all evening." Elnath said.
They arrived at the iron door a moment later and all stood in silence.
"You never have seen it before?" Willa finally asked.
"No," her cousins said in unison.
"What is different this year?" Willa asked.
"You are here." Rigel said.
"Yes, but, would it need all three of us to present itself? That seems… unlikely." Willa said. "What else?"
Elnath said nothing and Willa noticed her silence.
"Your locket." Willa said.
"Why would you suggest that?" Elnath said, clutching the space on her chest where it fell, hidden behind her robes.
"It is an heirloom, is it not?" Willa asked.
Elnath hesitated.
"Show it to us." Rigel said.
Elnath pulled it out and the entire locket glowed green, brighter and more yellow than the green light from the Great Lake. All three of them inhaled sharply at this surprise.
"Look," Rigel said, pointing to the door. A hollowed out space formed in its center, the shape exactly matching that of the locket.
Elnath threw a furtive glance around them to check no one was watching, then slid the chain over her head and pushed the locket into the space. Wrought iron jumped to life, weaving over the locket to clamp it in place.
Willa examined the door, which had no handle.
"The hinges are set for it to open outwards. There must be a spell." She said.
"Alohomora," Elnath hissed in Parseltongue.
The door swung open with a loud creak.
"Lucky guess," Elnath said, laughing lightly. She walked through the open door as if she owned whatever lie beyond it. Rigel and Willa looked at one another with worry before following her inside.
The chamber appeared to be a study. The more they looked around, the more obvious it became that this was Salazar Slytherin's private office. Everything inside was curved or twisted, snakelike. The walls had shelving built into them, featuring all sorts of potions and divinations materials. Salazar's personal stationery featured on the desk, alongside a long unused quill. Notably missing from the room were any portraits or paintings. Nothing that would risk permitting entry without the locket itself.
"This is incredible." Elnath murmured, her fingertips running over various items throughout the chamber.
"It feels there will be traps inside." Willa said.
"Not for the heirs of Salazar Slytherin. I propose a toast." Rigel said. He rummaged into his robe for the bottle of firewhisky and Willa noticed Elnath shove something into her robes. It looked like a black leather-bound journal.
Rigel opened the bottle and said, "I have no glasses."
"Allow me." Willa said and transfigured three items nearby into crystal glasses.
"Brilliant," Rigel smiled. He poured a finger into each glass and then handed them to Elnath and Willa.
"A toast," Willa said, holding up her glass.
"Yes, a toast to the Gaunts, the remaining heirs of Salazar Slytherin. The true blood of this house. May we ever be in favor with fortune and fate." Rigel said.
"Here, here!" Willa and Elnath said with contentment.
The three clinked their glasses and drank down the firewhisky straight.
"We should return to the common room." Elnath said after a moment.
Willa nodded and transfigured their glasses back into the original items.
"A moment longer?" Rigel asked. "I think I could live in here."
"You can return to it, but not live here. You have the main quarters in the common room as Head Boy." Elnath reminded him.
"Come," Willa said to Rigel, linking her arm with his to drag him from the chamber. The door closed behind them on its own. Rigel stumbled alongside her and Willa wondered why he had drank so much already.
"I wonder what is happening in Gryffindor right now." Rigel muttered. It was more of a thought he said out loud than anything of value. Yet Willa was wondering the same.
"In all likelihood they are already asleep." Elnath rolled her eyes.
The trio was back to the common room by now, no one really having noticed they had left except for Abigail Greengrass. Her stare was upon them and Willa quickly unlinked her arm from her male cousin and linked arms with her female cousin instead.
The crowd had thinned as all those under fourth year had been sent to bed by Quintus. She and Elnath pushed deeper into the common room, near to the Great Lake, and noticed a group passing around an opium pipe on the couches.
"I do not smoke." Willa whispered to Elnath.
"Me neither." Elnath said.
"Let us find another drink, perhaps wine?" Willa said.
"No, stay with the firewhisky now that you have drank two. You will thank me in the morning." Elnath said and led them back to Rigel, where she pickpocketed his bottle as he spoke animatedly to Thomas Greengrass.
The girls bolted away to a divan against the wall hosting the Tapestry of Heritage. The cushion was upholstered in green and silver stripes and set upon a sturdy mahogany base. They passed the bottle between them until it was finished and both were giggling loudly.
"Aguamente." Elnath cast, refilling the bottle with water. "We both must finish two of these between us."
Willa leaned to drink from the stream of water coming from Elnath's wand. She began to laugh as Elnath pushed her and water went up her nose. They both shrieked as Willa jerked up and Elnath nearly lost control of the bottle.
"At least two." Elnath said once they calmed.
"Prefect's quarters." Elnath boasted, two bottles of water later. She led Willa into a large dormitory, which was much too big for only two people, yet that was the number of beds within it.
"Stunning," Willa said turning around to take it all in. There were two armoires and a full-length mirror for dressing. Two sitting chairs were cozily set by a small table all on top of a fur rug. Behind them were tall windows opening out to the Great Lake itself.
The same eerie green light from the common room's windows shined into the lake, allowing about twenty feet of visibility into its depths. The resident giant squid swam into view and Elnath waved at it. Willa could have sworn it waved back at her before swimming off, but did not mention this to Elnath.
"I feel very honored to be your roommate in such an excellent dormitory." Willa said.
"As if I would ask anyone else." Elnath laughed. She pointed at her trunk with her wand and said, "Accio night clothes."
They flew out at her and she began to change, so Willa did the same.
As they did, Willa decided to ask about what had bothered her from tonight, "They permit hazing at Hogwarts?"
"Hazing? No. With the first years, you mean? No, that is not hazing." Elnath explained.
"Then what is it?"
"We challenge the first years all week to determine their strengths and weaknesses. Then we pair each one with an older Slytherin who can help them improve upon their weak points and further succeed in their strengths." Elnath explained. "That is where you come in… from what I recall, you excel in every subject, right?"
"Not potions. I am terrible at potions." Willa admitted and climbed into the smaller bed.
"Oh, really?" Elnath frowned as she climbed into her bed. The idea was difficult for her to conceive given her proclivity for the subject.
"Yes. In fact I did not even sign up for Potions this term." Willa said.
"You are serious? I am in both Potions and Alchemy. I have to win the Potions Championship this year, and I know Arlo Potter is after it as well." She grumbled out the Gryffindor's name. A moment later she frowned and asked Willa, "But what will you take instead?"
"I am signed up for Muggle Studies!" Willa exclaimed with excitement.
"No you are not!" Elnath said, her voice hushed even though they were alone.
"Yes, I am. I start Monday. Why?" Willa replied.
"No Slytherin takes Muggle Studies." Elnath said. "Not ever."
"Not until 1792, you mean." Willa smiled. "They do not offer it at Ilvermorny. I am very excited for it."
Elnath sighed and then after thinking for a moment said brightly, "Well, then you can eavesdrop on the rest of the houses for us. They will likely forget there is even a Slytherin in there if you do not call attention to it."
"Consider it done." Willa smiled.
"What else are you taking?" Elnath asked.
"Let me think… Muggle Studies, Divination, Care of Magical Creatures—which I believe we have together with your future husband, Professor Stump." Willa paused to deflect the pillow Elnath threw at her, then continued, "Arithmancy, Defence Against the Dark Arts, and Advanced Charms. I am also looking into both Music and Muggle Music as well as Magical Theory as extracurricular. What about you?"
"Obviously Potions and Alchemy," Elnath began. "Besides Care of Magical Creatures, I also have Defence Against the Dark Arts and Advanced Charms with you. But I am taking Herbology and Ancient Runes, specifically for the Egyptian Hieroglyphs."
"Any extracurricular?" Willa asked.
"Beyond being a Prefect… maybe Ancient Studies to help with my Runes and knowing about older potions that have failed." Elnath said, unsure if she would have the time.
"Thank goodness we do not care about Quidditch." Willa laughed.
"You are the one wanting to try out for Triwizard Tournament. You are out of your mind if you think you will have time for that and Muggle Music." Elnath laughed.
"Dueling is easy when you are skilled at legilimency." Willa said quietly.
"I forgot about that." Elnath grinned. "I will not tell anyone."
"We should sleep. That firewhisky took it out of me." Willa said, lying down on her bed. The eerie green light continued to come from the windows and she asked, "Is that light always there?"
"I have not been in this dormitory before tonight, so I could not say. Hopefully not, but we can find a way to cover the windows if we must." Elnath said.
Elnath got up to douse the torch lantern and the room fell to darkness, including no more green light. After stumbling into her trunk and letting out a swear word, she pulled out her wand and said, "Lumos." At the charm, Elnath's wand lit as well as the green light from the windows.
"Now that is clever." Willa said.
"It really is!" Elnath said, excited. When she was tucked back into bed she said, "Nox," and to both their delights, the green light went away.
"Goodnight, my cousin." Willa said.
"Goodnight, my cousin." Elnath replied.
Willa lay in the darkness, staring towards the ceiling at the nothingness. Her head still swam with firewhisky and she wanted nothing more than to sleep, but it was slow to come. Despite the warmth of the night's festivities, she was racked with anxiety. The Sorting Hat's desire to put her in every house but Slytherin, it seeing she was lost, and the fact that she had prodded Braxton's blatant grief all gnawed at her.
Mostly though, she worried for Septimus' safety in Paris. If the Prussian armies were on the march, they would be there by the morning. Having lived in Boston and Baltimore during the after violence of the No-Maj revolution, she knew no amount of protective enchantments and Muggle-Repelling charms could keep out warfare, even from the securest of locations.