Slytherin was an elaborate web, each action would have a consequence and everything said was layered with hidden meanings that without the code were almost impossible to decipher.
The rules were to stick together, to show a united front, but everyone was looking for each other's weaknesses whilst maintaining their own superiority.
It intrigued Hermione.
She was fascinated by the way each conversation and interaction was multi-layered, Hermione, in that first night in Slytherin, had wanted to sit back and watch the back and forth, wanted to discover want they were saying and what was said without words.
Melissa had gone to Hogwarts, she had tried to give her unbiased opinion of each house, though she was partial to her old house Hufflepuff. As a muggle-born she had some gap in knowledge of how the Wizarding world operated, Melissa was by no means oblivious to the workings of the world she lived in but some things were known and understood only by those who lived by those rules all their lives, mostly they were little things that matter a whole deal. Because of this Fenrir was generally the one teaching the pack about the intricate and little things that made their world work, he thought they were stupid and pointless but he wouldn't allow for any of his pack to go without the knowledge of how to fit it with other magic folks.
When it was confirmed that Hermione was going to Hogwarts, her Papa had sat her down and had a firm talk to her. "Hogwarts is not like a pack. It is not even a series of little packs, it just chaos with those with power holding the reins over those without power.
"There is no alpha, it is all power, not authority. To thrive there you must fight to have your place in the hierarchy, not too high that others with power feel threatened but not too low that you are a target. Be a threat, but a clandestine one, let them know that you are not a pawn in their game of chess."
Fenrir had paused to make sure his daughter understood the gravity of his words, "like males all fighting to have the role of alpha?"
"Yes, exactly," Fenrir confirmed. "I do not know which House you will join but there is much you need to know of each House.
"To be Hufflepuff, like your mother was, is to be kind and loyal above all else. The fault in this House is their loyalty can blind their morals, can hinder their ability to change. But here you will find those that will stand by you through trial after trial.
The House of Gryffindor boasts the brave, the loyal and the courageous. Their folly lies with their prejudice, their thoughtless recklessness that prevents them from finding others fighting for the same cause. In the House of Godric Gryffindor you are sure to find comrades that will fight with you in any battle, but remember they seek glory almost above all else.
The House of Slytherin is where those that are cunning and ambitious will have the greatest chance to succeed. The downfall of Slytherin is their need for those of pure blood, and their inability to find allies in those that are below the standards that they set. If you are sorted here you'll find fickle allies but unmatched friends.
In the House of Ravenclaw, where wit and knowledge are prided, you'll have information at your fingertips, you'll have every chance to research anything you want. Where Ravenclaws' fall is with their jealous keeping of knowledge, their desire to know more than others. Here you will find like-minded fellows with similar goals and drives but you'll never possess knowledge they think is too valuable for more ears to hear."
When Hermione had asked her Papa how he knew so much about Hogwarts and the way the Wizarding world worked when he hated everything about those he considered less than Werewolves.
"I hate wizards," Fenrir said not for the first time and not for the last time, "but as a child, I had to be mindful, I had to watch so I could steal, to eat, to survive. Watching I picked up on these things. And," Hermione had watch reluctance mar her Papa's face, he clearly didn't want to continue, "and I… some of these things I just… know. I think before I was changed I was part of a Wizarding family, a family with a deep understanding of how the world works, there are some things I know that I shouldn't. I… I hate to think of the time before the Wolf, I can't remember anything solid but I assume that when I was blessed they abandon me. Though I am thankful that I can pass all this on to my pack."
Hermione had already been told about the war concerning blood purity, she had promised to declare herself the child of two half-bloods, better half-bloods then trying to claim an imaginary pureblood or link herself too closely with dirty blood.
Through everything, Fenrir taught her she was able to muddle her way through the first day of Slytherin politics.
"I can't believe she went to Gryffindor," Severus muttered in the morning as they waited for Professor Slughorn to hand them their timetables.
Hermione who had elected to stay close to the surly boy, shook her head disagreeing, "she wanted to go to Gryffindor, the Hat takes into account where you want to go. I think she'll do well in Gryffindor, look she making friends," Hermione pointed out, raising her chin in the direction of the redhead.
"What do you know? You've only spoken to her once, and she's my friend."
"You can have more than one friend Severus."
The boy only grunted eyes still on his friend that hadn't looked his way since she had come in.
"Eyes for a mudblood, uh Snape?" Avery asked from his group of pureblood first years.
Fenrir had taught Hermione how to navigate in a world that would hate her on the principle of what she was, of who she was born to and raised by. He had taught her everything she would need to know to not become an outcast, and she'd be damned before she let a potential friend suffer this deplorable treatment.
Before Hermione could tell Avery and his mates exactly what she thought of them - nothing pleasant by any stretch of the matter - Slytherin's Head of House wobbled over.
"I'm glad you could join my House, the best in my humble opinion, only the best for Slytherin," he chuckled like he had told a humorous joke, "if you first years need anything I implore you to reach out, I'm in my office by the Potion classroom if you need me. I'm dedicated to making Slytherin the best House it can be.
"Now what was I doing? Oh yes, timetables, here you go." With a final warning to attend each lesson Professor, Slughorn walked further up the table handing out timetables to his students.
"Who are you?" the question was aimed at Hermione, she was honestly surprised it hadn't come earlier, she knew Severus had received the same line of questioning last night. "Not a relation to the Dagger worth* Granger's are you?"
Hermione didn't answer his question, at least the second question, "I'm a half-blood. My mother's a half-blood and so my father." It was better to claim that than say that one of her parents was a muggle and also better than to claim a pureblood parent she couldn't name.
"Oh," Avery was saying nodding his head, "I knew you weren't a pureblood, my family is well connected, I'm part of the Sacred Twenty-Eight," he raised his chin in obvious pride like he himself had had a hand in his family's status.
Mulciber was nodded along with Dolohov and Avery they were all the elites, the purest of the pure, the betters. Or so they claimed.
Severus didn't mention his blood, his dorm mates already knew and the House would assume but he didn't want something as delicate as blood status to be exposed at the breakfast table the day after sorting, and so as neatly as he could he inhaled his food to fend of questions about his blood. Like Hermione he had been warned of the issue the Wizarding world had with blood purity, his mother was a pureblood after all.
After the questioning was conducted Hermione went back to her breakfast, remember and nudging Severus to use the correct cutlery and glasses. It wouldn't do for either of them to be showcasing their lack of breeding. Sitting amongst the high-class Slytherins Hermione was eternally grateful for each and every lesson both of her parents had taught her, without them she didn't think she'd cope in the House of green and silver.
"Are you excited for classes Severus?" Hermione asked turning on her seat to face the boy face on. She had decided to stick close to him, he didn't seem to want her around but hadn't of yet, told her off for following him around. She would capitalize on this until she no longer could. "I'm looking forward to Transfiguration, Charms and Defense Against the Dark Arts we have those in the first few days," Hermione said looking down at the timetable Slughorn had handed her. "You?"
Hermione was going to continue before Severus grunted, "Potions."
"Oh, I'm excited for Potion too. I think we have that tomorrow, yeah tomorrow with the Gryffindors. Our first lesson is Charms and that's with the Gryffindors too, then Transfiguration after lunch with the Ravenclaw and -"
"I have the timetable Hermione," Severus cut her off, "I know what we have."
"Oh, right," Hermione fell silent, her lips curling over her teeth as she looked down at her meal.
Severus huffed a sigh, "at least I know the timetable is right now." It wasn't an apology and it would never be but it was close enough. Hermione smiled eating the last of her fruit.
The first class that the first year Gryffindors and Slytherins would attend was Charms with the Ravenclaw Head of House, Professor Flitwick. Professor Flitwick was a half goblin, though Hermione had been told that his height didn't take away from his strength, he was a world duelling champion after all.
The Houses had already divided, the Slytherins sat to the right whilst the Gryffindors took up the left side of the room by the time the Charms Professor arrived.
"Welcome! You'll find Charms to be a vital part of your magical repertoire, it can light your way," the tiny professor waved his wand and cast the Lumos charm, "it can help you carry great burdens," he then lifted the podium that he stood behind, "or it can unlock doors for you," his final show of charms work was by unlocking and relocking the door to his office that sat in the corner behind him.
With the students' attention solely on him, the Ravenclaw Professor instructed them to open to the first chapter of their books, safety considerations of charms work, chapter two was wrist movements while the following chapter would be about specific charms, their uses and how they were performed.
When the class had finished the short but thorough chapter the class moved on top wrist movements, focusing on the movements for the feather-light spell, Wingardium Leviosa, which the first years would attempt as their first spell, but not until later October.
"Have you read ahead Severus?" Hermione asked eyes still focused on the moving images in her book as she copied it perfectly, she had had months of practice, though that practice had been with a stick and not a wand.
"Yes, I can already cast it," Severus told her distracted, he was trying to get Lily's attention from where she sat across the room. When his childhood friend did look up and acknowledge him he smiled brilliantly showcasing his crooked teeth.
"What! When?" Hermione exclaimed, gaining looks from her year mates and teacher.
"My mother's a pureblood, my home is considered a magical home, the trace doesn't impact magical houses the same way that it does muggle-born's homes. It only tells the Minister that magic has been used at that residence."
Hermione fell silent, she didn't know how that would work for her. She technique lived in a wizarding community but their nomadic lifestyle and species might be an issue, the last thing she wanted was to draw attention to where her pack were. Hermione decided this was a question that would have to wait until she got home, her mother or father would either know or find out for her.
When the bell rung, the student rushed out of the room, it had been a double Charms and now the children were hungry.
"Lily!" Severus called, waving to get her attention, "Lily."
Hearing her name called the redhead Gryffindor stopped and waited for her friend, with a promise to talk to her later Severus left with his friend, leaving Hermione to walk to the Great Hall by herself.
Hermione dallied, living the majority of her life in woodlands, the castle was wondrous, as the full moon was the next day she was stressed at being in an enclosed area, she was used to the openness of the woods but she still found the vastness of the castle to be comforting. This feeling was the main reason she wanted to seek out Remus Lupin, she was sure he would be feeling the same as her, they would be spending the full moon together after all.
Hermione stopped in the hall and cocked her head to the side, the full moon was tomorrow and as of yet, she hadn't been told where she would be placed for the duration. Hermione guessed that she and Remus would be taken to a wooded area or an enclosed space, in an area the furthest from Hogwarts and Hogsmeade, maybe they would have the area scent marked, that was how the pack stayed in the warding barriers. Chewing on her lip Hermione decided she would go to the Infirmary after class let out after lunch.
As she was set to turn the corner to the Great Hall Hermione heard her name being spoken, "her names Hermione Granger, I haven't heard of her either, she's in Slytherin so she must be bad. I'm in Gryffindor to get away from people like her, I for one won't be talking with her, no matter how nice she pretends to be, besides she friends with that greasy looking kid from the train."
"I know what you mean," Hermione heard Remus Lupin saying, "there's something about her that makes my skin claw." Remus didn't know if that was the right description to what he felt around the girl but it was close enough.
Hermione stopped, the words freezing her in place just as well as if she been cast with the Immobulus spell. Tears stung at her eyes, it was only the second day and she was already disliked. She supposed she shouldn't be too shocked, this wasn't the first time someone had had an aversion to her, but now she was a Slytherin and so she would act like one.
Pulling her shoulders back and casting a disinterested expression on her face she strutted around the corner and into the foursomes sight cutting short whatever James had begun to say. She didn't give them any notice, just walked past them like they were too far below her to give any acknowledgement to, insignificant. Fenrir had instilled in her very young to be proud of her pack and her family, to be proud of her gift, of her magic and most of all her herself, it wasn't ideal that she wasn't liked by her fellow students but she would endure for she was a Greyback, and Greyback's didn't bow down for the runts of the litter.
Just as she reached the corner to the Great Hall Hermione turned back and took a sly glance at the boys, Remus had his head down, his honey coloured hair hung like a curtain, Pettigrew and Potter looked uncomfortable between the Slytherin girl and their mates. It was Sirius that caught Hermione's attention, he had that look he had in his eyes at the bookstore, a mixture of loss and stubbornness. That was okay, Hermione could match him in stubbornness.
She met with Severus in the Hall for lunch not saying a word to the boy that had abandoned her for the pretty redhead - not that she blamed him, they were friends before Hogwarts - eating as if nothing happened, because it hadn't, at least that what she told herself.
Transfiguration was fun and a lot like Charms although with a practical component that wouldn't be repeated until the fundamentals were taught and understood. She had liked the stern professor and the lesson had been interesting, they had attempted to change a match to a needle, Hermione had earned Slytherin three points for turning the match into mental, it still looked like a match but it was further than anyone else had managed.
Now there were two hours before dinner and Hermione was taking the time to go to the Infirmary and talk to Madam Pomfrey, Hermione knew that she was one of the few people informed about Hermione's condition, and she supposed Remus's condition.
Not that Hermione wanted to think about Lupin right now but she was looking forward to running in a pack, no matter how much smaller it was compared to what she was used to. There was a freedom, a release in embracing their gift every Luna cycle.
Checking that no one was watching Hermione brought the wolf closer to the surface, it was infinity easier to do so now than it was any other time of the month, and sort out the scent of clean, of potions and lingering sickness. Letting her noses lead her Hermione walked the halls, it wasn't easy, she had walked almost the entire length of the third level before realizing that the scent was coming from the floor above, she had had to walk all the way back to the staircases, in the centre of each level, wait for the right staircase and the right floor before she made it to the fourth floor and to the Infirmary.
Grumbling a bit that the Infirmary for a school this size ought to be a lot more accessible - Hermione was ignoring the fact that she could have easily asked one of the upper years to led her there, she was Slytherin, favours come with strings attached, and besides this castle would be her home for seven years she needed to become used to it as soon as possible.
The entrance to the Hogwarts Infirmary was two grand wooden doors not unlike the ones that marked the entrance to the Great Hall, said doors were open and Hermione could hear and smell the Nurse moving around out of sight.
Coming to a stop beside a row of beds Hermione called out, "Madam Pomfrey."
"Just a moment," a voice called from behind a closed door. "I'll be with you in just a moment."
As she said, the Nurse appeared moments later, seeing no obvious injuries the Madam asked, "yes? What is it you need dear?"
"I'm one of the students," Hermione told her, hoping she'd make the leap. She didn't by the look of confusion, "the night students. I'm Hermione Granger."
Again her eyebrow creased until she uttered a faint, "oh," nodding to herself. "Yes, dear. The headmaster informed me about your condition."
Hermione didn't like the way she said condition like her gift was something to be ashamed of, she was proud to be a wolf, but knew others thought it was a curse, without this curse Hermione wouldn't be alive. Hermione dug her nails into her hands a little, she couldn't show her displeasure at that, and really she knew the Nurse knew no better.
"Yes, I was wondering about the tonight and how it will go, where we'll be placed-"
"We'll?" Madam Pomfrey said surprised.
"Yes. Me and Remus Lupin, the other first year with our gi- uh our condition."
"Oh dear, I have to get the Headmaster."
"The headmaster?" Hermione asked unsurely, she didn't think she'd done anything to upset the nurse, nothing that would require the headmaster's presence anyway. Hermione had assumed that the matter had already been arranged, did they really have two werewolf children on Hogwarts grounds without a plan?
"Wait just a moment while I contact the Headmaster. Take a seat on one of the beds and we'll be with you in a few moments."
Just as they asked, Hermione was seated on a clean hospital bed when the Madam returned with the Headmaster in tow. The Headmaster was much more intimidating up close, at the sorting she hadn't appreciated the presence and power of Albus Dumbledore, but confronted with his dominating aura, Hermione admitted to herself that she was intimidated. Hermione's senses allowed her to see beyond the grandfather image the Headmaster portrayed, her wolf wouldn't allow itself to be vulnerable because it couldn't read someones' true face.
"Miss Granger, I must say it is a pleasure to meet you. Your mother was a great student and I have great hope that you'll success despite adversities. Now I understand you have uncovered Mr Lupin's condition, the same curse that befell you, yes?" Dumbledore waited until Hermione nodded, "and our dear Madam Pomfrey has informed me that you assumed that you'll be spending the full moon together?"
"Well, it does it makes sense, Headmaster," Hermione said trying to keep her tone respectful, but to her, he seemed awfully condescending. "There had been studies that prove that werewolves spending the transformation hours together are less dangerous, for the werewolves themselves and for others." She knew there were studies, she had read every one that she could get her hands on, even the bias and unsavoury ones.
"Yes, be that as it may, I have made a promise, Lord and Lady Lupin have requested that no one other than those that have to know, know about young Lupin's condition." She didn't like that way he said condition if he had said curse it would have been less offensive.
Hermione had a horrible gut feeling where this was going. "But sir, surely you understanding that it's better for the well being of both of us -"
"Miss Granger," the Headmaster spoke with a warning in his voice. "You and Mister Lupin will not be spending the full moon together."
Hermione knew when to not push the buttons of those that had power over her, but she needed this question answered, "I understand Headmaster... but where will I be placed?"
"The Forbidden Forest."