A/N: Some of the reviewers have brought up the fact that Cornelius Fudge was not Minister in 1985, which is correct in canon. I am not going to reveal what caused this divergence, however I can assure you all that I am aware of this.
I would like to say that, as the story progresses, the Wizarding World is going to get darker and more realistic. The line between the "good" and "bad" characters will become blurred with questionable choices being made by everyone.
Also, I know my updates are slow, but the story is most definitely not dead. I work on it when I have time!
Chapter 7: A Marauder's Choice – Operation: Train rides and Old Memories
September 1st, 1991 – Hogwarts Express
"So Harry comes barreling into my Dad, slamming into him while he waits for me to catch up near the barrier to the Platform!" James said as they walked down corridor after just getting on the Hogwarts Express. The Express at this point was getting more and more busy with students making their way along it trying to find an open compartment. Luckily, the three boys were able to slid into one and claim it before several 4th year Gryffindors (?) could get it, earning them some sneers and angry comments about first years. The boys just smiled sweetly and took their seats and stowing their trunks in the overhead holders.
Sebastian sat next to the window, which Harry sitting opposite him and James sitting next to Harry. As they waited for the train depart, Sebastian looked at his watch, "It's 10:50! Where are the girls and Draco?" He didn't have time to wait for a response as the door was thrown open revealing a disheveled Daphne Greengrass and Tracey Davis.
"What happened to you guys?" Harry asked as he looked at the girl's frizzy hair and ruffled clothing. Daphne shot him an angry look before throwing her featherlight trunk at him.
"What do you mean, 'What happened to you guys'?! You were supposed to floo call me to get up you bastard! Me and Tracey were having a sleepover and we just got up twenty minutes ago! That's what happened!" Daphne fumed, angrily sitting down next to Sebastian, causing the boy to shift closer to the window, "I swear Harry, you are the most forgetful dunderhead in all of Scotland!"
"Daphne, we are in England." Sebastian commented, not knowing his innocent statement would send Daphne off on another rant.
"Me and Harry live in Scotland you idiot! We only live a short distance from Hogwarts but I have to floo all the way down here to waste eight hours on a useless train ride! Sometimes, I hate you Nott."
Sebastian just raised his hands in surrender before pulling a book out of his bag and putting in earplugs. As Daphne continued ranting about the injustice of being an eleven-year-old girl, the door was thrown open once again, revealing Draco with his bodyguards Gregory Goyle and Vincent Crabbe.
"Merlin, Daph. I can hear you all the way down the train. Be quiet before a prefect comes!" Draco said and Daphne's eyes went wide before she finally shut her mouth giving the boys and Tracey a momentary reprieve.
"Draco, who are the lackeys?" James asked as he pulled out his two-way mirror he had gotten from Astoria on his birthday. Astoria had said that if she can't come to Hogwarts this year, she still wanted to talk to him every day. So, she had bought an expensive two-way mirror for him to take to Hogwarts.
Draco looked at the two boys flanking him, "This is Crabbe and Goyle. They are the sons of a couple of my dad's friends." He replied to James' question before turning to the boys, "But as this compartment can only hold six, you guys need to find Blaise or someone else to sit by." The dunderheads just nodded and lumbered off towards a different area of the train. To be honest, the compartment could have probably held the two dunderheads, but it's not like they needed to know that.
"They look intelligent. Please don't tell me they will be Slytherins…" James said sarcastically as he flipped around the mirror trying to figure out how it worked. When he flipped it backwards, Daphne snatched it from him and told him how to work it, obviously annoyed with him.
"Probably. We don't have to hang out with them. They can just follow us around and scare people." Draco laughed with the other kids. He then threw his trunk in the overhead compartment like everyone else had done and sat next to Daphne.
They talked for a minute before a buzz was heard from the train and a silky-smooth voice came over the 'intercom', which amazed the group of first years, "Welcome to the Hogwarts Express everyone! This is Jonathan, your friendly wizarding conductor up here in the engine room. Today, our trip is a nice ride from King's Cross Station to Hogsmeade Station in Scotland. We will be leaving the station in approximately 2 and three quarters minutes. Our cruising altitude will be 0 feet off the ground as this is a train. Our maximum speed today will be an astonishing, I don't know, we don't have a speed gauge up here because MAGIC! At least, that's what I'm being told… Our journey today is going to take around eight hours, give or take some based on our speed. The Hogwarts Prefects will be patrolling the train making sure you are all safe and having fun! If you have any questions, please direct them to the prefects. And as always, don't do anything that your parents would be ashamed of."
The kids just looked at each other before bursting out laughing at the antics of the conductor. This was going to be a fun train ride…
September 1st, 1991 – J&L's Garden
"Table for two please, near the windows, will you dearie?" Sirius said as he winked at the hostess as the young witch blushed and ushered them to the reserved table in the front of the restaurant.
"Sirius, did you really just take me to the restaurant the Potter's own? Real smooth. Plus, I don't even like Italian food…" Amelia laughed as Sirius pulled out the chair for her. She quietly sat and fixed her blouse and skirt causing Sirius to smile. She always fixed her skirt when she was nervous…
"They have other stuff Amelia! Plus, they always have this table reserved for me and Harry so it was an obvious choice!" Sirius replied, handing her a menu that he had received, "Look, first page: 'Fish and Chips'. Harry gets that all the time. That and Mac and Cheese."
"I am not a child Sirius, I don't need the kids menu." Amelia laughed, handing him back the menu before grabbing the adult menu. As they sat and chose their lunch foods, they spoke about their lives over the past few years. Sirius having gained prominence in the Wizarding Legislative body and Amelia in the Ministry itself. She talked about the Aurors now in her employ and spoke of the corruption surrounding everything in the Ministry.
"Amelia, it's not my fault that Lord Malfoy has the Minister in his pocket…" Sirius said, smiling up from his tea causing her to give him an annoyed glare.
"But it's your coalition that buys everybody! I bet that you have given money to half the department heads." Amelia said as she pulled another scoop of Spaghetti into her mouth, "Okay, this isn't that bad…"
Sirius looked at her as she had finished chewing, "I told you that Lily had a beast Spaghetti and Meatballs recipe! Anyway, I resent that you think I own half the department heads. I have only given money to three…"
"Three too many!" Amelia raged as she broke a breadstick in half and handed half to Sirius, "I'm the Head of the DMLE and I am sitting across from someone who bribes officials… To clarify, you are not bribing me with this lunch. Expect nothing from this politically."
"I didn't expect anything from you Amelia," Sirius sighed as he spoke, "I would never expect you to compromise yourself like that." He smiled sweetly at her as she looked up from her lunch into his eyes. They sat quietly for a moment, staring into each other's eyes before Sirius looked away and continued, "Amelia, about that night…"
Amelia reached across the table and grabbed his hands, holding onto them as they had many years ago, "Sirius… There was nothing you could have down. I realize that now…" Tears slowly crept into her eyes and she remembered that night many years ago… She could remember it just like if it was a pensieve memory.
Flashback – 10 years earlier
Laughter filled Potter Manor as Amelia and Sirius played with the little Harry in the living room. James and Lily had said they needed a babysitter as they were going out for the night, so Sirius and Amelia had volunteered. Sirius was running around with Harry above his head like the little baby was on a broom and Amelia was laughing on the couch…
As they laughed, the Floo flared to life, admitting a slightly disheveled looking Lily Potter. She had on her darker evening dress that she had decided to wear, but it was torn above the left arm. "Amelia! There has been an attack! Rogue Death Eaters have attacked the Bones Manor! Me and James apparated there as soon as we heard, but there was nothing left. James is looking through the rubble right now, but he hasn't found anything…"
Amelia put on her serious Auror face and concealed the pain that she was feeling. Sirius just stared at Lily in utter shock, "What do you mean? Did You-Know-Who order the attack?" He asked, still surprised by the sudden attack. They had not heard of any sort of attack coming, so he was right to be confused. Amelia shot a look at Sirius, obviously surprised by his question. Clearly He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named ordered it!
"When me and James arrived the Death Eaters apparated away but not before flinging some curses at us. We tried to get inside and save your brother and sister-in-law, but they had put up some powerful wards. James had to call in help to rip them down. Do you know if they had a saferoom or something?" Lily asked as Sirius made his way over and began treating her injured arm.
Amelia stood in shock, trying to think of anything that might be of help. "John said that there was a small warded room on the first floor that they would put Susan in if they came under attack. Maybe they put her there?"
Lily winced as Sirius pulled a small hot piece of metal out of her arm, obviously having been transfigured to maim her. "Sirius, it feels like its burning…" Lily said, trying not to cry from the pain.
"Don't worry Lily, I'll go." Sirius turned to Amelia and brought her into a hug, "You head to the Manor, I'll be over in a second. I'm going to put Lily and Harry in bed." Amelia nodded absentmindedly and apparated to the outskirts of Bones Manor. She ran to the gates and threw them open, revealing an angry looking James Potter sifting through the rubble.
"James! The front room is over here! There is a saferoom near the fireplace, I think Susan might be in there…" Amelia called as she began lifting up piece after piece of broken and charred house. It only took a moment for her and James to reach the saferoom and discover a crying Susan Bones…
It took Sirius two hours to arrive, after all the Aurors and the like had been there to collect statements…
"What took you so long! My Brother and Sister-in-law are dead and you said you would be here!" Amelia screamed at him, getting the attention of James and some of the Aurors. James waved the wizarding police off and made his way over to attempt to mediate.
"Amelia, I'm sorry! I got held up!" Sirius tried to explain while trying to bring her in for a hug only to be rebuffed.
"You got 'held up'? On the worst night of my life, you get held up putting a baby and adult to sleep?" Amelia continued to rage, bringing her wand up and leveling it at Sirius.
"I had to make sure the wards were secure! If your family was attacked, what's to say Potter Manor won't be next? With Rogue Death Eaters running around, nobody is safe!" Sirius yelled, "You just don't understand Amelia!"
"How about you just leave, Sirius! You are never here when I need you anyway! Always off on missions or something!"
Sirius knew that trying to reason with an angry and hurt Amelia Bones wasn't going to help him. He turned on his heel and apparated away, leaving Amelia to fall to the ground and sob.
September 1st, 1991 – J&L's Garden
"What I didn't understand was why you never tried to contact me after that!", Amelia said as she slightly raised her voice, "Sirius, I loved you and you left! Disappeared when I needed you the most! Harry and Susan could have grown up together!"
"Amelia… I would be lying if it wasn't hard on me too. I… I thought by leaving, the rogue Death Eaters would leave you be! We captured them of course, but I just didn't know what to do at that point! I thought I had mucked it up beyond all return!"
"Sirius, I never stopped loving you… Even when I saw you taking Harry to the Ministry events and you coming to the Wizengamot meetings, I still loved you." She smiled sadly at her former boyfriend, "To be honest, I though you would figure out AB before now… But you were always dense." Sirius chuckled.
"Well, I'm here now, Amelia…" Sirius replied, searching her eyes for any sort of hope.
"What? You think you can just pop back into my life after ten years, talk for a little bit with me, and we can get back together!" She started to raise her voice again but paused, "I had this big speech prepared about how you were a horrible person to just up and leave and everything, but… oh screw it, kiss me you idiot."
September 1st, 1991 – Hogwarts Express
"Excuse me, do you mind? Everywhere else is full." A red-haired boy said as he appeared in the doorway to Harry Potter and his friend's compartment. When he finally looked up and spotted the sneering first years, he spoke, "Oh, it's you lot. Bloody hell." The boy slammed the door shut which cause the eleven-year-olds to look at each other in confusion the burst into fits of laughter.
Sebastian rolled his eyes and looked questioningly at Harry and Draco. Daphne noticed this and decided to supply the answer for him, "Harry and Draco met 'Ronald Weasley' in the bookstore the other day. Shall I just say that Ronald ended up with a face as red as his hair." The others in the group didn't need much more information before they started laughing again.
"You should have seen him, Tracey!" Draco snorted, "He pulled out his wand like he was going to curse Harry and me! His mother called him back before we could use some of our really nasty curses though!" He smirked evilly with Sebastian and James looked un-impressed.
"Yeah, you guys and your body-bind 'curse'. Really sticking it to the blood traitor…" James said as he rolled his eyes in disbelief.
"I'll have you know, my Dad has told me all kinds of curses and hexes." Draco muttered to James as the compartment slid open once more to reveal a bushy haired first year.
"Has anyone seen a toad? A boy named Neville's lost one." She asked before spotting Harry, "Oh, hi Harry. It's good to see you again, as well as you James." She smiled at the two boys before entering, uninvited.
"Uh, what are you doing?" Draco asked, eyeing the witch suspiciously, "I didn't think mud, *Harry arched an eyebrow at him*, I mean, muggleborns wanted to sit with us pure-bloods."
"Harry's not a pure-blood, I read it in one of my books!" Hermione said as she began rummaging through her bag, looking for the book, "I remember it was written by your Godfather, Sirius Black? It talks about how your parents were killed by the Dark Lord!"
"Well, that book was written before my Dad blood-adopted me into the Black family, making me a de facto pure-blood." Harry supplied, "My name is technically Harry James Potter-Black".
"Oh, well your father should release a new version of this book!" Hermione huffed before shoving her newly found book back into her bag, "Having accurate textbooks is important, you know?" she said as she stood to exit, "I guess I'll see you all when we are sorted".
"Mental, that one", James said as she closed to door to rejoin the hunt for Neville's toad, "Also, who would bring a toad to Hogwarts. A toad can't bring you mail…"
The rest of trip seemed to zoom by for the group of six as the talked at length about what awaited them at Hogwarts. Harry was mostly excited for the Quidditch matches with Draco and Tracey agreeing. Daphne was interested in Potions and learning more about what her Dad does. Sebastian ranted about how Defense Against the Dark Arts should have been left as just the Dark Arts class. It basically taught the same information plus more curses that would be useful if a magical got into a fight. James was oblivious to the whole conversation that accompanied most of the train ride. Astoria had kept him talking on their mirrors for several hours, even though he kept saying he needed to go.
As the train finished its journey and pulled into the station, the kids crowded around the window looking out onto the train platform and the lake beyond. As they watched, a large man with a lantern began yelling something they couldn't hear from inside. "Alright, let's get our stuff and get off this bloody train!" Harry proclaimed as he yanked his featherweight trunk from the luggage rack.
"Right, then! First years! This way, please! Come on, now, don't be shy! Come on now, hurry up!" The large man yelled as the group made their way off and onto the platform. A large group of first-years soon clustered around the man and he began to lead them away once he was satisfied that there were no stragglers, "Right then. This way to the boats! Come on, now, follow me."
As Harry made his way to the awaiting boats, he noticed that the boats were small, fitting no more than a few students. "Come on then! Only four to a boat! Get in!" Harry looked at his friends before they split up, with James, Draco, and Sebastian hoping in a boat while Daphne, Tracey, and Harry got into the other. Before they could push off from shore, the know it all Hermione clambered into Harry's boat. Ron attempted to get in the other boat, however some hateful stares soon changed his mind.
They pushed off from shore and the boats seemed to pilot themselves towards the large castle in the distance. Several students gasped as they neared, yet Harry noticed Daphne and Tracey look almost bored. Hermione looked completely dumbstruck, "This is so much different from the pictures in the books!"
Soon they made their way into the castle and up the stairs, only to be stopped by Professor McGonagall, "Welcome to Hogwarts. Now, in a few moments, you will pass through these doors and join your classmates. But before you can take your seats you must be sorted into your houses. They are Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin. Now, while you are here, your house will be like your family. Your triumphs will earn you house points. Any rule breaking, and you will lose points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup…" she paused as a boy jumped forward to grab a toad by her feet, Harry surmised that must be Neville and his toad. Not that he hadn't met Neville before at Ministry events, but Neville just wasn't one of Harry's friends. The Professor looked at the boy for a moment before finishing, "The sorting ceremony will begin momentarily".
She walked into the Hall before closing the doors behind her. As she left, several ghosts appeared, announcing which house they represented and giving the first year's support and saying they hope they end up in their respective houses. "I wonder what house I'll be sorted into", Harry heard a quiet voice behind him say. He turned to find Hermione, who had obviously been following Harry and his friends.
"I would say you'll be sorted into Ravenclaw. You love books so I could see that working well for you." Harry said, slightly snidely. Lucky for Hermione, she didn't pick up on the malice.
"Professor McGonagall said that all houses have their merits," she replied, "What house do you think you will be sorted into, Harry?"
Draco spoke up for him as a red-haired boy glared at the exchange, "Slytherin, obviously. That's where all the best wizards go!" He declared proudly, earning him several snorts from first years who had older siblings.
"Slytherin is full of dark wizards and evil people," Ron declared, also earning a laugh from Harry and his group.
A moment later, Professor McGonagall returned through the Great Halls doors, "We're ready for you now". She led them through the doors, into a giant room with four long tables filled with other students. Harry looked around the room in wonder, taking in the beautiful sight that was the night sky as well as the floating candles.
Hermione noticed his wondrous expression, "It's not real, the ceiling. It's just bewitched to look like the night sky. I read about it in Hogwarts: A History". That statement earned her two equally annoyed eye rolls from Daphne and Tracey. What a know-it-all… Daphne thought as they finally stopped before the head table.
"All right, will you wait along here, please? Now, before we begin, Professor Dumbledore would like to say a few words." Professor McGonagall said to the assembled first-years before making her way up to stand next to the sorting hat.
The Headmaster stood, "I have a few start of term notices I wish to announce: first years, please note that the dark forest is strictly forbidden to all students. Also, our caretaker, Mr. Filch has asked me to remind you that the 3rd floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a most painful death. Thank you." The old man sat as Harry and Draco looked at each other in surprise. That 3rd floor corridor obviously must be searched.
"When I call your name, you will come forth, I shall place the sorting hat on your head, and you will be sorted into your houses. Hannah Abbot"
"Oh Merlin," Sebastian said as he stared at the blonde who had just sat down on the stool, "This is going to take forever."
It was a few minutes before someone Harry actually cared about was called up to be sorted. "Tracey Davis". Harry perked up as the dark brown-haired witch made her way to the stool. As McGonagall placed the hat on Tracey's head, her face showed surprise. It took the hat about 30 seconds to make up his mind, but Harry smiled as it yelled out, "SLYTHERIN!" Harry clapped as she hopped off to the table where she was welcomed.
There were some more sortings that Harry really didn't care about before "Hermione Granger" was called. She walked up to the hat and sat down confidently. It took another 20 seconds before the hat confirmed what Harry had suspected, "RAVENCLAW!" She looked slightly put out before smiling at her new housemates.
"Daphne Greengrass" was called quickly after Hermione. As she approached, the hat seemed to sneer at her before screeching out 'SLYTHERIN' the moment it was over her head. She smiled smugly at Harry before bouncing off to join Draco.
There were several other sortings, with some students Harry couldn't care less about. Not that he didn't pay attention to see where the students of his year ended up, he just didn't have any thoughts about why they went to certain houses.
"James LeStrange"! Professor McGonagall bellowed as she eyed the first years. Several of the Professor's eyes widened at the mention of the LeStrange last name. James just smirked evilly as he approached and sat on the stool. There were some whispers behind him, questioning who his parents were. Harry could barely make out Professor Sprout ask another if he was the spawn of Bellatrix and Rodolphus Lestrange. Harry laughed as the hat once again shouted SLYTHERIN.
As James made his way over to the table, a non-descript Slytherin fifth year shouted, "Merlin, get on with it then! You're boring me!" Harry again chuckled as most of the Great Hall did.
"Ten points from Slytherin."
"Worth it."
"As I was saying, Neville Longbottom", Professor McGonagall continued while still glaring at the fifth year. The shy boy approached the stool with his toad clutched in his hands which got him several odd looks from the Head table as well as the students. McGonagall placed the sorting hat onto his hat and seemed to have a lively discussion with the boy before yelling, "GRYFFINDOR!" The boy jumped off the stood and rushed to join his new house.
"Draco Malfoy", she continued.
Draco smiled at Harry when his name was called, "I bet you it will take less than five seconds" he said to which Harry rolled his eyes. That was a fool's wager. Draco strode confidently towards the professor and the hat. As he sat and the hat was hovered over his head, the hat shouted, "SLYTHERIN". He smiled smugly at Harry and mouthed, 'Told you'.
"Sebastian Nott", Harry nudged the boy forward and smiled. Sebastian took his time reaching the seat but was soon sent to Slytherin like the rest of his friends.
Harry heard a laugh from behind him as Sebastian was sent to Slytherin, "Of course he went to Slytherin, there isn't a witch or wizard who went bad who wasn't in Slytherin". Harry turned to see the red-haired Weasley boy smirking. But before Harry could do anything, he was called up to be sorted. There were several gasps and wide eyes around the room, obviously from those who did not know Harry would be attending this year.
"Ah, Mr. Potter. Or should I say, Potter-Black?" The hat said inside Harry's mind as McGonagall placed it onto his head, "I see you have already made up your mind for Slytherin, yes? All your friends are there… Nott, Malfoy, LeStrange… Ah yes, I am forgetting Miss Davis and Greengrass… Oh Harry? I feel that you have more than mere friendship feelings for her. *Harry shifted uncomfortably* Don't worry Mister Potter-Black, my hat is sealed! Anyway, I expect great things from you, Harry. At Hogwarts and beyond… SLYTHERIN"
Harry smiled as his friends burst up from their seats and clapped enthusiastically for him. Several of the other Slytherins looked confused but slowly they all began clapping.
The rest of the feast passed quickly for Harry as he ignored the rest of the sortings. He did, however, boo Weasley after he was sorted. As they began to tuck in to eat, Harry looked up towards the head table to view his soon to be Professors. "Hey, James. Who is the guy sitting next to Professor Quirrell? Dad mentioned something about him but I don't remember his name…"
"Oh, that's Professor Snape. Your Dad almost killed him the night your parents were killed. He was found by Headmaster Dumbledore with half his head caved in. Sirius has a nasty bone-crushing curse…" James said as he looked towards the greasy Professor. Harry continued to look at James for more information however, "He teaches Potions, Harry." Daphne finished for James.
"Who is Slytherin's Professor?" Draco asked, having not bothered to ask his Dad who it was before coming.
"Professor Vector, Draco", Sebastian supplied as he slowly ate his food, "I swear, sometimes one would think you didn't live with Lucius Malfoy for the amount of simple question you ask."
September 1st, 1991 – Dungeons
Harry, Draco, Daphne, Sebastian, Tracey, James, and the rest of the Slytherin first years followed the Slytherin fifth year prefects down the long winding hallways of Hogwarts to the Slytherin dormitories. As they descended the stairs, the atmosphere began to feel much heavier and almost suffocating before they reached the hallway directly in front of the Slytherin dormitory.
"Okay, welcome to the Slytherin Dormitories. As you can see, all of you made it past Slytherin's door defenses. If you were not truly Slytherins, you would have collapsed due to suffocation before you made it here," the fifth year smirked before motioning to the non-descript wall behind him and pulling his wand, "The door to the common room is visible only to those who wear Slytherin robes."
He waved his wand over the newly minted Slytherins and their Hogwarts sigils were changed to their House's sigil. Suddenly, their blindness seemed to be lifted as an ornate silver and green door revealed itself to them as the female Fifth year started, "The password is 'Semper Pura' or 'Always Pure' in English. Please use the Latin version as it makes us look cool, but English will work as well".
Harry and James looked at each other in utter disbelief, I didn't realize magic could do this stuff, thought Harry as they pushed forward into the common room. As they entered, Daphne could be heard gasping with a small, "Wow."
"Yeah, pretty amazing isn't it?", the prefect said as he lined up the first years to give them the annual Slytherin speech, "You lot's parents gave the school a hefty sum of money a few years ago after Lord Malfoy saw that the Common Room and Dormitories had not been updated in almost 75 years."
The Common Room was ornately decorated with gold, silver, and all types of different stone. Several black leather couches, chairs, and seats were spread out across the room with plenty of desks and tables to study on. A beautiful gold/silver chandelier was hung in the center of the room with floating candles surrounding it. Gone were the drab green wallpaper that Daphne had seen in her father's pictures, replaced with dark woods and stunning artwork. As she looked above she noticed a shadowy figure move across the ceiling, making her realize they were under the Black Lake.
"Okay, listen up first years!" the female Prefect shouted from her perch on the stairs, "Boy's dormitories are up the stairs and girl's dorms are down. Each of you will have your own room with a bed, desk, and wardrobe thanks to the remodel a couple years ago and enlargement charms. Be aware that visiting hours are between 9am and 8pm. That means boys can be in the girl's dorms and vis versa during those times. You also will each have an attached bathroom to your rooms."
She looked to her male companion who continued, "House elves will take care of all laundry, cleaning, and pickup overnight. Even though we have house elves, that does not mean you can leave your room a mess all the time, please clean up after yourselves," He paused, looking at the notebook he was holding, which earned him an eye roll from the other Prefect, "Breakfast is served from 7:30am to 8:30am with first period beginning at 9:00am. Lunch is served at 12:00pm until 1:00pm. Dinner is served at 6:00pm. You will receive your class schedules tomorrow at breakfast. Do be there for that. Breakfast is optional the rest of the term. Now, I will be turning it over the Professor Vector…"
He motioned to the mysterious figure in the corner of the room, "Welcome to Slytherin, my children. This is the first step in your journey to becoming POWERFUL witches and wizards." She drawled as she removed her hood and looked around the room, "I know many of your parents, and I even knew the one that gave me this," she lifted up her left sleeve, revealing a faded black tattoo covering a snake-like scar before snorting and pushing her sleeve back down, "Slytherin will be your family. From this day until your end of days. Take that to heart, my children. Look around you, they will be your best friends. You may have friends in other years, however these will be your core friends. Never let anything or anyone tear you apart, which I am sure the other Houses will attempt to do… Anything to put Slytherin down…" she snarled as she looked at Harry, James, and Draco.
"I sense you three will accomplish great things, terrible… But great." She smiled wickedly before noticing the girls and Sebastian, "Do not worry, you all will be there with them. I trust you all will succeed in Slytherin. Now, there is one professor that will cause you all trouble, Professor Severus Snape. He is the Potions professor." She shifted her eyes quickly to Harry and running her index figure against his scar, "Your father almost killed him that night, didn't he? Eh, Mr. Potter-Black? Answer when spoken to!"
"Yes, ma'am. He caved in Professor Snape's skull with a bone-crushing curse." Harry responded swiftly, "Why do you ask?"
"I could tell by the magical signature you have. Snape has a very similar residual signature around his head. Only a Black could have such a similar signature," she shifted her attention to the other students, "Remember that Slytherins are loyal to other Slytherins. You will need each other when the other three houses decide you are evil. Also, the common room is confidential. Anything spoken in the room, stays in the room, right?"
The Prefects nodded in the affirmative as she continued he review of the first years, "Daphne Greengrass, I remember your father was an accomplished Potions Master during the War, yes?"
"My father doesn't like to talk about the Blood War, ma'am. So, I don't really know what he did." Daphne replied meekly, sort of scared by the older woman.
"Of course not, he plead the Imperious. Much like Lord Malfoy, Lord Davis, and Lord Crabbe," She eyed the three students with a sly smile before turning to James, "I am surprised you were let in, young man. Your Surname is seen as the Plague in Wizarding England."
"Well, I'm glad my father runs his business out of France, oui?" James smirked.
Professor Vector smiled at the group before nodding at James, "Goodnight, my children. I will see you tomorrow." She sulked into the darkness and disappeared into her office.
"Your rooms have your names on the door. See you all bright and early tomorrow."