Gratitude to Reviewers-
Exodus5- Thank you for the review. Your honesty is so refreshing and I'm glad that you believe the story is promising even if you are still on the sidelines. I respect you being truthful and still taking the time to comment. if you decide you dislike it 4 whatever reason, I hope you'll come back and read when she's older. Thats when things get interesting. I swear, I have things planned out so far ahead its just...pathetic. every little pebble creates a ripple. Anyway, thank you.
Beatrix Kiddo- I could like,... kiss you, Im so happy. Your reviews are always positive, so I seriously thank you because they often make my day. And of course thank you for noticing the sorting hat song. I know Im pathetic, but I am proud of it for some ridiculous reason. Also, I'm glad I threw you for a loop, I'd really hoped I'd surprise readers with Slytherin. and I was bluffing on holding this chapter hostage ;D because here it is 2 days later. Enjoy!
Importanto before you read-
As both of my reviewers pointed out, James being in Slytherin isn't canon. And yes, while it can be safely assumed that there was a 99.99999% chance he was in Gryffindor, it was never specifically stated in the epilogue or in any interview I've ever read about the next generation, so I'm taking a little creative leeway and changing the expected up a bit.
And yes, I know that it can be safely assumed that James is in Gryffindor, I agree. I personally believe JKRowling put him in there, but I repeat she's never actually stated this that I know of. And therefore, I'm considering it a grey area, no matter how dark that shade of grey may be. Its not canon or un-canon since (as far as I know) we've never been specifically told he's in Gryffindor. If I missed an interview where she says this, I sincerely apologize, really I do.
Again, before people jump down my throat, I will repeat. I do believe she put him in Gryffindor. It can easily be assumed that. It was just never written in any HP book or spoken in an interview. Call it a sort of loophole. Not a good one, but it's there. So I'm (sort of) sticking to it being neither canon or un-canon. Please don't hate me for it. And if I'm dumb and I did miss an important next gen interview where this is specifically discussed, then I really am sorry. Ok, that's it. I hope you understand, ;)
And to warn you, this chapter is really short, which is why I'm posting it only two days later. No worries tho, the next chapter is amazing and has lots of Ara/James interaction and will be posted Fridayish.
The rest of the first years were sorted easily, no James Potter mishaps re-occurring. Ara spent the time staring at the golden plate before her resolutely, her eyes never wandering back up to meet James' or her fellow Slytherin's. Madeline had lost interest in talking to a statue and had spent the rest of the time practically purring about her summer into the ear of the boy next to her. Meanwhile, James had taken the new seat next to the headmaster's empty place setting and watched the rest of the ceremony in what appeared to be boredom, only showing interest as Freddie stepped up to be sorted. His face had fallen as the hat loudly announced "Gryffindor!".
Ghosts had begun trailing into the hall throughout the sorting, taking stations at certain tables or in certain corners or merely passing through into the next wall. A rather bloody ghost had joined the Slytherins at their table when the scroll had reached the Rs and sat next to a first year boy who just stared at him in wide-eyed awe. Finally, as the last student took their seat, Headmaster Norblood clapped his hands together. "Let the feast begin."
Food of all sorts magically appeared before the students, from dishes of lasagna to baskets of bread rolls to plates heaped with chicken to bowls piled high with artichokes. The students around Ara began eagerly helping themselves to the treasure trove of food, the great hall buzzing with renewed conversation.
Ara wasn't excited about the feast as much as the other first years though. She picked at her food until the dinner dishes disappeared and were replaced by the dessert dishes. Then, she picked at her dessert. Finally, as the food vanished, the headmaster stood up once more. "A new school year has begun and I for one am eagerly looking forward to it," he began, sweeping his arms wide, a toothy smile adorning his features. Ara's neck prickled. This man gave her the creeps. There was just something so manufactured, so plastic, so fake about him that made her very skin crawl.
"I believe this year may prove to be interesting. A few announcements to make before I let you go. I shall remind you that broomsticks are prohibited for all first years except during flying lessons. Tryout times for quidditch will be posted on your house's common room bulletin board by quidditch captains. Remember that the Forbidden Forest is forbidden for a reason. Be in bed by curfew or points will be docked from your house. And lastly, as a reminder to new and old students, your B.A.T.s will be administered the day before classes begin. Welcome to Hogwarts. Your house's headgirl and headboy will lead the first years to their dormitories." And with that, students began getting up from their house tables and filing out of the great hall.
Ara didn't know what B.A.T.s were, but didn't recall her parents ever mentioning them. Maybe they were new?
Looking to the professor's high table, she could see the headmaster speaking to James, his very fake and very toothy smile firmly back in place. James nodded at whatever the headmaster had said before standing up and following Norblood out a back door.
Ara shook her head to clear it. Whatever they had just discussed, it was painstakingly obvious that James Potter was not coming to the Slytherin dormitories with the rest of the first years. And it wasn't her job to wait for him. As the first year Slytherins followed their newly appointed headgirl and headboy out of the great hall, Ara trailed behind, lost in her own thoughts.
The headgirl, a raven-haired girl with a no-nonsense face and the headboy, a boy with a shaved head and dark eyes, led them out after the older students had left the table. They went out into the great hall's antechamber, through a door on the far right, down two sets of staircases, took a left, went down a long narrow hallway, and then down another staircase, all of it passing by in a blur. Ara thought she'd be lucky if she remembered the first three steps.
Shivering, she realized that the path they were taking had been bringing them downward and the air around them had begun to grow colder. Soon, the walls were devoid of windows, allowing only the lantern the prefect carried to light the way. She guessed they were in the dungeons. As the small group began to turn yet another corner, Ara could have sworn she heard a little meow.
She paused in step, letting the other 1st years go on ahead without her while she stopped to investigate the noise. Peering curiously around, all she could see were shadows. She really was bound for St. Mungos if she had just imagined another noise today. Only one imagined voice in her head per day or she outdid her loony quota. She began to walk forward when she heard it again.
"Meow," the little black kitten danced out of the shadows, his head held high, big eyes staring up at her. He looked pleased with himself, as if he was proud he had found the girl. If a cat could smile, or grin for that matter, the little black kitten would certainly be doing so now.
Kneeling, Ara picked him up and coddled him to her chest. "What are you doing?" she asked the kitten. "I told you I'd see you soon, didn't I? You should have just stayed put." She moaned, "Oh Merlin, I'm talking to a cat. I am officially insane."
Looking around, she noticed the light from the prefect's lantern had disappeared and fear instantly gripped Ara's heart. She started walking briskly toward where they had last gone, but turning the corner, she saw no sign of anyone or of any light. Standing perfectly still and listening hard, she could barely make out footsteps to her right. Clutching the kitten protectively to her chest, she ran towards the sound, panting slightly form the exertion.
Turning one last corner, she could barely make out a girl entering a passageway at the far end of the corridor. She began to run once more, her feet slapping against the floor loudly, echoing against the granite walls. The girl looked up at the sound and smiled. Ara's heart sank. It was Madeline.
She began to run faster, but it was no use. The girl smiled smugly at Ara and walked through the doorway of the passage. Immediately after her disappearance, the doorway began changing, morphing into an ordinary wall. By the time Ara had reached it, the archway had sealed itself already.
No, no, no," she cried, banging a fist on the stone wall, for that was all there was left of the entrance to the Slytherin common room. "Please let me in."
She leaned against it, sliding to the ground in anguish. She didn't know the password to get in and she was certain that none of her fellow Slytherins were going to help her. She was also certain that curfew was fast approaching.
She was stuck there until a fellow Slytherin found her and took pity, until she was discovered as being out after curfew and got in trouble, or until it was morning when someone inside came out. She really didn't like her options. And it wasn't as if she could head back to the great hall and ask for help from one of the teachers. She didn't even know if she could get there.
The black kitten had begun his motorboat purring again and she clutched him tighter, shivering in the hallway from the cold. "I'll guess I'll just have to wait," she told the empty hallway bitterly. "It's not like I have much of a choice."
Many, many minutes had passed by and Ara was having trouble keeping her eyes open. The floor was hard, the air cold, and the wall she was curled up against rough, but she was exhausted after a long day and the thing she wanted to do the most in the world was just to fall asleep.
In her lap, the kitten had stopped his purring and was sleeping easily, a fact she was incessantly jealous of. She sighed loudly, changing her position to get more comfortable when she saw light from a wand at the far end of the hallway retreating away, going in the opposite direction of where she now sat.
"Wait, stop," she called, standing up, effectively dumping the kitten from her lap. "Can you help me?"
The light stopped and began to double back towards her. She sighed gratefully. Someone had come to her rescue.
"What do we have here?" The owner of the wand had reached Ara and was shining the light of his wand directly into her eyes. She blinked in confusion, raising her arm to block the bright white light. "A lost little Slytherin by the looks of it."
The boy dropped his wand so she could see again and she recognized him as the boy from the train. The golden-haired fourth year with the green eyes who had practically worshipped the ground James walked on. His handsome features were marred by the scowl on his face. "Slytherins should know better than to wander the halls by themselves at night. Things... might...happen," he stated slowly, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Ashby, Ashby Etheridge," Ara began uncertainly, feeling uncomfortable near him. "That's your name isn't it? We met on the train earlier."
The boy shot her a look of contempt. "I don't associate with death eaters, sliver." He began to raise his wand and Ara took a step back in shock.
"Etheridge," greeted a calm voice from the dark. Ara hadn't seen or heard anyone approach them. "What brings you all the way down here. Past curfew I might add?" A boy that looked the same age as Ashby slid into the halo of light, eyes firmly on the green-eyed youth. Ara recognized him as the boy at the train station who had caught her before she had fallen.
"I could ask you the same question," countered the Gryffindor, a smug look on his face.
The newcomer smiled. "I was with Professor Longbottom. I had permission to be out. The question is, did you?"
Ashby paled and pursed his lips. "My sister is headgirl. I can do whatever I want." He spat at the brunette. "And I don't have to explain myself to the likes of you, sliver." He glared at the two before turning and stalking back up the hallway.
Once the light from his wand was gone, the boy turned to Ara. "Are you alright?" he asked.
Ara nodded, drawing in a deep breath. "I can't believe he spit at you," she breathed, shaken up from the exchange. And what did he mean by sliver anyway?"
The boy sighed. "A term for people like us. They thought they were being clever by calling us slivers, as an allusion to Slytherin's silver, our "silver" heritages, the silver spoons in our mouths, and of course, the fact that we annoy them, but are altogether harmless, like slivers."
"Oh," was all Ara could say.
"Why were you out here anyway?" he questioned, bringing out his wand.
"I, uh, got left out, and didn't know the password," she mumbled into her chest, embarrassed that she could be so stupid.
The brunette smiled down at her. "You're lucky I was passing through," he remarked. "Ashby is the golden boy of Gryffindor. Which makes him the worst of them all. You could have been in real trouble."
She gulped nervously. She didn't doubt it.
The boy began tapping stones in the wall. "Three left, down four, two right, and up one. Dragon's teeth." The wall began transforming into the hallway Ara had first seen it as. "Hurry," he said, motioning her through. "It only stays like this for a few seconds."
Picking up the black kitten, who had (somehow!) fallen back asleep on the floor, she passed through the archway, followed closely by the boy. Behind them, she could pick up the sound of stone clashing against stone as the entrance reformed itself into the wall. They were in sheer and utter darkness now, and she couldn't see a thing.
"Lumos," commanded the fourth year, light from his wand flooding the area instantly. Now she could see her surroundings clearly. A thin corridor stretched before them, various archways and polished black wood doors on either side. The blue-eyed Slytherin began walking ahead of her towards a particularly large entranceway near the center and she followed, not knowing where else to go.
"I thought we just needed a password to get in," she said, her voice echoing in the small space.
The boy laughed dryly. "It used to be. I know it was when my father attended. But a lot has changed since then." They had reached the open space in the center of the corridor and began descending the low steps into the empty Slytherin common room. Everyone must already be in bed she thought. "A password began to be too easy to guess and the Slytherin dorms were broken into often, stuff stolen and or just wrecked. The previous headmistress decided we needed more protection, so she added the stone trick. It's helped a lot."
The Slytherin common room was full of fat emerald green armchairs and couches and slick black wooden tables and chairs. There were a few portraits of past Slytherins decorating the walls and green glass lamps hanging on silver cords from the arched ceiling. The mirrors in the room all had silver frames and the fireplace mantel was emerald green, the chimney ascending into the high ceiling composed of black bricks. It all seemed very color-coordinated in her opinion.
The boy had moved to the fireplace. Pointing his wand at a log, he muttered a word and it burst into orange flames. He added more wood as Ara took a seat on a couch, placing the kitten on her lap.
"What's your name?" she asked him as his back was turned to her. "Mine's Ara."
"I know who you are," came the reply. "Ara Malfoy. I was there when you got sorted. It's pretty easy to remember other Slytherins, since there are so few of us now. We are a dying breed after all." Finished with the fire, he turned to her. "I'm Tobias Nott. Pleased to make your acquaintance." He gave her a small smile, "Formally make your acquaintance, that is."
She smiled back. She had been unsure if he remembered her or not from before, when he had helped at the train station, but apparently he had.
"Thanks for that," she smiled. "And, I should be going to bed," she stood up slowly and yawned. Picking up the kitten once more, she turned to go, but paused as a thought occurred to her. "Umm, do you know where the dorms are?"
He chuckled softly, "You seem to have a knack for getting into trouble." He paused in thought. "I believe the stairway to the first year girl's dorms are four doors down to your right, on the left hand side of the wall. They should be labeled on the side, just in case. "
"Thanks," she said, clutching the kitten to her chest.
"Don't mention it," he responded.
"No," she continued, trying to clarify. "For earlier I mean, with Ashby."
He took a deep breath before speaking. "I'm just glad I got there in time. Try to be more careful, ok?"
"Ok," she agreed heartily. "Good night." Ara turned and walked back to the thin corridor, glancing over her shoulder at the boy. Tobias was standing before the fireplace, hands in pockets, staring into the flickering fire. She smiled to herself. At least there was one person at Hogwarts who didn't hate her guts.
Exiting the common room, she turned to her right and walked down until she had reached the fourth doorway on the left. She could barely read the words on the silver plaque above the archway in the darkness, but she finally managed to make out '1st Year Girl's Dorm' written in a sharp-lettered script.
Breathing a sigh of relief, grateful that Tobias had a good memory, she began to climb the black spiral staircase. It stretched upward for a good distance before Ara finally reached the top, much more exhausted than she had been when she started.
A black wood door with a shiny silver handle greeted her. Turning it quietly, she pushed, thanking Merlin when it opened quietly. The last thing she needed right now was to wake up her dorm mates and get them to hate her, well hate her more that is.
She stepped into the room quietly, thick carpet muffling her movements. Half a dozen or so canopy beds filled the large, airy, circular room. Recognizing her trunk, she made her way to the only empty bed left. Yawning tiredly, she slipped under the silky covers as quietly as she could, settling the tiny kitten next to her. Within minutes she had fallen asleep, a small smile hovering on her lips.
Author's Notes/Trivia
~The B.A.T.s will be explained in a later chapter. They're relevant with the theme, so I won't tell you what they are right now. You'll learn soon enough.
~Ha! lol, just wanted to laugh at my readers. And you all thought Ashby was a good (annoying but good) guy. Merlin no, he's one of our baddies, ;).
~Btw, he was not going to do anything sexual to Ara. Just wanting to clear that up cuz it does kind of sound like that. He's just sort of a Malfoy (lol). Ashby was probably just going to hex or jinx her, like Draco would to Neville. I bet nobody even thought it was sexual, but just in case one person did, I'm saying this so there is absolutely no confusion on the subject.
~Slivers- those little things you get from wood that are tiny and hurt, I assume people in the uk, ireland, canada, australia, etc have the same word for it. if not replace it with the word splinter, unless yu don't have that word either and then...yeah i dunno. So, it's not a good discriminatory name like mudblood or something, but I think it fits its purpose.
~Silver spoons: if you don't get that you may not be old enough. It just means people who are born rich. So slivers is a derogatory term for Slytherins, like mudbloods was for muggle-borns and blood traitors were for people like the weasley family. Its not uber creative, but I couldnt think of anything else. it works well enough though and I think you all can get why I chose it.
~About the new way to get into Slytherin, I created the stone wall trick and then realized that it was exactly like the one in diagon alley, so apologies, but it doesn't really matter I don't think. Still a good way to keep people out. and yes, the previous headmistress, totally McGonagall. ;)
~Just to clarify, Tobias Nott is 1) a pureblood like his father, and 2) doesn't have a mother who we know. Meaning she's not pansy parkinson or millicent bulstrode or a girl from the golden trio era.
~Lastly, I know in Gryffindor tower, there's really only one staircase for each gender leading up to separate year dorms the higher you climb, but there is a good reason why there is one up to each different dorm in Slytherin, of there being 14 different dorms in all (7 years X 2 genders = 14 dorms). You'll have to wait for the next chapter to realize why. ;)
Author's Notes/ Trivia-- from last chapter I forgot to mention
~Ryleigh git sorted into Ravenclaw because her mom was in that house, no surprise there.
~About the Longbottom kids being in Hufflepuff. I have a some very good reasons. 1) their mother (Hannah Abbott-canon) was from that house, 2) their father is now professor of herbology, the position previously held by the head of Hufflepuff, and 3) the sorting hat's 2nd choice for Neville was Hufflepuff (canon), so I find it more than understandably they'd end up there.
If you appreciate my writing, I'd really appreciate a review. Thanks.
