IX

Stanley casually walked over to the Slytherin table as the shocked residents of the Great Hall stared at him. He did not like to be the centre of the room, and quickly sat down.

The Sorting was not yet done. A girl named Lisa Turpin became a Ravenclaw, and then it was Ron's turn. He had been staring with a most vicious look towards him, but quickly strode forwards when he was at last called. Not long after, the hat shouted GRYFFINDOR! and the youngest of the Weasley brothers joined Harry at the table.

Only a dark skinned boy named Blaise Zabini was left, and soon sat down next to Stanley. The occupants of the table were still staring at him, and he frowned. Blaise moved away when he realized who he was sitting next to, and his future classmates pushed three others in his direction. He recognized them as Alphard Black, Ramsey Lestrange and Daphne Greengrass.

''Don't you worry, I don't bite.'' he dryly noted.

They visibly relaxed at that. He had read about their families. All members of the so called Sacred-Twenty-Eight. ''Pure''-bloods. What went for wizarding nobility. Yet despite their ancient wizarding lineages, they were scared of him. The Muggle-born. Only because of their cowardly classmates were they even sitting anywhere close to him now. Between the four of them and the rest of Slytherin house, a visible separation.

Headmaster Dumbledore audibly cleared his throat, and started to speak in a grandfatherly tone.

''Welcome !'' he said, ''Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts ! ''Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are : Nitwit ! Oddment ! Blubber ! Tweak !.''

''Thank you! '' and he sat down again.

That was a cue for applause and cheering, something Stanley understood not. Was the headmaster mad ? He would have asked, but as he turned around to do so, he saw that on the empty plates in front of him, a true banquet had appeared. Now quite hungry, he dug in, but careful not to loose his manners, as his grandmother had always reminded him. ''You are a Slytherin, not a pig !''

Curiously, he grabbed a piece of steak, some roast potatoes, sausages and peas, topped off with Yorkshire pudding. He had always been a big eater. Much like Harry, whenever he came over to his house. In Stanley, it resulted in growth. Despite being eleven, he was already five and a half feet, and, if the doctors were to be believed, well on his way to reach six and a half feet in adulthood. But Harry, even when eating just as much as Stanley, just remained scrawny and small. Healthier, yes, but small nonetheless. It was almost magical in itself.

Completely full, he wiped off his face with a handkerchief. He'd expected the meals at Hogwarts to taste like your typical school cafeteria, something his parents had loathed. But the meal was simply delicious. It came a close second to his mother's cooking.

In front and beside him, Black, Lestrange and Greengrass carried themselves with the dignity you'd see in nobility. They too had finished and had waited for him.

''Ah !'' Stanley exclaimed. ''I am being outright rude aren't I ?''

He extended his hand towards Black, the boy beside him. ''Stanley Slytherin. Pleasure to meet you.''

The boy he had extended a hand to was tall for his age he supposed, much more so then Harry, and had the same pitch-black hair. But where Harry's eyes were a bright green, these were a molten silver. A certain aristocratic elegance was inherent to him.

''Alphard Black. Call me Alfie though, only my uncle Reg calls me Alphard. Or my mother, when she's really mad.'' Alfie admitted.

''In that case, call me Stan'' Stanley smiled.

''And that is Ramsey. He's my second cousin. Or something like that. Never been too good with the whole cousin thing.'' pointing to the boy in front of him.

It could be seen clearly that they were related. Ramsey too had that dark hair and that elegance, but his eyes were a so dark they passed for night. A dangerous, curious and even almost passionate look came from them.

''Heir Slytherin, a pleasure to meet you. I am indeed Ramsey. Ramsey Cygnus Lestrange, Heir to the Most Venerable and Noble House of Lestrange.'' he said, as they shook hands.

Alfie sighed.

''Oh stop it. Uncle Lucius and Aunt Narcissa are not here. No need to be too formal.''

He looked back to Stanley.

''If he ever does that again, call him Ram. He hates that. Even if it fits him perfectly''

Stan and Alfie sniggered. He'd do his best to remember that.

That left the girl opposite of him. The golden haired girl that had been in front of him. Yet her hair was not her most enchanting feature. It were her eyes. Not sapphires, no. A blue as soft and light as the English sky on a sunny day. Bright and full of power.

''And you are ?''

''Daphne Greengrass, of the Most Noble House of Greengrass.'' While holding that same noble posture Ramsey and Alfie had.

Alfie and Stan could not resist rolling their eyes.

Ramsey was the first one that could no longer resist his curiosity.

''So, its true then. You're Slytherin's Heir ? I thought that line was extinct. Only the Gaunt's have his blood, and they are well...Gaunts. My Uncle sneers as almost as much at them as the Weasley's. Too poor and undeserving of their lineage, he says. Pure-Blood, yes, but poor, destitute and with a certain madness.''

''I am Muggle-born.'' He merely responded.

That shook them to their core.

''Can you prove it ?'' Daphne asked.

''Yes. My father has a book of a thousand years old. Clearly magical in nature. Me, my family and all my ancestors are in it. Al the way to Salazar himself. His eldest son was his greatest shame. A squib. Hidden from history. From that son I am the heir. The Goblins at Gringotts tied the Slytherin family vault to me too. My parents were mind-boggled. I am the first wizard in the line in a thousand years. The hat was not lying. Sadly.''

He sighed, then continued.

''Poor joke as it is. A Muggle-born Heir of Slytherin. Salazar would roll in his grave.''

He unpocketed his wand, and laid it on the table for them to see.

''As ''pure''-bloods, I don't think you need to guess what wand-wood it has or what core. Or what length. ''

His snakewood wand stood out. Not only was it quite long for a wand, but what he did not know was that the wood was quite exotic indeed. Ollivander did not normally use it, for few did it match with, and even fewer could master it.

''Best to keep that to yourself then. Enough people are scared of me already. You must have seen Weasley stare at me.''

''Blood-traitor and Slytherin hating bastard, he is. His family can't stand us Lestranges and Blacks and Greengrasses for having an ounce of self-respect. For not outright rejecting our customs in favour of new muggle things.'' Ramsey huffed while slamming his fist on the table.

''Aye.'' Alfie concurred.

At last, the dinner had concluded, and Headmaster Dumbledore once again stood up. The hall fell silent.

''Ahem - just a few more words now that we are all fed and watered. I have a few start of term notices to give you. First years should note that the forest in the grounds is forbidden to all pupils. And a few of our older students would do well to remember that as well.''

Dumbledore's twinkling eyes focused on the Weasley twins.

''I have also been asked by Mr Filch, the caretaker, to remind you all that no magic should be used between classes in the corridors. Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of term. Anyone interested in playing for their house teams should contact Madam Hooch. ''

''And finally, I must tell you that this year, the third floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a very painful death.''

That puzzled Stanley. Why tell all the students and only make them more curious ? Surely there must be a form of magic to turn away any intruding students. He was intrigued, and he could already see Harry exploring it.

''And now, before we go to bed, let us sing the school song !'' said an overly enthusiastic Dumbledore. None of the teachers smiled for anymore then courtesy now.

Dumbledore gave his wand a little flick, and from it shoot forth a banner in the air, giving the lyrics of the song.

''Everyone pick their favourite tune'' he said, ''and off we go !''

Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy Warty Hogwarts,

Teach us something please,

Whether we be old and bald,

Or young with scabby knees,

Our heads could do with filling,

With some interesting stuff,

For now they're bare and full of air,

Dead flies and bits of fluff,

So teach us things worth knowing,

Bring back what we've forgot,

Just do your best, we'll do the rest,

And learn until our brains all rot

Indeed, they did. All kinds of paces were heard, and everyone finished at a different time. At the end, only the Weasley's were still singing in a tune so grave and slow it fit more at a funeral or memorial then a song.

The school then burst into a slow applause, and Dumbledore clapped the loudest.

''Ah, music.'' He said, wiping his eyes. ''A magic beyond we all do here! And now, bedtime. Off you trot !

The Gryffindor first years followed what appeared to be the oldest of the Weasley brothers at Hogwarts, and the Slytherins followed a female prefect, Gemma Farley down a set of marble stairs. Into the dungeons.


When they arrived, they did so before a seemingly blank wall. No decoration shone from the room, and it was barely lit. He could not resist an eerie urge, and ran straight ahead. Not into the wall, but to stand before it.

''Open'' he hissed, and an entrance was revealed.

Prefect Farley was startled.

''...As I was going to say, the current password is Parseltongue. But, as Mister Slytherin revealed, doing that works as well. Any more Parselmouths I should know of ?

The Gaunt boy raised his hand.

''Being the House of Slytherin, naturally, we are tied to snakes. But we have their cunning too. The password changes every forthnight, and is posted on the notice board. Please do not let any members of other houses inside. No-one has in over seven centuries, a record we are quite proud of. If you have forgotten, wait for a prefect or Slytherin here or even Gaunt.

They fell in line, and entered spacious underground hall, with rough stone walls and ceiling, from which round, greenish lamps were hanging on chains. A fire was crackling under an elaborately carved mantelpiece ahead of them, and several Slytherins were silhouetted around it in carved chairs. This dark hall had that same eerie feel he had felt earlier, and he understood now why people thought Slytherin was wholly and only evil. The hall screamed evil lair.

''This is the Slytherin Common Room. Notice board is next to the fireplace, boys dorms are to the right, girl dorms are to the left. One more thing. Tomorrow, your Head of House wishes to speak to you before you head to class. He will not tolerate tardiness. Be ready here in the common room by seven-thirty sharp.

He wished Daphne goodnight and headed upstairs with Alfie and Ramsey.

An ornate flight of stairs later, they were in their dorms. It was however apparent, that there were not enough beds. There were nine of them, and only eight beds. Each side had four. Their beds were marked by their trunks, which where in front of them. On one side, Draco Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle and finally Gaunt. On the other, Black, Lestrange, Nott and Zabini. No bed for him.

''Ha ! '' Malfoy said. ''Slytherin's got no bed ! I suppose he is going to sleep on the ground then, like a true snake !''

But then a ghost appeared of an old wizard in long, flowing robes. A long goatee and his stature confirmed who he was. His ancestor. All of the students in the room bowed or were coerced into doing so. Except Stanley. He stood tall and firm.

''Don't be so foolish you bumbling Norman. My Heir deserves better then to coop up with those who are beneath him. Now, you must be Stanley. Follow me.''

At the end of the dorm, he stood before a wall and a life size portrait of the ghost he had been following.

''Open it. You know how. If you are truly my heir, it will open to you, and only you.''

He hissed ''Slytherin's Heir'' and the portrait flung aside.

When he stepped inside, his jaw fell open out of amazement.


And that is a wrap. Yes, I have yet again not mentioned the owl's name, but the chapter took a life of its own, as writing often tends to do. Parts of this chapter come directly or mostly from Rowling's work and thus belong to her solely. I am still trying to improve my writing, so bear with me. In particular, characterization. I do think my eleven year old boy needs a bit of work.

Next chapter, Stanley goes into his private dorm, and discovers many things. A talk with Slytherin's ghost will also be coming. Perhaps, if I have the time, we will also see his first class and Snape's speech.

Again, always open to reviews, criticism, etc. I would love at least a review a chapter, you guys really inspire me to keep writing.

So, until next week !

Foadar