a/n: thank you all for favoriting/following/reviewing! it is greatly appreciated! Also, there should be another chapter coming sooner. I've gotten through my writing slump. Thank you to all of you who stayed with the story! Anything in bold is taken from the books. Except, for the A/N.

After the headache had passed, Harry was able to enjoy his dinner. The food was amazing! There was so much of it too! He talked with Hermione and Draco all of dinner, getting a few greetings from other Slytherin students, like the prefects and the head girl, who was a Slytherin. Her name was Vanessa Cattermole and took pride in her accomplishments. Apparently the head boy was a Hufflepuff and they didn't get along very well. Harry thought she said his name was Jacob Cresswell, but couldn't be sure. One of the most prominent things he noticed about Slytherin House was that people didn't gawk at his scar or ask him about it. Although he did see a few Ravenclaws looking at him from their table next to them.

Hermione of course had a bunch of questions to ask him, and Harry began to think she was mis-sorted. How was this girl in Slyther- wait a minute. A thought had just occurred to him. She has barely told us anything about herself other than the fact that her parents are muggles. Huh. Let's eradicate that, shall we?

"So Hermione," the girl looked towards him. "What are your parents like?" He watched her carefully, and just barely noticed that there was a tensing in her shoulders and a clench in her jaw.

"They're good parents. What about you two? You grew up together right?" Hermione seemed anxious to change the subject, and he wasn't going to deny her if she got that nervous about it.

"Oh, mum's great. She makes us sweets, and always takes us on vacations." Draco of course, wanted to talk all about his mum. Harry, wanted to take a different view.

"We have a stepdad as well. He's a muggle. His name is Jerry, and he's not bad. Although me and Draco don't really like him." Harry was interrupted by Dumbledore standing up.

"Welcome to another year at Hogwarts! I have a few start-of-term notices to give years should note that the forest on 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 flashed in the direction of 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 the 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."

Harry and Draco exchanged looks. Dying a painful death? What? He should have known that saying that would just make some of the students want to find out what was there. Hermione looked like she thought Dumbledore was mad. And honestly Harry thought that too. Almost immediately after that, they were dismissed and the slytherin prefect, Flint, led them to the dungeons.

"First rule of the dungeons," Flint spoke "Don't get caught. Second rule, Slytherins stick together. No exceptions. Third rule, don't bother the prefects unless you have a serious problem. Fourth and last rule, don't snitch out. Oh, and do make sure to try and avoid the Gryffindor's they like to hex us." The walk down into the dungeons was eerily silent for some of the way, until they came along a fake wall. Flint stuck his hand on the middle of the wall and it melted away. "Also, don't reveal the common room to other houses. There's a reason it's hidden away."

They walked a bit further down into the dungeons until they came across a painting. "This is where the entrance to the commons is." Flint turned toward the painting, his dark skin even darker in the minimum light from the torches. The painting, a woman who looked to be from the Victorian era with pale skin a dark eyes and hair, smiled at Flint.

"It's already time for the first years, Marcus?" She questioned with a light and airy voice.

"Yes ma'am." Flint turned back to them. "This is Miss Elizabeth. To enter, just tell her the password and you're in. Carpe Diem." As Flint turned back to the now opening painting, harry and Draco exchanged another one of their 'looks'. Seize the day. Their mother had made them learn the all near dead language because 'I will not have any children of mine walking around without knowing Latin.'

As harry got his first look at the common room of Slytherin house, he gasped. It was amazing. Dark green and silver dotted around the room, and harry was pretty sure he could see the black lake. There was a roaring fire, with a few couches and armchairs near it. Some of the older students were lounging around, a group of older boys were of in the corner playing poker, and a group of girls were off doing who knows what. There were stone floors that were charmed, he was guessing, so that it wouldn't get too cold. Flint led them to the wall on the east side.

"Here is where the dorms are. Just place your hand on the stone and it will take you to your dorm. And before you boys leave, you need to meet me back down here in ten minutes. To come back down just place your hand on the wall and say common room." Flint grabbed Draco's hand and placed it firmly against the stone. It cracked and shifted until it formed a door. The first year boys entered the room, then the door closed and the girls got to explore the girl's dorm.

Slytherin was turning out to be better than he thought. People in Slytherin certainly knew how to decorate. The walls were a lighter green, and there were seven four-poster beds lining the wall. On the other side, there was a door that led to the bathroom, as well as a mirror, a small box that Harry soon found out stored cold water, there was also a small fireplace in the dorms. On the west side of the room there was a large window with a window seat. It, of course, had the view of the black lake. Harry could see all types of fish, and he thought he even saw a mermaid for a moment. Harry looked towards his other dorm-mates. He had some people to meet