I obviously do not own Harry Potter, any attached characters and the universe behind it. (My wallet would love me if I did)
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The portrait hole revealed a grand bedchamber richly decorated in Slytherin colours. It was by far larger then his room at home, and he could see several more doors.
His ancestor's ghost spoke again. ''Now this is a lodging fit for my heir. Look around, familiarize yourself. Then we need to talk.''
First, he went through the left door, and came into a well-lit office with perhaps the most intricately carved desk he had ever seen. For light, there were several lamps currently lit as it was night, but the most impressive thing was the glass wall the desk faced. He could look right into the lake. He found his trunk here too. His private office had another door, and here he found, to his amazement, a library. His own, personal library. It was already filled with books, and looked ancient.
When returned to the room, his ancestor's ghost watched him with curiosity.
Next were the doors to the left. One, he found, was a walk-in wardrobe the size of his old room. Merely for his own clothing. He hung his robes on a coathanger and came back the way he came.
The last door was perhaps the least impressive, but revealed a luxurious full size bathroom. It reminded him somewhat of home.
He praised God for his luck in life and made way to speak with his ghostly ancestor. A smile was now on his face.
''Well, this is certainly an upgrade. No-one bothered to tell me I'd live like the Queen herself at this Hogwarts place.''
His lack of knowledge snapped Salazar's ghost to attention.
''Hogwarts place ? You-You did not know about Hogwarts ?'' He puzzingly returned.
He clenched his fist on his chest. ''Mudblood and proud of it.''
The ghost now frowned, and looked at Stanley most studiously.
'' A cruel twist of fate by the Gods. Truly this is my punishment. My heir a mudblood. Oh Godric would laugh his guts out if he lived still. Now, boy, Give me your name.''
''Stanley Aaron Slytherin''
If a ghost could go any paler, Salazar's ghost had just succeeded. ''It can't be. My son's line is dead. Viola was the last. After that only the Gaunts carried on my line in the female line. And then there was Riddle. None of her line have been worthy to claim this chamber.''
Stanley took a dark and grim look. ''Never asked what happened to your eldest son? He did not die, for your information. My father owns a book as old as you. Crowned with your coat of arms. On the first page, proudly, Sabini Slytherin. My ancestor.''
To reinforce his claim, he got out his wand. The already rapidly becoming infamous stick of wood.
The ghost now looked outright shocked. ''Snakewood, Seventeen and a fourth of an inch. Basilisk horn for a core with a snake's head for a pommel. Flexible. Almost exactly a match to my own, hand crafted wand. Never would I have thought to see the day. My squib of a son proves his worth at last. A thousand years late. You are my true heir then, mudblood as you might be.''
After that, the room fell quiet until Stanley yawned quite loudly. The long day had taken its toll. The ghost, lost in thought , snapped back to attention.
''I suppose I should not bother you for too much longer. I do not want my heir to be late for his first class in the morning. We will speak more soon. But before I leave you to yourself. I say this. I expect great things from one of mine own blood. Do not disappoint me. I will not have you befoul my name.'' the ghost said with a furrowed brow.
With that, his ancestor's ghost left. Stanley, being tired to the bone, quickly changed and went to bed. Not five minutes later, he fell into a dreamless, peaceful slumber.
Stanley awoke the next morning to the sound of the alarm clock, well rested in a room he did not recognize at first. Not long after, he recognized it. His private quarters in the Slytherin dorm.
Quickly he got up, and started preparing for the day. Out of his trunk he pulled a neatly ironed three piece suit, his mandatory Slytherin tie and a white pocket square. Recovering his wand from his nightstand, he pointed his wand at the pocket square and muttered Colovaria, and the pocket square changed from its white colour to the same striped silver-green pattern on this tie.
This spell was one of twelve he had learned so far out of sheer curiosity. While there were many more in the books he had to buy for school, these were the ones he considered useful. After laying out his clothes for the day, he visited the bathroom, not forgetting to brush his teeth, shower and gently style his hair to not go everywhere. One might consider this a bit overmuch for an eleven year old boy, but Stanley had been taught by his father and grandfather that one must dress to impress, and he was not going to look like a slob. Over his grey suit he finally put his Hogwarts robes, not that he saw the point. Long and light, he had yet to find a purpose for them. Lastly, polishing his shoes and pocketing his watch (a gift from his grandfather for his tenth birthday), he was now ready for the day. His books he would collect after breakfast.
As such he set out for breakfast, almost ridiculously overdressed..
The inside of the door-portrait had a handle, and he gently pushed it ajar, slipping out and quickly closing.
The dorm he had entered through the night before was only now coming to life, with many students still sleeping and those that were awake not remotely ready yet. The friends he had made the previous day, Alfie and Ramsey, were still fast asleep. He stood before the portrait and checked his watch. 7:15. Their Head of House would want to see them soon. So, he called out.
''Alfie, Ramsey, wake up ! We don't want to anger our Head of House on the first day !''
Ramsey quickly shot awake from the call and responded with ''Yeh-yeh, I am up.''
Alfie merely turned over in his bed and mumbled something.
Seeing his lack of response, Ramsey grabbed one of his pillows and threw it at Alfie. He groaned again, and finally rose.
''Alright ! No need to get violent Ram !''
That earned him another pillow flying at him.
''We don't want to be late on our first day.'' Stanley said, and the two started dressing as he looked around the dorm to give them time and relative privacy. It truly was a former dungeon. He could see places where shackles and former cell walls would have been long ago. Above the beds hung tapestries depicting famous Slytherins, and on the end wall hung that portrait of his ancestor, granting access to his private quarters.
He turned around again and saw they were now fully dressed. More or less. Disheveled and with ruffled hair, but dressed nonetheless. There was still plenty of time before classes started anyway.
They gathered up in the common room, and were almost all present. Pansy Parkinson (as he had learned the day before) yawned, and looked quite irritated by having to wake so early. Most of Slytherin house shared that opinion. Except Daphne. Her face without emotion, she stood refreshed and clearly awake in the line, when their Head of House swooped into the common room with his long, flowing black robes. Professor Severus Snape. His hair was long and flowing to his shoulders, and his pitch-black eyes bored into the assembled Slytherins.
He observed them for a moment before speaking at last : ''Now you might wonder why I have called you here at this time. To prevent you making a fool of yourself. The House of Salazar Slytherin has been rightfully respected and even feared for a thousand years. I will not let some snot-nosed first-years ruin that reputation in an afternoon. You will behave and show unity outwards towards the rest of Hogwarts. Our house has a reputation for not shunning the study of the Dark Arts, and rightfully so. This has resulted in distrust at times with those of other houses, or even outright hostility. As such, any petty squabbles between yourselves will stay in the confines of this here dungeon, or I will personally ensure your stay at Hogwarts will be quite short indeed. ''
''Now, remember what I said. Go on to breakfast, and do try to show at least some basic table manners. We are wizards, not apes. That goes for you Crabbe and Goyle.''
But before Stanley and his new friends could make to leave, he called for him and Alfie to stay. Daphne and Ramsey lingered at the end of the common room.
He scowled when he looked upon Alfie, which intrigued Stanley. How could Professor Snape already hate Alfie before even teaching him once ?
''Ah yes, Black and Slytherin. I thought it may be wise to remind Mister Black that the Dark Arts are meant to be merely studied, not employed. Lest he end up in the same cell as his wretched father. And Slytherin. While I can see you have at least tried to uphold a respectable standard of personal hygiene, your style is thoroughly muggle. ''
He glanced over at the entrance of the common room, then spoke again :
''While your friendship with Mister Black here is thoroughly detestable, doing the same with Miss Greengrass and Mister Lestrange is not. If you find your Muggle education lacking, do ask them regarding our society. Someone of your status should know how to carry them according to the rules of civilized wizarding society.''
And with that, their Head of House stalked off out of the common room.
Another chapter done, even if extremely late. Stuff's been busy, but now I have a wealth of free time. Expect another two chapters over the next week or so, to make up for the lack of content.
Do review, it is what keeps me going. Suggestions, critique, anything is pretty much welcome. I have by now a three page document with only notes, including pairings (for the distant future, yes) and the general direction of the story. Having a clue where stuff is going is nice. This document also includes random scenes that just shot into my head (for example, a scene in sixth year, for whatever reason.) If you read between the lines in the past chapters, you can discover a wealth of information that should allude to some things.
As to regarding the comment with the Heir of Gryffindor, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff, I do have plans for them to appear, but will not spill the beans quite yet in what form or when.
See ya soon,
Foadar