There was another knock on the door. It was opened up by a young blond boy with a frantic look on his face. 'Hi, sorry to disturb you, but I've lost my cat,' his eyes caught something as he looked down onto Iris' lap, 'Trevor!' he exclaimed. The cat looked up nonchalantly. Clearly not aware or caring he had caused the boy so much worry. Trevor nodded, then stretched and returned to his nap.

'Cats love me,' Iris said in explanation, 'I thought it best to stay here. I thought whoever Trevor belonged to would be looking for him.'

'Thanks,' the boy said. He was looking at Iris intently, 'I'm Neville Longbottom by the way,' he stuck out his hand.

Iris thought his name sounded familiar, 'Iris Black,' she said as she shook his hand, 'This is Daphne Greengrass. My half-sister.'

Neville didn't react badly and shook their hands politely and gave a big grin. He was still focused mainly on Iris, 'I can feel your magic,' he said simply, 'It feels different.'

Iris smiled at him, 'Long story.'

He smiled back at her, 'I'll bet.'

Just then the door was yanked open again as a bushy-haired girl with bucked teeth stood angrily in front of them, 'Neville, there you are,' the girl looked down at Iris and the cat, 'Oh, good. You found Trevor. I don't think I could have knocked on any more doors. I could not believe how rude so many of them are. I swear, even a prefect told me to sod off.'

Iris could hear the distinct clipped tones of the received pronunciation of this girl's accent. Definitely posh.

'What were you saying to them?' asked Daphne in a curious voice. It sounded unusual to her. Normally Witches and Wizards were polite until given reason not to be.

The girl looked to the blonde Witch with suspicion, 'I wasn't saying anything rude to them. I was perfectly polite. Unless introducing yourself and asking if they had seen a ginger cat is a reason to be unpleasant to someone.'

Iris put her hand to her mouth. Looking to Daphne who looked back at her worriedly. Surely it hadn't got so bad so quickly here? 'Can I ask your name?' she asked the girl politely with a sinking feeling.

The bushy-haired girl looked uncertain but seeing as this was the most polite sentence addressed to her since she had met Neville she deigned to answer, 'Hermione Granger,' she said in an official-sounding voice.

Iris looked again at Daphne. She shook her head at Iris. Clearly, neither of them knew the surname amongst the magical families. 'Are you Muggleborn, Hermione?' Daphne asked her, already knowing the answer.

'I am as a matter of fact. I don't see what one has to do with the other,' Hermione glanced at Daphne looking more than a little affronted, 'As you all like asking questions can I ask you one?'

Daphne and Iris both nodded.

'Who are you?' Hermione looked at Iris properly for the first time. She gave a slight gasp as the colour left her face.

'Oh, I'm Iris Black,' she stuck her hand out. Hermione had frozen, 'This is Daphne Greengrass. Daphne's my half-sister,' Iris said proudly. She kept her hand up. Plenty of adults had acted very oddly to her. A young Muggleborn would probably feel a little awkward. Merlin only knew what she had read about her.

Neville touched Hermione's arm gently, 'She's fine Hermione. She's been looking after Trevor. He likes her magic. It's different from mine.'

Hermione seemed to pull it together and put out her hand bravely. She peered at Iris as if she was a bomb about to go off. Iris shook her hand politely as Hermione seemed to relax. 'That magic in the air is yours, then?' she asked Iris.

Iris nodded, 'Long story.'

Hermione nodded, 'I'll bet,' she seemed to get it together, 'Sorry, that was rude of me to react like that.'

'It wasn't. You reacted better than a lot of adults,' Iris remembered mothers yanking their children into doorways when she passed them in the street, 'A lot of them think I have horns and a tail.'

'You don't?' Hermione smiled.

Iris grinned, 'Not the last time I looked. Maybe I'll grow them in the future.'

Hermione looked taken aback.

'Joke,' Iris said. Hermione nodded cautiously. Iris concluded Hermione was a very literal person.

'Do you two want to sit in here?' Daphne asked. She had been concerned about reactions to her sister. So far Neville and Hermione seemed to be all right with her. Daphne understood the concept of strength in numbers. What Hermione had said had happened to her and what Daphne had overheard earlier didn't bode well for the near future.

Neville and Hermione looked at each other and then nodded.

Another hour passed in amiable conversation. Neville would smile shyly at Iris from time to time. Iris had racked her memory and eventually remembered Frank and Alice. She had only been tiny at the time. Walburga had mentioned them sometimes. She kept in touch with Augustas. To avoid an investigation into the nature of their recovery the Longbottom's had gone completely off the grid for years. Iris didn't blame them in the slightest. It had taken an Angel to bring them back from the brink. Earth magic had stood no chance. Iris continued to stroke Trevor who languished happily in her lap purring.

Daphne had been musing and then turned the conversation back to Hermione, 'How many of them were rude to you?' she asked. Neville and Iris both turned to the bushy-haired girl.

'At least one student in each carriage was very rude. In a few of the carriages, they were all aggressive. Surely it isn't because I'm Muggleborn? I thought that the Pureblood war was in the past. The Potters bought the leader down the first time. Then there was that ritual with your mother,' Hermione paused nervously, 'Then there was that fiasco at the trial. I know he and his inner circle escaped but they're in exile now. The Ministry was cleaned up by the I.C.W. The Wizarding World has moved on. That is what I read.'

The silence that greeted her told Hermione more than a thousand words could. She went very quiet.

'Not everyone believes in the blood status hierarchy,' Daphne told Hermione. It was lukewarm comfort to the worried young girl.

'We'll see when we get to Hogwarts just what the situation is,' Iris said cautiously, 'Hermione could have just been unlucky.'

It sounded weak even to her ears.

There was a sharp knock on the door. They all looked up. It opened up to reveal three boys who looked around their age.

Iris really didn't like the look of these boys. They looked mean.

The boy in the middle glanced around the carriage as his grey eyes focused immediately on Hermione as he glared at her, 'I thought it wise to introduce myself to my classmates. I'm Malfoy. Draco Malfoy,' he said in an arrogant voice. Iris gazed at this pale, white-blond kid. Bella's sister's kid. She noticed immediately they had the same eyes. Except her eyes were not narrowed in spite. He was looking away from her at Hermione with a nasty look.

'This is Crabbe and Goyle,' he pointed to the two thugs either side of him. Crabbe was the wider of the two. Goyle was the taller one. He addressed Hermione, 'We've already met. I think you're in the wrong carriage, Miss Granger,' he spat, 'In fact, I think you're on the wrong train. I assume you lot are mudblood scum like her. No one else with any class would want to sit with her,' he said in a spiteful tone.

'I don't know who you think you are but that's enough. We're almost at the castle. Leave it,' Neville said in a firm voice as he stood up. Hermione's eyes narrowed in anger.

Draco looked Neville up and down, 'And who are you to tell me what to do?' he asked in a sneering tone.

'Neville Longbottom,' the boy said, staring him down. Iris was eyeing the two large boys on either side of him who were cracking their knuckles. They looked like young versions of the Muggle thugs that got drunk after the football and punched random people who were minding their own business.

The blond boy gave a sick sort of smile, 'Ah, yes. I've heard of you. They say your mummy and daddy are a pair of nutters.'

The crack as Neville's forehead connected with Draco's nose sounded beautiful to Iris's ears and brought her back to earth with the need for urgency. She pulled it together and brought her wand out. Goyle had grabbed Neville who was trying to push Draco out of the carriage. Crabbe was also going for Neville. Hermione was staring open-mouthed at what was happening. She saw Neville pulling away from Goyle and she grabbed at Goyle's arm to try and make him let go. Trevor had jumped on Draco's head and was scratching the boy.

Daphne pulled her wand out as Iris and her shot out hexes to Draco's bodyguards at the same time. Iris used Bella's bread and butter spell. Simply called Hexia. She hit Goyle who flew out the carriage. Daphne's hex got Crabbe in the side as he went down. It was total insanity. Draco had somehow pulled Neville to the floor and was punching him hard. Neville had punched him back as they rolled on the floor.

Like a bad smell Goyle returned and was firing more hexes wildly that hit both Daphne and Hermione. Crabbe went for Trevor's tail and was rewarded with a deep scratch down his cheek. Crabbe went down as Daphne hexed him and he took Iris down with him. Hermione managed to grab Goyle's arm before he hit Iris.

The carnage eventually alerted the Weasley twins who broke up the fight before someone got seriously hurt. Harry and Ron were lurking in the background as they watched Goyle, Crabbe and Draco thrown out of the carriage and out that section once Neville said what Draco had taunted him with.

It took a while for things to settle down. Daphne had some dittany that she was dabbing on the fighter's ailments. Daphne had a black eye. Hermione's hair looked like she had just been giving an electric shock and she had a bruised cheek. Neville had a bruised forehead and Iris a bruised arm. Iris had dug into her trunk for her bruise cream. She hadn't thought she would need it so soon. They each applied the ointment as the pain subsided. Trevor had calmed down a little and kept next to Iris to recuperate.

'I must say, I'm impressed George,' said Fred.

'As am I, Fred. They couldn't even wait until the Hogwarts sorting to start the fighting,' George responded.

Harry and Ron had followed the twins and looked a little sad to have missed out.

'They had been bothering us earlier,' Harry had said. 'That blond kid is really up himself. Says he's a Malfoy. Is he Lucius' son?'

Iris glanced at them and nodded, 'Yes. That's Narcissa's son. The git didn't even recognise me. He was vile to Hermione. Called us all a foul name and then was awful to Neville. I get the feeling this is just the beginning guys. There will be plenty more scraps to get involved in if that is the attitude of a lot of the students here.'

Harry and Ron both grimaced.

Hermione was so shaken up she didn't even register that the Harry Potter was checking her to make sure she was all right.

Neville looked at her, 'Thanks for your help, Hermione,' he said to her simply. Iris echoed the same. She smiled at them.

'Anytime. What dreadful bullies those boys are,' Hermione said. She checked her watch, 'Oh, we're about to be arriving soon. We need to get changed into our robes. Come on. Our bags are further along.'

She picked up Trevor quickly as he yelped and then yanked Neville out of the carriage with her other arm in her hurry.

'Must still be in shock, bless her,' said Iris about Hermione's quick change of priorities.

'This is bad, Iris,' said Daphne, 'We're not even at Hogwarts yet and this happened.'

Iris turned to the Weasley twins, 'How bad has it got? I've been warned about some of the students already. Be honest.'

The twins looked a bit awkward, 'It's not bad, bad. If you're a Pureblood or Half-blood you get left alone, for now,' Fred told her, 'But it is getting worse. The professors have been keeping things as fair as they can but they can't be everywhere. It's normally more subtle than that fight you just had. You know. Tripping the Muggleborns up. Throwing books at them. It kind of can be excused as kids mucking about but when it's always the same kids it happens to it kind of grinds them down in the end. A lot of the students don't want to get involved. A few of the Muggleborns have left the school in the last year. Things have been escalating recently,' Fred said. His normally joking face serious. It was a little unnerving to see.

'That's awful,' Neville said, 'Is it just a few of the same faces or are there a lot of them?'

George and Fred looked at each other. George spoke, 'There are a lot. Mainly Slytherin but some in other houses. I mean, we like a joke. Pranking is our thing. But we make sure no one actually gets hurt. And we spread it around. Not targeting specific people. We're just as likely to prank a Gryffindor as any other house student,' Fred said, 'Or, at least we used to. We don't do it anymore.'

'What?' Ron asked, sounding shocked.

Fred spoke then, 'When we did our last prank they didn't take kindly to it. Instead of taking it out on us, they used it as an excuse to attack a first-year Gryffindor Muggleborn in revenge. It was um, well it was enough to make us stop. His name is Dylan Baker. He was in the infirmary for a month. They had used a memory charm on him. He couldn't identify who did it but from the smirks the next day from the Slytherin table we figured it out. He was one of the kids who left. Whoever did it must have had at least a seventh year with them to be able to do that charm. The Aurors couldn't get his memories back.'

Ron was looking worried now. He had hardly ever seen the twins like this, 'Why didn't you tell us?' he asked.

'We're telling you now. We wanted you to enjoy your summer and be looking forward to Hogwarts, not nervous,' Fred told him.

George spoke, 'When we started at Hogwarts it wasn't too noticeable. But it has been changing. They want to push all the Muggleborns out. Using any means necessary by the looks of it.'

'Come on,' sighed Daphne, 'Let's put our robes on. We'll be there soon.'

Harry and Iris glanced at each other and gave each other a watery smile. Time to be put on display. At least they had a kindred spirit. They gave each other a gentle fist pump and headed their separate ways. Daphne looked at the scene thoughtfully. Daphne knew Harry and the Weasley's quite well because of Iris. There was a quiet bond between her sister and Harry. Very understated but very real.

Iris had gone very quiet. She thought of Salazar. Would he have approved of this? No. She thought of her Gran. No, she wouldn't. There was no honour here. Beating up a defenceless eleven-year-old was nothing to be proud of. Salazar was supposed to stand for Greatness. Ambition. Cunning. Lucifer was right. This tainting of the Dark arts needed to stop. Riddle and his Slytherin wannabes. They hadn't a tenth of Salazar's class. Cousin Draco was a massive disappointment. Still, she had expected it.

The train arrived at the station. The day was getting darker. A sombre group got off the train. Harry spotted Hagrid and ambled over to him with a big smile. Hagrid popped over to the Burrow a lot. He had bawled his eyes out when he had first seen James and Lily again.

'Big softy,' thought Iris with a grin.

'Firs years, over ere,' Hagrid's voice boomed out. The first years meandered over to the big man.

'Ello Harry. Ron. Young Iris. It's good ta see you all,' the three mentioned had gone over to the big guy, 'How is Hedwig getting on with you Harry?' Hagrid had bought Harry a big white owl for his birthday.

'Hi, Hagrid. Hedwig is brilliant. Thank you for getting her for me,' said Harry shaking his hand. Ron took the other one. Iris tried to hug Hagrid. Her arms got partially around his coat.

'It's good to see you, Hagrid,' Iris said warmly meaning every word.

Hagrid looked emotional at this. Iris turned to rejoin the others. The expressions on their faces differed a great deal. She saw Draco immediately. Someone had fixed his nose. He was sneering at her. 'Why are you hugging that oaf, mudblood?' he snapped at her.

Merlin, that kid pressed all her buttons. She felt that insidious anger towards him that she had towards Riddle and Pettigrew. She moved towards him so he could actually see her properly. She stared at him in the eyes as he gave a start. He saw his own icy grey eyes looking back. She saw the penny drop on his face. She felt her black magic pulsate out. She knew they would all be feeling it now. Her eyes went completely black as she stared the little shit down. He had stopped sneering. So did the others who had been looking at her with derision. Their faces now looked taut and pinched.

'Draco. You really should know who you're speaking to before you open that vulgar mouth of yours,' Draco looked worried, 'It looks like you finally recognise me, cousin. I'm Iris Black. Your mother may have mentioned me,' she hissed at him. He paled even more than was natural and took a step back. She smirked at him, 'You and I really have got off on a very wrong foot, haven't we? You have already insulted three people who have done nothing to you. I'm not impressed.'

Harry gave her a pleased smile that did not go unnoticed by the others.

She reigned her magic back in with a smirk as her eyes returned to grey. She turned back to Hagrid and felt all eyes on her.

Hagrid looked a little unnerved, 'Right then. All of ya. We'll head ta the boats. Ya need ta follow me. You'll love the first look at Hogwarts. It's all lit up at night. Remember mind, no more than four to a boat.'

They traipsed through the countryside and over the hill to get to the lake. Iris quite enjoyed the fresh air in Scotland. It tasted better than in London. They met up with Susan Bones who Iris hadn't seen for a while.

Daphne, Susan and Iris got onto one boat. Neville, Hermione, Harry and Ron got on the other.

Iris could hear Hermione bossing the three boys about. She smiled. Hermione reminded her of her Aunt Bella.

Hagrid hadn't been lying. In fact, he had understated it. Iris felt chills running through her as she saw the castle before her. This is what it was all about. She felt the clarity of her heiress status like never before. She touched the ring. She knew what she needed to do. She just hoped she could avoid getting expelled before she had completed it. Rules to bend and probably break. She wanted to bring true greatness back to the Slytherin name. Not this butchered version that her Grandfather had festered here. The circle of putrid values that Riddle had exploited needed to be broken. She had the tools. She just needed to use them right. Draco had been a wake-up call. There wasn't time to faff about anymore. She had to establish herself and fast.