Griffin Blackwood, thank you. This story will be written in scenes and by relevant information. It will not skip days in a single chapter, although chapters might be shorter than I usually write for that reason.

Thank you for the follows and reviews everyone 3. Hope you enjoy the new chapter!

September 12, 1991

Hermione tapped her quill against her cheek, frowning slightly at the parchment lying in front of her. She was sitting on her bed, trying to think of a good topic for her History essay. Originally, she had been trying to work in the common room, but Lilian Travers had kept sending her glares so she decided to move to upstairs. Deciding to go with Morgana, Hermione nodded determinedly to herself before inking her quill.

"Hermione!" Tracey cried, running into the dorm. "It's here!"

Hermione looked up from her essay. "What's here?" she asked her friend.

Tracey sighed loudly. "The new dress catalog from France, remember?"

"Yeah, it's all you've been talking about this week," Hermione teased lightly. "So why do we have to do this now?"

"Jade agreed to help us pick out dresses," Tracey said, her eyes wide with excitement.

"Oh, then of course let's drop everything else! Nothing is more important!" Hermione said in a high voice.

Tracey beamed at her. "I knew you'd see it my way!" she exclaimed, before leaping forwards and grabbing hold of Hermione's arm. "Now come on, she's waiting for us in her room."

"Okay, okay," Hermione said, laughing. She carefully set her homework on her desk and looked around, making sure everything was put away. "I'm ready."

"Good!" Tracey clapped her hands before bouncing off from her position on Hermione's bed. She dashed out of the room, Hermione following close behind.

The two girls made their way to the sixth floor. Apparently, fifth, sixth and seventh years got their own rooms, to help them study for the O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s, and Jade was no exception.

Jade wasn't alone when the two first years walked into the room. Rhea Rosier was poring over a magazine, lying on top of Jade's bed. Daphne, as expected, was present, and was sitting on the floor, leaning against a fluffy chair. Jade was sitting at the desk, marking something down on a parchment, but she turned as the two girls entered nervously.

"Welcome," Rhea said warmly. She smiled at the two younger girls.

"Hi," Hermione said quietly. Tracey just waved.

"Okay, so dresses," Daphne said impatiently, clapping her hands. "Come on, I've been waiting for this catalog for like, forever!"

Jade laughed at her sister, but obliged, sitting down next to Rhea on the bed. "Have you all decided on colors yet?"

"Yes," Daphne and Tracey said at once.

"I didn't know about this until 30 seconds ago," Hermione offered sheepishly when all four girls turned to look at her.

"She's young enough to get away with white, I think," Rhea mused. "Or maybe blue?"

"I'm thinking blue," Jade agreed. "Pale blue, maybe with a darker sash."

Two hours later, a frustrated Hermione was lying on Jade's bed, her arms over her head as Daphne and Tracey argued over the dresses. "This is pointless," she moaned to herself.

"What's pointless?" Rhea asked curiously, sitting next to Hermione.

Hermione sat up and turned to look at the older girl. "Oh. I guess just picking out clothes in general," she said after a minute. "Is it really that important what I wear?"

"Well, think of it this way. You wouldn't go to class in your pajamas, would you?" Rhea asked.

"No," Hermione shook her head. "But that's different."

"Is it?" Rhea smiled lightly. "You're dressing appropriately for the occasion. Hermione, people judge based on looks. It's part of human nature; there's nothing we can do about it. What we can do is make sure that we look our best for the event."

Hermione looked down, fiddling with her hands. "But it just doesn't make sense," she confessed. "Why do looks matter so much?"

Rhea stared at her knowingly. "Hermione, how many people had judged you just because you're a Slytherin?"

Hermione thought about Professor McGonagall's class. "A few."

"Well there you have it," Rhea said. "There's no reason for it. You can be the most talented person in the world and still be discriminated against."

"I want to be the best," Hermione admitted. She glanced shyly at the brunette.

Rhea smiled. "I can tell."

~ Slytherin ~

It was only later that Daphne and Tracey finally relented and allowed Hermione to return to their room. She had picked out one dress, which had been ordered alongside the many that Jade, Daphne, Rhea, and to a lesser extent, Tracey, needed for the holiday season. Drawing her curtains closed, Hermione checked that no one was around and pulled out the small book Jade had given her.

The Slytherin Hierarchy

As most purebloods are sorted into Slytherin, Slytherin adopts a lesser version of Society. At the top rules the Prince or Princess, typically the most connected and talented Slytherin. The Prince or Princess should surround themselves with trusted allies, otherwise known as their Court. The Court should be made up of the best that Slytherin has to offer. Following the Court are your everyday Slytherins, varying in levels of influence and power.

Slytherins are not like the other Houses, in which everything is all fun and games. In Slytherin, you have to know the game to survive, lest you are branded as a Traitor to Slytherin and Society as a whole.

How to 'play':

Actions can have consequences. Always think before acting, you're not a Gryffindor.

Be approachable, but not desperate.

Keep your Allies close and enemies closer.

The most deadly Slytherin is one who watches from the shadows.

If you must show prejudice, do it in private. Making scenes in public will not help with anything.

Even the smallest person can have their importance. Never assume anything.

Hermione closed the book thoughtfully, memorizing the rules in her head.

She could do this. It was like playing poker, a game her father that taught her when she was young. He and his friends would play bi-weekly, and little Hermione would sit on his knee, curiously watching the game. She knew how to read tells, how to bluff, and how to find out what others were hiding.

She would learn how to dress and how to act, even if she herself deemed it insignificant and a waste of time. She would master the classwork, and be at the top of her class. Like a snake, she would hide in the shadows, and wait for the perfect moment to strike.

She would become the quintessential Slytherin, and rise above them all.