Updated 9/9/2021: Edited


Finding Stable Ground

September 1971

Paisley stood there with the other first years, listening to the dead silence that had been instilled within the Great Hall after Sirius' sorting.

For generations, the Black born family members had been sorted into Slytherin. All of those who married into the family also came from Slytherin. The same could be said for most of their associated families, with the rare Ravenclaw thrown into the mix.

Anyone who knew the Black family knew of this information.

So, of course, it was a shock to most of the Hogwarts student body when the Sorting Hat shouted out Gryffindor instead of Slytherin.

Paisley wasn't all that surprised to see that Sirius didn't look unbothered by this outcome. Anyone in his situation from their families would be seen to be unbothered. Still, she was curious about what he was genuinely thinking because she knew that his family wouldn't be all that accepting.

"Burke, Paisley."

Paisley stepped forward as the witch who had introduced herself as Professor McGonagall called out her name. She carefully made her way through the group of first years so she could get sorted as Sirius had before her.

She kept her face calm and relaxed, as she had been trained to do as she grew up. She was curious how the Sorting Hat worked and found it odd when it was placed on the stool to be told it was how they were going to be sorted. Still, she wasn't surprised if it involved an old type of magic that they may not access anymore, much like herself.

"My, my, isn't this a pleasant surprise. Another Elemental has come to Hogwarts." The Sorting Hat spoke inside Paisley's head, and only two people had been sorted ahead of her as she such she knew it wasn't another first year. "I see a quiet one. Well, then let us move on and see where you will be best suited."

Paisley stayed silent as the Hat did its job, and it wasn't long until a decision had been made.

"Slytherin!" The Sorting Hat yelled out before it was swiftly pulled off her head.

Clapping and cheering came from the Slytherin table. She made her way over to it and took a seat at the end where the empty seats were that made her think it was done deliberately for the first years to sit closest to the Professor's table. She sat there and watched the rest of the sorting, noting where those she knew would be sorted. She was glad that James had been sorted into Gryffindor as well so Sirius wouldn't be completely alone from the start.

She wondered if Sirius, James, and Marlene would all become friends in Gryffindor since Marlene had joined them.

With the arrival of the feast, conversations began among the students. Paisley turned to look at those sitting around her at the Slytherin table.

She wasn't at all surprised that the Nott twins, Bexley, and Brinley, were sorted into Slytherin along with the youngest Carrow sibling, Alecto. She would be sharing a dorm with the three girls. The boys sorted into Slytherin were Severus Snape, which hit her as odd since he seemed rather friendly with a Muggleborn. Brecken Wilkes, Brenten Perry and Maxton Flint were also sorted into Slytherin. She wasn't all surprised by those that were sorted into Slytherin with her. They either belonged to one of the Sacred twenty-eight families or a family that held a strong influence within the community.

"I'm surprised you weren't sorted into Gryffindor like your blood traitor brother." Paisley looked over at Bexley and raised an eyebrow.

"Pretty sure my parents don't consider him a blood traitor just because he was sorted into Gryffindor. I seem to recall you and your sister bragging all summer about how you two were accepted into Durmstrang. What happened?" Paisley spoke, a sweet smile on her face with her voice sounding sickly sweet and anyone who didn't know better would miss the underlying tone in her voice.

Paisley knew what she was doing. She understood how politics worked within Slytherin. A part of her wished she had been sorted into Gryffindor like her brother, where she didn't have to worry about the politics. In the end, it was Slytherin where she was placed. As such, she had to play the role she was given.

There were snickers from those sitting around them, understand what Paisley had done to the Nott twins.

"Actually, Burke makes a very valid point. I seem to recall hearing that discussion as well during the summer." Alecto Carrow spoke, a slight smirk on her face as she did, and it instantly shut down the twins.

Paisley was quite proud of herself for shutting down the Nott twins as she didn't want this to be a continued argument. With Alecto taking her side despite the two of them not having spent a lot of time together, it was a good sign since the Carrows were a very influential family and held quite a bit of weight among the families of Dark. It would be helpful for her to stay on Carrow's good side.

The Nott family was slightly judged. Nixon Nott was the head of the Nott family and had married a Muggleborn witch. Still, since the wedding was held after he received the title, the other family members could do nothing. It didn't help that he and his wife had secluded themselves on a newly purchased piece of land, and no one was able to find them.

"I even heard their father speaking with mine about it. He also made it seem like they would be attending Durmstrang," Maxton Flint added in. Paisley was grateful to another person who seemed to be on her side. "I'm rather curious to know what happened there, or was it just you two lying once more?"

Paisley couldn't believe her eyes when the cheeks of both Nott twins turned a shade of pink at the situation that was unfolding on their first night at Hogwarts. Paisley also knew that the twins could seek revenge at having been cut down so early in their education, especially considering there were older students who could hear the comments.

There was a proud smirk on Paisley's face as she continued her dinner. Making small talk among the other first years except for the Nott twins, who had both opted to stay silent since they didn't want to explain further as on the whole Durmstrang story.

Paisley's first morning at Hogwarts, she was up early and able to shower before the other girls in the dorm. Nothing was said between them all the previous night since tensions were high between the four of them with a division down the middle because of the whole Durmstrang incident. Despite Alecto making the comment she did during the Feast, Paisley was still unsure if the two could be allies through the next seven years.

What did surprise Paisley was the six older students sitting in the Slytherin common room, obviously waiting for her.

"What's this?" Paisley questioned, raising an eyebrow slightly as she walked over and took a seat on one of the empty couches.

"We're just going to wait for the other first years. It's a little tradition within Slytherin house." One of the older students spoke, and it was then Paisley got a good look at them, noticing the pins on all their robes indicating that they were Prefects.

Paisley just nodded but didn't say anything about waiting for the others for breakfast but instead began asking them questions about themselves. Straightforward questions that involved their names and year level. After which, she asked about the electives they had chosen when they were third years before asking which were on the Quidditch team. Even though Paisley knew two of the Prefects in front of her.

The questions were simple enough to seem friendly, to allow the older students to be cautious about a Burke since a couple of them did belong to a Sacred Family. Still, they all answered her questions, not at all sounding suspicious of her intentions. While Paisley was just being polite and making polite conversation like she had been raised to do in situations like this. She was also gathering information about those that could be considered top of the food chain within Slytherin since they were Prefects.

Eventually, the last first-year arose from the dorms and the two that Paisley now knew to be the seventh year Prefects stood to address them all.

"We've already heard of an issue arising between some of you. While we do not care for how you like to handle your own issues. We are very much aware of some of the issues that can arise between some families. There are issues between my own family and Bulstrode here. Still, we provide a united front because we need to." The male Prefect, Lucius Malfoy, spoke, and Abigail Bulstrode nodded along.

"Any issues between you all, or even older students can be seen openly within this common room. While you are in class, having meals or wandering the corridors, you will provide a united front. If there is someone from another house having an issue with someone you have an issue with, you will have each other's backs because that is how Slytherin works." Abigail continued all and all the first years nodded.

"Our house is run differently; we all know this. Those that were raised among the Families know this already. Remember, this time at Hogwarts is the time to form allies and form connections to those around us, whether older or younger, because that is how our families are run. Any issues that are shown outside this common room will be dealt with swiftly." Malfoy spoke, reminding those who came from a Sacred Twenty-Eight family of the values and expectations for as long as they could remember.

"Now, since we all like to show a united front, we have organised some older students to escort you to and from your classes for the first week while you adjust to the castle. Some Professors are more lenient about being late within the first week, while others aren't. We would like to prevent the loss of house points for something as trivial as this," Malfoy continued on, and Bulstrode nodded along.

"If you will all follow me, I will lead you all to the Great Hall for breakfast," Bulstrode spoke, a small order in her voice. Paisley grabbed her bag before she stood up and headed for the exit behind Bulstrode.

After waiting around for the last first year to appear from the dorms and watching several other students be allowed to leave the common room, she was starving. While the lecture may be considered to be a tradition among Slytherin students. It was something she had heard several times over the years. Typically always discussed during the summer when new family members would be heading to Hogwarts for the first time. There were things she hadn't heard the adults in her life mention before. She wondered if they were new traditions since they had attended Hogwarts and something the older children sorted into Slytherin never mentioned.

The adults would discuss how they made so many connections while at Hogwarts. How it has given them a leg up in what advantage they needed over whatever person they deemed to be an opponent at the time. They had mocked those that claimed they found 'family' while at Hogwarts, something that Paisley thought McGonagall had spoken with a fondness in her voice, but she brushed it aside.

"Was that something you've heard many times over the years?" Alecto spoke as she stepped in beside Paisley.

Paisley looked at the other girl and nodded. "While it may seem pointless to us. Those that don't belong to the Families won't hear the same speeches we do growing up. They will need the reminder in a subtle way that they aren't important in this house unless they have something of value," Paisley explained. She gave Alecto a side glance, and the other girl nodded. "We have our name. Those like Snape or Wilkes do not have the advantage we have just because of the family we were born into."

Alecto was silent for a moment as they left the dungeons. They arrived in the Entrance Hall, where they could see other students coming down the stairs or from another path off the Entrance Hall.

"Alecto." Alecto gave Paisley a small smile while she held her hand out, and Paisley stuck her own out to shake Alecto's.

"Paisley."

And with that, Paisley knew she would have Alecto on her side until if a moment came where something could cut the alliance they had just formed.

"Paisley." Paisley turned at the sound of her brother's voice and found him heading the stairs.

She turned and looked at Alecto. "Save me a seat?" Alecto nodded before she turned and headed into the Great Hall for breakfast while Paisley waited for Lucas to catch up.

"How are you doing?" He questioned softly, and Paisley shrugged. "You'll be okay. You wouldn't have been placed in Slytherin if you didn't have the values that would allow you to thrive."

A smile appeared on Paisley's face before she stepped forward and hugged her brother. "Thank you, Lucas. I love you."

"Love you too, Paise." Lucas returned the hug briefly before the two siblings pulled apart and entered the Great Hall.

Lucas instantly spilt off and went over to sit with his friends. While Paisley followed him with her eyes, she managed to catch sight of James and Sirius seated at the table. Surrounded by who she assumed to be the other first-year Gryffindor students, them all laughing about something.

She continued along her path and took a seat in the vacant one beside Alecto and noticed that Maxton Flint was sitting on the other side with the two having a conversation between them. Paisley was able to see the other boys sitting a few seats down with the Nott twins nowhere in sight. She seemed to think that the line had been drawn among the first years.

The first couple of weeks passed by uneventfully, and it gave the new first-year students time to adjust to their new lives at Hogwarts. It allowed them to get used to their classes and adjusting to finding their way around the castle since it seemed as though magic seeped from the walls of the castle itself.

Some doors would only open on certain days of the week, some that would only open between certain hours, and that was just the doors. It appears the staircases were worse, constantly moving from their position. One day Paisley even got stuck on a set of stairs with Alecto and some of the other Slytherins when the staircase decided to stop moving halfway through. It just hovered in mid-air for a couple of moments. As such, Paisley was constantly weary around the staircases of Hogwarts.

Paisley found that some classes were more enjoyable than others. She found History of Magic downright dull. While she understood the need behind Herbology, she found it wasn't for herself. Astronomy was a subject that, despite her understanding better than those around her, she didn't see the point in why they were learning the things they were.

She found that the classes she enjoyed the most were her core classes. She thoroughly enjoyed Charms, Transfiguration, Defence Against the Dark Arts and Potions, but just because she wanted them didn't mean she was instantly at the top of the class. She did incredibly well in Potions and Charms so far, with only a couple of weeks' worth of lessons. At the same time, Transfiguration and Defence Against the Dark Arts were slightly worse off.

Paisley found that the politics within Slytherin weren't all that complicated since it seemed like her parents were raising her to be ready for when she was sorted there. Her having the surname Burke gave her an edge over some of the other first years. The same was said for Alecto. Still, others were struggling, like the Nott twins who had to deal with the stigma of their Head of Family marrying a Muggleborn, which was seen as a sin within Slytherin House.

Others were being ignored because they gave no value to other students within Slytherin. They came from families that didn't hold much weight within their community who families people had never heard of.

Brenten Perry was one of those that many hadn't heard of. Still, it turns his mother belonged to a very influential Italian family. He seemed to hold the ability to keep his family under wraps until one of the sixth years who had an Italian relative found out. It seemed to be such a big deal for the Italian heir to go to Hogwarts instead of the family's legacy school like those before him.

Paisley was finding it relatively easy to get along with both Maxton and Alecto. The three of them were very quickly becoming known among the other Slytherins and at first. People seemed to believe it was because of their families before them. The other students noticed just how poised they continued to be under the scrutiny of the other students. They didn't show their annoyance at the little things and always held back their issues.

Paisley, for one, had been put in this exact situation not long ago. She was sitting in the library with Alecto and Maxton, the three of them working on their first Charms essay. The Nott twins walked over and joined them at the table before they started sprouting about pointless issues.

Paisley, remembering the talk they had at the beginning of the term, didn't respond, just sat there patiently while waiting for them both to shut up. When they realised that Paisley wouldn't respond, they called her a spoiled brat before storming off.

Alecto merely shook her head as they watched the twins storm off. "Malfoy and Bulstrode will have their heads when they hear a word of what just happened." Paisley let out a small laugh in agreement while Maxton stayed silent.

Later that same day, Paisley was sitting in the Slytherin common room when the seventh year Prefects seemed to finally have received wind of the library incident. They scolded the Nott twins, reminding them of the rules for Slytherin students and then banished them to their dorm.

"I guess that's the punishment for not following the rules," Alecto commented as she sat down beside Paisley on one of the couches.

Paisley looked over at the redhead beside her, a smirk appearing on her face. "Let's not piss them off, shall we?"

Alecto's own smirk appeared before giving her agreement, them both looking up as Maxton threw himself down across from them on the other couch. "So, there is a rumour floating around that the Whomping Willow was planted because it is hiding something dangerous."

Paisley looked over at him, raising an eyebrow as she took in what he said. "That makes no sense. Why would Dumbledore need to hide something dangerous."

"Oh, maybe it's a student." Alecto pointed out, and Paisley faulted for a moment, hoping she wouldn't be seen as dangerous. "Probably not." Alecto waved her hand. "Amycus said they haven't had issues before and doesn't understand why it was planted."

Amycus was Alecto's older brother, and while Paisley hadn't been introduced to the boy, yet she had seen the two siblings share words every now and then since the start of term. Amycus was in his fifth year at Hogwarts.

Paisley rolled her eyes. "Can they just plant a hazardous tree on the grounds for no reason?" she pointed out, but Maxton shrugged.

"I heard a student ended up in the Hospital Wing today because he got too close. Getting hit by a branch and being thrown across the grounds," Maxton explained, recounting the story he had overheard from some other students.

"Probably a Gryffindor," Alecto mused, quickly sobering and looking at Paisley. "Sorry."

Paisley knew that Alecto wasn't actually sorry but understood that Alecto was only apologising just in case it ever came to the point that Paisley had more influence. "It's fine." Paisley waved her hand. "Gryffindors are pretty stupid." The comment earned her a laugh from others before they realised silence had come about from those around them. They looked over to find their Head of House, Professor Slughorn, standing there.

Professor Slughorn taught Potions and rarely seemed to do anything of value to his students in Slytherin. It was indeed as if the Prefects ran everything. Well, according to the older students anyway.

"It seems like everyone is here," Slughorn spoke as he looked around. "Now, I don't know how many have heard, and I'm proud to know it was none of my students that have been this daring."

A few coughs came from the students, the word 'Gryffindor' being heard in between them.

"But it seems as though some poor student has managed to be gravely injured by the Whomping Willow. Professor Dumbledore wished for me to remind you all that the Whomping Willow and the surrounding area is now out of bounds. That student is fortunate that he was only injured when the Whomping Willow is capable of killing people." Slughorn continued. Paisley had tuned him out instead of focusing on the group of Seventh years that were standing in the back corner, not paying attention to Slughorn at all, whispering among themselves.

Paisley looked over at Alecto as she earnt an elbow to the ribs but merely shook her head, and when she looked back at the corner, the seventh years were gone.

"So, everyone thinks that student was a Gryffindor. Should we take bets on as to if it actually was?" Paisley questioned, looking at Maxton and Alecto, and they both let out a laugh before disagreeing since they all believed it was a Gryffindor student. As such, a bet wasn't needed.

It turns out that the student in question was fifth-year Gryffindor student Davey Gudgeon. As well as breaking many bones that the resident Healer at Hogwarts was able to heal with ease, she could not fix his right eye. He lost it, resulting in Dumbledore reminding all students at once during dinner the following night that the Whomping Willow was out of bounds.