Chapter Four: Slytherin, the Snake House
Lilin was nudged awake by Draco, who was heaving their trunks down from above her head. One glance out of the window told her they had reached Hogwarts, though she could hardly see anything through the blackness of the night.
"I'm not carrying your trunk." Draco said; his voice still laced with spite.
Lilin rubbed the sleep out of her eyes, eventually ending up staring down at the open book in her lap. She shuddered once and stuffed it in her backpack, willing her mind to forget.
"Hurry up," Draco said, dragging his trunk out of the compartment and vanishing among the crowd of the hall.
Lilin sighed and busied herself with exiting the train. Draco was waiting for her outside with a sour look on his face. He greeted her with a grunt and began leading her to the snow white carriages, led, much to Lilin's amazement, by Thestrals. Lilin had only just begun dragging her trunk when a large, very large, gloved hand grabbed her shoulder. She turned to find herself face to waist with a giant. She was tempted to scream and run, when she noticed the broad grin on his remarkably civilized face. Lilin had never seen a giant before, they were rare and highly dangerous, even in Australia, but she knew for a fact they were half-witted creatures.
"You Lilin?" It grunted; Lilin nodded slightly, "You're comin' wit us."
The giant gestured to a group of small shaky children she gathered were first years at the school.
As the giant began leading her toward the group Lilin looked hopefully over her should at Draco, who merely shrugged and continued on his way to the carriages. She could rightly understand why the first years would be frightened; this man/giant was terrifying. They all seemed to agree.
"Righ'" The giant said, rubbing his hands together just below his bearded face, his beetle black eyes shining in the feeble light from the train, "I'm Hagrid, an' I'll be escortin' the lot a' you across this 'ere lake." He gestured to the pitch black body of water which spanned across the grounds and met the castle in the distance. Its surface was marred by neither wind nor currant, which gave it a dense look, as if one could simply walk across. Several tiny boats floated unperturbed near the edge, and that was where Hagrid was leading them now.
Lilin, at this point, was scared beyond measure. The boat shook relentlessly as she tried, and failed, to enter without her shoes filling with water. The two other children she shared the boat with eyed her tentatively as she sat down, her hands clutched tightly to the seat.
She had only ever seen the sea once before in her life, and that was on the only family vacation they had taken to Queensland. She had spent the majority of her life surrounded by dusty plains and dusty crops, dusty air and sand. Her school had been in the middle of a grazing patch of land just south of Alice Springs, which was basically the centre of the sun blackened desert which made up most of her homeland. It was only natural she have a dislike for water, especially such large and obviously deep bodies of water.
They reached the castle and unloaded onto underground docks. The docks were dank, dark and moldy, lit only by a few feeble torches at either end. Hagrid grabbed one of the torches and herded the group, counting heads as he did. He then led them up many a flight of stairs to what Lilin presumed was the main foyer. There were two unnecessarily large doors beside her, which were still ajar and looking out to the grounds through which the thestral pulled carriages were passing. Why they had made her and the rest of the first years make that ridiculous trip across the lake was beyond her.
Lilin's thoughts were cut short as an old, smart looking lady clapped her hands to grab their attention. She stood on the first landing of the main staircase opposite the doors. She had a bored look on her face as she introduced herself as Professor McGonagall. She gave a brief explanation of the process they would soon go through to be sorted into one of four houses, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw or Slytherin, and sent them on their way into the hall currently filled with noisy students.
Lilin was stopped once again by a hand on her shoulder, though this time the hand was normal sized. She turned to face professor McGonagall, who gave her a grim, tired smile.
"Since you are staying here for a year," She said, "We decided to sort you along with the first year students. You'll be sorted last."
Lilin nodded and followed the last of the first years through the doors. As they entered Lilin's eyes immediately searched for Draco, whom she found sitting at the farthest table staring dreamily into space. Her eyes then darted to the head table where Dumbledore sat, his head resting on his hands which were balled beneath his chin. He caught her eye, and a sudden rush of guilt filled her heart and her stomach gave an almighty churn. She quickly averted her gaze, blushing. She could feel the magic in his stare; he was a powerful wizard, maybe even more powerful than Voldemort. Destroying such magic was a crime against nature, and Lilin felt responsible for his impending downfall.
Professor McGonagall rushed past her with a three legged stool, and placed it at the front of the room just below the head table. On it she placed a moldy, ripped hat, which looked ready to split at the seams the moment someone picked it up. The room hushed and a tear at the base of the hat opened and it began a slow mournful tune
There's trouble brewing outside these walls
Yet students are safe within our halls
No harm shall befall them
With a mighty wizard here to guard them
Though somber my message may be
Outside these walls one may see
The reason that we must
Give to Dumbledore our trust
Weather in Gryffindor the brave
Those whose courage never caves
Or in Ravenclaw the wise
We shall not see demise
In Hufflepuff the loyal
The darkness will not foil
Or Slytherin the cunning
We shall send the darkness running
For together, united, we stand
To preserve this noble land
And overcome the wickedness
Of those whose hearts are filled with darkness
The room was filled with a stunted silence, the students' unsure weather to clap or not. Lilin stole one last glance at Draco before McGonagall began reading the list of names. The hat had caught his attention and he was now staring wildly at it, his face pallid, drained of color.
The general mood of the hall lightened as the sorting began, cheers breaking out every few minuets as different people were sorted into different houses. One again Lilin caught Dumblodore's eye, as he seemed to be studying her quite intently, and again she felt herself blush. She knew as well as he did the hat was talking about none other than her Lord, Voldemort. And she knew, despite his ignorance, its song was quite wrong. For not only was it unsafe outside these noble walls, but the castle had just begun to rot from the inside out.
The last of the first years were sorted and Lilin was left standing quite uncomfortably in the middle of the four tables, all eyes trained on her. Thankfully Dumbledore removed the attention from her as he stood magnificently from his sitting position at the head table.
"Students, I would like to make an announcement." He said, scanning the room once before resting his gaze on Lilin once more, "We are fortunate enough this year to be hosting an exchange student all the way from Australia." The hall erupted into whispers and many necks craned to stare at Lilin. She felt like an animal in a zoo.
"I expect you treat her with the same respect you would treat your peers, and make her feel welcome." Dumbledore sat down once again, his eyes trained on Lilin as she made her way to the three legged stool.
She picked up the moldy hat, inspecting it quickly before sitting on the stool and placing it over her head. She didn't quite know what the procedure was for the sorting, so she whispered so softly she could barely hear it herself
"Slytherin please,"
"Slytherin?" The hat replied, speaking inside her head, "Yes, I see a lot of ambition in you, but bravery as well. You would be well suited for Gryffindor-"
"No," Lilin protested mentally, "I mustn't be sorted into Gryffindor,"
"Very well," The hat said defeated, and out loud it screamed, "SLYTHERIN!" to the entire hall.
The Slytherin table erupted into cheers and the look on Draco's face as she sat down was decidedly smug. The feast comprised of greasy food Lilin otherwise wouldn't have touched, and the entire time she could feel Dumbledore's eyes on her. She was grateful when Draco finally stood from his seat and led her down through drafty dungeon halls to the Slytherin common room.
The common room was just as cold as the halls, but none of the other occupants seemed to notice. Lilin made a beeline for the fire, which was crackling happily in its place and tried to warm her hands.
"You're sleeping up there," Draco said, pointing to the staircase on the right, "In the sixth year room."
He then wandered up the other staircase and she didn't see him for the remainder of the night. Lilin followed suit, suddenly remembering she hadn't seen her luggage since the train. She found the dormitory without incident and along with it, her luggage including her backpack. Like back in the Malfoy Mansion, where the house elves had rummaged through her luggage to lay her clothes out, Lilin checked her backpack thoroughly. There was nothing missing in there, but she wasn't so sure about her trunk. She didn't know what was in there to begin with, but, looking over her school equipment for the first time, she had everything she needed so she guessed there was nothing missing from there.
The only few things in the trunk which she could have gone without this year were the three or four wrapped parcels in the very bottom of her trunk. She didn't dare unwrap them at the moment, as the girls she presumed she would be sharing the dormitory with filed in a started chatting loudly, but she made a note of them in her mind. There was also the case in which Lucius' portkey was, but Lilin passed a blind eye over it. She had no need for it, quite frankly the less time she spent with Mr. Malfoy the better. He made her nervous.
"Don't worry, nothing should be missing," A tall masculine girl said, sitting on the bed next to Lilin's, "I thought the same thing on my first day."
Lilin barely heard what the girl was saying over the squealing and general chatter of the other two girls who shared the room.
"Draco told me you can speak parstletongue." A blond girl with a face much like a bulldog said in a hushed voice."
"Oh really?" The other girl exclaimed, her eyes darting to Lilin, "Is it true?"
"Yes," Lilin answered simply, and the two girls 'oohed' excitedly. The masculine girl only raised her eyebrows slightly.
"Does that mean you're working for Voldemort?" The bulldog girl asked, a stupid grin on her face
"No," Lilin answered, knowing full well the daft girl would never see through her lie, "Everyone in Australia is taught parsletongue."
Again the girls 'oohed' and even masculine girl looked impressed.
"Are you serious?" The second girl asked, her eyes shining with excitement, "Over here it's a sign of a dark wizard. That's why everyone got so suspicious when they found out Harry Potter could speak it."
"I don't see why it's so bad though." The bulldog girl said thoughtfully, "I mean, Slytherin could speak parsletongue and he was a Hogwarts founder, not a dark wizard."
"Why is everyone in Australia taught parsletongue?" The masculine girl asked suddenly, bringing Lilin back into the conversation.
"It's expected knowledge," Lilin said absentmindedly, trying to pack her things back into her trunk without the girls seeing the parcels, "Dreamtime magic, which is the native magic of Australia, deals highly with snakes. It was the belief of native Australian's that the world was created by a giant snake, and Dreamtime magic connects a lot with that theory. Also, unlike Britain, snakes are rather common in Australia, and their poisons are used widely in potions."
Lilin shuddered inwardly, she sounded like a textbook.
"So every witch and wizard is taught parsletongue?"
"Witches or Wizards born into wizarding families are taught at a young age, but muggle born children will only have a remedial knowledge of it, considering they would only begin learning at the age of eleven. It isn't a major setback, only if you choose to study Dreamtime magic, but many aren't that stupid."
"Wow, I knew Australia was totally upside down, but I never imagined it'd be that weird." The second girl said at length, "Is magic as different over there as everything else?"
"Not necessarily, again it's only Dreamtime magic which is different. Because of the huge influence from European settlers the basics are taught exactly the same as over here. There's also influence from millions of different cultures, because of the great influx of immigrants in the early 1900's, but there are only two types taught in school and they are basic European magic, and Dreamtime magic."
"And what culture are you?" Masculine girl asked, studying Lilin's face intently, "You don't look European."
"My mother was from the Philippines, my father was Irish."
"Did your mother know any Pilipino magic?"
"No, she was raised in Australia." As if to signal the end of the conversation, Lilin slammed the lid of her trunk down. She climbed into her bed fully dressed and yanked the curtains shut. Those girls were annoying beyond measure; Lilin couldn't imagine herself becoming friendly with any of them. She mentally kicked herself for begging the hat to sort her into Slytherin, though she couldn't imagine any of the other students being much better.
She heaved a sigh, she would be stuck with these girls and Draco for a whole year, she had a feeling she wasn't going to enjoy this one bit. With that thought a horrible vision of Voldemort smirking in a twisted, happy way floated across her mind. She wasn't here to enjoy herself, she was reminded; she was here to do a job. Within time all these girls would be dead and she would be on her way back to Australia.
The thought didn't comfort Lilin, and as she drifted into sleep their dead faces floated endlessly through her head.
*
The next morning Lilin was roused by the masculine girl, who then conveniently introduced herself as Milicent Bulstrode. The name fit her like a glove. She informed Lilin Draco was waiting for her in the common room. Lilin took as much time as possible changing into her daytime robes, remembering to take a cloak incase there was extra walking outside to be done at all today, she didn't fancy British weather, it was much too cold for her.
It was a Sunday, so classes didn't start till tomorrow and the students were expected to entertain themselves until such time. As Draco led her down to the great hall for breakfast she saw very little students or teachers. She checked her watch, it was 7am. She wished she was still asleep.
Draco yawned as they sat down at the almost empty Slytherin table.
"Father said he was sending the first owl today," Draco explained, wiping tears from his eyes, "Otherwise I wouldn't be down here."
Lilin shivered slightly, wrapping her cloak around her shoulders. She hadn't expected the castle to be so cold, especially in their summer. She wasn't looking forward to winter. Over the next half an hour the great hall only filled slightly. When their owl came it was one of very few who dropped their mail amongst breakfasting students.
Draco, in a very poor attempt to look inconspicuous, pocketed the small package the anonymous owl carried and beckoned for Lilin to follow. When they reached the common room three boys about Draco's age approached them.
"Hey Draco, we're gonna go claim the quidditch pitch and start a game, wanna join us?"
"Not right now guys," Draco said, glancing at Lilin.
"Ohh, right," One of the boys said, winking at Lilin and making an encouraging gesture at Draco. The three boys filed out of the common room and Draco proceeded to drag Lilin up to the boy's dormitories.
Lilin didn't bother asking weather she was allowed in Draco's dormitory, she simply followed him in. He closed the door after her and began hastily opening the package. A small ring tumbled out, glinting suspiciously in the filtered bedroom light. Draco wordlessly handed her the note which came with the ring and began inspecting the trinket.
Lilin, the note read, place this ring upon the highest tower, keep it well hidden unless an unsuspecting student finds it. Dispose of this note immediately after reading
Lucius Malfoy
Lilin scrunched up the note and stowed it in her pocket.
"Which is the highest tower?"
Draco looked displeased.
