Only a Slytherin
by
Jeslyn Nighthawk
A/N: This chapter sorta took me by surprise. I hadn't intended for many of these things to happen, but it is hopefully all for the good. The reason it has taken me so long to get here is that I am faced with a dilemma in the form of Kat. At the moment she is more of a plot device than a character, and I need to find a way to fix that. I have even tried writing a journal in her POV, but so far not much of her personality has surfaced. This chapter helped that somewhat, so hopefully it will get better from here. Updates, like in all my other fics, will be sporadic, but unlike those I offer no guarantees of completion. I have to admit that completion will have everything to do with reception and feed back. Also I intend to eventually make this a SS/HG pairing as well. Thank you for reading. Please drop a review at the end.
Review Responses:
Catmint: Thank you, and like I said earlier, completion of this particular fic will be entirely dependent on feedback.
Besa: Thanks for your review and here is the update you have been clamoring for.
Disclaimer: As usual I own nothing. Much to my chagrin, I can't even find my copy of OotP. Kat is mine.
Chapter 2
Ah, so now my thoughts will be preserved on paper for all of eternity. I wonder what use that is. Small hope that future generations will actually want to know the reasons for all that I have done…
That night, as Kat lie in curled in her bed, fighting the sobs that were forcing their way from her throat, it seemed to her as if their were no worse crime at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry than to be sorted into Slytherin. The Ravenclaws were condescending; the Hufflepuffs were in terror; and the Gryffindors… the Gryffindors were outright suspicious. Not to mention hostile.
As she had walked by the Gryffindors on her way to an empty spot at the Slytherin table, she had heard Ron hiss to Harry, "Knew there was somethin' not right 'bout that girl. Figures she was a Slytherin." Kat had forced herself not to retort, and Hermione had shushed him- but still.
When she had made her way to the empty seat, it became clear to Kat that the Slytherins did not even trust each other. The calculating glances being thrown not just at her, but at nearly everyone at the table immediately set her on edge. The currents of House politics were palpable here, where the entire House gathered every night, and even enemies were forced to sit side by side and show solidarity to the other Houses.
Across from her was a blonde girl, with a pug face and beady blue eyes: Pansy Parkinson, as Kat was later to find out. Next to Pansy was a handsome boy with bold Italian features, Blaise Zabini. On Kat's left was a large boy with and indistinguishable personality from the boy on his other side: goons both of them. She was unable to remember their names. On her right… Draco Malfoy. A boy very much on the brink of becoming a man with the looks of an angel cast out of heaven for being too damned pretty.
Kat had had to fight to keep her neutral expression when his silver eyes had met her dark ones as he had bent over her had to brush his lips across her knuckles in an outdated show of chivalry. She had decided then and their that laws should be passed to make it illegal for boys to be that gorgeous. If they had charm like Malfoy, they should be forced to walk around with paper sacks over their heads. They just were not good for the systems of girls like her. When he had brushed his lips over her knuckles, she had felt a frisson of something. Although she could not identify it, she could no more ignore it than the glares she was receiving from and incensed Pansy Parkinson. Apparently Draco Malfoy was spoken for.
These five, along with Millicent Bulstrode and Theodore Nott, sitting on either side of Pansy, seemed to be the nucleus of the seventh year Slytherins. There were others, of course, and the two dimwits were likely only the muscle, but these seemed to be the ones most deeply involved in the House Politics.
Kat had spent the rest of the dinner trying to focus on her food and ignore Pansy's glares and the way Draco's arms would brush against her as he ate and talked. Still, the experience was not so horrid. It was her encounter with Professor Snape that had convinced her that being in Slytherin was truly an awful thing.
"Miss Black, a moment if you please," a silky voice had stopped her from following Draco and the others down the hall to the Serpents Den. Now there was a name to inspire confidence in one's Housemates.
She had turned to face the dark teacher that the others had pointed out as Professor Snape. She felt Draco and the others move out of ear shot, but barely. Kat met the intense black gaze of her Head of House, and felt his suspicion like salt in an open wound. Even he did not trust her, and she would be willing to bet it had to do with her being sorted into his House. Still, she refused to shrink before him and managed to maintain eye contact without squirming. "Yes, Professor?"
His scowl became less pronounced after a moment, and he said, "Professor Dumbledore has informed me that there are some rather unusual circumstances involved in your transfer here, and that you will be needing training in wandless magic." He paused to consider her for another moment, and she wondered where this was going. "The Headmaster would not give me any details, however. He said that it was your story to tell. Therefore, you will meet me in my office tomorrow after classes. Immediately after classes. Am I understood?" He had raised an eyebrow as if daring her to protest. Like she was that stupid.
"Perfectly, Professor," Kat had practically sneered her reply and waited for the wrath that had been described to her by the Gryffindors to fall upon her head.
Snape had simply smirked at her- the barest quirk of the left side of his mouth- and waved her away. "Welcome to Slytherin, Miss Black."
***
Hermione was having a difficult time reconciling the nice, bright girl she had made friends with on the train with her conception of what it was to be Slytherin. Granted, she knew that they all couldn't be that bad. Professor Snape worked for the Order, and she had even managed a few pleasant academic conversations with Blaise Zabini who was Head Boy to her Head Girl. Still, for the most part they were insufferable gits and had a tendency towards joining the ranks of the Death Eaters. Even Professor Snape had been a Death Eater before turning to the side of the Light. That was without even taking into account the prejudices of Draco Malfoy and his inner circle.
So when Kat, who had been looking like she could soon become one of Hermione's best friends, had been sorted into Slytherin - and then proceeded to sit and chat with that prat Malfoy of all people! – Hermione could not help but feel just a little bit betrayed, deeply disappointed, and slightly… suspicious. She began to wonder if she could trust anything that Kat had said. Slytherins after all were known for being liars. Add to that the fact that she seemed to fit into the part of the Black family that had produced Bellatrix Lestrange and Narcissa Malfoy… Kat was no longer to be trusted.
Hermione put this all firmly from her mind, however, when she saw Professor Snape standing in the hall. She had bigger fish to fry.
"Professor Snape, sir?" Hermione hoped her voice was not quavering too badly.
"Pray, what can I help you with, Miss Granger?" Snape drawled with a long suffering sigh.
"Well, I spoke with Professor McGonagall, and she said you might be in the market for an assistant this year?" Was it just her or did Snape actually look pleased?
TBC
A/N: Please review. I need some honest feedback as I figure out where this is going. Or I guess how it is going to get there as I already have the last chapter written. Thanks for reading,
Ja maata ne,
Jes