Chapter Ten - The Slytherin Way of Truth and Dare and Other Atrocities

"Dream what you want to dream; go where you want to go; be what you want be; because you have only one life and one chance to do all the things you want to do."

- Unknown.

December 12

I just received a letter from Henry. Apparently, Mum and Dad are attending his graduation rather than mine. So much love, no? Dad wrote a letter too. I don't think Mum knew about this letter. If she did, she would no doubt screech her lungs out at him. Poor Dad; he has to suffer the wrath of Lasiandra Warbeck. Dad's excellent at bickering, but he never dares argue with his wife. Lasiandra has a sharp tongue and will not hesitate to lash out at him at any moment. Part of Dad's job (which is in the law industry) has to deal with his reputation. If any word gets out that he and his wife are having family issues, his firm would deteriorate. I think my Sorting into Slytherin has caused enough ripples in the lake that is our family so he will no doubt not bother to make some more.

Woo. Nice to get that off my chest.

Speaking of chests… Sirius made a comment about mine the other day. He got slapped. Three times. First me, then Lily, and finally Sandy. He wanted to keep his pride intact, I think, and made the bruise and the scratches heal naturally instead of going to Madame Pomphrey. Nee.

This past few weeks, Lily, Damien, Sandy, and the Marauders have taken it upon themselves to throw random questions at me. Shall I write of one particular incident? It's most hilarious, actually…

I was walking innocently to Potions class, late, as per usual. Sandy and others from our Potions class were waiting outside the room, as Crawford was missing. She marched up to me, and demanded what Crawford was doing. Apparently, she'd forgotten about my abilities because… well… this was what I said.

"Professor Melinda Crawford is located in her room in the teachers' wing of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and is currently engaged in sexual intercourse with—"

Sandy, blushing like crazy, tackled me to the ground and placed her hands on my mouth. She sat on my stomach and laughing nervously at the wide-eyed crowd around us. "'Layna! This is why you control your powers!" she hissed at me viciously as giggles erupted in the Gryffindor crowd. The Slytherins were in disbelief that their beloved Professor was screwing somebody. Nevertheless, I did not gain a detention, and I was saved from torture in Potions class. It was all because Crawford suddenly had an urge to shag.

Speaking of… It, it's (excuse the pun) been a considerably long time since the night of the Ball and we found Lily and James in quite a compromising position. Sirius has confronted James and Lily several times. I, myself, prefer the subtle approach. I prefer to wait and see what they're doing and then use it against them later. This is what makes Slytherin and Gryffindor different.

Slytherins like plans. We like to take the more subtle approach and claim innocence later. Gryffindors, however… they're reckless. If someone punches them, they immediately punch back without thought. If someone had punched me, hell, I wouldn't punch back. Threaten them, intimidate them, ruin their reputation, and humiliate them. I wouldn't just injure them. I'd destroy them. Morbid thoughts, no?

- Lady Delayna of Warbeck

"Delayna, are you alright? You look a bit pale…" Damien asked me for what seemed like the fifth time that day.

"Just peachy, Damien," I replied, only half-listening. "The world is better off without the Mudbloods." The portrait of Salazar Slytherin that held the secrets of Slytherin House opened at the password I spoke and I stepped inside. The sight that greeted us slightly ruffled me. I had forgotten what day it was…

The whole of the Slytherin seventh year and a few from the sixth and fifth year groups were gathered around the fire. Some were just brooding, while others were exchanging cold remarks. The House of Slytherin has never been known to be warm. One of them looked up, and I recognized the figure as Regulus Black, Sirius Black's younger brother.

"Warbeck, Brewer," he acknowledged with a sharp nod. We returned it coolly and started up to our respective dormitories.

"Wait." I stopped in my tracks and rolled my eyes. I turned around and leaned my weight on a hip. I crossed my arms and raised an eyebrow. What'd they want now?

"What?" I said flatly. These are the same people who have shunned and made enemies of me and Damien for the past years simply because I rejected their offer, and Damien was friends with me. With the very fragile pride that these people have, they have kept a grudge against me for the past six and a half years. Eventually, I gave up trying to coax some friendliness out of any of them and returned their attitude.

"Come join us," Narcissa offered somewhat grudgingly. How much effort did it take to say that? Just like her namesake, she's narcissistic (excuse the pun) and self-absorbed. I wonder how practiced that line is…

"I wouldn't want to intrude," I responded airily. "It is Truth and Dare night, yes?" Bellatrix nodded her confirmation. Narcissa was about ten months junior to Bellatrix, though they were in the same year. Their elder sister Andromeda was older than Bellatrix by about eleven months and had already graduated the year before from Ravenclaw.

Truth and Dare. It's a simple game known by all. Why would I dread Truth and Dare night? "Why not" is the better question.

Damien and I, even though we are shunned by others, are some of the seniors of our house. In this house, we have a pecking order. Seventh years dominate all others, even the seventh year happens to be me. Seventh years are to be respected, no matter what. If you talked trash about any of them, you'd have better start packing to go home, because you surely wouldn't survive the year. Anyways, every year, the senior members of Slytherin would gather together and bring forth the new batch of first years after the kids have had a chance to acquaint themselves in with their new surroundings. All the first years have to participate in this ritual. Even I had to suffer through it. Literally. I still shudder when I remember what I had to do as my tasks…

It's simply a round of "friendly" Truth and Dare to those that glance at our group discreetly but it's much more than that. These rituals are meant to test each new student's caliber. They have to prove it to the older years that they deserve to be in Slytherin house. If they don't…

Well, in all my years here, the Sorting Hat has done a fine job of Sorting students. We don't have to touch on that subject just yet. If we did though, I think –

On the subject of thoughts… mine were cut off abruptly as Damien spoke for the two of us. "We'll," pass, "do it." See, that's my sib right there. He's – WHAT! I turned my gaze on him and widened my eyes, the corners twitching slightly. Ooh, Damien, don't you know I'm planning your death right now? First, I'll put a black bag over your head. Then I'll thumbtack your hand by their webbings to your favorite shirt. Then, I'll hang that shirt above the lake. I'll cover you in salt so that the Squid would like how you taste when you fall. You'll eventually suffocate and lose your arms and legs one by one as the Giant Squid devours your figure.

… Wild imagination. I shook off the thoughts hurriedly. Damien was looking at me oddly. Bellatrix pursed her lips, and then set her mouth in a thin smile. It could pass for a line, really. "Sit and join us, then," she said with mock benevolence. She motioned to seats that were left open. We took them warily. The chair under me wheezed slightly as I sat, but I paid no heed to it, considering our new batch of firsties has arrived.

I recognized the ten first years as they filed in nervously. There was Amanda Balock from a Ravenclaw-Hufflepuff minor pureblood family. (The term "minor" refers to the fact that her bloodline does not go as far back as the other power pureblood families, such as the Potters, Weasleys, and Longbottoms of Gryffindor; the Warbecks and Prewetts of Ravenclaw; the Diggorys of Hufflepuff; and the Malfoys, Notts, Parkinsons, and Zabinis of Slytherin.) Amanda has a stocky build, about as tall as me. She didn't hit puberty yet, from what I can deduce. The others I only know by name, but Amanda is my cousin on my mother's side (whose maiden name is Balock). The Balocks were dismayed that Amanda did not continue their Ravenclaw-Hufflepuff tradition, but nonetheless supported her. My Mum was not pleased, but continued to keep contact. You can just feel the love, can't you?

Nobody but those in Slytherin House know of the procedures. In this ritual, first you have to prick their finger and bleed onto a cloth. Every one of them will then burn the cloth, swearing a blood oath that they will abide to the rules of the "game". Consequences of disobedience are dire.

Only the seventh years are allowed to throw dares and questions to the first years. All the other years are to remain silent, and merely watch and learn. Each first year has to answer five Truth questions and five Dares to do. If they fail more than two… the repercussions are unspeakable.

Every expression was somber and grave as we all proceeded to choose a first year to apprentice. To "apprentice" someone basically means you show them the ropes. There was a surplus amount of first years in my days, so Damien and I were left without guidance. We learned on our own. Immediately, I moved towards Amanda, who shot me an expression of utmost gratitude. Damien put his hand on the shoulder of a kid with a stance that exuded confidence and subtle mischievousness. There are three Slytherin girls in seventh year, and seven boys. By some fluke, we had the exact amount of seniors and apprentices.

Narcissa and Bellatix looked at each other uncertainly, and the boys' expressions were blank. They obviously didn't want to conduct. I sighed and assumed control, for the first time.

"Each senior will prink their apprentice's fingers and bleed on cloths," I said, commanding their attention. The other seventh years, including Snape, were wary of me, but followed instructions. They knew when to rebel and when to just follow. "Truth and Dare rules are: no fighting, do that elsewhere; there will be no murders tonight; you shall answer each Truth question asked of you sincerely, the consequences of not are unspeakable. You first years will listen to your senior." I told them of the limits and other things, then made them take their blood oaths. As the cloths burned in the fire, eyes turned dim.

"I call first Dare!" Narcissa demanded suddenly. She flashed me a smug smirk and I just gave her the Eye Roll. Trust Narcissa to beg for attention. "Take a cat's hair from Mrs. Norris. Brewer will collect them at the setting of the sun tomorrow." Damien lifted his head and sharply nodded so that the first years to give an unspoken introduction. Truth and Dare night may extend to as long as until Christmas break. Until a Dare is finished, none more may beassigned. There can only be one challenge at a time, since it would be way too confusing otherwise. Seniors were allowed to help their apprentices, but they weren't allowed to retrieve the item themselves.

I know what you're thinking. "That's so easy!" It's really not. No seriously, it isn't. Mrs. Norris is one sneaky kitty. With some mad kitty skills, she always gets somewhere when you least want her around. When you look for her, she's never around. Yeah, mad kitty skills, I tell you.

However, I do know the perfect way to get that hair. And also how to keep Amanda from going through what I had to do in my time.

Third Person Point of View

Sandy watched as Delayna sauntered into the Great Hall the following morning, the usual self-confidence wrapped around the Slytherin's moving figure. Sandy greeted Delayna cheerfully and began small talk. Delayna's eyes seemed to search the Great Hall during this, though she answered each question in accurate time. There was a loud noise of sound reprimands floating in as the Marauders swaggered to their usual seats, Professor McGonagall on the verge of pulling out her hair behind them. Sandy watched in curiosity as Delayna obtained a malicious gleam in her eyes. She faintly heard the sound of snickering behind Delayna and was somewhat surprised to find a first year smirking behind the senior Slytherin.

"Oh, Sirius-doll," Delayna called airily. Sirius's eyes snapped up to meet hers, and he quirked an eyebrow with a smirk. "Sirius, I need a favor for my cousin Amanda here." Amanda stepped out from behind Delayna and lowered her gaze shyly. Delayna wrapped an arm around Amanda and carefully hid a smirk. Amanda herself could barely contain herself in the excitement.

Amanda shuffled her feet, and said, "Filch caught me and now I have detention. I want to get back at him by pranking Mrs. Norris. I need a cat hair for what I have planned from her, though."

"She wants you to help her find Mrs. Norris, since you have the…" here, Delayna's voice lowered and Sandy had to strain to hear the words. Sandy didn't hear them, but her curiosity was piqued. What was it that Delayna muttered that could be so secret that she had to lower her voice? Sirius's eyes widened and he furrowed his eyebrows. They continued speaking in hushed tones, and even Amanda was having a hard time listening in.

But anyways, whatever Delayna said caused Sirius to agree. Sandy knew that Sirius was stubborn by reputation, and she wondered what had ignited his quick agreement.

It was no surprise that later that night, in the Slytherin Common Room, Amanda appeared with a smug smirk gracing her face and Mrs. Norris's cat hair in her grasp.

Author's Notes: Well, I certainly can say I enjoyed this chapter. I know I haven't been showing it that much in past chapters. "It" refers to the reason Delayna was put in Slytherin. I'm going to make it much more obvious in later chapters.

Much thanks to Vanessa-Black and Zabini for putting up TWtSoA in her C2 Community. If you want to look at stories like mine, go there. I personally go there a lot myself.

Much thanks to goes to SunFlowerLynx for her accurate description of Delayna Warbeck: "Her goal in life is to piss people off." Yes! That had been the point I was trying to across in her attitude. I feel fuzzy now. )

- Cerulean Asphodel