Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
"…" Speech
bold Parseltongue
italics Thoughts
Chapter 6
Ginny's point of view:
"Hmm, an all Gryffindor family, that's certain, and you wish to join them…yet I see potential for something more…"
"Gryffindor, please put me in Gryffindor."
"That house will not serve you well…"
"Look you bloody useless piece of singing headgear! I want to be in Gryffindor!"
"No, I am sorry, but you will see the wisdom of the choice in the end. Remember, in your house you will find your true friends. You belong in SLYTHERIN!"
Suddenly all noise in the hall ceased and was replaced with a repressive silence.
"Merlin, this is really not my day."
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"So, what possibly possessed that ridiculous Sorting Hat to send you to the snake pit?"
"Search me," muttered Ginny sulkily in reply to Helen Vandall's question. She was sitting curled up in her bed, while her two new roommates wandered aimlessly around inspecting the room. Ginny had taken one glance and hated it. Everything was covered in green and silver.
"There must be some valid reason. Unless the charms on the damn thing are malfunctioning for some reason or another."
"Hey! Look at this bathroom! Not too shabby," grinned Aunja Baddock, peering into the large room whose walls were charmed to give the impression that you were underwater.
"It's nothing to what I'm used to," sniffed Helen, abandoning her questioning of Ginny. "I cannot comprehend why Hogwarts is so widely proclaimed as the best school for magic in Europe, when it does not even provide its students with private rooms."
"They do in the higher years," commented Aunja. "But I agree. Even the teaching is overrated if the new Defence Professor is anything to go by. My parents had a fit when they found out he was teaching."
"Yes, one can hardly imagine that Lockhart is even remotely proficient," sneered Helen. "But back to my question," she continued, turning back to Ginny who was glowering at her green bedspread.
"I honestly have no idea why I'm here. I most definitely don't want to be here. The sorting hat said something about 'potential', but personally I think the decaying piece of useless matter just wanted to make my life hell."
"The thought that your house placement was some obscure joke for the hat's twisted amusement did cross my mind," drawled Helen. "However, so far the hat has not made any noticeable mistakes, so I think you'll just have to accept the fact that you're Slytherin material."
"No! I'm not! I hate snakes, my favourite colour is not green or silver and I do not go around planning world domination and insulting everyone 24-7!"
Ginny's two roommates sighed and exchanged glances.
"Listen Virginia," said Aunja in what Ginny considered to be a condescending tone of voice. "I realise that all your life you've been shown a very stylized version of Slytherins. They're evil, they hate Muggles, and they're snobbish and cruel. But surely it's time to put aside such childish ideas? Haven't you ever considered the fact that you've been told all this by Gryffindors and have not experienced it for yourself? Before tonight, how many Slytherins did you know?"
"Erm, Harry Potter and…well, I met Malfoy."
"Do you consider two people out of hundreds to be a good representation of Slytherin?"
"Um…no, I guess not."
"And has anybody you've met since seemed the epitome of everything dark and evil?" pressed Aunja.
"No, not really," said Ginny begrudgingly.
"There you go then. Why don't you wait and experience Slytherin house yourself before coming to a decision?" finished Aunja triumphantly as Ginny merely nodded slowly.
"You can definitely tell that you are descended from Ravenclaws," remarked Helen dryly. Aunja merely shrugged slightly and started unpacking her trunk.
"Rational discussion gets you far," she said offhandedly, preoccupied with dumping clothes on her bed.
"I've always found that guile and blackmail get me further," drawled Helen, standing up and stretching with, as Ginny noted sourly, extreme elegance.
"But still," Helen persisted, "why are you in Slytherin? You don't seem very cunning, and I think we can rule out ruthless, so are you ambitious?"
"No," said Ginny automatically, but after she answered she realised that wasn't completely true. All her life she had been petted and praised by her family. Once she got onboard the Hogwarts train, however, she was ignored by everybody, which she disliked immensely. "I want to be rich," she spoke suddenly. "I hate being poor and looked down upon. I hate not having proper clothes or books because of my Dad's obsession with Muggles and his low paying job." As she talked she became more and more confident. She had not truly considered her and her family's situation and poverty before, but now she realised just how much she deplored her condition and longed for it to change. As she spoke, the words poured out in an uncontrollable stream. "I hate the pitying glances people give me and the sneering comments. I hate being dismissed as 'just another Weasley' in hand-me-down robes and freckles. I want to be noticed, I want people to know my name." She stopped, slightly bewildered by the rush of unfamiliar feelings.
"Well, Virginia," drawled Helen wryly. "You're already partway there. After tonight, I believe the whole school knows who you are."
At this Ginny's face fell. "My parents and brothers are going to kill me. Their faces at the sorting…so hurt and shocked. So angry."
"Oh, lighten up, honey," said Aunja comfortingly, still rummaging through her luggage. "You're well shot of the self-righteous idiots."
"Aunja is right," put in Helen. "They are superfluous. Slytherins stick together, and despite my earlier misgivings, you are a Slytherin. Your lengthy monologue proved that. I comprehend that it is and will be difficult for you to adjust, coming from a family of bigoted Gryffindors, but I am willing to help you. Merlin knows you family is a complete disgrace and I'm not the type to be charitable to muggle-loving fools, but you are a Slytherin and consequently worthy of my attention. Now, I am doing to sleep and I suggest both of you do likewise. Goodnight."
Muttering a goodnight in reply Ginny curled up in bed, surprisingly feeling slightly better after hearing Helen's rather conceited words. At least her dorm-mates were not ostracising her, and Slytherin house did not seem quite as despicable as her brothers attested.
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Harry's point of view:
"She better be bloody grateful for this," grumbled Harry as he fought with Crabbe for the dominance over the bathroom sink.
"If I didn't know that the whole family are entirely incompetent wizards, I would think the Weasley-girl bewitched you," remarked Draco as he lathered copious amounts of gel in his hair. "You never willingly wake with the rest of us."
"And I'm definitely regretting it," scowled Harry, dodging Crabbe's elbow. After only just avoiding a punch aimed for his face, Harry drew his wand, pointed it at Crabbe and muttered a spell. Unfortunately Crabbe had just ducked, preparing to head-but Harry in the stomach, so the spell reflected off the mirror and hit Theodore Nott instead.
"Potter!" yelled an enraged, leg-locked Theo from the ground.
"Uh, see you at breakfast," Harry rushed out, hurriedly running from the room amidst laughter. He reached the common room just as Ginny appeared from the girl's dormitories, rubbing sleep from her eyes and looking nervous. Grabbing hold of her arm, Harry steered her to a more secluded part of the room.
"So, how are you?" asked Harry, letting some concern show on his face.
"Miserable. I…I don't want to confront my brothers," said Ginny in a subdued tone of voice.
"Wrong answer," said Harry sternly.
"Huh?" said Ginny, bewildered.
"Never show weakness, or tell others what you are thinking. Your true feelings should be better guarded than Gringotts," Harry lectured. "Therefore, when you see your brothers try to keep outward signs of distress at a minimum. On no account will you cry. No Slytherin shows such a misplaced emotion in public."
"Okay," mumbled Ginny looking supremely unconfident.
"Next, try to gain allies or you won't survive. Cultivate friendships, put up with your classmates even if they're obnoxious little brats. And try to get the teachers to like you, especially Professor Snape. Our Head of House supporting you would cut you some slack. No one reasonably psychologically balanced person goes against Snape."
"But he's evil! Everyone says so!" exclaimed Ginny, horrified.
"See, impulsive words like that have got to go," reprimanded Harry. "And who's everyone?"
"Well, my brothers and parents…"
"The same idiots who maintain that the definition of Slytherin is evil?" said Harry, raising his eyebrow.
"Yes," mumbled Ginny.
"I think that illustrates my point," said Harry, sneering slightly. "Do not insult Snape again or everyone will immediately turn on you. He is highly respected, and slights towards him will not be tolerated. Understood?"
"Yes," repeated Ginny quietly.
"I realise that it will take time to eradicate the Gryffindor beliefs you hold, but until then keep you mouth shut on such subjects," instructed Harry. "Avoid the older Slytherins when possible. Do not get in their way or they'll pulverise you. As for the younger years, you must be careful. Considering your position, it would not be wise to be confrontational, but you must not allow yourself be belittled or manipulated either."
"How do I do that?" asked Ginny looking lost.
"Quick comebacks, sarcastic comments, that sort of thing. Some blackmail material would be useful. Do not project hurt, do not falter. Anger is permissible, so if you cannot contain your emotion, show fury. It's not the most advantageous reaction, but it is preferable to tears and will have to be sufficient until you learn control. Get all that?"
Ginny nodded, her mind in a daze.
"Good. So, how are you feeling?" Harry tipped his head slightly, cocking an eyebrow. He matched his earlier posture.
"Fine," replied Ginny flatly.
"Better," Harry said brightly. "Now I'm going to go eat."
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"So, who wants to skive off Charms?"
"No, Blaise," responded Theo not looking up from his plate. Pouting she turned her hopeful and slightly pleading gaze to Draco.
"No bloody way, are you crazy? My father would cut me up into so many pieces they'd be picking me up for weeks."
"Well what about you then, Harry? You don't have parents so you don't have that excuse."
Harry yawned slightly before taking a sip of coffee, ignoring her, as usual, rather tactless comments. "Flitwick is not that bad, and I enjoy Charms. I wouldn't mind skipping History though. Now that is truly tedious."
"Flitwick's horrible. The most flattering remark he's ever deigned to give me is 'Interesting'," complained Blaise, viciously stabbing a piece of bacon.
"Well, to be fair, your spell results are often quite…remarkable," said Harry.
"He means bloody outrageous and more than a little life-threatening," smirked Draco.
"Hey, will you two just let the incident with the pineapple drop? It was just a once-in-a-lifetime event."
"Oh, like that time when you mispronounced a colour charm and ended up giving Flitwick pigtails?" asked Harry innocently.
"Or when you almost levitated Parvati Patil out the window because you messed up a simple cheering charm?" inquired Draco politely.
"Or when-"
"Okay, you two shut up before I try and charm you!" threatened Blaise, brandishing her wand. The two boys immediately backed down, trying to look contrite. The other Slytherins laughed.
"Oh, I can still remember Patil's horrified screams as she went zooming around the room," sighed Louisa dreamily.
"It is one of my happiest memories," concurred Millicent, wiping away a fake tear.
"Yeah, that was fun," grinned Blaise, immediately lightening up.
"Well, we have Transfiguration first anyway, with the Ravenclaws, so it's a futile discussion," drawled Harry.
"I hate have having lessons with them. They're so bloody self-satisfied and fastidious," glared Draco, standing up and grabbing his bag.
"You're just jealous 'cause they're smarter than you," smirked Millicent as she strode off with Pansy.
"I'm not jealous. Malfoys are never jealous," scowled Draco at her retreating back.
"So does that mean you're envious instead?" asked Harry as he took a last sip of coffee and began to make his way towards the door. He grinned at Draco's inelegant huff of indignation and walked out of the hall with Blaise laughing beside him.
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"…animate to inanimate objects. The power must be distributed equally, with a lot of control, therefore the wand movement contains a light upwards flick…"
Harry was no longer laughing. Sitting slumped against his desk, with a glazed expression on his face, he listened to McGonagall drone on about the theory of transfiguring beetles into buttons, something that Harry deemed to be utterly useless. If he wanted a button he'd bloody well buy one instead of running around trying to find an unsuspecting insect.
"…The slight twist of the wrist is important in bringing the two previously mentioned wand movements together, therefore creating one smooth movement making the magic uninterrupted…"
Sighing, Harry looked around at the rest of the class. The Ravenclaws were either staring avidly at the Professor, or scribbling down complicated notes that Harry was sure he'd find incomprehensible. Draco, who was sitting on Harry's right, was busy levitating a piece of parchment over to Pansy's table, with Theo looking on indifferently. Blaise was just glaring at her beetle, which kept on trying to run away, and fingering her wand impatiently. Harry and Blaise shared the opinion that learning theory was a waste of time. They both deemed it much quicker, easier and generally more efficient to just wave their wands, concentrate on what they wanted to happen, and hope for the best. Theory was just an unneeded complication.
Unfortunately, it was painfully obvious that McGonagall did not agree with this view point. When the bell signalling the start of their lunch break rang, they had still not started on the practical work. On the contrary, the Professor set them a three page essay to write on the theory behind the transfiguration, something that Harry was determined to copy from Pansy as she seemed to have paid some vague attention to the lecture. As soon as the lesson ended Harry and Blaise rushed from the room as fast as possible, followed by most of their house-mates, and were half-way to the Great Hall before the Ravenclaws had finished packing up.
They were almost at the Great Hall when Harry was detained by Daisy Thornbell.
"Do you mind having that little chat we mentioned now?"
Harry did mind, as he was starving, but faced with the choice of infuriating Daisy or going hungry, Harry sure as hell knew which one he'd pick.
"Fine by me," he answered.
The sixth year nodded, then abruptly turned and walked away from him, leaving him to follow. Sighing, Harry waved goodbye to his friends, then walked after her. Daisy only stopped when they got to the dungeons. Turning down a side corridor that Harry had never seen before, she stopped in front of a seemingly blank wall. Muttering something under her breath, she waved her wand in a complicated motion, and an opening in the wall appeared. Once they had both entered the now revealed room (with, in Harry's case, no small amount of cautiousness) Daisy finally turned to face him again.
"So, your proposition," prompted Harry, managing to keep his countenance calm and collected.
"As you know," she said in her cold, low voice, "there are rumours spreading about an impending…event in the school. I have not been able to fully ascertain who is behind it but I am leaning towards The Dark Lord."
"What!" Harry stared at her in shock, his composure forgotten. Voldemort, again? That, he had not expected. Daisy continued on, disregarding the interruption.
"Last year as well, the so-called deceased Dark Lord managed to infiltrate the school's apparently powerful defences. It is painfully obvious to me that the Dark Lord is most definitely not dead, and is looking for any opportunity to return to his former position of power. I do not wish for the Dark Lord's resurrection. My parents are Hufflepuffs, as you know, and would no doubt be targeted. Also, all the plans I have laid down would go awry if a war broke out. Not to mention that I abhor the idea of bowing down to anybody, let alone a megalomaniac, mass-murderer."
"What's that got to do with me?" said Harry warily, not too happy about being miles underneath the school in a dungeon with one of the most feared Slytherin students.
"Everything," said Daisy a trifle impatiently. "You destroyed him when you were one-years old. You also foiled his plan last year. The wizard that everyone hails as the most powerful wizard in the world, namely Dumbledore, was not involved in any of these feats. Therefore, I have drawn the conclusion that you are the one with the highest chance of defeating the Dark Lord when he returns."
"What!" yelled Harry. "How the hell did you decide that? I'm only twelve! And what do mean by 'when' he returns?"
"Well, if nothing else, you are the one most likely to come into contact with him, as the Dark Lord will definitely want to procure his revenge on you. If you manage to at least hold your own, it will weaken his standing and piss off, something that is to be desired. And the Dark Lord will return at some point. In his present form I doubt he can be killed, and he will never stop attempting to return to his former glory. It is only a matter of time."
"Oh." Harry was nonplussed.
"Anyway, so as to further you chances of at least not dying, I have decided to train you. Basic duelling only to start with, but we can gradually build up from that. And-"
"Hang on," interrupted Harry, staring at her in bemusement. "You, want to help me?"
"Broadly speaking yes. My main goal is to help myself."
"Yes, yes," said Harry, waving away her words. "That is understandable, but the point is you are willing to teach me duelling! I can't believe it; I think I've died and gone to heaven."
"So, do you agree?"
"Hell yes!"
A/N Uh, hi. I'm sorry that it's taking me so long to write chapters. I'll try to update sooner next time. Anyway, please review! And thanks to all of those who reviewed my last chapter. I don't have time to write individual responses, but thanks! And thanks to my wonderful Beta Reader Miss CeruleanAsphodel for encouraging me to make this chapter two pages longer.