A Serpent Among Lions

Chapter 6 - The Snake's Den

Meghan stretched and opened her eyes, for the moment forgetting where she was. She saw the green curtains drawn around her four poster bed and remembered that she was now a student of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry...and a Slytherin. Why had that stupid hat put her here anyway? She was the daughter of Harry Potter, one of the most famous wizards in the world. He had defeated Lord Voldemort! How could she be his daughter and be a Slytherin? Her mother had been a Gryffindor. So had Aunt Hermione and all her mother's brothers, not to mention her cousins. It just didn't make sense!

Oh well. She figured she had to make the best of it. Grabbing her newly adorned robes from her chest of drawers, she headed down to the washroom to take a shower and clear her head. She hadn't slept that well the night before, having had nightmares that she couldn't remember. She just knew that she kept waking up from time to time.

Shivering in the cold, she hurried and took her shower, making a mental note to be sure to be dressed more warmly since it was rather cold down in the dungeons.

Heading back up to her dormitory, she grabbed some parchment and a quill, leaving her books since they had been told that they were getting their schedules that morning at breakfast. Giving Scooter a pat, she told him she'd see him later.

Taking a deep breath, she made her way down to the Great Hall before any of her fellow Slytherins could see that she was awake. She knew that she should get to know them, but for right now all she wanted to do was to see her cousins.

"Meghan!" She heard Emily's excited voice calling out to her from the Gryffindor table, "How are you doing?" Her cousin waved to her and obviously wanted her to come over.

Walking over to the Gryffindor table, Meghan gave her cousins each a hug and sat down, "I can only stay a minute. I don't want to get into trouble for sitting at the wrong table. I'm doing okay. Aunt Hermione talked to me last night and told me some things that made me feel better."

William came over and put his arm around her; he knew how hard this was for her, "You know that we are here for you, no matter what Meghan. What you need to do is try and make some friends within Slytherin. Otherwise you're going to have a very lonely year. You know that we will do things with you, but you need to show your housemates that being in Slytherin doesn't bother you."

"But it does bother me, William. I feel like a freak!" She said, sadly.

"I know it does, and you know it does, but if they know it does then they will tease you about it. You have to be strong and show them that it doesn't bother you."

Meghan knew that this made sense and nodded, even though she wanted to prove to everyone that the hat had made a mistake," Looking at the entrance doors she saw some of her housemates coming in and stood up from the table, "Talk to you guys later," She said, going over to her own table.

She tried to strike up a conversation with the other Slytherins, but soon the Great Hall started filling up and when everyone was seated breakfast appeared on the tables. When they were finished eating, Professor Snape, the head of their house, started passing out their schedules and the owl post came. She was pleased to see Hedwig among the other owls. Hedwig swooped down and dropped a letter for her, and then took off again towards the staff table.

"I bet your mum and dad are flipping out because you're in a house you don't belong in, Meghan," One of her housemates sneered.

Ignoring the rude girl, Meghan opened the letter and found her mother's necklace in it, "Wow, Mum!" She said, smiling as she put it on and read the letter. When she was finished, she laughed at the girl who had spoken to her, "For your INFORMATION, my mum and dad say that they are proud of me."

"Yeah, well I heard that your dad..."

Just then Professor McGonagall came over to their table and took Meghan aside, "I need to speak to you a minute, Meghan."

There were sounds of jeers and cruel laughter as Meghan walked with the Headmistress, everyone thought she was in trouble. Whispers started when she was out of earshot:

"Did you hear what her father did?"

"Killed his aunt and uncle, that's what I heard."

William, who had finished eating and was patrolling the Great Hall, overheard them. Going over to the Slytherin table, he gave them a stern look, "You leave my cousin alone. She's having a rough enough time as it is."

Meghan, meanwhile, had followed Professor McGonagall out to the hallway where no one else was around. Wondering what she had done wrong, she couldn't help but feel a bit nervous.

Noticing her reaction, Minerva smiled, "Don't worry. You're not in trouble. I just got a note from your mum that she wants to come and see you tonight. You'll meet in your aunt's office."

Relaxing a bit, Meghan smiled, glad that she wasn't in trouble, "Thank you, Professor McGonagall."

Returning Meghan's smile, Minerva noticed her necklace, "I see your Mum gave you her necklace. The Prewitts have worn that necklace for generations. I know that you will take good care of it."

Meghan nodded, "I'm going to go get ready for my classes, Professor McGonagall."

Minerva nodded, "I'll have your aunt send for you later when your mother arrives."

Meghan curtseyed, then ran up to her dorm, anxious to get to her first day of classes.