Hermione shuffled through the stony entrance of the Slytherin common room with her fellow first years. The space was dim with elegant gloom, and Hermione was shocked by how at-home she felt as she scrutinized the area's eerie architecture. The male prefect who'd guided them all from the Great Hall to the common room relinquished the students to a strawberry-blond girl with a vibrant smile.
"Congratulations!" she chirped. "I'm Prefect Gemma Farley, and I'm delighted to welcome you to Slytherin House. Our emblem is the serpent, the wisest of creatures; our House colors are emerald green and silver, and our common room lies behind a concealed entrance down in the dungeons. As you'll see, its windows look out into the depths of the Hogwarts lake. We often see the giant squid swooshing by―and sometimes more interesting creatures. We like to feel that our hangout has the aura of a mysterious, underwater shipwreck."
In her peripheral vision, she detected a husky boy staring in her direction. She recognized him as Gregory Goyle, the first year who'd been chatting loudly with Draco Malfoy at the start-of-term feast. Hermione's eyes were on him for but three seconds before he flashed her flirtatious smile and winked at her. She was momentarily grateful for their common room being dimmer than most, for Gregory Goyle most certainly would've made out the florid flush that had ghosted upon her cheeks.
"Now, there are a few things you should know about Slytherin―and a few you should forget," Gemma continued. "Firstly, let's dispel a few myths. You might have heard rumors about Slytherin House―that we're all into the Dark Arts, and will only talk to you if your great-grandfather was a famous wizard, and rubbish like that. Well, you don't want to believe everything you hear from competing Houses. I'm not denying that we've produced our share of Dark wizards, but so have the other three Houses―they just don't like admitting it."
Hermione couldn't help but smirk at that statement. Gemma's bubbly personality on its own was gradually debunking the theory of Slytherins―as a whole―being inherently wicked.
"And yes, we have traditionally tended to take students who come from long lines of witches and wizards, but nowadays you'll find plenty of people in Slytherin house who have at least one Muggle parent," she said thoughtfully. Hermione could've sworn that Gemma had sent a fleeting, encouraging smile at her past the other students. Just how fast does news travel around this House? Hermione wondered.
Malfoy, however, had scoffed and curled his lip with disgust at that particular statement.
Of course, thought Hermione tartly.
"Here's a little-known fact that the other three houses don't bring up much: Merlin was a Slytherin. Yes, Merlin himself, the most famous wizard in history! He learned all he knew in this very house! Do you want to follow in the footsteps of Merlin? Or would you rather sit at the old desk of that illustrious ex-Hufflepuff, Eglantine Puffett, inventor of the Self-Soaping Dishcloth? I didn't think so."
A wave of laughter rolled through the group of first years, Hermione included in it.
"But that's enough about what we're not. Let's talk about what we are, which is the coolest and edgiest house in this school. We play to win, because we care about the honor and traditions of Slytherin," she continued. "We also get respect from our fellow students. Yes, some of that respect might be tinged with fear, because of our Dark reputation, but you know what? It can be fun, having a reputation for walking on the wild side. Chuck out a few hints that you've got access to a whole library of curses, and see whether anyone feels like nicking your pencil case."
It all made sense to Hermione once Gemma said what she said: Slytherins aren't evil, just opportunistic. So they utilize the wide fear of their House as a device to intimidate others, despite the reality being that they are relatively conventional. It was quite a clever tactic, Hermione thought with a nod.
"But we're not bad people. We're like our emblem, the snake: sleek, powerful, and frequently misunderstood," Gemma explained. "For instance, we Slytherins look after our own―which is more than you can say for Ravenclaw. Apart from being the biggest bunch of swots you ever met, Ravenclaws are famous for clambering over each other to get good marks, whereas we Slytherins are brothers. The corridors of Hogwarts can throw up surprises for the unwary, and you'll be glad you've got the Serpents on your side as you move around the school. As far as we're concerned, once you've become a snake, you're one of ours―one of the elite.
"A few more things you might need to know: our house ghost is the Bloody Baron. If you get on the right side of him he'll sometimes agree to frighten people for you. Just don't ask him how he got bloodstained; he doesn't like it," she darkly advised. "Also, our password to the common room changes every fortnight. Keep an eye on the noticeboard. Never bring anyone from another House into our common room or tell them our password."
Hermione instantly engraved that instruction into her brain.
Gemma clapped her hands together. "Well, I think that's all for now. I'm sure you'll like our dormitories. We sleep in ancient four-posters with green silk hangings, and bedspreads embroidered with silver thread. Medieval tapestries depicting the adventures of famous Slytherins cover the walls, and silver lanterns hang from the ceilings. You'll sleep well; it's very soothing, listening to the lake water lapping against the windows at night. Until then, feel free to explore the common room! Interact with your future Housemates and establish promising acquaintanceships!" She gave a comical salute before departing.
The group then disbanded, sauntering wondrously through the common room in various directions. What made Hermione apprehensive was the way several of the students eyed her as they walked away; she opted to explore the common room at a time she'd be the only one in it. She was about make an early retreat to the dormitories when a blatantly contemptible voice halted the process.
"So is it true?" Draco Malfoy snarled behind her. "Have we a Mudblood in Slytherin?"