This is the next chapter. Please read and review, love Hannah xxx
As everyone in Slytherin calmed down again Dumbledore proclaimed that the feast should begin and so the food rose to the tables. Many first years were shocked and awed by it but neither her or her friends were as they all assumed it would need to come from somewhere and logically he would be the one to call out for it. Severus looked again at Heidi finally seeing her properly and gasped aloud his awe very evident. She was the image of Lily except for the eyes which were those of his tormentor James. In fairness they'd both given as good as they got so they were essentially even in that regard. She looked beautiful and he sure hoped he could make amends for things with Lily via her daughter. He'd been a jerk to Lily before and it was time he came clean about it. With a clear conscience he could move on and her with him. As for Heidi herself she didn't truly know what to expect from him this time. She helped herself to many vegetables and Severus watched in awe as she didn't touch anything fatty which was good.
He always liked his snakes to make sensible decisions. For him it was more sensible to have a luxurious desert then to dine on loads of fatty foods for dinner. Dumbledore who was shovelling chips into his mouth almost like he was a Weasley clearly didn't agree. People all around the Slytherin table discussed her being assigned to their house with interest. Cliques of different types all around the table were discussing her but if she noticed she didn't show it at all. People were also concerned about her presence and what it would mean for Slytherin house as a whole. It wasn't necessarily a light house and would she cause problems for their image many people wondered. In all honesty she didn't care for their image. She intended to make Slytherin a good intelligent house where people got what they wanted through intelligence and true cunning not this fake cunning thing everyone had done the last time.
Draco had been in control last time but this time he wouldn't be and she would make sure of it. He'd need to come down a peg or two. Severus had been mortified when Draco had laughed at Ron like that really loudly. It had shown what a fool he was and Severus didn't appreciate it one bit. Now Slytherin might be judged because of Draco! Then of course Heidi had been sorted in Slytherin and he just knew they'd be judged now but whether that was a good or bad thing remained to be seen. Daphne was great fun. Yes she looked very serious but once you got to know her she wasn't. Earlier on in the week a stunned Severus had seen the new and rather tasteful décor of Slytherin house and he loved it. He had always hated how cold and austere it felt before. At least now it looked and felt more homely. He even liked the password choice too. This new Mystery Lady of Slytherin was clearly intelligent. Draco tried to assert dominance by talking about his father and while everyone did listen to him he wasn't the most popular at the moment because of his actions earlier on. It would seem that Slytherin really wasn't willing to let him forget so easily how much he'd screwed up publically before. In fact he had broken an internal rule of Slytherin which he would be learning about later on. As long as it didn't continue he'd be fine there. His father did actually hold a fair amount of weight in terms of his popularity in their world however Slytherin was fast becoming a house which didn't tolerate others relying too heavily on their parents to get them to high places. Heidi had in essence arrived at the perfect time for Slytherin. They were on the cusp of making major in house changes something Severus knew about, supported and sure as hell hoped Draco didn't ruin.
He was so focused on Draco his godson that he was forgetting Heidi for now. He would take a wait and see approach with her. He vowed to at the very least not judge the book by the cover. When the deserts came out Heidi tried an éclair with a cup of tea which was lovely. Those in the older years had noticed her healthy choices and were proud of her for making them. She glanced over to Hufflepuff to see Ron for a moment shocked that many people around him were glaring at him so hard he had no choice but to eat with manners. It would seem Hufflepuff would be good for him which she was happy about. He needed to eat much humble pie and Hufflepuff would help him out there no doubt. She'd learned she wouldn't be marrying him at the bank when she'd asked about marriage contracts and was told there were none left there by her parents for her. He had quite obviously been told by his parents he'd be marrying her but that was attempted line theft and it really did seem as though they'd not wanted him to realise that fact so hadn't told him. He'd already made an arse of himself earlier anyhow. She looked over once more properly seeing him as a girl for the first time and shrugged. He was certainly not ugly but definitely wasn't her type. She scanned all the tables for a moment to see if anyone stood out but no one did yet. She had plenty of time anyhow so it didn't really matter as of yet.
As everyone finished and the food disappeared Dumbledore stood to make his speech. "Good evening everyone and welcome to all our new first years. I am sure you will find your time here most enjoyable. Our caretaker Mr Filch has asked me to remind you to not cast spells in the hallways or go to the Forbidden forest unless accompanied by a teacher!" he said glaring good naturedly at the Weasley twins who blushed deep red under his gaze.
"This year we have some changes to staff. Professor June Grubly-Plank has decided to retire and so please welcome Professor Deirdre Keane who will be taking her place!" he said gesturing to a tall woman with long blonde hair which hung in a fishtail braid down her back. She stood up herself smiling. She was Irish and had a nice accent which made Seamus Finnegan very happy.
"Thank you so much Professor Dumbledore. I am really looking forward to teaching you all about caring for magical creatures. I'll be sure you're not eaten by a dragon yet unless you do something truly wrong hey!" she said as everyone burst out laughing. She was after all really funny. She thanked them and sat back down again.
"Thank you Professor Keane. A further change this year is to the Defence Against the Dark Arts post which will now be taken by your new Professor Remus Lupin who has agreed to fill in last minute as Professor Quirinous Quirrel has absconded and we are all very sad about that. He left us with no warning. So please give Professor Lupin a former Gryffindor himself a round of applause" he instructed as the Gryffindor table erupted in literal screams of joy while everyone else politely clapped for him. This time his suit wasn't too tattered looking. He glanced at Heidi disappointment and sadness shining in his eyes and upsetting her greatly. He was none too good at hiding his disappointment that she'd not been a Gryffindor. He stood up to make a speech as all new staff did and she wondered what he'd say.
"Yes go, go Gryffindor! I am honoured to be teaching you all however I would like to be able to teach pupils who are not sick from hysterics so calm down Gryffindor! My best friends James and Lily were Gryffindors and I have never been more proud to teach you all then I am now. I am sorry Heidi could not be one of you but she will carve her own path I am sure. I hope everyone has a good night. Thank you!" he said actually expressing his disappointment that she was not in Gryffindor as she scowled at him. Dumbledore himself smiled at Lupin when he saw her expression as this had been in his eyes just the kind of take down she'd needed. She'd soon see how vile Slytherin was and ask for Gryffindor which he would of course grant being the nice old man that he was. All of Slytherin scowled at Lupin no one more so then Snape. Snape was not sure why he thought it wise to single her out like that in front of the entire school but he would let him know later on. Anyway the only reason he even got the job is because Quirrel went AWOL and he was needed immediately. He wouldn't have gotten the job at all if it hadn't been an emergency and damn well all the other staff knew it too.
"Thank you Professor Lupin. Professor McGonagall is the transfiguration Professor, head of Gryffindor house and vice headmistress of this school but that cannot continue as it has been. Quite frankly her workload is too much so I have kindly asked Professor Keane to take over the role as head of Gryffindor house her former house. I know I didn't mention that earlier on but it slipped my mind. Now before we all go to sleep I must warn you that the third floor corridor on the right hand side is forbidden to all students who do not wish to die a most painful death. No one here is cunning enough to work out how to find the guarded treasure within and would be advised to not start even looking! Now off you go to bed everyone. Prefects will lead all first years to your houses. Goodnight!" he said as everyone burst into conversation about the forbidden corridor. Everyone was stunned when Severus who had amplified his voice asked all Slytherin members to stay behind a moment as he wished to tell them something. Some members of the other houses tried to stay behind to hear what he had to say but were summarily kicked out so they couldn't. Slytherin house watched him curiously wondering what he would say.
"Hello everyone. I am Professor Severus Snape your potions teacher and head of Slytherin house. Before we go to your house you should note that Slytherin house itself has a new Lady Slytherin. We do not know who she is and right now we don't care. However she has changed the interior design of the house. I should tell you that the dorms are gone. Now you each have your own privately warded bedrooms. The common room looks more homely and inviting too so whoever she is we thank her. The password is callidus now off you go year by year slowly so we're not all crowding the corridors. First years and prefects stay behind please and I'll go through the rules of our house with you momentarily!" he said as everyone looked entirely stunned and left slowly until all that was left were the first years.
"Ok so it down again for a moment and I will go through our internal rules with you. Each house has their own and I care only about the internal rules of my house!" he said summoning himself a large chair to sit in front of them with and silencing the area around them so they wouldn't be overheard. Everyone looked at him wondering what he'd say with shining eyes full of wonder and hope.
"Firstly you will hear that Slytherin has an internal ranking system and this is true. In Slytherin there are five possible ranks which are held by the most important members of the house despite their year level. There is a king or queen, prince, princess, duchess and duke of Slytherin. One of you may even be elected to these roles one day. The role of the king or queen is to implement new house rules which everyone is expected to follow. Those who do not wish to follow them find themselves essentially homeless. I aid in creating and implementing those rules if I am asked to do so. If not then that is also ok! The roles of the Princess and Duke etc. are to implement those rules in the year group to which they have been assigned by the king or queen" he said as Heidi realised she would need to be Queen of Slytherin and she would need to tell Severus (but for now just Severus) who she truly was. He would need to give her a vow of secrecy first however.
"Now I always start each year with one to one meetings with each of my snakes and I always start with first years. Heidi Potter will go first and meet me in my office in a few moments to get it over and done with and then I will meet with the rest of you tomorrow at times I choose. Is that ok?" he asked Heidi who smiled at him.
"Yes sir that's fine thank you!" she responded cordially. He'd not been nasty to her now so there was no need for her to be nasty with him yet. That might change in the future who knows.
"Now then rule number one is that we keep all disputes with other Slytherin members inside the walls of the house. Outside of the house we present a united front to all. I don't care if it means you must avoid a house member, you do it if that means that house unity is kept. Rule number two Mr Malfoy is that you do everything you do with cunning. You do not openly target or mock a member of another house where the whole school can see you. You let Slytherin down tonight but I will let it pass because you did not know the rules. Note that this is the only reason at all that you are even getting a pass!" he snapped as Draco turned bright red. He went to retort but Blaise Zabini placed a hand over his mouth so he couldn't and was glared at so hard by a stunned Draco who had not expected that nor had he expected the glare everyone else sent him in return. He was quite literally being forced to tow the line something he didn't like.
"Now a common misconception is that Salazar himself hated Muggleborns which he did not. He hated muggles but only because they burned and killed all his family while he'd been out of town during a witch hunt much like those conducted at Salem in the USA. He only wanted those with a high core level in his house he didn't specify on blood types. Now then we should never ever judge the book by the cover. For example Professor Filius Flitwick teaches charms here and he's very small in height but he could easily wipe the floor with everyone here myself included and I am excellent at charms myself. This is why we never judge anyone even muggleborn people!" he said as Draco whined.
"It's not fair to say that. My father will hear about this! I cannot believe the head of Slytherin is defending half breeds and mudbloods!" he shouted out as he was knocked unconscious as Severus looked at him in awe. Susan raised her hand and he called on her.
"This happened to him on the train as well. We do think that the derogatory term for muggleborn has been tabooed so as to knock everyone out who says it. We just think you should know that the new Lady Slytherin may have decided to do this!" she said as Heidi looked at her in awe. Susan was way more perceptive then she seemed. Severus seemed to get a slightly disturbing smile on his face then which made everyone wonder what he was about to do with slight unease.
"Please Miss Bones and everyone here do not pass on this information as it may not be right and we do not wish to unintentionally scare others. Besides which if it is right it will slowly but surely teach everyone that this phrase is one which should not be said. Ah Welcome back to us Mr Malfoy. I would not advising using that foul term again as it seems to be causing you much trouble and even on the train no less.
"Yes well I don't bloody know how I passed out do I? How the hell do you know about the train?" he demanded as Severus pinched the bridge of his nose in rage.
"A rumour you will hear is that I favour my house because I do not remove points from it but that is not true. Yes I rarely remove house points but my house does have the highest levels of detention of any other house. I always punish my students even I elect to have it appear as though I don't. In future Mr Malfoy you will not forget who you are talking to. You will serve detention with me all night next week!" he said as stunned Draco responded.
"I'm sorry but I can't sir. I already have detention all of next week because I said something to Weasley he didn't like and he punched me for it before the sorting. Frankly he was being an idiot and I more or less told him so repeatedly and then he punched me which was very savage and barbaric. I didn't deserve that and yet both of us were landed with detention" he explained seriously as Severus sighed in rage.
"Not here five minutes and already causing trouble. Our school motto is never tickle a sleeping dragon for a reason. Do not provoke others when you cannot be sure how they will react. As I see it you deserved that punch and do deserve that detention. You will serve detention every night next week after that detention. This will teach you behave!" he snapped after seeing in the mind of Crabbe what had happened as Crabbe had been nearest him at the time. Crabbe had absolutely no mental shields so he could be essentially read like a book. He had seen what Draco had done and was impressed by the punch of Weasley which due to the force of it had knocked Draco on his arse. Weasley was not technically right but Draco had deserved the punch so he would be leaving it there for now.
"Finally we don't cheat in Slytherin however we do find loopholes where we can. Always focus on how someone says what they are saying. How do they phrase it? Does their phrasing of whatever it is leave leeway for alternative actions and so on? Now then off you go to bed and Heidi you may come with me!" he said leading them all to the house and then taking Heidi to his office down the hall. What a night!