There are a lot of introductions in this chapter, and I mean a lot.
"Welcome to Slytherin, my little serpents. My name is Horace Slughorn, your potions professor as well as Head of House. In Slytherin, we have a few rules that other houses may not. That is because we strive to be poised and unified in the face of those who oppose us. I will not lie to you, Slytherin is the most discriminated house in Hogwarts, mainly due to the fact that our founder is the great Salazar Slytherin. Therefore, to keep the other houses from further dampening our reputation, I ask you all not to have any disputes with one another outside of the common room. Those not in Slytherin must view us as a united front. That means no snake should be ever seen alone, keep close to one another, you'll need as much protection as possible. Luckily for us, we have many marvellous older students around to help out if you find yourselves in a spot of trouble. If possible, always fetch a prefect to sort out the situation. They are allowed to dock points from the perpetrators as they see fit." He grinned, sharply, as he said this, reminding them that for all of his niceties, he was still a Slytherin during his time at Hogwarts. " Any questions? No? Ok, well I'll leave our very own head girl to do the rest of the introduction. I hope to see you all in the great hall tomorrow morning, have a good night."
With that, he strode out of the common room and to his office, leaving the new first years to Lucretia Black and the Slytherin prefects.
She took in a deep breath, looking over at Riddle for guidance from where he sat by the fire. He waved his hand imperiously as if to say that she could say anything she wished, he'd add his part afterwards. Lucretia inwardly gulped, regretting that she'd been picked as head girl.
She hadn't even been picked as a prefect, a fact that had frustrated her family, who had since shunned her for her failure, although they were slightly more lenient due to Walburga getting the position instead.
When Lucretia had received the head girl badge, her grandfather had muttered to the adults attending that he believed she didn't deserve it. Honestly, she too didn't understand why she'd gotten it, but she wasn't complaining. Being the head girl meant that her opportunities outside of Hogwarts had risen.
And she got to spend more time with her four-year-long crush, Ignatius Prewett.
" Good evening everyone, my name is Lucretia Black, and I am your head girl for this year. I will not be going over the expectations of a Slytherin student, but of a student attending Hogwarts. Each of you has a book on your desk in the dorm rooms containing the expectation for attending this school, but I will be going over the most important few.
Students are not allowed to leave the Hogwarts grounds unless with expressed permission from the headmaster himself or if they are attending the Hogsmead trip.
Students are forbidden from entering any and all faculty areas, which includes the kitchens, faculty lounge, offices and classrooms that are not in use unless with permission from a teacher.
You should not reveal the common room password to any student not in your own house, for safety reasons.
Students are to be in their dormitories by 10:00 pm if in years 3-7 or 9:00 pm if in their first and second year. Students are also not allowed to leave their common rooms before 7:00 am.
The forbidden forest is restricted to students without a staff escorting them.
Students must be in uniform at all times while on Hogwarts grounds. This means any locations outside of the commonroom and dormitories.
Students are responsible for attending all classes along with meals and assemblies.
Bad behaviour will end in a loss of house points or detention. Excessive amounts of detentions may end in the student being suspended and possibly expelled.
Those are the most important ones, but there are many others in the guide book. I implore you to have read it by the end of your first month here. After that time, the teachers will grow less lenient with your wrongdoings." Lucretia nearly let out a relieved breath at having finished but held her decorum perfectly. " Now, I believe it's time for me to pass you onto one of our prefects, and then you can go off to bed." Stepping back, she allowed Riddle to step forwards and take the spotlight.
" It is a pleasure to meet everyone, I am Tom Riddle, and I'm one of your sixth-year prefects. In Slytherin, we expect our students to abide by many rules, rules which even our very own head of house does not know about. Rules that apply towards you first years are that you aren't to tell anyone out of Slytherin what goes on in our common room, that is a private affair between our house only. And, that there is a group named the Knight of Walpurgis, my group, which are on top of the hierarchy in Slytherin. First years don't have to worry about our group really, since the hierarchy doesn't apply to you until your second year. But, I will warn you that we have our areas, such as the chairs by the corner fire and the middle of the great hall table. I hope that you will take into account these rules forthwith so that you can be prepared for your second year. Now, I believe it's getting late. Boys dormitories are on the left, first years on the ground floor, same with the girls' dormitories, but to the right. I bid you all goodnight." With that, he turned around to sit back by the fire, leaving behind a group of dumbfounded first years.
" Wow, so that was the heir of Slytherin." One boy muttered, gaining wide-eyed looks from some of them.
" He's the heir of Slytherin! But, he has such a muggle name." A girl answered back, hesitantly.
" Well, he definitely ain't no mudblood. He can speak parseltongue, my brother told me. I've heard that he has the whole of Slytherin, possibly the whole of Hogwarts, under his thumb!" The boy responded with an awed tone.
" Who's your brother?" Casimir asked haughtily, obviously looking down on the person because their speech was less refined than most. He could have been mistaken for a Weasley with his raggedy robes and worn shoes if he wasn't missing the tell-tale shock of red hair.
" Arlo Sullivan, he's a beater on the quidditch team, in his fifth year now." He announced proudly, not noticing as Casimir lost all interest at the mention of his last name. Halfblood, how hypocritical. " My name's Isaac, and you are?"
Casimir grimaced in distaste, but still grudgingly answered due to formalities. " Casimir Lestrange, I would say it's nice to make your acquaintance, but my mother taught me not to lie unless necessary." He smiled mockingly, grinning at the way Sullivan went red with anger.
" Well, aren't you a ball of sunshine-" He was cut off by one of the other girls before he could complete his sentence.
"My name is Cecillia Parkinson. It is delightful to meet you all. I hope we can get along well because you'll be stuck with me for seven years after all." The black-haired girl smiled at them sweetly, looking like the perfect pureblood princess. That was until she spotted Avior grinning toothily at her from near the back of the group. " Avi!" She lunged for him, laughing merrily as they nearly toppled over. " I'm sorry I couldn't meet you on the train, Nathaniel was too busy introducing me to his friends."
" Hmm." He hummed, with his face still smushed in her neck. " How have you been, Ceci?" He fondly asked her once he was released.
" Oh, so and so. Mother's delighted now that I'm in Hogwarts though, since she can now go hunting for some stuck up to betroth me to, ugh!"
" Don't worry, she can't do that until a few years from now. You better hurry up and get a betrothal soon so that you don't end up with some sixty-year-old man." He laughed at the disgust on her face, before yawning slightly.
" Right, let's go, Avi. We need to make sure that us three can get a dorm together. I heard that there's three per year, although more are added if one gender has more than ten students, like Abraxas' year." Arcadius said, dragging him towards the boy's dorms and into the room at the end of the hallway, Casimir following.
" Apparently, there's also a sitting room on each level for every year with a couple of sofas and chairs. Although, the girls wouldn't be able to join us in there." Avior commented, looking around their new accommodations.
The room was spacious, although smaller than his room back at Black manor. There were three four-poster beds, each decked in green silk hangings and emerald bedding. Before every bed, there were their trunks that had been brought in by the house elves just before they'd opened the door.
He rushed for his belongings, wanting to finish reading his book that he'd had to put down for the train ride. It'd have been a disaster if someone had walked in and seen him reading a dark-grey magic book since they were very much shunned upon, although not illegal.
Luckily for his family and many others, the dark families were still prominent enough in number for their magic not to be ostracised. Although, the light side was growing more powerful each passing day, closing in on them.
He plonked down on his bed and cracked open the book eagerly, opening it to chapter 7, minor dark jinxes. Out of the corner of his eye, he could spot his two friends also pull out books to do some light reading.
Name: The Oppugno Jinx
Type: Jinx
Magic type: Minor dark magic, small inconvenience to the target.
Incantation: Oppugno
Wand movement: Point wand
Oppugno is a Latin word, meaning "I assault" in English.
The Oppugno Jinx (Oppugno) is a jinx that directs an object or individual to attack the chosen victim. This spell causes conjured creatures or other movable objects under the control of the caster to attack the target.
This jinx is relatively easy to learn, but to control it well takes time. Jinxes, or any types of magic, are not something to rush.
Avior was eager to try it out, but unfortunately, it was already 9 pm, which was the time the first years had to go to bed. He wasn't going to start his first night in Hogwarts getting told off for staying up.
Turning off his sidelight and saying goodnight to his friends, Avior fell asleep with a small smile on his face, anticipating what tomorrow would bring.
The next morning-
Avior groaned as his alarm went off, signalling that it was time to wake up. He'd have to get in the bathroom first if he wanted a shower since the other two took forever to preen themselves in the morning.
Rolling out of bed, he made his move to the bathroom sleepily, grabbing his toiletries and clothes on the way past.
After a quick shower, he dressed leisurely, not in a hurry since there was plenty of time until the great hall served breakfast at 7:30 am.
He decided to read his first-year books, once again, just to make sure that he was really ready. They'd be getting their time table at breakfast today, and then head off for their Thursday lessons.
Startled out of his reading by a thud a few minutes later, he looked over to the origin of the noise, snorting as he saw a tired Arcadius sprawled on the floor, looking dazed.
" Whas tha time?" He slurred out, eyes widening when he was told. " Aw! I wanted to have a long shower this morning!" He whined, grudgingly trudging towards the bathroom. His noise must have woken Casimir up as well, since he raced for the door, groaning when it was slammed into his face.
" Damn it," Casimir muttered, dragging himself back to his bed to wait. Avior rolled his eyes, glad that he's woken up earlier.
Once they were all up and ready, they decided to go and check out the first-year boys sitting room to pass the time. Entering it, they were met with the sight of three of their other male classmates, obviously eager to start the year.
Walking up to them, Arcadius was the first one to stretch out his hand. " Arcadius Malfoy, It's a pleasure to meet you all." The dark-haired boy, with odd purple eyes, on the left grinned back, shaking his hand.
" Raphael Zabini, but please, call me Ralph. Only my mother calls me my full name." The now recognised Ralph introduced himself, nudging the blond-haired boy beside him.
" Atticus Yaxley." He mumbled out, wary of the newcomers. He didn't want to get close incase they were sucking up to him due to his heirship.
" Casimir Lestrange." Casi nodded in greeting, returned hesitantly by the other.
" Samuel Blishwick." The dark-red haired boy introduced himself with a grin, reaching out his hand to shake Avior's.
" Avior Black, it's a pleasure."
" Why don't you go by both your names? Aren't you heir Peverell-Black?" Samuel asked him, confused. He'd never met an heir that wasn't first in line to their name, but another.
"Yes, I am, but my parents believe that we are to begin our heir duties at 15 when our magical inheritance happens. Therefore, we shouldn't take on our heir name until that time comes. Heirships can be tricky, some of them only accept those who have a certain amount of magical power." Avior explained patiently, knowing that most of the Black family traditions weren't well know. His brother, Orion, had yet to begin his heir duties, but would be starting later on in the year when he turned 'of age'.
"But, haven't we already been told our eventual magical power? Shouldn't your parents know if you have enough or not?" Atticus questioned, coming out of his shell a bit at realising they were from far more powerful families than his, so they had no need to be in his good graces. His family had nothing like this, they just began their heir duties when they turned eleven, as he had a few months before.
" That's an estimate, something to show you your potential magic power if you train it fully. After having a magical inheritance, where your magic grows rapidly in a short space of time, your magic reserves will only slightly increase, maybe leaving you nowhere near your possible potential. It's why we Black's begin our core training so early, to reach a greater amount of power due to the time limit."
" Wait, when did you start? My father began training me at seven, as soon as I got my magical power results back." Atticus inquired, he had thought that's when every magical child began.
" When I was around three, My great-grandmother Ursula and grandfather sirius were quite eager to begin. I think Orion also began at three, although it did end in him having less accidental magic accidents than usual. Lucretia started at eight since that's when she showed her first accidental magic. Grandfather had known that she was magical, but she never used it until then." Avior ranted, not noticing how the other boys' jaws had dropped, his friends grinning smugly by his sides.
"Three! Blimey, your family sure starts young, don't it! They must be insane to start you at that age." Sullivan cut in, having entered the room with his roommate a few minutes before, his eyes wide and staring at Avior with new respect.
" I'd appreciate it if you didn't comment on my family's sanity, Sullivan." Avior's tone turned icy, not welcoming Isaac's criticism.
" Hey, hey! Sorry mate! Didn't me to offend ya family. Was just jokes." Isaac chuckled nervously, edging away due to the withering stares he's receiving from the group. The boy who'd walked in with him shuffled nervously, stepping forward. He stuck his hand out, mumbling his greetings.
" Archie Walker, it's nice to meet you."
After a few moments, Avior took his hand, making the boy shoot his head up in surprise. Archie hadn't expected any of them to take his hand, not after the way he saw how they treated his fellow half-blood Isaac yesterday. He grinned, hoping that maybe, just maybe, he could make friends with the purebloods at this school.
What he didn't know was that Avior had reasons for taking his hand. The Walker's were an old pureblood name that had turned half-blood a few generations back, and if Archie married a pureblood, would once again return to high society.
The Walker's had quite a few successful businesses, leading to a lot of wealth, and held sway in the neutral party in the Wizengamot. His grandfather would be proud of him for making this connection. The Walker's would be suspicious if an adult member of their family approached their's, but kids weren't on their radar.
So, he smiled back at the young heir, silently plotting in his head how to get closer with the Walker boy staying oblivious to his plans.
At 7:45, they made their way into the hall, having not wanted to get there too early. Avior and his friends headed for their table, being beckoned over by older relatives to come and sit with them. The group split, Avior, Arca, Casi, Sam and Ralph all having sibling's that sat near the middle of the table out of the boy's. Avior grabbed Archie before he could sit elsewhere, wanting him close. Arcadius also grabbed Atticus, leaving Isaac alone. He stood there, not sure what to do, before deciding that It would be awkward to sit with them uninvited, so he sat next to a sullen-looking girl and her brother, both who looked to be outcasts.
Avior and his now slightly smaller group sat down at the edge of the knight of Walpurgis, joining the first-year girls already sat there. Cecillia had a pile of pancakes stacked high on her plate, her seventh-year brother sat next to her with a considerably smaller breakfast. Evelyn Greengrass, one of Avior's oldest friends was also sat down, deep in conversation with another girl from their year, Dorothy Carrow.
Avior's observations were cut short when one of the Knights of Walpurgis stood up, walking closer to him.
" My, It's the youngest sibling we've all heard so much about. Information about you is hard to get ahold of, even for our parents who are so close to your own. The names Antonin Dolohov, a pleasure to meet you." The dark-haired wizard introduced himself as he sat down, reaching out his hand to offer a handshake which Avior accepted.
" Yes, you too."
His response seemed to set off a round of introductions, each eager to introduce themselves to Lucretia and Orion's younger brother. And the feared Turais Black's adored cousin, Tom Riddle's only and closest true friend.
Turais himself observed the introductions with steely eyes, glaring at any who seemed to be trying to suck up to his cousin. There were rules in the Slytherin house that those in first year were not allowed to know, and one of them was the ban of making political connections with the first-years.
Pointedly glowering at Lucian Nott, who seemed to be trying far too hard to draw Avior into a conversation about the Wizenagemot, he stood up prowling towards the pair.
Avior beamed at his approach, while Nott seemed to wither under his intense stare, shuffling back to his former seat. Taking the now free spot next to his cousin, Turais smiled indulgingly at his favoured relative.
" So, Avi," He began in his deep voice, the usually icy edge to it nowhere in sight. " Which lesson are you most looking forward to?"
" Hm, I think Defence although Transfiguration also seems to be interesting," Avior answered honestly, staring up at Turais.
" Defense class is taught by Professor Merrythought, she's a fair teacher. She doesn't tolerate messing around in her class though, mind you, so always be on your best behaviour. Unfortunately, Transfiguration is taught by Professor Dumbledore, and that man despises Slytherin's, especially me and Tom. Try not to draw his attention or you'll be suffering from his suspicious behaviour for the rest of your schooling career otherwise." Turais warned, sneering up at the head table as Dumbledore looked over at their group, mistrust blazing in his eyes.
The old coot had probably somehow sensed his name said in an unsavoury tone, so he'd immediately assumed that it was the Slytherins.
Turais shifted slightly, blocking Avior from Dumbledore's searching gaze, not trusting him not to use Legillimency on one of their first years, especially one so close to him and Tom.
It was one of Tom's rules, one unknown to all except his inner circle. He wanted their younger relatives to be protected, most assumed that it was to keep his secrets, but Turais knew the truth.
Tom was fond of his closest followers relatives, wanting to see them grow up in a better and more open world. Even if he was only a few years older than them, Tom still reasoned that they were young enough to enjoy childhood still. That he would change the wizarding world for them.
It's why Tom was aiming to be the minister of magic, and Turais was going to help him every step of the way.
Please read
I can't believe that I didn't even get to writing his first lesson yet!
I don't know if I've given descriptions for the first years yet, but here are the Slytherins:
Avior Black- Extremely pale skin, Black hair, green eyes
Samuel Blishwick- Tanned, Red hair, brown eyes
Dorothy Carrow- Pale, Brown hair, brown eyes
Lorraine Carter- Open to interpretation skin colour, Brown hair, blue eyes
Katherine Eibon- Pale, long Black hair, blue eyes
Evelyn Greengrass- Tanned, long Light blonde hair, blue eyes
Casimir Lestrange- Open to interpretation skin colour, Brown hair, silver eyes
Arcadius Malfoy- Pale, shoulder-length Silver hair, light blue eyes
Rachael Osbourne- Open to interpretation skin colour, Brown hair, hazel eyes
Cecillia Parkinson- Pale, Ear length Black hair, dark blue eyes
Isaac Sullivan- Open to interpretation skin colour, Brown hair, black eyes
Archie Walker- Tanned, Blond hair, yellow eyes
Atticus Yaxley- Pale, Blond hair, brown eyes
Ralph Zabini- Dark-skinned, Black hair, Purple eyes.
I'll probably do one of these for the other characters soon, or just post a chapter with what I imagine them in my mind.
Oh, and the addition of Turais Black is quite significant because his existence changes everything.
He's Tom's friend. Friend. That means Tom has someone to trust and confide in, someone who won't let him stray from his original path. Yes, Tom has still created a Horcrux, but he won't go mad this time, I hope.
He still isn't going to be all sunshine and rainbows though.
