September 2nd, the first day of Hogwarts dawned bright and early. By seven in the morning, Slytherin house was all awake and in the common room. The first years were figuring out their year's hierarchy, while the upper years were continuing a time-tested tradition of when a new Slytherin House Royal was chosen, they were choosing their year's Ambassador. The Slytherin house hierarchy was actually very simple on the inside. There was a King or Queen. There had never been more than two years without one. Magic itself kept the old King or Queen alive as long as necessary until the new one could be chosen within two years. Abraxas Malfoy should have been dead from the amount of times people had tried to kill him, but something always happened to stop it, even a squirrel flying in between the AK and AM until he died peacefully in his sleep less than a year before Reigna Grey was chosen. Then right below were the princes and Princesses. There was always at least one of each gender and they were second only to the Queen. When the Queen was not in school, the Prince or Princess chosen were the equivalent of the Queen, only for Hogwarts students. Sinistra was Slytherin Princess at the same time as Lucius Malfoy, and still had very good influence with all Slytherins, and would have been Head of house if not for Dumbleedore's interfering. The right below them were the Ambassadors. Each year had an Ambassador and they were like the prefects for each individual year. Then there were the 'nobles', people important for their reputation, political or magical power. Then below them, but not by much, were the craftsmen, good at one specific thing. There were students good at warding, who would get favors or rewards from the younger years in exchange for warding their rooms. There were teacher's pets, responsible for getting favors with teachers, there were ones who lived in the library, had good communications with other houses, or could brew felix felicis (there was almost always one student, often nicknamed the felix). Everyone in Slytherin was useful for something. There were no outcasts, if a person did something horribly unforgivable they would be excommunicated from the house and forced to beg for a resorting. Tom Riddle's biggest secret was not, in fact, his muggle heritage, but being excommunicated by Abraxas Malfoy when he found out Riddle's plans to kill two pureblood babies. For in Slytherin, their view on blood purity was laxer than other houses, two magical parents meant pureblood.
And Ray was about to destroy a lot of preconceived notions about the Slytherin Queen. At 10 minutes past seven, when all of SLytherin house was gathered in the common room, Regina hissed, and a snake guarding the entrance to the indoor balcony going around the top of the common room let her up. Pressing a rune on her locket, she spoke to the shallow house.
"Slytherin house!"
They all quieted down.
"Before we all go down to breakfast, a few changes will be made. I know how this house used to work, and that will stop. Using your classmates who are bulky and can crack their knuckles as demonstrations of power to other houses in plain stupid. You are not a muggle five year old bullies on a playground. Also, why the friggin heck are you using the word mudblood on anyone who does ot bow down to you only? We are Slytherin, the house of the cunning and ambitious, not the house of the blatant bullies who need Snape to get them out of a sticky situation when they can't grease some pockets. Do you know how many potentially great slytherin went to other houses because of our reputation as bullying bigoted death eaters? From now on, things change.
For one, no long sleeves. I know it is impossible to be a death eater without that terrorist who calls himself a dark lord to mark you, but no point in proving them by hiding your forearms. If I hear the word mudblood uttered by any of you, you will get a strike. House points are basically useless unless you house shunned you for losing them, and we will not do that. We will operate on strikes and bonuses. It's American language, I know. I was born and raised there, get used to it. Twenty one strikes, and you are excommunicated from the house. Twenty one bonuses, and you get a small favor from me. There will be an in-house public board for strikes and bonuses, and I will watch who gets them. Only Year ambassadors, Princess and Princesses have the power to hand out those. If any of you abuse that power, that's a strike for each time. Strikes and bonuses cancel each other out, but if you get twenty one strikes in a week, no matter how many bonuses you get, that's a permanent strike. Professors Sinistra, Vector, and Flitwick are the only teachers who can hand out strikes or bonuses.
Furthermore, from now on, I don't care who you are, your loyalty comes to Slytherin first. Anything that happens in-house, stays in-house unless I give permission to publicly release it. Reporting it to anyone, your parents, Snape, Dumbledore, McGonagall, your sibling or cousin in another house, or even the minister will get you from 3 permanent strikes to expulsion from the house. The only exception is if you can later prove, without a doubt, that someone's life was at stake.
We are not Gryffindors, think before you act. Always minimize the amount of enemies you have, asking for forgiveness from a Hufflepuff you called a mudblood will get you a surprising amount of allies.
Now, thanks to a little trick old Sally gave me, the following is going to be heard in all common rooms, which are on lockdown, no teachers are getting in. When I wave my hand, I will start. Ready?"
"Yes" chorused Slytherin house.
The Gryffindors were gathered in their house common room, ready to go to breakfast, but the Fat Lady wouldn't let them through.
When Percy Weasley, fifth year prefect came to question her, she replied with, "Listen, little lions. Open our ears before you roar."
Then they heard a sharp clap echo from the lion above the fireplace. They all listened, having heard rumors that the teachers could make their voices come into the common rooms if anything happens. A voice came from the lion, but it was most definitely not a teacher's.
"Hello fellow Hogwarts students. Now, before chaos descends, please, just listen. Hogwarts houses have been divided for a long time, but sometimes we need to get together for a common purpose. I am Regina Morrigan Grey, Chosen Heiress of Salazar Slytherin. Now, especially Gryffindor, just before you exclaim about slimy dirty death eater snakes. I am not going to address house rivalries, or to test the system, but for another reason. There are goals that need all four houses to band together.
As a representative of Slytherin, I say Slytherin declares Severus Snape had no authority over us. Listen, and I hope you do the same. As of right now, there is a boycott. American term, for those of you so sheltered that you didn't learn foreign history, that means refusing to obey him go to his classes, etcetera. He is no Slytherin and has been excommunicated from the house. Due to his failure at potions instructions, in the last decade, there have been only four new potions masters in England, and only one of them was educated in Hogwarts. Due to his instruction, there have been only nine new aurors in the last decade since he was hired. Due to his instruction, only three percent of people get O's on their potions OWLS, and compared to his predecessor Slughorn's thirty six percent average. He is only here as Dumbledore's pet Death Eater and bully. The only way people have received potions instruction at Hogwarts in the last decade he has been teaching has been self-study, which is not acceptable.
I know many of you will be reluctant to follow because of your potions grades or house points he can take off, or because of detentions. The school charter does not allow expulsion for skipping class. To be expelled, there has to be enough evidence to suspect you of crimes punishable by Azkaban. The only person expelled in the last century has been Hagrid, who was caught raising an acromantula in simply an empty classroom. You cannot be expelled for disobeying a teacher or the headmaster.
I know Albus Dumbledore will tell you it's for the greater good that Snape will teach here. The question is for whose greater good? For Snape's certainly. But for the students? No. Especially considering Snape is a convicted criminal who got off only due to the word of Albus Dumbledore. Public records of his trial show that by the time he graduated Hogwarts he killed a dozen muggles, two witches both underage, was an accomplice in another hundred murders of both muggles and magicals, was a marked inner circle death eater, reported information from inside Hogwarts that lead to another two dozen deaths, reported crucial information that caused the deaths of Lily and James Potter, the attempted murder of Harry Potter, the torture and attempted murder of Alice and Frank Longbottom and attempted murder of Augsta and Neville Longbottom, brewing hundreds of illegal potions, as well as the almost succesful rape of my mother, after which she transfered to Ilvermorny for her seventh year, while Severus Snape, after commitingg all these crimes and having it proven before the Wizengamot, still fails to teach and bullies students on a daily basis. I cannot, on good conscience, allow myself to be anywhere near this man, and Slytherin house agrees with me. As an excommunicated former member of Slytherin House, he can on longer be a black stain on our house, and can also no longer be Head of House, that position now going to Professor Sinistra.
For those of you who want potions instruction, my father has contacted the Ilvermorny Potions mistress, Professor Piquery, my godfather's wife's sister, and she has sent me copies of her lessons. Anyone who is interested, the lessons are in memory crystals, one for a week's worth of lessons. I will be handing the full years worth of crystals for all seven years at breakfast, free.
Fellow Hogwarts students, thank you for listening to me, I hope you join me in protesting this man's presence in our school as we meet at breakfast. Have a good day."
Silence reigned in the common room, until another voice piped up. Cormac McLaggen had been on a mirror call with his father when the announcement came on, and as a member of the Wizengamot for over a decade, Mr. McLaggen's voice said from the mirror to the silent common room, "Everything she just said is absolutely true, and that's not even all of it. The board of Governors has tried to get him fired for ages, except Dumbledore has blocked us for ages."
Percy Weasley tried to regain order, "Alright, let's get to breakfast." All of Gryffindor house followed him, digesting the information they had just received. Cormac McLaggen, second year, was also doing so, but he was comprehending other information. Gryffindor's lion statue had chosen him as King of Gryffindor, and he was descended from Gryffindor, but how to claim that without being ostracized? He would have to talk to the Grey girl.
At half past seven, all four houses entered the great hall, and for the first time in decades, there was not a single jinx, curse, or even insult thrown. All the teachers were at the head table, curious as to what happened to warrant such a miraculous event. Not only was there no scuffles, the Gryffindors had all come together and on time, the Hufflpuffs were eating, not having gone to the kitchens that morning, not a single Ravenclaw had a book out, and there had been dozens of Slytherins apologizing to other house members who they had previously insulted needlessly . The only one absentee was Severus Snape. As scheduled were handed out, the other professors noted it was not Snape, but Professor Aurora Sinistra who was handing out the schedules to Slytherin house.
Twenty minutes into breakfast, Snape stormed into the hall, robes fapping behind him, yelling, "Headmaster, I want Potter and those blasted Weasleys expelled!"
Students' mouths fell open, shoveling a bit of food in, but then sitting silently, curious. The hall was silent.
"Severus, my boy, what did they do that warrants such a strict punishment and can't be solved with a few detentions?" It went over nobody's head that the headmaster didn't even question Snape's word that they had done something in the first place.
"They snuck into my rooms and took the slytherin crest off my robes. And they did something to me. I don't even remember the location of the Slytherin common room anymore! Expel them, Headmaster," Snape raged.
Sinistra cut in, "Severus, how in the world is that grounds for expulsion, even if you do have the proof that you have the right students?"
"Because it's Potter and those twin Weasleys are always guilty!"
Ray stood up. "Exactly what I meant earlier," she said, the Sonorus rune in her necklace reactivated. There were murmurs of agreement throughout the hall.
Dumbledore ignored her. Professor Snape, Messrs Weasley, Harry, my boy, why don't you come with me to my office to discuss this?"
Harry stood sitting. It took all of Fred and George's Gryffindor courage to stand and speak. "Professor Dumbledore,"
"We would like to,"
"Very politely"
"Of course,"
"Decline"
"The marvelous invitation"
"To your marvelous office"
"As according to the Hogwarts charter," Dumbledoree paled slightly, he had removed it from the library and Flourish and Blotts, where had they gotten a copy?
"Section two"
"Paragraph fourteen"
"Sentence six,"
"We cannot be punished,"
"Especially expelled,"
"For an offense"
"That cannot be proven,"
"And Section two,"
"Paragraph fifteen,"
"Sentence three,"
"States that,"
"We cannot,"
"Be without"
"Our head of house,"
"And King,"
"Or queen,"
"And Head Prefect
"Of Gryffindor,"
"In your marvelous,"
"Absolutely marvelous office,"
"When the whole school,"
"Agrees to,"
"Section twenty three,"
"Paragraph one,"
"Sentence two"
"To stand together,'
"And boycott,"
"A teacher,"
"They feel,"
"Should not"
"Be teaching,"
"Especially with,"
"Said teacher,"
"As you hired,"
"Said teacher." The whole school had mouths wide open. Who knew Fred and George knew the school charter front to back? Turned out only McGonagall, who knew how many times the two had used obscure rules to weasel their way out of trouble even the marauder's couldn't get out of. Because if there was one thing all Weasleys were good at, it was getting into trouble, and then getting right back out. Where else did they get a last name weasel, with an extra added 'y' added in for good measure (the l and e had been swapped only four generations ago)?
"Misters Weasley," Dumbledore said, his eyes twinkling, "I am afraid that even though you have your differences for Professor Snape, you do not speak for the whole school. Follow me to my office so we can discuss the details of your punishment. Harry, my boy, you too."
Dumbledore had just said just the wrong thing at just the right time. The best traits of the four houses reared their heads. Gryffindor's courage and loyalty roared inside the hearts of his house. As they all quickly exchanged glances, Percy Weasley stood up. He had been chosen as Head Prefect amongst the prefects, so would speak for the house. "As Head prefect of Gryffindor house, Gryffindor house stands with the protest of Severus Snape."
Hufflepuff's loyalty and determination burrowed into her house's veins. Fourth year Kimberly Smith stood and followed Percy's example, "As heiress of Hufflepuff, Hufflepuff house stands with the protest of Severus Snape."
Ravenclaw house legendary clarity of mind and wisdom thrummed in her house's minds. Jacob Davies stood up and declared, "As King of Ravenclaw, Ravenclaw House stands with the protest of Severus Snape."
Ray saw that this was her cue. Standing up, she stated, "As Queen of Slytherin, Slytherin House does not back down from it's announcement of protest against Severus Snape,"
And then, as if magic was pulling the words from their mouths, the whole school stated, "May magic judge our claim." The older muggle-raised were in awe. No wonder the purebloods wanted to keep the culture so badly if this was the thing the prograssionalists like Dumbledore were trying to ban. This was pure magic humming in the air, a very simplistic ritual.
Hogwarts was content. Dumbledore was not. "I'm sorry, my girl," he said looking at Ray, "But that was illegal magic. Rituals were made illegal a decade ago. Come to my office, I'm sure we can figure something out. Wouldn't want to be the second generation in your family to be expelled, but I'm afraid it's unavoidable." He sighed. "But anything's better than azkaban, especially for one so young."
Ray closed her eyes for a moment. When Dumbledore finished blackmailing her into an expulsion in front of the entire school, she stood up. A brief glint of triumph lit up Dumbledore's eyes, before he saw Harry stand up next to her. She met eyes with Kimberly Smith across the hall, who was trying to avoid her younger brother, Zacharias, a first year who was smug to have his ancestry proclaimed to the hall, even if he could never be the heir, Hufflepuff being a matriarchal line. Kimberly also stood up, and Dumbledore was confused. When Ray, Harry, and Kimberly met at the Hogwarts crest at the Great Hall doors, Ray turned to the headmaster.
"Mister Dumbledore," she nearly spat, "getting nearly raped by two people currently in Azkaban for the Dark Mark on their arms, and a third who is supposed to be my potions professor and then transferring to Ilvermorny where such a thing would have led to a report to the DMLE does not quality as expulsion." she then whispered something to Kimberly and Harry, who both nodded after a moment, then Ray told the headmaster, "And Mister Dumbledore, before you conveniently forget, Hogwarts is Sovereign territory, donated to a school by Rowena from her ancestral lands, but the castle and about a dozen square miles surrounding it are not property of the British Ministry, magical or muggle, something you have made use of more times than anyone can count. Two can play the same game." She then pulled a very elegantly decorated pin from inside her robes. She pricked her ring finger, and pressed it to line between the Ravenclaw and Slytherin section of the Hogwarts crest, at the top left corner. Her slightly bloody finger pressed into the crest, large-bird-sized stone dragons flew down from the rafters, she spoke in a magically enhanced voice. "I, Regina Morrigan, daughter of Houses Lovegood, Black, Rosier, Fawley, Heiress of Houses Grey, Peverell, Selwyn, Lady of Houses Gaunt, Sayre, Lestrange, Pendragon, Emrys, Lefay, Slytherin, Avalon and Ravenclaw reclaim the lands of Rowena LeFay born Pendragon, the wards of Salazar Emrys, the magic of House Avalon, and the knowledge of Morrigan Sayre, may Magic aid my claim." The magical pressure centered on Ray, who did her best to remain standing, her bleeding finger still pressed to the crest.
Kimberly stepped up to the crest,the magic of which was causing a slight ripple in the air surrounding Regina. She took another pin from Ray's hands, pricked her finger, and pressed it into the Hufflepuff crest. "I, Kimberly Helga, daughter of House Smith, Heiress of House LeFay, Lady of House Hufflepuff reclaim the earth magic of Helga Peverell born LeFay."
Then the cycle repeated with Harry, more visibly nervous than the two girls, finished with his chant, his voice nervous yet unwavering. "I, Hadrian James Potter, son of House Bones, Heir of Houses Potter and Black, Lord of House Peverell, do reclaim the Magic of Godric Peverell"
The crest flared a bright Violet, and everyone felt magical tension snap into the walls of the castle. Hogwarts hummed a slow, enchantingly magical melody. It's heirs were home again. Then, Hogwarts decided to showcase her full glory.
Pure magic radiated from its walls, the incredibly difficult woven glamours Dumbledore had installed a century ago fell, and the house crests were replaced by the crests of the six families who had truly founded Hogwarts. Pendragon gave the castle, under Rowena's guidance it was made sentient. Emrys wove the wards, tying them to Salazar and his bloodline, made to last millennia, they snapped in place, all the destruction Dumbedore had added to them disappearing, a cerberus giving one last howl before being evicted from the castle proper, a horcrux disappearing, a basilisk's mind clearing to its original goal of protecting the castle, a phoenix rebinding to the castle and away from its forceful enslaver, a poltergeist disappearing along with the caretaker's torture instruments, as well as a mirror that cost more lives than the worst Dark Lord, a stone that was the most addictive substance ever made, a colony of acromsntula booted outside the wards, a spirit banished from behind a turban, and dozens of dark artifacts delivered to an even more heavily warded storage crypt. LeFay gave the castle its life force, a generation of elders giving their blood, lives, and magic to the castle. That sacrifice was not to be in vain. Peverell gave the castle an infusion of their legendary luck, only a person inside (APWBD) tapping into it allowed a death on the grounds. Black gave the castle it's secret passageways, portraits, suits of armour, and hidden rooms which all reported to the heirs of the castle if suspicious or outright illegal activity was happening. And Ollivander got aid from the founders and their heirs as long as he and his descendants provided wands for all students. Even Voldemort couldn't stop him from giving muggleborns wands, the agreement was that secure.
Dumbedore was gobsmacked, but that was nothing ng unexpected.
A/N: Alright, there it is. now, I know how annoying it is, how crazy it is, but I think this story is going on hiatus. not that I'm leaving FFN or anything. I'm just lost with this story. I have no more chapters written to upload, and idk how to write more. I'm not eleven and haven't been for a few years. that's not to say I'm abandoning Ray, Harry, Nymmie, and Hermione. no.
what I am going to do is restart this to be more realistic.
Triwizard tournament. five schools. Hogwarts, beaxbatons, durmstrang, ilvermorny, and Salem.
Harry and co is Canon age, Ray is a 7th year at ilvermorny. all Canon characters start IC, some grow OOC.
well, that's it. this is early, hope that makes up for the disappointment, but here in central jersey, we have a snow day (teachers have an extra long meeting or wtvr) so no school, more updates.
WTYL!
