Author's Note: Hello to everyone. First of all thank you very much for taking time and reading this fic. Also, thanks to everyone who have added the fic to their following/favourite story. It means a lot. Here is the next chapter for you awesome guys. I hope you all enjoy it! Happy reading!
I don't own Harry Potter, it solely belongs to J.K. Rowling!
CHAPTER 4
Lord Voldemort or better known as Professor Nicholas Grey now was on high alert and it had all to do with the fact that his biggest nemesis was sitting just a few seats beside him. Nonetheless being back at Hogwarts was an overwhelming experience. It was the only place which Tom could call 'home'. At Hogwarts he found a place where he belonged; after years of torment and tears. Hogwarts was the place where he learned magic, was a place where he got an appraisal for his hard work. Hogwarts was the place where he found about his family no matter how dysfunctional it was, it was Hogwarts where he found his connection to one of the strongest wizard of all times. It was here he learnt the beauty that is Parselmagic and how it made Tom special, even in the wizarding world.
After graduating he had asked, begged even to Headmaster Dippet, to let Tom stay as the DADA professor. BUT Dumbledore had intervened saying how young Tom was for the post because of which Dippet flat out refused his offer. He didn't let his disappointment show through and after a few years he tried again but the new Headmaster Dumbledore refused yet again giving incoherent reasons.
Tom had been so livid that he cursed the DADA position. But none of it mattered now because now he was home. He felt a familiar sensation of warmth, safety and contentment as soon as he set foot in the castle. It didn't matter that he had to work right under Dumbledore's nose because the reason he was here was far more important; he was here to correct his mistakes. He was worried about a particular conversation with Slughorn- their conversation about Horcruxes could give a lead to Dumbledore which Tom absolutely didn't want. He also had information about Dumbledore wanting to make a sort of rebel group against him; what better plan than to intrude as the new professor to get all information?
Tom groaned internally as the Head of Slytherin house started a very non-interesting conversation. His hand was itching to take out his beloved Yew wand and kill Slughorn right then and there, consequences be damned. Unfortunately for him, Slughorn was far more useful alive than dead. So he put the facade and flashed a dazzling smile urging his former teacher to continue with his antics.
His concentration wavered only when Dumbledore announced the arrival of a new student starting their 7th year at Hogwarts. Wasn't that interesting, a transfer student especially when a war was brewing in the country? His eyes were fixated on her form as she made her way towards the sorting hat; a girl with eyes too green and a scar too funny. Her nervousness was written all over her face but her stance remained rigid. Tom didn't want to give any more of his precious concentration to the weird creature, but curiosity and jealousy got the best of him when she got sorted into his ancestor's house within a record span of seconds. Not even Tom was sorted this fast and it spokes considering he was the Heir of Slytherin. The girl's expression was that of utter confusion, meaning she clearly didn't expect that. Tom could see the clear disappointment on Dumbledore's face but the headmaster soon regained his senses and got up to introduce his glamour self.
Tom stood up graciously but the second Ms Christopher had seen him, her whole demeanour changed. She visibly paled as if he was the last person on the whole planet she was expecting to see. Tom whacked his brain, trying to remember if he had met her in the past but nothing came to the forefront. The problem intensified because the glamour he chose has been on a whim and only Abaraxas knew about it apart from Tom. Maybe he was reading too much between the line; maybe there want anything strange about the new girl? But as the Muggle said, precaution is better than cure and there was no harm to keep an eye out just in case. He averted his eyes from the black-haired girl only to realise that Slughorn was still speaking. Tom groaned internally.
Dinner was over soon and Harriet's stomach was satisfied. It had been very long since she had a proper meal. She followed the prefects towards the Slytherin common room. It was just as intricate and lavishly designed as Harriet had seen during her second year. Despite being in dungeons, the common room was warm and toasty; a huge relief from the biting cold.
Harriet stood with the first years in the middle, waiting for the HOH to come. Out of the corner of her eyes, she saw mini Death Eaters and co. ganging up and giving judgemental looks. The fuming face of a young yet still crazy Bellatrix made Harriet cringe inwardly. Not even a day at Hogwarts and she was already attracting unwanted problems; damn her luck. She was thankfully saved when Slughorn strutted into the room.
"Welcome you all to the noble house of Slytherin. I'm Horace Slughorn, the Potions professor as well as your Head of House. Now, this is a drill which is required by us to do, but there are two important rules that all students belonging to this house follow. As you all may know the other houses don't particularly blend well with us. So the first rule of our house is- Always protect your own. I don't care if you have a fight amongst yourselves or a family feud going on; outside this common room, the Slytherins are to always show a united front. If you have any issues, resolve them within these four walls and nowhere else.
The second and last rule, except for lying to your HOH that is me, you can do anything so long as you don't get caught. As long as you follow these two rules properly you won't have any problems from my side. Apart from that, you can always come to me or the prefects to help you. Are we clear?"
A murmur of 'Yes Professor' was heard.
"Very well then. Now the senior prefects will give you further instructions. Good night to all." Just as Slughorn left a brunette with warm brown eyes took lead,
"Hello! I'm Sarah Fawley and this is Lucius Malfoy. We're 7th-year prefects, we just have to make a few announcements to make. She took out a piece of parchment and began reading.
The prefects will provide you with your timetables and a map of the castle tomorrow at the breakfast table. For the first week though, we'll be escorting you to all the classes so that none of you gets lost.
You will be paired off with a senior from 3rd to 5th year, who will check up on your classwork and homework regularly and make sure it is complete before submissions. In case you have difficulty in any subject, please inform us so that we can get you a tutor.
The curfew for 1st to 3rd year will be 9 pm sharp and for the rest will be 10 pm. So please don't get late or caught just in case.
The password to the common room changes every two weeks and will be notified on the Notifications Board as you can see.
The boys' dormitory is on the right and girls' is on the left. All your belongings have already been placed in your rooms.
If you have any other issues you can always come to us or the HoH. That will be all. Good night everyone."
Harriet took no time to get to her own room as the speech ended. She was dead tired and wanted nothing more than to sleep, but before that, she had something important to do. Entering the door with her name on it, Harriet was relieved to find that she didn't have to share it with anyone else. She locked it and examined the room.
In the centre of the room was a double four-poster bed covered with Slytherin green eiderdowns and nightstand on either side. Her school trunk was at the foot of the bed. She checked the floor-length closet. There was also a dresser with a lamp and a small bookshelf on the wall. There were dark coloured curtains on the wall, which blocked the beautiful view of the Great Lake. The attached bathroom had all the necessities and a bathtub which could fit two people. All in all her room looked ridiculously expensive.
'Now wasn't the time to chastise the Slytherins' for their decor taste.' She thought. She desperately wanted some answers so she comfortable seated herself and didn't wait for a second to call Death.
"Death, I need your help."
"You called, my mistress." In a flash of light, the frightening entity stood before her. Harriet motioned him to take a seat.
"I wanted to ask you something." She perked the question sitting at the tip of her tongue.
"Yes, mistress."
"If I remember correctly, I don't think I ever heard about a Professor Grey teaching at Hogwarts."
"Ah yes! He's Voldemort, isn't he?" Death mused.
"I think your trip to the past has already started to alter the original timeline. You'll have to be extra careful, for this can go either in your favour or against you."
"I'll be careful; will have to work on my Occlumency shields though. But there's something else too."
"What is it, mistress?"
"The sorting hat put me in Slytherin instead of Gryffindor. I wasn't supposed to be here."
"And why do you think you weren't supposed to be in the snake pit?"
"Because...because!" Harriet tried very hard but she couldn't find a reasonable answer. In reality, she had always found the house system to be extremely prejudiced.
"The traits of the house are ambitious and cunning. You're ambitious enough to make this impossible task of your's work in order to save others' lives. And you're cunning enough to hide your true self as well as change your whole identity to achieve your goal. I think you're as much of a Slytherin as is Voldemort." Death voiced his thoughts in a very calm tone making Harriet wonder upon the thought deeply. He wasn't wrong. She remembers how she begged the sorting hat to put her Gryffindor the first time just because she thought that the snakes were evil. She tried to imagine the consequences if she would have been a Slytherin in the first place.
Harriet was so lost in thoughts she never noticed Death leaving her with a small smile on his face.
