Welcome to Slytherin - Chapter 9

The feast presented to them had certainly boggled the mind of most of the easily awed first years. But Scorpious was a Malfoy. Not much impressed him. He had calmly helped himself to a plate, all the while trying to clamp down the unease he had felt during Arianna's sorting. He had suspected for one terrifying moment that she was going to be placed in Gryffindor, thereby leaving him alone. He couldn't imagine not having Ari in his house.

Exceedingly grateful that she was a fellow snake, he delicately had a bite of chicken. His thoughts remained on her as he let his silver gaze drift to the massive Great Hall doors. He hoped that she was alright. She probably was. Not much could faze the brunette.

Weasley on the other hand. Scorpious smirked slightly and looked at the Gryffindor table where the redhead was excitedly chatting to her cousin, who tried and failed to look interested. He recalled the way she had squealed when a frog had landed on her hair. Yes, she was certainly interesting.

The two boys next to him were stuffing their faces full of all the food in the nearby vicinity. Unable to keep staring at the sheer amount of food that the two boys were able to take in, he was noticed by someone.

"My brother and his friend are very enthusiastic about their food," the voice was cultured and smooth, with distinct tones. Scorpious was not surprised to find that the owner was a short, blonde haired Slytherin girl with blue eyes so dark that they looked almost black.

"That is clearly evident."

"Kayla Pierson," she introduced herself and then motioned an elegant, manicured hand at the two human black holes who were still going strong.

"My twin brother, Cole is the one that's stuffing a chicken leg into his mouth," she pointed at a shaggy blond with eyes just like hers. His only indication that he even heard his sister was a slight grunt.

"The other is Kevin Hughes," she now pointed out a bulky brunette who had neatly parted hair and non-descript brown eyes. He had an awkward air about him that was not diminished with his gluttony.

"They both share a love of eating and an endless appetite."

"So I see."

Before they could carry on their conversation, the Head Boy, Terrence Nott stood up, brushing down his Slytherin robes and spoke in a low voice, "First Years, follow me."

Nott was a weedy-looking boy with intelligent hazel eyes and curly black hair. He was pale and seemed like a loner to the blond Malfoy.

Scorpious assembled with the rest, Kayla falling into line neatly behind him, her brother Cole and his companion, Kevin following. They were led down to the dungeons, a maze of cold corridors that baffled many of the Slytherins, except the ones with a keen eye.

"It would do you well to familiarize yourself with these halls. I'd hate it f any of you found yourselves lost down here," Nott spoke in a creepy voice, his eerie smile gleaming in the poor lit corridors. Half of the children shrank back in fear while the other half simply gave him curious looks. The seventh year stopped at a portrait depicting an old man, with a long white beard, dressed in green and silver robes, a snake staff at his side.

"Speaksss the passsword," he hissed softly, the snake head on his staff coming alive.

"Calliditas," Nott spoke with authority and the man in the portrait nodded slightly and the frame swung open.

"Cunning," Scorpious whispered under his breath, following the student in front of him and entering the Slytherin Common room.

"A fitting name for the House of Snakes," Kayla whispered behind him as they climbed through the portrait hole and into the Common Room.

The new students filed in to the Common room, which was a low-ceilinged, dungeon-like room with greenish lamps and chairs, with skulls all around.

"Gothic much?" the blonde whispered under his breath.

The first years filed in and formed a semi circle around the Head Boy.

"Welcome to the Slytherin Common Room. The password is to be kept secret, especially from the other houses. It is every Slytherin's obligation to remember the password which changes every month. If you forget it, well then…..too bad for you. Especially if your friends neglects to tell you.

You are the students of Salazar Slytherin, one of the greatest wizards that ever lived. You will act accordingly and never besmirch that name. I am more than aware the reputation that follows Slytherin. That reputation will affect you. You will be judged and there will be plenty of prejudice against you. Do no let it get to you.

It is true that many Slytherins followed the Dark lord. It is also true that Gryffindors, Ravenclaws and even Hufflepuffs followed him. But people will not see that. People will refuse to see that. They only see the Slytherins.

Never, ever let that bother you.

The Dark Lord was a Slytherin. As were many of his minions. They tried to wage a pointless war and kill millions of innocent people with no rhyme and reason.

They were idiots. But they were Slytherins. Stupid Slytherins.

If anyone ever calls you a Slytherin and means it as an insult, take it as a compliment. For you are not Slytherins like the Dark Lord and his men. You are Slytherins like Severus Snape, who was so sneaky and cunning that he managed to trick both sides and it was only at the very end his true allegiance was determined.

We are Slytherins and we are proud of being Slytherins.

There is only one rule in this house.

Do whatever you want. Just don't get caught."

Nott smiled at the end of his speech. Scorpious was awed and blown away. The boy had spoken the truth. What's more he had spoken of Arianna's father. He felt a pang of sorrow that his best friend was not there to hear of her father being used as a role model for all Slytherins to look up to.

But not everyone looked impressed with Nott's speech. In fact, many looked displeased and a few were even outright glaring at the older boy.

The three people Scorpious had already met were in the last category. A few others were also looking at the Head boy with distaste. He mentally noted them down by appearance. It wouldn't hurt to keep an eye on them.

"The boys dormitories are up ahead, the girls to the left. I advise you all to have a good night's sleep. Tomorrow your lessons will commence and inattention in class might lead to reduction in House points, which will displease me greatly. Good night, young snakes."

Nott glided away soundlessly, his robes swishing dramatically behind him. Making a note to himself to practice the billowing motion in front of a mirror, Scorpious proceeded with the rest of the first year boy to their dormitories.

Their dormitory was a round room with windows looking out onto the grounds, and containing four-poster beds. Naturally it was done up in Slytherin colours of green and silver. It was similar to Scorpious' own bedroom back at Malfoy manor except that his bed was a massive thing that took up half of his gigantic room.

He pulled off his tie and began to get undressed for bed. He vaguely noticed that Kevin Hughes and Cole Pierson were also sharing his dormitory. Another boy with dirty blonde hair and dark eyes was also present, flopping on his own bed.

"Can you believe the load of crap that Nott tried to pull on us?" he drawled, staring at the ceiling while addressing the whole room.

Kevin and Cole merely grunted, both looked far too stuffed for any passable conversation.

The unknown boy had to turn to Scorpious then.

"You're Scorpious Malfoy, aren't you?"

"It is rude to ask another's name without venturing yours first,' Scorpious answered, unbuttoning his shirt.

Instead of getting angry, the boy smiled and sat up, extending a hand to Scorpious.

"Alex Waters."

Scorpios took the hand being offered to him, after a show of debating whether or not to take it. He made sure to shake Alex's hand strongly, not showing any signs of weakness.

"What did you think of our beloved Head Boy's speech, Malfoy?" Alex asked him, pulling his shirt over his head and throwing it somewhere.

Wrinkling his nose delicately at the slovenliness of the other boy, Scorpious turned his back and picked out his nightclothes. They were folded neatly, just like everything else in his trunk and categorized according to when he would need them, color and occasion.

"I thought it was interesting."

"That's an understatement."

Scorpious didn't reply, instead choosing to get dressed in his dark blue pajamas. He then got into his cozy bed that really was as warm and inviting as the one he had at home. His bed was obviously more expensive though.

Sparing a thought for Arianna, he started to waft off to sleep. The other boys were also getting ready for bed. In a matter of minutes, all of them were in their respective bed. It wasn't long before snores began to drift over from Kevin's bed.

Sighing, Scorpious cast a silencing charm and rested his head on his pillow. The day's excitement had caught up to him and he felt weariness overcoming him. The blonde finally sank into slumber and the silver-grey eyes drifted shut.

A/N – Apologies to Shelby. I was just so excited about getting this chapter out and you were taking so long to reply. I will be posting the betaed version of this as soon as Shelby gets back to me. For now, all screw ups are mine.

Extra long chapter to apologize for my lack of updates. I wanted to introduce you to the OC's nice and slow. I will also be reviewing my past chapters. I noticed loads of mistakes in them and will be correcting them one by one.

Sorry for the long wait, but I live in Sri Lanka and there are bombs erupting everywhere. On the bright side, school is closed for a week due to bomb threats, so I have time to write. However, I will only feel like writing if you guys review and leave behind your thoughts.

Tell me what you think! Do you like Scorpious? What about Nott's speech? Was it any good? It was basically a rant about my feelings on Slytherins after reading DH.

I look forward to your opinions. Many of them, I hope!

Loads of love, Jessica Green.