Author's Note: This chapter is going to be devoted to how things are going the first night for the other three houses and not on James and the Ravenclaws.

Mari was not happy when she discovered that the password to the Slytherin common room was "Always Pure", but hid her disgust and didn't grimace the way Ron did. Once everyone was in the common room, Draco Malfoy rounded on Mari. "Why did you get Sorted here? I thought you hated Slytherin and wouldn't want to be here."

"I never said that," answered Mari coolly. "I merely said that I wasn't going to associate with those that were stupid enough to serve a wizard that wanted to take over the world."

"What about that idiot Weasley?" demanded Malfoy. "He's a blood traitor and shouldn't be here. Just like how you shouldn't be here because you said you were friends with him."

"Blood traitor or not, Ron is still a pureblood," Mari said sharply, though she still showed no emotion at all. "I believe that as long as said student isn't Muggleborn, he or she would be considered a candidate for Slytherin by the Sorting Hat? Do I have to exert my influence to get you to behave, Draco Malfoy? My family is an older one than yours, even if they are from Japan, and as a cousin of mine happens to be the current Minister of Magic of Japan, I can write to him. Since I believe that your father is connected to the British Minister of Magic, I wonder what he'll say when he finds out from Minister Fudge that the cousin of Minister Kishi of Japan has threatened to cut connections with Britain unless his cousin gets some respect from her housemates at Hogwarts. I doubt your father will be pleased."

This was actually more of an empty threat, for while Mari was aware that she had relatives that were high-up in Japan, she had never seen them since her parents had died, nor heard from them in any way. It was enough, however, to make Malfoy back off and mutter an apology of sorts.

"Apology accepted," said Mari. "Now, if you want to be Slytherin's prince, at least among the first-years, go ahead. However, Malfoy, I would like remind you that for every prince there's a princess. And the princess is going to have equal power to the prince." She glanced at Pansy Parkinson, who would be perfectly happy to be Slytherin's princess, at least for the first-years. "It's not going to be you, Pansy. The Kishis are an older family than yours, none of your family members was ever Minister of Magic, and you look too much like a pug to ever attract too many followers without having to resort to bribery or threats."

Pansy gave a shriek of rage, which Mari ignored. The older students looked on at the scene, deciding not to interfere just yet. Mari glided over to Millicent Bulstrode, who was hanging back ever since Pansy had made a comment about her weight and the fact that she could be a female version of Crabbe and Goyle. "The next time Pansy tries to make fun of you, just point out that she looks like a pug and would never get a husband based on her looks, Millicent."

Millicent blinked, then smiled. "I'll do that, Mariko. Thanks."

"Call me Mari. Nobody calls me Mariko unless I'm in trouble. Do you mind if I call you Millie for short?"

"No. My mother calls me Millie. You're nice, Mari. I'm glad that you're in Slytherin, though I don't know why."

"Oh, it was because of Slytherin's reputation," replied Mari. "Ambition and cunning aren't bad qualities, but when used the wrong way, they are. I wanted to show that even if you have ambition and cunning, you're not necessarily evil, and help change Slytherin's awful reputation. Ron Weasley decided that he wanted to help me."

Tracey Davis and Daphne Greengrass, the other two first-year girls, exchanged looks and then moved to join Mari and Millie. "That's interesting," said Daphne. "Do you think Tracey and I can help you and the Weasley boy?"

"Yes," said Mari, pleased at what was happening and hoping that she could go on to change their views on Muggleborns, if they were prejudiced against them. She beckoned Ron over.

Theodore Nott and Blaise Zabini looked at each other, then between Malfoy and Mari. Thoughtful looks were on their faces. Finally Blaise moved to stand next to Mari and Ron. "You have a point, Mari. The other three houses are against us just because of our reputation. If it was changed, then things would be better. I'll help you."

Theodore looked once more at Malfoy, who was fuming, then at Mari and her group. A majority of the first-years were with Mari, and that, plus the fact that what she had said made sense, made up his mind for him. He joined Mari's group, deciding that he did want to change the reputation of Slytherin House for the better.

Malfoy now looked furious. Only Crabbe, Goyle, and Pansy were with him, since the older students were staying out of it. "This can't be happening!" He turned to Crabbe and Goyle and snapped, "You idiots, do something! Scare them into leaving Mariko Kishi!

Mari glided over to them, shaking her head. "Now, that's no way to talk to your friends, Draco Malfoy. You can't just call them idiots."

"I can call them whatever I want!" raged Malfoy. "They are idiots! They're little better than Squibs and don't have half a brain between them and only exist to do my bidding!"

Now, it was true that Crabbe and Goyle were a few Knuts short of a Sickle, but they still had some sense and it was an exaggeration to say that they didn't have half a brain between them. What Malfoy said registered with them and they weren't very pleased that he was insulting them.

Mari shook her head. "That's not how you're supposed to behave. You're supposed to be polite and respectful of everyone, unless they're really annoying or are evil. Crabbe and Goyle haven't done anything to show that they're evil or annoying, so you can't insult them like that."

"Shut up!" snapped Malfoy. "I'll do whatever I want! Keep you nose out of my business or go back to Japan, where you belong!"

"I'm a British citizen," retorted Mari. "I was born in Britain, like my parents and grandparents before me." That was only mostly true, for her paternal grandmother had actually been born in Japan, according to the book on wizarding genealogy. Her paternal grandfather had apparently gone to Japan to find a wife. "Vincent, Gregory, if you don't like how Malfoy's treating you you're welcome to join me. I'll never call you names or insult you, and I'll make sure the group doesn't either."

The two boys looked at each other, and then made up their minds. They moved to stand next to Mari, ignoring Malfoy, who was beyond furious now. He only refrained from throwing a tantrum because a seventh year boy told him to act like a proper Malfoy and Slytherin and not like a little kid just because he lost a power struggle.

"I'm happy to have you two join us," said Mari. "Can we call you Greg and Vince for short?"

The two had no objections and after that, Professor Snape appeared to speak to the Slytherins. He warned everyone to at least behave like they were getting along in public, since three-quarters of the school were already against them, and that if there were any problems to come to him. At that, Malfoy immediately told Snape what was going on with him and Mari, but Mari said, "All I want to do is change Slytherin's reputation for the better so people stop hating us. Malfoy's just throwing a tantrum because all the other first-years besides Pansy decided to side with me and help me do exactly that."

Snape frowned. "That is an admirable thing to do, but keep in mind that you have to get along with Mr. Malfoy outside of the common room, Miss Kishi. The same goes for you, Mr. Malfoy. We can't let the rest of the school know that two first-years aren't getting along with the rest. Now, everyone please go to bed."

The Slytherins nodded and went to their dorm rooms. Malfoy tried to threaten Greg and Vince into leaving Mari, but Blaise and Theodore, who asked to be called Theo, defended them, and after a bit of hesitation, Ron did the same. In the first-year girls' dorm, Pansy was fuming, but the other four girls ignored her and began talking about how to change Slytherin's reputation. At first Millie, Tracey, and Daphne were shocked when Mari said that they had to be friends with students for other houses, including Muggleborns, but reluctantly agreed to go along with it when it was pointed out that Muggleborns were just as capable as purebloods or they wouldn't be able to handle the wizarding world.

With that decided, the four girls broke up the conversation and got ready for bed.

In the Gryffindor common room, Percy had spread the reason why Ron was in Slytherin, and after a bit of pestering, Neville and Hermione revealed the plan about inter-house unity. This made many of the Gryffindors look thoughtful as they considered things. Finally the other first-years and some of the older students said they wanted to take part, though understandably they were a leery about being friends with a Slytherin.

"Well, I don't know about the other Slytherins, but Mari and Ron are nice and would be good friends," said Hermione. "And from what I've seen of Mari, she'd probably talk the other first-years, except maybe for that Malfoy boy, to joining her and seeing things her way. So we first-years shouldn't have much problem with making friends in Slytherin."

Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil exchanged looks, then shrugged and said they would be willing to try. After some hesitiation, Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnigan said they'd do the same. Sally-Ann Perks went along at that point, while the remaining two first-years were undecided about being friends with Slytherins.

In Hufflepuff, Kyle told the other first-years about the inter-house unity plan. He wasn't sure if it was wise to do it so early, but he had a feeling that Mari would start away, and he knew that James would have told Stella and Stuart about it, who might have then told the other Ravenclaws. And if Percy and the Weasley twins questioned why Ron was in Slytherin and Neville and Hermione told them the reason, the Gryffindors might find out about it early too.

Justin Finch-Fletchley and Ernie Macmillan were definitely interested, but Zacharais Smith, a haughty-looking boy, didn't seem interested at all. He yawned when Kyle was done explaining and said that he was going to bed, adding that nothing would induce him to be friends with a Slytherin. Hannah Abbott, Susan Bones, and Claire Harper were a uncertain about the becoming friends with Slytherin part, but were willing to take part in helping create inter-house unity and being friends with Gryffindors and Ravenclaws. The remaining two girls were undecided. As it was getting late, the first-years ended the conversation there and went to bed.