Within the next month, Rebekah read, and reread, and reread, each and every textbook she got, alongside the history of the Wixen World, and its customs. She was determined to be prepared to enter into a world she had never heard of, she tried to gain all the knowledge she could and retained it all in her mind. She had to build a new room in her mind for all of this stuff, and she knew that she would need to expand it as soon as she was firmly set into Hogwarts and thus into the Wixen World. There was too much to leave to chance for her, and knowledge would help her along the way.

When she found something she liked, she would continuously read about it. The Dark Forces was interesting since it brought on a whole new danger to the world she would go into. She doubted that her aunt and uncle even knew of just how dangerous the world could be. And the Pureblood world moreso.

She read a fair amount of books about the culture, and most of it focused on the Pureblood side of things, though into the lesser effect of what actually happened in those circles. It was a fragile affair of wit and power against tradition and clever lies.

Her favourite books, by far, were The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection by Quentin Trimble, Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger, and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander, in that order. Though she did like the information the other books gave, they weren't as interesting to her.

Rebekah packed her trunk once, twice and thrice because she couldn't decide on what she needed to bring. She reduced her packing and only put in what she would use almost every day, even sneaking several packs of coloured pens.

She kindly asked Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia for a lift to Kings' Cross, which they didn't argue about. Rebekah gathered all three trunks of hers and placed them into the boot of the car, then she sat in the car and waited for the journey to end.

Uncle Vernon placed her trunks onto a small cart, one that Rebekah could pull in front of her as she walked. Emperor sat on the very top, draping his long limbs and sometimes grazing the floor. No one seemed to notice the extremely large feline that hissed when someone got too close. Rebekah just shushed Emperor but he grinned in only a way that a feline could.

"Packed with Muggles, of course,"

Rebekah grinned at this woman's, this Witch's words. She watched the plump woman, with raggy clothing that belonged in a thrift shop, talking to her children. Two of them, ginger twins, had a bit of fun with being twins, fooling their mother before running into the pillar that separated the ninth and tenth stations. Both twins disappeared into the pillar and, with a small warning to Emperor, Rebekah followed after them.

How foolish was Rebekah, to not realise that Magic was in use with everything that had to do with the Wizarding World?

The station, Nine and Three Quarters was packed with Wizards and Witches and their families and their pets. They buzzed around like bees with honey to deposit. They crowded around the edge and again at the doors of the express, saying farewells and good lucks to the new coming school year.

Rebekah shoved past as she knew people weren't going to be moving easily. "Excuse me. Excuse me. Watch where you're walking! Excuse me. Please move aside. Excuse me, can I get past? Oh, for heaven's sake."

"Miss Potter," Rebekah felt the weight of a hand on her shoulder. "Would you like some help, my dear?"

"Thank you, Mrs Malfoy. It was becoming a hassle walking past these people," Rebekah said as she turned to the Witch. "It is pleasant to see you again."

"And it is pleasant to see you again, also my dear," Mrs Malfoy said. The Malfoy matriarch led her away from the crowded centre, they split as she walked and made a clean path, almost sensing the matriarch of the Malfoy family. "I do adore your garment, though Muggle, it is still beautiful."

The garment in question was Rebekah's fitted lace blouse. The overall colour was black with a metallic tone on the lace at her shoulders and arms. Rebekah had tucked the blouse into a pair of dark-wash jeans and flat-ankle boots. Even Petunia had noted how nice it was. It was something she had chosen while shopping in London a couple of weeks back.

"Thank you. I also find your flowy garment pleasant, what is it called?" Mrs Malfoy had a dark beige, slightly formal dress under a long cloak-like coat that buttoned under the bust. The dress looked to be silk and the coat perhaps smooth velvet.

"Oh, I believe it is called a brocade overcoat, but I had asked the designer to make the fabric brocade but also velvet." They stopped when Mrs Malfoy saw her husband. He stood with Draco Malfoy by his side. "There is Draco, go speak with him while you both wait."

"Of course," Rebekah didn't like her tone when she ordered her to do something, but Rebekah forgave her this time and strained a pleasant smile. "It was pleasant to speak with you."

"Miss Potter," The young Malfoy began.

"Please call me Rebekah, Miss Potter makes it sound like I'm in trouble," She asked.

Draco nodded and then smiled. "Only if you call me Draco then, Mr Malfoy is my Father. How has your summer been since we met?"

"All right, I guess," Rebekah shrugged lightly and stroked Emperor's soft fur. "I found myself a familiar of sorts, or that is what Professor Snape had said. I also got the Potter House ring."

"Nice, " Draco said and looked at the ring as Rebekah showed him. "I won't get mine until I am seventeen. How did you get yours so early? Oh, sorry, bad question."

"No, it's okay, I think I got mine early because my parents are dead," She chuckled for a second. "I thought I would have had male relatives somewhere. None actually."

"Magic doesn't discriminate between genders, Miss Potter," Lucius Malfoy said. "Only between those who have the Magic in them. It also helps that you are the rightful descendant."

"Thank you for explaining, Mr Malfoy. No one has really explained anything to me, though I have read through most of my books on Wizarding traditions."

"Both of you, hurry on and get a good compartment, preferably the last one," Mrs Malfoy said, pointing a hand towards the back of the train. "That end has the larger compartments and usually are quieter than the front. Have Draco explain how Hogwarts works, Miss Potter. We have explained to him what is expected of a member of one of the twenty-eight families."

Rebekah shuffled her trunks towards the end of the train, where fewer and fewer people decided to stand. When the trunks were a foot from hitting the edge of the train, they floated on and could then be moved normally.

She shoved her belongings along, startling Emperor as the smallest trunk decided to topple. There wasn't a thud or clunk, so Rebekah looked over to it. The trunk levitated back onto the other two, settling itself back.

"Father said that the last compartment is the best, the one that the Slytherins of his year took," Draco said and wheeled his cart along, pointing towards the end. "Some of my friends will be joining us, is that okay with you?"

"Yes, of course," Rebekah replied, her trunks shrunk slightly in size and were placed in the overhead. "They are your friends and I don't want to impose on you or them."

"Okay, Rebekah. I don't want to make you uncomfortable."

"Hi, Draco!" A pretty girl said from the compartment's open door, her dark brown hair in a loose plait. "Blaise and Daphne will be here in a few minutes."

"Hello Pansy, how have you been?" Draco asked. This girl, Pansy, didn't seem to realise that Rebekah was there. Rebekah waited for her attention.

"It's been good this summer, my family went to France for two weeks," Pansy said, plopping herself next to him. "They had the best loaves of bread there. Hi!"

The girl finally realised that Rebekah was sitting across from her, just as two more people came in.

"Rebekah, these are my friends from childhood," Draco introduced Pansy, upturned nose and all, Daphne, a blonde girl with a cute smile, and Blaise, a dark-skinned boy with high cheekbones.

Pansy and Daphne were both pretty, but they weren't Rebekah. They were pretty because of how they dressed, Rebekah was moreso because she acted nice. Draco and Blaise were both handsome, surely ladykillers when they have grown, but they didn't hold what Rebekah wanted yet. Though they all would be extremely useful.

"Hello," Rebekah wiggled her fingers in a small gesture that could be seen as a wave. "Pleasant to meet you all. Are you all going to be Slytherins?"

"Of course," Daphne said. "Best House. So who are you then?"

"Rebekah Potter," she replied, watching their expressions change slightly. Pansy curled her lip but didn't say anything, while Daphne simply nodded, and Blaise smiled. She nodded her head in a small bow, her lips tugged into a smug smile. "Nice to meet you."

Soon enough, when the trip was halfway done, The small group of five donned their uniforms. Rebekah changed into a fitted white shirt tucked into a fitted black skirt. She fastened her plain tie on, slipped her matte black oxford shoes and shrugged the plain black robe on over a blazer under it. Her hair was pulled into a sleek, low ponytail. Her wand was tucked in a hidden compartment in her left sleeve, letting her have easy access.

First-years had to wear their robes on the first night, just as the rest of the school had to. After today, they would be allowed to change into their blazers if wished.

After changing, they walked the length of the train, seeing older years who knew their families. Some greeted them, others sneered, but no one noticed who Rebekah was luckily.

They passed a compartment with two people in it, only stopping when they were seen.

"You're First years?" the ginger boy asked. "What're your names?"

Draco smirked, "no need to ask who you are. Draco, Draco Malfoy."

Then the ginger boy sneered, "And now I don't care. I don't deal with Malfoys."

"Father told me all the Weasleys have red hair, freckles, and more children than they can afford," Draco said. "And no manners to boot. Makes sense when there's too many of you lot around."

"Better my lot than the likes of you, Malfoy,"

"Why's there tension between your families?" Rebekah asked.

"The Weasleys are blood traitors, preferring Muggles over their own kind," Pansy said curtly like it was common knowledge.

"There's nothing wrong with Muggles," she said back. "My Muggle relatives are good people."

"Yeah, yours might be," Blaise said. "But there are other people who aren't."

A rat scurried out of the boy's pockets and he scrambled to get it back, "Scabbers, come back here!"

Emperor saw the rat, lunging for it instantly. The boy swatted the cat away and Rebekah grabbed her feline companion before he could inflict any damage.

"Leave my cat alone," she scowled at him, hugging Emperor close to her. "He's done nothing wrong."

"He attacked Scabbers!"

"We're allowed to bring Cats, owls and toads. Not rats,"

"Well, he's better behaved than your wretched cat," he snapped at her.

"Of course, the Weasley family would be too poor to afford a proper animal," Pansy said. "A rat from the road would be good enough for them."

"We're not too poor!" the boy insisted. "Just because I don't get as much money as you get from your filthy parents."

Rebekah scrunched up her nose, "Let's go. I don't deal with rabble."

"Rabble?" he laughed. "Says the girl with them."

"Nothing wrong with them," Rebekah looked him down. "At least I don't insult people's parents."

He lifted his nose, "Who're you?"

"Since it's all the same with you," she stuck her nose up too. "I'm not telling you."

"We will be reaching Hogwarts within five minutes, leave all belongings and pets on the train, they will be transported separately."

"Let's go," Blaise nodded away, and they left for their compartment and got ready to leave the train.

The large group of first years, perhaps forty eleven-year-olds shuffled their way down a narrow and dark path, down to eleven boats that sat on a beautiful lake. They were hurried on, four to a boat, though Rebekah sat with Draco and Emperor in a boat. The boats swayed their way on the smooth, glass-like lake, towards the cliff that held Hogwarts.

Rebekah glided a hand over the crisp waters, feeling the life under the blue-hued lake. Something twirled around her hand as she dipped it further in, almost slimy but yet smooth and soft. When the touching stopped, she pulled her hand out and waved the water off. The touch wasn't unpleasant but slightly unnerving.

They filed off the boats, Emperor shrunk down to the size of a kitten and climbed into her hood, refusing to be left behind. The group of eleven-year-old scrambled up a passageway, coming onto smooth, damp grass in the shadows of the castle. They came up a flight of stone steps, crowding around the large oak door.

After three long knocks at the door, it flew open to reveal a stern-looking, black-haired Witch in jade robes. She opened another door to the entrance hall, large enough to hold the Dursleys' house. The forty children were sent down and into a small side chamber, to prepare themselves and await their allowance into the Great Hall.

"Welcome to Hogwarts," Professor McGonagall said. "The start-of-term banquet will begin soon before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your Houses. The Sorting is an important ceremony because your House will be like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your House, sleep in your House dormitory, and spend free time in your House common room.

"The Houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each House has its own noble history and has produced outstanding witches and Wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn House points, while any rule-breaking will lose House points. At the end of the year, the House with the most points is awarded the House Cup, a great honour. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever House becomes yours.

"The sorting ceremony will start soon, smarten yourselves up and then it will begin."

About a dozen ghosts decided to appear, startling the young students. There was a plump one, one was a monk, one had ruffles and tights, and one was headless with his head tied to his neck by a thread of flesh.

"Move along now," Professor McGonagall's sharp voice said, guiding them towards the entrance. "Form a line, and follow me."

Draco led Rebekah into the line with a head jolt, Blaise stood in front of Draco with Pansy in front. Daphne followed behind Rebekah.

"Hey, it will be alright," Daphne said, noticing the slightly worried look on her face. "They will place a hat on our heads and it will shout out the house, then we join them and they congratulate us."

"We don't get told much, do we?" Rebekah nodded before adding, "They should have told us more than what the letter had told. I did not even know that Hogwarts existed a month ago. I am just nervous and a bit annoyed, I really like being informed of things."

"Understandable, I knew about Magic and Hogwarts since I was young," Daphne said, Draco nodded from in front as they came to the end. "I think the sorting is about to begin."

And Daphne was right, the sorting began with the hat singing, which Rebekah ignored its awful tune. It was a minute or so long, telling the ancient tales of Hogwarts' history.

"When your name is called, you will sit on the stool and put on the hat, it will sort you into your House," McGonagall began and then she called out the first name. "Abbott, Hannah!"

A girl came out of the crowd, Rebekah's eyes trailed her as she sat on the stool and was sorted. "Hufflepuff!"

Rebekah continued talking with Daphne and Pansy, that was until Daphne Greengrass was called up and sorted. Pansy would be sorted just before Rebekah, Pansy's name was before hers. Daphne was sorted into Slytherin, along with Draco, Theodore Nott, Vincent Crabbe, and Gregory Goyle.

"Wish me luck," Pansy said as she was called.

"You won't need it," Rebekah giggled lightly. "I'll be there in a few moments."

Pansy Parkinson was sorted into Slytherin, a round of applause from the school. Whispers were ensured when Rebekah Potter was called.

"Potter, did she say?" Whispered the student body, "The Rebekah Potter?"

Rebekah didn't stumble, trip or falter in her steps as she came and sat on the stool, her back like an iron rod. The sorting hat almost hummed on her head, silent for a moment and then yelled, "SLYTHERIN!" as loud as it could.

The Slytherin table clapped the loudest, huge and most menacing grins aimed at the Gryffindors. She came to sit between an older year who clapped her on the shoulder, and Daphne, Pansy across from her.

"Let them think what they want," The older year said, "Adrian Pucey. They'll rethink that when you show 'em what you can do."

"Well, of course, and I haven't even started," Rebekah said. "Rebekah Potter. Pleasure, I'm sure."

"Dumbledore's about to do his thing again," An older girl nudged Pucey, snorting slightly and Pucey joined her.

"Welcome! Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts!" Dumbledore said, his beard placed over his shoulder. "Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!"

"Is he normally this strange?" Rebekah asked the older girl, Rachel Zimmer.

"He's a Gryffindor lover, he will do anything to help them. He's not right in the head," She nodded, scowling at the tips of her grin. "Go on and eat now."

Dozens of different fruit bowls, loaves of bread, meat and poultry appeared before Rebekah's eyes. Golden plates, knives, forks and spoons glistened with mouthwatering food.

It wasn't like the Dursleys didn't feed her, in fact, she ate handsomely in their home. They allowed her any meal, cooking for her and allowing her to use the kitchen. No meat touched her plate, something she refused to eat was meat, meat and mushrooms. Hells below, she hated mushrooms.

Her golden plate held seven fruits: strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, peaches, apples, oranges, and pomegranates. Dark bread placed against the bottom of a small dish of cream. Rebekah didn't realise she was this hungry, yet her stomach was upset and the castle knew. She sent a silent thank you to Hogwarts and then began eating.

Her robes and the blazer shifted colours, the lapels of both changed to an emerald green as the crest turned to a snake's coat of arms.

Snakes?

How appropriate.

)(-)(

While the common room was beautiful with its roaring fireplace and high windows looking into the Black Lake, Rebekah's room was even moreso. None of the Slytherins shared a room, each year having their own hall. I went to the door that said Dorms and found several other doors down the long corridor. The Sixth Year dorms were on the left while First Years were on the right. Further down, Fifth years were on the left with Second years across from them. Seventh Year was at the very end of the corridor.

She went in with the other Slytherins, finding their hall full of dorm rooms with their names on the door.

Her room was nice, even nicer than the one she had at the Dursleys. A four-poster bed sat against the wall, a sleek grey wood bedside table on each side. A fireplace sat to the left wall of the bed, burning lowly and with two bookcases on either side. A small sofa sat before it. The wall across from the bed had ceiling-to-floor windings, showing off the Black Lake in all its glory. Another two other doors lead to a bathroom, an extremely large shower and bath, and a walk-in wardrobe.

Plenty of space for four people, but Rebekah was delighted to not have to share. She found that both girls and boys were in the hall but since they had separate rooms, it was allowed.

Everyone's room was slightly different, designed for the person that stayed there. Of course by Magic, and by the size of Hogwarts, the castle had plenty of options. Daphne and Pansy, and Millicent Bulstrode and Tracy Davis, two girls she hadn't met, all had similar rooms but each had a slight difference. Daphne had a view over the lake with a canvas and paints, and Pansy had a piano that sat in a corner.

Rebekah wouldn't complain, especially since Emperor found his extremely large cat bed under hers. He wouldn't be tempted to sleep on her bed then.

There wasn't a lot to do so she unpacked until the knocking came at the door. She opened it, finding a Seventh year. When she glanced out of her door, she saw that everyone was being summoned by a Seventh year.

"Get dressed, something that isn't your uniform," Gemma Farley said. "We're hosting the first-day party. All First years need to attend. Initiation."

Rebekah tossed on plain black clothes and followed Gemma as the other Seventh Years escorted the rest of the First Years. Music came from the very last room in the first hall, leading straight into the Seventh-year common room. A light mist came from underneath the door and when Gemma got to it, she opened it and let them all in.

The Seventh year common room was packed with people. It was fairly smaller than the main common room but just as nice. A huge table sat to the left, holding all of the bottles and cups and some food. The lights were low and flickering as a slight green tinge came from the windows of the Black Lake. It set the mood and the music was good.

The music quietened down as all of them came in and suddenly the whole room went up in applause. They were cheering for their newest members. It was nice to be invited in like this, instead of how the rest of the school reacted to their sortings. By simply social observance, Rebekah could tell that Slytherins weren't well-liked by the rest of the school. Perhaps their reputation for tradition and ritual was the cause.

Then the initiation came.