Green Light in the Dark Chapter 11: Halloween, a harry potter fanfic

On the morning of All Hallows' Eve, Aurora awoke bright and early, excited to celebrate the holiday in the way she knew most children did — with a lot of fun and good food. Gwendolyn wasn't in when she woke, but that was hardly a surprise. She rarely was. Aurora didn't know where she went, considering she hadn't seen her with Davis and Drought much recently, but it wasn't her business.

While Aurora got ready for her classes, she could smell pumpkin wafting through the school even through to the dungeons, a pleasant smell that reminded her of Halloweens long passed at Arcturus' house. She allowed herself to miss it for a moment before she packed her books into her bag — she had Transfiguration, Defense Against the Dark Arts, History of Magic and Herbology today —and went to knock on Pansy and Millicent's door.

Pansy opened it, grinning. She had an orange band around the brim of her hat today, in celebration. "Happy Halloween!"

"Happy Halloween," Aurora recited back to her.

They went to breakfast together, remarking on the orange pumpkin decorations and the bats that flew over the roof. "I do love that ceiling sometimes," Millicent said, and Pansy looked at her.

"You're weird, Millie."

When they arrived in the common room they were greeted by Draco, who was looking very smug about something. "The initiation programme's been put up," he said. "We're to return to the common room tonight at midnight after the feast, with our wands. To be prepared to do whatever the older years tell us to."

Aurora grinned. Slytherin initiation was a longstanding tradition, always taking place on Halloween night. The first years had to prove themselves before they could be formally accepted as one of the house, and though Aurora had never heard of anyone being kicked out, she did not want to take any risks. No one was to tell anyone what happened in previous initiations, but Aurora knew she ought to be prepared for anything, and spent most of the day thinking about it.

Their classes were a bit more laid back that day, though McGonagall didn't seem too concerned by the class's frivolity, and Professor Binns likely didn't know what day it was. Professor Quirrel's class had been a bit of a free for all, as he seemed incredibly twitchy and nervous about something, even more than usual. "Maybe he thinks a vampire's going to attack him," Daphne said. "I couldn't blame it. It is Halloween after all."

"What do you mean you couldn't blame it?"

"Well, he's not a very good teacher."

"And how is a vampire meant to know that?"

"You never know," Pansy said, "they're everywhere."

Draco went pale and turned to his textbook, reading it furiously. Aurora laughed. "Who's a scaredy cat now?"

"Shut up, Aurora."

Aurora had been looking forward to the Halloween Feast ever since she got to Hogwarts. She even straightened her hair specially with a spell Daphne had taught her, and near bounded into the Great Hall to celebrate with her friends.

They all tucked in merrily, chatting excitedly, and then halfway through Professor Quirrel ran down the middle of the hall, exclaimed that there was a troll in the dungeon, and promptly sent everyone into chaos.

"Prefects," Dumbledore called over the din, "please lead your houses back to their common rooms."

"Is he out of his mind?" Pansy shouted. "Our common room's in the dungeons!"

"Bloody Dumbledore," Draco muttered under his breath. "I'm not going anywhere near a troll. Where are Crabbe and Goyle?"

The Slytherins were having a bit of a free for all. They weren't the only ones who had realised they would be heading straight for the troll if they went to the dungeons, and their housemates scattered in all different directions.

"Hang on," Aurora said, grasping Pansy's hand tightly as she spied two boys slipping away from the Gryffindor crowd. "What's Potter doing?"

"Who cares about Potter?" Pansy cried. "I'm going to hide! Come on!"

"What are they up to?"

"Who cares?" Pansy cried again, and yanked her hand away from Aurora, who wasn't moving.

"I want to see what they're up to."

"Oh, you're as bad as Draco!"

Aurora shook her head at Pansy, and surged forwards with the Gryffindor crowd, slipping along by the walls and ducking behind suits of armour as she followed Potter and Weasley. There were footsteps behind her suddenly and she ducked behind a statue, catching the two boys doing the same just as Professor Snape came around the corner, hurrying along the corridor. She narrowed her eyes at him. What was he doing here? He ought to be down in the dungeons with the other professors, especially since that was his house territory.

"He's headed to the third floor corridor!" she heard Weasley say, and frowned. That corridor was out bounds, but she supposed it mustn't be to staff. Still, why was he headed there?

She shook the thought from her head as she crept along slyly behind Potter and Weasley, until she was overcome with the most disgusting stench she had ever smelled. She knew at once, without even seeing the thing, that this must be the troll.

It leered into view suddenly, a grotesque, yellowed creature. Weasley was looking very white, and Aurora pressed herself against a wall as she watched it lumber into another room. She breathed out, eyes returning to Potter and Weasley, who were hurrying to lock the door. Good, she thought. Though it didn't explain what they thought they were doing going after the thing.

Gryffindor show offs, she thought to herself, as she hurried downstairs to the dungeons before either of them could catch a glimpse of her. Then she heard a girl scream.

Don't get involved, she told herself, but thought that if it was Pansy, she would have gone after her in a heartbeat.

With a great sigh, she turned and made to run around the corner, barrelling straight into Harry Potter. "What are you doing?" he said sharply to her.

"I could ask you the same!"

Potter glared at her. "Shouldn't you be in your common room with your Slytherin friends?"

She scoffed, looking down her nose at him. "The Slytherin Common Room happens to be in the dungeons, Potter, which you would know if you paid attention to anything. Of course I'm not there. That was where I was headed now." She narrowed her eyes, glancing between the two boys. "What's your excuse?"

They shared a look and said at the same time, "We're not telling you."

Potter turned around and went running off towards the room they'd just locked the troll in, Weasley quick after him. Aurora debated going with them for a moment — just a moment, barely a moment, maybe just a few seconds — but decided against it. They had it handled after all, and she wasn't going to go with them when they clearly didn't respect her. She retained her suspicions though, as she hurried back to the dungeons. They had no way of knowing someone would be locked in with a troll — so what exactly were they up to? Probably trying to wrestle it themselves, she thought, rolling her eyes scornfully. At least it wasn't her.

"Where have you been?" Draco demanded when she got in. Plates of food had been sent up for them to continue the feast, and so Draco and Pansy hauled her over to a table with Blaise and Daphne. "Pansy said you were spying on Potter and Weasley!"

"I was," she said. "They went after the troll."

Pansy laughed in disbelief. "They what? Really? Are you serious, Aurora?"

She nodded. "Completely."

"Well," Draco said, "I hope it breaks their necks."

She rolled her eyes in response. "Well, that would be rather a damper on the collective, so perhaps not. But it will teach them a lesson not to be so arrogant."

She didn't tell them about Snape. That was something that, though she couldn't quite explain why, she didn't want to reveal just yet. She was soon distracted anyway; once the prefects decided the first years were suitably well fed they were all sent to their rooms to await the call for initiation, while the upper years discussed the task.

Gwendolyn seemed very nervous, and Aurora wished she could have been with Pansy and Millicent instead, as they were probably having a productive conversation, but rules stated they were not to leave their rooms until midnight. She got only a little bit of sleep before the call woke her: the haunting hissing of a snake that ran through the walls.

Aurora got changed very quickly, pulling her hair up and grabbing her wand. She only stopped to haul Gwendolyn out of her bed, hurrying down the corridor alone.

"Good show, Black," said Lucas Yaxley — a sixth year Prefect — when she arrived in the common room. "You're the first girl here. Gemma, note that down."

Aurora noticed a chalkboard had been set up near the fireplace, with the names of all her yearmates written down. There was a white tally mark beside Robin Oliphant's name, and Aurora imagined he had been the first boy to get there, as a similar mark went by her own name. She took a tentative seat by Theodore Nott, who nodded briskly at her, looking a bit peaky.

"Do you have any idea what we're to do?" he whispered.

Aurora shook her head. "It's meant to be kept quiet, isn't it?"

It took a few minutes for the rest of her year to arrive, all twenty of them seated on the sofas before the fireplace. Room was scarce by the time the last girls — Sally-Anne Perks and Leah MacMillan — arrived, so they had to perch on the back of the sofa, and both received red tally marks by their names, as did Lewis Stebbins, who had been the last boy to arrive. Gwen whispered frantically to Robin Oliphant, who was growing increasingly pale.

"Right," said Ursula Flint, the seventh year prefect, when everyone had gotten seated. "Little firsties. You all know by now what it means to be a Slytherin. We are cunning, ambitious, and resourceful. We are also loyal to one another, at least in the face of others. I do not care of any petty squabbles between you all, nor do I care for blood disputes and insults about status. You have had two months to get to know each other and now you are a family. You may argue amongst yourselves but you must present a united front to the rest of the school. Understand?" They all nodded quickly.

"Tonight marks an ancient tradition. All over the world, witches and wizards are celebrating the most important day in our calendar, when the magical forces in the world are at their strongest, and the barrier between natural and supernatural, life and death, are blurred. For centuries, Slytherin House has initiated its students on this night with a series of trials determined to test their ambition, cunning, and resourcefulness.

"I am not saying this will be easy. I would rather you struggled to complete your tasks. And make no mistake, you will complete them, using any means necessary that do not venture into the unforgivable. If you are to break the rules, I ask only that you do not allow yourselves to be caught. Professor Snape understands our tradition, but that does not mean that he will be lenient with anyone caught out of curfew.

"Similarly, the knowledge of this tradition is to be kept strictly within the people in this room. You may never tell anyone what happens on this night. This tradition stretches back to Merlin himself." Aurora did not want to disappoint Merlin. "I would also like to remind you all, in the interests of easing health and safety concerns, that the troll that was in the castle earlier has since been dealt with and poses no threat. Please do not complain to me that you are scared, because, frankly, that is no excuse. Many have been scared before you — at the risk of sounding like a Gryffindor—" a few people laughed "—at least try not to be dreadful cowards.

"Finally, I would like to set out the agenda for this evening. You will complete three tasks between my say so and three o'clock in the morning." A few people's eyes widened: they were going to have to stay up until three in the morning? "You must return before three o'clock. After that, provided none of you fail, we shall have a party throughout the night. Please note there will be alcohol, but that is for fifth years and up, not any first years. Any attempt to drink anything stronger than Butterbeer will see you disqualified from Quidditch trials for the rest of your school careers.

"We — that is, the seventh years, and the sixth and fifth year prefects — will be evaluating your completion of your tasks and ranking you accordingly. Each of you has a place on this board. White tallies are positive scores, red are negative. Those to arrive promptly tonight already have white tallies — those who arrived later have gained red ones, as you can see."

Sally-Anne whispered something nervously to Leah, who nodded. "Your tasks are as such. First, retrieve a book from the Restricted Section. Second, create something connected to the legacy of a notable member of Slytherin House. And take a snake out of the Black Lake." Flint smirked at their astonished faces. It felt almost too easy, Aurora thought. She'd thought something a lot more intense and ritualistic would happen. "You must bring your three objects back here at three o'clock, when we will complete your initiation. Further information will be given at the time. Do you all have your wands?" They all nodded. "Good. Now, begin. And remember, anything goes — but be careful. Not everything can be trusted."

No one quite knew what to do initially. They all exchanged glances, and then Pansy stood up, slowly making her way to the door. The rest followed, splintering into small clusters when they left the common room — Draco with Crabbe and Goyle; Pansy with Daphne, Lucille and Millicent; Blaise, Theodore and Stebbins together; Gwendolyn with Robin Oliphant; Davis and Drought; Leah MacMillan, Sally-Anne Perks, and Apollo Jones. Pansy called Aurora over to join the other girls, but she shook her head. While working together might accomplish the first and third tasks, the second was something that she wanted to do herself.

Creeping her way silently to the library, Aurora ran over a list of the most famous Slytherin alumni. Slytherin himself, of course, then Merlin and Morgana. They would be obvious choices, everyone would do something related to them. She wanted someone no one else would think of.

There was Leta Lestrange, who had played a role in the downfall of Grindelwald — though few liked to admit it. The Bloody Baron was another alumni no one would think of, because he was completely terrifying. She contemplated Snape, but thought that was a little too close to home, and her idea to create a de-greasing hair potion might not go down too well. Perhaps, then, Gwenog Jones, the Seeker of the Holyhead Harpies? They were Aurora's favourite team, and Jones had taken the Harpies on to great victories. She was known for her brilliant violet robes, but also for her brilliance in catching the Snitch. But what of her legacy, with relation the the house? Well, she'd won them four successive Quidditch Cups, but had also been known for her skill in the school's old Duelling Club.

She decided upon Jones, but left the thought aside for now. The first task would be to get a book, but everyone would be going to the Restricted Section at the same time, and she had no idea how she was meant to get in. The snake it was.

She used the passage at the far side of the dungeon which most people didn't know about, but which led to near the edge of the lake. The night was very cold, and she wished her dressing gown was warmer, but there was nothing she could do about it now.

Aurora crouched by the end of the lake, looking out into the darkness and letting her eyes adjust. She cast a dim lumos spell. How was she going to get a snake out of the lake? She didn't even know there were snakes in the lake. They had to be in the shallow parts, surely, which was why she had never seen any from the window in the common room.

She pointed her wand closer to the reeds, keeping her eyes peeled for any sound of movement. An owl hooted loudly nearby and Aurora jumped, heart pounding. She'd never admit she was scared out here, but she was beginning to consider if going with the girls would have been a better idea. She fancied her chances with five of them much better.

Still there was nothing she could do about it now. Aurora peered into the lake, making her wandlight as bright as she could, and then — there. Something snakelike moving. It was near her, and it wasn't going away, but she didn't know how to capture it. Was it venomous? Would it bite her anyway? Would it squeeze her until it crushed all the bones in her body? That was a horrid thought.

How to call the snake though? She put her teeth together and made a very bad, very horrible hissing noise. The snake wriggled away, and she felt rather foolish. It probably wasn't even a snake. More likely an eel. Did they even have snakes in Scotland? She knew Saint Patrick had gotten rid of them in Ireland, had someone else done the same in Scotland? Surely they did have snakes, otherwise they wouldn't be given this task. Except hadn't Flint said that not everything was at it seemed? Aurora thought over her wording very carefully.

She only had to take a snake out of the lake. It didn't necessarily have to have been from the lake in the first place. And luckily for her, she knew a spell to summon a snake.

"Serpensortia," Aurora whispered, imagining very clearly a flat, non-venomous, non-dangerous snake, and though her wandlight disappeared, she could see the faint shape of a snake fly from the top of her wand. It splashed down into the lake and Aurora grabbed it. The snake wriggled a little, then met her eyes and bobbed its head. It appreciated its maker.

"Stay with me," Aurora whispered, though she didn't think the snake could understand. The snake wound around her wrist but didn't make any attempt to crush her, which was a good sign. Beaming, Aurora hurried back towards the castle, looking at the clock tower. It was almost one o'clock now. She had best get to the library quickly and then get to work on task number two.

Any book from the Restricted Section would do, but one that would help her with her creation would be much better, and she thought the upper years would appreciate that thought. She had to decide quickly on what to create, she thought, hurrying back into the dungeons. Gwenog Jones. What could she do to do with Gwenog Jones?

Then she had to stifle a gasp. How had she forgotten? Agrippa. Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa solidified the concept of Pythagorean Arithmancy and was the first to apply it to the Latin alphabet in the sixteenth century. He was a Slytherin, too.

An idea started to form in her head. Pythagorean Arithmancy allowed for the study of one's strengths and weaknesses through the study of their heart, life and character numbers. In an Agrippan triangle, the heart would be a top point with life and character either side, but she wanted to go a step further. An Agrippan pyramid, with three descending sides, was to feature a hole in the upward point through which a part of the witch or wizard would be inserted into the hollow shape. Generally, hair was used, but the end product was meant to give the user temporary protection. Hers would be weak, she knew that, for while she had read a lot of Arithmancy she was yet to properly study it, but the attempt and the ambition she thought would be appreciated.

So her book would be about Agrippan pyramids. She had to get into the Restricted Section first.

When she arrived at the library, the door was already unlocked and ajar, and she could hear quiet voices from inside. "You do it," Draco was hissing at Crabbe and Goyle.

"Why us?"

"Because I'm telling you to."

"What if we get caught?"

"Then I'll run for it."

Aurora rolled her eyes and popped her head out from behind a shelf. "Is it unlocked?"

Draco jumped, turning around. "There you are! How'd you get a snake already?"

"I went there first. Seems I was the only one."

"But how?"

She smirked. "That's between me and Mr Slytherin. If you'll excuse me."

She made to step forward into the Restricted Section, then stopped. "If it's unlocked, why haven't you gone in already?"

Draco looked nervous. "There's a jinx on it. Lucille got her legs locked, and Millicent came out in boils. Then Blaise tried, and it set off a Caterwhauling Charm and we all had to make a run for it."

"Hmm." Aurora bent down by the edge of the Restricted Section. Sure enough, there was a faint and shimmering blue ring around it. "So has no one gotten a book yet?"

"Lucille, Daphne, Millicent and Pansy all did. Pansy and Daphne got the other two to get their books, but if the Caterwhauling Charm goes off again..."

Aurora nodded. "So it can detect us?" She narrowed her eyes, stroking the scales of the snake on her arm. "I wonder about a snake."

Draco's eyes widened. "No! But they told us to go here first!"

"Flint didn't specify when we completed each task," Aurora reminded him. She turned to the snake. It was effectively a golem and an extension of her magic, which meant she did have some element of control over it, as shown by the fact it had come quite happily to wrap around her arm. "Snake," she whispered. It lifted its head and hissed. It didn't sound too menacing, at least. "Find me a book on Agrippan Pyramids." The snake blinked at her lazily. She glared. "Now."

With a hiss, the snake unravelled itself from around her arm and slid onto the floor, gliding right through the ring of enchantments quite unharmed. No jinxes seemed to have been set off by it, and after a few very nerve-wracking minutes, the snake returned with a book on Agrippan Pyramids snatched in its jaws. Aurora picked the book out and tapped the snake happily on the head. "Thank you very much."

"Can he get ours?"

Aurora smirked at Draco. "Get your own snake, Draco. I'm going to complete my final task."

She felt quite a rush walking out of there, having just gotten one over on her cousin, who was still staring after her. Much as she loved him, she also loved winning — and they had been told to use any means to do it. She was so happy that she almost missed the cloaked figure coming around the corner.

There was a strange shadow around it, one that didn't seem quite natural. It was like its shadow didn't seem to want to follow its owner. Aurora pressed against the wall, and her snake hissed. The cloaked figure froze, and Aurora held her breath. Then there was a hissing noise back. She could have leapt out of her skin. It was like the snake and the cloaked figure were having a conversation, and for a long few minutes, Aurora stood completely still, hardly daring to breathe until the cloaked figure moved off.

She ran as quietly as she could back to the common room. The clock on the mantel read half past one, which left her time to make a half decent pyramid. Grinning, she waved to the upper years who asked how she was doing. "Good show, Black," said Farley. "Get on with the last one."

With a grin, she hurried back to her room where she emptied her trunk of everything Arithmancy related, and started to calculate her three numbers. The first heart number, which identified magical strength, was calculated by adding the numbers of the vowels in her full name. The letter 'a' represented one, so she put all those together to make three. 'U' and 'O' represented three and six respectively, making nine and then twelve. She added those together to create three, and scribbled it down.

When it came to her life number — which calculated physical strength — she put together the number values of her consonants. Two 'r's, each representing nine, made eighteen. 'B' and 'l' made five out together, and 'c' and 'k' added to create the same sum. Adding ten and eighteen made twenty eight, and two and eight were ten, which reduced to one.

The combination of consonant and vowel values made the character number, which represented the strength of her soul. That was a four. She wrote the three number on a piece of parchment, evenly spaced out and at perfect angles measured with her protractor. She knew it would come in handy.

She read the textbook as quickly and thoroughly as she could. It said that the bottom pane of the pyramid should be made of glass and left blank but reflective. Then each of the three remaining sides should be etched with their respective runes for heart, character or life, and the representations of magic, soul, and physicality. In the middle of those Runes would be the arabic number, with the runic symbol for those numbers above and below them.

Aurora was incredibly grateful to the book for providing the necessary runes. She etched them carefully with the cutting charm, and then moved to the page on Agrippa's spell. She had still to imbue the Runes with divinationary power, as well as two protective enchantments — one to protect the pyramid itself and the other to extend that protection to the witch or wizard themself.

The wand movements for the spells took a while to learn, by which point it was half past two and she was running out of time. She placed the enchantments around each side as carefully as possible, and then when she was satisfied, she cut off three individual strands of hair, took the tip of the pyramid off, and carefully guided the hairs into the pyramid. Twenty-five to three. She considered the piece of parchment next to her. She still had time, and she knew just from touching the pyramid that it was not complete yet.

Twenty three minutes now. She bit her lip. Others would be returning already, no doubt, but she still had time. Practice made perfect. One more try might just make it better, and she could show them both as her processes.

She moved the first pyramid aside and started on the new one, cutting and engraving the glass carefully. She assembled it the same way, delicately, with the thinnest layer of spellotape and a little of her own magic just to make it hold stronger. Ten minutes.

She murmured the enchantment spells, putting power into every word. She could see the reflection of magic in the glass, pale blue and lilac lights that glimmered against the dim golden lamplights. Three minutes. Aurora took off the tip of the pyramid, cut off three hairs, and placed them carefully not just in the glass pyramid, but so that they clung to the inside edges. A minute and a half. She sealed the final bonding enchantment, picked up the two pyramids, wound the snake around her forearm, grabbed her book, and hurried along the corridor to the common room as fast as she could.

She arrived with approximately ten seconds remaining. The common room cheered. "Eighteen back!" called a fifth year. "Come on, Black, let's see what you've got for us."

There was a table assembled with twenty silver trays, in front of which were small name cards. Seventeen of the others were filled with a collection of books, strange contraptions, and vaguely snake like things. One was definitely a charmed bit of rope. Gwendolyn appeared to have twisted bits of fish net into a fake snake, which Aurora admitted was rather clever.

She set the two pyramids, the book, and her conjured snake down behind her name card. "Stay," she told the snake, who hissed in reply.

"Take your place on the sofa," one of the prefects told her, and Aurora hurried to a place next to Draco. "We're waiting for Arid and Gornsley to return with your other two peers, who don't seem to have abided by the time limit." Glancing around, Aurora saw that neither Sally-Anne Perks or Apollo Jones had returned yet. That did not bode well for them. "Speak amongst yourselves."

The remaining prefects and seventh years turned to have a very quiet conversation by the fireplace, while the rest of the house chattered loudly, returning to their party. The first years waiting anxiously for the verdict, and for Perks and Jones.

"So you got into the Restricted Section eventually?" Aurora whispered to Draco.

"Well, Goyle did. You might have seen his hair's gone pink." Aurora looked over and grinned. It was very bright pink. "We think it might be permanent."

"I think it suits him," she said, and Draco snorted.

"You were cutting it very fine."

"I know. I was done, but I wanted it to be better."

"I hope it was worth it. I came third, quite respectable. Pansy was first of course, followed by Daphne. Blaise and Theodore came after me, then Lucille and Millicent, and then Crabbe and Goyle."

Aurora wrung her hands. Now she thought about it, taking all her time might not have been such a good idea. What if they ranked based on who came first, like they did with their arrival? She wasn't the last to arrive back, but she might still be marked down for it. The upper years seemed to be having a very heated conversation, which upset her nerves even more.

They were only abated when, a few minutes later, Perks and Jones came back into the common room, escorted by two weary looking seventh years, who seemed to want nothing more than to go to bed. A few of the older years jeered, and one sixth year fell of his chair, to much amusement. Perks blushed as they were brought to stand before the fireplace in full view of the rest of their house.

The taller seventh year, Arabella Arid, went to speak to the huddled group of verdicts, while Gornsley remained with Perks and Jones, both of whom looked very nervous as they set down their books, snakes, and two very odd grey things that seemed to have been supposed to be swords. Neither of them spoke, but gossip immediately arose on the sofas. "They'll be last for sure," Pansy was whispering. "Those things don't look special at all, and doesn't Perks already have a red tally for being late to arrive at the start?"

"I just hope I'm not last," Aurora said nervously.

"Of course you won't be," Millicent assured her. "You arrived first earlier, and you remained on time."

Aurora nodded, but she still felt very nervous. She knew the initiation was incredibly important not only for its role in tradition but for determining status within the house, as well as gaining the attention of older years and potential mentors, which would then widen access to networking. She wasn't sure what exactly she wanted to network for, but it was an important opportunity. Plus, she wanted to win, even if it wasn't an official game. She wanted to be recognised for what she'd done.

It seemed like an age before the seventh years and prefects broke their huddle. The seventh years moved to sit in a semi-circle of chairs to the right of the fireplace, while the prefects stood in front of it, looking rather impressive altogether like that.

"First years," said Ursula Flint, opening her arms. "Eighteen of you have successfully completed initiation. But there is one unfortunate pair who returned outside of the time limit." Sally-Anne Perks gulped. "For this they must forfeit. Tomorrow night, Sally-Anne Perks and Apollo Jones will remain awake through dusk, midnight, and dawn to complete the symbolic triad of tasks. Only then will they be officially welcomed into our ranks." Aurora felt rather sorry for Perks. She already seemed tired, and looked ready to cry at the thought of staying up all night tomorrow night, too.

"Perks, Jones, take your seats behind the sofa."

Looking miserable, both Perks and Jones trudged to the two rickety, uncomfortable looking chairs behind the sofas which the rest of the first years sat upon. "Now, for a more positive story. Over the past few hours, each of you eighteen have completed three tasks assigned to you. Our seventh year scouts have kept an eye out for your work, and we have been pleasantly surprised by the outcome and the methods. First, we would like to give some honourable mentions, and then each of you will come up here, explain your process, and explain the object you have created.

"First, to Pansy Parkinson, for being the first to arrive back with her tasks completed. You will receive one white tally." Pansy smiled smugly, casting superior looks. Daphne looked like she was seething. "An honourable mention, also, to Daphne Greengrass, for a close second — however, second is the first to lose. She shall receive no white tallies for that achievement.

"A mention to Blaise Zabini, Theodore Nott, and Lewis Stebbins for exercising the value of fraternity and remaining together in crisis while still evading Professor Quirrel." Flint's eyes glimmered. "A white tally each." The boys beamed.

"To Aurora Black, for being the first to take a snake out of the Black Lake and clever use of the serpent summoning charm, as well as cunning analysis of the use of language in our rules. One white tally.

"To Draco Malfoy, for his exercise of leadership in the library. One white tally.

"Gwendolyn Tearston has shown creativity and the use of non-magical means to form a unique answer to our task. One white tally." Gwendolyn looked like she was glowing. Robin Oliphant beamed and hugged her tightly. Aurora watched curiously, re-evaluating the girl.

"And finally, to Leah MacMillan, for both cunning and resourcefulness in sneaking fire from this very fireplace, in an attempt — no matter how ill-fated —to recreate Merlin's hellfire, one white tally."

They all applauded politely, while the older students called out congratulations to those who had gotten extra tallies. "Yes, well done all, well done all. Now please stand and present your work. First, Aurora Black."

Aurora stood up, head held high in a determined effort not to let her nerves show. Slytherins were meant to be good speakers. She went to stand behind her tray, and smiled elegantly, taking her snake golem and lifting it.

"My initial thought process," she began, "was to go to the lake first, as many of my classmates immediately went for the library. There are plenty of books in the Restricted Section, but I thought there may not be so many snakes in the lake. My process, however, was not to find a snake that inhabited the lake, as this proved a very difficult task, especially at night. Given the wording of the rules, I decided to summon a snake instead, let it fall into the lake, and then take it out." A fourth year laughed appreciatively. Emboldened by this, Aurora went on. "The snake conjured acts as a golem and as such its summoner has a certain control over it. I got the snake to take a book from the Restricted Section for me, as it wouldn't trigger the trap enchantments laid down earlier. The book I choose was Agrippan Pyramids." She held it up. "Prior to entering the library I had already chosen what object I would make — an Agrippan Pyramid, to carry the legacy of Agrippa himself, a Slytherin alumni of the sixteenth century.

"I used basic Arithmancy knowledge combined with the specific instructions of the text to create the first of these pyramids. However, this was my first time doing this." This was the tricky bit, which made her nervous. Justifying why she was so close to being late. "In order to achieve the best results, I decided to create a second pyramid, as I had practiced the engraving and building process already, as well as the enchantment process, and so the second pyramid ought to be of a better and slightly more practiced quality. This process did take me rather close to the deadline of three o'clock, however I still made it on time, and I would prefer that to having a lower quality result." She nodded to indicate that she was finished, and set the snake and book down so she could hold the two pyramids.

Ursula Flint gave her an appraising look. "You may sit down, Aurora Black. Next, Millicent Bulstrode."

It seemed to take forever for everyone to get through their explanations, and Aurora could feel her eyes drooping. They still had classes tomorrow, she remembered. That included Potions. It was a horrid thought, but she forced herself to remain awake as Blaise finished his speech about how he had created chains like the ones the Bloody Baron wore, and he sat down to applause.

"Thank you," said Ursula Flint. "We will make our decision shortly."

There were a few groans as various first years flopped onto the sofa. Everyone was tired. "I would really love a butterbeer right now," Lucille complained wistfully.

"There are some on the table."

"I'm too exhausted to move."

Pansy laughed. "You're such a lightweight, Lucille." She stifled a yawn, blushing, and Daphne and Aurora both laughed. "Oh, do be quiet, won't you?"

"Attention," called Ursula, and they all sat up very straight. This was it. "Based on your explanations and overall performance, we have decided that all eighteen of you have passed initiation. We will call your names in order of your ranking, decided upon by our jury. Please note that this ranking is not intended to offend, only to assess. Beginning from the bottom of the ranks, Gregory Goyle."

Goyle looked rather upset as he got up, feet trailing the ground as he joined Ursula Flint, who gave him a tense smile. "Next, Clarissa Drought."

Drought looked very upset by this, tossing her hair impetuously as she joined Goyle. "Tracey Davis. Vincent Crabbe. Millicent Bulstrode. Robin Oliphant. Lucille Travers." Lucille looked furious as she took her place, but Aurora thought Pansy appeared quite pleased with the result. "Leah MacMillan. Blaise Zabini. Daphne Greengrass." They were all getting nervous now, tiredness forgotten. The first ten of the eighteen had been called; Aurora was in the top half. "Lewis Stebbins. Gwendolyn Tearston." Gwendolyn appeared slightly shocked by this declaration. "Pansy Parkinson. Draco Malfoy. Aurora Black. And Theodore Nott."

She'd come top — almost. Only beaten by Theodore. Aurora blinked in surprise, and then slowly but surely smiled as she took her place with the others. A great applause went up for her, though she couldn't help but notice the sourness of Pansy and Lucille, and of Draco and Blaise's pursed lips. But she had done this. She had ranked second, and while it wasn't first, it was still pretty good.

"Now," Ursula went on, "normally at this point we would have you all form a circle and join hands. However, two of your yearmates have not been initiated, and you must do the bonding ritual as a whole group. It is sacred to Slytherin. However, you will all make your oaths tonight. We begin with Theodore Nott."

Though she could see Theodore holding his hand out, to have a statue of a silver snake placed in it, she couldn't hear anything that was said. She supposed that was part of the magic. It was only a few minutes before her own name was called.

"Aurora Black. Step forward, Aurora, and hold out your wand arm. This is not an Unbreakable Vow, to avoid any alarm. This is a private oath entirely your own, a pledge of allegiance to your house, your family, and the legacy you will leave behind in seven years' time."

Aurora smiled assuredly as she stepped forward. She was a Slytherin, she had proved that tonight, and everyone here knew it. She was as far from her father as she could possibly be, and she relished in that. "Turn your palm to the ceiling," Ursula instructed, and Aurora did so. A cold silver statue of a snake was placed in her hand. It wobbled slightly, but Aurora was determined to keep her hand flat. Ursula smiled. "Repeat after me," she said. "I, Aurora Black."

"I, Aurora Black."

"Do solemnly swear, by the gaze of Salazar Slytherin himself."

"That I ally myself from this night forward."

"To Slytherin House, to my sisters and to my brothers, to my descendants and to my ancestors."

"That I will uphold the honour, values, and traditions of this noble house."

"That I will guard its secrets as my own."

"And that I will forever be known as a Slytherin."

"Long past these seven years, and long past my life."

Ursula smiled. "I swear and declare that I, Aurora Black, am a true Slytherin."

She couldn't help herself from beaming. "I swear and declare that I, Aurora Black, am a true Slytherin."

She could almost feel the magic in the air as her housemates cheered and applauded for her, as they hissed in that strangely friendly way, and Ursula took the snake from her to pass on to Draco. "Well done," she whispered. "You're our sister now, Aurora."

She couldn't have been happier. Her exhaustion was forgotten almost entirely as she went to join the older Slytherins, who offered her congratulations and chatted about her tasks like they had known her all their lives. Of course they all stayed silent for the other oaths, as was tradition, but Aurora felt giddy with the sense of belonging. "You may all stay and enjoy the revels as long as you wish," Ursula declared once Goyle had made his oath. "Tomorrow night get a good rest. We meet at dawn on the second to formally bond your year."

She smiled, as did all the others, and Aurora found a drink thrust into her hand. "To Slytherin!" Ursula cried.

"To Slytherin!"