Lorelei was the first of the trio to be called up due to the sorting happening in alphabetical order. The Hat was large enough to cover her eyes at this age, unlike the last time it had been set on her head and the voice she remembered whispered through her mind.
"Welcome back, Miss. Ravenwood, or I suppose I should call you Miss. Potter now." It said almost gently.
I've gotten rather used to Potter, which is likely a good thing. She admitted easily.
"It is indeed." The hat agreed, "Now I feel like I need to let you know that the headmaster was very determined that you be placed in Gryffindor like your parents before you. Luckily for you, while you would fit there well enough, it is not where you truly belong, and the headmaster has no power over where I place students."
Why does he want me there anyway? she asked in confusion.
The Hat seemed to sigh, "He has an expectation of who you should be, one that has little to do with who you are. There is a role he believes it to be your duty to fill."
She didn't like the sound of that, not in the least. The last thing she wanted was someone to try and tell her how she should live her life as the Keepers once did. She hadn't let them control her – not as much as they thought at least – and she wouldn't let the headmaster do so either. She would make her own choices whether or not they aligned with what another wanted from her.
"It is good to see you haven't changed." The Hat said with a chuckle, "Knowing that, there is only one place I can put you... Slytherin!"
As the last word was shouted for all the hall to hear, McGonagall took the hat from her, and she went to the familiar table of Slytherin House. Her head was held high despite the whispers that came from all over and the glares from some of her housemates. She couldn't care less what they thought of her placement.
Down the list the Deputy Headmistress went, until she reached Ominis name. His sorting was much faster than hers had been and soon he was seated to her right, having left a space for Sebastian between them. He was the one who needed support this time. The brunet boy's sorting was just as fast as the blind boy's, and he was happily nestled between them in moments, visibly pleased to feel them pressed firmly into his sides.
A platinum blond haired boy was staring at them incredulously from down the table, but before he could say anything, the headmaster stood to give his speech. At least, that's what she thought.
"Welcome!" He began, "Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!
"Thank you!" And with that he sat back down.
It was Lorelei's turn to stare at someone incredulously. They had gone from a headmaster that everyone despised because he didn't bother to even appear to do his job properly and only had the position for the influence it brought, to one who seemed content playing the fool. If it hadn't been for the Hat's warning, she might've thought he had gone 'round the bend! Why couldn't they have a decent headmaster for once?
"He's off his rocker..." She muttered under her breath.
"He certainly plays the part well." Sebastian agreed, "That's all it is though."
Ominis was quick to elaborate, "It's well known among the Darker and more neutral families that he isn't to be trusted. That more hides behind the mask of doddering old man than seems apparent to the public."
"That tracks." she sighed, "Still, if that's the impression he wants to give the students, I doubt he does much of the job he is supposed to."
Ominis scoffed, "Of course not. He has two different – highly important – political positions that take up all his time. The school is his last priority, but he has too many supporters to be able to remove him."
"I didn't like the looks he gave either of you when you were sorted either." Sebastian warned them grimly, "He looked at Ominis like he was the root of all evil and at you, Lorelei, like he was going to have a heart attack."
"I'm not surprised..." she murmured before lowering her voice, "The Hat said he had a few preconceived notions of who I should be and what I should do. My sorting likely blew all those out of the water."
"We'll have to be careful then." Ominis whispered worriedly.
Lorelei and Sebastian agreed softly. Immediate concerns dealt with, the trio loaded up their plates and began to eat.
The feast passed fairly quietly. There were a few murmured conversations scattered around the table, but no one bothered them other than to shoot them looks they thought were subtle. Perhaps they were and Lorelei was simply too aware of her surroundings for her to miss them, she wasn't sure. What she did know was that they didn't seem to know what to make of her and her closeness to the boys.
Soon the plates were cleared and Dumbledore – as she had learned was the headmaster's name – stood once more.
"Ahem — just a few more words now that we are all feed and watered." His wording left something to be desired in Lorelei's opinion. "I have a few start-of-term notices to give you.
"First years should note that the forest on the grounds is forbidden to all pupils. And a few of our older students would do well to remember that as well."
His eyes flashed to someone at the Gryffindor table.
"I have also been asked by Mr. Filch, the caretaker, to remind you all that no magic should be used between classes in the corridors.
"Quidditch trials will be held the second week of term. Anyone interested in playing for their House team should contact Madam Hooch.
"And finally, I must tell you that this year, the third-floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bonds to everyone who does not wish to die a very painful death."
Well, that was alarming. First of all, wording it like that meant that there would be many students who wanted to see what was so dangerous in that corridor. He was practically daring them to do so! Secondly, there had never been a location in the school that could be considered that dangerous that was easily accessible to students. The worst had been the Hidden Herbology Corridor but all that was there was some devil's snare.
Then, as if he hadn't essentially threatened all the students, he wanted them to sing the school song. Lorelei hadn't even known there was a school song. Worse still he told them to pick their favorite tune and sing it that way simultaneously. It was a horrendous cacophony that had Sebastian covering Ominis ears in an attempt to save him the pain, seeing as his hearing was stronger due to his lack of sight. She doubted it would be enough.
When the torture – for that was the only way she could categorize that no matter what he said – was done he dismissed them to their dorms. A female prefect whom she pegged as a fifth year called all the first year Slytherins to her and introduced herself as Gemma Fawley. She told them to follow her as she would lead them to the dorms. She told them the password, Kingsnake, and then had them gather in the center of the common room.
Before anyone could ask, their Head of House swept in and began a speech of his own.
"Welcome to Slytherin House." He said silkily, "I am Professor Severus Snape, the potions master of this school. There are a few things you need to know before classes begin tomorrow.
"Firstly, most of the school will be biased against you because you are in this House. This unfortunately includes most of the faculty as well. Due to this, you are expected to present a united front outside the confines of the common room, any conflicts are to be kept internal and dealt with here. First years should travel in groups of no less than three in order to avoid being targeted by other students.
"It is due to this bias against you that I will not issue any punishments to you in a public setting. Do not misunderstand, you will still be punished. You will be summoned to my office, and I will issue your punishments there.
"This coincides with my next point. Should you break the rules for whatever reason, do not get caught and if you do make sure it is by me. Should another teacher catch you breaking the rules you will receive an additional punishment from me.
"I also have a piece of advice for you. be discreet when it comes to any controversial views outside the common room such as pure-blood supremacy. It will not be well received by either your peers or the faculty. Should I hear you utter the word mudblood in the castle proper you will receive a detention with me.
"Lastly, I will be spending three hours here in the common room every Saturday should you have need of me. My office will also be open to Slytherins exclusively for two hours following dinner every weekday. Should you have need of me otherwise, inform a prefect and they will pass on your message.
"Are they any questions?"
When no one spoke up, he entrusted them back into the care of the prefects who lead them to their dorm rooms.
That was how Lorelei found herself alone with four other girls, two of which gave her dark glares, one was indifferent and the last gave her a friendly wave. She returned the wave but left the other girls alone as she headed to her trunk and pulled out her nightgown and toiletries. It would seem though, that her lack of reaction didn't satisfy one of the girls who was glaring – this one had a face that reminded her of a pug – for she decided to try her hand at sparking a confrontation before Lorelei could enter the bathroom.
"A girl like you doesn't belong here." she spat venomously.
Lorelei cocked her head to the side and raised an eyebrow as she responded drily, "Do you mean my status as a half blood, I wonder? Or does this have more to do with the public's belief that I am some sort of savior meant to usher in an era of Light?" she allowed herself to chuckle and shook her head, "If the former than I'm afraid I care little for your opinion. If the latter, then it is my pleasure it inform you that I have no desire to do so." She shrugged lightly, "Magic is magic, practice what you like. Though I do warn you," here her voice darkened, and she leveled sharp smirk at the girl with a dark look in her eyes, "should you attack me and mine I will respond with the same level of force."
Before any of them could respond, she slipped into the bathroom and prepared to shower. She had always preferred to do so in the evenings.