Chapter 8

After one uneventful detention with Snape and the lesson he was forced to teach me, quickly concluding that I did in fact understand everything from the first year to third curriculum, I found the urge to explore Hogwarts.

I was used to sneaking around in the dark. Living with the Dursleys made sure that I was really good at it and I never once got caught out that I wasn't home when I should have been. Silver helped with that, keeping an extra pair of eyes out for anyone patrolling the halls.

Harry told me all of his stories, all the little details so it wasn't hard for me to go through the school and see exactly where everything happened. The one I was most impressed with was the situation with the Chamber.

The Dursleys had brought me to the zoo with them for Dudley's birthday, and I was there when Harry spoke to the snake. I knew exactly what they had been saying but I didn't say anything to Harry about it. I let him believe he was the only one to understand the snake, and I was glad I didn't tell him. He liked being the special one, the one who could do all of these extraordinary things that I supposed couldn't. His little superiority complex about his Magic was one of the things that had distanced us when we were barely into our teens.

The second year he was at Hogwarts, he had great stories to tell about the new adventures in the Chamber of Secrets.

It wasn't that hard to find either.

The sink opened out to show the tunnel just as Harry had said it would, but a set of stairs appeared instead. I shot a grin at Silver before we ventured down to the sublevel of Hogwarts.

The huge vault door sat there, slowly opening as I approached it. It shouldn't have opened by itself but it did. I walked in and stared at the glory of the Chamber.

The ceiling was glass and I gazed into the depths of the Black Lake. Lanterns sat around the walls, sets of rectangular and circular pools of water hid the pipes quite nicely. Even the pipes on the walls were covered with centuries-old tapestries.

To one wall, the statue of Salazar Slytherin sat on a throne, a fireplace between his feet.

The middle of the Chamber held a huge couch, long enough to fit ten people. I walked over to it, feeling the green leather on my fingertips.

It wasn't like Harry had explained. There was nothing gloomy or creepy about the place. I found it beautiful and almost enchanting in the way the light flickered with each wave of the lake.

I sat down on the couch, letting myself consume the whole experience as the night drew on.

There wasn't much to do tonight. I was caught up on school work, still got tested enough to see if I could do my OWLs at the end of the year, had Quidditch training on Sundays, and I still felt like I wasn't doing enough. There wasn't enough for me to keep occupied and I felt restless because of it. The need to do stuff, move, make, and create bubbled inside of me.

I was used to not doing much in school. I barely passed classes in secondary school and I didn't care. The Durselys never bothered to encourage me, wanting Dudley to get better grades than me but we averaged out together. He went to his private school, funded by his parents, and I went to the local secondary school.

I was just glad to be at Hogwarts, away from the Dursleys for the year. They were almost happy that I wouldn't be at home, or as happy as Petunia and Vernon Dursley could be when it came to me.

But Hogwarts was lonely.

And the sad thing was that I was used to it.

But it couldn't be helped. I needed to get out of this victim mentality I was putting myself into. I needed to stop feeling bad for myself. It wouldn't do me any good but it was all I could think of at the minute.

Harry's expression when I told him I was a Witch haunted me. I saw the jealousy he tried to hide. Finally, the fact that he wasn't special, that he wasn't better than me hit him.

I still couldn't believe my own brother hated the fact that I could be special too.

"Please don't cry," Silver said, sitting down next to me. "I hate it when you cry."

"I'm not going to cry," I told him. I sighed. "I'm just thinking."

"Sad thoughts, yes," He frowned.

I rolled my eyes at his tone, "Thanks. I'm just thinking of how Harry reacted to the fact I was a Witch. I can't get his face out of my head. He was disappointed in finding out that he wasn't the special twin."

"How do you know how he felt?"

"I'm his sister," I gave him a look. "We shared a womb for nine months and a cupboard for eleven years. He's not the best at finding what he feels from me."

Silver pursed his lips before tutting, placing a hand on my head and gently rubbing it, "You should go to sleep. You have the Hogsmeade visit tomorrow and you don't want to be late for that. If you're late, Finch might not let you go. He doesn't like tardiness."

"Yeah, yeah," I stood up as he faded into the darkness of the Chamber. I left for bed.

)()()(

By Order of The High Inquisitor of Hogwarts

All Student Organizations, Societies, Teams, Groups, and Clubs are henceforth disbanded.

An Organization, Society, Team, Group, or Club is hereby defined as a regular meeting of three or more students.

Permission to reform may be sought from the High Inquisitor (Professor Umbridge).

No Student Organization, Society, Team, Group, or Club may exist without the knowledge and approval of the High Inquisitor

Any student found to have formed, or to belong to, an Organisation, Society, Team, Group, or Club that has not been approved by the High Inquisitor will be expelled.

The above is in accordance with

Educational Decree Number Twenty-four.

Signed:

Delores Jane Umbridge

High Inquisitor

Almost instantly, Graham Montague, the Captain of the Slytherin Quidditch team, had our team approved. I never doubted that he would do it. Quidditch was a big part of the pride of Hogwarts and every House wanted to be part of the matches. Our first match would be in a few weeks, on the second of November.

As usual, all of Slytherin was waiting outside of Snape's classroom when it came time for Potions again. Draco held a piece of parchment, having been given it by Montague to give to Snape to confirm everything about the permission for Quidditch.

"Of course, she gave the Slytherin Quidditch team permission to continue straight away," He said to the other two Aces. "I'm just wondering if the Gryffindors will be allowed to, especially with their little track record of fouls."

"Fouls my ass,"

I turned my head, hearing Harry mutter under his breath as he came up to me with Granger and Weasley.

"Afternoon," I said to him. "Heard anything about Quidditch yet?"

"Nothing yet," he said. "Angelina went to ask about it but she hasn't heard anything yet. It should be sorted soon though. How's the snake pit? They been treating you alright?"

I shrugged, "Nothing out of the ordinary. Isn't there a Quidditch match in a couple of weeks? Gryffindor versus Slytherin?"

"Yeah," Harry almost looked happy about that. "Are you going to watch?"

I wasn't going to just watch. I was going to be part of the players but I didn't tell him just yet. No one but the team and the Heads of Houses knew I was on the team. It would be kept like that until right before the game.

"Yeah," I nodded.

The door opened and everyone filed into the classroom.

We settled in our seats before Snape began.

"You will notice that we have a guest with us today,"

He gestured toward the dim corner of the dungeon. Everyone turned to see Umbridge sit on a stool with a clipboard on her knees.

Snape versus Umbridge? This would be an entertaining lesson.

Snape interrupted my train of thought as he instructed us to continue the Strengthening Solutions we started last lesson. The instructions appeared on the board and we began. Blaise got up to get the ingredients again. He started to do this every lesson now and the only fault I saw in it was the fact that I could do it myself but he always gave me a stern look. I stopped complaining after the third time he did it.

I wasn't going to complain because I didn't need to get up anymore, straight away started to check on my potion. I added in the salamander blood when needed, keeping an ear out for what Umbridge was saying.

"This class seems fairly advanced for their level," Umbridge snided as she spoke to Snape's turned back, watching him examine someone's potion. "Though I would question whether it is advisable to teach them a potion like the Strengthening Solution. I think the Ministry would prefer it if that was removed from the syllabus."

Snape slowly straightened his spine, towering over her as he looked at her like she was a fly zipping around him.

"Now, how long have you been teaching at Hogwarts?" She asked, her quill barely an inch away from her clipboard, ready to make a note.

"Fourteen years,"

"You applied first for the Defense Against the Dark Arts post, I believe?" Umbridge asked him.

"Yes,"

"But you were unsuccessful?"

Snape's lip curled.

"Obviously."

She hummed, "And you have applied regularly for the Defense Against the Dark Arts post since you first joined the school, I believe?"

He barely moved his lips as he strode between the desks, looking at everyone's potions. He nodded at Draco's and Theo's potions before barely giving Blaise's a glance. Blaise was good at potions. But Snape stopped at mine and examined it thoroughly before turning back to Umbridge.

"Yes,"

"Do you have any idea why Dumbledore has consistently refused to appoint you?"

"I suggest you ask him,"

"Oh I shall," Umbridge smiled bittersweetly.

"I suppose this is relevant?" Snape narrowed his black eyes.

"Oh yes," She nodded. "Yes, the Ministry wants a thorough understanding of teachers' backgrounds..."

By that, she meant anything dark or dangerous.

"Miss Potter," Snape turned back to me. "I want an essay about the correct composition of this potion, indicating how and why each step is taken. Hand it in for the next lesson, do you understand?"

"Yes sir," I nodded.

"Five points to Slytherin," He strode away.

)()()(

Every other evening, after dinner and after my extra lessons, Montgue booked the Quidditch pitch for training. The more often I was on a broom, the more confident I became with heights. It didn't take long to get over my fear of heights but I was still scared to truly fall off my broom.

Only on the eve of Halloween did the session end earlier than normal. Everyone acted like it was normal, ending it at nine instead of the usual ten before everyone filtered off the pitch.

I went to my room, sitting down with a cup of tea and a book before the knocking came at my door.

"What?" I opened it to see the grinning Theo leaning on the edge.

"Get dressed," He said. "Something dark. Wear black and make sure you're wearing gloves too."

"What?" I repeated. "If I'm gonna be hazed again, I'm not going."

He rolled his hazel eyes, "You're not going to be hazed again. Besides, it's your first Samhain at Hogwarts. It's time you get back to your true Magic roots instead of that bullshit your brother is part of. Get dressed."

"What am I supposed to wear?" I asked. "What are we doing?"

He walked into my room without a pause, going to my wardrobe quickly before pulling out clothes. "Go shower and change into this. Make sure you wash your hair too, and no makeup. Cleanse yourself properly. You do know how to cleanse yourself right?"

"I know how to shower," I snapped.

"I mean Magically cleanse yourself," He said. "Easiest way is to imagine your Magic flowing over you just as the water does. Be quick. We're leaving in half an hour. Meet us in the Seventh-year common room."

I scowled as he left. What did he mean by Magically cleansing myself? I shrugged his words off and went to shower.

The hot water went over me in waves and I tried to imagine my Magic doing the same. I closed my eyes, putting myself fully under the huge spray of water as I felt it. A trickle of something under my skin, a small vibration, something warm and welcoming. It felt like how my Magic did in my hands when I used it, reminding me that I had it and it welcomed me.

I let my Magic do whatever it wanted and it took control as I showered, bathing myself in my cherry blossom-scented body washes and coconut shampoo and conditioner. I left the shower, not bothering to wrap a towel around myself as I towel dried my hair.

The set of clothes was still on my bed, laid out perfectly.

"You're truly becoming a Witch," Silver said as he appeared, giving no mind to my naked state. I grew up with him and modesty was useless with him. I remembered when I was younger, he kept me safe when I took baths since Petunia tended to forget I was there. He was more of a parent than Petunia or Vernon could have been to me.

"What do you mean?" I asked, dropping the towel I used to partially dry my hair as I pulled on my thong.

Silver ran his fingers through my hair, drying it instantly as he picked up the black turtleneck. I put it on without wearing a bra since I preferred not to wear one. He sorted my hair out as I pulled on my black jeans, black socks and then simple boots.

Silver clipped a cloak around my shoulders, setting it properly as he smiled from under his hood.

"There is no such thing as Halloween for Wixen, only Samhain," He said."You will finally see the difference between what is acceptable and what is true Magic. Don't worry. I'll be with you all night."

I nodded and left for the Seventh year common room.

As soon as I was in there, everyone who was sitting leapt from their seats. All of the fifth year was there, alongside Sixth and Seventh year. I saw Parkinson roll her eyes with a sneer. She nor anyone else had makeup on either. Everyone looked freshly showered, some even had their hair dripping still.

"That's everyone," Montague said. "Snape's already set up so we need to move along."

The windows morphed until a footbridge appeared between them, keeping the water away as we walked over the dark bridge and to the shore of the lake. From there, we went into the Forbidden Forest and that was when I truly caught up to the rest of the Fifth years.

I didn't want to get lost as we trekked through the forest.

A few people got really excited, grabbing their friend's arms to drag them quicker through the brush.

The Aces stayed a little behind and I saw that they kept their eyes on me as we walked.

I pulled my cloak closer around me, feeling the chill of the October air before we reached a clearing and everything opened up.

A huge bonfire sat in the middle and I saw people from different Houses there too. It wasn't just Slytherin that partook in what Silver called a true tradition of Samhain.

Everyone stood in little groups but as the Aces and I drew up the end, they all moved until everyone stood around the fire, leaving plenty of space between themselves. I just did what everyone else did, facing the fire in my own space in the huge circle.

The bonfire spit out flames and then a swirl appeard on the ground, enough tendrils that one connected everyone to the fire in the middle. Mine was barely an inch away from my boots but no one reacted badly to it.

Most people were actually smiling or trying not to as it started. I felt the need to walk on the swirling line of fire and I did, following what everyone else did. We walked on it, never feeling the burn of fire as we slowly neared the centre where the bonfire was.

We reached into the fire, almost grabbing something from it.

Everyone pulled out flower crowns, some had similar to their friends, others were completely unique. Mine was a flower crown.

I held a crown of thorns and I was almost saddened by this fact. Everyone else's looked so nice as they put them on. I just looked at mine, feeling the thorns prick my hands even through my black gloves before I sucked up my hurt pride in not getting something beautiful and put it on my head.

The bonfire rose up in heat as we barely stood feet away from it. It was hot but not uncomfortably so. It felt like my Magic, burning inside of me instead of on me.

The fire grew up and up until the flames were several metres high before it flashed a brilliant blue. A circle of fire appeared in the air for a second before it vanished and everyone cheered and dispersed from the circle we had created around the bonfire.

I tried to smile but the fact that my crown was of thorns while everyone else had flowers stung still.

Draco looked at me, pink protea flowers in his crown, "So tigerlilies, Viktoria?"

"Tiger Lilies?" I asked, confused on what he was talking about.

"Your crown," Blaise came to stand before me as Draco and Theo did too. He wore Black Dahlia flowers while Theo had white Gardenia flowers in his.

"Everyone starts off with thorns," Theo said. "Especially when they first start with proper Samhain traditions. Usually, it takes a few Samhains for a person's crown to change. Mine did after my third one when I was eight."

"Second when I was five," Draco said. "My family is big on Magical traditions like these."

"It took me five years. I didn't get mine until I was thirteen," Blaise stated. "I'm not surprised you got yours on your first try. Every Witch and Wizard should wear their crown, it's a symbol of our divine Magic."

I touched the crown, feeling the soft petals instead of the harsh thorns. I smiled.

"Good to know," I said. "Any more surprises tonight?"

"We'll burn the crowns at midnight but you get to keep yours since it's your first one," Theo said. "It's a tradition for a Wixen to keep their first true crown. A right of passage almost."

A rite of passage? A passage to what exactly?

There were so many different loops of Magic that I couldn't just decipher which ones they meant by simply speaking to them. I hoped I had a rite of passage to the right type of Magic for me. I'd need to experiment more with Magic before I could decide which I liked the best.

But I liked the Samhain tradition of flower crowns and fire, and then all of the food and everything else everyone did. Some even carved names into white candles, stuffing the letters full of herbs and spices before they ventured off into the Forbidden Forest to summon whichever spirit or deceased loved one they wanted to speak to.

I wasn't going to partake in that. While I missed my parents, I didn't know them and still didn't have any sort of attachment to them. If I had been older when I lost them and if I remembered them, I might've been feeling different about it.

I watched a lot of people walk off with their herbed candles, wishing them all the luck they would need to see the person they wanted.

Snape approached me soon after.

"Your first Samhain with us," He said. "Is it as you would have thought?"

"I liked it," I said. "It's something new. I'm glad they dragged me to join. I wouldn't have thought to come otherwise."

"I had doubted you would come by your own terms, so I advised the boys to retrieve you," Snape said plainly. "You already missed Mabon for this year but I was not sure of the reason. I assumed you did not celebrate since your brother does not celebrate any of the Sabbats of the year. I am pleasantly surprised with the fact you treated this with the respect it needed, even if you do not truly believe."

"I wasn't brought up with this stuff, sir," I said. "I'm used to all the Muggle holidays but I liked Samhain. It's nice to see a different side of Magic that isn't completely mainstream compared to what we get taught."

"The Ministry allows the traditions of Old to take place at Hogwarts if enough students want it," He said. "Much of Slytherin comes from Pureblood families and they celebrate them even when not in term-time. We need new blood in our traditions because they will be lost to the Muggleborn widespread otherwise."

"That makes sense. The less people that celebrate, the bigger chance of the traditions to be forgotten,"

He nodded at that, "Enjoy the rest of the evening. Do not go further into the forest without a lit candle. There is much that would not mind a meal during this night."

"Of course, sir. I'll keep that in mind,"

Then I was left to my own devices as I went around the clearing. There were tables full of food, another of drinks, and then a third had ice cream and pastries and all sorts of goods, letting students take any, bring it over to the fire and then biting into it, tossing the rest as an offering to the whatever.

I met several others from different Houses and year groups.

All in all, it was a good night and I was glad Silver convinced me to go.