Corruption
Act 1: The Raven Queen of Slytherin
Chapter 4: Sorting Feast
Lilith had decided she was going to murder someone, very soon, quite literally right now. If the damned bushy-haired know it all didn't shut her damned mudblood mouth, she was going to close it for her, permanently. The arrival of Professor McGonagall could not have come at a more perfect time, she was actively calming herself down and ignoring everyone around her as best she could. She hated crowds but thankfully the girls and Draco's friends gave her enough space while also stopping others from invading it. Professor McGonagall's words silenced everyone around them especially the bushy-haired girl and as they were led into the great hall Lilith gazed around at the wonders of the hall, four lines of tables separated by colour adorned with students from all ages and above them held their signature flags, she recognised each of the four houses from her research and even heard how the Mistress of Raven's had once offered Godric Gryffindor the chance to be her champion but he declined.
She then looked to the head table where, sitting on a throne of gold and silver, was an elderly looking man with a long grey beard and glasses. He sat relaxed like a king in front of his subjects and while many would think he would look grandfatherly and caring; Lilith could immediately tell that his eyes were calculating and searching despite his relaxed pose. She then scanned the rest of the table seeing the half-giant oaf, Hagrid, a half-goblin, and a few others she didn't recognize. However, the ruby eyes of Tom Marvolo Riddle were focused on her, and her emerald ones met his own and held them for a few minutes. He inclined his head slightly in acknowledgement before turning back to the conversation of some dark-skinned young witch next to him. Lilith and everyone's attention was brought to an odd-looking hat sitting on a stool as it started to sing.
"Oh, you may not think I'm pretty,
But don't judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.
You can keep your bowlers black,
Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.
There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.
You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
If you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;
Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folk use any means
To achieve their ends.
So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands (though I have none)
For I'm a Thinking Cap!"
"When I speak your name, you will approach and then the sorting hat will place you into your house. Your house will be where you sleep, study, and make friends and alliances through for the next 7 years of your Hogwarts tutoring. They will be your family for the rest of your time here," Professor McGonagall announced.
"Hannah Abbott," and so the sorting began.
"Hufflepuff!" Lilith tuned out the sorting until her friends were called.
"Daphne Greengrass!" The blonde walked up with pureblood grace and a small smile.
"Slytherin!"
"Ares Lestrange!" murmurs echoed as the girl approached her head held high.
"Slytherin!" Ares joined Daphne after.
"Delphine Lestrange!" The other Lestrange twin walked up, Lilith could see a slight falter in her step from her injuries with training and frowned.
"Slytherin!" It announced moments later, and Delphine joined her sister.
Draco, Theodore, Blaise, Pansy, Millicent, Tracey, Crabbe and Goyle all also got sorted into Slytherin, so she zoned out again waiting for her name.
"Hermione Granger!" The bushy-haired girl who wouldn't stop talking approached, talking to herself and appearing as if she were keeping herself calm.
"Ravenclaw!" Lilith figured she would end up in that house.
"Ronald Weasley!" Lilith paid some attention to the red head who was claiming he would be her best friend…
"Gryffindor!" He sighed in relief and joined the table of red and gold… where it appeared many similarly featured students were, his brothers perhaps.
"Lilith Potter!" The hall went silent, Lilith approached the sorting hat with Hela on her shoulder and sat as Professor McGonagall placed the had on her head. She noticed the ugly shade of red Ron had turned recognising her from Draco's train compartment.
"Slytherin!" The hat announced eventually, and the silence echoed, however, Draco and her friends clapped loudly after a few moments as a stunned Professor McGonagall took the hat off and Lilith made her way to the table where she sat between Draco and Daphne and across from Ares and Delphine.
More silence followed before Tom Riddle cleared his throat and the sorting commenced. However, everyone was noticeably distracted as their eyes gazed at Lilith who sat comfortable at Slytherin with the group of friends she had made. The most troubled person was Albus Dumbledore himself who was already planning to have her resorted if at all possible. However, his gaze turned to Tom who looked to have a smirk on his face. While 'Marvolo Slytherin' was respected and innocent during the war, Albus knew he was Voldemort and now the very chess piece they both coveted was within Hogwarts and Tom now had an advantage that Albus would do everything to take away from him.
Lilith remained passive in expression as Headmaster Dumbledore gave his start of term speech complete with warnings about the Forbidden Forest, the ban list of items the muggle caretaker had, the third story corridors being off limits if you "do not wish to die a horrible death" which sounds suspiciously like an invite for students to investigate…. Following those announcements dinner was served and everyone began eating.
Immediately Lilith could tell that the houses were different in terms of not only their core values but also their general habits. Gryffindor's ate like messy apes, Ravenclaws ate and talked animatedly especially regarding subjects and schooling with some even having textbooks out. Hufflepuff was more reserved, but everyone was smiling and friendly. And Slytherin? Everyone ate with practiced decorum, cutlery and plates were in order and no spillage was seen, everyone was sharing the platters and taking turns and the conversations were quiet and kept amongst what Lilith assumed were allied houses.
"Miss Potter, the Headmaster has requested your presence in his office after dinner," the drawl of a black-haired man with a hooked nose came from behind Lilith, she looked at him and frowned, he was sat a few seats down from Tom, Professor Snape she recalled.
"Can I request my head of house attend the meeting? As I am entitled to as a student?"
"I shall inform Lord Slytherin that you wish for him to attend as your head of house," Professor Snape sneered.
Dinner continued on and once it was over Tom Riddle approached her and gave her a nod of his head. The prefects took the rest of the students to their dorm room while Tom led Lilith towards Dumbledore's office.
"I congratulate you on coming to my house," he said.
"Thank you, Lord Slytherin. Why do you think the headmaster wishes to speak with me?" Lilith asked, raising an eyebrow at the older man.
"My educated guess is that since both of your birth parents were Gryffindor's, the Headmaster is going to ask if you wish to be resorted into their house for the sake of bettering his agenda. And while you are my student and we're in Hogwarts, Professor Slytherin will be fine," he said, Lilith merely nodded.
They fell into a comfortable silence as they continued to walk, Lilith and Hela taking note of the various magical paintings which seemed to be watching them with calculating gazes as they made their way towards the headmaster's office. Upon reaching the gargoyle that guarded the headmaster's office, Tom spoke the password and it swung to the side allowing them entrance.
The headmaster's office was decorated in the same red and gold the throne he sat on had been, with bookcases overflowing and various trunks, chests and other such items filling up the room. Lilith and Hela noticed and disliked the presence of the Phoenix who was perched in a stand made if gold and wood, a creature of life and rebirth vexed the Mistress of Ravens and Lilith felt her ire for the creature through their bond, yet both never reacted. Sitting behind a tidy desk with stacks of papers was Albus Dumbledore, appearing ever the caring grandfather he fashioned himself to be in the eyes of the world, the hero of the Grindelwald war who passed over political clout in favour of educating students. Lilith, however, saw it for what it was. Albus Dumbledore was a manipulator who preyed on the naive and vulnerable and his preference for being Headmaster was so he could spread his influence through the students as they grew up and create an army of loyal followers; of which her parents had been members of. Professor McGonagall stood to his right looking on with slight concern.
"Ah, thank you Marvolo. You may leave us," he dismissed, Tom made no move to exit and instead crossed his arms.
"I requested his presence as my Head of House," Lilith said simply.
"That will not be needed my dear, this is a simple matter that should be cleared up in no time," he insisted.
"Hogwarts' charter states that when a student is meeting with a faculty member for any reason, they are entitled to a witness should they see fit, usually in the form of the Head of House. As I am a member of Slytherin and I am unsure as to why I've been summoned as I am unaware of breaking any of the schools rules in the scant hours I've been here I requested my Head of House for this meeting as is my right as a student of Hogwarts," Lilith seethed, she held his grandfatherly gaze and felt a few pokes and prods into her mind which were swiftly defending and a slight wince was the only response he gave which he covered with a sigh.
"Very well," he conceded.
"Now could you kindly tell us why you requested a meeting with a newly sorted first year student, Albus?" Tom said sounding bored, though he had watched the exchange with great interest ready to step in if needed but he was impressed with how the Potter girl had conducted herself.
"Ah yes, straight to the point I suppose. Well, my dear, I wanted to say this away from the other students, but I believe your sorting mat have been an incorrect one. The Potter family have a long history of being Gryffindor's with both your parents having been sorted there before you. I thought it best to speak with you privately about placing you in the same house your parents were in. Professor McGonagall is the Head of House and will show you to the Gryffindor tower where you can settle in and - "
"No thanks," Lilith cut him off which surprised him and Professor McGonagall.
"What do you mean? Surely you would want to live up to their legacy? James and Lily always wanted their child to follow in their footsteps," he said with a frown.
"I wouldn't know Headmaster, as I do not have parents. The sorting hat sorted me into Slytherin and if you think that's a mistake then the entire sorting must have been screwed up and will need to be done again, wouldn't it?"
"Well… I believe that in your case…"
"Just my case? Why do you believe that only I was misplaced?"
"Yes Albus, why only Miss Potter? Why not say… Ronald Weasley as well? Or Cho Chang? Or Neville Longbottom?" Tom sneered.
"They are where they belong - "he began, Lilith could see he was starting to get angry and her not just listening and following him.
"And that means Slytherin is where I belong, as that's where the sorting hat placed me."
"The Potter's have always been Gryffindor's, they embody the house's core values," he protested.
"I'm an orphan, I wouldn't know. It's not like I've had any family around to raise me one way or another. If that is the only issue Headmaster, I believe we are done. It's late and classes start tomorrow so I would like ti to get some sleep," Lilith said, almost bored, she stared at the headmaster who was staring back while grinding his teeth in frustration, fingers twitching.
"Very well, Professor Slytherin will escort you to the Slytherin common rooms. However, should you feel that you do not fit in and wish to be resorted, you need only ask."
"Thank you, Headmaster. I will be sure to do so should I need to," Lilith said as she made to leave with Tom smirking at her, before she exited the door, she threw over her shoulder "oh, and Headmaster. My grandmother Dorea Potter nee Black was a Slytherin."
The Slytherin common room was located in the dungeons of Hogwarts, its password being 'pureblood' caused Lilith to roll her eyes though the little tidbit Professor Slytherin had given her about using Parseltongue to command it to open was something she filed away for later. She was grateful for all the darkness afforded to her through the dungeons and had no doubt her Shadowmancy would reign supreme here, at all times of the day.
"The Slytherin prefects are Gemma Farley and Marcus Flint, should you have any questions you may ask them. If they can't help you then you may ask me. I look forward to seeing you in class Miss Potter," Tom said gesturing to the two before taking his leave.
"Potter, come with me. The first-year girls have split into rooms of two, however, as the odd one out you'll be in a room of three with the Lestrange twins," Farley sneered, Lilith frowned but followed the girl to the first-year dorms.
Her room was at the very end, inside both Ares and Delphine were placing their personal affects when she entered.
"Welcome Lilith, your belongings are over by the bed there," Ares said with a smile gesturing to the empty bed which contained her trunk.
"Thanks Ares," she replied, setting her trunk up at the head of her bed before kicking it open.
"Is that an apartment trunk?" Delphine asked.
"Sure is, it has all of my stuff in it. I have the best wards and charms to protect it as well. My entire home is in here," Lilith said, Ares and Delphine looked impressed.
"Can we see?" Ares asked, Lilith thought about it for a few moments.
"I'll take you girls into it tomorrow. It's late so I want to sleep," she replied.
"Yeah, that makes sense, alright. Tomorrow it is," Delphine said, Lilith went down into her trunk for the night setting up her security system before tucking herself into her bed.
A/N: As Always, Pat. r30N is a fair few chapters ahead. I will be uploading chapters on fanfiction as I upload a new chapter on Pat. This way I continue to cycle new chapters through and as noted on "This is War" my best writing method is to write multiple stories at the same time so hopefully you enjoy all of them! If you do wish to follow Pat. it's /zyrakenzi