8 Daphne Greengrass

While all this was happening, Snape was glaring at his god-son, even though he didn't care much about him, he still wanted him to be in Slytherin but seeing the Gryffindor's sword his hope was diminishing.

"Please, not Gryffindor!" Draco kept whispering, "Anything but Gryffindor!"

"Oh! Why not? You are courageous and bold enough to try to burn me in front of all the professors, I think you will fit well in Gryffindor." The Hat said.

"Umm... Mr. Sorting Hat, if you are trying to take revenge on me because of the fire then we can call it a truce because you started it first by nearly dropping the sword on my head."

"Che, Why do you wanna be in Slytherin so bad?" The hat asked curiously.

"Well I am a pureblood and unlike other houses, we pure-blood tend to stick together most of the time, even though Gryffindors are brave and courageous, but when it comes to sticking together and supporting the people of their own house they are not very good at it." Draco said, "And I am a Malfoy, you probably already know some of my family's history. I am pretty sure my people have murdered at least one family member of each people in Gryffindor so going there is a death-wish, I would rather be in Hufflepuff."

Draco knew from reading the books, how cruel Gryffindor can be, when Harry was suspected to be the heir of Slytherin when the Chamber of Secret was open not even Gryffindor chose to support him and he was left alone and when Harry was chosen to be in the Tri-wizard tournament, again no one supported him from Gryffindor probably except Ginny and Hermione, not even Ron. (kinda exaggerated it, but for the sake of the story I have to show some bad sides of Gryffindor.)

The real reason Draco wants to be in Slytherin is to pull the Dark wizards to his side, even though Voldemort is strong, most of his strength comes from the loyal Death-Eaters around him who are willing to kill and be killed for him and that's what Draco wants Loyal companions and since controlling the Ministry of Magic is also easier with the support of other Pure-bloods, with him being a pureblood himself, the Slytherin route is more plausible and easy compared to others.

The people waited and waited to see the which house Draco was going to be sorted in and after nearly 10 minutes which felt like an eternity the Hat suddenly spoke out.

"SLYTHERIN!!"

(Last chapter wasn't really meant to be a cliffhanger, I just got lazy and stopped the chapter there, It's in the title of the novel for Christ-sake.)

The Slytherin table shouted the loudest cheering for Draco. Draco stood up sighing a sigh of relief. He looked at Snape who nodded at him showing a rare smile, Draco nodded back in greeting and went back to the Slytherins table, giving one last look at Dumbledore and the Gryffindor's sword in front of him.

Draco was greeted by his seniors and fellow classmates as he walked over to the table and sat between Theodore and Pansy, The Slytherin's prefect Gemma Farley introduced herself to Draco as they shook hands.

Suddenly Dumbledore had gotten to his feet. He was beaming at the students, his arms opened wide as if nothing could have pleased him more than to see them all there.

"Welcome," he said. "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!"

He sat back down. Everybody clapped and cheered.

As soon as he sat down the golden plates in front of them were filled with dishes that suddenly appeared out of nowhere. There were many dishes on the table, roast beef, roast chicken, pork chops and lamb chops, sausages, bacon and steak, boiled potatoes, roast potatoes, fries, Yorkshire pudding, peas, carrots, gravy, ketchup, and, for some strange reason, peppermint humbugs.

"Hey is he a bit mad?" Pansy whispered taking a couple of fries and steak to her plate.

"In my father's words, Yes." Draco replied "But his every word had a meaning, Nitwit represent Ravenclaw... Blubber represents Gryffindor, Oddment represents Slytherin and Tweak represents Hufflepuff."

"Why are you not in Ravenclaw?" Asked a nearby girl.

"Isn't it rude to ask someone a question without introducing yourself first?" Pansy snapped at the blonde girl.

"Oh I apologize, I am Daphne Greengrass." She replied with a smile not getting offended, "I know you are Draco Malfoy and you are?"

Pansy snickered on the side not replying to her, Theodore seeing that started laughing, "I am sorry for her behavior, She is Pansy Parkinson and I am Theodore Nott." Theodore said as he pulled Daphne's hand to kiss it, but to his surprise, the girl pulled her hand back and gave a creeped out look to Theodore.

Draco was trying his hardest not to laugh, Theodore looked at him with teary eyes, "Hey, why does it only work when you do it?"

Draco couldn't hold back anymore and started laughing, "Hahaha... Rabbit-face you don't have the same charm as I do."

"Che... Charm? Have you seen your face? You look like the typical villain in a story, the one who kidnaps the princess away from the hero." Theodore clicked his tongue.

This time Draco didn't get mad instead he lazily waved the fork in his hand, "My dear Theodore, at least I have the bad boy charm, but for you... you look like the thug who gets beaten up by the hero on his first day of the adventure."

"Hahaha..." Pansy and Daphe started laughing seeing Theodore's face.

Draco then turned to Daphne with a slick smile and nodded at her in greeting, "I am sorry my lady for ignoring you, what is it that you want to ask?"

Daphne ears turned a bit red looking at Draco but seeing Pansy's face she quickly recovered, (Pansy's not a pug, she's a bull-dog, guarding Draco against other girls.)

"I just wanted to ask, why are you not in Ravenclaw? You are known to be a genius and everyone was expecting you to be in Ravenclaw, some students even bet on it."

"Everyone?" Draco asked tilting his head.

"Well- You know me and my friends." Daphne said fidgeting with red cheeks.

"So you bet on me going to Ravenclaw?" Draco asked.

"No, I actually bet on you going to Slytherin since we are from the sacred family, I believed that you will either be in Gryffindor or Slytherin. And since the bet was between Ravenclaw or Slytherin. I chose Slytherin."

"So how much did you win?"

"50 Galleons," Daphne said proudly.

"So you owe me at least half huh!" Draco said casually putting a slice of steak in his mouth.

"Hey! Why do I owe you?" Daphne asked looking confused.

"You used my name to bet didn't you?" Draco said with a sly look "So shouldn't you give me some compensation."

"Is that how the bet works?" Daphne said pondering a bit, "Fine, I will give you 25 Galleons when I get the money."

"Oh sorry, but I don't take money." Draco said, "You have to give me something of equal value."

"What do you mean?"

"I have everything if not money, so I have no interest in it."

"So what do you want?"

"How about a kiss." Draco said with a grin.

Daphne turned completely red as she didn't know what to say.

Draco who was grinning suddenly gasped, as both Theodore and Pansy kicked his leg under the table with a lot of strength.

( I don't really want to involve Daphe in the Harem but since people keep insisting on her, I wanted to at least keep a window open, in case I change my mind later on.)

As they were laughing and bickering, Draco suddenly felt a malicious gaze on him. Draco turned his head around to look who it was, he found out that the person was none other than Quirrell, glancing at him from time to time. Draco knew that the whole Gryffindor sword fiasco might have alerted Valdy and made him interested in him, but right now there was nothing he could do, so he ignored his gazes and continued chatting with other students as if nothing had happened.

As they were talking, suddenly all the ghost started flying around everywhere and on the side of Slytherin, a ghost came and sat. The ghost was very pale, pearly-white and slightly transparent. He had wide, staring, black eyes and a gaunt face. He was dressed in robes covered in silver bloodstains and carried chains, He was also wearing a curly powdered wig and carried a sword.

"So new Slytherins, I hope you can help Slytherin win the house cup for the 7th time in a row." He said with a hoarse whisper.

"I know you, you are the Bloody Baron," Pansy said looking at the ghost in front of them. The ghost just nodded and didn't say anything else,

"So why are you called the Bloody Barron?" Theodore asked

"Idiot, don't you see his clothes." Replied Pansy "By the way how did you get those stains of blood in your clothes?"

As soon as Pansy asked that the cheerful atmosphere got cold,

Draco quickly said, "I am sorry for my friend, she is just curious."

The Barron looked at him, "Draco Malfoy?" He asked to which Draco nodded in response.

"I have heard about you from other ghosts." The Barron said grimly, "I hope you can continue leading Slytherin to its Glory."

"That's the plan," Draco said smiling.

Soon Desserts came and it too disappeared, and Professor Dumbledore got to his feet again. The hall fell silent.

"Ahern -- just a few more words now that we are all fed and watered. 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."

Dumbledore's twinkling eyes flashed in the direction of the Weasley twins.

"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 in the second week of the term. Anyone interested in playing for their house teams 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 bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a very painful death."

Draco snickered when he heard that. 'Making people curious about the place by saying such things and expecting them not to go there, What a Joke!!, He does want people, no Harry to go there, doesn't he?'

"What do you think is in there?" Theodore muttered to Draco getting interested.

"Probably some creepy dark magic items" Replied Draco not wanting them to get too curious about the place.

"And now, before we go to bed, let us sing the school song!" cried Dumbledore.

Dumbledore gave his wand a little flick as if he was trying to get a fly off the end, and a long golden ribbon flew out of it, which rose high above the tables and twisted itself, snakelike, into words.

"Everyone pick their favorite tune," said Dumbledore, "and off we go!"

And the school bellowed:

"Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy Warty Hogwarts,

Teach us something please,

Whether we be old and bald

Or young with scabby knees,

Our heads could do with filling

With some interesting stuff,

For now they're bare and full of air,

Dead flies and bits of fluff,

So teach us things worth knowing,

Bring back what we've forgot,

just do your best, we'll do the rest,

And learn until our brains all rot.

Draco and Theodore didn't sing the song at all since they couldn't bother remembering the lyrics of the song. Everybody finished the song at different times. At last, only the Weasley twins were left singing along to a very slow funeral march.

Dumbledore conducted their last few lines with his wand and when they had finished, he was one of those who clapped the loudest.

"Ah, music," he said, wiping his eyes. "A magic beyond all we do here! And now, bedtime. Off you trot!"

Draco was wondering what games was he playing acting like a kid, Then Dumbledore walked away with the Gryffindor sword in his hand from the back door. ( I am sure there is one.)

Draco looked at Hermione who was staring at him, the other party waved goodnight to him and Draco with a smile did the same. Then the Slytherin's first year started following the prefect through the chattering crowds, out of the Great Hall. The entrance to the Slytherin common room is located behind a bare stretch of stone wall in the dungeons of Hogwarts Castle.

"Our emblem is the serpent, the wisest of creatures; our house colors are emerald green and silver, and our common room lies behind a concealed entrance down in the dungeons. As you'll see, its windows look out into the depths of the Hogwarts lake. We often see the giant squid swooshing by — and sometimes more interesting creatures. We like to feel that our hangout has the aura of a mysterious, underwater shipwreck." Gemma explained as they entered inside the common room.

The Slytherin common room was a long, low underground room with rough stone walls and ceiling, from which round, greenish lamps were hanging on chains. A fire was crackling under an elaborately carved mantelpiece ahead of them, and several Slytherins were silhouetted around it in carved chairs. It looked very homey according to Draco, he could imagine himself relaxing here.

Gemma then showed us the way to boys and girls Dormitory. Since all of them already had a long day, They said their goodnight's and went to their room. The Slytherin's rooms were huge and each room had to be shared by four people, luckily due to Lucius interfering, Draco and Theodore got a two bedroom to themselves.

The bed was an ancient four-poster with green silk hangings. And you could listen to the lake water lapping against the windows. Also, silver lanterns were hanging from the ceilings. The walls were decorated with Slytherin crests. Medieval tapestries depicting the adventures of famous Slytherins covered the walls.

Their luggage had already arrived there, Draco quickly went over to his suitcase and sighed in relief. Draco's suitcase was enchanted in a way that it could only be used by him. The enhancement wasn't done by him but it was already there, to begin with, With a little bit of blood from him, the suitcase ownership was transferred to him. So when other people open the suitcase they only see a regular one. (Like Newt's case.)

The ownership of the suitcase will continue to belong to Draco unless he dies. The suitcase is amazing but kinda annoying at the same time as no other people can go inside the suitcase without Draco holding it, so even Theodore and Pansy needed to get Draco's help, otherwise, they wouldn't be able to get inside it.

Theodore quickly changed his clothes and went to sleep whereas Draco opened the suitcase as let Owlbert out. Draco wrote a short letter to his parents indicating that he had safely reached Hogwarts and entered Slytherin just as expected. After sending Owlbert outside he quickly changed clothes and went to sleep as he was very tired himself.