Harry Potter and the Green Snake of Slytherin

3.

A newcomer at Hogwarts

Hagrid was waiting on the platform in Hogsmeade Station to welcome the first year students as usual. He appeared to love that part of his Hogwarts job, it was always interesting to meet new faces, especially those that were impressed by a "big-boned" chap like him.

The train entered the station, and the students, wearing their wizard robes, were getting off the train clumsily, trying to avoid dropping their bulky belongings. They had brought a large variety of magical pets: owls, cats, rats and even toads. Their huge trunks, if one put them together, contained probably several tons of books. And the Quidditch players were also carrying longish, paper-covered objects that were nothing else than their personal broomsticks.

Whereas the 2nd- to 7th year students were already wearing clothes with the colours and crest of their Hogwarts Houses, the first years did not know yet into which House they would be sorted, and as such, their cloaks were a mere boring black.

Some students had noticed the tall girl with long black hair who was sitting alone with a pile of books in her own compartment and they were quite intrigued about her; A first-year boy wanted to know if she was in first year too, and she had answered, as detached as she always was, without any signs of annoyance in her voice "You ask too many questions, young man".

Avara had asked Draco Malfoy if he could leave her alone in the compartment. She liked those intimate moments, where she could find her innermost self and try to make all the pieces of her mind's puzzle fit together. It was also the only opportunity for her to concentrate and get a deeper understanding of the Hogwarts books : Durmstrang had such a bad reputation among the other Wizard Schools that she wanted to make sure she did not look too "evil". She spent a remarkable time reading the Defense Against Dark Arts books, trying to find a good motto to express her new feelings towards the Dark Side.

In the meantime, Professors Albus Dumbledore and Minerva McGonagall were having a discussion in the Headmaster's office about the newcomers. They always tried to pick out those students that were particularly talented. It was all written down from the beginning by the Hogwarts Magical Quill, which wrote each newborn Witch or Wizard into a huge red Register, alongside with useful information about their predispositions.

For instance, the Quill had written the following about Harry Potter "Against the Lord of Darkness, he will show his greatness" and it had mentioned about Neville Longbottom "Forgets almost everything, but won't harm anything".

Their attention had been caught by a handful of first years with interesting skills but there was nothing in the Register about the new fifth-year student.

And the reason was that she had been sent to Durmstrang first, so the rival school's Quill was the one that wrote down the memorabilia about her...in Durmstrang's Register.

Dumbledore asked McGonagall :

"Do you think she'll be a good Hogwarts student? Will she be able to make friends here?"

Minerva replied:

"You know that owl Igor Karkaroff sent me. One could not imagine a more dithyrambic recommendation letter"

"Ah? Really"

"She was the best Durmstrang student Karkaroff had ever met in his long career, he felt so sorry she had to leave the school. She had also great social skills, I think she will be making friends faster than you can imagine."

"But why did she have to leave?" asked Dumbledore.

"Remember her parents, Albus? They became very wealthy, and they want her to spend some time around the world, discovering other cultures... according to Karkaroff's letter"

Looking at her pocket watch, Minerva McGonagall realized with horror that she was almost late to welcome the new students: she had less than ten minutes spare time before the beginning of her speech. She rushed out of Albus' office "Sorry Albus, I really have to go" and hurried down the massive staircase, before it even thought of transforming itself.

Professor McGonagall held her usual welcome speech in front of the entrance hall. She explained the Houses, the Sorting, House Points and insisted upon good behaviour at Hogwarts. The new students were impressed, though actually paying more attention to the rumours that started circulating among them. Some first years had been talking to Avara and were telling other students about her.

But it was nothing compared to the murmurs in the Banquet room, where all Hogwarts students were sitting, talking about the new arrivals. The noise originating from the fifth-year banks was loudest.

"Is that true?"

"A new student coming directly into fifth year?"

"I've heard it was a girl, and a rather attractive one", said Lee Jordan from Gryffindor.

"Really?"

On the Slytherin bank, Malfoy was remaining silent, as he knew Avara would let him know what "big trouble" means if he did otherwise.

Dumbledore asked for silence, and the new students finally entered the room in their all-black robes. There were free places on each of the House banks. Every year, the Hat sorted almost the same number of students into all Hogwarts Houses. At the centre of the podium, in front of the professors' table, they could see an old, three-legged wooden stool, and on top of it, a yet older wizard's hat, dirty, torn and patched.

Minerva McGonagall asked Professor Dumbledore for a few welcoming words. After warning the students about all the lethal dangers that were awaiting them in the Forbidden Forest and in the Restricted Areas of the school, Albus added the following:

"Oh yes, and this year is a special year for Hogwarts too, because it's the first time a student joins our school in fifth year."

He paused consciously, then said "And now, let the Sorting begin!"

A mouth-like rim opened at the bottom of the old patched hat, his upper part folding as if it were an origami-mask. Eyes and nose were clearly to see. The hat cleared his "throat" and started to sing:

"A thousand years ago

The four greatest wizards of all times

Built a school for students to go

That would be world famous.

They were united but different

So each one decided

To build his own House

And the students were divided

According to their talent:

In Gryffindor the bold and brave

Who would defend their ideals

Until the grave

In Hufflepuff the sweet and kind

Who were also known

To be pure of mind

In Ravenclaw the clever ones

Whose wisdom was respected

As it would hurt no-ones

In Slytherin the sly and ambitious

Who were capable of great things

By being so malicious

So come forth

And let me tell you

Which house is the best one for you

Ha ha ha!"

"The Sorting Hat seems to be in a great mood today" Ron whispered to Harry, while looking at the bunch of new students.

Professor McGonagall rolled out her parchment and started calling the students in alphabetical order:

"Servana Abbott", a tall, red haired girl with big blue eyes stepped forth to the Sorting Hat. She sat down on the stool and McGonagall placed the hat on her head. "Hmm...Let me see. You belong to...Ravenclaw!" and the girl walked to the left bank of the room, where blue-clad students were waiting for her.

Then "Gerald Ashford", a younger replica of Gilderoy Lockhart, was sorted into Gryffindor. Harry, Ron and Hermione welcomed him quite suspiciously, but after talking to him for a while, they knew he was much more interesting than his role-model.

McGonagall then called "Avara von Argentum". Harry Potter had a shock, because there could be only one Avara. His heart started beating at a faster pace, and he tried to hide his crimson face from Hermione, Ron and the rest of the Gryffindor bank. "I must not faint, I must not faint" he spoke to himself in a mantra.

The great hall suddenly became very silent.

Every single head had turned to the podium, where a self-confident girl with scintillating, jet black hair and deep green eyes was walking steadily towards the stool. She knew she would be sorted into Slytherin, as had everyone in her family before her. It could not be otherwise, any House other than Slytherin would be a shame for her; she would have to kill herself.

Murmurs started growing among the crowd

"That's her!"

"I knew it was true"

"How does she get her hair like that"?

"Wow, she looks attractive"

"I talked to her," said Gerald Ashford to the Gryffindors, but no-one was paying attention to him.

Avara asked Professor McGonagall politely but firmly "May I...?" and took the Sorting Hat in her own hands. Minerva McGonagall looked at the other Professors, helpless. "Mad Eye" Moody could not believe his eyes and ears. Professor Severus Snape, Head of Slytherin, seemed to be receptive to Avara von Argentum's determination. She was really her parents' daughter, he thought. Draco Malfoy winked to her.

Avara put the hat on with her gracile fingers, being careful not to hurt it. The Sorting Hat had not felt anything else than McGonagall's fingers for ages. It started talking, and his mood was even better than a few minutes ago, when he was singing his song cheerfully.

"Aha. Interesting. A lot of determination, clearly. Great wits too, and a predisposition to power... But why not put you into Huffl..."

"What???" thought Avara, as if she had been stabbed in the back. The students could almost hear it.

"Ha! Just joking, young girl, you belong without hesitation to ... SLYTHERIN!"

The green-and-silver banks in the great hall rejoiced suddenly into hoorays, clapping hands, and stomping feet. Malfoy and Snape could not hide their pride and welcomed Avara heartily, as she took a seat next to Draco on the Slytherin bank. Dumbledore was looking puzzled. Even more puzzled were the students in the other Houses:

"A Slytherin, her? Who would have thought such a thing?" one could hear among the Ravenclaws.

"Why didn't she want to be sorted into Hufflepuff?"

"Who would ever want to be put into Hufflepuff anyway??"

Harry finally opened his mouth and told Ron "Look, that's the girl we saw yesterday in Diagon Alley".

Ron said "Yeah... I wonder why she has been sorted into Slytherin. That doesn't look good."

Hermione did not seem to care "Well... there are lots of good looking girls in the other houses, too. Why are you so fascinated, Harry??"

But Harry knew he had no rational answer to return.

The sorting ceremony went on after that turmoil, and all new students were sorted into their Houses. Though the three Gryffindors were quite busy chatting together, they kept an eye on the Sorting: a blond "Mary Mistletoe" was sent to Hufflepuff, a good looking "Steven Packard" took a seat next to the other Slytherins between Crabbe and Malfoy, a very strict "Mark Teller" was put into Ravenclaw.

Of course, they did pay attention each time a new Gryffindor joined their bank, among which "Carmina Woodbridge", a witty girl who sat down next to Hermione and started talking to her.

After the ceremony and the traditional feast, the prefects accompanied their students into each House's Common Room. The Gryffindors were standing next to the Slytherins, because they had to wait together until the staircases stopped moving. Malfoy headed towards Potter and Weasley, followed by Avara. She was smiling at Harry in the same way she had left Ollivander's the day before.

"Hey Potter! Let me introduce you my cousin Avara von Argentum. She'll be a great Slytherin, you know. Not like that bunch of dumb-headed Gryffindors like...Weasley the Weasel", he said, pointing at Ron.

"SHUT YOUR MOUTH, MALFOY" shouted Hermione, "Don't you dare insulting Ron in front of me!"

Somehow, Harry did not exactly want Draco Malfoy to shut up. He wanted him to tell him more. But in the same time, he was furious that Avara was his cousin. "What a nightmare!" he thought. If he wanted to learn more about the mysterious girl, he would have to deal with Malfoy.

And Avara was the first Slytherin he ever wanted to know better, there was no doubt about it.

Malfoy said "All right, all right, we're out of here". He and his cousin headed to the Slytherin common room, grinning.