Outsider (Story of an Heir)

[Coldest of Flames]

Introduction:
Not too original, I know, but this is my story about my life at Hogwarts if I were the Heir of Slytherin. I'll post it in Chapters, so it won't be massive and too boring to read. (At least, I hope it's not too boring to read.)

Prologue

It all started late one December night in a hospital in England. Voldemort, who most wizards feared, and Tina Riddle, who most wizards had never heard of, were having a child who was to be the Heir of Slytherin. Voldemort was in an explicit disguise so the Muggles (non-magic people) wouldn't arrest him on the spot. The only reason they were in a hospital was that a Muggle happened to see Tina when she was about to have this child.

Voldemort had been on a genocidal rampage, killing everybody who got in his way. One night, about half a year after his daughter was born, Voldemort had been given inside information that led him to the Potters. He successfully killed Lily and James, so he went to their baby, Harry. He didn't have much luck with Harry. When attempting to kill him, he lost his own powers and was forced into hiding. Tina died only days later, leaving her daughter to fend for herself in a forest near their manor.
Later that night, a four-year-old boy with flaming red hair was walking around the forest and saw this little girl. For a minute, he just looked at her. She had green-silver eyes and hair that was a curious shade of blue. She held the key to vault 137 at Gringotts Bank and wore a pale green dress.
He walked up to her, taking her free hand and leading her to a grown witch and wizard who had his flaming red hair. They turned out to be his parents, Molly and Arthur Weasley. Mrs. Weasley looked at the girl curiously.
"Where are your parents?" she asked politely.
"Gone," the girl replied sadly.
"What is your name?"
"Diana Slytherin Riddle."
Mrs. Weasley glared at Diana, then whispered something to her husband. Percy, the boy, had not yet developed the ability to judge, so he took Diana in as his own. He taught her everything as he learned it, and she caught on rather quickly. Intelligence was a common trait of the Riddle family.
The Weasley family had many childred, and Diana was never accepted as one of them. She had to stand at the table, and she wasn't given meals. She wasn't allowed to access her vault at Gringotts until she was accepted at Hogwarts. Various things like that gave Diana the feeling Mr. and Mrs. Weasley hadn't taken a liking to her. She couldn't quite say the Weasley children didn't like her. In fact, Ginny was jealous because Diana got more of some of her brothers' attention. The attention Ginny got from her mother made up for it,.

[Coldest of Flames]

Chapter 1

Diana was standing at the table next to Fred, and an envelope landed on her plate. After ten and a half years, Mrs. Weasley decided it would look indecent not to atleast give Diana a plate, even if it was empty. If there was company, she insisted that Diana was a very fast eater. Most pretended to believe her, but offered her some of their portions.
Diana opened the envelope.

HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHRAFT AND WIZARDRY
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc, Chf. Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizardry)

Dear Miss Riddle,
We are pleased to inform you that you have a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find an enclosed list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins 1 September. We await you owl by no later than 1 July.
Yours Sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress

Percy wrote:

Professor McGonagall,
As you may already know, Diana has no parents. I, Percy Ignatius Weasley, am her current guardian.
Percy Weasley
Future Prefect

Diana smiled as an owl took the letter and flew away. Diana heard some stories about Hogwarts, all that made it seem great. All of these stories, however, had taken place in Gryffindor. None of the Weasleys had been in any other house. It was a preconcieved notion that Diana was to be in Slytherin.
Everyone at the table was reading their letters. Percy was simply estatic about making Prefect. He kissed everyone at the table and ran up to his room, likely to send owls to all his friends. Ginny got bored and left the table. Ron kept asking Fred and George what the Sorting was like. After about a quarter of an hour of pestering, Fred finally told him,
"It's a painful test that involves wrestling with a troll."
Ron gulped, and Diana grinned. She had already been told that you have to try on a hat that read your thoughts and put you in a house accordingly.

When they all finished reading, vivid conversation about Hogwarts erupted. They talked about houses, food, Quidditch, and other various topics. At one point in the conversation, the tone darkened a bit.
"Then," Fred started dramatically, "there's the potions master."
"He's also Head of Slytherin," said George.
"Snape," they said together.
"Must be terrible," Diana said with sarcasm.
"Oh, but he is," George assured her.

And they went on about how horrible Snape was for what seemed like ages. Diana went up to her room, which she shared with Fred and George, as the topic shifted slowly back to Quidditch. Diana realized that one of the things Fred and Georhe hated about Professor Snape was that he favored the Slytherins (and they wished McGonagall favored them). Diana figured she wouldn't have to worry do much about the wrath of Professor Snape.
She took out her notebook and quill and started writing. She wrote a lot, for it was something she enjoyed doing. It was sort of an escape for her. She wrote stories about places without Mrs. Weasley. They were wonderful places, at least to her. She also wrote poems about how she was feeling, some that she really wouldn't want Fred reading. She also drew in her notebook, but she enjoyed writing more.
She heard running footsteps and glanced to the doorway. Ron went the rest of the way up the stairs, and Fred and George came into the room. Diana just continued to write, minding her own business, as usual. Well, there were a few times she hadn't minded her own business, like when...

"Hey, Fred! Give that back!"

Diana chased Fred up the stairs and into Ron's room. She looked to Fred, who was grinning, and Ron, who looked fearful. She grinned, and suddenly, Ron was on the floor in a fit of giggles. He pointed to his trunk, which somehow caused him to stop laughing. His face was as red as his hair. Diana opened the trunk, where her notebook was buried slightly beneath action figures, mostly of the Chudley Cannons. The Chudley Cannons were Ron's favorite Quidditch team. The action figures ran off as Diana reached for her notebook. She got it quite easily, then she smiled.
She looked over at Fred, who grinned, taking a magicked copy of the notebook from behind him. She blushed as he flipped through the pages with curiosity. Diana decided she should witness the end of her world as she knew it, so she walked over behind him and read over his shoulder. At one page, she gasped and attempted to shut it.
He wouldn't let her, and he threatened to read the whole thing aloud if she tried any more. He read it to himself, smiling. She persisted on closing it. She blushed as he deeply absorbed the words on the page as if to memorize them. She felt as if this poem would forever haunt her. Fred decided to go through with his threat:

"Knowing him for so long
and still empty inside
knowing he cannot be wrong
yet I still try to hide

I see him when I wake up
he's closer when I sleep
will I try and make up
for feelings so deep

so I am asked how
I would define love
it is here with me now
does not tower above

love is a precious smile
and a fond memory
love is not denial
but a great sight to see

love is seen in every
freckle on his face
with him, I'll always be
in a better place

love is beautiful
no matter where it is
not too colorful
a world, mine and his

love is a word so dulcet
not heard by all of them
what I feel when I sit
down right next to him

love is such a great thing
as it goes through my head
it is greater than anything
to me, love is Fred."

Fred smiled and hugged Diana. She blushed. Ron looked at the two of them, shaking his head. There was obviously something he really wanted to say, but he didn't. Actually, he decided to after a minute or two. He smiled and said,
"Nice poem."
"Yes, lovely poem," added Fred. Diana tried to muster a "Thank you," but she was still kind of embarassed.

Diana followed Fred to their and George's room, where George was already asleep. It was rather late, so Diana got on the pile of blankets (which Fred, George, and Percy had given to her) that she used as a bed.
She had a dream that she was boarding a train and saw a boy with jet-black hair and green eyes. He had black, thick-rimmed glasses, and his very appearance made her nervous. She had a strange feeling in her right arm.

"Oy, Diana! Get up!""

[Diamond]

good job so far. Keep going! ;D

[SMILEYVINE YEAH!]

???lol!
bUmP vErY gOoD pLz CoNtInUe!!! ;D

[Coldest of Flames]

((I'm posting it at http://sk8er_punkness.tripod.com but I'll still post here so you can read it.))

Diana awoke with a jolt. She saw Fred and George, who had apparently been trying to wake her for a while. She saw that it was morning. Not only was it morning. It was the first morning Diana could get something at Diagon Alley. She was not allowed to access her vault until she was accepted at Hogwarts.
Fred grabbed Diana's arm and helped her to stand. He took her downstairs to the table, following George. He sat in his usual sat abd got his breakfast, which was indeed very small, from his mother. Diana stood next to him. Fred gave her some of his portions. He drank half of his pumpkin juice, then gave it to Diana to finish off.
Ron rolled his eyes. He had the same thoughtful look he's had the night before, as if he was going to make a lewd comment. He decided against it, but Ginny giggled as if having read his mind.

No words were said over the table this morning. Everyone had eaten their breakfast quickly, eager to go to Diagon Alley. One place in Diagon Alley this family wasn't too fond of was Gringotts Bank. This family was exceedingly poor, and Diana knew she would be embarassed with all the money the Riddles had left behind. She felt she would have to hurry there, so it wouldn't calculate in the Weasleys' minds that she had so much more than they did.
Mr. Weasley got out a bowl of Floo Powder, and everyone gathered around the fireplace. Diana was first to go, as always. "Diagon Alley!" and she was there almost instantly.

She walked out and waited for the Weasleys outside of Flourish and Blotts. She saw a boy with white blond hair who had just been parting with his parents. His father had his same hair, only longer. His mother did, too, along with a look on her face as if a Dungbomb had been thrown at her.
Without thinking, Diana followed this boy with her eyes. Judging by his expression and his gait, this boy had all the makings of a Slytherin. Diana grinned slightly at this thought. He looked over at her, and she looked away. The Weasleys finally came by, and Diana joined them as they went to Gringotts. She decided to go after they did.

"There is a rather large group of you," but what she meant was, "I don't want you to know how rich I am."
When she got to her vault, she gave a goblin the key which Percy had given her earlier that morning. She got out of the cart and looked at the green smoke that emitted from the vault as it was unlocked. She walked in and was nearly surrounded by mountains of Galleons and sizable hills of Sickles and Knuts. She filled her money bag and left. She rode the cart back to the main lobby.

She was rather quick about all of this. She met back up with the Weasleys. They left, looking a bit glum. Diana blushed. She had no reason to be glum after leaving a bank. It was kind of depressing, walking with them. They went to a secondhand store for supplies. Diana was far from needing a secondhand store for anything, so she went to Madam Malkin's Robes For All Occasions.

"Hogwarts?" Madam Malkin asked.
"Yes," Diana responded with a slight grin.

Diana stood on a stool as her robes were fitted for her. She looked around the shop. She couldn't say it was the most exciting place. She saw the blond boy come in. He looked at her, almost smiling. He stood on a stool next to her.

"Hullo. Hogwarts, too?" He had a drawling voice that gave him an odd sort of charm.
"Yes, and Slytherin if I can help it," Diana told him.
"Me too," he said with a smirk. Then it hit Diana.
"You must be Draco Malfoy!" she said, flabbergasted.
"Yes, and you are?"
"Diana Riddle."
"Riddle. That name rings a bell."
"It shouldn't. My parents weren't exaclty famous."
"Oh, I see...What do you mean weren't?"
"They're no longer...living."
"That's terrible. Who do you live with?"
"The Weasleys."
"That's worse. They're too poor to raise their own children. It must be horrible there."
"It's not the best, I suppose," said Diana, looking away. Her robe had just finished being tailored, so she got off the stool and waved goodbye to Draco as she left. He waved back, looking a bit disappointed that he no longer had someone to talk to.

Diana met up with the Weasleys in front of Ollivander's, where Ron was trying out wands. Fred was carrying a cauldron with all the firt year supplies exceptfor a wand. he put it in Diana's arms. She carefully got a few Galleons out of her bag and handed them to Fred, considering all of it was bought firsthand and in perfect condition. Fred blushed, but he took the money without putting up a fight.
Mrs. Weasley went in the shop, trying to haggle the price of Ron's new wand. After a good ten minutes, she sighed and apologized. Ron would be getting one of Percy's old wands. Diana went into the store, a bit nervous.

"Miss Riddle. It has been many years since I've seen someone from your family. I can only hope you won't turn out like your father," Mr. Ollivander said as Diana walked in.
"Looking for some good in the Slytherin family?" Diana asked a bit spitefully.

Mr. Ollivander said nothing. He started Diana off with Mahogany and Unicorn Hair, nine inches, very firm. It didn't work. Neither did many of the wands he tried. The one that did work was "Dragon Heartstring, eleven inches, nice and supple." Diana didn't take that into high regard. All she cared about was that it worked. She paid for her wand easily and left.
As Diana walked out of the store, she saw Mrs. Weasley whisper something into her husband's ear. She was sure it was something nasty about her family. Diana just smirked, for she had a few things she could say about the Weasley family that would really hurt.

Diana did a few simple spells on the way back to the fireplace that the Weasley's used to get to the Alley. Diana was first to get back home. She stepped out of the fireplace and ran up to her room with her supplies. She got her trunk and packed in everything except her wand. She levitated a quill that was on the desk.
When Fred and George came in, they looked slightly less gleeful than usual. They didn't even make a playful comment as they walked in the door. Diana was flabbergasted.

"You guys ok?" Diana asked with concern.
"Yes," they both said shortly.
"Malfoy son --"
"-- Draco --'
"-- going to Hogwarts --"
"-- sure to--"
"-- give Ron hell," the two of them said quickly.
"Why him in paricular?" Diana asked.
"You hear how Dad talks about Lucius," said Fred.
"Like father, like son," George continued.

Diana thought of her own father. She only knew what he was like prior to the night he opened the Chamber of Secrets at Hogwarts. Diana had a journal with his memory that had been sent to her with a few other things left at the Riddle Manor. It was rather late, so Diana decided to at least try to go to sleep. She had a bit of trouble, though, so she decided to read Standard Book of Spells, Volume 1. She fell asleep just as she finished reading the last page. She dreamt of the boy again.

The next few weeks were full of excitement as everyone was really anxious to go to Hogwarts. Diana looked forward to going to Hogwarts, but she worried about the Weasleys' reaction to her being sorted into Slytherin. Everyone in this family had been in Gryffindor.
Mrs. Weasley would use Diana's house as yet another excuse to hate Diana. Slytherin in general was actually a big part of the reason she did hate her so. Mr. Weasley, on the other hand, was afraid of Diana's dark powers.

[SMILEYVINE YEAH!]

Oh it's really gd!
I was wondering when you'd reply to your story.
BumP!Please continue.

[chochang]

it's rrreally great. ;D

[SMILEYVINE YEAH!]

Yes Please continue!
BUMPY! ;D

[Coldest of Flames]

"Wake up, Diana. First day at Hogwarts."

Diana blinked to see George standing over her, She sat up and saw Fred getting her trunk. She looked from Yolanda, her snowy owl; to Joseph, her serpent. They were both asleep in their cages. She looked over to Fred, who frowned.

"Maybe Yolanda,but a serpent at Hogwarts?" Fred asked defensively.
"Fine," said Diana with a sigh.

Before she knew it, they were at King's Cross Station. She saw the boy that had been in her dreams. He had the same jet-black hair and black-rimmed glasses, and was about the same height. She felt a sting in her right arm, almost at her shoulder. She pulled up her sleeve and saw a scar in the shape of a snake that you would definitely miss unless you were looking for it, it was so faint. A bit shocked, she let her sleeve drop back down over it.

"Now, what's the platform number?" asked Mrs. Weasley.
"Nine and three quarters! Can't I go..."
"You're not old enough, Ginny, now be quiet. All right, Percy, you go first." And Percy disappeared through the barrier between platforms nine and ten.
"Fred, you next.'
"I'm not Fred, I'm George. Honestly, woman, call yourself our mother? Can't you tell I'm George?" he asked.
"Sorry, George, dear."
"Only joking. I am Fred," and off he went, followed by George, then Diana.
Fred and George helped Diana get her luggage into a compartment with theirs on the Hogwarts Express, They met up with Lee Jordan, who had a pet tarantula in a box. He let Diana pet it as Fred and George, among others, watched it in utter amazement. Diana was distracted when she caught sight of the boy again. She took her hand away from the spider and looked at him.
Diana saw his green eyes and wondered if it could really be who she thought it was. He was having a bit of trouble getting his trunk onto the train, so George walked over to him.

"Want a hand?" George asked the boy.
"Yes, please," he panted.
"Oy Fred! C'mere and help!" George called, and Fred came over to help.
"Thanks," said the boy, pushing sweaty hair out of his eyes.
"What's that?" asked George, pointing to a lightning shaped scar that made Diana twitch.
"Blimey," said Fred. "Are you --"
"He is," George said. "Aren't you?"
"What?" asked the boy.
"Harry Potter,' chorused the twins.
"Oh him," Harry said. "I mean, yes, I am."

The twins gawped at Harry. Mrs. Weasley called to them, and they jumped off the train to see her. Diana blushed as she got on the train, not able to look away from Harry. Upon realizing she was staring, she decided to speak.

"You are," said Diana, "You have your father's appearance and your mother's eyes. Only neither of them was as beautif.oh, sorry. Forgot to introduce myself. I'm Diana Riddle." She extended her hand, and Harry shook it.
"Hullo, Diana. Sorry if I seem nervous. I'm not used to this sort of reaction. No one has come close to telling me I was beautiful, either."
"That's what happens when your only living relatives are Muggles. Then agan, I don't have any living relatives at all."
"Were your parents also killed by --"
"Voldemort?"
"So people do speak his name."
"Many people find it bothersome."
"Oh. Well, were they?"
"My, we're departing. See you later, then."
"See you."

Diana walked to a compartment where Fred, George, and Lee were sitting. She opened the compartment door, and she closed it behind her. She sat next to Lee, across from Fred and George. She watched the three of them finish a game of Exploding Snap. Lee was the winner. The three of them looked straight at Diana.

"I was just talking," Diana told them.
"To who?" asked George, grinning.
"Harry," Diana said.
"Harry Potter?!" Lee asked.
"Yes," Diana responded.
"Wicked," said Lee.
"We talked to him, too," Fred and George chorused proudly.
"And you didn't call me?" Lee asked, taken aback.
"You were busy," said Fred, grinning. "If he's anything like Ron, he wouldn't fancy seeing your tarantula."
"I can't say I quite fancy spiders, either. If they're contained like Lee's tarantula, though, they don't bother me as much," Diana stated.
"Is Diana afraid of something?" Fred asked after a fake gasp.
"Hey, no one's fearless," Diana told him matter-of-factly.

Lee grinned and let his tarantula loose, and a smiling, dimpled witch stood outside of the compartment door with a trolley in front of her. Lee and Diana rushed to the trolley, forgetting about the spider. The trolley was filled with assortments of sweets. Diana got three Chocolate Frog, a Peppermint Toad, and a bag of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans. She gave Fred and George each a Chocolate Frog. not having a fancy for chocolate, Diana let the frog hop out the open window. The card that came with it was of Agrippa, so she decided she'd give it to Ron later.
After struggling to swallow a soap-flavored bean, Diana saw Draco Malfoy standing outside the compartment door. She looked over at Fred, George, and Lee, who were talking about Quidditch while eating the Bertie Bott's Lee was sharing with the rest of the compartment. She looked back to the door, and saw that Draco was gesturing for her to come out. She left silently.

"So, I suppose we meet before Hogwarts," Draco said.
"Yes, well, we might want to --"
"Find a compartment? Follow me."

They walked down the train to one of the first compartments, where a girl with a pug-like face and two rather large boys were sitting. The boys got up, and Draco and Diana sat where they were sitting, across from the girl. This girl made Diana slightly uncomfortable, but she faked a smile anyway. The girl gave a halfsmile in return.

"Diana, this is Pansy. Pansy, Diana."
"Nice to meet you," Pansy said, not at all meaning it.
"Likewise, I'm sure," said Diana, looking back at Draco.
"This is Crabbe and Goyle," Draco said, pointing to the boys. They grunted.

Diana nodded. The four of them talked for a while, but it wasn't long before their compartment door was opened by an uninvited guest.

"Oh, Diana, you don't want to get mixed in with this sort," said Fred, glaring venomously at Draco.
"They may be more like me than you think," Diana admitted.
"What?" was all Fred could muster.
"We'll see at the Sorting, unless she was talking about how much better a family she had before she lived with yours," said Draco with a smirk.
"Malfoy, that's enough about my family. Yours is no better," said Fred, getting angry.
"I bet a goblet at my manor is worth the cost of your house, if not more," Draco continued.
"I bet even that goblet is full of Dark Magic," Fred said shortly.
"Is it really, Weasley? I'm surprised your family can afford wands to do any magic. Thst brother of yours has a hand-me-down wand, poor thing," Draco seemed to be having fun.
"At least the money my father does make isn't given to You-Know-Who," Fred was furious.

Fred took Diana's arm and dragged her back to the compartment with Lee and George. They sat down diagonally from each other, not daring to make eye contact.

"What happened?" asked Lee cautiously.
"We'll see at the Sorting," Fred snapped.
"I have to be a perfect Gryffindor," Diana said, quite plainly but spitefully.
"Perfection's the last thing he wants from you," George spoke for Fred, since Fred wasn't speaking.
"There are bad apples in every house, mate. There's got to be something good in Slytherin," Lee said thoughtfully.
"Something good can't get in Slytherin," Fred said shortly.

This was the breaking point for Diana. She looked out the window, and Fred looked to the aisle. Neither of them spoke for the rest of the trip. Lee and George didn't dare break the silence. Everyone in the compartment already had their robe on, and Diana put her Bertie Bott's and her Peppermint Toad in the robe's pocket. Lee put his tarantula back in it's box. The train arrived at Hogwarts, and Diana left quickly without a word.

[Coldest of Flames]

Chapter 4

A rather large man called for the first years to follow him. Diana just went with the crowd of first years around her. If she wasn't so furious with Fred, she would be really anxious to get to Hogwarts. The crowd of first years stopped in front of a small fleet of boats along the shore of a lake, then started getting into them. Diana got into one by herself, and looked up to see a castle with many turrets and towers. Her mind was a bit too preoccupied for her to be impressed.
Just before the boats set off, Diana was joined by Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle. Draco looked at Diana, all to able to sense that she was upset. He sat down very close to her and whispered, "What's wrong?"
"Fred's being a jerk," Diana told him.
"That can't be too uncommon," Draco replied bitterly.
"He's usually pretty nice, actually," Diana said.
"It's only because he likes you," Draco said matter-of-factly. Everyone else was silent as they looked at Hogwarts in amazement. They went into a dark tunnel, and Diana felt someone kiss her. When they got out, she looked over to Draco, who was looking the other way with a well-hidden smile. Diana grinned slightly, and the boats came to a stop on a ground of stones and pebbles.

Some idiot had took his toad, Trevor, from the large man. Diana remembered the boy to be Neville, because he had been looking for his toad on the train. A girl named Hermione asked around after he did.
They walked up the stone passagewat to the castle. The large man raised a gigantic fist and knocked three times on the castle door, which swung open. A tall, black-haired witch in emerald green robes was on the other side. She had a very stern look that caused a few students to shudder.

"The firs' years, Professor McGonagall."
"Thank you, Hagrid. I will take them from here."

Professor McGonagall led all the first years across the entrance hall into a small chamber. She gave a long speech that caused Crabbe and Goyle to doze off. Diana listened, but not too intently. She only caught:
"The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are wating. I shall return when we are ready. Please wait quietly."
If her house wasn't predetermined, Diana would probably be as nervous as everyone else. Ron looked fearful that it might be a painful test, even if he told Harry otherwise. Diana's thoughts shifted to Fred, and she began to dread the Sorting.
Suddenly, about twenty ghosts came in from the back wall. All of them were pearly white and slightly transparent. They greeted the first years, though most of the first years were terrified of them.

Professor McGonagall came back and led the first years into the Great Hall. It was lit by thousands of candles that floated in midair above the tables. There were four long tables, one for each house. Most of the students were already sitting at them. Diana couldn't help but look at Fred, who had apparently calmed down a bit. She looked to the front the second he looked over, because she was still a bit angry with him. Everyone in the hall was staring at a hat that sat on a stool. It twitched and began to sing a song describing qualities of all the different houses.
When it was done, the hall burst into applause. It bowed to each of the tables, then became still. Professor McGonagall stepped forward, holding a long roll of parchment.

"When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted. Abbot, Hannah!"

A pink faced girl with blond pigtails put on the hat, which fell over her eyes, and sat down. After a moment, it shouted "Hufflepuff!" and the table on the right cheered. "Bones, Susan!" also became a Hufflepuff. Diana watched, though not fully interested. She couldn't help but smile when "Malfoy, Draco!" was sorted into Slytherin. When "Potter, Harry!" was sorted into Gryffindor, Fred and George started chanting "We've got Potter! We've got Potter!" As Harry sat, the hall quieted down a bit. That was when Diana came to the painful realization that...

"Riddle, Diana!" It was her turn. She walked slowly to the front of the hall and took the hat. Before even touching her head, it shouted, "Slytherin!" Diana looked to the Gryffindor table, where Fred halfsmiled and clapped silently under the table. Diana smiled and walked over to the Slytherin table, where there was plenty of cheering for her to feel included.
Draco had saved her a seat, so she sat next to him. "Weasley, Ron!" was sorted into Gryffindor, and "Zabini, Blaise!" was the last Slytherin. Professor McGonagall rolled up her scroll and took the Sorting Hat away.

Albus Dumbledore, the headmaster, stood up and beamed at all od the students as if all he wanted in life was 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 they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak! Thank you."
He sat down, and everybody clapped and cheered. The dishes on the table were now piled with food. Diana took a couple mint humbugs and called them dinner. She had already eaten some Bertie Bott's earlier, so she wasn't very hungry. Draco took large portions of everything. Diana figured he got loads of food, since his family could easily afford it. He was rather thin, considering how much he ate. Diana was only a bit thinner than him.
Next to Draco was the Bloody Baron, the Slytherin ghost. Diana was on his other side, so he tried looking at her as much as possible to avoid looking at the Bloody Baron. At least, that was his excuse. The Bloody Baron was telling the story of how he got all covered in blood. Diana couldn't help but giggle at some of his sound effects.
The main course disappeared, and various desserts appeared in its place. Diana took a strawberry and put it on her plate. She listened to Draco, who was plotting against Harry Potter.

"I think I'll challenge famous Potter to a duel one of these days."
"I doubt he knows what a duel is. He lives with Muggles!" Pansy squeaked.
"Well," said Draco, "This should be interesting..Where should it be?"
"The trophy room," said an elder Slytherin. "It is always unlocked."
"Just in case, you could always use Alohamora. It's an unlocking spell," Diana stated.
"Maybe you could teach me some more spells. I already know a lot, mind you," said Draco.
"Where, though?" Diana asked.
"The common room should work. How does eleven o'clock tonight sound?" Draco reccommended.
"Great," said Diana with half a smile.

The desserts appeared, and Professor Dumbledore got to his feet again. The hall fell silent. He gave his start-of-term notices involving a corridor on the third floor and a forest that were forbidden to students. Then, a long, golden ribbon flew out of his wand and twisted into words.

"Everyone pick your favorite tune," he said, "and off we go."

The words to the school song appeared, and about a thousand different tunes were sung to the school song. Everyone finished at different times. Fred and George finished last with a very slow funeral tune. As they finished, everyone clapped.

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

[Coldest of Flames]

Chapter 5




A Slytherin prefect led the Slytherin first years into the dungeons. He said the password, which opened the trapdoor that led to the Slytherin common room. When all the first years were in the common room, he showed the boys to one door and the girls to another. Draco and Diana waved to each other before going up the staircases behind the doors. Diana had to run to catch up to the other Slytherin girls.
Pansy saw that her stuff was around one of the four poster beds closest to the door. Millicent Bullstrode's was just across from it. Diana was delighted to see that her bed was farthest from the door, therefore farthest from Pansy.
Pansy came by Diana's four poster to just stand and glare at her.

"Is there anything I can do for you?" Diana asked pleasantly.
"Can't I have Draco?" Pansy asked.
"Draco doesn't like you."
"I know. He likes you, and you like him."
"As a friend, yes."
"You don't miss a thing, do you Riddle?"
"Of course not. I know what you're saying, and I know that it is not true."
"Hear that, Millie? Riddle doesn't like Draco."
"Great," said Millicent. "So she wouldn't mind you being his girlfriend."
"No, I wouldn't," Diana said honestly.
"Maybe I will, then," said Pansy with a malicious glint in her eye.
"Fine. Have fun," said Diana, closing the curtains of her four poster.

Lessons started the next day. Most of them were very interesting. An exception was History of Magic, the only class taught by a ghost. Professor Binns droned on and on as the class took notes as quickly as they could. Diana corrected Draco's mixing up of Emeric the Evil and Uric the Oddball.
The best class didn't start until Friday. It was Double Potions with Professor Snape, who did indeed favor his own house, Slytherin. He, like Draco, instantly detested Harry Potter.
Potions was taught in a dungeon classroom. It was quite cold, and it seemed to creep the Gryffindors out a bit. It may have been the pickled animals floating in jars around the walls that set them off. Diana found them amusing.

Professor Snape started the class by doing attendance. He called the names of all the students, but paused at
"Ah yes, Harry Potter. Our new -- celebrity."
Draco, Crabbe and Goyle snickered. Diana expected Professor Snape to have this kind of reaction after the hell James Potter put him through during his years at Hogwarts. Harry looked every bit like James, other than his eyes and lightning scar. She had seen pictures of Lily Evans and James Potter at the Burrow.
Professor Snape made a speech about the beauty of potions and the making of them. At the end of this speech, he basically called all of the students he'd ever had dunderheads.

"Potter!" saud Professor Snape suddenly. "What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"
"I don't know, sir."
"Tut, tut. Fame clearly isn't everything. Let's try again. Potter, where would you look if I asked you to find me a bezoar?"
"I don't know, sir."
"Thought you wouldn't open a book before coming, eh, Potter? What is the difference, Potter, between monkshood and wolfsbane?"
Diana noticed that Hermione Granger was next to Harry, and she was standing up and raising her hand as high as she possibly could. Diana wondered if Hermione was aware that this was a lost cause.
"I don't know," said Harry quietly. "I think Hermione does, though, why don't you try her?" A few people laughed, most of them Gryffindors.
"Sit down," Professor Snape snapped at Hermione. "For your information, Potter, asphodel and wormwood make a sleeping powder so powerful it is known as the Draught of the Living Death. A beazor is a stone taken from the stomach of a goat, and it will save you from most poisons. As for monkshood and wolfsbane, they are the same plant, which also goes by the name of aconite. Well? Why aren't you all copying this down?"
There was a sudden rummaging for quills and parchment. Diana was in the middle of writing "aconite" when a point was taken from Gryffindor. As the class went on, Diana was partnered with Draco, who recieved many compliments from Professor Snape.
Neville Longbottom, as always, managed to mess things up. He spilled the potion on himself and started getting boils. The whole point of the potion was to cure boils. Another point was taken from Gryffindor as Neville went with Seamus Finnigan to the Hospital Wing.

Draco went to the common room, but Diana wanted to look around the castle. She walked up and down many staircases and talked to a few of the paintings on the walls as she passed them. After awhile, she went to the main corridor, where Fred and George were going over Transfiguration homework. When they saw her, they smiled.
"Congrats on making Slytherin," Fred told her with playful sarcasm. Some people looked over at him quizzically. Why in bloody hell....
"Congrats on not killing me for being in Slytherin," Diana said with the same playful sarcasm. People looked at her oddly, too.
Diana sat down next to Fred, and talked to him and George about her first week at Hogwarts. They seemed a bit surprised that she had stayed awake during History of Magic and that she had taken a bit of a liking to Professor McGonagall. The topic slowly shifted to Professor Snape, and the twins shuddered.

"He's a great professor, even if he is a bit biased," Diana said.
"It would seem like more than a bit if you were in Gryffindor," said George.
"If Snape is a bit biased, then we're a bit determined to beat your house in Quidditch," said Fred, grinning.
"We need a Seeker, though," said George.
"What do you play?" Diana asked.
"I'm a beater," said George.
"I'm a better beater," said Fred, grinning, "but no matter how good you are, Diana, chances are, you'll never be on the Slytherin team."
"Yeah, they rarely have a girl on the team," George said in agreement.
"I wouldn't mind just watching," Diana said pointedly.
"I must admit, I look rather --"
" -- like me, only less charming," said George, interrupting Fred.
"What do you think, Diana?" asked Fred with a grin identical to George's.
"I..I think you're both gorgeous," said Diana, blushing slightly.
"Thank you," the twins said at once, beaming.

The three of them talked until it was too dark for them to see one another. Diana felt Fred's hand in hers. How would she know what Fred's hand felt like? Wow, you're so suspicious of her.
"Remember that forest Dumbledore told us about?" he asked.
"What time is it?" Diana asked quickly.
"Ten o' clock," George replied, "The night is young.
"I need to be back by eleven," said Diana.
"We can do that," said Fred, gripping her hand tighter and walking quickly to take her to the forest. When they reached the forest, they walked slowly and silently.
Diana was a bit scared, so she stayed as close to Fred as she could. As they walked, a unicorn came into view. It was pure white. It saw Diana and galloped over to her. It seemed to want to be pet. Diana stroked its back slowly. It trotted away, looking content.
Diana looked at Fred and George, who were smiling. The three continued walking, and they met many magical creatures. George saw Hagrid, and they ran out of the forest. They hurried up the stone path, and got back to the castle before anyone saw. Diana looked back and saw that Hagrid was looking around, confused.

"Diana," George said in an unsure voice. "It's eleven thirty."

[SMILEYVINE YEAH!]

Duh duh duh duhhhhhh
hahha very gd!!
The bus goes BUMp bumP bumPER!!! ;D