“SLYTHERIN!!” The Hat calls.

  The aforementioned house politely cps as Ana makes her way over to the table. There are a few whispers when people notice the points had changed after Ana was sorted. A couple of other third years move aside to give Ana a pce to sit. The old wizard at the center of the main staff table stands and begins speaking,“Now with that all sorted…” there are a few snickers from the students, “ I have one more announcement to make. Hogwarts is to py host to the Dementors of Azkaban for this year. They are under orders not to enter the grounds, however the school wards can only ensure they do not enter the castle or it's immediate area. Some csses may take students outside of this protective range. If any of you encounter a Dementor I must warn you: Do not interfere with them, they do not differentiate between those that they hunt and those that get in their way. Now, let the feast begin.”

  He cps his hands together and food appears all across the tables. As everyone begins eating Ana grabs some food and says “Interesting.”

  “What is interesting?” The girl next to Ana asks.

  “The food was here before it appeared. It was just cloaked. The magic used doesn't feel like human magic though,” Ana expins.

  “That'll be the House Elves at work. Does your family not have any of those?” the girl says.

  “No, we never needed them,” Ana responds.

  “Our family's elf basically raised me. Common practice in most pureblood households. My name is Daphne Greengrass, Heiress to the Greengrass family, pleasure to meet you,” the girl, Daphne, says.

  *So that's what kind of ‘stuck up’ Ron meant* Ana thinks, *What was it my mother said was the respectful way to refer to heirs and heiresses again?*

  “Lilliana Grim. It's a pleasure to meet you as well Heiress Greengrass,” Ana responds.

  “No need for formality here, Daphne is fine. Though, the dispy did earn you some more respect. More than those house points did,” Daphne says.

  “My preferred name changes sometimes, but at the moment I am going by Ana,” Ana says, “Are House Elves magical constructs then?”

  “Magical creatures, actually,” The boy on the other side of Ana says, “They make magically binding deals with families to serve them in return for the magic they need to live. Although, most of the deals specified just enough magic for the Elves to live and no more.”

  “I thought most of the world was well past svery?” Ana says.

  “The magical world is catching up. Nearly all families have done away with treating their Elves as less than people. Some families have even started providing the Elves with an allowance to buy their own things,” The boy expins,”Although there are a few holdouts,” He continues gncing over at another slytherin with blonde hair.

  “It's good to know things are at least improving, if a bit behind the non-magical world. I'm Ana by the way.” Ana says. “What of the Hogwarts Elves? It's not like the school is owned by a single family.”

  “I'm Bise Zabini. Heir to the Zabini family. You can just call me Bise,” The boy, Bise says, “I don't know much about the Hogwarts Elves. They do their jobs and don't pay them any mind.”

  “Maybe I'll ask a teacher about them then,” Ana says.

  “Rumor is you were with the Golden Gryffindors on the train. That couldn't have been fun if you are Slytherin enough to actually be sorted here. Those three seem to have a prejudice against anyone in this house,” Bise says.

  “It wasn't too bad. They were quite nice, I'll probably still try to be friends with them if the redhead doesn't get too upset because of where I got sorted,” Ana states, “He's the one with the major prejudice. Although Malfoy’s apparent targeting of them certainly isn't helping their opinions.”

  “Fair warning, associating with them will paint a target on your back. Not just for Malfoy either. The girl, Granger, she's a mud…muggleborn. Many Slytherins are blood purists,” Bise says, a hint of warning in his voice.

  *I see, meaning I will make an enemy of Bise for who I choose to be friendly with. Well that'll be his problem. Especially if he tries to cross me,* Ana thinks as her sadism smiles.

  “They were quite nice on the train. I at least owe them enough respect to not let the prejudices of others stop me from trying to be friends,” Ana says, a hint of warning creeping into her own voice.

  “Fair enough,” Bise says, rexing slightly, but still tense.

  The feast carries on for a little while. Daphne and Bise making polite conversation. Malfoy’s first name turns out to be Draco, although It seems he prefers going by his family name. Bise’s mother has had seven husbands, all who have died (of natural causes according to Bise) soon after their wedding.

  Ana also learns that the school’s headmaster, Dumbledore, is a prominent political figure. Upon hearing this she gnces over at him only to see he's already looking at her. When she makes eye contact she suddenly feels a presence in her mind.

  *It's rude to enter someone's mind without permission,* Ana thinks at the presence.

  The presence ignores her and starts attempting to access her memories. *If that's how it's going to be. Get him,* Ana thinks, directing her sadism at the intruder.

  Her sadism smiles and starts to have its fun. Poking at the intruder, finding which spots are most sensitive. The presence puts up some defense, but it's not able to put up much inside someone else's mind. Seemingly realizing it's a losing battle the presence retreats from Ana’s mind, but not before her sadism shes out with a quick bite.

  Back outside Ana’s mind a few seconds have passed. Ana watches as Dumbledore flinches in pain and she gives him a small grin before turning back to her food.

  The feast passes by uneventfully after that. When it's time to leave Ana follows the other Slytherin students to their dorms, choosing not to take the tour with the first-years. She is told the password for the first term, snakeskin, and watches as a section of the wall opens up.

  Inside the dorms are lit by candles and torches, as with most of the castle. The ceiling however is invisible, providing a view of the ke from underneath. The furniture is quite fancy, as one would probably expect from the house with the richest families.

  Daphne offers to show Ana where the dorms are. They head towards the girls' dorms and Ana notices something she wasn't expecting. An enchantment that uses a bit of soul magic. “Well now, isn't that intriguing,” she says.

  “What is?” Daphne asks.

  “There's soul magic in the enchantment on the stairs. I'd been told it was an outwed form of magic,” Ana says.

  “It is. The enchantment is just very old. One of the founders pced it, Rowena Ravencw. It's meant to keep boys out of the girls' dorms, there is a simir one on the boys’ stairs to keep girls out. The soul magic is probably why nobody has managed to get past them,” Daphne expins.

  The pair begins walking up the stairs. Ana senses the enchantment scan her and Daphne. It lets them both up. Ana can't help but feel a bit happy about that. Even after growing up with her parents it's still wonderful when something confirms what she has always known about herself.

  Once they get up to their dorm Ana finds her belongings already pced next to a bed. Her uniforms having been changed to the proper colors. She grabs her book on runes and decides to head to the common room to read and allow others to ask their questions.

  A little while ter Ana is approached by a blonde boy, Malfoy, and two rger boys, Crabbe and Goyle. “I heard you were pnning to be friendly with Potter and his friends. I wouldn't recommend it. That'll make you quite a few enemies,” Malfoy says.

  *Oh lovely. Another warning,* Ana thinks.

  “Bise gave me the same warning. As I told him, they were nice on the train. If they continue to be such I see no reason not to have a friendship with the famous ‘boy-who-lived’,” Ana responds.

  “You'll make dangerous enemies if you try to be friends with him,” Malfoy says as Crabbe and Goyle crack their knuckles.

  *So that is what kind of bully he is* Ana thinks.

  “I am quite capable of protecting myself,” Ana states, “If you would like to test that fact the school rules do allow for supervised duels between students. I've heard your st duel with Potter was quite the event.”

  Malfoy tenses his jaw in anger and says, “My father can make life very difficult for your family.”

  *Not confident enough in his own skills, I guess I'd love to see the look on his father's face if I told him the truth,* Ana thinks before letting out a small ugh and saying, “He can certainly try, but I doubt his influence extends that far.”

  “I haven't even heard of your family, Grim. I doubt they could be out of reach of one of the Sacred Twenty-Eight,” Malfoy says with a small grin.

  “My mother said she prefers the peace that anonymity offers. She did mention that our family does owe a debt to the Peverells. A debt that even as they were dying out the Peverells decided to keep. As well as, that the debt passed to another family once that line died out,” Ana states.

  Malfoy’s eyes widen for a moment at the mention of the Peverells before he collects himself and says, “An extinct family’s name won't offer you any protection here Grim.”

  *It got you to back off at least. I wonder if that was enough information for my little eavesdropper,* Ana thinks, gncing over at the camoufged eavesdropper as Malfoy and his goons walk away.

  A few minutes ter Daphne walks over and sits down near Ana. “Not one to bend the knee are you?” Daphne says more as a statement than a question.

  “Not to those who rely on their parents' influence rather than their own,” Ana states.

  “Good concept, but about half the Slytherins follow Malfoy’s way of thinking. You just made quite a few enemies. The teachers and prefects can't be around all the time. Watch your back,” Daphne says.

  *Everyone and their warnings. At least Daphne’s seems to be out of actual concern. I guess that's one less person to deal with.* Lilliana thinks.

  “People keep telling me I'm making enemies and that I should be careful. Nobody seems to consider that maybe those who choose to be my enemy are the ones who should be careful,” Lilliana says with a sadistic glint in her eyes.

  “Anyways, I have had a long day. Goodnight Daphne. See you in the morning,” Ana says before closing her book and heading upstairs.