Daughter of the Stars

1 September 1995

Hogwarts Express

Alhena smiled as they claimed a compartment in the middle of the Hogwarts Express, settling down for the ride. “What a summer.”

“You could say that, to be honest. Where the bloody hell did you even find the information on the Malfoy-Weasley blood feud?” Ron looked at Alhena in disbelief. “Seriously, the Weasleys’ reputation skyrocketed overnight after you convinced Dad to disown Theresa Weasley as per the original terms of the blood feud, and basically said that it was a dead branch, it wouldn’t hurt.”

“The dead talk,” Alhena said as she pulled out her copy of The Grindelwald War: From Beginning to End, and started reading. “Oh, and, Ronald, please use some table manners if we do end up in Slytherin. That includes not talking with your mouth full, eating with your mouth closed, and not spilling food on yourself. The Weasleys have status once more, please act like it. Harry, apologise to Malfoy when you see him. You could have started a blood feud in first year. I do not need a childish case of archnemeses souring my last years at Hogwarts.”

“And I can’t thank you enough for dragging me to the optometrist in Craftsman Alley, Alhena. I see a lot better now.” Harry smiled.

“You’ve said it a million times, Cousin. But it’s nothing. Can’t have you being a hazard this year,” Alhena retorted from behind her book.

They settled into their train routine, with Harry and Ron starting a game of chess, and Alhena and Hermione reading. The trolley witch went past, and they brought snacks. Then, as predicted, Draco, Vincent and Gregory showed up. Harry, for once, stood up as they entered. “Heir Malfoy, I offer my apologies for the rejection of your hand of friendship in first year. I did not know what the possible consequences of my actions could have been, and offer a fresh start.”

Draco gave Harry a once-over, judging him sincere, before entering the compartment properly, and sitting down. “What prompted this?”

“Alhena deemed it fit to drill pureblood etiquette into my head by any means necessary over the last half of the summer, saying I was acting in a manner unbecoming of the Heir to the House of Potter, and that she – in any of her titles – would not associate with someone with my earlier conduct,” Harry explained truthfully. “And, we’re going to be resorted anyway, and all four of us have a high chance of ending up in Slytherin, and I’d rather start with a blank slate.”

Draco turned to Alhena. “Those titles are?”

“Lady Peverell-Slytherin-Haydon, and Heir Black-Gaunt,” Alhena said without looking up.

“How are you even the Black Heir?” Draco arched an eyebrow. He was not questioning the other four.

“By decree of my grandfather, the late Lord Arcturus Black. He apparently legitimatised the unofficial union between Carina Gaunt-Haydon and Orion Black around the same time my name popped up on the main Black Family Tapestry. And I was adopted by the Potters, but the blood adoption didn’t truly take for some reason, so I’m still a Black by birth and blood.” Alhena gave an elegant shrug. “Before you ask, Harry and I are first cousins once removed, through our mothers. This information does not leave this carriage, but can be spread if we resort Slytherin.”

“That explains it. You have my word that it will not be spread, Heir Black. Weasley, the blood feud is ended, I hope we can be civil.” Draco stood. “Merry part. I hope to see you in Slytherin.”

Once the door closed behind the leaving Slytherins, the three former Gryffindors shared a look. “Well, that’s the most civil interaction we have ever had with Malfoy.”

“Bodes well for us. The only person that will have issues is Parkinson, but her parents will bring her to heel by mid-September, in order to prevent a blood feud with House Peverell. Nobody can afford a blood feud with the Peverells. Except the Alads – they’re a positively ancient Greek family – and they’re allies anyway.” Alhena smirked. “Feels good to have power, doesn’t it?”

“Everyone except me…” Hermione huffed.

“Mione, dear, I will bet 250 Galleons that you’re related to Hector Dagworth-Granger. I’ll take you to Gringotts over Yule.” Alhena smiled knowingly. “And if you aren’t, well, you can make your own powerful reputation, screw the idiots that say you can’t.”

“Okay.” Hermione smiled.

They settled down again for the rest of the ride.

Hogwarts

Minerva gave a look around the hall after the first years were sorted. “Tonight, Hogwarts is experiencing a momentous occasion. Tonight, we are resorting four students. In an inverse of tradition, I will call their names in reverse order. First up, Weasley, Ronald.”

Ron, strode to the front of the room confidently, taking a seat. The hat was immediately in his ear. “Ah, Mr Weasley. Are you ready to go where I wanted to put you?”

“Yes, and I hope my friends join me.”

“Very good, they most likely will. In which case, SLYTHERIN!”

Ron made his way to the Slytherin table, and sat down right as Minerva spoke. “Potter, Harry.”

Harry had straightened up for once, and sat down with as much grace as he could muster. The hat sounded smug as it spoke. “Finally going to stop arguing, Mr Potter?”

“Yes. I’ll have my friends.”

“That you will, I’m sure. SLYTHERIN!”

Harry moved over to sit next to Ron, smiling a little as Minerva spoke again. “Granger, Hermione.”

Hermione stood tall and proud as she walked up to the staff table. The hat had become contemplative. “Ah, Miss Granger, which shall it be? The house of the cunning, or the house of the intelligent?”

“Where you see fit, and where I shall excel best, but also be challenged.”

“A very good answer, Miss Granger. Better be, SLYTHERIN!”

Hermione went over to her friends, sitting down across from them in time for Minerva to say the last name. “Black-Peverell, Alhena.”

Alhena walked with confidence befitting her name, sitting down elegantly. The hat was almost unnaturally gleeful. “Ah, Miss Black. You’ve found your heritage, I see?”

“I have.”

“And where do you think you’ll go?”

“Where my ambitions shall be fulfilled, and where my abilities shall be regarded in reverence and respect instead of mockery and fear.”

“An answer befitting the house of the ambitious. Off you go to your rightful place, Lady SLYTHERIN!”

Alhena moved to sit beside Hermione, trading smiles. Dumbledore’s small speech passed over their heads, but they were glad for the food’s appearance. Alhena gave Ron a strict look of warning, and was pleased to see him gulp and nod microscopically, before she turned to the person beside her. “Bulstrode, can you pass the potatoes, please?”

They ate in relative quiet, although the Gryffindors were rambunctious even from the opposite side of the Great Hall. “Hermione, I think we were desensitised to the noise over there.”

“Or our brains tuned it out, out of self-preservation, Alhena.” Hermione returned.

“A more likely explanation,” Alhena conceded with a nod, before taking a bite of her Shepherd’s Pie.

“Excuse me, does anyone know who the woman clad in pink is?” Tracey leant forward, almost whispering.

Alhena whispered back. “Davis, that is Dolores Umbridge, Senior Undersecretary to Minister Fudge, and our Defence teacher for the year. If you like Defence as a subject, prepare for disappointment.”

“Thanks, Black-Peverell.” Tracey nodded and returned to her food.

Alhena smiled at Harry’s predictability when dessert came around, since he chose treacle tart. She decided on cheesecake, and settled to eat it slowly while listening to the conversations around her. However, Hermione managed to get in a discussion with Daphne over Runes. “I prefer Elder over Younger Futhark myself, but I’m not quite sure which system is actually the best. Alhena, do you have any ideas?”

“Sumerian Cuneiform and Parselrunes. Cuneiform is incredibly diverse in meanings, whereas Parselrunes are incredibly useful if you want to set wards that, say, keep out snakes or snuff out Fiendfyre. Egyptian hieroglyphics are also useful for certain preservation wards.” Alhena said matter-of-factly.

“Interesting information, where did you get it?” Daphne leant forward.

“Eglantine Birchwood’s The Significance of Runes in Wizarding Society: From Warding to Enchanting. I found it in the back of Obscurus Books before third year.” Alhena finished her cheesecake.

“That book is rare. What edition was it?” Daphne sounded awed.

“I think it was the seventh edition.”

“Now that’s rare. There are only 20 seventh editions in existence. You’re lucky.” Daphne sounded jealous.

“I couldn’t believe it when I found it in Obscurus Books, myself. It was in pristine condition, too.” Alhena was about to elaborate when Dumbledore stood.

She didn’t pay much attention, but Umbridge’s interruption and subsequent speech made something in her gut curdle. She was all too glad when they finally were allowed to head to their common rooms.

They had barely gotten to the Slytherin common room when Alhena felt Hermione press ten Galleons into her hand. “What for?”

“Your observation in Flourish and Blott’s, that the new Defence professor would be a Ministry toady, godawful, toadlike, sadistic, and would only dress in pink, you Seer,” Hermione said nonchalantly.

“I’d rather face a horde of dementors or the entire Wizengamot on short notice again,” Alhena muttered despairingly, massaging the area above her inner eye. “The year is going to be horrible, even if we manage to stay out of detention with her. I’ll probably have at least eight dozen ways of murdering her by Yule.”

Hermione winced in sympathy. “On a scale of Lupin to Lockhart, how bad is it?”

“Uh, Gerald Pitchford, Defence teacher in the 1974-1975 school year.”

Several of the students in earshot – and Severus, who had been standing beside the door – winced.

Severus spoke up. “Merry meet. Welcome to a new year, Slytherins. As Prefects Malfoy and Greengrass have undoubtedly explained prior to my entrance, Slytherin is a house of cunning, ambition and determination, not evil. But regardless, the other three houses will hate you, to varying degrees. Do not travel alone – unless you’re certain you can defend yourself, preferably wandlessly and nonverbally – and keep your squabbles to the common room. The other houses will attempt to find any way to get to you. Do not let them. The moment you leave the door, you are a united front, and you are, at the very least, allies. Your arguments, feuds and disagreements remain here. Any and all new students are to report to the hospital wing within the week for a mandatory health check-up. Do not think you will get out of it, because I will have you attend. The rules are on the noticeboard, the password is changed each Sunday, and those who wish to play Quidditch are to report to Warrington. Good evening. And do not be late for breakfast.” He gave a brief glare to Ron.

“I’ll show you to our dorm, Black-Peverell, Granger,” Daphne said from beside them.

“Before we go, house-wide announcement.” Alhena waited until she had everyone’s attention. “Please call me Miss Black or just Black, and omit the Peverell altogether. I do not wish to stand on such strict ceremony in the schoolyard, except where strictly necessary. Thank you.” Alhena followed behind Daphne and Hermione.

Daphne showed them to their dorm. “Your areas are at the far end, under the window. It’s quite spacious.”

“Thank you, Greengrass.” Alhena nodded in acknowledgement. “Now, I’m going to set wards on my area. No offence, but the phrase Constant vigilance has made its way into my brain over the course of last year.”

Daphne and Millicent laughed, and Alhena counted it as a win, even as she started setting the wards in Parseltongue. When she finished, she was suddenly aware of the deathly silence in the room.“What?Sorry, what?”

“That is unnerving and also incredible. I’ve never heard someone speak Parseltongue before – and the duelling club in Second Year doesn’t count, it was too short.” Daphne was awed. “What wards did you set?”

“Intent, protection, day-specific alarms, and privacy. Good luck undoing them, the only other Parselmouth in the school can’t enter the girls’ dorms.” Alhena smirked. “Mione, you good?”

“Yes. Your advice worked.” Hermione smiled brightly.

“Alright then. Good evening, everyone.” Alhena went to bed.