The Dark Mark (The Girl Who Lived part II)

The Steps To Becoming A Slytherin

Arguments aside, we decided how I'd be a spy for the Inquisitorial Squad. I had told them that I had to cut all ties with them at least from what Umbridge saw. The only time that I would talk to them was when we were in the safety of the common room. Much to Harry's dismay, I would stick close to Draco who was practically the leader of the Inquisitorial Squad.

The next day I went straight to Dolores Umbridge and accepted the silver "I". "You've made the right decision". She had said, pinning the the "I" onto my uniform. "I trust that you have broken off all ties with Mr. Potter". She continued. "With ease". I said without the slightest bit of hesitation. I practiced with the twins all the possible scenarios. All the questions she might ask me. All my answers. "Very good". She dismissed me. After classes, Draco and I walked down the halls. I observed every corrupt member of the squad. All of them Slytherin. Each and every one more eager than the next to abuse their power. "Follow me, Scarlet. I'll teach you everything you need to know about being a member of the Inquisitorial Squad. And more". I found myself having a great difficulty keeping up with him. He was a good bit taller than I was, just like all of my friends. The only difference was, that he didn't slow down.

I observed him and his actions throughout the entire day. It was like I was a scientist and he was a new species that I had never seen before. Some sort of reptilian creature. The cold bloodedness of a reptile matched his personality and cold eyes. Even though I watched him all day, I still couldn't find myself being able to fit in with all the Inquisitorial Squad members. Or in other words, a Slytherin. Draco had tried to teach me over and over, with no success. By the time lunch had rolled around, I was exhausted. My brain was fried. Despite being an Inquisitorial Squad member and a Death Eater, I wasn't cold and calculating like the rest of them. I placed my forehead down on the table as soon as I had sat down. "Been quite a day, hasn't it, Scarlet". The twins commented. "How are you going to be believeable? I don't think you have one mean bone in your body". Neville said. "Well for starters, I need to show people that I've cut off all ties with Harry. Then, I need to learn how to behave like a Slytherin. I don't know who I'm going to learn it from". I thought and thought again. Ron said something as he ate. I did understand Ron language, but this was something that was rather hard to interpret. I bet there wasn't a single space in his mouth that wasn't filled with food. Food was actually falling out of his mouth, yet his words were still muffled. "What was that, dear brother?" The twins asked. Ron repeated the same phrase, even more food falling from his mouth. "He suggested that I ask Snape". I translated. Ron gave me a thumbs up, meaning that my interpretation was correct.

Later that evening when everyone had gone to bed, I crept down to the dungeon. I found Snape just heading off to bed. He wore some sort of nightgown and a nightcap. Although I was sure that he would murder me with his eyes if I actually called it a "nightgown". Just like Ron when I called his "action figures", dolls. He'd argue with me that they weren't "dolls". That they were "action figures". He must've felt like the simple change of the name made it more manly. Which, it didn't. Putting my antics aside, I called out to him. "Dad". I had to say this a few times to get his attention. He was unfamiliar hearing it as I was, saying it. "You shouldn't be up". He said. "I need to act like a Slytherin. Can you help me?" Without any questions, he agreed. 

I spent a majority of my nights down there in the dungeon, learning from Snape. I ended up having only a few hours of sleep, but the lessons would be worth it. Who knew, these lessons could prove to be useful in future Death Eater meetings. "Let's begin". He said, clearing his throat. He held a piece of chalk in his hand and tapped it against the chalk board. "There are nine steps to becoming a Slytherin". He said. He wrote, "S.L.Y.T.H.E.R.I.N." on the board. An acrostic. "All you need to do is remember this". He said.  

Step 1: Smirk

"As a Slytherin, you can only smirk. That is the only way that you can express your happiness besides laughter. Not a grin, a smile, or anything else".

Step 2: Laugh at all jokes

"Whenever you are in the company of Slytherin's, you must laugh at all their jokes, no matter how lame". He taught me the art of forced laughter and not making it sound like I had some sort of item that was caught in my throat. Snape's words echoed in my head as I stood in the courtyard with Draco and his cronies. "-And then I said, "What's Ron with you? Let's just be Sirius"" The only sound that followed was cricket chirping. I remembered Snape's words. He told me that when in doubt, I should think of something funny that occured in the past and laugh as if it had just occured. And that's what I did. Draco smirked.   

Step 3: You are never wrong

One of the things Snape taught me was that you must act as if everything you say is correct, no matter how stupid it sounds. He said that confidence was key.

Step 4: Thank no one

In the Slytherin dictionary, there was no word such as, "thank you" or any term that expressed some sort of gratitiude towards another person. 

Step 5: Hate Potter

Harry and I stood across from each other. We only spoke in the common room when a majority of people had gone off to bed. We were in front of the Great Hall. "Alright, let's put on a good show". I said to him. "You got the false teardrops?" He asked me. "Compliments of Fred and George". I said, exposing a bit of the bottle that I had hidden up my sleeve. I dropped the tear drops and kicked them over to his feet, which he would then pick up later. We had enough of an audience, all we needed to do was to make it believeable. "What have you been doing with Malfoy?" He screamed this so the people in the vicinity would have no choice but to hear this. "None of your business". I said this with the coldness of a Slytherin. "Excuse me for failing to see how its not my business". A crowd formed around us. We had everything all planned out. We would continue this charade until I left. Harry would run off to one of the bathrooms, covering his face, and then emerge from the bathroom after using the tear drops. What we didn't expect, was Draco Malfoy to show up.

Step 6: Enemies should be held closer than friends

Draco appeared from within the center of the crowd. "Jealous, Potter?" He asked. Hopefully we'd be able to continue as we had planned without Harry ringing his neck. "She tossed you aside so she could be with a better and more fitting crowd". He continued, taking his place next to me. Harry clenched his fists in rage. "Let's go Draco, it's not worth the time". I dragged around with me for the rest of the day to prevent Harry from having a strong urge to strangle him. In that day, I learned more of Umbridge, Draco, and the other Inquisitorial Squad members.

Step 7: Requires underlings

One of the few things that made a Slytherin, a Slytherin, was that all of the major ones had their own underlings. For example, Draco had Crabbe and Goyle. They may have seemed like friends at times, but nonetheless, they were still his underlings.

 Step 8: Insult others that are not Slytherin

This was the only step that I didn't need to rehearse over and over to get right. This was rather self explanatory.

Step 9: Never trust anyone

Snape underlined this one. This was the one that I had the most trouble with. "Slytherin's are known to be cunning, so you never know when they might turn on you". He then underlined the term again. 

With that, the lessons ended. I noticed that as I walked with Draco in the hallways, it was easier than when I had started. I fit in with the Slytherin's better than ever. I still couldn't quite be as cold as many of the other Inquisitorial Squad members, but Umbridge now trusted me. And it was all thanks to the steps to becoming a Slytherin.