The Slytherin Prince [Draco Malfoy]

Year 1 - Slytherin

"First years this way." Nicholas Grimmett spoke authoritatively to the students following behind him. He's a prefect from Slytherin, currently leading the way to their dormitories.

The group walked in rows down stairways and through confusing corridors, then down towards the dungeons of Hogwarts Castle.

"Now who can tell me, the emblem for Slytherin?" Grimmett asked aloud.
"The serpent!" Someone answered.
"Correct. And it represents what we are - Intelligence, cunning and elegance. We always play to win, and honor our house."

"Students sorted to this house are destined for greatness, as what our founder, Salazar Slytherin had once said. We're achievers. I mean, Merlin the most famous, and arguably one of the most powerful wizard of all time came from Slytherin. What else is there to say?"

The first years looked at one another, both excitement and pride written on their faces. Eleanor took the information in and couldn't help that little smile creeping up her face.

"I want you all to know this; Always take pride in your house. We're all brothers, here for one another. And remember, bravery is foolishness without cleverness." Eleanor thought there was a deeper meaning behind those words, the way he put it.

By the time Grimmett finished his "seminar", the group were standing in front of a stone wall in the south side of the dungeons.

"Pureblood." As soon as the word was spoken, a passageway revealed itself, leading them to the Slytherin common room. The entrance to the common room is concealed this way, there was no way they could've known, Eleanor thought.

The first years waltzed in and scrutinized the room in amazement. The medieval decorations and ornaments (mostly black and dark green in color) looked extravagant.

"Welcome. To House Slytherin!"

The prefects then showed the first years to their dormitories. There were seven floors, one for each year. Once the girls their dorms, Eleanor noticed her trunk and suitcases were already placed neatly by the side. Followed by a set of scarf, neckties, gloves and sweaters in the color of Slytherin. Her cat was also there, sleeping peacefully in her carrier.

They were then allowed some free time to roam around, so Eleanor went down to the common room. She observed her surrounding, and noted the green tinge in the room, and that it was slightly cold here. This was because the dungeon extends partially beneath the lake. The windows looked out into the depths of the Black Lake, and different water creatures swooshed by.

Eleanor walked backwards to look above her, but ended up knocking into someone. She turned, ready to apologize, till she saw him. Draco seemed to be in a trance, and Eleanor wondered how long he had been standing there.

In fact he had, and he was watching her when she was by the window. Actually he wasn't exactly focused through the whole journey from the Great Hall because of her. He finally snapped out of it, but where to start, he thought.

But for her, she wasn't too pleased to see him, as she recounted the events from before. So she prepared to walk away.

"Erm.. Hi." Draco said softly, without his usual arrogance. "I didn't know you came to Hogwarts too. Furthermore, Slytherin.." He looked at her expression, surprised to find her staring back coldly. Eleanor sneered in her mind, wondering why he was so two-faced.

"Neither did I expected you to be here. Thought you were going to Durmstrang." She said blankly. But in Draco's ears, all he heard was Durmstrang. She remembers!

"Yeah, my parents decided Hogwarts in the end." He grinned. Not wanting to continue the conversation any further, Eleanor gave a curt nod. "Good night then." She took a step away, then stopped in her tracks.

"By the way, I'd rather not have people finding out about me and Severus. So you'll best keep what you know to yourself." She whispered lowly to him. Draco was puzzled at first, but then again, this would be the first secret they share. So he thought it special and was prepared to keep it.

He nodded obediently and watched her walk away gracefully, just like back in Spinner's End. As his gaze never left Eleanor, Crabbe and Goyle looked at Draco weirdly, perplexed as to why he had such an expression.

On the other hand, Eleanor returned to her dormitory, which was shared between 5 girls. Right now, the dormitory was loud and noisy because of them, much to Eleanor's distaste. The girls were swooning over someone called Gilderoy Lockhart and talking about boys.

"Hey there!" Someone tapped on Eleanor's shoulders and she turned to see a petite girl with ash brown hair and tanned skin. She wore a huge smile and had her arms behind her back as she gave Eleanor a once-over.
"I'm Leah Gilmore! And those other girls are Tracey Davis, Chelsea Harper and Diane Burgess." She kindly introduced the rest of them to Eleanor.

"I'm Eleanor Prince." She replied politely. "Prince? I've heard of them! Quite an old wizarding family aye?" Leah commented gleefully.

"Really? Never heard of 'em" Tracey rolled her eyes. Eleanor brushed it off and ignored her, as if she hadn't spoke earlier. Tracey bit her lips hatefully at her disregard for her and turned back to talk to the girls instead.

"Don't mind her Eleanor. She can be quite a snob sometimes.." Leah whispered, trying to lighten the mood, but Eleanor didn't seem to really appreciate her attempt. Eleanor wasn't a social butterfly, so she only hoped they'd keep their distance and give her her privacy.

Once everyone settled down and washed up, they were all ready to turn in. Eleanor tucked into her embroidered bedspread in her four-poster bed, with green silk hangings. There were some Medieval styled tapestries hung on the walls, depicting the adventures of famous Slytherins.

She stared at the ceiling for a long time, unable to fall asleep. This foreign feeling was eating her up and she sighed in frustration. Slowly, she left the bed and took out her cat from the carrier and laid him on the bed with her.

Eleanor thought of what to name him. "What do you want to be called?" She asked and scratched his chin while the cat purred. "Ghost... Ghost. What do you think?" She tried calling a few times and found it quite suitable for him. The kitten meowed twice and Eleanor smiled gently at him.

As she listened to the soothing sound of water lapping against the windows with her fury friend by her side, she gradually drifted off to sleep.