Ila followed the girls of the Slytherin house down to the dungeons. It was darker and colder than she anticipated, shivering in the cold once again.

" And this here is the Slytherin house common room." Adrian said, pointing to a bare wall.

Ila restrained a giggle as she stared at the wall. " Here? " Someone asked, following her thought.

" Well, not here, " He smiled charmingly and said, " Asphodel. " The wall rumbled, brick by brick it pulled back to light the way to the common room.

" Ah! First years! " A booming voice said, drawing the attention of the students to the room inside.  A silvery mist, followed by a face following it floated out of the room. One could make out his clear beard, a sword by his side. But one could also make out what would clearly by blood stains, eerily silver in shade.

" Who's that? " Ila whispered to no one in particular.

" I am the Baron of -"

" Bloody Baron, I hope you don't scare them on their first day. " Another silvery form hovered close, a female.

" They're ghosts, cousin, the house ghosts. " Draco answered for her.

" Ghosts? " When she imagined ghosts, this was simultaneously the first and last thing on her mind. She didn't know ghosts could talk.

But then again she watched 'Bhootnath' So...

" Ah Helga, I -" If ghosts could blush, he did.

" This is Bloody Baron, your house ghost. I am Helga Hufflepuff, the ghost of Hufflepuff house. " She answered calmly and then floated away.

" Why did you call me cousin? " She asked Draco as they tuned out their prefect's 'words of wisdom'.

" Well, you're a Black, my mother was a Black. We're cousins. " He answered, smiling.

" Well, hello cousin. " Ila said, albeit untrusting.

But she needed to earn people's favours here before they found out she's 'half- blood'.

" Why don't you know all this? Didn't your mum or dad tell you, by the way, who is your father? From the Black family tree -"

"Oi Malfoy! " A voice called and he became rigid, " If you want to make a girlfriend, do it after the tour yeah? " Adrian called and Ila blushed red, walking ahead.

Saved by Adrian. She'd have to thank him -but no, that means admitting to things she'd rather not tell anyone at the moment.

However, the moment they stepped into the common room, Ila felt like she had come home. The common room was dark, dimly lit with low cielings, circular. There was a warm fireplace near the edge, opposite to which was a window. A rather dark window.

She inched towards it to peer through it, when a giant Black shadow fell across the glass on the other side, that is when she saw the tentacles and, "AAHHHH! " She stumbled back, breathing hard and bumped into others, as the shadow moved, it's eye opening, mustard yellow irises enclosed in nearly bloodshot eyes.

" Oh, that is the Giant Squid. Don't worry, it's harmless. " Adrian answered, gently pulling her up as he drew her closer to the window, even as she inched back.

The squid's eye lit up with joy and it made a splash inside the water, bubbles rising all around it.

She waved to it and it waved one of it's tentacles back, then swam away.

" Well, now that we have had a very interesting introduction, why don't you all head to bed. Your pets and luggage is all in your dorm rooms, time tables will be floated early morning so don't miss breakfast. " He sighed, " Don't forget to meet me here at 7,classes start by 9 and I'd rather you don't get lost in the morning. Good night, sleep well. And remember, 'Slytherin will help you on your way to success'! " Then he mumbled, " If only Snape passes me in my OWLS this year. " The children laughed.

" Girls to this side, " The female prefect, Patricia said, though she had been silent all along. " Boys follow Adrian. "

As they climbed down further, though Ila couldn't imagine how much under the water their house rooms were, they were welcomed by another wooden door, which Patricia pushed open.

" First years, to the left. The others, get to bed. We all have stuff to do in the morning. " She answered in a bored voice.

" Hi, I'm Daphne. Daphne Greengrass. You're Ila aren't you? " A girl asked as she walked over to her.

" Hi Daphne. Yes, I am Ila. " She answered as they entered their dorm rooms.

" You're nice. We're friends. " She said, looping her arm through Ila's as she steered her over to her bed.

" Well, thanks? " Ila laughed, as they sat down on her bed, while Daphne took out her clothes.

" Hey Black! " Another said as Pansy came into view.

" You're a Black. Who's the dad. Or the mum? " Pansy's directness took the breath out of her lungs.
She hasn't prepared an answer. Heck she didn't even know the ancestry of the Black family tree!

" She's a distant cousin of theirs. " Daphne answered urgently, " Same name, you know how it is, Black families have interbred so much that they're all related."

"Hmph, doesn't answer my question Greengrass. Who's her father or mother? " Pansy's eyes bore into her soul and Ila visibly tried to make herself smaller, as if it would answer her question.

" Girls. I said lights out. Off to bed. " Patricia yelled as everyone hurried back.

" I'll know who it is Black. I'll make sure. " Pansy said, walking over to her bed.

" Why'd you say that? " Ila whispered to Daphne from her bed.

" No reason. " Daphne said then turned her back to her, miming snores.

Ila shook her head. If she wanted to answer questions like these, she needed knowledge. She'll drag Hermione to the library. There has to be one here right? All schools have one.

Sighing, she turned her head, to block any thoughts.

She made it somewhere she could call another home. She was determined to enjoy it.

⏟

"Ila! " A loud voice yelled as she gasped, blinking her eyes blearily as Daphne stood above her, her dark har lay on her uniform, the ends wetting her robe as she noticed they were recently washed.

" You'll be late! It's already 8 am! " She shook the girl out of bed as Ila dashed to the dorm washrooms, only to find them all full.

" Well, I'll just take a bath after classes. " She mumbled, running back to the room.

" Daphne, help me out. " She said, running over to grab her bed covers.

" What -"

" Just hold them, like so. " Ila said, creating a curtain around herself, handing the ends to Daphne as she changed into the uniform, then spritzed on the perfume her mother bought for her.

" Jasmines. So that's what I smelles on you yesterday! " Daphne said with glee, nearly dropping it, " You have to show me! It's beautiful! I'll ask mum to buy it next time we go to Madam Primpelle's. "

Ila stared at the perfume in her hands. Well, who's going to tell her. It's a muggle perfume.

" S-sure. Let's go right now, we'll be late. " She brushed her hair out into something that resembled, 'I-didn't-have-a-bath-but-my-hair-isn't-dirty'.

" Come on, we have Transfiguration with the Gryffindors first thing in the morning." She urged as they slapped the books into their hands, running up the stairs to the common room where Patricia tapped her foor with impatience.

" Ah, there are our morning glories. Come along you two! " She said, annoyance clear on her face. Though ila supposes she wasn't wrong. They did make her late.

" This is the Transfiguration classroom in the east wing. You have to get here using this staircase. And be careful of Peeves. Enjoy. " She said, waving them goodbye with no more instructions.

" Get ready for detention on day 1 ? " Daphne asked as Ila giggled, they followed Patricia's directions and ended up. Well, she knew they weren't supposed to be here.

" The third floor. We're not supposed to be here. Dumbledore warned us of it. "

⏟

Guess who publishes 3 days after she said she would.

In my defence. Three days ago I didn't know I'd be on a trip soo..

Anyways, tell me how the chapter was.

Why's Daphne defending Ila. Does she know something?

Much love