A/N: Hello, people!

I don't own Harry Potter.

I have no beta.

ENJOY!

CHECK ME OUT ON TUMBLR. HELLY-WATERMELONSMELLINFELLON. I FOLLOW BACK!

-I love the pureblood politics and how the children are taught to do certain things. It's all about connections and blackmail and I can't wait to get this story into that! I'm also looking forward to when Harlinas will eventually have to go back in time because she fucked up!

Hope you like the new chapter!

The Slytherin Vault was spacious. Tom bypassed the gold because it wasn't that interesting to him. In fact, the bookcase at the far end of the vault was what drew the eye most. That, and the line of portraits beside it.

§A new heir has finally come?§ asked the woman in the first portrait.

Tom nodded.

The woman looked him over. §The last we heard of our line, it had been left to the Gaunts and they had fallen into that Pureblood supremacy rubbish, marrying brothers and sisters off and siring Squibs.§

Tom blinked. §I think my mother married a muggle. The test said I was a Halfblood and she was a Gaunt.§

The woman nodded with understanding.

Tom sighed, because something had bothered him since mentioned. §My acquaintance and I are not related in the least, but she is a Parselmouth as well. How can she speak with snakes if she isn't a Slytherin?§

§Magick is magick, boy! Parseltongue isn't singular to only our line! It is rather strong in the oriental lands as I recall.§

§But people in Magical Britain act as if it is an evil talent to have. Parseltongue is linked to Dark Arts and being a Slytherin makes you untrustworthy in the eyes of many,§ explained Tom, trying to understand what had happened over the years.

§When did that happen?!§ demanded the woman, her eyes wide with her displeasure.

§I do not know. Apparently Slytherin in a prejudiced house who hate muggles and anyone born of muggle blood. If you aren't Pureblooded you aren't good enough. Slytherins are Dark Arts practitioners and are considered evil by the rest of the Hogwarts Houses.§

§The Dark Artes aren't evile!§

Tom retreated a step because the woman's wrath was ever present and seemed to grow the more he spoke.

§Oh cease the flittering and come here, boy!§

Reluctantly he did so, though with great annoyance at being ordered around by a portrait of all things.

She was beautiful, he had to admit. But her beauty didn't make her special in the least. Tom didn't put weight into beauty. While he knew it could certainly gain him good reputation, he didn't care for looks. Someone's worth wasn't measured by appearance. In his mind, it was their usefulness that mattered.

So the fact that she greatly resembled Harlinas didn't matter, because her pointed features weren't as sharp nor outstanding as Harlinas'.

§I am Salacia Slytherin, great granddaughter of Salazar Slytherin and while I did not personally meet the man, I was able to witness the memories my parents had of the man. He was a proper Warlock of nearly unquestionable power and his resolve was unbending. Whatever these fools today have said is a lie!§

Tom nodded, though the truth had been skewed so much that there was no point in trying to right whatever wrongs there were. The damage had already been done to the Slytherin reputation.

§Many great wizards came from our Line and our Hogwarts House! Merlin himself was a classmate of mine. As I have heard, he is regarded as one of the greatest magical humans in history and he was a Slytherin!§

She fixed him with her glowing, green gaze. §Boy, you are all the Line has left. If you do not work to turn this farce on its head, may your life be inundated with hardships!§

Tom made a swift retreat after that.

Harlinas and Tom had wands with twin cores, which according to the wandmaker, Ollivander, almost never happened.

Tom's was thirteen and a half inches, Yew, with a Phoenix Feather core. Harlinas' was eleven inches, Holly, with a Phoenix Feather core.

Neither knew just what the implications were, but both could feel the man's eyes trail after them even when they were far down the alley.

The two children were sitting in the attic, trying to come up with a game plan. Between them were their own copies of Hogwarts: A History.

"It says that the classrooms can change at any time," Tom pointed out. "Do students get penalized when their class is not where it is supposed to be and they are late for being unable to find it?"

"I hope not because that wouldn't be fair."

"It's not like the world is ever fair to begin with."

She sent him a dry look. "You are far too negative for your age."

"You are no better."

Harlinas had to nod at that because he was right after all. She tended to look at everything in a negative light especially after having been awakened from her views of the world during her time with the Dursleys.

"Why would they give a list of all of the secret passageways?"

Harlinas shrugged. "No one ever truly reads this book. It's not a part of the curriculum, it's just here to help students fully understand the school. It's like an unspoken rule to not tell your children anything in detail before they go to Hogwarts so that they may experience it all first hand."

"Why would they not read ahead?" Tom asked, obviously not understanding.

"Because reading is boring most of the time."

"No it isn't."

She sent him a glare. "Tom, reading is boring, learning is not. There is a difference. I would sit for hours and listen to someone read me a book but I would not personally sit there and read it myself because reading is boring."

He huffed, though he would probably deny it with every breath. The two children returned to their perusal, throwing ideas back and forth.

Tom wanted to go to Slytherin. Harlinas wanted to go to Ravenclaw. The problem was, what would happen once they were separated? Harlinas knew more about the magical world than Tom did and therefore, having her wealth of knowledge not at his fingertips was not a pleasant prospect. At the same time, Tom was independent and did not like to rely on anyone.

Harlinas was reluctant to leave Tom to fend for himself in the house of the snakes. Sure, he was the Heir of Slytherin, but some people were just too simple to understand that.

However, if they played their cards right, they could rise to the top of their respective houses and pretty much rule half of the school together.

And Hufflepuffs were much nicer to Ravenclaws than to Gryffindors because Ravenclaws weren't as rowdy and were more willing to work whereas Gryffindors preferred to party and be loud.

Ravenclaws were less likely to prank people. Gryffindors were more likely to talk about sports than anything else.

Getting the Hufflepuffs to follow their way of thinking should be easy.

"You have to be nice," Harlinas warned the boy. "If you are to turn the idea of Slytherin on its axis, you will need to be different than your housemates. Be kind and helpful to people who aren't pureblooded and you will win their allegiance. If they remember that you were only ever helpful and welcoming, they are more likely to do as you ask."

"I'm not a nice person."

"Not in some people's definitions but you could be in others."

Mrs. Cole was severely unpleasant the morning she had to escort the two students to King's Cross. She sat stiffly beside them as the ride to the station passed and refused to look at them. Both knew it was more because Tom was there than anything that Harlinas may have done wrong.

Tom took it in stride because he would not have to see the woman for nearly ten months and that was what had lifted his spirits more than anything. Going away form the orphanage, to a place of magic, where they would get three meals a day, their own bed, and most likely, more competent teachers.

To say that Tom was having a good day would have been an understatement.

He already knew what to expect on the train. He knew what would happen at the school. He knew that when he was sorted into Slytherin, he would face some opposition, but nothing good in life ever came easy.

All he had to do was shake the beliefs of those who would no doubt attempt to start a fight with him. Once people were more wary, he would have more room to act as he so chose behind closed doors.

Everything was business of a sort. His relationship with Harlinas already gave him credence. Being the last of the Selwyns made her an important figure in the upcoming school years and being on good terms with her before anyone else would most likely elevate him in the eyes of their peers. If she - a pureblood of good breeding - would put up with him, then obviously there must be more to him than the eye could see.

Once again, Tom despised having to rely on anyone else. In a way, he knew that Harlinas held a lot over his head and should he offend her in any way, she could bring hell down upon his life. He did not want that to continue but he also knew that having her as an enemy would not be a smart move. She could also forbid him entrance to the Peverell vault and there were too many books in there that he had yet to read!

Basically, Tom was stewing in his annoyance and excitement. He was also trying to find some way to turn this around in order to put Harlinas in his debt. But nothing too obvious.

If he wanted control of most of the school, he had to have her compliance. That was an absolute must. To have one such as her, vouch for him, would obviously make the Hufflepuff reconsider their opinions of Slytherins. And with Tom in the background, forcing his housemates into a better lifestyle while at Hogwarts, he could probably influence future generations.

Also, he really didn't want to find out if portraits could actually curse people or not. Therefore it was imperative to change the outlook on Slytherin House.

Harlinas knew things that sometimes she wondered how. She remembered some of her childhood, but being away from the people who called themselves friends of her family, had pretty much left her as a stranger to them.

She did not know any of the children her age who weren't Tom and while their families may have been allies once upon a time, she was basically new blood to an old bloodline.

She could acknowledge that Tom relied on her a lot, but what he didn't know was that she relied on him as well. Harlinas was smarter than the average eleven year old and that made it difficult to befriend people. Tom was just generally an unfriendly person which was why he never tried to have friends.

Giving orders was easy and reinforcing them was almost just as easy. But making friends was going to leave her in a pickle. Support came from people who believed in you or your cause and it was best to be on pleasant terms with those people.

Ravenclaws were smart naturally and craved information. Hufflepuffs valued acceptance despite it not being one of the ways of the house. From what she had heard recently, Slytherins only cared about blood status which would leave them more willing to listen to her.

She could also attempt to reach out to Gryffindor - which Tom had already decided was hopeless - and hope for the best. To be honest, she wasn't holding out much for the lions.

The door to their compartment slid open, revealing a blond boy who was most likely their age. There was a sneer on his pointed face and it made him look like a pug. Harlinas had to withhold a snort at the thought.

"I want to sit here," the boy stated, sounding imperious and pompous.

Tom beat Harlinas to the punch however. He sent a smirk the blond's way and waved a hand toward the two seats which still had much room because he and Harlinas did not take up that much space.

"Go ahead. You'll probably fit."

Those eyes narrowed. "Do you know who I am, mudblood?"

It was Harlinas' turn to take control and she fixed the blond with an unimpressed look. "Is that what purebloods have degraded to in recent years? Assuming before even getting to know someone? I must say, it surely makes your intelligence seem limited when you spout misinformation like that."

The various shades of red that flashed over the boy's face where hilarious and both Tom and Harlinas shared an amused smirk.

"What did you say to me you littl-"

The boy's insult was cut off when Tom's new serpent - whom he decided to name Nagini - made herself known. She slipped from the brunet's left sleeve and hissed at the intruder, threatening to make him writhe from her venom alone. She then went into graphic detail over which parts of him would be consumed first.

The boy reared back, eyes wide in his panic. "You can't have that!"

Tom looked to Nagini and then Harlinas and hissed, §Do you think he'll say anything?§

She shrugged. §It would be hard to prove something is there when it doesn't exist.§

With a nod, the boy turned back to the blond and both quickly noted how pale he'd gone.

"Parselmouths?!" he squeaked, looking even less intimidating than he had when he'd walked in.

"Is that a problem?" asked Tom, eyeing the boy distastefully.

The boy stuttered out a negative and fled the compart immediately, leaving the two to revel in his fear and embarrassment.

"If every encounter is like that, I do not think we will have much to worry about," Harlinas said, feeling much better about the upcoming term.

For that split second in time, both Harlinas and Tom were left speechless. But only for that second. It was okay to gape openly when everyone else was doing the exact same thing.

Across the Black Lake, rested a large outcropping of rock that was topped off with the most fantastic castle one could ever imagine. Leading up to the massive structure was a large and winding stone staircase that was lit with lanterns to help them along.

Once inside the Entrance Hall, they found their paths obstructed by several silvery figures. Ghosts.

Hogwarts: A History boasted that the school had the largest haunting in the British Isles, but Harlinas had expected that to mean a few ghosts who were active more than the usual ghosts. But right before her eyes were eleven ghosts and one poltergeist. All of them incredibly lively, if the pun could be pardoned.

Professor Dumbledore had ordered them to wait for him and to smarten themselves up. He had given the most basic description of the four noble Houses and then left the children to the mercy of the dead.

That meant grand tales of what happened in their lives and other ghosts interrupting them with comments on how they've all heard it before and how something always changes in the story.

Tom seemed ready to blow by the time Dumbledore had returned and that was because one ghost in particular was batting her lashes at him and cooing about how cute he was. Nothing was more embarrassing to a young boy than being babied.

The Great Hall was as grand as the book described, with the enchanted ceiling showing them the night sky outside. Star spangled darkness only illuminated by the thousand of candles floating several feet above the heads of the students.

The house tables were situated neatly and the head table was at the far end of the hall, resting perpendicular to the others. The line of professors wasn't as large as Harlinas assumed it would be. She would have to actually read all the way through the book just to make sure she didn't miss something.

Professor Dumbledore had them stand along the landing where they were eye level with a brown stool and an old, tattered hat. They were instructed to wait for the announcements before being called up.

"Headmaster Dippet would like to say a few words."

The old man in the head chair stood, his long, silvery beard nearly trailing to the floor.

"Welcome all, to another year at Hogwarts. I would like to reiterate like I do every year, that the Dark Forest is forbidden for a reason. Do not venture forth, or else there may be no saving you," the man said, his face grim.

"On a brighter not, this year, we are pleased to add Horace Slughorn to our team of professors and he will be taking over the Potions position. Mistress Marmot will be missed by all, and so we shall take a moment of silence to remember her achievements and her wonderful memory."

All light chattering ceased and the students bowed their heads, some placing an index finger on their foreheads, others linking their fingers and murmuring into their hands.

When the moment passed, the headmaster nodded toward Dumbledore and reclaimed his seat once more.

Dumbledore drew his wand from his robes and tapped the hat twice.

The seam split apart to reveal a ghastly grin as the hat scrunched up a bit and a face could be made out among the wrinkles in the fabric.

The hat expanded, as if it was taking a large breath. And then... it sang.

Many and many a year ago,

Sat four talented youths,

Who wanted to teach their magic,

To four separate groups.

Proud Gryffindor was glad,

To take the brave and true,

He taught them the values,

Of chivalry, old and new.

Ravenclaw preferred the minds,

Who liked to think a lot,

She reared them in her witty ways,

And they learned all she taught.

Slytherin was a dashing man,

With cunning ambition clear,

He chose the ones much like himself,

And always kept them near.

Dear Hufflepuff was an old soul,

Who took those left behind,

She gave them a place to stay,

And was always sweet and kind.

Their vision had become real,

Their hearts could now rejoice,

They taught their students the facts,

And helped them find their voice.

So child who is weary,

Be not afraid of me,

I was handcrafted to place you,

Where you ought to be.

The plan was put in motion,

My job is now to place,

Each and every one of you,

Into your rightful space.

And if by chance, your heart,

Does not find cheer nor rest,

Then once again I'll sort you,

Until we find what's best.

Tom and Harlinas shared a look. While having to put a hat on didn't seem too worrisome, anything involving magic could be far more that it appeared.

Dumbledore unfurled a scroll and began reading off names. The first child, a boy named Marcus Algernon went to Hufflepuff. And the line continued on and on.

Harlinas noted several players to watch out for. Three members of the Black family being the majority. Blacks could go either way but mostly were extremist in their views of pure blood. They resorted to incest on the regular in order to flush their line of any indecent blood.

Meanwhile, Tom had pointed out a girl named Rodney Davis who had gone to Ravenclaw. She looked rather pompous and Harlinas understood Tom's hidden warning. Best to assert dominance before the other thought she could gain control.

When the blond from the train went up to be sorted, Harlinas was finally clued in to why he seemed familiar. Abraxas Malfoy. She remembered him very distantly and quite frankly, the memory wasn't in any way pleasant.

She elbowed Tom and motioned toward the blond. In a low murmur she said, "His family is full of people who will pander to strength. Make sure that you put him in his place quickly. Once a Malfoy is under your control, it's easy to get the others to follow."

Tom nodded his understanding.

A few names later, Dumbledore called out, "Riddle, Tom."

Tom was stoicism personified as he took his seat on the stool. The hall was quiet for several seconds before a shout of, "SLYTHERIN!" told them all where he was to go.

Harlinas could already see the sneers from the snakes and she knew that Tom would have one hell of a time getting control of the serpents. In truth, it seemed impossible.

A few names later, and Harlinas had to go up.

"Selwyn, Harlinas."

She took her seat cautiously, wondering just what happened when the hat was placed on your head.

Well, well, well. You are the most interesting person I have ever had to sort, aren't you?

Was this a twisted form of Occlumency?

In a way, the voice admitted. Rowena and Salazar created me with this purpose in mind and do not fear, I am bound by the will of the Founders to keep your mind a secret from everyone else.

To be honest, that did not make her feel any better.

Now, you are an interesting specimen with an interesting past. You also have a very… powerful ally on your side.

Ally? Tom? Tom isn't that powerful yet.

The hat sighed. Perhaps you will learn of him eventually. For now, on to the sorting. You plan to go to Ravenclaw, but do you actually have the ability to make it there? You are intelligent and driven, but you are also kind to the outcasts and chivalrous when it is needed. Also, you resort to tricky measures to get what you want.

Put me in Ravenclaw… please? she asked, though she had almost forgotten to add on the last word.

There was a distant laugh. Which came first, the phoenix or the flame?

What did that have to do with anything?

Just answer.

It's a never ending circle, there is not beginning or end!

Well reasoned. "RAVENCLAW!"

Tom could tell by the stiff posture of his dormmates that things were about to get real.

He was surprised however, when no one tried anything until the first year boys were safely ensconced within their own room. Two students immediately blocked the only exit and the remaining four gave him matching sneers.

He noticed that Malfoy was the furthest away from him though, and Tom sent a smirk the boy's way.

"Gentlemen, is there something you wish to say?"

There was a minute where Orion Black looked over to Xerxes Lestrange before deciding that he would lead in whatever this confrontation would be called.

"We don't like mudbloods, Riddle. You don't belong here."

An amused chuckle slip through the young heir's lips. The audacity of these little cretins who thought that they could intimidate him simply because they had 'pure' blood and he didn't. Not that they truly knew anything.

With a twist of the wrist, Nagini slithered from the confines of his robes. Malfoy squeaked once again at the sight of her, while the other boys eyed the creature warily.

§Shall I bite them, master?§ she asked, her yellow eyes focused intensely on Crabbe. As the biggest boy there, he would provide her with the most meat and Nagini had a fascination with eating.

§Not yet, darling.§

Upon hearing him speak the noble language of Salazar Slytherin's family, the gathered purebloods took a collective step away from him. Their self confidence bled away in the wake of the revelation.

"No one has anything to say?" Tom asked rhetorically, enjoying the fear on their faces. "Pity."

Turning slowly, he surveyed the room and chose the bed he wanted, taking his trunk in hand and toting it on over. With a sharp kick, he sent the trunk that been stationed by that bed, into the middle of the floor. Nagini hissed her amusement in his ear.

Tom gazed dispassionately at his bed hangings and placed a hand on them, immediately changing the color to the bright emerald of the Slytherin family, with the silver decorations of the Slytherin coat of arms, the dark grey swords of the Gaunt coat of arms, and the symbol of the Peverells in black.

Turning back to the people he would have to share space with for the next seven years.

"I hope we can have a productive seven years together, gentlemen."

Tom had to wonder if Harlinas was having as much fun as he was.

Harlinas was not used to interacting with people her own age. Especially little girls. At the orphanage, there were less girls because girls were 'easier to raise than boys'. Obviously, people would prefer to have a sweet little girl on their hands than a boy because in the 1930s, girls couldn't possibly be capable of violence or anything dangerous.

Witches however, were cutthroat as they were taught to be. Harlinas never thought she would be in the middle of an argument over who could use a cleaning charm better. But there she was, stuck in a room with a group of know-it-alls who all believed themselves to be the best at the spell simply because they read about it before coming to the school.

Davis was the most vocal of the group, her hands fisted at her hips as she bragged loudly over her skill. The other girl to raise such a fuss was named Millicent Bagnold. Both were from well known families and according to Victoria Edgecombe, had it in for each other since they were in their nappies.

Harlinas had had enough after the first ten minutes and finally decided that the only way to determine who was better at cleaning themselves, was to get them both dirty.

With a snap of the fingers, the two girls were suddenly being rained upon with mud.

Harlinas merely quirked a brow and waved a prompting hand. "Whoever is better at Scourgify will clean themselves the fastest."

She found herself on the receiving end of two furious glares.

"What? Do neither of you know the spell, because I can clean you both if you want."

Both girls drew their wands and proceeded to try the spell themselves, though nothing happened. With a snap of her fingers, Harlinas vanished the mud away. She then flicked her wand in their direction and doused the two in the cleaning bubbles of the scouring charm.

"It looks like I am the best. Good to have that problem solved. And on that note, our first day of classes is tomorrow and I would like to be well rested for them."

The other four girls moved to get ready for bed, leaving the fuming duo to their business.

Harlinas could tell already that Ravenclaw was going to be an uphill battle.

Perhaps Slytherin would have been easier.

A/N: Another is done!

-Yes, Harlinas got her middle name from Salacia Slytherin. Remember, her family is primarily Slytherin/Ravenclaw oriented.

-Someone was curious about how I chose Harlinas' name. I took the name Harley and removed the 'ey'. Then I took Nastya, and removed the 'ya'. Add both together and there you go! Nastya is a derivative of Anastasiya which means 'resurrection'. Harley means 'hare clearing'. BTW, Harley is a Gender Neutral name!

How was it? Let me know!

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See ya! :D

CHECK ME OUT ON TUMBLR. HELLY-WATERMELONSMELLINFELLON. I FOLLOW BACK!