Even the mighty crumbles and falls.

The sneering, scowling, arrogant, and ambitious dungeon set of Hogwarts are understood to pursue only the most-power hungry arts, to fall prey to the temptation of that foulest branch of Magic. One thinks they smuggle between themselves copies of Hexes Moste Foule, Blackest Blood Magic, Grimshaw Gaunt’s The Might of Darkness.

And yet Slytherin has produced and will continue to produce a very different sort indeed. It had produced those who, though appearing to possess all the advantages of blood and power, have abandoned those for love; those who seem sinister and slimy, but conceal within themselves great courage; those who might toss aside blood principles and alliances with one wild lie; even those whose wealth and family ties, such powerful armor against the world, mean nothing when balanced against regard for a house-elf or beloved nephew.

And so we must conclude that Slytherin house is not always as it seems, and that the strength of those dungeon-dwellers lies not in Darkness and crude power, but in another, subtler, far more cunning sort of magic.

This essay is a must-read for every Harry Potter fan interested in delving deeper into the complex origins, meanings, and backstories of the series. Using canon details and J.K. Rowling’s own handwritten list of Hogwarts students, it speculates about the homes, ethnicities, and other biographical data of various students in Harry’s year, based on British names and demographics.

March 16th, 1979: Narcissa & Lucius (Hell Hath No Fury Like A Wife)

Lucius awoke late that morning, turning over to find that his wife has already gotten up, dressed, and went downstairs. He laid on his back for a moment, blankly staring at the ceiling and allowing himself to wake up a bit. Today called for another unpleasant day at the Ministry, seeing how he couldn’t just sit in his office alone and do his work as usual. They were holding a blood drive today, a stupid idea it was, but Lucius has volunteered himself to help out with event at the Ministry today. Why? To make sure everything runs…smoothly. He pushed himself up out of bed and went into the bathroom. He heard the house elf running into the room to make the bed and shut the bathroom door behind him. Lucius winced as the bright light flickered on before tugging off his shirt and moving to turn the shower on. When he pulled his hand away from the nozzle, he noticed he still had some marks on his hand from the Fabian Prewett incident. Luckily, no one has seemed to notice, nor question him about it. Finally the water was hot enough and Lucius pulled off his pajama bottoms and boxers, and stepped into the showers heat, letting the water wash over him. The hot water woke him up fully, as his morning shower always did. It helped him relax, even forget about the day’s activities that lie ahead. He washed his body, thinking about more pleasant things. Such as his wife, who he needed some time with later this week. Things have been…hectic to say the least with his schedule and a little time with her was just the thing he has been crazing for, especially with his 26th birthday only four days away. Lucius felt like he was almost neglecting his wife lately, having barely spent any time with her. Lucius finished up in the shower and turned off the water, stepping out, and drying himself off before heading to the closet.

Lucius picked a random black suit off of the rack and pulled it on, smoothing out any wrinkles or creases before grabbing a tie and walking out into the bedroom to stand before the grand mirror they had. He pulled on his vest and put the tie around his neck. The sound of a pair of heels came down the hall and Lucius smirked, tying the tie around his neck gently. “Hello my dear.” Lucius greeted his wife with a smirk through the mirror as she burst through the double doors. As quickly as he turned around, the doors were slammed, making a loud echo through the room and Narcissa was yelling his name, his full name. He knew he was in trouble, but wasn’t sure why.

She marched up to him, questioning his sanity, and Lucius just lifted his brow, adjusting his tie. “Have I lost my mind? I don’t think to. But I’m thinking I might have done something to upset you? What is it my dear Narcissa?” He asked gently, hoping to calm her down for whatever she was mad about by being suave and cool about it. However, Narcissa was quick to state her reasoning, which made Lucius’ cold blue eyes widen slightly before he composed himself again, wearing the serious, blank expression he usually wore. He didn’t say a word, knowing that lying would just make his wife even angrier. Lucius grabbed the letter thrust at his chest and held it up, reading it with a frown. Of course that git would run and tell the Ministry on him. Courageous Gryffindor, he sure showed that trait off very well. He crumbled the letter up and let it drop to the floor. “I did, and I’m old enough to know what to get myself into and what not to.” He explained calmly, crossing his arms. “I had my reasons, as I’m sure you know.” He told her coldly, his eyes boring into hers. “When did you plan on telling me about your encounter with him? Or did you think that it would just go away, and I would never hear about it? Am I supposed to let some filth like him snog my wife without consequence? You know me better than that Narcissa.” Lucius crossed his arms, not breaking his gaze on his wife. “As for my consequences, i will deal with it.”

Watching Lucius cross his arms and stare down at her made Narcissa furious. How he could act so nonchalent about a crime never ceased to amaze her even after all this time. She managed to turn mostly a blind eye to his acts of terror concerning their Lord, but this was personal. Lucius met Fabian with no regards to his identity or reputation. Now her husband, a respected Ministry employee, was summoned for this petty crime. It would disrupt his work schedule and possibly his duties with their Lord. "Snog me, without consequence?" Narcissa retorted with a crinkled nose of distaste. The entire ordeal was horrible for her to even recall. 

Narcissa sighed and shook her head. "I gave that ruffian a good beating before I stunned him." She felt a headache coming on. "Oh, Lucius, I was so alarmed. The nerve of him...  He deserved a crucio, but I was too shook up to even utter the spell." Fabian had effected her personally by violating her marriage in such a way. Normally, Narcissa reacted to events accordingly, but this assault was unlike any other in her sheltered life.

She turned away from her husband and leaned against her vanity table. She discarded her wand, knowing she would not be using it and it had been for show. "It's not that I didn't want to tell you, simply, it isn't the type of conversation to suddenly mention over breakfast." She pressed both of her hands to her cheeks in horror and let go after a moment. "I simply decided to move on after days had passed." With everything happening concerning Severus and Evan and the state of the Ministry, her problems had seemed so lowly in comparison. It wasn't as if Narcissa had any intention of seeing Fabian again and felt it was possible to mentally isolate the memory.

"How in Salazar's sake did you find out, anyway?" Narcissa asked, paranoid about her reputation as a faithful. Had someone seen the horrific event? Were there rumors circulating about Fabian and her? She would kill him, no doubt, for such a dishonor upon their family name. "I still do not think you should have attacked him. We're not at Hogwarts, anymore, Lucius. We're supposed to be the respectable ones unlike the Muggle animals."

Narcissa laughed, but she wasn't sure if it was a happy or a sad one; perhaps one directly in the middle of the two fierce emotions. She looked over at her husband in wonder. He looked terribly handsome and it was rather romantic that he defended her honor and their marriage. She wouldn't stay mad at him long, but she would remained worried about what the Ministry would say about such behavior. She tilted her head at him and tried to imagine losing his cool like that. It was remarkably appealing, in a perverse way, she would admit. She wondered what Lucius would think if he could hear her thoughts.

March 18, 1979: Amelia Bones at the Ministry of Magic

Rookwood waded in the crowd like the others, hands in his pockets as his mind focused on Amelia Bones speech. Every word, emphasis, pause, and physical shift was committed to memory and it had nothing to do with who the speaker was. This was politics and war and something that surpassed each individual member of the wizarding world, not to mention the muggle world. Every day the line between them grew thinner and thinner and threatened to snap. The Obliviators could only do so much and go so far. Of course, as soon as Bones stopped talking the noise of reporters, ministry officials, and concerned citizens began, overlapping one another. The chatter between the crowd and shouts to get a question out were nearly intelligible.

“I am curious, Miss Bones.” He barely needed to think before raising his wand to his throat and with it his voice. It was second nature when attempting to get the attention of a crowd and boy did it work, bringing the chatter to a dull whisper. The eyes searching him from all directions did not bother him a bit as he continued to speak in his calm demeanor. “If the Ministry has failed to protect its own people within its own walls and without the slightest clue of the  ‘whodunit’s and ‘how’s, how is it you expect the rest of us to trust in this so-called protection? We’re not stupid. Shouldn’t the Ministry be saving its man power to, I don’t know, secure this very building?” He left it at that, keeping his eyes on Amelia but lowing his wand and keeping his ears listening for the voice of the whoever may speak out next.

“I…” Aurora hesitated, “share some of Mr. Rookwood’s concerns. That is to say, are short-term changes of plan the best way to dictate Ministry policy?” No, it really wasn’t to say as much. The real question was whether a whole slew of regular witches and wizards knew any better than the career politicians. They well might! It was the nature of democracy, to give the larger masses a voice when people only interested in furthering their own careers might have more corrupt plans, or simply have been doing the same thing for so long that they didn’t know how to adapt to the new circumstances. Then again, they might not. Which brought up the second point.

It was really too bad, for once in everyone’s lives, that Dumbledore was already on the Wizengamot, because otherwise the thought would have crossed Aurora’s mind to nominate the old codger just so he would need to have a serious, productive, use of his all-too-bizarre free time. Though, that gave her some ideas as to who to nominate. Could they shove someone upstairs, to shut them up and get them out of the way? Or, were the Death Eaters not likely to attack the same role twice, in which case it would be necessary to have a truly competent indiviual who could carry out their job without fear (or favor)? “It seems to me we’d need to have a clearer idea of what, exactly, the new prosecutor would be doing. Of course Jones was irreplaceable but—not being familiar with the ways of the Ministry—I’d be at a loss to know who to nominate in his stead!” Maybe it would be worth poaching someone from an otherwise-useless Ministry branch. Or the Daily Prophet, for that matter. It was almost the same problem—a fixation on managing things in the same way they’d always been done made them paralyzed, or just useless, when they met an enemy who didn’t play by their rules. Someone who respected those rules enough not to turn vigilante, but wasn’t blind about the scale of the threat, might prove useful, if the Death Eaters had caused enough prosecutorial chaos for the time being.

The young boy was not at all pleased to be present at the event there, and quite frankly, he found his attendance to be incredibly useless. It wasn’t like he would actually participate, and he knew that. So why was he continuously dragged to such things? The only thing good that might come out for him was some information. And realistically speaking, that would be close to nothing.”I can’t believe they don’t realize how fucking stupid they are”, he said quietly, in an offhand comment to the person sitting next to him. Usually he wasn’t really the chatty type, but either way, he was talking more to himself than to anyone, as he intended. He felt absolutely no desire to stand up and make a point to those bastard, nor did he have the authority to, anyway. “They obviously know that they’re being targeted, and they know that the place is, for now, unsafe. Why would they not only put these facts, and themselves in the spotlight like this to the public, but also so openly ask for suggestions as to who to take the spot? It’s like hanging up a big sign upon the entrance, saying ‘Please come kill us’”, he shook his head, still not really looking at whomever he was speaking to.

He had thought to sound bitter, not to come off all too indifferent. “If they had half a brain, they’d continue quietly, put some insignificant minion in the job, someone who doesn’t appear a real threat, until they fix whatever safety issues they got up there” - not that the ‘safety issues’ were possible to spot, or fix, as he had experienced - “Then would be the time to seriously look for someone to fill the spot. But doing that now… It’s rather morbid to say, but depending on whether or not the new guy would actually able to replace him, and given that he’s not a Death Eater… they’d probably only kill him again. It’s useless, reckless, and almost completely insane to try to fill the spot before they have seriously managed the holes in their security. Who was the moron responsible for that plan?”

Hestia shifted uncomfortably in her seat at the mention of her father, of course, she wasn’t about to burst into tears, but she couldn’t quite fathom out why they opting to replace him so quickly. Well, if she tried, she probably could, but she was certain that part of her didn’t want to. Too wrapped up in her own thoughts to pay much attention to her surroundings, the brunette failed to register the muttering beside her. Tilting her head to the side, she attempted to block out the debating going on throughout the room and listen to what Barty was saying, even if she didn’t particularly value his opinion on the matter, nor did she feel she should. Letting out a sigh, she couldn’t but wonder why she had been invited, she didn’t work for the ministry, she was no longer the daughter of a ministry worker, perhaps that had taken pity on her. Sympathy that she neither wanted nor needed.

Taking a moment to process his words, she found herself nodding in agreement. “Sheer stupidity.” She muttered under her breath, racking her brain for another reason that could possibly outweigh the negatives, although she failed to see how anything could outweigh human life. “They probably don’t want them to know they feel threatened.” Hestia shrugged, trying to find a way to justify their methods, after all, her father probably would’ve once agreed. “If it was me, I would carry on running things as normal, play it off as not a big deal, somehow it makes the whole thing less of a tragedy.” She was surprised by how easily the words rolled off her tongue, almost as if they were her opinions under all the criticism and hurt she had buried herself under, a remainder of the reserved little girl she once was. Unaware of how loudly she had been talking, her jaw fell shut, pursing her lips as she went back to pretending that she was allowed a say in the matter. People had always insisted that she was, however, in a room full of adults, she still felt the size of a mouse.

A small smile was painted on Narcissa's lips as she listened to the panic around her. When Lucius asked her to attend the State of the Ministry Address with her brother-in-law, she had never expected it to be this comedic. The Ministry seemed more hopeless than usual, which was exactly what their Lord needed. As soon as the Ministry was gone, the war would be over and the new world order could reign. If only their Lord could make sure that one of their own would occupy the open prosecutor position. "Brother, will you be volunteering your own name... I wonder." Narcissa smiled more widely as she nudged at Rabastan's shoulder to her right.

"It would be ideal to have someone high ranking that we trust to make the right decisions." Narcissa spoke to the general crowd. "While it is tragic, the loss of Senior Jones, surely we must move forward. Has any progress been made in contacting the possible candidates? I would like to hope a few interviews have already been conducted."

March 9, 1979: Narcissa & Evan (Taste In Men)

“…Well now I feel quite silly”, Evan said matter-of-factly after Narcissa was done talking. He had truly placed his foot right in his own mouth this time, hadn’t he? He truly had been quite foolish this time, honestly, how could he be such an idiot. Normally Evan would have something to say, something to joke about, a reason to laugh, but now… he didn’t want to. He had genuinely been wrong and made a stupid mistake, and for once the best option he had was to openly acknowledge it.

He cleared his throat and began, “Narcissa… I am sorry. I deeply regret my words and actions, I jumped to a conclusion and I did you an injustice, it… it was wrong of me. I threatened you in your own home after you reached out to me to try and help, and I responded like this. I beg your forgiveness, and offer my deepest apologies. As you can imagine, this is a touchy subject for me, and when you brought up the Dark Lord well… I was frightened. I was frightened for my life and my position, and it caused me to act so poorly.”

Evan was sorry, but he could not help but correct her on one point, “While my apology still stands, I cannot help but point out, my father is dead. It would be most difficult to get any sort of attention from him”, he sighed. He wished he had known his father, but he had died soon after his mother did from the childbirth. Or at least that’s what his grandmother had told him.

“I owe you thanks I suppose, for being so accepting, as well as the warning. I guess I am indeed getting a bit lazy, I don’t exactly keep my love life top secret. Than you though, for not telling him, it means a lot to me. While I hope my skills in the field would outweigh a few indiscretions in my personal life, there would surely be some sort of retribution if I was discovered. You are a good cousin Narcissa, I should appreciate you and Lucius more.”

Evan had to choose his words carefully now, the initial apologies were over. He knew whatever he said, Narcissa would learn the truth soon enough, that he was still with Fabian, that he was basically in love with a blood traitor. It was a shameful business, but his heart had won out on him here, he would just have to face up to the consequences. “Prewett ended it in Valentines Day. I had what I wanted, I tricked him into thinking it was his idea even, I won’t go into details, but the bottom line is, it ended with him then. I will admit, I had developed a certain affection for him, but I know my duty, and made sure it was well and truly over, all feelings set aside.”

It would be disastrous for him when she learned the truth, he knew, it would be good publicity perhaps, but the family would view it as a shame, a scourge on their reputation he knew. Evan was not sure what was to follow now, but he didn’t want to be fully sober when it happened. He cast a spell without uttering a word, and his tea became a bit more Irish by the second.

He took a gulp and smiled at Narcissa tentatively, “Well… I suppose that’s all there is to say, other than to reiterate my apologies. Anything else?”

“Evan, darling. Really, the fact that you admit to being frightened by one of your own family members worries me.” Narcissa replied concerned after hearing his sound apology. She was terribly pleased that he had realized she was only worried for him. Starting a morning with an argument was hardly her style, especially before finishing her coffee. Her life was one of absolute structure for a reason. It kept her sane.

“You can’t allow yourself to grow weak-minded with lingering doubt. I know this war has gone on longer than any of us had anticipated, but we must carry on or your paranoia will destroy you. Surely, you must know that my intentions are as pure as the blood running in my veins. I have no reason to betray you; I see no advantage in doing so.” She glanced over at her cousin and shook her head with a small smile. “I was simply alerting you to the fact that if I had found out so easily about your relationship with this Blood Traitor.” She reminded seriously. “Than think of the many others with questionable motives that could.” Narcissa knew she was repeating herself, but this message had to stick or her cousin would be a dead man.

Narcissa refused to bother discussing Senior Rosier with Evan. It was not her place to do so. She regretted even mentioning his father, but she had snapped because of her cousin’s intolerable behavior. Thankfully since he calmed down, her ill remarks had been worth something.

Narcissa cringed hearing that Evan had developed feelings for this Fabian character. He was worst off than she could have ever imagined. Where did he spend his free time? What Evan needed was a return to respectable society. Something marvelous with the right people. “I am pleased to hear you have walked away from any future disasters.” Narcissa remarked and enchanted her coffee with a heating spell. Hers had grown cold while her scone remained untouched. All of the family drama was apparently costing her appetite as well. “What do you say to meeting new people?” She asked, leaning back in her ornate and comfortable chair. Her cousin was handsome, it couldn’t be so difficult to find him a good match. Could it?

“I am positive that Lucius and I know a few men to take the stress away from your recent debacle.” She suggested. “Sometimes the only choice we can make is the one to move on. There’s no reason why you should be alone, either. A long-term companion could be incredibly beneficial for you.”

March 14th, 1979: Narcissa, Emmeline & Severus | Three Is Better Than One

To say that her day had been exhausting and weird would have been an understatement. Emmeline Vance was still struggling to process everything in her mind and all throughout the day the list of things her mind had to deal with had become longer. Starting off with Caradoc’s return and the explanation and conversation that followed to the Order meeting and the conversations and discussions with Marlene and James about everything that was going on, possible ways of communication as well as suspected Death Eaters to the moment she had stepped into this bar.

It had been a rather odd day and now she was there, in that bar, trying to escape the outside world. Drink in hand she glanced around the crowd as she sat there and scanned the faces of people she didn’t even know. It seemed pointless. Emmeline let out a sigh as she turned back and instead glanced out of the window next to her. She still couldn’t make sense of most that had gone on during the day and she wondered if that was apparent on her face or if her ability to hide her feelings and thoughts was still there. Had she lost it along the way?

Sitting there like that in her thoughts the young witch stopped paying attention to her surroundings as she sipped her drink. Emmeline had forgotten about time and space and she heard her name being called, she almost choked on her drink. Why would anyone she knew or that knew her be in this bar at this time of the day. Turning around slowly, Emmeline couldn’t help but blink, extremely surprised by the sight in front of her. Of course she knew better than to show that and so she straightened up and immediately offered the seats opposite of her.

“Narcissa! What a pleasant surprise to see you! And Severus as well! It’s good to see you, both of you.” Emmeline smiled up at them before she placed her glass on the table in front of her and let out a sigh. “Well, you see I am not such a fan of parties and since everyone is out to celebrate and be part of the so called event of the season I thought it might as well be a good thing if, instead of sitting at home, I would come here and have my own little party since I do not consider myself Evan Rosier’s biggest fan and since he dislikes me with a burning passion, I prefer to stay from that celebration despite the invitation extended by Mister Prewett.” She glanced between the two of them, stopping on Severus. “What brings you two here, though? Surely both of you are invited to the event so why miss it?”

Severus’s nerves had been quite bountiful that day and with every good reason to be so. He still felt rather antsy, glancing about every so often as if someone from his side was aware of his treason, yet surprisingly, he’d not crossed by many Death Eaters and had drawn little attention before meeting with Remus.

How he came to be at a bar with none other than Narcissa Malfoy was a bit baffling, but no mystery to the tense man. After all, he’d gone to Malfoy Manner himself figuring if anything, he needed a distraction from the worry over whether Lupin was competent enough to handle the information he’d passed onto him properly. He often resorted to drowning his nerves in liquor at any rate and often wound up in some form or another within the Malfoy’s midst. And then Narcissa had taken him to a bar.

Irony never ceased at times. It’d been a quiet dim evening so far with idle chatter and a short drink which Severus was taking his time with. Though Lucius was off and about, he found Narcissa’s company to be much more calming than he expected Lucius’s would’ve been. After all, he was quite certain Lucius would’ve had choice words with him concerning Voldemort’s most recent agenda and the reasons behind it. He’d taken his chances approaching the Manor however, figuring if Lucius were home, he’d take whatever may have come.

The quiet buzz of the bar was rather nice for a change, disarming if anything. He was eternally grateful Narcissa had been of the same opinion over the birthday party Rosier was throwing. He wanted nothing to do with a group of people he was distantly acquainted with when he was quite unsure how many of his comrades were in the mix. It was being held at the Prewett’s, after all, and Merlin those rowdy twins were like a mildly more mature version of Potter and Black. And that honestly wasn’t saying much at all.

His eyes fixed on a figure across the room that caused him to stop and squint for a moment as he attempted to confirm who it was he was seeing.

Emmeline Vance. Of course. Severus had mixed feelings on the woman, given that she was supposedly a friend of Caradoc Dearborn’s. But then, Emmeline hadn’t seemed as adamant on that claim as Dearborn himself had been. Even so, he thought as he studied her carefully, wondering why she wasn’t at the grand Rosier party.

“Yes, I do believe so.” He answered Narcissa detachedly. Ah, so she’d noticed her as well. And much to his surprise and chagrin, Narcissa wanted to greet the young woman. With no inclination of complaint, Severus followed, though he really had no wish to make pleasantries with the confusing Slytherin.

Invited to sit down, Severus raised an eyebrow at the seat before slowly setting his glass down on the table, an indication that he wasn’t going anywhere, though he’d no interest in sitting down. The girl prattled and Severus crossed his arms, annoyed by such a straightforward explanation and a bit surprised all at once. It was news to him that Rosier loathed Emmeline and he vaguely wondered why.

“Ah yes, we were. A great honor that was, being invited to an idiot Blood Traitor’s home.” He rolled his eyes at that, lifting his drink from the table to take an indulgent sip. He glanced sideways at Narcissa, close to saying the bar had been her idea and he’d only tagged along, yet he didn’t feel comfortable putting her on the spot. Their quiet friendship wasn’t up for judgment by mere acquaintances, anyway. “I’d rather a quiet night with adequate company as opposed to the mishmash that’s bound to show up at Rosier’s party.”

Seeing Emmeline offer them seats, Narcissa simply gave a gesture of gratitude with her head, but chose to remain standing at Severus’ side. After all, she was the sole reason why they were talking to Emmeline and she couldn’t have him feeling like a third wheel while they engaged in girl talk. That would have been obscenely rude of her!

It was a bit difficult for Narcissa to not choke at the brunette saying that her cousin’s party would be the ‘event of the season’. She caught the sarcasm and truly appreciated it, but did not crack a smile. She also remained still at Severus’ remark about Fabian being a blood traitor. Narcissa would never talk ill about her family in public like that, even if it was the only distantly related Evan. Blood ties were the reason for their Lord’s war and besides, she had a feeling that Evan wasn’t lost to her— yet. She would deal with him eventually and if that didn’t work, then Lucius would deal with them. Narcissa snickered at her own meddling concerning her wayward cousin. She always had a plan. Just because Andromeda and Sirius were lost forever to her, that didn’t mean she would gladly give up anymore relatives. And bloody hell, certainly not to a poor as dirt Prewett! Ludicrous, indeed.

“Having our own little party sounds like just what we need. You’re a genius, Emmeline.” Narcissa replied cheerfully and swung her hand through Severus’ arm and pressed the right side of her body into him. So perhaps she was a little tipsy. Just a little, but everything would be fine. Severus would protect her from any harm. Lucius trusted him. She simply smiled up at her young friend as if everything was normal; although it was likely that he noticed the change in her behavior. Other than alcohol, there wasn’t much that brought out her affectionate side in public. “Severus, don’t you think Emmeline has the right idea?” She asked mischievously, adding in her mind this could be his opportunity to release any existing tension between the two former classmates.

Narcissa raised her fingers to order all three of them another round of drinks. And if she were smart, she wouldn’t be ingesting another drop. Oh Salazar, she would see how she felt in another 15 minutes. Narcissa looked up at Severus with a teasing pout on her face. “Now I know you were hoping to see my beloved husband tonight, but since he has other obligations… what do you say to entertaining us girls?”

And after the following round of drinks, the three were going to need somewhere else to go. A night couldn’t end at last call for a group of Slytherins, that would be outrageous. Logically, their little party would have to continue.