"Hello Stranger"
Or
"Not All Slytherins"
James had been waiting for this day ever since he knew what Hogwarts was and of course, it had to start with potions. Dear Merlin, why oh why did James' first day or Hogwarts have to start with potions? The Higher Institution that was Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry truly already had it out for him and he had only made it one night so far. What was he going to do when he had to take his OWLs? Or worse, play Quidditch. It was already too much for the eleven, nearly twelve, year old boy to handle.
First day, first period potions with the Slytherins. Just Avada him right then and there.
And of course Slughorn, the old bat, just about fainted when James walked through the door and took a seat next to his new housemates, Max O'Brien and Jack Wood. They had been going through roll for the better part of class and Slughorn had yet to hit the "Ps."
An irritating snapping sound kept coming from the back of the room and James was just about to turn around and yell at whoever it was to knock it off when his attention was diverted elsewhere.
"Alright, now, Mr. Potter." James snapped out of his thoughts about India McLaggen's incessant gum popping to give the potions master a smile. "If you could please take a seat next to Miss Parker?" Professor Slughorn gestured to an attentive brown-haired witch in one of the last few rows.
James, remembering his manners, smiled at the old potions master and ambled towards the back of the room. He placed his bag on the ground and sat on the old wooden stool, before turning towards the girl next to him.
Swiveling on her stool, the witch smiled brightly at him and introduced herself with a terribly posh accent.
"Katherine Parker and you must be...James? Sometimes, I go by Kit, but my mum thinks it makes me sound like a five-year-old, but anyway, nice to meet you..." she trailed off uncomfortably and put out her hand for him to shake.
"James Potter," he said, shocked at her firm grip, "Just James is fine."
"Nice to meet you. I think Slughorn is getting a little on in the years since we all seem to be sitting alphabetically," she whispered the last part conspiratorially.
James was about to reply with some witty comment about senile Slytherins when he noticed something striking about the witch next to him.
She had a green and silver tie around her neck that matched her green and black school robe that matched her green flats, which meant -
She was a Slytherin.
This spunky, far too excited for first period potions, witch next to him was a slimy Slytherin. As if the morning couldn't get any worse, James was stuck sitting next to a Slytherin for the rest of the year, that no doubt had a family that committed some awful atrocity against muggleborns or, hell, even someone in James' family during the First or Second Wizarding War. The Daily Prophet was chock full of stories these days about former Slytherins and Death Eaters rallying up against Muggleborns again, especially those who were trying to squash the rising anti-Pureblood movement.
The things they did in the past were enough for eleven-year-old James to form an intense dislike for the entire lot - nevermind the fact that this Parker bird was the first one James had ever really met up close - besides Slughorn, of course.
So, yes. James Potter hated Slytherins and therefore, by the transitive property, James Potter hated Kit Parker (for the record, he had to disagree with Kit's mother because Kit did not seem like a name for a five-year-old, it had far too much of something spunk, as much as James hated to admit it).
The girl in question seemed to give up all hope of James responding to her statement and turned front to give Slughorn her utmost attention, while James tried to figure out a way for the two to cease being partners, despite the pair not even brewing a potion yet. Oh no, James was going to find a way out of this disastrous pairing even if it took him till seventh year.
Kit wasn't really a fan of James Potter, but she promised herself that she would give him the benefit of the doubt. Maybe the kid just wasn't up on his social queues, or maybe he was just plain stupid - he was a Gryffindor after all and her mother always made a point to say that they were a bunch of hotheads with little going on upstairs.
But two months later on a rainy evening in November, when Kit suggested that she and James work together on their potions' essay in the library, she knew she had to figure out what the hell the kid's deal was.
James' pissy attitude and clear dismissal of his grades struck a chord with Kit, so she decided to go to the library with her roommates, Marlene Fawley and Corey Chang-Davies, only to see the traitor himself sitting with Max O'Brien and Edward Crawley. Having meet Max on the train with Marlene and already knowing James from potions, Kit had no qualms about going over to the three Gryffindors boys.
"Hey, James," she started boldly but felt her confidence wane as James and Teddy looked at her warily, though Max smiled. "I was wondering if you wanted to work on the potions' essay together? I don't really understand what the Wiggenweld potion does since ours didn't really turn out that well in class -"
James looked around the library briefly before addressing her. "- Sorry, but I'm busy."
Hmph. "Okay," she drew out, "well what about tomorrow? I mean the essay isn't due until Thurs-"
"- Look, why don't I just owl you or something? It'll be easier that way."
"But I don't understand the potion -" He glared at her. "Fine. I'll see you in class then," Kit said stiffly before walking over to where Marlene and Corey were sitting. She pulled out a chair and got out her books with a huff.
"It's so odd, it's like he doesn't want to be seen with you. Does he talk to you in class much?" Marlene asked curiously.
Kit sighed, completely drained from the situation. "No, and our potions normally turn out poorly. I didn't do anything wrong, that I know of..."
"- Well, I personally think he's an idiot. What makes him think that he's above talking to us?" The girls gave Corey incredulous looks. "Oh come on, tell me you didn't see him and Crawley looking around the library to see if anyone was watching. Potter's a prat. It's a well-known fact that most people hate Slytherins, why would he be any different?"
Kit glanced back over at James, who was laughing with Teddy at something Max said and pondered his actions. Would he really be that prejudiced even after all this time? She didn't think people had those strong feelings anymore.
"She's right, Kit. Maybe you should just avoid talking to him if he's going to be rude about it," Marlene added.
"And let my potions grade suffer? I think not," Kit told the blonde-haired witch.
"Here, here! There's that fighting spirit!" Corey shouted, earning a glare from an aging Madame Pince, whom she made a face at in return.
The girls' table was quiet for a moment before Marlene leaned forward to address her friends. "I just don't think you should let him get to you is all."
Kit shook her head. "I won't! I mean, I need to get good grades to be an Auror after all."
"Merlin, Parker! I highly doubt your potions' grade from first year is going to determine whether you can be an Auror or not, plus it's only been two months and we already know how much of an arse Crawley is and he and Potter are roommates." Corey rolled her eyes.
Kit gave her friend a hard look. "Whatever, but I'm not going to let James Potter get to me. You're right Corey, he is a prat."
Even worse, he was a prat with bad manners.
But that still wasn't the event that caused Kit to draw the line. Unfortunately, this event came two days before the Christmas Holiday after James rebuffed yet another one of Kit's requests to work on a potions essay in the library after James spilled their potion all over her in class earlier that day and Slughorn made the pair write an essay as a way to make it up.
James claimed he was busy with other work all that evening and the next four days and at least the first five weeks after they got back from break, which Kit thought was just a bit fishy.
It was passing time between classes and Kit was walking down the Transfiguration Corridor with another one of her roommates, Vivian Boot, when she heard James loudly talking - no complaining - about some girl to Maisie Jordan, Jack Wood, and Siobhan Finnigan, all first-year Gryffindors.
"- I mean she's incorrigible! She's always trying to talk to me about this or that. It's so bloody annoying," he whined, "She's always taking control of our potion and corrects me like I'm some kind of idiot, I mean she didn't even know what the Wiggenweld potion did, she had to ask for my help! And she's a Slytherin!" he exclaimed, "Bloody snakes! They all think they're so high and mighty. I mean her parents were probably former Death Eaters for all we know!"
Kit stopped dead in her tracks. Hell no, he did not go there. The git didn't even know her, he had no knowledge of her background, he -
"Come on Kit, he's not worth it. We all know Potter's a prat," Vivian pleaded with Kit, who turned around and marched over to the other group of students.
"How dare you, Potter!" The first year Gryffindors turned around to look at her in surprise. "You barely talk to me for three months and you think you know my whole life's story!" She hit him with her notebook and he let out a little yelp and rubbed his arm. "You're one of the most entitled people I've ever met! I can't believe you even - ugh! I hate you, you arsehole! If you didn't want to be my partner, all you had to do was tell me, so I wouldn't have wasted three months of school working with someone who hates me and doesn't care about his schoolwork! Just grow up and tell Slughorn you want to switch! Leave me alone and don't go spreading things about me around school!"
She pivoted on the heel of her green flat and strutted down the corridor, with Vivian hot on her heels before James even had a chance to reply. As they rounded the corner, Kit finally let the tears fall and resigned herself to being late for transfiguration, not giving two shits about James Potter and how she probably just ruined her entire tenure at Hogwarts with one impassioned diatribe.
Later that evening, James was sitting alone in the library trying - and failing - to do his potions essay. He had been having a terrible day ever since he had his confrontation with Parker in the corridor. He hadn't meant to say those things, they just sort of...came out. The potions' essay was really hard - maybe he shouldn't have yelled at her -
"So, now you choose to be diligent," Parker's voice suddenly crept up on him without any preamble. He didn't even notice her walk over to his corner of the library, which was relatively empty two days before the holiday break.
James startled and stopped writing his essay to look up at his partner. "Merlin, why'd you - wait what?"
"Did you know I'm a disappointment?" she continued again without any preface.
"What?" James frowned a little and focused all his attention on Parker.
She blushed a little under his stare and focused on his parchment on the table. "You called my parents Death Eaters and I realize in my haste to completely excoriate you, I neglected to properly correct you."
He nodded his head at the chair across from him and gestured for Parker to sit down, while he tried to remember what 'excoriate' meant. Not knowing quite what to say, James cleared his throat. "Err, how does this make you a disappointment?"
A loud screech echoed through the library as Parker begrudgingly took the chair offered to her.
"I'm not supposed to be in Slytherin. My entire family from as far back as there was a Parker or MacDougal Family at Hogwarts has been in Ravenclaw." She let out a humourless chuckle before continuing.
"And, Merlin I don't know, I just wanted to be different. I could be my own person in Slytherin. My parents always told me that I could be in whichever house I wanted, but I didn't realize until three months ago what an empty statement that was. I fit the characteristics and the Hat told me I would make a good fit. I didn't think my parents would care as long as I was happy."
She paused and gave James a self-deprecating smile. "But they did care. They still love me, but I could tell they were disappointed...I'm eleven years old and I'm the family disappointment. My brother Miles is going to be at Hogwarts next year and there's no doubt in my mind that he'll be a Ravenclaw. My father, he works in the Department of International Magical Cooperation at The Ministry - he wants me to follow in his footsteps one day - and I could just...I could just tell in his letter to me that he was - unhappy," she sniffled, "he was cold - not mean - but cold. My mother was the same way. I always looked up to her - she could have really been something. She trained to be a healer, but she wanted to take care of me and Miles and make Ashbury something great. Something to carry on our legacy. And I ruined it because I wanted to be different."
Throughout the conversation, James remained silent, unsure of what to say. He wasn't quite sure what Ashbury was, but he could tell it meant a lot to her. Then, as swiftly as she sat down, Parker got up from her chair. "So, no, James. My parents aren't Death Eaters or pureblood supremacists - they're just...disappointed."
James started to get up as well and opened his mouth to speak - to reply to Parker's exceedingly candid and composed speech. But the words wouldn't come out of his mouth, which she seemed to realize.
She smiled sadly at him, seemingly knowing a response was a lost cause. "Happy Christmas, James. I'll be sure to talk to Slughorn when we get back about changing partners," she turned on her heel, walking out of the library before James even had the chance to say he was sorry.
Three days later, when Kit was finally back home at the family estate in Oxfordshire and eating her Christmas morning breakfast, she received an owl post. Not knowing who the letter was from since she did not recognize the tan (and admittedly homely looking) barn owl, she quickly snatched the letter off the table, only to see her last name messily scrawled on some parchment. With a quick swipe of her butter knife underneath the seal, she opened the letter.
Parker,
I'm sorry I called your parents Death Eaters, I'm sure they're nice people. You're right, I don't know you. The only thing that I know about you is that you're in Slytherin and that was how I made my judgment of you. All my life I was told stories about family members or family friends who were killed by Slytherins and I guess I only saw them one way. I suppose not all Slytherins are that bad (except that Avery kid, I don't really trust him). And you're not a disappointment, a bit too posh, but not a disappointment.
Happy Christmas,
James Sirius Potter
Well shit.
"Plumpy," her mother put down the knife that was currently buttering her toast, "who's that letter from?" Kit hated the family's well-loved nickname for her that stuck after her chubby phase when she was eight.
"Err, it's from my potions partner. He had a question about our homework," Kit fibbed. She did not want her parents to know the real reason why James wrote her. No sooner had she thought this, then had Miles snatched the letter out of her hand from across the table and began to read it aloud.
"Parker," Miles said in what he thought was a good impression of James, "I'm sorry I called your parents Death Eaters..." He got no further before her father yanked the letter out of Miles' hand and furiously began to silently read it.
"Katherine Jayne Parker! Why does this boy think we are Death Eaters?" her mother demanded, while her father continued reading silently.
"Well, he just doesn't like Slytherins in general, but it's okay, I set him straight, mum," Kit mumbled.
"Damn right, you better have set him straight! Who is this boy? I want to have a word with his parents -"
"James Sirius Potter," her father cut her mother off monotonously, while she stared at him in return.
The dining room remained deadly silent, the only sounds heard were the soft murmurs of the house elves downstairs in the kitchen.
"Miles, go upstairs please," her mother said curtly before looking at her husband, all while Kit stared at her pancakes.
"But I want to know why - ugh fine," Miles whined and stomped off towards the gallery and upstairs to his room.
The trio remained silent for a moment until her father asked Kit what exactly happened. From James' coldness on their first day to his avoiding her for months, and finally, to their confrontation in the corridor, Kit left nothing out (except that she told him her parents thought she was a disappointment).
"What did I do wrong?" The words barely came out of her mouth before she burst into tears.
Not used to seeing her normally confident daughter so upset, her mother rushed over to Kit's spot at the dining table and began to rub her back soothingly.
"Plumpy, you did nothing wrong. If James can't see past your house and blood status, then that's his loss. You just have to focus on what's the best for you. And darling, you don't have to forgive him if you don't want to. I just find it odd that he would behave that way, considering who his parents are. Is he a Gryffindor?"
Kit nodded.
"Typical," her mother muttered, before turning serious again. "And is it a common thing, these prejudices?" Again, Kit nodded. Her mother shared a worried look with her father over Kit's head before she continued speaking. "Well don't let him or anyone else get the best of you. The worst thing you can do is let people see you down. I can write to the Potters if you would like. I've known Ginny since school -"
Kit snapped her head up and her face paled. "No, mum, please don't write them. I don't want to be a snitch."
Her mother glanced at her father, who had a vacant look in his eyes before she replied to her daughter.
"Okay, Plumpy. If you're sure. But let us know if you have any more problems, alright?" Kit nodded. "Right, good girl, now why don't you go see where Miles has run off to. And ask Tilly to make you some cookies before Aunt Maggie, Uncle Tommy, and Amelia come over for dinner and presents. This way you and Miles can have some before Amelia devours them all."
Kit smiled a little at her mother's quip and used her napkin to dry her eyes before running off to find Miles and Tilly, one of the family's house elves.
Turning around to face her husband once she was sure that Kit out of range, Morag's true emotions came out.
"Robert, I thought we were past this - this prejudice? Had I known that this would have happened, I would never have let you convince me to tell Kit she could be in whatever house she wanted. I know we weren't entirely happy about it right after the sorting, but I've made my peace with it now, as long as she's happy -"
While his wife continued on with her rant, Robert paced around the room thinking. It seemed like ages had passed when he finally spoke. "I don't think he really knew what he was saying -"
"- Why do you say that?"
"Let me finish," Robert said softly, but firmly, pinching the bridge of his nose, "I don't think the boy knew exactly what he was saying and I don't think we'll have a problem with him saying these things again."
Morag made a face. Her husband took that as his cue to continue. "Kit said that the boy was telling this anecdote to a large group of people, right?" Morag nodded. "Well, he probably just got caught up in all the prejudice from hearing about it from others that when he met a Slytherin that was normal, he just automatically disliked her."
"That's no excuse and he may as well keep doing it - and you know how Slughorn is - they'll be partners till they graduate. I should write Ginny -"
"No. You will do nothing of the sort," he said again, softly, but emphatically, "James won't bother Kit about those things anymore, and you and I both know that Kit can stand up for herself just fine." His wife still didn't look convinced. "We can talk to her if you'd like, explain to her why people saying these things is becoming more common."
"- I swear, papa. I didn't push Amelia down the stairs! She's lying, just ask Miles!" Kit was ushered into Robert's study later that evening following cousin Amelia's rather sudden departure after claiming that Kit pushed her down the stairs.
"No, darling, you're not in trouble," Robert chuckled and turned towards his wife in amusement, but found her glaring at the copy of Crooked House in Kit's left hand as if it was responsible.
"Then why are we in your study? I was at an important part," Kit returned, sitting down with a slight huff in the cranberry coloured wingback chair opposite her father's kidney-shaped desk. "You only call me in here when I'm in trouble."
Robert conceded a nod; the family generally tended to steer clear of his study. Normally, family discussions were held by Morag in the saloon or the drawing room, depending on the time of day. Yet, Robert felt that the change in venue was justifiable due to the nature of the conversation.
"We wanted to talk to you about something important and felt that this was the best location," Morag said from her spot on the edge of Robert's desk.
Kit furrowed her brow after a moment of consideration. "Is this about what James said?"
"Yes, and no." Robert exchanged a quick glance with Morag before continuing. "We want to explain to you more about your heritage."
"What do you mean? I know we're Pureblood and so is mum and Uncle Tommy, but then he married Aunt Margaret and so Amelia is a half-blood. And then there were the wars, and Granny and Grandpa Parker died then, but you never told me how -"
"- That's not suitable for you to hear about at this time -" Robert replied sternly, but quietly.
Morag interrupted her husband, distracting him from a topic that would no doubt cause him distress. "Darling, you do know that just because you're a pureblood, you're not better than anyone else, right?"
"Of course I know that, but there are some kids at school that make fun of purebloods and it's not fair!" Kit exclaimed. "There are these awful Hufflepuff fifth years who pick on my friend Tobey Zabini and they tell him that he's 'cestously' bred."
Robert and Morag looked at each other over Kit's head, more than slightly alarmed at the behavior Kit just described, even if she couldn't properly say the word incestuous.
"It's not right of those students to do that, I'm sure they heard it from their parents or read it in the paper. But make sure you're on the lookout and you always have Rory if you need anything." Kit blushed at the mention of the second year Slytherin (more on him later). "There are some witches and wizards that believe all purebloods to be nefarious and pureblood supremacists, of which we are certainly not," Robert concluded emphatically.
Morag nodded. "The Ministry is also going through some issues regarding this as well, so it's important that you stay up on these things. Always make sure you read The Prophet - daily and weekend."
Kit nodded and Morag's voice turned soft as she let out her next sentence. "Plumpy, it's going to be hard for you in the next few years and your father and I know you have big ambitions, so it's important that you don't give people a chance to view you as anything less than you are. You're exceedingly clever and charming and -"
"- We're very proud of you, no matter what house you're in," Robert concluded with a smile directed at Kit and his wife.
Kit smiled widely, before getting up to give both her parents a big hug, glad to finally get rid of her feelings of inadequacy. "I love you," she mumbled into her father's chest, while her mother ran her hands through her hair.
"We love you too, Plumpy."
All was well - for now.
Dear James,
Okay. See you in school.
Sincerely,
Katherine Jayne Parker
James sighed deeply as he placed the note from Parker (on personalized stationery no less) on his bed at his house in Godric's Hollow. He still felt really shitty about the whole thing and he honestly had no clue why he told Maisie, Olivia, and Jack all that stuff about her.
Parker wasn't that bad. A little too posh for his tastes, but not terrible.
He made her cry for Merlin's sake.
She tried to hide it, but he definitely saw the tears pooling in her eyes. He almost ran after her to apologize, but something kept him rooted to his spot: she called him Potter.
Now as long as James had known Parker (which really wasn't that long, but that was beside the point), she never once called him Potter. It was always James. Even when he spilled their Wiggenweld potion on her, she called him James. Or when he refused to help her with her potions' essay, she called him James.
And to hear the venom in her voice when she called him Potter made him feel terrible, granted probably not as terrible as he made her feel, but he still felt wretched.
He told his friends to go off without him, and instead wandered around the castle for about an hour, just walking (ie. skiving off Transfiguration) and thinking about what he said about her, but most importantly, what she said to him.
And that was when he ran into Teddy Lupin. Being Mr. Morality Head Boy, Teddy was the last person James wanted to see at that moment.
"James!"
The Gryffindor stopped in his tracks and pivoted around to face his godbrother. "Just heard what happened in the corridor. Care to share?"
"No," he said softly.
"Hmm, well we can't have that, now can we?" Teddy sat down on the floor and leaned against the wall. James joined him and the pair sat in silence for a few moments.
"I wish I didn't say anything," James whispered.
"You wish you didn't say anything, or you wish she hadn't heard what you said?"
James looked at Teddy. "I wish I didn't say anything. She doesn't deserve it, no matter what house she's in. And, I just - I only said something because Maisie was talking about how awful this sixth year Slytherin boy was to her yesterday and then Jack said something about some first-year Slytherin girl, and I thought he meant her, but apparently he meant Nora Pucey and then…" James wiped a tear from his eye, embarrassed.
Teddy bumped James's shoulder with his own. "Just apologize to her. If you feel this terrible about it, just imagine how she feels." James's eyes widened and Teddy quickly tried to placate him. "I mean, no, don't think of that right now, just think of how you can make it up to her. Apologize, trust me - and do it in person, it'll really make a difference."
"Maybe…"
Teddy glared at James. "Do it," his voice left no room for question.
Needless to say, James didn't really do it. Instead, he pussied out when Parker approached him in the library and wrote her an apology letter, which she replied to in typical Parker fashion: formally.
She honestly wasn't that terrible, a little posh and her humour was terribly dry, but she was smart as hell, even for First Year. He resolved to be more open towards her in the coming months, not chummy, but open -
"James!" Lily burst into his room, practically bouncing on her feet in excitement, "come downstairs, I want to play Quidditch on my new broom!"
James smiled at his little sister, happy to have a distraction from his thoughts. "I'll be right down, but why don't you wake up Al, I'm positive that he'd be glad to see you.'
"Really?"
James nodded his head. "Trust me, and make sure you jump on his bed too!"
"Okay, I'll tell him you said that," the eight-year-old scampered out of her older brother's room.
"No, wait, Lily, don't tell him I said that!" James shouted down the hall, only to stop when he heard Al's shouts. All thoughts of Katherine Parker soon forgotten.
Monday morning double potions were never particularly enjoyable, especially after the holiday break. As Kit clambered into class that morning, she was expecting the same monotonous pattern that she experienced first term: James ignoring her and as a result, them making shitty potions. However, that morning took a turn the moment she walked into class.
James was already seated at their station.
Quite surprised and a little peeved not to be there before him, Kit cautiously made her way over to their desk.
"Alright, Parker?" he said.
Kit looked at him warily. "Alright." She stretched out the word as she placed her notebook and quill on her side of the desk.
James was about to say something more when Slughorn cleared his throat to begin class. "I hope you all had a wonderful break, and I'm sure that you all reviewed the process on how to make a Wideye Potion, yes?"
Some of the class, James, and Kit included nodded while several other students, most notably James's cousins, Fred and Roxanne, turned ironically wide-eyed. Slughorn smiled and let out a little chuckle.
"No matter, no matter. The snake fangs are on my desk and everything else is in the storeroom. You have both periods to prep for brewing and we shall check the final potion in class on Wednesday."
The first years began chatting idly as they divided up the tasks among their partners. Planning on going to the storeroom herself to get the ingredients, Kit was shocked to hear James' voice break through the idle chatter.
"Do you want me to get the ingredients while you get the snake fangs?"
Kit smiled softly to mask her surprise. "Yeah, that'd be great, James."