The Feather Tamer
thestoicwarrior
Prologue: A taste of Lily's mind
I grabbed the feather. This is it, I thought. How that thought made me even more nervous. I took three giant leaps (which, in all honesty, makes me giggle every time I do to this- muggles and wizards think they're so different from one another when really, everyone thinks with the same pattern) and flung myself upward. I could feel the wind catch under me, the magic that intertwined the feather lifting me upward. Magic swooped in and out of my legs and arms. The wind brushed past my hair (making me a little nauseous, to be honest) as I grew higher and higher.
I could see the class down below me. They were taking off at different rates. It's amazing how the guys can be so proud of themselves while on brooms, but give them a feather lift and they're completely different people. I could see James Potter start wobbly before heading above the forest. (I secretly hoped he'd lose his balance and end up eaten by bowtruckles. Who needs both their eyes anyway? Maybe he'd stop seeing everything finally. I swear, Potter knew what was going on where for everything interesting (read: gossip-related) that happened at Hogwarts. He brushed it off as him being 'all-knowing'. It grated my nerves.)
I started to get used to the airborne feeling, it reminded me of swimming. I could kick one leg and the magic would wrap it's tentacles around my leg and pierce the air, propelling me towards the side. If I waved the feather downwards I'd rise higher and higher. Brooms seemed more efficient to me-you didn't have to constantly keep moving them to avoid falling. But I guess I preferred feathers, I always have.
I caught sight of a creek I hadn't known was around Hogwarts and followed it. The bends in the water flow looked so majestic that I couldn't stop following it. I figured if I ever got the chance I'd see how far it went (and hoped I wouldn't tire out on the way-I wouldn't want to fall out of the air onto some poor muggle village). One could get used to this, I thought.
Just then, a raindrop hit my nose and I came back to my senses. What was I supposed to be doing? Taking a quick lap to get used to the feather. Check. Working on maneuvering through the wind. Check. Staying close to the class so I wouldn't miss the end of the period. Oops.
I turned around and sailed back and the rain started to get heavier. Scotland weather always peaved me. Why would you build a castle where the ground is frozen half the year and the wind bites through most of the year? For all the purebloods favored themselves, they sure can be idiots.
Or maybe I'm just biased. Everyone is always like "oh muggle-lover this" or "you mudblood that". Really, it's just annoying. Mudblood, mudblood, mudblood. It has no effect on me anymore. I've only been here a year but it's taken less than that to grow callous to pureblood antics. They're starting to lose their creativity.
As I flew back down I could hear everyone's excitement. An hour feeling like a bird-without a human's worries, without a human's hold on the ground-had everyone aloft.
...
As everyone filed in the Great Hall for dinner, the noise of the crowd grew louder and louder. I could see the dame of Hogwarts (otherwise known as the Head Girl and my ideal) talking casually with her friends. I could see the Marauders (everyone knew they were troublemakers but no one had any proof it was them) talking with Snape? Oh no, that can't be good. I had always liked Snape, sure he could be a great prick sometimes and, truth be told, the only time I heard attacks on my heritage was when I was hanging out with him. It seemed he was the only one who could give me a run for my galleons at potions. But, he was so sincere and kind, like he'd do anything just to see a smile or a wave. He has a gooey heart, I've decided. Like apple crisp.
Hogwarts was my home now, not Spinner's End. My mother and father loved me, yes. But they could never provide this type of atmosphere for a growing teen witch. My sister, well she was a different story. Let's just say, she used to love me. Then I got into Hogwarts.
Marlene came up behind me. She's always a sight. Always trying to be different, to defy stereotypes. She was wearing the Hogwarts uniform as is expected (McGonagall would have our guts fed to Mrs. Norris if even our ties weren't ironed). Last week she put henna tattoos all up and down her legs (McGonagall freaked anyway). Mom had sent me this kit for henna in the owl post (apparently it's the new muggle thing to do-get high and paint yourselves. Mom's obsessed with keeping me trendy in the muggle ways. I kinda suspect that she hopes I'll get a decent muggle job when I get out of here. She's a diehard Catholic who reads way too much Daily Prophet. She's even got a subscription). Marlene usually loves all the muggle toys. "They're so inventive!" is her usual response.
Marlene goes "Hey Lils," looking almost diabolical with her tattoos. Circe only knows what's going to happen when she realizes that muggles have ink tattoos as well.
"Have you seen the Evening Prophet? It's absolutely terrible. Can't that Skeeter woman put one tear in her eye when she talks about deaths? It's all 'another muggle family died today. That's three this week'. I mean, she knows the wizarding community is responsible. No one can die of fear. That's ridiculous." I was on my soap box again, I knew it. But that woman made me mad. If I open it one day and it'd have been my family that was just-another-victim I'd flip shit. I don't know what I'd do. Probably sneak into the Slytherin dorms and stab everyone in their sleep. I'd enchant the purebloods to choke every time "mudblood" was murmured-Merlin, the whole house would be dead in a week. I'd take all their cats and... well, maybe I'd pity the cats. I can't much stomach the idea of killing poor defenseless animals. Plus, all that gore.
Marlene was sympathetic, "I know honey—hey! Clam chowder for dinner!" So she's also a scatterbrain. What of it?
I knew almost everyone in first year, but I could only really identify with her. She's my best friend through and through. I don't know what life without her would be like. Ick, now I'm getting all sentimental. Look what you did, this is so out of character for me.
...
Next chapter: 7 years post hogwarts!
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hugs and chocolate,
thestoicwarrior