Title: In Days of old
Disclaimer: I in no way own Harry Potter or any of its characters. I do own Serenity Melindira and Mirnoth. You'll see what that is later. And I own the new DADA teacher, Meridia Sinclair, and Arale Strangoft.
Warnings: Nuthing except Pansy Bashing
Rating: PG cuz there might be language.
Summary: Serenity thinks back to the one year she spent with Harry Potter and co. at Hogwarts before they went up against Voldie. Whatever you may think about the scenes with Serenity and Hermione or Ginny is all from sisterly love, the girls are all hetero, or, straight.
Author: Me! Kloak Dark who despite the name I am quite happy, because my band aid has a smiley on it!
Chibi Koga: That's fascinating, but don't you think you should let them read the story?
KD: I was getting to that CK, you're just too impatient. You must really love my stories, right?
CK: Actually, I don't really like them but they are a refreshing break from the reality that has you in it.
KD: Huh?
CK:-
KD: Ok, on with the story!
Serenity was looking through her attic when she saw the Hogwarts crest on an old trunk. She made her way over to it and unlatched the lid. As she pulled open the lid an old robe, pure white with the Hogwarts crest on it, came into view. She smiled at it fondly. Moving it aside, the twenty-seven year old saw some of her old Defense Against the Dark Arts and Potions textbooks. And there was her broom, a Firebolt, which she had been lucky to get.
Serenity moved these aside and pulled out the photo album that contained all her pictures from her seventh year. She carefully slid the clasp off and pulled open the leather-bound cover.
The first thing she saw was Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Seamus, and Neville staring up at her, grinning. She almost laughed, they were all so carefree and goofy looking. Of course, it was taken with a muggle camera so the pictures didn't move, but still, it brought back memories. Ron was giving a thumbs up, and Harry was behind Ron peeking out from behind his shoulder. Neville was behind Ron as well, and being the tallest had his arms on Ron's head. Ginny was in front of Ron with his arms around her thin shoulders. Seamus was off a little in the background waving his arms madly in the air. And Hermione peeked out from the other side of Ron's shoulders. Serenity laughed happily and turned the page.
This was one with Ginny in Neville's arms, they had been so adorable together. The next ones were random shots of 'the Gang' going about everyday things. Hermione studying, Ron playing chess, Neville fussing over a plant. There was one with Ginny buried deep behind a fashion magazine, and Harry cleaning his Firebolt with utmost care. Someone had managed to snap one of herself making a dreamcatcher, Seamus, if she remembered correctly. Then there was the Irishman rejoicing over one thing or another. He was so funny. And then there was one with Professor Snape actually smiling, that was quite rare. She was standing next to him in that picture, but she couldn't quite remember if he was drunk or not. It had been a good thing Harry had the camera though. He doesn't look drunk, but you never know.
But when she next turned the page her breath caught in her throat and her mouth went dry. She had just turned to the page that held the second generation of the Order of the Phoenix. It was all the young adults that hadn't been a part of the original order. They all looked so happy standing there. She wished they were still like that.
Sev was in that picture too. He was like a chaperon and he hadn't been in the original so they pulled him into it with them. She had a funny expression on her face in the picture and it looked as if she was going to hit Ron. "Oh yeah, Ron pinched my butt just before the picture was taken." Serenity said out loud. She let out a soft sigh and a single tear slid down her cheek.
/Ten Years Ago/
A raven haired young woman walked into the compartment where Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny were sitting. "Oh, I'm sorry to intrude, I didn't know this compartment was taken." she said in a soft voice as she turned to leave.
"You can sit with us." Ginny piped up. She nodded her head in thanks and sat down next to Hermione, her bronze skin making the other girls look extremely pale.
"So who're you?" Ron asked, "I've never seen you before." Hermione hissed at Ron for being rude and he stuck his tongue out at her.
"My name is Serenity Melindira, and you've never seen me before because I've never been here before." Serenity replied. "And you are?" She asked raising a thin black eyebrow.
"The name's Ron Weasley, and this is Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and my sister Ginny." Ron told her nodding at each of his friends in turn.
Serenity nodded to each of them in acknowledgment. Harry and the others were shocked and relieved when she didn't say anything about Harry's scar or even look at him strangely. She flipped back a lock of her thick black hair, giving Ron and the other's a better look at her tanned features. Thin, pale lips, sharp eyebrows, high cheekbones, and almond shaped eyes. Her face was shaped like an oval and her nose was small and round. Hermione gasped, Ginny stared in awe, and Ron and Harry had to pick their jaws up off the floor.
Just at that moment, none other than Draco Malfoy entered the compartment, for once without his lackey's Crabbe and Goyle. He looked like he was about to say something nasty to Harry and Ron when he caught sight of Serenity. "Well hello." he said politely. "May I ask who you are fair lady?" Harry looked like he was going to wretch at hearing Malfoy be polite and Ron was positively fuming.
"I am Serenity Melindira. And who, may I ask, are you?"
"I am Draco Malfoy, fair maiden." he replied. Now Hermione was getting sick. "May I also ask why I have never seen you before, as a beauty like yourself would not be forgotten quickly?"
Serenity blushed slightly." You have never seen me, as I have never seen Hogwarts good sir."
"Ah." He said somewhat knowingly. "Then might I suggest that you not be seen in the company of a mudblood such as Granger, and that you come with me to my compartment, where only purebloods may be seen."
Serenity gave him an odd look that told him she didn't have a bloody idea what he was talking about. "What, pray tell, is a mudblood, and might I also inquire what a pureblood is?"
Draco looked at her disbelievingly, but started to explain what purebloods and mudbloods were. "A mudblood is someone who has a muggle parent or parents. A pureblood is someone who is of purely magical descent." He looked into her eyes and hoped she understood.
Serenity looked back at Draco and said, "Mudblood does not seem like a very nice word to describe someone of muggle descent." She then turned to Hermione." Are your parents muggles?" she asked quietly.
"Yes." came Hermione's firm reply.
"Well I see nothing wrong with you." she looked back at Draco. "What is the difference between mugglebred and purebred wizards?"
Draco looked at her oddly because when she said 'purebred' a horse just popped into his head. "A pureblood wizard has...well, pure bloodlines."
"Hmm, well you see, if you approach this from the point of view as a horse breeder," he just knew it, he knew she was thinking of horses,"you would know that crossbreeding horses gives them unique qualities. They become stronger, more compact or faster on their feet. So, if you look at it like that then a mixture of blood is good, and having pure bloodlines is hampering the growth of a wizard or witch's magic." she finished calmly and looked at him with her intense gaze.
"OK. Whatever. Potter, don't expect me to be nice to you just because of that temporary truce." And with that Draco whirled around and out of the compartment.
There was silence for about ten minutes.
"Well that was certainly interesting." Hermione commented. She looked at Serenity, "You got rid of Draco Malfoy AND shut him up about 'mudbloods' and 'purebloods' without trading a single insult between the two of you."
"I envy you." Ron said.
"Definitely." Harry agreed.
"That. Ginny said slowly. She started to jump up and down before hugging Serenity. Serenity looked mildly surprised by the girl's antics but hugged her back lightly.
"So what year are you?" Harry asked Serenity.
"Seventh year. You?" she asked.
"Same here for everybody but Ginny." Ron said.
"Yeah but she's taking all advanced classes so she might as well be a Seventh Year." Hermione said quickly.
Serenity looked at Ginny with praise in her eyes. Ginny just beamed. Then there was a knock on the compartment door. "Who is it?" Ron called cautiously.
"It's Neville." the door replied.
"Come in." Hermione called. The door opened and a tall, brown haired boy walked in holding a strange looking plant, and a toad. He stopped dead in his tracks when he saw Serenity.
"Well hello." He said holding out his hand. "I'm Neville Longbottom, and you are?"
"Serenity Melindira." she said as she took his hand. He brought her hand to his mouth and kissed her knuckles lightly.
"A pleasure to meet you Miss Melindira." Neville said as he let go of her hand and bowed.
The raven haired girl blushed a deep crimson and replied," As it is a pleasure to meet you Mr. Longbottom."
Hermione glared at Ron. "Why couldn't you be more like Neville. You're always so rude, why couldn't you act like a gentleman every once in awhile?"
"And why would I wanna do that?" he shot back.
"Because nobody likes a rude git who barely passes for a prefect!" Hermione had started out quietly but her voice had escalated to a yell as she continued. She got up and stormed out of the compartment.
"Not again." Harry moaned and put his face in his hands. Ginny groaned as well, and Ron just snorted. Neville had that 'was that my fault?' look on his face and Serenity just peered around the room.
Then she abruptly got up and left to go find Hermione. As she was walking down the hall she ran smack dab into pug-faced Pansy Parkinson. (Author's note: Sorry, I HATE Pansy. She needs to stay the hell away from Draco) The chocolate eyed girl managed to knock Pansy off her feet and so she was sprawled on the floor.
"You should watch where you're going." The girl hissed.
Serenity helped Pansy up and said," I'm terribly sorry. It was a misfortune that I knocked you down." Pansy looked up at the girl and knew this must be the girl Draco was telling the Slytherins about, the one who compared pureblood wizards with, ugh, horses. She cast a critical eye on the girl. The raven haired beauty had not yet to change into her robes. She wore carpenter jeans, that made it obvious how thin her waist was, a black muscle tank, and a red headband with a grey feather in it. An odd one indeed. Pansy thought. But she could be a problem if Draco fancies her, or she could be my ally.
"Umm, if you'll excuse me, I need to get past." Serenity's voice snapped Pansy out of her thoughts.
"Oh, yes." she said as she moved for the taller girl. Pansy watched as the strange girl, Serenity was it, walked down the hallway.
Meanwhile Serenity was searching for her friend but refrained from calling out her name. She was walking past the girls lavatory(bathroom) when she heard low sobbing. She walked in and found Hermione sitting near a sink crying. Serenity walked over to Hermione and crouched down. "What's wrong?" she asked as she tilted Hermione's face up so she could look at her.
"N-Nothing." She choked out.
The brown-eyed girl looked at her and said firmly, "What's wrong?"
Hermione looked into her intense eyes and burst into tears again. "I-It's just R-Ron!" she said between sobs. "H-He's s-so s-stupid, t-that's all!" she cried out.
Serenity searched the other girl's face for some clue of what she meant.
"He," Hermione paused and sniffed, "he just doesn't get it does he? He just can't imagine it." she slowed her breathing and looked at the other girl as if she had the answer to her questions.
"What doesn't Ron get Hermione?" Serenity asked curiously.
"That I-I love him!" she choked the last out.
"Oh Hermione." Serenity sighed. She hugged the brunette comfortingly, and patted her back. She felt a bond between herself and the bushy haired girl, even though she hadn't known her very long. Serenity kissed Hermione's forehead and rubbed her back, trying to relieve the other girls grief. Ginny walked in as she had inevitably gone searching for the girls. She saw Hermione crying and hurried over to hug her friend. They all walked back to the compartment together.
They walked in and sat on one side of the compartment and the boys just exchanged confused glances.
And then they were finally at Hogsmeade Station. The other's departed to the carriages and told Serenity she would probably need to cross to Hogwarts on the boats with the first years. So she went towards the voice shouting, "Firs' Years this way! Firs' Years over here!" She walked up to the man who was calling the first years and discovered that he was rather tall, and even that was an understatement.
Hagrid felt a tug on his coat and looked down to see beautiful brown eyes staring out of a tan face looking up at him. The owner of these eyes was too tall to be a first year. "What can I do for you lass?" Hagrid asked.
"I'm a transfer student and I don't know which method of transportation I am supposed to take to get to the castle sir." she said mater-of-factly.
"Transfer student aye?" She nodded and her midnight hair swung from side to side. "Well, ye' have to be sorted, so ye' need to go in th' boats with th' firs' years." he said and patted her on the shoulder.
She jumped up and kissed him on the cheek, and then turned to get on one of the boats. Hagrid blushed deeply, though no one could see it in the dark.
"Alrigh', row yer boats on over to th' castle, and no horseplay, there's a gian' squid in this lake." Most of the students who had been leaning over the edges or trailing fingers in the water leaned back or withdrew their fingers. Serenity kept leaning over and trailed her fingers over the surface of the lake as the boat moved towards the shores of the Hogwarts grounds. When they reached the other side a woman dressed in emerald robes and an emerald hat came out to greet them and brought them into the hall to wait until they prepared for the sorting.
All the first years gazed at the tall girl standing among their ranks. She stuck out like a sore thumb, or a sore hand. The witch in emerald robes came out again, and introduced herself as Professor McGonagall, the deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts. She said that they were all to follow her into the great hall. As they walked in she tilted her head so that no one could see her face, merely her cascading hair. But there were people laughing and pointing who thought she was merely a tall first year, a very tall first year.
Professor McGonagall started to call out names and the children went and sat on a stool with a hat on their head, then it would shout out their respective houses. The teen noticed that Slytherins booed every time the sorting hat called out Gryffindor.
"Melindira, Serenity" called out Professor McGonagall.
It was finally her turn and she was shaking but straightened up and ignored it. She walked up to the stool and sat down while the Professor put the hat on her head. "Hmm. You have many interesting qualities young one. You are cunning, courageous, witty, humble, ambitious, caring, you are well educated and have good common sense. You do not mind getting your hands dirty, and yet you have a silver tongue that could convince anyone to do anything for you if you wished. And an interesting lineage if I say so myself. You are of great interest to me Serenity. You have the qualities of each house, and your own mind will not even decide where it wants to go. But that is fine, for I know where to put you. You will do well in MIRNOTH!" the hat shouted out loud.
Dumbledore and all the other teacher's gasped. Not in a hundred years had someone been in the house of Mirnoth, it was a house for only people who had all the qualities of the other houses, or a quality from each house, balanced in their personality. And this was the first girl in ages to become one. Dumbledore started to applaud and then so did everyone else. The sorting hat was removed from her head and she gazed around. The Great Hall's light seemed too great for her eyes after being under the hat for so long. McGonagall embraced her in a hug and said, "Congratulations, you are a very rare child indeed. Your new robes will be given to you and Professor Snape will show you your tower after the ceremony and feast are over."
A teacher with greasy black hair was giving her a look between interest and disgust. She averted her eyes from him and McGonagall told her to sit anywhere for now. She looked around and spotted Ron, Harry, Hermione, Ginny, and Neville over at the Gryffindor table so she hurried over there and sat across from Harry. Hermione sat on one of her sides and Ginny on the other. Ron sat to the left of Harry and Neville sat on his right.
"Well, I do not think we have been introduced." said a boy on the other side of Ron in a distinctly Irish accent.
"I'm Serenity Melindira. And who, pray tell, are you, my Irish friend?" she said.
"Ye' know your accents lass. I'm Seamus Finnigan." he said.
"Let me guess, you're a heartthrob with most of the girls because of your accent?" she questioned in a knowing way.
"By the gods, are ye' a mind reader me good lass? Or perhaps a diviner more worthy than our own Trelawney?" He said jokingly, mock bowing.
Hermione snorted when he mentioned Trelawney. "Anyone who can predict the weather is a more worthy diviner than Trelawney." she said irritation clear in her voice.
"I do agree with you there Hermione." Harry said.
"Aye, I do as well, I was just makin' a small jest Hermione." Seamus chipped in.
"Yes, well, we all know Trelawney's a big fraud, but don't say it near Lavender or Parvati. They practically worship the woman." Ginny whispered.
"How would you know if she's a fraud Gin'? You took muggle studies instead." Neville replied.
"I've heard enough of her predicting that Harry will die a tragic, painful death each and every year, and he's still here I believe." She turned to Harry, "Unless you're a ghost that is and none of us noticed, not even the predictor of your death." she said pointedly.
"Good point." whispered Seamus, as Lavender and Parvati were getting nearer. "Stow the gab about Trelawney, her followers are headin' this way."
The two girls walked over, giggled at Seamus and just looked at the raven- haired teen with a strange expression. She looked right back with that intense gaze she seemed to have down perfectly, or maybe that was just how she always looked. Either way it gave the girls the willies and they walked away to sit at the OTHER end of the table.
"So, who's Professor Snape anyways?" Serenity asked inquisitorially.(for the uneducated or young, curiously)
All of them looked at each other and then back at her. "See that slimy git up there dressed in all black, with sallow skin and a hooked nose?" Harry asked.
"Yeah." she said slowly.
"That's Snape." Ginny said before Harry managed to say anything.
"Oh." the girl seemed genuinely surprised. Seamus looked at her quizzically.
"What did ye' expect him ta' look like lass?" he queried.
"I dunno. I just didn't think that was Snape." she whispered. All of the members of 'the Gang' looked at her. "What?" she said only noticing their stares after a few minutes.
"You were staring at Snape." Ginny said quietly.
"I was!" she seemed really startled by the fact that she'd been staring at a teacher. Frankly she was scaring the hell outta Ron, Harry, Neville, and Seamus. Ginny and Hermione just gave her sympathetic smiles.
Serenity blushed deeply but it was hard to tell since her skin was very tanned.
"May I ask why yer skin is so dark?" Seamus finally asked the question they all wanted to know the answer to.
"Oh." she forgot that most of the kids around here were very pale. Her golden skin was a bit strange. "I am a Native American of the Cherokee tribe." she said about to die when only one face dawned comprehension.
Hermione said, "Ah ha! I knew it!"
"Umm, and that is?" Ron asked.
"They were the first magics in America Ron. They used their magic mainly to heal, not usually to fight. They were believed to be Indians by Christopher Columbus." Hermione said. Understanding dawned on Seamus', Harry's, Ginny's, and Neville's faces. Ron still looked clueless. "The ministry didn't consider them to have real magic. It was believed it was a big show."
"Oh." he finally got it. Just then Dumbledore raised his arms for silence. Everyone turned to look at him.
"I'm sure you are all looking for an explanation as to the house Miss Melindira was sorted into. It is simple. She possesses qualities of all four houses. And they are at a balance within her mind. In light of this, the sorting hat has prepared a list of students that he believes should be resorted as he thinks they have the potential to be in this house. All are seventh years. So, let us begin with Harry Potter please."
Harry looked astonished. Ron poked him to try to get him to move. Ginny whispered, "Go ahead." and at her words he moved forward. He walked back to the stool that he hadn't sat on in six years, and sat down on it. The hat was once again placed on his head, but this time it quickly made its decision and shouted, "MIRNOTH!" as loud as it could. There was clapping and then the hat was removed.
"Next we have Hermione Granger."
Now Hermione was prodded forward by her friends. She too got up and sat on the stool, but as it had done years before, it shouted, "GRYFFINDOR!" loudly. She returned to sit at her table with booing from the Slytherins.
"Ah, yes. Draco Malfoy."
"Huh?" he couldn't believe his ears. The sorting hat had not touched his head at the first ceremony and it still wanted to retest him? Fine. He walked over to the stool and sat down smirking, sure he would still be a Slytherin.
"MIRNOTH!"
"WAH!" Draco couldn't believe his ears. No way. But then McGonagall took the hat off and directed him towards a small table that had been conjured for the Mirnoths. There sat Harry Potter, and the beautiful Serenity Melindira. He sat down and glared at Potter.
"Arale Strangoft."
A girl got up from the Ravenclaw table and sat down. The hat once again yelled Mirnoth. And she came and sat next to Serenity. A few more were called and got nothing. The hat simply repeated the names of their original house.
"Virginia Weasley, I see I made a mistake saying it was all seventh years." Serenity saw Ginny freeze. Hermione pushed her forward. She walked slowly and almost tripped over her feet. She sat down on the stool and the hat never touched her head, just shouted "MIRNOTH!" And then Ginny ran to the table and sat next to Harry.
"Ah yes, Ronald Weasley." Ron got up and walked over and sat on the stool. The hat was placed on his head and said, "I think not." Before shouting "GRYFFINDOR!" as it did all those years ago.
And that was where the list ended. Everybody comforted Ron and Hermione for not making it. Pansy just fumed that she wasn't on the list.
"Well, to new students, the Forbidden Forest is, obviously, forbidden. And I don't want anyone out of their dorms after curfew, which is 11 pm for 6th and 7th years, 9 pm for 4th and 5th years, and 8 pm for all those 3rd year and under. Now, feast." Dumbledore said as food appeared before the students.
Most of the students dug in heartily, but at the Mirnoth table no one touched their food. They were pondering there new fates together. Harry was not looking forward to sharing a dorm with Draco and Draco was feeling the same way about Harry. They looked at each other over the dangerously small table. The girls didn't mind having to share dorms. Serenity and Ginny were already friends, and they were certainly willing to be friends with Arale. The main problem in the whole thing was Draco. Well, Serenity didn't mind him really as he was rather polite to her. Ginny didn't know what to think, since she hated his father because it was Lucius' fault she was possessed and almost killed. But Draco himself hadn't really been that bad, she was so confused. Arale had no real problem because they had never spoken. Never even acknowledged each other's presence until now.
But, of course, Harry's hates Draco's guts, and Draco hates Harry's guts. That relationship worked out rather well until they got stuck in the same house. With Ron's kid sister, who was admittedly adorable, the beautiful Cherokee, and a faceless Ravenclaw. Yeah, this was gonna be great.
Dumbledore once again raised his arms for silence after everyone had eaten. "I have a few more announcements. First, I would like you to welcome Miss Melindira, our American transfer student, who happens to be a Native American from the Cherokee tribe." There was a collective gasp from the students, and a few of the teachers. "Second, I would like to say that it is an honor to finally have the Mirnoth house reinstated. And third, I would like to remind the students to follow your prefects to your common rooms, and do try to remember your passwords." With that he dismissed the students and the Mirnoths who, instead of following a prefect, waited for Snape. He would double as their head of house. They would still play on their respective quidditch teams. So Harry and Malfoy were still Seekers, and Ginny was still a Chaser. The other two girls would have to hope for an open spot on a team.
As Snape approached them he could already hear Malfoy and Potter arguing. The three girls just stood there watching. Miss Weasley was telling them to grow up, and he would have to agree with her. Miss Strangoft was watching impassively with her arms crossed, she had a poker face, would have made a good Slytherin. And Miss Melindira, well, she looked amused to say the least. She had her index finger of her right hand on her cheek, and her thumb on the back of her jaw. She was using her left arm to support her right one and it looked like she was pondering something.
"Ahem." he cleared his throat as he neared. The two boys stood up straight and looked at him. Miss Weasley straightened a bit, Miss Strangoft turned lazy eyes on him, and Miss Melindira looked at him with mild interest. "I will not tolerate fighting in my house, especially not amongst yourselves. And you would do well to listen to Miss Weasley and GROW UP." he growled softly. They all looked at him attentively now. Well, growling certainly gets their attention. he thought.
"Alright, come with me. I shall show you your new dormitories." Snape led them up several flights of stairs, around a few corners, up another flight of stairs to the tallest tower in the castle. They stopped in front of a picture of clothed lover's embracing and no one could tell if they were male or female or what. One growled out "password" in a deep rumbling voice. "United." Snape said quickly. The portrait swung open to reveal a common room the same size as all the others. "Girls dormitory to the right, boys to the left." Snape said. He turned around.
"Any questions?" he asked.
"Can we have a map?" they requested in unison.
"Well, since you all have the same classes I suppose."
"Wait, we do?" asked Ginny.
"Yes, you are all trading in Muggle Studies and such for extra Defense Against The Dark Arts and Potions. Since you will be our most valuable students, being balanced with traits of many houses." he replied.
"Does that mean no more divination?" asked Arale.
"Yes it does." he answered.
"Yippee!" and "Whoohoo!" Were heard from Harry and Arale.
"Ya know," Ginny said," It's good Hermione didn't get in here. She'd die if she had to give up Arithmancy and Ancient Runes."
"Yeah." Harry agreed.
"Hmm. You may no longer have Divination, Potter, but you have to spend a free period with me every other day. Well, not really free, just where you would have had Divination." Snape said with a smirk.
Harry's face paled noticeably.
"I'll take my leave now." Snape said and walked out.
They were all so tired that they just went up to their dormitories and went to sleep, even Harry and Draco, who were too tired to hate each other.
Kloak Dark: Did you like? Huh? Huh? Huh? Please review! I'll write more even if ya don't cuz it's passion but it will never make it to the net if you don't review, so please review. Or you might make Chibi-Koga mad at you. That is very bad. O.O
Chibi Koga: Yes very bad thing to make me angry, don't make me angry, or you shall face the wrath of the mighty Wolf Demon!Chibi roar
KD: Chibified, but it's still scary.