Chapter 1: The Journey Home
She was walking barefooted on a beautiful meadow, with the glorious sun shining down on her. A boy, no more than eight years old, was laughing and running in front of her. Her heart lifted; she had not seen his face, his beloved face, for eleven years. She went after him and cried "Sirius, wait!", but he continued to run towards the stream that flowed on the side of the meadow. As he reached it, he slowed down, then turned. When he saw her gaining on him, he gave a great squeal of surprise, and jumped into the water.
"Sirius, NO!"
Isla woke with a start. She was sweating and panting.
"A dream" she thought. "Just a dream.
Unable to go back to sleep, she rose and dressed, putting on directly her school robes: she greatly disliked changing on the train. She pulled her armchair near the window, and opened the heavy brown drapes. A cold, clear sky was revealed over the square in front of the house, where people were already hurrying to their errands. The yellowing leaves swayed on the trees, as a gentle breeze passed through them. Autumn was coming fast. Isla sat on the armchair, and, lost in thought, gazed out of the window, at the lazy clouds floating harmlessly by, the passing carriages, the robins hoping merrily from branch to branch on the nearest tree. A smile was slowly forming on her thin lips; school, at last, was starting. She knew that it was highly unusual for people of her age to be anxious to go back to school, but she could not help feeling elated at the prospect. She began playing with a strand of her long, wavy black hair.
A knock was heard on her door.
"Isla, are you coming? Breakfast is served", said her younger sister's voice.
"Yes, Elladora, thank you."
The family scarcely spoke during breakfast, but this unpleasant business was soon over. Phineas, her eldest brother, Isla and Elladora rose, and one by one bowed to their father before exiting the room. He barely looked up from that morning's Daily Prophet.
"Have a safe journey" was all he bestowed upon his three children departing for Hogwarts with his cold, measured voice. "Phineas, I shall expect to hear from you every week to inform me of your academic progress."
"Yes, father", answered he in a voice too much like his father's.
Their mother was waiting for them in the hall, and reminded them of the time. All four stepped into the autumn breeze and climbed the carriage that awaited them in front of the house. Isla could hardly keep her joy to herself: she was truly returning to Hogwarts. These three months away from school had seemed far too long to her.
"Elladora, is your cloak warm enough?", said Mrs Black.
"Yes, mother, I am fine."
"You will write to me often, won't you, dear?"
"Of course, mother."
When they arrived at King's Cross Station, heads turned in their direction with little effort at discretion, as they made their way towards Platform 9 3/4. Naturally, they did not bother to disguise themselves, and the shocking replacement of bonnets and top hat with wizarding hats scandalized the onlooking muggles. Mrs Black, Phineas, Isla and Elladora held their heads high in contempt. As soon as they were through the barrier to the platform, their mother kissed them goodbye, and left immediately.
"Well, Isla, I will look for you after I am done with my Prefect meeting", said Phineas importantly. He did love power so much. "But I won't stay long, I will be joining Gamp and Burke."
"Of course. I will be with Sophia and Ursula."
"Ursula Flint? I am glad you are still on good terms with her. The Flints are an old family. And Maximilian Flint might very well be the next Minister, when that mudblood-loving fool Gambol leaves." Phineas threw a dirty look on the scarlet steam engine. "Humph, Muggle contraptions indeed!" he whispered.
"I hardly think I have ever given you any reason for alarm as to my social interactions, Phineas."
"Of course not. You are a perfect sister, even if you did fail History of Magic."
"Never make a compliment without immediately contradicting it", said Isla, hiding her slightly hurt feelings in an ironic smile and twinkle of the eye. "Someone might think you are jinxed."
Phineas raised a disapproving, thin eyebrow, and stepped onto the train without another word. She soon spotted Sophia Prince and Ursula Flint, and together they boarded the Hogwarts Express. They began searching for an empty compartment, and entered the first they found, pulling their trunks in.
"I will join you later", said Sophia stepping into the corridor. "Prefect meeting."
Isla let her tawny owl, Pegasus, out of his cage, and he positioned himself next to the window. After a few minutes of awkward silence, which neither of the girls seemed willing to break, her companion deemed it necessary to attempt beginning a conversation.
"Which classes will you be taking to NEWT level, then?", asked Ursula.
"Well, I failed History of Magic and Potions, and I think I will drop Arithmancy and Astronomy as well. So, I will be taking Transfiguration, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Charms, Herbology and Runes."
"Your brother was not pleased with your grades in History of Magic and Potions, I presume", she said, with a very superior look. "I believe he got 10 OWLs, did he not?"
Isla tried hard not to reply what had immediately come to her mind. For her, the Prefect Meeting could not end too soon.
"Your brother gave us a half-an-hour lecture pressing the importance and honor of being a prefect, and the need to make the most of it" said Sophia to Isla as soon as she entered the compartment an hour later.
"I can well believe it. You should have heard him when he got the letter and the Head Boy badge."
"Why should he not be proud of his achievement?" interrupted Ursula. "It is a privilege for Slytherin to produce a Head Boy, and Mr Black has worked hard to gain the title."
"Oh, well. He still cannot forgive me for not being made a Prefect, so I do not think I will forgive him for becoming Head Boy", replied Isla calmly.
"As you please, but you can hardly deny he deserved it" said Ursula, slightly annoyed.
"Did you know Jacob Greengrass is the new Quidditch captain?" said Sophia, trying to change the subject. "Though I cannot see why, Mr Gamp is a much better Chaser. He will need a new Seeker and a new Beater, though, now that Mr Montague and my brother have finished school."
"Well, I intend to try out for Seeker", stated Isla.
"But would your brother approve?", asked Ursula meanly, as soon as both girls recovered from the initial shock of what Isla had just uttered.
"Mine wouldn't", said Sophia. " And even if he did, I doubt my parents would."
"Phineas would be glad of any chance to show pure-blood , and most especially Black, superiority to the mudblood-loving fools, even if it means his sister plays Quidditch", said Isla. "As for my parents, I do not pretend to be able to manipulate them, that is Phineas' area of expertise, but they hardly care what I do, as long as I do not shame the name of Black. And I never do."
"And do you believe you have any chance of getting the position?" Ursula was watching her sideways, with a very unpleasant smile playing about her mouth. Flints might be an old family, but this is going a bit too far, thought Isla.
"I do have the right built. I am small and light, and I am reasonably skilled at flying. My eyesight is more than satisfactory" it was Isla's turn to do the sideway looking towards Ursula's spectacles, "which is more than can be said for most, and I have practiced quite hard during the summer. I think I have a chance of succeeding."
"Well, I hope you get the position, but I would be cautious, if I were you", warned Sophia. "That slippery eel Caracactus Burke is trying out too, and, from what my brother tells me, he tried last year as well, but did not succeed."
"I hope I am a better flyer than Burke!"
"Skill isn't always enough, as you very well know", snapped Sophia. "Sometimes brain can be a good deal more efficient."
"I am lucky, then, to possess both."
"A true Slytherin!", laughed Sophia.
"Oh, enough Quidditch talk!", complained Ursula. "Isla, when is your brother coming?"
"He said he would come after the Prefect meeting. I don't think he will be long now."
Phineas did not keep Ursula waiting for long: he soon entered their compartment, with an evidently false benevolent expression on his face, accompanied by his two friends. Ursula tried, and in Isla's opinion failed, to hide her evident pleasure in seeing them.
"Ah, there you are, Isla. Miss Prince, Miss Flint", he bowed to the two girls. His eyes lingered shrewdly in Ursula's direction.
Admittedly, Sophia was the handsomest, with flowing golden hair falling in curls on her back, a tall, slender figure, and a face like an angel's, with emerald green eyes to complete the loveliness, but her uncle was a mere shopkeeper in Diagon Alley, not about to become Minister for Magic. So, Ursula, with her blonde, limp hair, expressionless countenance, freckled nose and mean blue eyes covered by thick spectacles was the centre of Phineas' attentions.
As for Isla, she was perhaps not a great beauty, but she was pretty enough. Small, with long wavy black hair and dark intelligent eyes, thin eyebrows, a long, thin nose, snow white skin and a small mouth, she greatly resembled Phineas.
After the usual exchange of meaningless pleasantries, that seemed so important to their eyes, Phineas sat next to Ursula and began talking exclusively to her. Caracactus Burke and Andronicus Gamp, soon claimed part of the ladies attentions, especially Sophia's, who had no particular interest in Phineas.
"I hear you are not made Quidditch captain, Mr Gamp", said Isla. "You were overthrown by Mr Greengrass."
"We all expected that your skill would be appreciated more", said Sophia.
"Ah, well, it is Greengrass' last year, after all. He might as well enjoy it", said Gamp, and it was quite evident that he did not mean a word he uttered.
"Oh, I do not doubt that he will", said Isla shrewdly. "There will be a great many changes in the team this year, I take it."
"Yes, we will need a new Seeker and a new Beater, and no one is good enough. I did not know you were interested in Quidditch", remarked Gamp perplexed.
"Well, we are interested in anything that might serve the honor of Slytherin", said Sophia, grasping the opportunity, "and would be more than happy to help in any way we can."
"Well, I don't suppose you play Quidditch, do you?", laughed Gamp. But an idea seemed to strike him. "Do you?", he asked the two apparently surprised girls.
"To be honest, I don't, but Miss Black is a fairly good flyer."
"Yes, I recall, now you mention it, that day we went flying during the holidays in France. And she has the right built, too", said Gamp, examining her. "For a Seeker, I mean."
Isla could hardly hide a smile. Her friend's manipulation skills had always amazed her. She was too ironic to do it herself, and, in any case, she was much more of a straightforward person. She would either speak her mind, or would not speak at all.
The rest of the journey passed quietly. As the train traveled further north, the scenery became wilder, the sky darker with clouds, and it soon began to rain. By the time they reached Hogsmeade Station, night had fallen and a storm was raging. Isla stepped out of the train, tightly wrapping a thick cloak around her, and breathed deeply. The smell of earth mingled with rain had a soothing effect on her, after the long journey on the Hogwarts Express. The illuminated windows of the castle were just visible through the heavy curtain of rain. She smiled. She had returned.
Ursula boarded a carriage, and as Sophia made to follow her, Isla grabbed her arm and detained her.
"Thank you", she whispered.
Sophia smiled.
"Anything for a friend."
"Not very Slytherin of you", remarked Isla, half smiling.
"Yes, well. But my skills prove me a true little serpent."
"Through and through."
And laughing, they climbed the carriage.
As Isla walked into the Great Hall, a warmth, that had little to do with the heat of the room, filled her in a way that nothing and no one, with the possible exception of Sophia, made her feel. She had forgotten how it was, but it felt strangely like coming home, after a very long and tiring journey. Candles were floating everywhere, and the ceiling reflected the stormy sky outside the castle's walls. It was a beautiful sight to behold, that caused Isla to stop dead on her tracks to admire it. She had inhabited the castle for five years now, and its splendid and unique magic never ceased to thrill and amaze her.
"Cousin Isla!" she heard a cry from the Slytherin table as soon as she entered the Hall. A tall, blond boy was waving at her. She heard Sophia take a sharp breath and whisper "It's your cousin, Mr Max".
"Cousin Duilius!", Isla bowed as soon as she reached him. "May we join you?"
"But of course! How was your summer holiday? It was unfortunate that we did not meet. How was France?"
At that moment, the doors opened and the first-years were brought in by Professor Bones, Head of Gryffindor House and the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. A tall, fat man, he made his way towards the platform of the teacher's table, his thick, white hair and beard gleaming in the candle light. He unrolled a scroll of parchment, and with his booming voice, began calling the first-years to be sorted.
The Sorting was soon over, and Professor Fortescue, the Headmaster, rose.
"Welcome to Hogwarts!" he said in an unnecessary loud voice. "Let me inform our new students that the Forbidden Forest is out of bounds. And now, let the feast begin!"
Food appeared in the formerly empty plates on the tables. Chatter commenced immediately.
"So, Mr Max, how was your holiday?", asked Sophia, who was sitting right across him.
"Quiet. Mama was of course fussing over Gaius coming to Hogwarts. One would think that after four children leaving for school, a fifth would make no difference."
"She cares. Many wish they could say the same of their mothers, believe me. You are lucky" said Isla.
"Anyway, I was training for Quidditch. I think I will try out for Beater."
"Really? How wonderful! I was thinking of trying out for Seeker."
"Well, I do hope we shall both be successful!"
"How did you do in your OWLs?" asked Sophia.
"Quite well, thank you, Miss Prince", said Duilius. "I failed Divination and Potions, I have to admit, but the rest were most satisfying. And what about yourself?"
"Oh, well, hers was the only letter with Outstandings from top to bottom", interrupted Isla.
"How extraordinary, Miss Prince! Congratulations!", said Duilius admiringly.
"Thank you, sir", said Sophia, and the slightest hint of a blush appeared on her cheeks. It took Isla to notice, who knew her better than anyone.
For the whole of the feast, Ursula was absorbed in conversation with Phineas, and Isla wondered what they were talking about. Classes, she thought. After all, she had taken the exact same subjects as he had.
After the feast, Sophia went to show the way to the dungeons to the Slytherin first-years, and Isla and Ursula made their way towards the Slytherin common room on their own, an arrangement that Isla resented greatly. She resented every time she had to spend on her own with Ursula for more than five minutes. However, Flints were an old family, and for the sake of decorum, or what she had come to realize it to actually be, greed, she never showed the slightest hint of dislike towards her.
"Mr Max seemed most engaging this evening", said Ursula.
"Well, he is a charming young man. Phineas might choose to ignore our cousin, but I do not intend to do so", said Isla defiantly.
"He must have good reason, though."
"His reason is that his mother is a Potter, which is bordering on blood treason for Phineas. Our grandfather had no objection to the marriage, and my parents are on excellent terms with the Maxes. Why Phineas should disapprove, however, is beyond me."
Isla's tone made Ursula not pursue the matter further. They went directly to their dormitory, which bore a sign reading "Sixth Years", and began preparing for bed.
Just as they were getting into their fourposters, Sophia entered.
"I am exhausted" she said and sat on the end of Isla's bed.
"You had better go to sleep, we must get up early tomorrow", said Ursula.
All three girls said goodnight, and drew the hangings of their beds.
Isla laid down and almost immediately fell asleep. That night, at last, no nightmares tormented her slumber.