Classes
The first day was confusing, running about from one class to another each in different parts of the castle. I got to know my way around pretty quickly after my first detention and after a week I started paying attention to who was in my classes.
Harry, Ron, Hermione, Draco and his idiots were all in potions with me. In herbology I found Neville, Seamus, Hermione, Ron and Harry again. We were together in defense against the dark arts as were Avyna, Phobos and Gyanda. Had it not been for them I think I would have been alone my entire time at Hogwarts. Transfiguration with Prof McGonagall is where I got the idea to become an animagus. At the time I didn't know what that entailed if you weren't born one but time is everyone's teacher as long as you're willing to listen. Bromious, Cynan and Iomar where there as well, my second group of friends.
During the first year I didn't have much to do with Hermione apart from the bathroom episode and the troll. Oh, how I regretted being in that hallway after it was all over. However much I denied being the brave fool I sure didn't miss an opportunity to prove I was just that. It would be years later before I finally admitted I should've just let the sorting hat put me where it wanted instead of where I wanted.
Learning to fly… I can't say how much that pleased me. I felt free up there and it was nothing like the few times Papá took me up with him. This was better, it was all me with nothing between the wind and the ground but the broom.
My parents wrote at least three times a month and I in turn sent them back plenty of detailed letters telling them about Hogwarts, the students, the great hall, classes and Professors. They didn't believe me, I could tell from their letters but after I sent them the pictures they didn't doubt whatever I said.
Christmas came too soon for me that first year even though most knew I was muggle born. I'd been reading Hogwarts a History so I knew some of what happened and about Slytherin. The first inkling that I'd made a mistake in choosing my house came just before we left for the holidays.
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The students filed in and took a seat; most of them had already paired off. Stahna was still a bit hesitant but seeing Cynan in the third row from the front she headed to the empty seat beside the chubby girl.
"I heard Prof. McGonagall takes the shape of a cat." Cyn whispered eyeing the front.
"Well, cats are supposed to be a witch's familiar." Stahna replied. She'd read that much and it was written in all the history books she'd read. Now she wondered if it wasn't all based on fact.
"Who said that?" Cyn asked turning her full attention to Stahna. "Muggles?"
"Uh-huh. It's in our history books." Stahna eyed the chubby girl curiously. "Have you ever heard of the Salem Witch Trials?"
Cynan shook her head, brow furrowed.
"They weren't really witches, but some of the people in the town went a bit crazy and started accusing neighbors or people they didn't like of being witches and a whole bunch of them were killed and tortured."
"Wicked…" Cynan breathed, her gray-green eyes wide.
"Today you'll be attempting to transfigure…"
Both girls turned to the front, listening as Prof. McGonagall explained their task.
----
The dungeon was dark and dank but it wasn't all that different from the Slytherin house. It was likely a scary place to find oneself alone, at night, with a thundering storm outside… but, there was none of that on Stahna's first day of potions. She sat in a darkened corner with another girl from Slytherin with pale blond hair and equally pale green eyes. They hadn't said a word to each other but that was fine with Stahna. The girl didn't inspire conversation and then the door boomed, echoing in the dank chamber. Stahna jumped in her seat but didn't make a sound much as the echo startled her.
"There will be no foolish wand waving or silly incantations in this class."
Stahna listened intently, her eyes never leaving Prof. Snape as he ranted. She didn't understand the conflicting emotions as she studied the Prof. It piqued her curiosity, even more so when his apparent dislike of Harry wasn't even veiled. She spared Harry a glance wondering what it was he'd done to upset the Prof. so much but her attention was quickly grabbed by the lesson.
----
Stahna strolled through the empty hallway, brown eyes wandering over the moldings, admiring everything. It wasn't often she got a chance to wander the castle, especially not at night though she did that anyway. Not a lot because of Mr. Filch and his stupid cat, thinking about them Stahna scowled.
"Stupid cat…" she muttered turning her face to the moonlight streaming in through the window. She paused a moment, her scowl fading as the stars twinkled above. It was so quiet there; at least it had been until…
"Hello?" Stahna whispered not sure if she really wanted to be found out. The muffled sounds became distinguishable the closer she got to the double doors at the end of the hall. "Hello?" she said louder pushing one door open. "Are you alright?"
The sniffles were the only reply but Stahna wondered how anyone crying could be alright. Crying did not mean happy…
"Umm… should I get a Professor…?" Stahna wondered half turning towards the door as she spoke.
"NO!"
The shout startled Stahna but she frowned almost immediately.
"I'm quite alright." The girl said but she didn't come out of the stall. "Really, there's no need for a Professor."
Stahna bent down eyeing the bottom of the stalls until she found the crying girls feet. It didn't help her figure out who it was considering they all wore the same uniform. The only distinguishable mark was their house crest on the shoulder of each sweater or jacket.
"Ok." Stahna said walking straight to the stall door. She leaned beside it and opened her mouth but she had no idea what to say. "What's wrong?" she asked instead.
"There's nothing the matter. I am perfectly alright." The girl repeated sounding very haughty and put out. Stahna frowned, straightening she stared at the door.
"What's your name?" she asked almost positive she knew the girl hiding in the stall. It was all in the tone of her voice.
"What- why?"
"Hermione…?" Stahna grabbed the handle of the stall but it was locked from the other side. "Is it- you are. Why are you crying? And why are you hiding in there?"
"Who- that is none of your concern." Hermione retorted.
"Hermione, would you come out? Talking to a door isn't good manners, now is it?" Stahna said trying to appeal to the girl.
Stahna noticed an eye peering at her from the crack between the door and stall. She waved a hand and a moment later the door opened. The always frizzy hair was just a bit frizzier than usual and Hermione's brown eyes were red as was her nose which she kept sniffling.
"What is it, Hermione?" Stahna asked in a soft voice.
"They all hate me." Hermione said woefully. The shine of new tears gathered in her eyes which she tried to blink away.
"Well, that's stupid." Stahna stated without thinking. It put a scowl on Hermione's face. "I meant- you're wrong. I mean, how can everybody hate you?"
Hermione frowned.
"That would require effort and I doubt everyone even knows your name let alone who you are. So how can 'everyone' hate you?"
Hermione stared dumbly at Stahna.
"Wot?"
"I know you heard me." Stahna said pushing the door all the way open. "Effort, Hermione. It takes effort." But that didn't mean some people didn't expend the effort because Stahna was well aware of a few putting forth said effort.
'Because of where I come from.'
"Yes, well…" Hermione looked down at her feet, one hand wiping at her face again. "They don't like me. They think I'm a nightmare…"
"What idiot said that?" Stahna demanded frowning.
"Wot does it matter? They don't like me and he's right." Hermione repeated. "I don't have any friends, not really." she turned around but Stahna wouldn't let her close the door.
"That's not true." Stahna shifted her weight suddenly shy and nervous. She couldn't help feeling the same way Hermione felt, at least around the girls in her room. They barely said a word to her and all because she'd said her parents didn't live in the Wizarding world. They'd called her a mud blood but when she'd looked at them blankly Daphne had explained to her the meaning of the term in a very nasty tone.
It was only the beginning of the year and Stahna already dreaded the end of the day when she had to return to her house.
"We could be friends…?" Stahna almost whispered. So far Cynan, Avyna and Bromious didn't mind that she was a snake. They didn't treat her like a leper nor did they ignore her presence. Only three friends in all of Hogwarts… but it was a start. And now Hermione…
----
Madam Hooch eyed the first years as they placed their hands above the brooms and tried to lift them. She was keeping a careful eye on them especially after the incident with her morning class. The last thing she wanted was another child with a broken appendage; 'Were I so lucky.' She grumbled mentally.
"Miss VanPreza."
Stahna looked up, just a little nervous. She held onto her broom glancing at her class mates still struggling to get their brooms off the grassy field. A few had managed to get them partially floating but almost everyone else seemed to have a twitching broom beside their feet.
"Yes, Madam Hooch?" there was just a slight tremor of insecurity in her voice but she looked right at the disconcerting yellows eyes of the teacher who stood towering over her.
"Have you ever flown before?" Madam Hooch asked eyeing the small girl. She'd seen the Potter boy get his broom up before anyone else in his class and now wondered if maybe it had anything to do with the children being raised in the muggle world.
"A few times." Stahna replied though she failed to clarify it had been with her Father and inside a plane.
"Good." Madam Hooch did an about face and blew her whistle again. Stahna had no idea what was so good about it and then Madam Hooch was asking her to step forward an demonstrate how to lift off while her class mates watched…
----
"What are you muttering about, H?" Stahna asked, finally closing her book and looking at the frizzy head bent over a stack of books.
"Hmm?" Hermione looked up, her brow wrinkled and it was clear she was annoyed.
"Your nonstop mumbling. What?" Stahna asked lowering her voice at a stern look from Miss Pince, the librarian.
"It's nothing really." Hermione denied only to get a disbelieving look from her friend. "I can't remember where I've heard a name and I'm trying to find it."
"Whose?" Stahna asked moving the books out of her way and sliding across the bench so she sat in front of Hermione.
"Well," Hermione hedged looking around.
"H."
"Oh, it's Nicolas Flamel." Hermione sighed annoyed.
"Nicolas Flamel." Stahna repeated. Her hand absently pulled on the end of her long braid twisting the end around her finger as she said the name over and over thinking. "Hey!"
"Shush!" Hermione waved a quieting hand looking around the library and finding Miss Pince looking very put out with them.
"Oops. Hey," Stahna lowered her voice though she was grinning. Hermione sometimes couldn't help thinking Stahna liked getting into trouble.
"Wot?"
"Well, if you're going to be snippy with me, I'm not telling." Stahna teased sitting back on the bench.
"You don't know." Hermione retorted frowning. "You're just teasing again." She started closing books left and right.
"I so do and am not!" Stahna replied with a scowl. "Just to prove you wrong." She pointed. "You checked out the book before Christmas break. 'Just some light reading' you said." Stahna mimicked going so far as to make the same gestures. "I read it too. I remember Mr. Flamel has a stone that produces an elixir that extends your life." She got up ignoring Hermione's wide eyed look and grabbed her books.
"I can't believe I forgot!" Hermione exclaimed in a hushed whisper.
"You're such a snob sometimes, H." Stahna said over her shoulder as she walked out of the library.
