I woke up when my dorm mates entered into the room, talking as loudly as they could, allowing me the chance to wake up fully before I threw open the curtains surrounding my bed. The talking stopped immediately.
"What happened to your hair?" One of the girls asked in full fear.
"I slept. What else would cause my hair to be a mess?" I asked as I moved a hand up to see the damage done by my nap.
"We thought you had been jinxed by some Slytherins or something."
"No, just needed a nap. Still getting used to the time difference here." I heard a trilling of laughter and knew that I wouldn't be making friends here anytime soon. I looked over at my watch and saw that it was almost six o'clock. I knew I would have to hurry and eat if I was going to make it in time for my lesson with Snape. I rushed a brush through my hair and hurried out of the room, down the stairs, and out of the portrait. I took the same route as this morning to head to the Great Hall and quickly made my way to there, thankfully not running into anyone in my mad dash.
When I made it to the Great Hall, I saw Fred and George seated next to Lee Jordan and made my way to sit next to them. As soon as I sat down, I immediately began to fill my plate, enjoying all the delectable smells emanating from the many dishes still crowding the table.
"Get a good nap, Sleeping Beauty?" The twins asked me.
"Wonderful, thank you for asking," came my obviously sarcastic reply. I began to eat as quickly as possible while still savoring the enjoyable taste of the well prepared food. I could overhear pieces of conversations from around the hall and was pleased that I didn't hear my name in any of them. I smirked once again, knowing that I hadn't been betrayed. Fred gave me a curious look before smiling at me, sure that I was planning something for later when I was really just interested in finishing my dinner quickly so as not to be late to my session with Snape. I was already dreading the lesson, and hoped that Snape would not be as horrid as he was in class, but knew that my luck was slim to none on that factor. I could feel my stomach tying up in knots, and settled it down to nerves, not allowing myself to dwell on what I was about to be walking into.
I finished eating quickly, looking down at my watch and took note of the time. It was a quarter to seven, meaning it was time to make my way down to the dungeons and to Snape's office. I nodded towards Fred and George, saying good-bye quickly and made my way out of the Great Hall. I heard footsteps behind me and quickly hid behind a corner. I looked around and saw that it was just Fred and George, looking at the map.
"Cassie, come on out," Fred whispered. I walked out from behind the corner, and was immediately welcomed with grins.
"We thought it would be a good idea to give you the map while you are still adjusting to Hogwarts," George informed me.
"After all, we won't need it during the day, and we won't always be around to help you through the corridors."
"So we thought we could give it to you."
I looked at them as they handed me the map, a smile quickly forming despite my earlier qualms about telling them about my heritage. They still seemed to accept me, which came to be quite a relief. "I thought you said that I wouldn't need it, since you wouldn't mind guiding me around the castle until I have gotten used to it?"
"We changed our minds," George informed me, his smile saying there was something he was hiding. I put that information away for later.
I accepted the map before quickly giving them both a hug. I looked at my watch and saw that I had seven minutes to get to Snape's office. I rushed off, watching the map to ensure that I made it to Snape's office quickly.
When I walked in, he looked up from his desk, where he seemed to be grading papers. "Nice of you to show up, Miss Black," he stated as he stood up from his desk and moved around it. Only, he didn't stop there, he kept moving and walked right out the door, not even bothering to stop and see if I was behind him. I made to follow him, hoping that tonight wouldn't go too badly.
"Professor, what all will we be doing tonight, if I may ask?"
"You may not, but since you have already asked, I might as well tell you. You will be brewing two potions tonight. Draught of Living Death and you will be continuing the brewing of your Sleeping Draught from class today, in hopes that you will actually learn something."
"Why don't you like me, Professor?" I asked, well, more like demanded.
"You are the daughter of Sirius Black. That is enough of a reason for me to dislike you."
"So, you would dislike a student without any prior knowledge of them except for their parentage?"
"Your parentage matters, Miss Black. My parentage matters, everyone's parentage matters. We all grow up; most of us grow up to be like our parents. Just pray you turn out like your mother and not your father."
"And what's so bad about my father?" He glared at me, signaling that it was time for silence.
"If you ask another question not related to potion making, I will give you detention for a month." I grudgingly nodded my head. "Good, now, to brew the Draught of Living Death…"
I opened my book and began to read the instructions, while Snape loomed over my shoulder, correcting every little detail that I messed up on.
"Miss Black, if you are not careful, you will blow up this office," he drolled. It took all of my power not to glare at him. I continued on with the task at hand, taking caution not to mumble under my breath at him.
I ended up staying there for another two hours. Curfew was fast approaching, but Snape seemed to be content to continue lecturing. "Professor, curfew is approaching soon," I said, interrupting his thought process.
"Right, off you go, Miss Black. You're first night has been, well. You seen to grasp a basic understanding of Potions, which I hope we can improve enough for you to pass my class." I nodded my head before exiting the room. As soon as the door had closed, I took out the map and quickly made my way to the common room. On my way there, I ran into, of all people, Professor Dumbledore.
"Ah, Miss Jenson, just the person I was looking for. If you will come with me," his tone brokered no room for protest. I quickly made to follow him, not wanting to anger the only person who seemed content on keeping my father a secret. "Well, Miss Jenson, what did you think about your first day at Hogwarts?"
"Rather tiring, to be honest sir. I still haven't adjusted to the time difference yet, I am afraid."
"Yes, I figured that would give you some issues. How was your lesson with Snape?"
"He seems to dislike me, sir, or at least dislike my father enough to dislike me."
"Ah, yes. Your father and Professor Snape did not get along, I am afraid to say." We continued our walk, silence overtaking us. Professor Dumbledore seemed to be slowing down, causing me to slow down with him. "Your father, James Potter, and Professor Snape were all boys here at Hogwarts. And as such, they disagreed with each other constantly. Made life difficult for your mother, it did, but that is to be expected."
"Why's that?"
"Well, your mother and Professor Snape were the two best Potion brewers at Hogwarts, with another Muggleborn student coming in close behind them. They were forever trying to outdo each other, until they finally decided that it might be best for them to team up. It showed inner-house cooperation between Ravenclaw and Slytherin, much to the joy of the other professors. Many speculated that they would marry each other, which is why it came to such a surprise for the rest of us when your father started to date her. Many voiced concerns that he was simply dating her for help with assignments, but I found his feelings for her to be quite obvious."
"Professor, do you really think that my father killed all those people?" I asked suddenly, not wishing to hear more about a rivalry between my professor and my father, instead wanting to hear about the man that everyone seemed to curse with every breath in their body. I knew that there had to be some good in him, especially if what Professor Dumbledore said was true. The image painted to me by everyone I had talked to that knew my father in his youth did not match the picture that everyone else had painted involving his supposed Death Eater activities.
Dumbledore paused before answering. "There is nothing I can say to that, dear girl," before I could ask him further questions, he interrupted me. "Now, here we are, safe and sound at your Tower. Time for you to go to bed, I do believe. Butter corn!" He firmly stated. I took my leave of him, making sure that the map was still in my pocket, and entered into the common room, expecting to find it near empty but was pleasantly surprised to find it full of people. Conversation flowed and babbled as people enjoyed the ending of the day. Very few seemed to be working on homework, but I was more interested in finding my two friends, whom I could count on to be coming up with some trouble. I saw them, in the one corner not warmed by the fire. Giving a sigh, I went and joined the in the corner, noticing, as I drew closer, how Lee was sitting with them.
"Hello, boys," I greeted with an enthusiasm that would have made the Joker seem depressed. I seemed to have startled them, as they all gave a jump, stealing glances around us to make sure that no one had been paying attention. "Would you two relax already? I'm the most inconspicuous person you know, so you ought to know by now that I wouldn't attract attention to you two. And, hello Lee, good to see you." Lee gave a slight wave before returning to the piece of parchment splayed out before the boys. I took a seat on the unoccupied chair and looked at the parchment that had gathered all their attention. It looked as if to be plans for one of the best pranks I had ever seen. I gave a quizzical look to Fred, not believing that they had already broken the rules that we had all agreed to this morning. Before I could gather my anger and start to berate them, Fred gave an almost unperceivable shake of his head and mouthed "I'll explain later," before bending back over the parchment.
"And you are sure this will distract them long enough for us to set up the Hall?" George interrogated Lee. I gestured for Fred to hand me the plan, which he did so gleefully. I looked it over, noting some trouble spots that could easily be taken care of using No-Maj methods, and began to share my insights with the boys. They looked at me in awe, when, after enchanting the parchment to show the changes I had suggested, they realized that sometimes, the best pranks need a little No-Maj touch. I explained to them how, if we added the embellishments I had suggested, no one would be able to pin the prank on us, leaving us detention free and open to practice for Quidditch, like Fred and George wanted to. All quickly agreed to the suggested changes, leaving us plenty of time to goof around, which we proceeded to do with much revelry, until Charlie came barreling down in a frenzy, upset at the amount of noise that we were making, not because we disturbed him but because he didn't want Professor McGonagall to come storming in, yelling at us to go to bed. We laughed before agreeing to quiet down that night.
Lee soon left us, leaving just me and the boys downstairs. They began to play Wizard Chess, much to my enjoyment. I played chess back home, but with a regular board so the No-Maj's wouldn't notice anything amiss if they came to investigate.
I didn't get to bed until late that night, but I thankfully had no classes until eleven o'clock, or so, I could afford to go to sleep later. It was the dreams that plagued me that made me wish for more sleep than I had been granted.
I was once again awoken by the gaggling group of girls that I roomed with, seemingly being as loud as they possibly could be. I peeked out from behind my curtains and saw them all huddled together. "What the devil is going on?" I demanded as I moved my hair out of my face, the strands having managed to cover almost all of my face in the time I had been asleep. I heard their screams and had to stifle a laugh. Need to keep that in mind for another time. It would make a great prank.
"Good grief, Jenson! Do you not care one bit about your appearance?" The darker girl asked almost disgustedly.
"Why should I?" I asked unabashedly. My appearance mattered to myself, and only myself. I had no one to worry about impressing, and school robes covered whatever I would wear, and my hair was typically tied back in a pony tail and under the school cap anyways. So, did it really matter?
"Because, we need to show House pride, and we can't do that looking like we just got in off the streets."
"At least it looks like I've been doing something with my life," I shot back, dragging myself out of the very warm bed and into the bathroom. I blew my hair out of my face, yet again, before running a brush through it and tying it back, remembering that I had Potions again. I had hopes that today would be better than yesterday, simply because I had a better idea of what I was doing now. Then again, it might be in my better interest to keep this under wraps until I could prove myself fully capable to everyone. Keep the expectations low, then show off at exam time frame.
I took a look at the watch I had on my wrist and took note of the time. I quickly threw on my robes and all but ran out of the room, grabbing my bag off the bed, and rushed towards the Great Hall. One thing is for sure, going to school at Hogwarts would be a good way to stay in shape.
I plopped down in a seat shortly after arriving in the Great Hall, enjoying the fragrances that filled the air, allowing my stomach to begin rumbling. I quickly filled my plate and began to enjoy the tasty food provided, this time taking my time to eat, and beginning to read over my Transfiguration textbooks, hoping to get an edge before tonight's session with my Head of House. I just had to get through Potions first, without causing any major embarrassments or get more attention than I already was.
I heard the sounds of people sitting next to either side of me with exasperated sighs. I knew without looking up from my food that it was my two favorite Weasleys, who had probably just stumbled out of bed. "How are you even functioning?" I heard one of them mumble. I merely pointed at the cup of hot coffee sitting in front of me, having been magically refilling it's self when I got low, for which I was really grateful for. Mornings are of the dev- of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. I heard the boys mumbling as they loaded up their plates. I looked up, then picked up my book to continue reading now that my hunger had been satiated.
When they had finished eating, Fred and Georg both nudged me, causing me to almost drop my book. I scowled at both of them before placing the book back in my bag. "Well?" I asked them.
"Well what?" They asked together.
"Why did you to nudge me?"
"It's almost time for Potions," George stated. I simply nodded before standing up from the table, walking out of the Great Hall and down to the dark and cold dungeons where the Potions classroom, and my dread, resided. But, it was also where I could learn more about magic and practical uses for it, not that learning about its history wasn't interesting… Actually, no, that's a dead lie. It's like I'm slowly dying in that class. Soon, I'll end up like Binns, and be in the bin.
Instead of allowing myself to be lost in these dismal thoughts, I began to laugh and joke around with the twins as we entered into Slytherin territory.
"So, any thoughts on what your big prank is going to be, Cassie?"
"Plenty, but none that I am going to share from you," I teased George.
"Aw, and why not?" Fred teased me. "Afraid that you won't have any good ideas?" I scoffed at him.
"Afraid that I'll take all of yours," I gave them both a sly grin, when we finally caught up with our classmates, and quickly took our seats, four to a table this time. We all sat quietly, waiting for Hogwarts resident Potions Master to waltz in and start criticizing all of us Gryffindors. Which he gladly did. However, all during the class, he never came over and criticized my work. Guess he knew that if he did, he would just be criticizing all of his work from the night before.
I went to Professor McGonagall's office that evening at the same time I did for Snape's lesson the night before, glad to have finished both my History of Magic assignment and the assignment that Snape gave all the students are the proper way to brew Sleeping Draught potion, as most had screwed up the potion to the point where it was unusable. I was able to recall everything that Snape had growled at me from the night before and left it in the common room for the boys to use to complete their essays, since they were so nice and allowed me to use their essays.
I knocked at the door to McGonagall's office, and walked in when I heard her call to me.
"Well, Miss Jenson. I trust you had the foresight to read ahead and be somewhat prepared for your lesson tonight?" I could tell that she expected the expected the exact opposite.
"Yes, Professor," I saw her raise an eyebrow in complete surprise.
"Well then, let's see what you have learned."
