Maeve woke to Loki nudging her awake, she blinked the haze from her eyes and glanced at her snake.
§What isss the matter?§
~You ssshould get ready now so you don't get bothered by your roommatesss.~
Maeve nodded, finding Loki's answer to be acceptable. She slowly removed the blanket and got up, careful not to make any noises so as to not wake the others. She quietly opened her trunk and pulled out her uniform and a pair of undergarments, she grabbed her hygiene bag, a towel and headed to the showers.
Humming softly, she turned the water on lukewarm and got her things ready, stripping down she stepped and sighed in content when the water hit her body. Honestly, she could get used to this. She lavished her hair with her favorite strawberry scented shampoo and conditioner and her body with a mint scented body wash.
After rinsing thoroughly, Maeve turned the water off and wrapped herself in her fluffy white towel. Still humming, she dried off her hair before wrapping it in a separate towel. She grabbed her toothbrush and mint toothpaste and began brushing her teeth. Followed by her hydrating face soap and cleanser.
Taking her time in rubbing in body lotion before starting to dress herself. She winced a couple of times before finally combing through the knots and tangles, carefully pulling her hair into a French braid. Leaving her tie as the last time, loosely tied around her neck.
Finally done with her morning routine, Maeve stepped out with her things securely in her arms. Her eyes widened in surprise, the others were still asleep? Did they all sleep until the sun came up? She shrugged, their problem. She placed her dirty linen in her laundry basket and started on making her bed. Once done, she slipped on her shoes and grabbed her shoulder bag.
§Will you be accompanying me to classs? Or will you ssstay here?§
~I sssuppossse I ssshould go with you, to keep you out of trouble, of courssse.~
She let out a breathy laugh, shaking her head. She let Loki climb up her arm before curling itself around. Maeve knew Loki had only wanted to come so he could threaten to bite people. Even if she'd never follow through unless her mistress was in a dangerous situation and couldn't protect herself.
Maeve silently opened the door and walked out, she made her way to the common room. She stopped in surprise, she didn't expect anyone else to be downstairs so early, was Malfoy an early riser or was the first day jitters? He faced the fire that was crackling in the furnace, but she could recognize his blonde hair anywhere.
"Malfoy?" The boy seemed to be lost in thought, so she simply sat beside him. He'll notice her when he wakes from his daydream.
She sat there patiently, staring out the window. The sun was still down, so the only light in the common room was the burning fire. She turned her head sharply, when Malfoy attempted to nudge her.
"Sorry, I tried calling your name but you were pretty zoned out." She smiled sheepishly.
He shook his head, with a wave of his hand. "Ah, sorry. I was just thinking about our first classes. We're going to get our schedule today, right?"
Maeve blinked slowly, she hadn't been paying attention when the two seventh years were giving out instructions. She was much too tired last night to even care. "I would assume so, I admit I wasn't really awake to hear anything that was said. I apologize."
Malfoy snickered softly, his face settling into a smirk. "That's alright, I wasn't paying much attention either. We should ask Zabini."
"That sounds like our best option." The corner of her mouth lifts slightly, not a full smile. "Well, would you like to join me for an early breakfast?"
"I'd love to." They walked through the portrait guarding the entrance to Slytherin common rooms.
They joked dryly as they continued side by side. They ignored the whispers and unneeded comments from the students that also woke early. The Great Hall was sure to be much louder, it was alright though. Children were bound to not understand that talking about others behind their back was rude, but they'll learn. One way or another.
Malfoy opened the door and allowed Maeve to walk through first, she immediately noticed Dumbledore sitting at the center of the long table. His blue eyes twinkled happily, the old man had secrets, she was sure of it. She was also aware of how the few students at the Slytherin table were observing her, though were trying not to be obvious about it.
"When do you suppose Zabini will be awake?" she bit into a blueberry muffin, covering her mouth slightly.
"Are you not one of his roommates?" She asked, swallowing. He shook his head, shoving some eggs into his mouth. "I guess we'll just have to wait."
As the sun began to rise, more students began filing into the Great Hall. Including Blaise Zabini and the pug-faced girl, Pansy Parkinson, and Malfoy's two lackeys from the train station. As soon as Zabini spotted them he made a beeline towards them. He sat beside Malfoy, Maeve smirked when she saw how Parkinson stayed as far as she could.
"Say Zabini, do you happen to know if we get our schedules today? Malfoy and I weren't mentally present last night during our warm welcoming from the two upper years." Malfoy snorted in an undignified manner, Maeve snickered under her breath.
"Professor Snape was said to be passing them out after breakfast." Zabini responded, a flicker of amusement in his dark eyes as he stared at his two companions.
"The bloke that was glaring at me at last night's welcoming feast? You mean to tell me, I'm stuck with you two wankers and that bloody tosser? I'm going to need a cuppa in order to survive this year." Zabini rolled his eyes with a smirk at her dramatic antics.
"Oi, sod off and pass me a biscuit will you?" Maeve cackled at Malfoy's pouty face, she leaned over and patted his cheek in a teasing way. He pulled away with a huff and crossed his arms.
"No need to be miffed, you wouldn't want to lose the plot, now would you?" Maeve playfully scolded as she nicked some grapes off his plate.
Malfoy scoffed, though there was a quirk of his lips so he wasn't truly upset. "The bangers are good, would you like some?" He offered his plate, she giggled. If he hadn't been offering, she still would have nicked some.
She took a few and munched quietly as she looked around the now crowded room. Gryffindors were loudly talking, Ravenclaws were speaking among each other, Hufflepuffs were a happy bunch and impossibly chirpy, the Slytherins that were around her and at the far end of the table seemed distant and closed off. They gave a dangerous aura that warned people away, Maeve found it intriguing.
"Looks like Professor Snape is handing out the schedules now." Malfoy nudged her, Maeve saw the bloke starting with the older students first. Most likely going down the years, looks like they'll be the last ones.
"He seems dodgy to me, does he not give you a bad vibe?" She asked pointing at the man sitting fidgety next to the empty seat Snape sat in, he had on a strange turban on for some reason.
"He seems the type to be scared of his own shadow, I wonder what subject he teaches." Mused Zabini. Maeve narrowed her eyes at him when they made contact, something dark lurked around him. It gave her a migraine.
Snape finally made it to their area. In his pale hands, he held three sheets of papers. "Zabini-Malfoy- and Potter." She frowned as he practically sneered her name, laced in venom.
So a judgmental adult, she thought, always hated those kinds.
"Thank you." she replied tersely, snatching her schedule from his outstretched hand when it seemed he was not going to simply hand it over like a mature adult.
His dark eyes glared hole into her head but she refused to acknowledge his presence anymore, he obviously wasn't worth her attention. He stiffly walked away, handing out the rest of paper before swiftly walking out the Great Hall. He could feel her calculative green eyes on him, they reminded him of the killing curse, the same shade.
"What was that about?" Zabini questioned, Maeve shook out of her head and glanced at him and Malfoy, who had a worried expression.
"I'm not fully sure, honestly he seemed like he hated me last night but I've never met him before now." She admitted, scanning her schedule.
SLYTHERIN FIRST YEARS TIMETABLE
Maeve A. Potter
Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday
9:30-10:30 |Herbology w/ Ravenclaw |Herbology |D.A.D.A |D.A.D.A |Potions
10:45-11:45 |Charms w/ Ravenclaw |D.A.D.A w/ Gryffindor |Potions w/ Gryffindor |Transfiguration |Potions
1:30-2:30 history of Magic w/ Hufflepuff Transfiguration Charms History of Magic D.A.D.A
2:30-2:30 Transfiguration w/ Hufflepuff |Charms |History of Magic |Flying w/ Gryffindor |Herbology
12:00-1:00 |Astronomy w/ Hufflepuff |Astronomy
"It seems we have Herbology with Ravenclaw first. I truly hope they do try not to overachieve. It would be too exhausting." Maeve mumered. "We should get going, don't want to get lost."
Malfoy and Zabini stood up along with her, they ignored the curious gaze of their peers. As the self-proclaimed leader, Maeve led the two boys out to the greenhouse behind the castle. They saw plants of all various shapes, sizes, living and nonliving.
"Wicked." Malfoy muttered quietly as he observed the plants that were safely out of reach.
A squat little witch with a patched hat over her flyaway hair stepped into view, she was Professor Sprout, the head of Hufflepuff house. The three students knew they were quiet early, especially by the look on her round face. She eyed their ties, emerald green, with a wary eye.
Maeve refrained from rolling her eyes, honestly could she be any more obvious of her house prejudice? Slytherin doesn't mean evil and green isn't a warning. The three stood in the back, Malfoy next to her and Zabini at the table beside them.
Soon the other students trickled in, a handsome boy with sandy brown hair and pretty blue eyes stood to the right of Zabini. The Ravenclaws on the left and the Slytherins on the right, a clear divide of houses. Maeve sighed inaudibly, when she took over the magic world she was gonna strip away the bloody prejudice.
"Did she really have to eye us like that? Are all teachers going to be against Slytherins?" She questioned Malfoy, who in return sighed.
The boy next to Zabini surprisingly answered. "Everyone believes Slytherins are dark, considering all the witches and wizards it's produced." He paused, lowering his voice. "Including the darkest wizard of the last fifty years, Voldemort."
"That's rubbish! Being Slytherin means being ambitious with something to prove! Don't they remember that Merlin, the greatest wizard of all time, was a bloody Slytherin? And he wasn't accused of being dark and evil!" She snarled in anger. "Where is the supposed equality that the old nutter talked about!?"
The three boys stared at the furious dark haired girl, amazed and impressed. Malfoy regained his bearings first. "What are we to do about it? No one will listen to children."
"Then we make them listen," her green eyes glowed slightly in the fluorescent lighting. "If they want a villain, so be it. I'll show them what Slytherins are capable of, they'll have to listen."
The four drowned out the professor as she lectured of the plants and their uses. Maeve had a fierce frown as she stared the three boys down, challenging them to deny her or oppose her. They did neither.
The blue eyed boy stuck his hand out, with confidence. "Names Theodore Nott, I'd like to offer my loyalty to whatever you do," he smirked. "Milady." The name was only befitting for a woman fighting for her beliefs.
"Maeve Potter."
He pressed a delicate kiss on her pale knuckles before running his thumb across the smooth skin. "Pleasure."
She hasn't had to fake a blush this time around, as a light pink glow spread across her cheeks and nose. She pulled her hand away with a small cough and looked away, promptly ignoring the snickers from Malfoy and Zabini. "Your loyalty will be gratefully appreciated." She turned to her companions(?) friends(?). "Will you be with me or against me?"
The two shared a glance before nodding. "We're with you, of course." Said Malfoy confidently. Zabini nodded with his words. Maeve slightly grinned, she'll show everyone exactly what she and all the other Slytherins are capable of doing.
"We have Charms next, right? With the Ravenclaws again?" She asked, she already knew the answer but she was getting them used to the need to always be prepared. She wanted them to not rely on a sheet of paper for a simple question.
Zabini nodded. "Charms class is bound to be exciting. I've heard that professor Flitwick is the only one who doesn't discriminate against houses."
Blaise Zabini had a good head on him, she nodded approvingly. She'll make sure to help him hone his analytical mind. It'd be very useful. "That's how all the teachers should be. They'll soon learn the errors of their way. After all, a war can only be won by all members of the party."
Professor Sprout constantly had an eye on the Slytherins, like she was expecting them to start cursing students and misbehaving. That thought only fueled the anger in Maeve's eyes as she glared at the short woman. She was making her unbelievably angry, with her short-minded head.
Soon, the Herbology professor was letting them out on account that they write a five page essay on the importance of using the plants in the correct fashion. Honestly, herbology was the equivalent of botany in the muggle world. Maeve and her little group walked out together, staying further away from the other students as they all made their way to the classroom 2E, class 99. A hiss from around her arm had her turning away from her talking companions.
~Missstresss, are we now leaving the weird green room?~
Loki peered curiously at his human with his slitted eyes, her green ones staring back at him. They glowed faintly with her thrumming magic that flitted through the air around him. She paid no mind to the students who gazed warily at the serpent or how her group looked at each other with a look of understanding. Understanding what, she did not know.
§Yesss, we will be heading to another classss, though the teacher isss much more competent.§
Several eyes widened at the foreign language she spoke, they all shared a cautious glance. Parseltongue was a very rare language that not many were able to speak, as only direct descendants of Salazar Slytherin could do so. And the most known one was The Dark Lord, which begs the question who exactly was Maeve Potter? Loki bobbed his little head before retreating into the dark sleeves.
"I trust that my speaking this way will not be spread about?" Though her tone spoke nonchalance, her eyes were hardened as though to dare anyone to object. While most Ravenclaws were known for their thirst for knowledge, they also knew the line not to cross just to get answers and going against the short raven haired girl would be something that could cost their lives, they knew that much was true. Slytherins were known for their self-preservation, they knew power when they saw it and power meant safety. Opposing Potter would only mean forfeiting their lives.
An uneasy silence fluttered through the nearly empty corridor, no teacher in sight and no witnesses. Maeve smiled sharply, slightly pointed canines glinting as her toxic eyes glowed maliciously. "Good, wouldn't want any unfortunate accidents on the first day, would we? It'd be a shame for a trip to the infirmary on such a lovely day."
The ominous feeling that surrounded the students and wrapped itself around their cores left them unsettled, especially since the smile that soon followed bore such deceiving innocence. They continued their walk to class at a much subdued pace, the atmosphere much too tense to bring back the excitement. Malfoy, Zabini, and Nott all shared smiles at each other, they knew following Potter would benefit them greatly. And if she happened to be the next Dark Lady, well, at least she had greatness paved in concrete.
Maeve walked a little in the front, Malfoy and Zabini to her right and left with Nott bringing up the rear. Students in blue and green parted like the red sea and allowed the small group to step through first. Without knowing, Maeve carved a path for herself and others following in her and through that path, she began the change in the Slytherin hierarchy, placing herself at the top of the pecking order.
Everyone could feel the moment it happened, even without knowing what exactly occurred. Hogwarts Headmaster and it's professors would have no idea of the storm brewing in the form of one Maeve Potter, the girl they left behind in the muggle world. The course of the future had been altered the moment Ms. Potter recognized the self-fulfilling prophecy and ignored it.
Everyone sat down silently at tables, not even bothering to sit separately as before. And it was thanks to Maeve that it happened. No one but professor Flitwick knew what this meant, the older students will know as well. Despite the fact that Ravenclaw and Slytherin are more lax around each other, the house of snakes preferred not socializing much. The fact that they allowed others from a different house to sit beside them was practically unheard of. He knew this meant a big change was coming.
The tiny professor had them read chapter one through six of The Standard Book of Spells by Miranda Goshawk. He claimed he wanted them to have a clear understanding of what each spell could do and the negative effects it could have if done incorrectly. He said by tomorrow they would be working on the levitation charm.
The class was quiet as they read, only the sound of pages turning or quills moving as some were also taking notes. Maeve was one of the few who didn't bother taking any as she had a perfect memory and could remember just about anything. They had lunch after this and all she really wanted to do was make a big enough scene to ensure she had everyone's attention and then just go to the library. Hogwarts library had to have been magnificent, so many books to read about all the magic that has been here for centuries, perhaps even longer.
"Malfoy, your father is part of the ministry of magic, correct?" She whispered quietly, careful not to alert the professor or anyone else to their conversation. The blonde nodded, with confusion clouding his blue eyes. "Do you think you'll be able to gather any information about what goes on behind closed doors? Anything we should be made aware of before we start putting our plans into motion?"
The boy pursed his lips in thought, he could always bring up the minister and his incompetence, that always gets father speaking up a storm but what would he say should he get suspicious? He voiced that to the young witch, she would know what to say as she was brilliant. He watched her think as she tapped a small pale finger against her lower lip.
"Well, you are his heir, in order to better prepare you for when you take over the family name, shouldn't he take you along with him? To help you get a better feel of what is to come? If you ask him to teach you more of his position, well I reckon he'd be impressed with your maturity level and would feel more comfortable speaking to you about adult matters." She remembered the way he spoke of politics when they were on the train the night before.
Zabini, who had been reading and listening, had to admit Potter had a way with words. It was no wonder she was placed with snakes, no other house would see her potential. He smirked, they wouldn't see what hit them until it was too late. She'd make a great leader, especially with the way she was pulling strings from behind as she was basically manipulating Malfoy into deceiving his father, whom the boy quite literally worshiped, into giving him information. A Dark Lady indeed.
Malfoy let her words sink in, specifically the part where his father would be impressed by the questions he asked with an air of maturity. He could do that, convince his father to speak of work and ask questions as casually as he could. Potter had to be right, he was heir to his family name as the only child of the Malfoy's. He had to know and understand certain things in order to be a great Lord. Surely father would be proud of his desire to learn his role. He nodded with a determined look set on his face.
Maeve smiled with barely revealed approval. "Excellent, Malfoy. I'm sure it'll prove to be very useful to you as it would to me."
When professor Flitwick dismissed them with the promise of learning more with hands-on activities, Maeve told her group she would meet them at the Great Hall in a few minutes. "I just need to stop by the library to pick up a book with information I need." She waved them off with a reassuring smile that she will be just fine. Goodness, surely they know she didn't need protection from anybody, right?
As she looked for the library, she realized she was lost after a wrong turn. She sighed, resigning herself to just lying on the moving stairs to lead her somewhere. But soon discarded the thought as she heard rambunctious laughter from behind her. She quickly stood up and turned, brows furrowing as she saw two identical twins with flaming red hair. The Weasley twins from the welcoming feast.
She withheld a sigh, Merlin, she hoped these two had more respect and brains not to offend a Lady as their brother did. Well, not wanting for them to notice her as she is most positive, the younger Weasley had run his mouth about her and she was not in the mood to entertain a pair of Gryffindors. She bit back a curse as luck was clearly not on her side today.
"Hey, Georgie, check out this ickle little first year."
"Reckon she's lost, Freddie?"
"Perhaps we should find out,"
"Right you are, after all it is-"
"Our duty as third years to show-"
"Young ones around, right Gred?"
Maeve had received a headache at their cut off speech, were all twins like this? Goodness, she'd kill if she found similar twins as these two. Well, at least she knew they were nothing like their brother, which earned them brownie points. "Would you two happen to know where the library is, since you both claimed your duty of offering assistance."
The redhead on the left had a small mole beneath his right eyebrow and the other twin had a tad bit more freckles splattered across the bridge of his nose and cheekbones. George was on the left and Fred was on the right if the way they addressed each other was anything to go buy. She was as Fred smirked, she got the feeling he was planning something and hopefully nothing that would put her in harm's way for their sake.
"First, I'm Fred, this here is George. Second, you are going to close your eyes, if you could tell us who is who once we tell you to open them again we'll offer our help and undying loyalty." He had a look in his eyes, like he fully believed she would fail. Has no one really guessed correctly to warrant such confidence?
Maeve merely shrugged, she knew exactly who was who as she had already identified the difference in their appearances. "Alright, would you like me to turn around as well?" She had already closed her eyes and turned even without their answer.
"Alright, you may choose. And you only get one chance." George was the one to speak with a teasing grin.
She narrowed her green eyes and smirked, assured of her answer. She pointed to the left first. "That's Fred," she looked to the right, not giving Fred a chance to refute her claim. "And that one is George." Both twins looked shell-shocked, jaws slacked and eyes widened. "Now, I am certain I am correct and I'd appreciate your assistance already."
Not given much choice after losing the challenge, George pulled out an old parchment paper from his pocket and looked around cautiously. "I solemnly swear I am up to no good." He whispered as he tapped his wand gently upon it . Maeve's eyes widened in amazement as words began forming on the once blank paper.
"Messrs Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs
Purveyors of Aids to Magical Mischief-Makers
are proud to present
THE MARAUDER'S MAP"
The voice sounded oddly familiar. "Messrs Prongs would like to know exactly what it is you need and how you came upon such a clever map?" She raised a brow at that, modest much?
Fred let out a chuckle. "He always asks that even after we had this map since our first year. Greatest pranksters to ever walk these halls."
"Messrs Padfoot would like to say I told you so to messrs Moony that I had always said we'd be the best."
Maeve leaned forward. "What are your names? Real names and not little nonsense codes, please?"
"Oh, a lady. Hello, love, I am Sirius Black and my friends are James Potter, Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew."
She felt herself jolt in shock. "Potter you say? And you are Sirius Black and a Remus Lupin? How strange."
"Pads, you can't just give out our names like that." A voice that hasn't spoken yet said.
"Psh, if a lady asks for your name you must abide."
"How is it that a bloke in an enchanted parchment paper knows more respect than the bloody twit you have for a brother?" She glanced at the Weasley twins who were strangely quiet during the whole conversation.
The voice in said paper snickered at that. "And who may you be, love?" The voice she associated with as Sirius asked.
She pondered a way to answer that, can she give him her real name? Would it matter? considering they were already dead? "Maeve Potter." She decided to just reveal it, not like it could change anything in her timeline.
There was a brief pause of just silence before James Potter, her late father, spoke. "Did you say Potter?"
She kept her face expressionless as she was quite aware of the Weasley presence. "Yes, I said Potter. You see, I'm the daughter of the late James and LIly Potter. I am eleven years old."
"How can this be?" His voice cracked at the question, it must have hurt to realize you had a daughter with a woman you haven't dated yet only to find you never really saw her grow up.
"I apologize as I cannot say much more at the moment. Perhaps we can speak more at another time. Till then I bid you a good day." The voices vanished and only the words remained. "May you please lead me to the library now? I have much to do and I've already wasted ten minutes of my lunch break just speaking to a map."
Her question broke the twins out of their stupor. "Your father is prongs, the greatest prankster to walk these halls along with his friends? And your godfather who betrayed your parents is padfoot?" Fred sounded so out of it Maeve would have been a little concerned if he wasn't wasting her time just standing around.
"Yes, we've been over this. Now-wait, did you say he betrayed my parents?" She thought back to the day she visited Gringotts. Why hadn't she asked more questions in regards to her godfather? Why didn't she ask about why he wasn't in her life, surely the goblins would know as they manage all that goes on with the wizards through the bank. She'd have to write to the Potter's account manager, Silvertooth, and ask for information regarding Sirius Black.
"Yeah, it was made known the night of your attempted murder and then written in the daily prophet for the world to see. He was sentenced to life in Azkaban, our dad says there were rumors of him being sent with no trial." George explained.
Maeve nodded. "Fred, George do me a favor. I will be heading back to my dorm before our next period, do you mind letting Malfoy know I won't be having lunch with him today? That I'll be busy?" She fluttered her eyelashes and pouted her lips. "Great!" She shouted when they nodded dazedly, before turning and running down to the dungeons. She had a letter to write.
~.~.~.~.~
Dear Goblins of Gringotts, It has come to my attention that a Sirius Black, current Lord of the ancient and noble house of Black, has been sentenced to Azkaban supposedly with no trial. Now, I want to be clear that I am in no way familiar with the laws of the magical side of the world, but I'm fairly certain that having no trial is very much illegal. Therefore Mr. Black is in need of one lest he rot in prison for allegations that were not proven in a correct manner. I wish for the Potter's account manager, Silvertooth, to set up a meeting with the ministry of magic. As Sirius Black is my godfather and I am Lady Potter, I can formally request for a trial to be done for him. Make sure they understand why I am meeting with them. Also, have it known that if a trial is not set up, this little incident will be all over the papers. I'm sure reporters would love to interview the girl who lived only to find her distraught over the fact that they have wrongly imprisoned her godfather and refused to give him a proper trial to prove his innocence.
Thank you.
Maeve Potter.
****
A/n I hope you all enjoy this chapter. I will most likely formally introduce Sirius Black as a free man around the middle of next chapter, Remus will also be mentioned a couple times before finally making an appearance in the chapter. Please review and like! I also hope I portrayed the marauders map correctly. I got the idea of it being enchanted to speak to the one who uses it from another fanfiction and post from Instagram. I'm not sure whose account it was but when I find it, I will be posting credits. Thank you for reading!✨