Waking the next morning, her mind felt foggy and as she meditated for several moments laying in the soft bed surrounded by emerald curtains, she sensed remnants of her fathers power in her mind. Scanning over her memories of the night before she noticed gaps in her mind, and places where her memories had been removed. Her father had not concealed the fact he'd removed portions of her memory with false memories, he just took away what he must of felt he needed to.
The last time her father pulled knowledge from her was when she'd gotten a book of sex rituals from her aunt Bellatrix and her father tore the contents of the book from her mind. She knew she'd read the book, but the knowledge of what was in it had been removed from her mind. With a sigh, she set about repairing her mental shields, and tried to put her thoughts back in some semblance of order.
"Vinia? Are you awake?"
Sitting up she pulled back her curtains, and saw Hermione standing next to her bed with a worried expression on her face.
"How are you feeling? Are you okay? Should I get professor Snape?" The girl asked in a rush and she shook her head.
"No, I am fine."
"What happened last night? You were basically like a zombie, professor Snape was going to take you to the hospital wing, but your house elf popped in and floated you up here to bed, then wouldn't let anyone near you."
She stayed silent for several moments, trying to come up with a suitable excuse.
'Remember sweetling, a good lie has elements of truth, keep it simple, do not tangle yourself in your own deceptions.'
"My mental shields had been damaged, I needed to repair them." she murmured.
"Someone attacked your mind?" Daphne cried out from across the room as she leapt out of her bed where she'd been sitting to brush her hair.
"Mmm," she nodded, but didn't elaborate and the girls knew better then to push her on the subject. The matter of ones mental protections was a private thing, and enquiring about it was considered offensive.
Sliding from her bed, she stretched out her arms in an attempt to ease the aches in her muscles and glanced around the room. Both Daphne and Hermione were already dressed in their uniforms, and from the look of the other beds in the room it appeared both Pansy and Millicent were still sleeping. The curtains on the last bed had been pulled back, and from the look of the trunk which had been left open she guessed that the Davis girl must be in the bathroom. Taking her toiletries from her trunk, she followed Hermione to the bathroom which was shared between the first and second years.
After spending a luxurious ten minutes in the shower, she summoned Bippity to do her hair. Technically, personal house elves weren't allowed in Hogwarts, but the Slytherins had long ago gotten permission for their personal elves to be present so long as the elf remained within the Slytherin dungeons.
"Vinia!"
Walking down the stairs with Hermione and Daphne, she was greeted by her cousin and the four other first year boys.
"Good morning, cousin." She greeted, and gave the boys with him a slight nod of acknowledgement.
"Are you alright?" Draco asked, taking a step towards her and lifting her bag from her shoulder to pass it to Goyle, who already appeared to be carrying both his own and her cousins bag.
"I am," she said, giving him a reassuring smile.
"You gave us quite a fright last night Ravinia. Are you sure you are well?" Came the crooning tones of Margo Yaxley as the girl walked up to them with a sashaying stride.
"I am well, Margo. I apologize for any worry I have caused unfortunately my mental shields became damaged during the feast and my state was due to the need to repair them." She said, softly deciding to carrying with the cover story she'd chosen. Her mental shields had indeed been damaged, but it was due to the intrusion of her father and not an outright attack which would be what the others would believe.
"You were attacked? Someone dared try to intrude on your mind?" Margo hissed, eyes going wide.
"Someone tried to break Heiress Morte's shields?"
"An attack?"
"What? Who? Who would dare?"
"All is well, they did not get passed my shields, but they did manage to damage them a little, thus I spent some time repairing and reinforcing them." She said, furrowing her brow and rubbing at her temple.
"Who was it? Do you know? Who did you lock eyes with during the feast." Margo demanded, face filled with anger.
"I do not know," she told the older girl, shaking her head slightly.
It took another twenty minutes before the remaining first years joined them, and she spent that time being interrogated by not only Margo Yaxley, but her cousin, with both trying to investigate the perpetrator behind the attempted breach in her mind, with Draco vowing vengeance. The mental image of her cousin attempting to challenge her father to an honor duel over the attack on her was rather amusing, but she knew it would never happen. Her cousin would never admit it, but he was a little afraid of her father, as any intelligent person would be.
Following Margo and the prefects who were leading the first years to breakfast, she tried to ignore the low murmuring of the Slytherin's around them. As she sat to eat her breakfast the news of the attack was soon spread throughout the Slytherin table, and slowly through the hall, the tale warping each time it was told.
"Did you hear? Someone attacked Heiress Morte, they tried to intrude into her mind!" Desmond Blishwick said.
"Was it Dumbledore do you think? Only the pureblood's would have any training mind magics, and none would dare such a thing, would they?" A sixth year Slytherin further down the table asked.
"Dumbledore," hissed another.
"It must of been!" A forth year Slytherin agreed.
"She didn't look at him during the feast did she? I was sitting near her, she was looking at the Gryffindor table! I saw Potter looking at her, and she started acting strange right after. It was Potter! I am sure of it." One of the seventh year said, causing an uproar at the table.
"Potter, it must of been." A sixth year snarled.
"Potter, it was Potter?" A little second year asked.
"Potter attacked Morte." The sixth year confirmed.
"Did you hear? Harry Potter attacked the Morte Heiress!" A Ravenclaw whispered to his friends.
"He cursed her so badly she cried," a Hufflepuff told the table of wide eyed badgers.
"I heard Harry Potter got in a fight with a dozen Slytherin's after the feast and they all had to be taken to the hospital wing after he was done with them." A Gryffindor cheered from the table across the hall.
By the time the meal was over, it was known to all that Harry Potter had done battle with the entire Slytherin house and come out victorious.
"Miss Morte," looking up from her plate she saw her potions tutor, or as it would be now, professor, standing near them.
"I trust you have recovered?"
"Yes sir," she murmured, lowering her head slightly.
"Good, I expect both Draco and yourself to set a proper example for your year-mates." The Potions professor said, handing her a piece of paper with her class schedule written on it.
Glancing down at the schedule in her hand she frowned, with Gryffindor for potions and D.A.D.A? What a nightmare that would be, she hoped the schools potions lab was properly fitted with protection schematics.
MONDAY
Class 1: 9:00 am till 9:45 am: Potions w/Gryffindor
9:55 am till 11:35 am: Free Time
Class 2: 12:55 pm till 1:40 pm: Transfiguration w/Ravenclaw
Class 3: 1:50 pm till 2:35 pm: History of Magic w/Hufflepuff
2:45 pm till 7:25 pm: Free Time
TUESDAY
Class 1: 9:00 am till 9:45 am: Charms w/Ravenclaw
9:55 am till 10:40 am: Supervised self study
Class 2: 10:50 am till 11:35 am: Defense Against the Dark Arts w/Gryffindor
12:55 pm till 7:25 pm: Free Time
WEDNESDAY
Class 1: 9:00 am till 9:45 am: Potions w/Gryffindor
9:55 am till 11:35 am: Free Time
Class 2: 12:55 pm till 1:40 pm: Transfiguration w/Ravenclaw
1:50 pm till 3:30 pm: Supervised self study
Class 3: 3:40 pm till 4:25 pm: Flying w/Gryffindor
4:35 pm till 7:25 pm: Free Time
THURSDAY
Class 1: 9:00 am till 9:45 am: Charms w/Ravenclaw
Class 2: 9:55 am till 11:35 am: Defense Against the Dark Arts w/Gryffindor
12:55 pm till 1:40 pm: Supervised self study
1:50 pm till 7:25 pm: Free Time
FRIDAY
Class 1: 9:00 am till 9:45 am: Potions w/Gryffindor
Class 2: 9:55 am till 10:40 am: Potions w/Gryffindor
Class 3: 10:50 am till 11:35 am: Herbology w/Hufflepuff
12:55 pm till 7:25 pm: Free Time
SATURDAY
Class 1: 10:00pm till 11:00pm: Astronomy w/Hufflepuff
SUNDAY
Free Day
Breakfast -7:30 am till 8:50 am.
Lunch -11:45 am till 12:45 pm.
Dinner - 7:35 pm till 8:35 pm.
"Potions, transfiguration and flying." Her cousin muttered, staring at his own schedule.
"Two classes in one day with the Gryffindorks," Hermione moaned, tossing her own class schedule in her bag.
"Nice one, Mione." She giggled, and was joined by the surrounding Slytherin's, though she was pretty sure they were only laughing because she was and not because they actually found it funny.
"Ravi," stiffening at the sound of Margo's crooning, she narrowed her eyes at the girl.
"Margo," she said coldly. "I would prefer you not shorten my name in that manner, as my future cousin-in-law you may call me either Ravinia or Vinia, but calling me Ravi is not something I can permit."
No one was allowed to call her that, that was her grandpa's private nickname for her, and only he was allowed to use it.
"Of course, my apologies, Vinia." The older girl said, lowering her head as she spoke.
"I have charms first up, so Virgil will be taking you to potions, as the sixth years have a self study session for first period." Margo said, gesturing to the dainty looking boy sitting near them.
She nodded at that and after draining the last of her pumpkin juice stood from the table.
"We should leave now then, as we need to pick up our potions supplies before class." She said, glancing down the table at the other first years who quickly finished eating and stood hurriedly to join her.
"Once you have your first class, your caldron and other potion supplies will stay in the first years storage cupboard." Virgil Pyrites told them as he led the group back to the common room.
"Can the cupboard be accessed outside of class?" She asked, and he shook his head.
"Unsupervised study of practical potions is not permitted outside of class, only theory can be studied. If you wish to practice outside of class a practical study session is held on Sunday's and is supervised by the seventh years. That is the only time you will be permitted to brew with 'school provided' supplies outside of class." The boy said, giving her a small smirk and she nodded catching the hint.
Once they had their supplies, Virgil led the group to the potions classroom for first years, telling them that after class they could either return to the common room until lunch or go exploring, but that they were to remain in their group and not wander alone.
"Someone will escort you to your next class after lunch, remember if you run into any issues tap your house crest thrice and speak the common rooms password. A prefect will be alerted and come to your location." The sixth year prefect said, gesturing to his crest.
They'd each had their uniforms crests enchanted and been informed how to activate the locator spell placed on them. It was something her father came up with during his time as head boy, and it had become a tradition that all the first and second years would have their crests enchanted in this way. After third year it was expected a Slytherin would be capable enough to find their own way out of any issues that arose.
At 8:45 am, the door to the potions classroom opened and after peeking into the room, she led her classmates inside. She couldn't see the potions master, but she knew he was standing near the large chalkboard at the front of the room. There were two rows of work stations in the room, with each having room for two people to work in a pair. Choosing to pair up with her cousin, they claimed a workstation at the very rear of the room, right next to the door. She wanted a clear escape path for when the Gryffindors messed up.
There year mates filled the rows around them, leaving the work stations closest to the potions master for the Gryffindors. Which, still hadn't arrived with only mere minutes left until class was due to start.
At 9:03, a red faced and panting Neville Longbottom came stumbling into the room, and was soon followed by the Boy wonder, who led the remaining Gryffindor's into the room.
"See, I told you we'd find it." He said, running a hand over his head and messing up his already messy hair.
"Yeah mate, looks like we beat the dungeon bat too." The red haired boy trailing along after the Potter pretender quipped, tossing his bag and caldron carelessly onto a workstation.
"Is that so?"
She watched, along with her fellow Slytherin's as the group of first years who'd just entered the room all stiffened, and turned slowly to the front where the potions master was now visible.
"Take your seats." His cold tone carried with it a lash of sharp power that made the group all flinch as one before scrambling to their seats.
"There will be no foolish wand waving or silly incantations in this class. As such, I don't expect many of you to enjoy the subtle science and exact art that is potion making. However, for those select few," pausing in his dramatic speech, the potions master glanced towards her and her cousin at the back of the room. "Who possess the predisposition, I can teach you how to bewitch the mind and ensnare the senses. I can tell you how to bottle fame, brew glory and even put a stopper in death."
Turning his attention to the gathered Gryffindor's, he sneered down at Potter who was flicking casually through his potions book.
"Then again, maybe some of you have come to Hogwarts in possession of abilities so formidable that you feel confidant enough to not...pay...attention."
Wham, with a sharp sounding thud the book in the boys hands suddenly slammed itself closed, causing Potter to jerk back from the desk with a high pitched yelp.
"Mr. Potter. Our...new...celebrity. Tell me, what are the four most common materials a caldron is forged from?"
"Uh, Pewter?"
"And? Well Potter? We don't have all day." The potions master drawled, arms crossed over his chest as he stared imperiously down at the boy.
"I don't know," came the low mumbled response, and she had to elbow her cousin to quieten down his snickering.
"Goyle, same question."
This time it was her turn to snicker, everyone knew how dim the hulking boy was.
"Err, caldron… Pewter, copper, brass and uhh silver?" The boy said slowly, glancing to the front of the room, which just so happened to have one of each caldron sitting on the professors desk.
"Indeed," drawled the professor who strode over to his desk, pointing out the caldrons.
Placing a hand on the pewter caldron, he scanned the room with dark eyes.
"Mr Thomas, tell me why do we use only pewter caldrons in first year?"
"Because they are the cheapest to replace if damaged?" The Gryffindor boy asked hesitantly.
"Are you telling me or asking me?" Professor Snape sneered.
"Lestrange, same-." The professor started, but didn't get to finish his sentence when Hermione exploded into a standing position and began speaking at a rapid pace
"Sir! Pewter is best for the most basic potions and some advanced potions, it has the slowest brewing speed of the four types. At higher temperatures it can be prone to melting or shattering, so it is only suited to potions that require a low heat. The next caldron made of copper is one that brews at high speed but is not suitable for potions that require more than 5 hrs of brewing or specific timing. It is a better heat conductor than pewter heating evenly and precisely. Copper is good for poisons and dark potions. Brass caldrons brew at medium speed. Which is great for the creation of antidotes and medicinal potions. Brass produces stronger potions, but reduces longevity of the potion brewed. Silver is the most expensive caldron type commonly sold and it is least prone to accidents. It is best for powerful and complicated potions. Research shows it to increase the longevity of a potion's effect and shelf life. Magical Drafts and Potions recommends it not be used for simple potions as it may induce more severe effects, potentially resulting in an overdose."
By the time an out of breath Hermione was finished her lengthy response, every Gryffindor student in the class was staring at her mouths agape.
"Well? Why aren't you all writing this down." The professor snapped, stalking to the board which was suddenly filled with descriptions of each caldron type, though the wording differed slightly to the bushy haired girls it was the same information.
The reminder of the class was spent learning about the various tools used in potion making, and the techniques used. By the time class ended she was on the verge of falling asleep, everything they'd gone over were things she'd learnt from the age of five. She'd gotten a 'my first potions kit' for her fifth birthday from the potions master, and had begun her lessons with him the following day.
"Homework," drawled the potions master as they began packing their things. "Read chapters 1- 4 of Magical Drafts and Potions, and write a two thousand word essay on the tools and techniques used in brewing."
"Morte, stay behind."
Hearing Snape's order, she returned to her seat, and watched as her classmate's trudged out of the classroom.
"Vini, we'll wait for you outside." Her cousin muttered softly to her as he picked up both their bags and left the room.
"Sir, you wanted to speak with me?" She asked, walking to the front of the room once it had emptied of the other students.
"Indeed," the man side, and gestured to large a cabinet near his desk. "The cabinet has a warded space above it, during practical sessions I expect your feather duster to remain there. Just as with the potions lab at the castle, he is not to be on your shoulder whilst you are brewing."
"Yes sir, I was actually going to ask if he could sit on your desk, but I think he would prefer it up there."
"I would rather he not sit on my desk, the damned bird is a menace. On a side note, I will be brewing for the hospital wing this Saturday, Draco and yourself are to be here at 9:00am. Off with you now, the next class will be arriving shortly."
"Yes sir, I will inform cousin and we will be here Saturday."
She said, giving a slight curtsy before heading to the door. She'd almost made it when a loud bang sounded from the hallway, followed by a cacophony of shouting and a shriek. Rushing to the door, she flung it open only to be thrown back as a spell hit her in the chest and slammed her into the nearby work station.
Groaning, she staggered to her feet and scooped up a dazed looking Razle from the floor cradling him in her arms as she watched the potions master rush through the door. Peaking around the doorframe, she saw utter chaos, spells were flying back and forth between a group of Slytherin's and Gryffindor's with both her cousins Nolin Rosier and Draco Malfoy at the forefront of the Slytherin group facing off against Potter, and three Weasley's two of which appeared to be twins.
An explosion of magic swept across the group and she watched as the fighting students froze into statues, completely immobilized by the potion masters wide spread spell.
"Those of you still able to move, do so now." The Professor snapped, causing the few third year students who weren't fighting to rush into the classroom and the remaining first years to run up the hallway towards the stairs leading out of the dungeons.
"Miss Morte, are you injured?"
"Just a little winded sir, it was only a knock back jinx."
"I see, off with you then."
Sparing a glance towards her cousins and the group of third year Slytherins who'd joined the fight, she darted up the hallway heading in the direction her fellow first years had gone. Hermione, Daphne and Theo weren't far ahead of her, and she quickly caught up to them.
"What happened whilst I was with professor Snape?" She asked a little breathlessly.
"Potter happened, his Weasley shadow made some comment about you staying behind and Potter topped it off with a sexual remark which was overheard by Draco and Nolin." Theo said, glancing over his shoulder in the direction of the group which was now being floated down the hall by the professor not far behind them.
"What did he say about me?" She asked, eyes narrowed.
"It doesn't bare repeating," Daphne said softly, wrapping an arm around her shoulder to shepherd her down the hall when she started to turn back to the empty classroom the professor had taken the group into.
Ignoring Daphne she gave Hermione a firm look, causing the girl to bite her lip with an anxious expression.
"Weasley said you were sucking up to professor Snape, and Potter,- uh, said you look like you'd be good at sucking something else." The girl said, her voice coming out in a low whisper as she reached the last part.
"Oh," she said tonelessly, doing her best to shove down the raging anger she felt. "Did either of my cousins get a proper shot in?"
"Draco got Weasley pretty good with a Jelly legs jinx, and Nolin hit the older two Weasley's with something I couldn't identify. Potter had some sort of protective enchantment which prevented him from being hit."
She nodded frowning a little at the knowledge, she also had protective enchantments, but they wouldn't activate against something as low powered as a knock back jinx. Her construct would only react in the presence of stronger magic that was cast with the intent to harm her, the spell that hit her was weak, and not cast with her as the target. That she'd been hit was merely due to her accidentally stepping into the stray spells path.
"Who cast the knock back jinx?"
"One of the twins, I am not sure which." Daphne said, giving her a worried look.
"I saw you get hit, are you okay?"
"Just got a little winded, and Razle was knocked off my shoulder." She said, stroking a hand over the bird who was back perched on her shoulder, working vigorously to preen his feathers back into order.
By the time the group reached the Slytherin table in the great hall, the rumors about the battle between the first and third year boys had already spread through the students milling about. Though to her horror, things had become twisted once more. The incident had gone from her cousins defending her honor, to Potter being the one who was defending her honor and protecting her from being bullied by the other Slytherins.
Hope you are enjoying the story so far.