TITLE: Searching for Acceptance
PART: 3/3 (Chapter Three - Acceptance)
ABBREVIATED TITLE: S4A
AUTHOR: Cardinal Syn/Jamie Carlson
RATING: PG for Language
SPOILERS: Misc. Harry Potter spoilers
DISCLAIMER: Harry Potter and all things HP belong to JK Rowling. Not me.
NOTES: Lamiæ are creatures of legend, similar to vampires. One of the descriptions that go around nowadays are of a snake woman, with the torso of a human woman and the tail of a snake, who feeds on the life-force and blood of young men. The Lamiæ in this story are similar to those.
This is a Short Story
WARNINGS: Language, and possible butchering of personalities and DEFINITELY of the legend of the Lamiæ ^^;
PAIRINGS: None that are obvious this time around
MAIN CHARACTERS (in order of most prominent in the story): 2 OCs (original characters), Severus Snape and the other teachers at Hogwarts, Harry, Ron & Hermione
FANFICTION.NET SUMMARY: Two new girls enter Hogwarts, and the trouble starts in potions class when one of them comes in contact with... catnip? Fuzzy, almost angsty at parts, and moral-teaching ^_^
EXTENDED SUMMARY: Trouble starts when two new students enter Hogwarts. Within a matter of days, one of them goes haywire during Professor Snape's Potions class - oddly enough, when she happens to come into contact with some catnip... This story is about acceptance of those unlike yourself, and of how friendships can be made in the oddest of places.
Note: The story begins to center around Nii Nah and Liam now.
Chapter Three - Acceptance
"This is definitely interesting," Madame Hooch commented, sitting back in her chair.
An emergency meeting had been called about the two "transfer students", Liam Crescent, found to be a Lamia, and Nii Nah Maxwell, who was found to be a Japanese "Nekohito"†, a form of werecat that eventually stopped shifting between cat and human altogether and remained in one, constant, half-form.
Neither were really allowed to train as witches or wizards, especially not in schools full of human children.
"It's just not safe to have a lamia here among the children," Madame Pomfrey commented.
"But she has been nothing but polite to them, and stated herself she only wishes to learn witchcraft," Professor McGonagall replied. "And since Miss Maxwell is only a nekohito, she isn't that much of a threat - other than the obvious cat-like tendency to go after catnip -" there was brief, nervous laughter " - and her hyperactivity, she has no traits of her 'cousins', werecats."
Flitwick shook his head rapidly. "But the other one, Miss Crescent, is a full-blooded Lamia! We all know what their kind do!" Snape's lips twitched.
"You mean those old legends? You don't really believe those tales of how the Lamia took and disposed of their lovers, do you?" he said silkily. Flitwick frowned.
"For your information, those stories are TRUE -"
"So says the one with the so-called 'third eye'."
"I foresaw that comment."
"Oh, no you didn't, you old bat!"
Arguing ensued between the teachers. It was obvious to everyone even as they argued that they were skirting the issue - except for Severus Snape, who was enjoying himself.
"That is enough!" Dumbledore's voice snapped them all out of their squabbling. "Acting like children about this won't get us anywhere! And as for Lamia nature, why don't you just ask Liam herself?" He gestured to the door, where Liam stood, dressed no longer in the gray sweater, silver-and-green tie of Slytherin, and black robes of Hogwarts, but in a plain black dress.
She walked slowly into the room, her green eyes going from one teacher to another, before landing on Severus Snape. She closed her eyes momentarily, more of a slow blink.
"Again, I apologize for the actions of Nii Nah Maxwell, and of myself. We were deceitful upon arrival here," she said. Her voice was quiet. "But I assure you, all we wanted to do was learn here. Lamiæ are not allowed to train in magic at schools, and we are even denied the right to use proper magic by our own clans. It was the last thing I could think of doing to be able to study what I have wanted to study all of my life."
Liam looked over at Dumbledore sadly. "I understand that we are no longer killed on sight. But we ARE persecuted, and I suppose not without good reason." She then turned to the entire Hogwarts staff. "But you must understand! Not all Lamiæ wish to remain the way we have been so long - no better than leaches, living wasted lives with no point and no reason!" Liam's eyes blazed with her anger and bitterness toward her own race's legacy.
"Not all of us hunt out innocent prey, feeding on the lives and blood of others. We can survive without that! I have survived without that for all of my life!" Liam sighed, and gestured at Flitwick. "He was wrong - he had had Lamiæ confused with the Succubus demon. Granted, what most Lamiæ do is worse." She folded her arms over her chest with a frown. "But I'm not most Lamiæ. There are exceptions to EVERY rule, and why can't I be one them?"
"Dear," McGonagall said, "You are young yet. What will happen when you become older, more mature, and more swayed by your own heritage?"
"I won't be. Lamiæ can choose to never take their snake-forms. I never have, and after I reach my sixteenth birthday, if I haven't by then, I never will." Liam replied. "Lamiæ are made by the choices our cursed bloodline makes as we age. I am trying my hardest to make the right ones."
"Trying sometimes isn't good enough," Flitwick said under his breath, but Liam - and everyone else - caught it.
There was silence. The person least likely to break the silence was the one to break it.
"I would rather the two stay. I had thought that equality for all sentient beings was one of the things this school taught?" Everyone's eyes were now on Severus Snape. "But then again, I may be wrong."
"You are quite right, Severus," Dumbledore said, smiling. "Liam is young yet, and any signs can be watched for, any problems headed off before they become disastrous."
"I agree," McGonagall said. Madame Hooch nodded. The other teachers agreed, albeit hesitantly, still shocked that Professor Severus Snape, the infamous Potions Master, was the first - and seemingly only - teacher who was willing to speak up for the Lamia and her nekohito companion.
After a few moment's discussion, Professor Snape stood. "You, student," he said to Liam. "Shall go back to your dorm. Change back into your uniform and be ready to attend dinner tonight. You are on one week's probation for your outburst. If you behave well, you will be taken off probation and be allowed the usual student privileges."
Liam didn't smile, didn't hope yet - she turned her gaze to Professor McGonagall, Head of Gryffindor House. The Transfiguration teacher took a deep breath, then nodded. "Please deliver this message to Nii Nah Maxwell - she is on two weeks probation for disrupting class and threatening a teacher, and ten points off of Gryffindor as her punishment for her outbirst. Also, ten points off of Slytherin, child, for your misbehavior." Minerva ignored Snape's annoyed look, and stood.
"Well, child, get back to your dorm. We will see you at the evening meal."
***
That evening was a tad strange for everyone - except Nii Nah Maxwell. She was enjoying the attention she got with her natural looks, and was very happy to be able to stay at Hogwarts with the one she loved.
Her poufy hair was back to its natural blue, and she didn't have to hide her tail anymore. She enjoyed using it to tickle random passers-by.
Liam sat once again at the Slytherin table, Draco Malfoy and his cronies half-scared, half-awed by the Lamia. Draco never seemed to take his eyes off of her.
Severus Snape sat at his usual seat at the High Table, his eyes moving from student to student, stopping briefly on Liam and then on Nii Nah. He was intrigued at having a Slytherin under his wing that wasn't like the others, in more ways than any of them could possibly imagine.
Harry, Hermione, and Ron were quite ecstatic to have two new friends - Nii Nah had insisted they meet Liam, and all three had found her quite un-Slytherin, to their joy.
It was a week after the beginning of the new year at Hogwart's. And things would only continue to get stranger.
- OWARI -‡
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Author's Notes: This turned out COMPLETELY differently than I had intended O_O. But it's an OK prequel to my bigger story.. I just hope I don't have everyone so OOC in the next one. The next one centers COMPLETELY around Snape and another new character; here's the summary for a preview:
Blood and Potions - Section One: Of Snakes and Night Skies
Albus Dumbledore has decided that it is time for Hogwarts to have a fulltime Defense Against Vampires teacher, and has chosen a renowned vampire specialist. But this vampire specialist is a bit hesitant to take the offer as she, herself, is a Dhampir; half-vampire, half human. When she decides to turn down the position, something interesting happens that changes her mind, and makes her decide to stay....
I swear that one will be better Sorry for the cheeseyness and OOCness of this one. More about Liam and Nii Nah will be shown in the next story.
† - "Nekohito" - made-up word combining the Japanese words neko (cat) and hito (person), roughly making that word mean "catperson".
‡ - "Owari" - Japanese word roughly meaning "finished" or "Over"