Northern California, USA
I untie the two letters in Bluemoon's right talon
and the package, the letter from Lauren was attached, in her right talon and
replace it with my letters.
I
set the letters from Lavendar and Terra aside and tear open Lauren's package.
What was inside made me gasp.
Inside
was a robe much like my Hogwarts robes but made of well-tanned hide and
elaborately beaded. I take the robe out reverently and notice that a glittering
black hawk with shining silver-tipped wings adorned the left shoulder. And at
the bottom of the package was a beaded headband with another black hawk with
silver-tipped wings.
I
snatch Lauren's letter up from the floor where it'd fallen, tear it open and
read.
'Dear Serenity,
I
figured that you wouldn't want to give up on our little family tradition. Since
I can't very well make you a new set every year, what with my new job in the
American Ministry, I made it large and double hemmed it so you could adjust it
as needed. Archie still is laughing at me for putting what he calls 'Dad's old
bird' on it even though he knows that bird is your namesake.
Diana
is having a blast at Artene and she sends her love.
Got
lucky that Bluemoon was on her way back to England with those letters from
Lavendar and Terra; Sunsmear's off with Diana's robe.
Love you lots,
witchgirl!
Lauren
Blacksun'
I shove the letter away and grab the spare piece of
parchment and quill. '
'Aunt
Lauren,
Thank
you so much! It's positively gorgeous! Thank you for being such a
wonderful aunt. I wish I could see you. Good luck with your new job. Love and
Flights!
Je T'aime,
Serenity Silverwing'
"There
you go. Hurry up. Pansy'll wake up soon." I say, tying the letter to
Bluemoon's right leg.
"See
you!" Bluemoon calls, flying back out the window.
"Warm
thermals!" I call back, waving after her. I whirl around and practically
pounce on the beautiful robe and headband.
I
hold the robe out in front of me then quickly change into it. I pull back my
hair and restrain it with the headband. I turn around in front of the mirror
and crane my head around to look at the back.
My
family coat of arms was magnificently beaded onto the back. The wands, on the
lower, French tribond portion, almost look real, if a little too small to be of
much use. And the upper portion, the Native American portion, had feathers, and
a solar eclipse that look as realistic as the wands.
"I'm
thankful for my aunt making this for me." I add, turning around again to look
straight at the mirror.
"I'd
be thankful if you'd just apparate off the face of the planet." says the tired
but sneering voice of Pansy.
"Where'd
that come from? The stone age?" sneers Millicent, sitting up in her bed.
"For
your information, Millicent, this is formal where I come from." I reply quickly
and leave the dorm to head to breakfast.
As
I walk through the Common room, I feel all the eyes of the people staring at
my, to them at least, unusual outfit.
I
walk quickly to breakfast, thankfully no one else was in the corridors and,
once in the Great Hall, I sit at the Slytherin table with Liz, who was goggling
at me.
"What?"
I ask innocently, dripping maple syrup on my sausages.
Liz
blinks and opens her mouth as if to say something but nothing comes out so she
closes it. A few seconds later she tries again and this time her voice worked.
"Where'd
you get that?" Liz asks, a note of wonder not quite hidden.
"My
aunt sent it and I got it this morning." I answer. "Just in time too." I add.
"Just
in time for what?" Liz asks, curiosity overcoming her.
"Thanksgiving."
I answer shortly, starting to eat.
A
look of polite confusion plasters itself on Liz's face. Great. She's not
going to ask her question so I have to guess what she wants to ask.
"Oh
come on! Don't tell me that you don't know – " I start exasperatedly before Liz
interrupts.
"Oh
no! I know what Thanksgiving is but why are you wearing that instead of your
Hogwarts robes?" Liz corrects.
"Oh!
That's much easier to explain! You see, it's been a tradition on my mom's side
since before the Civil War." I answer cutting a pancake in half. "We've always
worn formal dress on Thanksgiving and at Artene, we mocked out the First
Thanksgiving. There's this big feast in the evening after sandwiches for lunch
– it was just great!"
"You
do realize that Snape will kill you when he sees you're not in your
Hogwarts robes." Liz states more than asks.
"I'd
like to see him get a valid point on the topic." I shrug and resume eating.
"This,
I'm going to see." Liz says, laughing.
Breakfast
came and went without a single food item flying our way. The problem only came
when it was time for class.
As
I walk through the halls toward Defense Against the Dark Arts, even some
Hufflepuffs stare at me.
I
give a small wave to two Ravenclaws outside the History of Magic classroom,
Carita Reilin and Lisa Turpin, who goggle but quickly grin and I walk out of
their sight.
I
got to Professor Quirrel's room before the other Slytherins but the door was
still closed.
I
tap politely on the door but there wasn't an answer. After about a minute of
waiting outside the room, Professor Quirrel came down the hall. He looks
shocked when he saw my robes.
"M
– Miss – " he starts, trying to sound severe but the stuttering didn't help. I
stop him.
"I'd
like to wear these robes today. It's been a tradition in my family for years
and I don't wish to break it." I explain calmly. It was a lot easier to keep my
cool when I was trying to convince Quirrel than with any other professor.
"Ve
– Very well, Miss Si – Sil – Silverwing. S – So – So long as this only happens
once?" Quirrel's voice rises questioningly.
"Once
a year, third Thursday of November only." I answer, holding a hand up in
promise.
"All
– All right. C – Come – Come in. I expect your class will be here shortly."
Quirrel says, gesturing for me to enter the classroom.
Defense
classes were pretty much a joke. One simply couldn't take the stuttering
professor seriously. Most of the class goofed off while I finished a History
assignment that was due tomorrow.
At
the end of the 'lesson', I try to hurry ahead of the other Slytherins but I'd
lost Draco ahead of me in the crowded Charms corridor. When I got to Professor
McGonagall's room, she was already at the door, glaring with thinned lips down
the hallway at me.
"Would
you care to explain what your doing in non-uniform robes?" Professor McGonagall
asks severely. My calm manner dissolved.
"I
can explain, Professor!" I plead, frantic. I had about as much a chance
of convincing her to let me wear my new robes as being accepted in Slytherin
(not that I'd want to).
"Then
do." Professor McGonagall says, moving into her classroom. I follow her
apprehensively.
"Well…
Today is Thanksgiving in America and my family has a tradition of dressing
Native American formal style and I didn't want to stop because of a dress
code."
All
this came tumbling from my mouth in a rush. I'm sure she wouldn't let me
continue to wear the hide robes. Her glare didn't seem to soften.
"Please,
professor. It's been a tradition since before the American Civil War." I plead,
desperate. I hold my breath, waiting for her decree.
"Only
on Thanksgiving and only because it's a tradition that seems very important to
you." Professor McGonagall says, a faint smile flashing across her face.
"Thank
you, Professor McGonagall! You won't regret it!" I quickly sit down, smiling
like an idiot.
Professor
McGonagall sits down at her desk. "I'd better not, Miss Silverwing."
When
the rest of the Slytherins came in, Draco threw me a look that made me suspect
who had tipped Professor McGonagall off about my robes.
Transfiguration
was fun, unless you count Millicent turning her feather, which we were supposed
to be turning into quills, into a bird that refused to be caught.
Lunch
was ridiculous. Practically every five minutes, I had to duck flying food. I
envied Liz, for she could sit at any table she wanted but she did throw me
warning looks or signals, from the Gryffindor table with Harry, that spared me
from a baked potato, several various hard fruits and a very ripe piece
of melon.
The
class I'd been looking forward to came right after lunch; Charms.
My
Charms classes with Professor Flitwick were, by far, my favorite, closely
followed by Transfiguration. Well, except that one time Ian Nott conveniently
missed his feather with a levitation charm and hit me. I'd gotten a detention not
long afterward because Snape caught me using the same charm on Ian.
I
had left lunch early, as was usual on Thursdays, and, as I turned the corner to
the Charms corridor, I find Draco, Crabbe and Goyle thrashing mid-air. I gape
at them for a moment, and then pelt back to the Great Hall, grinning.
I
dash past the Slytherin table and run right to the Gryffindor table and Liz.
"Liz!"
I gasp, panting for breath, then whisper in her ear, "Charms corridor. Funny.
Have to see. Draco."
I'd
said the magic word. Liz whirls out of her seat and turns to Harry. "Sorry
Harry. Something's just popped up. I have to go. I'll see you later!"
Liz
waves as I lead her off at a run.
"What's
up?" she asks as we dash up the marble staircase.
"You'll
see." I say, grinning as we pelt up another stairwell and reach the Charms
corridor.
When
Liz saw Draco fighting against the hover charm on him, she cracks up. I join
her, practically rolling on the floor. It wasn't long before there was a crowd
of laughing students around us.
"What
is this?!" shouts a familiar but nor welcome voice. I grab Liz roughly.
"Hide!"
I whisper urgently, shoving her towards the depths of the crowd.
"What
about you?" Liz asks, pushing back towards me.
"There's
no way I can hid in a crowd with this on." I answer quickly, pointing to my
robes. "Just go!" Liz vanishes into the crowd.
"What's
going on here!?" yells Snape, trying to shove his way to the front of the
crowd.
When
Snape saw Draco, Crabbe and Goyle thrashing in the air, his sneering mouth
drops open but he quickly recovers. He raises his wand and mutters, 'Finite
incantatem."
Draco
and his goons fall to the floor with an audible thud. The crowd, myself no
exception, breaks into fits of sniggers.
"Get
to class!" Snape roars at the crowd. The crowd breaks up and I try to slink
unnoticed past Snape to the Charms classroom.
"Silverwing!
Come with me! Now!" Snape barks. I freeze in my tracks. Busted! a
voice declares haughtily in the back of my mind.
I
turn around and follow Snape dejectedly down flights of stairs to his office
near the dungeons.
"How
dare you! Why do you act like this? Like a child. Everyday you disgrace
our house more and more. Have you no sense?," Snape asks me, glaring. But he
leaves no time to answer as he goes on. "You forget your place, Silverwing.
You're a first year, remember? I am your teacher and Head of your House. Or do
you forget what house you're in? Allow me to refresh your memory. You're a
Slytherin, now start acting like one. For heaven's sake, you're friendly with
Ravenclaws and you stood up for a Gryffindor! Now you attack your own
housemates when their back is turned. What's wrong with you? Have you no
honor?" Snape lectured, pacing behind his desk.
"I've
honor enough to continue following long respected traditions even if I'm
in a different country and it's against a rule or two!" I reply hotly, glaring
at Snape.
"You
disregard the uniform," Snape continues. "You disgrace us all with your little
antics. You're making yourself out to be an idiot. Do you have any dignity
left? Hanging around with Liz, another disgrace to Slytherin, and the House
Elves, wearing ridiculous outfits and showing absolutely no respect to your
fellow Slytherins or myself. You're a disgrace!"
"I'll
start showing respect when I start getting it and I'd rather be a disgrace to
Slytherin than a disgrace to my family. You know? That funny little thing
that'll be in my life after seven years here?" I retort, my voice rising
defensively.
"This
exactly what I'm talking about. You're a smartass and you're going to get into
trouble with that mouth of yours one day and I promise I'll be there to laugh.
I'm giving you a week to shape up or I'll be forced to use more drastic
measures to get you to start respecting your house. Now, go to the
Common Room and sweep the floors the muggle way. Consider it your punishment
for wearing that atrocity."
With
that, Snape throws a muggle broom at me. I reflexively catch it before it would
hit me.
"Go!"
Snape snaps, sitting down at his desk. I leave the office for Slytherin Tower,
head hanging in mock-shame.
I
gave the blank, stone wall the password ("Mudbloods") and enter the Common
Room, starting when I see Liz lounging in the chair nearest the entrance.
"So?"
Liz prompts, standing up.
"So…
I'm stuck sweeping for following a tradition," I answer, turning around and
starting. "Get up in the air. The sooner I get this done, the less time Draco
has to gloat."
So
Liz floated above the floor as I swept. When I was done, I swept the dust and
dirt into the fire.
I
wipe away the sweat that had gathered on my brow and straighten up. "Oh! Ow. My
back hurts… Oh but it was worth it to see Draco thrashing against that Hover
charm." I say with a grin to Liz.
"Let's
get dinner." Liz suggests, landing lightly on the now clean floor.
"Yeah!
I'm starved. I didn't get much at lunch because I was dodging food." I agree
eagerly, leaning the broom against the side of the fireplace.
WE
walk up the stair and get to the entrance hall. Across the hall, just coming
down the stairs, I see Draco talking with Marcus Flint. Marcus waves his wand
and the floor about ten feet in front of me, right in my path and no way to
avoid it, glistens with water all the way to a few feet away from the doors to
the Great Hall.
I
stop abruptly and stop Liz from walking on. I nod imperceptibly to the slippery
floor.
"Follow my lead." I mutter out of the side of
my mouth. Liz nods.
I
start running straight at the water. We had to time it just right.
I
reach the slippery floor in three strides; the third one placed my left foot
just inside the large puddle. I bring my right foot forward and lean on it,
holding myself similar to a surfer from California. I immediately start gliding
speedily towards the Great Hall's doors, Liz behind me.
The
end of the water speedway was nearing so I brought my left foot forward and
stepped quickly onto the dry floor, jogging for a pace to slow my momentum. I
turn to see Liz wobbling as she slowed more naturally. I grab her hand and help
her to the dry floor.
I
turn around and wave cheerfully at Marcus and Draco, who look dumbstruck.
"Just
like roller-skating." I say to Liz and enter the Great Hall. I take my seat at
the far end of the table.
"Where'd
you learn to do that?" Liz asks, sitting down across the table from me.
"Roller-skating
back in the states and Herbal Medicines class at Artene. Terra would always
spill hers." I answer, piling food on my plate.
"Sounds
like Neville in Potions." Liz says, adding carrots to her plate.
"Not
exactly. Terra was just a bit of a fumble fingers. Besides, Madam McCloud was a
lot nicer about it than Snape." I answer.
I
sigh. My first Thanksgiving abroad and… ah! "I almost forgot!" I
exclaim.
"What?
Liz asks, looking up from her plate.
"Thanks."
I say, smiling.
"For
what?" Liz asks again, intrigued.
"For
being my friend." I answer and return to eating my dinner.
From across the table, I hear Liz say,
"You're welcome."
I
smile and continue eating, sending a silent prayer. Thank you who ever made
it possible for me to come to Hogwarts.
Disclaimer: Serenity Silverwing, Lavendar Rosethorn, Terra
Starwind, Archie and Lauren Blacksun, Bluemoon, Artene School of Shamanism,
American Star Academy of Witchcraft, Catswings Institute of Magic, and Madam
McCloud (no relation to Duncan McCloud or whoever that Highlander character is)
are mine! Liz is Electra's and all other characters, places and personalities
are J.K. Rowling's. Electra-chan! Your turn!
~Tes-sama
or
~Ani-Kami
