~*~ 1.1.1.1 House of Slytherin ~*~
The common room, they all found when they were let into it by their prefects, was at the height of elegance and sensuality. The extravagances were something they were all used to - for it was a common, if not exclusive trait, for all Slytherins to be filthy rich. Still, their common room was something to look at. It's decorations were in black, silver and green, and all of the furniture was foreign as well as highly expensive. The rugs were oriental and splendid, the walls swathed in sinister yet beautiful tapestries. Even the fire place was carved to perfection- it was formed by two elaborate cobras which intertwined, their heads making the flat mantel where a monstrosity of a silver clock sat. On either side of the fire place were book shelves, full of both fictional and informative volumes of lore and facts. Beside each of these shelves was a set of stairs, leading up through a passage way that was over hung in curtains of jade beads. These stair ways would obviously lead them all to their dorms, but the firsties still allowed themselves to be led around by the prefects. It was like an unacknowledged ceremony, their obedience to the older house members - but that would only be for that evening, after this, they'd be allowed to do whatever they could get away with. After a speech about the purity of the House, about the house values - and then the annoyances of the opposing three houses, the first years were led up the stairs. Boys up one set, girls up the other.
As Lark followed with the other girls, she felt Narcissa slip a friendly arm around her waist. The girl's cold demeanor was something that made Lark a bit skeptical about her intentions, but she still enjoyed the company. As much of a social climber as Narcissa seemed, she was the only one of the other girls, first years to 7th years, that Lark had not made out to be a complete chatter box or gossipmonger (and that was saying something if she'd judged them all already). In fact, Narcissa was almost calming, despite that whole ice queen aura she had - but, Lark was willing to ignore that after all. She did need a friend, and the blond girl was her best bet among her fellow females of their house.
"Severus seems quite taken with you." Narcissa whispered in her ear. "You know, he usually loathes talking to anyone - let alone silly girls."
"He's competent enough to know a kindred spirit when he meets one, silly girl or not." Then, another thought hit her. "You know him well?"
"Yes." The blond girl nodded, her abundance of golden locks bobbing as she moved her head. Then, they were in the dorms. "Here, let's get beds that are side by side."
"Agreed, I want the one in the corner." Lark took just that one, casting wary glances at the other first year girls as she pushed aside the bed curtains and sat down on the four poster. Her stuff scooted itself to her side from the middle of the room, where it sat with everyone else's belongings -all which had been brought there from the train while they had been sorted in the great hall. Narcissa's did the same, and their conversation continued as they put their things away in the drawer compartments beneath the beds. "So," it was Lark who wanted to continue the conversation of Narcissa knowing Severus, "how do you know Snape?"
"His parents are friends with mine - or, more like associates. I wouldn't say Snape's family is a very companionable one. None of them seem to get along well with one another, and they can just tolerate the outside world. Anyway, Severus has spent a lot of time with my family. His mother dumps him on us all the time, and for some reason, my mother takes him without a complaint. He's very quiet, always has his nose in his book or a blank look on his face and he can't stand me -which is mutual. He's the only one of them, his family, that seems . . . well, human really. He can make jokes, dry wit, mostly. And he can be nice, when he wants to be. But he's still a mean little git if you bother him when he isn't in a sociable mood -which is more often than anyone else I've ever met in my life." Narcissa was obviously also another person who enjoyed the sound of her own voice. Her face changed from it's sour expression as she switched to another subject. "I know Lucius well too. He's more my type, I think. We grew up near one another, so he knows Severus through me, and they get along well. Crabbe and Goyle are also . . . family friends, I suppose you could say -but they're about as interesting as they are pleasing to look at." That made both of the girls giggle. Lark then took out a long stand and began to assemble the three pieces that made it. "What's that for, your owl?"
"Nope, my hawk. We don't use owls for the post in my tribe, and my grandmother gave me Corbin when I came to England, so I'm going to let him have the job he was meant for." She placed the stand at the foot of her bed, and just then, the beautiful bird flew through the window. She smiled at him. "I was getting worried. Glad to see you made it." The hawk gave her a sound that made the room full of girls think of laughter, and soon Corbin was the center of attention. Then, one of the girls, Cora Treimeae looked over at Lark.
"Is it true what happened on the train? That you nearly slit Malfoy's throat?" She asked, going to the side of the girl in question.
"Yes." Lark stated, sitting on her bed to get away from the sly eyes of the brown haired girl. Cora nodded, then turned away.
"Bloody brilliant." Cora stated, smiling as she turned back again. Then, she raised a thickish eyebrow. "I suppose he's all buttered up to you now, just like he is to Severus. Everyone knows Snape is very well versed in the Dark Arts -knows more curses than my older brother and sister or any of their friends, and they're all 6th and 7th years, and damned smart and mean to boot."
"Lucius favors people with power." Narcissa stated, her eyes gleaming with pride. ~ Were they promised to one another or something? Or maybe the hormones turned on early in Europe. ~ Lark thought to herself. She didn't know, boys were still boys to her, nothing more than any other type of people - not anything to be lusted after at all. But then, she'd never even felt lust in the sexual sense of the word. That would change with time, that she knew.
"It's a wonder he likes you then, Narcissa." Cora scoffed.
"I don't see him sniffing around you at all, Cora." Narcissa hissed back, tossing her hair. "Maybe he likes pretty girls."
"O, stop bickering both of you. You're first years, it doesn't matter now. Maybe after you grow breasts it will, but not now." It was the girl prefect, Sonya Berloiuse, come to check on them due to the noise they were making. "Go to bed." To her disbelief, they listened. Odd ones, this year's firsties are, Sonya thought to herself as she left for her own private room. Then, something struck her in remembrance. She went back to the first year girl's room. "Oh yes, Windsong, our head of house - Professor Azrael - will see you in the morning, right after breakfast."
"You're going to be expelled already!" A voice from the darkness of the room called out, making some of the others giggle. Narcissa was looking at her new found friend with masked concern. She didn't want her to get expelled, not when she held so much promise -and such a key to Narcissa becoming great through her.
"Shut up you! It maybe to do with what happened on the train, but like hell if Azrael will expel a member of the Monroyael (there was an audible gasp from some of the other girls when that name was mentioned) family. Besides, Malfoy already said he provoked it and Azrael heard him." She looks towards where she remembers Lark to be. "Don't worry Windsong, you'll get a warning. Truth be told, we're all quite proud of you. School rules or not. It will not go out of this house that she was talked to about it though -as far as everyone else is concerned it is only a rumor. It will stay that way." With that, Sonya was gone.
"You're from the Monroyael family?" Cora hissed with surprise through the darkness.
"My mother is Alicia Monroyael, but her last name is Windsong now." Lark whispered back. Her mother had also been in Slytherin house, but she hadn't been the epitome of what it required. In fact, some said she should've been in Ravenclaw, but that didn't phase these girls. There were other Monroyaels, and they were what any self respecting Slytherin would cherish. To them, Lark could well turn out to be another model of perfection in their terms, and that was something to be respected -especially with her little show on the train.
"Watch out, Lark, Lucius isn't going to be the only one all buttered up to you now." Narcissa giggled, secretly reveling in the fact she'd been the first among the girls to befriend Lark. "Is he, Cora?"
"Come off it, Narcissa! I'll not butter up to her, I like her regardless."
"Oh right." Narcissa laughed harder, the tone of her cackle cruel.
"Go to sleep, both of you. I'm sure tomorrow will be a long day." It was Lark who hissed that. A few more splutterings of an argument between Narcissa and Cora, and then they listened. Soon, the house of Slytherin was silent for the evening.
~*~ 1.1.1.2 First Impressions ~*~
She got dressed in the robes of black her mother had bought for her in Diagon Alley, and those were doubled with brilliant emerald robes to symbolize her house and form the uniform she'd wear for her time at Hogwart's. Lark, however, was not admiring how pretty the robes were together - she was staring at the pointed, black boots that came with the uniform. Lark hated shoes with a passion, and as she contemplated going to breakfast barefoot as usual, she played with the little medallion at the collar of her black robes, her fingers feeling the engraved form of the 'S' upon it. Mother never mentioned the boots, had hidden them away. ~ There's the Slytherin secrecy in you, Mother ~ , she thinks to herself, her eyes narrowing.
"Lark, aren't you ready yet?" Narcissa was back in the dorm then, all ready to go down to breakfast. She'd been waiting for Lark, and was growing impatient -as was her empty stomach. Her eyes fell on the boots that were identical to her own, then she looked at the girl who sat on the bed, fidgeting with her house medallion. Lark's eyes were on the boots too, and as thoughts passed through those green eyes of her, her toes curled up. "You won't have to wear them all day, just for when we're out of the common room."
"That's the thing though. I don't want to wear them at all. I hate shoes." Lark tells her, letting the green move to her friend and away from the hated boots.
"That's just silly." Narcissa snorted. "It's not like they're going to bite your toes off, you know."
"Now, that's taking it a bit too far." Lark rolled her own eyes. Then, she decided to explain her point to the annoyed girl. "The problem with shoes is that they give you no connection with the ground beneath you, they disconnect you from the spirit of the Earth, the flow of life. Plus, they make your feet sweat and smell nasty, and you have no room to move your toes."
"I agree with those last points, shoes do make feet stink." Narcissa thought out loud. "And, I guess that first thing is from your Father's family, isn't it?" She watches Lark nod. "Well, I'm going to tell you what the Professors will -school ordinance includes those boots. Family dislike or not."
"Point." Lark nodded, wrinkling her nose at the boots. Then, she sighed. "Well, as long as I can keep them off out of the halls, after classes and all -it'll have to do."
"Good." Narcissa nodded, watching her friend put on the loathed pieces of sewn together leather. "Now come on, girl, I'm starving!" With that, the two were off to breakfast.
The dining hall was already filled with the laughter and grumbling of their fellow students when Lark and Narcissa arrived. In tradition, the houses all sat at separate tables like the night before, and the professors were enjoying their own morning meals at the head of the room. None of them looked half as chipper as the students, save for Dumbledore, who was talking to a very sour looking Professor at his right. The other man was slightly fidgety, his pale gray eyes gleaming with the sunlight that shone down from the enchanted ceiling. In most people this would have been nothing unusual, but in this Professor, the gleam made him seem . . . unnaturally hateful. And he was looking right at Lark. The glance made her fidget, then the man had turned his attention back to Dumbledore and whatever was being said to him.
"That's our head of house," Narcissa nodded towards the man who'd given Lark that horrid look, "Professor Malik Azrael. Remember, you need to speak with him after we finish eating."
"Great." Lark grumbled., receiving a curious look from her friend as they sat at their table among members of their own year. She sat down next to Severus, who watched her with tired eyes as she plopped down beside him. "Sleep well?" She asks. He shakes his head, then let's out a little yawn.
"Malfoy's snoring sounds like a wild boar being bludgeoned to death. I don't know how I'm going to avoid becoming an insomniac." He told her, his voice a low whisper in her ear. Though he always spoke in low tones, he said it in a way that no one could eavesdrop on him. He was well trained with his vocal fluctuations, though he was still fighting that monotone that he'd developed from growing up in the presence of his very silent, very sinister parents. Lark surpressed a giggle, since Lucius was on Narcissa's other side and she didn't think it would be good to call his attention - especially since he'd want to know what she was laughing at.
"I'm sure you'll think of something." She whispered back. His eyes glittered pleasurably at her, and then he went back to eating his breakfast. Neither of them had noticed that something had just plopped itself down into his food as they'd been talking. He took up a spoonful, put it into his mouth, but didn't swallow. Instead, his face turned an odd shade of purple, and smoke started out of his nose. Severus opened his mouth, and more smoke poured out of that as well, as he spat his food back into the bowl before him. Lark just stared at him as he stared at the porridge he'd been eating. Laughter erupted all around them, Lucius looking at Snape expectantly as his sniggered. Beside him, Narcissa was giggling. However, the loudest laughter came from the Gryffindor table, from among the first years and a few older boys standing behind them -they'd been craning their heads for a look there, and one was then shaking hands with a handsome faced boy with short black hair. By that time, Severus had stopped smoking, and his face was pale once again - maybe a few shades lighter than usual, but pale just the same. Slowly, he looked up, black eyes narrowing dangerously. Lark knew he'd singled out the Gryffindor boy, who was then smiling smugly back at her humiliated friend. She saw the flash of hatred in Severus' eyes, and she too waited for his reaction. He had no time though. Across from their table, Professor McGonagall -who'd also seen what had happened, was standing over the boy whose look made him the clear suspect of the prank. She was laying into him the second she'd reached the table.
"Sirius Black, come with me - this instant." She said, after yelling out how ashamed she was of how uncivilized they were all acting. The boy got up, and -though he was obviously in trouble -was still smiling. He'd gotten one of the slime balls, knowing his victim or not, and it was the very first minute of his very first day. To the Gryffindors, this was something honorable. However, none of them were aware of what they'd just awakened. Being hated by Slytherins was one thing, but the Slytherin first year that had been the victim of this joke was no ordinary kid. Around them, the laughter had stopped - not just because of McGonagall, but because of the victim of the prank. His eyes had taken on a strange look, and it was something everyone had seen. Lark could tell his mind was working, and it was working in a sharp, unpleasant way. Slowly, Snape pushed his bowl to the middle of the table, then he got up -without a word to anyone, and left the hall. As he went, a voice came gently to all their ears.
"I trust you are well, Young Snape." The voice, though gentle, was edged with a tone so icy it could freeze a soul. No reply, Severus must have nodded. "Good, I will expect to see you in Potions in ten minutes." Then, another pause. "Don't let them bother you. There will be . . better days, Snape."
"Yes, Professor Azrael." Snape's voice carried as much ice as the man's. "There will be much better days, I dare say."
"Good lad." That was then end of the conversation. Then, Lark felt air at her back. She turned to come face to face with long, aqua colored robes. Looking up, she found the coldest eyes looking down upon her. Professor Azrael was a tall man, with chin length, brown hair that curled slightly at the tips. "Miss Windsong?" Lark just nodded. "Come with me, my dear, we have things to discuss about your classes this year."
"Right behind you, Professor." Lark nodded, getting up from the table. She follows the man silently out of the dining hall, glad that only a few eyes followed her as she went.
~~~
Other than the fact that he was a cold, silent, hateful eyed monstrosity of a man, Lark didn't mind Professor Azrael as much as she first thought she would. He was actually amused that she had 'put that arrogant boy, Malfoy, in his place, even if in slightly illegal ways' and then had carried on about his own days in Hogwart's. He'd known her mother, so he told her. They'd been good friends until graduation, and then they parted ways when 'Alicia had gone off to America' -though it sounded like there was more to it than that. Somehow, Lark just couldn't see her gentle hearted Mother -past Slytherin Head Girl though she might have been- as friends with Professor Azrael and his icy voice. She decided to ask Mother when the holidays came up, and she'd make her decisions on whatever she witnessed until then concerning this man. As she had thought through all this, Azrael had been going on about the idiotic Gryffindors and what they could get away with.
"He'll get a slap on the hands for what he did, that Sirius Black will -and nothing more." Azrael had muttered. "Just because he's a perfect little Gryffindor brat with 'high spirits'! High spirits my arse! HA!" He seemed to calm, then he gave her a curious look. "However, that won't go out of this room, will it?"
"No, of course not sir." She'd said.
"With these past things unsaid, Miss Windsong, I will give you your leave to go and fetch your things for today's classes." He'd nodded to her. "And, I will see you in Potions in 5 minutes."
"In 5 minutes then, Professor." Lark had nodded, glad that her dorm was right in the dungeons, very close to the Potions class. With that, she had disappeared from the office.
1.1.1.3 ~*~ Snape's Revenge ~*~
Potions class was pretty much a smack in the face for most of the students. The newly chastised Sirius Black among them -with the company of his little group of Gryffindor friends. They didn't understand the subtleties of the subject, and the reactions that the ingredients had to each other -as told to them by their very cold eyed Professor - was beyond them as well. After the mixture was given to them, the recipe read out step by step, the class - a mix of 1st year Slytherin and Gryffindor students - was let to make it. Half way through the time that was covered in silence, Severus raised his hand. Lark continued to chop up the root that she was dicing, not really paying attention to what her Potions partner was going to ask.
"Mr. Snape?" Azrael asked, looking up just barely from the papers at his desk.
"Our ladle is cracked sir, may I go fetch one from the supply room?" He questioned. Lark looked at the ladle in question, and saw that it did indeed have a crack in it -even if the crack hadn't been there two minutes ago. Snape was up to something, surely. She dared not look at him, lest she give him a knowing smile. He had to go by Sirius Black, some other boy with black hair that wore glasses, and their cauldron, to get to the supply closet. What ever he was going to do, he was going to do it soon.
He was passing the young Mr. Black a few seconds later. (I'm sure his ladle isn't the only thing that's cracked -Black whispered to his friend with the glasses, who was his potions partner) To her surprise, Severus didn't even flinch -and Azrael said nothing either. Instead, Snape retrieved the ladle from the supplies room, then went back on his way to where Lark sat, still chopping up the roots. As he passed Black and his friend, they were measuring up a portion of their own root they'd just sliced up, and paying no attention to him. Out of the corner of her eye, Lark watched as Severus waved his hand over the two boy's cauldron for not even half a second, not even stopping as he walked. He said nothing, she didn't see his lips move in the slightest way, but he did have a gleam in his eyes. Then, he was by her side, and as he replaced their ladle with the new one, she saw the glint of a ring - a ring that opened on the top. Severus caught her eyes, let his own gleam at her again, then he popped the ring closed with a quick movement.
"Audrey, the root." He began, his voice soft and silky. "I think you minced it well enough. We're not going to have any of it if you keep up with that."
"Oh." She muttered, then went to measuring it. He looked at her and smirked, his eyes teasing her playfully. Obviously he was in a good mood. Dumping the correct amount of the diced up root into the cauldron, he didn't even give her the impression that he was waiting for something, though she knew he was. After all, what else could he have . . .
*** *QWABANG! **** Behind them, the cauldron of Sirius Black and his potions partner had exploded. Lark and Snape, along with the rest of the class turned to look at them with surprise. ~ My, aren't you a good actor ~, Lark though as she looked at Snape's stunned expression. She saw the glint in his eyes though. Then, her attention went back to Black and his friend. They were covered in purple goo, smoke billowing off the tops of both their heads, their hair singed to a crisp. The glasses of the other boy was hanging from his left ear, then they fell to the floor with a 'clink -clank' sound, breaking as the met the floor. Azrael looked up then.
"I take it you didn't use enough Boracea root, did you?" Their Professor asked mildly, breaking the hushed silence that fell over the class. The two boys looked at each other, then turned their eyes to Snape, whose face was then showing a look of disgust that anyone could be that stupid to mess up a measurement that simple. "Are either of you hurt?"
"No, sir." The other boy, whose glasses lay broken on the floor, stated. Sirius was beside him, looking ready to bust with red anger. "But, I think . . ."
"Good, I would assume that fimmer glue would do no harm to a human being. That's what you made, rather than the intended potion. Clean up your mess then, Mr. Potter, Mr. Black, then go to your common room and clean up yourselves." Azrael said, boredom more than a mere hint to his voice.
"But, sir, that slimy little . . that boy. . ." James Potter pointed at Severus, who looked back with an offended, hurt gaze, "must have . . ."
"Must have what, sir? Walked by your cauldron?" Azrael asked, raising his eyebrow.
"He put something in it! He had to have, I measured that root myself!" Sirius Black screamed out, his anger finally boiling over.
"Do control your tone, Mr. Black -we are inside, after all. And as for your accusations, I watched Mr. Snape walk back to his station. He did just that -walked by your cauldron -nothing more. Obviously, you didn't measure the root right." Then, as if on an after thought. "And that'll be a detention for the two of you, as well as 10 points from Gryffindor -each - for blaming an innocent school mate to cover up for your own folly."
"But, that snake did something, I know it!" Black argued, pointing at Severus, who was just studying Sirius with mild contempt written across his features.
"So much for Gryffindor bravery." Lucius sneered at the two boys, instantly taking defense for Severus -whom he knew had done this little marvel. "Can't even take your own faults. Cowards. Have to blame one of us, hmm?"
"Mr. Malfoy. . . Go back to your work sir. First and final warning."
"Sir," a mild voice spoke up from behind Black and Potter. A girl stood up, her hair red, her eyes green. She looked like the little wisp of a girl her voice hinted at. She was beside a boy who looked very tired, but interested in the situation.
"Miss Evans?" Azrael asked, looking over at the girl with a large hint of annoyance on his face.
"He waved his hand over the cauldron, sir." She stated, her voice not faltering in the slightest, even with the whole class staring at her.
"Who, Miss Evans -was it Mr. Snape? If so - I saw no such thing, he merely walked by it. But, let's go by this accusation as well, despite it opposing what my own eyes saw - when he waved his hand over the cauldron, did he mutter anything? Did he have his wand out?"
"No sir." The girl replied.
"Then how could he have done anything, you silly little creature?"
"I don't know sir." The girl whispered. The boy beside her had his hand on the sleeve of her robes, and was trying to coax her to sit down again.
"Well, then, follow Mr. Lupin's silent instructions and sit down and shut up. That's another ten points from your house for your trouble, and I'm sure Mr. Black and Mr. Potter will enjoy your company in detention this evening."
That, apparently, was the end of that -at least for the time being. Severus turned back to his own cauldron, gave Lark a smirk and a glitter of his eyes, then stirred the potion as she added more ingredients. Behind them, Black and Potter were cleaning up their mess. Of course, they were also silently plotting to themselves the downfall of one young Slytherin first year. That boy in question, they knew, would also have tricks up his own sleeve for them as well, so it wouldn't be too easy. That made it even more fun to them though.
Severus, of course, did tell Lark all about what he had done later on that evening -or at least, what he had used to do it, for he'd known very well she'd seen the simple action of his plan. He'd used a very base herb, one that worked like the root they were using - ground it finely to fit in his ring knowing well it would take longer to react, giving him enough time to return to his own seat before the boys got hit with the glue. It had been meant for only them, and though the explosion had propelled the glue, the substance didn't fly far due to it's density -which was lucky for everyone around the two unfortunate boys. It had worked well too, Potter and Black had to both shave their heads bald to get rid of the glue the mixture had turned out to be -and were doomed to walk around like that for a few weeks as their hair grew back into what was more acceptable styles. Potter had also needed to get a new pair of glasses, and their little girl friend, Lily Evans, had suffered through scrubbing out bedpans along the side of the two boys -a punishment shed surely never forget. They all knew it was the beginning of a war, but of course . . . that was something to look forward to - they were Slytherins after all - and they were far more than merely sneaky and calculating. They were the most clever people in the school.
The common room, they all found when they were let into it by their prefects, was at the height of elegance and sensuality. The extravagances were something they were all used to - for it was a common, if not exclusive trait, for all Slytherins to be filthy rich. Still, their common room was something to look at. It's decorations were in black, silver and green, and all of the furniture was foreign as well as highly expensive. The rugs were oriental and splendid, the walls swathed in sinister yet beautiful tapestries. Even the fire place was carved to perfection- it was formed by two elaborate cobras which intertwined, their heads making the flat mantel where a monstrosity of a silver clock sat. On either side of the fire place were book shelves, full of both fictional and informative volumes of lore and facts. Beside each of these shelves was a set of stairs, leading up through a passage way that was over hung in curtains of jade beads. These stair ways would obviously lead them all to their dorms, but the firsties still allowed themselves to be led around by the prefects. It was like an unacknowledged ceremony, their obedience to the older house members - but that would only be for that evening, after this, they'd be allowed to do whatever they could get away with. After a speech about the purity of the House, about the house values - and then the annoyances of the opposing three houses, the first years were led up the stairs. Boys up one set, girls up the other.
As Lark followed with the other girls, she felt Narcissa slip a friendly arm around her waist. The girl's cold demeanor was something that made Lark a bit skeptical about her intentions, but she still enjoyed the company. As much of a social climber as Narcissa seemed, she was the only one of the other girls, first years to 7th years, that Lark had not made out to be a complete chatter box or gossipmonger (and that was saying something if she'd judged them all already). In fact, Narcissa was almost calming, despite that whole ice queen aura she had - but, Lark was willing to ignore that after all. She did need a friend, and the blond girl was her best bet among her fellow females of their house.
"Severus seems quite taken with you." Narcissa whispered in her ear. "You know, he usually loathes talking to anyone - let alone silly girls."
"He's competent enough to know a kindred spirit when he meets one, silly girl or not." Then, another thought hit her. "You know him well?"
"Yes." The blond girl nodded, her abundance of golden locks bobbing as she moved her head. Then, they were in the dorms. "Here, let's get beds that are side by side."
"Agreed, I want the one in the corner." Lark took just that one, casting wary glances at the other first year girls as she pushed aside the bed curtains and sat down on the four poster. Her stuff scooted itself to her side from the middle of the room, where it sat with everyone else's belongings -all which had been brought there from the train while they had been sorted in the great hall. Narcissa's did the same, and their conversation continued as they put their things away in the drawer compartments beneath the beds. "So," it was Lark who wanted to continue the conversation of Narcissa knowing Severus, "how do you know Snape?"
"His parents are friends with mine - or, more like associates. I wouldn't say Snape's family is a very companionable one. None of them seem to get along well with one another, and they can just tolerate the outside world. Anyway, Severus has spent a lot of time with my family. His mother dumps him on us all the time, and for some reason, my mother takes him without a complaint. He's very quiet, always has his nose in his book or a blank look on his face and he can't stand me -which is mutual. He's the only one of them, his family, that seems . . . well, human really. He can make jokes, dry wit, mostly. And he can be nice, when he wants to be. But he's still a mean little git if you bother him when he isn't in a sociable mood -which is more often than anyone else I've ever met in my life." Narcissa was obviously also another person who enjoyed the sound of her own voice. Her face changed from it's sour expression as she switched to another subject. "I know Lucius well too. He's more my type, I think. We grew up near one another, so he knows Severus through me, and they get along well. Crabbe and Goyle are also . . . family friends, I suppose you could say -but they're about as interesting as they are pleasing to look at." That made both of the girls giggle. Lark then took out a long stand and began to assemble the three pieces that made it. "What's that for, your owl?"
"Nope, my hawk. We don't use owls for the post in my tribe, and my grandmother gave me Corbin when I came to England, so I'm going to let him have the job he was meant for." She placed the stand at the foot of her bed, and just then, the beautiful bird flew through the window. She smiled at him. "I was getting worried. Glad to see you made it." The hawk gave her a sound that made the room full of girls think of laughter, and soon Corbin was the center of attention. Then, one of the girls, Cora Treimeae looked over at Lark.
"Is it true what happened on the train? That you nearly slit Malfoy's throat?" She asked, going to the side of the girl in question.
"Yes." Lark stated, sitting on her bed to get away from the sly eyes of the brown haired girl. Cora nodded, then turned away.
"Bloody brilliant." Cora stated, smiling as she turned back again. Then, she raised a thickish eyebrow. "I suppose he's all buttered up to you now, just like he is to Severus. Everyone knows Snape is very well versed in the Dark Arts -knows more curses than my older brother and sister or any of their friends, and they're all 6th and 7th years, and damned smart and mean to boot."
"Lucius favors people with power." Narcissa stated, her eyes gleaming with pride. ~ Were they promised to one another or something? Or maybe the hormones turned on early in Europe. ~ Lark thought to herself. She didn't know, boys were still boys to her, nothing more than any other type of people - not anything to be lusted after at all. But then, she'd never even felt lust in the sexual sense of the word. That would change with time, that she knew.
"It's a wonder he likes you then, Narcissa." Cora scoffed.
"I don't see him sniffing around you at all, Cora." Narcissa hissed back, tossing her hair. "Maybe he likes pretty girls."
"O, stop bickering both of you. You're first years, it doesn't matter now. Maybe after you grow breasts it will, but not now." It was the girl prefect, Sonya Berloiuse, come to check on them due to the noise they were making. "Go to bed." To her disbelief, they listened. Odd ones, this year's firsties are, Sonya thought to herself as she left for her own private room. Then, something struck her in remembrance. She went back to the first year girl's room. "Oh yes, Windsong, our head of house - Professor Azrael - will see you in the morning, right after breakfast."
"You're going to be expelled already!" A voice from the darkness of the room called out, making some of the others giggle. Narcissa was looking at her new found friend with masked concern. She didn't want her to get expelled, not when she held so much promise -and such a key to Narcissa becoming great through her.
"Shut up you! It maybe to do with what happened on the train, but like hell if Azrael will expel a member of the Monroyael (there was an audible gasp from some of the other girls when that name was mentioned) family. Besides, Malfoy already said he provoked it and Azrael heard him." She looks towards where she remembers Lark to be. "Don't worry Windsong, you'll get a warning. Truth be told, we're all quite proud of you. School rules or not. It will not go out of this house that she was talked to about it though -as far as everyone else is concerned it is only a rumor. It will stay that way." With that, Sonya was gone.
"You're from the Monroyael family?" Cora hissed with surprise through the darkness.
"My mother is Alicia Monroyael, but her last name is Windsong now." Lark whispered back. Her mother had also been in Slytherin house, but she hadn't been the epitome of what it required. In fact, some said she should've been in Ravenclaw, but that didn't phase these girls. There were other Monroyaels, and they were what any self respecting Slytherin would cherish. To them, Lark could well turn out to be another model of perfection in their terms, and that was something to be respected -especially with her little show on the train.
"Watch out, Lark, Lucius isn't going to be the only one all buttered up to you now." Narcissa giggled, secretly reveling in the fact she'd been the first among the girls to befriend Lark. "Is he, Cora?"
"Come off it, Narcissa! I'll not butter up to her, I like her regardless."
"Oh right." Narcissa laughed harder, the tone of her cackle cruel.
"Go to sleep, both of you. I'm sure tomorrow will be a long day." It was Lark who hissed that. A few more splutterings of an argument between Narcissa and Cora, and then they listened. Soon, the house of Slytherin was silent for the evening.
~*~ 1.1.1.2 First Impressions ~*~
She got dressed in the robes of black her mother had bought for her in Diagon Alley, and those were doubled with brilliant emerald robes to symbolize her house and form the uniform she'd wear for her time at Hogwart's. Lark, however, was not admiring how pretty the robes were together - she was staring at the pointed, black boots that came with the uniform. Lark hated shoes with a passion, and as she contemplated going to breakfast barefoot as usual, she played with the little medallion at the collar of her black robes, her fingers feeling the engraved form of the 'S' upon it. Mother never mentioned the boots, had hidden them away. ~ There's the Slytherin secrecy in you, Mother ~ , she thinks to herself, her eyes narrowing.
"Lark, aren't you ready yet?" Narcissa was back in the dorm then, all ready to go down to breakfast. She'd been waiting for Lark, and was growing impatient -as was her empty stomach. Her eyes fell on the boots that were identical to her own, then she looked at the girl who sat on the bed, fidgeting with her house medallion. Lark's eyes were on the boots too, and as thoughts passed through those green eyes of her, her toes curled up. "You won't have to wear them all day, just for when we're out of the common room."
"That's the thing though. I don't want to wear them at all. I hate shoes." Lark tells her, letting the green move to her friend and away from the hated boots.
"That's just silly." Narcissa snorted. "It's not like they're going to bite your toes off, you know."
"Now, that's taking it a bit too far." Lark rolled her own eyes. Then, she decided to explain her point to the annoyed girl. "The problem with shoes is that they give you no connection with the ground beneath you, they disconnect you from the spirit of the Earth, the flow of life. Plus, they make your feet sweat and smell nasty, and you have no room to move your toes."
"I agree with those last points, shoes do make feet stink." Narcissa thought out loud. "And, I guess that first thing is from your Father's family, isn't it?" She watches Lark nod. "Well, I'm going to tell you what the Professors will -school ordinance includes those boots. Family dislike or not."
"Point." Lark nodded, wrinkling her nose at the boots. Then, she sighed. "Well, as long as I can keep them off out of the halls, after classes and all -it'll have to do."
"Good." Narcissa nodded, watching her friend put on the loathed pieces of sewn together leather. "Now come on, girl, I'm starving!" With that, the two were off to breakfast.
The dining hall was already filled with the laughter and grumbling of their fellow students when Lark and Narcissa arrived. In tradition, the houses all sat at separate tables like the night before, and the professors were enjoying their own morning meals at the head of the room. None of them looked half as chipper as the students, save for Dumbledore, who was talking to a very sour looking Professor at his right. The other man was slightly fidgety, his pale gray eyes gleaming with the sunlight that shone down from the enchanted ceiling. In most people this would have been nothing unusual, but in this Professor, the gleam made him seem . . . unnaturally hateful. And he was looking right at Lark. The glance made her fidget, then the man had turned his attention back to Dumbledore and whatever was being said to him.
"That's our head of house," Narcissa nodded towards the man who'd given Lark that horrid look, "Professor Malik Azrael. Remember, you need to speak with him after we finish eating."
"Great." Lark grumbled., receiving a curious look from her friend as they sat at their table among members of their own year. She sat down next to Severus, who watched her with tired eyes as she plopped down beside him. "Sleep well?" She asks. He shakes his head, then let's out a little yawn.
"Malfoy's snoring sounds like a wild boar being bludgeoned to death. I don't know how I'm going to avoid becoming an insomniac." He told her, his voice a low whisper in her ear. Though he always spoke in low tones, he said it in a way that no one could eavesdrop on him. He was well trained with his vocal fluctuations, though he was still fighting that monotone that he'd developed from growing up in the presence of his very silent, very sinister parents. Lark surpressed a giggle, since Lucius was on Narcissa's other side and she didn't think it would be good to call his attention - especially since he'd want to know what she was laughing at.
"I'm sure you'll think of something." She whispered back. His eyes glittered pleasurably at her, and then he went back to eating his breakfast. Neither of them had noticed that something had just plopped itself down into his food as they'd been talking. He took up a spoonful, put it into his mouth, but didn't swallow. Instead, his face turned an odd shade of purple, and smoke started out of his nose. Severus opened his mouth, and more smoke poured out of that as well, as he spat his food back into the bowl before him. Lark just stared at him as he stared at the porridge he'd been eating. Laughter erupted all around them, Lucius looking at Snape expectantly as his sniggered. Beside him, Narcissa was giggling. However, the loudest laughter came from the Gryffindor table, from among the first years and a few older boys standing behind them -they'd been craning their heads for a look there, and one was then shaking hands with a handsome faced boy with short black hair. By that time, Severus had stopped smoking, and his face was pale once again - maybe a few shades lighter than usual, but pale just the same. Slowly, he looked up, black eyes narrowing dangerously. Lark knew he'd singled out the Gryffindor boy, who was then smiling smugly back at her humiliated friend. She saw the flash of hatred in Severus' eyes, and she too waited for his reaction. He had no time though. Across from their table, Professor McGonagall -who'd also seen what had happened, was standing over the boy whose look made him the clear suspect of the prank. She was laying into him the second she'd reached the table.
"Sirius Black, come with me - this instant." She said, after yelling out how ashamed she was of how uncivilized they were all acting. The boy got up, and -though he was obviously in trouble -was still smiling. He'd gotten one of the slime balls, knowing his victim or not, and it was the very first minute of his very first day. To the Gryffindors, this was something honorable. However, none of them were aware of what they'd just awakened. Being hated by Slytherins was one thing, but the Slytherin first year that had been the victim of this joke was no ordinary kid. Around them, the laughter had stopped - not just because of McGonagall, but because of the victim of the prank. His eyes had taken on a strange look, and it was something everyone had seen. Lark could tell his mind was working, and it was working in a sharp, unpleasant way. Slowly, Snape pushed his bowl to the middle of the table, then he got up -without a word to anyone, and left the hall. As he went, a voice came gently to all their ears.
"I trust you are well, Young Snape." The voice, though gentle, was edged with a tone so icy it could freeze a soul. No reply, Severus must have nodded. "Good, I will expect to see you in Potions in ten minutes." Then, another pause. "Don't let them bother you. There will be . . better days, Snape."
"Yes, Professor Azrael." Snape's voice carried as much ice as the man's. "There will be much better days, I dare say."
"Good lad." That was then end of the conversation. Then, Lark felt air at her back. She turned to come face to face with long, aqua colored robes. Looking up, she found the coldest eyes looking down upon her. Professor Azrael was a tall man, with chin length, brown hair that curled slightly at the tips. "Miss Windsong?" Lark just nodded. "Come with me, my dear, we have things to discuss about your classes this year."
"Right behind you, Professor." Lark nodded, getting up from the table. She follows the man silently out of the dining hall, glad that only a few eyes followed her as she went.
~~~
Other than the fact that he was a cold, silent, hateful eyed monstrosity of a man, Lark didn't mind Professor Azrael as much as she first thought she would. He was actually amused that she had 'put that arrogant boy, Malfoy, in his place, even if in slightly illegal ways' and then had carried on about his own days in Hogwart's. He'd known her mother, so he told her. They'd been good friends until graduation, and then they parted ways when 'Alicia had gone off to America' -though it sounded like there was more to it than that. Somehow, Lark just couldn't see her gentle hearted Mother -past Slytherin Head Girl though she might have been- as friends with Professor Azrael and his icy voice. She decided to ask Mother when the holidays came up, and she'd make her decisions on whatever she witnessed until then concerning this man. As she had thought through all this, Azrael had been going on about the idiotic Gryffindors and what they could get away with.
"He'll get a slap on the hands for what he did, that Sirius Black will -and nothing more." Azrael had muttered. "Just because he's a perfect little Gryffindor brat with 'high spirits'! High spirits my arse! HA!" He seemed to calm, then he gave her a curious look. "However, that won't go out of this room, will it?"
"No, of course not sir." She'd said.
"With these past things unsaid, Miss Windsong, I will give you your leave to go and fetch your things for today's classes." He'd nodded to her. "And, I will see you in Potions in 5 minutes."
"In 5 minutes then, Professor." Lark had nodded, glad that her dorm was right in the dungeons, very close to the Potions class. With that, she had disappeared from the office.
1.1.1.3 ~*~ Snape's Revenge ~*~
Potions class was pretty much a smack in the face for most of the students. The newly chastised Sirius Black among them -with the company of his little group of Gryffindor friends. They didn't understand the subtleties of the subject, and the reactions that the ingredients had to each other -as told to them by their very cold eyed Professor - was beyond them as well. After the mixture was given to them, the recipe read out step by step, the class - a mix of 1st year Slytherin and Gryffindor students - was let to make it. Half way through the time that was covered in silence, Severus raised his hand. Lark continued to chop up the root that she was dicing, not really paying attention to what her Potions partner was going to ask.
"Mr. Snape?" Azrael asked, looking up just barely from the papers at his desk.
"Our ladle is cracked sir, may I go fetch one from the supply room?" He questioned. Lark looked at the ladle in question, and saw that it did indeed have a crack in it -even if the crack hadn't been there two minutes ago. Snape was up to something, surely. She dared not look at him, lest she give him a knowing smile. He had to go by Sirius Black, some other boy with black hair that wore glasses, and their cauldron, to get to the supply closet. What ever he was going to do, he was going to do it soon.
He was passing the young Mr. Black a few seconds later. (I'm sure his ladle isn't the only thing that's cracked -Black whispered to his friend with the glasses, who was his potions partner) To her surprise, Severus didn't even flinch -and Azrael said nothing either. Instead, Snape retrieved the ladle from the supplies room, then went back on his way to where Lark sat, still chopping up the roots. As he passed Black and his friend, they were measuring up a portion of their own root they'd just sliced up, and paying no attention to him. Out of the corner of her eye, Lark watched as Severus waved his hand over the two boy's cauldron for not even half a second, not even stopping as he walked. He said nothing, she didn't see his lips move in the slightest way, but he did have a gleam in his eyes. Then, he was by her side, and as he replaced their ladle with the new one, she saw the glint of a ring - a ring that opened on the top. Severus caught her eyes, let his own gleam at her again, then he popped the ring closed with a quick movement.
"Audrey, the root." He began, his voice soft and silky. "I think you minced it well enough. We're not going to have any of it if you keep up with that."
"Oh." She muttered, then went to measuring it. He looked at her and smirked, his eyes teasing her playfully. Obviously he was in a good mood. Dumping the correct amount of the diced up root into the cauldron, he didn't even give her the impression that he was waiting for something, though she knew he was. After all, what else could he have . . .
*** *QWABANG! **** Behind them, the cauldron of Sirius Black and his potions partner had exploded. Lark and Snape, along with the rest of the class turned to look at them with surprise. ~ My, aren't you a good actor ~, Lark though as she looked at Snape's stunned expression. She saw the glint in his eyes though. Then, her attention went back to Black and his friend. They were covered in purple goo, smoke billowing off the tops of both their heads, their hair singed to a crisp. The glasses of the other boy was hanging from his left ear, then they fell to the floor with a 'clink -clank' sound, breaking as the met the floor. Azrael looked up then.
"I take it you didn't use enough Boracea root, did you?" Their Professor asked mildly, breaking the hushed silence that fell over the class. The two boys looked at each other, then turned their eyes to Snape, whose face was then showing a look of disgust that anyone could be that stupid to mess up a measurement that simple. "Are either of you hurt?"
"No, sir." The other boy, whose glasses lay broken on the floor, stated. Sirius was beside him, looking ready to bust with red anger. "But, I think . . ."
"Good, I would assume that fimmer glue would do no harm to a human being. That's what you made, rather than the intended potion. Clean up your mess then, Mr. Potter, Mr. Black, then go to your common room and clean up yourselves." Azrael said, boredom more than a mere hint to his voice.
"But, sir, that slimy little . . that boy. . ." James Potter pointed at Severus, who looked back with an offended, hurt gaze, "must have . . ."
"Must have what, sir? Walked by your cauldron?" Azrael asked, raising his eyebrow.
"He put something in it! He had to have, I measured that root myself!" Sirius Black screamed out, his anger finally boiling over.
"Do control your tone, Mr. Black -we are inside, after all. And as for your accusations, I watched Mr. Snape walk back to his station. He did just that -walked by your cauldron -nothing more. Obviously, you didn't measure the root right." Then, as if on an after thought. "And that'll be a detention for the two of you, as well as 10 points from Gryffindor -each - for blaming an innocent school mate to cover up for your own folly."
"But, that snake did something, I know it!" Black argued, pointing at Severus, who was just studying Sirius with mild contempt written across his features.
"So much for Gryffindor bravery." Lucius sneered at the two boys, instantly taking defense for Severus -whom he knew had done this little marvel. "Can't even take your own faults. Cowards. Have to blame one of us, hmm?"
"Mr. Malfoy. . . Go back to your work sir. First and final warning."
"Sir," a mild voice spoke up from behind Black and Potter. A girl stood up, her hair red, her eyes green. She looked like the little wisp of a girl her voice hinted at. She was beside a boy who looked very tired, but interested in the situation.
"Miss Evans?" Azrael asked, looking over at the girl with a large hint of annoyance on his face.
"He waved his hand over the cauldron, sir." She stated, her voice not faltering in the slightest, even with the whole class staring at her.
"Who, Miss Evans -was it Mr. Snape? If so - I saw no such thing, he merely walked by it. But, let's go by this accusation as well, despite it opposing what my own eyes saw - when he waved his hand over the cauldron, did he mutter anything? Did he have his wand out?"
"No sir." The girl replied.
"Then how could he have done anything, you silly little creature?"
"I don't know sir." The girl whispered. The boy beside her had his hand on the sleeve of her robes, and was trying to coax her to sit down again.
"Well, then, follow Mr. Lupin's silent instructions and sit down and shut up. That's another ten points from your house for your trouble, and I'm sure Mr. Black and Mr. Potter will enjoy your company in detention this evening."
That, apparently, was the end of that -at least for the time being. Severus turned back to his own cauldron, gave Lark a smirk and a glitter of his eyes, then stirred the potion as she added more ingredients. Behind them, Black and Potter were cleaning up their mess. Of course, they were also silently plotting to themselves the downfall of one young Slytherin first year. That boy in question, they knew, would also have tricks up his own sleeve for them as well, so it wouldn't be too easy. That made it even more fun to them though.
Severus, of course, did tell Lark all about what he had done later on that evening -or at least, what he had used to do it, for he'd known very well she'd seen the simple action of his plan. He'd used a very base herb, one that worked like the root they were using - ground it finely to fit in his ring knowing well it would take longer to react, giving him enough time to return to his own seat before the boys got hit with the glue. It had been meant for only them, and though the explosion had propelled the glue, the substance didn't fly far due to it's density -which was lucky for everyone around the two unfortunate boys. It had worked well too, Potter and Black had to both shave their heads bald to get rid of the glue the mixture had turned out to be -and were doomed to walk around like that for a few weeks as their hair grew back into what was more acceptable styles. Potter had also needed to get a new pair of glasses, and their little girl friend, Lily Evans, had suffered through scrubbing out bedpans along the side of the two boys -a punishment shed surely never forget. They all knew it was the beginning of a war, but of course . . . that was something to look forward to - they were Slytherins after all - and they were far more than merely sneaky and calculating. They were the most clever people in the school.