Time had passed. God spent most of his time at Ron's window, watching the activity outside. Lacci had thought he wanted to go outside, but he refused to go out the door. He seemed to just like to watch. The rest of the family was fine with this. The only difficult part to keeping the cat around was his food.
God ate anything. He was an omnivore, for sure. He ate candy, lettuce, paper, salad dressing, cheese, he even's chewed on Fred's shoelace's. God had become Lacci's watch cat; he was extremely protective of her. As if she was his territory. He watched the Weasley family warily when they were around Lacci, and hissed at anyone he thought was harming her. He often stood guard by her bed at night, or slept across her legs.
Harry had been greatly affected by this. He still felt the need to be brotherly to Lacci, and God prevented that. It seemed the cat mistrusted him more than anyone else. Harry had found himself getting the strangest ideas; that the cat didn't want Harry to take Lacci back, or that maybe the cat thought Harry had been mistreating Lacci. But those were stupid thoughts. Harry was always perfectly good to Lacci, and cats couldn't think like that. To Harry's knowledge, male cats didn't defend humans from other humans, especially if the human is caring for the defendee. But Lacci didn't seem to notice that Harry was having problems, and he didn't want to bring it up. The giant cat seemed to hear everything. He swore it was listening in at all times with it's fox-like ears.
Currently, God was at the window, Percy was at work, Fred and George were in their room, Ginny was helping Mrs. Weasley make dinner, and Harry, Ron and Lacci were lounging in the living room.
"Hey," Ron was saying, "You know, this is just like Me, Hermione and Harry, only with Lacci as the girl."
"Yeah," Harry said, not sounding all that interested. He hadn't seen Hermione since Diagon Alley; as usual, her father had said she couldn't come to the Burrow. It had been a month, and school would be starting the next day. Mr. Weasley had wisely made them all pack their school things up the week before. But now things were lying about from kids rummaging through their stuff. Lacci was currently sitting in her cauldron. Harry had been quite amazed she could fit, despite her petite size.
"Ooo, I em so exzited," Lacci said, in a strangely french accent, as she bounced. Ron laughed. "Why are you excited?"
"I get to go to Hogwall's and see the Gryffindor Common Room, and Hagrid, and the classes, and the Great Hall, and all the other great things you told me about!"
"Hogwart's," Harry corrected. He was smiling. He and Ron had filled her up with information about Hogwarts ever since her letter came. She had also read through the books a few times. She wanted to try a few of the spells, so Harry had to continually tell her she couldn't use magic yet. She had seemed very impatient, and Harry hoped Lacci didn't try to do it anyway and end up turning Mr. Weasley inside out or something. "I think Hagrid will love you, Lacci."
Lacci Grinned, and Harry flinched. Ron, who didn't catch it, said, "Yeah, since you like animals so much. Hagrid's going to get a kick out of God. I mean, it's like, the size of a small wolf! Hagrid loves giant dangerous animals."
Harry didn't say anything. He looked uneasy, and felt the same. He still felt like God was giving him his cat-like stare, even while God was on a different floor, staring out the window.
"Oh, but he's not dangerous," Lacci protested, "He's mostly harmless. And he got his front claws removed."
"Uh huh," Ron said disbelievingly, but dropped the subject.
"I wonder if monkeys have eyebrows?" Lacci asked boredly, leaning out of her cauldron.
"Eyebrows? I don't know. That would be something." Harry smiled, trying to picture a monkey with eyebrows.
"If they did, they'd have made sweaters out of them already," Ron said matter-of-factly. "New: Sweaters made from the softest fabric in the world; introducing 100% Monkey Eyebrow SweatersTM, now available in a TAB near you!"
"What's a tab?" Lacci asked curiously, this time knocking her cauldron over.
"TAB. Terrence And Braughwal, the all-mighty store for cool wizard clothing." Ron looked shocked that Lacci didn't know, but then he remembered where she'd been for the past numerous years.
"Oh, I remember TAB," Harry recalled, "you took me last summer, didn't you? That place is huge."
"Yeah. Dad usually doesn't bring there unless it's a special occasion, when he gets lots of money. The clothing is really expensive."
Lacci stood up out of her cauldron. "I'm going upstairs!" She shouted confidently, pointing to the ceiling. With that, she marched up the stairs.
"Well..." said Ron, slightly amused, "That was fun."
***
A thick mass of human minds; I can hardly tell them all apart. They are all red, one slightly purple. Only the master sticks out clearly. She is dark black. Only she stands out from the rest of her humans. Those fools, they don't know what they have with them. They treat her like a normal person. But with my help...
God's tail swished like a pendulum beneath the window, as he stared into the starry sky.
And here she comes now...
There was silence for a few moments, and then Ron's door burst open and Lacci danced through, playing a non-existant trombone. She flopped down on her bed, and was joined shortly afterwards by her cat, who seemed to be exactly the same size of her when she was lying down.
"God," Lacci said, petting his long black and silver hair. "God, I'm finally being accepted! They don't get all edgy around me anymore. I think they like me now. Thank you so much God, you are my good luck charm..." Lacci buried her head into God's neck and wrapped her arms around his slim shoulders in a tight embrace. When she removed herself a little, she had a sad/happy smile on her face.
"I've wanted for so long to be like them, to have them like me, and now I am! I speak their language, I act like them, I wear clothing like them, and tomorrow I'll be going away to their school, and I will be around Hayee Pohher all the time. I am so happy!"
God looked down at his little master, his little pet. He wiped a tear from her eye with the side of his face.
She thinks she wants to conform, to be like normal people, but yet she cries. Why does she cry? Because she is losing bits of herself. She is losing the uniquity of Lacci, and she is losing it for Harry Potter. And yet he does not see it. He is just as blind as the other humans, and so she has put all of her trust into a cat. She used to be able to trust everyone. She trusted the goodness of mankind, and now she sees they do not like her for who she is, so she wants to change herself. Such childish dreams.
Beside him, Lacci had fallen asleep, curled up next to his body warmth. Sitting straight as a stick and stiff as a brick, God sat watch over his precious property.
***
"FRED, GEORGE!! HURRY! WE'RE LATE!"
Mrs. Weasley's voice boomed up the stairs as Ginny climbed them, muttering about leaving her book all the way upstairs. Downstairs it was a chaotic mess. The smaller people stayed out of the bigger people's way and the bigger people were romping around trying to get their stuff together. So went the first day of school.
It took two hours to get to King's Cross Station, and when they finally piled out they were late. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley rushed them to their platform.
Lacci held back, watching something strange. It was a man, in all black, with dark brown hair and a top hat. She tried to see his face, but it was hidden. If she leaned over past the newspaper rack just a little bit...
"LACCI!!! LACCI, COME ON!! HURRY!!" The sound of Mrs. Weasley's rushed voice behind her made Lacci fall forward. The man jumped and looked down at her. She Grinned up at him, about to speak, when Mrs. Weasley helped her up.
"Come now dear, we really haven't got time... you need to get across the barrier..." Lacci looked back for the man, but he was gone. She sighed, and skipped to catch up with the rest of the Weasleys.
***
On the train, Ron and Harry waved goodbye to Mr. and Mrs. Wealsey. Percy had wanted to come, but understood there wouldn't be much room, small though Lacci was. Lacci stuck her face to the window.
No sooner had the train began moving than the door to their compartment opened and Hermione stepped in.
"I was wondering where you had gotten to," she said, smiling and sitting down next to Ron. Harry had begun staring off into space, as Lacci had called the window seat and diven into it before anyone could complain.
Finally the subject no one had thought to brought up yet was brought up.
"I wonder who the new Defense Against The Dark Arts teacher will be," Hermione asked.
"You-Know-Who," Ron said, and everyone looked at him, "I'll bet your life on it."
"That's just what I need," Harry said boredly. "Another teacher who favors Slytherins." Hermione and Ron laughed.
"Who is Slytherins?" Lacci asked, fully interested. Harry and Ron looked at each other in shock.
"We never told you what Slytherins are??" Ron asked incredulously. Lacci nodded.
"Slytherins," Harry said, "Are the scum of the earth. They are power hungry people. You-Know-Who was a Slytherin. Not a wizard who's turned bad hasn't been in Slytherin. Slytherin is a Hogwarts House, like Gryffindor."
"Oh Harry," Hermione said, shaking her head, "That's very mean of you. Slytherins aren't all that bad, they just aren't very nice. Some of them are very smart."
"Oh, Right, Hermione," said Ron sarcastically, "Stick up for the Slytherins. 'Slytherins are actually wonderful people with great personalities and you'd like them if you only gave them a chance.'"
Hermione's duffel bag hit Ron in the thigh. "Oops," she said mockingly, "The jerking of the train must have done that."
Lacci and God sat at the window, looking out. Lacci continually waved at trees and large rocks.
Lacci started mumbling something in another language. "Ik nooit wilde weten waar het was maar er het zijn en nu het weet ik niet hoe te om het te maken weggaan. oh mooi, u weet u me vervloekt om me verandering voor deze andere zo aan te brengen..."
Everyone in the car turned to face Lacci. She rolled her head back and switched languages. "ÁíáñùôÞèçêá ðÜíôá üðïõ ôï øÜñé Þôáí, áëëÜ ôá øÜñéá, äåí îÝñåé. èá ìðïñïýóå íá åßíáé åßíáé åêåß Ýíá êåñß ëáìâÜíïíôáò õðüøç ôï ðáðïýôóé ìïõ?" Her eyes rolled back into her head and a Grin sprouted on her face, looking stranger when her pupils weren't visible. Her neck was at a funny angle. "und dann kommt es wieder WHO SIE DENKT mich IST, WENN SIE HEY GEGANGEN WERDEN??" She lowered her head, her eyes still back in her head and her Grin still twisted. She shot her gaze towards Harry.
"zu Ihnen... Und zum chyuange von Vorteilen zu Ihnen... Und zum tyue von shorld Sie geben... Und zum bechome Gesicht tyuem von Vorteilen zu Ihnen... Und gewendet an tyue der Sterne von herum von Vorteilen zu Ihnen..."
Lacci had backed Harry up into the corner. Hermione looked extremely frightened and was holding Ron back. Harry's eyes were wide and he made no noise as Lacci's small face came nose to nose with his. He stared into her pupil-less eyes. Her Grin seemed to get harder. Images of blood and death, a child having his eyes burned out with sharped spoons...
Lacci's eyes rolled back into place. She fell on top of Harry, who flinched. Harry started breathing hard, trying to catch his breath.
"WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT??" Ron cried, jumping to his feet. He pulled Harry out from under Lacci, who had apparently become unconscious. There was blood dribbling from her eyes. Hermione hugged Harry. Harry just stared at the fallen figure.
***
"I... I have no clue," Harry confessed to his friends later. An attendant had been called in, and after some reccomendations, Lacci had been put into her jacket and brought to the front. Now other students were staring curiously into the apartment. "She's never been like that, that I know of..."
God was sitting in Lacci's seat, looking extremely smug. Harry was coming to loath that cat. He turned to Hermione, who looked deathly serious.
"Harry, I told you she could be trouble. We don't have any idea what she would have done if she hadn't fainted. You were very lucky. What are you going to do with her? I really don't think..."
Hermione was interrupted by the car door opening. Draco Malfoy and his two bodyguards stepped in, looking as thought their birthday had come early.
"Hey Potter, I heard your new girlfriend just tried to kill you." Malfoy sneered. "What a pity. You can't trust anyone, can you Potter?"
Much to everyone's surprise, Harry just said cooly, "At least I have a girlfriend, Malfoy."
Draco didn't seem to have a response for this. Hiding his shock, he turned around and stormed out of the room. "C'mon Crabble, Goyle." His sidekicks obediently followed him out.
Ron laughed. "Your girlfriend? Well, I suppose if it gets rid of Malfoy..."
There was a blood-curdling shriek from the front of the train, and the sound of someone climbing over obstacles to reach a close destination. Harry shut his eyes, hoping it would go away, but 10 seconds later Lacci had thrown open the door to their compartment and had fallen into Harry. She was apologizing like mad, in at least 7 distinguishable languages.
Harry patted the frantic girl on the back. "It's ok... I forgive you." He forced a smile.
Lacci looked up, tears in her eyes. "You.. you forgive me? But I stole from you!!"
Harry's smile faultered a little. She had stolen from him? She wasn't apologizing for scaring him to death?? Ron and Hermione looked quizzical. "What do you mean, Lacci?" Harry asked.
Lacci spent a constructive 15 seconds pulling at the cuffs of her straight jacket until her hands were completely through the long sleeves, and then pulled Harry's wand from a pocket. She held it up to him.
"I don't know why I took it. I didn't mean to... I'm so sorry."
Harry plucked his wand from her hand and looked at it. How had she gotten his wand? Small wonder, he supposed, she had gotten him so scared he wouldn't have noticed had she stripped him naked. Well, he might have noticed that...
"I forgive you Lacci. Of course I do. You don't need to feel so sorry for that." Harry began to wonder if Lacci remembered what she had done at all. Lacci settled down by her cat and an uneasy conversation began again.
"Now I really have to wonder who the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher is," Ron said, with a meaningful glance towards Lacci. She had began looking out the window again, but there was no sign that she was mumbling at all. God had fallen asleep at her feet.
"Well," Hermione said, "we'll find out in a few hours. Excuse me, I'm going to go change into my Hogwarts robes." Ron moved his legs and Hermione climbed out of the compartment. Harry looked at Ron and they both looked at Lacci, who didn't seem to notice the attention. Harry shrugged.
***
The ride was longer and more boring than usual, with the exception of Lacci's previous attack. She fell asleep on Harry's lap halfway through the trip, much to his embarassment. Finally the train slowed, and students started climbing out of their compartment. Harry shook Lacci awake. "Get up Lacci, we're here. We're at Hogwarts. C'mon Lacci, get up..."
Lacci rolled over and opened her eyes. "Hoglebats?" She asked sleepily. Harry nodded. God climbed up onto the seat and left the compartment, so Lacci followed suit. Harry sighed and made his way off the train.
"Firs' years!! Firs' years over here!!" Harry reconized Hagrid's voice over the thick fog. He waved.
"Hey Harry, all right?" Hagrid smiled, barely visible through the fog. Harry pointed at Hagrid. "Lacci, you go that way. Follow Hagrid. We'll see you in a little bit." He gave an encouraging smile, and Lacci nodded. She skipped off after Hagrid. "Bii baaaiii!" She called behind her.
"Hey Harry, come on!" Ron grabbed Harry's arm. Harry watched until Lacci was out of sight, and then followed Ron and Hermione up to the coaches.
***
"Ok ev'ryone, four people to a boat, an' try not to fall out! C'mon now!"
Hagrid began ushering the first years into a fleet of boats. Lacci ran up to Hagrid and hugged him.
Hagrid laughed. "Well well, wass' all this, then? You're one o' Harry's friends, aint'cha?"
Lacci nodded. "My name is Lacci De!"
"Well Lacci, You get into this boat, here, there ya go--" Hagrid lifted Lacci into a boat. Lacci looked at the other three students already in the boat; a a boy so blonde it hurt the eyes, a short girl, and a chubby boy with sandy hair. She was about to make conversation when the girl spoke.
"Hey, look!" Lacci's eye's followed the boy's finger. In the water next to their boat was a giant tentical. It waivered. Lacci reached out to touch it, when the boat started moving. She fell back and squeeked.
The small fleet of boats sailed ahead, apparently by magic. They were moving closer to a most fabulous sight; the first years were speechless. Appearing through the fog was a giant castle, speckled with glowing dots-- torches in the windows. It wasn't long before they were across the lake and in front of a cliff with a blanket of ivy covering it. The ivy magically brushed aside, showing the entrance to a great cavern. There was a chorus of "oo's" and "ah's". The blonde boy, Lacci noticed, snorted amusedly.
Lacci turned back to see the ivy lowering back in front of the entrance into the cliff. Fog was seeping past it in thin wisps.
There was a slight thud as the boats hit the landing. Lacci looked over the edge at a stone floor. Other students began climbing out of the boat, so Lacci copied them.
"Follow me," Hagrid told the group, and he headed up a flight of steps. "I hope we get out of this cold soon," the blonde boy murmured. Lacci nodded in agreement; it was freezing.
Moments later, Lacci stood huddled in a mass of students in black robes. She felt really silly wearing hers, but was smiling all the same. She figured she was the oldest one in the group, being 13, but she looked the same age as everyone else. A tall boy with a long face and black hair pushed past her, so he could stand in the front of the group and see what was going on. A strict looking woman was standing at the top of the steps. "Follow me," she said. The students lurched forward, climbing the steps after her. Lacci felt that phrase had been rather over-used today.
Lacci studied the other students as they entered the castle. They were of all sizes and colors, but were all wearing the exact same thing. Lacci smiled, and sidled into a space in the crowd where there was more room to breathe. She could feel the nervousness radiating from the other students.
Lacci herself was extremely nervous. She smiled to cover it. Where was Harry? Where was her cat?
Suddenly the group stopped. Lacci bumped into the girl ahead of her, who looked back apolegetically before returning her attention to the woman in front. Realizing the woman was talking, Lacci leaned forward to listen.
"...Sorting Ceremony, and then you will be seated at your new table. Your house will be your family. Your acheivements will win you points, and any rule breaking will lose your house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points wins the House Cup, which is a high honor for their house."
Lacci raised her hand. The woman, aparently introduced as Professor Mcgonagal, looked at her, surprised. "Yes?"
"Where's God? Where's my stuff?"
The group of students turned and stared at her. A few reconized her from the Daily Prophet and backed away a few inches. Mcgonagal, obviously at a loss for a good answer, said, "I'm sure I don't know. If you had been listening, you would have heard me telling everyone else that your belongings are going to be brought to your rooms during the feast."
Lacci shut up. That answer had been good enough for her. She looked around at the other kids, some of who were stifling laughter. She giggled. Luckily, Mcgonagal didn't notice, because just then they were called out into the hall. In a single-file line, the students followed the professor into the Great Hall.
The room was amazing. It was giant. There were four tables, with older students at them. Lacci spotted Harry and the Weasleys, and waved. They waved back. Just then Lacci looked up. She nearly fell backward. The ceiling looked like the sky above it; Lacci expected the rain that was storming down onto the roof to be hitting her, but it didn't. It was one of the most fascinating things she had ever seen.
Unfortunately, this was interuppted by a hat. An old hat, sitting on a stool. It was singing. Lacci giggled. She paid special attention as it described the houses. She caught the word "Gryffindor", which she understood was the house Harry was in. She bit her lip and hoped she was in Gryffindor, with her friends.
Suddenly an idea struck her. Sorting Ceremony? Did that mean they had to sort something? Lacci was good at sorting. She often took out the clothing in Ron's dresser and set it out according to shape, size, pattern, feel, and by how much Lacci liked it. What would they be sorting? Or perhaps they would have to sing a duet with the funny looking hat. She wondered if whatever it was they had to do would hurt.
The hat stopped singing, and Mcgonagal explained to the first years that she would call them up, and they would sit on the stool and put the hat on. Put the hat on what? Lacci wondered. However, it seemed to be simpler that she had imagined. The woman called up DeHaan, Kiwi, and a small petite girl with long blonde hair in ribbons, pretty little shoes, very nice black robes and big purple eyes came up and sat on the stool. Mcgonagal put the hat on the girl's head, and it sank down to her nose. There was silence for a few moments, then the hat shouted, "HUFFLEPUFF!!" A table off to the left began clapping, and Kiwi, shaking from the surprise, walked off and joined her table.
Diggory, Elijah was called up, and a few people leaned over to look at him. Mcgonagal gave him a sympathetic nod, and he sat down. The hat covered his face, and a moment later he was seated at the Gryffindor table, where a few people shook his hand and patted him kindly on the back. Lacci wondered why everyone was acting so sad for him.
When Malfoy, Vladimir was called, the blonde boy from Lacci's boat stood up and sat down on the stool. He smiled and winked at the table to the far right, and the hat was set on his head. It was also immediately lifted off. He strode off to the Slytherin table.
There were many kids sorted, among them: Murphy, Trent was put in Ravenclaw, Roberts, Evan was put in Gryffindor, Stevens, Michael was put in Ravenclaw, Tanschuldig, Schnink (Mcgonagal tripped over his name) was sorted into Slytherin, Trevling, Sean was put in Gryffindor, Underwing, Threndle was put into Gryffindor, and Watson, Electra was put into Hufflepuff. Finally, Mcgonagal called up, "Vrij, Lacci De."
Lacci bounced up, grinning. She was the last student, it appeared. She could sense all the odd looks from the tables, and took it as a compliment. She sat down on the chair, and the hat was place on her head. Because she was so small, it covered her entire face. She could hear a few muffled laughs.
"Well well now, let's see.." said a voice in her ear. Lacci jumped.
"Hi there, my name is Lacci De, what's yours?"
The hat chuckled. "I know your name. I can read your mind. I am the Sorting Hat. I know what to put you in.."
Before he could shout out her house, Lacci spoke. "Well Mister Sort Hat, have you got a real name, or do your friends just call you Sorty?"
From the outside, it appeared the hat was having trouble deciding where to put her. Since Lacci was talking through her mouth, the room could hear every muffled word. There was the snorting sound of half a hall trying not to laugh.
"I don't have any friends. But I suppose you can call me that." There was a slight tone of dislike in his voice. "Your mind is very confusing. There's so much in here. You should definately be in.."
"Well, maybe not Sorty then, eh? I'm call you... Brian."
"SLYTHERIN!!" The hat roared, so the whole room could hear. To his relief, he was removed from Lacci's head, and Lacci looked astounded. So did Harry. Lacci turned back to the hat. "Slytherin?? Why Slytherin? I want to be with my other friends!" Mcgonagal ushed Lacci off to the Slytherin table, where they were clapping and laughing. The hat, although silent, appeared to be very sure of his descision. Lacci looked helplessly over at Harry, who shrugged. She turned to the girl next to her, about to speak, when the voice of an old man spoke up. Everyone hushed, so Lacci did the same.
A man of average height was standing up in front of the teacher's table. A beard of more than average length was attached to his face. He had very knowing eyes, and wore dark blue robes. He looked like the wise old grandfather who knows not only all the family secrets, but the answers to everything, and only lets on with little hints. The kind of person who winked alot. He had a kind, soothing voice, like the brown leather of an antique armchair. Lacci listened in fascination as he welcomed everyone to Hogwarts, reminded them not to go into the Forbidden Forest, told them when Quidditch matches would be starting, reminded them not to be out past bedtime, and to enjoy the year. As he sat down, Lacci's eyes drifted past him and looked at the rest of the teachers. She reconized Mcgonagal, and the large huggable man in the moleskin coat. She wondered who the others were.
Lacci was so occupied with the teacher's table, that she didn't notice the food appear on her plate. The girl next to her nudged her in the shoulder, and Lacci looked down. "Oh, danke!" She said, picking up a fork. She looked at the girl.
The girl was tall and sturdily built, like a muggle football player. She ahd long dark brown hair, and vicious looking grey eyes. "My name is Lacci, what's yours?"
The girl stopped in her eating and looked down at Lacci. "My name," she said carefully, as if making sure Lacci understood, "Is Elskling. But you may call me Ling, everyone else does."
Lacci looked absolutely delighted by this. Ling didn't notice, as she had returned to her food. "I've heard about you!! I met Gian on the bus, on my way to the Weasley's house! He said to say hi to you if I met you."
Ling's eyes widened. "Shhhh," she hissed, hoping no one had heard Lacci. Lacci, extremely confused, asked, "Why shhh? Don't you like having Gian as your brother? He's terribly nice." Ling gave Lacci a look that very clearly stated that she didn't. "Look, just don't mention my family. Ever." She spoke of her family as though they were the scum of the earth, and that if anyone in the school knew she was related to muggles, she would have to kill herself in embarrassment.
Lacci nodded slowly. "Alright... but he's still uber nice." She went back to her food. There was everything she could ever hope to eat... and plenty more where it came from. Lacci hadn't imagined it possible, but this meal was better than what she had had at the Weasleys'.
While the Slytherins talked and chatted around her, Lacci took everything in with her eyes. The Slytherins looked an unpleasant bunch. Lacci thought they all looked like fun people, which really said something for her judgement. Most of the Slytherins were extremely gothic and irritable. Lacci noticed the boy who had just been sorted-- Vladimir Malfoy. He was halfway down the table with a group of boys. An older boy, by the resemblance Lacci could only assume it was his brother, was talking, and the other Slytherins were sniggering. Vladimir lifted his head above the table next to them, so he could see the Gryffindor table. The older boy pointed, and Vladimir laughed out loud and sat back down. Lacci looked at where the boy had pointed.
Harry waved, and mouthed something Lacci couldn't understand. She smiled and waved back. Fred stood halfway out of his seat, pointed at the Slytherin table, and covered his mouth is shock. He pretended to faint, and George caught him. They started to laugh, but quieted down slightly as they became aware of Mcgonagal's stare.
The feast seemed to go on forever. Lacci's appetite didn't, so she decided to strike up a conversation with the boy across the table. He looked like he was in his second or third year at Hogwarts. He had long Weasley-colored hair, ebony eyes, sallow skin and a tad of chubbiness to him. He too appeared to have finished eating, and was reading a recent edition of the Daily Prophet. Lacci looked at the cover. It had a picture of a woman holding what looked like a giant green baby by the leaves sprouting from it's head. Lacci reconized it as a Mandrake; she had read about them in one of the books. The woman was wearing earmuffs and the baby was trying to get away from her grasp. The headline said, "Giant Mandrake Baby in Nebraska."
The boy appeared to notice Lacci watching him. "What?" he asked, his voice soundign high and somehow menacing. "I'm Lacci!" said Lacci cheerfully. The boy looked at her sardonically for a moment and then, in a moment of recognition, reached his hand across the table and shook hers. "My name is Dani. Pleased to meet you, Miss Vrij." He smiled. Not a kind, warming smile, but the smile of someone who found a great opportunity and wasn't going to pass it up.
"How long have you been at Hogwarts? Does this feast ever end?"
"I've been here three years." Dani chuckled a bit. "The feast should be over in about ten minutes, don't worry. Then we can go back down to our common room."
"Do I have to go back to the Slytherin common room?" Lacci glanced back at Harry for a second. He was in a deep conversation with Fred.
"Of course. Which common room would you rather go back to?" Dani didn't seem to notice Lacci's glance towards the Gryffindors. "Granted, the other common rooms are probably nicer than our's. Our's is in the dungeon, so it's often cold and damp. But I don't mind, I love the cold."
Lacci nodded, assuming that as long as you nodded, people would think you understood. It appeared to be good enough for Dani. The food on their plates disappeared, Dani put his Prophet in his pocket, and the Prefects led the students back to their common rooms. Lacci passed Harry on her way to her own common room. She turned and followed him, but he directed her back towards the Slytherins.
"You've got to go with them, but don't worry, I'll see you tomorrow," Harry said reassuringly, and Lacci drifted back into the group of Slytherins, as they marched down a staircase to the dungeons.
I am eating my food!! reeeeview... I demand reeeviieeewwss....
God ate anything. He was an omnivore, for sure. He ate candy, lettuce, paper, salad dressing, cheese, he even's chewed on Fred's shoelace's. God had become Lacci's watch cat; he was extremely protective of her. As if she was his territory. He watched the Weasley family warily when they were around Lacci, and hissed at anyone he thought was harming her. He often stood guard by her bed at night, or slept across her legs.
Harry had been greatly affected by this. He still felt the need to be brotherly to Lacci, and God prevented that. It seemed the cat mistrusted him more than anyone else. Harry had found himself getting the strangest ideas; that the cat didn't want Harry to take Lacci back, or that maybe the cat thought Harry had been mistreating Lacci. But those were stupid thoughts. Harry was always perfectly good to Lacci, and cats couldn't think like that. To Harry's knowledge, male cats didn't defend humans from other humans, especially if the human is caring for the defendee. But Lacci didn't seem to notice that Harry was having problems, and he didn't want to bring it up. The giant cat seemed to hear everything. He swore it was listening in at all times with it's fox-like ears.
Currently, God was at the window, Percy was at work, Fred and George were in their room, Ginny was helping Mrs. Weasley make dinner, and Harry, Ron and Lacci were lounging in the living room.
"Hey," Ron was saying, "You know, this is just like Me, Hermione and Harry, only with Lacci as the girl."
"Yeah," Harry said, not sounding all that interested. He hadn't seen Hermione since Diagon Alley; as usual, her father had said she couldn't come to the Burrow. It had been a month, and school would be starting the next day. Mr. Weasley had wisely made them all pack their school things up the week before. But now things were lying about from kids rummaging through their stuff. Lacci was currently sitting in her cauldron. Harry had been quite amazed she could fit, despite her petite size.
"Ooo, I em so exzited," Lacci said, in a strangely french accent, as she bounced. Ron laughed. "Why are you excited?"
"I get to go to Hogwall's and see the Gryffindor Common Room, and Hagrid, and the classes, and the Great Hall, and all the other great things you told me about!"
"Hogwart's," Harry corrected. He was smiling. He and Ron had filled her up with information about Hogwarts ever since her letter came. She had also read through the books a few times. She wanted to try a few of the spells, so Harry had to continually tell her she couldn't use magic yet. She had seemed very impatient, and Harry hoped Lacci didn't try to do it anyway and end up turning Mr. Weasley inside out or something. "I think Hagrid will love you, Lacci."
Lacci Grinned, and Harry flinched. Ron, who didn't catch it, said, "Yeah, since you like animals so much. Hagrid's going to get a kick out of God. I mean, it's like, the size of a small wolf! Hagrid loves giant dangerous animals."
Harry didn't say anything. He looked uneasy, and felt the same. He still felt like God was giving him his cat-like stare, even while God was on a different floor, staring out the window.
"Oh, but he's not dangerous," Lacci protested, "He's mostly harmless. And he got his front claws removed."
"Uh huh," Ron said disbelievingly, but dropped the subject.
"I wonder if monkeys have eyebrows?" Lacci asked boredly, leaning out of her cauldron.
"Eyebrows? I don't know. That would be something." Harry smiled, trying to picture a monkey with eyebrows.
"If they did, they'd have made sweaters out of them already," Ron said matter-of-factly. "New: Sweaters made from the softest fabric in the world; introducing 100% Monkey Eyebrow SweatersTM, now available in a TAB near you!"
"What's a tab?" Lacci asked curiously, this time knocking her cauldron over.
"TAB. Terrence And Braughwal, the all-mighty store for cool wizard clothing." Ron looked shocked that Lacci didn't know, but then he remembered where she'd been for the past numerous years.
"Oh, I remember TAB," Harry recalled, "you took me last summer, didn't you? That place is huge."
"Yeah. Dad usually doesn't bring there unless it's a special occasion, when he gets lots of money. The clothing is really expensive."
Lacci stood up out of her cauldron. "I'm going upstairs!" She shouted confidently, pointing to the ceiling. With that, she marched up the stairs.
"Well..." said Ron, slightly amused, "That was fun."
***
A thick mass of human minds; I can hardly tell them all apart. They are all red, one slightly purple. Only the master sticks out clearly. She is dark black. Only she stands out from the rest of her humans. Those fools, they don't know what they have with them. They treat her like a normal person. But with my help...
God's tail swished like a pendulum beneath the window, as he stared into the starry sky.
And here she comes now...
There was silence for a few moments, and then Ron's door burst open and Lacci danced through, playing a non-existant trombone. She flopped down on her bed, and was joined shortly afterwards by her cat, who seemed to be exactly the same size of her when she was lying down.
"God," Lacci said, petting his long black and silver hair. "God, I'm finally being accepted! They don't get all edgy around me anymore. I think they like me now. Thank you so much God, you are my good luck charm..." Lacci buried her head into God's neck and wrapped her arms around his slim shoulders in a tight embrace. When she removed herself a little, she had a sad/happy smile on her face.
"I've wanted for so long to be like them, to have them like me, and now I am! I speak their language, I act like them, I wear clothing like them, and tomorrow I'll be going away to their school, and I will be around Hayee Pohher all the time. I am so happy!"
God looked down at his little master, his little pet. He wiped a tear from her eye with the side of his face.
She thinks she wants to conform, to be like normal people, but yet she cries. Why does she cry? Because she is losing bits of herself. She is losing the uniquity of Lacci, and she is losing it for Harry Potter. And yet he does not see it. He is just as blind as the other humans, and so she has put all of her trust into a cat. She used to be able to trust everyone. She trusted the goodness of mankind, and now she sees they do not like her for who she is, so she wants to change herself. Such childish dreams.
Beside him, Lacci had fallen asleep, curled up next to his body warmth. Sitting straight as a stick and stiff as a brick, God sat watch over his precious property.
***
"FRED, GEORGE!! HURRY! WE'RE LATE!"
Mrs. Weasley's voice boomed up the stairs as Ginny climbed them, muttering about leaving her book all the way upstairs. Downstairs it was a chaotic mess. The smaller people stayed out of the bigger people's way and the bigger people were romping around trying to get their stuff together. So went the first day of school.
It took two hours to get to King's Cross Station, and when they finally piled out they were late. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley rushed them to their platform.
Lacci held back, watching something strange. It was a man, in all black, with dark brown hair and a top hat. She tried to see his face, but it was hidden. If she leaned over past the newspaper rack just a little bit...
"LACCI!!! LACCI, COME ON!! HURRY!!" The sound of Mrs. Weasley's rushed voice behind her made Lacci fall forward. The man jumped and looked down at her. She Grinned up at him, about to speak, when Mrs. Weasley helped her up.
"Come now dear, we really haven't got time... you need to get across the barrier..." Lacci looked back for the man, but he was gone. She sighed, and skipped to catch up with the rest of the Weasleys.
***
On the train, Ron and Harry waved goodbye to Mr. and Mrs. Wealsey. Percy had wanted to come, but understood there wouldn't be much room, small though Lacci was. Lacci stuck her face to the window.
No sooner had the train began moving than the door to their compartment opened and Hermione stepped in.
"I was wondering where you had gotten to," she said, smiling and sitting down next to Ron. Harry had begun staring off into space, as Lacci had called the window seat and diven into it before anyone could complain.
Finally the subject no one had thought to brought up yet was brought up.
"I wonder who the new Defense Against The Dark Arts teacher will be," Hermione asked.
"You-Know-Who," Ron said, and everyone looked at him, "I'll bet your life on it."
"That's just what I need," Harry said boredly. "Another teacher who favors Slytherins." Hermione and Ron laughed.
"Who is Slytherins?" Lacci asked, fully interested. Harry and Ron looked at each other in shock.
"We never told you what Slytherins are??" Ron asked incredulously. Lacci nodded.
"Slytherins," Harry said, "Are the scum of the earth. They are power hungry people. You-Know-Who was a Slytherin. Not a wizard who's turned bad hasn't been in Slytherin. Slytherin is a Hogwarts House, like Gryffindor."
"Oh Harry," Hermione said, shaking her head, "That's very mean of you. Slytherins aren't all that bad, they just aren't very nice. Some of them are very smart."
"Oh, Right, Hermione," said Ron sarcastically, "Stick up for the Slytherins. 'Slytherins are actually wonderful people with great personalities and you'd like them if you only gave them a chance.'"
Hermione's duffel bag hit Ron in the thigh. "Oops," she said mockingly, "The jerking of the train must have done that."
Lacci and God sat at the window, looking out. Lacci continually waved at trees and large rocks.
Lacci started mumbling something in another language. "Ik nooit wilde weten waar het was maar er het zijn en nu het weet ik niet hoe te om het te maken weggaan. oh mooi, u weet u me vervloekt om me verandering voor deze andere zo aan te brengen..."
Everyone in the car turned to face Lacci. She rolled her head back and switched languages. "ÁíáñùôÞèçêá ðÜíôá üðïõ ôï øÜñé Þôáí, áëëÜ ôá øÜñéá, äåí îÝñåé. èá ìðïñïýóå íá åßíáé åßíáé åêåß Ýíá êåñß ëáìâÜíïíôáò õðüøç ôï ðáðïýôóé ìïõ?" Her eyes rolled back into her head and a Grin sprouted on her face, looking stranger when her pupils weren't visible. Her neck was at a funny angle. "und dann kommt es wieder WHO SIE DENKT mich IST, WENN SIE HEY GEGANGEN WERDEN??" She lowered her head, her eyes still back in her head and her Grin still twisted. She shot her gaze towards Harry.
"zu Ihnen... Und zum chyuange von Vorteilen zu Ihnen... Und zum tyue von shorld Sie geben... Und zum bechome Gesicht tyuem von Vorteilen zu Ihnen... Und gewendet an tyue der Sterne von herum von Vorteilen zu Ihnen..."
Lacci had backed Harry up into the corner. Hermione looked extremely frightened and was holding Ron back. Harry's eyes were wide and he made no noise as Lacci's small face came nose to nose with his. He stared into her pupil-less eyes. Her Grin seemed to get harder. Images of blood and death, a child having his eyes burned out with sharped spoons...
Lacci's eyes rolled back into place. She fell on top of Harry, who flinched. Harry started breathing hard, trying to catch his breath.
"WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT??" Ron cried, jumping to his feet. He pulled Harry out from under Lacci, who had apparently become unconscious. There was blood dribbling from her eyes. Hermione hugged Harry. Harry just stared at the fallen figure.
***
"I... I have no clue," Harry confessed to his friends later. An attendant had been called in, and after some reccomendations, Lacci had been put into her jacket and brought to the front. Now other students were staring curiously into the apartment. "She's never been like that, that I know of..."
God was sitting in Lacci's seat, looking extremely smug. Harry was coming to loath that cat. He turned to Hermione, who looked deathly serious.
"Harry, I told you she could be trouble. We don't have any idea what she would have done if she hadn't fainted. You were very lucky. What are you going to do with her? I really don't think..."
Hermione was interrupted by the car door opening. Draco Malfoy and his two bodyguards stepped in, looking as thought their birthday had come early.
"Hey Potter, I heard your new girlfriend just tried to kill you." Malfoy sneered. "What a pity. You can't trust anyone, can you Potter?"
Much to everyone's surprise, Harry just said cooly, "At least I have a girlfriend, Malfoy."
Draco didn't seem to have a response for this. Hiding his shock, he turned around and stormed out of the room. "C'mon Crabble, Goyle." His sidekicks obediently followed him out.
Ron laughed. "Your girlfriend? Well, I suppose if it gets rid of Malfoy..."
There was a blood-curdling shriek from the front of the train, and the sound of someone climbing over obstacles to reach a close destination. Harry shut his eyes, hoping it would go away, but 10 seconds later Lacci had thrown open the door to their compartment and had fallen into Harry. She was apologizing like mad, in at least 7 distinguishable languages.
Harry patted the frantic girl on the back. "It's ok... I forgive you." He forced a smile.
Lacci looked up, tears in her eyes. "You.. you forgive me? But I stole from you!!"
Harry's smile faultered a little. She had stolen from him? She wasn't apologizing for scaring him to death?? Ron and Hermione looked quizzical. "What do you mean, Lacci?" Harry asked.
Lacci spent a constructive 15 seconds pulling at the cuffs of her straight jacket until her hands were completely through the long sleeves, and then pulled Harry's wand from a pocket. She held it up to him.
"I don't know why I took it. I didn't mean to... I'm so sorry."
Harry plucked his wand from her hand and looked at it. How had she gotten his wand? Small wonder, he supposed, she had gotten him so scared he wouldn't have noticed had she stripped him naked. Well, he might have noticed that...
"I forgive you Lacci. Of course I do. You don't need to feel so sorry for that." Harry began to wonder if Lacci remembered what she had done at all. Lacci settled down by her cat and an uneasy conversation began again.
"Now I really have to wonder who the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher is," Ron said, with a meaningful glance towards Lacci. She had began looking out the window again, but there was no sign that she was mumbling at all. God had fallen asleep at her feet.
"Well," Hermione said, "we'll find out in a few hours. Excuse me, I'm going to go change into my Hogwarts robes." Ron moved his legs and Hermione climbed out of the compartment. Harry looked at Ron and they both looked at Lacci, who didn't seem to notice the attention. Harry shrugged.
***
The ride was longer and more boring than usual, with the exception of Lacci's previous attack. She fell asleep on Harry's lap halfway through the trip, much to his embarassment. Finally the train slowed, and students started climbing out of their compartment. Harry shook Lacci awake. "Get up Lacci, we're here. We're at Hogwarts. C'mon Lacci, get up..."
Lacci rolled over and opened her eyes. "Hoglebats?" She asked sleepily. Harry nodded. God climbed up onto the seat and left the compartment, so Lacci followed suit. Harry sighed and made his way off the train.
"Firs' years!! Firs' years over here!!" Harry reconized Hagrid's voice over the thick fog. He waved.
"Hey Harry, all right?" Hagrid smiled, barely visible through the fog. Harry pointed at Hagrid. "Lacci, you go that way. Follow Hagrid. We'll see you in a little bit." He gave an encouraging smile, and Lacci nodded. She skipped off after Hagrid. "Bii baaaiii!" She called behind her.
"Hey Harry, come on!" Ron grabbed Harry's arm. Harry watched until Lacci was out of sight, and then followed Ron and Hermione up to the coaches.
***
"Ok ev'ryone, four people to a boat, an' try not to fall out! C'mon now!"
Hagrid began ushering the first years into a fleet of boats. Lacci ran up to Hagrid and hugged him.
Hagrid laughed. "Well well, wass' all this, then? You're one o' Harry's friends, aint'cha?"
Lacci nodded. "My name is Lacci De!"
"Well Lacci, You get into this boat, here, there ya go--" Hagrid lifted Lacci into a boat. Lacci looked at the other three students already in the boat; a a boy so blonde it hurt the eyes, a short girl, and a chubby boy with sandy hair. She was about to make conversation when the girl spoke.
"Hey, look!" Lacci's eye's followed the boy's finger. In the water next to their boat was a giant tentical. It waivered. Lacci reached out to touch it, when the boat started moving. She fell back and squeeked.
The small fleet of boats sailed ahead, apparently by magic. They were moving closer to a most fabulous sight; the first years were speechless. Appearing through the fog was a giant castle, speckled with glowing dots-- torches in the windows. It wasn't long before they were across the lake and in front of a cliff with a blanket of ivy covering it. The ivy magically brushed aside, showing the entrance to a great cavern. There was a chorus of "oo's" and "ah's". The blonde boy, Lacci noticed, snorted amusedly.
Lacci turned back to see the ivy lowering back in front of the entrance into the cliff. Fog was seeping past it in thin wisps.
There was a slight thud as the boats hit the landing. Lacci looked over the edge at a stone floor. Other students began climbing out of the boat, so Lacci copied them.
"Follow me," Hagrid told the group, and he headed up a flight of steps. "I hope we get out of this cold soon," the blonde boy murmured. Lacci nodded in agreement; it was freezing.
Moments later, Lacci stood huddled in a mass of students in black robes. She felt really silly wearing hers, but was smiling all the same. She figured she was the oldest one in the group, being 13, but she looked the same age as everyone else. A tall boy with a long face and black hair pushed past her, so he could stand in the front of the group and see what was going on. A strict looking woman was standing at the top of the steps. "Follow me," she said. The students lurched forward, climbing the steps after her. Lacci felt that phrase had been rather over-used today.
Lacci studied the other students as they entered the castle. They were of all sizes and colors, but were all wearing the exact same thing. Lacci smiled, and sidled into a space in the crowd where there was more room to breathe. She could feel the nervousness radiating from the other students.
Lacci herself was extremely nervous. She smiled to cover it. Where was Harry? Where was her cat?
Suddenly the group stopped. Lacci bumped into the girl ahead of her, who looked back apolegetically before returning her attention to the woman in front. Realizing the woman was talking, Lacci leaned forward to listen.
"...Sorting Ceremony, and then you will be seated at your new table. Your house will be your family. Your acheivements will win you points, and any rule breaking will lose your house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points wins the House Cup, which is a high honor for their house."
Lacci raised her hand. The woman, aparently introduced as Professor Mcgonagal, looked at her, surprised. "Yes?"
"Where's God? Where's my stuff?"
The group of students turned and stared at her. A few reconized her from the Daily Prophet and backed away a few inches. Mcgonagal, obviously at a loss for a good answer, said, "I'm sure I don't know. If you had been listening, you would have heard me telling everyone else that your belongings are going to be brought to your rooms during the feast."
Lacci shut up. That answer had been good enough for her. She looked around at the other kids, some of who were stifling laughter. She giggled. Luckily, Mcgonagal didn't notice, because just then they were called out into the hall. In a single-file line, the students followed the professor into the Great Hall.
The room was amazing. It was giant. There were four tables, with older students at them. Lacci spotted Harry and the Weasleys, and waved. They waved back. Just then Lacci looked up. She nearly fell backward. The ceiling looked like the sky above it; Lacci expected the rain that was storming down onto the roof to be hitting her, but it didn't. It was one of the most fascinating things she had ever seen.
Unfortunately, this was interuppted by a hat. An old hat, sitting on a stool. It was singing. Lacci giggled. She paid special attention as it described the houses. She caught the word "Gryffindor", which she understood was the house Harry was in. She bit her lip and hoped she was in Gryffindor, with her friends.
Suddenly an idea struck her. Sorting Ceremony? Did that mean they had to sort something? Lacci was good at sorting. She often took out the clothing in Ron's dresser and set it out according to shape, size, pattern, feel, and by how much Lacci liked it. What would they be sorting? Or perhaps they would have to sing a duet with the funny looking hat. She wondered if whatever it was they had to do would hurt.
The hat stopped singing, and Mcgonagal explained to the first years that she would call them up, and they would sit on the stool and put the hat on. Put the hat on what? Lacci wondered. However, it seemed to be simpler that she had imagined. The woman called up DeHaan, Kiwi, and a small petite girl with long blonde hair in ribbons, pretty little shoes, very nice black robes and big purple eyes came up and sat on the stool. Mcgonagal put the hat on the girl's head, and it sank down to her nose. There was silence for a few moments, then the hat shouted, "HUFFLEPUFF!!" A table off to the left began clapping, and Kiwi, shaking from the surprise, walked off and joined her table.
Diggory, Elijah was called up, and a few people leaned over to look at him. Mcgonagal gave him a sympathetic nod, and he sat down. The hat covered his face, and a moment later he was seated at the Gryffindor table, where a few people shook his hand and patted him kindly on the back. Lacci wondered why everyone was acting so sad for him.
When Malfoy, Vladimir was called, the blonde boy from Lacci's boat stood up and sat down on the stool. He smiled and winked at the table to the far right, and the hat was set on his head. It was also immediately lifted off. He strode off to the Slytherin table.
There were many kids sorted, among them: Murphy, Trent was put in Ravenclaw, Roberts, Evan was put in Gryffindor, Stevens, Michael was put in Ravenclaw, Tanschuldig, Schnink (Mcgonagal tripped over his name) was sorted into Slytherin, Trevling, Sean was put in Gryffindor, Underwing, Threndle was put into Gryffindor, and Watson, Electra was put into Hufflepuff. Finally, Mcgonagal called up, "Vrij, Lacci De."
Lacci bounced up, grinning. She was the last student, it appeared. She could sense all the odd looks from the tables, and took it as a compliment. She sat down on the chair, and the hat was place on her head. Because she was so small, it covered her entire face. She could hear a few muffled laughs.
"Well well now, let's see.." said a voice in her ear. Lacci jumped.
"Hi there, my name is Lacci De, what's yours?"
The hat chuckled. "I know your name. I can read your mind. I am the Sorting Hat. I know what to put you in.."
Before he could shout out her house, Lacci spoke. "Well Mister Sort Hat, have you got a real name, or do your friends just call you Sorty?"
From the outside, it appeared the hat was having trouble deciding where to put her. Since Lacci was talking through her mouth, the room could hear every muffled word. There was the snorting sound of half a hall trying not to laugh.
"I don't have any friends. But I suppose you can call me that." There was a slight tone of dislike in his voice. "Your mind is very confusing. There's so much in here. You should definately be in.."
"Well, maybe not Sorty then, eh? I'm call you... Brian."
"SLYTHERIN!!" The hat roared, so the whole room could hear. To his relief, he was removed from Lacci's head, and Lacci looked astounded. So did Harry. Lacci turned back to the hat. "Slytherin?? Why Slytherin? I want to be with my other friends!" Mcgonagal ushed Lacci off to the Slytherin table, where they were clapping and laughing. The hat, although silent, appeared to be very sure of his descision. Lacci looked helplessly over at Harry, who shrugged. She turned to the girl next to her, about to speak, when the voice of an old man spoke up. Everyone hushed, so Lacci did the same.
A man of average height was standing up in front of the teacher's table. A beard of more than average length was attached to his face. He had very knowing eyes, and wore dark blue robes. He looked like the wise old grandfather who knows not only all the family secrets, but the answers to everything, and only lets on with little hints. The kind of person who winked alot. He had a kind, soothing voice, like the brown leather of an antique armchair. Lacci listened in fascination as he welcomed everyone to Hogwarts, reminded them not to go into the Forbidden Forest, told them when Quidditch matches would be starting, reminded them not to be out past bedtime, and to enjoy the year. As he sat down, Lacci's eyes drifted past him and looked at the rest of the teachers. She reconized Mcgonagal, and the large huggable man in the moleskin coat. She wondered who the others were.
Lacci was so occupied with the teacher's table, that she didn't notice the food appear on her plate. The girl next to her nudged her in the shoulder, and Lacci looked down. "Oh, danke!" She said, picking up a fork. She looked at the girl.
The girl was tall and sturdily built, like a muggle football player. She ahd long dark brown hair, and vicious looking grey eyes. "My name is Lacci, what's yours?"
The girl stopped in her eating and looked down at Lacci. "My name," she said carefully, as if making sure Lacci understood, "Is Elskling. But you may call me Ling, everyone else does."
Lacci looked absolutely delighted by this. Ling didn't notice, as she had returned to her food. "I've heard about you!! I met Gian on the bus, on my way to the Weasley's house! He said to say hi to you if I met you."
Ling's eyes widened. "Shhhh," she hissed, hoping no one had heard Lacci. Lacci, extremely confused, asked, "Why shhh? Don't you like having Gian as your brother? He's terribly nice." Ling gave Lacci a look that very clearly stated that she didn't. "Look, just don't mention my family. Ever." She spoke of her family as though they were the scum of the earth, and that if anyone in the school knew she was related to muggles, she would have to kill herself in embarrassment.
Lacci nodded slowly. "Alright... but he's still uber nice." She went back to her food. There was everything she could ever hope to eat... and plenty more where it came from. Lacci hadn't imagined it possible, but this meal was better than what she had had at the Weasleys'.
While the Slytherins talked and chatted around her, Lacci took everything in with her eyes. The Slytherins looked an unpleasant bunch. Lacci thought they all looked like fun people, which really said something for her judgement. Most of the Slytherins were extremely gothic and irritable. Lacci noticed the boy who had just been sorted-- Vladimir Malfoy. He was halfway down the table with a group of boys. An older boy, by the resemblance Lacci could only assume it was his brother, was talking, and the other Slytherins were sniggering. Vladimir lifted his head above the table next to them, so he could see the Gryffindor table. The older boy pointed, and Vladimir laughed out loud and sat back down. Lacci looked at where the boy had pointed.
Harry waved, and mouthed something Lacci couldn't understand. She smiled and waved back. Fred stood halfway out of his seat, pointed at the Slytherin table, and covered his mouth is shock. He pretended to faint, and George caught him. They started to laugh, but quieted down slightly as they became aware of Mcgonagal's stare.
The feast seemed to go on forever. Lacci's appetite didn't, so she decided to strike up a conversation with the boy across the table. He looked like he was in his second or third year at Hogwarts. He had long Weasley-colored hair, ebony eyes, sallow skin and a tad of chubbiness to him. He too appeared to have finished eating, and was reading a recent edition of the Daily Prophet. Lacci looked at the cover. It had a picture of a woman holding what looked like a giant green baby by the leaves sprouting from it's head. Lacci reconized it as a Mandrake; she had read about them in one of the books. The woman was wearing earmuffs and the baby was trying to get away from her grasp. The headline said, "Giant Mandrake Baby in Nebraska."
The boy appeared to notice Lacci watching him. "What?" he asked, his voice soundign high and somehow menacing. "I'm Lacci!" said Lacci cheerfully. The boy looked at her sardonically for a moment and then, in a moment of recognition, reached his hand across the table and shook hers. "My name is Dani. Pleased to meet you, Miss Vrij." He smiled. Not a kind, warming smile, but the smile of someone who found a great opportunity and wasn't going to pass it up.
"How long have you been at Hogwarts? Does this feast ever end?"
"I've been here three years." Dani chuckled a bit. "The feast should be over in about ten minutes, don't worry. Then we can go back down to our common room."
"Do I have to go back to the Slytherin common room?" Lacci glanced back at Harry for a second. He was in a deep conversation with Fred.
"Of course. Which common room would you rather go back to?" Dani didn't seem to notice Lacci's glance towards the Gryffindors. "Granted, the other common rooms are probably nicer than our's. Our's is in the dungeon, so it's often cold and damp. But I don't mind, I love the cold."
Lacci nodded, assuming that as long as you nodded, people would think you understood. It appeared to be good enough for Dani. The food on their plates disappeared, Dani put his Prophet in his pocket, and the Prefects led the students back to their common rooms. Lacci passed Harry on her way to her own common room. She turned and followed him, but he directed her back towards the Slytherins.
"You've got to go with them, but don't worry, I'll see you tomorrow," Harry said reassuringly, and Lacci drifted back into the group of Slytherins, as they marched down a staircase to the dungeons.
I am eating my food!! reeeeview... I demand reeeviieeewwss....