-- Nickleback "Never Again"
The next morning Fiona was happily chatting but wondering what was taking Akemi so long. The Great Hall was filled with aimless noise as always. Fiona glanced to the staff table, Dumbledore and McGonagall were talking together, while glancing every few minutes to make sure nothing was amiss. Fiona shot a glare at Professor Snape who was studying the House tables. He met Fiona's eyes before sneering at her and returning to his conversation with Professor Quirrell.
Akemi's recount of last night raised questions about the cold Professor but it was not for Fiona to judge. She turned and continued with her conversation about the upcoming match for second place in Quidditch.
The doors of the Hall opened and suddenly the chatter of the room stopped dead. Everyone had their eyes glued on Akemi who had just entered. She was in her casual jeans and shirt underneath an open school robe. But it was her hair that had the attention. Spiked from gobs of gel and dyed a brilliant blue and bronze. The Ravenclaw colors. Fiona met her friend's eyes.
"I have money on the Ravenclaw-Slytherin Game." Akemi explained. "Might as well show my team spirit."
"You're going to be the end of this school."
Snape had risen from his seat, livid. Last night's mercy had ended with the sun rise. "Headmaster, if you please. Hasn't this gone on long enough? That child's hair is unbecoming for a school."
"I don't agree Severus. I think it's very becoming and it shows a pride of her adopted House."
Snape knew he wouldn't be able to convince Dumbledore otherwise, and returned begrudgingly to his seat.
"I think it brings out the blue in her eyes." Quirrell mused to him.
Snape glared to him. "She's a troublemaker." He turned to him. "Where was she from again?"
"I don't know for certain…the Americas I believe."
"Hecate, Salem or Ciel Azure?"
Quirrell said he didn't know and giggled nervously. Snape rolled his eyes. "Finish your meal." He muttered. The Defense of the Dark Arts teacher did as he was told.
Ravenclaw and Slytherin had double Potions and the student spent every moment Snape had his back turned to comment on Akemi's hair. She would smile easily while focusing on the grains of her cauldron. Fiona and her were sitting next to each other, giggling. Akemi was dressed in her proper robes for potion and her blue hair was tied back. But not one to be totally submissive, she wore large framed blue sunglasses pushed unto her hair. Snape announced that if this potion wasn't completed by today points would be taken and detention be given in its stead.
"Did you study?" Fiona whispered.
Akemi laughed. "No, you're funny."
"Perhaps if you spent less time on your hair and more on your studies, you'd be prepared." Snape commented coolly.
"Perhaps if you spent a little time on your hair, you'd be handsome." It had come out before Akemi could stop it and she smiled shyly, hoping to disarm him. Not belonging to a House allowed Akemi a measure of impunity but she didn't feel like serving more detentions. She wanted to catch this one game.
A few kids snickered while others tried in vain not to laugh. With a cold stare from Snape, the class continued to prepare her potions. He did, however, let the comment slid. Snape sat in front of the class, scowling while the students stirred and tested their brews. Akemi had already done overkill- completing the potion twice for Snape and she had even finished Fiona's. More out of boredom then actual goodwill, she moved quietly through the classroom helping others and trying not to get caught by Snape. The danger was half the fun.
"Lysander, be careful with the fire." She whispered, lowering his flame.
"Akemi!" Snape hissed. "What are you doing?"
"Teaching," She said, feeling bold. She added under her breath. "Because you seem to think it's not your job."
"Sit down! I will not have you disturbing the course of my class for a dim wit."
Lysander was a slow learner that stuttered when nervous, like now when he was trying to explain to Snape the truth. Snape was snickering at the boy's stammering, much to the amusement of the Slytherin. Akemi was watching with ill-concealed hate. She was clutching her books tightly and Fiona could see the storm brewing her eyes.
"Go on, Lysander. Hurry up and burn this cauldron so you can catch something on fire and be sent to Madam Promfey." Snape said, waving his hands at Lysander.
The Slytherin howled in laugher while Snape leaned back in his seat to enjoy the Ravenclaw fight back tears. Fiona leaned forward, warningly. "Akemi, don't…"
Akemi had stood and stalked towards the nearest Slytherin. She glared at him, daring the cowering snake to stop her. With one deft move, she overturned his cauldron, spilling the contents all over the floor at Snape's feet. She glared at the teacher, fuming. The weeks of the injustice she had endured, added to her impatience, will and personality fueled a storm that had been brewing since she had been forced to come to this pathetic school.
She hated Hogwarts and for her Snape began to symbolize this entire farce. She missed Gideon, Vlad, Chandra, Nell and Choice. She hated him and the longing she felt for home. Home and name wasn't hers but at least Hecate had given her the illusion of it. Hogwarts had afforded her no such comfort and she hated them for it. She hated them all.
She couldn't remain silent anymore. All her sorrow and welled up hatred exploded before she could control it. "Listen to me you callous, miserable little man! You really are pathetic! You have such talent, such skill but instead of passing it on you insist of tormenting those who are timid and can't fight back." She shouted. "Well I can fight back, Professor so try and torment me."
If Snape was angry, no one could tell. The potion silked around his feet like pools of dark, burgundy blood, silently sizzling like contained lighting. The whole classroom was tense and charged with every student barely containing the excitement or dread written on their faces. The Professor's face was emotionless, defined and almost regal. His cold eyes bore deep into student before him. Akemi regretted her rashness as soon as he met his cold, calculating eyes. For a time the sizzling blood between them was the only sound in the room and it echoed with a sickening sound. When Snape finally chose to speak with was not shrill or angry; instead he spoke in a low, cultured tone; deep and dangerous.
"I don't have to say anything. There's nothing to say to an angry little girl that is worth nothing." He let the words sink in.
" That little display of anger is nothing but childhood folly and I'll allow it because it was from a worthless child and signified nothing. You are an abandoned child, a throw away. You were given to this school the same way you were given to Hecate; without a second thought. You weren't worth much thought once Dumbledore's whim decided you'd come here- and now will go to the Headmaster's office where your fate will be decided again."
Akemi's face was the same emotionless mask as Snape's but her eyes betrayed her. They were already red with tears. She had thought she was untouchable but somehow Snape had peeled away her shield and attacked her. He had known exactly where to touch her. She was surprised how much it hurt. Coldly, and crisply she turned on her heels to leave. Fiona offered her a smile as she walked out but she knew it made for little comfort.
She waited like what seemed forever in the Headmaster's Office. When Dumbledore entered, his expression was grim and discerning. He said he wanted the truth and Akemi gave it to him; she told him everything in a kind of unfeeling yarn. Snape entered somewhere during the middle of the story and had found a corner to listen. He had no objections. When she was finished Dumbledore met Snape's eyes and they seemed to hold a conversation together. Then Dumbledore spoke.
"Akemi Hecate, stand up." His voice was comforting, adding 'Hecate' and using it as her surname to remind her that she did have a family- had worth. "You have expressed the need for a greater measure of discipline, namely the need to be placed in a House. Over the pass few weeks you have displayed great talent, resourcefulness, determination, cunning and a certain lack of respect for rules when it opposes what you view as necessary."
"A Robin Hood complex." Snape said dangerously. "She should make a splendid Gryffindor."
"I disagree." Dumbledore interjected. "I feel her actions are better suited for Slytherin."
"That's a mistake." Both Akemi and Snape said in unison. Snape was the first on his feet. "Headmaster never has someone who so grossly violated school rules as she has remained! She's insulted a teacher with her belligerent attitude."
"Because she saw a wrong, Severus. I seem to remember a certain Slytherin boy displaying the same cold defiance when he was here."
Akemi saw Snape bristle. Slowly he nodded. "Let the Hat decide."
"An excellent idea." Dumbledore clapped his hands together. He rose and took a tattered wizard hat from a sideboard and explained it to Akemi. "It possess each a bit of each of the Hogwarts founders and we use it to find the best place for a student."
Akemi glanced at Snape who watching carefully. She bit her lip and wiped any trace of fear from her face. It was one of her talents. Lifting her chin and looking almost bored like an aristocrat, she allowed Dumbledore to slid the hat unto her head.
"Hello." A tiny voice whispered in her ear. "I am the Sorting Hat"
"They call me Akemi."
"But that's not your name."
"How did you know that?"
"It is all in your head, wither you can recall it or not."
"I
don't understand."
"You are running from something, something very secretive and very
important."
"So they tell me." Akemi said grimly, already getting annoyed with that thinly veiled clue. "Any help figuring out what that is?"
The Hat seemed to laugh. "You're answers lie in Slytherin."
"See now, Severus the Hat agrees with me."
"I see, Headmaster." Snape was looking like he wanted to murder someone and painfully so. Then, a cruel smile played over his features. "So am I to assume her punishment is my concern?"
"Yes." Dumbledore said, displeased. "She is suspect to your punishment."
"Very well. Miss Hecate, as a member of my House you will behave accordingly. You will first dye your hair to a suitable color and remove your colored contacts. I assume you have glasses?"
"Yes sir." Akemi hissed.
"Good, you'll wear those unless of course you have clear contacts. Also, from now on, you will dress in the typical school uniform expect when you will be helping me during the evening for the next two weeks in detention. Understood."
"Yes sir."
"Good you may go."