JK Rowling wrote and owns the magic
They are not mine, Harry & CO
I have no rights, I make no money
This verse is just, so you know
Andolyn
Welcome to Hogwarts
Someone took her by the hand, spoke to her in a very gentle tone of voice, murmuring- Tried to make her move. She could not- too many lights, no, one light dancing, blinding her. It was so beautiful. Something cold touched the back of her neck, something -very- cold. She shrugged it of. There was a distant voice, chuckling, rolling over her like a crisp winter breeze, calling her stubborn
She lost contact with the floor, but since she was floating, not falling, she did not mind.
Her wrist was taken and let go off.
"Nothing to worry. She needs to sleep it off, nothing more."
An old thin hand brushed her hair out of her face. Someone close told someone else to take care of her. She did not mind.
Not at all.
Footfalls beneath her, strength encircling her. Footfalls somewhere in front of her. A door, opening and closing. Another door. Softness beneath her. That what was holding her, pulled away. Still blinded, still dazed, she grabbed for it.
"Don't leave-" she whispered.
"Come now, dear, Severus has his own bed to go to."
"Should not someone stay with her?"
"She will be alright, nothing a good night sleep won't cure, you heard Poppy."
"That reminds me, the Matron still wishes me to visit her."
"Then you should leave now."
Ari felt the gentle hands of a woman remove her glasses and shoes. Her watch, necklace and earrings were taken. A hand hovered over her chest, probably to remove her blouse. The hand was taken away.
"Leave. Now."
Again the door opened and closed. With that other presence gone, there was no longer a need to remain awake- Ari gave in to the light.
Ari woke with a start, grasping for breath, shaken, terrified, sitting up and clutching her covers. Something wet, cold and nasty had penetrated her dozing and she stared into the face of a little man with dark eyes an a grin like a Cheshire cat hovering at arms length above her. He was holding an empty mug, that, for the wetness she felt on her face and chest, probably -had- been containing water.
Like always, Ari's first instinct was to grab for her glasses and while she did so, the little floating whatever it was cackled and laughed and started zooming around the bedroom.
"Aw, little sleeping beauty is awake- little sleeping beauty cannot see me!" it yelled in singsong.
Ghosts- there were ghosts in the castle and this was probably a nastier one than the Baron had been. But showing how annoyed- or even frightened she was, probably would only mean the creature would see her as a satisfying target for his pranks- Ari pulled up her knees, plastered a fake smile on her face and pinned her eyes on the creature.
"Why thank you- I take it you are the local alarm clock here?"
The little man stopped zooming around and hovered slowly towards her.
"Four eyes- four eyes!" he tried menacingly, sticking out his tongue and making binoculars of his hands.
"You are probably right and it -is- time for me to get up. Can I count on you to visit me tomorrow morning, then?"
The little man flew up to the ceiling and started rattling a huge silver chandelier, a look of pure murder in his eyes, spitting out swearwords that made Ari glad Harry was not there to hear.
"My, what -interesting- conversation you make. But I would appreciate it if you would go now, so I can get dressed."
That was a mistake, for the creature looked positively naughty now and suddenly drawers were opened and closed, closet doors started banging and all kinds of garments floated up and circled around the ghost in a mad whirlwind.
"Want your knickers, lassie? Want your dresses an thrillies and things? Well, come and get them then! Come, lassie, jump, jump!"
Now Ari -was- starting to get afraid. Suddenly, out of the ceiling a bony hand shot, right around the neck of the little man and an enraged voice that made the furniture shake and the chandelier dance boomed: "PEEVES!"
The little guy was pulled through the ceiling and Ari could only see him from the waist down, trampling his feet in protest. The garments dropped to the floor, as unanimated as they should be, the closets fell silent and the mug came down on the rug with a little dull thud. Ari could hear muffled voices argue, a shrill one that it was only in jest and a thundering one, promising this Peeves such horrible torture and curses if he'd ever pulled a stunt like this again, she almost felt sorry for the guy.
Almost, but not quite, Ari thought, surveying the mess and pulling wet strands of hair out of her face.
Peeves' feet disappeared as if he was pulled fully away from her room. There was a loud bang and a crash from the upstairs room and Ari hoped they were not somebody else's private chambers. The head of the Bloody Baron peeked through the ceiling, one hand gallantly covering his eyes, betraying the more modes times of his life.
"My apologies about that. Peeves will not disturb you again."
"Thanks for the rescue, Baron. I appreciate it."
The disembodied head nodded and pulled itself back rather quickly. Ari smiled, both at the Baron and her own attitude towards him. She could still count the hours an apparition like him would have sent her away screaming.
She looked around the now rather untidy room.
"Well, welcome to Hogwarts, I suppose." She muttered and threw the covers from herself to go exploring.
They had given her three rooms. Not voluptuous ones, but cosy and sufficient. A bedroom, a sitting annex study and a bathroom with a separate toilet behind a door with a cut-out little hart in it. She was headed for that first. When she had finished her business and closed the door, the little heart had changed into the playing card symbol of a diamond. Surprised Ari tapped it, and it became clubs.
"Don't be surprised dear, Door does that all the time, thinks it is funny."
Ari spun round, expecting to see another ghost, but there was no-one in the crème tiled brass lined bathroom. The only really odd thing about it, was that the brass bathtub on claw footed legs, sported no less then seven taps, where one or perhaps two would have sufficed. On a table someone had laid out pink fluffy towels, and from a hook hung a comfy looking pink bathrobe. Ari wrinkled her nose at that, pink was -not- her colour.
"I can see it would not suit you." That same mild distinctly feminine voice said in a decisive manner.
"Where are you- for that matter, -who- are you."
The voice sighed. "Your mirror, dear. What -did- you expect?"
Ari stepped up to the mirror and gazed in it, but only met with her own reflection.
"No", the same voice told her. "It is blue, definitely blue. On the pale side, matching your eyes. But I think green would go nicely with you too, in autumn. For now, it should be pastels."
Open mouthed, Ari gazed at the brass rimmed mirror. It looked just like any other mirror she'd ever come across, except this was a very beautiful one, with a intricate pattern of flowers in its frame.
"You can talk? Oh my- you can -really, I mean, you talk!"
"And you, my dear, are babbling. You should really get a move on. Breakfast is in less than an hour and -finding- the main hall can be something of a stretch from here. At least, so I have been told. Not that I really know, mind you- All -I- get to do is hang around all day."
Ari gaped, noticed that she was, closed her mouth and decided that the rest of her rooms would have to wait, if she indeed wanted to meet again with the other occupants of the castle. If she had had a houseguest, she would have appreciated the effort. So she quickly went back to the bedroom, picked the least dreadful one of the robes they had given her, a grey one with black trimmings, a white shift, some of the underwear and stockings that had to have been picked by somebody with rather sturdy and Victorian tastes, and a couple of low black boots. She made herself a bath, realising quickly each tab carried water with a different scent, and while it filled, she stuffed the garments that still lay strewn around the room, back in various drawers, not really paying attention to what went where.
Finished, she hopped in and out of the bath, regretting she had no time to really enjoy it, dressed, opened the window to let out the vapour and cleaned the mirror.
From the sitting she retrieved her rather large handbag with her cosmetics and about ten minutes later, she felt presentable. But the mirror had other ideas.
"Now why did you not pick a nice blue robe, the colour would do so much for your eyes!"
"I have not been given one-"
Ari looked at her image rather grimly. No, she had not been given one. She had been given a black, a pink and this grey robe. They had been giving her a comfortable roof over her head and in a minute they would, judging by last nights tea and sandwiches, probably give her a lovely breakfast! Ari sighed. There were about ten pounds left in her wallet, and she had her credit card off course- Any payment she made with it, any withdrawal from her bank account would scream she was still alive. But living on handouts, even if these people were indebted to her, would not do.
"I need a job.", she muttered.
"That's the spirit!" the mirror said with a smile in its voice.
Somebody was knocking her door raptly. It turned out to be Professor Minerva McGonagall, who looked at her approvingly.
"Very well, my dear, up and about, I see. I've come to fetch you for breakfast, the hallways can be rather a maze, when you are not used to them."
"Not to mention the moving staircases." Ari stepped out. "Did I faint, last night?"
"Oh no. You were merely overwhelmed by the magic of the circle. Quite natural, really. Muggles are not as well adapted to handling magic, you see."
"So I have been told." She remarked wry. "Somebody put me to bed?"
"That was me dear. I could have easily levitated you to your room, but Severus insisted on carrying you."
'Did he now', Ari thought. 'Interesting. Just about as interesting as you telling me that he did!' Ari smiled, but gave no further outward reaction. She remembered something.
"He had to go to the doctor witch, did he not? Is he alright?"
The corners of McGonagall's mouth twitched slightly.
"Madam Pomfrey is our Mediwitch, actually. And he is fine. There is a bit more needed than a few Dementors to take out our Severus. You will see him at breakfast."
"And my clothes- My Muggle clothes?"
"Given to the house-elves for cleaning. Don't worry, dear." The witch said, looking Ari up and down. "You will do fine."
On their way down to breakfast, Ari fell in love with the castle. High walls and archways, intricate designs in the masonry, doors and windows of so many seizes and stiles she quickly lost count. A student of architecture could spent a lifetime here. Hogwarts did a strong appeal on every romantic fibre in her being.
Finally on ground level, McGonagall pushed open a very large door, to a deserted, enormous hall. High Gothic stain glass windows, coats of arms in colour combinations Ari began to recognise decorated the walls. There were four long rows of tables, leading up to yet another long table, undoubtedly the place where the teachers usually ate. Ari looked up and gasped.
She expected a very high ceiling, with arches and decorations and sculptures. Instead, she lost her gaze in a pale blue summer sky, small tufts of clouds lazily wandering the heavens- It was utterly breathtaking.
"If you keep craning your neck like that, you will sprain something." came a dark, slow, smooth voice sarcastically from behind her.
Ari turned and faced, what had they called him? A Black Manta?
No.
Black he was and darkly her regarded her, with impatience in his stance and mockery in his eyes.
Snape.
Wearing long, flowing robes made of the blackest cloth Ari had ever seen, as if cut from a shadow on a moonless midnight. The edge of the robe almost having a life of its own, trailing around his feet when he slowly advanced on her. His pale face seemed even paler against the high collar he wore. There was an intricate pattern in the cloth, snakes and dragons chasing each other, woven with glimmering silken strands, visible only because he stood so close to her now, looking down his nose at her with those deep, pitch black eyes.
Ari's mouth had gone dry- gods- somebody had been dressing up this morning! On the other hand, if this was normal wizard fashion, she could get used to it. Easily.
"Shall we?" he asked softly, with an arrogant sneer on his face. Only then Ari noticed McGonagall had moved on to a door at the side of the hall that stood slightly ajar. Ari looked up at him, annoyed by a triumphant flicker in those deep eyes. It was summer, it would be a warm day. And she had always been allergic to overbearing mannerisms. Softly, making damn sure -only- Snape would hear, she murmured, eyes filled with mischief.
"If you go out like that, you'll choke."
Something cold flashed over his face and he narrowed his eyes at her. Oh darn- she had forgotten how sensitive he was to being ridiculed about his looks- But he seemed to see something in her she had no idea she was radiating and he gave her another tiny smile. He made a gesture to the open door and said in a normal tone of voice: "I would not go out if I were you, not unless you intend to walk the dogs."
Turning and walking in front of him she replied. "I thought there was only Snuffles."
"Be very glad you haven't met Fang yet. Hagrid's little monster of a dog. Drools all over any unfortunate who comes too close- And when there is a full moon…" His voice trailed off threateningly. Ari chuckled and entered the side-room.
Wood panelled and spacious, a long table, but not comparable by far with any of the tables in the hall. Decked with silver and gold, already sporting a wide variety of foods. Various deliciously looking buns, at least five kinds of marmalade, kippers, bacon and eggs, the welcoming aroma of Earl Grey and Espresso.
Twelve people were seated, quietly talking to each other, passing salt and sugar and apparently not interested in any kind of difficult discussion. Ari could understand that, she herself felt both heavy and light from all that had happened the evening before. Heavy with the prospect of nothing less than a war she never expected. Light with the radiance everybody had shared with the others. No one sat at the head of the table, not even Dumbledore, who was very busy buttering the tip of his beard while trying to overhear what Hootch and Flitwick were discussing. Madam Pomfrey looked up at them and nudged Moody, but the man had apparently eyes in the back of his head for he grumbled something vaguely like good-morning in their direction without even bothering to turn. Not a morning person, apparently. McGonagall had seated herself next to the Headmaster, and looked up at her and Snape far too innocently for Ari's liking. Lupin was wolfing down some of the kippers, a part from the traditional English breakfast that always had given Ari the shudders. Ceridwen, Franklin and Livia were listening to Rajiv telling some story that apparently was funny. Ari missed Hagrid, Black and Harry- but they -were- probably 'walking the dogs'. Why Filch was not present, she could not explain to herself. The man hardly seemed a dog person.
Most present acknowledged both her and Snape with curt nods, friendly good mornings and sideways glances at the nearest empty chair in invitation. Ari sat down next to Rajiv and an empty seat. Snape, without glancing at her, sat down beside her.
Dumbledore, annoyed with himself, had the tip of his beard in one hand and his wand in the other, when he turned to Ari.
"Slept well, I trust?"
"Very well Sir, thank you." How easily that 'sir' came out. Ari smiled to herself. Even with butter in his beard, wearing a blue and red striped robe and matching pointy hat, the old gentleman was every bit the Headmaster.
She felt Snape move beside her to reach for a basket with bread, and his leg brushed against hers. The chairs were comfortable- one could really sit back in them- but she nor he did.
"No nightmares?" inquired Madam Pomfrey.
"No, I really did sleep well, thank you." she answered and reached for the salt to sprinkle her egg with, without looking. Instead of the lovely silver shaker, she met with the soft texture of her neighbour's hand- and pulled back, but none too quickly.
"Sorry," She said, turned to him and studied his face. Dark thick eyebrows, raised somewhat in mild confusion, pale, full mouth with only a little more colour, a hooked nose too big for his face- but one could call that aquiline, and shiny black hair that looked a lot less oily than it had last night.
"Your cut is gone," she said, touching her own brow were the wound had been "There isn't even a scar left."
"Thanks to the tender ministrations of Madam Pomfrey, no."
With the mentioning of Snape's wound caused by the Dementors, a sleight unease had crept into the room. Ari hastily decided to change subject, while nudging Snape for the pepper.
"I slept wonderfully, but I had a somewhat rude awakening."
"Oh?"
"One of your ghosts- what was his name- Reeves? No. Peeves! He woke me by throwing a glass of water in my face. When I wasn't sufficiently annoyed, he threw a tantrum."
"Yes, I remember that little fellow. Still not gotten around to getting rid of him, Albus?" remarked Livia, tapping her lips with her finger as if deep in thought.
Dumbledore had finally managed to magic his beard butter free, and shook his head.
"Peeves is a poltergeist, not a ghost. We would need to perform a somewhat rough exorcism on him and I rather not do that. What interest me more is how -you- were able to make him scarce." Dumbledore asked, attention focused on Ari.
"Well, actually, I didn't. The Bloody Baron yanked him through the ceiling and they both made a lot of noise in the room above mine. I hope they didn't wreck the place."
"The -Baron- told him to leave?" Snape asked incredulously.
Ari nodded, reaching for some coffee before she answered.
"Oh yes. And he was very gallant about it, too."
Snape snorted, Lupin swallowed a bite and said: "You know, in my schooldays I was absolutely terrified of the Baron."
"Really?", asked Ari. "I can't say I know much about ghost, but he does not seem such a frightening thing. I thought he was rather amiable, actually."
Rajiv chocked almost on that one, had to grab a napkin to put before his mouth to be able to cough in it with a semblance of decency. Livia stared at Ari as if she was growing a second nose. Ceridwen, Hooch and McGonagall looked at each other and then started laughing. Flitwick, who had not been paying attention asked what was going on. Snape seemed -not- amused, and with the exception of the Headmaster, the others sat merely dumbstruck, food halfway their mouths or forgetting to chew.
Dumbledore's smile was warm and very kind. "My dear, I am so glad you came. You will be shaking up these old halls quite a bit, I dare say. Welcome to Hogwarts."
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Thanks for the enormous amount of attention I am getting from you all- It is really stimulating to write for such a lively group of people!
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Slytherin girl, no, Ari is not a witch. But since every person deep down is a spiritual being, even Muggles have a degree of power and a kind of magic in them that is not to be underestimated. Ari can't wave a wand with effect and she'll never fly a broom- but she is able to love and that is the greatest magic of all- Yes, I -know- this may sound sappy to some, but to me, this is truth.
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Terra- thanks for tipping me about the sapphire eyes thing. It was a silly mistake and I have edited it out in the first chapter. Hope I have not made the mistake anywhere else.
About those Dementors- Muggles can't see magical creatures most of the time, because the Magical community hides them. When they escape the Wizarding worlds attention, then they are -not- hidden. Dragons like to go out and hunt humans, so the wizards have some trouble to keep them I their resorts. Merpeople on the other hand do not wish to be seen and keep to their designated lakes. My fountain of knowledge on this subject, is 'Fantastic Beasts & Where To Find Them' (copyright Bloomsbury Press). Dementors are -not- described in this booklet. This let me to the conclusion that if a Dementor is not under some wizards spell to remain hidden, it -can- be seen by any unhappy soul who crosses its path. Please let me know if you've red anywhere in canon that Muggles are truly unable to see them, because a lack of magic or whatever. Cause then I'll have to be -very- creative in some upcoming chapters.
Besides, the Dementors in my story are quite an important plot device- they have a part to play still. So please, PLEASE, tell me if I have missed something somewhere, 'kay?
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Crydwyn, I found the name Ceridwen while reading legends about wizards and witches. Ceridwen was the mother of such an ugly son, she wanted to make him wise in compensation. She brew a potion (Snape would have liked this one) that had to be stirred for a year and a day. Three drops of it would jump out and grant the one on whom they would fall al the wisdom of the world. But the boy who was hired to stir the potion made sure -he- caught the drops, turned himself into an animal and fled. Ceridwen did the same to catch him to avenge herself and her son. Both she and the boy went through several changes (like a hare, dog, fish and hawk) and in the end, the witch devoured him (she was a black chicken and he a grain of corn when it happened) . Unfortunately for her, Ceridwen was now pregnant with the boy she had eaten (don't ask me how), and nine months later she gave birth to a beautiful boy-child. Now we've got a Moses theme coming up here, because she wanted to get rid of the babe, put him in a basket and gave order to throw it in a river. He was found by a lord who called him Taliesin. The boy became a famous bard and his songs and ballads contained very strong magic.
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Lataradk, thanks for the er, compliment (grin). And the frog (munch, munch). Yes, I do read Prattchett, but I haven't yet about the characters you mention and I do not know the book 'Interesting times'. The bit about the Chinese Curse is real, though.
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Strega Brava, well, I just had to go and read 'Moonlit Ride' now, didn't I. Lovely story, that one!
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Thanks, Belle_Starr_777, Sophie W. (amazing, isn't it), Xara Oaken (took the name from the book 'I, Claudius', if you've red it, you'll know why -my- Livia is Slytherin (grin)), Kamali (thanks for the tip), Elora, Arya (Snape's on he move- not very fast, but he is. He's a little shy, you see. The man has been through a lot), Blackthorne (hope to read from you soon and thanks!), Lila Mae, Rynye, Saint Fool, Leila C. Snape, whats_their_name, Troy, JJ, JanusMelina, Ryven (you -are- giving me some ideas (grin), Gwyn, Little she-bear (aren't -you- lucky! Don't you just adore Snape with his rubber ducky!), sara, Juniper Holly and Fainting Maid (should they not com up with something like 'magically challenged' or something? Something politically correct? On the other hand, Snape politically correct? Nah.)
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And thank you everybody who reviewed "When Hell Froze Over"!
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They are not mine, Harry & CO
I have no rights, I make no money
This verse is just, so you know
Andolyn
Welcome to Hogwarts
Someone took her by the hand, spoke to her in a very gentle tone of voice, murmuring- Tried to make her move. She could not- too many lights, no, one light dancing, blinding her. It was so beautiful. Something cold touched the back of her neck, something -very- cold. She shrugged it of. There was a distant voice, chuckling, rolling over her like a crisp winter breeze, calling her stubborn
She lost contact with the floor, but since she was floating, not falling, she did not mind.
Her wrist was taken and let go off.
"Nothing to worry. She needs to sleep it off, nothing more."
An old thin hand brushed her hair out of her face. Someone close told someone else to take care of her. She did not mind.
Not at all.
Footfalls beneath her, strength encircling her. Footfalls somewhere in front of her. A door, opening and closing. Another door. Softness beneath her. That what was holding her, pulled away. Still blinded, still dazed, she grabbed for it.
"Don't leave-" she whispered.
"Come now, dear, Severus has his own bed to go to."
"Should not someone stay with her?"
"She will be alright, nothing a good night sleep won't cure, you heard Poppy."
"That reminds me, the Matron still wishes me to visit her."
"Then you should leave now."
Ari felt the gentle hands of a woman remove her glasses and shoes. Her watch, necklace and earrings were taken. A hand hovered over her chest, probably to remove her blouse. The hand was taken away.
"Leave. Now."
Again the door opened and closed. With that other presence gone, there was no longer a need to remain awake- Ari gave in to the light.
Ari woke with a start, grasping for breath, shaken, terrified, sitting up and clutching her covers. Something wet, cold and nasty had penetrated her dozing and she stared into the face of a little man with dark eyes an a grin like a Cheshire cat hovering at arms length above her. He was holding an empty mug, that, for the wetness she felt on her face and chest, probably -had- been containing water.
Like always, Ari's first instinct was to grab for her glasses and while she did so, the little floating whatever it was cackled and laughed and started zooming around the bedroom.
"Aw, little sleeping beauty is awake- little sleeping beauty cannot see me!" it yelled in singsong.
Ghosts- there were ghosts in the castle and this was probably a nastier one than the Baron had been. But showing how annoyed- or even frightened she was, probably would only mean the creature would see her as a satisfying target for his pranks- Ari pulled up her knees, plastered a fake smile on her face and pinned her eyes on the creature.
"Why thank you- I take it you are the local alarm clock here?"
The little man stopped zooming around and hovered slowly towards her.
"Four eyes- four eyes!" he tried menacingly, sticking out his tongue and making binoculars of his hands.
"You are probably right and it -is- time for me to get up. Can I count on you to visit me tomorrow morning, then?"
The little man flew up to the ceiling and started rattling a huge silver chandelier, a look of pure murder in his eyes, spitting out swearwords that made Ari glad Harry was not there to hear.
"My, what -interesting- conversation you make. But I would appreciate it if you would go now, so I can get dressed."
That was a mistake, for the creature looked positively naughty now and suddenly drawers were opened and closed, closet doors started banging and all kinds of garments floated up and circled around the ghost in a mad whirlwind.
"Want your knickers, lassie? Want your dresses an thrillies and things? Well, come and get them then! Come, lassie, jump, jump!"
Now Ari -was- starting to get afraid. Suddenly, out of the ceiling a bony hand shot, right around the neck of the little man and an enraged voice that made the furniture shake and the chandelier dance boomed: "PEEVES!"
The little guy was pulled through the ceiling and Ari could only see him from the waist down, trampling his feet in protest. The garments dropped to the floor, as unanimated as they should be, the closets fell silent and the mug came down on the rug with a little dull thud. Ari could hear muffled voices argue, a shrill one that it was only in jest and a thundering one, promising this Peeves such horrible torture and curses if he'd ever pulled a stunt like this again, she almost felt sorry for the guy.
Almost, but not quite, Ari thought, surveying the mess and pulling wet strands of hair out of her face.
Peeves' feet disappeared as if he was pulled fully away from her room. There was a loud bang and a crash from the upstairs room and Ari hoped they were not somebody else's private chambers. The head of the Bloody Baron peeked through the ceiling, one hand gallantly covering his eyes, betraying the more modes times of his life.
"My apologies about that. Peeves will not disturb you again."
"Thanks for the rescue, Baron. I appreciate it."
The disembodied head nodded and pulled itself back rather quickly. Ari smiled, both at the Baron and her own attitude towards him. She could still count the hours an apparition like him would have sent her away screaming.
She looked around the now rather untidy room.
"Well, welcome to Hogwarts, I suppose." She muttered and threw the covers from herself to go exploring.
They had given her three rooms. Not voluptuous ones, but cosy and sufficient. A bedroom, a sitting annex study and a bathroom with a separate toilet behind a door with a cut-out little hart in it. She was headed for that first. When she had finished her business and closed the door, the little heart had changed into the playing card symbol of a diamond. Surprised Ari tapped it, and it became clubs.
"Don't be surprised dear, Door does that all the time, thinks it is funny."
Ari spun round, expecting to see another ghost, but there was no-one in the crème tiled brass lined bathroom. The only really odd thing about it, was that the brass bathtub on claw footed legs, sported no less then seven taps, where one or perhaps two would have sufficed. On a table someone had laid out pink fluffy towels, and from a hook hung a comfy looking pink bathrobe. Ari wrinkled her nose at that, pink was -not- her colour.
"I can see it would not suit you." That same mild distinctly feminine voice said in a decisive manner.
"Where are you- for that matter, -who- are you."
The voice sighed. "Your mirror, dear. What -did- you expect?"
Ari stepped up to the mirror and gazed in it, but only met with her own reflection.
"No", the same voice told her. "It is blue, definitely blue. On the pale side, matching your eyes. But I think green would go nicely with you too, in autumn. For now, it should be pastels."
Open mouthed, Ari gazed at the brass rimmed mirror. It looked just like any other mirror she'd ever come across, except this was a very beautiful one, with a intricate pattern of flowers in its frame.
"You can talk? Oh my- you can -really, I mean, you talk!"
"And you, my dear, are babbling. You should really get a move on. Breakfast is in less than an hour and -finding- the main hall can be something of a stretch from here. At least, so I have been told. Not that I really know, mind you- All -I- get to do is hang around all day."
Ari gaped, noticed that she was, closed her mouth and decided that the rest of her rooms would have to wait, if she indeed wanted to meet again with the other occupants of the castle. If she had had a houseguest, she would have appreciated the effort. So she quickly went back to the bedroom, picked the least dreadful one of the robes they had given her, a grey one with black trimmings, a white shift, some of the underwear and stockings that had to have been picked by somebody with rather sturdy and Victorian tastes, and a couple of low black boots. She made herself a bath, realising quickly each tab carried water with a different scent, and while it filled, she stuffed the garments that still lay strewn around the room, back in various drawers, not really paying attention to what went where.
Finished, she hopped in and out of the bath, regretting she had no time to really enjoy it, dressed, opened the window to let out the vapour and cleaned the mirror.
From the sitting she retrieved her rather large handbag with her cosmetics and about ten minutes later, she felt presentable. But the mirror had other ideas.
"Now why did you not pick a nice blue robe, the colour would do so much for your eyes!"
"I have not been given one-"
Ari looked at her image rather grimly. No, she had not been given one. She had been given a black, a pink and this grey robe. They had been giving her a comfortable roof over her head and in a minute they would, judging by last nights tea and sandwiches, probably give her a lovely breakfast! Ari sighed. There were about ten pounds left in her wallet, and she had her credit card off course- Any payment she made with it, any withdrawal from her bank account would scream she was still alive. But living on handouts, even if these people were indebted to her, would not do.
"I need a job.", she muttered.
"That's the spirit!" the mirror said with a smile in its voice.
Somebody was knocking her door raptly. It turned out to be Professor Minerva McGonagall, who looked at her approvingly.
"Very well, my dear, up and about, I see. I've come to fetch you for breakfast, the hallways can be rather a maze, when you are not used to them."
"Not to mention the moving staircases." Ari stepped out. "Did I faint, last night?"
"Oh no. You were merely overwhelmed by the magic of the circle. Quite natural, really. Muggles are not as well adapted to handling magic, you see."
"So I have been told." She remarked wry. "Somebody put me to bed?"
"That was me dear. I could have easily levitated you to your room, but Severus insisted on carrying you."
'Did he now', Ari thought. 'Interesting. Just about as interesting as you telling me that he did!' Ari smiled, but gave no further outward reaction. She remembered something.
"He had to go to the doctor witch, did he not? Is he alright?"
The corners of McGonagall's mouth twitched slightly.
"Madam Pomfrey is our Mediwitch, actually. And he is fine. There is a bit more needed than a few Dementors to take out our Severus. You will see him at breakfast."
"And my clothes- My Muggle clothes?"
"Given to the house-elves for cleaning. Don't worry, dear." The witch said, looking Ari up and down. "You will do fine."
On their way down to breakfast, Ari fell in love with the castle. High walls and archways, intricate designs in the masonry, doors and windows of so many seizes and stiles she quickly lost count. A student of architecture could spent a lifetime here. Hogwarts did a strong appeal on every romantic fibre in her being.
Finally on ground level, McGonagall pushed open a very large door, to a deserted, enormous hall. High Gothic stain glass windows, coats of arms in colour combinations Ari began to recognise decorated the walls. There were four long rows of tables, leading up to yet another long table, undoubtedly the place where the teachers usually ate. Ari looked up and gasped.
She expected a very high ceiling, with arches and decorations and sculptures. Instead, she lost her gaze in a pale blue summer sky, small tufts of clouds lazily wandering the heavens- It was utterly breathtaking.
"If you keep craning your neck like that, you will sprain something." came a dark, slow, smooth voice sarcastically from behind her.
Ari turned and faced, what had they called him? A Black Manta?
No.
Black he was and darkly her regarded her, with impatience in his stance and mockery in his eyes.
Snape.
Wearing long, flowing robes made of the blackest cloth Ari had ever seen, as if cut from a shadow on a moonless midnight. The edge of the robe almost having a life of its own, trailing around his feet when he slowly advanced on her. His pale face seemed even paler against the high collar he wore. There was an intricate pattern in the cloth, snakes and dragons chasing each other, woven with glimmering silken strands, visible only because he stood so close to her now, looking down his nose at her with those deep, pitch black eyes.
Ari's mouth had gone dry- gods- somebody had been dressing up this morning! On the other hand, if this was normal wizard fashion, she could get used to it. Easily.
"Shall we?" he asked softly, with an arrogant sneer on his face. Only then Ari noticed McGonagall had moved on to a door at the side of the hall that stood slightly ajar. Ari looked up at him, annoyed by a triumphant flicker in those deep eyes. It was summer, it would be a warm day. And she had always been allergic to overbearing mannerisms. Softly, making damn sure -only- Snape would hear, she murmured, eyes filled with mischief.
"If you go out like that, you'll choke."
Something cold flashed over his face and he narrowed his eyes at her. Oh darn- she had forgotten how sensitive he was to being ridiculed about his looks- But he seemed to see something in her she had no idea she was radiating and he gave her another tiny smile. He made a gesture to the open door and said in a normal tone of voice: "I would not go out if I were you, not unless you intend to walk the dogs."
Turning and walking in front of him she replied. "I thought there was only Snuffles."
"Be very glad you haven't met Fang yet. Hagrid's little monster of a dog. Drools all over any unfortunate who comes too close- And when there is a full moon…" His voice trailed off threateningly. Ari chuckled and entered the side-room.
Wood panelled and spacious, a long table, but not comparable by far with any of the tables in the hall. Decked with silver and gold, already sporting a wide variety of foods. Various deliciously looking buns, at least five kinds of marmalade, kippers, bacon and eggs, the welcoming aroma of Earl Grey and Espresso.
Twelve people were seated, quietly talking to each other, passing salt and sugar and apparently not interested in any kind of difficult discussion. Ari could understand that, she herself felt both heavy and light from all that had happened the evening before. Heavy with the prospect of nothing less than a war she never expected. Light with the radiance everybody had shared with the others. No one sat at the head of the table, not even Dumbledore, who was very busy buttering the tip of his beard while trying to overhear what Hootch and Flitwick were discussing. Madam Pomfrey looked up at them and nudged Moody, but the man had apparently eyes in the back of his head for he grumbled something vaguely like good-morning in their direction without even bothering to turn. Not a morning person, apparently. McGonagall had seated herself next to the Headmaster, and looked up at her and Snape far too innocently for Ari's liking. Lupin was wolfing down some of the kippers, a part from the traditional English breakfast that always had given Ari the shudders. Ceridwen, Franklin and Livia were listening to Rajiv telling some story that apparently was funny. Ari missed Hagrid, Black and Harry- but they -were- probably 'walking the dogs'. Why Filch was not present, she could not explain to herself. The man hardly seemed a dog person.
Most present acknowledged both her and Snape with curt nods, friendly good mornings and sideways glances at the nearest empty chair in invitation. Ari sat down next to Rajiv and an empty seat. Snape, without glancing at her, sat down beside her.
Dumbledore, annoyed with himself, had the tip of his beard in one hand and his wand in the other, when he turned to Ari.
"Slept well, I trust?"
"Very well Sir, thank you." How easily that 'sir' came out. Ari smiled to herself. Even with butter in his beard, wearing a blue and red striped robe and matching pointy hat, the old gentleman was every bit the Headmaster.
She felt Snape move beside her to reach for a basket with bread, and his leg brushed against hers. The chairs were comfortable- one could really sit back in them- but she nor he did.
"No nightmares?" inquired Madam Pomfrey.
"No, I really did sleep well, thank you." she answered and reached for the salt to sprinkle her egg with, without looking. Instead of the lovely silver shaker, she met with the soft texture of her neighbour's hand- and pulled back, but none too quickly.
"Sorry," She said, turned to him and studied his face. Dark thick eyebrows, raised somewhat in mild confusion, pale, full mouth with only a little more colour, a hooked nose too big for his face- but one could call that aquiline, and shiny black hair that looked a lot less oily than it had last night.
"Your cut is gone," she said, touching her own brow were the wound had been "There isn't even a scar left."
"Thanks to the tender ministrations of Madam Pomfrey, no."
With the mentioning of Snape's wound caused by the Dementors, a sleight unease had crept into the room. Ari hastily decided to change subject, while nudging Snape for the pepper.
"I slept wonderfully, but I had a somewhat rude awakening."
"Oh?"
"One of your ghosts- what was his name- Reeves? No. Peeves! He woke me by throwing a glass of water in my face. When I wasn't sufficiently annoyed, he threw a tantrum."
"Yes, I remember that little fellow. Still not gotten around to getting rid of him, Albus?" remarked Livia, tapping her lips with her finger as if deep in thought.
Dumbledore had finally managed to magic his beard butter free, and shook his head.
"Peeves is a poltergeist, not a ghost. We would need to perform a somewhat rough exorcism on him and I rather not do that. What interest me more is how -you- were able to make him scarce." Dumbledore asked, attention focused on Ari.
"Well, actually, I didn't. The Bloody Baron yanked him through the ceiling and they both made a lot of noise in the room above mine. I hope they didn't wreck the place."
"The -Baron- told him to leave?" Snape asked incredulously.
Ari nodded, reaching for some coffee before she answered.
"Oh yes. And he was very gallant about it, too."
Snape snorted, Lupin swallowed a bite and said: "You know, in my schooldays I was absolutely terrified of the Baron."
"Really?", asked Ari. "I can't say I know much about ghost, but he does not seem such a frightening thing. I thought he was rather amiable, actually."
Rajiv chocked almost on that one, had to grab a napkin to put before his mouth to be able to cough in it with a semblance of decency. Livia stared at Ari as if she was growing a second nose. Ceridwen, Hooch and McGonagall looked at each other and then started laughing. Flitwick, who had not been paying attention asked what was going on. Snape seemed -not- amused, and with the exception of the Headmaster, the others sat merely dumbstruck, food halfway their mouths or forgetting to chew.
Dumbledore's smile was warm and very kind. "My dear, I am so glad you came. You will be shaking up these old halls quite a bit, I dare say. Welcome to Hogwarts."
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Thanks for the enormous amount of attention I am getting from you all- It is really stimulating to write for such a lively group of people!
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Slytherin girl, no, Ari is not a witch. But since every person deep down is a spiritual being, even Muggles have a degree of power and a kind of magic in them that is not to be underestimated. Ari can't wave a wand with effect and she'll never fly a broom- but she is able to love and that is the greatest magic of all- Yes, I -know- this may sound sappy to some, but to me, this is truth.
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Terra- thanks for tipping me about the sapphire eyes thing. It was a silly mistake and I have edited it out in the first chapter. Hope I have not made the mistake anywhere else.
About those Dementors- Muggles can't see magical creatures most of the time, because the Magical community hides them. When they escape the Wizarding worlds attention, then they are -not- hidden. Dragons like to go out and hunt humans, so the wizards have some trouble to keep them I their resorts. Merpeople on the other hand do not wish to be seen and keep to their designated lakes. My fountain of knowledge on this subject, is 'Fantastic Beasts & Where To Find Them' (copyright Bloomsbury Press). Dementors are -not- described in this booklet. This let me to the conclusion that if a Dementor is not under some wizards spell to remain hidden, it -can- be seen by any unhappy soul who crosses its path. Please let me know if you've red anywhere in canon that Muggles are truly unable to see them, because a lack of magic or whatever. Cause then I'll have to be -very- creative in some upcoming chapters.
Besides, the Dementors in my story are quite an important plot device- they have a part to play still. So please, PLEASE, tell me if I have missed something somewhere, 'kay?
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Crydwyn, I found the name Ceridwen while reading legends about wizards and witches. Ceridwen was the mother of such an ugly son, she wanted to make him wise in compensation. She brew a potion (Snape would have liked this one) that had to be stirred for a year and a day. Three drops of it would jump out and grant the one on whom they would fall al the wisdom of the world. But the boy who was hired to stir the potion made sure -he- caught the drops, turned himself into an animal and fled. Ceridwen did the same to catch him to avenge herself and her son. Both she and the boy went through several changes (like a hare, dog, fish and hawk) and in the end, the witch devoured him (she was a black chicken and he a grain of corn when it happened) . Unfortunately for her, Ceridwen was now pregnant with the boy she had eaten (don't ask me how), and nine months later she gave birth to a beautiful boy-child. Now we've got a Moses theme coming up here, because she wanted to get rid of the babe, put him in a basket and gave order to throw it in a river. He was found by a lord who called him Taliesin. The boy became a famous bard and his songs and ballads contained very strong magic.
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Lataradk, thanks for the er, compliment (grin). And the frog (munch, munch). Yes, I do read Prattchett, but I haven't yet about the characters you mention and I do not know the book 'Interesting times'. The bit about the Chinese Curse is real, though.
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Strega Brava, well, I just had to go and read 'Moonlit Ride' now, didn't I. Lovely story, that one!
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Thanks, Belle_Starr_777, Sophie W. (amazing, isn't it), Xara Oaken (took the name from the book 'I, Claudius', if you've red it, you'll know why -my- Livia is Slytherin (grin)), Kamali (thanks for the tip), Elora, Arya (Snape's on he move- not very fast, but he is. He's a little shy, you see. The man has been through a lot), Blackthorne (hope to read from you soon and thanks!), Lila Mae, Rynye, Saint Fool, Leila C. Snape, whats_their_name, Troy, JJ, JanusMelina, Ryven (you -are- giving me some ideas (grin), Gwyn, Little she-bear (aren't -you- lucky! Don't you just adore Snape with his rubber ducky!), sara, Juniper Holly and Fainting Maid (should they not com up with something like 'magically challenged' or something? Something politically correct? On the other hand, Snape politically correct? Nah.)
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And thank you everybody who reviewed "When Hell Froze Over"!
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