Disclaimer: Five points to anyone who can point out which characters belong to me, Severa or JKR.
A/N: This is up sooner than expected. Am so pleased with myself. And the good news is that I have Easter holidays coming up, so Chapter 5 could be up quite soon too. So here's chapter 4 for now, and don't forget to review!
Chapter 4- A fleeting Glimpse
She looked around, taking in her surroundings. Why *was* she dreaming about Hogwarts? And why were these figures in front of her so familiar?
There were two men and a woman, all looking to be about in their late thirties. One man wore green and silver robes, and was tall, with long black hair, a short beard and was glaring at her that precise moment. For his height, she was surprised that she could look him in the eye.
The other man was shorter, clad in red and gold robes, and glaring at the other man. He looked friendlier though, with his warm brown eyes, untidy jet black hair and beard.
And the woman was shorter still, and looked cheerful, with her blonde hair in ringlets and pale yellow robes.
"Salazar, I'm sure your reservations are in vain." she was saying.
"Nonsense Helga," the man in green robes said coldly. "These Muggle farmers and peasants are getting too suspiscious for my liking. I think something should be done before they report us to the King."
"Eh, you're just too uptight Salazar. D'you really think they're going to come marching up here with pitchforks and torches? They haven't the gall." said the other man, in a deep Scottish accent.
"Have a care, Gryffindor." snarled Salazar. "You know the policies that they have towards our kind. Which is why Rowena and I are both in the process of developing a series of incantations that will come to use on All Hallow's Eve....Eve......Eve..."
"Eve! Wake up!"
Eveleen's eyes snapped open in surprise.
"What?"
"It's first day of classes. Get dressed, we're going to breakfest. Your brother and Nic are waiting for you" said Jude, standing over her.
"Oh! Right, breakfest." said Eve, finding it very hard to shake off the dream she'd just been in.
*********************************
When they reached the Great Hall for the first meal of the day, their Mother was waiting for them.
"Congratulations you two...." she said, taking them into a warm embrace.
"Mum....d'you mind?" Emmanuel protested.
"No, I don't actually. Your Father would be so proud of you if he was here right now."
"Yes, yes, ok. Can you go now?"
Celly raised an eyebrow at her son and daughter. "Alright, alright. I know when I'm not wanted...I'll come up and see you in the common room this afternoon after classes then, shall I?"
The twins silently agreed to it, and their Mother left them, heading up the marble staircase.
The tables were abuzz with students of varying ages. The First year's were beginning to ask questions, and the older students were answering them.
The twins, Jude and Nic took seats beside their fellow first-years. Emmanuel took note of the fact that Eve had decided to sit between him and the new fifth-year prefect, one Sebastian Sterling.
"So you're in charge of us?" she'd asked eagerly, causing Emmanuel to snort into his cornflakes.
"Er, not quite." said Sebastian, looking rather awkward under her unwavering gaze. "I mean, there's there's a sixth-year prefect too, you see."
"Oh....him." she said, still in rapture.
*********************************
The twins first class was Potions, so they and the other Ravenclaws walked across the courtyard to the dungeons together, all in uproar over Eve's 'performance' at breakfest that morning.
"What were you thinking?" asked Portia Riley, Eve's room mate.
"He's really nice, don't you think?" Eve said, ignoring Portia.
"Eveleen, he wears glasses for Gods sake!" added James Astor.
"I happen to think glasses are very attractive on the right person."
"He's also four years older than you." argued Nic.
"Students, I think you'll find that love can conquer all obstacles, regardless of how tough they may be," a voice said behind them. It was Professor Rimmer, a heavy, old-looking textbook clutched under one arm and obviously on her way to the library. She laid a hand on Eve's shoulder. "Don't lose faith, Miss Quirrell." she said, and swept past them majestically.
The group were shocked into silence.
"Eve, I think you've just met yourself twenty years from now." said Emmanuel quietly, and a torrent of laughter ensued.
*********************************
The Potions classroom, positioned near the Slytherin dungeons, was not what the first-year's had expected at all. As opposed the cold, stony, dark room that they'd all talked about, it was light, dusty and quite small. The Hufflepuffs were already seated in the room, and the Ravenclaws also proceeded to take seats. The sound of a door closing in the back of the room sent the class into silence, as Professor Snape glided silently to the front.
He looked around, surveying his class with a look that could freeze hell over.
"She's late," he murmured to nobody in particular.
But with that pronouncement, a puff of green smoke burst from nowhere, and out of the smoke stepped Professor Rimmer, all smiles. Snape gave her a look that suggested great embarrassment on his part, but she simply smiled at him and perched herself on the stool behind his desk. He crossed to her side, and nodded swiftly at her.
The young woman hopped off her stool and nodded in return, to Snape. She stood in front of the class, hands clasped behind her back.
"Good morrow, students! I am Professor Rimmer, Professor Snape's teaching assistant, which means anything he doesn't want to do, he pushes on to me."
This garnered a couple giggles and snickers from the students that were quickly silenced when Snape raised an eyebrow at the comment. She smirked at him and continued.
"Well...this is potions. You'll find it is quite different from your other classes, and even from other magic. For this is not about annunciating the correct syllable of a Latin word. This is about logic! It's about preperation, comprehension, patience, following
exact instructions. You'll learn to create, you'll learn to destroy. The rules are strict, some considered harsh. But regulations must be placed when you play with poison and meddle with medicine." she paused for effect, and continued, pacing the front floor of the classroom.
"Unlike the gift you all share, which earned you a place here, not everyone is born with the knack for potions. Same will excel, others will not. This course requires three things:: Hard work, perseverance and... hard work.
"You said hard work twice." noted Jude.
"That's because it takes twice as much work as perseverance." she said, smiling smugly at the young Ravenclaw "Do we understand?" She raised an eyebrow in the manner of her co-teacher and placed her hands on her hips. "Don't disappoint me."
The twins couldn't help but feel that last comment was directed at them.
Professor Rimmer stood back and Snape came forward, lacing his fingers together.
"Students, first and forthright, I expect only the best from you. Hufflepuffs, I expect commitment and hard work. Ravenclaws, I expect you to study and work at your own ability, as befitting your respective house qualities. Now, Professor Binns has spoken to me before this class. He says one of your assignments in History of Magic this year is to write a paper on one of the House Founders. Seeing as I am head of his house, this morning, Professor Rimmer and I will be be giving you a potion to make from our own house founder, Salazar Slytherin."
He turned to the blackboard, and in sharp, elegant writing, wrote 'Restituere', while Professor Rimmer moved silently around the classroom, taking various jars and containers down from shelves.
"Now, seeing as the Hufflepuff and Ravenclaws traditionally remain my most hard-working studious classes, I trust you would've read your textbooks in preparation." he said, folding his arms and sweeping his gaze across the class.
The class exchanged nervous glances. Emmanuel swallowed hard. He hadn't even read his Potions textbook yet! And it was to his great misfortune that Snape gestured to him.
"Mr Quirrell, for what purpose did Salazar Slytherin create the Restituere potion?"
Before he knew it, Emmanuel was answering.
"Salazar Slytherin created Restituere for the curing of alcohol poisoning," he replied. Snape nodded, but Emmanuel continued. "seeing as his father was a wizard who enjoyed his drink and frequently suffered from it."
Emmanuel clamped his hand over his mouth in shock. How had he known that? Snape was looking at him in rather well-disguised shock. There was a small gasp from the back of the room from Professor Rimmer.
"Correct, Mr Quirrell," he said finally. "Five points to Ravenclaw."
*********************************
Severus and Severa stood near the door, watching the students stream out, heading towards their next class. He noted that Severa was watching the twins, who were walking together.
"Gods Severus, how did he know that? Hardly anybody knows that Slytherin's father was a pissant!"
"Would you care to use more eloquent language, Severa?" he said sharply.
"My apologies, Severus, but Emmanuel knowing that.....it's amazing, isn't it?"
"Yes," he murmured. "it is. There's no way he could've found that out from anyone. It's only his first day in Hogwarts......."
"Do you think this is worth seeing Professor McGonagall over?"
"Perhaps......." he said, gesturing to the blackboard for her to clean. "but not now, Severa. Can you take care of the beakers please?" he said, seating himself at the desk for some writing.
Severa sighed. "I wish I could've been wrong when I said I did all the stuff you didn't want to do....."
*********************************
That lunchtime, Emmanuel had found himself the centre of attention.
"How on Earth did you know that?" Eve asked. "That's not in any of our textbooks!"
"Who cares?" said James, smiling. "You got five points! That's pretty impressive stuff."
Emmanuel smiled along with his friends, but couldn't fight the growing funny feeling at the bottom of his stomach.
"His Mother's a teacher, that's how he knows." a loud voice cut in. It was Mara Parkinson, on her way to the Slytherin table. "Though not the most impressive of teachers, I must say."
"Excuse me? Mum does the best she can." said Eve, standing up from her seat. "Which is more than what I can say for you. You're not exactly the most impressive of bullies."
"Yes, you'd be used to them, right? Just like your Mother.....bloody bookworms, I bet. And if you're anything like your father....well, I'd be worried." she said, looking at them with faint disgust as she walked away.
Nic scowled at her retreating back. "She's a nasty piece of work. I think you're best ignoring her, Eve. What does she know, anyway? She's a Slytherin."
Eve smiled and nodded confidently, but couldn't ignore her comments. What did she know about their Father, anyway?
A/N: Ok, some clarification here as not to generate any confusion.
Celly has made the point of ensuring the twins don't know anymore about Hogwarts than the other kids do. Yeah, they've met a few teachers, (Celly being good friends with Snape and Severa) and they were born at the school, but they haven't been there since. That's all for now, I'll be sure to fill out any plot holes there could be.
A/N: This is up sooner than expected. Am so pleased with myself. And the good news is that I have Easter holidays coming up, so Chapter 5 could be up quite soon too. So here's chapter 4 for now, and don't forget to review!
Chapter 4- A fleeting Glimpse
She looked around, taking in her surroundings. Why *was* she dreaming about Hogwarts? And why were these figures in front of her so familiar?
There were two men and a woman, all looking to be about in their late thirties. One man wore green and silver robes, and was tall, with long black hair, a short beard and was glaring at her that precise moment. For his height, she was surprised that she could look him in the eye.
The other man was shorter, clad in red and gold robes, and glaring at the other man. He looked friendlier though, with his warm brown eyes, untidy jet black hair and beard.
And the woman was shorter still, and looked cheerful, with her blonde hair in ringlets and pale yellow robes.
"Salazar, I'm sure your reservations are in vain." she was saying.
"Nonsense Helga," the man in green robes said coldly. "These Muggle farmers and peasants are getting too suspiscious for my liking. I think something should be done before they report us to the King."
"Eh, you're just too uptight Salazar. D'you really think they're going to come marching up here with pitchforks and torches? They haven't the gall." said the other man, in a deep Scottish accent.
"Have a care, Gryffindor." snarled Salazar. "You know the policies that they have towards our kind. Which is why Rowena and I are both in the process of developing a series of incantations that will come to use on All Hallow's Eve....Eve......Eve..."
"Eve! Wake up!"
Eveleen's eyes snapped open in surprise.
"What?"
"It's first day of classes. Get dressed, we're going to breakfest. Your brother and Nic are waiting for you" said Jude, standing over her.
"Oh! Right, breakfest." said Eve, finding it very hard to shake off the dream she'd just been in.
*********************************
When they reached the Great Hall for the first meal of the day, their Mother was waiting for them.
"Congratulations you two...." she said, taking them into a warm embrace.
"Mum....d'you mind?" Emmanuel protested.
"No, I don't actually. Your Father would be so proud of you if he was here right now."
"Yes, yes, ok. Can you go now?"
Celly raised an eyebrow at her son and daughter. "Alright, alright. I know when I'm not wanted...I'll come up and see you in the common room this afternoon after classes then, shall I?"
The twins silently agreed to it, and their Mother left them, heading up the marble staircase.
The tables were abuzz with students of varying ages. The First year's were beginning to ask questions, and the older students were answering them.
The twins, Jude and Nic took seats beside their fellow first-years. Emmanuel took note of the fact that Eve had decided to sit between him and the new fifth-year prefect, one Sebastian Sterling.
"So you're in charge of us?" she'd asked eagerly, causing Emmanuel to snort into his cornflakes.
"Er, not quite." said Sebastian, looking rather awkward under her unwavering gaze. "I mean, there's there's a sixth-year prefect too, you see."
"Oh....him." she said, still in rapture.
*********************************
The twins first class was Potions, so they and the other Ravenclaws walked across the courtyard to the dungeons together, all in uproar over Eve's 'performance' at breakfest that morning.
"What were you thinking?" asked Portia Riley, Eve's room mate.
"He's really nice, don't you think?" Eve said, ignoring Portia.
"Eveleen, he wears glasses for Gods sake!" added James Astor.
"I happen to think glasses are very attractive on the right person."
"He's also four years older than you." argued Nic.
"Students, I think you'll find that love can conquer all obstacles, regardless of how tough they may be," a voice said behind them. It was Professor Rimmer, a heavy, old-looking textbook clutched under one arm and obviously on her way to the library. She laid a hand on Eve's shoulder. "Don't lose faith, Miss Quirrell." she said, and swept past them majestically.
The group were shocked into silence.
"Eve, I think you've just met yourself twenty years from now." said Emmanuel quietly, and a torrent of laughter ensued.
*********************************
The Potions classroom, positioned near the Slytherin dungeons, was not what the first-year's had expected at all. As opposed the cold, stony, dark room that they'd all talked about, it was light, dusty and quite small. The Hufflepuffs were already seated in the room, and the Ravenclaws also proceeded to take seats. The sound of a door closing in the back of the room sent the class into silence, as Professor Snape glided silently to the front.
He looked around, surveying his class with a look that could freeze hell over.
"She's late," he murmured to nobody in particular.
But with that pronouncement, a puff of green smoke burst from nowhere, and out of the smoke stepped Professor Rimmer, all smiles. Snape gave her a look that suggested great embarrassment on his part, but she simply smiled at him and perched herself on the stool behind his desk. He crossed to her side, and nodded swiftly at her.
The young woman hopped off her stool and nodded in return, to Snape. She stood in front of the class, hands clasped behind her back.
"Good morrow, students! I am Professor Rimmer, Professor Snape's teaching assistant, which means anything he doesn't want to do, he pushes on to me."
This garnered a couple giggles and snickers from the students that were quickly silenced when Snape raised an eyebrow at the comment. She smirked at him and continued.
"Well...this is potions. You'll find it is quite different from your other classes, and even from other magic. For this is not about annunciating the correct syllable of a Latin word. This is about logic! It's about preperation, comprehension, patience, following
exact instructions. You'll learn to create, you'll learn to destroy. The rules are strict, some considered harsh. But regulations must be placed when you play with poison and meddle with medicine." she paused for effect, and continued, pacing the front floor of the classroom.
"Unlike the gift you all share, which earned you a place here, not everyone is born with the knack for potions. Same will excel, others will not. This course requires three things:: Hard work, perseverance and... hard work.
"You said hard work twice." noted Jude.
"That's because it takes twice as much work as perseverance." she said, smiling smugly at the young Ravenclaw "Do we understand?" She raised an eyebrow in the manner of her co-teacher and placed her hands on her hips. "Don't disappoint me."
The twins couldn't help but feel that last comment was directed at them.
Professor Rimmer stood back and Snape came forward, lacing his fingers together.
"Students, first and forthright, I expect only the best from you. Hufflepuffs, I expect commitment and hard work. Ravenclaws, I expect you to study and work at your own ability, as befitting your respective house qualities. Now, Professor Binns has spoken to me before this class. He says one of your assignments in History of Magic this year is to write a paper on one of the House Founders. Seeing as I am head of his house, this morning, Professor Rimmer and I will be be giving you a potion to make from our own house founder, Salazar Slytherin."
He turned to the blackboard, and in sharp, elegant writing, wrote 'Restituere', while Professor Rimmer moved silently around the classroom, taking various jars and containers down from shelves.
"Now, seeing as the Hufflepuff and Ravenclaws traditionally remain my most hard-working studious classes, I trust you would've read your textbooks in preparation." he said, folding his arms and sweeping his gaze across the class.
The class exchanged nervous glances. Emmanuel swallowed hard. He hadn't even read his Potions textbook yet! And it was to his great misfortune that Snape gestured to him.
"Mr Quirrell, for what purpose did Salazar Slytherin create the Restituere potion?"
Before he knew it, Emmanuel was answering.
"Salazar Slytherin created Restituere for the curing of alcohol poisoning," he replied. Snape nodded, but Emmanuel continued. "seeing as his father was a wizard who enjoyed his drink and frequently suffered from it."
Emmanuel clamped his hand over his mouth in shock. How had he known that? Snape was looking at him in rather well-disguised shock. There was a small gasp from the back of the room from Professor Rimmer.
"Correct, Mr Quirrell," he said finally. "Five points to Ravenclaw."
*********************************
Severus and Severa stood near the door, watching the students stream out, heading towards their next class. He noted that Severa was watching the twins, who were walking together.
"Gods Severus, how did he know that? Hardly anybody knows that Slytherin's father was a pissant!"
"Would you care to use more eloquent language, Severa?" he said sharply.
"My apologies, Severus, but Emmanuel knowing that.....it's amazing, isn't it?"
"Yes," he murmured. "it is. There's no way he could've found that out from anyone. It's only his first day in Hogwarts......."
"Do you think this is worth seeing Professor McGonagall over?"
"Perhaps......." he said, gesturing to the blackboard for her to clean. "but not now, Severa. Can you take care of the beakers please?" he said, seating himself at the desk for some writing.
Severa sighed. "I wish I could've been wrong when I said I did all the stuff you didn't want to do....."
*********************************
That lunchtime, Emmanuel had found himself the centre of attention.
"How on Earth did you know that?" Eve asked. "That's not in any of our textbooks!"
"Who cares?" said James, smiling. "You got five points! That's pretty impressive stuff."
Emmanuel smiled along with his friends, but couldn't fight the growing funny feeling at the bottom of his stomach.
"His Mother's a teacher, that's how he knows." a loud voice cut in. It was Mara Parkinson, on her way to the Slytherin table. "Though not the most impressive of teachers, I must say."
"Excuse me? Mum does the best she can." said Eve, standing up from her seat. "Which is more than what I can say for you. You're not exactly the most impressive of bullies."
"Yes, you'd be used to them, right? Just like your Mother.....bloody bookworms, I bet. And if you're anything like your father....well, I'd be worried." she said, looking at them with faint disgust as she walked away.
Nic scowled at her retreating back. "She's a nasty piece of work. I think you're best ignoring her, Eve. What does she know, anyway? She's a Slytherin."
Eve smiled and nodded confidently, but couldn't ignore her comments. What did she know about their Father, anyway?
A/N: Ok, some clarification here as not to generate any confusion.
Celly has made the point of ensuring the twins don't know anymore about Hogwarts than the other kids do. Yeah, they've met a few teachers, (Celly being good friends with Snape and Severa) and they were born at the school, but they haven't been there since. That's all for now, I'll be sure to fill out any plot holes there could be.