It was a depressing rainy day in the Gryffindor Tower.
Due to Easter holidays, most of the other Gryffindors had gone home.
Since she didn't wish to go home and face her mother, Lia Mason decided to stay at Hogwarts.
Evidently, Lilly didn't want to go home either.
For hearing the tales of the putrid Petunia would want her to stay at Hogwarts as well.
But also made Lia want to give Petunia a good thwacking.
So Lia and Lilly spent the early hours of the morning playing chess.
Lia stared at the chessboard and grinned. "Bishop to A-5."
The bishop moved towards the King and thrashed him.
"Checkmate."
Lilly looked dumbfounded for the brief moment, but the grinned too.
"Touché, Lia. Play again?"
"Okay."
Lilly's chess pieces groaned, but the broken ones put themselves together automatically and stationed themselves.
"Ready, men?" Lia said to the chess pieces.
"At your command, mademoiselle Lia," said the Knights, Rooks, Pawns, and Bishops with pride. "We shall prevail once more!"
The grand moment was ruined by laughter from the boy's dormitory. There were some thumps, more laughter, a yelp, and an apology.
The familiar creak of the boy's dormitory door sounded, and Peter's voice echoed through the somewhat empty common room.
"You really need to stop eating those doughnuts Padfoot. You're gonna be fat in no time."
"Yeah, Padfoot, you almost broke Wormtail's back." James' slightly laughter filled voice exclaimed.
"Whatever, Prongs. Well at least I'm not some anorexic like that greasy git Snape." Sirius retorted.
"Shhh. Some people could be sleeping, you know." Remus' tired voice said.
"There's no one else-" Sirius was saying, but stopped at the sight of a very serious Lia and Lilly. "--Here…"
Lilly and Lia hadn't taken note at the presence of the noisy boys, and we once again in their battle royal.
"Pawn to B-2…" Lia said, while still eyeing Lilly's bishop that was near by.
Lilly hadn't taken the hint, and moved one of her pawns. "Don't move me!" the Pawn cried, now in reach of Lia's Knight, who moved and stomped all over him.
"You could have gotten my pawn if you were paying attention to my obvious clue, Lilly." Lia said, pointing at Lilly's bishop, but then moving the pawn out of the Bishop's reach.
Lilly looked a little discouraged until one of her chess pieces said, "Do not worry so mademoiselle Lilly. You will get better in time. Just like mademoiselle Lia over the years.
Lilly smiled at the chess piece, and took her attention back on the board.
Sirius, who thought that he wasn't quite discovered, silently walked over and was watching over Lia's shoulder.
"I can't play with you breathing down my neck, Sirius." Lia said dully, and Sirius jumped. He looked over his shoulder nervously at the other Marauders.
"How'd you know I--" Sirius began.
"With all the commotion upstairs, I'd figure you'd all be up."
"Oh…"
~ Part Three
The days had passed, and finally it was the day for the students to arrive.
Accalia had put on her best robes, and set out for the Great Hall ten minutes earlier. This was the first time she had bothered to come out of her quarters since she arrived, and was feeling particularly nervous.
She opened the Great Hall doors, and to her surprise, only half of the teachers were there. Dumbledore, whom was chatting with Professor Flitwick, called, "Accalia. So good for you to come."
The other teachers looked at Accalia with wondering eyes as she took her seat next to Professor McGonagall.
"You've finally come out of your room," McGonagall said, sipping her tea.
"Well…" Accalia began, but the Great Hall doors opened once more.
A tall, greasy-haired man wearing black robes came in.
He wore an angry expression, and looked rather unenthusiastic about the events.
"Ah Severus. I thought you were to stay in your quarters tonight," Dumbledore asked questionably.
Snape eyed Accalia, but silently took his seat.
She remembered Severus. Quite unpleasant, but always seemed to be rather polite with her.
"Minerva, the first years are here," Dumbledore said, and McGonagall went off to greet them.
Accalia glanced at Severus, whom had a sulky look about him.
"Hello Severus," she finally said.
Snape merely twitched the side of his lip.
"How have you been doing the last fifteen years?"
"Lovely." Snape said sarcastically, but Accalia payed no mind.
Severus wasn't the type to talk much. He just made do and said what he has to say.
Students filed in endlessly like a giant ocean wave.
Many greeted their friends at their own tables. Some glared at their enemies.
Accalia sighed, knowing the ups and downs of school.
Dumbledore silenced them all and with glee, said, "Welcome to a new school year!"
The students waited patiently as the Sorting began.
She could feel many of them eyeing her from their tables.
Accalia didn't mind. Silver hair and red eyes weren't exactly common.
When the Sorting was done, Dumbledore finally announced,
"And in final, our new Defense against the Dark Arts teacher is Professor Mason!"
Applause burst out, (most were boys) and Accalia smiled.
"Now, let the feast begin!"
The sound of knives and forks clanged.
The chatter started up again, and Accalia's eyes roamed over the many tables.
Slytherin, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw…and Gryffindor.
Accalia noticed a boy with red hair, watching her.
She gave a little wave at him and he turned away with crimson cheeks.
He still had crimson cheeks while talking to a girl with bushy brown hair and….Harry!
Harry turned towards her. His eyes met hers and they stared for a few moments.
He looked so much like James. She would of burst into tears if the children and staff weren't present.
He soon broke the gaze, by looking at the girl, who rolled her eyes at both of the red-haired boy and Harry.
Accalia could make out some of the words the girl was saying by reading her lips.
Soon after desserts, Dumbledore said, "Off to bed…" and the students were led by prefects to their dorms.
Accalia got up and left just as the students did.
Today had been 'fun', she supposed. She was able to see Harry and well…. That was good.
The corridors were empty and a pin dropping could be heard.
Accalia had finally reached her office, which seemed like forever.
After showering and dressing, she lay awake in her bed for sometime.
Pondering…. Pondering…and…