Zephari woke up to find something – someone – jumping on her bed. She groaned and sat up, rubbing her eyes to find a disgustingly awake Zoë hopping around her feet. A slightly groggy Dante was grinning widely at her through long, straight, red hair. Zephari glared at Zoë and shoved her off the foot of her bed, grinning as she landed on her feet.
"Can you believe it?" Zoë cried excitedly, "We're finally here, at Hogwarts, and in Gryffindor and together!"
"I've got the canary!" A groggy Annabelle announced, sitting upright and opening her eyes with a tremendous yawn.
"A canary?" Zephari repeated.
"What?" Annabelle asked.
"You said 'I've got the canary' when you woke up." Dante giggled slightly.
"Oh..." Annabelle murmured, sounding greatly embarrassed.
"Don't worry, Anna," Zoë said good-naturedly, "My dad said his best friend once believed he was talking to spiders in his sleep."
The girl grinned and brushed her extremely curly brown hair out of her eyes before getting up and getting changed. Zephari debated for a moment, then decided there was no point of being shy and hiding as she changed. She got dressed as Annabelle did and looked around as soon as her head popped out of the collar. "Where's Natasha?" She asked curiously.
Zoë grinned devilishly, "She stormed out as soon as she changed, muttering something about crazy Potters."
Zephari smirked and looked over at Dante, who grinned at her. The Weasley's red hair was now a vibrant blue, as she had it most often. "Shall we go down to breakfast?" She offered, tucking several curly strands behind her ear.
They headed downstairs to the common room, where they found a sleepy Natasha waiting for them. She gave Zoë a fervent glare. "Next time you decide to hop on my bed, I'll have a hex waiting." She said sourly.
"Not a morning person, eh?" Zephari asked sympathetically, leading the way through the portrait.
She earned a sour grunt in response. Dante grinned slightly and Zoë blushed while giggling. Annabelle shook her head and took the lead, Natasha falling into stride with Zephari in front of the ever-giggling Dante and Zoë.
"You'll become an early-bird soon enough, trust me." Zephari muttered, "Mine and Dante's rooms back home have a door between the two and she's always barrelling through it at the most unholy of hours. Zoë's even worse, as she actually starts jumping on your bed at said hour. One week with her and I had learnt to forgo by sleeping habits."
Natasha blinked at her. "Too many big words for this early in the morning." She grumbled.
"You'll get used to it." Zephari said simply, laughing.
They reached their table easily, as all but Anabelle came from a wizard family with older siblings that had told them all about the short-cuts to reach the Great Hall. Of course, Zephari knew that she knew more than the others, due to her father's inquisitive nature. Too bad the Marauder's Map was nothing more than ashes, burnt when Voldemort had used it to get into Hogwarts. That did not mean that all the school-only passages had been blocked. Only those leading out of the school were beyond use.
They sat down at the end of the table nearest to the teacher's table. Zoë served Natasha some breakfast, as she was simply glaring about sleepily. The five boys joined them soon after. Liam and Xander sat on either side of Zephari while Abe sat beside Annabelle, Nathaniel beside his sister and James beside Zoë. They had just finished their breakfasts when the owl post arrived.
"Zoë," Zephari groaned, looking at the offender, "You woke us up so we could eat before owl post?"
At least she had the decency to turn a light shade of red. The boys, however, were chuckling. Zoë arched an eyebrow. "I can come and wake you guys up too, you know." She taunted and they shut up.
"Or Natasha could, since she's usually in a bad mood after being woken up." Dante added, grinning impishly.
Natasha seemed revived by the food and grinned slightly. "Boys can't go up the girls' stairs, but girls can go up the boys'." She said gleefully.
"Hey! No fair!" Abe cried, "How come girls get to invade our half of the tower?"
"Girls are more trustworthy than boys." Zoë said pertly.
"How deceived they are." Alexandre commented, sitting beside Liam on Zephari's right.
"Indeed." Alexis agreed, sitting across from him and, therefore, beside James.
"Delusional founders... Bet it was poor Godric who deemed such." Alexandre mused.
"Of course, Godric did everything for Gryffindor. I wonder if the other houses did the same thing..." Alexis replied.
Liam, Abe and Annabelle looked blank, yet the other seven grinned slightly. It was James who explained it this time. "The four founders of Hogwarts are Godric Gryffindor, Salazar Slytherin, Helga Hufflepuff and Rowena Ravenclaw." He said simply.
"Merlin be thanked that those lunatics are long gone now." Alexandre said happily, delving into his breakfast.
Professor Finnigan moved up and down the table, handing out timetables. Zephari looked curiously at hers. "Excellent, no double subjects today!" She said gratefully.
"Ugh, Potions last." Zoë grumbled.
"Herbology first, then Transfiguration before lunch." Abe muttered.
"Ugh." They all chimed when they looked at the first subject after lunch: History of Magic.
"Why can't Binns do us all a favour and pass into the afterlife?" Alexis muttered. "Blimey, we've got him first today. Why can't we ever have him last so we can have a nice pre-supper nap and not have to worry about later classes?"
"He can't be that bad." Annabelle said hopefully.
"Binns is a ghost, dead since before my grandparents came here." Zoë said bluntly, "He manages to make blood-thirsty goblin rebellions sound as boring as watching grass grow."
Liam grumbled. "I was hoping we'd get to start Defence Against the Dark Arts today." He said with disappointment.
Zephari grinned. "What? One overgrown bat a day isn't enough for you?" She teased.
He looked blank and she pointed up at the table. "The one with the greasy black hair is Professor Snape, potions master. The one with the blonde hair is Professor Malfoy, D.A.D.A. professor."
"They're the ones Margot Branstone and Cynthia Perks were calling vampires." Dante added brightly.
"But the only one you need to watch out for is Professor Dethol, the C.O.M.C. professor. He tried – and succeeded – in sneaking a Grindylow, a water demon, onto the school train last year when he started teaching." Zoë informed him.
"D.A.D.A.? C.O.M.C.?" Abe repeated.
"Defence Against the Dark Arts and Care of Magical Creatures. Both are horrible mouthfuls, which is why they're shortened." Nathaniel told him, "My Mum's classmates used them."
"So did my great-grandfather, they're rather old terms." Zephari said dismissively.
"Great-grandfather?" Annabelle repeated incredulously.
Zephari took advantage of the situation, "He was a mass murderer, locked in Azkaban for twelve years only to escape. He was never found again, by the Ministry anyways." She said with a smirk.
James's eyes widened. "With a background like that, how come you're not in Slytherin?" He asked in a squeak.
"The hat does not place us, we place ourselves. We choose our Houses, not the hat." Zoë said simply, "Those that know what house they want to be in are most easily placed, those who don't need to be prodded into a decision by the hat."
The others, except Dante and Zephari, looked doubtful. Zephari, however, shrugged and answered his question, "I thought so for a bit, but then I realized that I would never be able to stand being with so many dark and untrustworthy people. Plus, I get horrible colds in the damp, and the Slytherin common room is in a dungeon." She finished with a grin.
"How can you take it that lightly?" Abe demanded.
"How else should I take it?" She replied and no one could find an answer.
They finished eating and Zephari stood up. "We had best go get our books." She urged them and the ten first years hurried up to their dormitories, got their books, and headed out to the greenhouses. They arrived there in time to see the Hufflepuffs gathering.
"Excellent!" James said eagerly. "One class without the Slytherins!"
Zephari rolled her eyes, "You let them get to you too easily." She told him as they lined up.
All talk was cut off then as Professor Abbott hurried them into Greenhouse One. Zephari barely paid attention, wondering why such a boring and tedious subject was part of their learning. After that, they headed to Transfiguration, which was a purely Gryffindor class.
Professor Finnigan led them into the classroom and regarded them all evenly. "Welcome to Transfiguration. This is the class where you shall learn how to turn objects into things they are not." He paused then to turn Abe's desk into a teapot and back again. "Eventually, you'll learn how to turn humans into different beings." He added as an after-thought. "But, we must all start small."
He handed out a match to each student. "Your first assignment is to turn these matches into needles." He told them, amidst a few groans. "Hopefully you'll be able to do so in relatively few classes."
Zephari grinned. She knew all about Professor Finnigan's first Transfiguration class. He had lit no small amount of things on fire, as he had done in the majority of his classes. She found it interesting that he spoke with a lot less of an accent than Colin, but that must have come from years of practice.
It was soon clear, as it was every year, that turning matches into needles was more difficult than it seemed. Zephari managed to make hers turn shiny silver before class's end. Dante's was pointy at the end and Zoë's had a loop at one. The others were all a little behind them, but that had to be expected. Zephari and her cousins has been practicing magic with their elder cousins for years but never getting in trouble as they were not using wands.
Exhausted and irritated, the Gryffindor first years went for lunch in the Great Hall. "Finnigan's as much of a tyrant as I heard McGonagall was." James muttered. "Luckily for us Professor Corner's Head of Gryffindor."
"Professor Dethol would be the best Head of House." Alexis interrupted, as always, "He always gives us fun detentions." She said.
"Will you stop butting into our conversations?" Abe demanded.
"Sorry, can't do that. Have to watch over my cousins." Alexis answered sweetly.
"Alexis," Aleanor called from farther down the table, "Hurry up and eat, or you'll be late for Herbology."
The red-head rolled her eyes. "What a shame if I miss Herbology of all subjects." She grumbled, yet joined her twin.
The first years gulped down their lunches and walked up to History of Magic. Zephari glared at the girl's uniform of a skirt beneath one's robes. "Why do the boys get to wear pants anyways?" She muttered to Dante, "I mean, if we have to wear skirts, they should wear kilts or something."
Her cousin snorted with laughter, "Not quite the same thing, Zeph." She said.
"So?" Zephari demanded, "If they wear knickers underneath, it's the same."
The rest of the Gryffindors chuckled at that and they entered the History of Magic only to find it just as boring as the Weasleys had said it was. Nobody except Professor Binns could possibly make goblin rebellions sound as boring as he did. She took notes diligently, deciding to invest in a Quick Quotes Quill as soon as possible. Even if it embellished the truth a bit, it was better than trying to listen to the boring drone of Binns.
"Finally!" Zoë cried as Professor Binns drifted back through the blackboard.
"Couldn't've said it better myself." Zephari muttered.
"Knowing our luck, we'll have Potions with the Slytherins." James added.
"All Gryffindors have Potions with Slytherins, the Puffs have it with Rave's, after all." Natasha pointed out.
Sure enough, when they headed down the dungeons they saw the Slytherins waiting there as well. A few sneered at them, especially Veronica Parkinson, a pug-faced girl with dark hair and hazel brown eyes. "So, Potty, Weasel and their pet dog have finally arrived." She sneered even wider.
"Ah, so the pug, her two boulders and their Azkaban-loving friends beat us here." Zephari sneered back, beating her down easily.
Veronica would have retorted, had Professor Snape not led them into the dungeon classroom then. Zephari and her fellow Gryffindors sat at the far half of the dungeon, while the Slytherins sat at the close half. Frequent glares were exchanged before Snape closed the dungeon door and stalked to his desk at the front of the class.
"There will be no foolish wand-waving or silly incantations in this class." He said firmly, making the wizard-born Gryffindors grin. "I will teach you how to ensnare the mind and bewitch the senses. I can teach you how to brew glory, bottle fame and even put a stopper in death, if you are not like the usual dunderheads I am forced to teach at this school."
"It's not exactly like Mum and Dad said he told them, but close enough." Dante whispered.
"Today, we will start with a Forgetfulness Potion. Instructions," He flicked his wand, "Are on the board. Begin."
He then went and sat behind his desk, glowering at them. Zephari grinned deviously and began working on her potion. She found it easy enough, which surprised her. She had laboured through Herbology and History of Magic. Transfiguration had been alright, but Potions was extremely easy for her. She looked up when Snape began moving about the room.
He paused beside her cauldron and made a little noise in the back of his throat. She smirked up at him and added her final ingredient. He watched doubtfully as it turned the perfect shade and she scooped some up, put a stopper in it and handed it to him with an impish smirk. "Done, sir." She informed him needlessly.
He took the potion with a minute glare, meaning he was pleased. She leaned back in her chair, aware of the glares from the Slytherins and the barely concealed smiles of her fellows. None of the Slytherins managed to come close to her potion-making skills and the majority of the Gryffindors did not fare very well either. The latter, however, were buoyed up by Zephari's success.
"Miss Black, please stay behind after class." Snape called as the bell rang.
Zephari packed up her things and approached his desk. She turned around to see her fellows waiting inside the classroom. She motioned for them to wait outside, though only Dante and Zoë understood. They ushered the others outside and Zephari turned back to Snape.
"Did Athen teach you how to make potions?" He asked bluntly, looming over her.
"No." She said, feeling slightly hurt, "I'm not allowed being naturally good at something?"
"Potions does not come naturally!" He growled.
"What if it does?" She retorted, "It did for Dad, it does for me."
"Did Draco teach you then?" He demanded.
"Nobody taught me! I just followed those instructions!" She protested, feeling her eyes tear up.
He looked frustrated and simply stared at her. "Dismissed." He muttered.
She turned away from him. "You're naturally good at potions and Athen was too. Why can't you believe I am?" She muttered before leaving the room at a jog.
"Good job, Severus." Draco muttered from the shadows, stepping out of them.
The potions master sighed irritably, "Don't you have a class to teach?" He demanded.
"No. This is my spare." The other said easily, "I must say, you have a great way with children."
"No Gryffindor is that good at potions." Severus growled, getting irritated with his once-pupil.
"She's Athen's daughter, and have you forgotten who Athen is?" Draco demanded.
"Of course not." Severus snapped.
"Good, because it would be stupid not to." The Malfoy said silkily before sweeping from the dungeon.
"Bloody Malfoys, bloody Blacks... bloody Potters and bloody Weasleys." Severus growled. "Why do they all have to be so superior?"
After that, the week went rather smoothly. Herbology continued to be a bore, Transfiguration continued to be all about changing matches into needles, History of Magic remained droningly monotonous and Potions became an enjoyable class with Snape's apology the next day. Defence Against the Dark Arts was begun with dark creatures, Astronomy was dull and Charms was as fun as expected.
However, the class that Zephari had been looking forward to the most had finally arrived: Flying lessons. August Wood had firmly told them that his father was a slave-driver, but he had their best interests at heart.
That only made Zephari anticipate it even more.
So, when they marched down onto the smooth grounds not even the sight of the Slytherins standing beside a tall red-headed man wearing Quidditch-style Hogwarts robes could discourage them.
"Everyone step up beside a broom." Professor Wood ordered crisply, making the first years hop to obey, "Hold your hand out over the broom and say 'up!'." He continued when they were all standing on the left side.
Zephari smirked at her cousins and the three girls looked down at their brooms and called 'up!' in unison, the three brooms hopping into their hands. Natasha, Nathaniel and Liam got it on their second try, while the rest of the Gryffindors took three or more tries. Zephari knew the Slytherins were doing about as well, as usual.
The class went without a hitch and Oliver Wood drew Zephari, Dante and Zoë aside at the end. "I would highly advise the three of you to try out for Quidditch next year." He told them with a wink. "I'm certain your cousins would be happy to educate you three over the holidays."
Zephari grinned and Zoë said something along the lines of 'yes, sir' before the three dashed off to supper that night. The supper was sweeter due to their triumph, Zephari found, and she felt a happy warmth in her stomach as she reached the common room that night.
"So, how was your first week of horrors?" Alexis asked as the three lounged beside the fire with their year-mates.
"Alright." They chorused, making the older Weasley grin.
"It gets better, though a little more monotone." She told them before going back to her work.
Zephari rolled onto her back. "I'm in no hurry to get to that point." She announced, watching the fire crackling above her.