Disclaimer 1: Draco, his parents and teachers all belong to JKR. (As if you didn't all know that.)
Disclaimer 2: Severus Snape owning a raven belongs to J.L. Matthews. (Go read her story everybody. It's great.)
Disclaimer 3: The gang name Sharks is borrowed from the musical West Side Story of course. I don't remember where I found the name Rakers, but I know I read it somewhere.
Disclaimer 4: The idea for Snape having a family comes from Al's fic Time of Trial.
Disclaimer 5: The Glizzard family and Gringolf Glizzard belong to my friend PegaPony and so do all of Gringolf's songs. Thanks for letting me borrow them!
Disclaimer 6: My friend Edmund owns himself and his horse Apollo.
Disclaimer 7: Old Joe and Tess' Joe belong to Zebee.
Disclaimer 8: The looks of the five Slytherin girls are taken mostly from a drawing by Iremione.
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A/N: For once almost on time. I can't promise anything for next week, though. It's still rather busy at work.
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Chapter 14: Chess, Owls and Chemistry
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The first meeting of the Chess club was held in the great hall and one would have thought that there was enough room there for the forty members it was supposed to have, but somehow it turned into complete chaos long before the West Hogsmeade students began to arrive.
Aterus who was feeling rather shy kept to the side and tried to be inconspicuous. The only familiar faces he'd seen in the crowd so far were those of Felix Towerhill and Randolph Montrey of Ravenclaw and he'd lost sight of them only moments later.
A teacher he'd never seen before was trying to calm down the noisiest students and direct them towards chairs at the Ravenclaw table. According to a conversation of some older students that Aterus overheard that was Professor Vector who as Billy had mentioned taught Arithmancy, a subject the Professors Snape highly approved of.
"It's very important what electives one chooses." Billy had said. "Dad said Arithmancy will come in useful whatever you do and Draco says to pick Runes, if I want to go on into a magical career and definitely Math, if I plan on going to Muggle university. Divination is complete rubbish and Care for Magical Creatures fun, but a waste of time and it can also get dangerous."
Aterus didn't quite understand why he had to worry about those things now. After all they wouldn't have to choose any electives until third year.
Anyhow, to teach Arithmancy Professor Vector probably had to be very intelligent. That deserved some respect in Aterus' opinion.
"Seventh years, to me, please!" Professor Vector was shouting and lining the students that responded to her call up at the end of the Ravenclaw table. "Do we have any more seventh years? No? Then the sixth years to me, please!"
The sixth years were lined up right next to the seventh years and then followed the fifth years, fourth years, third ...
Aterus finally found himself at the bottom end of the line facing a dark skinned girl in a green robe, apparently a West Hogsmeade first year and waiting for Professor Vector to supply them with a chess board.
"Oh dear, oh dear, we didn't think that through at all." the teacher sighed. "Don't worry, children. Next week we'll have only ten pairs in this class and won't have this problem."
"You mean you're kicking all the losers out of the club?" the girl asked horrified.
"What? Oh no, deary." Professor Vector assured her. "Of course not. I'm just going to split you into a junior and a senior club. The senior club will meet on Mondays starting next week, but there simply wasn't any time yesterday and I wasn't sure which fourth years to put into which club so I decided to combine the two today. I just didn't think ... Oh, thank you, Winky!"
A tiny house elf had suddenly materialised right on the table carrying a stack of three chess sets. She nodded at the teacher in acknowledgement, placed one between Aterus and the West Hogsmeade girl and popped over to the next chessboard less pair.
Professor Vector disappeared as well, probably to watch the fourth years' games in order to decide which of them were the most advanced. At least Aterus assumed that the senior club would have the more advanced players.
"So, black or white?" he asked his opponent.
"Why, I'm black of course." she pointed at herself with both hands and it took Aterus a moment to figure out that she was referring to her skin colour.
"That doesn't mean you have to play black, though, does it?" he asked a little unsure.
"That's okay. I like black." she returned happily then held out her hand to him. "Jessica Johnson, squib."
"Oh," Aterus quickly shook the offered hand. "Aterus Sorrel, Slytherin." He hoped that was the right reaction. After all she probably already knew that he was a wizard, since Hogwarts didn't teach squibs.
"My mother was in Ravenclaw." Jessica continued while they set up their pawns. "Dad's a Muggle."
"My mother was a Hufflepuff, I think. And my father a Slytherin."
"Are the Sorrels a Slytherin family then?" Jessica asked. "The Johnsons are mostly Ravenclaws, but I have a cousin who was in Gryffindor."
"Mostly Slytherins." Aterus confirmed while making his first move. "We've had several Ravenclaws as well, though, and some Hufflepuffs. I don't think I have any Gryffndor ancestors."
"The traditionally Slytherin families rarely do." Jessica said and Aterus wondered why she seemed to know so much about Hogwarts' houses, if she was a squib.
"Did you want to go to Hogwarts very much?" he asked after they'd made a few moves in silence.
"Well, I expected to, but then I didn't like the idea of going to boarding school all that much." Jessica answered lightly. "And my Dad's a Muggle after all, so I didn't feel all that bad when I found out I'm a squib."
"How did you?" Aterus asked. "I mean, how can one know for sure that one doesn't have magic? I know for sure that I am a wizard since I performed accidental magic, but not every child does. So you can't just decide that everyone who never did is a squib, can you?"
"Well, all children with a magical parent are registered at the ministry of magic, of course, and at Hogwarts they record all magical newborns." Jessica explained while taking out one of his pawns. "Every year in July somebody at Hogwarts makes a copy of the list of children who will be eleven at the first of September and sends it to the ministry. The ministry then compares the lists and the parents of all registered children that aren't on the Hogwarts list are notified that their child is a squib and invited to contact West Hogsmeade."
Aterus moved his rook. "That seems like an awful lot of trouble to copy the whole list just for the ones who aren't on. Check."
Jessica took the rook with her tower. "It's not just for that. The Hogwarts list also contains all the Muggle borns which the ministry doesn't know about until then. Their parents have to be contacted as well so they'll be aware of the option to send their child to a magic school. And I think they also contact the magical families whose children aren't down for Hogwarts and remind them it's time to send them to school."
"How can someone not be down for Hogwarts?" Aterus asked. "I'm pretty sure my parents never applied."
"I think if the parents went to Hogwarts themselves their children are on the list automatically." Jessica said. "The others have to apply, but some spots are reserved for Muggle borns. You know, because they can't apply before they are contacted by the ministry and if they gave away all the places ahead of time, they'd never get the chance. Check mate."
Aterus blinked at the board in surprise. He hadn't even noticed how well Jessica had cornered him. "Hey, you're good."
"You got too distracted with our conversation. Play again?" she suggested.
"Sure, and this time I'm going to pay better attention."
"Do you want to be black this time?"
"I'd love to."
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Wednesday morning at breakfast several owls swooped down at the group hooting complaints about the lack of room to land. Aterus was the first to expertly catch his family owl.
Once seated on the boy's shoulder the owl calmed down and accepted a slice of bacon in return for the package he'd been carrying.
"It's my Sports clothes." he informed Billy after glancing at the note that came with it. "Mother thinks they are really weird, though. I don't think she's ever had to buy Muggle clothes before."
"So what did she buy you?" Tullia asked him. "I got green shorts with silver stripes on the sides, look!"
Aterus pushed his plate aside and opened the package. "Jeans. And a green t-shirt with a cobra's head."
"Cool." commented Billy.
"Your parents were very thoughtful." Colleen said. "They even remembered to pick Slytherin colours."
Pank nodded. "So did mine. Green shorts and a green t-shirt, just like Anny's."
"It's almost like having a Soccer uniform." Anny looked up from her letter.
"But the Soccer team is made up of all houses." Tullia reminded them. "They can't just all wear green."
"Yes, I suppose we will need a black uniform." Pank agreed. "Too bad we didn't think of that sooner."
"It doesn't seem like we're getting a uniform for the team at all." Billy remarked. "At least nobody mentioned it, yet."
"Maybe the school will supply them?" Anny suggested.
Danny snorted at that. "They didn't supply our robes, books or even the Sports clothes. Why would they make an exception for the Soccer dresses?"
"Actually, the headmaster is considering to determine an official school Sports uniform for next year." Professor Snape appeared behind her unexpectedly. "I'm afraid nobody thought of the need for Sports clothes in advance this year."
"You don't say?" Danny rolled her eyes. "We never would have noticed."
"I saw most of you received mail today." Snape continued ignoring the sarcasm. "Are your problems solved, then?"
"The worst of it, I think." Pank answered. "We should have enough spares to lend to the ones who are still without now."
Snape glanced around at the group. "Who didn't get an owl today?"
"Me." smirked Billy.
"And me." said Rupert and Colleen.
"And Gangolf's still missing." Pank added. "We don't know whether he got any mail, yet."
"I'm certainly not going to owl you and you already have your Sports clothes." Snape told Billy, then became more serious. "Your family still hasn't owled back, Miss Nocturne?"
"No, Professor, not yet." Colleen admitted. "They might have some problems purchasing the Muggle clothing, though. They do not approve of witches wearing trousers, so it might take a while for them to pick a pair they find acceptable. The Sports teacher seemed okay with the clothes I wore on Monday, though and Anny helped me make a new hair band that will do until my hairpins arrive."
"The pony tail suits you much better anyway." Tullia said.
The others stared at her in surprise.
"Well, it makes you look less ... forbidding." Tullia tried to explain.
"But it still belongs to Anny." Colleen declared. "And my parents probably wouldn't like it."
"I'm sure there's something nice we could do with the pins as well." Anny decided. "We'll just have to try out a few different styles and see what looks best. That would be fun, too, don't you think Dinah?"
"Huh?" Dinah's head sprang up at the mention of her name. "What was that?"
"I said it would be fun to try some different hairstyles for Colleen." Anny shook her head at her. "Are you trying to learn that letter by heart?"
"What do you mean? I haven't even finished reading it. I'm only half way through the third page." Dinah protested.
"Third page?" Danny repeated incredulously. "Just what do your parents write about that could fill three pages?"
"Five and a half." Dinah corrected. "Oh, this and that really. My brother's new friend, the neighbours' daughter's birthday party, my cousin's baby is teething, my aunt and uncle's wedding anniversary, another cousin wants to join the boy scouts, but his parents aren't sure whether he's old enough not to mention magic to the Muggles ..."
"Why ever would you care about any of that?" Danny interrupted Dinah's report.
"It's called showing an interest in other people, so they'll know you care about them." Dinah stated. "Didn't your Mum teach you that?"
Snape decided to ignore that conversation and turned to Rupert. "Your parents haven't written you yet either?"
"Oh yes, I got their answer to my first letter on Saturday." Rupert answered. "Three days are a little short for an owl to make it to Ireland and back with a heavy parcel, though. He's probably somewhere over the sea right now."
"Lets hope for the poor bird's sake that he's on a ship and not flying over empty water, then." Snape decided. "What about Gangolf?"
"Who knows?" Pank shrugged. "His letter is probably here already, but unless the school owls make special deliveries in the bathroom it will have to wait until he comes up for breakfast."
However this turned out to be one of the days on which Gangolf didn't have breakfast at all and a very sleepy owl finally waylaid him on the way to the glass houses for Herbology. Thanks to this excellent timing the Hufflepuffs as well as the Gryffindors were treated to the sight of Gangolf unpacking a pair of pink tights with obvious delight.
"You get sister's letter?" Jorge asked Gangolf wide eyed.
"No, it's from my Mum." Gangolf replied misunderstanding the question.
"Mum give you sister's ... robe?"
"Er ... I don't think I understand that one, Jorge." Gangolf blinked at the Spanish boy.
"No Jorge, Gangolf likes pink tights." Aterus tried to explain. "They are for the Ballet Club."
"Gangolf likes witch?" Jorge attempted to give some meaning to the unfamiliar words. "Robe is for witch?"
"Not robe, tights." Aterus pointed at the piece of clothing in question.
"Tights." Jorge nodded. "Tights is for witch?"
"No, the tights are for Ballet." Jonathan corrected.
"Ballet not witch?"
"Ballet is a class. A club." Jonathan explained attempting to mimic ballet dancing. "Oh, Gangolf can show you once he's learned. I can't dance."
"Jon no good Ballet?"
"No, and I don't want to learn either."
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Billy arrived at Filch's office over half an hour before dinner. The caretaker looked up from the files he was arranging in surprise.
"I'm here for Chemistry class." Billy announced.
"That doesn't start until six." Filch grumbled. "Come back then."
"But I'm supposed to eat dinner there first, am I not?" Billy argued.
"Yes, but the rest of your class hasn't been told, yet, and it's too early for dinner as well. I only just took all the Basketballers over and there were two Sports classes before that. I need a break from all the portkeying."
"The Hufflepuff first years." Billy stated. "They had Sports today."
"That was the second group." Filch agreed. "First were the Gryffindors."
Billy shrugged. "I don't like Gryffindors."
Filch regarded the Slytherin badge on his uniform. "But you do like Hufflepuffs?"
Billy nodded. "At least those in my year. The Ravenclaws are okay, too." he added to show that he wasn't prejudiced.
"So what's wrong with the Gryffindors?" Filch asked picking up his cat and scratching him behind his ears.
"They're mean." Billy frowned. "They call me a teacher's pet and steal our things. One of them broke my friend's quill yesterday. Some older ones beat up Gangolf. And that ugly girl, Laura, called Colleen a Death Eater."
"And you didn't do anything to them at all, I suppose?" Filch mocked.
"Well, Danny punched Warthay, but that was after she said we were all dark wizards anyway." Billy admitted. "It was definitely them who started it."
"So they just talk and you react by hitting them?" Filch shook his head. "I should give you a detention for that."
"We only defend ourselves." Billy protested.
"Against what? Words are not an attack." the caretaker declared.
"So if someone called you mudblood, you wouldn't retaliate?" Billy challenged.
"If someone called me mudblood, I'd probably send them to Madame Pomfrey to have their head examined. Who ever heard of a Muggle born Squib?"
"It was just a general example." Billy frowned. "What if someone goes around telling everybody that you are a thief then?"
"Then I could sue them."
"Well, because you're an adult. Children can't sue, though."
"Because it doesn't do any harm what others say about a child. It's just not big enough." Filch explained.
"Do you know how many people joined the Death Eaters, because the whole school called them Death Eaters as children?"
Filch blinked. "No."
"Well, I know of two." Billy said. "But then, what do I know of Death Eaters. I can't even remember the war."
"Alright, alright." Filch grumbled. "I'll portkey you over, but if Mr Smith isn't in his office, you're on your own."
"No problem." Billy smiled. "I can find my way."
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To Billy's disappointment Draco wasn't in his office, though. He tried a few classroom doors, but they were all locked. Laving a fully equipped Potions classroom open and unsupervised was a rather dangerous thing and no teacher with half a brain would do it.
Billy sighed and trudged back to the stairs. Maybe Draco was in the library?
He slid one floor down on the banister. Those huge staircases they had in schools were excellent for sliding, but usually too crowded so it was quite an opportunity to find one completely empty.
The corridors were quiet and deserted. Was anybody even still here?
But Mr. Filch had said that there was a Basketball class right now. Billy was simply on the wrong floor to hear all their noise.
The library was a familiar place. When Billy had visited Draco at work, they'd almost always come here. Billy walked in and looked around.
Five green robed students looked back at him in surprise.
Well, there were students in the house, but still no Draco. The librarian hadn't seen him since lunch break either, but suggested to try the teachers' lounge. Unfortunately that was a place Billy couldn't remember ever visiting and by the time he found it Draco had just left to have dinner.
At least Billy knew exactly where the lunch room was and Filch had given him a food ticket as well.
"Draco!" Billy flung himself at his brother the moment he caught sight of him at a table in the back.
Draco laughed and hugged him back. "You're early."
"I just had to see you." Billy stated. "There's so much I have to tell you."
"Alright." Draco dug a few coins out of his pocket. "But get yourself some food first. We can talk while we eat."
For a moment Billy was tempted, but Draco was friends with Mr Smith, who was best friends with Mr Filch, and would probably find out sooner or later.
"Not necessary. I've already got a food ticket." he told his brother.
There was no line at the moment and it only took him a minute to get his food and return to Draco. Apparently the Basketball Club was still in class and very few West Hogsmeade students ate dinner at the school. The Hogwarts Chemistry students would probably eat at Hogwarts today and the ones working in the library hadn't come down yet either.
Besides Draco and Billy there were only two more customers right now and they were probably part of the Chemistry class.
It was hard to eat when you had so much to say, though, and Billy's food turned cold while he told Draco about all the people he'd met and adventures he'd had.
"Gangolf is completely weird." he mentioned after finally eating a spoonful of soup. "He even signed up for Ballet."
"So?" Draco asked. "Why can't a boy want to learn how to dance? The class does have two or three boys every year, you know. There's nothing wrong with that."
"He also got pink Sports clothes for the class."
Draco laughed. "Oh, the poor boy!"
"No Draco, he likes them. I think he asked his Mum to get pink ones." Billy explained. "It doesn't matter much anyway, because he's in the girls' Sports class too."
"Poor boy." Draco repeated. "So, I take it, there are more girls than boys in the mixed Sports class?"
"It's not mixed." Billy stated taking another spoonful of soup. "It's a girls' class with one Gangolf and I'm not sure he should really be considered a boy. He likes mirrors, cosmetics and all sorts of girlie things."
"Maybe he's gay." Draco decided. "Some gays are very feminine."
Billy blinked. "He's eleven. He's not old enough to have that kind of feelings, yet."
"That doesn't mean he can't be gay." Draco declared. "It only means that we'll have to wait a few years to find out for sure."
"Well, I don't like him either way, but Dad says I have to be nice to him." Billy complained just as the door opened and the first larger group of students came in. "Hey look, it's Domally and Donelly."
"Domally and Donelly?"
"Arnika Domally and Salvatore Donelly." Billy explained. "They're Ravenclaws. We have Potions with them. Urgh, and the ones with them are Quentin and Sanger from Gryffindor. Why are they hanging out with those jerks?"
"Maybe they're different with them." Draco shrugged it off. "A lot of Gryffindors are perfectly nice to Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs."
"Yes, but ... I thought Domally and Donelly were okay. They were nice enough when we talked to them until now." Billy shook his head sadly. "All of the Ravenclaws seemed alright."
"Just because they don't hate Gryffindors doesn't mean they have to hate Slytherins." Draco sighed. "Look, it's like gangs. Imagine Hogwarts as a park that has four gangs. Slytherin is one gang and at war with Gryffindor, but Ravenclaw is a third gang whose territory hasn't been compromised. They don't really care about the war because they aren't involved, but they'd like to remain in good standing with whatever side wins, so they won't be the next to be attacked. Therefore they don't want to provoke either gang."
Billy frowned at the group which was now sitting at one of the tables near the door. "I don't like it anyway."
"You don't have to." Draco agreed. "Just don't start a war with Ravenclaw over it, or you'll put Slytherin at a disadvantage. We had a three front war back when I was in school. Trust me, you don't want that."
Billy nodded and decided to change the topic. "Are there any other first years in the class?"
"No, all third years and above." Draco reported. "Twenty students in today's class and ten in the seniors. Most of them I already know. Only the two from Hogwarts are complete strangers."
"Only two from Hogwarts?" Billy asked surprised.
"They haven't had Math there until this year." Draco reminded him. "The two we got are both Muggle born, but that's all I know about them. They must have learned a little Math in Muggle school, so I'm hoping they'll be able to keep up."
"Second years?"
"Fifth." Draco returned with a shrug. "Which means they've had five years to forget what they've learned, but lets hope for the best."
"Will there be any second years in the class at all?" Billy frowned. This could get lonely.
"Four. The mass is made up of third years, though." Draco explained. "Most of our first years don't care about learning Muggle subjects when they arrive, but once they start learning Potions, some develop an interest in Alchemy and take Math in their second year, so I always get more third years than second in Chemistry."
"So most move on to Alchemy after a year?" Billy asked. That was his plan as well.
Draco nodded. "Most of the Chemistry seniors take both subjects." He grinned. "They're my elite, you know, the ones most likely to stick with Alchemy after they finish school."
"Tullia signed up for Math." Billy remembered. "She seems to be pretty good at Potions, too."
"The Mermaid?" Draco asked surprised.
"Part Mermaid. She's more witch, really. You can't even see that she has gills."
"I just hope she realises that you can't brew underwater."
"Draco." Billy rolled his eyes at him.
Draco laughed. "Come on, then. Want to help me set up for class?"
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His classmates in Chemistry did look at Billy rather strangely at first. Due to the usually higher age of the beginners the senior Chemistry Club was normally reserved for sixth and seventh years, though fifth years that took senior Alchemy were allowed in as well. Normal fifth year Chemistry students were firmly placed in the junior club, though making even the second years look very small. Billy looked absolutely tiny next to them.
Once they heard his name and saw his performance in class things improved, though. The lesson was almost boring to him at first. Draco had separated them into two groups, one of students that were new to the class and a smaller one of returning students whom he set a simple practical task while working on the basics with the newcomers.
It was soon obvious that the two Hogwarts fifth years were not up to the standards of the new West Hogsmeade students who'd all spent at least a year in the Math Club, which was mostly designed to specifically prepare the students for Chemistry and Physics, rather than give them a general knowledge of Math.
Draco was used to getting his students with that preparation and found it rather hard to deal with the two. After a few minutes he recommended that they should just watch for today and brush up their Math skills for homework and returned to working with the rest of the group.
Still Billy was bored. He knew all of that and often couldn't even remember from where. Why did one always pour the water in first when mixing it with acid? Gee, didn't every baby know that?
The puzzled faces of his classmates indicated otherwise.
"So you don't get hurt, if you pour it in too fast." he almost groaned.
"And why would you get hurt, if you pour something in too fast?" Draco asked mock innocently.
"Because if you pour one liquid into another too fast, the one already in the glass will splash out and could hit you, or your equipment." Billy corrected himself. "If it's water you only get wet. Acid eats through your skin."
Draco nodded and turned to the next student. "Do you know the chemical formula for water?"
Boring, boring, boring.
"Can't you ask something more interesting?" Billy moaned.
"Like what for example?"
"Like ... Well, at the very least what elements salt is made from or the difference between organic and anorganic Chemistry."
"Chemistry can have organs?" a second year gasped.
"No, organic Chemistry is when it has carbohydrates!" Billy yelped. "Or at least Carbon atoms."
"Car-what?"
"Well, I actually meant to explain elements and molecules before having to explain chemical terminology." Draco sighed. "It usually helps. Organic chemistry on the whole is not the best starting point for beginners."
Billy cast a longing glance towards where he knew Draco kept the parts for model molecules. Maybe Draco would at least let him build a few?
"Alright, you can do the practical assignment." Draco finally agreed. "But don't blow anything up."
Billy looked almost insulted. "Of course not."
"Okay, back to the chemical name of water." Draco announced to the rest of the group. "Any ideas?"
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When Anny arrived in Filch's office she almost reconsidered her wish to join the Acting club. The place was full of Gryffindors! Luckily most of them were higher years who didn't know her and probably considered first years beneath their notice anyway and one group turned out to be there for detention rather than transportation to West Hogsmeade.
Wendy Carmey and Alberta Halley sneered at her when Filch called out her name, but Anny was determined to ignore them. With so many students in the club it couldn't get that bad, could it?
Filch portkeyed them over to West Hogsmeade, where Billy and two other students were already waiting.
"How was Chemistry?" Anny called out to Billy, but Filch already activated the return portkey and she couldn't be sure Billy had even still heard her.
"Acting class is in the Arithmancy classroom, Alchemy in Chemistry A." Mr Smith announced. "Are any of you taking Alchemy?"
For a moment Anny's hopes rose, but nobody answered. Of course not, she realised. They were required to take a year of Chemistry first and that hadn't been offered at Hogwarts until now, so how could any Hogwarts students be taking Alchemy?
The Arithmancy classroom turned out to be already overflowing with West Hogsmeade students and Anny almost didn't see the teacher at all at first.
"Silence!" a voice finally roared over the crowd. "We are going to have two Acting classes this year, so today we'll just determine who will be in what group. Group number one will keep meeting on Wednesday, while group number two will meet on Thursdays at the same time. To make the choice a little easier for you group one will perform mostly funny little plays for children, while group two will focus on more serious pieces for adults. To start us off I have picked a nice little fairy tale called The Little Unicorn's Journey for group one and the tragic love story Romeo and Juliet for group two."
The noise immediately rose up again. It seemed everybody else had come with their best friend and had to discuss their choice with them.
"Silence!" the teacher yelled once again not seeming too bothered or srprsed. "There will be twenty students in each group. When I read out your name, please tell me what group you want to be in. Applegate, Becky?"
Once again some students started whispering, discussing the choices. Anny hardly listened to them, though. She already knew her choice. She might never have heard of The Little Unicorn's Yourney before, but unicorns had always fascinated her, while Romeo and Juliet, though famous, seemed rather dull. She very much doubted a tiny first year like her had any chance at being chosen to play Juliet anyway, but the unicorn was supposed to be little, right?
Unfortunately the two Gryffindors seemed to have had the same idea, but Anny wouldn't let them make her decision for her. If she could take Gryffindors in her Transfigurations class, then she could live with them in her Acting class as well.
Apparently there were more people interested in playing Romeo and Juliet, so everyone who picked group one got in easily. There were some negotiations with wannabe Romeos and Juliets until they finally had twenty students in each group, though.
Then the teacher handed out little sheets of paper, much to the astonishment of some of the Hogwarts students, with texts they were to learn by heart until the next week.
"Those are excerpts of the play you are going to participate in, but most likely will not be part of the role you will play. It's just a first assignment so I can see you perform and decide what role would actually suit you."
Anny studied her text closely. Apparently she was to play an old snake who gave the little unicorn some sage advice. She'd have to consult Salazar about how to hiss properly. Maybe if she did very well, the teacher would let her keep the role after all. That was almost as good as playing the little unicorn.
"Hah, I am the butterfly." Wendy Carmey announced. "I'm the most beautiful."
"But I'm the bear." Alberta Halley returned. "I'm the strongest and bravest. I can crush any enemy with a single swipe of my paw."
"That's not brave." slipped out of Anny's mouth before she could stop herself. "That's just bullying. Brave is when you're really in danger of losing, but dare fight anyway."
"Oh yeah?" sneered Alberta.
"So what are you then, Death Eater?" added Wendy.
"I'm the snake." Anny stated.
"Oh, of course." Alberta laughed. "How could we forget. Of course the Death Eater would be the evil one."
"Snakes aren't evil!" Anny corrected. "They're beautiful and fascinating and really nice."
"Evil, evil, evil." cheered the two Gryffindors. "Snakey is evil."
"And slimy." crowed Wendy. "Eeewww, snake!"
"They're not!" Anny shouted. "Their skin's all dry and rough and nice to touch!"
"Slimy, evil monster!"
"The snake isn't evil!" Anny was fighting down tears.
"Yes, it is. All snakes are evil." Wendy declared. "Right?" she asked an older Gryffindor.
"Of course." the girl answered without even a pause. "Snakes are the most evil creatures there are. They are the tool of the devil, who tempted Eve and caused the original sin. They are the origin of all evil in the world."
"You're lying!" Anny burst out tears running down her face.
The Gryffindors laughed at her hopeless attempt at defence, but her loud, shaky protest had attracted the attention of the teacher. She strode over, took one look at the three laughing gils and grew very stern.
"What is going on here?" she demanded.
Anny wanted to answer, but only a sob came out when she opened her mouth, so she just helplessly pointed out her piece of paper and the Slytherin crest on her robe.
"The little Death Eater won't believe that snakes are evil and tools of the devil." the older Gryffindor explained.
"The snake is an ancient symbol of wisdom and healing." the teacher declared calmly. "And that is how she's used in our play. There's no reason to tease anyone over the role they play and this isn't even a permanent role."
"She's a snake, though." Wendy Carmey stated. "All Slytherins are."
The teacher obviously drew a blank. She looked from Wendy to Anny and back again. Anny finally pointed out the crest again.
"House animal." she got out between more sobs.
"I see." the teacher put a hand on her shoulder. "Would you rather have a different role?"
Anny shook her head wildly. No, she still loved being the snake.
The three Gryffindors started to retreat.
"Stop!" the teacher ordered. "I think you three owe your friend an apology."
"We don't make friends with stinking Death Eaters." Laura Warthay declared.
"Death Eaters? There haven't been any Death Eaters for years." the teacher stated. "It was the name of an organisation headed by the dark wizard Voldemort, who was killed when you were about five or six years old. The Death Eaters were arrested and taken to Azkaban. They are gone. So why would you call this little girl a Death Eater?"
"All Slytherins are dark wizards." Wendy Carmey said. "If she isn't, her parents sure are."
Anny had to laugh through her tears. She tried to imagine her father fixing a broken water line with a reparo spell and an evil sneer on his face. Of course she knew that reparo was a light spell, but she couldn't think of any other spells she knew that her father might find use for, nor did she know any dark spells.
"Is one of your parents in Askaban?" the teacher asked her gently.
Anny shook her head and laughed even more. She finally managed to stop crying, but now she couldn't speak from laughing.
The sixth year Slytherin prefect finally came to her aide. "She's Muggle born, Professor. I don't think there ever were any Muggle Death Eaters."
That caused some laughs among the watching students and gave Anny a chance to calm herself a little.
"Well?" the teacher demanded. "Apologise."
It was the older Gryffindor that finally approached Anny. "We apologise for misusing the term Death Eater." she announced loudly. "But the bible clearly states that snakes are evil."
"That is a symbol, Miss Wantage." the prefect returned. "A fable to warn us against others who might like to manipulate us. It could have been any animal chosen. The snake stood for healing long before the bible."
"The bible is the book of god, though." the girl called Wantage returned. "What was before it is sinful and ..."
"Let us not quarrel over religion." the teacher threw in hastily. "I believe we have cleared up what the role of the snake stands for in our play and that there are no Death Eaters in this class. Now you'd better not miss your portkey."
The Slytherins and Gryffindors both remained in tight groups and as far as possible from each other on the way back. Between the older students Anny felt safe from the Gryffindors' attacks, but what would happen next week? Most of the Slytherins seemed to be in the Romeo and Juliet group, while at least the three Gryffindors she hated the most were in her own. She really hoped Salazar would know what to do about them.
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ERMonkey, Burner of Cookies – I try, my friend, I always try.
Cestrel – As I've told a few others before, I'm aware of that and using football would be easier for me as well, but as far as I know about 90 of the readers at this site are Americans and I don't want them thinking of a sport I don't even know the basic rules for ( Apparently you wrestle for the ball, then run off with it and? At least I know that in 'soccer' you score by kicking the ball into the goal.). From what I've seen of both Nations British people are much more capable of understanding and accepting the existence of cultural differences. I trust that most of them will recognise the word soccer, but not that most Americans will realise what football I'm talking about.
Angel-Wings-Forever – Hey, this is the sequel! There just wasn't anything more to say unless I wanted to continue to tell the story of Draco's entire life. (And that would have taken forever.) ... If you don't like this one, though, I'll write the Catar story next and then I'm considering a founders fic. Maybe one of those will be more to your taste.
Pam Briggs – Poor Gangolf is now even more isolated in the group, but it would probably have happened anyhow. He's making too little effort and the others just don't understand him. On top of that he's a kind of student Sevi has never had to handle before. Seems like his biggest hope for help is Jonathan the former Muggle Studies teacher. ... The clubs have a downside I only became aware of when I started writing them: The house rivalry. The numbers of students from each house will vary from club to club. We'll see how able they are to arrange themselves with each other.
Gorman99 – Well, sorry about that, but a lot of readers like the personal answer and it encourages them to review, shows them that their reviews are read and appreciated. Also, it's usually the ones that don't give an e-mail addy that I feel the most compelled to answer. And I do not have, nor do I want to start, a yahoo group. There are too many half dead ones out there already. I usually stick to: mail back, to the people who mail me, response in chapter to those who review on the site. ... HPHC had a very large answer section compared to the length of its chapters, but the chapter per person style forced me to make the chapters shorter than usual. (Most of the time my chapters have three different encounters or main scenes each.) I know some people don't like them and that's why I put them at the end of the chapter (giving them a chapter of their own is against the rules). This way you can just stop when you reach them and scroll on down to the bottom without having to be afraid of missing any of the story.
Kasia – More than having Sevi for his father, growing up among the gangs in Merlin Park probably influences the way Billy approaches other children. He's used to everybody being tough and able to, in fact expecting to, fight off a little challenge. Gangolf's frightened retreat just doesn't make sense to him. Also remember that the kids are only eleven years old. They aren't all as perceptive as Danny, or as thoughtful as Dinah. Billy wants to obey his father and be nice to Gangolf, but the kid simply gets on his nerves. I'm sure you know some people you simply can't stand the sight of as well. That's how Billy feels about Gangolf. ... Sorry, but Gangolf and body slamming anyone simply don't mix. It would be completely OOC. He simply doesn't have it in him to fight. (and Billy is an experienced fighter who'd easily best him, if he tried. It's better for Gangolf not to try.) ... Colleen had a bad start with the group as well, but she can adapt. Unlike Gangolf she really fits the usual Slytherin types and the others are able to understand her problems.
Trogdor the Burninater – Well, after spending his childhood in the Dursleys' cupboard under the stairs Harry is probably quite used to swallowing his pride and his life after Azkaban wouldn't have been easy. He'd have had to take all sorts of demeaning jobs just to survive. I also think Albus didn't leave him much of a chance to say no after the shock of his suicide attempt. He wanted Harry where he could see him under all circumstances. ... I thought Snape of all people would know that Harry deserves a second chance and how he feels and he also knows about his suicide attempt. What do you think I should have done instead? Let him drive Harry into a final successful attempt? Have Dumbledore barge in and stop Harry once again?
Kyzara – Thanks!
JerseyPike – Er ... I don't know, was that action?
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A/N: Will Salazar be able to help Anny? Will having friends outside of his own house and even outside of his school make Aterus a little more confident around people? And how will the Hogwarts students react to Billy being such a star in Chemistry class?
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In the next chapter: Anny's talk with Salazar, Soccer training and Colleen's first Choir class.
