Chapter Fifteen

Behind Ron, I could see the bushy-haired girl waving her wand at the door and muttering, obviously trying new spells to open it. She seemed very calm and focused, given what had just happened to her.

Crabbe and Goyle looked to Draco for instructions.

"You're crazy if you think I'm going to let them out now," Draco told me, walking down the corridor to our compartment. His two minions followed. "They can stay in there for the rest of the year for all I care."

"What's going to happen to them once we arrive?" I followed the boys down the corridor. "Will they just stay on the train when it leaves back for London?"

The corridor filled with the sound of angry voices. Harry and Ron tumbled out into the narrow hallway. Obviously, the kids had managed to open the door to their compartment.

"You're going to pay for that, Malfoy!" Ron stormed toward us, his wand outstretched in his hand. "You've been asking for this all year."

The next thing I knew, I was surrounded by blasts of light. Crabbe, Goyle and Draco were hurling hexes from behind me. Someone grabbed my arm to pull me out of the way, but in the confusion I couldn't tell who it was.

"Expelliarmus!"

There was a blast that made the glass doors rattle on their hinges. I was lifted off my feet. I felt myself flying through the air, and then my head struck the back wall of the train. Everything turned black.


"The entire world does not revolve around Mr. Potter." Severus' voice was low and waspish. "He and his little entourage are clearly irresponsible. Miss Silverthorn lacks the knowledge to protect herself from an attack. She could have been seriously hurt and all because Potter and Weasley cannot control their tempers."

I lay listening with my eyes tight shut. I felt very groggy, and my head was pounding with pain. The words I was hearing seemed to be traveling very slowly from my ears to my brain, so that it was difficult to understand. My arms and legs felt like lead, my eyelids too heavy to lift...

"Those children were trapped inside that compartment for Merlin knows how long, being attacked by angry stone-imps, and you claim that they couldn't control their tempers? Malfoy has been out of control all year," A woman said, her voice brusque and tinged with a Scottish accent. "If you're not willing to punish him accordingly when he acts out, then how are we to-"

"Malfoy will soon be seventeen, Professor." Severus cut in. "Do you understand what that means?"

"It means that he will hopefully graduate from Hogwarts and be out of our hands."

"He will be forced to take the Dark Mark. All of Malfoy's attempts to aggravate Potter greatly amuse the Dark Lord. The Dark Lord has been entertained by stories of Draco's exploits since he has returned. Believe me, Professor McGonagall, the boy's motive may very well be an ingratiating one."

"Good heavens. I didn't think of that." The woman's voice took on a worried tone.

I opened my eyes. Everything was slightly blurred. I was lying in what looked like a hospital room. At the very end of the ward, I could make out a nurse with her back to me, bending over a bed. I squinted. Draco's silvery hair was visible beneath the woman's arm. Two huge lumps, which I guessed to be Crabbe and Goyle, were in other beds.

"Stop making such a fuss, Mr. Malfoy," The nurse said. "They're only boils. They won't kill you."

To the right of me Severus was speaking with a slender, middle-aged woman in emerald and black robes, dark hair pulled severely away from her face into a tight bun. She glanced at me.

"Oh, Miss Silverthorn." The woman waved the nurse over. "Poppy! She's awake."

Suddenly a woman with a pointed, serious face was bending over me.

"What happened?" I asked.

"You received a slight concussion," The woman said matter-of-factly. She fussed around my bed, muttering something about "foolish dueling" and "no adult supervision." She grabbed a bottle from a small table that was labeled, "Cranium-Mend." She poured some of the clear fluid into a spoon and stuck it in my mouth. It was the most horrible thing I'd ever tasted. It even tasted worse than the trauma potion.

"Ack! That tastes like crap!" I yelled, before I could catch myself. "Um, sorry." I felt my face burn with embarrassment.

Laughter erupted suddenly from one of the boys at the other end of the room. I think it was Goyle.

The nurse's lips pursed with disapproval. "Well, what did you expect? Pumpkin juice?" She flapped her hands at the two teachers as though she were shooing away children. "Out, both of you. My patient needs her rest."

"Professsor Dumbledore would like to see you in his office, when you've rested up from your... ordeal, Miss Silverthorn." Professor McGonagall told me with a sniff. "He's already been talking to the Gryffindors. I'm sure he'll be wondering where you managed to find a jar of stone-imps." I tried not to notice the glare of indignation that she shot me as she and Severus left the room.

I sighed. I had only been in the wizarding world a short time, but it seemed I was already developing quite a talent for offending witches.


"Miriel, if you don't come on, we'll never make it to Dumbledore's office." Draco paused to scratch an ugly, purple boil that still remained on his neck. Crabbe and Goyle hadn't recovered nearly as quickly, and they were still in the infirmary, their faces as purple as grapes.

I kept stopping to stare at everything in wonder, the stone archways, the stairways that slid around in mid-air, the moving paintings that whispered as we passed by, the ghosts who flew by greeting us...everything! There was even a group of kids who were eating some kind of magical candy that turned them into various types of birds. I couldn't believe that I was finally here, at Hogwarts. I was going to attend magic school!

"He's probably going to yell at me for roughing up Saint Potter a bit," Draco continued. "Professor Snape already took a hundred points from Slytherin."

"Whatever," I said, not looking at him.

"I told you I was sorry," Draco said. "I tried to pull you out of the way, but I wasn't fast enough. I think it was that Weasley girl who hexed you. I've heard she's always had a thing for Potter, and she's probably jealous after reading the Daily Prophet. Probably did it on purpose, the little wench."

I remembered what Severus and Professor McGonagall had been discussing in the infirmary when they thought I was asleep. I wanted to ask Draco about it, but decided that now wasn't the time.

We walked in silence around a corner. Severus was there, pacing in front of an ugly stone gargoyle. Neither one of them looked very happy. Without greeting us, the professor turned to the gargoyle.

"Cadbury truffles!" Severus said, with a sneer that indicated how ridiculous he found the password to be. The stone creature sprang suddenly to life and hopped aside. The wall behind it split in two. Behind the wall was a spiral staircase that was moving smoothly upward, like an escalator. The three of us stepped onto it, and then we rose upward in circles, higher and higher. I had never liked heights, and I was quickly getting motion sickness.

"Don't you dare be sick, Miss Silverthorn," Severus told me with a glare. He must have been using his teaching voice, because it permitted no disobedience.

I was quite relieved when the upward motion stopped and I saw a gleaming oak door ahead. Severus took hold of a brass knocker in the shape of a griffin.

Professor Dumbledore opened the door. He wore shimmery, light-blue robes covered in stars, and a woven beret topped with a tassel. The robes had an iridescent sheen to them, so that they reflected different colors as he moved. A thin chain with tiny silver charms encircled his long, flowing beard and dangled down.

I was so happy to see his kind, smiling face that on impulse I ran up and hugged him. His face lit up with pleasure and profound surprise. I guess people around here were a little more formal than what I was used to.

"My dear, I'm so pleased to have you at Hogwarts, safe and sound," He said, patting me on the back. He looked pointedly over his half-moon glasses at Draco, and I thought a lecture was coming, but he merely said, "Thank you for showing your cousin to my office, Mr. Malfoy. You may leave. I'm sure you have much to catch up on with your friends."

"Professor Dumbledore, are you going to sort Miriel now?" Draco asked. "I'd really like to be here for that."

"He's just afraid I'll be sorted into Gryffindor," I told the headmaster, smiling. "He won't be able to bear the heavy burden of shame if that happens."

Professor Dumbledore just smiled as if that was the funniest thing he'd heard all day, and motioned us all inside. "Oh, yes, it is always rather enchanting to watch someone being sorted. I do admit to being very curious about you, Miss Silverthorn, as well. We'll do that first and get it out of the way."

It was a large and beautiful circular room, full of magical instruments and funny little noises. The walls were covered with portraits. There was also an enormous, claw-footed desk. The flame-colored phoenix sat on his post and trilled at me.

"Hi, birdie," I said, and stroked it on the head. "I'm happy to see you, too."

The headmaster walked across the room toward a battered old wizard's hat sitting on a stool. When he touched the hat, it came to life. Two bumps on its surface blinked open into eyes and a tear above the brim cracked into a smile. "Ahhh...a straggler this year," it said in my direction. "A bit old to be starting school, aren't we?" Could a hat actually leer?

I settled on the stool and Dumbledore placed the hat on my head.

"Hmmm," the Hat said. It sounded as if it were whispering in my ear. "Fascinating. Messy and complicated. Quite a temper you have there. You get that from the Malfoys, you know. Your love for books is very Ravenclaw. Oh, my, that desire to rescue people, very Gryffindor of you." The Hat chuckled. "Lucius thinks he'd throw me into a fire, does he? I'd like to see him try."

"How do you know all that?" I asked.

"It's all here in your head. I've sorted everyone who has attended Hogwarts, you know. Very ambitious boy, Lucius was. Turned out to be quite a sexy beast..."

"Excuse me?" Did the hat just say what I thought it did?

"Oh yes, I heard he became quite popular with the ladies later on in school, and with a few of the gentlemen as well." The hat chuckled wickedly.

"Ugh. T.M.I. Too much information!" I glanced over at Professor Dumbledore, wondering if he knew that his hat said such things. This was a school, after all.

"I don't get to converse with adults very often, you know. But we're not here to discuss your uncle; we're here to sort you. Hmmm... Loads of power and talent, but not much ambition, I'm afraid. I could put you into Slytherin, anyway. That would make your fiancé happy, and you certainly have the clothes to match." I guess the hat knew all about my green and silver wardrobe. "But I'm afraid you wouldn't be happy there. You're a terrible liar, aren't you?"

I nodded, glancing at Severus, who was watching the entire event with a look of impatience on his face. He strode over to the chair by Professor Dumbledore's desk and sat with a swirl of his teaching robes, pulling the fronts across his chest and tucking his hands inside. Something about him reminded me of a giant, grumpy raven.

"Maybe you'd better hurry up." I muttered to the hat.

"Now, now, a good sorting takes time. You don't want to end up in the wrong house, do you? You'll never impress the potions master by being in Hufflepuff." The Hat was quite a gossip and a flirt. By the time I looked up again, Severus was fuming. He looked like he might be the one to throw the hat into the fire.

"I sorted your parents, you know." The hat said. "Gaius certainly did a turn-about. He was a devoted Death Eater, but then his entire outlook changed. Lucius always wondered about that, didn't he?"

"What happened?" I asked the hat.

"Dumbledore had Gaius look into the Mirror of Erised. Something in it made him change his mind about following Voldemort. Something in it convinced him to allow your mother to escape the Dark Lord."

"What did he see?"

"You'll have to ask the headmaster that question," The hat said. "I don't know everything, you know. Just what I pick up from people's heads, and what the headmaster chooses to tell me."

I glanced over, and saw that Professor Dumbledore had ordered some tea and little pies from the house elves.

By now the hat was retelling old school stories. "... and then Lucius tricked Sirius Black into revealing his more, shall we say, exotic sexual preferences, and Black ended up looking like a fool in front of the entire school! Heh." The hat wriggled around on the top of my head with laughter.

"Get a move on, you ridiculous hat," Severus finally said in a huff. "I haven't got all bloody day."

Professor Dumbledore tried to hush him. "Relax, Severus. Have some lemon tart."

"Well, we certainly don't want the esteemed potions master to get his knickers in a twist. It had better be RAVENCLAW!" The Sorting Hat said the House name aloud.

"Thank Merlin!" Draco said, relief evident in his voice. "It must be all those books you read," He told me.

"Well done, well done." Professor Dumbledore clapped his hands politely. "Ah, the house of the intellectual. Your mother was in Ravenclaw, also, my dear."

"I think your Sorting Hat needs to get out more," I told Professor Dumbledore, as he plucked the hat from my head.

"Some students are more challenging than others," The headmaster said.

Severus snorted. "The damned thing is a gossipmonger. Thank the gods that it doesn't have much time to talk to the first years during the sorting ceremony."

"You should be thanking me, Severus," The hat said from the headmaster's hands. "That I didn't tell the young lady about you and that-" But then Professor Dumbledore set it up on a shelf behind his desk, and the hat appeared to fall asleep.

Professor Dumbledore then turned to Draco. "Now, Mr. Malfoy, if you don't mind, we have a few things to discuss with your cousin."

"You have been through quite a lot in the short time you've been in the wizarding world," Professor Dumbledore told me after Draco shut the door behind him. "I think I'll give you a week or so before your formal tutoring begins. This will give you time to settle yourself in and acclimate yourself a bit."

I felt a surge of relief. "Thanks, Professor. I've been kind of in shock, especially since last night. I think part of me still thinks I should be in New Orleans."

"I want you to relax and put Voldemort out of your mind completely," The headmaster gently told me. "You are here, Miss Silverthorn, and you are safe. I would also like for you to leave Severus and me to the task of informing the Dark Lord about Harry Potter."

"I'm sorry, sir?" I asked, a bit confused. "Aren't I supposed to, um, get close to Harry and his friends and all that?"

"We could never let Voldemort know anything about Harry or his friends that might endanger them," Professor Dumbledore said. "I will have Harry show you around for appearance's sake, but I don't want you to worry about all that. Severus and I will come up with something. The trick is to satisfy the Dark Lord without actually giving him information that might be useful."

"But, isn't that dangerous?" I asked. "For Severus?" I looked at the teacher, but his face appeared to be frozen in a look of perpetual annoyance.

"These are dangerous times, my dear," Professor Dumbledore said. "Now, the rules here will be a little different for you. Since you are an older student, I think you will appreciate a room of your own. It might be quieter for you away from the other students. They can be rather boisterous, especially the younger ones. We have converted some space in the dungeons into faculty living quarters, and the location should be convenient for you. You will be meeting with some of the other teachers besides Professor Snape, of course, but I suspect that the majority of your time until next term will be in potions."

"The dungeons?" I said, trying not to wrinkle my nose too much.

"I think you'll find your room quite cozy. The house elves have been unpacking your things. It's not exactly Malfoy Manor, but the elves can help you redecorate, if you find the décor not to your taste." Professor Dumbledore stood to lead us to the door.

"Just one more thing, Professor," I said. "The hat told me that my father changed somehow when he looked into the Mirror of Erised. What exactly changed him?"

"The realization of what one truly desires can be a life changing experience. Out of all the people who have looked into the mirror's depths, I have never known anyone who did not desire to love and be loved. Even when the person saw the attainment of riches, glory or fame, at a basic level it was about receiving love in some form. I believe that your father saw his desire to love, that there was more to life than just blind servitude. There was very little love in the Malfoy family, I suspect."

"I wish I had known him," I whispered.

"Many people who look into the mirror see loved ones, especially those they have lost." The headmaster looked over his glasses at me. "Some would do anything to see them again."

"Thank you, Professor Dumbledore." I smiled a bit sadly.

As he guided me to my room, Severus lectured me about not disturbing his privacy. He was used to living alone in the dungeons, and I was not to bother him unless there was a dragon attack, a fire or the Dark Lord himself was about to knock on his door. I kept trying to ask him questions, but he was obviously in a snit about something.

"Why are you in such a bad mood, Severus?" I finally asked. Honestly, "broomstick up his arse" didn't quite cover it.

The man glared down his nose at me, and his voice curled with warning. "My mood is none of your concern. And I would prefer it if you would refer to me by my professional title." After a few moments, he continued. "It just so happens that my sixth years' project for tomorrow was a de-aging and beautifying potion. The apothecary's shipment of fresh virgin's blood, which is mandatory for the potion, was contaminated in a careless shop accident. I am unprepared for another project. "

"Can't you get it somewhere else?" I asked.

"There's not exactly a plethora of adult, female virgins running around this school," He said. "The women here at Hogwarts are either underage students, or they are teachers that are so ancient that-"He stopped walking so suddenly, that I ran right into him. He turned, and gave me a keen, evaluating look.

"Don't look at me!" I told him, blushing furiously. "Nobody's taking my blood. Needles make me really queasy. I pass out and everything."

"But Miss Silverthorn," A smirk curled his lips, and his eyes glittered. "You owe me."

I tried to protest, but didn't have the heart. I did owe him, damn it.

"The class is tomorrow at 2:00," Severus said. "Arrive at my classroom fifteen minutes early. Don't be late. The class is double potions, with Gryffindor and Slytherin. After tomorrow, Miss Silverthorn, perhaps you will have a better understanding of why I am in such a "bad mood."


Many thanks to all my reviewers!

Thanks to Jessica Halliwell Potter, Shadowstar21 and Nemblewhiska

Eclipse of Starz: Thank you for your review! Yeah, I think that Molly Weasley is very protective of Harry. Remember how she was mad at Hermione when the Daily Prophet came out with a story about Harry and Herm?

Arsinoe de Blassenville: Yum, Yum. I love gelato. Thanks a lot! I'm glad you liked Lucius. I thought it would be nice to show a more human side to him, for a change. I got tired of reading stories about him where he was impossibly evil and perverted.

Annie: What a cool review! I was deeply touched by it. Yes, I've always had a thing for men with long hair. HA! How did you guess? I think I started writing a fan fiction story because I got tired of the ones I read all being the same. I'm trying to be a bit different, as well as portray the characters a little more well-rounded than they appear in the HP books. I hope it works. I'm trying to think about how a teenager from the states would see things in the wizarding world. I have read that several of my favorite fantasy writers, including JK Rowling and Tolkien, wrote for the sheer fun of it. They wrote what they would have liked to have read. That kind of inspired me, and I've been trying to write a fan fiction story that I would like to read. Thank you so much for reading my story! I'm glad you like it. BTW- yeah, I thought that Alan Rickman did have a tummy on him in the Azkaban movie. I guess that the kid who plays Draco is just having an awkward teenage moment. The expressions on his face were either anger or terror, and I guess that didn't help much.

Escaped: Get thee to a movie theater, now, young lady! How am I supposed to talk about the movie without ruining it for you? Hey, I just realize that Rose in your story has her hair very short, as well. Funny how details from our lives slip into our stories, isn't it? Yes, having long hair can be cool sometimes (like at Renaissance Fairs) but sometimes it's a huge pain. I keep slamming the car door on my hair, and it hurts! I am still waiting for my lucid dream, by the way! HA!

Thanks also to Chocolizious (who is in India) Rycca Wolfbane (who has probably passed out in bliss from too much Alan Rickman in the new Azkaban movie) and Slate-One.