Disclaimer: I don't own anyone form the HP universe… they're all sadly J.K.Rowling's (well, not SADLY, seeing as without her… well, let's just not think like that… shudder) But Sorcha and her dad are MINE!!!!! (So is MY version of Atlantis and all the Atlantian peoples) Okiedokie? Yuperoo! We continue!
::AN:: This is a PREQUEL to my first fic, 'It All Depends On How You Fly The Broom' It's one of a kind-of-series of prequels that I'm working on… (If you've read the other fic, you'll get it after awhile…)
If you haven't read 'It All Depends On How You Fly The Broom' please do so as it will help you… and… yeah, read it anyway… for my sake? (lol) THIS IS MY LAST REVIEW UNTIL THE VERY END OF THE STORY!! (I promise! No more interruptions!! Cheers madly) -- Oh yea! And in this fic, you're expected to have, like, all knowledge of the HP books 1-5… I don't know if that really matters since I'll try and be as detailed as I can… but I just thought I'd let you know! {Italics are thoughts!!!!!!}
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"Don't do that!" The raven-haired girl shrieked.
"I'm sorry, dear." The middle-aged man said hesitantly. "My apologies, Sorcha."
Sorcha smiled and tucked a lock of her long, wild curls behind her ear. "Awe, don't worry about it, Albus. You just startled me is all. I didn't hear you come into the room."
Albus grinned. "Well, in that case, I'd say you don't hate me then!"
"Hate you?!" She exclaimed, taken aback. She then squinted her eyes and leaned forward. "Why…?" she questioned, "What did you do?"
Albus chuckled and ruffled the hair on the top of her head, causing the curls to stick up slightly over her jewel-embedded crown. "Nothing, little Sorcha." He replied. "It's just that I believe I may be too busy to spend much time with you over the duration of my stay."
Sorcha laughed and slapped his arm playfully. "Nonsense, Alby! I heard stepfather speaking with some of the servants and you're staying ALL YEAR! There's no hiding it now! I already know!" She grinned broadly and giggled.
Albus Dumbledore smiled at his young friend. Ever since his third cousin, Albert Dennison, had married the widowed queen of Atlantis, he had been a frequent visitor to the secret island. It was his second visit, almost sixteen years ago when he had met Albert's new stepdaughter Sorcha. She was barely three years old at the time and took an immediate liking to Albus, following him around the castle like a lost puppy. He didn't mind in the slightest, however, and had come to love Sorcha as though she was his own daughter over the years.
"Hellooooo!" Sorcha cried out, waving her hands in front of Albus's face and jumping up and down slightly. "Atlantis to Dumbledore!"
Albus smirked and patted Sorcha's head. "My apologies once more, little princess." He then sighed and clasped one of her hands. "As it so happens, I am not here this year on my own account. Rather, I am here on business and therefore will be otherwise engaged and unable to sojourn with you as I have in past stopovers."
Sorcha raised an eyebrow and frowned. "Yeah…" she said, "I don't know about you, but around here we speak a little language I like to call English." She smiled when Albus chuckled at her gag, then turned away from him, a deep frown forming on her delicate face. "So… You're saying that even though you're gonna be on the island, it'll be like you're not even here and you're not going to come and see me."
Albus sighed and pulled the teenager into a comforting hug. "I would like to believe that it's more complicated than that, Sorcha, but that would be lying." He pulled away and turned her to face him. "I'll visit you when I can, alright? It won't be often, but I will try."
Sorcha nodded and smiled. "That's okay, I guess." She pulled away and picked up a book on a nearby table, thrusting it into Albus's hands. "I'm supposed to busy this year, anyway!"
Albus glanced over the title of the book in his hands. The Art of Potions and Potion-Making by Babble Jeeves. "Aha!" He exclaimed as he handed the book back to her. "You're taking extra courses as I suggested?"
She nodded enthusiastically. "Of course! I know I'm horrible at making potions, but I figured I'd test out my worst subject first." She smirked. "Plus, it's the only thing I'm REALLY bad at."
Slapping her forehead, she sighed. "Oh no, I've done it again! Don't tell mother I've been bragging about my academics again! She'll have a fit! 'Boasting one's achievements in public company is not a trait fit for a ruler of any status.'" She said, mocking her mother's cold, squeaky voice.
Albus smiled sincerely. "I wouldn't dream of it." He said, laughing silently to himself at the exasperated nineteen-year-old before him. A thought struck him suddenly and his smile widened. "I have a proposition, if you're interested."
"Sure, enlighten me old man!" She jested.
"Along with myself, several of my colleagues are here as well. There are a few that are skilled in the art of potion-making, and I'm sure it would be no problem for them to tutor you a bit during their stay."
Sorcha squealed with happiness and hugged Albus once more. "Yes, yes, yes!" She cheered and did a clumsy version of the waltz with him for a few seconds around the room. Laughing, she pulled away and squealed again, clasping her hands together happily. "You're the greatest, Albus!"
He smiled and was about to say that he appreciated her compliment, when a knock came from the other side of the door. Sorcha grinned and ran to the door, flinging it open.
She turned back around to face Albus. "See ya later, Albus!" She said, grabbing her book off the table and walking back to the door. "I must pamper and beautify myself for the feast in which we will welcome you and the friends you have brought with you!" She said dramatically, waving her hand in a snobby fashion. She then burst out laughing and grinned like a madwoman. "Mother's orders, you understand." And with that she bounced out of the room, closed the door behind her, and skipped down the corridor.
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"Sorcha! Quit dawdling and get in here!" Her mother ordered, shoving her daughter towards the Dining Hall doors.
Sorcha regained her balance quickly and turned around to face her mother. "Argh! Don't push me, it's hard enough to walk in these wretched shoes as it is!"
"Your Majesty!" A servant cried, rushing down the hall to greet them, bowing curtly to Sorcha before turning to the queen. "Dinner is served and the guests are waiting with the king, ma'am!"
The queen smiled and gestured for the panting servant to open the Dining Hall doors. When he did, she turned back to him and dropped six gold coins into his palm. "Thank you, Warren. You're dismissed."
Warren grinned happily at the gold and bowed frantically as the queen turned away, stepping into the Dining Hall. He then giggled and stuck his tongue out at Sorcha. "It's some kind of foreign food." He whispered to her quietly so that her mother wouldn't hear. "It smells horrid and we had to put a charm on it to make it smell like apples. I can't even begin to imagine how it must taste… Good luck!"
Sorcha wrinkled her nose and shuddered. "Can you stop off in the kitchens and ask the cooks to save me some real food?" she whispered just as quietly. Warren nodded vigorously and mouthed the words 'See you later' before he ran around the corner and out of sight.
"Sorcha!" The queen hissed threateningly.
Sorcha rolled her eyes and then patted down her elaborately decorated gown. "I'm coming, mother." She muttered.
Walking slowly into the Dining Hall, Sorcha cursed silently as the pain in her feet increased. I'm not going to be able to walk tomorrow! She thought, and blew a few curls out of her eyes. Agh! Look at my hair, people! It's like a big black beehive! 'Fashionable'… sure…When I can't get a brush through it later, that'll be real nice… Something to tell the grandchildren about…More like WARN them about… Shrugging and stifling a laugh, she glanced up to see that the occupants of the long table ahead of her were beginning to stand, each bowing politely and smiling. Fake smiles. Sorcha gathered. They're just like everyone else. Smiling politely because they're in the company of someone with a lot of wealth and power. If I was an old, poor, unknown spinster, they wouldn' t give me a passing glance.
"My wife and daughter, gentlemen!" Her Albert Dennison's loud voice boomed throughout the hall and Sorcha groaned inwardly when she realized that she and her mother were the only females in the room. And I was preparing myself for talk of parties and hair. She thought grumpily. Now what am I supposed to talk about? Politics? Blech!
"Riona," Albert said, smiling broadly at his wife as she sat down next to him to the right. Sorcha sighed when she realized that the only available seat left was at the opposite end of the table as her stepfather. Alone at the end. Just dandy! She thought. "Sorcha, please do us the honor of welcoming our guests." Albert suggested as he sat back down.
Sorcha stood behind her chair and tapped the back nervously. She nodded to her mother and stepfather. Dying. I am dying. Going to die. Right here! She searched frantically for Albus, and he smiled encouragingly at her from his third cousin's left. Thanks, Alby. But you could've picked a seat a little closer… She cleared her throat and forced a smile, hoping it looked authentic.
"Welcome to Atlantis!" she said calmly and felt her smile slowly diminishing. "Um, I hope you like the food…" She thought of what Warren had warned her of seconds earlier. The smelly, foreign food. "I didn't make it." She added hastily as chuckles rose from around the table. Yeah, well… You won't be laughing after you take a bite!
She blushed and silently reprimanded herself for forgetting every word her mother had told her to say. "Um… Atlantis is… pretty. I hope you… enjoy your stay… maybe?" That's it! Die! Die! Die!
"That's all for now." Albert said, motioning for her to sit down as he turned to his guests. "Forgive Sorcha. She isn't much for… Well, she isn't much for anything." He smiled contentedly as his guest chuckled once more.
Sorcha sat down quickly unable to fake a smile. Yeah, real funny… NOT! She stopped herself from rolling her eyes by picking up her salad fork and twirling it around in her fingers. "Dig in!" She heard Albert say. His voice seemed a million miles away.
Glancing around the table, she saw the men start to eat the food. Wait for it… Wait for it… It was a pale, young boy who appeared about her age who was the first. Yup, there it is! She watched as the boy's face contorted in disgust and then as he quickly regained his composure, glancing around frantically to make sure no one had seen him. He noticed Sorcha staring and his brow furrowed nervously.
Sorcha leaned towards him defiantly and whispered, "I didn't make it. I promise."
He scowled and turned his attention back to his plate. Um, this is the part where you laugh! Sorcha thought, a frown forming on her face. Just because Albert was rude doesn't mean you have to be too, you greasy git.
She leaned towards him again and tapped her fork on the edge of his plate. He glanced up, expressionless and she smiled. "You're English?" She asked. Oops. Supposed to ask for name first. THEN nationality, occupation, and so on… She remembered her Decorum and Etiquette lessons from when she was younger.
The boy nodded and Sorcha smiled. Whatever. He was rude, so screw etiquette. "So, how do you know Albus?" She asked, placing her fork back in its place.
"School." Was his only reply.
She nodded. "Oh, yeah! He's headmaster of that… school. Pigblister, right?"
He snorted and dropped his fork, causing a few of the other guests to glance at him briefly before scowling and turning their attention back to the king and queen. The boy smirked and turned back to Sorcha. "It's Hogwarts."
She giggled. "Same thing." She paused and twirled her hair around her finger. "Kind of."
"Pssst! Pssst!" Sorcha heard from behind her. She looked at the black-haired boy, who was staring at something behind her and turned around in her chair. The sight before her made her want to burst into fits of hysterical laughter, but instead she covered her hand over her mouth in a desperate attempt to silence her sniggering.
Standing just inside the grand Dining Hall doors, stood Warren, soaked from head to foot in mud. Sorcha checked to make sure that her mother and stepfather weren't paying the slightest bit of attention before she turned back to Albus's strange friend. "Cover for me, will ya?" She asked and nodded towards her parent's direction and back at Warren's direction before winking at him. "I'll only be a minute."
With that, she stood up silently and tiptoed to the door, ducking out of the room and shoving Warren out into the corridor as she went. Making sure that the door was open enough so that it wouldn't slide shut, and closed enough to not cause any unnecessary attention, Sorcha turned to her servant and grinned. "You went off to have a mud fight without me? How DARE you!" She said sarcastically, still smiling.
Warren smiled lopsidedly. "You HAD to go to that welcoming dinner…" he explained. "So, the rest of us decided to have some fun while you got all chummy with the out-of-towners."
"Chummy?!" She hissed, trying to keep her voice down. "The only person I've talked to is that boy sitting next to me, and let me tell you, trying to keep up a conversation with him is like trying to push a lion off a diving board! It just won't budge!"
"Well maybe if you didn't act so spoiled, Sorcha." He suggested. "I'm sure that not all of your new house-mates are as well-off as you."
Sorcha gasped, taken aback. "I am not spoiled!" She paused, pondering her words. "Well, okay, I am. But what would you expect? I'm a princess! Besides, it's not like I act spoiled. You should know that by now, Warren."
Warren shrugged casually. "I was just kidding, Sorcha." He said and stepped towards her. "Hug on it?"
Sorcha leaped back and shrieked in disgust. "Go take a bath, Warren!" She commanded, laughing and shooing him away. After she saw him turn the corner again, she went back inside the Dining Hall.
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Severus Snape had heard of Atlantis. He had never been there, though, seeing as how up until six months ago he hadn't even believed that such a place actually existed. Somehow, he had ended up making alliances with Albus Dumbledore over the past year. Thus, he was invited to accompany his former headmaster, along with several other men, to the secluded island of Atlantis. For the entire year. He thought to himself. I won't see England again for another YEAR. The thought didn't bother him as much as he had assumed it would, and he shook his head, trying to clear his mind.
I'm so hungry. He thought grumpily and surveyed the room around him. The "Dining Hall," or so King Albert had called it. There was already food on all the plates, but no one was permitted to eat yet. They seemed to be waiting for something. Oh, that's right. I remember Dumbledore saying something about how it's custom for the women here to show up last to dinner. … Weird people.
He heard the tall doors open and turned towards them to see a short, adolescent boy in the servant's garments (A fading gray, collared shirt and black slacks. How degrading.) bow to the occupants of the room and then turn around and exit back into the hallway. Was he bowing at us? At all of us? Seconds later, a tall, elegant woman with a billowing red dress and perfectly flowing auburn curls tied up in a fashionable knot. Pretty, but her face is tight. She must be at least forty.
He noticed that the tall woman turned her head back towards the hallway for a moment and mouthed something before stepping forward, smiling broadly to reveal brilliantly white teeth. Just seconds later, walked in the princess. She's got to be the princess. Younger-looking than the other woman... can't be more than nineteen… And she's exactly as Dumbledore described her… Average-height, long, curly black hair, blue eyes, and… Severus concealed a smirk as the girl staggered suddenly, a look of utter pain on her face, then roll her eyes and angrily blow a few loose curls out of her face. … And clumsy.
Severus bowed along with the rest of the men as King Albert introduced the latest editions to the party. "My wife and daughter, gentlemen." He said happily. "Riona," he nodded at his wife as she sat down. He took his seat as well and the Severus sat down along with the rest of the men. "Sorcha," he heard the king say, "please do us the honor of welcoming our guests."
The princess, Sorcha, stood behind the only available seat. Great, I get stuck sitting next to the klutzy little brat who's having a mood… Severus thought and looked over at her.
She tapped the back of the chair and smiled. Fake smile. He gathered. She doesn't want to be here. She'd probably rather be pampering her unflawed face and gossiping about the newest fashions. "Welcome to Atlantis!" She said calmly. Her voice is too soft. "Um, I hope you like the food…" she trailed off. Her eyes widened suddenly as though she had just remembered something important. "I didn't make it!" She added quickly. Severus chuckled along with the rest of the room, but he stopped abruptly when he noticed a different emotion flicker in Sorcha's eyes. What was that? Sadness? Defiance? Oh no, she's probably poisoned the food. Severus erased that last thought from his mind, reassuring himself that, as Dumbledore's relative, Albert wouldn't kill any of them. "Um," The princess continued. "Atlantis is… pretty. I hope you… enjoy your stay… maybe?" Has she NEVER made a speech before?!
"That's all for now." King Albert said, motioned for his stepdaughter to sit down, and then turned towards Dumbledore and the rest of his guests. "Forgive Sorcha. She isn't much for… Well, she isn't much for anything." The men chuckled once more.
Severus, however, stayed silent, looking at Sorcha out of the corner of his eye and watched her as she sat down. She doesn't seem to think it's as funny as everyone else does. He turned away completely as she picked up on of the many forks next to her plate and start twirling it in her hand with a bored look on her face. As soon as he heard Albert say, "Dig in," Severus began eating.
It only took three seconds for him to realize that he had never tasted anything so vile and foul in his entire life. He swallowed quickly and tried to appear calm, as though he hadn't just eaten a crude fare. Glancing about, he wondered if anyone had seen his short moment of repulsion, when his eyes landed on Sorcha. Of course. Leave it up to the spoiled little princess to notice everything. She'll most likely hold it over my head all year long.
"I didn't make it." She said, leaning towards him. "I promise."
Severus scowled and looked down at his plate. Yes. Over my head. All year. It was only when he noticed a fork not belonging to him tapping on the edge of his plate that he looked back up, only to find Sorcha the owner of said fork. She's torturing me. She probably is taking pleasure in all this. She'll probably start asking annoying questions soon. "You're English?" She asked. So predictable. He nodded, noticing that she was smiling. She has a nice smile… Wait. She's probably laughing at me right now. Typical.
"So, how do you know Albus?" She asked, putting her fork back down next to her plate.
"School." Severus replied simply. Maybe if I give her boring, one-word answers she'll leave me alone.
"Oh, yeah!" She said, nodding. "He's headmaster of that… school. Pigblister, right?"
Severus dropped his fork and tried to hold back his laugh, which only led to a snort. He noticed that a few of the other men turned to glare at him disapprovingly before turning their attention back to the king and queen. He smirked and looked Sorcha in the eye. Her eyes are really… blue. "It's Hogwarts." He corrected her. Somehow I'm getting the impression that she already knew that, though.
"Same thing." She replied, giggling and twirling a lock of her hair around her finger. "Kind of." Maybe she won't be too horrible. At least she's pretending to be friendly.
"Pssst!" He heard coming from the direction of the door. Glancing up, he saw the same servant boy as before, standing just inside the Dining Hall. He was covered in mud and was trying desperately to get Sorcha's attention in the quietest way possible. "Pssst!" he hissed again.
The princess turned around in her chair and covered her mouth with her hand. She's probably horrified. Maybe she's never even seen a person covered in mud before. Wow. Maybe she's never seen mud before. He noticed that he shoulders were beginning to shake. Is she crying?! No… She's… laughing!
Severus saw her glance in the king and queen's direction and then turn to him. "Cover for me will, ya?" Um, how about, no? "I'll only be a minute." She said and then rushed out of the room.
Well, this is just great. Severus thought to himself as he watched Sorcha leave the room. Let's hope no one notices.
"Where is she going?" Albert's voice could be heard from across the room. "Sorcha? Where are you going?"
Of course… This HAS to happen. Severus thought and blinked slowly. "Warren." He heard Dumbledore's voice. "Mud." Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Suddenly, a loud shriek could be heard from outside the room, causing everyone to stop talking and turn towards the door. "Go take a bath, Warren!" Sorcha's voice could be heard, followed by laughing.
The Dining Hall doors opened all the way and Sorcha stepped through, still smiling. Her smile vanished in seconds and turned into a small "O" shape. She quickly sat down and mumbled, "Sorry," before her stepfather cleared his throat.
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Don't lecture me now… You have guests… It'll only make you look mean… I think. Sorcha thought to herself as she heard Albert clear his throat. I said I was sorry… Maybe he didn't hear me… Should I say it again?
"Sorcha," Albert began sternly, "You didn't even dismiss yourself, and then you had the indecency to disrupt our well-enjoyed meal by conversing with the hired help vociferously." Sorcha flinched as he continued. "Stand up and apologize to our guests." He ordered.
No! "Yes, sir." She mumbled and stood up. What do I say? "Um…" she trailed off, looking from her mother to Albus for support. Her mother's eyes seemed fixated on a faint object on her dish and Albus stared at her blankly. Gee, thanks guys.
"Sorcha, this isn't the first time you've interrupted our dinner lately. It's upsetting to see that you've completely disregarded everything your mother and I have taught you." Albert scolded.
Everything you've taught me?! What would you know of teaching? You're a king! You didn't even know I had taken etiquette classes until just over a year ago! Sorcha's temper flared and she clenched her fists at her sides to stop herself from exploding. Maybe if I just stand here and don't say anything he'll give this up after awhile.
"We'll sit here all night if that's what it takes." He said, taking a sip of wine. "And when we all of the servants are drowsy from lack of sleep tomorrow, you will fill their duties."
Sorcha couldn't hold it in any longer. "Oh COME ON!" Her stepfather raised his thick eyebrows and opened his mouth to speak, but Sorcha wouldn't let him. "We wouldn't even be having this discussion if you weren't so uptight! So I went out into the hall to talk to Warren! Would you rather me have invited him to join us? HE WAS COVERED IN MUD!"
"Sorcha Edan, you-" The king began.
"Yeah! That's right!" Sorcha interrupted. "I am an Edan! And I don't care if you're a king, you're still a Dennison! I don't have to put up with you and your silly dinners!" She waved her hand around the table. "I don't even know these people! You don't even know the half of them! And it's not like I wish to be here, in this too-fancy dress, and these too-small shoes that I can't walk in, and this hair!" She pointed to her hair. "Alert the exterminator! There's a small infestation of bugs growing around in here! They can't tell the difference between their real home and this, this, HIVE! I'M A HUMAN BUG NEST!"
"Go to your quarters!" Albert shouted, standing up and pointing to the door.
"Thank you!" Sorcha shouted back and threw her sparkling crown onto her plate. She took a deep breath and blinked slowly. Count to ten. One… Two… ARGH! Not working! "Goodnight mother, Albus." She said politely, nodding to them. She then turned to the oily-haired boy and nodded. "Goodnight." She glanced around at the other guests. "Goodnight."
"GO!" Albert bellowed.
Sorcha rolled her eyes and turned sharply on her heel, leaving the room in a huff.