Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, but I own the original character(s) in this story.
Chapter 4: Her Firsts
Her first feast...
The Great Hall glowed in a golden light emitted by the floating enchanted candles. Harry sat with the 6th year Gryffindors as McGonagall led an aloof-looking Keira to the front. Just like yesterday, a tattered old hat sat on a stool, waiting to determine the fate of yet another witch.
Keira sat on the stool as McGonagall placed the Sorting Hat on her head.
The Sorting Hat delved into her thoughts, "Hmm…interesting…loyal – a very good quality…Thirst, an unquenchable thirst for knowledge…"
Digging deeper, "Cunning, deceitful, eh? I see…not to the ones who you trust, although there aren't very many people who you do…Willing to take risks…very stubborn…You are a hard one aren't you? So many opposing qualities in one person…What to do…What to do…"
"Why do you reckon it's taking so long to sort her?" Ron whispered.
Harry wondered the same thing, "I have no idea."
"She ought to be in Gryffindor; after all she Is your twin."
"No necessarily Hermione, we had different upbringings"
"So then which house do You think…"
Suddenly the hat shouted, "I KNOW, better go with…….SLYTHERIN!"
All the buzz of individual conversations ended. One could almost hear a wand flick in the Great Hall.
The Gryffindors looked at Keira with confusion, the Slytherins with distaste, the Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs with surprise.
Then, someone from the Slytherin table hollered, "Impossible. She's Potter's twin, a F-ing mudblood, she don't belong here!" Murmurs of assent rose around him, some jeering nasty comments.
Malfoy, however, smirked and stood up. Clapping, he called Keira over. Crabbe and Goyle, dimwittedly followed his example.
All eyes followed Keira as she hopped off the stool and returned the Sorting Hat to Professor McGonagall. Keira smiled cautiously at the Slytherins before walking towards Malfoy.
He waved away his minions to make room for her and Keira sat down.
The food began appearing and conversations started once again, but the other Slytherins pointedly ignored the quartet.
Across the room, Harry gazed at Keira agape. She met his gaze and sent him an apologizing glance and smile.
"Hermione……"
"Yes Harry?"
"Are you sure all Slytherins are evil?"
"Well, not all of them. Most of them are too stupid because of inbreeding to do anything else but follow their parents' footsteps. Others are forced into becoming evil." She paused, "Are you worried that Keira may be or become evil?"
"Of course I am! I don't need to lose another family member. Besides did you see Malfoy? I bet that's exactly what he's planning, turn Potter's sister against him."
"Well, we should try to prevent that…hopefully it's just cuz she's from Durmstrang."
At the Slytherin table…
"Thanks for saving me up there."
"No problem, Slytherins should always watch out for one another. My name is Malfoy, Draco Malfoy."
"Keira, Keira Aureole."
"So if you're from Durmstrang, why did you transfer to this sorry excuse of a school?"
"The professors did not teach much except History, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named's History, and Defense Against the Dark Arts – but it was actually a hex and curse teaching class. But after our Headmaster fled, it was all chaos. My professors said I shouldn't waste my talents at That sorry excuse of a school and that I should transfer to Beaubaxtons or Hogwarts."
Malfoy smirked, "So why Hogwarts?"
"I didn't want to spend 2 years with a bunch of stuck up veelas."
At that Malfoy really laughed, "Yeah, that crowd is intolerable. What did your professors mean by wasting your talents? Are you brilliant at magic?"
Sheepishly, Keira replied, "Uh huh, I was the know-it-all showoff of my school."
"What did you get on the O.W.L.s?"
"I got 14 Os and 1 E. Pitiful really, the arbiter refused to accept one of my essays, said it was TOO detailed, imagine that."
"15 O.W.L.s! How did you do that? That's more than Granger!"
"Well, I only took classes for 9 of them, the others I studied independently. Who is Granger?"
"The know-it-all of Hogwarts, supposedly the brightest witch of the century but now I guess you beat her. She's the brown haired one, sitting next to Potter. This is brilliant, a Slytherin know-it-all – not that that's a bad thing mind you – but now you can help us win house points during class."
"No problem. Just don't go telling everyone about the O.W.L.s. I don't like to be singled out."
"All right…"
"Where are Slytherin quarters? I'm afraid I'm tired from traveling."
"Oh, I'll show you."
"Thanks."
Three pairs of eyes followed them as they walked out the Great Hall.
One asked the other, "What do you suppose this means Headmaster?"
"I'm afraid nothing definite, Minerva. It either means we have a chance of saving Mr. Malfoy from the Dark Side or we will lose Mr. Malfoy and many others to the Dark Side."
Aghast, "What! How can one child tip the scale so profusely?"
"Simple, she is the Girl-Who-Lived and also part of the Prophecy. I think, Severus, that you ought to keep an eye on her and Mr. Malfoy. Be sure not to compromise your position though, we are not certain whose side she is on, and from her records, she is a highly proficient witch."
The third pair of eyes gave only a slight nod of acknowledgement.
Her first double potions class...
The dungeons were chilly, everyone donned his warmest cloak. But to Keira it was very warm. At Durmstrang, the Headmaster didn't care for students' comfort so all the rooms were at subzero temperatures. The only fireplace was in the Headmaster's office, and it was for flooing purposes only.
The potions professor had not arrived yet. Almost sweating, Keira took off her sweater and rolled up her sleeves.
Harry saw. "Keira, you shouldn't do that. It's freezing in here, you'll catch a cold!"
Before she could reply, Malfoy sneered, "It's none of your business Potter. Why do You care about a Slytherin? Besides, what makes you think she's cold? If she was, don't you think she would wear proper attire?"
Harry growled, "Of course it's my business Malfoy, she's my sister! You're the one who shouldn't be nosing in other people's affairs."
"Watch yourself Potter…"
"Draco, Harry Stop! Thank you for the concern Harry, but for me it's really warm in here. Draco, don't talk to my brother like that."
Harry protested, "But he..."
Bang! The class instantly silenced. A tall, dark professor strode to the front of the room, glaring at the students, he barked, "Today you will start the Panallieve Potion. Who knows what this potion does?"
Hermione Granger's hand shot up before he finished asking the question, waving it frantically. As usual, no other hand was raised. His eyes scanned the room, searching for today's unlucky prey, passing over the Slytherins, but his gaze landed on a young girl twirling her quill and gazing at her parchment. He smirked…his victim.
"Ms. Aureole!" Her head snapped up.
"I expect you to pay attention during class. Do not assume that your classes shall try to compensate for the lack of teaching you had at Durmstrang. Tell me what you know of the Panalleve Potion."
Keira blinked, and recited,
"Panalleve, or Panameliorate Potion, was developed by Phillip Philantrope. It heals physical injuries to the body caused by most spells, hence the name pan (all) and ameliorate (improve). It accumulates and utilizes the healing properties of Blood Lily bulbs, Phoenix Tear drops, Woundwort, Baby Pixie Dust and Sliced Canaigre Roots into a complex solution that penetrates the poison of any spell.
She paused, "But Professor, to work at maximum capacity, it should be brewed during a new moon, near dawn. Why are we brewing it now?"
The class was stunned, never before had a student questioned this professor.
Snape sneered, "When did I say that you were brewing it today Ms. Aureole? You will be preparing the ingredients today; you will be brewing it at the next potions class, which will be next Tuesday at 4:00 am, which, I believe, is the dawn before the new moon."
He smirked, she wasn't a victim after all, "However, your response was…sufficient, 30 points to Slytherin."
The Gryffindors glowered at this; as if having Snape incessantly take points from them wasn't enough, he was now able to add points to Slytherin.
A serpentine script appeared on the board, Snape snarled, "Work in pairs, begin."
Broken from reverie, students shuffled to set up and retrieve ingredients from the cabinet.
Harry glanced to Keira, wondering if he should abandon Ron and offer to be her partner instead. After all, he was her brother and should make her feel welcome.
Apparently Keira did not need any help settling in. She and Malfoy already had their station set up, supplies ready, and were finishing the first step. Resignedly Harry turned back to Ron and helped him gather the utensils and ingredients.
After 2 hours of carefully grinding the Blood Lily bulbs to an ultra-fine powder, counting the tiny reddish-purplish petals of the Woundwort, measuring 1.34 ounces of Baby Pixie Dust into 7 packets, slicing the Canaigre roots into 1/8 inch slivers, class was finally over.
"Place your ingredients in your cauldron and place a ward on it. You will have no extra time to finish preparing the ingredients. I will see you all Tuesday Morning at 4:00. Do not be late. Class dismissed. Ms. Aureole, a word."
Her first rival...
Hermione was furious. "Snape is so unfair! I always know the answer and he never calls on me," she complained to the 2 boys flanking her side.
Harry replied sympathetically, "It's only because she's a new student 'Mione,"
Ron snorted, "Yea, besides, after 6 years of it, shouldn't you be used to it by now?"
"I suppose, but now he's gonna continue letting her answer all the questions so that Slytherin can win more house points…And I have to work extra hard in the other classes to compete with her…assuming the other professors do not favor her as well. I'm going to go study."
"What do you mean, 'Mione? You can recite all our texts backwards if you needed to!"
"But I didn't know as much about the Panameliorate Potion as Keira did!"
"Aww, Hermione, that's not so bad, besides you can't miss lunch"
"Hmph,"
"Hermione, don't hold that grudge against her, we need to stay on her good side."
Sighing, "Your right Harry...all right, I won't…" A defiant glint lit her eyes, "But there's no way I'm letting her become the top student without a fight. I'll see you guys later; I'm going to the library…"
"But what about..."
She had disappeared around the corner, "... lunch..."
"Well, Harry, I think that a little competition might actually be good for her."
"Mmm…only if she doesn't stay in the library 24/7"
Her first ally...
After carefully placing the cauldron in the cabinet, Keira made her way up to Snape's desk, where he sat feverishly covering the essays in red ink.
"Ahem"
He looked up. "Ms. Aureole."
"Professor."
He stared at her for a minute. He had stayed up much of the night, contemplating how to approach this sensitive subject, but now that she was in front of him, he barely had control. She looks so much like HER...but NOTHING like that James Potter
Silence.
"I hope you are adapting to Hogwarts?"
"I am.. relatively well, anyways,"
"Good...Why were you removed from Drumstrang?"
Flashing her eyes, Keira angrily shot back, "I was not removed, I left because my father wanted me to actually have an education! I am a model student and received 15 O.W.L.s thank you very much. But, pray tell, why were you removed from the Durmstrang?"
At this stab at his past, Snape hardened, all the shock of her resemblance to Saevra forgotten, and spat, "You may be new at this school, Miss Aureole, but I am certain that the rules of etiquette and respect to teachers were enforced at Durmstrang, and that has not changed. I do not know how much you know or who gave you such information about me, but I assure you I will find out and make them suffer."
"If I have no right to know of you, then you have none to know of me!"
Snape smirked, "On the contrary, I am a professor and you have a student file. I can look up your background anytime"
Bitterly, "Some things are hidden even if they are in plain sight, you will only find what you already know in records"
Narrowing his brows, "I'm sure Ms. Granger would beg to differ, records are valuable, one can find almost everything among them"
"Only what is already known, and since when did Granger become a source of quotation for you?"
Snape recoiled and swore profusely in an obscure language.
Keira smirked, "Those words shouldn't be used in the presence of a student, sir" as she strode to the door. Snape furrowed his brow, how does she know Greek?
"Do not think this is over Ms. Aureole. You are Very lucky to be in my house otherwise..." eyes glinting, "who knows how I would've punished you."
Keira tilted her head, "Au contraire professor, you are the one who is lucky" before slamming the dungeon door behind her.
And this is just the beginning.
Her first report...
High up in a solitary tower, on the west corner, a young girl held a hand-mirror in front of her. After muttering a quick Silencing and Warding Charm around her, she tapped the glass with her wand. The mirror shined, lighting up her face, she had deep green eyes, dark hair framing her face. Her reflection swirled and was replaced with an image, a cloaked figure.
"I see you passed."
"Of course"
"Have you any progress?"
"Some sir. I've been placed in a difficult position to approach him, but I have a plan"
"What of the other one?"
"That one will be easy, he will be with us before I leave"
"Very good. I have a resource that you may call on, bear in mind not in person, I will introduce you at our next meeting."
"Yes sir." The girl tapped her wand, restoring her reflection in the mirror, disabled the charms she had placed before, and strode out, her cloak flapping behind her.
R&R
EgyptianTenshi 3