Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling. Only the characters that you don't recognize are mine.
The title of this chapter is a song from Meredith Brooks.
Reyana had been awake for about an hour and there was still no sign of her promised breakfast. Severus had told her not to leave her suite until he came to collect her, whenever that was and her stomach was rumbling loudly and rather angrily. With a scowl, Reyana decided to take a shower before breakfast instead of after. She went into the bathroom, which was right off her bedroom and gaped. The bathroom was tiled in ivory and shell pink. The shower was huge and a large sunken bathtub nearly big enough to swim in took up much of one half of the room. Reyana changed her plans. With a bathtub like that one, she had a feeling that she'd never shower again. She heated the water until her fingers tingled and slipped in. A sigh of contentment eased out of her as her muscles, taut from stress and worry, slowly relaxed. She was feeling pleasantly drowsy when somewhere to her left, someone cleared their throat.
Reyana screamed instinctively and turned with every intention of tearing her unwanted visitor to pieces. Her scream cut off and her mouth gaped. The strangest looking creature stood, trembling in the doorway, her long pointed ears drooping.
"Trea sorry for disturbing miss." the small rather ugly creature squeaked. "Trea brought miss breakfast."
Reyana decided to have a talk with Severus. He should've told her!
"Thank you Trea." Reyana managed. "Call me Reyana."
"Yes miss!" the little creature bobbed up and down. "Thank you miss"
Trea hurried away and Reyana let out a shaky breath. This whole magic thing was a bit too much for her frail nerves to handle. She got out of the tub and wrapped a fluffy pink towel around her dripping body and went out to find her breakfast.
She smelled it before she could see it. The heavenly aroma sent her stomach to growling again and Reyana hastened to the small table. She practically inhaled the fruit Danishes, bacon rashers, and poached eggs. This was the best breakfast she'd had in a long long time! In the middle of her third raspberry danish, the portrait swung open and Severus appeared, dressed as severely as usual.
"Enjoying your breakfast I see." He said by way of greeting.
Reyana swallowed quickly, choked, swallowed again, and coughed before replying.
"Yes. Thank you. I thought it would never get here."
"The house elves aren't used to delivering to this suite." he explained. "It won't happen again."
She shrugged and filed away the information she'd learned. That ugly little creature was a house elf, but weren't elves supposed to be tall and beautiful? She blinked. Or was that just Tolkien's elves? Were real elves, and it felt weird to even think that, ugly and small? Hopefully she could figure out this crazy magical world before she went insane.
"The Headmaster wants to see you as soon as you're dressed." he looked pointedly at the damp towel still covering her.
Reyana grinned. Oops. She'd forgotten. Poor Severus.
She nodded and stood up.
"Thanks."
He nodded and sat down in one of the plush armchairs.
"I'll wait for you."
Reyana hurried back to her bedroom and found her suitcases lined up neatly against the chest of drawers. She rummaged through the closest one and put on a pair of ratty but very comfortable jeans and a black t-shirt that read;
"I don't have ADD, you just don't understand, oh look, is that a chicken?"
She pulled her still wet hair into a passable ponytail and went back into the living area. Severus looked her up and down rather disapprovingly.
"Let's go."
Reyana followed him out of the portrait hole and down the hall. In the daylight this castle, her new home was much more interesting. There were as before moving portraits on the wall, and Severus had to tear her away from one in which a couple was snogging in the rain. There were lots of windows that looked out over immense grounds and vast green lawns. And most interesting of all, there were students walking the halls. Reyana was mesmerized by the students. They all wore robes trimmed in different colors and with different emblems on the front. They all carried book bags over their shoulders and looked rather like normal students. Except for the robes and the castle. She allowed herself to be tugged up a narrow flight of stairs and around several corners, before they stopped in front of a stone gargoyle.
Severus looked at the gargoyle and said,
"Canary Cream." he looked rather disgusted as her said it and Reyana wondered what on earth a Canary Cream was.
The gargoyle moved aside and they walked up a winding staircase and through the door at the top.
"Welcome Severus, Miss Taylor."
Reyana looked into the bluest eyes she'd ever seen. They were full of life and twinkled as if the man knew a rather funny joke that no one else understood. She smiled without really meaning to. The Headmaster was the oldest man she'd ever met, but he moved with the grace of a younger man.
"Thank you for bringing Miss Taylor, Severus. I believe you have a class to teach."
Severus nodded and left without a backward glance.
"Well sit down! Sit down! I don't bite. Not usually."
Reyana sat as did the Headmaster. He opened a small jar on the corner of his desk and offered it to her.
She took the proffered jar and withdrew a lemon drop. She smiled at the familiar candy and popped it into her mouth.
"I am Professor Dumbledore. Welcome to Hogwarts."
"Thank you sir."
"I'd like to make the library available to you." his eyes twinkled at her "I'm sure there is much you wish to learn."
Reyana nodded vigorously.
"And I should like to ask you to stay in your suite as often as possible. I don't want to disturb the other students."
Reyana felt a flicker of disappointment. She'd wanted to meet some of the other teenagers. And she'd wanted to tour the grounds.
He noted her disappointment and steepled his fingers.
"This is only for now. Once you have settled in, you may wander the castle and acquaint yourself with your new home."
Reyana nodded, still a little miffed, but willing to try it his way.
He handed her a piece of parchment. Yes, parchment. She could hardly believe it. It was like stepping back into the Middle Ages. She'd bet that they wrote with feather quills too. Yes there it was. An eagle feather quill sat next to a bottle of black ink on the desk. Reyana fought the urge to laugh.
"This is a map of the castle." Dumbledore continued. "It should be very helpful to you."
He leaned forward,
"And now I have a very important question to ask you."
Despite herself Reyana was curious.
"What sir?"
"What did the blonde call her pet zebra?"
Reyana blinked. Was he serious?
"I...don't...know."
"Spot!" he chuckled to himself for several minutes and then waved her off.
"Go on back to your rooms. I had the house elves set out some books for you."
Reyana nodded and went down the stairs smiling. The joke HAD been funny.
Draco Malfoy was bored. This was unusual. Normally whenever he felt boredom creeping in he would plan some new insult or nasty prank to use on some unsuspecting 1st years, or even better on the Golden Trio. But today he wasn't in the mood. The black tattoo on his left forearm itched and he was constantly aware of it. Somehow, knowing that his Lord was watching him, made him careful. Tormenting mudbloods was rather juvenile now that he was a Death Eater. He wanted to wreak havoc among the muggles and those who denied the Dark Lord. But, he'd been told to restrain his eagerness. Ordered more like. Draco snarled inwardly and a scowl tightened his features. He hurried along with the flow of students toward his N.E.W.T. Level Potions class. As he pushed his way through the younger students, he managed to "accidentally" trip a couple of Hufflepuff second years and laughed cruelly as their books spilled out on the floor causing others to fall. Satisfaction filled him as he picked his way through the chaos he'd created. Perhaps it was childish, but hell, it was fun! Still chuckling, he entered the Potions classroom and took his usual seat near the front. Directions were already on the board for the potion that they were creating. He squinted at the crabby writing and sighed. As usual Snape's writing was illegible. And the professor wondered why no one's potions came out right, except for that filthy mudblood who had the entire library memorized. A sour taste rose in his throat and he pushed it away as he waited for the class to start. As usual the Golden Trio minus the Weasel, was barely on time.
"Ten points from Gryffindor for tardiness Mr. Potter." the silky voice of the Potions professor came from the front of the room.
The Slytherins smirked to each other as Potter glared angrily and pulled his book almost violently from his bag.
"Today we will be brewing a harmless potion that if done correctly will, when consumed cause you to become weightless." a slight smile touched Snape's thin lips, "But if done incorrectly," he looked at Longbottom with a sneer. "Will cause fatal illness or injury."
Draco scribbled down the ingredients, feeling anticipation rising. This ought to be good. It was an immensely complicated potion that required exactness. Even one tiny error would ruin the potion beyond repair.
Everyone worked feverishly, knowing that at the end of the lesson, one student would be required to ingest their potion.
"Longbottom!" Snape called "It should smell of rain not your dirty knickers!"
The Slytherins laughed in appreciation of the insult.
Draco rolled his eyes. He was loyal to his house, but they were all idiots. It wasn't like they were doing any better than Longbottom. Pansy had already melted her cauldron. Draco dropped the fresh bat guano into his seething cauldron and stirred 3 times clockwise and the goopy liquid inside turned brilliant orange and glowed. He swallowed hard. Oops. It was 2 ½ stirs. Not 3.
"Potter! Stop copying from Granger! We all know you can't do it yourself!"
Before anyone could reply, the door slammed open and a girl in ratty jeans and t-shirt dashed in.
"Severus!"
Snape looked up as did every single student. His face turned a mottled purple.
"What are you doing here? You were supposed to stay in your rooms!"
Draco looked up in interest. The girl who had interrupted was of medium height with long thick brown hair tied back in a sloppy ponytail. Her baggy t-shirt covered any shape she might've had, and her jeans were simply an abomination! Draco was disgusted. Who was this girl?
"Severus."she repeated, sounding rather frantic and waving a piece of parchment. "My rooms aren't on the map and Dumbledore didn't tell me how to get back."
The students started whispering and chuckling amongst themselves, potions forgotten.
Snape looked furious.
"Reyana! Now is NOT a good time. I'm in the middle of class."
The girl turned around and blushed deeply. She waved a little.
"Sorry."
The Slytherins burst into laughter and the girl looked even more humiliated.
Draco spoke up
"So...who are you? And what in the name of heaven are you wearing?" he drawled.
Her eyes narrowed and her spine snapped straight. All traces of embarrassment were gone.
"I'm Reyana Taylor." she paused as if expecting a response, but got nothing but blank stares. "And for those of you that are stupid as well as blind, I'm talking to you blondie." she glared at Draco, "I'm wearing a pair of jeans and a t-shirt." she smiled, but her eyes flashed.
"That's enough Reyana." Snape interrupted silkily. "Go sit at my desk. I'll show you the way back AFTER class."
She nodded and sat, ignoring the class.
"Now back to work all of you! 10 points from Gryffindor and Slytherin for neglecting your work."
All the Slytherins gaped. Snape never took points from his own house.
Draco went back to his day-glo orange potion seething with anger. That girl was trouble, he could feel it. And he hated her. She was too damn arrogant for her own good. She'd regret ever coming to Hogwarts.
Reyana felt incredibly stupid. She'd known that Severus was a teacher, and she'd interrupted his class. Her cheeks heated again as she remembered the mocking laughter from the students. Thankfully her embarrassment had quickly turned to anger. They had no right to judge her! She was new to this castle. And it wasn't her fault that the map she'd been given was defective. How could an entire wing not be on the map? It was ridiculous! Just like the rest of this stupid magical world. She felt angry tears prick her eyelashes, but she forced them away. She missed her family and her home. And her best friends. What would Marcy say if she could see this place?
Probably something like "Are the guys hot? Are there any spells to make a guy rowdy?" Then she'd wriggle those pencil thin eyebrows of hers and lick her lips.
Reyana had to stifle a giggle, the image was so clear in her mind.
She looked up and her eyes met a pair of slate gray ones. The eyes belonged to a haughty boy with white blond hair and a permanent sneer. Reyana felt her lip curl in response to the hatred in his eyes. But as she looked at him, she felt herself falling down into the grayness of his eyes...
OoOoOoO
"What were you thinking Narcissa?" a low angry voice said.
I looked around, finding myself behind a door, looking into a lavish bedroom all done in blood red and black. A slight woman sat in a chair, dark head lowered. A tall man with blond hair towered over her.
"A muggle in our home? How could you betray me this way?
"Betray you?" she hissed "Betray your precious master is more like."
The man slapped her hard across the cheek, and I bit back a cry.
"Don't speak of our Lord that way bitch!"
"Who's the bitch?" she shrieked, "You crawl like an animal whenever he calls! You do whatever he tells you like the coward you are!"
With an inhuman howl, the tall man fell on the woman and beat her back.
The woman screamed her defiance.
The man backed up and snarled at her, looking like a demon in the firelight.
"You are mine! I will punish the muggles who defiled my house, and then I will punish you!"
"No! I will never tell you!" the woman cried, tears glinting on her bloody cheeks. "She is my friend!"
"No wife of mine will have a muggle for a friend." he growled and fell on her again.
I screamed and tried to interfere, but they couldn't hear me.
"NO!"
OoOoOoO
"Reyana!"
"REYANA!"
Her eyelids flickered as the sting of a slap spread across her face. As she came fully awake, Reyana realized that she was laying on the cold stone floor of the Potions classroom.
"What happened?" she moaned, pressing her hand to her head.
Severus helped her up, a look of intense relief on his sallow face.
"Your eyes went really wide and then you went rigid, screamed, and fell off the chair."
Reyana blinked and tried to remember. It all came back suddenly, the dream or rather day terror. She paled and her body swayed a little.
"What is it?"
"A horrible dream." she whispered.
Severus stood up and surveyed the tattered remains of his class. They were all there of course, but this was the most exciting thing to happen since Potter had fainted on the train, and the teenagers were in an uproar.
"SILENCE!" Severus screamed, his eyes practically popping.
The class obeyed immediately.
"Class is dismissed." he said "Put everything away and leave quietly. I'm taking Miss Taylor to the Hospital Wing."
Reviews would be appreciated. Let me know if you like it. It's turning out a little more angsty than I had planned, but I think I like the way it's turning out.
I'm sorry if this is moving too slow for some of you. It'll speed up now that Draco and Reyana have met. Or at least they've encountered each other. Keep reading!