Disclaimers: I apologize for not writing this in the first chapter but…I DO NOT OWN HARRY POTTER OR ANY OTHER CHARACTERS FROM J K ROWLING'S BOOKS. (*CRY CRY* OTHERWISE I'D BE A MILLIONARE TOO…) *AHEM* I own Lapis Lazuli Azure Black, so if anyone wants to use her, please e-mail me first, okies??

Salem's Lot

Chapter 8: A New Day Has Come

Lazul bobbed her head to the sound of the Moulon Rouge soundtrack she had playing in her headphones. The trip over had been strange in comparison to the many different alleys they'd had to go through from the airport. This route seemed to be top secret or something of the sort, since they'd been escorted onto a train that apparently went only two ways and had been emptied of all other passengers for their safe passage. She'd felt a little sorry for the people they'd inconvenienced, but then her attention had been pulled away by an rather large man who was their guide.

Rubeus Hagrid was a little more than large. This man had to be the size of their house back home, and about as wide as the great oak tree Lazul remembered climbing every summer. Lazul had to keep from staring by putting on her headphones and ignoring the rest f the world the entire trip. It was that or be subject to Momma's lecturing about staring at people. Lazul preferred this.

"So, how do you like it so far, Miss Black?" Hagrid beamed down at her. His voice made her jump, it was so loud she could hear it like a lion growling in her ears…and the volume was blasting.

"Ah, fine so far, I guess." She shrugged, hoping that was a good answer. She really didn't know what to think about England in general since their home was located in London and she hadn't been allowed out much except when she had performances. Another thing that made her rather cross. There weren't anymore rehearsals to look forward to until next summer. The thought of going without any dance or music made her feet start to itch.

"I'm sure she's just thrilled, Mr. Hagrid. Lazul's been just a little preoccupied with her theatre activities is all." Momma had begun to slip back into the educated woman's voice that Lazul dreaded. It wasn't her momma at all. She used it when she had to work, to save face for the fact that she hadn't really finished high school. It was more of a way to prove that she was still intelligent despite the fact that she'd gotten pregnant when she was sixteen and was raising a daughter on moonshine trade and minimum wage at Wal Mart.

Lazul sighed, blinking as a large castle began to take shape in the horizon.

"What's that?" she asked, a grin beginning to form on her lips. Momma peeked over her shoulder, looking a little more than surprised at the sight herself. Hagrid chuckled, causing the car they were in to rumble pleasantly.

"That there is Hogwarts, Miss Black. Best school 'n all th' world fer your daughter." He grinned down at them. Even sitting he was still a mammoth. Lazul made a face at that, turning her attention back to the school before them.

"So this is Hogwarts…"

Lazul had to keep her face as unreadable as possible as she followed her momma and a Professor McGonnagal down the halls of this castle. Every few seconds, she found herself searching the place for a secret passage or a hidden stairwell. When she asked, the older woman in deep amber robes answered that there were many hidden passages in the school, however students were told to keep to their class routes.

"Um, are you sure we're not causing any trouble with our arrival, Professor?" Momma called after McGonnagal nervously, looking around her with sudden skepticism. She was the one who wanted Lazul to come here in the first place, what was he problem? Momma was always skittish about the old-fashioned magic, and this place reeked of it. Lazul could have turned the whole place upside-down and inside out if she wanted to. There were so many possibilities and this place just called out to her.

Occasionally Lazul saw students walk by wearing robes over conservative school uniforms. The sight of the girl's skirts made her frown. This institution must still believe knee-length fabric best displayed girl's femininity. She'd have to talk to someone about that…

They arrived at what Lazul assumed was the cafeteria auditorium…or at any rate it was a great dining room. The sudden congestion made Lazul freeze behind her mother's strong frame. Everyone looked like they were something out of a mythical fairytale from the dark ages. Lazul had had dreams about belonging in a world such as this. Here she was in her ripped up blue jeans, wearing a white tank top streaked with red stripes and blue stars, and old comfortable cowgirl boots. Her momma fit in better and she was wearing a periwinkle blue woman's dress suit. All eyes went to them. Lazul soon found herself to be the center of attention though, as McGonnagal led her momma to a main table at the end of the hall. Lazul shut the tape off in her player immediately, looking up through her dark ebony bangs. She was thankful for the slight veil it gave her, because she wanted nothing better than to bolt right out of that room and grab the next train out.

She didn't fit in here. All of these eyes that stared at her were judging her. She was a witch from across the ocean, which couldn't possibly be anywhere in this league of students. Lazul felt alone again, and it stirred the ice at the base of her soul. The ice quickly slid up and traveled into her eyes, which she raised daringly up to the crowd. This was just like stage fright. She could harness it and use this trembling fear to move, to speak…to do something besides standing there like a babe wanting her mommy. And so that's exactly what she did.

"Hi everyone!" she grinned, waving as she began taking her first few steps towards the end of the hall.

So how was that? Please R&R people! ^_^ It's gonna get better soon I promise! Just wait until the next chapter……..LAZUL GET'S SORTED!! ^__^