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 (which I doubt), please e-mail me first, okies??

Author's Note: Okay…this is the sorted chapter. I was gonna give y'all hints but I decided that true fans will read and be happy. ^_^ So READ ON!

Salem's Lot

Chapter 10: Numb

"I might be the way

everybody likes to say

I know watcha thinking about me…" Lazul sang softly laying on her back in her new dormitory bed. The bunks were uniform and neatly lined up on either side of the dank, old stone walls. She hadn't changed into her uniform yet, and wasn't looking forward to the year coming on. Her mother had already taken the train back home, with the Headmaster's assurance that Lazul would be fine. Of course she would fit right in. Why wouldn't she? Obviously this was the best possible place for a person like her. After all, she couldn't possibly survive back home now.

The lines repeated over and over in her head as she'd listened to the professors go over this with her momma. Students had cheered and jeered alike when the decision had finally been made. Thinking back now, Lazul didn't know whether it was a good choice or not. Either way, what did it matter? It wasn't as if these students would actually accept her into their school, at least not so easily as the Headmaster had made it out to be. Lazul was different. These kids didn't know what real magic was. There were so many levels of good and bad and of the thread in-between those.

It wasn't as if she would actually be learning anything here. From the looks of things, everyone used wands. Perhaps wands were necessary in positions of very powerful magic…but generally the basics could be done without. At least that's the way it was back home. Back home, in the bogs, one didn't have time to wave around a magic stick, something would easily take off that arm before you'd be finished. Back home, you had to rely on the half-taught, half-hazard teachings memorized in the space of anywhere from a week to two seconds. Back home, magic wasn't a way of life, so much as a way of survival.

"Hey! Dinner's in the Great Hall, if you wan to come…" one of the girls passing by with her groupies half-called out to Lazul from across the dorm. Lazul raised her head slightly off the bed, bangs falling into her eyes, giving off a dark forbidden scowl that would've sent any worm back into it's hole in the earth. As predicted, the female offenders scuttled out of the dorm room.

Perhaps she shouldn't have been so hard, but then, why did she care? She had a right to be unpleasant at least, considering the conditions given to her from that stupid hat. She couldn't make a decision when it had come down to crunch time, and she'd left it up to the damned hat. She'd chosen to be sorted in the best-qualified House. She'd chosen to be put with others who would know her pain, her frustration, her love for life, and her joy. Lazul had practically begged for a place to belong.

After the feast, she'd been allowed to mingle freely with all of the students. Some of her new classmates had approached her. One of them, a familiar face that had caught her completely off-guard.

"You!" Lazul shouted, jumping as a taller boy with messy brown hair and large round spectacles tapped he shoulder. He smirked, still showing the telltale signs of having not matured past boyhood yet. He rubbed his unruly hair out of his face, revealing a lightning shaped scar that caught Lazul's attention for a moment before he spoke.

"Me. It's nice to see you again. I thought you would be attending the school for dance?" he was good at small talk, but Lazul caught the slight lie behind his first line. He was not completely happy to see her. Why, she didn't really know but then that didn't really matter.

"That's what we both get for thinkin'." She shrugged, turning her attention to the mousy girl next to him and the taller boy. These must be his friends, as they appeared standing next to him at an eaqual's breadth and both seemed to be measuring her inch by inch. The girl had slightly tousled, razzy ash blonde hair that framed her face nicely, and a small nose that wiggled every now and again when she appeared to be thinking hard. Lazul found it amusing, but hid it behind a friendly smile she knew could be winning when she needed it to be. The taller boy was a bright red head, with freckles that could've dubbed him a human chocolate chip cookie. He had the awkwardness of a sixteen-year-old boy in a man's body, from his stance and the way he slouched slightly next to his friend. Obviously, the brunette was the leader, for both of his companions stood on either side, ready to be there at any moment Lazul would make a sudden move.

"I hope you like it here at Hogwarts. It's really a pleasant place with lots to do." The girl spoke first after the silence that followed Lazul. Apparently she was trying to be friendly, for which Lazul didn't mind, but then she didn't care. "Oh, where are my manners? I'm Hermione Granger!" she held out her hand, which Lazul took out of trained common courtesy. Momma would've strung her up by her toenails if she caught her acting up in public.

"Ron Weasley! Pleasure to meet you, miss!" Lazul nearly laughed at the taller boy, taking his hand as well. Was he a momma's boy or what? How many guys called you 'miss'? the last one held out his hand stiffly, looking down at her with interest mixed with caution. It was the look Lazul was used to getting, the look of a skeptic. It was the look of someone easily swayed to throwing stones in your direction. She didn't like that look, and quickly removed her hand from his. He looked a bit startled, but recovered quickly.

"Are you…happy with the House you're in?"

"Yeah, the way things have been the past few years, it looks like we'll be seeing a lot of you." Ron laughed. Hermione smiled genuinely, earning a smile from Lazul. She liked them. They were worth standing around with this other boy.

"…I don't know what to think. As far as I'm concerned, it'll matter more when I get to know the people. Of course I'm gonna go in knowing not to expect the same regard." She eyed the green-eyed brunette before turning her back to them.

Later, she'd been informed that the boy's name was Harry Potter. Some legend in the 'wizarding community'. Once again, Lazul didn't really care. She rolled to her side lazily, contemplating whether to join the rest for dinner or not. Momma would be angry if she didn't at least make the effort to fit in. So, she raised herself off the bed, taking her earphones out and walking downstairs. The common room, as it was called, was anything but that. Lazul had had the impression that it would be something of a living room for a dormitory, but soon found she was wrong. There were several couches and a large fireplace with highly decorated pillars and many windows. Most of them had the drapes pulled over right now, which were thick velvet and shimmering with newness despite the aged appearance.

Sighing, she flopped over one side of the couches, hanging upside down with her head touching the floor, hair askew and for once, out of her striking blue eyes. Perhaps she'd just forget about dinner and go back to her bunk. It had been much more comfortable there and she knew for a fact that nobody would bother her there…

"Excuse me?" a familiar voice called from the portrait hole. Lazul turned sideways, now hanging a bit more complicatedly over the couch in an upside-down position. The owner of the voice stood at the opening of the portrait hole, leaning to one side, with his cloak draped ceremoniously over one shoulder. Platinum blonde hair that could only belong to a model and piercing icicle blue eyes matched her own deep sapphire.

"Yes…was it Malfoy?"

"Draco Malfoy…but you may simply call me Draco. Hurry up there, or we shall be late for dinner."

~ dun dun dun ~ ^_^