Chapter Three
Having finished her chat with Ostaris, Serena tucked stray pieces of hair into her braid and leaned against a window. The speeding train had been slowing down for some time, yet the countryside still whipped by faster than the eye could see for long. Dizzying herself from watching the view, Serena closed her eyes and sighed. It was going to be a very long four years with Madison and her in rival houses. Sighing once again, she shook her head and opened her eyes.
Raithos stood in front of her, leaning out of the window slightly and grinning as the wind whipped ebony black hair. "So, heard you had some trouble back there with…" Serena nodded. "Yeah, I mean, it's hard enough at home when Father says she's a disgrace and I stick up-". Raithos looked at her as if with a renewed interest while Serena mentally clobbered herself with a troll's club. "What I meant was…" Serena sighed. "Never mind." Raithos unfolded his arms from the windowsill and leaned against a wall. Casting a silencing spell, he smiled.
"Let me guess, I'm the only person who's figured out that Madison Lorelai Shugotenshi is not who everyone thinks she is." Serena looked away. "So far only you."
Raithos crossed his arms once again. "Do you know why Slytherins are so detached from the other houses? It's because we are a family unto ourselves. To us, Snape is like a father when we are at school. He is a wonderful potions master that has a very low tolerance for idiots is all. That is why so many hate him, because he does not value many worthy. You have to gain his respect for you. And that simple little task is what so many others hate to even try for fear of loosing. The Slytherins are sometimes viewed as hostile because of the passion we have for our friends. We are known as dark because we delve into the arts that others are scared of probing for the dire results that sometimes come out. We are a family that has learned to preserve ourselves for the fact that all the tainting wizards and witches and Muggles alike will soon make the beings that are able to wield magic die out. We go to any lengths for our kind. Friends and blood alike."
Serena nodded. "That's what Father always said about our blood being tainted and the Dark Arts. We're just very misunderstood."
"Yeah, well, what I meant by my little speech was, actually," Serena laughed, and Raithos seemed at a loss for words while he chuckled along. "Well, I hope you always know to trust us and that we'll always keep your secrets and stuff."
Serena nodded, smiling, and then almost toppled over because of the train's sudden stop, when she was caught by Raithos. "I think I forgot to mention that this train isn't very friendly." They both laughed, and Serena dispelled the silencing charm. Faith appeared in front of the two and raised an eyebrow upon seeing the two alone. "Oh?"
Serena raised an eyebrow. "Jealous much?" Raithos stepped forward. "Do you need a hug Faith? Because there are plenty to go around." The three simultaneously broke out in silent snickers, and made their way onto the platform.
"Firs' years! Firs' years this way!" Serena groaned at the voice of the giant and restrained herself from hexing the half breed giant into oblivion. Gritting her teeth, she and Faith departed from Raithos and Vianaiv and made their way towards the large man. C'mon, follow me!" Serena and Faith strayed near the back and murmured between themselves. Speaking of small things, they arrived at the edge of the lake where about twenty little boats were docked.
"Everyb'dy get in a boat. No more'n four ta each one." The giant man, who some boy had called Hagrid occupied a small boat all to himself. Faith and Serena stepped into a boat and were soon accompanied by a girl with brown hair and green eyes, and a small white boy with watery blue eyes and a mop of blond hair. Waving a hand the size of a newborn dragon, the boats started moving down a narrow path. The boy started shivering violently, giving frightened looks at Faith and Serena. The other girl beside him rolled her large eyes and extended a hand.
"Rayne Star. Sister of Judith Star." Serena took the offered hand and nodded. "Daughter of Sayri and David Star, right?" Rayne nodded. Serena sat back and motioned towards Faith. "This is Faith Natalie Danye. I'm Serena Adelina Crow." Rayne smiled at them and they carried small talk as they neared open waters.
Upon reaching the vast amount of water that was the lake, they got their first glimpse of Hogwarts. Glittering, candlelit windows winked at them from far away and giant turrets where scattered about the establishment. The small boy took this opportunity to open his mouth in awe and steer his view away from the three girls. Rayne made a disgusted face at the boy's wide open mouth, and pushed the boy with her wand forcefully, causing him to fall into the lake.
A large splash, spluttering, and gasping made most of the many people in the boats to turn to the source of the sound. Many began to point and laugh at the comical sight, and showed annoyed expressions when the boats all stopped and Hagrid's large hand grabbed the boy by the scruff of the neck and dragged him into the boat.
Scoffing, Serena, Faith, and Rayne shared a look and turned to Hagrid who had looked at them with a quizzical glare. "Yes?" The half giant shook his head and turned back, leading the small boats to a dock, not noticing the three girls smiling slightly and whispering mischievous ideas.
"Now, when I call your name, you shall come up, place the hat on your head and be sorted into your rightful house. Understood?" Professor McGonagall, a tall, thin, impeccable woman whom they had met a few moments ago, began to read names off a long scroll.
"Aiden, Theo"
The same, small boy whom Rayne had pushed in the lake walked up to the small stool in the center of the hall, placed the hat on his head, and waited patiently, staring at the faces all around him. About ten seconds later, and what seemed like some mumbles from the boy, a large gash in the hat opened like a mouth, and a large roar was heard from the hat.
"Hufflepuff!"
Faith, Serena, and Rayne burst into laughter that was drowned out by the applause and whoops of joy from the yellow and black clad Hufflepuff table. Being the first to be called into their house rarely happened.
After about four more names were called (two Gryffindors and a Ravenclaw), Professor McGonagall looked up with a sour look on her face and called out,
"Crow, Serena"
Many a Slytherin head turned, and from the edge of the table, Ostaris looked on with piercing eyes. Serena walked confidently to the hat and sat on the stool. McGonagall placed the hat on her head, and Serena stared back at all the faces looking at her.
"I had your brother sitting here six years ago you know." A small voice entered her ear. "Now, well, you have the brains for a Ravenclaw. But you wouldn't do there. I know. SLYTHERIN!"
The whole ordeal hadn't lasted more than three seconds, and Serena took off the hat, put it back on the stool, and walked confidently over to the green and silver Slytherin table where the noisy cheers almost left her deaf. Taking a seat next to Ostaris, she looked back towards McGonagall, and noticed how the same sour look stayed on the professor's face as she called out "Faith Danye". The hat also announced her as a Slytherin, and the girl came and sat over with Ostaris and Serena. Not moments later, "Gregor, Anton", "Lex, Ivory", and "Star, Rayne" were sorted into Slytherin along with some others.
When all was done, the golden plates on everyone's table were soon filled from dishes of food and jugs of drinks and baskets of sweets that had suddenly appeared. Serena felt that the table must have groaned under the weight of all the food. Talking and joking, everyone ate their fill and then just sat, talking to their friends and such until others finished. Taking this opportunity to look around, Serena searched the Gryffindor table for Madison, and her eyes became wide as she realized that her sister was not anywhere in sight. Timais, who Teddy had told her about before, was there though, talking to some friends. Her eyes shifted over to the Hufflepuff table and looked for the small girl they had tormented on the train. Serena's search proved fruitless though, and she smiled some.
Plates were cleared, Headmaster Gaunten stood and gave a speech, and students were permitted to leave. Ostaris lead the band of Slytherins down to the dungeons, and gave the password to the wall. A small hole appeared, and got wider and wider, until it was large enough to accommodate three people with their arms linked together. Serena walked in next to Faith and Rayne, and her eyes widened upon taking in the common room.
It was a large, rectangular room that was decorated entirely in green, silver, black, white, and the Slytherin crest and snake. Cozy armchairs and sofas were scattered about, pillows strewn on the floor, which some people sat on immediately and started chatting amongst themselves. It was a bit chilly inside, but then again, these were the dungeons. As if contradicting the whole idea of dungeons, two windows were on opposite sides of the walls, and Serena guessed they were charmed to show what was outside like Father's old office at the Ministry. It showed a starry, yet cloudy night, and it seemed as if the clouds were about to start raining again.
Serena took one of the large armchairs by the fire and sat down, exhausted by the days events. Faith produced a pack of Exploding Snap cards, and she and Rayne played well into the evening. When the warmth of the fire and darkness of the night made Serena almost doze off, she felt someone shaking her awake.
"Wazzit?" A distant laugh was heard, and Serena rubbed her eyes, shaking her head. "What?"
"Well, I was wondering if you'd rather go into our dormitory. I mean, unless you want to stay asleep on the couch, though that'd be a tad bit uncomfortable." Rayne stood above her, hands on her hips, looking for all the world as if she was about to sleep standing upright. "Yeah, yeah, yeah. All right. Let's go." So the two girls made their way to one of the doors by the windows and entered the first year, girls dormitory. Five large, four poster beads covered in green and black furnished the room, and Serena barely noticed in her sleepy stupor that her trunk was at the foot of the bed by another 'window', and moved toward it automatically, slipping under the covers fully dressed. The night took her into sleep without dreams, unlike her sister.
Madison shot up in bed, gasping for breath, shaking slightly, her throat raw from a scream. Lifting a shaking hand to wipe the sweat from her brow, she looked around, carefully looking at each of her dorm mates in turn, making sure they were sleeping, and thanking Merlin she'd remembered to put a silencing charm on her bed. Madison took the spell down and laid back, grabbed her glasses and put them on. Still shaking slightly, she turned to her bedside table and nearly dropped the pitcher of cool water trying to pour some into a glass. She drank greedily, and looked out the only window in the dorm. Dawn was fast approaching. Rubbing her face with her hands, she tried to banish her dream from her head.
She was running down the hall, looking over her shoulder, knowing that someone or rather something was after her. She'd been running for almost a quarter of an hour now, and the run was taking its toll on her. The thin material of her pajamas was icy cold, her bare feet were starting to hurt, and the stitch in her side was bothering more and more. Taking a turn by the Charms classroom, Madison looked around frantically and struggled for breath. The whisper of a cloak had her running again, this time with a direction. Down a flight of stairs she went, nearly flying off when the staircase started to move. Anxiously, she jumped up and down, keeping herself moving so that no more cramps would bother her. When the staircase stopped two floors down, Madison looked back hurriedly, and the wind knocked out of her as she saw the oh-so-feared shadow started to move down the same staircase after her. She ran with a new burst of adrenaline, and the chase went on for some time. 'Damnit.' Looking back once again, Madison had flown over the trick step and grinned in triumph once she'd reached the dungeons. Knocking the portal frantically, she'd turned, sensing it was too late, and there it was. The tall, cloaked figure. Madison had sensed it had a need and it reached out a pasty white hand towards her at the exact same time that she'd screamed the breath out of her lungs.
Madison shook her head once more, got out of bed, stretched, and opened her trunk. Finding a small vial, she drank the contents and warmth spread through her as the stress relieving potion took its effect. Gathering a change of robes, she headed towards the bathroom and ran a hand through her hair, eager to forget the dreams that had haunted her since her first week at Hogwarts.
Ostaris woke at the same time as Madison, shaking his head in the same way she did, but with a different purpose. This was the first time this year that she'd awoken from the dreams that plagued her since her coming to Hogwarts, but not the last for sure. Ever since those three years ago when Madison had started coming to Hogwarts the visions had started. She'd come to him the first time, but with all the Slytherin glares, she's retreated, him saying that she thought the Slytherin Prefect could help better than the Gryffindor one, and ignoring her for almost a week to keep his reputation.
Rubbing his eyes, Ostaris shook his fist at an invisible foe for the early waking. 'Stupid bonds'. Sighing, he crawled across his bed and opened his trunk at the foot of the bed. Reaching inside for a spare piece of parchment, he also searched for a quill. Upon finding both, Ostaris went back under his covers and leaned against his large pillows.
Placing a book in his lap so that the parchment wouldn't rip, the Slytherin started scribbling madly, only stopping for small whiles. About three minutes later, he leaned further back and reread his letter, eyes skimming over words that were important to him. Elder… dream… beginning third year… other child… first year… Serena… worried… fate… Reading it for the third time, Ostaris nodded to himself in satisfaction, and whistled, a sound that ripped through the air, and waved his wand, opening the dormitory door.
Moments later, what looked like a small hawk flew into the room. Settling itself on Ostaris' bed, it stretched its wings and shifted his eyes around. Ostaris motioned it closer, and obligingly, it came. "Thank Merlin Gaunten has a flight passage from the owlery to the dungeons." The bird nipped his fingers lightly, as Ostaris tied the piece of parchment to his leg, and jumped into the air once he was done. Flapping its wings, it waited for instructions from its master. "Gail, you know who to take that to. Just like every other time. Make sure it's not read by someone else. I don't care if you have to peck out their eyes. Go."
Gail flapped its wings twice, and sped out of the room, flying a trail that had been flown for three years. As Ostaris watched it leave the room, he sighed once again and pulled the covers over himself. 'Let's see how much sleep I can get before Dante comes in screaming for everyone to get up.'