Shifter

XV

Senna, Ginevra, and Hermione climbed into a weird white carriage pulled along by large black horse things with wings. They seemed to have their skin stretched over their skeleton without having any muscles. Though, Senna could see them, she had to wonder why the other two gave her a weird look when she mentioned them.

"They're called thestrals," a girl with dirty blonde hair and deep blue eyes commented. She was already in the carriage. She had an airy sense about her and looked lost while knowing where she was. She was wearing a Ravenclaw uniform with sandals, and her blue and black Hogwarts robe was left open in the heat of the early evening, as the sun was slowly setting.

"They can only be seen by those who have seen and accepted death," she commented whimsically not bothered whether they believed her or not while Hermione sat next to her and Senna and Ginny sat opposite.

"But I read thestrals are bad omens," Hermione interrupted as the carriage started moving, looking worried. Senna grimaced as she could see that it would not end well with Hermione coming out to be certain that thestrals were bad, just because ignorant people wrote that they were in some popular book, which was likely more fantasy than fact because people in the magical world would prefer to label something as bad rather than the more complicated truth, which saw the rest of the colours in the rainbow.

The cute and small blonde girl just shook her head. "They are not," she disagreed, and she was surprisingly forceful with her adamants, and her eyes cleared to shine through a glimpse of her intelligence for a moment, and they went cold, just for a brief flash, darkening before returning to normal. "Only foolish people who wish to blame something for their own incompetence will believe such nonsense!"

Hermione however shook her head. "No… it's written in a book that they bring misfortune," she disagreed heatedly.

"I bet the writer of that book was incompetent, Hermione," Senna suddenly interrupted as she could see why the blonde would react the way she did, likely having to deal with fools on a regular basis that didn't think for themselves. "People tend to blame everything around them for their troubles other than themselves, probably because of the death thing, and the fact they look like they should be pulling the devils carriages, but I say they look pretty cool!"

"But the book…" Hermione tried defending.

Senna sighed and rolled her eyes. "It's just a freaking book Hermione; it means absolutely nothing in the real world. One book may say one thing, and another something completely different. If a book said that all pet bunnies were flesh eating monsters just waiting for you to turn around so they can skin you, would you believe them?"

"Well of course not, that's just stupid," Hermione replied. "But this was in a proper, legitimate textbook…" she trailed off as Senna was no longer listening and turned to the blonde with a strained grin, as even as Harry she had gotten frustrated at Hermione for believing everything she read just because it was the 'popular' book, or written by somebody famous or important – that didn't automatically mean the authors were clever.

"I'm Senna Rose Nightly," she introduced herself taking the blonde girls' hand and surprisingly kissing the back of her fingers, which caused her cheeks to light up, but she smiled rather than pulling away, and Senna found amusement in making Hermione uncomfortable in any way she could, "but you can call me Senna," she added as she let her hand go and felt amused that Hermione had lost her track of thought, blushing and looking away for a moment.

"I'm Luna Lovegood," she introduced herself as the carriage started trudging up towards the castle.

"This is my… best… well, best friend, Ginny Weasley," Senna added as she introduced Ginny, and Ginny grinned, amused as she took Luna's hand and instead of shaking, kissed the back of her hand before letting go, and Luna looked positively delighted with the attention, but even she saw the flickering eyes and Hermione blushing and looking confused and concerned. "Oh, and this is Hermione Granger." Senna said Hermione's name with noticeably less enthusiasm as she calmed down from getting annoyed at the girl who saw no reason, and couldn't be reasoned with because she never saw other people's reason, and only the 'reason' of professionals, most of which were likely only grifters.

Luna gave Ginn and Senna a polite nod and a small smile with pink cheeks for Ginny before turning her attention to Senna with her eyes clearing slightly in more in delight, or more importantly upon seeing the fox ears, and foxtail she could see to Senna's side moving of its own accord, hopeful-glee.

"Where would I get some cute accessories like them?" she asked with a hopeful smile, her light blue eyes taking on a faraway look, surprisingly the expression made the girl seem cute rather than just airheaded, even though they could tell she was likely one of the smartest and imaginative girls at school.

"You can't just get them-," Hermione began to say when her eyes widened and nearly popped out of her head as Senna pulled off the ears that were attached to a near invisible chameleon like headband.

"Do you like them?" Senna asked hopefully.

Luna nodded while Hermione stared with her mouth wide open. "They are quite interesting," Luna agreed. "I'm guessing they use some animation magic so they look so real."

Senna nodded with a smirk. "Aniccessories! Trademarked! I have some more sets if you want one? Their retail price will be about between twelve and fifteen sickles each, but I like you, so I'll give you a set for free."

"Wow, thank you very much," Luna answered smiling brightly as Senna nodded.

"Sure, I have some different ones in my trunk," Senna agreed while laughing with Ginny, mainly at Hermione's expression. "What kind do you want?" she asked as she saw Hermione's dumbfounded expression widen.

"D-do you have a white wolf?" Luna asked hopefully.

Senna just nodded. "Yep, I think it will look awesome on you babes-!"

"-Wait a minute!" Hermione interrupted in annoyance. "Those things aren't even real… you lied to us."

Senna rolled her eyes laughing. "I never actually said they were real, you just assumed that a second year was capable of that level of transfiguration. Hmm... or would it even be transfiguration? I suppose it is since we still use a wand, it couldn't be considered transmutation because even locked it can be undone as if it never happened, I suppose, not to mention that even locked spells can run their course eventually running out of magic – well… yeah," she said as it was down to Ginny to give her a crash summary of spell locking.

"W-well… …" Hermione stuttered at a loss for words, and blushing brightly, but her eyes narrowed in suspicion as Senna put her arm around Ginny and pulled her into a hug where Ginny wrapped her arms around Senna's waist snuggling. She thought the hand kissing thing with Luna was just to make fun of her at first – well, it probably was, but she was almost certain they were going to continue making fun of her, as they flashed her amused smirks.

"I'll get you your ears and tail tomorrow Luna, unless we're in the same house, then I can give it to you later," said Senna winking at the blonde.

"Talking about houses," Ginny suddenly spoke up. "I'm thinking about moving rooms to the spare second year girl's dorm in Gryffindor by myself, as it's overcrowded in Gryffindor, and it isn't like I made any friends last year with everything that was going on."

"I'm in the second Ravenclaw room all to myself because there were extra first years, last year," Luna spoke shrugging. "I don't mind. It just means that the other second year girls have less chance to bully me," she added nonchalant.

Senna frowned with a look of annoyance. "Don't you worry Luna; this year will be different. I won't let those no-talent hacks get away with bullying my friend!"

"Y-you… really mean we're friends?" she asked, hopeful.

Senna and Ginny both grinned. "Of course, you are Luna…" Ginny agreed kindly. "You'll be hanging out with us from now on."

"Yeah," nodded Senna smirking. "We'll be the reject clique," she said laughing, which caused Ginny to laugh and Luna to smile brighter.

"Hey check this out!" Ginny suddenly interrupted as the carriage was just passing through the school gates. The dementors that were guarding the main gates were shooting off in different directions as fast as they could. They went whiling in fear, which caused more and more to flee from the fences and their stations, shooting off into the chilled sky.

"Wow, I think they're afraid of those patroni," Luna said with a smile. "I saw them. They were so powerful and beautiful. Patroni aren't normally known for causing physical damage to things, let alone destroying those monsters and setting those poor souls free. That was your magic wasn't it, Senna, Ginny?" she asked, but it was placed as more of a statement of fact rather than a question as she looked at them with her amazing eyes.

"Yep!" they both chimed with pride. They looked to each other with smirks as it seemed nearly certain that they weren't the only students with some hidden 'talent'.

"Now look at those filthy daemons," said Ginny smugly. "No more souls for them to devour with us around to chase them off or kill them. They're too afraid we might hunt them down now, and off the lot of them."

"Well, they should flee from us," Senna agreed with a dark smirk. "Those things are filth in need of extermination!"

"Senna...! Ginny…!" Hermione reprimanded. "They have every right to survive, just as much as people do!" she said as if she understood anything.

Senna looked at her coldly. It just hit her. It was a bout of anger as she thought Hermione's words over. Those monsters had been used for centuries to imprison men, women, and children, and then after having to suffer the torture in jail while human, those things got to devour the soul, torturing them for the rest of the dementors existence. That wasn't right at all. It was filthy, and cruel beyond anything the world had to offer, and that was humans, helping the monsters.

"No, they don't!" Senna hissed out suddenly as she thought about it more. She startled the bushy haired girl, and for the first time made her feel a sliver of fear. "Those things suck out people's souls, and you defend them? They spend their existence causing the suffering of criminals, some of whom could be rehabilitated! You're one of those people who would scream about killing your enemy being wrong and then torture them for the rest of their lives in Azkaban!?

"Then you try to claim that thestrals are bad news, bad omens when they're just like any normal magical animal? How do people like you sleep at night is what I have to wonder? You think you're better than the criminal that you've captured, forgetting the torture you are responsible for putting them under. Why do you think any criminal would beg for anywhere, or any punishment, but Azkaban!?

"Then what about the one who is sentenced to death? They have their soul sucked out of them so that they're tortured for hundreds, thousands, millions of years? Tortured until the end of the universe, or further... and you praise that?!"

Senna looked away from the girl in disgust as she couldn't hold it back. She hoped that maybe with a slight reality check that perhaps Hermione would open her eyes. Ginny glared at Hermione, not knowing her as well as Senna, she did know she was supposed to be smart. Ginny quickly turned her loving attention back to her girlfriend. She knew that Senna had thought a lot over the holidays, and felt that her parents may have survived if they thought for themselves, and fought back. If the dark had feared death from the 'light', then perhaps they would have not had so many supporters, and Harry would have grown up in a loving family with his parents alive.

The carriage ride was quiet for the next few moments before Hermione foolishly spoke, "I don't see where you get off saying we should dirty our souls. Dementors aren't bad omens, we can see them…!" she foolishly continued the previous disagreement and Senna wasn't having any more of that.

Hermione trailed off as Senna had moved almost too fast to notice and grabbed Hermione by her robes causing her to squeal in fright as she was yanked from her seat till her face was up close to Senna's. The dark-haired girl's brilliant, cool, silver eyes were like sheets of ice, as they glowered into Hermione's brown.

"Muggles can't!" Senna retorted, causing Hermione to shiver. "And never can, but even muggles can see thestrals...?" she looked to Luna as she wasn't sure but she nodded, so she continued. "You are being a selfish little bitch because you can't stomach being wrong…!" she hissed into the older girls face quietly. "Do you not hear yourself Hermione, listening to fools who don't have a bloody clue… where I get off…?

"Well perhaps I have a right as I've lost nearly all my family to Voldemort's bullshit, yet I would rather slaughter the whole lot of them, rather than torture them for the rest of their miserable pathetic lives, because I am not like them, nor like you, seeing their horror, for that miniscule moment before my spell hits them, ending their lives is all the satisfaction I would ever need, and the thought makes me sick, just knowing that someday I may need to do so, to protect myself, and those that I love.

"So, little girl, don't talk about bull-shit your tiny little mind can't comprehend, because there is no bastard book about the real world, so grow up and get a life."

Senna stood as she threw Hermione back into her seat where she shook in terror, as Senna flung the carriage door open and leaped out into the drizzle, as the sun had finally set and it had started raining, likely because of the dementors swarming away from their potential slayers. Senna was thankful that moments later the carriage came to a stop outside the Hogwarts Entrance Hall, and Ginny joined her. Senna smiled at her girlfriend and took her hand.

Luna had cautiously joined them but was comforted as the dark-haired girl gave her an amused smile, taking her hand in her free one, and led them into the school's entrance. Luna enjoyed holding her knew friends' hand, as it made her feel comforted that her new friends really did want to be friends with her, and weren't going to make fun of her, even though she could see passed her own insecurities easily enough they were still there, but she knew neither of her new friends would betray her trust and heart. They were gentle, and Senna was so brave and strong enough to see things how they were, not how people expected them seen.

Senna took satisfaction in the fact that Hermione had wisely chosen to not join them. She just… how the hell could Harry have ever been close friends with her? She didn't know and she was Harry! The stuff she came out with was ridiculous, like a book could display people's feelings, and convey morels as if using a daemon-spectre to hurt someone was any less like doing it yourself. Hopefully, given time, maybe Hermione would look at the world for herself instead of through the lens of a book written by 'some dude' long ago.

"Miss. Weasley," McGonagall interrupted the second, and third-year girls as most of the other second, and third year girls had conveyed around Senna, Ginny and Luna looking at the accessories two of the three wore, "and Miss...!?" she asked with a raised eyebrow as she eyed Senna.

"Nightly, Senna Nightly," she filled in the gap with a small impish smile.

"Well, what have you done?" she demanded pointing out their ears and tails, looking annoyed with them and trying not to scowl.

Senna and Ginny rolled their eyes in amusement before pulling off the ear headbands. "They're just headbands Professor," Ginny told her smiling, "and the tails are just belts. Aniccessories."

"Wow, they're so cute!"

"Where do you think they got them?"

"I want some too!"

The girls close by were admiring the girls' accessories and squealing in delight, as the girls put their headbands back on, and some older girls were craning to get a better look. They all made plans to ask where they could get some, and by Christmas a load of girls would have them down on their Christmas list.

McGonagall rolled her eyes with a sigh, "very well, Miss. Weasley, Miss. Lovegood, go on ahead, but Miss. Nightly, I need you to wait here to be sorted with the first years."

Ginny and Luna said a quick bye and good luck before hurrying into the Great Hall together. Ginny kept getting weird looks, (though from most girls the looks were admiring her accessories) as she split from Luna and found an empty seat down the Gryffindor table as the rest of the school was piling in with her, hoping for a fast sorting so they could get dinner as stomachs growled.

Waiting, and ignoring strange stares from teachers and students alike, Ginny held back her smirk when she saw Dumbledore looking like crap and miserable. It was so great when a plan was simple, or completely accidental, like Senna's was, because they tended to go so much smoother, and looking at how tormented Dumbledore looked it seemed many of the simple revenge schemes added from Gringotts were working nicely to ruin him.

Ginny smiled as she saw Professor Lupin, and he smiled back, amused, and still unaware that the ears and tail were just a fashion accessory. When everyone was seated Dumbledore stood and the hall slowly silenced.

"Well, first today, we have a new second year student," the headmaster began. "She was home-schooled until now, as she and her father have been moving from place to place," the old man said. Ginny and Senna expected him not to even mention Harry Potter's death because he would want to downplay everything to the students, and lessen reaction at school at least. "So, I hope you all welcome Miss. Senna Nightly," he called with a tired smile.

Once Dumbledore called her name, Senna entered the Great Hall on her cue, and looked a little nervous with all eyes solely on her; it was worse than when she was Harry as he had the other first years to hide among. Senna smiled nervously as she walked in down the centre between the tables with her ear headband twitching.

Senna found Professor Flitwick smiling with the sorting hat and three-legged stool. "Sit down Miss. and try the hat on," he squeaked out excitedly as he didn't get to do the sorting often.

Senna grinned and sat on the stool, took the hat and plonked it on her head. "Be in your bonnet Nightly… err Potter," the hat sighed as if life had to squeeze lemon juice over him.

"So, missy you want to go back into Gryffindor or do you want to have a new house? Ravenclaw maybe...? Or Slytherin even, huh? Pulling off what you have is a Slytherin thing I would think, even with some of the fluke involved? I did once say you could have been great in Slytherin."

"You said I would do well in Slytherin," she corrected, amused as the hat almost laughed.

"Yes," the hat agreed. "And I stand by what I said before, but now, yes, I will use the word great!"

"I will be awesome wherever I go Mr. Hat!" she retorted confidently.

The hat laughed out within their private conversation. "I will not ever doubt that Saviour of Hope!" it replied before answering the question she hadn't yet asked. "It is what the school calls you; the ancient magic throughout this castle and its land. When you vanquished Voldemort, you saved a dying hope. Children had given in to depression, and a few had sunk low enough to take their own lives, muggle-born's especially, but no matter that it seemed likely an accident, with Voldemort's destruction, whether it is permanent or not, brought hope back to the school, and you became its saviour, the Saviour of Hope, but where to put you this time?"

Senna smiled a little and sent out a private thank you within her mind to the magic of the school for thinking of Harry as something different to what the rest of the magical world had before she replied, and changed from the depressing subject back to the matters at hand; her sorting.

"Where do you think I would do best this time? Don't shout it just tell me?" she asked, quickly as her sorting was taking a bit longer than normal and she could hear hungry students getting restless.

"Hmm, okay, you would do well in either Gryffindor or Slytherin… but… Ravenclaw could help you be great with the way you can adapt and alter your mind, making yourself smarter."

"Oh, um… well… I don't care if you shove me in Hufflepuff," she said after a few moments of though, internally shrugging as she couldn't think of one without choosing based on what colour went best with her hair or eyes or something silly like that.

"Hmm…" the hat mumbled in thought before Senna felt the equivalent of a mental shrug.

"HUFFLEPUFF…!"

Senna started as she heard the hat and frowned. "Err, why?" she asked the hat quickly sounding baffled, not that she cared.

"A truly cunning witch would go there," the hat said as it was pulled from her head.

She frowned in thought as she made her way to the applauding Hufflepuff table and chose a seat as a smirk aligned her lips as she realised the hat was correct. Anyone knowing how Slytherins were represented would never choose to be in that house. Hufflepuffs were the least assuming, and therefore, you wouldn't see it coming until it was too late, no matter how incredible she would become, arrogant idiots would always be arrogant idiots, stereotyping, even when they were proved wrong.

Senna looked to see Ginny staring at her in surprise from the Gryffindor table, as the first years were led in, and winked secretly at her in amusement. Ginny grinned back and shrugged her shoulders and returning the wink as the proper sorting got underway.

to be continued…