Posted 24-02-2022
Disclaimer: I don't HP.
Thanks for everybody enjoying this, and hopefully it continues that way.
(A small jab at Hermione and the way she simply recites books instead of coming up with her own theories, etc at the end of the chapter. What can I say, I've never been too fond of Hermione or Ron. I don't hate them, I just feel like Harry could have done with other friends. Ones who helped him flourish. I don't think Hermione or Ron did that. Ron's laziness and Hermione's need to be the best influenced him in a bad way. Neville would've been such a better friend. Anyway, mini-rant done. Just a warning. This isn't meant to be Ron/Hermione bashing, but it's not friendly to them either.)
Please remember to read, enjoy and review!
Chapter Five
The Dinner: Kids
Cottage View, Godric's Hollow, West Country, England
2nd July 2015
Jas reluctantly followed her new cousins to a bright red door with 'Jamie and Freddie's Room, Enter At Your Peril!' written in sparkling gold bubble letters over a roaring gold lion's head. The Potters clearly really liked their reds and golds. It seemed as if the whole house was decorated in various shades of the two colours, save for a few exceptions. For example, the yellow door labelled 'Teddy's Room' in black with a badger of all things and Lily's pink door with the white writing and white lily decorating it. Reg's room was a dark gold with his name in red and a constellation in white, with one star standing out in particular. Jas, who like her mother was a keen reader and had a head full of random facts, recalled that the Regulus Star was a star in the Leo constellation and she guessed that was what that was about.
Jamie (or was it Freddie in the red shirt?) turned his head to grin at her cheerfully as they traipsed into a room with a pair of messy bunkbeds, a bookcase, several (moving!) posters and photos and a cluttered double desk with surprisingly soft chairs. They were wooden, but felt soft as a plush armchair when Jas sat down, trying to hide her trembling hands. Two sleek broomsticks leaned against the window seat overlooking a pretty and carefully tended garden and there were some oversized red (of course) beanbags laying around that everyone popped down on. "We're Gryffindors," he explained proudly. "'cept for Teddy. He's a Hufflepuff. That's why his door is yellow and black with a badger."
"Maybe you'll end up a Hufflepuff too, Freddie," Lucy rebuked teasingly. "You can't know until the Sorting. Don't be so certain. We all thought Victoire was a shoe-in for Gryffindor and she went to Ravenclaw, remember?"
"We are going to Gryffindor," the other twin (Jas gave up on figuring out which was which) insisted stubbornly, narrowing his eyes at his cousin.
"What're Gryffindor Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw?" Jas asked timidly, fidgeting nervously. So far, under the adults' watchful eyes, they had been nice, but these were wizards! She couldn't help but recall all of her grandmother's reminders that the magical people were always the villains in the stories. What if she annoyed one of them and they turned her into a frog like in the Princess and the Frog? She swallowed nervously, instantly regretting drawing their attention to herself.
To her surprised relief, they didn't bat an eye at her question. Lucy was the one to answer.
"There are four Houses at Hogwarts, each named for one of the Four Founders who all prized particular traits in their students. Your House is important because it's where you live for the whole seven years you spend at Hogwarts, and it's where you meet most of your friends, study, sleep, etc. Gryffindor was founded by Godric Gryffindor for "the brave at heart". Its' colours are red and gold and its' symbol is a lion. Most of the Weasley family, including yours truly, were Sorted there, and so was Aunt Lea. Then Hufflepuff was founded by Helga Hufflepuff for the loyal and hardworking, as well as anybody who doesn't fit in with the other Houses. Its' symbol is a badger with black and yellow as colours. That's Teddy's House, like Freddie said."
"Then there's Ravenclaw, that's my House," Alice jumped in with a friendly smile. "It's for the smart people, so we know the boys won't be going there," she winked as the twins burst out in denials and insistence of their intelligence. Jas gave a weak smile.
"Wh-what colours and symbol does Ravenclaw have then?" She asked shyly, cursing her stutter. Grandma and Grandpa Dursley were always chiding her about it, even if Mum and Dad assured her there was nothing wrong with it. It only happened when she was nervous, and she was definitely feeling nervous right now. She'd never been the most extroverted person in the first place, and certainly not in this situation.
But despite her quiet voice and stammer, her companions all beamed at her as Alice replied.
"Blue and silver, and our symbol is an eagle," she explained. "The last House is Slytherin. Green and silver with a snake for a symbol. It was founded by Salazar Slytherin, the fourth Founder. It's-well technically it's for the cunning and ambitious, but it's gotten a bad rep over the past couple of decades."
"Why?" Jas asked, her curiosity beginning to overrule her fear. They were just so friendly it was hard to stay afraid, despite the voice (that sounded a lot like her Grandma Dursley) whispering warnings about how the magicals in films and books were always tricking their victims into a false sense of security before they attacked.
The four exchanged hesitant looks before the twin in blue took it upon himself to speak. "It's because of the Blood Wars," he explained. "You know that Hitter guy? The Muggle who tried to exterminate all the Jewish people?"
"Hitler?" Jas repeated. "Yes of course I know about him. Who doesn't?"
"Muggle criminals aren't well known to Wixen," Alice informed her. "Due to the Statue of Secrecy, our worlds are quite separate, though in recent years a lot of work has been done to help us integrate more with the non-magical world. Anyway, Jamie, go on."
"Well, in the early '70s a Dark Wizard arose with similar goals to Hitler," Jamie told Jas, who's eyes went wide. "Only he was after Muggleborns, Wixen born to Muggle parents."
"L-like m-me?" Jas stuttered, beginning to fidget again. Alice pushed herself up from her beanbag and crossed over to Jas to wrap an arm around her comfortingly.
"Don't worry," she comforted her. "He's long dead. He was killed in May of '98. By Aunt Lea, as a matter of fact."
"Really?" Jas felt her eyes double in size. She never would have guessed that the kind-seeming (despite her magic) woman had killed someone. "But I thought she was a doc-sorry, a Healer. Don't magical Healers take the Hippocratic Oath?"
"Oh, they do," Lucy affirmed. "And afterwards they risk loss of their magic if they harm someone, because when Wixen make an Oath it means something. There's actual power behind it, so be very careful if you ever make a promise. But they can still hurt or kill someone in defence of themselves or another, and anyway the War ended before Auntie Lea became a Healer."
"Anyway, we're getting off track," James interceded. "Voldemort, who's real name was Tom Marvolo Riddle, and most of his soldiers were in Slytherin. And Salazar Slytherin, Riddle's ancestor, was known to hold the same views, though Mum always says it's more excusable for him, seeing as that was in the middle of the rise of Christianity when witches were beginning to be burnt at the stake, so him being prejudiced against Muggles and Muggleborns, while not okay, is a bit more understandable. Riddle was just plain evil, though. Because of that, people tend to be suspicious of Slytherin. One of our uncles, Ron, is really prejudiced against anyone from Slytherin. He calls it the House of Evil."
"It's nonsense, though," Freddie added. "The Zabinis and Notts are some of Mum's good friends from her Resistance days, and they and Lady Malfoy, who's Lady Zabini's sister all fought against the Death Eaters (that's what Riddle's soldiers called themselves) in the Final Battle, as well as helping the Resistance, and Lord Nott even took down his own father, who was a Death Eater. All of them were Slytherins."
"Oh," Jas said softly, slightly overwhelmed. She wasn't sure what else to say, and was relieved when Alice clapped her hands together, returning to her and Lucy's beanbag, and cleared her throat.
"But you're not here to listen to a history lesson," she said brightly. "You're here to learn about Hogwarts. So let's get on with that. You've already heard about the Houses, which is one of the most important bits, so let's talk about lessons.
The core classes for First Years are Magical Theory, Astronomy, Herbology, Potions, Defence Against the Dark Arts, Transfiguration, Charms, History of Magic and Flying. Muggle-raised students also have to take Magical Culture while Wixen-raised have to take Muggle Culture. This is discounting any Muggle subjects in the event of you taking Muggle Studies, of course. If you do, and most Muggleborns do, then you'll have a day a week without any Magical subjects where you do Muggle subjects. I don't really know all of the details, I'm afraid. But I do know that you don't get homework for Muggle subjects, to make it easier."
"I think that in exam years you do though," Lucy said thoughtfully. "Might be wrong though. I should've asked Aiden. He's my Muggleborn friend, and he does Muggle Studies too. He says it's hard, but manageable if you keep a tight schedule. If you don't do Muggle Studies then you get a day free a per week, but you're in study hall doing homework and studying all day instead. It's a bit unfair, the Muggle Studies' students having extra subjects and therefore less time for studying or playing, but they've been fiddling with the system, trying to find a way to make it work, and so far this has worked best."
Jas nodded. It sounded like she'd have a busy schedule, not that she minded that. But she was still nervous. "What're the teachers like?" She asked.
"Uncle Neville," one twin started eagerly.
"is the Herbology Professor," the other completed.
"It's great," the first twin continued.
"Uncle Neville let's you"
"Get away with"
"Murder. And he's"
"Great fun"
"I bet that"
"Herbology will be"
"Our favourite class."
"He's also Head of Gryffindor," Lucy added helpfully. "But you can go to him no matter what House you're in. He's too kind to turn anyone away. If you ever need anything, his door is always open."
"Is he-?" Jas began, looking at Alice, who smiled and nodded.
"Yup, Professor Longbottom is also known Daddy to me," she confirmed. "And I'm not being biased when I say he's the best teacher in Hogwarts. Anyway, Professor Flitwick is Charms professor and Deputy Headmaster. He's a great teacher too, and like with Daddy, his door's always open to any students who need a listening ear or help with a class."
"Professor Aurora Sinistra is Head of Slytherin and the Astronomy teacher," Lucy continued. "She's a good teacher, and she's meant to be a good Head of House, but not too open to helping other students. In fairness to her, she's married with a child and only works part-time."
"Can I have something to write all this down with?" Jas asked, slightly more confident. They were all so much more normal than she had expected. Just like the kids at her school. Her friends. Her nerves were gradually easing, despite the discomfort caused by the moving figures in the posters and photographs covering the walls.
"Yes," Blue-Shirted Twin started.
"Of course," Red-Shirted Twin finished, grabbing some strange looking paper, it took Jas a second to recognize it as parchment of all things, and a fountain pen.
"Most people use quills," Alice informed her. "But Auntie Lea says they're a nightmare to use and cruel to the birds who get plucked for feathers so she's always getting people to use pens instead."
Jas furrowed her brow. "Will I need to use a quill at Hogwarts then?" It was the first time she hadn't stammered while mentioning the school or the prospect of going there.
"No, you should be fine with fountain pens," Blue-Shirted Twin stated.
"That's what Mum always used when she was at Hogwarts," his brother added.
Jas nodded, even as she distractedly scribbled down what she'd already been told about the professors. "Who else?"
"Professor Clearwater teaches Muggle Studies," Lucy stated. "I don't know much about her, though. Aiden likes her well enough as far as I know. I'll ask him for a bit more about her."
"Thank you. Who else is there?" Jas asked, scribbling away.
"Professor Belby is the Potions teacher," Alice said. "He's brilliant. He used to be an inventor, he even invented the Wolfsbane Potion which was one of the greatest potion breakthroughs this century. He's retired to be a teacher now though."
"And then Professor Malfoy teaches Introduction to Magical Culture, Magical Culture for short," Lucy informed her. "The Dowager Lady Malfoy. She's stern, but a good teacher."
"Professor Granger teaches Magical Theory," Alice grimaced. "She's-ah, a tough teacher."
"I heard that she used to give such long essays and such close deadlines that students complained they didn't have time to get all of their work done, so McGonagall put a limit on how long she could make them and insisted on at least two weeks for a deadline," Lucy said. "Even then, she basically just regurgitates the textbook. And that's pretty much what she wants her students to do too. You might as well just copy out the relevant chapter for her class."
Jas wrinkled her nose. She'd had a teacher like that before, and it had been mind-numbingly dull, simply reciting things instead of actually thinking.
"Kids!" Mrs. Potter called up to them, her voice apparently again magically amplified, though it wasn't so frightening when not right beside her. "Dinner's ready! Come down now please!"
"Gues we," Red Shirt began.
"Should get," Blue Shirt went on.
"Moving. Otherwise," Red again.
"Mum'll come and drag," Blue.
"Us down." Red completed. They all rose and as they headed for the door Lucy draped an arm around Jas in a half-hug, giving her a soft squeeze.
"Don't worry about school, Jazzy-girl," the older girl urged her. "You're one of us now, and we never let one of ours down."