A/N: Sorry this is so late to anyone who is reading, but school, life and all those other pesky things took over for a while. My midterms are coming up so the next chapter will probably take a while too. Also, I know that the story is going really slow right now. This is mainly because I want to have a calm period before we get to deep issues and the like. Added to that is the fact that this story will be really long so I see no sense in rushing in! Great days to everyone! Kels
Disclaimer: Same as before...I don't own anything and never will.
Chapter 3: Accepting and Acceptance
Harry Potter, Savior of the Wizarding world, lay sprawled on his black and silver bed in the professor's wing of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Tomorrow would be the first day of the new school year and his first day as a Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. Today had been the back to school feast. When he had been announced as the new DADA teacher the applause had been wild and out of control. Even at nearly 37 years of age he was not used to the mindless adoration people had for him. At times it quite disgusted him. However, Severus had successfully persuaded him to return for his children's sake. As much as he hated being back in England he had to admit it would be good for his kids.
It would suffice it to say that Marcus and Larkspur Potter were two very special children. When they were younger they had driven Harry and his wife Sirinae mad, and had ran Harry ragged. They had exhibited magic from conception it seemed. It was in fact their first indicator that Sirinae was pregnant. Her magic had gone completely haywire. This was strange, since Sirinae had exceptional control of her powers which were never unstable because they were not of the wizarding kind. When the children were younger they could not attend the American school for Witches. Their powers had been too sporadic and neither child could utilize a wand very well preferring to use their wandless powers inherited from their mother. Also the American wording of "a male Witch is still a Witch" was quite unsettling to him as he had grown up with the Witch and Wizard distinction. All of their lives the twins had been home schooled by Harry himself and various tutors. All in all the result of this left much to be desired in their social skills, due to little interaction with magical children. There had also been the problem of the press hounding them; even in America Harry Potter was front page news.
As Harry drifted out of his musings he ran a hand through his silver streaked black hair. He hadn't wanted to come back to Hogwarts. Too many memories of his deceased friends, the War...and Draco. Closing his eyes Harry winced. He had done his best to forget about Draco. That didn't matter; it still hurt nearly 20 years after the fact. He could still picture his shining silver hair and grey eyes alight with passion. His smooth porcelain skin stretched taunt over sharp lick able hipbones, his...Harry shook his head. It was better to not even continue that train of thought. It seemed being back in Hogwarts was only resurrecting issues he thought dead and buried. He wondered how Mars and Lark were doing in their new houses. Lark a Slytherin, he mused. Well he wasn't really surprised. She was a lot like him if not a bit exaggerated. While Mars was exactly like his mother, calm, steady and too trusting. Not to say that he didn't have plenty of Slytherin moments he was just a calmer version of his sister. Turning slightly towards the clock next to his bed, Harry swore at the late time and shimmied under the bed covers. He was sure he would need all the rest he could get in preparation for tomorrow.
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Lark stretched languidly under the soft covers on her bed. Cleansing the common room had been taxing but she had managed the whole room which she was rather proud of. Of course she still had the rest of the whole dorm to fix but she would handle that later. Right now it was time to go class. She couldn't wait to see what classes she would get. Her dad had figured out her classes since he had been he primary teacher for the past ten years or so. As she got ready to head to the showers she noticed her roommates slowly waking up. She smiled softly at their grumblings at the time and shrugged. She was a morning person unlike her roommates.
Madeline Bagnold, Katrina Higgs, and Perennial Pepperhorn all came from highly respected pureblood and Slytherin families. Lark had instantly disregarded Madeline and Katrina, as she could tell they were fairly nasty and spiteful girls who lived only for gossip. She had taken a liking to Perennial Pepperhorn however, who preferred to be called Peri, because "what sane person names their child Perennial?" She seemed to be a rather nice girl even if she did seem to be a bit devious. It was Slytherin after all and she wasn't expecting miracles. Peri was average height with a dusky olive skin tone. Deep black hair with blue highlights fell halfway down her back in waves. Her eyes were tilted slightly upward and were a strange glinting violet. Lark had asked her about her violet eyes and Peri had shrugged and answered that nearly all the magical men and women in her family had them.
After waiting a fair amount of time for Madeline and Katrina, Peri and Lark headed down to the Great Hall without them. Lark grumbled the whole way there as they had already missed ten minutes of breakfast, while Peri simply shook her head. Heading to the Slytherin table Lark scanned the room for her brother and smiled as she saw him at the Gryffindor table talking to Ben Weasley and another boy she did not know. Thinking her greetings at him she settled in at her table. Mars flashed her a quick smile and continued his conversation with Ben. Lark sighed contentedly and started on her breakfast.
A few minutes later somebody slid into the seat next to her. Lark turned around and her blue eyes clashed with somber grey. Ian Malfoy nodded in acknowledgement and promptly began to eat breakfast. Smirking inwardly she followed his gaze as he continued to eat. Well, she thought, it looks like Hogwarts will be more interesting than she thought. As she surveyed the Hall, smiling at her father, her attention was captured by a small blond haired girl who was staring quite intently at her. Lark returned the gaze steadily, taking in the girls silver blond hair and light blue eyes. With raised eyebrows Lark recognized the girl as a Malfoy, in truth one could not if they wanted to, she looked so very much like Ian. Keeping eye contact Lark, pulled information from the girls' mind. Nothing of consequence really, as far as she could see. Her mind was much weaker than her brother's and a breeze to gain information from. Her name was Briona Gallagher, but the girl knew she was a Malfoy. In fact she and Ian were close, even thought she understood that he couldn't acknowledge her in formal settings.
With a small smile to the girl Lark directed her attention to the pile of papers on the Slytherin table which the students hastily attacked. Lark patiently waited her turn, refusing to join the herd of Slytherins. She watched as Ian glided smoothly through the mob only to be handed two pieces of paper. He walked back over to her and silently handed Lark her class schedule. She thanked him and scanned the classes she was taking.
Potions (Adv.)
D.A.D.A. (Adv.)
Transfiguration
Charms (Adv.)
Study of Ancient Runes
History of Ancient Magic
Lark groaned silently as she saw the last class. She hated history. The only redeeming fact of the class may be its focus on Ancient magic. Because of who she was she knew a lot about that. Advanced Potion, D.A.D.A. and Charms. What was her father trying to do? Kill her with schoolwork? She knew that Mars wouldn't be in advanced Potions or Study of Ancient Runes as those were classes he had no aptitude for at all. Overall she was pleased with her schedule.
"So, Lark, which classes do you have?" Lark pushed her paper towards Ian who looked at it interestedly. As he looked at her schedule she sneaked a peek at his and saw that they had many of the same classes except that he didn't have advanced Charms or Study of Ancient Runes. They both had Potions first thing in the morning every other day.
"Oh Merlin, it's almost time for class. We've got to leave right now!" Lark exclaimed as she looked at her watch. Gathering her bag and schedule she waited anxiously for Ian to gather his belongings. As they left the Hall, Lark waved at her brother who had spilt his pumpkin juice all over the table and himself in an effort to leave for class. Lark followed Ian down to the dungeons of Hogwarts keeping the conversation flowing steadily. She found that the more she talked to him the more she liked him. He really wasn't a bad sort at all. Plus she had already gone through his mind despite his block, as any thing to do with the mind was more her forte than Mars'.
The Potions dungeon was dark and foreboding. Cauldrons and utensils were set up all over the room at long desks. At each desk it looked like there was room for four people. Lark wondered who else she would sit next to. Ian was a given as he considered her an equal. She supposed his friends Damien Avery and Thomas Goyle would sit with them as Ian seemed close to them. Tossing her long blond hair over her shoulder she took the initiative and sat at a table near the front of the class. Ian, along with his friends followed suit. The Professor for advanced Potions was a strange man with grey hair and a sharply upturned nose. He introduced himself as Professor Stephan Borderick. Lark smirked as she heard his name. The author of their assigned book was Stephan Borderick. She could not believe the gall of that man assigning his own book. Class continued in a predictable fashion and was soon over to the relief of many.
The first day of class was not as bad as Lark had thought it was going to be. Advanced D.A.D.A. taught by her father of course, was the best class out of all six of them. The history of Ancient magic was actually second. Not only were they studying history they were permitted to learn a few of the ancient spells. The rest were only adequate. She was disappointed in Potions as it was usually so fascinating to her. Being in a magical classroom setting was new to her and she knew that she had to adjust to the lack of one on one instruction. After her last class she went back to the Slytherin common room and collapsed on the black leather couch. A few minutes later Ian and Damien came and sat next to her. Flashing smiles at them she greeted them.
"So, boys, what's up?"
"Well, we were thinking. Around this time every year we have a coming back to school party. Really extravagant and strictly Slytherin. Of course there are always, ahem, exceptions to the Slytherin only rule. We want you to help us plan it you being a part the inside group." Ian explained. Lark smiled.
"What a wonderful idea! When do you want to have it? I think in a couple of weeks will be good. And the strictly Slytherin rule must go, after all, my brother is a Gryffindor." Ian laughed at Lark's excited face. They planned out all the things they needed for the party, mostly alcohol. While they were debating on the kinds of alcohol they would buy Lark jumped up.
"Oh, I bet Mars still has some Absolut Terror left! That would be fabulous! I'll ask him tomorrow. If we have Absolut Terror and no one's chicken we won't need too much other alcohol." Ian raised an eyebrow.
"What's Absolut Terror?" Lark playfully sneered at him and Damien.
"Something that I bet you boys can't handle!" Damien and Ian protested while Lark fell to the floor laughing.
"How about Mars and I explain what Absolut Terror is when we have the party. I think that way you won't really have time to...prepare yourself." Ian glanced at her warily but agreed and they moved on to the other aspects of the party. They decided that dress was casual but nice. No jeans, t-shirts, or sneakers. Lark went to bed that night very excited for the party, and dreading the next Potions class.
