Disclaimer
All names, places and concepts related to
Buffy the Vampire Slayer are the property of Joss
Whedon.
All names, places and concepts related to
Harry Potter are the property of JK Rowling.
This applies to the entire work.
I own none of the songs that appear in this chapter:
"Strange Things" belongs to Randy Newman
"We're Together" belongs to Joss Whedon
I have given a rating of M due to a swear words,
adult themes and some violence.
This rating may be increased for later chapters.
AN: Thanks to everyone that has been reading and reviewing. Sorry that it has been a while between updates, but that horrible thing called Uni tends to get in the way. I apologise now for any mistakes with the chapter. It was long and I am too tired to proof read :( A special thanks goes out to:
ADSpencer: Hope you liked the reaction!
can-i-help: I apologise for the lack of orgasm, a man has to do something to get reviews. I am glad you are liking the story and thinking that I am doing an okay job. I hope you enjoy what has to come as much.
Allen Pitt: Everyone put up your hand who thinks Allen Pitt rocks... (Everyone raises their hands). Thanks for sticking up for me. I have the same thoughts as you. As for Anya, her plot will be developed in later chapters; I am not sure how many until then. She may pop up in the next one. She may have met the founders, I haven't decided yet :) I won't go into the Dawn likeableness thread because that will be developed further later also. In fact I might just let you read the chapter and get my thoughts on it. You are a very good guesser.
blah: Um, maybe you saw Allen Pitt's review, have a read if you didn't, it is informative. I got told that my first fic was too unrealistic... So because of that I have decided that my fic is my fic. You can voice your opinion, however unconstructive; I have no problem with that. And as for Dawn not being evil, Aren't we all just a little bit evil?
Anoron: I updated, I am sure it wasn't soon enough for some :( Again I apologise for the lack of orgasmic energy... I knew there was something off about that theory the moment I read it. Glad you are enjoying the story, should get a lot more juicy soon.
§- sonofgloin
A dull roar of applause registered somewhere in the back of Dawn's mind. Her whole body had fallen limp, every one of her muscles weighing down under the word that had just been spoken. In contrast to her heart racing, it had now become nothing more then a single beat every new lifetime. Her hands were tingling and her mouth was very dry.
Slytherin thought Dawn I've been sorted into Slytherin?
"You may leave Miss Summers."
"Ye-yes Professor."
Dawn mumbled the words out of her mouth. Each step closer to the green and silver table brought another pang of fear into her being.
How could I be in the snake house, Phineaus' house?
Like slow motion Dawn's eyes swept the room. The Slytherins were cheering but she saw the other houses had already formed an unfounded dislike. Three pairs of eyes stared at her most prominently and three mouths gaped in her direction. Rona, Kennedy and Amanda must have been thinking the same thing as her.
"Wonderful!"
Dawn blinked and saw who spoke. Somehow she had found her way to her new house table and sat down and now looked up to the form of Dumbledore who was standing behind the staff table and beaming at the students.
"It seems each of our houses has been lucky enough to receive a new member. I am sure each of these astounding young ladies will be welcomed with open arms and treated like one who has always been. Let this show that we seek to strengthen our ties with our distant neighbours and hold united as witch and wizard kind."
Dumbledore looked down at Dawn and smiled. She felt again a seeking finger within her mind and she turned away to look down the table.
"With that said," continued Dumbledore "There are only two words left to say that I am sure you have been longing to hear... Tuck in."
Dawn nearly fell backwards off her stool as a large roast turkey appeared right next to her head. The whole table had in fact filled with food. Dawn gaped.
"I suppose things are a bit different at your school."
Dawn looked to her neighbour and saw it was the pretty girl with long brown pigtails.
"I'm Pansy Parkinson," she smiled warmly.
"Dawn Summers," said Dawn.
She felt a little better that the appearance of food had taken the attention off her. A few people down the table waved and smiled at her between mouthfuls of mashed potato and minted peas.
"You must be hungry," said Pansy to a wave of nods from surrounding Slytherins "Help yourself."
Dawn had never seen so much food in her life. Besides the mash and peas there was corn, carrot, pumpkin and about six other vegetables she didn't even think she had ever tasted. She moved her hand tentatively towards some serving dishes and took a polite amount. There was one dinner roll left in a wicker basket but as Dawn reached for it so did another hand. Pansy cleared her throat and the hand drew back.
"Sorry," said Dawn to the boy "You can have it."
"No," interrupted Pansy "Crabbe has had about four already, you take it."
Dawn smiled weakly and took the roll and buttered it.
After an hour of eating delicious food and finding out from Pansy that the green stuff was artichoke, Dawn felt a lot more settled. She had been wanting to ask questions since she arrived but each time she opened her mouth to speak someone looked at her and she hastily closed it again.
Dawn had just put down her knife and fork feeling full but in need of sugar when the plates in front of her became instantly clear and clean and replaced with mounds of deserts. There was trifle and ice-cream, apple pie and custard and rich looking chocolate éclairs.
"Those éclairs look good," said Dawn hungrily to Pansy, her eyes twinkling in their direction.
"I agree," said Pansy "Draco can you pass them down."
The sleek blonde haired boy looked up for the first time since Dan had arrived at the table. He was sitting on the opposite side of the bench to her and three seats down. He lifted the silver platter and passed them to Pansy without a word. Dawn was still looking at him when Pansy caught her eye.
"I suppose I've been terribly rude not introducing everyone," apologised the pigtailed girl "It's just, you know, I didn't want to bog you down with a million names on your first night and all."
"It's fine,' said Dawn "No biggie."
Pansy smiled and leant closer to Dawn.
"The boy who just handed me the éclairs is Draco Malfoy. He is in my year."
Pansy paused and her frown deepened.
"I'm awful, I haven't even asked what year you are in."
"Forth," said Dawn.
Pansy's resultant squeal drew the attention of the surrounding students.
"Oh, me too! This in wonderful."
Dawn returned the smile; it looked as though she had one friend at least in her new house. Pansy turned back to the table.
"The two boys next to Draco are Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle... Hey Crabbe, Goyle, say hi to Dawn."
Dawn smiled back awkwardly as the two tried to say hello through mouthfuls of butterscotch pudding. The result was them spraying themselves and a few neighbours with flecks of cake and sauce. None were very happy but Dawn sniggered to herself: they were just like two little Xanders.
Pansy introduced her formally around the table and Dawn was sure that by the next morning she would have forgotten all of their names and probably her own too. The last of the ice-cream melted into nothing and Dawn was feeling very full and content when a glass tinkled somewhere behind her.
"May I have your attention?"
It was Professor Moggy-Gong-Girl. She was quietening down the hall for Dumbledore to speak again. The headmaster stood and smiled down at them all.
"A wonderful dinner I must say and I hope our guests have enjoyed it. But now I must tell it is time for bed, to rest your minds before the day ahead. Some of the teachers have already begun."
Dawn then registered a dull snoring and saw that Andrew's head was resting contentedly on his dinner plate.
"I hope you can all sleep as soundly as Professor Wells here, goodnight."
"He's a bit strange Professor Wells isn't he?" said Pansy
"You have no idea," laughed Dawn.
A large group of Slytherin girls was beckoning Dawn and Pansy when someone called to them.
"Miss Summers, Miss Parkinson."
The voice was deep and silky, sort of slow and calculated. Dawn turned to see a tall, lean man with deep black hair falling over his face and onto his dark cloaked shoulders.
"Oh hello Professor Snape," said Pansy brightly.
"Good evening Miss Parkinson, I hope my essay on the strengthening draught is completed."
"Yes sir," said Pansy "Though I had trouble fitting it all into only three feet of parchment, I could have gone on forever."
"I am sure you have done a satisfactory job as always," said Snape smoothly "I was wanting however a word with Miss Summers."
Dawn looked up at Professor Snape. He extended a hand to her and Dawn shook it.
"I am Severus Snape-,"
"Cool name sir," interjected Dawn.
Snape's lip curled slightly but he continued as though he had not been interrupted.
"I am potions teacher and head of Slytherin house."
He saw Dawn's confused look and clarified.
"It's sort of their advisor and disciplinarian. We handle matters of school business and guidance of students that are too trivial for the headmaster."
Dawn nodded but felt she wouldn't want to have Professor Snape punish her. She also thanked the goddess that Snape was an easy name to remember. Snape motioned Dawn and Pansy toward the door and they walked together out of the great hall and into the foyer.
"I need you to come to my office for a short time Miss Summers to hand you your timetable and help you with your elective subject selection. The headmaster advised me you may need some guidance."
He gave Dawn a strange look but even under his dark eyes she felt safer then she did with Dumbledore.
The entrance hall was completely deserted now except for three lone figures walking slowly up the vast marble staircase, obviously trying to dawdle, but in a lame attempt to hide it.
"Move along Potter, Weasley, Granger," drawled Snape "Or it will be ten points each from Gryffindor and a weeks worth of detentions."
The three glared down at them and Dawn sniggered as Pansy stuck her tongue out at them and gave them all the finger. She had the feeling she would be seeing those three again.
Dawn and Pansy followed Snape down a long, cold, stone hallway. The walls were staggered with flaming brackets and the sounds of their steps echoed off the walls.
"That was Saint Potter and his boyfriend Ronald, can you spare a knut, Weasley."
Dawn's brow furrowed.
"What about the girl?"
"Hermione Granger," said Pansy with great dislike and a rolling of her eyes.
"Aren't they very nice?"
"They're horrible," gasped Pansy "Potter and Weasel are the two biggest troublemakers at Hogwarts, but they're Dumbledore's favourites so they never get into trouble. Granger is a know-it-all; she always flashes her wand around and never lets anyone else answer questions in class."
Dawn thought she caught Snape let out a sound somewhere between a sneeze and a cough, or perhaps it was to cover up a hidden laugh.
"They're terrible aren't they Professor?"
"Now Pansy," smiled Snape, turning to face them beside a tall iron-wrought door "I am not really allowed to comment now am I?"
His sneer faltered as he turned to Dawn.
"Here we are."
The door creaked as he pushed it open. The room was in complete darkness but Snape withdrew his wand and with a small flick candles around the room and the fire behind a vast great erupted into flame. Dawn gasped as the shelves lining the room were illuminated in the scarlet light.
"Don't be afraid," hissed Pansy as Snape sat behind his desk "They can't hurt you."
"Afraid?" said Dawn, eyes wide "Are you kidding?! This is brilliant!"
She bounded to the nearest wall and gasped deeper at every green liquid, purple oozing, black swirling jar.
"Wow!" squealed Dawn "Is this hinkipunk horn Professor? OH! And dried dragon scale?"
She tapped a tall opaque jar containing small blue spheres then gapped at Professor Snape.
"Bloomslang eggs! You have bloomslang eggs!"
Pansy was beaming at Dawn. Snape looked intrigued.
"Do you take advanced potions at your school Miss Summers?"
"No," said Dawn turning back to the wall "I just like this kind of thing."
"I can tell you shall do well in my class Dawn if you can identify such ingredients so readily," said Snape with a grin "But please, if I could have your attention for a moment."
Dawn frowned at having to leave the ingredients filled containers but was reserved to the fact she may very well get to use them later.
She sat down next to Pansy on tall wooden chairs opposite the Professor. He was nearly hidden in the shadows of the flame but his cool grey eyes still flickered in Dawn's direction. Snape sat forward and pushed a single sheath of parchment towards her.
"This is your timetable Miss Summers," he said in a low voice "Most of your classes will be conducted solely with Slytherin while in others, particularly elective studies, you will have the pleasure of being accompanied by those in other houses."
Snape gave a small grin that Dawn saw was half mocking towards the other students.
"The headmaster said you have been given the respective information allowing you to make the right decision about which subjects to take. I would suggest you consider this seriously even if you may only be staying with us for the remainder of the school year."
Dawn looked down at the yellow paper and saw several empty times.
"Professor, what will I do in these blank spaces?"
Snape nodded.
"Those will be free time, for you to spend as you like, until this weekend when you purchase the supplies needed for your extra units. I believe Hagrid will be taking you and your friends into Hogsmead."
"Hagrid?" questioned Dawn "What's a Hagrid?'
Snape's upper lip curled into a slight grin.
"Professor Hagrid," returned Snape "I believe you may have spotted him at the teacher's table during dinner."
"He's the hugest, hairiest, dumbest wizard ever," cut in Pansy "I would have thought he would have been fired by now, seeing as students nearly die in his classes, but like Potter, he is Dumbledore's favourite."
"Please Miss Parkinson," added Snape with little enthusiasm or determined reprimand "You should not talk of a Professor of Hogwarts like that."
Dawn saw Professor Snape's smile broaden even further.
"No matter his ability."
Dawn didn't like the sound of Hagrid and was pretty sure she didn't want to be in any of his classes.
A bell chimed somewhere in the castle and Dawn looked to Pansy and then to her watch. Of all things, she had remembered to set it to London time after landing at Hogwarts. She had no idea what actual time zone they were in so took an educated guess.
"Is that all Professor?" asked Pansy "We better get back to the common room before nine."
"Indeed Miss Parkinson, I think all is in order."
He turned to Dawn.
"Miss Summers I would ask that you come and see me on Saturday evening to submit your decision. Good evening to you both."
Dawn and Pansy stepped out into the corridor and the door closed of its own accord behind them.
"This way," said Pansy happily, grabbing Dawn's arm and leading her to the right into a further part of the dimly lit hall.
"I'm never going to remember how to get around in here," said Dawn with her brow furrowed, glancing to the left and right, trying to count doors and branching walkways in attempts to think of a way to retrace her steps.
"Don't worry," said Pansy brightly, pushing a stray bit of hair out of her mouth and grinning at Dawn "You'll get it in no time, and besides, you have me to help you."
This made Dawn feel a little more secure considering the fact she felt like she was walking down a grey, green mile. The castle was completely silent except for the hiss of the torches in their holders and their heavy steps in the flat stone.
"How for is the common room?" asked Dawn as the hall fell into darkness both before and behind.
"Nearly there," said Pansy "Oh, and by the way, I've never seen him smile like that."
Her face screwed up in thought.
"Well, except when he is picking on Potter."
"Who?" said Dawn.
"Snape," grinned Pansy "And he called you Dawn on your first day here. That's got to be some kind of record. He only started calling me Pansy last week."
"Interesting," contemplated Dawn "Maybe Dumbledore told him what I did in his office and Professor Snape didn't want to get on my bad side."
Pansy frowned at Dawn.
"I'll tell you later."
Pansy had stopped and turned to look at the side of the corridor. Reaching from the floor to the roof was a painting of a clever looking witch in black robes. Her straight burgundy hair fell over her shoulders and about a milk-white face. The witch however was not alone.
"WHAT!" said Dawn.
"Impossible!" spluttered a snide male voice "You were sorted into Slytherin?"
"What are you doing here?" asked Dawn.
"How could filth like you be in my house?"
"Why are you here?" wondered Dawn.
"Don't touch her Miss Parkinson, she's not sanitary."
"Shove it up your ass Phineaus."
"What's going on?" said Pansy looking between the flustered portrait and Dawn who was glaring at the second occupant of the frame.
Phineaus Nigellus looked out at the two girls, he had a large grass stain on his right cheek and Dawn giggled.
"Landed safely then?"
"No thanks to you!" he snapped.
"So why are you here?"
"Filch informed me that Dumbledore instructed that I should wait here until my frame was repaired."
His nose turned into the air.
"Not it seems I see why."
"Excuse me," said the witch.
Dawn, Pansy and Phineaus looked at her.
"Password?"
"Oh, right," said Pansy, forgetting where she was in the mini skirmish "Basilisk."
The portrait swung open to reveal a large, flat stone room and Pansy walked in.
"Nice to see you again Niggles," aired Dawn as the portrait closed behind them and the ex-headmasters protests soon silenced.
Dawn's eyes were open wide taking in the beautiful room.
"Welcome home," said Pansy warmly.
She took Dawn by the hand and led her forward. The room was quite full of students who waved and smiled at Dawn and she returned them happily. The chamber was outfitted in many-seating green leather lounges, and tables and lamps of some dark, handsome wood. A gigantic chandelier hung from the ceiling and Dawn thought it must have held over a thousand candles.
"This is Slytherin's common room," said Pansy, pointing out its features "You can hang out here, or study, or, well, that's pretty much it really."
Her smile feigned a little.
"It's brilliant," sighed Dawn.
"There are fourteen dorm rooms," informed Pansy "One each for girls and guys in first to seventh year."
They walked through a sea of green and silver to a high spiralling stair.
"At the top of this the girls are on the right and the boys are on the left."
"Right," affirmed Dawn "Right."
They climbed up quickly and finally stood before a door with a silver plaque that read:
Fourth Year Girls
Pansy put her hand to the handle - which was in the shape of a silver serpent with ruby eyes – and opened the door.
"And this is our room."
"Wow," said Dawn with a little laugh "All this for five girls."
"Six," corrected Pansy pointing out the extra four-poster bed.
Dawn looked across the room and saw her duffel bag set at the foot of a fir-green curtained bed frame. The mattress looked high and comfortable and very welcoming and just then Dawn realised how tired she really was.
"Hey Dawn," said a voice.
"Hi," returned Dawn looking to the blonde girl who had spoken "Elsie right?"
"Yeah," said Elsie "Looks like you're next to me and Beth... It's cool but, she doesn't snore."
Dawn laughed.
"Where's Gilrean and Paige?" asked Pansy.
But as soon as she had spoken the dorm door opened again and two girls walked in and a third out of a door to Dawn's left.
"Hi Dawn."
Dawn smiled back.
"You can have the shower Dawn if you like," said Beth drying her honey-brown hair on an emerald-green towel "I'm done."
"We have our own shower?"
"Yeah," said Pansy "Bath and all."
"You's don't mind?" asked Dawn tentatively.
"Not at all," said Paige, a very pretty girl with silky black hair.
She huffed as she heaved up a large book.
"We have homework before sleep."
"The joys of Arithmancy," grimaced Elsie, reshuffling a pile of parchment laid out before her atop her silver quilt.
"Thanks guys," said Dawn.
Her school supplies were laid neatly next to her bag. The uniform Dawn had purchased had become the green and silver of Slytherin.
Efficient she thought.
Dawn pulled her second favourite pair of pyjamas – Lemon-yellow with sky-blue ducks – from her things and stepped into the bathroom.
The whole room looked to be made of deep jade. There was a large, fresh pile of towels and robes on the basin counter and Dawn looked longingly at the bath.
"Early to bed early to rise," she told herself "No time for baths."
The silence of the room was refreshing and all her preconceived thoughts and nervous tension washed away with the steaming water down the plughole. After twenty minutes – A summers' record – Dawn was out and dry and putting all her things away before bed. Pansy had gone to the shower after Dawn and Paige and Gilrean were back in the common room studying.
"So how's first impressions?" asked Beth sleepily from the bed beside her.
The silver quilt was pulled right up to her chin so only her eyes and nose could really be seen.
"I like it here," replied Dawn, warily placing her wand, held between forefinger and thumb, onto her bedside cabinet "I hope tomorrow is as good."
"I'm sure it will be," sighed Elsie recapping he ink bottle "There, that will do vector."
She grinned at Dawn and Beth.
"If not I'll put the stinksap in his coffee again."
Dawn settled beneath the covers in her wonderfully warm bed. She had sunk about three inches into the feather downing and was fast in danger of falling into deep untroubled sleep.
"W-what t-time is breakfast?" she yawned.
"Seven," said Beth dreamily "Wake me at eleven and we'll do brunch."
Elsie and Dawn giggled.
From her bed Dawn could see the hazel moon shining bleakly through the soft haze of night. She hadn't gotten to say goodnight to Amanda, Kennedy or Rona and hoped they were alright. She turned over and snuggled deeper into her pillow. The last thing she saw before sleep took her was the six distant Scoobies smiling back at her from their flowery pink frame.
When Dawn woke up the sun hadn't yet passed into the room. The dull pinks and purples of morning were fighting to make it over the eaves of the forest. The sounds of gentle breathing came from every direction. The other girls were still asleep. Silently Dawn stepped out of bed and onto the cool stone floor. She looked at her watch and the luminous green hands told her it was five fifteen.
Grudgingly she took her uniform and robes into the bathroom to get ready for the day. Seeing it was so early she decided to treat herself to a longer shower. The room quickly filled with steam and as Dawn groped for the soap her hand landed on a small brass leaver.
"I wonder what this do-,"
THUD
Dawns squeals were drowned out by the copious amounts of butter-thick suds that were filling her mouth. The bubbles came so thick and fast that the shower was completely filled with them and she was sandwiched between the cold glass screen and the choking froth. When she had managed to turn the leaver off it took a full five minutes for the suds to drain away.
"At least you smell like roses now," she said to herself.
Yeah, said a voice in the back of her head, every stinking inch of you.
Dawn frowned at her dressed reflection.
"Yuck," she said.
She couldn't pin down what she hated more, whether it was the knee-high socks or the pleated skirt. The tie was kind of funky but half hidden behind her robes.
The five other girls were still asleep as Dawn went as quietly as she could from the chamber. She would have a quick breakfast and head back up for her school things before class started. She made her way along the hall and down the steps. The common room seemed silent and Dawn thought she must have been one of the first to wake. At the foot of the staircase she halted. The common room wasn't empty. There was one lone figure searching amongst a pile of crumpled parchment on a nearby table. Around his waist was a Slytherin towel and another around his shoulders to dry his smooth, sleek back and tousled white-blonde hair. The sides of Dawn's mouth immediately formed into a grin.
The boy was drying his hair with one hand and holding a piece of parchment with the other, seemingly reading it. He turned and started to walk towards Dawn obviously not noticing her. Dawn noticed him though, the beads of water still running over his arms and chest, the way his stomach moved as he walked, and the thin line of hair that ran sexily – or so Dawn thought – up to his navel.
"Morning," said Dawn lazily.
"Morn-," he began "Summers!"
"Malfoy," returned Dawn "I see you speak."
Draco flushed pink trying to cover himself as best he could with his extra towel.
"What are you doing up so early?" he asked, the colour still rising in his face.
"Couldn't sleep," said Dawn "What's tha-,
"I have to go."
Dawn hadn't asked her question before Draco pushed past her without a backwards glance. Dawn's eyes narrowed.
"What's with him?"
Putting it down to the-new-American-girl-seeing-me- practically-naked-thing, Dawn went across the common room quickly and pushed open the Willow portrait, or so she had now named it. As it closed behind her Dawn was called to a halt by a shrill female voice.
"Dawn dear, how wonderful to see you again."
Dawn turned and looked up into the face of the plump, white-haired witch.
"Dilys," smiled Dawn "Um, are you okay?"
Dawn thought Dilys looked like she would have done when she was squashed under the three tonne of shower bubbles. The old witch's nose was flat against the front of the picture with Willow portrait and Phineaus wrangling for a more comfortable position in the shiny gold frame.
"Fine, fine," chirped Dilys, struggling a little as Phineaus' elbow poked her in the ear and she found herself sitting on Willow portrait's lap.
"Just been sent by Dumbledore to get Phineaus here. Frames all fixed. You heading off to breakfast dearie?"
Dawn nodded.
"Excellent. Well we better get back; I expect Dumbledore will be wanting a word with Phineaus."
Dawn tried to hide back a smirk as Phineaus blanched. He had now somehow become upside-down in the frame and Dilys and Willow portrait were madly dodging his feet.
"Keep still will you," snapped Dilys.
"Please go," winced Willow portrait.
"Alright," said Dilys "Come along Phineaus, goodbye Dawn."
"Bye," said Dawn "Oh, Dilys, wait!"
Dilys' head popped back into shot. Willow portraits' finger was tapping the frame.
"Yes dear?"
Dawn's cheeks were slightly pink and she looked at her feet.
"Can I ask a favour?"
"Anything," beamed Dilys.
"It's just," said Dawn looking up sheepishly "I don't really remember the way to the great hall, if it's not out of your way, I mean, would it be okay if you helped me yo get there?"
Dawn looked back at her feet.
"Of course," said Dilys with tears in her eyes "It's the shortest way back for us. I should have thought to ask you did you want us to show you the way."
This was followed by a series of low grunts and Phineaus appeared back in the frame, his eyes blazing.
"What do you mean by 'us' Derwent? She's not walking with me."
Dilys smile turned into a scowl and the look she gave Phineaus made him sink back into the lap of Willow portrait.
"Oh yes she is Phineaus Nigellus," growled Dilys "Or you will be making your way back by way of Fredegare the flatulent."
Phineaus seethed. He looked at Dawn with overwhelming contempt. Dawn smiled back politely, then at Dilys who looked as though she was three seconds away from making asparagus sprout out his nostrils.
"Fine," he spat "But if anyone asks, I was simply there to stop her stealing things."
Dilys smiled at dawn.
"Alright then Dawn? Off we go... Goodbye Esmeralda, sorry about the visitor."
Dawn followed as best she could. The pictures in the dungeons weren't as frequent as in the top parts of the castle so she found herself having to jog to make up the gaps in between. More then once she met a snuffling Phineaus impatiently tapping his foot or talking behind his hand to a portrait's occupant then pointing and sniggering at Dawn. Thankfully she saw that none of the pictures found what Phineaus was saying to be terribly funny. She laughed inwardly as a stately looking duke rolled his eyes and went back to his game of croquet.
Before long Dilys was waving goodbye to Dawn and Phineaus was stalking through portraits without her.
"Don't worry about that duffer," said Dilys "He's just sour a student yet again got one up on him."
A great clock in the entrance hall chimed six and Dilys jumped.
"Gracious, is that the time? Sorry Dawn, must be off."
Dilys turned and walked briskly into the next frame and then the next. Before she was out of sight she turned and shouted back to Dawn.
"Do come and visit us soon won't you?"
"Sure thing," called Dawn, and then Dilys was gone.
Dawn walked past four gigantic hour glasses, each housing many coloured gems. She assumed they were something to do with the Hogwarts houses as each had emblazoned on it either a snake, a badger, a raven or a lion. Slytherin's was filled with emeralds, sapphires for Ravenclaw, rubies for Gryffindor and topaz for Huffelpuff. Dawn turned towards the doors and froze.
"AAAHHH!!!"
The scream made crows take flight on the edge of the forbidden forest but the screech didn't stop. A flustered looking Professor McGonagall came charging out of the great hall, wand raised and white-faced, she was quickly followed by Professor Snape.
"What is it Miss Summers?" said Snape.
Dawn pointed a few feet to their left.
"Professor Snape, Professor Moggy-Gong-Girl, watch out!"
The teachers' looked highly confused.
"What Miss Summers?" said McGonagall, ignoring the mispronunciation of her name "I don't see anything."
"Ghost!" cried Dawn "Right there!"
To her astonishment McGonagall smiled.
"That is simply Nearly Headless Nick, the Gryffindor ghost."
Nearly Headless Nick's head had fallen off and his lame attempts to straighten it weren't helped by Dawn's continual whimpers.
"S-sorry," said Dawn "Nice corporeal monsters and demons that can be staked and chopped are fine; ghosts just give me the wiggins."
Dawn then realised what she had said but in attempts to cover it up she only managed to open and close her mouth silently.
"No harm done," said Snape, though not without a questioning look "Come and have some breakfast."
Dawn staggered into the great hall. At least she knew now that there were ghosts at Hogwarts. The room wast relatively empty, both the student and staff tables were sparsely dotted with people. There was however one thin brunette girl at the Ravenclaw table Dawn was very happy to see.
"Hi Amanda," she said as she sat down opposite her and took a piece of toast.
Amanda's face brightened immediately.
"Hi," she said "So hows Slytherin, are you coping okay?"
Her face had become deadly serious.
"Coping?" asked Dawn "Of course, it's great, why?"
"It's just," said Amanda, but she stopped and pushed the soggy remains of her cornflakes around the bottom of her golden bowl.
"What?" prompted Dawn.
"Everyone says it's horrible there, and that anyone who is in it is horrible and that only really mean people ever get sorted there."
Dawn's mouth opened in fury.
"I don't believe it of course," jumped in Amanda "I tried to stick up for you but the Ravenclaws wouldn't listen."
Dawn didn't know what to feel, she felt like either yelling or crying or perhaps one followed by the other.
"It's not like I wanted to go there," snapped Dawn "It was the stupid hat. But anyway," she considered, lowering her voice and realising Amanda wasn't the Ravenclaws "I like it there."
Amanda gave a weak smile then looked up. Dawn was just about to bite into her toast when she felt a hand on her shoulder. Dawn turned and saw that it was Paige and Gilrean.
"Morning guys," said Dawn "This is Amanda."
The two girls were however looking rather blankly at her.
"Dawn, this is the Ravenclaw table, we're on the other side of the hall."
"I know," said Dawn dismissively "It's just-,"
"Come on and sit with us," said Gilrean taking a step back towards the Slytherin table.
Dawn looked between Amanda and the other girls. She bit her lip.
"Do you mind?"
"No," said Amanda who was in fact sitting all alone and looked as though she wanted for nothing more then to have Dawn stay "You go, I've got reading to do anyway."
The potential took a book from her bag and buried her nose in it.
"Cya at lunch?" said Dawn standing and being taken by the hand by Paige.
"Mmm," hummed Amanda half-heartedly in reply and not looking up.
Back at the Slytherin table Paige and Gilrean were looking at Dawn very strangely.
"What?" said Dawn "Do I have something coming out of my nose?"
The girls shook their heads.
"Is this because I went and sat with Amanda?"
The two girls exchanged looks and Dawn felt a little angry.
"That's ridiculous," she said.
"Look Dawn," said Gilrean with a sigh and a sympathetic look in attempts to calm the new Slytherin "It's just, it's kind of an unwritten rule that the houses don't mix like that, they keep to their own."
Dawn arched an eyebrow.
"You're telling me you don't have any friends outside of Slytherin?"
"Of course we do," cut in Paige.
She beckoned Dawn closer.
"Look, Dawn, we don't care who you sit with, it doesn't really bother us. But it will the other houses."
Dawn's eyes narrowed.
"Gryffindor, Huffelpuff and Ravenclaw blame the house segregation on Slytherin but the truth is that it's them that won't give us a chance. They don't like us and they want it to stay that way."
"But why?" asked Dawn "That's silly."
"We don't know," said Paige "It has just been that way for a long time."
Gilrean was nodding sadly. Paige reached out and touched Dawn's forearm.
"We just wanted to warn you," she said in all seriousness "Snakes may have fangs but lions have teeth, ravens have talons, and badgers dig deep and bite hard."
Dawn looked up and saw more students file into the great hall. Few even glanced in the direction of Slytherin table but those that did either looked scared or down their noses at it. What seemed to be a group of second year Huffelpuffs saw that Dawn was looking at them and hurried to form a tight group and sit as far away from her as possible. A small lump formed in Dawn's throat.
"Thanks for the heads-up guys."
She was halfway through her third piece of toast with plum jam when the other three Slytherin girls arrived.
"Morning," said Dawn.
"Hey Dawn," said Elsie "Sleep well?"
"Not really," she frowned back "Just a new bed and all I guess."
"Beth didn't snore did she?" laughed Pansy sitting down beside Paige "She sounds like a niffler with a cold sometimes."
"Shut up!" giggled Beth.
The girls all laughed but Dawn only smiled because she had no idea what a niffler was.
Three pairs of arms flew in every direction grabbing cereal, juice, milk, porridge and anything else that was within reach.
"How's your timetable looking?" asked Beth thickly over a mouthful of crumpet "Have you cosen your electives yet?"
"Not yet," said Dawn sighing.
She took her timetable fro her pocket and scanned the Wednesday column.
"Double potions first."
"Oh good," hissed Pansy "You'll get to meet the tragic trio again."
Dawn looked over at the Gryffindor table. The girl called Hermione whispered something to Harry and Ron and the three turned and stared back at Dawn along with a few others - Kennedy was in a busy conversation with the redheaded girl. Dawn looked down again.
"Then double history of magic."
"Bore-ring," droned Paige, Elsie, Beth, Pansy and Gilrean.
"Then lunch, a double free till next week, then a single herbology and transfiguration before dinner."
A resounding bell chime sounded in the entrance hall. The Slytherins took a last sip of juice or a last bite of toast.
"Ready?" they asked Dawn.
She looked down at her watch, it was nine o'clock.
"Holy crap."
"I'll come with you," said Elsie "Tell Snape we will be late."
Dawn jumped up and ran full pelt after Elsie.
"I got up four hours early and I am still late for class... Basilisk."
Having come this way for a third time Dawn had the direction down pat.
"Wait here," she told Elsie "I'll only be a minute."
She sprinted into the dorm room and was surprised that the door and half the wall didn't come crashing down. She stuffed two books, parchment, pens and her wand into her bag and sped back out of the room, only stopping to check that her hair was straight in her bedside mirror.
"Settle down," said Elsie grinning "Snape won't care that we're late."
"Yes he will, I know he will," said Dawn, skidding to a halt next to the blonde girl.
Elsie knocked and led Dawn into the dungeon.
"Sorry we're late professor," said Elsie.
"Sorry," whispered Dawn feebly.
"No matter, no matter," said Snape looking at Dawn's flushed face "Miss Summers the potion method is on the board. Elsie, if you could assist if Dawn needs help."
Dawn sat down in the midst of the room feeling very relieved she wasn't in trouble. She did however see several Gryffindors looking scandalised that she hadn't gotten detention. The worst look, she could sense, was coming from behind her from behind a pair of circle shaped glasses. Kennedy was sitting a few tables to Dawn's right and was too preoccupied with taking down the potion method and ingredients that she couldn't catch the Potential's eye. Dawn looked at the blackboard where the first line read:
Invigorating Draught
Professor Snape walked between the students as Dawn took down the potion steps.
This isn't so bad she thought to herself.
Dawn didn't notice but Snape was watching her. He was amazed at how easily she took to the art, reaching for ingredients and knowing what they were without reading the label, how precisely she added the right amount of grindewold scale, and the correctness of her stirring and cauldron temperature. Dawn was on step ten – Leave to simmer for three minutes – when a small yelp caught her attention.
"Your incompetence never fails to astound me Longbottom," spat Snape "Twenty points from Gryffindor and a detention."
He waved his wand and the round faced boy's melted cauldron and spit green potion – Dawn noted it should have been blood red – disappeared.
"Perhaps disembowelling a barrelful of horned toads will teach you to follow instruction."
Dawn felt a little sorry for him while the other Slytherins sniggered to themselves. She saw Draco, Crabbe and Goyle laughing openly. Snape swept around the room in a temper.
"Pathetic Thomas... Woeful Potter... Miss Brown you are getting progressively worse."
The Professor was three seats from Dawn and her heart plummeted.
Please don't stop in front of me.
He did.
"Excellent Miss Summers."
Dawn's eyes flew up to meet Snape's and he smiled.
"Five points to Slytherin. I am glad one student at least is capable of an outstanding draught."
All the Slytherins gave Dawn a congratulatory smile or hearty thumbs up. Where she was in the room she couldn't see the Gryffindors well but felt every piercing, loathing stare. The dark air was thick with malicious contempt.
"Good one Dawn," hissed Elsie in a proud sort of way.
She nodded woefully at her own cauldron where the potion looked like milky tomato soup.
"Couldn't quite get mine right."
The bell for break rang and Snape told the class that the Invigorating draught should be left to mature over the weekend and that they would continue with it in their next class. There were also many groans at the two feet of parchment essay he set on the effects on humans that would occur if the draught was not left to set.
Dawn was heading towards the door when someone ran into her. In fact many people ran into her, pushing past towards the exit.
"Watch it Summers."
Dawn looked back to see waved of fuzzy brown hair bobbing into the hall.
"Shut it Granger!" spat Paige at the girl's retreating back, to many glares from the remaining Gryffindors.
"Forget her Dawn," said Beth in her ear "She's a cow."
Dawn however did not find this very comforting and on her way out into the courtyard she remembered Paige's words from breakfast – Lions have teeth, ravens have talons, and badgers dig deep and bite hard.
What else is going to happen? She thought worryingly.
The history of magic classroom was in near silence. Dumbledore was right, Dawn thought, that she would have done well to bring along her subject selection things. That way she might not be falling asleep. Professor Binns was droning at the front of the class, and while Dawn nearly died as he floated through the blackboard and resultantly retreated to the back of the room, she now dreamily looked out into the grounds through an open window. The scratches of the Slytherin's quills were almost hypnotic and Dawn found herself more then once slipping from her prop on her hand. The sky outside was a cool grey and a sweet breeze filled with the scent of geraniums flitted across her face.
"The worst of these giant wars took place in 1812," said Binns in a monotonous way.
Don't fall asleep, don't fall asleep.
Beth's snores and her puddle of drool weren't helping.
"There were hundreds of casualties on both sides, most experiencing an horrific death."
Falling asleep, falling asleep.
BOOM!!!
Dawn saw the whole room jump and was more then half sure it was because the whole castle had shook.
"The result of this proved very woe some for the minister of magic at that time."
The class ran to the windows, looking out towards the greenhouses. What looked like hundreds of olive-green tentacles were snaking their way fifty feet into the air from the shattered roof of greenhouse four.
"What is it?" gasped Paige, gripping Gilrean's hand.
"I have no idea," said Elsie looking sternly at the convulsing cords.
The door to the greenhouse sprang open and a herd of Gryffindors and Huffelpuffs streamed out.
"Ha, look at Potter run."
Malfoy was pointing in the boy's direction and dawn saw him stumble and fall face first into the mud. All the Slytherins cheered.
"The statute was rectified however in 1918 to include a provision for hags and wood nymphs."
The students at the greenhouses were scattering as even more tendrils escaped the glass enclosure.
"Should we get someone?" asked Dawn, the only person looking terribly worried.
Pansy clicked her tongue.
"They'll be fine, Professor Sprout is there."
Dawn looked out again to see Professor Sprout's stout for backing slowly away from the houses.
"STUPEFY, STUPEFY!!!"
The Professor's hexes echoed across the grounds and up the tower, the red light of her spells hitting every part of the wayward plant. More vines and roots had begun to spread and the incantations did little more then to make the substantial threads swipe furiously at her.
The Slytherins were in tears and Dawn too had to try hard to keep a straight face as the scene played out before her. Seeming to give up Professor Sprout turned and ran full pelt back towards the castle, knocking Nevil Longbottom and Hermione Granger into the dew covered grass.
BOOM!!!
The Slytherins gasped as greenhouse four exploded, the plant rocketing in all directions and smashing through the other conservatories, showing no signs of stopping growing. The vines whirled frantically in the air until finally they found something solid: the North tower of Hogwarts.
"That aught to give the Gryffindors something to talk about," sniggered Beth.
Dawn watched as the tower became covered in the plant, the windows and stone quickly being encased in the solid green jail. They were so transfixed that when the bell rang to signal the end of class they all jumped.
"Good work today class," said Binns "Very attentive. See you all next time."
The Slytherins hastily piled their history of magic texts back inside their bags and headed off to lunch.
Dawn noticed as she sat down to her Shepard's pie that most of the castle was completely oblivious to the wayward flora slowly snaking its way across the grounds.
"Looking good Potty," jeered Malfoy.
Dawn turned to see Harry scowl in their direction and Ron hiss something in his ear that looked like 'don't worry about them'. Harry's robes were covered in thick grey mud and stumbling into seats beside him was Hermione Granger and Nevil Longbottom with uniforms covered in grass and water stains.
Three mouthfuls of pie and two sips of orange juice into her meal Dawn saw a red-faced Professor Sprout bustle towards the staff table. Her sunhat was askew and her robes were looking very torn and dirt covered. Sprout went straight towards Dumbledore, who leant forward to hear her better, then stood and followed the herbology teacher quickly out of the great hall.
"I wonder who did it?" asked Gilrean.
"You forget Longbottom is in that class," smirked Pansy "A sickle on him."
"A galleon on Finch-Fletchly," said Paige.
"No, six sickles on the weasel," added Beth.
"You in Dawn?"
Dawn looked up at them all.
"I don't have any money," she said weakly, hastily picking up her fork again.
"Oh well," said Elsie taking the money off the other girls "I'll put in ten sickles on Granger as the outside favourite, she always does like to show off."
Dawn said goodbye to the Slytherin girls after lunch, but not before ten minutes of trying to convince them that she would be fine getting to the library. The time had come where she had to choose her electives and she decided that the library would be the best place to decide, what, with the books and quietness and imminent learn'n and all.
Madam Pince, the school librarian's book carriage was squeaking along the restricted section as Dawn turned pages and pages of parchment, reading the subject guides and turning the numerous possibilities over in her mind.
"My head hurts-,"
"Shh!"
Dawn looked around to see she was being silenced by a portrait of a haggard, old banshee wearing a heavy black veil.
"Sorry I-,"
"No talking in the library!"
"I didn't mean to, I just-,"
"Do you want me to screech for Madam Pince?"
Dawn turned back to her books but was extremely put off by the huffs that came from the portrait if her chair moved on the wooden floor of if her pen scratched too loud on the parchment while circling important information. Her hand itched towards her wand to give the banshee a Phineaus treatment as the picture breathed 'Honestly' at Dawn unzipping her bag. Reserved that Madam Pince wouldn't like her library set on fire or reduced to rubble after witnessing the librarian throw out a seventh year Ravenclaw for leaving a dirty tissue on the desk, Dawn picked up her things and moved away, making sure to add in as many bangs, bumps and loud cusses as possible.
A quick search of the expansive room and Dawn found a nice little corner with a single desk facing a plain and altogether un-distracting wall. She was sheltered by rows of bookcases and the only thing that shared the alley with her was a paint stripped cupboard with small brass handles. With only the flicker of a few tapers behind frosted lanterns and the squeak of Madam Pince nothing more then a distant riff, the young girl felt very contented and more so, motivated.
"Okay Summers," she said to herself "Get read'n."
Dawn narrowed it down surprisingly quickly, where if she couldn't understand the first sentence of the subject summary or the subject had more then four syllables in its title, it was definitely out.
"Arithmancy, gone... Ancient runes, gone... Div-, divin-... That thing, gone."
After about an hour she had it down to three possibilities: Care of magical creatures – Even though it was taught by Bigfoot everybody else was doing it. Muggle studies – Always good to go with something you know, and magical cookery – Maybe she would learn something better then banana and peanut butter quesadillas.
As Dawn placed the third subject on her maybe pile she realised there was another, smaller piece of grey parchment still in the folder. She picked it up and read the scratchy black text:
Special Permission Studies
Hogwarts school offers many elective units, however some branches of magic go unstudied due to Ministry of Magic curriculum or lack of student interest. Below are some subjects you may elect to take after receiving special permission from your head of house. Most require students to have excellent grades and students will also need to nominate a staff member as tutor as these classes will occur at odd places in the timetable and often one on one.
Dawn ignored the excellent grades part and read the subject list
The study of Wicca
Magical literature
Occlumency
She stopped. This subject had a single sentence and one required textbook
Occlumency: The magical defence of the mind against external penetration and influence.
Required Text: Mind your Mind, by Thomas Cortex
On two occasions now Dawn had felt something like someone was trying to break into her mind. It unnerved her and she didn't want it to happen again. To make sure she made the right decision though Dawn went searching for the book by Thomas Cortex. It would hopefully give her more of an idea of what she could expect.
She found that she was in fact sitting not too far from the right row of books. Luckily Madam Pince had placed up large flashing signs above each section. As she walked down the column, past spell books about warts, and what to do if your house elf turns inside out, Dawn heard a distinctive thud.
"Hello?" she called, though only softly as to avoid the wrath of the librarian.
There was no reply and Dawn happily went back to searching the shelves. Moments later the candles around her head stuttered and she heard something like whispered laughter. This unnerved her.
"Hello?" she called again, and again there was no answer.
Dawn was getting a major case of the wiggins and fast. Her search sped up with the resolve being she would get out of the library as soon as possible, or at least a part of it that didn't suddenly have a getting-your-ass-kicked feel.
"Whew, found ya," said Dawn.
But as she reached for the Occlumency book another voice broke through.
"Accio!"
The black leather bound volume sped out of Dawn's reach and she followed its path as it landed in the arms of a very intimidating looking Gryffindor. The red and gold tied girl was flanked by two others, a Huffelpuff and a Ravenclaw.
"Look girls," growled the Gryffindor "She slithers like one of them already."
"Um," said Dawn in annoyance "That's kinda the book I want."
"Well it's mine now," said the Gryffindor.
"I had it first," said Dawn
"Shut your mouth," spat the Ravenclaw.
"Excuse me?!"
"Like you are even clean enough to speak to us, stained with blood and hate like the generations before you."
"I- I so am not," said Dawn, starting to falter under the girls' glares.
The three of them were twice the size of Dawn.
"How does it feel?" said the Huffelpuff "To be hated like you are? Huh?"
"No friends, no life, no one to love you," added the Ravenclaw.
"Just a filthy... little... waste... of space," finished the Gryffindor.
"Back off," snapped Dawn "I'm not going to take this crap!"
She turned and made to leave but felt a heavy hand on her shoulder. The Gryffindor spun Dawn around and struck her hard across the face. Dawn fell heavily into the bookcase behind her and as she slid to the ground in pain she tasted the sour metallic blood dripping from her bottom lip.
"You're going to listen to what we have to say Summers," said the Gryffindor towering over her.
The Ravenclaw drew her wand and pointed it at Dawn.
"Whether you like it or not... incarcerous!"
Black cords exploded out of the dark girl's wand and wound themselves around Dawn.
"Let me g-,"
But Dawn's cries were cut short as a gag filled her mouth.
"Now, now Dawnie," joked the Gryffindor "Wouldn't want us to get caught."
The ropes were cutting into Dawn; she could feel them lacerating her skin.
"How long do you think you would have lasted on your own like this?" said the Gryffindor "We don't like Slytherins, and especially foreign Slytherins."
Dawn wasn't looking at her.
"Look at me when you're spoken to filth!"
The Gryffindor slapped Dawn so hard across the face that she fell sideways and lay even more helpless on the floor. She tried to slide away from them but it was no use, she was bound too tight. Her fear only made them laugh.
"She does slither well doesn't she," jeered the Huffelpuff.
"Impedimenta!"
A jet of gold light hit Dawn and she couldn't move, she could barely breathe under the effects of the spell and the constricting rope. Terror had her. Why wasn't anybody helping her? Why were these girls doing this?
The Gryffindor took from her robes a small silver knife and bent over Dawn. She cut the cords over her mouth and smiled.
"Better?"
Dawn spat in her face.
"You bitch, let me go!" she screamed.
The Gryffindor wiped the bloody saliva from her eye then stood and kicked Dawn in the stomach.
"That's disgusting, but what else could we expect from a whore like you."
The Gryffindor reached down to the gasping Dawn and lifted her clean off the floor.
"Hold her."
She threw Dawn to the floor and dispelled the ropes. Dawn wasn't fast enough though, and still winded, and the Ravenclaw and Huffelpuff picked her up and held her back.
"What can we do but purify you? Purify that which is evil and dirty and therefore wrong," whispered the Gryffindor.
She took the knife and ran it over Dawn's cheek leaving a river of blood after the blade.
"Please," sobbed Dawn "Don't, I didn't do anything."
"It doesn't matter," said the Huffelpuff "You're still and Slytherin."
"Still a whore," said the Ravenclaw.
The Gryffindor smiled
"I believe I speak for al of the school and its subsidiaries when I say-,"
But she did not finish her sentence. Instead, she grabbed Dawn's hair and hacked away at it, leaving nothing but ruined strands from her scalp.
"NO!" screamed Dawn "NO!"
"Shut up!" roared the Gryffindor "It has to be done, you deserve it!"
She tore at Dawn's clothes with the blade, careless of the fragile flesh beneath the fabric. The girls holding her had grips like vices, nails like claws.
"STOP!" pleaded Dawn choking on her tears.
"This will never stop, never, remember that! If it's not us it will be someone else and it will be a thousand times worse! You're filth Dawn Summers!"
The Gryffindor beat her in the face with the hilt of the knife.
"FILTH!!!" she screeched.
The last thing Dawn saw was the blade raised over her head, and the swift slash towards her chest.
"NOOO!!!"
Dawn hit the hard stone floor and knew no more.
"Dawn, look at me, are you okay?"
Dawn could hear voices somewhere above her.
"Help, help me," she gasped.
"Dawn, open your eyes."
She did but all she saw was a fuzzy blur.
"Someone get Madam Pomfrey!"
The voice sounded familiar and Dawn also heard the hurried steps of many people.
"Elsie?"
The blonde haired girl was cradling Dawn's head and looking very pale and scared. Dawn realised it was her friend and retreated into her arms.
"Stop them, help me."
"It's okay Dawn, shh."
Dawn was covering her head and face.
"What is it?" asked Paige "Did you hit your head?"
"My hair, she cut, don't look," stuttered Dawn.
"Dawn, your hair is fine, try to calm down."
"Out of my way. Out of the way. Move aside miss Cowen... Anethious!"
The warm afternoon sun was falling over Dawn as she lay on a beautifully soft mattress. Her eyes slowly opened but she could not find it within herself to furrow her brow at the five worried faces around her hospital bed.
"Hi," she smiled "What's up with you's? I feel wonderful."
She stretched and sat up.
"That'll be the calming draught Madam Pomfrey gave her," said Beth "Do you recon she could spare us some?"
At the mention of the school nurse Dawn's memories slowly flooded back.
"What happened? What happened to those bitches?"
"Shh," said Elsie "If Madam Pomfrey sees you upset again it's the hospital wing for all of us."
"And they weren't exactly Bitches," added Gilrean "More, boggarts."
"What?" asked Dawn.
"You know?" said Paige "Shape shifters who play on our fears."
"Yeah," said Pansy "We heard you screaming when we can looking for you after class. Just before she sliced you Elsie gave 'em the old ridikkulus charm."
"Hmm," sighed Paige "Hacked up by the other houses... I hope my words at breakfast didn't contribute to that."
"You saw them? The cuts and everything?"
"Just the girls," said Beth "The rest was in your head."
"Madam Pince said the boggarts were in the cupboard near your desk," added Gilrean "She was waiting for Moody to get rid of them and forgot to put a sign up."
"Dumb cow," echoed the six girls.
"I'm missing class, again," said Dawn.
The girls sniggered.
"Um, herbology was called off... Little trouble with that plant."
"Oh?" inquired Dawn lifting her eyebrow.
"Yeah, its kind of surrounded the whole castle so we can't get out."
Dawn's eyes opened wide in shock.
"But- but don't worry," assured Elsie "Dumbledore said it can't get inside."
After a quick check over from Madam Pomfrey with many a 'inexcusable' and 'you're lucky you weren't more seriously hurt' Dawn was lining up outside the transfiguration classroom with the other Slytherins.
The class seemed to be avoiding Dawn's eyes, all except Draco Malfoy.
"Scared of the other houses are we Summers?"
Dawn blushed. How could he know about the Boggarts already?
"Shut up Draco, you butt-monkey," said Gilrean "Or should I say great white ferret?"
It was Draco's turn to blush. He looked forward again and didn't say another word to any of them.
Despite the events of the day Beth assured Dawn that McGonagall was acting angrier then she usually did. She was very crisp with the Slytherins and in explaining the tasks for the class.
"Today we will be transfiguring hedgehogs into pincushions – Goyle, do that again and I'll make you a pincushion."
Dawn looked up at the board and frowned. It all looked terribly complicated, not to mention pointless. Who would want to turn a hedgehog into a pincushion anyway?
Dawn:
I was on top of the world
It was right in my pocket
I was living the life
Things were just the way they should be
Dawn looked over at Crabbe who attempted the transfiguration but just succeeded in enlarging his hedgehog ten times which chased him around the room.
Dawn:
Now all of a sudden some strange things are happening to me
Professor McGonagall was tramping between desks and shouting about everyone failing exams if they couldn't perform this simple spell.
Dawn:
And I'm doing the best I can to carry on
The minute you turn your back
You're in it all by yourself
Let me tell you about the strange things that are happening to me
Elsie managed to turn her hedgehog's quills into needles but this just made the animal angry and it gave the girl a nasty bite. McGonagall tutted.
"This is because of your wand movement Miss Cowen."
McGonagall's steel gaze locked on Dawn
"Miss Summers?"
She sighed.
"Yes Professor Moggy-Gong-Girl..."
Dawn didn't realise but the Slytherins were in fits of giggles and the transfiguration teacher's lips were so pursed you couldn't see them.
"Well!" she snapped.
"Parageetem."
There was a flash of lite and the class gasped.
"Miss Summers!"
The class gathered around and looked on with horrific awe.
Dawn's hedgehog was completely transfigured. Where the animal was moments before lay a perfectly plump cushion with extravagant floral designs. Each pin was perfectly placed and flashed different colours. One even played jingle bells if you unstuck it.
"Did I do bad?" winced Dawn.
McGonagall was dumbfounded and simply gaped. The Slytherins however cheered, all except Draco who was looking glumly at his half cushion half hedgehog creation.
Dawn:
You think you're doing well
But you're in danger, boy
Strange things are happening to me
Strange things
Strange things are happening to me
'Aint no doubt about it
The bell for the end of class rang.
"Professor, can we go?"
"What? Yes, class dismissed," said McGonagall still transfixed.
Pansy got to the door first and tried to open it. It wouldn't budge. Then Crabbe and Goyle had a turn each but only succeeded in breaking the handle off.
"Professor, the door wont open," said Draco.
"What's this nonsense?" asked McGonagall.
She walked up to the door but she too could not open it. As a result she blasted a sizable hole in it with the reductor curse. She stuck her head out into the corridor.
"Oh my..."
The transfiguration teacher pulled her head back in.
"What is it professor?" asked Elsie.
"Class, I think it best if you follow me."
The Slytherins followed McGonagall out the door and each fell flabbergasted. The corridor was filled with greenery: vines, flowers, leaves and grass. It was as if the castle had disappeared and given way to a corridor of forest.
"I thought it couldn't get inside?" said Dawn a little worried.
"I was mistaken," grimaced Elsie.
Purple and red fairies and a flock of tropical birds had seemed to have taken up home in the new accommodation. The air was very thick and damp and all the sounds they made seemed to be silenced by the green carpet. Holes were being blasted left right and centre by teachers helping their classes to get out.
"What is it Minerva?" Dawn heard Professor Flitwick the charms teacher ask McGonagall "I can't vanish it, what will we do?"
"I'm not sure, but I bet Dumbledore will."
Dawn and the other Slytherins followed closely behind the teachers. Not a brick or a stone could be seen behind the flora.
"I can hear water," said Beth.
She could. Above the doors of the great hall fell a vast waterfall, each drop of water trickling like a silver diamond down the hidden marble staircase and under the entrance doors of the castle.
Dumbledore poked his head out from behind the curtain - though Dawn noticed he wasn't getting wet – and beckoned all those gathered in. Dawn and the others however weren't given the luxury of keeping dry. The water soaked them but the teachers close at hand were kind enough to dry everyone's robes with a flick of their wands. Dawn saw Snape doing this to some first year Gryffindors and looking rather bored and grudging.
As she looked up her jaw dropped. Nearly fifty trees she reckoned the were growing through the floor of the great hall, their bark glowing white like spun pearl under the sunset of the enchanted ceiling. Crickets were chirping in the eaves of the company and several girls screamed as caterpillars crawled across their dinner plates.
Dinner was interesting to say the least, what, with sharing your meal with grey pixies flying around your ears. Dumbledore had explained to them however that the problem would be rectified by the morning and that the house common rooms remained clear and their entrances unobstructed.
"Coming Dawn?"
Dinner was finished and most were glad to get out of the forest.
"No," said Dawn "I might stay a little longer."
She had hardly touched her meal and more so, she saw three very sad looking Potentials from between the branches of the trees.
"Suit yourself," said Gilrean "Just watch out for Porlocks on your way back."
Dawn had expected to need to call out to the Potentials but they, like her, remained sitting in their mossy seats picking through half eaten chicken and vegetables. Dawn stood up and walked over to Amanda, only to be joined seconds later by Rona and Kennedy.
"So you're sitting with us now?" asked Amanda "Oh right," she sighed "There's no Slytherins around."
"Don't be like that Amanda," said Dawn hurt "It's not like that."
The four of them were looking very glum.
"So how were your days?" asked Dawn.
"Bad."
"Bad."
"Bad."
"How was classes?"
"Bad."
"Bad."
"Bad."
"Oh-kay," said Dawn "Do you want to talk about it?"
There was silence, only jotted with huffs and sighs.
"Alright, I'll start," said Dawn "I was attacked and nearly killed by three Boggarts – Whatever they are-,"
"Shape shifters," droned Amanda into her bowel "Change into the things we fear most."
"Right," said Dawn impressed "So basically everyone at the school hates me."
"That's true," said Kennedy nonplussed "But that's nothing compared to me."
Dawn ignored her comment and questioned further.
"I set McGonagall on fire."
"Well that's not too bad," interjected Dawn "I bet she put it out."
"It was mystical fire, purple variety... She was fine but her robes didn't like it much. She didn't seem too happy standing there in her tartan underwear."
Daw coughed to hide her snort.
"It's not funny," said Kennedy with tears in her eyes.
"N-no, not at all," forced Dawn "What about you Amanda?"
"I turned everyone in charms into yaks, including Professor Flitwick... They only turned back because Dumbledore stopped by... It was humiliating."
Dawn was biting her hand to stop from bursting out in laughter.
"Rona?"
Rona looked up, her eyes bloodshot and her nose runny.
"Look around," she sobbed.
"You did this?" asked Dawn shocked.
"Who else would be so magically retarded?"
"Um, hello?" said Amanda and Kennedy lifting their heads.
"They can't even get rid of it... I hate it here."
"Me too."
"Me three."
"Everyone thinks we're morons," said Rona.
"Or else scared or us," added Kennedy.
"Or both," said Amanda resting her head in her hands "It's hard, and awkward. I don't like keeping secrets, I don't like being in Ravenclaw without you three and everyone hates us."
Dawn looked at their sad, tearstained faces and found a hidden resolve. Something grew in her.
Dawn:
I've got a theory
It doesn't matter
The Potentials looked at her questioningly.
Dawn:
What can't we face if we're together?
What's in this place that we can't weather?
Apocalypse?
We've all been there
The same old trips
Why should we care?
The Potentials managed a weak smile and Dawn returned it.
All:
What can't we do if we get in it?
We'll work it through within a minute
We have to try
We'll pay the price
Its do or die
They all stood up and began to walk back towards the waterfall.
All:
What can't we face if we're together?
Dawn: What cant we face?
All:
What's in this place that we can't weather?
Dawn: If we're together
All:
There's nothing we can't face
Dawn gave the three of them a tight hug.
"We stick together."
AN: You wouldn't have read this far unless you liked it. Click that little review link to show that you did. I would have thought of something more witty but it is late and if you read this far you would see I am incapable of witty dialogue.
§- sonofgloin
