Chapter 5
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Hogwarts smelt of pumpkins and spices the next morning.
Rebekah woke up to banging on her door, Daphne and Pansy came rushing in. She grumbled and lifted herself onto her elbows, rubbing the sleep away. It was still fairly early to deal with their antics.
"Yes?" The girls stopped and stared, their faces twisted in shock and concern. "Oh, the bruises. From Quidditch practice, went to Madam Pomfrey to get the potion for them."
"Still, they look awful," Daphne said, pointing to a nasty yellowing bruise on her bicep. "That one still looks painful. Have you taken the potions for them yet?"
"You look awful," Pansy said, Daphne whacked her arm. "What? It's the truth."
"Gee, thanks," She chuckled, sitting up properly before untucking herself and getting out. "I'll be fine, they just kept me up a bit. Already taken, they're just a bit sore. What's the occasion?"
"It's All Hallow's Eve tonight!"
"A big thing in the Wizarding World, huh?" Rebekah asked as she slipped on and buttoned her white shirt, hiding the purple and yellow bruises. "Yeah? This is my first All Hallow's Eve in the Wizarding World. Muggles simply call it Halloween, give out sweets when it turns dark and that's it. Nothing special."
"The feast for tonight will be huge; if we were home, we'd have a giant ball to celebrate!"
"Really? I did not think it was that big of a celebration," She pulled on her shoes, checking her reflection in the mirror as she brushed her teeth. "Not a big deal in the Muggle World."
"Yeah, but it's a big deal for the Dark and Neutral Houses," Daphne grabbed Rebekah's hand and pulled her out of the room, only after she was ready. "For Pansy and Draco, it's most important. For Blaise and I, less so, since our Houses are Neutral."
"Morning," Rebekah said as they came into the common room, greeting the boys.
The leather sofas, once holding nothing but a small cushion, had large, thick blankets thrown over several cushions of a desirable size. The fire wormed its way higher as the water meddled with the sunlight's path, casting a laurel green hue on the waking common room.
"Heading to Breakfast?" Pucey asked, standing by the entrance. "Snape wants all of your year in the common room half an hour before Breakfast finishes, all right?"
"Yeah, we'll pass the message to the rest," Rebekah stated and turned to leave. "Get out the way, please. I am starving."
"Quidditch does that to a person," He shrugged. "Eat protein, a lot of it. You'll be fine within a week."
"Gee, I sure hope so. You don't want your new member to die during a match."
He chuckled, ruffled her hair resulting in her jabbing him in the gut, and he chuckled as he huffed his lost breaths back in.
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Most students were in the Great Hall for Breakfast, dining on the delectable array of food presented for the morning meal. Rebekah's stomach turned at the sight of the food, she settled for a large goblet of water and a couple of strawberries. She would ask one of the House-Elves to retrieve some food later, that is if she was feeling hungry.
Once again, Rebekah and Draco took the high-back wing chairs. Between waking up and breakfast, the common room chilled considerably. The girls, minus Rebekah, huddled onto one sofa and shared the large blanket. Rebekah draped her Slytherin robes around her, her whole body was on the chair as she cuddled one of the throw cushions.
Snape saw that they were cold, almost shivering under their blankets and robes a pathetic sight that tugged at his cold heartstrings. He waved his wand subtlety, charming their coverings to retain warmth easily. Summoning a House-Elf, the pale wood coffee table between the sofas blared with a selection of food and Snape gestured towards it.
"Eat, I do not expect you to achieve if you are not fully nourished," As the students snatched at the warm and exquisite food, Rebekah huddled deeper into her robes. "That includes you, Miss Potter. I know for a fact that you did not eat at Breakfast."
"I did eat," Rebekah retorted. Her eyes glistened with unhappiness, her mannerisms became hostile.
"And, how much did you eat, Miss Potter?"
She countered his question with a short answer, "Enough. I am not very hungry today."
He did not look satisfied with her answer, though he did not push her anymore. "I understand that you all know that tonight is Hallow's Eve, yes? Good. On this night, every night, Slytherin House has a sort of event because of the traditions that many of your Housemates and you have in your families. Over the years, Parents and Guardians have requested that we celebrate Samhain and Hallow's Eve tonight."
Rebekah did not join in her friend's joy. Yes, Halloween was one of her favourite holidays, she could not keep the dread from creeping into her bones.
She nodded slightly, to portray fake gladness, even though she knew this would not convince the dungeon bat.
"Miss Potter," Snape asked after dismissing them. "Why have you not been eating? It isn't healthy and I cannot allow my best first-year potioneer continuing with this behaviour."
"It's Halloween, Sir," Rebekah put her shoulder bag on, gripping the strips. "I suppose you know what happened today, years ago. I've read everything I could on my parents, I know as much as the best person. A stupid prophecy killed them, I am not stupid."
"Very true, Miss Potter. I agree," He said, folding his arms in a bat-like way. "Now go, and I expect you to be eating during tonight's event."
"Of course, Sir. I'll need my energy for Quidditch Practice," Rebekah chuckled for a second. "And to deal with the Gryffindors in your Potions class tomorrow,"
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The day dragged on significantly. They had DADA along with transfiguration and History of Magic. Charms were not too bad, they did learn how to make things float, well some of them did. But Blaise, Daphne, Draco and Pansy could not wait for the feast that evening, they said that it would be amazing. Rebekah trusted their judgement on this matter.
The long-awaited feast came soon enough, the students rushed into the Great Hall and found their seats within moments. Thousands of bats fluttered from the walls and ceiling, thousands more swarmed over the tables. Their black masses of bodies made the candles flicker.
"So what's this nonsense with certain Houses being Light, Neutral or Dark?" Rebekah placed a baked potato on her plate, shuffling tons of cheese and salt on it. "I understand what they mean but not in the context of Houses. How can a House be Light?"
"It's mostly based on how in tune a House was with Light Magic and Dark Magic,"
"Like the Black House and the Malfoy House, we're deeply rooted in Dark Magic. Blood Magic, Curses and Necromancy. Someone of the Black House has done it."
"Yeah. Like the Zabini and Greengrass families have Neutral Magic roots."
"The Parkinson House has only turned to Dark Magic since the 1720-30ish," Pansy said. "The Black House has been Dark much longer than any of us."
"What Magic does the Potter family mostly do?"
"I believe Neutral Magic, actually," Rebekah said, finishing her tiny plate of food. "I thought we would have been Light since my parents were fighting against the Dark Lord. Did you know it's been ten years this night since my parents were killed?"
"Really?"
"Bummer."
"Troll—dungeons — you ought to know." And Quirrell was on the floor in a dead faint. The idiot caused an uproar in the hall, students started shouting with teachers trying to silence them. It took several firecrackers from a wand but, eventually, silence fell.
"Prefects," He used his wand to vocalise his words better. "Lead your Houses back to the dormitories immediately!"
Farley and Crumb refused to move, telling their house to stay there for a moment.
"Headmaster, Slytherins are in the Dungeon!" Farley yelled over the other House's footfalls. "It will endanger us if we go!"
"I suggest that my House be allowed to stay in here," Snape mentioned. "Lady Hogwarts herself would never allow the troll to harm them here."
"Yes, good call, Severus," Dumbledore mumbled.
"I will set the hall up for them," Snape pulled his wand out as he spoke.
"As will I. Now, go. Albus, and find that creature before it brings harm to one of ours," McGonagall said, her wand in hand.
Around a hundred sleeping bags were summoned and replaced the tables and benches. They scattered the grey forms towards the High Table, farthest away from the doors. The older Slytherins were placed closer to the doors, their Magic skills advanced enough to protect those in the younger years.
Rebekah sat on the level that held the High Table, her robe across her legs. she asked Crumb to transfigure them several bean-bags, to which he gladly did but with a grumble. Her group took the larger ones, leaving the smaller and less pleasant ones for the rest of her year.
"Remember that time when you tumbled down the stairs at mine, Draco?" Blaise said, making Draco's cheek tinted pink. "You got a mouthful from my mum when you did, 'You little brat' her face was proper red, 'Both of you, bed now. Useless children.' She grumbled all night about us, even complained to your mum the next morning."
Their laughs were quiet, the type that covered their even quieter words. They did not want any attention on them, they simply wanted to have a bit of fun by taking the mickey from each other.
Rebekah did not really join in, she had only known these four since the train ride to Hogwarts. She did not have any pleasant memories with friends, she did not really know them as well as they did. In general, she did not even want to join in.
Several unexpected sounds silenced the Slytherins. The doors sang with vibrations from a sharp force, the wood cracking under the harsh pressure.
BANG.
BANG.
BANG.
Hogwarts decided this situation, the creature outside those doors was dangerous enough. She pulled out the long strips of wood, twisting them to block the doors. She locked the creature out and locked the students in, this would keep them safe for the moment.
THUD.
All of this caused several students to yelp in fright, others murmured, and Farley and Crumb had their wands out with the intent to harm in their eyes. They would protect their House, the place they called home, the people they called family.
THUMP.
THUMP.
THUMP.
The doors did not open at the creature's demands, Lady Hogwarts forced them away. She would protect these innocent children, they were in Her school and under Her protection. Nothing would harm them under Her care.
THUD.
The older students shoved the third years and below against, gaining distance between them and the doors. Distance was key. Their wands pointed at the banging, faces firm in concentration and fear. They would attack if provoked.
The banging continued for several minutes, getting stronger and faster each time. Soon enough the door vibrated heavily with force. Their hands turned white with strain, they still held their vice-like grip on their wands.
Every single Slytherin had their wands on them.
At. All. Times.
The older students drilled this into every new member, they understood soon enough why this was the case.
THUMP.
CLANG.
CRASH.
The creature burst in, breaking the wooden barriers and making the younger Slytherins scream in terror. Instantly, every capable Slytherin yelled, "STUPEFY!" and the Troll was unconscious on the floor.
"What in the world!?" A Ghost came through a wall. Slytherin's Ghost
"Bloody Baron, get Snape quickly!" Gemma Farley yelled at him. He huffed but nodded, flying away.
The next few minutes were a blur. Snape came, informed Dumbledore, got rid of the Troll, calmed his House and sent them back to the common room.
Unlike some of the teachers and her Housemates, Rebekah noticed that Snape's trouser leg was ripped, his leg also bled. The tear was in the shape of an extremely large paw, Dumbledore warned them of something. She loved mysteries because she would always get them solved quickly, and she dubbed this a mystery worth getting in trouble for.
The commotions for the Troll was finally over, the celebration could begin in the Slytherin common room. Every Slytherin brought their beloved pets and Familiars, though these were few, to the common room.
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The common room extended outwards, glass ceiling and walls pushed into the lake and added a dozen metres of room. The floor was still stone, though it held a translucent quality. There was a large bonfire in the extended area, held back with spells and charms to keep the students and animals safe. Several lanterns several feet tall flickered their light on the dim common room.
Everyone changed into dark clothes. Rebekah changed into black lace tank top, leggings and Oxford shoes, borrowing a plain set of robes from Pansy and letting Daphne borrow her flats. Rebekah looked through the little bag filled with Potter jewellery, choosing a pretty silver necklace that held a small locket, the Potter crest shone with pride.
"You're wearing Muggle clothes?" Draco asked Rebekah as the girls came out of their rooms.
"We'll go save the seats," Daphne said, quickly going down the set of stairs.
"Yeah, before the Seventh years take them all!" Pansy ran after Daphne, both heading for the common room. "Wait for me!"
"Yes, they're much more comfortable than the weird Wizarding clothes," Rebekah shifted on her feet. "Besides I can actually move in this."
"Good point," Blaise tugged at his high collar and glared at Draco when he laughed. "I wish we could buy Muggle clothes sometimes."
"I'll let you borrow my catalogues, you could choose some from there and I'll ask my Aunt and Uncle to send them over," The trio decided to join Pansy and Daphne, however, they did walk slowly.
"What's a catalogue?" Draco asked.
"You know the Muggle magazines I lend the girls?" "Them. They're called catalogues because you can choose something and then buy it from there."
"Oh, clever," He answered.
The girls took the sofas closest to the glass wall and window, it oversaw the Colony of Merpeople. There were three goblets of steaming cinnamon and pumpkin liquid, one each for the trio.
"Ohh, you started without me!" Mel's voice echoed slightly, coming through the glass. "Mother allowed me to come to the celebration for the first time!"
"Ah, Merchieftainess Murcus," Snape quickly came over, he bowed his head to her. "It is a pleasure to see you. Though, I am surprised that you decided to come this year."
"Yes," This was the first time Rebekah heard her voice, deep yet feminine with authority in it. "My daughter requested that she be allowed to join this year's festivities. I do hope the invitation is still open."
"Yes, it will allows be open as long as you allow us to extend the room, it is always a pleasant view for the festivities," Snape said, his lips tugged up. "Did Young Mell's friendship with Miss Potter increase her insistent this year?"
Merchieftainess Murcus chuckled, little air bubbles rose in her water bubble. "Yes, I suppose so. The friendship is welcome, especially since it helps the species interact better."
"Would you like to join me for some fish?" Snape asked. "I will summon a House-Elf to gather some."
"No need, Potion Master," She waved her hand, two guards came through the glass with big nets of fish. "I have prepared a catch for the festivities, a gift for allowing us an invitation to your celebration. Come, there are potion ingredients that I have for you."
Rebekah chuckled a bit too loud at that, someone actually ordered Snape around? A miracle. Snape heard, hiding the wave of his wand but Rebekah saw it, and caused her hood to come over her head and shoved her head down a bit.
Rebekah chuckled a bit more, pushed her hood off and flicked her finger towards herself. It caused Snape's billowing robes to stop and tug him back slightly, he smirked at her and tugged his robes back to normal. He continued like nothing happened, but the spell was still in his mind. Especially since her wand was present in her pocket, and not in her hand.
The coffee table had a few pastries, biscuits and fruit. Rebekah had a single apple, then taking a few biscuits after Snape's fierce look. She raised her eyebrow, almost like she was saying Better?. He nodded and turned back to his guest.
"Oh-oh-oh," Mell said, taking a piece of fish and flicking it Rebekah, she dodged.
"Oi, that is disgusting," Rebekah said, jumping off the sofa and dusting herself off. "Can someone get that off the sofa, I'm not getting near it."
Blaise snorted, flicking it off. Rebekah took several napkins, wiping it down aggressively and then sat in Blaise's seat.
"Do that again and I will flick a blueberry at you,"
"Ewww!" Mell said. "No thanks. I won't now!"
The night continued with the bonfire roaring behind them. Soon enough it was around two in the morning and Snape dismissed them to their dorms, allowing fifth years and above to stay up till three. The duo of boys and trio of girls yawned their way to the dorms.
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As the morning came, the weather turned cold and bitter. Halfway through the chilly night, at around five am, Rebekah crawled out of bed and scrambled and lookedfor a warm top to continue sleeping in. It was so cold, even the top of the lake held several thin layers of ice. She shivered as she looked through her wardrobe, Emperor stood behind her in his large form and cuddled her frozen, legging-covered legs.
Finally finding one, she shifted the purple body of the oversized hoodie on and slipped the blue arms on. She almost collapsed in Emperor's warmth but waited for her bed instead.
"Excuse me, Talpey?" Rebekah said to the air, a House-Elf popped into the room.
"Yes, Miss Potter?" Talpey asked, bowing slightly at the waist. "What is it you need?"
"Can you stoke the fire please, it has turned really cold suddenly," The House-Elf did as she asked. "Thank you."
Though Rebekah tried to get back to sleep, tossing this way this minute, turning that way that minute, she gave up quickly and picked up one of her books 'From Egg to Inferno: a Dragon-Keeper's Guide', then crawled back into bed, snuggled Emperor's warm body, listened to his content purrs and began to read through the book.
Dragon mothers breathe fire on their eggs to keep them warm. They do not keep their eggs in nests. Newly born Dragons are referred to as chicks. The Dragon's first fire breaths, usually accompanied by thick grey smoke, appear when the Dragon is around six months old. However, the ability to fly is normally developed later, at around twelve months, and the Dragon will not be fully mature until it is two years old and ready to live on its own. Dragon Breeding for Pleasure and Profit states that you are to feed a baby Dragon a bucket of brandy mixed with chicken blood every half hour. This apparently serves a replacement for Dragon milk…
Rebekah finished the first seven chapters, going onto the next chapter. Mothers and their chicks, as baby Dragons were called.
The sunlight rippled with the water current, casting a strange gold and green hue across the room. The fire was calm but still radiated the warmth needed. Tchaikovsky once again played slowly. Emperor shifted, then shifted even more again before bolting from the bed and making Rebekah tumble onto her back.
"What is it, Emperor?" Rebekah stood from the bed, sliding her black spiller on. "Is someone at the doo- Oh, hello sweetheart."
Mrs Norris sat outside the door, she looked in good health until Rebekah saw the rat trap on her tail's tip. She quickly picked up the always feral cat, closed the door, placed her gently on the coffee table and went to get the First Aid Kit. Thank Merlin that Aunt Petunia insisted on it.
She used a pair of small pliers to pray the metal away, resulting in a whine from Mrs Norris. "I'm sorry, it would hurt more if I left it on." She dabbed the injury with disinfectant and heard another wince, she did not waver as she bandaged the little injury.
"Does Mr Filch know that you are, or even injured?" Rebekah picked up the cat, slipping on trainers, Emperor followed as Rebekah left the room.
"Meow." Mrs Norris tried to flick her tail, then stopped entirely as it was still painful.
"All right, okay. Let us get you back to him before he begins to worry,"
"Meow," Her thanks was not necessary.
"It is all right, at least you came to someone with any common sense of injuries," Rebekah turned into a corridor and went up the large flight of stairs.
It did not take long to find Mr Filch, he wandered the corridors endlessly but in a pattern. The pattern was obvious to anyone who paid enough attention.
"Mrs Norris!" He scrambled over quickly. "What've they done to you?"
"She had caught a rat trap on her tail, she came to me since she knew I was not a threat to her," Rebekah handed the small feline over, Mr Filch quickly took her and cuddled her. "She will be fine in a few days, you can remove the bandages around dinner time, it should be healed enough by then."
"Thank you, Miss Potter," He said, whispering to Mrs Norris for a second. "Say… Miss Potter, you know what breed your feline is?"
"No, I do not. I was encouraged to get a Familiar and this one chose me," She chuckled at the memory. "The shopkeeper almost paid me to take him."
"Meow!" Emperor shoved at her ankle lightly, making her laugh.
"I believe he is of the Kneazle variety or the like," She shrugged. "That is what I have been told. Why?"
He shook his head. "No reason, he doesn't look like a normal cat. He's a shadow."
"I do agree with that but he is who he is, even if he wakes up at the most ungodly times," Rebekah swung on her heel somewhat. "I suggest that you let Mrs Norris have a bit of rest for the next few days, keeping the injury clean and she will be just fine."
"Thank you, Miss Potter. Most of the students would have hurt her more, they might have even set the traps,"
"Do not worry, Mr Filch. I'll inform my House that these things are unforgivable," She batted her lashes, her eyes were granite rock. "I abhor animal cruelty. I best be getting back to my common room, I understand that it is still before morning curfew allowance."
"Yeah, I suggest you do that quickly before the other professors catch ya outta bed," Mr Filch, carrying Mrs Norris, walked swiftly away.
Rebekah spent most of her time in her room, going over the little book she 'borrowed' from the Restricted Area. It was quite informative on the subject and went into great detail. She was not looking forward to having a Mandrake leaf in her mouth for over a month.
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"The Antidote to Common Poisons," Snape said in his lesson. "Can also be called The Antidote for Common Poisons, is a potion which counteracts ordinary poisons, such as creature bites and stings. The method is on the board, I do hope you manage to complete this without being complete dunderheads."
They were to work on their own for this potions, and Rebekah had her textbook, pen and items orderly set out on her desk. After she crushed the Bezoar and mint sprigs to a fine powder in the mortar, adding four and two measurements of that and holly oak, honeycomb and a wild cherry seed respectively, she counted five seconds on the heat then waved her wand. It turned green. She left it for the next twenty minutes.
She crouched over her textbook, comparing it to the method on the board and realising it was different. Rebekah copied the additions and substitutions to her own book.
After twenty minutes, she quickly added in honeywater and the essence of lavender turned it two clockwise and left it for another twenty. When the time came, she, just like everyone else, added a pinch of unicorn horn, stirred twice, clockwise, added two mistletoe berries, stirred two, anticlockwise. She added the stewed Mandrake and stirred twice again anticlockwise. She finished with a wave of her wand, turning the potions a vibrant teal.
Everyone left their work alone as Snape walked around, vanishing most of them as they were not to his high, high standard. He stopped at Rebekah's, she smiled innocently.
"Well done, Miss Potter, " He summoned a dozen vials, placing them on the desk. "Vial these and have twenty points for a perfect potion. Stay after class for a moment."
"How'd you do that?" Draco looked between his murky teal concoction.
"It's like cooking, " She finished up vialing her work, her friends left. "What can I say? I like cooking."
"Miss Potter, I congratulate you on your potion," Snape said. "Is there a reason you added honeycombs to the potion? I did not write that down on the board."
"It was to thicken the potion and make it easier to administer to a patient," Rebekah answered with a shrug, pushing her hair back and smiling. "You catch more flies with honey."
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