Elysian Potter: The Forgotten Queen.

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, nor do I own the original idea for this story. All rights for the characters go to the magnificent J. K. Rowling and the original idea belongs to CharmedMilliE-Karry Master.

Elysian's Theme Song: You Should See Me In A Crown, Billie Eilish– Castle, Hasley – The Devil Within, Digital Daggers – Don't Make Me, MALINDA – Doll House, Melanie Martinez – Prom Queen, Molly Kate Kestner – Everybody's Fool, Evanescence – Control, Hasley.

Empire by Beth Crowley

Chapter Fifty-Six: The Sorting Hats new Song

The carriage ride was comfortably quiet. Daphne had her head in her book, Draco and Blaise were quietly talking about the best strategies for Quidditch and Elysian was forcing on the new sensations she was feeling from those around her. Empathy was not something she was unfamiliar with but the fact she could actually feel other peoples emotions now, thanks to her Veela side, was rather off-putting.

She could feel Draco's excitement as he went through the strategies in his head, feel Daphne's giddiness as she reached her favourite part of her book, feel Blaise' longing for the two of them to be able to talk… it made her feel like her head was exploding.

"Are you alright?" Daphne asked, seeing Elysian wince.

"Yes, just trying to get used to all these sensations," said Elysian, rubbing her head lightly. "Though the range on my empathy is rather small, it appears that I'm getting easily overwhelmed… I'll have to work on that in future."

"What do you mean range?"

"Think of it like a chess board, I'm in the middle and every square around me is someone I can feel," explained Elysian. "The more I learn and exercise it, the larger the range I'll get."

"That makes sense," nodded Blaise, settling back.

"Shouldn't your shields stop the emotions from being able to come through?"

"Nope. Turns out my Veela half requires its own shields in order to stop emotions. Sometimes I hate my life," groaned Elysian.

"The price we pay for power," chuckled Blaise.

The carriage stopped and the boys were the first to step out, turning quick to help the girls out before joining the rest of the Slytherins as they headed inside.

The Entrance Hall was ablaze with torches and echoing with footsteps as the students crossed the flagged stone floor for the double doors to the right, leading to the Great Hall and the start-of-term feast.

The four long house tables in the Great Hall were filling up under the starless black ceiling, which was just like the sky they could glimpse through the high windows. Candles floated in midair all along the tables, illuminating the silvery ghosts who were dotted about the Hall and the faces of the students talking eagerly, exchanging summer news, shouting greetings at friends from other houses, eying each others new hair cuts and robes. Again, Elysian noticed people putting their heads down and whispering as she passed, she smirked and made sure to sashay her hips, just to keep them talking.

Arriving at the Slytherin table, Elysian settled down and greeted the rest of her group. Some people were chatting about the Malfoy ball and others were speaking about the new DADA teacher.

The overwhelming amount of emotions Elysian was feeling made her feel dizzy but she did her best to ignore it. It was exhausting and her head felt like it was splitting apart but she didn't dare let it seem like it was affecting her. She had to be strong.

"Who is that?" asked a second-year, disgusted.

Her eyes followed where the second-year was pointing at the Head table. They lit first upon Dumbledore, sitting in is high-backed golden throne at the centre of the long staff table, wearing deep-purple robes scattered with silvery stars and a matching hat. Dumbledore's head was inclined towards the woman sitting next to him, who was talking into his ear.

"Her name is Madam Umbridge," said Elysian. "She works for the Ministry and is someone you do not want to attract the attention of. We met her at the Malfoy Ball and believe me when I say, written on her face is her entire personality."

Word quickly spread around the table with others swearing to tell any friends they had in other houses. Draco found it rather amusing that Elysian's words were taken as gospel and wondered if it was because of her new powers or simply because of her reputation. He didn't ask her, though, he trusted her not to use her new powers on him and besides, it wasn't as if he wasn't already on her side.

The buzz of talk in the Great Hall faded away. The first-years lined up in front of the staff table facing the rest of the students, and Professor McGonagall placed the stool carefully in front of them, then stood back.

The first-years' faces glowed palely in the candlelight. A small boy right in the middle of the row looked as though he was trembling.

The whole school waited with baited breath. Then the rip near the hat's brim opened wide like a mouth and the Sorting Hat burst into song:

In times of old when I was new

And Hogwarts barely started

The founders of our noble school

Thought never to be parted:

United by a common goal,

They had the selfsame yearning,

To make the world's best magic school

And pass along their learning.

"Together we will build and teach!"

The four good friends decided

And never did they dream that they

Might someday be divided,

For were there such friends anywhere

As Slytherin and Gryffindor?

Unless it was the second pair

Of Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw?

So how could it have gone so wrong?

How could such friendships fail?

Why, I was there and so can tell

The whole sad, sorry tale.

Said Slytherin, "We'll teach just those

Whose ancestry is purest."

Said Ravenclaw, "We'll teach those whose

Intelligence is surest."

Said Gryffindor, "We'll teach all those

With brave deeds to their name,"

Said Hufflepuff, "I'll teach the lot,

And treat them just the same."

These differences caused little strife

When first they came to light,

For each of the four founders had

A House in which they might

Take only those they wanted, so,

For instance, Slytherin

Took only pure-blood wizards

Of great cunning, just like him,

And only those of sharpest mind

Were taught by Ravenclaw

While the bravest and the boldest

Went to daring Gryffindor.

Good Hufflepuff, she took the rest,

And taught them all she knew,

Thus the Houses and their founders

Retained friendships firm and true.

So Hogwarts worked in harmony

For several happy years,

But then discord crept among us

Feeding on our faults and fears.

The Houses that, like pillars four,

Had once held up our school,

Now turned upon each other and,

Divided, sought to rule.

And for a while it seemed the school

Must meet an early end,

What with dueling and with fighting

And the clash of friend on friend

And at last there came a morning

When old Slytherin departed

And though the fighting then died out

He left us quite downhearted.

And never since the founders four

Were whittled down to three

Have the Houses been united

And they once were meant to be.

And now the Sorting Hat is here

And you all know the score:

I sort you into Houses

Because that is what I'm for,

But this year I'll go further,

Listen closely to my song:

Though condemned I am to split you

Still I worry that it's wrong,

Though I must fulfill my duty

And must quarter every year

Still I wonder whether sorting

May not bring the end I fear.

Oh, know the perils, read the signs,

The warning history shows,

For our Hogwarts is in danger

From external, deadly foes

And we must unite inside her

Or we'll crumble from within.

I have told you, I have warned you...

Let the Sorting now begin.

The Hat became motionless once more; applause broke out, though it was punctured, for the first time in Elysian's memory, with muttering and whispers. All across the Great Hall students were exchanging remarks with their neighbours, and Elysian, clapping along with everyone else, knew exactly what they were talking about.

The Blood Baron floated towards them from the Hufflepuff table – he had been frightening some known trouble-makers for fun – and remained at the empty space at the end of the Slytherin table.

"Does the Hat usually give out warnings?" asked Elysian, knowing the Baron would be straight with her.

"Indeed," groaned the Blood Baron. "He feels it's his duty to inform the school should something be going wrong."

McGonagall began reading out the names which caused everyone to become silent. Like usual, they clapped and cheered when someone new entered their house and was rather proud at how many new commers there were.

"To our newcomers," said Dumbledore in a ringing voice, his arms stretched wide and a beaming smile on his lips, "welcome! To our old hands – welcome back! There is a time for speechmaking, but this is not it. Tuck in!"

That was all Dumbledore needed to say as soon the food appeared in front of them and everyone was quick to devour it. The chatting began once more and the noise of the Great Hall increased exponentially.

"I wonder why Professor McGonagall supports Dumbledore so much," said Astoria thoughtfully. "She must know some of the horrible things he's done… that being said, why does anyone support him?"

"People learn to love their chains," said Elysian, patting Astoria's head gently. "Besides, there are those among Dumbledore's ranks who are not there of their own free will. Perhaps McGonagall is one of them, or she's in love with him."

"Ew! I don't want to think about that," hissed Astoria, obviously disgusted.

Those who had heard her chuckled at her childishness as they continued eating. It was refreshing to have an innocent person voice their thoughts, especially when they had no idea the true extent of what they were speaking about.

"Well, now that we are all digesting another magnificent feast, I beg a few more moments of your attention for the usual start-of-term notices," said Dumbledore.

Elysian was practically comatose from the combination of food and emotions all around her so she barely paid attention to what Dumbledore was saying. Even when Umbridge stood to speak, Elysian couldn't quite focus on the words, too consumed with the headache she was probably going to need a potion for.

She only knew the feast was over when Blaise gently took her arm and pulled her along to her dormitory. He was happy to hand her over to Daphne and Tracy to get her into bed while he went to get Professor Snape for some potions.

"Are you alright?" asked Daphne, quietly.

"I feel like my head is cracking," grumbled Elysian. "This price I pay for power…"

"Now, now Lady Potter," said Professor Snape, entering the room with a potion in hand. "You're lucky the Dark Lord informed me of what you were doing so that I could make sure to take care of you."

Snape convincingly left out the part where the Dark Lord ordered him to keep an eye on Elysian throughout the year and report back to him periodically but she didn't need to know that.

Two potions were forced down her throat before she finally fell asleep.

"Will she be alright?" asked Tracy.

"Sadly, these headaches will persist until her Veela half develops the necessary shields to protect her from it."

"Is there anything we can do?" asked Daphne. "A potion everyone in Slytherin can take to stop her feeling our emotions? Just until she gets the hang of her new power. We really kind of need her… especially with this Umbridge woman lurking about."

"I shall see what I can do. For now, you simply must remain calm around her and try not to feel any emotion in the extremes."

"Yes, sir."

"Goodnight, Heiress Greengrass, Heiress Davis."