1.5 In the Company of Others
Within days the non-verbal harassment drove the Slytherin's into further isolation. Even with Headmistress McGonagall's talk on the second evening regarding the mistreatment of any student by a student; the situation did not change. If anything, after several students received detention, it made the tormentors more scrupulous in their methods of harassing the Slytherin's. Third year Slytherin, Lewis Bixby, often accidentally fell when he passed certain fifth year boys. It had become so bad the teacher's patrolled corridors between classes to ensure the Slytherin students made it to classes safely.
No matter how many times discipline was threatened, students found sneakier ways to punish the Slytherin's. For the most part, Lorna kept to herself. Regina and Bree had made it clear from the start, they wanted nothing to do with her or Vivian and their alliance with Robin and Conrad, further isolated Lorna. This however proved to have benefits as for both Lorna and Vivian, with most students venting their anger on the four first years, leaving her and Vivian alone. Vivian remained aloft, never entering in conversation with them again after the first day. It didn't bother Lorna, accustomed to her own company.
Lorna was yet to form any attachment to any of the girls in her dormitory. Regina and Bree had a strong relationship Lorna discovered didn't have room for anyone else. Not that she minded, there was something sinister about their manner and the way they behaved. Lorna found it easier to ignore then rather than understand what it was they were up to.
Gannon Mancini, a second year Slytherin seemed to be taking it all in his stride. The most friendly of all Slytherin's, Gannon's inclusion in the Slytherin house often astounded Lorna. From a long line of Slytherin's, Gannon came from one of the few families not involved with the death eaters.
"It had more to do with my family being selfish, than anything else. We're passionate about the dark arts but we hate sharing what we know. It's to do with our Italian heritage." Gannon told Lorna the first time he'd found her doing homework alone in the common room. He'd taken it upon himself to be her mentor. Not that Lorna needed one, but she soon realised Gannon made every effort to talk to all Slytherin's whether they wanted to talk to him or not. Lorna welcomed his company when he sometimes joined her. Their conversations were never long, but the time was enough to keep Lorna in the loop with what was going on around her.
Their first lesson of Defence Against the Dark Arts they attended, they were with Hufflepuff. When they entered the classromm, it was then they also discovered the empty portrait against the back wall of the classroom. Several Hufflepuff students stood around staring at the blank frame.
"Professor Lupin." One of the Hufflepuff girls responded to the questioning look of her friend beside her.
Lorna and Vivian both stood behind to stare at the empty portrait.
"I wonder where he is?" Another Hufflepuff student asked. There were several shrugs before Professor Norefault entered the classroom and instructed the students to be seated.
Lorna and Vivian took the remaining table at the back and retrieved their books. Although they were yet to speak to each other, Lorna was grateful Vivian chose to sit with her during their lessons. Her wild appearance frightened most around her and this gave Lorna a level of immunity.
As Professor Norefault instructed them to open their books, Lorna noted Vivian's head turning towards the empty portrait. She understood the fascination; the new portraits dotted around the castle had been much of the conversations since the first day. But of the twenty, there were three that stood out.
There had been much talk about the nature of the portraits. Very few were ever instilled with the wisdom of those painted. Yet, the three to now reside at Hogwarts seemed to go beyond the many other portraits around the castle. Their knowledge was deemed too valuable to lose and these witches and wizards went to great means to ensure their memories lived on.
One in particular, of Fred Weasley, located at the entrance of the Headmistresses office cause much concern. Lorna had over heard several Slytherins discuss the mischief Fred Weasley had been creating for the staff and students. Now responsible for access to the Headmistresses office, Fred Weasley took his responsibilities far too seriously. Yet the complaints did not change the fact Fred Weasley had set himself up a nice opportunity within Hogwarts.
At the end of class, Vivian dawdled, her gaze still intent on Professor Lupin's empty portrait. Lorna waited until Vivian realised she was there and joined her as they left for their next class.
Friday evening during dinner Professor Slughorn approached the Slytherin table and suggested they remain after dinner for the last information session being given regarding the battle at Hogwarts. There had been discussions in the Slytherin common room about these sessions but none had been keen to attend.
"Will you stay?" Gannon asked at his place beside Lorna.
"I'd be interested to hear what they have to say. If only to write home and tell my father."
"Most of us were here. I don't see why we need to be retold." Jackson joined in the conversation.
"I think it's more about what happened after. To the school and those who died." Matilda added.
At the clearing of the table all the Slytherin's stood and departed. It surprised Lorna even the other first years chose not to stay.
"Don't feel pressured to stay." Gannon told her.
"I'm not but I am curious. I'll let you know if anything interesting is said."
Gannon nodded and left with the other second years.
As the only Slytherin to remain, Professor Slughorn seemed somewhat disappointed, yet delighted to have Lorna there.
"You won't be disappointed." He told Lorna. "There's be many happenings at the school, all worth learning about. Come sit with me."
Lorna realised her mistake in staying but it was too late to leave. Reluctantly she followed Professor Slughorn to join another thirty students in a circle set out near the head table.
As she sat down, Professor Slughorn asked, "What do your parents do, Lorna?"
She'd done her best to avoid questions regarding her father. Although he worked with the Death Eaters, his position during the Dark Lords reign had been questioned many times and his life threatened on many occasions. Lorna wanted her father the opportunity to work within his profession without difficulties. Unsure if sharing with Professor Slughorn was a good decision, Lorna murmured quietly, "My mother died when I was young. My father owns Borgin and Burkes."
For a moment, Professor Slughorn said nothing, then his back became rigid and stared down a Lorna in recognition.
"Your father is Boris Borgin?" The professor asked with surprised interest.
"Yes." Lorna replied.
"I had no idea he had a daughter, let alone married. Visited his business a few times in the past. Interesting man."
"Thank you. He is."
"Perhaps I could persuade you to join me one evening for a chat."
Lorna inwardly cringed. The thought of being alone with Professor Slughorn, discussing her family, was not something she was inclined to do.
"I have a small group of students I entertain one evening a week. I'd be delighted if you would join us."
"Thank you for the invitation Professor Slughorn. I'll think it over and get back to you."
Lorna could think of no excuse to not go and hoped her reply would suffice until she could think of one.
"Yes, of course."
At that moment, Headmistress McGonagall came to sit at the head of the circle.
"Thank you all for coming. I'll take questions first and fill in the rest along the way."
Lorna returned to the Slytherin common room an hour later. The mystery behind the front doors and stairs became clear. The castle itself had not allowed anyone to repair them. Not even the greatest wizard or witches could repair the damage within the front foyer. For unknown reasons, the castle refused to allow this to happen. However the remaining areas still being repaired would soon be ready for classes once more. There was a question regarding the house-elves, and they were informed none had died during the battle and all were safe.
The most interesting thing to come from the session was the addition of a monument currently under construction. To be located within the entrance of Hogwarts gates, it was said to be one of the largest ever created and would commemorate those who fought to protect Hogwarts. This information the Slytherins had yet learned as Lorna was sure they'd have talked about it. In the common room, Slytherins were gathered in small groups. Unsure where she should go, it was Gannon who caught her attention and called her over. As she passed the first years, minus Vivian, none acknowledge her presence.
"Take a seat." Gannon told Lorna, moving over on the deep green sofa he shared with Jackson. "How'd you go? Boring."
Lorna sat between the two boys, unsure how to respond.
Neema and Matilda sat across from her on an identical sofa and another second year boy she was yet to be introduced to, sat on the armchair between the two sofas. Lorna's gaze drifted to the boy.
"You haven't met Leroy yet, have you?" Matilda asked.
"Leroy Grey, Lorna Borgin."
Lorna often observed Leroy around but always found him buried in a book. His profile was appealing and Lorna found she too was drawn to his presence like many other students. His dark short cropped hair, neat eyebrows and pointed nose complimented his clear complexion. As Leroy glanced up his eyes caught Lorna's and a strange sensation overcame her. Sharp black eyes reached into the depths of her body as a paralysing fear gripped her heart. Unable to move or break eye contact, it was Jackson who drew Lorna's gaze away.
"Borgin, why does that name sound familiar? I thought that at the sorting ceremony as well."
The disorientation Lorna experience went unnoticed by all around her. Unsure what had happened, when Leroy spoke, she was reluctant to glance directly at him, fear still edging around the surface of her skin. "Your father owns Borgin and Burkes?"
Lorna gazed at the book on Leroy's lap, her hands clenched around the strap of her satchel. "Yes. He does. You've been there before?"
"No. But my father has on several occasions. He has a good relationship with your father and speaks highly of him."
Leroy's calm voice had Lorna questioning her behaviour as a burst of pride shot through her making her to forget what she'd experienced. Yet she remained wary.
"Thank you. With the difficult times we've seen, there has not been a lot of good spoken with regard to my father." Lorna fumble the strap of her bag, noting the others watching her.
"Such a shame, all this business really. One can only hope the generations to come don't make similar mistakes."
"Yes. One can hope." Lorna replied.
Leroy returned to his book as though the conversation never took place and Lorna squirmed uncomfortably in her seat.
"You get use to him." Jackson said, sitting between Lorna and Leroy. "Not much of a go getter but he tries."
Leroy's brows creased, but he did not glance up.
"Anyway, how did you go upstairs?" Jackson asked, ignoring Leroy.
"They're building a monument." Lorna told them.
"A what!" Jackson asked. "A monument - of what?"
"People, who fought in the battle. Apparently it's to be the largest monument ever created. They're going to put it within the entrance of Hogwarts."
"Unbelievable." Jackson replied, rolling his eyes. "That's going to go down well."
"I bet it will include Harry Potter." Matilda said.
"Of course they will." Neema replied. "Why wouldn't they. The supposed greatest wizard of all time. The destroyer of the Dark Lord. I heard they were planning a bronze statue somewhere in London. Not that the muggles will see it but we'll be reminded of it for the rest of our lives."
"Did they say when it would be installed?" Gannon asked.
"Sometime before the end of the school year. They have several artists working on it. Also, the repairs on the dark tower and the transfiguration courtyard are almost complete but still a few more weeks before the astronomy tower is ready for use."
"Not sure why they bothered with the dark tower. It rarely gets used, and only last year to detain those who worked against the Headmaster. It won't ever be used again." Jackson said.
"It's one of Filch's favourite places. He likely badgered the Headmistress to have it repaired." Gannon replied.
Across the common room, Lorna saw Vivian return. It hadn't gone unnoticed by her the times Vivian wandered off on her own. No one else seemed to have noticed her behaviour and Lorna had been reluctant to say anything given they had barely spoken to each other. Once Vivian vanished towards the dormitories, Lorna excused herself. Back down in the bedroom, Vivian readied herself for the bathroom and Lorna asked, "Would you mind if I joined you?"
After she spoke she realised how creepy her question sounded and dropped her head so her hair covered her face. A defence mechanism Lorna found she relied on the longer she remained at Hogwarts and one that bothered her.
"Sure." Vivian replied.
Her response came as a surprise and Lorna immediately tucked her hair back over her shoulders and gathered her items as Vivian waited. They walked silently towards the bathroom and Lorna let out a sigh of relief to discover they were the only two there.
"It's nice not to have to fight for space." Vivian said.
"Yes. Do you have that problem at home?" Lorna asked.
"No. I'm an only child."
"So am I."
Silence fell and they both bathed without talking again. Upon their return to the bedroom, both Regina and Bree were getting ready to use the bathroom. They ignored Lorna and Vivian as they left and Lorna thought to say something to Vivian but she was already in bed, facing away from Lorna.
For a moment Lorna stared at Vivian, her mess of curly hair remained unbrushed and when she woke the following morning it would once more be wild. Not confident enough to say anything, Lorna climbed into bed, and lay awake long after Regina and Bree returned to bed.
.
.
Useless end note: Not at any time was this story going to be romance. They're kids.