Chapter Ten-To Hogwarts We Go
It was the day before Hogwarts started, and I'd finally caught up with the first year information. My brain felt swollen and cramped with all the information. I loved Potions and had a knack for it, but it was the "foolish wand waving", as Snape called it, that I adored. It gave me such a rush of excitement when my wand transfigured something, or cast a charm of any sorts. I supposed it was the feeling of being deprived of magic for so long I was obsessed with it.
Hermione would have been proud to know that I was curled up on the armchair, reading ahead for second year. Snape hadn't let me bring my pillow to rest my elbow on while I read, but I'd nagged him into letting me drink hot chocolate.
Yes, in summer.
The fire in the fireplace blazed green. It was the first time I'd seen Snape's fireplace have a Floo call. It still made me a little upset that when I'd snuck off to Diagon Alley I hadn't been able to take this one, as the Floo was warded from everyone except for a select few.
Apparently one of them was Dumbledore, because he stepped out of the fireplace gracefully, in bright blue robes and a swishy white beard. He beamed at me, and I gave a nervous little wave. In his hands, he carried a ratty looking hat. Pathetic-looking, really.
"Headmaster," Snape inclined his head. "I take it that-" he paused, realizing he still didn't know what to call me. Looking as if he was swallowing a lemon, he continued. "-Rowan must try on the Sorting Hat?"
"The Sorting Hat," I gasped, hurtling to my feet and sending the book tumbling to the ground, flinching at Snape's bark of anger as the book smashed spine-damagingly into the carpet. "I heard about this. Slytherin, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw. Snap-Professor Snape's head of Slytherin."
"Wonderful!" Dumbledore looked delighted, and I beamed, his happiness contagious. "Take a seat on the armchair."
I took a deep breath. This was happening. I was being sorted. I would officially be a Hogwarts student.
A ratty hat would determine my future.
But then again, little elves worked in the kitchen and fire turned green. Fair enough. I sat down on the armchair, and a floppy hat drooped down on me.
"Oh, ho! A second year!" The hat shrieked in delight.
I screamed so loud Snape grimaced, and leapt to my feet, knocking the hat off. Dumbledore chuckled lightly as I tried to calm my breaths.
"The hat is talking to me." I said. "It's talking to me."
"Hence, magic," Snape growled, placing a finger on his ear.
"Right. Sorry." I blew out a huff of air, and picked up the hat, which was complaining about being dropped. "Sorry...hat."
"Quite alright," the hat said, frazzled. I put it back on me and sat down.
Wonderful, wonderful...The hat mused. Incredibly loyal, I see. But not without reason. Intelligent, as well-no...wait...not intelligence.
"What?" I asked hotly. "What do you mean, not intelligence!"
More of a cleverness, The hat chuckled lightly. And you can talk to me in your mind.
"How is that even possible?"
Magic.
"Oh, thank you so much," I muttered sarcastically. "Incredibly helpful."
Come now, the hat urged. Try it.
Hi, I thought tentatively.
Hello, the hat laughed. Now, where to Sort you?
"Wow," I breathed.
You've met Mr. Potter, I see. Climbed his window. Courageous or foolish? A little bit of both...but you think on your feet very well. That's a good trait for Slytherin.
"No!" I exclaimed, and Snape and Dumbledore both stared. I flushed. "I mean-"I mean, no.
Don't let young Mr. Weasley put thoughts in your head, the hat chided gently. Slytherin is a wonderful House.
But...loyalty is Hufflepuff.
The hat smiled in my mind. Yes, but you only stick by those you trust. Almost like a pack. Another Slytherin trait sometimes, as other Houses sometimes gang up against them.
Snape tapped his foot impatiently. Dumbledore hummed and ate a lemon drop.
Of course, the choice is always yours. Always. The hat said, almost reluctantly.
I frowned. I'd wanted to prove myself wrong. But...I could prove Ron wrong in Slytherin. The look on his face when he saw how wrong he'd been despite my House…
"SLYTHERIN!" The voice echoed in both my ears and my mind.
Dumbledore nodded pleasantly, and Snape rolled his eyes. I detected a smirk, but he smoothed his face out quickly.
I pulled off the hat. "So much for that 'choice' rubbish, then, hm, Hat?"
The hat gave a twitch that might have been a shrug. "Your resolve was crumbling. You would 'prove Mr. Weasley wrong', hm?"
"Yeah," I said, almost defiantly. "I'm going to be the best Slytherin there is and Ron can go stuff it."
The hat bowed approvingly. "You do that."
I grinned. I couldn't wait to put on my robes, in fact-"Oh, excuse me, really quickly, sorry!"
I darted to my room and pulled out my Hogwarts robes that had arrived a few days before, as well as my first year supplies. The black tie quickly became green, and a Slytherin crest formed on my robes.
It was official. I was in. Really, really, in.
O-O
"We are taking the Floo," Snape said sternly. "Take my arm."
"You should just open up the wards for me," I offered tentatively.
"And have you sneak off again?" Snape retorted, thrusting his arm up.
"Oh, come on," I grumbled. "I'm sorry."
"That you were caught," Snape raised his eyebrow.
"No!" I protested, taking his arm. He took some Floo powder. "Well, I mean-kind of, but-"
"As I thought," Snape said, victorious. He tossed in the fire and we stepped in. "Malfoy Manor, East Wing, Fireplace Twelve!"
They have multiple Wings? I thought, bewildered at Draco's wealth. I'd been in a couple mansions, and the Masons had a bigger-than-average house, but we didn't have Wings. I'd had a chandelier and a walk-in closet, but no Wing.
Side-Along Floo was weird. I had something to grasp as everything else in the world flew and spun, and I clung to Snape's arm, dizzy. He stepped out, and I stumbled through, nearly toppling over.
There was a loud cough that mixed with a laugh, and I looked up to see Draco snorting and failing to conceal it miserably next to his calm, slightly intimidating father.
"Lucius," Snape said coolly, releasing my arm. I remembered what he'd said. From now on you are a distant relative from my mother's side. The Princes.
I tried not to look too miserable.
Mr. Malfoy nodded once. "Severus," he greeted.
Snape inclined his head, nodded curtly at me, and vanished through the Floo. Draco smirked at me.
"Rowan," Mr. Malfoy said, emotionless. His eyes turned interestedly.
"Mr. Malfoy," I smiled a little, nervous. "Er-thank you for taking me to the train."
"Of course," Mr. Malfoy smirked, a slow curve of his lips. "Draco, entertain our guest until it is time to leave."
I didn't have a watch, but as soon as Draco and I were out of sight he informed me we only really had thirty minutes.
"Blimey," I looked around. "What do you do if you really need the bathroom and it's on the other side of the mansion?"
"Manor," Draco corrected with an eye roll, leading me to his room. "And house elves can pop us anywhere we like here." Idiot, the last word was implied.
His bedroom was enormous. There was a bed that looked to be about four king sized beds, and silky silver pillows scattered neatly across it. The headrest had a large mirror, bordered green and silver.
"Proud of your house?" I asked, noticing the colors were the same as my Slytherin crest and tie.
Draco nodded smugly. "Slytherin is the best of all four houses, of course."
I laughed. "I'm in Slytherin."
"Well, of course you are." Draco said, unsurprised.
"What does that mean?" I demanded.
Draco frowned. "It means what it sounds like. Snape is the head of Slytherin; of course you'd be a perfect Slytherin."
"But all my other friends are Gryffindors. Will I even see them?" I asked. Draco scowled darkly.
The word Slytherin was starting to leave a bad taste in my mouth, and I didn't like that I was ashamed of my House.
Before I could say anything else, Draco had pulled out a broom from his closet. He led me outside the manor.
"Flying?" I asked him. He nodded curtly, and flew off.
I stared after him, a speck darting around in the enormous field, and waited for him to come back.
He did. Ten minutes later.
I had my knees drawn up, and I was sitting under a tree for shade, tired from calling him. He landed swiftly.
"Why'd you invite me if you don't even want to hang out with me?" I asked him, a little angry.
"I don't want to," he sneered a little. "My father wants me to have good connections."
I stared, stung, my voice rising a little. Draco had been perfectly fine in his letters. "What's your problem?"
"My problem is that if you even want me to acknowledge you, you'll drop your Gryffindorks."
"They're my friends!" I stood, upset.
"You're a Slytherin disgrace," Draco snapped.
I glared viciously. "And your IQ is so low you don't even seem to have one. What makes you think you get to decide who my friends are? Who are you?"
"You're just a filthy halfblood!" Draco shouted angrily.
I stood, paralyzed with anger and confusion.
"What is that?" I asked abruptly.
"A what?" Draco sneered.
"A half-blood."
"An impure witch or wizard," Draco mocked. "Of low intelligence like yourself. At least you aren't a mudblood."
"You called Hermione that," I realized. "What is 'impure'?"
"It's when your family line is dirtied by muggles," Draco sneered.
"That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard," I retorted. "And how do you know I'm a half blood?"
"You don't act anywhere like a pure blood," Draco stuck his nose into the air. "And-and I can't imagine inviting you to my Manor if you were a mudblood," he admitted.
"Stop it." I frowned. "Don't say that word."
"What-" Draco smirked. "Mudblood? Dirty, filthy mudblood?"
"I grew up with muggles," I said angrily. "And they are the kindest people I know."
"It's not about kindness," Draco gave me an exasperated look. "It's about their impurity. They aren't fit to wipe our shoes, Rowan."
I turned away from him before I lost it and punched him in the face, stalking back to the tree and sitting down. After a moment, Draco joined me, but didn't sit.
"You're getting grass stains on your clothes," he motioned to my robes, which I was wearing so I didn't have to change when I got on the train.
"I don't care," I said shortly, glancing up at him. I sighed. "Look, can we just-agree to disagree, or something?"
"Fine," Draco said, equally short. He offered his hand and I took it, standing up. He smirked at me. "But I'm right, you know."
"Don't start," I warned him, but my mouth twitched. He called for a house-elf to bring us another broom, and I was up in the air, slowly but steadily.
"How are you ever going to fly well if you won't try anything?" Draco demanded, swerving around to face me. I squeaked as his broom nearly jammed into mine, but he jerked his broom up. "Stop being so panicky, I'm not going to hit you!"
"I can't help it!" I glared. "This is only my third time on a broom!"
"You just aren't a natural," Draco tossed his head, which was actually ineffective as his hair was superglued to his head.
"You're just a natural at making friends, aren't you," I said sarcastically, steadying my broom.
"We aren't friends," Draco insisted. "Slytherins don't have friends, they have allies."
"Let's get something straight here, James Bond," I laughed. "Sometimes you can just have friends, okay?"
He watched me with something in his eyes as I flew a lap around him. "Your muggle sayings are puzzling."
"I'm not your ally," I said with a soft grin. "I don't want anything from you but your friendship."
"You're the first one."
O-O
"What's that?" I pointed to the field below us, at a tiny speck hopping up and down frantically.
Draco looked down, swerving around in his broom quickly, and cursed. He flattened his broom and dived to the ground. I followed at a hesitantly, slower speed.
It was a house-elf, wringing its hands in panic. "Master Malfoy is most displeased, Young Master! Master Malfoy is sayings they is running late if Young Masters is not hurrying! You is late for ten minutes!"
Draco tossed his broom at the house elf and raced inside, his dignity the only thing keeping him from sprinting. I gave my broom to the house elf and followed him. I found him where I'd last seen Mr. Malfoy.
"We are almost late now, because of you? Did it not occur to you to stay in an easy place to be called, Draco?" Mr. Malfoy hissed at Draco, and I quickly slid out of the room, listening.
Draco's voice was timid and a little afraid, something I'd never heard before. "I-I apologize, Father."
I bit my lip hard.
"Disappointing," Mr. Malfoy jeered. "My own son, the brains of Goyle and Crabbe."
I didn't know what that meant, but Draco didn't speak, and so I clacked my feet loudly to indicate my arrival before entering. Mr. Malfoy was already standing with a cool mask over his face, as was Draco, his own emotionless facade slightly less effective.
"We must hurry," Mr. Malfoy said coolly. "Robes off."
"Why are we taking off our robes?" I asked Draco, pulling off my robes as I asked. I was wearing the Hogwarts uniform underneath as well, but without the robes I just looked like a boarding school girl.
Draco rolled his eyes as Mr. Malfoy shrunk our robes for us so we could fit them in our pockets. "The train is in Muggle London at Kings' Cross." He sneered. "Should change the location if you ask me." He said this particularly loud with a glance at his father, but his father didn't even spare him a glance.
I looked down at my shirt and skirt, the green tie hanging down from my neck. Even though the Masons had brought all my belongings over to Hogwarts, I still preferred my leather boots over everything else. They were easier to run with-I doubted all my dresses would be used here.
"Take my arms, both of you," Mr. Malfoy said, pocketing his wand. He checked his watch and held out both arms. Draco and I both took an arm gently, and he apparated.
I hated Apparition. It was the worst feeling in the world, and I staggered away as the Malfoys straightened in dignity. Bile rose to my throat again, and I swallowed hard, standing up straight and trying to regain my balance,
"Sorry," I gasped. "Just-give me a moment." The dizziness faded, and my stomach ceased its swirling.
Mr. Malfoy raised an eyebrow, eyes as silver and cold as Draco's. As soon as I could breath normally, he gave a curt nod and strode away.
"Oh, Merlin." Draco breathed. "A quarter to eleven. We might miss the train-hurry."
I remembered, through reading Hogwarts, a History, that to get to Hogwarts you had to go through the wall between Platform 9 and Platform 10. I didn't understand how exactly muggles managed to ignore hundreds of people disappearing through a brick wall every year, but I knew Snape would quirk his eyebrow at me and say it's called magic if I asked.
I hurried after Draco, stopping in front of the platform.
"Rowan!"
"Harry?" I turned around, flinging my arms around the raven-haired boy, who had two seconds to push his trolley out of the way before I lunged into it. "Fred, George!" I let go of Harry and started to give them a hug before I thought better of it and glanced suspiciously at them in case of a prank. Ginny beamed as I hugged her. Busy greeting the rest of the Weasleys, I nearly forgot about Mr. Malfoy and Draco.
"Rowan," Mr. Malfoy placed a hand on my shoulder. "Come, we'll be late."
"I'm sure Rowan can stay with us," Mrs. Weasley said fiercely, wrapping me in a hug and tugging me away. Mr. Malfoy glared. "Our children are going the same place, Lucius."
"Of course," Mr. Malfoy sneered. "More children in the litter than you can afford." He strode through the wall, and Draco followed hastily, dragging his trunk along.
Ginny swallowed nervously, the gulp audible.
"Oh, Percy first!" said Mrs. Weasley, looking nervously at the clock overhead, which showed they had only five minutes to disappear casually through the barrier.
Percy strode briskly forward and vanished. Mr. Weasley went next; Fred and George followed.
"I'll take Ginny and you three come right after us," Mrs. Weasley told Harry and Ron, grabbing Ginny's hand and setting off. In the blink of an eye they were gone.
"Shoot," I swore loudly. "We've got about a minute." Petting Hedwig through her cage, I stood behind the boys.
"I'll be right behind you two," I told Ron and Harry, who nodded and held their trolleys tight. We strode towards the wall, and broke into a run, adrenaline pumping in my head as it got closer, it looked really solid, wouldn't it hit us-
CRASH.
Gasping, I slammed into Ron as the trolleys jammed backwards, Hedwig screeching. We all tumbled to the ground, my palms slapping the ground hard.
"Why," I gasped, as Harry stuttered excuses to the guard. "Did it not work?"
"Dunno," Ron heaved himself up as I climbed to my feet. Harry put his trolley to the wall and shoved, the wall not giving way. "Oh, no," Ron said with dread, pointing at the big clock. "The train…"
The three of us turned to stare at the seconds ticking by...ten...nine..eight…
"Push!" I said frantically, throwing myself at the wall. A small tendril of fear wrapped inside me. Could it be that...I wasn't magical enough? Was that why I was a year late? Was that why the gateway had sealed itself upon my entrance?
Three...two…
One.
"It's gone," said Ron, sounding stunned. "The train's left. What if Mum and Dad can't get back through to us? Have you got any Muggle money?"
Harry gave a hollow laugh. "The Dursleys haven't given me pocket money for about six years."
"None," I shook my head. "Snape wouldn't give me any for candy on the train."
"Course," Ron muttered. "He's as sweet as a vomit flavored bean."
"Okay," I took several panicking breaths. "You two stay here, alright? I'll go and see if I can find a telephone anywhere and someone kind enough to lend me money."
"Why do we have to stay?" Ron asked, staring at the clock still. Harry petted Hedwig in an attempt to calm her down.
"Because the Weasleys might come back this way," I said firmly. "I'll be right back, alright?"
"Who says we have to listen to you?" Ron demanded. "It's your first year here and it just so happens that the wall seals-"
"Shut up! Just shut up!" I shouted, pressing two hands to my ears, shaking. Ron froze, shocked.
I took a deep breath. "Just-I'll be right back."
Pushing down the thoughts in my head, I turned to the nearest guard, standing between Platforms 4 and 5. "Excuse me, sir? Do you know where the nearest telephone booth is?"
"Right that way," The guard pointed, puffing his chest out proudly. I thanked him and headed to the booth, checking the machine for any extra money first.
Shaken, I pushed my fingers in to check for money. It was empty, and I stood there, trying to calm myself.
I couldn't believe I'd shouted at Ron. But it only made sense...the platform wouldn't open for me because I was-what had Draco said?-a half blood? Did it work for Hermione? Was she just more magical?
It's your first year here and it just so happens that the wall seals.
Five dejected minutes later, I dragged myself back to Platform 9 and 10, hoping Harry and Ron had gotten more luck.
But...they were gone.
As in...not even there.
Missing.
Their trolleys, Hedwig...all gone.
At first I panicked, thinking something had happened, and I put a hand where my wand was.
But how could they have been taken if their trolleys had been taken with them? And have hundreds of muggles not notice a thing?
A roar of hurt rushed into my ears, and I flushed red. I knew Ron didn't like me, and that maybe they both found me just a little annoying when I ordered them around, but they'd just left. And...Harry?
No matter how mean they'd been at times, the two boys didn't seem like the type of people to abandon.
And yet they had.
It just seemed so cruel of them. Were they laughing right now at the stupid prank they'd played on the stupid Slytherin?
Slumping to the ground, I pulled my knees up and waited for them to come back. I waited there for hours on end, until the muggle population dimmed a little, rush hour over.
Why couldn't I ever do anything right?
I stared at the brick wall, and it blurred a little. I swiped at my eyes, confused, but there were no tears. The brick wall was...shimmering.
It glimmered and wavered like a mirage or a reflection for several minutes, before fading. I took a cautious step forward as I stood up.
Mr. Malfoy stepped out, eyes cold and gray like always. His mouth set into a surprised thin line when he saw me. "Rowan. You're still here?"
"Yes," I admitted. "Please, sir-I don't know what happened. I couldn't get through the barrier. And then just now, it started shimmering, and after a while you came."
Sounding pleased, Mr. Malfoy smirked. "Severus will be grateful that I found you, then."
Oh, no.
Snape had a debt to Mr. Malfoy now. He owed this cunning, sly man something. I swallowed and took Mr. Malfoy's arm. We disapparated as soon as muggles weren't looking.
It was a quick process-we went to the Manor, my robes were put on after being enlarged, and then I was allowed to use the Floo to Snape's quarters. I wasn't sure if he'd warded me out, but when I went through I realized I'd only been warded in and not out.
Well, fine. Ron and Harry wouldn't ruin my first real day here. I would go to the Great Hall, and I would look the two of them in the eye and smirk, and-
I had no idea where the Great Hall was.
Snape was probably there, enjoying the food with the students and teachers. He was probably scowling as the Sorting Hat sorted each first-year into Gryffindor, and smirking viciously as it sorted Slytherins.
I turned to the door, and pulled it open to Snape's office.
The bookshelves had gradually been replaced by potions jars as term had gotten closer and closer, but other than that it looked the same. The fireplace was lit for the first time.
But Snape was there. And so was a woman with a tight bun that hurt my head just looking at it.
And so was-
"Harry, Ron?" I asked in bewilderment, shutting the door behind me. The woman and Snape spun around at the same time, and Snape swooped in, his face furious.
"Can you not," he snarled. "do one thing right? Must you lose yourself on the train? Can I not trust you with something as simple as that?"
I'd stepped back until I hit the door, eyes wide. Harry and Ron stared with equally wide eyes.
"Severus," the woman said sharply.
"Technically," I said feebly. "I didn't make it to the train?"
This made Snape swell horribly, but I couldn't care right now. No matter how hurt I was-
"Harry-Ron-" I dove towards them and wrapped my arms around both of them, shaking, hard. "I didn't-I thought you'd-"
"We thought we lost you," Harry breathed.
"You know what I'm losing?" Ron said. "My ability to breath."
"You just disa-" Anger rushed through me and I let go of them both, furious. I gave Harry a hard push and he stumbled back. "You two ruddy idiots! Where did you go?"
Snape looked as if Christmas had come. He watched in glee. I turned abruptly to grab the newspaper on the table and threw it at Ron. "You just left me there! And to think I was going mad, worrying about you, and you show up completely safe-"
"Miss Snape!" The woman shouted. "Control yourself!"
I pointed a finger at the two insufferable pricks. "I was with them at the platform, and I tried to help them, and they just disappeared!"
"That's not what happened!" Harry said, his eyes bright and green.
"Then what happened, Harry bloody Potter?" I demanded, pushing him again.
"I-stop pushing me!"
"No, I don't-I don't want to hear it!" I shook my head furiously. "You and your stupid excuses!"
"SIT DOWN!" The woman shouted, so loud the potion jars rattled.
Stunned, Harry and Ron sat. I stopped talking.
"I want an explanation," The woman said. "Now."
"Professor Mcgonagall, it wasn't our fault," Ron said breathlessly.
Oh, her. The Head of Gryffindor. I'd just gone crazy in front of a professor. Lovely.
"The platform barrier wouldn't open," Ron continued fervently. "And Rowan went to the tellytone pooph to see if there was anyone to contact. But Hedwig began to make a ruckus, and her cage rolled away. We chased after it, and when we caught up to it we realized we could use the flying car to get to Hogwarts. And well, we planned to get in and drive to Rowan, but as soon as we got in I couldn't operate it correctly and we shot into the air invisible-"
"HEDWIG!" I shouted suddenly. "We could have sent her a letter!"
Ron gaped.
Harry stared. "I-I didn't think-"
"Obviously," Professor Mcgonagall added, furious.
There was a tense silence, before Ron continued. "But then the car broke down and we hit the Whomping Willow...So you see, Professor, we couldn't get on the train."
There was a knock on the office door and Snape, now looking happier than ever, opened it. There stood the headmaster, Professor Dumbledore.
Dumbledore was looking unusually grave, and I frowned at the lack of a twinkle in his eye.
There was a long silence. Then Dumbledore said, "Please explain why you did this."
Harry swallowed, and told the story to his knees. He apologized to me discreetly several times, and I couldn't help it-he seemed so utterly sincere.
When Harry had finished, he merely continued to peer at them through his spectacles.
"We'll go and get our stuff," said Ron in a hopeless sort of voice.
"What are you talking about, Weasley?" barked Professor McGonagall.
"Well, you're expelling us, aren't you?" said Ron.
"You can't be," I said quickly. "R-right?"
"Not today, Mr. Weasley," said Dumbledore. "But I must impress upon both of you the seriousness of what you have done. I will be writing to both your families tonight." His twinkle had reappeared, and he was smiling kindly at us through his spectacles.
Relieved, Harry turned to me hesitantly. "How did you get here?"
I let out a half-laugh. "It was nowhere as exciting as your story. The barrier restored itself after several hours of waiting, and Lucius Malfoy strode in after a while. He let me use his Floo and I Floo'd to Professor Snape's quarters."
"I'm sorry we made you wait and worry," Harry said apologetically. "But the car sputtered and dipped each time we tried to go any way but forward."
Snape was looking extremely upset.
He cleared his throat and said, "Professor Dumbledore, these boys have flouted the Decree for the Restriction of Underage Wizardry, caused serious damage to an old and valuable tree. Surely acts of this nature-"
Flouted?
"It will be for Professor McGonagall to decide on these boys' punishments, Severus," said Dumbledore calmly. "They are in her House and are therefore her responsibility." He turned to Professor McGonagall. "I must go back to the feast, Minerva, I've got to give out a few notices. Come, Severus, there's a delicious-looking custard tart I want to sample-"
Snape shot a look of pure venom at Harry and Ron, glaring at me too, as he allowed himself to be swept out of his office, leaving them alone with Professor McGonagall, who was still eyeing Harry and Ron like a dangerous eagle.
"Ron," I said suddenly. "Your eye."
Ron reached up a hand and hissed as his finger prodded a cut over his eye. "It's fine," he said dismissively, turning to Professor Mcgonagall. "My sister-"
"Has been sorted. Gryffindor," Professor Mcgonagall interrupted.
I groaned, as Ron nodded in approval. He glanced at me. "What?"
"I wanted her in Slytherin with me," I said, crossing my arms. "I don't really know anyone here-"
"Ginny would never be in Slytherin," Ron shook his head. He stared at me suddenly. "You were sorted?"
"Yes," I said fiercely. "And I got Slytherin."
"'Course," Ron said.
Professor Mcgonagall cleared her throat. "You will eat in here and then go straight up to your dormitory," she said. "I must also return to the feast." With a wave of her wand, sandwiches appeared on Snape's desk and she left.
I took a seat on Snape's chair, feeling the soft plush. With a grin, I settled myself in and laced my fingers together to glare at the boys. "You idiotic Gryffindors," I said, my voice deep in an imitation of Snape. "You should all be expelled."
"Oh, Professor Snape, please, we're sorry!" Harry pretended to cower behind Ron. "It's all Ron's fault, it was his idea!"
"Oi!" Ron elbowed Harry, guffawing through his fifth sandwich as I laughed, biting my first.
"You...don't mind, do you?" I said suddenly. "That I'm a Slytherin."
There was a moment of silence between the three of us that made my heart pound and my eyes sting horribly. I withdrew my faltering smile, stung.
"I don't think so," Harry said after a while. "Ron, admit it. She's okay."
"I suppose," Ron said reluctantly. "Pass the pumpkin juice jug?"
I handed it to them. "But you hesitated."
"You have to understand that the Slytherins we know are just Malfoy and Crabbe and Goyle," Ron said, shrugging. "Of course we'd hesitate."
"I'm sorry," I said quietly. "For blaming you guys before I heard you out."
Ron smiled at me, the most disgusting thing I'd ever seen considering bits of ham were stuck between his teeth, but it was a genuine smile, and Harry grinned in relief as the rival we had slowly dissipated as we ate.
"You know," I said, worried. "I have no idea where the Slytherins' common rooms are."
"That's why," an annoyed voice sounded from the doorway. "You follow me on the train so I show you where to go."
I whipped my head around to find Draco standing in his robes, his eyes glinting in annoyance and disgust as Ron snatched a sandwich out of my hand slyly, biting into it. "Draco!" I said, delighted.
"Where were you?" Draco demanded, ignoring Harry and Ron's scowls as he strode towards me and yanked me up to my feet.
Swallowing my last bite of ham sandwich, I gave him an apologetic look. "Your father had to apparate me back to your Manor so I could Floo here. The gateway sealed."
Draco sneered at Harry. "That's what happens when you hang out with the wrong sort."
It was the first day I was here. "Come on," I pleaded, pulling his robe sleeve. "Don't fight, let's go."
"Yeah," Ron said sullenly. "Listen to your girlfriend."
"Ron," I said sharply, dragging Draco outside. "I'll see you two tomorrow, then."
"Do you have to pick a fight every time you three see each other?" I demanded, releasing Draco's robe sleeve from my fisted hand.
"It's not my fault Potty and Weasel are so easy to pick on," Draco said wickedly, scowling as a first year Slytherin scurried by. "Common rooms are this way."
O-O
I shared a dorm with Daphne Greengrass, Millicent Bulstrode, Tracey Davis, and Pansy Parkinson. Daphne was quiet and cold, but she was best friends with Tracey, a little bubblier but still cautious. Pansy was a little self-absorbed, and Millicent liked to push people.
It was absolutely perfect.
I loved everything about the common room: It was damp and dark and cold, but I couldn't be happier. I was surrounded by magic and magical people my age. Portraits hung on the wall, sometimes empty and sometimes not of people. The password was pureblood this week, and I'd heard that Mcgonagall had fought this with fervor but lost to Snape. Sure, it was strange and everyone looked at each other with a strange mix of distrust but welcomed them all the same, but I couldn't believe I was at school here, learning magic.
I couldn't sleep that night. I lay in the green bed with the silvery white sheets underneath me, listening to the sound of Millicent's snores and Pansy's perfume waft the air like a million roses surrounded her bed. Tomorrow I'd start class.
It was three in the morning when I finally shut my eyes and felt myself slip away to sleep.
"Going to be late on your first day?" Tracey said coyly as I groggily opened my eyes and swung them to the clock.
"Bloody hell," I rolled off the bed, cocooning myself in the soft green fabric of my blankets. Pansy snickered. Struggling to my feet, I yanked the blanket off of me and tossed it onto the bed, rummaging through my trunk for fresh clothes.
"You better not leave that mess on your bed," Daphne said aloofly, eyebrows raised. "Professor Snape doesn't mess around when he does dorm inspections. One mistake, and everything has to be remade. Two detentions per dorm mate."
"Dorm inspections on the first day?" I asked incredulously, folding the blanket and straightening my sheets. Grasping my wand on the drawer next to me, I pulled the curtains closed to get dressed.
By the time I pulled on a school shirt, Pansy had claimed the bathroom, and I couldn't get a shower in until twenty minutes later, after she'd curled her hair and applied her makeup.
"I keep telling her she's twelve, and not twenty-five," Tracey rolled her eyes and straightened her Slytherin tie in her mirror. "But Pansy's obsessed with Draco; she's as possessive as a Veela."
Finally, finally, Pansy strolled out of the bathroom with curled hair and glittery eyeliner that, just barely, passed off as school-appropriate with her dark pink lipstick. I checked the time and fled to the bathroom, brushing my hair and my teeth at the same time.
"You have toothpaste on your chin," Daphne said mildly before leaving the dormitory as I yanked on my robes on. Growling, I wiped my chin and then my hands.
"First day here, and you're already a top Slytherin," I said sarcastically to the empty room.
O-O
Nevertheless, I was extremely cheerful that morning. Nothing could dampen my mood-this was Hogwarts. It was home to wizards and witches. Many of them had lived eleven years confused and afraid of themselves when they blasted a glass cup or turned someone's hair green.
The Great Hall was filled with people, and four long tables led down to a stage-like table, where the professors sat. I stood near the door with my bag, eyes wide at the candle-lit, cloudy ceiling.
Eventually I realized students were giving me odd looks as they trickled in, and I met Snape's eyes as he raised his eyebrows from the table. He sat next to Gilderoy Lockhart, looking miserable next to the cheerily handsome man. I flushed and moved towards the Slytherin table, hesitating. Pansy and Millicent had huddled themselves with Draco and his friends. Daphne and Tracey sat next to them, talking quietly. Every Slytherin had a group.
The Gryffindors, literally on the other side of the room, sat in a mixed array of people, laughing and talking. People leaned over each other and elbowed faces, roaring and yelling. I could see Harry, Hermione, and Ron sitting amongst a large group, Hermione eating and reading.
I sat down next to a boy who, like Hermione, sat reading and ate quietly. Pansy flashed me a look of surprise and slight disgust. The boy next to Draco frowned. "Is this the new girl?"
"Rowan," I put out my hand over my plate. He regarded it like it was a tricky philosophy question-carefully and calculative.
"Rowan," He smirked and flashed Draco a look. "Rowan who?"
I faltered, my hand lowering. "Rowan-Snape."
"Snape?" The boy raised his eyebrows. "Professor Snape doesn't have a daughter."
Oh, and you would know how? But if I was going to fit in, I couldn't piss off the one boy surrounded by all my Slytherin acquaintances. "Actually, we're distantly related. I just recently met him."
"Distantly related," The boy cocked his eyebrow at my hand, which dropped to my plate. "Well, obviously. Reckon she's a pureblood, Draco?"
Draco didn't even look up from his plate; if I was going down, I was going down alone. "Do you really think Snape would let his family members marry off to anyone less than a halfblood, Zabini?"
"Leave her be, Zabini," The book-reading boy next to me said, looking bored as he spooned eggs onto his plate. "Of course she's a halfblood. It's too early in the morning to be picking off the weak ones."
I shifted at the insult. Why did I have to be in Slytherin? Why, why, why?
The boy, Zabini, shrugged and helped himself to a sausage. "Blaise Zabini," he said to me, nodding slightly. "The lumps next to Draco are Crabbe and Goyle. And that Ravenclaw over there's Theodore Nott."
Theodore raised his eyebrows, smoothly shutting his book as he placed a piece of egg in his mouth. "Just because I prefer reading to picking off new Slytherins."
"Look at that," Pansy said gleefully, effectively changing the subject. She crooked her finger at the sky, and we looked to see owls flying in with mail. "We've got a show."
There was a particularly scruffy, bedraggled owl stumbling around in the Great Hall with a red envelope.
"It's Weasley's butterfly," Draco smirked. "And his mummy's brought him a Howler. I didn't know she could even afford one."
There was a murmur of laughs, and I craned my head to look at Draco. He lifted his goblet to me and took a sip. In the Manor, it had only been the two of us. But here, everyone knew him-here, Draco reigned.
Scowling, I turned back to the bird. Errol, I thought. Or was it Edole? Erral?
The bird slumped down in a spiral in the Gryffindor table, and some Slytherins leaned forward eagerly. I wasn't sure what they were waiting for, but I found out soon.
There was a boom, and the entire Great Hall fell silent for a fraction of a second. Then a horrible, Mrs. Weasley screech filled the air.
"-STEALING THE CAR, I WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN SURPRISED IF THEY'D EXPELLED YOU, YOU WAIT TILL I GET HOLD OF YOU, I DON'T SUPPOSE YOU STOPPED TO THINK WHAT YOUR FATHER AND I WENT THROUGH WHEN WE SAW IT WAS GONE-"
Mrs. Weasley's yells, a hundred times louder than usual, made the plates and spoons rattle on the table, and echoed deafeningly off the stone walls. I dropped my spoon and clapped my hands to my ears, seeing Ron's splotchy, embarrassed face across the room.
"-LETTER FROM DUMBLEDORE LAST NIGHT, I THOUGHT YOUR FATHER WOULD DIE OF SHAME, WE DIDN'T BRING YOU UP TO BEHAVE LIKE THIS, YOU AND HARRY COULD BOTH HAVE DIED! I AM ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTED - YOUR FATHER'S FACING AN INQUIRY AT WORK, IT'S ENTIRELY YOUR FAULT AND IF YOU PUT ANOTHER TOE OUT OF LINE WE'LL BRING YOU STRAIGHT BACK HOME."
In the silence that followed, Draco barked out a laugh, and Slytherins followed. A few others giggled, and then it was all over.
My heart was beating quickly in my chest. Merlin-the way Ron and Harry must have felt...Mr. Weasley's inquiry…
There was another odd hush after a while, and I realized Dumbledore was standing, smiling jovially as if the Howler had never done any damage.
"I almost forgot," he said cheerfully, voice booming in the room. "The second year Slytherins have a new addition; please welcome Miss Rowan Snape."
I felt my cheeks heat as students swiveled around, astonished at the name Snape.
"Hogwarts rarely makes mistakes, but it seems Miss Snape did not receive her letter in her first year. Please make her feel welcome, and enjoy the rest of your feast!"
It was becoming an embarrassing thing-Ravenclaws could see me, but Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors were kneeling on their benches and craning their necks. Theodore took my arm and raised it, waving my hand back and forth impatiently.
"What are you doing?" I snatched my hand back, turning to him.
Theodore rolled his eyes. "They're staring anyway. Might as well let them know what they're looking at."
Gradually the moment passed, but I was still red.
"To your right," Daphne said coolly at me, and I snapped my neck to her, then to my right to see Snape stalking down the aisle to me, clutching a parchment. I opened my mouth in an attempt at hello, but he thrust the schedule at me and turned abruptly away.
"Trouble in Snapedom?" Blaise asked innocently.
"Shut it," I said without heat, slumping over my plate and checking my schedule. "Where the hell is Transfiguration?"
But Draco and Blaise had already left, with Crabbe and Goyle silently flanking Draco like bodyguards. I got up, turning as Pansy ran after them. Daphne and Tracey were talking about their summer homework, grabbing their bags.
"Come on," Theodore sighed, shutting his book. "I suppose I'm your guide by default, then. No, put your plate down, where are you going with it, the kitchen?"
"Have I already made such a horrible impression?" I asked him miserably.
"Absolutely." Theodore jerked his head at the doors, and I followed him through.
O-O
"Hand in your summer homework," Professor Mcgonagall said curtly, and went around collecting the piles of Transfiguration homework. I was sitting next to Theodore-who, I discovered, liked to be alone and that was why he'd gotten stuck with me.
When Mcgonagall reached me, she nodded. "Miss Snape, I will allow a two-week extension as you were not-"
"Oh, no Professor," I interrupted. "I did my homework, but thank you, ma'am."
She took my homework, surprised, and her eyes seemed to soften a little. But then she snapped back into a stern demeanour matching her tight bun, and collected Theodore's homework before moving on.
"I didn't know we'd gotten a nerd in our year," Blaise said loudly, and I shut my eyes. He was already growing annoying.
"I suggest you be careful, Mr. Zabini, or receive a detention." Mcgonagall said instantly, drawing her wand and piling up the homework neatly upon her desk.
Class passed quickly, and it took me a while, but I finally turned my beetle into a button. Theodore finished faster than me, and watched in concealed amusement as my button wiggled round with its legs.
Next class was Herbology with the Ravenclaws. Mandrakes, a plant we learned about, looked like horrible babies with leaves attached to them, and roots as chubby hands. Their cries and wails were so bad we had to wear earmuffs.
We had free period after lunch, and all the Slytherins either traipsed to the Common Room or the library. I'd admittedly done some of my Transfiguration homework in Herbology, but Theodore wanted to go to the library, so we split ways. I found Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle in the courtyard. Surprisingly, Harry, Hermione, and Ron were there too. And so was a first-year clutching a camera.
"Everyone line up!" Draco roared. "Harry Potter's giving out signed photos!"
"No, I'm not," said Harry angrily, his fists clenching. "Shut up, Malfoy."
"You're just jealous," said the first year.
"Jealous?" Draco snorted, who didn't need to shout anymore: half the courtyard was listening in. "Of what? I don't want a foul scar right across my head, thanks. I don't think getting your head cut open makes you that special, myself."
I'd completely forgotten; Harry seemed to have done something and he was famous or something. I still hadn't gotten the time to ask for the real reason.
"Eat slugs, Malfoy," said Ron angrily. Crabbe stopped laughing and started rubbing his knuckles in a menacing way.
"Be careful, Weasley. You don't want to start any trouble or your Mommy'll have to come and take you away from school." Draco put on a shrill, piercing voice. "If you put another toe out of line-"
I walked over behind Draco. "What are you doing?"
Draco spun around. "Potter's giving out sign-"
"No," I said impatiently. "What are you doing? Can't you just leave them alone?"
"Oh, Potty, your saviour's come," Draco sneered.
Harry clenched his fists again. "Leave us alone, Malfoy."
"Come on," I said to Draco furiously. "I don't care if Harry's giving out signed photographs, it's none of your business."
Draco flushed. "And pass up this opportunity? Maybe you shouldn't have been put in Slytherin."
"Yes, I should have," I said defiantly. "The hat wouldn't have put me here if I didn't belong. Now leave Ron and Harry alone."
"Weasley would like a signed photo, Potter," Draco said, ignoring me. "It'd be worth more than his family's whole house-"
Ron whipped out his wand, but Hermione whispered, "Look out!"
I turned to see Gilderoy Lockhart striding forward. For a second I was startled-he looked like he'd just walked out of a model magazine, his brilliant smile in place. But Harry and Ron made disgusted noises, and I could only presume that they didn't like his writing.
"Signed photographs? Harry, Harry, Harry," Lockhart said, shaking his head as he dragged a miserable Harry to rest under his arm. Looping a hand onto his shoulder, Lockhart laughed, the blonde curls on his head bouncing perfectly. He looked like a doll. Hermione let out a little squeak of contentment as he swept his smile around the courtyard. Some of the girls beamed.
"Harry, Harry, Harry," Lockhart sighed, eyebrows tilting. Hermione clung to Voyages with Vampires, staring with a blush on her face. "Harry, Harry, Harry. Signed photographs? Well, Mr. Creevey, take a picture. A double photograph, I should think."
The boy eagerly grabbed his camera and clicked a photo, Harry making a small noise of protest from behind his clenched teeth.
"I wasn't-" Harry stammered, but Lockhart merely said, louder over Harry's protests, "Harry, Harry, Harry," and manhandled him to the corridors.
Draco gave Hermione and Ron his best sneer and stormed off, Crabbe and Goyle sniggering menacingly behind him. Hermione and Ron hurried away the other way.
I stood in the middle of the courtyard as the crowd drifted apart, the afternoon class bell ringing. "Library, then," I muttered resignedly, gathering my bag and slumping to the library.
Theodore was sitting, his eyes flickering across the page like a candle disturbed by a breeze; light and gentle. His fingers traced the edge of the page until he was ready to turn. I flopped myself down next to him and pulled out a Lockhart book. He pursed his lips for a second, and then resumed reading.
This is the story of how I, Gilderoy Lockhart (Order of Merlin, Third Class, Honorary Member of the Dark Force Defense League, and five-time winner of Witch Weekly's Most Charming Smile Award), defeated vampires in a thrilling voyage…
I was walking around in my house, in the fifth bedroom, testing my newest ambition: having my own hair product and world peace.
I felt my lips lift. He had a weird sense of humor, I'd admit, but it was funny.
By the fifth page, it was no longer funny.
"You're joking," I slammed the book shut. "Why does Hermione like this garbage?"
"Because, he, Gilderoy Lockhart-Order of Merlin, Third Class, Honorary Member of the Dark Force Defense League, and-" Theodore rolled his eyes, flipping the page.
"-and five time winner of Witch's Weekly's Most Charming Smile Award," I finished, slamming the book shut. The librarian sent a wave of shh's crashing towards me, and I ducked my head, flushing.
"He's a good storyteller," Theodore said quietly, smirking. "Plus, he's good looking. An outrageously brave and insane story layered with the charming smile of a young man? Girls eat that up."
"What are we, mindless trolls?" I rolled my eyes. Admittedly Lockhart was a good storyteller, but the way he acted in real life…
"Troll or not, he's going to be our defense teacher for the whole year." Theodore shrugged. "Study up, or that mudblood will be the smartest of the class again, this time with extra swooning."
"Do you have to-" I bit my lip tightly. "-use that word?"
"Mudblood?" Theodore asked coolly. "You've heard all of us say it all the time."
"Yes, but don't any of you know it's wrong?" I leafed through a third Lockhart book reluctantly.
"You keep saying things like that, you'll get hexed."
I slumped down and rested my chin on the book. "Is no one in this school not biased? The other houses hate us, Slytherins barely speak to me-they only tolerate me because I'm a SLYTHERIN."
"You realized?" Theodore began to gather his books. "I don't need to pretend to enjoy your company anymore?"
"Oh, sit down, you git." I yanked him back down to his seat, a grin tugging at my lips.
"You realize that if you keep saying things like that, you'll get hexed. And so will I." Theodore said, picking up on his previous train of thought.
"I know," I sighed. "I'm sorry."
I did want to defend my friends, but already I could tell that this shrewd, suspicious House of mine couldn't take much more not fitting in from me. Housemate or not, I would have no friends if I kept up the blood purity equality thing.
"Do you really?" I asked.
Theodore didn't look up from his book. "Do I really what? Hate you? Yes."
"No, you moron. Enjoy my company."
"You're amusing," Theodore said after a pause. "And I have nothing to do. If you haven't noticed, I prefer solitude. But I suppose I can deal with you contaminating my peace."
I hit him with the thick Lockhart book, and turned back to studying.
Sorry for the wait, guys!
Andy the willow tree: aw, thanks! Snape's definitely a hard character to write, but I'm glad you could find the humour in his sarcastic self :)
Food: Sure, but you'd have to pay me ;)
mAGIC: It's definitely something I was considering…
Thanks guys, and please review! I hope you have a wonderful day!