A Sirius Unicorn
Disclaimer: I own nothing, except the plot and a few OC's you haven't heard of. The world is J.K. Rowling's and a few of my idea's for the Unicorns came from the book, The Unicorn Chronicles, and the movie, The Last Unicorn. On to chappie two!
Chapter Two. Hogwarts
It had taken two hours in the dark void of the Forbidden Forest to find the Thestral King. Niome had not been pleased at being woken up in the middle of the night, so the conversation had been quick and to the point.
Aramos was sure that the sight they had made looked quite ridiculous. A dark, demonic like Thestral conversing with a snowy white, angelic like Unicorn would have certainly turned a few heads.
After getting the point across that it was Arabella who wished him to look after her daughter, Niome consented and Aramos quickly left. He was eager to leave the 'Forbidding Forest' as he liked to call it, but the thought of leaving Athena was troubling him.
He kept trying to tell himself that it wasn't just that he cared for her, it was also the fact that no Unicorn had ever done what she was attempting to do. Although she had been taught all about humans at Spring Meadow, Aramos was certain that she didn't really know how to be one.
Starting back the way they had come, Aramos was left with one reassuring thought. He wasn't Athena Skydancer right now.
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'What I wouldn't give to be someone else right now!' Athena thought as she quickly walked toward the encroaching castle gates. The fate of all Unicorns, mankind, and the destruction of the world were all resting on her, and the weight of it was starting to crush her.
As the castle gates came into focus, so did a tall man. He appeared weathered, yet very friendly, and as Athena got closer she could sense the power that was radiating off him like waves.
"Ah, Miss Skydancer," he said with a flourish taking her hand, "It's so nice to finally meet you. I'm the Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore."
Athena couldn't help but notice the twinkle in his blue eyes, and decided right then that nothing got by this man. She smiled politely and getting right to the point said, "Hello Albus, I take it my mother owled you what our circumstances are?"
"Yes, Arabella was kind enough to fill me in. Although seeing as you are to be a student here, it would be preferable if you were to address me as Professor Dumbledore. I dare say you would be arousing suspicions otherwise." He said giving a slight smile and gestured for her to follow him into the towering castle.
Athena couldn't help but be amazed at the vastness of the school. If it had been more pearly, she might have even considered it a rival to Summer Palace.
"School will be starting tomorrow, so you have the castle to yourself tonight. Before you get settled however, I would like to sort you into a house." Dumbledore said as they journeyed down a long torch lit corridor.
"A house? You mean I won't be staying in the castle?" Athena questioned in confusion. To her knowledge, the whole purpose of her stay was to be at Hogwarts near Dumbledore.
"No no, you see all students are divided into separate houses. They're sort of like dorms, or very large families, however you like to look at it." Dumbledore continued, obviously amused at explaining this, "The four separate houses are all quite different, but I won't describe them to you. Whichever house you're sorted into, having preconceived notions for it will never amount to any good." Dumbledore concluded looking Athena directly in the eye. She knew he was referring to her stereotype on humans and nodded solemnly. Dumbledore gave her an encouraging smile then turned around to face a stone gargoyle and said, "Pumpkin Pastries."
To Athena's amazement, the gargoyle sprang to life and jumped out of the way as a winding staircase spun down. She cautiously followed Dumbledore up the stairs and through a thick oak door, finding herself in the Headmaster's office.
As Athena took in the portraits of sleeping wizards, one of which was snoring rather loudly, Dumbledore handed her a hat. Or at least she thought it was a hat. The thing was dreadfully old and looked as though it was over due on a cleaning by about a century.
"Come come now, don't be shy. Put it on," urged Dumbledore as he saw her gawking at the alleged hat.
Athena swallowed her pride and placed the hat over her dark blond locks. Immediately, she heard a voice inside her head, just like she did when speaking with other Unicorns.
"Well, I must say you're the first Unicorn I've ever sorted," the hat said with a bit of surprise.
"If it makes you feel better, you're the first hat I've ever conversed with." Athena said nervously.
"You think on your feet, that's good. I also sense determination and a strong need to prove yourself, but where to put you? Slytherin likes purity, but I don't think they had a Unicorn in mind. Hufflepuff is loyal, as are you, but your determination would simply shine right through. You're clever enough for Ravenclaw, but Gryffindor is calling for you. Yes, I believe that's the ticket. Just remember this, a Gryffindor's courage does not lie in their strength, but in their hearts. When the time comes, trust in that."
Athena pulled off the battered hat and handed it to Dumbledore. "Well, what house shall I be showing you?" He asked expectantly.
"Gryffindor. Does that hat always give advice?" Athena asked as they headed back down the winding staircase and to the seventh floor.
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Athena liked her dorm room. It consisted of four luxurious four-poster beds and Dumbledore had even given her a trunk to put at the end of her's. Inside the school trunk, she had found numerous articles of clothing, some of which she didn't quite know the function of, and school supplies such as quills, parchment and her various study books. Athena was proud to see that she knew all about the subjects-potions, DADA, transfiguration, charms, care of magical creatures, and herbology-that she would be taking.
Dumbledore had explained after showing her the Gryffindor common room and girl's dormitory that she was to be the sister of his second cousin's wife. The story he had told her to convey, if asked about her origins, was that she had been going to the Salem Academy in the States, but when her parents had died, she had to move in with her older sister here in Scotland. That would of course mean, for a witch, going to Hogwarts.
It had all sounded very simple when Dumbledore had explained it, but now as Athena lay for the first time on a human bed, she was not so sure. How was she supposed to know how Americans behaved? How was she to know the names of her fake family? And most importantly, how was she supposed to fit in with teenage witches and wizards when she was in fact a four hundred fifty eight year old Unicorn Princess?
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Athena was abruptly awoken the next morning by a severe looking witch.
"I trust you slept well Miss Skydancer? I am Professor McGonagall, I believe I will be having you in my seventh year Advanced Transfiguration class." McGonagall said to Athena, her thin lips curving upward into a slight welcome.
"Um, yes. Is it a normal Hogwart's custom to be woken up at six in the morning?" Athena asked with worry. She was notorious for waking up late.
"No, simply my own. I forgot to mention that I'm also the Gryffindor head of house. I don't usually wake up the students, but Dumbledore instructed me to show you around the school before the students arrive here at seven this evening, and seeing as this is Hogwarts, we'll need all the time we can get to show you the essentials." McGonagall finished, handing Athena a robe to take into the bathroom. "Seeing as you're new to the ways of being a human, I thought I'd also give you a little lesson on personal things as well." She said with amusement as she watched Athena try to put her foot through the robe's sleeve. It was definitely going to be a long day.
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"So how do I get my leg out of this again?" Athena asked as she struggled with the staircase. Right as McGonagall had been warning her about some kind of trick step, Athena had found it.
"Releasio," McGonagall said with a flourish of wand movement at the offending step. It immediately released her leg and stood as innocent as before. Athena glared at it.
"I don't think I'll ever get used to this place!" Athena fumed throwing up her arms up and rounding on the Professor. "I mean, all these hidden passages and moving stairways, and portraits, and," she again glared at the step, "Nasty inanimate objects. Why would anyone voluntarily stay here?"
McGonagall looked less than amused at the outburst, but said nothing. Athena realized she had made a mistake. Minerva McGonagall obviously was the type of person who voluntarily stayed at Hogwarts.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean it. It's just that I don't usually find myself stuck in a stairway or being assaulted by the armor decorations. It's all very strange to me. Hogwarts is an amazing place though. I really enjoyed seeing the Great Hall and the Quidich Pitch."
"It's quite alright. Speaking of the Great Hall, I believe it's time for you to change into your school uniform and head there. The beginning of term feast will be starting in an hour." With that, McGonagall gave a reassuring pat and left Athena to fend for herself.
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By the time Athena had journeyed up to the seventh floor, remembered the password of Marauder's Rule-she had no idea what Marauders were but had a strong suspicion that it might be a set of guidelines-and changed into her new school uniform, the way Professor McGonagall had showed her, the clock said ten till seven.
Racing down the stairs and making daring jumps to clear the moving ones, left Athena quite exhilarated. She had even remembered to avoid the horrible trick step. She had been so elated, that she had turned the wrong way on the first floor.
It had taken fifteen minutes to sort out where she was, and another ten to get to the Great Hall.
At the time Athena came crashing breathlessly through the large oak doors, everyone had been quietly listening to Dumbledore's usual start of term speech. Every eye seemed to focus on her as she made her way to the Gryffindor table McGonagall had shown her earlier.
Many whispers began erupting all over the hall, and Athena felt her human cheeks begin to flush a deep scarlet. Dumbledore smiled at her and addressed the entire hall with, "And this is Miss Athena Skydancer, the sister of my second cousin's wife. She will be finishing her education here at Hogwarts in the Gryffindor House and I wish you all to welcome her."
The Gryffindor table all began cheering loudly, as did the other houses, all except for Slytherin of course.
Athena decided to sit at the end of the table where there were fewer people. The only ones at the end seemed to be a group of boys, about her age she noticed. They were all immersed in a discussion, but when she sat near them, one of the two black haired boys looked up and motioned for her to join them.
Athena felt her stomach flip. This was going to be her first opportunity to try to fit in. She sure hoped these boys were the naive, friendly type.
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"Hi, my name is Athena" She said and then winced. "Although I guess you already figured that out with Dumbledore's announcement." The four of them did not seem to notice her blundering comment though. They were seizing her up.
To Athena, they, all except the mousy one, seemed to be pretty good looking blokes-for humans that is. The one that had invited her over was extremely blessed. He had relatively long, elegant black hair that seemed to fall exactly where it was supposed to. Along with his playful smirk and stormy gray eyes, he seemed to be quite the catch. Already, Athena saw a girl from the Ravenclaw table staring daggers at her for sitting so close to him.
The other black haired boy had much shorter and messier hair than his cohort. Although his chocolate eyes were not lacking a certain look of mischief.
The third boy had light brown hair streaked with thin silver highlights. His eyes could not have been more opposite from the other two. They were a sad, soft brown hidden behind a distinct amber glow.
Athena had seen this glow before. On many nights when the full moon was present. She and Aramos had often defended the herd's foals from hungry werewolves. She did not hate werewolves though, only the wolf that lived inside them.
She did a double take on the last boy. He didn't seem to fit in at all. As tall, dark and handsome as his companions were, he was not. His watery, dull brown eyes and mousy hair completed his look of an over grown rodent.
"Yea, we being the genius's that we are, figured out your secret identity." The messy haired one said with a fake pompous air, "But since we're all introducing, I'm James Potter, this," he said pointing to the elegant black haired one, "Is Sirius Black. The little one's Peter Petigrew," he said not even bothering to point, "And that is Remus Lupin." He finished by gesturing to the quiet lycanthrope.
Then Sirius playfully opened his arms wide in announcement and gesturing to all four of them exclaimed, "And we are the Marauders!"