I settled into the Ravenclaw dorm that night and easily fell asleep in the plush bed that I reluctantly parted from far to early the next morning. I grumbled to myself a bit as I threw on my new Ravenclaw robes, but brightened at the thought of going to classes for the first time. I got a little lost on my way to breakfast but finally made it back to the great hall. "Merlin's beard!" I thought as I noticed that there were almost no other students and after a little prying realized that I had overslept and that class was about to start! I grabbed some buttered toast and ran as fast as my all to short legs would carry me towards the field where I knew my flying lesson to be. I made it just in time, falling into line next to Neville looking a hot mess. My hair had started to escape from its bow and my face was flushed an unattractive scarlet red. I quickly composed myself, retaming my hair and mopping the light sheen of sweat from my brow, tuning out the other students excited thoughts of flying.
Soon out walked our teacher who seemed no nonsense and introduced herself as Madame Hooch. She instructed us on how to begin, starting with only hovering. Gram had let me try my hand at flying a few times back home so I already knew the basics and hovered a few feet off of the ground with ease. Aside from harry the rest of the students didn't appear to be doing quite so well. Most of them were still on the ground and the ones that had made it off the ground were incredibly wobbly, Ron being among the latter group. Neville was in the same boat as Ron, except were as Ron wobbled about a foot above the earth Neville continued to float precariously higher. His thoughts were growing more panicked and scattered by the second and I was immediately worried, about to inform Madame Hooch when Neville flew off!
He flew around sporadically, Madame Hooch having noticed and calmly saying "Longbottom please come down at once." All Neville did was yell in reply as his broom dragged him around and I could hear a very panicked "I can't control it! Help!" I desperately wanted to fly up and save him but I knew I wasn't skilled enough on a broom yet and would only be putting myself at risk as well. Suddenly his broom threw him into the building and before I knew what was happening he was hanging from a pole by his robe, far to high in the air. His thoughts were so scared at this point they were just senseless babble and just I was about to yell at Madame Hooch to do something Neville's robe tore and he fell to the ground with a sickening thunk.
My hands flew to my open mouth in shock and faster than I could process Madame Hooch ran over and whisked Neville off to the infirmary telling us all that not one broom was to leave the grass with a stern look before vanishing. I debated running after them and going with Neville to Madame Pomfrey and as I was about to follow I saw a slimy looking blonde boy pull Neville's memory ball out of his robe. "Looks like Longbottom forgot something" he said with a sneer. I glared at the boy and just as I opened my mouth to put him in his place harry spoke up. "That's not yours, give it back Malfroy." Harry's tone was calm, but there was a fire in his emerald eyes that kept me from interfering. "Make me" Malfroy responded with another sneer as he rose off of the ground, deep grey eyes challenging harry.
Hermione looked like she wanted to object, I could hear her objections roaring through her mind but she kept her mouth shut. Harry just looked back at Malfroy with that fire as he rose as well. Soon harry and Draco as I heard his first name to be were racing through the air. Draco obviously had previous experience but it wasn't helping much, harry was keeping pace with him and I knew he had never used a broom before which made it very impressive. Draco threw the memory ball and it landed atop a gargoyle high on the castle, far higher than Harry and Draco had been flying and he sneered once more at Harry who simply began to fly up to the ball. He retrieved the ball and flew back down, all the other students cheering.
Harry simply smiled and handed the ball to me "Here Cas, why don't you give this back to Neville." I nodded, smiling as well. I took the ball and ran off in the way Madame Hooch had taken Neville earlier. I finally made my way to the hospital wing and slowly walked in. Neville's face lit up when he saw me and Madame Hooch simply raised an eyebrow, but said nothing, marching out of the room to go back to the class now that Neville was taken care of. I winced as I looked at the sling around Neville's arm and he smiled weakly. "It doesn't hurt that bad really. Hey my memory ball I thought I'd lost it!" he exclaimed as he noticed the glass ball in my hand. I handed it to him and after Madame Pomfrey Okayed Neville to leave I walked with him to the great hall, it was dinnertime.
The next day was far more uneventful, though I learned that Harry had been spotted retrieving Neville's ball and was now to be the seeker for the Quidditch team. I congratulated him and he smiled warmly, thanking me. We learned how to levitate, though Hermione was the only one that was any good at it, one kid even set his feather on fire! The day after that I had potions class with professor Snape. Harry, Ron, and Hermione were in my class, which was nice, though Neville wasn't and Draco and his goons were which was less nice. I sat with Hermione, I could tell from her thoughts that she was going to be decent at potions. Potions books had always been my favorite from my gram's vast collection to read and I already knew that I was top notch at potions and would easily ace this class. Sadly I could also sense that Malfroy had an uncanny knack for it as well, which he smugly thought about at least four times already and class had just started. Harry on the other hand was utterly clueless and when Snape called on him his mind actually went blank. Professor Snape seemed to have an unnatural animosity towards harry and curious I poked into his head to see if I could find out why. I was met with resistance, like I had tried to push against a jammed door. More curious I pushed harder and felt the door fly open and my eyes go wide as thoughts and images and memories rushed through my mind.
I watched as images of what was obviously a young Snape and another man who looked like Harry and a beautiful witch with Harry's brilliant green eyes flew by. Years passed with the images and soon I saw Snape holding the lifeless beautiful witch, who I knew now to be named Lily and to be Harry's mother, crying in anguish and suddenly the memories and images stopped as the door slammed closed. Professor Snape was glaring at me in fury and I realized that I was crying, tears streaming down my face. "Class dismissed" Snape said curtly, in a tone that allowed no room for argument. Everyone quickly shuffled out of the room. I shoved my books into my bag and made to stand and exit when he hissed, "Not you miss Atherton." I paled and placed my bag down as I sat back in my seat with a squeak.
"Are you aware of what just happened miss Atherton" Snape asked icily. I could vaguely hear Harry, Ron, and Hermione's thoughts outside the room, wondering where I was but I pushed them aside and squeaked out a yes. "Would you care to enlighten me on how a first year student knows such strong legimency spells and why she would use such spells on a teacher." I felt my heart pounding and willed myself to calm down, taking a few breaths before looking into Severus's dark eyes, feeling tears well up in my blue-violet ones. He just watched me with a well lets hear it expression, I got nothing from his mind, it was sealed up tight now. I opened my mouth, prepared to explain but caught myself reflecting on what I had seen and promptly closed it and did the only thing I could think of, hug professor Snape. I felt him immediately tense and he stayed that way the whole time I hugged him, never returning the gesture. I pulled away and looked back into his dark eyes and wiped the tears from mine as I whispered, "I'm sorry. Not just for breaking into your mind without permission but for…everything that happened." I didn't think it was possible but he stiffened even further at my words.
"as far as the legimency spells ever since I can remember I've had an exceptional skill for them. From the time I was born I have been able to hear people's thoughts, see what's in their heads. I honestly don't do it on purpose most of the time but I can't turn it off it just kind of…happens. I truly didn't mean to invade your mind like that I just didn't hear any thoughts from you and I was simply curious so I tried to listen in and I felt resistance. So I pushed and everything kind of flooded out. I truly am sorry it won't happen again I swear it." Professor Snape stood quietly throughout my explanation and when I finished I felt a push in my mind and seeing Snape's raised brows I understood and nodded, letting down the walls around my mind and allowing him access. He sifted through my mind for a few minutes before seeming satisfied with what he had found. "You speak the truth and seeing as you truly didn't intend harm I will let this slide, but you are never to share what you saw with anyone do you understand?" Snape said, phrasing the question in a way that just dared me to try and refuse I merely nodded. I grabbed my bag again and made my way to the door and just before I left Professor Snape said "Oh and miss Atherton beginning next Monday you will come to my office after class three times a week for lessons." "Lessons?" I repeated in confusion, my brows furrowed. "Yes, I am going to teach you to control your legimency powers" He responded simply before waving his hand in a be gone manner. I obliged and exited the room quickly, smiling to myself. The thought of being able to sit with other people and not be bombarded by everyone's thoughts was almost to good to be true!