Chapter 2.
It was difficult to concentrate on the intricacies of the castle architecture and décor this time as Allegra followed the house elf to the Great Hall. All she could focus on was the large knot her innards seemed to be tying themselves into. Starting over again… having to meet new people… dodge their probing questions. It made her head spin. A few short years ago this wouldn't have posed a problem for her. She was as open and happy as they came. But that time was over for her.
As she entered the Great Hall, her jaw dropped until she remembered her upbringing and snapped it shut. It was beautiful—an enchanted ceiling revealing the night sky, floating candles, and four long grand looking tables filled with students. The House tables, she realized. At the head of the room stood another long table perpendicular to the others on a dais. Her eyes roamed down the line of her new professors. They, along with half the student body, were looking at her with interest and curiosity. Except for one.
The professor on the very end of the table was scowling at her as if he resented her very existence. Swathed head to toe in black robes, he made for an intimidating picture. Allegra shivered involuntarily, a sense of unexpected wariness filling her. She wondered what class he taught.
She didn't have much time to think about it, as Professor Dumbledore took her arm and began leading her up the aisle towards the faculty table. They reached the front and suddenly she was facing the entirety of the student body.
"Greetings one and all!" Dumbledore twinkled at his audience. "To our new first years, welcome to Hogwarts! To our returning students, a warm welcome back. This school year is sure to be profoundly educational and magical, an adventure to all the growing minds in this room! I will not wax poetic with my welcome, as I know you are all hungry!" An extra twinkle sparked in his eyes. "But we have one more student who is to be sorted today! May I introduce to you all, Ms. Allegra Bennett. Though originally from America, she comes to us from Beauxbatons Academy of Magic and will be beginning her seventh year. I know you will all make her feel welcome. Ms. Bennett," He said turning to her, "if you will have a seat here, will shall begin your sorting."
Allegra slowly made her way towards a stool she had not noticed before. She was a ball of nerves as she felt the Sorting Hat placed upon her dark brown curls.
"Hmmm…an intelligent mind…. But shuttered, private. A bit of cunning in you, yes…amiable… and quite brave behind that outer timidity. You could do well in several Houses… Hmmm… Yes, let's see…"
Allegra heard the hat deliberating in the quiet of her mind. It was unnerving to be evaluated so…bluntly. She was not sure what she wanted it to decide. However, she knew which House was most openly associated with…him. Not Slytherin… please, any house but that! She thought desperately.
Not Slytherin you say? Interesting...I sense you could excel in that house. They take care of their own, you know. But then, there are always reasons our hearts and minds make their choices… you are certainly not the first to reject openly reject that specific House. In that case, it had best be…
"GRYFFINDOR!" The hat shouted its decision throughout the hall.
The Gryffindor table erupted in cheers and applause, welcoming their newest member, with smug glances towards the other tables, especially the far table swathed in green. Allegra quickly removed the hat, still unnerved by its ability to read her, and made her way to sit down with her new Housemates.
A young man with flaming red hair shoved one of his classmates further down the table bench to open a space to sit next to him. "Oi! Easy there, Ron!" the student complained. The red-haired boy had the decency to look a little ashamed as Allegra took her seat next to him, and gave a small sympathetic smile to the accosted boy on her other side.
"Sorry, Seamus…" the young wizard mumbled, but turned to her and his face split into an affable smile. "M'name's Ron, Ron Weasley, and you've just joined the best House in the whole school!"
Allegra glanced around the smiling faces crowded around her. "Thanks. I'm… happy to be here." She smiled reservedly, then turned her attention to her plate as her new housemates broke out in conversation and began asking her questions at random. It was overwhelming to say the least. When she glanced up she received a gentle smile and a sympathetic look from a young man with startlingly bottle green eyes and a full head of untidy black hair. She felt an immediate sense of camaraderie with the boy, which was uncharacteristic for her.
She turned her attention to her other classmates and began answering their queries as simply and politely as she could. Yes, she was from America. Georgia, more specifically. Yes, she had liked Beauxbatons alright. No, she hadn't attended the Triwizard tournament several years back. Yes, she was looking forward to her classes.
"Ha, that sounds a bit like our Hermione—looking forward to classes! She's a bit of a bookworm too, but we love her anyway" Ron smiled and gestured to the witch with a barely-tamed nest of brown curls sitting across the table from him. She glanced up from her book at the mention of her name and rolled her eyes. "Oh, thank you for that generous platitude, Ronald." The tone was sarcastic, but the smile that followed was warm. She turned her attention to Allegra. "I never introduced myself in all the ruckus earlier, I'm Hermione Granger. And I, for one, will be glad to finally have a fellow student who actually appreciates learning… unlike you two" She teased, glancing at Ron and nudging the boy with the green eyes seated next to her. "What is your best subject, Allegra?" she inquired.
"Well…" Allegra mused quietly. "I like most subjects. I really enjoy Transfigurations, but my best subject is probably Potions." There was palpable silence that followed her statement.
"Blimey… that's bloody bad luck." Ron pronounced after a moment. Seamus snickered on her other side.
"Why is it bad luck?" Allegra asked. Ron promptly answered her, "Because Snape, the Potions professor, is the biggest git that ever lived to make our lives miserable! That's him there on the end. Bloody bat of the dungeons in all that black" he griped, shoving a bite of roasted potatoes into his mouth.
Allegra's eyes slid up to the dais where the infamous "Snape" was picking at his meal. He looked simultaneously furious and exhausted. The sense of intimidation and warning she had felt when she had first seen him upon entering the hall returned.
"He's really that awful?" She asked timidly.
"Yes." "No." Opposing answers rang out, though the yes's were more plentiful and emphatic.
Hermione responded first. "He is an incredibly talented potions master. The things we are learning this year are very advanced and exciting. He is a good teacher he just lacks…" she trailed off searching for the appropriate word.
"A soul?" Ron half-jokingly supplied. Hermione glared at him. "Patience, was what I was going to say!" she huffed.
"He hates Gryffindor. He's the head of Slytherin House. He is cruel and intimidating… he's just not good, Allegra." The boy with the green eyes and untidy hair spoke finally.
"Oh… Well, I will certainly keep that in mind. Erm, I'm sorry I don't believe I got your name earlier…?" Allegra inquired, a bit taken aback at the vehemence in the young wizard's voice.
"Oh sorry!" Ron exclaimed, "Forgot to introduce him earlier, but I just figured you'd know… after all he is the boy who lived…"
Oh Merlin…no. Allegra turned wide-eyed back to the wizard seated front of her.
"Stop with that, Ron…" He smiled sheepishly at Allegra, some of the quiet camaraderie returning. "I'm Harry. Didn't mean to get too intense there... It's just that Snape—well, it's a bit of a sore subject."
"I see. Well, I guess I'll just keep my head down in that class," Allegra finally answered. And in all my other classes, she thought to herself. Just one year. One more year and I can disappear and get away from all of this forever.
As dinner went on, Allegra tried to steer the conversation away from her and was content to listen to the chatter of her classmates. She began to pick up a little bit about each person in her immediate vicinity. Seamus, the boy on her right was funny and a bit of a prankster. The girl on Harry's other side was Ginny, who was affable and beautiful with her shining red mane, obviously related to the red head seated next to Allegra. Neville, another guy in her class, was shy and bumbling but very sweet. He offered to help her get around the castle if she ever got lost. Her housemates seemed to be loud and brash but also kind and welcoming. Allegra had only just met them, but they had an inviting quality about them. She began to warm to them in spite of herself.
Get it together Allie. You have to keep your distance. If anyone were to find out…
Her thoughts were interrupted once more as the students began to rise to leave the Great Hall. She filed behind Ron and Hermione, with Harry and Ginny walking beside her.
"Have you been to Gryffindor tower yet?" Harry asked her as they made their way down one of the torch lined corridors.
"No, I haven't. This is actually the most I've seen of the castle beyond the Headmaster's office and The Great Hall". Allegra replied, a soft smile on her face as she took in the many portraits that lined the hallway.
"You're going to love it. The common room is cozy and warm and the beds are crazy comfortable! I only wish we had more than one trunk to store all our clothes in!" Ginny sighed dramatically.
"As if you need a reason to go shopping, Gin" Harry teased, gently elbowing her. Allegra watched as they lightly bantered back and forth for the next few minutes. It was clear they had a thing for one another.
"How long have you two been together?" Allegra asked, and then immediately wanted to put her foot in her mouth. Harry blushed and looked down. Ginny scoffed and lengthened her stride until she was in front of them, walking backwards.
"When Harry decides to stop being so damn self-sacrificing and ask me out, I will certainly let you know! 'Til then, well. A girl's got to do what a girl's got to do, am I right?" Ginny pronounced with a raised eyebrow, then turned and sashayed up to a dark-skinned wizard Allegra thought she remembered being called Dean and looped her arm through his.
Allegra was immediately filled with embarrassment.
"Well… that was awkward. I apologize, I shouldn't have assumed." She turned to Harry, remorse on her face. He just shrugged.
"No, it's not your fault. It's mine. Obviously. She's right, you know. I should ask her out, but… if anything were to happen to her because of me. I don't know what I would do… I would go to pieces. And I can't afford to do that. Not in this war, not for someone like me…" He trailed off forlornly.
Allegra felt her kinship towards Harry grow. She was not the only one with heavy burdens. She wanted to relay her empathy, but was interrupted when three students blocked their path suddenly.
"And who would want to be with likes of someone like you, Potter?" The young wizard in the middle of the small group sneered. He had white blonde hair and icy grey eyes. He seemed oddly familiar to her and it filled her stomach with a pit of fear. He was flanked by two large oafs of wizards, who did not appear to have much intelligence between the two of them. They stood silent and menacing.
"Stuff it, Malfoy. No one cares what you think." Harry spat in response.
"Aw, I think I struck a nerve, boys. Why don't you make yourself useful, Potter, and introduce me to your lovely friend." He smirked and turned towards Allegra. "A pity you were sorted to Gryffindor, but I know a Pureblood name when I hear it. I believe Father spoke of the Bennett's once or twice. I'm Draco Malfoy." He extended a hand to Allegra.
Allegra was reeling inside. Malfoy. She knew that name all too well. She said a silent prayer of thanks that this Draco boy did not seem to know her beyond her family's name. It would appear the father kept much from the young man who was so obviously his son… She wanted to faint. Or run. But she held it together. She was not sorted into Gryffindor for nothing.
"Allegra. Good to meet you." She said crisply and coolly, as detached as her mother's voice had ever been. She did not take his hand extended hand, but rather linked her arm through Harry's and made her way around the 3 wizards. Once they were past, she paused and turned back towards them.
"And I should think that a pureblood wizard would know how to conduct himself, instead of resorting to pathetic taunts and brainless body guards to feel important. You might want to work on that." Allegra chastised haughtily. Draco and his flunkies stood dumbfounded as Allegra turned and guided Harry swiftly down the corridor.
"Blimey… if I didn't like you before Allegra, I sure do now! That was brilliant!" Harry crowed as they caught up with their classmates in front of a portrait of a very large woman.
"What was brilliant?" Ron asked, after pronouncing the password (Hippogriff) and climbing through to the Gryffindor common room.
"Allegra just gave Malfoy the what for! It was actually really… proper. And wicked!" Harry smiled at Allegra.
She gave him a small smile in return and looked down. Who knew channeling her mother could be so useful? She was still trying to get beyond the shock of seeing a Malfoy. This was supposed to be a safe place for her… She wasn't allowed to dwell for long. Ron threw an arm around her.
"Alright, Allegra! Way to go! Already makin' Gryffindor proud. Malfoy is such a wanker." Ron laughed.
"Yes, I imagine he deserved it, he usually does." Hermione said crisply, making her way towards a couch by a roaring fireplace. Ginny had been right—the Gryffindor common room was indeed, quite cozy.
"He was rude to Harry." Allegra offered by way of explanation. She did not want to talk about Draco Malfoy anymore. She didn't want to think of that family at all.
She distracted herself by taking in the details of the Common room. Watching everyone get settled, laugh and chat contentedly. It seemed like home for everyone there. Everyone but her. She stayed for a short while, answering when anyone asked her something directly. Mostly just listening and trying to stay in the background. They all seemed so close, like family. She began to feel overly warm and claustrophobic. She did not belong here. She needed to get out.
She stood abruptly. "I think I'm going to head to bed. It's been a pretty exciting day after all. I'll see you tomorrow." She turned and made her way up the spiral staircase that she had been informed led to the girls' dormitories.
"That was… sudden. Think she's alright?" Ron asked watching after Allegra's quick exit.
"I'm sure she's just overwhelmed." Hermione responded. "I mean can you imagine? An entirely new school, new classmates, in your seventh year? And to not know if the curricula is even the same… I would be going mad!" she shook her head in horror.
"Of course that's the part you'd be most worried about!" Ron laughed.
"We just need to make sure she feels welcome. It's not easy being an outsider. And with all that went on last year at Beauxbatons… well, I'm sure she's a little frightened." Harry mused.
"You-Know-Who's got everyone a bit frightened… but we look out for our own, don't we mates?" Ron proclaimed, placing his arms around his two best friends. They all nodded in agreement.
Up in the girls' dorm, Allegra quietly changed into her flowing white lace nightgown. She swore to herself that her first trip to Hogsmeade would be to replace the stifling garment with normal pajamas. A few poster beds down two chatty witches gossiped and readied themselves for bed. Allegra hadn't caught their names before, but was in no mood for idle chit chat. She grabbed her wand from the nightstand and quickly drew the curtains around her four poster bed.
As much as she had craved escape from the crowd in the common room, she dreaded the night ahead even more. She breathed a spell to silence any noise that might emanate from within her closed curtains. After quickly crawling beneath the heavy comforter she closed her eyes and recited the steps to brew the draught of the living dead. It was a complex potion and kept her mind from drifting to—less pleasant things.
It wouldn't last though. It never did. Sleep would claim her eventually, and with sleep came the nightmares. She could not escape the nightmares. They always came for her. Always.
A/N: Thank you so much for those who reviewed or read my story! It is so strange to think of others reading and liking what I wrote, but I kind of love it! I am sorry for the delay in posting this chapter. Graduate school and finals were kicking my ass and killing my muse. But I will hopefully be more prompt with future chapter updates! (hopefully one per week!) Let me know what you think. :)