A/N: Has anyone noticed how confusing the schedules really are? Apparently Gryffindor and Ravenclaw have no classes together. I rewrote the schedules and I successfully confused the hell out of myself while trying to rewrite it. I had to create a spreadsheet to actually figure out where the hell these kids are going.
There were a hundred and forty-two staircases at Hogwarts. There were wide sweeping ones, narrow, rickety ones, some that led to a different place on Fridays, and ones with a vanishing step that one had to remember to jump over. There were solutions to the doors that Hailey had to remember. Some would open if you ask politely, some wouldn't open unless you tickled them in the right spot, and there was the weird thing with the doors that weren't really doors but were walls pretending to be doors. The walls pretending to be doors confused the hell out of Michael and it messed with Mandy.
The people in the portraits kept moving and Hailey was certain that the coats of armour were walking around. Ghosts walked through the doors that they can't open and the Grey Lady was happy to lead the Ravenclaws in the right direction.
Peeves the Poltergeist wasn't worth asking for directions because he led them into two locked doors and a trick staircase. He would even drop wastepaper baskets on their heads, pelt bits of chalk at them, sneak up behind them while invisible, grab their noses and yell, "Got you conk!"
Besides Peeves, Argus Filch was the other worse being in the castle.
While Hailey, Ron, and Michael were standing around as Mandy tried to open the door, Filch caught them and got them in trouble for being in the out of bounds corridor. It turned out that they got a little turned around and he wouldn't believe them when they said that they got lost, and he was threatening to lock them in the dungeons when Professor Quirell was passing by.
Filch owned a cat named Mrs Norris, who was scrawny and dust coloured. She had bulging, lamp-like eyes. She patrolled the corridors alone, and if someone breaks a rule or put a toe out of line, she would whisk off for Filch, who appeared a few seconds later. Everyone hated him and Mrs Norris.
It was a little surprising to Hailey when she found out that there was more to magic than just waving a wand and saying a few funny words. Apparently she had to memorize correct hand movements and the pronunciation of spells. On Tuesdays, at midnight, they had to learn the different names of the stars and the movements of the planets.
They had Herbology twice a week with the Gryffindors, which took place in a greenhouse behind the castle, with a professor named Professor Sprout who taught them about strange plants and fungi and what they were used for.
Hailey had been excited for History of Magic, since it was the only class taught by a ghost by the name of Professor Binns, but it turned out it was the most boring class. He had a monotonous voice, who droned on and on. They had to scribble down names and dates, while apparently the other Houses got Emeric the Evil mixed up with Uric the Oddball. It was easy for the Ravenclaws to remember because Uric the Oddball had been a Ravenclaw as well.
Professor McGonagall was strict and had told them that Transfiguration is the most complex and dangerous magic that they will learn at Hogwarts. She said that anyone who was messing around in her class, they will leave and never come back. She had proceeded to turn her into a pig and back again.
Charms class took place with Professor Flitwick, who happened to the head of Ravenclaw's house. He was so tiny, he had to stand on a pile of books and had a squeaky voice. At the start of the first class, Professor Flitwick had gotten a little excited as he reached Hailey's name and toppled of sight.
The other class that Hailey was also excited for was Defense Against the Dark Arts, but it turned out to be a joke since his classroom had smelt like garlic and the purple turban proved to be a distraction and also had a funny smell.
On Friday, the Ravenclaws had made their way to the Great Hall and to their table. There were two girls whispering to each other on the stairs.
"Look, there!" the girl said.
The girl's friend asked, "Where?"
"Next to the slightly creepy looking boy," the girl stated.
That was one of the conversations she usually heard on her way to Great Hall. Hailey didn't appreciate one of her friends being called creepy, so she glared at the girl to let her know that she heard.
When they got there, Mandy said, "We have double potions with Slytherin today." She was pouring sugar on her porridge. "Snape is the head of Slytherin House. From what I heard, Snape favours them."
"Of course he does," Michael said.
Professor Flitwick was impartial to the Ravenclaws, but it didn't stop him from helping the Ravenclaws out with a problem that they had. So far, Hailey didn't have a personal problem to ask him for help, so she hadn't seen these dancing cupcakes that Robert Hilliard had told them about.
The mail arrived, with the owls streaming in.
So far in the week, Hailey didn't receive anything. A few times Hedwig had swooped in to nibble on Hailey's ear or have a bit of toast before going back to the owlery with the other owls.
A horned owl with black and tan speckled markings had dropped a package in front of Mandy. From what Mandy told her, the owl was named Glinda, from the Wizard of Oz.
Mandy patted Glinda on the head, who took a drink from Mandy's pumpkin juice before flying off again. Mandy opened the package which was headbands that was different colours and had fruits on it, which caused Mandy to squeal in delight. Michael had received some Muggle sweets a few times.
Hedwig suddenly landed between the marmalade and the sugar bowl. She dropped a note onto Hailey's plate and Hailey reached for it. She opened it and read it:
Dear Hailey,
I know you get Friday afternoons off, so would you like to come and have a cup of tea with me around three? I want to hear all abut your first week. Send us an answer back with Hedwig.
Hagrid
Hailey took a quill from Michael and wrote: Yes, please, see you later on the back of Hagrid's note. She looked over at Ron and stood up. "I'll be right back." She went over to the Gryffindor table and to Ron.
"Good morning, Hailey," Fred and George greeted as she passed.
Hailey said a quick "morning" back to them. She grabbed Ron's shoulder and asked, "Do you want to come have tea with me and Hagrid down at his hut around three?" She realized that some of the other students from Gryffindor were looking at them oddly.
"Sure," Ron said.
Hailey looked at him, "I'll meet you in front of the Great Hall and then we'll go down."
Ron nodded, "Sounds good." He seemed very relieved for some reason.
Hailey nodded and went back to her table. She heard one of the twins whisper to the other, "At least she didn't forget about him."
Hailey wondered why they would think that. Ron was the very first person that she met. Well, besides Fred and George, but Ron was her very first friend.
Hailey thought Potions was going to be great, but then she got to the actual class itself. The dungeons were colder than the actual castle and there were floating animal heads in jars along the walls.
They took their spots with Hailey sitting next to Michael in the front. Mandy sat next to Lisa Turpin, who was sitting behind them.
Hailey wasn't sure how she was going to like Snape, since it seemed like the professor disliked her for some reason.
Snape started the class with taking roll call and paused at Hailey's name. "Ah, yes," he said softly, "Hailey Potter, our new — celebrity."
Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle snickered behind their hands. She looked at Snape, confused. Snape finished taking roll call and looked up at the class. His eyes were black like Hagrid's, but they seemed cold instead of warm and friendly.
"You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion-making," Snape said. He spoke in barely more than a whisper, but they still managed to catch onto his every word.
Hailey was good at science, but she was bad at art. So either this class was going to be hell or it would be fun. That is, if she didn't get on Snape's bad side even more.
"As there is little foolish wand-waving here, many of you will hardly believe this is magic. I don't expect you will really understand the beauty off the softly simmering cauldron with its shimmering fumes, the delicate power of liquids that creep through human veins, bewitching the mind, ensnaring the senses…I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, even stopper death—if you aren't as big a bunch of dunderheads as I usually have to teach," Snape said.
More silence followed. Hailey was confused. Robert Hilliard told her that Snape hated teaching Potions but he seemed to have described potion-making with some flattering terms. Maybe it was a love-hate type of thing?
"Potter!" Snape said suddenly, startling her a little. "What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"
Hailey blinked and looked at her notes, confused. She remembered reading about it, but she couldn't remember. She looked again, "I…don't know, sir."
It sounded like Malfoy busted out laughing, but then covered it.
"Tut, tut," Snape said. "Clearly fame isn't everything."
Hailey just stared at this man in near embarrassment. She read the book One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi three times. She may be smart, but she can't remember everything.
"Let's try again, Potter," Snape said. "Where would you look if I told you to find me a bezoar?"
Hailey smiled, relieved that it was a question that she knew the answer to, "In the stomach of a goat."
Snape's eyes seemed to narrow. "What is the difference, Potter, between monkshood and wolfsbane?"
She forced herself to stare in Snape's eyes as she answered, "There's no difference since they're the same plant."
"What is their other name?" Snape asked, glaring as he stared hard into J—Hailey's eyes.
"Aconite," Hailey stated staring back.
Snape looked around, "Why are you all not writing this down?" Hailey started to write it down, "And a point taken from Ravenclaw for the question that Potter didn't know the answer to."
Hailey and Michael looked at each other. Hailey had arched an eyebrow and Michael shrugged.
Snape had them pair up and made them make a simple potion to cure boils.
He walked around wearing his black cloak, watching them weigh nettles and crush snake fangs. He seemed to criticize the Ravenclaws and praise Malfoy, who he seemed to like. As Snape was telling them to look at the perfect way Malfoy had stewed his horn slugs, acrid green clouds and hissing started to fill the dungeon.
It looked like Crabbe and Goyle's cauldron had turned into twisted metal and potion was beginning to seep to the floor.
The first years crawled onto their stools and Crabbe was moaning in pain as angry, red boils started springing up on his arms and legs. Somehow Goyle had escaped being drenched and Snape went over to the two Slytherins. He examined the potion and then the two. "I suppose you added the porcupine quills before taking the cauldron off the fire?" Boils started springing up on Crabbe's nose. Snape looked at Goyle, "Take him to the hospital wing."
Snape rounded on Hailey and Michael. He overlooked the Ravenclaw boy and glared at Hailey. "You—Potter—why didn't you tell them not to add the quills? Thought they'd make you look good if they got it wrong, did you? That's another point from Ravenclaw!"
Hailey spluttered, "What the hell? I had nothing to do with their stupid-ass mistake!"
Snape sneered, "That's two more from Ravenclaw; one each for Miss Potter's choice of words."
Hailey opened her mouth to argue some more, but Michael touched her arm, in a warning. Hailey noticed that Malfoy's eyes narrowed at them and then he leaned over to whisper to Pansy Parkinson.
An hour later, they emerged from the dungeons. She was upset for losing Ravenclaw four points. She turned to Michael and Mandy, "Why the hell does he hate me so damn much?"
"On Tuesday, Penelope and Cho told me that Snape hates everyone equally, when we were trying to figure out the answer to the riddle," Michael stated.
Mandy put her arm around Hailey in a sort of one-armed hug. "Yeah, I wouldn't take it as a personal thing."
"It kind of feels personal," Hailey said. "He saw me and it was like, instant dislike. Now I know that it's flat-out hatred."
Michael shrugged, "I wouldn't let him get you down. After all, you still have that tea thing to go to with Hagrid and Ron."
Hailey looked at them, "Do you two want to come with us?"
"Nah, you and Ron go ahead. You two need to catch up with stuff," Mandy said. She had to stand on the tips of her toes, so she can put her arm around Michael's shoulders. She smiled at her, "We'll be in the library until you get back."
At ten till three, Hailey found Ron sitting on the Grand Staircase, waiting.
"Let's go," Hailey said and Ron stood up. They made their way across the school ground to the hunt. Hailey was telling Ron about Snape taking four points away from Ravenclaw, one for not knowing the correct question, then taking a point away for something that Crabbe and Goyle did, then two more for "swearing."
"I wouldn't sweat it to much. Snape takes more points than that off of Fred and George," Ron stated.
"I think he did that because he hates me." Hailey stated, loosening her blue and bronze tie.
Ron stated, "He hates Neville too. I think it's because Snape knows that he intimidates Neville."
Hagrid lived in a small wooden house on the edge of the forbidden forest. A crossbow and a pair of galoshes were outside the door.
When Hailey knocked on the door, there was a frantic scrambling and some booming barks.
"Back, Fang, back," Hagrid said from inside. Hagrid's face appeared in the crack between the door and the door-frame. "Hang on a second. Back, Fang." He let the two inside, holding the collar of an enormous black boarhound.
There was only one room inside. Hams and pheasants were hanging from the ceiling, a copper kettle was boiling on the open fire, and in the corner was a massive bed with a patchwork quilt on it.
"Make yerselves at home." Hagrid said releasing Fang, who bounded towards Ron and started licking his ears.
Hailey wasn't surprised to know that Fang wasn't as fierce as he looked; it was sort of like Hagrid as well. "This is Ron," she said to Hagrid who was now pouring boiling water in a teapot and putting rock cakes on a plate.
Hagrid glanced over at Ron's freckles, "Another Weasley, eh? I spent half me life chasin' yer twin brothers away from the forest."
The rock cakes were shapeless lumps with raisins that nearly broke their teeth, but they both pretended to enjoy them. They told Hagrid all about their first lessons, although Ron started talking about how Hermione is an annoying know-it-all.
Fang had rested his head on Hailey's knee and slobbered all over her robes and skirt.
Hagrid called Filch an annoying git and Hailey was surprised to hear that he wanted to introduce Fang to Mrs Norris, who follows Hagrid everywhere when he goes into the castle. Hailey had told Hagrid about Snape's potion lesson and Hagrid said, "He hardly likes any of the students."
"But he seemed to really hate me," Hailey stated.
"Rubbish, why should he?" Hagrid said firmly and looked at Ron. "How's yer brother Charlie? I liked him a lot—great with animals."
Hailey was sure that there was a reason why Hagrid couldn't meet her eyes when he said that.
Ron started talking about Charlie's work with dragons and Hailey noticed a paper under the tea cozy. She picked it up and noticed that it was a newspaper clipping from the Daily Prophet. She read the headline:
Gringotts Break-In Latest
Investigations continue into the break-in at Gringotts on 31 July, widely believed to be the work of Dark wizards or witches unknown.
Gringotts goblins today insisted that nothing had been taken. The vault that was searched had, in fact, been emptied that same day.
"But we're not telling you what was in there, so keep your noses out if you know what's good for you," said a Gringotts spokesgoblin this afternoon.
Hailey looked at Hagrid, "Hey! That Gringotts break-in happened on my birthday! Maybe it was happening while we were there!"
Hagrid couldn't meet Hailey's eyes and offered her another rock cake. Hailey read the story again. The vault that was searched had, in fact, been emptied that same day.
Hagrid had emptied out vault seven hundred and thirteen by taking out a grubby little package. She couldn't help but wonder if that was what the thieves were looking for.
Hailey and Ron walked back to the castle for dinner, with rock cakes weighing down in their pockets, which they were too polite to refuse.
The lessons had kept her busy, along with the homework that Professor McGonagall had unexpectedly dropped on them, had given her enough to think.
Did Hagrid get to this package in time? Where is this thing at? Does Hagrid know something about Snape that he doesn't want me to know?
Hailey had to tell Michael about the situation in Ravenclaw Tower. Mandy was in the corner, doing some ovomancy, which was divination using eggs. Lisa Turpin, Marietta Edgecomb, and two third years were helping her try to figure out the predictions and using books for help. It seemed like Mandy was giving either her or Michael or the both them concerned looks.
They were sitting at a table together, doing their homework, while discussing what had happened at Hagrid's hut.
Michael seemed like he was thinking, "So, you think Hagrid is hiding something?"
Hailey said, "Yes. The package that I saw him grab, where it's hidden, and I know that Hagrid knows something about Snape that he's not telling me."
Michael looked at her, "I guess taking the package on the same day that Gringotts was broken into seems…" He looked at something off to the side. "Why is she looking at us like that?"
Hailey looked over to see Mandy looking panicked and arched an eyebrow at her. Mandy walked over, holding a roll of parchment. She was looking at the parchment she was holding. "What is it?" Hailey asked.
"We cracked twenty eggs, ten for each of you," Mandy said, "I was asking if you both were going to have a good year. But then those nine times for each of you the egg was landing left and the white of the eggs was making what looked like a snake. Grant Page was using his Divination course book to help me and it turned out that the snake is actually a sign that danger or an unknown enemy is on your path."
Michael gave Mandy a look, "That actually works?"
"The first time I thought it was actually wrong, so I did it nine more times, but it kept making the same thing for each of you," Mandy said. "Grant isn't sure what is going on."
Hailey looked at Mandy, "Well, can't argue with nine times of it landing in the same position."
"Well, you both be careful," Mandy said, "Or I will kick both your arses."
"Sure," the other two said at the same time.
That night, as Hailey lay in bed, she wondered if ovomancy was actually a good method of predicted future events. She always heard that the future was unpredictable and that nothing everything was set in stone. Ten times out ten, wasn't really a coincidence, but of course there was always going to be that one white part of the egg that was going to end up looking like a snake, so it doesn't really work.
Does it?
That was Hailey's last thought before she fell asleep.
A/N: I got some stuff from the Ravenclaw Welcoming message, like Uric the Oddball and ovomancy.
I had to look deep into how what ovomancy worked. Apparently a snake really does mean danger and an unknown enemy is on your path.
Also, I thought it would be funny for a witch to name her owl after Glinda from the Wizard of Oz.