Blackfird, fly Chapter 4: Slytherin, a harry potter fanfic

Chapter 4:

Slytherin

The hall was absolutely amazing. The room was filled with tables, two on the left, two on the right, and they extended almost the full length of the room. The ceiling looked exactly like the night sky. The moon was peaking out from behind the clouds and they were lit candles floating without strings in mid-air. A girl behind them noted, 'It's not real, the ceiling. It's just bewitched to look like the night sky. I read about in Hogwarts: A History.' The woman who had met them in the staircase earlier was leading them up to a long table that extended the width of the hall. In the middle, seated in the biggest, most lovely chair, was the man that Omni had seen on the card when she was riding the train. In front of them, there was a stool seated with a dusty old hat perched upon it. The crowd of students stopped before a small step near the hat on the stool, the woman turned around and addressed them all. 'Will you wait along here, please?' She ushered them to crowd around the bottom step. 'Before we begin, Professor Dumbledore would like to say a few words.' The aged man from the card stood gracefully from his seat and gathered the attention of everyone. 'I have a few starting term notices I wish to announce. To first years, the Dark Forest is strictly forbidden to all students. Also, our caretaker, Mr. Filch has asked me to remind you that the third floor Corridor, on the right hand side, is out of bounds to anyone who doesn't wish to die a most painful death.' Omni looked at Ron and Harry with a worried expression as the woman who had leaded them in pulled out a scroll of paper. 'Now, when I call your name, you will come forth, and I shall place the Sorting Hat on your head and you will be assorted into your house.' The woman read the first name off the paper. 'Hermione Granger!' A frizzy brown haired girl stepped from the crowd. Obviously she was nervous. 'Oh no. Okay, relax,' she whispered to herself as she walked towards the hat. Hermione sat down on the stool and the woman placed the hat lightly on top of her head. The hat croaked out his decision. 'Ah, right then. Hmmm, right! Okay... Gryffindor!' Everyone at the Gryffindor table applauded acceptably as Hermione smiled and skipped her way towards her house. The woman read another name off her scroll. 'Draco Malfoy!' Draco stepped away from his goons and strutted arrogantly towards the stool, giving off the impression that he knew what house he'd be in already. He sat down on the stool, as the woman put the hat on the his head. The hat barely brushed Draco's hair when it bellowed out, 'Slytherin!' Draco smiled jauntily and skidded towards the Slytherin table. Another name was read from the scroll. 'Omnivera Placethe!' Omni stood there for a moment with the air stuck in her throat. She looked at Dumbledore. He was seated forward with his hands covering his mouth in concentration. She stood away from the crowd and looked back at Ron and Harry. They both gave her a reassuring smile as she neared the stool and sat down. The woman placed the hat on her head. The hat spoke to Omni, frightening her a bit. 'Yes, this is a tad difficult. Good mind, clean spirit as well, but something. Yes, something leans towards.... SLYTHERIN!' The hat bellowed out hers the loudest as she looked at Ron and Harry both. They both gazed at her with saddening expressions as she got off the stool and directed herself to the empty seat beside Draco. She sat down and he was about to say something when another name being called interrupted him. 'Susan Bournes!' A plump, freckled faced, red haired girl made her way towards the stool, the hat was placed on her head, and it announced, 'I know! Hufflepuff!' The Hufflepuff table applauded as Susan ran her way towards her house. Another name was put out. 'Ronald Weasley!' Ron gulped as Draco giggled beside Omni. She rolled her eyes and hoped that Ron was going to be sorted into her house. If not him, at least Harry. 'Ah!' The hat spat as it was placed on top of Ron's head. Ron jumped in surprise. 'Another Weasley! I know just what to do with you! Gryffindor!' Ron smiled and made his way to the Gryffindor table as Omni's heart sunk. Hopefully Harry will be sorted into the Slytherin house. The woman casually plucked out another name. 'Harry Potter!' The whole hall went dead silent as Dumbledore leaned further in his chair. Omni remembered the reaction Ron had given Harry at the sound of his name. She wondered why he was so famous. Harry looked around, and looked at all the kids who were staring at him. He made his way slowly to the tool and the hat was placed upon his head. 'Hmmm, difficult. Very difficult. Plenty of courage I see, not a bad mind either. There's talent, yes, but a first. To prove yourself, but where to put you.' Harry was whispering something under his breath and apparently the hat heard it. 'Not Slytherin, eh? Are you sure? You could be great, you know? It's all here, in your head, and Slytherin could help you on your way to greatness!' Omni's hands went sweaty at the thought of having a good friend in the same house as her. As selfish as it was, she was hoping that the hat wouldn't care and would place Harry in Slytherin anyways. 'No? Well, if you're sure... better be.... Gryffindor!' The crowd at the Gryffindor table applauded immensely and welcomed Harry with open arms and handshakes. Dumbledore gave Harry a warm smile and a slight nod.

A slight tapping on a glass got everyone's attention. 'May I have your attention, please?' The female Professor stepped out of the way as Dumbledore stood once again. 'Let the feast begin,' he announced as silver platters of food appeared on every table in the hall. Corn, chicken wings, mashed potatoes, and more of an assortment of foods emitted their scent into the hall. Omni breathed it in. She was usually fed scraps by Clyve and Marvina. Even the cat was fed better than she was. The hall was full of the sounds of happy students, eager to start getting and get on with their initiation into the School. Draco looked at Omni, smiled, and dug into the roasted chicken that was in front of him. She didn't understand. Why was he so nice to her, but such a brat to everyone else? She looked over to the Gryffindor table to see Ron with two chicken wings, one for each hand, gnawing on them both happily. She looked in front of her at the mashed potatoes. She took a spoonful and picked at them with her fork listlessly. She couldn't help but watch the Gryffindor table, and when she looked over, she noticed that Ron's older brother Percy was talking to Harry secretively. They were directing their speech at the Teacher's table when Percy raised his arm and pointed in a certain teachers direction. The teacher in question was sitting at the table with a sour expression on his face. He looked miserable. He wore nothing but black, even his hair was black. Omni heard the sound of gasps and giggles as a few Ghosts starting flying through the room. She gasped and dropped her fork into her mashed potatoes. Her eyes open and her mouth gaping. Draco looked at her and placed a hand on her knee. 'Don't worry, they won't hurt you.' Draco pointed to a ghost that was flying over their heads. 'That's the Bloody Baron. He's the Slytherin ghost. The most interesting as well, if I don't mind saying.' She looked up at the ghost as he flew by. He was covered in a silvery substance that she realized was blood. His body was intertwined with chains and Omni could swear she heard them rattling as the Baron disappeared under another table. (Note: I am going by Wikipedia's description of the Bloody Baron. The movie version is different. He looks alot like Captain Hook).

At the end of the meal, the houses were shipped out of the hall in lines leaded by the House Prefects. The Slytherin house was guided out of the hall, past the marble staircase that led to the first floor, and to the stairs the descended into the Dungeon. When they arrived in the Dungeon they walked down the main corridor. The place was grim, and it was covered in soot, spiders, and the webs they left behind. They walked along the corridor to this blank expense of wall. It was a seemingly random patch of wall as the boy who was leading them stepped in front of the wall and uttered, 'scurvy cur!' Suddenly, sprouting out of the wall, a doorway appears with the door ajar. The head boy walked through and the rest followed. Omni looked around as she entered a low ceiling, dungeon like room with green lamps, chairs, and skulls all around. They stopped in front of a large oak table with a fireplace directly behind it. Behind the group were two staircases, one leading to the left and one leading to the right. The head boy spoke. 'This is your common room. This will be your home while you are here at Hogwarts. Please take care of the space around you, as there is no tolerance for nasty messes here.' He looked back at the entrance and an imaginary light-bulb popped over his head. 'On that note; the password to get into the common room changes every week for security reasons. You'll have to come and find me if you aren't sure of the Password. We take head count at night, if you're missing, you will be looked for.' The head boy turned to the staircases and pointed to the right. 'Girls to the left,' he gestured towards the left. 'Boys on the right.' He looked straight into the eyes and Pansy Parkinson and said, 'there will be no tolerance for girls found in the boys area.' He turned around and spread his arms out towards the chairs on either side of the fireplace. 'Sit down, relax. In forty-five minutes it'll be time to head in. Your uniforms are waiting on your bed, and your luggage should be at the foot of it. Good-night.' And with that, the head boy disappeared back into the Dungeon corridor. Omni pried herself from the group that were ogling at the skulls on the wall and sat down on the small green love seat that was sitting closest to the fire. Her mind was racing. 'What am I supposed to do? Percy was supposed to be taking me to see the Headmaster!' Omni got up and headed for the door. Draco grabbed her by the arm and pulled her close to his chest. 'Where are you going, Om?' She pointed towards the door. 'I've got to go see the Headmaster. I, uh... didn't have the funds to buy my school supplies, and I need to see if he has extras.' Draco, who seemed unimpressed by her lack of wealth, let her go and returned to leaning on the shoulder of Pansy, who gave Omni a slight near as she left through the door. She headed around the corner, past the Potions room and up the staircase to the Entrance hall. As soon as she came to the Entrance hall and rounded for the staircase that led to the first floor, she knocked right into Percy. He hat flew off his head and landed at Omni's feet. She picked it up and handed it to him, as he looked at her. 'Where have you been? You were supposed to meet me right after the feast ended!' She looked down at the robes Pansy gave her. She forgot to change. 'I'm sorry, I got so caught up in being sorted and seeing the Slytherin Common Room. I'm sorry Percy.' He gave a sight and ushered her forward with his hand. 'Ah, alright, well, let's get a move on then.'

After getting lost on several staircases and feeling extremely tired, Omni and Percy finally reached the Seventh floor. They rounded a corner and came to a stand-still in front of a statue that looked alot like a Gargoyle. Omni knew what Percy was about to do, it was almost the same as getting into the Slytherin common room. Percy stepped forward and cleared his throat, 'Acid pops!' The Gargoyle statue lept aside to reveal a wall that after a few seconds, split into two revealing a staircase that almost moved like an escalator. Omni moved forward to step onto the staircase and didn't hear Percy following her. She looked over her shoulder and raised her eyebrow. 'Uh, are you coming?' He shook his head and crossed his arms. 'No, I'm afraid I can't, I have duties to attend to.' With that, he turned, and walked down the hallway they came from. Omni gulped and looked at the staircase. It didn't look very high, how was she supposed to use it to get up there? She stepped onto the staircase and it jerked slightly. She uttered a small yelp as the staircase started spiraling upwards. She noticed that the walls re-joined and she could hear the Gargoyle taking it's original place.

At the top of the staircase, she came to a door. It was a really shiny oak door with a metal knocker, brass, in the shape of a Griffin. The door really wasn't all that sound proof because she could hear a decent sounding humming coming from inside. Omni grasped the Griffin and rapped it against the shiny wood. She grimaced as she looked at the scratches she made over it's polished. 'Why, come in!' Apparently he was surprised at her visit. She opened the door and entered a beautiful circular room with many windows. A couple of the windows looked out, and against the moonlight, Omni could see the mountains surrounding the castle in the distance. The walls of the room were covered with various men and woman, no doubt previous Headmasters and Headmistresses. They moved and scuttled from frame to frame, it was quite a sight. She looked immediately behind the Headmaster, actually, looked more like through him, and glared at the Sorting Hat sitting on the shelf. The Headmaster chuckled. 'Please, take your time. All the reactions are the same when it comes to the first time visiting my office.' Omni smiled and gazed at the sword in the glass case placed beside the Sorting Hat. She had never seen a real sword before.

She finally looked at the Headmaster, actually, incorrect. She was now fascinated with his desk. The wooden table was enormous, and had claw like feet at the bottom. The surface was kept fairly polished but you couldn't tell as there was a mess of papers and an assortment of other things scattered upon it.

Finally, after getting a good look at his office, Omni finally turned her gaze immediately at the Headmasters face. He smiled warmly at her and gestured towards the chair that was facing him. 'Please, sit.' She hastily sat down, feeling slightly embarrassed for gaping and gazing like she did. He put his one hand under his chin and raised his brows. 'So, what brings me the pleasure of this late night visit?' She put her one hand on the desk and rapped her fingers. 'Sir, I.. I don't..' Her eyes started welling up with tears as the Headmaster grabbed a tissue from underneath his desk. 'It's alright, you can tell me. It's good to sometimes release some of what's troubling you.' She grabbed the tissue and dabbed her eyes lightly. She blinked as she could feel a broken off eyelash poking her in the side of the eye. 'Sir. Please help me. I escape from my adoptive parents, they hate me. I didn't have anywhere to go, I mean, I had no socks!' She raised her voiced greatly and the Headmaster put his finger to his lips and whispered 'shhh' as he pointed to the sleeping Phoenix beside him. She continued on. 'So, sir, you see. I wandered to King's Cross Station and slipped in behind the Weasley family. I watched them all get on the platform and Mrs. Weasley helped me to get on as well. She told me to get onto the Hogwarts Express and find Ron. I didn't even know this was a magic school!' She took a deep breath after such a long story. The Headmaster pushed his glasses further up his nose and looked at her with a serious, down to business look. 'Well, it seems to me that you don't want to go back, am I right?' She shook her head almost violently and the Headmaster smirked a little. 'Are you interested in being a part of Hogwarts? If I'm not correct, did I not see you get sorted into Slytherin?' Omni looked down at her muddy shoes and gave a little nod. 'If I send the consent papers to your adoptive parents, are they going to sign them, let alone receive them?' She looked at him and considered it for a moment. 'Maybe they wouldn't want me back,' she thought positively. I mean, they think I killed precious Gemima. Surely they wouldn't want a cat killer back in their house, would they?' She looked at him and shook her head. 'I think they'd sign them. They don't want me back. I killed their cat.' The Headmaster put down the papers he was holding. 'Killed their cat? Out of all the things you could take life from, why would you bother a lazy cat?' Omni giggled and shook her head. 'No, I mean, I woke up in the morning to Clyve yelling at me, Clyve is my step father by the way.' The Headmaster nodded. 'I gathered that.' Omni mentally slapped herself. 'Yeah! But anyways, Clyve was yelling at me to come downstairs, so I ran downstairs and when I got into the kitchen, I saw Miss. Gemima, she's the cat. There was something wrong.' Omni could still see the vision of the frozen cat lying in the Placethe's home. 'It was frozen. Like.... someone had put it alive in the freezer, and had just taken it out. It's eyes... they looked scared.' The Headmasters glasses were now practically falling off his face as he stared at her in concentration. 'I don't understand how it could be me. I'd remember... I'd know if I did that! I mean.. I can't even hurt a house fly without feeling terrible!' The Headmaster looked down at what were probably the consent forms and starting sliding the paper into a small brownish/white envelope. He took the candle from beside him, dripped some of it onto the seal of the envelope and pressed a stamp onto the pool until the it was dry enough to let the stamp off of it. He took the envelope in his hand and pointed it at her. 'I'm going to send these with hast, is that alright?' The Headmaster clutched the envelope his hand and got up from his seat. Omni did the same and also got up out of her chair. He looked at her and pushed some of his white hair away from his face. 'I cannot take you to get supplies tomorrow, for I am away, but the next day after the one coming, I will take you to Diagon Alley and assist you in purchasing some supplies for the remaining school year.' Omni smiled and let out a sigh of relief. 'Oh, thank you so much, sir!' The Headmaster waved his hand at her and smiled. 'Please, call me Professor Dumbledore. What do I have the pleasure of calling you, I might ask?' She put her hand to her mouth and stifled a giggle. 'I'm so sorry, I forgot! It's Omnivera, Omnivera Placethe, but Omni for short, if you like.' He smiled, and there was a certain childish twinkle in his blue eyes. 'Well, I do believe that everyone in your house is living in the land of the sleeping. I think it would be wise for you to do so as well. You have your studies tomorrow.' She stood frozen still, and was about to ask a question when he interrupted her. 'Each classroom has a spare wand and text book. Mind you, the wands and the text books are beaten up equally, but they will do you until we venture into Diagon Alley. You thought my office is interesting.' Omni's cheeks were flushed red from the joy that was spreading throughout her. 'Thank you very much! Goodnight Professor Dumbledore.' He nodded his head and waved. 'Sweet dreams, Omni!'

She closed the oak door with the Griffin knocker behind her and stepped onto the staircase. As before, the staircase spiraled, not up this down, but downwards. The walls parted, the Gargoyle lept to the side and Omnivera popped out into the Seventh Floor corridor. She stepped out onto the shiny floor and yelped with glee. She jumped around and around and then stopped. How was she going to find her way out of here?

Don't you LOVE cliffhangers? I'll have another Chapter in a day probably, so... it's not much of a cliffhanger.