Witch Way

Name suggested by Cateagle

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the recognizable characters, though I wish I did. They are all property of J.K. Rowling and her business associates, except for Lillian and the other characters I invented 3: First Lessons

Lillian woke up early. For a moment she couldn't remember where she was, and then a large smile appeared on her face.

She got up, showered and dressed even before her roommates woke up.

'Now what?' she thought. Her clock showed it was only six-thirty, way too early for breakfast or even for waking up her roommates. She opened her trunk and took out her MP3 player. It was a simple no-name player which could be found at many muggle stores. She plugged in her headphones and turned it on, immersing herself in her favorite music.

"What is this?" she heard somebody asking a few songs later.

Lilly removed her headphones and turned around to see Brenda looking at her in wonderment.

"That's just a music player," she answered.

"I've never seen such an instrument. How does it work?"

Lillian shrugged. "I don't really know the exact details, but it is an electronic solid-state device which you can load from your computer with all kinds of music and play it whenever you want."

Brenda was looking at her as if she was speaking Chinese.

"I've never heard any of those words," she said.

Lilly sighed. "Don't you know anything about the muggle world?"

Brenda shook her head.

"That's simply ridiculous! There are millions of muggles and only a few thousands wizards and witches. One would expect the magic folks to know much more about the muggle way of life."

Brenda looked puzzled.

"Well, it's probably not your fault. I'll have to speak with Au… Professor McGonagall about it. Maybe we should arrange some field trips to muggle areas to get everybody acquainted with muggle stuff…" She sighed again and then explained: "Electronics is the science of controlling electricity in order to achieve many goals. One of them is music. It can be recorded once and then played again and again as many times as you wish. Electronics doesn't normally work in magical environment, but this player was charmed to do just that, so I can use it at Hogwarts. Do you want to listen to some of this music?"

Brenda still looked somewhat puzzled but nodded affirmative. Lilly put her headphones over Brenda's ears and explained: "This button is the Play/Pause. You press it once to start the music playing and once again to stop it. Pressing it for more than a second turns the instrument on or off. The arrow buttons move a song forward or backward while the plus and minus buttons control the volume level. Now go on – try it!"

Brenda pressed the button quite reluctantly, but her face brightened as she started hearing the music. She played a little bit with the buttons and then removed the headphones and gave it back to Lillian.

"That's wonderful! I've never known muggles could do such magic!"

"It's not magic. It's technology," Lillian corrected her.

"Whatever…"

They walked together to the great hall.

"Lillian! Over here!" she heard somebody call. She looked around to see Dianna waving at her. She was already sitting at a table with Andrew and another boy.

"Did you sleep well?" Lillian asked her.

"Quite well, but I woke up early. I was too excited to go back to sleep. What is your first lesson?"

"It is herbology, and then lunch and then potions."

"I have the same schedule. It looks like we have these subjects together." Dianna sounded quite happy at the prospect of taking these lessons with her new friend.

"Oh, I should have introduced you: Dianna, this is Brenda Weasley who is my roommate, Brenda – this is Dianna De-Poitier, Ravenclaw. She grew up in France."

The girls shook hands, and Dianna introduced the other boy – a first-year Ravenclaw as well. Brenda had already met Andrew in the Gryffindor common room and needed no introduction. That was lucky, as Andrew was busy taking photos of everyone and everything around him, hardly taking part in the conversation.

Lillian checked her watch as soon as she finished her breakfast. "It looks like we have enough time until our first lesson. Would any of you like to go with me to the library?" Only Dianna seemed enthusiastic about it. They left the great hall together, hopping happily towards the library.

The librarian seemed quite surprised to see the two girls there even before the first lesson of the year. "May I help you?" she asked.

"I wonder if I can find anything about my family history," Lillian answered.

"What's your name, dear?"

"I'm Lillian Elizabeth Potter-Granger."

"Oh!" The librarian sounded quite surprised. She overcame it immediately. "The third row, fourth shelf from the bottom, contains the old families' trees. Look for 'P' there."

The girls needed less than a minute to find the relevant book. It seemed to be one of those enchanted to stay updated. She could see herself, along with James and Rose on the last line, with Harry and Hermione above them and James with Lilly another line up. She followed the tree up until she found the first "De-Poitier". Looking around that point she could find another name with "(Malfoy)" besides it and a note stating that Malfoy was removed from the family.

Both girls were excited to find this. For Lillian this looked like the ultimate confirmation of her friend's tale, while Dianna had her first written confirmation for what she had only heard in her family.

"I didn't know Hermione Granger was your mother," she said with owe. "She has been my heroine since I first learned about that war."

"She is just Mum for me, but also a very good friend."

"I wish I could say the same about my mother," said Dianna.

They joined their classmates in front of the great hall. A young teacher was standing there already. They didn't pay any attention to him until he called out for them.

"Please come closer," he said.

As they came closer Lillian noticed his face and smiled. He didn't look in her direction but started speaking again: "I am Assistant Professor Neville Longbottom. Please follow me to the green-house, where this and the following lessons would take place."

He scanned the students and then noticed Lillian and Andrew. He only smiled at them before turning around and leading the group to the green house.

The lesson was uneventful. Both Lillian and Dianna seemed to know all the answers and started a friendly competition for more house points, ending in a tie, as expected.

"How did you like your first lesson?" asked them Julius at lunch.

"It was really nice and Nev… Professor Longbottom explained everything really well," answered Lillian.

"You know Professor Longbottom?" Dianna seemed surprised.

"Yes, he used to be in the same class as my parents and is still a close friend. I've seen him at least once a month since I was six, but I didn't know he was teaching here."

"This is his first year," Julius said, "so you couldn't have known before. What is your next lesson?"

"Double potions," Andrew said.

"That's with Professor Malfoy. She's very good; quite strict, but you learn a lot in every lesson," Julius said. "She had also known my father. She gave me detention last year and spent the whole time telling me about how great my father had been."

Dianna seemed to straighten out a bit hearing this.

The potions classroom was still in the dungeons, just like Lillian remembered from her parents' stories, yet it didn't look gloomy at all. The walls were decorated with various images of plants and animals. Only when looking closely one could notice the small notes attached to each drawing, stating the potion ingredients retrieved from the subject of the drawing. The room looked well lighted and full of fresh air despite the small windows. Lillian sat with Dianna and Brenda while Andrew sat at the adjacent table.

"Good afternoon, class. I am Professor Nacissa Malfoy-Black and I'm going to teach you how to brew potions, but first I want each of you to tell me his or her name and tell about himself in a sentence or two. This will help me get acquainted with you, as well as help you get to know each-other."

She turned to the last row on the left. "Let's start here. What's your name, dear, and what would you like to tell us about yourself?"

The addressed student turned red, but a moment later started speaking. "I'm Valentine Shuster from Derby. I didn't know I was magical until I got the letter. I only thought I was weird or unlucky, causing all kinds of problems around me."

"So, are you the first magical person in your family?"

"Not really. It turns out my grand-grandmother was a witch, but none of her children or grandchildren had any magical talents."

"Then – welcome back!" Narcissa smiled at her before pointing to the next student. As Lillian and her friends were sitting in the front row they were among the last to speak.

"I'm Andrew Ceevey. My parents are muggles, but both my older brothers are wizards, and I like photography, just like them."

"Creevey… Was Colin your brother?"

"Yes. He died defending Hogwarts against the death-eaters and the pictures he had taken before he died were recently published by my brother Denis."

"I'm sorry about your eldest brother and I'm happy to have you with us," said the professor before turning her attention to Dianna.

"My name is Dianna De-Poitier. I was born in England, but grew up in France, where my parents hoped I would be spared from the horrors of that war."

"Well, mademoiselle De-Poitiers, I'd like to talk with you after class."

"Oui, Mamman."

The professor didn't comment, but Lillian and some of the other students noted the exchange.

Narcissa turned her attention to the next student.

"I'm Lillian Potter. I like reading and I like having friends, both magical and non-magical."

"You could just say muggles," suggested Narcissa.

"I know, but non-magical folks don't like that term as it has been used as a derogatory term in the past."

"Fine…" Narcissa seemed to think for a moment. "Are you related to Harry Potter?"

Lillian smiled. "He is my father, and my mother is Hermione Potter nee Granger."

Lillian enjoyed the surprised look on her teacher's face. Narcissa seemed to want to ask something, but then changed her mind and turned to the next student.

Two hours later, Lillian was waiting for Dianna near the potions classroom. Her other friends were quite hungry, so she had told them to go to dinner. She could hear some faint voices through the closed door. Despite her curiosity she didn't want to eavesdrop on the conversation. She knew this conversation was very important to both Dianna and her mother.

Dianna came out of the door with expressionless face. Lilly didn't want to bother her with questions. She just held her hand and pressed slightly, as if assuring her of their friendship. She could sense that Dianna was very upset and bewildered. She knew it would take a bit of time until Dianna could talk about her meeting with her mother.

Dianna didn't talk throughout dinner, but Andrew and Brenda chatted so much that nobody seemed to notice.

"Let's do our homework at the library," suggested Lilly after dinner. Andrew and Brenda didn't join them – Andrew was going to show his new friend some of the muggle stuff he had taken with him.

Lilly led her friend to a secluded table and quickly cast a concealment charm. Dianna didn't notice it.

"I believe there's something you want to talk about," said Lillian as she sat down.

Dianna looked at her as if asking how she knew it.

"I've always been quite good at understanding people and deciphering their expressions," Lillian smiled at her.

Dianna sighed and then smiled. "It looks like I can't keep secrets from you…"

She stayed silent for another moment. "You know, it was quite different than what I expected…"

"What do you mean?"

"Whenever Mom came to visit me in France, she would kiss me and hug me at first, but she would soon change into what I called 'teacher mode' – trying to check my knowledge and my abilities and telling me what I should or shouldn't do. Only before leaving she used to change to 'mother mode' again and hug me tightly. Now she is really my teacher, yet she acted more motherly than ever before."

"How, exactly?"

"Well, she first asked me about the train ride and the sorting. She wasn't too surprised that I was sorted into Ravenclaw, but she asked me why it took so long."

"Why, really?"

"The hat wanted to sort me into Slytherin, but I insisted I won't go there. I even threatened to tear it apart if it kept insisting."

"I did the same. It only suggested Slytherin, but was afraid I would burn it, so it let me choose," Lillian told her.

"It let me choose as well, eventually. Why have you chosen Gryffindor?"

"My parents had been Gryffindor, although I considered Ravenclaw as well."

"At least you can be proud about your parents. I don't feel too proud about mine, though."

"Well, your mother seems to be a very good teacher and she did help my father during the last battle. You can be proud about that, at least."

"I suppose you are right."

"What else did you talk about?" asked Lillian.

"Mom asked if I have already made any friendships. I told her I met you in the train and we became friends. She then told me 'Don't let her know you are a Malfoy. She may resent you for that.'"

"And what did you say?"

"I told her it was already too late. That I had already told you and it didn't change anything. I also told her about the family tree we've seen in the library. She was quite surprised."

Lillian smiled at her friend.

"Anyway, she said she was glad that I was in England now and suggested we spend more time together. She said I could come to her with anything that I wanted to talk about and suggested we meet every Friday evening for some time together. I asked if I could bring you along. She smiled and said 'I'd rather spend some time with you alone before I get to know your friends.' In a way, she was a different person than the one I've known before, but in a good way."

Lillian removed the concealment charm and heard immediately "Oh, here you are. I was looking for you everywhere. The headmistress wanted to speak with you, Lillian." Andrew seemed almost out of breath.

"We were here the whole time," said Dianna.

"I didn't see anybody at this table and didn't hear any talking," Andrew said. "Did you do anything to hide?"

Lillian smiled. "I just wanted to assure our privacy."

Dianna looked at her with surprise in her eyes. "Are you able to cast privacy charms? I didn't see you using your wand or saying any spell."

Lillian shrugged. "I didn't. My wand is still in my bag and I didn't use any spell, but please don't tell anybody."

"Wow!" was all that Dianna could say.

"Lillian is very talented, but she doesn't like to talk about that," Andrew informed Dianna as Lillian left the library.

Professor McGonagall was waiting near the gargoyle guarding the staircase to her office. "What took you so long, Miss Potter?" she asked.

"I just had a private conversation with Dianna and Andrew couldn't find out due to the privacy shield."

"You've cast a privacy shield?"

"Well, it was more like a concealment and sound-proofing charm."

"Wandless and silent?"

"I don't know the spells to be used with a wand and I don't really need it." That sounded somewhat apologetic.

"You should pretend to use the wand, at least. It would look less suspicious," suggested the headmistress as they reached her office.

They sat down. Minerva smiled at Lillian. "Well, Lilly, how do you find school?"

"Oh, it's wonderful, Aunt Minnie! I got some new friends and the boat ride was fantastic and I've never known how beautiful Hogwarts looks in the night."

"Who are your new friends?"

"There's Brenda who is my roommate…"

"Weasley?"

"Sure! The same red hair, although I've never met her at the Burrow. Then there's Dianna, whom I met during the train ride. I think we are going to be really good friends."

"De-Poitiers?"

"Yes. She told me she was brought up in France."

"You know she is…"

"A Malfoy? Sure. We've already checked our family trees in the library. I wonder why Dad didn't do it until now."

"Your father was never too keen on reading, unlike your mother. But back to you – don't you mind she is actually a Malfoy?"

"I was, at first. Then I sensed her and found out she is a good and honest person, just as I like. She also has an aura very similar to mine. She would probably turn to be just as powerful a witch."

"Oh, dear!" mumbled Minerva, "just what I need for peace and quiet in school…"

"How did you find your lessons until now?" she asked Lilly.

"Quite interesting. Nev…" she noticed Minerva's face and corrected herself. "Assistant Professor Longbottom is very knowledgeable and likes his subject. Dianna also said he is handsome. Then Professor Malfoy is very kind and teaches well. I managed to learn a few things which were not in the book during her lesson. All I tried at home turned complete failure, but during this lesson I managed to brew a passable potion. That was really wonderful!"

Minerva smiled at the enthusiastic child. "You remember not to show your powers, do you?"

"Well, I've done nothing except for the privacy charm, and if Andrew didn't look for us then Dianna wouldn't even notice it."

"Did you tell her anything about your 'extra talents'?"

"No, but I don't know what Andrew might have told her after I left. And then – Dianna is quite smart. She would eventually find out."

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