Chapter V
To Teach an Old Dog
Vail briskly walked through the corridors of Hogwarts, her mind still processing all that Dumbledore had shared with her. It was all much worse than she thought it would be, and it left a horribly oppressive feeling in her chest.
Voldemort's ascent to power had been a gradual process, fueled by his insatiable desire for dominance and control. He had meticulously gathered followers, a group known as the 'Death Eaters', who shared his dark ideology and were willing to carry out his malevolent deeds. Their ultimate goal was to establish pure-blood supremacy and reshape the wizarding world according to their twisted beliefs.
Vail thought about all those that had bravely fought against Voldemort and his Death Eaters during the First Wizarding War. It had ravaged the magical community, leaving behind a trail of devastation and heartache. Dumbledore had described the chaos and fear that had gripped the entire wizarding world as Voldemort and his Death Eaters sought to impose their reign of terror.
There had been so many and so much lost during those years, and Vail's heart went out to the survivors and loved ones of the deceased who still feel those losses today. How could someone so vile and cruel ever have existed? No, change that to present tense. According to Dumbledore, Harry Potter had witnessed Voldemort's return earlier that year when he murdered Harry's fellow student, Cedric Diggory.
No one seemed to believe them, however, as the Ministry refused to accept it out of fear, and the main source of news in magical Britain kept pumping out anti-Dumbledore and anti-Potter propaganda.
Vail believed them, though. She had no reason not to trust Dumbledore thus far, even if he did sometimes make her feel uneasy (though she had to admit, her talk with him today had certainly helped her feel a lot better). Part of her wished she could do something to help, but in her current state she would likely be nothing more than a burden. She only knew a few spells, none of them offensive or defensive (yet) and she knew next to nothing of the world outside these great stone walls around her.
Her first night at the school she had declared to herself that the best course of action was to get through the next few years, learn as much as she can about herself and the new world she lived in, and find out how to best shape her future. Now there may not even be a future for her to strive towards and there was nothing she could do about it.
It was extremely frustrating, to say the least.
Nestled deep within the dungeons of Hogwarts, the Slytherin common room was adorned with shades of emerald and silver, reflecting the house colours. As Vail entered, she found herself in a spacious common area. The room was tastefully decorated with plush sofas and armchairs, upholstered in rich green velvet, providing a comfortable space for students to socialise and study.
The flickering glow of the fireplace bathed the room in a warm light, casting dancing shadows on the intricately carved wooden panels. The fire crackled softly, its warmth adding a cosy touch to the atmosphere. Nearby bookshelves lined the walls, filled with volumes of ancient texts and contemporary literature, catering to the intellectual pursuits of Slytherin students.
Speaking of students, the common room was devoid of them, and likely would continue to be until the end of dinner - around fifteen minutes or so. This suited Vail just fine as it gave her time to drop her things off in her dormitory, change into some new clothes, and head along to the library to meet up with Hermione.
Reaching her dormitory, Vail entered the room and closed the door behind her. She took a deep breath, allowing herself a moment of stillness.
"'I'm feeling a little under the weather, Daphne. I'm just going to go back to the dormitory, Daphne'," said a voice in a mocking tone. "Tempest 'pants on fire' Vail, you should feel ashamed of yourself."
Vail's eyes shot towards the source, seeing Daphne sitting on the plush armchair to her right with a book in her lap. The door had mostly obscured her, so Vail had missed her upon entering.
"Daphne! What are you doing here so early?"
"Wasn't that hungry, so I just got a quick bite before deciding to head down here for some revision. Taking advantage of all quietness. The real question is, where were you?" the other Slytherin asked with a raised eyebrow. She closed the book - Magical Hieroglyphs and Logograms - and crossed her arms over her chest. There was a slight smirk on her face and the absence of any obvious signs of real anger, so Vail metaphorically breathed a sigh of relief.
"I thought a walk around the castle might do me some good, and it did! I feel much better now."
"Mhm," Daphne hummed as Vail hung her bag on one of her bedposts before removing her Potions and DADA textbooks; she left her parchment, quill and ink pot, as well as her notes from Arithmancy, as she'd likely be needing them later. She also removed her robes and hung them by the hood over the same bedpost.
"Sorry for abandoning you though. How did it go with them?" she asked, flopping down onto her bed with a sigh, closing her eyes. She knew Daphne would understand who she was referring to.
"It didn't 'go'. I just sat with Astoria and her friends instead."
Vail nodded. "Makes sense. How is she, by the way? I assume that since she's at school she must not be bedridden." She heard the rustle of someone getting up and footsteps lightly tapping over hardwood floors, and then she felt her mattress dip with the weight of another person. Vail glanced at her side with one eye, seeing Daphne mimicking her position.
"It comes and goes. Some days she's completely fine, barring some fatigue, and others she struggles to even walk for too long. Madam Pomfrey keeps a stock of potions for her on those days, and they help with the symptoms."
A comfortable silence fell between them as they each retreated into their own thoughts. Vail pondered the unfairness of the world; how some were burdened to endure illness and pain, while others - some entirely undeserving - seemed to float through life unscathed. She thought of those in the Greengrass family, just like Astoria, who were fated to lead a life of suffering all because of a curse that was cast generations ago.
"You would like her, I think," Daphne broke the silence some minutes later. "My sister. She's very kind, and intelligent too, especially when it comes to the emotions of others."
Vail turned so that she rested on her side, her hand tucked under her head. Daphne mirrored the position so that they were now facing each other.
"If she's anything like you, then I'd love to meet her," murmured the blonde with a smile, and in response Daphne chuckled and lightly pushed at her shoulder with her fist.
"Careful now, it's only your first full day here and already you're flirting. Keep it up and you'll get a reputation for being quite the charmer."
Vail's eyes widened a little at her friend's words. The implication caught her off guard, and she blinked in surprise, her cheeks flushing with a hint of pink. Flirting? She hadn't even realised she was coming across that way.
"I… um…" Vail stammered, her voice betraying her uncertainty. She searched Daphne's eyes, hoping to find some clue or explanation for the unexpected comment, but all she found was a mischievous glint and a playful smile on Daphne's lips.
Daphne's gaze held a mixture of amusement and curiosity as she watched Vail's reaction, however sensing her friend's discomfort, she quickly realised that her lighthearted remark had hit a nerve.
"Oh, Vail, I didn't mean to… I was just joking," Daphne hurriedly explained, her tone soothing. "I know you weren't actually flirting. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."
This would be… a perfect time to share a truth with her. It was only fair, right? Despite their short time together, Daphne had proved to be kind and genuine with Vail. She had opened herself up to her, confided in her about her family, her sister, her troubles with Pansy… Daphne had taken a leap to trust Vail, knowing that if she had been wrong about her, things could have ended badly. Shouldn't she do the same for her?
The desire for authenticity and the longing to be known for who she truly was tugged at her heart. She yearned to finally be honest about herself, to forge a connection with someone that wasn't so one-sided. If she managed to do this right now, then maybe… maybe one day Daphne could learn the truth about everything else.
"No, no, you didn't… I'm not uncomfortable, don't worry, it's just…" she trailed off, trying to come up with the best way to explain herself. The words she wanted to say were there, just waiting on the tip of tongue…
Her housemate decided to take the initiative, however, and try to complete Vail's thoughts for her. "You're not gay?" she asked.
The blonde's brain stuttered. '... huh?'
"Wait, what?" Vail replied, a confused look on her face. "That's not… I'm not always gay, but that's the same for most people right?"
It was Daphne's turn to look confused. "Well… no, for most people you're either gay or not, you don't tend to be gay one day and then… not be gay the next."
"But that doesn't make any sense? No one is gay all the time, just like no one is not gay all the time."
"Are we… talking about different things? What are you talking about?"
"Happy! Cheery, mirthful, merry! What are you talking about?"
"Homosexual!"
"That's what I-! Wait… what?!"
"You thought I meant happy?!" Daphne shot up, staring down at Vail with a look of complete and utter bewilderment. "What are you, a hundred years old?"
Vail raised herself up to meet Daphne, looking equally as perplexed. "Evidently not," she responded before clearing her throat awkwardly, however she acknowledged the humour of the other girl's question, "I just… I didn't know it meant that."
Daphne stared at her for a few moments longer, like she was dissecting Vail's explanation.
It was a complete shock to Vail that such a word could have drastically changed over the years, and it called into question what other words could have changed as well. Much to Vail's annoyance, it seemed she may have to start paying very close attention to her word choice in the future.
"I'm going to ask you a question," started the other Slytherin as she slowly got up from the bed, moving to stand at the foot of it, "and I don't want you to be offended by it."
"Go on," Vail replied, tentatively.
"Your parents… did they shelter you?"
"Sorry?"
"You know, keep you away from the outside world, limit your access to society, raise you in a traditional household, et cetera."
Vail opened her mouth to deny it, but then thought differently. This may actually play to her advantage. It would explain many things about her, including her lack of knowledge about current events and popular culture… or "pop" culture, as she had heard Tracey use in passing.
"Uh… yes."
Daphne hummed again. "Yeah, okay, that explains things," she murmured, her fingers tapping absentmindedly against the wooden post. Her eyes were downcast, like she wanted to be looking anywhere except towards Vail. "Well anyway, your sexuality is none of my business, so I'm sorry for asking."
Vail just nodded, so Daphne returned to her spot on the armchair and resumed her reading of the book. The atmosphere had taken an awkward turn, and she knew that it was due, at least in part, to her unfamiliarity of modern culture and customs. Truth be told, she had underestimated the stark difference in certain areas, which was why it was the last thing she anticipated causing such problems. One hundred years doesn't seem like a lot, especially since many things in passing looked to have stayed relatively the same. It was the minor details that were going to come back and bite her in the-
Practise. What she needed was practise. She needed to interact with more people her age to get a better grasp of the colloquial lingo, else she would probably have to start pretending to be mute.
With a sigh, Vail decided that it was probably about time she stopped procrastinating and got ready to go to the library, so she got up from the bed to search through her trunk for some clothes. She didn't have time to decide what would go with what, so she just threw on her first outfit from Gladrags: medium blue button-up shirt, black dress trousers. She left the top two buttons undone since she didn't wear any ties with this shirt, and rolled the sleeves up to her elbows.
"Going somewhere?" the other Slytherin asked as Vail put her school robes on again and slung her bag over her shoulder.
"The library; I'm meeting someone there to get help with a class."
"Oh? Made a new friend, have we?"
Vail hummed in confirmation. As Daphne had said earlier, she harboured some dislike for Hermione, so Vail didn't really want to admit that's who she was meeting. She'd been all but explicitly warned by others in their house to stay away from "the golden trio", and so she wasn't optimistic about the way her friend would react.
"Excellent," said Daphne without raising her head, turning a page in her book. "Have fun with Granger."
"Thanks," Vail nodded as she double checked that she had everything she needed with her. A few seconds later, her head shot up to stare at Daphne in shock. "How did- what- are you a bloody Seer?!"
"Ah, now that would be a very useful ability. Maybe Divination would actually be interesting for once. But no, I just made an educated guess, which you confirmed for me," Daphne grinned up at Vail. "Really though, you only had three classes today, and since you seemed right at home in Potions and there's absolutely no thinking whatsoever involved in Defence this year, that leaves Arithmancy. Who loves Arithmancy so much that she never shuts up about it when you get her talking? Granger.
"As far as I'm aware, no one else would willingly spend time with the subject unnecessarily, so that only left one logical option."
Vail stared at Daphne in astonishment, her mouth agape. Her deduction skills were both impressive and… unnerving.
"I… I think you scare me."
Daphne threw her head back in a laugh, thoroughly enjoying the reaction she had received. "I've had plenty of time to observe people and their habits around here. It's amazing what you can figure out when you pay attention."
Vail shook her head, amusement and disbelief crossing her features. "I suppose you've got a point there."
Daphne shrugged nonchalantly, her eyes still twinkling with mischief. "It's just a bit of fun, really. Keeps life interesting."
"Right, well…" Vail's voice trailed off, her hand hovering above the knob of the dormitory's door. She was hesitating, her mind caught in a whirlwind of conflict. This was the perfect opportunity to become closer with the other girl, to share their vulnerabilities with each other and equalise their relationship.
Daphne wasn't repulsed by the idea of Vail perhaps being gay (though, despite the misunderstanding on the word's meaning, it was still true that Vail wasn't homosexual - she liked boys as well!), so maybe society's views on the matter had progressed to a point where it was an accepted part of life now. That being said, there was still that nagging fear in the back of her mind that she may be mistaken, that Daphne was the exception and there would be consequences for her should the knowledge spread beyond this door. The fear of judgement and rejection was ingrained in her, and the grip it had on her psyche was ironclad.
But as she stood there, debating with herself, the sounds of laughter and chatter drifted through the corridor, signalling the return of their fellow Slytherins to the common room. Vail's heart sank. Her chance to confide in Daphne seemed to slip away in that moment.
Realising that the moment had passed, Vail sighed and opened the door. She felt disappointed in herself yet again at her inability to trust in another, but also relieved that she was no longer able to make the choice at all, absolving her of the responsibility.
"I should get going to the library," the blonde said, trying to shake off the negative feelings. She adjusted her bag and turned to face Daphne. "If anyone asks-"
"If anyone asks, I'll tell them you're studying alone. Don't worry, none of them would ever dream of stepping foot in the library outside of exam season," Daphne said with a smirk on her face. "As long as you promise to return the favour some day."
"You meet up with someone in secret?"
"Not yet, but I certainly plan to," she whispered with a playful wink.
Vail walked through the massive aisles of the Hogwarts library, marvelling at the towering bookshelves that stretched so high that she wondered how anyone was supposed to be able to reach the tomes at the top.
As she navigated between the rows, her gaze was drawn to the sight of books, seemingly alive, floating gracefully between the shelves, organising themselves with an otherworldly precision. Some books floated in pairs, gliding towards their designated spots. Others levitated in small clusters, as if engaged in an animated conversation about their contents. A few adventurous ones even playfully spun in mid-air, displaying their vibrant covers like peacocks spreading their wings.
One of the books hovering around her head lowered itself towards her, and the Slytherin held out her hand. It landed on her open palm, showing her its title: Exploring Gamp's Law of Elemental Transfiguration. Most students would be impressed by the complicated enchantments necessary to breathe life into these books, but Vail? She was not.
Well, that wasn't entirely accurate. Vail was sure that whoever invented these charms certainly must have been a respectable and accomplished practitioner of magic, and should be credited appropriately, however the obsession with enchanting inanimate objects so that they were no longer inanimate did not bring her the same amusement as it did for others. She thought back to her time in Gladrags and how the measuring tapes whizzed around her body like a swarm of locusts, causing her much discomfort and annoyance. There was also the Sorting Hat which, while it admittedly was nicer than she had assumed, still made her question why its inventors could not have chosen something that was much nicer to look at and wear.
Like a charming top hat, for example. Or a cute sun hat.
Vail put the tome down on a nearby surface and watched as it sensed that its presence was unwanted and immediately took flight once more.
Making her way deeper into the library, Vail's eyes scanned the rows of study tables, searching for a familiar face. And there, nestled amongst the sea of books, she spotted Hermione at a table near a window, her bushy brown hair peeking out from behind a stack of tomes. A warm smile spread across Vail's face, and any lingering annoyance from the enchanted books dissipated.
"Hermione!" Vail called out cheerfully, causing a few heads to turn in their direction. Ignoring the curious glances, she sat down in the chair opposite the Gryffindor girl.
Hermione looked up, a look of surprise crossing her face before transforming into a bright smile of her own. "You made it! I overheard what you said after Defence, so I assumed you would give our meeting a miss. I'm glad you didn't, though."
"Oh yeah?" Vail asked with a raised eyebrow. "I didn't realise I made such a good impression on you this afternoon," she said as she took off her Slytherin robes and threw it over the back of the empty chair next to her. She also pulled out some parchment, a quill, and an inkpot from her bag and laid them out on the table in front of her.
Hermione rolled her eyes (playfully, Vail hoped) and retrieved a stack of parchment paper from a bag, pushing it towards her. Vail's eyes widened as she took in the sight of the numerous sheets of parchment, covered from top to bottom in Hermione's neat handwriting. The sheer size of the collection was daunting with the stack being around a few inches in height.
"Wow, Hermione," Vail said in awe, and a little fear. "That's… a lot of notes."
A prideful smirk decorated Hermione's face. "Yes, that's what two years of lecture notes looks like. I've always kept a comprehensive record of everything we've learned in Arithmancy since starting the class, and I used a charm to make copies for you, so feel free to take them with you when we leave. I thought you might find it helpful to look them over and maybe use them to make notes of your own? Writing things down yourself in your own words may make it easier to digest the information."
The blonde nodded appreciatively, her initial apprehension giving way to gratitude. "That's really impressive. Thank you for sharing them with me."
Hermione beamed at her, and Vail's eyes briefly zeroed in on the slight dimple at the left side of her mouth. "You're welcome," said the Gryffindor. "Out of curiosity, are you completely new to Arithmancy? Or do you have some experience already from your homeschooling?"
Vail hesitated for just a moment, recognising this as a situation where she had to choose her words carefully so that she could explain her lack of knowledge in specific things while not giving away her lack of knowledge in everything else. With her backstory as having been homeschooled, it stood to reason that over the years she had to have been taught something, or questions that she could not answer would be raised.
"Well, I must admit that my education thus far has been more practical in nature. Theoretical subjects such as Arithmancy weren't emphasised as much."
She watched Hermione's expression shift, first to slight concern and then to an accepted understanding.
"But," Vail continued, trying to inject a note of enthusiasm into her voice, "I like experiencing something new, and it's not like the concept of mathematics in general is foreign to me, so I'm at least not starting from scratch. Anyway," the Slytherin stuck her elbow onto the table and placed her chin on top of her palm, making sure to shoot the most charming look she could muster towards Hermione, "with you here, I'm optimistic about my chances in the exam."
Hermione's eyes widened by a fraction before she cast her face downwards, her cheeks slightly flushed, and a genuine laughter escaped her lips. It wasn't a mocking laugh, but rather a warm, mirthful one. "Thanks for having such faith in me already. I'll certainly do my best."
While Vail wasn't trying to look a gift horse in the mouth, it puzzled her why Hermione was so quick to show enthusiasm for this partnership they had been assigned. They had only met a short while ago, and based on the stereotypes and preconceptions she had heard about Slytherins and Gryffindors, there was an inherent distrust and dislike between the rival houses. Not only that, but Hermione and her two friends seemed to be especially at odds with her housemates.
The need to know tugged at Vail's thoughts, and so she voiced her musings. "Hermione, forgive me if I sound a bit perplexed, but is it normal for a Gryffindor like you to be so eager to work with someone from Slytherin? I mean, isn't there supposed to be some sort of tension between us? Am I… meant to hiss at you, or something?"
Hermione's laughter subsided, and she raised her eyes to meet Vail's. There was a flicker of something there - amusement, she guessed. "I hope not, unless you're a vampire. Are you a vampire?"
"I don't think so, but honestly I wouldn't rule it out as a possibility just yet. You haven't seen me under direct sunlight."
"I'll remember to carry some garlic around with me until then. In the meantime, to answer your question, I've always strived for a bit of inter-house unity; the main thing keeping us apart is Quidditch, and I've never been too fond of that anyway. It's barbaric," she explained with a huff.
While Vail couldn't describe the specifics of the game, she at least knew that it involved riding on brooms at high speeds at high altitudes, so she could understand where Hermione's concerns were coming from. Still, with one of her dorm-mates looking to join up, she was probably going to have to start showing support sooner or later.
"Besides, you're new, so you haven't been corrupted by Slytherin propaganda yet," she finished explaining, a wry grin forming on her face.
"So there's still hope for me?" Vail replied with a smile, leaning back in her chair and dropping her hand to fiddle with her quill.
Hermione playfully tapped her finger against her chin, pretending to ponder the question. "Well, I can't promise that I won't be on guard if you suddenly start speaking in snake or brewing questionable potions in your spare time, but for now? I'm willing to give you the benefit of the doubt."
It would be a while before Vail realised Hermione wasn't being completely facetious there.
"Anyway! Let's see if we can get some actual work done this evening. We'll go over each other's notes from today's class, and just see where that takes us."
Vail stepped into the Slytherin common room two hours later, the low hum of conversation and the flickering fire filling the air. Students were scattered throughout the room, some engrossed in books, others engaged in lively discussions, and a few playing a game of chess near the hearth.
Her meeting with Hermione had proved fruitful as she now had a clearer grasp of Arithmancy. Hermione had patiently gone through that day's lesson with her, pointing out where Vail had gone wrong in her notes and guided her towards the correct solutions and ideas. After that, they spent some time skimming through Hermione's old notes (now bundled up in Vail's bag), marking the best places for her to start, which she made a note to do before the next Arithmancy lesson.
After their brief jovial discussion, their conversations revolved solely around Arithmancy. While Vail was grateful that Hermione was willing to spend her free time helping her to catch up, she had to admit that she was at least slightly disappointed that they never branched off into more friendly and personal topics. With a sigh, the Slytherin resigned herself to accepting that perhaps all Hermione will be to her is a tutor.
As Vail made her way through the room, she caught the curious glances of her housemates. Being new to Hogwarts, she hadn't yet established any connections outside of those she shared a dormitory with. While some regarded her with indifference, a few eyed her with scepticism.
Ignoring the lingering gazes, Vail weaved her way through the bustling common room towards the stairs that led to the dormitories. As she approached, her attention was drawn to a familiar figure sitting on one of the couches near the windows that gave a view of the lake. It was Tracey, one of her aforementioned dorm-mates.
Curiosity piqued, Vail slowed her pace and discreetly glanced over her shoulder. There, sitting beside Tracey, was a boy with tousled dark hair and striking features. He exuded an air of effortless charm, his smile captivating as he whispered something in Tracey's ear, causing her to giggle and lean closer.
Pansy's earlier comment about him being "Mr Pretty Boy" echoed in Vail's mind, and she couldn't help but completely agree. There was no denying the boy's attractiveness, and it seemed that Tracey was thoroughly smitten.
'Maybe it's for the best,' Vail thought to herself, trying to push away the hint of jealousy creeping its way into her heart as she pictured herself having what Tracey has. 'Any relationship I have going forward will start under false pretences, which doesn't exactly show a promising and healthy future.'
Vail already felt horrible about what she was doing with Daphne, and yet at the same time, she was selfish enough to continue the charade. Her sense of self-preservation was winning the battle, no matter how loud the angel on her shoulder screamed that it was wrong. The least she could do was not drag another person's feelings into the matter.
She continued on her way towards the dormitory, her steps quiet and deliberate. As she reached the door, she expected to find Daphne still reading her book with Pansy and Millicent pointedly ignoring her from the other side of the room, however, to her surprise, she was greeted by a very different scene.
Pansy and Daphne, on Pansy's bed, doing something to Daphne's hands.
At first it looked like Pansy was polishing Daphne's nails, but Vail quickly realised that the colour was wrong. Nail polishing involves using a scented oil to tint someone's nails red, before then using a cloth to buffer them into a nice shine. That was decidedly not what was going on, as not only were Daphne's nails not red (they were blue), but Pansy was using a brush instead of a dropper to apply the colour.
Pansy, with a look of intense concentration on her face, and Daphne, with a very relaxed expression as she enjoyed the attention, both failed to notice Vail's arrival until she was almost right next to them.
"Oh, hello. Back so soon?" asked Daphne, looking between Vail and Pansy with a smile that said 'told you so'.
"Soon? I was gone for two hours. What're the two of you doing, anyway? And where's Millicent?" Vail asked before stepping away to hang up her things on her bedpost for the second time that day.
Pansy briefly glanced up from her task. "Oh, Millicent had something else to attend to. She won't be back until later. As for what we're doing," Pansy paused, her concentration increasing as she slowly worked her way down the side of Daphne's nail, making sure to avoid touching the skin, "we're indulging in a bit of pampering, girl talk, and all that. You know how it is."
Vail did not know, but nodded anyway. "I see. Seems like a nice way to unwind after a long day."
Daphne grinned. "Indeed it is. Care to join us?" she asked, standing up from the bed and holding out her hands for Vail to look them over. Perfectly rounded with a flawless coat of light blue.
"Thank you, but I've never-"
"Sit your ass down on my bed, new girl," Pansy commanded, slapping the duvet where Daphne had been sitting seconds ago.
Vail didn't even bother trying to fight it, just complying with the request and sitting with her legs crossed in front of the intimidating Slytherin (after removing her boots, of course). She pretended not to hear the quiet chuckle from Daphne.
"Pick a colour," said Pansy as she gestured to the box at her side. There were three rows of about a dozen little glass jars, all different colours of varying shades. Blues, pinks, purples, greens, reds. Some metallic, some glossy. It was overwhelming, to say the least.
"Um… I'm not sure," Vail admitted. "There are so many options. What do you recommend?"
Pansy smirked, clearly she enjoyed this modicum of control. "It depends on what you're in the mood for. Do you want something bold to catch someone's eye?" Vail's thoughts briefly drifted back to Hermione. "Or maybe something subtle and elegant?"
"Let's go subtle," the blonde decided after a moment. "I don't usually colour my nails so I'd rather stick with simplicity."
Pansy nodded approvingly and scoured the box for the right colour. Her fingers glided over the glass jars as she searched, and it was then that Vail noticed the girl's own nails were coated in a striking black polish. It contrasted sharply against her pale skin, creating a bold and enigmatic statement.
Finally finding what she was looking for, the brunette slipped one of the jars out from the box and held it up for Vail to see. It was light grey in colour with what looked like an ever so slight blue undertone. "To match your eyes," Pansy said, tilting her head as a way to ask for agreement.
Vail nodded, trusting Pansy's judgement and allowing the other girl to do as she pleased. It didn't take long for Pansy to finish up, and when she was done Vail lifted her hands up to her face to get a better view under the light of the lanterns.
'Yeah, okay, this is really nice,' she thought to herself, admiring the brunette's handiwork. For a moment she worried about messing it up while it was still wet, but with a quick flick of her wand, Pansy applied a charm that seemed to instantly dry the substance.
Impressive.
"It suits you," commented Daphne as she moved to sit with the other two girls on the bed, now that there was no risk of spilling anything on the sheets.
"Yet again, I impress myself," Pansy boasted aloud with a content sigh, packing up the cosmetics and placing the box on her bedside table.
"How did you get so good at this? Just time and practise?" Vail asked, rubbing a finger over her nails and enjoying the smooth texture.
Pansy opened her mouth to reply, but Daphne beat her to it. "Her family are major investors in the hugely popular magazine Witch Weekly. It's this lifestyle magazine that's all about fashion, cosmetics, beauty trends-"
She was cut off by the hand that flew up to cover her mouth, and was then pulled backwards so that she fell onto the bed.
"What I was going to say before I was so rudely interrupted," started Pansy, retrieving her hand and wiping it clean with a cloth from her table, "was that my grandmother built a business in the fashion industry which my father took over when she passed. And yes, that business involved investing in Witch Weekly as well. I spent much of my childhood in the presence of designers, models, and cosmetic artists, so I picked up a few things along the way."
Daphne shot up, glaring at Pansy. "What was that for?! I was just trying to save your head from blowing up like a blister with all that stroked ego."
"Consider it a scolding for treating poor Vail like an invalid. Of course she knows what Witch Weekly is; she's a girl!"
Vail found herself caught in the middle of their battle, and an awkward silence hung in the air. The two witches turned to her, their expressions questioning as if they expected her to take a side.
It was then that the door to the dormitory swung open and, like by the grace of God, Tracey waltzed in. "Ah, what a day," she sighed, a dreamy tone to her voice. Planting herself on the edge of her bed, Tracey looked over the trio. "Whatcha been up to?" she asked, but taking notice of the state of their nails, a frown appeared on her face. "Hey, come on! Why didn't you wait for me?!"
"That's just what happens when you're too busy sucking face with a boy to spend quality girl time with us," Pansy replied, sticking out her tongue in a rude gesture.
Tracey's face turned red. "I wasn't sucking anything!"
Vail inhaled sharply at the choice of words, and a dangerous grin slowly made its way up Pansy's face. For a moment the girl truly looked like a predator locking on to its prey.
"Oh, we know," Pansy turned her body to face Tracey, hanging her legs off the side of the bed and lifting one over the other. "You made that very clear this morning."
Vail practically had to dive off of the bed to avoid the ensuing onslaught of pillows. Tracey had picked hers up from the bed and ran at Pansy, swinging it down onto the other girl's head. Not one to back down easily, Pansy armed herself and retaliated, and within seconds there was a cloud of feathers filling the air around the combatants.
The blonde felt a surge of panic as the pillow fight erupted. She considered stepping in to stop the escalating situation, worried that things might get out of hand. Just as she was about to intervene, she heard something unexpected amidst the chaos - the sound of laughter.
To Vail's surprise, Pansy and Tracey were both laughing uncontrollably, their faces filled with genuine amusement rather than anger. At some point the tension - if there had even been any to begin with - had been released, and their 'fight' had turned into a playful and lighthearted moment of camaraderie.
Eventually Daphne was the one to be the voice of reason, pointing out that some poor house-elf was going to have to clean all of it up, only for a pillow to come flying at her face leaving feathers stuck in her hair. Instead of becoming upset, the girl just picked up the pillow that had fallen at her feet and launched herself into the thick of the fray. Vail hadn't seen who threw that pillow, but it didn't seem to matter as Daphne attacked indiscriminately.
Seeing how much joy and fun the three girls had in each other's presence, Vail wished for that sense of normalcy for herself, and for the first time, she felt herself becoming saddened by her circumstances. Up until now, it had all been one big annoying obstacle that she needed to find a way around, but now she was recognising it for what it truly was: loss.
The cruellest part of it all was that she didn't even know what it was that she had lost. A home? Friends? A fulfilling life? Once, she had questioned if it was sad that she could not even recall the names of her parents, but now she finally had an answer.
It was heartbreaking.
Vail had lost everything. She had no one. Someone, or something, had taken it all away from her and sent her here… and for what? She was a child… a child. What could she have done to make someone do this?
She looked back to her housemates. Like them, Vail had started her fifth year at Hogwarts in a dormitory much like this (perhaps even the same one). She had met people, attended classes, learned everything her professors had to teach her, and then less than a year later, her mind was nearly wiped clean and she woke up more than 100 years in the future. She tried to imagine what they could possibly do to end up with the same fate, but came up blank. So why her? What did she do?
Why… why-?
A stinging in her eyes alerted her to tears that had slowly been building. She was crying?
Raising her arm, Vail rubbed at her eyes with the sleeve of her robes, but that only drew attention to her.
"Oh my- Vail, what's the matter?" Daphne dropped the pillow she was holding and rushed over to Vail's side. Pansy and Tracey also ceased their battle, calling a truce while waiting to see what was wrong with their new housemate.
"Is it the goose feathers?" asked Tracey, holding a bundle of them in her hand. "Are you allergic?" For that question, she received an elbow digging into her side and a scolding from Pansy, whispering that Vail was clearly upset about something and that maybe Tracey should pick up some glasses.
"No, I- no, I'm fine. Really, I… I don't even know why I'm crying," the blonde answered with a nervous laugh. A lie, of course, but not in the way you may think.
Her other hand, the one still held at her side, was clenched in a fist so tight that she was afraid she had ruined Pansy's hard work already. She was sorrowful about what she had left behind long ago, but once the tears started falling she recognised the one emotion that was overwhelming all others: anger.
Anger at the injustice. Anger at the unknown force that had ripped her away. Anger at the confusion and frustration that haunted her every waking moment. And perhaps, deep down, a flicker of anger at herself for allowing it to happen in the first place. Was she too weak to fight back? Did she curse them in her last moments? Or was it something she just accepted?
She didn't know, and yet again that was the part that hurt her the most. The questioning, the doubting, the spiralling. Round and round in circles, and always coming back to the same thing over, and over, and over-
But for now, she pushed that anger down, buried it beneath layers of falsehood in an effort to appear normal. She couldn't let it consume her, so with a shaky smile, Vail reassured her concerned housemates. "It's nothing. I guess I just got a bit overwhelmed with everything, you know. It's been a long day, and I'm tired. But I'm fine, honestly."
Daphne looked up at her, the scepticism shining in her eyes. "Are you sure? You can talk to us. We don't bite. Well," the girl gestured to Pansy over her shoulder, "maybe one of us does-"
"Hey!"
"- but Tracey and I are totally safe. Promise!"
Despite her feelings, Vail managed a small chuckle at Daphne's attempt to lighten the mood. "I appreciate that. Really, I do. It's just… I think I need some time to process everything. It's all just so new to me, you know? There's a lot for me to adapt to, and… things to figure out." She clasped her hand over her fist, both in an attempt to hide it and to force herself to relax.
Daphne's mouth formed an 'o', like she had just realised something. She probably thought Vail was referring to her transfer from homeschooling to a public environment, as well as the death of her parents that she had allowed them all to believe.
It was actually Tracey, however, that spoke next. "Right, of course. We get it. Adjusting to major changes in your life must be daunting. Like Daphne said, we're here if you want to talk. If Pansy doesn't bite you first, that is."
"Hey!"
"Thank you, all of you. I don't really know what to say, I've never… never experienced this before, so… thank you. And thank you, Pansy, for resisting the urge to-"
"Oh for-"
"Bed time!" yelled Tracey as she threw the pillow still in her hand towards Pansy. Round two.
Later, after everything had wound down and the girls (including Millicent, who had returned in a joyful mood but did not share why…) readied themselves for bed, Vail found herself yet again with her curtains closed and her nose buried in her study guide. She had kept it under her pillow all day as she thought it unwise to carry it with her in her bag, just in case anyone were to see and ask questions.
As she had recently discovered, not all of her entries regarding spells were from a class. While most, such as the Levitation Spell, were accompanied by notes that suggested she had been taught by a professor, a few others weren't quite as detailed. Towards the end of the guide, like they were intentionally kept separate from class material, were a few spells described in less detail.
There was a certain allure to the spells that were perhaps of a certain… unscrupulous nature. One such spell was the Unlocking Charm, Alohamora. Vail wasn't sure how or why she had learnt such a spell in the 1890s, but the ability to get through locks seemed handy, so she made a mental note to stick that spell near the top of her list. Likewise, there was the Disillusionment Charm that was supposed to make you near enough invisible. Again, not sure how or why, but certainly handy.
Only one thing in the guide caused her to scratch her head in confusion. Funny choice of words, considering the issue was actually the absence of something.
Vail traced a finger down the rough edge of the torn parchment. It was right at the very end of the guide, a few blank pages after the out of place spells. Someone, either herself or someone else, had torn the last page out. Why?
She closed the book in frustration. Her only link to her past, and it had been tampered with. Could Dumbledore have…?
No. What reason would the old man have to do such a thing? He seemed keen enough on her regaining her memories, so why would he hinder that? Unless… it was something he didn't want her to remember.
Vail's mind wandered down all avenues of possibilities. Was it a dark secret? A spell so horrible and dangerous that Dumbledore would rather pretend it never existed? If so, then why keep her as a student? Furthermore, who back then would have taught such a thing to a child?
Maybe it wasn't a spell at all. Maybe the missing page contained a personal message, a note meant for her and her alone. It might be a message from her past self as a way of communicating to her future self. What if she had been the one to cause her displacement in time? What if this was all some kind of elaborate plan drafted by her own hand? What if-
Vail sighed quietly. 'Or maybe I'm getting ahead of myself, again, and I just tore it out to use as a scrap piece of parchment.'
With a disappointed frown at her own overactive imagination, Vail dismissed the outlandish theories that had taken root in her mind and placed the book back under her pillow. Extinguishing the gentle light from her wand, she returned it to its place on her bedside table; within reach, but far enough away to ensure a peaceful night's sleep.
She took a deep breath, releasing the tension that had accumulated within her. In the stillness of the room, she allowed her thoughts to drift, guided by the gentle rhythm of her breathing.
Author's Notes:
Sorry for being a week late with this one. If you're one of the people that checked my profile, you'll know I caught COVID which floored me for a while. I'm mostly better now though!
The second to last scene was going to end quite differently, but I changed it out at the last minute because I was no longer vibing with the tone it was setting. Instead I decided it was time to allow Vail to actually feel some of the emotions that were bubbling inside her.
From this point on I won't be describing as many classes or day-to-day interactions in so much detail, it was just to show Vail's first experiences and give her important introductions to important characters. I'm hoping things will go by a lot more quickly now and that we can get to the real drama of this academic year!
Also, in case it wasn't obvious yet, Vail has beef with enchanted objects. Why? Everyone deserves a weird quirk.
I created an image of Vail using Artbreeder. As this site does not allow images to be posted in fics, you'll have to look at the versions posted on either WP (chapter II) or AO3 (chapter I). User is the same - distantrainfall
(If the above message seems familiar to you, that's because I also went back to add it to the bottom of chapter I for new readers)