Chapter 4 - Hannah

Hannah gathered up her belongings as she exited the Great Hall. She slung her bag across her shoulder as she hurried away from the Slytherins. Most of them judged her, because she was different. She was a foreigner, from a different school, a transfer. She was different. Hannah was now the only one without a close friend. Sophie had Dominique and Hannah had seen Caroline conversing with another Gryffindor girl. Somehow, this made her jealous. It was lonely in Slytherin, when no one wanted to be friends with you.

"Hannah?" Hannah turned around, and saw Rose. "You are Hannah, right?"

"Oh, Rose," Hannah didn't want to sound too much like a snob. "How are you?"

"Fine," Rose said, her tone pleased. "And you?"

Hannah slumped. "To be completely honest… it's quite lonely."

"I know how you feel," Rose comforted. "I kind of feel lonely at times, because there aren't that many people to converse to, but I read, and there are some decent girls so…"

"At least you have a chance," Hannah told Rose. "Everyone hates me."

"You're pretty nice, Hannah, I wonder why you got sorted into Slytherin," Rose wondered. Rose outstretched her hand. "Well, since we both don't really have friends, do you want to be my friend?"

"You realize how pathetic this is, right?" Hannah said, looking at Rose's hand. "But, whatever. Friends."

Rose grinned. "Nice. So how is it in Slytherin? What does the Common Room look like?"

"Cold," Hannah said, getting straight to the point. "Old. Green. Mysterious. Odd. Underwater. What about Ravenclaw?"

"You go up a spiral staircase and when you get there, an eagle asks you a question," Rose explained. "If you get it right, the door opens. If you don't… well I think you know."

"So… anyone smart can relatively break in?" Hannah asked. "That's… kind of stupid, really."

Rose, instead of being offended, laughed. "I know, right? There are plenty of smart people, outside of Ravenclaw, yet not many people think about it that way."

"Has anyone broken in, so far?" Hannah, asked, genuinely curious. "I mean, it's a miracle itself, no one's terrorized you Ravenclaws yet."

"I think it's happened once or twice," Rose shuddered. "Honestly, it scares me."

"What've you got tomorrow?" Hannah asked, trying to strike up another conversation. "I've got History of Magic."

"Hey, I do too," Rose commented. "How do you like Hogwarts so far, in general?"

"Really, I think it's pretty racist," Hannah answered, bluntly. "I'm sorry, but that's the cold, hard truth."

"Don't worry. you're not alone," Rose looked at Hannah, thoughtfully. "I honestly think it's like that as well. So much discrimination here. I wonder how so many people love it."

"Well, maybe they're probably in Gryffindor, drunk on how they're in the 'best house'," Hannah scowled. "No offense."

"None taken," Rose lifted her sleeve, as she looked at her watch. "Oh, I've got to go, Hannah. I've got homework to do. See you in History of Magic?"

"Sure," Hannah agreed. "Of course. See you tomorrow, Rose!"

"See you!" Rose called back, walking away.

Goblin revolutions… more revolutions… even more revolutions… goblins…

Hannah's head spun as this whirled in her head. Is this all he's going to ever talk about? She raised her hand as Professor Binns (he had introduced himself, also, he was a freaking ghost. What the freak?) called on her.

"Yes?"

"Can you talk about something other than goblins or revolutions?" Hannah requested. "Because, quite frankly, it's getting really boring and I've only been here for – what? – twenty minutes, and half the students are asleep."

Professor Binns opened and closed his mouth, wondering how a student could talk back to him. "If you prefer, of course, Miss Stewart, work over lectures –"

"Yes!" Hannah snapped. This was getting way too boring. "Give my a ten foot parchment to complete, anything but your long lectures!"

Hannah heard many of the students groan (the ones still awake, of course) but she honestly couldn't care less.

"I will, Miss Stewart," replied Professor Binns, haughtily. "Please copy down the entire revolution of 1911 –"

"Gods!" Hannah said, exasperated. "Something other than revolutions or goblins! Seriously, what weirdo would hire you?"

"I have been teaching at this school for quite some time, Miss Sharpe," Professor Binns told her. "I would advise you start that –"

"Oh, for Christ's sake!" Hannah put her hands up, exasperated. "I didn't mean literally!"

"Detention, Miss Smith," Professor Binns said nastily. "For mouthing off a teacher. Please meet me here at eight o' clock sharp."

"But –"
"No buts, Miss Stone," Professor Binns swiftly interrupted. "Now, I would kindly advise you shut your mouth and listen."

Hannah tried to find a comeback – a nasty retort – but she kept her mouth shut and listened to Binns drone on some more. She shot a glance at Rose, and she shrugged, sending her a look; he deserved it.

Hannah smiled. Thanks. Hannah tried to refocus on Professor Binns, but to her dismay, she realized why so many students were sleeping – even the Ravenclaws. Professor Binns was dead boring. Pun not intended.

Why don't they fire him, already?

Rose read this note, as she quickly scribbled something back.

Think it's because he can't go from this position. He can no longer move 'beyond the veil' and will have to be a Hogwarts ghost FOREVER. But, that's not the point. He can't let go of this position until someone sacks him, which makes him an ideal teacher, and he'll have to teach forever, no matter how much he protests.

That kind of makes me pity him.

Don't. Waste of your time. I think he actually ENJOYS it. I seriously wonder HOW.

You gotta be kidding me, right?

Wish I was.

Hannah rubbed her temple as she read Rose's last note. This is going to be a long semester.

Hannah enjoyed potions. It was fun to watch the other Slytherins screw up, when the potions blew up in their faces.

"You okay?" Hannah had asked, in mock worry. "Let me help you…" Hannah had gotten another vial filled with some disgusting things, and broke it over the other Slytherin. "Oh my! I'm so sorry!"

The Slytherin glared at her, and politely asked the teacher if she could be excused. With her teeth clenched, of course. Hannah cackled as she looked at the potion they were supposed to try to make. She recalled Professor Slughorn's words clearly.

"Today, we are going to try something different," he said, happily, his stomach bouncing. "Today, we are going to attempt in making the Cure for Boils. Now, it is perfectly fine if you don't succeed, but nevertheless, please try!"

Hannah had gritted her teeth and collected all the ingredients for the potion, and scowled at the part where it said, add a dash of Flobberworm mucus.

This is disgusting, Hannah thought, grimly. All she wanted to do was rip the Book of Potions apart. "Where are the Pungous Onions?"

Hannah reached over for them as she also grabbed a cutting knife slicing the Onions choppily, not caring how her potion turned out. Hannah had read a side note saying if it was brewed incorrectly, it would give you boils, instead of curing them.

What a perfect potion to test out on Sophie, thought Hannah, dryly. As she threw her Onions in, she heated the potion, and added dried nettle afterwards. Flobberworm mucus… stir vigorously…

And Hannah did. Her arm was sore afterwards, but it was better than most Slytherins, who tried to use magic to make the stirring spoon stir for themselves.

Add a sprinkle of powdered ginger root and stir vigorously again.

Add pickled Shrake spines.

Stir gently, so as not to over excite the Shrake spines.

Add a glug of stewed horned slugs.

Add porcupine quills.

Finally, wave your wand over the cauldron to finish the potion.

Hannah groaned as she continued to read the instructions, trying to scan for some shortcuts. Unfortunately not. Hannah stole glances at the other Slytherins, and could unfortunately not mooch off of Sophie's, Caroline's or Rose's work, because the Slytherins had the dungeons to themselves. Oh, joy. So far, it looked like Hannah was the farthest. Stir gently…

BOOM.

Hannah's hand jerked, as some of the potion went flying, right into another Slytherin's eye. She looked wildly, for the source of the noise, and saw a Slytherin who had blown up her potion, and the contents were dripping down the table.

"Oh my!" Professor Slughorn walked on over, in dismay. "Are you alright? Let's get you to the Hospital Wing… You! Can you assist this lady back to the Hospital Wing?"

He had pointed at the boy Hannah had splashed her potion with, the boy, now swelling with boils.

"Oh dear…" Professor Slughorn said worried. He looked panicked as he looked at the boy. "I will now escort you too to the Hospital Wing…"

Hannah absent-mindedly nodded as she continued her potion. Add a glug of stewed horned slugs. Done.

"Please stay here and try to finish your potions correctly," Professor Slughorn told the class, already nearly out of the dungeons. "Better yet, do not do anything with your potions!"

Hannah blatantly ignored this as she was on the last step. Finally, wave your wand over the cauldron to finish the potion. Hannah did this and grasped a vial from her side, carefully filling it with the potion. Well, some splashed out (okay, a lot) but the majority of the vial was full and Hannah slammed that down on Professor Slughorn's desk. She got a roll of parchment, scribbled her name on it and put it beside it. "Anyone take it, I will kill you."

The Slytherins shrugged, their eyes glinting mischievously, but some shifted, nervously. Hannah flounced out of the room.

"Now I see why I've always hated levitation classes in North America," Hannah groaned as she tried to fly more than seven feet. She looked over at Rose, who was also having difficulty.

"I wonder how dad enjoys this…" Rose trailed off, nearly slipping off her broom. "Or Uncle Harry!"

"I can't believe how they actually make you learn how to fly!" Hannah said disgruntled. "This is the most dangerous thing ever! I – officially – hate flying!"

"Now!" they heard Madame Hooch bark. "Try to gently urge your broom forward. Use a commanding, warm tone, so the broom acknowledges who the rider is, a good confident one, yet a gentle one as well."

Go… erm, forward? Hannah thought, nervously. She stole a glance at Rose, and saw the look of incredulous expression on her face.

"Can I just quit?" Rose whispered to Hannah. "This is ridiculous. Stupid. Why?"

"To torture the students," Hannah suggested. "Are we that bad?"

"Possibly," Rose gripped he broom, hard, until her knuckles turned white. "Can we get back down?"

"Poor you," Hannah said, almost sympathetically. "At least I've got a bit of a cushion."

"How, again?" Rose asked, trying not to look down.

"I can levitate a bit, so the fall won't be as hard," Hannah explained, moving at a snails pace. "So I'm half-safe."

"Please catch me if I fall," Rose begged, moving even slower than Hannah.

"Now, please try turning, class!" ordered Madame Hooch, once again.

"Merlin, I'm not even going forward properly," Rose groaned. "Turn… turn… please turn and don't kill me…"

Turn… please turn… right, I guess, Hannah thought as the broom slowly inched to the right. Hannah looked up, and she saw some Ravenclaw and Slytherin boys playing a full out match of Quidditch. How do they do that?

"Boys! Get down!" Madame Hooch shouted to the boys. "I understand you know how to fly, but please try to stay level with the class."

Hannah heard an assortment of grumbles, but they dipped down to where Rose and Hannah were. A.K.A twenty feet. Hannah slipped a bit, and squealed, nearly going upside down, like a sloth.

"Careful!" Rose warned. "You might have a cushion, but it will still hurt an awful lot."

"You're the one to talk," Hannah snorted as she tried to right herself on the broom. "I hate flying."

"Same here…" Rose trailed off, closing her eyes, trying not to look at the ground. "Same here…"

Hannah crashed landed on her bed, one of the only nice things in the Slytherin House. It was soft and bouncy, yet hard as well. Hannah wondered how Customaries lived without magic, or anything related to magic. Her bag had tipped off the bed, and she could hear a few of the books tumble out, but at the moment, she couldn't care less.

Detention… detention with Binns, a tiny voice said to her, pecking at her. Super annoying ghost teacher.

Hannah smirked at the last comment, and lifted her eyes, trying to get a sense of where she was. She barely recalled Binns' words. Seven o' clock? Nine o' clock? Eight o' clock? Screw it, I'm leaving now. Don't want to spend more detentions with that loony old spectre.

Hannah rubbed her temples as she continued to listen to Professor Binns dull lectures. You've got to be kidding me, right? Listening to more lectures? Shoot, I've got Astronomy in half an hour.

"Erm, Professor Binns?" Hannah raised her hand tentatively.

"Hmm?" Professor Binns looked startled. "Why are you here? Young lady, please kindly escort yourself from my classroom."

"But –"

"No buts, Miss Sanders," Professor Binns interrupted. "Out!"

Hannah scowled, fiercely as she whispered, "It's Stewart, bimbo, and you gave me detention."

"Oh, had detention with Professor Binns?" Rose popped up. "Don't bother even going to them. He'll forget his own head if he wasn't a ghost."

Hannah gave a small smile. "So does that mean I completely wasted three hours and thirty minutes of my life?"

"You were in there for three hours?" Rose asked, her mouth gaping.

"Don't forget the extra thirty minutes," Hannah corrected. "And yeah. Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

Rose laughed. "Sorry, must've slipped my mind. Don't we have Astronomy together?"

"Mmm," Hannah checked if she had everything for Astronomy and yawned. "Why does Astronomy need to be so late?"

"We're looking at the sky – the stars," Rose replied. "It kind of needs to be late."

Hannah grinned, and took a step forward then froze. "I just realized. I know nothing about you – besides that you're nice and in Ravenclaw."

"I don't either," pointed out, Rose. "Let's play twenty questions on the way to Astronomy."

"Favourite colour?" Hannah asked, deciding to start it off, easy. "Mines purple."

"Blue," Rose said, breezily. "Favourite animal? Mines a lynx."

"Dolphin," Hannah answered. "What was it that you said last? I called Professor Binns a bimbo."

Confusion dawned on Rose's face, which lead to immense laughter. "Y-you c-called Professor Binns a bimbo? D-do you even know w-what it means?"

Hannah frowned. "Should I?"

"A bimbo is a – a –" Rose doubled over laughing. Her face looked horrified now. "I just got the mental image. That… that does not look proper."

"What?" Hannah demanded. "What does it mean?"

"It means," Rose lowered her voice. "An attractive but dumb woman."

Hannah stood dumbstruck, while Rose was laughing. Hannah grumbled, "Oh, shut up, Rose."

Rose ceased her laughing, but she was still grinning wildly. "Alright, alright, I will."

Hannah yawned. "Hey, if I sleep in, wake me up, mm?"

"No promises," Hannah rolled her eyes at this.

"Can I just ditch this class?" Hannah whined. "Why… why friggin' midnight?"

"Unfortunately not," Rose grinned. "Mum quit Divination in her third year, but she says not to quit any subject. Quite hypocritical, in my opinion. Plus, Astronomy isn't the worst, and we only have it once a week."

"Fair enough," Hannah shrugged. "But still."

As they trudged up the stairs to the Astronomy Tower ("The tallest tower," Rose informed Hannah.), their legs got sore, as the hour ticked by, getting closer and closer to midnight.

"I swear," Hannah heaved. "I will lose twenty pounds by the end of this semester."

Rose let out throaty laugh. "Yes… I agree with you on that."

Hannah checked her bag for her telescope, barely fitting. "You've got your telescope, right?"

"Yup," Rose clucked her tongue. "Barely fit. I need a new bag."

Hannah looked at her watch, reading 11:52. She looked up at the spiraling staircase, and saw it nearly ended. "C'mon, Rose, just a few more steps."

When they reached the top, they noticed some students from Ravenclaw and Slytherin had already set up their telescopes and such.

Their Professor frowned. "Please try to be earlier, girls. Please, set up your telescopes and please take out some parchment and your quills."

"Yes, Professor… erm," Hannah paused, not sure what to say.

"Sinistra, dear," Professor Sinistra said, as she waved him off. "Now, please, go set up your equipment."

Rose and Hannah hastily went to set up their telescopes, proving to be easier than they thought. "I thought it would be more difficult… like everything else in Hogwarts…"

Rose scribbled the date on her parchment, as she looked up at the sky. "Oh, look! You can see Orion's Belt from here."

Rose pointed up, and Hannah saw three stars, right next to each other. "That thingy?"

"Yup," Rose smiled. "That's the one. Stars are beautiful, aren't they?"

Hannah drew in a breath. "Yeah. Now I kind of see why Sophie likes this better than magic."

"Now," Professor Sinistra said, her telescope already set up in the proper place. "Can you see the Plough? If you cannot spot it, it is over there on the left."

Hannah steered her eyes to it, and saw the spoon like constellation.

"The Plough, or otherwise known as the the Big Dipper, is made out of seven stars, the stars known as Dubhe, Merak, Phecda, Megrez, Alioth, Mizar and Alkaid," Professor Sinistra explained, Hannah quickly fumbling for some parchment. "Muggles discovered the Plough in 1942. Wizards, of course, discovered this much earlier, in 1321 and was identified by Sage the Stargazer. Sage the Stargazer should be found in your book, Stars, Galaxies and Astronomers, on page 56."

Hannah mutely nodded, copying down all the star names of the Big Dipper (Plough, whatever) and splattered her parchment with ink.

"Wizarding legend has it that the Plough's star's contained a magical substance that contained good luck to whatever you were doing farming related," Professor Sinistra explained. "Very absurd, but like Muggles, wizards had their superstitions. Now, can anyone tell me what constellation that one is?"

Hannah directed her eyes to the constellation, it kind of looking like a serpent. Hannah scrunched up her nose, trying to remember what Sophie had said. Rose's hand shot up in the air.

"Yes, Miss Weasley?"

"That's Draco the Dragon," Rose answered promptly. "It contains 14 main stars."

"Five points to Ravenclaw," awarded Professor Sinistra. "Now…"

Hannah yawned, as her eyes drooped, trying to focus on her porridge. It was sprinkled with raspberries – the way Hannah liked it – but all Hannah could do was just try not to sleep. Why-y-y-y midnight? I'm going to fall asleep in one of these classes, one day, because of Astronomy.

"Hey, Stewart!" Hannah lifted her eyes, to see a short, brown haired girl. "Try not to sleep! We don't need a filthy foreigner to lose us points!"

Hannah raised her hand, and a small ball of fire appeared. "Do you want to test me?"

The girl suddenly looked afraid, but she rose up to her full height, which still wasn't that impressive. "What can you do? I bet that fireball couldn't even light a candle."

"I could burn off your eyebrows," Hannah said evenly. "I haven't done it to anyone, yet, but I want to, and I will. So, shove off, or as you Brits say it, sod off, will you?"

The girl's cheeks tinged red, as Hannah glared heatedly at her. "You know what? I think I lost my appetite."

Hannah strided from her seat and out of the Great Hall, trying to avoid stares, and terrified looks. She went down and leaned against a tree near the Black Lake.

Oh, why did I have to agree to this? Hannah thought, miserably. This is going to be a heck of a year.

Disclaimer

We do not own anything you recognize.

Author's Note

Well there's chapter 4! Hope you enjoyed. Next chapter will be in Albus' point of view.

Thanks to masters.g11g for following and favourite-ing! Have some donuts! (o) (o) (o) (o)

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And for everyone else, thank you,

BlueDaylighter & QuietlyImagining