Alice thought it was rather funny, seeing as the stick-up-his-arse Malfoy boy from the platform earlier was going to be her prefect for the year; introducing himself as Lucius before he led herself and the other first years to the common room deep into the lower dungeons. That was the last thing to amuse her for the night.
'Who let a bloody mudblood in Slytherin?!'
'I say we change the password and lock her out. Then they'll be forced to re-sort the little mudblood.'
'Salazar himself must be rolling in his grave.'
'What kind of joke is the hat pulling this year? Sirius Black getting into Gryffindor and we get the rotten blood?'
'What was that bellend of a hat thinking? Putting filth like her here. Ugh.'
'Look at the manky little bastard!.'
'Ugh my parents are going to have a row when I tell them.'
Alice didn't stay long enough to meet her head of house, although the second she entered the common room she stared in awe at the largest back wall, she briefly wondered if it was charmed, but she supposed it made sense that if they actually were this deep down in the dungeons to see the waters of the Black Lake she had previously sailed across. Expansive windows with intricate paneling made up the vast majority of the wall. It was dark but oddly enough a soft emerald seemed to glow from the murky lake water that cast itself over the whole of the common room as well. The waters were foggy and if you squint hard enough you could just see something dart about in the distance. Alice was impressed that the glass could withstand all the water pressure; so yes, she figured it was charmed.
Lucius had lifted a hand in the general direction of the dorms and Alice snuck away immediately, quickly making her way up the stairs and hopefully out of sight. She couldn't handle it; the whispers, the stares, the insults, the judgment. It was all too much, Alice felt like she couldn't breathe. She rushed through the stone hallway passing several doors, name plates had been put on the outside of the doors and her head whipped side to side trying to catch a glimpse of her own. Her eyes and chest burned as she frantically searched for her name, her stomach tied itself up in knots as she desperately yearned for home, for warm blankets and royal milk tea, for Charlie. She gasped for oxygen hoping to catch her breath, feeling as though she was getting none as hot tears lined her eyes; and suddenly there she was.
Avery Ismene
Nott Septima
Kent Alice
Carrow Alecto
Wilkes Catriona
Alice's breathing only worsened as she noticed how badly her name stood out among the others. Another reminder of how she didn't belong here. She shoved herself through the doorway, 5 four poster beds were arranged in a semi circle around the room and she cast a wry glance at her trunk which sat in front of the second to last on the left. Alice pushed the door loudly behind her and ran to her trunk, throwing it open and tossing various books onto the dark green duvet on her new bed as she searched for pajamas. A bath is what she needed, yes a nice shower would do her good.
Alice slammed her trunk shut and choked back a sob, standing on her knees in front of it, she cried. Hogwarts wasn't supposed to be like this, god not like this at all. She pulled herself up; body shaking, hyperventilating, and just over the edge of a breakdown she stumbled into the adjacent bathroom. Alice began blinking as black spots filled her vision, struggling against her bothersome uniform she pulled at it in haste, stepping over and into the tub she fell into it as her legs gave out under her. The cool porcelain felt nice against her flushed skin, but Alice reached out with a shaking arm and turned the hot water all the way on.
She plugged up the drain and turned the shower head on so the scalding water rained down on her from above and she fell completely off the edge. Sobs poured uncontrollably from her mouth as she pulled her legs out from under her and to her chest under the water, her body pink from the water's heat but Alice didn't care, she couldn't feel it much anyways. Alice choked on her sobs as she hyperventilated, hot salty tears ran down her face and mixed with the hot water but she couldn't tell if the salty taste in her mouth was from her tears, snot that leaked from her nose, or a mixture of both. It's not like she cared anyways.
Alice wasn't sure how long she'd been in, she'd let the water out when it reached her stomach and it now ran lukewarm. She no longer felt the panic that had consumed her earlier, now she was exhausted and numb. Alice got out slowly after turning the water off, her skin stinging in protest as she looked at the fluffy white towel that was sitting on the counter next to the sink with a large green ceramic mug. Those had not been there earlier.
She cautiously grabbed the towel and wrapped it around herself, her wet hair sticking to her face as she leered at the mug, an off white liquid in it. She wouldn't put it past a student to try and slip her some sort of potion, she was paranoid enough to think someone would at least. Alice glanced at the door, she had not remembered to lock it in her hysterical state of mind earlier. Picking up the mug she scrutinized it, before a soft sweet scent wafted up to her causing her eyes to widen slightly and for her to take two long drinks. Warm milk with honey, a favorite of hers.
Alice set the mug back down before she pulled on her pajama top, flinching as the rough material rubbed against her pink chapped skin. She pulled on her shorts, wrapped her hair in the towel on top of her head and balled up her uniform, stuffing it between her elbow and rib cage. Alice grabbed the green mug from the counter top and sighed, taking a sip of her warm treat, her body ached but a wave of sweet warmth washed over her-sinking into her bones as she drank. Alice twisted the doorknob slowly as she listened for anyone in her shared dorm room, a fresh wave of anxiety surging through her at the thought.
Would her roommates degrade her like the others? Alice figured that in some way yes, they would, if not as harshly as the others had. Alice pulled the bathroom door open as she quickly walked out the door, two girls stood in the room, in between the last two beds in the right side. She froze as she looked at the two girls, their conversation stopped when the bathroom door had opened. Alice blinked as anxiety filled her, her eyes burning with ready tears.
She exhaled shakily as she reminded herself to breathe while tearing her gaze away from her roommates and tossed her balled up uniform onto her bed before climbing into her own bed and frantically pulling the dark emerald curtains closed around her bed. Falling backwards onto the mattress Alice welcomed the dark silence around her, a much needed change from earlier. She decided that if her housemates were going to harass her one way or another, then she would make sure her intelligence would be something they couldn't touch, she would be prepared. Dragging her hands down her face Alice rubbed her eyes before sitting up and grabbing her textbooks that she had previously tossed onto the bed.
'Basic Hexes for the busy and Vexed'
'A Compendium of common Curses and Their Counter-Actions'
'Curses and Counter-Curses (Bewitch Your Friends and Befuddle your Enemies with the Latest Revenges!' By Professor Vindictus Viridian
'The standard Book of Spells Year 1' By Miranda Goshawk
Grinning down at the books, Alice silently thanked Flourish and Blotts. Among their secondhand section there was a reduced price bin that sat in the back corner, it featured old tattered ripped and torn books so it was mostly overlooked by most other witches and wizards. Taking the time to go through them she had found rather interesting books she was luckily able to get; besides the required standard. Reaching for her standard book of spells and her wand-currently tangled in her robes, Alice straightened out her posture and glanced down at the worn leather book. She could do this, her wand was her proof.
Beech wood with a phoenix feather core, Twelve and a-half inches and slightly springy flexibility. Mr. Ollivander had told her that beech wood wands choose a wielder who is wise beyond their years and will grow to be rich in understanding and experience. They perform very weakly for the narrow-minded and intolerant, but when properly matched the beech wand is capable of subtlety and artistry rarely seen in any other wood. If that wasn't an expectation to live up to Alice didn't know what was; she decided then in the wand shop that she wouldn't let her wand down. So when she opened up her spell book, squinting to read her first year spells in the dark, Alice gingerly grabbed her wand and flicked it, whispering:
"Lumos."
Her dry, bloodshot green eyes widened in astonishment as she stared at the soft white glow that floated at the tip of her crooked wand. A small, satisfied smile quirked up the corners of her mouth as she held her wand over the book and reached for another. She'd show them.
Alice didn't sleep. She sat in the middle of her bed surrounded by various opened books with Jeremy asleep on her pillow behind her, Alice absorbed as much as she could understand without context from a teacher. Magic theory was confusing on its own. Staying up and reading various spell books long into the early morning wasn't something Alice did on a regular basis, however that might change soon. She pulled on her bed curtain, ready to make another trip to the bathroom but she paused as early morning light filtered into the room. Oh no.
By Gods what time was it? 5 AM? That left 3 hours of precious sleep if Alice wanted to eat and get to her classes on time; Oh bloody hell her classes. Alice rushed to the bathroom and hopped back into bed quickly, she wanted to sleep before her classes-even if it was a lousy 3 hours. Grinning Alice grabbed her wand and exhaled, flicking her wand in precise 180 degree curve she whispered:
"Nox."
The wand's light flickered out and Alice was plunged into silent darkness. She scoffed at herself, she should have waited a bit longer to put her wand out. Alice grabbed at the dark shadows of her books on the bed and dog-eared her pages for later, pushing them down to the end of her bed with her feet she grunted as she pulled the thick duvet from under her and snuggled down into her pillow. She needed all the sleep she could get.
Alice sat at her desk nervously, her leg bounced as she frantically searched for Charlie; her first class today was potions with Gryffindor. Alice watched as various Gryffindor students walked through the door and then glanced at the chair to her left. It was left empty, nobody from her own house wanted to sit next to her and Alice hoped that Charlie would sit with her, like they did in school before Hogwarts. Alice bit her lip as she watched Charlie walk in while being surrounded by James Potter and his group of friends and Alice narrowed her eyes at them, where were they hiding her? Charlie was swiftly pulled into a seat next to James while the other 2 boys sat together behind them and the small chubby boy sat in front of them with someone outside of their group. Charlie's eyes met her own and Charlie frowned before looking away and nudging James. James turned around to Sirius and began whispering to each other, large savage grins slipping on their faces.
"Hey dung brains!." Dung brains?
"Ha! Good one mate, I bet she has bat bogeys for brains!" Alice watched as the two boys laughed and pointed at her and soon the other students started to join in too.
"Dung brains! Dung brains! Dung brains!" They chanted over and over and Alice felt herself begin to shake.
"I reckon a troll has more brains than her mate!"
"Oi! Don't disrespect trolls like that!" The boys all cackled together, the noise echoing hauntedly in her ears as their chants grew louder and louder.
Alice woke up with a jolt, her eyes darting around and she gasped and wrestled with the blanket that was wrapped around her. It took her a moment to get her bearings, realizing that she was not in class, that Charlie, James Potter, and his friends were not actually taunting her, and that she simply had a silly little horrifying dream. She rubbed her eyes and dragged her hands down her face, what a lovely way to start her first day of her first year. Alice kicked her duvet, half of it falling to the floor as she crawled towards the end of her bed and with a deep breath, she stuck her head through the split in the long drapes that surrounded her bed. She exhaled loudly as she peered around the room, relief replacing her once again growing anxiety. It was empty. Alice peered around the room, she didn't really get to see it much last night. Five beds similar to her own were scattered around the room, some with left open curtains and a few left open trunks at the end of the beds. Next to the bathroom door stood a large grandfather clock and Alice felt her blood run cold. Eight forty-seven AM. Classes started at 9 o'clock sharp. She whined as she stared at it, wishing she could turn back time and Alice grabbed her balled up uniform from yesterday and stumbled into the bathroom. She shivered as she stepped on to the cool tile, wiggling her toes she stared at herself in the mirror and sighed.
"Right" Alice muttered to herself as she began to strip off her night clothes. With a few failed spells and a few successful ones Alice bounced down her dormitory steps 2 at a time and glanced at the bulletin board next to the exit way.
STUDENTS WILL RECEIVE TERM SCHEDULES FROM HEAD OF HOUSE DURING BREAKFAST HOURS IN THE GREAT HALL.
Alice huffed as she threw herself into gear, she didn't see anyone in the common room but then again Alice wasn't exactly looking for anyone either. Alice jogged through the rough humid halls of the dungeons with her mind racing. Where was the great hall again? She hadn't paid attention last night when they left the great hall, Alice really was useless without Charlie wasn't she? Alice slowed down in front of one of the few paintings in the dungeon and glanced at it briefly. She had been introduced to magical portraits at Charlie's house but she wondered, was every portrait magical? Alice stood in front of the portrait and bit her lip, some old guy was snoring in a chair and Alice debated on waking him up, no doubt he'd be grumpy and might not even help her, or god forbid give her wrong directions! If She couldn't even muster up the courage to ask a bloody painting for directions how good of a witch will she become? Charlie would probably have no problem asking, but Alice figured that Charlie probably wouldn't have overslept and missed breakfast like she had, she probably paid attention last night on her way back to her own common room too though. Hell those boys could probably show-
"Oh hello! A little scraggler are you? A first year I assume? Yes, yes I knew I didn't recognize that face. Ah I have exactly one timetable left; you wouldn't happen to be Miss Alice Kent now would you dear?" Alice blinked at the elder man at the end of the corridor, stocky build with wispy brown hair combed over to hide the thinning of old age dressed in a tan suit with a dark red bowtie secured around his neck. Was this her head of house? Professor Slughorn?
"Ah yes sir, that's me. I'm sorry to be late, I overslept you see." Alice explained as she hurried towards him.
"No worries, It's expected to happen with first years. Just don't make a habit of it, Miss Kent." He chided as he handed her the sheet of parchment. Alice grabbed it from him with a smile as she looked down at the paper.
STANDARD 1st YEAR SLYTHERIN SCHEDULE
MONDAY
7:30 am-8:50 am: Breakfast
Class 1: 9:00 am-9:45 am: Potions
9:55 am till 11:35 am: Free Time
11:45 am-12:45 pm: Lunch
Class 2: 12:55 pm till 1:40 pm: Free Period
Class 3: 1:50 pm till 2:35 pm: History of Magic
2:45 pm till 7:25 pm: Free Time
7:35-8:35 pm: Dinner
TUESDAY
7:30 am-8:50 am: Breakfast
Class 1: 9:00 am till 9:45 am: Charms
9:55 am till 10:40 am: Charms
Class 2: 10:50 am till 11:35 am: Defense Against the Dark Arts
11:45 am-12:45 pm: Lunch
12:55 pm till 7:25 pm: Free Time
7:35-8:35 pm: Dinner
WEDNESDAY
7:30 am-8:50 am: Breakfast
Class 1: 9:00 am till 9:45 am: Potions
9:55 am till 11:35 am: Free Time
11:45 am-12:50 pm: Lunch
Class 2: 1:00 pm till 1:40 pm: Transfiguration
Class 3: 1:50 pm till 2:40 pm: Transfiguration
2:45 pm till 3:30 pm: Free Time
Class 4: 3:40 pm till 4:25 pm: Flying
4:35 pm till 7:25 pm: Free Time
7:35-8:35 pm: Dinner
THURSDAY
7:30 am-8:50 am: Breakfast
Class 1: 9:00 am till 9:45 am: Charms
9:55 am till 11:35 am: Free Time
11:45 am-12:45 pm: Lunch
Class 2: 12:55 pm till 1:40 pm: Magical Theory
1:50 pm till 7:25 pm: Free Time
7:35-8:35 pm: Dinner
FRIDAY
7:30 am-8:50 am: Breakfast
Class 1: 9:00 am till 9:45 am: Potions
Class 2: 9:55 am till 10:40 am: Potions
Class 3: 10:50 am till 11:35 am: Herbology
11:45 am-12:45 pm: Lunch
12:55 pm till 7:25 pm: Free Time
7:35-8:35 pm: Dinner
Class 4: 12:10 am till 12:55 am: Astronomy
Her eyes swept over it once before looking back up at her head of house. Professor Slughorn was a stout stocky man whose age was shown on his face by the deep lines of crows feet and various wrinkles on his face. His hair was well into receding and was just beginning to turn gray, his once dark brown hair was now a light dusty brown from age.
"Come now dear, follow me to the dungeons for Potions since you don't have a Prefect leading you. Everyday this week you first years will have a Prefect leading you to each of your classes." He told her as he turned around and started walking down the stone hallway of the dungeon.
"Yes Professor." Alice told him quietly as she followed behind him. She pulled and twisted on the white sleeves of her uniform shirt. Potions? As her first class? If it was going to be with Gryffindor Alice was going to cast the killing curse on herself. She'd rather die than actually have to live through her nightmare from last night. Alice's foggy head started clearing up with the panic and adrenaline beginning to run through her. No. The whole reason she stayed up all night was for this. The reason she missed her first breakfast with Charlie was for this. That if anybody decided to fuck with Alice she'd make them cower and whimper away with their lion or snake tail between their legs.
The Pepper-Breath hex. Conditum Anima. Gives a person fiery hot breath.
The Jelly-Legs Jinx. Locomotor Wibbly. Renders its victim's legs temporarily useless, leaving them to wobble around helplessly.
The Stinging Hex. Pungo. A charm that stings the victim's skin and causes swelling.
Alice took in a deep breath as she went over some of the spells in her head. There was no need to panic. If anybody tried to fuck around with her they sure as hell where going to find out.
"Professor Slughorn?" Alice asked as he reached the classroom door.
"Hmm?"
"Do you know what house is with us today?" Alice asked, tugging on the cuff of the white button down she wore under her gray sweater.
"Ah! Yes, but miss Kent but you'll just have to wait and see for that."
"Yes, Professor." Alice sulked as she shuffled around outside of the doorway. She didn't want to be the first in the classroom, God forbid a Slytherin be the first to come in after her and see her sitting there alone. She walked around in small circles in the empty hall. Her wand gripped tight in her right hand under her cloak as she went over more spells she had studied last night.
Spongify. The Softening Charm. Used on an object to make it soft and squishy.
Alohomora. The Unlocking Charm. Unlocks doors, windows, and other basic locks.
Colloportus. The Locking Spell. Used to lock doors, windows, and other basic locks.
Glisseo. A simple spell that turns any step of stairs into a ramp.
Episkey. A Spell that heals minor injuries.
Alice stopped walking in circles once she heard the distant hum of chatter from other students passing the entrance to the Dungeons. She opted to look through the bookbag that hung off her shoulder making sure she had everything she thought she'd need. Scrolls of parchment, quills, sugar quills, some other random candies she had purchased off the trolley on the train. A sealed glass bottle of ink, 7 textbooks; once for each subject, and 7 thick journals to go along with them. Alice silently thanked Charlie's mum as she dug around in her bag, double checking its contents. She had given one to her and one to Charlie as a present the night before they left to go to Hogwarts and she had told them it was charmed so that they could put almost anything and everything in it and it wouldn't get bulky or heavy. Alice bit her lip as she pulled out a piece of Drooble's best blowing gum and popped it in her mouth. They didn't have the same flavors as muggle gum, but the herby minty clove flavor invading her mouth was her new favorite, especially since it seemed to help calm her nerves. Alice dropped the wrapper in her bag as she looked down the hall, seeing two figures walking together down the corridor. Oh bloody hell this was it. She squinted her eyes as she tried to make out the two, coming closer she could see a pale red haired girl, walking with a pasty boy with dark hair and Alice's face lit up with a large smile as she giggled to herself in excitement.
"Good morning Severus!" Alice called down the hallway as she jogged down to meet them halfway. Severus cringed as her voice echoed off the dungeon walls around them while the red haired girl's bright green eyes lit up and she laughed softly.
"Oh! Is this your friend Alice you said wasn't at breakfast?"
"She's not-"
"Yep, that's me! Alice Kent." Alice grinned at her, waving her arm at her enthusiastically.
"I'm going to assume you're Lily? Severus talked about you last night. We both have best friends in Gryffindor." Alice watched as a light pink slowly started to creep up her neck and to her face as she nodded.
"Yes, that's me. I've heard a bit about you as well Alice." Lily smiled softly at her. "Charlotte is one of my roommates and before bed she was telling us how worried she is about you. Some of the boys are pestering her about having a Slytherin as a friend, but what do they know?" Alice's bright smile fell to something softer as she listened to Lily. Hearing that Charlie was getting along well with her roommates was nice, she was safe with them.
"Yeah, what do they know, Severus?" Alice asked the boy who remained silent, watching the two with a blank face. His eyes widened as Alice included him and he looked between the two girls.
"They know how to be stupid." Severus sneered. Alice guffawed at his deadpan while Lily simply smiled and shook her head slightly.
"Come on, let's go inside, the other students are going to be here soon." Lily said, as she waved for Alice and Severus to follow her. Alice grinned and blew a bubble as she followed behind Severus into the potions room. She didn't feel so bad anymore.