Chapter Seven
Midnight arrived and after a long nap, first-year students were each awoken by their prefects. Before being led outside by an elderly wizard up to the astronomy tower for their first lesson in astronomy. Wearing their winter cloaks over their nightgowns as they walked up the cold tower steps, some wearing slippers while others braved going up barefooted. Lucy regretted not brining her slippers as she looked down at her cold feet. A couple of giggles could be heard as the first-years noticed most of the Slytherin boys wearing outdated nightcaps. Though the boys looked proud as the Slytherin emblem was sewn onto it and they took no notice. Abraxas Malfoy was heard saying...
"This nightcap belonged to my father and my grandfather and so on. The real question is why aren't you wearing nightcaps"
This remark even made Lucy smirk, he was so pompous. Though she supposed he was brought up that way as a pure-blood. The Malfoy family were known to be very strict about that and avoided having anything that might be seen as muggle related. They were ashamed if any of them married a muggle or worse, were squibs. The students finally reached the top of the tower, the late night wind making them happy they brought their robes. Perhaps a nightcap would be handy to have after all as the jokes about them died down.
"Gather round children...gather round" the elderly wizard spoke softly.
The students all huddled together as they formed a circle. The elderly wizard stood at the front. He looked as old as the 'Flying Instructor' Leofwine Jacks. He wore a blue robe and long pointy hat, his beard as white as snow. Most of the elderly wizards had this look in 1938. He wore a necklace with a moon emblem and had a ring to match. His shoes were blue and pointy as well. Though he had kind eyes and a gentle tone.
"Keep together and keep warm, children. I'm Professor Ivory Gutter and will be teaching you astronomy. I will teach you about the planets, stars and constellations. In that little box over there, you will find moon charts. I would like you all to take one each and gather around the sides so you have a good view of the sky" Gutter instructed.
The students were soon heard walking towards the box as they all scrambled to get a moon chart. Eileen Prince snatched the moon chart forcefully from Lucy's hand before going in the direction of her usual crowd. Lucy giving a sigh, she supposed that was her way of telling her she knew what those girls she was sitting with before were saying about her.
"It wasn't anything to do with me" Lucy mumbled under her breath; taking the last moon chart.
She stood besides Myrtle Warren (who she hadn't seen since the Defence Against the Dark Arts' class). The night sky looked beautiful and Lucy felt like she could get lost in it. Professor Gutter had said "Lumos" and his wand lit up as he pointed it around towards the students. This was a lesson which Lucy instantly felt at peace in, mainly thanks to Professor Gutter's kindly presence.
"Children...I wish you all to look towards the sky and look at your moon chart. See where it is tonight" Gutter instructed.
Dozens of pages could be heard being turned. Tom Riddle briefly looked towards Lucy and Myrtle. He hated them simply because they were muggle-borns. The first-year Slytherin students admired Tom as he seemed to hold the answers to all their problems. He would listen to them however if they stepped out of line, he would scold them and belittle them. He seemed to hold more sway than the Slytherin prefects.
"Can anyone tell me where the moon is?" Gutter asked after a few minutes of watching his class consult the chart.
Lucy instantly put her hand up. The first time she had done that today as this was the first lesson she had felt truly connected to. Gutter could see her keenness and let her answer. She answered correctly and he gave a little clap. The Slytherin students rolling their eyes. Though Lucy was too happy to care as she averted her eyes back to the sky. Gutter had began to explain the different stars to the class and what he expects from them in their first year.
"Are you alright?" Lucy asked quietly to Myrtle; wondering what the headmaster Dippet had said to her in his office earlier.
"Why yes. I went to his office and he saw me crying. So I explained everything that went on in that dreadful woman's class. Would you believe he agreed with me? Though he said Merrythought has the right to separate us if she so wishes" Myrtle paused for a moment...
She was worried about the Slytherin students overhearing as she leaned in closer to Lucy, she was a Ravenclaw after all. She was overemotional, not stupid. Lucy urging her to go on...
"He reminded me of my house Ravenclaw and that he was disappointed in me. So I told him sorry. Many Ravenclaw portraits began to shout over at me and told me to use my brain. So I said sorry to them too. From now on, I will only be crying in the bathrooms; that's what I told our headmaster. He just warned me not to do that crying in the classroom thing again" Myrtle finished.
"Is that all?"
"Why yes!" Myrtle paused again; before saying..."Sorry, my emotions are all over the place. Why yes but read between the lines, Lucy. He agreed with me and was advising me for my own good"
...
A few days had passed by now and Lucy was getting use to school. She wrote to her parents and brother about her time here for the first time on that first weekend. She tried to explain some of the lessons as best she could. As she wrote...
Dear mother, father and Eric...
I'm writing to you from my common room. I was sorted into a house called Hufflepuff. I think you would love it mother as it's where all the nice witches and wizards go. We do so many lessons, we do gardening (but they called it herbology), history and science (which they call astronomy). I'm still taught how to write and read mother, just not directly. Our sports lessons are mostly broomstick riding but don't worry, our teacher is really good; he's like the Tommy Lawton of the wizarding world (you would like him, Eric). I met a few friends here and some of them were born in families like ours. Don't be afraid of the owl, he's called 'Ashy' and belongs to one of the girls in my dormitory. I'm looking forward to seeing you all again for Christmas. I miss everyone so much but don't worry about me, I'm enjoying my time here.
Lucy stopped writing for a moment. Maybe she sounded not cheerful enough. She doesn't want them to think she's having an awful time (because she's truly not). She supposed this was good enough as she wrote on...
Well I must go as I got plenty of homework to do.
Lots of hugs and kisses
Love from Lucy Norris
XX
And with that, she closed the letter up and put it in her robe pocket. She was on her way to the owlery. One of her Hufflepuff friends, Victoria Abbott; kindly lent her her owl Ashy. A lovely grey owl, hence the name. Argus Filch began walking besides her with his cane in one hand and his broom in the other. He had the look of a 'lost crup' whenever he walked besides Lucy. He also had a list which had names on a tally chart. She noticed Malfoy, Prince and Nott all having the most ticks besides their name. Tom Riddle meanwhile had just one (Filch would never dare deal with that boy again and he turned a blind eye if he saw him misbehaving).
"It's my tally chart" Argus began to explain. He noticed her looking and he looked proud of it.
"What has Eileen Prince done to get on it so many times?"
"Loitering with her three snakes"
"Her what?!...Oh you mean...Yes. Well Malfoy, Nott and Riddle seem to be her best friends. Why isn't Tom listed as many times then?"
"Don't ask" Argus replied with a shudder.
The two of them reached the owlery. Lucy called out for Ashy and the grey owl came sweeping down. She tied the letter to the owl's leg and instructed it where to go and it did so with little trouble. Her family will get a lovely surprise when they get their first owl mail from her. She hopes they reply back quickly as that would give her a much needed boost. She and Argus climbed back down the owlery steps. Not wanting to stay there for too long as the smell was rancid. He followed her out into the school grounds as the two of them sat down at the tree together. It was still early in the morning.
"Have you been to a quidditch match yet? My brother is playing later if you want to come and watch with me" Argus suggested; placing his legs over her lap like she was a footrest.
"I haven't yet but I suppose I can with you. I don't like sports very much though" Lucy told him.
"Witches love quidditch usually. I enjoy watching it because I feel included. You don't need magic to enjoy watching it"
Two young witches (who looked in their mid and late 20s) came strolling past. Giving the two children a brief glance. They were two assistant professors called Minerva McGonagall (assistant to Albus Dumbledore in transfiguration) and Pomona Sprout (assistant to Herbert Beery in herbology). Argus looked at them as they walked towards Hogwarts.
"At least I don't have to endure lessons" Argus grunted; not liking some of the professors (unless they were shouting at someone of cause).
"Is it absolutely certain you're a squib and not a late-bloomer, Argus?"
"Oh no, it's certain. My parents wrote to the school to ask and they said that even late-bloomers would have proof of some kind by now. I haven't ever done anything that couldn't be explained"
"Sorry"
"Don't be"
"You know what I use to do back home with my friends? We would run down a hill and see who could do it quickest, do you want to try?"
Argus gave a little nod as he removed his legs from her lap. The two children walked further up the hill. Students and professors were seen coming out the school by the time they reached the top. Lucy felt bad that Argus couldn't play any of the wizarding games like 'Gobstones' or 'Exploding Snap'. So she decided to resort to some of the muggle games that she plays at home with her muggle friends. She began to count to three and just before she said three, she ran down; Argus lagging behind her down the hill. Getting some stares from some amused witches and wizards. The cold September wind rushing through each of their hair.
"Chase you back up!" Lucy shouted as they got to the bottom.
A chuckling Argus doing just that as the two of them raced back up the hill. He overtook her this time. Pushing past her slightly as she now lagged behind him on the way up the hill. Both of them looking down again to the bottom of the hill to see they were being stared at by some amused looking older students. They both quickly sat down as if they never moved. Bursting out into laughter at each other, Lucy's plaits looking slightly messier.
...
It has been a few weeks now since Lucy started at Hogwarts. She was actually getting use to it. She knew who her friends were (and who weren't). Some lessons she enjoyed, others she did not. She and Myrtle were on their way out of potions this one cloudy evening. They were packing their things up and cleaning away their cauldrons. Slughorn giving them a wave goodbye as they departed the classroom last. The corridor was mostly quiet as most students had left to go upstairs to their next lesson (and last lesson of the day). The girls spoke to each other about how their potion lessons was quite difficult that day. In the middle of their casual chit-chat, two hushed voices were heard down the darkest hallway. These voices did not sound as if they were anything pleasant however. Both of the girls suddenly stopped talking as they gave each other a worried look, slowly strolling towards the entrance to the dark corridor. A boy who looked no older than eleven had his wand pressed against a girl's face.
"Are you hearing me, Prince? Did I say you can look away from me when I'm giving you advice?!"
The voice belonged to Tom Riddle. Lucy had never heard him speak in such a manner before. The girl was Eileen Prince and she looked as if her blood had suddenly ran cold. Tom had her pressed against the wall and he looked angry over something she did.
"What do you wish to do about it now, Tom? I said I'm sorry, I didn't think it would have been an issue" Eileen was heard saying back with fear in her voice.
"You do not help mudbloods at all, do you understand? If you don't see that as an issue then perhaps you shouldn't be part of our little group at all. Nott has learned to control himself, why can't you?"
"You're not a professor, Tom! You can't just lecture us!" Eileen yelled back in a moment of bravery.
Though this just made Tom give a little chuckle. He pressed the wand deeper into her face. Much to the horror of Lucy and Myrtle, the boy stared straight at them as he could sense he was being watched. The scariest thing was that he didn't suddenly stop what he was doing to Eileen. He just continued, knowing he had an audience; like he enjoyed the attention. He lifted his wand up and simply said...
"I can do what I wish, Prince. I have no mother or father to lecture me, the children back in the orphanage are scared of me. As for these mudbloods watching us...They cannot even make a simple potion without asking for help" Tom spoke calmly, too calmly.
Eileen looked towards them with pleading eyes. Lucy was the only one brave enough out of the two girls to approach Tom.
"Let her go, Tom" Lucy said simply, she could hear the fear in her own voice.
Much to their surprise, he did just that as he drew back his wand and placed it back in his pocket. Ungrasping his hand from Eileen's collar as he walked towards Lucy with a broad grin. Myrtle felt her whole body shake as she looked towards the potions room hallway; if she could just shout out for Slughorn. This would all be over but nothing seemed to come from her lips.
"You know what people call you...don't you, Lucy? Saint Lucy. The mudblood who can't seem to grasp the concept that some people are not worth saving" Tom hissed as he stood meters away from her.
Lucy didn't say anything back. She just stood there, wishing he would just leave them all. She had never spoken to him before now due to the rumours persisting around his odd behaviour. Something he would later pick up on and change the following year. He didn't wish for people to see him as odd, he just wanted people to do his bidding.
"Tom, she's not worth it...she's nothing" Eileen managed to say.
"Which is why you helped her, isn't it? You three are all nothing" Tom hissed.
He stormed past Lucy and walked right past Myrtle. His heavy footsteps heard going down the hallway and up the stairs. The three girls caught their breath suddenly as it was just them three left. Eileen however did not look grateful exactly as she shook her head.
"You silly girl! It's easy for you meddle, isn't it? You don't have to share a common room and table with him every single day. If I can't get back into his good books again, I'm truly left with nothing" Eileen uttered with panic.
She shoved past Lucy without waiting for a reply. Eileen knew she would now have to grovel at his feet.
...
TBC