As I made my way out to the greenhouses for my first class: herbology, Reyna walked with me. " Hey, Nico? Want to meet some of my dorm mates?" I shrugged and she dragged me over to a small group of students. Two blondes a brunette, and an onyx. " hey guys! This is Nico. Nico, this is Draco and Bianca Malfoy, Luna Hemlock, and Finley Glenanne." Draco was a tall blond boy with a dazzling smile that faltered when he saw me "Oh, look who it is, it's Mr Misfit Weaslby" Bianca, the Black haired girl with white streaks hit him over the head with her potions book. "Draco!" Luna was the girl with brown hair and blue streaks. "Nico, why don't you sit with us today?" The only other blonde, Finley, said. "I'm Finley, but my friends call me Fin or Fi" "Eww. I won't sit with a blood traitor Weasley, Fin" sneered Malfoy. I had to try really hard not to lose my temper, but my wandless magic spoke for me "Did you not hear? I may be a Weasley legally, but I am adopted. Did you really think I was blood-related? I have olive skin, brown eyes, and curly black hair. They're all redheads with blue or green eyes and fair skin." My black shadows curled around me, giving me a dark aura. " well then, what's your true surname? "He asked snobbishly. I shrugged. "I was found in the chicken coop as a five-year-old, with no memories except my name." "You're powerful no doubt about it." Bianca said. Draco huffed and stalked away. " you can join us" Bianca said. Reyna and I followed the others.
By Friday, I felt I finally was getting used to the classes and the castle. Feeling a mix of excitement and nerves, I called to Draco, the leader of the group that Reyna and I had just become a part of. I wanted to make sure I had all the information I needed for our first class, as I was really looking forward to getting off to a good start that day. "Hey, Draco? What's our first class again?" He smiled. I could feel butterflies in my stomach. I tried to keep the blush out of my cheeks. Checking his timetable, his smile turned into a sneer. "Double potions with the Gryffindors" I groaned. I didn't want to see Ron. I bet he didn't want to see his weird adopted Slytherin brother either. I sighed, picking at my pomegranate dejectedly. "Why do you only ever eat pomegranates?" Bianca asked. I looked up to find the whole group staring. I could feel the heat rising to my cheeks. "I don't know. It's my comfort food. And I don't eat much in general." Reyna scooped some scrambled eggs onto my plate and gave me a look that said "Eat or die" I picked up my fork and ate the eggs. "you seriously need to eat more, Nico. "Finley said. " fine. I'll have some beans on toast tomorrow. Will that satisfy you guys?" They nodded. They stood as one and walked out of the great hall. I stopped.
" Cazzo!" I cursed in Italian. I didn't know how I knew Italian, but I did. "Guys, I need to go back to the common room. I forgot my potions homework." I split off from the group, forgetting what I left them to go do, and went back up to the boys' bathrooms next to the great hall. I sat on the toilet, head in my hands anxiety pumping through my veins. How would Ron react when he saw me? His Slytherin brother? Disgusted? Revolted? Shameful? I tried to push these awful thoughts away, but then I heard the door open. "Ugh. Potions with the Slytherins. Guess we'll be able to see if Snape really favours them." It was Ron. Not wanting to be in the room any longer, I unlocked the door and headed to the sink to wash my hands. I didn't even know why I was doing it. I hadn't even used the toilet. "Hey, Nico!" I didn't turn. Didn't answer. I walked to the door. "Wait! Where are you going? I haven't seen you all week! " At this, I spun on my heel. "You sure you want to see your weird slytherin brother?" I replied harshly. He looked shocked. "Don't you hate me? A disgrace to the family? A Slytherin? The only Slytherin in a line of Gryffindors?" "What? I don't hate you! You're my brother. Whatever house you're in! I don't care that you're not my brother by blood! I don't care if you're weird! You're my brother. Have you seen Fred and George? They're a thousand times weirder than you!" Harry stood there awkwardly. My expression softened. The first bell rang. Still processing, I turned toward the door. " I have to head to class"
I rushed down to the common room, picked up my Potions homework and made it into the classroom seconds before the second bell rang. I put my essay on the desk next to the others and found a seat next to a black-haired Slytherin girl. I set down my books and looked at the girl. I remembered her from some of my other classes. I hadn't actually spoken to her but she was hard to miss with her blue-tipped hair, silver piercings and heavy black makeup. Her hair covered half of her face. Professor Snape entered a second later, glancing boredly around the classroom. His cloak seemed to float in an invisible wind. He looked at my desk partner. "Andromeda. Hair out of face." He sneered in his cold monotone voice. The girl, Andromeda, looked up at him "No" she said simply. "Detention, Miss Stuart" She shrugged and continued sketching in her notebook. He walked to the front of the class to take roll call. "Reyna Ramirez-Arellano" Reyna raised her hand. He looked back down at his list. "Lavender Brown" she raised her hand. Next were:
"Seamus Finnigan
Finley Glenanne
Hermione Granger
Luna Hemlock
Neville Longbottom
Bianca Malfoy
Draco Malfoy
Pansy Parkinson
Parvati Patil" All here. Then was "Harry Potter. Our new ce-leb-rit-y" he enunciated the word coldly. Draco, Luna, and Finley snickered at this. He finished calling Roll. "You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion-making," he began. He spoke in barely more than a whisper, but they caught every word - like Professor McGonagall, Professor Snape had the gift of keeping a class silent without effort. "As there is little foolish wand-waving here, many of you will hardly believe this is magic. I don't expect you will really understand the beauty of the softly simmering cauldron with its shimmering fumes, the delicate power of liquids that creep through human veins, bewitching the mind, ensnaring the senses... I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, even stopper death- if you aren't as big a bunch of dunderheads as I usually have to teach" I knew I wasn't a dunderhead. I was eager to prove it."Can anyone tell me what you get when you add powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?" I knew this. The potions had always interested me. I raised my hand a second after Hermione Granger had. "Anyone? Potter? Perhaps?" He drawled. "I don't know sir," Harry said uncomfortably. "Tut tut. Fame clearly isn't everything. Let's try again, Potter. Where would you look if I told you to find me...A bezoar?" He said the last word like beh-zwah. Harry shook his head. "You don't know? Thought you wouldn't open a book before coming, eh, Potter?" Harry stared stubbornly into the professor's cold black eyes. "What is the difference, Potter, between monkshood and wolfsbane?" Hermione's hand was reaching for the ceiling. "I don't know. I think Hermione and Nico know. Why don't you? Ask them" A few Gryffindors laughed at this. " Sit down" he barked at Hermione Granger. " for your information potter, asphodel and wormwood make a powerful sleeping draughty known as the draught of living death. A bezoar is a stone taken from the stomach of a goat, and it will save you from most poisons. As for monkshood and wolfsbane, they are the same plant, which also goes by the name of Aconite. Well?! Why aren't you all CoPyIng ThIs DoWn?!"He snapped. I had already been taking notes, anticipating a temper tantrum. The lesson continued on, the boy named Neville melted Seamus's caldron and had to go to the hospital wing. Finally, we were free from the stiffening heat of the caldrons. "I expect two rolls of parchment on my desk by next Tuesday on the importance of following instructions to the dot. Class dismissed!" He called after our receding figures.
A/N
I have internet again! Hurrah! Anyways, just to clear up some questions: No, Nico doesn't like LIKE Andromeda. He is still gay. Don't worry, I'm not taking away depressed emo gay boy Nico from you. I'm not that cruel. I hope your excited for the drama with Andromeda in the next few chapters. Bye!