Our Lady of Red Chapter 2, a harry potter fanfic

Chapter 2

Hidden Manor

The sun was yet to rise when Doni, the house elf, awoke Dimetres. "Little Miss, the Master is calling for you at the ballroom"

She couldn't understand why she was awoken, only that she knew it was foolish to make her father wait.

Once upon a time, when she was six, her father would make her run around the ballroom until the sun was above their heads. For a year, that was her routine, which ran from morning to midday, she read books during the afternoon, and she had a tutorial session with her father about all the books in the manor library. It has been so long since then, but the joy and hardship she felt during those days were never forgotten. But for a little girl who was tired from exploring Diagon Alley yesterday, being awoken before the sun was even up was a subject for annoyance.

Manor Ballroom

The never-ending corridors of the manor never pleased her. To Dimetres, all the blue and floating lights here and there bored her to her very soul. And when she arrived at the massive open doors of the Ballroom, all she could see was her father standing there unmoving.

"Dimetres, the first lesson you will receive before I allow you to fully depart for school is to always have your wand in your person." Her father said, looking menacingly with his red eyes.

She didn't need to be told that she had failed, and now it was her duty to grab her wand from her bedroom as fast as she could. And that's what she did, she ran straight to her room and grabbed her wand, then ran again to reach the ballroom the fastest time possible for her body.

"Very good my dear daughter, you remembered that I do not like to wait." Her father praised.

"Since now you have a wand, I want you to cast every spell I taught you up until now"

"Yes, Father!" she positioned herself in the middle of the room and prayed to Morgana that spells cast without a wand would work the same way as with a wand, as simple as saying the incantation while pointing it at your target.

"Leviosa!" She shouted towards a convenient rock near her, but the rock stood still, and even as she repeated the incantation and willing her magic into it the rock refused to move.

"Now, as you can see, wandless magic is very different from magic with a wand, Leviosa." She watched as her father simultaneously moved the wand in such an elegant way and made the rock float above the air. "Follow my hand movements, and speak the incantation"

After practicing for a short few minutes, she memorized the wand movements her father demonstrated and chanted, "Leviosa!" Dimetres felt her magic moving through the wand like how the basic spell did in Olivander's shop and shot towards the rock, now floating in midair.

She looked at her father with admiration and asked him to teach her all the spells again. Only this time now she was carrying a wand.

Hours later…..

The sun had risen an hour prior, but the joy she felt being taught by her dearest father blocked everything from the outside world.

He taught her proper wand stances, taught her other spells she didn't know how to cast without a wand, and taught her new spells she could play with. Most important of all, her father briefed her about the current position of their family inside Hogwarts. For a decade, all other sons or daughters of their house did not attend Hogwarts and instead chose other magical schools around the world.

It was fun; it was a joyful moment she shared with her stoic father, and by the end of it all, she hugged him tightly while he whispered, "Meet me at 5 in the afternoon, and we will discuss the things inside your books" For a few days, that was their routine as father and daughter and not a second was felt in loneliness, unlike the other years of her life.

For just a few short days, her father taught her things from sunrise to sundown. Vilhelm Astarte, her father, taught her magic without a wand when she was young. Now, guided her through the heaps of books of potions, spellcasting, and lore of so many things in the outside world.

King Cross Sation

It was hard for Dimetres to let go of her father as she saw the Hogwarts Express when they entered Platform 9 and . Tears flowed from her scarlet eyes as suddenly she didn't want to make friends or go to school, the only thing she wanted was to spend the rest of her days with her father who raised her in their Hidden Manor oblivious to the whole world.

It took a while for her father to get her aboard the Hogwarts Express, but he did so by placing Onyx in her arms gently pushing her aboard, and blocking her with the trunk that held her things.

The girl was frightful, and her feline companion suffered the brunt of it when the cat was hugged so tightly that it couldn't breathe.

Luckily for Onyx, a kind lady took him in her arms and guided the girl to an empty compartment while holding her hands.

Inside the compartment, the girl calmed down with her cat sitting right in front of her, looking weary.

Many students with colored or blank robes opened and closed the compartment, but all left in a hurry as they were faced with scarlet red eyes staring right at them. Until there was that same boy Dimetres encountered at Diagon Alley. Their eyes locked, she could see his emerald eyes, while he could see her red eyes. They stared at each other, unmoving, until a red-haired boy came around and dragged him away, but not before commenting on the Astartes family being followers of You-Know-Who.

The girl was left all alone during the train ride, and it saddened her to hear friendly laughs from the compartment next to her. Slowly, the sunset and the moon rose above the clouds, with loneliness being the only thing Dimetres felt.

When the signal was given that they were nearing Hogwarts, Dimetres didn't move; she was already wearing her black robes before she entered the Hogwarts Express. The little girl did not know what to feel at the moment, but she was left with no choice but to disembark while carrying her only companion, Onyx. She heard the first years being called out and headed to the source.

What she saw was yet again the same large man in Diagon Alley and the same boy and other children her age boarding boats. Instinctively, she boarded an empty one with no clear operator.

Her father told her many things about Hogwarts like the 4 different houses that she would possibly be sorted into, but he never told her that she would be boarding a boat without company but her cat.

When the boats began rowing, she could see the other students with eyes gleaming brightly while looking around or talking to each other, as if it was just her brooding behind everyone else. As luck would have it, her view of the surroundings was blocked by a mist, and her only source of light was the lamp in front of her craft. The environment was doing the girl no good, and all she could think about was home.

Hogwarts Castle

Moments later, after a long time of only hearing the rows moving, the mist cleared, and she finally saw the Castle that was in her book "Hogwarts: A History." She was mesmerized, she didn't expect it to be so surreal, but her happiness was short-lived as they neared the dock and everyone disembarked.

She thought nothing interesting was going to happen when a very old-looking witch instructed them to form 2 lines. However, while forming those two lines, a frog suddenly leaped in between her feet and jumped towards the staircase where the old-looking witch was standing, and the student that owned the frog was laughed at by all of the students present except by a very few as he attempted to retrieve his lost companion.

"I am Professor McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry and the Head of Gryffindor House. As you may all know, you will be sorted into different houses, which will be your forever homes during your stay in this great institution. You will be sorted accordingly to the house that best suits you as a witch or wizard" Everyone listened to her every word but a blonde boy and his friends.

"You will enter the Great Hall, and you will line up at the front facing the tables of students for the sorting ceremony before the Start-Of-Term Feast begins." The witch paused and stared at the myriad of students. "Have I made myself clear?" she asked and everyone answered "Yes, Professor McGonagall"

The students followed the professor's every step and finally reached the Great Hall, where they were met by the clamor of older students welcoming them to Hogwarts. The teachers at the very front all clapped, notably a very old wizard who seemed to always have a twinkle in his eyes.

As instructed, the first-years lined up per the words of the professor, facing the Great Hall and its many students awaiting the beginning of the sorting ceremony,

The clamor died down as Professor McGonagall stepped forward carrying a stool and a rather old-looking hat. When both objects were placed down, the hat came to life and sang its sorting song.

The instruction for the sorting ceremony was simple; when your name is called by Professor McGonagall you sit on the stool and let the hat decide your fate.

The Great Hall was silent, as Professor McGonagall called the first student to be sorted, and by far one of the most nervous.

"Hannah Abbot!" Professor McGonagall called, and a blonde girl walked forward and sat on the stool.

It didn't take long for the sorting hat to shout "Hufflepuff!"

Dimetres was very anxious, she knew in her heart she was the next one to be called, and she knew that all eyes would be on her. Her family hadn't gone to Hogwarts for nearly a decade now even though they had other sons and daughters before her, and worse yet, it was the second time the public would know of her face. The prospect of being in everyone's attention made her remember the fear that gripped her in Diagon Alley, but this time, there was no Aunt Silia to wait for to calm her nerves, only the eyes of people who would judge her mercilessly.

"Dimetres Astarte!" Professor McGonagall's voice was loud and clear

She felt her body locked itself in place as everyone's eyes were on her now. She tried to calm herself and walked slowly towards the stool. She allowed herself to relax before sitting down and letting the professor place the hat on her head.

"Mhhh Ah, what a peculiar child, mhhh, it seems you know so much knowledge already perhaps you should be in Ravenclaw? Ravenclaw would surely lead you to higher feats of research. However, is that kindness and care I feel? Good traits for a Hufflepuff, yes. How about Gryffindor? Mhhh indeed, but you are not courageous mhhhh maybe Slytherin would be best? Don't you think so little Astarte? You do not like me in your mind, do you? But do bear with me as I must not make a mistake"

A talking voice in her already overwhelmed mind was not a good recipe for her inner peace. The feeling of all her secrets being scanned by the hat scared her to her very bones.

"There is no need to fear girl; I am only doing what's best for you and I will decide on it no matter how long it takes. Mhhh, maybe I should put you in Ravenclaw, you have immediately tried to apply all the knowledge of those library books of yours, but still I do not know very well what house suits you. But wait….. Mhhhhh." The sorting hat was now really in deep thought on where to place this girl breaming with knowledge, kindness, and ambition.

Everyone looked at the girl sitting at the front who was one step away from tears, but the sorting had to continue, and it didn't matter how long it took. Everyone was interested in where the girl was to be sorted as this was a historic moment for magical Britain. A daughter of a noble house who always seemed to choose other magical schools for a decade now appeared in the girl currently sitting in front of the entire Great Hall.

Bets were now being cast as to guess what house the hidden girl of house Astarte was to be placed in. "Hufflepuff I wager," shouted a student, and another "Ravenclaw, and then another "Slytherin," creating echoes that reached the already fearful and nervous girl's ears. In a single moment, the entire Great Hall was now betting on where she'd be placed, but before any teacher could quell the noise. It was too late as every mouth seemed to repeat the words:

"Hufflepuff" "Ravenclaw""Slytherin"

"BE QUITE!" Boomed the voice of a little girl. The Great Hall fell silent, and as if time had stopped, no one made a sound as tears flowed through the girl's eyes. But to the sorting hat, the sorting must be without delay and it had just received the missing puzzle piece. "SLYTHERIN!"

…..

The girl was escorted to an adjacent room warmed by a fire conjured by her now Head of House, a greasy-haired man named Professor Snape. "Drink this potion child. It will soothe the nerves, and after you have calmed down you'll rejoin the others"

Dimetres didn't utter a word but drank the potion earnestly as she felt her nerves eased, but the tears continued to flow unbearably.

"I am your head of house; you may only call me Professor Snape, and any misdeeds caused by you will be personally handled by me." Dimetres could only nod in response as the potion didn't seem to take effec aside from calming her nervous for but a second.

In the end, the pent-up emotions of a girl overwhelmed by so many things made the calming draught as effective as a glass of water.

Snape had no choice but to stay with the girl and let the festivities of the Great Hall pass before escorting her to the dungeons.

Slytherin Dungeons

This night, Dimetres couldn't handle the pressure she felt, even while she was escorted to the dungeons, her tears never stopped, but luckily, everyone had retreated to their rooms for a chance for a long night's sleep for the lessons that began tomorrow. And so quietly, she was guided to a room similarly colored to the green hue of the large hall that every pathway led to inside the dungeon. It was here she saw her trunk and a feline friend already sound asleep atop her luggage with 4 other beds.

"There is no point in acting like all of you are asleep." Professor Snape said nonchalantly

In a split second, three heads rose with faces that showed terror, and anxiousness.

"Miss Bulstrode, Miss Davis, Miss Greengrass, I admire your willingness to be caught by your volition, but I must advise you three to never be caught when you are doing something against school rules." Professor Snape's eyes scanned the room and landed on a giggling blanket.

"Miss Parkinson, do not test the limits of my leniency and show yourself. Now." Snape said threateningly. Now, with all heads showing, Severus cast a spell that sent forbidden items like magazines and cosmetic items not allowed in Hogwarts floating in the air.

"I will be taking all forbidden items for the reason that you were all foolish enough to be caught. If you choose to bring similar things again, pray that I do not even get a whiff of gossip." Snape collected all of these so-called banned items and placed them in a pouch that seemed to suck them all up in one fell swoop.

"With that out of the way. I present to you your roommate." He said hastily as he slammed the door behind him.

Dimetres was left glancing left to right as she tried to stay calm and not let the tears from flowing again.

"So you are a member of House Astarted correct?" A girl her age with brown hair asked.

"Tracey, please stop with the questions! You have been asking them since the train ride!" The white-haired girl angrily replied as she laid down on her bed trying to get some sleep.

"C'mon Daphne it doesn't mean that you lost your precious magazine you have to be an ass about it." The Tracey brown-haired girl replied.

"Shut up!" As the white-haired girl shot up drilling daggers into Tracey.

The two bickered for an eternity while the other two girls quickly slept, while Miss Astarte just stood there confused about whatever was happening inside the dimly lit dorm room she was assigned.

Headmaster's Office

"Ahh, Severus, I am glad you have managed to join us," Professor Dumbledore said with yet another twinkle in his eye. All the heads of each house sat in front of Dumbledor's desk, discussing the events for this school year. "I was made late by a child who would not stop crying until I escorted her to the dungeons" replied Severus Snape.

"It's such a shame young Dimetres could not attend the start-of-term feast as a first-year, but no matter she will still have 6 more chances to attend" Dumbledore replied wholesomely.

"And what makes you so sure of that Headmaster? We do not know if she will even handle the stress of being in a school based on today's events or even be here until her seventh year."

"Ah Severus, my boy, you are her head of house I'm sure under your care, she'll acclimate to suit her environment in no time, and, with it convince her family to make her stay."

"Still, it is unusual for Vilhelm to send his daughter here instead of keeping her hidden away from any danger," Severes Commented, massaging his temple and removing his greasy hair from covering his eyes.

"Maybe it is because he believes that this is the best time to finally strike. He was, in fact, a Slytherin also, along with his sister and older brother" Dumbledore answered as the other heads seemed oblivious to their conversation.

"Vilhelm controls through fear, yet has no courage to speak of. He is working with someone else. And if that is the case we should be worried more on-" Severus' words were stopped.

"Severus, instead of dwelling on who might place your life in danger. You should think about how this benefits our goals more in all cases." Dumbledore answered. "Vilhelm sent her here because here he knows she is truly safe from the power struggle that is ravaging their family. Here we can shape her to benefit us even if she does follow in either of her family's paths."

"You make a sound point, Albus." Severus paused. "It seems that House Astarte will tear itself to shreds when the current head dies." And without a twinkle in his eyes, Dumbledore nodded. Signalling Severus that he would be the one in charge of making sure that Albus Dumbledore's plan came to fruition.

Severus Snape concluded the discussion and joined the other heads to discuss the events for this school year. A discussion that always bore the greasy-haired man.