"No matter we can have other means… to procure the prophecy." He hisses. "And the girl?"
"Sorted into Slytherin this evening, sir." Someone else supplies quickly.
A silence hangs over the table before Voldemort's chilling laugh begins to weave through the room like a snake.
"Lucius." Voldemort hisses. "I think we have a job for young Draco."
Chapter 7: The First Day - I Feel Like I'm Drowning
River had drawn the curtains and cast a Silencio around her bed before anyone had entered the shared room after the feast. While Pansy was somewhat pleasant on the train, River wanted to eek out a few more hours of solitude before taking on the noise of Hogwarts. Thankfully, whomever her roommates are, they let her be in peace for the night.
The next morning, or what River thinks is morning, she draws back the curtains, and pears out into the room. All the other curtains are drawn, so she gives Nyx another scratch behind her ears before she creeps out of bed while everyone else sleeps. She quickly grabs her uniform from her trunk, and changes in the bathroom after freshening up. When she opens the door after, her roommates are still asleep, so she gathers her book bag, already packed with her supplies, and quietly leaves.
River's POV
The common room is blissfully quiet this morning, nothing but the sounds of the embers burning out in the fireplace, and the echoes of creatures in the Black Lake. The echoes are captivating and I find myself drawn to the glass, peering out into the depths of the lake. I lay my hand upon the glass, and am pleasantly surprised when I see something swimming from the distance… a kelpie. I watch as it studies me… the gentle flow of its mind present, like running water and gentle waves lapping against a shoreline. It's soothing.
"Careful Ms. Black." The sharp voice of Professor Snape, now my head of House, calls from the shadows behind me and I feel the burning ice of his presence. "Even if there is five feet of glass between you, Kelpies often use their beauty and charm to drown their victims."
I do not turn away from the creature on the other side of the glass, but reach out with my mind. Shhh…you mean me no harm… and I seek only to witness your magnificence. The sound of water echoes in my mind, and the kelpie nods its head in ascent, before turning and swimming away.
"Good morning Professor." I say as I turn and face Professor Snape now that the Kelpie has departed. He is much closer than I expected.
"After your…exit from the Great Hall last night, Headmaster Dumbledore would like to see you this morning." He says as he turns and walks towards the exit of the common room.
"Of course." I say, quickly following being my head of house.
When we make it up the stairs to the Headmaster's office, my mind is whirring and calculating… running through the infinite number of issues or outcomes that could have been raised after last night.
"Ah, Ms Black." Dumbldore says as he stands from behind his desk. "Thank you for joining me so early.
"I'm sorry for the scene that I caused last night, Headmaster." I say as I try to pick up any lingering thought from him. He must sense what I am trying to do, and gives me a gentle smile.
"You aren't in any trouble, River. Professor Snape and I were merely discussing ways that we might be able to help you better cope."
My ears perk up when I hear his words, and Snape is quick to explain what that help entails."We could extract memories from you, that would help us determine what the experiments you previously told us about entailed. It could help us derive a coping mechanism."
I look from Dumbledore to Snape and back. "You can do that? But I wasn't conscious during most of them?"
"Yes, but the mind is an incredible thing. Even if you were not awake, your mind was still cataloging and recording. Professor Snape and I could then view the memories, and determine how best to help."
"Can we do this now, please?" I ask eagerly.
Dumbledore laughs. "Yes, it won't take but a moment." He says as he extracts his wand from the pocket of his robe. I watch as he places it up to my temple. "Close your eyes and just let your thoughts float back to before the Veil." Dumbledore instructs.
I do as he instructs. Letting my eyes fall closed, and thinking back to my time in the Academy. I feel a gentle pull from where his wand rests, and when I open my eyes I see a swirling plasma like fluid suspended in the air by his wand. He moves it over to a small vial, where he funnels it inside.
"Excellent, please give us some time to review these and we should be able to devise something to help. In the meantime, here is your course block. We have already instructed your professors that you will be absent today. Please use that time to study in the Library and get more acquainted with the school."
While I am not fond of the special treatment the others may see me receiving, I can't deny it would be hard facing all my classes without a better coping mechanism. Great Hall, the noise, classes, all those students, their thoughts, their minds? The thought of it alone causes my skin to prickle. Maybe I can find my way to the kitchen and get food from there before sequestering myself in the Library for the day.
As I exit Dumbledore's office, I approach one of the paintings who is staring at me curiously. "Excuse me." I say as I approach the painting, the man inside clearly studying me at this point.
"Yes?" He says as he looks down his nose at me.
Curious. I guess paintings don't work the same as the living brain? I'll have to see if that is the same with other paintings around the castle. "Could you tell me how to get to the kitchen, Mr…"
"Black," The man says sharply. "And it's Former Headmaster Black to you."
Black? "You're a Black?" I am even more intrigued.
"Children these days… what are they teaching you in History of Magic if you don't know who the former Headmasters of Hogwarts?"
"Apologies, it wasn't my best subject, although I only had a week of…"
The portrait interrupts me. "Phhftt, excuses! What is your name child?"
"River Marie Black, sir." I say with a smile while I watch his face take on a new level of interest.
"Black, you say?" His eyes are studying me up and down. "Yes… yes… you do look like my great-great-granddaughter Bella. Is she your mother?"
"I'm… not quite sure?"
He scoffs at my response. "How can you not be sure?"
"It's a…complicated story."
"If you're a Black then I could only assume so." He seems to have finished his study of me at this point. "You can get to the kitchen by taking the Eastern stairs." It seems Former Headmaster Black would like this conversation to end if he's already trying to dismiss me.
"Thank you… should I call you great-great-great-grandfather?" I say with a cheeky grin and take great delight in watching him sputter at the notion.
I only pass a few students on their way to the Great Hall for breakfast on my way to the kitchens. They are too bleary-eyed this morning to recognize me from last night, a small gift. I push the door at the bottom of the stairs open, and I'm amazed to see all of the house-elves working diligently to prepare all the food for the day.
"Yes?" An elf close to the door wearing a sock and tea towel as a shift.
"Sorry, I was just hoping to get some breakfast… without going to the Great Hall." I reply.
The house-elf looks confused as to why I wouldn't want to go to the Great Hall though. "It's… it's just a little loud… Around other people."
"Dobby can bring you a plate Ms..."
"Thank you Dobby, you can call me River."
After a quick breakfast in the Kitchen, I ask Dobby to point me in the direction of the Hogwarts Library. Once there, I find a secluded table in the back among the stacks. I examine the course schedule that Dumbledore handed me earlier.
Charms and Care of Magical Creatures with Ravenclaw
Transfiguration and Herbology with Hufflepuff
Defense of Against the Dark Arts and Potions with Gryffindor
Ancient Runes
Arithmancy
Astronomy
Apparition Lessons
Since I am missing Charms, Transfiguration, Herbology, and Ancient Runes, I place those text books on the table, along with any materials that had been spelled to show up ahead of the first day of class before cracking my Charms Textbook.
I spend the next several hours uninterrupted, immersing myself in my own bubble. It isn't until the lunch period that anyone manages to find me.
"Luna said you would be here." Ginny says as she sets her bookbag on the table across from me.
I look up and see Ginny smiling and another girl with long blonde hair almost as white as the Malfoy's standing there. Her aura reminds me of fireflies on Osiris, dancing at dusk in summer. "Hi Ginny… and you must be Luna. Ginny told me all about you when I was at the Burrow this summer." I smile and extend my hand to shake hers.
Luna looks at my hand for a moment, before taking it in hers and turning it to look at my palm. "Interesting… you don't look like you were bit by a Blibbering Blue Humdinger. Their bites usually leave scars."
While I am not sure what to make about Luna's comment about a Blibbering Blue Humdinger, I can appreciate how open and peaceful her music sounds. A Legato, smooth, with no rough edges, flowing from one part to the next. I smile, it fits her…Clair de Lune. Luna smiles back at me. "You don't have Wrackspurts like everyone else."
I laugh. I have no clue what she's referring to.
"Really? That's the first person you have said that about Luna." Ginny giggles.
"No… they took them away…when they took the other part."
Luna's words hit me squarely in the chest, but they seem to go over Ginny's head. "Anyways, I wanted you to meet Luna and check on you after last night."
I remind myself to ask Luna about her comment another time. "I got really overwhelmed with all the noise. It was really disorienting with Nyx or someone I knew close by. Dumbledore and Professor Snape are going to devise something to help me cope with…it." I say as I gesture around me with my hands. "I got the day off to acclimate while they worked on it."
"Well, we have to get to our next class, but I'm happy you're here." Ginny says, giving me a warm smile. "And despite you being sorted into Slytherin when we know the best is Gryfindor," she adds with a laugh, "you're still my friend. I wanted you to know that." Despite what Ronald tries to threaten me with.
I roll my eyes. "I imagine your brother tried to tell you not to talk to me anymore?"
"He may have… and he may have gotten a bat-bogey hex for trying." Ginny laughs at the memory of Ron spending the evening with bats dripping from his nose.
As the girls leave, I notice the subtle brush of Luna's hand on Ginny. A blink and you would miss it a moment, but a moment that shows why their music sounds so nice together.
After hours in the Library, I finally pack up my things and head down to the kitchen again to get a late lunch. It would allow me to avoid the students that are now trickling into the Library after their first day, and then I could head back to my room before everyone heads to the Great Hall for Dinner. Before I can spot Dobby, he is already bringing me a plate, and I thank him as I sit and talk about his life in the castle. He also introduces me to another house-elf, Winky. She is much more shy than Dobby, but very sweet when I ask about the dress she made herself from a tea towel.
After my late lunch, I find my way to the Slytherin Common Room, and unfortunately my foolproof plan to avoid other people is not successful. Theo Nott sits in a black leather wingback chair, facing the door, as if waiting specifically for me.
"Missed you in class today, Black." He says as she twirls his wand in his fingers.
You keep dreaming and dark scheming
Yeah, you do
I pause, unsure of his intent. He sits there so casually, but his eyes are sharp, watching me like I'm some puzzle he's trying to solve. "Yesterday was…a bit much for me." I mutter, keeping my tone even despite Malfoy's warning ringing in my ears. That's how you survive here—by knowing who to trust. Could I trust Theo?
Theo stops twirling his wand and glances at me with a sly smirk, like the Cheshire Cat leading Alice this way, that way, any way. "You're hiding. It's clever…avoiding all the noise. But it's not going to work forever. We all have to face the music eventually."
Noise…Music… I had been very careful with my words, and yet Luna and Theo are casually mentioning things that I haven't. It's puzzling, and makes me wonder if they both can see more than they let on.
Theo stands, casually, as if he's about to walk away. "But I'm not here to let you skulk around Hogwarts like a ghost."
You're a poison and I know that is the truth
All my friends think you're vicious
And they say you're suspicious
He extends his hand to me, like a gentleman waiting to escort his lady away. It's somewhat fitting, but is he leading me somewhere I want to go?
He notices my hesitation. "We all had rough first days, believe it or not. Pansy, Blaise, even me. You don't have to go it alone." He glances toward the door. "Besides, if you don't come, people will start talking. It's Hogwarts…they're always talking."
"Better to face it then." I state calmly as I take his hand, and allow him to place it in the crook of his arm. Now I really do feel like some Regency Lady being whisked away from her predicament.
Theo chuckles. "That's the Slytherin Spirit."
The closer to the Great Hall the louder the sound of buzzing gnats swarms in my ears. It builds with each step, pressing into my skull like a vice. By the time Theo and I make it over the threshold, I can feel dozens of eyes watching, waiting...whispering and judging. She avoided everyone all day, but now she's suddenly attached to Theo Nott?...Is she the one everyone's been whispering about?…. Why does she seem so tense?...Wonder what she did to get his attention…
I feel like I'm drowning
I'm drowning
You're holding me down and
Holding me down
Theo senses me tense on his arm. "Focus on what you can control…not what you hear."
I peer up at Theo. His face gives nothing away, but a few tendrils snake their way out from under the door in his mind he keeps locked down tight. My thoughts around Theo become a little less cloudy. Oh Theo, how badly did he hurt you?
"Look what the snake dragged to dinner." Pansy says as Theo sits me down next to her before sitting next to me. Blaise sits on the other side of Pansy. Which means Malfoy is directly in front of me.
"I needed some peace and quiet. The Great Hall isn't exactly known for that." I remark with a shrug of my shoulders, trying not to let the stray thoughts of students passing by crash into my mind like waves against a cliff. I can already feel my teeth grinding to try and drown the noise with something I can control.
"Well, you won't find much peace here, but at least you've got good company." Blaise flashes a lazy grin, leaning back in his seat.
Malfoy's voice is smooth, but there's an edge like a sharpened blade. "I hope you're not planning on hiding too often. You're in Slytherin now, Black, and we notice things like absence."
"I don't plan on disappearing." I meet Malfoy's gaze evenly, not backing down. I grit my teeth harder until I feel my jaw nearly crack from the pressure.
"You don't plan on disappearing? Funny. I heard you were practically invisible all day." A stocky Slytherin, Adiran Pucey, taunts across the table and three seats down from Malfoy. "Just because you have a famous name, Black, doesn't mean you can skulk around Hogwarts like a ghost. Slytherins earn their place…and not by talking with Gryfindors in the Library." Pucey's words are met with a few nods and muttered agreements from other 6th and 7th year Slytherins around us.
You're so plastic and that's tragic
Just for you
I don't know what the hell you gonna do
Pucey's thoughts shoot through the air, and slam into me…sharp, like nails on a chalkboard, filled with resentment. No loyalty… Bet she doesn't have what it takes to survive here, not like we do.
I tilt my head slightly, my gaze refusing to back down from Pucey's. His mind is easy to isolate even with all the noise around me. It's flush with anger, resentment, jealousy. Like Ron, Pucey doesn't want the status quo to be upset, and feels threatened by the idea of someone being viewed as more important in the established pecking order. A sad little king on a sad little hill. I don't rise to the bait he is dangling in front of me, an anglerfish trying to cast its lure.
Pucey's eyes narrow when I don't respond to him. "Think you're better than me because you're a Black? Because you have some fancy bloodline?"
My life's okay
Just when you're not around me
My life's okay
"No, not because of my blood. I know exactly what you think of me…I can practically taste your jealousy. It's bitter."
Pucey's voice does not rise, but the tension at the table thickens. "Jealousy? Of you?" His anger is seething and I feel his magic boiling, like a pot foaming close to the top. "I've fought for my place here. You waltzed in with your surname and your secrets. You're just a weak little girl hiding behind your name."
"Is that what you tell yourself to feel important, Pucey? That you're stronger because you claw your way up while looking down on others?" My voice drops lower so only Pucey and those around us can hear my words. "The human body can be drained of blood in 8.6 seconds given adequate vacuuming systems…would you like me to try?"
You're killing me slow
So slow, oh no
I feel like I'm drowning
I'm drowning
The Slytherins seated around Pucey and River exchange glances, some smirking, others watching closely, somewhat horrified by the blatant threat. Theo leans back slightly, his expression unreadable, while Draco raises an eyebrow, intrigued by how River handles herself.
"Well, that was morbid and creepy." Blaise remarks before turning back to his dinner.
"This just got interesting." Pansy's tone is laced with amusement as she watches the tension unfold.
"Ms Black." Professor Snape interrupts before any other words can be exchanged. Everyone had been so caught up on the scene unfolding no one had noticed their head of house approach. River gazes up at Snape and away from Millicent.
"A word." Snape spits and moves to leave the Great Hall.
River rises from the bench and moves to follow Snape.
Pucey waits until Snape is presumably out of ear shot to level his next threat. "Careful, Black. You may have some people fooled, but you're in Slytherin now. You'll need more than words to keep your place."
River's POV
I follow Snape out of the Great Hall and down the stairs to the dungeons. He turns sharply away from the common room entrance and instead heads into another door. When I enter, I see it is his office. There are still boxes of unpacked books and supplies, so I imagine he is still settling into his new role as Defense Against the Dark Arts position.
"Sit." He commands in a tone I do not argue with.
"While all of this may be new to you Ms. Black I hardly imagine that threats to exsanguinate a fellow classmate would be tolerated anywhere." Snape scolds with cold fury.
I don't say anything, but nod to acquiesce. "Won't happen again."
He says nothing, and instead opens a drawer and takes out a small drawstring parcel and levitates it over to me.
I gently open the drawstring bag and extract what looks like an antiquated walkman that I remember learning about in my ancient history class as a child. I turn it in my hands, studying it before looking up to Snape with a questioning glance.
He rolls his eyes as if he handed me the simplest of tools to use. "It's charmed to not require electricity and be noise canceling, and it will use muggle cassettes…"
Ohhh. I think as I put the attached headset on my ears, and press the button I assume will make it play. My mind the haunting melody of Gymnopédie No. 1 becomes an anchor, and I can feel a mental cam extending from the top of my head to the tips of my toes. It's like the feeling of dancing the "The Dying Swan." My eyes water in relief that even this small moment has brought after the past 39 hours of sensory overload.
I take the headphones off and wipe at an errant tear. "Thank you." I say to Professor Snape. I stifle a laugh as he clearly looks less than thrilled to be dealing with a weepy student this early in the term.
"Do try and not make it a habit to get…" He can't even say the words he just flutters his hand expecting me to grasp what he means. "And making threats of bodily harm to your own house mates, you aren't a Gryffindor."
"I'll try to do that, sir." I say as I stand up from my seat to leave.
"Additionally, if you are not out past curfew, you may use one of the unused classrooms in the dungeons to practice dancing."
My eyes go wide at what Professor Snape has just told me. But he doesn't give me any time to respond as he turns with a flourish that always makes his robes billow behind him, and leaves the common room. I am not sure if he knew what a gift a space to dance would be, but I am very happy at the small token.
After everyone had retired for the evening, Draco drew the curtains around his bed tightly, and cast several wards to prevent prying eyes of his roommates. Only then does he take the letter sent to him this evening out of his pocket. It had been charmed, to avoid anyone other than himself seeing its contents. His mother could never be too cautious. He breaks the seal of her signet stamp and unfolds the parchment inside.
XXX
My Dearest Dragon,
I trust your father's missive has reached you promptly. He chose his words with great care, and I am certain you grasp the weight of what he has shared. This is a delicate matter, requiring not only vigilance but utmost discretion. Be mindful of each action, for even the smallest ripple can create consequences far beyond our sight.
It is imperative, my son, that you keep your mind sharp and focused. Let no distraction cloud your judgment. Approach each decision with the precision of a finely honed blade. And yet, do not overlook the potential of unlikely alliances—often, those we least expect offer the greatest advantage. Keep your senses attuned to every possibility.
Finally, while reason will be your guiding star, do not wholly disregard the quiet voice of your heart. It may lead you in unexpected directions, but such inclinations can uncover truths not yet seen.
With all my love,
Mother
XXX
Draco rereads his mother's words multiple times before casting a wandless Incendio on the parchment and then an Evanesco on the ashy remains.
An: Hope you all enjoyed this update! We are definitely starting to see more of the major players in this story as we get further into Hogwarts. ;)