An Eventful First Day

I debated on splitting this chapter as well, but decided I'd only do that if it reached sixteen pages again. More musings are up on my LJ (www.hpmuse.livejournal.com). No new drawings.

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. I do not make money off of this story. I am a poor starving college student. The only thing you'll get by killing me is my massive debt to the government.

Chapter 9: An Eventful First Day

My first day of classes began much the way the day before had: pureblood manners lessons. Lucius and Illiad were both adamant on my perfection of reigning in my facial expressions, of walking as though I constantly carried books atop my cranium, and eating with my tines down.

Ali, Illi, Lucius and I sat around the table in the Great Hall for breakfast. The owls had yet to arrive, and most of the tables were full by that time.

"Ooh-s-tee ooh-luh, your arms," Illiad reminded me lightly.

Ali and I both guiltily pulled our elbows back, exchanging an amused glance. Scorpius appeared at just that moment, sliding into the seat by me. He had gone strangely silent and reclusive ever since he'd first sat down at the Slytherin table. His murmured "good morning" sounded strained.

Before I could ask what was wrong, however, Lucius had placed a hand on my arm around little Ali's shoulders. He shook his head minutely, nodding toward my honey-haired brother. I nodded slowly and returned my attention to my bacon, eggs, and toast.

Professor Slughorn waddled into the Great Hall through the teacher's entrance in what I suppose should have been a tasteful set of satin black robes and white shirt. The effect, however, ended up making him look more like an extremely chubby penguin, sleek from returning onto the ice. He headed straight for us, so I wasn't surprised by his words.

"Taylor twins, knew I'd find you together!"

I smiled brightly at the ginger-haired man, but Scorpius just nodded sullenly. I frowned in his direction. Slughorn was unperturbed by the lack of enthusiasm from my brother. He handed us each a schedule. He rifled through his stack of papers, handing Ali, Lucius, and Illi each their own piece of parchment.

I studied mine as he began to move away.

Monday:

11am Ancient Runes

Lucius glanced over at my schedule around little Ali – it was hardly a feat worth mentioning, considering his height and hers. He smiled gently.

"Ancient Runes and Arithmancy? Interesting that you would choose those particular courses, Hecate."

"I like how the runes interact with our wand movements and such, and I think Arithmancy has merit in Potions." I shrugged eloquently. "I like them."

"There have been several proving statements about how the runes interact with wand movements, especially with laguz and dagaz," Lucius said. "I'm in Vector's and Babbling's classes."

"Are you going to keep them at N.E.W.T. level?" I asked.

"Possibly. They have merit, of course."

Ali looked back and forth between us, then down at her schedule. "How come I don't have anything like that?"

Scorpius' silence after the question made me all the more worried. He would have jumped at the chance to answer a question like that before.

"You start extracurriculars in third-year," Illi said, smiling from her place across the table. "Don't you worry, Ali. You'll get your chance for those classes, and more. I'm in Care of Magical Creatures and Divination."

Lucius snorted in a most unpolite manner; Illi glared at him. "Divination is a bunch of rot, and you know it, Parkinson."

"Oh, and calculating it all up in numbers or with ancient letters we're only just beginning to rediscover isn't?" She snipped back. In spite of her seated position, she had her fist on her hip, managing to look both comical and deadly at the same time.

"Stop arguing, you two," I said sharply, trying not to laugh. "You're both entitled to your opinion, but don't sway Ali's before she even gets the chance to know what they are."

Regulus Black chose that moment to sit down by Illi across from Ali. "Don't sway Ali's opinion of what?" He gave her a grin before returning his puzzled gaze to me. Scorpius glared at him for no apparent reason, but I answered Regulus without letting Score's odd behavior effect me.

"Lucius and Illi were arguing over the merits of Divination, Arithmancy, and Ancient Runes," I said, watching as Slughorn recrossed the hall to present Regulus with his schedule. I studiously ignored Scorpius throughout the exchange.

"My mum says they're all important," Regulus said. "But it's easier to interpret Arithmancy because it's mathematics. Divination's harder to do because it's so subjective."

I scowled at the boy for pressing the issue, but I noticed that Illi and Lucius had stopped arguing the point. Maybe Regulus' easy support of both subjects had caused a ceasefire. Illi sighed as Bellatrix and Narcissa took their seats by Regulus, soon followed by Andromeda.

"Well, come on, Hecate. Let's go get our books for the day."

Scorpius didn't come with us. It wasn't until Illi and I were halfway out of the Hall that I glanced back. Lucius met my eyes and pointed toward what I secretly considered Severus' end of the table.

The black-haired loner was no where to be seen. Across from his usual place was my brother, slumped over his plate with a general scowl planted firmly on his cheeks.

_-~*~-_

Our first class of the day was out on the grounds in the greenhouses. The gentle scent of dew hung in the air like swinging vines in the jungle, fading in and out. The grass was so green it matched our ties. We didn't have long to wait for class to begin, but the professor took Score and I aside as the last of the Ravenclaws began to show up.

Scorpius was still sulking. Actually, now that I had a better look at him, he had very dark circles under his eyes – like he hadn't slept at all.

Professor Sprout was a kindly, chubby woman with flyaway grey hair. The moment she had us alone, she told us to find someone to learn how to be a student from. Sprout also presented us both with a copy of Van Camp's How to Write an Outstanding Essay.

At first, her statement struck me as odd. But then again, I realized, I had never been a student before. As I learned later, I didn't know to raise my hand to speak, to take notes in class, how to write an essay, or how to take a test. I had a vague idea of it from what little I had read in Muggle fiction books – that was it.

Illi took it upon herself to teach me everything. I didn't notice whether Score had teamed up with someone else – I was too caught up in the experiences of friendship, scholarship, and socialization.

I spent most of my first class observing the others while the professor lectured. Narcissa and Bellatrix promised Illi and me their notes. Illi spent the whole of the class period teaching me how to take notes.

"Don't write every word she says, only what you think is important. If you recall it from the book, be sure to note it down – it's definitely important then."

Sprout only gently reprimanded me for talking out of turn the first time. She then assigned us our first homework assignment, an essay on the properties and care of St. John's Wort.

Illi, Severus, Scorpius, and only one other Slytherin boy whose name I didn't know yet took Arithmancy. Professor Vector was a little older than Professor McGonagall, but no less severe. Since it was just the four of us, Vector was keen on drawing us into her lecture.

It was in that class that I made my first mistake.

"Good afternoon, class! I am Professor Septima Vector, and I welcome you to Arithmancy. We will be considering ourselves mostly with the Agrippa methodology, considering that most other numerology works better with languages aside from English. I assume we all speak that language, correct?"

There were some half-hearted nods and weak chuckles at this.

"Now, this subject has a lot of uses in Potions and Ancient Runes, as well as some types of Divination. For today's class, I'd like you to work out what your character number, heart number, and social number are. We'll go from there once you've finished."

I raised my hand. "Our full names, Professor?"

"Yes, if you have a middle name, use it." I chewed on my lower lip and decided that yes, I would need to do this. Hecate Hermione Taylor.

"Has everyone got it?" Professor Vector asked. When no one asked for more time, she continued. "Your character number represents you as a general person. Don't put too much emphasis on this because it can be incorrect. For instance, I am a four and I do not usually behave like a four. How many came up with four?"

My hand shot into the air, as did Scorpius' and Severus'. Illi and the other boy's hands stayed on their desk. I blinked in confusion at Severus. If my quick calculations were correct, his name came out to a two, not a four. Did he have a hidden middle name, too?

"Hmm, how interesting," Vector said, looking between the three of us. "It's rather unusual for siblings to have the same number, even more so for a half a class." I shrugged at this. "At any rate, fours are said to be shy, withdrawn, and very intellectual. They prefer logic and reason. However, they can be quite stubborn and prone to anger."

I laughed aloud at that. That sounded like me, all right, and it definitely sounded like Severus to a point, from what little I knew of him. Not so much Scorpius, but it fit well enough. The class continued on with her going back to the number one, and explaining briefly what each character number represented. I took meticulous notes in spite of the fact that I'd already memorized all of this. Illi just smiled indulgently.

I leaned over to whisper. "Am I doing it wrong?"

"Miss Taylor!" Professor Vector's voice was sharp. "I do not tolerate whispers in my classroom. A point from Slytherin. Do not let it happen again."

Confused, I exchanged a glance with Scorpius and Illi both. Score didn't even bother to make any sort of answer to my usual gaze. It hurt.

The professor, however, had continued on to heart numbers and social numbers, leaving everyone scrambling to keep up their notes. When class was over, Professor Vector called for Scorpius and I to stay behind.

"You don't have any classes after this, correct?" she asked. We shook our heads mutely. "Headmaster Dumbledore has told me all about your exceptional skills. However, I must warn you that you cannot be shown any special treatment." Here she looked at me, her eyes inscrutable. "So I am going to replace the point you lost, Miss Taylor, but take it as a warning. That is what will happen if you behave as such in my classroom again."

"Yes, Professor," I said, feeling my face turn hot.

"Now. I also have noticed that you do not have birthdays listed on your student files," she said. Her eyes glittered with mirth. "I believe I have a solution. If I may see your wands?"

Confused but nonetheless obedient, I produced my wand from my sleeve. Scorpius spent about a minute rooting morosely through his bag to produce his. Vector frowned at him, clicking her tongue.

"Mr. Taylor, I might suggest that you keep your wand at a more accessible location for future references."

Scorpius murmured, but I didn't hear his reply. Vector then placed our wands on her desk and began to cast several spells on each of them. Brilliant gold and red light flashed above both wands. Vector's eyebrows shot up higher and higher as more letters and numbers and then runes appeared. At last the spells ceased, and Vector turned to us.

"Extraordinary. It seems... I'm sorry to say, but it seems you've been mis-Sorted."

"M-Mis-Sorted?" I stammered. "That can't be."

"My dear girl, your wands have both displayed characters conducive to Gryffindors, not Slytherins. How the Hat could have made such a mistake, I don't know."

Scorpius and I exchanged glances. I didn't know what to say. Already, I felt that I had gone wrong with this teacher. To argue with further her might prove disastrous.

"We'll have to go see the Headmaster," Vector said, almost to herself. "Yes, I think that will work. Come along, Taylors."

Scorpius and I trailed along behind Professor Vector. Just outside the classroom door, Illi was waiting for us. "Professor?"

"Not now, Miss Parkinson."

I glanced at her, trying to will her to understand. She nodded once and turned away. I sighed and widened my steps to keep up with the fast-moving Arithmancy professor. Her classroom was on the second floor. We had gone up three flights of stairs already, and she didn't look ready to stop yet.

She paused only to ask a passing Ravenclaw to tell her class she would be back in just a few moments. All the way up on the seventh floor, she stopped at long last by a boar gargoyle.

"Pepsi-Cola," she said.

To my surprise, the gargoyle leapt to the side, revealing a spiral set of stairs that were moving upwards. Vector ushered us onto them first, then stepped on herself. On the landing was a short hallway and an oak door at the end. Vector knocked. I filed that away for later to ask Illi – when do I knock on a door? Molly had always mentioned to knock on Remus' door, but I had assumed it only went for outside doors.

"Enter," came Dumbledore's voice from the other side.

Vector steered us both by the shoulder into the room. I felt my breath catch in my throat at the sight.

The Headmaster's office was a room round in shape and filled with all sorts of unbelievable silver trinkets, enormous books, and numerous portraits. The windows revealed a beautiful view of the Quidditch pitch and the Forbidden Forest. On spindly tables throughout the office sat silver instruments, only one of which I recognized from my readings: a Pensieve. Fawkes the phoenix was nowhere to be seen, though a gilded perch sat beside Dumbledore's claw-footed desk.

"Ah, Professor Vector!" Dumbledore proclaimed, his pale blue eyes twinkling at us instead. "I trust our Taylor twins are not in trouble already?"

"Not trouble, no, Headmaster," she said. "I cast the Notitia Charm on their wands. They may need to be re-Sorted."

"Oh? Hecate, Scorpius, may I see your wands, please?"

I had only once heard about the Notitia Charm, and now that I saw it being cast yet again, I knew why. The charm required not only incantations, but a knowledge of runes, of the numbers being used, and the intent of the caster. There were several new numbers and words that came up over both our wands that hadn't been there when Vector cast the charm.

"What does all that tell you?" I asked.

"It tells me, Hecate, that you two have either attended this school before, or you've been taught by someone who did. Since the former is impossible, I'm willing to take a gamble that your parents, whomever they were, taught you at home." Dumbledore regarded us over his glasses. "And did a rather splendid job of it, I might add."

"But what do you mean, re-Sorted?" I asked, barely restraining a shrill note of panic in my voice. Scorpius remained silent.

"Your parents were Gryffindors," Dumbledore said, delicately. He chose his next words carefully. "You see, the Hat chose the House you are currently in based off of what it could see at the time in your mind. It did not see what your wands have stored in their magical cores."

I stared the Headmaster straight in the eye. "So what do we do?"

Dumbledore steepled his gnarled hands on the desk in lieu of an answer. After he seemed to think for several minutes, he spoke to Vector first. "You may go, Professor, I know you have a class now."

Vector nodded once and left without another word. As soon as the door shut, he continued.

"You have a choice." He waved his wand wordlessly, and the Sorting Hat flew into his hands. "Discuss with the Hat your options, and then you can choose to stay in Slytherin House, or move to Gryffindor." He offered the Hat to me first.

"Hmm, back again, Hecate?"

"So... I should just stay Slytherin."

I breathed a sigh of relief at its single-word answer. "Yes."

Dumbledore pulled the Hat off my head, sometime during my short discussion having come round the desk. "I trust you have your answer?"

"It said I should stay Slytherin," I said.

Scorpius tapped me on the shoulder, his voice very quiet. "Hecate... can I talk to you for a minute? Sir, is that all right?"

"Of course," Dumbledore said. He set the Hat on his desk and waved his hand at one of the bookshelves. It flew open to reveal a tiny hallway. "When you are ready, tap the shelf three times."

He vanished into the hall.

Scorpius remained silent for several minutes in spite of the privacy. I opened my mouth to ask what he wanted to say when finally he spoke. "Hecate, what will you do if the Hat says that we should separate?" Scorpius asked, his voice still very soft. "Will you be all right without me?"

I thought of my new friends, especially Illiad and Lucius. They had welcomed me into their circle, embraced me into their lives. "I'll be fine. But will you?"

He hesitated, his beautiful eyes darting toward the Hat. "Hecate... I don't feel right in this House, even after only two nights. The others... they don't accept me, not like Remus, James, and Sirius do. Sin even told me... never mind. Everything will be fine, though, if I do move to Gryffindor?"

That's when it clicked into place. "You told the Hat to put you in Slytherin... to protect me?"

He nodded. "I'm sorry. I just wanted to... but..." He smiled wryly. "It looks like you definitely don't need your brother's protection after all."

"You're my brother, not my keeper," I told him, but I grinned anyway. "It's fine. If you're suppposed to be a Gryffindor, so be it."

He nodded once and turned to knock on the bookshelf. Dumbledore reappeared seconds later. "I trust everything is all right?"

Scorpius nodded. "I don't need to ask the Hat, sir. I'd like to transfer into Gryffindor, if that's all right."

Dumbledore nodded gravely. "Then it is done. Scorpius D. Taylor, as Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, I pronounce you a Gryffindor."

As soon as Dumbledore's words had finished, the green of Scorpius' clothes had changed to red, his silver into gold, and his crest from that of a snake to that of a lion. As with the night we had crossed the lake, I could not help but quote in my head another snippet from Hogwarts, A History.

It is a rare event for a student to transfer Houses. A total of seven such cases have existed. In 1257, Dewert Julians transferred from Hufflepuff to Ravenclaw when her Sorting was tampered with via a Confundus Charm. Ingrid Yule in 1386 (Hufflepuff to Gryffindor); Jules Greene in 1399 (Hufflepuff to Ravenclaw); and Howard Soue in 1720 (Hufflepuff to Slytherin) all had similar cases. The other three cases, Hugh Jones, Ralph Huntington, and Belinda Croise, were all transferred out of Slytherin House with no known reason. It is speculated that they were Muggle-born, but documentation is lacking in all three cases. The most recent of these was Mr. Huntington, who was changed over to Gryffindor in 1818.

I tried not to laugh. Scorpius had made it into my favorite book just by pure choice. Already, he made history. He was the first transfer out of Slytherin House who couldn't be speculated against. We all knew why he was going to Gryffindor. It didn't make it any easier on me.

Dumbledore smiled his dismissal. "Consequentally, Hecate, Scorpius, your birthday is the twentieth of October."

I went to the Slytherin dorms alone. I managed to get into the dorm halls before the tears started falling. I drew my curtains in around my bed and buried my head into the pillow so that, I hoped, no one could hear. I should have known it was futile.

"Hecate?" Illi's voice came. "Are you all... are you all right, ooh-s-ti ooh-luh?"

The endearment only made me cry harder. Her hands found my back, soft and small between my shoulderblades. She made tiny circles on the muscles there. It made me feel a little better, but not by much.

"What's wrong?" Illi asked quietly.

I didn't answer.

"Hecate, you've got to talk about it if you want to feel better."

I just shook my head in the pillow. Illi left, and I thought perhaps she would leave me be. I should have known better, again. It wasn't Illi who came this time, but Lucius. He sat down on the bed next to my head and pulled me gently up, up into his arms. His voice was gentle, his movements soothing.

"Whatever is the matter, love?" he asked. His hands traced circles on my spine, large and warm, his fingers firm but soothing. "You are worrying your friends."

"S-Scorpius," I murmured into his shoulder, a fresh wave of tears falling.

"What did Scorpius do?" Lucius said, his tone smooth.

"He's transferring out of Slytherin," I said sullenly. "To Gryffindor."

Lucius' arms tightened around me, his right trailing up into my hair. His fingers slowly brushed down through it, catching all the tangles tenderly. The movements were relaxing, lulling me to sleep.

"It will be all right, Hecate, love," Lucius said. "You can still see him. He isn't moving far, just up into Gryffindor tower."

"I k-know," I murmured. "I fe-feel so stupid, but..."

"Shush, little sister, shush," Lucius said. "I know. Don't think on it. Come, Illiad and Sin told me how your Arithmancy class went today. I'll help you with your homework for that and Herbology."

He reached up and dried my eyes with the sleeves of his uniform.

Soon, I was laughing again at Lucius' character number, which suggested he was "insecure." Ali, Illi, Narcissa, and Bellatrix joined in making fun of his supposed insecurities after that.

After all, it was not as though I had lost Scorpius – yet.

My first week of school was an exercise of trial, error, and endless new delights. Illi and Lucius helped me write my first few homework assignments, but left me be after I started adding more than they did. I learned quickly how to act in each of my classes. Of course, I found myself rather melancholy when I discovered that the only class I would have with my brother would be Potions on Friday morning.

Soon, I had met each of the other people in my year. Rodolphus Lestrange was Rabastan's younger brother, and then there was Sin Avery, Henry Wilkes, and Evan Rosier. Of course, no one ever forgot to mention Severus Snape. However, he seemed keen on being left out.

In spite of the promise that the teacher would be introduced at supper one night, I did not meet my Defense Against the Dark Arts professor until the first class on Thursday morning. Most of the others were close-lipped about her, so that we wouldn't ruin our own interpretations of whoever it was. I stood outside the DADA classroom with Illi, Cissa, Bella, Sin, Henry, Rabastan, Severus, and Evan at eleven o'clock that Thursday morning. The fourth-floor classroom swung open of its own accord at five minutes till.

A short, chubby woman with wild blue eyes and swirling salt-and-pepper hair stood at the head of the class. She waited patiently till all of us were seated and then shut the door with a hissing noise.

"Welcome to your third year," said she. "This year, you will focus on Dark creatures in particular. I trust that you've had a decent enough exposure to introductory portions of this course?"

There was an assenting rumble.

"Good. I am Professor Bellybutter. We will begin our foray into the unknown with a simple creature. Buddy, heel."

A medium-sized dog sat down at her feet, hiding its tail conspicuously behind itself. Professor Bellybutter appraised us each with her wide eyes, as though looking for something in particular.

"You, young man, what's your name?"

She pointed at Severus.

"Snape," he said shortly. My eyes widened. I had never before heard him speak. He had a chilling voice: smooth and crisp like nutmeg and apple butter freshly put under a Cooling Charm.

"Mr. Snape, what is this creature sitting at my heels?"

"A Crup, Professor Bellybutter."

"Very good, Mr. Snape. What do you know about crups?"

He took a moment to think, regarding the dog for a moment. "They are extremely loyal to those who have magic and ferocious toward those who aren't. Their tails must be removed by the age of six months, by law. The tails themselves are used in potions which require an enhancement of the magical elements of other ingredients therein."

"Very good, Mr. Snape, five points to Slytherin. Now, can anyone tell me why they would be considered a Dark creature, when they are so relatively harmless?"

No one raised their hands.

"Miss Taylor, how about you? Venture a guess?"

"Well, Dark arts is sometimes defined by intent alone," I said slowly. "So wouldn't their ferocious nature toward nonmagic beings be enough? They intend harm on anything lacking magic, after all."

"Very good deduction, Miss Taylor, another five points!" Professor Bellybutter grinned at us. "Now, Buddy here has had his tail cropped, of course. Tell me, have any of you ever seen an actual Jack Russel terrier before?"

No one had.

Professor Bellybutter continued on to lecture on the differences between a real Jack Russel and a crup. When class let out a half hour later, she gave us a half-foot essay homework to describe those differences.

"At least she seems to know what she's doing," Illi said with a grateful sigh. "I'm guessing she's going to start us out on less-dangerous Dark creatures, and then we get to things like werewolves and vampires toward the end of term or the year."

"Looks like it," I agreed. "Let's go get this essay done, then we can go for a swim."

Illi groaned. "You and homework! Should have been a Ravenclaw, the way you are. Are you sure you've lost all your memories, or did you pick up that mothering style from Molly?"

"No, I just like being ahead," I said, grinning. "Come on, then."

Reluctantly, Illi followed me up to the library. Lucius met us at the door, though he was working on his Astronomy homework.

"They're really loading us down," Lucius said, a light scowl crossing his brow. "Though I do understand it is O.W.L year."

"Just you watch, Lucius," I said, pointing to his homework. "If you keep on top of this, you'll get all of the O.W.L.s you need for whatever you want to do."

Illi giggled. "Lucius isn't getting the O.W.L.s for whatever he wants to do; he's getting them so Abraxas'll stay off his arse."

"Too right, that," Lucius muttered.

"Molly seems to think that I do fine all on my own," I said, shrugging. "She's proud of me no matter what."

She had never really said it to me, but I could sense that it was true.

"Lucky," Illi and Lucius both intoned.

A squeal of loud laughter came from the other side of the library. The source of it was a red-haired Gryffindor girl – and a mortified-looking Severus Snape. The Gryffindor just grinned at him, playfully punching him in the arm. I couldn't hear anything else, but Madam Pince's glare silenced the Gryffindor.

"Who's that girl with Severus?" I asked.

"That would be Lily Evans," Illi said. She sighed, cradling her head on her wrist. "He's absolutely smitten with her, and I doubt she sees him as anything more than a friend. His heart's just gonna break one of these days..."

Lucius grimaced. "I just hope he realizes that there are people in his own House willing to pick up the pieces."

Eyeing the Gryffindor, I scowled. "I can see why he likes her. She's beautiful."

A hand cupped my chin. Lucius smiled warmly into my eyes, his own grey-blues dancing as his thumb caressed my cheek. "Love, she cannot hold a candle to you."

"Oh, stop flattering me, Malfoy," I said, grinning. "I'm nothing, no one. I barely have a personality."

"Au contraire, mademoiselle," he said, in perfect French. "You are gorgeous, like the devil herself. Charming, alluring, and seductive."

My cheeks burned under his touch. "Yes, well... thank you."

He chuckled good-naturedly and withdrew his hand. Before he could press the issue – or, heaven help me, move on to a different topic – a loud noise startled us all. Turning back around, I scowled again. Evans and Severus had somehow managed to turn their table over on top of themselves. In movements quick as thunder follows lightning, Lucius and James descended on the two, helping their Housemates up.

Evans tore herself from James' arms in a huff, but Severus grudgingly thanked Lucius before turning back to the Gryffindor girl. It all happened in less than a minute. The library returned to its previous hum then.

"It happens every fucking time, and he's just too blind to see it," Lucius scowled, sitting rather harshly back down.

"What does?" I asked.

"Potter cast the spell to turn the table over," Illi explained. She pointed out where he was standing, and sure enough, it would have covered up the view of what he was doing – both from anyone in authority and my own vantage point.

"I can't do anything about it unless I actually see it," Lucius continued on. "So I can't deduct points from Gryffindor for it!"

Illi patted his arm. "There, there, Lu, it's all right." She drawled, half teasing. "Severus will get back at them, on his own time."

"How?" I asked.

"Oh, this has been going on ever since Severus showed up on the Hogwarts Express in shorts our first year," Illi explained. "The Marauders – that is, Potter, Black, Lupin, and Pettigrew – are pranksters, and their favorite target is Severus."

"But that's ridiculous!" I said, keeping my voice to an insistent hiss. "I'm going to talk to Remus, he's got to be able to do something."

I was already halfway up when Lucius grabbed my elbow. "Don't, love." He shook his head. "Severus has already asked us all to leave it be. He will take care of it."

"Yeah, I see how he 'takes care of it,'" I grumbled, pulling my DADA book out more forcefully than necessary. "He just hexes them back. Remus would put a stop to it, I'm sure. He listens to reason."

"Lupin doesn't like it any more than you do," Illi said, her lips spreading in a crooked grin. "But he's too desperate for their friendship to try and stop them having their fun."

"How do you know that?" I asked.

"I can read between the lines, love," Illi said. "We'll teach you how. It's a usual Slytherin tactic. You know, subtlety, cunning, that whole deal."

I just chuckled at her, not knowing that soon, I would be exactly as she'd said I would be – a Slytherin.

*_-_-~*~-_-_*

"Notitia" is loosely translated as "data."

The simple Arithmancy used in the opening class is derived from this site: http://www.sorcererscompanion.net/arithmancy.html. Lucius, being a seven, is said to be "pessimistic, sarcastic, and insecure."