A strange voice woke Avalon the next morning. "It is 8am, time to get up and have breakfast. Classes will be starting at 9:30. Your new timetables have been brought up. They are waiting for you next to your beds. Have a great day of learning." The voice fell silent.
She looked down to see Luna's bright eyes looking back, "Good morning, Avalon." She said and stood up quickly. Avalon followed suit. It was cold in their dormitory. As quickly as possible the girls put on their new school robes.
had indeed had a magical change of colour. They were lined with blue silk and embroidered with a blue eagle. There were pairs of blue gloves, blue scarves and pointy black hats on the wardrobe chairs next to the robes.
The girls put on the pointy hats and quickly cleared away the winter presents in their cupboards.
were sheets of parchment lying next to all the beds. Luna took hers. "Oh yay, we have double Potions with Gryffindor," she said, indicating the block right after lunch.
lunch they seemed to be doing Charms with the Slytherins and History of Magic with Huffelpuff. The rest of the day seemed to be free after Potions.
There were 4 more lessons scheduled for the next day. Herbology was first. Then there was Transfiguration. Whatever that might have been. Both of them with Gryffindor. Then Defence Against the Dark Arts with Huffelpuf. And at the end of the day, it was Theory of Magic. with Slytherin.
Then lessons somehow reset on Wednesday, but there day didn't start until after lunch with a new double potions and then marked as midnight with again Gryffindor Astronomy.
Everything seemed a bit overwhelming. But at least she had the support of Luna to lean on. So after breakfast, which was an extensive English breakfast for her. They went to the Charms class.
The professor here was a very short man by the name of Professor Flitwick. He was standing on top of a big pile of very heavy books. Everything looked really funny.
He began the class by calling out names. A couple of times he got the name of Avalon wrong, pronouncing it as Evian. They were supposed to make a feather float. But by the end of the lesson, no one had even managed to move it.
Rockwood blew hers off the table and then pretended to Flitwick that she had done it using the spell. But all that did was make Slytherin lose 10 points for lying.
History of Magic Nearly put Avalon into a coma. Well, okay, maybe that was a bit of an exaggeration. But Professor Binns, who was a ghost, managed to make the ancient magical crisis of the 1800s sound very dull.
At the lunch table they were joined by Ginny, who looked annoyed. "I can't believe we've got Snape for two hours." She said to them. "What's so bad about that?" Avalon questioned. "According to all my brothers and Harry, Snape is probably the worst teacher in the world. That is saying something." She pointed out.
"In the opinion of Fred, George, Bill and Charlie. He's mean. Favours his own house. Which is surprising. Slytherin, and he takes pride in making you feel less than the eye of the newt you use in potions. That's what's so bad about it." Ginny finishes. "I heard he attempted poisoning a student once." Luna's voice interjected.
"Well." Ginny said, "I wouldn't put it past him." She added. "He can't be that bad. I mean, Dumbledore hired him." Avalon commented. "I respect Dumbledore and all that. But he's a bit off his rocker, if you ask me." Ginny stated.
"Last year, Harry almost died trying to get the Sorcerer's Stone away from the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. I mean, the guy died, and Harry swore he had You-Know-Who growing out of the back of his head." Added Ginny.
"Impossible." Avalon stated. "No, it's not. It's called something that translates as half possession. You know who was like a tick. Living off Quirel. Harry wouldn't lie about something like that." Ginny said matter-of-factly:
"I mean, seeing You-Know-Who and telling people about it is not something you do lightly. Certainly not Harry,you know who killed his mum and dad and now almost killed him twice. No, Harry's not going to lie about that. And Ron and Hermoine collaborate on his story. And Hermione can't lie for sure." Ginny went on to tell them.
"But what proof does that have that Dumbledore is." Avalon made a gesture with her hand next to her head to indicate madness. "He employed Quirel. So it's not really iron clad to say that it's okay because Dumbledore hired Snape." Ginny said in reply.
The lunchbell rang. Ginny let out a groan. "Come on Gryffindors and Ravenclaws, let's have two hours of abuse." She said in a dramatic manner.
A mile and a half later they were in the surprisingly cool dungeons. It was a hot and humid day at the end of summer.but down there it felt like someone had left the air conditioning on. They made their way into the classroom, which was quickly filling up from the back. By the time Ginny, Luna and Avalon had found a place to sit, they had to sit at the very front of the class. What Ginny seemed to think was not fair.
Not long after, a light-skinned man with black hair down to his chin, dressed in black robes, entered the room.
"You are to put your wands away. There will not be any casting of spells in this classroom." He said with his back turned to them.
"And there will be no talking, unless it is to ask a question, or to answer a question, and only after I have given you permission to speak." He continued. Not that there seemed to be any need for that last warning. Afte the Professor had entered the room, the class had fallen into a dead silence.
"I won't start the lesson with a reading of your names to show you how well I've practised them." He stated. Avalon looked at Ginny and gave a small chuckle. "Did I say something funny, Miss Weasley?" He said as he began to make his way Over towards them.
"And I had no idea you had a twin." He said. "Sorry, sir, I made that noise." Avalon said to him. "And the one who gave you permission." He started to say as he stood in front of them. Avalon looked him in the eyes. Which oddly seemed to paralyse him.
"Lily?." He said barely above whispering. "I am sorry, sir, that is my second name. I answer to Avalon." He shook his head, his focus now on what appeared to be her forehead.
"Yes, well I'll allow it this time young lady but next time wait for me to give you permission to speak." He said turning away.
Ginny was stunned. He started the lesson quickly. They were supposed to be making a strengthening solution.
It all looked very difficult. He walked around the students, checking their kettles. "Mister Crevery. You idiot boy. When are you supposed to add the crocodile tears?" he asked. A small Gryffindor looked at the board.
"After stirring, Sir." Said the boy. "And you clearly did not." He said. "Which means no marks." Snape said and he walked over to the cauldron of Avalon.
Her potion was bubbling. She didn't think it should be doing that. "Ms. Prince." He said as he looked into her eyes. "My suggestion is that you lower the heat, it should be fine." He said in an oddly friendly way.
"Thank you Sir." She said a little confused. She turned down the fire under her cauldron. The way the whole class looked at her. It was as if something was wrong with her.
After almost two hours, Snape stood up from his seat. "Please put your brew into a sample flask so I can grade it for you. Oh, and don't forget to write your name on it." He said in a bored tone.
They made their way to the hall after handing in their potions and clearing out their cauldrons. "What the heck was that?" Ginny asked. "What do you mean what was that?" Avalon questioned.
"The way he was treating you. He was. Well, I don't' know. He is human towards you. I'd even say nice if I didn't know any better." Ginny said.
"And why was he calling you Lily?" She added. "Well, that is my middle name." Avalon told her. "Mine's Molly. But you won't hear him ask about that. Not that he or anybody else should." Ginny said. "No, this was different. It was like he was seeing someone else." Ginny added.
"Well, the only other Lily any of us have heard of is Potter," Luna added. "He can't mean her, can he?" Luna asked.
"As far as I know they have never even met each other. Harry would have known that and would have told me." Ginny put in. "You seem to be close with Harry." Luna said to her. At that Ginny's face turned as red as her hair.
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"N...n..not at all. H...h..he is close to my brother." She said with a stutter. The small group of students standing next to her made oohing and aahing sounds. "Shut up the lot of you." Ginny snapped at them and walked away.
Luna and Avalon were on their way to the common room for the rest of the day.
After dinner, Luna, Ginny and Avalon went outside until it got dark.
Then they went back to their common room. Luna and Avalon sat on Luna's bunk for hours. They talked about their first day. It was well after midnight. When Avalon climbed into her own bed and fell asleep.
The next day was less eventful. However, Luna and Avalon ran into the school's poltergeist, Peeves, who was knocking over pieces of armour.This meant that they were greeted by a huge noise.
The Herbology lesson took place in the old greenhouses of the school. They had to look after various plants.
Transfiguration was taught by Professor McGonagall. They had to try and turn a Beatle into a needle. None of them managed it by the end of the lesson. However, Avalon's beetle was stretched and pointed.
They went to eat, but Ginny had to leave early somehow. On their way into the corridor, Avalon bumped into a blonde second year.
"Oy, watch it firsty." He said. His two friends, who were standing a little further along the corridor, laughed. They both had a fat, slightly stupid look about them.
“Sorry!” Avalon said to him. “Sorry? Only sorry! Do you I happen to be Draco Malloy.”
He seemed to get really angry when Avalon didn't react. "What are you, a Muggleborn?" He spat at her in anger. "You are I am shure . A filthy little mudblood. He stated. It seemed very rude. There was even a gasp or a shake of the heads from some of the students.
"No she isn't." Luna interjects. "Who are your parents than? little girl." He snapped at her.
"I don't know that." Avalon spoke quietly. "What was that little firsty? You don't know that?" How do you know if you're not a Mudblood? You look like one to me." He shouted as he knocked her book bag out of her hands.
“ENOUGH.” The voice of Professor Snape barked. "You're right Professor, that girl tried to push me. I could have been injured. "
”I said that was enough Malloy. Pick up the book bag and apologise." Snape snarled. "But professor." Malfoy said with a stunned look on his face.
"Don't make me tell you to do it again Draco." Snape said. "But Professor she tried to hurt me. She's clearly a Mudblood." Malloy sounded annoyed.
"THAT JUST COST YOU 50 POINTS BOY." Snape shouted at him. The whole of the school was looking at them now.
"You wouldn't, from your own house." Malfoy said in disbelief. "I would Malfoy. I just did." He said. Malloy's jaw dropped. Clearly blaming Avalon, he gave her a hard shove. She fell, hitting her head and scraping her elbows.
"AND THAT JUST GOT YOU A MONTH'S DETENTION MALFOY. NOW GET OUT OF MY SIGHT." Snape screamed.
Malfoy ran past the assembled students. Snape bent down next to Avalon. "Are you all right, Miss Prince?" He asked her. She tried to nod her head, but every time she tried to move, the room would spin around her.
"It will be fine." He said, lifting her. "Don't you have a lesson to attend. He barked at the rest of the students.
They all scattered in a hurry. Snape carried Avalon to his office and set her down gently. Then he walked over to a cupboard and took out a green flask. "Here, this is Wiggenwelt Potion. It will do wonders for your sore head."
He said as he opened it and gave it to Avalon. She drank it quickly. Just stay still for one minute." He said as she felt the mist in her head begin to lift. She looked around. She saw Snape pointing his wand at her elbows and muttering something. The pain left her a second later.
"There you are, right as rain." He said as he came to sit down next to her. "If he or anyone else ever calls you that again, you come straight to me, all right?" Snape said in a gentle tone.
"No one should ever call you that again." He added. "What does that mean anyway?" Avalon asked. "That's a very rude word for someone of Muggle parentage." He explained to her.
"But what if that is what I am?" Avalon asked. "No one should call you that, even if you were what you most likely are not, Avalon. Never." He added.
Avalon agreed when she saw that it meant a lot to him. "You should be all right now." He said and smiled at her.
"You run along now." He said as he helped her up. She walked out of the room. As soon as she did she almost bumped into the Weasley twins.
"I can't believe this Fred." George said. "Nor can I George. She is in one piece. Added Fred. "Tell us all about it." They said in unison as they carefully steered Avalon up the stairs. They were quickly greeted by Ginny, Luna and another redheaded boy. who she assumed must be Ron.
“I told you. She was with Snape. Said one of the twins to Ginny. "Are you all right?" Ginny asked. "I'm fine now, actually. Snape gave me some potion. Wiggen somthing he called it, than he healed my elbows. " Avalon said.
"Hang on a minute." The new boy said in reply. "Snape was taking care of you?" He said with disbelief. Avalon nodded. "I don't believe that." He said. "He must have Ron. She must have had a concussion or something." Said George.
"And the potion he gave you, was it Wiggenwelt?" Fred asked. Avalon nodded her head. "Inconceivable." George said gasping. "Totally unfathomable." Fred added.
"That Snape gave it to me? " Avalon asked. "No, I mean, yes, but Snape looking after a student. Un frigging believable. Was he being kind to you?" George asked. "Yes." Avalon said.
"Who are you." Fred asked. "Don't be offended or anything like that. Snape friendly. It's a miracle, you must be the reincarnation of Christ or something." George added.
"But are you okay?" Gin asked. "Should we get you to the hospital wing?" She asked. Avalon shook her head. "Well your highness, I guess we'll see you around." Fred said and the boys quickly left.
"What were they on about?" Avalon asked. "According to them, Snape never treats students nicely, you might be the only person Snape's nice to." Ginny said.
"I mean. He's only half decent to Slytherins. And he just ripped Malfoy a new one." She said. "So the twins are looking at this as a miracle." Ginny added.
The news of Avalon being cured and treated by Snape seemed to reach the whole school over the next few days. And everyone seemed to be amazed by it. Draco Malfoy wasn't happy about it at all. He whispered insults under his breath whenever she passed him in the corridors or the Great Hall.
She was having dinner on the last day of her rather demanding first week. Ginny had made her way over to the Ravenclaw table. She looked rather strange.
"Ginny, are you feeling all right?" Luna asked. The only thing she did was have a shrug of her shoulders. A minute or so later Ron walked over. He was accompanied by a bushy brown haired girl with slightly buck teeth. And Harry Potter.
"Ginny is everything okay?" Ron asked his sister in turn. Once again she raised and lowered her shoulders in response.
"Haven't slept well I suppose." She said. "I just want to spend a little time with Avalon and Luna." She said. Harry looked at her. She noticed that the two of them seemed to have strangely similar eyes.
“So you are the famed Avalon Prince." He joked. Turning Scarlet Avalon nodded.
"What is it like to be in Snapes good graces?" He asked. Avalon rolled her eyes at him. She had heared that question many times before. Harry didn't seem to have noticed.
"I can tell you a million stories about being on his, how shall I put it, very bad side. It's hard to believe he has a good one." Harry added. He looked at Ron. "He's like a skinny grown-up Dudley." He said. Avalon had no idea who Dudley was, and didn't really care. She only knew that she hated being asked the same question over and over again.
"I should have known as soon as I caught a whiff of it." Malfoy's voice came from Harry's back. "Weasleys, Grangers, whoever you are, and Potter." He said. Ron seemed to look behind Malfoy all of a sudden. "Oh hello Professor Snape. We were just talking about how badly Miss Prince was smelling." He said. Draco turned immediately. But there was no Snape to be seen.
"A bit jumpy there, Malfoy." Ron said grinning. "Just wait till I tell my father about this." Draco bit and then walked away from the party. Avalon.Ginny and Luna chuckled.
"It was irresistible." Ron said with a grin. Luna suddenly screamed "PUDDING". They all looked at her in amazement. "This is my favourite thing in the world." Luna added. The group laughed and said goodbye to Luna and Avalon.
The second week of term flew by. They had had another practice session on the levitation spell. And they had another go at the Strengthening Solution as well.
Avalon was the only one who could do it at the end of her Potions class. It was time for their first Defence Against the Dark Arts class at the end of the week.This was something Luna and Ginny had been looking forward to since the very first day of school. Ginny had her class right after Luna and Avalon.
It looked like a beauty parlour outside the classroom. Girls were touching up their make-up or hair. A few of them were even trying to spruce up their robes. Avalon thought it was all a bit much. She and Luna entered their classroom and sat down.
The class was filled with moving portraits of Lockhart. Most of the portraits winked at Luna and Avalon. A few minutes later, a couple of boys joined them. The girls came in, giggling loudly,a minute before the lesson was due to start.
At the sound of the bell, the door above the small staircase was dramatically thrown open. Professor Lockhart, dressed in a periwinkle purple robe, emerged from the door a few seconds later. With a flair for the dramatic, he walked to the front of the class.
"Welcome," he said as most of the girls in the class giggled. "You're in for a treat." He added. He did a round of the room before coming back to the front of the class. "Let's see how much you learned this summer. A pop quiz," he said with a wave of his wand. Pieces of parchment appeared and were placed on each pupil's desk.
"You will have the rest of the lesson." Lockheart said as he took a seat next to one of his paintings. Avalon turned her piece of parchment over. The questions in the quiz were a bit strange. All of them were about the Professor. Some were like: What is Gilderoy Lockheart's favourite colour? And one was stranger still. What is Gilderoy's date of birth?
Avalon had not read any of his books. So she had no idea what to fill in. She had only managed to fill in her own name by the end of the lesson. But what did that have to do with defence? He waved his wand once more and the parchments zoomed over to where Lockheart was standing. He looked at them for a few minutes. Then he addressed the class.
"Well, well, well. That's not so good, is it?" He said. "Most of you had no idea what my favourite colour was. "He smiled at the class and said, "It's purple. Most of the girls swooned. Even Luna had a misty look in her eyes.
"Oh dear, this won't do. Miss Prince has not answered a single question," he said. "Miss Prince, I would like you to stay after class to discuss this with me." Avalon gave a groan. The class emptied as the bell rang. All the girls in the class were telling her how lucky she was.
"Miss Prince, I don't think you're doing your best in this class." He said. "You got that out of one lesson." said Avalon. He made a noise that sounded a little bit like a tut tut tut.
"Miss Prince, I'd like you to come here for the next 7 nights to work on reading my books."
"Detentions? What for?" Avalon asked him. "No. No, it's not detention. Its like after school tutoring. I think you need it," he said.
"Well, now that we have that sorted, I will let your Head of House know," he said smiling.
Avalon grunted. Ginny and another of her classmates came into the room and found themselves a seat. Avalon walked past Ginny. She gave her a quick warning.Upset, she went back to her commonroom.