The first class Elizabeth ever had in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was overwhelming, to say the least.
Elizabeth found that each class was shared with strange combination of students from different houses. When Elizabeth asked Natasha, whom she shared the first class along with some of the Gryffindors, she'd said, "Oh, yes, we often are paired with everyone from our house, but it depends on the subject. Most classes that aren't the core curriculum could be with anyone. Charms is mostly with Ravenclaws, though."
And so it was.
And it was so chaotic and confusing. As soon as they arrived it was all layered large wooden desks and tables and a skinny middle aged man with glasses who stood at the front of a blackboard with his wand aloft.
He waited until the class silenced on their own, which was rather quickly given the rowdieness of the chatter.
"Good morning!" He exclaimed. All the students echoed back good mornings. He told them how glad he was to have them all back for another semester and immediately went into quizzing students at random about their summer reading. If Elizabeth hadn't passed a note to Berniece to ask what is name was she wouldn't have known. 'Professor Seldrey Mardince' it read back.
"Ah and," he'd started as he approached the Gryffindor girls' group. "Oh! Our new student!" he exclaimed, happily. Elizabeth blushed at everyone's attention.
"Welcome to Charms! I apologize, I completely forgot we'd have a new student. Why don't you stand and introduce yourself? And a fun fact?"
Great.
Elizabeth stood, encouraged by whispers and jeers of encouragements from the Gryffindors around her. It was hard to be afraid with them around. "My name is Aliena Greengrass. It's very nice to meet you all," she said, looking across the room at all the Ravenclaws who waved or hollered. It seemed rowdiness wasn't reserved for Gryffindors. Professor Mardince quieted them swiftly with a knowing look and Elizabeth continued. "And a fun fact about me is…" she hesitated. She hadn't thought about a fun fact. She could say things about her past, but didn't want to be morbid in front of this joyful audience. "I like to sing."
"Oh! How wonderful! Sing something for us!" Professor Mardince said.
Fuck. She shouldn't have said that. This was very bad. It made her stomach plummet, but the Gryffindors cheered and Berniece and Natasha rubbed her arms in encouragement. "Well, okay," Elizabeth admitted in embarrassment. She thought of what to sing. Something that wouldn't sound so bad without any music.
She took a shaky breath and began.
It was a short and sweet song, one of romance and dreams and childish wonder. It reminded her of her own childhood and home.
The class started to gently clap for her in awe. A Gryffindor whistled obnoxiously. Even professor Mardince started clapping rapidly, looking happily surprised.
"How wonderful!" he exclaimed and the class quieted a bit. "What a lovely voice you have. I daresay we have a choir if you are interested."
"I've been told," Elizabeth laughed briefly.
"Wonderful! Now, let's see if you have any talent for charms," he started. Great. No reprise, she was thrown straight into the fire once more.
"Can you explain the difference between a Summoning Charm and a Conjuring Spell, and in what circumstances you might prefer to use one over the other?"
Elizabeth thought it was a cruel question to ask a new coming student, but the answer came so quickly in her mind that she didn't even care.
"The Summoning Charm is used to summon existing objects to the caster from a distance. It works by drawing a known object toward the wizard, no matter where it is located, as long as it's within range. A Conjuring Spell, on the other hand, creates objects out of thin air. These objects don't exist beforehand and are brought into being through magic."
Elizabeth said it so quickly and excitedly, summoning her own recollection of her long summer at the Malfoy's in which she'd endlessly read books on magic and desperately retained the information as if she could be taken away from this world at any moment.
Professor Mardince let out a hollar and a hop-skip, like this was a brilliant thought and went to the board to begin writing with the chalk as he rambled. "Incredible! I would expect nothing less from a Greengrass, now would I? Not only talented, but well versed in the summer reading. Now-…" and he began to lecture haphazardly as he scribbled on the board.
Elizabeth quickly began taking notes, and Saoirse leaned forward as she rubbed Elizabeth's back. "You'll give us a run for our money yet," Saoirse whispered excitedly.
Elizabeth glanced around to where her roommates grinned at her and turned to their own notes. Elizabeth's own shy smile bloomed on her face as she continued writing.
The next classes proceeded with consecutive succession. Elizabeth was passed off one after the other to whichever roommate she had classes with next. She'd gotten glimpses of the outdoor courtyards.
Finally, it was Potions and then she had a free period before lunch. She felt as if she wanted to collapse. Herbology, with Hufflepuffs, was hot and dirty. She'd cleaned herself with the charm Abraxas had taught her but still felt as if the humidity had sunk into her skin. Despite being comfortable in the room (it reminded her distinctly of home), when she entered the potions classroom she felt frizzy and exhausted.
"Oh look who it is," a voice drawled. Elizabeth looked up from the bench table she was draped over to find Rodrick Lestrange standing with Wulfric Mulciber.
She hardened immediately, sitting up straight in her stool.
"Hello, Mulciber, Lestrange," she said respectfully nodding her head. It felt strange to do after the past day and a half being so informal with her housemates.
"Miss Greengrass. You look positively…" Mulciber drawled as he looked over her form, "frizzy."
Elizabeth stiffened, hand automatically coming to her hair. It was extremely rude and she felt Edward, the only friend she had in potions, stiffen next to her.
"Oh don't be so uncivil Wulfric. Her cousin would be positively beside himself." Rodrick said, spitting out the last words as if it were a great joke. Students were still filing into the room. Elizabeth hadn't even thought of the decorum she was supposed to be upholding until now. Edward opened his mouth, no doubt going to say something scathing from his expression, but Elizabeth beat him to the punch.
"Do you know where Abraxas is? I would like to speak with him." Actually she wouldn't, but it was a good excuse.
"Right here." A voice sounded behind them. Elizabeth and Edward turned to the other side of their desk where Abraxas, Marius Avery, and Tom Riddle stood watching them carefully.
"Ah, Abraxas-," Elizabeth started. Surprisingly, Edward was the one who interrupted her.
"Tom! Good to see you," He said, holding out his hand to the boy. They shook hands.
"Did you have a good summer, Edward?" Tom asked, ever the gentleman.
It disgusted Elizabeth, but she got caught in Abraxas' gaze. He was looking at her deeply, eyes roving over her as if he was wondering what on earth had happened to her in their time apart.
"Wonderful. You?" Edward asked cordially. Tom nodded, his eyes slinking over to Elizabeth and then to Wulfric and Rodrick behind her.
"Riveting. Tell me, are you taking good care of our Aliena?" Tom said.
Our Aliena. It grated in Elizabeth's mind. Not only did he stake his claim, he called her by her first name. To Edward, it may have meant nothing. But to Elizabeth, she knew what it meant. The upper-class pureblood nobility didn't use first names lightly.
"Of course. She's brilliant," Edward confided, turning to Abraxas and Marius Avery. "Beautiful singing. Your family must adore it." Fuck. That was the wrong thing to say.
Edward didn't know it, of course. Nobody had ever heard her sing, even the Malfoys. Abraxas smiled stiffly, looking to Elizabeth with a fiery gaze that only those who were well versed in noble micro-manners were able to understand.
"I sang in Charms. Professor Mardince was curious." She explained.
Abraxas looked at Edward with a stiff smile. "She is quite brilliant at singing, isn't she?"
Edward nodded. He opened his mouth to say something, but Elizabeth put her hand on Edward's shoulder and said, "We should prepare for the lesson before it starts, shouldn't we?"
Edward turned to her, blushing, and nodded. Elizabeth began to unpack her things, distinctly ignoring the weight of their gazes on her and let the boys fall away into their seats. To Elizabeth's great horror, Tom slid into the row in front of her. The front of the class. Marius and Abraxas briefly had a quiet argument about who would pair with him, but Abraxas had pulled the "my cousin is here" card and took the spot. Elizabeth tried to ignore it. Wulfric and Rodrick opted for a seat to the back of the class, thankfully.
Before Tom or Abraxas could turn around and speak to them, the class thankfully began.
"Welcome, welcome to another year of Potions!" Slughorn exclaimed, his walrus mustache twitching with excitement. "I hope you all had a splendid summer and are ready to delve into the fascinating world of magical brewing once again."
His gaze swept across the room, pausing briefly on Tom Riddle in the front row with an inch of a smile and glimmer in his eyes, before continuing on. Suddenly, his eyes widened as they landed on Elizabeth.
"Ah, and what do we have here? A new face among us!" Slughorn said, his voice filled with curiosity. "Miss Greengrass, isn't it? I've heard whispers of your arrival. Welcome to Hogwarts, my dear!"
Elizabeth felt all eyes turn to her once again. In her other classes, this had been deeply embarrassing. This was another thing entirely, with Abraxas and Tom turning to watch her. She straightened her posture, remembering her etiquette lessons, and gave a polite nod. "Thank you, Professor Slughorn. I'm looking forward to your class."
Slughorn beamed, clearly pleased by her response. "Excellent, excellent! I'm sure you'll fit right in. Now then, let's begin with a review of some of the potions we covered last term. Can anyone tell me the primary ingredients in a Strengthening Solution?"
As hands shot up around the room, Elizabeth couldn't help but notice Tom Riddle's confident posture as he raised his hand, nor the way Slughorn's eyes immediately gravitated towards him. She steeled herself, more tense than she'd been all day.
"The primary ingredients are powdered Griffin claw, crushed Abyssinian shrivelfigs, and salamander blood. The Griffin claw provides magical fortification, enhancing the potion's effect, while the shrivelfigs act as a stabilizer, allowing the body to absorb the strength gradually. Salamander blood catalyzes the reaction, ensuring the strength boost is sustained for a longer duration."
"Exemplary as always, Tom. Ten points to Slytherin."
Elizabeth couldn't help but glance over at Edward, who was watching Tom with a bit of regard. Everyone is enraptured with him, she thought glumly. Disgusting. She didn't have to see Tom's face to know it was smug.
"Can anyone describe the process and significance of brewing a Wolfsbane Potion, including its primary ingredients and it's effects on a werewolf?" Slughorn continued, walking around the room. Elizabeth clenched her fists. She tried to recall, but her mind was running blank. She had read this years potion textbooks, but the intricate parts of it were running short.
Another student answered the question.
Slughorn rounded to the front of the classroom where a large table stood with a variety of different potions bubbled in cauldrons. "Wonderful, wonderful! Now, we have some difficult potions up here. Can anyone tell me, what is inside?" He asked.
Students left their chairs and gathered closer, some close enough to peek in. Elizabeth wanted to stay in her seat, but when Edward raised an expectant brow at her, she followed him and gazed into the cauldrons. "Yes yes, anyone?" he asked finally as students stood back a generous pace as he stood before them. Tom, of course, raised his hand. Many other students did as well, including Edward. Surprisingly, Edward was called upon.
He gestured to the small cauldron on the right, "That's Veritaserum. It forces the drinker to voice the truth."
"Yes, yes! Very good!" And the next? More hands. Another was called.
Draught of Living Death. The next was A Euphoria Elixir— highly addictive.
The next, Elizabeth knew well, and her hand shot up. Along with Tom's. The only two in the class. "Go on, both of you!" Slughorn said, cheerfully.
"Amortentia." They said at the same time.
"The most powerful and dangerous love potion in the magical world. Known for its ability to cause intense infatuation or obsession, it is infamous for its effects on the drinker." Tom said, before she could speak. Elizabeth quickly opened her mouth, stepping forward before he could continue.
"It's rumored to smelled differently to each person depending on what attracts them. For example, I smell," Elizabeth said, stepping closer ever so slightly as the scent carried her forward. "Cashmere cologne, parchment… and saltwater…" She drifted off, forcing her legs to stay put. She wanted to move forward. Wanted more than anything to continue smelling. To huff it into her lungs for the rest of her life.
"But that is only a rumor. You see to me it smells of noth-," Tom started, and them paused, a deep frown setting into his features as his mouth contorted. "… books, and mist, and…," he stepped closer to it as if to examine the surface. He took a deep breath through his nose, "vanilla…" he trailed off.
Slughorn covered it swiftly. "Now, don't get too close!" He spoke boistry, a knowing smile on his mouth as Tom was caught off guard, and stepped back. "Amortentia does not create actual love. Just powerful obsession. For that reason, it is the most dangerous among the potions of this collection."
Tom took another step back into the crowd, ask if struck by something foul. Elizabeth looked up at Abraxas, whom she hadn't realized was standing by her side.
Despite the fact that he was hideously annoying, that white hair and pale skin was a familiar reprieve. It reminded her distinctly of the Manor. Of home, she briefly thought. A home of another type. She remembered playing piano for him in the parlour. Of the first time she'd ever played for them, and their shocked reactions. Of the month that followed, arguing over dinner and his taunting during her lessons.
As the potions lessons continued and Slughorn was explaining the other cauldrons, Elizabeth leaned up, pressing her shoulder into his. "Can we talk after class? I have a free period." She knew only Abraxas could hear her, but didn't think he quiet heard, until he slowly nodded. She looked forward again, watching the lesson with a smile.
"And finally, the most valuable potion of them all," Slughorn said as he unscrewed a small vial from the frame it was displayed in. Elizabeth watched, recognizing the golden-translucent liquid immediately.
"Felix Felicis. Can anyone tell me what it does?" He asked. Some students raised their hands, but Elizabeth couldn't help herself when she actually knew an answer. She blurted out, "Liquid Luck."
"Yes, Miss Greengrass, Liquid Luck. Disastrous potion to make and quite tricky to get correct. Just one sip and one may find that all endeavors succeed. At least, until the effects wear off." The entire class watched the vial with intent greed, some more than others.
"So, I daresay our first lesson has been quite enlightening. I will not keep you, on your first day at Hogwarts, like some other professors may. However, I will say," he said, commanding attention as the others looked around excitedly. "Before you go, I have quite the prize in store for those who wish it. If you dare, the student who many brew a proper concoction of The Draught of Living Death by the end of the period may be rewarded with this very vital of Felix Felicis…" The entire room hovered in that weighted silence. "I will warn you, in all my teachings, not one student has yet managed it. Now, if you dare, you may begin! Instructions are on page ten of your textbooks. You may begin!"
Unsurprisingly, not one student left. Everyone was too greedy for the possibilities that the prize offered. Elizabeth hurried to her desk with Edward, where both of their separate stations lay. She quickly turned to her page, wishing she had the Half-Blood Prince's rendition. Alas, he was not born yet. "I'll get your ingredients, don't worry," Edward said, ever the gentleman.
Elizabeth followed the instructions dutifully. She had brewed a few potions back at the Manor, but nothing of this advancement. Abraxas was talking to Slughorn, charming him in some sort of way. He was clearly trying to garner some sort of favor. Elizabeth ignored it and turned back to her potion, which was looking actually quite well in a "smooth, black currant–colored liquid" that it should have been. She approached the next step with her eyes, reading carefully.
She was meant to chop the sopophorous bean. She was meant to, but she knew, somewhere in the back of her mind that it was crushed in the books. Harry crushed it, she thought. So did Snape. If it mess it up, it won't matter anyhow.
And so she did, and dripped the juices into the potion. Was she supposed to follow the directions? She didn't know, and she didn't remember any instructions from her childhood favorite books to say otherwise. She stirred. After the seventh counterclockwise turn she stilled, a strange picture floating in her memory. It felt like reading a book backward, in the same way it felt like watching Aliena's memories like a movie. She accidentally stirred the other way, and quickly reprimanded herself to go back to counterclockwise. Surely I've ruined it, now, she thought.
Just as she was going, her mind strayed again and she could see a glimmer of the pages of a book in her memories. Of words. She accidently went the wrong way again. She cursed and continued back the way she was supposed to. This time, she closed her eyes and tried to recall recall recall. Cream pages of a book with large text and little stars in the margins. The words were blurry, except, "…add a clockwise stir after every seventh counterclockwise stir…" in very clear english.
Elizabeth opened her eyes and realized she was already doing the counter clockwise stir, and forced herself back. What was she doing?!
"And thats time! Everybody stop!" Slughorn announced. Elizabeth sucked in a breath. She glanced around at the potions around her. Edwards was a deep frothy pink. Abraxas' spat black liquid. Tom's, she craned her neck to see, was almost a clear translucent, save for a shimmering golden texture.
Slughorn went around one by one. "Ah, Tom so close my boy so close, but surely much better than anyone I've seen in-," he said, patting Tom on the shoulder. Tom was already preening, looking over at Abraxas' spitting concoction which was starting to bubble angrily. "Oh!" Slughorn exclaimed, letting go of Tom's shoulder. They immediately turned back to follow his gaze.
"My, my…" Slughorn said wistfully as he took in Elizabeth's potion, watching it with wonder. It was perfectly clear— the complete likeness to water. Slughorn fumbled in his robes and pulled out a little green mint leaf. He dropped it in. It shriveled and died and turned to nothing at all immediately. "By Merlin! I've never seen anything like this! A clear, clear winner! Miss Greengrass, how positively delightful," he began to sing her praise and brought her to the front of the class where he handed her the vial quite ceremoniously. Tom's fists clenched hard, drawing blood from his palms. How could this foolish insolent girl win? It was inconceivable. Elizabeth took it smiling, holding it in both her hands and then safely storing it into her cloak's breast pocket carefully.
She looked out on the class, but all she could see was Tom's sinister gaze. She looked away immediately and rushed back to her seat. Edward helped her clean up, singing her praises and telling her how lucky it was she was a Gryffindor. Elizabeth winced when he'd said it too loud and the group of Slytherin boys had heard. They were all gathered together whispering, looking over shoulders to catch a glimpse at her here and there.
After everything was cleaned up, Slughorn pulled her aside as all the students were filling out.
"Tell me Miss Greengrass, do you have an affinity for potions?" He asked with a glimmer in his eye.
"Ah, I daresay I don't-," Elizabeth tried.
"Oh don't be modest, of course you do! I've never seen anything like that in all my years of teaching."
"I think you should see me try to brew something else," she said, entirely truthful. "It was a stroke of beginner's luck."
"Well, if it is luck then it has only brought you more," he said with a wink. She shifted shyly.
"If you continue on this path then I would have no choice but to take you under my wing!" He said loudly, and turned back to his group of potions on the counter. Elizabeth glanced toward the brew of Amortentia and looked back to him.
"If I do, then I would not object. Have a good day, Professor Slughorn."
Elizabeth slipped out and almost forgot she'd asked Abraxas to speak to her after class. He was leaning against the wall as his friends spoke around him. They caught sight of her and clapped him on the shoulder or wished him goodbye before they turned and walked away. It was just Abraxas and Elizabeth now.
"Aliena Greengrass— Gryffindor, Singer, and Potions Master. Tell me, what new titles will you adopt by the end of the day is through?"
Elizabeth sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Look, I know you're upset about my sorting, but-"
"Upset?" Abraxas interrupted, his voice sharp. "Do you have any idea what this means for our family?"
"Our family?" Elizabeth repeated, her tone incredulous. "I'm not a Malfoy, Abraxas. I never was."
Abraxas's jaw clenched. "You're living under our roof. You bear our name, even if it's not by blood. And now you've gone and sorted yourself into Gryffindor of all places."
"I didn't sort myself anywhere," Elizabeth retorted. "The hat chose. And frankly, I'm glad it did."
Abraxas's eyes widened slightly at her admission. "You're glad? Have you lost your mind?"
"No," Elizabeth said firmly. "I've found it. For the first time since I arrived here, I feel like I belongsomewhere."
A tense silence fell between them. Abraxas ran a hand over his face, looking suddenly tired. "What am I supposed to tell father?"
"The truth," Elizabeth said simply. "That I was sorted into Gryffindor, and that it doesn't change who I am or my gratitude for what your family has done for me."
Abraxas scoffed. "You think that will be enough?"
"It has to be," Elizabeth replied. "Because I'm not changing who I am to fit into your family's expectations anymore."
Abraxas stared at her for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Finally, he spoke, his voice low. "You have changed, Aliena. And not for the better."
Elizabeth nodded, a small, neutral smile on her face. "Maybe I have. Or maybe this is who I've always been, and you're just seeing it for the first time."
With that, Elizabeth turned and walked away, leaving Abraxas alone in the corridor, his thoughts in turmoil.
The rest of the day went by relatively smoothly. Relatively.
She had many classes with the Slytherins. Many. At least she had the Gryffindor girls to cling to. Sometimes the Slytherins had tried to speak to her. It amounted to nothing but her newfound friends whispered longingly amongst themselves over those boys. Elizabeth could understand, to her own disappointment. She understood, and she couldn't blame them. All of them were horrifically handsome. Even the worst of them, Wulfric, was handsome enough in an ugly-hot sort of way.
Elizabeth wished their outward appearance reflected their souls. The worst of it was that the most beautiful and coveted by all was Tom, who was certainly the worst. Girls of other houses or even some older or younger girls had approached them as if Elizabeth were a bridge that allowed them access to Tom. Elizabeth had gotten her fair share of interrogation by the end of the day. She had also gotten the inside story on the Slytherin boys.
Tom Riddle was the prince of the school. Beautiful and intelligent and charming. Utterly untouchable from the mere mortals who attempted. Even Slytherin girls hadn't been successful. He was so beautiful and out of reach he'd become something of a legend among the female population of Hogwarts.
His crew was only one step down from this. And the Gryffindor's ate up every bit of information or interaction Elizabeth had to offer. It didn't help that Tom and his lackeys would watch her during lessons. At the very least, the cloud of giggles that followed Elizabeth whenever Tom got even remotely near her was enough to keep him away.
At least dinner was enough of a refuge. The boys talked about quidditch. The girls had grown bored of talking about the Slytherins. They fell into steady conversation, noisy and obnoxious. Elizabeth couldn't have asked for anything better. Before she could finish her dinner, she was full. A strange feeling of sleepy haze came over her. She stood from the table. "I'm gonna go back." She said.
"Oh, I'll come, if you want," Natasha said, halfway through her dinner. Despite Natasha clearly not being finished, she said it happily.
"No." Elizabeth quickly said. "No, I just want to try and map out the castle a bit. Don't worry. I like to… I like to walk." Elizabeth tried to explain poorly.
"Oh, it's alright!" Saoirse said. They all nodded and said their confirmations. Elizabeth smiled at them all and left the great hall.
She ran her fingers along the cool stone walls, feeling the magic thrumming beneath her touch. Suits of armor creaked and shifted, standing at attention as if guarding long-forgotten secrets. Elizabeth peered into empty classrooms, imagining the countless students who had learned magic within these walls over the centuries.
She realized she was lost thirty minutes later.
It was so strange being without a phone. She had no way to call anyone to get herself out of the labyrinth of dungeons. She didn't even know where she was supposed to be on the map, and since every hall looked the same she didn't have a landmark to show her the way. It was cold and dark and somewhat scary at this hour.
Elizabeth crept forward, trying to squint ahead to see beyond the chasm beyond.
"Are you lost?" A hand grabbed her wrist and pulled her back against a hard body.
Elizabeth turned quickly and ripped her hand out of the hold.
The last person she wanted to see stood before her.
Tom Riddle.