Fortunately, this dreadful silence was broken by two Gryffindors, the two Weasley Twins, who rose and shouted in a single voice "HAIL THE DARK LADY ALEXANDRA POTTER!"
The majority of the Ravenclaw looked like they had forgotten to breath, terrified of her reaction. Seriously, what sort of mentality did they teach at this school?
She stood from her seat, raised her goblet and in her best cheerful tone she loudly proclaimed "Thank you minions! Now the Dark Side of the Joke is finally about to get unleashed!" Many in the Hall laughed, some having apparently recognised the Star Wars reference.
The twins answered by a military salute and a "Thank you, Milady!", and then the pair ran out of the hall. Seeing some teachers giving her a black eye and others looking very amused, she hoped she had not unleashed an even worst problem upon the school. Oh well. What's the worst which could happen?
The Weasleys Twins' reaction at least had the merit of making the atmosphere more pleasant, as conversations restarted and the rest of the students progressively forgot her. Except at her House table, where about half the Ravenclaws were watching her with looks that were fearful and panicked, while other Hogwarts students preoccupied themselves with their first day of courses at school, not with her presence. Which was just fine in her opinion.
As she went to eat a second slice of toast, a terrified second year, who looked like he had been forcibly volunteered for this special task, gave her the schedule for the first-years. At the same moment, a hundred or so owls streamed into the Great Hall, circling the tables until they saw their owners and dropping letters and packages into their laps. No need to ask how the parents kept contact with their children. The frightened Ravenclaw profited from her distraction to run at full speed out of the Hall, and Alexandra glanced back to her schedule.
Monday: Potions (with Hufflepuff) Potions Lunch Charms (with Gryffindor)
Tuesday: Transfiguration (with Slytherin) Herbology (with Slytherin) Lunch History (with Gryffindor)
Wednesday: History Defence Against the Dark Arts (with Hufflepuff) Lunch Flying (with Hufflepuff) Astronomy (at night, with Slytherin)
Thursday: free period Charms Lunch Transfiguration
Friday: free period Defence Against the Dark Arts Lunch Herbology
Today, she had a double class of Potions to begin with, then lunch and Charms to finish the day. One thing alarmed her, however: where were the other subjects she had taken for granted at St Gregory's? There was no class of Mathematics, no Literature, no option to learn a foreign language. Just Magic, Magic and Magic again. She supposed she would have to ask her Head of House the issue when she met him. Assuming, of course, she wasn't expelled before the first week was over for her 'little fight' last night.
Seeing the rest of her housemates rise and depart in the direction of a corridor in the back of the Great Hall, she put her schedule in her bag and abandoned the rest of her huge breakfast to follow them.
Seeing her classmates heading for the depths of Hogwarts, she realised the Potions lessons had to be in the dungeons of the school, which looked rather sinister and oppressing to her. The temperature was cold, colder than in the rest of the castle anyway, and there were very few torches or candles to lighten the way which made a sinister ambiance.
Entering the class with ten minutes to spare, she saw a classroom which looked like the nightmare of a mad scientist, with dead animals, skulls, and various slimy things. There were about twenty tables, which had two seats each. Too predictably, she found herself alone at her own table. Ten other Ravenclaws sat on the tables before her, trying their very best to ignore her. The Hufflepuff first years, who they had class with, occupied the right of the room.
The door opened suddenly, and the professor with greasy hair and piercing black eyes she had seen at the Sorting entered the classroom, dressed from top to bottom in black, with his black cape billowing in an impressive manner. The professor had not yet reached his desk when a Hufflepuff boy with blond hair ran into the classroom. At the sight of the nasty glare the teacher sent his way, the boy, named Zacharias Smith if she remembered correctly, stopped in his tracks.
"Late the first day of class, Smith?" snarled their Professor. "Ten points from Hufflepuff and be happy it isn't more. Sit down." The last two words were pronounced in an even colder tone, much like if the man had known Smith wanted to protest. Zacharias had indeed opened his mouth, but closed it after seeing the dark glare the Professor sent him and sat at the same table as Alexandra.
"For those of you who do not know," he looked toward the group of eleven-year-olds and Alexandra found herself shivering against the man's gaze. This man, she felt in her bones, was dangerous.
"I am Potions Master Severus Snape, Senior Potions Professor at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." With a flick of his wrist the door leading out of the class slammed shut with a dark crack, just as the bell rang. Several Hufflepuffs gulped. "As a rule, the Senior Professor of a fundamental subject at Hogwarts is your teacher for the first year in this school. This is not only to notice the true prodigies among the mediocre," he said in a soft voice, "but also to give you a proper understanding of the class and ensure you do not kill yourselves attempting to brew your first potion." This time the sarcasm in his voice was only barely veiled.
"You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion-making, which is a demanding art." His voice was louder this time.