Ashes and Dust

by R1verrr

Summary:

"Nobody is coming to save you.., get up"

 

Ashley Wood.
A young, ordinary girl, no prophecies to fulfill, no magical fate to offer protection. She didn't need it anyway, school was fine, she had loving parents and a wonderful uncle. But sometimes she wished her life was more magical, and when a mysterious owl arrived at her house with a letter, Ashley thought her dream had come true. But she didn't know what price she would have to pay.

Notes:

Hello, this is my Harry Potter fanfiction from the Pov. of a Character that has been living rent free in my head for a little while. Sorry for bad Grammar and Sentence structure.

Chapter 1: Lighthouse

Chapter 1: Lighthouse

 

Paul and Katharine Lighthouse, of number 5, Nettle Lane, were far from ordinary. Mrs. Lighthouse was a calm warm-hearted woman, the perfect puzzle piece to her outgoing husband. Her short figure had rounded over the years and short curly hair already turned white. With her round glasses and her fine lips that always seemed smiling so mater how clouded the sky was, people were naturally bound to like her. She planted all kinds of flowers in the garden of the rather colorful house. Mr. Lighthouse worked years to restore the houses old cottage look, from a time before clean gardens and white modern walls with minimalist design were in trending. His his brown hair streaked with gray was kept chin long and transitioned in a well kept beard. His back was a little hunched and his short nose crooked. He worked in the editing of the local newspaper, but in his young days he was traveling the world with his wife Katharine, writing stories from his journeys.

 

The Story starts at a early Friday morning, fog surrounded the houses and street like a thick wet coat. Mr. Lighthouse was woken up by the Alarm clock, Mrs. Lighthouse was still sleeping. She only pulled her blanket tighter when Paul kissed her cheek before getting ready for work. Paul looked outside in the thick fog that covered the neighborhood and decided that today he would wear his Sunflower Tie. When he left the Bathroom Katharine was waking up too. "Why are you already awake my Love? Breakfast isn't ready yet" Paul asked his wife while he tied his Tie. Katherine just brushed it off and got ready too. A few minutes later Paul was standing in the kitchen preparing breakfast while Katherine slowly made her way down the stairs. She decided to wear the matching Sunflower scaf to Paul's Tie. "Have you heard? Mrs. Smiths Dog died, should I make her biscuits?" Katherine asked Paul not waiting for an answer because there wasn't one needed. Paul just nodded and put 2 plates with jam bread on the smal coffee table near the window while Katherine turned on the kettle for tea.

Paul took a bite of his jam bread and looked out of the window while Katherine poured forget-me-not tea in two porcelain cups wich were painted with delicate flowers. Katherine and Paul looked outside eating breakfast in comfortable silence, watching the fog clear slowly freeing the neighborhood from its cold grasp. Paul's shift would start in 2 hours so Mr. And Mrs. Lighthouse had time to enjoy their morning. Paul squeezes a little bit lemon juice in the tea and stirs it carefully. The tea tasted a little sweet with a pinch of walnut and a sour hint at the end from the lemon. Paul preferred black tea. But he would never turn down the tea with the self grown ingredients from his wife.

At half past eight Paul got up, put on his warm coat, took his leather bag and gave his wife a goodbye kiss. He got in his car and backed out of the Nettle Lane on the way to midtown were the newspaper build up its small company to inform everyone in and near the smal town about the local news.

Mr.Lighthouse liked his rather boring job, the other editor colleagues were wonderful to chat with, and the low effort needed to just clear some grammar errors left space for daydreaming in the old days. Paul's attention got caught when he edited a short article about an interview of someone who claimed to have seen people in cloaks using real magic. The way the article was written made it obvious that the readers shouldn't take that seriously. Paul's mind traced back to a old but clear memory when he was a young boy. He was at King's Cross in London with his parents returning from Summervacation. He just stepped onto platform 10 when before his eyes 2 children his age ran into the barrier between 9 and 10. But instead of crashing into the Wall they just disappeared. Paul's parents didn't pay attention to him so he approached the Barrier. With a quick look back Paul stepped forward, preparing for the embarrassment of walking in a solid brick wall but nothing happened. Instead Paul found himself on another platform full of cloaked people. Scarlet steam engine was waiting for the children to pack their Luggage on the train and take a seat. Paul saw adults with wands bidding their children goodbye. He tried to keep his mouth closed taking in the sight. Paul knew he wasnt supposed to be here so he took a step back and suddenly looked at the solid brick wall again dividing platform 9 and 10. Before he could think about it any further, Paul heard his mother call out for him. Paul recalled the platform between 9 and 10 again in his head while he returned to his mother. This picture would folow him through his entire life. Searching everywhere in the world for similar places like this. Paul smiled. It was his personal secret his happy place. Softly humming he edited the article, rewrote some incorrect sentences and continued to the next article. During lunchtime Paul chatted with his coworkers and colleagues about the weather. He listened to some complaints giving simple life advice to those who need it.

Mr.Lighthouse left work early today. It was Friday after all. On the way home Paul noticed something. A black cloak. Immediately he slowed down seeing a little boy sitting at the street his face swollen from tears. Paul immediately pulled over and left the car to look after the Boy. "My, My you don't seem Allright mate. May I help you?" Paul asked crouching down to the boy. The boy was around 10 or 11 years old. He had short dull brown hair and dark eyes. His Skin was pale with red spots from crying. To Paul's horror the boy had a black eye and on his lips was dried blood. His fingertips were a bit wounded from chewing of his nails to much. The boy looked at Paul, he was not sure if the boys look was confused, fearful or something else but the boy certainly wasn't in the mood to talk. Paul let out a sigh. "I'm Paul Lighthouse, I live near by and mean no harm. Do you need help?" The Boy pulled his cloak tighter around him. "Im hungry" he finally said, Paul smiled relieved "now were getting somewere. I don't have food on me right now but my home is not far away from here. If you want you can come with me or stay here until I return with something to eat.." the Boy nodded before Paul could even complete his sentence. "Can I come with you?" He asks to Paul's surprise, normally children didn't trust Strangers that easily. He opened his car and the boy sat down in the passenger seat while Mr. Lighthouse started the car.

2 or 3 minutes later he pulled into the Nettle Lane and left the car with the boy shortly behind him. Mrs.Lighthouse was working in the garden. Getting rid of unwanted weeds so the herbs and flowers could grow better. "Welcome home Sweetheart" She greeted Paul before noticing the boy. One Look at his black eye and Katharine immediately stood up, dusting the dirt of her hands and approaching the Boy. "Oh dear. What happened to your face" she asked the startled boy cupping his face in her hands. "Let's get you inside dear, I bet you're hungry." Katharine gently pushed the still surprised boy into the house. Seating him down at the Kitchen table after he took of his cloak and shoes. Paul hung them up and entered the kitchen to make some tea. "I found him sitting beside the street on the way home. He said he was hungry so I invited him to come with me" Paul explained and Katharine immediately got a bigger plate. "You can eat my dear. You need to eat something" Katharine said in a comforting tone. after preparing a whole plate of snacks for him. The Boy only ate slow despite his obvious hunger. Paul got a wet towel to relieve the swelling in the boy's black eye. "Im Katherine Lighthouse and this is my husband Paul, what is your name dear?" The Boy swallowed "John.." Mr. Lighthouse raised his eyebrows. "John... and further?" The boy, John, shook his head and Paul and Katherine exchanged glances before she let out a sigh and nodded "nice to meet you John, do you know were your Parents or Guardians are? Do they know your here?" John immediately shook his head and pressed his lips together. His Face wide in Fear "Are they the ones who did this to you?" Paul asked still holding the wet towel against Johns black eye so his hands were free. The boy hesitated, then he nodded. Katharine gasped, covering her mouth with her hands "Oh dear. How horrible, good thing Paul found you" Katharine said, holding herself back not to immediately embrace John in a supporting Hug. John just nodded again, although a little stiff, filling his mouth with Orangeslices. Katharine pulled Paul aside "Should we call the police? I mean here is an abused child.." Paul nodded "yes but dear, but not now, he's in no position to stand up to his Guardians." Katharine nodded and turned to John again, offering him to stay for a while until he was ready to confront his Guardians. And John agreed. Weeks passed but the Police had no trace of the boys Guardians, Katharine was certain that they didn't really try to find anyone. And so the strange boy was adopted by Mr. And Mrs. Lighthouse. Leaving behind his past as he grew up. Hoping it would never find him again.

-----‐---------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 2: Ashley Wood

Summary:

The Fics Protagonist gets introduced several years later.

Notes:

Enjoy the 2nd Chapter while peace is still uppon it :D

Chapter 2: Ashley Wood

Many years later, on a Sunday morning in July during summer break, John went up the stairs to wake up his daughter "Get up Firefly, it's already 10."

Ashley murmured in her soft pillows. The warm Sun crept through the curtains in Ashley's Room, warning her blanket. What a perfect time to fall asleep again. "Ashley! Get up!" Ashley's father, John, opened the door to her room after knocking.

Ashley groans "I didn't say 'come in'" what would she give to posses magic just to stop time or something, maybe mute her father or become invisible. Only for a moment though. John walked up to her bed and pulled away one of her blankets. "Special situations require Special rules young Lady, now get up. Mom already made breakfast and your hot chocolate is getting cold." Ashley let out a sigh "finee" she murmured and sat up looking up to her father with messy hair and nearly closed eyes. "That's better firefly" John said with a smile and brushed Ashley's messy hair out of her Face.

"I expect you downstairs fully clothed and with brushed hair in 15 minutes, got it firefly?" John said while leaving the room. Ashley rolled her eyes a little "and don't think of laying down again" he called from downstairs the moment Ashley's head nearly sunk in the Pillow again.

With loud groaning Ashley pushed away her second blanket and swung herself out of the bed, she used the momentum to walk in the bathroom directly across her own room and brushed her teeth.

While brushing her teeth Ashley stared at her reflection in the mirror. A tall girl around 11 years old with messy black hair, Dark eyes and thin face. Ashley was always mistaken as older than she actually was, wich wasn't all to bad. Her classmates avoided her most of the time, except when there was something interesting to do. Like causing trouble, abusing the thin line between what was allowed and what was forbidden.

Ashley left the Bathroom and went back to her room to get dressed. A wide dark green sweater, together with 2 purposefully mismatched socks and her favorite pair of sweatpants. The one with the litte colorfull stars on it. While going downstairs Ashley quickly ran her fingers through her hair and braided it into a messy braid she threw over her shoulder. "Good morning" she said while entering the kitchen.

"Good morning, Firefly" John and Magie greeted her with a smile. "Sit down, do you want cereal or scrambled egg like Me and your Father?" Ashley's mom, Magie, asked while Ashley already sat down.

Ashley's Mom, Magie Wood was a tall grown woman with the same Dark hair as Ashley, her eyes were between gray and green, depending how the light hit them. Ashley's father John Wood was also pretty tall, no surprise that Ashley was taller than 80% of her classmates. He had dull brown hair and dark eyes wich he inherited to Ashley.

"I'll take the cereal" Ashley answered grabbing a cereal bowl and poured in fruitloops and cornflakes. Her hot chocolate was now only lukewarm so Ashley just poured her lukewarm chocolate in her bowl instead of milk. "Ashley!" Magie scolded her with raised eyebrows. But then she only just shook her head and ate her scrambled eggs. John returned from the kitchen counter with a plate full of scrambled eggs and some bacon. He just raised his eyebrows at Ashley's idea.

"Summerbreak is ending soon, for how long do you still have Vacation Honey?" John asked his wife. "Like one and a half week left. What is in your mind?" John handed Magie a letter from the neighbors "Charles and Michael got a gift card for 3 days Wellness Vacation for 4 people from their last assignment. They asked if we wanted to join."

Magie took the letter and opened the flyer for the Wellness program "Wellness Vacation? Are you sure?

What is...*" Before Magie or John could say something Ashley perked up. "Can I stay at Uncle Paul's for the time?" John shruged "That was the idea, he got some new things he wanted to show you" Ashley's eyes lit up while John turned to Magie.

She let out a sigh, her biggest concern just disappeared. "Is it far away?" John shook his head "it's only like 3 hours away. Still in England but with beautiful panorama" Magie nodded and studied the flyer. "Sure why not? Ashley needs some distraction from the screen anyway"

Ashley made a outraged grimace "Heyy, ..*" Magie interupted Ashley before she could say something "Watching TV all day hurts your eyes. Yesterday you had a headache because of that" "Mooom, it's not because of the TV, and I'm watching Science documentaries...their for school" Ashley's Mom raised her eyebrows "since when is advanced Botany part of elementary school education?" Ashley groaned.

"Listen to your mom, Firefly, she has a doctor degree" Ashley turned her head to her father to start a new argument, he just smiled and sipped from his coffee.

"Now do you want to spend 3 days with your favorite uncle or not?" Asked Magie and put the flyer on the table between her and John. Ashley nodded with excitement, arguing about screentime was irrelevant. She wanted to spend 3 days with her favorite uncle. Her father even said that Paul had some artifacts.

Paul's house became a living library for curious things from all over the world since a team of 'researchers' and 'archeologist', Ashleys mom just referred to them as a group of conspiracy theorists with no foundation in common Science, found his journals. Now they send him artifacts regularly so Paul could identify them. Ashley felt a light of excitement fill her chest. "When does the Wellness thing start?" Ashley's father laughed "oh dear, do you wish to get rid of us?"

Ashley grinned, "no I just want to know when I can see my uncle again" Magie sighs "what is so special about these bizarre artifacts?" Ashley's grin widened "Magic" Magie raised her eyebrows with a slight laugh. John just smiled, teasing Ashley "aren't you a little bit to old to believe in such things?"

"You are never to old to believe in Magic" Ashley quoted Paul and her parents laughed.

We still have to tell Charles and Michael that we will join.." John planed checking the calendar that hung on a wooden beam next to the Table. "I'll call them after breakfast" Magie interupted between two forks of scrambled egg.

Ashley looked at the clock it was nearly 15 before 11am. "There is a very interesting documentary about old cultural Medicine and Herbology in 5 minutes" She said with the mouth full of fruitloops "And?" Ashley's mother asked, Ashley groaned and emptied her bowl, the not hot chocolate did not taste good in combination with the fruitloops. "Can I watch it pleaseeee?" Magie sighs "yes you can, what kind of mother would I be if I denied my daughters thirst for knowledge."

John nodded and gladly took Ashley's empty bowl while she hurried to the couch and turned on the TV. A ad about school utensils played, followed by an add about fast-food. John cleaned the table and Magie went in the smal hallway were the telephone stood.

Shortly after she talked with Charles, Ashley could tell from the long unnecessary pauses were her Mom waited for Charles to complete his sentence. "He says they're free on Thursday." John nods, and checks the calendar again while stacking the dishes on the for now empty counter above the dishwasher. Ashley was focused on the TV, her brain inhaling every piece of information.

"Ashley don't shrimp" Magie warned Ashley, reminding her of her bad posture while watching TV. Ashley made a sound of annoyance, but she fixed her posture.

Yes magic would be a wonderful blessing, just to silence someone for a few minutes.

And friends, friends would be nice. Ashley knew a few people at school she would spend time with sometimes, but they weren't friends, not like she needed any, they talk to much, ask questions and assume things they have no idea about.

Like in 2nd grade were some of her classmates discovered that Ashley's father was adopted. Their annoying questions, rumors and assumptions constantly disturbed Ashley during her school day, luckily she had her peace after she revealed that one of her classmates Father disappeared after his birth.

The teacher never found out who spread the rumors and even the classmate forgot who found out about his secret. Good for Ashley.

Ashley was always someone who easily was forgotten or overlooked, and she loved to use it to her advantage. A friend would only bruden her. But it would be cool to have someone else to spend time with, other than her family.

Maybe after the summerbreak, when she would change schools, maybe she would find someone that she could call a friend...

Or not who cares. She certainly didn't.

Chapter 3: Letters and Lies 1/2

Summary:

A mysterious Letter arrives.

Notes:

Hello, this chapter got longer than expected, so it's split in 2 or 3 parts

Chapter 3: Letters and Lies 1/2

 

Later that day Ashley's Father had called Uncle Paul to make sure he knew that Ashley would come over for 3 days on Thursday morning.

Uncle Paul tend to forget such things quite often. "Probably because he has his head somewhere else all the time." assumed Ashley's Mother. Although she liked Paul, she wasn't really a fan of Paul's theories and Fantasy obsession. Ashley's Father just shruged it off. "Other people ,other characters" he tend to say.

 

Monday morning during breakfast, this time with actual hot chocolate, but Ashley couldnt really enjoy it. Her Father was unusual nervous, Ashleys mother was talking about her newest research, something about Mushrooms so she didnt notice. Ashley watched with squinted eyes as her father stirred his coffee the 15th time within 5 minutes. She just wanted to say something when the letterbox clicked.

A few Letters as well aswell as the newspaper flop on the doormat. "I get the letters" Ashley jumped up from her stool and hurried to the door before anyone could respond.

She picked up the letters and read the addresses. A envelope from her secondary school, probably with the uniform requirements, and the test results for one of her moms experiments, probably the one about Mushrooms. Both things obviously addressed to her mother. The newspaper for her dad and...

Another envelope?

Ashley came back in the kitchen turning the thick and heavy envelope, made with yellowish parchment, in her hands. It had no stamp, so no indication from were or whom the letter was from. Ashley's heart jumped when she saw to who the letter was addressed to.

 

Ms. A. Ri Wood

The Bedroom across the bathroom.

 

And underneath her address, all written in emerald green ink. Ashley squinted her eyes as she spotted 2 crossed out letters between her initial and her last name. RI. She made a side note for later.

"Firefly, what you got there?" John asked while Ashley gave Magie the other two letters and John the newspaper. "I don't know, but they know were I sleep."

Magies head jolted up while Ashley gave the letter to her father. His fingers shivered slightly while he took the letter like it was either a bomb or a glass sculpture. "John..what is it?" Magie asked her tone worried. "It can't be, it just can't." Johns lips barely moved as he wisperd those words. He opened the envelope and peeked at the letter inside.

Ashley held her breath as her father's face turned as pale as the dishes. "Sweetheart, what does it say?" Asked Magie holding Ashleys arm. John took a deep breath and the color in his face returned.

"It's probably just a stupid prank. Nothing more." Ashley raised her eyebrows, something was definitely off. John turned to Ashley "Ashley, why don't you go into your room and think about what you should pack to uncle Paul's?" Magie and Paul exchanged glances, the 'we need to talk' look. Ashley wanted to argue but if she would start to argue, the chances of overhearing something could become zero.

So she just nodded with her 'I do no wrong' smile and hurried up the stairs. She made sure to step on all the creaking steps and flor tiles on the way to her room before she sneaked back to the staircase, carefully avoiding the creaking flor tiles, to eavesdropp.

"So what is this letter about? Why is it directly addressed to Ashley, WITH the place were she sleeps?" Asked Magie now seriously worried and a little suspicious because her husband was so secretive and nervous.

"It's from a school.. I went there as a child.." began John, his voice shaking a little. "Your school? But we didn't apply for it! How do they know were she sleeps!?" Magie tried soothe her tone, the worry in her voice grew bigger with every second, she knew how sensitive John was about his childhood before he came to Paul and Katharine.

"Sweetheart what is going on?" She asked again, her voice a nearly pleading undertone. Ashley could hear the Letter from Envelope being passed and fully unfolded.

"Hogwarts school of witchcraft and Wizardry!?" Ashley nearly fell down the stairs as she heard those words.

"Sweetheart I love you over everything, but please don't turn out like Uncle Paul." Said Magie in disbelief, she didn't seem to know if she should worry or be mad.

Ashley's father sighs while Ashley holds her breath, Hogwarts? A Magic School? "You see Honey, I'm a Wizzard..." The sound Magie made after John said that was like a laughter, filled with pure disbelief. "John, please tell me your joking in 10 seconds, it's not like you! What do you mean with 'your a Wizzard'!? Magic is something for childrens dreams and stories. Sweetheart you know that!"

Ashley never had heard her mother so desperate and concerned. She heard her crumble the mysterious letter in her hands. John took a deep breath trying to explain the best he could. "Honey please listen to me, I know this is a lot to take in, but apparently Ashley inherited my family's Magic, she's a witch."

The silence that followed after was deafening. "What do you mean Ashley is a witch? Why didnt you tell me" asked Magie her voice now more quiet, she didnt even notice how she raised her voice.

"Im sorry Honey, I wanted to forget about it, I just hoped that Ashley wouldn't inherit my family's magic" Johns tone was full of regret, but Ashley heard something else too. Fear. "Sweetheart, you... you dont mean your birth family right? The one that abus-*... that mistreated you before you came to Paul and Katharine" Johns tone was heavy as he answered.

"Yes.. and I'm afraid that, now that Ashley was confirmed a witch. Im afraid that they could find us." Ashley could hear her mother catching a breath. "They... they could cone and..."

"No, not my past family but someone else, I dont know who or why, but we are no longer safe, especially Ashley. I suspect that my brother has something to do with this he.."

"you have a brother!?" Magie interupted John and Ashleys Lungs start to hurt, reminding her that she needed to breathe "Well he's more my Half brother, we had the same mother but that's were the similarities stopped. I heard that he is quite dangerous..." John talked fast, words blured together and again Magie interupted

Pulling him out of his ramble "Sweetheart less talking, more planing. If your brother is that dangerous, we should rather-*"

 

Ashley's attention was suddenly drawn away when she heard a *bump* against her window.

Chapter 4: Letters and Lies 2/2

Summary:

Part 2 of Letters and Lies.
Idk what to write here. Ashley finds out she's a witch and somehow it comes a problem.

Notes:

I had some ideas for Muggleborn or Halfblooded Wizzards and Witches regarding the Hogwarts letter.

For the case of how does the Wizzarding world manage to make the confused parents take their kids to Diagonally and how do regular Muggle parents get in Magic locations and the currency used in the Wizzarding World.

For Family's who don't have a Letter Owl themselves, the Hogwarts letter Owl stays with the Family so they can deliver the acceptance Letter.

I could talk much more about this but now enjoy the chapter

Chapter 4: Letters and Lies 2/2

 

The curiosity got to her and she sneaked back into her room. Finding a Owl sitting on the outside of her window, cleaning it's feathers from bumping into Ashley's window.

Ashley quickly opened the window to check on the bird. Then she spotted something in the Owls claw which peaked her curiosity. The owl didn't seem to be afraid. It hopped in her room dropping a envelope, made out of yellow parchment with no stamp and the same address written the emerald green ink, on Ashley's desk.

Quickly Ashley picked up the letter and opened it. She turned to the owl which seemed to have gotten comfortable in Ashleys old schoolbag. Ashley closed the window while taking out the letter out of the envelope.

 

Hogwarts school of witchcraft and Wizardry.

 

The headlines filled Ashley's belly with excitement. She was a witch, she had magic. Her dream had come true. She continued to read.

 

-----‐--------------------------------------------------------------------

Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore

(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)

 

Dear Mis Wood We are pleased to inform you that you have a place at Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.

Term begins on 1st September. We avait your owl by no later than July 31.

 

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress

-----‐--------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Ashley had to read the Letter 3 times to understand what it ment, she checked the digital Alarm clock that stood on her table. It was already July, but there was still enough time until the deadline.

Ashley checked the Envelope again, to see what else was in there. She found a list with all necessary equipment. The school uniform, Books and other things like... a pet!!

Ashley's mind was immediately flooded with ideas what kind of pet she would want. An Owl? A cat? Where they expensive? Maybe something small, she loved rats, were they allowed?

She pulled out a punched paper card with little coins printed on it. Out of curiosity she pressed out one of the coins, the smal paper coin fell in her hand but the coin felt heavy like metal. Within seconds the coin became a real one.

Ashley also found a letter to her parents, Ashley opened it anyway. The letter contained general information, like how the wizzarding world worked. The usual stuff you would write when informing a confused parent to explain that the child is going to be a magic wielding Witch. Also some information on were to exchange coins, get the materials and 2 'muggle-cards' that should ensure the parents to be granted entrance to the magic locations. Ashley was still processing things when she heard a knock on the door.

"Yes?" She said and her parents entered the room, her father held the first, a litte crumbled, letter in his hands. He looked a little nervous, since they thought that Ashley had no idea what's going on. The owl that was still sitting in Ashleys schoolbag gurred, making it's presence known. Magie threw a look at her husband, it was clear that there was some thick air between them. "Uhm firefly we have something to tell you...*" began John but Ashley interupted him by waving with the second letter. Magie let out a sigh "of course they send a second one, guess we don't have to explain anything about the Witch thing" Ashley grinned "so I am a witch? Can I do magic?" John nodded slowly and immediately Ashley focused on her pillow imagining it would fly.

John sighs "Ashley, witches or wizzards normally can't perform magic without a..." John stopped when he saw the pillow levitate a few inches over the bed, he bit on his lip and Magie took a sharp breath, Ashley ignored it and cheered internal. She concentrated and let the pillow fly to her but a few inched before her, she failed and the pillow dropped back on her bed. With a wide smile on her face she turned to her parents.

John was pale again, Magie just stared. Ashley knew that her mother tried to figure out how this was scientifically possible.

The silence broke when John kneeled down to Ashley putting his hands on her shoulders. Ashley knew immediately that something was off. "Ashley, do you mind to go to uncle Paul's earlier?" Ashley raised her eyebrows. "Dad? Are you mad that I'm a witch?"

Magie immediately shook her head before John could respond "no, no of course not, we are so proud of you, it's just unexpected. But you have to understand that its all confusing and there is...*"

She looked at her husband and broke off. Ashley grunted "Mom, Dad, I know that there is something wrong, you said it's not because I'm a witch then what is wrong!? I won't move until I have answers" John sighs.

"How about Magie tells you what you need to know while you two pack your things? I have to call Paul and write your acceptance letter." Ashley cheered internaly, she wasnt 100% sure if her parents would allow her to go to that magic school.

Magie, glad that she gained back some control over the situation, nodded. John kissed her forehead and called the Owl to sit on his shoulder before leaving the room.

"Come Ashley, pack anything you would take if you suddenly had to leave the house with no return" Magie said and pulled out Katharines old big suitcase ,with the thousand travel stickers, from the wardrobe.

"Is there no return?" Ashley asked while taking out her favorite clothes from her wardrobe. Ashley's mother pressed her lips together "we don't know firefly..." "But you will follow soon?" Ashley's Mother nodded and put the clothes in the luggage. "Of course sweetie" "Promise?" "Promise." Ashley smiled and nodded.

"Ok, can I pack in my Solar-System?" She took a miniature Solar-System from her table. It showed the positions of the planets in real time when activated. Magie continued to fold clothes. "As I said, everything you need when...*" Ashley quickly nodded collected some books together, her periodic table  with acutal elements inside them and a few other things. Despite the hectic situation Ashley couldn't help but feel excitement.

She was going to be a witch! In a magical school! How awesome is that!?

Chapter 5: The Shadow

Summary:

Uncle Paul picks Ashley up and apparently he already suspected something about the magic within the family.

Notes:

Again Lore notes: Before a student is enrolled into a magic school a magical child does not have any control over their magic, its usual for a magic child to show signs of magical abilities, things that can be quickly overseen or dismissed by the parents. the childs enviroment is also important when it comes to the development of magic. Harrys Magic before hogwarts was focused on Escape of something. whenever it was escaping himself or helping something else escape since that's was what he craved the most. In Ashley's case, she wanted to stay hidden. So people forgot her existence when she needed it (wich resultet in her actualy using that "talent" to cause a little trouble). Even muggle children (or squibs) can show signs of these magic abilities but they are usually too weak for them to count as the magic used in the wizarding world.

Chapter 5: The Shadow

 

One last question still burned on her tongue while packing. "Sooo... from which side of the family is the magic?" She paraphrased so her parents would not suspect her eavesdropping earlier. Ashley's mother sighs "Johns birth family, they were apparently quite powerful witches and wizards.." Ashley's eyes lit up but Magie interupted her immediately "their the reason for this." she gestures at the luggage that slowly filled up. "You see, John's birth family is not the safest." Ashley frowned a little "oh.." no wonder was he so nervous, she knew that her Father hasn't had the best childhood in his past, that's why he grew up with Paul and Katharine. Ashley's tired to regain the excitement she felt from before, but she failed.

Lunch was just as hectic as the morning, John had prepared sandwiches that everyone could eat in no time The owl was already send and right now John tried to find a place to stay for some time. Ashley heard him curse slightly about 'not having another owl to ask the ministry for assistance' She felt he was conflicted. The air was also heavy between her parents. Everything felt so... unreal and unsettling, not how Ashley imagined her magical awakening. She always imagined that some big magic man would knock on the door and tell her that she's the chosen one or something.

Sun had already set when the Bell rang 2 times, Uncle Paul. Ashley's mother pulled the zipper of the last suitcase while Ashley sat on it to apply more weight. She could hear how her father opened the door. Ashley heard them talk, but she couldn't understand a thing. The stairs creaked when Uncle Paul came upstairs with heavy steps.

"Hello Princess, or should I say little Witch?" He greeted Ashley with a wide 'I told you' smile. "Uncle Paul!" Ashley's cheered and jumped up from the suitcase and the zipper was ripped out of Magies hands. "Ashley! Sit down, else I can't close your Luggage!" she groaned and Ashley immediately sat down again.

Paul's face changed from joyfully to serious "I came as quickly as I could when John told me that you guys were in possible danger." Magie closed the luggage and got up to give Paul a kiss on the cheek. "Thank you Paul. I'm sorry for the hassle, everything was so unexpected." Paul waved it off "don't worry Magie, I got you. I have waited to long for this, I would be a fool not to help out." Magie raised her eyebrows "you what?" Paul shruged. "There were always happening strange things around John and Ashley, especially Ashley. You haven't noticed?"

Ashley perked up "Really?" Paul nodded "John always had this insane 6th sense and people regularly forgot about your entire existence. That's not normal" "ah" made Magie and took a step back, Ashleys eyes got wide. Paul clapped in his hands "Anyway, we should get the luggage in the car Ashley, it's late and tomorrow I want to celebrate." Ashley let out a cheer. Magie grabbed the Luggage and called John for help. Together they transported all Luggage in uncle Paul's old Car. It creaked notably and Ashley and Magie exchanged a worried look. "It's fine, this oldy carried more than this little Luggage." Paul claimed, "yes, to a time where this was not over 40 years old." Responded Magie while lifting the the bags in the car.

Shortly after Ashley stood outside, it was dark and cold, despiteher thick jacket. Her parents stood on the porch, behind them the warm glow of the house. Magie had wrapped her arms around her shoulder but refused to take Johns Jacket. Ashley let out a sigh and hugged her parents goodbye. "Good bye mom, goodbye dad, Please don't be mad at each other when we see each other again " Magie laughed "We're not mad at each other, we just have a small difference in opinion firefly." John smiled and messed with Ashleys hair " We can't hide any nuisance from you can we " Ashley shook her head "Good Girl, Hogwarts will be glad to have you"

Ashley nodded "bye Mom, bye Dad, Love you" Magie smiled and kissed Ashley on the forehead "love too firefly, I promise when you get back dad and I will be good again" John made a playfull grimace before giving Ashley a forehead kiss himself "have fun with uncle paul, princess, Love you" Ashley smiled at them "love you two more" Magie laughed, she didn't want to let go of Ashley "of course Sweetie, stay safe and keep an eye on Uncle Paul"

"I heard that" called Uncle Paul from the car "get in Ashley, I want to drive off before dawn" he joked and Ashley rolled her eyes. She separated from her parents and with a last wave she got in the old car on the passenger seat, put her backpack with the Letter and a few necessities she needed on her hand, on her lap and looked in the front mirror to check on her parents one last time before the Car would back out of the driveway and drive around the corner.

To her satisfaction her mother finaly took the jacket John offered her and leaned on his shoulder smiling as they saw Ashley drive off in the middle of the night.
Ashley just wanted to turn her head back to the street infront of the car again when she noticed a movement on the opposite site of the street. In a smal Alley between houses, that were usualy filled with trashcans or Sandboxes. There was something moving.

A Dark Shadow, barely visible against the dark. Ashley thought her mind was playing tricks on her until that Shadow turned around. Looking directly in her direction. Ashley's blood froze, and she quickly turned her head to the road ahead. Trying to chase the Dark shadow with the white, grotesque grimace-like face, out of her mind. 'Just imagination, just imagination, she was tired. That was the problem, she was so tired she started to Haniculate' "is something wrong?" Asked Paul and turned on the old radio, but he turned the volume down so he could hear what Ashley had to say. Ashley shook her head. "Im just tired. That's all." Paul nodded "yes it's quite Late for a 11 year old to still be awake. Why don't you take a little rest while we're driving?"

Ashley nodded and let out a yawn, a nap sounded great, she grabbed the old neckpillow from the backseats and leaned against the car window frame. The moment she closed her eyes she was gone. Sleeping peacefully while the white faced shadow engraved itself deep in her mind.

Chapter 6: To Ashes and Dust

Summary:

Apparently the shadow wasn't a hallucination.

Chapter 6: To Ashes and Dust

 

 

Ashley only woke up again when Uncle Paul led her out of the car into the house.

Still half asleep she changed into her father's old Pj's wich were stored for her in the little attic bedroom that was once her father's. Over the time with uncle Paul she had painted the dark blue ceiling between the rafters with glowing stars, wich now faintly glowed above her when she curled up in the big bed wich Paul already made before he picked her up at her parents house.

She was already asleep again when Uncle Paul slightly opened the trapdoor to check on her.

-----‐---------------------------------------------------------------

Next morning. Or mid day, Ashley had slept long and dreamlessly. When she woke up the sun was already up and Paul had pulled back the curtains in her room. She got up and climbed down the ladder and taped down the stairs.

Uncle Paul sat by the small coffee table near the window with a perfect view in the garden wich Paul tried his best to maintain since Katharine died of old age.

A plate of scones and a tea cattle with black tea waited for Ashley as breakfast. Scones were her favorite breakfast, she didnt have them often, only when she was at uncle pauls, because only he was able to make them with that perfection.

"Good morning little Witch" Uncle Paul greeted her with a wide smile and pushed a plate of scones to Ashley's seat. "Is there something you'd like to do today?" Asked Paul when Ashley sat down. "Since you are going to be a real witch now, I think you deserve a little celebration" Ashley raised her eyebrows while she sunk her teeth in the scones. "You think so?" She thought for a second.

"On the equipment list it said, I could bring a pet to Hogwarts. Can I have a pet Rat?" Uncle Paul shrugged "I don't know Ashley, you gotta ask your parents for that. I call them after breakfast alrigh'?" Ashley nodded and filled her cup with black tea and mixed it with milk and a lot of sugar. She didn't like it when the tea was so bitter. Uncle Paul folded open the Newspaper and carefully read the articles.

"Those new editors are crap, the sentences have so many grammatical errors and the sentence structure is horrible. How did they let this through the end print?" His complaints were nothing new to Ashley, since he officially retired from the newspaper he claimed that the articles were much worse since he and a few of his colleagues left.

Ashley didn't notice any difference but never mentioned it. She only offered a weak sympathetic smile and a nod while sipping her tea.

 

Suddenly the old telephone in the hallway rang. Ashley raised her eyebrows, who would call at this hour? Paul got up from his seat. "Oh maybe that's John and Magie, I didnt expect them to call so soon." he smiled and picked up the phone.

"Hello?" Ashley tried to overhear what was said on the other side of the line but the phone was too far away and she didn't want to bother to get up. "Yes this is Paul Lighthouse, what's the matter?" Paul's tone was worried, confusion and curiosity flare within Ashley, these definitely weren't her parents, those were probably strangers. She got up and followed Paul in the hallway.

"Yes Ashley is here, Magie and John wanted to leave soon too." Ashley frowned and leaned against the door frame between the living room and the hallway looking at Paul as his face grew pale. His breath stopped and he put his hand over his mouth. Ashley held her breath, the confusion turned into the feeling of dread.

"Ok, we come over as fast as possible..." Paul slowly hung up the phone, his hands trembling his breath caught. For a few seconds he just stared at the phone not noticing Ashley or even the room around him. "What's wrong? What happened?" Ashley's voice was filled with concern.

Uncle Paul closed his eyed and took a deep breath.

"The Police just called.

John and Magie are...

the house it's burned down, nothing is left. Only Ashes and Dust...."

Ashley's heart felt like I stopped, it ached in her chest like it was pulled in thousand directions. "What?" Was the only thing that left her mouth while she clutched her chest, the material of her pjs in her fist, as if it would ease the pain.

"Put on your jacket and outside shoes. I have to see it myself, there is just no way..." Paul wisperd and grabbed his jacket. Ashley followed him, pulling her jacket over her Pj's, maybe this was just a bad dream?

 

Shortly after Paul drove along the streets, carefull not to speed. But Ashley knew how much he wanted to press the pedal in the ground to be at Ashley's home as fast as possible.

When they pulled into the street Ashley already saw Firetruck, Police and Ambulance up to the street. Parts of the street were already cordoned off with that yellow tape that Ashley had only seen in crime documentaries.

Police asked out Neighbors and the Firefighters ran between the trucks.

One Police officer came up to the car. "Sir, this road is closed.." they began but Uncle Paul interupted "I'm Paul Lighthouse, John Woods foster father and I have Ashley Wood, yhe daughter with me. We were called to come as fast as possible."

The Police nodded and let them drive down the road. Ashley didn't want to look, but she couldn't her throat filed with needles as she saw the burned ruins of the place she called her home.

Like a charred, empty ripcage, the remains of the building stretched toward the morning sky. Paul opened the door so Ashley could leave the car. It was cold and the stench of burned Ashes, Smoke and wet wood filled the air and she nearly threw up.

A Firefighter came up to them and greeted Paul and Ashley. "Hello are you two the relatives? You have no idea where the residents of the house are?" They asked, gestures accompany their Words.

Paul nodded. "I assume you didnt find any trace of my son and daughter-in-law?" The Firefighter shook his head.

Another Firefighter who just left the house remains called the Firefighter over. Ashley and Paul followed.The Firefighter turned something glistening in their hands a Police officer stood beside them, their look worried.

"Is this what I think it is? Please tell me I just picked up a nail or a screw or something" the Firefighters voice was heavy while they showed what they found.

Ashley felt like something in her chest was breaking into pieces, or maybe it just cracked, like something cracking under too much pressure, like it was being bent in directions it shouldn't be. The cold no longer bothered her.

What the firefighter held in his hands was a Ring.

A Ring Ashley knew to well. She had often admired it, the fine carved lines out of Gold that braided around a smal round Obsidian hugged by Silver.

The Ring was heavily danaged.

The ring itself was deformed, the obsidian was shattered and the different metals were melted into each other so that one could only guess at the original shape, but there was no mistake in what it was, who it belonged to.

"That's my fathers wedding ring." Ashley said and her voice felt so far away.

Chapter 7: Dry Eyes

Summary:

Ashley has difficulty processing the past events.

This also has a lot of time jumps.

Notes:

Backstory got longer than expected, Diagonally has to wait until (hopefully) chapter 9. ^^'

Chapter 7: Dry Eyes.

 

Silence filled the car on the way back to Uncle Paul's House. Ashley's fingers traced the outlines of her father's ring. Her dry eyes stared in the void, focusing on nothing.
Paul's breath was heavy, and his hands gripped the steering wheel as if it were a lifebuoy in the endless ocean.

When he parked in the Nettle Lane, he waited 5 minutes until he finally got out of the car, as if time would stop as long as the cardoors were closed. Ashley left the car first. She needed fresh air.

She walked up to the porch and sat down, waiting for Uncle Paul to leave the car. When he left the car, his eyes were glassy. Ashley avoided his gaze and bit her lip as he unlocked the door.

Paul sat down on the coffee table, the scones were cold, the tea bitter. He looked at Ashley, hoping she would sit down too, but Ashley just turned around and went upstairs.
She heard Uncle Paul's trembling sigh as she climbed up the ladder to her room.

She closed the trapdoor and for at least half an hour she just stood in the room. Her mind was unable to process what happened, so she just pushed it away.
Her parents were gone, right? Should she cry about it?

Probably.

Ashley waited, but no tears would fill her eyes, so she just stared. At the walls, her bed, the ceiling.

With a flop, she let herself fall on the floor, all limps stretched out far away from her body. Her mind was empty and quiet, and her eyes stayed dry.

Ashley felt something hard and uncomfortable in the pockets of her PJ's. She reached out to it and brought the object before her eyes.

The Ring. Her father's wedding ring.

When did she put it in her pockets? And why?
Ashley turned the ring into her hands. Maybe it held a sentimental value to her?

She got up from the floor and opened the old wardrobe on the other side of the room. On the bottom of the wardrobe stood a few old and dusty boxes with old shoes.
Ashley took out a brown cardboard box that was held together at the corners with duct tape.
She wiped off some dust , sneezed, and opened the box.

Inside, she found a pair of Uncle pauls worn-out hiking boots. The sole was already broken from the left one, and the right sole was barely holding on after two generations that walked in these shoes.
The rubber enforcements repaired with a lot of Ducttape and other glue mixtures that didn't seem to mix well were brittle. And the leather also had seen better times. She wasn't interested in the shoes themselves.

Carefully she fiddled out one of the leather cord shoelaces which were in much better condition since they had been repaired so Ashley could have worn them to if she reached the right shoe-size, but that would never happen since the soles broke a few weeks after, on a hiking-trip, were her father wore them.

With the shoelace in her hand, she sat down on the floor again. Ashley folded the cord in half and tested the length around her neck.
Then she started knotting, 2 knots for adjustment and one around the ring so it stayed in place.
She still remembered the knots. She had done many necklaces with all kinds of strings and cords last summer, but she forgot where she put them all.

When she finished the last knot, she put it around her neck and adjusted the length to a comfortable length.

Mindlessly, she turned the ring in her fingers. Still, her eyes stayed dry, but at least she now had the ring on her.
Ashley took a deep breath and opened the trapdoor again to go downstairs.

She found her uncle still sitting by the coffee table, his face buried in his hands.
An unopened bottle of his best wine and a small shot glass next to him. His breath was heavy and caught.

Ashley sighs and hugs him, her face buried in his shoulder. Ashley didn't need a hug, but Uncle Paul certainly did. He turned to her and wrapped his arms around her, too.
"Im sorry," he wisperd, and Ashley shruged. What else was she supposed to do?

Ashley let go of him and grabbed the unopened bottle and the shot glass to put it away again. "Ashley, a child you age shouldn't do this, I can put it away" Paul got up and took the bottle and the glass to put both away,
his face had a lot of red spots and his eyes were swollen  from crying.

Ashley stood still, what else was she supposed to do. She had to do something, something to distract her.

"When are we getting the school-equipment" she asked instead, probably more impolite than wanted because Uncle Paul looked at her with confusion. Then his face softened.

"Ashley, you don't have to be strong, you know that. It's normal to...*" Ashley interrupted him a little harshly "Im fine Uncle Paul. Really, Ok?" Uncle Paul nodded, but Ashley knew that he didn't believe her.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

 

A few days later. Ashley had gotten comfortable with the thought of now living at Uncle Paul's house.

And everything would have been fine if Uncle Paul wouldn't be so concerned all the time. Yes, losing your parents is tragic, but it happened. What was Ashley supposed to do about it?
Breakdown on the floor, wailing like a small child?

(Although that reaction would have been appropriate for an 11 year old child.)

 

-----‐----‐---------------------------------------------------------------

Another morning, once again, Ashley felt like there were stones tied to her limps pulling her down, back in the pillows.

For, it felt like hours she lied in her bed staring at the tilted ceiling until she finally was able to swing her legs out of the bed with the rest of her body following.

Still tired and in Pj's, she tapped down the stairs for breakfast. "Ashley, what are you wearing? It's already 10, and you're still running around in Pj's."
Was the first thing she heard as she just stuffed her mouth with a slice of bread . She wasn't really hungry. Paul stood in the living room once again, adjusting his Tie.

His back was even more bent than before , he looked old and fragile. Ashley wasn't sure if she recognized him again.
"Today is the Funeral, I told you yesterday,"

He said, his face now softer as he brushed a strand of hair out
of Ashley's face. However, the hair strand immediately fell back.

"I dont want to go." Ashley's tone felt cold in her throat, and Uncle Paul blinked. A few days ago, Ashley would have flinched at that tone, too ,  but now.. She didn't really care.

"Ashley.." began uncle Paul concerned. "They are your parents, don't you want to say goodbye to them?" Ashley turned away."Why is there a funeral anyways? It's not like we have anything to bury."

Silence filled the room until Uncle Paul spoke again. This time, his eyes were filled with tears and sorrow.
"John and Magie meant a lot to me....If you don't want to go to the funeral for your parents, please come and join me while I say goodbye to my son and my daughter in law."

Ashley shruged with her shoulders, grabbed another slice of bread, and went upstairs to get ready.
She wasn't sure if she was surprised or afraid of her new attitude . Again, who cares.

She opened the wardrobe ,wich was now filled with her clothes, and pulled out a long skirt, some dark jeans, a black wool west and a white, a little wrinkled,  shirt together with a dark gray cardigan she stole from her mother once.

After changing, she braided her hair into a loose braid and formed it into a simple bun. She also changed her flower earstuds  for the black ones she only wore 3 times so far and made sure the necklace with her fathers ring sat in place. When she finished she looked in the mirror.

A girl with dark, nearly black eyes stared back . Dark circles under the eyes made her look tired. Ashley just turned away and left.
Downstairs, uncle Paul already waited for her. No words were spoken only silence, the same silence that filled the car on the way to the old graveyard at the towns outskirts .

Chapter 8: Stranger

Summary:

The funeral of Ashley's parents.

Notes:

Time for many side characters with unnecessary amount of lore.

The Graveward is now one of my favorite side characters. ^^

Chapter 8: Stranger

 

The temperatures had risen in the last few days so Ashley took off her cardigan after just a few minutes outside.

The Sun warming her back, she walked past the graves of long dead citizens. Carl and Helen Jankins, Family Isburg, Oliver King, Elizabeth Sunday.

Ashley often spend time at the graveyard, sometimes she met the Graveward, he had no real name but always some old candy for her in exchange for a little help and company.

Ashley loved the way the trees lined the broken overgrown stonewalls, she liked the way the graves never seemed to abandon, everything that was overgrown seemed to be intentional.
Ivy and other climbing plants decorated the gravestones and crosses and framed the names, which were always clearly legible even on decades-old graves.

The graveyard always had a sense of peace, even today. Ashley's hands tightened around the small, a little cheap bouquet of flowers in her hands.
The light blue paper in which the various flowers were wrapped looked strangely similar to the wallpaper in Uncle Paul's bedroom.

Sky blue with white plant ornaments. The flowers were mostly white or blue and some of them were already hanging their heads.

"Greetings Lady Wood and Sir Lighthouse. As always, it's a pleasure to see you, even if this time the occasion is quite sorrowful"

Ashley smiled, the graveward was peeking out from behind one of the graves, leaning on his crutch carved from his hip bone from when it needed to be replaced.

His eyes were almost blind and his white hair was sparse. But he still had that young, childlike glimmer in his eyes.
As if his soul stopped aging while his body aged twice as fast.

"Hello.” Uncle Paul replied clearing his throat.
“Thank you for arranging the funeral so quickly.”

Uncle Paul nodded towards the Graveward who smiled back with his toothless smile,
"No hassle, you know, I always have a grave free for confidants of Lady Wood."

Uncle Paul forced a smile, and loosened his Tie a little. The Graveward just waved Ashley and him to follow.

But Ashley already knew the way.
The little special spot she picked when she was maybe 5 or 6.
A small spot at the edge of the cemetery, bathed with sunlight that broke through leafs of the old oak trees that framed a smal patch of grass.

Ashley herself had leveled the spot and removed the weeds under the instructions of the Graveward.
Now a dubble grave filled that spot, it was smal but big enough for maybe 2 urns. Beside the gravehole stood a few plant seedlings, her favorite ones, waiting to be planted in after the graves were filled.

The tombstone was made of gray granite, interspersed with polished white marble. Magie and John Wood was written on it in cursive letters beside the names their birth dates and the death dates. "

Do you like it?"
The Graveward stood beside Ashley and looked proud at the grave. Ashley nodded.

Little by little the other guests arrived.
Charles and Michael, 4 of Paul's old work friends, 2 colleagues from John, 3 of Magie's laboratory colleagues, Miss Whiskers from down the street and Mr. Sunday, which will be officiating the funeral. All brought either flowers, flower rings or candles to decorate the grave.

Charles wished to hug Ashley un hope of giving her support, but she denied with a smile. Michael patted on her shoulders talking about 'how live will continue', and ' hold them in good memories'.
Miss Wiskers just hugged Ashley saying that she could always come to visit and talk I'd she wanted. Ashley just nodded while trying to get out of the tight hug.

Her mom's colleagues told stories about how Magie was at work and her dad's colleagues talked about what a great husband and friend John was. Uncle Paul's colleagues brought gifts for Ashley, fresh backed cookies, a pair of soft socks and a smal box with old jewelry. Mr. Sunday left to get the urns together with the graveward.

The urns were made from black material with a silver ring around the lid. The Graveward picked out the ones with the poorly painted flowers and landscapes.
Other children painted easter eggs, Ashley had painted Urns.
No wonder her classmates avoided her.

The urns were probably filled with random ashes from the remains of the house. Ashley doubted that at least 60% of these ashes were actually human remains. Maybe 10%?

Mr. Sunday held the fair.
Ashley only heard a quarter of what he said. She just stared in the void, she just wanted to turn to uncle Paul to ask how long this is going to take when she noticed a figure standing a little distant.

First she thought it was the graveward, but the figure was much taller than the old man. He wore a long, kind of cloak, and a hood that hid his face. When he noticed Ashley he looked up.

Ashley stared into a horribly disfigured face. Cigarette smoke surrounded the man and his eyes seemed to look right through her. First Ashley thought of being afraid but he didn't seem threatening.

He looked sad.
Ashley thought of talking to him.
‐------------------------------------------------------------------

Ashley didn't stay to help the Graveward plant in the flowers.

Uncle Paul promised her that today they would get the school supplies and she couldn't wait to enter the wizardingworld.

Paul just looked at her with a mixture of pity and guilt. She didn't understand his problem.
Why wasn't he excited to finally see the magical world he had always believed in?

Ashley sighed and leaned against the window frame of the car, watching the houses go by.

Chapter 9: Diagonally

Summary:

Finally Diagonally

Notes:

Charakter lore: cuz idk if I have the chance to point that out within the story again, sooo I do that now:

John (Ashley's father) is lefthanded, Magie (Ashley's mother) is ambidextrous, she got that from her grandfather (her mother's side) who inherited it to Ashley.

Chapter 9: Diagonally

 

The silence in the car felt suffocating. Ashley held the equipment list between her fingers. skimming it over and over again. She knew it by heart at this point.

A school uniform, Books, wand, cauldron and other alchemy equipment. Paul was fixated on the road, she couldn't tell what was on his mind. Was he exited to enter the Wizarding world? Or was he still mourning over the loss of John and Magie.
What would the Wizarding world be like.

Ashley put the equipment letter back in the envelope and pulled out the coin stamp card and the letter 'for the muggle parents'.

The wording of the letter was formal, but Ashley sensed between the lines a certain antipathy towards 'Muggles'. There was no way the few coins in the stamp card were enough for all school equipment. Nor were the instructions on how to get to this 'Diagonally' specific, it sounded more like a formal 'fuck around and find out'.

The 'Muggle card' looked like poor replica of a credit or business card, but the golden The letters, which seem to disappear and reappear at random, were written in the most beautiful handwriting that Ashley had only seen from her mother's hands.

As if the person who made the cards wanted to show off or something.

 

London. The traffic was jammy as always. Everything was loud and the air felt heavy with exhaust fumes compared to Ashley's almost quiet home.

"What was the address again?" Uncle Paul's voice was loud as he raised it to hear himself over the heavy traffic noise that Ashley was fortunate enough to be able to block out.

"Charing Cross Road" Ashley read from the Letter. "What number" "there is none" Paul let out a sigh and managed through the traffic to find a parking spot near the street.

Ashley looked out of the window looking for the 'Leaky Cauldron' a pub that should be near the entrance to Diagonally.
Neither Ashley nor Paul had ever heard of it.

 

Uncle Paul and Ashley walked down the Street. When a tiny, a little grubby-looking pup caught Ashley's eye.

The pub had a sign hanging slightly above the door with a overflowing Cauldron on it. "There it is over there."
Ashley pulled Uncle Paul's jacket pointing towards the pub.

Paul's face was filled with confusion, as if he didn't see the pup, although the small building stood out quite a bit among the other shops and houses.

Only when  when Ashley tugged him towards it, his face changed from confusion to awe.

 

He took a deep breath before stepping in.
Ashley waited. She knew that Uncle Paul had prepared all his life to one day see the magical world, and now he was able to enter it.

She also expected to feel that excitement for herself but there was nothing, just the happiness that her uncle was happy. Sad, but there was nothing to do about it.

 

The inside of the pub was just as dark and shabby as it appeared from the outside.

Ashley felt how Paul put a hand on her shoulder to keep her close, just in case.
A few people sat on the bar, drinking Alkohol, others sat in the corner, talking or smoking.

Ashley could see the smoke collecting under the ceiling like clouds with an unnatural amount of swirls and shapes, where Ashley was 100% sure Smoke couldn't take on such shapes.

Ashley was still inspecting the environment when Uncle Paul already spoke to one of the guests. "Hello miss, my granddaughter and I are new in the area. Where do we get to Diagonally."

Surprised by the approach the elderly woman with a large pointed hat and a fancy glass of alcohol in her hand turned around "of course, just go... wait, I let you two in."
The woman turned to another woman, probably telling her to watch her seat and drink for a moment before she waved Uncle Paul and Ashley to follow.

"Hogwarts right? A wonderful school, especially this year the famous Harry Potter is being enrolled.
What an honor to go to school with such a celebrity." Paul nodded, "an honor indeed."

The Woman led Ashley and Paul into a small, walled courtyard. Ashley only saw a dustbin and some weeds. Nothing magical.

"Look that you become friends with him my dear, it will probably open many opportunities in the future" Ashley blinked to find the woman was talking to her and about that Potter boy. She didn't know how to respond so she just smiled.

When suddenly the brick wall behind the dustbin opened. Ashley tried her best not to look impressed but it was hard to hide. In the solid wall a archway had opened.

From the archway, a long, cobbled street winds its way through shops and stores painted in warm sunlight. And everything is packed with people.
Many, Many people.

Ashley blinked trying to process what opened before her eyes. "Have fun you two." The woman smiled at Paul and Ashley, and Paul smiled back.
"Thank you for the help miss." The woman waved and the Archway closed behind Uncle Paul and Ashley seconds after they stepped through.

 

Ashley's gaze wandered over the street, various Shops lining both sides.
Potage's Cauldron Shop, next to Miss Quivers Apothecary, Polish and Neat, what seemed like a smal shop for cleaning articles (apparently they had special one's for wizzards and witches) and other shops Ashley didn't bother to look at close.

"Ashley may I have the equipment list?" Ashley gave uncle Paul the list and he skimmed it.

"Alright I guess the wand will be the most important and probably one of the more expensive things. We should get that first." He gestured Ashley to follow and they slowly walked down the Street.

"Look around and check if you find the other shops, maybe a Bank would be good too, I doupt that the coin card has enough money for everything"
Ashley nodded slightly, she was already doing that.

She found an Owl shop wich she watched longer to see if she could spot any Owls. A Quitidch shop. Ashley assumed it to be some kind of sport since she saw people of all ages having quite the interest in what the shop had to offer.
Especially that a little weird looking broom. Which was definitely not used to sweep the floor.

When they passed a big snowy-white building that towered over the other rather smal shops like a castle. Paul was first with assuming it was a bank.
Ashley was more confused by the figure that stood beside the broze doors.
It was definitely not human. Although Humanoid. "What is that?" She asked Paul and he shrugged.

 

After a while of walking Paul and Ashley had reached the last shops, one of them was the one they were looking for.

'Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 BC'. "Guess here is were we get your wand Ashley" with those words Uncle Paul Pushed open the door.

A small tingling bell announced their arrival. Ashley looked around, but there was nothing much to see. Atleast nothing much different.

The whole shop was lined with shelves that reached from the floor boards to the ceiling, like in an old library. But the Shelves weren't filled with books. But with narrow boxes.

Ashley felt like her whole body was prickly. The fine hairs in the back of her neck, on her arms and shoulders stood tingled, giving her goosebumps. "It feels weird in here" Ashley wisperd to Paul and he nodded. "Like a tingle in the back of you neck, barely noticeable?"
Ashley tried to both shake her head and nod. "Yes but it's on my whole body and I don't know if I feel cold or warm." Paul nodded, "probably magic."

"Good afternnoon, am I interrupting the conversation?" Ashley backed away from the sudden interruption.
An Old man stood before them, his wide, pale eyes shining like moons despite the gloomy lighting in the shop.

"Good Afternoon, you must be Mister Ollivander." Paul's smile didn't reach the old man but he nodded.
"Im assuming you are here to buy a wand?" Mr. Ollivanders voice was soft and monoton, Ashley couldn't get the thought away of having this man read an audio book with goodnight stories. she would fall asleep within 10 minutes.

Paul already continued the conversation "yes we are looking for a wand for my granddaughter."
Mr. Ollivander just nodded and turned to Ashley.
"You remind me of someone, you have the face he once had when he was younger" Ashley raised her eyebrows. "My father maybe? He was a wizzard." Mr Ollivander just shruged. "Maybe, maybe not, very strange, very strange."

Mr. Ollivander pulled out a long tape measure out of his pocket. "Wich is your Wand arm?" Ashley shruged. "Dont have one" "Ah" made Mr. Ollivander and started measuring Ashley's Right arm.
Or atleast the tape did. He himself was flitting around the shelves pulling out boxes with wands while talking about different cores and woods.

Ashley only listened with one ear, she just stood in the room while the tape measured between her nostrils, for whatever reason. She glanced to Paul who found a chair to sit on. He just gave Ashley a thumbs up.

The next minute Ashley had to 'try out wands' wich meant taking them in her hand and sometimes wave it around before Mr. Ollivander snatched them away again. Woods like Magahony, Oak, Willow, pared with Unicorn hair dragonheart thing and various sizes.

Nothing happend except that Ashley thought she looked stupid until she held another seemingly random wand in her hands.

Firwood with Unicorn hair, 12 inches.

Ashley could remember it so well because she knew what happened after she held that wand in her hand.
The material felt warm under her fingers, nearly alive.
And when she waved it around, White sparks emanated from the tip of the wand. Dancing in the room like silver fireflies.

Ashley's mouth hung open while she drew glowing lines in the air. Mr. Ollivander smiled proud and gave Ashley a pat on the shoulder, for whatever reason. Uncle Paul was nearly overflowing with pride as he watched the magic sparks. He maybe even had tears in his eyes.

 

A few hours after Ashley and Paul stopped at a fountain to uncle Paul could take a quick rest.

Ashley's suspicion that the coins from the stamp cards wouldn't be enough to afford all school equipment was proven correct.
They had to exchange muggle money for Wizzard Money at the 'Gringotts bank'.

Ashley couldn't forget the nasty look one of the gnome thing gave Uncle Paul when he exchanged the money.
Now they had everything from the list.

But most of it was second hand, the uniform was to big since they had to get second year uniform because the first year uniform was to short and most of the books already had dog-ears, and small notes on the pages.

Uncle Paul had apologized at least four times because he couldn't afford the new equipment. He really felt guilty, he stood next to Ashley and counted the coins they had left.

"I will be right back alright?" Ashley just nodded when Uncle Paul left. She wanted some alone time anyways. Ashley leaned back on the fountain closing her eyes while the sun warmed her face.

The new wand stuck in her hair holding together the simple bun she made this morning. She had no chance or reason to change her clothes between the funeral and Diagonally so she got pretty warm in her dark clothes.
Ashley let out a sigh and felt again this aching pain in her chest. She pushed it aside, opening her eyes again.

Ashley saw Paul coming towards her with a box. "You said you wanted one" he said while handing her the box. Something alive was inside.
Carefully Ashley opened the box. Inside, a round brown rat looked up at the sudden attention and sniffed on Ashley's nose and fingers.

Ashley let out a delighted sound this was the cutest thing ever!!!

 

Back in the car Ashley held the Rat in her hands, she was thinking of names for the Rat. The Rat held a walnut in it's little hands chewing it down.
"You have to pay alot of attention to him, Rats really social animals."

Ashley nodded and let the Rat crawl up her long sleeves, where it curled up on her shoulder hidden under the fabric of her clothes. Ashley felt it's soft furr against her Neck.

"I think I name him Cheddar" Ashley said with a smile. Uncle Paul chuckles, "that Name is a little out of context but it's a nice name"

Ashley smiled and Paul turned the Radio a little louder so both could hear their current favorite song.

Chapter 10: Platform 9¾

Summary:

Ashley gets on the Hogwarts Express and ends up in a compartment full of spoiled and well dressed students. Not the best place to start the journey.

Notes:

Again a split chapter.

Chapter 10: Platform 9¾

 

Ashley sat on the floor, leaning against her bedpost, an open leather book on her lap.
She stretched. Beside her on the floor an old Latinbook from Uncle Paul.

Cheddar sat again on her shoulder, complaining loudly when his space was restricted by Ashley's sudden movement.
Ashley quickly put her arms down. She was reading her new school books since Paul and her returned from Diagonally.

Ashley inhaled every page of knowledge, wishing she had paid more attention to Mr. Ollivander when he talked about wands.

"In a few days this time we will be at Hogwarts, Cheddar" Ashley murmured and stared at the stars on the sloping ceiling. Cheddar squeaked and Ashley fed him an Apple piece from the snack plate Uncle Paul brought Ashley despite her telling him that she wasn't hungry.

Cheddar squeaked a little while eating, while Ashley continued with her study of 'The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1)' it was as interesting as 'A History of Magic', on a low scale of course.

Ashley didn't dare to try out the spells yet. Every time she spoke a spell, tiny white sparks sprang from her wand, which lay beside her. as if it was waiting for the spell to be released. She hoped secretly, that the spells wouldn't overload in the wand.

'One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi' and 'Magical Dragts and Potions' were the two books that interested her the most.
She saved them for last.

The last days passed with Ashley only rarely leaving her room, it was either to eat, use the bathroom or to get a book.
Even during meals she talked about what she read in the books. Uncle Paul listened to her with so much interest, he sometimes forgot to actually eat. When Ashley began about the magic herbs Uncle Paul just smiled. "You sound alot like your mother when I asked her about her studies."

Ashley pressed her lips together and put down her fork. Yes, her mother would have loved these books if she would have had more time to study it herself. "I need to go back to my room" she mumbled leaving her half eaten sausage salad  behind. She was no longer hungry.
Paul let her go.

‐--------------------------------------------------------------------

Ashley closed the trapdoor from her room and took Cheddar out of his cage to clean it one final time until the departure tomorrow.
Cheddar crawled from Ashley's hand on her shoulder and sniffed her earrings, green leaf studs.

After cleaning Ashley packed her stuff for the 3rd time this week.
This time it was final. Katherine's old big suitcase with the thousand travel stickers was used again.
The Cage for Cheddar together with a backpack with rodent accessories and things that Ashley needed to hand were packed separately. Later Uncle Paul came up to check everything making sure Ashley forgot nothing.

"Toothbrush?" "Yes."
"Your Earring box?" "Yes."
"Gnawing sticks for Cheddar?" "Yes."
"The Gloves?" "That too."

"Ok lastly, where is your Ticket?"
"In the envelope in the Backpack,rear back compartment."

Uncle Paul smiled. "Wonderfull now remember..." Ashley sighs and repeated with Paul "Keep both Eyes open and learn everything you can" "Fantastic Firefly now nothing can stop you from learning magic." Ashley nodded feeling a smal tingle of excitement in her chest.

 

‐--------------------------------------------------------------------

 

"I would like to retract the statement I made last evening" Said Uncle Paul while the traffic to London was moving slower Traffic into London moved slower than a tortoise trying to climb an escalator which turned in the opposite direction.
Ashley watched every clock she found, counted the minutes, and fumbled the zipper of her backpack between her fingers.

What if she missed the train?
Was there a way to get another one?
Was the one train her only chance?

"How do we get to the train anyways? The ticket says 'eleven o' clock at Platform Nine and three-quaters, King's cross'. I have never seen a trainstation with a platform like this."
Paul smiles "oh don't worry, I know exactly were it is" Ashley looked perplexed at Paul, not sure if she should believe his words or not.

She pulled at the lose seams of the skirt from her school uniform, With the help of some safety pins and limited skills in clothing alteration, Paul had managed to adjust the still too large school uniform to fit Ashley.
She just hoped the dress code wasn't too strict so she was allowed to keep wearing the boy's uniform trousers under her skirt. It was much more comfortable than just stockings.

She didn't want to wear the robe yet, in case of cold weather she had her mother's cardigan.
"Uncle Paul, when will we get there? The train leaves at eleven," Ashley urged, glancing quickly at the back seat to see how Cheddar was doing. The brown Rat slept peacefully in the little wood house, Ashley could only see it's furr moving up and down with his breath.

"Calm down Firefly, it's not even ten. You get there on time" Ashley sighs again "but the traffic..!*" "Ashley! We get there on time!"
Ashley pressed her lips together wrapping her arms around the backpack on her lap.

 

‐--------------------------------------------------------------------

Paul was right, Ashley stood before the station at exactly 10 o'clock.
The backpack on her back, the suitcase before her on a luggage trunk with the Rat cage on top, Cheddar sat on Ashley's shoulder hidden under her cardigan, nuzzling its face against her Neck.
Uncle Paul strapped the cage to the suitcase on the luggage cart.

"Be careful with Cheddar, you don't want to lose him" Ashley nodded and followed Paul through the crowds of people to Platform Nine and Ten.
He stopped before the barrier between the two. "Now what?" Ashley leaned on the luggage cart looking up to Paul who smiled so wide Ashley was worried for his mental wellbeing.

"Well well Firefly. Why don't you just walk through the Barrier?" Ashley scoffed, at this point her uncle clearly lost his mind "what?" "Just follow me" with these words Uncle Paul walked towards the barrier, Ashley already expected him to run into it. She wasn't sure whether to look or not.
But he just,
Disappeared.

Ashley blinked. "Uncle Paul?" She asked timid  and slowly pushed the luggage cart towards the barrier. Looking if he was just behind it."Uncle Paul, come out, it's not funny." She repeated this time louder.

"Where are you? The train is already there." Ashley flinched when Uncle Paul came, out of the barrier!?

The Archway wall was one thing, but this? "Just trust me and act normal, maybe speed up a litte" Paul gave Ashley a thumbs up and disappeared again.
Ashley still confused pulled the luggage cart a few steps back. Then she pushed, faster and faster, and the barrier came frighteningly closer, she closed her eyes and her thoughts raced in her head. The wall was now before her.
But nothing happened.

Ashley felt like she was breaking through a thin water surface. And dared to open her eyes. Before her there was another platform.
Full with people in cloaks, adults, parents and children. All with trunks filled with luggage.
A scarlet steam engine already waited for the passengers, who bid their young parents goodbye.
"Close your mouth Ashley, it's a little weird"

Uncle Paul stood beside Ashley with his 'See, I told you' Face.
Ashley cleared her throat and pushed the luggage cart past Paul who let out a laughter.

Ashley got into the the empty 4th compartment. Paul helped her with her suitcase complaining a little that his bones 'weren't what they used to be'. Ashley just smiled and pulled her suitcase up. Cheddar squeaked because of the sudden movement "Sorry Cheddar" she mumbled and lifted the Suitcase in the compartment. Then she Returned to Paul to say goodbye by hugging him. Paul laughed and hugged her back, kissing her on her forehead.

"Goodbye Firefly, see ya for Christmas." Ashley nodded, "Bye Uncle Paul."
"And remember, have 2 eyes open and.. oh I nearly forgot."
Uncle Paul pulled out his purse and out of the purse a slightly smaller purse filled with coins which handed it to Ashley.

"So you aren't completely broke over there" Ashley took the purse and hugged Paul again for a thank you, before turning around and taking a seat in her compartment, waiting for the train to depart. Other students enter the train, slowly other children, Ashley's Age fill her compartment.

Ashley felt a little out of place with her second hand uniform, she just hoped it wasn't to obvious beside the brand new uniforms of the other students.

A slender girl with a hard face, dark brown hair and round brown or green eyes that reminded Ashley of chocolate chips (if they were green,) sat down beside her.
"Uhhhgg, getting all the bags on the train was sooo hard."
Ashley looked around, confused who this girl was talking too. The girls uniform was as neat and tidy as the others. Not a single lose seam or unnecessary fold.

"Im Pansy Parkinson by the way" Ashley blinked, so she was talking to her. She took a few seconds to look Pansy up and down, considering an appropriate reply. The Girls wide smile reaches from cheek to cheek. Her dark hair was cut short with bangs, hanging over her ears like curtains, she sat upright and carried herself both light and with pride.

"Hello,...I'm Ashley" Ashley responded slowly not sure how she was supposed to respond.
It had been years since she had to deal with the whole 'meet and greet' of new students.

"Nice to meet you Ashley, your robe looks weird why is that."
Ashley scoffed "It's not a cloak it's a cardigan. Don't tell me you never had one of those." The Parkinson girl shook her head and raised her chin. "I would never wear such slack of clothing."

Ashley blinked a few times at her bold words, who the fuck could be so rude and arrogant without any shame?
Definitely a spoiled brat.

Chapter 11: Pumkin Pasties and Sandwiches

Summary:

Attempted Food sharing, the Hogwarts express arrives at Hogwarts and the first glance at Hogwarts itself.

Notes:

I'm using a Fandom version vor Harry Potters design here. Check the end notes to see what's different.

I hope this isn't as poorly written as it seems, enjoy the rather short chapter anyway. ^^

Chapter 11: Pumkin Pasties and Sandwiches

 

The train was speeding past fields full of cows and sheep, London far behind. The other students already begin chatting with eachother, showing off their wands and pets.

Ashley acted like she was uninterested, but in reality she listened to every word that was spoken, filtering information.

The schools headmaster, Albus Dumbledore seemed to be a well-known wizard, Ashley couldn't help but imagine an old-fashioned wizard, with a long white beard and a purple cloak with white stars, along with the matching hat, and the face of her old schoolheadmaster waving a magic wand, yelling 'Bibidi Babidi Bu'. The school was also parted in 4 'houses', Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, Griffindor and Slytherin, sounded interesting until Ashley overheard what certain preconceptions the students had opposite the houses, especially towards Griffindor.

Ashley already felt the drama before it even came up, so much about that.

 

A clattering sound could be heard from outside in the corridor. "Anything off the trolley, kids?"

A smiling dimpled woman looked in the compartment after sliding back the doors.
Immediately many of the students in the compartment jumped up and hurried into the corridor.
Ashley thought of it too. But she didn't want to waste Paul's Money on sweets.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Want a Pasty?" Pansy, she reached one of the pumpkin pasties in Ashley's direction.
Ashley looked around noticing that the sweets were shared all over the compartment and was tempted to take it. But then she remembered how she insulted her mother's cardigan, why should she give Ashley something for free then?

Ashley turned away to the window, crossing her arms.
A childish reaction but she didn't know better. Pansy made an anoyed noise "Whatever."

The sweets did look good though, and Ashley was hungry, so she opened her backpack and took out a green lunchbox with old scraped flower stickers.
Uncle Paul had made her fresh sandwiches this morning, along with sliced apples, peeled tangerines (with as less white stuff as possible) , grapes and a litte box with nuts.

Cheddar squeaked, he checked pretty fast that when Ashley had food, he was getting some too.

"Is that a Rat?"

The Parkinson girl again. "I have one too" a student across from Ashley, and held up a white rat wich squeaked in protest.  Ashley ignored both and bit in her sandwich while Cheddar grabbed himself a grape looking at Pansy, and smiled a rat smile. Pansy looked at the rat with a mix of emotions Ashley couldn't read.

"Do you have something against Cheddar too?"
Ashley asked with raised eyebrows, her voice was clamer than she felt.

Pansy shook her head still staring at Cheddar. "Did the Rat just smiled at me?" Ashley shrugged.

"Yes, he does that sometimes."
"That's weird,"
Ashley rolled her eyes.
"Whatever."

Ashley continued to eat her lunch, now ignoring most of the conversations in the compartment.

She didn't feel comfortable here, but she didn't want to look for a new compartment either.

 

---------------------------------------------------------------------

A voice echoed through the train.

"We will be reaching Hogwarts in five minutes' time. Please leave your luggage on the train, it will be taken to the school separately."

Everything around Ashley started moving.
Students were stuffing the last sweets in their pockets, fixing their robes and hair.

Ashley had just pulled her a little wrinkled robe over the cardigan under the judgemental looks of some of the other students. Making sure the luggage wasn't confused with the others.

Ashley hastily put lunch box in the backpack. Should she take it with her?

She looked around. No one else had a bag with them. Ashley let Cheddar crawl on her shoulder. There was no way she would leave him alone here.

Slight panic rose in Ashley's throat. What was she supposed to do?

Everything was moving.

Loud and active.

She couldn't make decisions that way.

"What are you waiting for" snarled  an older student who was about to leave the compartment, pulling Ashley out of her spiral and she followed quickly in the corridor, leaving her backpack on top of the cage and suitcase behind.

 

The train slowly stopped, and immediately, people pushed their way towards the door and out on the tiny platform.

It was dark and cold, and Ashley was glad she wore the cardigan under her robe.
And after a look at the other female students who pulled their robes closer around them in hopes of freezing  a little less, Ashley was glad about the trousers under her skirt, too.

A lamp came bobbing over the heads of the students, and a giantic man with a shaggy mane and a tangled beard that could make every comp or brush would shiver in fear approached the platform.  He wore a long black overcoat with many pockets, with a loud, deep voice he called over the crowd.

"Firs'-years! Firs'-years over here."

Slowly, a crowd of students Ashley's Age gathered around the giant like sheep's around a shepherd.
He talked to a boy with dark, or maybe just tanned skin next to him, while ordering the first year students to follow him down a narrow path.

Ashley heard a student beside her whisper that the dark-skinned boy was the famous Harry Potter. Ashley didn't know what made him so famous, apparently his unique scar? That sounded a little ridiculous.

An "Ohhh" echoed through the front rows of the crowd. The path opened up, revealing a dark, black lake overshadowed by a cliff. Ashley's jaw dropped as she finally took in the full sight. The dark waves of the lake crashed against the rock, from which a vast, majestic, and magical castle rose into the dark night sky.

Ashley wondered how it remained hidden from 'Muggle eyes,' for it was anything but inconspicuous.
The many windows were sparkling, competing with the stars, dozen turrents and towers, that no sober architect could design, gave the castle a unique silhouette.

Was this really the school she would be attending from now on? Was this Hogwarts?

Notes:

Changes Harry Potter:

Darker skin, white streak in the hair above the scar, and he looks like someone who would cause alot of trouble.

I'm thinking about giving Hermione darker skin too, not sure though.

Chapter 12: Hogwarts

Summary:

Ashley enters Hogwarts and gets sorted.

Notes:

Fossils are cool.

Chapter 12: Hogwarts

 

"No more then four to a boat!"

The giants loud voice distracted the new students from the view on the hogwarts castle.
Ashley's gaze wandered to a fleet of small boats moored in the water near the shore.

She felt her stomach lurch, not wanting to set foot in those boats near the black water. In the dark nonetheless!

"You 'comming?" Pansy, she was already sitting in a boat next to another student with whom she was apparently having a good conversation. Ashley didn't move.

"Dont tell me you are afraid of a little boat trip" Ashley huffed, of course she wasn't, it's just a boat trip.
She pushed her gut feeling back to where it came from and climbed into the boat. A little too quickly, though, because the boat began to rock.
Ashley immediately put a hand on Cheddar who clung his claws in her uniform.

"Heyy carefull there." the student next to Pansy grabbed Ashley's other arm and pulled her on the wood seat behind her.
Ashley tried not to give away how much the shaking scared her.
Her fingers searched for her father's wedding ring. The cool metal felt calming in her hands, Cheddars wiskers tickled her neck, he seemed to notice Ashley's discomfort.

Next to Ashley, another new student sat down. Pansy and the student beside her were already talking again. Ashley just concentrated on the wooden planks underneath her.

"Everyone in?" Shouted the giant, there was no response saying otherwise. " 'Right then - FORWARD!"
Ashley immediately grabbed the railing of the boat when they started moving all at once, gliding across the lake, which appeared as smooth as black glass, now that the boats were far from the surface.

Ashley felt a little nauseous as she tried to remember whether it was a myth or not that the calmer the surface of the water, the deeper the water. Her brain came to no conclusion.

Just look at the castle and don't look down. She thought to herself.

"Heads down!" Yelled the giant and Ashley ducked quickly. Ivy leaves hitting her face shortly after. Ashley's quiet complaining was overtoned by Pansy complaint about how the ivy ruined her hair.
The boats carried along a dark tunnel, which seemed to lead right underneath the castle.

Before Ashley could check out the tunnel walls to find out what kind of rock was present the most, and if she would be able to find fossils here, the boats reached a kind of underground Harbour. Everyone slowly left the boats.
The student next to Pansy gladly helped her and and to Ashley's own surprise, Ashley steped out of the boat.
Rocks and pebbles crunch under her shoes.

The other students already crowded again.
Some guy got his toad back and Ashley checked on Cheddar, who put a tiny hand on her nose when she looked after him.

Everyone followed the giant up a passageway, that seemed to have been carved directly in the stone, up on to smooth, damp grass in the castles shadow. They walked up a fewer stones steps and crowded around the huge, Oak front door.

"Everyone here? You there," apparently to the boy with the toad. "Still got yer toad?" The Boy nodded and the giant knocked three times on the castle door.

 

The Door swung open at once. A tall black-haired witch in emerald-green robes waited there.
Her Stern face made Ashley guess that this woman was someone she should avoid.
The Giant Exchanged a few words with the Witch and Ashley was able to catch up their names. The giant was Hagrid and the Witch was Professor McGonagall. Probably one of the teachers.

The Door was opened further, so everyone could get in at the same time.
Ashley's eyes traveled over the gigantic Entrance Hall, Torches lit the stone walls and the ceiling was too high to make out.
Have they never heard of electricity?
Ashley asked herself while she followed with the crowd of other students the fast steps of Professor McGonagall.

Hagrid left minutes ago.
The Professor led the first-years into a a small chamber of the hall.
Ashley could hear muffled voices from behind one of the doors the crowed passed, the other students of the years over them.

Everyone on the room crowded closer together, mumbling and whispering.
Many were nervous, others were exited, again others seemed to already know what would happen.

"Welcome to Hogwarts" McGonagall's voice made all existing conversations die out to listen to her words.
"The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses.
The Sorting is a very important ceremony because,  while you are here, your house will be something like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory and spend free time in your house commonroom.
The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards."

Ashley only listened to the point system with half a ear and shortly after the lecture, the Professor just left.

Immediately the mumbling and whispering started again and Ashley felt a little lost, standing alone in a crowd full of people.
She tried to listen to all conversations at the same time. Making out more information.

Suddenly screams of terror. Ashley froze and looked around. About twenty slightly translucent, pearly white shimmering Silluettes glided through the back wall.
Ghosts!!
Wait Ghosts!?

Ashley couldn't help but stare as the Ghosts talked to eachother, or mere argued.
Not taking notice of the first-years in the room.
Until a Ghost wearing a ruff and tights noticed that the room was not empty.

"...-, what are you all doing here?"
Nobody answered.
A little fat monk smiled when he noticed the children.
"New students! About to be sorted, I suppose?" A few people nodded.
"Hope to see you in Hufflepuff! My old house, you know."

Professor McGonagall had returned, with a sharp voice she commanded the students to follow in a line.
Ashley was just behind Pansy.
Cheddar had crawled down Ashley's sleeve and Ashley had stuck her hands in her sleeves to pet him and make sure he didn't got lost like the boys toad.

Ashley followed the line through another pair of dubble doors into the Great Hall. Ashley felt like entering one of her fantasy books.

The Hall was lit by thousands and thousands of candles floating mid-air over 4 long tables where the remaining students sat, in between the faint glow of the ghosts.
Empty golden plates and goblets waited in front of the students, waiting to be filled with food.
At the end of the hall, a little higher up, there was a fifth table where the teachers sat.

Professor McGonagall led the first-years to the teacher table so the line stood facing the other students, with the teachers behind them.

Ashley wasnt sure were to look. The hundreds of faces staring at them made her uncomfortable. She quickly took her hands out of her sleeves and put Cheddar in the pockets of her cardigan underneath the uniform robes.

Professor McGonagall silently placed a stool in front of the first-years.
On top of the stool she put a pointed wizzard's hat.
Ashley was confused, the hat was all patched and frayed, also extremely dirty.
What was that supposed to mean.
Ashley noticed how everyone stared at the hat, maybe it would start to sing if they stared any longer?

The hat twitched. A rip near the brim opened wide like a mouth - and then the hat actually began to sing.
Ashley's mouth dropped while the hat sang about the houses and their traits.

She still tried to process what just happened when the whole Hall burst into applause. Ashley flinched at the sudden noise.
The hat bowed to each of the four tables and then stopped moving again.

The applause faded away and Professor McGonagall stepped forward holding a long roll of parchment.
"When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted."
Pansy made a grimmace, She didn't seem to like the idea of ​​putting the dirty hat on her hat either.
McGonagall shouted the first name.

"Abbot, Hannah!"

Ashley let out a sigh. With Wood Ashley, it would take a while until it was her turn.
The first student became a Hufflepuff.
So the second, the third became a Ravenclaw.

Their tables greeted them with cheers. Brown, Lavender became the first Griffindor and Bulstrode, Millicent became Slytherin.

Ashley spaced out while one first-year after the next was sorted.
The line emptied, and Ashley only took notice that the Parkinson girl became Slytherin.

"Potter, Harry" Ashley raised her head a little when the nervous-looking boy with tanned skin shuffled to the stool while the whole Hall was whispering and mumbling, saying his name over and over again as if he was some kind of child celebrity or something.

To Ashley the boy looked completely normal, maybe a little troublesome with his messy dark hair with the white streak falling in his face, his barely noticeable scar looked a little interesting.
Ashley couldn't really make it out since she only had seen his face for a brief moment.

The hat took his time to sort him, and the tension in the Hall was rising every second, Ashley held her breath.

"GRIFFINDOR!" Shouted the hat and Ashley felt the tension leaving, she took a deep breath while the Griffindor table greeted the Potter Boy with extra loud cheering.

Ashley was one of the last few. A Ron Weasley was the first with the letter 'W' he became a Griffindor.

Then finally "Wood, Ashley" Ashley walked up to the stool and put the hat on her head.
To her surprise the hat didn't smell as bad as it looked while it dropped over her eyes.

Ashley nervously fiddled the seams of her skirt while she waited.
"Ohh Hello, what do we have here" said the hat's voice in Ashley's ear.

"A great mind indeed but a great heart too for those who are able to earn it.
I see you had to adapt to a hard change very fast.
That's a talent only few have.
And...,oh wonderfull, determination, a line is just a challenge for you to cross.
The ambition to see how far you can go, no matter the cost.
And oh?... Yes, perfect.
You will be...

SLYTHERIN!"

Chapter 13: Slytherin

Summary:

Dinner and first view of the Slytherin common room.

Notes:

Hope you like my redesigned Slitherin chambers. The ones described in the books sounded pretty uncomfortable.

The first years Password: prasinus lapis is Latin for green stone or Emerald. Thought it would fit well.

Chapter 13: Slytherin

 

The Slytherin table cheered when Ashley took off the hat and walked towards the table. She felt a smile spread across her cheeks while she sat down between Pansy and another Slytherin first year.

When the last student was sorted and sat down a man with half-moon glasses and long flowing silver hair and beard, rose from his large gold chair.

Ashley guessed that this was Albus Dumbledore, the school-headmaster, especially since the other teachers hat regular wood chairs.
His long colorfull Robes made him actually look like one of the cartoon Wizards Ashley had seen in the past.

His open arms and beaming smile mad him look like there was nothing more important to him that the presence of the students.

"Welcome."
He said with his voice full of delight.
"Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin out banquet, I would like to say a few words."

Ashley got ready to immediately shut down. From experience she knew that 'a few words' basically ment a 2-hour lecture with not much content overall.

"And here they are:
Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!
Thank you."

Dumbledore sat back down and applause, and cheers filled the Great Hall.
Ashley blinked with surprise.
This?
Was certainly new. Ashley didn't know whether she should be happy about it or not.

 

"Hey Ash, pass over the chicken."

Ashley turned her head, Parkinson pointed at the plate of roast chicken that stood within Ashley's reach.
"Uhh, it's Ashley." corrected Ashley and handed Pansy the plate.
Parkinson didn't respond. She just grabbed the plate put the chicken legs on her plate before handing it back to the confused Ashley.

The food just appeared out of nowhere.
There was everything.
Roast beef, roast chicken (that was just taken away by the student next to Ashley and passed on the other side) pork chops, lamb chops, sausages, bacon, (wich already was half empty) boiled potatoes, roast potatoes, chips, Yorkshire pudding, peas, carrots, gravy, ketchup, and many other things.

Cheddar had already climbed on Ashley's lap and waited for the plate to be filled.
But while Ashley picked a few red and green grapes from a bowl and put it on her plate, a memory boiled up inside her mind and pushed away all hunger she felt seconds before.

She already had eaten alone without family.
At the school camping trip last year for example.
Or when she as sick or simply not in the mood to eat with her parents.

But somehow this felt different.

Cheddar had no problem with eating, he happily chewed the grapes and smiled at everyone who looked at him.
Ashley's fingers searched for the ring around her neck and a lump formed in her throat that wouldn't go away.

"How are you not hungry?"

The student across from Ashley. Ashley recognized their face from the compartment back in the train.

Ashley shrugged "I don't know I'm still full from lunch."
The Student scoffed. "How? That was hours ago!" Ashley shruged again and looked back on her plate watching Cheddar eat the grabes.

"Oh Im glad to see,  there are no new Mudblood's this year in Slytherin."

She flinched at the words of one of the Ghosts that sat on the Slytherin table diagonally across from her.

His blank eyes wandered over the students, his gaunt face twisted into a satisfied grinn which appeared more like a Helloween grimace than a smile and the empty eyes send a shiver down Ashley's spine while he looked at her too.
The in silver blood covered robes only added to his terrific appearance, the students that had to sit beside him, didnt seem to pleased of his presence either.

Ashley didn't knew what a mudblood was but she felt how frowned uppon that 'title' or insult was. "There are already enough halfbloods staining the Slytherin legacy."

Continued the ghost and finished his inspection of the new first-years.
Ashley pressed her lips together, she certainly knew what was meant with 'halfblood'.

Why did the hat sort her in a house that would hate her just because her parents weren't both wizzards?

 

Before the others could notice her discomfort Ashley quickly loaded her plate with bread, sausages and roast potatoes.

Submerge, that was her goal.
No time for standing out.

Ashley ignored the Lump in her throat and bit in her Sausage, while Cheddar continued chewing on his grapes.

"Hey Ash, from what Wizard family are you from? Wood sounds familiar."

Ashley chocked.

"Wood is the Captain of the Griffindor team." Interrupted an older student and some of the other students groan in annoyance and the topic changed from Family linage to Quidditch.

Which was, as Ashley assumed before, a sport, to her it sounded like a equivalent to American Football, brutal and the 'big thing' in the Wizarding world.

When she was asked who her favorite team was she just said one of the team names that were dropped during the conversation.

That was everything she needed to say. The conversations washed over her in waves and Ashley gladly submerged under the chatting were she could just listen with no need to participate.
She barely noticed when the remaining food faded and blocks of ice cream and other desserts appeared.
Quickly she put some strawberry and chocolate ice cream on her plate despite being full.

Cheddar sniffed the ice cream with visible interrest, but Ashley quickly stopped him from trying it. For which he pinched Ashley's finger.

The student next to Ashley chuckled slightly while Ashley shook her hand to ease the slight pain.

The conversations switched topics again. Ashley listened carefully to everything but never participated in the conversation itself.
Luckily noone wanted her opinion on anything.

Ashley tired her best to shove the ice cream in her mouth, it's been a while since she had ice cream and she soon remembered why when the brain freeze hit after every third scoop.
Ashley's teeth hurt from the cold so she just gave up.

The desserts disappeared and Ashley reconsidered her decision to take, out of all the options, the one dessert that made her struggle the most.

Professor Dumbledore rose up from his seat and the hall went silent.

"Ahem- just a few more words now we are all fed and watered. I have a few start-of-term notices to give you."
Ashley let out sigh, here it was.
The lecture.
Ashley's brain wanted to shut of but when Dumbledore mentioned a forbidden forrest she perked up.
Would she be able to check it out? Why was it forbidden?
When Dumbledore mentioned that spells weren't allowed between classes Ashley already knew that that rule would be treated more like a suggestion.

Quidditch Information? Ashley couldn't care less, she was never good in sports, and she never will be.
The corridor that apparently was a painful death sentence? This is definitely not a normal school, how was this even legal!?

"And now, before we go to bed, let us sing the school song!"
Ashley blinked. The what? Dumbledore gave his wand a little flick as if he was trying to get a fly of the end, and a long golden ribbon flew out of it, which rose high above the tables and twisted itself snake-like into words.
"Everyone pick their favorite tune, and off we go" Dumbledore cheered and the school bellowed.

Ashley could rarely hear the actual text over the hundreds of different tunes and voices.
Reading the cursive letters didn't help either because she had no idea where to join in.
At the end she just moved her lips while everyone finished the song at different times.

At last, only a set of red-haired twins from the Griffindor table were left singing along to a very slow funeral march.
Dumbledore conducted their last lines with his wand and when the twins finished everyone clapped.

"Ah music," he said "A magic beyond all we do here! And now, bedtime. Off you trot!"

Everyone around Ashley started moving. Quickly she grabbed Cheddar and tucked him in her Cardigan pockets.
A Slitherin Perfect led the Slytherin first-years through the crowds, out of the Great Hall down a Marble staircase into the Entrance Hall.

Ashley saw a few older Slytherin students walk through a door, but the Perfect led the first-years another, official and probably much longer way.

Through a Hall with portraits. Ashley noticed how those portraits were alive.
Chatting and intacting with eachother.

Fascinating.

Ashley's fingers played with the ring while she followed in the crowd.
The First-years were led down a few more stairs, this time stone stairs.
She expected Cold air but it was the same comfortable temperature like everywhere in the castle.
When suddenly she was tapped on the shoulder, Ashley turned around, expecting another first-year who accidentally mistook her for a friend, or maybe Pansy for some reason.

Instead a pale boy with a pointed face frown to a sneer, neatly slicked back light-blond hair and robes so particularly clean ironed that Ashley had to question herself how he even could move in this.

Next to him. One each side. Stood two boys who were atleast a head taller than the pale boy and Ashley.
Perhaps to make up for their width.

Ashley felt reminded of bodyguards, and by the look on their faces the 2 boys were exactly that.

A Rich kid and the only accompany his parents let him play with.

Thought Ashley and already got ready to read every expression or change of behavior to tell that boy what he wanted to hear so he left her alone again.

 

"What's up with your uniform?"

The Boys question was justified but unexpected.
"You are a girl right? So why do you wear trousers?"

Ashley looked down her Uniform, yes wearing trousers under the skirt was a little unusual. She just nodded.
"Its more comfortable like that." 0

"But Girls wear skirt's and Boys wear trousers. It's the Rules."

"May be, but so far no one has told me to change yet."

The moment the words left her mouth Ashley bit her lip.
She watched as the boys face changed dramatically from shock, to surprise, to confusion and at last to anger, wich left as soon as if arrived.

"Phfft Whatever."

The Boy passed Ashley and she felt how one of the boys pushed her aside by the shoulder, Ashley ignored it.

 

After a quarter hour walk wich felt longer than it actually was.
The Perfect stopped infront of a bare, stone wall.

A confused murmur arose while the Perfect cleared their throat.

"Remember the Password well, else you don't get inside anymore, the Password changes every year."

They said, their tone calm and a little Arrogant.
Then they cleared their throat again

"Prasinus lapis."

The wall slit open and the opened to a long underground room.

Gray stone walls that blended into Rock formations with stone pillars supporting the walls and ceiling.
Greenish lamps hung from the ceiling and painted the Slytherin common room in a calming warm light.
A fire was crackling in a stone fireplace with elaborately carved details picturing snakes, tree roots, skulls and bones.

The ceiling looked a little low at first, but when everyone stepped in the room Ashley noticed that the ceiling opened around the fireplace, giving a great look to upstairs and the other way around.
A spiral staircase out of Dark wood twisted up next to one of the large round windows that gave a magnificent view under the surface of the Great lake.
The silver moonlight casted the shadows of the water waves on the woodenfloors and carpets.

Ashley felt caught in the view as she watched a school of glistening fish swim by the window.

A few first-years already made themselves comfortable in the luxurious green seats of the carved woodchairs and the couches with the stone carved frames which were embedded in the walls.

The Perfect clapped in their hands to get back the first-years attention. "

First-years! You will have more than enough time to admire our common room at different angles, lights and day, and night times. So you may follow me to the dormitories."

With a wave of their robe the Perfect led the groaning first-years up the spiraling stairs.

"Girls on the right, Boys on the left. Two other Perfects will show you your beds and where to put your stuff. Have a good first night."

With those words the Perfect turned around and strutted down the stairs.
Leaving behind the confused First-years who slowly parted into their assigned dormitories.

Ashley was the last that entering the girls dormitories.
A Perfect was already explaining were the First-years could put their stuff and where they could sleep.
Ashley barely listened, one look on the cozy looking beds and she was aware how tired she was.
Cheddar was already sleeping in her pocket.

She took the last bed available and just wanted to fall asleep in it.
She barely had the energy to change in her Pj's, brush her teeth, and put Cheddar in his cage before she untied the green velvet curtains for a little privacy, crawled under the heavy green blankets and fell asleep the moment her head touched the soft pillows.

Chapter 14: Monkshood and Wolfsbane

Summary:

Ashley is getting used to her new school routine.

Notes:

Enjoy the new chapter, I wrote this within 2 days and that's how it probably reads. This chapter I wrote Gryffindor correctly (I hope).

Chapter 14: Monkshood and Wolfsbane

 

The next days seemed to fly by and Ashley gladly followed the stream of a changing, but regular routine.
Interactions with other students became more and more rare, and every student became part of a giant ocean Ashley could disapear in, building her silvery walls around her.

She finally reached the state were she was just part of the student crowds climbing up moving stairs, running to last minute classes and trying to find out what was a door and what not.

 

Ashley was on her way to Transfiguration class, this time with the Ravenclaws, no idea what day.

With her books close to her chest, Cheddar on her shoulder clinging to her gray pullover with the Slytherin green line framing the V-Neck. She hurried down the corridors.
Fascinating how her uniform changed colors since she was sorted.
Had she cleaned Cheddars Cage yesterday?. Her tie was a little lose, her white shirt a little wrinkled since she overslept a little in the morning.

"Ashley, you got a little jam on your cheek."

Pansy Parkinson, also late, the only person that didn't already ignore Ashley.
Why couldn't she just forget Ashley's existence like everyone else?

Ashley quickly wiped away the Apricot jam with her sleeve. Pansy made a grimmace.
"You have such poor manners."
Ashley grimmaced back, Parkinson could be so annoying. Maybe that's why she always clung to her?

Parkinson smiled and started talking about how boring the last Magic History lesson was and how exited she was for the next 'Defense against the dark arts.
Ashley didn't even bother to listen.

 

Transfiguration Class, led by McGonagall ,the Head of the Gryffindor house.
The lessons were harder than Ashley expected at first. But she was glad to see that she wasn't the only one struggling.

Match to Needle.

Looked easy but definitely wasn't. Pansy cursed how useless her wand was, while her match got stronger yellow hue instead of silver.
Ashley's Match actually looked like a needle at the end of the lesson. But only from far.

McGonagall first came to Ashley's desk her eyes wide in surprise expecting a needle. But in the end Ashley's Match was just lighter and thiner uppon closer look. The cold disappointment on McGonagalls Face was devastating. Still Slytherin got points for her trying.

 

Again another day.
Breakfast, hundreds of Owls filled the air looking for their owners.
At first an unusual sight but Ashley soon got used to it.

Still she covered her goblet with a hand everytime the Owls swarmed in.

Just in case.

Ashley looked at the class paper.
Double Potions with the Gryffindors. A student next to Ashley groans.
Ashley felt excitement in her chest. Potions was one of the classes she looked most forward too. Herbology was already worth the excitement, so Potions is going to be great.

The teacher was Snape, also the Head of the Slytherin house, a tall man with black greasy hair. Ashley didn't know what to think of him. He was quite unpleasant to be around, although she didn't knew why.
Ashley had overheard that he favored all Slytherins and gave points all the time for smallest achievements.

Not the most fair for other houses but who was Ashley to complain.

 

Potions class was in the dungeons, one of the parts were the warm magic of the castle didn't reach.
Ashley pinned her hair back with her wand while she inspected the pickled animals in the floating glass jars all around the walls.

Snape read the attendance list, his face with the usual, unpleased grimmace. The whole class was silent.
Snape stopped at Potters name, which sat on the desk a row behind her next to a tall redhead. The school had several of them.
The set of twins was one of the more bothersome, they sometimes appeared in the middle of the dungeon and scared the other students. (Mostly Slytherin ofc.) "Ah, yes, Harry Potter. Our new - celebrity" said Snape with soft but sharp voice. A few student snigger behind their hands.

After reading all names Snape looked back at the class. "You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion-making, as there is little foolish wand-waving here, many of you will hardly belive this is magic. I don't expect you will really understand the beauty of the softly shimmering cauldron with its shimmering fumes, the delicate power of liquids that creep through human veins,  bewitching the mind, ensnaring the senses..,"

If Snape was talking about human blood he sounded like a Vampire, trying to explain why the other students should join his cult.
And indeed the rest of Snapes introduction speech sounded just like that. Fascinating. Ashley couldn't wait to try out all the recipes, Potions and ingredients she read in the first years book.

"Potter!" Ashley flinched, she was so lost in thought, she didn't notice that Snape had 100% of his attention on the class again, especially on the botter boy. The Potter Boy sat in his chair, looking at the student next to him while a girl with bushy dark hair nearly a fell from her chair from waving her hand to answer the question Snape asked the Potter Boy.

Powdered Root of asphodel in an infusion of wormwood? Wasn't that the Zombie Potion? The Potterboy apparently didn't knew either. "Tut, tut - fame clearly  isn't everything." The few Slytherin students from before continued laughing while Snape asked the Potterboy the next question. ".., where would you look if I told you to find me a bezoar?" With every inch the Potter Boy sank in his chair. The Bush haired girl stretched her hand a little higher. Wasn't bezoar the stone from a goat stomach?

Ashley had studied the school books but was no were close to knew them by heart. How was the Potterboy supposed to know? How was anyone supposed to know, well aside from bushhair. She was nearly standing her hand waving, waiting for the chance to answer. "What's the difference, Potter, between monkshood and wolfsbane?" Wasn't that the same?? The Bushgirl jumped from her chair while the Potter Boy repeatedly admitted that he didnt knew the answer. Snape gave up, he looked like he just opened the mailbox and just found the yearly tax bill.

"Sit down," Snape snapped at the jumping girl.
"For your information, Potter, asphodel and wormwood make a sleeping potion so powerful it is known as the Draught of Living Death." So Ashley was right about the Zombie potion, and right about the other to questions too.
Suddenly rummaging for quills and parchment. Ashley quickly did the same, while Snape took a point from Gryffindor.

The class continued and finally Ashley was allowed to brew herself.
But to her disappointment she was paired with someone. A Slytherin that acted like they were looking down on Ashley, and not literary a whole head smaller than her.
Also they had no idea what they were doing. First they used the wrong weights, then they let the fire under the cauldron go out.

Ashley had to hold back alot of her temper not to yell at this idiotic excuse of a lab partner.

"Miss Wood remember, this is a partner assignment."

Snape again, Ashley tried her best to focus at the boiling cauldron.
Her partner aka. a danger to any laboratory workplace, just stood at the side watching her after she hit on their fingers for nearly mixing the ingredients in the wrong order.
The Slytherin luckily got the messange and just kept their hands to themselves. This way they would stop mess anything up.

 

Suddenly a Gryffindor behind her yelled something. Ashley could only see how their cauldron turned onto a twisted blob. Within seconds everyone had saved themselves on the chairs to escape the potion seeped across the stone floor, burning holes into people's shoes.

The Gryffindor that stood to close to the cauldron as it collapsed, moaned in pain as angry red boils spring up all over their arms and legs.

Snape cleaned away the spilled potion with a wave of his wand.
Scolding the Gryffindor, apparently they were brewing the potion wrong. He was send to the hospital wing.
Gryffindor lost another point and Ashley's brew wasn't a success either. Her Partner made the Snakefang fragments too big so they didn't dissolve in the brew how they were supposed too.

Ashley left the class with a sigh of disappointment. Atleast she didn't lose any points, but with Snape that was hardly a surprise.

Chapter 15: Fly high, fly high

Summary:

Fly high, fly high
Little bird in the sky
But then they slip, then they fall
Land hard on the ground
Broken bones, to hospital wing they bound.

A Redish Orb, a treasure to take
The ferret it runs, it's pride at stake
The chosen one got taken away
What happend to him, no one dares to say
And of we hope the lesson has end.

Well get on the brooms, today we fly high
Little birds in the sky

Notes:

Chapter 15. Enjoy and maybe consider leaving a comment after reading.
If you want, write your house and how you want your oc to look, and I will build in your character somewere in the next chapters. ^^

(This counts for the next coming chapters)

Chapter 15: Fly high, fly high.

 

Ashley was sitting on one of the tables in the Slytherin common room and stared out of the big round windows that gave a great look on below the surface of the Lake.

Well normally, today the water was rather cloudy. Wich resulted in a much darker common room. Ashley tapped her feather on the parchment.
The ink on its tip was already dry. What would she give to have pens again. Although writing with a feather felt quite fancy, it was rather unpractical.

Homework, that was she supposed to do, right. Ashley turned back to the parchment.
Her handwriting had worsened, the feather was difficult to write with.

Also why were there so many people crowding around the notice board?? Ashley didn't bother to look at it yet. She would check it out when it was less crowded. Ashley turned her head to the window again. She should continue the homework, but.... Was that a tentacle over there? Ashley squinted her eyes. Nope just some kelp. Back to the homework.

"Uhhg can you believe it? Flying lessons with the Gryffindors." Aaaand gone was every concentration Ashley just wanted to build up. She looked up. Pansy Parkinson leaned on the otherside of the table her face waiting for Ashley's reaction.
Ashley slowly nodded.
"Yea right, the last thing I wanna do is make a fool out of myself on a broomstick infront of the Gryffindors."
Parkinson continued and rolled her eyes. Ashley processed what she said.

"You haven't read the notice yet didn't you?" Ashley nodded, Parkinson clapped her hands together, eager to tell Ashley what she read.
"Ok so on Thursday we get our first flying lessons with the Gryffindors. Maybe we even get to play Quidditch?"
Ashley nodded slowly, the thought of being up in the air with nothing but a woodenstick to support all weight made her incredibly uncomfortable.

Pansy continued chatting. Ashley just nodded, sometimes responding with a 'ohh ok' or 'interesting'. Surprisingly she could finish her homework, even with Pansy's chatting in the background.

Shortly after Parkinson left to a table were one of the students told tells how they narrowly escaped Helicopters on their broom, and how they would be already in the schools quidditch team if it wasn't for the rule that First-years weren't allowed to join the house teams because it was 'dangerous' or something. Ashley didn't bother to listen.

 

On Thursday afternoon around three-thirty Ashley followed the other Slytherins into the grounds for their first flying lesson.
It was a clear, a little breezy day and Ashley watched as the wind swayed the grass of the smooth lawn on the opposite side of the Forbidden Forrest.

The Slytherin were early and so everyone crowded around the broomsticks laying in neat lines on the ground.
Shortly after the Griffindors arrived, forming a crowd on the opposite side of the Slytherins.
Madam Hooch the teacher arrived soon after. She had short, gray hair and yellow eyes like a hawk. "Well, what are you all waiting for?"
She barked as if she wasn't the last one who arrived. "Everyone stand by a broomstick. Come on, hurry up."
Slowly the students all stood by a broom.
Well, with a little pushing around for the best looking broom of course.

"Stick out your right hand over your broom, and say, 'Up!'"

"UP!"

Everyone shouted. All broom's jumped into the students hands.
Atleast nearly all. For a few, including Ashley, the broom didn't even budge.
Madam Hooch showed every student that got the broom how to mount their brooms while those who had difficulties had time to try again.

It took three tries until the broom finally jumped in Ashley's hand. While she waited for Madam Hooch to assist her on how to mount the broom correctly she looked over too the Potterboy, the Lady back at the Leaky Cauldron said she should try to befriend him. Well, he looked quite intriguing with that white hairstreak. She had overheard once or twice, that his parents were killed by a dark Wizzard. He somehow was able to deflect a deadly curse and defeat the Dark Wizzard when he was only a baby.
Or maybe he was just lucky. Like Ashley herself... .

Did he still had memories from his parents? Had he family that took care of him? How did he grew up knowing he would never see his parents again? Was he lonely?
Ashley probably had starred for to long because a redhead, who seemed to be the Potterboys friend noticed her.
Ashley first tried to smile but the redhead pulled a grimmace at her. Like she was the equivalent to finding a half empty lunchbox from last year in your backpack. Ashley grimmaced back.

Nah, she didn't want to be friends with this guy or anyone associated with him.
Ashley turned around again looking directly at Madam Hooch who just raised her eyebrows and showed the, a little embarrassed Ashley, how to mount the broom without slipping off and corrected her grip.

 

After everyone had mounted their brooms. Madam Hooch blew her whistle again to get everyones attention.
"Now, when I blow my whistle again, you kick off from the ground, hard. Keep your brooms steady, rise a few feet and then come straight back down by leaning forward slightly. On my whistle -threee - two-"
Before the whistle had touched Madam Hooch's lips, a Gryffindor student pushed off hard from the ground and flew straight up like a cork out of a bottle.
"Come back boy!"
Shouted Madam Hooch while the Gryffindor rose higher and higher above the ground. Twelve feet - twenty feet.

Ashley felt sick to her stomach just seeing how fast the boy rocketed in the sky.
"It was obvious that something like this would happen, he was so jumpy all the time." The remark came from a Slytherin and a Gryffindor hissed something back.
Ashley looked up to the Gryffindor watching as they slip sideways off the broom and - WHAM -fell on the grass.
The nasty crack of bones breaking made Ashley nearly throw up, she was glad to see that a few other students were also a little pale around their nose.

Madam Hooch looked after the Gryffindor, her face pale in fear.
"Broken wrist. Come on, boy - it's all right, up you get." She turned back to the rest of the class.
"None of you is to move while I take this boy to the hospital wing! You leave those brooms where they are or you'll be out of Hogwarts before you can say Quidditch."
With those words Madame Hooch led the tear-streaked Gryffindor off the field. A few seconds of silence, everyone was still in shock and a few students quickly got off their brooms.

The silence broke when a Slytherin student burst into laughter.
Well, not the best reaction, but atleast it broke the uncomfortable silence.
"Did you see his face, the great lump?" A few other Slytherin join the laughter, Ashley only forced out a small laugh, which matched more a cough, she still wasn't sure if her last meal would stay were it was supposed to be.

"Shut up, Malfoy" Snapped a Gryffindor. "Ooh, sticking up for Longbottom?" Pansy. Ashley couldn't suppress a giggle. Those last names were wild. "Never thought you'd like fat little cry babies, Parvati."

"Look!" said a student, well Malfoy, jumped forward and snatched a Red orb out of the grass. What the hell was that supposed to be.
"Give that here, Malfoy." Ah look at that the Potterboy.
Silence filled the field while Potter and Malfoy stood across eachother.
Malfoy smiled nastily. Clearly enjoying the attention. Slowly he turned the red orb between his fingers.
"I think I'll leave it somewhere for Longbottom to collect - how about - up a tree?"
"Give that here!" Potter yelled and took a step forward, immediately Malfoy pushed off the ground flying in the air stopping at the level with the topmost branches of an oak.
The other students gasped.

"Come and get it Potter!" The Potter boy didn't need to be told twice, as he grabbed the nearest broom his red-haired friend was holding and pushed himself off the ground. A Gryffindor Yelled something about 'getting in trouble.'

With loud gasping and quiet cheering from the ground Malfoy evaded Potter, who was always on his heels.
Then Malfoy threw the orb into the air and The Potterboy immediately followed.
First silence spread across the class as Potter pointed his broom handle down and followed the orb.
As closer he got to the orb the closer he also got to the ground and first screams of the Gryffindors then the Slytherin filled the air. Ashley quickly lost all orientation. The Screams deafened when Professor McGonagall yelled across the field.

Despite the odds. Potter had grabbed the orb and landed safely, but oh boy there was other trouble that literary crashing full speed on the ground.
A Gryffindor, Parvati? Tried to defend Potter but he was taken away by McGonagall anyway.

A few Slytherin congratulated Malfoy. While the Gryffindors stayed silent.
"Is the lesson now dismissed?" Asked a Gryffindor and the Slytherin next to them shrugged.

"The lesson is over when I say so" Madam Hooch returned. Her hands on her hips. "Where is Potter?" "He was taken away by Professor McGonagall"
"Oh of course. Anyway two students missing is no reason to end the lesson earlier. Everyone on the brooms!"

Chapter 16: Breaking Rules?

Summary:

Ashley finds some people to talk with but then gives advice to the wrong person.

Chapter 16: Breaking Rules?

 

 

 

Finally over!

Ashley let herself flop beside Pansy who was already filling her plate with food. "Ouch my butt, my legs, my arms!" moaned another Slytherin next to Ashley, she didn't remember their name. "Tomorrow will be even worse trust me" Ashley responded and Pansy and the other student groaned.

 

"Maybe we can ask Snape if we could make a potion against sore muscles?"

"Crabbe, you couldn't even brew the cure for boils." Malfoy, the boy with the red orb.

 

The flying lesson gave Ashley and the other Slytherins some opportunity to get to know eachother better.

Many of the tasks Madam Hooch gave the students, required alot of trust in those around you. And while others had their turn on the hoops they had to fly through, there was plenty time to talk. About Quidditch, Brooms, how bad the other Students flew, and so on. Malfoy used every chance he got to brag about how he probably got Potter expelled, until Madam Hooch dared to take 10 points from Slytherin.

 

Despite the comming Soreness tomorrow Ashley quite liked the lesson. It's been a while since she talked to other people her age like this. Cheddar hopped on the table.

 

"Do you always bring that Rat to dinner?" Ashley rolled her eyes "I think it's cute, the Rat always smiles so funny"

Ashley couldn't help but smile at the student next to her. "His name is Cheddar by the way" "Tracey Davis, and you were Ashley Wood right?" Ashley nodded. "Are you related to the Gryffindors Quidditch Captain?" Ashley sighs "No, never heard or met them in my entire life."

 

Dinner passed quite peaceful, and for the first time this year Ashley actually participated in some conversation.

Well, a little bit. It was nice to talk to other people but there was no need to get hasty with socializing.

Tracey fed Cheddar a blueberry and her face was full of delight when Cheddar supported himself on her fingers. A student across from her, on the other side of Malfoy wanted to feed Cheddar a pice of the steak-and-kidney pie but Parkinson quickly stopped him. Cheddar instead got an apple slice.

 

After a while Malfoy began, Again, bragging about how he flew during Flying lesson. A student rolled their eyes. "I bet Potter is going to be expelled from Hogwarts" Malfoy claimed proudly. "Then he has to return to the muggles and give up Magic." He snickers. Ashley wondered why this guy found such over done delight in other people's displeasure. As if she wasn't better herself.

 

Well atleast she didn't dubble down. She thought as she watched Malfoy and his two friends(?) Follow the Potterboy and the redhead out of the Hall after finishing dinner. Pansy was petting Cheddar. Also looking after Malfoy and the two Gryffindors.

"Bet he does something nasty to add salt to the wound?" "Bet." Replied the Slytherin sitting next Pansy.

 

Back at the Slytherin common room Malfoy was already sceming with his friends in a corner table. Ashley felt reminded of a cartoon Villain that rubbed his hands together with an evil snicker. (Well before getting humiliated by the Cartoon Hero.) Ashley tried her best to hide her laughter since she didn't get that mental image out of her head. Pansy gave Ashley a confused look. Ashley waved off.

 

"Ashley? Did you do the paper for Herbology?" Ashley squeezed through the collar of her pajamas. "The what!?" She asked with shock. The Slytherin, Millicent shrugged and swung her feet into the bed.

"What Paper!?" Ashley asked and rummaged for parchment, feather and herbology book. "I don't know, and why should I tell you, you could have listened the lesson instead of...* " "Dont bother" Ashley packed her stuff under her arms and hurried down the stairs to the commonrooms, her bare feet felt cold on the wooden and stone floors.

 

She threw the paper on one of the tables and sat down, quickly flipping the pages of the Herbology school book. The assignment was rather simple, Ashley luckily remembered. She just had started writing when she overheard the conversation between Malfoy and his friends.

 

"But how do we get past Filch and Mrs Norris?" Asked one. "Shut up Goyle, we find a way, it can't be that hard." "But if they catch us we are dead." "You really think this, humanized house elf would harm a student?" "I don't know, he looks so scary" "Correct you don't know! We have to get to the duel and win, I bet Potter doesn't know a single spell. Or maybe he doesn't even show up because he's a scared little brat, who knows?"

 

"Why don't you Snitch him to Filch?" The words left Ashley's mouth faster than she could rethink them.

"WhAt?" Malfoy turned to her, his eyebrows raised in both interrest and slight disapproval. Ashley avoided his gaze. "Uhh well...If you tell Filch that a first-year would leave the commonroom this night, he would most definitely try to catch them. So that is minus points for the caught and uhh well a little jumpscare?" Ashley felt uncomfortable under the looks of the 3 Slytherin boys. "What's a jumpscare?" Asked the one next to Malfoy. "Uhh" Ashley didn't know what so say, Malfoy just nodded slowly.

"Good idea, the incident during Flying lesson was dropped ,because apparently, he was so great he got in the Quidditch team" Malfoy rolled his eyes. He really seemed to hate Potter, Ashley slowly nodded, weren't first-years prohibited in the house Quidditch team? Thats weird...

"..,But if he gets caught breaking the rules a second time on the same day... ohhhh, then Potter is dammed to be expelled" Malfoy snickered. This guy really made being a cartoon villain his personality.

 

Ashley returned to her paper and quickly finished it, she was tired. Without another word she just returned to he dormitories and crawled in her bed.

 

The next morning Ashley had already forgotten what happened in the common room. She got up changed in school uniform, brushed her hair and braided it. Cheddar was still asleep in his cage. Ashley changed the water and checked when she had to clean the cage again. Some time later she walked up the stairs to the Great Hall, Luckily, the soreness wasn't as bad as she feared. Her hand traveled across the stonebricks on the walls.

It was to early for her taste, probably because she didnt get in bed at time yesterday.

 

In the Great Hall she sat down at the Slytherin table and put a fresh baked bread on her plate, blinking in the bright candle light. "Morning, Ashley you look as tired as I feel right now." "Morning Tracey."

All was said.

Ashley just ate her bread with Raspberry jam. She didn't even notice when the others arrived.

 

After breakfast she made her way back to the commonroom to pack for the first lessons when she spotted Malfoy and his two friends leaning in the hallway of the dungeons.

First she ignored them, but then she noticed how mad Malfoy looked and she immediately avoided his gaze, listened for steps from other students she could mix in with. But there weren't any.

 

"Oh ho ho, who do we have here, our smartass" Ashley's heart jumped in her throat. What was going on? She threw a quick look around her to check if Malfoy ment someone else, but he stood only a few feet away blocking her path with his friends.

"What is the problem?" Ashley asked emphatically friendly and harmless. "Well.. how should I say, your pretty plan didn't work. Guess who I just met. Potter and his redhead friend."

Ashley nodded slowly while her brain already connected points. Oh if she just had shut up. "Its so shamefull to not arrive to a duell, and you brought this shame uppon me, your plan was good but only half way through."

Ashley raised her eyebrows, "oh, uhhh, I dont think it's that serious, we are first years after all, just learning how magic works." A grimmace formed in Malfoys face, this was bad, like really bad. Ashley just wasn't sure what it was.

 

"Of course you dont understand, guess thats normal for someone of your linage." Ashley lifted her head. "What?" Malfoy sneered, clearly enjoying this moment, the feeling of putting people down. Ashley already noticed that rather quickly. "That's right, Jumpscare is a Muggle word, you can't write with feathers and luggage?, no Pure Blood owns such a ridiculous Suitcase, or a backpack, the Weasley's maybe, but that's beside the point."

 

Ashley slowly shook her head "I have no idea what you are talking about.." Malfoy took a few steps forward, his friends followed him. "Come on, admit that you are a filthy Mudblood." He grinned, as if he was the Great Detective, who just uncovered a crime that went unsolved for decades "If you do what I say, I maybe won't tell the others, heard you made a few friends with that rat of yours. Would be a shame to lose such good connections"

Ashley rose her eyebrows while Malfoy adjusted his sleeves. Friends? Nah she talked to them, well more than to the people in her old school but still, she wouldn't call them friends. "In your Dreams, Malfoy" Ashley responded and walked close past Malfoy. Passing between Malfoy and one of his friends, who actually moved aside a little, wasn't he the same one that also fed Cheddar a day or so ago?

Malfoy obviously didn't like that his friend let her pass, his head turned red in anger, and the colour clashed horribly with his blonde hair.

 

Welp there goes her good reputation, hopefully the stone that was thrown into still waters doesn't cause to much big waves.

Chapter 17: Mudblood

Summary:

Malfoy is being Malfoy, Ashley gets overwhelmed and does a little isolation.

Chapter 17: Mudblood

 

First Ashley didn't notice any abnormalities.
She returned to the commonrooms, fed Cheddar, got her school materials and made her way to the first lesson.
During the lesson she noticed that Pansy didn't sit next to her like usually during Charms. Instead a late Hufflepuff took the seat.

Ashley looked around, Pansy sat with Malfoy and his friends, right now the blonde boy leaned over to her and wisperd something. Quickly Ashley turned back to the front. Feeling the looks on her back. Uncomfortable.

Why did the whispering around her suddenly get so loud, Ashley cautiously looked around, catching a Hufflepuff directly looking at her, quickly turning to their seatneighbor when they noticed how Ashley looked back.
She thought hearing one of the Slytherin students wisper her name near her.
A Snicker there, a cough here.
The whispers were quiet but still they felt loud in her ears.
So many different voices,
so many different noises.

Every little scratch from a feather, every scriddle of paper overtoned the Professors Voice. Its been a while since Ashley felt so overwhelmed in a situation.

Suddenly thousands of different voices began to chant spells, all in different tones, different pronunciations.
In comparison to the wisper before the chantig rang in Ashley's ears it made her want to cover her ears and close her eyes.
The slight prickle she felt near magic turned in a nearly burning sensation on her skin. Or maybe it was just because of the small Flames that sparsely lit up on a few tables.

"Hey, are you alright?"
The Hufflepuff on the table beside her leaned over, their eyebrows raised in worry.
Ashley flinched slighty, she did not expect that.
Ashley immediately shook her head.

"No, Yes, its... its nothing, I just got distracted for a moment."
Before the Hufflepuff could say something, Ashley took out her wand and quickly chanted the spell without a second thought.
"Inzendia!" She imagined Fire, the fire she saw on the other tables, burning blazing fire. Was it getting warmer?

"Miss Wood!"
Yelled Professor Flitwick and Ashley quickly opened her eyes, her whole table was lit ablaze, with a screech she jumped back, her chair fell on the floor while Professor Flitwick extinguished the fire with a flick of his wand.

"Miss Wood, may I remind you, that spells should be handled with care? Especially pronunciations are important!" Ashley lowered her head while trying to nonchalantly pick up her chair and sit down again. desk was now covered in a fine layer of Soot. She felt how her cheeks reddened in embarrassment.

The whole incident costed 15 Points. Ashley still felt the redness on her cheeks after class every time one of the other students passed her with a giggle, a wisper or just a glance in her direction.
So she took her time to use the repair spell on the table in hopes of getting her feather back, she did not. Even after several tries.

Damn it. She stared at the parchment on the now clean and brand new looking table. Her feather nowhere in sight. She could ask Professor Flitwick for help but Ashley scratched together her least bit of pride and accepted her fate.
Luckily the Writing Feathers came in Sets of 5 so Ashley had 4 feathers left to survive the year with. And if she ran out of feathers she bet she had some long-forgotten Pencils or ballpoint pen burried somewhere in the suitcase.
The teachers would surely let her use them when she ran out of feathers.

 

On the way to the next lesson.
Ashley had acquired a new feather, not the prettiest one, expected. She was late because it took longer than expected to find the smal box with the Feathers. Who could have thought that she needed a new feather so soon?

If Professor Binns wasn't so oblivious to his surroundings, Ashley would have lost more points from Slytherin.
Magic History passed without any further trouble. Since half of the class was sleeping, the other doing something else and the few who tried to actually listen rather kept their mouths shut, the lesson was quiet aside from Professor Binns slow-paced, echoing Voice.

 

Ashley was glad when class for the day was over; every whisper and every look in her direction embarrassed her.
Ashley rested her head on her arm while she watched Cheddar taking apart the small paper constructions she had folded out of some parchment.

She wasn't hungry so she didn't bother to go down for dinner.
She had taken Cheddar out of his cage and now played with him in the common room. The crackling fire and the dim light spread a calming atmosphere.

Ashley folded a new plane out of a pice of parchment and threw it on the wooden table. Cheddar stretched out his tiny hands to catch it. Jumping around, running up Ashley's books she had stacked to little towers and bridges. Ashley folded a smal box.
Maybe she should get a Origami book over Christmas break, so she could fold more than paper planes and boxes.

A while later a few Slytherin entered the commonroom, first-years. Ashley didn't expect anyone to be back so early.

"Playing with your Rat again Mudblood?"
Ashley recognized that voice immediately, Malfoy. Bet he spread the knowledge about Ashley being a halfblood to anyone with the nerves to listen.
Ashley ignored him, she would later find a way to get back at him.

"Kinda sad that you weren't at dinner today" Continued Malfoy when he noticed that Ashley wasn't responding.
A few seconds of silence.

Ashley ignored Malfoy, Malfoy waited for an answer.

He huffed. "You know it's impolite to ignore someone.."
Ashley couldn't care less. She already had a few ideas how to get back at him, maybe she could make teachers call him out more often in lessons he was bad in? Snitching was also a good option.

"Damn Parkinson, did you really try to befriend someone like her?"
Ashley threw an unnoticed glance in the groups direction.
Pansy stood a little behind Malfoy.
Interesting.

"Why should I try to befriend a Mudblood like her?" Pansy responded with a roll of her eyes.
Ouch, that hurt more than Ashley expected.
For a moment she stopped folding the parchment in her hands.
Trying to figure out why Parkinsons words hurt.
She didn't think of her as a friend, right?
Pansy was just some spoiled girl looking for attention, Ashley was just one of the Slytherin she spent time with.

Ashley made the next fold in the parchment, cutting the thought process before it could spiral.
"Tch, can she even call herself a real Slytherin?" Asked another Student, Ashley ignored it. As well as the other chatting while they passed her table.

Out of the Graveyard girl became Mudblood.
In the end it was the same thing.
Ashley's mistake was just, that she thought this time would be any different.

Chapter 18: A deal for a lifetime

Summary:

Ashley finds a way to get back at Malfoy and makes a magical pact with the hogwarts poltergeist.

Notes:

Lore notes on magical deals/pacts:

A magical deal is a deal sealed usualy between magic wielding individuals.
The deal can take up many forms, as in a pice of jewelry or a mark on one's skin. The magical deal is permanent until one of the parties dies.

To ensure both parties not to act against the magical deal, the nature of the deal includes consequences for breaking a deal or simply to think about acting against it.
That includes things as such the chosen pact jewelry turning against the wearer, pain from the mark, that fills the whole body, or simply being unable to talk when attempting to share a secret included in the deal.

 

The magical nature of the pact is mostly unknown, all scripts that try to further explain its nature, advice not to seal such a pact.
A warning wich is gladly ignored by everyone.

(Including Ashley here, enjoy the next chapter ^^)

Chapter 18: A deal for a lifetime.

 

The next weeks pass with everyone's faces merged in the same faded blur with rare specks of yellow, blue, green or red.
This time uninterrupted.
Ashley had long ignored the wisper behind her back and the snarky comments from other Slytherins, which became less frequent with every passing day.
Soon everyone seemed to have forgotten her presence again. What peaceful bliss.

In tandem assignments Ashley got usualy paired with a student from another house.
The Gryffindor she was paired with, during Potions was anything but pleased when they realized that a Slytherin was their work partner.
At least they weren't completely oblivious when it came to potions.

The only student she distinguished from the others was the Malfoy boy.
She was still waiting for an opportunity, a weak moment, to take revenge on him. Malfoy probably noticed Ashley's stares, because every time he caught her staring, he immediately looked away, visibly uncomfortable.
Ashley didn't bother to hide her glances. He should know she was on to him.

It's been atleast two months since she was sorted in hogwarts when she noticed her chance in the hogwarts poltergeist Peeves. Who loved to cause chaos among the students.
Ashley has not yet had the dubious pleasure of meeting him, since Peeves tried to avoid attacking Slytherins directly.
She assumed, it was because of the Slytherin ghost the Bloody Baron. Ashley had overheard that the Bloody Baron was one of the two People Peeves was actualy afraid off.

So the plan was simple, find Peeves, and seal a deal with him most likely with a bribe or threat if necessary. Although a Chaos Spirit would most likely not turn down the opportunity to cause a little chaos.
Simple plan, difficult to execute. Finding the poltergeist was more difficult than expected. So she came up with the idea of ​​changing the color of her uniform so that Peeves would mistake her for a student from another house. A color-changing spell couldn't be that hard, right?

 

Ashley has been in the libary for atleast 2 hours, her success with the colour changing spell left something to be desired.
It was so harder to imagine the right colour than she first anticipated.
Also, her wand didn't seem to cooperate either.
Again it flew out of her hand and rolled under her chair. Was the uniform enchanted with some kind of spell that kept students from messing with it?

Ashley picked up her wand again and glared at the still green tie on her desk, laying innocent between a awfully eyesoring yellow pebble, a blue pen with a red hue, and some old friendship bracelets Ashley made years ago during a Vacation and forgot to take out of Katharines Suitcase. Those which were now colored in different gray and blue tones. Atleast a few of the strings the bracelets were made of.

Ashley leaned back in her chair playing with her fathers ring.
It hasn't been long, but it felt like ages ago. When was the last time she thought about what happened? The thought of never returning to her home again felt unreal, never seeing her parents again. Was this really that final?
A sharp pain lit up in Ashley's chest. Leaving a lump in her throat when it disappeared as quickly as it surfaced. Ashley let go of the ring and put it back under her shirt.
Back to the colour spell.
Ashley took a deep breath to clear her mind and raised her wand again.

"Colovaria."

She wisperd, the dark Ravenclaw blue clearly in her head while she painted a silver line in the air above the tie.

"Ohhhh trying to change the uniform? Tut, tut, tut. Nasty student!"

The annoying voice of Peeves came from directly above her.
Ashley's gaze shot up.
The poltergeist sat a few feet above her, on the very top of the bookshelves. Grinning from ear to ear like a child at the sight of their Christmas presents.

The distraction quickly paid off, with the unfocused spell exploding in midair. Ashley quickly shielded her face from the splashes of colour flying in all directions. Peeves cackled and clapped his hands in delight at the failed spell.
"Ohhhh, watch out, little firstie, get your spells under control, we don't want you getting into trouble, do we?" Peeves cackled.

Ashley lowered her arms, she couldn't help but smile at her sheer luck. The colour specks luckily already faded from the shelves and desk she was working on.
"Peeves, I'd say it's a pleasure to meet you. But I think that would be the wrong terms for a Chaos Spirit like you."
Peeves stopped laughing and looked down on Ashley with new curiosity. "Ohh it's been a while since someone greeted me, you are quite brave for a first-year to approach me like this."
He said while getting comfortable on the shelves beside Ashley, slighty pulling out a few books from the top shelves. Balancing them at the very edge of their shelves.

"My plan was originally to find you, but now I don't think that's necessary anymore."
Responded Ashley leaning back in her chair. Showing no weakness was now important.
"You are quite interesting little girl, searching for Peeves... by the way shouldn't you be in Flying lesson right now?"
Ashley bit her lip, how many points would skipping Flying lesson cost? What was Hogwarts detention like? Doesn't matter right now, she could think about that matter later.
So Ashley put on her 'did nothing wrong smile and turned her wand in her hands. "What if that were the case?" She asked with the most innocent voice she could muster.

Peeves cackled again. "Ohho looking for trouble, naughty, naughty " Peeves opened his mouth wider and wider, like those whales from the documentary Ashley had seen months ago. Despite their large mouths they weren't hunting fish or humans, just little ocean algee, or was it some kind of crab? Ashley quickly banned the documentary back in corner of her mind were it came from. Peeves was about to yell after a teacher to rat Ashley out, no time to recall any documentaries. "I wouldn't do that if I were you Peeves." Peeves closed his mouth and looked down to Ashley again. "And why is that little girl?"

Ashley grinned. "I will tell the Bloody Baron you picked on one of his favorite students" The poltergeist's eyes widened.
"Lying to the Slytherin Ghost? Thats something. Why do you think he would believe you?"
Ashley smiled back and knoted her tie around her neck again, she was getting better at tying it everyday. "Do you think the Baron needs the truth for a reason to haunt you? I heard he's just waiting for an opportunity."
"Is that soo? Why didnt you tell him right away? Why search for Peeves?"

Ashley put her Wand on the table rolling it over the wooden surface.
"Because I need you to do something... I need you to cause chaos for me, to be specific, around a certain students" Peeves eyes lit up.
"Ohh that would be something I would agree on, but what do I get for that little... Favor?"
Ashley shruged. "I won't tell the Bloody Baron what you did, or 'didn't do'."
Peeves cackled "You are a nasty little girl, you know that?"
"Heard worse, now are you in or not? I heard the Bloody Baron has been in a especially bad mood the last days.."
Peeves grinned a nasty grinn Ashley couldn't tell if he exited about causing trouble or displeased that Ashley had something against him. "Only if you don't get me on the Barons bad side" Ashley shruged "you are already on his bad side but yes, I wont snitch you to him."

Peeves jumped on the table and bend down to Ashley who stretched out a hand to seal the deal. Peeves looked from Ashley's hand to her, then he grinned even wider, spit on the palm of his hand and took her hand.
Ashley tried not to gag when the Poltergeist shook her hand. The green glibber made Ashley worry if she would get this stuff from her hand. Her skin prickled when the pact was sealed. The prickle focused on a spot on the inside of her wrist. Ashley noticed a small red mark of Peeves grinning visage appearing at the inside of her wrist before its colour faded into a tone a little lighter than her own skin.

"At your service, young Slytherin. Who is it, that made you seal a magical deal with Peeves." He asked crossing his arms while Ashley wasted a thought on if it was actually worth the lifetime deal. She wiped the thought away like the spit from her hands, except the spit was more resistant. Ashley dearly hoped the stains would wash out of her skirt.
This evening was laundry day so the stains hopefully wont stay for long.

"His name is Malfoy, a blonde boy who was never taught how to use his hairgel, alsonhe always has his two friends by his side. They behave like his bodyguards. Since he tries his best to be as noticeable as possible. You won't miss him."
Peeves nodded his grinn widening with every sentence. "Sounds like someone who needs a little stone in the way, what house?"

"Slytherin"

Peeves face blew up like a bright red balloon.

"Ah Slytherin!?" He shrieked, Ashley immediately listened for the clacking steps of Madam Pince, the librarian, nothing.  "Ohhh I see what you did there you little Snake." Hissed Peeves, and climbed up the Shelves, purposefully shaking them so the books he pulled out before fell to the ground, fluttering around like startled birds. Immediately, footsteps
approached.

Madam Pince, 100%.

Ashley recognized the sound her shoes made on the library floors.
If Madam Pince caught Ashley now, trouble was inevitable. Ashley Ashley didn't want to know about Hogwarts detention methods too soon so she quickly packed her stuff and disappeared between the shelves seconds before Madam Pince turned around the corner.

Chapter 19: Changing Perspectives

Summary:

Dracos view on everything and a little interaction between houses.

Notes:

Notes on Draco Malfoy

He hates Pumpkin, like he despises it.
I liked the Head-Canon that he can speak French so here he is.
I also had the idea that Dracos mother reads Romance books and has a shelf with the books Draco can read. Draco loves reading these books since they are the only fictional books he has access too. Soo yea. I thought it would suit him.

Enjoy the new chapter ^^

Chapter 19: Changing perspectives

 

Draco stared at the blank parchment in front of him. He should have taken notes, but the lesson was too boring to follow

He looked around and caught the glare of the Halfblood girl.
Immediately, he looked away again. When he first noticed her, he thought her as an easy target. It was clear she was just a broke Mudblood, a wonder no one had ever mentioned it before.
First her glares were flattering, why would a girl pay so much attention to him? But them they got uncomfortable.
Until he felt her looks nearly every minute of class, and the way she didn't shyly look away like in his favorite books made clear that there was no flattering motive behind her glare.

Until a few days ago he didn't even notice her, well he once approached her because of how she wore her uniform, but until she suggested that strategy he forgot her existence completely.
It was good strategy, better than he would have ever admitted. But there was no way he wouldn't have come to that conclusion himself.

Only fault in the plan was that Potter was fine the next day.
What if he arrived at the meeting point and now thought Draco was a scared Poule mouillée?

A horrible thought. Harry Potter was supposed to be his best friend, the first friend he had chosen to befriend.
We'll his father ordered him to get good with him, but that was beside the point.

Crabbe and Goyle were obviously not his friends. They were more of acquaintances.
Their fathers brought them with them when they met up with his father for work matter. Crabbe and Goyle followed him around like dogs as long as he could remember.
But Harry, he was supposed to be the friend he, Draco chose, someone he could laugh and spend time with.

A bummer he didn't recognize him immediately back at the robe shop. Draco had talked to his mother about it all day when he finally realized that the boy in the worn-out clothes and white hairstreak was actually Harry Potter.

Everything was planned out.
Draco even practiced how to approach him.
Make sure to flatter him, showcase the family importance, usw. He immediately seeked him out when he heard in what compartment he was.

Only to find him with a Weasley boy and his stupid rat, like seriously, that thing looked like it had scabies or something.

His father always said that the Weasley's threw a bad light on pureblood families.
That they had no pride and lived carelessly.
Apparently, that was clearly visible on their many kids, which felt a little out of context for Draco.
He always wanted siblings.
They were like friends, right?

Friends that were around all the time. If him and Potter were sorted in Slytherin, they would be around each other all the time, like brothers, right?
Just the two of them against the other houses.

Draco remembered how he couldn't hold still on the day of the departure to Hogwarts. His parents had to repeatedly remind him to hold still or stop talking.
He rehearsed his lines, told Crabbe and Goyle to hold still and stay behind him, and made sure he looked the best.

Everything went well, Draco asked if the boy with the poorly fitted clothes was Harry Potter, just to be sure, and introduced himself and his two acquaintances properly.
He even took the Weasley's mocking lightly only for Harry to deny his friendship request, although he had listed all the advantages from that friendship. Why!?

Draco has never felt more embarrassed, to dubble down Goyle put his dirty grabbers in their candy.
Draco never has given him the command to do that.
He still remembered how much he yelled at him for being so ignorant. His yelling was only stopped from one of the schools Perfects that adviced Draco's Compartment to be quiet.

Even after the sorting, Potter wanted to have nothing to do with him. Fine should, Harry Potter, find his own friends.
He will regret denying his friendship sooner or later.

The lesson ended, and Dracos Parchment was still empty. He just carelessly left it on the table, wasn't his problem.
Again Crabbe and Goyle followed his every step.
Together with a girl that began following him around since he told her that the girl she first bothered was a Mudblood.

Her name was Pansy Parkinson right?
He never heard anything significant about that family.
She chatted around talking about the day and was overall very talkative.

Draco ignored her.
She was no one who deserved his attention.

Halloween grew near, and Draco observed how the other Slytherins began preparing for the Sleepless Hallownights.
A secret tradition between Hufflepuff and Slytherin students, secret only from the Gryffindors, mainly because Weasley twins would probably ruin everything. Noone knew how much Ravenclaw knew but they weren't interfering either.

The tradition was basically to stay awake for three days straight around Halloween.
Apparently, there had been Haniziulations.
The lack of sleep, two nights of games and scary stories and hexed candy were probably partly responsible for said Events.

The Nights around Halloween were so wild, Some students even attempted to dress 'scary' and roamed through the hogwarts halls.
Teachers already tried to put a ban on the whole event, but Dumbledore loved the tradition so much, he even started giving candy to students he caught during the two nights.

Draco took no interest in the tradition.
'It was a Muggle-infested festive the Mudblood's brought to Hogwarts' - said his father one time, when he told Draco about Hogwarts. After several requests from Draco ofcourse.

Goyle somehow never missed one meeting, pathetic.
How good could it be when this meat-head was interested in it. At least Crabbe stayed by his side while Goyle had his fingers in some pumpkin.
Draco already complained about how Goyle reeked of Pumpkin.
His ears just turned red, and he disappeared in the bathrooms to wash his hands again.

It didn't get better, and Draco ordered Goyle to take his distance since the constant pumpkin reek caused him headaches.
Which only added to his stress of being observed by that Mudblood.
In the latest days something changed, Draco was sure of it.
He didn't like that feeling it gave him. Pas du tout! Like there was a threat behind every corner.

The morning of Halloween Draco had not yet dared to look in the mirror.
He already knew that he had dark rings under his eyes.
Despite having his face stuck between two pillows, pressing them against his ears to muffle the loud voices from the commonroom.
He felt like he had not slept an hour, and that hour he slept was filled with unpleasant recreations of the spook stories who were told with way too much enthusiasm.

While looking down in the common room, Draco noticed, to his displeasure.
That some Hufflepuff even stayed the night at the Slytherin commonroom, and Draco bet some Slytherin stayed the other way around. How was this allowed!?

Those who made it through the night without falling asleep bragged about it all morning.
Goyle was one of them.
Draco hated how enthusiastic Goyle talked about the night, like it was some sort of special event and not some night disturbance made up by Muggles.

Dracos mood even worsened when the reek of baking pumpkin wafted through the corridors.
Snape had put a spell on the dungeon entrance so the Pumpkin sent didn't crawl in the dungeons, but It made it worse when the stench of pumpkin hit Draco's face as soon as he stepped in the Entrance Hall.
Immediately, the painful throbbing in his temples began again. Putain!

"Malfoy? Are you alright?"
Draco looked up to Crabbe, who avoided his gaze. He waved it off,
"Just bring me something without pumpkin. I'm eating in the common room today; the pumpkin reek is unbearable!"
Crabbe just nodded and left.

Draco took a deep breath and turned back to the dungeons, nearly bumping into the dark-haired mudblood.
She looked like she took part in a pillow-fight and hadn't yet noticed how messy she looked.
Draco just wanted to let out a sharp comment when she just pushed past him.
The audacity!? She didn't even apologize!

Cursing quietly, Draco made his way down the stairs back to the dungeons.
Should he practice his spells while he waited for Crabbe to bring his breakfast?
Maybe, since he still had trouble with the floating spell.

Chapter 20: Troll in the dungeon

Summary:

Draco gets traumatized and Ashley gets her revenge

Notes:

Thank you so much for the 100+ reads!

 

Enjoy the a little late Chapter 20.^^

Chapter 20: Troll in the dungeon.


"Who's idea was it to let those Bat's fly around in the Great Hall!"

Draco complained while Crabbe ducked his head from one Bat that flew a little to close over his head. Goyle sat down on Draco's other side, the wood creaked under his weight.
How Draco would love to be back in the common rooms,, his mother has send him a big package for Halloween and he didn't have the time, nor privacy to open it yet.
Golden plates with food appeared on the tables. Draco quickly put food on his plate, particularly checking the absence of pumpkin. He wanted to finish as soon as possible.

"Draco, are you sure you don't want to try this exquisite stuffed pumpkin?"
What by Merlin wanted Parkinson again?

Draco declined with a careless wave of his hand and threw a glance on Crabbes Plate. Crabbe didn't waste a single inch on his plate, Draco could have puked at thw sight of mashed Punkinjuice soaking the spice bread and the chicken. He made a disgusted grimmace.
"Crabbe, are you sure you want to eat all that? Not that you turn orange.."
Draco added in a sly tone and the excitement in Crabbes face faded when he looked at Dracos, barely filled, plate, and then at his own.

Draco nodded and emptied his plate with tiny bites. He wanted to leave as fast as possible, before the other Slytherins would arrive at the commonroom.
Judging by the other Slytherins who were taking their time with the feast, Draco had atleast 15 minutes to enjoy his Halloween presents.
Quick but without looking like he was in a hurry, Draco hurried down the spiral stairs, a short cut to the Slytherin dormitory. He had only used this path a few times now.
Draco marched along the dark stone corridor, the silence aside his echoing steps made him a little anxious.
Was this the right corridor?
Or did he take the wrong turn? Doubts began to brew inside Draco.
It was the first time he took the shortcut alone.
Could he get lost in the dungeons of Hogwarts?

A foul stench reached his nostrils, a mix of old socks and trashcan.
Ew, dégoûtant

Then a sound.
The blood froze in Dracos veins.
A low grunting and the shuffling footballs of gigantic feet. Draco looked behind him, only long corridors, lit by Torches that only have enough warmth to avoid freezing.
If someone, or something attacked him down here.... Draco pulled out his wand, his heart pounding in his throat making him struggle to breathe calm. The end of the corridor was not far, he saw another corridor crossing his current one.

He just played with the thought to just run into the next corridor when a large figure stepped out of the crossing.
Twelve feet tall, dull, gray skin and a lumpy body with way to short legs.

A troll!
A troll!? Here in the dungeons of Hogwarts!?

Draco pressed himself against the stone walls. His wand tight in his shivering hand.
Only a smal toothpick compared to the huge wooden club the Troll dragged along. In the middle of the crossing between Dracos and the crossing Corridor the Troll came to stand.
Taking deep sniffs, blowing its nostrils wide.
Could Trolls smell Wizards?
Draco wanted to close his eyes hoping his heartbeat wouldn't betray him.

Wary, he glanced over to the troll waiting for it to pass when suddenly something lowered in the corner of his eye.
Draco's head spun around quickly, covering his own mouth so he wouldn't scream.
Peeves the poltergeist was floating upside down in front of him.
Grinning deviously. What was he doing here?Draco had never seen Peeves in the dungeons, or near Slytherins in general.

Draco glanced back to the troll, still sniffing.
Could it see Peeves?
What would happen if a student died at Hogwarts, could his body be found?
Draco made a swipe in Peeves direction, hoping to chase him away, but Peeves grimmace only widened. With a wiggle of his index finger, Peeves floated further into the middle of the corridor.

Sweat broke out on Draco's forehead. What was Peeves planning? "Hellooo Trolly, nice Club you got there" bellowed Peeves and Draco felt like he couldn't breathe. Slowly the Troll turned around. Stomping in Dracos corridor, it was only a matter of time until it saw him. "Wooha, your so much bigger up close big guy" cackled Peeves as the Troll came closer. It tilted it's head a little. Dracos heart stopped when his eyes met with the half blind and infected looking eyes of the Troll.

Anger filled the Trolls face as it rose it's club above them in the air and charged with a loud roar in Dracos direction. Draco screamed too and pressed himself tight against the wall his mind swept empty. No spells, no thoughts, not even moments off his life.


The next thing Draco noticed was how Peeves pressed in a brick in the wall and then the whole world around Draco turned around.
When he finally regained his senses he sat in an empty, but well known corridor.

His hair messy, his uniform damp from sweat, his breath caught.
Trembling he pulled his knees to his chest. Pulling open his first wich was still clutching onto his wand, leaving smal red prints from his fingernails.
For some time wich felt like several minutes, he just stared at the brick wall in front of him. Two words and it would open, leading into the safety of Slytherin commonroom.

Suddenly steps, many steps and voices. Students! Draco felt his heartbeat fasten.
Quickly he got on his feet and leaned against the wall for support.
With a quick wipe through his hair and over his clothes he hid all signs of what he had witness.

A Perfect turned around the corner followed by the rest of the Slytherin students.
"Draco? Why aren't you in the Commonroom? You left like minutes ago."
asked Parkinson. Draco avoided her gaze by holding his head a little higher.
"I just took a longer stroll, why is everyone here?" He casually changed the topic. "Oh there is a Troll in Hogwarts, Dumbledore ordered all students to return to their Dorms until the danger is gone."

Answered Pansy. Draco nodded before Pansy could elaborate and followed the other Slytherins in the Commonroom. He just trew a quick look back at the corridor, did he maybe just imagine what happened? How did he get on this side of the corridor?

But instead of the corridor he directly looked in the eyes of that damn Halfblood, that was just what he needed, the noisy Mudblood and her habit of making him uncomfortable. She raised her eyebrows, looked him up and down. Draco immediately turned back to the front. Did she notice his quick cover up? Did she suspect anything? Could she use it against him? Dammit, the only thing he needed now was peace.

We wanted to open his present.
Alone.
He glared at Crabbe and Goyle who just wanted to follow him up to the dormitories.



Ashley:

A Troll in the dungeons?
Was it a good idea then to bring the Slytherin back to said dungeons were their Dorm was located.

Ashley followed the crowd and threw a quick look at the small red mark on the inside of her wrist.
Just this morning she had called Peeves and gave him full control on how he could cause chaos.
As long it hit one specific student.
Should she have given more instructions? Did Peeves let out the Troll?

When the crowd arrived at the Dorm, Ashley noticed Malfoys blonde head between the other students, didn't he leave earlier?

He looked...pathetic...

Ashley decided to keep an eye in him. When he caught her eye Ashley saw panic in them, atleast that was wat she had read from those 2 seconds before he turned his head again.
Did Peeves do his job?
Ashley checked the mark, it had faded back into a similar color like her skin.
Yes, Peeves had completed his task. But what exactly did he do? Ashley had to ask him later.


The troll problem was solved rather quickly, and all Lessons had been canceled for today.

'So the students could recover from this shock'.

Although none of the students looked any near a shock, but who was Ashley to complain, the day wasn't done and so Ashley had more than enough time to search for a quiet place to call Peeves.

To her satisfaction, the castle offered more than enough places far away from any students.
Peeves came with a joyful cackle around the corner, changing colour every 2 seconds while sparkling of joy, like he actualy had glittery particles flying around him.
"Ohhh you should have seen his face, the horror when he saw the toll, hooohoho."
Ashley felt a grin on her cheeks.
"So you let the Troll in  potentially endangering students?"
She asked in a light tone.
Peeves turned upside down.

"Nooo, of course not, I would NEVER endanger a student... everything was under control. I just gave a little push in the right direction, the troll was just and idea among others you knowww."
Said Peeves spinning horizontally in the air while mimicking Ashley's crossed arms.
"Who did you give the idea? Who let the Troll in?" She asked a little curious.
Peeves shrugged.
"That stuttering mess with the turban. I don't know, he was plotting something, talking to himself. Everything to radical, nothing fun."

Ashley raised both eyebrows "Professor Quirrel? That scardy cat? No way!" Peeves nodded seriously. "Ridiculous, people don't enjoy fun these days." Ashley tilted her head. "Agreed, I bet he doesn't know shit about what he actually teaches." "Yea, Yea. Really Disappointing." More serious nodding.

"True, your first mission is complete you may leave now Peeves."
"Oh what an honor, I'm allowed to leave. It was a pleasure to work with you, the most fun had in years, Weasley twins excluded of course..."
brabbled Peeves while disapearing again, of course not without throwing over a stone Statue on a smal Podest around the corner.

The Statue shattered in thousand pieces and Ashley had once again a chance to practice the Repair charm.
Was Peeves still mad or was that normal for him to always leave a little chaos behind.
Probably both.

Ashley put the now repaired statue back in the Podest. A young good looking teenager, maybe 16 years old with a thin face and well kept hair. Probably an honored student long forgotten by the schools history.
She made sure the Statues base aligned with the fairly visible square on the podest.
Where should she spend the day?
At the castles courtyard?

Maybe she should get Cheddar and let him run around on the grass a little.
Yes he needed some fresh air, and Ashley too. Just to clear the head and check of a name on her mental hitlist.

Chapter 21: Quidditch

Summary:

Just a bunch of info dumping and the Quidditch match from Ashley's perspective.

Without further ado,
enjoy chapter 21 ^^.

Chapter 21: Quidditch

 

The first Quidditch match of the year.
There was hardly any other topic that the students around Ashley talked about.
Slytherin versus Gryffindor.
From what she heard it should be an easy win since the Gryffindor players were undermanned and didn't have aSeeker, what ever that means.
Many wondered how Gryffindor was even able to qualify for the Match with an incomplete team.

This school became less professional every day.

Luckily, she was one of those who could benefit from this, otherwise it would have been much more difficult to get revenge on Malfoy. It gave her great pleasure to watch him refuse to go to the dungeons alone. It was so satisfying to watch him come up with idiotic excuses to avoid going to the dungeons alone.
Good thing his friends had no problem following him around. What entertainment.
Ashley even played with the thought to add a little salt to the wound. Maybe she should spread a few rumors. 'Malfoy, the boy who is scared of the dungeons.' 'Malfoy can't find his way to the common rooms on his own.' Ohh the options. She decided to save those for later

 

Ashley sat in the library. Since skipping flying lesson became a regular thing for Ashley, she sat on a table hidden behind shelves so Madam Pince didn't see her. Since she found the alchemy section a few days ago, Ashley now spend every free hour to study Wizardry Alchemy. Many of the potions and experiments were already familiar to her.
Wizardry Alchemy was just like ancient Alchemy, but a little more magical.

After the few months in Hogwarts and the Wizarding world Ashley came to realize that everything in the Wizarding world felt left behind, like magic became a substitute for electricity, and nobody ever tried to reach its limits.

With Magic the basic Alchemists-dream was
complete. Led to Gold with only a little magic possible, goal completed, no need to search further.
Normal Alchemists never achieved that dream so they kept searching.

It was a bit of a shame that apparently no wizard or witch ever questioned how or why their magic worked.
Ashley looked at the wand.
Would today's Science work with this?
How much of the magic was still unknown, where did it come from, what were it's limits, it's core?

'Get Periodic Table from home.' she wrote on her list with notes. Directly under 'Research old Alchemy -> magic = energy?'

 

Saturday, the day of the Quidditch match.
Ashley sat in the Great Hall staring down at the fried sausages on her plate.
Cheddar was still sleeping in his little nest in the cage and she didn't want to wake him.
Without the curious rat sniffing the meals that were different every day, it felt a little lonely.
It was way to early in the morning for weekends. Ashley started skipping breakfast over the weekends to acompansate her lack of sleep, so waking up at this time felt way earlier than it actually was.

"Have you noticed? Professor Snape has been limping for a few weeks."
Ashley pricked up her ears, so the other students noticed too.
"No way, I thought I was imagining it."

Ashley dared to look to the students that talked about Snape limping.
Ashley knew their faces, she had seen them often enough, but she had forgotten their names, but she didn't bother to remember, they were probably not important.

 

Ashleys food was still untouched when the plates disappeared, who ever prepared the food would probably not mind.
Everyone around her moved, Ashley quickly got up and mixed among the students.
Everyone returned to their houses putting on thicker clothes.
Ashley grimmaced at the thought of standing outside in the humid cold air.
Hopefully someone had defrosted the seats.

Ashley wrapped the Green-Silver Slytherin scarf around her neck, together with a knitted cap and pulled the hood of her robe in her face.

The other Students in the girl-dormitories already left when Ashley closed the wooden door behind her.
A student from the boy-dormitories nearly bumped into her he was struggling with a big green 'Slytherin win' banner, underneath the silver glowing writing a a snake strangling a poorly drawn lion.
"Sorry" they wisperd and disappeared. Ashley adjusted her cap and also disappeared through the elegant wooden frame, which turned back into smooth stone behind her.

 

Eleven o'clock. Everyone found a seat in stands around the Quidditch pitch. Many students had binoculars to see better what was going on in the pitch. The Slytherin and Gryffindor houses all began building up their banners and planning chanting cheers.
Bets were being made, mostly between the other houses that weren't playing today.

"You see this shit" said a student beside Ashley looking through their binoculars.
Ashley blinked when the student handed her her binocular and pointed across the pitch to the Gryffindors.
Unsure what to do Ashley looked through the binoculars, following the students finger to a large banner wich was made out of...
... ruined sheets??

"What the..."
"'Potter for President', what stuck up crap is this?"

Another student leaned over.

"Isn't Harry Potter in the first year?"

Ashley and the student with the binoculars nodded.

"Let's just wait, maybe that's just some kind of attention seeking fan work. There is no way they would have let him in the Quidditch team."
"Fair but did you see how he flew during the first flying lesson. He has talent"
"Oh don't be ridiculous, he is just reckless and lucky."

Ashley preferred to stay out of the discussion.
She watched the field and waited for the players to step or fly onto the field.
She had never watched Quidditch, she just knew it was a sport preformed on brooms.

Loud cheering greeted the players, and lo and behold, between the tall and older players the small and thin Potter boy. The Slytherin booed but the Gryffindors cheered louder.
Madame Hooch, she was refereeing blew a loud silver whistle.
Ashley grimmaced at the nearly unbearable high tone.

Fifteen brooms rose up in the air and the game started.
A Gryffindor Student commented the game, they were rather entertaining. Ashley could hear McGonagall yell their name even across the field when he made a rather dry comment about the Gryffindor Chaser.
Ashley had no idea about the game, the rules or how it was won.
She shouldn't have skipped so many Flying lessons.

Gryffindor made the first score.
The Slytherins around Ashley groaned.
Ashley picked up a few more curse words.

"Potter is pretty high up. Do you think he could hit a bird up there?"
Ashley looked up, a tiny dot at the sky circling over the pitch. Ashley felt nausea at the thought of how high he was. A drop from up there was deadly.
Quickly she looked back down.
Ashley watched the match continue.

It was as interesting as American Football. Not interesting enough to yell around, but not boring enough to look away.
Ashley just tried not to think about the heights and speeds the players were flying with.
When the Potterboy was nearly knocked from his broom she closed her eyes while the Gryffindor screamed 'foul'.
Gryffindor got a free shot or something.
The Commentary pulled a few dry jokes and the game continued.
Slytherin scored and everyone cheered.
Well all Slytherin but who cared.

Suddenly the mood changed, and a few students looked up. Ashley followed. The Potterboy was making a fool out of himself on his broom.
Zigzaging in the air around in the pitch. He was going to fall. And there, he did Ashley closed her eyes, her brain already calculating the injuries taken from a fall like this.

She distracted herself watching Slytherin scoring atleast five times, not like anyone cared but worth the notice.
Suddenly a movement out of the corner of her eye. Dark bushhair, their red scarf stood out among the green banners and scarves.
What was a Gryffindor doing here?
Ashley watched with confusion as the Gryffindor set Professor Snapes robe on fire and when he noticed, just scooped it up and disappeared again.

What just happened!?
A gasp when through the rows.
Ashley dared to look to see that Potter was able to climb back on his broom.
Still confused she watched as Potter nearly chocked on a golden Ferrero with wings.
Apparently that made Gryffindor win.
Didn't Slytherin score atleast six times?
Loud Howls came from Slytherin while Gryffindor cheered.

 

Back in the Commonrooms Ashley played with Cheddar in a corner in the room.
She already made the mistake of sitting on a silver plate once, that ain't happening twice.
A few Slytherin sat in the many seat options, arguing about the game. Ashley didn't understand what there was to talk about. So she didn't bother to listen.

Chapter 22: Idiots and Apologies

Summary:

Ashley preparing for Holidays, Gryffindor being annoying winners, and Ashley does a smal step towards her dormitory peers.

Chapter 22: Idiots and Apologies

 

Mid-December, the light frost outside had turned into thick blankets of snow and the first snowballs were flying through the air.
Ashley left the Great Hall from Breakfast, since the start of regular snow-storms, less and less Owls delivered post everyday and most flying lessons were canceled.

Snape still refused to put any Warmth-Charms in the Potions classroom so it was uncomfortably cold during potions.
Slytherin was also still pissed about the lost Quidditch match, probably because Gryffindor wouldn't let any Slytherin forget, that they lost.

Ashley always changed the corridor when she saw a group of Slytherin and Gryffindor fighting again.
Especially that Potter was alowed at the match stuck a nerve for many Slytherin and even some of the other Houses.
Rumors spread that Potter got his broom from the school and Dumbledore made an exception just for him.
Ashley had heard of the phenomenon that popular children often got special treatment, and Potter seemed to be no exception.
Since she overheard a few Slytherins comparing Potter with a wide-mouthled tree frog. Ashley imagined some kind of Kermit on a broom, which was a pretty nice picture in her head.

On her way to class, Ashley had to pass several older Gryffindors who shouted their "Gryffindor wins, Slytherin stinks" chant right in her ears.
After class, she would set Peeves on them.

Potions.
Ashley had the pleasure to work alone again. Professor Snape had alowed her to work alone if she proved that she could work alone.
The Students around her already talked about what they expected for Christmas, mountains of Presents, golious feasts and the whole family would come.
Ashley herself couln't wait to see Uncle Paul again. The thought that he was her only family left, was repressed before the thought could take root.

Professor Snape had already collected all signatures of the students that needed to stay in Hogwarts over Christmas holidays, and a specific Blonie made alot of uncreative jokes about those who signed the paper, as if he didn't have anything better to do.
But since he left her alone, Ashley did nothing and just watched Blondie insulting people.

After Potions Ashley waited for everyone to leave the classroom while she took her time to pack her things.
But the commotion from the corridor made her curios, Ashley packed her stuff and looked to check. A large conifer blocked the corridor.

"Would you mind moving out of the way?" Malfoy drawled, "or are you trying to earn some extra money, Weasley? Hoping to be gamekeeper yourself when you leave Hogwarts, I suppose - that hut of Hagrid must seem like a palace compared to what your family's used to"
Malfoys tone was a little anoyed but not hostile, still grabbed the red-head, Blondies Robe.

"WEASLEY!"

Yelled Snape as he hurried past Ashley to the end of the still blocked corridor, looks like neither Slytherin nor Gryffindor would arrive to their next lessons on time.
Transfiguration was next, and Professor McGonagall was not one who tolerated comming late.

Snape took 5 points from Gryffindor and the Gryffindors had to let all Slytherins pass the tree first.
The look the Red-head gave every Slytherin that passed was so unpleasant, Ashley grimmaced back.
He looked like he wanted to get every single one of them expelled or even better, dead on the floor.

Later Ashley figured out that Transfiguration class was canceled.
Damn it, with an anoyed groan Ashley picked a fir needle out of her shirt.
Her robe had a few tree sap streaks that stuck to everything that came near, getting tree sap out of clothes was such a hassle. Why was the Giant in the dungeons anyways.

Ashley decided to spend the class in one of the secluded corridors with good view on the courtyard, where students already built Snow Statues and walls to guard against flying snowballs.

A book about Alchemy on her lap, she had just started the chapter about 'Uses of Dragon blood', and her Cardigan on her shoulders she sat in one of the Windowframes, her back against the stone walls while it startet snowing again. Ashley watched the packed snowflakes tumble her fingers on a page with green handwriting documenting the results of experimenting with dragonblood.
She should really read into magical Creatures more, she had only skimmed the book since she wasn't really interested in it.
'Magical theory' by Adalbert Waffling was also worth a second read.
Ashley looked at her wrist, the smal mark was red, a few minutes ago she had called Peeves again and described him the group members of the older Gryffindors that anoyed her in the morning.
This time she had told Peeves to tone a little down. Letting a troll in hogwarts, even if he was only partly responsible, was to dangerous. "Nothing that could seriously harm students and their physical and mental well-being," was her demand.
Peeves had just rolled his eyes and left with waking up all paintings in the corridor.

Holiday was only one day away and Ashley was one of the few who had already packed.
Tomorrow around lunch-time, the Train back to King's cross would depart. Ashley had no grasp in how long it has been since she entered Hogwarts it felt like forever and just yesterday.

The next morning breakfast consisted mainly of snack ingredients so all students who would ve leaving Hogwarts over holidays will have something to eat during the long train ride.
Ashley made herself 2 bacon sandwiches and made sure to pack in some fruit and vegetables for Cheddar.
She got a few confused looks for her Lunchbox, have they seriously never seen one?

After Breakfast Ashley packed the last things in her backpack, she had already put away her school uniform since she couldn't wait to wear her comfortable home clothes again.
She wore an old, knitted turtleneck sweater in green with washed out wide-cut jeans and a pair of mismatched fursocks, a reindeer on one and Gingerbread houses on the other
Maybe that's why some Slytherin looked at her weird.

"Curses, I can't close the damn thing."
Ashley closed the zipper of her backpack and looked over to...
...Parkinson was her name right?
She struggled to close her suitcase.
"Why arent the house elves doing this?"
She complained, a few other girls in the dormitory seemed to have the same problem.
Have they never packed their stuff themselves?

Ashley hesitated, should she help?
Last time she attempted to help,... a certain Malfoy started picking at her.

"Just sit on it, the weight pushes the top down so you can close it easier."
Parkinson looked at Ashley like she just suggested to microvawe cereal or something.
Ashley prepared to get a snarky comment and turned away to clean Cheddars cage one last time before departure.
Cheddar was sleeping in her turtle neck, that rat seriously slept a lot.

When Ashley dared to throw a glance in Parkinsons direction she actually saw her trying out Ashley's advice, she still seemed to struggle though.

"Need help?" Ashley asked after giving herself a push.
Parkinson made a sound Ashley could not sort, but then nodded.
Ashley helped to close the suitcase and showed the other girls in the dormitorys how to close it easier too, but she didn't bother to see them testing it.

Ashley was just about to leave when Parkinson called out her name.
"Oi Wood,"
Ashley slowly turned her head.
"You look ridiculous with that jumper"
Ashley raised her eyebrows and looked Pansy in her still neat fitted uniform and particularly tidy haircut that didnt suit her face.

"Then we have something in common."
Everything was said, before Parkinson could fully grasp what Ashley ment, she already had disappeared through the door, crossing a name from her hitlist.

Chapter 23: Happy Holiday, we are up to our necks in uranium.

Summary:

Ashley gets back home over Christmas holidays.

Chapter 23: Happy Holiday, we are up to our necks in uranium.

 

On the way back to King's cross Ashley had to share a compartment with a Group of Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Gryffindor Students. They rarely payed attention to her, so Ashley used the opportunity to get some sleep.
She felt like she had been awake the whole night, her mind filled with thoughts about how she felt about returning to Uncle Paul.
To only Uncle Paul...

Damn it, she wanted to sleep not get sentimental over something she couldn't change.
It happened and there was better to do than soak in whatever feelings you feel when you just lost your parents just, like 4 months ago.
The number felt so small compared to how long the time felt.

A clattering sound from outside.
The snack-trolley, Ashley bought a Pumpkin Pasty.

 

The long trainride felt like forever when finaly the voice echoed through the train.

"We will be reaching King's cross in five minutes' time. Please take your luggage of the train, if not the containments will be donated to Wizzards and Witches in need.
We wish you a Merry Christmas with your family's and a Happy Holiday."
The Students around Ashley already began to move.
Cheddar woke up in his cage immediately running around squeaking for attention.
Ashley opened the cage a little to pet him.

The train finally arrived in King's cross.
Parents waited at the Station of 9¾ waving their kids and teens.
Ashley took her time leaving the train, she didn't want to get in all the pushing and yelling when everyone wanted to get out at the same time.

When she left the trainwagon Uncle Paul already spotted her.
With a beaming smile he waved in her direction and Ashley waved back while balancing the cage on her suitcase.
Uncle Paul quickly came to help.

When everything was of the train he finally greeted her with open arms.
"Welcome back Firefly!"
Ashley let Uncle Paul hug her, it felt weird, it was the first physical touch since months, she had never thought to miss it that much.
Ashley burried her face in Uncle Paul's old coat and breathed in the sent of old leather and wax, then she let go.

"So how is Hogwarts? Did you learn everything" Uncle Paul asked while strapping Cheddars Cage to the suitcase for easier transportation. Ashley nodded.

"Its a really old castle in the middle of no where, with ghosts, dungeons, nature and a maze of rooms, and the Paintings are all alive"

Paul's eyes got wider with every sentence Ashley formed, he continued to ask questions while they left the station, when Ashley looked back she spottet Malfoy sitting on his luggage alone, no parents in sight.

On the way to Uncle Paul's home, Ashley talked about the lessons, how she could make fire with a flick of the wand, make objects float, brew potions and transform a things into totally different ones.
Ashley talked about the Halloween event where Slytherin and Hufflepuff shared creepy stories and carved pumpkins.
How the libary was filled with books about magic.
How there was no technology at Hogwarts only magic and Nature.

Ashley talked about the houses, the Owls the Meals when suddenly Uncle Paul asked something.

"This all sounds great Ashley, did you make friends too?"
Ashley stopped, oh no she didn't, she thought she did but...
She shook her head and shruged and Paul continued a little worried.
"From what I heard is blood relation a really important thing over there, you did not get bullied or anything right?"

For a moment Ashley wanted to talk about the little mean comments, the looks and the feeling of being judged, about how this stuck-up blonde destroyed all chances of connecting with the other students in her house but she stayed silent.
What could Uncle Paul do, aside from being worried?
Nothing. Ashley could deal with those problems herself, she always did and that way she didn't have to play the victim to get empty attempts of help from adults.
No this was her battle ground and the less people knew about her problems and conflicts the less people would get dragged in.
Ashley shook her head.

"No, people just dealt with their own things, it's not like school was easy just because it was magic."
Uncle Paul glanced in Ashleys direction.
"You are not lying to me right Firefly? Remember Adults can help with your problems, you aren't alone"
"Uncle Paul please, why would I lie to you" Ashley lied and smiled in his direction.
"I had a great time and learned alot, no problems whatsoever."
Uncle Paul sighs.
"Well then I'm glad the school is good for you."

 

Silence filled the car and Ashley stared out of the window, a thin layer of dirty snow covered passing fields, houses and yards.
Nothing compared to the thick heavy snowfall in Hogwarts.
"By the way.." broke Paul the silence.
"What do you wish for Christmas and your Birthday?"
Ashley looked over. "My birthday?"
"Yes, we missed it since you were at Hogwarts, don't tell me you forgot your own Birthday."
Ashley shook her head.
No she did not, it just felt insignificant that she turned 11 during October when everyone was preparing for Halloween and the lessons got more challenging..
"Firefly?"
"Hm?"
"You got quieter, are you sure everything is alright?"
Ashley blinked.
Paul looked over to her worry in his eyes.
"Yes, everything is alright Uncle Paul... I'm, I'm just exhausted from school and need to get used to the human world again."
Cars hooked behind them.
The traffic lights turned green a few seconds ago, Paul looked back at the road mumbling something.

Ashley leaned back in the seat. It creaked notably
"You need a new car Uncle Paul."
Paul sighs.
"Maybe, but it's still working just fine"
Ashley rolled her eyes.
"Seriously, how does this still work?" Paul proudly tapped the old steering wheel
"Old technology  Firefly, from a time were cars were made to last ages."
Ashley laughed. "Old, not ancient, when this thing breaks down it probably has to be locked away for ages until it can be disposed properly"
Paul chuckles
"You're exaggerating, I specifically looked for one without radioactive components."
Ashley laughed louder.
"Dont tell me they put that stuff in there too"
Paul shruged.
"Back in my day we were sitting in that stuff to our necks on free will, the prickle on your skin, better than any bubble bath"
Ashley lost it.
"Your lying."
She laughed.
"Why would I lie to my own Granddaughter? How inhuman of me."
Paul replied in the most sarcastic voice he could offer.
Ashley's stomach hurt from laughing, it felt good to laugh.
Somehow freeing and soothing, it's been a while.

Ashley and Paul continued to make bad jokes and Paul took the a little longer road home, so the moment could last a little longer.

Chapter 24: Pine needles and Memories

Summary:

Christmas preparations and family memories

Chapter 24: Pine needles and Memories

 

Ashley watched as her warm breath rose as fog into the gray sky.
It was freezing outside, her fingers felt like icicles and the pine needles stung her hands.
She stood on a ladder leaned against the housewall a cardboardbox with Christmas ornaments  on the step before her.

She agreed to help Uncle Paul set up the Christmas decorations since he felt no longer able to do this alone.
While she stood on the ladder pricking her fingers on pine needles, hanging up glistening ornaments between lights and pine branches wich she had draped around the house yesterday, although with a little help, Paul was getting the Christmas tree.

Tomorrow was Christmas Eve, and then in a few weeks Ashley had to return to Hogwarts.
Ashley wasn't sure how fond she was about the thought to returning. It's not like it was terrible, Ashley just didn't like the people in her house. They were annoying, also the point system felt unfair and unbalanced. Each professor could award and take points at their own discretion, without regard to rules or favoritism. Ashley began to wonder how many times Slytherin had won the House Cup only because Professor Snape turned a blind eye to every misdeed committed by Slytherin students. The points he took from Slytherin were never more than 15, which Ashley had only seen once, relatively simple potion. Snape deducted the points because the student 'constantly wasted his ingredients.' not because they failed.

"Ouch" Ashley shook her hand, she had grapped into a broken ornament. She checked the box, it was nearly empty, Ashley could see old dried pineneedles and ornament shards on the bottom of the box.
She climbed down the ladder, moved it by a few feet and climbed up again to hang up the last ornaments.

 

A few minutes later, she opened the house door again and locked it behind her.
The moment she stepped into the house her fingers started hurting from the change from cold to warm, and to her anger she had cut herself on the ornament earlier. In the cold she didnt notice the bleeding and now she had dried blood streaks on her hands. Shaking her hands she looked for a band-aid in the drawer left from the door.
After putting a pink fairy band-aid on the cut, she took off the thick coat, hung up her hat and put the fingerless gloves back on the drawer, a unsuccessful attempt to guard her hands from the cold while keeping flexibility.
Uncle Paul should return in a few minutes.
Ashley licked her finger and rubbed away the bloodstreaks while going upstairs. She could take the time to make a Wishlist for Christmas and her missed Birthday, would she get dubble the presents for both Christmas and her Birthday?
Ashley climbed into her room and searched for paper and pen. Finaly she could use ballpointpens again, using Feathers was still unfamiliar to her. She still dipped her pen into a nonexistent ink bottle.

"Ashley could you help me to set up the tree?" Paul had returned. Ashley came downstairs a written and neatly folded sheet of paper in the hand.
Paul was standing in the hallway, struggling a needle tree through the open door.
Pine needles everywhere.
Ashley let out a sigh.

"Why didnt you get the tree packed?"
Paul shruged. "Wasn't an option, can you get the tree stand ready? It should be somewhere under the sink, that's where I last put it. I think."

Ashley went into the kitchen and opened the cabinet under the sink, a flashlight was tied to the drain pipe. One click and she could see better. Between old cobwebs and dust that could probably be dated back 4 years, she found the tree stand wedged under a box of small garden gnomes, and some other pipes of unknown purpose, perhaps for the shower or toilet.
With a bit of moving and swearing she forced the tree stand out of the cabinet and sneezed a few times when years load of dust flew in her face.

"You got it?"
Yelled uncle Paul from the hallway only a few feet away, the tree still stuck in the doorframe.
"Got it"
Yelled Ashley back and held up the treeholder, Paul smiled.
"Wonderfull can you now help me with the tree? It's pretty stuck."
Ashley sighs and squeezed herself outside, if she would have a sickle for everytime she had to squeeze past a needle tree because said tree was stuck, Ashley would have two sickles.
Two sickles to much for her liking, but two sickles are two sickles.

 

Ashley helped Paul get the tree inside, the branches had become entangled in the door frame, preventing the tree from being moved any further. How could Uncle Paul not have expected this?
He was getting old.
Like he was old already, but his brain started to have more and more little fall outs. Where it seemed like he lost all common sense and just did things because they made sense at the moment without wasting a second thought.

"Ashley can you move the tree a little to the right? Ashley tilted the tree a little to the right while Uncle Paul worked on the tree stand. The pine needles pricked her face as if she hadn't had enough of these. Ashley still found pine needles in her jumpers from when she hung up the garlands and she would bet her two sickles that she still had fir needles in her school uniform.

"Now a little to the left" Ashley leaned the tree in said direction.
"A little more, great, now a little away from you." Forward, back, left, right. Paul had been working on the tree for at least 10 minutes, trying to straighten it.
Usually Ashley's father would have helped Uncle Paul to set up the tree, he knew how to do this.
With him it only took less than 5 minutes to set up the tree, Ashley had no idea how to do this.

She had only watched from the kitchen counters, picking out the yearly Christmas ornaments while her mom would get the last presents.
She always acted like she had to get something for work, but her mom was always a bad liar.

The sharp pain in her chest again, how much Ashley missed those family moments, how much she missed them.
Why didn't she feel that pain when Katharine died?
Memories flood her mind.
Katherine used to make the best tea and biscuits when she was still well, to this day noone knew her recipes.
She used to bake the most delicious biscuits, not only for Christmas but in general, when she was in the kitchen the house always smelled like warm butter, chocolate, faint cinnamon or oranges.

If heaven could be described through sent, Ashley would describe the sents that filled the house when Katharine was baking.
It just made her feel so comforted and warm inside. The sent was one of the things Ashley could recall clearly even after atleast 3 years, it filled her nostrils, prickled on her skin.

Wait... Ashley blinked.
"Do you smell this Firefly? It smells like Katharines baking."
Uncle Paul had closed his eyes, his face full of bittersweet bliss.
Magic, Ashley accidentally enchanted the air or something.
She panicked. She wasn't alowed to use magic outside of school.
Ashley let go of the tree and rushed to the windows to open them. A cold breeze and the faint prickle on her skin faded away alongside the sent.

"Sorry, I was lost in thought."
Ashley apologized while Uncle Paul blinked a few times, His eyes revealed that he was still reveling in memories.
"You can do that? Since when?"
Ashley shrugged and tugged at the waistband of her sweater.
"I dont know, again, sorry. I'm not allowed to use magic outside of school, ohh I hope I don't get in trouble."

Paul shook his head laughing to himself.
"Dont worry Ashley, it was an accident, noone knowledgable of Magic could identify that as such, I myself thought I was just gone with my thoughts."

He picked up the tree that had fallen down when she rushed to the Window, Ashley immediately took the tree herself, her cheeks flushing in red.
"No need to be ashamed, you did what was reasonable in your situation Firefly"
Paul said with a calm tone. Ashley nodded, although he probably didn't see it because he was screwing on the tree stand again.

Moments of silence pass, only interrupted by Paul saying "a little to the right", "a little forward", "a little left, the other left".
It took atleast another 10 minutes until the tree was in an acceptable position.

Paul got up groaning while his back sounded like he had a glowstick for a spine.
Ashley still avoided his gaze.
He sighs.
"Listen Ashley, don't be ashamed when you accidentally use magic, it's not like anyone died because of it."
Ashley looked up, her face stone cold.
Uncle Paul cleared his throat.
"Wrong joke, not funny."
He mumbled until he attempted again.
"You see Firefly, you are new to magic, but your magic abilities are already extraordinary,-*"
"How did you come to that conclusion when you never saw 'normal' magic?"
Ashley interrupted, Uncle Paul cleared his throat again.
"Alright, Alright get this, your magic is not fully under control yet. It's like a bottle of coke, it's still until you open it. If you shook the bottle to much pre opening it, the coke will rise and seep out,--*"
"Are you comparing me to a bottle of coke?"

Uncle Paul let out a sigh and gave up.
"Im just, I... Thank you for what ever you did. You have no idea how hard it is sometimes without her."
Ashley pressed her lips together, she only knew Katherine for a few years, many of them were to early for Ashley to remember.
In Ashleys last memories of Katharine, she wasn't even able to get out of bed.
And one day her Parents got the call that she had passed away.
Ashley could only imagine a fraction of what it meant for Uncle Paul to lose the love of his live.

That how he always described her. The Love of his live, his achor in the storm, his sunshine and flower. The Woman that enchanted him more than any artifact he got his hands on.
Ashley knew from the glances Uncle Paul gifted to the old wedding picture on the drawer in the hallway that Uncle Paul would habe given up all treasures in the world just to continue to drink tea with her in the morning.
Ashley never understood how someone could love a person so much.
Like who would give up all the treasures in a world for a person?
Why did one exclude the other?

"Ok" Ashley responded and nodded, wanting to believe Uncle Paul that accidental magic would not cause an issue.

 

It didn't, despite Ashley being on edge the following day, no letter arrived telling her she was suspended. Nevertheless, she spent the entire morning and afternoon watching every window to see if an owl would come.
I the morning she had given Paul her wish list, he had exchanged his glasses and read the wishlist with overexreagated grimaces that made Ashley laugh.
He later left the house to 'buy groceries' while Ashley got herself a yogurt from the fringe inspecting the Christmas chicken for the evening. 'Groceries' right...

Ashley smiled and got herself two spoons, one to shovel chocolate crisp cereal in her yogurt and one to actually eat it.
There were some things hogwarts meals could never replicate, and that was her cheap chocolate cereal and yogurt with a most likely expired best-before date.

Chapter 25: Christmas tree and Birthday Presents

Summary:

Christmas and Ashley gets her presents, additional some information about Magies Family.

Notes:

Very late chapter 25.

Facts on rats:

Rats can make a similar sound to purring, it's called bruxing and they make that sound by grinding their teeth.
They also get the zoomies, it's called popcorning because they jump around like popcorn.

Chapter 25: Christmas tree and Birthday Presents

 

Christmas morning, Ashley woke up to a strange stench. She stretched and sat up.
Blinking in the sunlight that crept through the window above her.
What was this smell?
It smelled burned...

Ashley was now wide awake, she threw the covers aside and hurried to the trapdoor in the floor, which slammed loudly onto the wooden floor while Ashley stumbled barefoot down the ladder.
The rising panic constricted her throat and made it difficult to breathe.
She slid across the carpet towards the stairs, scraping her knees.
The adrenaline in her veins numbed the pain.

"Uncle Paul!" she yelled, stumbling further down the stairs.
Everything was filled with smoke, the broken smoke detector cracked and crunched, and the radio blared loudly from the living room.

Ashley fought her way through the smoke, still screaming for Uncle Paul.

Stumbling into the kitchen alcove, she found Paul coughing loudly as he waved his hand over a tray of hopelessly charred dough.
When he turned around, his eyes widened.
"Oh God's, Ashley!"
He quickly put the tray on the counter and took her in his arms.

Ashley was shaking all over, adrenaline and panic still coursing through her body.
"Oh Firefly, everything is ok, im still here"
Uncle Paul whispered into her hair and stroked her back to calm her down.
Slowly the adrenaline faded and the pain of the graze on her knee began to set in, it was bleeding a little but not to much. Uncle Paul helped her to sit down on the kitchen counter and went to get a bandaid from the hallway. Ashley just stared at the charred pieces that looked like cookies. Her eyes hurt because she hasn't blinked once, since she jumped out of bed.
Paul had opened the window on the way, and the smoke slowly dissipated.
The 'smoke' was more of a haze than the thick smoke Ashley thought she'd seen when she stumbled into the living room.

"Sorry, I thought it would be nice if we had biscuits for Christmas morning. I guess I overestimated myself a little."
Said Uncle Paul while he put a yellow Dinosaurier bandaid on Ashley's knee.
She nodded, and Uncle Paul hugged her again.
She clung her fingers in his Sweater. The smell of burned sugar still lingered in the fabric.

After a short while Uncle Paul broke the silence.
"Its Christmas morning, don't you want to look what Santa brought you?"
Ashley let Uncle Paul go and blinked. Presents? More than one.
Ashley looked to the glistening tree, decorated with ornaments and other Christmas decorations, excitement ignited in her chest.
Several presents packed reused and partly taped together colorfull paper.
Uncle Paul never throws away packing paper, he just used it over and over again. Ashley quickly hurried to the tree picking up each of her presents to inspect it closely, she also found a few letters laying on top of the biggest present. Ashley didn't know what to do with her hands, so she just fiddled with the seams of her PJ's.
"I can open them?" She asked offering Paul the most pleading look she could muster.
Uncle Paul laughed throwing a pity full look at the charred biscuits.

"Well you can open one,.."
Ashley already grabbed the biggest present and started picking at the tape.
"...while I prepare breakfast.."
Uncle Paul finished his sentence while Ashley finaly opened one side of the packaging.

"A Microscope!?"
Yelled Ashley and ripped open the paper. "Firefly, please be more careful with the paper."
Said Uncle Paul when he heard the paper rip.
Then he turned around
"Oh, so that was what your parents got for your birthday"
Ashley looked up from the box.

"Its from my parents? Mom and dad got me this?"
Uncle Paul nodded while Ashley looked at her present again.
"When?"
"I honestly don't know, Magie just excitedly told me that they found the perfect present for you, that was around the time you where obsessed with those tiny creatures that can also be plants?"
"microorganisms, it's a tiny, usually single-celled organisms "
"Yea that"
Ashley peeled of the tape from the carton, she wanted to check if this was an actual microscope, not just the cheap kids play version while talking about what she knew about Microbiology, Uncle Paul just nodded with a few sounds of understanding while preparing a quick breakfast.
Ashley knew that he already lost his attention, he sometimes froze in place forgetting what he was just doing, because his mind got a clean wipe when he tried to prepare breakfast and to listen to Ashleys talking, or atleast look interested.
Ashley didn't mind that Uncle Paul had trouble paying attention but his confusion gave Ashley more time to check out the new microscope.

After a while Ashley sat cross-legged on the counter eating a quick made jam toast.
Paul put the glas of cold punch drink on the other end of the counter worried Ashley would accidentally knock it down.
Uncle Paul didnt have any regular fruitjuice so a carton with child punch had to acomedate for Ashleys morning habits.
It was basically the same as regular fruit juice, just with more sugar, cinnamon aroma and Christmas motives in the carton.
Ashley reached out for the glas and drank it half empty before folding the jam toast in half to finish the rest on one bite.
Uncle Paul was still chewing on his, while Ashley got up, dusted the breadcrumbs from her Pj's and left the kitchen.
"I go get Cheddar he usually gets breakfast too at this hour too."
"Be careful we don't want him in the tree again." Heard Ashley Paul Shout while she already sprinted up the stairs, soon reminded that she had a scraped knee.
Cheddar was already awake, squeaking in his cage demanding to be let out.
When Ashley opened the door he immediately crawled up her sleeve. Nuzzling against her neck while bruxing.
Ashley petted Cheddar between his ears, she loved this little brown chunk of rat. She should limit the amount of grapes through.

"I see you have been taking care of him well" said Uncle Paul proudly when Ashley came back in the livingroom,
Cheddar was now sitting on Ashley's head grooming her already messy hair wich now looked even more messy. Ashley grinned, her hair tingling her nose.

"Do the letters first, they are easily forgotten under all the package paper." Advised Paul who kept am eye on Cheddar. Ashley nodded as she sat down in front of the tree again, taking the letters from the top of the boxes. Cheddar was popcorning in the paper of the first present, dragging it around and running in the smal caves that formed under the paper looking for the nuts they have hidden in the paper.
Uncle Paul got the camera while Ashley checked the envelopes and where they came from.

One was from Charles and Michael, a folded postcard with Santa in Drag standing, one hand on his hip in a beach landscape behind him the wide ocean, smiling cheerfully while 'Merry Christmas Darling' read in golden cursive letters above.
Where did they get these cards from? Ashley had never seen any cards at normal card stands close to what they send.
She never remembered to ask where they got these, so she just collected them in a box. Well the box was now Ashes.
Ashley didn't want to think about the other things she lost when the house burned down.
Things she might have forgotten.
Uncle Paul surely had recovered any legal stuff, so he was alowed to be her guardian, but things like fotographs, drawings, books or old toys where now gone.
"Ashley? You're looking sad all of the sudden, is..."
"Im fine." Interrupted Ashley Uncle Paul who had lowered his camera when he noticed Ashley drifting off.
Quickly she opened the card, inside Ashley found 20 pounds and a short text:

'Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday retrospectively from Charles and Michael from Australia. If you found 20 pounds in the card they have made it over the entire ocean, use it wisely.

PS: Never go to Australia, the wildlife is invading our residence and half of it can kill a bear with one bite.'

 

Underneath someone, probably Charles, drew a snake and some spiders.

Ashley had to giggle, the clicking of the camera. Ashley liked snakes, they where easy to read and understand, but they didn't go well with rodents and especially bad with Rats wich where one of Ashley's favorite Animals.

The next letter was from America, probably her mom's estranged family, they were estranged for a reason.
Ashley wasn't even sure if they where informed about the whole fire thing. They surely weren't invited for the funeral, and Ashley was thankful for that.
She had only met them once a few years ago, and they where insufferable.
Her mom's mother was nagging all the time about everything, and her mom's father constantly picked fights with Ashleys dad trying to prove he was a bad husband.
Ashley had soon left the scene and returned to her room while her mom threw both out.
The only good thing about them was the amount of money they gave Ashley when they came, probably some kind of bribe, although they didn't even bother to change it to the right currency.
Ashley opened the letter checking for money, again american dollar and tossed it aside.
Cheddar immediately jumped into the open envelope like it was the best cave ever discovered. Grandparents or not, 'those people where not worth her time', something her mom used say when she encountered people who where hard to deal with.

Ashley moved on to the presents. The remaining 2 letters where for Uncle Paul.

She grabbed a small and soft present, probably clothing. She carefully opened it.

"That's my Christmas gift for you."
Said Uncle Paul and took another photo.
Ashley opened the package more and pulled out a large knitted green sweater with mistletoes and snowflakes.

"You told me it gets cold up in Hogwarts, so when I saw this I got it. It's green so it matches your house and it's also your favorite colour."
Ashley smiled. The yarn it was made of had this soft fuzzy texture, not the scratchy texture the sweaters for the uniform had.
She was probably not allowed to wear it during school days but during the weekends this was perfect.
"Thank you, Uncle Paul, this is so soft!"
Paul nodded while Cheddar approved to the sweater by crawling in to it and looking trough one of the sleeves, chirping and running from one sleeve to the other.
"If it still had been available in my size I would have bought it for myself."
The camera clicked again and Ashley reached out for the one of the 2 last presents. It was long and narrow.

"This is your birthday present."

Uncle Paul explained while Ashley opened the present, inside was a long box.
When Ashley opened it, she found a long thin holster inside made from black Leather with silver embroidery at the corners.
"A wand holster?"
Uncle Paul nodded.
"I noticed you where keeping your wand in quite dangerous places. We don't want your hair to be lit on fire or something right Firefly?"

Ashley nodded and turned the holster in her hands. It was lightweight and could be looped through a belt. The belt was also folded in the box.
It had additional rings and leather loops for additional attachments.

"The shop was full with different bags, holsters, and pockets. For potions, ingredients, and so on.
If you need more later on, you can just add more. Neat right?"
The camera clicked and Ashley nodded.

"Why don't you get your wand from upstairs and try the whole thing on?"
Suggested Uncle Paul and Ashley immediately jumped up the stairs.
When she came down again she had her wand in the holster and was just closing the belt.
She already felt like a really cool with that thing. Like a cowboy but with a wand.

Uncle Paul was happily making photos of Ashley while she posed like a cowboy from the wild west, pulling her wand like a gun, mimicking a shooting action and then blowing over the tip of the wand like she just fired a bullet.
Uncle Paul continued to make photos.

The last present was a watch with Rats and cheese theme. Ashley had told Uncle Paul how hard it was to tell the exact time in Hogwarts, since they never had heard of clocks for classroom and every wall use.
The watch didn't match Ashley's color theme but it had Rats on it. She would wear it anyway.

Chapter 26: Pansy Parkinson

Summary:

Pov: Pansy

She tries to befriend Ashley again.

Notes:

Update dates will now be Sunday or Monday depending on when I finish the chapter and spellcheck.

Enjoy chapter 26 ^^

Chapter 26: Pansy Parkinson

 

Pansy was sitting by her desk resting her head on the dark wood surface, twirling a black pink feather with a glitter charm between her fingers.

'Dear Diary'
Read in neat handwriting on a page in a pink book, also with glitter charm.
The book was half full, the pages she had turned and written on were wrinkled.
Her mother had gifted her the Diary a few years ago. So she could 'write all the nonsense out of her head'.
Pansy knew her mother occasionally read it, that's how Diarys worked right?
Normally Pansy would write down everything that bothered her, everything she would tell her mother if she had the time to listen.
But this time the things she wanted to write felt like something she didn't want her mother to know.
Pansy let out a sigh, closed the book, locked it for whatever reason and closed the ink vial.
Friends with a half blood, that stood against anything her parents taught her.
Well she wasn't even friends with her, she probably despised her by now and thought of her as annoying like anyone else.
Still Pansy wanted to be friends with her.
Why? She was cool? Had a cute rat? Seemed talented and like she knew what was going on?
Or was it because she didn't seem to care about status or reputation?

Should Pansy apologize to her after Christmas? Would she forgive her?
How should she apologize? For what?
Well for what was clear, she made mean comments about her when Draco exposed her, what would happen with her if she chose to be friends with her?
Would she also become a victim to Draco's comments and antics?
His family was powerful, could she ruin her family's reputation by choosing who she was friends with?

Dammit!
Pansy let out a groan and rose up from her table, her chair nearly fell to the floor but Pansy was able to prevent that.
Her mother always got loud when Pansy made to much noise in her room.
Pansy ran her hand through her hair, which was already messy again.
Even with her short haircut, her thin hair was always a mess.

She needed fresh air, Pansy grabbed her robe and opened the doors to her balcony.
She stepped outside and immediately the cold wind hit her face.
Garden around the house was coated in a heavy layer of snow. Soon Christmas break was over and she could return to Hogwarts.
Pansy put her hands in the pockets of the new robe she got for Christmas, the warmth charm did it's job.
Except her unprotected face everything was warm.
The fabric was expensive and luxurious, but by far not the most expensive thing she owned.

To bad she wasn't allowed to show off her luxurious clothes at Hogwarts. Maybe then Ashley would act less offended when Pansy criticized her clothes, wich were everything but trendy.
Pansy would have gladly borrowed her some more fashionable clothes so she could alteast enjoy some of the luxury she didn't have as a halfblood.
Ashleys family seemed to be so poor they had to buy her uniform second-hand.

Poor girl, she would be probably glad that Pansy apologized and offered to be her friend?
Noone else seemed to be interested in her, and with a bit of work Pansy could help Ashley to gain Pureblood social status, then it wouldn't be a problem to have a halfblood as a friend right?

Pansy nodded. That was the plan.
Pansy could show off what wealth she had to offer and offer Ashley to help her to same wealth and luxury.
Pansy nodded proudly to herself and went inside again. She had to plan how to show off the pureblood luxury without violating the school uniform code.

 

The look her father gave Pansy when he brought her to King's cross was a little discouraging.

"Im trying to make a good connection today."
Pansy answered and held her head low while her mother sighed.
"Dont lose that brooch it's expensive"
Pansy nodded and adjusted the brooch that held her robe together.

When they arrived at King's Cross her mother made Pansy push the luggage cart on her own again.
Pansy didn't understand why they couldn't take a house elf with them.
They arrived at Platform ¾ on time and Pansy immediately looked for Ashleys colorfull suitcase, maybe she should ask about the stickers as an ice breaker?

Between robes and luggage carts Pansy spotted Ashley talking with her, probably Grandfather.
On first look he didn't look like a muggle at all. He was wearing a long black coat wich looked surprisingly similar to the wizard robes. Ashley on the other hand didnt make any effort to atleast look like she was a witch. She was wearing a coat out of a strange shimemring fabric, usualy a sofisticated material, but the coats cut was an insult to such exquisite fabric.

But were her parents? Did they reject her?
Pansy had heard about Halfbloods that got kicked out of their house because their parents were scared of them.
Pansy looked to her mom who walked next to her, she would probably disapprove if she saw Pansy talking to a Muggle and a Halfblood.

"Bye Mom, I can take it from here."
Pansys mother blinked for a second, then she nodded.
"Goodbye Pansy, make your family proud and do well in school."
Pansy had to suppress the urge to roll her eyes. Pansy already did everything in her power to succeed.

She waited a few seconds until she was out of her mother's sight until she approached Ashley and her Grandfather.
"Oh I nearly forgot, here is some lunch on the way, I packed you a little more this time"
Ashley's Grandfather handed her a Strange Box with food in it.
"Thanks Uncle Paul, is it a egg and ham sandwich?"
"Correct, you mentioned you wanted one."

Pansy took a deep breath and interupted the conversation.
"Heyy, Ashley was it right?"
The look from Ashley and apparently her Uncle varied.
Ashley looked at Pansy like she was a cockroach while her 'Uncle', could challenge Dumbledore with the joy on his face.

"Firefly! You didn't tell me you made a friend!"
"Because I didn't"
"Oh..."

Awkward silence unfolded between the three.
"So uhh, what's your name dear?"
Asked Ashley's uncle and broke the silence.
"Pansy Parkinson, Sir.."
"Nice to meet you Pan...-*"
Ashley interrupted, her tone everything but pleased to see her.
"What do you want Parkinson?"
Pansys smile faded a little.
"Im trying to be nice?"
The suspicion on Ashley's face dubbled.
"Why?"

Again Awkward silence. Pansy already reconsidered trying to befriend Ashley.
"Uhh wanna sit next to eachother during the train ride?"
Her last resort. Before Ashley could respond her Uncle took over.
"That sounds like a good idea, I bet you two have something to sort out."

The look Ashley gave her Uncle said words Pansy could not understand. As well as the gestures and expressions later.
Like a conversation without words.

"Ugh fine!" Ashley gave up with an eye roll, her uncle smiled and gently hushed the girls to the train.
He even helped Pansy and Ashley to get the luggage on the train before he hugged Ashley goodbye and waved them both as they seated in an empty compartment across eachother.

"Your Uncle is nice." Tried Pansy to open the conversation after a few seconds of silence.
Ashley just nodded, she stretched out her arm and let her brown Rat crawl out of her sleeve on the table before she took of her coat.
The coat crackled weird.

The Rat made chirpping sound when he noticed Pansy, did he recognize her?
Curious she leaned a little forward immediately feeling Ashley's glare on her.
Cheddar came closer sniffing Pansys fingers, then he put a little hand on her finger. Pansys heart melted.
This Rat was so adorable.

Ashley huffed.
"Dont think that just because Cheddar likes you it's anything special, he likes everyone."
Ouch, Pansy questioned again if that treatment was worth it.
"I didn't know that Rats where so trusting. The Rat pets I have seen so far were shy and slept all the time."

Ashley shruged.
"Not all Rats are the same, you know?"

Was that a Fact or an Insult?
"Im trying to be nice here so give me a chance"
Pansy responded, Ashley blinked.

"Woah really? I just thought you were bored"

Pansy huffed and wanted to say something back but Ashley continued.

"Why don't you go back to your 'Pureblood' friends and anoy them? Interacting with someone 'like me' could seriously harm your reputation".
Ashley's tone was hostile but she avoided Pansys eyes and looked out of the window.

If Pansy hadn't practiced to notice only slight changes in tone and facial expression she wouldn't have noticed how Ashley pressed her lips together.
How her eyes were slightly pinched together at the corners.
She really tried to hide her emotions well.

Pansy scratched together her last bit of pride and threw it out the window.

"Listen Ashley, I'm sorry that I was mean, I..."
No, just leave the apology with that, justifying herself would not better anything.

Pansy was now the one avoiding eye contact.
Good thing they had an empty compartment, Pansy already wanted to disappear in the ground.
This is humiliating.
If her mother heard about this she would probably make this disappointed face again.
Pansy tried her best to push out the picture of her Mother looking down on her, out of her mind.

The silence in the compartment felt crushing, Ashley still looked out of the window, Pansy was not sure if her apology even reached her.
Pansy herself stared at the table.
Cheddar was already in Ashleys sleeves again.

A rattling sound from outside. "Anything of the trolley kids?" Asked the dimpled woman completely missing the heavy atmosphere in the compartment.
Pansy heard that Ashley got up, then something was placed in front of her.

Pansy looked up. Ashley was sitting on her seat looking the other way, biting into a Pumpkin Pastie, her cheeks where a little red.
Pansy looked on the table.
In front of her a single Pumpkin Pastie clearly for her.

Pansy blinked a little surprised.
"Are you gonna eat it or not?"
Asked Ashley after a few moments of silence while Pansy stared at the Pastie.
Without another word she took the Pastie and sunk her teeth in it.
There was still silence, the only noise was the girls chewing.
The silence felt less crushing, it was bareable and Pansy could have sworn that, this time, the Pastie tasted twice as good.

Chapter 27: Worth it

Summary:

Pansy and Ashley talk alot.

Notes:

Again late chapter.
Chapters will probably continue being late.

Anyway, Enjoy Chapter 27 ^^

Chapter 27: Worth it

 

The Trainride was mostly spend in silence.
Ashley didn't know what to say and Pansy also seemed to have no idea what she should talk about.

They did a little smal talk while Cheddar hushed between Pansy and Ashley while sharing the Snacks Uncle Paul had packed for Ashley.
Cheddar enjoyed pets from both of them. Ashley showed Pansy where Cheddar had his favorite pet spots and a few other facts about Rats.
They talked about how the holiday was, -great, and what they thought about the weather, -to cold.
Pretty dry conversation topics.
Pansy admitted that she had forgotten to pack lunch for herself and Ashley shared a pice of her egg and ham sandwich,
- Pansy was not a fan of egg and ham sandwiches.
Ashley gave Pansy her grapes in response.

The topics changed often interupted by awkward silence now and then.
Ashley still didn't trust Pansy, she would probably leave her alone again once they arrived at Hogwarts.
Why was she pulling this off?
It didn't make sense, Ashley spend most of the time thinking what possibly she could want from her.

Help with school?

A unsuspecting question.
Pansy said she had a few difficulties but she had no direct problems.

Did the others bully her?

Unsuspecting question.
Answer; no, they ignored her mostly.

Maybe Pansy just wanted attention?

That must be the reason, the others ignored her, she would look for someone who was stupid enough to give her all the attention she needed until someone better came around. But Ashley wasn't stupid.

Something in Pansys face changed.
Did she notice that Ashley distrusted her?
Ashley looked away.

Maybe this was a mistake.

Pansy watched Ashley's face change again, her eyebrows slightly narrowed, her dark eyes looking Pansy up and down repeatedly.
Pansy guessed that Ashley tried to figure out what Pansys display of Pureblood luxury meant.

"That's a dragon scale necklace, very trendy right now"

Said Pansy when she thought that Ashley's gaze stopped at the golden necklace she was wearing, small green and tortoise dragon scales hung from the chain like chainmail, just prettier.
Ashley blinked a few times.

She took a closer look at the necklace, it was pretty indeed, but why did Pansy bring such valuable jewelry to school?
Ashley didn't know how Hogwarts was around this matter, but on her own school everything valuable better stayed save at home.
Students could get pretty curious and then destructive.

"Aren't you Afraid it might get damaged?"
Ashley asked raising her eyebrows.

Pansys smile faded a little and brushed her fingers over the dragon scale necklace.

"What do you mean?"

She asked, and worry left a strange feeling in her stomach.
Ashley shrugged.

"I don't know, it's just that you have to keep that save until summer holidays, and school can go pretty rough on things"

 

"Had the other students in hogwarts destroyed your things?"

The pitying look on Pansy's face made Ashley nearly gag.
She hated being pitied, it made her feel smal.

"Not on Hogwarts obviously, I watch out."

Pansy blinked in surprise.
"You have been to a school before Hogwarts?"

Now Ashley blinked in surprise.
"Yes, you not?"

Pansy shook her head.

"Then where did you learn how to Write and do Math and stuff?"

"My Parents gave me a private teacher."
"What!? So you are telling me that you have been homeschooled ever since and Hogwarts is the first public school you attend to?"

Pansy nodded.
"That's normal for high society..."

Ashley raised her eyebrows.
"Guess that explains why so many students struggle to read and write."

"What do you mean?"
"Haven't you noticed how some students never turn in the assignments or in books rather look at the pictures than the text?"

Pansy nodded, she had noticed but she just thought
it as lazy.

"I have heard that teachers aren't available for everyone, only those who can afford it."
She admitted, Pansy had never thought about this, she thought it was normal, but now that Ashley pointed that out it felt unfair and stupid.

"You mean a few students come to hogwarts and can't even read or write correctly?"

Ashley tilted her head a little.
"Every class has about 20 to 30 students.
And I know of 4 Slitherin who seemed to struggle, if we make that 3 to 5 per house.
That means that..."

Ashley looked for a ballpointpen in her backpack and wrote the equation on her arm to solve it better.

Pansy had no idea what Ashley was saying, nor what she was doing, she just let Ashley do, she seemed like she knew what she was doing.

"With around 80 to 120 students in the first year, 12 to 20 students can't read or write correctly.
If my math is right that is ⅙. So every sixth student in the first year. If we assume my math is right."

Ashley looked up, Pansy looked as confused as a dog when someone hid the stick behind their back.

Silence filled the compartment again, only disturbed by the sound of the train over the rails.

"That's math?"
Ashley was now the one confused.

"What do your mean with 'that's math'?"

Pansy shruged a little helpless.
"I uh... didn't have so many math lessons...."

Ashley let out a sigh.

"To be fair that's math beyond elementary school, my mom made sure that I always get more knowledge than school taught."

"Why?"

"I don't know, because elementary school was boring and I already knew most beforehand, also you don't learn things like Photosynthesis, dinosaur-age or Medivial-age in elementary school."

"Oh I learned about the Medivial age, it's where Witches and Wizards were hunted and the time where the first secret settlements where created."
"Oh yea, that shit. Never made sense to me why people would do that."

"Agreed, what are dinosaurs though?"

Ashley raised her eyebrows again.
"They are like big lizards with huge teeth. Some are smaler and have feathers others have like wings. Pretty cool."

"So Dragons?"
"Dragons still exist!?"
"Of course they do. One apparently guards the gold of the Gringotts bank"

Ashley's mouth literally hung open, Pansy was glad that she was now the one who knew something.

"The Gringotts bank, as in Diagonally!?"
Pansy nodded.
"Yes, but they are pretty dangerous so the dragon is probably in a perma sleep state so he doesn't cause Chaos."
"Understandable."

Ashley nodded, trying not to ask to much about Dragons she had read about dragon blood and that they existed but not that they where like, alive.
She really had to read more into magical creatures.

"Soo how was your holiday?"
Asked now Pansy.
Wasnt this already a question?
Ashley's mind returned to more recent memories.

"It was good to be home again, no blame on Hogwarts, it's just not the same as home."

Pansy nodded, she could agree on the last point. "Hogwarts can feel a little bit overwhelming sometimes"

"Overwhelming is an underestimation, I was glad that I didn't have to worry about Ghosts, Trolls or when to take the stairs so I get to class in time for a few weeks."

Pansy let out a laugh, the stairs where the worst. Turning at random times.
She had already lost count on how often she got lost on the way to class.
Luckily some ghost cared enough to help out.

"The Dungeons are much better at this point, atleast the corridors don't move."
"Oh they do"
"They what!?"
"Well they don't move like the stairs but sometimes I hear them moving. You dont?"

Pansy shook her head.
"I thought that was the castle itself"

Now Ashley shook her head.
"No I don't think so, but I think the corridors used by students are fixed with a spell so they don't move around."

Pansy nodded in agreement.

She was Surprisingly nice to talk to.

It was pleasant to talk to someone like this and Ashley realized that if Pansy would turn against her again she would miss talking to someone like this.

Pansy noticed how Ashley suddenly got quiet, looking her up and down again.
Pansy didn't know what to do, so she did something she would have never done.

Pansy took of one of her earrings, heavy golden earrings shaped like snakes that formed a lying 8 a little underneath their heads.
Pansy didn't wear them so often, the tails tend to get tangled everywhere.

A little cautious she held out her hand, the snake earring in her hands, her mother would be so disappointed, but it somehow felt right at the moment.

Ashley looked from the earring to Pansy and back.
Confused.

Then she took of one of her earrings. Black studs that looked like buttons.

Ashley handed the stud to Pansy and Pansy gave Ashley her earing.

Silence filled the compartment once again.
Ashleys stud was much lighter than Pansys earring.
Outside the windows was already the dead of night.

Just before Pansy questioned how long it was until the Hogwarts stop, a voice echoed through the train.

"We will be reaching Hogwarts in five minutes' time. Please leave your luggage on the train, it will be taken to the school separately."

Cheddar woke up when the voice echoed through the train.
He had slept trough the whole trainride.
The girls got up and packed their stuff together.

Pansy adjusted her hair, Ashley cramed her folded robe out of her backpack.
Getting the robe over the thick jumper was quite a struggle and the sleeves twisted uncomfortably.

"How do I look?" Asked Pansy and picked a strand of hair out of her Face.

"Ridiculous, how do I look?"

"Not better"

"Good thing Classes don't begin until tomorrow."

Pansy rolled her eyes.
"Ughh, don't remind me."

Ashley let out a small giggle, it felt freeing and filled Ashley's chest with a prickling spark, similar to magic.
Especially when Pansy joined with a laughter herself.

Maybe this was worth it.

Chapter 28: Feathers and Comebacks

Summary:

Ashley finds community among the Slytherin girls again through a pillow-fight, and Malfoy gets what he deserves for being a racist a** again.

Notes:

Oh look at that
It's a chapter on time. O.o

Yay!

Enjoy chapter 28,
Hope you don't get confused by all the changing Perspectives. ^^

Chapter 28: Feathers and Comebacks

 

Hogwarts.
Here we go again.
Until Summerbreak.

Ashley preferred not to think about how much time that was. Magic school or not, School was still school.
Cheddar in the pockets of her robe she followed the crowd of students.
Pansy was right behind her.

Pansy had instinctively grabbed Ashley's hand so she didn't lose her in the crowd.
Ashley had not shaken off her hand like Pansy first expected, instead she pulled her through the crowds.
Not a single time Pansy was pushed aside by older students or had tripped over a shoe.

Ashley slithered between students of all grades.
To many robes and bodies moving around, every single one a tripping hazard.
Ashley had learned pretty soon how to how to diveranciate between trippers, pushers and speed bumps.
She hated the feeling of unknown bodies falling against her, of uncertain feet that might crossed her feet.

Why was she dragging Pansy along again?
Ashley didn't have time to waste a thought on this.
She just wanted her personal space again.
A barrier would be nice.
Did her skin prickle again?
Probably just discomfort.
But finaly some of the students moved out of the way.

 

Ashley let go of Pansys hand when they entered the dungeons.
With the Gryffindors, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw student away in their directions the crowd has reduced to atleast a third of what tripped and pushed towards the castle before.

"What was the password again? Something in Latin again right?"
Asked Ashley's when they finaly arrived at the stone wall that marked the entrance to the Slytherin commonroom.
Ashley had noticed that little barely visible stone snakes slithered between the stone seams. Everytime the Password was used the snakes hiss.

Until that Ashley always thought the hissing sound was the wall itself.

"Latin? Oh the Password is.."

Pansy crammed for a pice of note in her robe.

"Dragon scale."

The wall hissed and opened to the nearly empty Slytherin commonroom.

"Dragon scale?"
"Yes, I suggested it."
"You can suggest Passwords?"
"Yes, there is a list on the notice board." "
Ah great."

The sarcastic tone of Ashleys response was quite amusing.

"You never look at the notice board, I noticed." Responded Pansy, Ashley just nodded
"Yea, I forget it."

The girls luggage was already waiting on their beds.

"Here we go again"

Groaned Ashley and let herself fall on the bed.

Pansy sat down on hers.
Ashley just noticed that her bed was beside hers.
She had never noticed before since it didn't really matter.

Shortly after the other Slytherin girls entered the dormitories.
Pansy casually chatted with them while Ashley put Cheddar in his cage and disappeared in the changing closet.
She was to tired.

Pansy nodded while Millicent talked about how her brothers nearly ruined her new robe mistaking it for cleaning rags.
Ashley had already disappeared, probably to change.
When she returned she just mumbled a quiet.
"G'd night" and closed the green silk curtains around her bed before Pansy could respond.
Pansy also soon excused herself to change and go to bed herself.
She didn't expect to be that tired.

 

The next morning felt uncomfortably early again, Ashley groaned when the Perfekt on waking-up-duty walked through the first year dormitories shooting loud crackers out of her wand.

"Get up First-years, Holiday is over!"

More protesting, and groaning.
Ashley thought about throwing a pillow, but it would probably just bounce back from the curtains.
So Ashley just obliged and pushed her blankets away.

"Its too early to get up"

Groaned another Slytherin girl after the Perfekt left, and everyone agreed.
The girls all tired, messy hair and some still with their blankets around their shoulders sat either in one of the armchairs, the floor or on their beds, waiting for the students in the changing room to leave for the next one.

Pansy threw a pillow at Ashley, she just fell asleep again.
Ashley jolted awake.

"What the... Pansy!"

Immediately the pillow flew back.
Pansy ducked, but she didn't have to, the Pillow missed her anyway.
Instead it flew in Daphne's face, she was laying flat on the floor.

"Heyyy! Who threw that!" She yelled and jumped up.

Pansy and Ashley quickly looked somewhere else.
The Pillow flew aimlessly in the room and hit Millicent at the back over hear head.
3 seconds of silence when she turned around.

Then everything escalated in a full on pillow fight. Pillows and feathers that escaped the fabric flew everywhere.

Everyone was so loud that they overheard the knocking.
When the door was opened and the Perfekt from before stood in the door frame, the pillow couldn't be stopped.
Immediately everyone froze as the pillow dropped to the floor.

The Perfects face looked like they where 5 seconds away from murder.

"3 Points from all of you!" They yelled while the girls stood guilty in the room.

"Kill joy."
Mumbled Ashley when the door closed again.

"What is a Kill joy?"
Asked one of the girls.
"Its a word for someone who keeps others from having fun."
"That's a fitting description."
Another Girl nodded.

"Thats the thrid one" said Tracey while she picked another white feather out of her hair.
The girls sat all across from eachother at the Slytherin table.
Pansy put Apricot jelly on her bread, Millicent put bacon to her scrambled eggs. Daphne stirred milk in her tea.

"Can you pass me the salt?" Asked Ashley in Millicents direction, while she opened her boiled egg.
"Do you guys think we should check again before class? I don't want to look like I fought an Chicken"

Asked Daphne while Millicent handed Ashley the salt.
"Thanks"

"Agreed, I bet we find atleast 4 more feathers."
"I bet you for 20 knuts that we find 5"
Ashley handed Tracey the salt. "7"
"Ohhh, I do 3"
"The one most far of has to do the winners homework"

 

"Heyy, girls what are you planning?"
Tracey slightly rolled her eyes. Millicent moved aside, Daphne continued to stirr her tea and Ashley picked more eggshells of her boiled egg.

Blondie.
Who else, but this time without his bodyguards, a rate sight.

A hand on Pansys shoulder who seemed deeply uncomfortable while her cheeks turned a bright shade of red.

"Sorry to interupt but I noticed..."
Ashley felt his eyes on her head, what was this boy thinking?
"You and that mudblood over there share Earrings. Are you seriously choosing to be friends with a Mudblood Parkson? Do you are so little about your family's reputation?"

Pansy grimaced.
She felt the glances of the other Slytherin girls on her.
"Parkinson."
She corrected.

"Anyway"
Malfoy turned his attention to Ashley who studied the size of her eggshells.

 

"I saw you on King's cross, you got picked up by your old muggle grandpa, imagine living with muggles."

Slowly Ashley looked up, this idot seriously used his 2 braincells to be stupid.
For a moment they just looked at eachother. Cold blue against nearly black. This time Blondie didnt look away. Looks like he learned something. Ashley smirked, she would need a little more effort now.

"Oh, good you noticed, I saw you at King's cross too. You looked a little lost...
Did your mom pick you up before sundown or did you have to walk home?"

Suddenly quiet.
Even the boys on the seats next to the girls froze.
Glancing over.

One girl gasped and put the hand before her mouth.
Pansy felt how Malfoys grip on her shoulder tightened while his face turned red while, Ashley didnt want to admit it, but she enjoyed seeing someone effected by her words.

"Strange how the own mother doesn't wait for her so precious son to come back from school right?
When even lowley 'Muggles' remember to pick up their child on time."

More gasping while Blondies eyes darted left and right probably searching for his bodyguards.
His face looked strikingly similar like the tomatoes in the vegetable bowl in the middle of the table.

"Scks whatever!" Responded Malfoy and let go of Pansys shoulder.
"Mudbloods shouldn't be allowed in hogwarts anyways."
He added in a dry tone, but his words barely had any impact.

 

"And then you said, 'did your mother even pick you up?' He looked so mad."
Laughed Millicent and picked out another feathers out of Daphne's hair.

"Im pretty sure I didn't say it like that."
Ashley responded.

"Ouch, Pansy that was a hair!"
"Sorry that feather is quite tangled."
"How long until class?"

Ashley checked her watch.
"Ten minutes, but we have Charms, Flitwick is always 5 minutes late and the stairs won't move as much when less students are on them."

"How many feathers do we have?"
"Five"
"no Six."
Said Millicent and picked another feather out of Daphne's hair.

"We disguss how we continue the bet after class now we need to hurry."
Suggested Tracey, the girls agreed and grabbed their stuff.

They hurried out the commonroom, up the shortcut out of the dungeons and through a few more secret shortcuts Ashley had discovered through Peeves or other students.
They arrived when Professor Flitwick just put down his books.
Quietly they hurried to empty seats before Professor Flitwick could notice that they where late.

Chapter 29: Toads, Curses and Nerds

Summary:

Ashley intervenes with the book lore again on the cost of Malfoys reputation, finally looks at the notice board in the Commonroom and stumbles upon the Hogwarts equivalent of the Robotics Nerd.

Notes:

Another rather short chapter on time, on the cost of my sleep.

Enjoy :D

Chapter 29: Toads, Curses and Nerds

 

After Charms, Flying lesson.

Somehow no longer with the Gryffindors?
Ashley was never there so she didn't hear about the change.
Apparently because the lessons with the Gryffindors resulted in more visits to the hospital wing than necessary so the pairing was changed.

"Are you comming Ashley?"
Asked Pansy but when she turned around she had already disappeared.
But not even the professor noted her absence.

 

Ashley was in the libary again flipping through a book of starter curses, a toad she found behind the book when she grabbed it was now traped in a cage of books, maybe Cheddar will like a snack?
Again she was staring at the red mark on the inside of her wrist.
Contemplating if she should teach Malfoy another lesson.
She really wanted to but for what reason exactly. Pettiness wasn't a reason.

"Trevor? Where are you again?"  Squawked a voice through the libary.
Ashley curiously peaked around the corner.

"Longbottom, you should be in class"
Responded Pince, she didn't even look up from the table.

"Im looking for my toad"
"I figured, you have to learn to keep an eye on it"
"I do but when I look away he's gone"

Pince sighs.
"Go search for your toad, you have 5 minutes then you leave"
"Thank you!"

Ashley looked at the book cage with the toad and a plan formed in Ashleys head.
Malfoy had often tormented this student, His squawking voice was familiar to her.
So she just had to play in that.
Ashley waited for the student to walk into the aile where she usually spend her time.
His eyes widened when he saw Ashley who leaned against the shelves.
Ashley held a finger to her lips signaling im to be quiet. Then she held up the toad, the fear that formed on the boys face was laughable.

Ashley signaled him to come closer.
"I give you your toad if you do me a little favor." She wisperd. The Boy nodded immediately.
Ashley smiled and signaled him to follow.
His toad just out of his reach.

She tapped on the wall at the end of the corridor and stuck her wand in a small hole between gray bricks.
She turned it like a key and with a barely noticable shifting the stonewalls opened a few inches. Just big enough for one person to fit into.

"Just breathe out." She advised the boy and slithered into the smal corridor with his toad in her hands.
She had used this passage a few times.
Although it took a while until she figured out how to open it.
The Passage closed directly behind the boy and Ashley just knew that he was panicking.
Ashley rolled her eyes.
And stopped, holding the squirming toad to her chest she pulled out her wand.

"Lumos" She wisperd to her wand wich immediately lit up.
Ashley put her Wand in her mouth since she needed both hands to hold this toad.
"Your toad is very jumpy." She mumbled with the Wand in her mouth. "Ye-yea," The boy stammered in a shaky voice.
"You can stop panicking, we're almost there."

Ashley extinguished her wand and stuck it into a small hole in the wall in front of them. She twirled it again, and the walls glided open.
The two stepped out on one of the many corridors. The boy fell on the floor breathing heavily.
Ashley waited until he sat up again.

"Do you know how to get to your common room from here?"
The Boy nodded.
Ashley handed him the toad and pulled her wand.
"Watch your toad better" She advised.
"Locomotor Mortis."

The Boy let out a squeak when his legs locked together under the curse.
Ashley kneeled down to the boys height.
"Now you go back to your Commonroom and if someone asks who did this to you. Tell them it was Malfoy."

The Boy nodded. He looked like a scared hamster standing in front of a snake or something. What a crybaby.

"And now leave. A little hopping shouldn't be the problem." Ashley turned around and wanted to be on her way, while boy tried to get up but failed.
Ashley let out a sigh and turned around again.

"How far away is your commonroom?"
"Just- just a few stairs." Stammered the boy.
Ashley grabbed him under his shoulders and walked him up a few stairs.
It took soo annoyingly long.

"You can take it from here, just crawl up the stairs or something. At this time there won't be any students around and the stairs don't move as much."
The Boy nodded.
"Thank you."
"Don't thank me you idiot. Just remember what I told you. Malfoy did this to you and you better forget me."

With these words Ashley turned around and left.
Did this stupid crybaby just thank her although she put him in this situation?
What an idiot.

Flying lessons should end soon and Ashley went back to the commonrooms.
She sat down in one of the many window nocks and watched the lake outside.
The dark water with some kind of kelp waving in the underwater curent had something claiming to it.

Ashley's gaze drifted through the room wich was nearly empty.
A few singular students sat in secluded places, chatting or doing homework.
Her gaze came to stop at the notice board, maybe she should take Pansys criticism to heart and check it out more.

Ashley got up, cleaned of her skirt from nonexistent dust and walked over to the board.
Several lists and notes for different clubs, (mostly for older students), newest events, a calendar with marked dates, (there was a Quidditch match again soon), the daily class plan that seemed to magically chance depending on wich year the student was in.

After a little searching Ashley even found the Password suggestion list.
Every student could mark a password they liked or suggest a new one.
Those who where marked the most became the new Password for a while.
The most marked one right now was 'Salazar'. Ashley had no idea who that was but it sounded cool.
Better than the current Password 'Pureblood'.
Ashley had overheard that it circulated atleast once a year as a Password.

Ashley just wanted to return to the Window nock when she spottet a student in her year cross the room on a table.
Curiously she stepped over. The lanky boy sat hunched over at the table, fiddling with a small object. It looked like some kind of fancy lighter.

"Why arent you at Flying lesson?" Ashley asked and bend over the table to get a better look at what the boy was doing.
The boy jumped, the lighter fell apart into its individual parts which clearly did not belong to a lighter.

"Damnit, this took me the whole morning!" He groaned.
"Oh uhh, how should I know this thing is so flimsy."
"Its not flimsy, it's just complicated."
"Right..."

The Boy looked up, despite being around the same age like Ashley his face already resembled a astronomical image of the moon surface. Just more red from irritation.

"Did you just come over to make me aware that I'm skipping flying class just like you?"
Ashley shruged. The boy continued
"Because I have an excuse."
He points at his foot wich was bandaged.

"Why don't you go to the hospital wing with that?"
The Boy shrugged. "I've already been there, but I needed to go a second time soon since one dose of healing magic can't heal all my toes."
"Damn that must have hurt. What happened?"
"Got stuck in one of the moving stairs where random steps just disappeared. I risked the shortcut to get to lesson on time. What's your excuse for skipping?"
"Im afraid of heights"
"Ah makes sense"

"What are you doing?"
"Im trying to figure out how this Deluminator works, you are a Mudblood right? So you gotta have some Muggle knowledge about Tacnolology."
"Its Technology and no I'm not a Mudblood, I'm a Half-blood if you want to go by those terms."
"Ah same thing. I heard Muggles can make things similar to magic just with something called Technolology, is that right?"
"Its still Technology and I don't know if I would call it magic. We call it Sience and Electricity"
"Do you know something about that?"
"Well... my Father did something with engineering and my mother researched something about plants and mushrooms. But I dont think that works with Wizard mechanics."
"Meh, sounds good enough."

The Boy layed out the pices of the Deluminator, Ashley had no idea how half of these pieces even fit together in the smal casing.
But it looked interesting for sure.

"I assume you already piced this together once?" "Well more or less, it didn't stayed together." "Do you think it's because some of these pices were in the way?"
"Probably. I'm Theodore Nott by the way, but everyone calls me Theo."
"Ashley Wood."
"Are you -*"
"No I'm not related to the Griffindor Quidditch guy."

Chapter 30: More Scarfs than Homework

Summary:

Ashley establishes herself a nice surrounding.
The Match between Hufflepuff and Gryffindor
Piled up Homework because the Professors got in the deadline panic.

Notes:

New chapter, and on time. Yay.
Again, with lots of unsensical time skips

Enjoy chapter 30, I have been doing this for around 30 weeks already. That's a looong time. Ashes and Dust will maybe get at least 10 more chapters before Part one is complete. Feels unreal.

If I don't upload next week, I'm taking a break. Won't be long, maybe 2 weeks.

Anyway, we are nearly on 200 hits wich is alot. Imagine 200 people picking up your book and reading into it, even if it's only a few pages.

Enjoy chapter 30. ^^

Chapter 30: More Scarfs than Homework

 

Weeks pass and Ashleys days and weeks were again determined by classes and homework.
Ashley was used to have Pansy around her.
But sometimes Ashley still forgot that she could just stick around Pansy too, rather than disapearing in astray corridors or libary corners.

Ashley began enjoying Pansys presence.
She was Surprisingly nice to talk too despite the girls not having much in common. Since Pansy was more social than Ashley, Pansy always knew about things Ashley usualy oversaw when she was just observing.
It was a new point of view she valued alot.

Occasionally Ashley would also met up with Theo and was soon dragged in the field of magical mechanics.
His rather quiet behavior was a good contrast to Pansys chatty and often loud Talking.

Pansy once sat with Ashley and Theo but she soon left to chat with Tracey and Daphne because 'apparently' what Theo and Ashley were working on was 'boring' and to 'complicated'.

"Those words are nearly opposites."
Was Ashley's only comment after Pansy left. Theo just shruged and clicked a little glass ball in a smal frame.
Ashley was trying to figure out how the closing mechanism of the Deluminator worked again.
So far they figured out that parts where missing and, or broken.
Wich was, according to Theo "Better than he expected".

 

Pansy had convinced Ashley to attend the next Quidditch match of Hufflepuff against Gryffindor.
Now Ashley stood in the cold air pulling her cardigan under her robe closer. Why did the clothes not have a warmth charm or something?
Ashley knew that the uniforms of some other students had one. Although Spring grew nearer Ashley was still freezing and so did some other students.

The game didn't start yet and Ashley watched the Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors set up their banners. Again many Harry Potter banners on the Gryffindor side.
Was really everything about him?

Millicent tapped on Ashleys shoulder.
"Oi Wood wanna bet on how long Potter stays on the broom?"

Ashley shruged while Daphne added.
"Malfoy already bet 4 Sickles that he buckles again within 10 minutes. A few older students  bet 5, 15 and 30 minutes. Millicent bets that he falls of or destroys somehow the Snitch. I bet he makes it through the game but has a few slip up's. And so on."

Ashley nodded.
"I bet 2 Sickles that he slips around minute 15 but catches himself, and he slips a total of 4 times throughout the game."

"Nice more money for me."
Responded Millicent.
"You seem pretty confident Milly, your bet is one of the boldest."
"Oh please, there is no way he can hold himself on a Nimbus 2000, those brooms aren't like the average house broom Tracey."

Ashley already distanced herself from the conversation.
"Hello."
Theo stood next to her wearing a Hufflepuff scarf on top of his Slitherin scarf.
"Where did you get that from?" Ashley asked and pointed at the yellow scarf.

Theo raised his hands.
"A random Hufflepuff gave it to me when I passed. And why are you asking, you are wearing one too under your robe, the yellow stands out."
Ashley chuckled.
"I bet these Hufflepuff give everyone a scarf like they have several of them."

"Oh they do actualy."
Pansy intervened.
Ashley and Theo looked up where Pansy was standing, not with one but with two Hufflepuff scarfs.
"Hello Nerds."
"Hey Pansy. Ashley did you teach her that word."
Ashley nodded guilty. "I already regret it. Pansy, how did you get two scarfs."
"I have contributed to their bet that they win."
Ashley laughed.
Theo just shook his head. "Why does everyone Gamble about everything on Hogwarts"

Pansy and Ashley both shrugged. "Because it's fun?"
Ashley shook her head.
"Probably because it's the only use for Money here."
"Well yes but from a certain year students are allowed to go to Hogsmeade."
"Hogsmeade?"
"A Wizzard only Village with shops and everything."
"Like a Youth Center?"
"Ah what?"
"That's a Muggle thing right?"
Ashley shruged. "I guess so.."

"Can you kids tone it down a little? The game started."
An older Student. The three apologized and turned to the game.
Potter looked pretty stable on his broom. While Snape gave Hufflepuff every point he could somehow squeeze out. The Frustration among the Gryffindors was clearly visible but over got toned by the Hufflepuffs cheering.

"Guys is the Weasley beating up Malfoy?"
Ashley and Pansy turned to Tracey. "Which one?" Tracey pointed across the field to the Gryffindors.
"Oh your right."
"Should we like... help?"
Millicent shrugged. "Nah he has Crabbe and Goyle, he should be fine."
Ashley pointed at a Perfect who was already on the hurry. "A Perfect already takes care of it."

"Guys don't mind Malfoy, Potter caught the snitch"
"Did he swallow it?"
"No sadly not, but wow he was so fast this game took like" Theo checked his pocket watch wich could belong to a Old man. "20 minutes"
"Is that a record?" Asked Pansy
"No idea, but we all lost the bets." Added Tracey
"So we keep the money or..."
"I guess."

"Have you seen how mad Snape looked?" Asked Pansy when she and Ashley walked down the hallway.
Ashley nodded.
"He looked like he just bit on a lemon and realized it was both sour and bitter. Talking about Snape, I still have to write a 3 foot long Essay on Occlumency."
"Why is that, or what is that?"
Ashley shruged.
"He ordered it after Potions, with the words 'You know yourself why'."
Pansy nodded.
"Do you know why."
Ashley shook her head. "No idea."
"Snape is creepy, he behaves like we have to read his mind to guess what he wants from us."
Ashley agreed and rolled her eyed. "And when he starts an argument against Potter again, like for no reason."
"Snape needs no reason to hate people, he just hates everyone."
"Yea, I think that's the point."

 

Ashley was sitting over homework again. She was not used to have this much to do for school, Pansy and Tracey who also sat on the table looked like they felt the same.
Millicent had already given up and did the minimum to get just the passing grade.

"Its supposed to be Holidays soon, why are the Teachers piling up so much Homework."
Groaned Tracey and rested her head on the table.
Pansy rolled her eyes. "Probably because of the exams"
"But that's like 4 months away." Groaned Ashley and doodled a little Rat on her homework.
Some teachers gave her house points for these doodles so she continued to make them.
Cheddar sat in the community cage, probably playing with the other Rodents from the Slytherin students. Ashley could hear them chasing eachother around.
"What are you guys mopping here." Daphne.
"Homework, and you Daph?" Responded Tracey. Her voice muffled since her head still rested on the parchment.
"Oh, have you guys overseen the note on the Notice board?"
Ashley glanced over to Pansy. Pansy shruged.
"Didn't notice anything."

Daphne sighs.
"There is a study group between the houses where older students tutor the younger, help them with Homework and learning for exams and stuff."
The Girls groaned.
"Why do we get that information now? After hours of hours"
Daphne shrugs. "Next meeting is on Wednesday in the Armoury"
Ashley gave a thumbs up while Tracey and Pansy already packed their stuff away again.
"I will not waste another drop of ink today."
Clearified Pansy while Ashley had to explain Daphne the concept of giving a thumbs up.

Chapter 31: Midnight Homework and Friendships

Summary:

This happens during the time where Hagrid got his Dragon egg and the questionable detention methods of Hogwarts.

While the Main Character slips into drama and danger of being the chosen one.
The Slytherin girls biggest problem is that they do nothing all day and now have to do all their home work at night.
Great times.

Notes:

No Break for me I guess. I just hope that my writing skill didn't decline in the last chapters.

Chapter 31. Enjoy ^^

Chapter 31: Midnight Homework and Friendships

 

The girls sat in a corner of the Armoury.

Pansy used the Herbology book as a surface to write on.
Daphne had 'borrowed' some magnets which she used to pin notes one of the many Metalarmor stands.
Ashley leaned over the potions book, Reading the same paragraph for the fifth time now.
Tracey sat on the only chair left and listened to a Ravenclaw two years above them, who explained something.

"Ughhhg, I can't concentrate on this. Snape can stick his essay up elsewere."

Groaned Ashley and loudly closed the Potions book.
Daphne sighs and pinned another note in the Armour.
"Please tell him that, would be to fun to watch"
"Nah, I can't. I need the points."

An older Gryffindor who was just called over to Tracey's problem chuckled.
"Or you guys can just give up and finally let Gryffindor win their earned House Cup"
They suggested.
The girls all made sounds of disapproval.
"Never" and "In your dreams." Argued the girls back and all opened their books again to continue studying, while the Gryffindor walked off with a chuckle the Ravenclaw joining in with a smile.

"We can't let the other houses win."
Said Tracey her face looking more like battle plan than doing the homework.
The girls nodded in union and stayed focused for the rest of the Study Group time.

 

On the way to dinner the girls felt tired and exhausted but proud.
"All homework done for to this week."
Tracey said with a relieved smile.
"Tracey, it's Sunday" reminded Daphne and everyone groaned.

 

"Alright so, I have found someone who has another old Deluminator we can ---"
Started Theo when he sat down next to Ashley, who was laying with her face on the plate on the table.
"Oh, tired?"
Ashley just groaned as an answer.
"The Potions Homework took alot from her" explained Pansy.

"The stuff doesn't make sense at all. There is no science behind Half of this, it's pure make-belive. How does that even work!?"
Groaned Ashley in her plate.

"What is she talking about?" Asked Theo.
Pansy just shrugs. "Probably Muggle stuff."

"Muggles shouldn't be allowed in Hogwarts" Declared Malfoy who, unfortunately, sat across from them.
He continued ranting but neither Theo nor Pansy paid attention to him.

 

The next days took their toll. Ashley did not expect that much Homework.
It was like all Professors thought that their class was the only relevant class in the whole school year.
Many first years, including Ashley had trouble getting enough sleep.
In the last days Ashley had already fallen asleep twice during class. And she was still well off.
Daphne has once slept through the entire Potions class.
She lost 18 points for that.

During Herbology Pansy turned to Ashley.
"Have you noticed in what a good mood Malfoy is these days?"
"Is he rubbing his hands again like some nasty Fly?"
Asked Ashley curious.
Pansy chuckled. "No, but I wouldn't be surprised if he did at any moment" Pansy pulled out a ballpointpen she had gotten from Ashley, and drew a Fly with Malfoys face rubbing it's hands together in mischievous giggle.
Ashley laughed.
"Those pens are great! Why can't we have those instead of feathers?"
Asked Pansy putting the pen away again.
Ashley shrugged. "Miss Parkinson and Miss Wood, please quitt chatting and pay attention, this is important for the exams." Called the professor. Both Apologized.
A few days ago Ashley had crammed together all ballpointpens out of her luggage she could find to lend them for quick notes.
Theo and Pansy kept theirs and Ashley didn't bother to demand them back.

 

"Guys! Have you seen the Hourglasses?"
Asked Tracey one morning before even sitting down.
Theo nodded.
Ashley just raised her eyebrows and blinked still half asleep.

"Gryffindor lost one hundred and fifty points over night! They are last Place!"

Daphnes eyes got wide. "That's probably a mistake right?"
"Oh Im dying to know what happened." Said Millicent.
Ashley was to tired to pay attention.

"Ohh I can tell you what happened." A familiar voice. "Woah no reason to look at me like that." Said Blondie when Ashley looked in bis direction.

He sat like usually, between his two bodyguards who nodded enthusiastically to every word that left his mouth.
"I bet you are burning to know what happened".
Continued Malfoy, if only words where the only thing that came out of his mouth.
Theo moved his plate a little to the side when Malfoy spit talked across the table.
He didn't wait until someone asked him to speak he just started rambling.

"The gate-keeper Hagrid had an illegal Dragon egg."

Ashley turned to her plate and reached for the salt to put on ther eggs.

"But wait, it's gets better. Potter, Weasley and Granger knew, and helped him get the dragon out of Hogwarts because its illegal."

Oh my, how insightful.

"Guess they got caught" Asked Tracey moving her goblet.
Malfoy nodded with a grin. "Not only them also the little...buffoon... Longbottom."
Ashley raised her eyebrows.
"The toad boy?"
"Exactly."
"Ah."

Malfoy continued clearly proud.
"They are lucky that they didn't get expelled."

Daphne looked over to the Hourglasses.
"Looks like Slytherin lost 20 points. That's quite alot." Theo and Ashley exchanged looks.
Malfoy got visibly red and suddenly the bacon was more interesting than what he just talked about.

 

On the way back to the commonrooms they actually passed Harry who looked pretty down.
Loosing so many points must have done quite the blow to his ego.

"Thanks Potter we owe you one."
Said Millicent and clapped.

"What was that?" Asked Tracey a few steps later.
Millicent just shruged. "With Gryffindor pretty much out of the way, I bet Slytherin wins the house cup again. We could alteast thank him for that right?"
The girls nodded and shrugged in agreement.

 

Another evening, again to late for a bunch of 11 to 12 year olds to stay awake.
Despite the older students assuring that after the year they will be used to the amount of work that was to do.
Everyone already felt exhausted and discouraged by the sheer amount of Homework everyday. Especially a week before the exams.

Ashley was laying on her homework. She had just fallen asleep again.
Daphne sighs and gets ready for another paragraph about the goblin rebellions.
Pansy and Tracey questioned eachother to the moons of jupiter and the different star names they had to know.
Millicent, who did the bare minimum closed her Defense against the dark arts book and let out a loud yawn.

"When did you become friends with Ashley?" Asked Tracey, Pansy. Who raised her eyebrows at the unexpected question.
"Uh, we like, talked during the train ride back from Holidays."
Tracey nodded. "Makes sense. Crazy how we all, like, became friends over a pillow-fight."
"Friends?" Asked Millicent who decided to sit back down again.
"I would say we are friends, we hang out often even outside of class and talk much in general?" Claimed Tracey.
Daphne nodded. "I agree, I think we could call us friends."
The Girls nodded and Ashley jumped up again.
"What?" She asked a bit confused. Pansy just waved it away.
"Nothing. Do you what it meant with: "What does Mars represent when reading Stars?"
Ashley shruged still half asleep. "Because it's a planet that was named after the Roman god of War, therefore Mars is associated with war or something in the lines of that."
"Roman's named their God of War Mars?"
Asked Daphne.
Ashley nodded.
"They copied it from the Greek who's War God was Aries."
Tracey pointed at a page in the Astrology book. "Aries is also a star sign."
"So the Roman's named their God's after Plantets and the Greeks named them after Stars." Asked Millicent.
"No, so far I know the Greeks did not." Answered Ashley.

 

Suddenly the wall to the commonrooms opened and a distraught looking Malfoy stumbled into the Slytherin commonroom.
He had that same expression of terror on his face when Peeves send the Troll after him.
His face white as a sheet of paper and his shoes dirty from mud.
First he didn't notice the girls already in their Sleeping clothes sitting around one of the tables looking at him with curiosity.

"Are you? Alright?" Asked Pansy with raised eyebrows.
Malfoy raised his head, when he noticed the girls starring at him he immediately stood upright and fixed his messy hair.
"Its nothing." He said with the usual sneer in his voice.
The girls watched as Malfoy walked up the stairs to the dormitories and disappeared.

"He looked like he went to the forbidden forrest." Assumed Millicent.
"Malfoy? Out of free will? Never" Argued Tracey. Ashley agreed.
"Maybe we should ask him tomorrow?" Suggested Daphne.
"Ask him about it?" Asked Ashley, clear disbelief in her voice. "We all know he likes to talk, but talking about something that makes him look like an idiot?"
Pansy shruged. "Worth the try, I would suggest."
Millicent nodded. "Its not like it would worsen out family's reputation more than being Friends with Ashley here."
"Millicent! That's not nice" interrupted Daphne.
"Just saying."

Ashley stared at the parchment before her.
She expected to feel offended by Millicents comment.
But the fact that she said that they where friends... it made Ashley feel all warm and fuzzy.

"Are you alright Ashley?"
Asked Pansy, Ashley looked up and nodded.
"No worries." She checked her watch to change the topic, it was already past twelve.

"Guys, it's already past midnight, I think we should go to bed."
She suggested and immediately everyone nodded and packed their stuff away.

Chapter 32: Specks of Colour

Summary:

More friend time before the exams, a failed interrogation, a little backstory unboxing, and Cheddar shows up again :D

Notes:

I am tired, asking myself why I decided to give Ashley a full detailed backstory with this. It's fun and boring at the same time.

Anyway, enjoy chapter 32, of this Slice of Life story. ^^

Chapter 32: Specks of Colour

 

"Sooo, Malfoy... what where you doing last night outside of the commonrooms?" Asked Millicent. Leaning between Malfoy and one of his Bodyguards.
Malfoy looked, a bit confused, between the Girls who cornered him in the Dungons.

"I don't know what you are talking about, but if you mind, I'm hungry." He said, attempting to push past them but Millicent, who had a similar body type like Malfoys bodyguards wouldn't let him.

"Woah, normally you don't fret from spilling the tea."
Said Ashley crossing her arms.

"You were in the Forbidden forrest right?" Asked Tracey curious.

Malfoy, visibly uncomfortable, made a handwave, probably to signal his Bodyguards to get him away from here. But Daphne just smiled at the two boys.
"Dont worry, we won't harm him." She said to the boys in her honey sweet voice while Millicent blocked their view.
The two boys looked unsure what to do so they just stood still.

"So..." Asked Ashley with her interrogation voice while Pansy held her glowing wand before Malfoys face who looked more and more confused.
The light was Ashley's idea, apparently to see if someone was lying or something.

"Let's cut the crap, and you tell us where you went between 11pm and 1am?"
"What is this, and why should I tell you anyways."
Etched Malfoy back.
"Because we could tell the Teachers? Sneaking out shortly before the exams?" Added Pansy.

In the background Daphne had started a light conversation with the two boys to distract them.

Malfoy, who seemed to notice that grimmaced.
"Are you Girls sure that you want to snitch me? I had every right to be were I was... besides, we're in the same house if I loose points we all do."

"Our house is winning by far right now, I think few points won't hurt." Added Tracey.

"But I don't think your parents would be all to pleased if they heard about this." Said Pansy with a maybe, sly smile.

Malfoy grinned, he clearly didn't want to give in an inch. "Oh, my Parents would be proud of me, other than your parents if they found out you where friends with a filthy Mudblood."

Ashley felt how anger bubbled up in her.
She knew that being friends with a non Pureblood was not forbidden but frowned uppon in many Pureblood families. But since yesterday after Millicents comment she realized that connections mattered far more than she first thought.
She felt her skin prickle while she stepped up before Malfoy. His face changed from arrogance to slight worry when the, a few inces taller Ashley, stared him dow .
"Oh, I didn't expect you to be so offended." Sneered Malfoy while his eyes darted between Ashley and his bodyguards.

Ashley didn't remember what happened next, she just remembered colour's.
Specks of iridescent colour everywhere, like those when she failed to use the colour changing spell on her tie.
Ashley also remembered how Professor Snape intervened.
Saying something about 'no spells in the hallways'.

They where sent to breakfast  that's where she snapped out of it again.
Malfoy and his bodyguards sat as far away as possible and Ashley noticed how the colour specks on his uniform didn't fade like on hers.

Theo who already started eating greeted Ashley with a handwave. "What happened? Malfoy looks... very colourfull." He asked while Ashley sat down.
She felt drained and... guilty, but not because of what she did to Malfoy.
She just grabbed a slice of bread and smeared a thick layer of chocolate cream on it.

"Ashley just casted a nonverbal spell!" Said Pansy with excitement.
Theos eyes got wide. "Really?"
"Well it was not a correct spell but it was nonverbal magic." Corrected Daphne from across.
"That's not less impressive" said Pansy and Ashley just nodded.
"You should get extra points for that, non verbal spells are like, 5th year magic." Agreed Theo.

"By the way, did you hear what Snape said to Malfoy?" Asked Tracey, everyone shook their heads.

Theo looked confused between the girls.

"He said something in the lines of, 'you don't want to get another detention right?' " She said with a surprisingly good imitation of Professor Snapes voice.
"Do you guys think Malfoy got Detention and that Detention was going to the Forbidden forrest?" Asked Daphne, seemingly not believing her own words.
"Wouldn't that be kinda....what's the word?" "Nonsense?"
"Nonsense?"

Everyone nodded brooding about the information when an older Slytherin Added something.
"Going on patrol with Hagrid is a regular Detention method in Hogwarts."

"What?" Asked Pansy incredulous, narrowing her eyebrows.
"That's complete nonsense." Added Ashley.
"Your lying." Claimed Millicent.

The student just shook their head.
"Dont question Hogwarts kids, it's a waste of time."

The Girls and Theo nodded and changed the topic. The exams started soon, and there was barely another topic more important.
Even Quidditch came secondary.

"So far I know we have to transform an animal into an object. That's what was requested the last years." Suggested Daphne.
"I heard that Professor Flitwick has especially strange tasks, last year the student had to make a pice of wood into a flying rug or something." Added Pansy

"Isn't that something for Transfiguration class?" Asked Millicent, loading her slice of bread with bacon and egg.

"Well the Softening charm together with Levitation charm I guess." Suggested Ashley.
"So we have to combine different Charms to get the result?" Assumed Tracey.

"Would make sense, we have practiced combination spells alot in the last weeks" said Theo.

Millicent chewing on her egg and bacon sandwich checked the class plan for today wich was just handed out. "Defense against the Dark arts is canceled again." She said and Pansy snatched the paper out of Millicents hands.

"Again? Aw, that's my favorite class."
"Really? Professor Quirrel is a stuttering mess." Asked Tracey and Ashley nodded.
"Well there must be a reason why he became Professor right? I don't think they let random Witches or Wizards become Professors. Right?"

 

The Slytherin Girls spend the free time until next lesson in the courtyard. Among the other Slytherins.

Ashley let Cheddar run around, who happily munched on grass and received pets.
Pansy rested on Daphnes lap, who tried to make a daisy crown.
Millicent had gone with 2 other students who had found the first Lizards, running between the stone bricks and basking in the first warm sun rays of the year.
Theo introduced Ashley to wizard chess.
Ashley knew chess but playing with living chess pices was much more interesting.

"Guys, is it really that risky for your reputation to be friends with a non-pureblood?" Asked Ashley suddenly in the group.
Daphne lowered her flowerbundle wich wasn't even close to resemble a crown.
"What are you talking about Ashley? Your not seriously paying a mind to what Malfoy said earlier?"
Ashley pressed her lips together and silence unfolded between them.
"Ah, never mind." She said and turned back to the chess game.
Theo had moved his last Tower in a very unfortunate position.
But not for Ashley.
A few more moves and Ashley won a second time.

"How are you already this good? I just explained it." Asked Theo while they set up their pices a forth time. Theo had only won the first round.

"Its not my first time playing chess. A few older friends of Uncle Paul taught me so I could play with them."
"Makes sense, do the Muggle chess pices move on its own too?" Asked Theo and Ashley shook her head.
"How boring" "Yes, but you don't have to convince the pices of your next move."
"That's a point."

"By the way, Ashley. How come that you never talk about your parents? You always talk about your Uncle and friends of your family." Asked Tracey who played with Cheddar.
Ashley felt a sudden silence filled her mind.
Dark and scary, has she really never talked about them?
She should have mentioned them once, right? Ashley's finger wandered to the Ring.

"Oh nice that you mentioned it Tracey, I was always curious about that." Added Pansy.

"Oh I... have I really never mentioned them?" Asked Ashley a bit confused.
The girls shook their heads. "Everytime we start talking about family you just play with that ring and once or twice say something about Uncle Paul."

"Oh because they are dead." Said Ashley and her voice felt a little colder than anticipated.
Again uncomfortable silence.

"Oh, I'm sorry we mentioned it." Said Daphne.
"How come?" Asked Tracey, earing a warning look from Daphne.

"The house burned down and they couldn't escape. That was shortly after I got the Hogwarts letter."
Ashley felt the pain in her chest again, but this time it didn't stay there, it crept up and sunk it's claws into her throat.

"Oh shit, that's... pretty recent..." Said Theo visibly uncomfortable.
The discomfort spread across the group and everyone avoided everyone eyes.
Ashley was glad, in some kind of messed up way, that she talked about what happened, more or less.

It always felt like a weight on her chest, but by sharing it, she no longer felt like she was the one to carry it alone.
Cheddar, probably sensing the discomfort jumped around smiling at everyone while chewing on a daisy.
Daphne laughed and slowly the tension faded.
The next round of chess Theo won, and Millicent chased Daphne and Pansy with the twitching tail of lizard.

Chapter 33: Exams and Girls Night

Summary:

Last year exams and the girls prepare for a trip in the Forbidden forrest

Notes:

My Character notes for the Slytherin Girls (+Theo) :

Pansy: quite extroverted and a people pleaser, she has alot of empathy but often doesn't know what to do with it. She tends to be overlooked which bothers her more than she admits. She loves casual physical contact with friends. She is curios and a magnet for all sorts of rumors. She often has good standard with the teachers. If she wasn't a Slytherin she would have been a Gryffindor.

Tracey: Like Pansy quite extroverted and curios, but she is alot less empathetic, she acts out of her own interest and can come off as Selfabsorbed. She is really loud and expressive. If she wasn't a Slytherin she would have been Hufflepuff.

Millicent: Like Tracey often loud and prefers to use force instead of talking. She often doesn't know how to communicate and doesn't care about school as loong she barely passes. If she wasn't a Slytherin she would have been a Gryffindor.

Daphne: quite introverted and the first voice of reason. She loves to give nicknames and is usually the one Pansy leans against. She's also quite talented in magic and has a nearly fotographic memory. She likes to help others but only those she considers her friends. If she wasn't a Slytherin she would have been a Ravenclaw

Theo: An Introverted Extrovert, he loves conspiracy theories and wants to be a magic mechanic. He can talk about magical objects and artifacts for hours if he feels like someone is listening. With people that don't share his interest he feels like he doesn't belong in the conversation, so he often backs out after a few minutes. He had picked up like 5 different Hobbies, and likes Quidditch. But he is willing to drop anything for a broken Time turner or a box of Deluminator scraps. If he wasn't a Slytherin he would have been a Hufflepuff.

 

I probably missed some points, anyway, enjoy late chapter 33. :D

Chapter 33: Exams and Girls Night

 

The girls sat in their dormitories.
Everyone already in pajamas and nightgowns.
They all sat on and around Millicents and Tracey's beds. Going another time through notes and spells one last time before the exams.

Millicent and Pansy shoot Books across the floors with the Knockback Jinx.
Tracey let her books fly around in the room and Ashley and Daphne trained their spell combinations.

"Ok, make this pice of paper fly while it burns."

Daphne swung her wand with perfection, chanting the spells.
The paper plane Ashley made flew up flapping its paper wings and went up in flames, burning to dust before it touched the ground again.

"My turn." Said Daphne and pulled out a pebble from the lake.
"Make the Stone soft enough to cut it with the severing charm"
Ashley swung her wand.
The stone got soft and Ashley could make 4 cuts into the stone.

"I want to go to the Forbidden forrest" exclaimed Millicent suddenly.
Ashley and Daphne turned towards her Pansy stopped the book Millicent was just sliding around and raised her eyebrows.
Tracey's book, potions, fell open on her face.

"Ouch, what?" She asked rubbing her nose.

"Aren't you all curious what's in there?" Millicent asked in the round.
Everyone either shrugged or shook their head.

"It has to be something terrifying and dangerous when it's Forbidden and makes Malfoy whiter than a sheet of paper."
"It was probably a Muggle." Snickered Tracey and Pansy covered her mouth so she didn't have to laugh loud.
"It can't be that dangerous when it's a common detention method to send students on patrol with Hagrid." Said Ashley.
"That's right Hogwarts would never put their students in danger." Argued Daphne, and Ashley remembered when Theos foot got broken because he got stuck in the moving stairs, yeaaa that was an accident.
She thought while she pushed the Troll incident in the back of her mind.

"Also to be honest I'm actually curious." continued Daphne "You not?"
Slight nods.
"And what are they gonna do if they catch us, send us on Patrol?" Joked Millicent, and Tracey and Pansy giggled.

"But I would suggest we go after the exams." Suggested Ashley and Pansy agreed.

"Speaking off exams." Interupted Daphne, closing the Charms and the Potions Book.
"Being tired for exams is probably unfortunate, so I would suggest we all go to bed."
Everyone nodded and hushed around to collect their books to put them back.
Tracey put out the candles and everyone relied on eachothers wand light to crawl under their Blankets.

"Good night" "Sleep well" "Until tomorrow".
Curtains where closed, or left open and Blankets and pillows ruffled.
Wand lights got extinguished and everyone went to sleep.

 

"Shhhht, Ashley are you still awake?" Ashley opened one eye.
"No I'm already sleeping, what is it Pansy?"
"Do you think the exams are going to be hard?" Ashley sighs. "I don't know, but we learned so much I think we are going to be fine. Besides it's the first year exams. They can't be that hard." "
Ah alright, good night."
"Good night Pansy" mumbled Ashley in her pillow. Pretending to already fall asleep although she knew that sleep will only come in a few hours.

 

The exams where as difficult as expected.
Ashley didn't like the exam rooms one bit, it was a large classroom, and probably one of the few who didn't have temperature regulating Charms.
So the whole room was unbearably hot.
Most students had stripped their Uniform to only the most necessary parts.
Ashley wrote down the different parts and their uses from a common Mandrake.
Her handwriting she was once praised for looked like a scribble mess.
Even worse than with the regular feathers.
Those Anti-Cheating feathers, felt strange under her fingers.
Ashley had tried switching hands, rubbing them off on her shirt, nothing helped.
Seems like that was one of the shadow sides of her sensitivity to magic.

The Practical exams where much more fun, well by exam standards.
They where right about the assumption that Professor Flitwick demanded spell mixing.
Making a pineapple tap-dance across the desk. Ashley had no idea how tapdance worked but she could make the pineapple jump across the table like it was dancing.
She once let the pineapple fall over, but that hardly took any points.

Professor McGonagall put a mouse on the table and tasked the student to turn it into a snuff-box.
Ashley chose to make the box gray with fine lines and a darker outline around the base.
That way she could avoid failing the spell by shortcutting the design.

Snapes, clearly that one teacher that looks over your shoulder during exams and then do something like announcing that all students should read the tasks before doing anything.
Making the Forgetfulness potion was a slightly amusing choice for the practical exam. And Ashley liked working alone in peace. Although she nearly ran out of time.

The last exam. History of Magic.
After that, a full week, no classes, no homework. Just free time.
The question where fairly easy, easier than expected.
But Ashley knew that she missed some dates and probably wrote one or three names wrong the moment the papers disappeared from her table.

 

"Uuuggghhhh, Finally" Groaned Tracey when she left the exam room.
Daphne and Millicent where already waiting.
Ashley nodded and threw a glance back in the classroom where Pansy asked the teachers a few things.

"A full week no school, and great weather" Sighed Daphne and leaned against the stone arch of the window Millicent and her where sitting in.
Tracey scooched in between them and let her legs swing.
Ashley chose to stand.

Pansy left the exam room.
"Guys I will lose so many points on History"
Millicent rolled her eyes. "Who cares, it's History"
"History is important Millli." Interupted Daphne.
"Like for what?" Asked Tracey.
Daphne shrugged. "So we learn from past mistakes, I don't know. Anyway what did you guys got for Question 5 in the Dark Arts exam?"
"The one about the difference between jinx and curse"
"Yes, I wrote something in the lines of a curse an be applied and stays there and a Jinx is only active while engaging with it through eye contact for example."
"Sounds about right."
"Uh, I just made a list and compared the effects." "There was a question about Jinxes and Curses!?"

Pansy chimed in "Did your Forgetfulness Potions also had this greenish hue?" "
No Pansy, it's supposed to be silver clouded."
"Oh, well, Potions was never my strong class"

The girls continued to compare exam answers and Theo joined the group, well he joined Ashley who took a slight step back from the group so she could process the exams.
"How did the exams go?" Asked Theo.
"Fine, I think average. Yours?"
"Uh pretty alright. Also decent. I won't fail, that's the most important."
"Yea me neither."
"Niceee." All was said.
Ashley didn't feel like continuing the conversation, she felt drained, the effort and energy put in the exams became noticeable, or mere the absence.

Theo tried for a moment to join the conversation of the other girls but soon decided to go his own way.
Daphne joined Ashley in her Silence and back at the common room they just occupied one of the corners lazing in the couches and armchairs like they just had like OWL level exams.
Theo joined the group again to play wizzard chess with Tracey and Ashley let Cheddar run around. Who had his fun playing with the not amused cast out chess pices.
Ashley spottet Malfoy trying to explain some kind of card game to one of his Bodyguards. He looked so frustrated.
Soon after the second years entered the commonroom, their exams took obviously longer and as time passed  the commonroom filled up and Ashley, Millicent and Daphne ecided to move into their dormitories.
Daphne took a nap and Millicent and Ashley played a game invented by Millicent where you shoot, often a book, across the floor with the Knockback Jinx. Trying to touch the other wall.
Ashley was not as practiced as Millicent in the Knockback Jinx but it was still fun.
Ashley was many points behind Millicent.
Which was a little annoying but the two kept playing.

Evening rolled in and with that Dinner time.
The girls brought Ashley's lunch box to pack small snacks for their 'Girls Night' which they called it after Theo asked why they where making sandwiches and barely ate anything.

 

Giggling they closed their Dormitories door, sat down and packed Ashley's backpack since it could be fully closed and Ashley swore in its stability.

"Those Muggle things are way to overlooked, why don't we have that?"
Asked Tracey while she closed the backpack and Ashley showed her how to adjust it to her size.
"Probably because we don't have magic, we gotta have something right?"
Answered Ashley and closed her jacket over her robe.
The temperatures had dropped and going to the forrest at that time? Probably colder than just outside.

Ashley had braided herself with Daphnes help some sort of hair crown where she secured her wand like a headlight.
Millicent and Tracey had bound strings on their wands so if they would drop them they didn't got lost.

"Are we overpreparing" Asked Daphne in the round after everyone rehearsed defence spells.
"Nahhh probably not" Answered Millicent, Ashley just shrugged and Tracey nodded.
Pansy secured her wand over her ears with a similar braid like Ashley but since she had much shorter hair she also used a headband to secure her wand.

"Are we ready?" Asked Daphne in the round.
"Yes!" "Of course" "I can't wait to start." Came in response.

Chapter 34: The Forbidden Forrest

Summary:

Malfoy kinda does a Charakter 180°

The Girls go into the cursed forrest realizing that they are not the only ones sneaking around.

Also Tracey gets a staff.

Notes:

Late chapter 34 enjoy ^^

Chapter 34: The Forbidden Forrest

 

The Girls hushed down the stairs and wanted to sneak to the door when they saw Malfoy in green satin Pj's sitting a blanket around his shoulders infront of the fireplace talking to a face in the flames.

"Yea the Exams went great, I will definitely pass."
Ashley slowed down she was curios about the fire.
"You where right Hogwarts is infested with mudbloods. Even in Slytherin." Malfoy continued. While all girls hid in the shadows.
"And Potter still doesn't want to be my friend. Yes, unbelievable! But he's a loser anyway, I caught them smuggling a Dragon. Yes father a Dragon. Of course I told the teachers but they punished me too. Yes father unbelievable."

Tracey rolled her eyes. And Pansy mimicked Malfoys exaggerated expressions.
Daphne nearly had to laugh but Ashley put her hand on Daphnes mouth.
"Yes Father, good night, love you"

Millicent burst out laughing and Malfoy jumped.
He got up on shaking legs pointing his wand in direction of the girls.
He didn't seem to see them. "Come out! So I can blow off your head" he threatened trying to hide the way his voice was shaking. The girls exchanged looks.

Daphne was the first to step out. "Dont Panic Malfoy it's just us."

Malfoy looked at the girls with confusion. All in dark clothing, wand secured with either Bands or in strange braids. A rather colourfull backpack over the shoulder. At least he lowered his wand.

"Are you girls sneaking out!?" He asked his face grimaced to a disgusted expression.
The girls exchange glances again.
"Where doing a Girls-Night" explained Ashley, wich was basically the truth.

Malfoy crossed his arms. "I could snitch you all you know?" Millicent grins. "Oh are you going to tell your father to make him proud?"
Malfoy turned red as a tomato. "Dont talk about my father like that, he is one of the most influential Wizards in all Wizarding world and he can ruin your alls family!"
"Isn't it a little bit pathetic?" Asked Ashley adjusting her wand in her hair. "That you always take your father a an excuse for an argument? Don't you have any qualifies yourself?"
Malfoys cheeks blew up as his face turned more red.
"Of course I have qualities, but why should I use them when I have a father with all I need? I bet your Parents never had and never will have the influence my family has gained over years. So I can be atleast proud of it."
Ashley raised her eyebrows while she felt the other girls eyes on her back.

"Your right." She answered with a smile.
"Its because my parents both died  ot long ago."

Silence unfolded between her and Malfoy who was stunned for a moment.
"So your an poor Orphan?" He asked a little less confident.
Ashley shrugged. "So what?"

Again Silence then Malfoy took a deep breath.
"I let you all go if you take me with you next time." He said and avoided the girls gaze.
Strange, what a change in attitude. Ashley doubted that he knew they where going to the Forbidden Forrest.
She looked at the other girls for their opinion.

"Sure, why not" Answered Pansy and shrugged.
"Aslong you follow all our rules."
"Well not all of them" sneered Malfoy and dug his fingers in his Pj's.
Pansy just shrugged.
"That's a problem for next time" Added Daphne and with that Malfoy turned around and walked to his Dormitories.

"That was weird" Wisperd Tracey when they left the commonroom. Daphne nodded. The girls hushed through the corridors of the Dungons.
Not up to the castle but further into the cold stone halls.
There was a secret door in the Dungons that led directly outside, and since neither Peeves nor Finch patrolled in the dungons the girls basically had free passing.

Daphne was the first who found the illusion brick with the door nob underneath.
She turned it and a few feet from her a stone door swung open.
Ashley, Tracey, Millicent and Pansy stepped outside first and Daphne followed last since she needed to turn the door nob.

The girls stood in the castles shadow, the moon shone bright above them and stars speckled the sky.
The girls wispered the light spell on their wands and 5 wandlights lit up.
Carefully they walked along the castle walls trying not to slip down the Hill.
Until they reached an open field.

Now they had to be careful. If someone would look out the windows of the castle they would spot them. The girls extinguished their wands grabbed eachothers hands and sneaked their heads low over the open field until they reached the edge of the forest.

Still holding eachothers hands they stepped in the forrest until they knew that their wands would nolonger be seen from the castle.
One after the other they lit up their wands again and looked around.

The cursed forrest looked like any other forrest. Thick old black trees with leaves so dense they blocked out the whole sky. But it Sounded different. It was nearly completly silend the only sound they could hear was a deep wisper like the trees themselves where speaking.
Ashleys skin tingled although barely noticable.
Still not letting go of eachothers hands the girls moved further into the forrest leaving numbers and marks on the trees so they would find their way back.

"We should have come here earlier" Wisperd Tracey her voice shaking. "When it was a little brighter outside"
"It wouldn't have made a difference, the trees don't let a single speck of light through." Said Ashley looking up a twisting oak tree. Her wandlight just barely reached the lower leaves.

"Hey guys this mushroom glows when you hit it" wispered Millicent loud.
She was tipping against a smal mushroom patch with her boots wich immediately glowed white under her shoes.

"That's a common Nightlighter I think" said Ashley when she crouched down beside the patch.
"Not sure though. Could also be a Poisonous Ghostshroom. So I wouldn't touch it. The Ghost Shroom is an invasive species that causes the skin to become thin and easily damaged."

"How many times did you read the Herbology books?"
"Oh that's from the libary books. I think it was one of the 'Is it this or that?' Volumes has like over a hundred plants and mushrooms and their lookalikes per Volume."
"I bet you got alot of time on your hands when you skip flying lesson." Remarks Pansy.
"You skip Flying lesson!?" Asked Millicent genuinely Surprised.
Ashley avoided her gaze.
"How did you not get detention for that yet!?" Asked Daphne.
Ashley shrugged. "No idea, guess the Professor forgot I exist."
Daphne just shook her head.

Suddenly something rustled in the bushes a few feet before them.
Immediately Ashley, Pansy and Daphne hid behind the tree in the bushes.
Daphne grabbed Tracey and Pansy and Ashley grabbed Millicent and pulled them behind the tree. Tracey gave Daohne a nasty look but she just gestures her to be quiet.

They extinguished their wands and Pansy dared to peek over the bushes.
"What do you see?" Wisperd Tracey and tabs against Ashley's shoulder so she moved out of the way so Tracey could peek too.
"I don't know, it looks like a person in a cloak and a large head."
Tracey's head popped up beside Pansys. "That isn't a head, that is Professor Quirrels Turban!" She wisperd.
"What is he doing in the Forbidden Forrest?" Asked Millicent.
"How am I supposed to know? But I'm 100% sure that is Quirrel" Tracey asserted.
"Shh, we belive you Tracey but if you say that any louder he will spot us."

"Why do you belive that That's Quirrel, Ashley?" Asked Pansy who has crouched down again.
"I don't know, Quirrel was weird the whole year, I heard he let in the troll on Helloween."
"Where did you get that information!?"
"Uhh, the Ghosts mentioned it"
"The Ghosts talk with you?" Asked Daphne with raised eyebrows. Ashley shrugged.

"He's looking in our direction" Hissed Tracey and immediately crouched down. The Girls put their hands over their mouths and tried to breathe as swallow as possible while they heard steps comming closer.

"Hello!? Is anyone there?"
Professor's Quirrels voice, definitely, but without his stutter.
Tracey gave the others a 'See? told you' look and Millicent rolled her eyes.

When suddenly a different voice was heard.
"Continue searching... need unicorn...blood...NOW!"
A high voice wich send a shiver down everyones spine, definitely not Quirrel came from the same direction, slighty muffled like it was under fabric.
Ashley felt her skin prickle like needles she could barely blend it out.
"Of course, Master." wispered Quirrel and his steps moved away.

The girls waited until the forrest was completely quiet again.
Pansy dared to peek over the Bush and gave the other girls a thumbs up, to signal everything was clear.
The girls waited for another Minute wich Ashley tracked with her watch, then they slowly sneaked out of their hideout.
Turning on their wandlights.

"What was that!?" Asked Tracey while Millicent and Daphne tried to breathe automatically again.
"I don't know, is there something in Quirrels Turban?" Suggested Pansy.
"I could sense alot of Magic so maybe a magic cellphone? Do things like that exist in the Wizarding world?" Asked Ashley.
"What's a cellphone?"
"Its some kind of new technology in the Human world to call people from long distances without having to use the landline."
"The what?"
"Nevermind, how do you contact distant relatives or friends."
"Uh the floo-network, Owls, sometimes Magic Mirrors"
"Ok a cellphone is like one of these mirrors."
"Are they atleast as expensive?"
"So far I heard yes."

The girls continued walking. Comparing the Human and the Wizarding world.
Despite the creepy incident with Quirrel the girls got a little too comfortable in the forrest.
Pansy helped Tracey climb a tree because Tracey spotted a broken branch that looked like a staff.
The girls stood around the tree looking up while Tracey disappeared between the leaves, her wand light shining through the leaves.
Tracey came down with the broken off branch.
It did look like a staff.
Tracey and Millicent argued whenever they should keep it or not.
"Tracey do you have some kind of night Vision or something?" Asked Pansy while she put another Mark on the tree.
Tracey shrugged proudly holding her staff. "I always could see better in the dark than others, my mom had that too."
"Alright"

Ashley checked her watch.
"Um for how long do we still want to be out here? It's nearly half past two."
"That late already?" Millicent took of Ashleys Backpack and took out an Apple.
Daphne and Pansy shared a sandwich.
Ashley a bit confused also grabbed some grabbes.

"I would suggest we turn around, in tired." Suggested Daphne.
Millicent and Tracey just suppressed a yawn. But they agreed.
So they finished eating and put a dot under Pansys mark.
Slowly they followed their marks back.
Tracey with her staff on the front.
"I kinda want one too now" mumbled Daphne to Ashley to wich she chuckled.
When suddenly again, rustling in the bushes.

This time quicker, the girls hid behind a root and extinguished their wands.
"Quirrel again?" Asked Ashley while Tracey peeked over the Root.
"No, it's... girls you won't believe this. It's two Centaurs"
"Centaurs!?" Asked Daphne her voice high in excitement.
"Let me see!" Daphne peeked over the root, Ashley could see how her mouth hung open in awe.

"Do you think we can talk to them?"
"Daphne! No!" wispered Pansy and Ashley in union.
Daphne was usualy not the one to be reckless.

"But they might have a riddle."
"Daphne Your sounding like an Ravenclaw."
Wisperd Millicent and Pansy covered her mouth to suppress her chuckle.

They waited again for the Centaurs to pass, and when they returned to their path Daphne kept talking about Centaurs.
"I think she really likes Centaurs" wispered Millicent to Pansy and Tracey who grinned.
Ashley was just nodding while Daohne bombarded her with historic events that Centaurs have apparently predicted.
Ashley knew about Centaurs only from Greek mythology and Phantasy stories so she could contribute nothing to Daphnes knowledge.

The girls left the forrest successfully without getting lost.
Well once they took the wrong turn but that's it.
They are able to sneak back into the Dungons and into the commonrooms.
Ashley suggested taking of their shoes before the commonroom since they where full of dirt.
Back in the common rooms they quietly prepared for bed and hushed under the blankets.
Tracey leaned her staff against her bedpost hidden behind her curtains and maybe past 4am the girls where all tucked in their beds.

Ashley fell asleep the moment her head touched the Pillow, dreaming of a pale snake like face that called her from behind the forrest trees while Tracey sat on a branch with her staff wearing a glowing mushroom top for a hat singing about mushrooms while a cloaked stranger asked her if she wanted to continue.

Chapter 35: The Greatest Dark Wizard of all Time.

Summary:

Malfoy and Ashley play (fight over) card games while Potter is fighting for his life and the Philosophers Stone.

The Perks of being a side character I guess.

 

Enjoy late chapter 35 only a few more to go. ^^

Chapter 35: The Greatest Dark Wizard of all Time.

 

"I tell you, I'm not cheating."
"Of course you are cheating there is no way you are already this good!"
"Its not my fault that the game is also known in the Muggle world."
"Pah, muggles would never come up with that!"

Ashley and Malfoy sat across eachother on one of the corner tables both with a deck of cards.
Pansy sat beside Ashley more interested in the conflict than the actual card game.
Crabbe sat beside Malfoy quiet.
Goyle on the other hand was chatting with Tracey.
They and the others had moved to another table seconds after Malfoy and Ashley started playing.

 

"Then how do you explain that I know the game?"
Asked Ashley while Malfoy shuffled the cards again.
"You are cheating that's why! Probably with that Rat."

He pointed at Cheddar who sat on Ashley's shoulder munching little Nuts Pansy handed to him.

"Leave Cheddar out of this."
Responded Ashley and took her deck of cards.
"Then put it away so I know it's not helping."
Demanded Malfoy.
Ashley sighs.
"Dont be ridiculous."

But she handed Pansy Cheddar and brushed some Nut crumble out of her shirt.
Pansy gladly took Cheddar and continued to feed him.

 

The last days where relaxing, no classes no exam stress only free time.
They could technically sleep in but Professor Snape did not tolerate students in the Commonroom during breakfast.
If they had classes or not didn't matter at this point.

So far the Group had their peace with Blondie although Pansy and Ashley sometimes noticed Malfoy looking in their direction from time to time.

But today just after lunch he approached the group slamming a deck of cards in the middle of the table and demanded that they would now play cards together.
Ashley was the one to give-in, out if pure curiosity.

Now they were playing since atleast 2 hours all sorts of different card games who where no different to the card games Ashley knew from the Human world.
Again the time spend in the retirement home with Uncle Paul's friends paid-off tenfold.

 

"You damned Mudblood, your doing it again!"
Malfoy slammed his cards on the table.
They weren't so bad in Ashley opinion, she could work with that deck.
"What? Winning?"
"Cheating."
Malfoy was already getting red again, red really wasn't his colour.
"No? Also leave the blood relations out of that. It's not my fault you don't know how to play."
"Of course I know how to play! You are just cheating. What is your secret!?"

Ashley sighs.
"Years of playing with old people in an retirement home who don't have anything else to do instead of playing cards?"
"A Retirement home? A muggle thing right" Asked Pansy
"I guess." Ashley shrugged.
Then she turned to Malfoy again.

"How about whe switch decks?"
So fast she wouldn't let him go, it's been a while since she played cards and Malfoy was quite good to play with, ignoring his short fuse ofcourse.

Maybe she should him win next round.
After, - she had proved that she wasn't cheating.

"You had a pretty good deck Blondie."
Said Ashley and layed down a card.

"Dont call me Blondie, Mudblood."
"Then don't call me Mudblood."
"Whatever " Malfoy rolled his eyes.
"You shouldn't even be in Slytherin, we value Blood purity and Power"

"Sorry I don't remember the Sorting Hat mentioning racism a sorting criteria"
"Its not Racism, it's knowing your place."
"Its Racism. Do you want me to look up the dictionary description for you?"

Malfoy rolled his eyes. "Its your turn again, except you think about giving up."
Ashley glanced at the card before her.

"That's an... interesting move.."
"What do you mean?"
"Hm I don't know."
Ashley put down her card and Malfoy lost it again.

This guy really wasn't used to a challenge.
Probably because his only loyal companions seemed to be Crabbe and Goyle.
Kinda sad.
Ashley waited for Malfoy to calm down again.

"You already got better Malfoy, next round you might even beat me."

Blondie looked up from his cards.

"If you don't immediately throw your cards."
She added and Malfoy grumbled something and Ashley felt reminded of the time when she first learned the game.

How often she felt like being played or cheated on because the senior before her played this game since years and she just started.
She should really let him win the next round.

 

"HAH I WON, I KNEW IT" Yelled Malfoy and drew the attention of nearly the whole commonroom.
He grinned wide while Ashley just put her cards down.
"AND YOU LOST. HA HA. I BEAT YOU!" Pansy exchanged glances with Ashley who just shrugged.

"Is he alright?" Asked Daphne from the other table while Crabbe and Goyle kinda cheered with him.

Pansy shook her head, her eyes wide and Ashley shrugged again.

 

Breakfast a day later Pansy came late, even later than Ashley.
"She was awake when I got up." Answered Tracey and handed Millicent the strawberry jam.
Ashley nodded and put a fried egg on her bread.
An idea she had copied from Theo.

Cheddar sat in the middle chewing on a Walnut Millicent had opened for him, Cheddar had learned over the year what he could eat from the table and what not.
Ashley was proud of that.

"Maybe she got lost?" Theo suggested.
"Pansy? Nahw I don't think so." Answered Tracey.
"Daphne can you hand me the chocolate cream?"

"Here. Maybe she found something interesting? Got stuck in some gossip?" Suggested Daphne while she handed Tracey the chocolate cream.
"Probably. We will get Tea for breakfast" Agreed Millicent already grinning.

 

"What are you talking about?" Malfoy had leaned over and Tracey moved her goblet.

"None of your business." Hissed Tracey
"Why are you suddenly so interested Malfoy?" Asked Daphne.

Malfoy shrugged and scooched in Pansys seat.
"I don't know, maybe because I have something to bribe you with? Remember, I caught you."
Malfoy smirked so satisfied with himself Ashley felt the need to gag Tracey's Face resembled a similar reaction. Theo just looked confused.

"You are clearly interested in something else Malfoy, else you would have already snitched us or list us your demands" Ashley calmed her voice while she folded her hands under her chin looking directly at him.
Malfoys eyes immediately darted somewhere else.

"I'm just making connections. You should be glad I even pay attention to you bunch."
Tracey rolled her eyes while Ashley smiled.

"Soooo you realized at the end of the year that you don't have any friends so you try last minute to build up something?"
Malfoy grimmaced. "I don't need friends, I'm just making connections. And it's not like I didn't find any, they weren't just worth my time."
Ashley leaned back as much as you can lean back without falling over when the bench doesn't have a backrest.

"Of course." Malfoy huffed and turned away again. In the moment Pansy showed up her face widened to a "You have no idea what I just heard" Face.

"Oh the Tea is here." Said Millicent and Ashley and Theo scooched to the end of their benches so Pansy could squeeze in since Malfoy didn't bother to move.
"You have no idea what I just heard from a group of Gryffindors."
"Ew you talk with Gryffindors?"
"Shut it Malfoy if you want to listen." Hissed Daphne and Malfoy surprisingly shut up.

"Alright sooo, I heard.." Pansy left a pause to build up tension.
"Comon Pansy, spill the Tea." Urged Millicent who stoped smearing her bread to listen.
"I heard that Harry Potter was transferred to the Hospital wing and hasn't waken up since. Do you remember Quirrel and that strange voice?"
The girls nodded Theo and Malfoy just looked confused.
Ashley made a 'I explain later' gesture.

"So apparently that voice we heard was" Pansy lowered her voice.

"The Dark Lord"

Everyone gasped.
Malfoys face got pale, Daphne covered her mouth, Millicents eyes widened, Tracey let out a high sound, Theos mouth hung open.

"Lord Volde-*?" Ashley asked a little confused but Pansy covered her mouth.
"Shhhhh don't say his name, what if it summons him again."
"Pansy are you sure you didn't hear any rumors?" Asked Daphne worried.
"Why could he get into Hogwarts?" Asked Tracey.
"Why did he want to come here?" Asked Millicent.

Pansy shruged.
"Apparently Dumbledore hid a secret artifact in the school.
Something the Dark lord wanted." Continued Pansy.

"Why would he put that in a school!?" Asked Ashley confused.
"That's like storing Millitary equipment in a public school."

Pansy shruged.
"But like I said Potter is unconscious in the Hospital wing, apparently he defeated Quirrel when he wanted to obtain the artifact."
"Potter?" Asked Millicent with raised eyebrows
"Yes who else?" Interupted Pansy.

"That's some strong Tea right there Pansy" Added Daphne and Tracey nodded.

"If it's True. But it's likely when we combine the pices." Said Ashley petting Cheddar who noticed the tension again.
"You really think that voice was the Dark Lord?" Asked Millicent
"I have no idea, I never heard him, but there surely was alot of Magic when he or it talked."

"You can sense magic?" Asked Malfoy his voice was a little shaking, weird.
Ashley nodded. "I guess..."
The others shrugged.
"We never really talked about that." Answered Tracey.
Ashley shrugged it off "I assumed its normal." 
"Yea, it's not. But let's take it for granted in the moment" continued Daphne.
"I think it's more important that we nearly crossed ways with the greatest dark Wizard of all time that night."
Ashley blinked, she wouldn't call Voldemort the greatest dark Wizard of all time, there where certainly more powerful ones, but Voldemort was the only one with that title. Atleast from what she heard.
Maybe she should look into it more, she put it on her mental list directly under the note to read more into Herbology and Magical Creatures.

Series this work belongs to:

• Part 1 of Ashes