I woke up to a knock on my door and a voice telling me to wake up. After convincing myself that it was safe to get out of bed and trust the voice behind the door, I crept out of my covers and opened the door. It was only Professor McGonagall with a stack of clothing that she informed me to put on and come back out when I was done. The top was a gray jumper and a white button up with a black skirt and socks. I was still cold and decided on wearing the cloak from yesterday.
"There you are I was beginning to worry that you got lost in your clothes." I looked up and saw slight amusement in her eyes. "Snape told me that he was quite impressed with you yesterday, and I must say he has never said that to me before."
"Really? I thought I left a rather bad impression of myself." I spoke with my head down, I guess after years worth of torture you give up on holding your head high.
"Chin up dear, I promise he wasn't angry." Her words although comforting had little impact and we walked in silence on the way to breakfast. I took my seat beside her and ate a small serving of pancakes. Breakfast wasn't really my cup of tea, but then again eating in general really wasn't my thing.
"You can have more Nevelyn I'm sure you're still hungry." Papa had sat down next to me and eyed my plate. "I had a rather interesting talk with Snape yesterday he seemed rather surprised at your ability to see into people's minds. I must ask where did you learn such a skill?"
"I don't know, I thought everybody could do it." I don't know why I lied but something deep down in me didn't trust my own grandfather. He just simply looked away and started a conversation with a small man on his left. I felt like I had disappointed him in some way and I was determined to redeem myself.
After breakfast I was handed off to the small man named Professor Flitwick for the day. I didn't do much in his class except read a worn out text book he handed me. The charms seemed rather easy and I was honestly pretty bored. Since he was standing on his desk I sat among the students and as fate should have it a certain red headed twin sat next to me.
"Hi I'm George and this is Fred," he said pointing to another red head.
"I'm Nevelyn but I prefer Laci."
"Are you a first year too? What house are you in? Your robes don't have any crest on them."
"No I'm only ten in just staying here because my grandfather is the headmaster."
"No way Dumbledore is your grandfather! Do you think you could help us prank him?"
"Well I don't know he hasn't been very cheerful lately and I think it has to do with me."
"How could anyone be mad at you? You're sweet as a chocolate frog!" Oh George if only you knew, I thought. Flitwick cleared his throat and that was our cue to shut it.
Lunch was silly as I hardly ate anything and I stood up to follow Flitwick and braced myself for another few hours of boring charms. Snape grabbed my shoulder and ordered me to follow him. I thought I should tell him I was staying with the charms professor, but who was I to question Severus Snape? It was a silent walk to the dungeon and upon arrival I discovered that there was no class. On a single desk was a cauldron and some ingredients.
"I want you to look into my mind and see the recipe." I stood behind the desk and a thousand thoughts ran through my head. 'Don't screw up Laci'. 'Don't be a disappointment'.
Despite the doubts I had in myself I was able to create a perfect brew of Liquid Luck in about 5 minutes. Snape stared in disbelief before speaking.
"Laci are you trying to make a fool of me?"
"No sir I just-"
"How do you do it. You shouldn't be able to brew Liquid Luck until sixth year let alone be extremely skilled at Legimency." My hands shook and my knees felt wobbly and I was certain I would be beaten.
"I'm sorry sir I didn't mean to do any of this! I was just trying to do as you said." He walked towards me, but stopped when he saw me flinch. He told me to sit and take a breathe.
"Laci how long were you held captive?"
"Six years sir."
"And they didn't teach you anything?" I shook my head no. "Well then Laci I think you just became the most brilliant witch I'd ever met." My cheeks felt red as I replayed the compliment over and over. Nobody has told me that I was ever good at anything and I certainly didn't expect that from Snape. I spent the next hour observing his advanced potions class until I was summoned to Papa's office.
"Nevelyn please sit and tell me how everything is going."
"Very well Papa I quite like learning here, but I prefer to be called Laci if you don't mind." This was so far out of my comfort zone but I figured it was now or never.
"Now Nevelyn you understand that your mother named you that because it is a beautiful name. I certainly cannot go against her wishes and use such a less beautiful name." I could hear the distaste rolling off his tongue.
"But mum's name was Laci and she wanted me to be called-" He held up a hand to stop me.
"I'm busy Nevelyn so unless you have anything else you wish to say, you may leave." I stared in disbelief at the man whom my mother said would save us basically kicked me out of his office. I stood up to leave and as I was walking out the door I looked back and used the most disgusted voice I've ever used.
"Mum loved you, but that doesn't mean I have too." I felt his eyes burn into my back until I disappeared down the stairs. 'If this is who mum thought was a great man, I wonder who she thought was a bad man' I muttered to myself. Fuming, I disobeyed every order I had been given and walked straight out the front door of the castle and planted myself in front of the lake. I hadn't sat there for too long before the familiar twins sat on either side of me.
"What brings you out here little one?" I think it was George, he tended to sit on my left and had a small freckle on his nose.
"Just thinking," I wasn't sure if I should trust these two but they were nice, and nice was something I longed for. "I don't think my Papa likes me very much."
"And why would you think that?" This time it was Fred who spoke.
I sighed and threw a pebble into the water. "He hasn't been very nice to me and he doesn't seem to care about what I say."
"Maybe you just doesn't understand what your saying. You speak highly for your age." I nodded and muttered a 'maybe' knowing that my grandfathers intellectual capabilities were up to par with mine.
"Well come on then why don't you join us for dinner." I looked up at the two boys who now stood up with their hands outstretched. I grabbed both hands and was led to the Great Hall.
"So Laci are you coming to school here next year," Oliver Wood asked in between his bites of food.
"I really hope so. It is quite nice here."
"You'll be a year ahead of our brother Ron then." Dinner then became silent as everyone became too full. I realized as people started leaving that I didn't know if I should go to my room by myself or wait for a teacher. After a minute of thinking I decided to go myself. I had remembered the way anyways it was up the first stairs, two rights, and one left or was it up the stairs, one right, two lefts? By the time I stumbled upon my chambers there was a small huddle of professors gathered outside my door.
"Nevelyn where have you been!? We are worried sick about you! Wondering off alone at night not to mention the outdoor adventure you had today!" I hung my head in shame as I got scolded by Dumbledore in front of many teachers. "Now get in your room and don't leave." He strutted away and the professors followed. Professor McGonagall opened my door and whispered "Chin up Laci" before leaving me to my own. I quickly changed and went to bed, crying myself to sleep as I slowly died from embarrassment.
