Black Lake Secrets ⇾D.M.

ii. sorting hat

Maryse could have never imagined that she would finally get to walk inside the castle. Six years ago, she only dreamed of this to happen. And then, six years later, she was finally here. Wearing her Hogwarts uniform, her rich red hair cut above the rest.

She was walking along the other first years, she was finally going to be sorted. In her mind, she wished that she was sorted into a house where it had a serpent on it.

"Maryse Cordelia"

She slowly walked up the platform and gently, Professor McGonagall placed the sorting hat on her head.

"My dear, you are different from the rest. You hold a deep secret. But due to your bravery, you are willing to sacrifice yourself. You are strong and you are aware of what will happen to you. I know where to put you...GRYFFINDOR."

Professor McGonagall removed the sorting hat. The girl then went down to join the table filled with people who cheered for her.

"Drat. I'm not even sorted to his house." She spoke to herself, sitting down beside a girl with brown hair.

"I'm Hermione Granger. Pleasure to meet you." She smiled and extended her hand out. She smiled and shook hands with her as well.

The sorting hat ended and finally, the feast began.

She gulped at how they looked delicious in her eyes. She started up by eating mashed potatoes and chicken.

"So, Maryse, which school did you come from?" Seamus had asked her. Neville, Ginny, Harry, Ron and Hermione turned to look at her.

She didn't respond back.

"How come I didn't thought about this? What should I say?" She mentally told herself in her head.

"Beauxbatons, Illvermony, Merlin...perhaps?" Seamus asked again.

But she could only blink back at him. Seamus then decided to drop the conversation.

"Can she speak English? Maybe not. Probably French or Bulgarian is her language if you ask me." Seamus whispered into Dean Thomas' ear. Seamus was three seats away from her. Despite him being an arm length away from her, he could hear his whispers.

When the feast ended, they were being escorted into the Common Room. She took a glance at him. And she found him still sitting down on his spot. Barely even touching the food he has on his plate.

"It's taking over him." She said to herself. Before joining the rest of her house into the rooms.

"Why were staring at him? He's not worth it Maryse." Hermione spoke. Only she could nod her head.

"So....can you speak at all?" She asked.

Maryse blinked.

"But can you understand me?" She asked again.

Maryse nodded her head.

"Well that's good." She smiled a little.

"You'll be sharing a dorm with me for a year. I hope we have the same classes tomorrow." She smiled.

And Maryse smiled back.

> > > > >

The following day, she went out with Hermione to pick up their time tables from Professor McGonagall.

Monday

Defence Against Dark Arts

Ancient Runes

Arithmancy

Potions

Curriculum

Defence Against Dark Arts
• Mermaids and Their Abilities
• Nonverbal spells
• Inferius
• Dementors
• Cruciatus Curse
• Resisting the Imperius Curse

The first curriculum caught her attention. She was going to learn about herself.

"This is wonderful. We have all the same classes!" Hermione spoke, grinning as she took a peak from her time table.

"Let's go, Snape is not one you want to mess with." She spoke and started walking, Maryse followed behind her.

Upon stepping inside the room, she found the platinum haired boy's back, sitting in the back row. Her heart made a leap. She was going to have classes with him!

She followed Hermione and they both took seats in the middle row.

Snape came in a matter of seconds, turned around and then faced his students.

"Can you tell me the four abilities a mermaid possess?" He asked bluntly. In a swift movement, Hermione's hand was already up in the air.

"Yes miss Granger."

"The first ability is that they can breathe underwater like other sea creatures can. The second ability is that they can have human legs when they rise into land. The third ability is that they can quickly adapt into a new environment. And lastly, mermaids can do magic without a wand. They can disarm, apparate and can perform non verbal spells."  Hermione finished all.

And all she said is true.

She can live with or without a wand, without her wand, she can still do magic.

"Mermaids are part human, part animal and part goddess. They have unusual hair colors such as bright white and rich red." Snape spoke.

She gulped. The topic was hitting her too much. Did he know she was a mermaid?

"Is he trying to expose me?" She asked herself, and found her looking at him.

> > > > >

"How is that you can understand, but can't talk?" A boy named Ron asked. Maryse blinked. Shrugging her shoulders.

"You can't just ask questions like that! People like her might have gone into traumatic situations, that's why they don't talk." Hermione spoke.

"But bloody hell Hermione. Snape kept looking at her during class while talking about mermaids. He must be going mad." He grinned.

On their way to Potions, a Professor named Slughorn had greeted them.

"Ah. Mr. Potter and Ms. Granger. Come in, and who might the other two be?" Slughorn asked.

"Ron Weasley sir."

And then Slughorn turned to face her.

But she only blinked.

"Maryse Cordelia." Hermione answered for her.

"Alright, alright. Just get your books out."

"I'm sorry sir but I haven't got mine." A boy with glasses named Harry spoke.

"Not a worry, there are a left in the shelves." Slughorn said and turned his back.

"Now can anyone guess what is inside this cauldron?" He asked.

"Amortentia. The most poweful love potion. Whatever you smell in it reminds you of someone. For example I smell parchment, freshly lawned grass and toothpaste." Hermione said.

"How about you miss Cordelia. Would you mind telling us what you could smell?"

Maryse took steps forward and inhaled.

Green apples. Musky perfume. Honeysuckle.

She smelled him. She took a quill and wrote it down on a parchment before showing to Slughorn.

"How about you Mr. Malfoy, would you mind to tell us what you would smell?"

He took a step forward and inhaled from the cauldron.

"Salt water, seaweed and the cold breeze of the ocean."

Maryse's heart made another thump inside her chest.

He smelled her.