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Dark. So dark. And cold. Se could barely see the stars through... Whatever that was. She was panting and She attempted to stand, but something sticky and painful had wrapped around her wrists and ankles.. She yelled and started to grate the ropes- or whatever they were- against the tree, wearing them down and struggling. After an eternity it snapped she started for in for her life, purely going on adrenaline. Se seemed taller and Stronger than she was yesterday... Older, maybe? It didn't matter, either way. She kept running, not stopping until the ground dissolved beneath her feet and she fell, flailing, to the sharp rocks below, hearing people yell her name and throw pebbles at her, the rocks were closer, closer- "MERIDA!"
Merida woke with a start, sweating coldly. She was entangled in her sheets and had fallen on the floor. The 'pebbles' were actually the other girls poking her.
"Finally your awake!" Anna exclaimed and helped unweave her from the web of blankets.
"Yeah." Nala* rolled her eyes and bounded out of the room, Vanellope running after, as short as ever.
Suddenly Merida was plopped down on her bench, shoveling food down her throat and viewing her schedule.
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8:00- Double Potions every other day, Slytherin
11:00 (or 10:00) Charms
12:30 (or 11:30) History
2:00 (or 1:00) Transfiguration
4:00 (or 3:00) Against the Dark Arts
(All first years to attend the Quidditch Lesson lesson at 5:30)
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It didn't seem too bad. Then again, she had heard about Hogwarts from her dad. History was likely to be boring- It was taught by a ghost!- potions probably had a different teacher than when he went to school. Why would Professor Slughorn still be here?
Then Merida flipped the page over and saw the list of teachers.
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Professor Snape- Potions
Professor Flitwick- Charms
Professor McGonagal- Transfiguration
Professor Umbridge- Defense Against the Dark Arts
Madame Pomfrey- Hospital Wing
Professor Hagrid- Care of Magical Creatures
Professor Sprout- Herbology
Professor Dumbledore- Headmaster
Professor Binns- History of Magic
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She ate quickly and hurried to her class. Somehow, on the way, Rapunzel managed to pop up next to her.
"Hi Merida!" Her long hair was in a braid again, this time with lilacs woven in. It was beautiful hair, but probably much harder to keep than Merida's own bushy mane.
"Hey Punz." Merida greeted.
"Ravenclaw is great! The armchairs are so comfy and everybody is so clever and nice! Do you like your new house?" Rapunzel gushed. Merida smiled. Other people would find her talking annoying, but Merida just thought it was a great relief from her nightmare...
"Yeah. Gryffindor is pretty cool." Merida nodded and waved to Rapunzel as the corridors split up.
"Seeya later!" She called brightly.
"You too." Merida shouted over the din and continued down the hall. The dungeon was cold, dark, and damp. The forlorn walls seemed to press in, and Merida was almost glad to see Jack his Most Annoying Frost.
"Hello, Red." He pushed her with his shoulder. Merida shoved him back.
"Whatever, Frost."
The Potions teacher, Snape, had greasy black hair hanging in curtains around his face and falling to his shoulders. He had deep-set and menacing black eyes. His skin was pale, as if Snape had spent his entire dungeon. Once Merida heard him teach, she didn't doubt for a moment he had.
"Hello, Class." The mob of students murmured back. Merida sat next to Anna, the girl in the bed across from hers in the dormitories.
"You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion-making," he began. "As there is little foolish wand-waving here, many of you will barely be able to believe this is magic. I don't expect that you will really understand the beauty of the softly simmering cauldron with its shimmering fumes, the delicate power of liquids that creep through human veins, or how i can teach you to bewitch the mind, ensnare the senses... I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, even put a stopper in death-if you aren't as much as bunch of idiots as I must usually teach."
She already disliked Snape.
Now he started to teach them the cure for boils after a lengthy lecture that took up most of the first hour of the double class.
Merida added the snake fangs to the mortar and began to crush the snake fangs to a fine powder. Anna was tending the fire.
The had 3 minutes between while the snake fangs 'cooked' so they chatted briefly.
"Do you have any siblings? I have one sister. Her names is Elsa. She's kind of a loner and shuts people out a lot, but she's really smart and is in Ravenclaw. She loves winter! We go outside almost everyday when it's snowing and do all kinds of things. So?" Anna ranted. She's really similar to Rapunzel, Merida thought, almost related. Anna had two twin braids that were strawberry red and one had a creamy white streak. She wondered if it was fake.
"Merida?" Anna said patiently, snapping Merida out of her daze.
"Sorry. Ah have 3 brothers, those devious triplets. Always up to trouble."
They sat in silence for a few seconds before Anna turned to the cauldron.
"The 3 minutes!" They finished the potions and waited for Snape to come around.
Wen he got to their potion, he clucked loftily. True, their potion was a bit off color, but one of the Slytherins had melted his cauldron! All Snape had said was, ' Everyone one makes mistakes.' And moved on.
"Sorry, sir, it didn't turn out perfect, but as you told the boys who melted their cauldron, everyone makes mistakes, sir." Snapes eyes narrowed. A couple of the Gryffindors snickered.
"Ten points from Gryffindor for your cheek."
"Whatever.... Sir."
"Five more." He swept back to the next group, looking for all the world like an overgrown back.
Snape inspected the rest of the classes and walked back to his desk.
"Class dismissed." He called as the bell rang. Merida shot up from her seat and snatched up her stuff, sprinting to charms.
