Chapter 6
Alyssa jolted awake, a cold sweat running down their neck. Their heart was racing in their ears as they forced themselves to catch their breath.
“Alyssa?” Hermione asked, heading up to their bed. “Are you alright?”
“Y-yeah.” They responded. “Just a strange dream. It’s probably nothing to worry about.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah, I’ll be okay. You… Kind of get used to scary weird dreams when you’re from Silent hill and Gotham.”
“But?”
“There was something about it that caught my attention. There was a shadowed figure in front of a golden framed mirror. I think something was engraved on it, but I couldn’t make it out.” They shook their head. “It was probably nothing, I just can’t shake it.”
“Alright, get changed.” She nodded, smiling softly. “I’ll meet you in the common room, alright?”
“Of course.”
As Hermione headed out, Alyssa took a few calming breaths, quickly tossing their pajamas to their bed before they changed into their robes.
Stretching their back they grabbed their supplies, and the ‘wand’ box’ back before heading down to the common room.
“You ready to go?”
“Of course, are the others already gone?”
“A lot of people have left already sure, but you’re not up late or anything.” She responded, leading the way down. It was a bit of a walk, but as they reached the Grand Hall she headed off to Sit with Neville, and Alyssa quickly located Percy.
“Hello Alyssa.”
“I need to ask a favor of you, but you can’t tell your family.”
“Why?”
“I know Ron’s wand is a hand me down, and while I can’t assure it will work- “They pulled the box out of their bag. “- I found a sprig of silver lime that felt magic and was working on it a bit. It’s not completed but I figured that- “
“-Olivander could.” He responded. “We can’t afford a custom wand.”
“But I can.” Alyssa nodded, smirking as they watched the gears turn in Percy’s head. “I’m offering Percy, no obligations. Maybe like… something homemade, like cookies, or a muffin. Or an ugly Christmas sweater. From meeting her you mom seems like the type who could make a; in good faith, ugly Christmas sweater.”
Percy chuckled softly then gave a nod, pausing once again. “Silver lime?”
“Yeah, why?”
“It’s really rare.” He nodded. “That’s quite the find.”
“Thank you.”
“After classes you can go around the castle until curfew at 10, save on nights in which Astronomy.”
“Thank you again. But you don’t mind sending this today, would you? You know your way around a bit better.”
“Of course, thank you for doing this. It means a lot.”
“And if you need any help with things, I mean I can’t just pay for everything, but I can definitely help out a lot.”
“That won’t be necessary Alyssa, but you are very sweet for offering.” He nodded. “Now go, join your friends and enjoy breakfast.”
“Of course,” Heading off Alyssa headed over to Harry, taking a plate of pancakes, sitting across from him.
“Morning.”
“Good morning. You two excited for classes?”
“Definitely, we have DADA to start.” Harry gave a nod. “Quirrell is the Professor of that class.”
“Quirrell?” Ron asked, and Alyssa nodded to the man in the turban. “Oh, he seems so timid.”
“He used to teach Muggle Studies.” Harry gave a nod. “Met him in the Leaky Cauldron before we did our shopping.”
“What was he like?”
“Timid.” Harry chuckled. ‘But that doesn’t mean he’s not good at what he does. He might be really good at DADA.”
“Definitely, I just think he’s nervous about things.” Alyssa shrugged, eating their food. “But I think things are going to be interesting. I mean it’s also good to know we have some mundane classes like math and English.”
“Maths.” Ron corrected.
“American.” Alyssa quipped back with a smirk. “But I get shortening it to Maths. It is Mathematics.”
“What class do you think is going to be the best?” Harry asked.
“Depends on the Professors.” Alyssa nodded. “I mean Potions could be fun, as well as Transfiguration. I mean magic classes as a whole will be entertaining.”
“I expected you to say Astrology.”
“Why?” Ron tilted his head. “Looking at stars? Isn’t that kind of boring?”
“It’s Astronomy and it’s the study of the stars and the planets and interpreting them. But it really isn’t for everyone. I’ve just always loved it.” Alyssa shrugged. “I like the great unknown of things, and the beauty of the night sky.”
“You brought your telescope from home, didn’t you?”
“Of course. I like watching the stars. Dinner is at what, eight. I could point out several stars then. I can also tell you that the only planet that we will never see during a midnight class is Venus. Because it’s known as the morning star, maybe Mercury as well.”
“Fascinating, do you have a favorite Constellation?” Hermione asked, sitting next to Harry on his other side, with Nevil sitting next to them.
“Scorpio child, but I’ve always loved Capricorn.”
“When’s your birthday?”
“October 31, I’m a Halloween baby. Haven’t missed the slight irony on that one.” Alyssa smiled warmly. “You?”
“September 19. So, your 12 as well?”
“Oh! No. I’m 11, like Harry. The agreement for him to attend was that I also got to come. It’s just shifting types of magic. As such I technically got me ‘acceptance’ at the same time as him.”
“You’re not even really a witch?” Ron asked, clearly a bit confused.
“It’s a lot of a longer story than that.” Alyssa explained, finishing their food. “But I am a witch. But neither of you answered the question yourselves. What class do you think will be the best?”
“I don’t know.” Harry admitted. “DADA probably.”
“I agree, get some action.” Ron nodded.
“I think herbology.” Nevil said. “I-I’ve always been good with plants.”
“Be confident in your abilities.” Alyssa suggested. “It should help you in the long run, and besides. I can sense it on you, you’ve got a green thumb.”
“Okay... Yeah. You’re right. I’m going to be pretty good in herbology.”
“Hermione?” Harry asked, “What do you think?”
“As a muggle born, the History of Hagic could be interesting.”
“Oh yeah, learning about history can be fun.” Alyssa nodded with a smile. “You’re probably right. But that highly depends on the professor and the amount of outright bias that is held on certain topics. Definitely a look into things on your own type of situation.”
Heading out of the Grand Hall, Alyssa followed her friends through the halls towards their first classroom. Of course, the moving stairs, and winding halls were extremely confusing, and the lack of a map was not helping, but eventually they made their way to the classroom.
It was large, with an arched roof, and a stairway leading up to the Professor’s private chambers. There was a larger area in the front, most likely for practical application, as well as tables or strange devices along the walls.
Heading to one of the tables Alyssa sat, getting out their things before gently swinging their legs.
“What’s with the Garlic smell?” Harry asked, wrinkling his nose.
“Vampire warding probably.” Lily Moon: a fair skinned Hufflepuff with short, heavily waved black hair, said from behind him. “Apparently he’s had to deal with them quite a bit.”
“Alright.” He nodded, but Alyssa had to admit it was a bit much all things considered. It was actually starting to twinge on overwhelming, and they had never had issues with smell in their life. Sound, energy, touch; even light from time to time, but never smell.
As class started, Alyssa hated to admit that they had quickly zoned out. The man was a joke. It was hard to even believe the story he opened the class with.
Apparently, an Egyptian prince had given him his turban when he had helped fend off a particularly troublesome zombie, but the moment that Seamus had asked how; the Professor had gone pink and changed the subject to the weather for far too long.
A lie. And a pathetic one at that. One that really rubbed Alyssa the wrong way, only making the overwhelming garlic more annoying. The dark and the shadowed always seemed to know at least something about them, they didn’t doubt that the professor was hiding something that he didn’t want the psychic to find. To be able to focus on.
Of course, that only drove Alyssa to take in the little things. To want to learn more and figure it out. They knew that they could effortlessly walk themselves though DADA. They had so much field experience on their own, and they had always been good at keeping track of things. This was by far going to be the easiest class, and they knew it.
They knew that they could use it to work on their profiling. Not only of the school, but the professors as well. It combined with their free time would definitely serve to be good research times.
Maths and English had both been rather predictable as well, just as milk toast as Alyssa had expected, but at least Charms had been entertaining.
Professor Flitwick; a very short half goblin with peach skin, a pointed nose, and elf-like ears. He had brown hair, which was rather short, and a slightly curled mustache.
He was a kind and jolly man, eager about teaching them. At that point he had become their favorite by far; only squeaking slightly when he realized who Harry was before thankfully quickly recovering.
“Transfiguration. The class taught by our very own head of house.” Alyssa said stretching their back as the small friend group headed forward, waving as their eyes landed on Draco.
“Malfoy!”
“Who are they Draco?” Pansy: fair skinned with a black bob cut, asked, glaring at them with pursed lips.
“Alyssa Wayne; these are Harry Queen, Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley, and Nevil Longbottom.” They responded. “You are?”
“Pansy Parkinson.”
“It’s good to meet you.” Harry offered a hand, but she simply gave it a dirty look.
“What are you doing hanging around with a Weasley, a squib and two mu-“
“That’s unnecessary Pansy.” Draco interrupted. “It’s… Below us. Pathetic really.”
“But it’s true.” Pansy crossed her arms.
“It’s, a slur. It’s like the n-word, and the r-word and the likes. It’s just… Below us really.” He shook his head. “Let’s just not use it. It’s outdated.”
“Thank you?” Hermione faltered, clearly not completely sure how to feel about it.
“Nevil’s not a Squib though.” Alyssa said, pausing as something seemed to hit them. “Nevil… Where did you get your wand?”
“It was my dads.”
“Oh mein gott.” They let out a heavy, exasperated sigh. “What is with people and not understanding that wands are clearly on the-“Alyssa let out a ‘gaah!’ and shook their head. “Alright, you should mention that to McGonagall and see if you can get yourself your own wand. I know that there is probably something important about that one, and I know it means a lot. But like, really. The wand chooses the wizard, that could be part of the issue with your magic block. For fucks sake people why has this happened twice already!”
Pansy went to speak a few times but fell silent quickly each time.
“Your weird.”
“Alright, let’s be clear, I’m not weird, I’m a freak. If you’re going to insult me, don’t half ass it and don’t rely on slurs.” Alyssa gave a small nod. “Second of all, you say that like it’s a bad thing, and it’s really not.”
Draco snickered a little, stopping as the dark-haired girl glared at him in turn.
“Anyway, it’s good seeing you Malfoy, but maybe consider hanging out with people who don’t believe in blood supremacy.”
“And you think that some-“ As Pansy shoved Alyssa she yelped, reeling back and glancing at her palms
“What did you do?” Draco sneered, faltering as he realized nothing was wrong with the girl’s hands. “Showing people hellish visions again?”
“No. I put a pin in the fabric.” Alyssa shook their head pulling it out. “I just wanted to see how long it could take for me to get shoved. You can make sure that’s the only one if you want.” They said pausing to pull one from the other side before nodding. “Now you can.”
“Watch yourself Wayne.” Pansy glared, heading into the class with Draco close behind.
“What was that?” Ron asked, arching an eyebrow at them.
“Alyssa’s a bit… intense about things.” Harry explained as they headed in as well. Like the other it was large, if not a bit bigger, beautiful.
As the group took their seats a pale brown silver tabby leapt from the front desk, shifting with ease into the Professor. The class was amazed, clapping. Even Alyssa had to admit that even knowing her skill, they were amazed.
“Thank you, now before we even begin, I have to stress that this is not a class that you can just mess around in. Transfiguration is some of the most complex and dangerous magic that you will learn at Hogwarts.” She said, scanning the class. “Anyone messing around will leave and they will not come back again.”
Turning, she quickly turned her desk into a pig, then back again.
“Now you will not be learning spells nearly as complex as that any time soon-“ And then she set off into a complex lesson on transfiguration, and trans morphing before a matchstick was placed in front of everyone.
It wasn’t an easy spell, and even Alyssa struggled a bit. Hermione had been the only one to fully transform it by the end of class, but Alyssa had managed to get it to turn ‘silver.’
“Congratulations Miss Granger.” Minerva smiled slightly, showing the rest of the class her needle. “Five points to Gryffindor.”
“Great job.” Alyssa smiled, following her out of the class.
“Thank you. You did good too.” She nodded, following her friend back towards the dorms. “I can help you with getting it to become sharp if you would like.”
“I would definitely appreciate it.” Alyssa nodded, smiling as they quickly got to work on the spell.