1974
The curtain that hid me from the rest of the world was brutally open. Madam Pomfrey and Professor McGonagall stood in front of me, the two shared a kind of concern but I could also guess in the professor a feeling of defiance towards me. After all, as she had specified earlier, I am a foreign person at school… Wait a second!
- I am not a stranger!
I stood up and shouted the last sentence despite myself. McGonagall pressed her lips together as if to refrain from saying something cynical, then after a short thought said:
- Indeed, your clothes say that you are supposed to be on the grounds of our school. Something that would be impossible if you did not belong in one way or another to our establishment.
Seeing me sigh in relief and lean back on my pillows, the transfiguration teacher felt compelled to add:
- But we do not declare you harmless. You could be a Death Eater in disguise or just a trap. You know who doesn't back down from anything anymore.
Harmless?! Death Eater?! You know who?! But they all are crazy here???
- So, with all due respect Professor, I may be young but I am not harmless, I still had a good education. Moreover, there are no more death eaters, I remind you. How can you think I could be the servant of a so-called dark lord who disappeared before I was even born?
The two women were now looking at me like I was the one spouting nonsense.
- Poppy, I think we should call the psychological service of St-Mungo. This child does not seem sane.
But we are walking on our heads here!
- Professor, I have been your student for 3 years now. Last week you taught me how to turn my cat into a goblet. I was out looking for a plant for Professor Sprout because her back is stuck right now. I just wanted to help him.
- Miss, whatever the reason for which you were outside, it is not my priority. At the moment we are debating whether Professor Dumbledore should be made aware of your presence here. And I can assure you that I have never met you either at Hogwarts or outside of school.
The shock makes me fall back on my pillows. Even Professor McGonagall is playing Potter's little game. I wonder why and how he managed this shot.
- Madam, I don't know what Potter told you or made you believe to fit into his plan to destroy the Slytherins but I promise you that anything is completely false.
- I do not see what Mr. Potter has to do in this story miss.
- But it's always Harry's fault! He's taking the lead now that he's in this damn tournament!
Madam Pomfrey who was content to watch the exchange finally entered into the discussion:
- Who is Harry?
I couldn't help but roll my eyes despite all the good education I had received. I didn't even know who to turn to.
- Don't tell me you forgot him too?! The one who pulled me out of the lake! He just got out of the infirmary!
- Please don't shout in the infirmary, you're not the only patient here. And the boy you are talking about is not called Harry but James. James Potter.
Oh f***. I'm not in 1994 anymore….
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Here I am, in front of the entrance to the den as we liked to call it in the dungeons. Everyone at Hogwarts knows where the entrance to the Gryffindor common room is, it's probably the castle's worst-kept secret. The fat lady was looking at me like she could feel my snake aura. I look back at her because even though the sorting hat put me in the dumps, I'm still a Slytherin at heart and soul, bad times but same person.
I took a deep breath, I had to get this feeling of reluctance out of me, to enter the room with a semblance of normality even though I knew that this trip would only be a setback in my life. I would go back to 1994 soon enough, soon enough to see Diggory win the tournament and spend the holidays with Blaise.
I was going through the portrait hole with all these thoughts. My goal was clearly to stay close to a wall and not be noticed during the few days that I would stay here. Unfortunately, the mission was consigned to oblivion by a single cry:
- YOU!
On the sofa, I quickly recognized the famous James Potter, with a deck of cards in his hand. The other was pulled towards me, pointing finger at my head. I took a quick look around, hoping to find an escape. Dumbledore had been clear; I must not draw attention to myself. But Potter Senior's cocky fingers went completely against the headmaster’s order. The idiot, like father like son, had got up and was now heading towards my little corner of the wall. I was stuck between two large libraries.
- YOU! Are you one of us?! We've never seen you here!
With the last sentence he waved his arm at the couch behind him. On it I could spot three other guys, clearly guys from his year. A blond with very light green eyes, a brown hair with a scar across his face but oblivious to the scene of his friend, he was reading a book. The last one was the weirdest, I feel like I've seen it somewhere before; an angular face surrounded by brown hair long enough to tie around the neck. I swear I know him...
Potter Senior had plenty of time to join me in my mouse hole and without even considering my space, took me in a bear hug. The air suddenly rushed out of my lungs; I hope it wasn't going to be a habit of him. Fortunately, the hug didn't last long, I'm really not a fan of physical contact. He released me and cried out as if I were not less than 20 cm from him:
- You're a Gryffindor! It's awesome!
A huge part of me just wanted to scream "NO!" NEVER! “I would never see myself as anything other than a Slytherin, my true identity. I must never lose sight of this truth, no matter what might happen here.
Contrary to my instinct, I could only breathe a little:
- New student…accident..lake…..thank you…rescue……Dumbledore…Gryffindor now.
I could only repeat the explanation the headmaster taught me during my time in the infirmary. This meagre explanation was enough for the boy and without waiting for more, grabbed my wrist and led me to the center of the room, more precisely to the sofa from which he had just got up. The sight of the boys on top of each other made my stomach turn and I spun around to land on the chair not too far away. Potter now back on the couch between the reader and the blonde decided to take over the introductions.
- Guys, I present to you a new addition to our big house, …
I never told him my first name.
- Crissy.
- Crissy how? the long brunette almost attacked me; his eyes suspicious.
He almost reminded me of a snake that one. I like it.
- Potter.
Everyone raised their heads very quickly, their eyes wide open like fish. It was impossible not to laugh. Even the real Potter was on his ass.
- Calm down, I'm kidding. It's Davis.
Life slowly came back in the room, only the four individuals on the sofa continued to stare at me. Without my understanding, they gathered around the reader and whispered in low voices. From time to time a look was directed towards me. I found it very disturbing, a bad feeling that goes back to elementary school. Quite quickly they returned to their initial positions.
- Here it's Remus, Sirius, Peter and I'm James. He had said that by pointing one after the other to the reader, the blond then the long brunette. Finally, he introduced himself.
Peter asked me where I was from, how it was rare to have new students during the year at Hogwarts.
- There is not much to say about me. I grew up with my parents in America, in Los Angeles. I came back to live in England recently but without my parents, they didn't want to leave the sun. I live exceptionally at the castle. My parents work in the muggle world. I was brought up in it as much as the wizarding world. I speak Italian.
- Family of wizards? Asked Black
- Yes, one of the 28, but the kind that most don't like because of our familiarity with Muggles.
- Clearly, I understand. Not the "we don't like you" side! Don't worry, I'm the black sheep in my family for the same reasons. On top of that I fell to Gryffindor!
- You were spoiled for sure…
He was laughing but you could easily feel his discomfort despite everything. His eyes reflected a sadness that only those close to him could understand.