Chapter Text
Hogwarts September 1st, 1890
Alowyn can feel her knees hit the wet cold ground once they make it through the exit of the - well wherever it was they had just come from. Honestly, Alowyn isn’t exactly sure what her and Professor Fig just experienced. It has been a hell of a day for the both of them once they started their journey to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. They started in London meeting with Professor Fig’s friend George Osric about an ancient artifact that Miriam, Professor Fig’s wife, had found along her journeys. Miriam…
It was a hard day that summer when the news came by owl that Miriam had gone missing while traveling abroad for her research. Alowyn had never seen her Professor so shattered than when he learned of his beloved wife. She had sat with him near the bay window of the cottage while he read Miriam’s favorite books and told stories of their own adventures together. He shared their deepest life’s moments with her, including Miriam being unable to bear their own children. Alowyn has never had a father, but Fig would be the closest thing to it.
The day Professor Fig came to her home in France to inform her that she would be studying magic with him prior to attending Hogwarts, will forever be in her mind. She had never been away from her home or her mother. It seemed that her mother always knew the day would come when she would be whisked away and resigned to the knowledge her daughter was a witch. Alowyn knew she was different since childhood. It was as if she could see magic around her even before learning she possessed it.
The day magic became tangible to her was a day she will soon not forget. A moment when she had reached her breaking point in the search to gain information on the father she so desperately wanted to know. This day of course had to be on her sixteenth birthday. This annual event was one of her favorite and least favorite days of the year. Her mother always went above and beyond to make sure Alowyn felt special. She would decorate the whole house, make her treacle tarts, and gift her with a book for her collection. It was her least favorite day because it was an annual reminder of the empty space at the table where her father, if she ever found out who he was, would sit.
Every year she would ask her mother questions about her father, and every single year she would get this vacant look in her eye. This was the only time her mother ever became curt with her. So, much like the prior years after the candles were blown out and they were sufficiently stuffed she tried again, hoping this time, since she was sixteen she could get an answer.
“Can you tell me about my father?” Alowyn tried to approach the topic in a more gentle manner than before. Her mother briskly put away the dish she was drying and said “Alowyn, can’t you please leave well enough alone? I don’t want to ruin this day!”
It happened so quickly that it was a mere breath of a moment. With voices raised and tempers rising, Alowyn could feel her anger become more than just herself. It was as if it physically exploded out of her. Then her mother was on the floor withering in excruciating pain screaming as if she had flames licking up her body. Alowyn, horrified by what she was seeing, knew that this pain was coming from her somehow. She ran to find a cold towel to soothe her mother and when she returned to the kitchen she could see the blue wisp of phantom magic floating throughout the room. It was two days later that Professor Fig knocked on their door to take Alowyn away.
As Alowyn stands from the ground she brushes off her knees that are now soaked with water from the puddle she landed in. She then brushes back her white blonde hair from her pale cheeks as it begins to stick to her face from the light drizzle of rain. She turns to lend Professor Fig her hand as he gathers himself from the ground.
“Are you alright?” asks Professor Fig.
“I’m fine, sir.” Alowyn answers as she turns to look back at the crystalized rock they had just come through. They have somehow been transported into a forest away from the fight with the goblins they had just encountered.
“I’ve never seen such a powerful goblin! He seemed wholly unaffected by my magic.” gasped Professor Fig.
Alowyn took in her surroundings “Professor, where are we exactly?”
“It can’t be! It seems those who set up the Pensieve, the locket and the path to both items wanted someone with your abilities to end up right here at Hogwarts,” answers the Professor.
“My abilities? I thought you said everyone in the wizarding world could do magic, Professor.”
“You have told me that you can see traces of blue wisps of magic since the accident with your mother.” Alowyn winces at the mention of her mother. “And you were seeing those traces along our journey here. Those traces are not abilities known to any witch or wizard I have met in my years,” Fig states as he scratches his head wondering what this could mean for his young friend.
Alowyn absorbs the words that her Professor just said about her having an ability unknown to any other in the new world she has found herself in. Perfect, she thinks, a new world, and she is still unlike anyone she will encounter here. Could this somehow be linked to the dragon that attacked their carriage on their way to Hogwarts? She has always felt no matter where she goes, destruction follows. Maybe, if George Osric hadn’t boarded that carriage with her today, he would still be alive.
Alowyn did not anticipate a dragon attack on the carriage to turn into witnessing death so soon. Then to somehow have an ancient portkey in their grasp to save them from plummeting to their death as well. Once they arrived at the ancient ruins and began searching for a way home, Alowyn saw the traces of the blue wisp again. They lead her to the second crystallization in the ruin’s walls where a symbol appeared that only she could see. This is where she first learned that placing her hands on the crystal would transport them to the other side. Almost as if a mirror was made of magic. Well, it is made of magic. Alowyn is still getting used to that thought even after practicing her lessons for nearly a year.
They ended up in an establishment called Gringotts, which is basically where all hell broke loose for her and her Professor. Being locked into a vault by goblins and then having to fight your way out with ten months worth of magical knowledge will cause anyone to be exhausted by the day. When Alowyn lost her Professor in the mist and had to face the looming guards made of stone she truly thought this new life would be over before it began. The guards looked like knights straight out of one of the story books she read as a child. They were protecting an ancient room that held an object called a Pensieve. Along with her Professor, they witnessed a memory from ancient times before hers. They spoke of a witch or wizard who would have abilities to complete their trials to help protect their world from tainted magic. A witch with abilities in seeing ancient magic…
“Come, we have a Sorting Ceremony to attend. We can continue this discussion later,” announced Professor Fig pulling Alowyn out of her reverie.
As she trailed behind her Professor, Alowyn took in the state of her clothes and hair. Her mother consistently told her you only get one opportunity at a first impression. Seeing as she is already arriving late to her sorting ceremony, she pauses for a moment to rebraid her curls into the long braids she prefers over having her hair wild and free. As she pins back her curls she realizes she has fallen behind Professor Fig a bit so she picks up her pace to catch up with him.
She falters in her steps and takes in the looming castle ahead, realizing how grand it truly is. She suddenly feels an overwhelming sense of apprehension being so far away from everything she has known. Living with Professor Fig was comfortable and quaint. Being in the modest cottage he calls home provided her with a sense of security practicing her magic. Now, tasked with living in a lavish castle alongside other magical peers, she began to grow anxious about what this new step in her magical life would bring her. Not to mention, the daunting events of the day they have had.
As they approach the castle doors, Alowyn takes a deep breath and steadies herself for the first step into her new home. The castle halls tower above her as she makes her way up the first steps to the Great Hall. The marble staircase is accompanied by bronze winged boar statues with the school’s crest. She takes in her surroundings in awe of the ancient relics that line the halls along with moving portraits of ancient witches and wizards. On the far right side of the entrance sits four sizable hour glasses with different house crests seated atop, each a different color. Alowyn has heard of houses in boarding schools across England, but she had never attended an elegant boarding school prior. Her modest education was taught in the town’s schoolhouse from an early age.
They approach the main oak doors and Professor Fig peers inside, “Oh good, we haven’t missed the sorting ceremony.” claims Fig as he cautiously closes the door back.
“Now, I need to study this locket as soon as I can, but first I must contact the Ministry. I need to inform them what has become of George and be warned of Ranrock, the goblin who attacked us. For now, I ask that you keep all that’s happened on our journey between you and me.”
“Of course, Professor!” replies Alowyn.
“Thank you, now are you ready for your Sorting Ceremony?” asks Fig.
“Sir, what house were you sorted into when you attended Hogwarts?” Alowyn asks as she eyes the hourglasses. She doesn’t want to disappoint him if she is sorted into a less prestigious house. For the first time in her life, she feels she has a father figure to make proud.
Professor Fig softens at the worry in her voice and states, “Al, whether you are sorted into Gryffindor or not I know you will succeed. You have all my confidence that you will be placed exactly where you belong.”
Alowyn could feel her face warm at the kindness in his words that had eased the doubt she could feel in the pit of her stomach. As Professor Fig takes one last glance inside, he pauses for a moment and steps back from the door. There is a shift in his demeanor that Alowyn can’t quite place. It’s as if his body has gone rigid and he won’t meet her eyes.
“Prepare yourself to meet the Headmaster. Phineas Black”
Just as Professor Figs's demeanor changes, Alowyn feels the air shift. It's as though someone's presence has filled the lengthy hallway making it hard for Alowyn to breathe. She slowly turns her head to see a lanky man with long pitch-black hair, a sharp nose, and deep grey eyes. It's instantaneous that this man is the embodiment of power. He demands it when he walks into the room and Alowyn is stupefied.
The Headmaster does not register Alowyn’s presence at first as he narrows his eyes at Professor Fig. Suddenly his stern grey eyes snap and connect with her forest green ones. This feels like the gods are at play as she is physically unable to draw her eyes away from the Headmaster. Alowyn knows nothing of this man but she could have sworn when he finally looked into her eyes he flinched ever so slightly. Anyone else might have missed it if she wasn't trapped under his scrutiny.
“Fig, nice of you to join us.” The Headmaster states with clear disdain in his voice. He peers down at her beloved professor as if he is a bug to be squashed. “The sorting ceremony has concluded for this evening.”
“There were, complications -”
“Complications!?” the Headmaster says narrowing his eyes
“It seems the goblin problem has -”
“Enough! I’ve no time for rumors, Fig. And I am rapidly losing whatever patience I had left this evening! If you’re lucky,” The headmaster pauses and glances over Alowyn as if assessing her, then continues “we might still be able to get you sorted this evening.”
The Headmaster turns sharply to head back into the Great Hall not sparing a second glance to her. Alowyn hesitates for a moment, tripping over her feet to quickly follow the Headmaster inside.
“Alowyn!” calls Professor Fig reaching out to lightly touch her shoulder. He gazes down at her with a look akin to pride. “I will be in touch as soon as I have returned from the Ministry. Good luck to you, I know you will do well.”
Alowyn throws her arms around her Professor and gives a brief hug to the man who has prepared her for this exact moment. She stops the tears from falling from her misty eyes as she takes a step back and turns to follow the Headmaster.
~*~
Alowyn wakes to the shifting of comforters and the rustle of velvet curtains being pulled back throughout the shadowy room. Whispers can be heard from the other witches through the drawn curtains around her bed.
“We were roomed with the new fifth year? I heard from Cressida that she fought a dragon on her way here. Seems improbable if you ask me.” scoffs one of the girls with a harsh Irish accent.
“Shhh, she might hear you. Put a silencing charm up if you're going to gossip, Imelda.” hisses a new voice across the room.
Alowyn can feel her eyes roll to the back of her skull as she turns from her side to lay on her back. She stares up at the top of her emerald green curtains that hang above her bed. She reminisces on the previous evening, feeling tenderness creeping into her muscles. Last night's sorting hat experience was nerve-racking having arrived late and the last to be sorted. When the hat spoke into her ear she could feel the goosebumps pebble on her skin.
“You have an adventurous spirit, but hold an ambitious yearning to prove that you belong. You long to prove yourself with your abilities and newfound power. I sense a dark history to your magic. Slytherin will help you find what you seek while balancing this darkness.”
Hearing the door to the dormitory, Alowyn belatedly opens her curtains to see that the rest of her roommates have filed out to the showers. She stands stretching out her muscles to relieve the tension from her arms to her back. Making her way to gather her toiletries from her trunk, she notices the travel portraits she brought of her mother are laid on top. She and her mother didn’t have many photographs together, but she brought the few memories they had. Alowyn feels an ache in her chest, her mind dragging her back to the memory of her mother on the floor. She longs to know if those tremors she had been plagued with since the incident have subsided at all. Alowyn pulls out the letters she kept from her mother written to her through the summer updating her about the Physician’s visits. She takes a deep breath and pushes the thought from her head, clearing her mind for classes today.
Grabbing her toiletry bag, she steps into the corridor and onto the cold cast iron floors biting into the bare skin on her feet as she makes her way to the girl’s bathroom. Making it into the bathroom she can hear the showers of the other Slytherin girls. She chooses the last shower on the left hand side and drops her robe to the floor. With the water drowning out the voices of her housemates she begins washing her long white hair that cascades past her hips. Being surrounded by the relaxing scents of lavender and vanilla she can almost visualize her mother's garden back home behind her eyelids. The scalding hot water offers another layer of relief and Alowyn takes a moment to prepare herself for the day ahead.
Stepping out of the shower, she wraps her body with a towel. As she peers into the gold crested mirror she can see the dark circles under her eyes from a restless night of sleep. She twirls the strip of black she has in her white hair around her fingers bringing it to the front. Her mother could never explain why the colour grew this way. One of her favorite features about herself has always been her eyes. They are deep forest green with a hint of gold if they catch the light just right. Her mother has green eyes, and this connection to her brings a sense of peace to Alowyn. She has a pointed nose, which has been her least favorite feature, with high cheekbones that carry a natural rosiness to them. She parts her full lips and leans down to brush her teeth, some muggle habits die hard.
After using a drying spell for her curls, which has been a life changing development she must say, she dresses herself in her unfamiliar Slytherin uniform. She chooses a high button collared white blouse with the Slytherin green tie. It fits at the waist into her black plaid pleated skirt that falls just below her knees. She then fastens her blazer over her blouse and throws her robes on that bear the Slytherin house crest. Wearing these will take some getting used to. Muggle fashion is vastly different from the wizarding clothing she has come into possession of. The final touch to her ensemble are her signature plaits down her back.
She can feel the rough wood of the hand me down wand in her pocket as she makes her way towards the common room. Alowyn thinks back to the gossip her roommates were spewing this morning, and a pit of concern forms in her stomach. Is that really what everyone is saying about me? she thinks as she takes the first step into the common room. The dragon attack wasn’t some heroic moment for her to gloat about; she almost died for Merlin’s sake!
Alowyn notices the tall windows on the other side of the room and walks towards them. She is in awe as she discovers that the Slytherin common room is situated beneath the depths of the Black Lake. The sight of sunlight filtering through the water and pouring into the windows is stunning. As she peers through the stained glass panes, she can hear a male voice trying to convince the easily influenced first years that mermaids would appear at the window to greet them. Alowyn lets out a snort that turns into an audible giggle. Everyone knows mermaids don't exist, but the first years will likely wait all day for them to appear.
“Do you find something funny over there?” asks a Slytherin boy leaning against the far wall near the windows. He approaches Alowyn with a smirk on his lips and arms crossed. Alowyn takes him in, looking into his milky white eyes. He’s a tall, lean boy with sandy blonde hair that is well groomed.
“Yes, I do. Mermaids will never appear in these windows cause they don’t exist” replies Alowyn with her usual air of sarcasm.
The Slytherin boy snorts, “You must be the new 5th year everyone is talking about. Only someone who hasn’t grown up in the wizarding world would say such a thing.”
“Are you saying that mermaids do exist?” Alowyns eyes go wide with astonishment.
“Absolutely, they exist. But no, they do not appear in the window. Mermaids are lone creatures who rarely socialize. Especially with wizarding kind.”
“Well, we have that in common I guess” mutters Alowyn under her breath to herself. “Then why tell the first years they appear in the window?”
“It’s a tradition in Slytherin House. I’ve never heard of a mermaid appearing outside of the windows. But it is fun to play along though.” he says with a smirk. Alowyn can’t help but notice that he hasn’t met her eyes once. The unusual opaque white color of his eyes is something she wants to comment on but decides not to.
“Well, you certainly had a memorable arrival apparently, with all the chatter I have heard from fellow students.”
Alowyn inhales deeply, realizing that this was not a conversation she was ready to have with another student so early in the morning. “Memorable? That’s not how I would describe it myself, maybe eventful. Tell me, how does one process the realization that dragons exist along with mermaids all within a twenty-four hour period?”
The Slytherin boy lets out a genuine laugh at this statement, “Ha! You are definitely in the right house. Only a cunning Slytherin would be able to steer the conversation away from the intended subject. I’m Ominis. Ominis Gaunt.”
Alowyn feels at ease with Ominis' lighthearted teasing of her attempt at diversion. “Thank you, It’s nice to meet you Ominis. My name is Alowyn Abney.” Alowyn doesn’t let the discomfort show on her face that she doesn’t know her father’s surname. This is why Alowyn has taken to her mother’s last name.
“The pleasure was all mine, Miss Abney. Please, don’t be a stranger. My family is proud descendants of Salazar Slytherin and I am more than willing to offer my assistance in any way possible.”
Alowyn gives a small nod of recognition to Ominis before turning to leave. But as she starts to walk, she is stopped by a girl with dark brown hair and a strong Irish accent that sounds all too familiar.
“I’m Imelda, and I want to make something clear. My side of the room is strictly off limits. Do not lay a finger on any of my belongings, especially my broom. I know everyone is curious about the "New fifth Year," but I am not easily impressed. Are we clear?” Imelda states as she assesses Alowyn with more scrutiny in her eyes than the Headmaster yesterday evening.
“Imelda, nobody can stand an insufferable bitch! Can you please stick to the skies and leave the rest of us alone?” calls a boy from across the room. Alowyn instinctively turns toward the voice and immediately her heart skips a beat.
The boy stands by the grand fireplace, holding a book in his hand. His gaze is fixed on Imelda, filled with disdain. Auburn hair frames his freckled, boyish face as his golden brown eyes glisten in the firelight. Alowyn can't help but be captivated by him.
“Oh fuck you Sallow” Imelda throws back at him as she storms out of the common room.
Alowyn weaves through the crowd that began to form from the shouting and makes her way over to the boy. She notices he has a stack of books next to him and is deeply engrossed with one particular book in his hand. Curiosity getting the better of her, Alowyn bends down to pick up one of the books he is reading. The cover reads "Magical Drafts and Potions." She glances down to see the next cover “One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi”.
“Can I help you?” he says, his tone demanding. Alowyn’s head snaps up to meet his eyes and she is immediately lost in the depths of golden brown that are alight from the fireglow. When she gazes at him, she can't quite identify the emotion that washes over her. But she knows that it stirs something deep within her being.
“I - I um - I’m sorry, I -”
“Aren’t you the new fifth year?” he asked. Alowyn quickly composes herself after the shock of him addressing her.
“Yes, that seems to have become my identifier. The thing that people know me for around here,” Alowyn deadpans to the Slytherin that has captivated her attention. He snorts at her response and closes the book he was invested in. As he sets the book aside, he runs his hands through his hair allowing brown curls to fall around his face
“Well, not everyone has a Ministry escort to school” he responds.
“He was merely a friend of Professor Fig’s who joined us for the ride.”
“Still, impressive. I heard it was a dreadful way to go, poor bloke.” Alowyn shivers with the memory of George’s death being brought to the forefront of her mind. She wishes everyone would stop bringing her arrival up.
“It was truly dreadful. I guess it was an interesting experience nonetheless.” Alowyn wonders why she is continuing this subject with him. His eyes are just so golden.
“Interesting perspective. How did you and Fig manage to escape?”
“It’s - It’s all a bit of a blur to be honest.”
“Didn’t mean to press. I’m sure you’re more concerned with getting yourself settled,” the boy responds. Alowyn doesn't want the conversation to come to an end, so she frantically looks for something else to talk about. Her gaze lands on a book that is resting next to him. She reaches for the book and opens it.
Slightly lifting her eyes to his, she asks, “What book are you reading?”
He pauses, shifting his eyes to hers, “It’s a spell book I picked up, it has a few interesting things.” He takes a noticeably frustrated breath, “But it wasn’t exactly what I was looking for.”
“Mm, what exactly were you looking for?”
“Can’t go around telling you all my secrets just yet, can I?” He looks at her with a slight smirk to his lips. Oh. His lips. Alowyn can't seem to draw her eyes away from them as the boy continues to speak
“You’ll soon find out that not every spell you need can be found in our assigned textbooks.”
Alowyn snaps the book shut and with a smirk she cocks her head, “Are you trying to tell me that some spells aren’t taught at Hogwarts?”
He snorts, “Mm, that’s precisely what I am telling you,” as he takes the book from her hand just barely grazing her fingers. “May I have met a kindred spirit?” He gives her a slow, appraising look as if evaluating her. Alowyn blushes under his keen eyes on her. She tries to hide her face with her hair but remembers it is pinned back in her braids. The one time she wishes her unruly curls would come in handy.
“Is the new fifth year here?” calls a student from across the common room. “Professor Weasley is looking for you!”
“It seems that's your queue.” He smirks as he turns and places the book back onto the pile he’s collected.
Alowyn grabs her bag and turns to leave the common room. As she walks toward the exit, she remembers she didn’t get the boy’s name since she was distracted by his eyes. She turns back to the Slytherin boy and calls, "What's your name?"
“It’s Sebastian. Sebastian Sallow.”
