Your Love Is Mine For The Taking

Chapter 6

The train jerked to a harsh stop, Hermione and Vanessa instantly woke from their slumber at the sound of the eager footsteps of passing students. Vanessa adjusted her school shirt and tie, frantically folding out the wrinkles as she hoisted Lovely into his box, this time without a fight. He meowed sleepily and rolled himself around into a comfortable position in his box, his paws curling around his face.
"Sleep tight, doll." she cooed down at Lovely who began purring loudly in response.
Vanessa and Hermione ran out of the compartment behind Ron and Harry, desperately trying to avoid the stampede of students. The four jumped out of the train, taking in the sweet, pure air of Hogsmeade. Vanessa looked all around at her surroundings, everything near completely laced in darkness.
"Vanessa, we've been looking for you everywhere. Thought you mighta left us to fend for ourselves."
Vanessa's heart warmed at the sound of Daphne Greengrass' voice as she gave her a one armed hug, "Oh I've missed you both." Before she had time to think another hand snaked around her waist, she nearly jerked away until she heard, "Knew you'd turn up sooner or later." said Astoria, Daphne's younger sister and one of Vanessa's best friends. Hermione and Vanessa exchanger smiles before Daphne and Astoria drug Vanessa off to one of the empty carriages. The ride the way up there was not quiet, much thanks to the ever talkative Astoria.
Vanessa laid her forehead against the bobbing window of the carriage, her sleepy eyes lolling around in her head. Her stomach growled as they turned a familiar corner, they weren't far from the castle. She hadn't eaten all day, she was far too nervous. But as her wound up nerves began to unwind her hunger pains began to intensify and nag her loudly.
"Nessa, get up. We're nearly there." whispered Daphne, lightly shaking Vanessa's shoulder to wake her.
"Well wake me when we are there. I could barely sleep last night."
Daphne rested herself back in her seat, exchanging a look with Astoria but of course, Astoria was slightly oblivious to everything. Daphne knew something was up, there had to be, Vanessa was always tired she never slept, at least not at normal times. It was weird how her mood changed the past term, she always wore this paranoid look on her face. Daphne just didn't get it...no that's not true. She knew a little of it, she of course knew about Vanessa's ex boyfriend.
Asshole, Daphne thought viciously. She hated him for what he did, and so help whatever God there is, if he did anything else to her, Daphne promised she would make his life a living hell.
"Okay Nessa, wakey wakey. We're home."

'Home.'

The sight of the towering castle of Hogwarts was a comforting sight to Vanessa, her home away from home. The memory of last years events went to the farthest back crevices of her mind, she felt the warm blanket of comfort and safety enfold her as she made her way into the Great Hall with her two best friends at her side.

'Safety in numbers.'

Vanessa pushed her pessimistic conscious out of the way as she sat down at her houses table, Slytherin, taking her place between Daphne and Astoria. Most of the others students were conversing with each other, with everyone within earshot, but none of them talked to Astoria, Daphne or Vanessa. They never did, not usually. Only Draco and Blase would give them the 'time of day', so to speak. The trio was unlike anyone in there house, they were kind of the outcasts of Slytherin and that was okay with them. Being the most popular of their house was none of the three girls concerns. They found comfort and acceptance in their group and as far as they were concerned, that was perfectly fine with them. They had the 'looks' of a Slytherin, an almost haughty and pompous look. Astoria had light brown hair that flowed past the tip of her shoulder blades, big almond shaped green eyes, with a thin nose that extenuated her heart shaped face. With her tall, slim figure she had the look of a high class heiress. Daphne, much like her sister, had an aristocratic look to her, long dirty blonde hair, her high cheekbones paired with her oval face and light brown eyes. All three girls just as beautiful as the other, and it didn't go unnoticed.
Just as Astoria was about to say something the door to the Great Hall burst open, Professor McGonagall marching forward, her lips pursed tightly as the future first years scurried behind her trying to keep up. All that could be seen of them were the tops of their heads, bobbing along the tables.

"Awww, ickle firsties!" the loud voice of Peeves, Hogwarts mischievous ghost, carried from the abandon corridor.
Professor McGonagall stood before all of the shaking new students, setting the old Sorting Hat on its stool. Vanessa smiled remember the first time she stepped inside Hogwarts, her eyes widening at the sight of the Great Hall in all its glory. It was, of course, much better than, 'Hogwarts, A History' had described it. She casted her eyes upward, the thousands of hovering candles illuminating the cloudy enchanted ceiling, casting the light up and over the large stone walls surrounding all five tables, a smile creeping across her full lips.
"...A House in which they might take only those they wanted, so. For instance, Slytherin took only pure blood wizards of great cunning, just like him. And those only of sharpest mind were by Ravenclaw, while the bravest and the boldest went to daring Gryffindor. Good Hufflepuff, she took the rest, and taught them all she knew. Thus the Houses and their founders retained friendship firm and true. So Hogwarts worked in harmony for several happy years, but then discord crept among us, feeding on our faults and fears..."
Vanessa didn't pay attention as the miserable old Sorting Hat went about its song of discord and inner conflict, she wasn't rather interested. Every year it made up a new song to torture the students with, why they even allowed it to do so, Vanessa didn't understand. But just as her mind was beginning to cloud with sleep, a particular part of the song caught her attention.
"Oh, know the perils, read the signs, the warnings history shows. For our Hogwarts is in danger from external deadly foes and we must unite inside her or we'll crumble from within. I have told you, I have warned you...Let the Sorting now begin."
The hat ceased its movements and grumbled quietly before everyone clapped loudly, more happy that it was over. Something struck a cord in Vanessa. Was the Sorting Hat predicting the war that her mother was, that the whole Order was? If a lousy hat knows a war is on the horizon why can't anyone at the Ministry see it?
"Do you think it just sits in a room all year and makes up a song for the beginning of term?"
"Lousy existence if you ask me." said Daphne, adjusting her tie.
"Did you hear what it said though? A coming conflict. A war. If a bloody hat can see it coming.."
"The Ministry should be able to as well. I just don't even want to think about it, its just.." Daphne's voice trailed off, she shuddered in her seat at the thought.
The thought of a war scared the hell out of Vanessa, but she knew it was inevitable. She couldn't be scared of something that was bound to happen, she just had to prepare for whenever it began. Harry had seen him and told in great detail about the event. And Vanessa believed him, he couldn't fake that kind of fear, she saw the familiar glint of fear and confusion in his eyes that she saw in her very own. She glanced over at the small pool of remaining students, the numbers watering down.
"Ramsey, Leonis."
The hat barely lasted three seconds on his head before barking loudly, "SLYTHERIN!"
Vanessa, Daphne, Astoria and the rest of the Slytherins clapped loudly and made room for the houses newest occupant.
Dumbledore arose and was clapping madly, with the familiar twinkling behind his half moon spectacles, "To our newcomers," his voice rang across the hall, his arms opened wide, "welcome! To our old hands - welcome back! There is a time for a speech making, but this is not it. Tuck in!" At his words food appeared on the table, the smell delighting Vanessa's nose and stomach. Astoria and Vanessa quickly grabbed several spoonfuls of the mashed potatoes and pieces of chicken. As guilty as she normally would have felt about eating that amount of food, Vanessa didn't seem to mind one bit, allowing her stomach to enjoy the slowly filling feeling. They each ate until they felt as though their clothes would burst at the seams,
"Ooh, now lets attempt to waddle out of here." said Astoria, beginning to throw her leg over the side of the bench but she stopped halfway, Dumbledore had once again risen from his seat.
"Now before everyone is to leave, there are a few announcements. Quidditch tryouts will be held-"
"Hem-Hem." a small girlish cough interrupted him.
Everyone looked up at the table to see who could or would've interrupted Dumbledore and what met Vanessa's eyes made her eyebrows crease close together. A small, large woman in a fluffy pink cardigan had risen from her seat, a large smile spreading across her face; to Vanessa, it made her appear like a toad.
"Well I must say how lovely it is to be back at Hogwarts." at her high pitched words, she let out a girlish giggle that set fire to Vanessa's insides. She didn't like this woman already. "I am Dolores Jane Umbridge, and I will be teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts to you all this year. Now, I am not just here for that purpose, I am also here on behalf of the Ministry."
Harry and Vanessa exchanged a quick glance of knowing.
"I am not alone however, Mr. Lucius Malfoy has also been sent as well to," she paused, obviously choosing her words carefully, "observe you all, supervising the education that you all will be gaining this year."
Vanessa peered up at the table and felt the air escape her lungs, her body flooding with warmth. Lucius Malfoy was sitting in all his glory, nose held in the air, not one single strand of blonde hair out of place, and he was staring straight at, if not through, Vanessa. She felt her face blush violently at the unexpected attention, she cast her eyes back down to her plate, sucking in a deep breath.
Lucius smirked at her obvious bashfulness, quite an endearing quality to him. He kept his eyes on her, waiting for those shy brown eyes to perk up to his own confident blue stare. And sure enough, as if on cue, she took a chance and looked back up at him, a kind smile playing across her full lips. Lucius felt his insides jump at her smile, a fire he hadn't felt since his younger days burning through his veins.