Montgomery was waiting at the top of the stairs for them when they ascended, leaning against the wall and talking to a Hufflepuff girl.
"Took you long enough" He snapped when he saw them. "What did you get lost coming up the stairs?"
The Hufflepuff shook her head, fighting a smile.
"Give them a break Chester, they're first years."
"Yeah, yeah."
She waved at them and walked away.
"I'll see you in class" Montgomery called after her. When she raised her thumb to show she'd heard, Montgomery turned to them with a scowl. "Come on, Professor Dumbledore said we have to show you gits to class."
"You didn't show us to potions." Sugar pointed out.
"You bunch seem dumber than usual. Traffic in the hallways was mental and Peeves wreaked a ton of havoc."
"Who is Peeves?" Rachel asked.
"You'll find out" Montgomery laughed.
"Was that Hufflepuff girl your girlfriend?"
Montgomery blushed red, and Santana couldn't help but laugh. Maybe having Rachel around wasn't going to be too bad.
"None of your business. Now what class do you have?"
"History of magic" Sebastian said.
"Right. Let me see your timetable."
Sebastian rummaged through his bag until he pulled out the timetable, which already looked crumpled and torn along the edges.
"72. Third floor." Montgomery threw the timetable back and turned to face the stairs. "That's third floor. Come on."
The number of paintings on the walls was alarming to Santana. As she followed Montgomery up the first flight of stairs, she calculated that if every wall was as full as the one to her right with portraits, then there were no short of a thousand portraits at Hogwarts.
"How do you think you get your portrait on the walls here?" she asked Quinn.
"Probably just have to ask by the looks of it" Quinn answered.
"Keep up, I don't have all day!"
She and Quinn jogged to keep up with the others. They'd just stepped onto the second flight of stairs when the entire thing began to move.
"Bloody hell!" Quinn exclaimed, grabbing onto the railing. Rachel stumbled into Montgomery, who shoved her off, and Lauren fell forward, catching herself on hands and knees.
"Yup, watch out for that, they like to move."
"How do they know where we're going?" Quinn asked.
"They don't. They move however they want to."
The stairs finally stopped and they got off. Montgomery looked around, nodded, and then led them down a corridor to the right.
"So they can take you even further from where you wanted to end up."
"Yup."
"What nutter came up with that system?" Sebastian asked, frowning angrily at the stairs as he brushed back his hair.
"That would be the founders mate." Montgomery laughed.
"It's annoying I know. It took me ages to find the owlery this morning because I ended up in a hallway Leon hadn't shown us yet."
"Stupid if you ask me." Quinn shook her head. "Now we're gonna be late for class."
"Relax" Montgomery led them up another set of stairs. This time everyone held onto the railing as they walked. "You'll get used to it. You'll know your way around soon enough."
They past two doors, which Santana assumed were other classes, before Montgomery stopped in front of an open door.
"Here. Class 72. I won't be coming to get you for lunch so, try and remember the way."
With that he left them.
Shrugging, Santana walked into the large classroom and chose a seat two rows from the front, by the window. Quinn took the seat next to her.
"So what did you think of potions then?"
"I think I underestimated it."
Santana chuckled.
"But I don't think it'll be too-"
Quinn's words died out as Santana's eyes widened, focusing on what was behind her. Lauren screamed, much like she had the night before in the common room, making Santana jump.
"For Merlin's sake Lauren it's just a ghost" she heard Rachel whisper harshly.
A ghost had just floated through the chalkboard. Pearly white and transparent as the bloody Barron was, but even for a ghost this one seemed old.
"I am Professor Binns, Welcome to the history of magic."
Santana blinked, turning to look at Quinn.
"They have a ghost as a professor?" she asked with wide eyes.
"Guess he would know a lot" Quinn chuckled.
"We will begin with the Soap Blizzard of 1378. Quills out."
And just like that, Professor Binns began to lecture. Everyone scrambled to get their books and quills out. Santana was still in shock. She had been expecting more of an introduction. A speech like Snape's or some kind of explanation of what they would cover in the class. Still, as she dipped her quill in ink she found herself a little excited. A soap blizzard sounded interesting.
******
By the end of the lesson Santana felt as though she had been hit over the head with a brick. Her eyes were fighting her, trying valiantly to close, and her brain….well you could forget about it. Somewhere about twenty minutes into the lecture, it had taken leave. Looking around, she found that she wasn't the only one struggling to keep up with Binns. Two Ravenclaws, Quinn, Rachel and Sebastian seemed to be the only ones still writing. Everyone else was either lying on their desks or talking to each other.
The bell ringing jolted her body awake again, silencing professor Binns and lifting whatever spell had come over her.
"We will continue next time."
He drifted back through the chalkboard.
"Blimey" Santana groaned, packing her books. "What the bloody hell was that?"
"It wasn't that bad."
"Wasn't that bad?" Santana asked in disbelief. "Did you hear him?"
"Okay so he's not a dragon tamer, but I found it kind of interesting."
Santana shook her head, slinging her bag over her shoulder.
"I always knew you were weird. I could barely keep my eyes open."
"Makes sense" Quinn laughed. "You have always been more into instant gratification. You have no patience. Of course I'm better at it than you."
"Yeah well, you can have it. I'll stick to potions."
"How was that then?" Sebastian walked up to them as they joined the line to leave the class. "Not too exciting but at least it makes sense right?"
"If you can resist the sleeping potion that is Binn's voice. Sure."
"Santana doesn't like it too much" Quinn told Sebastian.
"Ah our prodigy has found her weakness" He laughed.
"Shut up" Santana smiled. "No one is going to care if I fail a theoretical class. That doesn't say anything about my magic."
"SANTANA!"
The three of them turned just as they exited the class to find Mike waving at them from the end of the hallway. They waved back.
"Come on" Santana said, jerking her head in his direction. Quinn and Sebastian followed her.
Mike met them halfway, grabbing them both into hugs like they hadn't just seen each other last night.
"Isn't it amazing?!" He asked, looking around the hallway.
"Yeah" Quinn giggled, glancing at Santana.
"There are portraits in every hallway, and they can TALK! And ghosts float around wherever they want and the stairs move."
"Yeah we found that out." Quinn said, rolling her eyes.
"Isn't it amazing?" Mike asked again.
"Bit of an inconvenience if you ask me." Sebastian murmured.
"Oh Mike, this is our new friend Sebastian." Santana said.
"Hey" Mike shook Sebastian's hand.
"Do you guys have a house ghost?" Santana asked, unsure if Montgomery had just been messing with them."
Mike nodded his head enthusiastically.
"The fat Friar." He said, grinning. "He's great."
"Well lucky you. Ours looked like he died in a blood bath."
"Probably did." Quinn said.
"Why? What-" Mike suddenly stopped, ducking behind Quinn. "It's Peeves." He whispered.
Santana turned to see what looked like a ghost, but filled in with a bit more colour, floating down the corridor towards them. She couldn't hear what he was saying yet, but whatever it was seemed to be thoroughly annoying the students he was following.
"Come on." Mike grabbed her and Quinn and dragged them into the closest classroom, shutting the door behind Sebastian.
"Why are we hiding from a ghost? Can't he just float through the walls?"
"Sshhh" Mike pressed his finger to Santana's lips. "He won't if he didn't see us." He whispered.
They heard the students and Peeves pass outside the door a moment later.
"Snogging high, snogging low, wee Melvin wants to snog some more."
Santana had to press her hand over her mouth to cover up the snort of laughter that escaped her. Mike glared at her.
"All around, up and down, they were snogging in the corridor"
This time Quinn joined in on Santana's laughter, both of them unable to remain quiet when Peeves followed his verse up by smacking his lips loudly.
"Shut up, shut up." Mike covered both their mouths with his hands, looking fearfully at the door. After a minute, they heard Peeves voice much further away. He let them go.
"What was that?" Sebastian asked, laughing now too.
"Peeves." Mike said, releasing a heavy breath. "He followed us to class this morning, throwing water balloons at us."
"Were did he even get water balloons from?"
"Does it matter?" Santana asked, still laughing.
"He's a real bother believe me, and no teachers can get rid of him. He listens to some more than others, like professor McGonagall. She's the one that got him to leave us alone. But others…" Mike shook his head. "Better to stay out of his way."
"Wow." Santana chuckled, finally calming down. "I'd go into hiding if he followed me around singing that."
Quinn nodded seriously.
"Our prefect told us that if Peeves was ever to find out a secret you were trying to keep, you might as well project your voice round the school and tell everyone yourself, cause Peeves definitely won't keep it for you and when he tells it, it won't be anywhere close to the truth."
"Jeez." Santana said, feeling suddenly serious. "The longer we're here the more this place begins to feel like a mad house."
"Agreed." Quinn snorted. "But everyone always did say Dumbledore was a bit mad."
"Who says that?" Mike asked, looking relaxed for the first time as he frowned at Quinn.
Santana turned to Quinn, raising both eyebrows and crossing her arms with an amused smile on her face.
"Yes Quinn. Who does say that?"
Quinn looked from Santana to Mike to Sebastian, all of whom were looking at her expectantly.
"You guys have never heard that?"
Santana looked at Mike and Sebastian, who shook their heads.
"I've only ever heard that he's brilliant." Sebastian said.
Santana turned back to Quinn with a grin.
"I've heard that somewhere." She squinted her eyes, tapping her chin. "Why can't I remember who said it though? You were there, do you remember?"
Quinn rolled her eyes.
"Was it someone at the ministry?" Sebastian asked. "My mum works there. She said the ministry doesn't like Dumbledore too much, cause they're scared of how powerful he is."
Santana's grin grew.
"I don't know. Quinn, was it someone at the ministry?"
"Oh alright." Quinn threw her hands. "My dad said, okay? It was my dad."
Sebastian pursed his lips, looking awkwardly at Mike.
"Well….does your dad work at the ministry?"
Santana laughed as Quinn once again rolled her eyes, pushing past the two boys and opening the door.
"I'm hungry." She said, before walking out.
"Yeah, he does." Santana told a confused Sebastian. "He's a judge for the council of magical law."
Sebastian whistled.
"My mum works in the international liaison office."
"Nice." Santana said. "Does she travel a lot?"
"Yeah" he nodded.
They made their way out of the classroom and down the corridor they had used with Montgomery. Thankfully the stairs were still there. Santana didn't much feel like roaming aimlessly round the school again.
The great hall was already packed with students when they arrived, the smells wafting from each table making Santana's mouth water.
"My stomach's gonna eat itself if we don't sit down soon." Mike whined.
"There's seats just there" Quinn pointed at a few free seats halfway up the Slytherin table. They all made their way to it.
"Well I guess I'll see you guys after?"
"Don't be thick" Santana said, pulling Mike to sit next to her. Mike's grin split his face.
****
"Our dormitory is by the kitchens." Mike was telling them with a mouth of chicken. "Some of the fourth years were telling us that they know how to get into the kitchens, and that they would show us."
"Why would you wanna get into the kitchens?" Sebastian asked.
"Midnight snack." Mike said like it was obvious. "They said the house elves give you whatever you ask for."
"Dessert too?" Santana asked.
"Yeah."
"Wicked." She breathed, taking a sip of juice. "You're going to take us right? Once they show you."
"Course." Mike nodded, shovelling some rice into his mouth. "I'll even show you our dorms. They're so cool."
Santana and Quinn frowned at each other.
"You can't do that." Quinn said.
"Why not?"
"Because it's the Hufflepuff common room. Didn't your prefects tell you last night?"
Mike looked up from his food, his spoon pausing on its way to his mouth.
"Sure." He said, lowering his hand. "But they didn't say we couldn't bring anyone. Just that we can't tell them the password."
"It's Hufflepuff sacred space." Santana said. "At least that's what we were told about our common room."
"But if you ask a Gryffindor they'll tell you it's because we're practicing our dark magic" Sebastian sneered, glaring at the Gryffindor table.
Mike dropped his spoon altogether, straightening his back.
"What are you talking about?"
"Nothing, he's just mad about something that happened before potions."
"What happened?" Mike pressed.
Santana rolled her eyes, not wanting to rehash that particular experience, but knowing from the look in Mike's eyes that he wouldn't drop it.
"We have potions with the Gryffindor's" she started.
"Okay?"
"And there's this kid…" she turned around to find him, and then pointed when she spotted him. "You see that big kid, sitting next to Sam?"
"Yeah" Mike nodded.
"Well he started talking all this crap about how Slytherins are pure bloodists, and are just waiting for another dark lord to rise so we can finally use all the dark magic we've been passing on for generations against all muggle borns."
Mike's jaw fell open. He swivelled round to look at Quinn and Sebastian, and when they nodded he turned back to the Gryffindor table, scowling.
"You're joking."
"Nope." Sebastian said, calling Mike's attention back to him. "He was warning one of the muggle borns in Slytherin to watch her back."
"You're joking!" Mike said louder. "How can he get away with that? Did you tell a professor?"
"What are we five?" Quinn rolled her eyes. "No."
"Quinn this is serious." Mike said disapprovingly.
"We know it is." Santana said. "Don't worry, I've got a plan for him."
Mike slowly turned back to the Gryffindor table, his expression turning sad.
"Sam seems to like him…"
"Urgh" Santana groaned. "Sam's a Gryffindor now, I told you."
Mike turned to her, looking unsure.
"What did he say when this twat was-"
"Nothing." Quinn cut him off. "He just stood there."
"Really?" Mike asked quietly. "Maybe he had a reason. Maybe he was going to-"
"Mike…" Santana put a hand on his shoulder. "When have you ever known Sam to shut up when he didn't agree with something?"
Mike hung his head, sighing.
"Never."
"He's a Gryffindor now, and whatever he used to be like he's going to be spending all his time with the likes of that weasel." She jerked her thumb at Azimio. "Those are his people now, and it's only been a day."
****
The Slytherins had a free period after lunch, which Santana convinced Sebastian and Quinn to spend exploring the castle. They started on the main floor and worked their way up, allowing the stairs to take them wherever they may, inspecting the different classrooms and hallways. From the windows on one of the tower staircases, Quinn spotted a small house on the edge of the forest. She stopped to look at it.
"Who do you recon lives there?"
Santana joined her at the window.
"Don't know." She said. "Maybe it's just a storage space."
"With smoke coming out of the chimney?" Quinn raised an eyebrow.
"Maybe they keep dragon eggs in there." Sebastian burst out excitedly.
Santana and Quinn frowned at him.
"What?" He asked. "We have a ghost professor, a poltergeist terrorising students, there are trolls in the dungeon and a giant taking care of the grounds. There can't be dragon eggs too?"
"We don't know there are trolls in the dungeons." Quinn said, turning back to the window.
"And Hagrid's not a giant."
"So you both think."
"Wait." Quinn grabbed Santana's hand and pointed out the window. "Is that…?"
The door to the house opened, and a massive man came squeezing out in giant black boots and his pants rolled up to his knees. He was carrying several pieces of meat, looking freshly cut and dripping blood behind him as he walked.
"HAGRID?" Sebastian and Santana yelled together.
"They let him live on school grounds?" Sebastian asked, eyes practically bugging.
"Definitely not a giant." Santana said, shaking her head. "There's just no way Dumbledore would allow it."
"So you think." Quinn said, looking for the first time like she believed Hagrid was a giant.
"Really Quinn?"
"What do you think he needs all that meat for?" Quinn asked, gesturing to Hagrid, who had disappeared into the forest.
"Lunch." Sebastian said with a definitive nod.
"He could be-"
The clock chimed loudly, cutting Santana off. Her eyes went wide.
"We've got transfiguration!"
*****
Luckily for the trio, they made it to the entrance hall just as Willow was leading the other Slytherins up the stairs. They slipped in with the group, unnoticed by anyone but of course Rachel.
"Where have you three been?"
"Around the castle" Santana answered.
"Exploring?" Rachel asked, slowing down so she could walk closer to them. "I haven't had a chance to yet. I'm afraid of getting lost."
"Mmh" Santana nodded,
"But if my fellow Slytherins are doing it I would love to join. We're safer in groups right?"
"Right." Quinn said, flashing a fake smile. "Unless you're only allowed to tag along to be the sacrifice if we were to run into a certain giant." She whispered to Santana. Santana snorted.
As they walked, Santana realised that Willow was talking to the Slytherins up in front. She sped up her pace, pushing past Sugar, Lauren and the other Slytherin boys till she was standing directly next to Willow.
"Oh Santana." Willow smiled once she noticed her. "I was wondering where you were."
"Oh…I've been…here." Santana shrugged.
"Right." Willow smirked. "I would have noticed if you were."
Santana found herself grinning.
"So how long did it take you to learn your way around?"
"By Halloween I pretty much had it." Willow said. "You walk the same halls every single day for two months you're bound to figure it out, no matter how many halls there are."
"Yeah. But I still bet you were faster than Leon."
Willow laughed.
"Leon actually showed me a bunch of shortcuts. He had this place wired by end of September I think. But then he was always sneaking out at night to explore so…"
She and Santana laughed.
"Yeah that's Leon."
"You're not gonna try that are you?"
"What sneaking off at night?" Santana asked. Willow raised her eyebrow. "I love my sleep."
"You already disappear more than any other first year, and it's only been a day."
"Okay maybe I have to beat my brother's record, but it's all your fault for telling me how fast he was at it."
Willow giggled, shaking her head.
"Here you are." Willow stopped in front of a class. "We're cutting it close so just go right in and wait for me after so I can show you to you next class."
All the Slytherins called their okays to Willow as they filed into the class.
"Thanks Willow."
"No problem Santana" Willow smiled.
"See you after class."
Chuckling, Willow walked back down the hall.
"Oh Santana?" Santana jumped at Quinn's voice directly in her ear.
"What?" she frowned.
"What is it with her?"
"I don't know what you mean."
She led Quinn into the transfiguration classroom, taking two empty seats behind Mike.
There was a cat sitting on the desk, still as a statue. It was only thanks to the slight twitch of its tail when Sugar dropped her book heavily on the desk that Santana knew it was alive. She leaned in to Quinn.
"Course McGonagall's cat looks as strict as her."
"She probably trained it to keep an eye on students when she isn't in."
Suddenly, the cat leapt off the table, and mid-air, began to transform. By the time it hit the ground it wasn't a cat, but professor McGonagall standing before the class.
Lauren screamed.
"Merlin's beard child!" Professor McGonagall flinched, turning to glare at Lauren.
"Sorry professor, she does that" Rachel rushed out.
"Professor that was…that was brilliant." Mike said, rising halfway out of his seat.
Santana, along with the rest of the class, nodded enthusiastically. She couldn't even believe her eyes. It had happened so quickly, so seamlessly, that her brain almost couldn't believe what she'd seen.
"You were a cat professor." Lauren said, in a shaky voice.
"Yes, I was." Professor McGonagall said, looking oddly proud. She pulled her cloak tighter around herself and walked to the other side of desk, facing the students. "I am what is called an animagi. A witch or wizard able to turn into an animal and back at will."
Rachel's hand shot up.
"Yes?"
"Are you born that way?"
"No. Those born with the ability to transform their features are called metamorphmagus. Becoming an animagi is a long and tedious process, that only a select few witches and wizards have been able to successfully complete." She paused, looking around the room. Santana felt herself feeling the same awe she felt in potions earlier that morning. The way McGonagall spoke, carried herself, and now knowing that she had this rare skill, it made her want to be like her even more. To prove she was just as good.
Rachel's hand shot up again.
"Yes."
"How do you become and animagi professor?"
"We will learn about animagi in your third year at Hogwarts." McGonagall said. "It is most definitely not a spell to be taught in a first year class, much less on your first day." She shook her head sharply. "No, this year we will be covering the transformation formula, which is that the intended transformation is directly influenced by bodyweight (a), viciousness (v), wand power (w), concentration (c), and a fifth unknown variable (Z)."
Santana quickly grabbed her book, quill and ink from her bag, scrambling to write what McGonagall was saying before she forgot.
"From there you will learn how to turn a desk into a pig, a match to a needle, mice into Snuffboxes and the switching Spell. One of which you will have to do successfully to pass your end of year exams in June."
For the first time all day, Rachel's hand wasn't the only one up.
"Yes, miss Zizes?"
Lauren lowered her hand tentatively.
"A-are…are those the only exams we have?"
"Yes. Only the one set, at the end of the year."
A few students cheered happily, Santana and Quinn included.
"I would advise you against waiting until the last moment to revise, however." McGonagall said over the chatter. "You all take multiple subjects, some heavier in content than others, and believing that you can catch up on all of them with a few weeks left to exams is folly." She tilted her head down, staring the students down with her piercing gaze. Santana shifted uncomfortably in her seat. "More importantly, transfiguration is one of the harder subjects you are currently taking. It is some of the most complex and dangerous magic you will learn at Hogwarts. Anyone messing around in my class will leave and not come back. You have been warned."
Santana and Quinn glanced at each other, then at Mike, who turned in his chair to stare wide eyed at them.
"I know" Santana mouthed at him.
"Let's begin."
McGonagall walked to the chalkboard and flicked her wand.
The chalk resting on her desk flew to the board and began to write.
The transformation formula:
The intended transformation is directly influenced by Mass of beginning object (a), viciousness (v), wand power (w), concentration (c), and a fifth unknown variable (Z).
"Before we go any further," McGonagall turned back to the class. "I am going to be completely honest with you. The Transformation Formula is a theoretical formula. This goes beyond just the variable Z, which researchers have been thus far unable to identify. Of the four known variables, only one of them is actually measurable. This is the mass of the object, which is defined by how much "stuff" there is in the object. Though directly related to an object's weight, mass is a slightly different measurement. You see, mass is an inherent property while weight depends upon the force due to gravity acting on the object."
Frowning heavily, Santana stopped writing, looking up at Professor McGonagall. She had no idea what the professor was talking about, so much so that she didn't even know what to write. Mass, gravity, weight…these things didn't sound like magic.
"The three variables that cannot be measured are wand power, concentration, and viciousness because they do not have numerical values. Wand power is the strength of your wand and is influenced not only by the wood, core, length, and flexibility, but also by your relationship with it. If you want to know more about your wand and its strengths and weaknesses, stop by Professor Penrose's office for a wand reading."
"You should have no problem there" Quinn whispered to Santana. "Olivander said you and your wand are basically a power match made in heaven."
Smirking, Santana pulled her wand out of her robes just enough for her to see.
"Yeah, if only I could figure out the rest of this nonsense."
"I will explain concentration to you in more detail in the coming weeks, but in general it is how your mind focuses and directs your magic. Lastly, for the sake of transfiguration, viciousness is the liveliness of the target object."
"Liveliness Professor?" A Hufflepuff girl asked, raising her hand.
Santana sighed as McGonagall launched into yet another explanation that made no sense to her. So far potions was shaping up to be the only class that she had any hope in.
****
By the end of the lesson Santana's brain felt fried. She understood one thing and one thing only from the past hour's lecture. Transfiguration was hard.
"Blimey" Mike groaned, dropping his head on the desk as everyone else packed their books.
"Alright there Mikey?" Quinn teased.
"Oh I'm alright. Just going to fail, that's all."
Santana laughed, clapping him on the back sympathetically.
"We'll fail together mate."
Mike lifted his head, chuckling.
"Come on, we've got charms together."
Willow was waiting for them at the door when they walked out, with, to Santana's great surprise, Leon.
"What are you doing here?"
"Hello to you too" He grabbed Santana's head, pushing it down until she was able to shove him off.
"Stop messing with my hair!"
"I offered to keep Willow some company while she makes sure you baby wizards don't get lost."
"Who are you calling a baby?" Quinn frowned.
"Isn't her little frown so cute?" Leon asked Willow, reaching out to pinch Quinn's cheek. Quinn slapped his hand away before he could touch her.
"You really are the most annoying brother." Willow laughed.
"He really is juvenile" Santana said, scowling at him. "My mum and I have a galleon bet that dad dropped him as a baby."
Willow, Quinn and Mike laughed loudly as Leon's smug smile dropped. He shoved Santana, shaking his head.
"Whatever. Come on what do you have?" He grabbed for Santana's bag and reached into it for her timetable.
"Charms." Rachel said, stepping forward. "Hello." She extended her hand to Leon. "I'm Rachel-"
"Don't care." Leon glanced at Santana's timetable for which class it was in. "You're a first year." He stuffed Santana's timetable back in the bag and then threw it at her before grabbing Willow's arm and pulling her down the corridor. "Let's go before we're late for herbology." He turned to look over his shoulder at Santana. "Keep up baby Lopez."
"Don't even think about trying to make that catch on!" Santana yelled, tearing down the hallway after him.
******
Santana left charms with a massive grin, bounce in her step and fifteen more points for Slytherin. That lesson had been exactly what she'd imagined class to be like at Hogwarts. They'd gone to using their wands only ten minutes into the class, as Professor Flitwick had floated round the class on the stool he was standing on, making sure each pair was doing the spell correctly.
They'd started with the wand lighting charm, lumos. At first Santana had been upset, since she'd been waiting for a chance to show off with the levitation charm, but when her wand had lit up as soon as she spoke the incantation, she'd figured the lighting charm wasn't so bad. Flitwick had been thoroughly impressed by her, hence the fifteen points, but what had Santana walking on clouds was his comment just before moving on from her and Quinn.
"I expected nothing less from you Santana."
"Would you stop it" Quinn chuckled, bumping her shoulder into Santana's as they walked up the stairs to the astronomy tower.
"What?"
"Walking like you just slayed a dragon."
"I can't help it if I'm confident."
"Arrogant more like."
"Can't blame her." Sebastian said. "Flitwick didn't even seem shocked. Like he expected her to be great."
"And I am."
"Oh shut up" Quinn rolled her eyes. "Wanna head back to transfiguration?"
Santana shrugged. "Transfiguration is just a harder version of charms. I'll get it. Besides, my talents clearly lie in the practical aspects of magic. Wait until McGonagall has us actually practicing spells and I bet I impress her too."
Quinn scoffed.
"Don't be jealous Q." Santana smirked. "I'd be happy to help you-"
Quinn swung her bag off her shoulder, straight at Santana's head. Santana raised her hand, blocking it as she laughed.
"I hate you" Quinn laughed.
*****
After Astronomy, which all things considered wasn't the worst subject, the Slytherins decided to go down to their common room to kill time before dinner. Santana knew she still had a lot of the castle to explore and learn, but she was tired, given how early her day had started, and the peace of the common room was exactly was she needed.
"Super Omnia" she said loudly, as she, Quinn and Sebastian stopped at the bare strip of wall. As the entrance to the common room was revealed, Santana found herself filled with the same disbelief she had been last night. She'd grown up with magic, but this felt like something more. It was still unbelievable.
"When is dinner again?" Sebastian asked, as the three of them dropped onto an armchair each.
"I don't remember." Santana said, closing her eyes.
"7:45." Quinn said.
"And what time is it now?" Sebastian groaned.
"5"
"Damn"
Santana yawned. "Do you think I could take a nap….?"
"You won't sleep at night if you do." Quinn laughed, throwing a pillow at Santana and forcing her to open her eyes.
"You know how much I love my sleep."
"Yes I do, which is why I won't let you sleep now."
They all turned to the back of the common room as Rachel, Sugar and Lauren came walking in. Sugar waved at them.
"How long have you two known each other?" Sebastian asked, when the three girls disappeared into the hallway to their dorm.
"All our lives." Santana answered, yawning again.
"Yeah we're practically sisters. Our mums went to Hogwarts together."
"Same house?"
Quinn nodded.
"Slytherin?"
"Nah, Ravenclaw." Santana said.
"I'm the first Slytherin in my family actually." Quinn said, looking down at her hands.
"That's cause you're the most awesome one in your family Q." Santana said immediately. Quinn grinned at her.
"That's cool, that you guys knew each other before this. Your brother seems cool too."
"He's alright." Santana shrugged.
"Do you have any siblings?"
Sebastian shook his head. "Only child."
"Same." Quinn said. "Unless you count this doofus." She jerked her thumb at Santana, who was once again lying back with her eyes closed. "and her lame brother."
"You're lucky to have me." Santana said without opening her eyes.
Sebastian and Quinn chuckled.
"You play?" Quinn asked, sitting forward and pointing at the chess board on the table their chairs were organised around.
"My dad's been beating me at it since I could talk" Sebastian laughed, pulling off his robes and taking off his shoes.
"Same" Quinn smirked. "Made me pretty good."
Sebastian cracked his knuckles.
"Let's see how good."
*****
When Quinn had won one game and Sebastian won the rematch, they decided to call it quits. Santana found it hilarious that Quinn, who apart from to her father had never lost a single game before, had found both games with Sebastian difficult.
Santana herself had no patience for wizard's chess. It wasn't boring, since watching the pieces get smashed up was highly amusing, but she didn't care much for the slow pace of the game. The tactical part was fun, and for the first few minutes she could really get into it, but then it went on for fifteen, twenty, thirty minutes and she lost interest, losing the game just to get it over with.
"Santana."
"No."
"You don't even know what I'm going to say."
The common room was a lot fuller now that it was much closer to dinner time. Santana assumed most other classes had finished now. Most of the chairs, couches and armchairs were occupied, and the conversation had grown to a steady tempo over the past hour. There were some third years playing exploding snap in the corner by the window to the lake, and Rachel singing loudly to no one in particular. Santana was trying her hardest to tune her out.
"You want something though don't you?" She cracked her eye open and peered questioningly at Quinn.
"Maybe."
"Then no."
"Come on! I would take you."
"Where?" Santana opened her eyes and sat up.
"Owlery."
That wasn't too bad. She actually didn't mind going to the owlery. It would give her the chance to see if she'd learned the way now, and something to do to keep her awake while they waited for dinner. That didn't change the fact that she was just so comfortable. The armchair she was sitting on felt like it was hugging her. Sucking her into its comfort.
"Pleeeasse"
"Fine." She stood up quickly, not wanting to drag it out in case she was pulled back in.
"Yes!" Quinn rummaged through her bag for something and then jumped up with a letter.
"You coming?" Santana asked Sebastian as she stretched her arms over her head.
"Nope." He settled himself back into his chair. "Too tired to go all that way."
Santana nodded.
"See you at dinner then."
"See you."
*****
Getting to the owlery was much easier than it had been for Santana just that morning. Only one set of stairs moved, and it didn't take them too far. Quinn selected one of the school owls, calling it down from the perch and attaching her letter to its foot. They watched it fly off until it was just a speck in in the distance.
"You ready?" Santana asked, when Quinn still didn't move, even though they couldn't see the owl. She gently touched her arm.
Quinn started. "Yeah." She said quickly. "Let's go."
"You seem better…." Santana said cautiously as they descended the stairs from the owlery. Quinn frowned at her.
"Better than?"
"Just….about your dad and your house and everything."
"Oh." Quinn faced forward, nodding slowly. "Well I wasn't in the morning. I woke up kind of panicking actually."
"I still don't get why. Your dad's tough but what does it matter what house you're in?"
Quinn shrugged. "I don't know. He could want me in his house…He could have expectations of me that change if I'm not in the house he thought I would be in."
"But he's never said anything, and knowing him he would have."
They turned into the castle, taking the hallway Santana knew would take them to the great hall the fastest.
"That kind of makes it worse." Quinn bit her lip and stopped walking, looking at the portraits along the wall rather than at Santana. "I feel like he was disappointed before I was even sorted. Like he wanted me to be a Gryffindor but never believed I actually would be, which is why he never said anything."
"Oh come off it." Santana said, lightly shoving Quinn's shoulder to get her walking again. "That's all in your head."
"Yeah maybe…"
They were silent as they walked down the first flight of stairs, taking them to the main floor. They saw a few ghosts floating along the corridor in front of them, chatting loudly.
"Let's go this way" Santana steered Quinn left, into a corridor they hadn't yet been down.
"You really think he'll take it well?" Quinn asked quietly, her eyes flicking in Santana's direction.
"At the very least he won't care."
Quinn took in a deep breath, nodding like she was trying to convince herself.
"Besides, I'm sure he already knows I'm in Slytherin from my parents. So he probably expects you'll be too."
"Yeah" Quinn chuckled breathily, finally looking at Santana in the eyes. "Bet he does."
******
There were a few students in the great hall already, though dinner was still half an hour away. Santana and Quinn saw Mike at the Hufflepuff table watching a game of wizard's chess. They walked over to him.
"Hey guys." He grinned at them. "Oh Mat" He gripped the shoulder of one of the boys playing, "You have to play Quinn. She's a master."
Mat looked about the same height as Sam, though Santana couldn't tell because he was sitting. He had chocolate brown skin and short black hair. He turned to look over his shoulder at Quinn.
"Which one of you is Quinn?"
Quinn raised her hand, smirking.
Matt smiled at her, nodded, then turned to the boy he was already playing.
"You mind?"
The boy shook his head, getting up and moving over for Quinn.
"Don't lose Q." Santana called as Quinn walked around the table. "I might have to disown you if you do."
"Ha, Ha" Quinn said. "As if."
Santana sat on the table, placing her feet on the bench.
"I could get used to this" She told Mike, as Quinn and Mat went about resetting the board.
"What's that?" Mike asked, sitting next to her on the table.
"Being here. Having breakfast with you guys, going to class and hanging out like this before dinner. It feels right. Right?"
"It's fun" Mike nodded. "Even if some classes make me want to cry."
"It's better than numeracy with your mum though." Santana laughed. "No offence."
Mike pretended to glare but couldn't keep it up as a smile stretched his lips.
"Nah you're right though." He finally said. "I was a little scared of coming here, honestly."
"Really? I didn't know that."
Mike shrugged. "I mean it's the first time I was going to be away from my parents. It was scary to think about."
"Are you still scared?"
Mike shook his head.
"Nah. I think it's awesome."
Santana chuckled, looping her arm through Mike's and bumping him so they both swayed sideways.
"It is."
*****
The great hall filled up suddenly with hundreds of students as the giant clock chimed seven thirty. Before it got too full, Santana and Quinn left the Hufflepuff table, dragging Mike with them to the Slytherin table. Sebastian and the other first years joined them less than five minutes later and before they knew it, food was appearing up and down the table.
"That never gets old" Sebastian said, quickly scooping some potatoes onto his plate.
"So he's allowed then is he?"
Santana and Mike had their backs to the rest of the great hall, so she had to turn to see who was standing behind her. She let out a heavy breath when she saw Sam.
"We're trying to eat here." Quinn said.
"I thought you were only talking to Slytherins now" Sam said angrily.
"Nope" Santana turned back to her food. "Nothing wrong with Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw."
"You're really not going to talk to me just because of what house I'm in?"
"You proved me right pretty quickly." Santana said, dipping her spoon into some gravy and licking it. "Having your ugly hateful friend's back earlier."
"He…." Sam shifted uncomfortably. "He was wrong. I told him."
"Oh. I guess I missed that. Did you hear him tell Azimio what an ass he was being Q?"
"Nope" Quinn bit into a carrot stick and shook her head. "You seemed mighty quiet to me."
"I didn't want to make it worse."
"Or you agreed with him" Sebastian said.
Sam frowned at him.
"Mike you get it right? You know there was no way I agreed with that rubbish."
Mike looked from Sebastian and Quinn opposite him, to Santana, who was now crossing her arms over her chest and sighed.
"I don't know mate…" he turned in his seat to look at Sam. "If you didn't agree with him why didn't you stop him?"
"I have to share a dorm with him. I didn't want to piss off him or the other Gryffindor's by looking like I was picking Slytherins over him. But as soon as potions was over I told him he was way off. We all did. We told him he can't say-"
"Well good for you." Quinn cut him off. "We don't care."
Mike was shaking his head.
"That's not on Sam." He said. "Slytherins or no, you should have stood up for them. You've met their parents. Had dinner at their house. Santana's dad bought you your first broom for your birthday. You should have defended them." He shook his head, disappointed. "Maybe….Maybe Santana was right. We've been here a day and you're already choosing Gryffindor loyalty over your friends."
"I didn't-"
"Can you just drop it?" Santana snapped, whipping her head round to look at Sam. She saw the hurt in his eyes, the regret too, but she didn't care. She didn't want to see it.
"You're not welcome here" Sebastian said. "And we're trying to eat."
Sam was looking at Quinn, as if waiting for her to speak up in his defense. Quinn avoided his eyes, fixing her eyes on her plate of food and shrugged.
"Fine" Sam said angrily. "Maybe you guys weren't really my friends anyway."
Mike turned, watching Sam leave with a sad expression. Santana placed her hand on his shoulder, pressing her lips together sympathetically. She knew that taking a stance like that couldn't have been easy for Mike, but that made her appreciate it all the more. That he was as mad about something that he hadn't even been there to witness as she was meant a lot to her. Especially since he wasn't trying to make excuses for Sam or get her to forgive him.
"Thanks." She said quietly.
Mike nodded, looking at Sam one last time before facing forward and retaking his fork.
"He was wrong, and that's that."