The Tale of Apollina - Harry Potter non-Canon fanfic

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[The Lady Narcissa]

Luci, this is fantastic!
heart
I was quite worried for a moment when she was being sorted.

[Lucius Scipio Malfoy]

So was I. For a while there, I thought she really HAD to be a Hufflepuff, then I realized that FAMILY loyaly meant she belonged in Slytherin. I thought that would be better once she patches things up with Shishi and Zinnia, too - and there's going to be a Hufflepuff friend coming into it later. Real inter-House unity. biggrin

So nice to see you, my precious, and I'm glad you've enjoyed the story thus far!

[Lucius Scipio Malfoy]

Chapter Seven: Chaos, Panic, and Disorder

Apollina woke early and visited the Owlrey before breakfast. She hung around Hermod and the other owls until Mr. Filch came and ran her out. At loose ends, unwilling to return to the Great Hall and face all those hostile stares, she returned to the dungeons and her room.

Bored, antsy, and wishing more than ever that she could just go home, she flopped backwards across her bed and waited for the hands of her clock to work their way around to the time for first period. She sat bolt upright suddenly as she realized she had no idea what her first class would be.

Panicked, she raced into the Common Room, hoping the First Year schedule would be posted somewhere. She couldn’t find it anywhere, and as all the other students seemed to be at breakfast, there was no one she could ask. Too scared to go to the Great Hall and find someone, she dropped heavily onto a couch, put her face in her hands, and wept.

Someone entered. “Why, my dear - “ it was Professor Slughorn’s voice. “Whatever is the matter? You should be at breakfast with the other children.”

Apollina wiped her eyes and tried to compose herself. “I’m…not hungry, Professor, sir. But - I don’t know what my schedule is.”

“Why, schedules are passed out at breakfast, of course! You really ought to eat something, you know - it’s a long time ‘til lunchtime, you know, and you’ll need the energy. Still, if you’re certain, I’m sure I still have a First Year schedule or two,” he said, and fumbled in the pockets of his robes.

“Ah! Here we go, dear - and your first class is Potions! Ah…I’ll…I’ll see you there, then…” he said, and faded back out of the Common Room.

Apollina wiped her eye again and sniffled, though she felt slightly better now that the panic was subsiding. She looked at her schedule and saw that she had double Potions with Gryffindor, then Herbology with the Hufflepuffs, Defense Against the Dark Arts, and then Transfiguration with the Ravenclaws after lunch. She went back to her room and packed her schoolbag with the books and equipment she would need for those classes. Then she sat and scratched Gesundheit behind his ears while the clock slowly ticked down.

[Lucius Scipio Malfoy]

Okay, this feels like an afterthought because I thought I ought to maintain a bit of mystery about Apple's little genetic glitch. Clearly a bit of editing is necessary, if and when I ever get around to it, but just so people don't start throwing rotten tomatoes: The idea is that Lucius didn't have a Simurgh feather in the family vault, he had the only Apparition spot to the Simurgh's home on Mount Parnassus - the Malfoy family, for all their faults, have been "keepers" of the secret of the Simurgh's existance and close association with the bird has, over the years, produced the occasional mutant child with certain Simurgh features - tall feathery ears and a long, bony tail, both of which look similar to fox parts excepting the feathers and the length thereof. Okay, enough hideous backstory: I hope once the story actually addresses these points it will make more sense and not sound too Mary Sue.

The Tail of the Tail

Apollina slunk quietly through the halls, as furtive as a thief, until she found the door to the Potions classroom, not terribly far from the Slytherin dungeons. She slipped inside, hoping for a seat at the back of the room.

She was horrified to see that the tables were set in a circle around a large cauldron at the center of the room. Head hanging and tail dragging, she seated herself as close to a corner as she could.

She was several minutes early, but students began to trickle in fairly soon. The first were a pair of Slytherin girls, who nudged each other and giggled, then sat as far from Apollina as they could and laughed and whispered to each other, casting poorly disguised glances in her direction. After another small influx of students, Shishi entered the room. She looked at Apollina, seated all by herself, and seemed to come to a momentous decision. She came over and sat down at her table.

“Apple - “

Apollina got up, grabbed her things, and went to another empty table. She heard the Slytherin girls laugh at her angrily thrashing tail, but she didn’t care. Ears twitching, face bright pink, she slammed her cauldron down at her new station and reorganized her phials and scales. She felt her hair coming out of its bow and tugged the velvet ribbon out angrily, then shook her head so her long blonde tresses fell into her face. She hid behind it like a curtain.

Professor Slughorn bustled in after the bell. “All right, all right, everyone be seated! Welcome, welcome, welcome to your First Year at Hogwarts, and welcome to your first Potions class! Now, we won’t be starting you off too hard. I’ll just be giving you a bit of a basic introduction to the concept of potion-making, and then you’re each going to get to try a few drops of this potion I’ve got simmering in my cauldron - it won’t hurt you, I promise, and I think you’ll find it quite helpful to you through the rest of your classes today!”

Apollina took careful notes all during Professor Slughorn’s lecture, and accepted her ration of Wit-Sharpening Potion - which turned out to be what was in the cauldron - silently. When the Professor dismissed them, she quietly gathered her things and was first to the door.

The two Slytherin girls were just behind her. As she left the room, Apollina heard one of them say, “Watch this.” Then the girl slammed the door as hard as she could on the end of Apollina’s retreating tail.

Apollina screamed in pain, which quickly turned to anger. She dropped her things, spun around, and flew at the girl, claws out. She scratched, bit, kicked, and punched, blinded by tears and rage. She barely felt Shishi’s hands on her shoulders as the Gryffindor girl tried to pull her off her foe, and didn’t hear Professor Slughorn’s weak entreaties at all. She did notice, however, when, in just a very few minutes, she was plucked into the air by a strong and very familiar hand. She went limp, still crying, and allowed her father to half-drag her into Professor Slughorn’s office.

“What in the name of Merlin’s Beard was that all about?” Lucius demanded. “I rather thought your mother and I were raising a young lady, not a young prizefighter.”

Apollina was still crying too hard to speak. Her words came out in hiccups. “She…she…hurt my…tail,” she managed at last.

“Now…now, I did see…I mean, that is true - the other girl was the first aggressor,” Professor Slughorn said, and wrung his pudgy hands in dismay. “I…I will deal with her appropriately. There’s…no need for further unpleasantness.”

“Oh, really? And what will you do, Horace? Take points off of Slytherin?” Lucius said condescendingly. “I’ve already summoned Professor McGonagal; she’ll deal with the situation. Apple - let me see your tail.”

Apple sniffled, and held up the end of her tail, gingerly. The soft, hair-like feathers were sadly crushed, and there was a distinct kink in the structure. Her father touched it gently and she winced.

“Damn it all,” Lucius swore. “It’s broken. Horace, tell Professor McGonagal that she may find Apple and myself in the Hospital Wing.”

“The…the other girl has already been taken there, erm…Lucius. Minerva is probably there already.”

“That’s fine, then. Come, dear, let’s get that tail looked at,” Lucius said, and ushered Apollina out of the room.

“I’m sorry I was a bit short with you, Apple,” he said as they walked the long walk through the castle to the infirmary. “I don’t blame you now for fighting - I should say you were sorely provoked. But what Professor McGonagal will say I don’t know. You may be punished, but I don’t think she’ll be too hard on you. She’s quite fair-minded. And I’m sure Madam Pomfrey will have your pretty tail put right in a moment.”

He stroked her hair out of her face as they walked, and scratched gently behind her tall feathery ears. She leaned into his side and he put his arm around her shoulders.

“Daddy, I want to go home,” she said.

Lucius sighed. “Sweetie, I know this little incident qualifies this for the ‘Day From Hell’ award, but it won’t always be this bad. Give it a chance. You haven’t even made it to Lunch yet.”

Apollina was silent. She wasn’t thinking about the door or her throbbing tail. But there was no way she could tell her father about the horrible lies she’d heard…

“Speaking of Lunch…” her father said. “I couldn’t help but notice you didn’t come to Breakfast. Any particular reason for that?”

“I was still stuffed from the Feast,” Apollina lied.

“Apple, you know you have to eat regular meals,” her father said, entering Lecture Mode. “We don’t need you getting sick.”

“I know, Daddy. I’m sorry. I won’t skip Breakfast anymore, I promise.”

“That’s my girl. And no more fighting, all right? If someone picks on you, tell your teachers. Vigilante justice never goes over well in polite society.”

They came at last to a door labeled “Hospital Wing.” Like most doors, this one opened by itself on her father’s approach - a talent Apollina didn’t seem to share.

Professor McGonagal met them just inside. “Lucius. Miss Hepworth says that your daughter attacked her for no reason. She’s inside with Madam Pomfrey right now, having her face healed. Apollina practically tore it off. What do you have to say about this?”

“Did Horace tell you the attack was unprovoked?” Lucius said mildly.

The stern look on the Headmistress’ face softened slightly. “I didn’t say I believed Ms. Hepworth. I merely wanted your take on the matter.”

“I don’t know what happened before I received Horace’s summons and came upon my daughter wailing on the unfortunate Ms. Hepworth. I only know that my daughter has a broken tail in sore need of mending.”

“Was it an accident that Ms. Hepworth slammed the door on your tail, Ms. Malfoy,” Professor McGonagal said, rounding upon Apollina, “or was it with deliberate malice?”

Apollina hung her head. “I don’t know, ma’am,” she said.

Professor McGonagal raised an eyebrow. “You don’t know? Professor Slughorn told me he was quite certain he heard Ms. Hepworth laughing, just before you knocked her down. Of course, he can’t tell me who was laughing, exactly, since he couldn’t remember a name to save his life unless it was famous. Perhaps it was someone else?”

“I don’t know, ma’am,” Apollina said. “I just know that the girl I hit is the girl who slammed the door on my tail, and I heard her say ‘watch this’ to her friend just before it happened. But I suppose it…might’ve been an accident.”

“Minerva, is this line of questioning necessary just now? I know it isn’t like she’s standing here with a broken leg, but her tail is swelling badly and she must be in terrible pain.”

“I know, Lucius, but Ms. Hepworth is in there right now - putting on a great show, I might add - and I’d rather not expose them to each other at this particular moment in time. But if it really is broken and not just bruised, you are quite correct - we should have it looked at immediately. Follow me.”

The Slytherin girl - ‘Ms. Hepworth’ - glared angrily at Apollina as they entered, until with little ceremony Madam Pomfrey shut the curtains around her bed. “You’re healing nicely, miss, no need for continued drama,” the Healer said tiredly. “Now, what is wrong with you, little miss?”

“Broken tail,” Professor McGonagal said succinctly.

“Broken - oh, my goodness. Ah. Yes. Well, I - I should be able to fix that in a heartbeat,” Madam Pomfrey said, for the first time in living memory looking flustered.

While the Healer worked, Professor McGonagal talked - in an over-loud voice intended for Ms. Hepworth’s ears as well.

“There will be no punishment for your actions today, Ms. Malfoy,” she said. “That is not to say I agree with your actions; however I can see for myself that you were provoked, and I would hesitate to say I should not do the same in your position. However, please - if there is any further unpleasantness with any other students, allow your teachers to handle the situation. Ms. Hepworth will be given a week’s detention once Madam Pomfrey gives the all-clear, which she will serve with your father - that ought to scare her badly enough that she won’t do something so utterly bone-headed and cruel again.”

“Thank you, Professor,” Apollina said quietly. “Oh! Oh, Professor - I forgot! I’m supposed to be in Herbology!”

“Professor Longbottom has already been apprised that you will not be in class today. You have been excused. Indeed, if Madam Pomfrey deems it appropriate, you will be excused for the rest of the afternoon.”

Apollina felt at once relieved and disappointed - though she didn’t want to face her peers, she was really looking forward to her classes.

Madam Pomfrey stood up. “That wasn’t as hard as I feared it might be. I think she can go back to classes today, if she feels up to it - after a bit of a rest, that is.”

“Excellent. Well, then, you can sit out Herbology, then join your father for Defense Against the Dark Arts. Good day, Ms. Malfoy, Lucius.”

[quietriotbby]

Egad!
A good HP Non-canon fanfic on Gaia?
I have a newfound faith in life n___n

[Lucius Scipio Malfoy]

I can't even begin to describe how...bemusing this is. And pleasing. Not just because the reactions have been favorable, but because whenever I see a new comment on one of my Gaia fics from someone I don't know I expect it to be badly spelled and deliberately offensive. My faith in humanity is...well, not restored, exactly, but certainly more lively than it was! heart

[Lucius Scipio Malfoy]

Chapter Nine: Defense Against the Dark Arts

Apollina sat on the cot, swinging her feet, for the hour Madam Pomfrey kept her in the Hospital Wing. She couldn’t relax like the Healer advised her to, her brain kept turning on the class she was missing. No doubt she wouldn’t have much to make up for missing the first day, but she didn’t like being left out like this. She loved plants and Herbology sounded like just her sort of class. She was glad when she was finally released. She shouldered her pack and slipped through the halls to the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom.

She arrived slightly early, and had to wait outside for a few minutes until the previous class - the fifth-year Gryffindor-Hufflepuff class, was released before she could slip inside. She took a seat on the outside corner of the front row and got out her copy of Defense Against the Dark Arts: A Beginner’s Guide to Self-Protection. Gingerly, she pulled out the long, lined box in which she still kept her fabulous wand and laid it on the desk beside the book, uncertain whether or not it would be needed and loathe to expose it to prying eyes.

Gaius Hardrich was the first of her classmates to arrive. He took the seat next to Apollina’s - she was thankful that in this classroom desks were individual rather than paired. He nodded to her, grinning unpleasantly. “Are you feeling all right? That was a nasty dust-up after Potions. I have to say, it was bad form of that wench Hepworth. If you like, I can have one of my mates jinx her in the Common Room tonight.”

Apollina glared at the boy. “I don’t need you or anyone else to fight my battles for me, Mr. Hardrich,” she said coldly. Just then her father entered the room from the connecting office and she turned away from the Slytherin boy.

“Hello, my precious one. How are you feeling?” Lucius asked.

“I’m all right, Daddy.”

“I have to hand it to you, sir - that’s quite a little scrapper you’re bringing up there,” Hardrich said.

“While I am quite happy to see that my daughter is capable of defending herself and I can hardly blame her for doing so in this instance, I certainly hope she will be wise enough to avail herself of less violent means of problem-solving in future, Mister - “

“Hardrich, sir. Gaius Hardrich.”

“Hardrich, eh?” Lucius sneered. “I know your father.”

“Yes, sir - I’m sure you do,” Hardrich said, apparently oblivious to the threat in Lucius’ tone, and pitching his own voice in tones of conspiracy.

“Apple, perhaps I could persuade you to sit on the other side of the room?” Lucius said, pointing to the seat in the other front corner. Apollina got up and gathered her things gratefully. Hardrich made to get up, too, but Lucius stopped him. “Sorry, my boy - assigned seating.” The boy sank back into his chair with a dubious look at the man.

The room filled, and all the First Year Slytherins - including Roberta Hepworth, still sporting a few healing scratches on her face - were soon seated.

“Good afternoon. You may put your books away, we won’t be using them today,” Lucius said, calling the class to order.

“I have here a list of everything I’m supposed to teach you this term. ‘Hinkypunks, Gnomes, Pixies, Ghouls and Imps.’ Apparently the school governors have a very low opinion of your intelligence if they think you can’t defend yourself perfectly well against Ghouls as you are. The rest of these creatures are hardly more dangerous.

“So, the hell with the Ministry-approved lesson plan. Why on earth is a Defense Against the Dark Arts curriculum meant to concern itself with creatures, anyway? Put them in Care of Magical Creatures, where they belong. What I’m going to teach you is what you need to know, which is, real defensive spells. Learn these well enough and the Hinkypunks will take care of themselves.”

Lucius spent the rest of the lesson teaching them Expelliarmus, which he said was the most basic of defensive spells. Apollina wasn’t particularly happy at the idea of having her wand forcibly jerked from her hand, but it turned out to be a non-issue. The girl she ended up paired with, a remarkably mousey-looking child named Morwenna Mapquist, never managed to make the Simurgh-feather wand do more than twitch, while Apollina managed to disarm her successfully several times. She suspected her father had paired her with this inoffensive-looking girl on purpose to give her the best chance of coming out ahead.

When class was over, Apollina waited for her father while the other students headed to lunch.

“Darling, you must be half-starved,” he said. “You had better go to lunch now.”

“I thought maybe we could go together,” Apollina said.

Her father suddenly looked shifty and evasive. “Sorry, love; I have to get ready for my next class - Seventh Year double with Slytherin and Ravenclaw. I’m skipping lunch today. You go on, now.”

“Oh. Okay.” Disappointed, Apollina trudged out of the room and to the Great Hall. As promised, the House tables had been removed and replaced with small, four-seat tables. She found an unoccupied table and ate her meal by herself, after rejecting an offer from Gaius Hardrich to join her. Then she gathered up her things and headed for the Transfiguration Courtyard, where the entrance to the Transfiguration classroom was located.

[Lucius Scipio Malfoy]

Chapter One (second portion of the story) has been edited slightly, with props to Z OMG for suggesting that a passing child might make mention of Apple's tail, and therefore bring it into the story earlier. Cheers!

[The Lady Narcissa]

Have you written any more of this, my dear?

[Lucius Scipio Malfoy]

Not lately, my lovely; I'm thinking about returning to it soon, but I'm in a Captain Hook mood - may be doing something about him first.

[The Lady Narcissa]

I'm certainly not opposed to Captain Hook. :3

[Lucius Scipio Malfoy]

Me loves me Hooky-poo.

I want to do something with the concept (in Peter Pan) of the power of the Hidden Kiss. Which means I have to come up with a spunky and slightly wicked lady character who would be a suitable foil for Hook. Not so easy.

[The Lady Narcissa]

Oooh, but when you do it shall be fantastic. biggrin