Notes :Decided to upload the rest of this all at once! )
Jordan sleepily opened her eyes and momentarily stared up at the ceiling above her, her tired mind still full of the cobwebs that sleep had spun. Sluggishly she rubbed her eyes, groaning loudly to herself, without actually meaning to and blinked a few times in an attempt to get the world back into focus. It was only then that reality began to began to creep back into her hazy mind... And she remembered where she was!
Seconds later she suddenly found herself very wide awake and sat up quickly, glancing around the room to find that everything was just as it had been when she'd fallen asleep. She'd half expected to wake up and find it had all been a dream and couldn't help feeling pleased that she was still here.
Just then there was a tap on the door, without her answering it opened and Professor McGonagall peered round it, smiling to find her already awake.
"Good morning!" She sang as she breezed in, with what looked like some clothing hanging over her arm.
"Morning" Jordan replied.
"Sleep well?"
"Yeah fine"
"I've brought you some plain school robes to wear, I thought you should show your face and have breakfast in the great hall" She said rather apprehensively.
"Do you think that's a good idea!" Jordan questioned, not keen on being thrust in at the deep end.
"Probably not" She replied honestly "But people are keen to meet our new exchange student"
Jordan grimaced.
"I appreciate this must be difficult for you, you've dealt with it much better than most muggles would, but I must ask you to keep up the pretence, these are troubled times and I really do not want to make things any worse"
"OK" Jordan croaked, feeling quite unable to say anything else.
"Miss Granger will be coming to collect you to show you the way, " She concluded, giving Jordan a reassuring squeeze on the arm, before leaving the room once again.
Not knowing how soon Hermione would be coming, Jordan wasted no time in getting washed and dressed, which was just as well as there was another knock on the door only 10 minutes later. This time whoever was on the other side of the door waited for an answer.
"Come in" Jordan called, brushing her hair hastily.
"Ready?" Hermione asked as she strolled in.
"Ready as I'll ever be" she replied nervously, glancing at her reflection in the mirror "Do I look the part!"
"Oui oui!" Hermione chuckled in a fake French accent.
"It's not funny... I'm really scared!"
"Oh don't be, after everything that's happened here over the passed few years, you being an exchange student is actually pretty plausible"
"Oh now I feel so much better" Jordan sniggered sarcastically and the two of them set off for the great hall.
A roar of chatter washed over Jordan as she entered the great hall. Four large tables stood side by side, all surrounded by black robed students who were tucking in to a hearty breakfast.
"There are four houses" Hermione explained "Harry, Ron and I are in Gryffindor.
"Right!" Jordan mumbled quietly
"The other three house are Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Slytherin" Hermione continued saying the last one as if it were a rude word and pointing at each table in turn.
"I'm never going to remember that"
"You'll be fine" she tittered" Stop worrying!"
"Bonjour!" A voice said, Jordan looked round quickly to find a tall, blond haired boy standing there smiling.
"Bonjour!" She replied quickly, her voice suddenly sounding very French.
"Welcome to Hogwarts" the boy smiled, holding his hand towards her.
"Merci" she said back, reaching her hand out to shake his, only to her surprise he lifted it up and planted a kiss on her fingers.
Hermiones jaw looked like it was going to hit the floor and Jordan just stood there slightly taken aback. Several other people had also turned round to watch them, including Harry and Ron who were sitting nearby.
"I'm Draco Malfoy" he introduced himself, letting go of her hand. Jordan's surprise was quickly washed away by a wave of dislike. That name had come up several times in her new friends story telling and it was never in a favourable way.
"Nice to meet you" Jordan uttered, doing her best to sound sincere, still unable to get used to the French accent that kept emerging as she spoke.
"My fellow Slytherins and I were hoping you'd join us for breakfast"
Jordan was horrified at the prospect but found she was at a loss for words. She could see Hermione in the corner of her eye shaking her head, trying her very best to be subtle, however Malfoy still managed to notice.
"Something wrong with your neck Granger?" he rasped, glaring at her.
"No!" She snapped "there's just a bad smell around here that's all!"
"That'll be because you're stood next to the Gryffindor table!" he hissed then turned his attention back to Jordan "So do you want to join us?"
"Erm... Professor McGonagall, az asked 'Ermione to look after me, So I 'sink I should sit wiz 'er!"
"Typical... She would ask someone from her own house!" Malfoy whispered scathingly "well perhaps we'll get a chance to speak later"
"Yes, maybe" Jordan squeaked, hoping that time would never come.
Malfoy took the time to throw one last dirty look at Hermione, then stalked back off to the Slytherin table.
"That was just about the most disgusting thing I've ever seen!" Ron grimaced as the two girls sat opposite them "What did he want anyway?"
"He wanted Jordan to have breakfast at the Slytherin table"
"Eurghhh, that's enough to put anyone off their food" Ron recoiled in disgust "However did you manage not to throw up when he dribbled all over your hand?"
"Honestly" Hermione piped up "swaggering round the place like he owns it, trying to impress you, it's pathetic!"
Jordan couldn't stop herself from looking over at Draco once more. He was now happily chattering away to a large boy on his right, however the girl sitting next to him on the other side was throwing a rather unfriendly look in her direction.
"What's her problem?" Jordan asked, her three friends turned round and all sniggered cruelly.
"That's Pansy Parkinson" Hermione whispered "She fancies Draco"
"Look at the look she's giving you" Ron laughed "She's fuming!"
"It's not funny" Jordan chipped in, feeling a little sorry for her.
"Don't feel bad, she's as poisonous as he is" Hermione said, now no longer whispering, seemingly hoping they would hear her.
"So what are your plans for today?" Harry asked, changing the subject
"I don't know" Jordan shrugged "I suppose I'll just have to go back to my room"
"Actually Professor McGonagall suggested you spend the morning in the Library" Hermione informed her "Everyone will be in lessons and it'll give you a change of scenery"
"I think I'd rather be in the room of requirement" Ron scoffed, quickly wiping the smile off his face as Hermione threw him a disapproving look.
"Honestly Ron!"
"I was just saying that's all" He sulked
"I'll take you up the Library after breakfast" Hermione added, turning her attention back to Jordan.
"No it's OK, I'll take her" Harry said quickly, Hermione looked at him questionably, but nodded anyway. Harry just threw Jordan a secretive smile and carried on eating.
"What have we got first lesson?" Ron asked.
"Haven't you even looked at your timetable" Hermione sighed despairingly.
"Why would I need to when I've got you" He teased her.
"Right just for that I'm not telling you"
"Hermione"
"NO"
"It's care of magical creatures" Harry interceded, shaking his head in apparent amusement at their bickering.
"Great I wonder what horrors Hagrid has in store for us this year" Ron muttered, only sounding like he half meant it.
The rest of breakfast passed pleasantly enough, with Jordan being introduced to numerous people who were sat at the Gryffindor table, including Ron's younger sister Ginny. She still found it a little disconcerting that the voice which left her mouth, wasn't the one she was used to, which wasn't helped by Ron, who had a supercilious grin on his face each time she spoke.
"Right we better get going or we'll be late" Hermione said as she rose to her feet, looking at Ron expectantly.
"All right I'm coming!" He sighed, clearly too full of breakfast to be bothered to move.
"I'll see you in a minute, after I've been up to the Library" Harry chipped in.
"We'll tell Hagrid where you are" Hermione told him, forcibly dragging a very reluctant Ron to his feet, then pulling him along by the sleeve on his jumper, still muttering away.
"Are they always like that?" Jordan asked, pleased to hear that her voice had momentarily gone back to normal now that people were leaving the hall.
"Pretty much" he smirked.
"They sound like an old married couple"
"Tell me about it" He laughed. Looking fondly over at his two friends as they walked out of the doors "great aren't they?"
"So are you going to show me to the Library, I don't want you to be late for your lesson"
"Hagrid won't mind" he shrugged.
"Teachers pet are we?" She teased him.
"Nah, I'm not nearly dangerous enough to be one of Hagrids pets!" He chuckled, climbing to his feet and signalling for her to do the same.
"Pathetic isn't it" a spiteful voice said deliberately loudly, Harry pulled a face before he'd even turned round, obviously recognising the voice of Draco Malfoy only too well "Potter slobbering all over the French girl"
"The only person I saw doing any slobbering was you Malfoy" Harry hissed
"Somebody should warn the poor girl, that being your friend is hazardous to her health... I mean look how Diggory ended up"
Harry just stood there silently seething, his anger etched on his face and for a moment Jordan thought he was going to explode. Instead though, he took a deep breath, and another then looked Malfoy right in the eyes and said calmly.
"Do give your Dad my regards, next time you see him"
Malfoys face drained of colour and now it was he who looked furious, Harry turned to look at Jordan with a satisfied expression on his face and began walking towards the door.
"What was all the about?" she asked, trotting after him.
"It doesn't matter" he insisted.
Jordan looked back at Malfoy who was having to be forcibly held in his seat, by several of his fellow Slytherins, to stop him coming after Harry.
"He looks seriously annoyed"
"Good!" he remarked, not even bothering to look behind him.
"Why would he get so annoyed you said hello to his dad?" She enquired "Harry tell me"
No amount of begging and pleading on Jordan's part would make Harry divulge the secret of Draco's father, so she made up her mind to ask Ron later.
"Here we are" Harry announced as they reached the Library, which was completely empty of students.
"Great" Jordan mumbled sarcastically, looking around at the many, many shelves of books that filled the room.
"I'll meet you at lunch time, I've got a much better idea how you could spend your afternoon" He smirked "just don't tell Hermione, she'll have a fit!"
"Well what is it?" She asked curiously.
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you"
"Try me!" She encouraged him, but he shook his head
"I'll tell you later... Meet me in the great hall for dinner OK"
"OK" She sighed defeatedly.
"Trust me it'll be much more interesting than spending your time in here"
"That wouldn't be hard," She said dryly
"I better go, I'm already late"; he grimaced, looking at his watch.
"See you later!" Jordan sighed.
"See ya later" he beamed and virtually bounded back out of the room, looking extremely pleased with himself.
Jordan had been walking up and down the aisles of books for at least ten minutes, just reading the spines of the books, marvelling at titles like "Hex's to vex and perplex" and "Basic Spells and Incantations" to the slightly more macabre "Popular poisons of the 17th century"
"Jordan Quinn I presume" A croaky voice spoke, a startled Jordan looked up to see an old man standing in front of her, a kindly smile, just visible beneath a long white moustache and trailing beard.
"Yes" She replied, immediately recognising him from the teachers' table at breakfast this morning.
"Professor McGonnagall told me I would find you here, I thought I should come and introduce myself, I'm Professor Dumbledore, headmaster of Hogwarts"
"Oh nice to meet you" Jordan smiled, reaching out and shaking his outstretched hand.
"I see you've been perusing our Library... A bit different to the ones you're used to I'm sure"
"Just a bit" she agreed, as her eyes passed over the title "Charms through the ages"
May I recommend one?" he asked as he leaned over and removed a large leather bound book from the shelf opposite, then handed it to her. Her eyes flickered over the title that was written in gold writing on the cover "Magical Archives Volume1354"
"Thank you" She said slightly vacantly.
"Page 478 makes very interesting reading... I think you'll agree!" He nodded "now you must excuse me, I'm told we have a situation with Peeves the Poltergeist... terrorising the first years... But I hope we will get the chance to speak again before you leave!"
"That would be nice" Jordan replied, hoping she sounded sincere, she always seemed to find herself at a loss for words when meeting someone new.
With that Professor Dumbledore turned and walked away and it was only when he'd gone that Jordan realised how heavy the book in her hands really was. She heaved it over to a nearby table and sat down, looking at it for a moment before carefully opening it and turning the pages till she reached page 478. It looked like all the other pages, filled with line after line of tiny writing, nothing at all to distinguish it from the rest of the book. Still her curiosity got the better of her and so she took a deep determined breath and began to read chapter 57 of the book, which was entitled "The boy who lived".
"Woh!" Jordan sighed as she finished the chapter and closed the book, her mind swimming with images of dark wizards and forbidden curses. Less than twenty-four hours ago she would have thought it nothing more than a fairy story, but the scar on Harry's forehead told her it was anything but! Now Ron's surprise on the train at her failure to recognise his friend made sense.
She glanced over at the clock and was surprised by how much time had passed by; lunch had started in the great hall almost ten minutes ago.
"Great" she grimaced, realising she was late for her arranged meeting with Harry and quickly rose to her feet, heading briskly towards the door. It was only when she was on her way down the corridor that she realised she had no idea where she was going. All the passageways looked very much the same and she had been far too busy chatting away to Harry to take much notice anyway.
Just then the sound of approaching footfalls began to echo around the corridor; Jordan looked up and saw to her distaste, Pansy Parkinson, Malfoy and his two rather bulky friends emerging from round the corner. Eager to escape she dodged quickly into a nearby classroom, hiding herself behind the door as they skulked passed.
"Did you see Potter at breakfast?" his voice reverberated "all over the French girl... He always has to be the centre of attention"
"Yeah!" one of his large companions laughed mindlessly
"He'll get what's coming as soon as my father is out of Azkaban... Everyone knows he's living on borrowed time... It's just a shame you know who didn't finish him off when he killed Diggory!"
"Oh Draco, you're so funny" Pansy cackled.
Jordan on the other hand was far from amused, and was using all the self-control she had to stop herself from screaming at them all at the top of her voice. The four friends continued down the corridor, the sounds of their footsteps drowning out any further insults that were pouring out of their mouths. For a moment or two she just stood there, unable to believe that anyone could be so heartless. She took a deep breath, then another, then peered out of the door, double checking they were gone before stepping back outside.
She had only had chance to take a few steps when Harry came tearing around the corner, she had been so lost in her own thoughts that she hadn't even heard him coming.
"There you are!" he smiled "I was worried you'd got lost!"
"I did" she replied doing her best to smile through her bad mood.
"What's the matter, you look upset?"
"What? No I'm fine"
"You sure?"
"No really I'm fine!" She repeated, then keen to change the subject added "So what was this great idea you were going to tell me about?"
"Oh yeah, Professor McGonagall had excused me from afternoon lessons to give you a tour of the castle"
"Great" Jordan remarked, glad to be spending the afternoon with someone other than herself for company.
"That's not where were going though" he continued mischievously "I just said that so we'd be near impossible to track down!"
"Why?" Jordan asked, feeling a little nervous all of a sudden.
"Coz were going to Hogsmeade" He grinned.
"I beg your pardon"
"Hogsmeade, it's a Wizarding village nearby, I thought I could show you around"
"But won't you get into trouble for sneaking out... What if someone sees you?"
"They won't" he replied rather confidently
"How can you be so sure?"
"Coz I've got this" he explained pulling a velvet cloak from his bag.
"A cloak" Jordan muttered, an unintended touch of sarcasm creeping into her voice.
"Not just any cloak!" he insisted, pulling the fabric around himself.
Jordan stopped dead in her tracks and just stared at the place where Harry's body had been only moments before. His head appeared to be floating in mid air, a wide grin on his face.
"OH MY GOD!"
"Great isn't it" He tittered "It's an invisibility cloak!"
"This I can see... Or rather not see!" She croaked
"This is how we are going to get to Hogsmeade... This and the One eyed witch Passageway"
"The what?"
"I'll explain when we get there"
After deciding to skip lunch altogether the two friends made there way to a rather remote part of the castle, both slipping underneath the invisibility cloak so as not to be noticed. Harry walked along with ease, clearly he had done this sort of thing often, but Jordan kept accidentally stepping on his feet and found herself apologising every 20 seconds or so.
"Here we are" Harry said as they reached a statue of a rather unattractive witch with one eye, he took his wand out and tapped the statue.
"Dissendium!" He whispered and to Jordan's amazement the hump in the witches back opened up.
Harry glanced around them then cautiously took off the invisibility cloak and squashed it back into his bag.
"Go on then" he urged.
"You want me to get in there"
"Yes... Go on!" He said again.
"OK" she muttered unsurely and hoisted herself in. Seconds later she found herself shooting down a stone slide, unintentionally screaming, she could hear Harry sliding behind her, laughing loudly. She landed with a thud in complete darkness and for a moment just sat there; until she remembered Harry was close behind and got unsteadily to her feet. She heard the sound of him landing, but the complete absence of light made it impossible to see him.
"Lumos!" his voice boomed and light flooded all around them, emanating from his wand.
"You could've warned me!" She rasped
"I honestly forgot... It's a long time since I used it," he said quickly, still laughing a little.
"I'm not sure I believe that" she chipped in, though she too was now smiling.
It was only now that the light was shining that she could see that they were in a long dark tunnel, the end of which was nowhere in sight.
"It's quite a long walk "he told her "but it'll be worth it I promise"
"I'll have to take your word for it" she replied and the two of them began to make their way through the darkness.
