I do not own the scenery, the items or most of the characters of these stories. Infact all I own is my Original character.

Chapter Nine

An hour later, Alida was stood outside Trish's room. She looked round into the darkness and nodded to Snape who was standing innocently some distance off beside a suit of armour. She knew he wouldn't be of any assistance, he wasn't here to help, but Alida wanted to keep him on his toes. She would show Snape he couldn't sneak up on her so easily.

She cast the Imperius curse through the wall and stepped back staring intently at the wall. For a few moments nothing happened, then a creak and the door handle turned. Trish emerged from the room, wearing blue bunny pyjamas, her eyes completely blank. As she turned they didn't focus or jump onto different objects, just glided round, over Snape onto Alida, where they seemed more to be looking through her than at her. Alida proceeded to look at her intently and Trish walked forward past Alida and then right past Snape and on towards Dumbledore's office.

Snape wondered at first why they seemed to be heading in the wrong direction, and why Alida eventually stopped outside a normal looking door, instead of the statue he was expecting. It didn't take him long to remember that Dumbledore no longer had the head teacher's office. Personally he dreaded the day he would have to walk into that office and confront a portrait of Dumbledore and maybe worse, of himself.

Whilst he had been thinking this, Trish had entered the room, which had involved some fancy wand work from Alida to override a particularly difficult protection spell that Dumbledore had placed on his office. But now Trish was inside, and Alida in some kind of deep trance, her eyes staring intently at the door was controlling her. Inside Snape could hear a certain amount of rummaging about and he hoped that Dumbledore had got his message before now. Trish emerged a few minutes later carrying what appeared to be a small pile of papers. Trish's hands looked slightly bruised, and her pyjamas looked very dusty, but Alida waved her wand and muttered something and they disappeared. Then she guided Trish back upstairs until she was standing outside her room, where she took the papers and guided Trish back inside. As soon as this was done, she flew out of the door and off down the corridor to deliver the papers.

Snape took a second to make sure she was gone, before heading to Dumbledore's office.

Trish was walking along the corridor some days later, hugging a big, pink ring binder folder. She had been given many strange looks during the first few weeks for this strange piece of equipment. Somehow magic folk we're able to transport large numbers of scrolls without flattening them. Trish had yet to figure out how, and so was forcing her reluctant students to use lined A4 so she could store it in folders. A decision they didn't particularly like her for. She was currently heading towards the library. Having been unexpectedly promoted to Head of Hufflepuff, Trish felt that she better do some research into her house. Professor McGonagall had suggested "Hogwarts, A History", but even the name suggested to Trish a large, dusty volume with tiny writing and no pictures.

Trish entered the library, glanced at the desk where the librarian sat critically eyeing a group of students silently studying on some tables in front of her. She walked past the students and entered the maze of shelves, looking for the history section. Unfortunately there didn't appear to be any particular order to the sections in the library. Trish found herself reading the titles "Elementary Potions", a rather large volume, "A hundred uses for Poisoned Dragon's Liver", slightly slimmer, but an odd purplish red colour cover and Trish cringed to think what had dyed it. Another "Torchwood: Uses and Misuses", convinced Trish she was in the wrong area, and she was turning to leave when she heard a strange whistling sound and then two voices whispering behind the shelves opposite.

"It's not here, it's the next one up" said Professor Smith.

"Well don't look at me it's your…."Professor Noble stopped as she noticed Trish coming towards them.

"Can't you find any of the books either?" asked Trish in a whisper. Professor Smith had his hands driven deep into his pockets and Professor Noble had turned round defensively.

"They don't have it." Said Professor Smith, and when she looked at him unconvinced he added,

"The next edition of "Hogwarts, A History", out in a few days, I thought it was out already. They've got the last one" he said, pulling a volume of the shelf. A number of other books fell from the shelf as he did so, and they all ducked to start collecting the scattered volumes.

"I think that's what I'm looking for" said Trish quietly, but was instantly silenced when the Librarian appeared round the corner and hissed loudly at them to be quiet.

"We better go" mouthed Professor Smith, handing her the last two books he had, "Hogwarts, A History" and a tiny slim book. Professor Noble mouthed "bye" and they made a quick exit.

Trish glanced down to see what she was holding and her eyes alighted on the small volume. It stood out because, like her, it looked very modern. Its cover was a mixture of loud colours and cartoon style characters and it was very short. It was entitled "Ridiculous Myths About Magic" and Trish thought that this was the kind of book she'd like to read.

The next night was the night of the Yule ball and Trish was rather anxious. McGonagall had been dropping none to subtle hints for her to wear a traditional robe to the ball, but it was a mustardy yellow colour and rather itchy as well as being very ugly in style and Trish couldn't bear wearing it. She knew she was expected to wear house colours but had been unable to find anything that flattered her and had instead opted for a small pink dress with a rose in her hair and was just hoping she wasn't noticed much.

Neville arrived promptly at 7.45 dressed in some kind of long suit which is what Trish guessed they meant by a dress robe. He seemed nervous and kept looking round as if he expected someone else to appear and hijack Trish. Trish found it quite cute but knew it was more about Neville's fear of being dateless than about her looks. On the way down to the hall Neville was discussing the last ball he had attended, and kept referring to people Trish had never heard of. Trish fazed out until she noticed him looking at her expectantly.

"I'm sorry" said Trish hoping he wouldn't realise she hadn't heard anything.

"Did you ever have balls where you went to school?"

"Well, Southward Road High School wasn't exactly known for being high class, not like Hogwarts, but we did have a prom, which is a kind of ball, in year 11 and year 13."

"Year 11?" asked Neville

"Fifth year" said Trish remembering that even in year names, Hogwarts was about twenty years behind.

"What was it like?" asked Neville, intrigued with meeting someone his own age who hadn't attended Hogwarts, or any other wizarding school, of which there didn't seem to be many.

"Well we had it in the sports hall and we had lots of balloons, lights and music and a meal. My friends and I got a limousine to the hall. And lots of people got drunk, including some of the teachers and I was voted 'most likely to have kids by the age of 18'."

"Well, I hope this is a little more enjoyable for you" said Neville after a pause and Trish resisted the temptation to say that her prom had been perfectly enjoyable, because that would cast aspersions on what she considered enjoyable. Just as Neville finished speaking they reached the top of the stairs leading down towards the main entrance. Below her Trish could see that everyone was dressed very formally, a lot were wearing the traditional wizarding robes that McGonagall had encouraged her to wear, but most were also wearing what Trish would consider normal prom dresses and Trish breathed a sigh of relief which even Neville noticed, to see she wouldn't stick out as mush as she thought.

"There are a lot of people here" said Trish, trying to make conversation as they descended.

"Oh Yes, this isn't just a school ball this year. In honour of the founders many high ranking officals have been invited. Even the Minister of Magic, Sebastian Montague is here"

"Minister of Magic? I've never heard of that one"

"He's the equivalent of your Prime Minister, he leads the Wizarding government, the Ministry of Magic. He's made some spectacular reforms since he's been in power"

"I'm guessing you voted for him then."

"Voted?" said Neville, looking at her as they came to the last steps.

"You did, I mean, I'm sorry, are you saying you don't vote for your political representative?" asked Trish, looking at him wide-eyed.

"Well, we've never needed to"

"How can you live under such an unelected tyrant?" A slimy voice from behind her cut in.

"Who did you say your current Prime Minister was?" Trish clenched her fists and grated her teeth and glared at Snape as he walked past. When she turned to continue glaring at him her eyes lit on the decorated hall and Neville invited her to step in and see it.

They entered the hall which was decorated with about five Christmas trees. The long tables were gone somewhere, and there were round tables with flowers and name places on, and in the centre of the room was a large dancing area. A band with men with long hair but wearing the smart dress robes and a woman in a slightly formal looking dress, but short were fiddling around getting ready. Next to them a classical band was already waiting. Trish noticed that there weren't many students present and when she asked Neville he replied

"Only fourth years and above are invited, unless they are invited by someone in the fifth year or above to be their date."

"Oh yes, I see Abelinda, she's come with an older boy from Slytherin. It's one of her brother's friends, Crabbe isn't it"

"Spitting image of his father, as is Scorpius, pretty similar in character as well" said Neville, and Trish had images of a young boy scared by one of these bullies.

"It must feel a bit like history repeating itself sometime here" said Trish

"You have no idea"

Just then the more traditional looking band started playing and Neville asked Trish to dance. She didn't want to give him ideas, but turning Neville down on the first dance seemed too harsh, so Trish accepted. As they waltzed formally round the room, Trish just trying to not have her toes trodden on, she watched the people around her. Abelinda had been abandoned and was watching the dancers mournfully, her eyes falling on Albus Potter, who was dancing with a pretty girl from his year. Her partner was sitting round a table talking to Doyle in a conspiratorial manner whilst Scorpius listened whilst gazing into the air in front of him where Rose Weasley was dancing with a boy in Ravenclaw from the fifth year. As she past Snape she thought he was glaring at her, then realised it was only because she had got in his line of sight, and he was in fact glaring at McGonagall and Trelawney across the room who were discussing something seriously. Both were dressed in dress robes, and Trish wasn't too sure she could have told the difference from their normal robes.

It was at this point that Trish's eyes focused on the last person she had expected to see that night. McGonagall saw the man as well and ran up to greet him. He said something to McGonagall and with horror Trish saw McGonagall heading straight towards her. She gripped tighter on to Neville instinctively, and glared towards the man who was heading towards her. He was guiding a young, pregnant woman and looking at her, not turning to look at Trish until he was a couple of feet away.

"Patricia, this is the Minister for Magic, Sebastian Montague. Minister, this is Patricia Glossop, our new muggle….." McGonagall trailed off as she noticed the icy look on Trish's face and the shocked look on the Minister for Magic's.

"Have you two met before?" she asked, as the room began to quieten around her. Trish stared at the man, then her eyes turned to the woman, who was holding his hand awkwardly.

"If you weren't pregnant I'd slap you so hard you'd have a red mark on your face for a month" said Trish bitterly

"Patricia!" shouted McGonagall.

"What right do you have to say these things! You left me!!!" shouted Sebastian Montague.

"I knew, about you, Simon, I know the truth!" Trembling Trish ran from the room, out through the hall, and up to her room. There she rummaged through various draws until she found what she wanted then went back downstairs and out through the main doors, where Salazar was holding hands with Helga. They immediately jumped apart when Trish appeared, but she ignored them, heading straight for the lake.

In the hall the music was playing but everyone was standing around talking. McGonagall was trying to apologise to Sebastian Montague, but was stuttering over the part of her brain which kept questioning why Patricia had called him Simon. Before she had managed to get anything out, Sebastian Montague exploded.

"I want that woman fired! Right now! I don't care what you fire her for, I don't want to see her again!"

"I'm sure there is some rational explanation for her…"

"You're not listening to me, I want her gone! The ministry will find another more suitable replacement."

McGonagall's eye started twitching slightly as the implications of what he was saying sunk in.

"You have no jurisdiction here, Minister, to appoint teachers. If, if it is decided that Professor Glossop needs to be replaces, WE will decide on the replacement." Said McGonagall sternly.

"You are treading on dangerous ground, Headmistress. You do realise that if I wished I could have you removed." Said Sebastian at her angrily.

"Actually, I think you'll find that an attempt by the ministry to so obviously undermine the independence of this institution would be taken very negatively, especially in the press, and would be very damaging to your public image." Said Dumbledore stepping in with a slightly serious face. Sebastian Montague considered a moment then turned to the woman who was with him and said.

"We're leaving now, come one" and with that they stormed out. Dumbledore was smiling slightly at his success when he turned to face McGonagall and wished he hadn't said anything.

"If I need your help I will ask for it, instead of making me look like the deputy head!" with that McGonagall stormed out as well.

By the lake Trish was fiddling with a couple of pieces of metal that could at some point have been considered rings. Both were battered and dented and Trish was sitting on a rock, wiping tears from her face. After a moment she threw them into the lake. She was so absorbed that she didn't notice a woman with messy hair approach her until she felt the tip of the wand on her cheek and heard her voice saying

"This is about to become the worst day of your life…"

"It already is!" said Trish before she'd thought, and she grabbed the wand and snapped it over her knee. Sparks flew and there was a loud snapping sound. The woman was so shocked that she stood still for a second and Trish in her state lunged for her, grabbing at her clothes with hands, kicking with her heels. The woman was screaming wildly then suddenly everything went black for Trish. Lucius Malfoy was standing behind her, his signature cane raised. But no wand was drawn.

"Maybe muggle skills can come in useful" he said grinning.