Becuase I didn't update for a while, I'm uploading this today! :)
Warnings: Ear pulling, slightly dirty joke, trolls, Vernon's feet, mention of drive by drug dealers and a prostitue, mention of squibs, and mention of violence where the sun don't shine!
A month later saw Halloween upon them. Ivy herself didn't see much point in the candy aspect of the Muggle tradition, but she got to dress up each year because her Aunt convinced Vernon it would be the 'normal thing.'
Ivy had actually been in a good mood most of the month, too, though it had diminished at times. Her Headmaster had apologized fiercely, telling her that if he'd known he would have stopped it, that he'd been afraid to get attached to her, that he hoped with the Dursley's she'd grow up normal and without a swollen head.
She- as a Slytherin- saw and understood part of where he was coming from. He was an important man in the Wizarding World, and didn't have time to check on all his students, even those he should. That didn't make her forgive him, and it was really only Ron's insistence that she at least let him try to earn her forgiveness that she told him she'd allow it, but she didn't want any stupid privileges.
Shortly after, she got to see her Aunt- who had a couple of bruises from Vernon since Ivy hadn't been there- and a Goblin(Runeteller) who was her account manager.
When she left the mans office, she had the Potter Head ring on her finger, and her Aunt was moving into one of the Potter vacation homes in France.
She blinked as she was shoved past, looking up to see Hermione rushing away. She turned back around to see Ron with his dorm mates and dropped back to grab him by the ear, "I'm stealing him for a bit."
Neville smiled and nodded, flickering his own eyes at the retreating female Gryffindor, before helping to heard his other two friends away despite their protests.
"Ronald Weasley, what did you do? I know you don't like the girl, but if you made her cry so help me…" She hated when people cried, Severus told her it was actually her Father's trait.
He winced, flinching harder as she tugged his ear. "Ouch- let go! I just said she was a know-it-all!"
"Idiot, she's a muggle-born. She probably acts that way to cope with the change. She's just trying to hard. Don't you mess with her anymore or I'll have your brothers after you." She let him got and put her hands on her hips.
He squeaked, "Yes, ma'am." He looked over her shoulder and nearly groaned, "De Luca." He whispered.
She rolled her eyes. De Luca was a second year Gryffindor that hadn't listened to her speech about not caring about your last name. He thought she wouldn't actually follow through and had demanded for her to sign a marriage contract- something about the Potter fortune. She'd promptly kicked him where the sun don't shine and actually shoved his face in the ground as she walked on top of him and on down the hall towards Astronomy.
Ever since, he harassed her at every chance he got. Seemed today wouldn't be any different.
She turned on her heel and crossed her arms. Well, what would it be today?
"Potter. I hear you right? Taking up for the little mudblood are you?"
Ivy's eye twitched, but she calmly answered, "That's a horrid name to call someone your mother was, Simon."
"My mother is a disgrace to the De Luca family."
"Considering what a bastard you are with your Father raising you until you were eight, I have to think it's the opposite." As far as she'd heard from Daphne, his Grandmother was quiet pleasant, but his father was a complete and utter arse and had died about four years ago after he was found to have been a willing former Death Eater.
His face reddened, "You would know, wouldn't you? Never having any sort of parents, hm? Guess I'll have to thank that Uncle of yours-" He never finished his sentence because in the next second he was blown backwards into a wall and knocked unconscious.
Ivy looked over her shoulder at the redhead in shock. "Did you just…"
Ron looked sheepish as he slid his wand back up his sleeve, thankful the court yard was mostly empty aside from a few Gryffins and Puffs that looked thankful the Italian was unconscious. "Bill taught me the spell after we got my wand, since the Trace doesn't start until the first day of school."
"Your older brother taught you Bombarda?" She asked incredulously. "IF he taught you that, when I can I meet him. I could use a few more spells like that."
His cheeks tinted pink and he held out a book. "Already read it all. Not much into reading, but it cuts down to the chase and lists all sorts of uses people don't think of for different spells. Bill told me it was pretty useful, and he thought he'd help me out since I'm the youngest son."
She smiled- something she'd been trying to do more often- and took it. "You'll have it back by the end of the week."
A bit later, when the three brothers and herself were in the private rooms, she popped off a question as she flipped through the book. "What does everyone do here for Halloween? Aunt Tuney said something about a feast, but I didn't really catch it."
George, as the more sensible one, snapped his Charms book closed and sat it down. "Well, here we just have a Feast, but if you're home, it's really different. You put up black drapes on windows, and burn lavender incense. If you haven't noticed the ghosts smell like lavender, and that's why they use that particular smell. Necromancers can summon the spirits of the dead much easier, and a lot of families used to make sure they have at least one person who can call them forth. Our Dad can, but since Gin shows a talent for it he's been teaching her since she was little. We don't do it very often, but I imagine they will so Gin can see what it's like. Mum says it's better to let the dead lie."
Fred nodded, "It's probably better, especially since you might summon something that'll just kill you. Most families don't do it anymore, but a few like the Malfoy, Greengrass, Zabini, Longbottom, Weasley, and used to be Black did. The only reason we do is to ask for advice on occasion if the need comes up." He continued to right on his parchment, some words like paint and bubbles sticking out in his handwriting to her.
"Oh…" She fidgeted with her skirt. "Do you…do you think Dumbledore could do it, for, ah, me?"
George shook his head, "No. For one you can only summon your own family, and two you have to have strong Light affiliated magic. Dumbledore has a Gray type. My mum can't do it either, because her magic's Dark affiliated."
Her brow furrowed, "I thought people saw Dark as Evil?"
"Well, not really. It's just that most Dark affiliated people went to You-Know-Who, or at least the known ones. Just as many were on our side, just not as widely known."
"How do you find out?"
"You can test yourself. A lot of people do it when they come into their inheritance, but some do it when they start school." Ron looked at his brothers thoughtfully-which startled the two, they were used the brash version, they swore Ivy could alter people- "That'd actually be pretty neat to learn. How do you get tested anyway?"
"Energy Stone. They turn colors to let you know your affiliated affinity, your element if you have one, a purple if you have an Animagus form you can train into." Fred actually nodded to himself, "Your right, Ronniekins that would be neat to learn."
"OI!"
"I could owl order one, that way it wouldn't be muddled with other people's magic. I overheard on of the older students saying something about it being 'misread, too much magic in it to tell if I really am-' and that's where I lost track of what they were saying. She was either pregnant or she was talking about the Energy Stone thingy."
The twins cocked their heads, "'Thingy?'"
"Shut up!"
She marched over to the Slytherin table- they'd been walking while having the last of the conversation- and settled herself next to Daphne. They'd only began eating when the door burst open and the bumbling idiot of a Defense Professor screamed about a troll and collapsed forwards.
'Falling forwards? But Aunty said people usually faint backwards!' She blinked as a few puzzle pieces started fitting together. Hagrid picked up a package just before the vault it was from was broken into. From a Slytherin view, Quirrell was in a good position, no one would ever think the pathetic man would even think about stealing what ever that item was.
So whilst the Slytherins took to the Library, she stayed behind to stare at the man for a moment. She was going to shake him 'awake' and act like she hadn't a clue, but remembered Hermione hadn't been at the feast, and she'd overheard Parvarti telling Padma and Lavender that she was still crying in the girls bathroom one here on the first floor.
She streaked out and crashed into Ron halfway there. "What are you-"
"Shh! Do you smell that?" He asked, wrinkling his nose.
She would have gagged, but Vernon's feet had smelled worse- or atleast the same. "Ugh, gross- oh, that would be why." Both gulped as the watched the troll twitch it's ears, scratch it's head before going into one of the doors- why was the door that large anyway- and taking it's wooden club with it.
"Let's lock it in!" Ron whisper shouted.
"Wait, isn't that the girls bathroom-" A scream sounded, a terrified on the made both got wide eyed and look at each other. "Hermione!" Both shouted.
They raced in the door, ducking just in time to avoid a sink as the troll threw it in their direction, where it smashed across the hall behind them.
Ivy thought fast, "Ron- distract it!"
He nodded, grabbing a pipe and hurling it at the olive skinned beast, hollering and carrying on, grabbing it's attention.
Ivy skidded to a stop, sliding on her knees with help by her stalkings under a swing from the club. "Hermione! Hermione- MOVE!" But it was no use, the brunette was paralyzed with fear.
Ivy happened to glance out the window and saw- full moon. That meant that Fred and George probably knew what was happening and where trying to get the teachers. She felt the scorpion on the back of her neck pulse. She really hopped this worked, because when she slid under the troll, her wand was thrown form her hand.
She held up her right hand and pointed at the club with it. This better work, because it was going to squish Ron like a pancake if it didn't. "Bombarda!" To her luck, the club shattered like glass. But holy shit that drained her.
Her knees felt weak. If this was what it was like to use that weird magic, then maybe they should leave it alone. It had turned back towards her and Hermione, but Ron yelled something like "The bloody hell you are!" And threw a spell she vaguely recognized as a sleeping curse that had been in that book. In the next second as she sank to her knees, Ron had her wand in her pocket and was leaning over her.
"Alright, Ivy?"
"Tired."
Hermione looked at them, "Is…is it dead?"
Ron shook his head, "Asleep until someone cancels the curse."
"…Thank you."
Ron looked guilty, "You wouldn't have been in here in the first place if I hadn't ran my mouth. I keep forgetting your from a muggle family with how much you know."
Hermione looked down as she helped him prop Ivy up, the green eyed eleven year old looking nearly asleep herself. "I don't have any friends back home, I guess I was trying too hard."
Ron smirked, "Oh, just don't bounce up and down and change the tone of voice and your good."
She huffed at him, opening her mouth but the door burst open with a whirlwind of red and gold. They were pushed to the side as both Fred and George descended on Ivy with worried expressions and a hint of relief.
"Is she ok? Are you ok? What happened? Why did you come looking for it? Mum's gonna kill you!" The twins said rather fast, Fred cradling Ivy to his chest as George looked over their younger brother worriedly.
"That's a very good question, Misters Weasley. Why did the three of you decide to go after a Mountain Troll? Your first years!" McGonagall exclaimed, holding a hand to her heart. "You could have been hurt, or worse killed!"
Ron looked down, "Professor-"
"Professor, they were looking for me! Someone said some things that upset me earlier, I've been in here crying since. They realized I didn't know about the troll and came to get me, but it was already in here with me, and well…" Hermione trailed off, "I-um- would probably be dead if it wasn't for them."
"And why didn't you go get a teacher, Mr. Weasley. Even your brothers had sense to do that."
"No one was around Professor, all of you had already gone to the dungeons." Ron answered.
"And what has happened to Miss Potter?"
Hermione's voice shook just a bit as she remember how close Ron had been to becoming wall paper, and the boy himself paled dramatically and clenched his hands into fists. "She lost her wand when she was getting to me so she could get me out of the way, while Ron distracted it. But it was going to kill Ron…kill Ron with it's club." She paused to take a breathe. "I think the back of her neck glowed, and she used the spell Bombarda on it. She was really tired after that, and it came back at us."
"I used a sleeping curse on it." Ron finished. "Got her wand and stuffed it in her pocket. We'd just started calming down when you showed up."
"Wandless? She preformed a third year spell- wandless?" Sprout murmured, amazed, before she spoke up a bit louder. "And what spell did you use exactly, Mr. Weasley?"
"Dormio. My brother Bill gave me a book of spells and curses that come in handy, I let Ivy read it too."
"So it's sufficient to ask which on of you two curse Mr. De Luca?"
Ron looked guilty again, "That was me. He called Hermione a mudblood and said he'd have to thank ivy's Uncle for treating her like he did."
McGonagall looked like one pissed pussycat(A/N: couldn't help it XD). "De Luca has been causing trouble worse than the Weasley twins since day one. I think it's high time we write his Grandmother. She was rather found of Mr. De Luca's mother and won't be pleased about his behavior. As for the lot of you- Five points will be deducted each, if only for not getting teacher. However, twenty points to Miss Potter, and all three of you Weasley's for sheer dumb luck, talent, and correct usage of secret passageways. Boys, why don't you escort Miss Potter to Madam Pomfrey for a quick check up. As for you two, get up to your common room. Make no mistake I'll be informing your Mother of this incident."
Ivy groaned and managed make Fred stop walking, "Wait- Headmaster!" She blinked her eyes, trying to keep them open.
"Yes?"
"He fainted forwards. And isn't he supposed to be the one with a gift over Trolls? That package, whatever it is, shouldn't-ugh- you check it? And my scar, it hurts around him- I think it's a sign he's dangerous but…" Her eyes rolled back into her head as the weariness finally took hold, her voice trailing into extremely soft snores.
Dumbledore felt the urge to face palm. He should have noticed that. "Bloody…Pomona, Minerva, Severus is already checking, go and help and the rest of you find Quirrell. At the very least we can get permission from Alastor to dose him with truth serum." His eyes fell on the unconscious Ivy, "I'll escort these three to Madam Pomfrey, Miss Granger, Mr. Weasley, it would be best if you came along as well. If your Defense Teacher really is after the artifact, then it would be wise for no students to be wandering around with out a teacher. Filius, if you'd take care of the troll?"
"Of course, Albus."
Ivy groaned. 'Damn…did I get caught in another drive by, cause sheeeiiit my head hurts like when I got hit by that bloody car.' Come to think of it, she never had told Aunt Petunia about that one…of course the woman didn't know she was friends with a prostitute and a drug dealer who stopped using either… Both of which were squibs. She really needed to right them.
"You ok? I've got a headache potion here, you know. All you have to do is open those pretty eyes, Ivy dear."
Would she get in trouble if she bit George's head off? "Whatever you say, just lower your voice!" She whispered, opening her eyes slowly.
Oh. Well that explained the weight on her legs, and her stomach. Fred was laying with his mouth slightly open on her stomach, asleep and Ron was doing much the same on her legs. Hermione was sitting in a comfy looking plastic chair with an amused expression and George was leaving over her with a light green potion in a small vial.
George smirked, "Pomfrey said to take this when you woke up for your head." He said as he pressed it to her lips, watching her tilt her head to drink it without choking.
She grimaced at the awful taste. "Lucky me."
George snickered before gently waking up both brothers and ushering the younger Gryffindors out, "Shoo, go back to the common rooms. Not like it's unsafe now, and let us speak with out little flower privately."
Ivy tried to scowl at them for the name, but couldn't when she felt a rant coming.
However, instead she was squished underneath the more brash of the two older students. "Any idea how worried I was? All we felt was panic and magic! And then when you were passed out…"
"Sorry."
George snorted as he pried his brother off of her to give her air. "Well, little flower dear, sorry-"
"Just isn't enough here!" Fred finished. "You're going to have-"
"To find a way to make it up-"
"To us!" The finished together.
She looked between them apprehensively. "And what is it you want?"
She blanched at the sentence that left their lips. "Tells us exactly what Vernon's done to you before."
Oh shit. 'Thank Merlin the bastard's already dead!'