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The Wallflowers
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Book 1: Sorcerer's Stone
Chapter 10:
Well We Got No Choice, All The Girls and Boys, Making All That Noise.
(School's Out- Alice Cooper)
May quickly bled into June, with which came exams. Most days leading up to them found Tracey in the library studying with Theo and even Blaise. There were even days with their little study-group where Daphne showed up, often in much need with help in Transfiguration and Potions.
Exams to Tracey were like a breeze.
June fifth came with two events. The first and least important of which was Draco Malfoy's birthday. However, even in Slytherin this was overshadowed with the news that Harry Potter was in the hospital wing.
"You know, that means that Gryffindor has to forfeit to Ravenclaw tomorrow, if he isn't up for the match," Gemma piped up as she sat next to Tracey at lunch. The hall was buzzing with the news.
Tracey shook her head, How can she think about Quidditch at a time like this? "So what happened to Professor Quirrell?" she asked anxiously, having noticed his absence at the High Table.
From what she had understood of the gossip thus far, it appeared Potter and his friends had gone on some sort of adventure. Quirrell somehow factored into the scenario, but Tracey didn't know what was true. One version stated that he was trying to steal something and attempted to kill Potter and friends in the process as they tried to stand in his way. Another staid that Quirrell had melted, but Tracey thought this was absurd. We aren't in the damn Wizard of Oz where witches melt when water is thrown on them.
However, it was clear that Quirrell was involved.
"Oh... well he's dead," Gemma replied dispassionately with a shrug. "I overhead Professor Snape speaking with Professor McGonagall this morning. Apparently Quirrell was sharing his body with You-Know-Who. Can you imagine? And he was teaching us all year!" Gemma said with a shiver of revulsion.
Tracey stared with wide eyes as she looked at Gemma, her face paling at this bit of information. Gemma having noted how pale the younger girl got, put a comforting arm around Tracey. "Guess you were right all along to be scared of him, huh? But don't worry Trace, he's gone. Although, I thought You-Know-Who was supposed to be dead... doesn't really make sense to me."
"Can evil be killed?" Theo asked rhetorically from across the table. Tracey looked at the mousy-haired boy, noticing that however cool his voice sounded, he too seemed afraid.
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"I really don't like Dumbledore," Tracey stated as she felt the collective crushing disappointment from her House that tears sprung in her eyes and her throat felt tight. However, she felt it too and it left a horrible taste in her mouth as she glared at the now Gryffindor banners which floated overhead. "Like he couldn't add the points before the feast. No, he had to do it at the end of term Feast. At least if he would've done it earlier, we would've been prepared to the fact we didn't win the House cup."
"It's because the old bat is a Gryffindor. He just wanted to shove it in all our faces," Draco stated, slamming his goblet down in anger and for once, Tracey actually agreed with Draco and even commiserated with him. It made her hate Dumbledore more. She never wanted to be on the same side as Draco Malfoy.
"Well I suppose we'll simply have to do better next year. Widen the gap. It's pretty pathetic we only got over 400 points in the first place," Daphne commented, trying to be optimistic.
Tracey sighed and pushed her plate away. She wasn't hungry anymore.
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"We're almost at the station," Tracey commented with a sigh.
"Guess it's farewell for now, until next year," Theo commented from where he sat across form her. The Compartment was oddly full for once. Not only was Blaise accompanying them, but unexpectedly Daphne as well.
Daphne engulfed Tracey in her arms. "You must come spend a couple weeks at my home! Please Tracey?"
Tracey shrugged. "I'm sure my mother would be fine with that. And so long as Pansy isn't visiting at the same time." Though, what she really meant that it wouldn't make a difference to her mother.
"Oh no, Pansy's parents never let her stay over; they're a bit overprotective of her. I'll probably have to go over and spend a few days with her, but probably at the beginning. I'll write you, we'll make arrangements, okay?" Daphne smiled, before getting up to leave, to find Pansy and give her her farewells.
"What are you two doing this summer?" Tracey asked as the train started to slow and she got up to reach for her trunk.
"I'll have to spend a week at some point with the Malfoy's. And I expect Blaise will come at some point," Theodore responded darkly, not really open to talking about his home life yet, even if they spent most of their free time together this past year.
Tracey nodded as the train finally came to a stop. "Well... I suppose I'll see you around," Tracey said with a shrug. Both boys merely nodded silently. However, before Tracey could stop herself, she caught both of them in a hug surprising both of them, and even herself.
"Women," Blaise said with a shake of his head as he exited the compartment, hauling his trunk behind himself. However, Tracey could hear the smirk in his voice and knew that he didn't really mind the hug.
Theo on the other hand was blushing scarlet. "See you Trace, I'll write," he said, motioning for her to go first. Tracey smiled... wishing already that summer was over and she could be back at Hogwarts. It would be dreadfully boring she knew and lonely.
~This Concludes Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone~
TBC...