Frozen

Chapter 24 – The Trio

Julia walked into Ancient Runes with a sense of unease. Charms had been a walk in the park after studying magic for seventeen years, but Ancient Runes was almost brand new to her. She had only looked through a smattering of ancient texts, and now, she was entering a fifth year level class. The way she saw it, though, was a language, and it would only take dedication and memorization to get a hold of it.

Hermione waved her over to her table when she saw Julia walk into the classroom. "How's the first day?"

Julia shrugged once she had settled into her seat. "It's okay. I've only had Potions and Charms. Charms wasn't too bad, and Potions was…interesting."

Hermione grinned. "I heard that it was more than interesting."

"What?" The snap in Julia's voice matched the snap of her head.

"Rumors spread fast here. I heard that Snape acted strangely around you, and that is putting what I've heard mildly."

Julia shook her head. "I don't understand."

"Snape has three modes, I guess you could say. One, he's tolerant and almost kind to the Slytherins. Two, he ignores most of the others. And, three, he is cruel and malicious to those he doesn't like."

"And?"

"From what's been circulating, you didn't fit into any of those categories."

Julia rubbed her forehead. "What exactly have you heard?" But, she was going to have to wait to find out because Professor Babbling walked in at that moment signaling the start of class. It was not an ideal way to start a class that she was already concerned about being distracted by her relationship with Snape.

When class had been dismissed, Julia thanked Merlin for giving her the opportunity to befriend Hermione not only because she knew what was being said about she and Snape, but also because she had four years of experience with Ancient Runes that Julia fully intended to take advantage of.

"What's have you heard?" Julia asked as they walked out of the classroom and headed toward Muggle Studies.

Hermione glanced at Julia and smirked. "I heard the two of you were like verbal sparring partners, but almost in a positive way as if your sarcastic snark was rival to Snape's."

Julia laughed both from relief and from delight. "That's ridiculous. He could eat me alive if he chose to. He is as intimidating as a dragon."

Hermione chuckled. Muggle Studies was a fascinating class, especially for a Muggle like Julia. Magical fascination with things like electronics and appliances was almost comical. Julia sobered slightly when she looked at her Professor's face and realized that this woman would be murdered because she had an opinion that was "unpopular" with Voldemort. As a Muggle from America, Julia was faced with a myriad of questions about Muggles from America.

"What about the television?" Professor Burbage prodded. "We have spent some time researching Muggle television here, but we have not had the opportunity to discuss foreign television."

Julia blushed as all eyes turned to her. She cleared her throat when all that came out was a strangled syllable. "Well, I can't really tell you much. I didn't have a television at home." It was a partial truth. In her old life, they had owned a television until her mother had thrown a shoe through it, destroying it. They weren't able to afford another one.

She breathed a sigh of relief when Burbage turned away from Julia and continued with her lecture. Julia spent the rest of the period avoiding eye contact with her professor, and when she dismissed them, Julia was the first to scurry from the classroom. She leaned against the wall, waiting for Hermione who had not hurried out of the classroom as Julia had done.

When she did emerged, she smiled at Julia. Julia didn't like the sympathetic look in the girl's eyes. She hated being pitied. "Tough class?"

Julia shrugged. "I don't like talking about home."

"Do you miss America?"

"Sometimes. The food is weird here." Julia grinned at Hermione when she laughed.

"Hermione!" A voice called from behind them. Both girls stopped and turned, but their reactions to who approached were very different. Hermione smiled, but Julia paled as a tall, freckled redhead and a thin, bespectacled boy came nearer. They had already seen Julia with Hermione, so there was no escape.

"Who's your friend, Hermione?" Up close, Julia was nearly knocked over by the frightening resemblance Harry had to James. It made her stomach turn with a mixture of guilt, dread, and awe.

"This is Jane Rochester. She transferred from the American Institute. Jane – this is Harry" – she indicated James' double – "And Ron." – she indicated the tall redhead.

With some effort, Julia plastered a smile on her face. "Nice to meet you." She hoped the stiffness of her voice was only noticeable to her. Apparently, it was since both boys smiled at her in welcome.

"Welcome to Hogwarts," Harry said and Ron nodded.

"Would you like to join us for dinner?" Hermione asked, drawing Julia's gaze away from Harry.

"This early?"

"Harry has detention.'' She stared sternly at Harry, silently reprimanding him.

"Don't look at me like that, Hermione."

"You just need to control your temper."

"I shouldn't have to."

"But, you do. Regardless of what should be, the Ministry is endorsing the anti-Dumbledore and anti-Harry campaigns. We have to pretend to follow."

"It's stupid!" Harry's voice was a vicious snap. "They're stupid. Why is it so hard to believe he is back. Ignoring it won't make is disappear."

"Harry…I know." Hermione was imploring, trying to calm Harry down. "I believe you, but I can't help it if others don't."

"I believe you, Harry." Julia spoke up, seeing an opportunity to diffuse the situation and taking it.

Three pairs of eyes turned to her. "You do?" Harry sounded incredulous.

Julia nodded. "I don't understand how anybody cannot believe you. Well, I do, but it's fear that blinds them. The reality is that it makes no sense for you to lie. Even if you were seeking attention, which I highly doubt, then this is not the kind of attention most egotistical people want. Besides" – she shrugged – "I am a fierce protester of government interference in the press, and I disagree with you, Hermione. Just because the Ministry is against Dumbledore and Harry, does not mean we have to pretend to agree. It only takes one dissenting voice to turn a crowd."

Harry smiled and Ron laughed. "You should talk to Fred and George. They love rebelling against the system."

Hermione glared at him as they started walking to the Great Hall. "Don't tell her that."

Julia grinned. She had never been much of a social person, but the past couple days with Lucy and Eliza and now with Hermione, had been fun. For the first time in…ever, Julia felt normal. Even when she had been at Hogwarts before, she had been separate from most students. She had socialized with only a handful of people, mainly Severus, which wasn't exactly socializing.

With a sudden though that floated through Julia's mind like a ghost, Julia stopped walking. Books…

The trio stopped almost as soon has she had and looked at her curiously. "Uh…I'm sorry. I forgot I was supposed to meet a couple friends for dinner tonight." Julia assumed Lucy and Eliza wouldn't mind if she joined them for dinner.

"Another time, then?" Hermione smiled at Julia and waved. "I'll see you in class."

Julia returned the smile and made her way to the library. A few minutes later Julia was sitting at a table in the back of the library, leaning her head on its edge. It was slowly registering that she had met Harry Potter and was friends with Hermione Granger. A low groan escaped her lips. She did not need this complication. Anybody but that group would have been better for her to meet and befriend. Hell! She would rather be friends with Draco Malfoy at this point. Instinctively, Julia rapped the wooden table without lifting her head. Knock on wood. She was starting to miss her introverted, friendless existence. It was much less complicated.

Life became even more complicated with the addition of schoolwork. Julia knew she didn't miss school for a reason. She had spent seventeen years working and living outside academia. Being back within academics was like stepping back to the middle ages. Everything was planned. The days ran on a precise schedule. Julia grew tired of it within a couple days. The work was fascinating, yet boring at the same time. The topics were fascinating; the work assigned was mentally draining. She had spent so much time teaching herself magic that having someone else do it was torture.

True torture came in the form of Potions. She had it two more times the first week; a single period of Wednesday and another double period on Friday. She had to start and end her week with Potions…what a joy!

She was not adept at cooking, so making Potions was almost disastrous. Her only savior was her attention to detail. Otherwise, she would have botched every potion she made. Still, she was only able to scrape an Acceptable from Snape, which she would gladly take given her disinterest in the subject. She had spent too much time as a Muggle with Muggle medicine to find Potions important.

Her "C" equivalent grade did irk Julia; her consistent good standing as a student had been with her too long. Fortunately, the written work made up for her miserable potion-making. She was hoping to average an Exceed Expectations by Christmas break.

Besides Potions, Ancient Runes was the only subject that was troubling Julia. It was language related, which interested the writer in Julia, but she had a hard time finding anything useful with the subject, which made it hard to focus on it. Otherwise, classes were easy and despite the boredom and monotony, Julia's life took on a pattern during that first week, but she knew it wouldn't last. She couldn't bear her life following a constant pattern. Something would have to change, and it would have to change soon.

Friday ended with Julia scurrying out of the Potions classroom closely followed by Lucy and Eliza. Snape had been watching her, which wasn't unusual she would have to admit. Her table was directly in front of his desk, and she would chat to Eliza and Lucy as she worked. He probably had trouble blocking out Julia's conversations, especially if he was still convinced Jane was Julia's daughter.

"What are you doing tomorrow?" Lucy's question zapped Julia's hazy mind.

"Sleeping in."

Eliza laughed. "Good idea."

"I think I'm still on my summer sleep schedule." Or, the sleep schedule she'd been on for seventeen years, she corrected mentally.

The trio continued chatting as they made their way to the Hufflepuff dorms to drop their things off before going to dinner. Julia's thoughts about something needing to change soon had been wiped from her mind…for now. She had no idea that things were changing at that very moment.

Severus paced back and forth in front of Dumbledore, his wild eyes and twitchy movements giving the impression of a madman. "I know…I know the Rochester girl has a connection to Julia. I can sense it." Severus' roving prevented him from seeing the sad look in Dumbledore's eyes. "She's Julia's daughter." Dumbledore's face lost all traces of sadness in an instant. "I want to know where the Rochester girl lives."

"Severus…" Dumbledore started to say with a warning tone.

"No!" Snape's voice was a hiss, and he finally stopped his pacing and looked at Dumbledore. "There are too many coincidences. Her name…her eyes…her voice…her personality."

"You have known the girl less than a week, Severus." Albus was torn. Julia's condition had him sworn to secrecy, but Severus' plight cut him deeply.

"I knew Julia a day when I knew she was special." It had been his longest held secret. That day when he had healed her injuries, Severus had felt a magical stirring in his mind. He had kept it quiet and repressed it for years, but he now knew that it was no coincidence that he had found Julia that day in the library. She needed him, and after years of vehemently denying it, Severus realized that he needed her.

Dumbledore stared at the young man who had the weight of the world on his shoulders. Under the cold demeanor built up by years of torment was still the teenage boy who longed for his friend to return. Dumbledore had the impression that Severus was just as frozen as Julia.

Fate was a cruel mistress to intertwine two such different beings. Their existence, Julia's and Severus', were woven together because of inconsistent magic that could rip Julia away forever without any warning.

Albus had known from the moment he had seen her mind that Julia's existence in the wizard world was as reliant upon her own mind as Time Magic. In those first few moments when he had seen into her painfully open mind, he had felt her intense emotions. Subconsciously, her desperation to escape the hell in which she lived had called her to their world in that brief moment of limbo where most could continue on to the abyss that is the afterlife to the living.

Albus had not had the heart to tell her that her continued existence in their world relied solely upon her continued desperation to escape the world she came from. He lost much of his concern when her mind and emotions went into a frenzy when Severus had entered the office.. She had already loved him, but as the months passed, her love blossomed with their friendship.

When Severus had come to him desperately seeking Julia, Albus had feared that she had returned to her world. He had sent the owl praying that he was wrong. When it had returned with her reply, his relief had been marred only by her request that Severus not be told. Each return owl had brought Albus a breath of relief, knowing that she had not returned…yet. He could not fool himself; Julia would return to her world one day. It was only a matter of time.

It was this thought that had Albus handing over the address Julia had given him before the start of term.

Severus nodded his thanks to the headmaster. He swept out of the office, a glint of determination sparkling in his eyes.

Author's Note: I would like to start by giving my most heartfelt thanks to all the reviews and messages I received in response to my last "update." Things have gotten much better, and I think I've worked things out. Your words of encouragement always made me smile, and I once again thank you. I hope you enjoy the update. The next chapter will be (I hope) coming soon. It will be interesting...that's the most I can say. :) Until then... Happy Reading.