Chapter 26
Trinity was released from the hospital wing in time for the trip to Hogsmeade. Madam Pomfrey had given her a foul tasting potion the night before to mend her broken ankle, and Trinity hadn't been able to sleep properly because of it. Although the raven haired Gryffindor had experienced the most uncomfortable warm, tingling sensation in her foot which spread up to her knee, the potion had worked wonders and she was able to walk again. The uncomfortable, tingling feeling - and Joshua's snoring - had kept her wide awake, and Trinity was sure she would be falling asleep during class for the next week or so.
Trinity carefully made her way down the stairs towards the Gryffindor common room, and up the stairs towards her dorm. She peeled off her Quidditch attire and stepped into the shower, washing her body and her hair before drying and dressing. She pulled on a pair of grey skinny jeans and her well-worn green hoodie. As she left her dorm, she grabbed her chocolate brown UGG boots and her wand; casting a spell to dry her hair as she walked down the stairs.
Trinity caught up with Ginny and Ron just as they were stepping through the portrait of the fat lady. "Hey, Trin!" Ginny greeted as the raven haired girl stepped into stride beside her, "how're you feeling?"
"A little uneasy on my foot - but I suppose that's only natural." She smiled shyly, "Madam Pomfrey did tell me to take it easy today."
"Perhaps you should stay at Hogwarts then." Ron suggested. "It is quite a long walk to Hogsmeade - but at least there's no snow...you won't slip over."
Trinity paused, "well I do have some homework to do."
"Nonsense!" Ginny grabbed the girls wrist and pulled her into the courtyard. "Homework can wait until later. You need Treacle Fudge and I can that practically written across your face!"
They made their way into Hogsmeade, and into Honeydukes. Ron was quick to march over to the Jelly Snakes, and grab a handful of them, whereas Ginny and Trinity scoured the shop, taking a wander around the place.
"Bertie Botts." Ginny stated as the two girls' reached the shelves filled with individual flavours. "Strawberry." The Weasley picked one box off the shelf and then turned around. "The Treacle Fudge is over there." She pointed towards the shelving towards the back of the shop. "Have you tried the other flavours?" Ginny asked.
Trinity shook her head, "nothing can beat original flavourings."
The girls gently passed other students and grabbed a small block of Treacle Fudge wrapped in white tissue paper. They passed the boxes of Jelly Snakes on their way towards the till, and pulled Ron along with them. Once they had paid, they made their way towards the owlery to see if Mrs. Weasley had replied to Ron, Ginny and George's request to let Trinity stay with them over the Summer Holidays.
They climbed the stairs, slightly out of breath as they reached the top and the two Weasley's smiled, seeing their owl sitting in one of the alcoves, a letter tied to his foot.
"Errol!" Ron called up to the owl.
The tawny lifted his head and cooed boredly before spreading his wings and taking off. He looked graceful...but then crash-landed at Ron's feet; flapping about in an attempt to get back onto his clumsy legs. Ron rolled his eyes and sighed before bending down to take the letter from the Weasley's family owl.
As Errol hopped back onto his talons, Ron tore open the letter from his mother and father, his mouth cracking a smile as he read the lines of scrawl. He stopped reading and looked up, sreading his arms in a gesture of excitement, "you're allowed to stay!" He cheered.
Trinity smiled and hugged both the Weasleys', "thank you so much!"
"Yay! This is great!" Ginny exclaimed, "let's go to the Three Broomsticks for a celebratory drink!"
They quickly left the owlery, hurrying down the stone staircase and across the empty road of Hogsmeade towards the Three Broomsticks. It was fairly busy inside, and bustling with Hogwarts students.
"You two grab a table," Ron stated. "I'll get us some butterbeer."
As Ronald departed for the bar, Ginny and Trinity glanced around the busy pub before quickly making their way over to a table in the corner; beside the window. Trinity bent down and rubbed her ankle. "A sit down is what I need." Trinity stated.
Ginny frowned, "we haven't walked that far."
Trinity nodded, "I know but - my ankle...it feels as though I've run a marathon."
Ginny winced, "Madam Pomfrey did tell you to be gentle on it." She stated. "Hopefully you'll be fine enough to walk back to Hogwarts after our butterbeer."
Trinity nodded and smiled and thanked Ron as he walked over to their table, carrying three butterbeers in a triangular formation. He set them down on the table before sliding one over towards each of the girls.
"So." Ron began, sliding into his seat and taking a sip of his butterbeer. "We've got to step up our game for Quidditch. We're in the final with Slytherin."
Ginny glanced over at Trinity, "and Malfoy is their Seeker." She stated, "you must stay focused on the game, Trin. He'll probably try and distract you, using his charms."
"I thought we weren't allowed to use our wands?" Trinity stated, frowning.
Ginny and Ron looked at her blankly before starting to laugh, "I meant his charms." Ginny stated, giggling.
"I hate to admit it," Ron added, "but he's good at Quidditch anyway. You being his mate gives him an added advantage."
Trinity blushed, "I can try to ignore him."
Ron chuckled, "we know that won't work." He stated, "do you know what you're like when he's around?"
"Change of subject." Ginny finally answered Trinity's silent prayers. "Is that George and Kim?"
"Where?" Ron asked, the three Gryffindor's turned to look outside the window.
"Heading into Madam Puddifoot's?" Trinity asked.
Ginny nodded, "they're on a date!" She cooed. "That's so cute!"
"Is that Parkinson?" Ron asked. "Trying to drag Malfoy in there?"
"I believe it is." Trinity replied, turning back to the table to drink her butterbeer.
Ginny and Ron looked at her expectantly, "well?" Ginny asked. "Aren't you going to do anything? He is your mate, you know."
Trinity turned back to the window and slowly drew her wand, "Incarcerous." She whispered.
Once again, Draco had failed to hide from Pansy. The Slytherin had bounded over to him in the middle of Scrivenshaft's Quill Shop and jumped into his arms, giggling as she did so.
"Hey, Drakey." She batted her eyelashes at him.
Draco rolled his eyes, desperately wanting to cast a silencing charm on the annoying pug. "What do you want?" He snapped.
"I was just wondering..." She grabbed his hand, "If you wanted to get a drink?"
Well he was thirsty, annoyingly so. He was reluctantly dragged out of the shop before he had time to reply, and he gasped when he saw where she was thinking of going. Madam Puddifoot's - the romantic tea shop. He hated tea with a passion. Especially tea with Pansy. This would be pure torture - he had to get away, quickly.
It wasn't until he was almost at the door to the shop, when a silver light hit Pansy and he was able to pull himself free from her grasp. Pansy fell to the floor - tied up with a thin silver rope. He chuckled and looked over in the direction where the light had come from.
In the window of The Three Broomsticks, he saw Ginny and Ron Weasley laughing and Trinity slip her wand into her pocket, smiling to herself as she turned around again.
He left Pansy on the ground, screaming for help as he made his way towards the pub.
Draco pushed open the door and looked over towards the table where the three Gryffindor's were sitting before he made his way over there.
Trinity turned back to face the window again and frowned, 'Where did he go?' She drew her wand and muttered a charm - effectively freeing the pug faced Slytherin from her confinements. The chair beside her scraped along the floor, and she turned around - coming face to face with the Slytherin Prince. She jumped slightly and turned to look back out the window before finally facing him again.
"Hi." She said.
"Hi." He replied, smirking.
Ginny and Ron exchanged glances before finishing their drinks. "We'll see you later, Trin." They stated, getting to their feet. They gave the raven haired girl one last look, before leaving the pub and heading back to Hogwarts.
On the way back, Ron had the urge to try the wizarding raffle stand in the street. He then remembered his tea leaves that Trinity had read: the lucky horse shoe and the coin.
"Wait here." He said to Ginny, before walking up to the bearded wizard behind the stand. "How much for one ticket?" He asked.
"One Galleon." The man stated, smiling at the Weasley.
Ron shoved his hands into his pocket and pulled out three coins, he hesitated before handing all three over to the man in exchange for the one ticket. The number fifty. "That number alright with you?" The wizard asked.
Ron thought back to Friday. Professor Snape deducted fifty points from Gryffindor, and both McGonagal and Professor Sprout had set them work from the page number fifty. The Weasley nodded and watched as the man closed the wooden box and cast a spinning charm on it. The box hovered in the air before rotating madly and Ron felt his nerves attacking him in his stomach.
As box box slowed and then finally stopped, the box glowed bright blue before a piece of parchment shot out of it.
The old wizard caught the paper from falling, and Ron couldn't help but remember the moment when his best friends name had shot out from the Goblet of Fire. "Number fifty!" The wizard exclaimed, chuckling. "Congratulations, my boy, you've won!"
Ron broke out into a grin and shook the mans hand as a few wizards and witches gathered around to watch the raffle take place. "What have I won?" Ron asked.
"One hundered galleons!" The man exclaimed, handing Ron over a wad of notes.
Ron was beside himself with happiness and he shook the mans hand once again, telling him that if he had a sudden stroke of luck again, then he would definately come back. He then ran over to his sister and showed her the money.
"Merlin, Ron!" She exclaimed, touching the money just to see if it was real. "How on earth did this happen?"
Ron shrugged, "magic." He smiled, his eyes dancing.
Trinity and Draco finished a butterbeer before stepping out of the Three Broomsticks, and heading back to Hogwarts, walking slowly as they did so. As it started to lightly pour with rain, Trinity pulled up her green hood before stuffing her hands into her hoodie pocket.
"Thanks." Draco stated.
Trinity looked up at him. "For what?"
"Freeing me from the clutches of Parkinson."
Trinity blushed a little, "I...don't know why I did it."
Draco chuckled, "I could take a wandering guess." He smirked, "It's obvious that I am your type after all."
Her blush deepened, and she could feel the butterflies fluttering in her stomach again. They stopped and looked up once they heard a lot of commotion from a group of wizards and witches, standing just outside The Hogs Head.
"What shall we do with it?" A croaky voice asked. "Take it's heartstring and sell it to Ollivander?"
"Eat it!" A witch stated, her voice off-key. "How about a lovely feast of dragon soup?"
Trinity gasped, "they can't do that!" She whispered to Draco.
"They can." He replied, "it's just disgusting."
The group of wizards parted a little, and the raven haired Gryffindor could see a cage holding a little dragon inside. The beast looked frightened, his little cream coloured body quivering under the gaze of all the witches. His amber eyes focused on Trinity, as if they were pleading for help. Trinity ran fowards, her Gryffindor bravery kicking in.
"Leave him alone!" She stated. Putting her back to the cage to hide the dragon from their sights.
The witch that had suggested eating the dragon began to cackle. "What're you going to do with it, pretty?" She reached out a bony hand to touch Trinity's hair when it was suddenly slapped away. The witch glared up at Draco as he stood beside the raven haired girl.
"I'll keep him." Trinity stated, turning to look at the baby Norweigian Ridgeback in the cage. She placed her hand on the bars, only for the dragon to cower away from her fingertips. "I'm not going to hurt you." She whispered to the beast.
A hand grabbed her upper arm, "she can speak the ancient language!" A croaky voice exclaimed.
Draco pulled her away from the man, "don't touch her!" He warned, his grey eyes dark and stormy.
"I'll buy him!" Trinity stated, desperation creeping into her voice.
"No." The man stated, narrowing his eyes.
Draco stepped up to him, standing just one head taller than the wizard. "We're keeping him." To prove his point, Draco picked up the cage the dragon was in and handed it to Trinity. The raven haired girl took it and cradled it to her chest protectively.
"How about an exchange?" The man grinned evilly, his crooked rotten teeth were gappy and sharp.
Draco pulled up the sleeve of his jacket, revealing the Dark Mark. "I don't make exchanges."
The man took a step back and peered around the platinum blonde to see Trinity, "what about you?" He asked, "care for an exchange?"
"Discuss it with her Uncle." Draco stated, placing a hand on Trinity's back and leading her away. "I'm sure he'll make an exchange with you." He stopped walking and looked over his shoulder. "That is...if he doesn't kill you first."
Before anything else could be said, Draco escorted Trinity away from the group of warty hags and wrinkled frogs. Once they were out of earshot, Draco turned to the raven haired Gryffindor. "Do you have a deathwish?" He snapped.
"No." She replied in a small voice, "but this little guy shouldn't have to live a life full of cruelty."
"Even so." Draco repled, "you could've been attacked if I hadn't have stepped in."
"I'm not totally incapable of looking after myself." She replied. "But thank you."
Draco sighed, "what're you going to do with the dragon?" He asked.
"I'll have to give him to Hagrid." She replied. "I know he hasn't got any room for more animals...but Norbert's lonely in the forest by himself."
Draco nodded and looked down at the creature in the cage. Although he wasn't quivering anymore, he still seemed to be a little uncomfortable. "Perhaps you should take him straight there then." He stated. Trinity nodded, and as they reached the courtyard of the school, they departed from each others company to head in their separate directions.
Trinity spoke soothing words to the dragon all the way towards Hagrid's hut, and as she climbed the steep stairs and knocked on the door, she was greeted with a warm smile from the giant.
"Hello, Trinity!" Hagrid greeted, he then saw the cage holding the dragon. "She's a beauty." Hagrid smiled, "what're you doing with her?"
"I...her?"
"You can tell she's a female." Hagrid replied, standing aside and letting Trinity in his house. "They have sharper looking ridges on their backs, and smaller snouts than males do."
Trinity nodded and took a seat in the lounge, "Draco saved her from some people in Hogsmeade today." She stated, "they were going to eat her!"
Hagrid looked shocked, "Malfoy saved her?"
Trinity nodded, "Well-" She cut herself off and looked at Hagrid in suprise. 'Is he shocked Draco saved her or shocked they were going to eat her?' She shook the thought away and continued. "I went over there first, but he was the one to actually get him for free."
Hagrid shook his head, "nasty people in Hogsmeade these days, Trinity. It's a good thing you weren't by yourself!" Trinity nodded and looked down at the cage, "I was wondering if you wanted her? Norbert said that he was lonely, so perhaps she could live in the forest with him?"
Although Hagrid had no more room for any animals, he loved them, and he didn't hesitate to agree. "Of course I'll look after her." He replied, "well, we'll have to give her a name."
Trinity looked back up at the giant and smiled, "what do you think?" She asked.
He thought about it for a second before smiling, "what about Betty?" He said.
"Betty and Norbert." Trinity continued to smile, "I like it."
"Well, let her out then." Hagrid gestured to the cage.
Trinity looked around warily, "inside?" She asked.
"Why not?" Hagrid chuckled, "just tell her not to make a mess." He stated, "I've just put the broom away."
After a few kind words of encouragement, Betty took a few nervous steps out of the cage and looked around nervously. The dragon didn't seem to sense any danger, so she crawled across Trinity's lap and hopped onto the floor before curling up infront of the fireplace and yawning.
Hagrid got to his feet and thumped into the kitchen. Pots and pans clanged, and the giant came back a few minutes later with a small plate of sliced cheese and minced beef. He set it on the floor infront of the dragon, who sniffed the food curiously. Betty then began to devour the food - along with the plate.
"I guess she was hungry!" Hagrid chuckled, petting Fang on the head as he watched the Norweigian Ridgeback settle down infront of the fireplace.
"Thank you for taking her in Hagrid." Trinity smiled as she got to her feet. "I have a lot of homework to do - you don't mind if I leave do you?"
"Of course not." The giant replied, "thank you for letting me keep her!" He chuckled, getting to his feet to open the door for the Gryffindor, "have fun with your homework."
Trinity smiled, "bye Hagrid." She waved up at him before climbing down the steps and making her way back up to the school.
As Trinity, Ginny and Ron finished their homework and had their dinner, they made their way back up to the common room to relax and prepare themselves for the next week of lessons.
I'm sorry the updates are getting slower and slower, but I keep having to pay visits to the hospital, and man do I hate needles!
Reviews would really cheer me up, so please drop me a few kind words :) xx