Bitter

Chapter Three

Disclaimer – I know what's mine and you should know what is JKR's and I'm not taking anything away from her, if it's from the books, its not mine.

The Makings of a Lord

Tom looked at Tupenny and Tupenny looked at Tom, they both grinned. At a nod, they both spoke together.

"Excalibur!"

"Ey! You can't just go yelling the password about anywhere, you know"

"Was that the password?" Tupenny asked incredulously.

"Oops," Tom added innocently.

"They're awfully sorry, I'm sure. They didn't mean to, Miss Agrippa." Felicity hated the idea of Tom and Tupenny getting into trouble, and it was a most dreadful thought to think that should happen on her behalf. Pleased at the politeness of the child, the bust returned to its aristocratic outlook on life.

"Well, my dear child, since they, and know you, know my password, I have no reason to not let all three of you in. Really, you seventh years shouldn't be letting a Hufflepuff into your common room." Agrippa and the stand she was on slid to one side and, laughing as they did, Tom and Tupenny helped the flustered Felicity down the stairs which led to their common room.

"She does pick strange times to come visit us." Tom commented once Felicity was out of earshot, rushing, as she always did, into the Slytherin commonroom.

"Yes, but have you noticed?" Tupenny answered, "She's never here for long when we're not. We always come to the commons soon after her, or vice versa. And we usually see her after a close shave with Filch, like tonight."

"I suppose you have another tale to tell." Tom was last down the stairs; he tapped the base of Agrippa's stand and it slid shut over them. Tupenny shivered in the darkness. She folded her long, yet graceful, arms and grinned.

"Indeed, with a few adaptations, I can be sure Felicity will love this one. Let's hurry, she'll be in the common room by now."

~~~

A window lit up, and a face looked out. It was the round, comfortable-looking face of Felicity, but Meredith didn't see that, she saw a glitch. A problem, it clouded Meredith's view. As Meredith's thoughts grew clearer, she saw the size of the problem, it was only small. Besides, he knew this face, and he had told her about it. Meredith knew all that he did, and he knew this face. She could be sure of it, she didn't know who this was; the face was too far away for him to tell her. Tom didn't know he was telling Meredith these things, he didn't know he was telling anyone anything; he knew so little, yet Meredith learned all she knew from him. He would be a new teacher, a leader for the right people, and he would last more than seven years.

The face was snatched out of view. There were more awake. Meredith's problem grew.

~~~

Felicity's motherly frame was curled up on Tupenny's bed, the duvet pulled up to her chin. Although what Tupenny was telling her horrified her she felt much better in Tupenny's company. Tupenny was standing in the middle of the room, dominating it; the fire behind her was creating a glow around the outline of her elegant figure and a halo around her head. Her hands were held at mid-height where she could best use them for expressive purposes. Her face was a picture of excitement and her eyes were alight with the enchantment of adventure. She was vibrant; there was something that emanated from her. Tupenny was telling one of her tales.

~~~

Meredith looked up at the stars. She watched as a thick, black cloud made them disappear into the night. Meredith turned her attention to the familiar room she was in. The Great Hall, she knew it so well. She used to sit here, at this table.

Hogwarts was in full glory. The green and silver banners spanned the room; Slytherin had won, yet again. Most of the house tables sat quietly subdued, Gryffindor most of all. Meredith had never quite understood why the rivalry between the houses was so intense between Gryffindor and Slytherin. She knew, of course, from her seven years at Hogwarts that Salazar and Godric had never quite agreed on the way the school should be run, but why that should affect today's houses she couldn't comprehend. Meredith, herself, didn't feel like celebrating today. It was her last Hogwarts' feast, tomorrow she would have her last meal in the Great Hall, and then, after breakfast she would travel on her last trip using the Hogwarts Express; Meredith was leaving Hogwarts.

The memory was fresh and painful. Meredith could still see Dumbledore's happy smile. It was his favourite pupil's last feast and he was smiling. He would no longer teach his quickest student Transfiguration and he was smiling. Meredith didn't celebrate and Meredith didn't smile. Meredith turned cold and bitter. Meredith had left Hogwarts.

~~~

A/n - It took her three whole chapters, but Meredith's finally back at Hogwarts. Any feedback is welcome, I need all the help I can get. ^_~