Lost and Found

Summary: Jasna Larden transfers from St. Laurel's Academy of Witchcraft to Hogwarts.  Why are the teachers so nervous around her?  She's not intimidating.  Rumors are she was kicked out of St. Laurel's.  But why?  Read and find out why people think this innocent girl can threaten lives.

Chapter One: First Day Doubts

Jasna marveled at the majesty of Hogwarts castle.  She couldn't even begin to compare it to St. Laurel's, which was an old eighteenth century estate, with wooden floors and bright windows.  Hogwarts was completely different.  The grandeur of the castle was so breathtaking.  And she heard there were secret passages to discover, moving staircases, and even their own poltergeist!  Now, St. Laurel's had its fair share of trapdoors and disappearing and reappearing rooms, but this was just fantastic!

"Jasna!" Professor McGonagall called.

"Oh!" Jasna jumped, "Right!" she had been so caught up at looking at the corridors and the knight's armor that she hadn't noticed Professor McGonagall and Professor Dumbledore walk on without her.  Politely silent, she stepped lightly and hurried to the two professors.  Polite and silent, that was the way the professors at St. Laurel's had taught them to be.  That was the way people liked their young ladies, they had been taught.  They were extremely strict with the girls, but had to be to keep them in line.  No one was to speak at meals and they had strict curfews and rules.  She was surprised with the leniency of Hogwarts compared to her old school.

Professor Dumbledore and McGonagall led her down the halls.
"Now Jasna, since you transferred in the middle of the year and the Prefects have little time to show you around, we have to do it.  And it doesn't help if you fall behind," Professor McGonagall said, standing tall and proud and reminding Jasna of Professor Grant at her old school.  Jasna nodded silently, her hands behind her back, also standing with her back straight and her head high.  But soon, her eyes began to wander again at the marvelous paintings and their occupants and her posture relaxed as she stopped to look around again.  Dumbledore and McGonagall continued without her again.

"Don't stop, Professor, she'll catch up," Dumbledore said with a grin, "I've never seen a student so entranced in the castle."
"She's used to that American school of hers," McGonagall said, "She's not used to the castles of England."  Then, McGonagall's voice was lowered to a whisper as she talked to Dumbledore about a matter that had been on her mind ever since she heard Jasna was coming to Hogwarts.   She turned her head to look at him.

"Professor Dumbledore," she said, as respectfully as possible, "Do you really think it's wise to let her in here?  What with Harry Potter attending this school and all…"
"Of course I think it's wise.  I see no reason why we should refuse a nice student from Massachusetts her education," Dumbledore answered, looking firmly ahead of him and not meeting McGonagall's gaze.

"Yes, but aren't you worried?"
"I see nothing to be worried about." Dumbledore tried to end the matter but McGonagall wouldn't let him.  She lowered her voice even more to an urgent whisper as she said:

"But what about her parents?  Aren't you worried about them?"
"I have no reason to be."
"It could put several students at this school in severe danger!"
"Mia has assured me that Jasna is completely safe."

"It's not Jasna herself that I'm worried about…" McGonagall looked around as if afraid someone was eavesdropping, "What if her father finds her here?"

"Her father won't find her here."
"What if she follows in his footsteps?"
"My dear Minerva!" Dumbledore finally stopped to look at her, "I don't think we should judge people by who their parents are.  We need to treat the students depending on how they themselves behave, not how their parents did."

"How can we even be sure Mia is a reliable source?" McGonagall asked, "For all we know, she can be as dangerous as Jasna's father!"
"Mia Larden despises the father of her child.  But she loves Jasna dearly and she will do anything for her.  Mia is a very reliable source and, if you ever met her, Minerva, you would agree.  We will discuss this matter no further.  Jasna!" Dumbledore called the child so McGonagall could ask no more questions.  Jasna hurried to them again, like a polite and obedient little dog.

"We will discuss this matter further, Albus," McGonagall muttered under her breath.

The two professors led Jasna to the Charms class, where Professor Flitwick was teaching the Ravenclaw sixth years.

"Why, Hello Professor Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall," Flitwick said in his high, cheery voice.

"Hello, Professor Flitwick.  We are just showing Jasna the school."
"Jasna.  Y-A-S-N-A?"
"No, it's spelt with a J," Jasna answered, "J-A-S-N-A."

"Oh, I see!" Flitwick laughed.  A few of the Ravenclaws were whispering and watching Jasna in the doorway.  She suddenly felt extremely self-conscious.

"Well, we'll leave you to your class, Professor!" Dumbledore said and left with McGonagall.  Jasna was still examining the students.
"Jasna!"
"Sorry!" She jumped and ran after them.  She heard the Ravenclaws laughing as she left.

Their next stop was the dungeons and the Slytherin and Gryffindor fifth years' Potions class.  Jasna noticed one boy, a blond-haired Slytherin, look unusually interested at her as Dumbledore introduced her to Snape and the rest of the class.

"Jasna.  Is that with a Y?"
"With a J, sir," Jasna answered.

"Ah, yes, with a J, of course!" Snape smiled.  Jasna saw him slip Dumbledore a look and Dumbledore just shook his head.
"Not now," he muttered.  Jasna couldn't help noticing that one Slytherin boy.  She saw him muttering to his friends.  Snape turned back to the class when he noticed the silence.
"Well?  What are you waiting for?  Get back to work!" everyone did so, except the blond boy, Draco Malfoy.

"She's the one," Malfoy muttered to his two goons, "She's perfect.  Look at those green eyes, wide with awe and innocence.  Fair skin, wavy black hair just past her shoulders… Perfect."
"Perfect for what?"
"She is beauty at it's finest, my dear Goyle!  The perfect sacrifice," Malfoy grinned, "Yes, she appears to be about our age… I hope she's in Slytherin.  It will be much easier that way."

"I think Malfoy fancies that new girl," Ron whispered to Harry who giggled.

"I heard Heights didn't take a liking to her.  In fact, I heard he wanted to chase her but Dumbledore said no," Harry said.

"Where'd you hear that?" Hermione asked.
"The Hufflepuffs.  They were in his class when he said it."

"Poor girl.  She looks so innocent."
"I know what you mean, Hermione.  I feel sorry for her too," Ron sighed.  Harry and Hermione looked at him suspiciously.  But their suspicions were put to rest when Ron added, "I pity the girl who Malfoy lusts after."

"Helen, would you show Jasna to the Gryffindor tower please?" Dumbledore asked a kind looking, perky blond Prefect.

"Of course, Professor!" she grinned.  Dumbledore smiled at her.

"Thank you Helen," he said.  He looked down at Jasna; "This is where I leave you, Jasna.  You can see me if ever you need to.  Helen is a Gryffindor prefect.  If you have any questions, you can ask her.  She will explain the rest of the rules to you.  Do well, I don't think your mother wants you to have to change schools again."

"Thank you, Professor," Jasna said, sweetly.  Dumbledore smiled again and left.  As he turned the corner, he saw McGonagall there.

"Hello, Minerva."
"Professor Dumbledore, don't you think-"
"The hat sorted her into Gryffindor.  I don't think it would have done that if she was a threat."
"There is such a thing as bravery in villains!" McGonagall replied.  Dumbledore laughed.

"She's fifteen!  And you think she's a villain?  Please, Minerva, be realistic!  Besides, she's your responsibility now so you better watch over her." McGonagall was shocked with this reply and she stopped and stared after Dumbledore, who continued walking and smiling.

"The tower is just this way.  Come on, I'll show you," Helen said, leading Jasna down the hall.  Up staircases and down hallways, Helen explained the dos and don'ts of the school.  She even gave her a brief background on the teachers.

"McGonagall is always strict, but in my opinion, she's a very fine witch.  Snape favors the Slytherins, usually.  Don't take it personally if he doesn't take a liking to you right away.  The new Defense Against Dark Arts teacher, Professor Heights, is pretty stern about your defense techniques.  He's an Auror, you see, and a very proud one, so don't offend him.  He's very particular about the way you do things and even if, in your opinion, you write the perfect paper, when he hands it back, you will always see all this red ink all over it…"

Finally, they approached the portrait of the Fat Lady.
"Log Fregs!" Helen cried, and turned to Jasna who looked confused; "It wasn't my idea.  I think she was a little out of it when she came up with it.  I think she meant to say 'Frog Legs.'  Go on, in you go!" Helen ushered Jasna in the door.  Again, Jasna was in awe.  The common room was so cozy.  She grinned.  She loved it.  Helen saw the smile on her face.

"Yeah, it is a nice place, isn't it?" she said, looking around.  A girl at the fireplace with bushy-brown hair looked up from the book she was reading.

"Hello," she smiled kindly at Jasna.  Jasna already liked it here.  No one knew about her, with the exception of a few teachers.  And that way, no one could be prejudice against her for it.

"Hi!" she replied, with all the enthusiasm of a first year.  That was how she felt, after all.

"I'm Hermione," the girl greeted, holding out her hand.

"I'm-" but before Jasna could finish, she saw one boy tumble down the stairs and hit his head.
"OWE!" he cried angrily, "Harry, that hurt!" Another boy climbed down the stairs after him, laughing hard.

"And they-" Hermione pointed at the two boys, rolling her eyes, "Are Harry and Ron." Harry stopped laughing and looked up.  Ron noticed he was looking something and turned his head to see what it was.

"Hey, you're that new girl," Ron said, "The American."

"Actually, my- no, you're right, American," Jasna nodded, vigorously.  She wasn't about to say her father was British.  She didn't want to think about her father ever again unless she had to.

"Cool." Harry nodded.  The room was silent.

"So!" Hermione said, trying to make conversation, "What part of the United States are you from?"

"Massachusetts," Jasna said, "I transferred here from St. Laurel's Academy of Witchcraft." Hermione looked impressed.

"Wow.  They have a high reputation."

"If it was such a good school, why did you transfer?" Harry asked.
"Well… My mom thought it would be better if I went to England.  You know, see the world," Jasna shrugged.
"So she pulled you out of school in the middle of the year?" Ron was skeptical.

"It was the only time Hogwarts would take me," Jasna answered.  She was becoming uneasy with the topic of conversation, "So, what's it like here?" she asked.

"Nothing special," Ron said.

"I heard it's a great school," Jasna said.  There was another silence.

"What was your name again?" Hermione asked, realizing she hadn't caught her name.

"Oh!  Jasna, Jasna Larden."

"Jasna.  Is that like, Y-A-S-N-A?  Or I-A-S-N-A?" Harry asked.

"Actually, it's with a J," Jasna said, "I should just say that 'Jasna with a J' whenever people ask." She gave a little laugh.

"Oh, by the way, whatever you do, stay away from Malfoy.  I think he likes you," Ron said before Hermione elbowed him in the gut making him emit an 'oof' sound.
"What?" Jasna said with a laugh.

"Well, the way he was talking about you to his stupid goons in Potions the other day-"
"Ron, shut up," Hermione said through clenched teeth.

"Ignore him," Harry smiled at Jasna, "He doesn't know when to shut up." Jasna grinned.  She knew she was going to like these people.