Harry Potter and the Locket of Trinity: Chapter Four
"To Juggle or Not to Juggle."
A/N: Okay, so that humiliating display of groveling got me a review. YAY-RAH!! I'm elated, whoop de doo!!
* * * * *
Tuesday's classes were Defense Against the Dark Arts and then, after lunch, Care of Magical Creatures. Harry hoped that this year Hagrid would have enough confidence to actually teach useful classes.
The new DADA teacher was a Mr. Morgan Wood, which immediately brought to Harry's mind the reason he looked so familiar. He must be Oliver Wood's brother!
(A/N: Okay, I'm picturing the Oliver Wood from the movie, Sean Biggerstaff, you know? You must keep this in mind to properly understand why all the girl students are going gaga over this guy. For those of you that don't know, Sean Biggerstaff is a sex god, oh my gosh indeed. Sexy man.. oh yes, back to the story now!)
Even Hermione was just a little more giggly and smiley than usual, but Lavender and Parvati were enough to make Harry and Ron physically gag. "My goodness, that man is so adorable! What I would give for just one snog." Lavender cooed after class.
Ron and Harry began pantomiming vomiting all over each other. "You know the best thing about him?" Parvati replied, shooting an evil glare towards the two boys. "He's so much more mature than the guys we know."
"Ouch, Parvati, that was quite a childish thing to say." said Harry.
"Yeah, I don't think Morgie appreciates bratty little girls." Ron added, earning quite the scathing look from the two.
"I don't see what all the fuss is about," Trinny remarked, making Ron and Harry like her a lot more and Lavender and Parvati despise her a lot more. "I'm not all that into guys with the three B's."
"What are the three B's?" Hermione asked.
"You know, brawny, big muscles, and brainless." explained Trinny.
"Ooh, way to go Trinity!" Harry praised, clapping her on the back.
She looked up at him and blushed, then continued. "I go more for the string bean, mop-top, mischievous and laid-back guys myself. Professor Morgan's all yours, ladies." Ron took note that Trinny's description of her perfect man strangely illustrated Harry's profile.
Professor Wood actually did fit Trinny's opinion of him. He was very tall, and very well built, and very dim-witted. Harry figured the only reason he was a good auror is because he could either speak Troll, or, if negotiation didn't work, he could wrestle it to the ground. It looked like there was another Gilderoy Lockhart on their hands.
Hagrid really did seem to have more confidence this year. Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Trinny went to visit him in his hut during lunch to help him prepare for his first lesson. "'Ave some real intrestin' 'ssignment ideas 'is year, you'll see." Hagrid commented, with a twinkle in his eye. But no matter how they begged, he wouldn't go any farther into it.
Harry noticed a rather large letter sitting on Hagrid's tabletop, so naturally, being the respectful and sanctimonious child he was, he picked it up and read it.
My Dearest Hagrid,
I miss you so, and though I am far away delivering messages to my family for your headmaster Dumblydorr, your letters still warm me to the bone. I miss you, and promise a visit as soon as things are taken care of.
I thank you for all your encouragement over the summer of ceasing my pretending, and not being ashamed of what I really am: a half-giantess. And with the help of you and Dumblydorr, my heritage has been turned not into a detriment, but an advantage, a help in the fight against He-Who-Must-Not-Be- Named.
With all the love in my heart,
Madame Maxime
Harry felt his head burst with excitement. Exactly what HAD happened over the summer? Had Madame Maxim finally admitted to her lineage? Had an envoy to the giant population of, well, giants, been sent out? But, most importantly, had the Headmaster of Beauxbatons and Hagrid begun a romance?!
Quickly Harry folded the letter back up and put it in its envelope, head spinning. "What yeh been up ter, yeh three?" Hagrid asked, and Harry whipped his head up, way up, to see the man.
"Four, Hagrid, we've got a new addition. We'd like you to meet our new Gryffindor, Trinity McGundron-Philips." Hermione introduced, shoving the girl forward. The first time Harry had met the big man personally, he was floored by the sheer mass of him and scared half to death. But Trinny couldn't look calmer, it was as if she were meeting her toddler cousin or something. Harry felt a strange surge of pride and admiration surge through his chest unchecked.
"Nice te meet yeh, Trinity. My, that there's quite a name teh put on yer paper as a kid, huh?" Hagrid remarked about her rather complicated name.
"Oh, um yeah, had it ever since I was born." Trinny replied, scratching the back of her neck awkwardly.
"Really, how fascinating. It's not like that's a common occurrence or anything." Ron whispered, with no real intention to be heard by anyone other than Harry. Fortunately for him, Trinny was fidgeting too much to hear his snide remark.
"I 'spect yeh've taken a likin' to Hogwarts so far?" Hagrid asked politely, oblivious to the situation. Either that or pleasantly ignoring it, though Harry suspected the former.
"Yes," said Trinny with a more than a hint of relief. "The school is certainly a very special one. I love it here, I can't imagine leaving at the end of term."
"Trust me, you'll be ready to." Ron answered, rolling his eyes. But at least Harry knew exactly what she was talking about. He wondered what her home life was like, if she was muggle-born, or just ignorant. Trinny didn't seem to know a lot of things about the wizarding world, and that whole bit about her coming just in time for fifth year. something was afoot, and Harry hoped it wasn't something dark....
After a sticky and tough lunch supplied by Hagrid, Care of Magical Creatures was about to begin. "This year, bein' fi'f years an' all, I figgered yeh'd be ready to tackle a bit tougher 'ssignments. Now, I've got some papers 'ere fer yer parents to sign, to avoid the incident that happened last term." Hagrid favored a particularly nasty look towards Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle, and Harry almost whooped with joy. But he refrained.
When the permission slips were passed out, a sickening jolt went through Harry. There was no way the Dursley's would sign something that would make him happy, criminal godfather or no. He would be forced to sit indoors and do bookwork all term, watching all the other kids handle dragons and hinkypunks or whatever Hagrid had in store for them.
Glancing around, Harry saw the same look of dread mirrored on Trinny's usually delicate but strong face. Tentatively Harry raised his hand and Hagrid called on him. "Who, exactly, is supposed to sign this?" he asked.
"Yer parents, o' course." Hagrid answered as if Harry were thick. Then his eyes lit up as he understood. "Ah, erm, or if yeh wanted teh, a current guardian, godparent, or official could. Dumbledore migh' even do it, if yeh asked him." Harry nodded, and saw Trinny's face relax a bit, though still pale.
What is up with this chick? Harry thought to himself. Is she parentless, like me, or hiding something worse. FAR worse.The possibilities were endless.
Perhaps the worst day imaginable in Harry's schedule began the next morning. Double Potions was, followed by History of Magic with Professor Binns. It was common knowledge that Professor Snape was might as well be Lucifer himself, but it seemed a goal of Professor Binns' to make every student in that class as dead as he was, wielding boredom as his weapon.
After a gigantic breakfast, sort of like a last meal, Harry, Trinny, Hermione, and Ron walked to the dungeons together. The new girl, unlike Harry himself had been his first time down there, looked surprisingly calm and collected as they marched down the cold, damp corridors, their footfalls echoing eerily off the stone walls.
Hermione and Ron chose a table together near the back of the Potions classroom, so Harry and Trinny sat at an adjacent one. "I hope the greasy git's in a bit of a better mood this year." Ron whispered to Harry, seated across the aisle.
"I can assure you, Mr. Weasley, that my distaste for arrogant troublemakers hasn't changed in the least." said a chilling voice from behind the chalkboard. With a growing sense of dread, the four friends saw the previously thought black curtains shuffle as Severus Snape emerged from the shadows.
Though whatever punishment he was about to administer to Ron for his sardonic comment was cut short by the bloodcurdling screams the man began emitting.
"EEEEEYYYYYAAAAA!!!!!!!" the Potions Master screeched in agony, clutching his right wrist. Harry noticed that it was the very wrist that had the Dark Mark tattooed on it, but he didn't say anything about it.
Disturbed murmurs raced through the crowd of students, and Harry noticed tears spring up behind Trinny's dark framed glasses. "Come on, we've got to get some help." Harry whispered, grabbing her hand and hurrying with her out the door. Snape's haunting shouts chased after them, following them down the halls.
Harry sped towards the nearest door, throwing it open and revealing a small staircase. He had no idea where it lead, apart from up, but he took a chance and went up the winding steps. A dazzling light shocked his eyes when a circular window letting sunshine stream down the dark passage emerged above him. Harry was momentarily blinded and disoriented, but suddenly Trinny took charge and struck out down a large and ornate hall. It led to a strange little goblin statue, which Harry thought of as oddly familiar, and Trinny expertly stated "Pumpkin Pasty" before a previously hidden door swung open on their right.
Harry and Trinny stepped out into Headmaster Dumbledore's office.
"Take me to him." was all the gray-haired man said upon their impromptu entrance, throwing on dark maroon robes and grabbing a strange looking staff.
Without a word, Trinny, still grasping Harry's hand tightly, whipped around and retraced their steps along the hallway, winding down the staircase once more, and to the Potions room. Then she stood aside, allowing Dumbledore to enter first.
"Go fetch Madame Pomfrey, Trinity, and tell her to hurry." ordered the Headmaster, before whisking himself inside. Harry gave Trinny's hand a final supporting squeeze before she too was off down the corridor, sapphire robes billowing behind her.
The first thing that Harry noticed upon reentering the classroom was that Professor Snape was no longer screaming. In fact, everything was silent. Unnervingly silent.
The second thing he noticed was that the Potions Master was standing with the old nasty look on his face, looking as if he had eaten something unpleasant for lunch that was just now coming up, his left hand on his hip and his right tucked near his chest.
"Severus, what happened?" Dumbledore requested, although Harry felt that the old man already knew exactly what had happened. He took the cane from his side and unscrewed the silver unicorn's head on it's top, scooping out a cream and smoothing it on Snape's wrist.
Immediately the man let out an audible sigh of relief. "Thank you, Albus." he whispered in gratitude, his face assuming a civil posture for once in his life.
"It's no problem. can you go on?" the old man inquired.
"I'm sure, this is nothing. I have students." Professor Snape answered, waving his good hand at his superior, as if to say "I've been through worse." Dumbledore remained unconvinced.
"Maybe I'll just sit in on your class for today." the Headmaster suggested firmly in a way that showed there was no negotiation about it. The Potions Master nodded severely and addressed the class.
"I can only hope that all the knowledge you couldn't have memorized for the life of you last term has stuck with you enough to somewhat be of assistance this year." Snape barked, his usual beginning-of-year speech surlier than usual.
It was one loooooong class.
Trinny joined Harry at the entrance to the dungeons, looking apprehensive. Harry suddenly realized that she hadn't ever come back to the Potions classroom after Dumbledore told her to go fetch Madame Pomfrey. Very strange. "Is he all right?" the girl whispered in fear to Harry.
"Nastier than ever, if that's what you mean." Harry replied.
"I wonder what that was all about," inquired Ron. "That man hardly shows any feelings at all, and then first off he nearly cries with pain? It couldn't have been any run-of-the-mill prank by Peeves, or allergic reaction or something."
"D-do you think it has something to do with You-Know-Who?" Hermione suggested, confirming what was in everyone else's minds.
"Dunno, Hermione. never can tell with this place." Ron answered softly, cushioning his words when a look of dread appeared on Trinny's face.
Harry was so confused about Trinity. Sometimes she seemed so strong, so fearless. and then the next second she was a terrified child with fragile, doe-like eyes of broken innocence. In those instances he felt like he should do something, like hug her and stroke her hair and whisper that everything's gonna turn out all right. Harry ached so much to do that, but he didn't.
During lunch, Trinny was so distraught she couldn't eat. Harry grabbed a hunk of bread and hid it beneath his robes, and invited Trinny for a tour of the grounds. She looked like she needed some cheering up. The girl obliged excitedly.
"Hogwarts is so amazing. everything has a personality. The paintings, the staircases, the dungeons, it's like one big extended family." Trinny mused as they walked out into the sunlight. Harry had never seen it like that before, but she was right. That was exactly the way he felt, but had never been able to articulate it into words.
"So, you like it here so far?" Harry asked.
"Of course!" Trinny exclaimed, as if there could be no other answer.
"Where do you come from?" Harry thought of adding 'besides heaven' at the end of that, throwing in an old pick-up line he learned from Fred Weasley, but he refrained. He really didn't want to cheapen this conversation.
Trinny thought for a moment, then spoke again. "Small town, just south of London. I lived with my aunt, before she died, then in a foster home. The ministry apologized so much for overlooking me when searching for witches and wizards lost in the miggle world."
Harry decided not to comment on her wrong use of the world 'muggle,' and then prodded her on. "Who did you get it from, your mother or your father?"
"I actually don't know. Mother, I assume, because my aunt sure wasn't a witch and she was my father's sister." Harry remembered his aunt Petunia and cringed. She was far from magical, and yet his mother had been.
"Do you miss it? The muggle world, I mean."
"Sort of. at least there I knew who I was. Now I'm labeled the new kid, and I have to find my nitch all over again."
"Don't worry. I never found my nitch before I came to Hogwarts, and now I'm quite happy where I am."
"Where did you live before?"
"With my Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon, and their pig-in-a-wig son Dudley. They were horrible to me, I actually lived in a cupboard under the stairs."
Trinny looked horrified. "WHY?!"
"Because my mother and father were magical, and the Dursley's were just boring old muggles afraid of anything different. I still have to live there during the summers."
"I have no idea where I'll go after this term. Probably back to the foster home, though Mr. and Mrs. Johnson were quite taken aback when a small man in canary yellow robes arrived on our doorstep and took me away. Didn't even fight, my foster parents. They just stood there, hollering out the door for me to be home before midnight."
Harry laid a comforting arm around Trinny's shoulders. "They're probably worried sick now."
"I sent them a letter, telling them my parent's trust said I should go to a boarding school in Sweden. They just sent me a package of clean underwear and a toothbrush in return, no note or anything." Trinny seemed bitter about the whole thing. Harry realized that he couldn't care less about the Dursley's, in fact he didn't want to see their slimy faces ever again.
They walked like that for a while, Harry's arm draped over Trinny's shoulders, Trinny's head resting on Harry's arm. Harry thought he could actually feel her heart calming down as they rounded the lake for the third time.
"Thank you, Harry." Trinny whispered, turning around and hugging him, having to stand on her tip toes to reach him.
"Ngghh-wiffle." was all Harry could get out. She pulled away slightly, looking into Harry's green eyes with those clear blue ones of her own, and he felt an electric charge shoot up from his toes and into his heart.
Then the worst thing imaginable happened. He thought of Jacie Lagne. Harry didn't know why that girl had to pop into his head, he figured it as probably his mind getting revenge on him. He felt like he was cheating on Jacie, though nothing about an exclusive relationship was ever said.
Abruptly Harry pulled away from Trinny and put his hand on the back of his neck awkwardly. He felt his ears redden. "So. erm, best get back to the school, huh? We've got History of Magic next."
Trinny looked confused, but not hurt, and followed Harry to the boring old ghost's room.
All through the boring class, Harry tried to sort out his feelings for the two girls. They were both so similar, outgoing and, well, beautiful. They both caused the same stir in his breast, the same longing to cuddle and swoon and do other previously considered revolting things. But the big differences were that Jacie was a muggle, and that she seemed to hold him at arms length. Like she was hiding something.
Harry knew what he had to do, if he was ever going to be in the same room with Jacie or Trinny again. After History of Magic had ended, Harry marched straight to his dormitory and whipped out a piece of parchment.
"Dear Jacie," he began.
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A/N: Aww, poow Harry is confused! Who do you think he should go after, huh? Jacie or Trinny? Both seem like their hiding something. and should the fact that Jacie's a muggle really bother Harry that much? All very good questions I would love to be answered in reviews! (actually, I'd be ecstatic with just a review.)
Love from,
Saranimal
HaloGal5@aol.com
"To Juggle or Not to Juggle."
A/N: Okay, so that humiliating display of groveling got me a review. YAY-RAH!! I'm elated, whoop de doo!!
* * * * *
Tuesday's classes were Defense Against the Dark Arts and then, after lunch, Care of Magical Creatures. Harry hoped that this year Hagrid would have enough confidence to actually teach useful classes.
The new DADA teacher was a Mr. Morgan Wood, which immediately brought to Harry's mind the reason he looked so familiar. He must be Oliver Wood's brother!
(A/N: Okay, I'm picturing the Oliver Wood from the movie, Sean Biggerstaff, you know? You must keep this in mind to properly understand why all the girl students are going gaga over this guy. For those of you that don't know, Sean Biggerstaff is a sex god, oh my gosh indeed. Sexy man.. oh yes, back to the story now!)
Even Hermione was just a little more giggly and smiley than usual, but Lavender and Parvati were enough to make Harry and Ron physically gag. "My goodness, that man is so adorable! What I would give for just one snog." Lavender cooed after class.
Ron and Harry began pantomiming vomiting all over each other. "You know the best thing about him?" Parvati replied, shooting an evil glare towards the two boys. "He's so much more mature than the guys we know."
"Ouch, Parvati, that was quite a childish thing to say." said Harry.
"Yeah, I don't think Morgie appreciates bratty little girls." Ron added, earning quite the scathing look from the two.
"I don't see what all the fuss is about," Trinny remarked, making Ron and Harry like her a lot more and Lavender and Parvati despise her a lot more. "I'm not all that into guys with the three B's."
"What are the three B's?" Hermione asked.
"You know, brawny, big muscles, and brainless." explained Trinny.
"Ooh, way to go Trinity!" Harry praised, clapping her on the back.
She looked up at him and blushed, then continued. "I go more for the string bean, mop-top, mischievous and laid-back guys myself. Professor Morgan's all yours, ladies." Ron took note that Trinny's description of her perfect man strangely illustrated Harry's profile.
Professor Wood actually did fit Trinny's opinion of him. He was very tall, and very well built, and very dim-witted. Harry figured the only reason he was a good auror is because he could either speak Troll, or, if negotiation didn't work, he could wrestle it to the ground. It looked like there was another Gilderoy Lockhart on their hands.
Hagrid really did seem to have more confidence this year. Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Trinny went to visit him in his hut during lunch to help him prepare for his first lesson. "'Ave some real intrestin' 'ssignment ideas 'is year, you'll see." Hagrid commented, with a twinkle in his eye. But no matter how they begged, he wouldn't go any farther into it.
Harry noticed a rather large letter sitting on Hagrid's tabletop, so naturally, being the respectful and sanctimonious child he was, he picked it up and read it.
My Dearest Hagrid,
I miss you so, and though I am far away delivering messages to my family for your headmaster Dumblydorr, your letters still warm me to the bone. I miss you, and promise a visit as soon as things are taken care of.
I thank you for all your encouragement over the summer of ceasing my pretending, and not being ashamed of what I really am: a half-giantess. And with the help of you and Dumblydorr, my heritage has been turned not into a detriment, but an advantage, a help in the fight against He-Who-Must-Not-Be- Named.
With all the love in my heart,
Madame Maxime
Harry felt his head burst with excitement. Exactly what HAD happened over the summer? Had Madame Maxim finally admitted to her lineage? Had an envoy to the giant population of, well, giants, been sent out? But, most importantly, had the Headmaster of Beauxbatons and Hagrid begun a romance?!
Quickly Harry folded the letter back up and put it in its envelope, head spinning. "What yeh been up ter, yeh three?" Hagrid asked, and Harry whipped his head up, way up, to see the man.
"Four, Hagrid, we've got a new addition. We'd like you to meet our new Gryffindor, Trinity McGundron-Philips." Hermione introduced, shoving the girl forward. The first time Harry had met the big man personally, he was floored by the sheer mass of him and scared half to death. But Trinny couldn't look calmer, it was as if she were meeting her toddler cousin or something. Harry felt a strange surge of pride and admiration surge through his chest unchecked.
"Nice te meet yeh, Trinity. My, that there's quite a name teh put on yer paper as a kid, huh?" Hagrid remarked about her rather complicated name.
"Oh, um yeah, had it ever since I was born." Trinny replied, scratching the back of her neck awkwardly.
"Really, how fascinating. It's not like that's a common occurrence or anything." Ron whispered, with no real intention to be heard by anyone other than Harry. Fortunately for him, Trinny was fidgeting too much to hear his snide remark.
"I 'spect yeh've taken a likin' to Hogwarts so far?" Hagrid asked politely, oblivious to the situation. Either that or pleasantly ignoring it, though Harry suspected the former.
"Yes," said Trinny with a more than a hint of relief. "The school is certainly a very special one. I love it here, I can't imagine leaving at the end of term."
"Trust me, you'll be ready to." Ron answered, rolling his eyes. But at least Harry knew exactly what she was talking about. He wondered what her home life was like, if she was muggle-born, or just ignorant. Trinny didn't seem to know a lot of things about the wizarding world, and that whole bit about her coming just in time for fifth year. something was afoot, and Harry hoped it wasn't something dark....
After a sticky and tough lunch supplied by Hagrid, Care of Magical Creatures was about to begin. "This year, bein' fi'f years an' all, I figgered yeh'd be ready to tackle a bit tougher 'ssignments. Now, I've got some papers 'ere fer yer parents to sign, to avoid the incident that happened last term." Hagrid favored a particularly nasty look towards Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle, and Harry almost whooped with joy. But he refrained.
When the permission slips were passed out, a sickening jolt went through Harry. There was no way the Dursley's would sign something that would make him happy, criminal godfather or no. He would be forced to sit indoors and do bookwork all term, watching all the other kids handle dragons and hinkypunks or whatever Hagrid had in store for them.
Glancing around, Harry saw the same look of dread mirrored on Trinny's usually delicate but strong face. Tentatively Harry raised his hand and Hagrid called on him. "Who, exactly, is supposed to sign this?" he asked.
"Yer parents, o' course." Hagrid answered as if Harry were thick. Then his eyes lit up as he understood. "Ah, erm, or if yeh wanted teh, a current guardian, godparent, or official could. Dumbledore migh' even do it, if yeh asked him." Harry nodded, and saw Trinny's face relax a bit, though still pale.
What is up with this chick? Harry thought to himself. Is she parentless, like me, or hiding something worse. FAR worse.The possibilities were endless.
Perhaps the worst day imaginable in Harry's schedule began the next morning. Double Potions was, followed by History of Magic with Professor Binns. It was common knowledge that Professor Snape was might as well be Lucifer himself, but it seemed a goal of Professor Binns' to make every student in that class as dead as he was, wielding boredom as his weapon.
After a gigantic breakfast, sort of like a last meal, Harry, Trinny, Hermione, and Ron walked to the dungeons together. The new girl, unlike Harry himself had been his first time down there, looked surprisingly calm and collected as they marched down the cold, damp corridors, their footfalls echoing eerily off the stone walls.
Hermione and Ron chose a table together near the back of the Potions classroom, so Harry and Trinny sat at an adjacent one. "I hope the greasy git's in a bit of a better mood this year." Ron whispered to Harry, seated across the aisle.
"I can assure you, Mr. Weasley, that my distaste for arrogant troublemakers hasn't changed in the least." said a chilling voice from behind the chalkboard. With a growing sense of dread, the four friends saw the previously thought black curtains shuffle as Severus Snape emerged from the shadows.
Though whatever punishment he was about to administer to Ron for his sardonic comment was cut short by the bloodcurdling screams the man began emitting.
"EEEEEYYYYYAAAAA!!!!!!!" the Potions Master screeched in agony, clutching his right wrist. Harry noticed that it was the very wrist that had the Dark Mark tattooed on it, but he didn't say anything about it.
Disturbed murmurs raced through the crowd of students, and Harry noticed tears spring up behind Trinny's dark framed glasses. "Come on, we've got to get some help." Harry whispered, grabbing her hand and hurrying with her out the door. Snape's haunting shouts chased after them, following them down the halls.
Harry sped towards the nearest door, throwing it open and revealing a small staircase. He had no idea where it lead, apart from up, but he took a chance and went up the winding steps. A dazzling light shocked his eyes when a circular window letting sunshine stream down the dark passage emerged above him. Harry was momentarily blinded and disoriented, but suddenly Trinny took charge and struck out down a large and ornate hall. It led to a strange little goblin statue, which Harry thought of as oddly familiar, and Trinny expertly stated "Pumpkin Pasty" before a previously hidden door swung open on their right.
Harry and Trinny stepped out into Headmaster Dumbledore's office.
"Take me to him." was all the gray-haired man said upon their impromptu entrance, throwing on dark maroon robes and grabbing a strange looking staff.
Without a word, Trinny, still grasping Harry's hand tightly, whipped around and retraced their steps along the hallway, winding down the staircase once more, and to the Potions room. Then she stood aside, allowing Dumbledore to enter first.
"Go fetch Madame Pomfrey, Trinity, and tell her to hurry." ordered the Headmaster, before whisking himself inside. Harry gave Trinny's hand a final supporting squeeze before she too was off down the corridor, sapphire robes billowing behind her.
The first thing that Harry noticed upon reentering the classroom was that Professor Snape was no longer screaming. In fact, everything was silent. Unnervingly silent.
The second thing he noticed was that the Potions Master was standing with the old nasty look on his face, looking as if he had eaten something unpleasant for lunch that was just now coming up, his left hand on his hip and his right tucked near his chest.
"Severus, what happened?" Dumbledore requested, although Harry felt that the old man already knew exactly what had happened. He took the cane from his side and unscrewed the silver unicorn's head on it's top, scooping out a cream and smoothing it on Snape's wrist.
Immediately the man let out an audible sigh of relief. "Thank you, Albus." he whispered in gratitude, his face assuming a civil posture for once in his life.
"It's no problem. can you go on?" the old man inquired.
"I'm sure, this is nothing. I have students." Professor Snape answered, waving his good hand at his superior, as if to say "I've been through worse." Dumbledore remained unconvinced.
"Maybe I'll just sit in on your class for today." the Headmaster suggested firmly in a way that showed there was no negotiation about it. The Potions Master nodded severely and addressed the class.
"I can only hope that all the knowledge you couldn't have memorized for the life of you last term has stuck with you enough to somewhat be of assistance this year." Snape barked, his usual beginning-of-year speech surlier than usual.
It was one loooooong class.
Trinny joined Harry at the entrance to the dungeons, looking apprehensive. Harry suddenly realized that she hadn't ever come back to the Potions classroom after Dumbledore told her to go fetch Madame Pomfrey. Very strange. "Is he all right?" the girl whispered in fear to Harry.
"Nastier than ever, if that's what you mean." Harry replied.
"I wonder what that was all about," inquired Ron. "That man hardly shows any feelings at all, and then first off he nearly cries with pain? It couldn't have been any run-of-the-mill prank by Peeves, or allergic reaction or something."
"D-do you think it has something to do with You-Know-Who?" Hermione suggested, confirming what was in everyone else's minds.
"Dunno, Hermione. never can tell with this place." Ron answered softly, cushioning his words when a look of dread appeared on Trinny's face.
Harry was so confused about Trinity. Sometimes she seemed so strong, so fearless. and then the next second she was a terrified child with fragile, doe-like eyes of broken innocence. In those instances he felt like he should do something, like hug her and stroke her hair and whisper that everything's gonna turn out all right. Harry ached so much to do that, but he didn't.
During lunch, Trinny was so distraught she couldn't eat. Harry grabbed a hunk of bread and hid it beneath his robes, and invited Trinny for a tour of the grounds. She looked like she needed some cheering up. The girl obliged excitedly.
"Hogwarts is so amazing. everything has a personality. The paintings, the staircases, the dungeons, it's like one big extended family." Trinny mused as they walked out into the sunlight. Harry had never seen it like that before, but she was right. That was exactly the way he felt, but had never been able to articulate it into words.
"So, you like it here so far?" Harry asked.
"Of course!" Trinny exclaimed, as if there could be no other answer.
"Where do you come from?" Harry thought of adding 'besides heaven' at the end of that, throwing in an old pick-up line he learned from Fred Weasley, but he refrained. He really didn't want to cheapen this conversation.
Trinny thought for a moment, then spoke again. "Small town, just south of London. I lived with my aunt, before she died, then in a foster home. The ministry apologized so much for overlooking me when searching for witches and wizards lost in the miggle world."
Harry decided not to comment on her wrong use of the world 'muggle,' and then prodded her on. "Who did you get it from, your mother or your father?"
"I actually don't know. Mother, I assume, because my aunt sure wasn't a witch and she was my father's sister." Harry remembered his aunt Petunia and cringed. She was far from magical, and yet his mother had been.
"Do you miss it? The muggle world, I mean."
"Sort of. at least there I knew who I was. Now I'm labeled the new kid, and I have to find my nitch all over again."
"Don't worry. I never found my nitch before I came to Hogwarts, and now I'm quite happy where I am."
"Where did you live before?"
"With my Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon, and their pig-in-a-wig son Dudley. They were horrible to me, I actually lived in a cupboard under the stairs."
Trinny looked horrified. "WHY?!"
"Because my mother and father were magical, and the Dursley's were just boring old muggles afraid of anything different. I still have to live there during the summers."
"I have no idea where I'll go after this term. Probably back to the foster home, though Mr. and Mrs. Johnson were quite taken aback when a small man in canary yellow robes arrived on our doorstep and took me away. Didn't even fight, my foster parents. They just stood there, hollering out the door for me to be home before midnight."
Harry laid a comforting arm around Trinny's shoulders. "They're probably worried sick now."
"I sent them a letter, telling them my parent's trust said I should go to a boarding school in Sweden. They just sent me a package of clean underwear and a toothbrush in return, no note or anything." Trinny seemed bitter about the whole thing. Harry realized that he couldn't care less about the Dursley's, in fact he didn't want to see their slimy faces ever again.
They walked like that for a while, Harry's arm draped over Trinny's shoulders, Trinny's head resting on Harry's arm. Harry thought he could actually feel her heart calming down as they rounded the lake for the third time.
"Thank you, Harry." Trinny whispered, turning around and hugging him, having to stand on her tip toes to reach him.
"Ngghh-wiffle." was all Harry could get out. She pulled away slightly, looking into Harry's green eyes with those clear blue ones of her own, and he felt an electric charge shoot up from his toes and into his heart.
Then the worst thing imaginable happened. He thought of Jacie Lagne. Harry didn't know why that girl had to pop into his head, he figured it as probably his mind getting revenge on him. He felt like he was cheating on Jacie, though nothing about an exclusive relationship was ever said.
Abruptly Harry pulled away from Trinny and put his hand on the back of his neck awkwardly. He felt his ears redden. "So. erm, best get back to the school, huh? We've got History of Magic next."
Trinny looked confused, but not hurt, and followed Harry to the boring old ghost's room.
All through the boring class, Harry tried to sort out his feelings for the two girls. They were both so similar, outgoing and, well, beautiful. They both caused the same stir in his breast, the same longing to cuddle and swoon and do other previously considered revolting things. But the big differences were that Jacie was a muggle, and that she seemed to hold him at arms length. Like she was hiding something.
Harry knew what he had to do, if he was ever going to be in the same room with Jacie or Trinny again. After History of Magic had ended, Harry marched straight to his dormitory and whipped out a piece of parchment.
"Dear Jacie," he began.
* * * * *
A/N: Aww, poow Harry is confused! Who do you think he should go after, huh? Jacie or Trinny? Both seem like their hiding something. and should the fact that Jacie's a muggle really bother Harry that much? All very good questions I would love to be answered in reviews! (actually, I'd be ecstatic with just a review.)
Love from,
Saranimal
HaloGal5@aol.com