Two weeks after celebrating the anniversary of her first year in Hogsmeade, Ivy met Harry Potter. The usual crowd filled the pub for dinner, and Ivy was in the kitchen helping Willa finish up a Yorkshire pudding. She was peeking in on some roasting vegetables when the back door opened a crack. Her thoughts went immediately to Blackie. Dropping the fork she'd been using to test the vegetables, she turned and flung the door wide open.
"Blackie?" she whispered into the twilight.
"He told me you'd probably think I was him," a disembodied voice spoke from somewhere close to the rubbish bin.
Then the strangest thing Ivy'd ever seen happened right before her eyes. One minute the alley was empty, the next, a young boy began to appear. He didn't Apparate, like Ivy'd seen Rose do, it was more like he unfolded. First his head appeared, grinning a little sheepishly, then his shoulders and the rest of him. He held a hand out to her, but she was hesitant to take it, for the arm it should have been attached to didn't seem to be there.
"Sorry," he said, pulling on something that became visible as he placed it carefully on Rose's back steps. "Invisibility cloak. I couldn't get away without it. I'm Harry. Harry Potter. You must be Ivy. A mutual friend sent me."
Ivy's eyes grew wide, and she descended the steps toward him in two quick jumps.
"You're Harry Potter?" she asked, feeling stupid even as the question escaped from her mouth. She took his hand, and shook it vigorously.
Harry nodded. "Snuffles sent me. Wait. I think you called him something else..."
"Blackie," Ivy murmured. Thoughts of the gaunt faced Sirius Black flooded her mind.
"He's alright, isn't he?"
"Yeah," Harry assured her. "He wrote me a letter. Told me to come down and meet you."
"Oh heavens!" Ivy declared. "Where are my manners? Would you like some dinner? We have Yorkshire pudding tonight. And roasted potatoes, carrots and corn."
"Thanks, no," Harry replied. "I ate up at the castle, earlier. And I can't really come in... I'm not technically supposed to be here."
"Sneaking out, are you?" Ivy grinned, at home with the boy at once. She'd spent years teaching children his age, so she wasn't a stranger to their antics.
"Well.... Let's just say if certain people knew I'd come down here from Hogwarts, they wouldn't be too happy."
"You couldn't be talking about one of our favorite Marauders, could you? I mean... he'd be happy to see you, no matter what. You mean a great deal to him, Harry."
Harry shrugged. "You must mean a lot to him too. He wrote a whole letter about you."
Ivy grinned. "He did?"
Harry nodded. "About how you fed him ham bones all winter."
That made Ivy laugh. But the sound was cut short when she remembered the Yorkshire pudding. She ran back up the steps, and then turned back to Harry.
"Oh, come on into the kitchen. No one will see you if you keep that invisibility thing on."
Harry flipped the cloak around his shoulders and followed Ivy into the kitchen.
At least she assumed he did.
She checked on the pudding, pronouncing it done and pulling it out of the oven, while Willa pulled plates down from their cupboard. From the corner of her eye, Ivy saw a chair slide out from the table of its own accord. She picked up an empty platter and walked out to the bar.
"I'll fill orders tonight, Rosie," she announced. "Call me if you need me out here."
Rose nodded, looking up from the table she was polishing. It wasn't unusual for them to take turns waiting tables and filling orders.
"I have a feeling it'll be quiet tonight anyway, Ivy, now that everybody's settled up at Hogwarts."
Ivy turned back to the kitchen and began spreading things out on the table.
"So he's alright then," she asked the 'empty' chair.
"Seems to be," Harry said, grinning. He liked Ivy. Her obvious affection for Black made him feel comfortable at once. And the fact that she hadn't gone and scolded him outright for being off school property spoke volumes. He pulled off the cloak that hid him.
"He asked me to check on you," he told her. "And let him know how you were getting along. He said you didn't have many people to talk to."
Ivy sighed. "That's true. Since Blackie left, I've no one to tell my secrets to. I thought about getting a puppy. A nice shaggy black one. But it wouldn't be the same." She glanced at her arrangement of plates and serving dishes.
"Wait a minute," she said, reaching into a pocket. She produced her letter from Sirius. "He told me to keep an eye on you too." Unfolding the letter, she read it's script.
"'PS: I know you'll be meeting Harry soon, and I need you to do me a favor. Keep an eye on him for me. Let me know how he's doing. I'll feel much better knowing you're near if he needs you.'"
To her surprise, Harry fished a long piece of parchment from a pocket. Opening it, he read the same last line along with her, only changing the 'he' into a 'she'.
"He wrote the same thing to you about me?" Ivy asked.
"Yeah," Harry laughed. Ivy noticed a sadness to the sound.
"You miss him, don't you?" she asked.
"A lot," Harry admitted. "I only knew him for a little while, but you can't imagine how it felt to be with somebody who knew my parents. Somebody who cared about me because he was my dad's best friend. I had a real family for a while. But not long enough."
"He told me about Pettigrew getting away." Ivy muttered. "If it's any consolation, I miss him too. We used to sit together for hours. I'd talk his ear off and he'd just... listen. I suppose that's all a dog can do, really. But he seemed to understand. I'll never forget when I found out he wasn't just a dog. I though Remus Lupin was playing a huge trick on me."
"That's nothing. I tried to kill him."
Ivy's eyes widened. "You didn't."
"I did," Harry shrugged. "Only because I thought he was the one who gave my parents up to Voldemort."
"I'm sure he understood, Harry. You know that... right?"
Harry shrugged again. "I think so. We were both after the same thing, really. Avenging James and Lily Potter. My mum and dad."
Ivy's heart went out to the boy. She knew what it was like to grow up without the ones she loved.
"We can only hope his name is cleared soon, Harry," Ivy muttered. "And until then, we'll do what he asked us to do." Holding out her hand, she presented him her crooked pinky.
He grinned and hooked his little finger up to hers.
"I swear to watch out for you Harry. In honor of Sirius Black."
"I'll keep an eye on you too, Ivy. For Snuffles."
They contemplated each other for a moment, then Harry stood to his feet.
"I should be getting back to the castle."
"Yes you should!" Ivy answered, a little embarrassed for keeping him so long. He pulled the cloak around his shoulders, and Ivy watched as only his head floated toward the back door. Then a hand appeared as he waved goodbye.
"Bye, Ivy. Nice to meet you."
Ivy walked across the kitchen to stand by his side.
"Very nice to meet you, too," she offered. She opened the door while he pulled the cloak over his head, and then he was gone.
Ivy shook her head. "Amazing." She peered into the twilight to see if she could catch any hint of where he was walking, but saw nothing.
"That kid's good," she grinned, turning her attention back to the kitchen, hoping it wouldn't be long 'til she could talk to Harry Potter again.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Autumn and the news of the Triwizard Tournament brought more patrons to the Three Broomsticks than Ivy had ever known. Rose hired an older man named Renaldis Renfroe to take over duties at the bar, while she and Ivy waited tables. Three of Willa's cousins came to manage kitchen duties.
Although Ivy knew that many of the more unsavory sort frequented the Hog's Head, she was surprised every day by the myriad of different magicals drawn to Hogsmeade by the Tournament. She met a rowdy group of warlocks, and some vampires with heavy Russian accents. Three trolls attempted to place their order for dinner, but left when Rose refused to serve them their mutton alive and still very much on-the-hoof.
Ivy was sure she'd seen everything, until the night Hagrid came in, bringing along a new acquaintance. She should have realized something was up when the house elves attempted to hold her hostage in the kitchen. She'd finally wrestled a tray of steak-and-kidney pie from Willa and her cousins and headed toward the dining room when she saw them.
Hagrid stood at the bar, in a horribly hairy dress coat, gobs of thick greasy black stuff in his hair. His face was flushed red, and his eyes held a dreamy look that Ivy remembered from the morning the hippogriffs had been delivered to Hogwart's Station. Although Hagrid's new look was shocking, it wasn't him that made her drop the tray, but the person who stood by his side. (The tray was saved by Rose's quick thinking and levitation spell.)
There was no spell that could levitate Ivy's heart. It dropped to her feet and shattered in pieces. Hagrid wasn't enthralled by a hippogriff, or even a dragon, but a woman. An enormous and beautiful woman he introduced as Madam Maxime. It only took one look for Ivy to figure out that she had as much giant in her ancestry as Hagrid. Her jet black hair was caught in a soft bun at the nape of her neck, and her dark features took in the pub with what could only be described as a look of distain.
She pulled a massive lace handkerchief out of her long black sleeve and brought it to her nose as Hagrid made his introductions, although Ivy never really got to greet her face to face. By the time they turned to speak to her, she was passed out cold on the floor.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Oh, Ivy...."
Ivy woke up at the long kitchen table, amidst a jumble of plates being magically filled by the house elves. Rose patted her shoulder in commiseration, pressing a goblet of gillywater into her hands. Zack Zonko hovered over her as well, wringing his hands and shuffling from foot to foot.
"I want you to take Ivy out of here," Ivy heard Rose say to Zack. "Take her to Honeydukes for a little while. Here." She slipped him a handful of sickles and galleons.
"Keep her there awhile, would you...? Till they close or... whatever. Just..." She leaned over and whispered into his ear. "Just get her out of the pub."
Zack was more than happy to comply, the flesh under his chin jiggling merrily as he flashed Rosie a grin.
"What's the matter with her?" he asked, helping Ivy to her feet.
"Don't ask, Zack. Just do as I say. She's had a bit of a shock and she needs a little air."
Ivy moaned softly and leaned against Zack's shoulder, still dazed by what she'd seen in the pub.
"Go on -" Rose prodded, urging them toward the back stairs. Zack hesitated at the door, and Rose gave him a push.
"Times like these'll pass with a little patience and chocolate. Lots and lots of chocolate."
Ivy let Zack lead her down the alley, the dazzle in her brain slowly receding. Even in her disconnected state, she remembered Hagrid standing at the bar, looking incredibly moonstruck over some gigantic woman.
"What was her name again?" she mumbled as they opened the door to Honeyduke's Sweet Shop.
"Who?" Zack asked, taking her hand and leading her across the little shop like a child.
"That woman with Hagrid. Is she... is she magical?"
Zack laughed. "Reckon she's magical, Ivy. She's only headmaster of one of those schools competing in the Tournament. Beauxbatons."
"Headmaster?" Ivy repeated, reaching for a chair and sinking into it gratefully.
Zack nodded, then dropped her hand. "I'll be back in a minute," he explained gently. "I'll be right over there if you need me. I'm going to order you something chocolate, understand?" He pointed to the counter and then bent low to look into her eyes.
Ivy nodded, still numb from the shock of seeing Hagrid so obviously taken with somebody else. Slowly, the feeling of being kicked in the stomach by a mule was fading away. It was being replaced by righteous indignation. By the time Zonko returned to their table, bearing something that looked like a chocolate mountain, she was ready to attack. She snatched Zack's proffered spoon and stabbed it into the confection before her, discovering that the chocolate creme and chocolate chunks were covering up a thick and chewy chocolate brownie.
"So that's the way it ends, is it?" she snipped, scooping up a spoonful of chocolate that was far too big for her mouth.
"All that heartache and worry. And those all night card games I let him win. I'm knitting him socks for ruddy Christmas." She shook her spoon in Zack's direction, then stabbed the brownie mercilessly.
"And he..." she continued around a mouthful of creme. "He brings her right in to the pub, pretty as you please." The brownie and creme delight took another direct hit.
"So that's what this is about?" Zack grinned broadly. "Hagrid?"
"Yes. Hagrid. And Zack.... if you're any friend of mine, you'll... you'll..." tears began to fill her eyes. "You'll get me another one of these."
Zack gave her a funny look, then walked back over to the counter, while Ivy wiped angrily at her tears.
Two chocolate mountains later, the Honeydukes were ready to close up shop. Zack led Ivy into the street, but turned her away from the Three Broomsticks.
"Where are we going?" she asked, following on wobbly legs.
"Just for a little walk," Zack explained, his patience wearing a little thin. "I thought you might need some exercise. You ate a lot of chocolate in there, Ivy. I was afraid you might start feeling sick. Maybe a walk will clear your head."
"I am feeling sick," Ivy muttered. "Why'd you let me eat all of that?"
"Rose said to drown your sorrows in chocolate. I figured it was a girl thing."
"Drown my sorrows? Now that's a laugh. Sorrows don't drown, Zachary Zonko. They just keep stabbing and stabbing...." She clutched at her stomach and moaned.
"Just a little further," he assured her. Babysitting Ivy while she was in such obvious distress had lost its charm, but the rotund co-owner of Zonko's Joke Shop saw an opportunity he didn't want to miss. If Hagrid was working his way out of Ivy's system, so much the better for him. He took Ivy's hand and led her through a gate and up the path of a house at the very edge of town.
"Where are we?" Ivy asked as Zack pulled out his wand and lit candles and lamps to brighten the cottage's interior.
"My dad owns this house," Zack told her. "Nobody lives here at the moment. But Rose told me not to bring you home until she said so."
"Until Hagrid and that humongous beastly woman left the pub?"
Zack grinned. "Something like that."
He pulled out a chair for Ivy at a quaint little kitchen table, then put a kettle on his magically lit fireplace to make some tea.
"I know where we are..." Ivy said. She rose from her seat to peer through the window into the darkness. "There's the vulture tree. This house must be on the very edge of town."
"Pretty much. Dad wants to sell this old place. We just haven't had time to get down here to clean it up."
Ivy'd stopped listening. She was too busy examining the little house. There were two bedrooms down the tiny hallway. One was large and roomy, with windows that looked out toward the ancient vulture tree. The other was smaller, with a window that looked west, back toward Hogsmeade. The sitting room was small, but cozy, with a fireplace, and large windows facing the street. Everything about the place enchanted Ivy, and as she came back to sit down in the kitchen, some of the heaviness had left her heart.
"How much does he want for it?"
"What?" Zack asked, bringing her a cup of tea.
"How much does you father want for this house?" Ivy repeated. "It's absolutely adorable."
"This old place?" he turned to look at her with one raised eyebrow. "Maybe you need to see it when it's daylight."
"I like it," she stated, in a tone that resembled the one she'd taken while destroying brownies back at Honeydukes.
Zack sat down across the table from her, studying her face. "Really?"
"Yes, I do," she reasserted.
A slow smile spread over Zonko's face.
"I'll see what I can do."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ivy wandered home sometime later, feeling worse with every step she took. Sickness overcame her at the pub's back step. She made it to the rubbish bin just as the overload of chocolate was expelled from her stomach. As the spasms left her, she sat on the top step, curling into a ball and pressing her forehead against her knees.
Tears came then. Hot tears of resignation. Hagrid had finally announced, and quite loudly, that he would never love her.
"Everything's better off with its own kind," she whispered against her knees, drawing them even more tightly to her chest. "Giants belong with giants. Wizards belong with wizards. Muggles belong with Muggles, and squibs..." her voice failed her as the words pierced her very soul.
"Where we do we fit? We must choose to live a lie in a realm we cannot take part in, or turn our backs on it and live without everything we hold dear. Pigs don't fly. No matter how hard we want them too."
She reached inside her robes and pulled out the silver hippogriff necklace that hung around her neck. Looking at it brought on a fresh onslaught of tears. She was reaching behind her neck to unlatch it when the pub's back door opened.
"There you are," came Rosmerta's voice. She sat down beside Ivy and wrapped her arms around her.
"Pigs don't fly, Rosie," Ivy murmured bitterly. "Everything's better off with its own kind. Some things truly are... impossible."
Rose gave a sigh and reached out to brush a strand of hair from Ivy's wet cheek. "Is that what you believe, love?" She took a moment to gaze up at the stars. "Because if it is, then my greatest fear has come true. You're not a squib anymore. If you've lost your faith in magic then you've become what your father wanted you to be. A Muggle. Simple truth. You've devoted your life to studying the stories they came up with to explain away magic. Are you telling me you'd rather believe their myths than what you've seen with your own eyes?
"Ivy... We saw Hagrid with a giantess last night. And yes... he may be infatuated with her for the moment, but... she's not like us. She's not like you. She spent the whole night with her handkerchief over her nose, like we all... stank, or something. The Brunswick stew was too thick, the brandy was... let me see. How did she put it? 'Of zee inferior zort you are uzed to in zee barbarian lands.' The pub is Hagrid's second home, Ivy. He won't give his heart to someone like her. Or maybe he will, and she'll bring her hanky up to her nose and refuse him. Instead of feeling sorry for myself, I'd be feeling sorry for Hagrid, if I were you. I fear what's to become of him if she breaks his heart. He's so..."
"Good," Ivy finished.
"Yes," Rose smiled. "And tender-hearted."
"And selfless," Ivy continued in a whisper. "And funny, and beautiful."
"Better watch out... I think a just saw a pig fly over."
Ivy finally gave a little laugh.
"I love you, Ivy. And Hagrid does too. In his heart of hearts, I know he does. It may take him a while to figure it out though. Men are thick in the head. And giants... even thicker. Let him have Maxime. She may help get things through to his brain a little faster, you never know."
"It's hard to watch him look at her that way," Ivy countered. "I always wanted..."
"He will. I promise. He'll look at you that way someday."
"You didn't happen to see that in your gazing ball or tea leaves, Rosie?"
Rose laughed. "Sorry, no. It's what my heart tells me is true. Just like I know that Remus will come back to Hogsmeade someday. And we'll find a way to be together. Love, Ivy. It's the most powerful magic of all. Don't forget that."
"I'm trying not to."
"I know. Now lets get you up to bed. It's nearly morning."
Ivy stood to her feet and tucked her necklace back into the collar of her robes, determined to hold on to it a little while longer.