Slytherin Robes do not a Slytherin Make
The other Gryffindors won't speak to Johnny. Her former friends ignore her as she walks by them in the corridors. The Slytherins treat her as though she's not good enough to be one of them, not that she minds that, but she's getting so lonely that even kind words from Pansy Parkinson would be welcome.
The worst part is that Ginny and Hermione won't speak to her. Johnny watches them walk together, glaring at her as they pass. Johnny lowers her head and sneaks around every time she encounters them.
Johnny's only solace is helping Hagrid with his creatures. She is allowed to accompany him into the Forbidden Forest, which she does frequently to avoid watching the Quidditch matches. She can't stand seeing them airborne and not being to join them. She's glad that Matthew has taken her spot, so that there's at least an American Beater on the team, but it's still too much to bear.
By mid November, Johnny is sick of the hurt being inflicted on her for a crime she didn't commit. She sits in Potions, anxiously waiting for him to dismiss class so that she can hurry back to Hagrid's hut and clear her mind of people and their ridiculous faults. At least the animals didn't treat her like a criminal.
"Johnny," a familiar voice says suddenly. Johnny turns to see Colby standing behind her. He is following her toward Hagrid's quickly. "I wanted to talk to you."
Tears form behind Johnny's eyes but she won't cry. She smiles faintly. "What do you need, man?" she tries to sound more cheerful than she feels. She's slightly wary of anyone talking to her anymore.
"I need help and I don't know who else to turn to," Colby begins slowly. Johnny's eyes widen in surprise. No one's ever come to her for any kind of help before. Colby blushes a bit. "Will you help me? I know you're a Slytherin and you're supposed to hate me, but…"
"Wait a minute," Johnny gasps. "Is that why you haven't been talking to me? Because you think I hate you?"
Colby nods. "You're so angry all the time anyway. We figured it was just your personality but then you got transferred to Slytherin, where you belong. So you were mad all the time because you hated being where you didn't belong…"
Johnny actually grins. "I was mad all the time because I didn't feel like I belonged. Then I came here and everything changed. I didn't realize where I belonged till I was taken from it. I don't belong in Slytherin, Colby, I—"
"Excuse me, Miss Parker," Professor Snape says suddenly. Johnny turns to see a very angry Potions Master standing behind her. "I would like a word with you."
Johnny flashes an apologetic look to Colby. "We'll talk later, okay? Please?"
"Okay. See you later!" Colby says. He adds in a whisper. "I'm glad you still like us."
Johnny can't stop grinning as Snape leads her to his office. She doesn't care what kind of trouble she's in right now. Nothing can beat this feeling right now. She still has her friends and that's all that matters.
"You were about to tell him about the deal Dr. Zimmermann made with you," Snape says once he's sure that no one is eavesdropping. "You cannot, under any circumstances, tell anyone about what happened between you and Zimmermann, am I making myself perfectly clear, Miss Parker?"
"Why?" Johnny asks. "He's my friend. I trust him."
Snape rolls his eyes. "Do you want that addle-brained idiot to ruin everything? He'll tell Potter and his meddling friends and they'll ruin this whole thing!"
"What do you mean?" Johnny demands, starting to get a little scared. Snape's eyes are wild with emotion. "Ruin what? What's going on here?"
Snape chuckles. "Do you really think that Zimmermann would set out to destroy your future as a witch for his own personal amusement? Are you really that egocentric?"
"Huh? No, I just…" Johnny stammers. She is very confused. "That's what I've been trying to figure out. Why would he want to mess me up like this?"
"You really are a fool," Snape shakes his head. "Do you think its coincidence that you can suddenly pass my class? Professor MacGonagall says that you're doing marvelously in transfiguration. Fancy you being able to turn a table into a horse already when, just weeks ago, you couldn't turn a hedgehog into a pincushion. Did you suddenly stop fearing magic?"
"I was never scared of it!" Johnny shouts. Her rage is building up. She forces herself to calm down. Just because she's been accused of attacking a teacher doesn't mean that she's capable of it. "I just never understood it."
Snape narrows his eyes. "Funny how you can now, isn't it, Parker?" he opens his door to let Johnny leave. "Until you have things figured out, Miss Parker, I would suggest you refrain from involving your little band. You wouldn't want them getting hurt needlessly, would you?"
"Is that a threat, Professor?" Johnny has to ask.
"Merely an inevitability given you do anything stupid," Snape says, slamming his door shut.
Johnny runs into Daniel as she lumbers down the hallway. He grins at her. "Johnny, glad I caught you. Just had a word with Colby and he says you're back on top of things again."
"Uh, yeah," Johnny says solemnly. She doesn't feel very on top of anything at the moment.
"Great!" Daniel exclaims. "Now, we need your help in something big!"
Johnny stares at him blankly. "No way. I'm not helping you get back into Zimmermann's office. Look at me! This is the result of snooping where we don't belong. I just want to get through this year with no more incidents."
Daniel laughs. "Nothing like that, Johnny!" he pats her roughly on the back. "We're going to show these stuck-up Brits a good old-fashioned American Thanksgiving."
Johnny actually grins. "And how do you need my help? I can't cook, I don't have ties with the house-elves, and I don't even know where we can set this up."
Daniel shakes his head. "You're not thinking, man! Come on, who do we know that knows all about the creatures around this area?"
"Hagrid does. So?" Johnny asks.
"He might know where we can get a decent turkey. And, maybe he'll let us borrow his hut for the night so we can have our feast away from everyone else. Denise will do the cooking, Mark can do the preparing of the bird, and we'll do the decorating!"
Johnny shakes her head. "Dan, have you ever seen Hagrid's hut?" Johnny asks, starting to cave but not ready to give up her argument. "How are we supposed to all fit in there?"
"I'm sure a little temporary redecorating will do the trick. Come on, Johnny, we need you on this one," Daniel pleads.
Johnny sighs and throws her hands in the air. "I give up. Let me see what I can do."
