Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, I don't own Hermione or Ron or Snape
or anyone else. Just Libby.
Showdown
Chapter 2: All Aboard the Hogwarts Train!
After the walk into Diagon Alley, and the bustle to get the business of new robes over and done with, Libby decided to get an ice-cream sundae from Florean Fortescue, which was just across the way from Flourish and Blotts. Soon, Hermione, Ron and Harry arrived, and the shopping began.
Hermione then decided that SHE needed new robes, and Libby was glad that she had got hers out of the way, as the store was stiflingly hot, and the trying-on of new robes was tiresome.
The sight of cats in the pet-shop made Libby yearn for her own, but she soon thought that if she couldn't handle a couple of hours away from them, however would she manage a whole school year? The four friends retired back to the Burrow after three and a half hours, and were grateful for the glasses of icy lemonade that Mrs Weasley presented them with.
Staying at the Burrow was always a relaxing holiday, and it was the only time Libby was in the company of people out of school. The two days with the Weasleys seemed to go by like a flash of lightening, and Libby soon found herself on the train to Hogwarts. She felt a pleasant feeling of de ja vu whilst sitting in the carriage, remembering the first ever meeting between her and Harry. Libby didn't notice, but a tear had come to her eye. She was never too good with memories; there were too many bad ones in her mind.
"Libs? You ok?" Asked Hermione, concerned. She had been watching silently from the seat opposite.
"Yeah." She replied, sniffing and wiping away the tear hastily. Hermione didn't question further. Over the years, (although never mentioned,) Harry, Ron and Hermione had learnt that Libby had some kind of invisible armour around her. She was always there when you needed her, but they knew no time when she had confided in them. It wasn't so much that she was secretive, but more keeping herself to herself. And if she didn't want to share it, well, that was her choice.
"School again already," Stated Harry cheerfully. Any normal boy would have been sulking in their seat.
"Yeah," Said Ron solemnly. Well, at least Ron had it right. He just wanted to read books about Quidditch at home.
"Well I'm just looking forward to playing Quidditch again." Replied Harry, almost reading Ron's mind, and smiling slightly when Rons head bobbed up at the mentioning of this wizard sport.
"I'm looking forward to Transfiguration. Professor McGonagall said that she might be able to get one of the registered Animagi to be a guest speaker in one of our lessons!" Said an excited Hermione. Libby was thrilled by the mention of Quidditch, but hardly blinked by the mention of Transfiguration. Throughout the four years, Libby had rarely learnt anything. She had known almost of her lessons. After Voldemort had come to her home, and she was old enough to understand what had happened and what to do about it, she had dedicated her life to becoming as strong as he was.
Libby also didn't really believe in fighting for the 'Dark side' or the 'Light side', you fought for power. In her eyes, neither side was fighting for a just cause. Thus, Libby had read many books from the nearest Wizard library and learnt all she could about spells, potions and animagi. She didn't really bother with Divination, she believed, many others that it was all 'guess-work'. On the other hand, she had become an Animagi long ago. In fact, if Libby's life hadn't been so extraordinary, she would have taken time to realise that being able to turn into TWO animals wasn't ordinary. Libby could turn into a cobra (a little present from her old pal Voldemort), and a large grey wolf with the same deep brown eyes as Libby herself had. Sometimes she turned into a cobra at her house to talk to Ryn easier. No wizard knew about her house, or the magic used in it- it had been masked ever since the Deatheaters had paid a little visit.
"Yeah." Said Harry, continuing the previous conversation. "But I'm not really jumping for joy at the thought of potions, especially not Snape."
Libby smiled. It would be good to see Severus again, and laughed in spite of herself.
"It's OK for you!" Screeched Hermione. "He's always OK to you! I don't think I've ever seen him take points off for something you've said or done."
Libby smiled again. "Your points are my points, 'Mione, and vice versa. We're both in Gryffindor, so we both lose out." The others reluctantly agreed and the food trolley soon found its way round the train to their carriage. All were soon restored by the sweet-tasting cauldron cakes and the refreshing pumpkin juice.
*
Forty minutes later the train came to a halt at the station where Hagrid was obediently waiting to guide the first years to the row boats which would lead them up to the castle.
"Alrigh' 'Arry?" Came Hagrid's infamous greeting. "An' you three, doin' alright are ya?"
The ride up to the great stone castle was bumpy but conveniently quick. There was just time enough for the sorting and the feast before everyone decided to retreat to bed- it had been a long and tiring day.
*~*~*~*~*
"So, Mr. Potter. If I added an infusion of Treesaw to a cauldron full of Itnisia and Barkul potion, then added Skaritnia, what would be the outcome?" It was Wednesday afternoon, and potions being the last lesson of the day. Snape sneered, he had made this question especially difficult, and saved it just for Harry.
Harry smirked. "You would get Treesaw Itnisia Barknul solution. It's a displacement reaction, the Skaritnia would not affect it."
Snape's face dropped and his sneer faded. "Five points off Gryffindor." His four favourite words.
"Hey, hey, hey. Hold on, he got the question right." Stated Libby, who was currently slumping in her seat. "That means he should GAIN points."
Snape gave her an odd pleading look like, 'please be quiet!' He had no choice but to say, "So, if you all manage to be quiet now, then Gryffindor does not stand to lose any more points. If that's OK with Ms Silverman of course?"
"Yes, thank you." She replied sarcastically. It was sometimes an advantage to have a relative who's a Professor...
After the lesson, Libby stayed longer after reassuring Harry, Ron and Hermione that she would meet them all in the Common Room as soon as she could. Snape had covered up their meeting by saying that he only wanted to see Libby after class due to her 'insubordination'.
"Why did you say that earlier?" Snape sighed.
"Ah, come on, Severus! I think sometimes you forget I'm in Gryffindor, and I'm friends with Harry."
"Hmmm." Muttered Snape, pretending to be writing something to avoid having to answer her. Sensing his non-talkative mood, she remained silent until she heard Severus say, "Why don't you ever talk about what happened after your parents died?"
Libby was taken-aback; this wasn't a very Snape-thing to say, he usually just accepted things.
"All I know is that you live with Remus and that you always spend your holidays here, at Hogwarts."
"Why are you suddenly showing an interest?"
"Are you saying that I've never cared?" Shouted Severus. Libby knew she was on dangerous ground. She made gestures to tell him to quieten down, and then answered. "No, no. I wasn't saying that. All I meant was...well, I'm fine alright? I live with Remus and you like living on your own." He was just about to argue when Libby quickly made her way to the door. Upon reaching it, she turned and simply said (in a cheery way), "See you tomorrow!"
*~*~*~*~*
Showdown
Chapter 2: All Aboard the Hogwarts Train!
After the walk into Diagon Alley, and the bustle to get the business of new robes over and done with, Libby decided to get an ice-cream sundae from Florean Fortescue, which was just across the way from Flourish and Blotts. Soon, Hermione, Ron and Harry arrived, and the shopping began.
Hermione then decided that SHE needed new robes, and Libby was glad that she had got hers out of the way, as the store was stiflingly hot, and the trying-on of new robes was tiresome.
The sight of cats in the pet-shop made Libby yearn for her own, but she soon thought that if she couldn't handle a couple of hours away from them, however would she manage a whole school year? The four friends retired back to the Burrow after three and a half hours, and were grateful for the glasses of icy lemonade that Mrs Weasley presented them with.
Staying at the Burrow was always a relaxing holiday, and it was the only time Libby was in the company of people out of school. The two days with the Weasleys seemed to go by like a flash of lightening, and Libby soon found herself on the train to Hogwarts. She felt a pleasant feeling of de ja vu whilst sitting in the carriage, remembering the first ever meeting between her and Harry. Libby didn't notice, but a tear had come to her eye. She was never too good with memories; there were too many bad ones in her mind.
"Libs? You ok?" Asked Hermione, concerned. She had been watching silently from the seat opposite.
"Yeah." She replied, sniffing and wiping away the tear hastily. Hermione didn't question further. Over the years, (although never mentioned,) Harry, Ron and Hermione had learnt that Libby had some kind of invisible armour around her. She was always there when you needed her, but they knew no time when she had confided in them. It wasn't so much that she was secretive, but more keeping herself to herself. And if she didn't want to share it, well, that was her choice.
"School again already," Stated Harry cheerfully. Any normal boy would have been sulking in their seat.
"Yeah," Said Ron solemnly. Well, at least Ron had it right. He just wanted to read books about Quidditch at home.
"Well I'm just looking forward to playing Quidditch again." Replied Harry, almost reading Ron's mind, and smiling slightly when Rons head bobbed up at the mentioning of this wizard sport.
"I'm looking forward to Transfiguration. Professor McGonagall said that she might be able to get one of the registered Animagi to be a guest speaker in one of our lessons!" Said an excited Hermione. Libby was thrilled by the mention of Quidditch, but hardly blinked by the mention of Transfiguration. Throughout the four years, Libby had rarely learnt anything. She had known almost of her lessons. After Voldemort had come to her home, and she was old enough to understand what had happened and what to do about it, she had dedicated her life to becoming as strong as he was.
Libby also didn't really believe in fighting for the 'Dark side' or the 'Light side', you fought for power. In her eyes, neither side was fighting for a just cause. Thus, Libby had read many books from the nearest Wizard library and learnt all she could about spells, potions and animagi. She didn't really bother with Divination, she believed, many others that it was all 'guess-work'. On the other hand, she had become an Animagi long ago. In fact, if Libby's life hadn't been so extraordinary, she would have taken time to realise that being able to turn into TWO animals wasn't ordinary. Libby could turn into a cobra (a little present from her old pal Voldemort), and a large grey wolf with the same deep brown eyes as Libby herself had. Sometimes she turned into a cobra at her house to talk to Ryn easier. No wizard knew about her house, or the magic used in it- it had been masked ever since the Deatheaters had paid a little visit.
"Yeah." Said Harry, continuing the previous conversation. "But I'm not really jumping for joy at the thought of potions, especially not Snape."
Libby smiled. It would be good to see Severus again, and laughed in spite of herself.
"It's OK for you!" Screeched Hermione. "He's always OK to you! I don't think I've ever seen him take points off for something you've said or done."
Libby smiled again. "Your points are my points, 'Mione, and vice versa. We're both in Gryffindor, so we both lose out." The others reluctantly agreed and the food trolley soon found its way round the train to their carriage. All were soon restored by the sweet-tasting cauldron cakes and the refreshing pumpkin juice.
*
Forty minutes later the train came to a halt at the station where Hagrid was obediently waiting to guide the first years to the row boats which would lead them up to the castle.
"Alrigh' 'Arry?" Came Hagrid's infamous greeting. "An' you three, doin' alright are ya?"
The ride up to the great stone castle was bumpy but conveniently quick. There was just time enough for the sorting and the feast before everyone decided to retreat to bed- it had been a long and tiring day.
*~*~*~*~*
"So, Mr. Potter. If I added an infusion of Treesaw to a cauldron full of Itnisia and Barkul potion, then added Skaritnia, what would be the outcome?" It was Wednesday afternoon, and potions being the last lesson of the day. Snape sneered, he had made this question especially difficult, and saved it just for Harry.
Harry smirked. "You would get Treesaw Itnisia Barknul solution. It's a displacement reaction, the Skaritnia would not affect it."
Snape's face dropped and his sneer faded. "Five points off Gryffindor." His four favourite words.
"Hey, hey, hey. Hold on, he got the question right." Stated Libby, who was currently slumping in her seat. "That means he should GAIN points."
Snape gave her an odd pleading look like, 'please be quiet!' He had no choice but to say, "So, if you all manage to be quiet now, then Gryffindor does not stand to lose any more points. If that's OK with Ms Silverman of course?"
"Yes, thank you." She replied sarcastically. It was sometimes an advantage to have a relative who's a Professor...
After the lesson, Libby stayed longer after reassuring Harry, Ron and Hermione that she would meet them all in the Common Room as soon as she could. Snape had covered up their meeting by saying that he only wanted to see Libby after class due to her 'insubordination'.
"Why did you say that earlier?" Snape sighed.
"Ah, come on, Severus! I think sometimes you forget I'm in Gryffindor, and I'm friends with Harry."
"Hmmm." Muttered Snape, pretending to be writing something to avoid having to answer her. Sensing his non-talkative mood, she remained silent until she heard Severus say, "Why don't you ever talk about what happened after your parents died?"
Libby was taken-aback; this wasn't a very Snape-thing to say, he usually just accepted things.
"All I know is that you live with Remus and that you always spend your holidays here, at Hogwarts."
"Why are you suddenly showing an interest?"
"Are you saying that I've never cared?" Shouted Severus. Libby knew she was on dangerous ground. She made gestures to tell him to quieten down, and then answered. "No, no. I wasn't saying that. All I meant was...well, I'm fine alright? I live with Remus and you like living on your own." He was just about to argue when Libby quickly made her way to the door. Upon reaching it, she turned and simply said (in a cheery way), "See you tomorrow!"
*~*~*~*~*