9. Rocky Start
A/N: For those of you wondering why the Hat asked 'Even if he had not been Sorted into that House?' It was a test of sorts for her. It was already leaning towards putting her in Gryffindor, but it wanted to be sure and that question cinched it. If you're still puzzled, let me know and I'll try to explain it better. Gah! While combing through GoF in preparation for the next Minerva POV fic, I realized I had missed someone who'd been Sorted into Gryffindor. So, to fix it, Danielle Miller is now Natalie McDonald. Sorry Silvie.
"It is my very great pleasure to inform you that the Triwizard Tournament will be taking place at Hogwarts this year," Albus announced, smiling.
"You're JOKING!" A redhead further down the table answered rather loudly.
This caused most of the people present to laugh and Albus himself chuckled. "I am _not_ joking, Mr. Weasley, though now that you mention it, I did hear a good one over the summer about a troll, a hag, and a leprechaun who all go into a bar..." Minerva cleared her throat loudly, stopping Albus. "Er-- but maybe this is not the time..." he glanced at her and Tracey saw her shake her head ever so slightly "...no...where was I? Ah yes, the Triwizard Tournament...well, some of you will not know what the tournament involves, so I hope those who _do_ know will forgive me for giving a brief explanation, and allow their attention to wander freely."
Tracey listened raptly as her father explained the Triwizard Tournament. Sitting beside her, Dennis whispered, "I wonder if I could compete."
"Dennis, we haven't even learned anything yet," Tracey reminded him. "Why would the judge even consider us?"
"Just an idea," he muttered, sounding hurt.
Tracey was on the point of apologizing when her father explained that only students who were seventeen or old would be allowed to compete. Although Tracey herself was relieved that her two new friends would be safe, but there was mutinous muttering all around her, indicating that her fellow students weren't happy with this news. "This is a measure we feel is necessary, given that the tournament tasks will still be difficult and dangerous, whatever precautions we take, and it is highly unlikely that students below sixth and seventh year will be able to cope with them."
"That's logical," Tracey murmured, aware that the mutinous mutterings hadn't abated.
After telling them when the delegations from Beuxbatons and Durmstrang would arrive, Albus sent them to bed, "I know how important it is to you all to be alert and rested as you enter your lessons tomorrow morning. Bedtime! Chop chop!"
"C'mon, Dennis, Tracey!" Colin jumped up from his seat and led them across the Great Hall and up to Gryffindor Tower.
When Tracey arrived in the first-year girls' dorm, she found three other girls waiting for her. "Hi, I'm Annie Sanders!" the dark-haired girl smiled at Tracey, gray eyes kind.
"And I'm Lynne Jones," the brunette's smile wasn't as broad as Annie's, but her brown eyes were warm and friendly.
The last girl cheerfully shook Tracey's hand, hazel eyes sparkling with good humor and strawberry blonde hair bouncing around her slender shoulders. "I'm Natalie McDonald."
"I'm pleased to meet all of you, but I'm a little tired." Tracey told them apologetically, pushing her auburn hair back from her face.
Annie waved it off. "Oh, that's alright. We'll get to know each other later."
"Thanks, Annie," Tracey grinned before getting ready for bed. A loud meow startled her when she laid down on the bed. "Oh! Sorry, Jestana. Didn't know you were there."
The kitten made a disgruntled 'brrt' sound before stalking to the foot of the bed and curling up there. Smiling to herself, Tracey pulled the crimson curtains closed and settled down to sleep.
* * *
Minerva was seated at her vanity table, brushing her hair out when someone knocked on the door. She rose and entered the sitting room, brush in hand, before calling out, "Come in!"
"Good evening, my dear," Albus greeted her upon entering, closing the door behind him.
She smiled. "Good evening, Albus."
"Just getting ready for bed?" he inquired politely, noticing her brush.
She nodded, smiling slightly. "Yes, I was, actually."
"Would you like some assistance?" he asked, moving closer to her.
Her smile widened and she handed the silver-backed brush to him. "Yes, please."
They moved into the bedroom and she resumed her seat at the vanity table. Standing behind her, he began to brush her hair with long, smooth strokes. She sighed and relaxed under his deft touch. Brushing her hair had always been tedious when she was the one doing the brushing. When it was her mother, however, it had always calmed her. With Albus moving the brush through the ebony strands, though, it had an entirely different effect on her that was not unpleasant. "My dear, are you purring?"
"Hmm?" She blinked and raised her eyes to the mirror. Albus was watching her, bright blue eyes twinkling with amusement. "Oh, I suppose I am."
He chuckled, still brushing her hair. "That's the first time I've heard you purr as a human."
"It must be the effect you have on me, Albus," she countered with a smile, meeting his eyes in the mirror.
He leaned over her shoulder to set the brush on the vanity table and she caught a whiff of his scent--chocolate and lemon drops--before he straightened up and began to braid her sable hair. His long, thin fingers moved easily through the raven-dark strands, never once tugging them or hurting her. Upon finishing the braid, she silently held up the red and gold hair ribbon she'd intended to us. He brought her hand up to his mouth and pressed a kiss to the back of it before taking the hair ribbon and tying it at the end of her braid. He rested his hands on her shoulders. "There you are, my dear."
"Thank you, Albus." She covered his hands with her own. "I'm sure you didn't come here to help me with my hair, though."
He chuckled quietly and she watched in the mirror as he dropped a kiss to the top of her head. "You are correct, Tabby, as usual."
"So have a seat and tell me why you are here," she suggested, scooting over on the vanity bench.
He did just that, sitting down beside her on the vanity bench. Before saying anything, however, he drew her into his arms and kissed her warmly. "There, that's better."
"Yes, it is," she replied, her smile returning as she traced the outline of his long, crooked nose with the tip of one finger, and then tapping the end with said finger. "Now, why are you here, Albus?"
He captured her hand and kissed the palm. "I'm worried about Tracey."
"Tracey?" she asked, surprised. He nodded, the twinkle gone from his eyes. "Why? She's in Gryffindor, so I'll be able to keep an eye on her."
He sighed, looking troubled. "I hadn't realized just how small she is until I saw her with Dennis Creevey. What if she gets picked on for it? Or teased because of her accent? Or--"
He was interrupted by her mouth upon his. After several heartbeats, she pulled away. "Albus, you're being a father."
"I am?" He blinked owlishly at her.
She nodded, her smile returning. "Yes, you are. She'll be fine. Trust me."
"I do trust you, Tabby," he replied, the worry fading from his face to leave behind an expression she couldn't quite read. "Which brings us to the other reason I came here."
She stared as he slid from the bench and onto one knee. "Albus? What are you doing?"
"Minerva, we have wasted so much time already and the future is uncertain." He pulled a box from his pocket and opened it to reveal the diamond ring inside, with smaller rubies on either side of the diamond. She gasped as the firelight glinted on the diamond and rubies. "I would rather face that future as husband and wife. Will you marry me?"
* * *
When Lynne entered the dorm room to gather her books so she could do homework, she was surprised to hear a loud sniff. Looking around, she spotted someone sprawled on the bed furthest from the door. Carefully setting her books on her bed, the closest to the door, she crept towards the other person. When she saw the auburn hair, she could have kicked herself. Of course it was Tracey! The girl had picked the furthest bed because it provided the most privacy. Lynne came to a stop at the foot of the bed. Tracey had her face buried in the pillow, auburn hair fanned out over her back, pillow, and covers. "Tracey?"
"Go ahead, make fun of my accent," Tracey's voice was muffled and scratchy. "Call me shrimpy and silly and whatever else you can think of."
Lynne moved around to sit on the edge of the bed. "Why would I do that? I think your accent is interesting and I don't care how tall you are."
"Sure," Tracey sniffed skeptically, "Everyone else seems to think my accent's odd and find it amusing to practically knock me over, and then say they hadn't seen me."
The taller girl placed her hand on Tracey's back, but she jerked violently, dislodging Lynne's hand. "C'mon, Trace. You should have known that there would be bullies here in the wizarding world, too."
"Lynne, just shut up!" Tracey shot up and turned on the bed in one fluid motion. Her face was blotchy and tear-stained, and her eyes, though red and puffy from her tears, were blazing with anger. "People have been poking fun at me all day and I just want to be left alone!"
Stung, Lynne stood up. "Fine. I'll leave you alone for now, but please try to remember that I want to be your friend. All three of us do."
"Just go!" Tracey scrambled from the bed and began pushing Lynne towards the door. "Go and leave me alone!"
Lynne gathered up her books and left the room with her head held high. When the door slammed shut behind her, she shook her head and returned to the common room.
* * *
A knock disturbed Minerva as she marked quizzes from the first day of classes. She didn't even look up from them as she called, "Come in!"
"Professor?" the quiet voice was preceded by the creak of the door opening.
Minerva looked up from her marking to see one of her new young lions peeping around the door. Her name was Lynne Jones if her memory served. "Yes, Miss Jones?"
The first-year slipped fully into the office and closed the door behind her before approaching Minerva's desk. "Professor, er, this is hard, but Tracey Cooper--"
"Miss Cooper?" Minerva straightened up and her gaze sharpened at that. "What about her, Miss Jones?"
Lynne looked down at the hands she was twisting together in front of her. "She said she's been teased all day today and just wants to be alone, but-- "
"Say no more, Miss Jones," Minerva stopped the girl with an upraised hand before rising from her seat. "I shall take care of her."
Lynne looked relieved. "Thank you, Professor."
"Thank _you_, Miss Jones," Minerva paused to rest a hand on the girl's shoulder before hurrying out of her office.
A/N: For those of you wondering why the Hat asked 'Even if he had not been Sorted into that House?' It was a test of sorts for her. It was already leaning towards putting her in Gryffindor, but it wanted to be sure and that question cinched it. If you're still puzzled, let me know and I'll try to explain it better. Gah! While combing through GoF in preparation for the next Minerva POV fic, I realized I had missed someone who'd been Sorted into Gryffindor. So, to fix it, Danielle Miller is now Natalie McDonald. Sorry Silvie.
"It is my very great pleasure to inform you that the Triwizard Tournament will be taking place at Hogwarts this year," Albus announced, smiling.
"You're JOKING!" A redhead further down the table answered rather loudly.
This caused most of the people present to laugh and Albus himself chuckled. "I am _not_ joking, Mr. Weasley, though now that you mention it, I did hear a good one over the summer about a troll, a hag, and a leprechaun who all go into a bar..." Minerva cleared her throat loudly, stopping Albus. "Er-- but maybe this is not the time..." he glanced at her and Tracey saw her shake her head ever so slightly "...no...where was I? Ah yes, the Triwizard Tournament...well, some of you will not know what the tournament involves, so I hope those who _do_ know will forgive me for giving a brief explanation, and allow their attention to wander freely."
Tracey listened raptly as her father explained the Triwizard Tournament. Sitting beside her, Dennis whispered, "I wonder if I could compete."
"Dennis, we haven't even learned anything yet," Tracey reminded him. "Why would the judge even consider us?"
"Just an idea," he muttered, sounding hurt.
Tracey was on the point of apologizing when her father explained that only students who were seventeen or old would be allowed to compete. Although Tracey herself was relieved that her two new friends would be safe, but there was mutinous muttering all around her, indicating that her fellow students weren't happy with this news. "This is a measure we feel is necessary, given that the tournament tasks will still be difficult and dangerous, whatever precautions we take, and it is highly unlikely that students below sixth and seventh year will be able to cope with them."
"That's logical," Tracey murmured, aware that the mutinous mutterings hadn't abated.
After telling them when the delegations from Beuxbatons and Durmstrang would arrive, Albus sent them to bed, "I know how important it is to you all to be alert and rested as you enter your lessons tomorrow morning. Bedtime! Chop chop!"
"C'mon, Dennis, Tracey!" Colin jumped up from his seat and led them across the Great Hall and up to Gryffindor Tower.
When Tracey arrived in the first-year girls' dorm, she found three other girls waiting for her. "Hi, I'm Annie Sanders!" the dark-haired girl smiled at Tracey, gray eyes kind.
"And I'm Lynne Jones," the brunette's smile wasn't as broad as Annie's, but her brown eyes were warm and friendly.
The last girl cheerfully shook Tracey's hand, hazel eyes sparkling with good humor and strawberry blonde hair bouncing around her slender shoulders. "I'm Natalie McDonald."
"I'm pleased to meet all of you, but I'm a little tired." Tracey told them apologetically, pushing her auburn hair back from her face.
Annie waved it off. "Oh, that's alright. We'll get to know each other later."
"Thanks, Annie," Tracey grinned before getting ready for bed. A loud meow startled her when she laid down on the bed. "Oh! Sorry, Jestana. Didn't know you were there."
The kitten made a disgruntled 'brrt' sound before stalking to the foot of the bed and curling up there. Smiling to herself, Tracey pulled the crimson curtains closed and settled down to sleep.
* * *
Minerva was seated at her vanity table, brushing her hair out when someone knocked on the door. She rose and entered the sitting room, brush in hand, before calling out, "Come in!"
"Good evening, my dear," Albus greeted her upon entering, closing the door behind him.
She smiled. "Good evening, Albus."
"Just getting ready for bed?" he inquired politely, noticing her brush.
She nodded, smiling slightly. "Yes, I was, actually."
"Would you like some assistance?" he asked, moving closer to her.
Her smile widened and she handed the silver-backed brush to him. "Yes, please."
They moved into the bedroom and she resumed her seat at the vanity table. Standing behind her, he began to brush her hair with long, smooth strokes. She sighed and relaxed under his deft touch. Brushing her hair had always been tedious when she was the one doing the brushing. When it was her mother, however, it had always calmed her. With Albus moving the brush through the ebony strands, though, it had an entirely different effect on her that was not unpleasant. "My dear, are you purring?"
"Hmm?" She blinked and raised her eyes to the mirror. Albus was watching her, bright blue eyes twinkling with amusement. "Oh, I suppose I am."
He chuckled, still brushing her hair. "That's the first time I've heard you purr as a human."
"It must be the effect you have on me, Albus," she countered with a smile, meeting his eyes in the mirror.
He leaned over her shoulder to set the brush on the vanity table and she caught a whiff of his scent--chocolate and lemon drops--before he straightened up and began to braid her sable hair. His long, thin fingers moved easily through the raven-dark strands, never once tugging them or hurting her. Upon finishing the braid, she silently held up the red and gold hair ribbon she'd intended to us. He brought her hand up to his mouth and pressed a kiss to the back of it before taking the hair ribbon and tying it at the end of her braid. He rested his hands on her shoulders. "There you are, my dear."
"Thank you, Albus." She covered his hands with her own. "I'm sure you didn't come here to help me with my hair, though."
He chuckled quietly and she watched in the mirror as he dropped a kiss to the top of her head. "You are correct, Tabby, as usual."
"So have a seat and tell me why you are here," she suggested, scooting over on the vanity bench.
He did just that, sitting down beside her on the vanity bench. Before saying anything, however, he drew her into his arms and kissed her warmly. "There, that's better."
"Yes, it is," she replied, her smile returning as she traced the outline of his long, crooked nose with the tip of one finger, and then tapping the end with said finger. "Now, why are you here, Albus?"
He captured her hand and kissed the palm. "I'm worried about Tracey."
"Tracey?" she asked, surprised. He nodded, the twinkle gone from his eyes. "Why? She's in Gryffindor, so I'll be able to keep an eye on her."
He sighed, looking troubled. "I hadn't realized just how small she is until I saw her with Dennis Creevey. What if she gets picked on for it? Or teased because of her accent? Or--"
He was interrupted by her mouth upon his. After several heartbeats, she pulled away. "Albus, you're being a father."
"I am?" He blinked owlishly at her.
She nodded, her smile returning. "Yes, you are. She'll be fine. Trust me."
"I do trust you, Tabby," he replied, the worry fading from his face to leave behind an expression she couldn't quite read. "Which brings us to the other reason I came here."
She stared as he slid from the bench and onto one knee. "Albus? What are you doing?"
"Minerva, we have wasted so much time already and the future is uncertain." He pulled a box from his pocket and opened it to reveal the diamond ring inside, with smaller rubies on either side of the diamond. She gasped as the firelight glinted on the diamond and rubies. "I would rather face that future as husband and wife. Will you marry me?"
* * *
When Lynne entered the dorm room to gather her books so she could do homework, she was surprised to hear a loud sniff. Looking around, she spotted someone sprawled on the bed furthest from the door. Carefully setting her books on her bed, the closest to the door, she crept towards the other person. When she saw the auburn hair, she could have kicked herself. Of course it was Tracey! The girl had picked the furthest bed because it provided the most privacy. Lynne came to a stop at the foot of the bed. Tracey had her face buried in the pillow, auburn hair fanned out over her back, pillow, and covers. "Tracey?"
"Go ahead, make fun of my accent," Tracey's voice was muffled and scratchy. "Call me shrimpy and silly and whatever else you can think of."
Lynne moved around to sit on the edge of the bed. "Why would I do that? I think your accent is interesting and I don't care how tall you are."
"Sure," Tracey sniffed skeptically, "Everyone else seems to think my accent's odd and find it amusing to practically knock me over, and then say they hadn't seen me."
The taller girl placed her hand on Tracey's back, but she jerked violently, dislodging Lynne's hand. "C'mon, Trace. You should have known that there would be bullies here in the wizarding world, too."
"Lynne, just shut up!" Tracey shot up and turned on the bed in one fluid motion. Her face was blotchy and tear-stained, and her eyes, though red and puffy from her tears, were blazing with anger. "People have been poking fun at me all day and I just want to be left alone!"
Stung, Lynne stood up. "Fine. I'll leave you alone for now, but please try to remember that I want to be your friend. All three of us do."
"Just go!" Tracey scrambled from the bed and began pushing Lynne towards the door. "Go and leave me alone!"
Lynne gathered up her books and left the room with her head held high. When the door slammed shut behind her, she shook her head and returned to the common room.
* * *
A knock disturbed Minerva as she marked quizzes from the first day of classes. She didn't even look up from them as she called, "Come in!"
"Professor?" the quiet voice was preceded by the creak of the door opening.
Minerva looked up from her marking to see one of her new young lions peeping around the door. Her name was Lynne Jones if her memory served. "Yes, Miss Jones?"
The first-year slipped fully into the office and closed the door behind her before approaching Minerva's desk. "Professor, er, this is hard, but Tracey Cooper--"
"Miss Cooper?" Minerva straightened up and her gaze sharpened at that. "What about her, Miss Jones?"
Lynne looked down at the hands she was twisting together in front of her. "She said she's been teased all day today and just wants to be alone, but-- "
"Say no more, Miss Jones," Minerva stopped the girl with an upraised hand before rising from her seat. "I shall take care of her."
Lynne looked relieved. "Thank you, Professor."
"Thank _you_, Miss Jones," Minerva paused to rest a hand on the girl's shoulder before hurrying out of her office.