Disclaimer: Yay! I bought the soundtrack to Prisoner of Azkaban! That's the only thing I own…

Chapter 11

Ron waited with Harry as Hermione went to check on Natalie. A few minutes later, Hermione came down with some books.

"It she going back to classes?" Ron asked as Hermione reached the bottom of the steps.

Ron's question was answered when Natalie emerged with a book under one arm while the other was pulling the door closed behind her.

She came quickly down the steps smiling.

"Come on," She said walking past them to exit the common room. "We're going to be late for classes."

"Is she alright?" Harry asked turning to Hermione.

"She still very sad, of course, but she insisted on going to classes considering it's her first day. She said she was going down to Hagrid's tonight to make up for his missed class." She answered.

"But why is she so happy?" Ron said following them out of the common room.

"She's not 'happy' about the situation at all, she's just trying to have a positive outlook and not let it get to her. Don't bring it up and don't feel sorry for her. It's the last thing she wants or needs right now. Just be happy around her and she might be able to deal with this." She said catching up with Natalie.

Harry and Ron waved good-bye to Hermione and Natalie and disappeared around the corner.

"You're going to love Muggle Studies!" Hermione said brightly. "It's so fun to see Muggle's from a wizard's point of view!"

Natalie laughed at Hermione's enthusiasm and followed Hermione into the classroom. Many heads turn to see Natalie already back in classes. She heard whispers all around her but she didn't care.

"-how can she not be sad?"

"-doesn't feel bad at all-"

"-it's good she's come back-"

Natalie took a seat next to Hermione and pulled out her book, some parchment and a quill.

-Later that day-

Natalie and Hermione met up with Ron and Harry and went back to the common room to drop off their books before they went to dinner.

They took seats in the Great Hall next to Fred and George who were talking with their heads together, but pulled apart when they saw the others.

"I can't wait to hear the announcement tonight!" George said eagerly.

"Yeah, everyone was talking about it on the train." Harry said taking a seat next to Natalie.

At that moment Dumbledore stood up at the front table.

"Tuck in!" He said with his arms outstretched.

Dinner was definitely the best meal of the day. They had almost any food they could think of from meats to pies. Ron was eating two chicken legs at once and Hermione was scooping some éclair cake onto her plate, apparently deciding to skip dinner.

Harry put some mashed potatoes onto his plate but only ate a few bites of it; either because he was too busy talking to Ron or because he wasn't hungry.

Natalie sat with her elbows on the table, resting her chin in her hands; every now and then reaching for the pumpkin juice. The last thing she felt she could do was eat. She was ready to hear the big 'announcement' and go to bed.

It seemed like forever till Dumbledore stood up again and the plates cleared.

"I am sure, that all of you have been waiting to hear this announcement for a few days now." he started, looking around the Great Hall through his half-moon spectacles. "I mush start by saying that there will be no Quidditch this year."

Many moans of annoyance and anger filled the Hall. Harry turned to Fred and George quickly with a VERY pissed and confused look on his face.

"But…" Dumbledore started again as the Hall silenced almost immediately. "There is some good news. This year, the Tri-Wizard Tournament will be taking place at Hogwarts."

Many heads turned and the moans of anger from the Quidditch announcement turned into gasps of excitement.

Natalie wasn't the only one confused. She saw Harry turn to her and they exchanged confused glances.

"Though some of you may know of this event, some don't. So I ask you to bear with me as I explain to the rest." Dumbledore said happily.

As Dumbledore explained, Natalie sat with her mouth slightly open with amazement. It sounded like so much fun! Students from other schools coming here? Tasks for three people! She couldn't wait!

The Great Hall emptied that night with excitement ringing through the halls; except for Fred and George who were fuming because they couldn't enter. 

"It would be so awesome if we could enter!" Natalie said following everyone to the common room. "If I was old enough I would…"

Ron kept saying, "Ten thousand galleons!" with a longing in his voice.

"Natalie!"

Natalie whipped around to see Professor McGonagall behind her standing next to a stone-faced Malfoy.

"Yes, Professor?" Natalie asked walking up to McGonagall.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione stopped walking to see what was going on.

"Move along you three. I just need to speak to Mrs. Cook." She said flatly. 

They left very reluctantly out of sight.

"Follow me." Professor McGonagall said turning and walking away, Natalie and Malfoy close behind her.

Natalie could feel Malfoy's eyes on her every now and then but she kept looking ahead of her, refusing to let herself catch Malfoy's eye.

McGonagall turned into her classroom and shut the door behind Malfoy and Natalie.

"Take a seat." She said walking behind her desk and taking a seat herself.

They both sat down slowly in front of her and waited for her to talk.

"I am sorry to hear about your mother." McGonagall started with a very pitiful look in her eyes. Natalie just nodded, looking at the floor. 

"But I am even sorrier to hear of the way it was announced to you." McGonagall said with a flash in her eyes as she turned to Malfoy.

Ever since Natalie knew Malfoy, she had never seen him like this. He looked….sorry.

"Hagrid has punished Malfoy by taking fifty points, but he sent the rest of the punishment to me. I have decided to let you decide what you think is a suitable punishment for this terrible behavior." She said looking back at Natalie.

Malfoy looked up with his mouth open and an utter look of 'you're kidding!' on his face.

Natalie just shook her head and continued to look at the floor.

"What do you mean?" McGonagall asked.

"No." Natalie answered simply. "I don't want to 'punish' him. Fifty points will do." She was still gazing at the floor.

"Are you sure about this?" McGonagall asked confused.

Natalie nodded. She knew that if she 'punished' Malfoy, hatred toward her would raise to its highest. But even if Natalie DID care what people thought about her, she wasn't the type to give people punishments. She was going to be the mature one here; not start a war between the Gryffindor's and Slytherin's.

"Ok then….Malfoy, you are very lucky that only a few points were taken. You may leave now." She said tensely.

He left the room without a word and shut the door behind him.

"That was very mature of you." McGonagall said, but still looked a bit disappointed that no punishment was made.

"But that is not the main reason I called you down here." She said.

Natalie looked up now. What else could there be?

"Your mother was secretly keeping a savings account-"

"WHAT?!" Natalie interrupted. She couldn't help herself. Where did her mom get that kind of money?!

"Yes. Let me finish. It was for both of you for protection in case you perhaps ran out of money. Anyways, considering she's…yes well all her belongings now belong to you. That means the apartment and everything. Well back on subject…Dumbledore has kindly transferred all of your mother's savings from muggle money, into wizard money. You have your own Gringott's vault now."

"Really?" Natalie asked breathlessly. "How much money is there?"

Professor McGonagall didn't speak for a moment but then said, "Fifty thousand galleons."

A/N: WOO HOO! Natalie be rich! Haha! Thanks so much for the reviews!!! They made me sooo happy! I try to update as much as I can! This story is so fun to write! And you reviewers make it better! It makes me feel special that people like me story! Please review on this chapter!!! PLEASE REVIEW!!!! YAY!