MAELSTROM

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO-JENNA'S FALL

HARRY POTTER.

Jenna's eyes slid out of focus and she went rigid.

"Jenna?" I asked worriedly. "Are you okay?"

She didn't respond right away. I was getting frightened and didn't know if I should run and get Professor McGonagall or the Prefect.

I stood up and stood next to her. I placed a hand on her shoulder. She was stiff as a board.

Suddenly, her eyes slipped back into focus and she shook herself.

"Are you okay? What happened?" I demanded.

"Um," Jenna said. "Nothing. I just zoned out I guess…all the excitement."

I studied her, scrutinizing, but I didn't press her any further.

She turned, her banana curls bouncing over her shoulder before she disappeared into the girl's dorm.

I followed shortly heading to the boys dorm.

The next morning, we all met in the Great Hall.

Jenna was talking with Hermione at the Gryffindor table.

I sat down next to her.

I thought she was pretty.

"Hi," I said softly. "Sleep well?"

She looked at me and smiled.

"Yeah,"

"So what classes do you have today?" Hermione asked.

We pulled out our class schedules.

"Potions," Jenna said. "Oh joy."

There was a bit of sarcasm in her tone as well as amusement.

I began helping myself to some eggs and toast.

Hermione seemed to pick up on her tone though.

"How do you know you're going to hate Potions when this is the first time you're going to be taking it?" she asked bossily.

"My parents hated it," Jenna replied smoothly. "It's bound to filter down…no?"

I chuckled.

Hermione just puffed herself out importantly but said nothing more.

All around, people were whispering and pointing at me.

"Gee," Jenna said as we finished breakfast and headed down to the dungeons where the Potions class would be held. "You certainly are popular."

She marveled at a group of 5th years ogling at me.

Hermione went to say something and by the look on her face, it was going to be authoritive.

"I know," Jenna said rolling her eyes. "Harry's well known yes I got it."

I laughed again. Jenna was funny. She was giving Hermione a run for her money it seemed.

"Does it creep you out?" Jenna asked turning to me.

JENNA.

"It's a bit uncomfortable," Harry said. "I'm just trying to get to class."

I nodded.

I liked Hermione but she seemed a bit bossy. I hoped she would calm down and try and have fun too.

Classes were harder than I thought. There was a lot more to magic. Three times a week we went out to the greenhouses behind the castle to sty Herbology with a dumpy little witch named Professor Sprout. She was nice though I liked her right away. Then, we had History of Magic with Professor Binns. Although, he himself was a ghost. Professor Flitwick, the Charms teacher, was a tiny little wizard who when doing the roll call, came over Harry's name, gave an excited squeak and toppled off a pile of books he used to stand on out of sight.

Professor McGonagall was strict but clever. She gave us a good talking-to the minute we sat down in her class.

Defense Against the Dark Arts was the class everyone was really looking forward to. Professor Quirrell's lessons turned out to be a joke though. His classroom smelled greatly of garlic and he wore a turban around his head. Wild stories went around about that.

Friday came around.

We managed to find the Great Hall without getting lost.

"What have we got today?" Harry asked.

"Double Potions with the Slytherins." I replied. "I think Professor Snape is head of that house. They say he favors them. We'll be able to see if there's truth behind that."

"Wish McGonagall favored us," Harry said.

She gave us tons of homework the day before.

Owl post arrived. Harry got a letter from Hagrid asking him to come and a cup of tea with him around three this afternoon, as we got Friday afternoons off.

Harry borrowed my quill and sent him a reply.

Potions class was in the dungeon, but it was much colder than up in the main castle. I shivered and pulled my robe tighter around me. Harry and I were sitting beside each other. Hermione and Neville Longbottom were sitting behind us. Professor Snape started the roll call just like Professor McGonagall. Once he got to Harry's name, he paused.

"Ah, yes," he said softly. "Harry Potter…our new celebrity."

Draco Malfoy and his friends Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle began sniggering behind their hands.

I gave them a Death glare.

Draco glared back at me with a look of disgust.

Snape began a small speech. Suddenly, Professor Snape turned to Harry.

"Potter!" he said. "What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"

Harry glanced at me. I hadn't the foggiest idea.

Hermione's hand shot in the air behind us.

"I don't know sir,"

Snape's lip curled into a sneer.

"Tut, tut…fame clearly isn't everything,"

He ignored Hermione's hand.

"Let's try again. Potter, where would you look if I told you to find me a bezoar?"

Hermione was stretching her hand as high in the air as it would go.

"I don't know sir,"

Meanwhile, Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle were shaking with laughter.

I felt my anger boiling now. I was clutching the edge of my desk.

"Thought you wouldn't open a book before coming, eh Potter?"

Snape was still ignoring Hermione's hand.

He asked a question again.

"What is the difference, Potter, between monkshood and wolfsbane?"

At this point, Hermione stood up.

"I don't know," Harry replied quietly. "I think Hermione does, though, why don't you try her?"

A few people laughed but Snape was not pleased.

"Sit down," Snape snapped at Hermione, who slowly sank into her chair.

By now, I was literally seeing red. I couldn't believe the way Snape was treating Harry…like a plague. Plus, if he saw Harry didn't know, why didn't he just ask Hermione?

I slowly stood up, still clutching the edge of the desk.

"Miss Lupin," Snape said slowly turning to me. There was a strange glint in his eye. I couldn't tell if it was fear mixed with loathe.

"You've got a baaad attitude," I growled. My voice didn't sound human though. It was low and rough sounding.

"Why didn't you just go to Hermione? Clearly she knew,"

People were looking at me like I was mad.

Professor Snape seemed momentarily shocked before recovering. He put his face close to mine.

"Oh yes," he said in a dangerously soft voice. "Lupin…I remember your father. Wasn't particularly…human enough for Hogwarts."

I bristled.

"No reason to doubt you're the same way,"

I felt my nails digging into the desk. I so wanted to tear into him. Before I had gone to bed I had a vision…

I saw myself tearing into Professor Snape. There was blood everywhere.

I heard a boy's voice say "Jenna! What have you done?"

Then the vision had vanished.

I wanted so badly to jump on him and tear into that smirk he was wearing now.

Professor Snape turned away, his black robes billowing out behind him.

"You and Potter will remain after class for detention," he said coldly.

Neville ended up having a mishap and Snape deducted a point more from Gryffindor.

Harry and I remained after class. Snape gave us lines.

"He really is a git," Harry hissed angrily as he wrote the 39th line of "I will not talk back to a teacher."

Snape gave us 50 lines.

Harry glanced down at my desk.

"Um, Jenna?" Harry said in a strange voice. "Did you see your desk?"

I glanced down at my desk. There were deep gauges in the desk where my fingernails were.

We finished our lines and headed down to the Great Hall.

"Can I come and meet Hagrid with you?" I asked brightly.

At five to three, we left the castle and made our way across the grounds. Hagrid lived in a small wooden house in the edge of the forbidden forest. A crossbow and a pair of galoshes were outside.

Harry knocked on the door. A frantic scrambling noise came from inside including several booming barks.

"Back Fang!...back!" Hagrid's voice rang out.

Hagrid's hairy face appeared as he struggled to keep a hold on the collar of an enormous black boarhound.

We entered the house. There was one room and it felt incredibly roomy.

"Make yerselves at home," Hagrid said pleasantly, letting go of Fan, who bounded straight for me, oddly emitting low growls. I backed up into a corner.

"Hagrid? This is my friend Jenna Lupin," Harry introduced watching Fang curiously.

Hagrid looked at me.

"Lupin eh?" he said smiling. "I've heard of yeh father an' mother. Good people."

"Can you please get him away from me?" I asked backing up further, but Fang was keeping me at bay almost.

"FANG," Hagrid scolded.

Fang whined and turned his head around to look at Hagrid.

Fang let out one last warning growl at me before jumping up on the bed and curling up on it, keeping his eyes on me the whole time.

"Strange dog," Hagrid said shaking his head.

Harry picked up the newspaper and began reading it.

"There was a break in at Gringotts," Harry read aloud.

He continued to scan the clipping.

"It happened on my birthday! It could've happened while we were there!"

After Hagrid's we headed back into the castle for the night.

"That really is creepy," I said as we entered the Great Hall just in time for dinner.

"Yeah," Harry admitted. "It could've very well been going on while we, Hagrid and I were there."

He began explaining everything to me.

I nodded.

Hermione met up with us.

"How'd detention go?" she added with a smirk.

"Actually," I said mockingly. "It was rather pleasant. Snape offered us crumpets and tea."

Harry snickered.

Hermione scowled.

"Well, you did sort of ask for it by going back at him," Hermione said huffily. "I'm surprised he didn't expel you for that."

"Right and snapping at you was just as pleasant? He could've asked you. You clearly knew the answer," I said reasonably.

"You did read the books didn't you?" Hermione asked shrewdly raising an eyebrow.

"Of course!" I lied pretending to be outraged.

I wasn't going to admit to her that I hadn't read them.

Hermione still studied me.

"Want to dissect me too?" I asked grinning.

Hermione turned on her heel and headed over to the Gryffindor table and she sat down and began talking with the Prefect.

Harry grinned at me.

"Blimey," I sighed. "She needs some Prozac to lighten up."

Harry laughed and we joined Hermione at the table.

Dinner appeared and everyone began eating. There was a tinkling of silverware and laughter that rang out.

I glanced up at the Head Table…Professor Dumbledore, the Headmaster of Hogwarts, was sitting in the middle. On his right were Professor McGonagall, Professor Sprout, and Professor Flitwick. On Dumbledore's left, were Professor Snape, Professor Sinistra who taught Astronomy and Professor Quirrell.

Harry raised his head and followed my gaze.

"Ouch," he said raising a hand to his forehead.

"You okay?" I asked worriedly.

Even Hermione was watching with concern.

"Yeah," Harry said shaking his head.

I kept my eyes on him before moving them onto Hermione. I gave her a wink. She just rolled her eyes before returning them to her dinner.

I did too.

So far, Hogwarts was great. I'd made friends with Harry and Hermione, although, I didn't understand why Hermione was acting a bit cold.

Either way, it was good so far…despite Professor Snape.

I decided to write Mum and Dad a letter.

After dinner we headed up to the common room. I told Harry that I was heading up to the Owlery to send my parents a letter.

I hurried up the stairs and entered the owlery. Hundreds of owls in every color and size were perched. I found Lex and immediately, he swooped down.

"Hey," I said affectionately. "I'm sending a letter to Mum and Dad okay?"

I pulled out a piece of parchment and wrote the letter.

I tied it to Lex's leg and he took off out the window.

I began leaving the owlery now. It was late around 10:00 PM. I yawned and was totally exhausted.

I began slowly heading down the stairs. Suddenly, my foot slipped on something. I screamed and went head first, rolling down the steps, my back and ribs bouncing over each step.

My head hit the last step and I stopped rolling, landing on my side at the bottom of the staircase. Blackness swallowed me up.

HARRY.

Jenna hadn't returned to the common room that night. I was worried so immediately the next morning, I rushed up to the Owlery. But before I could climb the stairs, I saw her lying on her side at the bottom of the staircase.

"Jenna!" I cried rushing over to her.

She had a bleeding gash on her temple. She was unconscious.

Hermione appeared.

"Go get McGonagall!" I shouted to her.

Looking frightened, she hurried off.

Professor McGonagall arrived and we took her to the hospital wing.

Madam Pomfrey checked her over.

"Nothing's broken," Madam Pomfrey said softly.

Relief spread over us.

Just then, Jenna woke up.

"How are you feeling?" I asked softly.

"Fine," Jenna said but then frowned. "Who are you?"