Worse Than That
By Trixie0828
This story is a fan fiction and anything dealing with muggles, Hogwarts, the wizarding world and the characters are not mine they are Rowling's. The only thing that is mine is Isabelle, anything else is not mine and it all comes form Rowling and my being a fan of her books. This is only my interpretations of what i think her characters would do in this kind of situation.
Most of this stuff may not make complete sense because I'm not that great at writting and it made sense in my head when I did it. Read if you like if you don't its no skin off my nose. But it is also okay if you do.
Chapter 3: All Alone
The next couple weeks went by and she really didn't talk about what happen after class that day, she didn't tell them her secret either, she was to afraid and no one pressed the issue of what happened she wasn't being forced to tell anyone about it. Every History of Magic class was the same James, Sirius and Remus bashed Elves and Lily and the Professor spoke of the good qualities, every class she held back tears and cried her self to sleep and awoke early the next morning to try and prepare herself for another day.
Sirius tried many times to get her opinion of Elves and start a debate with her but she always found some way around it. Isabelle tired on numerous occasions to try and tell Lily or Remus because she thought out of the five they would accept it easier than the others. But every time she tried she would get scared and when James asked her to read over his essay on Elves that they were told to right.
"You don't really believe these things about all Elves do you?" she asked him fighting tears and anger. "What do you mean there all true, Elves dangerous, it's all the same. " James, Sirius and Remus said together.
Isabelle ran to her room, where she broke out in tears and didn't go near him or any of the other boys for the rest of the day. She stayed in her room when she wasn't in class and at meals she ate very little.
And the day before Christmas holidays she received a letter from her father and it said that she would have to stay at Hogwarts for the holidays. James and his parents were going skiing and they invited Sirius, Remus and Peter along so they would all be gone. And that night Isabelle also believed that Lilly would be leaving to, so when she thought Lilly was asleep she cried.
But Lilly wasn't and she opened Isabelle curtains and spoke, "Your crying again and don't say your not for the last two months I've kept quiet and I can't stand to here you cry."
She bent over Isabelle and hugged her and asked her with tears in her own eyes, "Is why have you been crying? Is it something I've done?" there was a pause Isabelle shook her head no and then Lily asked "It's one of the boys isn't it?"
"No…I'm just…it's just that…I'm afraid." Isabelle whispered threw the tears, "Afraid of what?" "That you'll all leave me and I'll be all alone."
"Well the boys are going off for holidays but I told my parents I wanted to stay with you so you weren't alone not very many are people are here for holidays…"
"No I don't me for holidays…I mean forever…I'm frightened you'll all stop being my friends…" "But why would we do that?"
"Because of what I am…" Isabelle cried softly as she got up and walked to the window so Lily wouldn't look at her.
"Isabelle what are you talking about? You're the best friend I have here except for the boys." Lily said as she walked over to Isabelle, " Do you remember when there boys were picking on Snape and I called the boys cowards and those vines shot out of the ground?"
"Yeah you said exactly what I always wanted to tell them, it was something I bottled up inside of me and when you finished I felt relieved…" Lily replied and with that Isabelle began to take off her crystal and tucked her hair behind her ears.
Tears streaming down her face she turned to Lily and said, "I've been frightened that you'll all hate me because I'm an Elf, and you'll leave me like everyone else has.
You felt relieve because I happened to channel your feelings as well as expressing my own the vines shot out of the ground reacting to the excessive emotion and want to stop them." Lily looked at Isabelle she could see her now pointed ears in the moon light and as she stared Isabelle slowly fell on her knees and began to cry.
Lily once she saw the ears she didn't hesitate she caught Isabelle up in a massive hug and cried as well. And through the tears she told Isabelle, "I don't care that you're an Elf you're the best friend I've ever had, your sweet, kind, smart and just a wonderful person and I'll never leave you. That day you were able to say what was needed to say, and the vine thing was cool and so random no one cared."
The two sat on the floor and cried softly for an hour, making sure not to wake the others in the room. Eventually once they stopped crying a bit, Lily broke the silence they sat in and said, "When are you going to tell the boys?" Isabelle almost shouted, "I can't…you I knew there was some chance you wouldn't care or think it was neat. But you've heard the way they talk about Elves … they will believe their true if I show them like I've shown you, they'll think its all one big deception."
"James may take a moment or two to adjust but Sirius would stand by you no matter what he'll understand", Lily said reassuringly "and Remus he adores you." "Lily please not yet I don't want them to know yet!" "Okay, not yet." And with Lily's promise not to any of the boys they went to bed.
In the morning lots of people were laughing and excitement filled the air everyone preparing to leave. As Lily and Isabelle made there way to the Great Hall. Isabelle took a deep breath before reaching the Gryffindor table where the boys were already seated whispering about something and all Isabelle and Lily caught before they noticed they were there was, "Yeah we did it!" from James and "We'll show you when we get back from holidays!" from Sirius.
"What did you figure out? "Lily chimed in. "Nothing to worry about Lily." James said as he motioned for her to sit beside him.
And then Sirius added "It's just a little treat for Lupin." and usher Isabelle into the seat next to him. "So are you all packed for home Lily?" Remus asked as he buttered his toast. "I'm not going home this year for holidays, Is' dad said she had to stay for here for Christmas so I asked my parents if I could stay to keep her company." she said smiling at Isabelle.
Isabelle smiled back, "Well, I'm going to give you two your gifts now okay but you can't open them yet?" James said handing the two of them a parcel, Lily handed Remus, James, Peter and Sirius theirs, so did Isabelle. "Well here is yours." "Oh yours hasn't come yet, but I'll send to you okay Sunshine." Sirius said accepting his from Isabelle and handing Lily hers and Remus did the same "I'll have to mail you yours as well."
Shortly after they finished breakfast the boys got their things ready to leave for the train. Lily and Isabelle said goodbye to them before they left, Isabelle hugged James, Peter and Remus and when it came to Sirius' turn, he hugged her so tight she couldn't breathe.
Which sent Isabelle's heart soared maybe it would be okay to tell him after all…when he gets back…oh I wish you wouldn't let go…I feel safe.
But they eventually let go of each other and Lily and Isabelle waved as the boys walked to he carriages. Christmas came and gone Isabelle got from Lily a charm bracelet with a friendship charm on it and Lily had a matching one. Isabelle gave Lily a red Elf stone that meant true one, it looked like a regular stone so no one would ever suspect it was real Elf stone.
James gave Isabelle a book of muggle fairy tales, Peter gave her a box of Chocolate Frogs, Remus gave her a hair broach that was made after the design of the leaves of Lothlorien. And amazing enough Sirius' gift was the best one of all, the one book she was missing Tolkien's Book of The Lost Tales. From Isabelle's cousin she received a book of old Celtic fairy tales, which Isabelle's mother had always loved, and from her father a pan pipe he had gotten in Africa.
Isabelle gave each of the boys Elf stones as well with their own special meaning, James' was blue meaning strong, Peter's was yellow meaning small one, Remus' was orange meaning trusted one, and Sirius' was green meaning the only one.
They were not on a necklace like Lily's but on their own in a small wooden box. Other than a fun day opening presents and letting of crackers, there wasn't any thing exciting that went on. Until the day before everyone came back, just as Isabelle was falling asleep Lilly startled her and asked her something she never thought anyone would ask.
"Is…I know you don't really like using your Elven powers but could you show me?" Lily was right Isabelle hated using her powers accepted when necessary usually for fear of people seeing and finding out but Lily like the fact she was an Elf .
"Okay just this once." Isabelle answered as she put her hand on Lily's night stand and when she removed it there was a yellow rose sitting on her night stand. "Wow, that's brilliant." They smiled at one another and went to bed.
Isabelle resolved to tell the boys when they got back about her being and Elf but so far the courage failed her every time she opened her mouth to say it.
And Lilly glared at her every time she said "I'll tell them later…there's too many people now….tomorrow." January had come and gone and it was getting close to the Valentine's Day Dance, James asked Lilly to go with him of course, Peter didn't have a date and Remus asked Isabelle.
And Sirius the day of the dance asked a Ravenclaw girl to go, he likes her I guess Isabelle thought ask she watched him ask her at lunch."Well we better start getting ready Lily?' Isabelle said as she kissed Remus on the cheek and walked towards the girl's dormitory.
"Ya your right we've only got till seven." "You need that long to get ready?" James called after them and Remus just said "Take all the time you need."
For the first half hour of Lily and Isabelle's getting ready process they just talked and painting their nails. Then for the next hour and half they took turns doing each others hair. Isabelle left Lily's long red hair down and curled it and Lilly did Isabelle's golden hair up into a bun of curls and had a few falling down in random places. Then Isabelle and Lily did each others make up and talked some more.
By 6:50pm Isabelle and Lily were done getting ready and walked down to the common room where James and Remus were waiting. Lily came down first she was in a long pale yellow dress that went great with her hair and made her green eyes stand out even more than usual. "You look fabulous Lily!' James said with a huge smile wearing a very nice tuxedo, "Thank you." she replied with a smile just as big as his.
Then Isabelle came down the stairs in a long flowing pale pink dress, when Remus saw her he just stood there with his mouth open and when Isabelle was on the fifth last step she tripped on her dress, Sirius who happened to be there caught her and said "You look so absolutely gorgeous." "Thank you," Isabelle replied "and graceful." Feeling like an idiot for tripping.
They stood there at the bottom of the steps just starring into each others eyes not noticing that Remus, Lilly and James or anyone else for that matter were even in the room. He looks so wonderful and handsome in that tuxedo…and those eyes...and these arms. Once again holding me tight….
"Ehem!" Remus cleared his throat and brought the two back to reality. "Well we should get going, and shouldn't you be getting your date and letting go of mine." Isabelle bushed and as Sirius let go and replied "Yeah your right I better get my date see you four down there." Then ran out of the tower.
Isabelle and Remus walked arm and arm in front of Lilly and James, And as they entered the Great Hall, they saw Sirius and his date Alison Morgan his date from Ravenclaw, and Peter was there also plate loaded down with sweets and other goodies.
There were hearts everywhere and so many decorations of red, white and pink. They danced and talked for a couple hours then Lily suggested, "It's hot in here why don't we all go out and talk by the castle entrance." Being February there was still lots of snow outside and it was snowing, James, Sirius, Remus and Peter started to have a snow ball fight out in the front lawn.
And Lily, Isabelle and Alison were laughing at them and chatting, Isabelle had taken off her shoes because her feet were so sore. And just as James got Sirius in the back, Severus Snape came up behind Isabelle grabbed her crystal necklace and pushed her off the step.
And just then Alison screamed "She's an Elf!" and ran and clung to Sirius, and all James, Remus, Peter and Sirius did was stare at her, with Isabelle's hair up the way it was you could see her ears plainly. Lily pulled out her wand and yelled a curse at Snape the crystal flying out of his hand and it fell and smashed right in front of Isabelle.
Isabelle stood up and looked right at Remus and Sirius who was in sock still and had a mixture of emotion in their eyes. Lily ran to Isabelle's side but just before she reached her Isabelle took off running tears pouring down her face. He hates me…I saw it in his eyes…and so much more…I'm all alone…all alone.
Bare foot Isabelle ran across the snow to the Quidditch pitch again and this time she climbed up to the top, tripping over she dress every step of the way.
She fell to her knees and began to cry harder than she had ever cried leaning her head on her folded arms on the upper bench. Snow falling all around her, her hair a mess and tears streaming down her face.
She heard a pair of foot steps, and then Lily's voice "Oh Isabelle are you alright?" Lily said as she bent towards Isabelle. "Go away please." Lily hesitated but didn't protest she knew Isabelle needed some time to her self. Isabelle didn't look up she didn't want to see Lily's eye nor the eyes of who might be with her, but Isabelle doubted anyone else was there.
Which made her dry even harder, she heard Lily's footsteps growing fainter. But she also heard other footsteps growing louder when they stop just beside her, "Go away…" Isabelle sobbed. But she heard no footsteps waking away, she lifted her head from her arms and began to shout "Please just g…" Right before her eyes stood a very large black scruffy dog, who looked about as sad as she felt.
At the sight of this she turned away and placed her head back on her folded arms, only a dog I knew no one else would bother to ran after me other than Lily.
She began to cry more, the dog walked closer to her and nudged her face which was once again placed on her folding arms. She looked at the dog a moment and he just looked bad, Isabelle noticed the dog looked just as sad as she felt. "Why do you look so sad?" she asked the dog as she pet him on the head, he just gave a soft whimper in reply.
"Well don't be sad for me," she told it , "I expected this much, Remus' eyes looked so filled with anger, shock and fear." She paused and a couple tears rolled down her cheeks "But Sirius' eyes had not just anger and shock but sadness also…I hate being an Elf !" she cried aloud "he hates me now that he knows."
The dog whimpered again and cuddle into her, Isabelle hugged him and as snow fell all around them she pet him and he kissed her face.
Isabelle sat out there for hours, crying, petting and hugging the dog she didn't want to back to the castle. Then around 11:00pm it was getting really cold out and the snow was falling harder and Professor McGonagall and Professor Dumbledore appeared in the archway of the entrance of level of the stands where Isabelle was.
"Oh dear why are you still out here?" Professor McGonagall cried out with tears in her own eyes covering Isabelle with her cloak. "Don't make me go back…I want to go home." Isabelle cried while the Professor helped her up holding her tight.
"That is up to you and your father Miss Winthrop, but we should get you inside for now that can be dealt with tomorrow." Professor Dumbledore said in a calm, yet some what anger voice.
Isabelle became terrified that he might be mad at her, but she could see in she eyes it was not her he was angry with, it was Snape. Isabelle walked with Professor McGonagall and looked back at the dog, "Oh Professor what about the dog he can't stay out here all night." "Don't worry I'll see he gets home." Professor Dumbledore replied.
This time when Isabelle reached the common room Lily was standing there waiting there for her, but none of the boys were in sight. Lily rushed right to Isabelle when she came through the portrait hole, and hugged her tight and began to cry.
"Alright, I believe there has been enough of crying for tonight, you should all get to bed." Professor Dumbledore said softly with the black dog at his side. Lily and Isabelle began to walk up the stairs near their normal spot at the fire once again it was as if something was there.
But the two ignored it and got on their night gowns and Lily hugged Isabelle once more and they said goodnight to one another.
Pippin at first didn't want to go here Isabelle because she knew he smelt the dog on her but then once Isabelle laid down he cuddle into her neck and purred. After all the crying Isabelle had done that night her eyes were so tired that she fell asleep fast.