Weeks went by and things were back to normal. Lindy was still pretty shook up. Naturally, the whole school knew about what had happened and talked about it often. Except in front of Lindy. Well, everyone but the Slytherin's that is. Even Jade Malfoy made a point to recall it whenever Lindy passed.
"Not seeing any more snakes are you? Killing them perhaps?" she said jeeringly to her.
"Shut up Malfoy," said Lindy, while glaring. This was probably the twelfth time this week Lindy had to endure it.
"Do you have conversations with them too? A cup of tea by chance? Are you a parsletongue too, you half-"
That was it. Before she could think, Lindy drove her fist into Malfoy's face. Malfoy howled in pain and held her hands over her nose that was pouring blood. Though she knew Malfoy was in pain, she didn't care. She brought her fist back a second time as Malfoy screamed, "You half-blood!"
However, someone grabbed her arm and pinned her down. A man held her down as she resisted to be contained. Yet, she couldn't manage to break free from his grip.
"Did she do that Miss Malfoy?" asked the man. Of course, it was her least favorite teacher Professor Poplin.
Malfoy, smirking and still cradling her nose, nodded.
"Follow me Potter," he said thickly. "I'm talking you straight to Dumbledore."
"Mind if I do it, Poplin?" asked an oafish sounding voice from behind him. "I'm headin' up there me self."
Lindy and Poplin turned around to see Hagrid standing behind them. Lindy was a little relieved.
"Alright," agreed Poplin, even though you could tell he minded. Lindy mouthed thank you to Hagrid as she stepped toward him.
"So why'd ya punch Malfoy fer?" asked Hagrid as they were walking up a staircase. Lindy had to take several steps at a time to keep up.
"She was about to call me a half blood," said Lindy bitterly.
"Jus' pay no mind ter her," Hagrid advised. "Your mother went through bein' called a mud blood by Malfoy's ruddy father, so I'm not shocked she's doin' the same ter you."
She nodded, feeling a bit better.
"So, how's things ben since the incident?" asked Hagrid curiously. "You haven' visited me since then."
"Sorry! I've been busy with exams and my quidditch practices, and, well, the snake incident is still a problem for me," she said. "Some of the mysteries of it are still unsolved."
"Well I'm sure ye'll figure 'em out," he said hopefully. "Say, why don' you and the others come down fer tea tonight?"
"That'd be great," she said as they reached Dumbledore's office entrance, a stone gargoyle.
"Pumpkin sherbet!" said Hagrid to the gargoyle.
The gargoyle jumped aside and Hagrid pushed her onto the stairs. She had to catch herself before starting up them on her own, Hagrid following behind. When they reached the office, Dumbledore looked pleased to see them.
"Hello Rubeus, and Lindy," he said delightfully. "Ready for your match tomorrow?"
"Yeah," she said, pushing back a stray hair behind her ear.
"Though, you appear a bit soiled-"
"That's because she and Malfoy got inter a bit 'o a row," replied Hagrid.
"Ah, I should have guessed," he said. "You know the rules. No fighting-"
"-but sir! She called me a halfblood!"
He paused a second, giving her an intense stare with his light blue eyes. She looked away to a wall only to find another man who resembled Professor Dumbledore giving her the same cold stare. She then decided to look at the floor, which couldn't stare back.
"Well, I'll jus' leave ye two ter yer busi-"
"You said you needed to see him about something," shot Lindy, looking up at Hagrid.
"Oh, I jus' did that so Poplin wouldn't enjoy himself punishing ye. I'll see yeh later then?"
"Yeah, later," she said, starring back at the floor. Hagrid quietly slipped out.
"Lindy," said Dumbledore softly, "I know your intentions were noble. However, I must punish you all the same. I would punish Malfoy too but I believe your punishment was enough?"
Here he laughed and sat down in his red velvet chair behind his desk. He motioned for her to sit in the seat in front of it. She nodded and sat down.
"Being as this is your first detention, it won't be rough. How about spending your evening with me," he said thoughtfully. "About an hour, as I presume you were planning on seeing Hagrid tonight?"
"Yes, thank you sir," she replied.
"Get going! I believe you still have to study for exams and such," he said loftily.
"Yes sir," she said, getting up and leaving. "Thank you!"
She dashed to her common room and up to her dorm to grab her bag. Upon leaving, she was stopped by a small hand.
"Sorry Miss Potter, I was tricked-" started the squeaky voice of Twinkletoes.
"Don't lie to me. You were fully aware of what you were doing," Lindy said, trying to free her wrist from the House-Elf.
"Why you little! You killed my master and you must suffer!"
The House-Elf aimed a decent spell at her but she dodged it.
"Expelliarmus!" She didn't even have to use her wand. The spell hit the House-Elf and knocked her back.
Lindy dashed out the door and out of the common room. If I could just find Dobby.
With a POOF! of smoke, Dobby the House-Elf appeared in his normal attire. She was relieved to see him.
"Listen, Dobby! I knocked Twinkletoes out in my dorm. Do you think you could-"
"Take care of her? Of course Miss Potter! Dobby would do anything for you miss!"
"Thank you so much Dobby," said Lindy, taking off for her classroom. Lonni and Jacob, now better, were sitting in the back of the class saving her a seat. "Did I miss anything?"
"Nope," replied Lonni as she got out her notes. "Why are you late?"
Lindy told them about the incident with Malfoy, talking to Dumbledore, and Twinkletoes. Also that Dobby was taking care of Twinkletoes. In a hushed tone of course.
"I'd like to give that wretched House-Elf a good hexing," said Jacob. "It needs one."
They would have talked a bit more but class had begun. Professor Binns was going over a good deal of material that was to be on their exams next week. Lindy avidly took notes, having learned a few months ago how to brew a potion that would keep her awake. Jacob, who'd tried it once and disliked it with quite a passion, fought to stay awake. Lonni, being a leech and knew she could read Lindy's notes later, dozed off without a care.
Right when they were discussing the goblin rebellion, the class was interrupted by Professor McGonagol. Instead of saying it in words, she pointed at Lindy, Lonni, and Jacob in turn. Obediently, they got up and followed her out.
The aged teacher led them all the way to her office.
"Shut the door please, Miss Weasley," she said in a stern tone. Lonni did as she was told and shut it.
Standing by McGonagol's desk was Dobby, clutching Twinkletoes. Suddenly, there were puffs of smoke and Dumbledore appeared.
"What's going on Minerva?" asked Dumbledore, slightly amused at the scene.
"Dobby here says that Twinkletoes, this House-Elf, was trying to kill Miss Potter in her dorm," reported McGonagol. Lonni and Jacob gaped at Lindy.
"I thought she was just trying to harm me," Lindy replied defensively. "Not to kill me."
"At any rate, she will be punished. I believe Azkaban takes house-elves now?" answered Dumbledore.
"No sir, please don't! Anything but that!" pleaded Twinkletoes.
"Fine! I sentence you to be enslaved to a new master! Miss Potter, you are now her master," he said, creating a contract and forcing the House-Elf to sign it.
"If Kreacher isn't bad enough," muttered Lindy.
"Kreacher?" asked Lonni and Jacob.
"Yeah, Kreacher our House-Elf," replied Lindy. "Dad doesn't really want him either, but he has no choice but to keep him. He knows way too much valuable information about Dad's work to be set free."
The two blinked and looked at each other for a second before looking back at Lindy and nodding.
"It's settled! Just sign this and she shall report to your mum," said Dumbledore before handing her the contract.
Lindy jotted her name down and looked at the creature that was to be hers.
"My first command is that you are to lose all your contacts with whoever your previous master was in contact with," said Lindy.
"But, but-"
"And my second command is for you to shut up," said Lindy. The House-Elf did so. "And my last command for now is for you to never repeat anything inside my house you hear to anyone."
Twinkletoes gulped and nodded. Then she left the room muttering. After that, Dumbledore bid them farewell and disappeared. McGonagol thanked them for cooperating and sent them back to Binns class.
The rest of the day continued on as usual and that night Lindy headed toward Dumbledore's office, deep in thought. When she reached the gargoyle she stood in front of it for a few minutes before snapping back to reality and muttering, "Pumpkin sherbet."
She took the steps two at a time and once at the top, entered into Dumbledore's office. Inside, Dumbledore sat facing the portrait of the man that resembled him in many ways. He straightened up and asked her to have the seat in front of his desk once again.
A magical time turner of some sort burst into life and turned once. Then it sat back down on a shelf and sand started to sift down it.
"We have one hour until once again you and I enter this office," he said happily. "Time travel, if you're wondering."
Lindy sheepishly grinned and waited for him to start the discussion.
"Are you nervous about tomorrow's match?" asked Dumbledore.
"Er- yes sir. But aren't we going to discuss-" However she stopped and looked down.
"The snake incident? Well, I guess we could talk about that, but I figured you'd talked about it enough."
"Oh…Well, I was just wondering what exactly he….Actually, I was wondering, just out of curiosity, if he survived?" asked Lindy quietly.
"As a matter of fact he's still in a critical condition at St. Mungo's," Dumbledore replied in an offhand manner. "Anything else?"
Lindy gulped. This next question she'd been dreading to ask because she was afraid about what the answer would be. Five long minutes passed by as Lindy found the courage to ask him.
"When I was fighting him, a voice in my head told me to cast the imperious curse," she managed to squeeze out. "It also compelled me to whack him against the wall…and the scariest part of all is I was enjoying it."
He got up and walked over to the picture of the man who resembled him greatly.
"Lindy, do you know who this man is?" asked Dumbledore. When she shook her head no, he replied, "His name was Albus Dumbledore, and he was my Great Uncle. Gave his life fighting Voldemort."
"He was also your father's headmaster," he also added with a sort of chuckle.
"I'm sorry sir, but I don't understand what this has to do with me-"
"There is a chance that Voldemort may very well be inside of you, trying to survive," he said coolly.
"What? Sorry, but that's-"
"Absurd? Think about it. Your father was hit with Avada Kedarva by Voldemort and received his powers. You're his daughter, thusly containing some of his blood which was slightly tainted. By the way, may I see the scar on your ankle?"
She knew he knew somehow. She pulled down her sock and revealed the lightening bolt scar on her ankle. He gazed at it for a second and sighed.
"I'm going to be doing quite a bit of research on this, I can tell," he said thoughtfully. "Does anyone else know besides-?"
"Lonni and Jacob are the only two," she replied. "No one else."
Dumbledore nodded thoughtfully. Then he turned and walked over to a window that faced the grounds.
"I think it's best the conversation is left off here tonight. Never hesitate to come talk to me when you need to. Also, I would like you to send me letters through owl post whenever anything strange occurs. Even dreams."
Nodding, she stood up. The hour was about to end. She thanked Dumbledore and left, feeling slightly relieved. Yet, it bugged her that he seemed to be holding back a little information.
The next day was Gryffindor's big Quidditch Final. It had been literally years since they'd last been in one. Lindy awoke that morning to find Lonni and Michelle sitting on the edge of her bed with a cup of milk and toast.
"What are you guys doing?" asked Lindy, yawning and rubbing sleep out of her eyes.
"We brought your breakfast to you," said Michelle.
"Hurry up! You need to get down to the pitch and win us that cup," added Lonni, placing the tray on her lap. "That and shut up Malfoy for us."
"Right," replied Lindy.
She shoved the toast in her mouth and gulped down the milk. However, she wished almost as soon as she'd done this that she hadn't. Her stomach was churning and leaving her feeling queasy. This was thanks to nerves.
Quickly, she dressed and ran down to the common room where Nick and Kiara were waiting for her. She was pulled back for second by Jacob.
"Hey Lindy, good luck today," said Jacob. He gave her the thumbs up, then left saying, "I'll be rooting for you from the stands."
Lindy grinned and joined her teammates. They walked silently down to the pitch, not saying a word to each other. All of them had the game mentally starting in their head. In the locker room, Melissa gave them all a pep talk to rouse them up. It was pretty effective as well. On the way out, Melissa stopped Lindy.
"Remember, different strategy today," she whispered to her.
"I know," answered Lindy.
The stands were packed. Even some aurors and ministry officials had made time to come out and watch the match. Even Mr. Potter (Lindy's dad) had made time to come watch today. Her nerves came up for a second but she quickly swallowed them back down. Her gaze went over to the other team's seeker.
Slytherin's seeker was a third year boy named Levi Puddlwright. He was tall and thin, and not that bad looking either. Many girls wondered why the Sorting Hat had placed him in Slytherin. He caught Lindy's eyes staring at him and he smiled and winked, but then grimaced quickly again. Probably so he wouldn't get caught acknowledging his enemy.
Madame Everglade carried the chest containing the balls into the middle of the field. She had both captains shake hands, unwillingly mind you, and released the snitch. As usual the snitch zoomed off from the site. Next the bludgers were released. Then, after a minute that seemed to last forever, the quaffle was tossed and the match began.
Melissa snatched the quaffle and zoomed toward the other goal post to score. Then she zoomed back to Gryffindor's goal post to defend, trading places with Kiara. Their first tactic had been performed flawlessly. Now she needed to keep the other seeker preoccupied for a while.
She shot off like a bullet, pretending she'd found the snitch. Slytherin's seeker followed at first, but then veered off and it took Lindy a second to realize he'd found the snitch.
"Puddlewright's locked on to the snitch!" Shouted the announcer.
"Like heck I'll let you get it," said Lindy defiantly, speeding as fast as she could to catch up with Puddlewright.
Naturally she caught up with him, and was able to cut him off.
"Wow, where'd you come from?" exclaimed Levi in a half amazed voice.
She smiled slightly, but didn't reply. Instead, she sped off to wait for a signal from Melissa. Melissa was to give her a sign before she sped off toward the snitch to catch it.
Down below Gryffindor was winning 60-20. When they'd at least reached 100 or close to it Melissa was going to pull her stunt and Lindy was to find the snitch. Just then Ted Angora scored changing the score 80-20. Now if only….
Suddenly, Melissa belted out onto the field, grabbed the quaffle being tossed in mid-air, and took off for the Slytherin goal post. This was the signal. Lindy sped away in a flash after the snitch only to realize Puddlewright was already trailing it and about to catch it.
No, it can't end like this! Faster!
And like always, the broom shot through the air, in front of Puddlewright, and she snatched the snitch. It took her a few seconds to realize she was clutching the snitch in her hand. Then she waved it above her head and all the Gryffindors stormed out onto the field.
"We did it! We did it!" shouted everyone as they rushed onto the field. This had to be the best thing that had happened this year.
After calming down, she managed to look up in the stands and noticed that both Katherine and Malfoy were angry their team had lost. Then she glanced around for Puddlewright but he was no where to be found.
However, the thought of finding anyone left her mind when Jacob and Lonni reached her and the three jumped up and down. That night there was a party that lasted until one o'clock in the morning when Professor Potter ushered them to bed.