CHAPTER 6

Unfortunately for Tulip the dementors weren't a one time deal. In fact they were at Hogwarts to stay, to protect the students from Sirius Black. Oh, how she loathed him, that murderer. Thinking about that disgusting man made her blood boil. He was coming to Hogwarts because he was after Potter. That boy can't get a break she thought.

She was trying to have breakfast but the Slytherin table was unbearable. Malfoy was again making fun of Potter and he had good crowd. That idiot. She felt disgusted when she remembered that she was related to that bully. She felt a wave of nausea coming up.

Her cousin Belen had graduated. This year aunt Sienna's son Erwin was sorted in Slytherin. She couldn't find him at the table. She turned away and spotted Hermione at the Gryffindor table, she quickly went over to compare their time tables. She peered over her shoulder to look at her schedule.

"That's very ambitious, you know... Did you take every class?" she sat next to her and took her schedule. Hermione had indeed taken every elective.

"Oh sweet merlin! You did?"

"Well, they are all important and -?"

"Mon, you took muggles studies? I knew you were going to take more classes but... You are muggle born! You know that right?"

Tulip was looking at her like she was crazy.

" I want to know how wizards view muggles." Hermione said matter of factly.

" I could've told you that. Well, at least now I'll have someone with me at that class." Tulip said reaching for a piece of toast.

A few heads turned towards her. Ron was ogling at her with his mouth hanging open.

Isn't she a slytherin?

Why?

What?

Odd

Tulip closed her eyes to hold herself.

"You took-" said Fred.

"- muggle studies?"asked George.

"...Yes, why? Can't I?" She was daring them to say anything while buttering her toast furiously. Twins back down mumbling under their breath. Awkwardness was in the air and it was Neville who broke it.

"What else did you choose?"

Tulip turned to him, offering him a small smile.

" Care of magical creatures because it involves caring for magical creatures, ancient runes because it comes in handy, muggles studies because it's interesting and French for the mandatory language course because part of my family comes from France."

" You didn't take divination? he asked.

"Nooo, My grandma kept telling me to choose it but I refused. I have no interesting in foretelling the future. Besides my brother told me that Trelawney was you know..." she made circles near head with her finger then paused a little.

"Did you take it?" she added.

"Yes" replied Neville along with Hermione, Weasley and Potter. She snorted at their faces.

"Good luck with that."


Muggle studies was as she expected, interesting and fun. She could really use what she learned there to improve her newspaper project. Tulip pitched her idea to Hermione after lunch and she became as exited as her.

" I was hoping you could write about muglle living and traditions...but you have so many classes, will you have time?" Tulip asked,

"Oh, I haven't taught of that. I-I'll try to squeezed it in..." she paused, deep in taught."0h! Yes!" she exlaimed and Tulip yelped a bit.

"What?"

"I'l try to write when I can but maybe I can give you the topics and writing points and you can write it. I'll review it to make sure." Hermione said.

"Sure, that'll work. Are you sure you can squeze it in? How do you squeze them anyway?" she gave Hermione a srutinzing look. Hermione averted her eyes.

A image of a golden chain appeared in her mind. Odd...

"Profeesor Mcgonnagal helped me plan it, it's nothing really." She said as they neared toward the class.

Sheis lying. She narrowed her eyes. She and Hermione shared everything. There weren't much they kept hidden from each other. The only thing Hermione kept from her was the thing that were related to Potter and Weasley. Well she thought she did but Tulip knew most of it. She respected that and never brought it up but this was different.

Tulip closed her eyes. Ever since the train, when she came across that dementor it did something to her. Usually she would have no problem with keeping others out but little pieces seem to keep getting in. Like there was a crack and it needed to be closed as soon as possible. Although that necklace did seem odd. She played with the Led Zeppelin patch on her bag to clear her head. Cedric had given her a bunch of band patches for last Christmas and she used most of them on her school bag.

Her thoughts switched when she saw Hagrid. Unlike her fellow Slytherins she liked Hagrid. He was a bit wild looking, sure but he was also very kind and sweet. He certainly cared for creatures and he would be a good teacher. Of course most of her house mates didn't agree with her. Still she was very intrigued to see his class.


After the whole fiasco with idiot Draco ruining her first class with Hagrid, she was hoping he wouldn't try anything with Professor Lupin. He didn't seem to do much anything other than scowl and mumble so she got to enjoy her new teacher. Professor Lupin's class was very fun and they got to learn real things.

Although as they lined up for the boggart, Tulip felt very nervous. She didn't like that she was going to show everyone her biggest fear. That was her weakness and she didn't feel like shoving that to everyone. Especially if it turns into a snake.

She had seen a boggart before, it was hiding in their attic. It had turned into a black snake and hissed at her. Fortunately her mother came quick and banished the boggart.Tulip was frozen to her spot and her limbs was clenched with fear.She would rather die than letting everyone know that she, a Slytherin, is afraid of snakes.

She wondered a bit thinking of the dementor and how it filled her with despair in a second. Chills ran down her spine, she gulped. She didn't feel like she could do this.

Her anxiety mixing with a class full of fear was starting to fill her mind. In front of her was Potter and before he could do anything Professor Lupin came and she was filled with most painful thoughts and memories.

She saw a small kid looking at the full moon. His limps were being broken, changing. It was so painful. Then she heard the cry of a wolf. The boy felt so alone and sad. She saw a discussion with Dumbledore, he was convincing him to take the job. She saw him drink a potion. "Wolfsbane" said proffesor Snape. She saw him entering the Shrieking Shack, clawing in a corner.

She took a sharp breath that went unnoticed by the class with the exception of the Professor. She was lost in thought as the class cleared. She was slow to gather her things and she barely heard when Professor Lupin called for her.

" I wasn't aware that we have a gifted Legilimence in Hogwarts" he was looking a bit nervous.

" I'm sorry Profes-"

" Ms. Ulster I assure y-"

"You are worried that I'll tell...I-I won't." She felt a bit surprised at her own words. Her mind was burning with the new information.

" You won't?" He was looking at her surprised.

" I think Professor Dumbledore wouldn't choose you if you were going to attack everyone. I saw the potions and the Shrieking Shack... I won't tell but you mustn't tell anyone about me ."

Professor Lupin was shocked. Ulsters, he thought. He knew of them of course. He had went to school with a few of them, they usually had this judging look with them. They were old fashioned pure bloods, they certainly had no tolerance for his kind. He look over the small girl, examining her. She was sweet looking and as far as he can tell she was genuine. He smiled to her.

" Of course Ms. Ulster and thank you." She smiled back. She paused a bit before asking.

" Professor? How did you know that I ... Most people don't realise when I look at their mind." She inquired.

" A well trained wizard could always tell when some else has entered their mind Ms. Ulster. Someone who is less in touch with themselves won't sense it, like children. I'm surprised you didn't know that."

She look down to her old style witch shoes. " I don't really use it. I try so hard not to and I am really good at keeping it all out but sometimes things slip in. Ever since the train, when I saw that dementor, it's getting harder to control."

Professor was confused about her admission. " I don't understand. Legilimence is a difficult craft to master and you are gifted-"

"It's no gift. It's a constant headache. It's not always good to know what others think. They don't really have happy thoughts. It's painful and I don't like it. Also people don't like mind-seers, they stop trusting you. "

She whispered the last part. It's been a while since she talked so openly about herself. Professor looked at this small girl with understanding. He too knew what it was like hiding yourself from others in fear of being discriminated. It's a burden on your shoulders that you can never be free of.

" You're secret is safe with me Ms. Ulster." Tulip's shoulders relaxed.

" Would you like to have some tea? If I am not mistaken those are muggle music bands, are they not?" He was looking at her patch covered bag. She gave him a big grin as they went to his class to have tea and talk about muggle bands.


Finally I am able to finish this, I had a very busy midterm week.