This is the next chapter. Please read and review, love Hannah xxx
Heidi woke up with a plan of action in her mind. She would need to do some serious personal studying which Ivy would help her with. She first stepped out of bed ordering a large order of room service consisting of a full English breakfast, cereal, croissants and everything else they had on offer. She did not intend to eat it all but did intend to use it for her studies. Ivy popped in looking angry when she saw that the food had been ordered. Before she could complain however and tell her mistress that she should be the only one cooking for her Heidi spoke.
"Great there you are Ivy and I was just about to call you too. Now as you can tell I have ordered a huge breakfast. In fact I have ordered everything they have to offer for breakfast and here is where I need your help. I need to know how a girl should present herself when eating. I want to make a good impression with my peers and not end up eating like a slob or a man or something!" she said remembering Ron's awful table manners and shuddering deeply. In fairness though, no man ever wanted to be like Ron either. Ron was just horrendous in that he never truly cared how he looked even when it was obvious that he should.
Ivy perked up then when she realised why all of the other foods were there. Clearly Heidi didn't want to waste her good food so was using this average food for her experiment.
"Yes I will help you. I will place the hot breakfast here on this table for you and watch you eat. If you do anything you should not I will be sure to tell you. Rule number one is elbows off the table and put your napkin in your lap in case something spills later on by accident. This way you will save your clothing! My previous mistress knew all of these things so don't worry I will definitely help you Heidi!" she said as Heidi took some of the tea carefully adding two sugars and a hint of milk to it. She stirred the tea noisily as Ivy stopped her grimacing slightly at the loud noise.
"No Heidi! That is too noisy. Please try to stir your tea gently and place the spoon in your saucer afterwards. Yes just like that. Continue please!" she said summoning a parchment and quill with which to take notes. She figured Heidi might like to read them afterwards. Heidi drank her tea careful not to slurp it and placed it gently back on the saucer. She cut the sausages in two halves and placed both halves onto one piece of buttered toast which she lifted up to her mouth taking a bite. As Ivy had said nothing she continued. She was in fact much hungrier then she'd given herself credit for and her period was making her want to scarf it all down like Ron but she held herself from doing that. She continued eating it and in one hour was done. She hadn't eaten everything but Ivy had plenty of notes for her.
"So Ivy tell me how did I do then?" she asked carefully as Ivy smiled up at her clearing the table and leaving the tray outside the door to be collected.
"Ok so Heidi you did mostly well. I would however advise not trying something new when in company as you may find you don't like it and would look bad if you were seen spitting whatever it is out like you did with those fried tomatoes earlier on. Always swallow the bite of something you've taken and if you don't like it don't eat any more of it ok? This truly is the best manners" she said as Heidi nodded. This had been just what she needed.
"Thank you Ivy, you've been most helpful. Can you tell me what girls talk about? I need to be able to fit in with those girls in my year and don't wish to stand out or feel left out either!" she said again starting to panic which stopped as soon as Ivy took her two hands holding them and singing to her gently. She didn't know the tune but it didn't really matter what it was so long as it calmed her down.
"Most girls discuss magazines, pet care, makeup, perfume, young men, music and their studies. Talk about those and you'll fit right in!" Ivy advised. They spent the rest of the afternoon talking through everything carefully. In the evening on the advice of Ivy Heidi visited the spa for a massage and some dry floatation which felt amazing. Afterwards she had her nails painted on her hands and feet and then went to the restaurant for dinner. She had dressed a bit more maturely for dinner and avoided the dreaded children's menu thank Merlin. She so hated children's menus. She had some steak with pepper sauce, fried mushrooms and mashed potatoes along with a side plate of various different vegetables. It was divine. She would start school tomorrow and wished to feel as good as she could before going. She went to bed and Ivy called her in the morning. She had prepared her a nice relaxing bath as a soothing way to start the day.
When it came time to decide what to wear she opted for a navy coloured knee length dress which she paired with some wedges and some long earrings of stars. On her face she simply put a tiny amount of tinted cream, some eye liner, mascara and lipstick. She wished to keep it simple. Her hair was tied up in a ponytail with a braid attached. It looked very pretty and she was very happy with it. She went downstairs and handed in her room key before leaving. She was taken down a side alley by Ivy who popped them over to the station directly. They had arrived with half an hour to spare and many people were arriving at the same time. Heidi however knew what to do and how to behave after her lessons yesterday so felt much more at ease today. She entered the compartment and placed her trunk and cage on the shelf.
"Ivy please go the residence of the Weasley Family in Ottery Saint Catchpole. You will find them still there panicking and rushing to get to the station on time as usual. Do not be seen. Please take the rat you find there with whoever is carrying him and stun him. Put him in a cage and place this letter here with him. You are to leave him with Madam Bones in the ministry and tell her she should look into it. Don't leave until the situation has been dealt with and then return here to me. Please tell me what happens when you're done!" she commanded as Ivy nodded once and left.
Ivy entered the Weasley household and it was as Heidi had described. Everyone was running around screaming about things they could not find. Waving her hands she froze them using elven magic and searched the house for the rat which she eventually found. She placed him in a cage and sneered at the state of the house as she sneezed heavily many times in a row from the dust. She clicked her fingers a few times removing all the dust from the house and went immediately to Madam Bones who was shocked.
"Who are you and why are you here?"
"I am Ivy and my mistress says you should look at this rat as you will find him most interesting. I am supposed to give you this note and wait until you know what you will do!" she said as Madam Bones looked at the rat with a weird expression muttering about pranks and not being in the mood for it today. She scanned the rat and gasped as it showed him to be an animagus. She placed magic suppressing cuffs on him and removed the spell from him gasping as none other than Peter Pettigrew appeared there before her. She gasped and fainted hitting her head on the side of her desk which Ivy healed immediately checking to make sure she was alright.
"Who is your mistress?" she demanded furiously.
"Well actually it's Heidi Potter ma'am but I'd like if you don't tell anyone about it as no one else is meant to know about me. She said she remembers him from when she was a baby as he'd always call to the house and show her how he could transform into a rat. She said she'd never forget how he looked as a rat stunned when she saw him in Diagon Alley the other day because he's meant to be dead but he isn't!" she explained as Minister Fudge was called and freaked out completely. This would likely ruin his career. His day only got much worse when he learned that Sirius Black had never even had a trial. He ordered for one immediately. The court case was swift and Sirius was released while Peter was thrown into the veil with everyone there being shocked he'd been alive. When questioned under veritas serum he'd admitted to doing it and not caring about it either. He had said it was either him or them and so he'd chosen them. He also said he was not sorry and would do it time and time again if it meant he got to live. They all felt so awful for everything that had happened to Sirius. Sirius however was just glad to be free. He'd be in Saint Mungos for many months getting better but at least he was free. What's more he didn't hold Minister Fudge accountable at all as he'd not been minister when it had happened to him. He'd asked everyone else to not blame him either which Cornelius was very grateful indeed for.
After he was freed and left the courtroom a screaming Peter was publically taken the long way to the veil so that everyone possible would see him and that word would quickly spread about all he'd done. Albus had not been in attendance as he'd been busy getting the school ready but was stunned when Severus burst into his office to tell him everything which had happened. Sirius was now free and in however many months he'd have access to Heidi something he seriously didn't want at all. Maybe he should offer Sirius some employment where he can watch over his every move in relation to Heidi carefully. Ivy reappeared on the train where Heidi was now sitting with Susan Bones, Hannah Abbott, Daphne Greengrass and Pansy Parkinson. Everyone jumped as no one had expected a house elf to just turn up. Heidi excused them both for a moment under the pretences of needing to discuss some private family business for a moment which everyone bought. Ivy then erected a private ward so they could talk privately for a moment where she told her everything. Heidi smiled so brightly she thought her face might break with joy. At least Sirius was free. He could be in her life now at long last.
"Ivy please do me a favour and don't be seen doing it either but that girl sitting over there with the exceptionally unfortunate looking face is Pansy Parkinson and I want you to break her nose and then instantly repair it for her. She is not to remember it. In fact make her think she needs the loo and do it in there!" she instructed as Ivy agreed. Everyone was introduced to her elf Ivy and they were all delighted to meet her. Ivy preened under the praise and then excused herself to leave again.
Pansy said she needed the loo and once she'd entered the bathroom and closed the door properly her nose and part of her face was broken as she screamed out in agony. No sooner was the pain there then it was gone again. She wondered if she'd imagined even feeling the pain. Ivy was super-fast. She'd broken the bones in pansies nose and surrounding facial area before fixing them. Pansy looked in the mirror and gasped. Her face looked far less squashed and much more ordinary. Some of the features were the same but at least she did look less pug like which was the main point. Back in the compartment Draco wrenched the door open, Crabbe and Goyle flanking him at either side. He looked around the compartment pompously.
"Have any of you seen Heidi Potter? Word is she's coming to Hogwarts and I wish to make sure she has good friends. With someone like that you can never be too careful. I wouldn't want her to make friends with a mudblood or something!" he said fainting as everyone looked stunned. He regained consciousness and was most confused.
"Look I don't why I fainted but where's bloody Potter!?" he snapped angrily his pride now severely wounded that he'd fainted in front of a compartment of girls no less. They all giggled at him.
"I'm Heidi Potter and you are very funny. I wouldn't continue to use bad language like that though. It wouldn't be good for the image of whichever house you go into. I can make good friends for myself and I'll have you know I'll be friends with half-bloods and muggleborn people alike. I don't discriminate and neither should you" she sneered deeply frowning at him. He wasn't here two minutes and already he was causing trouble. He got even angrier and inevitably said the mudblood word again and this time was stunned and knocked out. The girls in the compartment were terrified vowing never to use that word if someone had quite obviously put a taboo on it. Heidi pretended to not know what that was and listened to Daphne explain all about taboos.
Daphne was most interesting. She looked all cold and severe on the outside because she wanted to but actually she was very interesting to speak to and knew many things Heidi did not think she would have. As Harry of course Daphne had always been an annoying mystery. She was never with the inquisitorial squad but never actually backed him up either. She was in fact exceptionally neutral which was something she was certainly not ashamed of. As the trundled on down the tracks they were soon joined by Tracy Davis who proclaimed she had found the lunch car where they could go and have some lunch on board which Heidi was fascinated with. In all of her time as Harry she'd never even seen much less heard of a dining car on board the Hogwarts express. They all agreed to go but just before they could even get up to leave Ron of all people barged in spouting off nonsense about looking for Heidi.
"What do you want with her?" she demanded as he looked furious.
"Well I'm Ron, Ron Weasley and I've got a marriage contract with her and I need to meet my betrothed!" he snapped giving her evils. She reached out and slapped his face as hard as she could.
"How dare you, you…you animal? I am Heidi and I am not betrothed to anyone thank you very much. Whoever told you this was a stupid liar. Perhaps it was a prank or something I am not entirely sure however I am not laughing now am I? Now get out of the way!" she snapped as he took out his wand to stun her shocked to find it wasn't there anymore. Susan raised her hand with his wand in it.
"You will apologise to my friend here right now or my aunt Madam Bones will hear all about you. I wouldn't want your father to be investigated because you cannot control yourself!" she warned as Daphne looked at with a newfound respect.
"Ok please don't report me but my mum and dad did say I was betrothed to you Heidi. They hate pranks more than most people so I would say it's definitely not one of those. I am sorry but you will need to accept the truth. I'll be waiting for you in my compartment when you see sense!" he said as he grabbed his wand from Susan and ran into a nearby compartment. Heidi shuddered and followed the girls as they made their way to the dining car. Initially none of them could see anything but then they saw a feint glowing door which became completely solid when Tracey touched it. When she opened the door they gasped in awe entering. This dining car was unlike anything any of them had ever seen. It looked like it had come directly from the nineteen twenties and hadn't been touched since.
It was lined with tables and chairs which looked more like grandiose armchairs then dining chairs. There was a gold guilded bar at one end and two chandeliers on the ceiling. They immediately took a seat stunned by the rich and opulent settings they were in. They noticed Ron running up and down a few times outside but he couldn't find them anymore.
"Guys listen! I've been to the bank and everything and I know that I am not contracted to marry Ron Weasley. I just wanted you to know that!" she said nervously as everyone present laughed.
"Heidi we didn't think you were. His family is too poor to be contracted to marry anyone. Don't worry we know that and we'll protect you won't we girls?" Daphne said looking at everyone who agreed wholeheartedly with her.
"By the way Susan that was amazing. I love how you commanded that moment back there. You'd make a fine Slytherin!" Daphne further enthused as Susan blushed and thanked her.
A waitress came over and took their orders for lunch. They were getting vegetable soup and prawn cocktail for those that didn't want soup and for the main course there was fish and chips or steak and kidney pie. Heidi elected to take the fish and chips as her main course but started with the vegetable soup. It was her favourite after all. It was the one sole good thing Petunia had ever fed them on occasion. Although she didn't get the opportunity to eat it much she took every opportunity she could get and this was one of those moments. She remembered everything Ivy had told her and the meal went off without a hitch. By the end of the meal she had four new friends and was delighted she could say they were her friends because they wanted to be and not for any other reason. Hermione had searched the entire train for the hero Heidi Potter she'd read all about but couldn't find her and cried when she realised she wasn't there or so she thought anyway. Although she was famous in their world so maybe she was already at school waiting for them. A prefect with ginger hair stuck his head into their compartment and ordered them to put on their cloaks coldly before leaving. It was Percy and Heidi shuddered. He'd always made her feel off in some way. They put their cloaks on as the train came to a gentle stop at the Hogsmeade station. They were here at last.