A/N: If only one of you reviews this time I will be very very very very mad! So, yah the eleventh chapter won't come out for awhile it might even be September. I go on holiday then school starts…so…yah…enjoy!
Disclaimer: I own nothing! Everything belongs to the fabulous JK Rowling. Who will be even more fabulous if she lets Harry live.
Chapter 10:
Another week passed before Isolde told them just what the brilliant prank was. In the mean time Rubella bumped into them a few times, gave them mean looks, and words of discouragement but not anymore psychical trouble.
"She thinks she won," Lily Jane said to Lindy one night in the commonroom.
"Don't worry, we'll get her," Lindy said looking up from one of the books she got at Flourish and Blotts. She only had two more left and was eager to check out the Hogwarts library for new reading material.
"Just wait for the right moment," Isolde assured them.
Lily Jane put on her impatient face, "And when is that?" she asked, "When she comes of age!"
"Patience!" Aiden hissed. (Lindy was sure it was him this time. She had learned how to tell them apart) "Man, the hat was smart not to put you in Hufflepuff."
In the meantime everyone was busy with classes. Hogwarts was very difficult to figure out. There turned out to be 142 staircases. Some were out in the open (like the ones they climbed to the Gryffindor tower) others were just rickety and cramped. All the doors looked the same, but some you had to say a password or a spell and others weren't even doors at all, just painted walls.
Lindy often had trouble getting people to talk to her or help her around because they knew she was "his" daughter. For the first week everywhere she went people would whisper behind her back, "Her, that blonde girl," they would say, "She's the Malfoy."
Or, "The one standing next to the red-head."
"Potter," someone would say back, "Malfoy, friends with Potter, impossible!" Lindy estimated she probably told fifty people in one week her last name was actually Beiner and it was getting very irritating.
Even teachers would get it wrong, even though her name was right there on their roster. "Yes, do you have a question Miss Mal…I mean Beiner, sorry." The Herbology teacher Professor Longbottom would say constantly. The first day of his class he winked and waved at her as if she was supposed to know him. When she looked at him in a confused manner he laughed and said, "Silly me, I should've known you don't remember who I am." Lindy had no idea he had seen her before. When she was a baby, she guessed. Lily Jane didn't know either.
Herbology was held outside in a greenhouse. Professor Longbottom was head of Gryffindor house. He was very easy and very helpful but was often made fun of behind his back.
"I'm beginning to think all he knows is plants," and older Slytherin girl muttered one lunch period, "He's so stupid."
"I bet if he had shoe laces he'd only be able to tie them if they were vines," Alexia Zybrick said to her before snickering. Lindy learned later they were sisters, quite close sisters at that. Rerith Zybrick was a fourth year. She looked a lot like Alexia except her hair was dyed mahogany-red and cut to her chin.
It was obvious that Declan was hurt by the comments made about Professor Longbottom. He had told everyone he was his uncle. Then one day in class he called him, "my son," which only led to further teasing.
It was agreed by most students in any house that History of Magic was the most boring class. It was taught by Professor Binns, a fat old ghost that never left his armchair. Lindy found reading Hogwarts: A History was much more interesting and definitely helped her make good marks in that class.
Every Tuesday at midnight they would go to the Astronomy Tower and learn the names of planets and stars. Adam seemed to find that class the most interesting. It was practically the only class he paid attention in.
Alan, on the other hand, was doing particularly well in school. He seemed to be one of those people who could try something once and get it. He had an excellent memory. Lily Jane and Lindy would spend hours studying and Alan would be fast asleep in bed and still do exceptional on the exam.
"How come you're not a Ravenclaw?" the spunky Celina Creevy asked him one day. He just shrugged.
"I have no idea," he said, "There must have been some sort of mistake. I still sleep with a nightlight."
However, their first Charms lesson Alan seemed to be concentrating on something else. Professor Flitwick taught that class. There the students learned how to do various spells (ones at didn't involve transforming anything). That day they were learning how to elevate objects. Each student was given a feather. Lindy managed to make hers float a little but it never stayed up for more than a few seconds. Flitwick stood on top of a large pile of books repeating the motion and spell over and over again. Alan seemed to be muttering something else under his breathe.
"Excuse me Mr. Paxton," Flitwick squeaked and him, "I would appreciate it if you joined the rest of the class. Alan's immense blue eyes looked up from his lap. Some students giggled at how tuned out he was.
"S-sorry, Professor," he said.
"Well, Mr. Paxton, why don't you show me now?" Flitwick said impatiently, "Swish and flick, Wingardium Leviosa."
Alan gulped and pointed his wand at the feather lying on top of his think Defense Against the Dark Arts textbook. "Wingardium Leviosa," he said nervously. Right before everyone's eyes the feather began floating, the textbook with it.
Flitwick smiled and clapped, so did Lindy and Lily Jane. Unfortunately, class that day happened to be with Slytherin and they were not amused. "I made my feather go in loops, "Alexia muttered, "A lot more complex than lifting a bloody textbook seven centimetres on accident!"
"I honestly don't know how you do it," Lily Jane said after class in the hall, "Things come so easily to you." Alan smiled and shrugged again. "Of course, "Lily Jane said, "I'd be better if I could see. I don't even have broken glasses anymore."
"No," Alan said reaching into his pocket. "You have fixed ones," in his hand were Lily Jane's square glasses, good as new.
"Where did you get them?" Lily Jane cried.
"I picked them up in the hall during your…er…incident." Alan answered.
"More importantly, how did you fix them!" Lindy exclaimed. Lily Jane beamed and took them from out of his hand.
"I found the spell in our Charms book," he said, "I practiced it all night and finally got it in class ten minutes ago."
"Well I guess I can write to mum and tell her she doesn't need to buy me new ones." Lily Jane put her fixed glasses on, "And you said you were stupid." Lindy could've sworn she saw Alan blush.
"Lily Jane!" a voice that sounded like Isolde called behind them. The three first years swiftly turned around.
"It's here!" Aiden said triumphantly.
"What's here?" Lily Jane and Lindy asked in unison.
"Come look!" Isolde said motioning them around the corner next to a teacher named Madame Hooch's office. Lindy had heard her name but didn't know who she was or what she taught. A group of first year students (and the triplets) were gathered around to look at a flyer posted outside her door.
"Cool!" a Ravenclaw boy exclaimed.
"I get air sickness," a girl whined.
"Flying lessons?" Lily Jane read peering over the crowd, "So what?"
"Flying?" Alan said to himself nervously.
"Up to the commonroom," Isolde said, "We don't want any certain goody-goodies hearing us." Charms was the last class of the day and everyone was headed up there anyway.
"So what's the big plan?" Lily Jane asked as soon as they passed the Fat Lady. The triplets seemed to be ignoring her.
"Hey," Fritz said poking Jamie in the shoulder. He was sitting in the big armchair talking to Liam who was on the floor, "Have you seen bird-Bain around anywhere?"
"No," he answered, "Why?"
"Oh, nothing Isolde answered.
"Sooo!" Lily Jane pleaded.
"This," Aiden said reaching into his robe pocket. HE pulled out a small, plastic green jar.
"What is it?" Lindy asked.
"Dad and Uncle George's latest masterpiece," Aiden answered opening the jar.
"Slippery Salve," Fritz said smiling, "FI you can somehow put this on Rubella's broom no matter how hard she tries she will not be able to stay on."
"Causing her to fail of course," Isolde said.
"And that's not even the best part," Fritz said, "Not only will this git fail flying lessons but for the rest of the day or perhaps even longer the little princes will reek."
"Reek like what?" Lindy asked.
"Take a whiff," Aiden said opening the jar to reveal a puce-coloured cream. He stuck it in three of their faces. Lindy didn't think she'd ever smelled anything so foul in her life.
"EW!" Alan cried jumping back and covering his mouth and nose.
Lily Jane screamed, "What the bloody hell is in that stuff!"
"Dad and Uncle George have created an odour mix of dead fish, decaying bodies, skunk, and human waste," Fritz said smiling.
"That's horrid!" Lindy cried.
Alan had a nauseous look on his face but Lily Jane just laughed. "It's perfect!" she cried grabbing the jar from Aiden and immediately screwing the cover back on.
"But won't Rubella notice that there's cream on her broom and not use it?" Alan asked.
The triplet s put on their famous mischievous grins, "Now that is a good question," Isolde said, "You see, as soon as the cream leaves this green jar it completely disappears. You can't even tell it's there." She took the jar back out of her cousin's hand and took and little of the salve on her finger and wiped it on the table next to them. Sure enough, it was completely invisible as soon as it touched the wood surface. "The smell too will not be noticeable at first bit after an hour it sure will."
"But what if Madame Hooch touches the broom herself?" Alan asked as if he was determined to convince them this wasn't a good idea.
"The cream it's self isn't slippery, in fact it has no texture at all. It just makes human skin slippery so you can't tell by touching the broom," Aiden said proudly.
"You'll have to wear gloves of course," Isolde said.
"Then throw them out straight away," Fritz added, "The stench won't ever come out of clothing, or at least we don't think so…"
"But which gloves?" Lindy asked, "Not our good dragon hide ones?"
"Oh, no," Isolde said, "I have two extra pairs."
"Perfect!" Lily Jane exclaimed, "Now all we have to do is find the perfect time to do it."
"Madame Hooch always lays out the brooms early in the morning them goes to breakfast," Liam called from across the room. He and Jamie were obviously listening.
"Then we'll have to skip breakfast," Lily Jane said. Lindy was starting to fell hesitant about the whole thing. She never liked getting into trouble and she was hoping going to Hogwarts would be the chance to start clean.
"Bu-but, what will we eat?" she stuttered.
"Just grab a few fruits and an apple juice at dinner tonight," Isolde said, "That's what we do."
"And we'll help you will the freezing charm so they don't rot," Fritz added.
"Well I'm not going," Alan said.
"But she was awful to you too," Lily Jane protested.
"Yah…" he said, "But I don't want to get caught. Besides, it'd be better not to fight with her because she'd keep fighting back and someone will eventually get hurt." Lindy saw his point.
"Suit yourself," Lily Jane answered, "Lindy?"
"Um…" she thought about it. Sure she wanted to get Rubella back but getting caught wouldn't be worth it. Or would it? After all, she did humiliate Lily Jane. "I'm in."
"Good!" Lily Jane said excitedly, "We attack at dawn!"
The next morning Lily Jane woke Lindy up early and told her to get her uniform on them climb back into bed. "If anyone asks," she called from the bathroom as if she was in slight pain, "You're feeling sick and I'm staying back from breakfast with you to make sure you're alright. NO one would believe it if we were both ill. Then, ow! Once everyone's left we sneak outside and put the cream on one of the brooms and sneak back to the Great Hall. If there's not time we'll just head back here."
"But how do we be sure she uses that specific broom?" Lindy asked pulling her shirt over her head.
"Ahh!" Lily Jane screamed.
"Are you okay!" Lindy asked
"Yah!" she called, "I'm just brushing my hair. It's always so tangled!"
What about the broom thing?" Lindy asked impatiently putting on her socks.
"Ow, um, well you know that kid Keith Damien, how he always sits in the front like a nerd. Well Alexia is always next to him to him and what not. Well Rubella is always next to her so we'll simply put it on the third broom in the front."
"But how do we know which way is the front!" Lindy panicked.
"Just leave it to me," Lily Jane said coming out of the bathroom to see Lindy combing her long, pin-straight, blonde hair. "Ugh!" she cried, "Why can't I have hair like that!" Lindy laughed, "Quick!" Lily Jane cried, "Get in bed!" Lindy obeyed. "Act like you're asleep." Lindy shut her eyes.
"You're up already?" Ophie's voice asked. Lindy heard her bed creak.
"Lindy threw at like 5am," Lily Jane lied. She was very good at acting, almost like she had some experience.
"Is she okay?" that was Cindy's voice. It seemed as if she was getting up too.
"I think so," Lily Jane answered, "She doesn't have a fever or anything but I suggested that she sleep though breakfast. I actually think I'm staying back with her, you know, just in case."
"Okay," Cindy answered.
Lindy laid there with her eyes shut for about twenty minutes before all three of her other roommates had left the dorm. Then Lindy opened her eyes and sat up. Lily Jane was peering out the door. "I think it's safe," she said, "We'll take the map. Lessons are being held just outside of History of Magic class on the grassy area out there. Let's just hope Liam was right about the brooms."
"I trust him," Lindy said grabbing the map. The two witches crept out of the commonroom and down to the first floor at the very end of the hallway next to trophy case as if they were going to Professor Binns class. Instead they turned right and walked outside.
"Stop!" Lily Jane whispered harshly and propping her back against the wall. "Madame Hooch is still there. Lindy paced backwards and bravely peaked around the corner to watch a tall grey haired woman lay out the final three brooms on the end then head back into the castle through the doorway opposite from them. "She's gone," Lindy said.
They scurried out to the brooms. "Oh, this is so exciting!" Lily Jane said anxiously, "I've waited years to sneak around like this."
"I was actually hoping coming to Hogwarts would gibe me a new non-troublemaking reputation," Lindy revealed to her.
"Oh but this is part of what going to Hogwarts is about!" the tiny red-head said back, "Or at least that's what I hear. Especially if you're a Gryffindor it's part of our quota." Lindy smiled.
"Let's make this the front," Lindy said walking over to the end of brooms closest to them. Lily Jane nodded and leaned down in the grass and picked up the third broom on the right side. "We'll get here early and claim the side for Gryffindor." Lindy said, "Slytherin will most likely go on the other side."
"Bloody twits can't even stand to be in the same line with us." Lily Jane snickered, "That doesn't…like…offend you or anything?" Lily Jane asked after handing her a pair of Isolde's gloves.
"Of course not," Lindy said.
"Just making sure," she said, "Do you have the cream?"
"Yah," she said taking the jar from her pocket and opening it.
"Ugh!" Lily Jane moaned at the stench, "We should've brought nose plugs."
"Didn't think of that," Lindy said kneeling down next to her. They began spreading the cream on to the broomstick watching it turn invisible as soon as it touched the wood.
"I hope the terrible three don't want this back, "Lily Jane said, "'Cause we're using it all!"
Lindy laughed. "That's all of it," she said after awhile, "Let's get out of here." The two girls got up and quickly paced back into the castle. Lily Jane took Lindy's gloves and threw them and her own away in a near by dustbin.
"Do you think we can make it back in time for breakfast?" Lindy asked.
Lily Jane checked her watch, "Yes we made excellent time. Let's head to towards the Great Hall."
Lindy nodded and followed her down the hall. "Beiner!" she heard a voice say. Lindy gulped she thought for sure she was getting caught. Would they call her mother? What would she say? She turned around. No one was there.
"Look," Lily Jane whispered harshly. Lindy turned around. Very faintly she could she a cracked closest door in front of them.
"I should've known this was about her," the voice said again.
"It's Snape," Lily Jane whispered.
"Do you believe she's in danger?" a different voice asked.
"Of course, every clue points to this…this…secret scroll rubbish. Did Potter tell you this?" Snape's voice uttered harshly.
"No," the other man said sarcastically, "I figured it out myself. Of course he told me." Lindy realized now it was Professor Longbottom.
"The best thing we can do know is to assure that she's being watched at all time," Snape answered. Lindy felt her stomach flip.
"So stalk her?" Professor Longbottom asked.
"It's that or death," Snape said harshly, "Which do you think she'd choose?"
"That's a good point, but why exactly is this scroll so much trouble anyway?"
"The rumours say that before Draco Malfoy died he left the secrets as to who Glinda's mother is in that scroll. It's hidden and if it's ever found than she may be forced out of her home and into the wizarding world. The problem is the ministry has received several threats that if a mother is revealed and she is in fact alive than they'll kill Glinda."
"Because she's the last decent of a Death Eater?"
"Exactly."
"But she's never known evil."
"But some say she will be. There are even rumours saying that she shouldn't even be in school."
Lindy felt as if she couldn't breathe. Death, no more school! The whole wizarding world taken away from her? She couldn't go back to her old life. But if she didn't then what would happen? Would someone really set out to kill her?
Lily Jane saw the look on Lindy's face and placed her hand on her shoulder. "Let's go," she whispered. They turned right and walked towards the Great Hall. It was now nearly time for breakfast to end but they didn't care.
"Hey, you're back," Adam said once they got into the hall.
"Maybe you should stay back from classes today," Cole offered, "You don't look so well, no offence."
"Do you want to stay back?" Lily Jane asked sincerely.
"No," Lindy said, "I'm fine, really." She laid her head on the table. She felt like crying but held the tears back. Lily Jane stroked her hair.
"I didn't know, honest," she whispered.
"Didn't know what?" Adam asked.
"Nothing," Lily Jane said, "She's fine."
Lindy tried her best to forget about what she had heard in the hallway. Just for now. She thought. Maybe this is what I get for playing a prank on Rubella. Then again would it have been better not to know?
Lily Jane successfully made sure that Rubella took the broom she had designated for her. She smiled at Lindy but Lindy couldn't even fake a smile back. Every first year from every house was now lined up. Alan on Lindy's right and Lily Jane on her left.
Madame Hooch walked back and forth between the aisle's staring at each one of them with her big gold eyes before speaking. "I'm Madame Hooch, the Quidditch coordinator here at Hogwarts. Welcome to your first flying lesson. The only rule in this class is: do as I say and everything will run smoothly. First place your right hand over your broomstick and say, 'up!' This might take some practice, on my whistle."
"Up!" Lindy yelled. The broom rolled a bit but didn't come up. "Up!" she said again, this time it did come up and at the exact same time as Lily Jane's. This time she did smile back.
Rubella was having difficulty with her broom already. It would come up almost all the way and then plop back down. Her face was turning red with discouragement. Alan's broom was floating a few inches above the ground but wouldn't budge from that spot. Eventually he had to bend down and pick it up. Adam managed to get his broom to obey him after a few "ups" so did Alexia, Ariel, and the somewhat stuck up Hufflepuff blonde girl. Declan gave up after about twelve times and Cole said "up" a bit too loudly and his broom stood up and smacked him right in the face. Everyone burst into laughter (except Lindy who could only smirk).
"It always happens to one goofball every year," Madame Hooch said to him, "Now mount your broomsticks. On my whistle I want everyone to jump on hover for a few seconds then touch back down, and no funny business." The whistle sounded. Lily Jane hovered very easily and came back down with a smile on her face. Lindy hesitated a bit but managed to do well. Alan clenched his fists and barely got up two inches, on purpose, Lindy thought. Adam and Cole kept going up and down as if it was some sort of game. Declan was doing well until he fell off. Alexia was insisting that she went higher than everyone else. The blonde Hufflepuff girl spun around in circles and got a nasty look from Madame Hooch.
Then Lindy looked at Rubella. She was screaming, her broom was floating but she couldn't get a hold on it. Then she tried to jump on and she was sent tumbling to the ground. Everyone giggled. Lily Jane looked satisfied. Alexia helped Rubella up but Lindy could tell she was trying hard not to laugh.
"Now," Madame Hooch said, "Turning on a broomstick can be tricky so listen very carefully. At the sound of my whistle I want each one of you to hop back on and then twist your body all the way around in a 360 degree angle. Don't go any higher than you did previously."
Lindy found this not as hard as she thought it would be. "From what I hear your father played Quidditch, the broomstick sport," Adam informed her. She frowned and looked away the last thing she wanted right now was to be reminded of how she and her awful father were alike."
Rubella was now ready to rip her own hair out. She still couldn't grip her broom. Lindy thought she was going to swear. "Bloody broomstick, you're USELESS trash!" she screamed. It was beginning to become quite amusing to all the students.
"Is there a problem Miss Parkinson?" Madame Hooch asked squinting at the dark haired brat.
"There's something wrong with my broom!" she cried, "I can't grasp it!"
"Maybe it hates you," Adam said snidely, "You know like everyone else does."
Lindy wouldn't have been surprised if Rubella's head blew off right then and there, "Blood traitor!" she screamed. Lindy had no idea what that meant but she figured it wasn't nice.
"Shut-up!" Lily Jane screamed, "You can't talk to him like that!"
Rubella was going to scream back but she was interrupted. "That's quite enough!" Madame Hooch cried, "Let's just see what the problem is." She bent down to pick up Rubella's broom. Sure enough she had no problem grasping it. Everyone snickered. Lindy was finally laughing.
"Bu-but…" Rubella began.
Just then Madame Hooch tried to pull away from the broom, "What the…I'm stuck!"
Lily Jane turned pink. "Oh no," Lindy whispered.
"You did this!" Alexia cried pointing at Lily Jane and Lindy, "I can tell by the looks on your faces!"
Madame Hooch glared at them, "Is this true?" she asked.
"Well…um…" Lindy stuttered.
"Uh…yes," Lily Jane said quietly.
"Well then you know what this means: detention with me all this week and a trip to Professor Longbottom's office to talk about informing your parents about what you have done." Lindy knew this wasn't good. She was beginning to regret ever listening to Lily Jane. "In the mean time, get me off of this damn broom!"
"Well, you see it's not supposed to do that…we don't know how to get you off," Lily Jane informed her.
Madame Hooch growled. Rubella and the rest of the Slytherin's were now grinning evil, wide grins. "Class is dismissed," Madame Hooch grouched, "It's nearly time to go anyway. The two of you will come with me." Lily Jane and Lindy followed her up to the seventh tower where Professor Longbottom's office was. Madame Hooch knocked on the door with her free hand, "Oh good, she said, I was afraid you were teaching."
"No," he said peering down curiously at her hand, "I'm in between classes right now. What seems to be the trouble?"
"These girls seemed to have failed at an attempt to fail a fellow student in flying lessons," she replied impatiently, "They'll explain the rest. In the mean time I'm going to consult Professor Snape and see if he has anything to free me from this broomstick, good day Professor." Seeing her storm off with the contraption on stuck to her hand was actually quite funny but Lindy sure didn't like laughing.
"Y…" Lily Jane began.
"Save it!" Professor Longbottom interrupted, "I don't need to know. Nor do I want to know. I'm letting you both off with a warning this time but if you ever feel the need to prank someone again be sure not to get caught." He winked at them. Lindy smiled for a millisecond.
"Thank you so much, Professor," Lily Jane said happily.
"Now this doesn't mean you aren't going to serve detention," he reminded them, "Madame Hooch can do what she wants with you and don't complain, understood?" They nodded. "Good now off you go then."
Lindy and her friend left his office and headed for their next class. "I'd have to say that was worth it," Lily Jane said.
Lindy shrugged, "I suppose so, or else I wouldn't have learned I was under a death sentence."
"You'll be fine," Lily Jane assured her, "Half of the rumours and threats in the ministry of magic aren't even true trust me."
"POOTTER! I'LL KILL YOU! I'LL KILL YOU!" It was Rubella of course. She was stomping around the corner with Alexia and Ursula. Her skin was an abnormal puce colour and nauseous smelling fumes were coming out of her ears. They turned towards the infirmary and Alexia held out her wand as if she was going to hex them but Ursula pulled on her shirt as if to say, it's not worth it. And they stomped off.
"See, if you're going down I'm going with you," Lily Jane said smiling. Lindy couldn't help but laugh.
A/N: PLEEEASE REVIEW! I'M BEGGING YOU! See you in about 3 weeks.