"Please, Simon! We can't!"
"Trudy, this is a prison! We could escape! I know we could!" A tall man of about 19 stood before her. His normally pale face was red with anger and streaked with dirt.
"Yes! We could! But Simon at least it is safe here!" Trudy begged. She clutched at his hands. Like hers, they were weathered by the harsh work of the fields.
"Safe!? You call this safe!? He screamed incredulously. "Look at us! We're starving! We're being beaten and worked to death! Can't you see that!?" Angry tears burst from his eyes.
"...the outside...We don't know what's out there. We could die." She whispered, shaking her head.
"We could die here! Trudy, let's escape. It'd be easy. Please." He pleaded, his voice shook. He was terrified.
"You go. I cannot." She said, hanging her head.
"I won't leave you or Anna. If you refuse, than I am forced to stay." With that, Simon marched off toward the fields.
Trudy woke with a start, her heart hammering in her chest. Simon...Oh, Simon...If I had not been such a coward? If we had escaped from the rice fields then, would you still be alive? Would Anna or Mohan? Would Amelia still be alive too? Tears began to streak down Trudy's pale face. She closed her eyes. I'm so sorry.
When Trudy walked out to the main room she found Professor Snape sitting at the kitchen table reading a newspaper.
"Good morning." She said more cheerfully than she felt.
"Morning," he grunted, not looking up.
Trudy studied him for a moment. He always looked tired. His long hair kept falling in his face and he would brush it away in irritation. She hoped that whatever had set him off yesterday wasn't still bothering him.
"Are those pictures..." Trudy said, sounding silly. "Moving?"
"Hm?" He said looking perplexed.
"The newspaper." She replied, pointing to the front page where a pretty witch with golden hair smiled and waved to the camera. She was surrounded by an animated crowd. Perhaps a celebrity?
"Oh, yes." Snape said, lifting his elbows and removing the front page and handing it to her.
"Have a look." He was starting to get used to her lack of insight into the wizarding world. Alchemists must live similarly to muggles.
How odd! Trudy had never seen anything like this. Even the small cartoon ad in the corner moved with excitement. The pretty witch pictured at the top was an actress named Josephina Clay and evidently starred in a recent film. Trudy brought the newspaper across the table and sat down completely engrossed in it.
"I'm going to Hogwarts again today-"
"Oh please, take me with you!" Trudy shouted at him in a rush before he disappeared like yesterday. Snape was startled by the sudden outburst, but then sighed heavily.
"I suppose I should...wouldn't want you deciding to redecorate my living room or something." He said.
"Really!? Thank you!" She replied excitedly.
"But I won't have any of this nonsense of you following me around like my shadow. I have work to get done." He glared at her.
"But what am I supposed to do instead?"
Snape shrugged. "Explore the castle. There's plenty to do there."
"Okay..." Trudy agreed. She was delighted that he decided to take her with him.
After breakfast Professor Snape went into the living room and opened the grate to an old fireplace. Dust and ash flew everywhere and he began to cough. It obviously hadn't been used in a while.
He picked up a dry log beside the fireplace and placed it on the grate. Snape then took out his wand, placed the tip near the log and muttered "Incendio." It lit and the fire crackled and squeaked as it engulfed the log. Trudy watched with curiosity. Why would he light a fire just before leaving?
The professor reached his hand in a small tin container and pulled out a handful of powder. He stretched his closed fist into the grate and dropped the powder into the fire. The flames burst into a brilliant green.
"Wow..." Trudy remarked, creeping closer for a better look.
"Okay. Get in." Snape said, giving her a slight push.
"What!!?" Trudy shrieked, holding onto the side of the fireplace for dear life. "You were going to push me in fire!" She accused staring down at the green flames.
"It's fine! It doesn't hurt." He explained, closing his eyes in desperate attempt to keep his patience. She looked at him with an 'are you sure' expression but nevertheless stepped cautiously into the flame. He was right, it didn't hurt. It felt weird, but it didn't hurt.
"Alright, say very clearly now 'Hogwarts, Headmaster's office'."
"Hogwarts, Headmaster's office...please?" Whoosh and she was gone.
Snape shook his head in exasperation. Polite even to a fireplace...ridiculous.
WHAM! Trudy had landed into another fireplace with a mighty thud. Dumbledore looked up in surprise and then smiled, walking calmly to the hearth. He grabbed her gently under the arms and hoisted her out of the fireplace. How peculiar for an old man to have such strength!
"Better get you out of there, I'm sure Professor Snape is soon to follow." He said, brushing ash off of her shoulders. It didn't do much good however, she was nearly covered in soot.
Sure enough, the fire place turned green once more and Professor Snape ducked out of the hearth. His landing had been quite a bit more graceful than Trudy's had been. Snape glanced at Trudy and the yelled, "Miss Quinn, How on earth...? You're covered in soot! What did you do roll in the grate!?"
"Sorry." She muttered, not meeting his gaze.
"It's fine, Severus. Nearly everyone does that their first time on the floo network." Dumbledore said. He took his wand out and pointed it at Trudy. Without him saying a word, her clothes were suddenly clean again.
"Oh, Thank you." She said, examining her sleeve. Where did it all go?
"You are most welcome. It's nice to see you." Dumbledore remarked adjusting his half-mooned spectacles.
"Nice to see you again too, Sir." Trudy replied, nodding her head.
Snape rolled his eyes at the excessively polite chitchat.
"If you'll excuse me, Headmaster, I have work to do." He said pushing past them.
"Wait." Trudy said, following at his heels.
"Goodbye, Trudy." Dumbledore called, chuckling to himself as he watched the girl chase Snape down the staircase.
"Miss Quinn..." Professor Snape said through clenched teeth as Trudy tagged along behind him.
"I thought I told you not to follow me around."
She frowned. How unfair. "Alright, Alright." She gave in and slumped her shoulders.
"Meet me in my office at..." He paused, figuring out how much time he would need. "6 O'clock." He started to stalk off but was halted by Trudy's call.
"Wait, I don't know where your office is!"
"In the dungeons."
"The dungeons!?" She called in disbelief. Why does this school have a dungeon? How bizarre, indeed! Professor Snape disappeared around a corner and Trudy was left standing in the corridor. Well, I guess I should go do something then...
Trudy was shocked, to say the least when she discovered the moving staircases.
"What possessed the person who bewitched these! ?"She ranted in aggravation as the particular stair she was on spun around at random. She was losing her balance and resorted to crawling down the stairs on her hands and knees.
"Do not speak so disrespectfully about the founder!" Shrieked an nearby oil painting.
"Oh my! Forgive me." Trudy panted, clutching her heart which pounded wildly in her chest. It wasn't everyday an oil painting scolded her.
"May I ask who the founder was?" She said, trying to strike a more pleasant conversation.
"Madam Rowena Ravenclaw was the founder of Ravenclaw." The portrait stately proudly.
Trudy honestly had no idea what a 'ravenclaw' might be. "Indeed? How nice." She replied, hoping this was a proper response.
"What house are you in? I've never seen you before." It asked suspiciously.
What house am I in? Why does she care where I live? "Erm...Professor Snape's house...?"
"Ah, Slytherin. Of course. No wonder you look like a fool on these staircases." It said. Trudy wasn't entirely sure what she was talking about, but had the distinct feeling she had just been insulted.
"I'm not quite sure what you mean by that." Trudy said feeling red creep up the back of her neck.
"I suppose you wouldn't. You Slytherins can be quite full of yourselves." The woman in the portrait said nastily.
"Well, Good day Ma'am." Trudy called to the portrait once she finally reached the bottom of the stairs.
"My, she was rather polite for a Slytherin, wouldn't you say?" Trudy heard the woman say to a nearby pastel painting.
What was a Slytherin? That portrait didn't hold a very high opinion of them, whatever they were. Trudy meandered into what appeared to be a large dining room. There were five long tables but four of them had been pushed against the walls. There was one long table all the way down at the was startled to find that there were a few people sitting at this table, apparently drinking tea.
They looked startled to see her and one woman called out to her.
"Who are you?" She asked, right to the point. Trudy cringed slightly, this woman looked as if she tolerated no nonsense.
"Ah-Um. Forgive my intrusion. My name is Trudy Quinn...Professor Snape said it was alright to explore the castle for a while." She explained, hoping this would make sense to this lady.
"Trudy Quinn? The alchemist?" A very small man interjected.
Trudy suddenly felt a little sick to her stomach. The alchemist? What a pathetic excuse for an alchemist I am! The cross looking woman turned to looked at him. Evidently she didn't know what he was talking about.
"Alchemist?"
"Oh yes," continued the man. "Professor Dumbledore told me that the ministry had rescued her from India. You see the guild had been attacked and thought to be destroyed several years ago. Aside from Nicolas Flamel, she's the only alchemist found alive. She's been through a terrible ordeal, the brave child."
I'm not brave! She had to clench her jaw together to keep from screaming. Don't praise me! Don't! I'm horrid. I'm a coward! If I wasn't such a coward more of us would still be alive.
The woman noticed that she felt uncomfortable and cleared her throat.
" Nice to meet you, Trudy Quinn." She said, holding out her hand. "My name is Professor McGonagall."
"Pleased to meet you, Ma'am." Trudy replied, shaking her hand.
"I have my niece here with me today. She's about your age. Would you like to meet her?" Professor McGonagall said, her stern face somehow looking kinder.
"Yes. Yes, I would." She answered with relief. She didn't want to talk about the war. She didn't want to be applauded for escaping with her life. At what cost had she done so? My selfishness is what brought me here today, definitely not bravery!
"Follow me, Please." She said sweeping out of the magnificent hall.
They entered a large classroom. A small girl with long brown hair sat at a desk with her back facing the door.
"Lenore, I have someone here that I think you'd like to meet."
The girl turned around. She was young, probably about 13 or 14. She had a kind face that contrasted sharply with her aunt's. She stood up and strode over to her aunt and Trudy.
"I'm Lenore McGonagall." She said, holding out her hand in the same way her aunt had done.
"Pleasure. I'm Trudy Quinn." She replied, shaking the girl's hand.
"Well, girls I will be in my office if you need anything." Professor McGonagall said, turning toward the door.
"Thank you." Trudy called after her.
"So what brings you to Hogwarts during the summer?" Lenore asked, walking back to her desk and closing the book she was reading. She tossed it in her school bag.
"I'm staying with Professor Snape this summer."Trudy explained.
"Ugh! Him!? How can you stand it!? He's horrid." she exclaimed, throwing her bag over her shoulder.
"He is a bit..." Trudy paused, trying not to speak ill of the man who had taken her in...willingly or not.
"Horrid." Lenore finished firmly. "Want to go out on the grounds? I'm tired of studying."
"Yes, I'd like to."
They walked together out of the classroom and down the stone steps to the Hogwarts grounds. They sat in the grass by the lake shore. Lenore took off her shoes and sighed lazily. Trudy removed her shoes as well and stretched out on the grass, enjoying the sunshine.
"What's that on your foot?" Lenore asked pointing at Trudy's right foot. On the top of her foot was a very elaborate tattoo.
"Oh this," Trudy said sitting up. "This is a peacock. The symbol my guild chose for me." she said pointing to the top of her foot. "And this is my guild's symbol." she said pointing right below the peacock. It looked like several triangles joined together and encompassed in a circle.
"Why are you in a guild?"
"I'm not anymore. The guild is dissolved." Trudy said. She regretted taking off her shoes.
"Well...what was the guild?" Lenore asked persistently.
"The Alchemist Guild." She said softly.
"I've heard of alchemists." Lenore said casually. "Nicolas Flamel is one right?"
Indeed. The creator of the Philosopher's stone...If only people knew what it cost to make the damned thing, they would not speak his name so lightly.
"Yes."
Like her Aunt, Lenore was perceptive of other people's feelings and changed the subject. She sensed that Trudy did not want to talk about the guild or Flamel.
"I'm staying with my Aunt this summer." She broad casted.
"Oh, yes? Professor McGonagall seems nice."
"Not really. She's kinda strict." Lenore replied, grinning at her. Trudy nodded. She definitely had that impression when she met Professor McGonagall. Lenore and Trudy sat outside on the grass for hours chatting and enjoying each other's company.
"I get bored here a lot. Will you be coming back on Monday?" Lenore asked as they stood up to go inside. It was nearly six O'clock.
"I hope so. Professor Snape didn't want to bring me here at first though."
"Evil ole' bat." Lenore commented.
"Lenore!" Trudy scolded. "Don't talk about a teacher like that!"
"Well he is." She chuckled, completely unabashed.
"I'm starved, We didn't eat lunch today. Want to go lift some food from the kitchen?"
"No, I'm sorry. I must find the Professor. I was told to be in his office by 6 and I don't know where the dungeons are." Trudy explained. She discovered that Lenore seemed somewhat of a dare devil.
"Oh. Okay." Lenore proceeded to tell Trudy how to get to the dungeons.
"Thank you! I hope to see you Monday!" Trudy called, heading toward the dungeons.
"Yeah! Bye!"
Trudy rushed to the dungeons, but still managed to make it there 10 minutes after six.
"You're late." He commented when she knocked on the office door.
"Sorry," Trudy panted. "Got lost."
"I see. I won't tolerate tardiness when school starts." He said as he cleared off his desk.
"Yes. Forgive me."
"I met someone my age today." She told him as she sat down in a hard wooden chair. He said nothing, but continued putting things away as if he hadn't heard.
"Her name's Lenore McGonagall."
Trudy noticed that he distinctly froze.
"Indeed?" He said icily, his lips tightening. Trudy could tell Lenore and the Professor probably had mutual feelings of hatred for each other.
"I was hoping I would be able to come back on Monday..."
"We'll see." He replied callously. Trudy had the unmistakable feeling that it was hard to pin Professor Snape down to anything.
"Here." He threw an folded piece of paper at her.
"What is it?" She asked unfolding it.
"A reply from the Ministry. I've been given permission to tutor you." He said flatly, as if it were bad news.
"Really?" Trudy wanted to leap with joy.
"I borrowed some 1st year schoolbooks. I think it'd be best to start from there, you're probably way behind." He said nodding toward a pile of books on top of his desk.
"Great!" She exclaimed, completely ignoring the slight insult.
"You may use the supplies I have, all you need is your wand." Snape said as he tossed the books into a leather bag with a strap.
"I..." Trudy said hesitantly.
"Yes?" Snape glared at her.
"I don't have a wand. I lost it."
End.
Well, That does it for chapter 3, Gang! Hope you enjoyed it.
CindersNSmoke