Chapter 5

Days followed much the same as the first. Classes and getting to know classmates. One morning at breakfast, "Ivy, you have a letter." Harry said as an owl landed in front of her. Taking the letter off the owl's leg, he handed it to Ivy. She felt it, confused as to who would be sending her a letter. It didn't appear to be written in Braille, so she put it into her bag and didn't think too much of it. "Want me to read it for you?" he asked.

"No, thanks Harry, not right now." She answered and turned her attention to her food. She was getting used to all the smells and sounds in the Great Hall at meal time and had begun to pick out the distinctive ones that belonged to her friends.

After lunch, out in the greenhouses for Herbology, Ivy began to think about who sent her the letter. 'Who can I ask to read it for me?' Her first thought was Harry, but he would only worry. Then she thought about Draco and smiled. He was fast becoming a friend to her. Harry was reluctant to accept him at first, after hearing that all Slytherin students turned evil, but he did accept him as part of their group. Even Ron and Hermione warmed up to having Draco with them. Herbology was the one subject that Ivy had trouble with. She just couldn't tell the difference in the feel of some of the plants and had almost had her hand bitten off by the plant that was teething. Hermione tried to help her with the subject, but Ivy just wasn't able to tell the difference without seeing the plant. After another disastrous class where she wrongly gave a mandrake a carrot, she shuffled out of the greenhouse and started up to the castle for a quick shower before dinner. On the way, Draco came up beside her.

"Hey, it's okay that you aren't good at everything. It's a little intimidating for someone to be a master at all things." Draco said to her.

"I know; it's just frustrating is all. I've never had trouble with telling the difference in things before." She told him and they walked along in silence. "Draco, I was wondering if you would do something for me, later?" she asked.

"Sure, anything, Ivy." He answered.

"Would you meet me in the library after dinner?" she questioned.

"Absolutely." He replied and held open the door for her and Timber to enter the Great Hall. They went their separate ways to put their books away and shower. Ivy took her time in the shower, letting the hot water wash away the dirt and her insecurity. Emerging from the shower room, dressed and refreshed, she found her shoes and pulled them on. She made her way down to the Great Hall for dinner, and took her usual spot.

After dinner, she told her friends that she was going to the library to get a book. Finding a table near the back, she sat down and waited for Draco to join her. She waited for what seemed like hours, but was actually only five minutes, and he finally joined her at the table. "So, what is it you need me to do for you?" he asked as he sat down.

She pulled out the letter she received that morning. "Would you read this for me?" she asked quietly.

He took the envelope and pulled out the paper to read it.

'Miss Mitchell,

Leaving with no word as to where you were going or when you would be back. Not showing up for days on end. I know that you are the one who was doing all those odd things, like making things fly around the room. They haven't happened since you left. If you ever darken this doorstep again, I will have you put away in an insane asylum forever. Your things have been split up and given to the other children here who are more courteous and normal than you. Do not come back here, you are not wanted.

Mistress Thompson'

Draco finished reading the letter and looked up at Ivy. He couldn't read the expression in her face. "I'm sorry." He said.

"It's not your fault, Draco. I was kind of expecting it anyway." She reached over for him to hand her the letter. Once it was in her hand, she put it away in her bag. "I would appreciate it if this was kept between us. Harry would just worry himself sick about it. I'll figure something out." She told him as she gathered up her things.

"Ivy? Are you going to tell Dumbledore?" Draco asked quietly.

Ivy shrugged, "Eventually." She said. "Thanks, Draco." She turned and made her way back to the Gryffindor common room. She went up to her room and set up her work in her bed, so that she could begin working on her homework. Essays were the hardest for her, as she had to write them in Braille and then have Professor McGonagall translate them for the other teachers to be able to read. She always turned them in on time, but hated that she had to bother the professor with translating her work.

Halloween came and with it a feast full of all their favorites. Ivy seemed a bit subdued, but Harry brushed it off. A week before Christmas, the professors went around their houses and asked who would be staying at school for the holiday. Harry and Ivy signed up as well as Ron, who said his parents were going to Romania to visit his brother. Draco had told them that his parents had a trip planned for the Christmas break and he would be going with them.

Waking on Christmas morning to a whine from Timber, Ivy sat up in bed. She felt something at her feet and reached for it, finding a pile of things wrapped. Feeling around the first one, she found her name spelled out in Braille. Realizing that it was a gift, she opened it and found a book translated into Braille from Hermione. Ivy found another and opened it to find a new cloak from Harry. Ron had given her a bunch of chocolate frogs. The last gift was small and she opened it with care. Inside she found a bracelet with charms hanging on it. Feeling the charms, she found one for each house of Hogwarts. Smiling, she found the small note inside that was in basic Braille. Reading it, she found McGonagall. With her help, Ivy was able to place orders for gifts for her friends.

On the first day after Christmas break, Draco knocked on Professor Snape's office door. "Yes, Draco, what can I do for you?" the professor asked.

"Well, sir, I'm concerned about Ivy. She received this letter several months ago, and I'm afraid she hasn't said anything to Professor Dumbledore yet. I know I shouldn't have taken the letter, but I feared that she wouldn't tell anyone and then be left homeless." Draco said.

Professor Snape looked at him and held out his hand for the letter. After reading it, he spoke, "I'll bring this to the headmaster attention, Draco. You did the right thing coming to me. I'm sure she wants to work all this out on her own, but no one will be willing to help an 11 year old find a place to live away from here. We will work something out." He then dismissed Draco and followed him out the door to take the letter to the headmaster's office.

At dinner a week later, Professor Snape stopped at the Gryffindor table. "Miss Mitchell, would you come with me, please?" he asked.

Ivy nodded and stood to follow the professor out of the Great Hall. Timber led her behind Snape to the headmaster's office. "Fizzy Whizbees," the professor said and Ivy heard a stone being moved. He placed his hand on her arm to guide her through the opening. "This is a moving staircase, so just stay still." At the top, he led her to a chair.

"Ah, Ivy, how lovely to see you again." Professor Dumbledore spoke. "I've asked you here to discuss your situation. Young mister Malfoy found a letter that was sent to you by the orphanage you were in. It seems they don't want you to come back. So, I've been making some arrangements for you. Professor Snape or Professor McGonagall will sign any permission forms you need, as they have both agreed to be your guardians. Professor Snape has graciously offered to allow you to reside with him during the summer holidays. Is this agreeable with you?"

"I don't know what to say, other than thank you. I will be on my best behavior for Professor Snape. I am grateful for the help making arrangements for me. I didn't really know what to do and I was afraid to tell anyone." She said, eyes filling with tears.

"It's no trouble at all, dear. We are here to help." Dumbledore said.

"Thank you, headmaster and Professor Snape, thank you as well." She said and turned to leave. "I can find my way back, professors, thank you."

The two men watched her leave with concerned expressions. Something wasn't right with this young girl. She didn't seem that happy anymore. She made her way back to the Gryffindor common room to find Harry, Ron and Hermione waiting for her.

"Everything okay?" Harry asked, standing up when he saw her.

"Sure, everything's fine. A friend betrayed my trust, but it's no big deal." Ivy said and went up to her room.

Harry looked over at Hermione who sighed and got up to follow Ivy. "I'll talk to her." She said. She found Ivy on her bed, absentmindedly stroking Timber's fur. "Ivy, do you want to talk about it?"

"I suppose Harry sent you up here." Ivy sighed. "I was called up to Dumbledore's office for him to tell me that he made arrangements for me to stay somewhere over the summer. See, I got a letter not too long ago from the orphanage saying that I wasn't welcome back there and that they had given all my things away, not that I had much to begin with. Draco is the only person to know about that letter, so I know he's the one who took it to the headmaster. I didn't want the headmaster to know." She said, defeated.

"But, Ivy, if you couldn't go back to the orphanage where were you going to go?" Hermione asked.

"I don't know, but I would have figured out something." She answered.

"I'm sure Draco was only acting in your best interest. He was concerned for you not having a place to live during the summer. I don't think he really meant to betray your trust, I think he was acting out of concern. He figured that you wouldn't tell anyone and didn't want you to be living on the streets. None of us want that for you. You are our friend and we love you. I'm sure Draco feels the same way." Hermione said putting her arm around Ivy.

"I suppose. It just hurts. I asked him to keep it between us, and he goes running to the headmaster about it." Ivy said, tears beginning to form in her unseeing eyes.

"Talk to him. I'm sure he had a reason for doing what he did." Hermione said. "Do you want me to tell Harry?"

Ivy sighed as a sob began to form in her throat, "No, I'll tell him in the morning. I can't tonight."

"Okay. I'll just be over there if you need me." Her friend said, and got up to go to her own bed.

"Thanks, Hermione." Ivy said and lay down in the bed to get some sleep. Sleep wouldn't come though; she kept thinking and felt tears run down her face. She finally drifted off to sleep just before the sun came up.

Hermione woke and gently woke Ivy to get ready for classes. Ivy dressed automatically, not really thinking about what she was doing. She absently made her way down to the Great Hall for breakfast, finding her usual seat; she sat and began pulling food towards her.

Harry watched her enter the hall with concern. What was happening with his best friend? "You okay, Ivy?" he asked.

"Yeah, Harry." She sighed. "Remember that letter I got that was not written in Braille?" at his 'mmmhmmm', she continued, "It was from the orphanage, saying that I was not welcome back there anymore and that they had given my things away. Draco is the only one who knew what that letter said, and yesterday Professor Dumbledore informed me that he had made arrangements for me, since the orphanage wouldn't take me back. I had asked Draco to keep that letter between us, but he didn't keep his promise."

"I'm sure he was only doing what he thought best for you. Knowing you, I would have done the same thing. You wouldn't seek out help from anyone for any reason." Harry said with a smile. "It's one of your many endearing qualities."

Ivy smiled slightly and then stiffened, she had smelled Draco near. "Good morning, guys." He said and sat down opposite Ivy.

Everyone greeted him, except Ivy. She stiffened even more and then got up to leave, mumbling something about getting some air. Harry stared after her, along with a very confused Draco. "What's wrong with her?" Draco asked.

"She's upset with you. She was called to the headmaster's office last night. He told her that he made arrangements for her to have a place to stay for the summers." Hermione told him.

Draco hung his head, "I didn't know what else to do. She certainly wasn't telling Dumbledore that she couldn't go back to the orphanage."

"We know, Draco. You just have to convince her that you only wanted what was best for her. Knowing her like I do, she wouldn't have gone to Dumbledore about this, even if she had to live on the streets and steal food to survive. Very independent, that one." Harry said.

Sighing, Draco got up and followed the path Ivy had taken out of the castle. Seeing her across the courtyard, he made his way towards her. Hearing her sniffle, he cautiously approached, "Ivy?" he spoke quietly, so as not to startle her.

"What is it, Draco?" she snapped.

"I'm sorry. I only want what's best for you, and I kept waiting and waiting for you to go to Dumbledore about the letter. When you didn't, I went to Snape about it. I didn't want to go back on my promise, but I didn't see any other choice. I'm really sorry that I hurt you. I didn't want to, but I felt that I had to do something." He said, placing a hand on her shoulder.

She felt a small shock of electricity at his touch, "It's okay, Draco. I understand, I truly do. I just have a really hard time asking for help. For 10 years, I've had to do things for myself. Goodness knows that the orphanage matron wasn't going to do anything to help me. I was mad at you, but Harry made me understand that you were only being a friend. He said that he would do the same thing as you did, only he would have went as soon as he read the letter. You, at least, waited to see if I would talk to the headmaster first. You were only thinking of me, and I really do appreciate that. I'm not mad at you. I like that you are concerned for me." Ivy said with softness in her voice.

"So, why did you leave when I came in to breakfast?" he asked.

"I just needed to think. I have lots to get used to. The idea of having other people care for me and be concerned about me. The idea that I might actually have a family of sorts, even if it is a mismatched one." She answered.

"So, where will you be staying over the summers?" Draco asked her.

Ivy laughed, "With Professor Snape. He and McGonagall are going to be my guardians, but since she stays here at the castle over the summers to help Dumbledore, Snape is the one I will be living with." Overcome with laughter, she bent almost double.

Draco laughed with her for a moment, and then just listened to the sound of her laughter. It was pure heavenly music to him. 'Well, that means I can see her over the summer. She will be with uncle Sev.' He thought to himself. Professor Snape happened to be his godfather, and they didn't live too far from each other. This was turning out to be a good thing. Breaking her laughter, "Ivy, we really should get to class. I don't think Professor Snape will take to kindly to us being late, especially now."

Ivy stopped laughing and took hold of Timber's harness. Walking beside Draco, she smiled to herself, glad that she had another friend who could laugh with her.