Chapter 6

As classes drew to a close, exams were taken and goodbyes were said, the students all packed their things and made their way to the carriages to get to the train. Professor Snape had told Ivy that he would meet her in King's Cross Station to take her home. He had some things to finish up at the school before he could leave. Ivy, Harry, Ron, and Hermione were sitting in a compartment together. Draco was sitting with his friends from Slytherin. "So, Ivy, where will you be staying?" Harry asked her. She had been very secretive about it.

Sighing, "Harry, you can't stand it, can you?" she smiled. "You will see who I am staying with when we get to the station, I promise."

Making an exasperated sound, Harry folded his arms and sat back in the seat. Hermione giggled at him, "Is he pouting?" Ivy asked.

"Yes, he is." Ron answered. The friends talked about their plans for the summer and purchased sweets from the trolley.

The train slowed and came to a stop. Everyone scrambled around to get their trunks and things out of the train. Harry and Ron helped Ivy get her trunk, since her hands were full with Timber and her cane. Sitting it down outside, they looked around. Harry scanned the faces in the crowd, anxious to see who Ivy would be staying with. He groaned when he saw Professor Snape coming towards them. "What's he doing here?" he muttered.

Ivy smiled, knowing who he was talking about. She had caught Snape's scent when the wind wafted towards them. He smelled of lilacs and strangely of frogs. It was a very unique smell. Clearing his throat, "Ivy, is this your trunk? Are you ready?" the professor asked.

"Yes, professor. I'm ready." She turned to Harry, "I'm sure you know Professor Snape. This is who I will be staying with." Knowing she had left Harry and the others flabbergasted, she turned to the professor and took his proffered arm as he took hold of her trunk. They disappeared with a loud crack. Draco had been watching from the other side of the platform. Smiling, he turned to find his parents.

Ivy spent a surprisingly enjoyable summer with Professor Snape. Draco had come by a few times and they took walks together. Professor Snape wasn't the horrid person that he was at school. After getting her letter for her second year, he took her to Diagon Alley to get her supplies. She learned that he was actually a kind man, just unhappy.

The years sped by and Ivy found herself in 4th year. Draco and his family had taken Ivy to the Quidditch World Cup match, not that she could see it. She felt the excitement in the air and heard the roar of the crowd. Draco told her what was going on the game. He really wanted her to be able to see him play.

Professor Snape apparated himself and Ivy to the platform as he usually did for the trip to school. Placing her trunk in an empty compartment he muttered, "See you in a few hours, Ivy," and disappeared. As Ivy waited for the others to join her on the train, she reflected on her life. She had come a long way from the orphanage and even from the first 'family' she had been placed in when she was born. She didn't like to think about that. Even though she was only a year old when she was taken from them, she remembered every detail of her life then. It wasn't pretty.

The door slid open and she smelled vanilla and apples. Smiling she scooted over to the window so that he could sit beside her. She always looked forward to seeing Draco again. "Hi." She said.

"Hi, yourself. I didn't see uncle Sev, did he leave already?" Draco asked, sitting down and placing a hand on her arm.

"Yeah, we came here a bit early, as he said he had a meeting with Dumbledore." Ivy said as Harry, Ron, and Hermione entered the compartment.

The friends caught up, even though they had seen each other at the World Cup match. Arriving at Hogsmeade Station, they all got a carriage together for the ride to the castle. Draco brushed his hand on Ivy's shoulder as he made his way to the Slytherin table. She shivered slightly, always getting tingly whenever he touched her. Smiling, she sat down at the end of the Gryffindor table with Timber at her side. It was always easier for her to sit at the end of the table, that way she didn't get tripped up by climbing over the bench. She waited as the sorting ceremony took place and then waited as the headmaster stood and called for silence.

"This year, we have the great honor of hosting the Tri-Wizard Tournament. Around Halloween, a delegation from the Beuxbaton Academy and the Durmstrang Institute will arrive and the champions will be chosen. The committee has made a new rule this time that only those who are 17 will be able to participate in the tournament. I hope you will all be on your best behavior when the delegations arrive. Let the feast begin." Dumbledore stated and then sat down as the food appeared.

Ivy smiled to herself, feeling happier than ever for some reason. They all ate as much as their stomachs could hold of the delicious feast. After making their way to their dorms, they all fell exhausted into bed. Classes began the next day and everyone attended with anticipation. Herbology became harder and harder for Ivy with each year. She just couldn't tell the difference in the plants.

Just before the other students were to arrive, Professor McGonagall called her house students in for a meeting. She told them about the Yule Ball that would take place on Christmas Eve and that the champions were expected to have a partner and lead the dance. Excitedly, they dispersed, talking about the dance.

Halloween arrived, bringing with it the students from the other magic schools. The Goblet of Fire was placed out for the students to place their names in for consideration to become a champion. The next night at dinner, she listened as the names were called, three of them, one from each school. Then she heard the anger, amazement and disbelief in Dumbledore's voice as he called out Harry's name. Ivy gasped, knowing that he was now a champion, even though he didn't put his name in. Everyone grew silent as she heard the swish of Harry's robe as he made his way to Dumbledore. Ivy sat silently, waiting for someone to say something. Before long, Professor McGonagall stood and dismissed everyone to bed. Ivy got up and slowly made her way out of the Great Hall to climb the stairs to her room. Timber led kept her from bumping in to anyone, as she had forgotten to take out her white cane. She stumbled on the first step, only to find strong hands catching her before falling. A tingle when up her arms and down her spine, Draco.

"Careful there. We wouldn't want you to fall." He said, smiling down at her.

"Sorry. I'm just really worried about Harry. There's no way he could have put his own name in that goblet. He couldn't have gotten past the age line." She told him, as he kept his hand on her arm and led her up the stairs.

"Yeah, well, there's nothing that can be done about it. He's bound by the magical contract now. He has to compete." Draco said.

"I know, but that doesn't stop me from worrying." She said as they reached her portrait door. "See you tomorrow, Draco." Climbing in the portrait door, she turned to continue up the stairs to her bed.

Draco turned and headed back to the dungeons and his own common room. 'Fool, you should have just asked her,' he told himself.

The next morning at breakfast, everyone stared at Harry as he entered the Great Hall. He hated it, everything about it. He didn't want to compete in this bloody tournament. He wished everyone would stop staring and whispering. Sitting down in his usual place beside Ivy, he loaded his plate and began to chew slowly.

Professor McGonagall held Harry back after Transfiguration that day to let him know that he had to have a partner for the dance, since he was a champion. 'Great, now who can I ask that won't think something of being asked?' Only one person came to mind, Ivy.

Walking in to the common room after lunch, he spotted her near the fire and asked her to be his partner for the dance. She agreed and they sat down to get started on homework.

A few weeks later, Draco sat down next to Ivy in potions class. He leaned over and whispered in her ear. Ivy giggled at the feel of his breath on her ear. "Oh, I'm sorry, Draco. Harry already asked me." She said.

"No problem. I thought I would ask." He said, frowning slightly. 'Dang, I waited too late,' he thought.

Before long, it was Christmas Eve and time for the Yule Ball. Ivy allowed Hermione and Ginny to fix her hair for her, so that it looked nice for the formal dance. She wasn't sure how things would work, wondering what to do with Timber while she danced. She guessed he would just sit at the table. Professor Snape had actually helped her pick out a formal dress when they were in Diagon Alley buying her school supplies. It was on her list, and he surprising had very good fashion sense.