CHAPTER 3

"What do you have to say for yourself Ms. Potter?"

Ivy looked up from her seat at Professor McGonagall. "What proof do you have that I did anything to the Ravenclaws, Professor?" she asked, raising an eyebrow and with a perfect poker face.

"You already threatened the entire house, in their own common room no less," the deputy Headmistress pointed out.

The younger witch bowed her head in acknowledgment, but said, "I warned them not to pick on a friend, my only friend."

She had indeed threatened the entirety of Ravenclaw House, though it hadn't been worded as a threat, more of a warning. When Luna had showed up at her apartment, again locked out of the Ravenclaw dorms, Ivy had taken vengeance on the house.

The best part was that muggle laxatives weren't detectable by magic.

Thank you Dobby.

Ivy continued to explain, in her most polite and respectful voice,"If I had done anything to them, and I'm not claiming any responsibility in whatever it is you're blaming me for, but if I had done anything, it would have been because not only did they disregard that warning, but the staff of Hogwarts have failed at their job in finding and punishing Luna's tormentors. So I'll ask you again, what proof do you have that it was me that did anything?"

The younger witch could tell her head of house was getting frustrated, the red in her face was a dead giveaway.

"Detention Ms. Potter. Report to Mr. Filch tonight after dinner," McGonagall instructed her.

"And what, may I ask, is this detention for Professor," Ivy asked, keeping her tone as polite as she could.

"Your disrespect and cheek," the professor informed her.

Ivy tilted her head. "At what point in this conversation have I been at all disrespectful Professor?"

"You have purposely not answered my questions young lady."

"But I have," the ravenette informed her professor, maintaining a polite tone. "You asked what I had to say for myself. I then asked you what proof you had that I had anything to what happened to Ravenclaw House this morning. You then mentioned that I had already threatened them. I then clarified that it was not a threat, simply a warning. Besides, if threatening someone is a punishable offense in Hogwarts, I want to know why half the school is not in dentition considering the threats that I get on a daily basis."

McGonagall grit her teeth. "Fine, no detention. Get out," she instructed.

Ivy was more than happy to oblige. Though not before giving her Head of House a polite, "Thank you Professor."

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As she and Luna rode towards London in their own compartment on the Hogwarts Express, Ivy reflected on the last few months.

Not only had she met, and befriended Luna, but she'd also discovered just what the possible fates for her mother were, as well as a lot of information on demons. On top of that, she'd studied several different branches of magic outside of class.

The most useful to her, at the moment anyway, was occlumency. Not only would it shield her mind (and didn't it explain a few things when she felt a probe several times around Snape), it helped her keep control of her emotions, as well allow her to quickly recall information.

She'd also begun work on her animagus transformation, just for the heck of it. She'd yet to find her animal form, but she hadn't been dedicating a lot of time to it, despite starting the process.

What had become very interesting to her, was magical crafting. What really intrigued Ivy about it, was the possibility of combining magic with technology. It wouldn't be easy, magic was a type of energy itself, and it was a very powerful energy, easily overloading more delicate muggle technology like electronics. It was why smaller things like radios and televisions wouldn't work, yet larger objects like motorcycles or cars would, when exposed to magic.

Without the wards preventing said energy from escaping, nothing around Diagon Alley would be likely to work.

And her own studies into the non-magical sciences were proceeding wonderfully. If she was to believe the aptitude test provided by the Come-and-Go Room, she was studying at a college level.

It hadn't been all study however. Luna, while studious herself (she was a Ravenclaw after all), had managed to get Ivy to do other things. Turning the Come-and-Go Room into a heated pool and swimming around in it was especially fun, though Ivy did find herself taking second looks at her bubbly blonde friend when wearing a bathing suit, even if it was a one piece. And turning it into a hot spring to relax in after a hard day was a blessing. Not to mention the few pranks the two had pulled, all without being caught.

It hadn't all been good times though.

Umbridge was determined to get Ivy into trouble, and kept baiting the young witch. Thankfully, between her own disillusionment with Hogwarts, and the wizarding world in general, and her occlumency training, Ivy had yet to rise to the bait.

Then, despite still looking down on her for her sexuality, Hermione and Ron had approached her to help with a Defense Club to help the students learn defense since Umbridge was doing such a horrible job.

It had taken a lot of effort for Ivy not to curse them for their gall, as it was, she simply walked away after giving them both a firm "No."

The worse part had been being kicked off the Gryffindor Quidditch team. It wasn't that she enjoyed the sport, but she loved to fly. But Angelina Johnson, the new Captain of the team, had told her the other girls (Katie Bell and Alicia Spinnet) weren't comfortable with her on the team. Angelina had at least tried to be polite about it, and had been one of the few to not actively torment her last year, she even said she tried to talk Katie and Alicia into keeping Ivy, pointing out they could put up a curtain in the changing room if they were truly uncomfortable. But both had apparently threatened to quit the team if Angie allowed Ivy to stay on the team.

It was, sadly, easier to replace a seeker than it was two chasers.

Ivy had actually appreciated Angelina's attempts, and understood her position. Though she did say that she wouldn't come back to the team if, after any game, they lost and wanted their seeker back.

The dark-skinned chaser had told Ivy that the two wanted her back on the team after their devastating loss to Slytherin in their first game, but that unless Ivy had changed her mind, Angelina would respect her decision and not hound her about it. Ivy wasn't going to lie, she had been tempted to return to the team, but since she doubted Alicia and Katie would treat her too well, let alone Ginny Weasley who had been chosen as her replacement, she had informed the Captain that she hadn't changed her mind.

"We're here," Luna said, drawing Ivy from her thoughts.

Looking out the window, Ivy could indeed see that they had arrived at King's Cross. Standing up, she helped Luna pull her trunk down from the luggage rack, before then pulling her own down.

"Thanks Ivy," Luna said happily.

Ivy smiled at the blonde. "No problem Luna."

"Well, I better go find Daddy," the Ravenclaw said. She then surprised Ivy by leaning in and giving the emerald-eyed witch a quick kiss on the lips.

Standing there, Ivy was slightly stunned, as her mind began to process this new variable in her relationship with the blonde.

Before she could reply in any way, Luna cheerfully said, "I'll see you on the ride back to Hogwarts."

Then the blonde was gone.

Alone in her compartment, Ivy asked herself, "What just happened?"

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"Dare I ask why everyone is so gloomy?" Ivy asked, finally alone with her godfather.

Sirius sighed. "Arthur Weasley died," he explained. "Remember what I told you about the Order guarding something in the Ministry?"

"Yeah."

"He was guarding it when he was attacked. It looks like that snake you said Voldemort had was what killed him. It's got the Ministry in a bit of a tizzy, but Fudge is trying to cover the death up." Sirius sat down in one of the library chairs. He rubbed his face with one hand. "It's got the Order on edge, and Molly isn't taking the news well."

Ivy closed her eyes. "I'm sorry to hear that. Arthur was nice...he didn't say anything bad about me once."

Sirius grinned, but it wasn't a happy grin. "No...he didn't. I don't know if you realize this, but he did try to get Molly to reign in her opinion of your sexuality. He told her it wasn't any of her business...not that his wife listened."

Her godfather sighed again. "Anyway, I got something for you." The former marauder held out a brown package.

Taking it, Ivy opened the package to find herself holding a mirror. "What's this?"

"If you say Padfoot, it'll connect with my own mirror, and the two of us can talk," the animagus explained. "I figured that, when you go back to Hogwarts, it would come in handy."

The witch smiled. "Thanks Sirius." She walked over and hugged him.

Wrapping his own arms around her, Sirius assured her, "No problem kiddo." As she pulled away from him, Sirius then asked, "How's your research into demons coming?"

It was Ivy's turn to sigh. "I found out what Mephisto could be doing to my mother. I just haven't found a way to save her yet."

"You will," her godfather told her confidently. "You're too stubborn not to."

Ivy grinned lightly at Sirius' reassurances. She hoped he was right.

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