"That book doesn't just show specific students. You can ask just about anything that is about the students of Hogwarts, and it will show you. For instance, if you wanted to know all the students who have a free period first thing all you have to do is ask the book then tap it with your wand." Dumbledore informed Mauve while they were eating, then left her to her thoughts by turning and starting a conversation with a female professor on his other side.
Testing out his idea Mauve did what Dumbledore suggested. The book shrunk to it's original size and a list of about forty students showed up on one page of the book. Choosing one at random Mauve read about Rosemary Flint.
When most of the students were in the Great Hall Dumbledore stood up and spoke. "Good morning all. I hope you are all well rested and ready for the beginning of term. I have good news to share with you all: Ms. Kingston will be joining our ranks as the first Hogwarts tutor." Dumbledore gestured to Mauve "treat her as you would any other teacher, and make sure to visit her if you are having difficulty in any class." He sat down and the sound of talk immediately surrounded the Great Hall.
Mauve looked around at the students and spotted each of the students she met on the train. April was chatting happily with a bunch of Hufflepuffs but spared a glance at Mauve. April smiled broadly and waved, which Mauve gladly returned. Kara was sitting with a boy, slightly separated from the rest of her house. While Mauve was looking Kara looked up and winked, then returned to her conversation. Jeremiah was surrounded with his fellow Ravenclaws and seemed to be in a deep conversation, he was waving his hands around as if to prove his point.
And at the next table Mauve spotted the Weasley twins easily, their orange hair seemed even brighter in the candlelight. One of them was looking at her in confusion and the other was laughing with the dark skinned boy with the normal tongue.
At the end of breakfast, while most students were rushing out the doors, some stood up slowly and ambled to the doors. Mauve identified one of them as Rosemary and walked up to her. The pale girl looked over as Mauve stopped next to her and introduced herself.
"What's your blood status?" The apparently rude Slytherin asked. So, 'Hogwarts, A History was right about some house personalities,Mauve thought.
"Does it matter?" Mauve asked, still trying to be polite.
"Apparently not to you" Rosemary sneered and walked away.
Throughout the day Mauve met more people like Rosemary, but they were the minority. Most of the students were friendly and curious about Mauve, and open to her help. After meeting a few students the meetings blurred into one, but a few did stick out.
Mauve picked her next student by pointing her wand at random at the list in her book. Hermione Granger, Mauve read. Under the name in bold it read "In possession of a time turner".
Hermione was found in the library, studying no less, on the first day of the first semester.
"What could you possibly have to do on the first day of school? You've only had a handful of classes." Hermione jumped at the sound of Mauve's voice and lowered the giant book so her bushy hair was fully visible.
"Oh, hello Ms. Kingston. Even though I only have a few classes today I still have work to do."
"How much of it is actually assigned?" Mauve asked while she sat down across Hermione.
"Most-"Mauve sent her a sharp look. "Ok, some of it. I want to be on top of my studies."
"With your way of studying you'll be burnt out by Christmas time. Have you finished what was assigned?" When Hermione nodded Mauve started pilling her books and papers into a pile. "Then you're done studying, go have some fun." When Hermione looked ready to argue Mauve quickly said, "That's not a request, it's an order from a new teacher."
That seemed to have worked, when Hermione heard the word 'teacher' she visibly backed off. Hermione stuffed the new pile of books and papers into her bag and, with a smile for Mauve, walked away.
When Mauve saw Kara Bennett's name on the list she smiled. Following the small map in the book it led her to the Black Lake. Mauve walked to the lake and saw no one. Then she heard a plunk! and saw a piece of bread being thrown into the lake. The bread floated on the water for a few seconds than a giant thing that could only be described as a tentacle reached up and dragged the bread underwater.
Mauve walked into the direction that the bread thrower was and saw Kara sprawled across a rock, breaking apart a piece of bread into smaller pieces. Kara looked up when Mauve stepped on a rock and smiled.
"Hey, teach. How many more secrets do you have hidden in your sleeve?" Kara asked as she threw bother bread piece into the lake.
"Only a few, most even I don't know about. I didn't even know I was going to be a tutor until yesterday." Mauve smiled and sat down on a rock next to Kara.
"Really? That must have been a surprise then. How'd you end up with that job?"
"I came here looking for a teachers' position, but they were all full. I guess Dumbledore took pity on me."
"He is a pretty awesome guy. Hey, can you help me with potions? Last class I managed to turn everyone's hair blue with the fumes from my cauldron."
Fred Weasley. And under that name: George Weasley. They were both in the Gryffindor common room, and when Mauve reached the 'entrance' to the common room all she saw was a life sized portrait of a robust woman.
"Password?" The lady spoke, somehow looking down at Mauve even though she was shorter than Mauve.
"Um…." Mauve glanced hopelessly around her then saw on the little map in her book two words were circled: Fortuna Major. It's worth a try, Mauve thought. "Fortuna Major?"
The portrait swung open to show a circle opening in the wall. Through the opening Mauve saw red chairs and couches filled in with about a dozen students. Mauve climbed into the room and a few students looked up, but most continued whatever they were doing. In the corner, situated away from the rest of the students, were the twins. Their heads were close together and they were talking over a piece of parchment, which only a corner was visible of.
"What could you two possibly have to do today? The classes you are taking, which by the way are the bare minimals, don't usually give homework on the first day." They jumped at the sound of Mauve's voice.
The twin to Mauve's right exclaimed "You!". The one to the left continued "you're the one that yelled at us on the train!"
"And for good reason, you could be heard from Hogsmeade."
"So you aimed at stopping the noise-" the right one "-by making more noise?" The left one questioned.
"If it works." Mauve glanced at the parchment the twins were huddled around and saw what looked like instructions on how to make a potion, except it was titled 'Ton-Tongue Toffee'. "What are you working on?"
The twins started talking at the same time, the one on the left saying "nothing" and the one on the right saying "potions".
"Really, I've never heard of anything called a ton-tongue toffee in potions."
"Free lance potions. Bonus points." The one on the right said while the lest twin glanced at the right suspiciously.
"Mind if I take a look?" Mauve leaned closer to see the parchment.
"One moment." The left twin shooed Mauve and when she backed up they started some what bickering, but they never finished their sentences. Mauve couldn't hear what they were saying but they were visibly arguing. After a minute the right twin motioned for Mauve to come back over.
They moved so Mauve could see the paper and the twin on the right explained while the twin on the left sulked. The purpose is to make the tongue grow to about four feet, then shrink. We're having trouble with the shrinking part."
Mauve analyzed the list and found the problem. "You're using eye of newt, why?" The twins explained with information they found from a book, and they apparently didn't read far enough. The eye of newt only works when combined with other ingredients.
"Once you add those ingredients with the eye than it should work."
"All hail the potions master!" the twins bowed theatrically. People started to stare and Mauve warned them she wouldn't help them if they embarrass her again.
The stood and instead thanked her normally.
"If you have time to do free lance potions than why don't you take an extra class or two. It can only help you, unless you fail."
"We have better ways to occupy our times-"
"than taking lessons." the twins said mysteriously.
The bell rang than and the twins went off to their next class with another round of 'thank you's to Mauve.
She could honestly say she had never met odder people.
Mauve walked back to her office at the end of the day truly exhausted and very happy. When she first came to Hogwarts she was hopeless as to where to go or what to do. Now she had a purpose - helping the students - and she wasn't about to give it up.
I am SO sorry for having such a big break between the past chapter and this one. My life has been hectic, but whose isn't? I will try harder to update more often but that may not be realistic until the middle of May when my job ends. Until then please bare with me as I try to juggle my schoolwork, job, and writing. Oh, and review because those always get me in the mood to write :)