Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all related characters belong to J.K. Rowling. They are used without permission, and no money is being made from this story. All original characters are my creation.
Lessons Taught, Lessons Learned
Chapter One: A Most Unusual Education
For eight years, Trista managed to keep the events of that fateful night a secret. She'd had some close calls when someone would begin to open her door without knocking, but a panicked "I'm changing!" had thankfully kept them out so far. She had grown used to the wings over the years, and at night when everyone was asleep, she'd release them from their bindings and work the wings' muscles. She rarely ventured outside at night anymore. She didn't need to meet a group of…Lizard People or something and wind up with a horrible, scaly tail to go along with her wings.
In the mornings, Trista woke up extra early to make sure her wings were properly hidden. Then, she waited for her parents to wake up, and she had breakfast with them. Her mother, Tracey, was quite lovely Trista thought. She thought her father, Theodore, was handsome, but Trista was glad she looked like her mother. She didn't think her father's features would translate well on a girl.
After breakfast, Trista went to her lessons. She hadn't gone to Hogwarts like other witches her age. Instead, she was homeschooled by her Great-Great-Grandfather, Acacius Pollux Constellatius. It was an unusual arrangement because Acacius had been dead for a good many years. So, Trista was actually homeschooled by the portrait of her Great-Great-Grandfather, whom Trista called 'Acacius' because they both agreed that 'Great-Great-Grandfather' took too long to say. Several uncustomary changes had to be made for it to work. For example, Trista couldn't turn in any of her work to Acacius, so all of her homework and essays had to be read aloud. Then, Acacius would tell Trista her grade; she actually kept track of all of her own grades.
When it came to practicing spells and charms, her mother stepped in to oversee that part of her education. Trista was very good at incantations because she had learned early on in her education to speak clearly. Otherwise, Acacius couldn't hear her well. As for her exams, those were overseen by a Ministry of Magic witch or wizard who would come to Trista's home and administer them.
This year, however, Trista would finally be starting at Hogwarts. She would be starting as a sixth year, but she was excited. Even if it meant a larger group of people to keep her secret from, she was prepared to do it.
It was nearing the end of August, so the day Trista would leave for Hogwarts was very close. She was understandably nervous and excited; she could often be found in her makeshift classroom begging Acacius to review everything with her "just one last time, please, Acacius." He would sigh dramatically, but then review with Trista until she was satisfied. He knew that she wanted to do well in Hogwarts.
"Do you think you'll forget everything when you go to Hogwarts?" Acacius asked one day.
"No," Trista replied, "I just want to make sure I remember everything correctly. I'd hate to be behind because I didn't study properly over the summer."
"I believe you'll be fine, Trista," Acacius replied.
"Yes," Trista agreed, "I'll be perfectly fine."
"So, tell me, what house do you think you'll be in?" Acacius asked.
"Slytherin, of course," Trista replied, "I belong in Slytherin; I know I do."
"Yes, I imagine you're right," Acacius said.
"My room is done up in Slytherin colors, you know," Trista said after a few moments of silence, "All green and silver."
"Is that so? Well then, you'll feel quite at home in the Slytherin common rooms, I believe," Acacius replied. "Now, if you'll excuse me, Trista, I need to go see what Rogatus is up to."
"Of course," Trista replied, "Tell him I said 'hello'."
Acacius waved his acknowledgement of Trista's request and rose from his painted seat. Trista watched him walk out of his portrait and then into the on right next to it. The story of this was an old family tale. Acacius had a twin brother, Rogatus Castor Constellatius, who had died when he was twelve years old. A portrait of Rogatus had been placed in the very room Trista was standing in, and many years later when Acacius died, his portrait was placed next to Rogatus'. The brothers were both able to visit each other's portrait, but Trista thought that Rogatus preferred his own because she never saw him come in Acacius'.
--
The days seemed to go by more quickly than usual, and before Trista knew it, it was the day before she was to go to Hogwarts. It had been arranged for her to arrive before the other students and be sorted privately in Headmaster Grinkleby's office. She was to floo to the Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade and wait there for Professor Flitwick to escort her to the school.
During dinner that night, Trista could barely eat. She pushed her potatoes around her plate taking a bite only when she saw her mother or father looking.
"Are you nervous about Hogwarts, Trista?" Tracey asked.
"A little," Trista admitted.
"Don't be, you'll do fine," Tracey said reassuringly.
"Besides, you're probably already smarter than most of the seventh years there," Theodore said.
"I hope I'm caught up well enough," Trista replied.
"Oh, you are," Tracey said, "The Ministry would have put you in fifth year if you weren't."
"They wouldn't put her in fifth year, Tracey. They let that idiot Longbottom move up, didn't they?" Theodore said bitterly.
"Now, Teddy," Tracey replied, admonishing her husband, "That was years ago when we were in school. They've changed their standards since Dumbledore died."
"I just hope Odin Grinkleby knows how to run a school," Theodore muttered. He then turned to his daughter, "Don't forget Trista, you're going into Slytherin. Otherwise, we might disown you!"
"Teddy!" Tracey exclaimed and then smiled at Trista, "He's joking. We'd love for you to be in Slytherin, Trista, but it's okay if you're in Ravenclaw."
"I'm going to be in Slytherin," Trista said. "I'll be in Slytherin, or I won't be in any house."
"Well, once the Sorting Hat places you in a house, you're stuck in that house until you finish school," Tracey explained.
"The Sorting Hat'll know where to put you, sweetie," Theodore said. "Don't you worry about that."
Trista nodded and looked at her plate and realized that she had managed to eat nearly everything on it. Deciding that she'd had enough to eat, Trista excused herself to finish packing before she went to bed.
While her parents were still talking in the dining room, Trista went up to her bedroom and looked around. Her dark wooden walls were the only thing in the room that wasn't in Slytherin colors. Green and silver were easily her favorite colors, and they were the colors she would wear at Hogwarts.
Trista checked her trunk to make sure she had packed sufficiently. She'd packed her books, cauldron, quills, parchment, her uniform robes, and extra robes for the weekends; her toiletries, undergarments, and of course, the bandages she would need to hide her wings. She hoped she'd packed enough bandages for the year. She wasn't sure how she'd get more if she ran out.
Having done all the packing she could, Trista laid down on her bed on top of the covers. She knew it was far too early to go to bed, and she had a nervous sort of energy she needed to expend, but she didn't know what to do to calm it. It was too early to free her wings lest she take the risk of her mother or father coming in to wish her goodnight.
So, Trista lay on her bed looking up at her ceiling thinking of what would happen tomorrow. She imagined she would meet briefly with Headmaster Grinkleby before being sorted into Slytherin. After that, she knew she would go down to the Great Hall to wait for the other students and watch the first years get sorted.
She tried to imagine what the other Slytherins would be like. The only Slytherin currently at Hogwarts she knew was Scorpius Malfoy, but she didn't know him well. At best, they were merely acquaintances who'd had a few meals together when the families decided to have a party.
Trista continued to imagine Hogwarts and her time there until she drifted off to sleep. Her dreams seemed to continue her thoughts. She dreamed that she became the most popular Slytherin student and that the entire schooled wanted to be her friend.
When she woke up early the next morning, Trista got out of bed feeling good about Hogwarts. She took a longer shower than usual, and after drying off, she hid her wings and dressed for the day. Then, there was nothing left to do except wait for one o'clock when she would leave.
Trista waited until the sun came up before going downstairs for breakfast. Her mother was in the kitchen telling their house elf, Alfie, what to fix for breakfast.
"And mind you fix it very well today, Alfie," Tracey said, "Trista's leaving today."
"Yes, ma'am," Alfie replied nervously and bowed. "Alfie will."
"See that you do," Tracey replied and turned to leave. She spotted Trista and smiled, "You're up early, darling. Did you sleep well?"
"I slept fine," Trista replied.
"Good! Breakfast will be ready soon. Are you all packed and ready to go?" Tracey asked.
"Yes, I'm all ready," Trista replied.
"Well then, I guess there's nothing left to do but wait," Tracey said.
--
The time had finally come for Trista to leave, and she dragged her trunk down to the sitting room, which had the largest fireplace in the house. She set her trunk on its side in the fireplace, and then turned to say goodbye to her parents. She had a satchel on her back to hide the feelings of her wings when her parents hugged her. The satchel was filled with things for her to do while she waited for Professor Flitwick.
"Take care of yourself, sweetie," Tracey said, hugging Trista tightly, "Write home all the time. I'll miss you so much!"
"I'll write every week," Trista promised, and then turned to her father. "Dad?"
"You'll be fine, Trista. You'll be in Slytherin, and everyone will love you," Theodore said to his daughter, hugging her.
"I'll be in Slytherin, don't worry!" Trista promised. She looked back at the fireplace; the green flames were starting to die down. If she didn't hurry, the floo powder would run out and her trunk would catch fire. "Well, I'd better go."
"Oh, one more hug!" Tracey exclaimed and hugged Trista one last time. "We'll see you at Christmas, darling!"
"Bye," Trista said, "I love you."
"We love you too," both her parents said nearly in unison.
Trista stepped in to the fireplace and shouted "The Three Broomsticks!" The last thing she saw was her father putting his arm around her mother as she wiped the tears from her eyes.
Trista didn't travel much, and traveling by Floo was by far her least favorite form of travel after portkeys. She closed her eyes and waited until her feet hit the ground in the Three Broomsticks before opening them again. She looked around the pub wondering if Professor Flitwick was already there. She had nothing to go on but a description of him, but everyone in there looked to be average height. So, Trista dusted herself off and stepped out of the fireplace. Two kind wizards helped her with her trunk.
After a short while, Professor Flitwick finally entered the Three Broomsticks. Trista stood up so he would notice her, and he came over to her.
"Miss Nott?" he asked.
"Yes, I'm Trista Nott. You must be Professor Flitwick," Trista replied.
"I am," Flitwick squeaked. "Do you have your things?"
"Yes," Trista replied nudging her trunk with her foot.
"Well, let's just shrink this up a bit to make it easier to carry," Flitwick said and pointed his wand at her trunk. It shrunk to the size of a lunch pale, and Trista picked it up.
"Thank you," she said.
"It's no problem," Flitwick replied, "I'll show you where to leave it once we reach Hogwarts. It will be its normal size when you get it again."
"Get it again?" Trista asked. She hadn't realized they were going to take her things away.
"When you go to your dorm," Flitwick explained.
"Oh," Trista replied.
"Shall we go then?" Flitwick asked.
"Yes," Trista replied.
And so, Trista followed Professor Flitwick out of the Three Broomsticks, down the main street of Hogsmeade, and onto the road that led to Hogwarts.
(Author's Notes: Well, that was chapter one. Trista gets sorted in the next chapter, and then the fun really begins! Don't forget to review! Thanks for reading! I abuse exclamation points!)