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 Five: Defending Friends.
Weeks passed and Trista found herself getting into a comfortable routine. She also found that Patrick's advice about the teachers and the advice about the school in general, had come in very handy. It didn't take her long before she felt as though she'd been going to Hogwarts since first year.
Despite the fact that Trista knew her way by now, she still walked with Amy and the other Hufflepuff girls to the classes they shared. She wasn't ready to call them friends, but they were familiar to her, which she found to be comforting. They had accepted her in spite of the fact that she had been rather cold to them on the first day unlike Scorpius whom Trista thought would be her friend despite her unfortunate placement.
When her alarm went off on the morning of the first Hogsmeade weekend, Trista automatically checked that her wings were hidden, turned off the alarm and went to take a shower. She knew the other girls would sleep for at least two more hours, so she would go have some breakfast and wait for them to wake up before doing Sol Solis for their snargaluff.
It was on her way down to the Great Hall that Trista remembered her date with Patrick that day. She had partially hoped he would forget, but as much as he had reminded her in the past week, it was amazing that she had forgotten herself. She couldn't explain the feeling, but she found herself wanting to go and not wanting to go at the same time.
It was still rather early in the morning, so the only people she passed were the school ghosts. The Fat Friar floated along with her for a few moments trying to strike up a conversation, but Trista feigned drowsiness and said she couldn't have a discussion without coffee and breakfast.
"Of course I understand," the Fat Friar said happily, "Perhaps another time."
"I hope so," Trista replied, half lying.
The Fat Friar floated away just as Trista reached the Great Hall. There was no one else there, nor was there any food on the tables. Trista checked her watch, she was fifteen minutes early. Apparently, she had taken less time getting ready that day than usual.
Then, a sudden moment of panic hit her. Had she remembered to re-bind her wings after her shower? She reached back fearing that her hand would grasp feathers, but was relieved to grab a handful of robes. She started to breathe a sigh of relief when she realized that she probably hadn't needed to panic at all. Surely the Fat Friar would have said something. After all, Ghar'tanion never said a ghost could know her secret.
Exactly fifteen minutes after she had sat down, the food appeared on the table. Trista loved being the only one in the Great Hall when breakfast appeared; the food was always fresh and warm. It was charmed to stay that way so long as it remained in the Great Hall, but there was something about food that was just cooked that tasted so good.
Trista helped herself to eggs, bacon, a muffin, and some pumpkin juice. While she ate, she tried to imagine how the day would go. She had to consult with someone at Madam Malkin's about her costume at four o'clock, and she knew that Patrick had his consultation at two. They were allowed to leave for Hogsmeade as early as eleven, but Trista imagined they wouldn't leave until closer to noon. Trista made a mental note to eat again around ten-thirty so she wouldn't be hungry while in Hogsmeade.
Once she'd eaten her fill, Trista got up to return to the Hufflepuff dorm and wait for the other girls to wake up. On a sudden whim, she grabbed a napkin and tied up four muffins in it. The other girls would probably like to be lazy and eat breakfast in bed. Trista carried the napkin out of the Great Hall feeling good about herself.
Unfortunately, the feeling did last because as she left the Great Hall, she ran into Scorpius. He smirked at her in a condescending sort of way.
"Too embarrassed to be seen eating with her Hufflepuff friends?" Scorpius asked.
"No, I just woke up early," Trista replied, trying to step around him.
Scorpius stepped in her path, "I can't blame you of course," he said.
"Go away, Malfoy," Trista said, but he ignored her.
"I mean, I wouldn't want anyone to see me with such morons," he said, "In fact, I would just start eating in my dorm if I were in Hufflepuff. I wouldn't show my face to the school at all for that matter."
"Well, that's why I'm glad I'm not you," Trista said.
"What's that your carrying?" Scorpius asked, grabbing the napkin Trista had tied the muffins in. "Muffins! Oh, aren't you nice? Taking some breakfast up to your friends! What, can your Hufflepuff friends not navigate their way to breakfast anymore? Could it be possible that Hufflepuffs actually get stupider as time goes by?"
"Shut up!" Trista exclaimed, "Just because you're in Slytherin and they're not doesn't make you any better than them! I might remind you that Isabella scored higher than you on our last Herbology quiz and earned us fifty house points. They spend their time trying to improve themselves and helping anyone who needs it while you just sit there thinking you're perfect as you are."
"Defending your little friends now, are you?" Scorpius asked with an amused yet wicked gleam in his eye.
"I'm not…I wasn't," Trista stammered, feeling herself going red. She hadn't really intended to defend them, but…No, she was defending them, and they deserved it. They were all fifty times better than every stuck up Slytherin put together! "So what if I was?" Trista demanded.
"Now you're really one of them, Nott," Scorpius said, his voice icy cold.
"Good!" Trista exclaimed, "I'm glad I am. I'm glad I'm one of them and not one of your pathetic groupies!"
With that, Trista snatched the muffins back from Scorpius and stormed off to the Hufflepuff dorm. She heard Scorpius laughing behind her, but she held her head high as she walked. She would not allow him to get to her.
When Trista reached the Hufflepuff dorm, she said a quick good morning to the few people who were in the common room, and then went back to the sixth year girls' dorm. The other four girls were sitting up in their beds chatting sleepily about getting down to breakfast.
"Morning," Trista said cheerfully as she held up the napkin. "Hope you like muffins."
"Oh, you brought us muffins?" Amy asked, "Thank you!"
"I was up early, so I had an early breakfast," Trista explained as she passed out the muffins.
"Thanks!" the other girls said.
Trista performed Sol Solaris on the snargaluff while the girls ate. She hadn't brought them any juice, but they were happy to drink water from the pitcher on the nightstand. After they ate, they decided to go down to the common room to sit and talk.
"Gertrude," Trista said, catching her attention as she was heading out the door, "Can I talk to you for a minute?"
"Sure, Trista," Gertrude said.
They both sat on Trista's bed and Trista tried to think of the easiest way to do what she knew she had to do.
"Gertrude," Trista began, but then couldn't find the right words she needed.
"What is it? Is something wrong?" Gertrude asked.
"Yes," Trista began slowly. Then, something inside her told her that she just needed to say it. "Don't ask Malfoy to the costume ball."
"What? Why?" Gertrude demanded, "Do you want to ask him? Trista, you know I like him!"
"I know, I know!" Trista said hastily.
"Then why can't I ask him?" Gertrude asked.
"Because you're too good for him," Trista replied. "When I was younger, Scorpius and I were…well, not friends, but we knew each other. We got along just fine, and when I came to Hogwarts and got placed into Hufflepuff, Scorpius suddenly turned on me. I thought he would be my friend since he knew me, but he thinks I'm suddenly lower class now."
"That's terrible!" Gertrude said. "You think he'd at least be pleasant toward you since you're a pureblood."
"Half," Trista corrected her, "My maternal grandfather was a Muggle."
"Oh," Gertrude said softly.
"Anyway, please, Gertrude. Don't ask Malfoy to the ball," Trista continued, "I'll help you find another date."
"Okay, I won't ask him. Not now that I've seen what he really is," Gertrude replied. "Thanks, Trista."
--
Trista walked to the Great Hall with the other girls whom she now considered her friends. It was just after ten-thirty and they decided to eat lunch together before they went to Hogsmeade. Trista wished she could go with them when they left after eating, but she had her date with Patrick and couldn't go back on her word.
"If he's boring, we'll come rescue you," Allie joked.
"I can't imagine he's very boring," Amy said, "He's Patrick. You're so lucky, Trista."
"I guess," Trista replied and shrugged.
"Ooh, a guessing game?" said a voice from behind Trista. She turned around and saw Patrick standing behind her grinning as usual.
"Hi, Patrick," Isabella said. "Sit with us."
"I just came to make sure Trista remembered our date in Hogsmeade," Patrick said, but he sat down anyway.
"I remember," Trista assured him.
"Good! What time is your consultation at Malkin's?" Patrick asked.
"Four," Trista replied.
"Mine's at two," Patrick said.
"I know," Trista replied.
"Well then, I'm going to grab a bit of lunch and then I'll be ready. Meet me at the entrance at eleven?" Patrick asked.
"Sure," Trista replied and noticed the other girls getting up. "Where are you going?"
"We're going ahead to Hogsmeade," Amy said.
"Aww, letting us get a head start on our date?" Patrick asked jokingly, "Thanks, girls. I mean, ladies!"
"Anytime!" Allie said and giggled.
Patrick grinned at Trista as he grabbed a plate and began piling food on it.
"The date doesn't start until we go to Hogsmeade," Trista said.
"Of course not," Patrick agreed, "For now, I'll just enjoy the pleasure of your company." He took a bite of his food and said indulgently, "Oh, Trista! Did you try the roast beef? It's so juicy and good!"
Trista tried to hold back a laugh, but she didn't try very hard. Patrick grinned at her as he took another bite. Trista suddenly found herself wishing that time would speed up.