I'm just on a roll with this story. Now if only I could do this to all my other stories…
Chapter Quote:
"He's mad, is what's going on! Do you believe the rubbish he's coming out with about You-Know-Who?"
~Seamus Finnigan
Chapter 4
Jade
"JADE!" Elliot screamed as she tackled her best friend from behind. Jade's hair flushed from her regular blue shade to a vibrant lavender, immediately alerting Elliot that she'd just highly embarrassed her best friend; the embarrassment probably came from everyone looking at them with odd expressions. "Sorry."
"You're a jerk," Jade retorted but she was grinning. She was glad one of her friends was there; it helped prevent her panic attacks in crowds. Just thinking about large crowds made her start to panic and then her hair would start turning grey.
"Where's Ziva? She's always here before us? And where's Toadly?!" Elliot cried out, turning in full circles searching for her pet toad. Jade helped after she checked to make sure her cat, a snow Bengal named Malik, was still in his cage.
"Honestly, Elliot, one day I won't be here to find him for you," Ziva's voice piped up from behind them. The two girls turned to face their blonde friend who was holding the fat, angry-looking toad. Ziva handed him to his owner who kissed him on the head and put him in a little cage. Jade gagged. Ziva made no expression.
"Why so late? You're always here before us? Are you seeing someone?! Who is it?! Where is he?! Is he a Muggle or a wizard?! Does-"
"Elliot!" Ziva interrupted. "Calm down. I got a late start this morning and then Thor came in late from hunting and he was adamant about not going in his cage." As if knowing she was complaining about him, Thor let out a huge hoot, seemingly in protest. "Oh shush Thor. Anyways, let's go get a compartment."
The girls said goodbye to their parents, giving them a tight hug, before jumping onto the train. Many of the cars were empty but the girls didn't like being in the front or back of the train. They preferred the middle.
"Well, well, well, look who it is," a gruff voice said from in front of Ziva. Jade, who'd had her head turned back so she could talk to Elliot, faced forward. Crabbe, Goyle, and Malfoy, along with a dark-haired girl that Jade recognized as Pansy Parkinson were blocking their way. Jade rolled her eyes in annoyance. What was it with them always running into this sorry lot?
"Are you going to move?" Pansy asked in aggravation.
"And why should we move?" Ziva sighed, sounding bored. It obviously irked Pansy who gave her a disgusted look.
"One, we could squash you and your little friends into the ground, two, we're older, three, we have a prefect with us, and four, your blood means nothing when you hang out with these scum," Crabbe spat. None of the girls thought as they pulled out their wands. The Slytherins, except Malfoy, did the same.
"Say that again about my friends, and I will blast you to Timbuktu. Do you understand me?" Ziva growled, pointing her wand in between Crabbe's eyes. He was cross-eyed looking at it.
"You're messing with the wrong crowd," Pansy warned, gripping her wand.
"I'll send you to Russia if you keep talking," Jade said happily. Pansy glared at her.
"Lower your wands," Malfoy commanded his group. "Ziva?"
She glared at him, obviously not pleased to have him pretty much telling her what to do. However, much to Jade's surprise, her friend listened and lowered her wand. Jade knew though that if anyone of the Slytherins made another a slur towards Jade or Elliot, Ziva would hex them without second thoughts.
"Watch what your minions say to my friends, Malfoy," Ziva admonished, getting up quite close to him. Even Jade, who would have no problem cursing any of the group, would never get all up in Draco Malfoy's face. Partially because he was a pureblood and he hated her (with the feelings being mutual), and partially because she wouldn't stand a chance against him. It wasn't advertised, but Draco was a hell of a fighter. Ziva had guts getting that much in his personal space. Although, on the contrary, she was the Hermione Granger of their year. She could probably take him and actually stand a chance.
Draco, for some reason though, seemed unaffected by her close presence. The corridor was already very cozy and narrow. This just made it awkward.
"Those minions are my friends," Draco said.
"Then let me correct myself: Watch what your friends say to mine unless you want there to be trouble."
"If your friends give us the same courtesy, then it might be possible."
I'll show you courtesy when you show a kindness to a Gryffindor and run around naked on the train. Jade thought sarcastically. No way would she ever be nice to Malfoy. It was physically impossible for her to be so.
"They look like they're about to go at it, and I don't mean fighting," Elliot observed. Jade snorted while the Slytherins' mouths fell open from shock. Draco looked stunned while Ziva looked rather outraged.
"Elliot!" Ziva exclaimed.
"I think that's our cue to get a move on," Jade mused. She pushed Ziva to get her going. The girls purposefully brushed shoulders roughly with the Slytherins as they made their way to the middle of the train. They found a suitable compartment and took residence in it, shutting the door so Toadly, Malik, and Thor could be out of their cages. No one could explain how an owl, a cat, and a toad got along, but the three animals tolerated each other very well and would actually sleep in close proximity with each other.
Ziva crashed out on the seat while Jade and Elliot read their books. It passed the time quickly. The train ride therefore seemed short and in no time, the girls were in the carriages heading off to the castle, in their robes and all. Seamus and Dean hopped into the carriage with the girls. Ziva scooted over so Seamus could sit between her and Jade. Seamus started cracking jokes and Jade couldn't breathe from laughing so hard. Her hair turned hot pink and she hoped he thought that just meant she found him hilarious. The carriage pulled up to the school and the five hopped out. Neville was waiting for them; Jade figured it was because of Elliot. They walked into the Great Hall and took their places, waiting for the sorting to begin. The first years all looked pale and nervous. Jade could remember being like that. Her hair had been completely white she'd been so panicky. It got even worse when she had to go up to the Sorting Hat stool.
All the students stared at the raggedy brown hat. It looked like nothing but it was really incredible. Suddenly, the hat stood up straighter and began its song:
In times of old, when I was new,
And Hogwarts barely started,
The founders of our noble school
Thought never to be parted.
United by a common goal,
They had the selfsame yearning
To make the world's best magic school
And pass along their learning.
"Together we will build and teach"
The four good friends decided.
And never did they dream that they
Might someday be divided.
For were there such friends anywhere
As Slytherin and Gryffindor?
Unless it was the second pair
Of Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw,
So how could it have gone so wrong?
How could such friendships fail?
Why, I was there, so I can tell
The whole sad, sorry tale.
Said Slytherin, "We'll teach just those
Whose ancestry's purest."
Said Ravenclaw, "We'll teach those whose
Intelligence is surest."
Said Gryffindor, "We'll teach all those
With brave deeds to their name."
Said Hufflepuff, "I'll teach the lot
And treat them just the same."
These differences caused little strife
When first they came to light.
For each of the four founders had
A house in which they might
Take only those they wanted, so,
For instance, Slytherin
Took only pure-blood wizards
Of great cunning just like him.
And only those of sharpest mind
Were taught by Ravenclaw
While the bravest and the boldest
Went to daring Gryffindor.
Good Hufflepuff, she took the rest
and taught them all she knew,
Thus, the houses and their founders
Maintained friendships firm and true.
So Hogwarts worked in harmony
for several happy years,
but then discord crept among us
feeding on our faults and fears.
The Houses that, like pillars four
had once held up our school
now turned upon each other and
divided, sought to rule.
And for a while it seemed the school
must meet an early end.
what with dueling and with fighting
and the clash of friend on friend.
And at last there came a morning
when old Slytherin departed
and though the fighting then died out
he left us quite downhearted.
And never since the founders four
were whittled down to three
have the Houses been united
as they once were meant to be.
And now the Sorting Hat is here
and you all know the score:
I sort you into Houses
because that is what I'm for.
But this year I'll go further,
listen closely to my song:
though condemned I am to split you
still I worry that it's wrong,
Though I must fulfill my duty
and must quarter every year
still I wonder whether sorting
may not bring the end I fear.
Oh, know the perils, read the signs,
the warning history shows,
for our Hogwarts is in danger
from external, deadly foes
And we must unite inside her
or we'll crumble from within
I have told you, I have warned you...
let the Sorting now begin.
The students cheered but quieted down quickly so the sorting could begin. Thankfully the process went quickly for Jade was starving, something her growling, rumbling stomach could attest to. Dumbledore clapped his hands once and the food, endless amounts of it appeared on the table. The students dug in ravenously. Jade, Elliot, and Ziva did not care in the least about how much they ate. They were hungry, therefore, they were going to eat. Jade and Seamus started stealing food off each other's plates while Neville and Elliot started discussing herbology. Jade noticed Ziva was very quiet, active in listening to the conversations but noticeably not giving her opinion, something very unlike her. Jade decided she'd ask her friend about it later.
When the feast was done, with everyone groaning in pain from eating more than they could handle, Dumbledore stood up to make his speech. Midway through, after announcing there would be a temporary replacement for Hagrid (Professor Grubby Plank) and a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, a woman who had a very toad-like appearance, all dressed in a nauseating pink color, made a little "hem-hem" as she stood up, making it apparent that she wanted to make a speech. Dumbledore allowed her to. Jade hardly listened but she could already tell that this new teacher and she were not going to get along. How lovely…
Ziva seemed interested but disgusted; it was amusing to Jade to watch her friend's expression change depending on what the toad said.
Once that speech was over, Dumbledore finished his and then dismissed all the students. Ziva, Elliot, and Jade headed up to the Gryffindor Common Room. Jade tried to get next to Ziva but she was conversing with Hermione, probably about the toad's (Jade found out the toad's name was Dolores Umbridge) speech. The crowdedness of everyone trying to get to their respective dorms began to make Jade become panicked. Slowly her hair turned a dark grey and it got lighter and lighter. She felt someone take her hand. Looking over, she realized it was Seamus. He grinned sheepishly at her but didn't let go. Looking at her hair, Jade realized he had just completely calmed her down because her hair was back to dark blue. She faced forward, blushing. Elliot, who was beside her, nudged her with a goofy grin on her face. Jade stuck her tongue out her friend.
The group reached the Common Room and took residence around one of the chairs which Seamus sat down in. Jade and Ziva sat on the arms of the chair while Neville, Elliot, and Jade (who had been behind Seamus the entire way up apparently) stood in front of them. The conversation had only been in progress for a few moments when the whole dorm fell silent. The girls looked over towards the entrance to see why.
Harry Potter had entered. Now Jade knew why. After last year, the Daily Prophet had been slamming him and Dumbledore for being liars among other things.
"Hey, Ziva. Jade, Elliot. Have a nice summer?" he queried, obviously trying to break the tension in the room. The girls had never had anything against Harry. Jade, personally and secretly, believed Potter was right but with all the doubt going around, she wasn't in the mood to argue with people. She was almost positive Ziva believed him too. Elliot might've had doubts but she would support Harry. He'd protected her from Slytherins in her first year. The jerks had thought it'd be fun to torment a Gryffindor first year but Harry put an end to it. Even the Slytherins had been afraid of him and his Parseltongue ability. Elliot, although she'd been scared of him too, decided he was okay. That just because he might be setting the monster on the people in the school, he'd saved her so therefore, he must not want her petrified (or worse). Of course, Jade had blasted her for it but Ziva voiced her opinion that Harry wasn't setting the monster loose. She thought it was someone else. Well, she turned out to be right but thankfully, she didn't rub it in Jade's face. Ziva wasn't like that.
"Very good. And you?" Ziva asked amiably.
"Not bad," he replied. Jade and Elliot then gave similar answers to Ziva's.
"Dean, Seamus, good holiday?" Harry asked.
"All right, better than Seamus's anyway," Dean answered somewhat gravely. Harry turned to Seamus who stood up out of the chair.
"Me mum didn't want me to come back this year," Seamus informed, looking angry.
Harry seemed to be at a loss for why. "Why not?"
"Oh, let me see," Seamus remarked sarcastically, "because of you! The Daily Prophet's been saying a lot of things about you, Dumbledore as well."
"And your mum believes them?" Harry demanded, irked.
"Well, no one was there the night Cedric died."
"Oh well I guess you should read the Prophet then like your stupid mother. It'll tell you everything you need to know."
"Don't you dare talk about my mother like that!" Seamus spat.
"I'll have a go at anyone who calls me a liar!" Harry retorted.
"What's going on?" Ron's voice piped up, coming to stand next to Harry. Jade wasn't sure where he'd been but obviously not in the room since if he had been, he would definitely know what's going on.
"Do you believe the rubbish he says about You-Know-Who?" Seamus inquired.
"I do. Anyone else with a problem with Harry?" Ron looked around the room, as if challenging everyone to piss him or Harry off with more accusations. No one moved, nothing was said. The two boys went up to the dormitory. The rest of the kids continued the conversation while Seamus sat back down.
"That little git," he muttered. "Thinks everyone has to believe him. Where's the bloody proof that You-Know-Who is back?"
"How else would you explain Cedric?" Ziva questioned. Her question wasn't snappy, just forcing Seamus to think otherwise.
"Maybe by some killer animal in the maze but it's so much easier to blame it on You-Know-Who for him."
"I honestly don't believe Harry would lie about something as serious as Voldemort coming back. What purpose would that serve?" she countered. Jade cringed at the dark lord's name. Her friend was one of very few people unafraid to say his name. "I'm going to turn in for the night. I'll see you guys tomorrow."
Jade watched her best friend go up the stairs to the girls' dormitory. She and Elliot shared a look, before excusing themselves from the conversation and chasing Ziva. They found her unpacking her trunk, laying things out on her bed.
"What's going on with you? You're very…" Elliot trailed off, trying to think of the right word.
"Short-tempered? Quiet? All of the above possibly?" Jade offered.
"All of the above," Ellie decided. "What's up?"
"Nothing, I'm just exhausted and Seamus was angering me. I know it's an absurd thought that Voldemort might actually be back but what's the point in lying about him being back? There is no point, at least no rational one I can think of."
Jade understood but she wasn't going to say anything about what she believed to either Seamus or Ziva. If she told Seamus, he'd get mad at her for believing the 'rubbish.' If she told Ziva, she'd rub it in Seamus's face that even Jade believed Voldemort was back. Either way, Seamus would find out and he'd be pissed at her.
Ziva went to the bathroom, leaving Jade and Elliot alone. The two girls, deciding to take a shower in the morning, put on their pajamas and got into bed. They were asleep within minutes.
There you guys go! Hope you liked the chapter! Please review :)