Chapter 3
Professor Snape led Trinity out of the Great Hall and along a corridor, up two or three flights of stairs and then finally came to a stop infront of a golden statue of an eagle. Snape drew his wand and muttered something, a red flash emitted from the tip of his wand before the statue began to rotate and move upwards - creating stairs with each turn it made.
Snape went first, climbing the stairs with ease, his black cloak billowing out behind him. Trinity followed timidly, twiddling her thumbs nervously as she stood outside a big oak door Snape had just knocked on.
"Come in, Trinity." A hushed voice said. The tone used was calm and pleasant, but Trinity knew that his mood could change within seconds, she had better watch what she did and said. "How are you my dear?" Voldermort asked, floating up from his seat and putting his arms awkwardly around the eighteen year olds shoulders'. "I heard you'd been in the infirmary today?"
Trinity nodded, keeping her eyes on the floor. "Professor Trelawny thinks I'm a seer."
"Like your mother," he smiled faintly. "My little sister...I am afraid, Trinity...that I have to ask you this question." The raven haired girl cleared her throat and shifted from one foot to the other. "Why did that hat sort you in Gryffindor?" He turned around, putting his back to the frightened girl. "I believed my brother-in-law was a Slytherin. How could I not have known he was a Gryffindor?"
"I...I don't know Uncle." Trinity whispered.
Voldermort turned around again and tilted his head to the side. "It's unfortunate." Using the tip of his wand, the Dark Lord tilted her face upwards. A green glow appeared and Trinity looked down to see her tie transform into silver and green colours, and the emblem on her cloak changed from a lion into a snake. "You would've made an impressive Slytherin."
A few seconds went by until the spell wore off and - once again - Trinity was wearing Gryffindor colours. He looked disappointed, "but that doesn't matter this year. What matters is 'Purebred'. Have you had your first lesson yet?" He asked, getting up to stand beside the window, looking out at the Black Lake.
He turned around to look at his niece, who shook her head in response.
Voldermort smiled slightly and put his hands behind his back, "is there anything you wish to ask me, before you go off to your next lesson?"
Trinity cleared her throat, not quite sure how to start. "Yes?" The Dark Lord placed a hand on her shoulder in encouragement.
"Am I allowed to join the Quidditch team?" She asked, warily.
Voldermort walked back over to his desk and sat in Dumbledore's old chair, Nagini was on Faux's old perch to the right of the desk, along with the many rows of bookshelves. "On the condition that you're only a reserve." He stated, simply. "Just because you're my niece, doesn't mean I favour Gryffindor all of a sudden."
Trinity nodded and turned around, ready to leave and make her way to the Gryffindor common room. "Trinity." Voldermort called just before she closed the door behind her on the way out. "I chose your mate for you myself. I believe he is...most suited for you. And I like him," he added before his niece left the room. "His family are Deatheaters, and run an important buisness for the ministry."
Trinity inclined her head towards her Uncle before leaving his study, closing the door behind her.
Trinity walked down a few corridors before finally realising that she was lost. She carried on walking, but when she didn't recognise where she was at all, she stopped where she was and frowned, perhaps she should just wait for someone to come along? "Excuse me?" She asked and old wizard in the protrait. "Do you know the way to the Gryffindor common room?"
"Sorry, but I've never moved from this spot on the wall." The smart looking gentleman stated snobily, his lady just stuck her nose in the air and fanned her face.
"Are you alright, Miss Riddle?" Trinity didn't think she'd ever be so happy to see a ghost in all her life. Especially Nearly Headless Nick.
The raven haired girl frowned, "I think I'm lost." She kept her eyes on the floor and rubbed the back of her neck nervously.
"Would you like me to show you the way back to your dormitory?" He asked with a kind smile on his transparent grey face.
Trinity smiled shyly, "that's very kind of you Sir Nicholas, thank you."
They walked through a couple of corridors, talking about the Hogwarts ghosts and how they died. Nearly Headless Nick died due to casting a teeth-straightening spell on Lady Grieve, which went horribly wrong. She was most displeased and as punishment, Sir Nicholas was sentanced to death. "I can't go through walls," Trinity stated in slight amusement as Nick decided to take a short cut.
"Oh," Sir Nicholas poked his head out of the wall again. "That would make sense." He chuckled, "it's not much furthur."
"Trinity!" She heard George call from down the hallway.
Trinity made her way towards the stairs and leant over the railings to peer over the side. "Thank you for your help, Sir Nicholas, but I shall be alright from here."
"It's my pleasure, my dear." He smiled. "If you get lost again, just call for me!" He chuckled before disappearing through a wall.
"Where've you been? Ginny, Ron an I have been looking everywhere for you!"
"I got lost." She replied.
"What did Snape want?" George asked as the two of them walked down the stairs and into the flow of Students heading from the Great Hall to their Dorms.
"My Uncle wanted to see me." She replied, looking at the floor.
"He wasn't angry at you for being placed in Gryffindor was he?" George asked, glancing at her with concern filled eyes.
Trinity shook her head. "Not really," she replied, "more dissappointed than anything. I asked him if I could try out for the Quidditch team, and he said I could be a reserve."
George nodded, "I suppose he's all for Slytherin." Trinity nodded, and as they reached the Gryffindor common room and went through the portrait, Ginny pulled the raven haired Gryffindor into a hug.
"Where've you been?" She asked, pulling her over to the couch where Ron was sitting.
"To see my Uncle." Trinity replied, telling them what she had just told George.
"Anyone coming to the library?" Ron asked, getting to his feet. "Trinity? We've got to do a Transfiguration essay for McGonagal."
The raven haired girl picked up her bag and walked with Ron through the corridors' and to the library. "I'll need your help though." He said, "I'm not good with this stuff."
"Can't Weasleby write?" The familiar sneer of Draco Malfoy pierced through the silent corridor. Ron groaned and resumed walking, pushing open the door to the library and holding it open for Trinity. They grabbed a table infront of the stained glass window of moving blue butterflies and took their seats.
Malfoy pulled out the chair beside Trinity and turned it round, resting his arms across the back as he faced Ron. Crabbe and Goyle sat on the other two chairs. Trinity looked down at the table as Malfoy and Ron began arguing.
"Just shove off, Malfoy." Ron crossed his arms over his chest, the first sign that he was losing his patience.
"What do you think Crabbe? Goyle? Shall we leave Weasleby alone with his girlfriend so they can snog in peace?" Trinity glanced up at Ron before fully turning to the platinum blonde beside her.
"Perhaps you should. We can get a lot more done without you three disturbing us."
Malfoy laughed synically, Crabbe and Goyle joined in. "Why him? I can guarantee I can do better." He smirked, "how about a taste?"
An evil glint flickered in her green eyes, "sorry." She looked him up and down. "But you're really not my type." Crabbe and Goyle snorted, but quietened down once Malfoy shot them a deadly look. The Slytherins glared at the girl and Trinity wished she hadn't opened her mouth. Draco rose to his feet. "Come on Crabbe, Goyle, let's go and find Kim, surely she's found Gryffindors worth our time."
As Malfoy left, Trinity looked back down at the table before setting out a piece of parchment, her quill and some ink before starting on the essay. She glanced at Ron to see him doing, well, nothing. "Your essay isn't going to write itself." She whispered, "copy mine but, change the wording a little." When he still didn't make any attempt to start writing, Trinity glanced up at him to see him staring at her, his mouth agape. "What?" She asked, flickering her gaze between him and the table.
"Nothing." Ron replied, dipping his quill into his ink and starting to write. "You sure know how to deal with Slytherins."
Trinity smiled timidly, "that's because Slytherin runs in my blood. I guess I just know how to ruin their fun."
Ron began copying her essay, changing the wording a little (mostly to sound less gramatical and more like Ron) "So tell me," he began, pausing to re-read the first parragraph of his work. "Did your Uncle say anything about your mate?"
Trinity cleared her throat, "he said something about Deatheaters and that his family are important buisnessmen or something like that."
Ron raised his eyebrows, "at least you won't go hungry."
Trinity chuckled silently. "What about you? Anything on the mystery lady?"
Ron laughed, "no, but if I hear one more word from Pansy Parkinson about how she and Malfoy are going to be such a happy couple I will throw up into the next potion we make."
"Who's Pansy Parkinson?"
"Malfoy's beneficial friend." He winked.
Trinity frowned, not quite catching the innuendo. "What's that?"
Ron cleared his throat and leant towards her, "well, they weren't exactly boyfriend and girlfriend - which Pansy liked to think so - basically, Malfoy slept with her. Apart from that, he tries to avoid her as much as possible."
"So he only used her for sex?"
Ron nodded, "still does. She practically fawns over him and he takes no interest in her what-so-ever. She tries to catch his attention by wearing short skirts and stuff, but he ignores her. Anytime he wants it though, she's the first in line."
Trinity blinked, amused by this information. "So, is he strictly hers?"
Ron burst out laughing, earning himself a glare from Madam Pince, the librarian. "She'd like to think so, I can't believe I'm about to say this, but Malfoy is the 'Slytherin Sex God'-" He fake gagged "-If you're going to have a title, why can't it be 'King'?"
"I hope he's not my mate." Trinity pulled out her Transfiguration textbook and flipped through a couple of pages. "I'd rather it be Crabbe or Goyle."
"I'd prefer Malfoy." Ginny grimaced, taking a seat beside Ron. "My mate is either Dean or Neville."
"Lovely Ginny." George turned Malfoy's chair around and sat down. "Your ex-boyfriend or your Yule Ball date. At least you've spoken to them, Trinity hasn't been to this school before."
"Who has Purebred tomorrow?" Ginny asked, pulling out her timetable.
Trinity sighed, "second period after Divination. Then Potions."
"I think you're in exactly the same classes as I am." Ron frowned. They placed their timetables beside each other on the tables and found out that, indeed, they did have the same timetable.
"At least you're not going to get lost again." George snickered.
"I have it fourth." Ginny stated, putting her timetable away.
"And I have it tomorrow." George stated, "after the Quidditch tryouts third period. I hope you all attend-" he pointed at each of them "-even if you rush over at the beginning of break and get all sweaty. I don't care - but you'd better be there."
As the Transfiguration essay was completed and Trinity caught up on Ron's Divination and Potion notes, the four of them made their way towards the Great Hall for dinner.
"Actually, I think I'll head back to the common room." Trinity stated, slowing her pace to head upstairs (at least she knew the way to one place). "I'm not hungry...I'll see you there?" She asked.
"Sure!" They agreed.
Trinity climbed the stairs, keeping her eyes on the floor. She felt someone roughly grab her upper arm and pull her into an alcove of the wall. She managed to catch a blurred glimpse of Draco as he spun her around, but then she settled her eyes on the stone floor.
"No one makes a fool of me like that!" He snapped, shaking her roughly. Trinity remained silent, not knowing what had come over her to snap at him back in the library. 'The sorting hat said I had courage,' she thought. 'Perhaps it was right.'
"Are you even listening to me Riddle?" Draco shook her again.
"What?" Trinity replied, quietly.
"You don't understand a thing about being a Gryffindor do you?"
"Well obviously not if I'm supposed to be in Slytherin." She whispered.
"But you're not." She knew Draco wore a smirk. "Which means it's my job to insult you and your Weasley boyfriend."
"In order for you to insult me, Malfoy. I would first have to value your opinion." Trinity stated, keeping her eyes on the floor as she pulled herself away from Draco and walked out of the alove.
Expecting a snide comment and not recieving one, she turned around only to catch him plainly checking her out. She managed to hide the blush creeping across her face.
Draco smirked and walked towards her. Trinity walked backwards until she met the wall and Draco rested his left hand beside the girls head and placed his right hand under her chin, forcing her to look at him.
Steel grey eyes locked with Slytherin green ones for a split second and - thinking he was about to kiss her to prove he was better than Ron - Trinity turned away from him and stuck her eyes to the floor again.
"Oh, Drakey!" A high pitched, girlish, sing-song voice broke through the silence.
"Parkinson!" Malfoy whispered harshly. He grabbed hold of Trinity's forearm and pulled her behind one of the giant statues, pushing her against the cold stone roughly as a means of 'stay here and shut up' before he peered out from behind the giant lion, looking out for Pansy.
Trinity sighed. "Just say what you want and then leave me alone." She said.
Malfoy made sure Pansy was gone, before turning back to Trinity and smirking. "You better watch your back, Riddle." He threatened, subtly scanning his eyes down her body before heading down the corridor. Trinity appeared from her hiding place behind the statue and entered the Gryffindor common room.
None of the Weasley's had come back from the Great Hall yet, so Trinity sat herself down at the desk facing the stained glass window of a red and gold lion prancing in green fields. She pulled out her Potions textbook and began to read.
After five minutes, boredom began to settle in, Trinity began to read about Dark Arts, which was rather interesting. It had a lot of spells and enchantments and - combined with Charms, Trinity knew this was going to be one of her best subjects.
Another strange feeling suddenly came over her, and the same set of images began flashing across her mind. Her, Hagrid, Fang, Draco and his two cronies - Crabbe and Goyle - were walking through the Forbidden Forest, the lantern and two wands as their only light sources.
"Hagrid." She whispered. "This is ridiculous...you're just going to leave us here? What if we get eaten?"
Hagrid chuckled, "you won't get eaten. Fang's not so much of a coward anymore - he'll protect you. Hopefully."
Trinity was pulled out of her reverie as Ginny slammed her textbook down on the desk beside her. The raven haired girls' hands immediately flew to her eyes, holding them closed as the stinging sensation returned.
"Are you alright?" Ginny asked, kneeling down infront of Trinity.
"Again?" Ron asked, noticing the spaced out look and tightly closed eyes. "Shall we go to Madam Pomfrey?" Trinity nodded and got to her feet, wobbling slightly.
"Shall we come aswell?" Ginny asked.
"It's alright," Ron replied. "We won't be long."
They reached the infirmary and met Madam Pomfrey just as she was locking the door to the ward. Trinity was led to a bed and Poppy went into her office to find sleeping draught.
"When you get back to the common room," The nurse stated, handing Ron a vial of clear liquid. "Give her this. Professor Trelawny uses it herself when she sees something. Professor Snape made it, so if you need anymore, come to me and I'll ask him to brew you some."
"Thank you, Miss." Trinity stated, accepting Ron's hand to help her up from the bed and help her downstairs.
"What're you two doing out of your dorms?" A Deatheater demanded, with a croaky voice.
"We've just come out of the infirmary." Ron replied nervously. "We're on our way back to the common room now."
"Too right you are!" The Deather grabbed them both by their collars and apparated them right outside the Gryffindor portrait of the fat lady. "Now get in there and go to bed, or else I'll report you to the Dark Lord!"
Ron whimpered and nodded, quickly opening the portrait and pulling Trinity inside with him. "That was scary." Ron stated, once they were out of earshot. "He just came out of nowhere and verbally attacked us!"
Trinity nodded in agreement before taking a seat on the sofa and opening the lid of the vial. She sniffed it and coughed violently before holding her nose and pouring the contents of the glass tube into her mouth.
"What does it taste like?" Ron asked, dreading the answer. "Snape made it, so I'm assuming it's horrible."
"Actually..." Trinity began, pausing. "No, you're right, it is disgusting." Once Trinity could see again, her and Ron went up the stairs - heading for bed, and Trinity fell into a dreamless sleep.
Thanks to everyone who has 'alerted' this story, I hope you're enjoying it :) Please drop me a review and let me know what you think of the story so far :) xx