Majo Kon-ki The Marriage of Tanya the Witch
(The marriage chronicles of a witch)
Arc 2 - Chamber of Secrets – part 3
September, AD1992, the Hogwarts express.
"Yawn! I think I am going to sleep all the way." Tanya thought, making herself comfortable in the seat of the compartment.
Finally her time at the burrow was over! And even though she was going to miss the extra servings Mrs Weasley made her eat, it was a relief to not be around that family of wackos. They may not be nutcrackers like the Lovegoods, but were crazy enough.
Tanya smiled but then sighed.
As a matter of fact, the Weasley couple were hard to be around as they raised some disturbing thoughts in her.
In Arthur Weasley's case, Tanya had to admit to being envious of him. He had her dream job as a bureaucrat and was in a position to create his own laws with loopholes for future exploits! Even loving the job in human resources, the salaryman himself would give it up any time if it means creating his own convenient rules. And yet, the man had no ambition! As far as she knew, the only time he used such an advantage was when he made that old automobile fly! So much potential wasted!
Meanwhile, if the husband was someone Tanya almost wished to be, his wife was a person the girl dreaded to turn into someday. Every single day since Tanya first opened her eyes in the empire, she was painfully aware of her status as female. But the Weasley matriarch constantly trying to 'betroth' her into the family, reminded her that she may be a little girl now, but very soon, she would grow into a WOMAN.
A shiver ran down her spine as the implications dawned on her.
"I don't know what is scarier,turning into anunemployed housewife or having children!"
Both fates were equally disturbing, and yet, what brought her the most discomfort about Molly Weasley, was, well… the delicious smell of her coffee.
Coffee… How she missed a nice cup of coffee! And Molly's had such a pleasant aroma, the distinctive, typically delicious smell, a tantalizing aroma of fresh-
"No, no, no! What am I thinking? I don't drink coffee anymore! After all, no one would ever make coffee like HER." Tanya closed her eyes, brushing aside such thoughts to let her drowsiness take her to dream land…
'Wahhh! Major, did you really like my coffee that much?! I am so happy!' … hoping against hope that she would not see that girl there-
"TANYA!" The door of the compartment was slammed open followed by a shout of Hermione.
"Gahhh! W-what?!"
"The boys! I can't find Harry and Ron! I don't think they boarded the train!"
Tanya had thought it strange for Harry to not be pestering her like always.
"Really? That is…" Tanya showed a serious face…
"… THE BEST NEWS I HAD ALL DAY!" … but inside she was all smiles!
"… bad. But don't worry, they will find a way."
"T-Tanya?!"
"If Harry lost the Hogwarts express, he will only be able to go tomorrow by other means. This night is going to be pleasantly peaceful without that troublemaker worrying me!"
"Hermione, I am going to sleep all the way. Please, wake me up when we arrive-"
"TANYA! I found you!"
"I-I know that voice!"
Tanya let out a wry smile seeing Luna Lovegood enter the compartment.
"O-oh! Hi Luna- Gehhhh!"
The girl threw herself at Tanya, a big embrace just like she gave when welcoming to her house.
"It's sooooo good to see you again!"
"By my part, I wished to never see any member of your family ever again!"
"Ah! Say, you are not upset by me calling you a man, right? I don't know what was wrong with the Spectrespecs, but Mum told me I should never say something so rude to a cute and feminine girl like you."
"Who are you calling feminine?!"
"And this girl is…?" Hermione had an intrigued look seeing her friend so close to another girl.
"Hello! I am Luna!"
"Hi. I am Hermione Granger."
Tanya gave a quick explanation of how she came to meet the Lovegood girl.
"So, your mother was the one Tanya saved the life with the improvised defibrillators!"
The two girls then started to talk merrily, seemingly having a lot in common. Luna could handle a surprisingly intelligent conversation, until she spoke about the Crumple-Horned Snorkack.
"… and dad asked me to find out if the Snorkack is still around Hogwarts."
"He must send her to watch me, thinking that I know where it is."
"How weird, I never read about this creature in any of my books."
"Err, Luna! Did you get a wand?" Tanya asked, not wishing to hear more of that stupid fantasy.
"I got one of pearl and unicorn hair, eleven and a half inches, pleasantly springy." Luna showed her wand.
"Mum took me to Ollivander's only two days ago, we left this to the last minute because he had to close for a few days to rebuild his store."
Tanya looked away embarrassed while Hermione gave her a small glare.
"W-what?"
"Oh, No! It's nothing…"
"Crap! She is still angry."
On the day Tanya visited Ollivander's, the incident with the hit wizards got exposed and she had to act fast to make sure none of the presents would divulge what they learned.
Tanya may have overreacted a bit, but the ministry made very clear they never wanted that incident to go public. Who knows what they could do to her? And even professor Snape could suffer consequences.
This was, also, an excellent opportunity to press an interrogation against Ollivander, to verify if he wasn't really some sort of new 'apostle' of Being X. He turned out apparently 'clean', at least, she didn't sense on him the same vibes she got from Schugel or Mary Sue.
"I wonder, could that devil be after me again? He promised to not interfere anymore, claiming I was a lost cause."
"Don't be like this, I already explained why I had to do that."
"Please, have more confidence in me. I would never betray you! Do you know how hard it was to clean my clothes and my hair from those stick webs?"
"Sorry, but when I trapped Ron, I thought you could try to run before hearing what I had to say."
"Poor Ron. He was so terrified, and with a good reason!"
"Don't remind me! You don't know how long it took to make him finally accept I wasn't an acromantula." Seriously, she thought the arachnophobic boy would never talk with her without stuttering ever again.
"And you didn't do anything to Harry."
"W-well…"
Tanya wouldn't waste all the work she had with Harry last year. Instead, she chose to turn him into her accomplice. It wasn't so hard after she told him how serious this matter was, and in the end, he was the one who convinced his friends to not reveal anything.
"T-that was because… y-you know-"
"Because he is special, someone you can trust, right?" Hermione said giggling and blushing.
"Hum?"
"What was that? Could she be falling for him like I wished? This would be wonderful! Hermione is more down to earth andmore than ever I need help to keep him out of trouble!"
"Yes, you are absolutely right! Harry is a wonderful boy! Just don't tell him I said anything okay?"
"Don't worry. This secret too will be safe with me."
"'Too'? I don't remember having that many secrets."
"What about Ollivander's, Ron's gnomes and Harry's uncle? Not to say how you got that red wand! You should be more careful or people will think that you are too prone to violence!"
"I am not violent! It's just that I can't stand those who can't see reason, like Vernon Dursley, those creatures and Ron!"
However, it was undeniably her bad mood this summer. But who wouldn't be grumpy after everything that happened?
She lost the perfect chance of getting rid of Voldemort last term;
Realized that Dumbledore either knows about Harry's destiny or is trying to kill the boy;
Xenophilius Lovegood, whom she believe could give some good clues, proved to be useless and a nutcase;
Had to spend an entire month living together with the Weasley family;
Her past transgression was almost exposed;
And finally, the most alarming part: the fact that her two wands have coincidentally the aliases she had in her last life! Meaning the possible return of a certain fake god in her life.
"What are you girls talking about? Do you know what happened to the wand store?"
Tanya and Hermione grimaced at Luna's question. That day, when she finally had them all swear to keep secret, the main support, already damaged by her accidental blasts, couldn't handle the burden of four people and collapsed with the entire store. The Weasleys and the Grangers were not amused with the sorry state of their children.
It ended up being worth all the trouble. The children were harassed into silence and Ollivander agreed to never say anything so long as she never steps into his shop ever again.
"What did Mr Ollivander tell you?" Tanya had to make sure he was keeping quiet, or she would need to pay another visit.
"He said something weird. That a dangerous and wild creature rampaged in his shop."
"T-that little son of a-"
Hermione began to laugh.
"Well, Tanya, you kind of deserved that!"
"Hum? You two know something about the creature?"
"Yes! You can bet we do!" Hermione winked at Tanya.
"You don't think it was the Crumple-Horned Snorkack, do you?"
Hermione laughed harder.
"Who knows?! Maybe!"
"Please! Don't say such things, she will believe it!"
"Oh! You think it's now in Diagon Alley?"
"Well, if it was this Crumple-Horned creature, then it is going to Hogwarts now!"
"Afff, I am not going to let this take away my good mood."
"I am going to sleep a little if you two don't mind."
"But what about the boys?" Hermione asked again.
Tanya couldn't deny that a small part of her was concerned, especially with the sort of 'talent' Harry Potter had.
"Nah! He will spend another night safe in the burrow, well cared and protected by the Weasleys."
"The school will arrange for them to arrive early tomorrow. Now, if you don't mind- Huh?"
Tanya saw Luna settling on her right side.
"Luna, what are you doing?"
"I am also a little tired. Mind if I sleep with you?"
"I kind of do-"
"This is not fair! We have known each other far longer, and you won't let me even brush your hair anymore!" Hermione pouted.
"But I-"
"You know, there is still an available side."
"Listen I don't-"
"Great idea!" Hermione beamed at Luna's suggestion, also accommodating herself on Tanya's left.
"Wahhhh! Your hair looks messy, but is actually so soft! And has such a nice scent!" She felt Luna smelling her.
"H-hey!"
"You kind of remember a doll Mr Weasley gave to me on one of my birthdays."
"Ah! Was that doll…"
The two found out that they had the exact same doll. Mr Weasley being a fan of muggles, gave to Luna, one just like Hermione's mother had given to her.
Before long, they were silently snoring while hugging Tanya.
"I can't sleep like this! I am not a hugging pillow!"
It was a few hours when they finally began to awake.
"Yawn! Are we there yet?"
"I believe we will arrive shortly, now CAN YOU TWO LET GO OF ME?!"
The three girls changed into their school robes, noticing it was almost time to arrive at the station.
"Look! I can see the castle from here!" Luna said, looking by the window, very eager since it was her first time seeing Hogwarts.
"To think that the Crumple-Horned Snorkack- Huh? What is that?" Luna pointed outside the window.
"What?"
"That!"
"Hum?" It took a few seconds for Tanya to see a small metallic object just above the Hogwarts express.
Tanya began to tremble as the form of the object was starting to look more and more familiar the further she looked at it.
"Please, tell me that it's not what I think it is!"
The object moved towards the Hogwarts castle and the girls now had a clear view.
"What are you two looking at? Huh? Isn't that a vehicle? And it is flying?!" Hermione just confirmed her worst fear.
Tanya sighed.
"It seems like I underestimated Harry Potter AGAIN! Fuck! All I wanted was just a few hours of peace!"
"How did it end up like this?!"
"WHAT IS GOING ON?!" Harry screamed while a mad tree whacked the car.
Somehow, after they drove Mr Weasley's ford anglia to Hogwarts, out of nowhere, a tree attacked them?!
"Is this what Dobby meant?" Harry had no time to give too much thought as the tree hammered from above and both sides. It was impossible to escape!
"I can't restart the car!" Ron panicked.
Harry saw, even with the cracks in the windscreen, the tree raised one of its branches as high as it could and very fast swung it down. If they were hit, the car would not be able to protect their lives!
"A-am I going to die here? No! Please, someone… T-Tanya-"
The instant Harry thought her name, the branch going down exploded in pieces.
Harry didn't need to wonder how this happened seeing Tanya Degurechaff land on top of the wrecked car.
The tree stopped its action seemingly to wonder what had happened, but then resumed the attack with two branches at once. This time, the little girl fired two Reductor Curses, blowing another branch and damaging the other enough to render it useless. Harry realized she was using both her wands, the red one in her right hand and the white one in her left.
The boy thought the fight was over but the tree started to try to use the branch it had in its backside and it was bending, meaning to attack them with its whole trunk. Tanya noticed this and pointed both her wands to the tree main body. A big explosion was all Harry could see and then, in the place of the attacking tree, only a stump was left, pieces of wood raining on them.
Now that it was safe, Harry and Ron left the demolished Ford Anglia.
"Harry!" The boy saw Tanya flying straight to him with worry all over her face.
"Are you okay? Do you have any wounds?"
"No, I am perfectly fine- GAH!"
Suddenly, Harry felt an impact in his face and he fell hard on the ground. It took a moment for his brain to register that the girl had punched him.
"YOU IDIOT! WHY ARE YOU ALWAYS TRYING TO GET YOURSELF KILLED?!"
"B-believe me… It's not on purpose…"
"Why do this in the first place? Wanted to arrive in style?!"
"The idea did occur, but no. The gateway on platform nine and three-quarters closed and we couldn't get in."
Tanya frowned.
"All you had to do was contact the school and they would have sent someone to pick you up."
"They would?"
"Yeah!"
At once, Harry felt very stupid.
"Hey, can you two give me a hand here?"
They saw Ron coming in their direction, pulling both trunks and the cages holding Hedwig and Scabers.
"What about you Ron? Are you hurt?"
"Me? No. But look what happened to dad's car!"
Harry saw that the car was definitively falling apart.
"Humph! Don't fret, magic is very convenient. Your father will fix it in no time. Now, if it was a muggle car- Ah!" Tanya gasped.
"Were you two seen?"
"We activated the invisibility booster…"
Tanya let out a breath of relief-
"… but it broke."
"What? You mean someone could have seen that thing flying?!"
"I dunno- Hey, someone is coming this way." Ron was the first to notice.
Harry turned, and saw someone quickly approaching. It was SNAPE!
"Blimey! He is going to have us expelled!"
"No, he won't. We only need to get rid of the main evidence first. Ron, did you take everything out of the car?"
"Yes, what are you-"
Tanya again took her red wand and shot a powerful Reductor Curse, blasting the Ford Anglia into thousands of tiny pieces.
Ron seemed to be in shock as his expression was frozen in place for a few seconds.
"WAAAAAHHHH! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!"
"I destroyed the evidence. Now, it won't matter if someone saw you, without proof you can't be expelled."
"What about the car?! Dad will be furious, he is gonna kill me!"
"Believe me, he will have other concerns. He may even be glad it was destroyed. Oh, and as soon as you can, send an owl asking him to get rid of all documents connecting him to that car."
"But-"
"Shush, Ron! Snape is getting closer!"
"… these boys have flouted the decree for the restriction of underage wizardry and in trying to protect them, miss Degurechaff was forced to destroy a valuable and rare tree!" Professor Snape made his case.
Fortunately, it was evident since the beginning that the headmaster and their head of house had no intention of expelling anyone.
Tanya secretly agreed with professor Snape. She believed they deserved to be harshly punished. Rules were meant to be obeyed, especially in a place full of kids armed with highly destructive powers. If the young wizards and witches don't properly learn the consequences of their acts now, they could become motivated to turn into new dark lords in the future.
After a long discussion/sermon, it was decided that they would not be expelled today and professor McGonagall would decide later their punishment.
Now, this made Tanya nervous. Last time the transfiguration teacher gave detention to Harry, he was sent to the forbidden forest and almost got caught by Voldemort!
The professor then reassured her that this time they would be given detention inside the castle, the THREE of them.
"Huh?! Why am I being punished?!"
"Didn't you hear professor Snape? You destroyed a very valuable tree in our grounds."
"But, it was bewitched, it tried to kill Harry and Ron!"
"Miss Degurechaff, that was a Whomping Willow. It attacks anyone and anything that comes within range of its branches." Professor Dumbledore explained.
"You are saying that it was doing exactly what it was supposed to do? Why was it there in the first place?"
"Because the staff planted it about twenty years ago."
"Let me get this straight. This school's staff planted a very violent and dangerous tree here DELIBERATELY?!"
The three teachers nodded their heads.
"… and you want to put me in detention for the 'crime' of protecting my fellow classmates?"
"Looking that way…"
"My sincere apologies professor McGonagall, but miss Degurechaff is right. Her intention was to defend those foolish boys. It was their own blame for being there for starters, she should not be punished for saving their sorry lives."
"I will concur this time. But Mr Potter and Mr Weasley will still have a harsh detention!"
"And I hope they learn with a deserving severe punishment. Forget their pathetic lives, if they ever place miss Degurechaff in danger again, I will personally make sure they wish they were expelled today!" The professor was obviously looking only at Harry as he made this warning/threat.
Then professor Dumbledore exited the room, taking professor Snape while saying something about wanting to sample a delicious-looking custard tart.
At the mention of food, Tanya and the boys were reminded that they didn't eat anything. Professor McGonagall seemed to realize this and summoned a plate with sandwiches for them.
"Eat and go straight to your dormitory."
There was no need to ask, the three children basically jumped at the food.
"Err, professor. I have a question."
"Hum? Yes, Mr Weasley?"
"Last year, when Snape lost us the cup. Why didn't you say anything?"
"First Mr Weasley, it's 'professor' Snape. And second, I must say that I felt compelled to object to his attitude. The other teachers agreed with me that he shouldn't take points at the last minute, something that is an exclusivity of the headmaster."
"Then-"
"However, we also agreed that Severus was right. You all got into that confusion only because you refused to listen to what I said. Yes, Quirrell was able to pass most of our protections, nonetheless I always had faith that professor Dumbledore's defense would withstand."
"S-sorry it was because of me that he almost got the stone." Harry said very apologetically.
"Indeed, it was! And it nearly cost you your life and of miss Degurechaff! In the future, please understand that your well-being is our top priority!"
"But we should've won!"
The professor looked sharp at Ron.
"Tell me Mr Weasley. How many points would Gryffindor have lost if you, let's say… smuggled a dragon in school grounds?"
Both Harry and Ron choked at the professor's question.
"W-why do you ask?"
"Oh! No reason at all. It's just that after Mr Malfoy's accusation, I remembered your brother, Charles, worked in a reserve. I contacted another acquaintance of mine from there. Imagine my surprise when he said your brother had just recently acquired a new baby dragon."
Both boys were silent. They looked so guilty that they basically confirmed her suspicion.
"Idiots!" Tanya facepalmed.
"Professor, I will keep an eye on them. But I am worried, we had the dark lord with us an entire year, and a dangerous tree in our backyard! What more should I expect to happen this year?"
"Last year's events were that accursed stone fault. I really don't know why we had to hide it in the first place."
"Why don't you ask professor Dumbledore?"
"And I must confess that I am kind of relieved about the destruction of that tree. Mr Lupin won't be needing it anymore and, you are right, it was a potential risk to the students and the local fauna."
"Now you agree with me? You were about to put me in detention just a minute ago!"
"Provided that the students obey the rules, we should be blessed with peaceful days from now on."
"That's all I ever want but…"
The professor could see that the little girl was still unconvinced.
"Very well, miss Degurechaff. I'll promise you this: you won't find anything harmful or life threatening in school this year."
"… the cry of the Mandrake is fatal to anyone who hears it." Professor Sprout merrily declared.
"WHAT THE?! The promise lasted what…? A few hours?! It is the second lethal plant I see and it is only my firstday here!"
Lamentably, these mandrakes were not the worst to happen that day.
First, she woke up in the morning to find that Luna Lovegood had managed to sneak into her bed sometime during the night.
"She was upset for us to not be in the same house but even if she became a Gryffindor, she would sleep in another dormitory and in her own bed!"
Then as they had breakfast in the great hall (with Luna too close for her comfort) Ron got a 'howler'- No. It could be said that Ron, Ginny and Tanya got a howler.
Initially, Tanya shared Harry's lack of knowledge but when Ron opened the red envelope, she understood why it had such a name.
Tanya had to concede, she underestimated the Weasley matriarch. The woman could scream even louder than when they first met. Ron was basically censured for stealing his father's car, putting his life and Harry's in danger and learned that his actions would put Mr Weasley in an inquiry at work. Next, it turned to Ginny and said how glad it was, knowing the girl was sorted in Gryffindor. Then it unexpectedly turned its attention to Tanya.
'Oh! Tanya dear, I am very thankful to you for getting rid of 'that'. We also threw away any paper related to 'it'. Your quick thinking may have saved us. I now understand, a sweet and bright girl like you would never work with a dimwit like my Ron and I don't think Fred and George are worthy of you either. It's a shame that Percy already has a girlfriend…'
"Finally some good news!"
'… thus I am sending your picture to my two oldest sons, I am sure they will love you!'
"Wait… WHAT?!"
She left this last message and the letter burst into flames.
"Hold on! Come back! I never agreed to any of that!"
Her mood would improve a little during transfiguration class.
Tanya was finally able to properly participate in a lesson without blowing anything up! The 'white silver' somehow balanced her magic, making it possible for even a war-oriented mage like her to cast simpler and non-harmful spells.
"I never thought it would feel so good to turn beetles into bottoms!"
But during the fight with the Whomping Willow, the 'devil of Rhine' had a higher performance at casting reductor curses. Given Ollivander's explanation, Tanya guessed that it was better, if not exclusive, in casting curses and destructive spells. It would come in handy in combat situations while the white silver wand could be used in her day-to-day affairs.
"I have two wands, kind of like before when I had two computation jewels."
She could not help worrying again with the possible meaning behind these coincidences.
"But this doesn't look like the work of that piece of shit. No, those people are notthe religious sort,I would havenoticed by nowa 'pious' Wizard or witch. And even the nuns at the orphanage are surprisingly tolerant with an atheist like myself. Also, as much as these wands are powerful, they don't come close to themiraculous level of theelenium type 95. And Being X is too full of himself to not boast his harassment against me!"
Then a new thought came to her.
"Could it all be Peverell helping me somehow?"
Ignotus Peverell wasn't as resourceful as Being X, one of his limitations was that they could only communicate with each other once every seven years. These 'coincidences' could be his way of letting her know that he was discretely assisting her!
She felt a heavy load leave her. It was just a theory without confirmation, but a valid one.
But her new found good mood didn't last as the worst part of the day was about to come.
"D-Degurechaff! P-please be my g-girlfriend!"
Tanya knew that sooner or later this was bound to happen.
"And yet, I hoped this day would never arrive!" Justin Finch-Fletchley, a Hufflepuff boy of the same year as her, dropped this bombshell.
Tanya hoped Harry would help her, but he was busy taking a picture with another boy?!
She noticed Draco Malfoy sneering at the two boys' interaction and expected for him to make a scene and give her an opportunity to escape. But when the Slytherin saw her, he just flinched away.
"It seems I am alone on this! Now, what should I say? When was the last time I was confessed to in school? Let's see… Oh! It was in my last year of high school, one day before my graduation this cute first year girl came to me."
'Sempai! I-I love you!'
"And of course I said 'no'. After all, I would be starting college and had no time to waste with dating!" The girl couldn't help feeling down remembering that event.
"I had a lovely and adorable girl professing her love to me and now I have a twelve year old BOY asking me out!"
Tanya felt a headache forming and the boy was still waiting for her answer. Actually, everyone around was waiting to hear what she would say.
"What were the exact words I said to that girl?"
"Err, listen, you are pretty cute- I mean, a handsome boy and I am flattered-"
"NO!" This shout came from Harry Potter.
"Tanya is not going out with you!"
"Nice saving Harry! You finally did something useful for a chance."
"Tanya belongs with me and I am not giving her to you or anyone else!"
It was the first time that Tanya saw Harry speaking with so much conviction.
"This wasn't a declaration of love, right?"
Justin, by his part, looked insulted that Harry was meddling where it was none of his business.
"H-hey! Only because you are a little famous, it doesn't give you any right to-"
"STAY AWAY FROM HER OR ELSE…!"
"H-Harry?!" Tanya was dumbfounded with the unusual threatening tone on the boy's voice. Not too far, Ron and Hermione were as astonished as her with such a display.
Justin seemed like he had spent his entire share of bravery as he simply turned and left very quickly. No one dared to say anything after Harry's outburst…
"Err, I will develop this for you to sign!" … until Colin Creevey broke the silence.
This also made Harry decide to act, he grabbed Tanya by her arm and pulled her away.
It was kind of similar to when they arrived in the burrow and Mrs Weasley thought that she and Ron were an item.
"Harry, where are you taking me?"
No answer, his face had a very serious expression.
"Harry?"
He was still silently pulling her.
Finally, Harry stopped and Tanya saw him looking to both sides, apparently making sure no one was around.
"Why have you brought me here?" Tanya realized that they were in a very deserted part of the school.
"W-why are we here?! Could that really have been a confession and now he is going to say that I am his girlfriend?!"
"Tanya…" Harry let go of her arm, but now was looking directly into her eyes.
"Y-yes?"
"That boy, Justin, do you like him?!"
"Huh? Of course I don't!"
"And Ron?"
"What about him?"
"Do you like Ron?"
"WHAT?! Definitively not! Where did this even come from?"
"And d-do you want to s-snog boys?"
"I am going to hit you!"
His expression softened. As a matter of fact, it seemed like he was about to cry.
"S-sorry! But if you start spending time with another boy, when will we be together?!"
"…"
"I want us to always be together! I don't want to lose you to anyone! You are everything I have- no, all I ever had!"
"I see."
"This is FABULOUS! 'My little brother doesn't want me to date'. Harry will scare away any boy interested in me! I could not ask for a better 'watch dog'!"
"You don't need to worry. You are the only boy I want to always be close to me." She 'beamed' at him.
"I am so happy you feel the same!" Tanya let out her most 'tender' smile.
"Eh?"
Harry seemed surprised by her words and just then, the bell rang, signaling the start of afternoon classes.
"Ah! Let's go!" In her hurry to get in time to class, she never noticed the blush in his face.
"I thought Longbottom would join us?" Lavender Brown asked.
It was the second day of school and just like last year, Tanya offered to help the new students with their adjustment. She was pleased since she managed to invite all this year's newcomers, even the Slytherins, together with a few of her classmates.
"No. He was feeling under the weather."
"'Feeling under the weather', was he…?" Hermione sounded a little angry.
"Okay! That's it! I am never helping anyone with pest control ever again! Lockhart asked to get rid of them, so I just did!"
The motive that Neville Longbottom didn't join their study group was because he was afraid of Tanya. It happened the day before in their first defense against the dark arts lesson of the year. Tanya had already realized the big clown that Lockhart is, but wasn't fully prepared for the fiasco about to befall.
"He was technically right, people won't be laughing now when they hear that Cornish pixies are dangerous."
The professor proved his incompetence in dealing with the creatures, and with only Tanya, Harry, Ron, Hermione and Neville remaining in the classroom, the buffoon left the job of dealing with the pixies to them. Just like the Weasley's garden, Tanya had to 'DEAL' with the infesting plague, and the final result: A word of thanks? No! Ron was shocked guessing this was how she killed his gnomes, Hermione was disproving her 'barbaric methods' and Neville was scared to death!
"Well,at least Harry agreed with me. And speaking of Harry…!"
Tanya tried to set up a new study regime for him, since defense against the dark arts is going to be wasted again this year. But he gave a lame excuse, saying that Wood would be very demanding with quidditch practice and he had to rest as much as possible before that.
"So much for someone who supposedly wishes to be with me always! I am starting to think he is just lazy!"
"Is this how you do it?"
"Yes, that's exactly how you do it, Luna. Congratulations!"
Luna proved to be a fast learner, showing why she was placed in Ravenclaw. Tanya worried that her presence could be tiresome but so far she was diligent in her work. The same could not be said of Colin Creevey, Ginny Weasley and Justin Finch-Fletchley.
It was obvious that the young boy only came because he was expecting Harry to be there. Now, he had a bored and thoughtful look, probably trying to think of an excuse to leave.
The youngest Weasley was definitively acting weird. It seemed like she was in a world of her own just writing in what Tanya believed to be a journal. Sometimes, she would giggle, like the notebook actually told her a joke.
And there was Justin. A few times, he would look at Tanya's way and blush when their eyes met. Fortunately, she doubted he would be trying any confession any time soon as he appeared to be still afraid of Harry. And who could blame him? Harry looked like he was about to curse the boy.
Unnecessary to explain again that this group was set in order for Tanya to make acquaintances with people that could help her later in finding the deathly hallows.
"I really wish I could just ask directly if they saw or heard anything."
"Degurechaff, I couldn't help noticing. You have a new wand?" Daphne Greengrass made a remark.
"Hum? Yes, I got a new one."
"Did you snap your old wand?" This time, Seamus Finingan asked.
"No, I still have my old wand here with me. It's just-" Then a fantastic idea surfaced in her mind.
"It was recommended that I replace it. Even Mr Ollivander said it was a dangerous wand to use, kind of like a death stick of sorts."
"Huh? The deathstick? You mean it is the wand of destiny?!" One of the Carrow sisters spoke, looking very excited.
"Deathstick? Wand of destiny? What are those?" Hermione asked, curious.
"It is one of the deathly hallows…" Luna then told a shortened version of the tale of the three brothers, she even drew their symbol.
"YES! Finally a Lovegood is helping me in some way! Now I just need to keep the talk going!"
"I don't think that my wand is the deathstick or this 'deathly hallow' Luna mentioned. But I heard a few rumors about a powerful wand made of elder causing havoc. Have you guys ever heard anything?"
There was silence as some of the children were pondering. Tanya was thinking this would prove fruitless when one second-year seemed to remember something.
"I don't know about a wand, but that symbol… I saw it before." A Hupflepuff by the name of Ernie Macmillan said.
"Y-yes?" Tanya had to control her excitement from showing.
"My grandpa told me that it was-"
"Shouldn't we be studying? It's not nice to waste Tanya's precious time with chit-chat." Luna said, with an unusual serious tone in her voice.
"Oh! Okay, sorry." The boy apologized and went back to his book.
"WHAT?! A clue! I finally had a clue!"
Tanya looked at Luna. And the girl, as if mocking her, smiled!
"First the father is useless and now the daughter gets in my way? I will fucking kill- No. Calm down. You can still salvage this!"
"Oh! Look at the time. Let's have a small break."
Hermione looked funny at her.
"Hum? But it's been just an hour since-"
"We. Will. Take. A break. OKAY?!" Tanya gave Hermione a nasty look, to make sure her message was received.
"A-alright!"
"Ernie, you mentioned your grandfather?"
The boy was about to open his mouth when…
"Ahhhh! Let's not waste our break with such a monotonous story! My dad already talks about it all the time!" Luna interrupted, sounding bored.
"Want to hear something cooler? Have you guys ever heard of the Crumple-Horned Snorkack?"
"No! Not the Crumple-Horned Snorkack again! Please!"
Luna very enthusiastically began her tale…
"Aff! Let her talk as much as she wants and then I will ask Ernie Macmillan again."
It turned out that Luna had a LOT to talk about this fabled creature. By the time she was FINALLY over, it was so late that everyone had to leave.
"Hell! What is wrong with this family? Are they all crazy or just set into getting in my way?"
Realizing Tanya glaring at her, Luna gave a somewhat apologetic look.
"Tanya, sorry! I confess I used your study group to let people know of the Crumple-Horned Snorkack. And maybe later, help me find it."
"She even stole my idea?!"
"But I wasn't using you! Oh, no! Please! You are my best friend! I will always love you for saving my mum!" She said hugging the small girl.
"THIS… THIS… GIRL!" Tanya had the urge to strangle the younger girl to death. Only, unfortunately, Hermione was still close by.
"Bah! Tomorrow I will ask Ernie Macmillan again!"
Regrettably, Ernie Macmillan didn't show up on the next day. In truth, no one attended the study session except Hermione and Luna. And when asked, they would say that Tanya's new 'best friend' was just too much to handle. She still managed to ask the Hufflepuff boy about his grandfather, but his information proved to be trivial, the old man had only mentioned that Grindelwald used a necklace with the same symbol Luna drew. However, it would've been a start, maybe others could have brought up some rumors.
"It seems I am not free of 'pest' control duty yet!" Tanya thought, already considering a few ways to 'DEAL' with the Lovegood girl.
AN: Najex, hope that you liked the part where McGonagall explain a little what she thought of Snape interference last year. I did that part thinking about our discussion.
I don't know if it became clear, but Tanya not drinking coffee anymore is a way to pay respect to Visha memory and maybe something else…
I opted to destroy the ford anglya, since we never really discover how it became wild in the first place and it never appear again after the second book. I also don't need it in my story anymore. But the idea of a flying vehicle may be used again later on.
And Ron didn't break his wand, but he will trade in the next year, just like in the books.
About Justin confessing to Tanya. Originally, it was supposed to be Colin. But I changed it since Colin seems to only think about Harry, not to say that Justin is a very naive, impressed and influenced by others. After his defeat, Cedric would always talk about Tanya, clearly starting to have a crush on her. But since Tanya is still too young for him, he didn't try to court her yet.
Next chapter, a dangerous predator will start hunting in Hogwarts grounds…
Reviews:
First, I would like to thank everyone who takes a few moments to write a review to this story. It just reached one hundred reviews. Many thanks again.
setokayba2n: Tanya is not the daughter of Voldemort, she's also not the granddaughter of Grindelwald. In this story, her parents were just two regular kids who died before she was born. This doesn't mean that people can't reach the wrong conclusions…
RedOuroboros: Thank you.
Wedgegeck: Thank you. If you think that Tanya was intimidating, just wait to see what will happen this year.
Alexc123: Thank you. Lockhart will have a bigger role close to the end.
: Thank you, I really had fun portraying Ollivander like that.
Seros109: Thank you very much. It makes me really happy that someone likes my story that much.
Sandmanwake: Tanya still don't know how much Visha meant for her. But I plan to develop this later on. I also have something already planned to the acromantulas.
EricFreak: Thank you.
DeathAdder47117: Thank you. Just like Tanya the holy did to me, I wish that this fanfic will inspire more people to start writing. Hope you liked Tanya blasting the Whomping Willow, watch out as Tanya blows more creatures and important places of Hogwarts. About guns, probably I will use some later on.
Guests 1: I will continue, don't worry.
Guests 2: Thank you.
Guests 3: Thank you.
Guest 4: I am trying to upload a new chapter at least once every two weeks
josepantzay2: Thank you for your kind words.