Author: Gemma
Category: General, Supernatural
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Harry Potter is the property of J.K. Rowling. Characters and situations are used without permission,
no infringement is intended.
Summary: An 11-year-old girl by the name of Jaime Traspe accidentally discovers the old mirror of Rowena Ravenclaw, and brings her back in the form of a spirit. There's something fishy going on, and it's up to Jaime and her crew, Atalanta Mahalia and Jaques Flumogel to figure it out.
Author's Notes: Hello. Sorry this took so long to get out. I wasn't quite sure where to go from the last chapter, but it finally got written. I'd like to know how I'm doing, so use the box at the bottom to review. ::sighs wistfully:: This summer has just flown by—I can't believe that school will be starting in less than a month. Okay, so the answers to the name game (even though no one even guessed)! Remember that the meanings of the people's names (for the most part) have some significance on the story. Just keep that in mind.
- Necia means fiery and intense, and Raghnall (pronounced rag-noll) means wise and powerful.
- Übeleins is the two German words 'Übel' and 'Eins' put together, which mean Evil one.
Any words in other languages are in italics. To translate, use a translator- most of the words are in French, except for pagala, which I believe is Hindu for crazy and mere dost—which I think is Hindu for my friend, but I'm nuts, so who knows! Thoughts are also written in italics. You should be able to tell the difference... I hope.
Additional Disclaimer: JK Rowling is the goddess who created everything Harry Potter. Warner Bros. is the company that owns everything Harry Potter. I am the nothing that created the Traspes (Jaime, Zanir, Jacklyn, and Mark), Bonnie, Hinky, Atalanta Mahalia, Professor Necia Raghnall, Professor Thomas Harrison, and Jaques Flumogel. Any quotes are noted with the title of the film, TV show, or song and the year. Don't sue me now. Credit has been given where credit is due.
* * *
"Go 'way, mum. 'S too early to get up."
Atalanta, who had been awake for an hour, jumped on Jaime's bed and proceeded to whack her in the face with a pillow.
"Get! Up! Lazybones!"
Jaime sat up in bed with a murderous glint in her eyes. She looked around to see who had woken her up.
"Atalanta? What are you doing? It's approximately," she looked outside the window, "5 o' clock in the morning. Go back to sleep!" she slumped back into bed, and put the pillow over her head.
The other girl grabbed the pillow from her hands and hit her with it again, "Now!" she cried.
She sat back up, "FINE! I'm up! I'm up! Now get off my bed and let me get in my robe!"
Atalanta smirked, hopped off Jaime's bed, and skipped down the hall to the toilet, humming. Jaime glared at her with the same murderous glint, and sat on her bed for a moment, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. Twenty minutes later Atalanta came back in to find Jaime sitting up, and fast asleep.
"GET UP!" she roared in her ear.
"Whoa!" Jaime squeaked, and practically flew off the bed. She grabbed her school uniform and some toiletries and ran to the loo. Atalanta looked pleased with herself when she came back a half an hour later, dressed and very awake.
"Atalanta!"
"Uh-oh."
* * *
Jaime had chased her to an unknown end of the school by the time she finally caught up with Atalanta, a very fast runner. She tackled her, and started to put her through tickle torture when a voice rang out across the hall.
"Girls! That is inappropriate conduct for school grounds. What house are you in?" a greasy haired teacher sneered.
"Ravenclaw," Jaime said simply.
"I will not tolerate impudence from students! 20 points from Ravenclaw! Now get to breakfast!"
She tried to withhold laughing outright at the teacher, and started turning pink from holding it in. He thinks he's all high and mighty. What a jerk. Too bad he didn't tell us where the Great Hall was.
Jaime nudged Atalanta with her elbow and whispered, "Great Hall? We have no idea where it is."
Atalanta plastered a smile on her face, "Excuse me, professor. We got lost on the way to breakfast. Would you be so kind as to show us the way to the Great Hall?"
The professor looked as though he wouldn't be so kind, but grunted, "Fine."
The two girls kept a fair distance behind the man, as he seemed to be rather grumpy. He took them through a complex path of twists and turns, and Jaime felt fairly proud that she had managed to get them THAT lost. They entered the Great Hall doors, which was fairly empty. Jaime pulled out her pocket watch, and saw that it was only 6:45 in the morning.
"God, 'Lanta, couldn't you have let me sleep a LITTLE bit?"
"No."
The professor seemed to be waiting for something; he was standing tall, tapping his foot.
"Um..." Jaime started.
"Thank you Professor.... er-" Atalanta interrupted.
"Professor Snape, girl. Now go sit at your table," the man scowled at them again, and strode to the professor's table.
Jaime made a face at his back, and he turned around, "10 more points from Ravenclaw."
"Great," she mumbled.
"Not a grand affaire," came a voice from behind her.
"Good morning, Jaques. Sleep well?"
"Absolutely splendid. And I see that you've made your first acquaintance with the charming Professor Snape. And lost 10 points—"
"Twenty," Jaime interrupted.
"Ah, bravo. And how did you manage doing that at 6:45 o' clock in the morning?" he returned cheekily.
"Don't ask me. I'm just an impudent little girl."
Jaques rolled his eyes, "Don't listen to him. He's just a mean old codger. He takes points off every house except his own. He's the head of Slytherin house. Terribly biased."
"Lovely."
The three of them made their way to the practically empty Ravenclaw table. There were huge mounds of food everywhere, and the steam was visible in the chilly hall. Jaime drew her cloak around her shoulders as they sat down.
"Is it always this cold in here?" she asked Jaques.
"Hiver must be coming sooner than usual."
Atalanta shivered and sneezed, and her hat landed in a bowl of ketchup, "No kidding."
The three of them chatted about the classes and the teachers, and watched as the Hall filled with the late risers. When Ron, Hermione, and Harry entered, 2 small boys ambushed them, and were offering paper and quills. The three older students shared a glance, and Harry shook his head. The small ones drooped sadly, and slouched back to the Gryffindor table. Jaime caught Ron's eye, and he grinned and waved. They strode over to the Ravenclaw table.
"G'morning," Ron said through a yawn.
Hermione and Harry only smiled. All three of them had bags under their eyes and on their shoulders. Jaques eyed Harry with distaste, but Harry didn't seem to notice. He was too busy staring at Cho Chang at the other end of the Ravenclaw table. Ron followed his line of vision, and whacked him on the back of the head. He broke his gaze and turned red.
"Sorry," he mumbled.
Hermione rolled her eyes at him, "Oh, do come on. I, for one, would like to eat."
"I second that," Ron said enthusiastically.
They said their good-byes, and walked quickly over to the Gryffindor table.
Jaime looked at Jaques curiously, "Why don't you like Harry?"
He shook his head, "He's just... not my favorite person in the world. That's all." He practically attacked the poor prefect who was handing out schedules. The harassed boy gave them to him quickly, and scuttled away to hand out the rest of them. Jaques grinned at the two girls and handed them their new schedules. Jaime was shoving a half a cantaloupe in her mouth, and quickly spit it out on her plate before she grabbed hers.
She thought that the schedule was pretty good—the best part being that Flying was only once a week. She really was bad on a broomstick, and expected that the second she hopped on one of the school ones, she'd fall and break something.
Jaime and Atalanta finished breakfast at the same time, and went back to the Ravenclaw common room to pick up their book bags that had been deserted during their chase to the other end of the school. They followed another Ravenclaw who was heading back to the common from the Great Hall. They raced up the stairs to their dorm, and looked around for their bags. Jaime realized that she hadn't packed hers, and cursed as she checked her watch. It was twenty minutes until her first ever class at Hogwarts-History of Magic. They had that new teacher—Professor Harrison. She wanted to make a good impression. Atalanta whacked her with her already packed bag.
"Hurry it up. 15 minutes until History of Magic starts."
Jaime shoved her History of Magic book, a parchment notebook with "HISTORY OF MAGIC" on the cover, a black quill, and a bottle of black ink. She was about to follow Atalanta, who was walking out the door, when she thought that she was forgetting something.
What was it, what was it... oh, yeah!! The mirror.
Atalanta, finally too impatient to wait for her any longer, dragged her out of the room.
"Hey, 'Lanta, wait for me a sec! I need to get something."
"You've got your books, parchment, quill, and schedule. You don't need anything else. Now COME ON. It's 5 minutes until class starts, and we don't want to be late."
The two looked around for someone to tell them how to get to the History of Magic classroom. The clock was ticking, and they were both sure that they would be late.
"Where is the damn classroom?!" Jaime growled.
As if in answer to her question, a light appeared with an inaudible snap in front of them. It flew down the hallway slowly.
"I think it wants us to follow."
"What an excellent observation. Well, we might as well follow it."
The little light flew faster, and the girls ran after it. There was one minute until class started, when they heard voices from down the hallway. The light rubbed up against Jaime's cheek, and then disappeared.
"Well I'll be damned," Jaime commented to no one in particular.
They joined the group of Ravenclaws and Gryffindors, and waited for something to happen. When the bell rang for the class to begin, a door materialized in front of them, and opened.
"Well, don't just stand there! We have things to do!" said a friendly medium tenor voice.
The first years tumbled through the door, and found seats in the large room. The walls were covered in wizard posters of famous witches and wizards that looked like giant Choco-cards. There were also timelines of battles, wars, and basic history. Professor Harrison was standing in front of 2 huge chalkboards that were filled with brightly colored notes. In the upper left hand corner of the classroom was a Muggle television set, and next to the large chalkboards was a door that led, presumably, to Harrison's office. The class was fidgety, and looking around in trepidation at the unfamiliar surroundings.
"Oh, relax!" the professor laughed, "I'm not going to bite!"
Jaime and Atalanta chuckled, and smiled at him, which he returned whole-heartedly. This short man beamed at them all, and the tension in the classroom relaxed considerably.
"Now then," said Harrison, "We're starting at the beginning here. Can anyone tell me the precise date of the founding of Hogwarts?"
The rest of the lesson went by very quickly, and Jaime enjoyed it very much. History was her favorite subject, and she loved learning about the past. She couldn't answer many of the professor's questions, but took so many notes she figured that she'd go though a parchment notebook a week.
"All right, students. For your homework, due on Thursday, I'd like you to write an foot long essay on the founder of your house. That's it. You can go."
Just then the bell rang, and most of the students filed out. Atalanta and Jaime were the last stragglers, and were looking over Jaime's notes. The teacher approached them.
"Like the lesson today?" he inquired.
"Yes," Jaime replied, smiling. Atalanta nodded her agreement.
"Well, that's good. Good luck with the essay," and with that, Professor Harrison walked into his office and shut the door.
"Huh," Jaime commented eloquently.
"I second that," Atalanta agreed.
* * *
There was an hour break before lunch, and Jaime was eager to get a head start on her essay. But something had been nagging at the back of her brain, and when they went back up to the dorm, she ran to her trunk. After rummaging through the messy contents, she felt a bit panicked. She still couldn't find the mirror. She dug through the bedside table's drawer, and it wasn't in there either. Nor was it in any of her pockets, her 2 book bags, or inside her hat, but she did happen to find a nifty lip gloss in there. Finally, she just sat on her bed and closed her eyes.
Rowena! she called through her thoughts.
There was no answer.
Rowena!!!! she called more urgently.
There was no answer.
ROWENA RAVENCLAW! ANSWER ME, NOW!
Somewhere, very faint, her voice whispered, Jaime... be careful... danger! I'm safe. I'm dead, remember? I doubt you'll find me. Follow your instincts. Be careful...
Where are you?
No answer.
Rowena! Tell me where you are! I'll come find you.
No answer.
Goddamn it Rowena! Talk to me!
There was no answer, but Rowena's words echoed through her mind. She couldn't do anything. She had no idea where Rowena could be... she could be anywhere in the world. For Goddess's sake! I'm only eleven. How am I supposed to do anything?
"Jaime?!" Atalanta called, "What's wrong? Come on down! Lunch is starting in half an hour, and we still don't know how to get to the Great Hall."
Jaime's bottom lip was trembling, and her eyes were welling up with tears, though she didn't know why. Rowena had been her guardian of sorts, and maybe a protector. Atalanta, exasperated at waiting, stomped up the stairs, and saw Jaime staring dejectedly at the growing storm.
"Jaime, mere dost, what's wrong?"
"I'm fine, 'Lanta. Thanks. I'll meet you down there."
"I didn't ask how you were. What's wrong?"
"Nothing. Just a little... erm... homesick?"
"Fat chance. I know how much you hate Zanir. What's REALLY wrong?"
"I lost something important. That's all. Now let's go to lunch. I'm hungry."
Jaime walked out of the room briskly, and Atalanta stared at her back.
"Pagala, absolutely pagala."
* * *
Jaime picked at her lunch while Jaques and Atalanta had a hushed conversation.
"Quel est le problème avec elle? Je l'ai seulement connue pendant un jour, mais elle n'agit pas comme ceci."
"Elle dit qu'elle a perdu quelque chose. Peut-être il a appartenu à son grand-mère ou à quelque chose. Laissez lui soyez."
"Ok, ok. J'étais se demander juste. Elle regarde vraiment dérangée."
"Elle obtiendra au-dessus de lui. Je souhaite que j'aie su ce qu'elle avait perdu."
Jaime watched them carefully, and picked up a bit of it.
"Oh, get off it you two. I lost my mother's gold mirror, and she's going to be mad as hell when I go home for summer break."
Atalanta seemed to accept that explanation, but Jaques watched her motions, and realized that it was a lie. His grey eyes alit with recognition, but dropped it, for the moment, anyway.
Jaime was preoccupied with her thoughts, and didn't notice Jaques looking at her or the fact that she was about to spill a pitcher of pumpkin juice, but Atalanta did.
"Jaime! Be carefu—"
She didn't get a chance to finish because the pitcher tipped over anyway. The orange liquid went everywhere, and soaked the tablecloth. Jaime watched it for a moment, and then ran out of the hall, tears streaming down her cheeks. Atalanta stood up, but Jaques pushed her back down in her seat.
"Let me talk to her."
Atalanta nodded, and picked up her chicken sandwich. Jaques ran after Jaime, and caught up with her in an empty corridor.
"Jaime."
"Go away, Jaques."
"What's wrong with you?"
"Nothing."
"Don't lie."
"Go away."
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
"Jaime.
"Fine! All right, here's what happened-" she started.
"Stop."
"Wha-"
"My mother, she's a seer. She told me before I met you in Diagon Alley that I would meet a special girl. One with extraordinary powers. She said that the girl would have a mirror belonging to a long-dead powerful witch. I would need to help her find the mirror. That's you, isn't it," it was more of a statement rather than a question.
"Yeah, that would be me. No extraordinary powers here, but I had Rowena's mirror, and now I lost it!" she was on the verge of tears again. Jaques hugged her around the shoulders.
"It'll be all right. We'll figure it out sooner or later."
The bell rang. Jaime sniffed, and wiped her teary eyes.
"It's been a long time since I've burst out into hysterics like that."
Jaques smirked, "And I won't ever let you forget it."
Jaime rolled her eyes, but smiled at him, "Thanks."
"Not a problem. I'll see you later. Meet me in the library after dinner?"
"Okay."
"Jaime?"
"Yeah?"
"Don't bring Atalanta."
"Why?"
"Just... don't."
"Fine," Jaime stood up straight, blinking several times and breathing deeply. "See you later."
She walked off.
Jaques smiled to himself, and closed his eyes.
* * *
Jaime walked back to the Great Hall, where she found Atalanta sitting on the Ravenclaw table all by herself, holding an animated conversation with nothing.
"'Lanta? What are you doing?"
Her brown cheeks flushed, and her lips disappeared into a nervous line. "Erm, nothing. Just... talking."
"Right," Jaime decided not to pursue the subject as to the fact that they had to make their way to Defense Against the Dark Arts. "I suppose it would be too much to hope for that the little light would appear again."
Atalanta snapped her fingers, and the little light appeared again.
"Remind me to pick your brain after this day is over."
"Check."
* * *
The journey to the Defense Against The Dark Arts class was relatively uneventful, unless you count Jaime getting stuck in a staircase and running into three walls. Like History of Magic, there was a gathering of students around a door that wouldn't open. A short girl with a wild mane of dark, dark brown hair and fierce blue eyes was in the midst of kicking the door when it opened.
"Don't hurt yourself, child!" Professor Raghnall said. Her tone wasn't chiding, no, it was more along the lines of mildly amused.
The blue-eyed girl glared at the woman, made a hmmph-like sound, and sauntered into the room, chin held high. Jaime eyed the girl with distaste, and the professor smirked. The Slytherins and Ravenclaws filed into the room, careful not to mingle.
Jaime ended up sitting next to the mean-looking dark-haired girl completely on accident. She glared at her, and refocused her attention on the professor.
The woman stood in front of the class, all eyes focused on her. "Roll call!" she grinned gleefully.
"Josephine Armanski?"
The girl next to Jaime answered with a sullen, "Here."
"Richard Bobstein?"
A short, chubby boy with a huge amount of short hair squeaked, "Here!"
"Galinda Byrrieman."
A short girl with blue eyes and a turned up nose answered, "Present."
The professor called out more names with increasing confidence until she reached Atalanta.
"Atalanta---" she faltered, and her black eyebrows drew together, "Mahalia," her voice deepened several octaves.
Jaime's new-found friend pressed her lips into a thin line, and answered in a very restrained voice, "Here."
Professor Raghnall chewed on her lip for a moment, and then continued, all the way through James Wysen. Her cheerful demeanor had been wiped away, but she plastered on a smile that Jaime knew was fake. The rest of the class seemed to buy it, though.
"Welcome! I'm Professor Raghnall, although I'd be honored if you would call me Necia. I worked at the Ministry until last summer as an Unspeakable. I'm not allowed to disclose any other information, but I do have plenty of experience with defense against the dark arts. I'm sure you've heard rumors from the other students about this position being cursed- not so. I can almost promise you that I will be here next year. All right, enough of that. You've been starting at the beginning everywhere else, so now's a good time to continue that. Does anyone know of the wizard named Übeleins?"
Jaime and a few others raised their hands. "Miss..." Necia looked at the seating chart that was hovering near her, "Traspe."
"Übeleins was a dark wizard near the time of the Hogwarts founders. I think that he was the wizard who killed Rowena Ravenclaw."
"Excellent. Five points to Ravenclaw. Anyone else?"
A boy raised his hand, "Mr. Übelein?" her lips creased into a slight frown.
"He was Salazar Slytherin's brother."
"That is true, too. Five points to Slytherin. There is a sad, and depressing tale about the brothers, and how they ended up so estranged. Anyone interested?" No one said or did anything, "That's right... nod... say okay! Sure! No way!" The room nodded, almost in unison. "Okay, good enough."
* * *
Eek! I'm pretty bad! I told you all I would cover the first day of classes, but it's a woman's prerogative to change her mind. Feedback is MUCH appreciated.
Hall of Famers:
Miss Buggie (I'm SO glad you like it!! Thank you for your extravagant praise. Especially coming from such a wonderful writer!! Thanks!), Bunny Girle (Thank you so much for your glowing reviews! I know exactly how you feel- being such a clutz myself, I feel that clutzy people deserve more recognition!! *grin*), Blue Mage, wills604 (Thank you!!), IorekSilvertongue (Awaken sleeping beauty!! The next installment is here!), Fraggle Rocker (Thankies 'Lexers!), and Princess of the Ruby Throne (Aww, Hazel. I'm glad I'm worthy of your granny's vomit. And yes I know my poetry sucks. Thank Kat for having some poetical prowess! *grin* Not that you don't have it—your poetry is awesome! Thank you!).
Next Chapter: The story of Salazar Slytherin and Übeleins, some mysteries unraveled, Jaime's meeting with Jaques, and a BIG revelation of sorts. Heh heh. Evil ff.n better not shut down on us again!!
Keep Writing,
~*Gemma*~