The Savior Chronicles: Changing Colors

Chapter 13: Conversing and Searching

"It finally happened!! What I've been waiting for these past couple years!!"

"What 'appened Harry?" Hagrid asked a little anxious. He hadn't spoken with Harry much all year. In fact besides during class, Hagrid and Harry had spent no time together. So when Harry owled him asking to meet up, Hagrid was more then willing. He had felt pretty guilty about ignoring him. He knew Harry had tried to visit him, but he had always had company. Lina, er...Professor Croft. They had been spending much of their free time together. Hagrid knew everyone was surprised by this, but no one was more shocked than Hagrid himself. Professor Croft was young and beautiful. She was intelligent and interesting. She was the perfect woman. He didn't understand why someone like that would want to be with him. He knew that he was no underwear model and he wasn't overly practiced in anything except magical creatures. But for some reason she seemed to find him charming and often seeked him out just to talk. He didn't get it, but welcomed it nonetheless. "Tell me what 'appened Harry?"

"Cho asked me out!" he squeaked excitedly. "Well, not really. She asked me to help her with her flying. But she asked me! And that means quality alone time together!" Harry was beaming from delight. Hagrid had to chuckle at the dark haired boy's childish excitement. Hagrid loved to see Harry so happy. Harry had a difficult life and there wasn't any time for him to be a kid. Harry barely ever looked so free of worries. Whenever Hagrid saw him there was always a dark shadow in his eyes, a part of the past that hung on to him. Her knew that at any given moment thoughts of Voldmort or his parents lingered in Harry's brain, even if he shoved it far to the back and tried to ignore it.

"Well that's wonderful Harry! I never doubted that she had a liking for yeh! What girl wouldn't? Yeh the best kid in the whole school!" Hagrid smiled as Harry blushed and shook his head in denial. Another thing Hagrid liked about Harry. He was modest and humble. He was a terrific guy, but wasn't cocky about it. Exact opposite of that Draco Malfoy character. He was in one of Hagrid's classes and was always making trouble. In Hagrid's experiance, that kid was an exact replica of his father, Lucius, at his age. Hagrid had met Lucius Malfoy when he was living on the grounds, thanks to the kindness of Dumbledore. Lucius had been a terror. He was the undeniable leader of Slytherin House and meddled with Dark Arts in his free time. He flirted with every girl in his house and fought with James and Sirius for sport. He was sarcastic and sardonic and as cruel as he was intelligent. And that described Draco Malfoy to a tee.

"I'm a little nervous about it though. I mean she makes me act all funky. What if I act like a complete prat?" Harry's voice became worried as he took a seat in the oversized chair that was hardly big enough for Hagrid. He was looking at Hagrid earnestly. It was a trusting look. Even though the two friends had drifted Hagrid was immensely happy that Harry was still able to talk to him comfortably.

"Harry, no worries! Be yeh self and she'll love yeh!" Harry curled his lips into an appreciative smile and Hagrid knew that discussion was closed. He had no idea what to say next. Thankfully, Harry had something else on his mind. Hagrid watched as the Boy Who Lived scratched his head as if unsure of how to approach the topic. His untidy black locks hung in his face and he swipped at them unconsiously. His round glasses hung low on his nose and he pushed them up in the same haphazard manner.

"Hagrid there's something else I wanted to talk to you about...."

"Yeh can talk to me about anything Harry." Harry looked up and threw him a weak smile. He looked sick about whatever was bothering him. Hagrid wasn't sure what this was about. Was it about You Know Who? Harry's parents? The thing that attacked Seamus? Or maybe it was about Professor Croft. That would make Harry a little uneasy. Finally Harry took a deep breath and spoke.

"Hagrid, it's about Jenna." Hagrid raised his eyes with surprise and intrigue. He had not expected that. But he just nodded for Harry to continue. "Well, see I just don't know what to think about her. Everyone seems to believe that she's just some awful human being that was mistakenly sorted into Gryffindor instead of Slytherin and will someday be the wife of Voldemort." Hagrid winced at the name. "Sorry, You Know Who. But if that was true why would the teachers be so easy on her? Why do they all spend so much time on her? And why was Dumbledore so insistant on me being friends with her? I mean if she was that bad Dumbledore would keep her far away so she can't be all bad."

"Harry, I can't help yeh here. She does seem wound a little tight and can be cruel. In fact sometimes she reminds me of Malfoy." Harry nodded. "But yer right. I trust Dumbledore wouldn't allow 'er at 'Ogwarts if she was dangerous." Harry threw his hands up in frustration and pulled himself out of the chair. He walked over to the table where Hagrid sat and turned to him.

"But sometimes when I look at her, I don't know. Its like I see a normal girl pleading for help, drowning in herself. And other times..." Harry's voice dropped to low decibal levels causing Hagrid to lean in. "Other times I think they all might be right. That she is just another soldier in the evil army." Hagrid heard the defeat and disappointment in his voice.

"Oh cheer up 'Arry. Everyone is probly just overreacting. She seems like a normal girl to me. Maybe she's just not comfortable here. I mean this isn't 'er home. " This answer obviously did not satisfy Harry in the slightest as he just stared at Hagrid out of the corner of his eye in a skeptical manner. "Look if it's bothering yeh that much, then talk to 'er. Try to find out what's the matter. Maybe all she needs is a friend."

"I've tried numerous times to talk to her and all she ever does is yell or insult or hit!"

"Try again. Were there other people around when yeh tried talking to the girl" One look at Harry said the answer was yes. "Well, there yeh go! Get 'er alone. She probly gets embarressed around others." Hagrid looked at him hopefully. Harry, who had his arms across his chest, peered out the window pensively.

"Maybe." Harry finally turned back to Hagrid and dropped his arms to his sides. Then the makings of a playful smile appeared on his face. "So...how's Professor Croft doing lately?"

* * *

The sun had risen on another day. Early morning moisture was floating through the air. It clung to the glass of the window like condensation on a soda can and dripped down just as slowly. Burning red rays of light threatened to break through the cracks of the small window at the top of the room. It couldn't even be called a window. It was more like a large mail slot. A few shreads of light spewed through and fell upon Draco's milky skin. It did not matter. He was already awake and rushing to slam his curtain shut. Sunlight was just too cheery for him and it was just too early.

The rays that tried to wake him had no point. He had to be up at the crack of dawn anyway. His father expected nothing less. A Malfoy is never lazy. Draco thought that was rich coming from a guy who made others file his nails. Not that Draco minded. He loved being waited on hand and foot. And he loved being rich. But he did not love his father. Nor was there any real emotion that Lucius gave his son that wasn't negative. The most he ever got was a weak version of approval and that was very rare.

Now that Draco was back in comfortable darkness, with only the pale glow of a few candlesticks, he proceeded to rub his eyes and stretch out the sleepiness. It only took his a moment to snap himself into his alert and composed mode. He stood up and went to check his reflection in the antique mirror that hung above his desk. His usually perfectly coiffed hair was rumpled over his head. Fine, silver hairs itched his skin as they hung across his cheek. Draco frowned at his appearance and picked up his wand. He pointed it at his head and muttered a spell. In an instant his sleep ruffled hair was percisely slicked back to his normal 'do. Then he pulled some clothes out of his wardrobe and dressed. He wore black trousers held up by a belt whose buckle was the silver and green Malfoy family emblem. An expensive button up black shirt topped off the outfit and with that Draco left his dungeon...er...room.

Malfoy mansion was a rather large building. Not quite as big as Hogwarts, but sizeable. The halls were painted a drab forest green with blood red carpeting. Covering the walls were portraits of the Malfoy families throughtout the year, most the same striking blonde and all unpleasant looking. Draco never did like the pictures. It was like having his father watching and judging his at every second. Draco couldn't stand the glare of his father so he usually tried to ignore it.

Draco left the halls and entered the dining area where his father and mother, Narcissa, were already waiting. "You're late," his father spit with slight annoyance.

"I apologize father." Draco took his seat. The table was rectangular and long. It could easily fit 15 people. It was covered with green place seatings and real silver dishes. In the center was a silver candlabra with 3 burning black candles. His mother and father sat at opposite ends. His father was busy reading some papers, from work most likely. His mother sat quietly and waited for breakfast to be served.

Moments later several house elves came scampering out with dishes full of food. Once their breakfast was placed in front of them, the Malfoy family ate in silence. Draco preferred it this way. At least his father wasn't yelling at him. Draco was done before either of his parents. Not wanting to sit around and watch them eat, he asked to be excused.

"What is so important that you need to get to it at this moment?" his father questioned, his voice hard and suspecting.

"I have work to do father. For school." Lucius raised his eyebrow. He glared at his son. Draco, not wanting to appear suspicious, stared back.

"How are you doing in school, Draco? Keeping your grades up? Are you doing better than Potter?"

Draco scoffed in amusement, then seeing his father's fierce eye he stiffened up. "Of course father. Besides it is not a hard task to do better in school than Potter. He may be the school hero, but when it comes to brains, well, he's in the shallow end of the pool."

"Well you better well be. We cannot have you messing up in academics the way you did at Quidditch." At this Draco had to fight to keep the look of contempt off his face. "You may go, boy." Draco turned and walked out of the room, thankful to be out of his father's firing range.

It was the last day of vacation and Draco was ready to go back to school. He had enough of his father's abuse. But he didn't want to go back without what he had come home to find. He still had his sights on paying Jenna back for all the crap she had pulled on him. But he was having trouble in finding the information he needed. So he was heading back to the library wing to continue his search. All he needed was little dirt on her. Something vile and degrading. Something horrible and embarressing. Something personal and hurtful.

Upon entering the library, Draco crossed the room to the large mahogany desk in the corner. He pulled out the parchment in which he had been keeping records of what he had found and what books and sources he had checked. So far he had come up with a lot of nothing. After charting as much as a family tree on her as he could he read over every book containing accounts of dark wizards and witches that his father owned. Not single member of her family that he knew of was found in any of the texts. Then he checked the records of magical blunders and insanity accounts. Still nothing. Either her family were saints or were incredibly clever at hiding things. Draco proceeded to review a few volumes to make sure he had not over looked their names. Seeing that he hadn't, he let out frustrated noise and slammed the book down. Usually he was not the type to lash out in violence. He like to keep up the calm and unwavering persona. He found that it annoyed people more. But this time he couldn't help it. There was nothing about Jenna that he could use that would hurt her the way he wanted to hurt her, hurt her the way she hurt him.

I'm convinced that you hate (that you hate)

You hate me, You'd like (you'd like)

Like to see me cry (see me cry)

It's already a proven fact

that you hate and you wait

on me to die.

It's so scary

I find it hard to confine

I will make you see it may way

You give, I take

You say you want to be away from me.

I'm convinced that you fucked me (fucked me)

Real good, You did (you did)

But now I not jsut gonna let it go

I got my reasons and I'm not leaving

Soon I'll wait on you to lie.

You Bring me

Now I have my reasons and I won't let this go

Take me down

I got my reason and I want to know.

Then a thought suddenly came to him. What if Jenna was a Mudblood? He had never bothered to ask. He just figured with that kind of power she must have been born from strong wizarding blood. Now with the lack of clues in his magical texts, it seemed to Draco that his favorite makeout partner was as dirty and defiled as Granger. Draco felt a little waver in his stomach. He covered his mouth trying not to retch up his breakfast. But as quickly as the feeling came, it disappeared. Oddly, he found that this news didn't bother him as much as it should have. He was reasoning with himself that surely there was a powerful blood line in her somewhere. Maybe just her parents were Muggles. But he did not dwell on these thoughts. He had a new route of clues to follow.

Know that his father kept records and files on everything, Draco deduced that somewhere in the library there was information on Muggles. He headed over to the reference guide, a floating screen that dispels names and locations of items in the library, which was much like the one at Hogwarts only better. Draco recited Jenna's name and immediately the screen indicated a file on her. Draco memorized the section it was in and made his way over there. Surely enough, Draco came upon several large boxes full of records of every student at Hogwarts. He located Jenna's easily enough and pulled it out. Whipping it open, Draco scanned the pages. Most of it was bland and dull. He had been right; she was born from Muggle parents. Draco was surprised to find that she had an older brother. With her mightier-than-thou attitude he had always suspected that she was an only child. Her mother pretty much raised them on her own. She was an assistant manager at a store and made a weak salary. Well that's pathetic, but not pathetic enough. When Draco got to the part about her father a wicked and satisfied smirk covered his face. Bingo.

* * *

Harry had owled Ron and Hermione almost immediately after talking with Hagrid. In his notes he told them all about his argument with Jenna, retrieving the book, and his talk with Hagrid. He also told them he hadn't read the book yet. Something he knew they wouldn't like to hear. But he didn't tell them why he hadn't read it. Harry didn't think Ron would take to well to hearing that he felt guilty about upsetting Jenna. Harry could hear him now. "Are you bloody crazy? You feel bad about yelling at her when that's all she's ever done to you since th moment she arrived? Or did you forget the time she pegged you with a Bludger during a game and then proceed to beat the blood out of you? Cause really I thought the whole thing was just her way of telling you she wants to romp in the bloody daisies with you!!" And maybe Ron would be right. Maybe it was useless to waste any guilt on her. Maybe she would never change. But maybe, just maybe, she would. And that was enough for Harry.

So he was planning to take Hagrid's advice and take another shot at talking to her. Hagrd's notion made sense when he thought about it. Maybe crowds make Jenna self conscious. And she had seemed more amiable on Christmas morning when it was just the two of them. She even called him Harry.

Harry hoped that she was in Gryffindor tower at present. He wanted to talk to her right away and if she wasn't there he had no idea where to look for her. He didn't know her at all. He didn't know if she went to the library to study or had a special place on the grounds where she went to think. He didn't know if she was good in school or barely scrapped by. He didn't know if she preferred Transfiguration or Charms. He didn't even know her favorite color. All he knew was that she was an American girl whose grandmother bound her powers and listened to music and had a complicated ....er...thing with Malfoy. And Harry was surprised that he wanted to know her.

After passing through the portrait of the Fat Lady, Harry let his eyes wander the common room. It was dead quiet. Chairs were unmoved and the fire was out as it was day time. The Christmas tree was lit up in the corner of the room creating a luminescent glow on the walls. Harry's eyes immediately found the ornament Jenna made him on the tree; he had used a repairing spell to fix it. Harry did not see a single stirring of life in the room, but did not leave. Something compelled him to stay. And moments later the portrait swung open and in walked Jenna.

She had her head down and her golden brown hair hung in front of her face like a curtain. Her Muggle clothes were worn and baggy .Her arms were tightly wound around a stack of books. Harry felt lingering curiosity that wondered what those books possessed, but quickly pushed the thought away. He was here to apologize not start more trouble.

Jenna didn't see him at first so Harry spoke up. "Uh Jenna can I talk with you?" Her head shot up in shock. Either she hadn't expected someone to be in the room or she didn't think Harry would have the nerve to talk to her after the other day. Harry watched as she just stared at him, her mouth a fine line. Then her eyes began to dart around the room. There was a wildness to them, almost animalistic. "It's kinda important."

She then ducked her head again and answered. "Now is not a good time. I...uh...I have some stuff to take care of. School work." She spoke rapidly and sounded sort of lost.

"Jenna I really need to talk to you. I just wanted t-"

"NO! I mean, there's no time. I must go." Harry backpeddled at her out burst. He was seriously confused. He didn't understand why she wouldn't talk to him. It's not like she even sounded angry or upset. She sounded ....frightened.

"Jenna, what's wrong with you?"

"Nothing! You wouldn't understand. I have to GO!" She started towards the stairs that led to the girl's dorms, but Harry ran after her. He grabbed her upper arm and whipped her around. She was thrown so off balance that she dropped her books and the crashed on the floor. When he finally faced her, her eyes were wide with terror. Long gone was the fearless and ferocious warrior glare that usually lurked in her ocean colored eyes. Did she think he was going to hurt her? Not wanting to scare her, Harry gently let go of her arm. She stumbled back a bit. Clumsiness had never been part of her stature and it was odd to see it so apparent. Harry then refocused his eyes on her. Jenna had bowed her head for a third time.

"Look, I'm sorry if I scared you. I just wanted to apologize. You know, for being so rude yesterday morning." She turned her head up for a second, but threw it back down when he tried to catch her eye. " And I wanted to ask you something."

Jenna pulled back violently at this and Harry flinched. "No questions! I don't want to hear it!" Her voice was shaking and panicky. Her arms twitched at her sides as if she had no idea what to do with herself. She was now jerking her head around again, her bewildered eyes observing the whole room, but not really seeing anything. " I can't talk! Not about that! I can't stay here. I might do something bad. I could hurt you! Please let me leave!" Her were words perplexing and her tone pleading . He had never heard sound or look that way before. So when she gathered her books up and made a beeline for the staircase, Harry just let her go.

Notes: Okay everyone, thats the chapter. Hope you liked it. I'm not really that satisfied with it. I think it's kinda lacking in the action department. I like a lot of action and drama. But I couldn't add that much in here otherwise I'd be rushing the storyline and things wouldn't get explained well enough.

Which brings me to my next point. I am doing a major revision of some older chapters. What I mean is I am adding in more info that wasn't priorly explained. I already sent in a revised chapter one. There isn't a difference in story line or anything so there is no need to go running back and read from the beginning. Just some grammar tweeks and additions in description and expansion on ideas. I think its more rounded out now. I will start revising the other old chapters as well and if any major changes happen I will let you know(but I doubt they will). For example I ill be adding more about Seamus and what he was like after he was attacked cause I know people still aren't clear on that. I'm also trying to make the name of the story change to The Savior Chronicles: Changing Colors because I'm planning on making it a 3 or 4 part series of stories. So if you see a change to the name it is still the same story.

And question to all of you: If anyone is interested in drawing some pictures to go with my story, I would really appreciate it. You can draw which ever scenes or characters you wish and email them to me at [email protected] There are certain scenes that I would like done and if you want a list of those email me for them. I am open minded about styles as well.

As always I want to thank everyon who reads and all of you who review. I love to hear from you guys, so thanks for the support! The song in this chapter is Nobody Like You by Limp Bizkit.

As for chapter 14, I have already started it so it should be up much quicker than this one. It will be more interesting too. Loose plot line is everyone returns home from Christmas break, stuff is discovered, Harry meets up with Cho, suspisions arise, and whackiness ensues! Just another day at Hogwarts!! Teehee!