To Meet History

Chapter 10-Life in Detail

The summer that followed her sixth year was relatively quiet compared to those of years past. Zion still visited her, but he did it less often now. Bathsheba was the only one of her friends who wrote to her. Le-Annette comforted by this. Her first letter from Bathsheba had been very apologetic.

Dear Le-Annette,

I am sorry for the way that Roland, Nicoli, and myself reacted to the news of your love for Slytherin. We should not have been so judgmental. It was wrong of us. Will you forgive us?

With the greatest love,

Bathsheba

Le-Annette had responded that she would forgive Bathsheba alone, but the others would have to ask themselves. So her friendship with Bathsheba was safe, but what about the others? She missed Zion. Her diary, her savior. She missed Roland's letters, filled with snide remarks about the muggles and their way of life. She missed Nicoli's Qudditch talk.

She had no clue how she was going to keep her friends, but she was certain of one thing. She would continue to see Slytherin. As the summer came to a close, Zion visited her one last night before she departed for her seventh, and final, year at Hogwarts. He entered, as usual, though her bedroom window. Le-Annette was angry with him and glared as he approached her. He had not been to visit for a month's worth of time.

"You had better have a good excuse, Zion, for not coming to see me," Le-Annette said, turning her back on him.

"I do. Your future...may not be as bad as I would have thought. I want to tell you that I...am happy that you have found love," he said.

She turned to look at him. His head was hung low. He would not meet her eyes.

"How is this your reason?" she asked.

"I needed...the time to conform all of this. I am sorry,"

Le-Annette waved her hand. "Never you mind,"

Zion nodded. He stayed for a little while longer, in which Le-Annette told him every minute detail about her summer. Finally, he left, both feeling better about their situations. Le-Annette lie her head down, and she went to sleep.

* * * *

The carriage to Hogwarts arrived outside of Le-Annette's house as it usually did. She loaded her things onto the top of the carriage but carried Luna-De into the cab. Bathsheba greeted her with a warm smile. Roland and Nicoli--who had not written to her all summer--greeted her with a small grunt. Bathsheba nudged Roland, who then changed his expression to a forced smile.

"You don't have to do that, Bathsheba. I don't want them to be forced into accepting me again. I'd rather have them do it willingly," Le-Annette said as she closed the carriage door.

With Luna-De placed securely in her lap, the carriage started its flight to the school. Most of the ride was quiet. Bathsheba didn't want to start any conversations that could anger anyone. Roland seemed like he wanted to say something, but just couldn't do it. Nicoli just kept shooting angry glances at Le-Annette. Finally, the silence being just too much, Le-Annette spoke.

"If you have something to say, say it!" she exclaimed.

"I'll go first then. You have disgraced your House!" Nicoli spat.

"What do you know of my House?!" Le-Annette said, in a voice of forced calm.

"You've slept with your Head of House! How can that not be disgrace!" Nicoli shot back. He then turned to Roland. "What do you think of this?"

Roland remained silent for a few moments, then, with a sort of apologetic look at Nicoli, said, "I think if Le-Annette really loves Slytherin...then I think that it is none of our business."

Nicoli's mouth fell open. He then turned to Bathsheba, who nodded and gave Roland's hand a squeeze to let Nicoli know that she agreed with him. With an aggravated sigh, Nicoli sat back in his seat and contented himself with staring out the window for the rest of the trip.

* * * *

They arrived at Hogwarts, took their seats at their prospective House tables, and watched as the sorting of this year's first years took place. Wanting to lighten the mood from the trip, Roland commented, "Can you believe that this is our last year here?"

Le-Annette, after shooting Nicoli a cold look, replied, "No. I really don't want to leave."

Roland gave a small laugh. He also chanced a passing glance at Slytherin, which earned him a slap on the arm from Le-Annette. After they had both had a good laugh and the feast had begun, Le-Annette decided that she too would take a glance at her lover. He did not look happy. In fact, he looked down right livid. When he caught her looking at him, he gave her a genuine smile and motioned for her to see him later. She returned the smile and gave him a small nod.

Later, after a goodnight to Roland and Bathsheba, and a quick conversation with Rowena, Le-Annette made her way down to the dungeons. She found Salazar in his potion's classroom. He was deeply immersed in a particular potion. She made her way up to him and gave him a quick kiss on the lips.

"How was your holiday?" he replied, after returning her kiss.

Le-Annette quick summarized her holiday. At the end of her story, Salazar sighed.

"I'm sorry," he said. "I did not know that this would cause such a problem with you."

"Not to worry. I can handle it. I feel I've done rather well,"

The two talked for a long time that night. They spoke of their feelings for one another, and their devotion to each other. Finally, Salazar shooed Le-Annette off to bed by arguing that she was still a student and needed her rest.

On her way to her dungeon common room, Le-Annette ran across someone who appeared to be very disappointed and angry with her. Godric Gryffindor.

"So," Gryffindor sneered, "having a night with your lover? Do you know what you are doing to your reputation?"

"No," Le-Annette replied, once again in that calm voice. "What am I doing to my reputation?"

"They are calling you what I very well think you may be...a whore!"

Le-Annette could take no more. She produced her wand from inside her robe pockets and held it at Gryffindor's throat.

"Who the hell do you think you are? I am not a child to be intimidated! I will not be threatened by mere thoughts! You will not harass me either, no will you do that to Salazar! Do we understand each other?"

She pressed the wand closer to Gryffindor's throat, and he gulped.

"Very well," he said and without further ado, he stepped out of the way of her wand and continued on his way.