Chapter Twenty-Nine, Frog Choir Practice

Ever since the Duelling Club a week ago, Izzy has had a hard time. What with people making snide comments in the halls, claiming she was the one responsible for her parents deaths (which made her cry in an alcove for thirty minutes), dark looks and people trying to trip her up with Jinxes or with their feet. Her friends had tried to keep them away from her as much as possible and when Fred and the others found out that she had been reduced to tears they had pranked the ones responsible mercilessly. But it wasn't enough, she felt suffocated, stifled; she needed to get away. At least for a little while, before she had Frog Choir practice later that afternoon. With the weather turning colder with winter definitely winging its way to Scotland, Izzy woke up earlier than usual, and completed her shower and morning routine before slipping on thick light grey tights, a black roll neck jumper which she tucked into a grey checkered woollen skirt.

To finish off she slipped her feet into white faux fur lined black ankle boots, braided her hair into two braids with some hair framing her face; and added her rings and her bracelet. Tiptoeing back into her dormitory, Izzy returned her wash-bag to the appropriate place and hung up her towel and washcloth. Grabbing her Gryffindor scarf she wrapped it around her neck and pulled on her black winter coat that was lined with pinkish-cream faux fur and her white gloves. Sighing, Izzy grabbed her Nimbus Two Thousand broom and headed towards the Owlery.
"Where are you going with that, Izzy?" Fred asked lightly, trying to hide the concern but you could see it clearly in his chocolate brown eyes.

Startled, Izzy looked over to Fred who was leaning casually against the back of the sofa with his arms crossed over his chest and his ankles crossed.
"I just need to get away. Away from everyone, I'm only going to go flying with Hedwig. I'll be back before the Frog Choir practice." Izzy explained shyly, her emerald eyes filled with pain while they begged Fred to understand. Seeing, and feeling the torment Izzy was going through Fred sighed and relaxed his stance. In a few short strides he stood before Izzy holding his arms up; offering safety and comfort within his arms. Without even a glimpse of hesitation Izzy threw herself into Fred's warm and comforting embrace.
"Thanks Freddie." Izzy whispered, as she pulled back after a good few minutes the tension no longer lining her shoulders.

Standing on her toes Izzy pressed a sweet kiss to Fred's cheeks, surprising him momentarily until a large dopey grin spread across his face.
"See you later." Izzy whispered, heading to the entrance of Gryffindor Tower but Fred never answered. He stood there watching her leave with a dopey look on his face and his hand still pressed to the same cheek. Unbeknownst to the soulmates George and Lee were standing in the shadowy entrance to the Boys Dormitories watching the pair; George even had a satisfied smirk upon his face as Lee grumbled passing him five Galleons.

Once the portrait swung shut, the muffled sound of Izzy saying bye to Flora (otherwise known as the Fat Lady and guardian of Gryffindor Tower) was heard. They stowed that tidbit away to ask the Potter-Black Heiress later they had some teasing to do.
"Stand there any longer like that Freddie and you'll have to visit St Mungoes to have your face corrected." George teased, smirking as his elder brother (of five minutes) jumped a little.

"Ha ha very funny." Fred drawled rolling his eyes as he removed the hand from his now pink tinted face but a hint of the dopey smile could still be seen.
"Someone is whipped." Lee teased, nudging Fred with his elbow jokingly. "I never expected Izzy to initiate that yet." He added, surprised.
"Neither did I." Fred and George said simultaneously, causing Lee to shiver.
"Don't do that!" Lee complained, punching their shoulders. "It's creepy!"
"Get used to it!" They said again, teasingly.
"Seriously though, I'm glad Izzy is feeling more comfortable with all of us, especially you Freddie." George said seriously, side hugging his twin.

"Thanks George. And so am I." Fred added happily, a bright grin on his face that merged into a dark mischievous grin as he rubbed his hands together eagerly. "Now, let's go and prank the people who upset her."
"I like the way you think Freddie." George grinned sharply, a matching look to his twin.
"You two could really become villains if you wanted to." Lee teased, as the three headed back up to their dormitory to gather their supplies.
"Why thank you." Fred and George said once again, shark-like grins on their faces. Those who messed with Izzy Potter would soon learn that their actions would not go without consequences.

***

While the Terrible Trio were plotting their pranks, Izzy had arrived at the Owlery and immediately spotted her beautiful familiar amongst all the browns and blacks of the other owls.
"Hedwig!" Izzy crowded happily, her frown disappearing as soon as she spotted the snowy-white. Lifting her head from under her wing, Hedwig barked happily as soon as she spotted Izzy; landing on her outstretched arm, closing her eyes in bliss as she was stroked by her mistress, the bond between them becoming stronger each time they spent together like this. "I missed you too, girl." Izzy muttered, running her fingers through Hedwig's breast feathers. "How about we go for a fly? I need to get away from here."

Hedwig's amber eyes assessed Izzy for a moment before dimming with sadness. She hated seeing her mistress so troubled so she barked an agreement; nipped Izzy's finger affectionately before she spread her wings and took off through the window. Smiling, Izzy mounted her broom just as she heard some Hufflepuffs approaching the Owlery talking loudly about how Izzy should be kicked out of school and sent to Azkaban like her deranged father (Sirius) before she could endanger anyone else. Anger coursing through her veins like fire, Izzy glared at the door, her hair bright, blood red as she kicked off and shot through the window like a javelin. An exhilarated cheer left Izzy's cherry lips as she flew beside Hedwig towards the snowy mountains in the distance that overlooked the castle, the lake, the forest and the entirety of the grounds. This was exactly what she needed.

***

As three thirty in the afternoon fast approached Izzy flew back towards the castle after kissing Hedwig's head and bade her farewell as her beloved owl was off to hunt after having kept Izzy company for a good few hours. Flying towards where she knew Gryffindor Tower and the Girls' Dormitories were located at top speed, Izzy arrived in no time and carefully pushed the window open. Heart thudding in her chest Izzy flew as close to the window as she could get with fear tightening her belly, she swung herself through the window, keeping a tight hold on her broom, and ended up commando rolling on the floor with the force she threw herself through the window.
"That was ...." Izzy muttered amazed, adrenaline, fear and exhilaration all coursing through her. Her hair now a mix of colours from her turbulent emotions.

"Perhaps that'll teach me to keep a closer eye on the time." Izzy muttered to herself, carefully stowing her broom away she rushed down the steps to the common room where Neville was waiting with Trevor in his hands for her and Bem and Emma on either side of him chatting anxiously as they waited for Izzy. The latter two had agreed to go with her so she wasn't alone as neither believed what was being spread about her. Plus they had eyes. They'd seen the snake back off once Izzy spoke to it. If anything they, like Izzy's loved ones, blamed Snape and Malfoy for putting her in that position in the first place and the supposedly loyal Hufflepuffs for spreading the rumours.
"There you are sister." Neville sighed with relief, standing to embrace his god-sister leaving Trevor in his enchanted travel vivarium on his seat.
"I'm okay, brother. I just needed to get away for a while." Izzy whispered against Neville's shoulder, returning the hug.

"I'm glad. Now, you better get going before the three of you truly end up late." Neville said, shooing them towards the entrance. "Good luck and enjoy it. Ron, the others and I will be waiting to hear all about it. Ron should be back from his detention with Snape, the twins, Lee, Celeste and Kellah from pranking and Hermione maybe from the library."
"Thanks bye Nev."
"Thank you Neville. See you later." Emma and Bem added following Izzy out of the portrait hole and copying her example of calling the Fat Lady by her actual name while apologising for all the previous times they hadn't. As the trio made their way down to the Great Hall, where the practice was held, they got to know each other more and by the time they reached the doors of the Great Hall they were laughing and wondering why they hadn't until now.

However, that laughter soon died as soon as they pushed the doors of the Great Hall open. As there was still ten minutes before practice was actually due to start, the other students from the other three houses were milling about talking until that laughter and small-talk died when they spotted Izzy standing between Emma and Bem.
"Oh for Merlin's sake! Who let the Dark Lady join!? It's bad enough I have to play against her in Quidditch!" Roger Davies complained loudly, his fingers itching towards his wand which immediately set off the other Gryffindors, Luna and surprisingly the Slytherins.
"Don't even think about it Davies. Unless you want to lose the tiny wood that I hear you have!" Gemma Farley snarled, wand pointing at the Ravenclaw Chaser along with the other Snakes, Lions and a lone Eagle.

Red-faced from both anger and embarrassment Roger Davies scowled at Izzy who glared back just as hotly causing the third year to wince and turn and scarper away, Marcus Belby hot on his tail.
"Thank you." Izzy whispered. "You didn't have to do that."
"Like I'm going to let some pompous prat treat someone younger than him that way. Especially an Heiress. I'm Heiress Gemma Farley, this is Heir Blaise Zabini. Heiress Daphne Greengrass. Heir Gabriel Lithgow and Heiress Juniper Willows. But you can call me, Gemma or Gem." Gemma introduced, hand held out to Izzy who shook her hand with a kind smile upon her lips. She was tall and had long blonde hair, a few shades darker than Luna's, up in an intricate braid, ivory skin tone and bright blue eyes that were striking against her red painted lips.

"It's a pleasure to meet all of you. I'm Heiress Isadora Potter-Black, but you can call me Izzy. This is Heiress Luna Lovegood. Heiress Emma Vane. Heir Bem Kelly. Heiress Leanne Simpson and younger sister to Eleanor. Sorry I ..." Izzy trailed off as she didn't know the other three Gryffindors.
"That's okay Heiress Potter-Black we've never actually introduced ourselves." A dark skinned young woman with grey-blue eyes and chocolate brown hair assured, offering Izzy a kind smile. "I'm Heiress Allison Barnes, sixth year. This is Linderina Crane and Eloise Midgen. Fifth and fourth year respectively. You can call me Alley." Alley offered kindly, pointing to a blonde and blue eyed girl and a black haired, brown eyed girl.
"Well, it's a pleasure to meet all of you." Gemma offered politely. "I hope you know Izzy that not all Slytherins are like Pansy, Draco and their cronies. We've already had to step in with the others in regards to their treatment of Heiress Lovegood."

"Oh I know. I've spoken to Blaise and Daphne a few times outside of class." Izzy said brightly, sharing smiles with Blaise and Daphne as she wasn't comfortable enough to hug them like she does Luna and the others. "And besides, I just think Draco puts on an act, and that he's afraid of his father. Not sure about Pansy and the others though." Izzy mused.
"The Wrackspurts are definitely clogging his mind, Izzy." Luna piped up.
"Yes they are indeed, Moon." Izzy agreed, confusing those around them but as the Gryffindors said nothing the Slytherins followed suit.

"You may be right in regards to Draco but Pansy has always been an uptight Primadonna." Daphne sighed, causing Blaise to laugh. "You can laugh Blaise but you're not the one who has to share a dorm with her." Daphne complained, which just caused them all to laugh as they imagined the horrors Pansy would put her dorm mates through, even her cronies.
"Okay settle down please." Professor Flitwick called the hall to order as he entered through the back of the hall, musical instruments floating out behind him before settling in their designated places upon the Dias where the teachers table used to reside. However, one set of students did not heed his warning nor the one given to them by the Slytherins and Gryffindors and complained loudly for all to hear.

"Oh just great! The upcoming Dark Lady has befriended the Snakes and even turned a Raven and other Gryffindors dark!"
"Why can't she just be kicked out of school and thrown into Azkaban with her good-for-nothing father, Professor Black!"
"Exactly! It is where they both belong!"
"Before she gets everyone killed just like she got her parents killed!"

Silence reigned throughout the hall until everything happened in quick succession bringing all out of their shocked stupor; the windows suddenly started to rattle loudly in their frames as spiderwebbed cracks started to form becoming larger and larger, a wind whirled around Izzy whipped at everyone's hair and clothes, the sky above them started to darken as thunder and harsh lightning rolled in, no longer showing the sunny but cold day from outside the castle's walls, when the large windows behind the instruments suddenly burst; showering glass and wood all over the instruments.

Luckily the Professor used his duelling skills to quickly cast a powerful protection dome protecting everyone from the flying shards of glass. But his face was bright red with anger as he turned to face the four students, two of which, he was ashamed to admit, were from his own house. But he was glad to see his Prefect Penelope Clearwater was trying to calm Izzy down before she really lost control of her extremely powerful magic.

"Mr Davies! Mr Belby! Miss Stimpson! Miss Holt!" Professor Flitwick squeaked loudly, anger clear in his voice and his dark grey eyes. "Detention! All four of you! How dare you speak that way to another student! And a teacher too, no less! I shall be speaking to Professor Sprout, Headmistress McGonagall and Deputy Headmistress Longbottom about your bullying and serious lack of conduct. Fifty points will be taken from each of you. I shall be writing to your parents myself and you are hereby withdrawn from all extracurricular activities including this choir, Quidditch, the Duelling club, and the Gobstones club.

Prefect duties will be revoked from each of you as well. I suggest that the four of you get out of my sight, and go and wait in the Headmistress's office until I am finished with this choir. If I find you have not gone straight there, and bear in mind I'll be sending the appropriate Professors a note now, the consequences you will face will be more dire. As for the rest of you, Hogwarts does NOT tolerate bullying of ANY sort. Anyone caught will be expelled depending on the severity of their transgressions!" Professor Flitwick added sternly, glaring at the remainder of his students. Once the four had left grumbling and Patronis had been sent to the appropriate Professors, Flitwick awarded points to the older students for checking on the remainder of the students.
"Are you alright Miss Potter?" Flitwick asked, once the young girl had calmed down and everyone else was alright he checked her over.

"Yes. I'm so sorry Professor. I just - I just got so angry, and - and that's not the first time they or others have said that." Izzy muttered, bashfully, looking down at her fingers as she fiddled with her rings.
"No. Don't apologise Miss Potter, it is perfectly understandable and if anyone bothers you, I want you to come straight to me, okay?" Professor Flitwick asked firmly. "Good." He smiled once Izzy had nodded. "I'm just sorry your first practice hasn't started off too well. But how about we give it another go?"
"Okay." Izzy grinned, linking arms with Luna as the pair giggled when the Professor clapped his hands excitedly which also gathered everyone's attention.
"Into positions with your toads and instruments. We'll take it from the top." Professor Flitwick said firmly, but exuberantly.

Smiling, Izzy got into position with Luna and her new friends. Feeling courage surge within her not only pushed through by Fred but also a wink from Blaise, Daphne and Gemma that said, 'you've got this,' and a hand squeeze from Luna gave Izzy the courage she needed after the numerous knocks and setbacks she had recently. She couldn't change other opinions of her, she'd learnt that the hard way from her relatives, but she could at least try to ignore them and face them head on with her loved ones besides her.

————————————————————————

Choir members:

Gryffindor:
* Allison Barnes (6th year)
* Izzy Potter (2nd year) - has Trevor
* Bem Kelly (2nd year) - flute
* Eloise Midgen (4th year) - harpsichord
* Leanne Simpson (3rd year)
* Linderina Crane (5th year)
* Emma Vane (2nd year)

Slytherin:
* Blaise Zabini (2nd year)
* Daphne Greengrass (2nd year) - harp
* Gabriel Lithgow (4th year) - has Devon
* Gemma Farley (5th year)
* Juniper Willows (3rd year)

Hufflepuff:
* Patricia Stimpson (4th year) (banned)
* Hannah Abbott (2nd year)
* Susan Bones (2nd year)
* Megan Jones (2nd year)
* Beatrice Holt (5th year) - has Nightspur (banned)
*Maxwell Rookwood (4th year)

Ravenclaw:
* Luna Lovegood (1st year)
* Sue Li (2nd year)
* Eddie Carmichael (1st year) - has Don
* Roger Davies (3rd year) - drums (banned)
* Eleanor Simpson (3rd year) - flute
* Marcus Belby (3rd year) - has Gero (banned)
* Penelope Clearwater (6th year) - has Dennis

Frogs/ Toads:

* Trevor
* Don
* Gero
* Dennis
* Devon
* Nightspur