Class of 78 - Ivy's Story

Chapter 7 - detention

Iris spent the rest of the afternoon talking with Hagrid and helping him feed and groom the animals in and around his hut. With every hour that passed she found it easier to push the rest of her troubles and worries out of her mind. Soon enough it was dinner time and she and Hagrid washed their hands in the spout next to his garden patch and followed the path back up to the castle. When they got to the doors of the great hall Iris paused and turned to hagrid, giving him a big hug

“Thank you Hagrid” the half-giant chuckled and hugged her back with a pat on her back

“My pleasure Iris, let's not make it a habit to skip yer classes though.” Iris smiled and nodded in agreement 

“Can I still come and help you on the weekends?” she asked hopefully. Hagrid nodded and Iris smiled wider. She turned and made her way to the Gryffindor table while Hagrid went to the staff table and sat next to professor McGonagall. As soon as Iris sat down next to her friends they bombarded her with questions. 

“What happened to ‘I'll see you at breakfast’? Just when I got here you ran out like you'd just seen merlin's ghost” Lily.

“Where were you this morning? You missed James turning some slytherins hair bright purple!” Peter.

“I didn't see you at lunch, did you get held back by a professor?” Remus

“What's that thing in your hand?” James.

It wasn't until Sirius asked his question through all the chaos did the group of first years go quiet

“Did your parents send you a letter too?” His voice held equal parts of sadness, understanding, and fear. Iris looked at him and nodded when she spoke her voice was quiet

“Yeah from my mum. My father is angry. She sent me this guitar though, she'll probably get hell from it if father finds out though.” Sirius nodded and wrapped an arm around her shoulders

“My mother and father are pissed. They said I've ruined our family name and that it wasn't surprising seeing as how I was already such a disappointment” Sirius smiled sadly at Iris" I'm glad you finally got an instrument to play your songs on though.” Iris smiled and hugged Sirius back

“Thanks Siri” james decided to speak up and change the topic to a lighter one

“You write music Ivy?” Sirius smiled and nodded

“Yeah and she's good at it too!” Iris rolled her eyes and blushed

“It's just something I do for fun. Sirius is exaggerating” Sirius scoffed 

“I am not! You have real talent Ivy, much more than James over here. Were constantly tortured with his singing in the shower every night. I swear everytime he tries to carry a tune a songbird somewhere drops dead.” James rolls his eyes and throws his half eaten biscuit at Sirius

“Bugger off, you're just jealous” the group of friends laughs and talks until McGonagall clears her throat behind them and catches their attention 

“Miss Malfoy, please meet me in my office after dinner” Iris nodded and watched the older witch return to her place at the staff table next to hagrid. Iris looked at Hagrid with a questioning look but he only smiled and winked at her before going back to his meal. Iris huffed and turned to finish teh rest of her dinner.

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“Don go to ‘ard on her minnie, she seems like shes ‘ad a rough go of it.” McGonagall sighed as she studied the young girl who was laughing and chatting with her friends

“You know I can't let her just skip classes hagrid. Besides, you should have sent her to class instead of enabling her.” Hagrid shrugged

“I almos’ didn't see ‘er she was sittin playing her guitar in buckbeak pen while i was inside me hut. She has a right good voice, pretty good at guitar for jus reading about it from a book.” McGonagall nodded and sighed

“My heart goes out to her, poor girl, I can only imagine what her parents are saying about all of this.” Hagrid nodded. 

“She's a bright girl Minnie, good with animals too. She'll be alright” Minnie nodded and stood up as everyone started to filter out of the great hall “I hope you're right Hagrid, honestly I do.” 

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Iris focused her attention on the ground as she sat in front of McGonagall's desk.

“Miss Malfoy I'm sure I don't have to tell you why you're here?” Iris nodded her head and McGonagall sighed “while things may be hard now, that's not an excuse to skip classes. I expect you to make up for all of the work you missed today. As well as serving detention sunday afternoon” Iris nodded again. 

“You are to dust off the paintings in the main hall. After lunch meet Mr. Filch  outside of the great hall and he will get you everything you need. Any questions?” Iris shook her head and was dismissed, when she made it to the door professor McGonagall called her name once more and she turned around

“I do hope one day i might get the privilege to hear you play your music” she said with a smile nodding to the guitar that sat in Iris’s hand Iris gave a small smile before turning around and heading towards her common room.