The results of my machinations have come to fruition one by one. I am proud to say that most people at Hogwarts have a positive image of my family name. They don't see me as an arrogant snob, and the pureblood supremacists couldn't do much to the mudblood that is me without creating big scandals. *hehe, eat that!*
They also know by now that I am a loner, so they left me alone in peace, except for the few people who are too persistent for their own good, mainly Harry Potter and Ron Weasley. I am unsure of their motives, so I try to flee, mostly. I don't want to be near them, trouble-magnets, out of principles. But they never leave.
Whenever I am alone outside of my dorm, they are suddenly there. I have a suspicion that they use Harry's cloak to ambush me like that, but I don't know how they're aware of my whereabouts. If I didn't have the Marauder's Map, I would bet they used the map themselves. But, the Marauder's Map is always with me. It's a mystery.
Whatever! If they want to be bodyguards, so be it.
My days passed by studying, both magical and muggle. They were progressing nicely. Since I passed my time by learning in either class, great hall, or the library, Harry and Ron had no other choice than to study as well. It amazed me at first that Ron was studying and doing homework. He also read books, tomes, and such. I thought he would be lazy and stupid, but he was not? Harry studied a lot, as well. He looked very healthy and felt refined, as in a pureblood-level refined.
If I were a betting woman, I would bet they read the books I gifted them and start to change for good. Well, it's good that I do betting. I bought those lottery tickets after all!
Ron noticed Scabbers had gone in early June. He searched all around Hogwarts, together with his brothers, mainly Percy. But they couldn't find him. He couldn't tell the staff either, as the rat was not on Hogwarts' approved pet list. So, he slowly let him go. I, of course, didn't care.
Soon, the end-of-year exams came, and we all sat for ours. The exams were both theoretical and practical, except for History of Magic. Needless to say, I rocked them all. I would be surprised if I were not in the top 3 this year. I had some help in the form of ROR, after all.
Well, the ROR could replicate all documents and books in Hogwarts since the beginning of its existence. With Quirrell and the Aurors departure, I had free reign of the room again. So I, naturally, requested all first-year exam questions dating back the last five years for all subjects.
Comparing the questions year by year, I concluded that all were the same. So, I copied those documents and studied the answers by heart. I made sure to learn other topics as well, just in case. But expectantly, the questions were exactly the same. I did it with such ease I had much spare time to revise my answers three times.
Some would say that I cheated on my exams and didn't deserve my marks in the end. But, with my foreknowledge, I'd be stupid not to use it to my full advantage. Besides, it wouldn't matter if we have OWLs and NEWTS later. And don't forget that I studied a lot too.
So I decided to be thoroughly shameless and done with it. I love being shameless. This shamelessness fits me perfectly.
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As expected, nothing happened at the end-year feast. Nobody got any additional points for anything, as nobody did anything. Except maybe me, and that's still debatable. So, surprise, surprise! The Slytherin won the House Cup this year. Nobody could compare to their nastiness at getting house point and the Quidditch Cup, so they won it in the end. Everyone expected it.
The Hogwarts year of 1991-1992 had ended. But, with notes: the stone's gone, Quirrell's dead, and Sirius Black's still missing. And all of them were my doing. Superb!
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The morning after the feast, we all piled into the Hogwarts train to go home. At first, I sat with Padma and Sue, but then Harry and Ron came in. The whole school now knows that they're the self-appointed bodyguards of me.
At one point, I was very annoyed and told them to piss off, but they just smiled and stayed. I was thoroughly bewildered. Are they a masochist or something? *sigh* If they are, then I hope they know that I can't...like that... I just can't... *sigh*
During the train journey, we girls talked about girly things. Ron fell asleep soon after the train departed, and Harry read a book. YES, reading a book!! I was shaken. Just how much this man has changed? How much have I wrecked his character just by randomly donating and gifting?
*sigh* Don't do random, people! Just don't! THINK first! *sigh*
Eight hours of stiff butt later, we arrived at the Platform three-quarter in King's Cross Station. The place was bustling with happiness. Families waited for their children, children running to their families, smiling and laughing. It was the epitome of heavenly.
I always wanted this kind of scene for my own, but then I had no family. So I just smiled bitterly.
Suddenly someone holds my right hand and squeezes it lightly. I looked at the person and saw Harry smiling at me in understanding. We were familiar in that regard. We were both orphans.
Due to my fame, a while ago people dug my family life. They found that I was an orphan with a foster parent as a guardian, and I was the last member of the family. I led them to believe that, just like my plan from the very beginning. I was not surprised that they worked fast to unveil it. I already predicted so.
We got off the train together. I told my elves not to pick me up at the train station. Too many people could notice Jelly's glamour as Joan. So, I would use the public floo-network in the station to go to my Hogsmeade house. I could go home directly but wished to experience the Hogwarts train one last time.
On the platform, I saw my friends going to their separate families. Even Harry had to go outside soon, as Vernon Dursley picked him up there. So, I said goodbye to my friends and walked to the public floo-network at the other end of the platform.
But before I could do that, a voice stopped me.
"Dear, would you mind introducing your friend to me?" said a female voice from Ron's direction in front of me. She looked at me expectantly. I noticed I was the only one left from our previous group. Huh? I did not realize they were gone so soon.
"Oh sure, Mom. Well, this is Lana, my classmate. She's in Ravenclaw. Lana, this is my mother", said Ron, introducing us. Oh no, why do we have to do this?
"Hello dear, a pleasure to meet you. I'm Ron's mother, Molly Weasley. And this is my husband, Arthur Weasley." she said softly to me.
"Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, a pleasure to meet you as well," I courtesied at them. It was expected of me to be polite. More so now that I am famous. Not as much as Harry, but still.
"Such a polite girl. I hope we do not interrupt you much, but we'd like to express our family's gratitude for you and your family in person. You've been a tremendous help to us, and we would like you to know that. Arthur works very hard, but we have many responsibilities. So, it was such a surprise that your family made those donations. We were very glad and grateful for it. Arthur could really use some rest, as we're not young anymore. He always works so hard. Always gone to have raids at night, and worked all day, every day. Even on Sunday, sometimes. I was very worried, always worried. Sometimes, I did not know if he would come... uhh.. but, yes, uhh.. *she wipes her tears here*...uhh... I'm sorry, dear... I was rambling..*smile*...*wipe some tears again* *Mr. Weasley embraces her from behind*..."
They both look at each other tenderly and smile, then look at me with such kindness that I feel dirty. I don't really deserve it. I did the whole thing out of profit.
Then Mr. Weasley continued, "We're very grateful for you. I know that we might not be able to repay you in any way, but please know that we will always remember your generosity. Do let us know if you need anything, Dear. It's the least we could do."
"Well, I don't know what to say, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. Thank you for your kindness. I am happy that I could help you with your responsibilities. But, truly, you don't have to repay me anything. We didn't do it only for others to return them to us. (*lies! Complete lies*~ inwardly speaking) We were content just to help. Again, I am happy that I could help anything, really..." I said with a smile, hopefully, tenderly back at the couple.
I noticed that I was beginning to excel in this bulshiting thing. Ron looked at me in awe. Oh no!
Then, I realized the twins and Percy were standing next to Ron. Some people around us decided to eavesdrop too. They're not very good at hiding it. They fully stared back at me. This is very awkward.
Thankfully, the couple smiled back at me. And soon, after a couple of pleasantries later, we go to our respective destinations. *phew*
At the public floo-network, I shrunk my trunk and put it inside my robe. Paying three sickles to the official, I get a handful of floo powder and stand in one of the fireplaces.
After saying 'The Abode', I'm going to my house to forget everything.