AN: Thanks for the reviews on the previous chapter and also the alerts and favourites. And sorry for the late update. Here's chapter two.
Disclaimer: I do not own anything, just a few OC's.
Where Loyalty Lie
"Do you trust me with your life?"
*On Education*
17th Century England
[Hermione, at eight years of age]
"Verravertto"
"You have to pronounce the words correctly, Hermione" Lady Helga Hufflepuff said, coming out of the backdoor that was connected to the kitchen. I looked at her with a questioning face, puzzled that I wasn't doing the spell right. I have been trying to transfigure this bird—Mayan—into a water goblet ever since I woke up and that was three hours ago. I couldn't get any help because, Sir Gryffindor went to the woods to gather herbs, while Lady Hufflepuff went shopping for food and potion ingredients this morning, leaving me alone for three hours in our cottage down by the Hollow. And that is why I was stuck with a bird that was noisily squawking every time I swished my wand.
Lady Helga approached me, wand in hand.
"How do you pronounce it?" I asked her. She walked up towards Mayan. Holding her wand up, she tapped her wand three times, up, then down then up again then she said "Fera Verto" pointing to the bird. There was a white speck of light that shot out from her wand and then the bird turned perfectly into a water goblet. She then turned to me, smiling. "You pronounce it as Fair-uh-VAIR-toh, you have to say it slowly and 'Fera' is not 'Vera'. 'F' is not pronounced and said as a letter 'V' and you have make Verto sound like—er— it's crispy" she said.
I chuckled at her attempt to teach me the pronunciation of the word. She raised a curious brow, her face looking bewildered at my chuckle but soon she then smiled gently. "As you, Hermione, pronounce it, it sounded like this; 'Verravertto', you make it sound as one word. You have to place an accent; magic isn't only words it has to have feelings too"
"Alright, I'll give that a try" I said to her. She nodded and un-transfigured the bird, Mayan turned back into a bird, no hint that it was transfigured. Clearing my throat I closed my eyes, wand ready. I imagined how Lady Hufflepuff did her wand movements. Up, down, up, down. Tapping it three times and then pointing to the bird while keeping in mind to say the spell slowly, clearly and with an accent "Fera Verto!" I opened my eyes as soon as Mayan made a squawking sound then became silent, finally turning into a goblet.
"I- I did it!" I exclaimed happily, jumping up and down like a kid who just got a new toy to play with. I hugged Lady Helga and said my thanks, repeatedly.
"Very brilliant, Hermione! It seems you're learning faster than I have expected you to do so" she said to me as she ruffled my hair, in a playful manner.
"Well, it seems you are ready to do some defensive spells, Hermione" said a voice that came nearer. My head shot towards Sir Godric Gryffindor, who was standing just right before the fence door.
"Are you sure you want to teach her those kinds of spell, Godric?" questioned Helga.
"I won't show her those yet, but she may as well know how to defend herself. Since we are in the era where witches and wizards like us are hunted..." he walked into the backyard, a basket of herbs ridding his back. He slowly let it slid down her broad shoulders gently placing it down on the soft ground.
"But of course... we are hunted by those muggles...but she is still safe here with us in the Hollow" Lady Helga argued.
"My hometown won't be that safe anymore..." I wondered why they were eager to let me know the advance spells in defending myself—even if I myself was eager to learn as well. But I am just eight and things were getting serious already. It makes me want to be normal and be a child who doesn't know about spells yet. Its making me wish I was still four, the age when I was still trying to read and fairytales were told by my mother, Rowena, just so I could sleep.
"Soon, he'll reach this town and befall terror here..." I heard the last bit of what Godric had said. Who was He?
"Why wouldn't it be safe, Uncle?" I turned to him. Slowly I walked towards him, my height barely reaching his chest line. He eyed me curiously, obviously wondering why I asked that questioned. "And who is He?"
"It's time you should know..." he then said. I looked back to where Aunt Helga was standing before. Her expression from bubbly went to a very grave one. "...Hermione"
"Tell me..."
"Transfiguration is the art of changing forms or objects and also the art of vanishing things" the professor said.
It was early in the morning, just right after breakfast that students, like Hermione, Ron and Harry, were sitting in a classroom. Specifically in the class of Professor Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, yes, he has a very long name and a very long beard. He was in his fifties if we look at his outside appearance, but no one even wondered if how old he truly was.
This wise man was already perfectionist of the transfiguration art, having been teaching for several years already and obviously he would have practiced the art repeatedly. Now today, he had his first class for the year; his class having a considerable amount of first years, ten from the house of Gryffindor and another ten from the house of Slytherin. You may wonder why Slytherins were placed with Gryffindors; the sole reason was to have life in the party. Slytherins do hate Gryffindors with intensity and the same goes for the Gryffindors to Slytherins. There was a fiery intensity in regards with competition.
Though of course, Hermione wasn't bothered by it and was sitting patiently on her desk just right in front of the professor's desk—a parchment a top of it along with a bottle of ink and a quill. Very studios she is, having been fascinated at this art from a very long time.
"Though, you may not know that there are still exceptions in doing transfiguration... would anyone care to state a few?"
A hand shot up right in the air at the same time as Hermione did. She looked at her left curiously looking at the other hand that shot right up. It was girl with shiny long black hair. The girl was wearing robes of green and black, a silver and green neck tie hanging loosely on her neck. Her face looked deviously along with her famous smirk.
"Ah, yes, Miss Black" Professor Dumbledore called.
"One of those exceptions is food. We cannot conjure food out of thin air as stated in Gamp's Law" Bellatrix Black looked at Hermione, smirking as if she was taunting the slowness of Hermione's hand in response to the professor's question. Hermione glared at her with intensity, if stares could kill. It would seem like that this Slytherin was already looking for competition and as of now she had found her bait, Hermione. Just the perfect rival.
"Yes, very well said, ten points to Slytherin" She smirked again at the praise she had received. "Now Miss Gryffindor, I believed you raised your hand as well"
Hermione looked at Dumbledore shortly and riposte as she turned back to look at Bellatrix who still had that smirk plastered on her face. "We cannot make Love out of thin air, but love potions can imitate it. We cannot make a person fall in love with us using a transfiguration charm. We also cannot create gold out of thin air, though we could multiply them but for only a short period of time" Hermione replied, turning her head back to the professor.
"Very well said, Miss Gryffindor. Ten points to Gryffindor"
"As both of them had said is true, we cannot conjure food out of thin air but we could always summon it, if and only if you know where the food is located. Though there are some cases where in we wonder how things get in an empty plate, like the ones we experience in the great hall" he said having this twinkle in his eyes.
"Now for the other one, we cannot create love, this is an abstract thing as muggles call it. Love is only imitated through the use of potions and the use of Imperius Curse; where in the target only acts based on their deepest obsession. To be controlled without will is a very tragic thing to befall on a person" he added gravely.
"And lastly, gold cannot have the same value as the real ones as stated by goblins. Leprechauns gold are also transfigured leaf and twigs and are not real. As for Transfiguration spells do wear off at a certain amount of time" he eyed each and every one of his student. He looked at the window as if he was waiting for something to happen and then he said "Class is dismissed"
"That was great lesson don't you think?" Harry asked his new friends, Hermione and Ron.
"Yes, the professor's very good at this subject, and now I can't wait to start transfiguring things" Hermione replied.
"I don't know about you two but I do find these kinds of lesson boring. And there is always the fact that we are paired with the Slytherin lot. Why can't we be paired with the Hufflepuffs instead of them? That boy, Malfoy was getting on my nerves, sitting across me and laughing at I don't know what" Ron huffed. "I do wonder why didn't the professor turned him into a toad for doing that in class"
"Well, yes, there is that fact that the Slytherin are looking for competition inside class, I can't help feeling that Black, specifically Bellatrix was tempting me to argue with her, that smirk of hers, it makes me want to wipe it off her forcefully!" Hermione exasperatedly said in agreement with Ron. Harry just nodded.
"Really? You'd be happy to turn Malfoy into a toad, Weasley?" a very familiar voice came from behind them. The trio looked behind them and was greeted by a group of Slytherins, of course it wasn't just any other group; it was the Black's group, Bellatrix Black's group.
"And wipe of the smirk out of my face, Gryffindor?" she added.
"We weren't talking to you, Black" Hermione gritted her teeth, obviously she was rather pissed.
"Really? But I did hear my name and I can't help it over hearing that the conversation you lot are having is about me"
"Yeah about you being a toad and catching flies with your tongue" muttered Ron. Bellatrix Black's expression from her smug look turned into a furious one. She drew her wand from her robes, pointing it to Ron. Sweat trickled down Ron's head, nervous as he was he gulped down the remaining words that he was about to say.
"You better watch your mouth Weasley, and that goes the same for you Gryffindor and Peverelle, for you don't know who you are dealing with"
Hermione grab hold of Ron's wrist and pulled him behind her. She held out her wand as well, pointing it to Bellatrix.
"Looking for a duel, Gryffindor?" she said a smirk plastering her face.
"Might as well teach you a lesson for threatening my friends, Bella" mocked the Gryffindor.
Soon Bellatrix faced turned red because of her anger; furious she was, she gripped her wand tighter but then soon after lowered it and withdrew them back to her robes. "This isn't over yet, Hermione" Bellatrix muttered in Hermione's ear as she walked passed by the trio, her lot following closely behind her, dead silent and confused at Bellatrix actions of retreat.
Hermione sighed, she felt so relieved that the threat was over and they were free to move to their next class which was Flying. Yes, Broom Flying.
As they were about to walk to their next class,which was located at the school grounds according to their schedule, a thought occurred in Hermione's head. She can't help wondering why Bellatrix would back down her argument. Then before they could actually leave their spot, Professor Dumbledore went out of his classroom. It looks like Bellatrix had a sixth sense; she knew that the professor would go out of his room. Hermione smirked. Yes, of course, she's a very good rival as well.
Flying is a sport in the wizarding world. It is said to be the most fun yet scary part of being a witch. Yes, of course it was proven and tested.
The three had come to a stop in the middle of the school ground. They had, of course, Slytherins as their classmates, again. Very fun indeed. Looking at the surroundings it was quite wide. In the middle place were twenty brooms, evenly distributed in both sides. Excited murmurs emerged from the group some saying that they already knew how to fly and that their parents have even bought them a new broom. Like Malfoy.
"My father had bought me my own broom, the latest one in the market the Cleansweep One, it cost a fortune you know?" he bragged.
"Malfoy if you don't shut up, I'll forcefully do it to you" Bellatrix, looking irritated, said. Well thank you for that Bellatrix you made your pet to stop barking. Hermione thought. Then a whistle from a far sounded. Students head turned to different directions in attempt to look at the source. A teacher, wearing long black robes and had grey coloured hair came descending from the sky, riding a broom. Students watched in awe.
"Well what are you waiting for? Stand beside a broom" she said as her feet touched the ground. Class had begun.
Professor Rolanda Hooch, had short grey hair, yellow eyes making her look like a hawk and was tall and womanly handsome looking. Her hands covered with gloves as she held her broom. She whistled once more.
"This is your first flying lessons, so don't expect to be jumping on a broom once you've got hold of it. We will learn from the beginning. I don't want any of you, even if it's joke, to fly without me knowing."
"This is how you call a broom" she then gently placed her broom down on the ground. She held her hand just right above her broom and said "UP!" the broom that was on the ground earlier jumped into her open palm.
"Now you do it" she said. Soon brooms went flying up into each student grasp. Of course there are very exceptional students. In one try they were able to command a broom. For one, Bellatrix had called up her broom, in one try so as Draco Malfoy and Millicent Bruke. Very well done for Slytherin you might say.
The Gryffindors did also have a hard time. But Harry had conjured his in one attempt, as well as Hermione herself.
A few more tries until everyone got a hang of it, then the professor blew her whistle again.
"Now, you ride your broom in between your legs, we do not sit on it like pretty princesses when we fly these kind of brooms or you'll fall into your terrible death, nobody wants that. Now to make your broom fly, you kick off the ground. Do it gently and not so quickly or the broom would fly up faster than you can say Madame Promfrey"
Neville on the other hand, even if he was paying attention, got very nervous and accidentally kicked off the ground.
"What are you doing, boy? Oh dear..." shouted Madame Hooch.
Neville cried as he was about six feet above the ground, slowly he lost his grip on his broom and fell down, hard. He cried out in pain.
Madame Hooch quickly went to his side. "Oh dear, it seems that you have broken a wrist" She then looked around the class "You lot stay here while I bring Mister Longbottom to the Hospital Wing. I don't want any of you flying while I'm gone or I'll expel you" she said in her serious expression.
She then left off with Neville walking beside her. And soon enough they faded far of the distance.
Malfoy walked to where Neville fell, just beside the broom Neville Longbottom used. He looked around finally spotting something shinny on the ground. He grabbed it and held it up high.
"What's this?" he asked "Must have been that Longbottom's" he said. Harry caught a glimpse of the object. It's Neville's Remembrall.
"Give it back here, Malfoy!" Harry ran up to Malfoy in an attempt to grab hold of the item.
"Why would I? It's not yours"
"And neither it is yours, Malfoy" Hermione said, now standing beside Harry.
"Well, Peverelle, if you want it so bad..." said Draco. He bent down to the ground and grabbed the broom that was lying by his feet. He then sat on it and took off the ground. "Then come and get it"
"Really, Malfoy, you brat" Bellatrix muttered under her breath. Hermione looked at Bellatrix curiously. If she was a Slytherin then why was she against Malfoy's behaviour? Hermione thought. It was very curious indeed that a Slytherin would often scold her other housemates. Though they were devious and could always get away from trouble it wasn't an excuse that they have to do it so often. Bellatrix on the other hand was just fascinated at things that were different to her, though due to high expectations to her by her parents she still had to behave. Not every time she was in trouble her parents could come to her rescue and for the fact she was a girl and not a boy to do something that dirty. Though, she did speak of her family highly but unlike what Malfoy do, he always bragged about things that should be bragged. Noting this, she became very aware that Malfoy might accidentally slip up the information about what they were and what their family does. She huffed; boys are a pain, why can't they just shut up? thought she.
Harry jumped into a broom and took off. It was his first time but he was doing great. Hermione on the other hand, along with Ron shouted for him to come down."Harry!"
"Now give it back Malfoy or I'll knock you off that broom!" Harry said.
"Really now?"
Harry charged towards Malfoy, as a result Malfoy barely dodged Harry's advances.
Growing rather mad Malfoy shouted "Well you could go and catch it into the forest, Peverelle!" he threw the ball into the air, farther away from the training grounds. Harry flew after it, throwing away all the fear he had. The only thing that he kept in mind was that it was for his friend, Neville.
"Merlin! Harry!" Ron shouted in pure shock. Hermione bolted from her position and jumped up into a broom. Bellatrix did as well.
"Harry stop! You're going to crash!" Hermione said as she flew a few miles behind Harry.
"Merlin forbid Malfoy! You're such a dimwit you know that, don't you!" Bellatrix called to Malfoy as she zoomed pass him. Baffled by Bellatrix's actions, he was stunned in his position. Petrified to do anything.
Harry was catching up on the Remembrall, he was nearing a large window of the second floor. Just a little more. Then in a swift movement he turned his broom the other way around, successfully catching the ball in his hands.
"Harry! Are you alright?" asked Hermione as she came to a stop behind him.
"You better descend now, Gryffindor, Peverelle" Bellatrix called from a far. Hermione nodded in response as well as Harry and descended back to the ground.
As soon as they were on the floor, a professor had emerged from the castle.
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