Disclaimer: The characters and setting within are not of my own creation, and I take no credit for them. No copyright breach has been intended
A/N: Hermione Granger is Henri Adams I will be referring to her as a female throughout the chapter. Hopefully no one is confused.
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She was running. Running from what she didn't know all her instincts told her was to continue running because she was afraid. Never stop or else it would get her. But why? She wondered slowly coming to a stop. Because . . . because . . .What will it do?
"Please Hermione," a silky voice whispered towards her and she slowly turned around, "Don't run away from me. I lo-"
"Henri!" a different voice interrupted Henri? She wondered, "Henri! Come on, it's time to go."
Her bleary eyes slowly opened, soon revealing hazel eyes from under its lashes. She slowly got up and looked around. The window outside showed the dark blanket of night and she realized that they were there. She was home. A lazy smile appeared on her face but then it quickly went away. She was back to being Henri something she enjoyed greatly even though at certain times she yearned to be a girl.
"Henri . . . common, we're here . . . Master Snape" he spat, "won't be pleased if we aren't lined up."
She looked up to see that she was woken up by Harry and her eyebrows wrinkled in confusion. She tried to remember what her dream was about but all she could remember was running. Anything else was lost in her subconscious mind. Slightly shrugging she got up and stretched.
"We're not running are we?" she asked hopefully towards the boys. Both shrugged but neither was bothered at the prospect of exercising. It was essentially in their blood including the sport of Quidditch. She on the other hand would much rather prefer her feet on the ground than letting a stick hold her from falling to her doom. It was habitual that whoever came to fetch them would offer running to the castle itself or carriages. On some occasions when Master Flitwick or Lupin came to fetch them they felt some sympathy and let them use the carriages. Others like Master Snape would rather they ran and gasp for air when they finally reached the grounds.
The band of trio walked out of the compartment knowing that their things would be taken to their dorm rooms and found that their clothes were magically changed. It consisted of their training gear which where loose light colored tan pants that were already altered to fit them comfortably and a dark shirt that had no sleeves.
As soon as she felt the change she let out a groan and lined up, hoping that Master Snape didn't hear it. Unfortunately luck was not on her side that night.
"Now Adams, you can't be telling me that you don't want to be here." He said snarkily, "After all those years of wasting your time, maybe I'll tell Master Dumbledore to kick you out like the pathetic being you are."
"No Master Snape." She replied dutifully as she focused on his black shoes. It wouldn't help her to fight back as it would merely get her into more trouble.
Giving a nasty smirk he moved on to the other students and called the order to begin their run. She clenched her teeth and began jogging on the long trail towards Hogwarts. Harry and Ron both caught up to her and jogged by her until Harry asked.
"Why don't you ever tell Snape to shut his mouth?" he prodded casually as he kept looking forward.
Hermione pursed her lips and gave a quick glance at the man beside her. She noticed that he had grown quite considerably since the last time she saw him and so did Ron. They both had filled out quite nicely but Ron was still taller than the both of them.
Harry was a couple of inches taller than her and his muscles rolled as they ran. His piercing emerald eyes caught everything while his eyebrows hung over them as he frowned in concentration. His hair was cut short and was untamable which made her smile at just how it would look after they stopped.
Ron on the other hand was tall and lank which made her feel really short. Of course just about everyone was taller than she was. He had grown out of his tall and lanky stage and seemed to come out lean and strong. His hair was a bright shade of red and he chose to let it grow making it frame his pale face. He had warm chocolate brown eyes that seemed to come in and out of focus whenever he dazed off and a lazy smile that seemed to permanently stay on his face.
"Unlike you two, I'd prefer to stay out of trouble." She huffed, her breath clouding in the frigid air after a moment or two of observing them. When she thought about it the situation was humorous. She remembered having huge crushes on each of them during different times. Harry because he was so sweet and thoughtful and Ron because he was funny and carefree. Both were opposites but the best of friends. Her secret crush was over once she realized it was never going to happen. Besides they were her best friends, now that they spent so much time with each other they were more like siblings. Hermione let a smile grace her features and continued running with them.
The air was cold and it felt delightful as it entered through her hot body. If it was one thing she enjoyed about this physical exercise was the wind whipping around her making her anticipate being in the air with her dragon even if she didn't particularly enjoy it at times on a stick.
Finally they made it to the castle and slowly came to a stop, knowing that it would hurt their bodies if they stopped immediately. A light sheen of sweat covered their bodies and Hermione lifted an arm to wipe the sweat trickling down her face. Even though they looked bad the first years were pouring sweat as they caught up to the Seventh years. They were all breathing deeply and gasping as they reached the front steps. It made her smile as she recalled her first day as well. It was just the beginning of their training soon it'll be more difficult as they push themselves even further.
Snape opened the door and directed them all to wash up in their dormitories while the First Years took their showers in a room by the Great Hall. Hermione winced at the thought of walking all the way towards the Gryffindor tower and slowed. It had been ages since she had worked out even though she tried her best to remember to work out. The orphanage would suspect something wrong if she, a girl, was running and doing push ups.
Ron and Harry on the other hand looked absolutely invigorated by the long trek and looked behind to see Hermione lagging behind.
"Henri, you doing okay mate?" Harry asked politely, concern written in his eyes.
She merely nodded and caught up to them. After some small talk they finally reached the Gryffindor tower, it was filled with the familiar red and gold that she came to hold dearly in her memories. The other years were relaxing a bit as they had probably come up on other trails that were shorter. After the first year when they showed you the last trail you were supposed to take as seventh years, they started you off slowly then built it up.
They entered the bathroom held solely for the seventh years on their first year back and Hermione gasped. They each had a spout to take a shower and everything was glamorous. There was even a gigantic pool on the side that resembled a mini pool. Hermione looked up to share an equally big grin with the boys. They wouldn't have to share or fight over the hot shower. They bolted to the mini pool and began filling it to the brim with all sorts of bubbles and soaps. Hermione and the guys took a step back while taking their shoes off. Before they could run and jump into the pool a second year meekly stepped into the bathroom telling them that the feast was about to start and they were needed.
Ron groaned, "Why the bloody hell do they need us there?"
"Ron you know why . . . since it's our final year and all." Harry merely replied stripping off his clothes, and turning on the shower.
Hermione automatically turned from them and pulled out her wand making a shower curtain wrap around her part of the bathroom.
"I still don't see your reason for doing that Henri," Ron yelled out from under his shower, "Not like you have anything under there we don't have."
Blushing, Hermione mumbled to herself, "Boy would you be surprised if you knew."
She took a quick shower and picked up a red towel from the rack outside of her shower curtains. After drying herself she grabbed her bindings and carefully placed it around her body efficiently concealing her small breasts. She put on her uniform and made sure everything was in place. Nodding in satisfaction she grabbed her sweaty clothes and took off the shower curtains. She tried holding the blush that was threatening to form from her face but the slow rising of red still appeared as her eyes glanced at some very manly chests. Hermione determinedly kept her head and eyes above the waist and focused on their faces instead. From time to time there were embarrassing moments for her when the guys were doing stupid things but fortunately every occupied and she slipped out unnoticed.
After twenty minutes the rest of the Gryffindor males came out refreshed and in their school uniforms. The uniforms for Dragon Rider's were a lot different from Wizard clothing. For one they don't wear robes on the outside of their clothing instead they wore black loose pants, a shirt with long sleeves and a button up top. On their collars and wrists the coloring represented their house color until their seventh year when it stayed white until their dragon was born. For shoes they wore black flats and white socks instead of regular shoes. [A/N: pictures on my profile if this weren't a good enough description.]
Soon enough the trio reached the Great hall along with all the other houses. Inside the Great hall were six long tables it included the staff's table at the far end facing the double doors. Each table was respectively belonging to each house while the fifth table in the middle was exclusively belonging to the Seventh Year students. The only exception to the fifth table was that it was a bit smaller than the other tables due to the number of seventh years. As soon as the last couple of students trickled in and sat down, the sorting of the first years began.
They trickled in nervously each looking pale and frightened as the next. The sorting hat began its song talking about the changing of times and the feeling of betrayal but in the end to accept what is and not what it was supposed to be.
Now my name is the sorting hat
But not was what but now that
I see the times are a changing
The light is a flaming
Although betrayal seems stinging
Loyalty of each needs bringing
To love or to slay
Is all up to each persons play
Accept what is and not what should be
Only then path to light is easy to see
The song made Hermione shift in her seat uncomfortably but not enough to attract attention from the others as it spoke of betrayal. She joined the others as they clapped confused as to what the hat was trying to say. Then the sorting of the first years began. Once it was done Master Dumbledore stood to say his ceremonial speech.
"Welcome." he said grandly to the students as he opened his arms in welcoming, "Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts before we begin our banquet I would like to say a couple of things, first years should note that the forest on the grounds is forbidden to all pupils." He paused looking at all the students then looked specifically at Hermione, Ron, and Harry, "There is to be no magic in the corridors or fights of any kind."
Hermione, of course, had the grace to blush under his scrutiny while Harry and Ron grinned to themselves at the memories. She soon withdrew her attention from the Headmaster and began looking around. Usually she would pay rapt attention to the Headmaster but her dream had been constantly nagging at the back of her mind. All of a sudden the hairs on the back of her neck rose and she felt a stare aimed directly at her. She met the gaze of Blaise Zabini and surprisingly the piercing gaze of Draco Malfoy.
She raised an eyebrow in challenge secretly hoping that a blush wouldn't make its way on her pale face. Fortunately they both turned their attention back to the Headmaster and she let out a sigh of relief. Any longer and she would have been squirming in her seat. Soon the sound of clapping reached her ears and she clapped along with them. Food appeared deliciously in front of them and Hermione nearly drooled just at the sight of it. She put as much food as she could without looking like Ron and dug in appreciatively. Soon the sound of chatter and the clinging of silverware filled the Great Hall giving it, its homey feeling yet again.
What intrigued her at the moment was the stare Zabini and Malfoy had given her. She nearly gave a big sigh before she realized she was under their scrutiny and held it in. Honestly as much fun as it was to fight she wasn't in the mood to put up with their childish antics. Once dessert was finished and everyone was full Master Dumbledore stood.
"I bid you all goodnight but I would like the Seventh years to stay behind to hear the information needed for the rest of their exciting year." He said, his light blue eyes twinkling as if there was some hidden information.
Slowly everyone but the seventh years trickled out of the Great Halls and headed towards their warm and comfortable beds. Hermione and the others stayed seated all waiting in suspension. Soon the Great Hall was empty except for the Heads of Houses, Headmaster, and the seventh year students. Master Dumbledore seemed to take in a long breath and let it out slowly his blue eyes dimming as he looked upon their faces.
"My dear students," he began, "This is the final year of your journey at Hogwarts, but just the beginning of your lives. This is the year you will be paired with you dragon. Some of you, I regretfully have to say, will not have the chance of becoming paired while others will have the chance of a lifetime to bond with it. You all understand the training that will come ahead of you as each and every one of you will compete against each other. Those who are paired will continue training as a Dragon Rider, those who are not will find a career they would like to work as and take those classes."
Everyone shuffled in their seats understanding the competition between them. "As you know on the day of the choosing you will all be at your very best mentally, physically, and magically. You will demonstrate everything you have learned in the past six years and prove to be the best that you can be. Your heads of houses will be available to answer any questions, comments, or concerns but for now its best if you all head to bed. Sleep well for tomorrow shall be an exhausting day for you all."
Dismissed, Hermione stood up with the rest of her year and walked to their new common room lead by Master Flitwick, a small little man who was great at Charms and presented an awesome style of the Rat.
The style pertained to each student, each unique to each person, but they still learned to fight in each style of fighting. They were a series of complicated moves to either defend themselves or to attack. Hermione's feet were like lead as they continue to tread up the marble staircases and stopped at a portrait. On it was a Shaolin monk who seemed to be in the middle of meditation, with a quite cough Master Flitwick told him the password, Firedrake a particular dragon that had no wings and breathed fire to protect itself.
Everyone was either too tired or too excited to say anything cruel to one another except goodnight to their friends. Hermione gave a wave to Harry and Ron as she headed to one of the twenty room doors. As a treat of their seventh year they lived in the same common room to create unity and had their own rooms. Hermione merely chose the one to the very right of the room and reached for the knob. As soon as her hand touched it the plaque on her door spelled her name. Her real name, Hermione Granger. She gave an unknowing gasp and her eyes widened as her name slowly spelled out in front of her. Cursing under her breath she pulled out her wand and did a quick glamour spell over it to change it to Henri Adams. Hermione would figure out a permanent spell to change it but at the moment she was just too worn out from the day's events.
What she didn't notice as she walked into her room was a certain former Slytherin was watching her when he heard her gasp.
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A/N: Soo, here's a newly updated Chapter 2! Hope everyone likes it ;) Now ongoing to Chapter 3!
