Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. All I have is a crazy idea and a drive to write.
Okay, this chapter was so hard to write, which is why it took a little longer. But I'm so sorry it did. I hope you'll forgive me enough to review, because I didn't get the chance to edit as much as I usually do.
Anyways, enjoy, ~ Kit.
Lesson 4 ~ Time With Friends
Hermione sent the class off early, as she was sure their professor would be much too busy dealing with the drama queen Malfoy to return. The class didn't complain, although most stayed a while, petting a Hippogriff or two. Most Gryffindors went up and thanked Buckbeak, but no matter what the cause, Hermione chewed them out for 'encouraging violence' in the 'innocent creature.'
The majority of Gryffindors had a free period after class, but some like Hermione walked through the halls towards their next class. Hermione practically skipped to the Ancient Runes classroom, eagerly awaiting its promising challenges.
She allowed herself to block out any thoughts and worries that had built up during the day and simply focused on the gentle tones of the lecturing Professor Babbling and the scratch of her quill.
While Hermione lost herself in rune-work, Harry and Ron were lounging around the paddock. They sat on an old log that sat a few feet away from the tethered Hippogriffs, talking as they waited for Hagrid.
"Hey Harry," Ron began casually, "something's been bugging me. I know you said that you need to study extra with Hermione because of Black, but do you really want to?"
"Actually, yeah," Harry replied distantly. "I mean, last year, when Hermione was...you know petrified, we sort of...well, I sort of fell apart. I was a mess, and I know that if it weren't for Hermione's insight or her ability to think ahead many more people would have died."
Ron nodded, "Yeah, in a way she saved Ginny just as much as you did with that clue. I get it; you're just trusting her again."
Without a word, Harry slid off the log and pulled at the grass.
They lapsed into silence, enjoying the feel of the afternoon sun. Harry kept playing with the blades of grass at his feet, thinking about everything that had happened. He didn't feel much as time passed between them, as Harry was lost to the world before Ron shook his shoulder. Harry turned his head to see that Hagrid had returned. The two scrambled up, and rushed over to their friend.
"Hagrid!" Harry called as they neared the half-giant. "That was –" He stopped when he saw Hagrid's face. "What's wrong?"
Tears streaked down Hagrid's face and disappeared into his bushy beard. "I'm a horrible teacher Harry."
"Why do you say that? Class was awesome!" Ron exclaimed, earning him a small smile from Hagrid.
"I lef' yeh alone with the Hippogriffs. Someone coulda gotten hurt!" Hagrid bawled.
Harry patted his back, "But Hagrid, Malfoy was the only one that got hurt. If we were fine with the Hippogriffs without you, you must have been a marvelous teacher. I'm sure you did the right thing."
"Yeah," Ron cut in. "Hermione made sure we tethered them up before we took the rest of class off. Not even the Slytherins acted up, and that's saying something."
"Watch, we'll even help you bring them in!" Harry exclaimed.
Harry and Ron spent the remainder of their free period soothing Hagrid and playing with the tamer Hippogriffs, although they begged off before Hagrid could invite them in for his infamous rock cakes. Both were happy that their friend's new confidence soared higher, but neither wanted their teeth lost to the rock cakes.
Hermione found the two by the lake, and as soon as she sat down, Harry asked, "What did McGonagall say when you asked her about our extra studies?"
Hermione's eyes lit up, "Oh, it's fantastic! Professor McGonagall practically told me she'd be training us herself. She's going to monitor Harry and me while we practice after dinner until curfew. It's so exciting."
Ron made a face, "Bloody Hell, that's almost two whole hours of study!" Hermione simply shot him a smile. "You're mental!"
"Aw, come on Ron," Harry groaned, expecting an argument to erupt. "It's not the end of the world, I even promise to play a few games of chess if McGonagall and Hermione don't train me to the ground."
"I'm sure that if we learn anything interesting, we'll be able to invite you along. I promise that I won't leave you out if you want to join us," Hermione mentioned soothingly.
"No thanks," Ron shot back. "I'd just get in the way or something. But in return, you have to stop pestering me about my homework this year."
"I do not pester you," Hermione huffed.
Trying to circumvent an argument, Harry asked, "Well, now that that's all figured out, why don't we head to dinner?" They all laughed as Ron's stomach gave a loud grumble.
Dinner, like most other meals, was come and go. It was open from five to seven o' clock, and rarely did students stay for the entire meal.
Unlike breakfast and lunch, dinner had a stranger hustle and bustle. Recountings of classroom moments washed over the crowded hall in moments, and a tale of Malfoy's arrogance filtered through in less. Even the Slytherins had to admit that what he had done was a mistake, knowing that Professor Snape would be quite angry. The classroom was not the place to do as you pleased; as a potions master, it was the first of the Snape Rules. The second, of course, was don't get caught, and if Malfoy lost any more points for classroom misconduct, the Slytherins would have to remind him of their first lessons.
Gryffindor was a different story. Malfoy's folly raised questions, the most common being about Hagrid's reactions. Many knew the half-giant as a gentle fellow with odd tastes, but no one had expected him to be so cold to a student. Most believed that Hagrid would have been in his hut, crying over something not in his control. Hermione was among those students who were glad that Hagrid wasn't what they thought he'd be.
Ron however, had more pressing concerns; in front of him was his favorite, golden-skinned chicken specially seasoned with orange blossom honey. He ate them only slowly enough to let the grease settle on his tongue before taking another leg. He always made sure to have at least one on his plate at all times, just in case the kitchens ran out.
A few greens found their way to his plate courtesy of Hermione, but he ignored both the greens and the glare shot at him for not eating them. Dinner was Ron's favorite meal, so it was no surprise that the trio stayed the full two hours waiting for Ron to finish his meal, two of the three watching in disgust at Ron's ability to eat undeterred.
As rumors tended to spread, Harry spoke in light tones while telling Hermione about Hagrid's concerns.
By the time dinner ended, Ron was happy to head off to the tower. He didn't seem to mind that he'd be going alone, as they did just watch him down about twelve pieces of chicken and a slice of pie.
"I'll be waiting for that game, mate," Ron said as he parted. This soothed Hermione and washed away any guilt Harry had built up in his chest. Harry gave him a wave and allowed himself to be pulled down the corridor by the enthusiastic Hermione.
To say Hermione was excited would be like saying Oliver Wood liked Quidditch, it was a downright understatement, more so to Harry as he was in the process of having his arm ripped off. "Hey, Hermione?" Harry began shakily. "Do you think we could slow down?" Unfortunately, Hermione didn't hear him and sped up. Harry gave his friend a glare, but picked up the pace.
"Ah, Miss Granger," A stern voice greeted Hermione as she pulled Harry around the corner. "And Mr. Potter, good timing. I have a room prepared near Gryffindor Tower. Follow me."
Harry jerked his arm from Hermione's loosened grip and gave a pleased sigh. The group moved at a more even pace, although Hermione seemed so jittery that he thought she might miss a step as they climbed up the Grand Staircase. He gave her a small smile, aware that she would be too excited to see it. Harry had never seen Hermione act like a child hopped up on sugar, but throw her into a training session with her favorite professor; it was...something else.
They stopped at a portrait of a young witch. She had long dirty blond hair that fell past her chest. The golden strands framed her pale face, although one stand seemed to cling fiercely against her left cheek. Her navy eyes gazed dreamily out an arched window, open to a starry night and a soft breeze. She sat there, the soft green of her cloak visible to her audience as she waved her wand, showering the canvas with vibrant colors.
"Hello," the portrait said to them as the colors began to fade. She spoke to the professor, "Are those the two you were talking to me about earlier?"
"Yes, Aurora. This is Harry Potter and Hermione Granger. The three of us are the only ones to be allowed in unless I specify otherwise."
"Would you like to set a password Professor?" Aurora asked, sending more colors into her starry sky.
"It is not necessary at the moment," Professor McGonagall spoke before turning to the students. "I will only be with you for three hours of turned time, but Aurora will be watching you anytime you decide to enter. She will tell me if you do anything but study and practice spells while I am not present. Is that clear?"
"Yes Professor," the two spoke honestly.
With a nod, Aurora swung open. The professor allowed the students in first, giving a parting thanks to the portrait. Once the painting swung shut, Aurora appeared on a starry-skied knoll. She lay back and stared at the twinkling stars, attention divided between a sudden burst of magic and the painted sky.
Hermione spun the group back tree hours, landing them in the same room, only dustier. Aurora was not in her second portrait, and the professor sent a few quick spells to remove any dust.
"Now, why don't we all grab a seat," Professor McGonagall commanded softly. The two students complied, choosing a nice spot on the old couch that sat in the corner. "Not there, the floor please."
Confused, Harry and Hermione moved towards the center of the room and took a spot on the floor. The professor gave her students a smile. "The first thing I am going to teach you is the discipline called meditation. While it is normally not taught until fifth year in Defense, I believe that it will be of great benefit for this particular venture. We will spend the beginning of our sessions until five o' clock in meditation each day.
"Now before we begin, I would like to give you a bit of background as to why this is needed," Professor McGonagall paused. "While many will subconsciously organize their thoughts and calm their mind regularly, controlled and guided meditation allows a witch or wizard the ability to connect to their magical core and organize thoughts and memories. There is also a specific form of guided mediation meant to unlock Animagi forms, but that is not taught until NEWT Transfiguration. Now, let us begin; close your eyes."
She sat in a small wooden chair and spoke in a light tone, "First, I want you to find something to focus on. It can be anything, an image, your breath, even the sound of my voice. Simply focus and allow everything else to melt away."
Although the sound of her voice was hypnotic, Harry could not help but fidget. He tensed, trying to will away a sudden itch.
"Try not to fidget, and do not get angry when a stray thought crosses your mind. Instead, acknowledge it and allow it to play out. The thought will leave on its own. Remain calm, and focus."
Hermione's thoughts flew about her mind. She tried her best not to get frustrated, but no matter how many times she tried to block them out, they kept refocusing. She took a deep breath and decided to try a new focus.
"Now, allow your mind to spread outward, touch the sounds and magic around you and drink them in. Let them fill you, become a part of you, pull the feelings inside you."
The magic around them was crisp and cold. It held very little life in it, and Hermione realized why the magic of Hogwarts could only sustain House Elves. Harry's magic and her own were warmer, livelier than the ambient magic, it was welcoming and friendly.
"Follow the sensations as they shiver beneath your skin, let them guide you as you explore your inner selves. Allow the magic to touch your own, and pull it into your center..." The aged witch continued to guide them, until the clock neared five.
"Now then," she said softly, "I want you to slowly return the magic outward. Expand your awareness back into the room. Allow your focus to lessen."
The rest of their session with Professor McGonagall continued in a similar fashion. First, she would tell them how they would spend their next hour, spell theory and the applications of their new spell, followed by an hour of practice. Then, she would teach them and guide them until she deemed them fit to study on their own. Finally, when the clock struck seven, McGonagall led them behind a large bookshelf and told them that they would be allowed to use any of the books on the shelves for their homework.
They waited behind the shelves until their past selves disappeared in a flash of magic.
"Now remember," Professor McGonagall began, gesturing to the painting. "Aurora will be watching to make sure you behave. Meet me here every day after dinner," and with that, she left the two in the room, alone with a curious young witch who had nothing better to do than ask them about their training.
"So, what did you learn, huh?" she asked from beneath her oak tree.
"Professor McGonagall taught us the stunner spell," Hermione informed her. She looked down and blushed a bit, she had been secretly jealous that Harry had done better than her. "She also introduced us to meditation."
"Oooh! Tell me, does the castle still feel cold? Or has it warmed up?" Aurora inquired.
Harry answered this time, "It's cold, but I think I pulled some of Hermione's magic in too, because some of it felt warm."
Aurora gasped and gave him a judging look as she tried to assess his level of injury. "Hmm, you look alright, but I think that you should be more careful. Pulling in someone else's magic is very dangerous. If you aren't close enough to the person, their magic could cause an illness called the wizard's flu. Children often get it by pulling at their guest's magic or sometimes even House Elf magic."
The conversation simply died after that. Aurora decided to leave them alone, and continued to conjure an array of greens into the sky.
Harry and Hermione settled into a quiet calm, occasionally broken by a question and its answer. They started on Transfiguration, which led to a discussion about Animagi forms. They argued the most useful to the most extravagant, witling away their time before finishing their essays, after which, Harry found he had nothing to do.
"Hey, Hermione," Harry asked looking over her shoulder. "What do you have?"
She looked up, "I only have a few Arithmancy exercises and an essay for Muggle Studies, but I was going to practice drawing some of the runes. In fact, why don't you take a look at them?" She handed him her textbook, but he shook his head and wandered over to the shelf. Instead he occupied his time with Hermione's favorite, Hogwarts, A History. Her smile wavered for a second, but Hermione shook her head, 'He probably is studied out, although why he decided on that book...'
She finished most of her essay, but decided to revise it tomorrow as her mind seemed to wander off. Hermione slid to the floor and crouched over the table, slowly, she began tracing the runes, mumbling their meanings as she drew them.
Harry peeked over her shoulder, waiting until she put her quill down. "Are those the runes?" he asked, curious.
"Yeah, they activate when you trace on special surfaces, but sometimes they will only activate if you trace entire phrases with your wand. Each rune has its own meaning, and they exist in more than one form or even language," Hermione explained.
Harry nodded and watched Hermione work. "What can they do?"
"The runes?" Harry nodded. "Well if they are placed properly, runes can form wards or powerful spells. Once, long ago, when magic was more open, people used runes to summon creatures and animals to battle with one another. However, most, if not all, of those sequences or phrases died with their creators."
Harry blinked, digesting the odd tidbit of information Hermione had presented him before glancing at the clock. "Hey Hermione," Harry began.
"Yes?"
"We'd better get going or we'll be out past curfew."
Roughly two minutes before curfew, Harry was seen collapsing into a seat next to Ron, who was in the process of demolishing Neville's queen.
"Aw, not again!" Neville groaned. "I give up. Harry, it's your turn."
Bravely, Harry took the seat across from Ron and allowed his best friend to knock the stuffing out of his army men. They laughed as Harry's chess army fell accompanied by dramatic commentary from said loser.
The week passed on peacefully. Malfoy was locked up in the Hospital under the strict eye of Madam Pomfrey, mostly because he decided to play the victim. He was stir crazy in his self imprisonment, and because he insisted on complaining about a non-existent pain in his leg, he could not be let go.
Madam Pomfrey had a strict policy. Any student was free to come in, skip class with their false pains that did not show up on her scans, but instead of letting them out, Madam Pomfrey kept them in. She wouldn't let them leave the Hospital Wing until they admitted they were faking, but Malfoy didn't want to quit.
"Mr. Malfoy, you are ready for release. To get around the school, you will be using these. I will be checking up on you during the week, and I will be informed if you decide to dispose of them," She told him squarely.
"What are they?" he asked.
"Crutches. They are a Muggle invention that –"
"I am not using anything made by Muggles!" Malfoy exclaimed rudely.
"Well then you will be staying in the wing until you are feeling better," Madam Pomfrey spoke definitively.
"Gah!" he exclaimed angrily. "Alright, I admit it! I'm fine. I have been since last week! Let me out!"
"Oh, no, no, Mr. Malfoy. I think you need a night in the Hospital Wing just to be sure."
To clear things up, Harry is not joining Hermione's classes. He is joining her study sessions only. He's learning through Hermione, and this is important...well, you'll see why later on. Right now, Harry isn't interested in switching classes, and by the time he does want to, it'll be too late. He can't drop Divination either until the end of the year because he needs two electives. Next year though...you'll see.
