Hawthorn Riches Chapter 4

Seraphina sat down at the Slytherin table at seven o' clock exactly. Most of her housemates had thought she was mad when they'd first observed her getting up at, according to them 'ridiculously early' hours. The few students who'd agreed with her early starts were now beginning to side with the others. It was Fridays which were their problem; she only had two double periods of Defence Against the Dark Arts and Flying, two subjects which started after lunch. As Theo had told her when he'd gotten up to prepare for his Ancient Runes class which began at nine, totally aghast at seeing her in the common room, 'but that's SEVEN more hours in bed you could have had.'

Her peers didn't know her that well although they were learning, it was just that all the other Slytherins had known each other for years but Seraphina's first year had been her sixth. She'd only started at Hogwarts because under Professor Snape's tenure as headmaster children couldn't be homeschooled. There was only a dozen or so students who'd joined Hogwarts for those reasons. Seraphina lifted up the tea pot to pour herself another cup, the stretch exposing the black mark of one of her tattoos, the rune for fire on her inner wrist, the pair to the water rune on her left pulse point. The great hall was slowly filling up, students filing in looking in differing states of wakefulness. She couldn't understand peoples wish to stay in bed most of the morning. That was one of the best parts of the day! With the morning sun and the birds chirping while the rest of the world slowly started its day, it was just beautiful.

Usually if she were at home and still being taught by her tutor she would be on her first class of the day already. She glanced at her watch, in was half past seven now so she would have just begun her Potions class before moving on to Transfiguration, all before midday! She missed home she decided, as she smiled to Daphne Greengrass and her younger sister Astoria who had sat opposite her chatting over a letter from home. It wasn't as if she had any siblings of her own it was simple things like her family's horses, Calico, Zander and Forbes which she missed riding in the grounds of the house or being able to practice her languages. Hogwarts, she had found out much to her disappointment, was lacking any language classes.

The grounds were the very ones she had used to run around in when she had managed her animagus transformation, of a coyote, two years back when she would have been a 5th year. It was only this summer when they had been able to travel more freely that they had made the journey back to her mother's tribe in the United States, that she had even been able to receive her ritual tribal tattoo. In her families particular wizarding tribe it was something of a right of passage to be able to communicate with the animals through your animagus form, so a tattoo was given once you'd achieved your form as a method of identifying those with the ability. Her mother Tallulah had the wings and claws of her animagus form the prairie falcon on her back on one of her shoulder blades. Her Native American tribe's culture stated that your animagus form had to be tattooed on your body to give you a greater communion with it, the reason Seraphina had had to wait eighteen months for hers was that the symbol and place all depended on the tribes seer who would talk to the spirits to gain the knowledge. She had two of the paw prints of her coyote form on the soles of her feet. None of the students knew about those tattoos, those ones were personal. She couldn't really hide her other ones, not that she wished to or anything she amended silently. Her first one she had received when she turned eleven, the age by which most wizarding children can access their magical core also known as school aged. It was her family tattoo and weaved through the fingers of her wand hand; it along with her coyote tattoo and runes was the last of the solid black ones. Seraphina rubbed her left hand subconsciously as she thought about it. That she's seen, hardly any of the rest of the student body had tattoos, seemed it wasn't the done thing for this generation although in her parents time it was a recognised method of which to keep a spell upon a person, be that a tracking spell, a protective charm or a healing rune. Blaise was one person who came to mind now she thought about it, although she had to admit the memory was slightly fuzzy in places. He had that new one on his shoulder that he'd been showing off at his party on the first night, well that was before he was dragged away from the common room by Daphne and Draco and back to his room. Both who'd felt he'd imbibed that little bit too much firewhisky. According to him as he stood in front of the fire topless and pointing to his tattoo with a grin on his face, it wasn't done the muggle way but was done by a witch in the wizarding area of Morocco, his wasn't charmed to move though, she'd been smug to know, that just meant hers was all the more unusual.

She rested her head on her hand once she'd finished off her breakfast, watching the tables trying to remember who else was inked. There was that Ravenclaw girl Lisa Turpin she thought it was, she had a few dotted up her arms and one on her neck, all of them something she vaguely recognised from Divination but no one had a moving one like she herself had. To be honest she was very proud of that one, the spirals and wavy lines ran up her spine and stopped at the top of her neck. The entire tattoo was charmed as it was done ensuring its protective spells continued and never needed renewing. When a Hufflepuff sitting behind her in class had squealed when they had watched the reddish–brown spirals at the top of her neck as they unfurled themselves, this was sometime last year; Seraphina had been crowded around once they'd left as they'd watched the phenomenon.

She ran a hand through her hair as she stood, quickly picking up her bag which she had packed for going to the library. Seraphina had hoped to catch her Transfiguration teacher before they'd left to teach but she'd gotten distracted. Her bag knocked against her thigh as she left the hall, hurrying as she tried to catch up to the Transfiguration teacher who had just left with the headmistress. She needed to register herself at the ministry if she wanted to use her animagus form and she would need help with that. Seraphina had been putting it off over the period of the war not wanting to give over too much personal information to a corrupt government. Well she said that but her own mother was part of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement and refused to register, her reasoning being that back home in the U.S it wasn't required so she wasn't going to be doing it here. She sighed at her mother's stubbornness as she turned the corner to try and head off the two professors at the teacher's door.

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Hermione sat on the floor outside her Ancient Runes class where she could see the dark wood of the door, she was early she conceded but it would be so much more helpful if the classroom door was open. It would mean she wouldn't be sitting in an alcove her back resting against the cold stone writing to Harry and Ron, the ink open on the floor and her parchment balanced rather precariously on her knee, where if she pressed down too far her quill would go right through it. The boys had opted for a joint letter she'd read with a grin, the back and forth method reminding her of the notes they used to pass in class. Hermione wasn't really surprised though, over the summer in between helping with the after-effects of the war they'd cleared out and restored almost all of Grimauld Place with the help of Kretcher so it was where she and the boys had been living. Hermione lifted up the letter from where it was propped on her bag, it had been good to get an update on George among other things, she gave up on skimming the letter and settled down to read it again, she still had a good twenty minutes before class.

Hermione,

So how's school, what NEWTs did you decide upon? I can't believe I'm writing that! I can't believe you went back, you were there when Kingsley said we could go straight into the Auror program without our Newts weren't you? Ron go write your own letter! Anyway don't you remember, Hermione says that NEWTs are a valuable part of our education and that many doors will close for us if we don't have them regardless of whether we are war heroes or not. Aren't you proud Hermione, that was almost word perfect, shows I listen! Pfft or that you have a pensive. We found one– okay okay, Kretcher found one down in the basement. It's warded like hell so we can't get near it until you come back but we think it might have belonged to Sirius's mum, she certainly went nutters when we spoke about it going past her. How has school been, miss us yet? Like you thought George is the same as ever, he's still only seeing the rest of the family and Lee Jordan on a good day. Most of the time he's staying in his old room at the Burrow, still not moved into the flat above the shop. George says that he can't face going back to work without Fred yet, the house seems too quiet when I'm over. Mum says hi, we were at the Burrow and she said she wants updates on how you're doing with your education. Don't think she can quite get her head around the fact that Bill, Charlie and Percy were the only ones to take their Newts. I don't think Ginny and Mum see eye to eye on what a proper career is. Dad couldn't be more proud, he keeps going on about how his little girl is a professional quidditch player. Why she couldn't have played for the Chudley Cannons– Deal with it Ron she's with the Holyhead Harpies and loving it. You only like it because this means she's closer to you! You should hear him Mione as soon as Ginny is mentioned he gets this glassy eyed look and I'm forced to hit him. It bloody hurts as well, Gin loves it she says that as of last week she's going to be playing with the team rather than just on the reserve, one of the chasers is off to have a baby. Gin says the captain Gwenog Jones is really strict, wonder how she compares to Oliver Wood. We saw him by the way, the other day in Diagon Alley, he's fully recovered from that curse to his leg, not even a limp, says he'll be back with Puddlemere United this season. As you asked we picked up some books for you, I'll send them out once Spira comes back from Charlie in Romania. Before you ask Ron was borrowing her as we didn't think Pig would manage it! Did you see the Prophet? They're a pain in the ass, sometimes I wish we hadn't removed that paper from under the Ministry's control! King wants to know, as a friend obviously, how the news was taken at Hogwarts. He says you should firecall him and not send a letter, paranoid or what! You should see the damage control trying to be done with Gringott– Bill says it's a mess, the goblins were even more controlling before but now he says it's bloody stupid all the protocols being put in place, not that he can talk about them. You got blood typed at the bank didn't you? I can kind of understand that, I mean you were opening an account but they did the same to me and Harry! My vault was there since I was seventeen and Harry has had his since forever. Their faces though…they definitely knew who we were, thought they were going to lock us in at one point! What are you doing for your birthday? Should we firecall you to say hi? It'll be the only one since we were friends that we won't be there for… Kretcher just said, and I quote, 'I'lls will makes Miss Hermione a cake and I'lls tell the Hogwarts elves to make Missus favourites.' Isn't he the best always knew Harry should keep him. That reminds me when are you going to the Hawthorn Estate? You managed to work through the ward details that the solicitors gave you or will you need to use one of the curse breakers from Gringotts? I'm sure you could borrow Bill at some point. You missed out by the way Fleur is pregnant Mum couldn't be more proud. Keeps going on about grandchildren now whenever we see her, Ginny tends to leave at that point. That reminds me I visited Teddy on Wednesday, it was the funniest thing, remember how last time he had a cold so when he sneezed his hair changed colour, well this time his nose lengthened! It was the oddest sight, a nose like Snape's on a toddler. Andromeda says it's an effect the pepper up potion has on metamorphmagi. Andromeda said that Tonks was the same when she was a baby. Going to have to go, Kretcher's calling us for lunch.

Have a good birthday when it comes, we'll send out your presents from everyone with Spira and Pig. I'll even stop off at your parents to see if they want me to send anything off. We miss you but we know how you are about your education, so have fun- if you can get away from your books! Say hi to everyone and if we don't get the chance to call we should meet up on a Hogsmede weekend. Do you know the dates yet?

Love Harry and Ron

Blaise sat down in one of the free seats in the large Charms classroom, there was only so much talk he could take about his fellow Slytherins before he hexed someone. The classroom was quickly filling up and his barriers of empty seats were beginning to disappear. He watched as two of them on his right were taken by boyfriend and girlfriend Anona and Zeke, well if he was being technical he should say fiancés. None of their friends had been surprised when the two 7th years had announced their impending marriage in the prophet over the holidays, the two had been going steady for over three years and the entire house was happy for the pair. Blaise saw Terry Boot and his younger brother Giles enter and groaned. A stray sectumsempra from one of the Slytherins on the side of the light had hit Giles and removed part of his left arm. Thankfully it wasn't his wand arm but still to lose your arm from just above the elbow wasn't good regardless. His eyes were drawn again to the rough scar surrounding the area, it was dark and ugly looking. Merlin knew why he wouldn't cover it with a glammer or at least clothing. It was almost as if Giles wanted everyone to stare and be shocked by it and then feel guilty. Well Blaise wasn't going to fall for that from those Ravenclaws he looked the boys in the eyes before letting his gaze roam over their heads almost nonchalantly to the next group who were entering through the door. The other three 8th year Slytherins saw him sitting at the back and made their way over to him, couldn't they see by the two rows of empty seats surrounding him that he wasn't in the mood to socialise as this class usually allowed. The only one to take the hint was Daphne who turned off into one of the other rows to sit with a group of Ravenclaws she studied with. Draco and Theo sat beside him. His jaw clenched as they did so, yes he was totally on their side but that still meant he wanted space. Blaise resolutely faced the front where little Professor Flitwick was working his way through the register. He usually loved Charms but he couldn't wait until it was Defence Against the Dark Arts with Professor Holbday after lunch. The double period meant they would be practicing spell casting and that meant he could blow off steam without getting a detention for it. He crossed his arms over his chest as Flitwick started explaining the benefits of the particular charm they were learning today. The incantation was written on the board behind the pacing Professor with examples of the charms usage and its benefits being added by the chalk as he watched. Forty minutes Blaise told himself as he glanced at his watch and slouched more in his chair, his long legs stretched out more comfortably and his feet crossed at the ankle under the table as he watched the hypnotic back and forth movement of his teacher.

Hermione was sat on the edge of her bed up in the empty dormitory drying her hair after her shower, thinking over her last class. As a precaution she'd done research on every one of her teachers, just background checks and such, so DADA shouldn't have come as such a shock with a retired hit–wizard as their teacher but still... She swirled her wrist experimentally and winced before going to her trunk and extracting some bruise paste to put on it. As she smoothed in the brown paste she went over the mock duels they had done in class in her head again. They had been given a year group from which they could choose spells before they were set against each other regardless of whether you had 1st year spells in your arsenal or 7th! She'd been stuck with fourth year spells and apparently her speed wasn't good enough according to Professor Holbday who had been observing the four of so duels going on simultaneously. Her partner, Stephen Cornfoot had managed to hit her with an aguamenti a 6th year spell. He had then promptly frozen her wrist holding her wand thus winning the duel. She had not been happy especially when Stephen had been so nice about it afterwards even once the teacher had commended him for his quick thinking. Hermione picked up her bag there was no point in sitting thinking about it when she could be doing something more useful. Checking that the library books she was finished with were actually in her bag and not elsewhere she swiftly picked up her wand which she had placed on her bedside table and left the dorm.

Tapping three times upon the wall at the back of the restricted section and saying aperecium revealed the entrance to another room. Madame Pince had shown Hermione the room at the end of her sixth year when it became apparent that the books she had access to weren't enough. Speaking the password and muttering yet another spell revealed the door to one of the best libraries in the world, rivalled only perhaps by the Ancient Library of Alexandria in Egypt. Being one of a select few students who even knew of its existence meant this was one of the more secluded areas in which she could hide until dinner. Although Hermione's teachers had begun to give out homework and projects to be completed she still had multiple research projects on the go. It was best to keep busy she had decided, kept your mind from wandering off to things best left alone. She made her way down to the ninth level this meant she had quite a walk, as the library started at the top most level and made its way down into the bowels of the school. She had traipsed this way almost daily since returning making up for lost time since she didn't get the chance to even enter in her 7th year. Reaching her destination Hermione carefully removed the book she had been reading last time, it had been one of the few books mentioned in reference to the veil that she had managed to find in her books from Flourish and Blotts. Hermione settled down in one of the many ornate armchairs littering this floor each one with dark tables made out of just as ornate carved wood next to them, with parchment and ink set upon them. She flicked back a few pages to get herself reoriented with the book, her papers from last times research already set out on the table next to her. Yes she murmured to herself remembering reading about the three sisters, Carlotta, Mirabella and Leonora who had inherited the veil next. Their usage of it as a place to put those who had scorned them after torturing them wasn't as bad as some but even so the detail the book went into seemed slightly excessive. Hermione didn't really need to know about the agony that the author thought those who passed through the veil would feel. She was just glad that Harry didn't have access to these books, his tendency to take everything personally wouldn't exactly be helpful here.

A/N – So…yes…ahem…hi guys! Sorry about the wait real life has been slightly hectic. But really two months is what…a sixth of the year basically a drop in the ocean compared to what it could have been! Thanks to all those loyal readers out there, I'd say reviewers too but strangely enough the last chapter got NO reviews even though 60 of you guys read it. Just slightly frustrating when I would appreciate feedback, flames even just a quick hi … Anyway chapter five is in the works shouldn't be such a long wait *finger crossed*

Kate