I do not in any way, shape, fashion, or form own or have any rights to the world or characters which are the machinations of J. K. Rowling. I did however create the OC in this story and would appreciate that all my fellow writers respect this fact.

Chapter 4

As I entered my room I decide to wear my most conservative pajamas, after all I didn't want to scare the poor woman so I put on my bikini strap silk and lace top with silk bottoms, red of course. Once I had changed I decided to grab my Ipod and listen to some of my favorite tunes while sitting on the sofa in front of the fireplace to wait, wondering what she would ask and contemplating how I was going to answer her. *Damn I'm nervous*

To say the least I was nervous, as to why I wasn't sure. Though I have to admit I was also feeling a certain amount of excitement the same excitement I get when I've found a new book that I can bury myself in but too I'm excited about getting to know the young woman in question. As I made sure that the last of the first years had found their way to their respective dorms I made my way to Gryffindor Tower. I paused as I reached her door unsure as to whether I should knock or just enter I decided on the former and knocked.

As I was in the middle of listening to Colbie Caillat's, "Fallin' for You" I heard a knock at the door and got up to answer. "Hello Professor Granger Please come in." She nodded and walked in as I closed the door behind her I gestured toward the sofa. "Have a seat." She quickly walked over and sat down on the end closest to the door and I took a seat on the opposite end tucking my right leg under my left as I sat doing my best to seem as calm and composed as I could manage, which was kind of difficult considering the storm giant stomping around in my stomach. Hermione looked at me with a shy smile on her face her hands wrapped together in her lap. *Goddess she's so adorable when she's nervous* "Ummm…" "Hahaha You can begin whenever you would like Professor Granger." I got that look again then she sighed, "To be quite honest Arianna I don't know where to begin." I smiled reassuringly at her, "Anywhere is good Professor."

I took the time to really look at her as I was contemplating what I should ask first. The pajamas she was wearing should be illegal they did little to hide her athletic but well proportioned figure the girl has amazing curves. *Bloody Hell Hermione focus!* That's when I noticed how contentedly she was staring into the flames with a look of complete calm on her beautiful face. The light of the flames seemed to make her glow and I couldn't take my eyes off of her. "Could… could I see you without the glamour?" She turned to me with an eyebrow raised then smiled, "Sure." When she released the glamour the effect was the same as the first time I saw the change to her features. I quickly did an intake of breath she was even more stunning this way if that was at all possible. I fiddled with my hands in my lap more out of the necessity to keep from reaching over and running my hands through the flaming strands just to see what it would feel like. She looked at me for a moment then smirked, "You can touch it if you want it won't hurt you though I will warn you it tends to have a mind of its own." I slowly reached over scooting forward a little then stopped a few inches short wondering if it was inappropriate to actually touch her in this manner but then it did the most unusual thing it reached toward my hand and twined itself through my fingers. I jumped slightly at the contact; it was like nothing I had ever felt softer than the softest silk and so warm. I began to run the flaming strands through my fingers. I stopped short when I heard Arianna moan as she closed her eys and bit her bottom lip.

Mmmmmm… *Shit!* I actually moaned out loud when she began running her fingers through my hair, though in my defense I was rather incapable of stopping myself it had just felt so good. I froze when she stopped blushing profusely and slowly turned towards her. "Sorry about that Professor it's just that it feels really nice when people play with my hair." I quickly turned my gaze back to the fire not being able to look her in the face. She didn't move from where she was though miraculously she didn't run out of the room either. "I've never felt anything like it." I slowly turned my gaze back to her in surprise and then smiled warmly at her. She blushed then pulled her hand back to her lap her gaze following it. Which was probably a good thing considering the momentary look of disappointment on my face as she did so it took everything I had to hold back the tears at the loss of her touch. "So what is it like having to hide your appearance all the time?" I considered her question for a moment, "It's not that bad but it can be really inconvenient when I'm dealing with intense emotion because it makes it really hard to maintain the glamour." "Oh, hmmm I guess I can see what you mean." I nodded then sighed as I ran a hand through my hair. "Have you always known what you are?" "Yes, but it wasn't really noticeable until I was about five years old." "Did your family know?" "Yeah they knew what I would be before I was born my family has a contract of sorts with the elementals." Her eyebrows raised in surprise. "It's not that unusual with some of the older wizarding families. The contract itself is essentially an agreement to bear a half elemental child every so many years." "Does your father actually love your mother?"

She flinched at the last question making me wonder whether or not it had been too personal, "You don't have to answer that if you don't feel comfortable doing so." She sighed with a pained expression on her face, "It's not that it's too personal just that I don't really like talking about my mum but to be completely honest I'm not sure, I believe he does but the relationship they have tends to be complicated due to what he is." "I see." An uncomfortable silence seemed to settle between us. "Please continue Professor really it's alright." She smiled at me weakly. I wanted so badly to comfort her to apologize and most of all to just hold her in my arms and… What is it I wanted from her exactly? Filing that away in the back of my mind I continued. "So what's it like having the elemental of fire as a father?" She brightened instantly, "It's great actually! I really love him a lot and he loves me too and honestly he's probably the best Da a girl could ask for even if I don't get to see him all that much we're very close." I looked at her curiously then wrinkled my brow in thought. "What is the trial by fire you mentioned that day in the headmistress's office?" She looked at me as if she was unsure as to whether or not she should answer. "It's a rite of passage of sorts that is required to become an elemental knight." She held her finger up, "Hold on a sec." She began rummaging around in her trunk, "What is it?" "Aha! here it is this is a book that I got when I was little we all get one by the time we are able to read it should be able answer your questions more in depth and if you want to ask about anything in the book beyond what it gives you then you are more than welcome to come and ask, but I will have to request that when you aren't reading it to please keep it as secure as possible the information it has is not made available to the wizarding world at large for a reason." "Then why are you entrusting me with it?" She looked at me and then smiled in a way that made my breath catch in my throat. Was it just me or did it suddenly get warmer? "I trust you and besides I don't know many witches as capable as you at protecting something of such importance." I was stunned and at the same time my heart felt like it was floating in my chest. *She trusts me* I must have spaced out because when I finally came back to reality she was waving her hand in front of my face.

"Hello! Earth to Hermione." She totally spaced out on me. I gently put my hand on hers, "Hey are you okay?" She blinked a couple times then looked down at where my hand lay on top of hers then looked up at me and smiled as she pulled her hand from under mine, "Yes I'm fine and thank you for the book." "You're welcome." I quickly glanced at the clock on the mantle, "It's getting late." I smiled sadly at her leaning away the closeness being too much for me to handle. She looked at the clock as well, "Bloody Hell! Is that the time." I chuckled, "Time flies when you are in good company or so I'm told." She studied me for a moment then stood, "Thank you Arianna it really has been a pleasure." Then an odd sort of tension settled in, "The pleasure is all mine Professor Granger as I said before please feel free to come again and ask whatever questions you may have." She nodded then began walking toward the door. I followed her with my eyes all the way to the threshold until she paused for a moment her hand resting on the knob as if uncertain of what she wanted to do. "Is there something else Professor." "No… nothing, good night Arianna." "Good night Professor Granger." When she left I felt as if there was a part of me missing and my chest hurt then I began to cry and I couldn't stop the tears from falling. I cried myself to sleep on the sofa but woke in my bed the next morning though I had no idea how I had gotten there. It felt like I had downed two bottles of fire whiskey the night before and I had a splitting headache. *Bugger* This sucks!

Thanks for the reviews and keep 'em coming.