Chapter 6: Desire & Pain

Ron's attention soon drifted away from his unsettling feelings of Harry and Ginny's relationship as he began to notice the enticing shape Hermione's body had taken due to their training. He found himself staring at her more, and he was caught at it by her on numerous occasions, but he didn't care. In fact, he rather liked the sheepish smiles that she would throw his way, her cheeks going a brilliant rose color each time. He had always felt something for her, but never had the courage to tell her. Until now, he didn't know why but he couldn't help but want to let her and the entire world know. Harry and Ginny had made their relationship official a month before, and now it appeared to be Ron's turn. He walked briskly, but nervously to Hermione's side as they were walking back to the collegium.

Ron cleared his throat. "Hermione?" He looked into her eyes and, he
felt he could easily be lost in them if given the chance.

"Yes, Ron?" she smiled at him sweetly, making his heart jump.

"Well, I have liked you for quite a long time now." He began to blush as he spoke, "and well, I wanted to know if you would, well that is..." he
faltered.

"Go ahead," she encouraged.

Ron sighed and nodded to himself. "Would you be my girlfriend?" he practically yelled in a desperate effort to get the words out.

Hermione giggled in response. "Of course I will."

"Well it's about time, mate!" Harry chuckled, startling Ron.

"Yes, we wondered when you were going to realize," Ginny giggled.

"What do you mean?" Ron looked at them speculatively.

"What we mean, mate, is that we always knew you and Hermione were meant for each other. Even if you could never see it before," Harry told him.

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Ron insisted.

"Oh?" Harry raised an eyebrow, "well let me shed a little light on thesubject. Who was it that defended Hermione in second year when Malfoy called her a mudblood? You. In third year, who did she turn to when everything went wrong? You. And in fourth year, who got jealous when she went with Krum to the ball? You."

"But those are just coincidences!" Ron insisted.

"Okay, about the first two I named, I can see that." Harry admitted. "But the Krum incident?"

"Well I..." Ron started, but faltered. "Okay, you got me on that one."He admitted.

"I knew it!" Hermione said triumphantly. "I knew you were jealous of Viktor."

Ron groaned. "Great, now she'll never let me live it down!"

"Maybe I will, someday," she chuckled.

"Well, come on. I'm starving," Harry said as he put his arm around Ginny and resumed the walk to the collegium.

Elspeth entered the dining hall and looked around. As soon as she spotted her quarry, she moved toward them with determination. As she approached the table containing the four herald trainees she cleared her throat loudly. The two boys turned to face her as the girls looked up. "You four will have to continue your training with Treyvan." She explained hurriedly. "Sadly enough I am far too busy at the moment and he has agreed to train you while I am working on the situation of these so called storms.You are to meet him on the top of the north tower after lunch. I must also apologize for having to come here and disrupt your lunch but I could not locate a page quickly enough to get the message to you." With their nods of agreement Elspeth walked away.

"Who does she remind you of?" Harry asked the others as they turned back around.

"Oh I don't know." Ron retorted sarcastically, "Maybe McGongall."

All four burst into laughter at Ron's words.

After their plates were empty, they made their way to the north tower where there were a few other trainee's waiting.

Ron looked around. "So where is this ruddy teacher?" he asked impatiently.

"I don't know what rrruddy meansss." They heard a voice with a deep rumble say behind them. "But I am rrright behind you."

Ron and Harry whirled around and came to face the chest of a very largecreature, reminding them a little of buckbeak, only twice as large and
more formidable. Their eyes traveled over the body and rose to look into a hawk-like face. With their mouths gaping, they stared.

"I am Trrreyvan, and I will be yourrr teacherrr," the creature stated.

Seeing the creature before them speak seemed to be too much for them both. True, they had met Aragog and seen a large, monstrous spider speak, but they had never before seen a creature that was supposed to have been mythical speak. They stood there, gawking in shock, not sure what to say. Ginny and Hermione seemed a bit pale but they seemed to be in better control then the boys.

"You mussst be the fourrr Elssspeth mentioned," he continued as though he hadn't noticed the boys staring.

"Yes," Hermione blushed as she spoke. "We are."

"Nice to meet you all." Treyvan clicked his beak. "Now if you don't mind, I would like to begin my classss," he said with a look at the boys.

Ron and Harry snapped their mouths shut and nodded.

After the boys had learned to deal with being taught magic by a Gryphon, things seemed to move more smoothly. They had been given the opportunity to serve at the council meetings, which gave them the opportunity to hear a few of the envoys' points of view. They had liked most of the envoy's well enough, though their favorite seemed to be the light hearted wizard Ulrich and his assistantKaral, though they had not made friends of them directly. They had tried to help some with the figuring out of the storms and what may have caused them and every thing seemed to be running well, that was until there was an attack on the envoys, during which the Envoy from Karse, the wizard Ulrich, and the Shin'a'in envoy, Quernawere killed. Kerowyn believed it was someone within the castle that had initiated the attack, though she wasn't sure who. As a result of this, Ulrich's assistant Karal, a small and meek looking young man, had been placed under tight security for his protection. He had been made the new envoy of Karse and their protecting him was prominent. Therefore everyone was quite surprised to find him roaming around the grounds and corridors one cloudy evening with a sullen face, his eyes red and puffy.

Harry and the others spotted him, dressed in full diplomatic array and looking quite forlorn. They decided to stop and give their condolences to the saddened young man.

"Um, Envoy Karal?" Harry said tentatively as they approached.

Karal turned to face them.

"We wanted to let you know how sorry we are for your loss," Harry told
him. "We know what it's like to lose a loved one."

"Thank you," Karal croaked, looking down.

The others followed his gaze and spotted a cat, the size of a lynx encircling his feet.

"Oh, you have a cat!" Ginny beamed. "Hermione has one too!"

"Well, he's not really my cat per say." Karal blushed. "He's more like a confidant really, not a pet."

"I understand." Hermione nodded. "He's more like our Companions than a mere house cat."

"Right." Karal looked at her in surprise.

The others looked at her in confusion.

Hermione sighed. "Let Karal explain."

"Well." Karal cleared his throat. "Altra is a firecat, and like she just said he is to regular cat as your Companions are to regular horses. He fills
the role of a confidant, friend and advisor. He can also speak to me in mindspeech. The only difference is that he will also talk to anyone he wishes."

:That is true.: Altra gazed at them in turn. :I speak to anyone I wish.:

The others gazed at the firecat with sudden understanding; they were getting quite used to having odd creatures talk into their heads.

"Well, we were quite mistaken, Envoy," Harry smiled. "Please accept our apologies and condolences for your loss."

"The apologies are not needed, and the condolences are accepted." Karal bowed to him slightly.