A/N Okay as always, thank you to those who have reviewed, favorites, and alerted for my story. In answer to one of my reviews, yes this story is different, but I hope you all find that it is different in a good way. I won't be around a computer this weekend so there won't be any updates until next week. This is just something to tide you over for the weekend. I hope that you don't hate me by the end of this chapter, but please remember that this IS a story about Hermione and Jayleigh…no matter what happens over the next few chapters.
Darkness Calling: 7
The next morning, I got up extra early, so that I could take advantage of my private bathroom. After a long shower, I went to the vanity and applied a touch of makeup. I was never one to wear a lot because I was blessed by the complexion gods to have gotten smooth, unblemished skin. I wasn't unnaturally pale or anything, but I could probably have used some color to my skin. Fortunately, it worked for me, though. I muttered a few spells while waving my wand over my head and my hair fell completely straight. I love magic. That was a thought that went through my mind often.
I donned my new school uniform and I had to admit that the green and silver colors went well with my eyes. I grabbed my school bag and slung it over my shoulder. I decided to find out where my secret entrance led to and was shocked to find that the passage was quite long. But once I finally reached the end, I realized the door opened up into the transfiguration corridor. (I had been studying my Hogwarts map from Hogwarts, A History, which was in my bookshelf back in my room.)
I found my way to the Great Hall and was not surprised to find that there were not many people up at that hour. I sat down at the Slytherin table by myself and filled a plate with food. There was a wide assortment to choose from, but I decided to play it safe with cereal and some fruit. I just wasn't ready for some of the more mysterious items in the golden platters. As I was eating my breakfast, I decided to start a letter to Addi. I pulled out a quill, ink and a bit of parchment from my bag and was about to start writing when none other than Professor McGonagall approached me again.
"Morning, Professor." I said with a smile.
"Good morning, Miss Harrison." She responded as she pulled out a piece parchment from the stack she was carrying. "I wanted to talk with you about your schedule. I am glad you are up so early." She gave me a suspicious look upon realizing that I was up incredibly early. She brushed off her feeling and continued, "Your last school sent your marks by post and they just arrived this morning. It seems that we may have a problem."
"Problem? What problem?" I asked with a touch of fear in my voice. Please tell me there hasn't been some awful mistake and I have to leave.
"You have already taken the seventh year courses that we offer here." She waited for my response.
"Yeah, I started private tutoring and lessons really early. Is there absolutely nothing else that I can take?"
"Am I correct in assuming you have not taken your N.E.W.T.s?"
"Yes…" I drew out the "s" sound at the end.
"Well then, I suggest you attend the core classes with the other seventh year Slytherins for today and I will discuss with Professor Dumbledore about what we should do in this situation. I have an idea, but I am not sure if the other teachers will accept my idea."
"Can I ask what your idea is?"
"If the others agree with me, I would suggest private lessons. You could still prepare for your N.E.W.T.s with help from the professors and you could also continue your education. It wouldn't be the first time we allowed a student to do this."
The idea of private lessons and more work was a daunting one, but I was used to it. However, I had never had more than two tutors at a time. This will be interesting. "I like that idea. I hope it works out."
"Hopefully, I will have our solution by tonight." She handed me the parchment with my schedule for on it. "Miss Mallory will show you to your classes, no doubt. Oh and be thinking of what courses you want to take your N.E.W.T.s in." I assumed that she was talking about Sabrina. She turned her back to me and approached another group of early birds, doling out their schedules. I noticed I had Transfiguration first, followed by Charms and then double Potions. It didn't seem like too long of a day. Putting my scheduling issues out of my mind, I picked up my quill and continued my letter to Addi.
Dear Addi,
So I made it here just fine and have even made a couple new friends (and I think possibly an enemy). I was sorted into Slytherin. I guess I am following in yours and dad's footsteps. Apparently I am ahead of the rest of the seventh years here. Professor McGonagall is talking with the headmaster and other teachers about me getting private lessons in the subjects that I qualify for. I'm really hoping for Charms, Defense, Potions, and Transfiguration. Well I am about to go find Sabrina (one of my new friends) and head to class. I'll write again soon.
With Love,
Jay
I folded the parchment up and set off for the Owlery. Once I was there, I borrowed one of the school owls and sent it off to Addi. I watched the owl fly into the distance and then left the tower. Those creatures have always fascinated me. As I was headed back down to the Transfiguration corridor, I ran into Sabrina, Jacobi and another girl that I had not met yet, but recognized from the feast. She was really short, about 5'1", with a pixie cut of a shocking red color.
"I'm Stephanie. Everyone calls me Steph, though." Sabrina introduced me and we continued down the stairs, back to the Great Hall. By that point we were running a bit late, so the others opted for grabbing some toast and jogging to the Transfiguration classroom. We found our seats and waited for class to start.
Professor McGongall walked in at exactly 7:58 am and promptly started the lesson. She gave a lecture on human transfiguration and gave us an assignment for the rest of the class. We were supposed to be practicing glamours on our partners and changing one's appearance is something that I mastered two years ago. Naturally I successfully gave Sabrina a makeover and after I was through, you could not tell that the man that sat before me was actually a teenage girl.
"Very impressive, Miss Harrison. Five points to Slytherin." Professor McGonagall had come over to inspect my work. "You are farther ahead than I thought you were." My fellow students were casting envious glances my way. Instead of sitting back and gloating, however, I chose to help them – starting with Sabrina, who was struggling with changing the color of my hair from black to blonde. Needless to say, by the end of the class, I was sporting a shade of orange that a bengal tiger would be proud of. Right before the bell rang, Professor McGonagall flicked her wand at the class and we all returned to our natural state. "That will do, class. Please practice before our next lesson. I'll expect all of you to be able to successfully change the color of your hair and the shape of your noses. I also want a foot long essay describing in detail exactly how to do those things." The bell rang and we all filed out.
The rest of the day went similarly to my transfiguration lesson. Charms was ridiculously easy and even though I had never made the potion before, I was able replicate an almost exact copy of Professor Slughorn's potion. The most interesting thing to happen all day was when we entered the potions classroom, everyone started to blush and look uncomfortable. When Slughorn noticed this, he blushed himself and went into an explanation of how he gave the sixth years a demonstration of the power of Amortentia. The seductive aroma of which smells differently to every person and causes symptoms best dealt with in the privacy of your own bed, not a classroom full of your fellow students.
The other Slytherins and I entered the Great Hall and took our seats, all of us discussing how uncomfortable we were in that lesson. "I smelled oranges and tobacco. Why would I smell that?" Sabrina asked of no one in particular. I had the peculiar feeling that I knew exactly why she smelled oranges and tobacco, especially with Jacobi sitting right next to me.
I stayed quiet for most of the conversation because I was contemplating what I had smelled – cherry blossoms, sugar cookies, and tea tree oil. It sounded like a strange mixture and I had no idea where my brain had come up with that combination. That is until a certain brunette walked in the room. I had my back to her, so she did not notice me sitting there with my eyes closed inhaling deeply. She smelled exactly like cherry blossoms… Why me? I thought to myself.
I couldn't resist, so I stood up and followed her to the Gryffindor table. My friends watched me leave, but didn't ask where I was going. I crossed the hall and approached the group of people Hermione was sitting with. They were all laughing at something a red-haired boy said. I tapped Hermione on the shoulder and she turned around to face me.
"Oh hey, Jayleigh." She smiled, but it seemed forced.
"I haven't had a chance to talk to you since the train. How was your first day of classes?" I looked around and realized that everyone was staring at me like I had just turned into a hippogryph.
Before she could answer, the red head who told the joke said to me, "Are you lost, Slytherin? This-" He pointed up and down the table "-is the Gryffindor table." He put a lot of emphasis on the word "Gryffindor".
"Ron, stop! Be nice!" Hermione interjected and slapped his arm. She stood up and grabbed me by the arm, dragging me out into the Entrance Hall.
"What was all that about?" I asked as soon as we stopped walking.
"I'm sorry. Ron can be an idiot sometimes." She crossed her arms over her chest and stared at the floor. "He isn't happy that I have been talking to a Slytherin."
"Yeah, I gathered that much." I leaned against the closest wall. "I was just wondering if you wanted to hang out some time? I know you mentioned it on the train. It didn't have to be a private conversation." I laughed to try to ease the tension.
"I- I don't know if that's such a good idea anymore…" She finally looked me in the eye and seeing the hurt look on my face, she tried to recover from what she had said. "It's not that I don't like you. It's just that… well… you're a Slytherin. Our crowds don't exactly mix, do they?"
I was shocked by what she was saying. She didn't even know anything about me and she was judging me for what an old hat decided. "Wow…I didn't peg you for the prejudice type, Hermione." The conversation was over. I left her standing in the Entrance Hall and made my way to the common room. Once there, I went straight to my room.
"Hello, Jayleigh. Do you have a password ready?" The statue guarding my room asked.
"Oh, I forgot. Uhm… Smashing Pumpkins? Yeah, I like that." They weren't my favorite band in the world, but it was the first thing I could come up with that I didn't think other witches and wizards would guess.
"'Smashing pumpkins' it is, then." She stepped aside and I was allowed to enter my room. Someone had been in to make up my bed. I didn't dwell on who may or may not have been in my room. But, what I did do was strip off my clothes and sink into bed. I put my headphones on and cranked the volume all the way up. The hard acoustics from the band Tool blasted through the ear pieces and I ignored the thoughts of Hermione trying to invade my mind.