Methos sat nervously in his classroom. He did not sleep well the night before pondering the knowledge that another immortal was in Hogwarts.
Severus Snape introduced him to the entire Slytherin class and Methos was happy the immortal was not one of them. They were a disagreeable bunch that he would not trust them with his secret as far as he could throw them. There was no true friendship here. There was no comradory in the House of Slytherin. Only alliances and those were broken if another was more beneficial. Greed and malice filled their eyes.
Methos stared at his portrait in horror as the Slytherin students fought with each other to get close to the Slytherin Heir. His portrait refused to look into Methos' eyes. Methos removed his eyes from his portrait in disgust. He scanned the common room for an immediate escape and caught the eyes of Draco Malfoy.
Draco Malfoy was standing away from the crowd, watching him, catching every expression. Draco knew of his horror and disgust and Methos did not like that.
Methos stared Draco down until Draco made a slight motion of his head towards to left side of the room. Methos broke eye contact and moved his eyes to what he found was the exit of the room. Methos returned his eyes to Draco and gave him a slight nod in thanks.
Draco stepped away from the wall and announced what activities were in store for Hogwarts during the year. Methos used the students attention to Draco to slip away.
Methos was now waiting for his afternoon class of the seven-year Slytherins and Gryffindors. Methos was wondering when he would finally meet the other immortal, when he felt the beginning of the familiar buzz. "Sooner than I thought." Methos said silently.
Meanwhile
Hermione, Harry, Ron and Neville were walking to their History of Magic class pondering the morning Potions class. They were expecting the normal hatred and condensation from Professor Snape, but that did not occur.
Professor Snape entered the classroom and greeted everyone not in a gruff manner but in a soft-spoken voice.
Hermione noticed the Slytherin students waiting anxiously for Professor Snape to take points off the Gryffindors for non-existent reasons, except for Malfoy. He once again sat quietly waiting for the lesson to commence.
The Gryffindors also waited anxiously, but Professor Snape did something unexpected. He took role call, advised them of the potion of which they were to prepare and then he sat down with Neville Longbottom and gave him extra tutelage in preparing to potion correctly.
When the class was over, Neville, for the first time, completed a potion correctly. Professor Snape asked Neville to stay after class for a few minutes. Hermione, Ron and Harry waited for Neville outside of the class.
Neville exited the classroom crying. Ron ran up to Neville and demanded "What did that evil git do to you?"
"Nothing" Neville answered as he wiped the tears from his face with the back of his hand. "He wanted to apologize to me for not being able to help my parents when they were....you know...and that he wanted to let me know that he has been working for the last 8 years on a potion that he hopes will cure them."
Neville hiccupped. "Then Professor Snape said that he has been treating me horribly for the last 6 years and asked me if I could ever forgive him."
"What did you say to him?" Hermione asked gently.
"I said yes." Neville responded before he once again started crying. Hermione gently placed an arm around Neville's waist and gently moved him down the hall for their next class.
When Hermione turned the corner to where their History of Magic Class was held, she felt once again the incessant buzzing sensation in her head and unbearable pain. She staggered against Harry. Harry turned and saw that Hermione was pale and beads of sweat appeared on her brow.
Before Harry could ask what was wrong, he heard the voice of Pansy Parkinson
"What is wrong, Granger?" Pansy said as she sauntered up to Hermione. "Scared? Worried about what Salazar Slytherin's heir going to do to filthy mudblood like you?"
Before Hermione could try to answer, she heard Draco hiss. "Shut your bloody mouth, Parkinson."
Before Hermione could demand an explanation from Draco as to why he was defending her, the door to the classroom opened.
As Hermione looked through the door to their teacher, the pain and the buzzing went away. "Odd." Hermione thought. "Maybe it is the stress?"
When they entered the classroom, Professor Slytherin was reading at his desk. Not looking up, he asked them to take their seats along the side of the classroom walls. He also advised them that when he called their name, they are to do up to the podium at the center of the class and answer some questions.
Professor Salazar started calling students by name and asked them various questions regarding history, their interests and their family history. When Hermione's name was called she reluctantly walked up the podium hoping that the questions Professor Slytherin were to ask would not be too personal.
Methos glanced at Hermione Granger's file, student extraordinaire. Methos grinned. "She probably knows almost everything written about magic." Methos thought. "Maybe I should throw in some Muggle history questions just to keep her on her toes."
As Methos raised his head, the infernal buzzing stopped in his head. "She is the immortal." Methos thought before his eyes focused on her and was left speechless.
"Oh the Gods." Methos cried silently. Before he could stop himself Methos blurted out. "Sweet Hero! Now thy image doth appear in the rare semblance that I loved it first."
"When I lived, I was your other wife; and when you loved, you were my other husband. Nothing certainer. One Hero died defiled, but I do live, and surely as I live, I am a maid." Hermione replied. "Shakespeare in his play Much Ado About Nothing."
"Thank the Gods she thought it was a question." Methos thought silently. "Yes." Methos replied in a gruff voice. "Very good."
Methos leaned back in his chair. "Tell me about your family." Methos asked.
Hermione gave a brief synopsis of her family; describing her parents and grandparents and their background.
Methos asked if there was any magic in their family before her. Hermione reported that she was the only one who had the ability of magic.
Methos asked if she could have been adopted. Hermione stood in stunned silence and before she could answer, she was interrupted by Pansy.
"Adopted!" Pansy laughed. "Even your parents didn't want you, you filthy mudblood."
Tears filled the eyes of Hermione as the Slytherins began to laugh at her expense and she ran out of the classroom.
Methos slammed his fist on his desk. "Silence!" Methos shouted.
"50 points from Slytherin and Parkinson you have detention in the kitchens for a month." Methos snarled. Pansy looked at Methos in horror and started to cry.
Methos glared at the Slytherin students. "50 points from each one of you who laughed." The Slytherin students looked at Methos in horror for they just lost 500 points in one class on their first day of school.
Methos got up out of his chair and snarled. "No one better move while I am gone or there will be more points to be removed. Draco as Head Boy, you are in charge of the classroom, but if I hear about you abusing power, you will see Death." Draco nodded and sat at Methos' desk when Methos left the classroom.
When the door closed, pandemonium occurred on the Sytherin side. They all began yelling at Draco, especially Pansy.
"SHUT UP!!!" Draco shouted and the classroom went silence. The Gryffindors remained silent enjoying the fact that Slytherin lost 500 points.
"I warned you." Draco said in an accusatory voice. "I told you this would happen."
"But Draco..." Pansy whined.
"No buts." Draco interrupted. "I told you that Professor Slytherin has forbidden anyone from using the word mudblood. I told you that word offends him and you used it anyway. You Pansy are the blame for us losing 500 points and I am not going to negotiate with Professor Snape to reduce your detention."
"Now we are done talking." Draco said in a final voice. "I want everyone to read their books, with no talking until the Professor gets back."
Draco sat down behind the desk and closed his eyes. 500 points. "We will never win the house cup now." Draco thought. Draco opened his eyes and saw that everyone had their faces buried in their books.
Draco looked down at Professor Slytherin's desk and noticed a green leather bound book with the initials S.S. on the top with a silver snake. Draco's eyes widened. "Salazar Slytherin's journal." Draco thought. Seeing that no one was watching, he opened the journal to a random page and was stunned at the sight.
Now Draco knew why Professor Slytherin said the name Hero when seeing Hermione. On the pages before him were drawings of a woman that looked so much like Hermione Granger. There were drawings of Hero's face smiling up at him, Hero in old fashioned dress and even one of Hero sleeping with her hair unbound that curled around her sheet-draped nude body which still did not leave anything to imagination.
Draco slowly closed the journal carefully pondering this information. What should he do? Should he let his father know that Hermione Granger looked like Hero Gallager, the former muggleborn lover of Salazar Slytherin.
Draco was tempted to re-open the book but he heard the door of the classroom start to re-open.
Severus Snape introduced him to the entire Slytherin class and Methos was happy the immortal was not one of them. They were a disagreeable bunch that he would not trust them with his secret as far as he could throw them. There was no true friendship here. There was no comradory in the House of Slytherin. Only alliances and those were broken if another was more beneficial. Greed and malice filled their eyes.
Methos stared at his portrait in horror as the Slytherin students fought with each other to get close to the Slytherin Heir. His portrait refused to look into Methos' eyes. Methos removed his eyes from his portrait in disgust. He scanned the common room for an immediate escape and caught the eyes of Draco Malfoy.
Draco Malfoy was standing away from the crowd, watching him, catching every expression. Draco knew of his horror and disgust and Methos did not like that.
Methos stared Draco down until Draco made a slight motion of his head towards to left side of the room. Methos broke eye contact and moved his eyes to what he found was the exit of the room. Methos returned his eyes to Draco and gave him a slight nod in thanks.
Draco stepped away from the wall and announced what activities were in store for Hogwarts during the year. Methos used the students attention to Draco to slip away.
Methos was now waiting for his afternoon class of the seven-year Slytherins and Gryffindors. Methos was wondering when he would finally meet the other immortal, when he felt the beginning of the familiar buzz. "Sooner than I thought." Methos said silently.
Meanwhile
Hermione, Harry, Ron and Neville were walking to their History of Magic class pondering the morning Potions class. They were expecting the normal hatred and condensation from Professor Snape, but that did not occur.
Professor Snape entered the classroom and greeted everyone not in a gruff manner but in a soft-spoken voice.
Hermione noticed the Slytherin students waiting anxiously for Professor Snape to take points off the Gryffindors for non-existent reasons, except for Malfoy. He once again sat quietly waiting for the lesson to commence.
The Gryffindors also waited anxiously, but Professor Snape did something unexpected. He took role call, advised them of the potion of which they were to prepare and then he sat down with Neville Longbottom and gave him extra tutelage in preparing to potion correctly.
When the class was over, Neville, for the first time, completed a potion correctly. Professor Snape asked Neville to stay after class for a few minutes. Hermione, Ron and Harry waited for Neville outside of the class.
Neville exited the classroom crying. Ron ran up to Neville and demanded "What did that evil git do to you?"
"Nothing" Neville answered as he wiped the tears from his face with the back of his hand. "He wanted to apologize to me for not being able to help my parents when they were....you know...and that he wanted to let me know that he has been working for the last 8 years on a potion that he hopes will cure them."
Neville hiccupped. "Then Professor Snape said that he has been treating me horribly for the last 6 years and asked me if I could ever forgive him."
"What did you say to him?" Hermione asked gently.
"I said yes." Neville responded before he once again started crying. Hermione gently placed an arm around Neville's waist and gently moved him down the hall for their next class.
When Hermione turned the corner to where their History of Magic Class was held, she felt once again the incessant buzzing sensation in her head and unbearable pain. She staggered against Harry. Harry turned and saw that Hermione was pale and beads of sweat appeared on her brow.
Before Harry could ask what was wrong, he heard the voice of Pansy Parkinson
"What is wrong, Granger?" Pansy said as she sauntered up to Hermione. "Scared? Worried about what Salazar Slytherin's heir going to do to filthy mudblood like you?"
Before Hermione could try to answer, she heard Draco hiss. "Shut your bloody mouth, Parkinson."
Before Hermione could demand an explanation from Draco as to why he was defending her, the door to the classroom opened.
As Hermione looked through the door to their teacher, the pain and the buzzing went away. "Odd." Hermione thought. "Maybe it is the stress?"
When they entered the classroom, Professor Slytherin was reading at his desk. Not looking up, he asked them to take their seats along the side of the classroom walls. He also advised them that when he called their name, they are to do up to the podium at the center of the class and answer some questions.
Professor Salazar started calling students by name and asked them various questions regarding history, their interests and their family history. When Hermione's name was called she reluctantly walked up the podium hoping that the questions Professor Slytherin were to ask would not be too personal.
Methos glanced at Hermione Granger's file, student extraordinaire. Methos grinned. "She probably knows almost everything written about magic." Methos thought. "Maybe I should throw in some Muggle history questions just to keep her on her toes."
As Methos raised his head, the infernal buzzing stopped in his head. "She is the immortal." Methos thought before his eyes focused on her and was left speechless.
"Oh the Gods." Methos cried silently. Before he could stop himself Methos blurted out. "Sweet Hero! Now thy image doth appear in the rare semblance that I loved it first."
"When I lived, I was your other wife; and when you loved, you were my other husband. Nothing certainer. One Hero died defiled, but I do live, and surely as I live, I am a maid." Hermione replied. "Shakespeare in his play Much Ado About Nothing."
"Thank the Gods she thought it was a question." Methos thought silently. "Yes." Methos replied in a gruff voice. "Very good."
Methos leaned back in his chair. "Tell me about your family." Methos asked.
Hermione gave a brief synopsis of her family; describing her parents and grandparents and their background.
Methos asked if there was any magic in their family before her. Hermione reported that she was the only one who had the ability of magic.
Methos asked if she could have been adopted. Hermione stood in stunned silence and before she could answer, she was interrupted by Pansy.
"Adopted!" Pansy laughed. "Even your parents didn't want you, you filthy mudblood."
Tears filled the eyes of Hermione as the Slytherins began to laugh at her expense and she ran out of the classroom.
Methos slammed his fist on his desk. "Silence!" Methos shouted.
"50 points from Slytherin and Parkinson you have detention in the kitchens for a month." Methos snarled. Pansy looked at Methos in horror and started to cry.
Methos glared at the Slytherin students. "50 points from each one of you who laughed." The Slytherin students looked at Methos in horror for they just lost 500 points in one class on their first day of school.
Methos got up out of his chair and snarled. "No one better move while I am gone or there will be more points to be removed. Draco as Head Boy, you are in charge of the classroom, but if I hear about you abusing power, you will see Death." Draco nodded and sat at Methos' desk when Methos left the classroom.
When the door closed, pandemonium occurred on the Sytherin side. They all began yelling at Draco, especially Pansy.
"SHUT UP!!!" Draco shouted and the classroom went silence. The Gryffindors remained silent enjoying the fact that Slytherin lost 500 points.
"I warned you." Draco said in an accusatory voice. "I told you this would happen."
"But Draco..." Pansy whined.
"No buts." Draco interrupted. "I told you that Professor Slytherin has forbidden anyone from using the word mudblood. I told you that word offends him and you used it anyway. You Pansy are the blame for us losing 500 points and I am not going to negotiate with Professor Snape to reduce your detention."
"Now we are done talking." Draco said in a final voice. "I want everyone to read their books, with no talking until the Professor gets back."
Draco sat down behind the desk and closed his eyes. 500 points. "We will never win the house cup now." Draco thought. Draco opened his eyes and saw that everyone had their faces buried in their books.
Draco looked down at Professor Slytherin's desk and noticed a green leather bound book with the initials S.S. on the top with a silver snake. Draco's eyes widened. "Salazar Slytherin's journal." Draco thought. Seeing that no one was watching, he opened the journal to a random page and was stunned at the sight.
Now Draco knew why Professor Slytherin said the name Hero when seeing Hermione. On the pages before him were drawings of a woman that looked so much like Hermione Granger. There were drawings of Hero's face smiling up at him, Hero in old fashioned dress and even one of Hero sleeping with her hair unbound that curled around her sheet-draped nude body which still did not leave anything to imagination.
Draco slowly closed the journal carefully pondering this information. What should he do? Should he let his father know that Hermione Granger looked like Hero Gallager, the former muggleborn lover of Salazar Slytherin.
Draco was tempted to re-open the book but he heard the door of the classroom start to re-open.