September 4th, 1991 - Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardy
It was noon on Wednesday and most of the first year gryffindors were excited. Today brought the first flying class of the year for the students.
After lunch, the gryffindor class made their way outside of the castle.
"Its just too bad first years never make the house teams. I'm sure you and I would make the team Harry." Ron said as they approached the field.
This had become a common conversation over the first few days. The only things that came out of Rons mouth were either about quiddich or chess. Most of the gryffindors were becoming annoyed with Rons constant rambling, but, for the sake of house sanity, they tried to ignore it. It was only the first week after all.
"Sure would be fun Ron. Its too bad." said Harry as Ron nodded his head eagerly.
"Good afternoon class," a short lady with spiky hair said, "I am the flight instructor here at Hogwarts, madam Hooch. I will be teaching you the basics of flying, broom control and the basics of quiddich, but, I'm sure many of you already know that." Ryder looked at Hermione and they shared a chuckle.
"Well, Lets begin shall we? Everyone stand next to a broom." The class did as instructed. Ryder stood in bewtween Hermione and Harry, with Ron on the side of Harry.
"Everyone next to a broom? Good. The first thing you need to do is extend your right hand over the broom, hand open and say up." The broom immediately floated into Hooch's hand.
"Now on the count of three, I want each of you to try. One.. Two.. Three!"
Ryder extended his hand over the broom "Up!" he exclaimed, as the broom flew into his hand. Harry and Ron, along with a few other gryffindors and hufflepuffs, also managed to get their brooms up. However, Hermione was having trouble.
"UP!" she exclaimed "Up, you stubborn broom!" This caused Ron to chuckle.
"Finally! Something you're not perfect at. Its about bloody time." Harry shook his head. "Ron, leave her alone." Harrys plead only caused Ron to chuckle louder.
"Come off it Harry. Its about time little miss perfect fails at something. Ryder, who had been biting his tounge, looked over at Ron.
"How about you just shut your trap Weasley?" he spat "Shes obviously trying her best to get it to work, so why do you feel the need to belittle her?"
Rons cheeck reddened "Well, she rubs in how she does in every class. I'm just giving her a taste of her own medicine."
Ryder shook his head. "So, her prooving her knowledge in class is showing off? Merlin, Weasley, get your head out of your arse. Jealousy isn't an endearing quality. Now, leave her alone. I'm sick of you messing with my friend."
Ryder turned away from Ron, choosing to ignore his mumbling.
"Hermione You're over thinking it. All you have to do is feel the broom. You have to want to fly." Ryder said gently, as he turned towards her.
Hermione pondered this for a second. "Well, I-I don't really want to fly." she turned away, blushing. Ryder smiled, "You're scared of heights. Thats the problem isn't it?" She nodded. "Mione' its okay. Everyone has fears, but, trust me. Theres nothing to be afraid of. Madam Hooch is here if you need help a-and so am I."
Hermione looked back at Ryder, both of their faces a deep red. She sighed, nodded and tried again. "UP!" she exclaimed, this time the broom floated into her hand.
"I did it! Thank you Ryder!" she said, sending him a bright smile.
"Of course, Mione'. Thats what friends do, they help eachother." he replied, returning the smile.
The rest of the lesson progressed without any drama. At the end of the lesson, Hermione gained a new love for flying, over came her fear of heights, mostly at least, and had grown even closer to her new friend.
September 7th, 1991 - Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardy
The rest of the week flew by. Ryder and Hermione continued to impress the professors in each of their classes and were quickly cementing their spots at the top of their year. Though the professors were being quite hard on the first years, with a very large amount of homework, essays, and the lot, the duo thoroughly enjoyed their first week of classes. Thankfully, Ron hadn't made any remarks towards Hermione since the flying lesson.
Over the week, the two had grown very close. They rarely left eachothers side, only during the night it seemed. They spent most of their time either studying and doing homework in the library or just talking in the gryffindor common room.
Even though today was Saturday, Ryder awoke at his usual time and made his way down the staircase. Upon entering the common room, Ryder was greeted by Hermione, who was also coming down from her dorm room. He smiled at her and walked over to their usual spot, near the fire.
"Goodmorning Mione'" he said "Sleep well?"
She nodded, smiling at him in return. "Sure did. How about you?"
Ryder chuckled. "I did but Seamus' snoring is getting worse by the day." They both laughed at this.
"So what are we doing today?" she asked "We bot our tranfiguration and potions essay."
"Well," Ryder started "I wanted to do some research on someone." Hermione raised her brow. "Who?" she asked.
Ryder scratched his head "Have you ever heard of Wulfric?" he asked and she shook her head.
"Well, apparently hes the first known person to be infected with the lycan gene. And..." he trailed off.
Hermione looked at him with a questioning look on her face. "And what?"
He sighed. "Promise that you won't tell anybody what I'm about to tell you?
She nodded. "Of course I won't. I promise, your secrets safe with me."
Ryder smiled at her, admiration in his eyes from her loyalty.
"Well, you see my wand," he said pulling out his wand to show her. "when I got it from Ollivander's, he said it is one of a kind. He said that it was a werewolf hair core."
Hermione gasped, "I thought werewolf hair was too unstable to use as a wand core?"
He nodded, "Thats what Lily, Harrys mum, said when I got it. Then he told us that the hair in this wand, is supposedly from Wulfric himself. Thats why I want to learn about Wulfric. It might explain why this wand chose me."
Hermione smiled, "Well, lets go down and eat, then we can get started."
Ryder looked at her, confused. "I didn't expect you to help me. I'm sure you could find something more... productive to do today."
Hermione chuckled, "Whats more productive then helping a friend in need?" she said, pulling him by the arm and out of the portrait hole.
oOoOoOo
After breakfast the duo made their way to the library. They headed to their usual table, a table closest to the large double window, and began looking for any books that might contain any knowledge of Wulfric.
Twenty minutes later and about nothing learned, Hermione walked hastily back to the table, book in hand.
"Ryder," she whispered, causing him to look up from his book. "I asked madam Pince for help and she found this book." She handed him the book and Ryder glaced at the title.
The Life of Wulfric: Fact or Legend? by Charles Burke
Ryder opened the book, Hermione sat closer to him for a better view and the duo began reading.
Wulfric, a name spoken throughout history, known by wizards young and old. Though many know the name, very few know the actual story behind the great wizard. It is said that Wulfric was the first person to inherit the lycan gene. How he came about this is a tale of loss, war and to many frowned upon, seeing as being related to a werewolf in anyway is looked down on in the wizarding world.
The story of Wulfric begins some odd three-hundred years ago. There was a war going on in the wizarding world, most of us know it as the War of the Dawn. Wulfric leading the side of the light into battle to take on the dark, along with their leader, Zadimus Vandran. Now for purposes of the story, lets just sum up the war. The war was brutal, left countless deaths, full familys killed and the wizarding world in a downward spiral. It lasted for nearly 65 years until one person, Wulfric himself, defeated Zadimus Vandran.
Now I know you may be wonder why. Why is this story so important? Wasn't Zadimus Vandran just another dark lord? In a way yes. He was just like every other dark lord history has seen. He commanded large armys of all sorts of creatures. Giants, centaurs, trolls, even dragons were under his control.
You see, the thing that made Zadimus Vandran so dangerous, is the fact that he is the creator of the Avada Kedavra spell, also known as the killing curse. During the time of the War of the Dawn, the spell was new, so no one understood the spell. Many victims fell to the unusual spell, not expecting it to completely remove all life from their bodies.
Now lets get back on topic shall we? Wulfric, the leader of light during this war, had vowed his life to stopping Zadimus Vandran. So, he and his wife, known by the name Violetta, set out to find any way to defeat Vandran. The journey is said to have taken wulfric nearly ten years. On his quest, he lost his wife Violetta and the sight in his right eye, but still, Wulfric returned to free the world of Zadimus Vandran's reign of terror.
How did he accomplish this feat? Well, legend has it that after his wife passed away, Wulfric was at a loss emotionally. He went on for days, struggling to move on, until one day he came upon an alter. The Alter of the Moon, still to this day, never found by another wizard, is said to grant one who has lost what is most important to him one wish of his or her choice. Having promised his wife that he would end the war and kill Zadimus Vandran at any cost, he wished for the power to end the war. He was granted the power of the moon, nature and primal instincts. Wulfric is said to have gained heightened senses, uncanny control over his magic, vast knowledge and understanding of the world and unmatched speed and strength. Wulfric spent a year, mastering his new powers, then set off to defeat Zadimus Vandran and end the war once and for all.
The battle is said to have taken place during the full moon, when Wulfric would be at his strongest. He killed Zadimus Vandran ending the war and completeing the promise he made to his wife Violetta.
The years after this passed. Wulfric grew old and eventually remarried. He had a son and a daughter and lived out the rest of his life as the hero of the wizarding world.
Now, the story gets interesting. Nearing the end of his life, Wulfric took a single strand of his hair, and forged it into a wand. Why he did this is unknown, but, it is said that the weilder of this wand, will be able to take claim his spot, as rightful heir of Wulfric, upon his sixteenth birthday. The wand to this day, still has yet to be claimed or even found by anyone. It makes this author wonder if the wand even exists.
Ryder sat there in shock, staring at the book. Could he be the heir to Wulfric? How could he be, when he barely even new the lineage of his mother and father?
Hermione hugged Ryders arm, attempting to bring his any sort of comfort, as the two just sat there in total silence.