Chapter 10 A Lion Within a Badger
Hermione only had enough time to let out a gasp as the silver wolf jumped up towards her throat. Closing her eyes, she waited for the painful bite, but it never came. Instead she felt a hard hit as they collided, and Hermione fell on the floor. Letting out a grunt, she stood up and muttered under her breath.
"Sorry Hermione," A voice said, "Thought you were a dementor for a second. They've been coming in here nonstop. Here, let me help you."
Hermione's eyes slowly adjusted as the figure, with the patronus standing next to him, helped her up. "Thanks... um," she started and she finally realized who she was talking to, "CONNOR!"
He gave her a strange wolfish smile, and replied, "Yep, who were you suspecting? Chuck Norris?"
"Um not really I actually was expecting... wait what are you doing here Connor?" Hermione asked as Connor went and sat on the bed, which was untidily made.
"Well I could ask you the same thing," he said and shivered, "Hey could you shut the door you are letting in a draft."
for a friend of mine, who is supposed to be in this room."
Looking annoyed, Hermione shut the door and answered, "Well I am here to be a lawyer
"Sirius Black?" Connor asked raising an eyebrow.
"Yes, but how did you know?" Hermione said sitting in a chair. Connor smiled as he pointed to the back of the door which had 'Sirius Orion Black wuz here, but left to get his named cleared. Weotch.' etched into it. "OH MY LORD!" Hermione said hyperventilating, "His case has already started, I have to go and..."
Connor rolled his eyes, walked over to her and slapped her, lightly, saying, "Pull yourself together, woman. There is nothing that you can do now, the case has already started. So now no one can go in or out until it is over with. M'kay?"
Hermione sighed and nodded, sitting back down in the chair, and after taking a few breaths asked, "So what are you doing here?"
Connor blinked and looked at the ground muttering, "Custody case."
"Oh," Hermione said shocked at the answer, and unknowingly walked over and embraced Connor tightly, "I am so sorry, but I am sure that you will be given to a better family than what you had to put up with."
Pushing her away, Connor said in a firm voice, "My parents are dead, or at least my foster parents, so I have no family, and unless I am claimed by both of my birth parents I will go back to the orphanage. Unless my supposed second great-aunt three times removed on my foster mother's side gets complete custody over me."
Hermione blinked trying to take in all of this information, and, again, wrapped her arms around Connor again, "I am so sorry. I wish I could help..." she started but Connor cut her off.
"You already did," He said, giving her a small peck on the cheek, but then pushed her away, "But didn't you come here with your boyfriend and his bestfriend?"
Hermione gasped and said as fast as she could, "OHMEGOSH. I have to go and find them," Connor nodded and opened the door for her.
"Thanks for stopping by and talking to me," he said smiling.
Returning the smile she replied, "I hope you find your real parents that left you at that terrible orphanage."
"Oh that reminds me," Connor said reaching into his pocket and pulling out a piece of folded paper, "Here is a picture of my parents about 18 or so years ago, but it still should be accurate." Hermione nodded and took the paper and walked out the door. She didn't get more than five feet of the shut door when she heard a voice say, "HERMIONE! THERE YOU ARE!" Turning she noticed a vibrant red haired person running toward her, "Oh hey Ron sorry I couldn't get there in time."
"It's ok, but even though you weren't there, Sirius got freed anyway, because of Remus."
Hermione smiled and said, "Really?"
"Yeah and when we get back to Hogwarts there will be a huge party, with loads of food."
"Do you ever stop eating," Hermione said rolling her eyes.
"What?" Ron asked innocently, "I'm hungry." Hermione laughed and grabbed Ron's arm. Ron smiled back and led his girlfriend back to the exit, Hermione forgetting completely about the picture.
Slowly the wild party dwindled down till only Ron, Hermione, Harry and Ginny were left awake.
"Don't worry Harry," Ginny said sliding closer to Harry, "I am sure we will find a girlfriend for you out there someday."
Harry unconsciously put his arm around Ginny and replied, "I don't know where though, I mean I seriously thought that Cho was the one."
Hermione rolled her eyes and changed the subject, "I hear that we are getting some new students tomorrow. A girl and a boy I think and about our age too named, um Xander I think and… um… Azkadelia."
Harry's head shot straight up, "A girl?" he asked a new soft sense of hope in his voice, "Maybe she will be my girlfriend."
Ginny stood up and shouted through tears, "Harry James Potter you are the worst and most terrible person I ever knew, and I… I… I just hate you!" Turning around she covered her eyes, and ran up to the dormitory crying.
"What did I say?" Harry asked even more puzzled than usual. Hermione rolled her eyes, and walked up the stairs to comfort Ginny. Harry looked over at Ron, who just shrugged, and went up to get some sleep.
Tonks stared at the boy who she had not seen for over 16 years. 'He has his father's nose… I think… unless he is a metamorphagus,' Tonks thought as his Aunt's lawyer walked around and proved his case. The judge was nodding agreeing, said a few things and then released everyone with a bang of the gavel. Suddenly a loud bang occurred when many witches and wizards Disapparated to their homes. Minerva and Dumbledore walked out with Connor, who was muttering under his breath. Tonks nodded to Dumbledoor and started to walk to her desk thinking, 'To think I would find him after all these years. Maybe I could… no… I would have to tell the father first.' Tonks nodded and packed her bag and Apparated home.
Hermione was shaken awake by an equally tired Cho. "What?" Hermione said covering her head with a blanket.
"Look," Cho said pulling the blankets off Hermione's bed, "Professor McGonagall wants to fucking see you."
"New word of the week?" Hermione asked pulling on a robe and slippers.
"Yeppers," Cho said acting proud of herself, and headed down stairs. Drowsily, Hermione walked down the stairs and joined the rest of the equally tired Gryffindor house. '
As if on cue, McGonagall walked in and said, "I am so sorry for waking all of you from you slumber, but we have a few new students who will be joining this noble house," The room started to mutter as McGonagall continued, "Quiet please! Now the first one is a girl 6th year and moved here from the United States. Her name is Azkadelia, please come forward dear." A girl stepped forward and the room got quiet. She was an average sized girl about 5'5" with black hair and red streaks. She had unusual violet eyes and two pierces in her ear. She wore a simple black tank top with a denim jacket and a matching black skirt that came above her knees, showing her black heeled boots.
Her eyes wandered around the room defiantly and took another sip of the monster energy drink she was holding. Finally, her eyes landed on Hermione, and she began to advance. Hermione met her half way and smiled, extending a hand. "Hello," she said cheerfully, "My name is Hermione Granger." Azkadelia looked at her hand and, before Hermione could stop her, put her half-full can of Monster, face down, in her shirt. Screaming at the cold can and the equally cold drink spilling on her front she asked, "What was that for!? I was being nice to you!"
Smiling Azkadelia replied, "Oh I am sorry, but I had to put the trash with the rest of the trash."
Hermione scoffed and turned to the trashcan and put the can in it. 'Should recycle, but really I don't care anymore. She had no right and… EWWW' she thought drying the drink with a simple charm, but it still left a sticky patch on the front.
"The second," McGonagall contused, "isn't really a new student, but had an unnatural change of houses." A murmur arose from the crowd. "Quiet down please," She continued, "You see when he was sorted the hat had a difficult problem sorting him, and so we put him in Hufflepuff where we put all the rest. But due to recent events, he has been moved into the noble house of Gryffindor." Hermione's head shot up and thought in scarred thoughts, 'Please not him, anyone but him. PLEASE!" The room got very quiet as Professor McGonagall finished, "you may step forward and join your new housemates, Connor."
A gasp arose from the crowed as Hermione groaned and nearly fainted. A shout came up from the back, Harry, Hermione guessed. "NO WAY. He can't be in our house. I mean he is on the Hufflepuff quidditch team, and he will probably just sell our moves to his own team."
McGonagall calmly replied, "Connor has giving up his position as keeper, and captain, and has sworn never to go near a pitch till the season is over."
Another voice arose; whom Hermione deduced was Ron, "Yah right. That won't stop him from talking to his own Hufflepuff buddies."
Connor's eyes changed from sad, emo like to icy, serial-killer likes, but he didn't say anything. McGonagall simply shook her head and said, "I believe that Connor wouldn't do that for I trust him, and from what he has been through it is a pretty strong trust. Now, you may all go back to bed. NOW!!" Everyone jumped at her intensity of her voice, and slowly everyone moved. Smiling McGonagall left and Azkadelia approached Cho and said, "You Goth?"
Cho looked annoyed as she replied, "No, you got a problem?"
Azkadelia smiled and said, "No. Names Azkadelia, but you can call me Az."
Cho raised an eyebrow and smiled saying, "Cho. Hey I will show you to the dorms if you like." Az nodded and they both walked up the stairs.
Hermione groaned thinking, 'Great now there are two girls that I have to deal with now.'
Looking over at the fire place, Hermione noticed Connor, and started to walk toward him. Unfortunately, Harry and Ron got there first. "So Connor, how much are you Hufflepuff friends paying you to steal our techniques?" Harry asked harshly. Connor continued to stare at the flames.
"Must be pretty high considering that Susan is paying him too," Ron added.
"For what," Harry asked flakily.
"To beat up Hermione as often as possible," Ron finished.
Suddenly Connor stood up, eyes furious, "First off, me and Susan broke up weeks ago, secondly I had to end all of my friendships in Hufflepuff cause the thought I would sell their quidditch moves to you, and thirdly…"
"Don't get up in my face," Harry said pushing Connor, who charged back.
"Stop it," Hermione said pulling them apart.
"This isn't over Andreas," Ron said walking away with Hermione, and Harry following close behind. Connor slumped back on the sofa covering his face with his hands.
"Hey that is my sofa," a voice said from behind of him.
Looking up at Cho, Connor said, "Don't see your name on it." Pointing to behind Connor, Cho revealed a word carved into the back saying 'Cho'. "Sorry," Connor said starting to stand until Cho retorted, "Nice scars." She said nodding toward the scars on his wrists. "You don't perceive me as the type of guy who would cut himself."
"What ever gets me through the pain," Connor said covering his scars with his robe sleeves.
Cho smiled and retorted, "You know I can't put my finger on it but there is something about you that I like."
Connor returned the smile and answered, "Yeah same here. Kind of freaky right?"
Cho laughed and said, "Totally Andreas, but hey everyone needs a buddy."
Connor nodded and, forgetting his pain, smiled as a barn owl came down and gave him a letter. Looking at the address his face went blank.
"What is it?" Cho asked reading the sender which read as 'Dr. Bane. Werewolf specialist.'
A/N. Hey guys sorry that I haven't updated in forever, but no need to worry, I have chapter 11 done already so I just need to type it out. But anyway, werewolf specialist? Tonks needing to tell the father? Who is the Father? And how will Connor survive Gryffindor? But still I will drop one hint the next chapter is called A Preparing for Full Moon. But still until then.
BLACK OUT!!
Connor A. Lupin :D