A/N I'm updating again today because I really want to post a specific chapter tomorrow morning, but obviously I can't do that until this one is up…

Darkness Calling: Chapter 11

I didn't see the letter until after I had already gotten ready for classes. As I was about to walk out of the room, I picked up the envelope and sat down on my bed to read it. There was nothing written on the outside but, when I opened it and unfolded the paper, I saw neat writing in a shade of purple. It was most definitely a girl's handwriting.

Jayleigh,

I know that I am being a chicken in sending you a letter instead of just talking to you but, I am honestly so embarrassed with the way I have acted that I couldn't get up the courage to approach you. You have every reason to never want to speak to me again but, I hope you'll at least consider accepting my apology. I know it isn't much from a girl you barely know but, I really would like to start over.

Sincerely,

Hermione

I didn't know how to respond. My stomach immediately started doing back flips but, my head was telling me to stay away. If there was one thing that I did know about Hermione Granger, it was that she was the most capable girl at Hogwarts to break my heart. I took out some parchment and sat down at my desk to write; not to Hermione but, to my aunt. I had to get some advice from someone who was wiser than me.

Addi,

I'm glad you were able to write back so quickly. As far as the "enemy" goes, it's Draco Malfoy. I wouldn't say we are enemies; we just don't like each other. I don't know whether or not I want my Jeep to get shipped over. It all depends on where I am going after school but, I'll make up my mind soon enough.

What I really wanted to talk to you about was something a little more personal. There's a girl… And I know that I have only been here for less than a week but, I can't help it. I don't really know her, but I am so incredibly drawn to her. I am so confused by this situation. My heart is telling me one thing but, my brain is telling me another. I don't want this to turn out like it always has in the past. What am I saying? I don't even think she is interested in that way. What should I do Addi? Should I ignore these feelings I am having? Her best friend tells me I should go for it. And even if I did, I wouldn't know how.

I have never felt this way about a girl and honestly it scares me to death. Never once in my life have I ever given a damn about what a girl thinks of me – not even with Ash. Please help me…

Jay

I didn't mean to pour out my soul onto this letter but, like what I felt for Hermoine, I couldn't help it. I rolled the parchment up and stuck it in my bag to mail out later. I was running late and I didn't have time to grab breakfast before my Transfiguration lesson, so I ran down my secret passage and came out into the Transfiguration corridor.

Professor McGonagall was waiting for me when I skidded to a halt in her office. "You're late Miss Harrison. Is there a particular reason why you cannot make it to your lesson on time?"

"Sorry, I was writing a letter to my aunt and got distracted. It won't happen again." I answered her as I sat my bag down by my desk in the corner.

Before I could sit down, the professor told me to leave my things and to follow her. I did as told and when we reached our destination we were in the Transfiguration classroom. The normal students' desks were pushed to the sides of the room and in their place, were five long tables, with three stations set up on each. At each station there was an object with instructions on what to do with each object.

"You may start here." Professor McGonagall pointed to the first station. "When you are finished, I will check your work and then we will discuss your options for this course."

The practical exam wasn't as difficult as the written one but, it was still hard none the less. By the end of it, I was sweating from the concentration needed to perform the instructed spells; however, I did complete it and Professor McGonagall seemed pleased.

"Miss Harrison, I do believe you may be one of the most gifted Transfiguration students I have been able to teach at your age." As she was saying all this, she was taking notes down on her notepad.

"Thank you but, I'm not terribly gifted. I have just had a lot of practice, is all." I answered her modestly.

"That may be the case but, you still need a little work to be ready for your N.E.W.T.s but, all that will be easy enough to catch you up on. I must ask; is there anything in particular that you wanted to study in our lessons?"

"Actually, yes. I found this book in the library." I pulled out the said book and turned to the page I had marked. It was the list of registered animagi. "I found your name on this list and I wondered if you could teach me how to do this."

"Ah, yes. That is very dangerous magic, indeed. It takes a powerful witch or wizard to be able to completely transform oneself into another species. Why exactly are you interested in this branch of magic?" She asked in an indistinguishable tone.

"I don't know, exactly. It just appeals to me. The idea of being able to become something else entirely is fascinating and I would love to know how to do it."

"It is not something to take on lightly but, if you are sure you want to learn this, then I will teach you." She made some more notes and then started writing on another piece of parchment. "This is a list of reading material that I want you to check out of the library." She handed me the paper. "That first book will help you review for your N.E.W.T. and the other two with becoming an animagus. Your homework is to read as much of those books as you possibly can. On Monday, we will begin." With that she dismissed me and I left the classroom.

I couldn't believe it. I was going to learn how to transform into an animal. That's something that people grow up dreaming they could do and I was going to be able to do it. The rest of the day went by in a blur. Both Professors Slughorn and Flitwick had made up a curriculum for me to work with, but nothing I was doing in their lessons was anywhere near as exciting as my Transfiguration lesson. Before I went to the Great Hall, I mailed my letter to Addi. I was so excited at dinner, that I couldn't stop talking about how amazing my day had been, even though there really wasn't that much to it. My mood was infectious and soon everyone around me was laughing and telling jokes and funny stories.

I was so caught up in my own little world that I didn't notice the girl who kept staring at me from across the room. Not until I stood up to leave the Great Hall, did I catch her gaze and remember the note that was still in my bag, untouched since I first read it. Hermione smiled politely at me and it made my heart race but, I didn't let any of my emotions show. I still wasn't ready to face her. I looked back to Sabrina who had whispered something in my ear and followed her out of the hall.

Over the next few weeks, things got a lot more hectic. Classes were getting harder and the teachers had been piling up the homework on the seventh years including myself. I hadn't made any progress whatsoever with my lessons with Professor McGonagall and it felt like Snape was trying to kill me. I was definitely learning more than I ever had before my time at Hogwarts and the fact was exhilarating, although exhausting.

Things with Sabrina hadn't slowed down and Hermione didn't try to contact me again. Addi's return letter was no help at all. She told me to just follow my heart but, there was no payoff without risk. I haven't written back, yet.

Ginny and I became closer and in our spare time, anyone who was looking for us could find us on the quidditch pitch. One afternoon, we were flying around, when Ginny brought up the thing with Hermione again.

"Have you responded to her yet?" She asked me innocently.

"Who? Hermione? No I haven't." I leaned forward and pushed ahead of Ginny.

"Why not?" She had caught up to me.

Pulling to a stop, I gave Ginny a wary look and said, "Not this again, Ginny. You know I don't like talking about it."

"Yeah, well I think you should do something about it. You obviously care for her or she wouldn't affect you the way she does. And she was telling me just last night how she wished you would talk to her. She feels terrible for the way she acted and you won't even give her the time of day to accept her apology."

"Maybe I don't want her apology, Ginny!" I didn't mean to shout but, Hermione was always a touchy subject. "Look…" I landed on the ground and she followed. "I like her…a lot. And the past few weeks haven't changed that at all but, I don't know if I want to deal with those feelings right now. I got really hurt by one of the previous girls in my life and I don't want that to happen again."

"But you won't even talk to her, Jay. No one said you had to ask her to marry you or something." We both shouldered our broomsticks and started walking back towards the castle.

"I know that… It's just… I don't even know how to go about talking to her. How do you be friends with someone you are dying to ask out?"

"True… I didn't think about that. So you don't think you could just be friends with her?" She asked.

"No I don't. What I feel is too strong for that and I don't want it to make her feel awkward." We walked in silence for a couple minutes.

"Alright, I won't push it anymore…" She began. "So… This weekend is the first Hogsmeade trip and the Halloween feast afterwards. Are you going?"

"Yeah I had planned to. It'll be nice to explore the village… Hey are there going to be any parties after the feast? I'm in serious need of a de-stressor."

"Not that I know of. Why? You thinking about throwing one?" She asked me.

"The thought crossed my mind. I was thinking of throwing a costume party after the feast but, I have no idea where to do it at or if anyone would actually show up."

"Well... I have a place in mind; that is, if you are interested." Mischievous grins were spreading across both of our faces.

We spent the rest of the week planning the party and making sure all of the older student heard about it and knew where to go at what time. I was in charge of the music and she was in charge of smuggling the booze into the school. The place and decorations had taken care of themselves. Ginny showed me the Room of Requirement and told me that not a lot of people knew about it and as long as we didn't go blabbering about what exactly the room did, it would stay that way.

When I walked into it the first time I was extremely impressed. The room was huge. There was a platform with a DJ's booth set up a dance floor in front of that and tables set up around the dance floor. There were two bathrooms and then four doors in the back wall. Each door had a different emblem on it; one for each Hogwarts house. We assumed the doors led to secret passageways out of the Room of Requirement and back to the dorms.

The decorations were superb. There were carved pumpkins floating in midair above our heads with live bats fluttering up by the ceiling. There were also spot lights and laser lights that flashed in synchronicity with the music pumping out of the speakers. It reminded me of a muggle night club and it was exactly what I wanted it to be. Ginny had a friend who worked in the kitchens that was going to provide the snacks and punch and according to her, he promised not to rat us out to the teachers.

We were both extremely excited and by the looks of it, so was everyone else. By Thursday, all anyone was talking about was our costume party. It was a miracle that the teachers didn't find out, what with all the rumors flying around. I even heard a group of girls talking in hushed whispers about the Weird Sisters coming to perform. That wasn't true of course but, it was going to be fun all the same.

Friday came and went and as I was lying down on my bed, I couldn't help but think how different things were from my first week here. With the exception of my issue with Hermione, everything else seemed to be playing out just fine. And tomorrow is going to be the best day, yet.