I know many are irritated at the infrequent updates; therefore, I will try my hardest to be better about it. And yes, I was listening to Rent while writing the end of the last chapter. :-P
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Hermione woke the next morning feeling renewed and refreshed. She had left her curtains open before she went to bed, so that now the sun were streaming in through the window, bathing her in its golden light.
Today would be a good day.
Stretching and yawning, Hermione padded her way to the bathroom in order to get ready for the day. She put the now-familiar trappings of the era over her body, and glimpsed at herself in the mirror.
Frowning, Hermione decided that today needed to be special. She stood for a moment, contemplating, then began muttering glamour spells under her breath.
Twenty minutes later Hermione emerged with a bright application of cosmetics, and hair that had been softly curled and perfumed. She was surprised at how much better she felt now that her appearance was better.
"Perhaps this is why Pansy and all of them take so much time in the mornings…"
Sitting down at a small table by the window, Hermione contemplated what to do about the Conan (she really liked his first name better than his middle, anyway) situation. How would a woman of this time period deal with it?
Probably send herself to a convent, Hermione thought darkly.
Perhaps, what was needed was a 21st century approach.
Making up her mind, Hermione strode down to the Great Hall for breakfast, determined. To her delight, most of the student body was present, at even Orion (Conan!) was at his seat, even if he was not meeting anyone's eyes or talking.
"Perfect."
Hermione walked briskly to the staff table, smirking at the whispers and shocked mutterings of those around her. She gave a slight bow to the headmaster when she arrived, and when he gave a surprised nod back in reflex, she pointed her wand at her throat and with a whispered "Sonorus!" stood to face the crowd.
"Good morning, everyone." She continued without pause, to give no room for retaliation.
"Some of you seem to be under the impression that an incident of great significance happened in the potions dungeons the other day."
Hermione looked out of the corner of her eyes to see Orion staring blatantly, harshly, in her direction.
Ignoring his intense gaze, Hermione turned back to the school.
"This is a lie. There was a dangerous situation present, and Professor Alkiema performed a heroic act by making sure that all of his students were out of danger, including me. Those of you who have been gossiping this poor professor to shame," he pointed dramatically at Alkiema, "should be ashamed of yourselves! And even more so to those students who were in class at the time."
Some students had began to shirk under her harsh tone, and others had the grace to look embarrassed. Hermione smiled to herself. It was working!
"Now, if it is not too much of a bother, we will drop this issue, and continue with our lives. That is all."
She gave another bow to the headmaster, and strode briskly out through the double doors of the Great Hall, down the corridors, and out of the main doors onto the grounds. She did not stop her progress until she reached the lake. Taking a deep, shuddering breath, sat down heavily in the grass, still wet from dew. Her dress was black, what did it matter?
"Hermione! Hey!"
Hermione hissed in pain from whiplash and she turned quickly to see who had been following her. Her face reddened when she saw that it was Albus.
"I didn't realize you were in the great hall."
He slowed, coming a halt next to her.
"I wasn't, but your spell carried down the corridor."
"Oh.."
They stood there for a moment, awkwardly.
"Here, take my cloak. You shouldn't be sitting on the ground, least of all when it's wet."
Hermione sighed as she lifted up her bottom, and Albus spread the cloak out on the ground.
"I really admired what you did in there, you know."
Hermione turned to face him, and was met by an emotional face.
"I mean, it shouldn't have been up to you do to that. I should have stood up to everybody and defended you."
Hermione couldn't help, she started to giggle. Albus looked slightly affronted.
"What's so funny?"
Hermione couldn't speak. "N-nineteenth… c-century…chivalry!" she managed to choke out, before dissolving into hysterics completely.
Albus scratched his head, not sure what to think of this. Woman were supposed to find such declarations of his noble and valiant, not humorous. Oh well, if it made her happy…
Albus allowed himself a grin, and waited for her laughter to subside.
"I'm sorry, Albus… it's just, in my time, the men never stand up for the women, see. We usually have to do the dirty work ourselves!"
Albus thought that this sounded terrible, but Hermione was still having trouble controlling herself.
"Oh, never mind me. Let's sit for awhile."
Albus grinned, relishing the feel of Hermione as she leaned her body against his. He wrapped his long arms around her, and they both stared out at the lake in quiet and reflective companionship.
From his perch in the astronomy tower, Orion was trying to cope with an emotion he hadn't felt in three or so years.
Jealously. Pure, unadulterated, jaded rage.
He stared down at the couple by the lake, trying to ration with himself.
It wasn't working.
Hermione had become so close to him these past few months; the best friend that he had never had. So why did it bother him so much that she was lying in the arms of another man? She was perfectly within her rights to have other friends. Even if they were male. And attractive. And with a high status in society.
Stop it!
Orion fought for control as blood-lust began to fill his veins. It wasn't him talking, it was the wolf! Orion had heard the stories from others, but, (being the mild-mannered person he was) had never experienced it.
He had read about the involuntary transformations. When a werewolf became too emotionally distressed in human form, it was possible to start a slight transformation if control was not taken immediately.
Orion cursed himself, and his weakness. He felt the darkness attempt to consume him, and tried to fight it. It wasn't him wanting Albus' blood, it was the wolf! It wasn't him who desired Hermione's flesh, it was the wolf!
But was it?
Orion fell to his knees on the cold stone, grabbing his head in his hands and crying out.
He could not lose control!
Hermione's figure from earlier danced before his eyes, her strong frame radiating confidence as she told off the entire school of Hogwarts for their gossiping. Her strength… her passion, her beauty…
The wolf in Orion wanted to taste that strength, to bridle the passion, to make it crumble beneath him…
"NOOOO!"
Orion slammed his hands into the stone wall, the pain a welcome distraction.
After a few moments of breathing hard, he felt that he had regained enough of himself to leave the astronomy tower.
For as long as he had been a werewolf, Orion had been able to keep the wolf in him dormant around women. As long as society cherished the woman who was quiet, meek, and subservient, the wolf in him lay dormant.
Hermione was no such woman.
Glancing out the window once more, Orion grabbed his chest as a fierce pang ripped through his body.
He might have to spend the night in the forest, and there was certainly no way he would meet with Hermione to discuss potions curriculum.
Taking a moment to gather himself, Orion headed slowly to the owlery.
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Down by the lake, Hermione shifted in position and smiled up at Albus.
"Do you have something to tell me?"
Albus started for a moment, looking very surprised. Hermione chuckled to herself. His skill of hiding what he was thinking must have been acquired much later in his life.
"Well, as a matter of fact I do. However, it will have to wait until dinner, since it is not official yet."
Hermione looked at him skeptically.
"You have never struck me as the sly type, Albus Dumbledore. But I suppose I shall have to trust you on this."
Albus smiled, and bent to kiss the top of her head. Straightening up, he gave her a parting wave and pratically skipped up to the castle.
Watching his progress, Hermione couldn't help but grin to herself. Oh well, she supposed that she would have to wait until tonight to find out about this surprise of his.
Gathering her skirts around her, Hermione was about to head into the castle herself. After all, there was a bit of schoolwork to be done.
Before she could move, however, she was accosted by a large, tawny owl.
"HEY!"
Hermione covered her head as the owl hovered condescendingly, hooting since there was no good place to land. Reluctantly, Hermione held out her arm, and was surprised by the gentleness shown by the owl as he landed softly on her flesh. Hermione took the small scroll with her other hand, and a smile spread across her face.
"I've always wanted to do this..."
The owl hooted, as if in agreement, and Hermione suddenly thrust her arm out into the air. The owl used the momentum from her push to launch into the air, the wind from his impressing wing-span causing Hermione's hair to swirl in the breeze. Hermione watched in awe as the powerful bird circled around the castle turrets, and was lost from view in the sky.
Sighing, Hermione turned her attention to the parchment in her hand. She unrolled it, still smiling. However, the further her eyes traveled down the parchment, the more pronounced her frown became.
Hermione,
Do not come to the potions lab or anywhere near the dungeons tonight. I am otherwise engaged.
-Professor Alkiema
Hermione furrowed her brow, trying to make sense of the note. Orion had never refused her company, and he certainly had never referred to her so formally in a private note before. Racking her brain, Hermione realized there was at least three more days until the full moon. No, something else was wrong. Hermione grit her teeth, wondering if he was still upset over the potions incident.
Whatever it was, she was going to find out!
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Fawkes the phoenix was in quite the predicament.
On the one hand, he enjoyed seeing the normally poised headmaster as frantic as a schoolgirl caught in a broom closet, yet on the other hand the bird's own personal needs were suffering.
The faithful pet squawked in protest as old, congealed droppings and the bones of weeks-old dinners lay scattered the floor. Honestly, Fawkes was a phoenix! A creature of the utmost majesty! He should be living in a palace with his own flock of servants, not stuck in the decrepit, stinking room that was currently the headmaster's office.
Well, Fawkes thought, lowering his beak, perhaps the servants wouldn't be necessary. But they would be nice.
He squawed again, not liking the irnoy of the situation. He had tears that could heal the most injured, a voice that could inspire the hopeless, yet no concept whatsoever of household cleaning skills!
Deciding he might as well live in the owlery (here Fawkes shuddered physically), Fawkes flew out of Dumbledore's open window, deciding to ponder the current state of things.
The cool air of the evening glided through Fawkes' gold-red feathers as he flew between and around the many turrets of Hogwarts castle. It was clear something needed to be done, but what?
Fawkes shook his head, straining his wings to gain more altitude. He couldn't quite put his talon on it, but he was starting to think his master's attitude has been affecting those around him as well. Fawkes was even beginning to feel ill and weak; almost as though his very meaning of existence was slowly melting away. That was just preposterous of course; he was a phoenix! Phoenixes didn't die...
Fawkes had to do a tight manuever as an unpleasant thought occurred to him.
What if the reason he felt his purpose was fading was due to the Granger girl? What if she's been meddling in the timeline, thereby making Fawkes' purpose fade?
Well now, that was ridiculous.
Fawkes glided to a statue of a particuarly fearsome-looking gargoyle, flaring his wings at the last moment to land. He needed to think this through.
He knew his purpose was to serve Albus Dumbledore; to be there when he needed him the most. To anyone within Hogwarts castle, it certainly seemed as though that time was now. Yet, it didn't feel right to Fawkes. He knew he was dwindling; if he stayed with the headmaster much longer, he wasn't sure what would become of him.
Well, if the present Dumbledore didn't need him right now, perhaps the past Dumbledore does!
Pumping his head straight in the air, Fawkes was proud to arrive at this conclusion.
To his consternation, he saw several first years gathered by the entrance hall, pointing up at him and staring.
Usually Fawkes would take a moment to be admired; he knew what a glorious sight he must make poised on the statue. After all, the setting sun was bound to make his plumage look like liquid fire.
However, Fawkes was not in the mood, and instead gave the students a hostile glare. Once they had scurried away, Fawkes made his decision, regardless of how it would affect timelines, or even if he would be living at Hogwarts in the future. Oh well. One thing was clear; he had made an oath to Albus, to be there when he needed Fawkes. Reaching out through the generations, Fawkes could tell that a young Dumbledore needed him. Now.
With a flick of his tail-feathers, Fawes took the plunge into the sands of time.
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