Changes Can Be Made
Disclaimer: Harry Potter does not belong to me…. I don't have the awesomeness for it…. :(
A/N: Hey guys! I actually got this in on time! Thanks for the reviews and greetings guys! I am now 16 and have more responsibilities… YAY! (feel the sarcasm) :( Also, I know that Tonks and Lupin have an age gap but in this they're the same age. :) anyway! I hope you guys like this! KEEP THE REVIEWS COMING! I LOVE YOU! Xoxoxoxo
Chapter 17: Truth be told
Hermione and Lily spent most of their trip discussing potions and Lily's strategy in beating James in their DADA class' continuation duels, since James was with Sirius in the medical wing for the rest of the lesson. They continued giggling and going over charms and jinxes until they finally reached their last destination of their day, classroom 2E.
They were early for class since the two girls shared something else in common; they hated to be late. The class had only a handful of students. Some Ravenclaw, some Slytherins, a couple of Hufflepuffs and a Gryffindor, James Potter.
Hermione nudged the already blushing head girl and started towards James. James saw them, well more like saw Lily, and jumped in excitement. He very enthusiastically beckoned them to come and sit. There was only one empty seat beside James and two empty seats behind him. Hermione, followed by Lily, walked down the aisle to the said empty seats. However, when Hermione reached the two empty seats she not only occupied one, she placed her bag in the other. Lily was shocked.
"What are you doing?!" she whispered angrily.
"Giving James a chance," Hermione said playfully. She then nodded her head towards the eager Potter who was too deep in his own thoughts to hear them. Lily huffed in annoyance before seating herself beside the overjoyed head boy. Hermione giggled at the two bickering. With a sigh, Hermione took a good look around. Class was bound to start any minute and yet, without her noticing, the class was already filled with a few more students. Hermione continued her observation. There weren't many girls in this class, in fact, the majority of the people in the class were boys. The only girls she saw were two Hufflepuff girls gossiping away, three Raveclaw girls absorbed in books and a very snobby Slytherin who glared with envy at Hermione.
'What is her problem?'
Then with a snort the girl in question turned to gaze dreamily at someone in the front. Puzzled, Hermione followed her line of sight. Hermione was surprised to find a group of Slytherin boys staring at her.
'Why are they staring at me?! Wait wait wait! Calm down Hermione… they could be looking at someone else…'
Hermione turned to look behind her but all there was, was a wall. They were really looking at her. She turned back to face them.
'What are they up to…' Hermione thought suspiciously.
The boys weren't handsome…. Well, honestly one was. He was right in the middle and was the one who stared up at her deep in thought whilst the other boys whispered to each other. This boy had neat black hair and royal blue eyes that really enhanced the natural beauty of his fair face. He was GORGEOUS!
'Just as gorgeous as Sirius….' Hermione sighed, then all of a sudden she widened her eyes in shock, 'Sirius… gorgeous?! N-no way! Stop thinking such ignorant things Hermione! T-they are… alike?' Hermione thought.
She had just realised how much this boy resembled Sirius and blushed as realisation hit her.
'How could I have forgotten! Of course he looks like Sirius! He's R.A.B! Regulus Arcturus Black! He's Sirius' brother!'
The boy, now known as Regulus, smirked playfully as she blushed and stared. Hermione noticed this smirk and immediately averted her eyes. She had been staring right back at him! Hermione looked around the room frantically and caught the Slytherin girl glaring intensely at Hermione again.
'That girl definitely likes Regulus… I wonder what he's like…' Hermione thought curiously, 'Wait! No you don't Hermione!'
Regulus stood from the table whispering something to his friends before he turned towards Hermione.
'Oh Merlin! He's coming this way! NO NO NO!' she screamed inside.
"Psst, Lil… PSST!" she whispered to Lily.
"What?!" Lily said in annoyance as she looked back. Hermione noticed how close the two in front of her were getting.
Hermione smiled but continued, "Please come sit here… QUICK!"
"Sorry Mi… I'm… giving Potter a chance," she winked back.
Hermione grumbled under her breath something whilst knowing this as payback. Lily giggled and turned back to continue her conversation with James.
'damn…' Hermione cursed as Regulus came to stop at her desk. Hermione looked up at him but could still see Lily and James turn to watch her and Regulus.
Regulus smiled down at her, "May I sit here Miss Grace?"
Hermione tilted her head to the side in confusion but answered, "S-sure…"
He instantly removed her bag and handed it to her before seating himself beside her comfortably.
'How does he know who I am?'
As if reading her mind he smiled at her and said, "Lucius had quite a lot to say about you."
Hermione sighed, "I bet he did… Is that why you and your buddies down there," she pointed to the unattractive boys in the front, "were staring at me?"
"Well that was one reason."
"And the other was?"
Regulus smiled devilishly, "Look in the mirror and see for yourself, angel."
Hermione blushed but huffed angrily.
'He's definitely Sirius' brother…'
"My names Regulus Arcturus Black, it's a pleasure to make you acquaintance," he picked up her resting hand and placed a soft, sweet kiss to the back.
Hermione blushed furiously, "H-Hermione Grace…"
"I know," he stated.
At that moment the professor entered.
'Professor Flitwick is the professor here? Whoa! How old is the guy?' Hermione thought curiously.
"Welcome to Advanced Charms young witches and wizards," he began. "You all have shown great talent in you previous average charm classes and have now been excelled to a high level. Some of you are sixth years and others are seventh, but no matter what years you are in I want you all to get along and leave all that house rivalry riff-raff out of my class."
"Sixth years?" Hermione whispered to herself.
"Yes, this class is a mixture of talented sixth years, like me, and seventh years," Regulus explained.
"Right… figures…" Hermione sighed.
As Professor Flitwick began the lesson, Hermione gave all her attention to him. She had knack for charms.
Hermione was so engulfed in the lesson that she never noticed the glances she received from Mister Black. Regulus watched as she took notes and surveyed the wand movements Professor Flitwick performed. She learned unimaginably fast and mastered each new charm with ease. She was a natural; a natural genius at charms and a natural mudblood. Regulus sighed. He detested her for the fact that she was a mudblood, but for some reason she was just too interesting hate. She was beautiful yet she's a mudblood; talented yet muggle-born and a very smart witch yet she was raised her entire life in the muggle world. How can someone so hateable make someone so superior like Regulus unwilling to hate her? Regulus shook his head and focussed on what was important… charms.
Hermione watched as Flitwick began to explain the truth charm.
"This charm is known as the 'Truth Charm'. When performed properly, it works the same as Veritaserum. No matter who, or how strong, your opponent will spill everything on whatever it is you ask of," Flitwick announced.
The class began to chatter amongst themselves in excitement.
"Settle down now… I know you all must be excited but I warn you. It is an incredibly hard charm to master. In fact, using the Veritaserum would be far easier than using this charm, for with the truth serum all one needs to do is mix the ingredients properly whereas, with this charm, one must have a stronger will than the enemy and must be able to concentrate without distraction. Can you all do that?"
The class nodded enthusiastically. Flitwick then turned around and started to scribble on some parchment.
"Of course I can," Regulus said confidently.
Hermione giggled at this comment which earned her a hard glare from Black.
"What?" he snapped.
"Oh nothing… You and your brother have the same egotistical confidence that the girls just love," Hermione replied.
"Was that supposed to be a compliment or an insult?" Regulus asked confused.
"Well…. Both."
"Oh, so girls just LOVE my egotistical confidence," he edged closer to her.
Hermione blushed but stood her ground, not moving an inch. "Yes, well, keep the egotistical confidence for a girl who cares," she indicated to the girl staring up at them.
Regulus turned to look at the girl Hermione was referring to. She blushed immediately and batted her eyelashes in, what she thought was, a seductive manner. Regulus rolled his eyes and turned back to Hermione.
"Does she have something in her eyes?" Hermione said disgusted by the girl.
"She's a sixth year girl named Josanne Marie," he said.
"Well Josanne sure has a thing for you," Hermione mumbled.
"Maybe she does… does that make you jealous Miss Grace?" he said. He smiled charmingly as he again edged a bit closer to Hermione.
She started to feel just a bit uncomfortable with the limited space and so she turned around to face Flitwick as he spun around with his parchment.
"Hmph, you wish Black," she huffed.
He only chuckled as Flitwick began to explain the parchment.
"Since you all are so sure, I have divided you all into pairs. After I show all of you how it is done, I want you all to perform it once or twice on your partners." Flitwick said. He waited for a response before he continued. "Alrighty! First order of business… the pairs! All I have done was written the names of each two person row so congratulation the person beside you will be your partner."
Everyone looked around and confirmed the pairs.
"Guess that means your mine," Regulus said casually.
"Yeah..." she said allowed. "Bloody hell…" she whispered to herself. But Regulus had good hearing…
"I heard that," he hissed.
Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Now pay attention!" Flitwick yelled, "Probitas Verum!" he pointed his wand sharply at a small boy in the front row closest to the door. The boy shook his head as if someone had slapped him.
"Now Mister Verkins, which teacher do you dislike the most?" Flitwick asked.
"Professor S-Slughorn," Verkins blurted out.
"And why?"
"His jolliness intimidates me," he went on, "because a drunk Santa Claus in London chased me around laughing and saying 'Calm to jolly old santa boy!' at me when I was six."
The class went silent. Well almost silent except for some snickering students, which included Regulus.
"Stop it!" Hermione snapped at him. She hit his arm hard.
"Hey! What was that for?!" He exclaimed.
"For being an insensitive git!"
Regulus growled angrily at her then turned abruptly to face the professor.
"Now, it's your turn. Turn to your partners and one at a time cast the charm and ask a question. No inappropriate questions please. Now, begin!" Flitwick said.
Hermione turned to an upset Black and sighed, "Alright… I'm sorry for hitting you," Regulus gave a small smile and nodded, but before he could speak Hermione continued, "but you were being an insensitive git… Poor Verkins told the whole class his phobia and you just snickered," she huffed.
"Fine, I'm sorry too… anyway, should we get on with it?" Regulus suggested.
"Sure, would you like to go first?" she asked kindly.
Regulus smirked and gave a little bow, "Ladies first."
Hermione rolled her eyes and concentrated. She closed her eyes and recalled Professor Flitwicks actions. He took out his black wand and recited the words. Then, milliseconds after he finished the incantations he sharply pointed his wand at the target. Hermione opened her eyes quickly and focussed solely on Regulus. She pulled out her wand from her pocket and held it tightly in her hand. Her eyes and attention never left the boy in front of her.
"Probitas Verum!" she shouted then swiftly and sharply, just like Flitwick, pointed her wand hard at the smirking Black boy.
All of a sudden Regulus' smirking expression changed to a drained, pale face. His eyes widened as if she had punched him square in the face. Hermione slowly allowed a smirk to grace her lips.
"Now, Regulus Black… Are you a death eater?"
Hermione could see Regulus fighting hard to conceal his answer but he could not, "N-no…"
"Have you been invited to become one?"
"Yes…" he answered angrily.
'He's been invited yet he has not joined? maybe…'
"Do you wish to be one?" she went on.
"Maybe… I'm not sure…"
Hermione was puzzled. The Regulus Black, R.A.B., future Sirius told them about truly believed in the death eaters cause and, to her knowledge, became a death eater around now… but why is he not sure now?
"Why aren't you sure?" she asked quizzically.
"B-because of…" he struggled.
"Because of?"
He struggled even harder but soon it was of no use. "Because of… you…"
Hermione was taken back. 'Why? Why me? What does he mean?' Hermione asked herself frantically.
Suddenly Flitwick clapped his hands loudly and demanded their attention. Hermione jumped in surprise to the loud noise and lost concentration. Regulus sighed in relief and looked angrily at her. She swallowed hard as she heard Professor Flitwick announce that it is now time to switch turns. Regulus smiled slyly and faced Hermione.
"Probitas Verum!" he shouted and mimicked Hermione's concentration and actions.
Suddenly Hermione felt the wind knock out of her and felt all colour drain from her face. She felt suddenly sick and her head ached. Then she heard it; regulus's voice. But it echoed.
"Are you a muggle-born?" his question echoed in Hermione's head.
"Yes," she said honestly.
"Do you have romantic feelings for my brother, Sirius?" he asked disgustedly.
"I… I'm unsure…" she answered.
He smirked, "Do you have romantic feelings for me?"
"I-I'm also not sure…"
"Are you afraid of the Dark Lord?" he asked angrily.
"Y-yes…" she answered with tears building in her eyes.
"Would you go against the dark lord?"
"Without hesitation," she answered.
Regulus looked utterly shocked. "You would?"
"Yes," she answered.
He looked at her and asked, "Who are you?"
A/N: That's all folks…. For now! Hehehe ok, I'll update again this week so stay tuned! ;)