****Griffindor Girl's Dormitories****
When Cory woke up, she sat up at once and banged her head.
'Where the hell am I?' she wondered. Then it all came back to her. The kidnapping, the blur of the days after. She had apparated to her uncle's as soon as Harry said 'GO!", and had been very pissed off when she found that no one else had. She groaned and leaned back. 'Last night, I almost thought she would forgive me. ' Cory mused silently. But somewhere near the back of her brain, she still could somehow sense how Hermione was feeling. Just barely though... it was hanging by a thread. 'Will she ever, ever, forgive me? Doubtful...' thought Cory angrily. She got up and began to get ready.
"Ooh, blue spiral contacts!!! One of my favourites!" exclaimed Cory, popping them in them in her eyes. 'Ick.. this must get worse every time.' (A/N: Now there's something you don't see every day. 'She popped them in her eyes!')
She opened her black trunk which had appeared overnight, probably thanks to Dumbledore, she saw that Hermione's was there too, and pulled out her old robes, which were ice blue, grass green, and sunshine yellow in a kaleidoscope abstract pattern.She decided to go heavy on her make up so 'No one thinks she's going to turn soft, what with the sunshine colours.'
When she was finally ready, she began to leave but stopped at the door and looked at Hermione, still sleeping. She felt as though her insides were being torn in two, attacked by guilt.
'Even I don't know what I am, Hermione. I know you think I'm a traitor.' she thought sadly, grabbing her trunk so she could pull it down to the common room. 'I wonder if I'll ever see this dormitory again?' was her departing thought.
**** Five minutes Later****
Hermione woke up and jumped out of bed, rushing about and getting ready, running a brush through her hair, dabing some lip gloss on, and choosing her simplest black robes. She saw that Cory was gone and so was all of her stuff. Hermione reached for her gold earrings, and began to clasp them on when she had the strangest memory...
~**~ FLASHBACK ~**~
Two little girls with the same round faces and the same brown hair, along with the same ... well, almost everything were seated in front of a mirror. They looked around 6 or 7 years old.
"Look, Coral, I got Mommy's lipstick." exclaimed one girl, little Hermione.
"Wow, 'Mione, that's cool, let's try!" decided the other girl, little Coral.
The two girls scribbled lipstick on to their faces awkwardly, then looked in the mirror and tumbled over each other, laughing.
"You know what the bestest part of being a twin is, 'Mione?" said little Coral innocently.
"What, Coral?" asked little Hermione, still giggling, and now looking for her mommy's blush.
"We can be together like this forever and ever!" yelled little Coral.
Little Hermione paused her search for the blush and said "Yeah, Coral. You're right." and they continued on with their escapades.
~**~ FLASHBACKS OVER!!! ~**~
Hermione sighed and stared in the mirror, remembering how their always used to be two faces in the mirror.
'You ignored me, and I thought I could ignore you. But now you're back and it's harder than it ever was. I don't know who you are anymore. You're certainly not like me...' she thought, a great wave of helplessness and depression washing over her and she left the room.
****Griffindor Boys Dormitories****
"Harry!" shouted Ron. "Get up now, we've got the entire castle practically to ourselves!"
Harry jolted awake, and bounced around the room, getting ready. He got a bag of Bertie Botts Every Flavoured Beans, ripped it open, and set it in front of Parnella and Carollan.
"Enjoy yourselves today." said Harry cheerfully.
Carollan's little snake face looked as if Christmas had come early. "Oh, we will." he replied.
Harry and Ron walked out of their room together, laughing and chattering mindlessly. They turned to go down the winding staircase, and at the bottom, Ron caught a glimpse of Cory, sitting in a chair with her chin resting in her hands. She was humming softly. Ron felt a pang in his chest as he listened to her beautiful voice. In reality, she sounded like a large hog as it was slowly dying and calling out for his mother after being hit by a double decker bus and a 4 by 4. But Ron was demented with puppy love.
Just then , Hermione came down the stairs on the other side of the room. She looked over at Ron, and noticing the strained appearance of his face, leaned over and whispered:
"You know Ron, I do know an anti-constipation spell."
Ron blushed and replied softly "You can keep it to yourself, thanks."
Harry broke in. "Let's go get some breakfast."
Harry and Hermione began to walk, and Ron called to Cory "C'mon Cory."
She got up and they walked down, Ron trying to start a conversation.
"So, um, what subjects are you taking this year?" he asked.
"Care of Magical Creatures, Transfiguration, Potions, Charms, Divination, Herbology, Defence Against The Dark Arts, and Study of Ancient Runes." she proclaimed blandly.
Ron smiled. "I'm taking all of those except Study of Ancient Runes."
Cory gave him a small grin in return.
They arrived in the great hall, the only people there were Dumbledore and
Hagrid.
"'arry, Ron, Hermione! I was worried 'bout you three. Who's this?" cried Hagrid, gesturing towards Cory.
"I'm Cory." she announced.
"Nice ter meet you." said Hagrid before turning his attention back to Harry. "I got yer letter, and it'll be no trouble ter take care of Hegwig for ye."
"Thanks Hagrid." replied Harry.
The four teenagers sat down at the head table with Dumbledore and Hagrid, and enjoyed a filling breakfast. When they were done, Dumbledore said "Harry, Ron, Hermione, I must see you three in my office. Hagrid, perhaps you could show Coral your specimens."
Harry, Ron, and Hermione followed Dumbledore up to his office and sat down.
"I spent a great deal of time speaking with your guardians yesterday. After I finished, I went to your residence, Ms. Granger, and spoke with your parents. I don't think anyone was terribly thrilled with what I had to say, but they all agreed to it in the end." began Dumbledore.
"About what Professor?" asked Harry curiously.
"After I heard your story, I realised that you three were extremely lucky. Unfortunately, luck doesn't take you incredibly far. I also realised that regular Hogwarts training would not be sufficient for you three seeing as how you're constantly being bombarded by adventures and problems. Therefore, I proposed to your guardians that you should become secret aurors."
"What?!!" gaped Ron.
Hermione had a blank expression on her face and Harry merely looked curious.
"The secret aurors are a simply group of wizards who trained to become aurors on the side to protect themselves. It was an underground association, and it was layed to sleep after Voldemort came out of power. But I think it would be best if you three joined. I would teach you, along with the new Defence against the Dark Arts professor.
Hermione looked pained. "But, Professor, when will we find the time for training? We have O.W.L.s this year, and Harry has quidditch, and we have normal homework, and Hogsmeade visits,"
Dumbledore chuckled. "Well, actually, I thought that your training would be taken in place of your O.W.Ls. It will be more advanced, but I believe you capable. Training would be every Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday."
Harry sighed with relief. Quidditch would be on every Monday, Wedsday, and Friday. Angelina, the new captain, had sent him a letter explaining the new training schedule. But that would mean only one day off a week.
Dumbledore looked at the expressions on their faces, and said merrily "You can think about it tonight, and speak to me about it tomorrow. By then, the new defence teacher will be here too, and he can explain to you some more. But, now, you could join Hagrid outside. He has some interesting creatures."
They nodded, and hurried outside. Next to Hagrid's hut was a fair-sized fenced in area full of green grass and with a large monster in it.
The walked up to it, Ron turning to Hermione and asking "What is it, 'Mione?"
"It's a griffin." she replied tactfully.
Hagrid was standing at the fence, staring at Coral who was inside the fenced in area petting the enormous beast.
"Hey, Hagrid." said Harry, Ron and Hermione catching up with him and repeating the same thing. Hagrid never took his eyes of Cory.
"Bloody prodigy, she is." he muttered.
Hermione was equally astonished. "Griffins are very fierce creatures! Why did you let her in there Hagrid?"
Hagrid drew himself up and said "I didn't! We just got out here an' she creeped in to the pasture! I never seen anything like it!"
Harry turned his full attention on the griffin and Coral. The griffin had the head and front legs of an enormous eagle, but the body and back legs of a lion. Cory was petting it as if it were a purring pussycat. It truly was a remarkable sight.
Cory turned and saw Harry, Ron, and Hermione. She gave the griffin one final pat and walked over to them.
"Hi." she said nonchalantly.
Hagrid looked at her jealously and said "How'd you do that?"
She laughed and said "Hagrid, where did you get that griffin?"
"I borrowed him from a friend." he answered.
Cory laughed. "Yes, I figured as much. Hagrid, I know that griffin. He was actually kind of my pet, at one time."
Hagrid looked surprised and a tad suspicious and said "Right, o' course. Griffins 're real hard ter tame, yeh know."
Cory laughed once again. "Kenway is anything but tame, Hagrid."
"Don't I know it!" he exclaimed, showing off a large bite on his forearm, and accepting Cory's story.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione were beginning to feel left out, until Hagrid reluctantly said "Well, I'll leave the rest of the animals fer class."
Cory was equally reluctant. "Oh, alright." she replied. "Bye, Kenway!!"
Turning to Harry, Ron, and Hermione, she said "Well, will you guys show me the castle?"
"Sure." said Ron, as Harry nodded.
Everyone said good-bye to Hagrid and departed to castle, first stopping at the greenhouses.
When they got inside, they showed Cory Snape's dungeon, McGonagall's class, Professor Trelawny's trapdoor in the ceiling, Flitwick's class, and everywhere else fun and important. They showed her the library ("If you ever need to find Hermione, this is where she'll be!") and the Hospital Wing. ("You'll probably be visiting Harry in here often enough!") Halfway through their entertaining tour, they paused for lunch.
Then they resumed their tour, with some very interesting secret passages, and rule-breaking areas.
"I'm a prefect, I shouldn't be hearing this!" cried Hermione.
Harry chuckled. "Poor, poor Hermione."
Ron and Cory laughed, and Hermione snapped "What do you mean 'poor'?"
They finished the tour with the owlery, where Cory said "This won't be much use to me, I have no one to write."
Hermione snorted. "Ha! Not much of a letter-writer, eh? I never knew..."
Ron glared at Hermione, and Harry asked "What about your uncle and your parents?"
"I don't need to write my uncle, and my parents hate owls. They freak 'em out," replied Cory.
"Why don't you need to write your uncle?" asked Ron.
"Might as well tell them." cut in Hermione. "They'll find out tomorrow anyway."
Cory sighed and said "Our uncle is the new Defence against the Dark Arts
teacher."
Harry and Ron exchanged looks, and Ron asked "Well, is he good? Is he nice?"
Harry let out a breath and said "Finally, a defence teacher who won't try to kill me."
"Wouldn't be so sure about that.." mumbled Hermione. Harry turned to look at
her sharply and realised that she wasn't joking.
"Uncle Myles would never kill you Harry. Well, not on purpose. He just has a fetish for curses, bewitched items, and big, scary creatures." said Cory.
"Who does that remind you of?" chuckled Ron.
"Oh, so that's where you -er- met Kenway." fathomed Harry.
"Yeah. That and a Swedish Short-Snout named Hohsi. Not to mention a centaur, an erkling, a nogtail, a sphinx, oh and one time....."
"I'm positive that Hagrid would be much more interested." interuppted
Hermione. "Now let's go down to dinner."
Cory took Hermione's not so well-meaning advice and sat by Hagrid during dinner, telling him stories of how their pet dragon had gotten loose and stolen an entire village's clotheslines. Hagrid was laughing so hard that the entire table shook. Then she told about how the Swedish Short-Snout had a run-in with a Common Welsh green. Hagrid's eyes became wide as she described the fiery outcome. When they were all done eating, Hagrid invited Cory to go to the forest with him, he was supposedly going to talk with the centaurs about something. Cory agreed.
When Cory and Hagrid were out of hearing distance, Dumbledore said "I think that now would be a good time to discuss your decision."
They nodded, and headed up to the Griffindor Common Room to sit around the fireplace that wasn't giving off any heat, because the castle didn't need it.
"I think we should do it." said Ron.
"But the O.W.Ls.!" exclaimed Hermione.
"Hermione, you heard Dumbledore! The training would count as our O.W.Ls, and it's more advanced, so really you'll be learning more." protested Ron.
Still undecided, Hermione and Ron turned to Harry to see what he thought.
"I don't think we have a choice. We need to be able to defend ourselves." said Harry, slowly and thoughtfully.
Ron nodded. Hermione nodded too, however reluctant.
They played Exploding Snap until late at night or possibly early in the morning, when Ron went to bed.
Harry and Hermione said goodnighgt to each other, and they both went up to their own, SEPERATE beds. When Harry stepped into his room, he saw two fat snakes and an empty bag of Bertie Botts.
"You guys ate all of that? THat bag was huge!!" exclaimed Harry, while Ron laughed at them.
" *Burrrrrp..* I fell sick...." said Carollan.
"Me too.." managed Parnella.
Harry sighed and hopped into his bed. Ron was still laughing.
'Why do I always fall asleep to the sound of Ron laughing?' he wondered.
Cory came inside when everyone was upstairs, then and only then, and decided to sleep in a big fluffy chair.
Dear PEEPS,
A/N: Hi. Did you guys like this chapter? I didn't really like it all that much, at least not the beginning. It seemed kinda fluffy. Did it seem like that to any of you guys? (FINGERS CROSSED!!! TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK!!!) This is kinda Run, Lola Run style, with the different P.O.V's and stuff at the beginning. You can thank the episode of the SImpsons where Marge cuts Homer's thumb off for that. Cory didn't want to sleep in the dormitories with Hermione because Hermione is so cold to her and she doesn't be alone with her, ya know. Plus, the chairs in the Griffindor Common Room are really comfy. I know this because yesterday me and Fred and George were hanging out, and they must of been the comfiest chairs in the world. Please reveiw! Please Reveiw!!! Fat and ugly please? What is with pretty please, anyway? I've changed it to fat and ugly please now, 'k?
Luv,
Katy
P.S. I have fantastic news!! I took the Mary-Sue test, and Cory is not a Mary-Sue!! She only scored 7 points out of a possible 128 or something. I'm so proud!! Oh, and go read A.J.Solo's story, the Rise of Lord Voldemort, because Cory is MENTIONED!! ^_^ I feel so honored.....