Price Of Education
Chapter 2 "Zanny Drakkie!!!"
The first horse they saw was a beautiful chestnut; she was tied to a fence just outside what looked like a little one story house. The words Claire Ville Ranch were painted in chipped paint across the entrance at the end of the long road. But few were paying attention to the horse, or to the beautifully coloured flowers that surrounded them. Nope all eyes were on a large rabbit being chased by a dog not much bigger then itself.
"Chyan!" a voice rang out, the students whipped their heads towards the little 'house', a tall girl, who looked around the age of 16, came pelting out after 'Chyan'. She ran forward about 20feet until she say the group blocking the road. She gave a great whoop and ran towards the two Professors; dismissing Snape she jumped Professor Cassar, knocking him over.
"Mark! Buddy!" she yelled, happily, "its about time! That damn dog has had the run of this place, you call her right this minute before I shoot her!" the Professor chuckled before putting two fingers to his lips and whistled a high pitched note. The heads of the students snapped back to where the dog was chasing the rabbit threw bushes. As soon as the whistle left the teacher's mouth the dog skidded to a stop and bounded back towards the group settling in front of Cassar, who gave the dog a friendly pat and turned to the staring students.
"Class," he said as the girl snagged hold of the dog's collar. This is Daniela, and this is Chyan, my favourite team."
"Yea, when you don't have to spend half the night herding up the herding dog!" A voice cut in. The class craned their heads to look at the owner of the voice, who was behind the two professors and Daniela.
"Chanda!" Cassar exclaimed, grabbing the young woman behind him and hugging her quickly, tugging her hair playfully. "Class this is my cousin, she runs this place and all 50 horses here." He pushed her forward and she smiled to the group of kids.
"That's right, and the first thing I want, is for you to all go to that filed there," she pointed to a large grassy area that had their tents and was littered with the odd picnic table, she continued, " and get settled into your tents, there will be a twenty minute break and then we will start your training. " She grabbed the dog from the girl and the started back towards the little 'house'.
"Right, this way," Snape said leading down to the group of thirteen tents. He pulled a list out of his pocket and motioned for silence. Then motioned for them to sit, getting few complaints about sitting on the grass. " The tents are marked one to thirteen. Please respectfully place your things inside yours an your roommate's tent." He cleared his voice and began to read from his sheet: "Number 1, Mr Weasley and Mr. Goyle Number 2, Mr Potter and Mr Malfoy Number 3 Miss Granger and Miss Parkinson Number 4 Miss Brown and Miss Boot"
Hermione looked to her friends, dumbfounded, they silently returned her look, as everyone else received their arrangements. The only people who were fuming about who they were placed were Hanna Abbott and Susan Bones, both from Hufflepuff, and best friends. Hermione decided not to let this small thing bother, she ignored the horrible looks Pansy was shooting at her as they both moved towards the tent marked 3. They reached it at the same time and Hermione was about to step into the flap when Pansy pushed her through, muttering something that sounded like ''outta my way mudblood'.
Hermione, choosing to ignore the other girl, placed her things on one of the cots in the medium size tent and quickly left the fuming Pansy to cool down, which she doubted would happen anytime soon. She went to Harry's tent to see if he was ok, at least Harry and Ron weren't to far away if Pansy wanted to kill her, the guy's tents were right to the left of her and Pansy's tent. She stepped up to the closed flap.
"Knock knock." She said slipping into the tent. Harry was on one cot and Malfoy on the other one, and they were doing something Hermione never thought she would see ever in her life, and she considered the fact that she never believed in magic before she got her letter to Hogwarts. The two boys were rolling on their cots holding their stomach, which hurt from the effort of laughing so hard. Laughing! They weren't laughing at each other, they were laughing as though they were two of the oldest friends sharing a joke. Hermione gaped at the sight until Harry looked up and saw, he stopped laughing right away, but Malfoy hadn't seen her and was still laughing.
"Hermione." Harry said surprised to see her in the doorway of their tents.
"Yea I know," Malfoy said between raspier breaths still face down on his cot, " that's why its so funny, you and me we-" he was cut off as Harry had promptly threw his shoe at him head. " What was the that for you git?" Malfoy exclaimed rubbing the back of his head, sitting all the way up, he followed Harry's gaze and gave a little jump at the sight of Hermione at the door, who was getting uncomfortable under Harry's fixed gaze. "Oh God." Malfoy said, mouth-hanging open. That went on another few seconds before he stood up and walked to the flap. "Well," he said, moving Hermione out of the way. "This is distinctly uncomfortable. See you." And he left.
Hermione stared after him and then turned to Harry. " What was that all about?" she asked, crossing her arms. She hadn't liked how she was somehow part of the little joke, and she was going to find out what it had all been about. Harry stiffened in his 'I'm not saying' way and shrugged his shoulders.
"It was nothing, lets get out of here, Ron probably needs rescuing by now, and Goyle isn't the nicest roommate." Hermione reluctantly followed him out of the tent and to the next one over. They could hear yelling from inside and when they went in Ron was standing on top of his cot and Malfoy was straining to holding Goyle back. Goyle was outrages, apparently, because Ron had kicked over his suitcase and his things were ruined because a bottle had broken and ink was on all of his things.
Harry walked around to Ron and yanked him off the cot. The turned to walk out when Malfoy called to her. She turned back as Malfoy tried to firmly sit Goyle down on the cot.
"Clear up this mess will you, I have my hands full." Hermione shook her head, and started to walk out.
"We were told not to use our wands, Malfoy." He grabbed her shoulder and pulled her back. She winced as she stumbled back. She looked to Malfoy to snap but he was pointing his wand at her. Backwards.
"Use my wand, I don't think they are tracing spells but if they are then it will be traced to my wand." Goyle looked at Malfoy as if he was crazy, and Hermione imagined that was the same look she was giving him. She took the wand and quickly preformed the spell she used to ink spills, then used the wand to right the upturned suitcase and return the things to their places. Tossing the wand back she turned to leave the tent. "Are you going to take points from him or are you going to leave it up to me?" Malfoy said, finally letting go of Goyle, now that he was cooled down. Hermione turned to him, hands on her hips and regarded him.
"Will you be fair or will you side with your friend?" He looked at her for a second before turning to Goyle, who wasn't even paying attention. He turned back to her and smirked his sexy smirk and leaned into her ear his breath brushing her cheek, spreading Goosebumps down her arm, and he struggled not to shiver.
"What do you think?" He whispered, chills crept up the back of her neck where she could now feel his warm breathe. All to soon the moment was over and he was pulling away, a smug smirk was once again in place on his face. It took a second for her to compose herself before she looked into his eyes, showing him he hadn't affected her, even though she could still feel the Goosebumps.
"I think you should do whatever you feel is right. You arrived first and so saw more of the argument then I did, so its you call, you can tell me the amount of points and I will see that they are taken off without Ron getting into another fight with you or Goyle." Malfoy nodded, thinking a second before, nudging her out the door, chuckling.
"I see, McGonagall really has done a number on you, you're just like her. I on the other hand I am just like Snape, I favour my house. Tell Weasley that 20 points ill be taken off for his disturbance and his unwillingness to get along with a fellow student. Unless you have anything to add I think that will be enough." Hermione shook her head as Malfoy stirred her towards the teachers. Professor Cassar looked up from his work spread out on the picnic table in front of the tents, his smile fading as he saw the look on Hermione face.
"Is there a problem Miss Granger, Mr Malfoy?" He asked setting his Muggle pen down and looking around the two Heads to see if there was a fire or something. Malfoy pushed Hermione closer to the teacher and crossed his arms.
"There was a fight Sir," Hermione said, in her most polite tone. "Mr. Malfoy and myself have discussed it and 20 points from Gryffindor for Ron Weasley." He tone changed slightly as she continued, but she kept her sweetness. "For an act of disturbance and for his unwillingness to get along with a fellow student, at the simple task of bringing his bad respectfully to his tent." Professor Cassar looked disappointed as he took out a piece of paper, he wrote on the fresh sheet the four house names and then -20 under Gryffindor. Then he tacked it up to the closest tree.
"Anymore points taken away I would like you to inform me or Professor Snape and then write them on this paper." Professor Cassar said, turning back to his work and sighing. "It is unfortunate that some of the students cannot get along, I am pleased that the two of you are able to act maturely. I was about to send for you two in a minute so I guess it is a good thing you are here. Please sit." Hermione and Malfoy sat across from the teacher as instructed. " Hermione you mother wrote us telling you are a three time Barrel racing champion, and Draco your father wrote that you own 20 horses yourself and you have been riding all your life. So I don't expect the two of you to take lessons with the rest of the class, so I have booked an arena for the two of you to ride while everyone is out taking lessons." Hermione beamed at the teacher, he was a very cool teacher, and he did try hard to please everyone.
"Thank you sir! This is amazing!" she turned to see Malfoy extend his hand to the teacher and that's when she saw it. And it was amazing! Draco Malfoy was smiling, not smirking not sneering he was smiling a true happy person smile. It changed his whole face; brightening his eye and making him look anything but the evil Malfoy that she knew. She suddenly realized she had been staring and turned to the happy teacher in front of her. He stood and started walking and talking so Hermione and Malfoy followed him towards the little 'house'.
"Excellent! I think I have enough time to introduce you two to the two horses that you will be riding, the other students will be changing their lesson horses at each lesson but I thought you two would like it better if you used my cousin's best horses." The little house turned out to be an open tack room, (for all those non-horse ppl tack is the equipment used for caring and riding a horse or pony) and it was open to a large paddock (a fenced in space where horses are kept) with many horses. The teacher stepped up to the gate and clicked his tongue; about 12 horses looked up and stared at the young man. Then he did the strangest thing, he started to talk baby talk.
"Zanny! Common! Here boy!!" Hermione could see a bay horse's ears prick up and he started to move towards the gate. Before the first one got there Cassar called another horse, by the strangest name. "Drakkie! Lets go!" A stunning black horse jogged over to where the bay was standing and gave a little cry. (Both horses exist they are my Cousin's horses Zantar a two year old and Draco, a 3year old, who we bought with the name, in a complete fluke.) Malfoy had been silently laughing until he heard the name of the second horse.
"What did you call him?" Malfoy asked, his voice slightly strained.
"Guys I would like you to meet Zantar, and Draco. Mr. Malfoy you will be riding Zantar, and Hermione you Draco. They are both very well behaved and well sought after horses (also true), Draco is a champion rodeo horse and Zantar is well disciplined in dressage, both your areas of enjoyment, though I know you are also a skilled roper, I do believe Zantar has also been entered in rodeos in the past. Now you two can take them to the arena behind that barn to the left of the tack room, that's where their stalls and riding things are; everything is plainly marked so you shouldn't have trouble. Tack them up and ride until noon. Don't forget to where helmets its against the law to be without one here if you are under 19(a fact as of September 2001)." The two students nodded and lead the horses to the barn, got them tacked up and Hermione was soon riding laps around the arena.
Malfoy came out leading Zantar, he walked to the edge of the arena and yelled to Hermione from there.
"Granger, if you're such a champion then show me!" Hermione regarded the three barrels in the arena, and squeezed her legs, as the horse started walking Hermione positioned the horse. Giving a great to the side of the horse they flew between the barrels and around them and back doing a triangle of a run. When Hermione steadied the horse in front of Malfoy he had his mouth opened slightly and looked amazed. "I'm impressed Granger, I don't think I expected you to do that, or anything even close to that." Hermione laughed.
" Why don't you show me what you got Malfoy? Or you scared?" that did it, Malfoy was on his horse faster then Hermione could blink. He was right next to her, straight in his saddle looking smug.
"Is that a challenge Granger?" He said reaching over and flicking a piece of dirt off her shoulder.
"Damn Straight it is."
This was going to be one very interesting afternoon.
I'm sorry this is short again but I'm working on it. The horses that the once in the story are referred to as are real and were once at Claire Ville ranch in Brampton, but now are at other barns. If you have any questions about what's what in the horse world just go ahead and ask in the reviews.
Thank you to the three reviewers I had. 'Me' emaekeigha and lily Luna I'm sorry it took so long for this but I have a big problem that I am not ashamed to admit, I am racist I hate all computers, I'm against them and all they believe in i.e.: freezing, breaking down and not paying attention!!! So there!
Chapter 2 "Zanny Drakkie!!!"
The first horse they saw was a beautiful chestnut; she was tied to a fence just outside what looked like a little one story house. The words Claire Ville Ranch were painted in chipped paint across the entrance at the end of the long road. But few were paying attention to the horse, or to the beautifully coloured flowers that surrounded them. Nope all eyes were on a large rabbit being chased by a dog not much bigger then itself.
"Chyan!" a voice rang out, the students whipped their heads towards the little 'house', a tall girl, who looked around the age of 16, came pelting out after 'Chyan'. She ran forward about 20feet until she say the group blocking the road. She gave a great whoop and ran towards the two Professors; dismissing Snape she jumped Professor Cassar, knocking him over.
"Mark! Buddy!" she yelled, happily, "its about time! That damn dog has had the run of this place, you call her right this minute before I shoot her!" the Professor chuckled before putting two fingers to his lips and whistled a high pitched note. The heads of the students snapped back to where the dog was chasing the rabbit threw bushes. As soon as the whistle left the teacher's mouth the dog skidded to a stop and bounded back towards the group settling in front of Cassar, who gave the dog a friendly pat and turned to the staring students.
"Class," he said as the girl snagged hold of the dog's collar. This is Daniela, and this is Chyan, my favourite team."
"Yea, when you don't have to spend half the night herding up the herding dog!" A voice cut in. The class craned their heads to look at the owner of the voice, who was behind the two professors and Daniela.
"Chanda!" Cassar exclaimed, grabbing the young woman behind him and hugging her quickly, tugging her hair playfully. "Class this is my cousin, she runs this place and all 50 horses here." He pushed her forward and she smiled to the group of kids.
"That's right, and the first thing I want, is for you to all go to that filed there," she pointed to a large grassy area that had their tents and was littered with the odd picnic table, she continued, " and get settled into your tents, there will be a twenty minute break and then we will start your training. " She grabbed the dog from the girl and the started back towards the little 'house'.
"Right, this way," Snape said leading down to the group of thirteen tents. He pulled a list out of his pocket and motioned for silence. Then motioned for them to sit, getting few complaints about sitting on the grass. " The tents are marked one to thirteen. Please respectfully place your things inside yours an your roommate's tent." He cleared his voice and began to read from his sheet: "Number 1, Mr Weasley and Mr. Goyle Number 2, Mr Potter and Mr Malfoy Number 3 Miss Granger and Miss Parkinson Number 4 Miss Brown and Miss Boot"
Hermione looked to her friends, dumbfounded, they silently returned her look, as everyone else received their arrangements. The only people who were fuming about who they were placed were Hanna Abbott and Susan Bones, both from Hufflepuff, and best friends. Hermione decided not to let this small thing bother, she ignored the horrible looks Pansy was shooting at her as they both moved towards the tent marked 3. They reached it at the same time and Hermione was about to step into the flap when Pansy pushed her through, muttering something that sounded like ''outta my way mudblood'.
Hermione, choosing to ignore the other girl, placed her things on one of the cots in the medium size tent and quickly left the fuming Pansy to cool down, which she doubted would happen anytime soon. She went to Harry's tent to see if he was ok, at least Harry and Ron weren't to far away if Pansy wanted to kill her, the guy's tents were right to the left of her and Pansy's tent. She stepped up to the closed flap.
"Knock knock." She said slipping into the tent. Harry was on one cot and Malfoy on the other one, and they were doing something Hermione never thought she would see ever in her life, and she considered the fact that she never believed in magic before she got her letter to Hogwarts. The two boys were rolling on their cots holding their stomach, which hurt from the effort of laughing so hard. Laughing! They weren't laughing at each other, they were laughing as though they were two of the oldest friends sharing a joke. Hermione gaped at the sight until Harry looked up and saw, he stopped laughing right away, but Malfoy hadn't seen her and was still laughing.
"Hermione." Harry said surprised to see her in the doorway of their tents.
"Yea I know," Malfoy said between raspier breaths still face down on his cot, " that's why its so funny, you and me we-" he was cut off as Harry had promptly threw his shoe at him head. " What was the that for you git?" Malfoy exclaimed rubbing the back of his head, sitting all the way up, he followed Harry's gaze and gave a little jump at the sight of Hermione at the door, who was getting uncomfortable under Harry's fixed gaze. "Oh God." Malfoy said, mouth-hanging open. That went on another few seconds before he stood up and walked to the flap. "Well," he said, moving Hermione out of the way. "This is distinctly uncomfortable. See you." And he left.
Hermione stared after him and then turned to Harry. " What was that all about?" she asked, crossing her arms. She hadn't liked how she was somehow part of the little joke, and she was going to find out what it had all been about. Harry stiffened in his 'I'm not saying' way and shrugged his shoulders.
"It was nothing, lets get out of here, Ron probably needs rescuing by now, and Goyle isn't the nicest roommate." Hermione reluctantly followed him out of the tent and to the next one over. They could hear yelling from inside and when they went in Ron was standing on top of his cot and Malfoy was straining to holding Goyle back. Goyle was outrages, apparently, because Ron had kicked over his suitcase and his things were ruined because a bottle had broken and ink was on all of his things.
Harry walked around to Ron and yanked him off the cot. The turned to walk out when Malfoy called to her. She turned back as Malfoy tried to firmly sit Goyle down on the cot.
"Clear up this mess will you, I have my hands full." Hermione shook her head, and started to walk out.
"We were told not to use our wands, Malfoy." He grabbed her shoulder and pulled her back. She winced as she stumbled back. She looked to Malfoy to snap but he was pointing his wand at her. Backwards.
"Use my wand, I don't think they are tracing spells but if they are then it will be traced to my wand." Goyle looked at Malfoy as if he was crazy, and Hermione imagined that was the same look she was giving him. She took the wand and quickly preformed the spell she used to ink spills, then used the wand to right the upturned suitcase and return the things to their places. Tossing the wand back she turned to leave the tent. "Are you going to take points from him or are you going to leave it up to me?" Malfoy said, finally letting go of Goyle, now that he was cooled down. Hermione turned to him, hands on her hips and regarded him.
"Will you be fair or will you side with your friend?" He looked at her for a second before turning to Goyle, who wasn't even paying attention. He turned back to her and smirked his sexy smirk and leaned into her ear his breath brushing her cheek, spreading Goosebumps down her arm, and he struggled not to shiver.
"What do you think?" He whispered, chills crept up the back of her neck where she could now feel his warm breathe. All to soon the moment was over and he was pulling away, a smug smirk was once again in place on his face. It took a second for her to compose herself before she looked into his eyes, showing him he hadn't affected her, even though she could still feel the Goosebumps.
"I think you should do whatever you feel is right. You arrived first and so saw more of the argument then I did, so its you call, you can tell me the amount of points and I will see that they are taken off without Ron getting into another fight with you or Goyle." Malfoy nodded, thinking a second before, nudging her out the door, chuckling.
"I see, McGonagall really has done a number on you, you're just like her. I on the other hand I am just like Snape, I favour my house. Tell Weasley that 20 points ill be taken off for his disturbance and his unwillingness to get along with a fellow student. Unless you have anything to add I think that will be enough." Hermione shook her head as Malfoy stirred her towards the teachers. Professor Cassar looked up from his work spread out on the picnic table in front of the tents, his smile fading as he saw the look on Hermione face.
"Is there a problem Miss Granger, Mr Malfoy?" He asked setting his Muggle pen down and looking around the two Heads to see if there was a fire or something. Malfoy pushed Hermione closer to the teacher and crossed his arms.
"There was a fight Sir," Hermione said, in her most polite tone. "Mr. Malfoy and myself have discussed it and 20 points from Gryffindor for Ron Weasley." He tone changed slightly as she continued, but she kept her sweetness. "For an act of disturbance and for his unwillingness to get along with a fellow student, at the simple task of bringing his bad respectfully to his tent." Professor Cassar looked disappointed as he took out a piece of paper, he wrote on the fresh sheet the four house names and then -20 under Gryffindor. Then he tacked it up to the closest tree.
"Anymore points taken away I would like you to inform me or Professor Snape and then write them on this paper." Professor Cassar said, turning back to his work and sighing. "It is unfortunate that some of the students cannot get along, I am pleased that the two of you are able to act maturely. I was about to send for you two in a minute so I guess it is a good thing you are here. Please sit." Hermione and Malfoy sat across from the teacher as instructed. " Hermione you mother wrote us telling you are a three time Barrel racing champion, and Draco your father wrote that you own 20 horses yourself and you have been riding all your life. So I don't expect the two of you to take lessons with the rest of the class, so I have booked an arena for the two of you to ride while everyone is out taking lessons." Hermione beamed at the teacher, he was a very cool teacher, and he did try hard to please everyone.
"Thank you sir! This is amazing!" she turned to see Malfoy extend his hand to the teacher and that's when she saw it. And it was amazing! Draco Malfoy was smiling, not smirking not sneering he was smiling a true happy person smile. It changed his whole face; brightening his eye and making him look anything but the evil Malfoy that she knew. She suddenly realized she had been staring and turned to the happy teacher in front of her. He stood and started walking and talking so Hermione and Malfoy followed him towards the little 'house'.
"Excellent! I think I have enough time to introduce you two to the two horses that you will be riding, the other students will be changing their lesson horses at each lesson but I thought you two would like it better if you used my cousin's best horses." The little house turned out to be an open tack room, (for all those non-horse ppl tack is the equipment used for caring and riding a horse or pony) and it was open to a large paddock (a fenced in space where horses are kept) with many horses. The teacher stepped up to the gate and clicked his tongue; about 12 horses looked up and stared at the young man. Then he did the strangest thing, he started to talk baby talk.
"Zanny! Common! Here boy!!" Hermione could see a bay horse's ears prick up and he started to move towards the gate. Before the first one got there Cassar called another horse, by the strangest name. "Drakkie! Lets go!" A stunning black horse jogged over to where the bay was standing and gave a little cry. (Both horses exist they are my Cousin's horses Zantar a two year old and Draco, a 3year old, who we bought with the name, in a complete fluke.) Malfoy had been silently laughing until he heard the name of the second horse.
"What did you call him?" Malfoy asked, his voice slightly strained.
"Guys I would like you to meet Zantar, and Draco. Mr. Malfoy you will be riding Zantar, and Hermione you Draco. They are both very well behaved and well sought after horses (also true), Draco is a champion rodeo horse and Zantar is well disciplined in dressage, both your areas of enjoyment, though I know you are also a skilled roper, I do believe Zantar has also been entered in rodeos in the past. Now you two can take them to the arena behind that barn to the left of the tack room, that's where their stalls and riding things are; everything is plainly marked so you shouldn't have trouble. Tack them up and ride until noon. Don't forget to where helmets its against the law to be without one here if you are under 19(a fact as of September 2001)." The two students nodded and lead the horses to the barn, got them tacked up and Hermione was soon riding laps around the arena.
Malfoy came out leading Zantar, he walked to the edge of the arena and yelled to Hermione from there.
"Granger, if you're such a champion then show me!" Hermione regarded the three barrels in the arena, and squeezed her legs, as the horse started walking Hermione positioned the horse. Giving a great to the side of the horse they flew between the barrels and around them and back doing a triangle of a run. When Hermione steadied the horse in front of Malfoy he had his mouth opened slightly and looked amazed. "I'm impressed Granger, I don't think I expected you to do that, or anything even close to that." Hermione laughed.
" Why don't you show me what you got Malfoy? Or you scared?" that did it, Malfoy was on his horse faster then Hermione could blink. He was right next to her, straight in his saddle looking smug.
"Is that a challenge Granger?" He said reaching over and flicking a piece of dirt off her shoulder.
"Damn Straight it is."
This was going to be one very interesting afternoon.
I'm sorry this is short again but I'm working on it. The horses that the once in the story are referred to as are real and were once at Claire Ville ranch in Brampton, but now are at other barns. If you have any questions about what's what in the horse world just go ahead and ask in the reviews.
Thank you to the three reviewers I had. 'Me' emaekeigha and lily Luna I'm sorry it took so long for this but I have a big problem that I am not ashamed to admit, I am racist I hate all computers, I'm against them and all they believe in i.e.: freezing, breaking down and not paying attention!!! So there!