Chapter 3: First Day
When we reached the library, Draco was waiting for me.
He ignored Hermione, but waved me over to his table.
"Hey," I said. "You're not mad at me?"
"No." the curt, one word answer surprised me. He was so much more talkative on the train. I sat down across from him.
"Then if you're not mad at me, why did you want to meet me here?"
"I know for a fact, that exchange students have a choice in the house they go into. Why did you choose Gryffindor…" he trailed off, looking away.
"Over Slytherin? Is that what you meant to say, Draco? Why did I choose Gryffindor over Slytherin? News flash! I didn't! I was sorted same as you and everyone else in this school!"
"That's not what I meant," he replied lamely.
"Yes, it is. You've got some rivalry between Gryffindor and Slytherin, and you've included Harry and his friends for some strange reason. And there's no good one, from my point of view! And I'm just another thing you didn't get, am I right?" My voice had been steadily increasing in volume, and Madam Pince came over to usher me out.
"I know where the door is, Ma'am," I snapped, and stalked out.
Draco sat, staring at where I had just been, as I disappeared through the doors.
Hermione came back from checking out her Charms book, only to discover I wasn't there.
"Where did Mac go, Malfoy?" she demanded.
"I don't know, mudblood," he drawled.
"Fine, be a prat." Hermione stalked out of the library as well.
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At breakfast, Prof. McGonagall handed out our timetables.
"I have Charms first!" I exclaimed.
Hermione and I compared our timetables and found we had all of our classes together. At 8:35, we left to go to Charms.
We learned about cosmetic charms, mainly those that changed your skin, eye, and hair color.
Professor Flitwick partnered us; I was with Hermione. He wanted us to try charming each other, and warned us not to make the changes too drastic, for the charms wouldn't wear off until midnight.
Hermione charmed me first. She twiddled her wand, and said, "Ilcambiamento capelli scuro marrone. Ilcambiamento ucchio grigio. Ilcambiamento sbuccia pallido!"
The charms took effect instantaneously. Hermione smirked, then held up the mirror we were given so I could see my new self.
I gasped. My hair was a different color completely, my skin far too pale for a girl who has spent the whole summer at Coney Island, and my eyes far too gray.
"My turn," I said, smiling evilly. But before I could cast, Professor Flitwick came over to congratulate Hermione on a job well done.
"Your turn, Ms. O'Conall," he said.
I raised my hand, and recited the spells. "Ilcambiamento capelli castano. Ilcambiamento occhio verde. Ilcambiamento sbuccia akbronzatura."
Hermione flipped the mirror towards her. She smiled. Her hair was auburn, her eyes green, and her skin tan. "Thanks, Mac. I may decide to stay this way."
Professor Flitwick had watched my casting. Now he spoke. "Ms. O'Conall, may I please speak with you in the hallway?"
"Of course, Professor."
I followed Flitwick into the corridor. "Ms. O'Conall, does Professor Dumbledore know of your…skills?"
"I believe so, Professor. My mother may have told him. All I know is that I didn't."
"Ah, I see. I recommend that you speak to him, sometime, to tell him yourself."
"I'll do that, Sir."
We went back inside, and I saw the misguided attempts of my classmates to get the charm correct.
"Looks like we were one of few to look, umm, shall we say, good," I remarked to Hermione.
She giggled. "I agree."
Professor Flitwick dismissed us a few minutes early, so Hermione and I immediately started for Potions.
I shivered when we reached to dungeons.
"It's too cold down here," I said, my teeth chattering.
"You get used to it."
We arrived a little early, but there were other students there.
Professor Snape began the class by taking roll. He smiled at the Slytherins and glared at the Gryffindors.
"Ms. O'Conall," he said, "Since you are new to my class, you wouldn't object to a little quiz, would you? Just to see how much you know?"
"No, sir."
"What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?" Snape barked.
"I believe they form the Draught of Living Death, and extremely powerful sleeping potion."
"Correct. Where would you look if I told you to find me a beazor, and what is it?"
"I would look in the stomach of a goat, and it's a stone that, when prepared correctly, will save you from most poisons."
"Correct again. What is the difference between monkshood and wolfsbane?"
"They're the same plant, which goes by the name of aconite as well."
"All three correct, Ms. O'Conall."
"That's all, Sir?"
"Three points from Gryffindor for your insolence, and be glad it isn't more." Snape turned and began to walk among the rows of students. "Turn to page 422 in your textbooks. We shall be making the Timespell potion. Now, can anyone tell me what it does?"
Only three people raised their hands: Draco, Hermione, and I.
"Ms. O'Conall. Let's see what you know."
"The Timespell potion takes a person back to their favorite memories from the time of birth to their current age, and allows them to see family members that are no longer living in their own world for an hour, so that they can get to know them again."
"Correct again, Ms. O'Conall. This potion takes two weeks to brew. You will be working in partners, and this will count for your final grade. Your partners are: Parkinson, Granger; Goyle, Weasley; Crabbe, Potter; Malfoy, O'Conall; Bulstrode, Patil…" Snape droned on until the whole class was paired up. "Well, what are you waiting for? Pair up!"
Not without a lot of grumbling did the class pair up. Draco moved next to me, and we smiled tentatively at each other.
"We will begin brewing tomorrow. Take notes on the potion for the rest of the class. You will be dismissed when you finish and show them to me."
Draco and I took a roll's worth of parchment each, and showed them to Snape.
"You may go, Mr. Malfoy. Ms. O'Conall, wait a moment."
We watched Draco leave the classroom, and then Snape began to speak. "I don't know what you did to Mr. Malfoy, Ms. O'Conall, but Mr. Malfoy has never, ever been that nice to a - Gryffindor - before. You almost seemed to be friends. How is that possible?"
"We met on the train, Sir. We were friends before I got put into Gryffindor."
"Um-hmm. Dismissed."
I left the classroom fuming. I felt myself change, and ducked into the shadows near a stretch of blank stone wall, and waited to calm down.
A group of boys, all Slytherins who appeared to be in their second year, stopped in front of the wall.
"Selection," the one in front said. The wall slid open, and they stepped inside. My eyes widened, and the last of my anger dissipated. I left the shadows, and sprinted for the stairs.
I arrived in the Great Hall, and began to eat. Harry, Ron, and Hermione arrived a few minutes after me.
"Snape-" Harry began to say.
"That filthy, ugly, slimy git!" Ron interrupted.
"Ron!" Hermione exclaimed.
"Wouldn't let us go. Claimed we copied off of his precious Slytherins," Harry finished.
"That's a shame," I responded. "Food's good, though." There was ham, beef, corn, carrots, rolls, and pumpkin juice on the table. "Should cheer you up."
Harry and Ron moved down the table to talk to the members of the Quidditch team, and Hermione sat next to me.
"How's the first day going?" she asked.
"It's different from middle school, that's for sure. But it's not that bad."
"Glad you think so. We've got Care of Magical Creatures today, and a free period after. We could visit Hagrid, if you want."
"Hagrid? Isn't he-"
"The Care of Magical Creatures teacher, and the keeper of keys and grounds here. He's really nice. Half-giant, so he's huge, but really nice all the same."
'Glad to know I'm not the only half-and-half here,' I thought, then said, "How much time before CoMC starts?"
Hermione checked her watch. "We could go down now, or wait about 15 minutes. I don't know about you, but I'm going now, to talk to Hagrid."
"I might as well come. I've got nothing better to do."
We left the Hall, then went outside. Hagrid's hut was right on the edge of the Forbidden Forest, and he was working in a pen near it. Inside the pen was a tub, and what appeared to be a seal inside the tub.
Hagrid was talking to the seal as we approached. He turned when he could hear our footsteps, and waved. "Hey, Hermione. Hey Mackenzie."
"How does he know my name?" I asked Hermione.
"Opening feast. You were introduced to the school, remember?"
"Oh, yeah."
When we reached the fence enclosing the pen, Hermione and I peered at the seal. "Hagrid, what've you got there?" Hermione asked.
"Oh, it's a Gregorian. Shapeshifters, they are. Can change into any animal that they want, or are commanded to. 'Cept you have to bond with them before you can command them. I'm going to get more tomorrow. Thought we'd make a project of them. What do you think?"
"It should be really interesting, Sir," I said.
Hagrid started to laugh. "You don't have to call me sir. Just call me Hagrid like everyone else does."
"Okay, Hagrid."
In a short amount of time, the rest of the class poured out of the castle, and surrounded the pen. Since it was relatively hot, for September, most people rolled up the sleeves of their robes. I took mine off completely, and some others followed my example.
"Welcome to your third year of CoMC," Hagrid said. "We're going to be learning about Gregorians for the next few weeks. Does anyone know what they are?"
Surprisingly, Crabbe raised his hand. "Uhh, they're shapeshifters. Can change into any animal."
"Good. 5 points to Slytherin." Most of the Gryffindors gasped. Hagrid almost never gave or took points from anyone. "Does anyone know anything else about them?"
Pansy said, "Isn't there something about having to bond with them to get them to obey you?"
"Very good, Miss Parkinson. If you want a Gregorian to obey your commands, you have to bond with them first. Otherwise, they can become very angry. When they're angry, you'll want to stay away. They can become very dangerous when angered."
"Hagrid," I called, "you said they could change into any animal. Can they change into humans as well?"
"Well, there haven't been any records of Gregorians changing to humans. But that doesn't mean it can't happen. Any other questions? Okay then. In groups of two or three, come up and take a look at the Gregorian."
The Slytherins went first, and then the other Gryffindors. Hermione and I waited, since we had a free period, we decided to go last, and stay after the class had ended, so we could look at the Gregorian more.
Hey, third chapter finally done! R+R!
Mysticpixie