Hey guys sorry that I haven't updated in a while but I've been extremely lazy hehe. But here's the next chapter, I hope you like it! Please, please, please review I need to know if it's worth anything! And thanks to those who did review, I heart you sooo much!
*.::Classes, New Girl, and Legends Oh My!::.*
Wake up. Wake up. WAKE UP!
Hermione rolled over lazily in her bed and banged the alarm clock sitting on her nightstand. The incessant tolling of the screeching clock dwindled off; she knew she had just broken another alarm. She sighed and flung the cover over her head to block the offending morning light. She really didn't want to get up, and she really didn't want to go to class.
What's this you might ask? Hermione Granger dreading class? By all means you would think she would be ecstatic to start another year at Hogwarts, but you would be quite wrong. Although Hermione still loved learning and school, she had grown quite lazy during the summer holidays, and waking up at six in the morning, she found, was not at all suitable for a sixteen year-old girl.
She groaned and scrambled out of bed. Indeed she had grown lazy, but she was still afraid to be a recipient to the wrath of some teacher for being tardy. She took the time to wake herself up by rubbing her eyes, stretching, and yawning. She walked to the bathroom that connected to the dorm that she shared with two others, Lavender Brown and Pavati Patil, and took a quick shower. When she finally returned to the bedroom, Lavender and Pavati had just woken up. "Good morning, Hermione," they said thickly.
"Good morning." She replied. The two girls walked into the bathroom and shut the door. Hermione proceeded to change into her school robes and dry her hair. She picked up her wand from her nightstand and muttered a simple spell. "Desiccardo." Her hair seemed to blow about by an invisible wind and then settle down around her shoulders, now dry. She brushed it through with a comb, grabbed her books, and exited through the door.
She did not stop in the Common Room to chat with idle students (it was too early for her to give an intelligent speech), but walked straight to the portrait exit and out into the halls. As she walked in the direction of the Great Hall she watched the moving portraits. Some were moving about their frames and some were still snoring. One picture, she noticed, had crossed the boundary of his own canvas and had entered the one next to his own. He crept up behind the sleeping form of a Renaissance man, bent down, and called loudly into his ear. The slumbering man startled and looked around, transfixed. Once he noticed the wizard standing behind his chair he began to wail words Hermione didn't even know existed.
She sped up, eager to get away from the angry portrait, and was soon at the entrance of the Great Hall. The smell of breakfast foods wafted to her and she rushed inside. She had almost forgotten how wonderful it was at Hogwarts in the morning. She quickly found Harry and Ron and sat opposite them. "Good morning," she said cheerfully, grabbing a muffin and peeling away the baking paper.
"Good morning." Harry said jadedly.
"Good horning 'Ermione!" Little chunks of food came flying from Ron's mouth and Hermione raised her hands to protect her face as it came hurling towards her. She wiped her hand on her napkin and glared at Ron.
"Ron," she hissed, "swallow your food!" She pronounced each word separately, desperate to get her message through to her friend. Ron swallowed and looked sheepishly up at her.
"Sorry." Then he went back to eating.
Hermione began to pick at her muffin; she had a half-hour until her first class so she was in no rush to eat. She looked around the room, at the students filtering in through the door, and up at the ceiling. It was going to be a beautiful day, she noticed. The sky was blue and there were a few puffy white clouds scattered throughout the atmosphere. She looked down from one end to the other of her own table, noticing that many of her friends had come to breakfast. She saw Neville, Ginny, Lavender and Pavati, who had just come from the dorms, Dean, and the Creevy brothers.
She reached for the coffeepot that sat in front of her and noticed that Harry was looking right over her shoulder to an unknown point. She forgot her coffee and opted to find just what, or who, had him so attentive. She scanned the room and finally her eyes settled on Ave Hart. Of course, she thought dryly, he was looking at her last night too. She took the time to look over the new student.
She looked just as perfect as she did the night before, even more so because she had not just produced herself after a long train ride. Then Hermione looked down at the girls' plate. Ave only had a half a bagel and some strawberry marmalade smeared thinly upon it and a mug of steaming black coffee. Hermione looked back at her own breakfast and her stomach gave a lurch. Maybe she should start watching what she ate. She looked up at Harry and noticed that he had not once taken his eyes off of Ave. A small flicker of rage bubbled within her but it was immediately extinguished. Why should she care if Harry was looking at some girl? He was only her friend; it wasn't like she had a huge crush on him or anything.
Hermione spend the next ten minutes verbally fighting with herself inside her head, picking at her muffin (never eating a bite) and sipping on her coffee. Finally, she concluded that she didn't want Harry to experience another Cho incident like last year's. He was her best friend and she was merely looking out for him.
A bell rang in the distance and immediately students stood and started walking in a flurry. The older kids walked to the door and filtered out, laughing without a care in the world. The new first years sat still in their seats; they all looked slightly confused as they gawked at their timetables. One by one they stood and made their way to the exit, still clutching their sheet of parchment in their little fists.
Hermione looked over to Ave, remembering that she too was new, and saw at least half a dozen boys offering to help her find her way to class. Ave waved them off with a smile and elected to walk to class with her new found girlfriends. She turned and briskly walked out of the Great Hall with her new friends trailing a step behind her.
The whole of Hufflepuff table had departed except for one. Susan Bones came up beside the threesome and tapped on Ron's shoulder. "Good morning Ron," she beamed. Ron turned and smiled to her.
"Good morning," he said. It looked as though he thought about it for a moment, but then bent to hug her and kiss her lightly on the cheek. Hermione and Harry rolled their eyes together as they watched both parties of the relationship turn as red as the Hogwarts Express.
"Hello Hermione... Harry," said Susan as Ron interlaced their fingers.
"Hello," they said together.
There was an awkward silence for several seconds until Hermione spoke up. "So Susan... what class do you have first?" When in doubt, talk about school, Hermione thought to herself.
"Oh, I have Astronomy first," she said glancing quickly at her timetable, "and then Transfiguration after that."
Hermione nodded. "Me too!" She grabbed the girls' hand "Come on. These two won't meet up with us until Transfiguration." The two girls walked out of the Hall with Ron and Harry trailing behind them and then turning in a completely different direction. The girls waved goodbye to them and started making their way up to the Astronomy Tower. "You know," said Hermione, "I'm really glad you and Ron are going out. I mean, I don't know if you've noticed, but he can be very dimwitted sometimes. Maybe you can knock some sense into him."
Susan smiled. "I hope so." She stayed silent for several moments and then spoke again. "Thanks for breaking the ice back there, I felt so stupid just standing there." She laughed lightly and Hermione waved her hand in dismissal.
"No problem."
The girls finally made it up to the classroom to find that it was almost full. They quickly sat beside each other towards the back of the class and continued to talk about small things. "I thought it was so funny when Ron conjured that Patronus last year in D.A. and it was in the form of a weasel," Susan said between giggles, "and then it started rubbing against him like some pet dog!" The two girls giggled ferociously. As their laughter died down the last few stragglers found their way into the classroom and the Professor showed his face from inside his office.
The class was mostly a review, surely most of the students had forgotten a good portion of their lessons over the summer. Hermione barely caught a word of what the teacher was saying. She already knew all of the material and then some. So it's ok if I let my mind wander, just for today, she told herself silently.
Before she knew it the bell had rung and Susan already had all of her belongings packed away. "Err... Hermione? Earth to Hermione." Susan waved her hand in front of the girl's vacant eyes.
"What? Oh..." Hermione quickly shoved her textbooks into her bag and stood. The two girls climbed down the tower and made their way over to the Transfiguration corridor. In front of McGonagall's door was Harry and Ron. Once the two groups were in conversing distances Susan grabbed Ron's hand and they linked their fingers together before walking into the classroom.
"What do you think about them?" asked Harry. "Ron wouldn't stop talking about her all throughout class!" They began to walk into the classroom and, since Ron and Susan had sat in the back together, they grabbed a desk near the middle of the room.
"I like it. She's really nice you know." Hermione replied.
"Yea," said Harry.
McGonagal walked in from her office and called the class to attention. She was in the middle of going over a diagram that showed how to transfigure an owl into goblet, something they had learned last year, when a noise sounded from the back. Ave Hart had just walked in through the doorway.
"Sorry," she said sheepishly to the Professor. "I got lost."
"It's understandable." said McGonagal, looking much like a hawk about to swoop in for its' pray, "Please find a seat Miss. Hart."
Ave weaved her way through the desks and sat next to Dean Thomas near the front. Dean looked over at her and then to Seamus with a goofy smile on his face. He gave his friend a thumbs up and turned back around. The Professor gave Dean a sharp look and then went back to explaining the diagram.
Hermione noticed that every boy in the room, including Harry, had not taken his eyes off of Ave since the minute she walked in the door. Hermione's throat constricted as she watched Harry watch Ave. There was something in his eye, she noticed, that had only been there last year. The only other person he had looked at that way had been Cho Chang.
The class went by very slowly for Hermione. The boys continued to stare at the beauty that sat at the front of the class, and McGonagall went on teaching, as if she didn't know that half her class had their attentions else where (though she showed signs of frustration from time to time). All the while the empty feeling in Hermione's stomach continued to grow and the lump in her throat seemed to swell.
Finally the bell rang and everyone in the class packed up their belongings. Harry and Hermione waded to the back of the class where Ron and Susan were waiting for them. "Thank God, lunch is next!" Ron said with a look of glee on his face. "I'm starved."
"All you ever think about is your stomach!" Hermione exclaimed. She sighed, "Come on guys, lets go to lunch before Ron starts crying or something."
"I don't cry!" exclaimed Ron indignantly.
But before they could take one step closer towards the door Harry stopped and turned around. When Hermione turned around she saw Ave Hart standing behind them. She had tapped Harry on the shoulder and was now smiling shyly at him. "Hi," she said, "I couldn't help but noticed... I mean I hope you don't think me rude for this... but you're Harry Potter!"
"Err... yea I am." Harry looked like he was at a loss for words. His mouth hung open as he stared at her.
"It's just that... I've always wanted to meet you," she said. She held her hand out for him to grasp. "I'm Ave Hart." Harry shook her hand, still at a loss for words.
Ron nearly plowed over Harry as he made his way towards the girl. He held out his own hand. "Hi! I'm Ron Weasley!" She smiled and shook his hand.
"Hi."
"It's very nice to meet you," said Hermione, "but Susan and I have to make a quick run to the library before lunch." Susan gave her a confused glace. Realization dawned on her.
"Oh yea, that thing that we have to do... in the library."
The two girls left the other three behind and headed out the door. Instead of walking towards the library however, they walked to the Great Hall in a quick pace. "What do you think of her?" asked Hermione.
"I donno -- something's kind of off. Don't you think?" She looked to Hermione who shook her head in agreement. "Did you noticed how every guy in there was staring at her the whole time? I mean, even Ron had his eye on her!" She looked slightly hurt.
"Don't worry," Hermione assured her. "Ron is head over heals for you!" She was quick to relay the information that Harry had told her. "Harry said he couldn't stop talking about you in their first class." This cheered Susan up a bit.
"Still, I think there is something wrong about that girl. I think I'll keep an eye on her. I have to share a dorm with her you know, so it will be quite easy." She looked to Hermione, who again nodded her head. "And I'll tell everything I learn to you! It will be like one of those adventures that you, Ron, and Harry are always on. Except it will be just us two!" The girls smiled broadly at each other.
"I would like that," said Hermione. "You know, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship." The two girls giggled.
They entered the Great Hall and separated to go to their own tables. Hermione sat down and placed some food on her plate. Not long after, Ron, Harry and Ave walked into the Hall and separated, beaming and waving at each other. The two boys made their way down the table and sat across from Hermione.
"Whoa, Ave is really nice!" exclaimed Ron. "You'd like her Hermione. It's too bad you had to go to the library." He began to pile food onto his plate.
"Yea," agreed Harry, "and she's really smart. Maybe as smart as you, Hermione."
Hermione looked at him with daggers in her eyes but he didn't perceive it. "I'm sure that's true." No one in their year was as smart as her, and she had gotten quite use to the fact. They all began to eat. Soon, Ron and Harry began to talk about this year's Quidditch team, while Hermione flipped through a thick tomb. Soon the bell rang and the students went off to their last class of the day.
The Sixth Year Griffindors walked towards their History of Magic class. They sauntered in through the door to find Professor Binns floating two feet from the ground. "Hello Sixth Years, come in, come in." The students shuffled into the classroom. History of Magic had been, and would always be, the most boring class any of them had even taken. It was an understatement to say that they were not looking forward to the contents of the next hour.
"Now class," droned the ghostly figure, "this year we will be learning about subjects a bit closer to home." He looked around to see if he had the entire class' attention. "This year we will be learning about the History of Hogwarts." The students started to whisper feverously. Could it be that Professor Binns was actually going to teach something interesting? "We will cover subjects such as important people, events, headmasters, prophecies, and legends such as the Founders' Colors. You will be required to memorize all of the Headmasters in the history of Hogwarts and..."
The teacher continued to drone on and on but Hermione had tuned him out after he had mentioned the Founders' Colors. Never once, in her long hours in the library, had she heard of such a legend. She raised her hand and eagerly waved it about. The Professor stopped in mid-sentence when he caught sight of her raised hand.
"Yes Miss. Granger?"
"I was just wondering what the Founders' Colors was." The class groaned, they were hoping to just sleep through the teacher's syllabus, but now that Hermione had asked such a question they would probably have to take notes. "It's just that, I've never once heard of this legend." This got the attention of the students. Something that Hermione Granger didn't know? Well then, it had to be very interesting and secretive.
Professor Binns cleared his throat loudly. "Yes well... the Founders' Colors is supposedly a spell that three of the Founders of Hogwarts cast. They were worried that danger would present itself on the horizon of time in the Magical World; in a time when they would not be there. They decided to cast a spell that would give one girl from each house the power to wield the elements, one for each girl; Fire, Water, Wind, and Earth. There was a problem, however. Rowena Ravenclaw did not want any part in casting this spell. She claimed that to give so much power to a girl would eventually ruin her. So she left the friendship she had always known. The remaining three decided in the end to go along and cast the spell, manipulating it slightly to allow the strongest of the three girls to possess two elements.
Many people do not believe in the Founders' Colors, it is but a mere legend that has been distorted and altered over the years. There is actual proof that such a spell had never been cast. First of all, Rowena Ravenclaw was not the first to leave Hogwarts, it had been Slytherin, as we well know. Secondly, if such a spell had been cast it probably would have taken affect during the rein of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named."
The Professor finished his tale right before the bell rang. The Griffindors gathered their things and headed out of the room. "Please bring your copies of 'Hogwarts: A History' to your next lesson!" Professor Binns shouted after them.
Harry, Ron and Hermione began to walk towards the Griffindor Tower, chatting idly with each other. "That was actually interesting, for once," said Ron. He then forgot all of schoolwork and classes. "I could go for a light snack right about now. You two want to sneak down into the kitchen?"
"I'm in," said Harry. They both turned to her. "Hermione?"
"Sure, I guess so." But she couldn't go to the kitchen. She had just remember the short chat with Professor Dumbledore last night. "I can't," she said regrettably. "Professor Dumbledore asked me to come up to his office today after my classes."
"Oh yea," said Ron. "I almost forgot about that. Want us to wait for you in the kitchen?"
"No, I'll meet you two later in the Common Room." She started walking back the opposite way.
"We'll bring you back something, Hermione!" yelled Harry from across the hall. Hermione waved back at them and continued to walked towards the Headmaster's office.