Disclaimer: Not jkr..even tho I might sound like her..i try mah best.he he
I would like tuh dedicate this chapter tuh Zira..cuz she's so nice, and she's mah new good friend..lol..check out her ficcy if you haff tha chance..it's REELY GOOD! K, this chapter is kinda harsh for Hermione, but it's part of the plot. SORRY TUHALL THA MIONE LOVERS..lol..was the other chapter mean to Hermione too?? Hmm..i dun see it..lol! After this chapter, the plot starts to unravel. Sorry it took so long to ACTUALLY get to tha plot, but yah. Im a lover of BIG introductions. Yah. I made up some of my own characters, so yah. And also, some of the slytherines are kinda nice, because they aren't evil, and I wanted friends from slytherinn, its all part of tha plot. And yes, there is a plot. It's coming, don't worry! By tha way..for those of you who don't like tha name Rachel *ahem* Anndrea-so- called beta..lol..*ahem* well.it's kinda too late to change it..sorry! ha ha..sukerz.and sorry if Rachel sounds kinda conceded. I dunno y she's like that!!! Well, I'll try and change her..a bit..he he.and.THANKS TO ALL THA REVIEWERS!! HA HA!! U MAKE ME FEEL SO SPESHIAL!! Anndrea-hmm.is that ALL u talk about?? Joax.Nexis-Dea-OMG!! U replied..YAY!! OMG! Im sooooo happie!! Thank you..and I LOVE yer story by tha way.when r YOU gonna update?? Lol..devilangel17-a conflict is coming.don't worry, and im flattered you think I sound like the author..i try my best.Lovely White-do u really think they're mean tuh mione? WOW! Well..im gonna haff tuh look into that one.thx, and I noe she shows off..A LOT! I dunno y.im gonna try and change her..kk? Mistress del Mare-thank you for tha review, and here's yer next chappy! EnjoY! Now..here's chapter 4:
~*~
Chapter 4 ~ Friends or Foes?
That morning, Harry got up and sat in his bed. Then he heard Ron's voice.
"No, no please. I promise to do my homework, I promise. Please Hermione, spare me. Please. SPARE ME!!!"
Ron was having a nightmare. Harry decided to go up to Ron's bed, and wake him up.
"Ah! Harry, what are you doing?" Ron had woken up. After a couple of seconds, he realized what was happening. "Oh. Thanks for waking me up Harry. You'll never guess what kind of nightmare I had. The worst kind. Do you want to know what happened?"
"Sure, why not." Harry answered.
And as they were getting dressed, walking through the portrait of the fat lady, and going down to the Great Hall for breakfast, Ron was telling Harry his dream. "It was a normal school day," Ron was saying, "And I wanted to go outside to enjoy the fresh air. And suddenly, Hermione appeared, and pulled me back into the castle. She was saying how I didn't do my homework so I was going to be punished. Next thing I know, I'm in a chair, and all the teachers are forcing me to memorize all the spells and potions. And if I got something wrong, then Hermione would blast me with fire.
"So then, I decided to get off the chair, and all the teacher's were gone. I thought I was safe. But then, I saw that Hermione was still there. She was looking at me, and she turned into a fire-breathing dragon. She started blasting me with fire, and I was screaming for help. Next thing I know, you were there. You woke me up from that terrible nightmare. Thanks Harry. You saved me from, Hermione the fire-breathing Dragon." At this, Harry and Ron both laughed out loud, while finally entering the Great Hall.
"Ha Ha, very funny guys." They heard a very sarcastic voice say.
It was Hermione; she had been following them ever since they came out of the Common Room. Harry and Ron spun around to see her. They were still laughing.
"Well, what more can you expect from stupid and immature boys?" Hermione muttered as she stomped away to Gryffindor table.
"Wow, what's got her?" Ron said, not laughing anymore. Harry shrugged.
Harry and Ron made their way to Gryffindor table, sitting beside Hermione.
"Hermione, that was only a joke, we didn't mean to hurt your feelings. We're sorry, right Ron?" Harry asked.
"Yes, of course. No hard feelings?" Ron asked Hermione, grinning slyly at her.
"Sorry, guys. I didn't mean to take it out on you." Hermione answered.
"Take what out on us?" Harry asked.
Hermione sighed.
"Well, yesterday, I was waiting for Rachel to come back. I waited for like, until midnight. She didn't come. But still, I decided to wait." Hermione was explaining. "So then, around three in the morning, I woke up, cause I fell asleep in the Common Room. And Rachel is just coming through the portrait hole. I asked her what happened, and why she took so long and she just looked at me, as if she didn't know me.
"Then she asked me, 'what are you doing here? Your supposed to be sleeping.'
"So I tell her, 'Well, in case you haven't noticed, I've been waiting here for you to tell you which dormitory you're supposed to sleep in.'
"Then she said, 'Well, I don't need your help, thanks. So why don't you just go to sleep, little girl?"
"I got so mad at her, I spit in her face, I turned around and left to my dormitory. The nerve of that girl. I was just going to open the door to my dormitory, when I heard more voices. I thought it was Fred and George, but I also heard girl voices. So I went to check it out. And all I find is a pack of Slytherin's in our Gryffindor Common Room. I couldn't believe her. I went down to tell her off, but suddenly, this one girl, Aleli Vergera started swearing at me. So I told them that I'll tell Professor McGonagall, and all of them, including Rachel left." Then Hermione looked towards the Slytherin table and added, "Just look at her. Maybe she should just switch to Slytherin, I'm sure they'll let her." And with that, Hermione got up, and left the Great Hall without one bite to eat.
"I'll go and talk to her." Ron offered. And he ran after Hermione.
Harry was about to take a piece of toast and butter it, when he heard someone call him.
"Harry! Harry! C'mere!"
Rachel was at the Slytherin table, and she was calling him to go there. So Harry got up, and walked towards Rachel.
"Hiya Harry! These are my friends from Slytherin. This is Aleli Vergera." Rachel pointed to a girl with brown hair tied in a ponytail.
She smiled at Harry and said, "Hi Harry, nice to meet you." She put out her hand, and Harry shook it.
"This," Rachel went on, "Is Andre Fabian." She pointed to a dark guy with his hair braided. "Isn't he safe?" Rachel asked Harry. Harry looked at Rachel with a confused look written all over his face; he obviously didn't know what "safe" meant.
"Yo, what's up, man?" Andre asked, also shaking Harry's hand.
"Nice to meet you guys." Harry said.
"And girls," Aleli pointed out.
"And girls." Harry repeated. Then he added to Rachel in a whisper, "Um, what does 'safe' mean?"
"Oh, nothing. Just forget it. I'll explain later. Well, I'm starving. I'm going to get a bite to eat." Rachel said. "See you later guys." And Rachel spun around and went to Gryffindor table.
Just as Harry turned around to go to Gryffindor table, he heard a familiar, cold voice.
"So, Potter. Do you think you're special just because Rachel Avalon is in Gryffindor? I wouldn't be too excited if I were you." It was Draco Malfoy. When he said this, his colleagues, Crabbe and Goyle, started laughing in their stupid little way.
"Well," Harry started, "You're not me, so you shouldn't be worried about what I do!"
"Guys, guys, chill out." A girl sitting beside Malfoy had just got up and said that. She was a girl, the same height as Harry, or maybe like Rachel. But, Harry realized, that there was something that was exactly the same as Rachel's, her scarlet eyes. But they weren't like Rachel's. They were cold and evil.
"Who are you?" Harry asked her.
"Oh, I'm Phyllis Croft. Nice to meet you Harry Potter." She shook Harry's hand. Malfoy was furious. He left with0 Crabbe and Goyle just as Phyllis shook Harry's hand. "Don't worry about Malfoy, he's always like that."
"Oh, I know." Harry replied. "By the way, do you know, Rachel Avalon?"
"Oh, yes. I know that little slut. Why?" snapped Phyllis.
"Not to be mean or anything," Harry began, "But you look very much like her, are you family?"
"No!" Phyllis practically shouted. "What makes you say that?"
"Um, it's because you have the same eyes as her. That's all."
"Well, we're not family. Ok?" Phyllis sat down and began to eat her scrambled eggs.
"Ok," Harry said, starting to leave Slytherin table, "I'll see you guys later." Harry went back to Gryffindor table, and sat beside Rachel.
"So," Rachel began, "Do you like my friends?"
"Yes, their cool." Harry replied. His curiosity got the best of him. "Are you and that girl, Phyllis Croft friends?" He asked.
"No, she's such a stupid, ah, I don't even want to say it!"
"How come you guys aren't friends?"
"Well, I'm sure Hermione told you all about last night, am I rite?" Rachel asked.
"Um, yes." Harry admitted.
"Well," Rachel began. "She and I were friends, yesterday anyways. And I took her, Andre and Aleli up to Gryffindor Tower. I really didn't know that you're not allowed to bring some of them people from other houses. So I brought them up.
"When we got there, Hermione was waiting for me. Then she threatened to tell the teacher. I was afraid, so I took my friends, and we went down to the Great Hall. Then Phyllis began screaming at me because Hermione saw them. Her and me had a big fight.
"We were still arguing when we heard steps. It was Filch, the caretaker. He found us, and we had no time to run. So, since I was mad at that cow, Phyllis, I told Filch that she woke me up and brought me there. She argued of course. But it was her word against mine. So, naturally, Filch believed me. And she got in trouble on the first day back, so that's why we aren't friends anymore."
Harry was still thinking about this when he saw Ron come and sit beside him.
"Hiya Ron!" Rachel said cheerfully.
"Hey, Rach." Ron said, not blushing this time. Then he whispered into Harry's ear, "Harry, can I talk to you for a minute? It's about Hermione."
Just then, Harry got an idea. Without answering Ron, he asked Rachel, "Rachel, how come you were being mean to Hermione yesterday when you brought Aleli and the rest of the Slytherin's?"
"Huh? Oh, because all of them Slytherin's, they don't really like the Gryffindor's. But, I dunno I'm friends with them. But I guess they like you so I brought you to meet them today. But, I really didn't want them to be mad at me, so I kind of was being mean to Hermione. I didn't mean to hurt her feelings. Really!"
"Well, you did!" snapped Ron.
"Ok. I know. I guess I better find her and apologize." But just then, Hermione came back into the Great Hall and sat beside Ron. "Hermione, look I'm really sorry about yesterday. It's not what you think."
"No?" said Hermione sarcastically.
"Ok look." Rachel said, losing her patience. Then she began explaining everything that she told Harry. ".And that's why I did it, its cuz I don't really got allot of friend's here."
"Oh," said Hermione, sounding stunned. "Ok. I guess I was being kind of mean and not understanding. Alright, Rachel, friends?"
"Friends!" said Rachel, as she and Hermione hugged.
"Well, we have Care of Magical Creatures first, let's go." Hermione said. And Harry, Ron, Rachel and Hermione got up, and walked to their first lesson.
As they made their way over to Hagrid's Hut, the place where their first lesson would take place, they walked right by the Slytherin's that were supposed to be there already.
Ron, Hermione, Rachel and Harry walked away from the rest of the Gryffindor's (which were heading for Hagrid's cabin) and walked to the group of Slytherin's huddled near the wall.
"What's going on, guys?" Rachel asked.
"Rachel! Well, they just posted this on the wall." Rachel's friend, Andre said.
Then, Rachel's other friend from Slytherin, Aleli, said in an excited voice, "Wow! I can't believe it! We're having another ball. It's going to be on Christmas day. It's going to take place in the Great Hall. I can't wait. But, whom will I ask? Or who will ask me?"
"I'm sure Andre will be willing to go wit you." Rachel answered.
"Hell no!" Andre said, as he heard what Rachel said. And seeing the hurt expression on Aleli's face, he quickly added, "No offence or anything. But you're a really good friend. And there's this really hot girl in Hufflepuff, Natasha Madison that I want to ask. So."
"Hey, I know her. She's that girl that always flirt's with all the guys, right?" Rachel said.
"Exactly!" Andre said, very proudly. Too proudly, Harry thought.
Then, Harry remembered that they were supposed to be in the Care of Magical Creatures class. He shouted, "Oh no! We're supposed to be in class. Let's go."
Hermione, Rachel, Ron, Harry and all the Slytherin had started running towards Hagrid's cabin, just as Harry said this. "Why are yeh late?" Hagrid asked, just as all of them arrived at the Hut and were heading to the edge of the forbidden forest, which was right near Hagrid's Hut.
"We got, um," Harry began.
"Distracted!" yelled Hermione.
"Well, yeh are all here now, so let meh start the lesson by introducing meh friend, Ronan." Hagrid said to the rest of the class.
Out of the edge of the forbidden forest came - was it a man, or a horse? To the waist, a man but below was a horse's body. Harry recognized it as a centaur, the same one that he met on the very first time when he went into the forest.
"Oh my gosh!" shouted Lavender Brown. "Would Hagrid actually bring one of these, er, people here?"
"This," Hagrid began, "Is a centaur, and a very good friend of mine. His name is Ronan."
"Look, he even makes friends with half horses," sniggered Malfoy, followed by all the Slytherin's laughter.
"Malfoy, that wasn't nice. And plus, centaurs are beautiful!" Rachel said. Malfoy glared at her.
Indeed the centaur was beautiful. To the waist, he was a man with red hair and beard, but below was a horse's gleaming chestnut body with a long, reddish tail. But just then, out came another centaur. Harry recognized it as his friend Firenze. He remembered Firenze, because the first time Harry came into the Forest, Firenze had saved his life from Professor Quirrell, or, Voldemort. Firenze had white-blond hair and a palomino body. He had astonishingly blue eyes, like pale sapphires.
"Now, this is meh other friend, Firenze." Hagrid said, as Malfoy made another snigger, and Rachel gave him a piercing look. " Instead o' meh teachin' the lesson today, I'm goin' to let these two tell yeh about themselves."
"We'll take it from here. Well," Firenze began, "We look at the sky for guidance. We read the stars, we are passionate stargazers - "
" - Not interested in anythin' closer'n the moon." Hagrid cut in.
"I think we can handle it, Hagrid," snapped Ronan.
"Well, sorry." Hagrid said sarcastically.
"Anyways," Firenze said with a slightly annoyed voice, "we read the planets, and we are concerned with what has been foretold."
Then Ronan said, "We are also very deep minded creatures - "
" - They know things, jus' don' let on much." Hagrid cut in again.
"Hagrid!" shouted Firenze. "I had about enough of you. One more word and I'll."
"Ok, ok." Hagrid said. "I won' interrupt again."
Then, Firenze and Ronan went on. But at the end of the lesson, Hagrid let everybody pet the centaurs.
"That was very interesting" Rachel said at the end of lesson. "I like centaurs. I met one when I went traveling once. Forgot where though." And she started laughing.
"Transfiguration awaits." Ron said dully.
"What's wrong with transfiguration?" Rachel asked.
"Everything!" answered Ron.
*
That first day of school was good for everybody. Rachel made a whole bunch of new friends in Hufflepuff, and whenever they had breakfast, lunch, or dinner, Rachel would go and visit the Ravenclaw table, and talk to the friends that she made there. She didn't need to visit her Slytherin friends, because she saw them in the classes that they had together.
The first week of school went by quickly; especially that Harry had a good friend like Rachel to be there with. But nothing could have prepared them for when they had Potions class.
"Bloody hell!" Ron shouted one day while heading to potion's class. "We have Potions with the Slytherin's this year too. Damn it!"
"Chill out there, Ron" Rachel told him. "If you would just take the time to get to know all the Slytherin's, you'd like them too. Not that I like ALL of them."
"Ya, sure." Ron said sarcastically.
When they reached the dungeons, where Potion's class took place, Harry sat beside Rachel, in the back, while Ron and Hermione sat beside each other, beside Harry and Rachel.
"This is Potion's Class. We have Professor Snape. I hate him. He's the worst teacher there is." Ron whispered to Rachel.
"How come you hate him?" Rachel asked.
"Because he hates Harry, and he's so unfair. He let's the Slytherin's do anything."
"But that's not fair." Rachel said, just as Snape walked into the classroom.
"Everybody, take out your ingredient's, we're going to make a sleeping potion today. And it is not to be used in your own foolish things." Professor Snape said, as he gave Harry a piercing, evil look.
"Now," Snape continued, "who could tell me the first ingredient that belongs in this potion?"
Rachel had her hand up immediately in the air. So was Hermione's hand.
"Ah, we have the new student from Ampsgrid, is it?" Snape asked Rachel.
"Um, yes sir." Rachel answered. Then quickly went on, "the first ingredient that goes into a sleeping potion is monkshood, sir."
"Huh? Oh, yes, that's right. Thank you miss?"
"Avalon, Rachel Avalon, sir."
"Thank you miss Avalon." Then Snape went on about explaining how to make the potion, and what to put in it. And right after he had said to start, he asked Rachel, "What are you doing Rachel?"
"Oh, I'm done my potion, sir, see, it's red."
"Indeed it is, but why are you done, when everyone is just beginning?" He asked.
"Well, sir. I did this potion in my old school see, and since potions is one of my favorite subject's, I can brew almost any potion," replied Rachel. [a/n: she's showing off again.sorry, can't help it.dun worry, she'll be better soon]
"Alright then, if you're so smart, brew me an advanced stun potion - " Snape said, obviously annoyed at her showing off.
"If I had the right ingredients, of course, sir." Rachel interrupted Snape.
Snape went to his desk, opened a drawer, took out some ingredients, handed them to Rachel and said, "There, now brew me an advanced stun potion."
As Rachel worked, Snape and the rest of the class watched her. When she was finally done, she said, "OK, all I need now, is two weeks of time for the 'oblantid seed' to brew and turn yellow, and the potion will be done."
At this, Snape actually smiled a nice, happy smile. Harry had never ever seen Snape smile a nice and happy smile. The rest of the class must have been as stunned as Harry was, because it fell silent when Snape smiled. All you could hear was the gloop gloop of the potion Rachel had brewed. "Very good Avalon. I am impressed. Five points to Gryffindor." The whole of Gryffindor screamed with cheers. And the rest of potions class was occupied for everyone else to make their own sleeping potion. Rachel helped Neville Longbottom brew his potion.
"Rachel, Snape had never, ever smiled nicely before." Said Ron as they were coming out of potions and heading for Defense Against Dark Arts, "Especially at a Gryffindor."
"Ya," Hermione began, "and he never gave us points either."
"See," Rachel said, "I told you that if you're nice to the teachers, and Slytherins, they'll be nice to you."
The whole way to Defense Against Dark Arts, all the Gryffindor's were talking about how Snape had given them five points, and Rachel kept being congratulated.
Harry heard Parvati whisper to Lavender when they were walking, "She's such a show-off. I hate her!"
When they arrived at the Defense Against Dark Arts class, Harry, Rachel, Ron and Hermione all sat in the back, beside each other.
Then, Professor Kakatchi arrived. "Hello, class. I do believe that this is our first lesson together, is it not? Well, this is one of the most important classes you will need. For one, because we all know that You Know Who is out there, and - "
Rachel's hand flew up into the air.
"Yes, Ms.?" Professor Kakatchi asked Rachel.
"Avalon, Rachel Avalon, sir." Replied Rachel.
"Well, Ms. Avalon, what is it?"
"Um, how come you say 'You Know Who' instead of Voldemort?" At this, everybody in the class twitched, except, Rachel, Harry, and Professor Kakatchi.
"Well, you're right Ms. Avalon. Because if we fear the name, what happens if we come face to face with the real thing? And that's what I'm here to teach you to do. So, now, whenever you speak of the Dark Lord, do not be afraid to name him, for if you fear his name, you are letting him prevail. Now, this first lesson will be to say his name 'Voldemort'. Everybody with me now, 'Voldemort'.
"Voldemort" repeated some of the students in the class.
"Voldemort, Voldemort. Everybody say it, all together now!"
"Voldemort!" the whole class repeated.
"There, that wasn't so bad now was it?" Professor Kakatchi said. Suddenly, Professor Kakatchi began transforming. He was transforming into.
"Voldemort!" Harry screamed.
There was panic and chaos in the whole class, as people got up and started running towards the door. But just as Dean Thomas reached the door, Professor Kakatchi's voice came out of Voldemort's body. "Calm down children, calm down. I am not the real Voldemort. I am simply a replica. Do not fear." And he turned back into himself again.
"How.how did you do that?" Hermione asked with a trembling voice.
"Well," Professor Kakatchi began, "That's what we're going to be learning today." [a/n: sorry, I couldn't think of anything else they could have been learning. If u have a suggestion, and want me to change this.I will..]
"But, aren't we supposed to learn that in Transfiguration?" asked Parvati Patil.
"Well, your not turning into the person, you're just creating a mirror image of the person. And you can only do this for something that you fear, because it might just help you escape it. Now, like I said, it's just a mirror image, kind of like an opposite. So, you could pretend you're a mirror image, to fool the enemy. You see, but it takes hard work. But, this is what we will be practicing for the first term." Professor Kakatchi then took his wand, and shouted "tranimosfia abragati!" [a/n: I dunno where I got this from, just some gibberish I made up, so yah, it's not latin or n e thing, I dunno latin, lol] suddenly, he became the mirror image of Voldemort again.
He walked around the whole classroom, as everyone's eyes were on him. He walked up to the front of the classroom again, and shouted "agravati demos!" [a/n: another thing I made up..lol..it's gay, I noe, but.oh well..my fic!..] Everybody in the class was all excited now, because he turned back into himself.
"Um, sir," Rachel began, "Are you goin' to teach us how to turn into Voldemort?"
"Yes, and no." Professor Kakatchi replied. "Yes, if that's the greatest thing you fear, and no, if there is something that you fear greater than Voldemort. Because, you can only mirror the image that you fear most." He paused for a moment, scanned the class, and said, "Now, I want everybody to get a picture of what they fear most, and if it's not Voldemort, then don't pick him. Like you for instance." Professor Kakatchi pointed at Ron.
Ron looked up at Professor Kakatchi.
"Is it all right if I use what you are most terrified of Mr.?"
"Weasley, um, Ron Weasley professor. And yes, sure." Rom replied.
"There's only one problem. Professor Kakatchi can't turn into himself!" teased Seamus Finnigan.
At this, the whole class burst out with laughter, even Ron and Professor Kakatchi.
"Well, I doubt that's what you fear most Ron. Am I right?" Professor Kakatchi asked.
"Well," Ron managed to say after he finished laughing. "Spiders, I hate them. It's a long story, so please don't ask."
"Spiders. See, now even if Mr. Weasley here would want to turn into Voldemort, he would not be able to, because Voldemort is not his greatest fear. Ok, understood?" Professor Kakatchi asked.
Yes!" everybody answered.
"Good." Replied Professor Kakatchi. "Now, to turn into a mirror image of your greatest fear, you must picture it in your head. Once you've done that, swing your wand like this and say 'tranimosfia abragati'"
At once, the whole class started saying it. Nobody got it in the first try, but after a couple of tries, Harry had managed to turn into Voldemort, and Ron managed to turn into a huge spider, like the one he saw in the forbidden forest four years ago.
"Ok, good." Professor Kakatchi said. "Now, to turn back into your selves, shout, loud and clear, 'agravati demos!'"
"Agravati demos!" Harry and Ron had shouted at the same time. But right away, Harry turned back into himself, while Ron was still a huge spider.
"Agravati demos! Agravati demos!" Ron kept shouting but nothing happened.
"You're saying it wrong, Ron." Hermione said to Ron. "It's a-gra-va- ty de-mus."
"OK. AGRAVATI DEMOS!" Ron shouted, and turned back into himself right away.
"That was a close one." Professor Kakatchi said. "For a minute there, I thought you'd be a spider forever Ron."
"Ya, me too!" said Ron, and they all started laughing.
"Thank you Hermione. Five points go to Gryffindor for your good work."
When Defense Against Dark Arts was finished, people were saying how that was the best class they ever had.
"That was so, amazing." Rachel began. "I never had that much fun in any of my other classes at my old school."
"Well, I remember when we had Professor Lupin for the Defense Against Dark Arts class. He was the greatest." Harry said.
"Ya? What happened to him?" Rachel asked.
"He was a werewolf." Ron said.
"Oh," Rachel said, stunned. "Well, we better be off to our next class then."
"You mean Dinner." Hermione corrected Rachel.
"Oh, we have a dinner class, cool!" Rachel said. "Just kiddin'," she added seeing the surprised expressions on everyone's faces. And they left to go into the Great Hall.
*~*
Ha ha! What a gay chapter.sorry! Lol..if u like it..great! lol.umm, dunno when tha next chappy is gonna be up, tho. I haff tuh send it tuh mah betas. Yup. Welps, review please. And tell me what u think. And I promise, it HAS a plot, juss not yet. Next chapters might be A LOT better, and their getting longer too, so yah, it'll be worth tha wait..promise. r/r
- Feonix
I would like tuh dedicate this chapter tuh Zira..cuz she's so nice, and she's mah new good friend..lol..check out her ficcy if you haff tha chance..it's REELY GOOD! K, this chapter is kinda harsh for Hermione, but it's part of the plot. SORRY TUHALL THA MIONE LOVERS..lol..was the other chapter mean to Hermione too?? Hmm..i dun see it..lol! After this chapter, the plot starts to unravel. Sorry it took so long to ACTUALLY get to tha plot, but yah. Im a lover of BIG introductions. Yah. I made up some of my own characters, so yah. And also, some of the slytherines are kinda nice, because they aren't evil, and I wanted friends from slytherinn, its all part of tha plot. And yes, there is a plot. It's coming, don't worry! By tha way..for those of you who don't like tha name Rachel *ahem* Anndrea-so- called beta..lol..*ahem* well.it's kinda too late to change it..sorry! ha ha..sukerz.and sorry if Rachel sounds kinda conceded. I dunno y she's like that!!! Well, I'll try and change her..a bit..he he.and.THANKS TO ALL THA REVIEWERS!! HA HA!! U MAKE ME FEEL SO SPESHIAL!! Anndrea-hmm.is that ALL u talk about?? Joax.Nexis-Dea-OMG!! U replied..YAY!! OMG! Im sooooo happie!! Thank you..and I LOVE yer story by tha way.when r YOU gonna update?? Lol..devilangel17-a conflict is coming.don't worry, and im flattered you think I sound like the author..i try my best.Lovely White-do u really think they're mean tuh mione? WOW! Well..im gonna haff tuh look into that one.thx, and I noe she shows off..A LOT! I dunno y.im gonna try and change her..kk? Mistress del Mare-thank you for tha review, and here's yer next chappy! EnjoY! Now..here's chapter 4:
~*~
Chapter 4 ~ Friends or Foes?
That morning, Harry got up and sat in his bed. Then he heard Ron's voice.
"No, no please. I promise to do my homework, I promise. Please Hermione, spare me. Please. SPARE ME!!!"
Ron was having a nightmare. Harry decided to go up to Ron's bed, and wake him up.
"Ah! Harry, what are you doing?" Ron had woken up. After a couple of seconds, he realized what was happening. "Oh. Thanks for waking me up Harry. You'll never guess what kind of nightmare I had. The worst kind. Do you want to know what happened?"
"Sure, why not." Harry answered.
And as they were getting dressed, walking through the portrait of the fat lady, and going down to the Great Hall for breakfast, Ron was telling Harry his dream. "It was a normal school day," Ron was saying, "And I wanted to go outside to enjoy the fresh air. And suddenly, Hermione appeared, and pulled me back into the castle. She was saying how I didn't do my homework so I was going to be punished. Next thing I know, I'm in a chair, and all the teachers are forcing me to memorize all the spells and potions. And if I got something wrong, then Hermione would blast me with fire.
"So then, I decided to get off the chair, and all the teacher's were gone. I thought I was safe. But then, I saw that Hermione was still there. She was looking at me, and she turned into a fire-breathing dragon. She started blasting me with fire, and I was screaming for help. Next thing I know, you were there. You woke me up from that terrible nightmare. Thanks Harry. You saved me from, Hermione the fire-breathing Dragon." At this, Harry and Ron both laughed out loud, while finally entering the Great Hall.
"Ha Ha, very funny guys." They heard a very sarcastic voice say.
It was Hermione; she had been following them ever since they came out of the Common Room. Harry and Ron spun around to see her. They were still laughing.
"Well, what more can you expect from stupid and immature boys?" Hermione muttered as she stomped away to Gryffindor table.
"Wow, what's got her?" Ron said, not laughing anymore. Harry shrugged.
Harry and Ron made their way to Gryffindor table, sitting beside Hermione.
"Hermione, that was only a joke, we didn't mean to hurt your feelings. We're sorry, right Ron?" Harry asked.
"Yes, of course. No hard feelings?" Ron asked Hermione, grinning slyly at her.
"Sorry, guys. I didn't mean to take it out on you." Hermione answered.
"Take what out on us?" Harry asked.
Hermione sighed.
"Well, yesterday, I was waiting for Rachel to come back. I waited for like, until midnight. She didn't come. But still, I decided to wait." Hermione was explaining. "So then, around three in the morning, I woke up, cause I fell asleep in the Common Room. And Rachel is just coming through the portrait hole. I asked her what happened, and why she took so long and she just looked at me, as if she didn't know me.
"Then she asked me, 'what are you doing here? Your supposed to be sleeping.'
"So I tell her, 'Well, in case you haven't noticed, I've been waiting here for you to tell you which dormitory you're supposed to sleep in.'
"Then she said, 'Well, I don't need your help, thanks. So why don't you just go to sleep, little girl?"
"I got so mad at her, I spit in her face, I turned around and left to my dormitory. The nerve of that girl. I was just going to open the door to my dormitory, when I heard more voices. I thought it was Fred and George, but I also heard girl voices. So I went to check it out. And all I find is a pack of Slytherin's in our Gryffindor Common Room. I couldn't believe her. I went down to tell her off, but suddenly, this one girl, Aleli Vergera started swearing at me. So I told them that I'll tell Professor McGonagall, and all of them, including Rachel left." Then Hermione looked towards the Slytherin table and added, "Just look at her. Maybe she should just switch to Slytherin, I'm sure they'll let her." And with that, Hermione got up, and left the Great Hall without one bite to eat.
"I'll go and talk to her." Ron offered. And he ran after Hermione.
Harry was about to take a piece of toast and butter it, when he heard someone call him.
"Harry! Harry! C'mere!"
Rachel was at the Slytherin table, and she was calling him to go there. So Harry got up, and walked towards Rachel.
"Hiya Harry! These are my friends from Slytherin. This is Aleli Vergera." Rachel pointed to a girl with brown hair tied in a ponytail.
She smiled at Harry and said, "Hi Harry, nice to meet you." She put out her hand, and Harry shook it.
"This," Rachel went on, "Is Andre Fabian." She pointed to a dark guy with his hair braided. "Isn't he safe?" Rachel asked Harry. Harry looked at Rachel with a confused look written all over his face; he obviously didn't know what "safe" meant.
"Yo, what's up, man?" Andre asked, also shaking Harry's hand.
"Nice to meet you guys." Harry said.
"And girls," Aleli pointed out.
"And girls." Harry repeated. Then he added to Rachel in a whisper, "Um, what does 'safe' mean?"
"Oh, nothing. Just forget it. I'll explain later. Well, I'm starving. I'm going to get a bite to eat." Rachel said. "See you later guys." And Rachel spun around and went to Gryffindor table.
Just as Harry turned around to go to Gryffindor table, he heard a familiar, cold voice.
"So, Potter. Do you think you're special just because Rachel Avalon is in Gryffindor? I wouldn't be too excited if I were you." It was Draco Malfoy. When he said this, his colleagues, Crabbe and Goyle, started laughing in their stupid little way.
"Well," Harry started, "You're not me, so you shouldn't be worried about what I do!"
"Guys, guys, chill out." A girl sitting beside Malfoy had just got up and said that. She was a girl, the same height as Harry, or maybe like Rachel. But, Harry realized, that there was something that was exactly the same as Rachel's, her scarlet eyes. But they weren't like Rachel's. They were cold and evil.
"Who are you?" Harry asked her.
"Oh, I'm Phyllis Croft. Nice to meet you Harry Potter." She shook Harry's hand. Malfoy was furious. He left with0 Crabbe and Goyle just as Phyllis shook Harry's hand. "Don't worry about Malfoy, he's always like that."
"Oh, I know." Harry replied. "By the way, do you know, Rachel Avalon?"
"Oh, yes. I know that little slut. Why?" snapped Phyllis.
"Not to be mean or anything," Harry began, "But you look very much like her, are you family?"
"No!" Phyllis practically shouted. "What makes you say that?"
"Um, it's because you have the same eyes as her. That's all."
"Well, we're not family. Ok?" Phyllis sat down and began to eat her scrambled eggs.
"Ok," Harry said, starting to leave Slytherin table, "I'll see you guys later." Harry went back to Gryffindor table, and sat beside Rachel.
"So," Rachel began, "Do you like my friends?"
"Yes, their cool." Harry replied. His curiosity got the best of him. "Are you and that girl, Phyllis Croft friends?" He asked.
"No, she's such a stupid, ah, I don't even want to say it!"
"How come you guys aren't friends?"
"Well, I'm sure Hermione told you all about last night, am I rite?" Rachel asked.
"Um, yes." Harry admitted.
"Well," Rachel began. "She and I were friends, yesterday anyways. And I took her, Andre and Aleli up to Gryffindor Tower. I really didn't know that you're not allowed to bring some of them people from other houses. So I brought them up.
"When we got there, Hermione was waiting for me. Then she threatened to tell the teacher. I was afraid, so I took my friends, and we went down to the Great Hall. Then Phyllis began screaming at me because Hermione saw them. Her and me had a big fight.
"We were still arguing when we heard steps. It was Filch, the caretaker. He found us, and we had no time to run. So, since I was mad at that cow, Phyllis, I told Filch that she woke me up and brought me there. She argued of course. But it was her word against mine. So, naturally, Filch believed me. And she got in trouble on the first day back, so that's why we aren't friends anymore."
Harry was still thinking about this when he saw Ron come and sit beside him.
"Hiya Ron!" Rachel said cheerfully.
"Hey, Rach." Ron said, not blushing this time. Then he whispered into Harry's ear, "Harry, can I talk to you for a minute? It's about Hermione."
Just then, Harry got an idea. Without answering Ron, he asked Rachel, "Rachel, how come you were being mean to Hermione yesterday when you brought Aleli and the rest of the Slytherin's?"
"Huh? Oh, because all of them Slytherin's, they don't really like the Gryffindor's. But, I dunno I'm friends with them. But I guess they like you so I brought you to meet them today. But, I really didn't want them to be mad at me, so I kind of was being mean to Hermione. I didn't mean to hurt her feelings. Really!"
"Well, you did!" snapped Ron.
"Ok. I know. I guess I better find her and apologize." But just then, Hermione came back into the Great Hall and sat beside Ron. "Hermione, look I'm really sorry about yesterday. It's not what you think."
"No?" said Hermione sarcastically.
"Ok look." Rachel said, losing her patience. Then she began explaining everything that she told Harry. ".And that's why I did it, its cuz I don't really got allot of friend's here."
"Oh," said Hermione, sounding stunned. "Ok. I guess I was being kind of mean and not understanding. Alright, Rachel, friends?"
"Friends!" said Rachel, as she and Hermione hugged.
"Well, we have Care of Magical Creatures first, let's go." Hermione said. And Harry, Ron, Rachel and Hermione got up, and walked to their first lesson.
As they made their way over to Hagrid's Hut, the place where their first lesson would take place, they walked right by the Slytherin's that were supposed to be there already.
Ron, Hermione, Rachel and Harry walked away from the rest of the Gryffindor's (which were heading for Hagrid's cabin) and walked to the group of Slytherin's huddled near the wall.
"What's going on, guys?" Rachel asked.
"Rachel! Well, they just posted this on the wall." Rachel's friend, Andre said.
Then, Rachel's other friend from Slytherin, Aleli, said in an excited voice, "Wow! I can't believe it! We're having another ball. It's going to be on Christmas day. It's going to take place in the Great Hall. I can't wait. But, whom will I ask? Or who will ask me?"
"I'm sure Andre will be willing to go wit you." Rachel answered.
"Hell no!" Andre said, as he heard what Rachel said. And seeing the hurt expression on Aleli's face, he quickly added, "No offence or anything. But you're a really good friend. And there's this really hot girl in Hufflepuff, Natasha Madison that I want to ask. So."
"Hey, I know her. She's that girl that always flirt's with all the guys, right?" Rachel said.
"Exactly!" Andre said, very proudly. Too proudly, Harry thought.
Then, Harry remembered that they were supposed to be in the Care of Magical Creatures class. He shouted, "Oh no! We're supposed to be in class. Let's go."
Hermione, Rachel, Ron, Harry and all the Slytherin had started running towards Hagrid's cabin, just as Harry said this. "Why are yeh late?" Hagrid asked, just as all of them arrived at the Hut and were heading to the edge of the forbidden forest, which was right near Hagrid's Hut.
"We got, um," Harry began.
"Distracted!" yelled Hermione.
"Well, yeh are all here now, so let meh start the lesson by introducing meh friend, Ronan." Hagrid said to the rest of the class.
Out of the edge of the forbidden forest came - was it a man, or a horse? To the waist, a man but below was a horse's body. Harry recognized it as a centaur, the same one that he met on the very first time when he went into the forest.
"Oh my gosh!" shouted Lavender Brown. "Would Hagrid actually bring one of these, er, people here?"
"This," Hagrid began, "Is a centaur, and a very good friend of mine. His name is Ronan."
"Look, he even makes friends with half horses," sniggered Malfoy, followed by all the Slytherin's laughter.
"Malfoy, that wasn't nice. And plus, centaurs are beautiful!" Rachel said. Malfoy glared at her.
Indeed the centaur was beautiful. To the waist, he was a man with red hair and beard, but below was a horse's gleaming chestnut body with a long, reddish tail. But just then, out came another centaur. Harry recognized it as his friend Firenze. He remembered Firenze, because the first time Harry came into the Forest, Firenze had saved his life from Professor Quirrell, or, Voldemort. Firenze had white-blond hair and a palomino body. He had astonishingly blue eyes, like pale sapphires.
"Now, this is meh other friend, Firenze." Hagrid said, as Malfoy made another snigger, and Rachel gave him a piercing look. " Instead o' meh teachin' the lesson today, I'm goin' to let these two tell yeh about themselves."
"We'll take it from here. Well," Firenze began, "We look at the sky for guidance. We read the stars, we are passionate stargazers - "
" - Not interested in anythin' closer'n the moon." Hagrid cut in.
"I think we can handle it, Hagrid," snapped Ronan.
"Well, sorry." Hagrid said sarcastically.
"Anyways," Firenze said with a slightly annoyed voice, "we read the planets, and we are concerned with what has been foretold."
Then Ronan said, "We are also very deep minded creatures - "
" - They know things, jus' don' let on much." Hagrid cut in again.
"Hagrid!" shouted Firenze. "I had about enough of you. One more word and I'll."
"Ok, ok." Hagrid said. "I won' interrupt again."
Then, Firenze and Ronan went on. But at the end of the lesson, Hagrid let everybody pet the centaurs.
"That was very interesting" Rachel said at the end of lesson. "I like centaurs. I met one when I went traveling once. Forgot where though." And she started laughing.
"Transfiguration awaits." Ron said dully.
"What's wrong with transfiguration?" Rachel asked.
"Everything!" answered Ron.
*
That first day of school was good for everybody. Rachel made a whole bunch of new friends in Hufflepuff, and whenever they had breakfast, lunch, or dinner, Rachel would go and visit the Ravenclaw table, and talk to the friends that she made there. She didn't need to visit her Slytherin friends, because she saw them in the classes that they had together.
The first week of school went by quickly; especially that Harry had a good friend like Rachel to be there with. But nothing could have prepared them for when they had Potions class.
"Bloody hell!" Ron shouted one day while heading to potion's class. "We have Potions with the Slytherin's this year too. Damn it!"
"Chill out there, Ron" Rachel told him. "If you would just take the time to get to know all the Slytherin's, you'd like them too. Not that I like ALL of them."
"Ya, sure." Ron said sarcastically.
When they reached the dungeons, where Potion's class took place, Harry sat beside Rachel, in the back, while Ron and Hermione sat beside each other, beside Harry and Rachel.
"This is Potion's Class. We have Professor Snape. I hate him. He's the worst teacher there is." Ron whispered to Rachel.
"How come you hate him?" Rachel asked.
"Because he hates Harry, and he's so unfair. He let's the Slytherin's do anything."
"But that's not fair." Rachel said, just as Snape walked into the classroom.
"Everybody, take out your ingredient's, we're going to make a sleeping potion today. And it is not to be used in your own foolish things." Professor Snape said, as he gave Harry a piercing, evil look.
"Now," Snape continued, "who could tell me the first ingredient that belongs in this potion?"
Rachel had her hand up immediately in the air. So was Hermione's hand.
"Ah, we have the new student from Ampsgrid, is it?" Snape asked Rachel.
"Um, yes sir." Rachel answered. Then quickly went on, "the first ingredient that goes into a sleeping potion is monkshood, sir."
"Huh? Oh, yes, that's right. Thank you miss?"
"Avalon, Rachel Avalon, sir."
"Thank you miss Avalon." Then Snape went on about explaining how to make the potion, and what to put in it. And right after he had said to start, he asked Rachel, "What are you doing Rachel?"
"Oh, I'm done my potion, sir, see, it's red."
"Indeed it is, but why are you done, when everyone is just beginning?" He asked.
"Well, sir. I did this potion in my old school see, and since potions is one of my favorite subject's, I can brew almost any potion," replied Rachel. [a/n: she's showing off again.sorry, can't help it.dun worry, she'll be better soon]
"Alright then, if you're so smart, brew me an advanced stun potion - " Snape said, obviously annoyed at her showing off.
"If I had the right ingredients, of course, sir." Rachel interrupted Snape.
Snape went to his desk, opened a drawer, took out some ingredients, handed them to Rachel and said, "There, now brew me an advanced stun potion."
As Rachel worked, Snape and the rest of the class watched her. When she was finally done, she said, "OK, all I need now, is two weeks of time for the 'oblantid seed' to brew and turn yellow, and the potion will be done."
At this, Snape actually smiled a nice, happy smile. Harry had never ever seen Snape smile a nice and happy smile. The rest of the class must have been as stunned as Harry was, because it fell silent when Snape smiled. All you could hear was the gloop gloop of the potion Rachel had brewed. "Very good Avalon. I am impressed. Five points to Gryffindor." The whole of Gryffindor screamed with cheers. And the rest of potions class was occupied for everyone else to make their own sleeping potion. Rachel helped Neville Longbottom brew his potion.
"Rachel, Snape had never, ever smiled nicely before." Said Ron as they were coming out of potions and heading for Defense Against Dark Arts, "Especially at a Gryffindor."
"Ya," Hermione began, "and he never gave us points either."
"See," Rachel said, "I told you that if you're nice to the teachers, and Slytherins, they'll be nice to you."
The whole way to Defense Against Dark Arts, all the Gryffindor's were talking about how Snape had given them five points, and Rachel kept being congratulated.
Harry heard Parvati whisper to Lavender when they were walking, "She's such a show-off. I hate her!"
When they arrived at the Defense Against Dark Arts class, Harry, Rachel, Ron and Hermione all sat in the back, beside each other.
Then, Professor Kakatchi arrived. "Hello, class. I do believe that this is our first lesson together, is it not? Well, this is one of the most important classes you will need. For one, because we all know that You Know Who is out there, and - "
Rachel's hand flew up into the air.
"Yes, Ms.?" Professor Kakatchi asked Rachel.
"Avalon, Rachel Avalon, sir." Replied Rachel.
"Well, Ms. Avalon, what is it?"
"Um, how come you say 'You Know Who' instead of Voldemort?" At this, everybody in the class twitched, except, Rachel, Harry, and Professor Kakatchi.
"Well, you're right Ms. Avalon. Because if we fear the name, what happens if we come face to face with the real thing? And that's what I'm here to teach you to do. So, now, whenever you speak of the Dark Lord, do not be afraid to name him, for if you fear his name, you are letting him prevail. Now, this first lesson will be to say his name 'Voldemort'. Everybody with me now, 'Voldemort'.
"Voldemort" repeated some of the students in the class.
"Voldemort, Voldemort. Everybody say it, all together now!"
"Voldemort!" the whole class repeated.
"There, that wasn't so bad now was it?" Professor Kakatchi said. Suddenly, Professor Kakatchi began transforming. He was transforming into.
"Voldemort!" Harry screamed.
There was panic and chaos in the whole class, as people got up and started running towards the door. But just as Dean Thomas reached the door, Professor Kakatchi's voice came out of Voldemort's body. "Calm down children, calm down. I am not the real Voldemort. I am simply a replica. Do not fear." And he turned back into himself again.
"How.how did you do that?" Hermione asked with a trembling voice.
"Well," Professor Kakatchi began, "That's what we're going to be learning today." [a/n: sorry, I couldn't think of anything else they could have been learning. If u have a suggestion, and want me to change this.I will..]
"But, aren't we supposed to learn that in Transfiguration?" asked Parvati Patil.
"Well, your not turning into the person, you're just creating a mirror image of the person. And you can only do this for something that you fear, because it might just help you escape it. Now, like I said, it's just a mirror image, kind of like an opposite. So, you could pretend you're a mirror image, to fool the enemy. You see, but it takes hard work. But, this is what we will be practicing for the first term." Professor Kakatchi then took his wand, and shouted "tranimosfia abragati!" [a/n: I dunno where I got this from, just some gibberish I made up, so yah, it's not latin or n e thing, I dunno latin, lol] suddenly, he became the mirror image of Voldemort again.
He walked around the whole classroom, as everyone's eyes were on him. He walked up to the front of the classroom again, and shouted "agravati demos!" [a/n: another thing I made up..lol..it's gay, I noe, but.oh well..my fic!..] Everybody in the class was all excited now, because he turned back into himself.
"Um, sir," Rachel began, "Are you goin' to teach us how to turn into Voldemort?"
"Yes, and no." Professor Kakatchi replied. "Yes, if that's the greatest thing you fear, and no, if there is something that you fear greater than Voldemort. Because, you can only mirror the image that you fear most." He paused for a moment, scanned the class, and said, "Now, I want everybody to get a picture of what they fear most, and if it's not Voldemort, then don't pick him. Like you for instance." Professor Kakatchi pointed at Ron.
Ron looked up at Professor Kakatchi.
"Is it all right if I use what you are most terrified of Mr.?"
"Weasley, um, Ron Weasley professor. And yes, sure." Rom replied.
"There's only one problem. Professor Kakatchi can't turn into himself!" teased Seamus Finnigan.
At this, the whole class burst out with laughter, even Ron and Professor Kakatchi.
"Well, I doubt that's what you fear most Ron. Am I right?" Professor Kakatchi asked.
"Well," Ron managed to say after he finished laughing. "Spiders, I hate them. It's a long story, so please don't ask."
"Spiders. See, now even if Mr. Weasley here would want to turn into Voldemort, he would not be able to, because Voldemort is not his greatest fear. Ok, understood?" Professor Kakatchi asked.
Yes!" everybody answered.
"Good." Replied Professor Kakatchi. "Now, to turn into a mirror image of your greatest fear, you must picture it in your head. Once you've done that, swing your wand like this and say 'tranimosfia abragati'"
At once, the whole class started saying it. Nobody got it in the first try, but after a couple of tries, Harry had managed to turn into Voldemort, and Ron managed to turn into a huge spider, like the one he saw in the forbidden forest four years ago.
"Ok, good." Professor Kakatchi said. "Now, to turn back into your selves, shout, loud and clear, 'agravati demos!'"
"Agravati demos!" Harry and Ron had shouted at the same time. But right away, Harry turned back into himself, while Ron was still a huge spider.
"Agravati demos! Agravati demos!" Ron kept shouting but nothing happened.
"You're saying it wrong, Ron." Hermione said to Ron. "It's a-gra-va- ty de-mus."
"OK. AGRAVATI DEMOS!" Ron shouted, and turned back into himself right away.
"That was a close one." Professor Kakatchi said. "For a minute there, I thought you'd be a spider forever Ron."
"Ya, me too!" said Ron, and they all started laughing.
"Thank you Hermione. Five points go to Gryffindor for your good work."
When Defense Against Dark Arts was finished, people were saying how that was the best class they ever had.
"That was so, amazing." Rachel began. "I never had that much fun in any of my other classes at my old school."
"Well, I remember when we had Professor Lupin for the Defense Against Dark Arts class. He was the greatest." Harry said.
"Ya? What happened to him?" Rachel asked.
"He was a werewolf." Ron said.
"Oh," Rachel said, stunned. "Well, we better be off to our next class then."
"You mean Dinner." Hermione corrected Rachel.
"Oh, we have a dinner class, cool!" Rachel said. "Just kiddin'," she added seeing the surprised expressions on everyone's faces. And they left to go into the Great Hall.
*~*
Ha ha! What a gay chapter.sorry! Lol..if u like it..great! lol.umm, dunno when tha next chappy is gonna be up, tho. I haff tuh send it tuh mah betas. Yup. Welps, review please. And tell me what u think. And I promise, it HAS a plot, juss not yet. Next chapters might be A LOT better, and their getting longer too, so yah, it'll be worth tha wait..promise. r/r
- Feonix