Chapter 9: The Tale of Andreala Durmstrang
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Later on, when Harry, Hermione and Ron were done all of their classes, they went into the Gryffindor common room. They were just about to start doing their Charms homework when Ron finally said, "Harry, what's wrong? You look like you've just killed somebody."
"Yeah," Hermione agreed in a concerned tone, "what's wrong?"
'They want to know what's wrong?' Harry thought to himself, 'My entire life is wrong. Nothing's going right.' Harry didn't answer right away, but instead he reached into his book-bag and took our his History of Dark Magic textbook. Hermione and Ron watched nervously as Harry turned it to the page with the picture of Lady Andreala and Salazar Slytherin.
"That," Harry said angrily. "That's what's wrong with me." He pointed his shaking finger at the picture. Ron took the book from Harry and looked at the picture. Hermione slightly jumped when the picture of Salazar hissed at her (obviously speaking parseltongue).
"Oh," Ron said, carefully setting the textbook down on the coffee table which was in front of the couch they were all sitting on, "Yeah, I'm not too eager to learn about Father Evil either."
"It's not that," Harry said, not taking his eyes off of the picture. He told them all about the dream he had, and how he only realized it was Andreala and Salazar when he saw the picture.
"But, how did you know what they looked like if you've never seen them until today?" Hermione asked.
"Woah," Ron interrupted as Harry was about to answer, "maybe You-Know- Who made you psychic, too..."
"I don't know about that," Harry replied, shaking his head slightly. "It's probably just something to do with Siren's, er, song."
Ron and Hermione both looked at each Harry, rather confused.
"What do you mean? What does Siren have to do with this?" Hermione asked.
It was then that Harry realized that he had never told Ron or Hermione about Siren's song. He told them all about it, and what Dumbledore had told him about Siren having a lot of secrets to her.
"I knew it!" Ron exclaimed in a hush voice.
"Knew what?" Hermione asked, giving him an odd look.
"I knew Siren was an enchantress!" Ron said, obviously proud of himself.
"An enchantress?" Harry asked, "What's that?" He finally looked away from the picure in the textbook.
"An enchantress, y'know," Ron replied, "A witch that has the ability to enchant people...well, usually wizards and muggle guys...without even trying. They can enchant people with their voices, their beauty, their eyes...Siren obviously has all of that." Ron smiled stupidly at that.
"But what about the vision I saw during the sorting ceremony?" Harry asked, ignoring Ron's obvious infatuation. "Was that an enchantment?" "I don't know, probably," Ron replied, shaking his head, "but the song you heard definately was. But I've never actually heard of an enchanting vision." Ron reached into his bookbag and pulled out a small box which had some Bernie Botts Every Flavoured Beans in it. He took a few and replied, "It's weird, though - enchantresses are really rare." He offered Hermione an Every Flavoured Bean. "Want one?"
"No thanks," Hermione mumbled. She had her head burried deep into her own History of Dark Magic textbook, obviously reading about Andreala.
"Are there any other enchantresses that exist today?" Harry asked curiously.
"Not that I know of," Ron replied, "I've only heard of one before, and she lived about 500 years ago. Her name was Pricsilla. Kind of a whore, I think."
"Ron!" Hermione scolded, giving him a nasty look.
"It's true," Ron said, shrugging his shoulders. Hermione rolled her eyes and continued to read.
Harry picked up his textbook again and looked at the picture, more at Salazar than at anything else.
"Why have you befriended a mudblood?" Andreala said quietly to Harry in a slight Russian accent.
"What?" Harry said quietly, so that Ron and Hermione wouldn't hear.
"That girl," Salazar hissed. Harry realized that Salazar was speaking in parseltongue. Salazar then pointed to Hermione, who was quietly reading on the left side of Harry.
"I don't see why you care," Harry replied, looking at Salazar, "You were muggle-born, too."
With that, Harry slammed the textbook shut. It was a very interesting thought, too. Salazar was the one who started the whole conflict between purebloods and non-purebloods. But why would he hate "mudbloods" so much if he was a "mudblood" himself? He was about to ask Hermione and Ron that question until Hermione finally stopped reading and smiled.
"It's all in here!" she exclaimed, showing the page she was reading to both Ron and Harry. "It says that Andreala was the first ever enchantress discovered. Apparently she was very powerful with charms and such, but especially in the Dark Arts, AND," Hermione flipped a page back and pointed out a sentence, "Lady Andreala was the only founder of Durmstrang School of Magic, which was named after her surname." Hermione looked up at Harry and Ron, awaiting their comments.
"I suppose that explains a lot about Siren," Ron said finally, "I mean, if Andreala was th mother of Salazar's only child, then Siren's obviously Andreala's heir as well. She must have inherited her enchantress- ness from Lady Andreala."
Before Harry had a chance to agree, Fred and George walked up to Harry, along with Krum. Following them was the entire Gryffindor quidditch team.
"Harry, we've come to a decision," Alicia Spinnet said.
'Oh great,' Harry thought, 'they're kicking me off the team so that Krum can be their new seeker.' "Okay," Harry said, eyeing them all suspiciously.
"My dear Harry," Fred said solemnly, as if he was about to announce something very tragic, "it is our duty to inform you that you will no longer be the seeker of our team."
"What?" Harry said angrilly through gritted teeth. He could feel his fists tightening.
Ron watched Harry apprehensively. "Viktor, here, will be joining the team," said George.
"Uh oh," Hermione said quietly, noticing the look of pure hate that was on Harry's face.
"Really?" Harry asked, trying his best not to lunge at Krum.
"Really," Angelina Johnson agreed. "Krum has joined our team, hopefully with the permission of our new captain."
"New captain?" Harry exclaimed, "You chose a new captain without even discussing it with me?"
"Yes," Fred replied, smiling, "We've all agreed that you're our new captain."
"See," Katie Belle said, "You're not JUST the seeker anymore, you're the seeker AND our captain."
Harry's fists returned to normal. "But, you said Viktor's joining-"
"I am," Viktor interupted, "Vith you permission, I vould like to be your new keeper."
"Keeper?" Harry asked, suprised, "You can play keeper?"
"Almost as good as he can play seeker," Hermione smiled, standing up and holding Krum's hand.
"You were in on this?" Harry asked Hermione with a slight smile.
"I knew about it," she replied, "But I didn't know they'd present the idea to you in such a manner-"
"Me and Fred thought it'd be funny if we made you think we were kicking you off the team," George laughed. "Ron knew about it. I'm suprised he didn't tell you."
Ron started to laugh, and so did everyone else, including Harry.
"So I haff your permission?" Krum asked Harry.
Harry had never felt the sort of superiority that he felt then. THE Viktor Krum was asking his permission to join the Gryffindor team. Harry would be Viktor's captain. Harry couldn't help but smile.
"Yeah," Harry replied with a slight chuckle. He shook Krum's hand, and the rest of the Gryffindor students (who had been closely watching the entire time) erupted into cheers. With all of the happiness surrounding him, Harry forgot all about his dream, Siren, Salazar, and Andreala. But most of all, Harry forgot all about his Dark Arts homework, which he never ended up doing that night.
*****
Harry's dreams were completely normal and happy that night, and when he awoke in the morning, he couldn't wait for quidditch practice, which he had planned for that night.
"You're kidding," Ron said to him after Harry told him about the quidditch practice as they sat down to breakfast in the Great Hall.
"What?" Harry asked, biting into a piece of bacon.
"You're going to be just like Wood," Ron laughed, "I mean, the season starts in 4 weeks. Remember how much you hated it when Oliver dragged you to quidditch practice a million times a week, at dawn?"
"I'm not going to be like Wood," Harry replied with a full mouth, "I just want to see how the team will play now that Krum's our keeper."
"I think it's a good idea," said Hermione, who was sitting on the other side of Ron, "to get the team adjusted to your new player."
Hermione plopped a large textbook down at the table and began to read it.
"What' that?" Ron asked her, trying to read the title.
"Basic Hexes and Curses," Hermione replied, sipping some orange juice from her goblet, "It's actually quite interesting."
"Hermione, you find all books interesting," Ron said, watching the post owls soar through the windows. The morning post had arrived.
Harry looked at Siren's textbook and he suddenly realized that he had forgotten all about his Dark Arts homework. "Oh no," he said, "I forgot to read that chapter on Lady Andreala." As he said this, he began to remember the dream he had about Salazar and Andreala. As he remembered what Andreala looked like, he once again began to hear singing, but this time it was sad, lamenting something. Harry looked over towards the Slytherin table, and sure enough, Siren was there. She was sitting next to Hunter, who was sitting next to Malfoy. The two seemed to be deep in conversation. Harry continued to watch with Hunter, and as he continued to stare, he was distracted by Ron and Hermione, bickering over something.
"Don't start with that SPEW stuff again," Ron sighed.
"It's not my fault that thy're enslaved into doing everything around here," Hermione snapped.
"Hermione," Ron exclaimed, "They're FREE elves. They get PAID. The LIKE to work."
"Oh shut up," Hermione replied, beginning to read, once again.
"Or what?" Ron laughed, "You'll take points away from me, Miss "I'm-a- prefect-now-and-you're-not"?"
"I just might," Hermione replied, sitting up straight, her prefect badge reflecting in the light.
Ron, frustrated, turned to Harry and gave him an exasperated look, muttering, "Impossible, that girl."
Harry returned his gaze to Siren. He looked all along the Slytherin table, but he couldn't see her. 'She must have left,' Harry thought.
"I don't know about those two," Ron said to Harry.
"What?" Harry asked, looking at Ron, "Who?"
"Them," Ron replied, pointing towards the main entrance to the Great Hall. There stood Siren and Hunter, holding hands and talking.
"Weird," Ron continued, "You'd think she doesn't even like Hunter, the way she acts around him."
Harry looked at Ron, and answered, "Maybe she doesn't."
Harry looked at Siren and Hunter once again. Hunter leaned his head down and kissed Siren on the lips. He then left the Great Hall. Siren returned to the her table, sitting next to a Slytherin Transfer student.
"She's sure friendly then," Ron replied, returning to his breakfast.
*****
Harry and Ron made their way up the stairs which lead to the corridor near the Divination room. As they entered, the familiar stench of perfume filled their nostrils. It was a very stuffy atmosphere, and Harry felt like going back to bed. Harry and Ron took their seats at the circular table which was closest to the window, hoping to breath the fresh air which might seep through from outside.
"Why are there Hufflepuffs AND Ravenclaws here?" Ron asked, spotting Hannah Abbot sitting next to one of Cho's friends from Ravenclaw.
"I don't know," Harry replied, "Maybe it's an all-house class or something." Harry looked around the classroom, hoping to see Cho, but she couldn't be found. Harry hadn't seen her at all since he arrived at Hogwarts, and he was hoping that she hadn't switched schools.
"Er, Ron?" Harry asked him, "Have you seen Cho at all lately?"
Ron looked at Harry, "No," he said, "Hate to say it, but I think she might have gone somewhere else this year. I heard that her parents were afraid to send her here. they're still worried about the safety of the place after what happened to Cedric."
"Oh," Harry said, his shoulders dropping. Suddenly his stomach seemed very heavy, and he let out a sigh.
"Oh, this is great," Ron said, eyeing the entrance to the room.
Siren emerged from the ladder-like stairs. The boys in the room watched as she tried to find a seat. Lavender Brown scoffed as the boys diverted all of their attention to Siren's presence. Siren, however, took no notice of all the attention. She looked for a seat, and the only one left was at Harry and Ron's table. She noticed Harry sitting there, but nevertheless sat down opposite him, though apprehensively. As she did, the curtains from across the room blew open, and in walked Professor Trelawney, with her bug-like glasses and a bright green dress.
"Welcome to your first class of Divination for this year," she said, in no more than a whisper, "I thought that for today's class, we would discuss any paranormal activities some of us may have experienced over the summer."
Ron leaned closely to Harry, "You should tell her about your dream," he said, silently laughing.
"What dream?" Professor Trelawney asked, looking at the two of them. Ron and Harry were amazed that she had actually heard Ron's comment.
"It's nothing," Harry mumbled, not wanting to share it with the class.
"Oh, do tell, Harry," Trelawney replied, "Was it a nightmare? A preminition? A vision of your own death?" The very thought of Harry having a terrible dream seemed to interest her very much.
Harry, the whole class watching (including Siren), was forced to tell it, and he did, though he left out the fact that he knew the man and woman were Salazar and Andreala.
Professor Trelawney was very interested, and asked many questions ("Did you bleed a lot in the dream?"). If there was anyone who was more interested in the dream than Trelawney, it was Siren. She payed very close attention to Harry's description of the dream, and Harry soon had the impression that Siren knew who it was that had stabbed him. Eventually, the class ended with Professor Trelawney giving them a palmistry assignment. They had to read the palms of two people at their table, and write down their predictions. Harry had no choice other than to read Siren's palm as well as Ron's, for the three of them were he only ones at the table.
Harry did Ron's first while Siren watched. Harry simply made up some bogus future-telling for Ron, and wrote it down. Then, it was Harry's turn to do Siren's. Ron, meanwhile, tried to busy himself with his Unfinished Dark Arts homework, hoping that Siren wouldn't notice.
Harry was a bit apprehensive as Siren moved closer to him from across the table. She was now sitting next to him, and Ron desperately tried to hide his homework.
"Want me to read yours first, then?" Harry asked her dully.
"Okay," she replied, putting her hand out infront of him. Harry took it and noticed that her hand was very warm and soft. Her milky skin seemed to glow before his eyes.
"Don't know how to do it, do you?" she laughed.
"Huh?" Harry asked, snapping out of his trance.
"Well, it's just that you're staring at my hand with a stupid look on your face," she replied. "Need help?"
"Nah, I'll just make it up," Harry answered.
Harry looked down at her palm. The creases in her hand weren't very deep, and seemed all to intertwine with each other. Then it happened. There was a flash of light and Harry could see Voldemort infront of him, holding a sword. Before Harry could react, the sword crashed down upon Harry's head, and he could feel his scar burning.
"Harry?" Siren asked worriedly.
Harry came back to his senses. He had just had another vision. Another vision of death.
"Are you okay?" Siren asked, "You look a little dazed."
Harry let go of her hand immediately and grabbed at his scar. The pain was still there. "Your grandfather-" he started.
"What?" Siren asked, her eyes widening.
"He was in one of my visions-"
"How do you know about my grand-...did you say visions?" Siren asked. She looked at Harry suspiciously, "You're the one Dumbledore was talking about, who was having the visions?"
Harry's scar started to feel better, and he nodded his head.
"Oh-" she said, a little shocked. Infact, she seemed a little embarrassed. Ron, on the other hand, was deep into his homework, and didn't heed to their conversation.
"Don't tell anyone, please?" Siren asked him.
"I won't," Harry replied. He was very confused. Harry didn't know what was wrong with him. Why did he see a vision of Voldemort killing him?
"He's probably just trying to frighten you," Siren said quietly, "My grandfather is sometimes really protective of me. He probably couldn't stand the fact that you were holding my hand and talking with me." She shook her head and layed back in her chair, sighing. "I hate him so mcuh," she muttered.
"Yeah," Harry replied, feeling his scar, "Me too."
*****
"Alright," Hermione said at lunch time as her, Ron, Harry, and Krum were walking along the lake, "When's the first game?"
"I think it's in about 3 1/2 weeks," Harry replied, "and McGonagall hinted that we'd be playing Hufflepuff in the first game."
"Are they any good?" Krum asked, "I mean, vill ve beat them?"
"Are you kidding?" Ron laughed, "Their team's a joke! Of course you'll win." "I don't know," Hermioen replied, "A lot of the quidditch players on their team graduated last year and the year prior. They have an all new team now."
"Same vith Slytherin," Krum added, "Hunter has told me he is their beater now. And Draco vill be their new captain. I think they haff new chasers as vell."
"Draco's running the team?" Ron laughed, "that lil git couldn't be a team captain if his life depended on it. And who are their new chasers?"
"Transver students, I think," Krum replied, "at least most ov them are. Hunter also said that Siren is a beater, too."
Harry's heart sank. He really hoped that Siren wasn't an aggressive beater, because the aggressiveness in her family always seemed to end in fatalities.
*****
Harry and Ron went into the Great Hall for the remainder of their lunchtime. Hermione and Krum had left them to go see Hagrid, who Hermione had promised to introduce Krum to. Harry and Ron stayed behind to work on their unfinished homework, which was mostly from the Dark Arts.
As they opened their textbooks, they could hear Draco, at the Slytherin table, yelling t someone about quidditch. Harry looked up to see that it was Siren who he was yelling at. Siren must have heard enough of him, though, because she stood up, and seemed to tower over Draco, who was still sitting down. She said something to him, then shoved him. As she turned to walk away, she saw Harry and Ron. She hesitated, then made her way towards them. Dracos' eyes narrowed in pure hate as he watched her sit down opposite from Harry and Ron at the Gryffindor table.
"Whatcha doing?" she asked happily.
"Nothing," Ron said quickly, trying to hide his History of Dark Magic textbook, "just Potions homework. Lots of Potions homework."
"Professor Snape didn't give us any homework," Siren laughed. She obviously knew what they were really doing.
"I forgot that you're in our Potions class," Ron muttered. He put his head down and turned a little pink.
"Trouble with Draco?" Harry asked her.
"Yeah," Siren sighed, "He's bitching about wanting to use my broom because he's the MVP of the team." Siren no longer seemed to be nervous around Harry.
"What kind of broom do you have?" Harry asked her, finding a topic in which they were both interested.
"Firebolt," Siren replied, "my mother bought it for me over the summer - because I stayed with her the whole summer, y'know?"
"I have a Firebolt, too," Harry replied, "Are you the new Slytherin beater?"
"Yeah, Hunter and I are," She replied cooly. "Actually, Harry, Hunter's what I wanted to talk about with you."
As she said this, Hunter approached the table.
"Hey," he sad, putting his hands on Siren's shoulders, "what are you doing at their table?"
Siren looked a little worried, but calmly replied, "Ron, here, wanted me to help him with his Dark Arts homework, that's all." "Ah," Hunter sad, shooting Ron a stare of complete loathing. "Are we still on for tonight?" he asked her.
"Yeah," she replied, "8:00, right?"
"Right," Hunter replied. He leant down and kissed Siren on the cheek, "I'll see you then." He began to walk away.
"Bye," Siren called after him, with a smile which looked very forced.
"What about him?" Harry asked, concerned, after Hunter was out of earshot.
"Look," she said quietly, "I need you to tell Dumbledore something for me."
"What?" Ron asked.
"Tell him," she lowered her voice to barely even a whisper, "Hunter's father is still in the inner ring, along with Lucius Malfoy."
"You mean, with You-Know-Who?" Ron asked, "How do you know?"
Siren was suddenly very shocked. She looked at Ron, as if regretting what she had just told him.
"Don't worry," Harry replied, "Ron knows who your grandfather is."
Siren sighed, relieved.
"Yeah," Ron replied quickly, and quielty, "I just meant, did Hunter tell you? Or did your grandad tell you?"
"Neither," Siren replied, "I just know. Trust me."
"Why can't you tell Dumbledore yourself?" Harry asked curiously.
"Because," Siren replied, "My grandfather put some sort of curse on me. I'm unable to tell anyone who works for the Ministry any secret informtaion about him or his followers."
Harry wasn't quite sure that he understood, but he agreed nonetheless.
As Harry, Ron, and Siren continued to talk, Siren eventually did help Harry and Ron with their Dark Arts homework. She seemed to be a lot nicer than Harry thought. She slightly reminded him of a mix between Professor Lupin and the Weasley twins. She was very humorous and kind, yet she had a certain royalty or grace about her.
"So, how did Lady Andreala become an enchantress?" Harry eventually asked Siren, "I mean, was she born one?"
"Yes, she was," Siren replied, "In fact, all of the females whom she was of direct lineage were enchantresses. You see, though the book won't tell you this, Lady Andreala was one of the very few who are of a direct line of ancestry relating to the very first witches and wizards that ever existed."
"So, you're a descendant of the very first witches and wizards, too, then?" Harry asked.
"You're related to the Talmayans??" Ron exclaimed.
Siren smiled and nodded.
"The Talmayans?" Harry asked, "Who're they?"
"The very first witches and wizards who ever existed in this realm," Siren answered.
"Where did they come from?" Harry asked, becoming more interested.
"Nobody really knows," Siren replied, "Most of the wizarding world believes that some Higher Power created them. They were the most powerful breed of wizards that the world has ever known. The wizards were strong and noble, while the witches were beautiful and, well, take a guess."
"Enchanting," Ron said.
"Absolutely," Siren replied, "and all those who are directly related to them have inherited some of their powers. The wizard descendants generally inherited wisdom or power, and the witches inherited the gift of enchantments."
"So," Ron replied, "that means that you're an enchantress, right?"
Siren hesitated to answer at first, but then said, "I will be once I'm older. I'm not exactly powerful enough to use enchantments yet," she looked at Harry and quickly added, "At least, not by my command." She sort of hid her face and blushed a bit. Harry did a little, too. He could tell that the both of them were very uncomfortable with the fact that Siren had unwillingly been giving Harry visions of enchantment. Ron, however, was very interested in the fact that Siren was a descendant of the Talmayans.
"I'll have to write Mum and tll her I know a descendant of The First," he said excitedly, "I mean, if you don't mind.
"Not at all," Siren replied, "but it's nothing big. You two have known a First descendant ever since you came here, right?"
Harry and Ron exchanged confused looks. "What do you mean?" Harry asked her.
"Professor Dumbledore," she answered, "He's of Talmayan descent." After noticing the shocked looks on Harry and Ron's faces (especially Ron's), she continued, "You didn't know?"
"He's never told us," Ro replied, still in shock.
"Have you ever asked?" Siren said, as if it would have been the obvious thing to do.
"Well," Harry continued, "It does explain why he's so powerful."
"And why You-Know-Who is so afraid of him," Ron added, "I wouldn't want to upset an old Talmayan..."
"But, my grandfather's a Talmayan, as well, y'know," Siren responded.
"Oh yeah," Ron replied, "So, who's more powerful? Your grandad or Dumbledore?"
"As of now," Siren replied grimly," definitely my grandfather."
An eerie silence followed this. Siren, however, finally said, "Sorry, but lunch is almost over. I have to get ready for Potions." She said goodbye to Hary and Ron, then walked back to the Slytherin table where her bookbag still layed on the table. For a while, Harry and Ron just stayed silent, adjusting their minds to the fact that they had befriended the grandaughter of Voldemort himself. Ron looked at Harry, and laughed a bit, dumbfounded.
"Wow," was all Harry managed to say.
*****
"Wow," was also all that Hermione managed to say once Ron and Harry had told her all that had happened, as they made their way to Potions. "Well, it explains a lot," she said once they got into the room. They all sat down near the back.
Harry quickly looked around the room to make sure that Siren wasn't around, then replied, "But I still don't trust her."
"Why not?" Hermione asked, "she seems awfully nice."
"Yeah," Ron answered, "So did Professor Quirrel."
The rest of the class piled in. They all waited for five minutes, but Snape still didn't show up.
"Where is the old git?" Ron asked.
"And where's Siren?" Hermione added, looking around them. Five more minutes they waited, and finally Snape showed up, accompanied by Siren.
"He can't have moved back in there," Harry heard Siren saying quietly to Snape.
"We'll talk about it later," Snape replied in his dull voice.
Siren sighed, and Harry noticed that she had a very worried, if not afraid look on her face. She looked around the classroom and noticed that the only seat available was right next to Malfoy. She rolled her eyes, slowly made her way over, then sat down. Malfoy smiled to Crabbe and Goyle.
"Doesn't he get the point that Siren doesn't like him?" Ron whispered to Hermione. Hermione shrugged her shoulders, and returned her attention to Snape as he began to speak.
"I'm going to assume that you all now know how to make a Sasquirende Potion," he said darkly, "and if you dont," (He looked directly at Neville), "then you're going to have many troubles on your first test, which will be this Thursday. And I daresay that you may also find difficulties on your O.W.L. for this class as well."
Neville gulped and tried to stop himself from panicking. Crabbe and Goyle, however (who were sitting right behind Neville), purposely laughed out loud and pointed, which made Neville shrink down in his chair, trying to hide himself from view.
"Regardless," Snape added, walking back and forth infront of th class, "Over the next two days, you will learn to perfect the Ashruda Solution. It is a complex potion, and I am positive that the lot of you will find some way to screw it up."
Some of the students shifted nervously in their chairs.
"The Ashruda Solution," Snape continued coldly, "Will protect one from the Pigmeaa Curse, and it is a key component to the Ashruda Protection. I take it that the most of you haven't a clue what either of these are."
Harry looked at Hermione, hoping for her to tell him what a Pigmeaa curse or Ashruda Protection was. Her face, however, was just as blank as his. "What?" she whispered to him. "So I've been busy looking up things on Andreala..."
"Can anyone tell me, at least, what the Pigmeaa curse does?" Snape asked bitterly. No one in the class raised their hand. Snape rolled his eyes. "Anyone?" he asked again in sheer annoyance. Finally, Siren raised her hand.
Snape looked at her and seemed rather amused. "Siren?" he said.
Siren put her arm down and answered, rather shyly, "The Pigmeaa curse has the potency and power of the Cruciatous Curse, except that the curse can never be released until the victim becomes numb to the pain."
"I'm glad that atleast one of you know what you're talking about," Snape replied, seeming impressed, "Five points for Slytherin. Five more if you can tell these nitwits what the Ashruds Protection is."
Siren laughed a bit at Snape's rudeness to the rest of the class, and continued, "The Ashruda Spell is a spell which creates a barrier etween the castor and any curse which wishes to harm them. It only lasts for 24 hours, but if you create the Ashruda Solution and ingest it, it enables to spell to last 3 times longer. There is also the Ashruda gem which, if you know who to do it, can hold within itself the powers of the Ashruda Spell. If you wear this gem on you somehow, you will be protected from ny curse, save the Three Unforgivable Curses. Together, these three magicks create the Ashruda Protection."
As Siren finished, the room was filled with silence. Then, it happened. The first, last, and only time Harry had ever witnessed it - Snape smiled, accompanied by a slight laugh.
"Make that 10 points," Snape replied.
Siren smiled and looked very proud.
As Snape turned around to sit a his desk, the assignment already written on the board, Ron looked at Malfoy and laughed.
"Hey, Malfoy," Ron whispered to him, "looks like Snape's got a new favourite."
Draco looked at Ron, and if eyes could kill Ron would've died at least 10 times from Draco's glare.
"You could all care to take after Miss Ridge," Snape told the class. "Heaven knows you all could stand to raise your marks in this class."
Malfoy must have been extremely jealous, because as Snape said all of this, he blurted out, "But Sir!! The only way she knows all of that is becase her grandfather taught it to-"
"Shut up, Malfoy!" Snape hissed, giving Malfoy a very threatening look, even worse than those looks he gave to Harry.
Malfoy's face remained a sneer, but he shut his mouth and looked at Snape with a new found loathing.
"Ha!" Ron whispered quietly to Harry, "Would you look at that? Malfoy's jealous!"
"No kidding," Harry replied with a humorous smile.
"Man," Ron added, "Did you hear Siren, though? How did she know all of that? She's got to be the smartest student here!"
"I wouldn't say that much," Hermione said quietly, trying to hide her jealousy.
____________________________________________________________________________ __
Beccita- You best be giving me reviews after every new chapter I upload...lol :)
I hope you all liked it! PLEASE REVIEW *puppy dog eyes*
-Summer :)
Later on, when Harry, Hermione and Ron were done all of their classes, they went into the Gryffindor common room. They were just about to start doing their Charms homework when Ron finally said, "Harry, what's wrong? You look like you've just killed somebody."
"Yeah," Hermione agreed in a concerned tone, "what's wrong?"
'They want to know what's wrong?' Harry thought to himself, 'My entire life is wrong. Nothing's going right.' Harry didn't answer right away, but instead he reached into his book-bag and took our his History of Dark Magic textbook. Hermione and Ron watched nervously as Harry turned it to the page with the picture of Lady Andreala and Salazar Slytherin.
"That," Harry said angrily. "That's what's wrong with me." He pointed his shaking finger at the picture. Ron took the book from Harry and looked at the picture. Hermione slightly jumped when the picture of Salazar hissed at her (obviously speaking parseltongue).
"Oh," Ron said, carefully setting the textbook down on the coffee table which was in front of the couch they were all sitting on, "Yeah, I'm not too eager to learn about Father Evil either."
"It's not that," Harry said, not taking his eyes off of the picture. He told them all about the dream he had, and how he only realized it was Andreala and Salazar when he saw the picture.
"But, how did you know what they looked like if you've never seen them until today?" Hermione asked.
"Woah," Ron interrupted as Harry was about to answer, "maybe You-Know- Who made you psychic, too..."
"I don't know about that," Harry replied, shaking his head slightly. "It's probably just something to do with Siren's, er, song."
Ron and Hermione both looked at each Harry, rather confused.
"What do you mean? What does Siren have to do with this?" Hermione asked.
It was then that Harry realized that he had never told Ron or Hermione about Siren's song. He told them all about it, and what Dumbledore had told him about Siren having a lot of secrets to her.
"I knew it!" Ron exclaimed in a hush voice.
"Knew what?" Hermione asked, giving him an odd look.
"I knew Siren was an enchantress!" Ron said, obviously proud of himself.
"An enchantress?" Harry asked, "What's that?" He finally looked away from the picure in the textbook.
"An enchantress, y'know," Ron replied, "A witch that has the ability to enchant people...well, usually wizards and muggle guys...without even trying. They can enchant people with their voices, their beauty, their eyes...Siren obviously has all of that." Ron smiled stupidly at that.
"But what about the vision I saw during the sorting ceremony?" Harry asked, ignoring Ron's obvious infatuation. "Was that an enchantment?" "I don't know, probably," Ron replied, shaking his head, "but the song you heard definately was. But I've never actually heard of an enchanting vision." Ron reached into his bookbag and pulled out a small box which had some Bernie Botts Every Flavoured Beans in it. He took a few and replied, "It's weird, though - enchantresses are really rare." He offered Hermione an Every Flavoured Bean. "Want one?"
"No thanks," Hermione mumbled. She had her head burried deep into her own History of Dark Magic textbook, obviously reading about Andreala.
"Are there any other enchantresses that exist today?" Harry asked curiously.
"Not that I know of," Ron replied, "I've only heard of one before, and she lived about 500 years ago. Her name was Pricsilla. Kind of a whore, I think."
"Ron!" Hermione scolded, giving him a nasty look.
"It's true," Ron said, shrugging his shoulders. Hermione rolled her eyes and continued to read.
Harry picked up his textbook again and looked at the picture, more at Salazar than at anything else.
"Why have you befriended a mudblood?" Andreala said quietly to Harry in a slight Russian accent.
"What?" Harry said quietly, so that Ron and Hermione wouldn't hear.
"That girl," Salazar hissed. Harry realized that Salazar was speaking in parseltongue. Salazar then pointed to Hermione, who was quietly reading on the left side of Harry.
"I don't see why you care," Harry replied, looking at Salazar, "You were muggle-born, too."
With that, Harry slammed the textbook shut. It was a very interesting thought, too. Salazar was the one who started the whole conflict between purebloods and non-purebloods. But why would he hate "mudbloods" so much if he was a "mudblood" himself? He was about to ask Hermione and Ron that question until Hermione finally stopped reading and smiled.
"It's all in here!" she exclaimed, showing the page she was reading to both Ron and Harry. "It says that Andreala was the first ever enchantress discovered. Apparently she was very powerful with charms and such, but especially in the Dark Arts, AND," Hermione flipped a page back and pointed out a sentence, "Lady Andreala was the only founder of Durmstrang School of Magic, which was named after her surname." Hermione looked up at Harry and Ron, awaiting their comments.
"I suppose that explains a lot about Siren," Ron said finally, "I mean, if Andreala was th mother of Salazar's only child, then Siren's obviously Andreala's heir as well. She must have inherited her enchantress- ness from Lady Andreala."
Before Harry had a chance to agree, Fred and George walked up to Harry, along with Krum. Following them was the entire Gryffindor quidditch team.
"Harry, we've come to a decision," Alicia Spinnet said.
'Oh great,' Harry thought, 'they're kicking me off the team so that Krum can be their new seeker.' "Okay," Harry said, eyeing them all suspiciously.
"My dear Harry," Fred said solemnly, as if he was about to announce something very tragic, "it is our duty to inform you that you will no longer be the seeker of our team."
"What?" Harry said angrilly through gritted teeth. He could feel his fists tightening.
Ron watched Harry apprehensively. "Viktor, here, will be joining the team," said George.
"Uh oh," Hermione said quietly, noticing the look of pure hate that was on Harry's face.
"Really?" Harry asked, trying his best not to lunge at Krum.
"Really," Angelina Johnson agreed. "Krum has joined our team, hopefully with the permission of our new captain."
"New captain?" Harry exclaimed, "You chose a new captain without even discussing it with me?"
"Yes," Fred replied, smiling, "We've all agreed that you're our new captain."
"See," Katie Belle said, "You're not JUST the seeker anymore, you're the seeker AND our captain."
Harry's fists returned to normal. "But, you said Viktor's joining-"
"I am," Viktor interupted, "Vith you permission, I vould like to be your new keeper."
"Keeper?" Harry asked, suprised, "You can play keeper?"
"Almost as good as he can play seeker," Hermione smiled, standing up and holding Krum's hand.
"You were in on this?" Harry asked Hermione with a slight smile.
"I knew about it," she replied, "But I didn't know they'd present the idea to you in such a manner-"
"Me and Fred thought it'd be funny if we made you think we were kicking you off the team," George laughed. "Ron knew about it. I'm suprised he didn't tell you."
Ron started to laugh, and so did everyone else, including Harry.
"So I haff your permission?" Krum asked Harry.
Harry had never felt the sort of superiority that he felt then. THE Viktor Krum was asking his permission to join the Gryffindor team. Harry would be Viktor's captain. Harry couldn't help but smile.
"Yeah," Harry replied with a slight chuckle. He shook Krum's hand, and the rest of the Gryffindor students (who had been closely watching the entire time) erupted into cheers. With all of the happiness surrounding him, Harry forgot all about his dream, Siren, Salazar, and Andreala. But most of all, Harry forgot all about his Dark Arts homework, which he never ended up doing that night.
*****
Harry's dreams were completely normal and happy that night, and when he awoke in the morning, he couldn't wait for quidditch practice, which he had planned for that night.
"You're kidding," Ron said to him after Harry told him about the quidditch practice as they sat down to breakfast in the Great Hall.
"What?" Harry asked, biting into a piece of bacon.
"You're going to be just like Wood," Ron laughed, "I mean, the season starts in 4 weeks. Remember how much you hated it when Oliver dragged you to quidditch practice a million times a week, at dawn?"
"I'm not going to be like Wood," Harry replied with a full mouth, "I just want to see how the team will play now that Krum's our keeper."
"I think it's a good idea," said Hermione, who was sitting on the other side of Ron, "to get the team adjusted to your new player."
Hermione plopped a large textbook down at the table and began to read it.
"What' that?" Ron asked her, trying to read the title.
"Basic Hexes and Curses," Hermione replied, sipping some orange juice from her goblet, "It's actually quite interesting."
"Hermione, you find all books interesting," Ron said, watching the post owls soar through the windows. The morning post had arrived.
Harry looked at Siren's textbook and he suddenly realized that he had forgotten all about his Dark Arts homework. "Oh no," he said, "I forgot to read that chapter on Lady Andreala." As he said this, he began to remember the dream he had about Salazar and Andreala. As he remembered what Andreala looked like, he once again began to hear singing, but this time it was sad, lamenting something. Harry looked over towards the Slytherin table, and sure enough, Siren was there. She was sitting next to Hunter, who was sitting next to Malfoy. The two seemed to be deep in conversation. Harry continued to watch with Hunter, and as he continued to stare, he was distracted by Ron and Hermione, bickering over something.
"Don't start with that SPEW stuff again," Ron sighed.
"It's not my fault that thy're enslaved into doing everything around here," Hermione snapped.
"Hermione," Ron exclaimed, "They're FREE elves. They get PAID. The LIKE to work."
"Oh shut up," Hermione replied, beginning to read, once again.
"Or what?" Ron laughed, "You'll take points away from me, Miss "I'm-a- prefect-now-and-you're-not"?"
"I just might," Hermione replied, sitting up straight, her prefect badge reflecting in the light.
Ron, frustrated, turned to Harry and gave him an exasperated look, muttering, "Impossible, that girl."
Harry returned his gaze to Siren. He looked all along the Slytherin table, but he couldn't see her. 'She must have left,' Harry thought.
"I don't know about those two," Ron said to Harry.
"What?" Harry asked, looking at Ron, "Who?"
"Them," Ron replied, pointing towards the main entrance to the Great Hall. There stood Siren and Hunter, holding hands and talking.
"Weird," Ron continued, "You'd think she doesn't even like Hunter, the way she acts around him."
Harry looked at Ron, and answered, "Maybe she doesn't."
Harry looked at Siren and Hunter once again. Hunter leaned his head down and kissed Siren on the lips. He then left the Great Hall. Siren returned to the her table, sitting next to a Slytherin Transfer student.
"She's sure friendly then," Ron replied, returning to his breakfast.
*****
Harry and Ron made their way up the stairs which lead to the corridor near the Divination room. As they entered, the familiar stench of perfume filled their nostrils. It was a very stuffy atmosphere, and Harry felt like going back to bed. Harry and Ron took their seats at the circular table which was closest to the window, hoping to breath the fresh air which might seep through from outside.
"Why are there Hufflepuffs AND Ravenclaws here?" Ron asked, spotting Hannah Abbot sitting next to one of Cho's friends from Ravenclaw.
"I don't know," Harry replied, "Maybe it's an all-house class or something." Harry looked around the classroom, hoping to see Cho, but she couldn't be found. Harry hadn't seen her at all since he arrived at Hogwarts, and he was hoping that she hadn't switched schools.
"Er, Ron?" Harry asked him, "Have you seen Cho at all lately?"
Ron looked at Harry, "No," he said, "Hate to say it, but I think she might have gone somewhere else this year. I heard that her parents were afraid to send her here. they're still worried about the safety of the place after what happened to Cedric."
"Oh," Harry said, his shoulders dropping. Suddenly his stomach seemed very heavy, and he let out a sigh.
"Oh, this is great," Ron said, eyeing the entrance to the room.
Siren emerged from the ladder-like stairs. The boys in the room watched as she tried to find a seat. Lavender Brown scoffed as the boys diverted all of their attention to Siren's presence. Siren, however, took no notice of all the attention. She looked for a seat, and the only one left was at Harry and Ron's table. She noticed Harry sitting there, but nevertheless sat down opposite him, though apprehensively. As she did, the curtains from across the room blew open, and in walked Professor Trelawney, with her bug-like glasses and a bright green dress.
"Welcome to your first class of Divination for this year," she said, in no more than a whisper, "I thought that for today's class, we would discuss any paranormal activities some of us may have experienced over the summer."
Ron leaned closely to Harry, "You should tell her about your dream," he said, silently laughing.
"What dream?" Professor Trelawney asked, looking at the two of them. Ron and Harry were amazed that she had actually heard Ron's comment.
"It's nothing," Harry mumbled, not wanting to share it with the class.
"Oh, do tell, Harry," Trelawney replied, "Was it a nightmare? A preminition? A vision of your own death?" The very thought of Harry having a terrible dream seemed to interest her very much.
Harry, the whole class watching (including Siren), was forced to tell it, and he did, though he left out the fact that he knew the man and woman were Salazar and Andreala.
Professor Trelawney was very interested, and asked many questions ("Did you bleed a lot in the dream?"). If there was anyone who was more interested in the dream than Trelawney, it was Siren. She payed very close attention to Harry's description of the dream, and Harry soon had the impression that Siren knew who it was that had stabbed him. Eventually, the class ended with Professor Trelawney giving them a palmistry assignment. They had to read the palms of two people at their table, and write down their predictions. Harry had no choice other than to read Siren's palm as well as Ron's, for the three of them were he only ones at the table.
Harry did Ron's first while Siren watched. Harry simply made up some bogus future-telling for Ron, and wrote it down. Then, it was Harry's turn to do Siren's. Ron, meanwhile, tried to busy himself with his Unfinished Dark Arts homework, hoping that Siren wouldn't notice.
Harry was a bit apprehensive as Siren moved closer to him from across the table. She was now sitting next to him, and Ron desperately tried to hide his homework.
"Want me to read yours first, then?" Harry asked her dully.
"Okay," she replied, putting her hand out infront of him. Harry took it and noticed that her hand was very warm and soft. Her milky skin seemed to glow before his eyes.
"Don't know how to do it, do you?" she laughed.
"Huh?" Harry asked, snapping out of his trance.
"Well, it's just that you're staring at my hand with a stupid look on your face," she replied. "Need help?"
"Nah, I'll just make it up," Harry answered.
Harry looked down at her palm. The creases in her hand weren't very deep, and seemed all to intertwine with each other. Then it happened. There was a flash of light and Harry could see Voldemort infront of him, holding a sword. Before Harry could react, the sword crashed down upon Harry's head, and he could feel his scar burning.
"Harry?" Siren asked worriedly.
Harry came back to his senses. He had just had another vision. Another vision of death.
"Are you okay?" Siren asked, "You look a little dazed."
Harry let go of her hand immediately and grabbed at his scar. The pain was still there. "Your grandfather-" he started.
"What?" Siren asked, her eyes widening.
"He was in one of my visions-"
"How do you know about my grand-...did you say visions?" Siren asked. She looked at Harry suspiciously, "You're the one Dumbledore was talking about, who was having the visions?"
Harry's scar started to feel better, and he nodded his head.
"Oh-" she said, a little shocked. Infact, she seemed a little embarrassed. Ron, on the other hand, was deep into his homework, and didn't heed to their conversation.
"Don't tell anyone, please?" Siren asked him.
"I won't," Harry replied. He was very confused. Harry didn't know what was wrong with him. Why did he see a vision of Voldemort killing him?
"He's probably just trying to frighten you," Siren said quietly, "My grandfather is sometimes really protective of me. He probably couldn't stand the fact that you were holding my hand and talking with me." She shook her head and layed back in her chair, sighing. "I hate him so mcuh," she muttered.
"Yeah," Harry replied, feeling his scar, "Me too."
*****
"Alright," Hermione said at lunch time as her, Ron, Harry, and Krum were walking along the lake, "When's the first game?"
"I think it's in about 3 1/2 weeks," Harry replied, "and McGonagall hinted that we'd be playing Hufflepuff in the first game."
"Are they any good?" Krum asked, "I mean, vill ve beat them?"
"Are you kidding?" Ron laughed, "Their team's a joke! Of course you'll win." "I don't know," Hermioen replied, "A lot of the quidditch players on their team graduated last year and the year prior. They have an all new team now."
"Same vith Slytherin," Krum added, "Hunter has told me he is their beater now. And Draco vill be their new captain. I think they haff new chasers as vell."
"Draco's running the team?" Ron laughed, "that lil git couldn't be a team captain if his life depended on it. And who are their new chasers?"
"Transver students, I think," Krum replied, "at least most ov them are. Hunter also said that Siren is a beater, too."
Harry's heart sank. He really hoped that Siren wasn't an aggressive beater, because the aggressiveness in her family always seemed to end in fatalities.
*****
Harry and Ron went into the Great Hall for the remainder of their lunchtime. Hermione and Krum had left them to go see Hagrid, who Hermione had promised to introduce Krum to. Harry and Ron stayed behind to work on their unfinished homework, which was mostly from the Dark Arts.
As they opened their textbooks, they could hear Draco, at the Slytherin table, yelling t someone about quidditch. Harry looked up to see that it was Siren who he was yelling at. Siren must have heard enough of him, though, because she stood up, and seemed to tower over Draco, who was still sitting down. She said something to him, then shoved him. As she turned to walk away, she saw Harry and Ron. She hesitated, then made her way towards them. Dracos' eyes narrowed in pure hate as he watched her sit down opposite from Harry and Ron at the Gryffindor table.
"Whatcha doing?" she asked happily.
"Nothing," Ron said quickly, trying to hide his History of Dark Magic textbook, "just Potions homework. Lots of Potions homework."
"Professor Snape didn't give us any homework," Siren laughed. She obviously knew what they were really doing.
"I forgot that you're in our Potions class," Ron muttered. He put his head down and turned a little pink.
"Trouble with Draco?" Harry asked her.
"Yeah," Siren sighed, "He's bitching about wanting to use my broom because he's the MVP of the team." Siren no longer seemed to be nervous around Harry.
"What kind of broom do you have?" Harry asked her, finding a topic in which they were both interested.
"Firebolt," Siren replied, "my mother bought it for me over the summer - because I stayed with her the whole summer, y'know?"
"I have a Firebolt, too," Harry replied, "Are you the new Slytherin beater?"
"Yeah, Hunter and I are," She replied cooly. "Actually, Harry, Hunter's what I wanted to talk about with you."
As she said this, Hunter approached the table.
"Hey," he sad, putting his hands on Siren's shoulders, "what are you doing at their table?"
Siren looked a little worried, but calmly replied, "Ron, here, wanted me to help him with his Dark Arts homework, that's all." "Ah," Hunter sad, shooting Ron a stare of complete loathing. "Are we still on for tonight?" he asked her.
"Yeah," she replied, "8:00, right?"
"Right," Hunter replied. He leant down and kissed Siren on the cheek, "I'll see you then." He began to walk away.
"Bye," Siren called after him, with a smile which looked very forced.
"What about him?" Harry asked, concerned, after Hunter was out of earshot.
"Look," she said quietly, "I need you to tell Dumbledore something for me."
"What?" Ron asked.
"Tell him," she lowered her voice to barely even a whisper, "Hunter's father is still in the inner ring, along with Lucius Malfoy."
"You mean, with You-Know-Who?" Ron asked, "How do you know?"
Siren was suddenly very shocked. She looked at Ron, as if regretting what she had just told him.
"Don't worry," Harry replied, "Ron knows who your grandfather is."
Siren sighed, relieved.
"Yeah," Ron replied quickly, and quielty, "I just meant, did Hunter tell you? Or did your grandad tell you?"
"Neither," Siren replied, "I just know. Trust me."
"Why can't you tell Dumbledore yourself?" Harry asked curiously.
"Because," Siren replied, "My grandfather put some sort of curse on me. I'm unable to tell anyone who works for the Ministry any secret informtaion about him or his followers."
Harry wasn't quite sure that he understood, but he agreed nonetheless.
As Harry, Ron, and Siren continued to talk, Siren eventually did help Harry and Ron with their Dark Arts homework. She seemed to be a lot nicer than Harry thought. She slightly reminded him of a mix between Professor Lupin and the Weasley twins. She was very humorous and kind, yet she had a certain royalty or grace about her.
"So, how did Lady Andreala become an enchantress?" Harry eventually asked Siren, "I mean, was she born one?"
"Yes, she was," Siren replied, "In fact, all of the females whom she was of direct lineage were enchantresses. You see, though the book won't tell you this, Lady Andreala was one of the very few who are of a direct line of ancestry relating to the very first witches and wizards that ever existed."
"So, you're a descendant of the very first witches and wizards, too, then?" Harry asked.
"You're related to the Talmayans??" Ron exclaimed.
Siren smiled and nodded.
"The Talmayans?" Harry asked, "Who're they?"
"The very first witches and wizards who ever existed in this realm," Siren answered.
"Where did they come from?" Harry asked, becoming more interested.
"Nobody really knows," Siren replied, "Most of the wizarding world believes that some Higher Power created them. They were the most powerful breed of wizards that the world has ever known. The wizards were strong and noble, while the witches were beautiful and, well, take a guess."
"Enchanting," Ron said.
"Absolutely," Siren replied, "and all those who are directly related to them have inherited some of their powers. The wizard descendants generally inherited wisdom or power, and the witches inherited the gift of enchantments."
"So," Ron replied, "that means that you're an enchantress, right?"
Siren hesitated to answer at first, but then said, "I will be once I'm older. I'm not exactly powerful enough to use enchantments yet," she looked at Harry and quickly added, "At least, not by my command." She sort of hid her face and blushed a bit. Harry did a little, too. He could tell that the both of them were very uncomfortable with the fact that Siren had unwillingly been giving Harry visions of enchantment. Ron, however, was very interested in the fact that Siren was a descendant of the Talmayans.
"I'll have to write Mum and tll her I know a descendant of The First," he said excitedly, "I mean, if you don't mind.
"Not at all," Siren replied, "but it's nothing big. You two have known a First descendant ever since you came here, right?"
Harry and Ron exchanged confused looks. "What do you mean?" Harry asked her.
"Professor Dumbledore," she answered, "He's of Talmayan descent." After noticing the shocked looks on Harry and Ron's faces (especially Ron's), she continued, "You didn't know?"
"He's never told us," Ro replied, still in shock.
"Have you ever asked?" Siren said, as if it would have been the obvious thing to do.
"Well," Harry continued, "It does explain why he's so powerful."
"And why You-Know-Who is so afraid of him," Ron added, "I wouldn't want to upset an old Talmayan..."
"But, my grandfather's a Talmayan, as well, y'know," Siren responded.
"Oh yeah," Ron replied, "So, who's more powerful? Your grandad or Dumbledore?"
"As of now," Siren replied grimly," definitely my grandfather."
An eerie silence followed this. Siren, however, finally said, "Sorry, but lunch is almost over. I have to get ready for Potions." She said goodbye to Hary and Ron, then walked back to the Slytherin table where her bookbag still layed on the table. For a while, Harry and Ron just stayed silent, adjusting their minds to the fact that they had befriended the grandaughter of Voldemort himself. Ron looked at Harry, and laughed a bit, dumbfounded.
"Wow," was all Harry managed to say.
*****
"Wow," was also all that Hermione managed to say once Ron and Harry had told her all that had happened, as they made their way to Potions. "Well, it explains a lot," she said once they got into the room. They all sat down near the back.
Harry quickly looked around the room to make sure that Siren wasn't around, then replied, "But I still don't trust her."
"Why not?" Hermione asked, "she seems awfully nice."
"Yeah," Ron answered, "So did Professor Quirrel."
The rest of the class piled in. They all waited for five minutes, but Snape still didn't show up.
"Where is the old git?" Ron asked.
"And where's Siren?" Hermione added, looking around them. Five more minutes they waited, and finally Snape showed up, accompanied by Siren.
"He can't have moved back in there," Harry heard Siren saying quietly to Snape.
"We'll talk about it later," Snape replied in his dull voice.
Siren sighed, and Harry noticed that she had a very worried, if not afraid look on her face. She looked around the classroom and noticed that the only seat available was right next to Malfoy. She rolled her eyes, slowly made her way over, then sat down. Malfoy smiled to Crabbe and Goyle.
"Doesn't he get the point that Siren doesn't like him?" Ron whispered to Hermione. Hermione shrugged her shoulders, and returned her attention to Snape as he began to speak.
"I'm going to assume that you all now know how to make a Sasquirende Potion," he said darkly, "and if you dont," (He looked directly at Neville), "then you're going to have many troubles on your first test, which will be this Thursday. And I daresay that you may also find difficulties on your O.W.L. for this class as well."
Neville gulped and tried to stop himself from panicking. Crabbe and Goyle, however (who were sitting right behind Neville), purposely laughed out loud and pointed, which made Neville shrink down in his chair, trying to hide himself from view.
"Regardless," Snape added, walking back and forth infront of th class, "Over the next two days, you will learn to perfect the Ashruda Solution. It is a complex potion, and I am positive that the lot of you will find some way to screw it up."
Some of the students shifted nervously in their chairs.
"The Ashruda Solution," Snape continued coldly, "Will protect one from the Pigmeaa Curse, and it is a key component to the Ashruda Protection. I take it that the most of you haven't a clue what either of these are."
Harry looked at Hermione, hoping for her to tell him what a Pigmeaa curse or Ashruda Protection was. Her face, however, was just as blank as his. "What?" she whispered to him. "So I've been busy looking up things on Andreala..."
"Can anyone tell me, at least, what the Pigmeaa curse does?" Snape asked bitterly. No one in the class raised their hand. Snape rolled his eyes. "Anyone?" he asked again in sheer annoyance. Finally, Siren raised her hand.
Snape looked at her and seemed rather amused. "Siren?" he said.
Siren put her arm down and answered, rather shyly, "The Pigmeaa curse has the potency and power of the Cruciatous Curse, except that the curse can never be released until the victim becomes numb to the pain."
"I'm glad that atleast one of you know what you're talking about," Snape replied, seeming impressed, "Five points for Slytherin. Five more if you can tell these nitwits what the Ashruds Protection is."
Siren laughed a bit at Snape's rudeness to the rest of the class, and continued, "The Ashruda Spell is a spell which creates a barrier etween the castor and any curse which wishes to harm them. It only lasts for 24 hours, but if you create the Ashruda Solution and ingest it, it enables to spell to last 3 times longer. There is also the Ashruda gem which, if you know who to do it, can hold within itself the powers of the Ashruda Spell. If you wear this gem on you somehow, you will be protected from ny curse, save the Three Unforgivable Curses. Together, these three magicks create the Ashruda Protection."
As Siren finished, the room was filled with silence. Then, it happened. The first, last, and only time Harry had ever witnessed it - Snape smiled, accompanied by a slight laugh.
"Make that 10 points," Snape replied.
Siren smiled and looked very proud.
As Snape turned around to sit a his desk, the assignment already written on the board, Ron looked at Malfoy and laughed.
"Hey, Malfoy," Ron whispered to him, "looks like Snape's got a new favourite."
Draco looked at Ron, and if eyes could kill Ron would've died at least 10 times from Draco's glare.
"You could all care to take after Miss Ridge," Snape told the class. "Heaven knows you all could stand to raise your marks in this class."
Malfoy must have been extremely jealous, because as Snape said all of this, he blurted out, "But Sir!! The only way she knows all of that is becase her grandfather taught it to-"
"Shut up, Malfoy!" Snape hissed, giving Malfoy a very threatening look, even worse than those looks he gave to Harry.
Malfoy's face remained a sneer, but he shut his mouth and looked at Snape with a new found loathing.
"Ha!" Ron whispered quietly to Harry, "Would you look at that? Malfoy's jealous!"
"No kidding," Harry replied with a humorous smile.
"Man," Ron added, "Did you hear Siren, though? How did she know all of that? She's got to be the smartest student here!"
"I wouldn't say that much," Hermione said quietly, trying to hide her jealousy.
____________________________________________________________________________ __
Beccita- You best be giving me reviews after every new chapter I upload...lol :)
I hope you all liked it! PLEASE REVIEW *puppy dog eyes*
-Summer :)