Disclaimer-I don't own anything
Chapter 4
Interesting Classes
"I'll give her five more minutes, then I'm going to bed," Ron sighed as he and Harry finished their eleventh game of wizard's chess sitting in front of the fire in the Gryffindor common room waiting for Hermione. Only a few people still lingered in the room.
"Oh come on. It isn't that late. Where do you think she is anyway?"
"Maybe-no, you don't think Malfoy did something with her? If that piece of-,"
"Ron! Harry! It's so nice of you to wait up for me," Hermione exclaimed as she climbed through the Fat Lady's portrait.
"What took so-?"
"Ooh! It was wonderful! Professor McGonagall told us that Dumbledore is teaching a new class to only the most highly qualified. We'll be learning higher levels of almost every branch of magic and getting real life experience. There are only four sixth years in there. I am so excited! I can't wait for our first lesson. So, guy, what do you think?"
Harry and Ron looked at each other questioningly both at a loss for words. Then they returned their stares to the beaming girl who was now sitting in a chair across from them. Harry spoke first,
"So where does Malfoy fit into all of this?"
"Well," Hermione began in a matter-of-fact tone, "apparently he was second to me on our OWLS. It's good to know that he isn't spending all of his time thinking of ways to expel us. Oh no," her face was immediately depressed, "if he keeps this up he'll be Head Boy and I'll, well hopefully, be Head Girl and then...oh I'm not going to think of that."
"I don't even see why the Death Eater would want to take the class," Ron began, "especially if it's taught by Dumbledore. Why does he have to be such a git?."
"So you think he's a git just because he actually puts forth effort in his schoolwork?" Hermione inquired.
"What do you mean?! I put forth effort in my work!" he seemed, offended, "And why are you defending him? He's nothing but a lousy-,"
"Yes, I know, Ron, git, and I wasn't defending him."
"So, Hermione," Harry said, "when are you taking this class?"
"Oh, it's going to proceed like any other one would. I'm really excited."
"Like we couldn't tell," Ron mumbled.
"Oh hush. I'm going to bed now. Good night you two."
With that Hermione departed from the group and made her way to the girls dormitories.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The first morning of classes was a very anxiety-filled one. Everyone was worried about new classes or teachers and wondering what happened to the summer. Hermione, however, was very happy to begin her sixth year at Hogwarts and especially about the new course she would be taking.
Her schedule said the class would be in a classroom near the Transfigurations corridor, but it was still somewhat secluded from the rest of the school. Breakfast in the Great Hall passed quickly and students began trudging to their classes.
Ron, Harry, and Hermione walked together at first but separated when the two boys had to head to the North Tower for Divination.
Hermione walked down the deserted corridor toward the spare classroom where her first S.C. lesson would be held. After a few moments, a small crowd of Ravenclaws turned the corner in front of her and entered the room. Hermione, seeing that she was going to the right place, now walked briskly to the door and was about to enter when she someone slammed into her from the side. She immediately regained her composure and turned to face her attacker, but Malfoy just glared at her and advanced into the filling classroom.
Scowling, she picked up her scattered belongings and took a seat in one of the front tables grateful that Malfoy was in the back.
A few minutes later, when everyone was in the room, a door appeared on the upper right corner of the class. No one seemed to notice besides Hermione, so she stared at it intently. Almost immediately, it opened, and a wrinkled old man with sparkling blue eyes and snowy white hair stepped through it. When the door slammed shut behind him, the class snapped to attention and all talking ceased suddenly. The door disappeared.
For the first time, Hermione noticed the decoration of the room. It was rather large with a domed ceiling line with glass that was so transparent, you seemed to be staring at the azure sky directly, with no interference.
The floor was a reflective marble with golden engravings of ancient runes and foreign incantations that were flowing freely on the floor like it was water. Various telescopes, cauldrons, and unidentifiable knick- knacks littered the room giving it a very professional look.
But the most intriguing part of the room was the four portraits that lined the front wall, as there was no chalkboard; two men and two women.
The first portrait held a very severe-looking man with sandy blonde hair, who was grimacing to the class and wearing green robes. The inscription at the bottom read, "Salazar Slytherin"
The next two women were whispering quietly to each other. Rowena Ravenclaw was the one closer to Slytherin. She was sporting a lovely silk dress with many pearls. Helga Hufflepuff was less pretty and less intelligent-looking, but she looked very kind and friendly with her bouncy gold curls compared to Rowena's auburn locks.
Last, and unsurprisingly the farthest away form Slytherin, was a handsome man by the name of Godric Gryffindor. He had chocolate brown hair and soft, honey-colored eyes. He was smirking in his red and gold robes and looking at the class intellectually.
During this time, Dumbledore was standing at the bottom of the few steps that led to the platform where his desk and other subordinate things were. He was about to speak when,
"Tell me Dumbledore," Slytherin said menacingly, "Why is there only one Slytherin boy in this class?"
"The entire class, including Hermione, turned and looked at that one student sitting stiffly in the very back.
"To leave more room for the Ravenclaws, Salazar," Rowena said.
Helga sighed and spoke, "Oh no, they're going to fight again."
"Oh, you Ravenclaws think you know everything, don't you? You only try to be smart so people won't know that you're just an insecure little brat."
"How dare you Salazar!"
She stood up and marched angrily into his portrait to glare at him in the face, "Shut up right now, unless you want this whole class to know about your little secret!"
"You wouldn't!"
"Oh you know ver well that I will!"
"Shut up wench!"
"Git!"
Helga was beginning to giggle uncontrollably.
Godric was leaning forward in his chair, straining to see the action; that was until he discovered that he could move from picture to picture. He got up and ran by a startled Helga, through Rowena's empty frame, and into Salazar's where he and Rowena were trading insults so fast that no one could understand them.
"Come on you two," Godric started, pushing the two fighters apart. Slytherin responded by pushing Godric into Rowena's painting, knocking over her chair.
Helga wasn't giggling anymore, and Gryffindor was about to punch Slytherin very hard in the face when,
"Founders! Founders, please!" Dumbledore said sternly, and the four people on the wall froze.
"Please take your seats. I am trying to teach a class."
"My apologies Headmaster," Godric said. He grinned to the class, and walked back to his seat.
Rowena picked up her fallen chair and sat, pouting.
"I'm so sorry Dumbledore," Helga stammered, "I promise I didn't do anything."
"Oh shut up, Hufflepuff," Slytherin spat.
"Enough, Slytherin!"
"Yes, yes Dumbledore," he said and collapsed into his leather armchair.
"Now class," Dumbledore said, turning toward the youths, but he was again interrupted; this time by the bell. The class gathered up their things and walked out the door, talking animatedly while the old man just stood bewildered about the oddities of time.
Chapter 4
Interesting Classes
"I'll give her five more minutes, then I'm going to bed," Ron sighed as he and Harry finished their eleventh game of wizard's chess sitting in front of the fire in the Gryffindor common room waiting for Hermione. Only a few people still lingered in the room.
"Oh come on. It isn't that late. Where do you think she is anyway?"
"Maybe-no, you don't think Malfoy did something with her? If that piece of-,"
"Ron! Harry! It's so nice of you to wait up for me," Hermione exclaimed as she climbed through the Fat Lady's portrait.
"What took so-?"
"Ooh! It was wonderful! Professor McGonagall told us that Dumbledore is teaching a new class to only the most highly qualified. We'll be learning higher levels of almost every branch of magic and getting real life experience. There are only four sixth years in there. I am so excited! I can't wait for our first lesson. So, guy, what do you think?"
Harry and Ron looked at each other questioningly both at a loss for words. Then they returned their stares to the beaming girl who was now sitting in a chair across from them. Harry spoke first,
"So where does Malfoy fit into all of this?"
"Well," Hermione began in a matter-of-fact tone, "apparently he was second to me on our OWLS. It's good to know that he isn't spending all of his time thinking of ways to expel us. Oh no," her face was immediately depressed, "if he keeps this up he'll be Head Boy and I'll, well hopefully, be Head Girl and then...oh I'm not going to think of that."
"I don't even see why the Death Eater would want to take the class," Ron began, "especially if it's taught by Dumbledore. Why does he have to be such a git?."
"So you think he's a git just because he actually puts forth effort in his schoolwork?" Hermione inquired.
"What do you mean?! I put forth effort in my work!" he seemed, offended, "And why are you defending him? He's nothing but a lousy-,"
"Yes, I know, Ron, git, and I wasn't defending him."
"So, Hermione," Harry said, "when are you taking this class?"
"Oh, it's going to proceed like any other one would. I'm really excited."
"Like we couldn't tell," Ron mumbled.
"Oh hush. I'm going to bed now. Good night you two."
With that Hermione departed from the group and made her way to the girls dormitories.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The first morning of classes was a very anxiety-filled one. Everyone was worried about new classes or teachers and wondering what happened to the summer. Hermione, however, was very happy to begin her sixth year at Hogwarts and especially about the new course she would be taking.
Her schedule said the class would be in a classroom near the Transfigurations corridor, but it was still somewhat secluded from the rest of the school. Breakfast in the Great Hall passed quickly and students began trudging to their classes.
Ron, Harry, and Hermione walked together at first but separated when the two boys had to head to the North Tower for Divination.
Hermione walked down the deserted corridor toward the spare classroom where her first S.C. lesson would be held. After a few moments, a small crowd of Ravenclaws turned the corner in front of her and entered the room. Hermione, seeing that she was going to the right place, now walked briskly to the door and was about to enter when she someone slammed into her from the side. She immediately regained her composure and turned to face her attacker, but Malfoy just glared at her and advanced into the filling classroom.
Scowling, she picked up her scattered belongings and took a seat in one of the front tables grateful that Malfoy was in the back.
A few minutes later, when everyone was in the room, a door appeared on the upper right corner of the class. No one seemed to notice besides Hermione, so she stared at it intently. Almost immediately, it opened, and a wrinkled old man with sparkling blue eyes and snowy white hair stepped through it. When the door slammed shut behind him, the class snapped to attention and all talking ceased suddenly. The door disappeared.
For the first time, Hermione noticed the decoration of the room. It was rather large with a domed ceiling line with glass that was so transparent, you seemed to be staring at the azure sky directly, with no interference.
The floor was a reflective marble with golden engravings of ancient runes and foreign incantations that were flowing freely on the floor like it was water. Various telescopes, cauldrons, and unidentifiable knick- knacks littered the room giving it a very professional look.
But the most intriguing part of the room was the four portraits that lined the front wall, as there was no chalkboard; two men and two women.
The first portrait held a very severe-looking man with sandy blonde hair, who was grimacing to the class and wearing green robes. The inscription at the bottom read, "Salazar Slytherin"
The next two women were whispering quietly to each other. Rowena Ravenclaw was the one closer to Slytherin. She was sporting a lovely silk dress with many pearls. Helga Hufflepuff was less pretty and less intelligent-looking, but she looked very kind and friendly with her bouncy gold curls compared to Rowena's auburn locks.
Last, and unsurprisingly the farthest away form Slytherin, was a handsome man by the name of Godric Gryffindor. He had chocolate brown hair and soft, honey-colored eyes. He was smirking in his red and gold robes and looking at the class intellectually.
During this time, Dumbledore was standing at the bottom of the few steps that led to the platform where his desk and other subordinate things were. He was about to speak when,
"Tell me Dumbledore," Slytherin said menacingly, "Why is there only one Slytherin boy in this class?"
"The entire class, including Hermione, turned and looked at that one student sitting stiffly in the very back.
"To leave more room for the Ravenclaws, Salazar," Rowena said.
Helga sighed and spoke, "Oh no, they're going to fight again."
"Oh, you Ravenclaws think you know everything, don't you? You only try to be smart so people won't know that you're just an insecure little brat."
"How dare you Salazar!"
She stood up and marched angrily into his portrait to glare at him in the face, "Shut up right now, unless you want this whole class to know about your little secret!"
"You wouldn't!"
"Oh you know ver well that I will!"
"Shut up wench!"
"Git!"
Helga was beginning to giggle uncontrollably.
Godric was leaning forward in his chair, straining to see the action; that was until he discovered that he could move from picture to picture. He got up and ran by a startled Helga, through Rowena's empty frame, and into Salazar's where he and Rowena were trading insults so fast that no one could understand them.
"Come on you two," Godric started, pushing the two fighters apart. Slytherin responded by pushing Godric into Rowena's painting, knocking over her chair.
Helga wasn't giggling anymore, and Gryffindor was about to punch Slytherin very hard in the face when,
"Founders! Founders, please!" Dumbledore said sternly, and the four people on the wall froze.
"Please take your seats. I am trying to teach a class."
"My apologies Headmaster," Godric said. He grinned to the class, and walked back to his seat.
Rowena picked up her fallen chair and sat, pouting.
"I'm so sorry Dumbledore," Helga stammered, "I promise I didn't do anything."
"Oh shut up, Hufflepuff," Slytherin spat.
"Enough, Slytherin!"
"Yes, yes Dumbledore," he said and collapsed into his leather armchair.
"Now class," Dumbledore said, turning toward the youths, but he was again interrupted; this time by the bell. The class gathered up their things and walked out the door, talking animatedly while the old man just stood bewildered about the oddities of time.