Chapter 17-No Time To Spare
"For the rest of term up to Halloween, we will be continuing human transfiguration. The basic skills you learn are the basis for becoming animagi. Becoming an animagus is difficult to accomplish and because so few witches and wizards are able to concentrate enough for the transformation to be successful, it is not a requirement of this class." Hermione sighed in frustration. The rest of the class drew their breath in and gave sighs of relief. McGonagall smiled, "However, those of you who pass the mid-term exam with full marks, I will offer additional tutoring time to become an animagus. Any questions? Miss Granger?"
"Professor, does the person choose their animagus form or is it inborn within the person?"
"Unfortunately, the person has no way of knowing what animal they become until the transformation is complete. I've have been told over the years by other animagi that they knew deep down what they would be, and honestly, I believe I knew deep down I'd be a cat. The animal fits the inner most soul of the person." The professor smiled wickedly at her prize student. "What do you think your inner animal is, Miss Granger?" Hermione raised her eyebrow at that. "If there are no other questions I want you to read over the next chapter and then practice changing the head shape of your partner. I will walk around to help you individually during practice." She eyed them all sharply and prompted them in the words of Madame Hooch, "Well, what are you waiting for?"
After the trio finished skimming the chapter they knew Hermione had read and mastered ages ago, Harry paired off with Ron and Hermione with Neville. By the time Professor McGonagall made it over to their group, Harry had changed Ron's ears to that of a goblins and made his head bald, Neville changed Hermione's hair to be black with a streak of white in the front, Ron changed Harry's nose to look like Professor Snape's, and Hermione had made Neville the spitting image of Draco Malfoy.
"Well done, Miss Granger, 25 points to Gryffindor. The rest of you are making significant progress. Good work all of you. Mr. Potter, and Miss Granger I need to speak with you after class."
Class went by quickly and the three boys were able to finalize the new images of their partners after some work. Hermione looked like the bride of Frankenstein, Ron a Gringott's banker, and Harry looked just like the evil potions master, scowl included. The spells wore off before the end of class and Harry and Hermione proceeded to the front of class after everyone else had ventured off.
"Good. Harry and Hermione I have some information to pass on and also some extra work for you both. Harry, I want to see you become the auror you desire to be, but your transfiguration and potions skills need to come faster and with greater quality. Along with the Occulmency training you are undergoing, I need you to plan in two hours a week where I will help you with transfiguration and potions. Hermione, I'd like you to come as well, because I know you are ready to become an animagus. Also because you can help Harry when he isn't in class. In addition to this, the Headmaster has decided that the two of you and Mr. Weasley if he wants, are to take extra defense training. This will entail two workouts per week along with rigorous physical training to get keep you three in shape to take on anything that might happen this year. The idea is that we want to help you take on what always seems to fall on your shoulders by the end of the school year. It is as much for your protection as for the possibility of finally seeing peace in the wizarding world. Can I count on you two to be dedicated to this?"
Harry and Hermione looked at each other, eyes monstrous, and sighed adding to the tension in the room. If ever they thought their Head of House could have been a good muggle drill sergeant it was at this moment. With defeated but determined faces, they both answered in unison,
"Yes, Professor."
"Good. Tomorrow we start. After your potions class Professor Snape will give you the detail of your defense training, and when he is finished with you, you will come to me for your tutoring session."
"Professor Snape?" Harry asked in agony.
"Yes, dear, Professor Snape will be giving you your additional defense training. Who else would be able to prepare you to face multiple Death Eaters?" Harry sighed. Sure, there was an unspoken truce between Snape and himself now, but that didn't make Harry like the man any better. It seemed they would be seeing an awful lot of their potions master.
When Harry and Hermione got back to the Gryffindor common room, they found it completely empty. Harry sighed, glad that no one was present but his good friend. He looked to the ground feeling all the weight and expectations of what was to come in who knows when. He trudged over to the couch by the fire and slumped into it, his eyes getting lost in the flames. 'How could he clear his mind now after that speech from his Head of House?' He knew Snape would be brutal tonight for this first Occulmency lesson, and the fact that he would be facing even more of Snape's cruel tough love teaching technique felt worse than having to face the Voldemort. 'Maybe it won't be so bad with Hermione there,' Harry hoped but Harry's face was still full of agony, when Hermione decided she wanted to do something for her friend.
She looked at Harry and focused on his scar. With the same omnipotent attitude she had all those years ago before she fixed Harry's glasses on the train, Hermione erased Harry's scar without even flinching. Harry's forehead furrowed and Hermione conjured a mirror. She smiled as she passed the mirror to the ex-Gryffindor seeker. Harry looked in the mirror and pinched his eyes closed in disbelief. When he was able to make himself look again, the same scarless face looked back. Harry smiled for a moment like all the weight on his shoulders was no longer there. He was no longer The-Boy-Who-Lived-Life-Waiting-To-Face-Evil; he was just Harry like he always wanted to be. He looked to his friend who gave him this moment, and tears came to his eyes as he grabbed her in a hug and whispered, "Thank you, Mia."
"It's only temporary, Harry. I just don't want you to forget that you have something to look forward to." With all the sisterly love in her heart, Hermione kissed her friend on his cheek. When she turned around to sit in the wing-backed chair beside him, Harry found himself wool-grazing as his hand touched the place where she kissed him. He felt so loved in that moment he found more peace than he'd seen in his life to date. He hoped for that future his friend promised he'd have, and he'd be damned if he would let his anger get the better of him during the first Occulmency lesson. Occulmency was one of many skills he'd need to have the life he wanted, and he was resolved to have that life. Just then Ron came down the stairs and ran over to his friends.
"Come on Harry! We'll be late for Hagrid's class!"
"Oh. I better get to Arithmacy before Professor Vector has my head!" Hermione cried gathering her things in a rush.
"Harry, your scar's gone!"
"Oh. yeah, Hermione did it." Ron looked at Hermione in disbelief for about the thousandth time since they became friends.
"You really are brilliant, but scary. I ever tell you that?"
"Yes, Ron. Only about a thousand times. Now get moving!"
After Arithmacy, Hermione drifted back to Gryffindor Tower only to be headed off by a peeved potions master.
"Miss Granger, I believe we had an appointment! Twenty points from Gryffindor for absence of mind."
"I'm sorry, Professor."
"Follow me." He turned away from her and headed up a few more flights of stairs and down a corridor Hermione didn't know existed on the third floor. The professor turned into a wall to the right of a statue of an old knight. The knight's shield had a glowing chalice that reminded her of the Holy Grail.
'Maybe it's Lancelot. How ironic would that be?'
"Yes, Miss Granger. It is a statue of Sir Lancelot." After these words he pulled her from her thoughts and through the wall, where a circular platform sat in the middle of a small but decorative room. The professor walked to the platform and climbed on top of it, motioning for her to follow. "Close your eyes, Miss Granger and think happy thoughts," Snape snickered. Moments later Hermione thought she felt the platform move like an elevator, but when she looked down she saw nothing underneath her, not even the floor. After a few moments of a pull, much less unpleasant than that of a port key, Hermione found herself in another room she'd never been. This room looked like it was used as a ballroom a very long time ago. She took in her surrounding and looked to the floor. On it was a seal she hadn't ever seen, but seemed familiar. She realized after a moment that it was familiar because each of the house's seal elements were embodied within this particular seal. Looking around the circular room she saw much of the same. The decorations brought the best of each house's elements to the room. Toward the back of the room was a similar circular platform like the one she and the professor had just moments before climbed onto.
"It was a portal. Where are we? We aren't in the castle anymore. Are you taking me where the Headmaster asked you to?"
"Yes." With that he climbed onto the circular portal in front of them. "In your mind think Salazar Slytherin." Seconds later, as if Scotty had beamed them up, they found themselves in the corridors of what was obviously Slytherin's floor in a tower.
"Professor, Where are we?"
"The Founder's Secret Tower. They called it Xanadu Tower. This is the floor they made for their lost friend who never came back to them. Follow me." Hermione did as she was told more by the pull of curiosity than obedience, but she did it just the same. Snape looked around seemingly getting his bearings before heading to the right and opening a door.
"You've never been here, have you?"
"No. I didn't know it existed until the Headmaster mentioned it to the both of us. Few others do. And it must be kept that way."
"Of course."
Within the room was an office with four interesting portraits hanging above the mahogany desk. The portrait dressed in red and gold was the only one currently holding a person within it. The young sandy blond haired man spoke to Hermione.
"Ah, a Gryffindor if I ever saw one. Aren't you the spitting image of a lioness." Then, looking at both of them, "Are you friends of the headmaster?" Snape answered curtly,
"Yes, we were just looking for the music room. Where is it?"
"Just go out the door and follow the hall to the right. The first door you meet is the music room, second the dueling/ballroom, and third Salazar's library."
"A library? A secret library? Wicked!" Hermione was giddy with enthusiasm, even if her companion wasn't.
"If you think that's special, young lioness, you need to see the other floors. Particularly Rowena's collection of muggle literature and potions books. Oh, and Godric has quite the collection of dark charms books. It's amazing really. But if you are looking for anything involving sound and music, you are heading in the correct direction."
"Thank you, sir. And what should we call you?"
"I am one of Godric's ancestors. My name is Arthur Pendragon."
"King Arthur? Are you kidding? Harry would die!" With an air of flattery the portrait continued,
"Well, thank you Milady. Do bring this Harry by sometime? I won't try to kill him, but it sounds as though he would be excited to see me for some reason. And what should I call you?" Snape just shook his head and mumbled something about Gryffindors Hermione couldn't quite hear.
"I'm Hermione Granger, sir. And this is Professor Severus Snape. He's the Head of Slytherin house and a potions master."
"Bugger all. You could be my cousin Lancelot's twin. Who are your ancestors?" Snape looked at the portrait in curiosity but turned to his student.
"Miss Granger if we are to accomplish anything before we must meet the Harry in question for Occulmency lessons, I must pull you away from King Arthur here." The confused portrait frowned and looked at the two.
"King, who's a king? I don't see a king." Hermione giggled as Snape pulled her back through the door. 'Bloody, King Arthur. I wonder who the Slytherin ancestor is.'
"My bets are on Merlin or Morgan Lefay, Professor." Snape almost laughed at that.
"Indeed, Miss Granger."
As they perused the contents of the music room, Hermione remembered the purpose of tonight's extra meeting.
"So, Professor, what instruments do you play? Other than the lyre, of course."
"I have never played a lyre. Wherever did you get that nonsense?"
"My vision had you playing a lyre while I began to sing and then you joined me. Naisi played the lyre also."
"Intriguing." Snape looked through the glass-covered armoires at the various instruments. Each armoire was filled with a different variety of instruments. The reeded instruments looked more like carved reeds than the wood and metal variety of the present. The horns were made from a silvery blue metal that apparently did not tarnish and ranged in size and shapes much greater and bizarre to today's trumpets, trombones, and tubas. The drum sets were very primitive and had nothing resembling the percussion instruments in music bands Hermione knew. There were other miscellaneous instruments of all shapes and sizes—whistles, bells, and unknowns. However, the string instruments were just older versions of violins, violas, basses, and harps.
Snape paused in front of the traditional orchestra cupboard. He opened the door where an instrument that resembled a violin lay as if asleep. He pulled the instrument from its bed and found an unusually long and elegant bow. The bow matched the instrument in color and design. It obviously was a well-made instrument that had been handled with the great care only the best musicians give their true love. Drawn to the strings, the professor checked the tone by plucking gently on each strand.
"Dragon heart strings. Still in tune after all these years. Amazing." Then with the gentleness of a new lover, he pulled the bow across the dragon strands. It did not take long for him to become entranced with the sound. Every emotion in his mind came out in the music. It was immediately shown to Hermione how deep and passionate the man before her truly was. When the music became melancholy, Hermione wanted to hold him; when it was light, she wanted to dance; when the notes were calmed, Hermione felt a peace she'd never known. The music had stopped long before Snape touched a dazed Hermione Granger on the shoulder.
"Strings. I should have guessed. You play wonderfully, Professor."
"I think it's the instrument in this case. It's truly magnificent." He put the instrument back in its cozy home, laying its lengthy partner along side of it. He looked at the cupboard with longing. 'It's been so long. Gods how I miss it.' Hermione's voice startled the professor from his reverie.
"Professor, perhaps we should take a quick peek at the library before we meet Harry?" He only shook his head. Then, a bit of a blush hit his cheeks when he realized she had heard his thoughts and didn't question them. If Hermione noticed the flush, she assumed it to be from playing after what apparently had been quite a long time. Severus Snape knew it was because her kindness raised his respect for her.
Elsewhere on the Hogwarts grounds, the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor was taking a much-needed nap, after having two double classes of third years. It wasn't long before she was floating in her memories and dreaming of a future with love ever present. She saw Sirius laughing and splashing her little sister during a swim by her family's cottage in Portugal. The sun was bright and a few fluffy clouds made the scene all the more picturesque. Sirius dunked her sister in the water and swam to Blanche's little sandbar where she rested belly down in her purple two-piece swimsuit. He came to the edge and kissed her sweetly on the lips,
"You look so charming while you rest, Love."
"And you when you laugh, Si." The two kissed again, more deeply this time and her sister splashed them recklessly. The memory faded into gray mist.
From the mists rose four figures in black robes and silver masks. Between them they lead an older silvery haired woman, and a blond girl about 10 or 11 years old. Both women went on their way heads held high with pride. Soon they faced another being in a silver robe. The man in silver lowered his hood and spoke to the women.
"You are of the Nouveau line, are you not?" The older woman was throw to the ground before the man. She stood and gained her composure before she spoke.
"You know that very well, Tom. If we weren't, would we be here?" She spoke calmly with her chin held in defiance. The man laughed and slapped her across her ivory face. A thin bony finger lifted her chin so that her purple eyes meet his. "No, Muse, of course not. You have talents that will be a great asset to my reign. Join me and be my queen." The woman spat in his face and coldly answered,
"You will never use me or my daughters for your evil. Do. Your. Worst." With that the silver robed man grabbed the woman's face and kissed her. Between the two a stream of fog like air made a moving whoosh from the muse to the man. When he let go, the woman was visibly weakened but stood her ground,
"Is that all you have in you, Tom. I thought the Dark Lord was supposed to be all powerful." She laughed, "But if that were the case my Blanche would be here beside me. Still shake in your boots in Dumbledore's presence, do you? You could only kill my husband with his back turned. You never will be a match for Dumbledore." His eyes turned red before he pulled out the knife and cut across her robes. Still she stood, unbending, unmoving with the air of the greatest queen. "If that is all Tom, I think Angelica and I will be on our way. You have already taken my husband on this day. You do not need us." With the strength of a man half his age, the Dark Lord ripped the robes from the mother's body. Even near naked she was unfazed. Seeing this Tom moved toward Angelica. He grasped the girl's arm and pulled her in front of her mother. Then, he began whispering to her so that her mother could hear,
"Your mother is a filthy whore, Angelica. She teased me throughout our days in school, using your father to make me jealous. She always wanted me and now she won't even do me this small favor. But you will won't you, Angelica?" The girl with dazzling blond hair and dark violet eyes shook her head to the contrary. "You will, child, or you will see your mother die before you." Angelica looked to her mother with her lips quivering. Her mother's eyebrow rose in warning. The girl shook her head again, tears streaming down her face. "Stubborn as your mother. Well, we shall see what courage you have without your mother to prompt you."
The Dark Lord faced the woman yet again and put Angelica in a full body bind so she could not turn away from the sight of her mother being whipped and cut until one of the Death Eaters watching could bare no more and silently murmured the killing curse. The mother fell forward onto the Dark Lord. Angelica saw who caused this and looked in his eyes. Dark obsidian orbs faced pleading dark purple irises. With a slight nod, the purple eyes relaxed and the Death Eater followed suit with the little girl murmuring another curse. This curse did not go unnoticed by the silver clothed villain.
"Severus. A bit hasty in your revenge aren't you my boy? Crucio!" The villain's eyes still red, shone with fury, and the servant writhed from the spell. The Dark Lord cursed his servant four more times before he finally let the group go. "Thank the gods he has you Lily or he'd be worthless." One of the other Death Eaters took off her mask and smiled wickedly.
"He may not have me after this act, my lord."
"Do what you must my Death Flower." He walked over to the red-haired Lily and kissed her wand hand in appreciation, blood smearing over their hands. "Perhaps you would be a better queen than a muse any way. Until next time, my dear." With black irises clouding with tears the dream changed yet again.
This time Blanche was writhing on the floor of the Astronomy tower so many years ago, when Tom Riddle came to take hold of her talents much like he tried to do to her mother. She saw the green light dissipate into her necklace. The silver robed monster laughed into the night,
"Right under Dumbledore's nose. I now have a muse and a spy under my very control. Even her Occlumency can't save her now. She is mine. She never wanted to take the necklace off before, but now she cannot remove it. And she won't be able to tell anyone. Mwa ha ha ha."
Blanche woke up from her nightmares in sheets full of sweat and tears. Who would ever be able to help her?