Disclaimer: I don't own HP. If you're looking to buy it, go bug JKR, cuz I DO NOT OWN HP!!!!! Never have. Never will. Just thought that I'd clear that thing up considering there's obviously SOMEBODY out there that doesn't understand that I DO NOT OWN HP!!!!! I repeat: I DO NOT OWN HP!!!!! Understood? Good. (OO! I rhymed!!!)

Chapter 9

Lessons

The knights went through the next few days in what can only be described as a haze of anticipation. Neville in particular was much happier than usual. He couldn't wait to learn to use his sword. He was finally on the path to becoming like one of King Arthur's knights. He had read as much as he could about them, and he had tried to pattern his life after theirs. Becoming a real knight had put him back on the path to being what could only be referred to as valiant. During those few days until the next meeting, Neville took to staring off into space during classes, daydreaming about going on brave adventures with the Knights of Camelot. The thought that his knighthood was supremely different from that of the Knights of the Round Table never crossed his mind. If it did, he ignored it.

Mandy spent the next few days zooming through her homework. If any of her teachers noticed that her essays were slightly less than her usual skill, they didn't say anything, although she could have sworn that Professor McGonagall had given her a reproachful look as she left the classroom. She began to spend more and more time in the library, researching meditation. She was still looking for a way to get away from the stress of the day, and meditation sounded like an interesting way to do that.

Surprisingly, meditation was in the Muggle Studies section. Mandy grabbed a few books on meditation and proceeded to the checkout line. When the librarian (whose name Mandy could never remember) turned over the books to read the titles, she gave Mandy a quizzical look. When Mandy ignored this, she proceeded to write down the titles and Mandy's name in a large book and handed the books back to her silently. Mandy quickly took the books and walked to Ravenclaw tower. She hurried into her common room where she almost leapt into a large squishy chair far from the fire. Looking through the books she had grabbed, she noticed one that wasn't on meditation. She curiously read the title: Many Paths: Wicca. Intrigued by the title, she began to read.

Draco began to spend more and more time sneaking away from Crabbe and Goyle to think by the lake. He had been wondering for quite some time if his father had ever cared about him in the slightest. Being the depressing topic that it was, it ruled his thoughts. Not sure he wanted to know the answer, he avoided it by spending more time wondering about the future of the Knights of the Chamomile Leaf.

Hermione had spent her time throwing herself into her schoolwork and, in the empty spaces of the day, wondering about who else in the school had problems like her fellow knights. She had yet to discover anyone else. But of course people worked hard to avoid anyone else realizing that their lives aren't nearly as nice as everyone would like to think.

At the Room of Requirement, Mandy found the door already there. She hadn't been visualizing anything, so she assumed that one of the others was already there. She pushed the door open to find Draco reading a book on healing. "Anything in there for headaches," she asked in a friendly tone, perching on the arm of his cushiony chair.

"Yeah." He flipped to a page towards the beginning of the book. "Right here." He pointed to a page.

Mandy read it quickly. "Cool!" She paused as he returned to his reading. "I can't wait to learn how to use a sword. Can you? I mean it just sounds like so much fun, and hanging out with Sir Nicholas is never a bad thing. Except he's always calling me Madeline." She shuddered.

"Better than Draco," replied Draco. Mandy nodded thoughtfully.

Hermione pushed the door open. "Hey." The others greeted her as she joined them. "Neville still hasn't gotten here yet? I wonder what's keeping him."

At that moment, Neville pushed open the door, looking out of breath. "Sorry I'm late. Terry Boot started chasing me in the hallways again. I just barely lost him."

"Now we just have to wait for Sir Nicholas," said Mandy. "Does everyone have their swords?" Draco and Hermione nodded. Neville turned red.

"I forgot mine," he said. "I left it here." Mandy pointed in the corner to her left. There was his sword, gleaming in the shadows. "Thanks."

Sir Nicholas appeared through the wall. "Today I have the pleasure of teaching you the proper way to hold your sword. Let us begin."

It was a few hours later that four exhausted knights climbed into bed after a long night of swordplay. Let us ignore the fact that none of them were very over the age of twelve.

That Wednesday night, the same small knights could be found learning punches and kicks in the Room of Requirement from the ghost of a thief by the name of Will Smithies who had choked on a peanut sometime during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

That next Sunday, the knights studied together.

In the meantime, Mandy began to study Wicca. Apparently it was the Muggle version of magic. Reading some of the history involved, she almost cried at the pointless deaths that had been caused by the Church. Women who healed others had been killed to gain the male doctors more money. Cats had been killed for being "witch's consorts". This had raised the death toll during the Black Plague when rats had helped spread disease. But when she read of the theory behind Wicca, she saw no evil in it. She began to research the subject and quickly understood the title. There are many paths.

Paprika the Blondie-Nice to know that you're actually reading this story now. And Freekish doesn't always mean hyperactively weird. It's . . . just plain different. It has no limits.

ERMonkey, Burner of Cookies-Hooray for your project board! And I happen to be doing so. At this point, I don't need you reminding me to update. And I may have a story you can help Preston and me with. E-mail me.

Sheoflittleimportance-Thanks. I think there's going to be a cutter, and Draco is going to be abused by his DE dad. Other than that, I don't know yet.