Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot and my Ocs!
A/N: I dedicate this chapter to everyone who reviewed! That's: PRONGSLOVER, feltonlover88, Vallierie, ProwlingKitKat, Queen Cari, JuNiSGiRl, G.M., Brytani Anmylica Cain, dracosgurl_chrissy, Supreme Neo Countess
Pansy: "That's quite a lot of people!"
Me *beaming*: "I know!"
Mione: "And to think they are reading a story in which you'll pair me with that arrogant bastard!"
Me *grinning*: "That's what you say now, he'll change!"
Pansy: "If I could, then he can, too!"
Me: "Right, now on with the story. By the way Pansy, did you tell Mione how you sent
Voldi into the orbit?"
Mione: "No she didn't! Explain!"
Pansy: "Well, while I was visiting Winterbreath in her other story ." *begins to tell story*
Me: "While she tells Mione I'm gonna write this chapter, enjoy!"
Chapter Seven: Tibbelupps and Necromancy
Last chapter..
Chatting amiably the two girls continued their way till they reached Hagrid's hut. The friendly half giant was already waiting, a huge box from which strange, scratching noises emerged, standing beside him..
"Why don't I like those noises a bit?" Pansy asked Hermione in low voice.
"I don't know!" she answered, "Could it be because of an unpleasant experience with certain blast ended screwts back in fourth year?"
"Why girls!" Harry's voice came from behind them in a mock indignant tone, "Are you implying the screwts were ugly and scary?"
"Harry's right! They are like. totally cute and adorable!" Ron said grinning mischievously.
"Yeah!" Hermione agreed sarcastically, "It was seeing them and wanting to cuddle them!"
"Your voicing my exact thoughts!" Pansy said smiling.
"Why. I thought you said they will probably be useful to heal some horrible illness! Did the high and mighty know it all queen of all mudbloods make a mistake? I'm shocked!" an all too known voice drawled behind them in mock incredibility.
Without even looking at the person behind her Hermione answered: "Sod off. Lord of the Ferrets!"
Harry and Dean (all the Gryffindors were standing together) burst out laughing as did Pansy who had read the book by Hermione's recommendation, the others looked a bit puzzled.
"I'll explain to you later!" the Head Girl told them.
By that time everybody had arrived and Hagrid cleared his throat to catch his student's attention.
"G' mornin' class! Today we have somethin' completely new. A species jus' discovered by the Minstry in Asia. They have no time researching 'em themselves with You-know-who still free and everythin', so they allow us ter do 'em as a kind o' research project. They're called Tibbelupps, cute li'l things. Jus' come and take a look at 'em."
Cautiously the students moved towards the box, they had had too many interesting experiences with what Hagrid called "cute little things". To their amazement however, there really were cute little things in the box, in fact they were the most adorable, fluffy, cuddable little things they had ever seen. The small creatures were about the size of a small bunny and had a long, shimmering fur, each in a different colour. From white to black almost everything was represented. Their hind legs and the form of their heads were like those of a bunny, but their front paws were shorter and they had fingers, like for example a racoon. In fact, the whole creature looked like a cross between a rabbit and a racoon for it also had short, pointy ears and a long, striped, fluffy tail. The twenty three little Tibbelupps (there were enough left for the Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs) looked at the gazing and partly oohhing and aahhing crowd gathered around them with huge eyes and shivering with fright.
"Ohhh," Parvati whispered, "They are afraid! Poor things!"
"They would be! They were foun' in caves deep in the mountains. Pro'bly never seen people before. They're only accustomed ter the Ministry people."
"How did the Ministry find them?" Dean asked curiously.
"Well, they had been reported about some strange happenings aroun' there. Thought it might be Death Eaters. They only found these li'l ones though."
"Do they have any magical powers?" Hermione asked.
"Apparen'ly their presence can calm down the mos' hysteric an' nervous person. Made the experience 'emselves the Ministry people."
"Oh Great! What an accomplishment! Wait a minute. compared to the blast ended screwts they are an accomplishment!" drawled an all too known voice in the crowd. Hagrid ignored him.
"Well, if yeh don' have any more questions I'll explain what yeh have ter do. Basically it's the same we had with the screwts. Fin' out what they eat an' when, how they like ter be treated an' all that, I prepared some boxes with different kinds o' food behind the hut. By the way, the Ministry also foun' out they like to choose a person 'emselves, so jus' put yer hands in an' wait for one ter come."
After everyone had a Tibbelupp, they had a very amusing lesson in which they found out that the Tibbelupps were cuddle addicts, vegetarians and loved Sugar Quills (after Goyle's had stolen one from his pocket and eaten the whole thing in a nanosecond and they had looked if the others would do that, too).
"They are some of the cutest things I've seen in my life!" Pansy said stroking her royal blue Tibbelupp (with black stripes) she had given the name Bonnie.
Hermione nodded in agreement while feeding her white, almost silver one (with light grey stripes) a mushroom. "I still have no name for mine though, and Hagrid said that's important so they create a bond with us."
"Don't worry Mione, you'll come up with a name sometime soon!" Ron comforted her while he tried to keep his Tibbelupp, Nosy, from sticking his nose into the pocket of his robes, a habit which had earned him his name.
"Yeah, Ron's right" Harry agreed while playing "chase the Sugar Quill" with his dark grey and black Jolly Jumper, "Perhaps it would help you to think about what he reminds you of."
"Well, from the colours he reminds me of an animal living in the North or South Pole, or rather a cub. Hey! What about Cubby?"
"Cute!" squealed Lavender, "That fits definitely!"
Beside her, Parvati nodded fervently.
"Well then, Cubby it is, what do you think about it little one?" she asked smiling down at the small being in her lap.
Cubby looked up at her through sapphire blue eyes, gave a short melodic sound which seemed of approval and rubbed his small head against her hand.
"He seems to like it," Neville said, grinning.
"That's enough for me!" Hermione answered.
Then she looked around to see what the others were doing, she smiled at how everyone seemed to have "fallen in love" with their assigned creature, even Millicent Bullstrode, a Slytherin girl with the fame of being reserved and sour tempered was playing with her Tibbelupp, a smile on her face. Then her eyes fell upon Draco Malfoy who sat there with a straight face, stroking his little one, which was of a shiny mahogany black with barely recognisable night blue stripes, without even looking at him. Suddenly the small creature rose on his lap, put its front paws on his chest and licked his face catching Draco's attention. The boy looked down at the Tibbelupp, a shocked _expression on his face and the animal responded by looking him in the eyes. Then, Hermione couldn't believe it, a tiny smile crept upon the Slytherin king's face which was almost instantly hidden behind a scowl. But still, Hermione noticed, the boy now turned his attention towards the Tibbelupp while stroking it at even spoke to it in a hushed voice.
The young Head Girl then looked at her friends to see if any of them had also witnessed the unlikely scene but found everyone of them occupied, except Pansy who was also looking over at Draco, grinning. Upon noticing Hermione looking at her she turned her attention towards her best friend who nodded her head towards Malfoy and grinned, rising her eyebrows. Pansy nodded, indicating she had understood and grinned even wider, there really was a heart under all that pure blood attitude of Draco Malfoy's. someone tell the Daily Prophet!
It was the first time ever that, at the end of the class, the students gave their assigned creatures back reluctantly and some even asked Hagrid if they could come down in between and after classes to look after "their little ones". The half giant was beaming with joy at his student's interest and agreed immediately (although he didn't understand what those Tibbelupps had the blast ended screwts didn't have).
Slowly the students made their way back to the castle, rather wanting another Care of Magical Creatures lesson than.. Wait a minute! Next was DADA, with Hermione's cousin! When that realisation had dawned on every student they were much more eager to arrive at their destination and ended up being in the classroom, which was, surprisingly, open, five minutes too early.
After they had found seats they found suitable (mainly Griffindors in the front and Slytherins in the back) they proceeded to whisper excitedly among themselves, wondering what their teacher would be like. Only Harry, Ron, Hermione and Pansy who were sitting in the very front row were talking about Hagrid's lesson as they knew everything about Alex through Hermione. Several students had tried to ask her more about her cousin, but she had merely smiled secretively and said "You'll see.", so they had resumed to talking to themselves again. Suddenly the door connecting the classroom to the teacher's office and quarters opened and a dead silence fell over the class as the young woman some of them knew by sight descended the stairs.
When she arrived at the bottom she faced them all, smiling an extremely pretty smile which made some boys wish she wasn't betrothed.
"Well, Hello everybody! Welcome to your first DADA lesson of the year and my first DADA lesson as a teacher ever. I therefore daresay, that I'm way more nervous than you are! Before we begin I'd like to get something straight, don't call me Professor Davies, it would make me feel damned old. In fact, my proposition is that we leave all that surname thing aside and call each other by the first name, I personally think it will create some trust between us, cause I don't want to be just your teacher, I want to be your friend. I want you to know that you can come to me if you have a problem which isn't necessary scholar but personal, I'll help you with what I can and keep quiet. I believe a second name basis would make such a relationship much more difficult. If anybody has something against being called by his first name he can say it and I'll call him by his surname. He or she can then decide how they want to call me cause I know that it might be strange for you as you've been calling teachers Professor and by the second name for all of your life. So, has anybody got a problem with it?"
After her speech Alex looked around her expectantly and smiled when nobody raised her hands. Even the Slytherins had been impressed by her words and found her idea extremely cool, it would be feeling equal with her and, being Slytherins, they preferred that to feeling slightly inferior like with the other teachers. The Griffindors immediately started to see her as a friend and confident, like she said, someone who would help them if they needed it.
"Great, then I'll check the list and start to learn your names. Hmmm. lets see, where did I put that damned list.," she mumbled rummaging through her bag, "Ah! Here it is!" she cried triumphantly pulling it out of the depths of her bag.
"Well then, let's see. Brown, Lavender"
"Here!"
"Ah yes, I've heard a lot about you, you're Ron's girlfriend, aren't you?" Lavender nodded, "Good, that'll help me remind your name! Now. Bullstrode, Millicent"
"Here!"
"Great! And now we have. Crabbe, Vincent."
"Here!"
"Good, now. Finnigan Seamus!"
"That's me!"
"Nice to meet you!.Goyle, Gregory?"
"Here!"
"Great. Now, Granger, Hermione. Hmmm, I might have a problem remembering you."
Hermione grinned.
"OK, next is Longbottom, Neville"
Neville raised his hand.
"Hmm. Malfoy Draco"
"That would be me," Draco drawled and then smirked superiorly, avting as if nothing had happened that morning.
"Nice for you, .. Parkinson, Pansy?"
"Here!"
"Hey, finally I get to meet you, I heard a lot about you this summer."
Pansy smiled.
"Potter Harry?"
"Here!"
"We've already met this morning. Thomas, Dean?"
"Here!"
"Yes, you're Seamus best friend, aren't you?"
Dean nodded and Alex smiled.
"It's always good to have a cousin who keeps you informed, I feel like I already know all of you. some more than the others of course. Weasley, Ronald?"
"Yep!"
"Another one whose name I mustn't learn! Great, less work for me. Now, last but not least. Zabini, Blaise?"
"Here!"
"Fine! I must say I'm really happy so many chose advanced DADA even after that lousy experience you had in fifth year with that. insert insult you find suitable here as I'm a teacher and not allowed to insult others in front of you. Umbridge. I will do what is in my power so you wont regret it. Well, we are to start with learning the Patronus which, as far as I know quite a lot of you already master," she said blinking at the DA members. "To practice this we can't use a Dementor. for obvious reasons. I must confess though, I haven't even tried going to one of them and ask 'Excuse me? Would you mind leaving Voldemort for some days and playing target for some seventh years learning the Patronus Charm?' I don't know, I think he wouldn't be too happy about it. But, luckily, not only the Dementors can be beaten by a Patronus. Can somebody tell me about another creature ?. Yes Draco?"
"The Letifold!"
"Very good! Ten points for Slytherin. Indeed, it is a Letifold we'll be practising with, I've already ordered one but I'm afraid it won't be here before tomorrows class, so I thought we'll start with another theme which is only theoretical and quickly explained. This means also no homework!"
The class started to cheer and clap until Alex told them to lower their voices if they wanted to hear some really creepy stories. Intrigued, the students fell silent. "Very nice, now. Our topic is. Necromancy! Who can tell me what that is?" Lavender raised her hand: "It is a form of predicting the future by. invoking the dead and asking them." she shuddered.
"Right Lavender, that's ten points for Gryffnidor. Necromancy is a very advanced form of dark magic, not many wizards are able to perform it. For the ritual you need to draw a stave of blood. it can be that of an animal. on the floor. On its corners you need to put black candles and then you have to speak the incantation. Necromancy is, of course forbidden because it can go horribly wrong. The only wizard known who practices it nowadays is Voldemort, he uses it in order to find out if his plans are bound to be successful. Though, if you ask me, the dead seemed to have fun sending him into failure!" she said grinning at Harry.
"Well, now to the creepy stories about Necromancy gone wrong. There is never a guarantee that it's the ghost you are calling who actually comes, it can be somebody completely different and then you might have opened the gates to this world for, for example a Poltergeist. Peeves himself is a. ehm dead proof of it. He came into this castle when a seventh year tried to find out if he would pass the NEWTs."
The class laughed.
"Yes, that one was funny, but not every ghost turns out to be harmless, there were many cases in which dead mass murderers whose thirst for blood had not died with them crossed over to this world to continue with their genocides. The ministry has always a lot of trouble then because it isn't really easy to trap a ghost and send him back. I'll tell you some of the scariest examples now. In 1756 .."
She spent the rest of the lesson telling them the creepiest stories in such a exciting way that she had the all hanging at her lips, seldom had a teacher had so much attention from his students.
When the bell was about to ring she smiled at them: "I already told you, you have no homework, but if you want to get some extra points for your house you can make up a story about Necromancy gone wrong and hand it to me next lesson. Only writing it will bring your house 20 points, the best gets another 10. You're dismissed!"
Everybody grabbed their thing and walked out talking excitedly among themselves, some already thinking about what to write for the idea of creative writing instead of summaries and essays about the different themes in their subjects attracted them. Remembering a comment Mc Gonagall had made in their third year when him and Harry had left the table first and Trelawney said the first one to rise would die because there had been thirteen people sitting at the table he Ron said: "I'm going to write something about a mad axe-murderer's ghost on the loose in Hogwarts, this will be better than inventing tragedies for the old bat. What do you think, Harry, Hermione.. Hermione?"
But Hermione wasn't there, she had stayed behind and was talking to her cousin. Just when they wanted to walk back and join them, Hermione bid Alex goodbye and walked over to her friends, a huge smile in her face.
"What's up?" Pansy asked.
"Yeah, you look as if Gryffindor won the Quidditsch Cup!" Seamus agreed. Hermione grinned even wider and said: "Oh, it's nothing, Alex just told me that Zack will be staying here over the winter holidays to visit her and his uncle.. I'm good friends with him and I just imagined. how will Snape act towards me in front of him, he's quite fond of his nephew and wouldn't want to upset him, wouldn't he?"
Her fellow Gryffindors also grinned evilly now, looking forward to their meeting with the young man.
After a long first day which included endless two periods of Potions, Transfiguration and for Hermione and Pansy, Arithmancy and for the others Divination, and after a satisfying dinner Hermione finally returned to her common room hoping she'd be there before Malfoy so she could retreat to her room without having to argue with him. Soon she arrived at the portrait hole, greeted Arianne, gave her the password end entered, peering cautiously into the common room, hoping against hope that Malfoy wouldn't be there. But of course, there was no such luck.
"Granger, why are you spying on me?"
"I'm not spying on you Malfoy, you're not as interesting as you think, in fact, you're not interesting at all."
"Excuse me, many girls share the opinion that I'm interesting enough to ask me for my autograph!"
"Really? Well, then these girls obviously share a brain, too! If you excuse me now, I'm going to bed!"
"I'm not done with you Mudblood!"
"Like I care, ferret face!"
With that Hermione walked into her room, closing the door behind her pointedly, for the second night in a row.
The next few weeks practically flew by and Alex grew to be the most popular teacher at school, she was like a fresh breeze and girls often came to her when they needed advise about boys and the guys came to her when their girlfriends were upset with them and they didn't know why ("Justin Finch- Flatley! You don't tell a girl that her t-shirt would suit her best friend better! Especially if she obviously wanted to impress you with it!" "But I thought it's always the best to tell the truth!" "We women are complicated!"). On a rainy day in the first week of October. Hermione stepped into the Gryffindor common room with a piece of parchment in her hands.
"Attention please! Here is the date of the first Hogsmeade weekend, it's this one. and of our first Quidditsch match, Gryffindor versus Slytherin, a week before Haloween."
A/N: Pansy and Mione are unable to talk, they are still laughing too hard about the whole Voldi incident and making parodies *shakes head*. Anyway, I need your help with the following:
INQUIRY: There will be quite a number of Slytherins who'll join the light side beside Pansy and Draco. I'm already sure about one of them but my question to you is, what should I do with Crabbe and Goyle? Options: a) both turn to the dark side b) both turn to the light side c) Goyle turns to the light side and Crabbe to the dark d) Crabbe turns to the light side and Goyle to the dark
I've got explanations for all of them, so tell me your choice in your review (noooo, this is no hint, why do you always think so badly of me?), I'll make it dependent of that who else will be on the light side.
Now to the answers to your reviews:
PRONGSLOVER: Thanks for your review! I really have fun writing the story and its always gratifying to know that somebody actually likes it. You really lived in Germany? That's cool!
Feltonlover88: It's Snape's sister who is Zack's mother, that's why his surname is Seimoure (and also the reason for him not having greasy hair and bad teeth, a woman wouldn't allow such a thing).
Vallierie: I know that one shouldn't make comments in the story, but sometimes it's hard for me not to, I'm trying though. I can't remember now, did I make any in this chapter? And the thing with Pansy being Hermione's best friend. well, if Draco can change and become her boyfriend, Pansy can change, too. At least that's what I think!
ProwlingKitKat: I'm really sorry if I sounded discriminating, it wasn't my intention! In fact, one of my two best friends, Lucius Sikilmituile, is a Slytherin, too (I'm a Ravenclaw). Don't worry, there'll be quite some Slytherins joining the light side as you can also see from my inquiry above the answers to the reviews. I'm also sorry about forgetting Neville, I won't do it in the future! Perhaps I'll pair him with Luna.. Which reminds me that I still have to introduce her to this fic.
Queen Cari: I know, it took me really long to update this, but I was pretty occupied before Christmas and afterwards I was gone on holidays. I hope you can undestand it. Also I will try to update Albus' Angels soon, I'll start on the new chapter asap.
JuNiSGiRl: I guess every D/Hr fic starts the same cause it's a funny beginning, anyway, except for tha first chapter I tried to make my fic different, if you hadn't only read the first chapter you'd know it (why am I writing this if you are not gonna read it anyway????)
G.M.: Well, here is the new chapter, I'm glad that you like Pansy being good that much, I really didn't know how everybody would react to this. I'm looking forward to your next review.
Britany Anmylica Cain: Thanks a lot for all your advise, the author's note thing I already knew, but it's hard for me not to give my comments immediately. I'm trying to improve though. As for the lenght, this chapter is the longest up to now, just for you, I'll also try to make them longer in the future, like those of my other fic. By the way, the next chapter will feature the Quidditsch match and a first civil convesation between Draco and Hermione. Thanks again and if you have more tipps for me just review!!!! ^_^
Dracosgurl_chrissy: OK, this update took me very long with all the chrismas shopping, friends meeting and the holiday trip I couldn't start until we came back from south Spain on the 5th at late afternoon. The next day I found over 35 author's alerts on my inbox, so I couldn't really get started until the seventh. Therefore I made the chapter longer (also on request of the reviewer above). I'm glad you found some stories you liked on my favourites list. Just keep your reviews coming, I'm always happy when I see them!!! ^_^
Supreme Neo Countess: Thanks for your review, I'm glad you like the story.
Chilly winter greetings from Barcelona,
Winterbreath ^_^
A/N: I dedicate this chapter to everyone who reviewed! That's: PRONGSLOVER, feltonlover88, Vallierie, ProwlingKitKat, Queen Cari, JuNiSGiRl, G.M., Brytani Anmylica Cain, dracosgurl_chrissy, Supreme Neo Countess
Pansy: "That's quite a lot of people!"
Me *beaming*: "I know!"
Mione: "And to think they are reading a story in which you'll pair me with that arrogant bastard!"
Me *grinning*: "That's what you say now, he'll change!"
Pansy: "If I could, then he can, too!"
Me: "Right, now on with the story. By the way Pansy, did you tell Mione how you sent
Voldi into the orbit?"
Mione: "No she didn't! Explain!"
Pansy: "Well, while I was visiting Winterbreath in her other story ." *begins to tell story*
Me: "While she tells Mione I'm gonna write this chapter, enjoy!"
Chapter Seven: Tibbelupps and Necromancy
Last chapter..
Chatting amiably the two girls continued their way till they reached Hagrid's hut. The friendly half giant was already waiting, a huge box from which strange, scratching noises emerged, standing beside him..
"Why don't I like those noises a bit?" Pansy asked Hermione in low voice.
"I don't know!" she answered, "Could it be because of an unpleasant experience with certain blast ended screwts back in fourth year?"
"Why girls!" Harry's voice came from behind them in a mock indignant tone, "Are you implying the screwts were ugly and scary?"
"Harry's right! They are like. totally cute and adorable!" Ron said grinning mischievously.
"Yeah!" Hermione agreed sarcastically, "It was seeing them and wanting to cuddle them!"
"Your voicing my exact thoughts!" Pansy said smiling.
"Why. I thought you said they will probably be useful to heal some horrible illness! Did the high and mighty know it all queen of all mudbloods make a mistake? I'm shocked!" an all too known voice drawled behind them in mock incredibility.
Without even looking at the person behind her Hermione answered: "Sod off. Lord of the Ferrets!"
Harry and Dean (all the Gryffindors were standing together) burst out laughing as did Pansy who had read the book by Hermione's recommendation, the others looked a bit puzzled.
"I'll explain to you later!" the Head Girl told them.
By that time everybody had arrived and Hagrid cleared his throat to catch his student's attention.
"G' mornin' class! Today we have somethin' completely new. A species jus' discovered by the Minstry in Asia. They have no time researching 'em themselves with You-know-who still free and everythin', so they allow us ter do 'em as a kind o' research project. They're called Tibbelupps, cute li'l things. Jus' come and take a look at 'em."
Cautiously the students moved towards the box, they had had too many interesting experiences with what Hagrid called "cute little things". To their amazement however, there really were cute little things in the box, in fact they were the most adorable, fluffy, cuddable little things they had ever seen. The small creatures were about the size of a small bunny and had a long, shimmering fur, each in a different colour. From white to black almost everything was represented. Their hind legs and the form of their heads were like those of a bunny, but their front paws were shorter and they had fingers, like for example a racoon. In fact, the whole creature looked like a cross between a rabbit and a racoon for it also had short, pointy ears and a long, striped, fluffy tail. The twenty three little Tibbelupps (there were enough left for the Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs) looked at the gazing and partly oohhing and aahhing crowd gathered around them with huge eyes and shivering with fright.
"Ohhh," Parvati whispered, "They are afraid! Poor things!"
"They would be! They were foun' in caves deep in the mountains. Pro'bly never seen people before. They're only accustomed ter the Ministry people."
"How did the Ministry find them?" Dean asked curiously.
"Well, they had been reported about some strange happenings aroun' there. Thought it might be Death Eaters. They only found these li'l ones though."
"Do they have any magical powers?" Hermione asked.
"Apparen'ly their presence can calm down the mos' hysteric an' nervous person. Made the experience 'emselves the Ministry people."
"Oh Great! What an accomplishment! Wait a minute. compared to the blast ended screwts they are an accomplishment!" drawled an all too known voice in the crowd. Hagrid ignored him.
"Well, if yeh don' have any more questions I'll explain what yeh have ter do. Basically it's the same we had with the screwts. Fin' out what they eat an' when, how they like ter be treated an' all that, I prepared some boxes with different kinds o' food behind the hut. By the way, the Ministry also foun' out they like to choose a person 'emselves, so jus' put yer hands in an' wait for one ter come."
After everyone had a Tibbelupp, they had a very amusing lesson in which they found out that the Tibbelupps were cuddle addicts, vegetarians and loved Sugar Quills (after Goyle's had stolen one from his pocket and eaten the whole thing in a nanosecond and they had looked if the others would do that, too).
"They are some of the cutest things I've seen in my life!" Pansy said stroking her royal blue Tibbelupp (with black stripes) she had given the name Bonnie.
Hermione nodded in agreement while feeding her white, almost silver one (with light grey stripes) a mushroom. "I still have no name for mine though, and Hagrid said that's important so they create a bond with us."
"Don't worry Mione, you'll come up with a name sometime soon!" Ron comforted her while he tried to keep his Tibbelupp, Nosy, from sticking his nose into the pocket of his robes, a habit which had earned him his name.
"Yeah, Ron's right" Harry agreed while playing "chase the Sugar Quill" with his dark grey and black Jolly Jumper, "Perhaps it would help you to think about what he reminds you of."
"Well, from the colours he reminds me of an animal living in the North or South Pole, or rather a cub. Hey! What about Cubby?"
"Cute!" squealed Lavender, "That fits definitely!"
Beside her, Parvati nodded fervently.
"Well then, Cubby it is, what do you think about it little one?" she asked smiling down at the small being in her lap.
Cubby looked up at her through sapphire blue eyes, gave a short melodic sound which seemed of approval and rubbed his small head against her hand.
"He seems to like it," Neville said, grinning.
"That's enough for me!" Hermione answered.
Then she looked around to see what the others were doing, she smiled at how everyone seemed to have "fallen in love" with their assigned creature, even Millicent Bullstrode, a Slytherin girl with the fame of being reserved and sour tempered was playing with her Tibbelupp, a smile on her face. Then her eyes fell upon Draco Malfoy who sat there with a straight face, stroking his little one, which was of a shiny mahogany black with barely recognisable night blue stripes, without even looking at him. Suddenly the small creature rose on his lap, put its front paws on his chest and licked his face catching Draco's attention. The boy looked down at the Tibbelupp, a shocked _expression on his face and the animal responded by looking him in the eyes. Then, Hermione couldn't believe it, a tiny smile crept upon the Slytherin king's face which was almost instantly hidden behind a scowl. But still, Hermione noticed, the boy now turned his attention towards the Tibbelupp while stroking it at even spoke to it in a hushed voice.
The young Head Girl then looked at her friends to see if any of them had also witnessed the unlikely scene but found everyone of them occupied, except Pansy who was also looking over at Draco, grinning. Upon noticing Hermione looking at her she turned her attention towards her best friend who nodded her head towards Malfoy and grinned, rising her eyebrows. Pansy nodded, indicating she had understood and grinned even wider, there really was a heart under all that pure blood attitude of Draco Malfoy's. someone tell the Daily Prophet!
It was the first time ever that, at the end of the class, the students gave their assigned creatures back reluctantly and some even asked Hagrid if they could come down in between and after classes to look after "their little ones". The half giant was beaming with joy at his student's interest and agreed immediately (although he didn't understand what those Tibbelupps had the blast ended screwts didn't have).
Slowly the students made their way back to the castle, rather wanting another Care of Magical Creatures lesson than.. Wait a minute! Next was DADA, with Hermione's cousin! When that realisation had dawned on every student they were much more eager to arrive at their destination and ended up being in the classroom, which was, surprisingly, open, five minutes too early.
After they had found seats they found suitable (mainly Griffindors in the front and Slytherins in the back) they proceeded to whisper excitedly among themselves, wondering what their teacher would be like. Only Harry, Ron, Hermione and Pansy who were sitting in the very front row were talking about Hagrid's lesson as they knew everything about Alex through Hermione. Several students had tried to ask her more about her cousin, but she had merely smiled secretively and said "You'll see.", so they had resumed to talking to themselves again. Suddenly the door connecting the classroom to the teacher's office and quarters opened and a dead silence fell over the class as the young woman some of them knew by sight descended the stairs.
When she arrived at the bottom she faced them all, smiling an extremely pretty smile which made some boys wish she wasn't betrothed.
"Well, Hello everybody! Welcome to your first DADA lesson of the year and my first DADA lesson as a teacher ever. I therefore daresay, that I'm way more nervous than you are! Before we begin I'd like to get something straight, don't call me Professor Davies, it would make me feel damned old. In fact, my proposition is that we leave all that surname thing aside and call each other by the first name, I personally think it will create some trust between us, cause I don't want to be just your teacher, I want to be your friend. I want you to know that you can come to me if you have a problem which isn't necessary scholar but personal, I'll help you with what I can and keep quiet. I believe a second name basis would make such a relationship much more difficult. If anybody has something against being called by his first name he can say it and I'll call him by his surname. He or she can then decide how they want to call me cause I know that it might be strange for you as you've been calling teachers Professor and by the second name for all of your life. So, has anybody got a problem with it?"
After her speech Alex looked around her expectantly and smiled when nobody raised her hands. Even the Slytherins had been impressed by her words and found her idea extremely cool, it would be feeling equal with her and, being Slytherins, they preferred that to feeling slightly inferior like with the other teachers. The Griffindors immediately started to see her as a friend and confident, like she said, someone who would help them if they needed it.
"Great, then I'll check the list and start to learn your names. Hmmm. lets see, where did I put that damned list.," she mumbled rummaging through her bag, "Ah! Here it is!" she cried triumphantly pulling it out of the depths of her bag.
"Well then, let's see. Brown, Lavender"
"Here!"
"Ah yes, I've heard a lot about you, you're Ron's girlfriend, aren't you?" Lavender nodded, "Good, that'll help me remind your name! Now. Bullstrode, Millicent"
"Here!"
"Great! And now we have. Crabbe, Vincent."
"Here!"
"Good, now. Finnigan Seamus!"
"That's me!"
"Nice to meet you!.Goyle, Gregory?"
"Here!"
"Great. Now, Granger, Hermione. Hmmm, I might have a problem remembering you."
Hermione grinned.
"OK, next is Longbottom, Neville"
Neville raised his hand.
"Hmm. Malfoy Draco"
"That would be me," Draco drawled and then smirked superiorly, avting as if nothing had happened that morning.
"Nice for you, .. Parkinson, Pansy?"
"Here!"
"Hey, finally I get to meet you, I heard a lot about you this summer."
Pansy smiled.
"Potter Harry?"
"Here!"
"We've already met this morning. Thomas, Dean?"
"Here!"
"Yes, you're Seamus best friend, aren't you?"
Dean nodded and Alex smiled.
"It's always good to have a cousin who keeps you informed, I feel like I already know all of you. some more than the others of course. Weasley, Ronald?"
"Yep!"
"Another one whose name I mustn't learn! Great, less work for me. Now, last but not least. Zabini, Blaise?"
"Here!"
"Fine! I must say I'm really happy so many chose advanced DADA even after that lousy experience you had in fifth year with that. insert insult you find suitable here as I'm a teacher and not allowed to insult others in front of you. Umbridge. I will do what is in my power so you wont regret it. Well, we are to start with learning the Patronus which, as far as I know quite a lot of you already master," she said blinking at the DA members. "To practice this we can't use a Dementor. for obvious reasons. I must confess though, I haven't even tried going to one of them and ask 'Excuse me? Would you mind leaving Voldemort for some days and playing target for some seventh years learning the Patronus Charm?' I don't know, I think he wouldn't be too happy about it. But, luckily, not only the Dementors can be beaten by a Patronus. Can somebody tell me about another creature ?. Yes Draco?"
"The Letifold!"
"Very good! Ten points for Slytherin. Indeed, it is a Letifold we'll be practising with, I've already ordered one but I'm afraid it won't be here before tomorrows class, so I thought we'll start with another theme which is only theoretical and quickly explained. This means also no homework!"
The class started to cheer and clap until Alex told them to lower their voices if they wanted to hear some really creepy stories. Intrigued, the students fell silent. "Very nice, now. Our topic is. Necromancy! Who can tell me what that is?" Lavender raised her hand: "It is a form of predicting the future by. invoking the dead and asking them." she shuddered.
"Right Lavender, that's ten points for Gryffnidor. Necromancy is a very advanced form of dark magic, not many wizards are able to perform it. For the ritual you need to draw a stave of blood. it can be that of an animal. on the floor. On its corners you need to put black candles and then you have to speak the incantation. Necromancy is, of course forbidden because it can go horribly wrong. The only wizard known who practices it nowadays is Voldemort, he uses it in order to find out if his plans are bound to be successful. Though, if you ask me, the dead seemed to have fun sending him into failure!" she said grinning at Harry.
"Well, now to the creepy stories about Necromancy gone wrong. There is never a guarantee that it's the ghost you are calling who actually comes, it can be somebody completely different and then you might have opened the gates to this world for, for example a Poltergeist. Peeves himself is a. ehm dead proof of it. He came into this castle when a seventh year tried to find out if he would pass the NEWTs."
The class laughed.
"Yes, that one was funny, but not every ghost turns out to be harmless, there were many cases in which dead mass murderers whose thirst for blood had not died with them crossed over to this world to continue with their genocides. The ministry has always a lot of trouble then because it isn't really easy to trap a ghost and send him back. I'll tell you some of the scariest examples now. In 1756 .."
She spent the rest of the lesson telling them the creepiest stories in such a exciting way that she had the all hanging at her lips, seldom had a teacher had so much attention from his students.
When the bell was about to ring she smiled at them: "I already told you, you have no homework, but if you want to get some extra points for your house you can make up a story about Necromancy gone wrong and hand it to me next lesson. Only writing it will bring your house 20 points, the best gets another 10. You're dismissed!"
Everybody grabbed their thing and walked out talking excitedly among themselves, some already thinking about what to write for the idea of creative writing instead of summaries and essays about the different themes in their subjects attracted them. Remembering a comment Mc Gonagall had made in their third year when him and Harry had left the table first and Trelawney said the first one to rise would die because there had been thirteen people sitting at the table he Ron said: "I'm going to write something about a mad axe-murderer's ghost on the loose in Hogwarts, this will be better than inventing tragedies for the old bat. What do you think, Harry, Hermione.. Hermione?"
But Hermione wasn't there, she had stayed behind and was talking to her cousin. Just when they wanted to walk back and join them, Hermione bid Alex goodbye and walked over to her friends, a huge smile in her face.
"What's up?" Pansy asked.
"Yeah, you look as if Gryffindor won the Quidditsch Cup!" Seamus agreed. Hermione grinned even wider and said: "Oh, it's nothing, Alex just told me that Zack will be staying here over the winter holidays to visit her and his uncle.. I'm good friends with him and I just imagined. how will Snape act towards me in front of him, he's quite fond of his nephew and wouldn't want to upset him, wouldn't he?"
Her fellow Gryffindors also grinned evilly now, looking forward to their meeting with the young man.
After a long first day which included endless two periods of Potions, Transfiguration and for Hermione and Pansy, Arithmancy and for the others Divination, and after a satisfying dinner Hermione finally returned to her common room hoping she'd be there before Malfoy so she could retreat to her room without having to argue with him. Soon she arrived at the portrait hole, greeted Arianne, gave her the password end entered, peering cautiously into the common room, hoping against hope that Malfoy wouldn't be there. But of course, there was no such luck.
"Granger, why are you spying on me?"
"I'm not spying on you Malfoy, you're not as interesting as you think, in fact, you're not interesting at all."
"Excuse me, many girls share the opinion that I'm interesting enough to ask me for my autograph!"
"Really? Well, then these girls obviously share a brain, too! If you excuse me now, I'm going to bed!"
"I'm not done with you Mudblood!"
"Like I care, ferret face!"
With that Hermione walked into her room, closing the door behind her pointedly, for the second night in a row.
The next few weeks practically flew by and Alex grew to be the most popular teacher at school, she was like a fresh breeze and girls often came to her when they needed advise about boys and the guys came to her when their girlfriends were upset with them and they didn't know why ("Justin Finch- Flatley! You don't tell a girl that her t-shirt would suit her best friend better! Especially if she obviously wanted to impress you with it!" "But I thought it's always the best to tell the truth!" "We women are complicated!"). On a rainy day in the first week of October. Hermione stepped into the Gryffindor common room with a piece of parchment in her hands.
"Attention please! Here is the date of the first Hogsmeade weekend, it's this one. and of our first Quidditsch match, Gryffindor versus Slytherin, a week before Haloween."
A/N: Pansy and Mione are unable to talk, they are still laughing too hard about the whole Voldi incident and making parodies *shakes head*. Anyway, I need your help with the following:
INQUIRY: There will be quite a number of Slytherins who'll join the light side beside Pansy and Draco. I'm already sure about one of them but my question to you is, what should I do with Crabbe and Goyle? Options: a) both turn to the dark side b) both turn to the light side c) Goyle turns to the light side and Crabbe to the dark d) Crabbe turns to the light side and Goyle to the dark
I've got explanations for all of them, so tell me your choice in your review (noooo, this is no hint, why do you always think so badly of me?), I'll make it dependent of that who else will be on the light side.
Now to the answers to your reviews:
PRONGSLOVER: Thanks for your review! I really have fun writing the story and its always gratifying to know that somebody actually likes it. You really lived in Germany? That's cool!
Feltonlover88: It's Snape's sister who is Zack's mother, that's why his surname is Seimoure (and also the reason for him not having greasy hair and bad teeth, a woman wouldn't allow such a thing).
Vallierie: I know that one shouldn't make comments in the story, but sometimes it's hard for me not to, I'm trying though. I can't remember now, did I make any in this chapter? And the thing with Pansy being Hermione's best friend. well, if Draco can change and become her boyfriend, Pansy can change, too. At least that's what I think!
ProwlingKitKat: I'm really sorry if I sounded discriminating, it wasn't my intention! In fact, one of my two best friends, Lucius Sikilmituile, is a Slytherin, too (I'm a Ravenclaw). Don't worry, there'll be quite some Slytherins joining the light side as you can also see from my inquiry above the answers to the reviews. I'm also sorry about forgetting Neville, I won't do it in the future! Perhaps I'll pair him with Luna.. Which reminds me that I still have to introduce her to this fic.
Queen Cari: I know, it took me really long to update this, but I was pretty occupied before Christmas and afterwards I was gone on holidays. I hope you can undestand it. Also I will try to update Albus' Angels soon, I'll start on the new chapter asap.
JuNiSGiRl: I guess every D/Hr fic starts the same cause it's a funny beginning, anyway, except for tha first chapter I tried to make my fic different, if you hadn't only read the first chapter you'd know it (why am I writing this if you are not gonna read it anyway????)
G.M.: Well, here is the new chapter, I'm glad that you like Pansy being good that much, I really didn't know how everybody would react to this. I'm looking forward to your next review.
Britany Anmylica Cain: Thanks a lot for all your advise, the author's note thing I already knew, but it's hard for me not to give my comments immediately. I'm trying to improve though. As for the lenght, this chapter is the longest up to now, just for you, I'll also try to make them longer in the future, like those of my other fic. By the way, the next chapter will feature the Quidditsch match and a first civil convesation between Draco and Hermione. Thanks again and if you have more tipps for me just review!!!! ^_^
Dracosgurl_chrissy: OK, this update took me very long with all the chrismas shopping, friends meeting and the holiday trip I couldn't start until we came back from south Spain on the 5th at late afternoon. The next day I found over 35 author's alerts on my inbox, so I couldn't really get started until the seventh. Therefore I made the chapter longer (also on request of the reviewer above). I'm glad you found some stories you liked on my favourites list. Just keep your reviews coming, I'm always happy when I see them!!! ^_^
Supreme Neo Countess: Thanks for your review, I'm glad you like the story.
Chilly winter greetings from Barcelona,
Winterbreath ^_^