"Herbology?" Ron sighed. "First thing in the morning?" The schedules hadn't reflected it the morning before, but here they were, standing in the green houses, shivering, as Professor Grubbly-Plank fiddled with something under one of the tables.
"I guess it's something that's only awake when it's cold." Harry shrugged. Hermoine opened her mouth to say something, when the Professor stood, holding a small tray, and settled it before them.
"Be very quiet, this one doesn't like being roused. It produces a spore, that when added to sleeping potions, amplifies their duration, without strengthening them at all. If hit with too much, it causes instant death, and there is no defense." Came the whisper. Long and coiled, the vine-like plant didn't appear dangerous, but it's bright blue flowers could hide any number of surprises.
"Like a poor man's death curse?" Monica asked, startling everyone. Not even Neville made a noise. Grubbly-Plank nodded.
"Very much so. This is one of few left out of the direct care of the ministry. The reason for such an early session, is that cold makes it much less sensitive." She explained quietly. "Ten points if you can name it."
"Spiders tongue." Hermoine answered quietly. Grubbly-Plank nodded.
"Excellent." She replied, and carried the tray back to the table, and latched it in it's container. "Now, for something a little less dangerous, but just as interesting." Hagrid's class was next.
---
"Please Hagrid, as long as it's not Flobber Worms." Ron grinned. Hagrid laughed.
"O' course not. I've got something more interesting for this time." He lead them around behind his house, to the pumpkin patch sitting there. "Garden snakes." He pointed to the ground where his pumpkin patch was. Large, six legged scorpions, and spiders crawled around them. Ron shuddered back. Then something struck up. Eight feet long, and a greenish-grey, the snake swallowed the spider whole, and dove back into the ground.
"I think I like these snakes." Ron laughed.
"I thought you might. I brought them into help wit' me pest problem, and thought they might make fer a good lesson plan. Anyone want ter tell me where they live naturally?" Hermoine's hand shot up. After about ten minutes, Harry drifted away towards the patch, to a fence Hagrid had erected, that he said was the barrier beyond which they wouldn't go. Monica was leaning against it.
"Not interested in the lesson?" He asked, leaning against the fence.
"Heard this one before. I had one as a pet for a while. Released it into it's habitat when it started trying to eat me." She replied. "Was that all you wanted?"
"What was with your eyes at the feast?" He asked.
"I'm not sure what you mean." She replied.
"Yes you are." He accused. "I mean them trying to drag me in."
"Oh, that. An accident." She shrugged. "Sorry."
"What was that?" He asked. She sighed.
"You really want to know? Alright, I'll tell you. It's called soul mirror. It shows you what you are, and what kind of person you are. You are a strong, capable person. And you are not the one I'm after. Someone who wasn't strong and capable, would have been driven mad. You were strong enough to tear yourself away from that gaze. Anyone else would have found out the truth about themselves, and it would have destroyed them. I don't know of anyone that has ever been able to withstand it." She turned back to the garden, watching quietly again. Harry shuddered, moving away. Hermoine glared at him as he returned.
"What?" He asked.
"Falling in love are we?" She asked coldly.
"No, why do you ask?" He queried. She snorted and turned away. He looked at Ron. "What did I say?"
"Don't ask." Ron replied, shuddering. Harry sighed, yet again, a mystery. Not an ideal way to start out the year. Potions came next in line.
---
"No, Longbottom, this time I'm pairing you off with Mr. Malfoy." Snape snapped. "Mr. Potter, with Mr. Goyle. Weasley, with Crabbe." He turned to Hermoine. "Unfortunately Miss Granger, since there is a slight shortage of people in the Slytherin house this year, I will be your lab partner. I trust you have no objection to that?" She shook her head.
"Of course not Professor." She replied, remaining calm. When he turned away, she glared daggers at him, but kept the rest of her face flat.
"Excellent. Open your books to page 12, the dragon's breath mint. One of my favorite potions, simply for it's utility. Works as well for putting out fires, as it does for cleaning flagstones. Something Mr. Malfoy knows all too well." Snape glared at Draco, who still had pruney hands from cleaning the room, and shrank away from him. Harry forced himself not to laugh, as Snape lunged heartily forward into his instructions. When it came time to test it, he lit blue flames, similar to those Hermoine enjoyed so much. He demonstrated that normal methods, like water, or sand wouldn't put them out. Hermoine's potion did. Infact, so did every potion, except of course Neville's. Thankfully, everyone had a little left, so when it exploded the flames across the room, they were able to put them out. Snape leveled a glare at Neville. "Minus fifteen points, for absymal stupidity, and you will clean this dungeon, from top to bottom. I expect it spotless. I'll see you tonight."
"Yes, Professor." He sighed.
Divination was next, but was cancelled. A note on the wall, explained that Professor Trelawney had cancelled it, because she foresaw herself sick. A note from Madame Pomfrey acknowledged that fact. So Ron and Harry had a free period. Hermoine was in Arithmancy, and they found themselves playing wizard chess in the common room. They were sincerely surprised, when the portrait opened, and the rest of the house poured in. McGonagall stood at the head of the room.
"Attention students, for the remainder of the day, classes are cancelled, there has been an attack against one of the students, though by who, we are not sure. You are to remain in the tower until further notice. The painting will not open for anyone but the faculty, in or out." She stepped out, and it slammed shut.
"What happened?" Harry asked, looking around. "Does anyone know?" Heads shook around the room.
"A slytherin was hit." Monica spoke up. "I found him. Broken arm, and cracked ribs." She shuddered. The room stared at her. Ice was forming on the walls behind her. She seeemed to notice, and winced. "Excuse me." The ice melted, and she crossed the room, heading up towards the girl's dorms. They watched her go silently.
"That was a bit odd, wasn't it?" Hermoine asked. Harry shrugged. Ron glanced at her.
"Maybe she can't control it. Didn't look like it to me." He turned back to the chess game. Hermoine stared at them and rolled her eyes, following the other woman's path up the stairs. She found Monica sitting on her bed, eyes closed, hands folded in her lap, humming softly.
"What was that?" She asked. Monica shuddered again.
"My powers, the reason I'm here. I'm losing control of them, and I don't understand why. It took me all this time to gain control, and now it's slipping away." She opened her eyes, blue pupils catching Hermoine's gaze. She fell into them, her own emotions reflecting back at her. She gasped, as she was drawn into the eyes. Something pulled at her, fighting the gaze, but they were strong, pulling at her as well. She sided with the force pulling at her, and slammed her eyes shut. "I see. Excellent." Monica sighed, eyes closed. "Very good, I'm impressed. You passed as well. Ask Potter, he knows. As for me. I'm going to sleep now."
"It's the middle of the day." Hermoine pointed out.
"So?" Came the answer as she lay down. Hermoine shook her head, and walked away, out the door. The curtain rattled closed after she had gone.
