Taming The Beast
Chapter 9
Accentuate der Positive
Breakfast that morning sounded like a meeting of the United Nations, but the voices were younger and the statements more sensible. Dumbledore was in his usual good humair doing an excellent impression of Maurice Chevalier, and Professor McGonagell had abandoned her Scots burr and sounded as if she was from Ohio.
"G'day everyone," piped Harry in an Australian accent. What classes we 'ave this time around? Ron mumbled something in Japanese. "Potions furst, ve hav potions vit Sleetherin, then Transfiguration." Hermione grinned. "Then we have Hagrid."
The potions laboratory was filling up with Gryffindors and Slytherins. Why oh WHY, thought Harry, could we not share a potions class with Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff some year? Draco was seated next to Goyle with Crabbe behind them, Draco speaking with a gutteral German-sounding accent and Goyle and Crabbe both saying "Howyadoin, howzitgoin" as if they were in the Gambino crime family rather than the Death Eaters. Harry noticed the haunted expression in Malfoy's face.
"Owzitgoing Malfoy?" Harry asked, his expression blank.
Draco shot him a look of anger. "Potter! So, are you satisfied with wrecking der reputation of der best Vizard Family in Britain?"
""ell, I figgered that you'd be in Durmstrang by now," Harry replied. "In any case, it was your family that wrecked its own reputation, not me!"
Draco opened his mouth to rebut, but Snape was in the room. "H'okay, everbody sittdown and shutup. Firs 'ta all, I congratlate yah on gettin into my NEWTS potions class, ya may notice dat da ranks 'ere are a bit thinner."
Ron was puzzled. "Canadian", he whispered to Hermione.
"Minnesotan, I tink, and point from Gyrffindor," Snape answered. "As I was sayin, yer ranks are thinner, and da work 'ere is gonna be much more intense. Derefore, I spect dat you'll be payin' attention. H'okay, for da first potion, you'll be makin wolvesbane, a formula dat were gonna be usin a lot of this year, sure ya all know why. Miss Granger, see me after class. Da formula is on da board, you have an hour. Begin!"
"Miss Granger, for reasons that I will not attempt to guess, Professor Lupin has insisted that you give him this rack of potions. Do see to it that you are carefull." So Snape didn't know anything yet?
Hermione entered the room as Profesor McGonagell was beginning. "Sit down Miss Granger. We're going to be turning lesser animals into greater ones for the first part of the year, starting with goldfish and making them into frogs." Neville, true to form was only managing to turn them into tadpoles, but soon got the hang of it and was rapidly producing exotic South American species along with Hermione.
Since her excellent OWLS had given her the chance to take any class she wanted, Hermione had gone with the Auror track, taking courses in Potions, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Care and Handling of Magical Creatures, Transfiguration, Herbology, Astronomy, and Charms. She was delighted to see that Harry and Ron had chosen the same courses. With the exception of Snape's usual nastiness, her schedule was a delight and the first week went very quickly.
Much too quickly, it seemed. She woke up with a start and checked the calender on the table by her bed.
Friday, September 5th. Full moon tonight.
She arrived at breakfast sitting between Ron and Harry. They looked at her curiously. "Big night tonight Hermione," Harry asked compassionately. She nodded wordlessly and asked Ron for the strawberry jam. She wasn't feeling very hungry, eating only some wheat bread toast and a couple of bananas.
It wasn't easy to pay attention in class for Hermione, Transfiguration was interminable, and Hermione merely ran through the motions, getting her typically high marks, and speaking to Ron and Harry only shortly. At least her next class would be DADA, hopefully Remus....Professor Lupin would give her something pleasnt to think about.
"Welcome again, Ladies and Gentlemen. Today we'll be examining one of the darker spells dark wizards keep in their inventory, the aging spell. Does anyone know how old I am?"
Seamus raised his hand. "Twenty-eight"
Remus chuckled. "Point to Gryffindor for attempting to boost my feelings, point FROM Gryffindor for such obvious bullshit! No, I'm not 28, but I'm not in my late 40's as I may appear. Lycanthropy tends to wear out a person's body faster. The aging spell will do the same thing." He took a pinky mouse from a cage. The four day old mouse sat blind, probing the air with it's nose. Remus produced his wand.
"ALTOCHRONOS!!!"
In an instant, soft grey fur sprouted from the mouse, and his eyes popped open in wonder. "I'm guessing we aged this little fellow about 1-2 years. Obviously this spell can be used for both good and evil purposes, but Dark Wizards prefer it for the understandable anguish it can cause. Would anyone care to guess what the proper defence would be"? Hermione's hand shot up. "Would someone other than Hermione care to guess what the proper defence would be"? "Yes Dean?"
Dean Thomas took a deep breath. "Either expeliarmus before it can be cast, or the age reversal spell afterwards"
"Indeed! Point to Gryffindor! Right then, half the class will be aging the mice, and half the class will be reversing the spell." That they did for the rest of the hour.
"Miss Granger," Lupin said as the class was leaving. She shuddered, though she did want to speak with him. "Hermione, the moon will break the horizon at 7:18 this evening. Make sure that you are safe in your room. Also be sure to eat something before you go down, I know it isn't easy, your body is preparing itself for a somewhat richer diet tonight, but do eat something."
She stared at him. Did he have any idea how on edge and nervous she was feeling? He took her hand. "Hermione, I know you're scared. But know that you are in good hands if you do as I say."
Hermione made her way to lunch. "OK, Remus says eat. Remus is infallible. Therefore I shall eat. Engage AUTO." She at least managed to consume two slices of lasagna, skim milk and French bread before leaving the table. True to their words, Harry, Ron, Ginny and the Weasley twins had kept their words and said nothing suggesting a problem. They spoke of the usual banalities found in any school that taught wizardry. Lunch would be followed by charms, some free time before supper, then....
Well, Hermione figured that it would be time. It was now one o'clock.
Hermione could not bring herself to go to Charms class. "Just tell Professor Flitwick that I'm not feeling well, call it a case of nerves. Tell him that I'll make it up soon." This of course was a shock to Harry and Ron, but they agreed to do just that. Hermione ran over to the library and grabbed the first book that she hadn't read. No good, no good at all. She just couldn't concentrate. She went to the Hospital Wing.
"I find nothing wrong with you at all," said Madame Pomfrey. "Just nerves? Very well, try this Calming Draught. It was four o'clock, and the draught did little to calm her. Classes were done for the weekend anyway.
She found herself on her bed, staring up at the ceiling. Five-twenty. "HERMIONE!!," Harry and Ron said as they entered the dorm. "Oh, God, you scared the hell out of me," she answered. "How are you doing", Ron asked with concern. She shrugged. "Tired, keyed up, scared out of my mind. But what choice do I have?"
Hermione, looked at the evil-smelling ochre mixture that Professor Lupin provided her just before dinner. "This will keep the rage you will be feeling under control. Just make sure that you eat something with it. It will be good for ten hours which should last you through the night." It was six thirty-five.
Dinner. A sumptious feast of beef stroganoff, fruits and the richest breads of Central Europe. The wolvesbane Lupin had given her was as nasty going down as its smell. She washed out her mouth with several chunks of bread. Hermione was unable to eat much more than that. At ten minutes after seven, she saw Remus Lupin look at her, nod his head, and left his fellow instructors. Hermione sighed. She stood up, and kissed both Ron and Harry. "See you tomorrow," she whispered. "I love you." She headed towards the dungeons.
Chapter 9
Accentuate der Positive
Breakfast that morning sounded like a meeting of the United Nations, but the voices were younger and the statements more sensible. Dumbledore was in his usual good humair doing an excellent impression of Maurice Chevalier, and Professor McGonagell had abandoned her Scots burr and sounded as if she was from Ohio.
"G'day everyone," piped Harry in an Australian accent. What classes we 'ave this time around? Ron mumbled something in Japanese. "Potions furst, ve hav potions vit Sleetherin, then Transfiguration." Hermione grinned. "Then we have Hagrid."
The potions laboratory was filling up with Gryffindors and Slytherins. Why oh WHY, thought Harry, could we not share a potions class with Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff some year? Draco was seated next to Goyle with Crabbe behind them, Draco speaking with a gutteral German-sounding accent and Goyle and Crabbe both saying "Howyadoin, howzitgoin" as if they were in the Gambino crime family rather than the Death Eaters. Harry noticed the haunted expression in Malfoy's face.
"Owzitgoing Malfoy?" Harry asked, his expression blank.
Draco shot him a look of anger. "Potter! So, are you satisfied with wrecking der reputation of der best Vizard Family in Britain?"
""ell, I figgered that you'd be in Durmstrang by now," Harry replied. "In any case, it was your family that wrecked its own reputation, not me!"
Draco opened his mouth to rebut, but Snape was in the room. "H'okay, everbody sittdown and shutup. Firs 'ta all, I congratlate yah on gettin into my NEWTS potions class, ya may notice dat da ranks 'ere are a bit thinner."
Ron was puzzled. "Canadian", he whispered to Hermione.
"Minnesotan, I tink, and point from Gyrffindor," Snape answered. "As I was sayin, yer ranks are thinner, and da work 'ere is gonna be much more intense. Derefore, I spect dat you'll be payin' attention. H'okay, for da first potion, you'll be makin wolvesbane, a formula dat were gonna be usin a lot of this year, sure ya all know why. Miss Granger, see me after class. Da formula is on da board, you have an hour. Begin!"
"Miss Granger, for reasons that I will not attempt to guess, Professor Lupin has insisted that you give him this rack of potions. Do see to it that you are carefull." So Snape didn't know anything yet?
Hermione entered the room as Profesor McGonagell was beginning. "Sit down Miss Granger. We're going to be turning lesser animals into greater ones for the first part of the year, starting with goldfish and making them into frogs." Neville, true to form was only managing to turn them into tadpoles, but soon got the hang of it and was rapidly producing exotic South American species along with Hermione.
Since her excellent OWLS had given her the chance to take any class she wanted, Hermione had gone with the Auror track, taking courses in Potions, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Care and Handling of Magical Creatures, Transfiguration, Herbology, Astronomy, and Charms. She was delighted to see that Harry and Ron had chosen the same courses. With the exception of Snape's usual nastiness, her schedule was a delight and the first week went very quickly.
Much too quickly, it seemed. She woke up with a start and checked the calender on the table by her bed.
Friday, September 5th. Full moon tonight.
She arrived at breakfast sitting between Ron and Harry. They looked at her curiously. "Big night tonight Hermione," Harry asked compassionately. She nodded wordlessly and asked Ron for the strawberry jam. She wasn't feeling very hungry, eating only some wheat bread toast and a couple of bananas.
It wasn't easy to pay attention in class for Hermione, Transfiguration was interminable, and Hermione merely ran through the motions, getting her typically high marks, and speaking to Ron and Harry only shortly. At least her next class would be DADA, hopefully Remus....Professor Lupin would give her something pleasnt to think about.
"Welcome again, Ladies and Gentlemen. Today we'll be examining one of the darker spells dark wizards keep in their inventory, the aging spell. Does anyone know how old I am?"
Seamus raised his hand. "Twenty-eight"
Remus chuckled. "Point to Gryffindor for attempting to boost my feelings, point FROM Gryffindor for such obvious bullshit! No, I'm not 28, but I'm not in my late 40's as I may appear. Lycanthropy tends to wear out a person's body faster. The aging spell will do the same thing." He took a pinky mouse from a cage. The four day old mouse sat blind, probing the air with it's nose. Remus produced his wand.
"ALTOCHRONOS!!!"
In an instant, soft grey fur sprouted from the mouse, and his eyes popped open in wonder. "I'm guessing we aged this little fellow about 1-2 years. Obviously this spell can be used for both good and evil purposes, but Dark Wizards prefer it for the understandable anguish it can cause. Would anyone care to guess what the proper defence would be"? Hermione's hand shot up. "Would someone other than Hermione care to guess what the proper defence would be"? "Yes Dean?"
Dean Thomas took a deep breath. "Either expeliarmus before it can be cast, or the age reversal spell afterwards"
"Indeed! Point to Gryffindor! Right then, half the class will be aging the mice, and half the class will be reversing the spell." That they did for the rest of the hour.
"Miss Granger," Lupin said as the class was leaving. She shuddered, though she did want to speak with him. "Hermione, the moon will break the horizon at 7:18 this evening. Make sure that you are safe in your room. Also be sure to eat something before you go down, I know it isn't easy, your body is preparing itself for a somewhat richer diet tonight, but do eat something."
She stared at him. Did he have any idea how on edge and nervous she was feeling? He took her hand. "Hermione, I know you're scared. But know that you are in good hands if you do as I say."
Hermione made her way to lunch. "OK, Remus says eat. Remus is infallible. Therefore I shall eat. Engage AUTO." She at least managed to consume two slices of lasagna, skim milk and French bread before leaving the table. True to their words, Harry, Ron, Ginny and the Weasley twins had kept their words and said nothing suggesting a problem. They spoke of the usual banalities found in any school that taught wizardry. Lunch would be followed by charms, some free time before supper, then....
Well, Hermione figured that it would be time. It was now one o'clock.
Hermione could not bring herself to go to Charms class. "Just tell Professor Flitwick that I'm not feeling well, call it a case of nerves. Tell him that I'll make it up soon." This of course was a shock to Harry and Ron, but they agreed to do just that. Hermione ran over to the library and grabbed the first book that she hadn't read. No good, no good at all. She just couldn't concentrate. She went to the Hospital Wing.
"I find nothing wrong with you at all," said Madame Pomfrey. "Just nerves? Very well, try this Calming Draught. It was four o'clock, and the draught did little to calm her. Classes were done for the weekend anyway.
She found herself on her bed, staring up at the ceiling. Five-twenty. "HERMIONE!!," Harry and Ron said as they entered the dorm. "Oh, God, you scared the hell out of me," she answered. "How are you doing", Ron asked with concern. She shrugged. "Tired, keyed up, scared out of my mind. But what choice do I have?"
Hermione, looked at the evil-smelling ochre mixture that Professor Lupin provided her just before dinner. "This will keep the rage you will be feeling under control. Just make sure that you eat something with it. It will be good for ten hours which should last you through the night." It was six thirty-five.
Dinner. A sumptious feast of beef stroganoff, fruits and the richest breads of Central Europe. The wolvesbane Lupin had given her was as nasty going down as its smell. She washed out her mouth with several chunks of bread. Hermione was unable to eat much more than that. At ten minutes after seven, she saw Remus Lupin look at her, nod his head, and left his fellow instructors. Hermione sighed. She stood up, and kissed both Ron and Harry. "See you tomorrow," she whispered. "I love you." She headed towards the dungeons.