Disclaimer: The only thing I own is the plot.
A/N: I had a hard time with this chapter, I hope it turned out okay. Thanks to my wonderful betas, Julia and Nicole. Any mistakes are my fault, not theirs.
Chapter Five: Peaceful Thoughts
Harry sat beneath a tall oak tree, its leaves just beginning to turn color, a sign of a very early winter to come. He closed his eyes, relaxing his body as he listened to the sound of the waves pounding softly on the shore of the crystal blue lake. He soaked in the cool breeze as it gently rolled off the top of the cold waters. He let his mind wander as far as the breeze could take him, over the mountains, beneath the seas, and through the valleys and forests, before settling on the choice topic of the entire school: the announcements and what had followed the next two days.
Harry recalled Ron's, well, rather predictable reactions. The telltale redheaded temper had risen, once again, as he spoke, or, more correctly, yelled his thoughts on the whole ordeal.
Oh, the unfairness of it all, Harry thought to himself sarcastically with a smile as he recalled Ron storming off to his dorms, a dark cloud over his head, after the shouting matches in the common room. He could pick a fight with anyone, over anything, when he was mad.
Ginny had shared his reaction: a grin so big it illuminated her face. She shared Harry's own joy at the fact that there would be close to no noise at all in the castle for a few weeks while the younger students were away. Yes, he would thoroughly enjoy walking through the halls to class without the screams coming from the first years when the staircases moved unexpectedly or, God forbid, a portrait blinked
Hermione had been beaming at the announcement, to the puzzle of everyone. One would think that Hermione would be furious at the disruption of their schedules and learning that the following events would most certainly have an effect on her everyday agenda, but no, there she was, grinning fondly at the younger students talking animatedly down the table. It wasn't until the common room (before Ron blew his head) that they learned why she was happy. It was more of a selfless reason than Harry's. She was just thrilled that the younger students would get decent Care of Magical Creatures lessons; as opposed to the ones they would get with Hagrid. Sure, Hagrid was nice enough, but all in all, he just wasn't cut out for teaching.
Harry furrowed his eyebrows and frowned a bit when he remembered the thoughtful look on her face before Ron blew his fuse. He'd have to talk to her about that later. She was on to something, as usual, catching things going on that he and Ron didn't. Expressions, tones, the way people carried themselves, just, well, details, were all things that he often missed. Thankfully, they were all things that Hermione picked up on quite easily.
Harry opened his eyes, breathing in a lungful of crisp, cooled air as he surveyed the scene painted out before him. The sweet simplicity of it all brought a smile to his face in place of the frown he bore minutes ago- the five of them sitting there, each with his or her own thoughts. Separate, but all connected somehow. Through both their pasts and their futures, they were all entwined in one way or another. It was a calming thought, really…
The thinking boy himself sat, resting against the great oak, a meter or two away from the lake. Ron could be seen on the shoreline of the lake, not too far from Harry himself, pacing back and forth. He'd walk a few steps, go back, and stare at the lake, a concentrated look crossing his face, and repeat the process. If only he'd direct that gaze towards his schoolbooks, Hermione would be flying with glee. He looked into the depths before him as if they were both the mystery and the answer he couldn't find.
Across the lake sat the two girls. Hermione had her head on her knees, arms wrapped around them, also staring into the depths of the lake that was washing up upon her toes. Harry could see the clockwork in her head turning as she sorted out her problems and thought up ways to fix them. Her hair was frizzing up again, thanks to the moisture in the air from the lake, but as Harry tilted his head, he realized just how well it suited her. It was appropriate not only her face and body, but also her personality. As it boldly seemed to defy gravity, it showed that she was more willing to care and think about others than she was about her self. Any other girl would have drowned it in Sleakeasy's each morning just to make it manageable, but Hermione didn't have time for that, and she didn't care, either. Ginny's hair, on the other hand…
Harry was entranced as the long strands of straight, red hair danced and played in the breeze, tempting him to come and join in their frolic. Quite different from the first day, her hair was once again straight, but never plain. She told him she'd played with it over the summer but found that she didn't want to take the time to create the majestic curls of the first day. Either way, it was beautiful to Harry. The sun lit up a circle of her hair on the crown of her head, creating the illusion of a halo dancing in her hair. The sixth-year girl was resting her head on Hermione's shoulder, hugging her knees tightly, as if warding off the crisp air. The two girls were like sisters, neither having ever had a sister of their own. They told each other everything, and, to be honest, sometimes Harry was jealous. Ron sure was. But they both knew that Hermione was as open with them as she was comfortable with, and sometimes she just needed a girl-to-girl talk. But Harry wondered what Ginny told her… Had she ever mentioned him? Would she ever mention him?
Harry tore his gaze away from the girls and let it fall upon the fifth student sitting on the other side of the lake, farthest away from everyone else, but close enough that Harry could observe him carefully. There sat Draco Malfoy- just… sitting; and thinking. Not plotting, not sneering, not scheming, just, thinking. Sitting on the large boulder, he seemed more entranced with the lake and the way lights danced and reflected off the surface than even Hermione; and that was a feat to accomplish. As those steely gray eyes softened slightly, Harry looked on, a thoughtful look painting his face. This was the second time Harry had seen him without his cronies, just thinking. The first had been a day ago, in one of the more desolate corridors, when Harry spotted him sitting on the windowsill of one of the many arched windows, staring off into the distance, much like he was doing now.
The scene before Harry was nothing magnificent, nothing tremendous, and nothing awesome. Five teens with different backgrounds just sitting and contemplating life, nothing beautiful about that, right? Except, in that respect… he guessed it really was. It was a shame that Harry was the only one who was really seeing it.
Hermione looked up from the lake, startling Ginny, as she heard a commotion coming from the front of the castle. Everyone around her looked up as it got louder, and the doors opened, the younger students spilling out of the castle, led by Hagrid- the only one they could see clearly above their peers. They all looked confused upon seeing no mode of transportation before them, but were pushed out of their trance by other students tumbling out behind them.
Tweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet
Hermione giggled as she saw the muggle toy in Hagrid's lips. He let the bright pink plastic whistle fall back against his jacket, trusting that the matching string would hold it on. No one else seemed to notice though; they were all too busy looking up at the sky. A flock of carriages were soaring through the air towards them, each being led by two winged tigers, the most beautiful sight Hermione had ever seen.
She quickly jumped up, realizing her duties to help the students load their luggage, and started running.
"Hermione! Where are you going?" Ginny called out, confused about the disruption.
"I need to help load the carriages!" Hermione shouted back, but she wasn't sure her friend had heard her.
As Hermione got closer, the Head Girl realized the more subtle distinctions between them and your more average tiger. These had longer legs, and looked more agile, and their eyes were peculiarly silver to match their fur, which was orange, black, and silver. Their wings were as long as their bodies were, ranging from six to eight feet, and looked metallic as the sun glinted off their silver feathers.
They landed gracefully on the ground, bowing low, and Hagrid did the same, coming up at the same time Hermione reached them, Ron following quickly behind her.
"Hullo, yeh two," he greeted them, lifting up the first suitcases into the nearest carriage. "Yeh mind helpin' me load th' luggage?"
"Not at all," Hermione said, speaking for the both of them, seeing as Ron couldn't. He was currently bent over, hands on his knees, breathing heavily from the run. Looking up, he noticed that Hermione wasn't fazed at all and made a sour face.
"Why aren't you tired, Hermione?" He asked as they made their way over to the pile of suitcases. "We just ran all the way from the lake!"
"It was just from the lake to here." Hermione shrugged as Ron looked on in disbelief.
"Crazy, that one…" he muttered under his breath. Hermione smirked, but didn't let him know that she'd heard.
"Hagrid, what are they?" Hermione tilted her head towards the creatures in front of the carriages as she hefted up a considerably heavy trunk. Someone had made the compartments in the back of the carriages more spacious than they'd normally be so they wouldn't need extra coaches for luggage.
"Oh, them? Those're tyrens," Hagrid said proudly, puffing out his chest. "It's very rare that yeh will see one. It's hard enough to spot one, but when yeh do, yeh have to know the right spell to domesticate 'em, or they'll destruct everythin' in their paths. Tranquillus!" Hagrid twirled his umbrella with longing. "A dash and point..." Waking himself out of his reverie, he turned to Hermione with renewed enthusiasm. "You want to meet one?"
Hermione eyed the creatures, deciding whether or not they were dangerous, like most of Hagrid's pets, and decided it was probably better for her health if she didn't.
"No thank you, Hagrid. I really ought to finish up with these trunks."
"Alrigh', another time then." Hagrid grunted as he picked up a trunk.
"Hey, 'Mione?" Hagrid asked as they picked up the two ends of one of the teachers' trunks.
"Yes, Hagrid?"
"You be careful when we're gone, okay?"
Hermione tilted her head to the side before asking, "Why?"
"Oh, nothin'," Hagrid said quickly. "Jus' worried 'bout you guys."
Hermione smiled, "Of course we'll be careful, Hagrid."
Within a few minutes all the trunks were packed away, and the students had all filed into the carriages. The rest of the school, however, was now situated on the front lawn of the castle, to wave goodbye as they left. Hagrid, Professor Sprout, Professor Flitwick, Professor Binns, Madame Hooch, and Firenze were all saying goodbye to their colleagues before they left with the students, much to many of the older students' relief. No History of Magic, Herbology, or Charms for a few weeks was going to be a nice break. They just wished Snape was leaving with them.
Professor McGonagall tried to push the students back as the carriages soared into the air, but was having great difficulty, and ended up surrendering to them. What was left of the student body and staff waved and shouted their goodbyes as friends and family soared into the distance. When they could no longer be seen, they filed back into the school, ready to resume their new schedules.
Hermione sat at her desk in potions, tapping her uninked quill against the wood's grain as she waited impatiently for Harry and Ron to show up. No doubt they'd end up using her notes to study off of, as usual, but they ought to at least make an effort to take them.
She raised her eyebrows quizzically as her two friends ran into the room and quickly sat on either side of her, faces flushed and hair tussled from the sprint to Snape's dungeon from the Gryffindor commons.
"I was beginning to think you two wouldn't show up," she hissed under her breath.
"Not like we wanted to," Ron replied, digging his books out of his bag. No sooner had he spoken then a familiar drawl filled the air.
"What was that, Mister Weasley?" Professor Snape asked, the venom in his voice ringing out across the dungeon.
"I, uh, was just telling Harry how much I wanted to get to potions," Ron said, nervously, looking at Harry for affirmation.
"He was, sir," Harry said with a small nod.
"I doubt you had such a change of heart over the summer. Ten points from Gryffindor." Snape glared at them before walking to the front of the room, black robes fluttering out behind him.
"I swear, I think he has those robes custom made in order to do that," Ron whispered to Harry. "I mean, there's no air flow in here at all! It's too stale to blow them back like that."
Harry chuckled quietly. "Knowing him, it wouldn't surprise me."
"Turn to page two-hundred and eighty three," Snape bellowed, making a few students jump. "You will be making the Filicious potion today. It amplifies the drinker's senses, making them more aware of their surroundings. If brewed correctly it will also make them aware of the state of the person on their minds. If brewed incorrectly, or given too much than the recommended dose, it will mix up the senses, concluding in a mental distortion of the world around the drinker. It is very simple to make if you follow the directions correctly." Snape emphasized those last few words while staring at Neville, who had a history of mixing up ingredients. "Your materials are on the board and up front, labeled neatly. There should be no misconceptions of what ingredient is what. Instructions are in your books. You are to brew alone, but are allowed to help each other in small groups. I expect this potion to be done by the end of the day. Go."
A flurry of pages and robes started as soon as the word "go", but Hermione, being Hermione, was already reading the instructions.
"This is a really simple potion," she commented, flipping to the next page. Ron leaned over her shoulder to catch a glimpse of the book he "forgot".
"Oi, Hermione, you're right! Even Neville could get this right! No offense, Neville," he added when he noticed Neville at the row of desks next to them.
"None taken, mate," Neville told him on his way to the front.
"Well, I'm not complaining," Harry said with a shrug as he got up. "I'll go get our ingredients."
"Thanks, Harry," Hermione said with a smile as she kept reading.
Potions went without a hitch that afternoon. The only near-disaster happened when Neville's potion, which was supposed to be clear, started turning purple and bubbling fervently. Before Snape noticed, however, Hermione managed to levitate the fallen lizard's tail back out of his cauldron, and it immediately calmed. And although Ron's potion had a slightly greenish tinge to it, it seemed to pass right under Professor Snape's unusually careless gaze as he gave them all passing grades and let them go.
Students seemed to flee the murky dungeons as they gravitated towards the afternoon light streaming through the upper windows and dancing on the ground in intricate patterns.
"You hear that?" Ron asked suddenly as they made their way across the castle to Defense Against the Dark Arts.
Harry and Hermione paused for a second before Hermione asked the question he wanted to hear. "Hear what?"
"Exactly." Ron smirked as his two friends gave him puzzled glances. "With those stupid first, second, and third years gone, the castle seems so… peaceful," he said, a goofy grin plastered across his otherwise dazed face. Harry sighed.
"Too bad it's not going to last longer. A few weeks just isn't enough."
"Maybe you two will be able to concentrate more on your homework, seeing as it's so "peaceful"," Hermione cajoled, slinging her arms around her friends' shoulders.
"Aw, Hermione," Ron whined. "I was going to go out and practice quidditch without all those little… things buzzing around, falling off their broomsticks. You know, it is our last year here. Shouldn't we have a little fun?"
With a sigh, Hermione gave in. "I suppose a little fun won't hurt… but you two have to promise that you'll do at least one essay tonight, alright?"
Harry and Ron nodded fervently at the chance for a bit of quidditch before the training season began. They knew that if they tried to bargain with Hermione for anything less than an essay that she'd close the deal all together.
Hermione, quite happy that she'd gotten an entire essay out of them, just smirked as she walked between them, hoping that this year she could get more honest work out of them, and less copying. If she had her way, she definitely would. Oh, yes, she would.
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A/N: I would like to thank Queen Tigress and BlackAngel52488 for reviewing: reviews mean more to me than you know, so thanks so much you two. The next chapter should be up in about a week, if all goes as planned.