Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter!
So did you guys figure out who was still awake? I should hope it's pretty obvious . . . well even if it's not, you'll find out who in this chapter. And be warned it kind of switches viewpoints without warning in this chapter. Speaking of which you should enjoy reading and REVIEW!
Chapter 8 - The first lessons of many
Draco lay in bed that night pondering about many different things at once: his father, Voldemort's offer for him, the death of Hermione Granger, his mother; but mostly, he was thinking about his new best friend Phoenix.
'Does she apply herself to school as much as Gra - Hermione - did? What kinds of things is she into? Do phoenixes have really bad mood swings or do they get really mad or scared with very little provocation? I think it's the latter because she got pissed off at Potter and scared of me really fast. I wonder why she hates Potter so much . . . can't say that I blame her on that though . . .' he thought with a smirk. 'I wonder if she has a boyfriend. Someone like her probably would have since she's so gorgeous and nice. I can find out later though.'
OooOooOooOooOooO
Hermione also lay awake with a plague of thoughts. 'Why did Harry do this to me? I know I left, but I didn't have a choice in the matter. I hope you're happy Potter . . .' she thought sinisterly. 'Should I really have said yes to Ron when he asked me out? I know I thought this through for a bit, but did I really even consider the cons of dating him? I would want to be at his throat for half the things he does, then the other half I'll want nothing to do with him. I'm not really even giving him a chance though and we haven't actually done anything as a couple yet and he looked really happy that I agreed. . .' Hermione sighed and sat up in bed. Her hair fell in her face so she pushed it behind her ears.
"Why am I even bothering to worry about my romantic life? There's obviously no such thing as love or else Potter wouldn't be such a jack ass and I wouldn't be in this predicament," she murmured.
Hermione made a vow right then and there that she would no longer care about love. She would go through that menial crap about relationships as it came. She would do it to make the other party happy. Her happiness would take a back seat to what other people wanted. If and when Ron broke up with her, she would accept it so long as it made him happy. If someone else asked her out when they broke up, she would accept them if they were happy about it. She wouldn't ever end a relationship ever . . . even if she hated it, so long as the other person was happy. 'So long as they're happy I'm happy, and I can't get hurt because love doesn't exist outside fairy tales,' she nodded her head decidedly.
'Although . . . there will be an exception to that rule . . . once they want sex, I want out and I'll make sure of it because I won't give myself up to some unworthy git just because he doesn't want to keep his bloody pants on.'
"Why do I even bother anymore?" she asked herself quietly. She lay down and went into a restless and tiring sleep.
Hermione didn't want to admit it to herself, but she didn't have any control over her emotions and that scared her, so she felt as though if she completely cut herself off from being allowed to feel something for anyone or anything that she might end up okay. So she put her emotions on the sidelines, not wanting to have to deal with them.
OooOooOooOooOooO
Hermione and Draco woke up after an restless sleep feeling about as confused as one can be after spending an entire night trying and trying to understand themselves and sort things out without any sort of luck in the matter.
They both got up and did the normal morning routine: shower, teeth, hair, clothes, and in Hermione's case a little make-up. Then they put on their school robes and went down to breakfast.
When Draco saw Phoenix, he noted that she looked just as tired and confused as he was. He was going to say hello when one Ron Weasley came up to her and put his arm around her waist possessively. 'Guess that answers my question about the boyfriend . . . too bad it had to be the Weasel,' he shrugged it off as he went into the Great Hall.
OooOooOooOooOooO
Hermione was taken by surprise as Ron came up behind her.
"Hey Phoenix ," he said slipping his arm around her easily.
"Oh, hey Ron."
"How are you?" he asked trying to make small talk.
"A bit tired, how are you?"
"I'm good . . . got a bit of a shock this morning looking at Harry's face and seeing normal and then a blister in the shape of a small hand."
Hermione laughed sinisterly. "Well he deserved it," she said bitterly.
"I'm not going to side on this, but I won't say he didn't have it coming to him eventually," he said as he ushered Hermione into the Great Hall. "I guess I'll see you in class then," he said as he walked over to an angry looking Harry.
Hermione could see the glare he attempted to send her and laughed as he winced in pain from the burn being stretched and contorted. She then walked over to the Ravenclaw table and sat on the side next to the Slytherin table on the end.
She saw Draco walk in and came up to her. He kneeled by her and said, "Hey Phoenix, how about we have our first flying lesson tonight?"
"That sounds good. What time?"
"How about right after dinner."
"Sounds good. After dinner it is. Don't be late," she said as he walked to the Slytherin table and sat down across from her so their backs were facing each other.
The usual flutter of wings sounded as owls came to deliver the mail. Hermione noted that each owl carried a class schedule among their deliveries as one was dropped in front of her.
She grabbed the schedule and looked it over quickly. 'Hmm . . . Snape is my last teacher of the day. That'll be interesting . . . a nice dose of the 'evil potions professor' to finish out my day. I wonder how I could possibly not hear about him being my uncle before this summer . . . but I guess he took that secret very seriously.'
Draco tapped on her shoulder, "Phoenix, let's going. We have Ancient Runes Level 5 first thing."
Hermione looked around her and noticed that almost everyone was leaving already. So she got up and walked to the Ancient Runes room with Draco.
Hermione went over her schedule in her mind as she and Draco walked in companionable silence.
'Every other day I have Ancient Runes Level 5, then Advanced Charms, then lunch, Advanced History of Magic, after that I have Advanced Care of Magical Creatures, and last but not least I have Advanced Potions . . . and then the other days I have Arithmancy Level 5 first off, Advanced Transfiguration, Lunch, Advanced Defense Against the Dark Arts, Advanced Herbology, and Advanced Astronomy once sun sets after that. This is not going to be an easy year.'
OooOooOooOooOooO
"Phoenix?"
"What is it Draco?" asked Hermione absently.
"Uhh, we're here," said Draco.
"Oh! Yeah, sorry, I was just thinking."
"That's cool. Well, let's go."
"Okay," said Hermione as they opened the door and stepped into the classroom.
"Welcome, welcome students. My name is Professor Rubar (pronounced: Roo - bar.) This year is going to be very different for the two of you from the off. The most obvious changes will be the reduced class size, the level of work, and myself. The previous teacher, Professor Vector,had too many classes this year to be able to teach you successfully without having a severe panic attack eventually and I will be taking his place so the two of you can continue your education. Now, I know that the two of you are extremely gifted with the Ancient Runes Study and that's what got you here. I know that neither of you are stupid, and so I will be expecting no less than excellence from the both of you. Understood?"
"Yes sir," they both said responsively.
"All right. You will only have one project this year, but believe me, it will take the whole year and it will not be easy. I have brought you a book written in the runes you have learned. There will also be some runes that you will not have learned as well. You will have the whole year to translate this book. I will have weekly check points to see how far you have progressed. I am going to provide you with a short list containing a select few runes that you will need to know that going to be used throughout the book that you would otherwise not know. You will work to decipher two books, each of you taking a different book that has already been predetermined based on your personal preferences for reading and the situations in your life. So what are we waiting for? Let's grab you those books," said Professor Rubar walking into a room in the back and bringing out two books that could both have easily rivaled the size of the original Hogwarts, A History and the revised edition combined and set it down on the table in front of them.
Draco and Hermione looked at each other quickly and then at the Professor who set down a very short list of runes and their translations.
"Firebird: Memoirs of the Phoenix . . ." Hermione said reading the title.
"Ah yes, a very good tale, very good. Very informative about phoenixes and their human counterparts and all of the stipulations involved with them. Mr. Malfoy, which is yours?"
"Desolation Isle: the Lord of Magic . . ." Draco said semi-bored by the name of the title making it sound like something he wouldn't find interesting.
"I see . . . very tragic and painful to read through. Very philosophical and a vast level of depth and perception about life. A very good book indeed. So I will leave you two to start your translations. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask me. I want the first chapter of each in a week."
Hermione and Draco set to their books with haste excited to be in their first class of the year.
OooOooOooOooOooO
Hermione found that her time passed with Draco and Professor Rubar all too quickly and she was on her way to her next class.
"Advanced Charms, this should be pretty fun don't you think?" asked Hermione.
"Yeah, I'm just glad that it's only people who are good at charms instead of everyone and anyone," said Draco thinking of his buffoon body guards Crabbe and Goyle.
"True . . . and from what I hear, the class is pretty small this year since not many people passed O.W.L.s with Excellent or Outstanding for Charms."
"Did Gr - Hermione - tell you about who passed and who didn't? Cause I don't know how you'd know otherwise."
"Well, yeah . . . not to mention that she took the advanced classes last year as did some others who needed them. Most people quit advanced classes after having been in them last year from what she told me," said Hermione quickly covering her slight blunder.
"Oh, I get it. Well, here's the Charms classroom," said Draco opening the door and holding it for her.
Hermione stepped in and saw that the class size was indeed small (15 people.) Draco and Blaise Zabini were the only Slytherins in the room, which didn't surprise too many people, after all, they were 'best friends' and stuck together all the time and both of them were brilliant wizards, whether people liked to admit that part or not.
"Phoenix, over here, I saved you a seat," called Ron who was separated from Harry, who sat withnone other than Parvati Patil.
Hermione bid Draco a quick goodbye and took a seat next to her boyfriend Ron.
"Hey Ron . . . how was your first class?" asked Hermione trying to make small talk.
"Boring . . . I had History of Magic and I think Binns got even more boring over the summer if it's even possible," Ron said jokingly.
Hermione gave a short laugh, "Hermione always told me that you thought that History of Magic was even more boring than watching paint dry."
"Huh?" he asked looking confused.
"Oh, sorry . . . American muggle expression."
"Oh okay. So how was your first class?" he asked conversationally.
"Oh, it was loads of fun. I had Study of Ancient Runes Level 5 and Draco and I were each given a book to translate into English."
"Who?"
"Draco?"
"You mean Malfoy?"
"Yeah . . . that's who I meant."
"Are you and him. . .friends?" asked Ron increduously.
"Yeah, that's not a problem is it?"
"Oh, no it's just that it was surprising that he is capable of social human functions resembling anything remotely like friendship."
"He's really not as bad as you would think. And I think Hermione rubbed off on you, you're talking like she would."
"I know, I guess it's just something you pick up if you are Hermione's friend, I miss her too; she was like a second sister to me. I'm not going to agree with you about the first thing though, but if you want to be friends with him, then go right ahead. Just please don't try and make me be nice to him because that just wouldn't work."
"I wouldn't dream of it. Is Potter mad at you about us going together?"
Ron opened his mouth to respond, but was cut off by the starting of the class.
"Class please settle down," called Professor Flitwick. "I have an exciting lesson planned for you this year. Today we will begin a unit on the Patronus Charm. Now who could explain what the Patronus Charm is used for?"
Hermione raised her hand tentatively along with a few others (including Potter.)
"Miss Turoe?"
"The Patronus Charm is made up of the person's happy thoughts and can be used to ward off dementors, lethifolds and occasionally boggarts if you have a fear of either of those two."
"Very good Miss Turoe, I can see that you have the same intellect of your sister. Five points to Ravenclaw. Now, what form does the Patronus Charm take?"
Again there was a number of hands that went into the air.
"Mr. Malfoy?"
"Well, there is no specified form for the charm. It comes as an animal unique to the person casting the charm."
"Yes. Five points to Slytherin. All right, now repeat after me . . . Expecto Patronum."
"Expecto Patronum," repeated everyone in the class (most of them already knew how to cast the charm, but were just saying it to make the Professor happy).
"Yes, wonderful. Now take out your wands. Close your eyes and think of the happiest memory you have."
Everyone obeyed and thought of a happy memory. "Does everyone have their memory?" asked Flitwick, and at the murmur of assent said, "Okay, now attempt to cast the charm."
Everyone opened their eyes and a large number of "EXPECTO PATRONUM's!" exploded though the classroom in anuproarious noise. There were about ten animals soaring through the room including Potter's infamous stag. Hermione noticed that her Patronus had started as an otter as usual, but quickly changed into a phoenix. 'What just happened?' she thought.
"Phoenix, how did you do that?" asked Ron.
"I don't rightly know Ron," said Hermione befuddled.
Flitwick then said, "Look at Miss Turoe's Patronus everyone. It has evolved into a different animal. Can anyone tell me what that means?"
Harry whispered to Seamus, "Maybe it means she's schizoid?"
"Or maybe her Patronus is," Seamus whispered back.
Harry and Seamus both sniggered at the utterly stupid and childish comments.
Hermione, Ron, and Draco all glared at the two of them.
"Professor, it means that her Patronus has evolved based on her level of skill as a witch," said Ron informatively while looking pointedly at Harry and Seamus.
"Very good Ron, five points to Gryffindor," said Professor Flitwick. Hermione smiled at Ron. Draco gave a light glare to the interaction between the two.
"Or it could mean that Phoenix's Patronus has sensed a change in her and has adjusted accordingly. It could mean that it has noticed that something is different in her life, like a terrible tragedy or something vastly different . . . like something very happy; Professor," said Draco glaring at Ron.
"Very true Mr. Malfoy, five points to Slytherin. Miss Turoe's Patronus Charm has evolved into a different animal because her skill has evolved into a much higher level, or because it sensed a change in her life or personality and adjusted accordingly. Or it could be both," he said seeing at the competitive glances passed between Ron and Draco.
"Ron, stop it," Hermione whispered harshly also noting the glances passing between the two.
"Sorry Phoenix, but I really don't like him and I can't change that," he whispered back.
"All right, now I would like everyone to try the Patronus again, because I noticed that some people were not able to produce them," said Flitwick looking around the room.
After the fifth try, everyone was able to produce them. Draco was very frustrated because he was the very last to get it, but when he got it, his face lit up at the sight of a very large silver dragon.
The rest of class was spent studying the charm and they were all assigned a foot long essay to explain what affected the animal, and what animals were connected to what characteristics, and how many animal shapes there were.
By the end of the day Hermione had a major assignment in every class that were all due by the end of the week or very close to that deadline.
She didn't know how she was going to balance all of this and the flying lessons she was going to take. The first thought she had, as she was going out to meet Draco at the quidditch pitch, was, 'If I can actually learn fast enough what position would I want to play on the quidditch team?'
'I would want to either be a chaser or a seeker. Chaser would be fun, but I'm not really all that good at throwing . . . maybe I could be a seeker? Yeah, a seeker would be so cool. I'll talk to Draco and see if he can help me with that . . ."