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CHAPTER 4

Ron was smiling at his eggs. Not because he particularly liked their taste this morning, but because he was a besotted idiot. He had gone to sleep the night before smiling, and he'd woken up that way. All because of a simple kiss on the cheek! It was only the second one he'd ever received from Hermione, but he cherished the memory of both of them.

Why couldn't he be normal…like Harry? Not in the sense that Harry was a famous, wealthy, and talented wizard destined to save their world, but in the way that he could look at Hermione like a sister. Ron had not once caught Harry goggling at Hermione; Ron had caught himself doing it a multitude of times. If his theory of 'Every-boy-crushes-on-his-female-best-friend-at-some-point' were to hold up, Harry was going to have to goggle sooner or later. But, Ron really didn't think he would. He'd better not!

"Ron, are you okay?" Harry asked from across the wooden table. Ron looked up to see his best friend looking at him curiously. Hermione was sitting down a ways with Ginny. It seemed to Ron that Hermione had been ignoring him this morning. Maybe she was regretting kissing him…maybe it had grossed her out once she realized what she'd done. Maybe he was paranoid.

"Fine." Ron replied simply looking back down at his eggs. Suddenly Hermione got up from beside Ginny to come sit beside Harry. She looked a little disturbed.

"Just look back down at your eggs. Both of you!" Hermione said, rummaging through her book satchel. Ron and Harry exchanged looks of suspicion

"Uh…Hermione? What are you looking for?" Ron asked simply.

"Nothing." She said looking up at him with wide eyes. "I'm pretending to look for something. Luna is coming over here from the Ravenclaw table."

"So?" Ron said, exchanging another suspicious look with Harry. Hermione looked up at him with her lips pursed and her eyes squinted. That look had always made him want to either kiss her or arm-wrestle her.

"Ron! We have our N.E.W.T. classes ahead of us, in addition to our first Healing class ever!" She slammed her satchel on the table and brought her elbows to rest in front of her, tapping the pads of her fingers together nervously. "I don't want her coming over here and talking nonsense. I need to be mentally prepared for the day, not worrying about some made-up creature or imaginary…whatever!"

Harry turned to look at Hermione with an annoyed expression. "She's really nice, Hermione, not to mention a bit unpopular. I think you should give her a chance."

Hermione looked at Harry and her frantic expression immediately melted into an apologetic frown. She opened her mouth a few times without saying anything. Ron noticed that while Hermione was busy feeling guilty, Luna was, in fact, coming straight toward them. She sat down quietly by Ron and stared at him with her humongous light-gray eyes. Hermione's normal-sized eyes were having trouble finding one expression; they were apologetic, guilty, and a bit mortified, as she looked at Luna.

"Hello." Luna said in a small whispery voice, still staring at Ron. He smiled at her kindly, remembering what Harry had just said. Ron really didn't have a problem with Luna; he didn't understand why she bothered Hermione so much.

"You broke Draco Malfoy's jaw yesterday." She said casually to Ron, before she looked up at the 'partly cloudy' ceiling, her sandy-blonde hair nearly touching the floor. Harry was smiling at Ron with amusement. Hermione still looked remorseful but had now turned her gaze upon Ron.

"How do you know?" Ron asked disbelievingly. He hadn't hit Malfoy that hard, had he?

Luna looked down from the ceiling and looked at Ron, tilting her head to one side, as if trying to find the meaning of some sort of abstract painting. "Well, I saw him lying in the hospital wing, and Madam Pomfrey said that if he didn't stop whining, his Jaw Restructuring Potion wouldn't work. So, naturally, she had to use an Adhesive Charm on his mouth to keep it closed."

Ron felt as if Christmas had come early! Harry reached across the table laughing and slapped Ron's shoulder. "I broke the bastard's jaw? Brilliant!" Ron laughed and pounded the table a couple of times with his fist, before seeing the worried look on Hermione's face. His smile slowly faded. "What's wrong, Hermione? Didn't you hear what Luna said?"

Hermione simply nodded and smiled weakly. Luna looked over at Hermione calmly. "I really did see him, you know. Dennis Creevey had fallen out of a tree on the grounds and I took him to the hospital wing. That's when I saw Draco."

"Oh, I believe you! Really I do!" Hermione said reassuringly to Luna. Her face resumed its guilty and apologetic look. Harry and Ron exchanged knowing looks before a loud screech echoed through the Great Hall. Ron looked up to see the owls arriving.

Luna stood up suddenly. "I see my owl. Bye." And with that she turned and walked slowly over to her seat at her own house table. Hermione looked after her miserably.

Pigwidgeon flew straight down to Ron's shoulder with a small letter tied to his leg. Harry hadn't received anything, but a Hogwart's barn owl had dropped a copy of the Daily Prophet in front of Hermione, who dropped a coin in the owl's pouch and grabbed the paper quickly, tearing it open. Her eyes went wide. She spread the paper out in the middle of the table so all three of them could see the headline, as Hermione began reading aloud.

NEW SCHOOL FORMED FOR PUREBLOOD STUDENTS

Many years ago, two wizards and two witches joined together to form Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The four talented individuals were Godric Gryffindor, Rowena Ravenclaw, Helga Hufflepuff, and Salazar Slytherin. Each of them had a different view of what type of students Hogwarts should teach. Slytherin believed in teaching pureblood students exclusively. However, the other three coordinators, who decided to teach all young witches and wizards, overruled his opinion.

This year at Hogwarts, however, a total of ninety-seven Slytherin House students did not reenroll. Why? A new school for young witches and wizards has been formed in our world. Slytherin School of Magic has been founded with the creed, 'Submission to Ambition.' Virtually nothing more is known about this mysterious new establishment.

Cornelius Fudge, Minister of Magic, has reportedly corresponded with the creator and Headmistress of the school. "She wishes to remain anonymous. Even I don't know her true identity, but she has informed the Ministry that her school is in no way affiliated with He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named or his followers." Fudge stated in an exclusive interview by reporter Natalie Pry. The location of the school remains unknown.

"Submission to Ambition? Well…that clears everything up." Ron muttered sarcastically. Hermione folded the paper up and shoved it into her satchel with a sigh. Harry had a strange look in his eye. "You okay, mate?" Ron asked.

Harry shrugged. "I just don't like the sound of this school. Something's up."

Ron shrugged back at his friend; obviously something was up. Why was Harry suddenly acting so strangely? Ron reached up to his shoulder to retrieve his letter from Pig's leg. The tiny owl had fallen asleep; he was actually cute when he wasn't flittering about madly. The letter was from his dad, Ron realized by the scratchy lettering. He read over it quickly.

"Hmph. Dad's just sent me a cryptic warning. 'Don't you kids start nosing around to find out more about this school. Leave it up to us.' Well," Ron said with a sigh, "I guess 'us' is referring to the Order. Sounds like something Mum made him write."

Hermione stood up suddenly from the table. "Well, we better head to Healing. It's up on the fifth floor."

Hermione told Ron and Harry that she was 'fine' for the sixth time as they made their way up to Professor Sinistra's Healing class. They probably think I'm worrying about that foul school, Hermione thought. But, she was actually thinking about what Luna Lovegood had told them.

Ron had broken Malfoy's jaw! She was very flattered that Ron had stood up for her like that, but he had gotten into a fistfight on the first day of school. It felt like…a bad omen…to Hermione. But, that was silly, she didn't really believe in omens. One thing she did believe in, however, was Malfoy's ability to get revenge on his enemies. Like their third year when he'd tried to get revenge on Hagrid and Buckbeak. Would he try to get back at Ron? Hermione's stomach twisted uneasily.

"So, has Sinistra always taught Healing along with Astronomy?" Ron asked as they finally reached the fifth floor.

"Yes." Hermione replied, perking up a bit. "I'm actually very excited, are you? Healing should be fascinating…and rather handy. I've read that Professor Sinistra went to school to be a Healer to follow in her father's footsteps. Her father was a famous physician. But, shefelt 'called' to study Astronomy before finishing Healing school."

Ron was looking at her with a silly smile, but Harry still looked concerned. He'd had that look since she'd read that article in the Daily Prophet about the Slytherin school. The paper hadn't really told them anymore than they already knew; why was he suddenly so concerned?

Once inside the classroom, Hermione, Ron, and Harry grabbed some seats up front. There were several small, sterile-white tables; each with three gray, plastic chairs around them. Each table had a small metal box, which appeared to be locked.

"Hi, Harry." Hermione turned around to see Cho Chang standing behind their table looking at Harry with a demure smile. Harry had turned bright red and Ron had turned to look at Hermione with a small smirk. Hermione was about to get annoyed at Ron's immaturity when he winked at her knowingly. It sent chills up her arms. He'd never winked at her before…had he? All she could do was smile at him dumbly.

"Uh…hi, Cho." Harry said casually, his blushing face slowly returning to its normal shade. "Alright?"

Cho nodded in an annoying way that Hermione guessed was an attempt at being charming. It didn't seem to faze Harry, though. He simply smiled back politely. A brief look of disappointment flashed across Cho's face before she smiled and did some sort of irritatingly cutesy shrug before walking off to her own seat, her black hair swinging behind her. She was sitting with Marietta Edgecombe and another Ravenclaw girl Hermione had seen a few times before.

Harry turned around and shook his head slightly, frowning. "I think she still fancies you." Ron said matter-of-factly.

"Yeah. Now that she's dumped Michael Corner she has to start liking someone, doesn't she?" Harry said scornfully. Hermione tried to imagine how she would feel if Cho had flirted with Ron the way she had done with Harry. It made her blood boil just thinking about it!

"Why is she even in here? She's in her graduating year, isn't she?" Ron asked curiously. Harry just shook his head, but Hermione spoke up.

"This class is available to sixth and seventh year students. She must be taking it as an elective course. Just ignore her, Harry…she'll get the idea."

"Don't worry." Harry said darkly. Suddenly a quick clicking of heels caught everyone's attention.

Professor Sinistra was walking to the front of the classroom. Her rigid posture and long black hair worn in a tight bun had always reminded Hermione of Professor McGonagall, but Sinistra was much younger. Her robes and pointed witches hat were black. She wore dark purple lipstick and had long fingernails in the same shade. Her eyes were amazing! A dark black, rimmed by silver specks…her face was really quite pretty.

"Good morning." Sinistra began in a soft, soothing voice. The class collectively leaned forward in their seats to better hear her. "Welcome to Basic Healing. I am Professor Sinistra, as you all know. Obviously each of you has successfully passed my Astronomy course, but I do hope that you have retained what we studied. Healing will most likely be much easier for those of you that have a rich understanding of the Cosmos."

Hermione thought she heard Ron groan under his breath. She knew that he had not found Astronomy interesting in the least, and she felt a little pang of pity for him. It was one of Hermione's favorite subjects! However, she wasn't quite sure she saw the connection it had with Healing. Hermione sat up a bit straighter as Professor Sinistra continued.

"All magic is made possible through the Heavens because each one of you in this room receives your magical ability through the energy of the stars. Which, in my opinion, is why a school for pureblood students is absurd. One drop of magical blood is all that is needed to make a witch or wizard. It is the amount of energy one is connected with through the stars that determines one's talent in magic." Sinistra said reflectively before pausing, glancing around the room as if daring someone to disagree with her. No one did. "Now, on the table in front of you is a Basic Healing Kit. I believe every witch or wizard should have one with them at all times. They can be purchased at St. Mungo's Hospital. I want everyone to take a moment and just browse through the contents on your own."

Professor Sinistra then waved her hands in front of her with one stroke, causing all of the boxes' lids to unlock and clatter open. She then went calmly behind her desk and sat down, where she began gracefully writing something with a long black quill.

Hermione, Ron, and Harry leaned in close and peered inside the box. It smelled like rubbing alcohol, which made Hermione's eyes sting a bit. It contained about ten small, corked bottles of blue and purple potions. They each had small white labels. The blue ones were labeled as Pain Relief Potions while the purple ones were labeled as Sleep Inducing Potions. There were a few rolls of impermeable gauze, a no-sting cleaning solution for minor cuts and lacerations, and a couple of packages of smelling salts.

"Reckon she'd notice if I nicked a few bottles of Sleep Inducing Potion?" Ron asked Hermione smiling innocently. Harry chuckled a little, apparently recovering from his encounter with Cho.

"You better not!" Hermione whispered urgently, playing along. Ron started slowly inching his hand toward the potions, keeping one eye on Hermione. She couldn't contain a giggle as she slapped at his hand. Ron jumped exaggeratedly and smiled a beautiful smile at Hermione that made her heart skip a beat.

"Alright everyone, that will do." Sinistra announced, standing up from her desk and clapping her hands twice. The contents of the kits returned to their boxes, which then closed, locked, and floated to a shelf behind her desk, where they stacked themselves neatly. "Now, today I am going to teach you how to perform a simple Mending Charm for minor cuts. If everyone would repeat after me please, without wands…Resarcio."

"Resarcio." The class repeated blandly. Sinistra nodded with a barely visible thin-mouthed smile.

"Now, take out your wands." Sinistra took hers from the inside of her robes. Hermione noticed that it was a dark, shiny wood with a curvy engraving at the base. "When performing Healing spells, charms, and enchantments for skin irritations or wounds, the wand tip should be placed directly upon the area being treated. For example."

Sinistra placed her wand tip upon the back of her right hand and glided it across saying, "Vegrandiscindo." A clean two inch cut appeared on the back of Sinistra's pale white hand as if with an invisible knife. The class gasped as bright red blood began to rise slowly from the cut, but she didn't flinch one muscle or even blink. She simply placed her wand tip directly beside the cut and said, "Resarcio." The cut immediately mended itself, not even leaving a scar. Her hand was just a bit pink now.

"And that is the Mending Charm. Please do not attempt to cut yourself for practice." She said sternly. Hermione doubted anyone in the class was displeased to hear this request. "I have brought along some…friends…to help us."

Hermione was beginning to feel a bit anxious. She didn't know if she could cut some poor creature just for practice. She looked over at Ron and Harry, neither of which looked bothered by the thought of lacerating a few of Sinistra's "friends."

Sinistra waved her wand causing a large cardboard box at the back of the classroom to levitate to her desk. She opened the lid slowly and reached in with one hand. When she pulled out her hand, she was holding a small hairless rabbit that yawned widely revealing dull, yellow teeth. Well, at least it resembled a rabbit. Except, its skin was black and it had short green horns where its ears should've been. It wasn't very cute…in fact, it was sort of revolting…but Hermione didn't want to hurt it!

"Now, before you girls start distressing yourselves at the thought of harming this poor little creature, this is a Baccaberry Hare. They do not feel pain. You could cut its entire leg off and it wouldn't feel a thing. So one person from each table come get a Hare, and then each of you take turns cutting and mending. Remember, Vegrandiscindo to cut and Resarcio to mend. And don't worry; you won't actually be able to cut its leg off. Vegrandiscindo is a spell for minor cuts only."

Harry stood up quickly and anxiously to get a Baccaberry Hare. Ron turned to Hermione. "So…what do you think of her as a Healing teacher? Does she pass the Hermione Granger Teacher Assessment?" Hermione smiled at him and sighed with mock-exasperation.

"She seems to be a very learned witch. Of course, I'm not sure that I believe all that talk on Cosmos and star energy." Hermione said plainly. She'd read about the Star Energy Theory, but she still wasn't sure if she believed it or not. Harry approached the table and sat down the Baccaberry Hare. It immediately began sniffing the table and twitching its folds of black skin. Ron grabbed it by the scruff of the neck and held it up.

"Well…who's first?" He asked, staring at the ugly creature with mild disgust.

For the remainder of class, they each took turns cutting and mending the Baccaberry Hare. A clear watery liquid came out of its cuts instead of blood. The hare was definitely not feeling any pain; he actually fell asleep after the first few cuts.

Harry and Ron were better at cutting than Hermione. Her hand wouldn't stop shaking long enough to make a smooth cut, so she let the boys handle that part. As for the mending, however, Hermione was able to perform the charm perfectly on the first try. Neither Ron nor Harry managed to mend the hare without causing strange scarring or half-mended wounds. She noticed that Ron raised one eyebrow when he was really concentrating. It was a dreadfully attractive expression.

After class she told Ron and Harry that she would meet them in the Great Hall for lunch after their N.E.W.T. classes. On the way, she entertained herself by remembering the wink that Ron had given her. It was always bittersweet to joke around with Ron like that. Sweet for obvious reasons, but bitter because it only intensified Hermione's crush on him. As she walked to Proffesor Vector's Arithmancy class, Hermione wondered if Professor Sinistra might know of a Healing charm for love-sickness.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Well, I've been ina writing frenzy this week. So, keep checking up on the story if you're enjoying it. I'll probably have at least one new chapter everyday for a while. Reviews are very welcomed! Compliments and constructive criticism alike:)