Potions: What would a Girl Do without It?
By Slave4Severus
Disclaimer: I still do not own any of J.K.R. characters. Even though I wish I did.
Alanna knew that sleep would not find her for the rest of the night. Upon entering her shared quarters, she was welcomed by Hermione's familiar, his mistress not having noticed her departure or arrival. Without shedding her clothes, Alanna laid on top of her bed, Crookshanks making himself comfortable on one of her pillows.
Her first attempt at leaving had failed miserably. She would have to try again, as soon as possible.
She had run into him: the caretaker of all people, the man who had vowed to make her life here a living hell. How he could accomplish, however, that was another matter altogether.
Alanna ran her hands over her face and aching neck in frustration. Why did men have this weird affect on her? Not only her peculiar behavior with Ron and Harry, but now with the middle-aged hired help? Her mother would have been so disappointed.
She wished her father were here. She missed him more than she could ever have imagined. His laughter, reassuring nature, and loving kindness were the pinnacles of her childhood memories.
She wiped her dry eyes roughly pushing the feelings of self-pity from her mind. What she needed was another nice, long, hot bath.
Within minutes she had stripped down to her bra and knickers, laying her black garments neatly on her bedcovers. Silently she strode into the brightly illuminated white marble bathroom, approaching the sunken tub at the far end of the room. Alanna did have to admit that this bathroom had far nicer commodities than her last one.
A small turn of her wrist opened the hot water tap with gushing force. A selection of bath oils were artfully decorating the rim of the bath, selecting the violet oil she tipped a plentiful amount of the shimmering purple liquid into the steaming water. While the bath filled itself, Alanna turned to her side of the room, regarding herself in the huge oval mirror.
Her hair looked positively ratty! The bags under her eyes had not diminished in the slightest, and the fresh bruises on her neck emphasized the small, jagged scar that now stood out in a purplish hue. Her eyes traveled down further over her average sized frame, anticipating further scars, but thankfully finding none.
She shed the rest of her clothing and carefully stepped into the steaming pool of water, savoring the heat that crept into her aching limbs. With a soft sigh, she reclined in the fragrant water, letting it caress her pebbled flesh. If only everything in life were as simple as a hot bath.
When the water turned lukewarm, she emerged and wrapped herself into a fluffy pink towel. A few flicks of her wand dried and sleeked her hair, while a few more concealed the bruises. Following a vigorous tooth brushing, she left the bathroom in search of her stuffy school robes.
The grey light of dawn cautiously played over the room's interior, as Alanna stepped into her closet. A soft rustling alerted her to Hermione's awakening and quickly donned the Gryffindor sweater and robe, the tie loosely hanging around her neck. She had no bloody idea how to knot it correctly and hoped that her roommate would be able to help her out in that regard.
"Good morning," a sleepy eyed and bushy haired Hermione greeted her from the bathroom door with a small smile. "You are up early," she yawned gracefully.
"Good morning," Alanna walked out of her closet and shut the door softly behind her. "I had trouble sleeping last night," she replied. The understatement of the century!
"You did sleep a little violently. Were you having a nightmare?" Hermione had been reading, while Alanna had drifted off to sleep last night. It did not take more than thirty minutes before she had begun to thrash around and moan in her sleep.
Alanna blushed furiously. "Yes, it was rather silly really." 'Rather HOT would define that dream.'
"I am going to take a quick shower. Would you like to wait on me? I will bring you back to the infirmary and then get some breakfast in the Great Hall before classes. Does that sound good to you?"
Alanna truly smiled for the first time. "Yes, that would be lovely, thank you."
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Forty-five minutes later, both young women emerged out of their rooms and into the joint common room. They both carried rather heavy looking leather bags, draped casually over their shoulders. Any sign of the Head Boy's late night study session had vanished, the green armchair flanking the red one once more.
"You mentioned last night that the Head Boy is not very friendly toward you. Why is that?" Alanna kept her voice down, not to disturb the other occupant of their quarters.
"Well, it is safe to say that we do not look eye to eye on certain matters. Such as the circumstances of my birth, for example," Hermione regarded Alanna with an unreadable expression.
Alanna wanted to question her further, but found herself cut off by the opening of the portrait, through which Hermione was ushering her.
"Good morning, ladies."
Both were surprised, but reacted entirely differently. While Hermione squeaked a high-pitched "Ronald!" Alanna had pulled her wand with lightning speed, aiming it between the redhead's eyes.
All three were staring at each other, opened mouthed.
Hermione could not believe that Ron had actually woken up early enough to know what dawn looked like.
Alanna had been too shocked to hear a man, other than her father, greet her this early in the morning. Oh, and he was rather good looking. 'Stop, stop, stop!'
Ron, because he was staring at a dangerously beautiful woman with flashing blue-green eyes; yes, her wand was pointing at him perilously, but he could look beyond that little fact.
Alanna blushed furiously. "I am so sorry," her wand disappeared as quickly as it was drawn.
"Don't worry about it. Harry usually reacts the same way when someone sneaks up on him," Ron was still gingerly leaning against the wall, his hands in his pockets, his feet crossed at the ankles. His damp hair falling past his chin and an impish smile playing on his lips.
"What are you doing here this early? You never make it out of bed before breakfast," Hermione had a suspicion of course, but kept those thoughts to herself.
"Hermione, love, you wound me!" Ron placed his hand above his heart in mock offense. "Besides, I feel it is my duty as a Gryffindor Prefect to show Alanna the castle."
His eyes traveled down Alanna's form.
"Right after I dress her properly."
"Excuse me?" Alanna took a step back, her mouth having gone dry at the feral gleam in his eyes.
Hermione rolled hers and asked Merlin for strength.
He slowly approached her, leisurely pulling his hands from his pockets, lifting them to her neck. Alanna stepped back on impulse, wondering if her concealment charm has faltered in anyway. With a small tug, Ron had pulled her tie from around her neck
'Blast! She had totally forgotten about that."
"We don't want Alanna to get into trouble for not following the dress code, now would we?" Ron stepped even closer and lifted the collar of her white blouse.
"Have you ever tied one of these before?" He expertly flipped the burgundy and gold tie over her head and around her neck.
"No, I have not. I did not have a school uniform at home, just the usual every day robes," his fingers brushed the front of her blouse and robes while he worked.
"I guess I will have to teach you then," he said cheerily and pulled Alanna to a huge framed mirror a few paces down the hall. He placed both of his hands on her shoulders, sliding her bag off her frame and situating himself behind her.
The heat of his body slowly penetrated the back of her robes, searing her skin. With deft movements, he proceeded to show her how to tie a proper noose around her neck, his fingers ghosting over her blouse ever so often. Thankfully, he could not see what kind of effect his innocent touch was having.
Ron felt everything else but innocent. He had her exactly where he wanted her and that scent was driving him nuts! He could feel the preliminary stirrings of something else as she minutely leaned into his body, while his hands were tightening the knot on her tie.
"There, all done," he breathed into her ear. Alanna shuddered at the warm assault.
"That was so nice of you to help out your new sister," Hermione said too sweetly before pulling on Alanna's hand.
'Did she have to remind me!'
"Thank you, Ron," Alanna called over her shoulder, bent at the waist to pick up her discarded bag.
'Oh, Merlin this is torture!' Ron suppressed a pained groan as Alanna's robe covered bum halted mere inches from his hardening groin.
'Cold shower, cold shower, cold shower.' Alright, this mantra was not working as well as the actual act of showering. 'McGonagall in leather, McGonagall in leather, McGonagall in leather.' Yes, that worked perfectly.
"Oi! Where are you two heading?" His mind had been to preoccupied to notice the two girls heading out of the hallway.
"Infirmary!" Hermione called back without a glance. Alanna looked back and gave him a small smile.
Ron shrugged. Maybe the smell of the hospital wing could wipe out that intoxicating scent of hers.
"Wait up!" Ron jogged after them.
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"You did not get much sleep last night, did you Miss Flint?" Madam Pomfrey stared down at the pale face of her charge.
"No, Madam."
"Will I have to keep you in the infirmary to ensure that you sleep at night?" Her voice was clipped with concern, her wand swishing madly at Alanna's form.
"And I see that you need more nutrient potion…" Poppy was mumbling to herself, completing the exam with a final wand movement.
"Sit right here, I will be back shortly," Alanna watched the nurse walk to the back of the infirmary.
"How do you really feel?" Hermione asked her quietly.
Alanna sighed and looked up at the two concerned Gryffindors. "I ache all over and my muscles are sore," she stopped and took a deep breath, "but that is nothing, compared to not knowing what happened to me…I know it is in there," she touched her head with her fingertips, "however, the information is right out of my grasp, as if a thick curtain has been pulled over it. I know this must sound silly," Alanna laughed nervously.
"No, not at all," Hermione rushed to say, patting her new friend on the back. "You will know in due time, I am sure of it."
"Hermione is right you know, and after that crash you had in the Great Hall I am even amazed you know your own name," Ron sat down beside her on the infirmary cot.
"Your sense of tact is lacking this morning, Ronald," Hermione graced him with a stern look.
Before Ron could respond, there was a soft click of a door to their left. They watched an overly exhausted and tired looking Harry Potter emerge, his glasses clutched in his hand, while he donned his robes over his uniform.
"Harry!" Hermione and Ron both exclaimed, leaving Alanna's side to see to their best friend. He smiled lopsidedly in an effort not to worry them, which Alanna noted he miserably failed at doing.
"What happened, mate? I thought you were still sleeping!" Ron asked accusingly.
"It's nothing, guys, really. There was a revel last night," Harry spoke quietly.
Not quietly enough, however, for Alanna had heard him. A revel? What in the world was that?
"How bad was it?" Hermione whispered.
"Bad enough for me to ask Madam Pomfrey for assistance," Harry buckled his belt and pulled his grey sweater over the top of his pants.
Alanna gulped and averted her eyes quickly. How would she ever get used to these hormones raging war within her body? Just the sight of Harry raised her temperature a couple of degrees. Merlin must be punishing her for everything she had done. Perhaps she could brew a potion…
"Mr. Potter, you will eat a plentiful breakfast and drink this after," Madam Pomfrey had returned from her potions cabinet and handed Harry a blue coloured vial. "If you experience any more pain, come and see me."
"Now, Miss Flint," Madam Pomfrey walked to her side and handed her three vials. "Take the nutrient potion now," she tapped the first vial with her finger, "…and one sip after each meal from the pain reliever. And this one…"
"…Dreamless sleep. I will use it, thank you Madam Pomfrey," Alanna forced a smile and emptied the first vial in one go, depositing the other two in her robes.
"You will eat three meals per day, Miss Flint. If I hear that you have been skipping them you will be in a hospital bed for a week." Poppy gave her a poignant look.
"I shall eat," Alanna confirmed with a nod.
"Fantastic. Now, if you would vacate my ward, please, I have patients to attend to," the nurse turned and walked toward her office.
"Alright then," Ron sauntered up to Alanna. "May I escort you to the dining facility, Miss Flint?" He offered her his arm.
Hermione stared at him slack-jawed, while Harry let out a snort of laughter. Alanna looked at the two with a puzzled expression.
"Oh, don't worry about those two stuffed ninnies," Ron looked at them loftily. "They are only jealous of my ardent sense of chivalry."
Harry let out a bark of laughter. "That is twice in two days Ronald, don't hurt yourself."
"As I said, they are lacking the finer manners of life," Ron's eyes twinkled merrily, while Alanna took the proffered arm.
"Ronald I am honoured, please take me to breakfast," Alanna easily played into their banter. "Will you be cutting my chipolatas as well?"
"Your wish is my command, my lady," Ron placed his other hand over hers and walked her toward the double doors.
Harry coughed and cleared his throat before turning to a flabbergasted Hermione.
"Miss Granger, would you do me the immense honour of being my escort to breakfast?"
Hermione glanced at Harry with a smirk. "An 'escort,' Harry, is a paid companion, and I am not for hire," with hurried steps she followed the other two out of the hospital wing; Harry hot on her heels, blushing furiously.
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The Great Hall was nearly deserted, which suited Alanna just fine, giving her enough time to study it properly. It had been adequately named, for she found herself in a vast chamber that sported and enchanted ceiling, mirroring the early dawn sky. Four long tables for the four houses were lined up in rows, her own being on the far wall. Further down the hall was a longer table that had been raised on a platform, probably reserved for the staff of the school. She spotted only one teacher with a pointed witch's hat and emerald green robes breaking her fast, watching her make her way to her seat.
The smell wafting from the tremendous bowls of food made her stomach lurch and rumble indignantly. It had been ages since she had that bowl of soup for lunch yesterday. Ron lead her to their end of the table and gallantly kissed the back of her hand with a swooping bow, earning him a small curtsy in return.
"Thank you, kind sir."
"The pleasure was all mine, my lady," Ron bowed low over hand and rose quickly. "All of this chivalry has made me ravenous," he wiggled his eyebrows suggestively. "Let's see what those crafty elves have cooked up this morning," and with those words Ron seated himself on the end of the bench, Harry slipping onto the seat next to him.
Hermione walked around the table and took the seat across from Ron, fervently patting the space to her right across from Harry for Alanna to sit down. Alanna complied all too willingly and placed her bag below her feet.
"Ron, you know well enough that those elves have been slaving away all night trying to prepare our breakfast," Hermione stated matter-of-factly.
'That is not a surprise, knowing who is in charge of the poor lot,' Alanna thought grimly to herself.
Ron filled his plate full of chipolatas, scrambled eggs, and toast, only relinquishing the serving utensils to Harry when his plate was overflowing.
"Hermione, don't start before I had a decent breakfast," he said tersely.
Harry filled his plate with less urgency, choosing a little bit of everything and a slice of toast. Alanna picked the first bowl that was available: porridge, and serving herself a small ladle of the hot, steaming oats. A little dollop of honey added that extra taste, taking it from bland slop to a highly delicious breakfast.
Hermione had finished arranging her plate, but continued talking to Ron about elfin rights.
"They should be able to take a rest after preparing dinner, not clean the castle and start breakfast before dawn."
"Read my lips Hermione: they-like-it!" Ron emphasized his comment by impressively forcing a whole chipolata into his mouth.
Alanna tried to keep her small snicker to herself and looked up at Harry across from her, who only rolled his eyes and winked.
"Now you are probably going to tell me that gnomes enjoy being tossed around like a moldy turnip," Hermione seethed.
"No, they are a household pest that rank lower than a moldy turnip, so tossing them around is perfectly fine," Ron emptied an entire glass of pumpkin juice in three drafts.
"How can you say that?" Hermione had forgotten the forkful of eggs that seemed to hover before her mouth.
Alanna looked down at her own meal and blinked at the small plate of fruit, eggs, and two chipolatas that had replaced the half-empty bowl of porridge. She looked up into the mesmerizing green eyes of her housemate, who smiled at her and silently urged her to eat up.
She stared at him for a good few seconds, assessing if he was being genuine or not. Nobody had ever really concerned themselves with something as minor as her eating habits. Alanna picked through her plate with her fork and decided to brave the thoughtful gift and eat a couple of forkfuls.
A stern voice pulled her from the sliced pieces of banana and strawberry. "Miss Flint, may I have your attention please?" Alanna looked up into the beady eyes of the emerald clad woman.
"I am Professor McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress and Head of Gryffindor house," the professor handed her a sheet of paper. "These are the courses you will be attending this semester. I know that you will be a favorable asset to our house, and implore you to come see me if ever the need should arise," she smiled graciously at her.
"Thank you, professor," Alanna mumbled and took the parchment from her outstretched hand.
"I will see all of you in class," and with those parting words Professor McGonagall left the Great Hall.
"Oh, Alanna let me see what classes you are taking this term," Hermione barely contained her excitement.
Alanna carefully unfolded her parchment and looked up her Friday schedule. "I am starting off this morning with a double Transfiguration, followed by a double Care of Magical Creatures, and end with a triple Potions."
'Yes! Triple Potions!'
"That sounds similar to mine, although I have a double Ancient Runes instead of Magical Creatures. Harry and Ron have the same schedule though," Hermione looked at the boys across from her. "You two would not mind showing Alanna to class, right?"
"Ove corse no'," Ron said around a spoonful of hot porridge, while Harry nodded in the background.
Alanna looked over the rest of her schedule and noticed one missing. With a furrowed brow, she turned to Hermione, continually scanning over the parchment.
"I believe there must be a mistake here, Hermione."
Hermione put down her teacup and looked at the parchment. "Which one is it?"
"Music class," Alanna looked up confusedly.
Ron choked on his juice, and Hermione blinked a few times, while Harry stayed silent, yet again.
"Hogwarts does not have a music professor."
Alanna looked stunned, "You are kidding, correct?"
Hermione shook her head slowly. "Unfortunately, music is not considered a magical field of study. Most instruments are created and built by muggles, so the Ministry does not see fit to educate students in that art."
"There is no piano in the entire castle?" Alanna felt ill at the thought.
All three shook their heads slowly. "Do you play well?" Harry asked softly.
"I am alright, I suppose. My piano teacher kept harping on me that I did not show enough feeling while I played…" Alanna lost herself in the schedule she clutched between her fingers.
Hermione took a deep breath and stood from the table. "Alright, you lot, time for Transfiguration."
"But 'Mione I'm not done yet," Ron complained.
"But you can be done, right?" She grimaced at him.
His answer was a soft grumble that suspiciously sounded like 'mother hen', as they made their way into the Entrance Hall. Alanna tried to ignore all the stares she received from the other students, hopefully that would end soon enough.
Harry walked a few paces behind the group, watching the Slytherin reaction to their new addition. He did not like what he saw.
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After a quick detour back to Gryffindor tower for Ron's forgotten transfiguration book, the group had enough time to get to their class with fifteen minutes to spare.
Alanna sat toward the front of the classroom with Hermione, who had unpacked her bag with lightning speed and neatly assembled her quill, paper, and book before her. Alanna rummaged through her own bag and proceeded to unpack her book, opening it to the desired page that was indicated on the blackboard.
Chapter 10: Conjuring spells
'That is easy enough,' Alanna thought to herself, having been tested on them only a few months past.
The rest of the class filtered in gradually, greeting the other three Gryffindors warmly, stopping their idle chattering after glimpsing her beside Hermione. The room took on a thick layer of silence, only interrupted by a few giggles and excited whispering rippling through the ranks. She tried to ignore it as much as possible, immersing herself into the pages of her book.
The side door of the classroom opened and Professor McGonagall entered with a quick step.
"Good Morning, class."
"Good Morning, Professor," the entire class chimed in.
"Today we will cover the advanced techniques of Conjuring spells. Which one of you can tell me the incantation for this spell?"
Hermione's hand flew in the air.
"Yes, Miss Granger?"
"Creo, Madam."
The professor smiled at her. "Very good, Miss Granger."
The next forty-five minutes were spent listening to the professor lecture about the history of conjuring spells and the legislature passed by the Ministry of Magic banning any type of unlawful conjuring, such as people or different types of currency.
Hermione was the first to notice that Alanna had not taken a single note during the entire lecture. Professor McGonagall was the second.
"Alright, that concludes the lecture. Please, put away your books and quills for the practical application," with a quick wave of her wand, she moved the desks and benches to one side of the room, leaving ample space to move around.
"I need a volunteer to cast the spell," Professor McGonagall looked over the rims of her glasses.
"Miss Flint, step forward and conjure us an article of clothing," she had volunteered Alanna before Hermione could even raise her hand.
Alanna retrieved her wand from her robes, positioning herself a few feet away from the rest of the class. With a barely whispered "Creo" she executed a complicated wrist movement Professor Correlius had drilled into her. A few seconds later a black non-descript cloak appeared out of thin air, gliding into Alanna's outstretched hand.
A snicker could be heard a few feet down from her. "A cloak? Is that all you know how to conjure?"
"Mister Malfoy! You should realize by now that transfiguration is not always what it seems. Would you bring the cloak to me, Miss Flint," Professor McGonagall said brusquely.
Alanna looked over her shoulder and gave the tall blond boy an unblinking stare, and found that she just could not win. He was dressed as all the other boys in school, the only difference being the green accents to his uniform and a small badge on the front of his robes that indicated him as the Head Boy. He was too good looking for his own good, cold and sleek in his attempt to be intimidating. He seemed familiar somehow…
Professor McGonagall took the cloak from her grasp and inspected it.
"Ah, it is as I thought," she said cryptically. With a quick wrist movement, she revealed the lining of the cloak as being deep claret velvet, soft and supple to the touch. The front of the cloak was delicately embroidered with small silver Celtic knots, running down the side and the hem.
"Although the cloak may seem ordinary, Miss Flint has added multiple details that are difficult to produce. Very nicely done, Miss Flint. Twenty points to Gryffindor for you knowledge," Professor McGonagall gave her a small smile.
'Points?'
She looked back at the Head Boy and found him sneering at her in an ugly way. His beautiful face contorted in such a manner that it made him appear rather ridiculous.
"Now, Mr. Malfoy, please step forward and create an article of clothing for us," Professor McGonagall said tersely.
The blond boy sauntered toward the professor with a focused air of confidence, giving Alanna a sideways glance before beginning his incantation.
Harry and Ron were the first to start laughing. The conjured item was supposed to be another cloak, but featured pink, furry patches and a terry-cloth lining that looked as if he could not make up his mind between a cloak and a bath robe.
"As you see, Mr. Malfoy, conjuring items is harder than it looks," Professor McGonagall said with a small smirk around her stern lips.
She felt a light pat on her shoulder and turned to Harry who was smiling down at her. "Great job, Alanna. It seems Gryffindor has gained another brain."
She could feel another pat followed by a soft rub from Ron. "Yes, that was great!"
Alanna smiled a little and looked across the room at Hermione, who was beaming at her as well, along with a few other Gryffindors.
'Alright, Points are a good thing.'
The rest of the lesson was spent conjuring up other items that may be useful in future situations. Professor McGonagall came by a few times and asked her about Professor Correlius' teaching methods and to demonstrate her wand movement one more time. Before Alanna knew it, she had finished her first joint lesson of the year. Only eight more months to go. Unless she found a way out…
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Author's Note: Do not worry! I am about done with the next chapter. I could not have possibly posted a ten thousand word chapter, now could I? Special Thanks to my all my reviewers: ThouandI, Lucidity, Summerkins, Marc Darcy (I love rain!), and the precious LKLTB, who has been my 'Wit-guinea pig'. And of course all of my NEW reviewers: THANK YOU FOR COMING OUT OF THE WOODWORK AND TELLING ME WHAT YOU THINK! Heartsblood, Owlbait, Ladyknight, Kimara. Please, review again! Don't you think I deserve ATLEAST 100 reviews:wink:
Thank you to the talented Mysticsong, greatest beta in FF-kingdom (along with Pink's)
And finally, Thank you to my fantastic muse, PinkCorsair!