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(A/N: Please, if you take the time to read my story, please spare just a few of your minutes to click the review button and send me your comments. Thanks! Smiles .)
Hermione's Troubles:
Chapter Six:
"Hermione, wake up!" A voice droned in Hermione's ear. "Come on, wake up!" Suddenly another voice cut across the first one.
"Lily, that's not how to wake someone up!" The second girl exclaimed in exasperation. Somewhere in her sleepy mind Hermione registered the voice as Zoe's. "This is how to wake 'em up." Zoe continued. A second or two later, Hermione felt something heavy land on her stomach.
"Ow!" She exclaimed, trying to sit up, and pushing Zoe off her stomach. "What was that for?"
"I was trying to wake you up. You didn't respond, so Zoe took things into her own consideration." Lily explained smiling, with a reproachful look at Zoe. "Good morning!" She chirped.
"Well, Lily sucks at waking people up." Zoe said, shrugging.
"We're going to be late for class." A third voice cut across the room. "Hurry up." Angelica was hurriedly stuffing textbooks into her bag.
"Who cares?" Slughorn's not going to care if we're a bit late!" Zoe protested, climbing down off Hermione. "And no matter how early we get there, James and Sirius always sit together. It won't work!" Zoe added. Hermione thought that last comment was a little harsh, but kept her mouth shut. Over on the far side of the room Angelica glared at the back of Zoe's head.
"Oh, class! I forgot!" Hermione exclaimed in horror, leaping out of bed. "We're going to be so late!"
"What do you mean by we?" A new voice said snidely from the doorway. "C'mon girls, we'd better go." Renae flicked a piece of her long hair back behind her ear, blue eyes glinting as they fell on Hermione. Zoe got up and walked towards the door. Angelica looked at Lily.
"You go on." Lily said reassuringly to Angelica. "Tell Slughorn I'm going to be late because I'm helping the new girl." She added, smiling at Hermione. Angelica nodded.
"Thanks Lily." She replied, pulling her lustrous black hair into a high pony-tail. She walked towards the door and the other two girls turned and left, Renae with one last contemptuous glance at Hermione. Angelica glanced at the blonde girl in surprise.
"Bye Hermione." She said, smiling. "Later Lily." She followed her friends down the stair-case.
"I'm so sorry I forgot!" Hermione apologized to Lily. "You can go to Potions, really. I'm sure I can find my way there." The added, grabbing at her robes. Lily gave her an odd look.
"How did you know Professor Slughorn teaches Potions?" Lily asked curiously. "No-one's said so far what subject he teaches." Hermione winced inwardly.
"I, ah, I've heard of him before." Hermione lied. "I forgot Lily was so sharp!" She thought anxiously.
"Oh, okay then." Lily said in surprise.
"I'll go get changed." Hermione stated, fleeing to the bathroom.
When she emerged a short while later, Lily was sitting on her bed, idly twirling her wand with her fingers.
"You've surfaced!" Lily said giggling, looking at Hermione's hair, which was still wet from her shower. Hermione laughed, and walked over to her bed.
"Yeah." She laughed. "I'm almost ready." She added, stuffing a few more books into her bag. "There." She slung her bad over her shoulders.
"Finally." Lily said mockingly. "Let's go." She grabbed her bag and walked towards the door. "Just follow me. Potions is down in the Dungeons." Hermione patiently followed Lily down the spiral stair case, out of Gryffindor Tower, and down to the Potions classroom.
After passing many dark, dingy rooms, Lily finally stopped infront of a closed door.
"This is our Potions classroom." She explained, knocking on the door. After a few moments the door creaked open.
"Hey Lily." James drawled, raising an eyebrow. "Bludging class were we? Who caught you? McGonagall? No, she wouldn't dare punish her favourite student. Her darling Head Girl." He mocked. "Oh, hello…"
"Hermione." Hermione supplied, seeing James's blank look.
"James, just let us in." Lily said impatiently. "Unless you've got your fat head stuck in the doorway. And remember, you're Head Boy." Lily said with a laugh. James grimaced.
"Fine. But this doesn't stop here Evans!" He retorted, stepping out of the doorway. He walked back to his table, hi-fiving Sirius as he added some things to his simmering cauldron. Lily scowled.
"Sorry we're late Professor." She apologized. "New student." She explained. Slughorn shifted his massive bulk over to the two girls.
"And who's this?" He asked, stomach heaving in its tweed jacket.
"I'm Hermione, Hermione Granger, sir." She said fluently.
"Ah, yes… I remember now. Professor Dumbledore may have mentioned that there was a new student…" Slughorn replied, stroking his walrus mustache. "Well, take a seat." He said, gesturing around with some difficulty. "We're working in pairs."
Hermione surveyed the room. There were only a few Slytherins and 6 Gryffindors in the room. Lily had walked over to sit next to Angelica, who was staring hopefully at the back of Sirius's head. Renae was sitting next to Remus. Hermione felt a slight twinge of annoyance, but brushed it off. All the Slytherins were paired off, and Zoe was no-where to be seen.
"It looks like you'll have to work with Severus." Slughorn boomed. Hermione looked around the room again, and spotted a table at the very furtherest, darkest corner of the room that she'd missed before. At that table a boy with long, greasy black hair was working intently. Hermione's heart skipped a beat.
"That'll be fine Professor." She said smoothly, voicing no sign of her inner turmoil. "Not Snape!" She thought vehemently, while walking over to the table. Slughorn shuffled behind her.
"Severus, my lad." He boomed. Severus jumped and looked up guiltily. Hermione looked down at the textbook infront of his, noticing the spiked scribble all over the page. "The Half-Blood Prince!" Hermione thought sickly.
"Severus, my lad." Slughorn repeated. "We have a new student. Miss…" He looked at Hermione.
"Hermione Granger." She said through her teeth.
"Yes. Well, she will need to work with you. Miss Pikkin has dropped Potions." He added to Hermione. She surmised 'Miss Pikkin' was Zoe.
"Yes." Snape said nodding, sweeping is stuff so it took up only half the desk. With a smile, Slughorn waddled off.
"Sorry about this." Hermione said timidly. It was so strange to be seeing her future Professor sitting at the same desk as her, working on his Potion.
"It's fine." The dark haired boy replied quietly. Hermione set up her cauldron and potions ingredients, looking up at the board and beginning to work. As she reached the line of instructions saying to stir the potion clockwise seven times, she realized Snape was staring at her.
"Yes?" She inquired stiffly. Snape looked rather hurt.
"It's just…" He said quietly, "if you add a counter-clockwise stir on the fourth stir, it will work better." He said politely. Hermione was shocked!
"Uh, thank you." She replied, at a loss for words. "Professor Snape was shy!" She thought in amazement. Stirring the Potion, she added the one counter-clockwise stir, and was shocked when she realized that the changed stir really did cause better results. "I should have known." She though derisively. "After Harry and the Prince, I should have realized."
Snape watched her few a few more seconds, then turned back to his own work.
A while later the bell rang, and Hermione scooped up a vial of her potion, labeling it with her name, and then placed it on Slughorn's desk. She returned to her desk to pick up her bag, and saw Lily stand up to leave.
She also noticed that three boys were hanging off her every movement. James, Remus, and Snape were watching her like hawks eye their prey. Renae took one look at Remus, scowled fiercely, and stormed out of the classroom. Seeing the look in Remus's eye, Hermione almost wished she had the temper to do the same. But the thing that shocked her the most was the look of total adoration on the face of the boy beside her, his heavy locks of hair almost completely obscuring his face. Harry's voice echoed through her mind.
"Mudblood, he called her." Harry's voice said bitterly, recalling the way Snape had acted towards his mother. Seeing her future Professor's face, she began to doubt just how sincere Snape had been about that comment. She picked up her heavy bag, and the motion seemed to jerk Snape out of his reverie.
"Bye." He said shyly. There was none of his usual hatred towards Gryffindors in his glance.
"Bye." Hermione said awkwardly. She hurriedly exited the room.
"So, Hermione." A voice said over her shoulder.
"What did you think of Snivellus?" Another chorused. Two boys suddenly appeared by her sides.
"Do you need a bath? You'd be all greased flecked." Sirius said harshly, glancing at the figure of Snape behind him.
"Yeah. Bad luck, getting stuck with Snivellus." James said snidely.
"Leave him alone!" Hermione retorted, surprising everyone, including herself. "He hasn't done anything to you, at least, not today!" She said, frowning at the two boys.
"Touch-ey!" Sirius exclaimed, stepping away.
"Yeah, jeez, we were joking." James said in an injured tone.
"I'm sorry." Hermione apologized at once, knowing it wouldn't be a good idea to annoy those two.
"That's okay." James said, smiling his winning smile. "If you want to make it up to us, you could help me out with something." He said suggestively. Hermione just looked at him.
"James, it's not gonna work, she's been here less than one day." Sirius said, rolling his eyes.
"Well, I was wondering." James began. "You're a girl. So, I was thinking you could tell me how to get Lily to go out with me?" He said plaintively.
"Oh, um… well…" Hermione stammered in surprise. "I think you and I need to have a little talk." She said. Sirius sniggered.
"Fine." James agreed readily. "Charms. Next."
"You can't blow me off Prongs!" Sirius exclaimed.
"Lily." Ames replied simply. "Sorry man, but you'll live. Sit next to Angelica." He suggested.
"Angelica always sits net to Zoe in Charms, you know that." Sirius replied, grimacing. "Because Lily always sits next to that Hufflepuff friend of hers, you know, Amanda."
"Fine. Sit next to Remus. Save him from that human hinkypunk that keeps following him."
"You mean Renae?" Hermione said in shock.
"Yeah. Poor fellow. She just won't let go." James shook his head.
"Fine, since you're abandoning me!" Sirius wailed. "I'll find a new friend." Then he laughed. "You hit just the right description!" He sniggered. "A human hinkypunk!"
"Although, she could be a human boggart." James replied with a grin.
"Everyone's worst fear!" Sirius finished his sentence. Hermione was rather shocked at how harsh the two boys were being.
"Surely she's not that bad." She said hesitantly.
"Oh, you obviously haven't been around her much then!" James said, claming down slightly.
"Honestly, she's like a LEECH!" Sirius exclaimed.
"Or a giant squid!" James added. "She's got her tentacles around Remus, and she just WON'T let go!" Hermione scowled.
"Ohh, look, we hit a sore spot!" Sirius said in a sing-song voice. "Hermione and Remus sitting-"
"Do you want my help or not?" Hermione said to James, with a glare in Sirius's direction.
"Yes, yes." He confirmed hurriedly. "Sirius, shut up. And save poor Remus." He instructed as they entered the Charms classroom.
"Later." Sirius strode over to Remus, only JUST sliding into the seat beside him. Renae glowered at him, then flounced off.
"We'll sit here." James announced, pulling Hermione into the seat beside him. "Now, tell."
"Well…. Er…." Hermione began. "Umm… you have to promise not to take offence from anything I say…" She began awkwardly.
"Fine." James replied with a smile.
"Well… I think Lily sees you as… juvenile." Hermione said hesitantly. James's face blanched, but he just nodded.
"Go on." He instructed.
"Well… you seem to be always pestering her to go out with you." She said quietly. "Maybe… if you left her alone for a little while, paying attention to her, but treating her like anyone else… she'd be more receptive to you." She concluded.
"So…. I leave her alone… stop bugging her… then I ask her to go out with me?" James said in confusion.
"Basically. See, if you stop annoying her every few minutes, she may begin to like you more. Then, after a while, when you ask her out, she may be more likely to agree."
"I can do that." James said confidently. "Keep talking. Is there anything else?"
"Um… yes… but I'm not sure if you'll like it." She said shyly.
"I can handle it." He said confidently, throwing out his chest.
"Well… no more jokes. At least on Lily." She said cautiously. "And… you need to stop bragging around her so much." James deflated.
"Okay…" He said in a more quiet voice. "How do you know all this?" He said in wonder.
"Well, I noticed it yesterday." She lied glibly. "I could hardly say his son filled me in on his behavior!" She thought. "Maybe you just needed a new point of view to point it out for you." She suggested. "Everyone else has been here for ages, I have a new perspective." James stared at her.
"Yeah… that must be it." He aid after a pause. "Thanks."
"Miss Granger?" A nasally voice inquired. Both Hermione and James jumped guiltily. "Professor Dumbledore told me you'd be coming."
"Yes, I'm Hermione." She confirmed in relief. She stared at the Charms Professor, who wasn't short, smiley Flitwick. This man was thin, tall, and unremarkable. He had watery blue eyes, pale skin, and short, dark brown hair in a comb-over.
"The charm we are working on right now is 'Feu Incendio.' He commented, his high, nasally voice enough to make James twitch beside her. "It conjures a stream of fire." He explained. "Watch." The Professor pointed his wand at the roof and announced, "Feu Incendio!" A stream of fire twirled out amongst others that were lacing the ceiling.
"The ceiling is fireproofed." James muttered, quelling Hermione's question as he practiced his own charm.
"Okay." Hermione replied to the Professor. He watched her expectantly. "Feu Incendio!" He exclaimed, and a slithering stream of flames shot out the end of her wand.
"Very good Miss Granger!" The man exclaimed squeakily. "Fifteen points to Gryffindor!" Hermione grinned, filled with elation at getting the spell right the first time. The Professor moved on to some other students.
"Okay." I'll try what you say on Lily." James muttered when the Professor had moved on. "For how long?"
"A few weeks, at least." Hermione replied. James looked indignant, bit then his expression changed.
"Okay." After that, James was silent for the rest of the lesson, apart from when he muttered, "Nice, getting points off old Miloket." He said, referring to the Charms Professor. Hermione smiled at his compliment and James rushed off to catch up with his friends.
"So Hermione, what were you and James talking about?" Zoe said suddenly, appearing at her right shoulder. "Right chummy you two were. Thought Lils was about to explode!" Lily elbowed Zoe in the shoulder.
"Hermione, how did you find your first two lessons?" She said pleasantly, changing the subject. Hermione was thrown off balance.
"Um, they were good!" She said enthusiastically. "Much better than at Beauxbatons."
"Well, we have a break now." Zoe added. "Time for Lils to fight off Potter and Angelica to sniff after Sirius. Oh, and for Renae to try and hook Remus." She added wickedly. "OW!" She yelled as Lily's elbow collided with her ribs. Hermione felt a surge of dislike towards Zoe.
"Zoe, that wasn't nice." Lily said sternly. "And besides, maybe Merlin'll take pity on me and let James bother someone else." She hoped.
"He was getting pretty matey with Hermione in Charms." Zoe giggled. "Maybe his view has changed." Lily looked horrified.
"Maybe." Hermione said with a mischievous grin. She felt so much more at ease here, more daring, and brave. "Maybe it's because I'm going to leave." Hermione mused.
"Lils, don't look so appalled!" Zoe taunted. "You don't like him, so what's the problem?" She taunted. Hermione felt a strong urge to hit the girl too for her insensitivity. With a strangled noise Lily rushed away. Hermione looked guiltily at Zoe, who looked guiltily back. "Was it something I said?" She said cluelessly. "Hey, Lils, wait!" She said, rushing off down the corridor after her friend.
When Hermione got back to Gryffindor Tower, the room was deserted apart from James, Sirius, Remus, Peter, Angelica, and Renae. The Marauders were sitting at a table near the fireplace, talking in low voices. Hermione felt an almost unfamiliar surge of hatred flow through her veins at the sight of Peter Pettigrew.
"Hey Hermione." Sirius said, waving her over. Hermione saw Angelica look up hopefully at the sound of Sirius's voice, then settled back down to stare at him dreamily from an armchair. Hermione walked over timidly and sat down. She felt Remus stare at her from across the table and blushed. "Hey, Remus!" Sirius whispered loudly to his friend. "I think Hermione li- OW!" He was cut off by James kicking him under the table. "That hurt!" He said in annoyance.
"Well, Hermione gave me some advice about Lily." James started. Hermione noticed Remus tense and his eyes narrow at his friend, almost imperceptibly and her heart sunk. James started to fill his friends in. In a pause, Sirius looked at Remus.
"Friend, you got it bad!" He said in a loud whisper. "That human boggart is sprawled all over the couch, just staring at you!" Remus winced.
"Well, you're just as worse off!" He whispered. "Angelina's over there probably planning you wedding!" He retorted. Sirius looked confused.
"What do you mean by that?" He asked, eyes narrowing.
"She likes you, Sirius! You can't have missed that, surely?" Sirius gave a boastful laugh.
"Yeah, well, Prongs, what did Miss Hermione tell you in Charms today?" He asked, ignoring Lupin's jibe. Remus glanced at her. Hermione met his eyes, blushed, and looked away. "When you saw fit to abandon me today!" He said with fake anguish.
"Well, she explained that…" Hermione sort of faded out of the conversation from then on. "He cares about her." She thought sadly. "Why am I here? I don't belong here." Tears threatened to pool in her eyes.
"What do you MEAN she told you to lay off Lily!" Sirius exclaimed to James.
"Uh, bye guys." Hermione said, exiting hastily. She went over and sat on the couch next to Angelica.
"Hey Hermione." She said glumly, eyes fixed on Sirius.
"Er, hi." Hermione replied quietly, not really wanting to talk. "I don't belong here." She thought again. "What am I doing? Remus likes Lily, Lily likes James, James is Remus's best friend. And Renae likes Remus." She added sadly to the pool of thoughts in her mind. "And Renae is one of Lily's friends."
"So how do you like Hogwarts?" Angelica said, making an attempt to start a conversation.
"Oh, I love it." Hermione replied, a shadow of her internal sadness whispering in her words.
"Hermione, you don't sound very happy." Angelica replied. Concern creased her smooth face. "Are you alright? Homesick?"
"No, no I'm fine, really." She lied, trying to reassure the girl. "Hey, is it true that you like Sirius?" She said, remembering how James sprung questions at Lily to get an answer.
"Yes." She replied softly, staring at the back of his dark hair. "I mean, no, no!" She added hurriedly. "No." Hermione looked at her sadly, one eyebrow raised. "Yes." Angelica admitted in a low voice. "But don't tell anyone!" She looked like a little child who's just admitted that it was her who stole the cookies from the cookie jar.
"I think Zoe's already broadcast that all over England." Hermione smiled wryly.
"You look like Remus when you do that." Angelica stated. Hermione jumped violently. "That smile…" She added quietly. Hermione blushed.
"You, you're blushing!" Angelica exclaimed. Hermione glared at her as James looked over to see what the commotion was about. "You – do you – you can't, Renae, but…" Angelica just looked at her. "Ah well. I won't tell anyone." She winked. Hermione smiled weakly. Angelica was just such a friendly person. A bell rang overhead.
"Hey, break's over." James announced, stretching. "Come on chaps, time for transfiguration.
"Hey, Hermione, get over here!" Sirius added. Angelica looked at her in amazement and suspicion.
"Bye. Don't worry." She added, catching up with the Marauders.
"Yes?" She asked Sirius. Her eyes saw Remus and she blushed. Sirius caught the glance and laughed.
"What's this about abandoning my plan of him bugging Lily?" He asked. "It's a GREAT plan!"
"Well…it was just a suggestion." She said quietly. "He doesn't have to do it."
"Ah well. Maybe your plan'll work." He admitted. "If they get together, can I set you and Remus up?" He said loudly, laughing evilly. Remus spun around, and Hermione blushed crimson.
"NO!" They both replied forcefully.
"Oops." Sirius disappeared, catching up with James, who was striding infront of them.
"It, it's not that I don't like you," Remus said awkwardly. "It's just that-" Lily suddenly emerged from a hallway. Remus's eyes filled with unspoken emotion that tore at Hermione's heart.
"Yeah." She responded. "I understand." She said shortly, trying to not cry. Remus wasn't really even listening.
"Yup." He replied absently.
They entered the Transfiguration classroom and Remus broke away to sit next to Peter before Renae got to him. Everyone else was already there. Everyone else was paired off at desks, except for one Ravenclaw.
"Er, hi." Hermione said timidly, walking up to the girl. "Can I sit here?"
"Sure." The Ravenclaw replied. "If you want. No one else will." She added bitterly. Hermione sat down, slinging her bag under her desk and pulling out her Transfiguration book. "I'm Vanessa." The girl said shyly, smiling.
"Hermione." The other girl nodded, her black hair rippling with the motion. "Who's our Professor for Transfiguration?" She asked curiously.
"Ah, um…. Hmmm… I've forgotten." She admitted. "That's why I don't exactly have many friends in Ravenclaw. I'm not exactly top of the range when it comes to brains." She added cynically. "Only started teaching this year." Vanessa continued. Her startling deep green eyes met Hermione's dark brown ones. "Otherwise I'd remember."
"Ah, k." Hermione replied quietly. "The Sorting Hat wanted me to go in Ravenclaw." She admitted, remembering her day as a first year.
"Were you sorted when you arrived?" Vanessa said in surprise.
"Yes." Hermione replied quickly with a lie.
"So why are you in Gryffindor?" The dark headed girl inquired.
"I… just wanted to be there, that's all." She replied. "No offense, Ravenclaw was my second choice. I thought that, and the Hat seemed to read my thoughts, it suddenly told Professor Dumbledore I was to be a Gryffindor!" She connived.
"Oh." Vanessa said. "Hey, look, there's the new Professor!" Hermione looked up and got a massive shock.
Professor McGonagall was standing at the front of the classroom. Only it wasn't the Professor McGonagall Hermione knew. Gone was the stern, strict looking old lady. This McGonagall had dark, straight hair, that was pulled into a loose bun, more like a pony-tail that hadn't been pulled out of the hair-tie fully, and her eyes were bright, shiny, and laughing. Her mouth, normally in a strict, stern line unless she was giving one of her rare smiles, was smiling happily. She looked to be in her mid-thirties, muggle age, although one could never tell with witched or wizards.
"Hello Gryffindors and Ravenclaws!" She said happily. "Now. I trust you've all done your homework?" She inquired. Hermione fought back the urge to laugh. She may look different, and act slightly different, but she still was just as strict concerning her class-work, and the elegant lilt was still present in her voice. "Also, it appears we have a new student in our mist." She announced, her voice just the same as it was in the present. "Miss Hermione Granger?" She asked pleasantly.
"Here Professor." Hermione reacted, raising her hand.
"Welcome to Hogwarts." Minerva replied, smiling. "I will come and help you in your work after I have set the class something to do." She said kindly. "Now class," she continued, "today we will continue to work on human transfiguration. I want you to all try and pick a type of birds' wings, and apply it to yourself, in the right size." She instructed. The class started working. Vanessa took out her wand, pointed it at herself, and frowned in concentration. A few seconds later she'd sprouted white, feathery wings that reached from her shoulders to her ankles, but were entwined in her chair. She stood up hurriedly, accidentally knocking the chair over.
"I did it!" She announced, flapping her wings in excitement.
"Very good Miss Esprit." Professor McGonagall complimented her student. "30 points to Ravenclaw!" The Ravenclaws looked happy, but not one of them congratulated Vanessa. "Now, Miss Granger," She began, "we are working on part human transfiguration, which is easier to accomplish, but slightly more complex than a full transformation." She explained. Hermione nodded. "What you must do is point your wand at your self, and focus. Focus on a mental image of yourself as you wish to look. Concentrate on the details, the details are what glues it all together." She instructed briskly.
"Yes Professor." Hermione replied, smiling. She pointed her wand at herself, picturing her own human form with the wings of an eagle. She pictured the long, serene brown feathers, the wing joints, the size in comparison to her own body, the hollow bones, the muscle strength, everything she'd learned about bird anatomy. She suddenly felt the strangest feeling in her shoulders and back, like they'd turned to jelly, or goop. Then a tearing noise came from her robes, where two holes had formed near her shoulders. She glanced over one shoulder and saw two perfectly formed wings sprouting. She jumped off her chair, feathery wing tips brushing the ground. Professor McGonagall looked amazed.
"Fantastic, Excellent!" She praised smiling. For a brief moment through her own glee, Hermione wondered what had caused such a change in Professor McGonagall by her time.
"Probably the war. Losing so many people she cared about." Hermione thought, surprised by her own insight into the revelation.
"50 points to Gryffindor!" A few of the Ravenclaws looked quite put-out. "Never have I seen anyone do that particular transformation so well, or on their first time." She announced. Hermione beamed.
"Miss Granger, Miss Esprit, you are excused from the rest of this class, once you show me you can untransform and do it again." Hermione nearly laughed. It may have been severely unlike McGonagall to give them the rest of the lesson off, but making sure they did their work properly was still there in the future.
"Yes Professor, thank you." Both girls chorused.
"To change back, focus on a mental image of your self as a human, every little detail. Or the things that make you who you are, memories, feelings, and so on. Hermione thought.
"The things that make me who I am…" She concentrated. "Umm… books! I love books, er… Harry! Harry and Ron. They're my two best friends…" A memory of Harry and Ron talking in the Library while Hermione researched floated into her mind.
"Very good Miss Granger, your wings are shrinking." Professor McGonagall lilted.
"Er…my family…" A picture of Hermione's parents… Hermione as a little girl, being pushed on her tricycle by her father…. Hermione standing in the kitchen with an apron wrapped around her, holding a little wooden spoon and stirring a cake mix… "I miss then so much!" She thought sadly. Hermione opened her eyes, just for a fraction of a second, and saw Remus. "Remus, Remus Lupin." Hermione thought sadly. "I care about him, but he's in love with the love his best friend's life." A memory of the times she'd spent with him at Grimmauld Place flashed through her mind, the Quidditch game at the Weasleys, everything.
"Excellent Miss Granger, you've fully untransformed. Miss Esprit, you're nearly finished." Hermione smiled and directed her gaze at Vanessa, who had her eyes closed tightly and was frowning. Then the white, feathery wings disappeared completely.
"Excellent, both of you." McGonagall said warmly. Hermione smiled, remembering that 'Excellent, both of you' wasn't exactly what she'd said in the past in Remus's office. "You're both excused from this class today. You may go outside. Practice flying if you wish."
"Thanks Professor." Both Hermione and Vanessa replied, gathering their stuff. As soon as they had left the classroom, Vanessa gave Hermione a high-five.
"Al-right!" She exclaimed. "I love those wings." She said fondly. "Let's go!" She tore off through the passages. Hermione stood their in surprise. Then she ran off after her new friend.
For the rest of the Transfiguration period and the free one after that, Vanessa and Hermione flew around the Grounds at Hogwarts, talking. Once Hermione actually did a loop in midair!
"It was completely accidental, but no-one else needs to know that!" Hermione though with a grin, flying after Vanessa, who was waving from the far side of the Quidditch Pitch.
(A/N: What do you think? Thanks to lovenotknown, who KEEPS reviewing, lots of smiles for you! And thanks to my new beta reader, Gwynn-Potter! This is my longest chapter EVER! I feel special! dances around computer monitor. Will try to update soon! Byez! Please review!)