Doctor Stephen Strange believed himself to be a somewhat reasonable man. A man well rooted in logic, both of the scientific world, and his calling in the magical communities. Sure he could be a bit bull headed and as Wong never forgot to remind him, a bit of a know it all. But he studied to be prepared for all scenarios from demons to interdimensional travelers. Even taking on the young Ron Barton as his apprentice was something he prepared for after meeting the young magic user.
What he didn't count on however, was his little friend, standing next to him at the entrance of the Sanctum. He internally sighed but welcomed the two inside. He recalled the young girl had attempted to gleen knowledge while he was teaching Ron. Something he had hoped was a more permanent idea than the now seemingly temporary notion. This could end two different ways. She could quietly observe and attempt the magic he was teaching young Ron, or she could request his teachings. He hoped she would be quiet. But had a feeling she would be demanding.
Well, worst case scenario, it would prove to be an interesting lesson in magic beyond the selectivism often used in the common place in Europe.
"Hello Ron. Enjoy the flight back from Europe?" He asked civilly.
"I slept through most of it," Ron admitted with a chuckle. He looked back at his frizzy haired friend, "I hope you don't mind, but Hermione wanted to come too."
"So long as she's not a distraction, I don't see why not," he responded diplomatically. The bait set to see why she was there and how she'd respond. His eyes caught her practically jumping to the bait as she interjected.
"Actually, I was top of my class at Hogwarts," she began with an all too familiar glimmer in her eyes. "I am very apt at magic and was hoping you would teach me as well."
It wasn't so much a question as it was a demand. The girl seemed expectant with her declaration. Most likely used to putting in hard work and academia reaping a more tangible reward from adults.
He was a lot like this when he was still an active and licensed neurosurgeon. It wasn't bad to equate hard work to a benefit. But life was hardly ever that fair.
"I will not be teaching you my dear. For one, I have agreed to have Ron as my apprentice. I do not plan to take on anymore."
"I wouldn't get in your way-!"
"Secondly, I'm afraid your magic just isn't compatible with what I'm teaching Ron."
"Pardon?"
"Does this have to do with the other magics you were telling me about last Christmas?" Ron asked furrowing his own brow in confusion, no doubt certain that Strange would have allowed Hermione to join in on the teachings.
"Exactly so Ron. Just as you and I have magic far better suited for sorcery, your friend-"
"Hermione."
"-Hermione has a different magical presence."
"But Ron's a wizard and I'm a witch. Shouldn't you be able to teach both us?" She asked with desperation dripping from her tone. Strange's expression didn't falter under her tone. He held his hands in front of himself and gathered his magic in front of him. Large and intricate circles appeared in the air. Power seemed to radiate off them in a foreign manner. Something rich and bold and within the Sanctum, clearly felt different from the magic they used in Hogwarts. He half wondered why he never noticed it before as he could see Hermione shiver for a moment as Strange made the magical circles dissipated.
"Did that magic feel like the magic you were taught in school?"
Hermione didn't seem able to speak, dumbfounded by whatever spell he had just used. None of the books she had read covered something like that beyond minor glamors. And whatever he just did, didn't feel like how the books described glamors as far as she could recall.
"This magic isn't the wizardry you have young lady. It's sorcery, a shared type of magic both Ron and I have. A magic you don't. One that you just can't learn."
Hermione's eyes grew misty and she seemed just about ready to turn tail and leave the Sanctum Sanctorum with her high running emotions at the dismissal. Sturdy hands though clasped her shoulder and held her firmly in place.
"That being said, I do have a feeling you might not just have wizarding magic. If I may," he said guiding her further into the Sanctum Sanctorum. Ron followed with great interest. Sure he had his own magic, and Strange had mentioned the others once before, but were they really different?
Weaving through the ever changing halls, they soon entered a familiar room. The same room he had first met Doctor Strange. The candles flickered to life at Strange's mere presence. He he patted the ground and the two sat. He pulled a large book from thin air, opening it in a theatrical manner.
"Take a deep breath, and empty your mind-"
"Like meditation?"
"Very much so."
"I've never meditated before-"
"Then this shall be a new experience. Relax. And just. Breathe."
Hermione closed her eyes, eager to please the intellectual man before her. Ron kept his eyes open, not quite sure what to do. Strange didn't tell him to close his eyes, so he didn't. Strange glanced in his direction and showed a small smirk. He made a small gesture with his hands, moving them in a circular motion creating a gold ring of magic. Ron jumped when Strange stuck his hand through it and it vanished. It did come back though, with a box in hand. He grimaced at the thing as the magical gold ring disappeared and he opened the box. He first pulled out a thin and narrow stick, all to similar to the wands used at Hogwarts. He delicately laid it next to Hermione who was doing her best to follow instructions despite her curiosity.
Strange spoke an incantation that echoed off the walls making what Ron knew as clear sounds, indistinguishable. Then, from the wood next to her, Ron could hear some sort of thrumming noise. Hermione wiggled a bit and Strange put a hand on her shoulder.
"Concentrate." It wasn't so much a request as a demand. She let out a shaky sigh but continued with the held position, her eye lids growing tight as she clenched them shut. Strange waited and didn't perform anything else until she relaxed. Once she had, he casually pulled out a silvery ring, one that shimmered and reminded him oddly enough of his gloves. He reincantated the spell and held the ring before her. Unlike the wood which thrummed at her side, the ring remained silent.
Ron looked at his teacher who didn't seem the least bit surprised. Strange gave a passing glance, then switched the ring out in the box, now holding a branch. It didn't appear like a wand. Just a normal tree branch with green leaves attached and bright red berries. Kind of reminded Ron of Christmas movies. Was that stuff mistletoe? Again, Strange gave the incantation. Just like with the ring, nothing happened. A raised brow appeared on his face making Ron wonder what it meant.
With a small smile creeping onto his face as his brow lowered, he placed the branch back inside, and pulled out what Ron could only hope was the most peculiar item in the box.
A snake's skin. It wasn't huge, but it wasn't little flakes either. Ron wasn't quite sure if it was the fact he had never really seen a snake up close before, discluding any Slytherins of course, or something more of the magical persuasion which, all things considered, wouldn't have surprised him either.
Strange stated the incantation one more time, and unlike the last two objects, this one began to make noise. Not like the oddly pleasant thrumming of the wood next to Hermione, but a shrill hissing noise that gave Ron goosebumps. Hermione however, didn't seem bothered in the least.
"Well, not quite the one I was expecting but there's no denying it," Doctor Strange spoke bringing Hermione out of her self meditation in surprise. As her eyes opened, both the wood and the snakeskin grew silent.
"What just happened?" Hermione questioned. She noticed the wood at her side rather quickly, and looked thoroughly confused at the snakeskin in Strange's hand.
"Just confirming your magic. Predominantly wizardry, like Ron. But you seem to have a higher capacity for it. As for your secondary magic, congratulations. You have Voodoo."
"Excuse me? What does that mean?"
"It's just another branch of magic, one I dare say, I cannot use, more or less teach."
"But how would I learn it's? What exactly is it? How is it different from what they were teaching at Hogwarts? "What-"
"All important questions I'm sure. But one step at a time. You will need to alert your guardian of your secondary magic. Then, you may take the appropriate steps to finding a suitable mentor."
"How would I go about doing that?"
Ron took a small step back as he could see irritation grow on Strange's face.
"I would suggest going through MAGIC. Now if you excuse me, I need to begin Ron's lesson. You may stay until the end of the lesson. Come along you two."
"So what are we doing today?"
"You're moving on from jars. You'll be working on sealing a room for protection."
"Same spell?"
"Sorcery isn't like wizardry. Both take strength and discipline. But sorcery takes a bit more focus since we don't utilize a uniform method to guide it, it requires a bit more study. Once I'm confident you have it down, we will move onto the next spell."
"Did it take you this long to learn?" Ron grumbled. Strange chuckled at Ron's surliness.
"No. I also had a bit of a more aggressive teacher. Left me on a mountain top to figure out how to use the sling ring," he added dryly.
While I get requests on having a Strange teach Hermione, Harry or Neville alongside Ron, I have had reasons why I don't. Hermione's case, different magic type. Like each wizard has a different wand, so does each magic user have a different balance of magic. It is not that I don't think she could theoretically do well under Strange, but he had hardly a conventional learning of magic himself. This little plan has been thought of from pretty early on in the thought process. So Strange has now explained it. Goodness gracious.