Chapter 7:
Dream Team
Dream
To say that I was awesome was an incredible understatement. I was the heir to all the founders, Merlin and every great magical family that you cared to name. I was the eighth member of the Senior Council. Attaining membership after permanently sealing the Outer Gates, thereby gaining Mab as a member of my harem. All before my 21st birthday.
"You joined my harem," Mab said, looking annoyed. She got like this at time of the year, the handover of power and influence from Winter to Summer was always a trying time for her. Still she had never been more beautiful, pale skin, long white hair and green cat shaped eyes and exceptionally sharp teeth. She was the second best looking person in the room after me, of course. Mab rolled her eyes.
Where was I? Oh yes, I am amazing, I graduated Hogwarts at age twelve and defeated Voldemort, for the last time, a year later. I was declared Empress of Wizarding Britain and took Dumbledore as my court jester. Speaking of, I look out over my Hall of Greatness, I repurposed Hogwarts into my seat of power, and saw Dumbledore enter.
"My lady," Dumbledore said in his traditional jester wear, really just his regular robes, "Grand Adviser Granger is here, should I introduce her with an original dance number of my own devising." He looked so eager, I couldn't say no.
"That won't be necessary Jester Dumbledore, I simply need to speak with the, sigh, Empress of Awesome," Hermione said, looking pained as she entered the throne room.
"Do you need something, Grand Advisor? You look as if you need rest." I asked, whenever Hermione came by it was usually very important. That last time she looked like this the White Court had declared war. Poor dears didn't know what they were in for, I looked at my favorite chandelier, especially dear Lara. I blew her a kiss, taking pleasure in her blush.
Hermione cleared her throat, I looked back towards her. "Now that you mention it I do need something." Hermione said, giving Lara an annoyed look.
"Whatever you need dear, whatever you need." I answered magnanimously, truly I was so giving. Hermione walked closer, almost to my throne before speaking.
"I need," she paused, and I leaned forward and motioning for her to continue. "I need you to WAKE UP!"
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I opened my eyes, stretching slightly and yawning before situating myself in the bed. The dream, I thought letting my mind wander, I'd had it again. I always felt well rested after having it. It certainly made a nice change from my nightmares, I sighed. If only I could remember it, because aside from feeling well rested I always woke up feeling embarrassed and slightly ashamed. It's how I knew I had it, even though I could never remember it.
Still, not the worst way to wake up. Finally awake enough, I started looking around the hospital wing. Now what was I doing here, usually I just came by to get a calming or dreamless sleep potion. I had never actually stayed the night. Maybe I came by late and Madam Pomfrey had me stay? I frowned, I hope Hermione wasn't too worried.
"So the ice queens awake at last." My head snapped to the left. "Whoa calm down it's just me." Pansy said, I calmed for a moment before freaking out as I finally remembered why I was in the hospital wing. The troll, Grunge, the lake my ribs, I took a moment to feel them, completely healed, Pansy.
I looked at Pansy remembering the hit she took and asked, "How are you alive?" she looked amused at my question. "Wait, no I mean where's Hermione and how are you alive?" Pansy nodded to my other side. Turing I saw Hermione sound asleep. I felt a weight lift from me as I saw her looking alive and well. That troll nearly killed us all. Pansy, perhaps sensing my mood attempted to add some levity.
"Really, after everything, that's what you ask me?" She asked, shaking her head. I gave her a look and nodded. "Fine. Witches and wizards are remarkably resistant to sudden impacts, our magic protects us."
"Really?" I asked confused, "aren't wizards the squishy ones, when compared to other magical species?" Trolls and Vampires, came to mind. They were significantly stronger, faster and all-around tougher than humans.
"Squishy?" Pansy laughed. "Yes, I suppose most other magical species are much stronger than wizards, but I would say that we have the advantage if you're talking about getting thrown through a wall, or getting hit by a rampaging troll," She paused, grimacing, "though that would have likely been more than enough to cause, significant, if not outright fatal, injuries. Were it not for my House Robes."
"House robes? What makes Slytherin robes different from Ravenclaw?" I asked, aside from some sizing charms the robes I wore were bereft of spells.
Pansy looked far to amused at my confusion. "Not Slytherin House robes, my family House Robes, the Parkinson House Robes." At my intrigued look Pansy continued. "Each House, each family with more than three generations of magic in their veins has a set of house robes, well they're called House Robes, and most families use robes, but they can be anything from a set of jewelry or robes and scarves." She shook her head. "They can be anything wearable. Usually the House Robes are split between the head of the House and the heir. My House uses actual robes, a set of inner and outer robes specifically, as heir I use the inner robe."
"Fascinating," I said, and it was very interesting. "Wait, so your house robes, helped shield you from the troll?" If so I really needed to see if the Potters had House Robes. They would come in handy in the future.
"The Parkinson heir robes, are, among other things, good at increasing the physical capabilities of their users." Pansy answered. I nodded, wait physical increases like…
"That's how you jumped so high! Cheater!" I said, more impressed than annoyed. If I could jump like that I would abuse the hell out of it. My smile grew, yes I would most certainly have to look into my family's robes. I briefly entertained the thought of jumping around like Spiderman on crack, shooting spells at everyone in sight.
"Slytherin," Pansy answered smiling. I was about to say something none to faltering about Slytherin, teasingly of course, when Madam Pomfrey came bustling out of her office.
"How are you feeling dear?" Pomfrey asked, before casting some kind of diagnostic spell. She made a satisfied sound as she looked over the results. "Your magic's back to normal levels, a little low but that's to be expected after you blew through your reserves." She gave me admonishing look. "Don't make a habit of it." I nodded meekly, whenever I came by for my potions Madam Pomfrey was always very nice. Now though she seemed almost willing to put me in traction if I tried something like this again.
Which I thought was very unfair, it's not like it was my idea to go gallivanting in the woods and get attacked by a troll. I frowned, wasn't there a troll in the first movie. Yes, Quirrell let it in so he could try to get the stone. Unless the staff was looking for us, unlikely students went outside all the time and no one took notice and when we met the troll we were pretty deep in the forest. Deep enough that any help was likely to come far too late. No, sending us out to get eaten by a troll could have only been for one purpose. To kill us, to kill me.
Still just killing me didn't make any sense. If Quirrell was the one who spelled us, then how did this help him get to the stone? If it wasn't Quirrell, and at this point I couldn't say it was definitely him because no matter how much I tried to sense him I couldn't feel anything amiss. Quirrell's magic felt spicy and arrogant, nothing like the pulsing maelstrom of power and rotting corpses that was Voldemort.
"Are you alright dear?" Madam Pomfrey asked, looking concerned. I looked at her and Pansy, who if anything looked even more concerned, and nodded.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Thanks." I said, attempting a reassuring smile, and judging by their reactions failing miserably. I made a mental note to work on my acting ability at some point.
"Alright," Madam Pomfrey said, looking very skeptical. "I just need to check on Miss Granger and then I'll get the Headmaster. He has some questions for all of you." Pansy and I nodded at her. With that she moved over to Hermione and cast her spells. I frowned, I didn't think Hermione had gotten hurt.
"Is Hermione going to be ok?" I asked.
"Oh yes, she's fine." Madam Pomfrey said.
"So why is she here, if she's fine?" I asked. Madam Pomfrey looked at me, smiling reassuringly.
"After she got the both of you," she nodded to Pansy and I, "the poor dear needed a calming drought to get to sleep, and she wouldn't leave either of you. Even after I assure her that you would be fine." Madam Pomfrey finished with Hermione and went to her office to floo call Professor Dumbledore.
Her leaving seemed to be the signal for Hermione to wake up. Hermione yawned hugely as she sat up, stretching as she went. "Hey Hermione," I said, smiling as her head shot around to look at me. I lost my smile as she jumped off her bed and onto mine. Her arms going around me in a decent imitation of the troll's grip. "Can't, breathe." She let go immediately, siting back in the bed and just looked at me for a moment. "How are you feeling?"
"How am I feeling? You're the one who passed out!" Hermione said, huffing slightly.
"I'm also not the one who got hit by a troll." I said, nodding at Pansy. Who gave me an annoyed look as Hermione jumped her. Pansy awkwardly returned Hermione's hug.
"Thank you, thank you…" Hermione babbled. I'd only meant to distract Hermione from worrying about me, not make her start crying. I stood and made my way over to them, grabbing my wand from the bed side table.
"Hug time!" I said happily, before jumping on the both of them, ignoring Pansy threating look. We laid there for a moment before Pansy managed to push us off, giving me annoyed look. I just grinned.
Pansy just shook her head before addressing Hermione. "You're welcome Granger."
"Hermione," Hermione said. Pansy gave her a confused look.
"Yes that's your name." Pansy said, talking slowly as if towards a particularly slow child. Hermione huffed.
"No, I mean you saved my life, our lives," Hermione gestured to the both of us. "I won't have you calling me by my last name." Hermione said firmly.
Pansy looked slightly nonplussed before recovering, a teasing smile gracing her face as she responded. "Ok," Hermione nodded pleased, "Granger." We both laughed at the face Hermione made.
"There's two of you." Hermione said dejectedly. I laughed, pulling Hermione close for another hug. I turned towards Pansy and asked.
"So how did you find us last night?" I was fingering my wand, waiting for her answer. I was almost positive Quirrell was behind the troll but if I was wrong, well Pansy did get there just in time to save us. It paid to be cautious.
Pansy gave my wand a short look. "I followed you." She responded smoothly. I blinked, that was easy. Perhaps too easy. "You're not as subtle you think. It's been around Slytherin that the two of you are always disappearing off by your selves and I wanted to see what you were doing." She shrugged. "It seemed more interesting than listing to Draco preen over his latest gift." I laughed in spite of myself that sounded exactly like him.
"Wait, everyone in Slytherin knows we've been going off by ourselves?" Hermione asked looking worried.
"You're the girl-who-lived, and the best friend of the-girl-who-lived everyone watches what you do and who you do it with." Pansy paused seemingly looking for the right words. "It, would be best for you to assume you're being watched by someone wherever you are." She shrugged, "Most people thought you were just off studying." Stereotypes can be useful I suppose.
"But you didn't." I said, it wasn't a question.
"No," Pansy responded.
"How did you know?" Hermione asked. I resisted the urge to face palm, if she didn't know before she sure knew now.
Pansy smile was pure Slytherin. "I didn't."
Hermione was confused. "Then how…"
"I didn't know," Pansy paused for effect, "Until you just confirmed it." Is it wrong that I took pleasure in Hermione's indignant look? Pansy took mercy on her though and explained. "Even for Ravenclaws you both seemed too excited to just be studying." She looked between Hermione and I. "So, what were you going to do in the forest before the troll interrupted?"
I looked at her, really looked at her. What did she want? She wasn't just asking about what we were doing, she was asking for trust. The question was, should I give it to her?
By saving us she had certainly earned some. If Pansy had not interfered both Hermione and I would be dead. That was if she hadn't put us in danger in the first place. So how do I find out if she had saved us out of the goodness of her heart or if she put us in danger in the first place? I thought for a moment, the only thing that came to mind was a life debt. The only problem with that was, how do I tell if I owe her one?
Life debts were tricky things, they only manifested when someone saves the life of another without expectation of reward. Nor would they manifest if you saved someone you had put in danger. That would make it seem the perfect way to judge her intention, but a life debt may not manifest for something as little as expecting the act of saving to make them your friend. I sighed, only one way to know for certain.
Breath, focus, sense.
There, a small bond between Hermione and I, and one between Pansy and Hermione, but none between Pansy and I. Pansy saved both of our lives so why did only Hermione owe her, and why did Hermione owe me? The only time thing I did that Hermione didn't was…freezing the troll! By stopping the troll I must have cancelled my debt to Pansy and gotten one from Hermione. Reaching out with my magic I attempted to pull on the bond between Hermione and Pansy, nothing. Turning my attention to Hermione and I's bond I gave it a, for lack of a better word, tug. At Hermione's gasp I stopped and opened my eyes. To see Hermione staring at me and Pansy giving Hermione an odd look. Oops.
"Alex, what was that?" Hermione asked looking disturbed. I cringed slightly.
"Probably she was feeling our life debts." Pansy answered Hermione, before looking at me. "That is what you were doing right?" How did she know? Apparently sensing my confusion she explained. "You looked like you were focusing on something and I know I can fell Hermione's debt to Me."
"You can sense magic too?" Hermione said, her voice an octave higher than normal. I cringed, really Hermione, really? Just give everything away why don't you. "Wait, life debts? Why would I…oh."
Pansy gave her a look, "Sense magic? No, but feeling a life debt anyone who has one owed to them or who owes one can feel them. Just take a breath and feel for a connection." Hermione nodded and did as she was bid.
A breath, two in and out and then, "I feel them!" Hermione said, sounding far too excited to owe two life debts.
Pansy gave me a slight smile, "So you can sense magic." It too, was not a question.
I sighed, no point in denying it. "Yes, I can."
"What do I feel like?" Pansy asked, sounding genuinely curious.
I closed my eyes. Breath, focus, sense.
"You feel sharp, divided maybe? And you smell snakes and the taste like fruit, mango maybe?" I said, opining my eyes. She looked relieved for a moment before she schooled her features. Curiouser and curiouser, I sighed, just when she starts making sense too. Time to change the subject. "Soooo, what are we going to tell Dumbledore?"
"Hopefully the truth Miss Potter." Dumbledore said, from right behind me. I shrieked, tried to spin around and ended up falling off the bed I would have slammed into the floor if Dumbledore hadn't caught me with a spell. He floated me back towards my bed and set me gently down on it. "Are you alright Miss Potter? Perhaps you'd like a lemon drop to settle your nerves?" His voice was completely calm and respectable but his eyes twinkled, crazy old codger.
I narrowed my eyes at him, when had he gotten here? "I would love a lemon drop actually." I said, ignoring Hermione's slightly scandalized look. What? Don't judge me those lemon drops are really good. Oddly Dumbledore looked surprised at my acceptance. Before his eyes started twinkling twice as hard. A wave of his wand and a comfortable looking chair appeared. After taking a seat he reached in to his robes and pulled out a bag, leaning towards me he held it out.
"Go on, take some." Dumbledore said, I reached in and grabbed a handful. He chuckled, before motioning to Pansy and Hermione. They both shook their heads, slightly dumfounded at being offered candy by the Dumbledore. With that he put away the candy and asked. "So what where the three of you doing in the Forbidden Forrest?" His voice was just as calm as before but something was different. This was the voice of someone who was going to get his way and the universe was going to fall in line, whether or not it wanted to. Judging by the suddenly straight spines we all sported the others heard it too.
"That's the thing Professor we weren't," I answered. At Dumbledore's raised brow I continued. "That is, we didn't want to be." I stopped unsure how to continue.
"We were going to study after dinner, we were headed up to our room when, the next thing I know we're running from the troll." Hermione said.
Dumbledore nodded, before asking, "And what were you doing out there Miss Parkinson?" Pansy opened her mouth to answer when I interrupted.
"She was going to study with us, we were going to grab our things and meet her at the library. She must have seen us heading towards the forest and followed." I guess I decided to trust her, I hope I'm making the right decision.
Dumbledore gave me a studying look before responding. "Is that so?" Pansy hesitated a moment before responding.
"Yes Professor, I was going to study with them. I saw them leave the Great Hall and got up to follow them. By the time I made it out of the hall I saw them turning to go outside." She paused looking abashed. "I thought that they were ditching me," Hermione had looked confused for a moment but when Dumbledore looked her she nodded along to Pansy's story. I stifled a grin, that's the stuff Hermione. "So I followed them, at first I stayed back, so they wouldn't see me. But they were oblivious to everything."
"What do you mean, my dear?" Dumbledore asked.
"I mean I saw a unicorn run by and they just kept talking about Professor Quirrell's class, like they didn't even see it." Pansy answered. "After that I tried to get their attention, but they didn't see me." She sounded disturbed. "We eventually got to a clearing and that's when I saw a sleeping troll." Pansy swallowed. "I knew I had to snap them out of it, so I tried the dispelling charm. I had tried it before but, either I wasn't doing it right or if I just wasn't strong enough but, it didn't work. So I tried it again and it seemed to work, Potter started to look around and…"
"So that's why I could suddenly feel the rain." I interjected. "Thank you." Pansy nodded, even as Hermione started hugging her.
Dumbledore nodded before speaking. "So at that point you realized that something was going on?"
"Yes," I nodded, pausing a moment to gather my thoughts. "We were walking and, we thought, on our way to the library. When all of a sudden I could feel water pouring on me. Something felt wrong, but I couldn't tell what and so I cast the dispelling charm on me and Hermione. After that it was like we were in Hogwarts but we were also outside. The spell felt weaker so I was about to try and dispel it again when Pansy tackled us."
"The troll had woken up and was about to smash them with its club." Pansy said. "I couldn't just let it kill them, so I got them out of the way." If I had doubted her before, I believed her now. Her voice, her eyes, her expression, she believed what she was saying. If she was faking it, I couldn't tell.
"Thank you," Hermione mumbled into Pansy's shoulder as she hugged her.
"After that I was finally able to break the spell and then we ran." I swallowed thickly, remembering Grunge's grip on me. "We managed to make it to the lake when he caught up to us. Pansy tried to shield us but he ran through her and straight into the lake."
"And then you froze him." Dumbledore said, nodding towards me. "And then Miss Granger got the both of you inside." He paused, stroking his beard. "When I examined the three of you last night there was no trace of foreign magic to be found."
"What does that mean Professor?" Hermione asked.
"It means that someone has tried to harm my students and I will not stand for it." He said. I could feel a stirring of power before he reigned it in. So that's the only man Voldemort ever feared. Dumbledore shook his head. "But what matters now is that you all finish getting better." With that he stood up and the chair disappearing as he made his way out of the Hospital wing.
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I thought that I had simply trapped the troll. That after we, Pansy Hermione and I, had made it to safety Grunge would have just broke himself out and made his way back to the forest. Or that one of the professors would have sent him on his way.
That's not what happened. Turns out that while trolls are extremely magic resistant, they are not cold resistant. Or at least not suddenly well below zero resistant. Instead of just freezing the water I actually froze everything above his waist, everything from his skin to his marrow.
I know I froze him to his marrow because an enthusiastic Snape, a horrifying thing to behold, awarded me five points for getting him troll marrow. Apparently it's a rare and useful potions ingredient. He had the fourth years down at the lake rendering the troll, I received more than a few unhappy looks about that from the poor dears.
I honestly didn't know how to feel about killing Grunge. On the one hand he was trying to kill us. On the other he was an intelligent being, he talked he reasoned if at a greatly reduced level when compared to a regular human. So I should feel guilty right? The problem was I didn't and no one else thought I should. Honestly I felt worse about forgetting about my broom, something that would have made things much easier, than I did about killing Grunge.
The Gryffindor's had actually started cheering when I walked into the Great Hall the day after the incident. As far as the rest of the student body was concerned I had simply killed a savage beast, not a thinking being, and emotionally at least I felt the same way. That was the problem.
If I had been raised in the wizarding world I wouldn't feel bad, but in my last life I was raised to believe all life was sacred. That killing was wrong in all but the most trying of circumstances. Fair is fair, Grunge trying to kill us is one such circumstance, but I…
For two bloody weeks these thoughts and others like them wound their way through my head and I was no closer to figuring out what I should feel on the matter.
"Are you still thinking about the troll?" Pansy asked, concerned. She always seemed to be able to tell when I was feeling off, Hermione could as well but not as accurately nor was she here at the moment.
After the troll incident Pansy had joined our little group. Studious, sarcastic, and not a little opinionated, she fit right in.
"Yes," I admitted reluctantly. If Hermione was here I probably would have denied it, not that it would have done any good. Pansy put down her quill and folded her arms.
"Why?" She asked, voice serious. "You know he would have killed us if he had a chance, trolls never give up on prey once they've started hunting them, especially when they're after Christians you know this. And it's not like the other students have started decrying you in the hall ways." Not yet at least, if I remembered correctly that wouldn't start until next year. "So what bothering you about it?"
I took a moment to focus my thoughts, before responding. "It bothers me that it doesn't bother me."
Pansy blinked. "What?"
I sighed, "I'm bothered that killing the troll doesn't bother me." She opened her mouth, but I kept going. "Killing him doesn't bother me, in fact if I had to I would do it again. But I was raised to think killing was bad. That I should fell guilt if I killed someone, even if it was necessary."
"And you think the troll qualifies as a person?" She asked curiously.
I looked at her oddly, "Yes, he walked he talked, of course he was a person."
Pansy looked oddly relived, but I was too focused on myself to really notice. "So you think you should feel something and you don't so that's what's got you all turned up?" I nodded. "Do you think that because you don't feel something that it means there's something wrong with you?"
"No, I don't know, maybe?" I said.
Pansy pursed her lips, thinking on what to say. "Killing is natural, it something we do. We do it so we can eat, and we do it to those who threaten us, and those we care about, so that we can be safe. That you don't feel bad about it just means you're a hunter Alex. It's nothing to be ashamed of."
I blinked, unsure how to feel about that. One the one hand it made sense one the other it sounded like something a psychopath might say. Still it was nice of her to try and that did make me feel better. "Thanks," I said.
She smiled, "No problem, happy to help." She paused looking behind me. "Granger are you trying to throw out your back?" Hermione set her stack of books down at our table. The stack was at least six feet high and had to weigh fifty pounds easy. I looked from Hermione to the books and resolved to drink more milk. Obviously I wasn't getting enough calcium.
Hermione rolled her eyes more than used to Pansy's penchant for sarcasm. "Yes I am, it's been getting uppity and I'm trying to teach it a lesson." Hermione said. I blinked, fighting fire with fire are we? "Now what are we talking about?"
"Not much," I said, not wanting to get into it again.
Hermione nodded, "I've been thinking."
"Your always thinking, Granger." Pansy said, rolling her eyes
Hermione huffed, "How many times must I tell you? Call me Hermione." I smothered a laugh. Pansy, as was her want, refused to call Hermione by her first name. I would have thought it simple blood prejudice, except that she wouldn't call me Alex either, recent conversation notwithstanding, it was always Ice Queen or Potter. I didn't mind but it drove Hermione up the wall. Which was, I think, the main reason she did it.
Sure enough, her eyes held an unholy gleam as she answered. "At least once more," She paused for effect, "Granger." A snort escaped my mouth despite my best efforts. I stared determinedly at my book, ignoring Hermione's glare and Pansy's amused stare.
"Anyway, I've been thinking, maybe it's time to take Pansy to the Room." Hermione said, looking at me meaningfully. Pansy gave us both inquisitive looks.
"What room?" She asked. Hermione and I had managed to go to the Room a few times since Pansy joined our group, but it was only for a short while each time and the both of us were still on the first step of Occlumency. Some quality time in the Room, without having to dodge Pansy, would certainly be helpful.
I nodded. "I think that's a good idea."
"What room?" Pansy asked again, looking annoyed when no one answered.
Hermione smiled before answering. "Good." Pansy opened her mouth to ask again, before Hermione continued. "We can go after we finish here, but first Charms." Was still ahead of Hermione there and she was determined to win our bet. We both ignored Pansy's plaintive 'What Merlin forsaken room', and got to work.
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It took some doing but we were able to get to the seventh floor without telling Pansy where we were going.
"I swear if you brought me all the way up here to see a picture of dancing trolls I will cures you." Pansy promised, I would have laughed but I rather think she meant it. Still I couldn't help but snark.
"What? You can't tell me that that doesn't look just like Grunge."
"Potter." Pansy growled.
Hermione was ignoring us. It was her turn to call the room. "There," Hermione said as the door appeared. "Not just trolls."
"What is it?" Pansy asked, looking mildly appeased.
I nodded for her to open the door. "You open it."
She gave me a suspicious look but moved to open it. I shared a grin with Hermione, this should be fun. We followed Pansy inside, Making sure to close the door behind us.
"It's a library." She said distinctly unimpressed as she looked around.
I frowned, well that was underwhelming.
"That's it? Just a library." Hermione said offended.
"It's a big library?" Pansy responded.
"It's the Room of Requirement," I interrupted before an argument could start. At Pansy's confused look Hermione explained.
"The Room of Requirement, is well we aren't sure exactly what it is except a master work of enchantment, but it is whatever we need it to be."
"Anything?" Pansy asked intrigued.
I nodded, "As far as I know, yes anything." Pansy nodded looking around the room with a new appreciation.
"So with a room that can be anything you ask for a library?" Pansy sounded incredulous. Hermione and I gave each other a glance.
"Yes." Hermione said. Pansy started laughing. "And just what is so funny?"
Pansy managed to get control of herself. "Sorry it's just, a room that can be anything and you ask for a library. That's the most Ravenclaw thing I've ever heard of." She lost it again. Hermione looked like she was trying to take offence but I saw her fighting a smile.
After Pansy calmed down Hermione started explaining. "I know you wanted to know what we were going to do the night you saved us from the troll, well here it is."
I spoke up. "Specifically we were coming here to learn about Occlumency."
Pansy responded. "Occlumency, really?"
"Yes." I said.
"It's quite fascinating really, or well what we can read about it is fascinating." Hermione said.
"What you can read about it?" Pansy asked.
"The book won't let us read ahead until we manage step one." Hermione was very offended about that.
"Some books are like that, especially if what they hold can be dangerous to the reader." Pansy explained.
"That makes sense." I said. "I had wondered if that was the book or the room but that makes sense too."
"It could be a safety feature of the room." Pansy said. "But, well, that would depend on how intelligent the room is."
"If I had to guess I'd say it's as intelligent as Hogwarts." I theorized.
"Why do you say that?" Hermione asked.
"Hogwarts is a genius loci, and this room is far too advanced to not be getting an insane amount of magic from the ley lines. Ergo it has to be a part of what makes Hogwarts alive." I reasoned.
Pansy nodded. "That makes sense." She paused "So what's step one?"
"Step one is find your mindscape." Hermione said. "You're supposed to meditate on your desires, hopes, wants, dreams and the like."
"Basically you have to know yourself to find yourself." I said.
"Interesting," Pansy smiled, "Let's get started."
With that we walked Pansy through the first step of learning Occlumency, before settling in for our evening meditation.
…
AN: Plot Ho!
