Chapter 8
Hermione stood on the second floor landing, peering out the front window. Her arms were crossed, watching the rain patter against the glass. She had been standing for an hour now, in silent contemplation.
'I've learnt many things about myself in the last few days, and I have a feeling it's only the beginning.' She thought to herself, while watching the dismal weather that matched her mood.
Hermione felt an arm being draped around her shoulders, and she instantly tensed. She looked into the concerned eyes of Fred, and sighed, twining her fingers with his as she relaxed. They both stood there looking out at the rain, enjoying the comforting companionship of each other.
"What're you thinking about, Herm?" Fred finally asked quietly.
"I'm trying to figure out who I am. I feel like I hardly know myself anymore, everything I once believed in has been shattered into a million insignificant pieces." Hermione replied in depressed tones.
"There comes a time in everyone's life when they wonder who they are, what their purpose is in this life, and they look into themselves to find the answer. For some this lasts mere seconds, and for others it can last weeks, even months." Fred said pensively, speaking from experience.
Hermione gave him a sympathetic look, remembering his painful soul searching time. She had been there for him the whole time; it was one of the things that had cemented their friendship. "I have a feeling it will last a long time for me. Something tells me that Professor Dumbledore didn't tell me everything, and that he may keep information from me for a long time." She said.
They continued to stand there, both completely lost in their own thoughts. And they stood there for a long time, at least another hour, until a figure appeared in the middle of the street, out of thin air.
Hermione and Fred were both startled out of their thoughts, but relaxed as they recognized the figure as Albus Dumbledore. "Hey everyone, Professor Dumbledore is coming." Hermione said, projecting her voice with a sonorous charm. And then they went downstairs to await Dumbledore's arrival.
Dumbledore made his entrance, just after everyone had assembled in the foyer. He smiled jovially to everyone, and tossed everyone a bundle of pixie sticks each.
Fred and George immediately downed one each, and they shared a sly grin. They were probably planning on inventing something similar, but with comical side effects.
"Harry, Ginny, I need to talk to you both." Professor Dumbledore said, inviting them to join him in the sitting room.
"Yes, sir." They both replied.
"I'll be right there, sir." Ginny said, running up to her room.
Harry walked in to the sitting room first, followed closely by Dumbledore, sitting in the seats they had occupied before.
"Harry, I need you to tell me exactly what happened. Don not leave out a single detail." Professor Dumbledore said.
"I was angry, really angry, because Mrs. Weasley was going to force me to take a virginity test. I didn't want to; it's none of her business." Harry began. "The anger escalated to rage, pure rage, and I lost myself to the sensations it invoked. My whole body felt warm, complete, like I had been missing something. The warmth quickly became hot, like my body was on fire. It didn't hurt, it felt good, and the heat began to direct this power, as if it were teaching me how to use it, and the air thickened and the wind started swirling around me. I felt myself float above the floor, and the wind was whispering to me, I couldn't understand it though. Ginny calmed me down though, and it ended. The warmth has manifested itself in my body though and has not left me." Harry tried to explain in as much detail as possible.
Ginny came into the room with the book from the night before. She sat down and placed the book on the table.
Dumbledore nodded his head, apparently pleased with Harry's explanation. "Thank you Ginny for retrieving that book for me." He said to her, his eyes twinkling. "Now tell me what Harry looked like when this happened."
"His eyes had changed from emerald green to an inky black that consumed his entire eye; there was no white to his eyes. He seemed completely engrossed in this power, and I could literally see the power rolling off of him in waves." She said.
Dumbledore turned serious eyes on Harry, "Harry, I am sure now, from yours and Ginny's explanations that you have awoken your birthright. The Potter's are the direct descendants of Godric Gryffindor. Godric had one child, a girl, she married a Potter. And since then each child has been male, effectively carrying on the Potter name." Dumbledore began his explanation. "Each founder of Hogwarts, were exceptional wizards and witches, each with their own special powers that none other possessed. Slytherin was a parseltongue, and could control the snakes, even against their wills. Hufflepuff could commune with nature; trees and their dryads, animals, flowers, and grass. Ravenclaw was a seer, gifted with exceptional intelligence, and could summon demons without a ritual. Her favourite, as legend tells, were the hellhounds, and she used them regularly in duels and battles. Gryffindor had the gift of elemental magic. His elemental magic in itself was not extraordinary, there have been others with the ability, but he had control over light and dark. He could blind you with white light, or plunge you into eternal darkness. This power has been passed down from generation to generation, dormant to almost everyone. Gryffindor's daughter was the last one to awaken this power; you are the first since her." He finished.
Harry stared at Professor Dumbledore, his mouth hanging open. "You mean I can control the elements, including light and dark." He stuttered.
"With training." Dumbledore said, smiling.
"Who could possibly train me?" he asked, confused.
"Ah, good question. Ginny, the book please." Dumbledore said. Ginny handed him the book.
Dumbledore carefully leafed through the ancient papyrus pages, until he reached the page Ginny had seen last night. He placed the book on the table in front of Harry.
Harry watched in awe. "Hey." Harry said when the recording came to the end, "that man looks like you."
"Astute observation, my boy." Dumbledore began, smiling. "He is an ancestor of mine, he trained Godric's daughter. This book is meant for you, Harry, it has been passed down in my family, the eldest son charged with the responsibility of training the heir of Gryffindor, should he or she awaken the power. I shall be your trainer, and I can assure you it won't be easy, there will be times when you want to give up, but you mustn't."
Harry nodded grimly, "Okay, I'll train." He promised.
"Also, from now on, we must establish a mind link. It is dangerous for you to lose control of your emotions, and I must be able to ground you, even from great distances. Your occlumency training will help you control these emotions, but we shouldn't take the risk that it will happen again." Professor Dumbledore said.
Harry blanched. 'What!' he thought. "Umm…" he began nervously. "With the mind link will you be able to hear my thoughts?" he asked, not wanting him to find out about his plan.
"No," Dumbledore said. "We will be able to communicate with each other, but we can pick and choose which thoughts we want sent to each other. The mind link will make us able to sense each other's life force. We will be able to tell if the other is alive, close to death, or dead. Most importantly though, it will allow us to feel when the other is feeling great emotional stress, such as rage. When your training is done, the mind link will be terminated."
Harry sighed in relief. "Okay. How do we establish a mind link?" he asked.
Dumbledore stood, motioning for Harry and Ginny to do the same. Dumbledore made a bowl, and two glasses to appear with a flick of his wand. He handed the bowl to Ginny, and stood in front of Harry. He took out a crystal knife and sliced open his palm, letting the blood drip into the crystal bowl. Then he healed the cut and took Harry's hand, sliced open his palm, letting Harry's blood pour into the bowl. Harry didn't even flinch, and Dumbledore healed the cut.
"Mix the blood together, and then pour it into the cups." Dumbledore said to Ginny.
Ginny obeyed and handed them each a glass. They downed the blood, a red glow encompassing them their individual heads.
"Ginny place your hands on our heads, and chant these words." Dumbledore said, handing her a piece of parchment.
Ginny quickly memorized the words, then placed her hands on their heads, and began chanting. She watched as the red glow slowly turned into a golden glow. The golden glow traveling up her arms and joining in the centre, instantly turning white at impact, and then it was gone.
Ginny let her hands fall to her sides, she could feel Harry and Dumbledore were alive, as well as seeing it. "How come I can feel both your life forces?" Ginny asked.
Dumbledore smiled at her. "You're our joiner. You are the only one alive who is capable of reversing our mind link. Should something happen to you the link will be permanent until Harry or I die." He said. Harry was suddenly feeling nauseous at the idea of being linked to Dumbledore for the rest of his life. He vowed to protect Ginny, and if she died he would personally kill Dumbledore so he wouldn't have to be linked to him forever. "You can't send us messages, you can only tell if we are alive or not. You should tell no one of the mind link."
-When does my training start?- Harry sent, trying out the mind link.
-As soon as school starts, you will have special classes. I will have Minerva add them to your timetable. - Dumbledore sent back in reply. "You should read the book in the mean time; it will be helpful to you." Dumbledore said aloud, and then he went to leave.
Before Dumbledore left Harry called to him. "Professor, how come I haven't awoken this power earlier, I remember being angrier than that before?" Harry asked.
"You were still young, and you are now quickly coming of age, so your powers are becoming more aware of your strengthening body. Your body couldn't handle the amount of power, so that is why it lies dormant. Most never achieve a state of strength when their body is capable of awakening this ability. The power killed Godric's father when he forcibly awakened the power. It is troubling to see one so young who is capable of housing such power with out the power destroying that person. Godric awoke his power when he was 37 years old, and his daughter awoke the power when she was 28 years old." Dumbledore said, giving Harry a piercing look. "You will be unstoppable when you master your power, most will be afraid of your power, but don't let their fear hold you back." He said, and then he left.
Harry grabbed the book and headed to his room, leaving Ginny standing there alone. Nehebkau slithered up his leg and up his body until she was wrapped around his neck. "When does school start?" Nehebkau asked.
"Tomorrow, we leave in the morning." Harry said, starting to pack. He finished packing his clothes and school supplies, so he went to his library to grab the books he still hadn't read yet.
He had to shrink the books to make them fit, and he cleaned Hedwig's cage. Harry sat down on his bed and started to read the book. It was written by Godric Gryffindor and his brother.
"I've seen that book." Nehebkau said, reading over his shoulder.
"Professor Dumbledore told me to read it, because it would help in my training." Harry said.
"Your training?" Nehebkau asked confused.
"I'm Gryffindor's heir, an heir that has awoken the power." Harry replied.
"Really? I remember Godric, and his daughter Marie. Salazar asked me to be Marie's guide, and protector. She was an incredibly talented witch, extremely intelligent, we taught her parseltongue." Nehebkau said.
Harry looked at her surprised, "How old are you?" he asked.
"Umm…" Nehebkau said, deep in thought. "I have no idea; I've been around before the dinosaurs, before the universe was even created. Time was meaningless then." she said.
Harry looked at her disbelievingly. "That's impossible." He said.
Nehebkau looked at him. "Just because your mortal brain cannot conceive of it, doesn't make it impossible. I was much different back then; Ra turned me from chaos before the time of humans." She said.
"The sun god?" Harry asked.
"yes." She replied. "I've seen the training of Marie. I could help you with your training." She said.
"Sure, that'd be great. I'll probably need all the help I can get." Harry said. "How long did it take for Marie to master the power?"
"She never mastered it, she was too afraid of it. She did learn to control it enough that she no longer needed the mind link with her trainer." She said.
"So what I saw in the book wasn't what the power looks like when mastered?" he asked.
"No, if you aren't afraid of the power, you will master it. Your power will far accede all expectations, you will be able to destroy the planet if you so choose." She aid.
"What was she afraid of?" Harry asked.
"The dark element." She answered. "The dark element consists of darkness, the shadows. Marie mistaked it for evil, and she was afraid it would corrupt her." She explained.
"So it's not evil?' he asked, unsure.
"No, just like the light element isn't pure. The dark and light elements represent evil and purity, but aren't inherently evil and pure. It's how you use them, whether for good or evil. In that way you could use the light element for evil, and the dark element for good, and they still would be neither. It is the act they are used for that is evil or pure." She explained to Harry. "You understand?"
"Yes, that makes sense." Harry replied. And then he returned to his attention to the book. He read non stop all day, skipping meals. He managed to get half way through the book by midnight.
Harry took his glasses off, and rubbed his tired eyes. The book was a detailed documentary of Marie's training, with an occasional insight into Godric's training. Godric would try to explain every element in detail, how to bring forth each element, and how to make it do your bidding. He would sometimes write down his frustration with Marie, saying she had no respect for the elements. The Dumbledore look a like was Godric's brother, and Marie's trainer, and in the fourth entry he said, 'She has no respect for the elements, she fears them, she will never master them.' Godric and his brother were always repeating that it was imperative to show respect to the elements.
Harry placed a bookmark on his current page and put the book on the nightstand. He laid his head against the pillow and was almost asleep when his stomach gave a particularly large grumble. He sighed and hoisted himself out of bed, going in search of food.
He came back into the room with two peanut butter and jam sandwiches, and a glass of iced tea. He sat on the edge of his bed, eating his sandwiches, giving Nehebkau half of one, and drinking all of his iced tea. He put the plate and glass on the nightstand, turned out the lamp, and crawled into bed. Harry fell asleep within the minute.
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Hermione woke up in the middle of the night and couldn't fall back asleep. She was nervous about school in the morning. She was Head Girl, and she wanted to be remembered as the best. She had some ideas in mind for some competitions; like a writing, or singing competition. And some dances, because there aught to be more than just the Yule ball that's only held during the tri-wizard tournament. Maybe she would try for a valentine's dance, or a spring dance.
She sighed and pulled the blankets around her tighter. Autumn was trying to start early and a draft had found its way into her room. She looked to the window, seeing it slightly ajar.
She reluctantly left the warmth of her bed to close the window. She locked the clasp, and quickly climbed back into bed, shivering as she curled herself in the blankets.
Septimus started calling for Crookshanks, his low hoots sounding almost human. Septimus had started calling for him the day after he arrived. Hermione hadn't known where Crookshanks was at the time of the attack, and she was hoping he had been outside.
Hermione had lost hope of finding him when Professor Snape had told her of the explosion. She knew she would not be able to convince someone to escort her to the ruins of her house to search for him.
Septimus called for him again, sounding sad. Despite the cat and owl recently meeting, they were inseparable. They would have mock battles in the house, usually disturbing her mother as she was cleaning.
Hermione bolted out of bed, throwing on a jacket, not bothering to change out of her pajamas, as realization dawned on her. She could apparate to the house, search for Crookshanks, and hopefully be back with him by the time they would have to leave to catch the Hogwarts express.
"Septimus." Hermione called softly, holding out her arm for him. He flew over to her, landing on her arm, silently. He seemed to sense her urgency, and he kept quiet.
Hermione silently crept to her door, opening it a crack, making sure the coast was clear. Seeing no one in the halls she tiptoed out the door and through the hallway, passing Mrs. Black's sleeping portrait. On her way downstairs she remembered to skip the squeaky one.
Peering into the foyer, Hermione breathed a sigh of relief at seeing it empty. Her heart pounding almost painfully against her ribs, she hurried through the foyer and out the front door.
Hermione pulled Septimus against her chest, and apparated to where the front porch should be. Instead she found herself at the edge of a hole in the ground, where her house should have been.
Hermione hadn't prepared herself for the devastation she was seeing. There were pieces of debris everywhere. She fell to her knees, Septimus taking flight to circle above, fresh tears streaming down her face.
Crookshanks would be lucky to survive this, one of his nine lives surely spent. She willed herself to stand, knowing crying wouldn't solve anything.
Septimus started calling for Crookshanks, Hermione doing the same while searching through the debris. They searched for an hour, and still there was no sign of him. Hermione knew she would have to search in the hole, so she walked up to the edge, looking for a good foothold.
Before Hermione climbed into the hole, a loud call from Septimus caught her attention. She spotted Septimus circling above the open field behind the lot.
Running toward him, newfound hope rushing through her veins, she called for Crookshanks. When she got within twenty feet of Septimus, a loud yowl was heard.
Hermione's heart was thumping erratically, as she saw a large, orange tabby cat streaking out from under an old, battered car the local kids had taken to use as a fort.
Crookshanks launched himself through the air, landing in Hermione's arms. Hermione buried her face in his fur, happy and relieved tears soaking through to his skin. His purring was loud, as Septimus landed unsteadily on her shoulder, hooting softly.
"Crookshanks, oh my baby." She choked out between sobs, as she cradled him in her arms. "Oh, you must be starving." She said, cuddling Septimus close as she apparated back to the foot of Grimmauld.
The sky was lightening, soft yellows, and golds streaked through the blue. Hermione rushed through the door and straight into the kitchen, not caring if she woke the others.
Septimus fluttered over to a chair, landing on the back. Hermione pulled out a saucer, pouring some cream into it, and placing it on the floor with Crookshanks.
Crookshanks lapped it up eagerly, finishing quickly and began mewing for more. Hermione poured him some more, and sat on the floor with beside him, stroking him lovingly.
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Mrs. Weasley awoke first, and walked into the kitchen to start breakfast, finding Hermione asleep sitting up, Crookshanks curled in her lap. She instantly realized what she must have done, and started to get angry, but decided against it. Calming herself down, she decided to try to deal with this situation differently than she would normally. Most likely her fight with Severus influencing her decision.
She gently shook Hermione awake. "Hermione, sit down in a chair and have some breakfast." She said.
Hermione drowsily got to her feet, placing Crookshanks on the floor, and sat in the seat that Septimus was perched on. Crookshanks mewed angrily and jumped into her lap, determined not to be separated from her again.
Mrs. Weasley sat in the chair opposite her. She knew she had been treating Hermione like a child lately; her maternal instincts had taken control when Severus had carried her into the kitchen that night.
Severus had, none too gently, pointed out that Hermione was hardly a child anymore and is perfectly capable of making her own choices. At first her protective nature would not allow her to see the truth in his words, but she could plainly see the evidence in front of her eyes.
She knew that even if she had been awake when Hermione left, she wouldn't have been able to stop her. "Hermione, I know I've been treating you like a child of late, but I have come to the conclusion that you are anything but." Mrs. Weasley began, coming as close to an apology as anyone had ever gotten from her. "While I don't condone your decision to leave unattended, I can not honestly say that I would have done differently." She finished, regarding Hermione proudly.
Hermione sat stunned speechless, she could have sworn Mrs. Weasley had just apologized to her. Not an outright apology, but an apology in its own right. She didn't know what to say, so she mumbled a thank you and scratched under Crookshanks chin.
Mrs. Weasley stood and put a plate of eggs, hash browns, and sausages in front of Hermione. "Eat something dear, even if you eat a little bit it will help." Mrs. Weasley said, looking sadly at her collarbones that were starting to become prominent.
Hermione nodded and speared a sausage with her fork, bringing it up to eye level. Her stomach turned, but she forced herself to eat the whole sausage.
Mrs. Weasley smiled at Crookshanks, Hermione's savior. She had been so worried for Hermione, finding Crookshanks was clearly going to be beneficial to her health. Mrs. Weasley left to go wake up the others, their escort would arrive in an hour.
Hermione managed to eat a fourth of her breakfast before her stomach refused to accept anymore, threatening to reject the contents already in her stomach.
She pushed the plate away, guzzled a glass of water, and ran to her room to make sure she packed everything she needed.
Severus, Remus, and Kingsley arrived on time, but Ron held everyone up because he had started packing this morning. When Ron finally finished and joined everyone in the foyer, they left for King's cross in the Order's limo.
Despite leaving Grimmauld late, they arrived on time for the train. Fred and George joined the other students, Hermione, Ron, Harry, and Ginny all headed towards the Heads and Prefects designated car.
They entered the ornately decorated car, their luggage being levitated to a corner by a house elf. Harry and Ginny, seeing the car for the first time, stood with their jaws hanging.
"It's huge." Ginny stuttered. They were admiring the neutral colors that covered every surface, favouring no house.
Harry spotted the candy lady and her trolley on the far side of the car. "We have the candy trolley for the whole duration of the train ride." He said excitedly.
Hermione smiled, Ron's reaction was the same when he spotted the trolley last year. "Yep, we have first dibs on the candy." She said. "We should change into our robes now."
Ron rolled his eyes, dragging Harry across the car to the candy trolley. Hermione and Ginny changed into their robes, pinning their badges to them.
The other prefects arrived shortly after, and the Head Boy from Ravenclaw arrived seconds before the train rumbled into motion, the crystal chandelier swinging precariously from side to side, and finally settling into a smooth rocking motion as the train picked up speed.
Hermione handed the Head Boy the folder that had been left for him on the table. "Let's get started then." She said to him.
He saw the head girl badge on her robes, and gave her a derisive look.
Hermione raised one eyebrow at the look she was getting from the head boy. "You have a problem with me?" she asked outright, incensed at the nerve of the Ravenclaw who couldn't perform the simplest of spells even if his life depended on it. She wondered what Dumbledore was playing at when he awarded him the head boy position. The other Ravenclaws would do his homework for him to keep their reputation from becoming tarnished.
He sneered at up at her, straightening himself to his full height of five feet and three inches. "As a matter of fact I do Granger. Which teacher did you have to sleep with to become head girl in your sixth year, mudblood?" he said in a holier than thou tone.
Hermione smirked smugly at him, her eyes glittering dangerously as she looked down her nose at him. And then she laughed at him, her rich tones echoing around the room. "It just so happens that I'm in my seventh year and I've earned my badge. I'm sure that's more than you can say, squib." She said. Her glare keeping him from attacking her. "Prefects, it's time for the first meeting of the year." She said. She returned her attention to the head boy. "You'll find that my true last name happens to be Bourge, and I'm a pureblood." She smirked at the astonished look he gave her.
She left him to attend to the gathered prefects. Opening her folder and handing out their schedules for their rounds, a collective groan reverberating around the car.
"Slytherin password is Rictusempra, Ravenclaw password is prophecy, Hufflepuff password is dryad, and Gryffindor password is nightshade." Hermione said, before sitting in one of the comfy armchairs around the central table, and dismissing the meeting.
The rest of the train ride was uneventful, Malfoy seemed to be preoccupied, and so he didn't bother them as usual. The whistle indicating their impending arrival sounded and they all started getting ready to leave, those who hadn't already changed, hurriedly pulled on their uniforms as the train came to a grinding halt.
Hermione ushered the prefects out of the car, instructing them to point first years toward the boats and second years towards the carriages. The heads had to make sure all students made it off the train, so she went through the other cars, peering into compartments. When she was satisfied she dismissed the prefects and headed toward the carriage reserved for her.
She saw the winged, skeletal thestral for the first time, but she wasn't surprised, she knew she would see it. She gave him an affectionate pat and climbed into the carriage. The thestral immediately sprang into action, and she smiled. The head boy was still on the platform, without a carriage.
The carriage trundled up to the oak front doors, Professor McGonagall waiting with the first years just inside the doors. "Ah, Hermione, I've been waiting." She said, as Hermione came through the doors.
Hermione was confused. "Why?" she asked.
McGonagall's mouth thinned, "According to the ancient rules of Hogwarts, you must be resorted because your last name has changed. This pertains mostly to the witches who married young long ago, but the sorting hat thinks it necessary to resort you." She said.
"What? That's Ridiculous!" Hermione stated, thinking it a waste of time.
"Nevertheless, it is the rules." McGonagall said. "You will wait in the chamber, where the first years usually wait, while they are sorted. I will come get you when we are ready for you." And she disappeared into the great hall with the first years in tow.
Hermione walked into the aforementioned chamber, finding Nearly Headless Nick floating there. "Hi, Nick. Why aren't you at the welcoming feast?" she asked.
Nick turned to face her, "Is it that time already?" he asked. "Dear, time is running short indeed." He mumbled as he floated through a wall into the great hall.
Professor McGonagall arrived twenty minutes later, ushering Hermione into the great hall in front of her. She sighed as she felt every eye on her, Dumbledore had obviously told them about real parents. She quickly walked towards the head table and sat on the stool, waiting for McGonagall to place the sorting hat on her head again.
"Bourge, Hermione." Professor McGonagall said, as she placed the old hat on her head.
"Hmm, we meet again Hermione." The small voice said. "I will give you a true sorting today. Ah, courage you have, and a strong loyalty and the intellect worthy of Ravenclaw, but the most prominent is the thirst to prove yourself to those who disregard you. Where should I put you? Ravenclaw or Slytherin? Hmm? I sense your loyalty to Gryffindor, but would you be so loyal if you knew that Dumbledore asked me to put you there the small voice asked.
Hermione was starting to get angry. 'How dare he, manipulate my life that way.' She thought as her anger built.
She could almost feel the hat mentally smile as he shouted, "Slytherin." For everyone to hear.
Hermione stood stunned, as McGonagall yanked the hat off of her head. "What?" she asked, she was sure the hat would have put her in Ravenclaw.
She saw the smile on Professor Dumbledore's face as she looked toward the head table. She threw him a nasty glare, before sitting at the Slytherin table.
Professor Dumbledore stood immediately after she sat down, his hand raised. Silence filled the hall instantly. "Before the feast begins I have some announcements to make. Professor Lupin will be returning to teach DADA. We are also adding two new courses to the curriculum. Defense and Weapons Training will be taught by Professor Shacklebolt. DWT consists of basic self defense for all years, and weapons training for fifth through seventh year students. Physical Education will be taught by Professor Stade." He said as he welcomed the newly arrived Professor entering the hall.
Hermione watched her as she walked up to the head table. 'She's the same height as me.' Hermione noted, unsure of the significance.
Professor Stade ignored the gasps from some of the students as they realized what she was. She walked up to the head table with a fluid elegance, only one of her species could possess. She put Snape's flowing robes to shame.
She nodded her head in a royal manner at Dumbledore's greeting. Instead of walking around the table to her seat, she launched herself into the air, stretching her long white wings, landing on the other side of the table. Professor Stade locked eyes with Hermione for an instant, and then turned away, looking at the students.
Professor Dumbledore raised his hands to halt the whispering. "Professor Stade is a fairy elder from Scotland, she is here, partly as a favor to me and partly for her own interests." He said as she sat in her seat. Her long white hair reaching past the bottom of her chair, almost touching the floor, and hazel eyes filled with amusement at the students astonished faces. "PE will focus mainly on endurance training. Don't expect it to be easy. The ministry has granted me their permission to add these courses." Dumbledore said, his twinkling eyes indicating he would have added them anyway.
"As I've told you, and the ministry found out at the end of last year, Voldemort has returned, and has immediately begun mobilizing his forces." Dumbledore assumed a serious tone, a grave look crossing his features. "I am offering these courses in the hope that they will help you if you ever find yourself without a wand, because not many of us are blessed with the ability of wandless magic. The courses are mandatory, so your instructional days will be lengthened, and you will have some classes on the weekend." He said, to the collective groans from the entire student body.
"And now on a happier note, let the feast begin." He said, food instantly appearing on the tables.
Hermione put some food on her plate. 'Stade, Stade…why does that name sound familiar to me?' she asked herself, frustrated at her inability to remember when and where she had heard the name before. And then it hit her, Stade was her mother's maiden name. 'Could she be related?' she asked herself, shaking her head. It was impossible, Professor Stade is a fairy, and Hermione isn't. 'But it can't hurt to ask.' The voice in the back of her mind said.
Her musings were interrupted by Malfoy sitting beside her. "Welcome to Slytherin, Hermione." He said, offering his hand.
Hermione looked at him astounded. He had just used her first name, and wasn't trying to belittle her in anyway. "Thanks, Draco." She said cautiously, not sure of his motives. She took his offered hand and shook it.
They talked the rest of the feast. Hermione was taken aback at how intelligent he was, and how kind he seemed. "So, how come you're being so nice to me all of a sudden?" she asked.
Draco looked at her, "You're a Slytherin now." He said, simply, as if it were reason enough.
Hermione gave him a confused look. "So if I were a Slytherin, and still believed to be a muggleborn, you would still be nice to me?" she asked.
"We Slytherins always show a unified front, infighting is only allowed in the dorms, and we would not allow your blood to become common knowledge among the rest of the school. And yes, I would still be nice to you." He replied.
She gave him a suspicious look, "I'm not sure I believe you." She said.
"It may surprise you, but I've never held the same beliefs as my parents. I only treated you that way because of my father being a death eater and the pressure from the other children of death eaters." Draco began, a distant look appearing in his eyes. "Something happened over the summer break that has changed me, I no longer care what the dark lord thinks of me or my father." He said, his thoughts turning inward as he remembered his father returning home after the most recent death eater meeting, telling him that his mother had died. The broken look in his father's eyes had scared him like nothing had before. He knew the dark lord had killed her and he got angry and he lashed out at his father.
His father had allowed him to administer him a beating, not that it truly hurt him. Lucius did nothing to stop it. When Draco was finished he slumped to the floor beside him apologizing to him. Lucius had looked at him just then and told him not to make the same mistakes he had made. 'Don't let him win Draco, he's a psychopath." His father's words echoing in his mind. Then and there he had vowed to himself to never allow himself to be weak, and to avenge his mother's death.
Professor Snape came up behind them. "Miss Bourge, I need to have a word with you before you retire tonight. I'll be in my office." He said, and then he walked away, his robes billowing at their best, trying to hold on to their fame.
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