Chapter 3: History Lesson

Monday. 'Finally,' Hermione thought, 'the start of classes.' After spending many hours wandering lost in the castle she had found out two things: one, the paintings are really helpful and are on the walls in the main hallways. Two, Haydrien has an annoyingly correct sense of direction. Though, if she was being honest with herself, it did come in handy a time or two. But no matter, today she started really learning magic.

Hermione rose early and prepared for her first day of classes. She was the first of our quartet to reach the common room. While she eager to go down to breakfast and knew the way, she wouldn't take any chances on getting lost and possibly even being late to her first class. A shiver ran down her spine at the very thought. Hermione sat on the couch bouncing my leg continuously, waiting for her friends.

Haydrien sauntered down the dorm stairs.

"Morning, Hazel."

"You've been taking forever. Don't you know what today is?" He chuckled.

"The beginning of the most boring day of my life," he said rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. Hermione's jaw dropped. How could anyone think that? Today they would learn new and exciting things. She struggled trying to find words to convey the importance of learning.

"Hermione, most purebloods will have been learning magic from when it first manifested. That can be a bit different from person to person, but at least a good few years. Some may not have their own wands, but we are still taught some basic theory and ideas, some even spells. The first few days, maybe weeks won't be anything new for us. So it really is going to be one of the most boring days being stuck in a classroom, learning nothing," Haydrien said. "Isn't that right, Neville?" He looks up the staircase where Neville had paused three steps from the bottom. He joins them in the common room before answering, first with a sympathetic look towards Hermione.

"Well, yes. I mean, wizards and witches with magical parents are taught some things. I mean it's the world we live in, it's impossible not to pick things up," Neville said softly. And then she felt it. That bit of fear creeping in. Is she already behind? Hermione took a deep breath trying to calm down, but it settles in her core.

Neville glared at Haydrien.

"She had a right to know," Haydrien shot back, rolling his eyes and walking to the portrait hole. He turned to look at them. "If you want to baby her, be my guest." He stepped through the passage. "But she doesn't need it," he shot over his shoulder as he continued out.

The fear in her chest shrunk a little. 'You can do this, Granger, you can figure this out. You will be the top of the class by Christmas. You're not afraid of a little more work to get there,' she told herself. She took another breath, this time the fear left.

"Bastard," Neville said under his breath still glaring at the portrait hole when Haydrien disappeared. Hermione smiled at him.

"Let go get some breakfast," she said.

"Someone say breakfast?" a voice came from the stairs. Neville and Hermione glanced at each other before bursting out laughing.

"Come on, Ron, let's go," Neville shouted back.

"One sec, coming," Ron said. He came running down the stairs, shoes still untied. They burst into laughter again. "What did I miss?" Ron asks. They shook their heads and headed down to the Great Hall.

~XxXxX~

As they rounded the corner to head into the Great Hall, Hermione saw a flash of a dark messy hair disappeared around a corner. 'Oh, Haydrien, can't we all just play nice?' Hermione wondered. But he was gone then, and she knew he wouldn't be back.

They sat down to eat and Hermione grabbed her usual first-day-of-school-toast. She was always so excited for school to begin that she had no appetite, but Mom always insisted that she eat something, so toast it was.

Professor McGonagall was walking down the table towards them, moments after they sat down. She handed them and a couple of others their timetables. She handed Neville his, then Ron…Hermione felt the glass next to her strain and she took a deep breath to hold in her excitement. McGonagall handed Hermione hers and she scanned it quickly. Ron groaned beside her.

"We have Potions first," he complained. "And double Potions at that."

"Why's that so bad?" Hermione asked.

"Snape," he said. "He only really likes his own house—Slytherin. But he hates Gryffindor. And guess what house we're in?"

"I'm sure it's not that bad," she replied.

"I would agree with you, Hermione, if I had only heard that from Ron's twin brothers. But everyone says to watch out for him. They say he doesn't treat or grade fair," Neville chipped in. Hermione thought she stopped breathing. Grade? She recovered quickly.

"That can't be right. They must be messing with you or you with me. I mean they wouldn't just keep a teacher who behaves that way," she replied. Neville and Ron both opened their mouths, but she cut them off. "No, I'm sure it will be fine. Stop fretting. You'll see." They exchanged a disbelieving look, but didn't say anything more about it.

~XxXxX~

When entering the potions classroom, Hermione saw Haydrien sitting at the end of one of the tables, reading a book. 'A boy after my own heart,' a unwanted voice chimed in in her head. She led the Neville and Ron over to the second row on the right where Haydrien sat. Hermione sat down next to him, but he didn't look up. 'Must be a good part,' she thought, 'or he's still mad.' Neville sat on her other side with a sigh and Ron beside him.

The rest of the students filed in and found seats, all the Gryffindors on the right side and the Slytherins on the left. To Hermione's right, Haydrien finally laid down his book. She opened her mouth to say something, when her attention turned to a tall man in a black cloak that billowed out as he made his way in front of the class. His black hair was slicked back and he wore a sneer as he regarded the class.

"Put your wands away. I will not having any foolish wand waving in this class," the Professor commanded. There was something in his voice, because Hermione wasn't the only one who hurried to obey. They only Gryffindor that seemed unaffected by his malice was Haydrien. The Slytherins seemed completely unaffected and none of them had their wands out to begin with. The professor's eyes swept over the class again. They settled on Neville. He resisted the urge to squim under the scrutiny and instead set his shoulders to face him.

"Ah, Neville Longbottom, our newest celebrity," he put venom into the word as if it was equivalent to being a slug. "Longbottom, what would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?" Hermione raised her hand high, but Professor Snape's eyes never left Neville. Neville stared back, unwilling to back down.

"I do not know, sir," Neville replied loud enough to be heard, but not be considered disrespectful.

"Clearly, fame isn't everything," he sneered before turning away. Neville's eyes narrowed. Snape turned back to the class.

"I do not expect any of you to understand the subtle art of potion making. However, if any of you are not complete dunderheads, I could teach you to bewitch the mind and ensnare the senses, brew glory, bottle fame, and even put a stopper in death," Professor Snape concluded to a silent classroom. "The instructions are on the board," he flicked his wand and a page number appeared on the board, "you have till the end of class. Begin." His eyes flitted over the room again as he turned, then he stopped and took a step closer to their desk. He stared at Haydrien, taking in the black shaggy hair, strong jaw, green eyes and broad shoulders.

"Professor, do you have any advice for those of us wishing to excel in this potent art?" Haydrien asked. Professor Snape looked a little annoyed and took a step back, creating distance.

"You name?"

"Haydrien, sir. Haydrien Black." His eyes flashed a brighter green as he looked at the Professor. Snape looked shocked for a fraction of a second.

"No," he responded and turned away.

~XxXxX~

By the end of the class, Hermione's potion was looking almost as clear as the book described it would be. Haydrien's potion was looking light green and Neville's was an even darker shade. She winced a little when she saw them. As Ron scooped up a bit of his potion into a vile, Hermione saw his was the same almost clear color as hers and sighed with relief. Still Professor Snape made snide comments as the potions were turned in, just as he had done while they tried to work.

"How can they keep a teacher like that?" Hermione said exasperatedly after leaving the dungeons behind. Haydrien shot Neville an annoyed look, before turned to her.

"Neville, why don't you sugar coat it for her?" Haydrien said, moving off to the side of the group. Neville hesitated. "Or do you not plan on telling her anything?" Haydrien glared at him. Neville looked down.

"We really need to get to Herbology," he said, not meeting her curious eyes.

"Herbology can wait," Haydrien snapped. "She needs to understand how it is here. This isn't something you can read in a book and glide through. This is politics and she will need it more than most to survive. Image what could happen if she asked the wrong person a question. Or worse what their ward core consist of."

Neville winced.

"What's going on? What's wrong with asking that?" Hermione ask. Ron paled.

"He's right, Neville," Ron said as he opened a door and motioned them in to an empty classroom. Neville sat on the edge of one of the desks. Ron stood a little ways back from him. Haydrien leaned against a pillar by the wall. They were all looking at Hermione, standing in the middle of it all.

"So how do you want it, Herminie? Clean or dirty?" Haydrien asked. She tried to think about what he's asking. She sighed and turned so she was facing Haydrien completely.

"You say I need to know this, so tell me everything," she said to him.

"Neville, will you or should I? I won't hold back," he said to Neville.

"Hermione," Neville started in a small voice. It was obvious with just that one word and that look on his face staring at his feet, he would hold back. Hermione turn from him again to look at Haydrien.

"No," she said, "not from Neville. I need to know it all and he can't tell me. Haydrien, please." Neville sighed and stepped back, but then shot Haydrien a warning glance over her shoulder.

"She asked for it Neville. Nothing against you, but she really needs the whole story," he said with a sad smile. "Let's start from the beginning:

"It starts right here, at Hogwarts. The books all make it sound happy, but it really wasn't so. This was before any ministry, before our worlds was separate. There were some that were very powerful and not very kind. Those with knowledge and power of magic ruled areas with iron fits. They made muggles into slaves to be used or discarded at a whim. It-"

"Haydrien, this isn't needed," Neville cut in. There was war in his eyes. He wanted to protect her, but Hermione knew the truth was the only protection that lasts.

"I haven't heard this before, what do you mean?" Ron asked. Haydrien chuckled with remorse.

"Of course not, Ron. Information is hoarded by pure bloods, specifically those with reputations. And your family has been losing both over the last few generations, no offense," Haydrien said. Ron looked angry for a second, then nodded while still scowling.

"Let's just skip to the important part," Neville says hastily. 'If looks could kill,' Hemione thought as Haydrien took a step towards Neville.

"You think the creation of our world isn't important?" Haydrien yelled at him.

"That isn't what I said," Neville shouted back.

"Then what is the mighty boy-who-lived trying to say!"

"She doesn't need to know this!"

"She doesn't need to know why she will never be given a chance? She doesn't need to know why she will be looked down upon? She doesn't need to know that speaking out, even saying the wrong thing to the wrong person could have her living in Azkaban or killed? She doesn't need to know how her parent don't have any say and if they even tried to take her away from here that at best they would lose all memory of her and this world? Our name protects us, even Ron's. But she, who is so powerful, yet has no way to protect herself. And you think she doesn't need to know."

Silence followed his rant. Hermione was backing into a corner and she didn't even realize it. Neville and Haydrien were standing three feet apart facing each other. Ron flanked Neville, but was looking sickly.

"We'll protect her," Neville said defeated, sinking back and nearly collapsing into a chair.

"Your fame can only do so much. We can only do so much. Dumbledore can only do so much. Until she can really be put under protection, she needs to know how to watch herself and keep her head down," Haydrien replied.

"Why now? No muggle born has ever been given this information, especially so soon, not even Lily Potter. It is not done. Perhaps there is a reason," Neville said, but he's talking to his shoes.

"Because I have a feeling she is going to need it," Haydrien's eyes glow for a second at his words. Hermione sink to the ground in the corner. 'I just want to run away. What Hell have I entered?' she wondered.

Neville looked up at him and nodded before placing his head in his hands. Haydrien walked slowly to the witch in the corner as if afraid she would start screaming. He extended a hand down to her.

"Come with me, Hazel," he said softly. She looked at his hand, then slipped hers into it and allowed him to pull her to her feet. He led Hermione to the teacher chair, not letting go of her hand. Once she was settled into the cushioned seat, he sat on the desk and faced her.

"It was a dark time," Haydrien began again. "You see muggles escaped whenever possible and hated magic for the cruelty that had befallen them. Thus started the first witch hunts. When the magic users knew they were coming, the muggles didn't stand a chance, but they quickly changed tactics. They would slit their throats in the night. They would send arrows hurtling from a distance through their hearts. Or burn a house and everyone in it while they slept. Muggle-borns had it the worse. They were killed at young ages, the second magic manifested. Or they were raised to hunt their kind, and filled with rage. It was bloody. And thus began the split of the worlds. Magical being group together and built areas where they could hide and never be found by muggles. But the problem was still the muggle-borns, more and more were trained to walk in, to deceive and then kill all of them.

"That brings us to our four founders. They wanted to train the magical children to better defend themselves. To really know how to use their magic. But also to teach the children before the muggle could corrupt and poison them against their own kind. Both Ravenclaw and Slytherin had lost almost their whole families to the muggle born attacks. Ravenclaw, valuing knowledge above all else, could see and believe that if they were taught properly then they would be a valued part of their society. Slytherin could not let go of what he had lost and believed that they would tear down their society and the school from the inside just like the attacks.

"Gryffindor and Hufflepuff believed that we could split the world and hide from the muggle bring their magical children in—teaching them and making them so entrenched in our society that they would never return to the life and families they had before. It was a short while later, after the school was open and teaching that Slytherin left. He couldn't accept the muggle born into his castle. He claimed he would never sleep under the same roof as those who will bring the death of his world. And that is the true story of the founders.

"But while not everyone remember why the muggle borns were hated, it is still there. The prejudices are still alive and well in our society. Less so in Hogwarts, Dumbledore does his best to protect them. But upon leaving, well it's not pretty.

"So there is the beginning, but that doesn't answer your question about teaching standards does it?"

Hermione's head swam and she looked at her hands. She felt cold. The silence buzzed in the classroom.

"Even if we run we're going to be a bit late to Herbology. And this is a lot to swallow. How about we continue this after lunch?" Haydrien asked. She looked up into his eyes then. The playfulness was gone. His lips set into a line with the corners pulled down. His eyes were steel, all strength but with an underlining... 'Regret,' her mind provided. She nodded slowly. They rose and left the classroom and headed for Herbology. They didn't run and they didn't speak the whole way there.

~XxXxX~

Arriving late, they all sat separately at the only available places. Neville, who was a little ways in front of Hermione, kept glancing back. She couldn't meet his eye yet. She was still processing. She could feel Haydrien watching her carefully throughout, but never glanced at him.

By the time class ended, Hermione was able to reel in the initial shock and regain composure. She packed her things back into her book bag slowly. The three boys were waiting when she left the class. Neville glanced at her out of the corner of his eye and she nodded to him. He released a deep sigh. Haydrien was still monitoring her while Ron tried to lighten the mood with talk of quidditch as they walked to lunch. They eat quickly before heading off back to the same empty classroom.

"Are you okay, Hermione?" Neville asked quickly once she was settled back in the comfy chair. She was tempted to nod, but wasn't sure if that would be a lie. Hermione turned to Haydrien.

"Let's continue," she said. His lips lifted at the corners, but the rest of his face still frowned.

"Well, we will skip ahead now to some more recent events," Haydrien began. "Do you know how Dumbledore became famous?" Neville's eyes narrowed, but he held his tongue.

"Albus Dumbledore defeated the first major dark lord that the magical community had seen. Gellert Grindelwald was the first dark lord to accumulate a great following and began what is known as the First Wizarding War in Europe," Hermione recited.

"Yes, but a book doesn't really cover the feeling of the time all that well. Grindelwald accumulated a cult of dedicated followers. He was so deep into blood magic that some doubted if he was still human. Grindelwald and his followers were taking over area by area and the rumors were that anyone who opposed them were sacrificed in more rituals. It was a reign of terror. Everyone feared where he would strike next.

"Those in his areas, were not heard from. Little is known of what even happened after he took over since once defeated, only bodies were found, completely drained, but fresh kills. The ranks were impenetrable and every member of the cult beyond loyal to Grindelwald and his ideals. And he almost won. Europe was crumbling before him, until Dumbledore.

"Dumbledore battled him head on and won. He was the wizarding world's savior and they piled gifts at his feet. He could had anything in that moment. But he joined a few councils and slunk back to the castle as headmaster. No one really knows what happened out there that made even the dead want to forget."

Haydrien still watched Hermione. Neville and Ron both looked subdued staring at different parts of the floor. This is their history, their bloody and painful history. The effects of something like this is so much more than the words you can put in the books. The society has been broken many times, never able to heal. But on the other hand, was it ever whole to begin with?

~XxXxX~

Hermione's mind kept wandering back to their two conversations all throughout Charms and then Transfiguration. Even the professor transforming from a cat wasn't enough to pull her away from the recently learned history. If everything Haydrien said was true, he could always go over what she should have learned with her later.

Dinner was another quiet affair in their group while the rest of the table was chatting about the first day of classes. Haydrien walked in five minutes late and Hermione nodded to him without meeting his eye as he sat down across from her. He never seemed to look at her directly, yet she felt as if he was watching her the whole time. Neville kept stealing glances at her too. She tried to pretend not to notice.

At the table next to them a boy could be heard loudly exclaiming how wonderful magic is and how he learned so much in just one day and couldn't wait to learn more. Hermione cringed as he spoke. She wanted to get up, to grab him, to shut him up, to warn him, to do something. Yet, she could practically hear Haydrien's voice in her head, "Keep your head down," he kept admonishing her.

Hermione felt a light touch on her hand. She looked up to see those emerald green eye looking at her solemnly.

"You ready to go?" Haydrien asked. Hermione nodded and stood, pulling her hand out from under his. She had lost my appetite. As she walked out, her bag slung over one shoulder, she could hear two sets of footsteps behind her and knew Ron and Neville we're following them.

They ended up in the same classroom yet again. The air in the room seemed heavier every time they stepped inside. Hermione sat down in the same comfy chair, but it just felt uncomfortable. Haydrien perched himself on the desk facing her. The others wandering to desks in the room, though they were still listening just as intently. Haydrien sighed.

"The next part was a mere twenty-four years later, barely a generation," he started. "We weren't prepared for it. A diplomat," he spit the word, "rallying people together. No one knew for how long. We didn't know what it would turn into either. He gathered people, under the flag of purity. The old families seemed to flock to him. He spoke of purity and the taint that the muggle-borns brought with them and their attempt to change the old ways. Perhaps we should have known what he was doing, after everything that happened with Griswald. But no one wanted to believe that another dark lord was raising and building an army.

"The attacks were brutal. Death and torture. Parading around like demons, cloaked in black with a skull mask, shinning like cold steel from under their hoods. First it was just muggle-borns and muggles. Then some half-bloods. By the time anyone in the Ministry started even admitting there was a problem, he had put out a taboo on his own name. Merely saying it led him and his followers to you. His pureblood rhetoric was shown for exactly what it was. Another mask covering his desire for power over others."

The silence that followed his words drove home the point all the more for Hermione, but it was short lived. Neville was staring at Haydrien now, eyes slitted.

"And how do you know that," Neville threw at him. Haydrien sighed before turning to face him.

"You know, Neville, some of us actually enjoy history," Haydrien said, slight twinge of annoyance. "And it's not all that hard to figure out. If your whole goal is to hold onto the tradition and uphold blood purity, then why would you go around killing the most ancient and purest families simply because they didn't join you." Neville's mouth dropped open and his eyes were wide. "But you already knew that didn't you?" Neville's eyes narrowed again, but he fell back to his seat at the desk.

Haydrien shook his head a little and turned back to Hermione.

"And when this war seemed like it'd never stop and defeat was unavoidable, a one year old baby survived where the dark lord did not," Haydrien said, his eyes not wavering from her. Over his shoulder Neville was sinking into himself, his eyes clouded over.

"But I guess that still doesn't answer question about Snape," Haydrien added and Hermione almost smiled. She had forgotten where this all started.

"You see, our society has suffered quite a lot. Many have died, leaving gaps in many fields, particularly those that were rich with muggle borns. There are few places of prestige that muggle-borns can gain entry to. All higher government jobs are exclusively held by purebloods. The only jobs that muggle-born find available are ones that either purebloods don't want or that there are not enough pureblood proficient enough to occupy all of the positions. Potion masters fall into both of those categories. It is considered both difficult and generally undesirable by those of extensive breeding.

"With most killed in the last war, there is a bit of a shortage of Potions Masters. So is Snape a good teacher? Far from it, but he's what we got." Haydrien pinched the bridge of his nose with his thumb and middle finger before getting off the desk and kneeling on one knee so he was looking Hermione in the eye.

"Hermione, you will need to watch yourself and keep you head down. There are many who will hate you simply for your blood status. Not all of those who followed that bastard are locked away. Their children walk these halls just as we do. But stay out of trouble, and you won't find any at Hogwarts. Dumbledore does all that he can to keep this school that way. And one last thing, there is no turning back. There is no running, no escaping, no forgetting. This is where you belong now, in this world. And they will not let you out, they simply can't risk it."

"Damn it Black!" Neville yelled, knocking over the desk in his haste to get to his feet. He charged up to Haydrien, as the boy in question stood to meet him.

"Neville, I don't sugar coat things. This is how it is," Haydrien replied, standing his ground.

"Is that your excuse to scare the poor girl? Or is this just your way to put her in her place?"

"You know nothing of me."

"You're a Black and I know enough about them. How many muggles and muggle-borns has your family murdered? Is this some sick game to break her?"

"I'm not like that," Haydrien whispered lowly with a dangerous edge.

"You're all like that," Neville countered. They stood there inches apart. "Hermione, the Blacks were some of the biggest supporters of him. Slaughtering wasn't enough for them. Torture ran in their blood. What is Bellatrix to you, Black, a cousin?"

The whole world was tilting. What is going on? Hermione could feel the panic surging and threatening to envelope the whole world. The bottom half of her vision blurred.

"Don't bring her into this," Haydrien shouted back in his face.

"You are just like her. Look what you've done to Hermione." Haydrien was in front of her, his hand extended towards her face. Hermione pulled back suddenly. 'What was happening? Haydrien….what…why am I…contain….must contain…please,' Hermione thought, desperately trying to hang onto control. She blinked and her vision cleared slightly, but Haydrien was gone.

Neville slowly walked to where Hermione was.

"Hermione, he's gone. You don't have to worry. It's going to be OK. Let's get you back to the dorms," Neville says softly. She look up at him.

"What?" she asked. Hermione cannot process another thought…it's too much… Then darkness was all she knew.

AN: Like I said before, this story is AU including the history being a bit darker. The darkness just makes the rising light of our heroes all the brighter. Please let me know what you think. Thank you for reading.