AN: I just wanted to say 'Hi,' so here's another chapter. This is a short one, pretty much a bridge chapter. You will be getting your normal chapter the same time as usual next week. I edited chapter 1 to round off Haydrien and make him a little more real/believable. Nothing major changed, so you don't have to re-read if you don't want. Anyways, without further ado, please enjoy and review.

Chapter 5: Bear Owls and Hearsay

That night, when the three boys entered the dorm room, they found themselves alone for the first time since the first day of classes. Haydrien walked over to his bed and sunk down.

"So nice to be laying on a bed again," Haydrien said.

"Where have you been, mate?" Ron asked.

"Visiting the three headed dog," he answered easily. Neville and Ron both gave him blank stares. "I was among friends," he added. The other two seemed to let that pass.

"There was something I wanted to ask you, without Hermione," Neville started.

"What's that?"

"Why her? Why Hermione? Why did you tell her all those things if it wasn't to hurt her?"

Haydrien sighed and sat up in the bed, leaning his back against the headboard.

"She powerful," Haydrien started, "smart, and curious. The last would get her into trouble. She's going places. Has everything she needs to really be something, or change something. But she's muggle-born and has no idea of the rules that govern our society. She's stubborn enough to not take anything at face value, so if you told her she can't do something, she won't stop till she finds out why. You heard what she said coming out of Snape's, there weren't Slytherins that far away. What if they had been the ones to hear her? She's powerful enough to get into trouble, but didn't know enough to get out of it. I was just giving her what she needed to stay unseen."

"But she's not the first. Again why her?" Neville argued.

"I don't know yet. But I can feel it in my blood."

Neville sized him up with a glance. 'Why would a Black do this?' Neville wondered. 'He's hiding something. But I'll give him the benefit of the doubt…for now.' Neville nodded to him. Then the boys fell into silence, getting ready to retire, only for two others to come stumbling in.

Dean and Seamus gave Haydrien a weird look but said nothing as they all settled in for the night.

~XxXxX~

Hermione found the days fell into an easy pattern after the troll incident. While Haydrien was stand offish or just missing in public, he was relaxed, if not a bit lazy, when it was just the four of them. They often found refuge in that same empty classroom where it had all begun. They would study and do homework as well as sharing stories and laughter, all while hidden away from the rest of the students.

Occasionally, someone would pop their head into their classroom, though Haydrien was never caught out, simply disappearing moments before the door opened. When asked, he would laugh and say it was "a Black thing," along with a wink that never ceased to make Hermione want to roll her eyes. And the days and weeks fell away, as it does with good friends.

~XxXxX~

Hermione walked into "their" classroom, with a large tome in her hand, just like usual. Neither Ron or Neville looked up from the chess board set between them. Hermione set the book down on the desk with a gentle thud. Magical Creatures: The Myths, The Legends, And What We Know, the title made Neville's eyebrows raise.

"What's that for?" Neville asked her.

"There is a Care for Magical Creatures class, you know. I was just reading up a bit on that," she answered.

"You know that isn't even an option until next year, right?"

"I know, just getting a bit ahead. I mean there are so many electives, I want to know as much as I can before I have to choose. Plus it is so interesting, fairies, dementors, centers, grim-walkers," she listed. Neville and Ron visibly shivered at the last creature. "What?"

"They are considered bad omens, Hermione," Ron said.

"The book said that people are superstitious because they can sense greatness. Some go after the one's that the grim-walkers have attached to, trying to alter history. Isn't it interesting that these creatures can tell if you are going to be important, in the grand scheme of things? Though there hasn't been any 'known' instances in over 200 years, and most instances can't be verified. Anyways, they are much better than dementors. Imagine having all the happiness sucked away," she shivered at that.

Haydrien walked in through the door and over to the group.

"What are you guys talking about?" he asked. Hermione showed him her book and he made a face.

"What? You too?" she asked.

"My enthusiasm for history doesn't extend to hearsay," he answered as Hermione's mouth fell open.

"There are facts in this book. Yes, some speculation and hearsay, as you put it, but that is clearing explained as such," she shot back. Haydrien chuckled.

"Facts? A few, yes. But anyone who has dealt with any of the creatures mentioned in that book can tell you the majority of it just tall tales and rubbish," he said. Hermione looked a little crestfallen, but put the book away.

"Well, now that we are all here, my Gran thought it would be great to have my friends over," Neville said.

"I can't make the annual Longbottom Christmas Ball," Haydrien said with a pointed look at Neville.

"I knew that," Neville rolled his eyes. "I was thinking some days during the break that you guys could come visit. It would be bloody boring otherwise."

"Ooo, ooo," Hermione cooed.

"Hazel, I know you're wise, but you are reverting to the language of the owls," Haydrien droned. Hermione shot him a glare, but otherwise ignored his comment and Ron attempting (and failing) to hide his snickers.

"My parents would love to meet you! You have to come visit." She hopped up and down with excitement. But then stopped suddenly, "I need to owl my parents to ask." Her cheeks tinted pink.

"You can barrow my owl," Haydrien offered. "Lord Black would also like to meet all of you, but with his current health, it'll have to wait."

"Don't look at me," Ron piped in immediately, "my house is a zoo and I think I would lose you there." They all chucked a little at that, Neville and Ron laughing harder, apparently sharing some memory.

Tap. TAP. TAP! Crack. Haydrien hurried towards the window.

"Merlin, I'm opening it," he shouted at the owl menacingly meeting Haydrien's glare. As soon as the window was open the owl swooped in and landed on a desk. It was a large black owl, one of the eyes was completely white with a scar appearing both above and below it. His feathers were ruffled, a few missing. The tip of the chin, pointed out in a white beard of feathers. And to top it off, he had antlers.

"Is that a bear owl?" Ron asked, half between awe and horror.

"Yeah," Haydrien answered. "His name is Odin."

"Like…" Hermione trailed off.

"Yes, the all-seeing Norse god," he answered. Hermione looked surprised. "I like history," he said.

"So Norse gods are history but my book is hearsay?" she said. Haydrien rolled his eyes. "Wait, you're not saying…"

"No, Hazel, Norse gods aren't history, but the people who believed in them are," he said with a sigh. "Anyways, I imagine the pissed off ball of feathers wants your letter." Odin whooed in response, yet somehow it sounded threatening.

"I can't send that to my parents!"

"Do you have a cat?"

"No…"

"Then it should be fine. Odin will be nice, won't you?" Haydrien turned toward the owl, his last words sounding like a threat of his own. Owls couldn't roll their eyes, at least that's what everyone believed, but Odin seem to accomplish the feat with all the attitude of a rebellious teenager. "Stupid owl," Haydrien muttered under his breath.

"Wait, why would it matter if I had a cat?" Hermione asked.

"Well, you wouldn't after. Let's just leave that there." Hermione looked horrified, glancing back and forth between Odin and Haydrien. Odin sighed then flew over to the desk next to Hermione. He butted her arm gently, avoiding his horns, then stuck out his leg. Haydrien shook his head and sat down.

"Just give him his letter," Haydrien said. Hermione cast the owl a worried glance, but complied.

Once the owl had left, Haydrien closed and repaired the window.

"Why do you have a bear owl," Ron asked.

"I don't know, it choose me," Haydrien threw his hands up in the air, causing the other three to laugh as his distress.