DISCLAIMER: I can't think of anything clever to put here so… I don't own the characters…
HIDDEN CHANGES
"This might be a problem. That overgrown pigeon can see me."
Chapter 5:
Xavier stared at Fawkes intensely and the bird just stared back with an aggravated expression. Hermione nodded to Xavier to leave and he padded out of the Great Hall so they could figure something out later. Hermione was debating on whether to join him or stay with Harry and Ron. She turned to see Fawkes nudging Dumbledore.
"I already fed you, Fawkes."
Hermione was about to shock the poor bird when all of the sudden it burst into flames and dissolved into ashes scaring most of the first years.
"Great Merlin, Fawkes, I thought you weren't supposed to do that until next week…" Dumbledore mused. The ashes shook slightly before Fawkes flew up out of them and perched by Professor Dumbledore. Hermione smiled to herself as the bird looked at the spot where Xavier was previously. The poor creature looked utterly confused as to where the jaguar went and it was obvious to Hermione that Fawkes was wondering if he really saw anything at all.
Hermione approached Harry, Ron, Remus, and Sirius sensing that the danger was over and the bird had forgotten.
"Well if it isn't the better third of the trio!" Sirius exclaimed. When he got a skeptical look back from Hermione he corrected himself by saying, "Well you are the most attractive of your little group."
The looks on everyone's faces were priceless. Hermione stood looking completely embarrassed, Harry's jaw dropped at his godfather's compliment of his close friend, Ron looked absolutely furious and Remus just rubbed his temples saying, "Please tell me you did NOT just hit on one of my students."
Sirius laughed lightly replying, "Oh please, I hit on everyone. Isn't that right my beloved darling Minerva? Shall I stay with you tonight for a nightcap?"
McGonagall shot Sirius a glare, "If you sexual harass anyone else I will have you banned from Hogwarts."
Sirius leaned against the arm of her chair and stage whispers, "What if I just harass you?"
Everyone in the vicinity snickered and Dumbledore actually snorted into his pumpkin juice.
"Albus! Tell him to stop!"
"Minerva, if you are a big girl. You are allowed to date whomever you like."
"Of all the nonsense! Mister Black! Kindly remove yourself from my presence."
"But my darling pussycat we shouldn't hide our relationship from everyone! Look what it is doing to my poor godson and his friend!" Harry and Ron looked like they were about to explode from the laughter they were trying to contain.
Hermione decided to step in deciding that someone had to be on her favorite teacher's side. She casually waved her wand and muttered a spell making Sirius' hair grow longer and turn a repulsive greenish brown. Sirius gasped in despair while the rest of the group laughed. Remus nodded at Hermione while Professor McGonagall smiled with pride.
"Ten points to Gryffindor for saving me from this unsavory youth."
Sirius turned to Hermione, "Well I must say you have won this battle, but you have not won the war!"
"Since when have we been at war?!"
"Since now!"
Harry looked from Hermione to Sirius saying, "Sorry Sirius I think you will lose"
"You little ingrate! You're supposed to support me!"
Remus sipped his coffee before snapping, "Sirius, will you please stop arguing with my students."
"They started it…"
Hermione excused herself saying she needed to go to the library so she could go talk to Xavier. As Hermione was walking away Sirius turned to Remus muttering, "No one has messed with my hair like that since I was in my seventh year."
"That is because no one could top what that Prince kid did to it."
"I always liked that kid… What happened to him, Mooney?"
"Not too sure… I am sure Dumbledore knows…"
Xavier sat outside the great hall staring at the lovely skirts under heavy robes swaying in the drafty hallway. He may be in a jaguar form but he was still male. He was reminiscing of some of the days spent organizing with Hermione over the summer. At first when she dove head on into organizing the leaders and lower Kanimas into groups, he was irritated. He never realized how exhausted he was until he got an actual night's sleep.
He growled to himself beginning to realize that he was growing fond of the new cub. He had made the mistake of growing attached to someone before and he didn't want to make the same mistake again.
He wondered when he started actually caring about Hermione and then he remembered.
Hermione's first kill had been that night and he was sitting on the sofa calmly waiting in his human form for her to get out of the bathtub. He always hated these times when he had to be caring for the new pack members. They always cried and whined so much, it gave him a headache when the newbies complained.
He heard a soft sob from the bathroom and he sighed to himself, "Here we go again..." He stood up and strolled over to the bathroom and rapped on the door.
"Are you alright?"
"Under my fingernails hurt really bad…"She sniffled.
Xavier rolled his eyes thinking to himself that she had not seemed like a girl who would cry over a broken nail. Well she would have to get used to broken nails in this 'line of work' as he liked to call it. He sighed and replied, "Let me see them"
"Umm okay hold on." He heard Hermione shuffling around the bathroom and unlock the door. He pushed it open to find her wrapped up in a robe with her bleeding hands under the running tap water.
"Let me see…"
"I think I have some… um… bone chips or something stuck under my nails."
"For the last time let me see them!"
Hermione looked over at the irritated man and offered him her hands. Xavier looked at her hands gently before pulling out a wand.
"What are you doing? You didn't tell me you were a wizard!"
He looked to her with a cocked eyebrow, "Do you want me to fix your hands?"
She nodded quietly as he led her to sit on the closed toilet as he sat on the side of the tub. He began removing the human debris from her skin gently. He noticed her staring at him. "What is it?
"You're a wizard?"
"Technically, yes, but I am not supposed to have a wand."
"Why not?"
"Because I was expelled for repetitive improper use of magic at the school I attended."
"How did you get a new wand?"
"I have connections."
"With whom?"
"I was very likable. Why does it matter?"
"Well I need to know what side you are on in the war."
He laughed softly, "Do you think I could walk into a Death Eater camp without changing and trying to kill them all?"
"Oh, I see…" there was an uncomfortable silence as he worked on her nails until, "So do you give manicures often?"
Becoming slightly amused at this comment obviously made to make him flustered Xavier responded back without missing a beat, "No I do pedicures at my day job."
"What? Really?"
"No… sarcasm you should learn how to recognize it cub."
"Well you are rather snarky aren't you?"
"No I am just an asshole."
Hermione smiled as the pain in her left hand dissipated and Xavier started on her right hand. "So how old are you?"
"Do you always ask so many questions?"
"Yes, I pride myself on knowledge. How old are you?"
He sighed, "In human years I am 29, but since I am the 'alpha' I can be as old or young as I choose to look."
"I was about to say you don't look that old. So where did you go to school before you got expelled?"
Xavier tensed for a moment but he knew this girl wouldn't quit until he answered her questions, "Hogwarts, I started in 1977…"
"Hey, that is where I go! What house were you in?"
He looked to her quietly and grumbled, "I didn't like the house I was placed in."
"What were you in Hufflepuff."
"That is a low blow. Don't call me that."
"Oh they aren't that bad… Well which one?"
"Slytherin…"
"Ah, wait you knew the Marauders!"
He stopped abruptly and looked at her. "What do you know of them?"
"Were they as crazy as Sirius and Remus boast?"
"I don't know how much they boast but, I appreciated their antics."
"So what did you get expelled for?"
Xavier finished her nails quietly, "That is for another time. Now, how do your hands feel?"
Hermione looked at her nails and hugged him.
"Do you invade people's space often? Am I going to have to get used to this?"
"Stop being snarky. Yes I am a hugging person."
Xavier sighed and hugged her back finding that being in her company was fun even though she would never shut up.
AN: Sorry this chapter is more an informational and background chapter. I am sorry it took me so long to update. My computer got a virus and was being a pain and I also had many papers due. I am narrowing down the poll to the top three contenders for Hermione's romantic interest. Xavier, Severus, and Remus… All older men… I APROVE YOU GUYS!!! Yay for older men… Well I guess since Xavier can basically choose his age he doesn't count as an old guy… If you have ideas or questions please review! Thanks for reading! I will update soon!