Hermione fuming the bloody hell had she and Draco Malfoy end up with the same animal? She could refuse to become that animal of course, Professor Langdon had said that. No one else seemed to be upset with their animals, in fact Ginny and Harry were quite happy with theirs. As soon as Hermione had seen the stag standing in the little glass container, she knew Harry would be chosen by it. After all, he was a product of his parents.
"Excuse me Professor." Ginny getting a doe though, that was what had set Hermione off. "From what I've read, typically the patronus of a person reflects what their animagus will be correct?" Professor Langdon's eyes lit up as she looked at Hermione. Yes she quite enjoyed the girl's fiestiness.
"While there has been a great deal of speculation, it's never been confirmed." Professor Langdon agreed as began levitating each of the containers, the corresponding animal landing on each of the students desk. Hermione watched as the wolf landed silently on top of the desk in front of her. "I think though, the chosen animal usually manifests itself in the animagus form. Slowly, over time, the patronus changes."
Hermione sat back in her chair not wanting to utter another word. Her small hands touched the edges of the glass box. Looking down as the wolf began to lick the glass where her right hand was. Hermione almost swore she could feel the wolves tongue.
"Now that we've got that covered." The smile on Professor Langdon's face was smug. "For the next week I want you, and your partner if you have one," Hermione had almost forgotten that Lavender had gotten a rabbit as well. To no one's surprise Dean and Seamus had both been captivated by the red fox. They were thick as thieves after all. ", to make notes about your animal, to study it. I will arrange for each of you to spend time with the given animal."
"I'm sorry Professor." Hermione meant it this time. She felt as if she'd interrupted the new Professor a lot. "What do you mean spend time with the animal?"
"An excellent question Miss Granger! Some time this week I will be contacting each of you. At what time, who knows, but I will be contacting you. At which time you will head out on to the grounds towards Hagrid's cabin. There you will find a glass container, much like the one before you. Inside will be a real live animal, be it wolf, fox, stag, rabbit, it will be there." Hermione's brown eyes grew wide.
"Isn't that dangerous though?" Blaise had spoken up this time, a panicked hitch to his voice. Hermione didn't blame him in the least, the boy had gotten a bear.
"Mr. Zabini, do you really think that I would put you in well, a cage, with a dangerous animal?" Professor Langdon asked. Blaise remained silent, simply looking at the woman. He knew a trap when he heard one.
"What about the animals though?" Hermione asked curious as to how it would work. She didn't want to curse an animal because it was protecting itself from a perceived threat.
"Alright let me explain about these containers better. The glass is bewitched, meant to help bring together the animal and the human. The containers the animals will be kept in will not only keep the animals peaceable. Not only that, but it will bond you with that animal. You will learn from it, study it, so when you begin transforming you'll have a better idea of what you'll be transforming into." From the way Professor Langdon looked at Hermione she felt as if the woman were saying 'satisfied?'.
"I would like no less than 12 inches of parchment about your assigned animal by the end of the week. What you think about it, how it's useful in the muggle and magical world. Anything you can think of really. If it catches your interest write it down. For now I want you to pair up, if you have a partner, and begin to study the animal before you. Be thinking of what shade you'd like to become, any defining marks you'll have." Professor Langdon walked around her desk and sat down.
"You can begin now. I'd start with making a list." Hermione wasted no time in pulling out a roll of parchment, a quill, and her newest bottle of black ink.
"I'll see you later 'Mione." Ginny said in a whisper quickly heading towards Harry. They didn't have the same animal, though it they were fairly close. Just different sexes.
"At dinner of course." Hermione agreed as her list became longer slowly. 'White fur, green eyes, slightly long fur, short nails, bushy tail,' Hermione smiled at the last one, how fitting it was. Though when the chair beside her scraped against the floor, being pulled out, Hermione froze.
As Draco sat beside her Hermione smelt aftershave, not heavy, light, heady, musky. Hermione hated that she liked the way it smelled.
"Don't take it personally Granger. I also have to study the animal before you." Draco muttered pulling out his own parchment, as well as a solid white eagle quill. It was special though, custom made with an ink holder in the middle of the quill, ink which he could refill.
"I realize this Malfoy!" Hermione snapped impatiently. She didn't like him being that close to her, though there wasn't much she could do about it. For the next thirty minutes the two sat in silence, not even looking at one another as they wrote. Not only traits they wanted but also, things they noticed about the wolf itself. Professor Langdon's voice brought Hermione out of her thoughts.
"Now, this is very important. You must have a defining trait, something that the ministry will be able to use to identify you. Mr. Potter's, well his is easy. Despite what he does his animal will have a lightning bolt shaped scar on it's head somewhere." The classroom gave muffled laughter. After everything, Harry could laugh at it now, though only lightly.
"What if you can't think of a defining trait?" Blaise asked, only echoing the question in Hermione's mind. Beside her, Hermione saw Draco move, just a bit, one hand sliding down his left forearm.
"If you can't think of one Mr. Zabini we'll wait until you've transformed and find one. Usually it's something small, glasses marks, a missing tooth, a scar, hell once I saw an owl with a snake tattoo on it's foot as the defining feature." Once again the muffled laughter echoed through the class room.
"Tattoos, they, they show up?" The low voice from beside Hermione made every one quiet down. Even Professor Langdon's smile dropped. Even through his vague words everyone, save for maybe one, knew what the young man meant. Draco sighed at Professor Langdon's silence, taking it for a yes. "Figures." He muttered swiping his things off the table exiting the room in a swirl of robes.
"Class dismissed." Professor Langdon muttered heading out the door. Though Hermione had a feeling she wasn't going after Draco. No, the woman probably needed advice. Hermione didn't blame her, not in the least.