A/N: I admit this story is the type you write with great efforts (in positive way). There are so many things involved that i have to take care i dont mess up with dates and give few clues here and there. I know that people did miss few or at least no one brought it to my attention, but i have to do the job. That's why i think i cant make the updates faster than they are.
Knowing one and all
"I fail to understand how black and yellow is the best uniform?" Severus asked.
Severus and Ella had received Hermione's letter and just gone through it.
"Compared to white and silver?" Ella asked.
"Someone has that uniform?" Severus asked bewildered.
"Unicorns don't come in other colours, so …" Ella answered, "But Centaurs' uniform looks beautiful. Just because you don't like yellow colour doesn't mean it doesn't look good with black."
Severus muttered something about 'destroying the integrity of black' but Ella ignored it.
"Alex Conklin is still teaching," Ella said, reading the letter. "I'm surprised Hermione liked him. Hardly anyone likes him."
"Why?"
"He is," Ella said, thoughtfully, "slightly cynical. Not as much as you." Severus scowled, but was again ignored. "A very good teacher. Too demanding. Prefers to be left alone and makes it quiet clear. All through his career he has had only one apprentice – Vaidahi Sharma. Merlin knows what he likes in a person."
"I just hope Sophie is good," Severus said, "doesn't sound too good till now."
Ella noticed the worried undertone in Severus' voice. "You aren't much better than her as a teacher, you know that, dear?"
Severus tensed for a moment. "Maybe that's why I didn't want Hermione at Hogwarts. By the way, when do we leave for the platform tomorrow?"
"Blaise would be here at ten," Ella answered. "Poor kid! His mother fell ill at this time."
Severus nodded as he got up. "I am yet to pack. Good night."
Ella sighed as she watched her husband leave the room. She had noticed the tension when she had called him 'dear'. It had taken ten years of marriage for them to get used to each other as husband and wife, but Severus was hardly used to words of endearment.
Not that Ella expected something from Severus, but at least they could open up to each other now, slightly more than friends. She hoped it wouldn't take another ten years for that.
Hermione
Guess where from I am writing you this letter. My Slytherin dormitory. Finally! And you won't believe whom I met on the train? Guess … guess …
While you are guessing, it was so good to be finally leaving for Hogwarts. Your parents came to drop me to the station. Mother fell ill and I didn't want Father to escort me to the station. Who wants another lecture on 'how to be neutral among pure-bloods and not take any side'?
I just love your mom. She gave me a packet of her famous cookies. Not that I don't like your dad; he gave me a set of quills along with an instruction of not letting anyone in school know I know him personally.
The moment we boarded the train, there were rumours that Harry Potter is also in the train. And Malfoy even went to meet him. If his sour mood is any indication, I think the meeting didn't go well. I was so bored sitting with all those pure-blood idiots that I moved out soon after.
My luck! I ended with Neville Longbottom and Luna Lovegood. Lovegood's father writes that weird Quibbler. But I liked her. She is a bit strange but she talks truthfully and intelligent. We talked a lot, though it was mainly concentrated on some peculiar animals I have never heard of. And Neville is son of aurors; I don't think you know about them. Anyway, he has this toad which always keeps on getting lost.
But, thanks to that toad, we got to meet him (Have you guessed it, yet?) and Harry Potter. We ultimately ended up sharing the compartment with them. We had loads of fun playing exploding snaps, enjoying sweets from the cart and chatting about school. And you know the best part, both of these boys are famous but they were so cool about it, especially him. We even discussed few things about the game and he was surprised I knew so much about his games. He agreed to give me some pointers in the school. Yippee!
I was happy for the company, even if no one wanted to be a Slytherin. All of them were pure-bloods, except Harry Potter, but none of them have the stupid superiority ideas. And the biggest relief is that I can hang around them without any worry from Dad. Great, isn't it?
I won't tell you about the castle since you already know a lot. I think your Dad gave me a smile when I was sorted into Slytherin, but, who knows, I might be imagining. Potter and Longbottom went into Gryffindor; Luna into Ravenclaw; He is also in Gryffindor. My luck! Couldn't he be in Slytherin?
Classes start from tomorrow. I am wrapping up the letter. There's a clipping I have enclosed. Read it. And I really hope you have guessed him correctly.
Blaise
Hermione folded the letter as she finished reading it. It wasn't difficult to guess the person. He made it too obvious. Plus, Blaise hardly worshipped anyone else like that.
Hermione opened the folded news clip.
The New Junior Champion
Breaks the record; Youngest champion in the history
July 20, London: Ronal Weasley is the new Junior Britain Chess Champion. He defeated the defending champion in the final game today. He is the youngest Champion in the history of the tournament at eleven. He would be starting Hogwarts this session. Turn to pg 2 for more information.
Hermione saw the picture of the young boy holding a trophy in his hand and waving at the camera. As expected, there was a small note at the end of the clip in Blaise' handwriting.
This is the only clip I have. Keep it carefully. Blaise.
Hermione smiled as she carefully folded the letter and the clip and kept it in her trunk. Blaise probably needed the picture for the album he had made for Ronald Weasley. Blaise was a very big fan of chess and, hence, Ronald Weasley. Hermione recalled the innumerable times when Blaise and her father would sit for a game and it would stretch for hours.
Hermione looked around. She was the first one to reach the Dining Hall. But now the hall was slowly getting full. She decided to write to Bill and congratulate him before starting with breakfast.
By the time she finished, the hall was full and food had appeared on the table. Hermione stared at the sea of students, all wearing different uniforms (no on had worn the robes as yet) and scattered around the tables.
Hermione found a familiar looking girl enter the hall and waved her over. Looking at her, Hermione was reminded of the incident that had happened on the cruise. Few older looking boys were teasing a first year boy and Hermione and this girl, together, had launched an attack on those boys. Thankfully, prefects had found them; otherwise she was sure of receiving couple of hexes more than she already received. However, she was proud of the damage done to those boys. Almost all of them were sporting various coloured eyes, two of them had tentacles sprouting from their heads (trick learnt from Bill) and other three had big-orange sized noses which were the handiwork of this girl.
Hermione observed the girl coming her way. Slant eyes, long black hair, pale skin and thin lips. There was an aura of royalty around her, though she looked friendly … friendly yet closed.
'Severus has rubbed off you in the wrong sort of way. Which eleven year old child observes other people? They just observe candies, toys and brooms,' Ella's voice echoed in her mind. Hermione smiled at the thought.
"Hey," the girl greeted her as she took a seat beside her. "Smiling to yourself?"
"Just remembered something," Hermione answered. "By the way, this is Hermione Lily Snape." Hermione extended her hand. "British."
"MaPoi," the girl introduced herself, taking her hand. The girl had an odd and a confused look in her eyes for a moment before she smiled again. "From Assam, India. We are room-mates, by the way."
"Really?" Hermione asked surprised. "I didn't see you there yesterday." Hermione tried to remember MaPoi in her dorm, but couldn't recall.
"I was already asleep when you came," MaPoi answered. "What were you doing up so late?"
The conversation started as Hermione explained the letters she had written to her father and Blaise, wishing both of them luck for their new Hogwarts year. The conversation then moved to Hogwarts. That's how the breakfast was spent and soon they heard an announcement Allya to queue behind her.
"I think we would be given time-table," Hermione said as everyone got up to follow their student heads in four different directions.
"About time, I would say," MaPoi said. "I thought we are having a holiday today as well."
All the first year Centaurs lined up in the lane leading from the dining hall to the ground. The sky was clear and the water around them was sparkling.
"Beautiful day," Hermione whispered.
"I'm more worried about these floating steps," MaPoi said, all her attention focussed on maintaining balance on floating marbles.
"Good morning, Centaurs," a loud and clear voice boomed from somewhere in front.
Hermione and MaPoi craned their necks to have a better look at him. Alexander Conklin, as Bill had told Hermione, was an ex-Auror and around forty years old, though he looked slightly younger. He had no family; no one knew why. He was famous as a cynical and a moody person in the school.
"Allya would be distributing you your time-tables and syllabus books," Alex said. "What I will tell you here is supposed to stay with for as long as you live here.
"First of all, if someone mistreats you, come to me. I am here to help you and I definitely will.
"Second, if you mistreat someone, be ready for a punishment. I don't let go of miscreants easily," Alex added with a threatening whisper and everyone gulped. "Always remember that."
"Third, lessons for various games would be held in the third week. All of you will attend all the lessons.
"Fourth, respect others and yourself. Centaurs are proud and intelligent creatures. Prove yourself worthy of being in this house.
"Fifth, if you have any questions, you can shoot them now. I'm not easily available and you will have to either content with Allya or wait till the fornightly house-meet."
Alex glanced around. No one said a word. "Very well then. Allya," With that, he turned around and walked towards the castle.
Chatter broke the moment Alex was out of sight. Allya took the charge and started distributing them time-tables.
"You would think he would give some friendly and welcoming talk," MaPoi commented. "Even his order of information was all wrong."
"He is known to be a bit cynical," Hermione said, staring at her time-table. "What's group A?"
MaPoi glanced at her time table. "Mine also has the same group." They looked around to find that there were four groups mentioned.
They soon learnt that all houses are divided into four groups and similar groups attend their classes together. So, she would be attending her classes along with four Centaurs, five Unicorns, three Phoenixes and four Sphinxes. They walked back to their dorms to prepare for the day.
Surprisingly, Hermione and MaPoi were the only room-mates. Centaurs had gotten thirty first-years this year. With four in each dorm, two were bound to get the whole dorm. Lucky, according to MaPoi.
Hermione wasn't sure. It is lucky if you are protecting a secret but otherwise more the merrier. She couldn't decide the reason for MaPoi's happiness - her loony nature or some secret.
"These stairs are very irritating," Hermione said as she saw the stairs in front of her convert into ramp.
"They are meant to do so," a voice said from behind them. Hermione and MaPoi turned around to find the boy they had saved on cruise smiling at them. His bruises were gone and they could see the real colour of his skin – brown. He belonged to Unicorn as was clear from his uniform.
He walked to them. "I couldn't thank you that day for helping me out. Thank you very much. Bob Dylan," he said, stretching his hand forward.
MaPoi introduced herself and Hermione. '"Group A?" she asked.
Bob nodded.
"What were you saying about the stairs?" Hermione asked, walking up the ramp.
"A prankster did this," Bob explained. "He happened to be the Headmaster of the school. He did this as a challenge for the school population. It took teachers a long time to come up with a solution, but the Headmaster had died by that time. Everyone decided to keep them as it is in his memory."
"Wow!" MaPoi said, amazed. "It takes a lot to appreciate pranks. Good they kept it."
Soon, they entered the third floor where they were to have their first lesson of the day – Charms and Curses. The classroom was open and there were already few students seated there. The three of them separated and took their seats in the front row.
"Good morning, everyone," a crisp voice greeted the class five minutes later. "I am your teacher, Vera Claythorne."
A middle-aged woman with a warm smile came into the room and made herself comfortable on the table. She was wearing matt yellow robes, thus brightening the class.
"Let us start with class, alright?" Everyone nodded. "This subject is divided into two parts as the name suggests. Charms and curses.
"Charms in very simple language mean something to control or achieve. Curse, on the other hand, is a cause of harm or misery. This means there is a very basic difference between both. One is a useful tool in day to day life and while the other is useful in defence and offence."
The class went on and Hermione realised that the only two students she knew in the school by now were quite intelligent. MaPoi seemed rather natural at curses and had vast knowledge.
By the time the day ended, Hermione had attended Transfiguration by Khalid Murat, Muggle studies by Mark Harris and Astronomy by Andy Smith. What surprised her was the fact that Mark Harris was a muggle, married to a wicth. He wasn't the only one; Maths teacher Martin Lindros was also a muggle and husband of Emily Lindros, History teacher.
"I'm eagerly waiting for Emily Mam's class," MaPoi said, during dinner.
"Why?" Hermione asked.
"She uses innovative ways to teach history," MaPoi said, as Hermione glanced at the Teacher's table to spot the said teacher.
Finally, Hermione spotted her. She was a beautiful teacher with round eyes and brown hair. She looked slightly out of place with her habit of spacing out every few minutes. Hermione nudged MaPoi to tell her this, when Professor Emily looked their way. Hermione found herself being stared at for few moments. Emily seemed to space out and yet trying to solve a puzzle. Finally, she looked away as if nothing had happened.
Hermione turned to MaPoi to share this with her, only to find her looking her food with an unhappy look in her eyes. Deciding not to disturb her, Hermione left the topic to be discussed later.
Hardly did she know that the girl beside her had had the same experience; the only thing different was she didn't want to discuss it ... never.
She bolted upright. Her face was covered in sweat and her breathing was ragged. Again, she had dreamt of the attack on Longbottoms. Again, she had seen that brown haired-woman with her brown-haired daughter. Why were those mud-bloods haunting her dreams? Why were they having this kind of affect on her? How on earth could she be scared of mudbloods?
But, was she scared?
She stared at the stone wall as if this would provide her all the answers. There wasn't much to see there, but then there was nothing much to see anyway.
She had never analysed her dreams in full consciousness. She was scared of what she would find in there. And, she wasn't ready for it.
She sighed. That was how she was spending her time these days - running away from herself, her fears, her identity and staring at walls for answers. How pathetic!
How long had she been waiting for reprise from all these! How much was she longing for freedom! How much she wanted to serve her master!
Where was he? He was supposed to come and save them. He couldn't be gone, could he? He was the most powerful wizard. He had said he is capable of defeating death even.
To her, his words were enough. Maybe he needed help? And she was sure, those good-for-nothing followers were doing nothing. They had settled in their life and luxuries. It was only up to her to do something, to find her master and to serve him.
Suddenly, her eyes lit with a purpose.
She had a mission to do and she couldn't let herself being wasted in here. She needed to find herself. The thought alone provided her strength to get up and drag herself to the door. Clutching the cold bars, she stared out of her prison. A chill down her spine made her shiver and she knew she would collapse soon. But she inhaled the cold air.
She would be free soon. This cold would be welcoming her soon. And then, she will find her master, her answers for these weird dreams.
A/N: So, how was the chapter. I hope you like it. We got to see Ron. Want to know more about them? Let me know.
By the way, i want a nickname for MaPoi, so i thought maybe you all can help me. She is from Assam, India. So, guys and gals, come up with some good nicknames, please.
Review please. They are the motivation for writing.
Ciao