Wednesday, Nov. 24, 1999
Hermione coughed, gasping slightly as she rolled to one side. That one is going to leave a bruise.
A moment later she felt the air rush back into her lungs as she looked up to see Konstantinos regarding her with an apologetic expression, his hand falling away in a familiar gesture as his full lips twisted into a small frown.
She scrambled to her feet and huffed impatiently.
"Again."
"Are you sure? We could take a -"
"No, again," she said firmly.
Behind them, two of Konstantinos' friends, Angelos and Nick exchanged a troubled look before Hermione glared at them. They lifted their eyebrows slightly before jogging away and she sighed, wiping her brow with the back of a hand before stepping back and shaking out her arms.
Likely the wizards were upset because it was the seventh time in the last two minutes that she had gone down. The last time had been particularly hard, but Hermione knew she was a hair away from succeeding.
Konstantinos' light eyes looked at her searchingly for a long moment before he nodded and stepped back.
"Five more times and then we're moving on to something else," he said clearly and Hermione nodded.
She could do this.
They were currently engaging in a variation on target practice and while Hermione had to admit it was a skill she desired, the amount of frustration building up inside her was threatening to derail the entire process.
At the moment she wasn't allowed a wand.
Not until she successfully evaded twenty spells in succession.
The highest she had made it to was thirteen and that had been pushing it.
Konstantinos stood a few meters away, wand in hand for her benefit though he assured her that they would eventually work up to a place where neither of them would need a wand. (Hermione remained pleasantly dubious, though she made a mental note to add wandless magic to her list of goals and things to research and practice.)
The wizard stood opposite of her and fired non-verbal spells at her relentlessly. It was her task to watch his body and use the subtle tells of his physicality to correctly evade whatever spell he sent her way.
There were five options.
Six, if you included Konstantinos' skullduggery.
Already, Hermione could predict when Konstantinos was about to disarm her. Years alongside Harry Potter had trained her to see the small shifting of weight and subtle lifting of the elbow that preceded an Expelliarmus. Most Charms involved a shift of weight forward which made them relatively easy to avoid.
She had been surprised at being able to spot a Transfiguration within milliseconds and Konstantinos had essentially stopped casting them after Hermione had evaded them every single time without fail. Angelos had given her a whoop of encouragement when she managed to avoid seven in a row and that had been in the stream of thirteen successes before a hex pulled her up short and gave her a bloody nose.
Jinxes were usually preceded by a larger arm movement that crossed a person's midline which made them fairly easy to evade.
Full hexes and curses were blocked by the gyms' wards but they still had the capacity to knock a person backwards, and while hexes seemed to be accompanied by a rippling action of the torso, it was hard to predict the final angle of attack and Hermione had been knocked flat after guessing wrong on more than one occasion.
Curses were proving to be her biggest challenge. Each curse seemed remarkably different though Konstantinos insisted that there was a unifying clue to all of them that she wasn't yet seeing. Hermione was forced to admit that she simply hadn't had any concentrated experiences with curses and her temper had risen a few notches at being given several physical lessons testifying to that fact.
The final choice, of course, was simply a full on feint and Konstantinos was remarkably adept at catching her off guard with his fake-outs which were driving her mad. At one point Nick had trotted over to whisper a word of advice in her ear - that Konstantinos frequently favored a feint before a hex and that had helped slightly, though the wizard had soon mixed up his habits and had once again rendered that helpful hint inert.
"I'm ready," Hermione said firmly, bending her knees as she watched the wizard closely.
Konstantinos grew still and she waited, feeling the adrenaline begin to pump through her system as her eyes watched his lithe body... searching for any telltale shifting or gesture that could - there!
Three flashes passed her quickly and Hermione twisted and bent in response. Her feet remained in place.
A shift betrayed a Charm and she leapt to one side, twisting again as a Transfiguration sliced past her elbow. That's five.
Konstantinos shifted to the left and there was a complicated series of flicks across his sternum before she ducked, hearing the curse whizz past.
Where did his wand finish?
The stray thought almost cost her a dodge, but Hermione evaded the following jinx with a stupid sort of twirl.
Seven.
Her brow furrowed as the wizard stepped back, wand slicing deftly before coming inward...
A moment later she was twisting in the air before her body came down on the mat, left cheek ricocheting off the nubby foam with enough force to make her see stars for a moment. Fuck.
Hermione slammed a hand against the mat and blew a bit of spit out of her mouth impatiently.
"I saw it! I saw it!" she crowed, shaking her head slightly even as Nick hurried over to grasp her arm. Dark brown eyes gazed down at her in concern but Hermione couldn't be bothered as she pushed past the large man to gesture to Konstantinos.
"I saw it! Curses need to come through the midline of the body. They have a longer pathway just like hexes, but you have to draw them in before directing it at your opponent! That's the key!"
Konstantinos smiled and lifted his eyebrows toward Angelos who muttered something softly in Greek. The beefy man chuckled as he walked over, tilting his chin upward toward her in acknowledgement.
"Little sister is quick!" he said appreciatively. Nick came around her again and frowned, his wand appearing and twirling briefly even as Hermione jerked back, feeling her lip tingle.
"Like a little tiger," he said, turning toward Konstantinos. "She doesn't even notice when she is hurt!"
"I can't say that's a great quality," Konstantinos replied lightly, sending her a lopsided smile. "It is important to know when to rest or quit."
"I know when to quit -" Hermione huffed, even as Nick chortled.
"Tell that to your face!"
Even though Angelos said it in Greek, Hermione was pleased when she understood. She frowned as the large wizard held out a delicate looking mirror that he conjured, the silver filigree at odds with his hulking hand.
"Oh shit," Hermione whispered, pressing a hand to one cheek as she absorbed her puffy lip, bruised temple, and cut over one eye. There was a bit of blood smeared along her chin. The wizards laughed loudly and Nick threw a hand over her shoulder and gave her a gentle shake.
Incredulous, she looked to Konstantinos who wrinkled his nose and gestured toward the bench near the door.
"Perhaps we should take a short break, little sister," he suggested.
"No, wait! I just got it though! You said five times… that was only once!" Hermione insisted, already moving to step back into position. Konstantinos rolled his eyes as his friends clapped toward her and shouted encouragement.
"Tiger!"
"Kamikaze!"
Angelos whooped appreciatively and moved back, calling something at Nick that sounded a lot like a wager. Hermione ignored them.
"I'm taking it down to twice more or my aunt will have my head," Konstantinos said loudly, giving her firm look as he waved the other wizards back. Hermione fluttered a hand in acknowledgement, setting her jaw as she bent her knees.
"I can do this."
"Here, an owl just dropped this off."
Harry looked up at the unexpected interruption to find Ginny standing to his side, looking slightly muddied as she held out an envelope sealed with an unfamiliar blue crest. Blinking slightly, he accepted it, smiling as his girlfriend bent down to press a kiss against one cheek before disappearing in a flourish of dark green robes.
Her good mood seemed to indicate that Quidditch practice had gone well.
Across the library, Ron was oblivious to the exchange… muttering under his breath as he waved a chopstick in one hand beneath his desk. They had learned the hard way that some defensive spells needed to be practiced without wands first… otherwise certain explosive results could ensue if one wasn't fully focused.
The librarians at the Academy still hadn't forgiven them.
Harry frowned as he looked at the seal again. The royal blue wax seemed expensive. It had a satiny sheen that he had only ever seen on letters from Kingsley's office and one memorable letter from Narcissa Black. Peering at the raised image he absorbed an elegant cursive K with a smaller winged triangle in the middle.
Wracking his mind, Harry couldn't think of anyone whose last name began with K.
Opening it quickly he was surprised to find a short note.
Hog's Head. Ask for akvavit.
Harry flipped it over and frowned, about to open his mouth to pass it to Ron when suddenly the handwriting connected.
"Hermione!" he exclaimed.
That caused Ron to look up and Harry flicked the parchment over with his wand, watching the realization spread over his friend's face slowly as he too flipped the short missive over to check if anything was written on the other side. It seemed that Hermione was content to keep their correspondence to a minimum. Probably wise, just in case...
"Sounds like a two-part journey," Ron murmured thoughtfully. Harry nodded in agreement, the two of them exchanging a long look as they each wondered what their friend had in store for their upcoming meeting.
Eventually Ron sighed and turned back to his book though Harry noted how the chopstick seemed to be wielded with a bit of added vigor. His own thoughts were a bit more muddled and briefly he wished that the witch were simply there so they could talk through things together like old times.
It was only Wednesday and there were two practical tests lying between them and their meeting with Hermione. Usually practical exams were events that Harry enjoyed, but he simply sat back quietly and returned to his hex tables without much enthusiasm. As far as he was concerned, Sunday couldn't come soon enough.
Thursday Nov. 25, 1999
Dia looked up from her correspondence suspiciously to find her apprentice staring into space, her eyes narrowed in thought as a forkful of grapefruit made small circles in the air… the fruit clearly forgotten as Hermione worked through something in her mind.
She set her parchment aside, waiting for the witch to notice her observation as the utensil continued to circle absently… but she didn't. Dia watched full lips mouth a series of words, quickly discerning that they weren't English or Greek.
What is she doing?
"Darling?"
The grapefruit disappeared instantly and Hermione looked at her innocently, chewing quietly as she gazed across the table. Dia's eyes narrowed.
"Are you quite all right?" she asked after a moment.
"Yes, of course," Hermione replied softly, her shoulders sinking slightly as she looked across the table in feigned concern. Something told her the emotion didn't quite match with what Dia felt through their bond. "Why?"
"You seem distracted this morning."
"I suppose I am," Hermione replied, spearing another mouthful of fruit. "I'm in the process of memorizing."
"But not ingredients or properties," Dia said searchingly. Hermione flushed lightly and she swallowed. She detected a flush of embarrassment that was abruptly redirected. What are you up to?
"No. Not those," the witch replied evasively.
Dia tilted her head, but Hermione turned back to her bowl, clearly unwilling to elaborate on the matter.
"I shall be venturing into the Pharmakeion later this afternoon if you wish for a reprieve from your… studies," Dia said softly after a moment, pulling forth several archaeological journals she had requested from the States. Upon hearing no reply she looked up to find Hermione watching her with an apologetic expression.
"I wish I could, but I really need to fact-check my Transfiguration figures," she replied softly. Dia nodded.
"A prudent use of your time," she agreed.
A dark part of her swallowed disappointment that they would not be able to enjoy a shared respite before she was scheduled to depart on Sunday morning... before shoving it to one side as she straightened her shoulders.
There is no cause for disappointment, Diamantina. However you still must arrange try to arrange something next week before the Quorum...
"I also told Ana that I would stop by the Apothecary this evening… we are going to work together after dinner," Hermione said quietly, another bite of grapefruit disappearing between soft lips.
"She invited you to Thessaloniki?" Dia asked in surprise. That was rather out of character for her niece. The witch valued her privacy to an almost absurd degree.
Hermione nodded slowly, a searching expression on her face as she watched Dia's reaction.
"Very well. I will tell Eleni not to wait on dinner for you, then?" she replied after a moment.
Her apprentice nodded and Dia felt another mismatched sensation ripple through their bond before the witch turned back to her breakfast, a serene expression on her face. The fork went back to circling and Dia carefully turned back to her parchments, deliberately erasing the frown from between her brows.
She couldn't decide what was more disconcerting. The fact that her apprentice was clearly keeping something from her or seeing her own carefully guarded expressions reflected on the beautiful features that so often reacted with unthinking honesty.
She came here to learn and learn she has…
Hermione was being affected by her, that much was certain. However as Dia's eyes flicked across the table, she couldn't help the twinge of guilt as she wondered how much of the woman's carefree nature would eventually become tempered by her own practiced ways.
Dia wasn't sure how she felt about the outcome.
Minerva pinched the bridge of her nose before carefully removing her spectacles with a tired hand. Her head was pounding and her stomach felt rather empty. As her eyes flicked to the clock in the corner she confirmed the fact that she had indeed missed dinner for the second night in a row and Minerva sighed, rubbing a heavy hand across her sternum absently.
The fire crackled in the hearth and as she gazed to her right, she saw that large, fat snowflakes were still drifting past the window in lazy spirals, sparkling as they caught the candlelight from within the cozy confines of her office.
A clearing of a voice overhead broke through her thoughts and Minerva looked up to find Phineas Nigellus' portrait peering down at her expectantly.
"Headmistress, it seems the Minister has decided to order internal audits of Investigation, Floo Network, Internal Security, and Intoxicating Substances," the wizard announced, drawing a couple of murmurs and sardonic comments. A glance to his left saw that both Albus and Severus were still away.
Minerva's eyes narrowed and she nodded her understanding slowly. Turning back to her parchments, she lifted her spectacles into place with practiced ease.
"Thank you, Phineas. I trust you will keep your observation to yourself?" she asked quietly, flicking her eyes back to the portrait.
Dark eyes regarded her haughtily for a moment before the wizard sniffed and ruffled his robes.
"I do not serve the Minister, Headmistress. His doings are of little consequence to me," Phineas sneered. "What the wretched man doesn't know can't hurt him."
"I thank you for your discretion," Minerva replied evenly, deciding to disregard the additional grumblings and commentary suggesting that Gryffindors were slowly taking over the Wizarding world.
Kingsley's initial reaction to Sturgis' death had been remarkably subdued and that had continued to resonate with her. The Minister had appeared to accept the mismatched findings of the subsequent investigation with little concern and therefore she had to suspect there was again more to the circumstances of Sturgis' death than she currently understood.
These internal audits also seemed out of character. The majority of her contacts at the Ministry were still grumbling over the mountain of paperwork and documentation that had been required to carry out the Minister's thorough inquiry and review of all the government's departments and systems.
Why order an audit when there should be nothing to find…
Unless there was something that Kingsley was hoping to reveal through official channels…
Minerva sighed and turned back to her paperwork, unsure of what to make of the strange dealings at the Ministry.
For the moment it was out of her hands, and in the meantime there were far Darker matters on her mind.
"Ana?"
Hermione's voice was rather timid, but she had been avoiding the question since after dinner and Ana seemed to have relaxed slightly once she realized that Hermione absorbed her words and lessons quickly. The witch was currently flicking through a large book impatiently, a small crease between her elegantly shaped brows.
"Yes?"
Hermione shifted slightly, trying to bolster her courage. Her palms were sweating.
"I must ask a favor of you…" she said softly, briefly admiring the burnished curls gleaming in the soft candlelight. Ohhh, please don't hex me. Please don't hex me.
"Oh?"
Ana was clearly still preoccupied with Hermione's first question which had been related to their current lesson - the archaic rules of etiquette related to Societal rituals. While Ana had revealed herself to be a Mistress of Potions, she was essentially an honorary member of the Transfiguration Society by extension through Master Kallas… and she had revealed, rather smugly, that she could likely test through the second classifications with little trouble if she so desired.
Despite her prickly nature, Hermione found that she rather liked the woman and that Ana provided a good amount of practice for her upcoming introduction to Society life in general just by virtue of her elegant ways and scathing wit. She had learned enough from Yiayia to understand that the witch was essentially a cyclone of conflicting forces… and if she could have pinned her for Hogwarts house, she would have split her right down the middle between Slytherin and Gryffindor.
Just ask her…
"I was wondering… if you knew anything about Occlumency… or... er, Legilimency, for that matter," Hermione said softly.
Ana pursed her lips carefully as she continued browsing for another long moment, a small noncommittal hum reaching Hermione's ears. A moment later, the large book snapped shut loudly, clear hazel eyes finding Hermione's own with abrupt precision. One eyebrow lifted smoothly before the witch strode back over to the dark leather couch where Hermione was sitting.
"I do believe my aunt will be summoned to a gathering of the Senior Mastery after the start of the Quorum," Ana said clearly. "It would be most logical considering the ICW's interference. As such, there will be opportunity for you to engage with other active apprentices privately. I highly suggest that you take the time to observe carefully before conversing with them. While it can be satisfying and enjoyable to speak with others in your situation, your words and behavior will be subject to perusal once your peers return to their masters."
Ana paused and glanced toward the bookshelf along the far wall.
"At such time of course, you would do to remember everything we have just discussed."
Hermione nodded, frowning as her thoughts turned to the mysterious meeting that would happen at the end of the following week. There were so many rules and things to remember.
While Hermione didn't necessarily enjoy this portion of her studies, she had been impressed at how Ana had managed to wrap interesting bits of history into the tedium of mind-numbing rituals and old rules of etiquette. The witch was also extraordinarily devious and had already demonstrated several ways in which Hermione could usurp those traditions if she so wished… a practice with which Hermione suspected the woman already possessed a good amount of practice.
According to Ana, it was the Kefalas tradition to undermine the power and authority of established patriarchal systems (which most Societies continued to embrace); she had indicated several subtle methods of protest that Hermione could employ if she so wished, assuring her that Master Kallas would approve… and a few more of which the elder witch might not approve.
Some of the material brought Hermione a tinge of anxiety, but for the most part Ana had reshaped the Quorum into an opportunity that she could use to her advantage. It would be an environment in which she had a number of professional goals - networking, of course… and establishing her reputation beneath Master Kallas. And while there was the underlying unease of the ISOS violations hanging in the background, Hermione knew that the odds of some sort of disturbance or attack on Atlantis were extremely low.
Therefore, the only tools Hermione would have at her disposal would be her ability to observe the other members of the Society, to discern any potential information that could help the larger cause of the Order, and to wield her words and wit in a manner that would attract the right people.
Which brought her back to the information that she still required.
"Ana… did you, um… hear my second question?" Hermione asked quietly.
The witch glared.
"If you are to ask a question, Hermione, I expect you to ask it confidently," Ana snapped, rearranging her legs with a flourish of dark blue silk. Hermione felt a twinge in her chest before abruptly smoothing her features. She took a deep breath.
"Ana… I would be ever so appreciative if you could enlighten me with any knowledge you may have of either Occlumency or Legilimency," Hermione said clearly, fixing the witch with what she hoped registered as an austere expression.
Ana smirked.
"Better," she replied approvingly, reaching one pale hand for her glass of Agiorgitiko. Hazel eyes flicked over her with the barest hint of an apology.
"Think of me as your most vicious Pureblood adversary and know that I will always be far more obvious in my criticism until you learn to conceal your biggest insecurities and faults. What did I tell you at the beginning of our lesson today?"
Hermione blinked.
"My words are effective in Society," she murmured dutifully. "They build my reputation and my opportunities with others. They are also affective, earning me either sympathy or scorn depending on how well I wield my wit."
The witch sipped her wine slowly before reclining back slightly, her body angled toward Hermione as one elbow propped her against the couch. Briefly, Hermione wondered if the woman always looked and behaved like a model or if she was simply demonstrating body language for Hermione to learn and mimic. Either way the effect was intimidating and compelling.
"Ask your question again, Hermione," Ana said softly. Hazel eyes were slightly lidded and Hermione knew that she was being presented with a final opportunity to get it right. Her previous lessons with the witch had revealed that Ana was rather uncompromising when she was forced to re-illustrate her points.
"I've come to realize that you possess a rather well-rounded erudition of most Magical arts, Ana. Considering your… wealth of knowledge, I wonder what you may have picked up regarding Legilimency or Occlumency," Hermione put forth, trying to infuse her words with a bit of warmth in the same manner she so often heard Master Kallas employ.
The elegant woman across from her nodded thoughtfully.
"Still a bit forward, but much better, Hermione," Ana remarked, abruptly dissolving from her movie star pose as she tucked one leg beneath her casually and fixed Hermione with an appraising look.
"Your first impulse is to apologize for your queries, Hermione. A habit you must learn to break," Ana murmured softly, her hazel eyes searching.
"It became even more apparent when you asked after information that could be considered somewhat suspicious by general standards. Not everyone processes things in the same manner, mind you - some people cover their discomfort through sarcasm or anger, but the important point is to know that the moment you betray your discomfort, your question will be met with discomfort. And it will be that much harder to learn whatever it is that you desire."
Hermione nodded slowly, her eyes narrowing even as Ana smiled kindly. The expression softened the strong chiseled features and in the candlelight, Hermione realized again just how beautiful the witch was.
"The trick to extracting information from others is to make them feel comfortable," Ana declared, smiling mischievously as she held up a finger. "No one wants to divulge secrets or shadowy knowledge to someone who seems uncertain. People spill their secrets whenever they are made to feel comfortable or important. That is key, Hermione."
"I understand," Hermione replied quickly, her brow furrowing as she considered Ana's words. They made perfect sense and even though it was such a logical concept, she was briefly annoyed that it hadn't dawned upon her earlier.
You've been too busy working through your own problems.
A moment later, Ana was sipping her wine and wrinkling her nose.
"Now, I suppose I should ask why you have a sudden yen for the Arts," she said conversationally, as if they were discussing something as innocuous as the weather.
Hermione's mouth opened and closed, realizing that she felt a brief flurry of unease at Ana's phrasing. Master Kallas said that they were only referred to as "the Arts" in Darker circles…
"I should ask, but I won't," Ana continued, her eyes flashing briefly as she waved her glass back to the low coffee table. "I shall simply assume that you either wish to obtain knowledge from others or conceal it. And that, in asking me such a question, you have already considered the controversial nature of both practices and are prepared to accept the consequences of your research."
Hazel eyes regarded her soberly and Hermione returned the searching gaze with an even one of her own. The energy between them had made a subtle shift into something much more serious.
"I shall also assume you are asking me because somehow you believe your request will conflict with your relationship to my aunt, which, given the nature of your apprenticeships means that you would only ever consider breaching that inherent trust in order to protect yourself or her from potential enemies."
Hermione willed her expression to remain neutral as Ana rearranged her robes carefully, hazel eyes never leaving her own even as Hermione felt a deep flash of appreciation for the witch's deductive reasoning.
Damn… never keep a secret from Ana.
The witch sighed softly, her shoulders deflating a bit as she tilted her head. Hermione waited.
"What is it you truly wish to know?" Ana asked softly.
"Everything that you know," Hermione replied swiftly, already ready for the question.
Ana lifted one eyebrow before smoothing a long hand over her hair slowly as her light eyes raked across Hermione's face. Hermione lifted her chin slightly, and she saw the witch take a deep breath before letting it out in a long hiss.
"Well then… it seems we have several new lessons to schedule, my darling."