Chapter Seven
Review Shout-Outs:
Nightshade Princess & Emma Allite Thank you so much for your reviews! Nightshade…if you can get back to me with a name and a year group for a character you'd like to see work their way into the main core that'd be awesome. Emma, I'm thinking turn yours into a second year student that's in all Year Three courses. Yes? no?
"Every year group elects a leader and that leader speaks for the entire year group for the entire eight years they are here at the Ireland Academy of Magic. Because of your relation as Head of House to both the Granger line and the Peverell line, through the eldest brother, Antioch Peverell, you are the strongest person politically in our year group, which makes you the natural choice. With that being said, by Halloween you will have to choose a second and third in command but that usually comes naturally by who become your best friends. Any arguments we may have, we will come to you to help sort out, if we have trouble in a particular class we will come to you first. Aside from your regular lessons, you will have extra lessons in the evening to help you test out of your classes that you find not worth your time, as well as to help you in lessons that you are struggling with. Your politics, logic and rationality, and languages courses will be very important. From there depending on what you want to do with your life will determine what courses are important out of the major core." Kira said, before she excused herself, leaving everyone confused until she returned a few minutes later.
"Here's the homework you missed from today all of which is due Tuesday, copies of the courses syllabus, the notes for between now and Yule, and the Required Reading List as well as the Recommended Reading List and here is a leotard for tomorrow morning for Gymnastics. There are also a few books in there on wizarding politics that you might want to read over when you get the time. For now though, get started on the homework that's due Wednesday and we'll see you bright and early tomorrow morning. We'll need to go to lunch and dinner tomorrow, we have to make it seen that you have been chosen as the leader." She said, giving her a smile and a hug as her year mates all exited her dorm, leaving Hermione's head spinning.
With a startled realization that she hadn't talked to Tom since she had gotten there Hermione left her books where they were before practically running to her trunk and pulling out her homework journal. Deciding to change into her sleep ware, Hermione was surprised to find that in place of her usual cotton gown was a silk night gown with a silk dressing gown, her usual sleepwear nowhere in sight.
Slipping into the gown she found she rather liked it, even if it wasn't usually practical before she tied the strings of her robe and settled down onto the love seat that was in her sitting area before opening the journal.
Tom sorry it took so long. I had to take a few placement tests and be shown around the castle. It is marvelous here. Thank you so much for telling me about this school.
I am glad you like it Hermione. Do you have a class schedule already? I'm rather curious to see what it is.
Monday, Wednesday,
5:00 AM- 7:00 AM Gymnastics I 8:00 AM-09:00 AM Basic Wicca / Household Magic 9:00 AM-10:00 AM Introduction to Wizarding Politics I 10:00 AM-12:00 PM DADA II 12:00 PM-1:00 PM Battle Magic I
2:00 PM-4:00 PM Charms II Theory, Charms III
Tuesday, Thursday,
5:00 AM- 7:00 AM Gymnastics I 7:00 AM-9:00 AM Potions II & Potions Theory II 9:00 AM-11:00 AM Arithmancy Year II / College Algebra 12:00 PM-2:00 PM Transfiguration II and Theory II 2:00 PM-4:00 PM Running a Household Part I
Friday Saturday
5:00 AM-7:00 AM Weapons Self Defense 8:00 AM-9:00 AM Muggle Astronomy Year One 9:00 AM -11:00 AM Magical Theory Year Three 12:00 PM- 2:00 PM Spell Creation One / Household Charms 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM Introduction to Rationality and Logical Reasoning I
Sunday
5:00 AM- 11:00 AM Gymnastics I 12:00 PM-3:00 PM Weapons Self Defense 3:00 PM-5:00 PM Care of Magical Creatures
It's rather full but I promise I'll still write to you in the evenings. It's because of you that I'm here after all.
I rather like your schedule. It covers a lot of things Hogwarts does not. Is there a reason you're taking Running a Household & Introduction to Wizarding Politics
My mother and father passed the title of Lady Hermione Granger to me as I am now the head of the Granger family as well as the 1st line of Perceval's and it was deemed important that I know how to run a household as well as the politics involved once I take both my seats on the board. Although Running a Household will be the most important at the moment, mum and dad have said I could stay at one of my properties over Yule break if I wanted to, they actually strongly recommended it because there is a lot to be done on the Granger and Perceval properties. I guess I'll just rotate through the properties until I have them all fixed up.
That sounds logical. Now shouldn't you be exploring your new rooms so you can describe them to me tomorrow as well as studying? I didn't mention you to go here so you could slack off.
You're right. I'll write to you during lunch or tomorrow evening, whenever I have time. Thank you again.
Hermione closed the journal before slipping it into her bag making sure it latched shut. Tom was right though, she did need to look around her new quarters and see what homework and notes she had missed on her first day.
Deciding to start with her bedroom and work her way from there, Hermione was surprised to find that she had a rather large four-poster bed, not unlike what she had at Hogwarts. From there however, the similarities ended. There were two nightstands, one rather large dresser, and an armoire. The walk-in closet was definitely a plus but it was the bathroom that blew her away.
There was a garden tub and a separate shower but the set-up of the vanity told her that this room had been designed for a female. On the right side of the vanity was the usual sink but the left side held acrylic make-up stands that stood empty.
The first linen closet however proved to be very useful in that it wasn't a linen closet at all. Bath salts, sugar rubs, bath oils, massage oils, everything under the sun that Hermione could possibly have wanted was there and then some. The giant fluffy robe was her selling point though, as she had always loved how they felt after she had gotten out of the shower.
Further inspection of her quarters proved that her office was just as well stocked as her bathroom had been and was tastefully done in her former Hogwarts house colors. The library however was beyond anything Hermione could have dreamed of. Wall-to-wall, ceiling to floor bookcases that where filled to the brim with books, that she got to keep, that was the most important part.
Leaving the brewing room for later inspection as she trusted her mother's judgment, and she knew for a fact her mother had added several things to it that evening Hermione turned her attention to the homework and textual readings she had to accomplish for the classes she missed that day.
Basic Wicca
Essay on What is the difference between paganism, wiccan, and natural magic?
Household Magic
Readings from Everyday Tips and Charms for Household Magic pages 13-150 (First Three Chapters)
Write a one wand length summary per chapter
Essay on What is Household Magic 3,000 words no more than 4,000
Introduction to Wizarding Politics I
Readings from Pure Blood Directory pages 10-20
Write a one wand length summary per chapter (We will go into further detail later on in the course. This is just a summary)
DADA II
Readings From textbook first three chapters
Must fill in reading notes
Essay on disarming charm
Battle Magic I
Essay on What is Battle Magic and how is it different from DADA?
Charms II Theory, Charms III
Two wand length essay on spells that have a usual light meaning, and how they can be used in a manner against their original purpose.
Hermione began pulling books from her library as she started going through them at an alarming rate as the hours flew by.
Hermione woke the next morning to the sound of Kira shouting from her common room at three thirty. That was something she would have to get used to.
Quickly throwing on a pair of workout pants and a tank top she entered her common room, surprised to see Kira, Katherine, Amelia and Crystal waiting for her, all looking as if they had been up for a while.
They were all situated around what she assumed was her dining table that was located in her common room, either working on a cup of tea or coffee when she entered, half asleep and taking one of the open spots at the table before Crystal automatically poured her a cup of coffee before handing it to the young girl.
"We have gymnastics in an hour and a half but have to be there in an hour to start warming up. After that we have Potions and Potions Theory II in the same time slot from 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM. From 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM there's Arithmancy Year Two and College Algebra, which will require your time turner. From 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM you have Transfiguration Year Two and Year Two Theory and from 2:00 to 4:00 PM you have Running a Household Part I. " Amelia said, running through Hermione's schedule from memory which rather pleased Hermione, she wasn't the only one that paid attention.
"With that being said you'll need The Standard Book of Spells, Grades 1-3, Magical Drafts and Potions, 101,000 Magical Herbs, Plants and Fungi's, Numerology and Grammatica, Year Two Arithmancy, College Algebra Textbook, Workbook & Notes set, Transfiguration Theory and The In's and Out's of Running a Wizarding Household. For that class you'll have to do a major project to pass it that details how many house elves you have, how many staff you have, an inventory of each property and each properties accounts and then how many businesses your family either has shares in or flat out owns, how much each business brings in and what you can expect it to bring in. But the professor will go over it all in class. Just wait until we have Magical Theory, Spell Creation, and Introduction to Rationality and Logical Reasoning the headmistresses teaches those! They'll be fun." Katherine said, picking up where Amelia had left off.
"Grab your gym bag for gymnastics. Put on your leotard, and then put on a windbreaker over it. Be sure to put a school uniform in there for classes and let's go, we have to meet to boys for breakfast before we start our first classes. Its tradition, usually the first week all first year students eat breakfast together and then after that they all tend to do dinner, but since we're putting in an appearance at breakfast we can eat lunch and dinner here if we want. If you want we'll grab the books you'll need for class." Crystal said, shooing Hermione into her bedroom where she quickly packed a gym bag before changing into a leotard with her wind suit over it as Crystal and Kira divided in Hermione's library, quickly pulling down the books she would need, plus twelve extra on the off chance they would be needed.
From there they moved into her office, grabbing fourteen binders and enough muggle notebook paper to fill said binders as well as other odds and ends which they stuffed into a burlap sack that Kira had added an undectable extension charm to before they made their way down to breakfast just as the boys managed to stumble out of their towers which all seemed to be located on the same hallway, definitely in need of at least a good cup of tea, if not coffee.
It seemed that most of the first years where not awake enough at four in the morning for much conversation other than, pass the creamer or hand me that please, but when it was time for them to divide up to head to their physical education courses it seemed as if they had all taken a pepper-up potion.
Hermione followed Crystal, Kira and Katherine further down the hallway where they entered a door that was clearly marked Gymnastics before they set down their bags against a far wall before taking off the wind-suits they had worn to breakfast just as their instructor walked in the room.
"Alright girls today we'll start with Pilates for the first hour and then move onto handstands for the second hour. Stretching is vitally important but after the middle of October we'll go straight into the gymnastics portion so you'll need to be sure to stretch before you come to class." She said, as she lead them through a series of stretching and Pilates exercises by the end of which Hermione felt as if she might not be able to move.
By the end of the class only Hermione and Kira hand managed to perform a handstand unassisted which was more than their coach had been expecting.
"Tomorrow I'll start the two of you on backhand springs while Katherine and Crystal work on their handstands." She said as they walked out of the classroom to head to their respective classes making Hermione glad that Crystal, Kira, Blaise, Justin and Michael all had the same schedule that she did.
Their potions classroom was rather well lit as they settled into the seats that where available for the first portion of their potions course, the theories work. There were several students that Hermione didn't recognize in the classroom who she assumed where second year students but Hermione was brought from her musings as their professor entered the room.
"For those of you that don't know my name's Professor Avian and I'll be your Potions Mistress while you are here. I see that there's more first years than second years in this course which is unusual but very good. With that being said, we'll be doing a review of the Pepper-Up, Calming Draught, Sleeping Draught, and Grand Pepper-Up potions today, double batches two potions per partner. You have the entire two hours to brew and the instructions are in your book if you need them. Your homework is to write a parchment page on each potion. Go over its ingredients, how the ingredients work together to form the potion, it's shelf life and things of that nature. After that your homework is to write a similar essay on the Wideye Potion which we will start on Thursday." She said, before the entire classroom scattered to get to work on the four potions that where required of them in just under two hours.
Hermione found herself paired with Kira for the potions assignment by default as they divided up the potions they wanted to work on.
"I'll take the Grand Pepper-Up and the Calming Draught if you'll do the Sleeping Draught and the Pepper Up." Kira said as she stared pulling ingredients for her two potions and when Hermione gave a nod of the head in agreement, started pulling ingredients out for Hermione's as well.
Considering the fact that all four potions took only forty minutes to brew, and both Kira and Hermione knew how to prep potions ingredients, one thanks to a book, the other thanks to private tutoring they finished all four potions right at the hour mark, which pleased their professor.
"That's wonderful work. Give me a sample of each and then bottle the rest of it up and divide it amongst your selves, you should have a grade by the time you finish." Professor Avery said as she accepted the four vials as Kira and Hermione looked at each other before they started placing the potions into vials after their shared look before they divided them equally between them and approached Professor Avery who had waved them over.
"Excellent work, Outstanding on all four potions; enjoy your free hour and don't be late to your next class." She said, dismissing them as they bolted for the doorway grinning at each other before taking a Pepper-Up potion each.
"You think she knew we had gymnastics before class? Because, I'm exhausted." Kira said, returning her vial to her bag that was attached to her side.
"Probably, if you don't mind I'm going to head to my dorm and get started on an essay before Arithmancy and College Algebra." Hermione said, leaving Kira with a smile and a promise to meet outside her dorm before classes started.
The rest of Hermione's day was rather uneventful expect for the amount of homework she received until she entered her last class of the day, Running a Household, which she wasn't sure if she was looking forward to or dreading.
Entering the classroom Hermione noticed that the entire first year group was in the room, which made sense because two where heads of households and the other males were in line to become head of household while the females would be married to a head of household.
They also noticed that Headmistress Morgan le Fay was their instructor which surprised them slightly.
"Alright, this is the first time we've had two heads of household in a Year One course. With that being said Lady Granger and Lord Prewitt, the two of you will be working together on any group projects because yours will vary from the rest of the classroom slightly. With that being said, the two of you will start gathering information on one of your households, I have talked to your parents. You have been given permission to leave campus Friday to. You are to go look at each of your properties, if it takes more than one weekend let me know. From there you are to gather the financial information on all your properties and businesses and we will pick up from there. For now you to are to write up a report on what a decent household budget would look like based on what you know of your finances, although I doubt you know the full extent of your finances as of yet and won't until you take full control of as head of your household." She said before she handed out several rather large tomes to everyone that was in the classroom.
The first book was entitled Pure Blood Directory while the second was entitled The Book of Household Management which was a three volume set.
"All of you are required to take at least two languages while you are here, throughout the entire time that you are here. If you finish both languages before you are due to graduate then you can either branch out into the literature courses or a third language, whichever you prefer. It is important that you at least know Latin but it will look better to your peer groups if you take more than one language. Hermione has already finished her Latin courses, so if you need a tutor for Latin I'm sure she'll be willing to work something out in return for tutoring of her own. Your homework for tonight is to add a language class if you're not already in one, take notes on the first several chapters of The Book of Household Magic and start the process of preparing and deciding which properties you will visit this weekend and be sure to arrange it with your guardians if that will be required. Try and have all your homework done before you leave Friday afternoon because you'll spend most of your time going over your accounts and households this weekend and you must return by five pm Sunday." She said, dismissing her class with a smile as a cheer went up that they had lasted through their second day before they all gathered around to talk.
"Oh, I'll need to see the females please." The headmistress said as they started to file out, waiting until the last male left the classroom before turning to them.
"I figured a trip to Avalon Alley would be appropriate considering Hermione's new status and I thought all of you would like to go. We would eat dinner there since there is a lot to do." She said, glad to see all five females light up. "Go get your traveling cloaks and meet me in my office." She said, watching as they took off at an almost run to the hallway that their rooms where located on.
After borrowing a traveling cloak from Kira, and making a mental note to get some made, Hermione and her newly found friends made their way to the Head's office, glad to find Lady Morgan le Fay ready and waiting for them.
Using the floo network for the first time was rather disconcerting to Hermione but it was soon forgotten as Hermione was immediately dragged into a tailor's store, Twilfitt and Tatting, where Hermione was immediately placed on a stool as a tape measure started working its way around her.
"Two sets of dress robes whatever color matches her best. Five sets of school uniforms so we can stop transfiguring your old Hogwarts robes I think. Seven tailored under clothing, as well as stockings. Four traveling cloaks, five school cloaks, two school hats and then she'll need five sets of workout clothing, as well as five gymnastics leotards." Morgan le Fay said, as if reading from a mental list as the tape measure suddenly stopped moving before jumping into the seamstresses' hands.
"They'll be ready in forty minutes Mi'lady." She said, as the scissors started cutting a rather charming bolt of burgundy fabric as they exited the store before entering a store that proclaimed it sold only the best beauty products.
Hermione felt nervous entering the store but was soon set right as all she had to do was hold the shopping cauldron as her friends started adding things to it left and right so fast that Hermione couldn't even catch the name of several of them. When Morgan le Fay slipped a book into Hermione's cauldron, the young girl shot her the biggest grin she thought she had ever seen on her face as she glanced at the title which read: Potioneers Beauty Potions 10,001 Every day and Special Occasion Beauty Potions. That meant she would never have to come back inside this store with her friends ever again.
They were great for doing this for her, but they could be a little… overzealous.
One hour, and an early dinner later, found Hermione secluded in her room, going through potion after potion that her friends had added to her bag. Acne Vanisher, skin tone evener, diamond skin cream…Hermione hoped that it really didn't have diamonds in it but she had a strong feeling that it actually did. Some of them had obvious usage, but over half of the vials, creams, and potions, Hermione had no idea what they did.
Once all her new products had been organized in her bathroom Hermione turned her attention to the book that her headmistress had slipped into her cauldron, surprised when a note fell out of it.
Hermione,
You are one of the more accomplished brewers I've seen yet. It would be a wise decision to start brewing several of these potions and to start selling them either right above, right at, or right below market value depending on who you are selling to.
We have several students here that are on scholarships that save all year to purchase their beauty supplies, as a lot of the ingredients are not included in what we stock your personal brewing rooms with, and still only wind up with one or two products. One of your friends comes to mind actually.
Just something to think about. Don't forget to at least look over your properties and businesses tonight so you'll know what you need to do this weekend.
Morgan le Fay
Rosalie Smith was the first of her friends to come to mind, because as far as Hermione knew the rest of the girls, and boys for that matter, came from the Scared Twenty-Eight or those that were Pure-Blood , who seemed to do very well financially but Hermione was sure there were at least a few in the upper eons that where at the school on scholarship, which explained why they were given a room full of books and a fully stocked potions room at the start of every school year, or term, she had yet to figure out which.
A glance at the time showed it to only be six pm, which left Hermione plenty of time to put her plan into action as she grabbed her new book and head to her potions lab, excited to break it in.