Hermione was never one to fuss over clothes, that morning was no different. She didn't even look at the color of the gown she pulled on, rather she ran her fingers through her soft, long, curls and left for the Great Hall. Eggs, bacon, toast, kippers, porridge, marmalade, all of it sounded scrumptious.
"Good morning." Hermione blinked hearing Rowena's voice beside her. "I see that you are an early rise as well." To Hermione's surprise she was wearing her diadem. Rowena's eyes didn't need to follow Hermione's for her to know what she was looking at. "I trust you have heard of my diadem."
"Of course. While I'm sure it serves purposes far greater than it's beauty to you, it is quite lovely." But why are you wearing it?" Hermione couldn't help but wonder.
"Thank you. It is Goblin made, of course though the magic within it is of my doing. I was there when they forged it. I daresay it'll last a millennia. Though I want it buried with me. Typically, I only wear it when I seek answers to difficult problems.'
"Oh?" Hermione found her interest piqued. The Great Hall was all but empty when they arrived, only a few students eating their breakfast groggily. "What problem are you seeking the answer to?"
"You didn't strike me as the ignorant kind Ms. Selwyn." Hermione blinked in alarm as they came to the faculty table. Rowena was quite a few inches taller than her, Hermione looked at her in surprise. "You are the problem." With her nose in the air she stepped around the table, sitting straight backed as she began eating. Hermione felt the prick of tears in her eyes. Doing her best to ignore it, she sat down slowly not feeling very hungry anymore.
Hermione had thought after leaving school, that she would also be free of mean girls who made her feel this way. Her eggs even looked sad as she put them on toast. The thing was, Hermione wasn't even sure what Rowena had meant by her comment. How was she a problem let alone the problem? The toast tasted bland in her mouth, though Hermione chewed slowly, mechanically.
"Ah, glad to see you're awake already." Godric's voice brought Hermione out of her self pitying thoughts. "I imagine you'll want to have a look around the castle this morning?' He asked sliding into his chair with ease, quickly piling his plate up. "I'm sorry to say I wasn't able to bid you goodnight." He winked at her. Hermione couldn't help the grin, his happiness was infectious. Beside her though, Rowena cleared her throat. Godric looked at her over Hermione.
"Yes, I saw you as well Rowena, good morning." Hermione almost spit her tea out at Godric's condescending tone. Sneaking a glance at Rowena, Hermione's eyes widened in shock to see he wasn't upset. Instead there was a warm twinkle in her eye. She was looking at Godric with such fondness, it all clicked for Hermione. She understood why Rowena was upset with her. She was jealous! Jealous of Godric's attention toward Hermione. Oh, oh Hermione didn't like this. She didn't want to be on the wrong side of Rowena because she was the shiny new toy.
"Oh, come now Godric," Rowena's voice was full of that warmth and a hint of mirth. ", You know I simply think it's polite to acknowledge your peers or superiors when you enter a room." She smiled at him eating a bit of toast.
"Tell me, Rowena." Godric's voice had an edge of annoyance to it. Hermione didn't know for sure, but she assumed he knew of Rowena's ways and tactics. "Why are you wearing your diadem this morning?" Helga, Salazar, and draco had entered in the Great Hall at that moment and Hermione didn't see the blush on Rowena's cheeks. Though she heard her whispering something about 'She had simply felt like it.'
'Ah! Good morning. Not to say that I'm surprised to see you awake. I took you for an early riser." Helga smiled at Hermione. "Though I am surprised to find you awake Godric." Helga added her gaze shifting toward Rowena, arching a brow deeply. Rowena ignored it pointedly, Hermione noted.
"It's a lovely morning Helga, why shouldn't I be awake?" Godric asked chuckling. His old friend knew him well.
"No, no, by all means. Be awake dear friend. It's just not quite like you. Now. Do you have any plans for the day? Hermione? Draco?" Helga asked. She dominated the table as well as the conversation. Hermione admired her the more Helga spoke and fell into effortless leadership.
"Draco and I will be constructing his wand today for the class to watch. After all the use of Chimaera fang is a new one. One unlike we've seen in a great many year. It should be most interesting." Salazar spoke up though his tone didn't suggest that it would be interesting in the least.
"Oh, that does sound fascinating. Do you think it would be alright if I saw in on that? I would love to observe that process. Wand making is a highly unusual form of magic. I doubt I'd ever be able to achieve it but I'd love to witness." Hermione had simply begun to ramble, she hadn't intended to flatter Salazar though she had, much to Draco's annoyance. He didn't want her there. Commenting. Asking questions. Being an insufferable know it all.
"If you are quiet and don't interrupt the process, I see no reason why you shouldn't be permitted to observe." Salazar agreed quietly, not even bothering to look up at her. Inwardly Draco groaned, stabbing at his food. Damn Granger. She ruined everything.
"Surely you don't want to sit in silence and watch Salazar teach Hermione." Godric laughed, though there was a tight look on his face. Oh yes, please. How Draco wanted Hermione to take Godric's advice. In that moment he didn't care if they went off and made babies if it meant she wouldn't be bothering him all day.
"Nonsense." Hermione said briskly. She had already finished eating. "A witch is only as good as the knowledge she has. That which is unknown can be used against her." She had recited the quote perfectly, though it would come centuries later. "If you'll excuse me, I want to pop up to my quarters and get some parchment." Good god she wanted to take notes! Of course perfect Granger wanted to take notes. Draco dropped his spoon, no longer feeling like eating.
"What's that look for?" Rowena's voice was quiet on his left. "Don't you want your friend to join in on your studies with Salazar this morning?" She was looking at him slyly from the side, almost as if she could hear his thoughts. For a moment, Draco looked at her diadem, wondering. Perhaps the diadem increased her legilimens ability?
"It's hard to want to always feel second best." Draco answered coldly, quietly, not bothering to look up from his food. It wasn't a lie, though it wasn't the reason he didn't want her around either.
"Indeed." Was Rowena's only reply. Draco looked up at her in time to see the older woman gazing at Godric. Draco almost threw his plate. Was everyone in love with him? At least Helga didn't seem to be, thankfully. God what did Granger see in Godric anyhow? Didn't see have a fiance? Weasley? He had heard of them getting engaged he was sure.
"Draco." Salazar's sharp tone made the young man scowl. He didn't like being talked to that way. "If you are finished eating my class starts in twenty minutes." Draco nodded curtly. He understood what Salazar meant. He was expected to be there before the students came in. Finishing his orange juice, wishing strongly that it was Firewhiskey, Draco followed Salazar silently. Why did Granger have to go and screw everything up? Little miss Perfect.
"Oh good." There she was, there to make his life miserable. "I was hoping to be back in time. I don't know where your quarters or your classroom is Salazar, so I'll follow you two."
"Oh yes, that's a simply wonderful." Draco muttered darkly. He vaguely thought he heard Salazar chuckle but he wasn't sure. It made him grin though. Salazar didn't seem to like Hermione, nor did Rowena. Both of these things made Draco happy. He hoped that it bothered Hermione that two of the founding Father's didn't like her, that her intelligence hadn't charmed them.
"Miss Selwyn, you can sit . . . there." Salazar conjured a table and chair for her on the far side of the room. It wasn't with the student's desks, a fact that made Draco smirk. "No talking during the process." Hermione's mouth snapped shut. God she already had questions? Hermione nodded, taking her seat briskly, setting out her parchment and ink meticulously before her.
"Draco, come, you will join me up at the front." Salazar beckoned him to a long table full of different woods that Draco now recognized as wand woods. Slowly students began filing into the room. Only nine entered before Salazar called the class to attention. These were all of his students with Merlin perched in the front.
"Now, I'm sure all of you have already noticed we have visitors. As Helga already introduced them I will not bother. Miss Selwyn i here to observe, Mr. Malfoy is here because he is in need of a new wand." Salazar's voice was cool, quiet, and quick. He student, Draco suspected, were expected to keep up or fall behind.
"Now, before we begin, someone tell me the known properties of Ebony in wand woods and what we should expect from an Ebony wand." It wasn't a question but a demand.
"Ebony wood is most suited for Transfiguration and combative magic. Ebony sings in those who have the courage to be themselves, those who hold fast to their ideals no matter what and do not sway from their purpose." It was a young woman who spoke up. A few students threw her disgruntled looks, including Merlin. If her description was accurate Hermione wasn't sure how it fit Draco at all. He wasn't particularly courageous and had blindly followed Voldemort and the Death Eaters.
"That is correct Morgan." Salazar offered no praise just the truth. "Now we have tried to find a core for this wood but it seems, so far, none are compatible. Today we will try out an untested core. The fang of a Chimaera." All the students, including Hermione to Draco's amusement, sat up a little straighter. "Tell me the dangers of this." Salazar commanded vehemently.
"Untested cores, if they suffice, are very strong entities of magic that can become almost volatile if not handled properly." Merlin was the first to speak up this time, glaring at the girl Salazar had called Morgan, though she aid him no attention. She had vivid red hair almost magenta.
"That is correct Merlin, very good." Hermione, still watching morgan, saw the girl bristle at the compliment Merlin had received. Had Salazar done it on purpose? Complimented Merlin and not Morgan?
"Now, the fang is big too big for insert inside a wand. I will shave it down to make it smallen and then the fang will be the base of Mr. Malfoy's new wand." Draco saw Hermione scribbling furiously, he glared at her curls. This was a whole new study of magic for her, territory she knew nothing about.
"Can anyone guess as to why I'm not making it into a powder to lay into the wand?" Hermione blinked, Draco looked at him in surprise. A powder form did make sense, didn't it? Wouldn't the powder be more efficient?
"A powder form of an untested core can prove treacherous. That would leave the magic in an unsustained form putting the magic in it's truest form leaving it almost uncontrollable." Morgan's voice was quiet though she had answered. Salazar nodded curtly before beginning to teach again.
"Indeed. When you grind up any magical items such as this it's essence begins to leak out so to speak. Small amounts will be our ally, such as in a wand, in mass quantities though, certain death." His ominous words didn't frighten his students though Hermione had gasped. Draco rolled his eyes, of course she'd fall for the dramatics.
"Professor." Salazar looked up at the older boy who had spoke. He nodded once, asking him to continue to speak. "Professor, what properties do you expect will emerge from the fang?"
"That is an excellent question MacMillian. I can't say for sure. I can only make guesses from similar cores I've worked with. If I had to say though, Chimaera are rare and extremely resilient creatures, almost impossible to kill. I imagine the core will reflect that resilience, strong, powerful, it will probably produce amazing curses in the wrong hands." Hermione's gaze flashed to Draco, he met it with a look of fire. Salazar had lifted the fang to his ear, eyes closed, listening calmly.
"It hums of loyalty. It's allegiance will not be won easily if ever." Salazar finished his assessment eying the fang in his hand carefully. "While I shave and shape the core one of you will do the same with the Ebony." Draco looked at Salazar in surprise. One of his students was going to make his wand? "Now, pull out your last assignment." To Draco's surprise all nine of the students began pulling out what looked like wands. Yes, they were wands. Their assignment had been to shape wood into wands. Just looking at them Draco could tell immediately who had done the best and who would be making his own wand.