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Chapter Thirteen: Halloween and Hermione's Detention
Monday afternoon came a lot faster than anyone really expected, and Harry had to fight his instincts to skip the Defense Against the Dark Arts class. Knowing that the Wanderer was still laid up in the hospital wing was weighing heavily on his mind as he trudged along the corridor to the large classroom that the small, elite group had been moved to.
Hermione walked with him, but one look to him told her that words were not a good idea right then. The mood had taken a considerable plunge during lunch, when Dumbledore finally announced that Professor Snape would be taking over the class until Talisien was feeling better.
Their small crowd had stopped outside the door to the classroom upon finding the door still locked. Harry felt the bulge in his pocket that he had stuck there just after lunch - a couple of Skiving Snackboxes. He knew that Hermione would know without question, but he wasn't sure if he could handle the full class with Snape or not.
"Any idea what's going on?" Neville asked quietly. The news of Talisien's temporary replacement had shaken him more than anyone else.
"Well, Talisien said that today was the day we were to bring our books to class, right?" Hermione pointed out quickly, hoping to take everyone's mind off what was to come. "So I guess we'll get to look at our books and probably write down why we chose them or something."
"So what books did you bring, Hermione?" Dean asked. "I wasn't sure what would be a good book to look at for healing..."
"Oh, I picked a simple one that looked like it had a lot of good spells," Hermione explained. "I mean, aside from the obvious Standard Book of Spells Grade Six, which has a few basic shields and protection charms, I brought Repairing Damage Caused by the Dark Arts, and one that I saw over the summer that I thought looked good, called Avoid Getting Cursed."
"You didn't borrow my copy of that, did you, `Mione?" Harry whispered as she rummaged in her backpack to show the Repairing book to Dean and Lavender, who had crowded a little closer to get a look at it.
"Er... I guess I did. You don't mind, do you?"
Harry chuckled and shook his head. "It just means you'll have to explain it to me sometime."
"Which did you bring, anyway?" she asked, apparently forgetting about showing the healing book to either of the two in front of her.
"Just two, but I think it'll be alright," he explained. "It's two that I don't think many have seen - the book you gave me, and the Auror Training Guide."
"Good choices," she said with a smile.
The door to the classroom suddenly crashed open, revealing Snape standing there in his black robes, sneering down at the small class. "What are you all waiting for?" he demanded. "I expected the best of the Defense class to at least be able to work a simple Alohomora spell..."
No one rose to his challenge, but everyone averted their eyes carefully as they crossed into the darkened room and took a seat in the chairs that they found waiting for them this time. Hermione sat right next to Harry, knowing that he would need the support for once in the class, and Ron sat on his other side, with Luna next to him. Before he knew what had happened, it seemed that the class had taken seats surrounding Harry, as though to protect him.
He made a mental note to thank them all individually at the next DA meeting, and had a fleeting thought wondering if they had discussed it beforehand, or if they were acting on instinct.
"Right... so he said that you are the best, did he?" Snape demanded, sweeping to the front of the room carefully, looking at each of them in turn. "I fail to believe that. However, as was pointed out to me, it is not my place to reassign classes... so I will have to make do with your meager talents."
Harry felt rather than saw Hermione, Ron, and Neville - who was sitting in front of him - tense suddenly, as though preparing for an outburst, but he surpressed the urge. Knowing he was surrounded by those who would support him actually did a lot for his temper.
"What page of the text are we on, then?" Snape demanded, picking up a book from behind him and starting to flip through it. Hermione's hand was in the air at once, and he looked icily to her. "I should have expected our resident know-it-all to have a question before I even began..."
"Please, sir, but Professor Talisien has each of us using different textbooks, depending on our specific field of interest," she pointed out.
"That is utterly ridiculous," Snape said at once. "How is anyone supposed to teach when everyone has different books?" He shook his head and threw his text behind him. "So long as I am here, we will all be using this text," he declared, pulling out a black book from inside his robes. On the cover in gold lettering, it read, "Preparing for What's Out There." Hermione's hand was in the air still, and he tried to ignore it, but when she stood up he had no choice but to acknowledge her presence. "Ten points from Gryffindor, Miss Granger. What is it this time?"
"Professor Snape, sir, the Wanderer gave us the option of different textbooks. You seem to be going against what he had in mind," Hermione explained quickly. "Are you sure we couldn't just use what he had suggested, while you still teach from the main text?"
"Well, Miss Granger, I am sure that his intentions are honourable, but it appears that the Wanderer has... well... `wandered off' for now, so while I am in this class, you will abide by my rules!" he said in a louder voice, staring at her. "Is that clear?"
"Let it go, `Mione," Harry whispered. As he did so, he couldn't help but feel it was a little ironic. Usually it was Hermione telling him to let it go. He also felt a little proud, seeing her standing up to a teacher and telling him basically outright that he was wrong. It was so something that he would have been doing, if she hadn't beaten him to it...
"But sir, we are supposed to be preparing for what's out there. We are supposed to be specializing in fields that we each feel will benefit us the most!"
"Twenty points, Miss Granger, and a detention," Snape sneered. "You are not to question my authority in class!"
The class froze as Snape assigned Hermione a detention. Everyone knew that she had never yet served a detention in her previous five years at Hogwarts, and they certainly didn't expect her to start. "But... sir..."
"Miss Granger, you will meet - "
Before Snape could tell her just where and when the detention was, though, the door to the class banged open suddenly, interrupting him. Leaning heavily in the doorframe, his green cloak weighing on his shoulders, was the Wanderer. "I believe, Severus, that she will be serving that detention with me," he said. His voice seemed strained, as though every word he spoke was costing him. "As I am the acting professor again."
"I assigned the detention, Talisien," Snape retorted.
"Indeed," Talisien agreed, walking slowly to the front to face the Potions' Master as he stood tall before him. Even though Snape was tall, the elf still seemed to tower above him. Perhaps it was just the aura he gave off... "But, as I am sure you are aware, the detentions received in class are served under the professor. I am the professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts, am I not?"
"You are still seriously injured," Snape pointed out.
"I am not dead. I intend to return to teaching this very moment. Thank you for your aide in this matter, Severus," Talisien said, turning away from him and sitting down on the desk behind him. It groaned under the impact - though it might have been the elf himself groaning - but in either case, Snape just stared at him for a moment before turning on a heel and striding angrily from the class, slamming the door shut behind him.
As soon as the door was shut, Talisien slumped into a chair and held onto the desk in front of him with obvious effort. "I believe I may have to dismiss class early today," he managed in a weak voice. "If you would be so kind as to stay behind, Hermione..." he said, looking to her carefully.
She stole a glance to Harry quickly, and saw that he was quite pale as he looked at the weakened elf. He noticed her gaze, and met it, nodding slowly as he stood up with the class. Without a word, he walked from the class ahead of everyone else, and was gone.
Hermione waited until the class was over before standing from her chair again and making her way to the front. Talisien raised his head to meet her, and she could see the pain in his eyes. "Sorry I didn't get here sooner, Hermione," he said softly. "I cannot just let the detention lay abandoned, though. I am sure that Severus will be watching to make sure you serve," he explained.
"I know, sir," she said. "Are you sure you are alright, though? You look terrible..."
"Thanks," he muttered sarcastically, standing slowly. "Do not worry about me, Hermione. I will survive. Please enter my office at seven o'clock this evening. I promise you that it will not be what you expect."
She found it extremely strange to watch him walk from the classroom instead of simply vanish. He must have been in more pain than he was letting on if his waywatcher skills were failing him.
On that thought, she left the class quickly to try and find Harry. She found him just outside the Gryffindor Tower. He was sitting against the wall, while Ron, Ginny, Neville, Lavender, and Luna were all standing in front of him, talking in hurried whispers.
She sat down carefully beside him. He nodded to the group. "They're all discussing how to get back at Snape," he explained.
"But you aren't?"
"I promised you that I wouldn't curse those who do you wrong," he said softly, not meeting her eye. "But that doesn't mean I don't want to. If he had made you serve the detention with him, then I would have been watching - and if he hurt you, then I would have done something terrible, I'm sure," he said with a weak smile.
"Honestly, Harry, it's just a detention," she said. At the odd look he gave her, she shrugged. "I know, I didn't want it. But, it is with Talisien, right? That makes it sort of okay," she reasoned.
"Yeah, but I really want to at least jinx him," he said with a shrug. "He shouldn't have given you a detention for that."
"I did question him..."
"But fairly," Harry pointed out. "And only because you beat me to it... Doesn't matter anyway," he added. "They're figuring out some way to get him back, don't worry."
She leaned a little closer to him, resting her head on his shoulder. "I know, Harry. But you know, there are other ways than curses..."
He smiled and wrapped an arm around her, holding her close for a moment before releasing her and standing. "I need to be alone for a bit," he explained, looking to everyone. "I'll be okay, but I need to think about things..."
Even though they all wanted to stop him, no one reached out to try.
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Although she had desperately wanted to see Harry at least once before heading off to her detention, there had been no sign of him at supper. She had even gone so far as to ask Ron to get the Marauder's Map to see if they could find him, but apparently Ron couldn't find it. He probably had it with him.
She hesitated for a moment in front of the office that had Talisien's name written across the door. She smiled to herself at that fact. It only said Talisien. She knew, after speaking to Harry, that the Marauder's Map only showed him as thus, too.
As she reached up to knock, the door simply swung open instead. "Hello?" she called. There were a few candles lit in the room, but no torches. There was a roaring fire in the fireplace, though, making shadows dance across the walls. "Talisien?"
"Talisien is as stubborn as they come, child," a soft voice said from behind her. She turned in an instant to find an elfwoman with golden hair standing there. She was wearing a simple green tunic and black pants, and had a light cloak about her shoulders. "He is resting at the moment. I assume that you must be Hermione Granger."
"Is he alright?"
The elfwoman smiled and nodded. "Of course. He just was insisting on doing too much, something I'm quite used to with him. He really should have seen the sleeping spell coming - I guess that just shows how much he needs it right now."
"You must be Fey, right?" Hermione asked, remembering all she had read about Talisien. "I mean, I see your jewelry, anyway, and I doubt any other elfwoman would be willing to even try to put him to sleep, even if it was for his own good."
"Perceptive, aren't you?" she asked as she walked into the room, the door closing behind her once she was inside. "You could make a fine waywatcher with training." She then paused and turned. "I see you are also wearing a bracelet," she pointed out. Hermione looked down quickly and saw just the barest amount showing at the edge of her robes. "Are you partaking in the elven customs, or sticking with human?"
Hermione covered the bracelet quickly, a little uncomfortable to be talking about it in front of someone she didn't really know. "Elven," she muttered.
"Ah, then that would be from Harry. Protection and commitment to one another... I understand," she said softly, sitting down in one of the two chairs by the fire. As she did so, the fire dimmed a bit, so it wouldn't get too hot. "I will say no more, child, do not worry."
After a moment of awkward silence, Hermione took the chair opposite Fey and looked to her. "So, what are we doing for the next few hours?"
Fey frowned as she looked her over. "I'm not sure. Is there anything you would like to do?"
"Isn't this a detention?" Hermione pointed out. "Aren't I supposed to be punished?"
"Did you do something wrong?"
"I questioned a teacher."
"That would be a no, then," Fey replied easily. She then held out her hand. "May I see your wand?"
Although more than a little confused at the request, Hermione held out her wand and Fey took it gently. "Ah... yes... oak... Talisien would be impressed," she said softly. "With... I believe a feather from a Phoenix, no?"
"That's right," Hermione said.
"So, you channel your magics through the powers of a phoenix," Fey said slowly, handing back the wand. "And not through your own core."
"I couldn't really find any books telling me how," Hermione said with a shrug. "Not that I didn't want to, I spent hours in the library after Talisien said it was, indeed, possible, but no luck at all."
"Would you like to learn?"
"Honestly?"
Fey smiled and sat forward, setting Hermione's wand on the ground between them. "What can you feel about me?"
Hermione wasn't exactly sure what Fey was asking, but she sat forward as well. A chance to learn about wandless magic... "I don't know," she admitted.
"Close your eyes and look at me, then."
Close your eyes and look? Shaking her head slightly, she closed her eyes and concentrated. If Fey had suggested it to her, it must be possible. On that thought, something strange suddenly came into focus. She could see energy sitting in front of her, bright, red, unkindled, unbridled energy. The more she focused on it, the more random it seemed to become.
All of a sudden, the energy spiked, and she opened her eyes in surprise. Fey was holding a ball of flame in front of her. "I assume you saw this form, then?"
"Was that what I was seeing? What about all the red energy beforehand?"
"That is my energy. Look upon yourself in the same light," she suggested. Closing her eyes again, Hermione looked down at her hands and concentrated. After a moment or two passed, she found white and blue energy passing through her hands. As she followed it, she knew she was looking at the centre of the energy when she looked at where her heart was.
"It's blue and white," she explained. "I actually have this energy in me?"
"You are a witch, aren't you? You possess the ability to do magics. It does not come from your wand... that just focuses it. The magics are your own."
"So my wand focuses the energy?"
"It also provides a safe passage for it. Wandless magics for humans is a dangerous thing, Hermione Granger," Fey warned her. "Too much of an energy drain could kill you. Even to an elf, too much will destroy us. That is why many elves who are trained in magics also carry a sword. The risk of draining too much is very high."
"But elves can't use wands?"
"We would never subject our trees to such things," Fey said kindly. "I understand your need for it, do not be concerned, but elves will never be able to use wands because of our connection to the trees."
"Isn't there anything you can do?"
"Some of us are fortunate enough to come across Ancient relics," Fey explained. "These relics act something like a wand, in that they provide energy for us to use. They also prevent us from draining too much all at once. They are not channels, though, and are usually just worn."
"Talisien must have one, then."
"Of course... though he has lost it more than he should have..."
"Do you have one? Could I see it?"
Fey smiled and shook her head. "I do not carry a relic," she explained. "My magics are different... the fires that I can use do not draw from my energy, but from the air around me. It is a very rare gift, one that gave me the title that I am sure you are aware of."
"The Fire Elf."
The two sat in silence for a few minutes, during which time Hermione picked up her wand and pocketed it again. "Could you teach me how to use my wandless magics?"
"Do you plan on overusing them?"
"Of course not. I just want to know how in case I need to."
"Have a need to do it, and draw on your energy," Fey explained. "Humans need both the need and the energy. You must justify it to yourself before you can use it. They can also do almost anything needed, if the desire is strong enough." The elfwoman then stood up slowly and looked to Hermione. "I believe that is all I will teach you about it. You should know what to do when you need it. For now, though, I believe you should return to your dorm."
"Thanks, Fey," Hermione said as she paused at the door. "I hope Talisien gets better soon," she added as she pushed it open.
"He will, child." Fey looked to one side of the room, as though looking through the wall itself. "He is within the forest now. It should help him heal a little faster."
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Hermione didn't mention her detention to anyone when she returned to the common room later that night. She was pleased to find Harry sitting there, as though he had been waiting for her, but when she sat next to him, neither said a word. It was a comfortable silence, though, and she was heartened considerably when he took her hand in his own and gave it a little squeeze before heading up to bed.
The rest of September passed fairly quickly, with the only other notable thing being Slytherin's defeat of the Hufflepuff Quidditch team. Harry still hadn't gotten his broom back by the time the end of October had arrived, despite asking about it a few times.
The DA was going quite well, too. Kailyn was the only new recruit to have joined, though Harry had been a little hesitant about letting the first year in. Talisien had approached him on the matter before the young girl had, though, and Harry didn't feel like he could deny the elf after all he had done for him already.
Those who hadn't shown up to the first meeting had passed back their coins, and Harry ended up owling the coins back to Fred, George, Angelina, Alicia, and Katie, just so they would have them if they needed them.
Harry caught Hermione just before going to the Halloween feast and gave her a quick hug. "Remember, this is for you," he whispered into her ear before the two separated and headed down to the Great Hall. It hadn't really been necessary to whisper, given that they were alone in the Halls. She didn't know exactly what he was talking about, and he didn't reply at all to any questions about it, but he did look quite pleased with himself.
About halfway through the feast, after shooing away several of the decorative bats from her meal, Hermione noticed Harry had set his utensils down and was watching the staff table carefully. She followed his gaze just as a loud poof of smoke erupted from one end, and a few students screamed in surprise until the laughter started.
Snape had turned into a gigantic yellow canary with purple poka-dots and flaming tail feathers. After squawking around for almost ten minutes, his feathers started to wilt and he returned to normal. Glaring at the students, he stalked out without another word.
Hermione noticed that Dumbledore had very carefully been looking in another direction during the event.
"Harry?" she whispered.
"Just a little payback for what he did to you," he whispered, referring to her detention. "You gave me the idea, actually, when you said there were other ways than cursing."
"You did that, Harry?" Ron asked in surprise. "Blimey, mate, how'd you get him to eat whatever it was? I don't think I've seen that in Fred and George's line!"
Harry smiled and leaned back. "Well, when I contacted them and told them what I was after, they promised me something extra special to give to him. They wanted to pay him back for a few things too, and were glad that I was going to do it for them."
"But how did you get him to eat anything from them, Harry?" Hermione asked. "I mean, you weren't caught, were you? That could have been really foolish, Harry..."
He simply shrugged. "A Weasley Twin secret," he explained. "They made me swear on my parents' graves not to tell another soul," he whispered after a moment, breaking his eye contact with all of them and looking carefully at the table.
"They brought your parents into it?" Ron demanded in surprise.
"Said they figured it the best way to make sure I wasn't going to tell. They felt bad about it, but some secrets need keeping, I guess."
When Ron turned back to his meal, Hermione looked around and saw that no one was looking to her at that moment, and so she gave Harry a quick kiss on the cheek. When he looked to her, she smiled. "Thanks, Harry."
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Until the sun sets upon a broken world…
The Shadows
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