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<div class="chap-title">
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5. Chapter 5
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<div class="chap-text">
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<p class='c1'><strong>Chapter 5</strong></p>
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<p>"So Hedwig, as we already knew, you can only see thestrals once you've seen death
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and accepted it."</p>
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<p>Hedwig hooted knowingly in response.</p>
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<p>"Exactly!" Harry said as he turned the page of his book. Hedwig sat on her perch,
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tilting her head as her master continued reading.</p>
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<p>"It says right here that they serve as some sort of bridge between the world of
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the living and the dead. They are generally accepted as an ill omen but they're
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really kind creatures – Luna would agree with that, I'm sure – that merely seek to
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heal the ones left behind. Mentally, that is."</p>
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<p>Harry sighed, "The bridge between our worlds…"</p>
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<p>Hedwig flapped her wings twice and clicked her beak sharply, causing Harry to look
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up;</p>
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<p>"Oh, right!" He grabbed hold of the sprigs of lavender he had already prepared and
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threw them in his simmering cauldron. "Just in time. Thanks, Hedwig." Harry stirred
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his concoction a few times, checking to make sure that it changed into the correct
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colour and sat back down into his chair.</p>
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<p>"So perhaps a few strands of thestral hair could do the trick," Harry mused. He
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scribbled a few notes on a piece of parchment that was already littered with askew
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sentences, carelessly deposited onto the paper as if written down in haste. "But
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should I use the hair of their tails or the hair of their manes? Hmmm…"</p>
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<p>Hedwig sagged somewhat on her perch, visibly relaxing as her master continued
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studying.</p>
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<p>"Marigold flowers would work well in contrast," Harry mused out loud, "But I could
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also use Acacia leaves."</p>
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<p>Hedwig ruffled her feathers in obvious dismay.</p>
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<p>"What?" Harry chuckled, looking up, "You don't like Acacia leaves?"</p>
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<p>Hedwig screeched shortly in response.</p>
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<p>"Marigold flowers it is," Harry said, writing down his chosen ingredient. Hedwig
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hooted softly, tucking her head under her wing.</p>
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<p>"Oh, shoot!" Harry suddenly exclaimed, "I'm going to be late for History of
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Magic!"</p>
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<p>He hastily put a stasis spell on the cauldron, swept his notes into one big, messy
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pile and grabbed his bag and books as he held his quill between his teeth.</p>
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<p>"Ber Herdwerg," Harry tried saying but he got no response from the owl. In a hasty
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flurry, he bolted out of the dungeon and raced towards his next class, spotting the
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person in his path just a tad too late.</p>
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<p>And who better to crash into than Draco Malfoy? With a thud, Harry landed hard on
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his backside, his books scattered everywhere, pieces of parchment still fluttering in
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the air as they slowly descended. Harry's quill had dropped to the ground and rolled
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away somewhere.</p>
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<p>"Seriously, Potter, can't you watch where you're going?" Draco chided in
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annoyance, "A guy can't even walk through the dungeons anymore without being knocked
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on his arse."</p>
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<p>"Sorry," Harry mumbled sheepishly as he got off the floor. He rubbed his backside
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tenderly before extending a hand to the Malfoy heir who took it gracefully. Harry
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pulled him upright before he went to pick up his things in a hurry.</p>
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<p>"Sorry, Draco," Harry apologized, "I'm going to be late for History."</p>
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<p>"You're actually going?" Draco asked incredulously, "You Gryffindors really are
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too goody-two-shoes. You dropped the class! There's really no reason to go back
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there. It's boring as hell anyway."</p>
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<p>"So I take it you didn't go?" Harry asked as he took one of the books Draco
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offered him.</p>
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<p>"Not a chance," Draco replied easily, "I've got better things to do than listen to
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the tedious details of orc and goblin wars. I would think you do too."</p>
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<p>Harry shrugged. "I don't see the harm," he admitted, "If I don't like it, I can
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always drop it again, just like Dumbledore said. I just feel kind of bad for
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Professor Bell you know?"</p>
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<p>"Oh, I get it now!" Draco exclaimed happily, "You've got the hots for her."</p>
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<p>"Wha- no!" Harry replied hastily, "She's like thirty"</p>
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<p>Harry started walking at a hurried pace. If he was fast, he could still make it.
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Draco followed along, not letting up.</p>
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<p>"True as that may be," he said, "You have to admit that she's easily the hottest
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teacher we've ever got."</p>
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<p>"Hermione would argue that that honour would befall Lockhart," Harry chuckled.</p>
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<p>Draco rolled his eyes. "Of the female teachers, you dunce," he said, slapping
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Harry lightly on the head.</p>
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<p>"Please," Harry scoffed, "I prefer girls my own age."</p>
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<p>"Oh? Like who?" Draco urged.</p>
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<p>"Well, this is my stop!" Harry deflected easily, hurrying into the designated
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classroom. He glanced over his shoulder to see Draco give him an exasperated look but
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simply sent him a defiant smirk before he went to sit beside Ron and Hermione. Draco
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left, smiling triumphantly for some reason.</p>
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<p>"What was that all about?" Ron asked.</p>
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<p>"Just Draco telling me how hot he thinks Professor Bell is," Harry divulged.</p>
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<p>Hermione huffed. "Boys," she growled but made no further comment. Harry's eyes
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locked with Ron's for a moment before they boy chuckled. It was barely a few seconds
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later that professor Bell flew into the class, looking a bit flustered with several
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strands of hair out of place.</p>
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<p>She smiled warmly at the full class of teenagers that was already waiting for
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her.</p>
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<p>"Hi guys!" she greeted, "I'm sorry I'm late. It's just so hard to find my way
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around here."</p>
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<p>With a loud thud, she allowed her books to fall on her desk. "Oops, sorry!" she
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winced at the loud noise. "Say, did you know that the staircases move on their own in
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here? How does anybody get anywhere on time?" The look of amazement in her eyes
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reminded Harry of many a first grader and made him realize that Bell did not go to
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school here.</p>
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<p>"Oh, but I really should get started, shouldn't I?" she said somewhat
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apologetically. She took out her wand and faced her class, still smiling brightly.
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"Please open your books to page twenty-three. Today, we will be learning about
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wizards and witches who have been worshipped by muggles throughout the ages, raising
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them to a God-like status."</p>
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<p>"That's a long title," Ron whispered. Harry chuckled and Hermione shot him a
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disparaging glance. Bell didn't seem to notice though.</p>
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<p>"There's no need to keep your eyes glued to your textbooks, children," Bell said,
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"All of my classes have been doing that but I will make sure that you see the world
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around you instead."</p>
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<p>She swished her wand in some complicated, elegant patterns when the air itself
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started to vibrate, taking on colours and foreign outlines. Sounds started to fill
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the room and Harry clutched his desk hard out of fear that he would fall to the
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ground as soon as the room stopped writhing and moving. He noticed several others do
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the same.</p>
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<p>"Don't worry," Bell said in a soothing voice, "Relax and take in the scene around
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you. The year is 975 AD. We find ourselves in a town called 'Hofstadir where the
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winds are cold but the pastures are green."</p>
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<p>Harry gasped in amazement as he laid eyes upon the large valleys and hillsides as
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people hustled and bustled to get on with their lives. Most people wore thick,
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woollen clothes. Pigs, sheep and goats seemed to be walking around in utter chaos but
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this went unnoticed by the passers-by.</p>
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<p>"Among the villagers in this town, walks one that is more devious and clever than
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any of his peers. Here he comes now!"</p>
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<p>A man walked among the villagers with his head held high, his posture proud as he
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saluted those he passed. The ones that noticed him bowed down deeply, their noses
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touching the ground as the man swept past, his long cloak billowing after him as his
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long, black hair swept in the mind. A mischievous smile adorned his handsome face and
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his long fingers held a lute that he played as he walked.</p>
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<p>"His name is Loki," Bell explained, "Some of you have probably heard about him
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before. He is known as one of the most accomplished Masters in transmutation that
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have ever walked this green earth. Back then, there was no ministry to keep the
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wizards in check, so there was no one to stop a wizard from flaunting his skill. Such
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a wizard often became revered."</p>
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<p>Loki bowed down to a beautiful young lady with long blond hair, tied into a braid
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and held out an elegant hand. He spoke in a language that Harry did not understand
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but the young lady giggled girlishly and took the hand. With one gesture, Loki
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transformed her old rags into rich clothes. He picked up a few rocks from the ground
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and transformed them into jewellery which he graciously handed over to the woman.</p>
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<p>Bell shook her head, smiling thinly. "A very accomplished master indeed but also a
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trickster," Bell continued. "He broke many a woman's heart as he travelled, and
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deceived many people just to get what he wanted."</p>
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<p>"Sounds like he would have done well in Slytherin," Ron snorted."</p>
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<p>"Quite right, Mr Weasley," Bell agreed, "He would have. If not for his cunning,
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then surely for his ambition. But let's move on shall we?"</p>
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<p>Professor Bell swished her wand to the left and the room spun until it stopped on
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an entirely new scene.</p>
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<p>"Since we're on the subject of incorrigible tricksters, we shall move further into
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the past. We are in Greece and the era is 500 BC. Here we encounter a wizard that
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loved muggles more than anything and was always doing his best to make their lives
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better, much to the dismay of his fellow wizards and witches, of course. You can
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imagine just how important 'pure blood' was at that time."</p>
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<p>The children watched a tall man wearing a ridiculous outfit mingle among what
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seemed like commoners. Whenever someone tried to bow before him – which many
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obviously felt compelled to do – he quickly stopped them and held them upright.</p>
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<p>"This is Hermes. I called him a trickster," Bell explained, "But he is one with a
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good heart. He would mostly trick his own kind to the benefit of the muggles whom he
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sought to protect. Pay close attention to the items he carries."</p>
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<p>Harry squinted and tried to discern the many silly-looking things this Hermes
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carried with him. He wore a large satchel which depicted a rooster. He also wore a
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round hat and a travellers cloak. With him, he carried a winged staff which was
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entwined by two snakes but what was most noticeable were the ridiculous winged
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sandals he wore.</p>
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<p>"Could he actually fly with those?" some disbelieving Hufflepuff asked.</p>
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<p>"He most certainly could," Bell said, "He charmed them much in the way one would
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charm a broomstick. The wings are completely unnecessary, yes, but they surely filled
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the hearts of his beloved muggles with awe. The most tricky part was to actually
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maintain his balance in those shoes as he flew. Can you imagine?"</p>
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<p>As if ordered to do so, Hermes leapt into the sky and took off, the useless wings
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on his sandals flapping for nothing but show as he wielded his staff at nothing in
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particular.</p>
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<p>"He used his staff for healing and - according to some accounts – for alchemy as
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well. It is clear how much the muggles loved him and he was rewarded for his efforts
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by being considered a God."</p>
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<p>Bell flicked her wand once more and the scenery changed to that of a desert zone.
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Large pyramids permeated the area and everyone recognised it unmistakably as
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Egypt.</p>
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<p>"We have time for one more," Bell said happily, "I clearly don't need to tell you
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where we are. It is about 2400 BC. This tour of our history would obviously not be
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complete without including the ancient Egyptians, now would it?"</p>
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<p>Some of the students agreed wholeheartedly, Hermione being one of them. She had
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been taking in all of the new information with wide-open eyes and a gleeful smile on
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her face.</p>
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<p>In a flash, the scene zoomed in on the base of one of the pyramids where a female
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lion lay basking in the sun.</p>
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<p>"Meet Sekhmet," Bell said dreamily, "She was known as the Goddess of War and
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Healing but truthfully she was just a witch albeit a very powerful one at that."</p>
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<p>The class watched as the lioness rose from her spot and transformed into a
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gorgeous woman with long, black hair. Her face was painted with black streaks and she
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wore garish jewellery coloured in gold and blue.</p>
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<p>"As you can all see, she was an animagus which only served to enthral the muggles
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even more."</p>
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<p>Some of the girls sighed dreamily as they watched the beautiful woman walk towards
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her subjects. In the background, slaves were hard at work, sweating and labouring
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away in the dry desert, their slavers always behind them.</p>
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<p>"It was a different time," Bell said sadly, "And Sekhmet was royalty. She never
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saw any problem in using slaves and even used them herself. We can only hope that she
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treated them with kindness."</p>
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<p>The scenery changed again but was still focused on Sekhmet who stood at the front
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lines of what appeared to be an army.</p>
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<p>"She was ferocious," Bell continued, "And she was one of the very best at
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duelling. She was always at the front lines of any battle and helped her people
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through many wars."</p>
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<p>The students watched, their hands clinging to their seats in excitement as Sekhmet
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charged into battle, casting spells left and right while not even using a wand or
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anything of the sort.</p>
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<p>"Even when the enemy had their own wizard or witch –" Bell continued, focusing the
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scene on another magic user that now came to stand in front of Sekhmet "- She still
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won every battle. But even so –" The scenery changed again. They were now seeing the
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aftermath of the battle. Many people were injured and dying. Sekhmet could be seen
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kneeling down next to a bleeding man. "- She still cared for the lives of the people.
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She was skilled in battle but also in healing charms. Unfortunately for her, she had
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plenty of opportunities to practice both."</p>
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<p>Bell raised her wand into the air and in one fell swoop, the scenery seemed to get
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sucked up into its tip. The entire class groaned but Bell smiled fondly.</p>
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<p>"Don't worry, class," she said, "If you would like to, you can take my class for
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the rest of the year. I understand that history can be a bit boring but if you apply
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yourself you can learn some interesting stuff."</p>
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<p>The class murmured incoherently in agreement, excitement clear in the air.</p>
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<p>"Now," Bell said, clapping her hands together, "I do believe it's time for lunch.
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This is a bit embarrassing but could any of you show me the way to the great hall?
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I'm afraid I'll just get lost again and miss lunch entirely."</p>
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<p>"We'll take you, Professor!" Hermione shouted excitedly, practically jumping up
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and down.</p>
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<p>Bell chuckled. "Thank you very much, Ms Granger. I'll take you up on that."</p>
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<p>She picked up her bag and waited for the golden trio to get out of the classroom
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after which she locked it magically.</p>
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<p>"I don't think anyone will be stealing anything from inside there, Professor," Ron
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said.</p>
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<p>"Most definitely not, no," Bell replied, "But the magic in this room has been
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strengthened to aid me in my… way of teaching, so to speak. I wouldn't want anyone
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wandering in there unsupervised."</p>
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<p>"That was amazing, Professor!" Hermione said happily before Ron could retort, "Who
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knew that History of Magic could be so amazing?!"</p>
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<p>Bell laughed, "Thank you, Ms Granger," she said, "That's quite the compliment.
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Especially after learning about the horrible reputation my subject has in this
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school. Everyone seemed to dread coming to my class."</p>
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<p>"Well, we were taught by a ghost," Ron said evenly, "And he was so boring,
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everyone always fell asleep."</p>
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<p>"So I've heard," Bell said shaking her head, "It's such a shame, really. If I had
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been taught by such a Professor, I'm sure I never would've taken a liking to the
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subject myself."</p>
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<p>"Where did you go to school, Professor?" Harry asked daringly.</p>
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<p>"Ilvermorny," Bells admitted.</p>
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<p>"That's so far away!" Hermione exclaimed, "You don't sound American at all."</p>
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<p>"That's because I'm not," Bell chuckled, "But my father had us moved there for
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work so I had to attend Ilvermorny instead of Hogwarts. It's a shame, really. I had
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always wanted to come to Hogwarts."</p>
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<p>"Well, at least now you get to experience it," Harry offered, "And you don't even
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have to sit through Binn's classes for it."</p>
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<p>Bell laughed. "I don't think I should be allowing you to speak about my
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predecessor that way, but I'll permit it just this once." She winked at the threesome
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as the stairway they were just on changed direction. Bell let out a little yelp and
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clutched the balustrade tightly.</p>
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<p>"Why does it do that?" she asked in amusement.</p>
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<p>"We honestly don't know," Harry replied.</p>
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<p>"Some would say that Hogwarts is a bit fickle," Hermione supplied, "She likes to
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toy with new people."</p>
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<p>"Oh, come on Hogwarts, be nice," Bell chided, "I'm not going to spray paint your
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walls or anything like that."</p>
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<p>"It's okay, Professor," Hermione said, "We're still going in the right
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direction."</p>
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<p>"This castle is huge," Bell said in awe, "Do you think we're –"</p>
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<p>"And what is the golden trio doing, wandering around the corridors?" drawled a
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familiar voice, "Lunch will be starting soon."</p>
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<p>"Hi, Professor," Harry greeted Snape, completely undeterred by his sour attitude,
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"We were just on our way there but the staircase moved on us."</p>
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<p>Snape frowned. "I didn't expect you to be needing a chaperone at this age. Afraid
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to get cornered by a fantastical beast of sorts?"</p>
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<p>Harry frowned at Snape's odd behaviour. He opened his mouth to say something when
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Bell interjected.</p>
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<p>"Actually, Professor Snape, they're the ones escorting me," she said, biting her
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lip in embarrassment. "I haven't gotten the hang of navigating this place yet. It's
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very daunting and I was worried that I wouldn't make it to the great hall in
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time."</p>
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<p>Snape raised a sardonic eyebrow, "I understand," he replied curtly and swivelled
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on his heel to depart but Harry stopped him.</p>
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<p>"You could help her out, Professor," Harry said sweetly, "You know, show your
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fellow colleague the area. Show her the secret passages and everything."</p>
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<p>Snape narrowed his eyes at Harry. "Don't presume to tell me what to do, Mr Potter
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or I will be forced to punish you accordingly."</p>
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<p>Harry was ready to fight Snape on this but was stopped by a hand on his shoulder.
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It was Bell's. She smiled sweetly at Snape and said: "That's okay, really. I'll be
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fine. You go on ahead and we'll make it there on time as well."</p>
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<p>Snape nodded curtly and walked away, his robes ever-billowing.</p>
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<p>"What's his problem?" Harry muttered, "He's acting as if someone stole all of his
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dragon blood."</p>
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<p>Bell chuckled softly, "Now, Harry, you shouldn't say stuff like that."</p>
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<p>"And why do you call him 'Professor Snape'?" Harry asked, "All of the other
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teachers call him Severus. And he's about your age."</p>
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<p>"Well," Bell said in a hushed voice, "He kind of scares me. But don't tell him I
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said that! He'll probably be very mad that I said anything of the sorts to a student.
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As a matter of fact, could you just forget the last five minutes happened? That would
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be great."</p>
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<p>"If you say so, Professor," Ron shrugged.</p>
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<p>"But he's really not as bad as he seems," Harry said.</p>
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<p>"Though he does take some getting used to," Hermione supplied, "But once you've
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moved past his walls, you'll see that he has a heart of gold."</p>
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<p>Ron snorted, "Hermione! Did you forget that awful potion he fed me?"</p>
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<p>"Well, you were rummaging through his potions lab," Hermione said smartly, "What
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did you expect?"</p>
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<p>"You all dared me to do it!" Ron huffed, "And a Gryffindor does not back away from
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a dare."</p>
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<p>Bell chuckled merrily, "Is that what Gryffindors stand for then? I'll be sure to
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remember that."</p>
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<p>"What house were you sorted into, Professor?" Hermione asked, "I know that
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Ilvermorny has four houses as well."</p>
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<p>"I love that you know that!" Bell said happily, "Well, I was sorted into
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Thunderbird."</p>
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<p>"I guess I can see that," Hermione nodded knowingly. Harry and Ron just shared a
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confused look.</p>
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<p>"Here we are!" Harry said as he gestured towards the open doors to the great
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hall.</p>
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<p>"You three are my heroes!" Bell exclaimed happily as she led the way inside. She
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waved one last time at the trio as they took their seat. "See you next time!" she
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shouted before half-walking, half-running to the high table to sit in the last
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available spot next to Filch to whom she amicably started chatting away.</p>
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<p>"What are <em>you</em> looking at?" Ginny chided as she saw Harry staring after
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Bell.</p>
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<p>"Just wondering how someone so airheaded managed a teaching position here," Harry
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said, shaking his head.</p>
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<p>"I like the way she teaches, though," Ginny said, "She's much better than Binns
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ever was."</p>
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<p>"Much better looking too – Ow! Hermione!"</p>
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<p>Ron was rubbing the sore spot on his head where Hermione had hit her with her
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book.</p>
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<p>"What was that for?"</p>
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<p>"For being a pig," Hermione snarled before digging into her food.</p>
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<p>Ron rolled his eyes and stuffed two rolls in his mouth. Meanwhile, Harry smiled
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wryly at Ginny who winked at him with a smirk.</p>
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<hr size="1" noshade="noshade"/>
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<p>"Why are you being such a git?" Harry asked as he carefully measured his sheep's
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milk.</p>
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<p>"Excuse me?" Snape snarled. Harry finished measuring, the tip of this tongue
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between his teeth and waited to respond until he had put the beaker back down.</p>
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<p>"To Professor Bell, I mean," Harry said, "You're acting as if she were some
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first-year Gryffindor or something."</p>
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<p>"I believe that my interactions with other members of the staff are of no concern
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to you," Snape said dangerously, "Now, focus."</p>
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<p>"Don't be like that," Harry groaned, "No one is around to hear us anyway. I don't
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get why you're being so defensive. Hold on, it says here to use a sprig of rosemary
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but wouldn't the potion do better with azaleas? I'm sure it would react better to the
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acid of the snake venom."</p>
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<p>"Interesting argument," Snape conceded, "Go ahead and try it but be sure to wear
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gloves as you do so. Also, I am not being defensive. I simply do not like her. There
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are a lot of people I don't like and I don't want to be forced to interact with
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them."</p>
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<p>"No one is forcing you," Harry said as he rummaged through the stash of
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ingredients, looking for azaleas.</p>
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<p>"Then what would you call that attempt to have me show her around the castle?"
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Snape huffed, "Social interactions are bad enough without them being forced on
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me."</p>
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<p>"A little bit of common courtesy could go a long way," Harry said as he retrieved
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his prize. "And who knows, you might end up liking her."</p>
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<p>"She is far too child-like and energetic for my taste," Snape snarled, his nose
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scrunched up in disgust, "I've heard about her lessons. Ridiculous."</p>
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<p>"Brilliant!" Harry countered, "I don't think anyone will want to drop History of
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magic now. If she teaches like that all the time, we will all be history buffs in no
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time."</p>
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<p>"I would rather you focused on potions," Snape said, watching with interest how
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Harry carefully tossed in the azalea leaves.</p>
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<p>"I am!" Harry said, "And hey. You're the one who told me to keep up with my other
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classes as well. Don't get all upset with me that I find them interesting."</p>
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<p>Snape didn't respond. He watched intently as the potion in Harry's cauldron
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bubbled gently. Hedwig flew over and landed on Harry's shoulder, hooting softly.</p>
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<p>"What do you think?" Harry asked.</p>
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<p>"Shh," Snape hushed him, "Give it some time."</p>
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<p>They both watched the concoction intently. When it stopped bubbling, Harry hauled
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it off the fire and bottled the brew.</p>
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<p>"Hmm," Snape pondered, "I suggest that we test the potion as soon as we can. Don't
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forget to write down your findings and your work. If this potion turns out to be more
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potent, it might interest a lot of people."</p>
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<p>"I only changed one thing." Harry argued, "It won't change the world."</p>
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<p>"We can only change one thing at a time, Harry," Snape said, "The important thing
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is for you to keep trying.</p>
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<hr size="1" noshade="noshade"/>
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<p><em>I hope you all enjoyed that. What do you all make of Professor Bell?<br/>
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Please grace me with your reviews! They help keep me happy and motivated.</em></p>
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