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In honor of the final Harry Potter movie, here is the latest chapter. Hope you guys like it.




Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.


 

 

~ HP ~

            The summer holiday was dwindling away and Zora began to dread going back to Middleton Academy. She didn’t want to go back into hiding. Pretending to be something that she wasn’t. She didn’t want to say goodbye to Tonks who became more of an older sibling than just a tutor. By going back to Middleton she was going back into an unconscious shell. Going back to Middleton just reminded her of how different she was. She would always be a child of two worlds. She feared that she would never truly fit into one. She knew why her dad wanted her in a muggle school and she had hoped for the same thing for awhile but it didn’t seem likely now. In the muggle world she was Zora McQueen, the quiet girl. In the wizarding world she was Zora McQueen, the girl grew up in the most-muggle-fashion-possible. It was like she was living in a field experiment and she was observing how muggles lived their daily lives. She was immersed into their world while she was still learning the mechanics of her own. It was a game of catch up, but she wasn’t too worried. She knew the basics and her father was teaching her the customs/social graces. Tonks was tutoring her in her metamorphmagus abilities as well as some of her Hogwarts subjects.    

No, the thing that worried her the most was seeing that Granger girl again. Hopefully she had forgotten her over the holiday. Zora really didn’t want to have to dodge her for the next two years. What Zora didn’t understand was why she was so interested in the first place. How didn’t the Obliviator Headquarters or at the very least the Muggle-worthy Excuse Committee manage to completely rearrange her memory? Technically, the Granger girl shouldn’t be able to remember a thing so why had she bird-dogging her those last few days of school? Maybe she was just being paranoid; maybe she just thought that Granger knew something. She was just a muggle after all…right? To be honest Zora couldn’t answer that question with full certainty. Before her little episode she would say that she definitely thought Hermione Granger was a full-blown muggle, but now she wasn’t so sure. It could very well be that she was in-fact magically inclined but the only way for her to figure that out for sure was to confront her in some manner. This is potentially dangerous because if she were to be wrong…well then that just wouldn’t be good.

“Zora?” Oh, right…she was in the middle of one her tutoring sessions with Tonks.

“Sorry Tonks…”

“Where did you go Zo-Zo? It was like you were daytripping into the dizzy doldrums.” Tonks laughed. They were sitting in backyard facing each other doing their mediation ritual. Tonks had a theory about being a metamorphmagus, she believed that with having the ability to change into whomever they wanted and could morph their features into animal like structures there must be an extra amount of magic hidden within them to be able to pull it off without the help of a potion or a spell. She felt that meditation was the best way to soothe out any errant emotions and keeping oneself in tune with the flow magic.

  She made sure to remind Zora that this was just her thinking. Everything that she was teaching Zora was based off of personal experience and what worked for her. Thankfully, most of what she taught Zora worked…for the most part. Every since Tonks came to the McQueen household she had noticed something different about the young metamorphmagus. The amount of control she was able exercise with her abilities was astounding, especially since she only found out about them a few months ago. Tonks watched as Zora began to feel more confident in her own abilities. There was a time where Tonks could read her every emotion that came across her young tutee’s face; now it was only once in a while.

 

“ It’s nothing really, just thinking about going back to my muggle school is all…”

           

“ You don’t sound too thrilled about it, which is understandable I guess. Not many people like school all that much.”

           

“It’s not that exactly…it’s just this girl that I go to school with…I think she suspects something.” Zora told her what happened in the last few days of school and told her about how Hermione was paying closer attention to attention to anything that she did.

           

“ Zora I wouldn’t worry about it too much, as long as it you keep yourself under control she’ll lose interest eventually. Muggles always do.”

           

“ Yeah…maybe.” Zora smiled a bit feeling a little bit more assured.

           

“Now, let’s have some fun…I want to see how well your transfigurations have been going.  So on the count of three…”  Both smirked at each other as they got up. This was what she loved about having Tonks as a tutor. She made learning fun; the way that she learned different types of transformations was by having “duels”. They would separate themselves by ten paces not facing each other. On the count of three they would quickly turn around and show their transfiguration.

           

“Alright now Zora, lets do animals this time…let’s say a type of cat,” Tonks said loudly,” On the count of three. 1…2…3!”

           

Tonks assumed the likeness of a lioness and Zora…seemed to have disappeared. Tonks grew frantic and started calling her name. She looked in every direction and until she looked to the ground.

           

“Oh this...this...isn’t good” She looked down and saw no girl, only a black cat; with green eyes. “Zora?” 

           

“Meow…” Tonks? Why are you so big all of the sudden?... Or have I gotten smaller…?

           

“Zo-zo…” She quickly took out a pocket mirror and showed it to Zora.

 

            This…this was impossible. Metamorphmagi couldn’t transform fully into animals Tonks had said so.  Zora began to panic; she made cat noises instead of actual words and which made her freak out more. Tonks being the quick thinking witch that she was knew that before anything else could be done both of them had to relax.

            “Zora you are going to have to first calm down.” This didn’t seem to go through because frantic cat sounds were still being made. So Tonks did the only thing she think of to calm a frantic cat. She knelt down to the ground and pulled her into her arms and began to stroke her head. Slowly but surely Zora visibly calmed down. “…now I want you to breathe. Close your eyes and imagine yourself as you truly are.”

            Zora did as she was told and imagined looking at herself in a mirror and thankfully she turned back to normal. She opened her eyes fearful that she would see a paw instead of her hand. Never before had she been so thankful to have opposable limbs. She let out a sigh of relief but didn’t speak. What was going on, she thought that she had this metamorphmagus thing figured out. Obviously not, considering what had just happened.

           

“ I thought you said that only animagi could transform in to animals…” Zora said quietly.

 

           

“ That’s what I thought as well…” Tonks mumbled to herself. This was a game changer…Zora was a game-changer. Everything she knew about being a metamorphmagus was thrown out in a manner of minutes. She continued to hold on to the girl she was quickly beginning to think of as a little sister. She didn’t know how to handle this; never had she before been able to do something such as the girl in her arms. It was unheard of…

 

           

“ What does it mean Tonks…?”

 

           

“  To be completely honest with you Zo-zo… I don’t have the foggiest idea…”

 

           

“ I-I’m scared Tonks…when I was doing the transfiguration it felt like it did when I normally do my animal structures. I didn’t even realize that I had changed so drastically until you showed me you mirror. “

 

           

“  Zo-zo, it’s all right to be scared but on the bright side it’s better that we know about this now and deal with it than you being at Hogwarts and something happening…” she was trying to be comforting but that only made Zora nervous. What if she found out more things about herself at Hogwarts…things that she couldn’t control…its not like she could bring Tonks with her…

           

“ Also, think about it like this… you have just done something that was once thought to be impossible. You should be feeling very proud of yourself right now.” 

 

            “ But I don’t feel proud…I feel like more of a misfit then ever now…”

 

            “ Zora, you are an amazing girl and today you just gave the world another reason to recognize it. Besides being a misfit isn’t all that bad. In my opinion misfits are the best kind of people to know. They are the ones that keep life interesting.” Tonks looked down at her surrogate sister, “ You’ll make friends at Hogwarts I have no doubt about that.”

 

            Suddenly, Luca came trotting outside with his tail wagging happily and instantly laid next to his mistress. It was amazing how the mood seemed to lighten whenever Luca popped into a room. Maybe it was because it was he was so unassuming and at the same time a great comfort when she needed him. The love he seemed to have for the teacup sized human made everything that was bad seem lesser.  Zora held him in her arms and hugged him tightly as he became licking her on her chin. The fear of being alone slightly began to ebb when she reminded herself that she would have Luca there to keep her company.

 

            Tonks thought it best to stop the lessons for rest of the day and decided to give Zora an ice cream treat that she knew McQueen had stashed away in that icebox of his…refrigerator that’s what it was called. Then she would allow Zora to teach her in the ways of television (her dad may have been muggle born but they mostly stuck to the old ways of life). It was very entertaining, but what she liked most was the cartoons especially that Beatlejuice one…

 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

 

 

            As it so happened, Zora didn’t even make it to the ice cream as soon as she sat herself down on the couch she fell asleep. This didn’t surprise Tonks much, usually when they finished their lessons Zora conked out. This gave her time to channel surf and write her report to Dumbledore. In the letter she originally got from the man he wrote that he would like an update every week on the young metamorphmagus. What happened today would certainly be in the letter. The more that she wrote the more that she was in awe of what occurred today.

 

It felt different…it felt like she was writing about something that could be counted as living history. As she wrote her weekly letter she looked at the sleeping girl beside her. She looked so unassuming as she slept. None of what happened today really sunk in. Being only nine years old the gravity of the situation wasn’t completely over the child’s head but at the same time…

 

            Tonks remembered a Shakespearean quote that her father once told her before going off to Hogwarts for the first time,

 

            “Now Dora, I want you remember something when you go off to school, ‘ Be not afraid of greatness: some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them’ Do your best and you’ll leave your mark on the world. You’re too extraordinary to do or be anything else…”

 

            “ ‘Some are born great…some have greatness thrust upon them…of that I have no doubt. My only worry is will you be able to stand the pressure of such ‘greatness’. Merlin knows how much the wizarding world loves their celebrities....” She spoke of the fanatical interest of the Potter boy; she knew the reason why Dumbledore left him in the care of his muggle relatives. He believed that children should just be allowed to do what they know best, being a child. It was in that same spirit that Nymphadora Tonks decided to trash her original letter and write a new one. She wrote another letter, one that held most of the information that the original letter had but omitted the full animal transfiguration. Tonks knew that when Zora was ready she would tell him and the rest of the world. However until then it would remain a secret between the metamorphmagi girls.

 

~ HP ~


            The next few weeks seemed to have sped by so quickly Zora could barely stand it.

She wasn’t ready to go back to school and not just because she didn’t want the extra homework. Every time she thought of an animal she feared that she would transfigure into it.  She thought as time went by things would have gotten easier but they have only become more complicated. She didn’t realize just how aware she would have to be of her surroundings. Everyday seemed to be a test of will. She felt so drained and when school did arrive she became even more reserved than she was before…

 

& HG &

 

            The first day of school.. It was finally here. Freshly pressed uniforms and a perfectly packed school bag and lunch. Hermione Granger was ready to begin the fifth grade hitting the ground running. She had been waiting for this day since the last day of school. This year hopefully meant a new beginning, a fresh start and a chance for making new friends. She made a promise to herself that she would not stalk Zora McQueen, it would be hard given the fact that she had basically focused her entire summer holiday on the girl but she was wise enough to realize that following her around was not going to get her anywhere. Yes, she wanted to find out whether or not the quietest girl in her class was in fact magical but…she wanted a friend more. And just because she was mildly socially awkward didn’t mean that she was completely inept at figuring out people. She knew that this was going to take time (especially since Zora would probably have reservations about a friendship with her). 

 

            “ Hermione, the school bus will be here any minute hurry down and eat some breakfast.” Called her father.

 

            “ Coming dad!” Hermione shouted back. She gave herself one more look in the mirror and went downstairs to eat. Both of her parents were already down in the kitchen watching the morning news.

 

            “ Excited for the new term pumpkin?” Matilda asked as she set a bowl of cereal in front of her.

 

            “ Mmhm,” Hermione focused on her breakfast, she wanted to be ready for when the school bus arrived.

 

            “ I bet she’s excited, never seen a child so keen on school.” Barnaby Granger chuckled as he went back to reading his newspaper.  He loved his daughter, no one could doubt that but he had to admit he was worried. Hermione focused solely on schoolwork, never had she once talked about having any mates or extracurricular-activities. He wanted her to be better rounded; it wasn’t normal for a young girl to be so isolated.

 

            “Well our Hermione is a special girl, she knows what’s important. Don’t you darling?” Matilda lightly defended. She knew that her husband was worried, but she had faith that their daughter would find a friend soon. She was just a late bloomer was all. Hermione finished her bowl of cereal and silently nodded at her mother. She got up from the table and placed her dirty plate into the sink. When she did she heard the honk of the Middleton school bus. She quickly grabbed her school bag and the Granger family headed to the front door.

 

            “ Have a good day at school darling.” Matilda kissed Hermione on the forehead.

 

            “ Don’t study too hard pumpkin.” Barnaby kissed Hermione on the side of the head.

 

            “ Thanks mum,, thanks dad see you after school.” Hermione swiftly got out of her parents embrace and made her way to bus. She saw that people were already boarded and giggling at, she suspected, her. So much for a new start…

 

            She went down the aisle and her eyes fell on a seemingly empty seat as she walked closer she found it to be partially taken. Speak of the devil…

 

            “ Hello, um could I sit here?”

 

            “ Sure, I guess…” Zora, said in a slightly daze she looked at Hermione for a moment and then turned her attention back to the window. She looked tired, Hermione observed, despondent. She quietly sat herself down and sat up straight. A million thoughts raced through her head. She wasn’t prepared for this. For the first time ever, she wasn’t prepared for something. She had hoped that she would at least have the bus ride to formulate a proper introduction but that seemed a little irrelevant now…

 

            She turned to face the despondent girl and decided to try again. “ Hello, my name is Hermione Granger and you are?”

 

           

“Zora McQueen, but you already know that we met last year, remember?” She still refused to look at her but that didn’t deterred Hermione.

 

           

“ Yes, but unfortunately we weren’t properly introduced so I just wanted to say thank you for what you did, no one has ever stood up for me before…” Hermione saw Zora’s eyes soften slightly.

 

           

“ Well…your welcome. To be honest though it was mostly to shut Nostrum up. I can’t stand her.”

 

           

“ Oh I know, it’s like she’s trying to be queen or something.”

 

           

“  Seriously, if her nose was anymore stuck up then she would in danger of drowning herself.” 

 

 

Both girls giggled a little bit, not so much at the thought of any actual harm coming to their common enemy but more because it was nice to talk to someone who wouldn’t cringe in fear of any sort backlash from the little devil herself. The bus ride to Middleton seemed a lot more comfortable now that the some of the residual tension seemed to wear off. Zora noticeably relaxed a bit but Hermione could still sense a barrier between herself and the other girl. It was a start and that was all that Hermione really wanted. A chance. Now all that was left to do now was slowly chip away at the wall that separated them.

 

 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

           They weren’t friends exactly; it was too early to put that sort of distinction on them. Comfortable school acquaintances seemed to fit better. Neither spoke to each other outside of class but they would gravitate towards each other when classes began. It was well into the month of September that their tentative friendship would become a bit more solid. Zora had becoming more and more withdrawn, their was unnamed fear her eyes. Every time that Hermione would try to confront her the more reserved she became. Hermione began to worry about her school peer. Whatever it was that was bothering her was starting to affect her schoolwork and she didn’t want her to fall behind.

 

 

It was a partly cloudy, lukewarm day that Hermione Granger would finally have her answer. Lunch had just begun and as usual the two misfits sat together outside for lunch. No one talked, Zora just absentmindedly nibbled at her sandwich (peanut butter and jelly was her favorite) and drank a bit of orange juice. Hermione ate her apple sauce (she had to be careful of what she ate since she was braces), she began to fidget in her seat until she couldn’t bare the silence anymore.

 

“ Zora…is everything okay? You’ve been acting a little bit strange lately…”

 

“ I’m fine Hermione…”

 

 

“ Zora you are not ‘fine’ you’ve falling asleep in class and your schoolwork…”

 

 

“ Hermione I don’t want to talk about it…”

 

 

“ But Zora…”

 

 

“ Would you just drop it Granger!” Zora hissed. The look on her face, her eyes they weren’t normal… they were cat like, bright irises and slit pupils. They were definitely not like that a moment ago! Zora began to pant and Hermione could’ve sworn she fangs.  Zora must’ve realized something was a miss but her reaction. She blinked and her eyes went back to normal and so did her teeth. Tears began to fill her eyes and with a small sob she took off. Hermione sat there for a moment completely stunned. Her mind raced a mile a minute. So it was true, and it wasn’t just her imagination runaway from her. Hermione Granger thought that she’d be a lot happier finding out that she was right but she couldn’t not when she remembered the look of pain and sadness that she was on the other girls face. At that moment she realized that she didn’t care about whether or not she was right, she had to find Zora! 

 

            “  Zora, wait! Come back!” Hermione raced off after her friend, not caring that the whole class was staring. She didn’t care what they thought; all she cared about now was finding her friend.

 

 

&HG&

 

            Why? It’s not fair, why did this happen to her? She never wanted this, she never want this at all. Zora sobbed. She had tried so hard to control her powers but it didn’t seem to work. Tears rained down on her cheeks. She’d give anything to be normal or at least what was normal for a regular witch. She honestly didn’t think that she was cut out to be a metamorphmagus. Unfortunately, she didn’t have a choice in the matter. This was her life and she had to deal with it the best way that she could. She sat on the ground near the garden shed with her legs propped up against her chest. She laid her head on her knees and slowly made herself regain control of her emotions. Crying wouldn’t do anything, she acknowledged, but she couldn’t the occasional tears and sniffles that she couldn’t control. She heard a rustle in the near by bush and for a fleeting moment she hoped that it would be Hermione. Muggle or not Zora didn’t ignore the similarities between the two of them. Almost kindred. The rustle happened again and to her somewhat surprise out came Luca.

 

            “Luca, what are you doing here?” she sniffled; she wiped her nose on her uniform jacket. The pup trotted over to his mistress and began to whimper unhappily. Zora remembered something that Ando told her on her birthday. He told her that she and Luca were bonded, whatever emotion she felt he felt as well. He must have come when he felt me being upset.  

           

She held him in her arms and stroked him behind his soft-furred ear. Eventually the whimpering stopped and Luca began to lick the hand that was stroking his ear. There was a gentle breeze; it caressed the skin in a comforting way. The sun peaked through the trees peppering the ground with spots of light. Zora remained unfocused, her body on autopilot as she continued to stroke her furry companion. Zora felt so drained emotionally and physically, she didn’t even have the strength to cry anymore. What could she do that she hadn’t already done? The whole situation seemed hopeless. And now, Hermione Granger had full proof of her being a witch. Today was not her day apparently. How could it get any worse?

 

“Zora! Where are you? Zora!” Oh no not now, or ever really…

 

She really didn’t want to talk to anyone, especially Hermione. Despite what she thought a moment ago, all she wanted was to be left alone.  Luca started to wiggle furiously and got out of his armed entanglement. He began to growl, threateningly in the direction of the voice. He transformed into his regular size and started to bare his teeth and crouched into an attack position. His mistress was in a fragile state and no one would take advantage of her moment of weakness. There was a rustle in the bush and a foot stepped out and a moment later appeared Hermione.

 

“Zora I…AH!” Hermione screamed as jumped at the sight of the black dog. Where did this dog come from? He certainly didn’t look friendly, more like he was going to eat her. She tried to step back but that only seemed make it madder. Its teeth were bared and his ears flattened against its head. Hermione looked frantically for something to defend herself with, because running was most definitely not an option. Where was Zora? Did this…dog attack her?

 

“ Nice doggy…scary doggy…please don’t eat me…” Hermione whimpered. When it looked like it was about to pounce Hermione quickly closed her eyes and tried to brace herself for the attack.

 

“ Luca, come.”

 

Hermione opened one eye and saw the dog instantly retreat, it spontaneously engulfed itself into blue flames when the blue flames dissipated it some how it became smaller…almost puppy like. She raised her gaze and saw Zora against a tree near the school’s garden shed. The…creature seemed to have completely done a one-eighty, Hermione could not understand how it could be ferocious to docile in under a minute. She watched as the animal acted as any happy puppy would react to its owner.

 

“ You know, bad things happen to muggles who meddle…I thought my leaving the table would give you the hint not follow Granger.”

 

“ I was worried about you…Wait a moment, were you really going to allow that—that thing to attack me?!”

 

“Relax Granger you weren’t in any danger and he has a name you know.” Zora said somewhat indignantly. She gathered the black fur-ball in her arms and walked up to the mildly petrified girl.

 

“Oh really? Well I’m sorry that I wasn’t courteous enough to learn the name of creature that was trying to EAT ME!”  Her tone dripped of sarcasm. She couldn’t believe that nearly risked her life over someone who didn’t even seem to care.

 

“ Now you’re being ridiculous, Luca wouldn’t eat you.

 

“ And what’s that supposed to mean, I’ll have you know I’m probably very delicious!”

 

The two girls stared at each other heatedly for a moment until Zora started giggle madly. Hermione failed to see what was so humorous but she couldn’t stop her self from following other girls’ example. Both seemed to be in a fit of giggles and before long they both forgot for a moment why either of them were upset in the first place. When they both finally could call themselves down they wiped away the drops of tears that were falling from their eyes.

 

“ I’m sorry that Luca scared you, he tends to be a bit protective when he feels that I’m in some type of danger.”

 

“ It’s alright…I just wanted to make sure that you were okay. You ran off so fast after… what happened and you were so upset…”

 

 

“ Well, let’s just say that it has been a very trying time for me and it doesn’t seem to be getting better.” Her eyes flashed again but she didn’t try and hide it. The cat was out of the bag so it was probably best to come clean. She walked back to her spot against the tree. Hermione slowly followed after her and found a spot next to her.

 

“ Does…does this have to do with your eyes changing color?” Hermione gently questioned. Zora nodded silently and sniffled.

 

            “ Do you want to talk about it?” Zora shook her head.

 

            “ Okay, fair enough. Can I ask question what did you mean, ‘ Bad things happen to muggles who meddle?’ What is a muggle?”

 

            “ Muggles are non-magic people. Technically you shouldn’t have found out about any of this. Muggles aren’t supposed to know about my kind.”

 

           

“ And what ‘kind’ are you exactly? I mean you look human…”

 

 

            “ Of course I’m human.” Zora managed to smile a little, “I assure I am no alien. I am a witch, a pure-blooded one if you want to be technical about it.”

 

            “ Fascinating, and how do you get your powers? Is there some sort of ritual or blood sacrifice that you have to do before your powers emerge?” This was momentous event indeed; Hermione had been waiting all summer for some kind of confirmation that she was most certainly not going mental.

 

            Zora gave her incredulous look, “ Blood sacrifices? Merlin, where do you people get some of this stuff? There is no way for any old person to get magical powers just because they wanted them. You have to born with it. It’s kind of hard to explain.”

 

            “ Both of your parents were witches?”

 

            “ My mom was a witch and my dad is wizard, yes. Both of their family lines have had nothing but witches or wizards in the family.”

 

            “ So… is the only way that person can have magic is if they are ‘pure-blooded’?” That was a bit depressing if that were true…

 

            “ Oh no, there are plenty of witches and wizards that are muggle-born and those who are half and half. Those two groups are what is most common. Pure-blooded families are the one that are far and in between…”

 

            “ But what about schooling, a form of government… what about all that stuff?”

 

            “Well of course we have all that stuff, a society can’t function without can it?” Hermione was completely overrun with thoughts, emotions, and questions. It was real. Magic was real and they had places where you could learn magic and everything. It was almost too good to be true.

 

            “And what about school, what’s it called and do you go there after your done with Middleton everyday?” She was starting ramble but she couldn’t help herself.

 

            “ The school is called Hogwarts, my mom used to teach there before…she passed away, and you have to be at least be eleven years old to go. That and have the ability to do magic.”

 

            “ Zora…do you think…”Hermione felt a little embarrassed to ask, “Do you think … for a person like…”

 

           

            “Well to be honest Hermione,” Zora looked at Hermione and for moment she wished she hadn’t, there was hope in those eyes and even though Hermione might deny it Zora could see the exact question she was trying to ask, “ Any possible I guess, sometimes people are just late bloomers.”

 

            “ Late bloomers…” Hermione whispered as she thought to herself. Was it silly to hope?  Was it completely mental to believe that there could be a chance? She was just Hermione. Hermione Jean Granger, there was nothing special about her. Besides being intelligent what else was there to her? Her parents were dentists for Pete’s sake! Now that she knew that there was real magic out in the world how would she ever go back to her regular life? How would she be satisfied with life knowing that there was a great chance that she would not be able to ever experience any of it.

 

            “ Hey.” Zora brought the bushy-haired girl out her thoughts with a small jolt.

 

            “ Yes?” Hermione quickly answered, did she miss something?

 

            “ I said that you have to promise to keep this a secret Hermione.”

 

            “ Okay.”

 

            “ I mean it Hermione, muggles aren’t supposed to know about magic.”

 

            “ Zora, I promise I won’t say a word. Besides who would be believe me anyway?” Hermione emphatically. She saw the look of mild relief on Zora’s face, but her attention went back to the curious creature in the girls’ arms. He was staring at her almost in a glare. He made little growls and yips. To be honest he made her nervous and her feelings of nervousness must have been obvious because Zora brought him closer.

 

            “ I think its time for you two be properly introduced, Luca McQueen this Hermione Granger. Hermione Granger this is Luca McQueen. You can pet him if you want I promise he wont hurt you.” Zora words sounded sincere and Hermione knew that she probably meant them but she wasn’t so sure about the dog…She wasn’t much of a dog person to begin with. However, she was willing to try if it meant so much to Zora…Cautiously, she raised her hand and moved it to try and pet the furry beast. Luca, still wary of her, snapped at her. Hermione quickly brought her hand back to her chest.

Zora looked down at her companion and scolded him.

 

            “Luca stop that right now. Hermione is not bad…she’s” Zora looked up at the bushy haired girl and smiled, “she’s my friend.”

 

Hermione stared at the young witch before, wide-eyed. A friend. That’s what she called her. Zora wasn’t making it up and she didn’t say it in a teasing or sarcastic way. Hermione wanted to say something in return, something as equally meaningful but for the first time in her almost ten years of life she could only repeated what she had heard.

 

“  A f-friend?” she hated that she had stuttered, and that she was beginning to get a bit teary eyed. She felt a little embarrassed but the smile she saw on Zora’s face was genuine and kind. Zora merely nodded, as her smile grew larger.

 

            “ And friends don’t bite friends. So, we are going to try this again. Hermione Granger this is Luca McQueen. Luca McQueen this is Hermione Granger.” The growling and yips stopped, the eyes, which just seconds ago reminded Hermione of a cold fire finally warmed up. He lowered his ears in submission and Hermione felt more comfortable trying to touch him. When her hand finally rested on top of the pups’ head, she was amazed at how soft his fur was.

 

            “ She’s right Luca, I’m her friend now as she is mine.  And I would never try and harm her because…because friends don’t harm friends.” She gently petted Luca on, she finally returned the smile tenfold. 

 

            The girls stayed there until the lunch bell rang signaling the second half of classes. They stayed and they talked about a plethora of things non-magic and magical. Luca, finally trusting the new girl allowed her to hold him in her arms. From that moment on the two young girls spent a great amount of time with each other. Each day, they grew to trust one another just a bit more. They slowly began to bring out the best in one-another. Zora began to talk a little more in class while Hermione tried to corral her tendency to show off (wasn’t very always successful but at least it was a start). Both families saw the small change in their daughters, they didn’t know who or what caused it but they were thankful.

 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

 

            Zora convinced Hermione that it would be okay and that people would like red velvet cupcakes. Hermione had been nervous, today was her birthday and usually she didn’t bring any treats for school. It took her a while to convince her parents (after they had gotten over the mild shock) to allow her bring cupcakes for the class. They, being dentists, wanted to promote healthy eating and strong bones. But since this was the first thing that Hermione ever asked for in terms of making new friends they allowed it. Both girls got to school early that day and set a cupcake on each desk in the classroom. They eagerly sat their own desks (they now sat next to each other in the back) and waited for the others to come in. When the other students finally filtered in they were surprised when they found their own individual cupcake on their desk. Each cupcake said Happy Birthday.

 

            “ Who’s birthday is it?” a boy asked.

 

            “ It’s mine.” Hermione said. Some of the children said happy birthday and thank for the cup cake. Everything seemed to be going fine into Lauren and Rebecca walked in.

Their faux air of sophistication clogged the airways. Lauren had gotten to her desk and sat down. She looked at the cupcake with distain.

 

            “ What’s this thing doing on my desk?”

 

            “ It’s someone’s birthday Lauren, and they brought cupcakes!” Rebecca said excitedly.

            “ Hmph, it’s not by birthday so why should I care…” she nonchalantly flicked the cupcake on the ground. “ Oops…”

 

            Both girls cackled in their seats, Zora quickly looked over at Hermione. There were no tears in her eyes but Zora could tell that she was hurt. Everything was going so well. Zora looked back at the offensive girl and wished that she could do something, anything. Then a curious thing happened, a pair of desk erasers flew up. The class started screaming, in fear. The erasers took their aim and went straight for the Nostrum girl. She tried to get away but the erasers came went after her. By the time the whole thing was said and done Lauren Nostrum was a huge chalk mess. The erasers themselves dropped to ground, whatever possessing them to attack Nostrum left without a sound or a whisper.  No one made a sound until Zora started giggling like she had gone mad, it only she started laughing did others in the class join in. Lauren, who was still spitting chalk dust only screeched in anger and stomped out of the classroom, with of course Rebecca, following right after.

 

            When people finally calmed down, Hermione leaned over to Zora was whispered

 

“Thank you.” Zora still giggling her head off shook her head.

 

“ That wasn’t me…” she couldn’t stop herself, her cheeks were beginning to ache.

 

“ Right.” Hermione smirked. How else would those erasers come to life? Zora finally calmed down and looked her friend straight in the eye.

 

“ Honestly Hermione, that wasn’t me.” She said with a smile. Or at  least I don’t think it was me…

 

            “ Whatever you saw McQueen, whatever you say…”

 

~ HP ~

Zora spent the rest of the day trying to convince Hermione that she wasn’t the one who had those erasers on the Nostrum girl. For a split second Zora thought for a moment, maybe just maybe…

            






Chapter End Notes:

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