Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

A Matter of Time	By : AdaraB Category: Harry Potter AU/AR > Het - Male/Female Views: 7796 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: JK Rowling owns everything in the Harry Potter universe. I own nothing and I make no profit off of this story.

Chapter List
- 25
- 26
- 27
Chapter 26 – The First Day

30 January

“So, how does it feel to be sitting in a classroom with other students about?” Draco asked. They were currently sitting in the Transfiguration classroom. Draco had made it clear to Goyle, who normally sat next to him in all of their classes together, that he needed to find a new seat since Ashleigh would be joining their classes. There was no way that he was going to let her sit next to some other bloke that would undoubtedly make a move on her.

“I thought we already covered that I’m a nervous wreck.” Ashleigh replied, shifting uncomfortably in her chair. She looked around at her house mates and the Hufflepuff’s they shared the class with to ascertain whether or not they noticed how she was feeling. It wouldn’t do for a Slytherin to be anything but at ease in any setting although it didn’t seem as if they suspected anything so she turned back to Draco.

“I thought your nerves would have settled by now.”

“They won’t settle until this day is over. I’m usually fine after the first day.”

“Well I certainly hope so; you wouldn’t want to be mistaken for a Hufflepuff would you?” He whispered.

“That was rude Draco! There is nothing wrong with being a Hufflepuff. And I’ll have you know that the Sorting Hat said I would do well in all of the houses but thought I would excel in Slytherin.”

“Seriously?” He asked unbelievingly.

“Yes, why?”

“Well it’s not exactly common for a Slytherin to be linked in any way to Hufflepuff. I’ve heard many people say that the Sorting Hat thought about putting them in a different house but when it came to Slytherin’s, the other house is usually Ravenclaw.”

“Yes, well, from the way our house talks about the Hufflepuff’s, their probably ashamed to admit to anyone that the Hat thought about placing them there.”

Draco wore a thoughtful expression.

“I never thought about it like that. I suppose you’re right, no self respecting Slytherin would admit to that.”

“I respect myself.”

“Well, I didn’t mean you Sweetheart. I should say no Slytherin that grew up in the Wizarding World as they have all been taught that Hufflepuff’s are a bunch of duffers.”

“Just don’t talk about the other houses like that anymore alright? I could have very well been put into any of the houses and I don’t like to think you would have called me those names if I hadn’t been put in Slytherin.”

“Alright, I can do that.” He said as he put his arm around her shoulders.

Just then, Professor McGonagall came into the room and brought the class to attention.

Ashleigh sighed as her first day would prove to be very long indeed.

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

“I’m so embarrassed!”

“It really wasn’t as bad as you think. It was quite funny really.” Draco said as they left the Transfiguration classroom and headed toward Herbology.

“Are you kidding me? I nearly doused Professor McGonagall with acid!” Ashleigh moaned in reply with utter mortification. They had been working on transfiguring a common acid into a base solution. Ashleigh had been so full of nerves that instead of transfiguring the solution she had sent it in a horrifying wave toward the professor who had been lithe enough to duck out of the way just before it splattered against the wall directly behind where she had been standing. There was now a black scorch mark on the wall where the acid had attempted to burn through the stone before Professor McGonagall had been able to perform an ‘Evanesco’ on it. Ashleigh had apologized profusely. The professor was kind enough not to take points or give detention as she knew how nervous the girl was. Ashleigh had told all of her professors of her nervous habits when they had asked her what had been bothering her during their final sessions together, they had noticed that she had almost recoiled into herself.

“Well you didn’t and that’s all that matter’s isn’t it? I think you can relax though. Herbology is next and were due to study Violent Violets. As long as you keep your goggles on you’ll be fine since the only thing that’s violent about these violets is the ultra violet light they produce.” His attempts at consoling her were pathetic.

“That just makes me feel so much better! I better get an eyeful of you now, I probably won’t ever be able to see you again as I’ll end up blind after today’s lesson.” She replied sarcastically.

Draco draped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close to him as they walked toward the greenhouses.

“You can get an eyeful of me anytime you want. And it’s highly improbable that you will become blind and before you say anything, it’s also very unlikely that you will blind someone else either.”

“Did you even see what just happened in Transfiguration?”

“Yes, but in Herbology we won’t be using our wands. You’d have to remove your goggles by hand and unless you want to go blind, I don’t think you’ll have an impulse to do that.”

They arrived at greenhouse six with five minutes to spare before class. Harry, Ron and Hermione were already at their places on the Gryffindor side of the table. Draco and Ashleigh took places directly opposite them and Draco proceeded to relate the tale of Ashleigh’s humiliation.

The three Gryffindor’s were at first stunned at what they heard. Ashleigh was always so calm about things that were much more stressful than a simple mistake in class. It was hard to believe that she could be so nervous about something like class. After realizing the irony in this tale, the Gryffindor’s started laughing hysterically.

Ashleigh just stood there with her arms crossed and a sour look on her face. She waited patiently for her friends to stop laughing at her which didn’t happen for a few minutes.

Harry came around the table and pulled her into a hug once he sobered up.

“We’re sorry Ashleigh,” he said when he noticed the look on her face, “it’s just that it’s so unlike you to get as nervous about something as stupid as class. We never thought you would be this nervous about joining us in class.”

“I’ve always been like this. I guess that just shows how much we know about each other.”

“That will change.” Harry replied in a determined voice.

Ashleigh gave him a smile and Harry returned to his seat. As he sat on his stool, Professor Sprout entered the greenhouse and brought the class to order.

“And let us all welcome Miss Grey to class.” She led the class in applause which everyone joined in on for a few seconds before returning to more important matters.

Ashleigh was blushing furiously by the time she reached for her goggles.

“Now, make sure your goggles are secured tightly. You don’t want them slipping off while your pruning these violets.” Professor Sprout said with flair.

She took a moment while the class got their goggles situated before wheeling out a cart filled with single planter violets that would have looked just as normal violets except for the fact that they gave off a bright ultraviolet light and had leaves that were half green, the other half was a deep purple. Professor Sprout picked up one of the plants with her gloved hands and placed it in front of her to aid in her demonstration.

“To prune these violets properly you must carefully dissect the plum colored leaves from the green ones. Make sure to wear your protective gloves as the purple leaves contain a sap that is highly poisonous. You don’t want to go getting it on your hands; it’ll be a nasty business fixing you up if you do. Using your scalpel, slice the leaves down the center. Once you hit the stem, cut a right angle to slice off the purple leaves and place them in the bins before you. Alright everyone, get started.”

“I’ll get one for you.” Draco told her as he hopped up from his seat. He quickly returned with a plant in each hand, placing one in front of Ashleigh while she eyed him warily.

“I thought you said these plants only give off an ultraviolet light Draco?” Ashleigh asked in a clipped tone, clearly annoyed that he had lied to her.

Draco had the sense to look somewhat ashamed.

“I was just trying to get you to calm down some. You were so upset about what happened in Transfiguration that I thought you could do with some news as to what we were doing in class today. I didn’t mention anything about the poisonous leaves because it is highly unlikely that you will get any of it on yourself or anyone else. You’d just about have to throw it at someone to get it on their skin; it isn’t exactly a runny substance.”

“Um, hm.” She replied, not believing a word he said.

They continued through the lesson carefully pruning their Violent Violets until Professor Sprout announced the end of class. Draco, Ashleigh, Harry, Ron and Hermione left the greenhouse together and headed for lunch in the Great Hall.

“I told you it wouldn’t be that bad.”

“Yes, well, I suppose you were right for one class out of two so far today. I’ve got two to go before this day from Hell is over.”

“Why do you call this the day from Hell? Herbology was fairly easy today; we’ve had much worse to contend with in that class.” Hermione asked, confused as to why the day was so bad for Ashleigh.

“Oh I don’t know, maybe the nerve wrecking feeling I tend to have on the first day of class and all that.” She said in a good natured way that even surprised herself. Usually she was grumpy the entire day until classes were over. Maybe Draco’s little lie helped relax her after all, along with her friends keeping a good humored conversation going during and after Herbology.

They reached the Great Hall and sat down at the Gryffindor table, Draco included. Previously, he had never sat at the Gryffindor table when Ashleigh would sit there for lunch, thinking it somehow inappropriate. Now however, he could no longer see any reason why he shouldn’t sit with his girlfriend and their mutual friends. All of Gryffindor house, in a way, accepted him since the Golden Trio had apparently forgiven him for his past indiscretions. He had even been to the Gryffindor common room a few times. When he sat down next to Ashleigh, he received mild looks of surprise from those nearby but nothing was said against him being there. Ginny soon joined them and the six friends ate lunch as they discussed their next class of double Charms. Ashleigh’s anxiety over the ‘First Day’ dwindled by the minute.

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

Charms continued on to the end of the session without incident. Things were looking up as Ashleigh noticed that this was the first ‘First Day’ where she hadn’t made a complete fool out of herself in every one of her classes. She was looking forward to Ancient Ruins, which she would be taking with only Draco and Hermione, as it was all book work. How much trouble could she get into with a quill and parchment?

Harry and Ron had a free period and so they promised Hermione they would look through the last two of the books she had ordered for information on the ‘Avada Kedavra’. So far she had found nothing in the five books she had already been though. These last two books were her only hope of avoiding Borgin and Burke on their Valentine’s Day Hogsmeade trip.

By dinner time, Harry and Ron felt as if their eyes were going crazy from looking at a book so long. They definitely weren’t used to this research thing. They sat down heavily by their respective girlfriends. The rest of their group had arrived only moments before.

“How is the research coming along?” Hermione asked eagerly.

“We haven’t found anything yet. We got though about a quarter of each book. I seriously think the authors are afraid that if you write down the actual incantation of what they always refer to as the ‘Killing Curse’ that they will die on their superstitions alone.” Harry said exacerbated.

“Well, I’ll cover the rest of the books tonight and tomorrow after classes. Hopefully we’ll find something so I won’t have to go in that vile store.”

“I’ll go for you Hermione; after all, my father was once a good customer there and still is from time to time. Borgin will be much more willing to give me access to books such as the ones you are looking for considering who my father is, not to mention the fact that I am a Slytherin. He doesn’t trust anyone who isn’t a Slytherin although I can’t understand why, not all Slytherin's are on the up and up as you well know.” Draco offered.

“That would be great! Thank you Draco, I went into that store once before and he wasn’t exactly helpful. He looked at me as if I was the sum of all evil or something.”

“Were you wearing your Gryffindor robes?”

“No, just Muggle clothes.”

“That’s why; he doesn’t like Muggle clothes either, thinks’ that those who wear them are up to no good.”

“I really don’t know where he gets off thinking like that though, considering what he sells and who some of his patrons are.” Ginny said in indignation, taking offense.

“Neither do I since most Wizards these days wear Muggle clothing at some point, at least out of necessity.” Draco replied, understanding where she was coming from.

They spent the rest of their dining period talking of less depressing matters such as the next Quidditch game of the season, Slytherin vs. Ravenclaw. Ashleigh expressed in no small way how much she was looking forward to seeing her first Quidditch match. She hadn’t had time to view the first games of the season due to how much studying she had to do. During the matches, she’d have sessions with those professors who weren’t a Head of House or whose teams weren’t playing. She’d gotten a lot accomplished in those sessions, there were never any students seeking the help of their professors for the homework they failed to understand. Ashleigh doubted very much if she would have ever gotten past O.W.L.s without those match days.

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

“The books contain nothing. Not one syllable is mentioned about the Avada Kedavra.” Hermione complained as she closed the seventh book with a resounding ‘PLOP’.

“I guess it’s off to Borgin and Burke I go.” Draco said easily. “Don’t worry Hermione; I’ll get the books we need. Borgin wouldn’t dare lie to me about something I need, he’d be too afraid to. My father taught me how to be forceful with words when I need to get my way. Much of my tutelage in the area was on my father’s frequent forays to that store in particular.”

“I really do appreciate you going for me. That store gives me the creeps.”

“It’s no problem.”

“Well, since there is nothing to research at the moment, I’m going to get some revising done. I suggest you do the same.” Hermione said, giving a pointed look at Ron and Harry.

“I guess that’s our cue, mate.” Harry said as he stood and stretched. He bent down to give Ginny a kiss and then followed Ron up to the boys’ dorm.

Ginny bid Ashleigh and Draco a good night and followed Hermione.

“I guess we’ll just show ourselves out.” Ashleigh said. “Honestly, the moment Hermione gets on them about revision, they forget about everything else, including their guests.”

“Can’t really blame them though, can you? In a way, Hermione is just as forceful with words and glares as my father is.” He said laughingly.

Ashleigh joined him in his laughter, shaking her head. There certainly was no way she could dispute that.
- 25
- 26
- 27
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

A Matter of Time