'He certainly knows how to get to a girl, anyway.'

~ * ~

A shower and a cup of tea later, Hermione was curled up on her chair, trawling through the book. There were many, many types of magical bonds to be broken, and the one used by Ginny couldn't, unfortunately, be broken by any spell. A brief rush of pride flew through Hermione. 'I guess I taught Ginny too well when it comes to researching work.'

"Hello Hermione!" Hannah emerged from her room. "Breakfast in twenty minutes! Are you planning on missing all classes again, just to read that?"

"Hmm? Oh, of course not. I was just doing some research." Hermione snapped the book shut. "Which can wait. Did you get an owl from McGonagall this morning?"

"Yes, at the ungodly time of half six." Hannah rolled her eyes and threw herself down into a chair.

Hermione slipped her feet into her shoes and stood up. "I have to check my homework." She slipped off to her room as Hannah switched on the television, flicking through the channels until she found something she liked. Hermione shut her door thankfully on the loud noises of a cartoon that came on.

'So, this means I'm stuck with it. At least the only effect is that we can't insult each other. Maybe if I avoid him, that'll-'

"No!" she shouted suddenly, panicking as Ginny's words came back to her. "She's right. Before, I would have worked at this. What's happened to me?" she asked her reflection.

"Looks like you're making mountains out of molehills, dearie," commented the mirror. "And your hair looks wonderful this morning."

Brushing off the compliment, Hermione sat back. Thankfully, Charms was first, and she had already mastered the Simulacra Movete. 'Plenty of time to think before Transfiguration, unless Harry and Ron need help.'

~ * ~

Draco entered the common room with a strange look on his face, ignoring Hannah, who was laughing over some Muggle program.

"Morning Malfoy!" she chirped happily. Draco nodded briefly and entered his room, searching for some clean robes.

"Bloody house elves!" he growled as dirty robes were all he could find. "Why aren't they doing their jobs right?"

"Master Malfoy, sir?" squeaked a high-pitched voice from the doorway. Draco turned to see Dobby, resplendent in what could only be described as a hideous pink jumper.

"Dobby! Why hasn't my laundry been done?" demanded Draco. Dobby shrunk back.

"Begging sir's pardon, but Master Malfoy has wards up and Dobby and Winky can't break them, sir," he babbled quickly. Draco stared and blinked.

"You always got through them at the manor."

"But Dobby is not at the manor, sir. Dobby is at Hogwarts."

Draco scowled and found his wand. "I'll set them to drop for one hour in the morning and one in the night. If you can't get everything done then, it makes you a bad house elf." He turned to the window and started muttering spells as Dobby removed his vibrantly yellow hat and twisted it nervously.

"Dobby!" The house elf flinched as someone else called his name. Large ears quivering, he turned in the doorway.

"Miss Hermione Granger!" he squealed happily. Apart from the never ending supply of hats he received from her, she was a regular in the kitchen to talk to both him and Winky; who was settling down rather well into her post after being forced to give up Butterbeer.

"How are you?" she smiled cheerfully.

"Dobby is well, Miss Hermione Granger. Dobby will come and see Miss Hermione Granger more often!"

Hermione sighed. "Dobby, how many times have I told you? Call me Hermione. You don't need to add my surname onto the end all the time."

"Yes, he does," corrected Draco. "He's a house elf, it's just the way he is. You can't change it."

"He can try," argued Hermione. Dobby said nothing, just started gathering up Draco's laundry.

"Master Malfoy, sir, Dobby shall return these as soon as possible!" He made his way over to the fireplace. "Goodbye, Master Malfoy sir, and Miss Hermione Granger!" He stepped into the fireplace and disappeared with a crack.

"So that's how they get around the school!" Draco grinned; he had been trying to figure it out for six years. Finding a clean robe, he turned to Hermione.

"You're more than welcome to stay and watch," he winked, watching a blush that could rival a Weasley's rise in her cheeks, "but if you don't want to, could you close the door on the way out?"

"As if! Insufferable ferret!" he heard her hiss as she stormed out, ignoring the electricity caused by the binding and slamming the door behind her. Draco couldn't help but laugh as he slipped into his robes and started the hunt for a hairbrush.

~ * ~

Hermione absently sipped her tea, engrossed in a thick book. The rather dowdy front cover proclaimed it to be Elementals: A Study Of.

"Good morning Hermione." Neville's rather shaky voice interrupted her, and she gave a small squeal, jumping back.

"Oh! Morning Neville." Hermione snapped the book shut and she gave a bright smile. "How are you?"

"I'm fine, really," he said, sitting down. "But I was wondering if you could help me with that potion we were making? I think I got a zero again, and I need Potions to get a good job." He said this so miserably that Hermione gave in instantly.

"Of course I can. I'll come over to the common room tonight and go through it again," she said. "Just make sure you read through the section of the book that we were supposed to in class."

"Thanks Hermione," he smiled, relieved. Hermione gave him a cheerful grin back and, reaching for a piece of toast, opened her book again.

"Have you seen Harry and Ron this morning?" she asked casually, turning a page. Neville nodded.

"Yes, they should be here soon, I think."

"That's good." Hermione ran her finger down the contents page. Neville watched, hoping for a decent conversation, but Hermione was too engrossed in her book for such a thing.

There are eight main categories of Elementals. These are Fire, Water, Earth, Air, Ice, Healing, Light, and Royals. Although the last is more of a group than a specific element, the royal family of the Elemental people is placed into their own category.

The categories exist simply to enhance understanding of this mystical race. All Elementals have the ability to use all elements. However, they are born with their power lying in one element, and this determines their appearance. The various shades of hair and eye colour merely determine the strength of the Elemental. This ensures that no Elementals look alike, and yet can still be categorised with ease.

Fire Elementals are some of the most common Elementals. Fire Elementals all have a similar appearance. Red hair and red-brown eyes are their trademark.

Water Elementals are the second of the four most common types of Elementals. Their appearance is usually a vision of blue, often with hints of green.

Earth Elementals can be split further down into four categories (see chapter 14) and are the third most common category. Their features are green and brown, or other earthy colours.

Air Elementals are the last of the four largest groups. Their appearance is usually that of grey, pale colours, and often their eyes are a sky blue.

Ice, Healing and Light are not quite as large as the above four categories. They are a much rarer type. Ice is placed into its own category, as Ice Elementals have icy blue or silver hair and eyes, and the ability to control ice is extremely complicated. It has been argued that ice is not a true element; however all those arguing this were wiped out in a freak blizzard.

Healing Elementals have the ability to use all elements to heal others, and they are recognisable by their white and silver features. The Healers of the Elementals are led by Lady Lana, the White Maiden.

Light Elementals are much rarer again, having the ability to control the sunlight, and all other forms of light. They usually have blonde hair and pale eyes, often yellow-green.

The last group, the Royals, are simply the royal family of the Elementals. They have the ability to control all of the elements with much more power.

The crown of the Elementals is passed down through the females. The only time a male may rule is if circumstances are unavoidable. It is not known why it is the females who rule. Indeed, it is only one of the many secrets kept by the Elementals.

The appearance of the Royals is somewhat unique. They share the same eye colour – that of the Aurora Borealis, or the Northern Lights. For reasons unknown, this wonder of nature is extremely important to the Elementals. All females born into the Royal family are christened Aurora; being told apart by their middle names alone. Male Royals are often named after constellations or other celestial bodies.

Male Royals are usually born with pure blonde hair, to represent the light of the sun. They tend to have a somewhat pale appearance, whereas females have darker skin and midnight blue hair - representing the colour of the night sky in which the Northern Lights dance.

Hermione snapped the book shut with a small smile. 'That makes sense.' "Oh, good morning boys," she greeted as Ron and Harry sidled sleepily over to the Gryffindor table. "I just got this book out from the Library and it really is fascinating," she enthused, not noticing the confusion on the boys' tired faces.

"Hermione?" Harry waved his hand in front of her face cautiously. "You're not angry at us?"

Hermione's smile faded and she stared at them blankly.

"Of course I am. But what would be the point in arguing, putting us all through a few days or weeks of misery, and then making up?" she said in a matter-of-fact tone. "Besides, you can do me a favour now. Help me find more information on Elementals."

Ron gave a sigh of relief. "You're back to normal, then?" he asked, yawning. Hermione gave a bright smile.

"Let's just say that your little sister talks a lot of sense."

~ * ~

"Good morning class!" chirruped a cheerful Professor Flitwick as the Gryffindors and Ravenclaws filed silently into the classroom. Only Hermione was awake enough to give a smile and return the greeting.

"Now then, settle down," he said idly, more from habit than anything else as the class stared sleepily at him.

"It's too early for Charms," groaned Ron quietly as he fidgeted in his seat next to Hermione.

"It's never too early for Charms, Mister Weasley," pointed out Flitwick with a smile. Ron paled and put his head down on the desk, ignoring the titters from Lavender and Parvati. "Now don't fall asleep Mister Weasley, you might miss what we're learning today."

"Yes, sir," came the muffled reply. Flitwick shook his head.

"Now class, today we'll be continuing our work on Household Charms. This week, we'll be studying the Simulacra Movete. Who can tell me what the charm does? Yes, Miss Granger?" he asked as Hermione's hand shot up, knocking Harry's glasses askew.

"The Simulacra Movete is a charm used to make Muggle pictures and photographs move in the same way that Wizard ones do," she responded promptly, in textbook fashion.

"Oh excellent, Miss Granger. Ten points to Gryffindor!" Flitwick's voice squeaked as he clapped his hands. "I see you've been doing your homework!"

Ron's head lifted slightly. "Homework? We had homework?" he whispered, panicked. Hermione shook her head. "No, but pay attention."

"Why? We can just copy off you," he grumbled, sitting up and staring blankly as Flitwick rambled about the various Household Charms that they had already learnt, and which were likely to pop up in the exam.

"Mister Potter." Harry started as Flitwick teetered dangerously on his pile of books to gaze sternly at him. "Can you give me an outline of the history of the Simulacra Movete?"

Harry stared back. "Um..." he started, stalling for time.

"Then I do suggest you listen," squeaked Flitwick again. "Mister Goldstein?"

"The Simulacra Movete was created in 1956 by a Hufflepuff here at Hogwarts," replied Anthony Goldstein eagerly, reminding Harry of Ernie Macmillan in the way he stuck his chest out and assumed a rather pompous air. "Helen Lowe was a Muggleborn witch in her seventh year. She wished to make the pictures of her Muggle family move without having to buy a Wizard camera, as at the time they were extremely expensive. She decided to create a simple spell for the Muggleborn students of Hogwarts to use instead of them having to pay for a camera. The Simulacra Movete, once completed, was a tad more complex than she had intended and so only students in the sixth and seventh year had the magical ability to cast it. Helen Lowe has been recorded in Hogwarts: A History as one of the smartest witches ever seen at Hogwarts, along with Andromeda Black, Lily Evans, and just recently, Hermione Granger."