Learning How To Talk

~Chapter 7; Just So Different~

The four now sit in their first class. Holly watches in amazement as the teacher explains what exactly 'transfiguration' is. Her eyes light up more when 'Professor McGonagall' turns herself into a cat! Holly turns to her left, where Draco is sitting right beside her as if to ask, 'Did you see that too? ' He quietly chuckles, "She's an animagus, that means she can turn into a cat whenever she wants to." Holly looks even more amazed. 

They have been given their assignment: research and write what "transfiguration" is. Holly spends her time watching Draco write and looking at the pictures in her books. Suddenly, the door creaks open, and the red head from yesterday walks in, "Oh, thank goodness Professor McGonagall isn't here yet!" He breathes. The cat jumps off McGonagall's desk, and before she hits the ground, the cat becomes their teacher. "Maybe it would be more effective to turn you into a pocket watch." The redhead looks mortified before stuttering out, "I got lost!" The teacher smiles, "Ah, well, maybe a map." She turns on her heel before saying, "Please take a seat, Mr. Weasley." The boy looks around before sitting beside the bushy-haired girl from the train. Draco grabs Holly's hand, in turn grabbing her attention. "Do... do you want to learn how to read and write?" He whispers, his blue-grey eyes staring at her hopeful green eyes. She nods quickly, causing the boy to smile. "Okay, I'll teach you!" Holly's smile widens as she watches Draco work. 

Before they knew it, class was over, and McGonagall was dismissing students. "Hurry to your next class. Don't be late." She walks over to Holly and Draco as they pack up their books. "Ms. Potter, please stay back. I need to speak with you." Draco gives Holly a sympathetic look. "I'll be outside, I won't leave you, I promise." He whispers to her reassuringly. She nods, watching him walk out of the room and close the door. 

"Ms. Potter," Professor McGonagall begins, "I noticed that while you were meant to be working, you just flipped through your book and watched Mr. Malfoy work. Do you have any reason for this?" Holly wishes Draco would walk into the room and explain. She thinks long and hard for a minute. Holly takes a deep breath, "No... red." McGonagall gives her a shocked but confused look. "No read?" She repeats. Holly nods before shrugging her shoulders, trying to convey she doesn't know how to. "Do you not know how to read?" Her professor asks softly. Holly smiles and nods, happy she had communicated well enough. "Is that what Mr. Malfoy had whispered about?" Another nod from the small girl, "Okay, you are excused... thank you. I'll inform your next professor that you were with me, come along." The kind-eyed women look deep in thought as she walks Holly down to her potion class.

She was so deep in thought that she didn't even notice the blond who began to walk alongside them all the way to the dungeons. When they reach Snape's classroom door, McGonagall stops and takes a breath. She then opens the door slowly, "Professor Snape, can you spare a moment?" Holly doesn't hear a response, but the sound of tapping shoes growing closer makes her heart race. 'Am I in trouble?' Draco grabs Holly's hand when he notices the distressed look on her face. "What is it, Minerva?" He questions, his eyes looking at the two kids beside her. "Ms. Potter was with me, and as her Head of House, I have some concerns you should know." Snape opens his classroom door, "You two go inside while we talk. Find your seats." Holly waves to McGonagall before following behind Draco.

Luckily for them, Pansy and Blaise had saved them seats beside each other. The two take a seat and grab out parchment, ink, and their quills. "While we're waiting, do you want to learn to write your name?" Holly nods, holding onto her Quill, very uncomfortably. "Here, try holding it like this," he adjusts her hand placement gently. Pansy and blase are turned in their chairs, watching with confusion on their faces. They are quiet while Draco slides Holly's parchment in between the two of them.

 "Okay, the first letter is 'H'," he writes an H on the parchment, making sure to go slow so Holly can watch his movement. Her H is shaky, the quill feeling foreign in her hands. Her lips curve into a smile as she looks at the messy letter. "O" Draco writes, Holly has fun with writing this letter, the round shape bringing an even bigger smile to her face. Draco smiles at her, "l" she finds this one easy, all she does is draw a line down. Her tongue sticks out in concentration, "l" she looks at him, confused. 'We did that one?' She asks with her eyes. Draco chuckles, "There are two ls in Holly." Holly nods, still kind of confused but trusting Draco not to do her wrong, "y" he makes sure to draw the letter extra slow, so Holly understands how to make it. She does it, but it looks more like a T with a tail.