The Teachers
Disclaimer:
Nothing belongs to me, everything to J.K. Rowling. I just play with the figures… And no, I don’t make money with stories like this.
I had forgotten to tell you that all the seventh years are of age because they were not going to school while Voldemort wasn’t defeated.
How do you pick up threads of an old life? How do you go on, when in your heart, you begin to understand, there is no going back? There are some things that time can not mend. Some hurts that go too deep… that have taken hold.
The Lord of the Rings - The Return of the King
Hermione, Harry and Ron entered the Great Hall together. Soon, they lost each other in the crowd and Hermione had the time to think about everything and nothing. She was so lost in her thoughts that she didn’t pay attention to the curious glances shot her way. Some Pupils who hadn’t seen her as often as others were confused by seeing a new student in Hogwarts and wondered who the new girl could be.
Hermione found her place between Ron and Harry, as usual who were occupying the best seats on the Gryffindor table. They were sitting face to face with fellow Seventh Seamus Finnegan and Dean Thomas
“Hey you two,” Hermione nodded and smiled before turning around to talk to Ginny who was also sitting nearby.
“Hermione! how does it feel to be Head Girl? How was your journey? I didn’t see you on the train. Oh, and who’s Head Boy?”
The questions always bubbled out from Ginny and Hermione had to decide with no difficulty which question she should answer first.
“If you’re going to believe it or not, Ernie MacMillan- from Hufflepluff, you know? He’s Head Boy. Merlin, I’m so glad it’s Ernie and not someone like Malfoy. The thought alone is awful. He would completely abuse his power, and be terrible to everyone he doesn’t like. Especially Harry and Ron. It’s better this way.”
Hermione and Ron exchanged a look, both thinking of a small incident with Draco Malfoy and Blaise Zabini who had both remained prefects. Malfoy had stood directly in Hermione’s way, while she was patrolling the train. He had insulted her as usual, which was nothing special, while Zabini simply leaned against one of the train walls. That wouldn’t have been something to get headaches about but as Hermione just turned around to enter another compartment, Draco had deliberately touched her arse.
Hermione had turned around slowly and slapped Draco directly in the face. Hermione was very sure he wouldn’t forget it for the rest of his life; the second time she had slapped him. And her fingerprints looked extremely nice, red on his pale cheek. But before she had been able to say something, Ron had emerged and had understood immediately that Malfoy was being his usual prattish self, probably worse than usual because Hermione had looked so furious and thoughtlessly charged at Draco.
Only with great trouble had Hermione and Blaise been able to get the two fighters apart. Hermione was still surprised, wondering why the quiet, handsome Slytherin had helped her. He could easily have stood by and watched his best friend fight someone they both disliked but he had helped her to separate the two.
What Hermione had not noted, however, was the look which Blaise Zabini had thrown back at her and Ron. His dark eyes had glittered with an unidentifiable emotion and his lips had been lifted to a rare and hardly visible smile.
“No more trouble than usual, Malfoy was a prat but that’s nothing new. Nothing to worry about, Ginny.”
The first years were separated and every Gryffindor was happy that they got so many new members, as it was a small house. Bravery, courage and honour weren’t dead in the wizard society; but neither were craftiness and spite which meant that nearly as many first years as in Gryffindor were placed in Slytherin- although the largest houses were Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff.
Hermione went quiet when Professor Dumbledore clapped his hands for silence.
“To our returning pupils, welcome back to Hogwarts for a new school year. To all our First Years- good luck- I wish you the greatest success and happiness. I hope your heads will be filled with knowledge and your hearts with friendship. Before we start our feast I shall introduce our Heads for this year; Ernie Macmillan from Hufflepuff and Hermione Granger from Gryffindor!”
There was a moment of silence whilst all eyes were turned towards the Gryffindor and Hufflepuff tables. Then everyone was applauding, except the Slytherins. Some of the first years started to clap their hands but were silenced by the older pupils. Slytherins did not clap their hand for an unworthy Hufflepuff and the Gryffindor Mudblood from the Golden Trio.
Eventually the Great Hall became quiet once more and Dumbledore continued with his speech.
“I have to announce a few changes according your teachers. Some of you may remember rour new flying teacher and referee for the next Quidditch season but nevertheless I wish to officially introduce Professor Oliver Wood.”
Oliver Wood entered the Great Hall and the whole Gryffindor table cheered loudly. His cheeks were a little rose and he seemed to be slightly uncomfortable with such a large audience. He took his seat on the teacher table and looked down. He was very nervous because he feared that some of the students wouldn’t take him seriously enough. He had been, after all, friends with some of them.
Everyone became quiet as Dumbledore held up his hands to quieten the hall once more. Two seats were empty and the pupils were very curious who was still missing.
“Professor Lupin is returning to be your teacher for Defence against the Dark Arts- he”
The cheering grew even louder than before because now even the Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs were cheering with them. A smiling Remus Lupin entered the Great Hall and he was looked over at Harry, Ron and Hermione. They had often met during the previous summer but Remus had not told them anything, wanting to keep it a surprise.
“Silence, please. I have another surprise for you. Everyone who is over 15 may take part in a special class where you learn to become an Animagi if they gain a nomination from Professor McGonagall. Although I must warn you, this will be extremely hard.
The great Hall went totally silent. Over hundreds of eyes were directed at a smiling Dumbledore. Just a few saw that the door began to open a third time and very few noticed a grinning Sirius Black set foot in the Great Hall of Hogwarts until loud cheers broke out once more from the Gryffindors, who were nearest the door.
Sirius, at last with his name cleared, walked proudly through the hall and searched for his godson. He saw a few nice looking girls who were watching him closely and took a moment to eye them up, but quickly passed on to seek out his newly adopted son. He soon found Harry between Ron and vaguely familiar an extremely attractive girl. Who was that? It wasn’t until he was much closer that he recognised Hermione. Lost in his thoughts he took his place next to Remus.
“This can’t be true!” exclaimed Harry who wasn’t quite able to believe that his godfather was going to teach him how to become an Animagi.
“Why didn’t they tell us? They must have found out ages ago.”
“Harry, relax. Perhaps they just wanted to surprise us.” Hermione’s words calmed him and they quietly began the great feast.
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This was the second chapter and I hope you liked it.... There isn’t so much action but I had to tell you some facts due to the change of teachers. The next chapter is definitely going to be more fun!
And maybe I will tell you why Draco was acting so differently on the train….
If you have got some ideas or criticisms please tell me. I would really, really appreciate reviews and I promise to answer each and every question.
I like my readers to decide what is going to happen to Hermione and the guys in her life so it is partly your decision what is going to happen. Which lesson should come first? Feel free to tell me what you think should happen….
