While on her way to the staff room, Hermione, the newest professor to join the esteemed faculty at Hogwarts, heard raised voices coming from within. Ever curious, she paused at the entrance to the room, straining to listen.
"This is ridiculous!" shouted a voice that unmistakably belonged to the usually calm and soft-spoken Filius Flitwick.
"Calm down, for heaven's sake. Shouting isn't getting us anywhere," said a quiet voice, which, presumably had done the trick.
"You know what needs to be done, so stop acting like it is impossible and get on with it," a silky voice purred, "That is, if you aren't afraid?"
Afraid of what, Hermione had no idea, but she was getting more and more intrigued by the minute. It seemed that whatever was being discussed, the Head of Slytherin was there, too.
"You'd have to be subtle; no big gestures, and no getting caught. Just a few points, here and there," the voice went on to say.
'Points?' thought Hermione, 'the only points that I can think of are House points, unless this is some teaching thing that I have yet to learn?' Deciding that it may be awkward to be seen potentially spying on her new colleagues, Hermione disguised herself and put up a few subtle wards.
"Perhaps we should decide who to favour? Otherwise the effect won't be as noticeable," a small voice piped up. Hermione was sure that that was Miranda Vector, which surprised her.
"Yes, good idea," stated Filius, the voice moving further away from the door, growing faint, "We need to throw suspicion off the other Houses. I suggest Hufflepuff; she'd never expect that."
"Seconded!" yet another voice piped up. Now Hermione was really curious. Who? Who would never suspect whatever it was?
"As long as-" the rest of the sentence was cut short however, as a large crash was heard down the corridor, with the effect of emptying the aforementioned staff room. Hermione shrunk back against the wall opposite the door, so as not to bump into anyone inadvertently.
When the rest of the teachers had gone, no doubt to their respective classrooms in preparation for the year ahead, one stayed behind.
"Professor Granger, what a pleasure it is to," here Severus paused for dramatic effect, "see you here."
Hermione reluctantly removed the charms, making her once again visible. "The pleasure is all mine, I assure you," she stated, with an air of someone who was not just eavesdropping on a conversation that she was sure she should not have heard.
"You'll not repeat what you may have heard tonight- to anyone, understand? We have waited too long for this perfect opportunity, and I'll not have you mess it up," Severus stated in a low voice. The only problem with this was that the velveteen voice used was distracting Hermione from listening to the words used. He could have been asking her to colour her hair green and run around Hogwarts shouting 'Slytherins do it better!' for all she cared, and she still would have agreed to do it. Luckily for Hermione, however, Severus had yet to discover that little secret.
"What is in it for me?" Hermione asked, ever hopeful that he would take the bait.
"Are you blackmailing me, Miss Granger?" Severus asked, a little surprised; he wasn't sure that he had anything worthwhile to offer the young witch, and he didn't want her to go mouthing off to Minerva that the other teachers were plotting the Gryffindor downfall by fixing the points. It would spoil all his fun and the hard work that he had done in trying to convince the others that it was a good idea. Gryffindor losing out to Hufflepuff was a particularly amusing idea, and he couldn't wait to see Minerva's face when it happened.
"That all depends," said Hermione, with a small smile.
"On what?" Severus asked, not trusting the look that Hermione was wearing.
"On whether I can join in!"