My dear fans of Potter-romances (which I assume you are;))! This is my first Polish-English fanfiction translation. The story is originally written by myself and it's still in progress - at this moment it has 9 chapters and I really don't know how many of them I'll write.
I am particularly grateful to my Beta - eyechange. I think my English is good enough to write stories for fun, but still I wouldn't dare to publish it without your help, so again, thank you! :)
"As you undoubtedly know, I was acting under the Imperious curse and the Ministry of Magic has cleared me of all the charges - although I underline this fact, in case anyone in this classroom had doubts. I underline it for the first and the last time." Lucius Malfoy paused and slowly looked around the class with cold, haughty look. "I will also say it once and I won't repeat myself, I require from you absolute esteem, and all manifestations of disrespect will entail consequences. I demand silence and focus as well as scrupulous work which means everything that, as your teacher, I have right and duty to demand."
Seven-year Gryffindors and Ravenclaws were observing each and every move of ex-Death Eater, focused, not daring to disrupt his speech with any single swish. Most of them felt quite an aversion for him and hardly anyone believed in an Imperious story, but they couldn't deny a fact that Malfoy himself did arouse respect, especially with his calm, self-possessed voice. He also must have had unusually wide knowledge on the field of the subject he was now teaching - defence against the dark arts - for he stayed at the side of the wizard, who crossed the lines of dark magic so far, than any of his predecessors ever did. So they had to respect the Headmaster's (Professor McGonagall's) choice and as well as her trust, that they will not become victims of any particularly nasty, dark-magic charm.
"For the last seven years defence against the dark arts professors have been changing every year" Lucius continued "and some of them may have left some knowledge in your heads, other however, do not hide it" he allowed himself a small, barely noticeable, mocking smile "were pathetic imitations of the teachers."
"And you, surely, think you're better" Hermione Granger muttered under her breath.
The witch, whose name was now almost as known as 'Harry Potter', decided, unlike her famous friend, to finish Hogwarts. She could have got any job she wanted - for example as an auror, like Harry. Also, she could have rest on her laurels, because the prize they get from the ministry of magic, for all the amazing acts they did to rescue the world of magic, was so high, she could live for long years, not worrying about money. This was the way of Ron Weasley's choice, who, absolutely in love with Gabrielle Delacour, moved to France.
"Ooh zat is so nice!" Fleur, Gabrielle's sister and Bill Weasley's wife, was beside herself with joy, speaking with this irritating, French accent. "Our familees will again be connecteed by a marriage!"
However for Hermione education was one of the basic values, so she couldn't imagine not finishing her school, regardless of any circumstances. Besides that fact, the walls of Hogwart's felt familiar and safe, and after all those events, she just wanted to bury herself in the library, surrounded by the scent of parchment, giving herself up to beloved activity - reading. Because books were something she loved above everything else.
Once she also thought she loved Ron. However this illusion passed quickly, as she realised that her red-haired friend was definitely a good material for a friend exactly. And only a friend.
He, anyway, also thought it over and his lust for sweet and lovely, blond-haired girls won. He decided, that he needs - as he told Harry - one hundred percent woman, not a walking encyclopaedia. Those words though, weren't supposed to reach Hermione's ears, but reached them and hurt her. Not because she cared about him. He was her past. The words hurt, because suddenly she realised, that she's perceived through her intelligence, but it veils her feminity.
"Will I always be "Miss Smart", "Know-It-All", a girl whose place is library?" she wept on Luna Lovegood's shoulder, her new classmate. Express Hogwart's train was rocking rhythmically, while Luna was stroking her friends back, trying to comfort her.
"Don't worry, look, I will always be called Loony" she said with her dreamy voice, full of optimism and melancholy at the same time.
This year however, Hermione's beauty was supposed to be noticed, though at the moment, sitting on her uncomfortable, wooden chair, in well-known defence against the dark arts classroom and complaining under her breath about Professor Malfoy, she hadn't knew it yet.
"Haven't I asked for silence?" grey eyes turned to Hermione, who felt silent, although she was staring at him defiantly. "Are you asking for a detention?" his voice was like a snake's hiss.
"But Professor, she hasn't done anything wrong!" her friend Ginny threw a word, to defend her.
"Perhaps you, Miss Weasley, can't hear well enough, but I do. So please do not act like a devil's advocate, unless you would like to get a detention too. This time I won't mind and only sum up your insolence by five points from Gryffindor." everyone in the classroom went silent again. They understood that showing disrespect is not for Malfoy's lessons. Now everyone was listening carefully his next words.
"I've done some research about your lack of knowledge. Last year was basically wasted; you didn't go through nonverbal spells and several very useful anti-charms. The most useless for you were lessons with professor..." the word 'professor' Malfoy said with a bit of disgust "Umbridge." Yes, everyone remembered that awful witch, always dressed pink, who forbid them to use wands during her classes. However they thought that such a person as Lucius Malfoy will support such a loathsome creature, so his aversion was quite a positive surprise. "This is your last year here" he continued "the N.E.W.T.'s ahead of you and it will be a summary of your knowledge and skills you've gained for all these years, from the day you've entered this castle for the first time. During the first semester we will go through all the things that your previous teachers missed, while next we'll be repeating the material. Your knowledge will be checked systematically. Is everything clear and are there any questions?"
"Yes" Hermione suddenly answered, who was almost boiling with anger, since she has seen who's going to teach them defence against the dark arts and now she flew into rage "I wonder whether you imagine yourself, sir, going through the same path, that once followed Tom Riddle?" she asked with vicious voice. "At last we all know that he wanted to teach in Hogwarts too. As well as I know, it was also defence against...
"Silence" the Professor interrupted her "you have just received a month detention, for groundless accusations. I want to see you every Friday 5 p.m., in my office." If the eyes could kill, Lucius would certainly fall at the floor dead under the look of Miss Granger. They were looking at each other's eyes for a few seconds, than Hermione stood up, hang her bag over her shoulder, took a thick book, titled "Practical Defensive Magic, Vol.7" and with a snort she left the classroom. On the corridor she rushed into Professor Minerva McGonagall.
"What is the meaning of this, Miss Granger?" she cried out with outrage, picking up her glasses that fell on the floor, when she collapsed with Hermione.
"Oculus reparo" muttered Hermione with apologising voice, pointing her wand to broken glasses. "Headmaster, I think I will not attend defence against the dark arts classes' anymore." she announced, although her voice wasn't as firm as she wanted. She fell silent under the strict look.
"Miss Granger, defence against the dark arts is one of your obligatory subjects. You have to attend these classes, if you want to finish Hogwarts. I realised that you've done amazing things for the world of wizards and of course I appreciate them. Nevertheless, if you decided to go back to school, don't expect I will treat you differently. You've made up your mind to return and subject to the principles of our school, therefore I have no other option, but to be as consequent with you, as with anyone else." Minerva was filling everyone with such awe, like any other Hogwarts's teachers. She wasn't someone to argue with. But Hermione tried, desperately, for the one last time.
"But Malfoy?" she cried miserably "Him, a teacher? Why?"
"Do not question my decisions, please" the Headmaster answered sharply. However, after a while, she softened her voice, when she noticed, that Hermione is not willing to argue anymore, but only wants to find out, what was the reason of this choice for defence against the dark arts teacher. "Hermione, after seven years, while the teachers were changing year by year and some of them even lost their lives, there weren't many candidates for this position. Malfoy seems to be a controversial choice, but his knowledge about the subject he teaches is wide."
"I have no doubts" muttered Hermione, however she didn't look like convinced.
"I expect you to treat him with esteem, the teacher deserves, despite of your personal opinion about him" McGonagall went back to her peremptory tone of voice. "If you behave improperly, he has the right to take points from Gryffindor, if he punishes you with detention; you have the duty to appear in his office on time. You don't have to be a student of this school, but since you've decided to be, obey the rules. This is my last word."
"Yes, professor" replied Hermione politely.
"And now, go back to your class. I'll go with you, I've got to have a word with Lucius." then she turned, and went to the class, Hermione following her.
Rest of the lesson Hermione spent silently, her pride feeling hurt. Professor Malfoy, surprisingly didn't try to humiliate her, quite the contrary, he treated everyone very fairly, appreciating their knowledge and skills. He even gave Gryffindor two points for her properly cast spell and another two for Ginny's spell, however they lost them, for Colin Creevey accidentally set on fire the blackboard eraser.
I'll be really thankful for any reviews, it is always the best motivation to write, when you know, that someone reads it :)