Chapter Two - A New Dawn At Hogwarts
Like every year the sight of the great hall was a welcome relief to Hermione, she now could feel at peace knowing she had a full year of studying ahead of her; the prospect always made her feel like a eleven year old girl again. She and the rest of them sat down at the Ravenclaw table, and immediately looked up to the staff table
"I think that's the new teacher" Lisa said, not sounding that enthusiastic and Hermione turned to look and couldn't help but feel slightly disappointed herself; sat at the table was a small woman who had a wide face which resembled a toad, she was dressed completely in pink and had a large bow perched on top her hair. "Well, I think its too early to be judging her, I mean look at all the other teachers we've had, all have been unorthodox but they've all turned out okay haven't they" Hermione spoke out trying to quash her own concerns about the new teacher, but she was a teacher and Hermione was a prefect - that's right, she wore the badge proudly on her robes, the teachers had actually given her this honour and she was going to do everything in her ability to prove that she deserved it. She looked over at the other tables; where Sytherin prefects Draco Malfoy and Pansy Parkinson where sitting together, as were Hufflepuff prefects Ernie McMillian and Hannah Abbot. The Gryffindor prefects however were sat apart, Pavarti Patil was sat talking to Lavender Brown while down the table Ronald Weasley was talking to Harry Potter in what seemed like hushed whispers, she noticed both were looking at the new teacher with a look of great distaste. She looked down her own table to see Michael Corner talking to Terry.
It just after Dumbledore stood up that it happened, the new teacher who was indeed the new Defence Against The Dark Arts teacher, stood up and actually interrupted the speech; Lisa seemed to on the verge of laughter, Padma was shocked and Hermione herself couldn't help but feel a little shocked, no one ever interrupted Dumbledore. Twenty seconds into the speech and people began to talk over her, which Hermione found incredibly rude; her first day on the job and this is the respect she gets of her students, at least the prefects were listening she thought smugly, however she then noticed she was the only prefect actually listening; Ronald and Ernie seemed to be trying, but both looked like they had recently learned to sleep with their eyes open. Hermione couldn't help but feel abit worried about her words, it almost sounded like the Ministry were taking over Hogwarts; but then she reminded herself they would never do that, Hogwarts was perfect as it was and the government had no reason to get involved.
"Hermione, are you sure those md3 things you told me about don't work in here?" Lisa asked
"Mp3 Lisa, and no, no electrical devices can work at Hogwarts" Hermione smiled back, she loved imparting her knowledge to other people. The speech ended and Hermione quickly began to clap as the new teacher sat back down.
"Not the exciting start I had in mind" she heard Terry say as Michael muttered in agreement, and then Dumbledore excused everyone, and with that Hermione jumped to her feet "first years with me, follow me to common room" she said jumping to her feet, she saw the other prefects follow suit, all expect Ronald who seemed to be more interested in talking to Harry than doing his duties. Honestly.
"Keep up, just follow us" Michael smiled as he spoke to the first years, and Hermione couldn't help but feel happy, as her and Michael guided the new Ravenclaw students through the halls of Hogwarts for the first time.
"Watch the staircases, they like to change" Hermione informed them, smiling at the memory of receiving the same information herself, and before she knew it they arrived at the common room, and her and Michael both turned to the first years "now this is the entrance to the Ravenclaw Common room, unlike the other common rooms which require a password, ours highlights our wisdom, and asks us a question, only by giving the right answer can you gain access to the room" Hermione smiled to the first years, before turning to Michael who began to speak "now if you get your question wrong, you don't get a second chance so someone else has to come along and let you in, but you don't have to worry, the year you are and in thus your stage in the magical education, so it will only ask questions which you should know the answer to, given that you listen in class" he smiled Hermione was sure she saw some of a girls smile back, something which she found incredibly humours. Hermione turned to the entrance which spoke "Name on exception to Gwamp's law of Transfiguration" and Hermione smiled, she knew this "Food" she said loud, clear and smugly.
Hermione and Michael lead the first years into the common room, and to their respective dormitory's, they said goodnight to each headed to her own dormitories, as she walked up the staircase she could hear Lisa and Padma talking through the door
"So what about you and Ron anyway?" she heard Lisa ask
"Nothing, I mean he was really sweet at the Yule Ball, nervous and shy but it worked for him, but he just wasn't my type" Padma replied "plus, why would anyone want Ron when Harry's right next to him" and Hermione couldn't help but feel a twinge of annoyance at those words, she was about to enter the room when she heard Lisa's reply "I don't know, I mean Harry may be famous and all, but Ron's a lot more handsome, and I've heard he's really funny" Lisa spoke, and with that Hermione walked into the room.
"Hey Hermione, how was prefect duty with Michael?" Padma asked, a small twinkle in her eyes, she noticed a slight smirk on Lisa's face.
"It was okay" Hermione answered, before quickly changing the subject "so what do you think of Umbridge?" she asked, and Padma and Lisa both seemed to share the same opinion as her; they would give her a chance, but they weren't getting their hopes up.
A/N: So what you think?, you like the Ravenclaw Characters?, what about Hermione without the influence of Ron and Harry?, let me know what you think in your lovely reviews. *warning shameless advertising alert* also if you get the time, check out my other Potter fics.
Next Chapter: Umbridge's lesson and aftermath.