"How old is he?"
"Does he talk?"
"Can he walk yet? My brothers two and he can walk."
"What's he eat? People food?"
Hermione looked at her students with curiosity as they surrounded her and Louis, now three, as class was beginning. "Yes, he's a person." She explained with clarity, shifting him on her hip. "Settle down please, take your seats." The first years backed off, taking their seats at their desks. Hermione places her son on her desk, and he smiled at the crowd. "Louis turned three last week, he's all grown up, or so he says."
Hermione smiles lovingly at the boy as she shed her scarf and cloak, as well as his hat and jacket. "Yeah!" He agreed with a resounding cheer, causing the class to laugh.
"He knows more French than English, however. That's neither here nor there." She admitted with a sigh, grabbing her wand and beginning to write on the board. "He can walk, but he's rotten spoiled, and doesn't do very much of it." A student raised his hand, "Yes, Clyde?"
"How come he's with you and not Professor Delacour?"
Hermione sighed, "Safer environment. We don't throw spells around here as we would in Charms class, though on some occasions it's the other way around." She explained, this being the second year in a row they'd been bringing Louis to their classrooms, as they had nobody else to watch him during school hours. "My only word of caution is to be careful where you aim your wand. He's curious, and can pop out of nowhere." That earned a laugh, which died down when Hermione showed she was serious.
"Alright, wands out." She instructed, sitting at her desk. Louis crawled over to her and climbed down into her lap, where she kissed the top of his head as he sat down. The students took out their wands, and a hamster appeared in front of each student. There was an outbreak of excited chatter. "Does anybody know what these are?" She asked, and Louis reached forward to pet the small rodent with a smile. A student raised his hand. "Ms. Godfrey?"
"It's a rat."
"Have you ever seen a rat?" One of the boys piped up, confused.
"He's right, that's not a rat." Hermione agreed, shaking her head in exhaustion. "Perhaps somebody who comes from Muggle living?" She asked hopefully, and another hand popped up.
"That's a hamster. They're like, pets. For kids and lonely people." The boy explained to his peers, and Hermione nodded.
"That's right, Curtis. Five points to Slytherin." Hermione praised, and Curtis looked proud of himself. "We're going to be turning these hamsters into plates." There was a round of protest from the first years, as well as Louis from his mothers lap. "You can have this one, love." She assured him handing the hamster off to the child. Another appeared in its place. Louis took his place back on the desk, beginning to get acquainted with his new friend.
"Once we've done that; which will mostly take up our time, it is up to you to reverse the curse. That will be your homework. If you can't do it, you'll work until you can. If you can, well, you get a hamster." That seemed to appease the crowd, as the students began to name their respected hamsters already. Hermione began to teach the enchantment, making sure they understood to pronounce each word properly. After a moment, her own hamster was a shiny blue plate on the desk as the students watched in awe.
"Mama, je veux descendre." Louis piped up, looking down at the ground. Hermione stood and lifted him from the desk, setting him on the ground all the while Louis holding his hamster close. The toddler waddled towards the students, showing off his new pet. "Look!" He squeaked happily, lifting the rodent proudly to their faces. Hermione giggled at this, before she heard a knock at the door.
"Is this a bad time?" Standing tall and beautiful was Fleur, rosy cheeked and smiling. Hermione's face lit up even more and she ushered her wife inside the classroom. "I'm here to pick up the little monster." She snickered; and some of the boys in the audience whispered "whoa," when he caught sight of her. Hermione gave her wife a small peck on the lips, giggling in response.
"He's having fun showing off his new hamster," Hermione pointed out, motioning towards the young boy.
"Petit Chevalier!" The blonde woman called after her son, drawing his attention up to her with wife eyes.
"Maman!" The little boy called out happily, trotting over and holding his hamster out for her to see. Fleur, a bit wary of rodents, gave a half hearted smile, nodding. "Her name is Gabrielle." He stated proudly, as if he were doing his older aunt great justice. But that made Fleur giggle, and she picked him up, kissing his face lovingly.
"I thought you had a meeting," Hermione interrupted lightly, smoothing back her sons hair as she watched her students to make sure they were focused on the assignment at hand.
"Cut short, Minerva was called to Ministry." Fleur said in a hushed tone, "Keep this where I can see it, my love." She instructed Louis lightly; referring to the hamster as Louis was playing with it. She snapped her fingers and a cage appeared, some students watching and being amazed. "Here," she helped the toddler usher the animal inside.
"Did she say why?" Hermione asked, slightly concerned. Fleur shook her head, shrugging. "You'd better get him outside, then, we can get his nap in around lunch." She suggested, giving her wife one last peck before she had to leave.
"I'll see you then," Fleur nodded, smiling. "Say bye!" She cooed at Louis, balancing him on her hip. The boy waved eagerly, blowing a kiss to his mother before resting his head on her shoulder, crate in hand. The pair exited, leaving Hermione to her work.
"She's pretty," one of the boys blurted in a high pitched tone, and Hermione nodded knowingly.
"Comments like that are why I'm teaching and you're learning." She teased with a chuckle, all in good fun.