Hermione woke with a start in unfamiliar quarters. She quickly reached for her wand and illuminated the room. When her rapid heartbeat slowed she realized she was in her new quarters. The transfiguration quarters at Hogwarts. Her new home. She looked around at the Victorian style furniture, trying to familiarize herself with the space before she got up and walked around, bumping into something.
She wasn't surprised that her dream last night was a very intense nightmare about the final battle considering this was the first time she had spent the night in the castle since that night. She wiped the sweat off of her wrinkled brow with the back of the sleeve of her nightgown.
Lighting the fire and illuminating the torches in her bedroom, she began to ready herself for the day. Today was the day that the students of Hogwarts would be arriving. She was nervous and excited. She was ready to begin her job.
Donning for the first time her teaching robes, Hermione felt a rush of importance and excitement. She fashioned her bushy brown hair into a neat chignon at the back of her head with a few face framing pieces with the help of a little magic. She glanced at herself in the mirror and left the room.
She had slept in later than intended but still had time to grab breakfast in the great hall with the rest of the staff to discuss how the opening feast would go. She hurried down the halls, hoping she wouldn't be late. The clicking of her boots echoed loudly as she hurried down the corridor.
Finally she made it to the great hall. The food was set up at the Hufflepuff table where all of the teachers were sitting.
"Sorry I'm late." she said apologetically. At the same time Minerva's voice said it was no matter and she was only two minutes late, a deep sardonic voice rang out.
"You would do well to avoid tardiness from now on Ms. Granger." Snape said. Hermione felt threatened but decided to reply to him.
"It won't happen again. Please. Call me Hermione." she requested of Snape, knowing it would get under his skin. His face remained expressionless. It seemed he was not going to dignify that with a response.
"Okay. Let's begin." McGonagall said, moving on "Severus will chaperone the first years. I need two of you to keep an eye on the older students getting into the carriages and one to ensure that the train is empty. Any volunteers?"
"I'll watch the older students." Hermione offered helpfully.
"So will I" Martin Marvel, the new defense against the dark arts teacher said.
"I'll take care of the train." Flitwick called out.
"Thank you all." Minerva said with a smile. "Now onto my favorite part...food suggestions."
The staff chatted happily for a few moments about what types of food they would like to see at the feast then they all ate. There was some playful exchange of tips for the new teachers at the table.
Hermione listened and laughed and at the end of the meal was in a very good mood. As everyone began to leave the table she heard Snape's voice directed at her again.
"Hermione. A moment." unlike her, Severus had no issue warming up to new names. It sounded very fluid on his tongue.
"Yes?" she asked, once all of the teachers were out of earshot.
"You will inevitably get some animal mistransfigurations from your students during your course. I have been studying some of the ones Minerva's classes have produced and some have potential as potions ingredients. If they don't die immediately I was wondering if you could give them to me." he said.
"I wouldn't mind at all." she answered.
"Thank you." he said and walked out. Hermione watched him and marveled that he would have thought to utilize such different methods.
-x-
Before she knew it, Hermione was outside by the train station, listening to the chatter of Fillius and the noises of the approaching train. The Hogwarts Express brought some very valuable cargo. Hermione was elated about meeting some of her students. The fifth, sixth, and seventh years were in Hogwarts when she was too, but she didn't remember any of them. She hoped she would learn all of the student's names quickly.
As the black engine pulled up to the platform, the teachers became very alert. The doors opened an students began to pour out. Hermione felt very young for a moment when she saw faces of seventh years that were only a few years younger than her. Then she looked down, saw her robes and remembered that she was a teacher and the head of the Gryffindor house.
"Second through seventh years this way!" she called loudly. A steady stream of students headed towards the carriages. She yelled it several more times then when the students were cleared, she got on one of the carriages. She felt a chill go down her spine every time she looked at the threstals. She remembered Luna and Harry discussing them and herself insisting that the carriages pulled themselves. It was amazing how things changed.
Once the students were shepherded into The Great Hall, Hermione took a seat at the head table, next to am empty chair that belonged to Snape. She realized she would besieging by him all year and oddly wasn't upset about it. She liked something about the man and didn't mind spending time with him.
Snape on the other hand was busy scaring the first years. It wasn't really on purpose. He just gave off an intimidating aura and the young students easily picked up on it. He heard them telling horribly incorrect stories to one another that they had heard from their siblings or friends. He interrupted a particularly interesting tale about how if you didn't pick up your clothes you would turn into a house elf to tell them about the houses.
"There are four houses at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. They were named after the four founders. Godric Gryffindor, Rowena Ravenclaw, Helga Hufflepuff, and Salazar Slytherin. Your house is your family. You will be sorted into your houses momentarily. I will see if they are ready for you. Stay. Here." his silky vice enunciated the last two words as he slid through the doors to the great hall.
Hermione was only one of many people who noticed the doors open. Severus walked up to the table and Hermione could hear what was said between the Headmistress and Deputy Headmaster.
"a particularly dunderheaded bunch." the potions master said quietly.
"Severus!" Minerva scolded. "Bring them in." the tall man nodded and walked out.
All of a sudden the doors opened and many timid looking first years walked in, eyes wide, staring at the enchanted ceiling. They stood together in a group before the staff table. Hermione smiled down at them, trying to soothe their nerves as much as possible.
"You will be sorted when I call your names." Snape said, retrieving a scroll from a pocket within his robes "Arkinson, Patricia"
Patricia Arkinson walked up to the stool while Snape held up the sorting hat. Patricia turned out to be a Slytherin. The sorting passed quickly, there were not a whole lot of first years this year. After it was complete and all of the new students were settled down the headmistress stood up to start he start of year speech.
"Welcome to Hogwarts first years and to the rest of you, welcome back. Mr. Filched has asked me to remind all students to go down to his office to view the complete list of banned items. The forest on grounds is forbidden to all students as is the nearby town Hogsmeade to all under third year or those without signed permission slips. You must stay in your common rooms after dinner. All students found out of quarters after hours will be severely punished. The third floor has been refurbished over the summer and now holds several new rooms that are no longer off limits. Now I would like to announce some additions to our staff. Say hello to our new Head of Gryffindor and transfiguration professor, Professor Hermione Granger and Professor Martin Marvel, the new defense against the dark arts professor. Now I am sure you are all hungry so enjoy the feast and get a good night's sleep. Classes start tomorrow."
The clanking of silverware soon filled the great hall. Everyone, it seemed, was happy. Except, of course, for the dour potion's master to Hermione's left. Hermione flashed him a bright smile to which he responded to with almost a growl. That didn't even agitate the Gryffindor, she was in such high spirits.
"Aren't you the least bit excited about this term?" she asked in a moment of frankness.
"Yes. The house elves have shown some real improvement over the summer. I'm looking forward to a year full of good food." his facial expression didn't deviate from his usual mask which left Hermione not knowing weather to turn back to her plate silently or burst out laughing. She opted to do the first and went back to eating and watching the students.
Inevitably she was excited for the year to begin.