Thank you guys for the patience. I'm trying to get on a writing schedule, but you guys can see how well that's turning out. I'm going to be in Louisville all of next week, so won't get much writing done, sadly.

Anyway, kind of a slow chapter. Not really worth the wait, but I hope you like it all the same.

...

Chapter Three

The next week flew by, which was fine by Hermione. Her leg was still aching, which was annoying. Her head kept pounding, which messed with her studies. Most nights, the teenager retired early because she just wanted to escape the pounding for a few hours. Rumors kept circulating, which made the teenager want to slap each person who saw her and then proceeded to whisper behind their hands.

The teenager found herself out by the lake quite often. She liked watching the tentacles of the giant squid appear out of the water. Hermione enjoyed the slight breeze that was always around the Black Lake. She liked her little tree and the fresh air. She sat alone with her thoughts and books. The teenager felt at peace there. But when October finally started to act like October, the sorceress was forced back into the castle. Unless she wanted to freeze to death.

Her patience was growing thin, and the witch was slightly abusing her Prefect powers. Snapping at people for being too loud or snickering when they saw her. People were learning to gossip about her when she wasn't in earshot. Soon, the common room became silent whenever she entered it. Hermione wasn't too upset when Saturday rolled around again, until she remembered that she had detention with Professor Smith.

The day flew by. Soon, she had no homework to do, no notes to study, no people to talk to or punish. The sun was setting, and the witch's time was up. Hermione swept her eyes over the Gryffindor tower once more before hobbling out from behind the portrait. Her leg wasn't as heavily bandaged as before, but it was nearly impossible to walk without looking foolish. The teenager could hardly bend her knee without a stabbing pain shooting up her leg.

By the time Hermione arrived at the Astronomy tower, her leg was aching and her temper was high. The witch knocked curtly on the wooden door which opened in less than three seconds. Smith appeared with the biggest grin on his face, and his hair sticking straight up. The teenager was taken aback slightly.

"Miss Grang-ah!." He announced, that goofy smile still glued on his face, "I was just checking my watch, seeing when you would come."

The student looked at her own watch then. It was five past seven. Hermione knit her eyebrows and opened her mouth to say something. But she never got the chance. Her teacher grabbed her arm and steered the witch into his classroom. She would've had trouble keeping up with Smith without her injury, but with her leg bandaged; Hermione was practically being dragged across the classroom. But Smith took no notice. He just took long steps towards his office at a very quick pace.

The witch struggled to not stumble, and she tried to not let the pain in her leg get the best of her. Smith opened his office door and happily entered. He pushed away from his student, who was left wobbling slightly in the middle of the entryway. His coat trailed out behind him, and her professor was wearing his blue suit that day. Smith fiddled with several objects and trinkets before even addressing Hermione again.

It didn't really matter to her. She was too busy examining the room that would be the source of her suffering for the next however long. The teenager's swept over the room finding…nothing really. No pictures, no decorations. A few strange, fascinating machines sitting on her teacher's desk, but nothing more. It was bare, and that bothered Hermione. Why wouldn't he go through the trouble of making his temporary home feel less temporary? It felt almost like a prison cell, the cold, blank walls pressing in and making everything seem more depressing than it actually was. In the very back of the office, there was a wooden door that Hermione assumed lead to the bedroom. The witch bit her bottom lip. She slightly hoped his bedroom would at least be interesting. She couldn't imagine a man like him not having anything fascinating at all.

"Now!" Her teacher's sharp voice snapped the witch out of her observing. His hands were planted on his desk, and Smith was smiling slightly, "Time for your punishment. Well, no, I don't really like that word. Too cruel. Sentence? Nah. How 'bout-"

"Professor." Hermione was smiling, finally getting use to this crazy man, "Never mind the title. Can you tell me what I need to do?"

"Right, 'course. Over here Miss Granger." He gestured to the chair in front of him.

Hermione started to hobble over, wincing slightly. But her teacher didn't really pay much attention. He was messing with one of his trinkets, facing away from his student. Smith didn't look up until the teenager was sitting in the fairly comfortable chair. The witch wasn't positive, but she had a feeling her professor adverted his focus so she didn't have to worry about looking weak. Whether it was accidental or not, Hermione was still grateful.

Her wand was out. Force of habit, and it made her feel more comfortable. It was twirling between her fingers when Smith finally looked up. He grinned at his student and tossed his trinket behind him. Hermione jumped slightly when she heard the contraption break. She stared up at Professor Smith, a question sculpting her mouth.

A knock at the door interrupted the witch's train of thought. Hermione sighed, frustrated slightly. She could tell then, it was going to be a very long night. She rubbed her temples while Smith went to check the door. She visualized her head exploding from all of the pressure inside it, and that didn't make the witch feel any better.

"Ah Donna!" That was the exclamation that had Hermione turning around, her eyebrows raised. The redhead entered, a tray filled with teacups and little cakes. She was smiling wide. Her hair was in a bun, and she was adorned in green robes.

The witch turned away, confusion making her brain ache even more. What-Where was Smith going with this? Couldn't he just be normal for once? But of course not, that would make life too simple.

The tin tray slammed onto the desk, and Hermione jerked her head up. The teachers were chatting. Useless conversations between friends that would be forgotten in an hour. Professor Noble was stirring the tea, and Smith was stacking the cakes into a little pyramid. They were both laughing, not a care in the world. Hermione felt her awkwardness grow. To be ignored during detention before even receiving a task was a new level of shame. The witch stared at her knees, a habit she fell into around this pair.

Her teachers still indirectly ignored her. The teenager's lip started curling. Couldn't the skinny man just tell her what to do? He talked all the time, sprouting off a few words shouldn't be that hard. The witch glared at the redhead and thin man.

"Excuse me." Hermione said not politely. The advisors stopped talking at once and looked over at the witch, "Sorry to interrupt your tea party, but I think I should know what my punishment is now."

There was a short silence. Smith glanced at his best friend and then he smiled, "So sorry Hermione, you're right." He set down his cup, but immediately picked up another, "How do you take your tea?"

The teenager blinked stupidly. Her mouth was open slightly. No matter how hard she tried, the witch could not get a grip on this man. He was so outrageous, it was impossible to understand him.

"My-my tea?" She repeated.

"Yeah. Tea. The wonderful British drink? How do you like yours? Sugar? Extra sugar? Extra, extra sugar? No sugar? Or are you a rebel and go for sweetener?"

Hermione glanced at the redhead. Professor Noble was eating a cake, barely listening to her friend. The witch didn't understand how Smith's friend wasn't insane yet. She focused her attention on her Astronomy teacher, staring into those impossibly old eyes.

"Sugar, please." The teenager said after a moment.

Smith grinned wolfishly at his student. He fixed Hermione's cup while Professor Noble offered her little cakes. The witch glanced briefly before taking one. She hesitantly bit into the pastry. Her mind was becoming more and more muddled. There was an intense pounding behind her left eyebrow, and the witch had never wanted to get back to the common room faster.

Professor Smith handed the teenager her cup which she stiffly accepted. Not knowing what else to do, the witch took a sip. She was taken aback slightly. She didn't expect the beverage to be good tasting. Hermione narrowed her eyes, what was he playing at? This was detention, not a get-together. Why could he just make sense for once?

The teenager hurriedly finished her drink, wanting to get that night over with. Her teachers were still chatting, but they weren't as engrossed in the conversation as before. When Hermione set her glass in the saucer, Smith's head shot up and looked over at his student.

"Ah! You're finished! Refill?" The teacher held up a flower printed teapot, his eyebrows raised.

"No thank you." Her irritation was starting to grow again, but she forced it back down. "If it's all the same to you, I'd like to know what I need to do for my detention."

Smith grinned again, and Hermione's lips thinned. Could he stop smiling for two minutes and assign her something already? The witch just wanted to study for her Herbology exam, but she couldn't do that until she got out of that Godforsaken classroom.

"Why Miss Granger, this is your detention. Joining Donna and I for an evening tea.

"Sorry, what?" Hermione said after a moment. She was convinced that her Astronomy teacher was going to break her sanity in the non-too distant future.

"Miss Granger, do you really think this man was going to make you clean telescopes with a…a toothbrush or something?" Professor Noble was smiling warmly, amusement clearly etched on her face.

"Well…no. I just though…since I disobeyed-"

"Oh, who cares about rules? What's life without a little risk?" Smith was sitting on his desk, his long legs swinging back and forth. "And besides, you saved my life. I'm not going to punish you for that."

Hermione stared at her teachers, barely able to hide the confusion and shock that she felt. These two…they were unlike anything the witch had ever encountered before. That was saying something. But despite their uniqueness and complete and utter insanity, they were….great. Fantastic even.

Hermione smiled honestly for the first time in front of her new teachers, "Thank you sir."

Her professor cringed slightly, "Please, don't-don't call me that. I hate being called sir. Too grown up. Do I look like a sir to you?" Hermione shook her head, still smiling, "And I hate saluting too. Don't ever salute me Hermione Granger or I will make sure your next detention is a horrible one.

"Yes sir." The witch was smirking. She brought her hand to her forehead and gave her teacher a stiff salute.

Professor Smith's face morphed into an expression of exasperation. There was an undertone of fury, like he couldn't believe he didn't see that coming. But Smith couldn't keep away his grin. The teacher ran his hands through his crazy hair, laughing slightly. "Detention for seventy five Saturdays."

Hermione laughed along with her teachers. After a moment's silence, Professor Noble piped up. "Would you like more tea Hermione?"

"That'd be great actually." Noble refilled the pink, flowery cup and the witch happily took a sip. "Thank you professor."

The red head smiled and sat on the desk next to Smith. She grabbed her own cup and took a drink. Hermione could feel the awkwardness in the air. She was struggling for something to say when Smith exploded, "Did I ever mention the lost moon of Poosh in class before?"

The witch was a little startled at his outburst. She slowly shook her head. Her professor grinned. He set down his teacup and started going off on this tangent about this moon of some planet that Hermione never heard of. Professor Noble was listening intently, and Hermione couldn't help but be interested too.

But that lost moon wasn't the only thing that was discussed between that small ensemble of people. Soon, the candles were wearing down and the teapot was empty. But those three brilliant people were still talking away, never running out of things to discuss or stories to tell. Smiles glued to their faces, their eyes shining.

That was the happiest Hermione had been since her return to Hogwarts. She didn't really have friends this term, much to her disappointment. Yes, there was Ginny. But she had Quidditch all of the time, and she already had her own set of friends. Hermione had never talked to the year younger than her, not really. So now, it was just awkward. Really, when it came down to it, Hagrid was her only friend. But Hermione only ever really saw him at mealtimes or weekends.

But talking to these two crazy people put the young witch in a greater mood. Hermione felt comfortable with them, and she just hoped and wished they thought the same way. She didn't want to embarrass herself by thinking her teachers actually liked her, when they didn't. That had happened to her before, and it still made the sorceress go red by thinking of it.

It was very late into the night when Hermione's eyes started to itch. Professor Noble started yawning, but Professor Smith was still as energetic as before. The witch wasn't sure if that man ever got tired. The teenager checked her watch and felt a jolt of disappointment. It was getting extremely late. She needed to head back to the commons room before Filch started lurking for students out of bed.

Professor Noble had the same idea. She hit her friend's shoulder, "Oi, Spaceman, I don't know about you but I'm exhausted. And I think Miss Granger agrees with me."

Hermione cocked an eyebrow, Spaceman? There has to be a story behind that one. But it didn't really matter at the moment. The teenager just wanted to be in her cozy bed, maybe reading a book or gazing out of her window. She gave her teacher a grateful look and stood up.

"Thank you both for the tea and great stories, but I do need to get to sleep."

The pair of them smiled. "Good night Miss Grang-ah." Smith smiled, his crow's eyes standing out.

Hermione couldn't help but return the grin, "Goodnight Professor Smith, Professor Noble."

The witch was hobbling away when Smith called, "Yeaaah, I don't really like the term Professor either." Hermione scoffed, turning back, her hands on her hips, "I'd be preferred to be called by something else actually."

"What could that be?"

Professor Noble glanced at her friend, her eyes widened slightly. But her eyebrows were furrowed. It gave Hermione some confidence to know that even his closest friends didn't have him figured out either.

"The Doctor if you don't mind."

"Doctor what?" Hermione couldn't figure out why he'd want to be called that. It had to have some significance. It could just be something completely random. Who picks something like the Doctor for their nickname? But with all honesty, it didn't surprise Hermione too much.

"Just the Doctor, if you don't mind. But don't call me that in class. Just when it's the three of us. Or else it might become awkward."

"It'll be just the three of us again?" A tiny spark of hope ignited in the teenager's chest. Maybe she did make some new friends after all.

"I hope so." Smith's smile was back again. "With a mind like yours, I'd hate to not get to know the person responsible for that type of cleverness. And, with all of the trouble brewing, I have a very strong feeling we're both going to want to figure out what that thing was."

That was the first time the creature was mentioned since their meeting in the hospital. Hermione was slightly shocked he brought it up, to be completely honest. "You'd be correct there. I do want to know what it was…Doctor."

Smith's grin widened, "Brilliant. Now, you should be getting to bed, give that mind like yours a rest."

The witch nodded, her lips turned upwards. She nodded to her professors, "Night then."

"You don't have to call me Professor either." Professor Noble said sassily, "I don't have a name as fancy as the Doctor, but I think Donna will do."

"Donna and the Doctor?" Hermione tried it out, "Any reason you two don't like your titles?

The friends glanced at each other, "Never much of the Professor type." Donna said after a moment, shrugging.

"Fair enough." Hermione's leg was starting to throb again, and she really wanted to get to her bed. She gave her new friends a stiff smile. "Goodnight Doctor and Donna. Don't let the Daleks bite."

While leaving the classroom, Hermione could swear she head the distinct sound of a hand hitting the backside of someone's head.

...

The Doctor and Donna were walking in the corridor. Shadows danced on the wall, the people in their portraits snoozed happily, and the friends were shivering slightly. Their voices were hushed, and they both were a little paranoid to be walking around in the large castle at night. But neither of them wanted to voice it.

"What was that Spaceman?" Donna hissed when she knew that Hermione was well out of ear shot.

"What?" He cocked an eyebrow at his friend.

Her nostrils were slightly flared, and her hair was falling out of her bun. The Doctor's hearts surged slightly when he looked at his friend. He was so grateful to have Donna. Even with her sassiness and loudness, she was such a kindhearted person. He loved laughing with this crazy redhead. He didn't even really mind the murderous glare in her green eyes.

"Where in your thick head did you think it'd be a good idea to let Hermione call you the Doctor?"

"I just thought that it would help her trust us." The Doctor lifted a tapestry, and Donna immediately ducked behind it. "I haven't asked any other student to call me that, nor will I ever. Well, more than likely. We'll have to see. Anyway, it'll show Hermione that I trust her, and then maybe she'll trust us back."

"You still think she doesn't trust us?" Donna was staring at the thick key in her hand. She groped the wall behind the woven picture until she found a knob. Taking the key, the redhead fought with the door before it swung open creakily.

"Of course not." In the dark, silent corridor, the Doctor wasn't afraid to use his sonic. He scooped up the torch that was always laying near the door, and a fire blazed with a flick of his screwdriver. The time lord grinned, proud of his device.

The companions started walking again, "But can you blame her Donna? Think about what she went through. That second war. Her, Harry and Ron living on their own for months. Danger around every corner."

"So, it was like traveling with you…but without the traveling'?" Donna grinned, happy to tease whenever she could.

"Oi!" The Doctor shouted, not offended in the slightest. "And yes…essentially. But our Miss Granger had it so much worse. So, so much worse. Of course," The time lord sniffed loudly, "You should know that…you've read the books haven't you?"

Donna glanced at her best friend, "What books?" She asked slowly.

The Doctor gaped, astonished, "The Harry Potter books? Million dollar franchise. J.K. Rowling…? Is any of this ringing a bell?"

Donna was shaking her head, hating the feeling of not knowing something the Doctor did. She crossed her arms, "There are books about that Potter fellow? How is there a real Hogwarts?"

"How have you not heard of the Harry Potter Series?" The Time Lord asked loudly, ignoring his friend's question. They turned a corner, and there sat the TARDIS. Tucked away in the secret passageway that couldn't be seen unless the Doctor wanted you to. "It's a fantastic series. Where have you been the last ten years?"

"Oi!" Donna shouted taking the torch and putting it in its holder, "I dunno 'bout you Spaceman, but I haven't had time to read about this place. I've had more important things to do."

"Like?" The Doctor opened the door to his beloved TARDIS. He swung inside, immediately running to the console.

"Oh you know…Temping…Dieting…Drinking with Nerys and such. Very busy lifestyle. No time for…nerdy things." Donna grinned slightly.

Her best friend laughed, "That's a problem for another day, it's not our biggest issue. We need Hermione on our side. Sooo," The Doctor had his hands glued to the railing behind him, and he was leaning extremely far forward, "That is why I told her my name. To gain her trust. Because we need that young witch."

Donna bit her bottom lip, thinking, "Okay, fair enough. But she's not going to be much help if neither of us knows what that thing is…so what is it?"

"I don't know Donna." His top lip started to curl, and he screamed out, "And I hate, I HATE not knowing." He was by the console, both of his hands buried into his hair, his face full of anger and distress, "What can turn itself into a shadow and attack young witches? I haven't got that faintest idea and apparently, neither does my TARDIS."

He kicked the side of the console, and guilt immediately filled his face. He touched the reality stabilizer gently, "I'm so sorry old girl. Don't be mad at me."

His beloved machine made a reassuring noise, and he knew he was forgiven. The Doctor sighed and looked back at his friend. Donna hadn't moved, nor did she look surprised at his outburst. He smiled warmly at the redhead, "What about you Donna, what do you think it is?"

His companion scoffed, "Come off it Doctor. I'm a temp. I don't know anything about this stuff." The Time Lord didn't move, waiting for her to say something. Anything. She sighed, "Well, it sounds like…I mean, it resembles the Vasha Nerada. Except they joined together to make a visible form or something."

His eyes widened, "What if…what if they could do that?" Donna could see the energy that was starting to flow through him, "What if those shadows evolved and now they can be seen? What if with their new body, they learned strength and agility? What if-"

"What if " Donna interrupted, "I'm way off course and that suggestion was stupid?" The redhead smiled, "Doctor, there's no point in overthinking this right now. Well, you can. I'm going to bed."

He watched her go, his expression a little sad. When Donna's hair whisked around the corner, the Time Lord dived towards his console. He knelt to the floor and threw open a latch. After dragging out an extremely old trunk, he started rummaging through it. At long last, one of his favorite books was lying in his hands.

Walking to the yellow chairs, his glasses on, the Doctor sat down and started to reread the first book in the Harry Potter series.