A/n: Hey guys! I have been trying to get this chapter up since thursday and now it's finally letting me!!! Keep up with the reviews because I'm almost done with four!!! And I have off of school this week so I have a lot of free time!
Thank you all for the reviews and answers to the poll question. Unsurprisingly no one picked D. There were a variety of other answers though…but I'm not going to tell you what I picked. When it comes in the next few chapters or thirty chapters from now, you'll know. The surprise is better!!!
Thanks for the reviews!!
Hope you like it!!!
I'll update ASAP!!!
Always,
Kylie
Eleven o'clock rolled around on Sunday morning before Ron and I even opened our eyes.
"Morning." Ron yawned as I rolled over into his arms. My eyes felt like they were stuck closed, and I realized that I hadn't even washed the make-up off my face last night.
"Yep." I said. I was extremely tired and planned on relaxing for the whole day…except one thing that I had noticed last night, and for the past two days that we had been in Paris. "Ron." I started, shutting my eyes and snuggling closer to him.
"Mmhmm?" He responded, tired as well. (We over-exerted ourselves last night with all of the dancing …until two a.m.)
"I think we need to go shopping today." I said.
"You noticed too?" Ron asked. I laughed to myself as I fought back the sleepiness.
"That our clothing is much more casual than the entire population of France? Yes."
"Well, if we're moving here should we go out and buy some stuff so we at least look like we belong?" Ron questioned.
I wasn't too sure that I wanted to change my style but then again, this was a life lesson: adapt to your surroundings. If we were in Paris for only three months or over three years, at some point we would have to learn how to speak the language, eat the foods, and wear the clothing.
"I think, if we're going to live here, we have to." I decided. "I say that we go shopping today and that'll be our initiation into Paris. This is after all the fashion capital of the world…as Ginny keeps telling me." Ron laughed.
"Sounds good." He leaned over and gave me a kiss that woke me up from the in between stages of sleep and awake, and we both got up and got ready to go out for the day.
With the money coming in from the bookstore, the Gazette back home and the Gazette here while we were paying rent or household bills. We did have some money to spend on clothing. We left our apartment in search for some fashionable French shops.
xxx
Five hours later we were back with armfuls of bags. We found lots of shops that held very nice French clothing. At one of the stores we even found a pleasant saleslady who spoke English and gave us some tips on where to go and what to buy. All in all, I think we had enough choices to last through work, school, home, and those weekend clubs.
xxx
Monday I wore a wrap skirt that reached just above my knee with a white scoop neck top. I wore a black tank top underneath that and then added some accessories (i.e. new jewelry, headband, and purse). I slipped my feet into a brand new pair of black pumps that ouch! weren't broken in yet. Well, all in all I'd say I was dressed moderately French. I didn't completely change my style, just dressed it up a little.
Ron came back into the bedroom wearing a new dark gray suit. He had a white shirt on with the gray pants to the suit.
"Which tie?" He asked. He held one up and then the next one. I bit my lip to keep from laughing. They were the same color and all except one had vertical stripes and one had diagonal. It was kind of funny to see him care about fashion.
"Hmmmm…" I said, pretending I was considering this very seriously. "Diagonal." I finally decided.
"Good choice." Ron said, stealing my place in front of the mirror and beginning to tie his tie. I laughed and went to go pour myself a cup of tea.
I was excited to go sit in on a few of Sasha's classes. I had come to the conclusion that we had enough in our savings, from selling the house for me to enroll part-time and take a few classes. So after Sasha's last Monday class at noon, we were going to stop by the admissions office so that I could enroll part-time. I was actually going to go for becoming a teacher! That was even more exciting but there was a certain queasy feeling in the pit of my stomach. That also happened before the wedding, before I moved to Paris, and even every year on the train to Hogwarts without fail. Before the wedding I had finally learned that this was the good kind of nervous, and that I could deal with.
In my purse I placed a notebook and notes on the University. I was ready!
Ron and I left the apartment and headed in the direction of the train station that was on the way to Un Bon Livre where I was going to meet Sasha.
"How're you feeling?" Ron asked as he held my hand and we walked down the street, bundled up against the middle of January weather (it did make me miss the Bahamas a little).
"I'm excited. You know, it just seems like this teaching thing is meant for me. I've always like History of Magic. It's so interesting to learn about how it all happened." I looked over at Ron who was smiling at me. "And then re-teaching it to you and Harry because you weren't paying attention in Binn's class was fun too." Ron chuckled.
"Hon, you'll make a great teacher." He said. His sincerity made me even happier that it had all worked out this well. He gave my hand a squeeze and I felt much warmed, despite the freezing temperature outside.
"So Trey and I were talking and we decided that we would meet you two for lunch on Campus. Does that sound ok?" Ron asked.
"Definitely." I said. We approached the train station where Ron had to get on to get to the Gazette office.
"I love you." He said. "Have a great day."
"You too." I kissed him and smiled. "Love you."
He kissed me again and then had to go before he missed his train while I started for Un Bon Livre to meet Sasha.
"'Ermione!" Marie called. "'Ow are you?" She rushed over and kissed both cheeks as I entered the wizard section of the store.
"I'm fine and how are you? Bertram?" I smiled as she responded and then quickly caught Marie up on my new plan.
"Congratulations!" Marie exclaimed. "You weel make a wonderful teacher!"
"Thank you." I smiled, flattered, and noticed Sasha looking for me. I said bye to Marie and headed to meet Sasha.
"Hey." Sasha said as I approached. She had a briefcase-type bag with her that held all of her books and notebooks. I made a mental note to get myself one of those for my classes.
"Hi." I said.
"Ready for class?" Sasha asked, smiling.
"Of course!" I said, ready and excited. I began following her, back into the cold and in the direction of the University, which I could see from here. It looked stunning. I couldn't wait to be inside (and not just because of the cold).
"Our first class is in fifteen minutes, just enough time to get a good seat, and then there's one right after that at ten. The first class is where we hold mock trials and everyone gets a part. We get evaluated on how well we understand the laws of the Wizarding community. And the one at ten is developing the skills needed to become a teacher. Sometimes we do some role-plays to show what is right and wrong in some situations and we also write essays that she grades. After that one is over at noon, I think Ron told you that we're meeting him and Trey for lunch and then we can take you to talk to someone about enrolling." Sasha spoke as she walked and I could tell that she cared about school and taking notes and paying attention, sort of like me.
"Sounds good." I said. This was definitely going to be fun.
"Are you nervous at all?" Sasha asked.
"Kind of, but I'm more excited to go back to school and learning. You have no idea how much I loved being in school for the first seven years."
"I actually do." Sasha laughed. "I loved school to and decided to come learn out here. I was so nervous that I threw up on the morning of my first day."
"Really?" I asked.
"Yep." She nodded and laughed. "That was after I made a complete fool of myself by walking into the wrong classroom, sitting down and then realizing I was in the journalism class instead of the law class."
"What did you do?" I asked as we started walking again.
"Nothing." Sasha laughed. "I was too nervous to get up so I sat there and listened to the professor. After class the guy who sat next to me came up to me and asked me what I was doing in the journalism class with my law studies book." She smiled, thinking back. "I broke down into tears, telling him that I went into the wrong class. He took me to the bathroom to clean off my face and I threw up then. I didn't realize it until much later but not only was I a nervous wreck, but falling in love as well."
I smiled as I realized where the story was going.
"We were married nearly a year later and now we're happy newlyweds."
Sasha and I entered her class five minutes later. The room was set up as if it were a courtroom. I was really impressed by the likeness. Everyone came in and had a seat at the desks behind the courtroom set up.
"Sasha, I don't know that much French." I said, expressing my fear of not being able to understand what was going on.
"Don't worry–" Sasha started but was cut off as the professor came in and greeted the class. I was surprised that I understood him, completely. He spoke in French but I could understand every word he said. "Language barrier spells." Sasha whispered. Now it made sense.
"So." The professor started in French as he took his place in front of the class. "A woman is working where she "slips" on a spilt item and breaks her leg in three parts. She has a Healer's report claiming that her leg is fixed but another break could mean permanent disability. The lady in question is taking the store to court, planning on suing the store where she broke her leg for every Knut they're worth." He began handing out packets with more detail on the case.
"Isn't it possible for the leg break to be a scam. Couldn't she be setting this whole thing up to get some money out of it? Is it possible that this Healer is just a Quack?" A student asked in what sounded like Italian…I understood every word of it.
"But what if this woman is telling the truth?" Sasha asked. She flipped open the packet and looked over a certain part. "It says here that she is a single mother, raising three young children. There's a background on her that Albus Dumbledore, himself would be proud of. She could be telling the truth."
The guy who spoke in Italian opened his mouth to retort but the professor cut him off. "Both very good arguments." The Professor said. "Mrs. Parker, I believe you will be our Prosecuting Attorney and Mr. Russo you will be the Defense." The Professor started assigning parts off to people as Sasha began scribbling down notes on what she could use to back up the claim.
By the end of that first class I was amazed with how great this all was, and really excited for the next class. This was exactly what I wanted to do: learn and teach…I couldn't wait!
"What did you think?" Sasha asked. "I don't think she could have been lying. Did you see her background? I think I can win this."
"I think there's a good chance that the Healer letter is legitimate and she actually did break her leg in three parts and could be permanently disabled. But what's her motive for suing? She's a single mum with a steady income who doesn't seem like she'd hurt a fly." Look at me; I was having an intelligent discussion about classes!
"Hospital bills." Sasha said. "They're pretty expensive and she can't work anymore due to the possibility of slipping on a spill that no one cleaned up. She has to have something to keep her three kids fed and clothed while she's in the process of looking for a new job." Sasha seemed very passionate about this. She definitely had a knack for this law stuff.
"You know what, I think you have a decent chance of winning this case." I said. Sasha smiled modestly and muttered something about finding good evidence but I could tell she felt the same. I wanted to be this passionate about something, which made me even more eager to sign up in those History of Magic classes.
In the next class we had a seat and a woman professor stood in front of the classroom.
"Good morning!" She greeted happily in French that I understood. "Today is another Essay day." There was a shuffle of papers and I wondered if I should take out my own notebook that sat, unused, in my bag. Sasha handed me a piece of paper.
"Practice." She whispered. So I poised my pen above the paper, waiting for directions.
"You are teaching a class of students that have just recently graduated from their Basic Wizarding Education schools. It's the first day and none of them are sure what to expect. In your given field, write a thousand word essay on how you would handle this class and what you would have them do on their first day. Hand it in to me by the end of class, this assignment is graded and will be a possible essay choice on your final exam. Go."
Everyone began scribbling down things and as I considered that, I had a perfect idea on how I would begin a class like that. I wrote my name at the top of the paper before I began scribbling things down on my paper as well until I noticed someone was standing in front of me. I looked up to find the Professor there.
"Are you new?" She asked.
"Actually, I'm just sitting in on this class." I responded. She smiled and took a look at the notes I wrote on my paper. "I'm thinking about enrolling." I added.
"History of Magic?" She asked. I nodded. "And you went to Hogwarts? I nodded yet again, not quite sure how she knew that. "If you do happen to see him, let Old Binns know I say hi, and Mrs. Weasley, I really enjoyed your book." She went back to her desk before I could say anything else. I looked at my name on top of the paper and realized that here, my book sat on display for everyone who crossed from Muggle Paris to Wizard Paris. It wasn't uncommon for people to know who I was. I smiled as my mind went back to the task at hand and by the end of that class I had a whole lesson planned out for my first class as a History of Magic professor.
Tucking my paper into my purse I turned to follow Sasha out the door but stopped when the Professor called my name again.
"I hope to see you in here again." She said.
"Definitely." I said, already planning on taking this class.
Sasha led me to the lunchroom in the University as we both discussed what we wrote.
"I'm impressed." Sasha said. "I never thought I would actually want to know about the history of magic but your class sounds kind of interesting." I smiled. This was definitely going to be fun.
"Guess what?" Ron asked as he approached our table with a small piece of paper in hand.
"What?" I asked.
"Look." Ron dropped the paper on the table and I saw that is was a blank check…written out by Jacques.
"What is this?" I asked. Ron took the seat next to me as a smiling Trey sat next to Sasha.
"Jacques came into my office today and asked how you were doing. I told him about your plan to become a teacher and he whipped out his checkbook and said that the publishing company would cover the cost for your schooling." This was good news, very good news because now it meant that I could be a full-time student. But we couldn't accept money like this.
"Ron, we can't–"
"That's what I told him at first but he said to consider it as a grant from them because The Gazette took you away from your bookstore and he knows you'll be an awesome teacher. Hermione, this is perfect." I smiled. Ron was smiling back at me and then I leaned in to kiss him.
"I'm going to be a teacher!" I exclaimed, still smiling.
"And a damn good one!" He said.
After we ate something from the University's cafeteria, Ron and Trey had to get back to work so I followed Sasha with the blank check in hand. Books, classes and enrollment fees. I was really going to become a student here!
"Fill out zeze forms 'ere, and zeze 'ere and zen zeze. As soon as you are done with zem, zen come see me and we'll take care of your course schedule." The woman behind the desk said.
"Sure." I took the clipboard and turned around, bumping into someone.
"Watch it!" That person exclaimed in a familiar voice that I knew all too well. I was looking directly at Pansy Parkinson, someone who I hoped to never see after graduation. Just my luck.
"Parkinson?" I asked, incredulously. She had turned to leave but turned back.
"Granger?" She asked. We both eyed each other, glaring and not too happy to see each other. Sasha noticed the tension and stood by my side.
Pansy Parkinson and I had outgrown our silly childish, slapping games. I had grown up, as did she. I could see in her eyes that she was not quite the same person.
"Actually it's Weasley now." I said. I held up my left hand to show her that Ron and I had gotten married.
"Figures." She said with a sneer. "And it's no longer Parkinson." She held up her own left hand, which held a giant diamond and wedding band. "It's…Malfoy."
"Figures." I responded in the same tone. We both stared at each other a moment longer before Pansy began to brag.
"Draco has an amazing job at a law firm here so he and I moved here several months ago." She bragged.
"Congratulations." It came out strained.
"Yes, well he makes good money, but I thought that I would get out of the house and do something to occupy my time until we have more children." She fingered an expensive-looking diamond necklace around her neck and looked at me. "What brings you and Weasley here?"
"Ron's paper is going international. We're here for a while so I decided to go back to school and try my hand at teaching." I responded.
"Right, I heard something about that Gazette thingy." Pansy said snootily. The fact that we were having an adult conversation like adults was a little weird.
I opened my mouth to retort but a woman with long blond hair rudely pushed in front of me, blocking me from Pansy.
"Pansy, did you get this all taken care of?" The blond woman asked in a snotty tone, handing something to Pansy.
"Yes, Narcissa." Pansy replied dully.
"Good." The woman said, she sounded even snottier than Pansy did. "Now let's go. We need to find a good nanny for Ella."
Malfoy's mother moved out of the way so that I could see Pansy once again. I noticed what Narcissa Malfoy had handed off to her daughter-in-law. There was a baby in Pansy's arms now. She had Malfoy's gray eyes but Pansy's dark hair growing in. A baby? This surprised me a little because we hadn't even been out of school for nine months. So Pansy had to have been at least four months pregnant before she graduated. This was something I didn't know, and most likely, I was one of the few who now knew.
Pansy glared at her mother-in-law before turning back to me. I could see in her eyes that she was daring me to ask about her baby but I kept my mouth shut about that.
"See you around." I said. Pansy regained composure and turned to go.
"Goodbye." She said stiffly, exiting the office. It wasn't as if Pansy and I were about to become best friends but I definitely felt mature for having a decent conversation with her.
I completed all of the paperwork necessary, with Sasha's help and then brought the, back up to the desk.
"How eez zis?" The woman at the desk asked, tapping her wand against a blank course sheet. It printed in English so that I could read it.
Monday: General History of Magic 10:00 am
Teacher's Development Skills 101 2:00 pm
Tuesday: Psychology 101 8:30 am
European History of Magic 101 11:00 am
Aspiring Teacher's Need To Know… 3:00 pm
Wednesday: Sociology 9:00am
American History of Magic 101 12:00 pm
Teaching History of Magic 101 5:00 pm
Friday: Ancient Egyptian History of Magic 101 7:00 am
Magical Wars 101 1:00 pm
She explained to me that I would have to take the basic teaching and History of Magic classes for the first year and then next year I could start to take classes that interest me in other areas besides my major. Their idea was to get the difficult classes out of the way so that in your second year you can be more flexible with the classes you take and in your third, you can take some classes and be a student teacher, and finally become an actual teacher after three years.
"And 'ere are some flyers on upcoming lectures and workshops for new students. Your classes weel begeen tomorrow." I took the flyers and a student ID card, knowing that this was it. I was a student here!
Sasha and I parted ways, me in the direction of home to begin making lists of what I would need. Two blocks away from my apartment, I noticed a cat following me. I stopped and it stopped, looking up at me curiously. I began walking again and it began walking again. I stopped and it stopped… The cat had no collar or form of identification. I wondered if it was a stray because of it's thin frame underneath a coat as dark as midnight. It was actually quite adorable. I began walking, in hopes that the cat would leave me alone but I had no such luck.
"Go home cat." I pleaded. The cat reminded me of Crookshanks, in the way it followed behind my feet and mysterious green cat eyes. Two years ago the poor cat (Crookshanks) had wandered off into the Forbidden Forest, never to be heard from again.
For two blocks the mysterious cat, Midnight (ok so I shouldn't have even been thinking of names for it but it's fur was really black and midnight seemed appropriate. Like it was meant for her name to be Midnight). I attempted to open the door the led to the stairs that would in turn lead to our apartment without letting Midnight in but she managed to get passed me. I raced after her with my wand out, prepared to de-flea and get rid of the other germs that could have been picked up on the street. (I even gave her a bath!)
At quarter to three, I was drying off a freshly cleaned (and a little aggravated) Midnight when a thought occurred to me. I had always wondered this every time I saw an animal after what happened with Scabbers. I took out my wand once again…
Negative. Midnight was just a cat, a very friendly cat. She brushed against my leg and looked up at me, giving me a sad look. This is the way you get attached. I told myself as I got her a bowl of water. Ron will never go for it. I couldn't help it though; I have a soft spot for cats. Which is good enough reason that in addition to making a list of books and school supplies, I made a list of cat supplies. And then went to go buy them.
This was not good. Midnight had her own little room in the corner of the kitchen and she was just so adorable when she purred and followed me around as I got my school things together and began making dinner.
"Hey, hon? How did enrolling go?" Ron yelled as he entered our apartment a little after six. I was putting the final touches on dinner and Midnight was exploring the kitchen. I could hear him coming closer and decided that I would try and play this off innocently, hoping that it would work.
"You'll never guess who I ran into." I yelled back. Footsteps sounded in the office and I could hear him putting his briefcase down. Bracing myself for explaining, I heard a loud hissing and turned to see Midnight darting away from the area where Ron stepped on her tail. "Ron!" I exclaimed, picking Midnight up and holding her to my chest, trying to comfort her.
"What the hell is that?" Ron asked.
"Ron!" I protested again. "You just stepped on her tail!"
"Why is there a cat in our apartment?" He looked down and saw the little area I had set up for Midnight. "Shouldn't I be asked if we were going to get a pet? I mean, we could have bought a dog instead of a stupid cat." I was appalled that Ron would even suggest that. "That is if we even decided to get a pet. 'Mione, these things are a lot of work."
"Well, I didn't plan on Midnight following me home. Ron, she's homeless. The poor cat was just bones and fur. I promise I'll take full responsibility for her. Look at her, how can you say no?" I held Midnight out to him and he backed off a little as if she were going to scratch him.
"Oh no, you named it before you even got here didn't you?" Ron asked.
"Maybe." I shrugged. "And it's she not it." He took another look at her.
"It's got those same creepy eyes like Crookshanks." He said. Midnight hissed quietly while I frowned at him. "Well how do you know it isn't an Animagus? Remember Scab–"
"She is not one. I already tested. She's clean and will be no trouble."
Ron sighed loudly. "You knew I was going to give in didn't you?" He asked. I shrugged and tried to look innocent, placing a restless Midnight down. She went straight for her food bowl. "Fine. She can stay." Ron declared. I let out a squeal of excitement and jumped into Ron's arms.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" I exclaimed kissing him. Midnight noticed the joyful exchange. Somehow, I think she knew that Ron was going to let her stay because she walked past us to head for the living room and lightly brushed against his leg. It was a simple sign of affection but it was a start.
