The next morning the rumor that Hermione Granger had spent the night in Professor Evans' rooms was spreading through the student population like wildfire. People were standing at their seats trying to get a good look at the witch, who was studiously ignoring them, eyes firmly rooted on her book.
"Hermione," Ron moaned again, trying to get her to talk to him.
"What, Ronald?" she didn't bother looking up from her book to answer the redhead.
"Is it true?"
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Why ask me when Neville's already told you all about it. Don't think I don't know how the rumor got around," she said sharply, lifting her eyes to glare at Ron.
"That's a Slytherin and a Gryffindor, he's bound to pick someone from Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff next," someone muttered nearby. Hermione tried her best not to smirk at them for their cluelessness.
She glanced up at the Teachers' Table from behind her hair wondering at Professor Evans ability to keep his expression blank. Said professor was currently in a conversation with Professor Snape, and didn't even seem to notice all the eyes around the Hall fixed on him. As she stared at him he turned to an arriving owl and she came to realize that his ever present companion was absent.
She raised her head fully to stare at him, wondering where Wyn could be. That was, of course, until she noticed everyone staring at a point near the Slytherin table. She followed their gazes and was surprised to see Wyn airborne, heading unmistakably in her direction. As she caught the little dragon she felt a hand rest briefly on her shoulder.
She turned to find Professor Evans, the gray owl from before resting easily on his shoulder. "Miss Granger, if you are finished eating…?" Hermione nodded. "Then I request that you accompany me to my office."
He headed off immediately, leaving Hermione to grab her bag and say goodbye, all the while holding Wyn to her chest. She caught up with him on outside the Hall and thought back to the people who had stared at them wide-eyed as they left the Great Hall.
"Professor?" she inquired quietly, shifting her grip on the dragon as she moved in her arms.
"When we get to my office," was her only reply.
Soon enough that had indeed made it to the third floor office, conveniently placed near the Defense classroom. He held the door for Hermione before closing it, waving her towards the chair as he moved to his desk, searching for something among the sheaves of paper present on it.
"Do you, by any chance, know a Victor Krum?" he asked, still searching for his mystery paper.
Hermione's eyes widened in surprise. "Yes, sir. We met during my fourth year."
"Oh good, that makes things simpler."
"Sir?"
"This," he started, finally producing a heavy roll of parchment, "is an invitation to a function that I must attend. Lucius told me it would be best to bring a guest."
"I…don't see how these two subjects relate to me, sir."
He gave her a piercing stare. "You do not do yourself credit, Miss Granger. You simply do not wish to assume, which is a very good habit to cultivate. Never undermine yourself by implying you know less than you do unless it is beneficial to yourself."
"Sir," she responded demurely, blushing slightly.
"Now, I wish for you to accompany me to this function. It will be this coming Saturday, I do apologize for the short notice, Lucius only just owled me that I needed a companion."
"Y-yes, sir." Hermione stuttered, a bit bewildered but not finding reason to object.
"I don't expect you to stay with me, Merlin knows you wouldn't want to. That is why I enquired about Victor. He will also be in attendance, and had expressed a desire to visit you before returning to Bulgaria. He mentioned you by name in his most recent letter and I wished to know if you were the Hermione he spoke of."
"Yes, sir. Victor and I have been exchanging letter," her face went slightly pink again at this admission.
"Then it all falls nicely into place. You require robes, no?"
Hermione's eyes widened for the second time. "Yes, yes I do. Oh dear…" she trailed off quietly, looking slightly panicked.
"Easily solved, Miss Granger, don't worry. What is your schedule for the day?"
"Potions before lunch, Ancient Runes after lunch, and Herbology after Runes, sir," she replied immediately.
"Excellent, good, let's go see Severus." James quickly swept from behind his desk, the owl leaving his shoulder for a padded perch near the window, instructing Hermione to leave Wyn on a cushion on the desk. He exited the room just as quickly and headed for the stairs, Hermione once again trailing behind.
Now that there were students in the corridors they were garnering stares and glares. Hermione realized the glares were aimed solely on her, and upon glancing at her new professor curiously realized why. She had either been too nervous or distracted to notice before, but James Evans was quite handsome. No wonder he wants rumors circulating, she thought, he needs them to keep the students somewhat at bay. For she realized that that was partially their purpose; only the boldest would pursue a teacher who openly had 'affairs' with students.
It would also spur some on though, she reflected. And in there was the confusion and chaos about the situation that he seemed intent to create, his 'fun' as he had put it. Hermione's musings were cut short, however, when she realized that her professor had just swept into Snape's classroom, heedless of the second years having class.
James strode towards Snape with purpose and the man in question stepped to the side to converse with him quietly. Hermione hovered in the doorway as the two talked, stiffening when Snape glanced at her. Finally, the Potions Professor nodded and James turned back to Hermione, now leading her a few doors down.
"Professor?" she asked, when he opened a door into a sitting room.
"Yes?"
"What is going on?" she blurted out before she could stop herself. James turned to her, bestowing her with a smile for her bluntness in light of her usual formality.
"We're going to Diagon Alley."
"What?"
"To get you some dress robes for the ball."
"B-ball?" she stuttered, staring at him.
"Yes, Miss Granger. Come now, through the floo."
Hermione did as she was instructed to and soon enough James had steered her into an upper-class boutique, one he said he'd taken to visiting with Narcissa Malfoy.
"Mr. Evans! A pleasure to see you again!" A well-dressed woman came forward, greeting James with respect.
"Madam Twyne, a good morning to you."
"It is rather early, I do believe Mrs. Malfoy told me you were at Hogwarts presently?"
"That is correct, madam. I was hoping you could help us with some dress robes for my companion."
"Ah, for the Ball?" she asked shrewdly, eyes focusing sharply on Hermione.
James smiled at her insight. "Precisely. I was thinking perhaps a chocolate brown, to complement her eyes."
The woman stepped closer, right up near to Hermione to see her eyes. "Yes, I think that will be a wise choice. Green and gold accents too," the woman murmured to herself, stepping back to examine Hermione critically. She suddenly snapped to attention. "Come along, young lady, I need to take your measurements."
Hermione turned slightly frightened eyes on James, who smiled at her reassuringly. "Madam Twyne is an excellent seamstress, she will create lovely robes for you."
"Come along!" said woman called from the back of the shop.
"I would advise you do as she says, and quickly. I will wait here, do not worry."
Hermione, being left no choice, quickly hurried off in the direction Madam Twyne had disappeared.
It was several hours later that they left the shop, Hermione looking awestruck. They didn't have the resulting robes with them as they would be mailed the next day.
"But professor, are you sure it's really okay for me to have those?"
James just sighed. "Miss Granger, I have already told you that they are yours to keep as my thanks for agreeing to attend the function with me."
"But, but sir! Those robes…" Hermione found herself at a loss to describe the gown that the seamstress had somehow created.
"If you won't accept that reasoning, then think of what Victor will say when he sees you in that gown." That had the effect of finally quieting Hermione's protests, her mind firmly planted elsewhere. She followed him mechanically back to the Leaky Cauldron and through the floo to Hogwarts. She came out of her trance when she exited the floo to see Professor Snape staring at her, and she belatedly realized that this must be his sitting room, much like the one James had.
"You best hurry to lunch, Miss Granger, it is almost time for class."
Hermione whirled around to face James as he stepped out of the fireplace. "Y-yes, sir. Thank you very much for the robes."
James nodded to her and moved to sit in a chair near Snape, Hermione quickly left, realizing the move as a dismissal.
"You bought her robes?"
"I told you we were going to Diagon Alley for necessities. She must be dressed appropriately for Lucius's function."
"I still cannot believe you're taking her. She's Longbottom's best friend and a muggleborn."
James waved off the remark. "She's quite intelligent. Besides, she's acquainted with Victor Krum and I figured I would do them both a favor."
"Krum? The Bulgarian seeker?"
"Yes, he's a friend of mine. Hermione's too, though I believe he's still aiming for more."
"Playing matchmaking in your plentiful spare time? I can't believe Dumbledore has me grading the homework from your classes while you're going around doing precisely as you please."
James laughed. "It gives me time to 'think up a curriculum for Longbottom'. Besides, how am I supposed to leave should Marvolo needs my assistance if I'm constantly being drowned in essays."
"Will he be there? At the ball?"
"Of course, we have matters to discuss. That is also why it is convenient to take Miss Granger. While I am required to bring a date, I needn't stay with her. I am sure she will be quite content to spend time with Victor while I am discussing matters with Marvolo."
"And you think he will not notice Longbottom's best friend on your arm as you arrive?"
"Why should he care? She is smart enough to make up for her muggle parentage and Wyn very much approves of her, you know that one does not ignore the opinions of dragons."
Severus eyed James suspiciously as he thought this over before responding after several moments. "That is true…you had not told me about your dragon's thoughts."
"She gives Miss Granger high marks indeed and is quite content to curl up in her arms without my supervision." The two sat in silence for a while before James's stomach made itself know.
Severus snickered. "Come, I will show you the way to the kitchens."
"Hermione!" Neville called as the witch quickly arrived in the Great Hall and took a seat. "Where were you for potions?"
"I was helping Professor Evans with something," she said evasively, not feeling particularly inclined to telling them about their discussion earlier or about her lovely gown.
"Again?" Ron asked incredulously. "You sure he's not taking advantage of you?" This last part was just short of a growl, and Hermione looked up at him sharply.
"Ronald Weasley, how dare you imply such a thing about a professor of this school!" Hermione quickly finished eating and stood up, storming from the Hall.
"Way to go, Ron," Ginny called from a few seats down the table, knocking her shell-shocked brother from his trance. Ron glared at her before grimacing in the direction Hermione had gone.
The witch in question walked swiftly to her Ancient Runes class, taking her customary desk at the very front. She sat there as the class filled, fuming over how immature Ron was, especially when compared to Professor Evans. I can't believe they're the same age! Was he last thought she had before pushing the encounter firmly from her mind in favor of the lesson that had started.
A/N: So what do you think? This is just how it ended up, so I'd really love to hear what your opinions are!
