Hermione let out a weary sigh as she left the library and began to walk through the second floor corridor. It had only been one day since she'd agreed to tutor Lavender in Charms, and already she regretted it. Lavender's newly found interest in the subject (and its instructor) had resulted in constant questions about everything they'd learnt since their first year, giving Hermione almost no time to herself. She wasn't sure which would be worse - Lavender's endless questions to her or Lavender's endless questions to Kai. An image of Lavender batting her eyelashes at him over his desk suddenly flashed across her mind.

On second thought, she'd put up with the tutoring.

She was so immersed in her thoughts that she unexpectedly bumped into someone as she rounded the corner. She took a quick step back, ready to utter her apologies.

"I'm so sorry, I -" Looking up, she realized that it was none other than Kai. He looked just as surprised as she felt.

"It's my fault, Ms Granger," he said. "I apologize."

She gave a nervous laugh. Standing so close to him was reminding her painfully of the night of the ball. After their agreement the day before, she was determined to only think of him as her professor, but being so very near to him again was making her breathless. Why did he have to be so agonizingly attractive?

"Um...no problem."

He smiled at her. For a moment, she thought she could see the same passionate look in his eyes that she'd seen when he had looked at her in the clock tower. She shook the idea from her mind. Lavender was clearly driving her insane. "Well then, Ms. Granger, I'll see you in class tomorrow. Good day." he said, turning to continue down the corridor.

"Wait!"

He stopped and looked at her expectantly. "Yes?"

"Yesterday, when I left the room, Lavender was outside..."

"Ah yes, Ms. Brown. I heard her talking to you so I decided it was wise not to leave at that moment. Did she see you coming out of the portrait hole?"

"Yes, but she didn't really seem to care about that. Er...after I shut the portrait...did you happen to hear our conversation?"

He glanced at her curiously. "No. The castle walls are thicker than you might think. Was there something I ought to have heard?"

She almost sighed out loud in relief. "No. Just some girl talk, that's all. Have a good day, Professor."


Kai poured himself a cup of coffee from the bottomless jug in the staff room and stood by the window, staring out at the Hogwarts grounds. He couldn't seem to understand the effect that Hermione Granger had on him. It was maddening. Bumping into her on the second floor had stirred up some of his fiery feelings from before, and he'd had to force himself to walk away from her. If people thought he was dangerous, they obviously had no idea how lethal Hermione's smile was. He would have to be more careful. Thank goodness he was only required to see her during classes.

"Oh there you are, Kai," called Professor McGonagall, walking in through the staff room door with a roll of parchment in her hands. "I've been looking for you. Do you have a moment?"

"Of course, Professor," he said. She gestured to the parchment in her hands.

"We've just received word that the Charms Association is having their Student Enchantment Competition next month at Beauxbatons. They should have sent us a message sooner but that Benjamin Barnacles is always so disorganized." She shook her head disapprovingly as she unrolled the parchment.

"We need to send our student representative along with one teacher for two weeks, and since Professor Flitwick is on vacation I was hoping you'd be up to the task."

He nodded. "Of course. It would be an honor. Who shall I be accompanying?"

"Hermione Granger, of course."


Dun dun dun! Who knows what's going to happen? (I don't)

*stares outside* Gee, what a nice day for some reviews.. (hint hint)