AN: Thanks for your reviews, I really appreciate them.
Krazy Kara – I understand your impatience, but you will find out when the time is right! After all, JKR didn't spill until the end of HBP when Malfoy admitted to Dumbledore that he let the Death Eaters into Hogwarts via the cabinet, when he was on the Astronomy Tower… Good stories take time, good plots take time to develop and I hope you will bear with me! Thank you!
Chapter Seven: Pairs
Ron sat down cozily next to Hermione, smiling at her fondly. Harry took his place beside Ginny, who was smirking at Hermione, who blushed. After these proceedings took place, Hermione realized, "Oh!" and turned to Harry.
"Did you get into N.E.W.T. Potions?" She asked.
Harry grinned, "Yeah, McGonagall didn't say, but I suspect Dumbledore leaned on Snape to let 'E' students through, otherwise he wouldn't have had hardly any 6th year Potions class!"
"That's great!" Hermione said, pleased. Now the three of them could study their Potions N.E.W.T. class together.
Ron nodded, chuckling, "Yeah, apparently Harry and I did fairly well compared to some of the other students."
"Although he gave Malfoy an 'O'," Harry scowled, "We heard him bragging about it in the hallway."
"Oh, so he's back to his usual self?" Hermione asked indifferently.
"Yeah, I suppose so," Harry said, "But I still think he's up to no good."
"What on earth could he possibly be up to?" Ginny said, disregarding the idea.
Harry frowned, "Just about anything."
The trio said goodbye to Ginny, Harry giving her a peck on the cheek.
As they walked away, Hermione chided, "Harry, are you and Ginny an item or not?"
Harry's eyes widened, "Huh?" then looked nervously to Ron.
"Mate, it's okay," Ron assured him, "I just wish you'd make it official or something."
"Yeah," Hermione agreed, "It's already quite obvious to everyone else; you should be the gentleman and at least ask her out."
Harry reddened, "I didn't think it was obvious…" he mumbled, and shoved his hands in his pockets.
Ron snorted derisively, and Hermione said, "That's what Ginny said about Ron and me… But apparently you lost your end of the bet," she raised an eyebrow.
Harry looked up guiltily and Ron inquired, "Huh? What bet?"
"Harry bet Ginny that we wouldn't get together until later on in the year, but apparently Ginny guessed we'd get together fairly quickly. And thus, Ginny won." Hermione told Ron, ignoring an imploring look from Harry.
Ron rounded on Harry, "Some mate, Harry!" But he smiled, and Harry grinned guiltily.
"Sorry," Harry countered, "But you were glaringly obvious, mate. When Hermione was away in France, all you could do was talk about her!"
Ron turned bright red, and said to Hermione quickly, "That's not true!"
Hermione giggled, "It's fine, Ron, you can stop denying it now that we're together."
Ron grumbled, "Sorry. I'm just used to denying that I think you're the most beautiful woman in the world."
Hermione squealed in delight and jumped on him in a bear hug.
Harry laughed, and said to Ron, "Who is this and what have you done with our Hermione?"
The sixth-year N.E.W.T.s Defense Against the Dark Arts class sat at their desks in anticipation, eager to meet their new teacher, Professor Ao.
Well, most of them.
"What's the big deal?" Ron whined, "It's still schoolwork."
Hermione looked shocked, and Harry hastily said, "Ron, you forget that this is probably the most important class we can take. It's important we get a good teacher. That's all I'm worried about finding out."
Hermione nodded, "Thank you Harry. By the way, when are we going to start up the DA again?"
"I don't know," Harry shrugged, "We may not need it as much if this class turns out to be pretty good, but at the same time, it doesn't hurt to practice things we learn here I suppose…"
"Yes," Hermione cut him off firmly, "It never hurts to practice. Homework for practical defense – you can never have enough of it."
Ron groaned slightly, at the thought of unnecessary homework, Hermione supposed, and glared at him.
"Okay, okay," He assented, but before he could defend himself any more, Professor Ao bounced in, arms full and holding her wand in her teeth.
The class immediately stopped chatting and paid attention.
"Well!" Professor Ao began, piling a large amount of different belongings and folders onto her desk, removing her wand from her mouth with a flourish, "An attentive class! Lovely! Pleased to meet you all!"
She waved her wand across the board behind her head, and the words Defense Against the Dark Arts appeared in twirling, girly handwriting.
"My name," She continued, turning back to the class, "Is Professor Marie Ao."
She grinned, "But you already know that! So let me tell you something you do not know. I am fresh from Auror training. Very hard! Very hard course to complete."
She leaned on the side of her desk, and a hint of seriousness crossed her features, "But also very worth it. Anyone here wish to become an Auror for their career?"
A few hands rose, including Harry and Ron's, and Malfoy coughed discretely, sneering at Ron. Ron noticed, and turned red. Hermione glared at Malfoy, who just looked at her intensely, as though daring her to stand up to him, until she turned away in a huff.
"Ah, good, good," Professor Ao nodded, "Well, I shall endeavour to teach you everything you will need to know to get you started with your training and to begin your Defensive career. And for the rest of you," she added, "Do not think this does not apply to you! Defense against the Dark Arts is extremely important to learn, because… Can anyone tell me why they think it is important for not only those in a Defense career to learn?"
Hermione's hand shot up, although many others who were members of the DA raised their hands as well.
"Yes?" Professor Ao gestured at Hermione, who was, after all the first to raise her hand.
"Because we need to know how to defend ourselves in the outside world. We, as students, will not always be safe here, at Hogwarts, and with a wizarding war looming, we need as many defensive skills as we can get." Hermione rattled off, enthusiastically.
Professor Ao nodded, notably impressed, "Correct Miss…"
"Granger," Hermione supplied.
"Miss Granger, you have received the first ten points for Gryffindor this school year for your wise advice," Professor Ao smiled, and the other Gryffindor students grinned.
"Now," Professor Ao went to continue, before Lavender Brown raised her hand, Parvati giggling at her side.
"Yes?" Professor Ao inquired, confused.
"Pardon me, Professor, but we were wondering where you got your necklace?" Lavender said, with a sweet, somewhat false smile.
Professor Ao frowned, her hand moving to her red polka-dotted ribbon hanging around her neck, a large purple beetle charm hanging from it, "Miss…"
"Brown. Lavender Brown," Lavender said confidently.
"Well, Miss Brown, I'm disappointed that the location of purchase referring to my necklace is the chief question in your mind right now." She said sternly, disapprovingly, "What do you hope to claim as your career once you have left school?"
"Oh, I don't know," Lavender dismissed, "I'm not worried about that right now."
"Well, it shows," Said Professor Ao severely, "I don't mind that you don't know what you want to do after you finish school yet, but I'd appreciate it if you showed a little bit more of the wisdom that Miss Granger here has already shown. There are far more important things you should be thinking and inquiring about other than mere jewellery when there is a wizarding war at hand."
Hermione blushed at the praise she had received, and Ron snorted at Lavender, who flushed deeply and looked extremely put out. Harry dug Ron in the ribs to shut him up.
Well, Hermione thought to herself amusedly, I don't think Lavender and Parvati will think much of 'awesome' Professor Ao now!
"Now, no more nonsensical questions please," Said Professor Ao, "I am going to tell you about the defensive magic I will teach you this year."
The lesson continued, and Hermione was thrilled with Professor Ao, as she was sure her fellow students were (apart from Lavender and Parvati). Professor Ao had a way about her that took no nonsense, like Professor McGonagall, showed a bit of a wacky side, like dim-witted but wise Dumbledore crossed with Luna Lovegood, and was incredibly knowledgeable in Defensive magic, almost as much as Professor Lupin had been. She had a woman's sense that matched Moody's magical eye, and managed to throw a paperweight shaped like a Hippogriff accurately at Pansy's head when she was caught sending a note to her girl friend.
Hermione left the DADA lesson that day feeling very pleased and satisfied with the way this particular class looked as though it would go this year.
"You better hang on to her, mate," Harry said to Ron cheekily as they walked along the corridor to their next lesson, gesturing in Hermione's direction.
"Huh?" Ron replied, glancing at Hermione briefly before raising an eyebrow at Harry.
"You're not the only one on Hermione's mind," Harry teased, "She's in love with Professor Ao."
Hermione snapped out of her reverie, "Oh shut up, Harry!" She exclaimed, "But isn't she absolutely brilliant?"
Harry laughed, "See?" And nudged Ron.
Ron laughed, and Hermione scowled all the way to Potions.
The trio was not happy to be sitting in the Potions dungeon on their first day at Hogwarts. Ron showed his distaste by groaning audibly every two minutes, Harry by brooding and chewing in the end of a quill.
Hermione just waited patiently, simply happy to be in a classroom, regardless of the subject or Professor.
Professor Snape strode into the dingy classroom, eyes narrowed as per usual. He dumped a stack of parchment on the desk and turned slowly to face the class.
He leered at them menacingly, "So," He drawled, "I see I now have an adequate amount of idiots to teach the art of Potions this year."
"It's a pity," He continued, beginning to pace forwards and amongst the students, "That only a select few of you really deserve to be in my classroom this year, however…"
He paused directly behind Harry and Ron, "The headmaster has thought it best to lower my standards."
Harry and Ron scowled, and Hermione saw the Slytherins, particularly Malfoy, sneering at them. She was pleased, though, to note that Pansy had not made it into this class.
"So," Professor Snape continued, "I will not be alleviating any of my lesson plans to make them… simpler for the simple amongst us." He stood leering at the back of Harry and Ron's heads for a moment, before reluctantly moving on.
"Lesson one!" He said forcefully, signaling the beginning of the actual lesson, "You will brew, or attempt to brew, one small vial of an intoxicating potion called Felix Felicis."
He flicked his wand in the direction of the blackboard, and step-by-step instructions appeared in small, neat writing.
"As there are certain steps to the development of this potion that need to be performed at the exact same time, it is impossible for one person alone to create it." He said, before rounding on the class, smirking, "Which is why, I am going to have to pair you off."
Harry and Ron immediately glanced at one another. Snape had separated them from working together before, simply to spite them. Noticing this, however, Professor Snape rolled his eyes disdainfully and addressed them, "Never mind, Potter, Weasley – you two go with one another quite perfectly. Both brainless. Stay where you are."
Harry and Ron scowled, but Hermione could tell they were still pleased to be left together.
Professor Snape retrieved a piece of parchment from his desk, evidently listed with his students' names, and began pairing off students with one another dependent upon their apparent O.W.L. results. Hermione thought this was patronizing, but then again, it was Snape. She just hoped she would be paired with someone adept enough to not ruin her class average.
"Granger…" Snape paused, having paired of most of his students by now. Hermione knew that he had now reached his 'O' students, and in that split second, she realized the only other person that could possibly have attained an 'O' in Potions was…
"Malfoy." Snape's eyes glittered, sickeningly amused.
Hermione's eyes widened and her head snapped in Malfoy's direction. She heard Ron and Harry muttering behind her in horror, but all she saw was Malfoy leaning back in his chair complacently, watching her with that damned smug smirk of his.
AN:Ooh! Anyone else get a shiver of pleasure down their spine just then? Please review!