Chapter 10
On the platform, Hermione pushed through the crowd and asked Ron, "Where were you?"
"Hello to you too."
"Why didn't you come up to the front of the train with the other prefects?"
"I was busy."
"No, you weren't," Ginny disagreed.
"It's not for you to judge whether you should be there or not, Ron. Luna's head girl and Chambers is head boy."
"Good for Luna. Chambers' a right git though. They must be kissing up to Ravenclaw heavy this year, huh?"
"Will you two stop?" Harry complained.
There was a falsetto whine that followed, "Yeah, you two, stop it. I want to cry about quidditch. I'm not captain and neither is my uppity girlfriend anymore. Boo hoo hoo."
It was dark and crowded with a lot of people's mouths moving as they talked among themselves. There were no platinum blonds in sight as Harry spun in a full circle.
"Stick it up your arse, Urquhart," Ginny snarled.
A bunch of younger Slytherins laughed at them as they made their way to the carriages.
"Urquhart? Oh yeah, he's still here."
"Yeah, this will be his third year as captain. Stupid Slytherins."
"What was he saying about you?"
"I was quidditch captain last year, Harry."
"You were?"
"Yes, there was quidditch without Harry Potter. Hard to imagine, huh?" Ginny joked.
"No … I mean, you never mentioned it."
"It wasn't that important. With mum not letting me say I was coming back right away, I figured you'd be made captain again, and you just didn't want to tell me. You are, aren't you? Oh wait, if Urquhart said we were both not captain, he must know who the Gryffindor captain is."
"Bradley is captaining Ravenclaw," Hermione added.
"Stop standing around talking about quidditch and get moving," Prof. Sprout exclaimed while fluttering her hands to indicate they should move towards the carriages. "Gryffindors never change, do they? Quidditch, quidditch and more quidditch."
Hermione blushed. She was not interested in quidditch, and being caught talking about it by a professor was embarrassing.
"Come on."
Harry asked, "Did you stay up front, or walk back through the train?"
"I performed my prefect duties, unlike somebody else."
"Who wants to march back and forth on the train?"
"Cut it out. So who's still here?"
Hermione guessed at who Harry meant, "Draco's done, Harry. There's only a handful of people from our year that returned to school."
"Oh. I guess that's good. I won't get in as much trouble than."
"I'm sure you'll think of something, Harry," Hermione replied. "I did see Prof. Snape. I had stopped at the faculty compartment and let Prof. Sprout know Neville was being detained by Prof. Slughorn."
"And?"
"And what? He seemed like himself."
"Enough about Snape," Ron complained. "He's milking some rumor about a curse so get over it. Do you remember how long Malfoy wore that sling after he provoked Buckbeak? What did I miss, Hermione?"
"It seems that Chambers knows he's pretty much in charge, but he was polite. When Luna had something to say, he let her say it, and he didn't laugh."
"That's good," Harry replied.
"He's efficient and already put together some schedules. I did not want to draw attention to the fact that you were skiving off the meeting so did not mention you."
"Great. I don't want Chambers ordering me about anyway."
Hermione shook her head in disgust. Luna may be a very forgiving person, but from what she saw today, Chambers was organized and all business. It may not take him long to realize that there was a rogue prefect wandering the halls, docking points and taking liberties. If not, Prof. McGonagall may notice it first, even though Harry told them she'd be busy with much more than she did in the past. That might be an exaggeration, since there was also a headmaster. Prof. Snape was acting strange since she had seen him lying down twice now, but Hermione was not convinced that he was impaired by a curse. Mentally, he still seemed as sharp as ever.
** I read about it in Hogwarts, A History ** I read about it in Hogwarts, A History ** I read about it in Hogwarts, A History ** I read about it in Hogwarts, A History **
Apparating with Prof. Snape from Hogsmeade up to the Great Hall left Neville with spare time on his hands while they waited for the students to arrive. Spending hours with Prof. Snape had left him with nothing to talk about. Prof. Sprout had done the questioning about yesterday's visit from that healer. She probably knew everything from Prof. McGonagall since the headmistress was vocal in her disappointment over the healer's reassurances that never seemed to come to fruition. The only certainty was that Prof. Snape would not be pregnant forever. It only seemed to be forever, and it was getting close to half over.
Neville was staring at the ceiling, contemplating the view of the nighttime sky when other teachers started filing in and greeted him. He had remained standing on the side closer to the Gryffindor table. This was the first time that he'd be sitting at the Head Table with the entire staff, and he was concerned that he'd accidentally take someone's preferred seat. There were enough chairs for everyone. Neville knew which was Hagrids's and Prof. Flitwick's, and that Prof. Snape and Prof. McGonagall had the two more ornate chairs in the center. Prof. Snape had already seated himself in the one closer to Slytherin.
He had not told Prof. Snape anything about what Prof. Slughorn said about him. Neville was not even sure if he should tell Prof. McGonagall. The spat over allowing this potions mistress access to the school to brew something with Prof. Snape would be a moot point by next week. Prof. Slughorn did not say anything definite other than this woman was banned from brewing or something like that. If someone should be banned from brewing, it was Neville. If Prof. Snape was willing to work with her, Neville was willing to overlook whatever archaic potions master and mistress political thing was going on. Neville certainly never had to worry about applying to be a member of the Most Extraordinary Society of Potioneers.
Working closely with Prof. Snape on things other than potions was all right so far. Neville was being careful not to get the headmaster upset, and he felt that Prof. Snape knew that he had little choice but to work with the spare staff member, until more qualified staff could be found. There had been applicants, but they fell short in a variety of ways. Due to his strict requirements for teaching, Prof. Snape now ended up with two subjects, and would be overseeing the younger classes that Neville would be teaching. He hoped the second and third year students were young enough to respect him, rather than call him Neville in class.
Prof. Vector patted the chair next to her and suggested, "Why don't you take this one, Neville?"
"Thanks. I didn't want to … you know."
She shrugged, "If they really wanted a particular chair, they should put their name on the back. From here, you have a clear view of the Gryffindors, and with Hagrid between you and the headmistress and headmaster, you'll be able to get in a few discreet waves."
"I've already told my friends that I have to act professional."
"Who are you more afraid of Minerva or Severus?"
"Uh … I think both equally. Prof. McGonagall has high expectations."
"I thought you were intimidated by Severus."
"Each time I've seen him throw up has reduced the intimidation level."
"How many times did that take?"
"Um … we're about to eat."
"That many? Minerva said he was ill."
"Not as bad as earlier in the summer."
Septima nodded, "Minerva mentioned that. As soon as she determines if it was Slytherin, she's setting his portrait alight."
"I think we need to wait till the end for that answer."
"I doubt that's going to come soon enough for any of us."
Prof. Flitwick led the first years into the hall, and the sorting began.
Over at the Gryffindor table, Ron complained, "Hurry up already. I'm hungry."
Ginny asked, "How could you be? You ate more than even Slughorn on the train."
"You skived off your prefect duties to eat?" Hermione asked without hiding the note of disappointment in her voice.
"I did not."
"You did eat a lot," Harry added.
"Who's mate are you?"
"Yours, but we're a year older than seventh years so maybe we should act that way," Harry replied. "You know that we always have traditional things to do before the feast, Ron. This is our last year, and perhaps I'd like to savor not having some blood-thirsty, power-crazed maniac out to kill me, and enjoy school."
"Enjoy school?" Ron repeated in an insulted tone.
"That would be preferable to hating it," Harry snapped in disgust.
"I don't hate it," Ron refuted. "Just that I'd wish they'd get a move on. They're always so slow."
"Just shut up," Ginny sneered.
"Oi, you can't tell me to shut up. I'm a prefect."
"Not for long," Hermione refuted. "You only want the benefits, but don't do any of the work or accept any responsibility."
"What's wrong with all of you tonight?" Ron complained.
"The bottomless pit of Ottery St. Catchpole," Ginny answered.
Harry wondered if the sibling squabbling was going to be a constant at every meal. He had hoped with Ginny's return to Hogwarts that she'd turn her attentions to others, now that she was not under house arrest with Ron. Perhaps it was the two of them traveling on the train together in Slughorn's compartment that still had her wound up, and tomorrow some git, like Urquhart, would be on the receiving end of Ginny's temper from across the hall. For a moment, Harry almost missed Draco Malfoy. Almost. Well, actually not almost, not at all. There were plenty of Slytherins that had to potential to be complete arses. And as a matter of fact, so did Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs. Plenty of non-Gryffindors in the school to get riled up over.
Hermione asked, "Harry, do you see any new teachers up there?"
"Um … there's Neville."
"Besides him."
"No, I don't see any."
"You said Prof. McGonagall was still teaching Transfiguration, but who's teaching Defense and Muggle Studies?"
"Prof. Sprout called Neville Prof. Longbottom. Maybe he's teaching one of them."
Hermione adopted a worried look on her face and commented, "I hope Prof. Snape isn't too rough on him. It'll take time for Neville to build up his confidence. Older students might not behave in class either."
"How cool would it be though to have Neville teaching Defense?" Ron added. "We wouldn't have homework, and he'll let us know what we're going to be tested on ..."
Horrified, Hermione exclaimed, "Ron!"
"Yeah, Ron's auror material alright," Ginny mocked.
"That would give me more time to study for my NEWTs," Ron bluffed.
When Prof. McGonagall stood after the Sorting, she led the students in the school song, before making a few announcements.
"Thank you for your attention, students. Many of you are still exhibiting high spirits, which is completely understandable. However, now that school here at Hogwarts has resumed, a little restraint will be necessary. Prof. Snape is still headmaster," she paused to let the noise die, "and I am sharing the post as headmistress. Neville Longbottom joined the Hogwarts staff early in the summer, and I'm sure you all know what a capable young man he proved himself to be in May. Please join me in welcoming Prof. Longbottom."
Neville blushed at the applause and cheers. He had not gone to many of the celebrations since they had made him a bit uncomfortable, especially when there was so much that needed doing around Hogwarts. He did like going to ones where he could see Hannah, and he was now at the point where he could ask her to meet him in Hogsmeade once a week for dinner or a drink. She was really nice, and since Hannah had been here last year, Neville did not need to talk about what he did since she had helped him with a lot of it.
When Prof. McGonagall sat down, Ron groaned when Prof. Snape stood, and went over the rules before summoning the feast.
"Maybe stupid firsties and cocky second and third years should learn first hand why it's called the Forbidden Forest," Ron muttered.
"It's such a crock that he's still here," Ginny complained while pouring some juice.
"Not again," Harry moaned.
"You already told us how much extra work Prof. McGonagall has, what's he going to be doing? Stalking around, punishing students, being a crabby old git who's uptight because he's so ugly he can't get any."
"Get any what?" Hermione asked.
"Nothing," Harry denied, however Ron was simultaneously answering in a loud, laughing voice, "Snape's a virgin. Even with him getting an Order of Merlin. He's just so damned ugly and greasy and ..."
"Ron!" Hermione hissed, clearly affronted. Her voice cut into his description of all Prof. Snape's lack of charms, "that is no business of ours. How do you even know something like that?"
Harry had tried to cover up for Ron, but since he had to go opening his big mouth, Harry would let him explain what happened since he hadn't even been there.
"Oh, you've been waving your Order of Merlin around to get free shags?" Ginny goaded. She was sick of Ron nosing in between Harry and her. Ginny definitely knew Harry did not do such things with his fame because he was as frustrated as her by the interference of the whole Weasley family, not just her mother.
"What?" Ron asked in disbelief.
"Didn't you just claim that's what it was good for? Getting laid?"
"Cut it out, Ginny. It's none of your business."
"Oh, but it is when it's me. You don't ask Harry if he's a virgin, do you?"
"Huh?" Harry asked. How did this become about him? His cheeks got hot, even before he noticed that their discussion was amusing some Hufflepuffs at the next table.
"Don't be stupid," Hermione demanded. "This has gone far enough, and if I were you, Ron, I would not bring up such nonsense again."
"Me?"
"You're the one who started this."
"No, it was Ginny. She was the one blabbing about Snape."
"You're the one who had to know, Ron," Ginny refuted.
"Why would you want to know that?" Hermione asked.
"I didn't," Ron replied.
"Let's just drop it," Harry interjected.
"Yeah," Ron agreed.
Hermione concurred that it was an unpleasant topic for casual conversation. She had not liked what she heard from both Ron and Ginny.
Ron was continuing his attack on any pudding unable to escape him when Hermione stood to usher students to Gryffindor tower. She looked at Ron, but then did not bother asking as he overloaded a spoon with a quivering mountain of confection.
"I guess I'll see you all later," was her parting words to her friends, delivered icily. Perhaps Ron should have stayed home with his mother. Instead of maturing, he appeared to be regressing in her eyes, along with Ginny.
It was clear that the fifth year prefects wanted to lead, so Hermione followed along, rather than returning to see how many more empty dessert glasses had joined the pile around her boyfriend and admitting she was superfluous.