Author's Note: Another chapter! And don't forget to check out my new story (a sequel to Overclocking but can be read as a one-shot standalone as well; it's Remus/Hermione)!

Chapter 10: Weasley's Wand Work

In four days' time, her entire life had changed. She had received an owl in the middle of an upper level Ministry meeting after her lunch with Neville, Hannah, and Fred. It had been persistent enough to get past all levels of security, and it dropped one letter in front of Kingsley Shacklebolt, the current Minister of Magic, and one in front of Hermione. The letter was addressed in a beautiful scrawl, with the Hogwarts seal melted on it. Hermione knew immediately what it was in regards to, and after Kingsley read the letter, he dismissed Hermione to meet with McGonagall.

She'd floo'd into the Headmistress's office, a portrait of Dumbledore greeting her fondly, a portrait of Snape sneering at her silently. McGonagall had skipped all formalities and had immediately gone into what a disaster this was, and how never, in the history of Hogwarts had a professor ever deserted his position in the middle of his term. Hermione couldn't argue this, as she knew it to be true. She'd read Hogwarts: A History enough to know that.

She then repeated how grateful she was that Hermione was even considering taking on the position, promised her that lesson plans for her had already been outlined and that all she had to do was stick to the lesson plans, review the fifth and seventh years for their examinations, and McGonagall would be able to use her time to find a permanent replacement.

Hermione didn't have a chance to open her mouth to speak, as McGonagall kept going on and on about how she'd always hoped Hermione would take a post at Hogwarts and how there was no one better for the job, pride radiating with every word. Meanwhile Dumbledore, in his portrait behind McGonagall's desk, beamed at Hermione and listened to the exchange quietly, popping lemon drops into his mouth.

What choice did Hermione have but to accept?

She didn't have to owl anyone but Oliver the news, as Kingsley had just assumed she'd take the position and had announced it to the whole of the Ministry via a memo, so Harry and Ron found out the way, and word got around to everyone. Oliver, on the other hand, told her he was incredibly proud of her and told her he was sorry that he was going to miss her first days at Hogwarts, which would be next week. He told her he'd have three days off at the end of next week and would come by to see her immediately.

She told him she'd fill him in on where she'd be staying. She wasn't sure if she'd be required to live at the castle or whether her own flat would be adequate. The details were still fuzzy. It wasn't pay she was concerned with, as her job at the Ministry was secure for now and carried a plentiful salary, but she didn't know what other requirements were expected of her as a professor logistically.

Without her questions answered, she'd come to the Great Hall on Friday, where her position was announced to the students, and she was welcomed with a deafening roar of applause from everyone, the loudest bits coming from the four troublemaking Gryffindor boys.

Then Saturday came around, and here she was, getting ready to apparate to Hogsmeade. She wondered if she'd be put in a position to act as an authority figure already, but she tried not to think about it. She knew Neville would be there, too. So she was off with a pop.

The streets were flooded with Hogwarts students, some of which greeted her warmly and courteously, with a "Morning, Professor."

When she walked into Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, she saw Fred and George there, along with two wizards and a witch she didn't recognize. She supposed that they were the Hogsmeade employees. The place was so packed that she had to shove her way through in order to get to the counter. Fred was unboxing more product, waving his wand and stocking them on the shelves.

Gone were his business clothes, replaced with jeans and a more casual button-up, the sleeves still rolled up. He wiped sweat from his forehead. She stood and watched him for a while, waving his wand and sending products zooming, some of them hitting their targets, and some grabbed midair by overzealous students. He hadn't noticed her yet and was saying something to a group of Ravenclaw girls huddled together at the front, giggling. He winked at them, and they all grabbed what he'd stuck out in his hand and gave him handfuls of coins in exchange.

He was good, she gave him that.

After a bit more work, he finally seemed to notice her, and he stopped what he was doing immediately to come out behind the counter and give her a kiss on the cheek. "Hello, love. Been here long?"

"A bit," she admitted, smiling. "You were right. It's madness in here."

"We have two more employees coming in at ten," he said, looking down at his watch.

As if on cue, two more young wizards came in through the front door, sporting Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes shirts. The girl on the floor called them over to her, before sending them off in different directions, and Hermione assumed she was the store manager.

"Can you take a break, or are you too busy still?" Hermione asked, as people continued to push their way through the crowd.

"Oi, Georgey, I'm taking a break," Fred called, dragging her out of the store even though George opened his mouth to yell at him in reply.

Once out in the open, he wiped sweat off his forehead again. "Kind of hot in there," he said. "But anyhow, I guess I should congratulate you, Professor Granger."

They began walking through students and toward the Three Broomsticks, his hand on the small of her back.

"You have no idea how weird it is for me that people are calling me that," she said, shaking her head. "I'm too young, aren't I?

"Not to them," he said in amusement, pointing to a group of small students who looked to be first or second years. They scattered like ants when Fred and Hermione approached.

"Oh Gods," she said, shaking her head. "Now I feel ancient."

"I'm only messing with you, love," he said, bring his arm around her even more and squeezing her to him in a hug. "You're not old. They're just too young."

She giggled at his rationale

"Well, either way, I'm nervous about Monday," she said as they grabbed a table, signaling to the woman behind the counter that they wanted two butterbeers.

"What's your first lesson?" he asked.

"Fifth year Slytherin and Gryffindors," she said, cringing. "What are the odds that they'll get on better than Slytherin and Gryffindor got on in our days?"

"A bit better, I'd say," Fred said, a smile creeping on his face. "If Malfoy and Ron could spend half of New Year's Eve singing love songs to each other, then anything's possible."

She giggled at the memory. "That's true, but look at how much we've all been through together. These kids don't have that."

"No," Fred agreed. "But they were raised in an environment where Muggleborns and half-bloods are heroes and leaders in our community. It's a humbling experience to even the most staunch of purists. I don't think the Malfoys are the only family to have come around. I'd put my money on things actually changing for the better."

"That's awfully optimistic," she said, meeting his hazel eyes.

"I think you have to be optimistic," Fred said genuinely, shrugging. "What else is there?"

She smiled to herself and looked down at her hands shyly. He was right, of course, and she was grateful for his perspective.

"So," she said, clearing her throat. "I've already read all the required materials for all years, luckily. I'm already prepared for my lectures for this week mostly, but I'm going to go to the castle later tonight to prepare a bit more, I reckon. I plan to get ahead more today and tomorrow. I'd really love to be prepared all the way to the end of the year, but there simply isn't time for that. So I'll have to do a bit of improvising."

"You'll do great," he encouraged, taking her hand. "You were born for this."

She blushed and smiled again, meeting his warm hazel eyes. They sat in silence for a moment, gazing into each other's eyes, searching for something, although what, Hermione didn't know. Hermione dropped her eyes to his lip when he licked them, and she was saddened to see the smile on his face falter as he looked away completely.

"Hello again, Professor," said a far-too-cocky voice behind her.

She turned and was greeted with the sight of only two of the troublesome boys, the blond one and the raven-haired one.

"Hello, Mr. Reynolds, Mr. Pipers," she said, grinning cordially as she turned around. "Shouldn't you boys be off enjoying your Hogsmeade weekend?"

Fred was annoyed. She could tell. But he slapped a half-assed smile onto his face anyway as he regarded the two boys.

"Oh, but we are, Professor," replied the blond boy in a surprisingly American accent.

Well, she supposed she shouldn't be too surprised. She didn't know how many wizarding schools there were in the world. Hogwarts students tended to be limited to within the UK, but Durmstrang had students from all over Europe and Russia.

"Why does that give me a knot in my stomach?" Hermione asked with a sigh.

"Probably because you've been around Weasleys all your life," Fred whispered so only she could hear, and she tried to mask the giggle that erupted from her mouth with a cough.

"We take insult to that, Professor," Pipers replied smoothly. "Don't we, Ethan?"

"We do," agreed Reynolds. "We just wanted to buy you a drink."

This time, she didn't try to mask the low, loud laugh that vibrated through her belly and burst out from between her lips. She tossed her head back and let the laughter take over. She even heard Fred chuckle.

Two sixth years wanted to buy her a drink. Oh dear God. She couldn't wait to tell Ginny about this. They'd be laughing for days.

"As you can see," Hermione replied, looking at the wounded looks on their faces, "I already have a drink. I appreciate the thought, boys."

"Although I'm not sure if your mums would appreciate the knowledge that you're spending the allowances they give you to woo your professors," Fred commented, this time loud enough for both of them to hear.

Hermione covered her mouth to quiet the laughter she knew she wouldn't be able to maintain locked inside her mouth.

"My mum doesn't give me money," Pipers argued like a proud lion. "I had a job over hols."

"My apologies, lad," Fred said, pulling into his pocket to see if he had something there. He came up with two pieces of parchment, which he handed to them. "As a reward, help yourselves to two free boxes of Weasleys' Warrior Gobs, and tell all your friends about it."

Hermione couldn't believe Fred had just turned his mockery of them into an opportunity to generate more business, but he had, and she kept her hands clasped over her mouth to prevent herself from laughing.

Reynolds took the parchment, but Pipers stared at it indignantly.

"Do you really think you can buy us off with a voucher for a free product?" he huffed.

"You'd be stupid not to take it, wouldn't you?" Fred asked, cocking his head to the side with a smile. "Free is free. Take it as your reward for giving us a laugh, and go redeem it."

"It is a fun game," Hermione admitted, still hiccupping with laughter.

"You've played it, Professor?" Reynolds asked curiously.

"She helped me work out some kinks during product development," Fred said proudly, beaming at Hermione.

"Did you, really?" Reynolds asked, thoroughly impressed.

"I did," she confirmed. "Part of the fun of magic is experimenting with it to see what new things you can accomplish. You'd be surprised at how much can be done with a wand that you'd never have thought possible."

She had silenced Reynolds' and Pipers' cockiness, and they were both silently watching her, with rapt attention.

"Now, this isn't something you'll be learning in my class, but think about how convenient it would be, if you could charm your watch to tell you if you're late," she said, tapping the wristwatch on Reynolds' wrist with her wand. It glowed a steady blue, before the numbers twisted around it, and it turned into a timer. "Or if you had a bit too much to eat at Christmas and simply wanted your glass to refill itself, because you just can't be bothered to get up." She pointed her wand at the tap where the butterbeer came from and siphoned liquid from it. A long rope of it came over and refilled her glass. The students watched in fascination, and she saw that their other two trouble-making friends had joined them.

"Now make sure to pay for your drinks," she said, taking out her coin purse and tapping it. The students laughed, but were still again when the right number of coins exited her bag, grew magnificent golden wings, and glided into the awaiting hands of the amused wizard at the bar. The wings disappeared, and the coins fell lifelessly into his hands.

There was applause around the room, and she didn't miss the fact that a small crowd had formed around her and Fred.

"Now here's something you will be learning from me, despite the fact that it's not part of the required curriculum. If you're in my N.E.W.T level classes, that is," she said, with a genial smile. "Expecto Patronum!"

An otter burst forth from her wand and stood at attention. This enough made the students whisper and point, as she assumed most of them hadn't seen a corporeal patronus. She knew none of her classmates had, until Harry had taken things into his own hands.

"I know you all think the world is a safe place now, but it never stays that way for long, I'm afraid," she said softly.

Fred stood up from his chair and backed toward the bar, a gap between he and Hermione forming. He took out his wand and waved it above his head, conjuring a frightening cloaked figure, like a Dementor, who advanced upon the patronus. Some of the younger students who had gathered squealed and backed away in fear. But her otter dove through the air at him, crashing into him and causing him to disappear into a firework of black. A bit of smoke filled the air, and her otter emerged triumphant, to applause from the students.

Fred wasted no time in shooting a red curse at her, through the gap in the students, and the otter dove in front of it and opened its mouth, swallowing it whole. She knew it was a weak curse, as she knew her patronus wouldn't be able to adequately defend her against magic as powerful as Fred's under normal circumstances. But it was for demonstration. As Fred fired curse after curse, the patronus protected her at her direction.

Hermione lowered her wand and smiled as the students around her seemed relieved that the onslaught of curses ended. Her otter sat down on the table and yawned.

"But sometimes, the world isn't as sinister as that, and you just want to have a bit of fun," she said, with a smile.

Fred raised his wand again, a goofy grin on his face, and he shouted, "Expecto Patronum!" as well.

Out of bright white light, a hyena took shape, prancing around with a grin on its face that matched its masters. It trotted over to Hermione's patronus, and her otter hopped on top of it. They ran around together, both with smiles on their faces to match their owners. And then they disappeared, the light diffusing through the throng of laughing students.

There was applause, and Fred walked back over to sit down next to Hermione, winking at her.

"Just a small reminder to you all," she said, making eye contact with Reynolds and Pipers in particular, "that being a competent witch or wizard is not only important, but it can be fun as well. Now off you go. Go buy too many sweets or get into some mischief elsewhere."

"Or do both, at Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes!" Fred exclaimed with a grin.

Hermione rolled her eyes at him and shook her head. "Shameless advertising," she said.

Fred winked at her again.

"I'll see you all in lessons next week!" she exclaimed, and the students, still talking amongst themselves, dispersed.

"See how good you'll be?" Fred asked, taking her hand on top of the table.

She smiled and looked down at their joined hands. "I do have to admit that there was something exciting about that."

"You're never going back to the Ministry; I'm telling you!" he argued, his eyes glittering. "You were born for this."

"We'll see," she said, although she had trouble wiping the smile off her face for the rest of the day.