Chapter ten.
When she had left that morning to go back to Platform 9 ¾ and collect the students, Draco had popped his head out of his bedroom door, laughed and then went back in to sleep. Keeping in mind what he had said about only retaliating due to present issues, she had sent a nice little pimple jinx after him. When she'd get back, he'd either have really big pimples on his forehead, nose and chin or he'd have figured out the counter-curse. Or! He would think that it was natural and just try cover up spells…no, he'd figure something was up if they just kept getting bigger. Either way, he'd figure out it was her and work out how to get her back. Ah well, something interesting was bound to be waiting for her back at Hogwarts at any rate.
Hermione walked past Neville and Hannah's small cottage on her way to Hogsmeade, so she could apparate to Kings Cross, by the looks of it, they had just gotten up as their was a soft glow coming from what looked like the kitchen.
Hermione, McGonagall had told her, was to go back to King's Cross and come back on the Express, so she could brief the prefects, Head Boy and Girl on the various jobs they'd have to do and what was expected of them, as well as keeping an eye on the skittish First Years.
She apparated into the toilets that had an 'Out of Order' sign on them. She walked out swiftly, a warm red beanie on her head, dark blue scarf around her neck, a beige coat, with a double series of buttons, wrapped around her and carrying her unobtrusive small bag and headed straight towards the wall between Platform 9 and Platform 10.
As soon as no muggles were looking, she walked through it. The train was just as impressive now as it was yesterday or the year when she first saw it. Students and their parents were milling around, some crying and telling their children to write every day or little First Years staring around nervously, tears soon welling, some students finding old friends and others just itching to get away from their emotional parents.
Hermione blended inconspicuously with the crowd as she made her way to the front carriage, near the engine. That was where she was to meet all the prefects and the Heads. Only a small amount of students were on board, but as time drew nearer to departure, Hermione knew it'd be packed.
Once in the cabin, Hermione cast a disillusion spell and a warding spell to stop any students walking in when she was changing from her muggle clothes to her Wizarding robes. Once again, she wore her black skirt and white blouse and over the top she wore her mossy green robes with her lion brooch. She tidied her hair and pulled it back into a loose bun, soft wisps falling out and framing her face.
The whistle blew, signaling that the train was just about ready to leave, so Hermione packed away her muggle clothes safely in her bag and lifted the wards, before carefully tucking her wand into a special pocket inside her sleeve.
Soon, the two Heads, Andy Doyle from Ravenclaw and Milly Hobon from Slytherin arrived, chatting amicably and Hermione smiled warmly at them. "Good Morning you two and Congratulations.' They beamed in pride, 'I'm Professor Granger and I'll be taking over Professor McGonagall's position in regards to explaining your Head duties to you and the role the prefect's have in this school, especially to the younger ones, so if you ever need help with something, just seek me out."
As she continued, Milly and Andy studied her as if they had just forgotten something they that was really important. Hermione shifted uncomfortably, but tried not to show it. Suddenly, Milly gasped, "Oh my gosh! You're Hermione Granger! At first I thought it was so, but I wasn't sure!' she turned, excited, to a stunned Andy and tugged on his arm, 'Andy, it's Hermione Granger!' she turned back to a wide-eyed Hermione and, suddenly aware of what she had done, smiled sheepishly, 'Sorry, Professor, I just got excited, that's all, but can I be the first to say I can't wait for you to teach us!"
Hermione chuckled, recovering quickly, "I sure hope I get the same reaction from everyone else, they might even pretend they want to learn something for a bit!"
Milly grinned as Andy poked her good humouredly in the ribs.
"Now, back to business. Before all the prefects arrive, I just want you to know that this year you will be handling the schedule of prefect rounds, you'll have to organize it around Quidditch practices, up-coming tests and any other extra-curricular activities the other prefects will inform you of."
The two Heads nodded solemnly, their excitement dying down as they got into their role as leaders of the school.
There was a sharp rap on the door and Hermione nodded her head; the door slid open of its own accord and the students standing outside looked up and piled in. Hermione heard Milly whisper a quiet, 'Wow, non-verbal and wandless…" She smiled at the girl.
"It's not as hard as it looks."
Slowly the compartment filled up with the Prefects of the different Houses. Hermione was glad to see that House hatred seemed to have disappeared in the wake of the war, as Slytherins and Gryffindors conversed politely with Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws.
Hermione gave the prefects the run down and the password for each of their commons, only letting the Heads know all four passwords. Like before with Milly, several others had decided that because she was 'The Great' Hermione Granger that it was noteworthy of a short hype-up of excitement.
Afterwards though, the prefects decided amongst themselves who was going to patrol the train and when, before they all filtered past, the last ones out were the two Heads. Andy cleared his throat and Hermione arched an eyebrow, smiling slightly. "Yes, Mr. Doyle?"
"I also heard… that there are a couple more new Professors this year." He looked down at her curiously. Damn boys, always growing taller each year.
"You heard correctly, there's Professor Lupin for Care of Magical Creatures, Professor Longbottom for Herbology and Professor Malfoy for Potions, as well as an absent and un-named D.A.D.A Professor."
Milly's eyes grew wide, "Wow, you're all war heroes… Are you going to show us any of your awesome Death Eater fighting moves?"
Hermione looked at them, surprised.
Andy cringed, "Forget Milly said anything, she's rather…easily excited and exuberant."
Milly frowned and hit his arm, before turning sheepishly to her. "Sorry Professor."
Hermione just laughed, "It just shows your eagerness to learn, so don't worry about it. But you should both be getting back to your friends."
The two nodded happily and left. Hermione sat down with a large sigh, how was she going to manage all this energy the kids seemed to have bottled up? Well, she reasoned, it'll probably disappear as soon as the 'Holiday Over Blues' set in.