Chapter 35

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"You've really outdone yourself this time, Flitwick." Minerva praised the smaller professor.

"Why thank you, Minnie." He snickered when she glared.

"Oh now don't you start!"

The staff room had indeed been expanded and a party was in full swing that night. The drinks were flowing as all the professors shared the latest student gossip, waiting to meet the Transfiguration temp.

Harry and the three apprentices were in front of the fire, immersed in their own conversation. Harry sat on the couch, Neville on his right and Hermione in his lap. Draco was perched on the arm of couch at Harry's left, nearly spilling his drink as he laughed.

A blond woman slipped into the room unnoticed, smiling as she approached the group in front of the fire. "Draco, dear."

He turned to the woman and returned her smile. "Hello mother. What are you doing here?" He kissed her cheek and they hugged. "Have you come to meet the new professor?"

Narcissa shared a knowing smile with Hermione. "You could say that." She turned to sound of clinking glass.

"Could I have your attention, everyone." McGonagall called out to the room as she stood in front of the fire. "As you all know, as Headmistress, I am no longer able to continue with teaching Transfiguration." The others nodded. "The new professor will not be ready to take on the job until much later in the year, so I would like to introduce you to the one who will be filling the post until such time. Narcissa?" She held her hand out to the woman, who took it graciously and stood next to her.

"I look forward to working along side all of you while I'm here." She beamed around the room.

Draco gasped and sputtered. "What? Really?" Narcissa nodded and he hugged her again. "That's fantastic!"

Some of the professors clapped while the others gathered around the woman to get better acquainted.

Harry and Neville shared a concerned glance. "What's the matter, Harry?" Hermione had turned back to him and seen the worried expression.

"It's just… I don't know how to feel about her being a teacher." He watched the woman chatting excitedly with professor Sinistra. "I mean, I know she was a secret member of the order and she can be rather kind-"

"But?"

"But can we really trust her?" He watched his hand rub up and down Hermione's exposed thigh.

Hermione lifted his chin and pressed a gentle kiss to his lips. "It'll be ok. She's only here until Minerva believes I'm ready to take over." They looked at the woman again. "She should be given a chance. Just look how happy she is."

Harry chuckled as she let out a squeak when Draco pulled her up and dance them around the room.

"I know how you feel, Harry." He turned to Neville. "But look at it this way, McGonagall was the one who chose her for the position. And you know how serious she is about the professors here."

Harry smiled. "I know. Do you remember how she acted about Gilderoy Lockhart?"

"Of course. How could anyone forget?" They laughed.

McGonagall had ended the party an hour later, yelling, "Off to bed! We can't teach our students if we're all dead on our feet." And shooed everyone out. "Oh Hermione!" She stopped her apprentice. "Don't forget, you are to assist Narcissa with the first years tomorrow."

"You can count on me, Minerva." Hermione slurred and waved as Harry guided her out of the room.

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Hermione bit her lip trying not to laugh at the first years. Some of them were staring worriedly at Narcissa and others were yawning with disinterest.

"Good morning class." Narcissa greeted the students sweetly. Their reactions were quite humorous to her.

Hermione cleared her throat to get them to reply, "Good morning, professor Malfoy."

"No, no, no. It's Black now. Professor Black. You don't need to worry. I'm quite harmless and I don't bite." A few of the students giggled but they seemed to visibly relax. "We're a bit behind, so we have a lot to go over today." She turned to the board behind her and began writing. "You need to get out your books and turn to chapter one."

Hermione watched on the rest of the time, smiling at how good of a teacher Narcissa turned out to be.