.
So far... The reborn Hermione befriended Harry, Neville, Luna, and the Weasleys while young and, though Voldemort died early, she launched the secret Cathesis League to fight corruption. Now starting at Hogwarts, she formed CREST from the most trusted members of the old D.A. Meanwhile, a ruthless half-hag has been assigned to bodyguard Harry in his first year, and Neville has finally made best friends – with a girl in a painting. Snape has taken Ron's History Tutomee and Hermione knew she must deal with the nasty Potions teacher once and for all. Now read on...
.
Chapter 39
The Potions Lessons Crisis
.
A New Teacher
Halloween came and went without a troll in sight. Once lessons ended on the Monday after the festivities, Hermione sat on her bed steeling herself for the confrontation with Snape that lay ahead. It was risky. It attracted attention to herself when she preferred to hide behind her lisping, feeble Clark Kent persona. But she was determined that Snape would not spoil Harry and Ron's schooldays like he had before. She had a plan prepared. She'd always had the plan but vainly hoped Snape might be a better person in this lifetime. He wasn't – if anything, he was worse.
Taking one last browse of the Geminoed copy of McGonagall's Daggard file before her, she vanished it. It wouldn't have lasted much longer – doubling and conjuring rarely did – and anyway, it only confirmed what she already knew: the Ministry had plenty of circumstantial evidence but no concrete proof against the half-hag – not while Veritaserum and Pensieve evidence was objected to by so many corrupt members of the Wizengamot.
Harry was still keeping his distance from her so she went in search of Ron and found him in the common room with Neville, trying to get a game of chess started.
"We need to talk," she said. "Maybe both of you, since you usually work together in Potions."
"Ah, it's about Snape is it?" said Ron. "Why bother? You know what, if you'd not given us those primers before Hogwarts, Snape would just be a waste of space. I might as well have stopped at home with the Tutomee."
"Exactly."
"What? What do you mean?"
"Well, I don't mean actually go home but suppose I told you that you don't need to go to Snape's lessons, would you have the nerve to stand up to your mum if she sent you a howler – or worse, came here to give you a tongue-lashing?"
Ron's lips moved wordlessly in confusion and his fingers toyed idly with the chess pieces that were still in their box. "Seriously?"
"There's no choice," said Neville. "Potions is mandatory, you know that."
"Potions is, but Snape isn't."
"What? Another teacher you mean? Who?"
"Me."
Ron and Neville looked at one another. Ron spoke first. "It's Bulstrode's dizzy draught isn't it? You've gone mental. I could brew you some balm if you like and–"
"I know all this stuff right up to seventh year and beyond. I've already taught it at Hogwarts remember? I also know the Founders' rules and regulations backwards and forwards better than anyone here – probably including Dumbledore."
"Phew!" Ron blew his astonishment upwards as he leaned back in his armchair thinking. "Mum'd do her nut if... no wait, is Beauxbatons unplottable? She went over for Halloween and is staying there for a few more days. She still misses Ginny – though I think it's more that Ginny is out of the country that upsets her. I dunno... she'd find out from my end of year report results."
"You'd still be able to sit exams because they are managed by the Wizarding Examinations Authority – for which I also worked at one time. How about you, Neville? Ready to defend your right to a good education? Being a Gryffindor is not entirely about knights in shining armour saving maidens from deadly dragons."
"What? ... What did you say that for?"
"Just an expression. I mean, I know you've both got the courage – I know better than you do yourselves. The question is, are you ready to fight the good fight?"
In his head, Neville could hear a sweet voice singing:
Wilt my true love's heart lead hither?
Or perish I with sigh and quiver?
"Neville?"
I have heard of thy brave deeds, Sir Neville!
He sighed.
"Give him a nudge, Ron, I think he's having one of his turns."
Neville jerked awake. "What? No! I mean, Yes! Yes, I'm ready to fight."
"Good man," said Ron. "If you will, then I will." He pushed away the unused chessboard with finality.
"We three then," said Hermione. "Let me do all the talking and follow my lead. We must stay strictly within Hogwarts rules else we're lost and I can't help you then. But if you stand by me then I'll make sure you face no penalties. We cannot ask permission first because we'll be refused. We have to go ahead and defend our position afterwards. So, when lunch is over tomorrow, keep your nerve, we go to Room 4J for Potions. And be on your best classroom behaviour even if there appears to be nobody else there but us. Give them nothing to attack and we'll be fine."
For the remaining half hour before dinner, she prepared them, rehearsing their responses for every eventually that might arise.
"What about Harry?" said Neville. "He hates us now, especially you, Hermione."
"No he doesn't. He's protecting us from that hag-witch the only way he knows how. She's a menace to everyone near him but not a serious threat to Harry himself. Not yet, anyway. But tell him what we're planning, Neville, or he'll worry when we don't turn up in Snape's lesson. And tell him it's okay to tell Snape we're in Room 4J if he asks – we're not doing anything wrong or secretive."
.
Professor Granger's First Class
The gay nerve of planning ahead is one thing but actually carrying out a risky scheme requires a physical courage that neither boy felt they possessed as the time approached. Ron was a little shaky and white-faced. Neville was nauseous and unable to eat lunch. Hermione gave them both energy bars laced with various potions of her own making which had proven themselves before many a battle.
"You'll be fine once we get started," she said, tucking into her salmon salad with a degree of relish that was genuine; she was looking forward to the fray. Yes, anxiety touched the palms of her hands – that was normal – but her confidence came from having considered the plan quite thoroughly long before they even arrived at Hogwarts.
As they made their way upstairs to the fourth floor, she reminded the boys about classroom formalities. "When nothing happens you'll quickly relax, but after that you'll begin to relax too much and forget what we're doing. I'll remind you sharply if I have to. This is to be a real class and I shall award and deduct house points if necessary."
Ron laughed. "Imagine if you could!" When Hermione didn't reply he turned to stare at her. "You're not serious?"
"Yes I am serious. Magic is timeless. The castle still regards me as a teacher and house points are part of that magic. Detentions I shall have to refer to McGonagall to carry out if you do not comply. It's essential we stay within the regulations. This must be a genuine Hogwarts Potions class."
Once in Room 4J, Hermione wasted no time but summoned equipment from her beaded bag and cast a detailed recipe for a hiccupping solution upon the blackboard. "I'll take you through this quite slowly and discuss each stage as we do. I want you to each prepare and brew your own potion but work together, share, check and learn from each other along the way."
"But isn't that cheating?" frowned Ron.
"It's called cooperative learning. Teaching was never intended to be a punishing torment, but natural absorption by doing. So let us begin..."
Ron and Neville grinned at one another.
"What?" said Hermione.
"We could finally get to like you being bossy, Hermione," smiled Ron.
No time was wasted puzzling out what to do. Hermione demonstrated how to grind down flea tendons with a tiny mortar and pestle, watched them try, corrected them repeatedly until they perfected the finger twitch, then checked it after. In this way they progressed so rapidly that they finished fifteen minutes before the end of the lesson and began to syphon off a sample of each of their mixtures into vials for Hermione to examine.
As they were finishing, the door opened. "Miss Granger..." McGonagall stood on the threshold with a shocked expression matched only for depth by Snape's thunderous look over her shoulder. "What in Merlin's name do you think you are doing?"
"Potionsth lessthon, Professor," said Hermione, her hand as steady as a rock as she stoppered the vials. "They're fine," she said to the boys but they had shrunk down into their seats hoping nobody would notice them.
McGonagall's lips made a very thin line that could cut through glass. "Your Potions lesson is down in the dungeon as you very well know. This prank will earn each of you detention which–"
"–Appello," cut in Hermione. "I wish to appeal on the grounds that according to the Founders Rules and Regulations, a Hogwarts lesson is defined as any class given by a qualified teacher at Hogwarts."
"Precisely. And your qualified teacher is Professor Snape. You will immediately–"
"Appello. Mister Snape is not officially qualified so–"
"And you are, I suppose! ENOUGH OF THIS NONSENSE!" bellowed Snape, striding past McGonagall. "You will address me as 'Sir' or 'Professor' and–"
"–Appello. Yes, I am qualified and have the certificate handed to me personally by Madame Marchbanks at the Ministry to prove it, whereas you, Mister Snape, are only a Potions Master with no teaching skills whatsoever. Technically you should address me as Professor Granger in front of the students but I'll waive that privilege."
"MISS GRANGER!" cried McGonagall. "I am ordering you to stop this fiasco and in future you will attend normal–"
"–Appello. Anyone who prevents a student from attending a legitimate lesson without good reason will attend a disciplinary hearing before the Hogwarts Board of Governors that–"
"Miss Granger! I am not preventing your – these – students from attending the official Hogwarts Potions lesson that is taking place in the basement, but I am–"
"–Appello. Mr Snape's class is not a legitimate Potions lesson but an indulgence in bad manners at best and child abuse at worst, whereas my class is properly authorised."
"SILENCE!" cried Snape. "I will not tolerate this! Either you immediately–"
"–Appello. To obstruct, divert, or otherwise impede a student who is claiming Appello is itself an offence under Article Thirty-eight and subject to a disciplinary hearing."
"THE – BOARD – WILL – NOT – LISTEN – TO – YOU! Is that clear!" bellowed Snape.
"THEY – HAVE – NO – CHOICE," Hermione stated quite firmly – and rather loudly. "The Board are bound by the Founders' magic in these situations, as are we all."
"Miss Granger," said McGonagall, striving to bring herself under control, "you have no idea how dangerous is the ground on which you tread. I have no choice but to refer this incident to the Headmaster. You are almost certain to face expulsion from Hogwarts unless you conform. You two boys – you will immediately return to Professor Snape's Potions class and serve out any punishment he deems fit."
"Appello," said Ron, his voice wavering only a little.
"Appello," echoed Neville, trying hard to sit up straight.
There was silence for several seconds except for the gentle bubbling of two cauldrons which now caught Snape's attention.
"How dare you steal ingredients and equipment from the stores!"
"–Appello! Article Sixty-four states that direct accusations of crime must never be made without strong evidence, failing which an apology is required. Everything here is purchased by myself and I have the receipts to prove it. The Founders rules demand an apology."
"Demand? I won't stand for this!" He swept forward and began angrily examining potions bottles, packets, and boxes, calming down to a sheepish scrutiny within moments as he realised they had all been supplied by a completely different pharmacy to the one used by Hogwarts. He inspected the contents of the cauldrons which had now thickened and lost colour.
"What is this nonsense being brewed?" He glanced at the blackboard and snorted, "You have it completely wrong and this is not the potion set for today!"
"Appello. The–"
"STOP! STOP THIS NOW!" McGonagall shook her head. "You will all accompany me to the Headmaster's office. He shall decide on a suitable punishment."
Her eyes swept disdainfully around the room then she strode out of the door where she folded her arms and waited. Ron and Neville looked at Hermione and she nodded. As they went out, Snape vanished all the equipment and wiped the blackboard with a few waves of his wand.
"Appello," said Hermione at the doorway. "Destroying evidence and destroying a student's property are both violations of–"
"SILENCE!" cried Snape.
"Appello. A student's legitimate Appello MUST be heard."
Snape groaned in exasperation. "Then let the Headmaster hear it just before he expels you."
.
The Headmaster's Decision
"Ah! I see you've found your missing students, Severus," said Dumbledore as Hermione and the others filed into his office. When he saw the serious expressions on the faces of his staff he remained seated behind his desk. Nor did he offer anyone a chair. Ron and Neville shuffled nervously close to Hermione, looking to her to take the lead.
"It's a sorry tale, Headmaster," replied Snape. "They were caught in the act of carrying out their own dangerous potions experiments using stolen property. They then brazenly refused to return to class, and their ringleader – Granger here – was persistently abusive and disrespectful both to myself and the Deputy Headmistress."
"Indeed?" Dumbledore peered at Hermione over his half-moon spectacles. "And what explanation have you to offer?"
"If you p-pleasthe, thsir, M-Mister Sthnape's account isth falsthe on every point. No exthperimentsth were carried out, and our activity was not dangerousth. Nor did we refusthe to attend classth because we WERE already in Potionsth classth as the magical roll call will testify. Also, I thshowed full resthpect at all timesth both to Mr Sthnape here and Professthor McGonagall."
"You see for yourself how rude she–!" began Snape but Dumbledore raised a hand and Snape fell silent.
"And you do not feel it is disrespectful to address Professor Snape incorrectly?"
"But sthir, I am addressing Mr Sthnape correctly because he isth not a qualified professthor. It would only be disthrespectful if I called him just Sthnape or Sthlimeball, Sthleazebag, or even–"
Neville and Ron both stiffened in alarm, McGonagall gasped and found a chair to sink onto to, while Snape's furious glare and open mouth portended a barrage of angry words – but again Dumbledore raised his hand. "–The magical community is quite small compared to Muggle society, Miss Granger, and discretion takes precedence over documents. Several of our teachers do not have paper qualifications but possess knowledge of their subject which is quite exceptional." He paused for her response. "You do not disagree?"
"No, thsir. Mr Sthnape is a fine Potionsth Masthter but he is also the worstht kind of teacher: inefficient, abusthive, unjustht, cruel, intimidating, and demoralisthing."
Snape exploded. "Headmaster! I will not stand by and–"
"Miss Granger," Dumbledore resumed as if there had been no interruption, and cut straight to the chase, "what then was the intention of your actions?"
"For many yearsth before attending Hogwartsth I wasth taught Potionsth by a wizard who knew my father,"Hermione said – truthfully, for she had taken some later instruction in her former life to gain her teachership. "Not being a Hogwartsth sthtudent I was ineligible to take an OWL exam, but with additional help I was able to apply for a teaching qualification." She reached into her beaded bag and said with a mixture of shyness and pride, "Here isth my firstht-year thertificate."
She handed it to Dumbledore who perused it carefully. His shaggy grey eyebrows disappeared up under his hat.
Snape growled, "Anyone can fake such a document!"
"Minerva, would you see if Griselda is free, please? Tell her it's only for a few moments to authenticate a diploma."
McGonagall hurried over to the fireplace.
Dumbledore said, "And you suppose, Miss Granger, that you can simply begin teaching at Hogwarts without permission?"
With the pretence of increasing confidence, Hermione said excitedly, "But Professor McGonagall gave her approval for a study group! And I looked it up, sir! There is no specific requirement for permission in the Founders' Rules and Regulations, it being assumed that staff would be managed by magical employment law. Since I am not a paid employee, that does not apply."
The Headmaster looked towards his deputy but she had her head through the green flames in the fireplace.
Hermione quickly continued, "And by the magically-enforced ruling of the Founders, a student is obliged to attend lessons in the given subject – which we all did, including myself."
"What's going on, Minerva?" murmured Madam Marchbanks who was now standing beside McGonagall over by the fireplace. "I can't spare much time,"
"Ah, Griselda," smiled Dumbledore. "I won't keep you more than a minute or so, but I have to ask, do you know this person?" He gestured towards Hermione.
Madam Marchbanks came forward, squinting at the young girl. "You do seem vaguely familiar..."
Hermione said, "We met at the Ministry in July, Madam Marchbanks, remember? Hermione Granger. I was with my father."
Dumbledore handed the certificate to Madam Marchbanks.
"Ah, yes, now I vaguely recall being astonished at how young you were. Exceptional marks, my dear, exceptional. You are very gifted in the teaching of Potions."
Hermione shook her head. "Thank you, but it was really only because of studying under the care of a great wizard. It makes all the difference, don't you think, when the teacher lovingly nurtures and corrects a child instead of breaking her spirit by cruelly punishing every honest mistake?"
"Absolutely! I could not agree more! Albus, you have here a wonderful student-teacher who will flower into greatness if you give her the opportunity."
"Thank you very much, Griselda," said Dumbledore.
Well, if that is all, I must be going..." She handed the certificate to Hermione and bustled off via the Floo.
"Experience is far more important than a scrap of parchment," snarled Snape, "Granger was teaching the wrong potion in the wrong way and the results were a disaster!"
Hermione was ready for this. "No, Headmaster, the remainder in the cauldrons became slightly over-stewed because of Mr Snape's interruption of my lesson. Also my methods are more efficient than his own so we finished earlier. Here are the correct results." She handed Dumbledore the two vials that Ron and Neville had produced.
"You prepared those beforehand!" spluttered Snape, "AND they're the WRONG potion!"
"The official first-year syllabus outlines mandatory potion types which must be covered. The one I elected to teach in this lesson covers the widest range of ingredients and preparation methods in its type, and is also fun."
"FUN!" Snape threw up his hands in despair. "Students are not here at Hogwarts School of Magic to enjoy their education!"
Dumbledore peered at the label of one of the vials that Hermione had given him. "You made this, Mr Weasley?"
"Uuh... yes, sir," Ron said warily. "It's hiccupping solution."
"Is it indeed? May I?" He unstoppered the little bottle and raised it to his lips.
"Headmaster!" cried Snape. "Weasley is notoriously useless at following the simplest of instructions – and that potion has not been tested yet!
"And you know that, how?" said Dumbledore with a quizzical stare.
McGonagall gasped in realisation. "They'd just syphoned it out as we arrived!"
"Syphoned, not ladled or poured?" murmured Dumbledore, nodding his head. "That sounds right for this mixture and the colour looks ideal for strength." He took a sip.
"Well... hic ... I do believe ... hic ... one taste was ... hic ... more than ... hic ... ade– hic – quate proof." He drew his wand and with a slight flick, his hiccupping ceased. "Well done, Mr Weasley. Five house points I believe that merits." He passed the vials back to Hermione. "When you have time, Miss Granger, you should amuse yourself by testing Mr Longbottom's mixture – I agree it is rather fun. However..."
His levity ended with a frown. "I shall take only ten house points from each of you for failing to attend your approved class and caution you that–"
"Appello," said Hermione, quite firmly. Snape rolled his eyes and gestured towards Hermione as if she were proving his claim of disrespect.
"I beg your pardon?" said Dumbledore.
"I am appealing against your punishment, Headmaster, as provided by the Founders' Rules. We all did attend an approved class."
"Miss Granger, as Headmaster, I have not approved your class and insist that you attend Professor Snape's class."
"With respect, a headmaster of Hogwarts is not empowered to overrule the Founders' regulations which are absolute and magically enforced. They define a lesson as one given at the school by an authorised teacher – which I am. We have not broken any rule so there can be no punishment for this or any future lessons I wish to give."
"Miss Granger, you have staged your protest but you cannot seriously expect to continue to give Potion lessons?"
"I know of no obstacle to my intentions."
"I shall have no recourse but to expel you from Hogwarts. Is that not obstacle enough?"
"There can be no legality to such a decision. The Board of Governors would have to override it when they receive my Appello together with detailed, reasoned arguments supporting it."
Dumbledore blinked. "I see you have given this much thought but I will not allow it."
"Very well, Headmaster. Under the several Appellos that I've verbally lodged before witnesses, I have the right to appoint a legal representative to gather testimony from all students past and present against Mister Snape's abuse, some of which is definitely criminal–"
"Outrageous!" thundered Snape. "I refuse to listen to–"
With the aid of a weak Sonorous charm, Hermione continued talking slightly louder over Snape's protests, "–After his dismissal and sentencing by the Wizengamot and my expulsion is overturned, I shall return to Hogwarts and accept lessons by whichever new Potions professor you appoint – subject to my own approval, of course. There is also the matter of expensive personal property being stolen and destroyed – my equipment and Ron's notebook. If you would confirm my expulsion, Headmaster, I have a lengthy statement already prepared for publication in the Daily Prophet but there'll be much other work to do, commencing with–"
"–So it was always your intention to provoke me into expelling you?"
"My intention, Headmaster, was to reveal to you that the Founders' magic can still trump cruel injustice, and I also wished to discover if it is your intention to support child abuse knowingly."
There was a frozen silence in the office of the Headmaster of Hogwarts. One portrait fainted and even McGonagall was gripping her chair in case she fell off it.
Dumbledore said, "You consider Professor Snape's actions to be that serious?"
"I do, sir."
"Then you three will please wait outside while I discuss the situation with my staff."
Ron and Neville followed Hermione outside where she asked Ron to hold her hand and keep lookout, then immediately dipped her invisible head back through the wall to observe and listen to what was being said in the Headmaster's office.
"–seriously be considering allowing her to get away with this!"
"Severus, you have brought this humiliation upon yourself. In any event we have been outmanoeuvred."
"By a first-year who is unremarkable and unresponsive in class, yet possesses a teaching qualification! Has it not occurred to you Albus that her behaviour is not always that of a young child!"
McGonagall said, "An extremely bright and articulate child – and might I add very courageous one too. Yes, she is very nervous of people at first but she is a true Gryffindor who overcomes her fears and stands up for what she believes is right."
Dumbledore said, "Thank you, Minerva. Would you then ask Filius to join us? I believe he is in the staff room so you can use the Floo."
"Filius? Yes, of course, Headmaster."
As soon as McGonagall's head was in the flames again, Dumbledore whispered, "Severus, what precious little we know of the Black Arc is that it grows stronger year by year. If they wished to recruit a spy, who better placed than yourself? The Order needs you here, Severus, but at what cost to the children? The other reason you know. Harry will always be a target and may I remind you that your debt to Lily Potter is great. Despite the difficulties for you, I must put in place certain measures..."
McGonagall said, "Filius had already left, Headmaster. I've sent a Patronus to find him. Hopefully he won't be long."
"Thank you, Minerva."
"What measures, Albus?" frowned Snape.
"You will no longer deduct house points or give detentions but–"
"Preposterous!"
"–but refer all punishments to the appropriate head of house or to myself. Awards to Slytherins likewise will be judged by me. You will strive for fairness and impartiality in your class, and if you are incapable of verbally encouraging your students, then you will find some other way to reward them."
"This is insufferable! How can–!"
Hermione sensed Ron's virtual hand tighten on hers so she quickly withdrew and became visible and solid again.
"Someone's coming up the stairs!" whispered Neville.
The top of Professor Flitwick's head appeared soon after, followed by his face. When he saw the three, the little man squeaked, "I assume the blame for my being summoned to the Headmaster during my free time can be laid at your doorstep?"
"Sorry, sir," said Hermione.
He knocked on the door.
"Enter."
As soon as the door closed, Hermione grabbed Ron's hand again and dunked her face through the wall.
"Yes, thank you, Filius. I would like your opinion of one of your Charms students."
"Hermione Granger, I take it?" said Flitwick. When Dumbledore bowed his head in assent, Flitwick continued, "A very good student who has no difficulties with the course set because her related magical knowledge and intelligence is of a very high level. So much so that..."
"Yes?"
"Well, I confess I am surprised and a little disappointed she wasn't sorted into Ravenclaw."
McGonagall said, "She suffered quite a long hat stall, Albus. Do you remember?"
"I do. And if I didn't know better..."
"What, Headmaster?"
He shook his head. "Nothing. The Sorting has been magically infallible for a thousand years."
"What if it was not her?" growled Snape. "A Gryffindor friend in her guise?"
"The Hat would know!" cried McGonagall. "What are you saying?"
"I am saying I suspect there is more to little Miss Granger than appears."
"She's smart, that's for sure," said Flitwick, "and plays her cards close to her chest. I've known her to help others learn a charm that she herself had supposedly just cast for the first time."
"Indeed?" said Dumbledore. "You think she–?"
McGonagall cut in. "She is a quick learner because she researches ahead. She almost Transfigured a match into a needle at her first attempt! Well, it was certainly sharp and silvery. She told me that at an early age she'd practised many spell movements with a trainer wand even though such a wand cannot actually channel Transfiguration magic. Headmaster, we cannot condemn a child for being bright, ambitious, and strong-willed!"
"There. Must. Be. Discipline!" Snape barked.
"Yes, there must," said the Headmaster. "Minerva, if you would...?"
McGonagall strode to the door but Hermione was already backed out, visible, and had reminded Ron and Neville how to respond before it opened.
"Come in, children."
The Headmaster was still seated and the others standing, but there was no twinkle in his blue eyes, and when he spoke, it seemed to the youngsters as if he was far above them. "I trust you understand the need for behaviour to be controlled in an establishment such as a school?"
"Yes, sir," murmured the three, rather anxiously.
"The same applies to us all. I have therefore taken steps to change the conditions of your official Potions lessons so that all penalties will be referred to the head of your house. Care and fairness will be exercised in future, and I shall be deducting only two token house points from each of you for today's... protest. In return I ask you, as a matter of courtesy to me personally, that you will resume addressing Professor Snape in the required manner. I trust that this meets with your approval and we can resume normal activities from now on. Thank you, you may go."
"No sir," said Hermione, very firmly.
"No sir," croaked Ron and Neville.
McGonagall's gasp was drowned out by Snape's groan. Flitwick's eyebrows rose almost to the height of Dumbledore's desk.
Snape's voice clearly conveyed his unrestrained fury. "How DARE you challenge the Headmaster's generous–!"
"Severus, please..." Dumbledore looked to Hermione. "Miss Granger, I have gone out of my way to appease you and resolve the issue that has been troublesome. Please, therefore, tell me what possible objections you can have to my offer?"
"Firstly, we have done nothing wrong, so no penalty is acceptable. Not one single house point nor even a reprimand is tolerable as a matter of principle."
"Go on..."
"Second, I shall address Mister Snape as Professor only when he becomes one – not one moment before."
"Unacceptable!" cried Snape, slamming his hand down so hard on Dumbledore's desk that the inkpot rattled.
"Third, Mister Snape will personally compensate me to the utmost farthing for the property he needlessly destroyed – namely, four-hundred and seventy-five Galleons for equipment, expensive ingredients, and the inconvenience of restocking my reserves. I value my time very highly."
McGonagall had somehow found her chair again and slumped into it, fanning herself with a limp hand.
"Fourthly, Mister Snape will return the property he stole from Ron, namely, his personal notebook."
"DISGRACEFUL! You insult me yet again!" cried Snape." As you were told at the time, the book appears to be a dark object and must be investigated!"
"Incorrect. The book shows no sign of dark magic whatsoever. It is an innocent writing tool. If you believed a dangerously-cursed object had been brought into Hogwarts then you would have rushed it to the attention of the Headmaster. Furthermore, you knew it was perfectly safe and were only expressing your normal irritable, ill-tempered petulance which is to inflict as much suffering as possible on the children in your care for your own sick self-gratification."
Snape's mouth was open, but for once he was rendered speechless.
"Fifthly, Mister Snape's meanness of character makes him forever incapable of efficient teaching and so long as a single student wishes me to teach them, I shall continue to do so. Those are my terms."
"Your terms? I see..." said Dumbledore. "If that is your last word on the matter then, Miss Granger, Ron Weasley, Neville Longbottom, all three of you are expelled from Hogwarts. Please collect your belongings and leave."
"Very well," said Hermione, after a few seconds pause and with only a slight tremor in her voice, "I shall inform you of the necessary actions, tribunal date, and so on in due course. The Auror Office and the Daily Prophet will no doubt contact both you and Mr Snape directly. Thank you for hearing us."
She headed for the door with a grey-faced Ron stumbling after. Neville, meanwhile, had only half-turned to follow. "But... but..."
Hermione opened the door and she and Ron went out. She stopped just outside and put a finger to her lips. "Wait for Neville," she whispered.
"Yes, Mr Longbottom?" they heard Dumbledore say.
There was silence for many seconds.
"Nothing." They heard him take a couple of steps. "Except I'm very disappointed," he said tearfully. "We've done nothing wrong and all we wanted was to learn from a good teacher. We deserved that at Hogwarts, didn't we?"
He strode out and joined his friends.
Eyes shining, Hermione seized the hands of both of her companions. "Well said, Neville, I'm proud of you. Both of you are so amazingly brave..." She dragged them invisibly half through the wall to watch.
"Astonishing, truly astonishing," Dumbledore was saying.
"You were testing them?" said Flitwick.
"Yes, to see how far they would go." He sighed. "Utterly outstanding behaviour. Minerva; they're all true Gryffindors. Wait a few minutes then go after them and say you persuaded me to relent and that I now agree to Miss Granger's demands."
"WHAT!" screamed Snape. "Albus, you cannot mean to allow this farce to continue, surely?"
"Severus, from what I've heard today, the treatment of children under your care is far worse than I had thought. I confess I am surprised it has taken this many years for a student to rebel." He turned to his deputy. "Minerva, when you have the opportunity, sit in on one or two of Professor Granger's classes and let me know how they all fare."
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—oOo—
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Author's Notes
In last chapter's reviews, Brian1972 finds it becoming hard to swallow that nobody in authority notices Daggard's outrageous behaviour and that is is contrived to present a story obstacle, thus making Hogwarts not so much fun as the pre-Hogwarts part of this story. There is some truth in that. I can understand and sympathise with any reader finding the hag too extreme to be true. But to respond to the first part, don't adventure fantasies mostly consist of overcoming series of challenges? Maybe I'm not masking that enough? I confess I don't know how to improve on that while trying to make the story exciting, involving, and interesting.
As for believability, consider that the staff know nothing of Daggard's theft and blackmail nor of what happens out of sight. They would step in if they learned that Daggard had seriously attacked anyone (Hermione did after Aculus was hurt but she mistakenly thought Harry was the one bound on the floor in the corridor and clearly he was simply angry not hurt.) Harry is saying nothing for his own reasons that come out later.
The original fiction is a caricaturesque fantasy with a ruthless wizard's target moved into a children's school, the clown fraud Lockhart, not closing Hogwarts when CoS is re-opened even though its monster killed before, Dementors in the grounds and a lethal forest on its edge. Then there is the Dursleys unspeakable cruelty as well as a farcical magical legal system. So to my sensibilities, I think rough-handling by a hag fits well in all that craziness. Mmm... perhaps my story so far attempts to be more serious so the hag doesn't fit that? Still, the excessive sphinx, the seductress in the two-way mirror, Devil's Deep – all absurd in real terms but these are fantasy situations I enjoy and there'll be much more to come like that (in fact in the above chapter!)
Snowdove30 is also tired of the hag – but unlike the original story, there is always satisfying payback for my villains! Keep reading.
oXCrystalAngelXo suggest having other girls crushing on Harry to give Hermione something else to worry about. I'll keep that open over the next few story years.
Ivory would like to see more of the Cathesis League, and Hermione/Rosemary's interactions with them. Yes, I've been focused on Hogwarts (and so has Hermione) but the needed political, legal, and social changes in both magical and Muggle worlds are crucial to this story's theme so there will be more on that.
Ivory also asks if Hermione will soon reveal the truth about her life to trusted adults. Well, not soon, at least not to many. It will remain fragmented (hard for me to remember who knows what about her!) but I like the tension (and humility) of keeping the secret. It would be interesting drama if Hermione saves the world yet dies a nobody in old age. That part is not yet planned though, so don't hold me to that.
Many thanks for all comments and reviews. These are most welcome and very encouraging. Let me know of any weaknesses or faults – I'm always trying to improve my writing so feedback is really useful. :)
– Hippothestrowl
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