Yes, I'm back! Enjoy!

Questions for Professor Wood

The next morning Hermione woke an hour earlier than usual, quickly took a shower, applied her usual minimal makeup, put on some school robes and her Head Girl badge, put her hair into a ponytail, and, taking her books, exited the Common Room, hoping to have an early breakfast.

Oliver was sitting at the staff table, alone, with a broomstick in hand. He hadn't seen her, but Hermione could see his face, and was almost taken aback. His eyes were so sad. He had laughed when talking to Harry, Ron and her on the Hogwarts Express; he had seemed so happy last night. But now his large brown eyes looked despondent, and the edges of his mouth were turned downward. More than anything, Hermione wanted to put her arms around him, kiss him soundly, and tell him that the world would be all right.

This would've been a good plan, except for two things: Voldemort's attacks were growing ever more frequent, and Professor Flitwick was just sitting down at the table, his feet dangling.

Hermione then settled for the next best idea: She walked quickly to where Oliver was sitting, and tapping him on the shoulder, said, "Professor Wood, I have some questions for you. Could you possibly answer them, say, in the library?"

After a moment, in which Oliver saw with surprise that it was Hermione asking this, and that she was smiling, he replied, "Meet me at the Quidditch pitch, all right?"

°

Having grabbed some toast, she was beginning to eat it in the stands when Oliver flew up to where she was sitting.

"You had questions?" he asked, smiling as brightly as on the Hogwarts Express, somehow still revealing the ghost of the sad young man she had seen eating.

"Two, actually. One, why do you love me? To be your eye candy at Quidditch games? Because I'm Harry Potter's friend, once his girlfriend? Because I'm probably the only witch not obsessed with Quidditch, or because I'm the 'cleverest witch in my year?' Why?" she asked, finishing the toast and looking into his eyes.

"I love you, because from the first moment I saw you, you were graceful, poised, kind, wonderful, clever, and just you. As you said last night, you had that spark, which I couldn't put my finger on, but loved at once and needed. I needed it so badly, Hermione, that I am willing to risk losing this job at Hogwarts for a kiss from you. I need it so badly that if I had one picture of you; I would make a shrine for it and become its devoted priest. I feel almost as if I've found that One Girl, and I've never really felt like this with every girl I've dated. I love you Hermione, because you are yourself, and she is the most marvelous girl I have ever met!"

Rather breathless with this, Hermione answered her own question. "And now you're probably wondering why I love you, right? If someone had asked me last week if I believed in love at first sight, I would have said no; it goes against all logic. But then I saw you, and I was in love. I remembered you at Quidditch games; your fanaticism, but you're kinder, braver, more loving, more handsome. And when you were at breakfast a little while ago, you looked so sad that all I wanted to do was make you smile and be happy all the time! I love you much too much, probably, but I love you!"

"Oh Hermione… I warn you, I've become an Auror; I cannot guarantee that I will stay alive even after this year. And to lose what I have just found… But I'm not a secure person to love. I… I love you, Hermione."

Twining her fingers in his short hair, she kissed him. And in their joy, there was consent. And it was good.

°

Herbology was Hermione's first class that day. Professor Sprout's usual cheeriness welcomed her like one of Mrs. Weasley's embraces. Happily, she was paired with Justin. However, Hannah Abbot was assigned to help her harvest the Daggerweed pods, and Hannah's chatter was mind-numbing.

"And how handsome Oli- I mean, Professor Wood, is! Of course, I'm faithful to Ernie, but what a wonderful replacement for Madame Hooch! I daresay it's an improvement…"

And on and on she went like this. Hermione only barely restrained herself from throwing the blade-sharp pods at her. Didn't Hannah know that Madame Hooch had been raped by a Death Eater before being killed with a knife? Of course, Hermione loved Oliver, but Madame Hooch was a heroine! Strongly reminded of one of the fantasy books of her childhood, she let the chatter wash over her. Harry and Ron had been partnered together, she thought wistfully; my luck for the day must be over…

°

At lunch, to her surprise, Oliver sat at the Gryffindor table, talking to Harry and Ron. Hermione guessed that the conversation was about Quidditch, but when she noticed their hushed tones and worried expressions, she deemed that they were talking about Voldemort. Sitting down next to Oliver (which made Hannah Abbot seethe with jealousy at the Hufflepuff table), she asked what was wrong.

"Oliver's going spying in two weeks; we're trying to figure out if we need to cover for him in any way here," Harry explained, not turning his face up. "Any suggestions?"

"Say he's ill? Wait, Professor Lupin used that 3rd year; I doubt it would really work again… That he has a game? And he needs to come early for practices?" she suggested, her mind feeling blank.

"Dumbledore had something figured out, I think, but he hasn't told me much, so I'd like to have a ready excuse… And don't worry, Hermione! Professor Dumbledore assured me that I'll simply be patrolling the Forbidden Forest for three days, and he gave me a long list of protection spells to use! Smile, love; remember what you said this morning?"

And Hermione smiled, but, for some reason, she couldn't shake a dark feeling from her shoulders.

°

This chapter was utter mush! Or fluff, whichever you prefer… But I did have fun writing it, as well as writing about Hannah Abbot. I don't know when the next chapter will come out, but I will have fun writing it, believe me!

And, now, to the reviewers:

Kate Lynn- You don't use a BETA?!? I'm very impressed… Oh, and did you know that I'm a teenage philosophy nut? Yes, it's sad but true…

noodle jelly- I shall carry on; this is much too fun to write!

Mione- Yes, the kissed. And guess what? They're gonna kiss more!

Moony!- Part of the reason it was fast paced was 'cause Oliver's working for Dumbledore… Kinda a wartime relationship-thingy…

WritingGirl387- They are? It is? I reviewed both your fics, btw! Continue working @ 'em?

Please review!