A/N Okay, I've had some reviews from H/H shippers. I'm not particularly R/H or, as a matter of fact, anything. I write some of anything. If you like H/H, then please read 'The Voice in the Woods.' It is an H/H fic and it doesn't get any reviews. This will be an R/H fic. Period. I actually get into a plot here, so enjoy.
Disclaimer: I usually don't put disclaimers up because it's FANfiction.net. But, since I'm typing stuff up anyway, I figure I might as well remind y'all that all of the characters belong to the Almighty J K Rowling. As if you didn't already know that.
For the Love of the Land
~I pledge my loyalty to Honor, Justice, and Hogwarts~
Part Two
The first thing Hermione did the morning she woke up and September 2 was to get out a piece of parchment and a quill. Not for homework, but to write a letter.
The biggest thing that bugged her about going to Nova Scotia was that the Grangers hadn't taken their yearly visit to Aunt Charlotte. Aunt Charlotte was the only of Hermione's relative (beside her parents, of course) who knew about her magical training. Unlike her parents, who were scared to death with the thought of Hermione in all the dangerous Dark situations she had already encountered, Aunt Charlotte lived for Hermione's adventurous tales, and knew about everything except Sirius. For years Hermione had written Aunt Charlotte when in doubt, and she didn't intend to quit now.
Aunt Charlotte and Ginny were the only living souls who knew about Hermione's crush on Ron. Thank God she had someone to confide in; Hermione was a whiz in class, but with guys it was a completely different matter. It was this that Hermione wanted to write her beloved aunt about. She managed to sign her name just before Lavender awoke with a none too ladylike groan of protest. Hermione pocketed the letter and ran a brush through her bushy hair, not taking too much of her precious time. When she was finished, Hermione didn't think her hair looked any different than it had before. But she didn't care. Neither would Ron. Not that that was important. Of course it was important! Why should it be...
Hermione could feel a headache coming on swiftly and surely. She sighed and jogged to the owlery while her mind argued with itself. Even with this detour, Hermione was among the first in the Great Hall. She was joined a short while later by Harry and Ron. The three got into an interesting conversation, which Hermione had to keep steering away from Quidditch.
"Sixth year schedules!" Someone down the crowded table shouted. The threesome all grabbed a schedule and were silent for a fraction of a second.
"Defense Against the Dark Arts first thing today." Harry said grimly. Both he and Ron took this as some sort of death sentence, which Harry would be getting later as the boys had Divination in the afternoon. Hermione rolled her eyes. She wasn't entirely at ease, though. The fact remained that over half their DADA professors had been evil or frauds. She could not afford to lose another year in that class.
The sixth year Gryffindors were unusually quiet as they took their seats in the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom. Professor Starlight swooped in, causing them to start. Had they not been so nervous they would've seen how pretty their new teacher was. Her eyes accented her hair, which were both perfect for her medium skin tone.
However, as she 'Brown, Lavender,' was called for attendance, they could tell just by her voice that this teacher wasn't going to take any crap from anyone. She was sharp, not missing anything. As she looked around, her eyes paused once again on the threesome. Hermione stared back determinedly, although she wanted to squirm.
"I see from notes left by previous professors that you have covered many different things, and I am to bring you up to speed on curses and creatures of the Dark Force." Her voice was not loud, nor disdainful. It cut like a knife and demanded respect from her pupils. It looked like she might rival McGonagall on this scale.
"We will start with creatures," She said, without further explanation. "Vampires, to be precise, we will then move to giants, dragons, and dementors. That should take up the first semester. Open your books to page 538. NOW!" She had the students scrambling. If Starlight had said, 'jump' the students would replied 'how high' and she knew it.
"Granger, which is the most efficient way to kill a vampire?" Starlight said out of nowhere.
"A wooden stake," Hermione said, looking up in surprise. Starlight's lips curled.
"No, Miss Granger. Potter?"
"Uh..."
"Weasley?"
"Well, um..."
"I see I am teaching a group of imbeciles, does anyone here know how to the most effective way to kill a vampire? No? Roses. A whiff of a rose is death to vampires, and less dangerous than a stake. Copy that down, Miss Granger."
Hermione felt herself turning red. So she hadn't known one measley answer, so what? That wasn't important. Nonetheless, she knew it would be around the school that she had missed a question. Hermione's face darkened even further in anger.
They then took a very long series of complicated notes. The class struggled the whole time to catch the important facts. Even Hermione's hand hurt when they left for lunch from writing so much so rapidly.
"She is definitely evil, probably sent by Crouch Jr." Ron said.
"Just because she's not the nicest person in the world doesn't mean she's evil. That's we thought about Snape, too, in first year!" Hermione exclaimed.
"I still think he's evil." Ron replied. Hermione rolled her eyes and gave Harry a Look.
"I don't think she's evil, but I think her class is going to be." Harry said carefully. Hermione didn't have an argument for that, and Ron knew she didn't like Starlight much.
"Hermione's just upset that she didn't know how to kill a vampire." Ron said.
"That IS a way to kill a vampire Ron! At least I knew one. Unlike SOME people who were asked the same question!" Hermione said, her voice pitch rising ever so slightly with each syllable.
However, as the week progressed, Hermione spent a lot of time researching vampires so as not to be embarrassed in their next class.
Even then, while still miles ahead and all her other classes, Hermione was embarrassed again and again in Defense Against the Dark Arts. Professor Starlight was asking her question that would've stumped seventh years.
Why me? Hermione thought angrily as she went to lunch with the rest of the chatty crowd after one particularly blood boiling class. Why does she insist on asking ME all the difficult questions?
Yet, Hermione wasn't the only one getting questions way beyond even her talent. Starlight was asking questions of the same proximity to Neville. Everyone but Hermione (who was to preoccupied with her own problems with the professor) thought that, while a little unfair, it was hilarious.
"Hermione?" Ron said a tad bit timidly, and for good reason. Hermione was a DRAGON after that class!
"What?" Hermione snapped, living up to her fiery reputation.
"Uhh...." Ron stammered, and quickly took out his schedule and started studying it intently. Harry looked from one to the other as if he knew something they didn't. Hermione was just about to ask him what he was so high and mighty about, but then she saw Ginny glancing at Harry for a fraction of a second, turning slightly pink when a fifth year friend said something to her. At this Hermione couldn't help but smile. That girl was worse than she was.
September sped by, as every September did. The only difference being that Hermione's most hated class was no longer Potions. Harry and Ron still despised it above all others, but, for reasons unknown, Starlight seemed more interested with Hermione than she was with either of her best friends.
The afternoon of October the first found Hermione in the library, finishing an essay for Professor Flitwick and preparing to begin studying for an Arithmancy test the next day. She was just setting down her quill and picking up her book when a small owl fluttered in, dropped a note on her table, and swooped out. The owl hadn't been normal size, but it was larger than Pig.
Curious, Hermione opened the note:
Hermione Granger
You are needed in my office immediately.
Professor L. Starlight
What have I done now? Hermione thought angrily. She magicked everything into her bag and started off for the office that held memories of Crouch Jr. and Gilderoy Lockhart.
When Hermione opened the door she found that Ginny Weasley and Neville Longbottom were already occupying two of the five comfortable looking chairs in front of Starlight's desk. Hermione raised her eyebrows, but Ginny and Neville looked as confused as she was and Starlight wasn't saying anything, so Hermione sat down.
The next to enter was Draco Malfoy.
"Is this some kind of joke?" He asked looking at the three Gryffindors in disgust. Starlight gave him her Look and pointed to the chairs. Hermione studied the last chair, wondering who would sit there in a few moments.
She was not left hanging for long. Thirty seconds later Cho Chang entered the room with a quizzical look around. Finally, Starlight spoke.
"Welcome, Defenders of Hogwarts."
Disclaimer: I usually don't put disclaimers up because it's FANfiction.net. But, since I'm typing stuff up anyway, I figure I might as well remind y'all that all of the characters belong to the Almighty J K Rowling. As if you didn't already know that.
For the Love of the Land
~I pledge my loyalty to Honor, Justice, and Hogwarts~
Part Two
The first thing Hermione did the morning she woke up and September 2 was to get out a piece of parchment and a quill. Not for homework, but to write a letter.
The biggest thing that bugged her about going to Nova Scotia was that the Grangers hadn't taken their yearly visit to Aunt Charlotte. Aunt Charlotte was the only of Hermione's relative (beside her parents, of course) who knew about her magical training. Unlike her parents, who were scared to death with the thought of Hermione in all the dangerous Dark situations she had already encountered, Aunt Charlotte lived for Hermione's adventurous tales, and knew about everything except Sirius. For years Hermione had written Aunt Charlotte when in doubt, and she didn't intend to quit now.
Aunt Charlotte and Ginny were the only living souls who knew about Hermione's crush on Ron. Thank God she had someone to confide in; Hermione was a whiz in class, but with guys it was a completely different matter. It was this that Hermione wanted to write her beloved aunt about. She managed to sign her name just before Lavender awoke with a none too ladylike groan of protest. Hermione pocketed the letter and ran a brush through her bushy hair, not taking too much of her precious time. When she was finished, Hermione didn't think her hair looked any different than it had before. But she didn't care. Neither would Ron. Not that that was important. Of course it was important! Why should it be...
Hermione could feel a headache coming on swiftly and surely. She sighed and jogged to the owlery while her mind argued with itself. Even with this detour, Hermione was among the first in the Great Hall. She was joined a short while later by Harry and Ron. The three got into an interesting conversation, which Hermione had to keep steering away from Quidditch.
"Sixth year schedules!" Someone down the crowded table shouted. The threesome all grabbed a schedule and were silent for a fraction of a second.
"Defense Against the Dark Arts first thing today." Harry said grimly. Both he and Ron took this as some sort of death sentence, which Harry would be getting later as the boys had Divination in the afternoon. Hermione rolled her eyes. She wasn't entirely at ease, though. The fact remained that over half their DADA professors had been evil or frauds. She could not afford to lose another year in that class.
The sixth year Gryffindors were unusually quiet as they took their seats in the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom. Professor Starlight swooped in, causing them to start. Had they not been so nervous they would've seen how pretty their new teacher was. Her eyes accented her hair, which were both perfect for her medium skin tone.
However, as she 'Brown, Lavender,' was called for attendance, they could tell just by her voice that this teacher wasn't going to take any crap from anyone. She was sharp, not missing anything. As she looked around, her eyes paused once again on the threesome. Hermione stared back determinedly, although she wanted to squirm.
"I see from notes left by previous professors that you have covered many different things, and I am to bring you up to speed on curses and creatures of the Dark Force." Her voice was not loud, nor disdainful. It cut like a knife and demanded respect from her pupils. It looked like she might rival McGonagall on this scale.
"We will start with creatures," She said, without further explanation. "Vampires, to be precise, we will then move to giants, dragons, and dementors. That should take up the first semester. Open your books to page 538. NOW!" She had the students scrambling. If Starlight had said, 'jump' the students would replied 'how high' and she knew it.
"Granger, which is the most efficient way to kill a vampire?" Starlight said out of nowhere.
"A wooden stake," Hermione said, looking up in surprise. Starlight's lips curled.
"No, Miss Granger. Potter?"
"Uh..."
"Weasley?"
"Well, um..."
"I see I am teaching a group of imbeciles, does anyone here know how to the most effective way to kill a vampire? No? Roses. A whiff of a rose is death to vampires, and less dangerous than a stake. Copy that down, Miss Granger."
Hermione felt herself turning red. So she hadn't known one measley answer, so what? That wasn't important. Nonetheless, she knew it would be around the school that she had missed a question. Hermione's face darkened even further in anger.
They then took a very long series of complicated notes. The class struggled the whole time to catch the important facts. Even Hermione's hand hurt when they left for lunch from writing so much so rapidly.
"She is definitely evil, probably sent by Crouch Jr." Ron said.
"Just because she's not the nicest person in the world doesn't mean she's evil. That's we thought about Snape, too, in first year!" Hermione exclaimed.
"I still think he's evil." Ron replied. Hermione rolled her eyes and gave Harry a Look.
"I don't think she's evil, but I think her class is going to be." Harry said carefully. Hermione didn't have an argument for that, and Ron knew she didn't like Starlight much.
"Hermione's just upset that she didn't know how to kill a vampire." Ron said.
"That IS a way to kill a vampire Ron! At least I knew one. Unlike SOME people who were asked the same question!" Hermione said, her voice pitch rising ever so slightly with each syllable.
However, as the week progressed, Hermione spent a lot of time researching vampires so as not to be embarrassed in their next class.
Even then, while still miles ahead and all her other classes, Hermione was embarrassed again and again in Defense Against the Dark Arts. Professor Starlight was asking her question that would've stumped seventh years.
Why me? Hermione thought angrily as she went to lunch with the rest of the chatty crowd after one particularly blood boiling class. Why does she insist on asking ME all the difficult questions?
Yet, Hermione wasn't the only one getting questions way beyond even her talent. Starlight was asking questions of the same proximity to Neville. Everyone but Hermione (who was to preoccupied with her own problems with the professor) thought that, while a little unfair, it was hilarious.
"Hermione?" Ron said a tad bit timidly, and for good reason. Hermione was a DRAGON after that class!
"What?" Hermione snapped, living up to her fiery reputation.
"Uhh...." Ron stammered, and quickly took out his schedule and started studying it intently. Harry looked from one to the other as if he knew something they didn't. Hermione was just about to ask him what he was so high and mighty about, but then she saw Ginny glancing at Harry for a fraction of a second, turning slightly pink when a fifth year friend said something to her. At this Hermione couldn't help but smile. That girl was worse than she was.
September sped by, as every September did. The only difference being that Hermione's most hated class was no longer Potions. Harry and Ron still despised it above all others, but, for reasons unknown, Starlight seemed more interested with Hermione than she was with either of her best friends.
The afternoon of October the first found Hermione in the library, finishing an essay for Professor Flitwick and preparing to begin studying for an Arithmancy test the next day. She was just setting down her quill and picking up her book when a small owl fluttered in, dropped a note on her table, and swooped out. The owl hadn't been normal size, but it was larger than Pig.
Curious, Hermione opened the note:
Hermione Granger
You are needed in my office immediately.
Professor L. Starlight
What have I done now? Hermione thought angrily. She magicked everything into her bag and started off for the office that held memories of Crouch Jr. and Gilderoy Lockhart.
When Hermione opened the door she found that Ginny Weasley and Neville Longbottom were already occupying two of the five comfortable looking chairs in front of Starlight's desk. Hermione raised her eyebrows, but Ginny and Neville looked as confused as she was and Starlight wasn't saying anything, so Hermione sat down.
The next to enter was Draco Malfoy.
"Is this some kind of joke?" He asked looking at the three Gryffindors in disgust. Starlight gave him her Look and pointed to the chairs. Hermione studied the last chair, wondering who would sit there in a few moments.
She was not left hanging for long. Thirty seconds later Cho Chang entered the room with a quizzical look around. Finally, Starlight spoke.
"Welcome, Defenders of Hogwarts."