PS: I reached the 100 mark in reviews!!!! Thank you so much!!!!!
Disclaimer: Only the plot is mine…
~***~
Hermione skidded into the classroom doorway her bookbag swinging wildly, threatening to fall off her shoulder. Lucky for her, class hadn't started yet, since Professor Andsware hadn't arrived yet. She slid into the seat beside Harry and Ron pulling out her books and quill.
"Did you find your wand?" Harry asked her. She pulled out it out and showed it to them proudly in answer to his question.
"It was in my pocket as I guessed," Hermione stated, "and when I was leaving my room, I saw –"
But they would have to wait to hear the news as at that moment Professor Andsware swept in the classroom and started to address the class.
"Good afternoon class. As Professor Dumbledore told you, I am Professor Andsware. As Defence Against Dark Arts is, in my opinion, one of the most important courses for students to understand, I expect full concentration from you. No idle chit-chat, no dawdling. Do you understand?" She looked them all in the eye and Hermione straightened up in her seat ready to take on a new challenge. She paid no attention to Ron whispering, "Blimey, another McGonagall in Hogwarts."
Professor Andsware continued on with a hint of a smile, "Although I expect quite a bit from you in this course, I also want you to be interested in it. Any questions and comments throughout the class will be taken, and I will try my best to answer them fully."
"Do you have any questions at the moment?" she asked them in conclusion to her introduction. With no one raising his or her hand, she moved behind her desk and started with her lesson. "When you face the real world, you will find that you never work alone. Aurors work in pairs or groups, and the only time you get separated is when the situation demands it. For this reason, I am placing you in groups and I want you to figure out solutions to problems together."
She handed out a bound package of paper. "Here you will find a case study. You are to pretend to be Aurors. These sheets include vital information for you, such as the location, your mission, and your time deadline. You will read this package in class, and decide in your group what information is needed before you continue on with the information."
She finished handing the sheets out and stepped back. "You may select your own group, preferably between four and six people per group."
Harry, Ron, and Hermione huddled together and Harry asked Neville to join them to complete their group. They opened their package and began to read it silently. Their 'mission' was to stop an army of goblins from overtaking a community in a remote village in northern Australia. They would leave in one week's time and had that time to plan their strategy, pack, and ask any questions to the Head Auror for any information they need (in this case, it was Professor Andsware).
Ron looked up, "Goblins?" he said incredulously. "They don't attack us!"
Professor Andsware overheard the comment, "Yes…" she looked down at the class roster, "Mr. Weasley. But only here and now do they not attack wizards. You know that they used to be a powerful enemy in the past from your History of Magic Class. You have to figure out what their standing is in this location now."
Hermione and her group talked about what they knew of the wizard community in Australia. They touched upon how to defeat goblins and realised quickly that they didn't know much about them, and would have to research on the spells they could use. Before they knew it, class was over and they gathered up their books.
"Remember to research whatever missing information you have before coming to the next class," Professor Andsware reminded them as they got up from their seats. "You will get more information on this mission next class, but you need to answer the questions you have now to continue on."
"This class should be really interesting," Hermione said to her friends while walking down the hall, forgetting to tell them that she saw Professor Andsware before class.
"I was surprised by how she's teaching it, but it seems like it should be kind of fun," Harry agreed with her.
"Yeah, but I can't believe she gave us homework on the first day!" Ron grumbled.
They reached the common room and sat down in a far corner, not because they wanted the privacy, but rather that the seats by the fire were already taken. Seconds after they sat down, Fred and George came to them excitedly.
"Guess what?" George said. They looked up at him expectantly.
"We're having a Hogsmeade trip in two weeks," Fred continued with a big grin on his face.
"What? We never have it so fast," Hermione said with a crinkling her eyebrows together watching the twins run to tell other people coming in.
"Who cares Hermione!" Ron said happily. "Now I can get some more dungbombs and sugarquills. I've been running low, you know," he told Harry.
Hermione sighed exaggeratedly. "Whatever Ron. I'll meet you two before dinner. I want to unpack." She didn't know if they listened to her as they were still going on about what they would do in Hogsmeade, and she got up and went to her room.
~***~
Hermione sat in the library looking over the notes she took in Potions class the day before. It was almost the end of the first week, and she was already getting little jitterbugs about having the O.W.L.s, even though they were ten months away.
She looked at her watch, and realised that she should probably leave if she wanted to drop off her bag in her room before heading down for dinner. Heaving her bag over her shoulder, she got up and smiled a little on her way out to Madame Pince. The librarian did not smile back, however, she did not scowl at Hermione like she did to other students.
She treaded down a pathway very familiar to her up to the common room. Very few students were there as most of them were on their way to the Great Hall. She quickly ran up the stairs, flung her bag on her bed and grabbed an Ever-ready-quill she bought in Flourish & Blotts (it's a quill that had ink in the stem so she wouldn't need an inkpot) and a notepad before hurrying down again.
She saw Ginny and Colin about to leave the common and caught up with them.
"Hey Hermione!" Colin waved to her.
"Hi Colin. Are you two going down for dinner?" she asked.
"Yeah. I'm starving," Ginny told her. The three of them walked down to the Great Hall. Hermione sat besides Ron while Ginny sat across from them besides Harry. Colin didn't find any seat available, so Hermione shuffled nearer to Ron to make room for him.
She was glad the food came right away so she could keep her eyes on her plate. Being squished up against Ron made her blush and she didn't really need anyone looking at her. She never blushed at the touch of Ron before, but she kept thinking about his hands around her waist, and that thought made her blush even more. It took all of her self-control not to leap up from her seat and bolt out of the Great Hall.
"Stop it Hermione!" She admonished herself. "It's Ron for goodness sake!" She shook her head mentally to clear her thoughts without realising that she was in actuality shaking her head physically as well.
"What's wrong Hermione?"
She looked up into Ginny's brown eyes. "What?" she asked a little confused.
"You were shaking your head like something was bothering you," Ginny explained slowly.
"Oh, that…er, nothing really." Hermione said. Turning to Harry, she tried to switch the topic of conversation. "What do you think the prefect meeting will be about?"
She watched Harry swallow a mouthful of baked salmon. "I don't know. Probably making sure we read the package, maybe talk about Hogsmeade," Harry guessed. "I still want to know where these meetings take place!"
Hermione turned to Ron, Ginny, and Colin who were looking at them in confusion. "Maya and Kalen told all the prefects to meet them in the Entrance Hall after dinner, and they're going to lead us to the prefect's room," she tried to explain.
They talked about idle things after that. She listened amusedly, without getting involved, to Ron and Harry talk about Quidditch trials and how much of a git Snape was. Hermione noticed that some prefects were walking out of the Great Hall, and she told Harry to hurry up with his dessert. He finished it quickly and they walked out to where Maya and Kalen were standing.
~***~
Hermione looked on while Maya and Kalen counted heads to make sure everyone was there before turning around and asking the prefects to follow them. When they were in a long hallway she hadn't seen before, Harry nudged her and whispered, "This is where the prefect's bathroom is!"
"How do you know that?" she asked quietly.
"Cedric told me, before the second task," Harry whispered back at her quickly before the Head Boy or Head Girl could catch him.
They stopped near the Boris the Bewildered statue.
"This is one of the two prefects bathrooms. This one here is the male bathroom, while the one across from it is the female bathroom," Kalen said before separating the group. Hermione followed Maya and the other female prefects and walked into their bathroom. Hermione thought it was perfect. It was softly lit with candles, and had a very calming ambience to it, with the soft colours (cream, sage green, and pale blue) and music. There were rows of bottles and bowls full of bath salts and rose petals you could put in the tub.
"As you can tell, this is one of the better perks to being a prefect," Maya said smiling to them. "The taps have different types of bubbles and scents you can use." She walked to a carpeted area where there were Chinese—style screens, counters with mirrors, and comfy plush seating. "Over here is where all the bathrobes, towels are. You can also find combs, lotion, and any other bath items you may need." She looked at all of them, "To get in here, the password is 'peace.'"
Hermione sighed happily and understood why that particular word was chosen as the password. She would definitely use this instead of sharing the tiny bathroom with Lavender and Parvati like she had the past four years! With a wistful glance behind, she followed Maya out the door to rejoin the boys.
Harry crept up to her side, "Nice eh?" Hermione nodded in return.
They went down further along the hallway before coming to another door that had a plaque on it with the Hogwarts crest on it. The only difference was that instead of the 'H' for Hogwarts, the letter P was embossed in the middle of the crest.
"Prefects room. No password either," Kalen stated, laying a hand on the door.
The new prefects looked at each other confusedly. "But everything here has a password!" Hermione thought.
"Only the prefects can see this room," Maya explained to them before adding, "and the Professors of course. Everyone else will see a blank wall."
They opened the door grandly, and Hermione was able to take her first look at the room. It had a circular table in the middle of the room. There were chairs that matched the colours of each house. Hermione and Harry walked to the ones that were swathed in gold and red with the rest of the Gryffindors. Maya and Kalen walked to one end of it, and sat down in their chairs that were distinctively the Head Girl and Head Boy chairs.
Hermione took notes about the Hogsmeade trip (1st and 2nd years were not allowed to go as usual), how to handle Peeves, and listened to reports from the houses' representatives regarding first years and how they're feeling as well as detentions and punishment reports. Only the prefects from Hufflepuff and the new fifth year prefects hadn't taken any points away from a student. Malfoy had already taken points away from Gryffindor and Hufflepuff and was smirking to Zambini, much to Hermione's disgust.
Once the meeting was over, Hermione walked out with Harry who was still complaining that they couldn't do anything to Mrs. Norris and Filch like they could to Peeves.
"Oh come on Harry," she said, pulling on his arm. "Forget about the cat. We have to work on our DADA project." She ignored his look of astonishment that she was asking him to work on their first Friday night. If he was giving her this look, who knows what Ron will do!
~***~
Hermione sat in her study carrel researching on how the dwarves and elves cast themselves out of existence during a Great War. There was an obscure theory that the magical properties the elves possessed were somehow transferred to humans, and through evolution, they became witches and wizards. She wasn't sure if it was a true theory, but it was interesting nonetheless, and she was absorbed in reading the library book.
She started reading about the Great War and the gory details about it when all of a sudden she felt something on her shoulder.
She leaped out of her seat in surprise with a little scream causing her seat to fall down with a crash. She turned around with a whirl facing the intruder.
It was Ron. He placed his hand on her shoulder to get her attention and now he looked as if he wished he hadn't, especially as Madame Pince was giving him a murderous look for disturbing the quiet.
"Ron! What are you doing?!" Hermione hissed trying to straighten her chair.
"Harry and I were looking for you. We're supposed to leave for Hogsmeade in 10 minutes. I didn't know you were going to go crazy on me!" Ron said defensively.
She looked at her watch and realised he was right (for once). She stuffed her notes in her bad and reached for the big history book on the table the same time Ron did. His hands brushed against hers and she jerked them back blushing.
"No!" she said furiously, hating the fact that she was blushing. Ron thought she was saying 'no' to him for trying to help her. He held up his hands in a peace gesture. "Hey, if you want to bring the book back, go ahead."
Hermione shook her head, grabbed the book, and stalked to the history shelf to return the book.
~***~
They walked together in silence. Not an uncomfortable silence since she was too mad at herself to notice and Ron was too confused to say anything to her. They met Harry at the Entrance Hall and headed out to Hogsmeade. It was a little windy and all three were glad they had their cloaks with them.
They soon reached the village and tried to figure out where to go first.
"Let's go to Honeydukes!" Ron said licking his lips in excitement like a little three-year-old boy.
"I need to go to Gladrags," Harry said picking at the sleeve of his robe. "I forgot to go to Madame Malkin's in Diagon Alley. I grew a few inches over the summer and my robes are getting a little small."
"You have?" Ron said smiling wickedly. He stood beside Harry, still towering over him, "It doesn't look like you've grown." Hermione watched Harry grin back and pretend to get into a duelling stance.
"Oh not now you two! I'm cold," Hermione shivered against the wind. "How about we go to the Three Broomsticks and get a butterbeer to warm up."
They stopped pretending to duel and agreed that they could go to their shops later after getting a drink. The three of them entered the Three Broomsticks and sat down at a table waiting for Madame Rosmerta or one of her employees to come and take their order. After a few minutes, Ron and Harry got a little impatient and went up to the bar to order their drinks. Hermione stayed at the table saving their seats and took the opportunity to people watch.
As she expected, most customers were Hogwarts students, but there were a few who were older. She saw one man with his head on the table sleeping. She thought it was a little early herself to get so drunk herself.
"Whoa, deja-vu!" she thought, "didn't this happen at the Leaky Cauldron too?" She peered closely at the sleeping black-haired man. "In fact, isn't that the same man?!"
Ron and Harry came over, and handed her a butterbeer.
She pulled on their sleeves. "Look at that man!"
They turned to where she was looking. "Yeah, so?" Ron said, taking a swig of his butterbeer. "Just a guy who's either tired or wanted a drink, or two."
"It's the same guy we saw in the Leaky Cauldron," Hermione persisted. They two boys glanced at each other not knowing who she was talking about. "Don't you think it's funny that we see the same guy?"
"Maybe he likes his butterbeer Hermione," Ron said shrugging the matter off.
"Fine Ron," she said sharply and decided to drink her butterbeer rather than argue with him. She was more than annoyed with him and downed her drink before her friends finished even a quarter of theirs.
"Wow Hermione!" Ron exclaimed in admiration looking at her empty glass.
She knew Harry was looking at her curiously, but she ignored his look and sat fiddling with her glass. Madame Rosmerta came over seeing her empty glass.
"Would you like another one, dear?"
Hermione was about to say no, but realised how long she'd have to wait for Harry and Ron to finish their drinks, and so she said yes. A few minutes later, a full pint of butterbeer was placed in front of her. She took a sip slowly, already feeling warm and fuzzy from the effects of the first one.
She didn't pay much attention to the conversation and played with the condensation beads on her glass. The three finally finished their drinks and Hermione got up from the table with them. She threw her cloak on her shoulders and headed out following Ron. As she turned slightly to keep her cloak from catching on the edges of chairs, she noticed that the sleeping man was no longer sleeping but had his head slightly raised and was staring right at her. She stared back her hands slightly trembling. The way that man looked at her! It was more than a little frightening…as if he was trying to see right into her soul and suck it up.
"Hermione?"
She turned around and saw Ron holding the door for her and Harry waiting for them outside.
"I'm coming." She glanced once more at the man who looked at her so hauntingly with those mesmerising black eyes, but his head was on the table once more and he was sleeping.
"No more butterbeer for you Hermione Granger," she admonished herself, shaking her head and exiting the Three Broomsticks.
~***~
The three of them went to Zonkos and then to Gladrags so Harry could buy some robes. Ron wanted Harry to buy bright orange robes, "in support of Chudley Cannons, you know." Harry decided to stick with the basic black though. Ron and Hermione left Harry at the store to be fitted for his robes while they went to Honeydukes so they could stock up on their candy supply. They agreed that they would meet up later in the Gryffindor common room.
Hermione watched Ron debate over what he should buy amusedly. She had her favourites and bought a few of each, including Fire Hot Dragons and Ice Angels. She especially liked the Ice Angels as after you suck on the, your teeth sparkle with ice crystals and you get tiny little icicles hanging from your teeth. The Fire Hot Dragons were in the shape of little red dragons that burst with flavour when you bit into them, similar to the Hot Tamales candies she was so fond of when she was little.
She leaned against a counter waiting for Ron to hurry up and after a few agonising minutes – for him – he finally decided what he would buy. He came to her happily, and stuffed his bulging bag of treats in his robes.
They left the shop and headed down the pathway towards Hogwarts. What was a brisk wind in the morning turned out to be a raging windstorm now. She clutched onto Ron's arm and keeping her head down walked directly into the wind.
Her hair whipped viciously into her unprotected face and the wind seemed to keep trying to lead her off the pathway. She felt her eyes starting to water as dust particles stung her eyes.
"Come on Hermione!" Ron shouted and pulled her along attempting to go faster.
She complied but after a few steps, she felt her foot catch in a rabbit hole, and down she went. Bracing herself for the fall she knew was to come, she held out her arms in front of her instinctively to take the brunt of the injury. It never came though.
She felt one arm on her back snaking around to grab her waist, and another arm enclosing the front from one forearm to another.
She straightened herself and looked up at him. "Thanks."
"No problem, but no more butterbeer for you!" he teased grinning at her. She laughed alongside him, and they continued running to Hogwarts, but his time, her hand was in his and she didn't pull away.
~***~
A/N: So what did you think? I won't know unless you review!And here are some replies to your previous reviews:
Bluetreeleaves: That sucks to be grounded. I've been supremely lucky that my parents never believed in grounding their kids, so I've never been grounded. So, was your computer whiz sister able to help you?
Omega: Thank you! Hopefully you'll say the same with this chapter…
MusicalRose: Thanks for your help. I changed Hagrid's speech as soon as I read your review!
Vy (first review): I had to look up the name for the 3-legged window-moving thing on the 'net! It's amazing what you can find on there! As for Draco, I know Rowling said he won't come to the good side (I think she said that at least), so I wonder what's going to happen to him.
Vy (second review): I think Voldie's hair is black because Riddle's hair was black (he looked like Harry right), however my mysterious visitor is not Voldie, or Snape, or the future Harry (although I liked the last idea a lot!)
FictionHobbit: me too! Actually, I take that back, no I don't. Guys are confusing one at a time, I couldn't handle it if there was more than one! ;-)
FictionHobbit (part 2): They do rule! Glad you enjoyed it!
Rally-as-Twiddle's: Thanks! On both accounts (chapter and name). Shalara. Well, the first sci-fi books I ever read were by an author called David Eddings (the books were in a series called the Belgariad). There were three characters' (females) names I liked: Ce'nedra, Ariana, and Polgara (I swear I'll name one of my future daughters one of these names!). I have a friend named Shalene, but I always call her Shal. So I took Polgara and Shal, squished them together, and ta-da! came up with Shalara!
HermioneM: Glad you liked it!
Angel Solo: You were my 100th reviewer! I dedicate this chapter to you! Thanks for the compliments, I don't deserve them, but I'll take them! lol!
Madison: You finish your exams, I'm about to start mine. Luckily mine are spaced out, so I should probably be able to update 1 chapter, or maybe 2 short ones, before finishing them up. Although, I haven't made up my study schedule yet, so who knows? Good for you for doing well on your exams; I don't know if I could go for 2 weeks without check my email…lol!
A/N: Thanks again for all your reviews! I really adore reading them, so keep 'em coming!
Shalara