When they woke up in the morning, there was an owl waiting with a letter for Hermione. It was from Dumbledore. It told her of things she should have when she came. He also told her that Professor McGonagall would be staying for a few days after she arrived to make sure she knew what they had covered and what they hadn't. Since it was more than halfway through the school year, Professor McGonagall would give Hermione the lesson plans she had made up, and the final she had planned. He said he would see her next week. That's all it said.
Meanwhile...
"Albus, I wanted to get her started as soon as possible. Why did you tell her next week?" Minerva McGonagall asked. "Minerva, you know as well as I know, that Hermione will be here within the next two days. She is always on top of things. And I also know that she will bring Harry with her when she comes." Albus Dumbledore said. "You, of course, are right. She is always on top of things." Minerva said and went into the Great Hall for breakfast.
Sure enough, Hermione and Harry showed up the next day, ready to teach. Filch took their bags to the teachers' dormitories and Harry and Hermione went to Dumbledore's office, to get the information they would need. Passwords, locations, and student lists being a few. They learned where the faculty bathrooms and bedrooms were and how to get into them. They were also given a short test, about the rules. When they were finished, they all went to the Great Hall for dinner. Harry was happy to be back at school, plus his coach said Harry didn't have to go to practice, unless he was notified, since he was the best seeker the team ever had. He'd be getting some practice with his job anyway. He thanked the coach and told him he'd go to practice as often as he could, and his coach said he'd go to one of the games at school. Hermione was also happy to be back at school, but was happy because she always loved school. Two extra seats had been placed at the faculty table, one next to Oliver, and one next to Snape. "I'll sit next to Snape, since you two don't get along very well." Hermione sniggered. "Ha ha." Harry laughed dryly.
They were introduced to the students again and they took their seats. As they ate, Harry and Oliver talked and Hermione sat there, looking very uncomfortable. "Miss Granger, we are going to be working together. Please try to be sociable." Snape said to Hermione. "Hello. How are you? Draco says hello." Hermione said through a forced smile. "When did you two get engaged?" Snape asked. "Christmas Eve. So, have you had anymore know-it-alls in your class, that you hate?" Hermione asked. "I have never hated any of my students." Snape snapped. "Oh, what about me and Harry? You never seemed to like us." Hermione asked. "I never hated you. Miss Granger, you were always so eager to answer questions, which made the others feel a little stupid, and they never rose their hands. I wanted you to give the other children a chance too. As for Harry, do you think I would have saved his life three times if I hated him?" Snape asked. Hermione shook her head and they spent the rest of dinner talking about procedures for the school.
After all the students had left the Great Hall, Snape, Harry, Oliver, and Hermione had night watch on the ground. "So, Harry, looks like we'll be working together, doesn't it?" said Snape. "I guess so. How's potions going?" Harry asked. "Fine. But there's so many potions that I can't teach them. There are some that even Miss Granger here wouldn't be able to make." Snape said. "Such as...?" Hermione said with a smile. "The Polyjuice Potion. It's quite complicated." Snape said. "Have you ever made it?" Harry asked, giving Hermione a wink. "No. It's too complicated to do it just for fun. I never had the reason to." Snape said sharply. "Well yes, it was quite complicated when we made it. But the hardest part was just waiting for it to be ready, how long was it Harry, a month?" Hermione asked. Harry nodded and Snape looked extremely confused. "Professor Snape, we have broken so many rules I don't think we knew how to follow them." Hermione said and laughed. "Please, call me Severus and do continue." Snape said. "Well, our first year, there was the third floor corridor rule. Then, in our second year, we made the Polyjuice Potion in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. In our third year, we snuck past the Whomping Willow. in our fourth, well, we didn't break that many, but I did use the prefects bathroom, ..." Harry said. "Okay, I get the point. So, did you enjoy breaking rules?" Snape asked. "Not most of the time." Hermione said, and gave Harry a shove.
They walked around the grounds a few times, to make sure no students were out of bed, then they went to the teachers' study. There weren't any teachers there, but they talked for a while. Then they went up to the teachers' dormitories, and, unlike the students, they all slept in the same room. "There is a changing room there and there are two empty beds by the far wall. I'll see you in the morning. Good night." Snape said and headed toward his own bed. "Good night, Oliver, Harry." Hermione said and went to get her pajamas on. "Night Oliver." Harry said. "And you Harry." Oliver yawned and went to bed, without changing into his pajamas. Harry chuckled and put his pajamas on. Then, instead of getting into bed, he went to the window. He looked out at the grounds and smiled. 'I'm home. This is where I belong' Harry thought and finally went to bed.
Meanwhile...
"Albus, I wanted to get her started as soon as possible. Why did you tell her next week?" Minerva McGonagall asked. "Minerva, you know as well as I know, that Hermione will be here within the next two days. She is always on top of things. And I also know that she will bring Harry with her when she comes." Albus Dumbledore said. "You, of course, are right. She is always on top of things." Minerva said and went into the Great Hall for breakfast.
Sure enough, Hermione and Harry showed up the next day, ready to teach. Filch took their bags to the teachers' dormitories and Harry and Hermione went to Dumbledore's office, to get the information they would need. Passwords, locations, and student lists being a few. They learned where the faculty bathrooms and bedrooms were and how to get into them. They were also given a short test, about the rules. When they were finished, they all went to the Great Hall for dinner. Harry was happy to be back at school, plus his coach said Harry didn't have to go to practice, unless he was notified, since he was the best seeker the team ever had. He'd be getting some practice with his job anyway. He thanked the coach and told him he'd go to practice as often as he could, and his coach said he'd go to one of the games at school. Hermione was also happy to be back at school, but was happy because she always loved school. Two extra seats had been placed at the faculty table, one next to Oliver, and one next to Snape. "I'll sit next to Snape, since you two don't get along very well." Hermione sniggered. "Ha ha." Harry laughed dryly.
They were introduced to the students again and they took their seats. As they ate, Harry and Oliver talked and Hermione sat there, looking very uncomfortable. "Miss Granger, we are going to be working together. Please try to be sociable." Snape said to Hermione. "Hello. How are you? Draco says hello." Hermione said through a forced smile. "When did you two get engaged?" Snape asked. "Christmas Eve. So, have you had anymore know-it-alls in your class, that you hate?" Hermione asked. "I have never hated any of my students." Snape snapped. "Oh, what about me and Harry? You never seemed to like us." Hermione asked. "I never hated you. Miss Granger, you were always so eager to answer questions, which made the others feel a little stupid, and they never rose their hands. I wanted you to give the other children a chance too. As for Harry, do you think I would have saved his life three times if I hated him?" Snape asked. Hermione shook her head and they spent the rest of dinner talking about procedures for the school.
After all the students had left the Great Hall, Snape, Harry, Oliver, and Hermione had night watch on the ground. "So, Harry, looks like we'll be working together, doesn't it?" said Snape. "I guess so. How's potions going?" Harry asked. "Fine. But there's so many potions that I can't teach them. There are some that even Miss Granger here wouldn't be able to make." Snape said. "Such as...?" Hermione said with a smile. "The Polyjuice Potion. It's quite complicated." Snape said. "Have you ever made it?" Harry asked, giving Hermione a wink. "No. It's too complicated to do it just for fun. I never had the reason to." Snape said sharply. "Well yes, it was quite complicated when we made it. But the hardest part was just waiting for it to be ready, how long was it Harry, a month?" Hermione asked. Harry nodded and Snape looked extremely confused. "Professor Snape, we have broken so many rules I don't think we knew how to follow them." Hermione said and laughed. "Please, call me Severus and do continue." Snape said. "Well, our first year, there was the third floor corridor rule. Then, in our second year, we made the Polyjuice Potion in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. In our third year, we snuck past the Whomping Willow. in our fourth, well, we didn't break that many, but I did use the prefects bathroom, ..." Harry said. "Okay, I get the point. So, did you enjoy breaking rules?" Snape asked. "Not most of the time." Hermione said, and gave Harry a shove.
They walked around the grounds a few times, to make sure no students were out of bed, then they went to the teachers' study. There weren't any teachers there, but they talked for a while. Then they went up to the teachers' dormitories, and, unlike the students, they all slept in the same room. "There is a changing room there and there are two empty beds by the far wall. I'll see you in the morning. Good night." Snape said and headed toward his own bed. "Good night, Oliver, Harry." Hermione said and went to get her pajamas on. "Night Oliver." Harry said. "And you Harry." Oliver yawned and went to bed, without changing into his pajamas. Harry chuckled and put his pajamas on. Then, instead of getting into bed, he went to the window. He looked out at the grounds and smiled. 'I'm home. This is where I belong' Harry thought and finally went to bed.