Hermione awoke with the sun streaming in through her window. She sat up in her bed and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. Hermione stared out the window. It was a beautiful day, not a cloud in the sky, the birds were chirping and the owls were just returning from their night flight. It looked like a spring morning, but it was just barley fall. Hermione stood up and realized she had better get ready. She didn't want to be late for her first day of teaching. She dawned on a light blue robe and tried to pull her hair into a tight ponytail. Her hair bushed out and made it look messier than usual.
"I hate this stupid frizz ball!" Hermione said angrily to the mirror.
"I can't help you there," The mirror replied.
Hermione sighed and poured out a bit of the straightening potion she had leftover. She rubbed it and brushed it through her hair. Her hair became straight and seemed to be longer then she remembered it to be. It reached about half way down her back when it was straight. Hermione smiled at herself and headed down for breakfast.
A few students were already eating or chatting among their friends. Hermione took her seat at the staff table and began to spoon herself some porridge. Hermione looked up and saw Draco and Ginny enter the hall. Draco knew better then to hold her hand and muttered a quick goodbye before he headed up to the staff tables.
"Morning," Draco said happily.
"You're in a good mood," Hermione said.
Draco nodded.
"Are you excited for classes?" Hermione asked.
"Not really," Draco said, staring at Ginny from across the room.
"Then why are you so excited?" Hermione asked.
"Ginny loves me," Draco replied taking a drink from his goblet.
"I told you she did," Hermione said, rolling her eyes.
"You were right again, as always," Draco said.
"Well, are you going to marry her?" Hermione questioned.
"I'm not even thinking of marriage until she is out of school," Draco said.
"Good idea," Hermione said as the owls flew in with the mail. Hedwig flew down to Hermione and stuck out her foot. Hermione pulled off a letter and handed Hedwig some bacon. Hedwig began to eat the bacon while Hermione opened the letter.
Dear Hermione,
I have to fly on Wizarding Airlines again. Good luck on your first day of teaching. I know you'll do great. You were the smartest witch of our year, maybe the smartest witch ever. Sirius will check up on you at the end of the week. Susan says hi. She's reading the letter over my shoulder right now. I miss you already!
Love,
Harry
Hermione smiled and folded up the letter. She tucked it into her robes and patted Hedwig. Hedwig hooted softly and took flight into the air.
"Was that from Potter?" Draco asked, opening the daily profit.
"Yeah," Hermione said, starting to eat a grapefruit.
"It says here, a cloaked figure with a silver hand was seen through the streets of London last night. Some muggles saw him and reported him to the police. Hermione, it appears Wormtail is out," Draco said, looking up from the paper.
"Do you think he's heading here, or to Harry?" Hermione asked, her eyes growing huge in fright.
"Dunno, but there isn't anything we can do about it right now, is there?" Draco asked.
"Not that I know of, but we could contact Dumbledore," Hermione suggested.
"We'd be better off having a staff meeting, I'll suggest that to McGonagall," Draco replied.
"Ok, I better go get ready for my class," Hermione said, standing up from the table.
"Who are you teaching first?" Draco asked.
"7th year Slytherin's and 7th year Hufflepuff's," Hermione said, looking at a schedule she had received the night before. "You?'
"1st year Gryffindor's," Draco replied. "Don't let the Slytherin's bother you."
"I never let you bother me, did I?" Hermione asked.
"Nope," Draco replied. Hermione smiled and headed out of the Great Hall.
Hermione sat down at her desk and began to take out her things. She conjured up a black board and started to write some page numbers and an assignment on the board. Just as she was sitting down at her desk again, the students started heading in.
"Hermione?" Julia Frances, a 7th year Hufflepuff asked.
"Hi Julia, but it's Professor Granger," Hermione replied.
"Oh, sorry, Professor Granger, I didn't realize it was you last night," Julia said.
Hermione smiled.
"Good luck, the Slytherin's are bad news," Julia said.
"I'll keep that in mind," Hermione said as Julia took a seat at the front of the room. Once everyone had taken a seat Hermione stood up to face the class.
"Good Morning, I'm Professor Granger. Many of you probably know me from last year, but I will not take any nonsense from anyone. Now will you please turn your books to the pages listed on the board. For the first half hour I would like you to take notes on this section, and then I will give you a short demonstration before you get to do the transfiguration," Hermione explained.
There was a shuffling among the students as they searched for quills, books, and parchment. Hermione was relieved they were doing as she said. About fifteen minutes into the class a Slytherin came up to Hermione's desk.
"Why should we listen to you?" He asked. Hermione stood up, but realized he was almost a foot taller then she was.
"Please finish your assignment, or I will send you to the Headmistresses office," Hermione said.
"No really? Why should we listen to you? I'm taller then you, I look like I could be older then you. Why do I have to listen to you?" He asked.
"Your job is to listen to the teacher, now would you please take your seat," Hermione said angrily.
"No. I know who you are. You're that old Head Girl, Hermione Granger. You're that stuck up snob who had to get the top grades or you would absolutely die. Go get a job where someone actually cares," He said with a grin on his face. Hermione felt the tears stinging her eyes, but she refused to let them fall.
"Take your seat, NOW," Hermione said through clenched teeth.
"Why should I listen to a Gryffindor?" He asked. The Slytherin's all roared with laughter. Hermione felt a tear slide down her cheek. She tried to ignore it, but another tear fell.
"Take your seat," Hermione repeated.
"I think I'll teach the class now, move aside Granger," He said pushing Hermione to the side.
Hermione rushed out of the room and up the hall to the staff room. She was the only one in there. All the other professor's had classes going on. Hermione sank down into a chair and began to cry. She felt terrible. She had let everyone down; she was a horrible teacher. She couldn't keep control of the class. Hermione put her face in her hands and let the tears stream freely.
"Hermione?" A voice said from the doorway.
Hermione jumped up and tried to wipe the tears away. She looked up and saw Draco standing in the doorway.
"What are you doing here?" Hermione asked, trying to make the tears stop flowing.
"I forgot my book for the first years, so I came here to get it," Draco replied. "The better question is, why are you here?"
"It was horrible. I failed badly!" Hermione said, conjuring up a mirror. She looked in the mirror and found her mascara running down her cheeks. She quickly performed a spell to clean up her face and looked back up at Draco.
"Was it the Slytherin's?" Draco asked. Hermione nodded. "Come on, follow me."
Draco led Hermione out of the staff room and right outside her classroom. He walked in and told Hermione to stay where she was. Hermione stood there while the class suddenly became quiet. Draco came out about five minutes later with a triumphant look on his face.
"What did you do?" Hermione asked.
"I told them that if they didn't listen to you I would turn them all into Ferrets. Gunther, the boy who was causing you trouble refused to believe it. So I turned him into a ferret. They'll listen now," Draco explained shrugging.
"Oh thank you Draco!" Hermione said, hugging Draco. "I'll do anything to repay you for this. I'll make up your lesson plans."
"No Hermione, just go teach your class," Draco said.
"Thanks again," Hermione said and headed into her classroom.
Hermione had a great day afterwards. She had no more problems with the Slytherin's and all her other classes were wonderful. Hermione crawled into bed that night with no more worries on her mind. She had completely forgotten about Wormtail and all her other problems.
***
Hermione walked into the Great Hall the next morning, passing by Ginny and her friends. Ginny smiled and waved to Hermione. Hermione waved back and sat down at her seat, waiting for the mail to come. The Owls flew in about five minutes later: Hedwig landing on Hermione's arm. Hedwig hooted happily as Hermione took a small letter from her leg.
Hermione,
I was afraid Hedwig wouldn't show up before I had to get ready for my game. We're playing against Bulgaria today. Anything you want me to do to Krum? He deserves everything horrible to happen to him. Wish me luck! It's only been a few days, but it feels like a year!
Love,
Harry
Hermione got chills at the mention of Krum's name. She shook the horrible memories of Krum out of her head and quickly wrote Harry a reply.
Harry,
Don't do anything you'll regret. Krum deserves all the pain in the world for what he did to me. Harry be careful, and good luck. Don't get hurt, and return home safely in a month's time!
Love,
Hermione
Hermione quickly tied the letter to Hedwig's outstretched leg and watched Hedwig fly up through the rafters and out an open window. Hermione quickly finished breakfast and headed up to her classroom, trying to push the terrible memories of Krum out of her head. No matter how hard she tried, at the mention of his name, the memories always seemed to come back. Hermione shook her head one more time and opened her classroom door.
She looked at the schedule on her desk and found she had Gryffindor 7th years first. Hermione smiled, knowing they wouldn't give her any trouble. She conjured up her blackboard again and began to write down the pages for the students to read. The students started slowly filing in, taking their seats at various places around the room.
"Good morning," Hermione said when the bell rang, signaling the start of class. "I think all of you know who I am. So we will just begin with class. I'd like you to take notes on these pages for the first half hour of class, then I'll give a short demonstration before you work in pairs."
Hermione then started grading the tests she gave the seconds years the other day to see how much they remembered from the previous school year. She then began to write out her lesson plans for the first term, making sure the students received enough homework to keep them busy.
"Hermione, no wait Professor Potter, no you're not married yet, Professor Granger," Ginny said once the bell had dismissed them from class.
"Yes Ginny?" Hermione asked.
"I know this isn't true, but I was just wondering if you've heard about it yet," Ginny said.
"Heard what?" Hermione questioned, getting a confused look on her face.
"Well the Slytherin's, seem to think you're having an affair with Draco, er Professor Malfoy. They say you two were hugging in the hall yesterday, and that you're cheating on Harry with Professor Malfoy, and Professor Malfoy is cheating on me with you," Ginny explained.
"Why would I cheat on someone I love with my whole heart?" Hermione asked.
"I didn't think you would. But you know the Slytherin's, they like to give anybody trouble," Ginny replied.
"Ginny, you don't have to worry about Draco cheating on you. He loves you just as much as I love Harry. And that hug was a hug of gratitude. He calmed my class down for me yesterday and I was so relieved, I hugged him," Hermione said.
"So you don't like Draco, er Professor Malfoy?" Ginny questioned.
"No Ginny, I'm in love with Harry. Nothing can stop me from loving him," Hermione said.
"Ok good," Ginny said with a smile.
"Now if you'll excuse me, I have to teach a class, and if I'm not mistaken you have one minute to get up to the North Tower," Hermione said, looking at her watch.
"Oh dear! I'll talk to you another time!" Ginny said, heading for the door.
"Here, I'll write you a pass," Hermione said, writing hastily on a piece of paper. "Just tell Professor Trelawny I needed to talk to you about today's assignment."
"Thanks, Hermione, woops Professor Granger," Ginny said, running out the door. Hermione smiled and stood up to face her class of Gryffindor first years.
"Hello, I'm Professor Granger. Would you please take out your books so we can go over what Transfiguration is all about," Hermione said. There was a shuffle of noise as the students took out their books and zipped up their bags.
***
During dinner that night, Hermione received another letter from Harry.
Hermione,
I would have told Krum that, but he's been missing for the past week. The Bulgarian ministry just let out the news. I hope you're all right and I hope you're safe and sound in Hogwarts. I love you.
Love,
Harry
Hermione noticed Harry's untidy scrawl. She figured he must have written it in a hurry. Hermione looked around the hall at the laughing children's faces. She knew Hogwart's was the safest place in the Wizarding World, but for some strange reason, she didn't feel safe anymore. The doors to the Great Hall burst open and the hall grew quiet. Many students jumped under their tables, and the professor's drew out their wands. Wormtail was standing in the doorway, followed by a crowd of death eaters and someone Hermione had never wanted to see again in her life.
A/N: Well that's the end of this chapter! What'd you think? I know that some of the characters are way out of character, but this is my story, so I can write it how I want to. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I thought it was kind of a boring chapter towards the beginning, but at the end it kind of got exciting. Please leave a review, so I know what you think. Oh and I have a question. Should Sarah come back into the story at a later time? Please tell me! I want to know what you readers thought of her!!!
