a/n: Howdy y'all. I'm baaaack. With the long awaited sequel to Just Waiting for the Rain! Please don't stone me. I'm just a procrastinator at heart. This fic hopefully will be updated much more frequently. In this fic, Harry and Hermione (now both working at Hogwarts) face the trials and tribulations of the Real World. Not to mention various hilarious reactions to their relationship. A much lighter fic than the first. Probably mostly comedy stuff and such. If you didn't read Just Waiting for the Rain it is a good idea to do so before starting this fic. However, it will work well enough as a stand alone if you really don't feel like it. r/r! Flames will be used to burn my finals.
Walk Down Magic Lane*Hogwarts – September 1st – 4:00 PM – Professor Dumbledore's office
Hermione Granger and Harry Potter stood together outside of the stone gargoyle leading the way to the Headmaster's office. The feast was in an hour, and they barely had the time to find their rooms and greet their headmaster. Hermione, straightening her hair and pulling out the pleats in her red wool skirt, looked at Harry expectantly, "Well, come on, give it the password already."
"Hermione pet," Harry said sweetly, "I thought YOU had it."
Hermione stared at her boyfriend, before rolling her eyes and facing the gargoyle. "Lemon drop! Chocolate frog! Drooble's Best Blowing Gum!"
"Blood flavored lollypops! Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans!" The gargoyle creaked open, and Harry grinned triumphantly before grabbing Hermione's hand and pulling her up the stares toward Dumbledore's office. As soon as they reached the stop step, and aged voice called out,
"Come in Harry, Hermione." The two grinned at each other as the door to the office swung open, revealing Professor Dumbledore seated behind a massive oak desk, beaming.
"Hello Professor," Hermione said, eagerly shaking the old man's hand, "It's so good to see you again."
"Thank you my dear. And it's Albus. You aren't a student anymore, after all."
"Hello sir!" Harry said, coming up from behind Hermione, "Have a good holiday then?"
"Oh yes indeed, thank you Harry. The Witches and Warlocks convention was simply smashing this year. I enjoyed myself thoroughly," Dumbledore beamed at his newest teachers, "Please sit, both of you. Minerva and Severus will be up presently to show you to your rooms."
"Anything new or different at Hogwarts this year Professor... I mean Albus?" Hermione asked, blushing slightly.
"No, nothing that I can think of. Mind you, something is bound to happen. Something always happens in this school. We haven't had a boring year yet!" Dumbledore said serenely, leaning back in his chair.
"Has Filch replaced Mrs. Norris yet?" Harry said with a mischievous grin. Last December, Filch's beloved cat had run away and couldn't be found. Filch had been devastated, of course, and the students had been highly amused.
"Oh yes, a new cat called Mrs. Cuddles. He stumbled into the school over the holiday, and it was love at first sight."
"How lovely." Hermione said, elbowing Harry who was over taken by laughter.
"Quite." Harry agreed through his throes of chuckles.
Dumbledore leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes, smiling. "Yes, yes. Quite lovely indeed. Now then, we must be on to more serious matters." Dumbledore stood slowly and handed them both a heavy sheave of paper. "These are your class schedules and your required subject matters. Please look them over at the first possible opportunity."
Harry looked dumfounded at the massive mountain of notes he had been handed. "Albus, pardon this question but... I'm the flying master sir. How can that require so many... requirements?"
Dumbledore gave Harry a Look. "Didn't you get the owl...? Nevermind. Harry the Ministry of Magic has asked us to supply an extra curricular 'dueling club' a bit like the one we had in your second year. We'd like you to help Professor Snape run it. And as for Hermione, we're also adding an arts program this year, and you shall be helping Professor McGonagal with that."
Harry and Hermione exchanged skeptical glances. Harry, about to question the headmaster, was interrupted by the sound of the office door opening. They both rose and swiveled to see the faces of their former professors.
McGonagal smiled and walked toward Hermione, "Hermione, dear!" She said, embracing her favorite protégée. Releasing the young girl, she turned to Harry and said, "Hello Potter." Harry nodded, smiling quietly. Snape stayed by the door, saying nothing.
"Lovely! Minerva and Severus, please show Hermione and Harry where they'll be staying." Dumbledore said dismissing them. "Good luck, you two. You're going to make magnificent teachers."
*Hogwarts – September 1 – 6:00 PM – Great Hall*
The Great Hall trembled with the adrenaline and excitement of hundreds of teenagers. Harry and Hermione, perched at the staff table and already gaining a superiority complex, were hovering between nervous giggles and mature chuckles. The bewitched ceiling twinkled gallantly, the silver plates shone magnificently, the ghosts glided majestically – everything seemed perfect. Well, except of course for the fact that Harry and Hermione were attracting stares from the seventh years, but that wasn't surprising. Disturbing, but not surprising. At one point, Harry leaned over to Snape (who was surprisingly un-greasy as a colleague) and said, "Severus, what do I do if I'm scared of the seventh years?"
Snape laughed throatily and told Harry, "Do what I did when I was an 18 year old teacher. Assign detention a lot."
"Is that where you got your reputation Severus?" Hermione grinned, leaning over Professor McGonagal's empty seat, "Pity."
Snape rolled his eyes good-naturedly and returned to staring at the students in an intimidating manner. Harry and Hermione shrugged. Figuring out Severus Snape was a long-term project, and dangerous to embark on now.
Suddenly, the hall grew quiet. The huge mahogany doors opposite the staff table swung open, to reveal Minerva McGonagal and a train of timid first years. Slowly, McGonagal led the trembling 11 year olds to a stool where the good old hat was placed. It didn't look much different from when Harry and Hermione had been sorted 8 years ago, except... Harry focused in on the tattered brim of the hat. Oh yes, the tiny slit in the fabric where the sword of Gryffindor had emerged all those years ago in the Chamber of Secrets. But only he would notice that. Only he would think to look. Harry snuck a fond look at Hermione, who was watching eagerly as the first years lined up. It was good, he thought, to have someone to reminisce with. Funny, how Hermione isn't only my girlfriend, but my best friend. The first I've had since Ron died. Harry was sucked out of his reverie by the sound of the cracked voice as the brim of the old hat opened.
center I Oh gather friends
Around my brim,
As I unfoldThis tale of old.
Twas scores and scores
Of years ago
When four great wizardsBecame as one
In spite of throes of war.
Gryffindor!
Brave was he
As brave as his crest
Lion!
Hufflepuff!
Gentle and Loyal
Watchful, like his crest
Beaver!
Ravenclaw!
With greatest Wisdom
Like
the Eagle!
Slytherin!
Sly and Ambitious
With eyes of the
Snake!
These four who came
And formed our school
With Houses
Strong and Noble.
Leave behind their spirit kinds
With me, their trusty sign.
So place me on your youthful brow
I never will be wrong For I am all that these great wizards wereAnd 500% more /I /Center
(a/n: That sucked, but deal. I'm too lazy to go find one of my books. Woohoo! Screw rhyming!)
Harry and Hermione beamed, joining the rest of the school in raucous applause. Professor McGonagall, standing tall then began to drop the hat on each trembling first years' head. Harry took his opportunity to scan the hall for a familiar face. There was Ginny, sitting next to a very confused Colin at the Gryffindor table, trying not to glower at Harry and Hermione. (a/n: If you didn't understand that sentence, go read the epilogue of Just Waiting for the Rain) Further down the table was Dennis Creevey, waving hysterically at Harry while also trying to tell the freshly sorted 1st year sitting next to him that THE famous Harry Potter was now a teacher. Harry laughed good-naturedly and turned to Hermione. She was sitting absolutely ramrod straight, paying rapt attention to the sorting as she always did.
Several minutes later, "Williams, Geoffrey" was sorted into Ravenclaw and the Sorting was over. Professor McGonagal hurried to her place at the head table, slipping between Hermione and Snape. Dumbledore stood slowly and majestically and began speaking to the students, "Before we begin our scrumptious feast, I would like to introduce to you Professor Granger and Master Potter. Professor Granger is your new charms intructor, as Professor Flitwick has decided to take an early retirement to enjoy his time in Bermuda, and Madame Hooch has retired to spend time with her remaining nerves. At the request of the Ministry, we are also instating some "extra-curricular activities" for this year at Hogwarts. There will an arts program, and an athletic program including dueling and some muggle sport or another. See your head of house for details. And now... tuck in!
*Hogwarts – Septermber 1 – 10:00 PM – Hermione's Diary
I Dear Diary,
Here I am, back at Hogwarts again. And I can already tell that it's going to be an interesting year. Ginny's reaction to... well... Harry and myself did not go over very well. I'm a bit scared to see what everyone else is going to say. And of course, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley don't know yet either. They'll either be delighted or enthralled.
Harry and I have been told that we'll be teaching "extra-curricular classes". I don't quite get it yet, but I'm working on it. Why would the Ministry want Hogwarts teaching muggle sports and activities? It's all a mystery to me
All my love,
Hermione
*Hogwarts – September 2 – 8:30 AM – Charms Classroom
Hermione stood behind the large oak desk in the Charms classroom, shaking slightly. For some reason, fate had assigned her the Gryffindor 7th years as her first class. Well, fate or Professor Dumbledore. Then, suddenly, the heavy door swung open, revealing almost the entire pack of her students. She glanced up from her desk and said, "Good morning. Please take a seat, all of you. We'll being in just a moment." The somewhat tired and disheveled looking bunch shuffled around the room claiming seats by practically falling into them. A minute later, Hermione stood before the assembled class. "My name is Professor Hermione Granger. I know that this situation is a little awkward; since I was your classmate just last year, but I hope you'll all try to bear with me in this. I don't intend to treat you like first years, but you must understand that I can't treat you like equals either. It is simply the way this school is run.
"Now this year, we'll be covering something entirely different from what you've done in the past. We will be covering experimental charms. In other words, these spells are not actually certified by the Ministry yet. We will also be creating our own charms. In fact, I am warning you now that your end of year project is a combination charms and potions project involving creating a spell," Hermione took a deep breath and surveyed her students,
"Finally, I am going to say this once and then I never expect to have to say it again. The spells we will be using are not dangerous if conducted properly. Any student who misbehaves, roughhouses, or is careless during my class will be permanently excused. You will accept a zero for the term and depending on the whims of the Ministry you may need to return next year to re-do this class. There are no exceptions. Do you all understand? Good. Take out your texts and your wands and we'll begin..."
*Hogwarts – September 2 – 2:00 PM – Hogwarts' Grounds
Harry Potter scurried around the Quidditch pitch which he had selected for the first years' first flying lesson, trying to arrange the brooms in straight columns. He grinned somewhat affectionately at the jerky Shooting Star that he had ridden after his Nimbus 2000 had been destroyed in 3rd year. This school, Harry thought, seriously needs to make an investment in some new broomsticks. I wonder if Dumbledore would agree... Finally satisfied with the brooms, Harry straddled his Thunderbolt (the newest from the Firebolt company) and took off for a short flight. After a few minutes of needling his way between the multiple turrets and towers of the school, Harry returned to the pitch where he could see the first years congregating. Circling them once or twice, he landed on the ground in the middle of his columns of broomsticks. The eleven year old were immediately silent.
"Good morning, and welcome to your first flying lesson. My name is Master Potter and..."
"Are you Harry Potter?" A girl wearing long blond pigtails piped up from the middle of the clump.
"Well... yes, I am. As I was saying-"
"The Harry Potter?" A boy with mouse brown hair squeaked from the front row.
"Yes."
"See I told you!" Harry head a bow from the back of the group say to his friend in a would-be whisper, "I told you that we would be seeing famous wizards all over Hogwarts."
"ATTENTION!" Harry barked, "Yes, I am Harry Potter, the boy who lived, the boy who defeated You-Know-Who or Lord Voldemort or whatever it is we are calling him this week. But that is not what we are here to discuss. We are here to discuss flying. Now, as you know, first year students are not allowed their own broomsticks. You will be using these school brooms during lessons. I feel I should warn you that-
"Didn't I tell you? He looks just like the boy in that photograph in Hogwarts: A History?" Harry heard a girl whisper. He sighed. It was going to be a long year.
a/n: Fun fun fun.
More as soon as I can get an idea. I'm
off to camp for 4 weeks in 15 days though...
Hopefully I'll be inspired sooner rather than later. r/r!
~Polei