Chapter Five
Disclaimer- I don't own anything.
The small paper that had once rested softly in Hermione's hand was now crumpled and lay in pieces in her sweating hand.
She took a deep breath and looked around the office. It had changed since Dumbledore had retired. The same headmasters looked down at her with curiosity that made Hermione even more nervous. Practical books and cat pillows had replaced the strange apparatus and the phoenix cage. She smiled to herself as she remembered coming into this room every time her friends had pulled her into another of their grand schemes. Why couldn't things have stayed that way?
The opening of a door made Hermione lapse back into reality. She turned and saw an elderly McGonagall walking towards her. Her new authority had taken a great toll on the professor. Her once creased skin was wrinkled with age and her stride had slowed to a stumbled toddle. Hermione's heart went out to her as she smiled at her past pupil and said, "Hermione, my favorite student, all grown up."
Hermione stood in greeting and said, "Yes, grown-up and still drawn to this place."
McGonagall smiled and motioned for Hermione to sit at the chair in front of her desk. The old professor picked up a paper on her desk and examined it.
"So, you want to teach?" asked McGonagall.
"Yes, I need the job and well- I couldn't think of a place where I'd rather be." Answered Hermione.
"Hmmmm. Well if I remember correctly, and I always remember correctly, you were the brightest child I've ever taught. But this says you haven't worked in years. Like you just dropped off the face of the earth."
"Well. After I got married, I didn't feel the need to work. I see now that I should have kept my options open. But Professor, I really want this job. I want to inspire children, just like you and all the other teachers inspired me. I want to help."
"Well, I'm afraid that we only have one position to fill, Hermione. I think you know which one it is." She said cautiously.
"Yes, I thought it might be this way. But it's no matter. I will take on the task Defense Against the Dark Arts. I just hope I'll be able to stay longer than all the others." She said with only a hint of nervousness in her voice.
"Well, it's settled then. You can take the train to Hogwarts with the students in September. I think it best to start planning your lessons now." She said and then her tone softened, "I have a feeling that you will fill what needs to be filled Hermione. I think you are the person for the job. You have the same enthusiasm and spirit I used to have. I think I should expect a few surprises from you, Hermione." And then in an instant McGonagall raised her wand and apparated from the room.
Hermione sighed from relief, stood up and raised her wand so that she herself could apparate away, but suddenly the door burst open and in came a pale, blond, tall man. He was obviously looking for someone as he marched up the steps and eyed everything suspiciously.
He didn't notice her until he was practically a foot away. He sneered when he saw her and demanded, "Where is McGonagall?"
"It's Professor McGonagall, and she just apparated a minute ago." Said Hermione curtly.
"I need to speak with her THIS INSTANT!" he roared.
"Well I'm afraid you're just going to have to wait." She said tersely. She didn't like the tone of this man's voice.
But before Hermione could say more McGonagall appeared at the door. She looked only slightly agitated by the man's behavior and walked slowly towards him. "What do you want Mr. Malfoy?" she asked.
Hermione was stunned. Lucius Malfoy couldn't really look this young, could he? Why Malfoy must be at least 50. So who was this young man that bore the name Malfoy?
"Mr. Malfoy, I dislike not being answered. Please inform me why you had to make such a distressing visit." Said McGonagall.
"I am here because I have just been informed that a mudblood has filled my position." He yelled.
"If you mean to say that I have filled the position by a person who just happens to be muggle-born then you are correct. While you may be a school governor, Mr. Malfoy, but you have no say in how I staff this school." She said, her patience wearing thin.
"I believe I was first to apply for that position and it is rightfully mine!" he yelled, again.
"Yes, but I have found a more suitable teacher. And she happens to be here right now." Said the old professor as she pointed in Hermione's direction.
The way he stared at her made her knees shake and her hands sweat. This wasn't Lucius, it was Draco, her old arch-enemy. Well it was good to see some things don't change.
"Well, well, well, what have we here? Has this school stooped so low as to hire a mudblood. Really, professor, I am much more qualified and I have made a number of exceptional donations to this school. You picked a mudblood over me?"
"Yes, Mr. Malfoy, Ms. Granger will be filling the Defense Against the Dark Arts position. And there is nothing you can do to change that."
But Hermione wasn't listening to their jabbering. She was thinking. All these old faces reminded her of Harry and how much she loved him. She remembered all those times that he had saved her or the times he was hurt and she was there for him. She was going to cry any second if she didn't get out of here soon. Maybe taking this job wasn't the right thing after all. There was someone willing to fill the position and she wasn't sure she could take all of the emotions brought on by memories of the past.
But she looked up when she heard her name. Ms. Granger. AS if she had never married Harry. Never loved him. Never needed him. At the thought she felt the tears well up in her eyes and slowly pour down her face.
"Stop!" she cried and Draco and Minerva stopped yelling.
"Hermione, are you all right?" asked the professor.
But the shock on Mr. Malfoy's face would have easily consoled her, but unfortunately her hands were covering her face. But Mr. Malfoy just seemed to recognize her. His stun turned to furry when he realized his childhood enemy had won his position.
"You picked that thing." He said in disgust, "for heavens sakes she cries at the drop of a hat and you're going to have her teach a serious class! There really is something wrong with this school. I demand that you fire her, NOW!"
"Mr. Malfoy-" started Professor McGoagall, but Hermione cut her off.
"Mr. Malfoy," said Hermione as she brushed the tears from her eyes and stared at him, "I am afraid you are just going to have to cope with me because I'm not leaving." She said and walked out the door. She would show him, and everyone else. And then Harry would see how great she really was and want her back. She was would show them the real Hermione Granger.
A/N- no one seems to be reviewing! Is it because the last chapters have been really bad? Please review honestly and tell me what you think of the new chapter. Thanx!
Disclaimer- I don't own anything.
The small paper that had once rested softly in Hermione's hand was now crumpled and lay in pieces in her sweating hand.
She took a deep breath and looked around the office. It had changed since Dumbledore had retired. The same headmasters looked down at her with curiosity that made Hermione even more nervous. Practical books and cat pillows had replaced the strange apparatus and the phoenix cage. She smiled to herself as she remembered coming into this room every time her friends had pulled her into another of their grand schemes. Why couldn't things have stayed that way?
The opening of a door made Hermione lapse back into reality. She turned and saw an elderly McGonagall walking towards her. Her new authority had taken a great toll on the professor. Her once creased skin was wrinkled with age and her stride had slowed to a stumbled toddle. Hermione's heart went out to her as she smiled at her past pupil and said, "Hermione, my favorite student, all grown up."
Hermione stood in greeting and said, "Yes, grown-up and still drawn to this place."
McGonagall smiled and motioned for Hermione to sit at the chair in front of her desk. The old professor picked up a paper on her desk and examined it.
"So, you want to teach?" asked McGonagall.
"Yes, I need the job and well- I couldn't think of a place where I'd rather be." Answered Hermione.
"Hmmmm. Well if I remember correctly, and I always remember correctly, you were the brightest child I've ever taught. But this says you haven't worked in years. Like you just dropped off the face of the earth."
"Well. After I got married, I didn't feel the need to work. I see now that I should have kept my options open. But Professor, I really want this job. I want to inspire children, just like you and all the other teachers inspired me. I want to help."
"Well, I'm afraid that we only have one position to fill, Hermione. I think you know which one it is." She said cautiously.
"Yes, I thought it might be this way. But it's no matter. I will take on the task Defense Against the Dark Arts. I just hope I'll be able to stay longer than all the others." She said with only a hint of nervousness in her voice.
"Well, it's settled then. You can take the train to Hogwarts with the students in September. I think it best to start planning your lessons now." She said and then her tone softened, "I have a feeling that you will fill what needs to be filled Hermione. I think you are the person for the job. You have the same enthusiasm and spirit I used to have. I think I should expect a few surprises from you, Hermione." And then in an instant McGonagall raised her wand and apparated from the room.
Hermione sighed from relief, stood up and raised her wand so that she herself could apparate away, but suddenly the door burst open and in came a pale, blond, tall man. He was obviously looking for someone as he marched up the steps and eyed everything suspiciously.
He didn't notice her until he was practically a foot away. He sneered when he saw her and demanded, "Where is McGonagall?"
"It's Professor McGonagall, and she just apparated a minute ago." Said Hermione curtly.
"I need to speak with her THIS INSTANT!" he roared.
"Well I'm afraid you're just going to have to wait." She said tersely. She didn't like the tone of this man's voice.
But before Hermione could say more McGonagall appeared at the door. She looked only slightly agitated by the man's behavior and walked slowly towards him. "What do you want Mr. Malfoy?" she asked.
Hermione was stunned. Lucius Malfoy couldn't really look this young, could he? Why Malfoy must be at least 50. So who was this young man that bore the name Malfoy?
"Mr. Malfoy, I dislike not being answered. Please inform me why you had to make such a distressing visit." Said McGonagall.
"I am here because I have just been informed that a mudblood has filled my position." He yelled.
"If you mean to say that I have filled the position by a person who just happens to be muggle-born then you are correct. While you may be a school governor, Mr. Malfoy, but you have no say in how I staff this school." She said, her patience wearing thin.
"I believe I was first to apply for that position and it is rightfully mine!" he yelled, again.
"Yes, but I have found a more suitable teacher. And she happens to be here right now." Said the old professor as she pointed in Hermione's direction.
The way he stared at her made her knees shake and her hands sweat. This wasn't Lucius, it was Draco, her old arch-enemy. Well it was good to see some things don't change.
"Well, well, well, what have we here? Has this school stooped so low as to hire a mudblood. Really, professor, I am much more qualified and I have made a number of exceptional donations to this school. You picked a mudblood over me?"
"Yes, Mr. Malfoy, Ms. Granger will be filling the Defense Against the Dark Arts position. And there is nothing you can do to change that."
But Hermione wasn't listening to their jabbering. She was thinking. All these old faces reminded her of Harry and how much she loved him. She remembered all those times that he had saved her or the times he was hurt and she was there for him. She was going to cry any second if she didn't get out of here soon. Maybe taking this job wasn't the right thing after all. There was someone willing to fill the position and she wasn't sure she could take all of the emotions brought on by memories of the past.
But she looked up when she heard her name. Ms. Granger. AS if she had never married Harry. Never loved him. Never needed him. At the thought she felt the tears well up in her eyes and slowly pour down her face.
"Stop!" she cried and Draco and Minerva stopped yelling.
"Hermione, are you all right?" asked the professor.
But the shock on Mr. Malfoy's face would have easily consoled her, but unfortunately her hands were covering her face. But Mr. Malfoy just seemed to recognize her. His stun turned to furry when he realized his childhood enemy had won his position.
"You picked that thing." He said in disgust, "for heavens sakes she cries at the drop of a hat and you're going to have her teach a serious class! There really is something wrong with this school. I demand that you fire her, NOW!"
"Mr. Malfoy-" started Professor McGoagall, but Hermione cut her off.
"Mr. Malfoy," said Hermione as she brushed the tears from her eyes and stared at him, "I am afraid you are just going to have to cope with me because I'm not leaving." She said and walked out the door. She would show him, and everyone else. And then Harry would see how great she really was and want her back. She was would show them the real Hermione Granger.
A/N- no one seems to be reviewing! Is it because the last chapters have been really bad? Please review honestly and tell me what you think of the new chapter. Thanx!