Chapter Five:

"Professor?"

"Come in, Danny."

Hermione was in her office writing a letter to Harry. One addressed to Ron sat next to it already. She smiled at her favorite student.

"Something on your mind?" She asked.

"Yea." Danny mumbled, she was staring at her hands.

"Well? Shoot!"

"There's this…"Danny trailed off.

"Guy?" Hermione grinned.

"Yea." Daniella finally looked up.

"Who?"

"Andrew Klear."

"Hmm…he's not bad…for an eleven year old." Hermione teased.

"He thinks I'm a know-it-all." Danny sighed.

"An! I know the feeling!" Hermione laughed.

"So what should I do?" Daniella muttered.

"I've got an idea, you'll know when I announce it, but after that it'll be up to you." Hermione said.

"thank you so much!" Danny gushed.

"You're welcome!" Hermione called as Danny ran out of the room.

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Later that day, Hermione winked and nodded at Danny when she entered class. She waited until all of the students were seated, then she pulled out a piece of parchment.

"Today were going to start a new project. You will be working together, in pairs." She held up the paper, "you are going to pick an object, preferably an animal, and transfigure it into something else. You will do all of the research yourselves, but feel free to ask for help if you need it. At the end of the week, you will turn in a foot of parchment on the procedure used, and you will transfigure your object for me."

The class was staring at her avidly. Some had their mouths hanging open. They looked scared to death. She smiled and some of them relaxed.

"The pairs are: Andrew Klear ad Daniella Hersch."

Hermione continued calling out names and watched the students gather around the room. It wasn't until the end of the list that she noticed someone standing at the door watching, out of the students' view. She nodded at them.

"Start talking. I'll be right back."

Hermione left her students and shut the classroom door behind her. She turned to the observer.

"Can I help you, Headmaster?"

"Yes, Did you talk to Daniella?" Snape asked. Again Hermione marveled at the fact that he cared.

"Yes, and everything will be fine." She said, Snape nodded.

"Interesting lesson. You've proved to be a decent teacher after all."

Hermione was shocked. That had to be the first compliment he'd ever given anyone! But why?

"Thank you, sir." she muttered, Snape merely nodded again.

"You've taken a different approach than I did. Your students actually seem to like you." Snape sneered. Hermione found herself smiling.

"We could have liked you too. If you wouldn't have scared us half to death!"

"Perhaps. Goodbye, Professor." Snape sneered.

"Goodbye."