Author's Note: Here we go! I love all you who review. 'Lays pout cookies and other treats' and I find that more of you do when I bribe you. Here, have freshly baked sweets. In addition, I am adding a new person to the story! She is my own creation… hehe
Disclaimer: Am I British, the author of the novels or J.K. Rowling? 'Looks at drivers license' Nope, so I guess all I own is the plot and the new character. So, do not sue me!
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Dumbledore looked at the young girl in front of him. His normally twinkling blue eyes were very grave and serious, "So your school…?"
"Is gone, it was imploded by Dark Forces. Three of us survived and I only survived because I was off doing Ministry Business." Said the young blonde in front of him. Her emerald green eyes full of pain, sorrow, and they looked too old for someone so young.
"I realize they do things differently in America. But you were a student teacher at 16?" Dumbledore inquired.
"Yes. I started very young. In addition, there were year round classes, I graduated two years early for my age. They are not really all that different but the summer semester are what hurried me along." She explained.
"And you know one of our students already?"
"Hermione Granger is a very dear friend of mine. Not to mention my cousin." She responded, with a small smile.
"And where were you student teaching at my dear?"
"I was with the Potion Master."
Albus had to smile at that. Wouldn't Severus have a conniption when he found out he had a much younger student teacher.
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"I don't care if she is the bloody queen of England! I do not have student teachers. Plus she is so young!" Snape shouted in anger.
"And almost fully trained as a teacher. She is very talented Severus. You might actually be impressed. Her Charms work and Potions work is above normal and her personality just might perk up your dungeon." Albus said with a smile after listening to Snape rant for a good hour about how he did not need any help, "I will announce it tonight at dinner."
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A blonde girl with green eyes stared sightlessly over the Hogwart's grounds. It was no Academy by any means. However, this one was still standing, so it had a big plus right now over her old school.
Then she saw a Brown haired familiar face and her eyes sparkled to life, "Granger over here!"
Hermione looked up and grinned, "Mags! Oh my goodness! So why are you here?" She ran to hug her old friend and cousin tightly, "I heard about your mom and dada and sister. I am so sorry."
Mag shrugged with practiced ease, but her eyes filled with pain, "They went easy. And I got to see my school explode always a plus. And now I am working and studying here."
"Working? I thought you were studying to be…not POTIONS?" Mione gasped in shock.
"Oh of course Potions. Why not right?"
"Because I loathe and despise our Potions Master." Mione replied making a face as the two girls walked back to the school.
"Does anyone here know? About anything?" Mags asked as she sat on a bench with a deep, tired sigh.
"Nope, I don't know if they could really handle it if they did. Therefore, I hide it. And with that last battle and all I doubt we have anything to worry about." Hermione replied, while looking around to make sure no one was watching or listening.
"They will have to know eventually." Mags said with a smile.
"Yes, I know. But someday is not today is it?"
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"Before I begin the feast I have an announcement to make. As I am sure many of you have heard. Dark Forces destroyed the American Magic Academy. Only three lived to tell the tale. We here at Hogwarts, have been lucky enough to get one of their teachers' in training here. I ask you all to join me in welcoming Maggie Granger-Smythe."
The applause was slow in starting as Maggie waved to Hermione and Hermione stuck her tongue out at her. Then Hermione turned back to the other Prefects to discuss the winter ball.
"My name is Severus Snape. I am your less than thrilled guide into the world of teaching. Be in my Dungeons at 5:30 am sharp!"
"Yes sir!" Maggie saluted him with a cute smile. She looked out over the faces of people who had no real idea what was coming. It made her sad and angry that they might be robbed of their innocence so soon. And top that off with a cranky icky cooperating teacher…ugh.
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Later that night, all four Prefects were in their common room trying to come up with ideas for the ball. They were batting zero! Nothing was really sounding good… But they needed an idea and fast!
Cho flopped back onto her couch with a groan, "It's hopeless! I can't think anymore!!"
Hermione sighed and leaned back against Draco's couch, "I know the feeling. My brain hurts."
"I say we stop for awhile and start tomorrow. I for one have a horrific potions exam tomorrow." Draco said with a hopeful tone in his voice as he looked at Mione.
"I will help you Draco. It is the least I can do!" she muttered getting to her feet. He grinned up at her and darted off to get his book.
She met Cho and Justin's questioning looks with a roll of her eyes, "I am helping with his homework! Nothing else!"
The two other Prefects nodded and wandered off to go study. Soon all four were hard at work and then they all decided their poor brains could no longer function.
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The next morning Mags was right on time only to find a note tacked to the Potions Door –
~Beginner – You have so much talent. Handle my first two classes today. They are both doubles. ~Snape. ~
She rolled her eyes and walked in to make herself at home. The first thing she did was brighten up the room. After one did not need to be all gloomy when brewing. Then she looked over the tests for the day. Then she made a face.
"I think not Severus." She said aloud as she laid out all new supplies to go with HER lesson idea.
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Soon the sixth year Gryffindors and Slytherins were filing into the room. The all were taken aback by the clean fresh scent. The warm and brighter light.
"Everyone sit down, I will be right out." Called Maggie from the back, soon she was out and with twinkling eyes she greeted the class.
"I bet I know what you are all thinking. It is one of the following… a) Does she know she is not wearing shoes? b) What the hell happened to our ooky dungeon? c) She looks our age! Or d) is she really that short? Here are your answers… a) I am the anti-shoe. If I can at all avoid them I do. b) Contrary to Snape, you do not have to be cold and all dark and dank to brew. So why have it then right? c) I am your age; I took several years as one in the States. We can do that there. I graduated early. And then my school imploded and here I am."
"Imploded?" came from the back of the room.
With a wave of her wand she had a small replica of the school in front of her and them it burst into tiny pieces, "there is an implosion. Anyway, today we are skipping the test do to the fact that I do not like it. Instead, we are going to learn a series of useful every day potions. Starting with the standard healing potion. To save time I have everything at your stations already. Any questions and I am right up here. You may begin."
That was when all the students looked down to find supplies and sheets of parchment with instructions listed on them in front of each other. Maggie wandered the room occasionally but mostly watched from the front of the room. When everyone was done, she pulled out a very old and beautiful dagger.
"Everyone portion out one standard portion for me and then get in line. Let's see if you are all as good as you think you are," she said with a grin. Then cut herself with the dagger and then drank Neville's potion. Her cut healed with no scarring.
Neville watched in fear, than amazement. His potions NEVER worked unless Hermione was helping him. Maggie grinned and winked at him and then repeated the action for the rest of the class.
"Not so quick! I want two feet of parchment on useful everyday spells. By tomorrow. Have a nice night!" and then she disappeared into the back again.
Hermione hung around for a moment, to talk to her cousin.
"Fancy little way of showing trust. And what the hell were you thinking using that dagger?" Hermione demanded.
"No one will recognize it! I swear! Now go to class! I don't want faculty hating me already!" and with that, she shooed her out of the class.
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Draco waited for Hermione to walk past the entrance to 'their' classroom and when she did, she was pulled into it. He kissed her and they forgot about class, and the Winter Ball and everyone else in the world…
"I could fall for you Draco Malfoy." She whispered between kisses.
"Same here Mione…same here…"
"You could fall for you too." She said with a grin.
"NO! I meant I could fall for you."
"Much better…" and then she went back to kissing him senseless.
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AN: Sorry about the lack of fluff, but I do actually have a plot here! I know it is a new concept and I needed to develop it…