The last day of class consisted of Divination, Defense Against the Dark Arts, and Potions. Luckily Potions had been cancelled they had been told, due to teacher absence. The three suspected that Snape had been called away on Order business. Hermione had Arithmancy with Professor Vector while Harry and Ron suffered through Divination. Why those two continued to take that class, Hermione did not know. Perhaps they liked the guaranteed Acceptable grade and it was probably better now that Firenze was teaching.
Professor Trelawney was on a semi-permanent leaving doing work for the Order also, and there was one very welcome edition now that Umbridge was gone, Lupin was back and the best Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher yet. The urgency of their situation seemed to have spurred him onward, given him an energy he had not had before. Not that he was fanatical like Moody, but they were learning a new defensive spell every week. There was a kind of grim consensus among the students that all of them would become part of Dumbledore's Army. The group, now allowed, met in the great hall every Wednesday was growing bigger and bigger. Even some of the Slytherins had showed up to the last few. Hermione was glad of it, the more prepared everyone was, the better.
Had she seen that boy at the DA meetings? She thought for a moment. No, she hadn't. It was still puzzling her. Had she imagined him? Ginny must have passed him on the way in, and goodness knew that he was noticeable enough. Yet, she hadn't seen him. Maybe the stress of organizing Dumbledore's Army on top of her normal school and prefect responsibilities was becoming too much and she had begun to hallucinate. Nice hallucination though. She would go and talk to Professor Lupin after the extra pre-Christmas holiday DA meeting. He was their official sponsor and she often consulted him after the meetings in preparation for the next. Hermione looked at her watch. Arithmancy was almost over, but all it had been all lesson was a review.
She sighed and snapped her book shut, still pondering the mysterious boy problem. She would go and talk to Remus; he would know what to do. She packed her things away and headed down to the great hall again, all the while keeping her eye out for the blond-haired boy. He was no where to be seen, and Ginny came over to tell her that she'd asked around and no one had seen him, She then rushed off to join her friends at the Ravenclaw table. Hermione was disappointed but cheered up when Harry sat next to her at lunch.
"You look down Hermione, are you okay?" he asked as he put some fried chicken on his plate. Hermione nodded and put some cod on hers. "I think so. Remember I saw that boy this morning?" Harry grinned, "Mr. Tall, Blonde, and Mysterious?" Hermione giggled, "Yes, that's the one. I haven't seen him, and Ginny's been asking around and no one else saw him today. Maybe I imagined him." Ron joined them, and asked, "What do you need to imagine a mysterious man for? You've got me." Harry looked at Ron seriously, "Ron, we've been over this-" but Ron cut him off. "I know, I know, I was just joking." Hermione was grateful for Harry's intervention. It wasn't that she didn't like Ron, but she didn't love him, not in a romantic way. She was still trying to work her mind around being adored by an international Quidditch player, let alone getting involved with one of her best friends.
As if reading her mind Harry asked "How's Victor doing these days? Have you heard from him? I imagine Karkaroff is on the war-path now that the ministry has officially admitted Voldemort is back." Hermione ignored Ron's tiny flinch and replied, "I got a letter from him last week. Karkaroff is pretty angry, he says. He has even started up a more traditional Defense class." Harry nodded, and Ron asked, "You mean he's stopped teaching curses and has switched over to defensive spells?" "So it seems. I don't know how much of that is for show though, to be honest. Victor already knows most of the defensive spells they are learning, so he has set up his own group." Harry looked both impressed and pleased. "Really? On whose advice, Hermione?" Hermione looked at him and grinned, "Well, mine. We're mostly teaching at the same rate." Harry nodded and continued eating his food.
Hermione finally looked up from her plate and spotted the blonde boy again. He was walking out of the hall but by the time she had swallowed and poked Harry to point him out the boy was already gone. "Did you see him?" she hissed. Harry looked at the doorway and back at Hermione, slightly concerned. "No, Hermione I didn't. Are you okay?" Hermione was still gazing at the empty spot. "But he was…I saw him. He was right there, Harry…" he was looking at her like she was crazy. "Harry, please believe me I did see him." Harry still did not look convinced and asked. "Have you talked to anyone about this? I mean I know you saw him this morning. Maybe one of the teachers knows about him?" Hermione sighed. "You're right. I was planning to talk to Remus after the meeting tonight anyway, but maybe I should skip it tonight." Ron nodded. That might be a good idea. Harry and I can handle it, don't worry." Hermione smiled and finished off her food. Defense Against the Dark Arts was going to be a long class.