Chapter 4: The Prodigal Child

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The lone figure standing by the doors of the Great Hall removed the hood off his face; a collective murmur followed around the tables.

It was a woman. And not just any woman, but one that possessed one of the most beautiful faces Harry had laid eyes on. The skin that was visible was the color of milk chocolate, and looked as smooth as alabaster, the lips full and the color of crimson. Her hair was slicked back in a ponytail, jet-black and smooth as far as they could see, for the cloak on her shoulders did not reveal what lay beyond.

It was a face that wouldn't have seemed odd in the cover of a muggle fashion magazine… but looked definitely out of place among the Hogwarts staff.

What Harry found oddly fascinating was the fact that she was wearing silver muggle sunglasses that hid not only the color of her eyes, but also the shape and contour of them. He found himself wondering at that moment if her eyes were as stunning as her face.

Harry took this all in as Professor Ea apologetically nodded at Prof. Dumbledore. "I apologize for my lateness, Headmaster. There were some… unforeseen interruptions… on my way here," Ea said, her husky voice respectful and gentle, and devoid of any accent that could help them trace her origin.

Dumbledore waved dismissively and grinned broadly. "No matter. Come and join us. And students, you can carry on," he said, sounding like a father who was greeting his child back. Ea walked confidently among two of the house tables toward the front of the Great Hall, where Dumbledore had stood up from his high back chair and waited for her with open arms.

Slowly, the sounds of the students going back to their food filled the hall.

"Wow, did you see that?" Seamus turned toward Dean with a wide smile. "See it? How can I miss it!" Dean said raucously, receiving in return an elbow to the ribs from Parvati. "I wonder what I can do to get detention with her," Ron said dreamily as he looked at Ea and Dumbledore speaking amiably.

"For Merlin's sake, Ron! She's a teacher! Have some respect!" Hermione hissed. Harry remained silent while looking at the new educator, who had an arm around the much taller Dumbledore like an old friend and was whispering something in his ear that made him laugh out loud.

"So, what do you think, Harry?" Lavender asked. Harry had not followed the conversation, so he had no idea what they were asking him about. "Think about what?" Harry asked her. "The new professor!" Neville answered excitedly as Ginny groaned moodily.

"She's alright," Harry mumbled as he tried to find his plate as interesting as the woman in the front of the hall. Ea was being pat in the back by Dumbledore while she approached Minerva McGonagall, who was now standing next to her chair with a very uncharacteristic smile. Harry reluctantly forced himself to move a few inches away from his friends to try and listen in to them.

"Ea! I can't believe you are back," McGonagall said, as she put her arms around Ea's shoulders, shaking dust and bits of mud into the air. Ea hugged her back like an old friend. "It's good to be back, Minnie." The woman said.

Wait, Minnie? Harry had not even heard Dumbledore calling the head of Gryffindor House by that nickname. If he had any doubts that Ea was not just a student, they were immediately cleared. "Sorry about that. Forgot to do a cleaning spell before I came into the Castle," Ea said when McGonagall let go of her. There was now dust and dirt on McGonagalls black velvet robes.

"Take that thing off and tell me what you've been up!" McGonagall said with excitement. Ea laughed and seemed ready to speak when Hagrid put a huge hand on her shoulder affectionately.

"HAGRID!" Ea said with childish abandonment and she rose on tiptoe and tried to hug Hagrid, who was almost twice her height. Hagrid bent down and hugged her, picking her up from the floor as if she was nothing but a child.

"Little Ea! Yer grown!" Hagrid grumbled as he but the lithe woman back on the floor. "Hagrid, it's been 10 years! Thank Merlin I've grown," Ea replied humorously. "Well, no matter 'ow old yer are, yer always be my 'ittle Ea," Hagrid said as he pinched her cheek with his massive hand. Harry knew it must have been painful, but Ea didn't seem to mind.

Professor Snape had now rose from his chair and was striding toward the other three faculty members. He stood next to them for a few seconds, his back stiff, and his lips thin and pale as they twisted into a grimace. Realizing his presence had gone undetected (or, as Harry hoped, ignored), Snape pretended to clear his throat. Ea looked over McGonagall's shoulder and spotted Snape.

Harry smiled when he caught Ea was definitely trying to suppress a sneer.

"Professor Snape. What a pleasure to see you again," Ea said as she stretched her hand to shake Snape's. Snape remained still, however, his hands crossed behind his back. He looked down at Ea's hands, which were obviously dirty from the trip, with a disdain Harry previously thought was reserved just for him.

"Ea," Snape said with a small nod and continued before anyone had a chance to say anything about his rudeness, "I wish for you to come by my office after the feast ends. We have much to discuss."

Ea lowered her hand and sighed. "Sure. Whatever it is you need of me, Professor Snape," she said, her voice strained, matching her forced smile. Snape sneered and said, "And please, dust yourself off. I spent all day cleaning up." And with that, he turned around sharply and walked away.

Both McGonagall and Hagrid looked at Ea ruefully. The woman looked at them both and unexpectedly grinned. "Glad to know that some things haven't changed," she said with a wink.

"Sit here, dear. We have much to talk about," McGonagall said as she motioned to the empty chair that belongs to the DADA teacher. McGonagall sat on her chair, Hagrid on the other, and waited for Ea to take her place.

Ea sat between them and shook her head. "I believe our talk will have to wait, Minnie. For you see, there are others listening," Ea said matter-of-factly. Harry turned his head around sharply and looked back at his friends… for a moment there he would have sworn he felt Ea's eyes on him.

"Glad you could join us, Harry," Hermione said sharply as she grabbed a piece of pumpkin pie and put it in her mouth. "What do you mean?" Harry said. "Come on. You've been checking out the teacher! What did you found out?" Ron asked excitedly.

"Nothing," Harry said truthfully, "other than the other professors seem to like her a lot and that she seems to have graduated 10 years ago. Oh, and Snape hates her guts." "Of course he does," Hermione answered wryly, "we all know he's been after the DADA position for as long as he's been in Hogwarts."

"10 years? Maybe Charlie knows her," Ginny reasoned. "Really? I'll owl him for some pointers," Ron said quickly. "For goodness sake, Ron! You have a girlfriend," Hermione chided. "Who may very well be into threesomes with beautiful and slightly mature faculty members," Ron argued. Hermione slapped him hard in the arm as Neville and Ginny simultaneously said, "Dream on, Ron."

Harry, Hermione, Ron and the others continued speaking about trivial things, mainly about their summer and their plans for their last year at the school. From time to time, Harry's attention wandered toward Hogwarts' newest faculty member, who was speaking with Hagrid about his newest pets ("monsters" was a more appropriate word according to Harry), while McGonagall was keen to replay the last three Quidditch seasons for the black-haired beauty.

Hermione's voice brought his attention back to the Gryffindor table. "Ginny, you and Colin escort the first years to the common room," she had said, standing up from the table. "Where are you going?" Harry asked, standing up with her. "I got rounds," Hermione answered with a sigh.

She was making her way to the exit when Harry stood up and caught up with her. "Wait!" Harry said, and she stopped and looked over her shoulder.

"I got to talk with you," Harry whispered. The noticeable stiffness in Hermione's shoulders lessened a bit as she turned around to meet his eyes. "Can I meet you somewhere after your rounds?" Harry asked, his eyes focused on the floor as he struggled to keep his voice as casual as possible.

"I am Head Girl. I shouldn't be encouraging people to break the rules and wander the castle at odd hours," Hermione said with an amused smile, shaking her head as if she were speaking to a child. Harry grinned, "I take that as a yes."

"Alright, Mr. Cocky. I'll meet you in the Astronomy tower at midnight. But don't get caught or we'll both be in trouble," Hermione said, putting her hand on Harry's arm. "Don't worry. I never get caught," Harry winked. Hermione gave his arm a squeeze and turned around, finally exiting the great hall.

Harry wasn't sure how much time he spent looking at where she had stood with a nervous smile on his face, but it seemed like moments later a hand slapped him in the back. He looked over his shoulder at Ron. A few feet away Ginny, Neville and Colin were guiding the new Gryffindors to the common room.

"What are you smiling about?" Ron asked. Harry suppressed a snort; Ron was a good friend, but Thank Merlin he was a knucklehead when it came to matters of the heart. "I'm smiling because we get another chance to beat Malfoy to the Quidditch Cup," Harry said as he put his arm over Ron's shoulder. "Hear, Hear!" Ron said happily.

After Ron had said his good nights to Luna (Harry had to suppress the urge to gag), the two of them walked the now familiar path thru the mazes of hallways to the Gryffindor Common Room.

"I can't wait till we have our first DADA lesson. When is it again?" Ron had asked for what seemed like the billionth time. "For the last time Ron, tomorrow at 1. Blimey, stop acting like a horny toad!" Harry chided humorously.

They found themselves in front of the fat lady in no time. "Password?" she asked in a superior tone. "Nice to see you too," Ron joked. "Password!" she repeated, exasperated by the lack of respect they were showing.

"What? No 'how are you doing'? No 'how was your summer'? No 'I've missed you?" Ron kidded. Harry was sure that if the Fat Lady could live in three-dimensional space, her hands would be around Ron's throat at this very moment.

"PASSWORD!" she shrieked.  "Fairy Bellies," Harry snickered. The portrait swung open with a huff, and Ron and Harry sat on their usual chairs by the fireplace and talked while everyone else came in and got settled. After what seemed like an eternity to Harry, Ron finally yawned.

"Well, I'm going to bed to dream of a certain professor kissing my girlfriend. You coming?" Ron said, ruffling his red hair sleepily. "Not yet. Going to read for a while," Harry lied. Ron mumbled something unintelligible and walked up the stairs. "Enjoy your dream!" Harry called before Ron disappeared in front of the entrance to the boy's dormitories.

Harry waited until he was the only one left in the common room to exit. "What are you doing up so late?" the portrait said behind him, but Harry knew that as vocal as the Fat Lady was, she would never rat him out to Filch.

Harry walked all the way to the Astronomy Tower mentally practicing what he was going to tell Hermione, and yet, totally unsure of what to tell her.

Was he going to say, "Hermione, I love you"? He wasn't sure if he loved her that way, or if what he was feeling for his best friend was due to the normal hormone-driven impulses of a horny teenager. Was he going to ask her to be his girlfriend? Or did he prefer to leave things the way they were?

One thing was sure… he needed to hear how she felt for him.

He was standing in the top of the Astronomy Tower, nervously trying to smooth back his restless black hair, when he heard her voice, "You know that never works." He looked over his shoulder to find Hermione smiling at him.

"Can't blame a guy for trying," Harry smiled nervously as she slowly walked toward him, her arms resting behind her back. Harry couldn't believe that now, when he finally found himself alone with Hermione and knew he wasn't going to be interrupted, he was stuttering.

"H.. How… how was the round?" Harry stammered. "Uneventful," she said nonchalantly, but then grinned widely as she finished, "Oh, except that Malfoy fell down some stairs and twisted his ankle. "I can't believe he's that clumsy," Harry said, smiling as he imagined the sight.

"Well, he didn't exactly fell," Hermione said mischievously. "You pushed him?" Harry said, a new wave of pride for the girl in front of him surging in him. "Of course, I didn't," she lied dramatically, "I simply swatted a fly that was on his back… when he was at the top of the stairs"

"I think you've been hanging around Ron and me for too long," Harry joked. "Tell me about it," she said wryly. She then opened her eyes and excitedly slapped his arm, "Oh, before I forget. I saw something weird outside Snape's office." "What was it?" Harry asked, still remembering the conversation he had overheard between Snape and Professor Snape.

"I was turning around a corner when I heard a door slam and some hurried footsteps," Hermione started her tale, "I hid behind an armor in time to see Professor Ea turning the corner, and let me tell you… she looked very angry. Snape soon followed behind her and I have never seen him so enraged before. EVER!"

"Snape grabbed her by the arm and stopped her. I thought for sure she was going to slug him, but she kept a hold on herself. And Snape said something like, "Don't you dare be disrespectful to me! If it was up to me, you will never be allowed to come back into this school!' "

"And she looked up at him and said something like, 'Well, it isn't up to you. Is it, Professor Snape? It is up to the Headmaster and you, dear sir, have to respect his decision.' Boy, I thought Snape was going to get out his wand and curse her. He sneered at her and said, 'You should never have graduated.' "

"And I thought it was so cool when Professor Ea smiled deviously at him and said something like, 'That must have been very frustrating for you… to be the head of my house and not be able to expel me.' And then she just turned around and left him fuming!" Hermione finished.

"I think I'm going to like this Ea. Anybody who has problems with Snape is okay in my book," Harry said with a smile, relishing in the fact that he could now go to bed with images of Malfoy falling on his ass and Snape being told off. This was a happy day indeed.

"Oh, I know you like her," Hermione winked at him. But her tone of voice changed slightly, and it didn't go unnoticed by Harry. "You must be confusing me with Ron, missy," Harry mumbled with a smile, but his cheeks went slightly red.

"I think you missed a very important detail, Mr. Potter," Hermione said in her best know-it-all voice. Harry looked at her, confused. "Professor Ea called Snape the head of her house. And you know what that means, don't you?"

The answer dawned on Harry as his face contorted in disgust. "She's a Slytherin?" he screamed, getting shushed by Hermione. "Oh, I knew she was too good to be true," Harry sighed.

"So sorry to put a hamper on your hot-for-teacher fantasies," Hermione kidded, elbowing Harry playfully on the ribs. "I already told you, Hermione. I have my mind on someone already," Harry replied matter-of-factly before remembering just who that person was.

The lighthearted atmosphere in the tower changed abruptly. Harry found his throat unusually dry, and adjusted the collar of his shirt, thinking the rainy night was unusually warm. After a few moments of uncomfortable silence, Hermione was the first to speak, "Well, is getting late. What was it that you wanted to tell me, Harry?"

"I…It's just… I've been wondering… um… really… is… well… I thought…." Harry stuttered, but he found it difficult to complete the sentence when her eyes were fixed on his. He looked down, shuffling his feet nervously. He really needed a new pair of sneakers.

He looked at Hermione when he felt her hand on his shoulder. She was standing very close to him, but her hair shadowed her features, so Harry had no idea what she was thinking of.

"Harry… is this about… about what happened at the Burrow?" she asked, her voice matching the nervousness he felt. He didn't trust his voice, so he just nodded. "I'm sorry, Harry!" Hermione said, shaking her head, her brown curls tickling Harry's face.

"I shouldn't…shouldn't have… I had never gotten drunk and… well, now I know I get a little crazy if I drink too much. So don't worry about it," Hermione stuttered for what may have been the first time in her life. Harry's stomach dropped.

"And on the train?" Harry asked, refusing to accept her lame-ass excuse. Her face was obscured, but Harry could have sworn Hermione's cheeks were so red she could have easily passed as a Weasley.

"Well… I… is… um… well, I am a girl. And… you are a guy. And… it is nice to be in a guy's arms sometimes… Plus, you and I… we've gone thru so much stuff together… it's easy to… to…" Hermione stammered, her eyes finding the floor as interesting as Harry had found his sneakers moments ago.

"To confuse friendship with love?" Harry finished for her. It was exactly what he had been worrying about since the beginning of the summer. She nodded and lowered her head. Harry felt the urgent need to look into her warm chocolate eyes, and he found the courage to stand in front of her and, gently putting his hand under her chin, forced her to look at him.

"I think there's more to this than just friendship," he answered simply when his eyes locked with hers, and he realized they were glistening with unshed tears. It was not only the answer he hoped to receive from her… it was the answer that he had been hiding from himself.

"How can we know?" Hermione said breathlessly as Harry's thumb traced circles on her cheek. As an answer, Harry moved closer to her, until the length of her body brushed with his. His thumb traced a line from her cheek to her chin, and tentatively touched her lower lip. He got a secret delight when he felt her shivering under him.

"I'm not sure. But I want to find out," he whispered huskily as his hand traveled to her neck, and his lips gently touched her lips. He kissed her with a gentleness he didn't thought he was capable of, one of his hands tentatively touching her waist, pulling her closer still.

It was Hermione who deepened the kiss as she opened her mouth to welcome him, her arm snaking around Harry's shoulder, her fingers entangled on his tousled hair. Her other hand rested on his chest, where Harry was sure she could feel the beating of his heart as if it was an African drum.

They broke apart after a few minutes of exploring this new and dangerous sensation, both breathless and weakened. She rested her forehead on his chest, and he took the opportunity to place a gentle kiss on the top of her head.

"Mione, I don't… I don't think you realize the effect you have on me…" he whispered hugging her close. He heard her give a nervous laugh and say, "Is it anything like the effect you have on me? Cause if it is… I can tell you is quite frustrating."

He pushed her gently away from him, and just far enough so he could see her face. She looked up with hesitation, and her eyes locked with the emerald green jewels that were his eyes.

"It doesn't have to be frustrating, you know," Harry kissed her forehead with kindness. Hermione sighed tremulously. "What's going to happen to us now?" she asked him softly.

He smiled at her, a twinkle of mischief in his eyes. "That all depends," he said enigmatically. "Depends on what?" Hermione asked, frowning slightly. "On your answer to my question," he grinned.

"What question?" she inquired. "Hermione Granger…" Harry started, but stopped, frowning as if he was deep in concentration. "Yes, Harry?" she pushed.

"I had practiced a speech for this, you know. Too bad I can't seem to remember," Harry winked. "Oh Harry Potter… stop procrastinating and say it!" she chided, knowing her friend well enough to realize when he was pulling her leg.

He took her hands between his own and said, "Are you gonna be my girl?"

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Well, hope y'all like this chapter. Please R/R. Also, if you have any questions, feel free to ask and I'll do my best to answer in the next posting (without giving spoilers *wink*).

Also, just to let you know I have another story (my first attempt at something lighthearted). It's called She's Having My Baby and you can find it at  .

Lisa Oceans Potter: Hehe Glad to know this is right up your alley. Hermione may seem confident in the situation, but she's a fish out of water when it comes to love.

Sally: Glad to have you here too! Hope you enjoyed the new post.

AngellicHuntress: I'm glad you enjoyed it, Huntress. Harry and Draco fighting over her? Maybe *wink* Have a good week!

Nightwing 509: Glad you liked it. Expect an update to She's Having My Baby soon!

Peace (and R/R),

Anasazi