'Will You Help Me Find Myself'

Chapter Two: This Is The Worst Day

Defence Against the Dark Art was it's usual boring self excepted for the part where the miniature Dragon that Starlight had brought in set him on fire. Its was only a small blaze but it had been the last straw in his eyes and he had quit there and then. Now sat with nothing to do for the next half hour Hermione's mind wondered to the future. Leaving Hogwarts had always seemed so far away even a few weeks ago, but with the outcome inevitable Hermione had to find something to set her sights on. Ron was probably going to on and become an expert in the Dragon field like all the other Weasleys and Harry was more then liking going to become an Aurora. Yet that left her with nothing. She was good at everything but there was no particular area that set her emotions stirring. She simply had luck warm feelings for all of them. Every teacher that she had talked to had told her the same thing

'You will be good at anything. Just choose something that you enjoy!'

Did they not understand that she was asking because she had no idea what she enjoyed anymore. A month ago she liked honey on her toast but now she really preferred strawberry jam although she was starting to take a liking to marmalade. Why did everything have to be complicated?

Now sat in the great hall for dinner Hermione over at the teachers sat along the head table beside her. They all seemed to be buzzing about something. After the Starlight incident a new Defence Against The Dark Arts teacher would have to found. Maybe they had already got someone to fill in! As long as Snape didn't get the job then she was happy. That would be her worst nightmare. Although the early feelings of admiration had now lacked into feelings of repulsion Snape was a great professor. His teaching skills although lacking in the teacher student bonding section he was fantastic at his job.

Draco reached across her dinner in order to pick up the last of the bread rolls. Being seated at the head table did have advantages though. They go the best view of the Great Hall in all its wonder. The house banners floating above each house table. The candles when it began to get darker. It was a privilege to be seated with some of the greatest well know wizards and witches of their life time. It was then that Dumbledore stood and cleared his throat.

'As you all know Professor Starlight had to leave us after an unfortunate incident with a Dragon. Due to that we currently have no Defence Against The Dark Arts teacher.

The room began to bubble with comments about the class being suspended till a replacement was found. Dumbledore cleared his throat and regained the attention of the room. Then continued in his soft shallow voice.

'That was until this afternoon when I received an owl from the Ministry stating that a replacement had been found and that they would be arriving at Hogwarts Around now.'

With that the doors to the great hall flew open and there in the pale candle light of the corridor stood a dark looming figure. Dressed in black velvet robes, head and face covered. The body moved gracefully through the centre of the room towards the Headmaster. When stood in front of the table a glove hand raised and slowly began to peel back the hood of the robe. Whispers started in the room. A gentle breath of words all mixed together wafted through the now slightly chilled room. Hermione felt the hairs on her neck stand on end as the hood finally fell. A head toped with silver hair shone in the suspended candle light. Grey eyes turned to the great hall. A gasp of surprise seemed to actually come for the room itself and no the inhabitants.

'As many of you are aware this is Mr. Lucius Malfoy. He shall be the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher here at Hogwarts.'

As the words left Dumbledore's mouth those intense grey eyes suddenly fixed on a certain young lady in the room. Hermione could feel them on her staring right through her. Burning her inside up. She would have scream if not for the amount of people around her. Raising her head Hermione settled a glance at those eyes. They seemed to dance only for her. Like no-one else was there. This couldn't be happening Hermione could not be feeling something for this man, this Malfoy, this teacher