Old Friends & Old Enemies
Author's Note: I do not own and am not affiliated with J. K. Rowling or any of these characters and I am not making money off of this story. So please don't sue. Thank you.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Hermoine sat at her desk and wrote up her latest story. She was a reporter of London's Daily Times, a muggle newspaper. It had never been her dream to be a reporter, both when she lived as a muggle and as a witch but certain events had changed her dreams forever.
Maxwell Crom, a very handsome muggle editor, dropped a large stack of notes on Hermoine's desk, "I need these reviewed and typed by this afternoon."
Hermoine stared at Max. How many times did she have to tell him? "Max, you know that isn't my job."
Max leaned down and whispered in her ear, "Because my dear, you are just so good at it."
Hermoine sighed, she was tired of these flirting games. Muggle edict and magic edict were obviously more different than she thought. Most wizards and witches would never flirt in work places, especially in the unbecoming manner that Max did. Hermoine turned away, "Fine." She added the notes to the pile of work in her in basket.
Max shook his head slowly. Why did she always do this? He knew she wanted and desired him but why did she always turned away? Why? He still could not understand. She was so different from any girl he had ever met before. He had a strong feeling that he was in love with her, a feeling he had never experienced.
Hermoine, still sensing Max's presence behind her turned around, "Is there anything else you want?"
Max shook his head, "No."
Hermoine raised and eyebrow, "Well. I need to work, which is extremely difficult with you staring at the back of my head."
Max was amazed. No one but Hermoine would say something like that to one of her bosses. Max forced a smile, "Of course."
Just as Max was leaving Hermoine's phone rang, "Good morning, this is Hermoine Granger."
"Hermoine," Liza Moore replied, "I have two people here to visit you."
"Send them down." Hermoine said, confused. Liza usually just sent the visitors to her office. She never really called before.
"No, Hermoine," Liza hissed, "They're not normal."
To Hermoine not normal by muggle standards met the people here to visit her were part of the magical world. Her heart began to pound; she had had nothing to do with the magical realm since, since. Hermoine refused to allow herself to think about it. "Send them down." Hermoine repeated and before Liza could protest, Hermoine hung up.
It was only a matter of minutes before the visitors arrived at her office. Max was still lingering outside her door, listening intently. Hermoine glanced up at the witch and wizard, disguised in muggle clothing, as they entered her office. "Ginny Weasley and Neville Longbottom! What in the blazes are you doing here?"
Ginny and Neville both expected this reaction. Hermoine had totally given up on their way of life and returned to her original life, that of a muggle. "We're here because we need your help." Ginny replied.
Hermoine shook her head, "I can't help you."
Neville looked at his old friend with sad eyes, "Hermoine, you are the only one who can help us."
Hermoine shook her head, "You know I've forsaken that life long ago, Neville, I will never go back to it."
Ginny sighed. This was going to be harder than she thought, "Hermoine, you can't continue to blame yourself for what happened."
"It WAS my fault, Ginny, you know that."
Neville shook his head, "Hermoine you forget we were there too. We saw what happened that day. There was nothing you could have done to prevent it. There was nothing anyone could have done. It was fate."
Hermoine shook her head fiercely, her false brown hair flapping around her face. "No, it was my fault."
"Hermoine, you are a hero in our world for what you did that day. Little children are learning about your heroics at Hogwarts already." Ginny protested.
Hermoine squared her shoulders; she refused to give in, "No. I failed everyone that day. Especially Ron and Harry."
Neville slammed his hand down Hermoine's desk and looked down at her, "YOU DID NOT FAIL THEM!"
"Keep your voice down," Hermoine hissed. "There are muggles around."
Ginny placed a calming hand on Neville's shoulders. "Hermoine, Harry and Ron were our friends too. Actually, they were more to me and you know it. Ron was my brother and Harry was my boyfriend. But I didn't give up on our ways, now did I? Harry and Ron wouldn't have wanted that of me and I KNOW they didn't want that of you."
Hermoine hung her head, deep down she knew they were right but somehow she simply couldn't bring herself to believe it. "I still cannot help you."
Ginny pulled Hermoine to her feet. "Yes you can. Besides, you have something we need."
"What's that?" Hermoine asked, "My wand?"
Neville shook his head, "The D. A. list."
"Dumbeldore's Army?" Hermoine asked, shocked, "What in the name of Merlin do you need that for?" As soon as the words slipped out of her mouth, Hermoine regretted them. She said Merlin; she was falling back into the language of her people as well as the habits in the few short minutes she had been here.
Ginny and Neville exchanged looks, once a witch, always a witch. "Hermoine, we need people to help us with a certain. situation." Ginny finished lamely.
"With the help of the D. A. we may just find the help we need."
"But that. that list." Hermoine struggled, "We created that our fifth year and it also ended that year."
"The name did," Ginny said, "The help didn't. Even in the final days of Voldemort's reign-" Neville flinched, "The D. A. was strong and now we need to call back its members for help."
"Help against what?" Hermoine asked.
"We can't tell you here," Neville said, "But you need to come with us."
Hermoine shook her head, "I can't, you guys, I'm really sorry but I just can't."
Ginny placed her hands on her hips, "Hermoine we have orders from Dumbledore that if you don't come willingly we will simply have to take you by force."
"Dumbledore?" Hermoine asked, "Dumbledore is calling the D. A. back together?"
Ginny nodded, "He needs our help, Hermoine. He needs YOUR help."
Hermoine slumped back in her chair. "Why would Dumbledore need me?"
"Because," Neville answered, "You are the greatest witch of our time."
Hermoine closed her eyes. Could she do it again? Could she really take up a wand and perform magic? After what happened the last time Hermoine had held a wand, she wasn't so sure. "I can try." She whispered, fearfully, "But I make no promises about my abilities."
Neville and Ginny both hugged Hermoine, "Good." Ginny said.
"Where are we going, exactly?" Hermoine asked.
"Well-" Ginny started just as Max burst into Hermoine's office.
"Granger you are not going anywhere without my permission! This is a work day."
Neville slammed the office door shut behind Max, "What exactly did you hear?"
Max crossed his arms, "Something about an army and hocus pocus crap."
Ginny shook her head sadly, "Should have never confessed to that."
Neville pulled out a long, slender piece of wood from his back pocket, "OBLIVATE!"
Max was stunned for moment and then asked, "Who are you?" Neville grinned at Ginny and quickly put his wand away. "And what are you doing here?"
Hermoine picked up her purse and sweater, patted Max on the shoulder, "I'll see you in a few days."
"What?" Max asked.
"You promised me a few days vacation, Max, you're not going to go back on that promise now are you?"
Max shook his head, confused, "No I suppose not."
Hermoine kissed his cheek, "Thanks!" And the two witches and one wizard left the London Daily Press's office.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
It didn't take long for Hermoine to slip into her old habits. "Neville!" She cried as soon as they had reached the safety of her apartment. "You shouldn't have stunned Max like that, you know it's-"
"Oh pipe down," Ginny said, "It's alright."
Neville nodded, "I work for the Ministry of Magic now. I head up that particular little department which allows me to do what I just did."
Hermoine's mouth dropped. Neville worked for the Ministry! When Hermoine had known Neville, even her last days of using magic, he had always been somewhat clumsy and not very good at magic. His family had believed he might very well be a squib for a long time, at least until he had gotten his letter from Hogwarts.
Ginny giggled at the sight of Hermoine, "You looked terribly surprised."
Hermoine shook her head, "No."
Neville laughed, "You have turned into such a bad liar, Hermoine."
Hermoine apologized, "I didn't mean-"
"Its okay, Hermoine," Neville replied, "I've changed. The whole world has changed," He finished softly.
Ginny placed her hands on her hips, "My gosh, Hermoine, you have turned totally muggle!" Nowhere in Hermoine's living room could she see one shred of magical evidence.
Hermoine nodded, "I wanted to erase as many of those memories as I could."
"Of just Ron & Harry's demise or everyone and everything?"
"Everyone and everything," Hermoine answered.
Ginny sighed. Hermoine really was no longer the powerful witch everyone had taken her for, but rather a broken hearted muggle. Ginny forced a smile, "Well where is that list then?"
Hermoine walked into a closet and closed door, she emerged a few minutes later with the list. Even though Umbridge had taken the original, Hermoine had kept a copy in her room at Hogwarts, "Here you go." She handed the list over to Ginny.
Ginny looked it over; sadly, many of these people were no longer with them. Ginny read off the list of who was still alive, "Co Chang, Michael Corner, Colin Creevey, Lee Jordan, Susan Bones, Fred and George Weasley, Ginny Weasley, Neville Longbottom, Parvati Patil, Lavender Brown, Angelina Johnson, and Hermoine Granger."
"You skipped a few," Hermoine noted.
"I skipped those who were no longer with us."
Hermione gasped, "You mean-"
"The rest of the people on this list, Dennis Curvey, etc, are no longer among the living, or the sane," Ginny replied, thinking about her brother and the only man she had ever loved.
Hermoine took a deep breath, "Well what does Dumbledore want us back in action if there are only a few of us left?"
Neville smiled, "Dumbledore wants to be the one to tell you."
Hermoine shook her head. "By the way," Ginny replied, "What is with your hair!?"
Hermoine took a fist-full of brown hair and looked at it, as though sick, "After I left, I had many people approaching me, witches and wizards of course, while I was trying to start my new life. So I died my hair brown and I wore glasses for several years. As you can tell I've stopped wearing the glasses."
"And that worked?" Neville asked, shocked. Despite the brown hair you could tell it was Hermoine in everyway.
Hermoine nodded, "Many of the people who were stopping me, had never even seen me before. They were just looking for a witch-dressed person with red fizzy hair."
Ginny touched her Hermione's hair, "You've got nice curls now."
Hermoine nodded, "But that's not we are hear to talk about. When do I get to see Dumbledore?"
"Well if you can still apparate," Ginny said, "You can see him now."
"Where to?" Hermoine asked.
"First you need to be - properly dressed," Neville said, glancing down at her muggle clothes, "And second - you are going to need your wand."
Hermoine sighed. Why were they doing this to her? She headed back into her closet and changed into her old green robes and grabbed her once trusty wand and headed back into the living room.
Ginny looked her over, "That will do, for now."
"For now?" Hermoine asked.
Neville nodded, "Dumbledore's going to want to do something about that hair."
"Can we go already?" She asked impatiently.
Ginny nodded, "We're going to the Black Residence."
Hermoine gave a start, "What?"
Neville answered this time, "Well you know when Sirius died he had no children, but he DID have a godchild so Harry inherited the house."
"I KNOW that," Hermoine replied, "But after Harry-" She faultered. She couldn't say it she just couldn't say it.
"Harry knew what was going to happen to him," Ginny replied, "Harry knew and so he left the house to me."
"You?" Hermoine asked in pure shock.
Ginny nodded, "Along with an engagement ring that he knew he would never be able to give me in person."
Hermoine gave a start and tears started to well up in her eyes. It was her fault! All her bloody fault!
As if knowing what her old friend was thinking, Ginny whispered, "It's not your fault."
"Come on lets go," Neville's voice cracked with emotion. Thinking about Harry and Ron made him think about his parents. He shook his head, "Let's get out of here."
Hermoine felt a rush of pleasure and excitement as she once again used her wand. She left her living room and arrived in the Black's living room. "I still haven't lost my touch," She said with a whisper.
"So I see." A rough, old voice said from behind her.
Hermoine spun around to see the old Professor. "Professor Dumbledore!" Hermoine cried and rushed into a hug.
Dumbledore smiled as he hugged the dear girl back and then he pulled away with sorrow, "I wish seeing you again could have been under happier circumstances."
"What's going on?"
But instead of answering Dumbledore looked over Hermoine's shoulders at Ginny, "You have the list?" Ginny handed her old headmaster the list. He looked it over and then told Ginny, "Send Owls to all these people to meet at Hogwarts, as soon as possible."
Ginny nodded and left the room, "That's right," Hermoine said sadly, "School would be in session right now." She thought about the teaching job she had so desired but instead of teaching she just gave up on magic all together.
"That's right, Hermoine, and I need you to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts."
"What?" Hermoine asked, startled.
Dumbledore nodded, "We've had a sub all year thus far but she's at her wits end and ready to quit. And you would be so well equipped for the job."
Hermoine thought about it. It was the job she wanted but everyone believed that job was cursed. Well it had been cursed, after Qurriell. But you don't believe in curses, a small voice told her. "I'll do it."
"Good. Those students could really use your help, especially with what's coming."
"What is coming?" Hermoine asked.
Dumbledore placed a reassuring hand on the witch's shoulder, "Soon, my dear, soon."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
It was only October but the air at Hogwarts was nonetheless cold. Hermoine managed to get her trunk into her quarters before hurrying down to breakfast. Dumbledore wanted to "properly" welcome her to school.
She sat down at the table between Professor McGongall and Professor Snape. Oh, how she despised that man! During her first year at Hogwarts Hermoine, Ron, and Harry had all believed Snape to be working for Voldemort, but even after Dumbledore put trust in the man, she hadn't. "Good morning," She said with a false smile.
McGongall smiled at one of her most prized, and fallen, students, "Good Morning Miss - excuse me - PROFESSOR Granger."
Hermoine's cheeks turned read and she turned to the headmaster as he quickly introduced her. "AHEM!" He cried. The hall suddenly turned silent. Hermoine could see student upon student staring at Dumbledore, "That's more like it. Firstly I would like to say that Professor Conner as resigned her position-" A cheer went up in the hall, "And that she has been replaced by Professor Hermoine Granger."
The hall was filled with a stunned silence as students whispered, "Hermoine Granger? THE Hermoine Granger?" And then a large cheer went up from the Gryffindor table, followed soon by Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff. The Slytherin table hadn't moved, which was just fine by Hermoine. She had never liked anyone in Slytherin in the first place.
She caught up with McGongall on all the news she had lost. She learned that Draco Malfoy had been found innocent of all charges in his trial for using the dark arts, "Ruddy Bastard," Hermoine muttered before she could help herself.
McGongall patted her hand, "I know dear, I know." McGongall disliked Malfoy nearly as much as the rest of the Gryffindors since, well since Harry and Ron had, had. Hermoine pushed the thought from her mind. After breakfast she got up and headed to her classroom. She had second year Hufflepuffs. That wasn't so bad.
Hermoine walked in the room and uttered a gasp. It hadn't changed! Hermoine took a seat at her desk and waited for her students to arrive. The second years were not so bad. But as for her second class. Well she didn't get so lucky.
She had first year Slytherins. Hermoine sighed. Slytherin. That was just wonderful. After everyone had seated, Hermoine started this first lesson just like her last one, "I would like to begin with everyone introducing themselves to me, just your name. I know this corny and probably stupid but I do need to know your names."
She heard snickers around the room, "Well I KNOW all about you?" A high- pitched and snobby voice came from the back of the room.
"Oh you do now?"
A blonde-haired boy stood up and Hermoine nearly groaned. This kid was obviously a Malfoy. "Yeah, you're the Mudblood that tried to put my father in Azakban."
Hermoine would have liked to send that kid to the next world right then and there. Instead she said, "Five points from Slytherin for use of foul language. Secondly, Mr. Malfoy, I didn't have to do anything, you're father got put on trial all by himself for use of the dark arts and plotting with Voldemort-" A gasp went up in the room but she ignored it, "And secondly, this is a DEFENSE Against the Dark Arts class and I will not tolerate any of your rudeness."
The kid huffed, "Whatever."
"Five more points from Slytherin."
The rest of the class didn't go so well.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
New chapter coming soon!!!!!!
Author's Note: I do not own and am not affiliated with J. K. Rowling or any of these characters and I am not making money off of this story. So please don't sue. Thank you.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Hermoine sat at her desk and wrote up her latest story. She was a reporter of London's Daily Times, a muggle newspaper. It had never been her dream to be a reporter, both when she lived as a muggle and as a witch but certain events had changed her dreams forever.
Maxwell Crom, a very handsome muggle editor, dropped a large stack of notes on Hermoine's desk, "I need these reviewed and typed by this afternoon."
Hermoine stared at Max. How many times did she have to tell him? "Max, you know that isn't my job."
Max leaned down and whispered in her ear, "Because my dear, you are just so good at it."
Hermoine sighed, she was tired of these flirting games. Muggle edict and magic edict were obviously more different than she thought. Most wizards and witches would never flirt in work places, especially in the unbecoming manner that Max did. Hermoine turned away, "Fine." She added the notes to the pile of work in her in basket.
Max shook his head slowly. Why did she always do this? He knew she wanted and desired him but why did she always turned away? Why? He still could not understand. She was so different from any girl he had ever met before. He had a strong feeling that he was in love with her, a feeling he had never experienced.
Hermoine, still sensing Max's presence behind her turned around, "Is there anything else you want?"
Max shook his head, "No."
Hermoine raised and eyebrow, "Well. I need to work, which is extremely difficult with you staring at the back of my head."
Max was amazed. No one but Hermoine would say something like that to one of her bosses. Max forced a smile, "Of course."
Just as Max was leaving Hermoine's phone rang, "Good morning, this is Hermoine Granger."
"Hermoine," Liza Moore replied, "I have two people here to visit you."
"Send them down." Hermoine said, confused. Liza usually just sent the visitors to her office. She never really called before.
"No, Hermoine," Liza hissed, "They're not normal."
To Hermoine not normal by muggle standards met the people here to visit her were part of the magical world. Her heart began to pound; she had had nothing to do with the magical realm since, since. Hermoine refused to allow herself to think about it. "Send them down." Hermoine repeated and before Liza could protest, Hermoine hung up.
It was only a matter of minutes before the visitors arrived at her office. Max was still lingering outside her door, listening intently. Hermoine glanced up at the witch and wizard, disguised in muggle clothing, as they entered her office. "Ginny Weasley and Neville Longbottom! What in the blazes are you doing here?"
Ginny and Neville both expected this reaction. Hermoine had totally given up on their way of life and returned to her original life, that of a muggle. "We're here because we need your help." Ginny replied.
Hermoine shook her head, "I can't help you."
Neville looked at his old friend with sad eyes, "Hermoine, you are the only one who can help us."
Hermoine shook her head, "You know I've forsaken that life long ago, Neville, I will never go back to it."
Ginny sighed. This was going to be harder than she thought, "Hermoine, you can't continue to blame yourself for what happened."
"It WAS my fault, Ginny, you know that."
Neville shook his head, "Hermoine you forget we were there too. We saw what happened that day. There was nothing you could have done to prevent it. There was nothing anyone could have done. It was fate."
Hermoine shook her head fiercely, her false brown hair flapping around her face. "No, it was my fault."
"Hermoine, you are a hero in our world for what you did that day. Little children are learning about your heroics at Hogwarts already." Ginny protested.
Hermoine squared her shoulders; she refused to give in, "No. I failed everyone that day. Especially Ron and Harry."
Neville slammed his hand down Hermoine's desk and looked down at her, "YOU DID NOT FAIL THEM!"
"Keep your voice down," Hermoine hissed. "There are muggles around."
Ginny placed a calming hand on Neville's shoulders. "Hermoine, Harry and Ron were our friends too. Actually, they were more to me and you know it. Ron was my brother and Harry was my boyfriend. But I didn't give up on our ways, now did I? Harry and Ron wouldn't have wanted that of me and I KNOW they didn't want that of you."
Hermoine hung her head, deep down she knew they were right but somehow she simply couldn't bring herself to believe it. "I still cannot help you."
Ginny pulled Hermoine to her feet. "Yes you can. Besides, you have something we need."
"What's that?" Hermoine asked, "My wand?"
Neville shook his head, "The D. A. list."
"Dumbeldore's Army?" Hermoine asked, shocked, "What in the name of Merlin do you need that for?" As soon as the words slipped out of her mouth, Hermoine regretted them. She said Merlin; she was falling back into the language of her people as well as the habits in the few short minutes she had been here.
Ginny and Neville exchanged looks, once a witch, always a witch. "Hermoine, we need people to help us with a certain. situation." Ginny finished lamely.
"With the help of the D. A. we may just find the help we need."
"But that. that list." Hermoine struggled, "We created that our fifth year and it also ended that year."
"The name did," Ginny said, "The help didn't. Even in the final days of Voldemort's reign-" Neville flinched, "The D. A. was strong and now we need to call back its members for help."
"Help against what?" Hermoine asked.
"We can't tell you here," Neville said, "But you need to come with us."
Hermoine shook her head, "I can't, you guys, I'm really sorry but I just can't."
Ginny placed her hands on her hips, "Hermoine we have orders from Dumbledore that if you don't come willingly we will simply have to take you by force."
"Dumbledore?" Hermoine asked, "Dumbledore is calling the D. A. back together?"
Ginny nodded, "He needs our help, Hermoine. He needs YOUR help."
Hermoine slumped back in her chair. "Why would Dumbledore need me?"
"Because," Neville answered, "You are the greatest witch of our time."
Hermoine closed her eyes. Could she do it again? Could she really take up a wand and perform magic? After what happened the last time Hermoine had held a wand, she wasn't so sure. "I can try." She whispered, fearfully, "But I make no promises about my abilities."
Neville and Ginny both hugged Hermoine, "Good." Ginny said.
"Where are we going, exactly?" Hermoine asked.
"Well-" Ginny started just as Max burst into Hermoine's office.
"Granger you are not going anywhere without my permission! This is a work day."
Neville slammed the office door shut behind Max, "What exactly did you hear?"
Max crossed his arms, "Something about an army and hocus pocus crap."
Ginny shook her head sadly, "Should have never confessed to that."
Neville pulled out a long, slender piece of wood from his back pocket, "OBLIVATE!"
Max was stunned for moment and then asked, "Who are you?" Neville grinned at Ginny and quickly put his wand away. "And what are you doing here?"
Hermoine picked up her purse and sweater, patted Max on the shoulder, "I'll see you in a few days."
"What?" Max asked.
"You promised me a few days vacation, Max, you're not going to go back on that promise now are you?"
Max shook his head, confused, "No I suppose not."
Hermoine kissed his cheek, "Thanks!" And the two witches and one wizard left the London Daily Press's office.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
It didn't take long for Hermoine to slip into her old habits. "Neville!" She cried as soon as they had reached the safety of her apartment. "You shouldn't have stunned Max like that, you know it's-"
"Oh pipe down," Ginny said, "It's alright."
Neville nodded, "I work for the Ministry of Magic now. I head up that particular little department which allows me to do what I just did."
Hermoine's mouth dropped. Neville worked for the Ministry! When Hermoine had known Neville, even her last days of using magic, he had always been somewhat clumsy and not very good at magic. His family had believed he might very well be a squib for a long time, at least until he had gotten his letter from Hogwarts.
Ginny giggled at the sight of Hermoine, "You looked terribly surprised."
Hermoine shook her head, "No."
Neville laughed, "You have turned into such a bad liar, Hermoine."
Hermoine apologized, "I didn't mean-"
"Its okay, Hermoine," Neville replied, "I've changed. The whole world has changed," He finished softly.
Ginny placed her hands on her hips, "My gosh, Hermoine, you have turned totally muggle!" Nowhere in Hermoine's living room could she see one shred of magical evidence.
Hermoine nodded, "I wanted to erase as many of those memories as I could."
"Of just Ron & Harry's demise or everyone and everything?"
"Everyone and everything," Hermoine answered.
Ginny sighed. Hermoine really was no longer the powerful witch everyone had taken her for, but rather a broken hearted muggle. Ginny forced a smile, "Well where is that list then?"
Hermoine walked into a closet and closed door, she emerged a few minutes later with the list. Even though Umbridge had taken the original, Hermoine had kept a copy in her room at Hogwarts, "Here you go." She handed the list over to Ginny.
Ginny looked it over; sadly, many of these people were no longer with them. Ginny read off the list of who was still alive, "Co Chang, Michael Corner, Colin Creevey, Lee Jordan, Susan Bones, Fred and George Weasley, Ginny Weasley, Neville Longbottom, Parvati Patil, Lavender Brown, Angelina Johnson, and Hermoine Granger."
"You skipped a few," Hermoine noted.
"I skipped those who were no longer with us."
Hermione gasped, "You mean-"
"The rest of the people on this list, Dennis Curvey, etc, are no longer among the living, or the sane," Ginny replied, thinking about her brother and the only man she had ever loved.
Hermoine took a deep breath, "Well what does Dumbledore want us back in action if there are only a few of us left?"
Neville smiled, "Dumbledore wants to be the one to tell you."
Hermoine shook her head. "By the way," Ginny replied, "What is with your hair!?"
Hermoine took a fist-full of brown hair and looked at it, as though sick, "After I left, I had many people approaching me, witches and wizards of course, while I was trying to start my new life. So I died my hair brown and I wore glasses for several years. As you can tell I've stopped wearing the glasses."
"And that worked?" Neville asked, shocked. Despite the brown hair you could tell it was Hermoine in everyway.
Hermoine nodded, "Many of the people who were stopping me, had never even seen me before. They were just looking for a witch-dressed person with red fizzy hair."
Ginny touched her Hermione's hair, "You've got nice curls now."
Hermoine nodded, "But that's not we are hear to talk about. When do I get to see Dumbledore?"
"Well if you can still apparate," Ginny said, "You can see him now."
"Where to?" Hermoine asked.
"First you need to be - properly dressed," Neville said, glancing down at her muggle clothes, "And second - you are going to need your wand."
Hermoine sighed. Why were they doing this to her? She headed back into her closet and changed into her old green robes and grabbed her once trusty wand and headed back into the living room.
Ginny looked her over, "That will do, for now."
"For now?" Hermoine asked.
Neville nodded, "Dumbledore's going to want to do something about that hair."
"Can we go already?" She asked impatiently.
Ginny nodded, "We're going to the Black Residence."
Hermoine gave a start, "What?"
Neville answered this time, "Well you know when Sirius died he had no children, but he DID have a godchild so Harry inherited the house."
"I KNOW that," Hermoine replied, "But after Harry-" She faultered. She couldn't say it she just couldn't say it.
"Harry knew what was going to happen to him," Ginny replied, "Harry knew and so he left the house to me."
"You?" Hermoine asked in pure shock.
Ginny nodded, "Along with an engagement ring that he knew he would never be able to give me in person."
Hermoine gave a start and tears started to well up in her eyes. It was her fault! All her bloody fault!
As if knowing what her old friend was thinking, Ginny whispered, "It's not your fault."
"Come on lets go," Neville's voice cracked with emotion. Thinking about Harry and Ron made him think about his parents. He shook his head, "Let's get out of here."
Hermoine felt a rush of pleasure and excitement as she once again used her wand. She left her living room and arrived in the Black's living room. "I still haven't lost my touch," She said with a whisper.
"So I see." A rough, old voice said from behind her.
Hermoine spun around to see the old Professor. "Professor Dumbledore!" Hermoine cried and rushed into a hug.
Dumbledore smiled as he hugged the dear girl back and then he pulled away with sorrow, "I wish seeing you again could have been under happier circumstances."
"What's going on?"
But instead of answering Dumbledore looked over Hermoine's shoulders at Ginny, "You have the list?" Ginny handed her old headmaster the list. He looked it over and then told Ginny, "Send Owls to all these people to meet at Hogwarts, as soon as possible."
Ginny nodded and left the room, "That's right," Hermoine said sadly, "School would be in session right now." She thought about the teaching job she had so desired but instead of teaching she just gave up on magic all together.
"That's right, Hermoine, and I need you to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts."
"What?" Hermoine asked, startled.
Dumbledore nodded, "We've had a sub all year thus far but she's at her wits end and ready to quit. And you would be so well equipped for the job."
Hermoine thought about it. It was the job she wanted but everyone believed that job was cursed. Well it had been cursed, after Qurriell. But you don't believe in curses, a small voice told her. "I'll do it."
"Good. Those students could really use your help, especially with what's coming."
"What is coming?" Hermoine asked.
Dumbledore placed a reassuring hand on the witch's shoulder, "Soon, my dear, soon."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
It was only October but the air at Hogwarts was nonetheless cold. Hermoine managed to get her trunk into her quarters before hurrying down to breakfast. Dumbledore wanted to "properly" welcome her to school.
She sat down at the table between Professor McGongall and Professor Snape. Oh, how she despised that man! During her first year at Hogwarts Hermoine, Ron, and Harry had all believed Snape to be working for Voldemort, but even after Dumbledore put trust in the man, she hadn't. "Good morning," She said with a false smile.
McGongall smiled at one of her most prized, and fallen, students, "Good Morning Miss - excuse me - PROFESSOR Granger."
Hermoine's cheeks turned read and she turned to the headmaster as he quickly introduced her. "AHEM!" He cried. The hall suddenly turned silent. Hermoine could see student upon student staring at Dumbledore, "That's more like it. Firstly I would like to say that Professor Conner as resigned her position-" A cheer went up in the hall, "And that she has been replaced by Professor Hermoine Granger."
The hall was filled with a stunned silence as students whispered, "Hermoine Granger? THE Hermoine Granger?" And then a large cheer went up from the Gryffindor table, followed soon by Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff. The Slytherin table hadn't moved, which was just fine by Hermoine. She had never liked anyone in Slytherin in the first place.
She caught up with McGongall on all the news she had lost. She learned that Draco Malfoy had been found innocent of all charges in his trial for using the dark arts, "Ruddy Bastard," Hermoine muttered before she could help herself.
McGongall patted her hand, "I know dear, I know." McGongall disliked Malfoy nearly as much as the rest of the Gryffindors since, well since Harry and Ron had, had. Hermoine pushed the thought from her mind. After breakfast she got up and headed to her classroom. She had second year Hufflepuffs. That wasn't so bad.
Hermoine walked in the room and uttered a gasp. It hadn't changed! Hermoine took a seat at her desk and waited for her students to arrive. The second years were not so bad. But as for her second class. Well she didn't get so lucky.
She had first year Slytherins. Hermoine sighed. Slytherin. That was just wonderful. After everyone had seated, Hermoine started this first lesson just like her last one, "I would like to begin with everyone introducing themselves to me, just your name. I know this corny and probably stupid but I do need to know your names."
She heard snickers around the room, "Well I KNOW all about you?" A high- pitched and snobby voice came from the back of the room.
"Oh you do now?"
A blonde-haired boy stood up and Hermoine nearly groaned. This kid was obviously a Malfoy. "Yeah, you're the Mudblood that tried to put my father in Azakban."
Hermoine would have liked to send that kid to the next world right then and there. Instead she said, "Five points from Slytherin for use of foul language. Secondly, Mr. Malfoy, I didn't have to do anything, you're father got put on trial all by himself for use of the dark arts and plotting with Voldemort-" A gasp went up in the room but she ignored it, "And secondly, this is a DEFENSE Against the Dark Arts class and I will not tolerate any of your rudeness."
The kid huffed, "Whatever."
"Five more points from Slytherin."
The rest of the class didn't go so well.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
New chapter coming soon!!!!!!