Disclaimer: Harry Potter and Friends (or Enemies) do not belong to me, they belong to the talented Ms. Rowling
A/N: Sorry this chapter wasn't coming along as planned; every time I started typing it changed direction on me. Also it took so long for me to get it up because I was moving into my dorm at college.
Chapter Four: Preparations
Hermione sat down at her desk and took out a quill and parchment. She dipped the quill into the ink pot and started listing what she needed to buy with the generous stipend she had received. It reminded her of her first trip to Diagon Alley, but thankfully she could borrow many of the school's supplies of magical equipment.
Crack.
Startled Hermione looked up to notice a box of folders a house elf had just delivered. Obviously they were copies of the records she had requested. She put down her quill and pulled the box closer. She flipped the lid open and looked inside, there were four main divisions, one for each of the houses, and within each house there were divisions for the years.
...several of the seventh year boys will flirt with you, do discourage it.
Remembering Dumbledore's warning she pulled out the records for the seventh years, starting with Gryffindor. There were only five records: Sirius Black, Lily Evans, Remus Lupin, James Potter, Peter Pettigrew. She stared at them in shock and then started laughing wondering what Harry would say if –no-when she got home and told him.
Still chuckling she pulled out the Slytherin's records. While she was not startled to see only one record in the seventh year (after all many of the Slytherin's in her own year had declined to take the class) she was startled to see that the student was Seveus Snape. She sighed. "That will be an interesting class with some obvious rivals, and all the houses so we'll have the typical house rivalries to deal with as well..."
Shrugging she removed the Ravenclaw records to reveal Allen Avien, Johnny Casca, Pia Cavilion, Larissa McCarran, Kevin Sanders, and Mia Vale . There were only two Hufflepuffs, Davey Gudgeon and Hestia Jones. She put the records away before deciding take a walk to Hogsmead. She would get what she needed now; the term started in a week and she would need several books for class and the fresh air might give her some ideas on how to deal with the Gryffindor-Slytherin rivalry.
As she walked back from Hogsmead, her purse considerably lighter and her arms full of supplies her mind had already formed an idea. Recalling the second year dueling lesson where Snape had divided up Ron, Harry and herself, although the Professor had paired them, for the most part with rivals, he did pair them fairly equally she thought to match the students up with someone of similar ability and complimenting personalities in hopes to keep some kind of peace.
The days slipped by quickly as Hermione worked on her lesson plans, read over the student records and researched on time travel looking for a way to get back to her own time. Before she realized it, it was September First.
The second years and up were seated at the house tables talking amongst themselves. Professor McGonagall was leading in the first years, all of them looking nervous. There was a three legged stool with a worn hat on it.
The sorting hat sung its song and the sorting began. After the sorting was done, Professor Dumbledore tapped on his glass with his fork and stood up.
"Good evening everyone." The headmaster said. "Welcome back to Hogwarts. I would like to remind everyone that the forbidden forest is exactly that, forbidden." He said glancing at the Gryffindor table. "Also with the rumors of the dark wizard and his gang, our new Defense teacher, Professor Merrion has agreed to include dueling in her Defense classes." He said. "And if there is interest she might set up a dueling club." He smiled. "In addition patrols have been doubled and there will be other measures inacted throught the year for your safety. Prefects and the Head Boy and Head Girl are to join us in the Staff meeting tommorow. That is all, now please dig in." As teh professor sat down food apppeared on the tables.
At these words whispers broke out. From the High Table, Hermione was watching the Gryffindor table already having decided they would likely cause her the most trouble.
At the Gryffindor table, four seventh years were huddled together.
"The new Defense teach's pretty cute…" Sirius whispered
James Potter looked up at the professor his best friend was talking about and ran a hand through his unruly hair. "Perhaps but I prefer Lily… this is the year she will date me. I know it!" He said
Peter looked amused at this statement. "How?" He asked pointedly. "She has repeatedly told you she hates your guts."
Remus chuckled. "True. Wasn't her parting words last year 'James Potter, if you try anything I swear I will hex you-'"
James interrupted with a swift kick to the werewolf's shin. "But she also said in her third year that if I pulled my act together she might consider befriending me."
Sirius snorted at this. "Prongs, that means nothing."
James glared at his friend who was knowing on a chicken leg. "Ah but as I am Head Boy and she Head Girl, we will be working together frequently and I will be able to convince her then!" He said with a smug smile.
Remus rolled his eyes. "I wonder what the meeting is about though, we've never been invited to a meeting before, they usually call a Prefect meeting afterwords."
Peter shrugged. "You'll find out tommorow. I wonder what the Defense class will be like though? The professor can't be that much older than us."
Remus nodded thoughtfully. "True... and usually they try to get older professors for that class in particular because they would have the advantage of age and experience." He shrugged "Ah well at least we'll have an easy class, after all she should be more relaxed and more likely to remember the urgings of childhood."
Sirius grinned at this thought. "So we should be able to get away with anything in that class." The others nodded... this would be a fun year, that was the thought they all had. "Imagine all the things we could do in dueling and it look like an accident...."