I was inspired to post this about 3 minutes after a review came from Haunted-shadows, just so you know if they see the light!!!
So this is as a thank you to all my reviewers, your all stars. xx.
Lastly before this chapter starts, if you like this go and look at some of my other fics.
Well let the chapter begin……
Hermione remained seated until the rest of the class had left, and then she walked over to the desk at the front. Sirius looked up and grinned at her. "I trust, you don't regularly make outbursts like that in lessons?"
She blushed. "Sorry, I know I put you in an awkward position, but."
"But what." He pushed gently, "You were sill mad from earlier?"
She nodded and turned away slightly, embarrassed. "Ron and Harry always say to ignore him, but it can be so hard."
"Why are you embarrassed of talking to me about this Mione?"
"I don't know," She perched on the end of the desk, "I guess its because of however hard I work, and what ever grades I get, people will always think of me as inferior."
"And you think that those people matter?"
"It depends on what you base that on." She replied.
He looked up sharply. "Excuse me?"
"People like the Malfoy's, the old, pure-blood families hold a lot of the money, and in turn that buys them power in the wizarding world, they will always matter."
Sirius suddenly looked up at her angry, she stood up off the edge of the desk and took a step back, she had never seen him look like that before, and it scared her slightly. "That's how it is at the moment, circumstances change, politics changes. It will not always be like that. The three richest families in the Wizarding world when I was your age were the Potter's, the Black's and the Malfoy's. They all had a lot of influence. Now Harry is the last Potter, and even though he has some money, a lot was lost, he may be able to build up some influence again, and it will probably be easier for him because of his fame, but still. The Blacks, well I'm the last there, and look at the amount of influence I have.
"And lastly there's the Malfoy's. they cling to the remains of their power, simply by humiliating others, Draco's a prime example of this. When Voldemort fell, their world came crashing down, and when his father is sent to Azkaban, the family will lose all credibility.
"Politics is organic, it will always change. Just because someone says something to you now, doesn't mean its forever true. Do you understand?" Sirius finished his speech.
"Yes" Hermione said meekly.
"Well then, girl. Chin-up." Sirius gave her a grin. "And I'm hungry, lets go down to the Hall."
They walked down to the hall chatting easily, until, "Hermione" She looked up at him sensing the change in tone.
"Sirius" She said mocking his tone.
He rolled his eyes, "Your not making this easier, right. You know the students here."
"There are students here, in a school? No I didn't know that." She said sarcastically.
"Oi, remember I'm your teacher, show me some respect please. Any way, they keep looking at me strangely." He said uncomfortably.
"Really?" She questioned, knowing what he was going to say, but wanting to make him feel more self-conscious.
"Well certain students."
"Like who?" She asked with mock innocence.
"Like all the girls."
"All of them?" She asked, he couldn't have noticed her stares surely.
"Present company excluded. But you know me. I was wondering if they were on edge because of my ex-convict status?"
She looked at him incredulously. "You really have no idea?"
"Idea about what?"
"They think your fit."
"Well I am reasonably, I run every morning. But what's that got to do with it?"
She started to laugh, but then she caught sight of his shocked face and tried to stop. "Please tell me you did not just say that, Dad." She joked.
"Thanks, remind me of my age why don't you whilst your at it." He said pretending to be hurt.
"Sorry, I just keep on forgetting how old you are. No I meant fit , as in fine, or good-looking." Hermione explained. Now it was Sirius's turn to laugh, and she began to laugh again with him. It was in that way that they entered the Great Hall.
Walking between the tables Hermione was shot dirty looks from every direction from jealous girls, wishing they could be the ones joking with the new teacher like that. They did not go unnoticed by Sirius or Hermione however, and just caused the pair to laugh harder. Hermione went to go and join Harry and Ron whilst Sirius went to the Staff table.
"What did he want?" Ron asked.
"To remind me about outbursts in class." Hermione grinned. "And," She flashed a cheeky glance up at Sirius, who mouthed an obvious, no, back at her "He wanted to know why all the girls are looking at him strangely." Ron and Harry both burst out laughing.
"He's so observant," Ron said.
"God, we had Moody, with his 'constant vilagence', now we have Sirius, who can't see past the end of his own nose." Harry added.
If they Gryffindors thought Snape had been vindictive when Lupin had had the Defence Against the Dark Arts job, they realised that they previously had no idea of the extent Snape could go to, to make their lives difficult. Potions lessons had become almost intolerable. If it wasn't for the fact that everyone was to scared of Snape to bunk his lessons, there wouldn't have been a single Gryffindor present.
"What happened to Gryffindor Bravery?" asked Dean, whilst they were waiting outside the potions lab. "I say we all skive."
"Bravery's one thing, but that's suicide." Ron said gloomily. "Wonder what joys are lined up today."
Their muttering were broken by Malfoy's appearance. As usual he was surrounded by his two bodyguards, and the gaggle of Slytherin girls. As they reached the door to the dungeon to wait for the Professor they turned on their favourite target. Hermione.
They had always enjoyed tormenting the mudblood, however in recent weeks it had reached a new level. As Snape had pointed out to them all it did not look good for them to be constantly tormenting the 'Boy who lived' in the present climate, it did not look to good if a Slytherin had problems with Voldemort's nemesis. Dumbledore was not tolerant with potential Death Eaters. The mudblood however was still a legitimate target, and as she was not only a friend of Harry's, but also was a favourite of Black's, she was the target of most of the Slytherin's present hatred.
"In Merlin's name, what on earth is that?" Pansy Parkinson asked, pointing as Hermione's face.
"I don't know Parkinson, but bearing in mind, you look at yourself in the mirror and see an attractive person looking back, I would really trust your eyesight." Seamus said looking down at the pug-faced girl over a foot shorter than himself.
The Gryffindors laughed, Seamus's dry sense of humour was hated by the Slytherin girl, and they all knew this would get her wound up. But to their surprise she laughed as well, granted though it was quite forced. "Sorry Finnegan, I was talking to the Mudblood."
"Now, you don't need to apologise to me, I think you should apologise to Hermione." He threw back quickly.
"Ahhhh, can't it stand up for its self? Its like an injured puppy, you know it needs to be put out of its misery, but no one can bring themselves to do it."
"It has a name." Said Harry trying to stand up for Hermione, knowing if he didn't she would soon snap, and land them all in trouble with Snape.
"Really. You mean your parents actually took time to name you. I would have thought they would have been ashamed"
Parkinson's last comment was the last straw for Hermione. Knowing with Snape's present attitude towards her, she didn't bother Hexing Pansy, even though she could think of many that she would like to use at that moment.
She turned and ran up the stairs back to the main entrance, now where to go from here. She started to make her way up to the owlery but stopped on the stairs when she heard voices coming from the room above her. She didn't fancy being questioned. She couldn't go outside it was raining, but if she carried on wandering round she would run into Filch or that bloody cat.
Then it came to her, Sirius's rooms. He'd be teaching now, and no one would ever think to look for her there. Turning she ran lightly down the corridor hoping she wouldn't be spotted. Finally she reached the portrait she was looking for saying the password she stepped inside.
A/N: So they haven't seen the light yet, but never fear, good things come to those who wait!! (no that wasn't an advert for a well known beer brand)
So, review and let me know what you think, it really does make me post faster. The more reviews the sooner the next bit will come!!
Charlatan
xXx
