Chapter 25: Squib Self Defense
Hermione and Draco had to be up early Thursday morning to attend their first staff meeting. Once a month they would meet with the staff to discuss any of the students needs. "Good morning Hermione, Draco, please have a seat and some coffee or tea," Minerva told them as they entered the staff room.
"Good morning," Hermione replied while Draco just nodded. Neither one was a morning person and Hermione could barely function without her morning dose of caffeine after becoming used to it over the summer. She hurriedly poured herself a cup of coffee and sat down cradling it like it was precious.
Draco smirked as the other teachers watched Hermione's response to her coffee. "Don't mind her, she needs caffeine to function in the mornings and hasn't been allowed any since we got back here." He told them and they smiled in understanding.
"It's his fault," Hermione said nodding towards Snape who was smirking and enjoying the show. "The bat had me getting up before the sun did all summer!" The table all laughed as the perfect student and head girl insulted the man with the fiery temper. Many of them were waiting for the explosion that would surely occur from her disrespect.
"My apologies Hermione, if I had known you would be such a bear in the morning perhaps Albus could have paired you with Remus instead. I hear wolves don't get up on the right side of the bed either." He told her with his smirk growing and tried not to laugh at the glare she sent him.
"Severus, leave your assistant alone and let's get this meeting started," Albus said with a chuckle to gain everyone's attention. "Now as most of you are aware Severus and Hermione are working on research projects together this year. In order not to raise too much suspicion we have stated that she is his assistant for the year since she wants to become a potions master herself. In addition Hermione had completed all but 4 of her NEWTs receiving Outstandings in 7 subjects!" That earned gasps and cheers from around the table.
"She will graduate with NEWTs in all but one of the offered classes; this is an honor that no one before her has ever accomplished. The record number of Outstanding NEWTs is 7 by two wizards throughout the history of the school; Hermione is the first witch to ever reach this level and may surpass it at the end of the year. So do not feel that she has abandoned your classes, she has simply finished them early." Albus told them with a smile that seemed to relax many of the teachers who had wondered where she had gotten to.
"Now for the first real order of business, the DA." Albus told them all what Harry was planning with the DA for the year. "Now I would like to assign each of you to a specific squad to help with their training. One of you will be the main teacher assigned the rest can help out as you can. Any suggestions?"
"I should be the one assigned to White Squad," Poppy told them and there were nods around the table. "I will have to train them all anyway, I would appreciate help from anyone else who knows any healing spells."
"I can help," Charlie offered. "We didn't have a nurse in Romania most the time and had to mend bones, burns and scrapes ourselves. I think I can assist in demonstrating some of the basic healing spells." Albus nodded his approval and Hermione let out her breath that she wouldn't be assigned Charlie. He was great but she wanted someone who could help her control all the Slytherins she was getting on her team.
"I'll help Neville with Blue squad," Remus offered. "My expertise is not in dueling it is in defense and that is the focus of Blue squad. Besides, I don't think I should be near Harry when the battle takes place. I wouldn't want him distracted if something happened to me."
Tonks smiled and grabbed her husbands hand, "I will help with either Red or Green squad. I know many offensive spells thanks to my auror training."
"I also will assist with Red or Green squad," Severus spoke up. "I am a dueling master and have extensive knowledge of both dark arts and defense against it."
"I would like Tonks on Green squad with us," Draco told them. "We will be the attacking wave and will be breaking through the death eater ranks like aurors. I think she could be helpful there. I also think that Hermione will need Severus to keep the Slytherins in line. She has the largest amount of Slytherins on her squad because they respect and trust her. Severus is the professor they respect the most so he should also be assigned there."
"I concur," Albus told him with a twinkle in his eye. "Severus it seems you and Hermione will be working together even more this year." Hermione smiled and Severus nodded his approval. "Now Filius, which squads do you want to assist?"
"I was thinking Blue squad since I am a peaceful person," he told them and they had their second teacher on Blue.
"I'll assist Draco and Harry," Minerva informed them. "I was quite the dueler in my youth," she told them with a faint smile.
"I can assist if you would like," Arley Filch said from the back of the room where he and his brother were hiding. "I know many forms of muggle self defense and hand to hand combat. I am a skilled archer and swordsman as well."
"I think those would be great skills for the DA to learn," Hermione spoke up as the rest of the teachers were looking at the groundskeeper like they had no idea what to make of what he just said. "It would be of great assistance if their wands are taken or damaged. We wouldn't want to be left defenseless because out wand was taken."
"Have you heard of these techniques he talks about?" Professor Vector asked her.
"Yes, they are very common in the muggle world. There are many different types of martial arts as they are called as well as self defense techniques to physically disarm an opponent or render them unable to attack." Hermione told them as the muggle studies teachers just nodded vaguely; it was obvious she had no idea what they were talking about. "I am an orange belt in Taekwondo although I am very out of practice now." She told them, "My parents let me join a martial arts club when I was 6."
"Would you help me demonstrate then Miss Granger?" Arley asked her and she agreed and took off her robe. They bowed to each other and she proceeded to block his punches and kicks. "Very good, now try and take me down," he told her and they fought for another few minutes before she connected with a roundhouse and then kneeled on his chest to keep him down. She looked up at the teachers who looked speechless at the two.
"How will this be beneficial in battle with death eaters?" Draco asked her.
"Come here," she told him with a smile. "Now take out your wand and I'll show you that I can disarm you without mine." He smirked at her and shot a few simple spells at her which she managed to dodge. He was shocked to find himself flipped over and on his stomach on the floor with her holding his wand at his throat seconds later. He hadn't even seen her advance!
"Bravo Miss Granger," Arley said with a grin. "I'm glad I'm not the only one who sees the benefits of this knowledge."
"I think we have found ourselves a new self-defense teacher," Albus said with a smile. "I think you should demonstrate your techniques to all of the squads." They then ended the meeting so they could all get to breakfast on time.
"You never mentioned that skill to me before," Severus told Hermione as they walked to the great hall.
"It was something I never though would be useful in the wizarding world. I had to learn to defend myself in primary school since I was picked on for reading all the time and being weird. One of the drawbacks of being muggle born is that when weird things happen to you people think you are crazy and either tease you or are afraid of you." She told him sadly. "I never had any friends until I came here. Every time I made a friend as a child I would end up doing something magical to scare them away. I never understood it until I got my Hogwarts letter."
"I guess no one ever has an easy childhood then," he told her with a sad smile and they continued to breakfast. "I will see you in class." He told her as they parted at the Gryffindor table.
"How was the staff meeting?" Harry asked her with a yawn.
"Good, we found out that Arley Filch is an expert at martial arts and even archery and swordsmanship. Albus asked him to show the DA some self defense moves. The teachers were assigned to our squads as well. You and Draco are getting Tonks and Minerva, I'm getting Severus, Neville is getting Remus and Flitwick and Ron gets Poppy and Charlie."
"I'm surprised Charlie didn't try and get put with you so he could spend more time with you," Ginny told her with an evil grin.
"He luckily has healing experience so he was needed on White," she told them with a smile.
"How can you be happy with being landed with Snape again?" Ron asked her shocked. "You do realize that means you have to spend even more time with him!"
"He's been my research partner all summer Ron and I survived. He and I are friends now; I think I can handle it." She told him rolling her eyes. "Besides, with all the Slytherins Harry put on my squad I'll need him to help keep them in line and not hitting on me!"
"I can just see it now," Harry said with a smirk. "Mr. Spinnet that will be 2 points from Slytherin if you do not take your hands off of Miss Granger at once!" They all laughed at the antics of the now 6th year Slytherin who was infatuated with her. They were interrupted by the morning post arriving.
"Hey Harry look at this," Ron said hading him the daily prophet. The headline read, 'Brazil National Team Fined for Cheating.' "They found out that the reserve seeker for the Brazilian team was the one that tampered with the snitch. He then charmed his glasses to be able to see the snitch. He knew the starting seeker would get tired and come out of the game so he could go in and look like the hero for catching the elusive snitch. He also had his gloves charmed to return the snitch to normal once he caught it so no one would realize he had cheated."
"They never counted on Xavier being such a spectacular seeker that he could see the damn near invisible snitch!" Ginny said with a grin. "It says that his catch proves that he is the number one seeker in the world. They expect he will receive offers to play for every major team in the country!"
"Wow," Harry said leaning back in his seat to think about it all. He loved Quidditch and playing for the national team but he wasn't sure he wanted to play full time. "I wonder what he'll do with the offers?" He asked looking straight at Ginny for her response.
"Ginny here probably knows," Lavender said sitting down next to Harry. "We all saw how cozy the two of them looked. They are probably still in touch right now." Lav was happy that Ginny seemed to have cheated on Harry. She was hoping to be able to go out with him after he finally dumped the red head.
"Ginny and X are friends Lavender, nothing more." Harry told her firmly taking her arm off of him. "Now if you'll excuse me I want to talk to my girlfriend before potions." He said and left the hall with Ginny smirking at Lavender.
"How can he stay with her when it's obvious she was cheating on him?" she asked Hermione. "You were there so you have to know the truth!"
"Things aren't always what they seem Lav," Hermione told her with a smile. "Harry and Ginny are in love and their relationship is strong, don't try to interfere or you'll be the one getting hurt."
Lavender huffed in annoyance. She just wanted to be on the arm of a famous wizard! "Fine, but can you give me the owl address for Oliver Wood, Victor Krum and Xavier Lupin then so I can find a date for the end of year ball?" She asked her.
"I think you're perfect for Oliver so I'll owl him that you are interested. Victor is in a serious relationship and X told me he is taking a break from the spotlight for a while." Hermione told the girl who was obsessed with her image. "Now I have to get to potions, I'll see you in DADA this afternoon." She hurried off before the girl annoyed her any more.
Hermione and Draco were the first two to finish their potions and headed into Snape's personal lab to talk for the remaining hour of class. "I was thinking we should have a costume ball on Halloween," Draco told her. "We deserve a party for all getting along so well!"
"I like the idea but it shouldn't be a ball it should just be a dance so that students don't have to find dates and that all of the students can go, not just the older ones." She told him. "We could have a contest for the best dressed student in each year and an over all Halloween King and Queen."
"I think the teachers should have to dress up too," Draco told her with a big smirk.
"That sounds fine, but you get to tell Severus. He might do it if it was your idea," she told them and they laughed at the idea that Snape would ever dress up.
"We should tell Albus before lunch and he can discuss it with the other teachers." Draco suggested and they started planning the details of the party. With Hagrid gone they had to determine how to decorate since he hadn't grown any of his giant pumpkins. "We can enchant the music so we don't have to hire a band, which should make everything easier."
"We can get the prefects to help us decorate and Professor Flitwick as well since he loves decorating for Christmas." Hermione told him and they spent the rest of the hour hashing out details. Severus had to come in and remind them that class was over. They hurried up to the headmaster's office with their idea.
"This sounds like a wonderful plan," he told them. "I am impressed with all of your planning. I especially like the idea of the costumes, but how will the younger year students get theirs since they are not allowed out to Hogsmead?"
"I think we can have the prefects and other students that are gifted in transfiguration help them out, or there is always owl order." Hermione told him. "If we announce it in time they will have plenty of opportunities to either write home for a costume, owl order for one, or even make one."
"Wonderful," Albus said with his eyes twinkling brightly. "I think you two are going to turn out to be two of the best heads we have had in a long time. Now get to lunch so I can think this over." He told them as Draco pulled a beaming Hermione down the stairs. She was floating from the compliment and he was feeling rather proud himself. He had never expected such a compliment from Dumbledore before he changed sides.
Hermione was writing in her journal before DADA started. She had finished lunch early and made her way to the DADA classroom. She had seen how happy all her friends were with their significant others and was wondering again why she was so determined not to get into a serious relationship. She decided to write down a list of why she didn't want a boyfriend.
Interfere with my studying.
Not enough time with head girl, DA, the Order and potions research.
None of the boys are smart enough or mature enough.
I don't want to get hurt.
I promised my mum I would wait until marriage.
I always dream about my perfect man. I don't want to settle for someone less.
She looked over the list and realized that the real reason was because of number six. She groaned and Tonks smiled and walked over to her and noticed the list. "How could I have fallen for someone that I've never met and who might not even be real?" She asked her sadly.
"Hermione, you're a smart girl. Do you think this man is out there somewhere waiting for you?" Tonks asked her friend who looked so frustrated. She knew it was hard on her having all her friends so happily paired off and no one for her to be with.
"I feel like he is," she told her with a shrug. "But what if I spend my whole life looking for him and miss someone great in the process?"
"My mum always tells me not to try so hard because the best things come when you least expect them to," Tonks told her. "I have also learned that there are always going to be people that hurt you so you just have to keep on trusting and be more careful the next time around." She said pointing at number 4. "Besides we have to meet a few Mr. Wrongs before we meet Mr. Right so when we finally meet that person we'll know it's them."
"Such words of wisdom from a lady with pink hair!" Hermione said with a laugh and gave her a hug. "Thanks Tonks, I don't know why I got so down today."
"Just remember that no man is worth your tears and the one who is won't make you cry," she said wiping Hermione's damp face.
"Thanks Tonks," she said. "A true friend is someone who reaches for your hand and touches your heart."
Remus sat quietly at the front of the room writing down the words of wisdom the girls were telling each other. He smiled as he thought about how mature Hermione was yet she was still a scared little girl every once in a while. His wife was always joking and fun loving yet she could wipe the tears from her friends face and give her hope for the future. He was just happy that he had found his mate and hoped someday Hermione would get together with hers.
"Now go into our office and clean yourself up before your classmates get in here," Tonks said pushing her into the office. She turned to Remus to see his list of advice. "What are you going to do with those words of wisdom?"
"Post them in the staff room for other professors to add to. I want to see what they come up with as well." He told her with a quick kiss as Hermione came back out and the class filed in. "Good morning class, today you are going to be taught a new protection charm. Miss Delacour and Miss Granger will be teaching it to you and answering any of your questions." He motioned to the girls who had almost forgot that they were teaching the patronus shield to the 7th years that day.
"It's called the patronus shield. It takes your patronus and forms a protective barrier or bubble that dementors cannot penetrate. It lasts longer than a regular patronus and can protect multiple people at once." Gabrielle told the class. "The incantation is Contego Patronum, now watch the wand movements carefully." By the end of the period over half the class was able to produce a solid shield. Hermione was patiently working with Crabbe and Goyle while Gabrielle wandered around correcting wand movements of the other students.
"The secret to this spell is that you have to concentrate on a very happy memory," Hermione told Draco's bodyguards. "As you focus on that happy thought then you perform the spell and the bubble should form around you."
Remus was skeptical that Crabbe and Goyle would be able to produce a partonus at all. It was very advanced magic and the two barely made it into 7th year DADA. He watched as Hermione explained the motions to them and helped them understand how to do the spell. She showed such patience with the two lugs, he was impressed with her determination to include them. They were always left out before and he wondered what the cause of their inclusion was.
Goyle was the first of the two to get the spell right and although the bubble was small and not very powerful, he had at least accomplished it. "Greg that was great," Hermione told him with a proud smile. Goyle looked from her to Gabrielle and Draco who both nodded in encouragement before he smiled himself. Hermione could see he was proud of himself. Crabbe was successful in the casting of the spell soon after and the two gave each other high fives. "Vince that was perfect, you two did great," She told them. "Now keep working on it to see if you can increase the strength of the charm. Now that you know you can do it, it should be easier the next time around."
The class finished and Tonks assigned a two foot essay on the advantages of the patronus shield and its uses. "Thanks for helping Crabbe and Goyle," Draco told Hermione as they packed up their books. "They were never very confidant in their spells since they rarely get it on the first few tries."
"I just figured it was about time we included the rest of your friends and having them learn positive spells instead of the ones your fathers taught you is bound to help. They made the right choice and stayed behind last year but they haven't really taken the next step to offer their support to the light. They still give you their devotion but I thought by including them more they might have more devotion to Harry and the light as well." She told him as they walked out of the room.