Disclaimer: Yeah, I own Harry Potter. And while I'm at it, I also own Big Bird, the letters Q R and J, and for some odd reason, Canada. Right.
A/N: Well it's good to hear you guys like the changes. This is a completely new chapter, mainly focusing on Harry, Hermione and Ron, and the new DADA teacher as well.
Thanks to all of you who reviewed! It really does help alot :D.
Sunday: hehe glad to know you like it. Yeah, I know, it's so tempting to just skip to the good parts which is more or less how I got myself into this :P.
Intelligent Witch: Noooo. That's not me. Heh, Dumbledore and Hermione is waaaaay too squicky for me. This one's just Snape and Hermione. And maybe some others. Dunno yet :P. And I dunno about the new professor yet. I'm not in the habit of creating characters and not developing them, as you'll see this chapter, but I don't think she'll be a major part. Unless you got any ideas for her ::shrug::
On with the show!
Hermione had sucessfully avoided Harry and Ron all through last night and up until now, which was Defense Against the Dark Arts class. She swung open the door, resigned to the fact that she could no longer avoid her two concerned best friends.
They had obviously known something was up when Hermione came back last night and refused to talk to them about what happened. Actually, she didn't even have to refuse. She simply went upstairs to her room so she could pass out before she made herself sick with worry.
Harry and Ron had been trying to get her attention all day, but Hermione had generally ignored them. Honestly, she was in no mood to tell them, and the middle of Defense Against the Dark Arts was most definately not the right place to start explaining things.
Hermione took the seat next to Ron with a sigh. She glanced over at Ron and could tell that he was simply dying to ask her a million questions. She wondered why he hadn't yet. She shrugged inwardly, after all, did it really matter as long as he wasn't bothering her?
She took her time alone to get a closer look at the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Professor Jane Austiere was a petite woman, and it was rather hard to imagine her fighting Dark Wizards. She had chopped aurburn hair which was speckled with a few grays, and crinkles around her eyes and mouth, assumedly from old age. She didn't seem very old, perhaps 47 at the most. Something about her seemed to boast of an inner strength.
She sat at her desk, sitting astride her chair and chewing absentmindedly on a quill as she watched the last few students trickle in. When the last one had made it in, she stood up, drawing herself to her full height.
"I," she began, in a slightly husky voice "am Professor Jane Austiere." She started slowly pacing in front of the class, getting a good sense of the people sitting in front of her.
"Let's get a few things out of the way, shall we?" said Professor Austiere in a strong tone.
She looked around, making eye contact with the students.
"Firstly, I did used to word as an auror at the Ministry. I was rather coerced into this job, something about me "being too old" but we all know that's not it. Look at Moody. He's ages older than me." She dusted herself off, and a couple of students sniggered at her comment in the background. She smiled, showing lots of dull white teeth. "Don't tell him I said that."
"Anyway, so don't expect much love of the Ministry in here kids."
"Now, yes, I am aware of what you have and haven't done here in class. And no, we will not be doing a review. You've had more than enough time to know this stuff, seeing as you're all nearly a year behind where the Ministry guidelines say you should be."
"Though that won't really matter, as I've opted to throw the entirety of said guidelines into my fireplace."
Hermione's eyes widened, what on earth was this woman going to be teaching? Hermione wasn't the only one surprised. The entire class had focused their attention on the new professor.
"Hmph. Well that certainly got you attention." Professor Austiere smiled widely.
"This year I will be teaching you survival skills. Sure it's all right and good that you should know how to disable a Cyanide-clawed Janaed, but really. I mean the species is practically extinct anyway. I'm here to teach you how to save your hides, in any way, shape, or form possible."
She stopped in the center of the classroom and folded her arms across her chest.
"We will be focusing in two areas: Muggle and Wizarding defense." she said, waiting for her words to absorb as she saw a ripple of confusion cross the class.
"Muggle?" called Ron, obviously confused.
Professor Austiere looked at Ron appraisingly and said "Weasley, is it?"
Ron nodded slowly to her and she replied "Remember your hand next time, Weasley. And yes, I did say muggle."
"Ever thought or might happen if you don't have a wand on you?" Several students shook their heads.
"Well it happens alot more than any of us would like to admit. Muggles have a fascinating way of protecting themselves, really. But more on that another class, I suppose."
The ex-auror wandered over to her desk and sat upon it. "Sooo...any questions?"
Harry and Ron practically dragged Hermione into the empty classroom across the hall after Defense Against the Dark Arts. They pushed her into a desk, and looked at her expectantly.
Hermione looked up at them, her expression clearly saying 'what?'
"Well?" Harry asked, crossing his arms.
"Are you going to tell us what happened or not?" asked Ron impatiently, taking the empty seat next to Hermione.
Hermione started ringing her hands under the desk. She didn't want to tell them. Harry would freak, Ron would go on a murderous rampage, and they'd all end up in Azkaban.
Alright, so maybe that was a little exaggerated. More likely was that she'd tell them, Ron would get furious, Harry would restrain him, which would all cumulate in Ron deciding to marry her.
And once Ron got that impression, there was no hope of getting out of it.
Not that Ron was horrible or anything, by all means, he was a great friend. But that's exactly what he was. A friend. How could she end up being something more with someone who was like a brother to her? She didn't want to find out.
"Professor Dumbledore called me into his office to talk to me about a letter he recieved." Hermione said softly.
"The letter was about me. The time-turner that I used in my 3rd year added alot of time onto my age."
Harry's eyes narrowed at her. "How much time?"
"I'm eighteen, Harry." she said simply.
"No wonder you've been so worried lately!" Ron said sympathetically. Hermione nodded a few times.
"Well, really Hermione, what I said to you before still stands." said Ron, rather akwardly.
Hermione shook her head, her thick hair flying. "No need Ron. Like I said, who wants to marry the Griffindor bookworm?" she said with a smile that didn't penetrate to her inside.
"And as much as I hate to break up this lovely get-together, we have to get to History of Magic."
Hermione lead the way out of the door, still wondering why she lied to her friends.
A/N: I think I made Professor Austiere a bit like me. Her teaching style at least ::grin::. Though I don't get such a cool subject. I get to teach 2nd grade religious education. Which is still fun.
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