Scarves, S.P.E.W., and Old Acquaintances

Hermione had a free period as well as Harry. They were sitting in the common room and Harry was getting a head start on his potions homework. Hermione was knitting. She had restarted her S.P.E.W. goal. She had just finished a scarf when Sam walked in. Sam smiled and said her hellos. Harry and her started talking about Snape. Hermione put down the scarf on the table. Sam turned to Hermione and saw the scarf. Instinctively she threw a fireball at it. Hermione watched the scarf disappear in a burst of flame.

"WHAT DID YOU DO THAT FOR?"

Sam looked at her. "I thought it looked dangerous."

"THAT WAS A SCARF I JUST MADE!"

"Oh," said Sam, understanding. Then, "That was a scarf?"

"YES!"

Sam sighed. Then she waved her hand and the scarf it fixed itself and looked the exact way it used to.

"My scarf!"

"It's repulsive."

"That's really rude."

Sam was undaunted by Hermione's anger. She looked at her calmly. The look in her eye's made Hermione's anger reduce just a bit.

"Would you like me to teach you how to knit?"

Hermione had never been really taught. Sam had obviously realized this. Hermione forgot her anger.

"You know how to knit?" Sam nodded. Hermione looked at her. "Can I see you knit something?"

Sam took the needle and the material from Hermione. She knit at a rapid pace, as if she did this for a living. She quickly produced a bit of what would become a scarf. Hermione stared. The rest of the period was spent with Sam instructing Hermione. After Hermione had set off trying to knit again (she had gotten much better) Sam fell back onto the sofa.

"Who're you making that for anyway?"

Hermione then explained the workings of S.P.E.W. as Sam watched her closely. When she finished Sam turned to Harry.

"Isn't she supposed to be smart?"

Harry laughed Hermione got angry again.

"IT'S UNFAIR TO KEEP THEM IN SLAVERY."

"Look love," she began, "look at it this way." A babysitter lives with a family. They don't pay her but they give her shelter, food, and whatever else. Now, it's true that it isn't really fair, but if the house elves were to try to break away they would have nowhere to go. They are used to life, not being paid but being provided with food and shelter. Even if they were to get your hats and scarves they would not be free. You are not they're master you cannot set them free."

And just like that S.P.E.W. disappeared in a puff of logic.

Later that day after lunch the gryffindors and the slytherins set off to DDA. They were all anxious to meet their new teacher. They walked through the door and found seats and awaited the appearance of their teacher. He walked in through a back room and sat at his desk with a cool relaxed smile.

"Hello class, I'm professor Fictin."

Mark Fictin had dark brown hair that sometimes fell infront of his face. He had bright blue eyes and a strong face structure. He looked in his mid-twenties, and he was very handsome.

"This year we'll cover a large amount of things. But," he stood up, "right now you will learn how to stun your opponent. This technique is often used on giants so a person can run."

He moved about with an unusual grace. He scanned his students. "Who would like to volunteer?" Several hands went up and Mark picked out Ron. "We are currently out of giants, so, young Ron here will be our giant." Ron found himself being ushered onto a very tall small platform. Professor Fictin turned to his class. "Will this do you think?" The class eagerly supplied a rounding 'yes'.

Mark turned back to Ron, "Now Ron, I want you to be a fierce giant."

"…eh?…"

Professor Fictin shook his head, "Not nearly convincing enough. Come on be fierce! Growl or something!" Poor Ron was totally lost. Professor Fictin sighed.

"Ron, I'm afraid you will never be a giant."

He turned back to the class. "Who can be a convincing giant?"

Lee was picked and he replaced Ron on the platform. He put on a good act. Professor Fictin nodded. "Now, the spell you want to use is fidelio. Say it.

The class repeated the word. And suddenly Professor Fictin leaped forward and grabbed a gryffindor by the shirt. "IT'S A GIANT! QUICK! DEFEND YOURSELF!"

He pushed the boy towards Lee who let out a roar. Totally baffled the gryffindor looked around unsure and completely confused. After several seconds Professor Fictin stepped to him.

"No, I'm sorry but at this point you are quite dead. Please go over there and be dead." The gryffindor walked over to a side of the room the Fictin had indicated and turned back.

"Good," Fictin said, "now lie on the ground like a dead person and please stay there until you have been revived.

One by one the class faced Lee, who was a very good giant, and about half of them ended up dead, either they missed, hesitated, or was too busy laughing to say the spell. When the spell actually hit it stunned Lee who would stay very still for about three minutes, then would wake up from his trance with a huge smile on his face. Among the living were Harry, Hermione, and Draco. Ron had been cracking up, couldn't form any words, and was therefore dead.

After everyone had gone Professor Fictin informed the dead they were revived. By the end of the class everyone had stunned Lee at least once, and Lee had a chance to stun a slytherin, which made him very happy.

The class ended and everyone dispersed, most were chattering happily about the class they just had. The trio made their way to the bottom of the grand staircase. In the hallway just outside they saw Sam looking down at something. She had a piece of paper ontop of an open book and was half reading half writing. She was still able to walk around people without looking at them, and she easily maneuvered her way down the hallway. Walking in the opposite direction was Professor Fictin, he was looking at something as well, and in the middle of the hallway they collided. They fell to the ground and when they gathered their senses they looked up and locked eyes.

They stared at each other for a few seconds. As if they couldn't believe what they were seeing.

"Sam." Said Mark.

"Mark." Replied Sam.

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Hope you like it… and hope you like Mark. Y'all still need to tell me if I should or shouldn't put some RonxHermione in the story…