Chapter 3
Hermione was more than just a little nervous. She wasn't used to being called on by the Headmaster, not to mention brought to his office. Beside her Harry looked a little less nervous, but still, decidedly uncomfortable. No doubt he was wondering what he'd done this time.
She looked at him quizzically as she had when they'd met on the train. Harry Potter sure had changed over the summer. He looked twice as tall as he had the year before, and Hermione reasoned he'd gained at least half a foot in height, if not more. His voice had also changed, no longer the semi squeaky voice from before, Harry's voice had grown with his frame, so that his it was now a nice soft baritone. When he'd called out to her at platform 9 ¾ she hadn't recognized him; it hadn't been until he was just a meter in front of her that she realized who her shy friend had become. Ron had been just as surprised when he and Ginny came running through the divide though, so she hadn't been too embarrassed.
She smiled, remembering the drooling look on Ginny's face when she'd seen the new and improved Harry Potter. Hermione felt a little bad for her since she knew from talking to Harry earlier that the very idea of dating his best friend's sister had him more nervous than fighting Voldemort without his wand. She had to laugh; but after the letter she'd received from Viktor only two weeks ago, Hermione had a feeling she and Ginny would be spending some pity party time together.
All thoughts of said party ended the moment Professor McGonnagall moved out of their line of sight. Seated around the room was the entire faculty of Hogwarts, but more importantly, to the right, nearly next to the old and comfortable fireplace, sat Remus Lupin and Sirius Black.
Without having to look she knew Harry's face had lit up like a Christmas tree. She knew her face must have looked much the same considering the looks the two men were giving them. She'd called Remus's name before taking flight, and from her side, she knew Harry was racing towards his godfather as well.
Remus stood to meet her, taking her into his arms and giving her a gigantic hug. He looked better than he had last year, and Hermione hoped that the man's good appearance meant that he was happy.
"Sirius, what are you doing here?" Harry was still hugging his godfather, and as Hermione looked, she thought she'd never forget the look of happiness upon his face.
Sirius's voice was gruff like usual, but there was something friendlier, lighter about it as well. It was a very nice voice to listen to. "Heard a rumor that Voldemort had risen and was planning something with my godson. Well, as you can imagine, I wasted little time getting here." He turned to smile at Remus. "And since I was coming, I thought I'd bring Remus with me." Black smiled, and Hermione smiled as well, receiving a tight squeeze from Remus.
"That's so incredible! But don't you think you should be hiding or something?" This from Harry, who was now receiving a one armed hug from Remus as Hermione was still captured beneath his first.
Remus answered. "Sirius is staying here undercover. I've been offered my position back for Defense Against the Dark Arts, so to keep an eye on Hogwarts, Sirius gets to play pet doggie for a while." Hermione looked up just in time to see a strange look pass between the two adults, but she ignored, it taking her turn to hug Sirius.
"That's so great, having you back as our professor." Said Harry, only now receiving the full on hug since Hermione'd moved to the next victim.
"Yes," came her reply. "We haven't had a good DADA professor since you, Re-um, I mean Professor Lupin." He smiled at her and thanked her before they exchanged a few more practical tidbits, like how summers had gone and if anything strange had happened to Harry.
When it seemed as if they'd finally asked enough questions to really get down to a good conversation, Professor Dumbledore cleared his throat and reminded Hermione and Harry that they were still in the Headmaster's office and there was probably a reason.
Harry took a seat next to Remus, while Hermione moved directly across from him and onto the only couch not taken in the warm office. Hermione couldn't help but feel happy for Harry. Here he was, finally surrounded by people he considered his family. She knew how hard it had been for him to not have a loving family, and while he covered most of it up, she could sometimes-like now-see though.
He caught her looking at him and smiled affectionately. The look reminded Hermione that this year she was going to be very careful not to give anymore people the impression that she and Harry were dating. She had a feeling she'd get a lot more than cursed letters and howlers now that Harry was shaping up into such a handsome man. Surprisingly, she was fine with that, happy even that one of her best friends was genetically so fortunate. Most of the girls in their house would be dying for Harry to ask them out, but Hermione was content to be the best friend. Besides, how could she ever consider a guy who thought Quidditch was more fun than Arithmancy?
Suddenly, Dumbledore cleared his throat again, and Hermione turned to listen to him. "Miss Granger, Mr. Potter, it is a pleasure to have you back with us. This is shaping up to be quite an interesting year, but I'll save the fun details for my speech before dinner. The both of you are here for different reasons, but I thought you might be less intimidated if we brought you up together." He beamed at them both, and she noticed that even Harry had to duck under the realization that Dumbledore knew something he wasn't supposed too.
"In any event, Mr. Potter, I thought you'd enjoy learning in private the return of both Professor Lupin and Sirius." He winked at Harry, who nodded enthusiastically before receiving a gentle squeeze of his hand from Remus while Black nodded. "Splendid, then I'm sure you and Miss Granger can also appreciate the delicate nature of Sirius's return. I trust you both to keep this quiet and to inform Mr. Weasley to do the same." They nodded. "Excellent. Then, now for you Miss Granger-Oh, Severus, you've returned."
Hermione grimaced as she turned, Snape catching and hold her eyes immediately. For the last month she'd been plagued by images of him in tight jeans and a leather jacket. When she'd gotten the letter from Viktor, a part of her had even been glad because now she could think about this dark and mysterious man without feeling like she'd betrayed him. She wasn't stupid though, it was another crush on a teacher, and Hermione was well versed in those. She'd had a crush on Lockhart and even a very teeny tiny one on Professor Lupin as well. She couldn't help it, intelligent men attracted her more than looks or money ever could, but-she thought as she remembered Snape in leather-looks couldn't hurt.
She was so caught up in examining Snape, that when her name was called in an astonished cry, it took her a full second to even glance at the speaker. When she did, the dark haired girl gave another gasp before saying her name again.
Suddenly, as all the girl's features came into focus, Hermione knew exactly who it was, and stood in equal astonishment.
"Morganna?!"
"Oh my God! Mione! It is you! What are you doing here?"
"I go to school here! What are you doing here?"
"I go to school here too!"
Hermione was befuddled. "No that can't be right, you're not a witch."
The raven haired girl looked just as convinced as Hermione. "Of course I'm a witch. You're the one that's not the witch."
"Yes I am."
And suddenly, the girl smacked her forehead loudly with the palm of her hand. "Oh my God, of course! Unicorn education 101!"
"And, that crack about chocolate frogs!"
For a long moment the two just looked at each other, Hermione's brown eyes glued in amazement to nearly clear blue ones. And then suddenly it all hit home.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
With a race of limbs and a plethora of jumping and squealing, both girls came together and were hugging and jumping around the room. One look at the other and they'd be squealing again before engaging in more jumping and more hugging.
This was Morganna Figg, Hermione's roommate from the conference at Cambridge on Magic Through the Ages. She couldn't believe it, the two of them had had so much fun at the conference. They'd gone to every meeting together, and partied after every meeting a little too long, only to come back to the dorm room, sleep for four hours and do it all over again. They'd shared girly secrets, and exchanged writing addressees. Hermione had been so sad thinking that she'd finally found a girl she could be friends with, one that while obsessed about boys and clothes, still understood her when she wanted to talk about academics. Morganna was far from academically inclined, but she at least tried to listen and asked questions if she didn't understand something. Mostly they'd been total opposites, and that had been their biggest attraction to becoming friends. Their opposing ideas, and what Hermione had originally thought was little more than a muggle verses magic user and an American vs an English girl, now seemed as if they weren't so different after all.
Eventually, Hermione's legs got tired from all the jumping, and she just hugged Morganna, wrapping her arms about the other girl's neck in a silent prayer of thanks that she wouldn't be alone with a group of boy from now on.
Morganna pulled back first, her American accent sounding reassuring now to Hermione. "I can't believe it's you! I didn't think I'd know anyone when I came to Hogwarts, and now I find out you're here! Oh god, I'm so excited now!" She did a few more jumps before giving Hermione another hug.
"I can't believe it either, though I didn't think you were a magic user so why would I think we'd meet at Hogwarts." Ever the practical and logical one.
"Oh I know! I was sure you were just some muggle girl the way you were so fascinated by magic in the total there's-no-way-this-could-happen kind of way! I mean when they started talking about bringing people back from the dead and you got all excited I just wanted to shake you and tell you there was no way! Now, I find out you're just like me!" Morganna's eyes went wide, and with a squeal and a tug, she pulled Hermione down onto the couch by their legs.
"Oh Mione, you just have to tell me all about your summer. Oh my god, did you get a letter from Viktor yet?!"
Hermione grimaced before waving off the comment with her hand. "Oh, I do not want to talk about him."
Morganna understood her instantly. "Oh, that bastard! Did he do what I think he did?"
"Worse, he can't go out with me because his mommy doesn't like Muggle bornes."
"What a prick! You're better off without him anyway. You need someone smart like you are. Someone with lots of brains. Besides, you know what they say about Quidditch players-" And suddenly, Morganna raised up her pinky finger and then bent it in a slow deflating motion. Hermione squealed and covered her eyes.
"Morganna you can't say things like that, it's not proper!"
"I didn't say anything! Besides, I think it's true! How else can those guys sit on brooms like that all day?" It was as if no one else were in the room, as if two girls were getting together for a social call. Hermione was completely comfortable with Morganna and vise versa. She knew Morganna had a stressful schedule, so the two of them had bonded quickly over that fact, among other things.
Both girls giggled before Hermione waved the comment aside, not daring to look at Harry. "I'm sure you'll find others who'd disagree."
"Yeah, but if they're not willing to drop'm so I can measure then I don't really care." They giggled again, and then suddenly Morganna remembered something.
"Oh my gosh! I totally forgot! Uncle-" She never really finished. Morganna had taken Hermione's hand and had turned back towards the door, when in mid turn her line of sight had fallen upon Harry. Hermione thought it was just a tad odd that the room fell deathly silent when Morganna did.
The hand around Hermione's tightened painfully, and she could only watch stunned as Morganna locked eyes with Harry and did not turn away. Hazarding a look, Hermione saw that even Harry was staring openly at Morganna, as if he couldn't believe his eyes-as if he'd never seen a girl before.
Suddenly dawning realization came over Hermione and she giggled just a bit as she figured it out. With a tug on Morganna's hand to get her attention-which she was unable to obtain-Hermione turned to her friend and gave introductions.
"Morganna Figg, may I introduce Harry Potter; Harry, my friend Morganna. I was telling you about her on the train."
Morganna's voice was dreamy when she spoke. "Michaels."
Confused, Hermione questioned. "What do you mean, 'Michaels'?"
Morganna turned to her now, that stunned expression still on her face. "My last name is Michaels not Figg, I just use that name when I'm trying to remain incognito."
The completely confused expression on Hermione's face never really got addressed, as Morganna suddenly took her other hand as well before bringing both up to her chest. "Hermione, is that who I think it is?" This said in a voice that could only be considered a poorly done stage whisper.
"Um, yes, this is Harry Potter."
"Oh. My. God!" And then before anyone could stop her, Morganna was out of her seat and across the small space that separated one side of the circle from another. In a seizing motion she grabbed Harry's still stunned hand and began to pump it vigorously.
"OH MY GOD! I have every single one of your Triwizard Posters!!! And I have all your Rita Skeeter articles too-though those were harder to get since I don't live in England! Oh my God, it's Harry Potter!!!" With another squeal, Morganna was nearly jumping up and down, and it seemed that that fact finally propelled Harry out of his stupor.
Harry stood before shaking Morganna's hand again. "A-and I've got every single one of your albums. I-I can't believe I'm meeting you!" With a wide grin, Harry smiled down at Morganna from a height of over six inches beyond the already five, seven girl.
But Morganna just smiled embarrassingly, waving off the comment with her hand that wasn't still desperately clutching Harry's. "Oh my gosh, that's just some silly old album. But you! The way you won the Triwizard Tournament! That was so incredible!" And then it was as if the very idea of talking to Harry Potter had completely overwhelmed the girl's inherent drive to avoid self-embarrassment because, Morganna turned half way around then and addressed Hermione in what could only be consider the perpetual move of an airhead. In a horrible whisper, she spoke excitedly at Hermione. "Oh my god!!! He's so tall!" Before swinging completely back to Harry and picking up right where she left off.
"I mean my heart just about stopped dead during the first challenge! The way you flew around those dragons! That was the most incredible thing I've ever seen-not that I saw it, but my uncle told me all about how you'd managed to get around the Black you'd been given! Oh my god, that must have been so scary! I just about died, I'm telling you! I read all about it in the papers! The way you Accio'd your racing broom onto the field and then flew circles all over those dragons-not that I think it was very fair to use mother dragons protecting their clutches, I mean really how barbaric!-but it's no wonder you did so well, I mean you are the youngest Seaker on your house Quidditch team in over-Whomp!" Suddenly, both of Morganna's hands flew over her mouth and she had the most horrified expression in her eyes.
For a long silent moment no one said or did anything, and as Hermione watched, it suddenly became very clear what Morganna had just remembered.
"OH MY GOD! I so totally did not mean what I said about Quidditch players just a second ago!" Hermione could barley suppress a giggle at her friends unwitting stupidity. "I mean, I'm sure you and everyone else on the team are just-I mean-What I mean is-" Suddenly, Morganna turned around and addressed Hermione with panicked eyes. "What the hell do I mean?"
At this Hermione couldn't help but bust out laughing to which Morganna could only scowl. When her laughter didn't immediately sease under the look, Morganna moved over to Hermione and towered over her. "How could you let me say that when you knew Harry Potter was in the room?!" Hermione only laughed harder at that. "Mioneeeeeee," came the whining response.
Finally, Hermione calmed down to faint giggles as she looked into Morganna's pleading eyes. However, her response back sent her and a good number of the other room's occupants into fits of laughter. "You mean that you'd very much like Harry to drop his knickers so you can measure?!"
Appalled, Harry, shook his head and colored to a deep red that Hermione couldn't ever remember seeing. Morganna looked just about ready to die. Then, to her credit, Morganna recovered. Turning around she addressed the now bright red Harry.
"What I meant to say," and she looked over her shoulder to give Hermione a dirty look. "Was that I'm sorry I made that comment. I don't even know that much about Quidditch if you want to know the truth." And then she turned on the charm, batting her eyelashes much like Ashley had done to Snape only a month before. "But you know, I've always been fascinated by the game. We don't play it that much back home, well, at least not as much as you guys in England seem to. My uncle says everyone here watches the matches, but I really don't understand the game that well." Then, moving in for the kill, Morganna tipped her head just slightly to the side and smiled sweetly. "You would mind taking some time out of your really busy practice schedule to explain how the game works, would you Harry? Maybe even show me how you ride so fast on that broom of yours?" It was the perfect display of feminine power, and as expected, it worked like a charm.
"Sure! I wouldn't mind at all!"
Both Morganna and Harry were more than a little perturbed when the whole room erupted into howls of laughter.
Hoping to save some face, and remembering where she'd been going to begin with, Morganna returned to Hermione's side before slapping her in the arm. "I'm never forgiving you for this, Mione, so you can just forget about me giving you that skirt I was going to mail you!" And then, turning to her right, she looked back at Snape and smiled.
"Uncle Severus, I'd like you to meet my friend-though that's suddenly been called into question-Hermione, though you know her as Mione. I met her at the conference, remember?" Then without waiting for a reply, Morganna turned back to Hermione. "And Mione, this is my-What?"
Perhaps it was the look of abject horror that made Morganna stop, or maybe the fish out of water open mouthed gaping, but either way, it was clear that Hermione was very much surprised.
Snape took it all in stride, and with a sneer on his face, addressed Morganna's back. "We've met." And this to Hermione. "I do expect to see you tomorrow evening for the start of your detention, Miss Granger. Do be on time."
Dawning realization came over Morganna then, and she turned back to her uncle as Hermione could only nod at the Professor, suddenly embarrassed by her reasons for those detentions. Morganna did not look all that impressed. "Are you trying to tell me that those nice ghosts were telling the truth?!" Again not waiting for Snape to answer, Morganna turned back to address Hermione. "It's not true is it, Hermione? I mean, my uncle's the kindest, sweetest guy in the whole wide world! There's no way a single person in the known universe wouldn't absolutely love him! I mean, you like him, don't you, Hermione?"
It suddenly felt as if the weight of the entire past four years were upon her shoulders. Her new friend's desperate eyes were locked with her own, and Hermione knew without looking that Harry was just as stuck as she was. How could she tell Morganna that her UNCLE was the biggest bastard in the castle? How could she explain that he'd terrorized them all for the last four years, and treated Harry like he was worse than Yargalo sludge? How could she tell her, the horrible things he'd said personally to her, things that had made her cry on more than one occasion?
Easy. She couldn't.
"Um, yeah. I mean, he's really smart.and um.he teaches us all kinds of.stuff. And.um."
Suddenly, Morganna saw through the lie and rounded on her uncle. "Uncle Severus! How could you?! I have to make friends with the kids here! How am I supposed to do that if even Hermione-study girl poster- child for the entire world-doesn't even like you?!"
"I didn't say I didn't like him!" Came Hermione's desperate reply.
"You didn't have too, Mione, you're a horrible liar. That lie was even worse than the one you told to get us back onto campus after getting-"
"-nearly abducted by rapists! Right?!"
Wide eyes, Morganna just shook her head from side to side. "You really do suck at this." Then, turning around she looked back to her uncle. "Well? What am I supposed to do now?"
Snape sneered. "It is not my responsibility to help you find friends."
Morganna's indignant tone shattered what would have otherwise been one of Snape's finest tirades. "Don't you pull that face with me! I'm not the lady that confused you at the coffee cart! An Americano is black coffee, for crying out loud! I have to make nice with the British people and they already think I talk funny, when it's really them who are talking funny. I mean what's up with this 'cricket' thing?! Who ever heard of calling good things 'cricket'? Only English people could come up with something stupid like that! Nobody's going to like me!" And then with a defeated half wail, Morganna covered her face with her hands.
The first thing that Hermione noticed was that Snape's face did a complete one-eighty into territory she'd never seen before-total and utter concern. The hard lines of his face softened, his eyes relaxing into a grimace not of annoyance but of pain. And his voice when he spoke, Hermione had never heard it sound so.guilty.
"Morganna.I'm sorry." Hermione's heart nearly stopped at the words coming from Snape's mouth. "Please don't cry." She heard Harry choke across from her.
Morganna sniffled. "B-but how am I going to make any," another sniffle, "friends if you're so mean all the time?"
Snape sighed, his arm going around the shoulders of his niece. "If I.try to be less.mean, will you please not cry?"
She sniffled again. "Only if you really promise to try." Again another sniffle.
Snape nodded, then realized she couldn't see from behind her hands. "I promise."
"Great!" Came the reply from the now completely perky, completely not crying, Morganna. She smiled knowingly at Snape's stunned face, before leaning up on her toes and kissing his cheek. "You're the best uncle in the whole wide world! I just know I'll make tons of friends now!" Then with a little flourish, she moved to sit to Hermione's right on the couch, winking once in the process of settling down.
Snape for his part looked exactly like a man in his position should look, completely and totally had. He sat down with a grunt and a few murmured words under his breath.
Dumbledore looked like he was using every skill he'd learned in his considerable lifetime to keep himself from laughing. "Well then, I suggest we continue introductions." He turned to address Morganna, offering her a knowing wink. "Due to your public profile, Miss Michaels, the school has decided that it would be most beneficial if you knew all of the faculty on staff, should you require assistance of any kind."
Slightly confused, Hermione looked to Morganna as the Headmaster began to make introductions around the room. What did Dumbledore mean by saying "public profile"? Was he referring to the fact that Snape was her uncle? Come to think about it, what did Harry mean "every one of your albums"? What was going on?
Half way through Dumbledore's introductions the truth slammed into Hermione like a fist. "You're the singer?!"
Perplexed by Hermione's sudden rudeness and extremely loud voice right in her ear, Morganna turned to look at her before suddenly realizing something. "Oh, that's right! I forgot that you didn't know I was a singer. Yeah, I've got like two pop albums out back home and one abroad." Suddenly remembering something else, Morganna turned back to Harry and batted her eyelashes again. "By the way, Harry, it's really a very nice complement you having both my albums. I mean it must have been really, really hard for you to get Magical Water in England."
Hermione didn't hear Harry's hormone driven reply. "No, I mean, you're the singer that's so popular!"
Annoyed again by Hermione stating the obvious and interrupting her quality Harry Potter time, Morganna turned back in exasperation. "We've established that already Hermione, stay with me here."
She tried again. "No, I'm tutoring the singer-I mean-you, all this year!" Then as if the knowledge suddenly dawned on her. "You failed all your classes last year?! How in the world did you manage to do that?"
Morganna puffed up with indignation. "I did not fail all my classes last year, Hermione." Then with less force. "I passed Potions just fine, it was the rest of the classes that were hard. Besides, you try passing classes when you're only there half the time and still doing five hours a day of dance practice and music practice, and then still try to squeeze a second album, and," she stressed the 'and' forcefully, "get some sleep! I guarantee nobody'd get good grades under those circumstances-well, you, but we're not talking about you!"
"Oh please! First, I'd place all my activities on little slips of paper and cast an Organize charm. Then I'd-" Sound suddenly became muffled as Morganna placed her well manicured hand against Hermione's mouth.
"Spare me! I couldn't do it, ok! Now what's this about you being my tutor?" There wasn't any malice in her words, only a growing need to shut Hermione up, and find out about this new tidbit.
Hermione sighed, moving Morganna's hand from her mouth. "I said, I'm your tutor this year. I'm supposed to help you get ready for your O.W.L.S. on the material you should have learned during your fourth year."
"O.W.-what's? Speak English! Or, not English.speak American!"
"Your exams to pass into sixth year!" Said Hermione in exasperation.
"What's sixth year? I'm way done with the sixth grade if that's what you mean, and I'll have you know I got straight A's before my music took off!"
"A's?"
"Yeah, you know, the best grades you can get."
"You mean you got 4.0's."
"Yeah, whatever. Now back to me repeating the sixth grade again-"
"No, no, that's sixth year. It's like.um.like your second to the last year of um.high school in the states."
"That's junior year if you want to be so smart about it! So fine, I failed my freshman year and now I have to do freshman year over again while still doing sophomore year. Fine, I can handle that. And it's America, you tweed wearing tea drinker!"
At the angry scowl both girls gave each other, they suddenly both started cracking up. Morganna had to hold onto Hermione to keep from falling onto the floor, and Hermione felt tears leave her eyes from the pressure.
When it seemed like they'd never stop, Dumbledore cleared his throat for their attention. "I'm very glad to see both of you are in such high spirits concerning this revelation. However, if you don't mind, I think I'll continue with the introductions." Both girls sweetly chastised, they settled down and allowed the headmaster to continue, their hands held tightly in friendship between them.
"This is Professor McGonnagall. She will be your Transfigurations Professor."
Morganna looked horrified. "Please don't get mad at me if my transfigurations don't work quite right. Last year I was supposed to transfigure a pin cushion into a porcupine, but the pin cushion just grew legs and started running around the room. The worst part is that someone opened the door before anyone could catch it. It's still running around the Microsoft compound terrorizing the muggle programmers. Headmaster William Gates told me not to worry about it, that they'd eventually find it, but no one at Magic's Gate would talk to me for a week, because the stupid thing kept sneaking up in people and sticking them in the butt."
McGonnagall looked halfway between horrified and a fit of giggles. "We shall work on your pronunciation I think then, Miss Michaels."
They went around the room from there, Hermione interjection her own tidbits at Professor Trelawany and Vector. Finally they passed Harry, to which Morganna had to smile sweetly and give a half wave-of which Harry shyly returned-when they finally came upon Professor Lupin.
"And this my dear, is Professor Lupin, your new Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor." He didn't get much farther, and neither did Remus as he tried to say hello.
Sitting forward in her seat, Morganna spoke quickly. "Oh, I have a question, is it ok if I ask a question, or do I have to wait until class?" A little stunned, Lupin nodded for her to continue. "OK, so I've seen, like, every vampire movie ever made! I saw Bram Stoker's Dracula." She turned back to Hermione. "Winnona Rider was so totally excellent in that movie, and Gary Oldman was so completely sexable!" She pretended to swoon, as Hermione balked at the word 'sexable'. "Anyway," she continued now looking back at Lupin. "I saw Interview With a Vampire-of which Tom Cruise gets my vote for sexiest vampire in the world! That man can bite me any day! Then I saw the sequel, though no where near as good, Queen of the Damned; and finally I just saw Dracula 2000. I know what you're thinking- that movie came out ages ago-but I was in Australia at the time and I didn't get to see it until it made it to video.
"Anyway! My question is this: are there really vampires or is that just Hollywood?" And then, to cover her tracks she interjected, "Now, don't be mad if I'm already supposed to know this. I had DADA right after lunch so I usually tried to catch an hour and a half's worth of sleep before going to dance practice-not that I'm going to sleep in your class, Professor Lupin! Promise, cross my heart and hope to die!" And she crossed her heart.
Lupin just looked amused. "I'm sorry to inform you, Miss Michaels, but there are indeed real vampires."
"Oh my god, you're kidding!" Lupin shook his head. "And they suck blood and everything?!" Lupin nodded. "Well, I'll be!" She turned to Hermione. "Did you know there were real and true vampires?" Smiling, Hermione nodded. To which Morganna replied. "Geesh! I bet they're ugly and icky too! I bet they don't look anything like Tom Cruze! This just sucks! The next thing you know, there'll be all kinds of icky creatures running around, like werewolves and bog monsters!" At Hermione's suddenly horrified expression, Morganna turned back to Lupin and completely missed his look of sudden concern. "Oh my god! There aren't werewolves and bog monsters too, are there?!"
Dumbledore rescued Lupin as he floundered to respond. "Morganna, it is quite common knowledge, that Professor Lupin himself is indeed a werewolf."
Eyes as wide as saucers, Morganna turned back to Lupin. "Shut! Up! You're a werewolf for real?"
Lupin nodded, his head tilting slightly down in shame. "Unfortunately, yes."
"THAT IS SO TIGHT!!!"
At Morganna's outburst, Lupin looked up, horror and just an ounce of hope in his eyes. "It is far from "tight", Miss Michaels. Werewolves are extremely dangerous creatures during the full moon."
Morganna wasn't hearing anything about it. "So what, during the full moon you get all 'grrrrrr'?" Lupin nodded. "And the moons out, like what? Three days, right?" Lupin nodded again. "So?" At his wide eyes she finished her tirade. "What? You're a monster three days out of the month and so am I! Let me tell you! I don't care how horrible you are as a werewolf, it's nothing like I am the first three days of my period!""
Hermione shrieked and ducked her head, closing her eyes in complete and total embarrassment. Morganna turned at her sound. "What? Oh, is that one of those things you were telling me about before? One of those 'English people do not discuss that' things?" Hermione nodded, her eyes still hidden. "Oh for crying out loud! That's ridiculous! I mean you have periods don't you?"
"Of course we do, we just don't talk about them like you Yanks do!"
"Well maybe if you talked about them you could talk about other things; and maybe if you talked about stuff, you guys wouldn't be so stuffy all the time! I mean really! Trying to get you into that black leather mini skirt when we went dancing was like-"
Hermione's hand shot out and covered Morganna's mouth quickly. "Do shut up, Morganna, before you get me into anymore trouble."
Morganna nodded, and Hermione removed her hand. She should have left it there. "Well it's not as if you were so drunk you took it off or anything!"
"Oh god."
"Anyway," and she turned back towards a still stunned Lupin. "I figure if Grandpa Albus thinks you're ok to teach then who am I to say you're not? I mean really, I didn't even know there were werewolves!"
It took a moment, but a very shy, very grateful smile slowly spread across Remus's face. "Thank you, Miss Michaels. That was a series of very kind things to say."
Morganna beamed. "No problem, teach!" Remus at least had the good manners not to grimace. "So, anyway, back to---PUPPY!!!!!!"
In a mad dash, Morganna was across the room, and hugging Sirius Black's animagus form for all she was worth. Hermione reasoned that Black must have changed while she and Morganna had be reacquainted. Morganna had a hangman's grip about the dogs neck, and was pulling and squeezing to her hearts content, all the while kissing his doggie face and cooing too him. "Oh, what a cute puppy! Yes you are, yes you are! Who's a cute puppy? You's the cute puppy!" Then suddenly, she pulled back, as if just starting to realize something very strange. "You're a very big puppy! A very, very big puppy!" And then she continued as before, as if the height of the dog could be easily accounted for, even though it stood nearly chest high. "But you're the cutest big puppy I've ever seen! Yes you are! Who's you're master? Hm? Who's your master?"
From the chair next to the enthusiastic girl, Remus Lupin let out an uncharacteristic snort of laughter. "I would have to say, Miss Michaels, that he is mine." This before laughing as if to a private joke. "I would definitely say I am his master."
Morganna stopped at that, a very quizzical look in her eyes. "He's your dog?" Remus nodded. Smiling happily, Morganna then continued with the dog, scratching it behind the ears and kissing its head. "What's his name, Professor Lupin?"
And suddenly the laughter died in Remus. This was obviously a question he wasn't at all ready for, as the man looked flummoxed for a full second--long enough for Morganna to look at him again with that quizzical look.
Caught, Remus said the first thing he could when looking at Black in animagus form. "Um, Blackie?" It was said as a half question, but Morganna missed it; she was too caught up in being exasperated.
"Wait! So let me get this straight. You're a werewolf that has a dog for a pet, your last name is Lupin which is a derivative from the word luna meaning moon, and you have a black dog named Blackie?" Remus cautiously nodded his head. But Morganna just turned right back to Black and started cooing over him again. "You're master's not too original, is he Blackie? No he isn't. That's ok, I bet he treats you real nice though since he knows what it's like to eat doggie biscuits! Yes I bet he does!" And she continued to pet him, oblivious to the quasi insult she'd all but thrown at the new Defense Against The Dark Arts Professor.
This time it was Snape that stepped in, and Hermione wasn't sure if it was to save the rest of them from having to listen to Morganna continue on about ''the puppy" or just because if she kissed Sirius one more time he might be sick; he did look mad enough to spit.
"Morganna, kindly sit down so the Headmaster can continue." His voice was cool but no where near as destructive as it usually was when addressing a student. She noticed the same hope enter Harry's eyes--they might actually survive fifth year potions after all.
Slightly disgruntled, Morganna returned to her seat, smiling again to Hermione.
The headmaster continued. "Well, now that introductions have been made, I think it's time we adjourn to the great hall. I do believe the feast this year will be quite enjoyable as the house elves have been working all day on it." He smiled at Hermione as they stood to leave, Morganna desperately clutching her hand.
"I'm so nervous! Which house are you in, Hermione? Are you in Slytherin?"
Slightly insulted by the very thought of being a Slytherin, Hermione shook her head. "No, Gryffindor. " And then, she thought she'd have a little fun. "You know, Morganna, Harry's in Gryffindor too, and in our same year." She didn't have to say another word.
In a rush of wide eyes and a half-contained squeal of joy, Morganna dropped Hermione's hand to grab a hold of Harry's right arm. "Oh, Harry, wouldn't it be so tight if we got put in the same house! Then we could do all sorts of stuff together!"
Stricken dumb by the raven-haired beauty on his arm, Harry could only smile and nod as the two left the room together leaving Hermione behind.
However, she took it in stride. "That's going to be the funniest thing to watch all year long!"
She laughed at her own joke, following after her two best friends. She never saw the dark look that followed after her retreating frame; never even saw that Snape's eyes didn't leave her until long after the door closed behind her.
Hermione was more than just a little nervous. She wasn't used to being called on by the Headmaster, not to mention brought to his office. Beside her Harry looked a little less nervous, but still, decidedly uncomfortable. No doubt he was wondering what he'd done this time.
She looked at him quizzically as she had when they'd met on the train. Harry Potter sure had changed over the summer. He looked twice as tall as he had the year before, and Hermione reasoned he'd gained at least half a foot in height, if not more. His voice had also changed, no longer the semi squeaky voice from before, Harry's voice had grown with his frame, so that his it was now a nice soft baritone. When he'd called out to her at platform 9 ¾ she hadn't recognized him; it hadn't been until he was just a meter in front of her that she realized who her shy friend had become. Ron had been just as surprised when he and Ginny came running through the divide though, so she hadn't been too embarrassed.
She smiled, remembering the drooling look on Ginny's face when she'd seen the new and improved Harry Potter. Hermione felt a little bad for her since she knew from talking to Harry earlier that the very idea of dating his best friend's sister had him more nervous than fighting Voldemort without his wand. She had to laugh; but after the letter she'd received from Viktor only two weeks ago, Hermione had a feeling she and Ginny would be spending some pity party time together.
All thoughts of said party ended the moment Professor McGonnagall moved out of their line of sight. Seated around the room was the entire faculty of Hogwarts, but more importantly, to the right, nearly next to the old and comfortable fireplace, sat Remus Lupin and Sirius Black.
Without having to look she knew Harry's face had lit up like a Christmas tree. She knew her face must have looked much the same considering the looks the two men were giving them. She'd called Remus's name before taking flight, and from her side, she knew Harry was racing towards his godfather as well.
Remus stood to meet her, taking her into his arms and giving her a gigantic hug. He looked better than he had last year, and Hermione hoped that the man's good appearance meant that he was happy.
"Sirius, what are you doing here?" Harry was still hugging his godfather, and as Hermione looked, she thought she'd never forget the look of happiness upon his face.
Sirius's voice was gruff like usual, but there was something friendlier, lighter about it as well. It was a very nice voice to listen to. "Heard a rumor that Voldemort had risen and was planning something with my godson. Well, as you can imagine, I wasted little time getting here." He turned to smile at Remus. "And since I was coming, I thought I'd bring Remus with me." Black smiled, and Hermione smiled as well, receiving a tight squeeze from Remus.
"That's so incredible! But don't you think you should be hiding or something?" This from Harry, who was now receiving a one armed hug from Remus as Hermione was still captured beneath his first.
Remus answered. "Sirius is staying here undercover. I've been offered my position back for Defense Against the Dark Arts, so to keep an eye on Hogwarts, Sirius gets to play pet doggie for a while." Hermione looked up just in time to see a strange look pass between the two adults, but she ignored, it taking her turn to hug Sirius.
"That's so great, having you back as our professor." Said Harry, only now receiving the full on hug since Hermione'd moved to the next victim.
"Yes," came her reply. "We haven't had a good DADA professor since you, Re-um, I mean Professor Lupin." He smiled at her and thanked her before they exchanged a few more practical tidbits, like how summers had gone and if anything strange had happened to Harry.
When it seemed as if they'd finally asked enough questions to really get down to a good conversation, Professor Dumbledore cleared his throat and reminded Hermione and Harry that they were still in the Headmaster's office and there was probably a reason.
Harry took a seat next to Remus, while Hermione moved directly across from him and onto the only couch not taken in the warm office. Hermione couldn't help but feel happy for Harry. Here he was, finally surrounded by people he considered his family. She knew how hard it had been for him to not have a loving family, and while he covered most of it up, she could sometimes-like now-see though.
He caught her looking at him and smiled affectionately. The look reminded Hermione that this year she was going to be very careful not to give anymore people the impression that she and Harry were dating. She had a feeling she'd get a lot more than cursed letters and howlers now that Harry was shaping up into such a handsome man. Surprisingly, she was fine with that, happy even that one of her best friends was genetically so fortunate. Most of the girls in their house would be dying for Harry to ask them out, but Hermione was content to be the best friend. Besides, how could she ever consider a guy who thought Quidditch was more fun than Arithmancy?
Suddenly, Dumbledore cleared his throat again, and Hermione turned to listen to him. "Miss Granger, Mr. Potter, it is a pleasure to have you back with us. This is shaping up to be quite an interesting year, but I'll save the fun details for my speech before dinner. The both of you are here for different reasons, but I thought you might be less intimidated if we brought you up together." He beamed at them both, and she noticed that even Harry had to duck under the realization that Dumbledore knew something he wasn't supposed too.
"In any event, Mr. Potter, I thought you'd enjoy learning in private the return of both Professor Lupin and Sirius." He winked at Harry, who nodded enthusiastically before receiving a gentle squeeze of his hand from Remus while Black nodded. "Splendid, then I'm sure you and Miss Granger can also appreciate the delicate nature of Sirius's return. I trust you both to keep this quiet and to inform Mr. Weasley to do the same." They nodded. "Excellent. Then, now for you Miss Granger-Oh, Severus, you've returned."
Hermione grimaced as she turned, Snape catching and hold her eyes immediately. For the last month she'd been plagued by images of him in tight jeans and a leather jacket. When she'd gotten the letter from Viktor, a part of her had even been glad because now she could think about this dark and mysterious man without feeling like she'd betrayed him. She wasn't stupid though, it was another crush on a teacher, and Hermione was well versed in those. She'd had a crush on Lockhart and even a very teeny tiny one on Professor Lupin as well. She couldn't help it, intelligent men attracted her more than looks or money ever could, but-she thought as she remembered Snape in leather-looks couldn't hurt.
She was so caught up in examining Snape, that when her name was called in an astonished cry, it took her a full second to even glance at the speaker. When she did, the dark haired girl gave another gasp before saying her name again.
Suddenly, as all the girl's features came into focus, Hermione knew exactly who it was, and stood in equal astonishment.
"Morganna?!"
"Oh my God! Mione! It is you! What are you doing here?"
"I go to school here! What are you doing here?"
"I go to school here too!"
Hermione was befuddled. "No that can't be right, you're not a witch."
The raven haired girl looked just as convinced as Hermione. "Of course I'm a witch. You're the one that's not the witch."
"Yes I am."
And suddenly, the girl smacked her forehead loudly with the palm of her hand. "Oh my God, of course! Unicorn education 101!"
"And, that crack about chocolate frogs!"
For a long moment the two just looked at each other, Hermione's brown eyes glued in amazement to nearly clear blue ones. And then suddenly it all hit home.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
With a race of limbs and a plethora of jumping and squealing, both girls came together and were hugging and jumping around the room. One look at the other and they'd be squealing again before engaging in more jumping and more hugging.
This was Morganna Figg, Hermione's roommate from the conference at Cambridge on Magic Through the Ages. She couldn't believe it, the two of them had had so much fun at the conference. They'd gone to every meeting together, and partied after every meeting a little too long, only to come back to the dorm room, sleep for four hours and do it all over again. They'd shared girly secrets, and exchanged writing addressees. Hermione had been so sad thinking that she'd finally found a girl she could be friends with, one that while obsessed about boys and clothes, still understood her when she wanted to talk about academics. Morganna was far from academically inclined, but she at least tried to listen and asked questions if she didn't understand something. Mostly they'd been total opposites, and that had been their biggest attraction to becoming friends. Their opposing ideas, and what Hermione had originally thought was little more than a muggle verses magic user and an American vs an English girl, now seemed as if they weren't so different after all.
Eventually, Hermione's legs got tired from all the jumping, and she just hugged Morganna, wrapping her arms about the other girl's neck in a silent prayer of thanks that she wouldn't be alone with a group of boy from now on.
Morganna pulled back first, her American accent sounding reassuring now to Hermione. "I can't believe it's you! I didn't think I'd know anyone when I came to Hogwarts, and now I find out you're here! Oh god, I'm so excited now!" She did a few more jumps before giving Hermione another hug.
"I can't believe it either, though I didn't think you were a magic user so why would I think we'd meet at Hogwarts." Ever the practical and logical one.
"Oh I know! I was sure you were just some muggle girl the way you were so fascinated by magic in the total there's-no-way-this-could-happen kind of way! I mean when they started talking about bringing people back from the dead and you got all excited I just wanted to shake you and tell you there was no way! Now, I find out you're just like me!" Morganna's eyes went wide, and with a squeal and a tug, she pulled Hermione down onto the couch by their legs.
"Oh Mione, you just have to tell me all about your summer. Oh my god, did you get a letter from Viktor yet?!"
Hermione grimaced before waving off the comment with her hand. "Oh, I do not want to talk about him."
Morganna understood her instantly. "Oh, that bastard! Did he do what I think he did?"
"Worse, he can't go out with me because his mommy doesn't like Muggle bornes."
"What a prick! You're better off without him anyway. You need someone smart like you are. Someone with lots of brains. Besides, you know what they say about Quidditch players-" And suddenly, Morganna raised up her pinky finger and then bent it in a slow deflating motion. Hermione squealed and covered her eyes.
"Morganna you can't say things like that, it's not proper!"
"I didn't say anything! Besides, I think it's true! How else can those guys sit on brooms like that all day?" It was as if no one else were in the room, as if two girls were getting together for a social call. Hermione was completely comfortable with Morganna and vise versa. She knew Morganna had a stressful schedule, so the two of them had bonded quickly over that fact, among other things.
Both girls giggled before Hermione waved the comment aside, not daring to look at Harry. "I'm sure you'll find others who'd disagree."
"Yeah, but if they're not willing to drop'm so I can measure then I don't really care." They giggled again, and then suddenly Morganna remembered something.
"Oh my gosh! I totally forgot! Uncle-" She never really finished. Morganna had taken Hermione's hand and had turned back towards the door, when in mid turn her line of sight had fallen upon Harry. Hermione thought it was just a tad odd that the room fell deathly silent when Morganna did.
The hand around Hermione's tightened painfully, and she could only watch stunned as Morganna locked eyes with Harry and did not turn away. Hazarding a look, Hermione saw that even Harry was staring openly at Morganna, as if he couldn't believe his eyes-as if he'd never seen a girl before.
Suddenly dawning realization came over Hermione and she giggled just a bit as she figured it out. With a tug on Morganna's hand to get her attention-which she was unable to obtain-Hermione turned to her friend and gave introductions.
"Morganna Figg, may I introduce Harry Potter; Harry, my friend Morganna. I was telling you about her on the train."
Morganna's voice was dreamy when she spoke. "Michaels."
Confused, Hermione questioned. "What do you mean, 'Michaels'?"
Morganna turned to her now, that stunned expression still on her face. "My last name is Michaels not Figg, I just use that name when I'm trying to remain incognito."
The completely confused expression on Hermione's face never really got addressed, as Morganna suddenly took her other hand as well before bringing both up to her chest. "Hermione, is that who I think it is?" This said in a voice that could only be considered a poorly done stage whisper.
"Um, yes, this is Harry Potter."
"Oh. My. God!" And then before anyone could stop her, Morganna was out of her seat and across the small space that separated one side of the circle from another. In a seizing motion she grabbed Harry's still stunned hand and began to pump it vigorously.
"OH MY GOD! I have every single one of your Triwizard Posters!!! And I have all your Rita Skeeter articles too-though those were harder to get since I don't live in England! Oh my God, it's Harry Potter!!!" With another squeal, Morganna was nearly jumping up and down, and it seemed that that fact finally propelled Harry out of his stupor.
Harry stood before shaking Morganna's hand again. "A-and I've got every single one of your albums. I-I can't believe I'm meeting you!" With a wide grin, Harry smiled down at Morganna from a height of over six inches beyond the already five, seven girl.
But Morganna just smiled embarrassingly, waving off the comment with her hand that wasn't still desperately clutching Harry's. "Oh my gosh, that's just some silly old album. But you! The way you won the Triwizard Tournament! That was so incredible!" And then it was as if the very idea of talking to Harry Potter had completely overwhelmed the girl's inherent drive to avoid self-embarrassment because, Morganna turned half way around then and addressed Hermione in what could only be consider the perpetual move of an airhead. In a horrible whisper, she spoke excitedly at Hermione. "Oh my god!!! He's so tall!" Before swinging completely back to Harry and picking up right where she left off.
"I mean my heart just about stopped dead during the first challenge! The way you flew around those dragons! That was the most incredible thing I've ever seen-not that I saw it, but my uncle told me all about how you'd managed to get around the Black you'd been given! Oh my god, that must have been so scary! I just about died, I'm telling you! I read all about it in the papers! The way you Accio'd your racing broom onto the field and then flew circles all over those dragons-not that I think it was very fair to use mother dragons protecting their clutches, I mean really how barbaric!-but it's no wonder you did so well, I mean you are the youngest Seaker on your house Quidditch team in over-Whomp!" Suddenly, both of Morganna's hands flew over her mouth and she had the most horrified expression in her eyes.
For a long silent moment no one said or did anything, and as Hermione watched, it suddenly became very clear what Morganna had just remembered.
"OH MY GOD! I so totally did not mean what I said about Quidditch players just a second ago!" Hermione could barley suppress a giggle at her friends unwitting stupidity. "I mean, I'm sure you and everyone else on the team are just-I mean-What I mean is-" Suddenly, Morganna turned around and addressed Hermione with panicked eyes. "What the hell do I mean?"
At this Hermione couldn't help but bust out laughing to which Morganna could only scowl. When her laughter didn't immediately sease under the look, Morganna moved over to Hermione and towered over her. "How could you let me say that when you knew Harry Potter was in the room?!" Hermione only laughed harder at that. "Mioneeeeeee," came the whining response.
Finally, Hermione calmed down to faint giggles as she looked into Morganna's pleading eyes. However, her response back sent her and a good number of the other room's occupants into fits of laughter. "You mean that you'd very much like Harry to drop his knickers so you can measure?!"
Appalled, Harry, shook his head and colored to a deep red that Hermione couldn't ever remember seeing. Morganna looked just about ready to die. Then, to her credit, Morganna recovered. Turning around she addressed the now bright red Harry.
"What I meant to say," and she looked over her shoulder to give Hermione a dirty look. "Was that I'm sorry I made that comment. I don't even know that much about Quidditch if you want to know the truth." And then she turned on the charm, batting her eyelashes much like Ashley had done to Snape only a month before. "But you know, I've always been fascinated by the game. We don't play it that much back home, well, at least not as much as you guys in England seem to. My uncle says everyone here watches the matches, but I really don't understand the game that well." Then, moving in for the kill, Morganna tipped her head just slightly to the side and smiled sweetly. "You would mind taking some time out of your really busy practice schedule to explain how the game works, would you Harry? Maybe even show me how you ride so fast on that broom of yours?" It was the perfect display of feminine power, and as expected, it worked like a charm.
"Sure! I wouldn't mind at all!"
Both Morganna and Harry were more than a little perturbed when the whole room erupted into howls of laughter.
Hoping to save some face, and remembering where she'd been going to begin with, Morganna returned to Hermione's side before slapping her in the arm. "I'm never forgiving you for this, Mione, so you can just forget about me giving you that skirt I was going to mail you!" And then, turning to her right, she looked back at Snape and smiled.
"Uncle Severus, I'd like you to meet my friend-though that's suddenly been called into question-Hermione, though you know her as Mione. I met her at the conference, remember?" Then without waiting for a reply, Morganna turned back to Hermione. "And Mione, this is my-What?"
Perhaps it was the look of abject horror that made Morganna stop, or maybe the fish out of water open mouthed gaping, but either way, it was clear that Hermione was very much surprised.
Snape took it all in stride, and with a sneer on his face, addressed Morganna's back. "We've met." And this to Hermione. "I do expect to see you tomorrow evening for the start of your detention, Miss Granger. Do be on time."
Dawning realization came over Morganna then, and she turned back to her uncle as Hermione could only nod at the Professor, suddenly embarrassed by her reasons for those detentions. Morganna did not look all that impressed. "Are you trying to tell me that those nice ghosts were telling the truth?!" Again not waiting for Snape to answer, Morganna turned back to address Hermione. "It's not true is it, Hermione? I mean, my uncle's the kindest, sweetest guy in the whole wide world! There's no way a single person in the known universe wouldn't absolutely love him! I mean, you like him, don't you, Hermione?"
It suddenly felt as if the weight of the entire past four years were upon her shoulders. Her new friend's desperate eyes were locked with her own, and Hermione knew without looking that Harry was just as stuck as she was. How could she tell Morganna that her UNCLE was the biggest bastard in the castle? How could she explain that he'd terrorized them all for the last four years, and treated Harry like he was worse than Yargalo sludge? How could she tell her, the horrible things he'd said personally to her, things that had made her cry on more than one occasion?
Easy. She couldn't.
"Um, yeah. I mean, he's really smart.and um.he teaches us all kinds of.stuff. And.um."
Suddenly, Morganna saw through the lie and rounded on her uncle. "Uncle Severus! How could you?! I have to make friends with the kids here! How am I supposed to do that if even Hermione-study girl poster- child for the entire world-doesn't even like you?!"
"I didn't say I didn't like him!" Came Hermione's desperate reply.
"You didn't have too, Mione, you're a horrible liar. That lie was even worse than the one you told to get us back onto campus after getting-"
"-nearly abducted by rapists! Right?!"
Wide eyes, Morganna just shook her head from side to side. "You really do suck at this." Then, turning around she looked back to her uncle. "Well? What am I supposed to do now?"
Snape sneered. "It is not my responsibility to help you find friends."
Morganna's indignant tone shattered what would have otherwise been one of Snape's finest tirades. "Don't you pull that face with me! I'm not the lady that confused you at the coffee cart! An Americano is black coffee, for crying out loud! I have to make nice with the British people and they already think I talk funny, when it's really them who are talking funny. I mean what's up with this 'cricket' thing?! Who ever heard of calling good things 'cricket'? Only English people could come up with something stupid like that! Nobody's going to like me!" And then with a defeated half wail, Morganna covered her face with her hands.
The first thing that Hermione noticed was that Snape's face did a complete one-eighty into territory she'd never seen before-total and utter concern. The hard lines of his face softened, his eyes relaxing into a grimace not of annoyance but of pain. And his voice when he spoke, Hermione had never heard it sound so.guilty.
"Morganna.I'm sorry." Hermione's heart nearly stopped at the words coming from Snape's mouth. "Please don't cry." She heard Harry choke across from her.
Morganna sniffled. "B-but how am I going to make any," another sniffle, "friends if you're so mean all the time?"
Snape sighed, his arm going around the shoulders of his niece. "If I.try to be less.mean, will you please not cry?"
She sniffled again. "Only if you really promise to try." Again another sniffle.
Snape nodded, then realized she couldn't see from behind her hands. "I promise."
"Great!" Came the reply from the now completely perky, completely not crying, Morganna. She smiled knowingly at Snape's stunned face, before leaning up on her toes and kissing his cheek. "You're the best uncle in the whole wide world! I just know I'll make tons of friends now!" Then with a little flourish, she moved to sit to Hermione's right on the couch, winking once in the process of settling down.
Snape for his part looked exactly like a man in his position should look, completely and totally had. He sat down with a grunt and a few murmured words under his breath.
Dumbledore looked like he was using every skill he'd learned in his considerable lifetime to keep himself from laughing. "Well then, I suggest we continue introductions." He turned to address Morganna, offering her a knowing wink. "Due to your public profile, Miss Michaels, the school has decided that it would be most beneficial if you knew all of the faculty on staff, should you require assistance of any kind."
Slightly confused, Hermione looked to Morganna as the Headmaster began to make introductions around the room. What did Dumbledore mean by saying "public profile"? Was he referring to the fact that Snape was her uncle? Come to think about it, what did Harry mean "every one of your albums"? What was going on?
Half way through Dumbledore's introductions the truth slammed into Hermione like a fist. "You're the singer?!"
Perplexed by Hermione's sudden rudeness and extremely loud voice right in her ear, Morganna turned to look at her before suddenly realizing something. "Oh, that's right! I forgot that you didn't know I was a singer. Yeah, I've got like two pop albums out back home and one abroad." Suddenly remembering something else, Morganna turned back to Harry and batted her eyelashes again. "By the way, Harry, it's really a very nice complement you having both my albums. I mean it must have been really, really hard for you to get Magical Water in England."
Hermione didn't hear Harry's hormone driven reply. "No, I mean, you're the singer that's so popular!"
Annoyed again by Hermione stating the obvious and interrupting her quality Harry Potter time, Morganna turned back in exasperation. "We've established that already Hermione, stay with me here."
She tried again. "No, I'm tutoring the singer-I mean-you, all this year!" Then as if the knowledge suddenly dawned on her. "You failed all your classes last year?! How in the world did you manage to do that?"
Morganna puffed up with indignation. "I did not fail all my classes last year, Hermione." Then with less force. "I passed Potions just fine, it was the rest of the classes that were hard. Besides, you try passing classes when you're only there half the time and still doing five hours a day of dance practice and music practice, and then still try to squeeze a second album, and," she stressed the 'and' forcefully, "get some sleep! I guarantee nobody'd get good grades under those circumstances-well, you, but we're not talking about you!"
"Oh please! First, I'd place all my activities on little slips of paper and cast an Organize charm. Then I'd-" Sound suddenly became muffled as Morganna placed her well manicured hand against Hermione's mouth.
"Spare me! I couldn't do it, ok! Now what's this about you being my tutor?" There wasn't any malice in her words, only a growing need to shut Hermione up, and find out about this new tidbit.
Hermione sighed, moving Morganna's hand from her mouth. "I said, I'm your tutor this year. I'm supposed to help you get ready for your O.W.L.S. on the material you should have learned during your fourth year."
"O.W.-what's? Speak English! Or, not English.speak American!"
"Your exams to pass into sixth year!" Said Hermione in exasperation.
"What's sixth year? I'm way done with the sixth grade if that's what you mean, and I'll have you know I got straight A's before my music took off!"
"A's?"
"Yeah, you know, the best grades you can get."
"You mean you got 4.0's."
"Yeah, whatever. Now back to me repeating the sixth grade again-"
"No, no, that's sixth year. It's like.um.like your second to the last year of um.high school in the states."
"That's junior year if you want to be so smart about it! So fine, I failed my freshman year and now I have to do freshman year over again while still doing sophomore year. Fine, I can handle that. And it's America, you tweed wearing tea drinker!"
At the angry scowl both girls gave each other, they suddenly both started cracking up. Morganna had to hold onto Hermione to keep from falling onto the floor, and Hermione felt tears leave her eyes from the pressure.
When it seemed like they'd never stop, Dumbledore cleared his throat for their attention. "I'm very glad to see both of you are in such high spirits concerning this revelation. However, if you don't mind, I think I'll continue with the introductions." Both girls sweetly chastised, they settled down and allowed the headmaster to continue, their hands held tightly in friendship between them.
"This is Professor McGonnagall. She will be your Transfigurations Professor."
Morganna looked horrified. "Please don't get mad at me if my transfigurations don't work quite right. Last year I was supposed to transfigure a pin cushion into a porcupine, but the pin cushion just grew legs and started running around the room. The worst part is that someone opened the door before anyone could catch it. It's still running around the Microsoft compound terrorizing the muggle programmers. Headmaster William Gates told me not to worry about it, that they'd eventually find it, but no one at Magic's Gate would talk to me for a week, because the stupid thing kept sneaking up in people and sticking them in the butt."
McGonnagall looked halfway between horrified and a fit of giggles. "We shall work on your pronunciation I think then, Miss Michaels."
They went around the room from there, Hermione interjection her own tidbits at Professor Trelawany and Vector. Finally they passed Harry, to which Morganna had to smile sweetly and give a half wave-of which Harry shyly returned-when they finally came upon Professor Lupin.
"And this my dear, is Professor Lupin, your new Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor." He didn't get much farther, and neither did Remus as he tried to say hello.
Sitting forward in her seat, Morganna spoke quickly. "Oh, I have a question, is it ok if I ask a question, or do I have to wait until class?" A little stunned, Lupin nodded for her to continue. "OK, so I've seen, like, every vampire movie ever made! I saw Bram Stoker's Dracula." She turned back to Hermione. "Winnona Rider was so totally excellent in that movie, and Gary Oldman was so completely sexable!" She pretended to swoon, as Hermione balked at the word 'sexable'. "Anyway," she continued now looking back at Lupin. "I saw Interview With a Vampire-of which Tom Cruise gets my vote for sexiest vampire in the world! That man can bite me any day! Then I saw the sequel, though no where near as good, Queen of the Damned; and finally I just saw Dracula 2000. I know what you're thinking- that movie came out ages ago-but I was in Australia at the time and I didn't get to see it until it made it to video.
"Anyway! My question is this: are there really vampires or is that just Hollywood?" And then, to cover her tracks she interjected, "Now, don't be mad if I'm already supposed to know this. I had DADA right after lunch so I usually tried to catch an hour and a half's worth of sleep before going to dance practice-not that I'm going to sleep in your class, Professor Lupin! Promise, cross my heart and hope to die!" And she crossed her heart.
Lupin just looked amused. "I'm sorry to inform you, Miss Michaels, but there are indeed real vampires."
"Oh my god, you're kidding!" Lupin shook his head. "And they suck blood and everything?!" Lupin nodded. "Well, I'll be!" She turned to Hermione. "Did you know there were real and true vampires?" Smiling, Hermione nodded. To which Morganna replied. "Geesh! I bet they're ugly and icky too! I bet they don't look anything like Tom Cruze! This just sucks! The next thing you know, there'll be all kinds of icky creatures running around, like werewolves and bog monsters!" At Hermione's suddenly horrified expression, Morganna turned back to Lupin and completely missed his look of sudden concern. "Oh my god! There aren't werewolves and bog monsters too, are there?!"
Dumbledore rescued Lupin as he floundered to respond. "Morganna, it is quite common knowledge, that Professor Lupin himself is indeed a werewolf."
Eyes as wide as saucers, Morganna turned back to Lupin. "Shut! Up! You're a werewolf for real?"
Lupin nodded, his head tilting slightly down in shame. "Unfortunately, yes."
"THAT IS SO TIGHT!!!"
At Morganna's outburst, Lupin looked up, horror and just an ounce of hope in his eyes. "It is far from "tight", Miss Michaels. Werewolves are extremely dangerous creatures during the full moon."
Morganna wasn't hearing anything about it. "So what, during the full moon you get all 'grrrrrr'?" Lupin nodded. "And the moons out, like what? Three days, right?" Lupin nodded again. "So?" At his wide eyes she finished her tirade. "What? You're a monster three days out of the month and so am I! Let me tell you! I don't care how horrible you are as a werewolf, it's nothing like I am the first three days of my period!""
Hermione shrieked and ducked her head, closing her eyes in complete and total embarrassment. Morganna turned at her sound. "What? Oh, is that one of those things you were telling me about before? One of those 'English people do not discuss that' things?" Hermione nodded, her eyes still hidden. "Oh for crying out loud! That's ridiculous! I mean you have periods don't you?"
"Of course we do, we just don't talk about them like you Yanks do!"
"Well maybe if you talked about them you could talk about other things; and maybe if you talked about stuff, you guys wouldn't be so stuffy all the time! I mean really! Trying to get you into that black leather mini skirt when we went dancing was like-"
Hermione's hand shot out and covered Morganna's mouth quickly. "Do shut up, Morganna, before you get me into anymore trouble."
Morganna nodded, and Hermione removed her hand. She should have left it there. "Well it's not as if you were so drunk you took it off or anything!"
"Oh god."
"Anyway," and she turned back towards a still stunned Lupin. "I figure if Grandpa Albus thinks you're ok to teach then who am I to say you're not? I mean really, I didn't even know there were werewolves!"
It took a moment, but a very shy, very grateful smile slowly spread across Remus's face. "Thank you, Miss Michaels. That was a series of very kind things to say."
Morganna beamed. "No problem, teach!" Remus at least had the good manners not to grimace. "So, anyway, back to---PUPPY!!!!!!"
In a mad dash, Morganna was across the room, and hugging Sirius Black's animagus form for all she was worth. Hermione reasoned that Black must have changed while she and Morganna had be reacquainted. Morganna had a hangman's grip about the dogs neck, and was pulling and squeezing to her hearts content, all the while kissing his doggie face and cooing too him. "Oh, what a cute puppy! Yes you are, yes you are! Who's a cute puppy? You's the cute puppy!" Then suddenly, she pulled back, as if just starting to realize something very strange. "You're a very big puppy! A very, very big puppy!" And then she continued as before, as if the height of the dog could be easily accounted for, even though it stood nearly chest high. "But you're the cutest big puppy I've ever seen! Yes you are! Who's you're master? Hm? Who's your master?"
From the chair next to the enthusiastic girl, Remus Lupin let out an uncharacteristic snort of laughter. "I would have to say, Miss Michaels, that he is mine." This before laughing as if to a private joke. "I would definitely say I am his master."
Morganna stopped at that, a very quizzical look in her eyes. "He's your dog?" Remus nodded. Smiling happily, Morganna then continued with the dog, scratching it behind the ears and kissing its head. "What's his name, Professor Lupin?"
And suddenly the laughter died in Remus. This was obviously a question he wasn't at all ready for, as the man looked flummoxed for a full second--long enough for Morganna to look at him again with that quizzical look.
Caught, Remus said the first thing he could when looking at Black in animagus form. "Um, Blackie?" It was said as a half question, but Morganna missed it; she was too caught up in being exasperated.
"Wait! So let me get this straight. You're a werewolf that has a dog for a pet, your last name is Lupin which is a derivative from the word luna meaning moon, and you have a black dog named Blackie?" Remus cautiously nodded his head. But Morganna just turned right back to Black and started cooing over him again. "You're master's not too original, is he Blackie? No he isn't. That's ok, I bet he treats you real nice though since he knows what it's like to eat doggie biscuits! Yes I bet he does!" And she continued to pet him, oblivious to the quasi insult she'd all but thrown at the new Defense Against The Dark Arts Professor.
This time it was Snape that stepped in, and Hermione wasn't sure if it was to save the rest of them from having to listen to Morganna continue on about ''the puppy" or just because if she kissed Sirius one more time he might be sick; he did look mad enough to spit.
"Morganna, kindly sit down so the Headmaster can continue." His voice was cool but no where near as destructive as it usually was when addressing a student. She noticed the same hope enter Harry's eyes--they might actually survive fifth year potions after all.
Slightly disgruntled, Morganna returned to her seat, smiling again to Hermione.
The headmaster continued. "Well, now that introductions have been made, I think it's time we adjourn to the great hall. I do believe the feast this year will be quite enjoyable as the house elves have been working all day on it." He smiled at Hermione as they stood to leave, Morganna desperately clutching her hand.
"I'm so nervous! Which house are you in, Hermione? Are you in Slytherin?"
Slightly insulted by the very thought of being a Slytherin, Hermione shook her head. "No, Gryffindor. " And then, she thought she'd have a little fun. "You know, Morganna, Harry's in Gryffindor too, and in our same year." She didn't have to say another word.
In a rush of wide eyes and a half-contained squeal of joy, Morganna dropped Hermione's hand to grab a hold of Harry's right arm. "Oh, Harry, wouldn't it be so tight if we got put in the same house! Then we could do all sorts of stuff together!"
Stricken dumb by the raven-haired beauty on his arm, Harry could only smile and nod as the two left the room together leaving Hermione behind.
However, she took it in stride. "That's going to be the funniest thing to watch all year long!"
She laughed at her own joke, following after her two best friends. She never saw the dark look that followed after her retreating frame; never even saw that Snape's eyes didn't leave her until long after the door closed behind her.