Chapter 4: A New Life
Well my arrival at Hogwarts went fairly smoothly, everyone was eager to accept the newly appointed Professor Mishka. But as expected Lupin recognized me as I knew he would. When I had the chance to speak with him alone I let my guard down for the first time in years.
"Hello old friend."
"Hello Mishka, how are you doing?"
"I'm fine Lupin, I'm doing fairly well, and my business seems to run itself some days." I wanted to embrace him, he was always a good friend and it saddens me to realize just how much I had left behind.
"Hermione, you don't have to pretend, we are friends and I've known you since you were 13." I have always loved Remus' heart, he always was pure whether he was part were-wolf or not. "You can talk to me, I'm here for you, and so is Tonks."
"Speaking of Tonks how is she? And did the two of you ever get married?"
"Nice try Hermione, but it won't work."
"Do you think that Dumbledore is going to mind terribly my keeping a Dragon in the dungeons?"
"Please stop trying to change the subject; I know you have something on your mind you aren't telling me. I can sense it Hermione, and no I don't think Dumbledore is going to mind, besides if memory serves me Kalila is only a dwarf dragon and I believe she would make a wonderful guard during your potions class to keep your students in check." I couldn't help it, I hugged him, and I hugged him as if he were my lifeline.
"You always were there for me Remus and I thank you for that. I don't know how I would have gotten through everything had you not been there. When I lost my parents I always thought Harry would be the one to understand and he and I could talk, but the only think he wanted was revenge, that's when he went after Malfoy. Do you know I left him because of Harry, to keep him from going mad, but he was so hell bent on vengeance that he didn't see what it was doing to our friendship, so I lost them both anyway. I still think of him some days, and it's hard not to tell him how much I really do still love him, but that was the past and I don't think he is ever going to forgive me." I hadn't realized how much I'd rambled on, it seems that sometimes it's good to talk to old friends.
"How long have you been holding all this in? And why didn't you tell me about you and Draco before?"
"I've held it in for 10 years, I gave up the love of my life for my best friends and I lost all of them. Draco did what I asked of him and didn't speak to me again, Harry couldn't see past his own rage to see what he was doing. I don't know if he even realizes it now what he's done. Do you know I haven't spoken to either Harry or Ron in the ten years since we left Hogwarts?" You have no idea how good it felt to get all of that off my chest, I feel as though a weight had been lifted off me. I knew I could trust Remus, I always could, I just didn't trust myself enough. I don't feel like so much of a time bomb anymore, but there's still more I can't tell Remus yet, something only two other people know. Remus pulled me into another hug; it was just what I needed, and I smiled.
"I'm always here for you Mione, but for now I think I'll let you prepare for your lessons tomorrow and I think my wife may be wondering where I'd gone to. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Thank you Remus, and tell Tonks I said hello." He nodded in acknowledgement and then he left.
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MONDAY 9AM POTIONS CLASS ROOM
Luckily for Hermione her first class happened to be third year Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs, it was a good class to break herself into.
She strode in, head held high, and with an aire about her that exuded confidence.
"Good Morning Class, I am Professor Mishka, I will be teaching all of your potions class from here on out, and I do not want to hear one word about Professor Snape and how he used to do things. He and I are two different people with two different methods. Mention of Professor Snape will gain you loss of house points and detention for a week. Am I understood?"
"Yes Professor" sounded the class.
"Now, I want you to open your texts to chapter 24, there you should find the section on shrinking potions. I want you all to read this chapter and then write 12 inches on your interpretation. Any questions?"
A young Ravenclaw raised her hand, "Yes, Miss McIntyre?"
"Professor shouldn't we actually practice brewing during class?"
"I mentioned from the start that my lessons will be different from your previous professors, and as such I feel you need to have a full understanding of the basics before you can properly brew a potion. As soon as I review your interpretations we will probably start brewing next class. Any more questions? No, alright start your reading and hand me your parchments when you are finished."
With that her class started working, within minutes she heard the scratching of quills. Hermione slammed her hands down on her desk and abruptly stood up.
"It has only been 5 minutes I should not be hearing quills scratching yet. You are to finish the reading before you start any writing. Now I want all of you to put your quills down and focus on the reading, if I hear one quill before 10 minutes has passed that person will be serving a detention. Everyone back to work."
This time her directions were followed and it was a good 15 minutes before she heard quills again. Two minutes before the end of class Hermione had everyone hand their papers up. Ten minutes later seventh year Slytherin and Gryffindors walked in, "Great, just great, my least favorite class of the day." Once everyone was seated she started her speech again.
"Good morning, I am Professor Mishka, I will be teaching your potions class from here on out," there was a snicker from the back, looking she expected to see it be a Slytherin, but her assumption was wrong and found it to be a Gryffindor, "Do you have a problem?"
"Not at all professor, it just that some of us were wondering why you would come in 3 months before the end of school, that and you aren't exactly a conventional professor." The young Gryffindor stated smugly, leaning back in her chair.
"No one said I would be conventional, and apparently your last professor got tired of being compared to Professor Snape, so let me inform you all of this right now, I will not be compared to Snape, I don't want to hear one word about Snape and the person that mentions him will lose house points and sever a weeks detention. Now, with that settled lets continue with our lesson, unless of course you all feel the need to dissect why I am here and earn a zero for the day. If that is what you want to do learn now that I do not tolerate students that would rather gossip that learn, you will find yourselves kicked from this class never to return."
The class finally got the point and paid attention to the lesson and like the third years there was no brewing, and Hermione wagered there would not be any brewing for any of her classes this week.
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TWO WEEKS LATER
Hermione's first two weeks were a living hell; the older students questioned why a new professor was brought in at the end of a school year. The teachers were only told she was Mishka, no one except Dumbledore and Lupin knew that she was really Hermione. So far none of her classes had mentioned Professor Snape, but McGonagall kept giving her strange looks like she knew her, but wasn't certain. Her second Saturday being at Hogwarts McGonagall stopped her in the entrance hall.
"Professor Mishka, might I have a word?"
"Certainly Professor." McGonagall led her to her office; Hermione looked around realizing just how long it had been since she'd been in this room.
"I was curious to know how you are managing being the new head of Slytherin, though as I hear it that is not your actual house."
"No, actually I was a Gryffindor in school but the Sorting Hat felt I would make a fair head for Slytherin."
"If you were Gryffindor I should know you, and I'm afraid I'm not familiar with the name Mishka."
"I changed my name after leaving school, I took my mothers name." Hermione rose to leave, knowing where the conversation was going and was not prepared by any means to answer McGonagall's inquiry. "My apologies Professor but I have lessons to prepare, so I will speak with you later."
"I have just one more question for you Mishka, how old are you?"
"28"
"So you will be at the reunion taking place during the spring break?"
"Yes, I will."
"I shall speak with you later then."
Hermione turned and left the office, heading back towards the dungeons.
That went just fucking great, she knows something's off and knowing McGonagall she won't let up until she figures it out. The only thing that could make it worse would be for Malfoy to show up again. I have two weeks before this blessed reunion and maybe, just maybe my life can go back to being peaceful. Yeah right, that's wishful thinking Hermione, peaceful, after everyone figures out who you are and where you've been. Peace is the last thing you'll have.
Hermione silently continued her tirade in her head as she returned to her quarters. The next two weeks would turn out to be anything but quiet!