Chapter 13
The next Sunday evening staff meeting, the topics of discussion were the upcoming quidditch match, detention assignments, students in the infirmary and Hermione Granger.
"Anything to report about Miss Granger?" Dumbledore asked.
"Yes, Albus. Asking her to assist me in class sparked some interest. She graded papers quite well and assisted a student with a transfiguration. I would say she seemed to enjoy herself. She will be assisting me again this week," McGonagall said.
"I will agree she graded my papers adequately. She has agreed to assist me this week as well, and in truth I would welcome the extra help in making the basic potions needed for the infirmary," Snape drawled evenly.
"Very good. Now I have an idea that I think the staff and students will find entertaining as well as educational. I want to have a "magic contest" so to speak, showcasing the talents of our seventh years. This will inspire the first years to see what they can accomplish. Please have Miss Granger and Mr. Malfoy see me after breakfast so we can discuss preparations. If there's nothing else, have a good evening." Dumbledore said.
"Actually headmaster I have a question. Did you know Miss Granger plays the piano?" Snape asked.
"Why yes Severus. She's played since the age of six. She played a composition by Vivaldi one evening for some of the staff after the sorting feast. She plays beautifully. Why do you ask?" Dumbledore asked.
"I was walking by the music room this past Friday night and she was in there playing. I don't know why I ask, just curiousity I suppose," Snape replied.
"Very well Severus. Anything else? No? Good evening then."
Monday morning found the the Gryffindor table enjoying pancakes. The predictable chatting, gossip and teasing was heard. The doors opened and Hermione walked to join them. The looks of surprise turned to welcoming smiles as the familiar
"Coffee, Mione?" was heard from Harry.
"Thanks Harry," she returned with a shy smile.
"Pass the syrup, will you Ron?" Hermione asked spearing a pancake.
Harry turned to the watching staff table and gave a thumbs up as Hermione sipped her coffee. Dozens of owls arrived with the morning posts, and an owl dropped a letter towards Hermione that she caught as it fluttered down. She opened it:
Miss Granger
The headmaster wishes to see you in his office after breakfast. Have a good day.
Professor McGonagall
After breakfast, Hermione walked to the gargoyles and muttered "Banana Beetles" (Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes newest invention) and the stairs appeared. Knocking on the door, "Enter" was heard and Draco was sitting there talking with the headmaster.
"I asked you here this morning because I have an event planned that requires the help of you two. Hogwarts will be hosting a magical contest, or 'exhibition', if you will, that will have the brightest, most able seventh year students performing feats of magic. I want the first years sitting up front so they can see what to look forward to with hard work."
Hermione and Draco nodded their heads. Dumbledore handed them a couple of pieces of parchment for them to read.
"Here are the particulars of the event. Enlist the help of the prefects and pass the word to the seventh years. If you have any concerns, please don't hesitate to come to me. If you have no questions, you are excused to your classes."
The two nodded to the headmaster and went to the door to leave. "Oh, Miss Granger?" she turned to the headmaster. "Welcome back."
On a Saturday morning, Hermione, Draco and the prefects were in the room of requirement discussing the magic exhibition. Draco spoke:
"I know we all want to get to Hogsmeade today so I'll make this quick. Today is November 17. The exhibition is December first. We don't have a lot of time, but we want this to look good. Post these sign up sheets on the bulletin boards in each of the house common rooms then pick a date to brief the participants."
"Just a reminder to the participants. Whatever they choose to do, it should be sufficiently impressive, surprising or something along those lines," Hermione added. "If there's any questions along the way, please don't hesitate to see me or Draco. That's it, I guess."
"Are you going to Hogsmeade today Hermione?" Draco asked as they left the room.
"I don't know," she said. "Maybe I'll go after I'm done with some first-year tutoring," she said. "I do seem to be out of chocolate-covered raspberries," she said.
"Great! Hope to see you there!" Draco said squeezing her hand.
What a good friend he's turned out to be! she thought as she headed towards a classroom where some first years were waiting for charms tutoring. After the half-hour session, she decided that she would indeed go to Hogsmeade. Changing into warm clothes, she left the castle to go to town. Nodding hello to some students, she walked into Honeydukes and bought a couple of white chocolate candy bars, a few boxes of chocolate-covered raspberries and some bubble gum.
My parents the dentists would have a fit!
She headed to The Three Broomsticks and was welcomed by a "Hey Hermione!" from half the Gryffindor house present at the shop.
"Butterbeer, Hermione?" Harry asked handing her one.
She took a seat to look and listen to the snuggling couples, gossipy laughter and saw McGonagall, Snape and Flitwick at a table chuckling about something.
The last time I was here….. she thought somberly when Ron lightly touched her shoulder.
"Alright there 'Mione?" he asked.
"Yes, I'm fine Ron. Thanks," she replied softly.
"Great to have you back among the living Hermione!" Ginny said good-naturedly, holding her butterbeer up as if she was toasting her.
Hermione chuckled, it was impossible to be gloomy around Ginny as her natural cheefulness was infectious. She glanced to the table where the professors were sitting and saw that McGonagall also held up her drink and Snape nodded. She nodded back and continued to chat with her friends.
It's a trite saying, but life does go on.
At the end of the afternoon, the students slowly made their way back to Hogwarts. The professors walked a short distance behind the group of students, nosily trying to pick up on some conversation. Sometimes the staff found the gossip to be amusing.
"So Hermione, how goes the tutoring?"
"Oh, fine I guess. Some of them remind me of you in first year charms, Ron. They just need a little extra push in the right direction with wand technique. It's hard to keep a straight face when I keep hearing 'Yes Miss Granger' and "No Miss Granger.' First time I heard that, I turned around to make sure my mother wasn't standing there." They laughed.
The next bit of conversation caught the particular interest of Snape.
"So Mione, any idea of what you are showcasing for the exhibition?"
"Yes."
"Well?"
She looked sideways and smirked, "You'll just have to wait and see. Let's just say it involves bewitching the mind and ensnaring the senses," Hermione drawled, doing her best imitation of Snape. McGonagall chortled upon hearing that.
"Minerva, remind me again why we come along to babysit these children?"
"Because we lost a coin toss, Severus."
Snape rose at dawn the next morning, opening the drapes. He actually enjoyed this bit of peace in the mornings before he faced the hubbub of the remaining day. Drinking his coffee, he noticed a figure in the distance running towards the castle. At first thinking someone was in trouble, he realized it was someone out for a morning jog. Watching the person coming closer, he recognized it as Hermione. When she approached the sidewalk, she came to a stop and checked her watch. She picked up a bottle of water she had left there earlier and took a swig from it. She did some neck rotations and swung her arms. Even though the weather was cool, she was sweating slightly. Dressed in light blue sweatpants and sweatshirt, she slipped off the sweat pants and shirt to reveal shorts and tank top. Snape almost dropped his coffee in surprise. Was it the fact that she practically stripped right there in the open, or the image she presented? She had taken her hair down, running her hands through it. She paused to look at the sun coming up. She closed her eyes and breathed deep.
What a vision first thing in the morning! Snape thought.
Taking another swig from her water, some drops escaped and dripped onto her chest. Licking her lips, she arched her back to do some more stretching.
Merlin's robe! How enchanting! Snape pondered.
Snape watched in wonderment as Hermione worked some yoga poses.
Gracious, the girl is limber!
When she assumed the "Lazy Dog" pose, Snape took a step back in shock.
Merlin help me, I am aroused! he thought.
He threw the drapes shut and sank into a chair, shaking his head.
I have no business thinking these things. he thought.