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The Librarian
Chapter 1:
When the war was over, many things changed. One of course was that people were free from Voldemort's reign. However, there were still many Death Eaters that were still out and terrorizing people. Number one on their lists? Who else but one of Harry Potter's best friends. Who else but me, Hermione Granger. Therefore, I went into hiding. Well not exactly hiding, more like hiding my identity. I am still in the wizarding world. In fact I work at Hogwarts, and am now known as Kate Grant.
Where at? You may ask. Well where else would you expect to find me? The library. I was given Madame Pince's position after she retired. Professor McGonagall, now the headmistress of Hogwarts and the only person who knows where I am, offered me the job and I jumped at the chance. Not only would I remain the very place that Death Eaters feared most, the place of the death of their oh so wonderful dark lord, but I would be surrounding by books. I could spend all day just plowing through the millions of books the library held. But still you may ask, wouldn't people recognize me? Oh one might think so, but they'd be wrong. See the summer before what would have been my seventh year at Hogwarts I discovered an interesting fact about myself. I'm a metamorphmagus, just like Tonks. The Order decided to use this fact to their advantage.
I became a spy.
I put many Death Eaters behind the bars of Azkaban. In fact I don't know if you recall but Macnair, the executioner that was going to kill Buckbeak, was captured and sentenced to life in Azkaban, all because of me. However, he was just one of many. This is why the Death Eaters are so keen on catching me. They've yet to figure out I'm a metamorphmagus but they do know I was the one spying on them. It seems like I'm bragging but it's all true. The days of the war are ones that I will not soon forget. In that fight I lost many people that were near and dear to me. Harry, Ron, and I did not go back for our final year at Hogwarts, in fact neither Ginny. It seemed as if Fred and George started a trend for the younger Weasley members. There were many tear-stained faces those four days. We lost Charlie Weasley, Remus Lupin, and Kingsley Shaklebolt among others in the Order including Severus Snape.
Being a spy, while exciting, is not something I would chose as a profession. I am actually quite content in my current position. I am not as strict as Madame Pince, in fact there is a section of the library that is devoted to group work, where talking is allowed. However there is this one person who seems to think that terrorizing me about the best thing in the world. Contrary to what you'd think it's not a student. It's the new potions professor. Professor Xavier Carmichael. He randomly comes in and asks me to find the most ridiculous books, then takes a look at it and gives it back. I don't think he actually reads anything in the books but still you never know. Speak of the devil, here he comes.
"Professor Carmichael." I said nodding to him.
"Ah, Miss Kate. How many times must I ask you to call me Xavier?" He asked smoothly.
"Well to tell you the truth Professor Xavier sounds a tad odd to me. So I'll stick with Professor Carmichael." I said settling into the familiar routine of this teasing.
"My dear Kate then perhaps you should just call me Xavier."
"Professor Carmichael, my name is Miss Kate to you and the students." I retorted stubbornly.
"Just me Miss Kate? Not any of the other teachers?" He asked beseechingly.
"Yes Professor Carmichael, just you." I said hotly.
"And why is that?"
"Because calling me Kate would imply friendship and you don't wish a friendship with me. You just wish to annoying me, by wanting incredulous books and moving books to the wrong shelves. Don't look at me like that, I know it's you!" He had tried for a look of innocence but gave up.
"One of these days Miss Kate, you will give in to me." He smirked at me and my heart stopped. The smirk, which I had never seen grace his face before, reminded me of someone. But who it was I couldn't place a finger on it. He must have seen me staring at his mouth for an instant later the smirk dropped from his face, replaced by a light smile. "One of these days Miss Kate." said repeated and left the library. It occurred to me as he walked out the door that he didn't even get a book this time. I don't know why he teases me so. We can have the most lovely conversations, discussing everything from Shakespeare to current wizarding events. I enjoy our teasing, and he's not hard on the eyes. He had soft hair the color of chocolate that he kept close cropped to his head, and his eyes were a beautiful blue, almost translucent. He was about six foot, with a slender but powerful frame. At my five and a half feet he's a complete head taller than me.
The man keeps me confused, I would swear that flirts openly with me, but never takes it beyond that. I suddenly resurfaced from thoughts to find myself still staring at the door. It was almost nine, the curfew for the students. I replaced returned books and walked around the library looking for any lingering students, not wanting them to be caught by Filch. I found a girl pouring over a large textbook in the corner, she was reading intently and didn't notice me standing there. I thought back to myself only a little over two years ago. I spent every second I could in the library preparing for our OWLs. I spent all that time and I never even took the NEWTs but I am happy as could be, finally relaxed, and finally enjoying life. I wandered over to the young woman.
"Sophy." I said softly not wanting to startle her. "Dear your curfew is in a few minutes. If you want I will write you a note saying why out past curfew, should Filch stumble upon you."
"Oh Miss Kate, please I'm almost done my essay for Professor Flitwick. Can I have just ten more minutes?"
"Of course dear." I said smiling at the girl, seeing myself in the earnestness of her face. "I'll be right back with that note for you." I walked over to my desk and pulled out a short piece of parchment and wrote out a note for Filch should she be caught. I bewitched it so that it could not be used for any night other than tonight. I know Sophy wouldn't reuse it, but others would. I sat it on the corner of my desk, and went back to replacing books. Just as I was walking back to my desk I saw Sophy finally emerging from the stacks. "Good night Sophy."
"Good night Miss Kate." She walked out the door and once again I was staring after her thinking about myself during school. I sighed and was about to gather my things to leave when I heard a voice from behind.
"Reminds me of you..." I turned to see Xavier smirking at me again and I was thrown off by the smirk, until he added one more word. "Hermione."