Chapter 9

Hermione was seated in her office. She appreciated the wonderful view of the grounds that she had from up her. She was grading some paper but her eyes kept wondering at the children that were playing outside. Some of her Gryffindors were playing a game of mock Quidditch, and she was surprised at how good they were.

Lately there had been a lot of talks in the staff room about the beginning of the Quidditch season. The match between Gryffindor and Slytherin had always been an attraction for everybody. The rivalry was just to big, and the game was always a rough one. However this year everybody knew that the Gryffindor team didn't stand a chance against Slytherin.

Snape however embarrassed he might have been after the incident in the laboratory a week ago kept gloating about the whole thing. He even suggested some friendly wagers. She had turned them down, knowing foolhardily there was nothing friendly about Snape.

She knew there were bets going on in the whole castle about the outcome of the match; however she had not expected to see Dumbledore running a bet with Trelawney.

Though she was sure they weren't part of the Quidditch team. They didn't even have a quaffle so they had to use a basketball. She knew all of them and quite well: Lucia, Maria, Victor, John, Dan and Theodor, more commonly known as Ursu. They were all sixth years, and were all the best in practically every class.

After she saw them playing for about an hour, and saw some incredible saves pulled by them she had to get out and talk to them. In mere moments she was outside.

'Hey, you up there. Come down this instant.'

All of them came down, one of the boys jumped of his broom when he was about nine feet up in the air and landed just besides her, and the others landed swiftly. They all looked subdued. Shoulders hunched, heads bent down.

'Professor we didn't mean to break any rules. We were just playing. It was just a mock game.' The short haired girl said. Lucia if she remembered correctly.

'What are you rambling about ms. ?

'We know we've been banned from Quidditch professor, but we were just having fun.' The dark haired boy said. Victor as she remembered.

'Banned? Why?' she asked, felling a bit silly.

'Well...' started the tall gangly one. She was almost sure this one had some giant blood or at least had ingested some 'grow-up' potion. 'After what happened last year on the Quidditch game'

'Well, what happened?' she asked a bit snappish.

'The game degenerated into a duelling session...' carefully said the dark haired girl, Maria.

A frown not different from those McGonagall used formed on Hermiones face.

'A duel, I see, and you were banned?'

'Well, something like that..'

'I'll just have to talk to the headmaster about it, and see how I can get you back on the team.' She told them. It was amazing how fast their faces were lit up.

'Really, you'll do that professor.' Said one of the girls. 'We promise to behave ourselves.' Added the slightly chubby boy.

'Alright. Just tell me on what positions you play. And I'll head straight for the headmaster.

'Well me and Lucia are chasers' said Maria, her eyes a bit dreamy.

'I'm a chaser as well.' Added John.

'Yeah and I'm a keeper, while Ursu and victor are the best beaters you could find.' Said the plump faced boy.

'Right. So we still don't have a seeker.

'Well there might be someone qualified for that position as well.' Said the big one, Ursu.

'Really?'

'Yeah my brother.' Added Maria a bit annoyed.

'But he's a first year.' the gangly one added.

'Right, I'll have to see how he plays but I'm sure his good if you recommend him.' She said, hardly containing the joyful tone of her voice. They finally had a chance at the Quidditch cup. At beating Snape. And she could not help herself at feeling joyful. 'One of you should pass by my office, later on to get a signed permit for practicing on the pitch.' She added as she made her way to the castle. She wasn't going to waste any time.

She had just reached the stone gargoyle, and was going to say the password when the stone moved by itself, revealing the staircase. The reason of this was Snape exiting the headmasters office.

Ever since the incident in his lab, she had avoided him on the halls. For the first few days she would even go into fits of mad giggling, every time she would see him. Working in the lab had proved even more awkward than before.

He stood there in front of her, blocking her way to the stairs.

'Excuse me professor Snape, but I wish to address the headmaster, about an urgent business.'

'You know Professor Granger that as deputy head master; I have enough authority for you to address your maters directly to me.'

'It is a matter of house (A.N sounds like crap, but don't know what else to say)

'And you don't believe in my impartiality. Don't tell me you think me biased, professor granger.' He said bitterly.

She sighed. He wasn't going to let her off. He was even worse. In the laboratory he had given her the silent treatment, which though preferable to his acid remarks, was counterproductive to their work.

'Is there something wrong Hermione.' Dumbledore called from behind Snape. He seemed to have descended the stairs, to see what was happening.

'Headmaster, I wanted to ask something.'

'Yes, yes, please come in' he told her gesturing for her to go up the stairs. 'And it's Albus' he added.

Once they were in his office, she noticed that Snape had fallowed as well. He was looking at her, his beetle black eyes, studying her as if she was a botched potion.

'Yes what is it miss granger' Dumbledore asked her calmly from behind his desk. His look moving from her to Snape, over the half moon spectacles.

'I came her to ask the permission for reorganising the Gryffindor Quidditch team.'

'As you are head of Gryffindor house I can not see why you find any urgency in asking me so. You may do as you wish.'

'There is however a slight inconvenience.'

At this she saw out of the corner of her eye Snapes eyes squeezing to slits. The headmaster himself seemed to dispose of his al-knowing look in favour of a more interested one.

'The children I wish to put on the team have received a life long ban.' She added a bit rush.'

'I know of whom you are talking Hermione and I think you are right in giving them a second chance.'

'Head master I advise you against accepting this absurd demand. They were banned for founded reasons.'

'I know the reasons Severus. But professor granger is right. This decision is too hard for such young people. I will accept your demand miss granger. The students in question have the right to reform as Quidditch team.'

'This goes highly against the rules. Rules yourself wrote, Albus.' Professor Snape said, with a hint of malice.

'I think the head master knows the rules very well professor Snape.' Hermione cut in. 'though I'm not so sure about the deputy head master.' She added. Her eyes were glinting.

'I see things have loosened up between the two of you.' Albus said with mischievous.

At this both Hermione and Snape by the looks of him felt a bit foolish. She was sure Dumbledore was the only one to make Snape feel like a school-boy, caught bullying someone. This was basically what he was doing, after all.

'Clearly.' Snape said with distaste. And left the office, in his impressive manner, cloak billowing behind him.

'Well professor... ehm, Albus, thank you very much. I.. I think I should leave now.'

'Is there anything else you would like to tell me Hermione.' He asked her.

'No...' she turned around. But then again, there was nothing to lose. She needed to talk to someone. 'As a matter of fact I would like to address you some questions, professor.' She said trying to sound confident.

Dumbledore surveyed her through his half-moon glasses. 'Would you like a lemon drop?' she declined his offer with a shake of her head. Why was it so tedious telling him this? 'please go on.'

'It's concerned to your motives of hiring me as a teacher at Hogwarts.' She said this tentatively and when she got only a nod she continued. 'Why did you hire me Albus?' she asked.

'Because there was need for a transfiguration teacher, and you more than qualified for the job.'

'Mere technicalities. I meant to ask you why you hired me when I had just gotten out of prison, thanks to your help I might add.

'I thought we had discussed all of this Hermione. I thought I had answered your questions.'

'Yes but I never did answer your questions.' She whispered. Casting her eyes down. 'why did you believe me in the first place, why did you trust me?'

'I have been asked many times why do I trust certain people. I should say this is a trait of mine.' He answered her smiling.

'How did you know about it all. It was a secret from everybody.' She said a bit desperate. 'No one was supposed to know about it.'

And yet there were people who knew about it. People who weren't supposed to know.' Said Dumbledore steadily. 'I make it my business to know this sort of things Hermione.' Said Dumbledore, peering at her over the half-moon spectacles perched halfway down his crooked nose.

'Yes.' She muttered, attempting to smile. 'I'll try not to fail you.' she said. 'Though I know I haven't quite been up to the expectations.'

You have coped more than well with all your responsibilities. No one was expecting anything else from you.' he told her kindly.

'I understand. May I be excused?' she asked politely.

'Yes. And don't forget about the staff meeting this evening.'

To tell the truth she had forgotten all about it, but just for appearances sake she merely nodded seemingly bored. She left the office.

Returning to her office and paper grading. She would have to go to the library, probably to the forbidden section, in order to get some texts. she checked her watch. It was still plenty of time till the staff meeting. So she went to the library.

Upon entering, she felt somehow like coming home. She knew the place perfectly. Knew were to find almost all of the books. She was pretty sure she could do just as well as madam Pince. The place wasn't full of students. Just the usual studious ones.

At one of the tables she noticed the six Gryffindors, that had just been admitted on the Quidditch team again. They were all looking over something. Taking hushed to each other. She passed by them.

'Hello guys!'

They all turned at her with expecting faces.

Here you go. She said, while producing from her pocket the parchment Dumbledore had given her.

'Whow, thanks teacher.' They exclaimed.

'It was nothing. Just make sure to win the game.' She told them smiling.

Once she was through with her research. Which was several hours later, she never understood how time speed so fast when she was reading, Hermione made her way to the teachers room. She wasn't late, she was actually one of the first to arrive. There weren't many people yet. Just professor sprout and madam hooch. And she didn't feel in mood for small chat. She took out a book and started leafing through it. (I have no idea how the book is named.) she was so engrossed in it that she didn't notice the staff room fooling until she heard someone cough a little in order to catch everybody's attention. She slowly lowered the book to look at the whole room. All the teachers were seated, somehow randomly around the table. On her right stood professor Bendis, while on the left, the seat was vacant. However the next seat on the left the seat was taken by professor Snape who was pointedly ignoring her.

'I'm sorry head master, for being tardy. It is often that one can get caught by the inner eye and forget about the palpable reality most people are caught in.' this statement said by Trelawney in her weary voice, was received with quite a lot of grunts from the other teachers....

We understand Sybil, please take a seat.' Dumbledore said amiably.

Hermione noticed to her 'terror' that the only place left available was the one between herself and Snape. Oh she was going to love this meeting.

'Like I was saying before sibyl joined us we have several problems to talk about. As Madam Hooch has pointed out we...

And it went on and on, after madam hooch's demands for better brooms, came professor sprouts complaints about students trespassing in her green houses. Often taking plants, more or less dangerous. Nest on the list was madam Pince saying she had caught several students in the forbidden section lately. Other teachers come forward with all sort of other ideas, like Mrs. Wesley who

She was quite bored of it. Once or twice she even yawned. She set her hand on the arm of the chair. Carelessly examining her nails. Then stretching her palm a bit. At this she was surprised to her a short intake of breath, from professor Trelawney. Oh, I have never seen such striking resemblance in my life.' Professor Trelawney said in her dreamy voice, trying to sound as mysterious as possible. 'one can never find to destinies alike.'

Hermione saw Trelawney's bulging eyes, magnified by her tick lens, looking from her palm, to that of Snape, who's was by now captive in the clutches of the hag.

'Yes same destiny line.' She repeated airily.

Snape managed to detach his appendage, from the bugs grip, glaring at the both Trelawney and Hermione, as if she had taken part in sort of a prank.

'I could hardly care less if your inner eye saw my life line intertwine wit that of miss Granger or that of any other for the matter. It is not the first time I ask you to stop practicing your 'art' on me.' He was very pissed by the hag. 'It must mean that an answer to something you have both been seeking for.' She said in the same dreamy voice, without giving any attention to Snape himself.

'There are also other similarities I might add.'

'I suggest you don't' Snape cut her slightly menacing.

'May I have your tea cup professor granger?' Trelawney asked. Before Hermione could say anything her cup had already been snatched practically from her mouth. The oversized bug started to rotate the cup clockwise, or counter clock wise, depending on what she saw. Sybil was looking at it carefully, gasping sometimes.

'Oh no, I'm afraid... awful things await you.' at this declaration said in such a convincing tone Hermione stiffly contained a yawn. 'Look it's a spider web, it means complications. And just look in the middle of it there's a cross. I'm sad to tell you that means trouble... oh wait, it's a dagger- you are in grave danger from your enemies.' Said Trelawney so mysteriously, Hermione barely contained her giggles.

'And look at this. An owl. More trouble I'm afraid. And disease.' she continued. 'I'm afraid; this is a very unlucky cup, my dear.'

'That's not an owl. It's just a bird, and that means luck.' Said a voice on Hermione's right. When she turned to see who it was, she recognized, professor Bendis, who was leaning over her to see her cup more closely.

'Professor Trelawney eyed her peculiar, she weary by this intrusion but continued as if nothing had been said. 'Look at this, a violin. It means loneliness.'

'if you ask me it's more like a guitar and that's love on the horizon, there's not that much to worry about Hermione.' Said Anna, reassuring.

'There is an aura around you my dear. But if the inner eye is not practiced, there is much you will miss.' Professor Trelawney addressed Anna, and though it was meant to be some sort of an advice, it sounded more like a treat.

Hermione knew there was nothing true about what that woman said. It was just that all fitted to well with her image of things to come, that had in truth shaken her a bit.

'Well if all things are settled I call this meeting adjourned.' She distinctly heard Dumbledore call. She was one of the firs to leave. She had no real taste for the sordid conversations that were going to follow between the other teachers.

Snape had been the first one to go and she was closely following him. They still needed to work on the potion. And if anything Sybil had said was true they might have the slightest chance at finding the cure in useful time.

A.N: sorry people. The action was supposed to be a bit more interesting. But then I remembered about things like Quidditch. And also stumbled upon the book with those 7 kids in my library and the urge to mix them up in this story was too big. You thought you were going to find out something about the whole Azkaban business, and yet I managed to blur things up even more, now didn't I?

I hope this is the last chapter without something actually happening. It's just that I had to somehow fill the gap between, the beginning of the school year and Halloween. I hope it's not that pointless. Next chapter it's going to be the first Hogsmeade weekend and I'm going to introduce some old acquaintances.

Not yet beta-read. Don't forget that. Still please review.