A/N: Thanks for all the reviews. Keep it up. It helped me write these chapters. I almost felt like stopping in the middle of writing chapter 5.
So, two things have been brought to my attention by two awesome reviewers. I'd like to address them: Hhhhokai so, last chapter didn't mean to be so jumpy. Actually, it wasn't supposed to be one concurrent timeline. There was supposed to be a break... elapsed time. Double spacing isn't visible as... evidently, everything is double spaced. I'll try harder with that.
Another thing is: Begging for reviews. Umm... yeah... I wasn't exactly begging, but I guess if you wanna say that, sure. It may not be your style (as your style is your choice as you said you were also an author), but to each person their own. I'm shaky in writing guys; I'm learning. I need feedback. Seriously.
Thanks to everyone and sorry for the long author's note.
Chapter 4:
The top of the water glistened, bright blue specks swirling around as tentacles rose from the water to reach for birds flying above. The lake, calm except for minor disturbances, shone as the sunlight hit the surface and reflected off. Rocks bounced off the surface suddenly, a cloaked figure having had chucked them violently.
Hermione skipped another rock, killing time before having to go in to meet McGonagall. She didn't know why she wanted to meet with her. Her letter had been very vague, only mentioning the date, time, and password. She frowned, looking at her watch once again. Sighing, she stood from her place and slowly made her way towards her home of seven years, the place of her best and worst memories.
Walking through the halls, Hermione encountered many Hogwarts kids pointing and oohing at her as if she was some exhibit in a museum, or in their maturity's case, a children's zoo. She recognized most of these kids from her head girl days, and they had never done this before. Not much had happened to her between then and now. She fought along Harry's side in the final battle, but she happened to do that almost every year that she could remember. Along the way, she also ran into Ginny and a few of her friends that she recognized that did none of the pointing and oohing, to her relief.
After promising she'd meet her for lunch in the Great Hall, she continued her way to the stone gargoyle she knew so well. She stood outside for a moment, bracing herself for the news she would get or the things that she would discuss. She didn't want to hear anything about the war. It was still plaguing her day and night, though she didn't beat herself up over it. Why should she? It was a life changing event.
She said the password and went up the stairs, once again pausing at the door. She didn't want to know what McGonagall wanted. Her favorite professor wouldn't just call her in idly to chat. She wanted to talk about something specifically. She wanted to ask her of a favor. Hermione sighed and knocked before hearing a voice beckoning her in.
She surveyed her favorite professor. She looked so much older compared to a few years ago, but she looked a bit more relaxed. There was a sad look in her eyes of grieving that mirrored her own. She took a seat in front of the large oak desk covered with not a single knickknack when the headmistress beckoned her to.
"Hello Professor, how are you?" She asked, knowing full well what the truth was and what the answer would be, two very different things.
"I'm… alive. And you, Hermione?" McGonagall said, eyeing her star ex-student with a look of wary on her face.
"I'm good, I suppose…" She trailed off, not knowing what more to say, letting a silence drift between the two for a second.
"I know you're not stupid, Hermione. You know I had a reason to owl you and ask you to come here so abruptly. So, now that the pleasantries are done, I'll get right to the point. I need a Transfiguration teacher. I'm afraid that even while the war is now finished, my duties as Headmistress have overwhelmed me. I can handle it, but I'm afraid that it's not fair to my students, especially the ones who are getting closer to taking the N.E.W.T. exams, to not get my one hundred percent effort.
"Now, as you know, because of events last year, the term was cut short, meaning that school ended earlier and started later. This year will be making up for it. I'd like you, if you'd wish, to take over my fifth, sixth, and seventh year classes since they're easier to handle than the first years and then, if you do well, to take over completely next term."
Hermione stared for a second before blinking. This was her dream job. This is what she had always strived for. This was her home, but could she work here?
"When would I start?" She asked.
"In two weeks. You could use all my lesson plans for the rest of this term. You could make arrangements to live either here or stay at your current residence. Most professors do prefer to set up their chambers here, however. I'll give you some time to consider it, if you wish."
Hermione's thoughts sped up, and she thought about a million different things at once. She would be back at Hogwarts… without Harry and Ron. She would have to leave her job at the Ministry where she was almost positive she'd get the promotion. Eventually, she would strive to be Minister of Magic. Malfoy would be mad at her for leaving him with all the work while they found an adequate replacement. She would have to eventually leave her flat… and Viktor. But Viktor would be leaving soon anyway, wouldn't he?
She wasn't qualified to teach was she? She had barely come out of school herself? Would there be some ulterior motive that McGonagall had? Wouldn't that mean that she'd be Head of Gryffindor? She would be teaching people who weren't even a year younger.
She was snapped back to reality when there was a knock at the door, and McGonagall beckoned the person in. Hermione turned to see Remus Lupin walk in. She looked the man over just as she had McGonagall.
His pale eyes looked healthier coupled with his slightly graying hair. He looked healthier than he did before. She was glad. She smiled at him and gave him a big hug before looking unsurely at McGonagall.
"So you go home and think it over, Hermione. I'll be expecting an owl from you soon." With that, she knew that McGonagall was politely telling her to leave. Hermione nodded and walked out of the door.
McGonagall wanted her to teach.
With that final thought, she decided to put it out of her mind for a while. She walked down the stairs and out of the statue, walking the path once again to the Great Hall. Lunch had started five minutes ago, but as it was Saturday, she expected few students to be on time.
She soon spotted bright red hair and new it could only be the youngest member of the Weasley clan, soon to be second youngest with the upcoming birth of Bill's and Fleur's baby. Hermione ignored the stares she was getting and walked to her friend.
"Hi, Gin." She greeted, sitting next to her friend. Ginny turned to her and smiled, greeting her as the rest of the people did.
"Hey, Hermione. So, what did McGonagall want?" Ginny was always straight to the point and tended to have a quirky humor. Hermione remembered how she had been crying into Ron's shirt when Harry told her he couldn't be with her. Ginny just put an odd sort of smile on her face and replied something Hermione couldn't hear.
"Offered me a job." Hermione replied, helping herself to a sandwich lining the long Gryffindor table.
"A job?" One of the other girls asked in interest, turning her attention to Hermione.
"Don't you already have a job?" Ginny asked taking a drink from her pumpkin juice.
"Yes, I do. I like that job very much, too. Professor McGonagall offered me a job… here… teaching." Hermione said, triggering thoughts to come back to her head. What if she took the job and eventually became Headmistress of Hogwarts? She certainly couldn't fill McGonagall's shoes, let alone Dumbledore's. She still thought there was no way in hell she was qualified to teach students.
"Teaching!" Ginny asked/exclaimed loudly, her eyes lighting up in excitement, "Oh Hermione! Isn't that what you've always wanted?"
"Professor Granger!" Another girl exclaimed.
"I could see that perfectly!" Someone else added.
"No one better for the job than my Hermione!" Ginny clapped Hermione on the back, smiling brightly.
"Now hold on! You don't even know what I'm teaching!" Hermione couldn't help but smile at the confidence the others held in her ability. She wished that she had such confidence in her ability.
"Well, that's just a small technicality! It doesn't matter what you teach. You're qualified to do everything. I'd never seen so many N.E.W.T.s on paper except on Percy's. It almost blinded me." Ginny said, smiling a smile that she'd seen from at least one Weasley member at one point or another, including Molly and Arthur and even Percy.
"But on a side note, what are you going to be teaching?" Hermione turned to see Colin Creevey sitting down beside one of the girls opposite of her.
"Well, I haven't said yes. I hardly think I'm qualified to be teaching Transfiguration." Hermione frowned, her thoughts swimming into the front of her mind. She tried to put the thought away, but with so many inquiries, there was no way she could ignore it.
"MCGONAGALL'S POST?"
"Only the upperclassman this term then fully next term if I do well.. That is IF I decide to do it."
"If? OF COURSE YOU WILL!"
Hermione sighed, defeated. She would take the job. Now, she would just have to break the news to Viktor and Ron.
A/N: This chapter and the next one are setting some things up. I promise some Viktor action soon. Right now, I'm just setting the plot to fall into place. This isn't Seinfeld. It does have a plot! I hope you love the update. It was either tonight or Saturday night as I have a party on Friday night. I thought you'd like this a bit more.
Review:)