I don't own any recognizable characters. J.K. Rowling and WB have that honor. I'm just playing around a little.

Thanks to my betas, Jestana and Silvana. Your encouragement means a lot to me.

Chapter Nine: You Remind Me of You

When Dorian arrived in the Great Hall for dinner, Hermione was already seated at the Gryffindor table with Ron and Harry. Dorian went over to the table and came up behind her.

"Miss Granger, would eight o'clock be all right with you?"

"Yes, sir, that would be fine."

"Very well. I will see you then." Dorian walked up to the staff table, and sat in his usual place.

"What did you need with Miss Know-It-All?" Severus sneered.

"She has requested a meeting with me. I was confirming the time." Dorian paused, debating his next words, then continuing, "Didn't you get tired of people calling you names? Why do you see the need to inflict on others the same torment you had to deal with yourself?"

Severus had no immediate reply. Finally he thought of a retort. "Inflicting torment on others is enjoyable, especially if they deserve it."

"Double standard? How convenient for you, Severus." Dorian had the last word.

Exactly at eight, a knock came on Dorian's office door.

"Enter."

Hermione opened the door and came in with a feeling of uncertainty about her. Thinking about this was different than actually confronting her professor. In his own way, he was almost as intimidating as Professor Snape.

"Have a seat Miss Granger. I hope you don't mind sitting over here by the fire. I find as the nights get colder I value a warm fire more than a little posturing to keep students in their place."

"That's fine, Professor. I also enjoy a fire. My favorite place in the Common Room is by the fire." Hermione sat in one of the two armchairs that were situated in front of a large fireplace.

Dorian settled himself in the second chair. "I have requested tea, but it will be a few minutes. Apparently there was some upset in the kitchens."

" I guess there was another kitchen run from the dorms. Everyone seems to get hungry this time of night, and the kitchens' location is not the best kept secret at Hogwarts."

"That makes sense. Now, what was it you wanted to see me about?"

"I have had the feeling since the first day of school that you are uncomfortable around me. I thought at first it was just me, but Harry commented about it as well. Ron is oblivious, but Harry can be very observant when he wants to be. Is there something you can share with me that I can try to fix? I don't want to feel this discomfort in your class all year. It makes it difficult to concentrate."

Dorian shut his eyes and rubbed his forehead. He was uncomfortable around her, but he had hoped he could keep his feelings concealed around Hermione. Apparently he hadn't been as successful as he had thought. Providentially, the tea tray appeared, and pouring out gave him a chance to gather his thoughts.

"Miss Granger, the fault lies not with you, but with me. You remind me tremendously of my wife. She too is very intelligent, with an unquenchable desire to learn everything she can about everything. I had to leave very suddenly, and did not have a chance to say good-bye. I will be away from her until the end of this year, and I miss her terribly. To be reminded of her in you is somewhat painful at times."

Hermione's posture had relaxed progressively as her professor spoke. "I'm sorry, sir. I didn't realize you had left family behind. I thought you were single like most of the professors here. Even Professor Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall are both here together."

"Not many do know. I prefer it that way." Dorian decided to take advantage of having Hermione in his rooms. It would provide privacy for the discussion he needed to have with her. "Now, as long as you are here, Miss Granger, I have something I would like to talk to you about."

"Yes sir?"

"I am not picking on you, or being mean when I mention this. I am actually trying to improve your last couple of years here. Miss Granger, all your professors know you have the answers to all our questions. It would be better for your relationships with us and your fellow classmates to not parade that knowledge all the time in class."

"I'm sorry, sir, I don't quite understand. Should I not participate in class?" Hermione felt hurt and a little angry.

"No. Please continue to participate, but allow your classmates the opportunity to participate as well. If you stop trying to answer everything, maybe that will force them to do the reading themselves. Right now, they know they can rely on you. Why should they study it for themselves? Let them fail a few times, and they will get the message. You are truly one of the smartest witches to come through this school in a long time. You do not have to prove yourself to anyone here. Being muggle-born does not make you less than anyone else. The fact that you are as strong magically as you are is proof enough of that."

At Professor Grey's words of affirmation, Hermione felt tears rising. No one had ever really understood why she felt compelled to study harder than anyone else, to practice harder than anyone else. She knew there were other muggle-borns in the school, but being an overachiever had always been one of her weaknesses.

"Thank you Professor. You don't know what your words mean to me."

"I think I do. Are you familiar with Star Trek?"

"The TV series? Yes, my dad's a big fan." Hermione was puzzled about the apparent change in subject.

"Have you read any of the novels based on the series?"

"Sure. My parents have them, and I read them during the summer when I'm home."

"Have you read "Spock's World" by Diane Duane?"

"I don't believe so." Now Hermione was very lost.

"In that book, at one point Dr. McCoy is expressing his view of Spock. The fact has been brought up that Spock is a half-breed. Dr. McCoy says something to the effect that the result is that he is more Vulcan than the Vulcans. I think something similar could be said about you. You are trying to be a better witch than any of the pureblood witches or wizards. You want to prove yourself by being a super-witch of sorts. Hermione, you don't need to prove anything to anyone. You, yourself, as you are, is enough."

Hermione could no longer hold back the tears. She bent her head, embarrassed at her show of emotion. Professor Grey didn't say anything, but simply pressed a handkerchief into her hand, which was lying on her lap. He waited patiently for her to stop crying. After a few minutes, Hermione's tears stopped. After mopping her eyes, she looked up at Professor Grey with gratitude.

"Thank you, sir. You have lifted a burden off of me I didn't even know I had. I hadn't realized until you said it that I was trying to be better than everyone else. I guess being called a mudblood by Malfoy has more of an effect on me than I thought. Maybe I should thank him for it. It helped me do what I needed to beat him in all our classes together."

Dorian let a smile escape. "I wouldn't. It might make him explode with anger, and blood and guts are hard to get off of stone. It would make extra work for Mr. Filch."

Hermione giggled. "Giving Mr. Filch extra work, and getting rid of Draco Malfoy sound pretty tempting to me. But, I guess not. It would leave Headmaster Dumbledore to try and explain to Draco's father. Not a pleasant thought. I suppose I'll just have to keep quiet." Hermione stood up from the chair she had occupied.

"I have to get back to the Common Room. I need to do a head check before curfew."

"Ah, the never-ending duties of a prefect." Dorian had stood at the same time. "I hope you have a good evening, and I will see you in class."

"Yes, sir. May you have a good evening as well." Hermione left his office quickly.

When he was sure Hermione was gone, Dorian fell back into the chair. He slumped down, and took several deep breaths. Her fragrance lingered in the room.

'Hermione, did I do it? Did I give you the confidence in yourself you needed? Merlin, I hope so. This almost killed me. I miss you so much!' Dorian felt completely drained from the conversation with Hermione. He dragged himself from his office to his private quarters, threw off his clothes, leaving them in a pile on the floor, put on his pajamas, climbed into bed, and was asleep almost before he extinguished the torches. He dreamed of his wife all night.

Dorian woke up with the awareness that he would be starting out his day with a cold shower. He was really getting tired of goose bumps.

A/N2: The reference to "Spock's World" by Diane Duane is a paraphrase. It is a wonderful book, and a must-read for any Star Trek fan. Diane Duane is a fantastic author, and her "Young Wizards" series is great.