Chapter 5 – The Professors

"I think we are lost." Hermione said franticly, looking around. "We can't be late for our first class. Professor McGonagall will kill us."

"I would say we could ask someone, but no one's here." Katie frowned at the empty corridor.

"We're dead!" Hermione sighed as she pulled Katie through the corridor.

"Do not fret, your saviours are here!" Fred called coming from behind a statue followed by a grinning George.

"Fred! Don't give me a heart attack!" Hermione cried out, clutching her heart. "Where did you two come from? Never mind, we are going to be late for transfiguration." Hermione turned and started walking.

"Wrong way, Granger!" The twins called out. She turned slowly with a raised eyebrow.

"Come on-" George started.

"We'll show you."

"We are heading that way, anyway."

Hermione sighed as she turned back to them, Katie's eyes bounced between the twins as they finished each other sentences.

"No jokes?" She asked the twins. Fred and George grinned as they crossed their hearts. "Fine."

"This way, ladies." Fred bowed and gestured at the statue. The girls looked sceptical at the entrance. "It's a short cut."

"One of the secret passageways. It's an honour to know about them, you know." George winked. "We don't tell just anyone."

Hermione huffed as they followed George inside, Fred pulling the statue back in place, closing them in. The passageway was dimly lit, only a few torches on the wall.

"So, what classes do you have today?" George asked walking up next to her.

"Transfiguration, potions, herbology and… flying class."

"You know Professor McGonagall, so you should be fine there. Professor Snape, he-" George frowned thinking of the right words. "he's a git. Just be quiet and do your work."

"Professor Sprout, she's a marshmallow." Fred continued walking next to Katie. "And flying class is awesome! We already knew how to fly though."

"I can't wait for flying class!" Katie smiled broadly. "I borrowed my dad's broom a few times this summer."

"We are trying out for quidditch this year, beaters."

"Oh, really?" Katie's eyes went wide as she looked at Fred. "When are they? I would like to come and watch."

"Are you okay?" George whispered. Hermione directed her attention away from Fred and Katie and looked up at George.

"Hmm yeah." She said unconvincingly. George raised an eyebrow at her. "I'm nervous about classes, healthy nervous you know, but flying... I'm absolutely terrified."

"Why?"

"You guys grew up with magic, grew up with flying a broomstick to be the most normal thing in the world. I'm a muggleborn, George. Flying a broomstick is something you read about or watch in a movie. It's doesn't happen in real life."

"Never really thought about that, how it would feel for someone who didn't grow up with magic. But Madam Hooch is a great teacher, you don't do too much first class. You just hover a few inches of the ground."

Hermione still looked nervous as they reached the portrait that led to the right corridor. "Hey." George grabbed her attention again as he touched her shoulder. "If you still have doubts about flying after today's class, I could teach you, if you want."

"You would do that?" She asked surprised as they halted at the portrait.

"Sure, I need to show of my flying skills now, don't I?" George grinned. "And there are some books about flying and broomsticks in the library. I know you would love some research."

"Thanks George." She nervously gave him a quick hug. George startled at first, patted her head, smiling.

"No problem. So, ladies." He gathered everyone's attention. "Just go to your right, second door on the left."

Fred glanced at his watch, grinning as he looked up. "And with 3 minutes to spare."

"Well, thank you." She said a bit sarcastically. "And thanks George." George winked at her, while Fred looked confused between them before she locked her arm with Katie and walked out the passageway.

HG

"What was that?" Fred asked as they walked the opposite direction of the girls.

"What was what?"

"Little Granger, thanking you. Duh!"

"Oh." He looked over his shoulder and saw the girls walk in the classroom. "You and Katie were talking about quidditch, and she paled at that. So, I asked what was wrong and she has a terrible fright of flying, flying on a broom to be precise."

"Why would she be afraid of flying?" Fred asked bewildered. "It's amazing!"

"She's a muggleborn, Fred. It's not something she grew up with."

"Oh."

"Yes oh, so I tried to reassure her and promised her if she's still scared after today's lesson, I'll teach her."

"I could help." Fred noticed George's raised eyebrows. "No maybe not. I'll probably make it worse." Fred chuckled as they reached their DADA class. "Still weird she can tell us apart so fast."

"Yeah, even when you scared her to bits, she immediately saw it was you. Very strange indeed." George said placing his bag on the ground as he dropped down on his seat. Fred sat down next to him as the Professor rolled his eyes at the two late comers.

"Maybe we should try to trick her." Fred suggested with a grin.

"She's going to hate that." George looked at his brother. "Let's do it!"

HG

Hermione and Katie took the last available seats in front of the class, looking around the classroom but couldn't find the Professor. She looked at her watch before she took the book from her bag and placed it in front of her. In the corner of her eye, she saw a familiar cat stretch and jump from the closet. Her eyes went big as the cat walked closer.

"Hermione? Are you okay?" Katie asked as Hermione's gaze was fixed on the tabby cat. Then the cat transformed into Professor McGonagall. Several gasps were heard around the class along with some ooh's and aah's. Professor McGonagall gave her a small smile before turning to the rest of the class.

"Good morning, everyone. Today I'll explain the first steps you need to learn to do simple transfigurations."

Several hands shot up in the air. "Professor, that was incredible." A Ravenclaw boy said in awe.

"Thank you… mister?"

"Stevens, Arthur."

"Are we going to learn that Professor?" The girl next to Arthur asked.

"Becoming an Animagus is not something you do on a whim. It takes months of work and is very dangerous. If you are still interested in your 6th year, we'll talk about it. But now we'll start with the basics."

HG

The rest of the class went by fast and after when the class emptied, Hermione and Katie stayed behind to talk to Professor McGonagall. Katie wanted to ask Hermione why she was so shocked to see the cat but didn't have the chance because Hermione was focused on the lesson at hand.

"Professor McGonagall?" Hermione asked as they neared her desk. The Professor looked up and smiled.

"Miss Granger. I'm guessing you were a bit surprised?"

"Well… yes."

The Professor smiled as she stood up, looking at the two first years.

"Miss Bell. I'm sure you are wondering what we are talking about?"

"Yes Professor." She said eagerly as they followed her to the door.

"Well, since Miss Granger here is a muggleborn, I was assigned to keep an eye on her from the very first time she had a magical outburst. I always went in disguise."

"The tabby cat." Katie said eyes wide.

"Yes. I've been seeing the cat over the last six years around my house and school. So, I was a bit surprised to see her here. Why didn't you tell me, Professor?"

"Magic itself is a big shock to most muggles. If I had to transform into my cat form. I don't know how your parents would have reacted."

"I understand."

"Is there something else you wanted to discuss? Because it might take you a while to find your next class."

"Just one more thing, Professor. Since Katie and I are the only girls in our year I was wondering if you could transform one of the beds into a desk for me?"

"I think I can manage that." She gave a small smile as they reached the door. "By the time you get back to your dormitory, you'll have a brand-new desk."

"Thank you Professor." Hermione waved over her shoulder as they walked out of class.

HG

Like George suggested, she kept quiet during potions. After only a few minutes it became clear that Professor Snape loathed Gryffindor. So, she kept her nose down which wasn't easy because she knew every answer the Professor asked. When she finally put up her hand, he ignored her and looked at the other students. After that she just wrote everything down. She didn't know why he treated her like this but after the two hours were up, he called her over.

"I'll be out in second." Hermione said to a worried Katie. Katie looked at Professor Snape and back to her before she closed the door behind her.

"Miss Granger." Professor Snape called her, she carefully walked closer to his desk. "Professor McGonagall speaks highly of you; I've been informed you started a year earlier than planned."

"Yes, sir." She said nervously, fumbling with her hands.

"Don't expect me to go easy on you, you will not get special treatment. Is that understood?"

"Yes, sir."

"You may go." He waved his hand at the door that opened automatically. She hurried out and looped her arm with Katie's as they made their way to the great hall.

"What did Professor Snape want?" Katie asked the moment they sat down for lunch. Hermione quietly explained why he held her back.

"As if!" She huffed as the twins sat down next to them with Lee, Angelina and Alicia.

"So, how did it go?" George asked sitting next to Hermione, Fred dropped down next to Katie.

"Professor Snape held her back after class." Katie explained.

"What?" The group chorused together.

"Why?!" George looked down at her.

"He just wanted to tell me he will not go easy on me because I started earlier. Like I would've asked?!" She said as she stabbed her salad. George and Fred looked at each other's brows raised.

"Just ignore him little Granger. He's a git to everyone." Fred said. She just snorted in response.

"Why do you call her little Granger?" Alicia asked, bending forward to look at Fred.

Fred grinned. "Because she's so little." He patted her head. Hermione slapped his hand away, not looking up from her bowl.

"I don't think she likes that." Alicia pointed out. Fred just shrugged his shoulders, grinning.

"Hermione?" Angelina asked. Hermione looked up at the tall dark girl. "The twins said you're a muggleborn."

"I am." She answered tilting her head at the girl.

"My dad's a muggle and he packed me some muggle board games. If you are feeling homesick or something, we can always play a game."

"Thanks Angelina. That would be great, I played a lot with my parents."

"Oi! What about us?" The twins yelled.

"You don't even know how to play." Angelina rolled her eyes.

"We can learn."

"I don't picture you two sitting still for more than an hour." Hermione chuckled, shaking her head.

"More than an hour?" Fred asked surprised.

"What sort of game takes that long?"

"Risk, Monopoly…" Angelina started.

"Catan, D&D." Hermione added.

"Hmm well, why don't you two sit inside and play some boring games. We'll be out having some real fun." Fred grinned.

"Promise?" Hermione asked excitingly. "You promise to leave us alone?"

The rest of the table started laughing at Fred's astonished face, eyes wide, mouth dropped open. Fred glared at his brother. "She's talking about you too."

"I don't know Freddie. I don't call her little Granger." George smirked.

"And he doesn't almost frighten me to death." Hermione grinned back.

"One time littl- Granger." He corrected himself.

"For now. It's only the second day here." Lee laughed.

"Oi! You're supposed to be on my side."

"I'm just telling the truth. Gotta prepare the girl."

Hermione stood up looking at the group. "Well, this girl is leaving."

Katie stood up and followed her out. Hermione glared at Fred over her shoulder as he shouted. "Have fun flying!" She grinned as George chucked him on the head.