Sitting up at the teachers table for the sorting ceremony was surreal. McGonagall made a nice, Dumbledore-like speech to start off the feast. She had introduced Hermione as the new head of Gryffindor house and Muggle Studies teacher. Hermione noticed how she was the only new teacher this year. Her and Malfoy were seated next to each other, this no doubt, was another stab at house unity. It wasn't a terrible experience, though she wasn't exactly comfortable. She noticed Malfoy's tension when the crowd of students roared with applause at her introduction. She tensed up too, not that anybody had noticed. She didn't much like all the attention and praise, in fact it made her quite uncomfortable. She dismissed the cheering with a light wave, and sat back down, catching a confused look from the man in the seat next to her, she ignored it. The feast went quickly, though it somehow felt elongated. Hermione noticed Malfoy taking….notes? No it couldn't be, but it most certainly was. It seemed as though he was carefully watching the students, trying to determine future feuds. As his parchment filled, it seemed he had learned quite a bit. Hermione couldn't help but wonder if she herself should be taking notes.
Hermione's thoughts whilst preparing for her very first class, were stuck on that feast it seemed. She replayed certain interactions in her head over and over again. The first, being her exchange with Malfoy when she arrived at the great hall. He made fun of her outfit, it being very professor-like, but then proceeded to pull out her chair for her. She also noticed that although he seemed uncomfortable with her greeting from the students, he clapped for her all the same. It wasn't a forced clap either, not the like ones Snape used to give to his new colleagues. The second, was her brief interaction with McGonagall. It seemed McGonagall knew exactly what she was doing by omitting the house unity program. She made a few remarks to Hermione about this being a time for growth and new relationships. Hermione noticed the playful twinkle in McGonagall's eye as she spoke to her, and was reminded of Dumbledore when he had a plan. What would the plan have been, she wondered. To show the students forced allyship, a ticking time bomb waiting to explode? As she thought the words, she reminded herself that her interactions with Malfoy had been anything but hostile. This was the third thing on her mind. He had been so…normal. Sure he was annoying, and his banter was infuriating, but it was also kind of…entertaining. She shook her head, trying to shake that particular feeling out of her. She was forced out of her train of thought when students started piling into her classroom.
"Hello students, please take any seat you please." Hermione greeted cheerfully, knowing the back of her mind that the seats would be rigidly assigned from here on out. She watched as the children shuffled in, and was paying close attention to who was grouped with whom. After all the students were seated, she flicked her wrist, which caused the chalk on the board to write her name. The students seemed rather impressed. "My name is Professor Granger." She said formally.
"We know who you are, miss!" Shouted a small pale blond haired girl sitting in the front middle row.
"Ah right…" Hermione said awkwardly, but recovered quickly. "I wanted to make something very clear to all of you. I am not this celebrity you all act like I am. Yes I fought in the war, yes I helped bring the decline of Voldermort…" Some kids shuddered at the sound of his name. Hermione noticed at that moment that Draco had in fact slipped into her class. She locked eyes with him for a second or two, and then proceeded on. "...but so did many wizards not only in the world, but here in this school." The students seem captivated by these words. "You are welcome to try to discover who I am speaking of.." Hands shot up immediately. "...but" She added sternly. "I will not be answering any questions about that topic from here on out." All the hands went down in unison. "I am here to teach you Muggle Studies, can anyone tell me what that means?" She asked, and nobody raised a hand so she pointed to the first Slytherin boy she saw. "You, Mr…"
"Zabini" The boy said cooly. Hermione watched Draco's eye dart over to the boy. He seemed…surprised. Hermione knew this was probably a relative of Blaise, as he was too old to be his son.
"Very well Zabini, do you know what my class will contain?"
"Probably some information about Muggles." Zabini said, not being rude but obviously unsure of what Hermione expected.
"Good try Mr Zabini." Hermione responded kindly. "My class will teach you how Muggles live their lives without magic, and why the wizarding world has rules about performing magic in front of them." A student's hand raised quickly. "Yes Miss…"
"Coyne." The student answered, almost proudly.
"Miss Coyne, you had a question?" Hermione encouraged.
"Yes. So are Muggle magicians real magicians?" The Slytherin boy sitting behind Zabini snorted, mumbling something Hermione didn't catch.
"Care to share with the class?" Hermione rounded on him. The boy sunk into his chair, shaking his head no. "Very well. Mr…"
"Nott." Hermione glanced at Malfoy once more, seeing him react similarly to how he did to Zabini. So far it seemed, the class hadn't noticed Malfoy was there.
"Do remember Mr Nott, that this class is and will always be a safe space. If you have nothing nice to say, I would advise you say nothing at all." Hermione's tone matched McGonagall's former tone almost perfectly. She paused for a moment, making sure her message was heard, and then turned back to Miss Coyne. "As for your question Miss Coyne, it is unclear whether Muggle magicians are in fact wizards. There are some, I am sure, who are. There are plenty of wizards who are quite the jokesters, I've known a few myself…" Hermione paused, thinking of Fred and George. "...who would love to pull the wool over a Muggles eyes, make them gawk at the simplest form of magic." She class giggled, Hermione noticed and put a more stern tone on her voice. "Which is highly misguided, and quite frankly unnecessary. That, is what I will be teaching you not to do."
"So we won't learn any magic in this class?" Sneered Mr Nott.
"You will, if I deem you understand and respect the lessons I am teaching." She retorted cooly, Malfoy's eyebrow raising a bit. "There are plenty, if not, an abundance of spells that could help you escape Muggle detection, if you are in a position that forces you to use magic around them." The class seemed intrigued by this. "However" She said sharply. "Such incantations will only be taught to you if you show enough responsibility to handle them. Makes sense Mr Nott?" Hermione turned back to the sneering Slytherin boy, who nodded begrudgingly.
The class flew quickly after this. Hermione had used her so-called fame to her advantage. Using her and her friends own scenarios of misuse of magic in front of Muggles to display how easily the mistake can be made. She could already see students that needed to be intermingled, their minds broadened. At the very end of the lesson, she took the opportunity to break the news. Malfoy had left briefly, but returned right on time, to support her announcement.
"Before you go, there is one more thing we need to discuss." Hermione said, causing her students to stop packing up their bags. "Headmistresses McGonagall and the staff are in agreement that some interhouse unity is desperately needed at this school." Nott sneered, Malfoy was seemingly hyper aware of this. "That being said, in classes that are run by heads of houses, your partners will constantly switch, giving you exposure to all houses and all classmates." There was a bit of annoyance in the air, as the students whispered to each other. "I know this does not seem like a particularly fun idea, but trust me, rivalries of houses can lead to more than just bullying at school." The class hushed. "A huge part of the war was Voldermort's own shame of not being a full blood wizard. This shame was thrust upon him by status norms created by the division of the houses. It does not benefit anybody in this classroom to stick to such outdated terms. This is non negotiable, have a nice day." Hermione ended almost too soon. She did not want to lecture, merely inform.
Her students packed up their bags, whispering among their already formed groups. As the class trickled out, a group of Slytherin boys, a group that included Mr Nott, were voicing their complaints to each other. Hermione and Malfoy stayed in their places, not wanting to interrupt their earned feelings. The group was so enthralled in their conversation that they had not looked up as they headed to the door.
"It's only fitting…that this class be taught by a mudblood." Nott said, not loud enough for Hermione to be sure of what he said, but loud enough for Malfloy to step in.
"Mr Nott." Malfloy said, standing over the boy menacingly. "That type of language is not appropriate in this class or in this school. Do you understand me?" Draco's eyes were piercing down into the boys, looking quite literally frightening.
"It's just a fa-"
"A what Mr Nott? A detention, cause yes you have earned yourself a detention." Malfloy cut the boy off, raving mad. "50 points from Slytherin." At this, Hermione gaped.
"Professor, you can't be serious! Your own house!" Nott retorted, a wave of bravery running through him.
"My own house, yes Mr Nott. What a revolutionary observation." Draco snarled, stepping once more towards the boy. He now towered over him most intimidatingly. "My house" He drawled. "One would think that the students in my house would not be so brave as to say such things in front of me. You know Mr Nott, bravery is most commonly a Gryffindor trait…" Hermione noticed Nott buckling slightly. "..are you quite sure you weren't sorted into the wrong house?" Draco finished, smirking down on the boy. "Alas, stupidity is also not a Slyherin trait, maybe I should summon the sorting hat, make sure it has chosen correctly."
"No need P-P- Professor"
"Very well, meet me in the dungeons at 5 for your detention Mr Nott." Draco's voice was lighter, but somehow still cold. Mr Nott nodded at Draco sheepishly, and started to walk past him. "Not so fast…" The boy looked up, fear in his eyes. "...apologize to your Professor."
"I'm sorry Professor." He almost mimed back at him.
"Not me, Nott!" He almost yelled, causing the boy to turn on his heels and stand in front of Hermione.
"I'm….sorry Professor Granger." He said shyly, Draco cleared his throat. "It won't happen again." The boy said a little more forcefully.
"Accepted." Hermione said sternly.
She watched as the boy turned and walked past Draco, shuddered slightly, and proceeded out the door. There was a long silence between Hermione and Draco.
"Thanks Malfoy, that was…" Hermione started, lost for words.
"Not horrible?" He retorted playfully, raising an eyebrow at her.
"Something like that." She responded lightly and smiled.
"Words like that…" Draco started, pausing to find the words. "...they are harmful in more ways than one. I sincerely regret ever using it against…well you in particular." Draco said earnestly. Hermione suddenly felt like a weight was lifted. She understood now how important this apology was to her, and why Hagrid of all people, was able to forgive him.
"Thank you for that. It is…much appreciated Malfoy." Hermione's eyes said much more than her words could. She looked at Draco differently all of the sudden, warmer.
"You don't have to do that." Draco said, his voice hard. Hermione raised an eyebrow at him. "Accept my apology." He was speaking slowly, careful to not misuse a word. "I don't deserve it. I was a rotten little kid, who couldn't see…or wouldn't see…the bigger picture of the world around me. The way I treated a multitude of people…was uncalled for. I can assure you that while I teach here, the students in my house will be severely punished for those types of actions. It is the least I can do…" Draco let his words trail off, looking down at the ground.
"You know…" Hermione spoke, stepping towards him. "I didn't know what I was getting into…working with you. However, I have heard from a multitude, as you would say…" She eyed him carefully, catching a slight smile. "...of people telling me that I would be surprised…and I am." Draco's eyes widened, happily surprised. "I still think you're a git, mind you." Hermione added, causing Draco to laugh. "But I think I can work with you Malfoy."
"Thank you." He said shortly, turning to leave which shocked Hermione. "I have a class." He said and she nodded, not that he could see her. "Oh one more thing…" He said, turning around slightly. "...call me Draco."
