Nothing is ever black or white. That much has always been clear. However, I must qualify this statement slightly but stating that Tom Riddle was indeed an exception. Perhaps the only exception. But this story I write is not about him. He will of course appear within these pages as he has appeared within our lives, but that chapter is but a small one compared to all those that will come after it.
A fortnight had passed since Hermione had brought up the proposition of teaching to Harry. However, she knew she had to open the subject again soon because the Hogsmeade weekend was quickly approaching. This was pathetic, she told herself. What was the big deal? It was just Harry, why should she be nervous? She would ask him again today. It would be fine. Surely she was just overreacting.
"Blimey Hermione, you're not thinking of bringing that up again, are you?" Ron asked with slight alarm as Hermione told him of her plan.
Or maybe she wasn't overreacting.
"Oh don't be such a child, Ron," Hermione huffed with frustration, "he's not going to bite our heads off."
Ron looked as if that sentiment was arguable. "Well just don't bring me into it again."
" How chivalrous," she stated with an eye-roll.
" I don't like conflict!" Ron stated defensively.
Hermione tried very hard to refrain from rolling her eyes a second time but she wasn't feeling very self-disciplinary today.
"Where is Harry anyway?" Hermione asked, looking around the common room as if he were about to pop out behind a chair.
"Still asleep I think," replied Ron.
"But it's nearly noon, Harry never sleeps in this late," Hermione remarked with surprise.
"Dunno," Ron shrugged, "he's been having a lot of nightmares lately, keeps tossing and turning in his bed. Maybe he couldn't get to sleep last night."
Hermione looked thoughtful for a moment. "Has he complained to you about his scar hurting at all?" she inquired.
"Not that I remember," Ron admitted, "but you know Harry, he probably wouldn't mention it even if it did."
It was nearly half past twelve when Harry came down to the common room. Hermione noted that there were indeed dark circles beneath his eyes and his hair looked a bit messier than usual. If that was even possible.
"Morning sunshine, did you get your beauty sleep?" Ron greeted him.
He was met with a pillow to the face.
"Good morning, Harry," Hermione said, "how are you feeling?"
"Fine, why do you ask?" he replied tiredly.
"Cause you look like hell, that's why mate," interjected Ron.
"But it took me nearly all morning to pull this look off!" Harry responded with mock disbelief.
Hermione attempted once again to refrain from any eye-rolling but she was not having much success this morning. "Well breakfast is obviously over, are you hungry or can you wait till lunch?"
"But lunch isn't for another hour!" Ron responded as if it was his own stomach on the line.
Harry laughed before replying,"It's okay Ron, I'll manage. I mean what else can I do, the evil witch wants to starve me."
"Oh ha ha. Don't you dare try and pull the evil witch joke on me," Hermione said, mumbling something that sounded very much like 'muggle stereotypes'.
Later that afternoon, Hermione led the three of them to the library to work on their potions essay. (But it's not due till Wednesday," whined Ron.) Harry wasn't complaining though. He knew working on homework with Hermione always held its advantages.
"But don't either of you dare think that you're going to just copy down my answers," Hermione stated reproachfully.
Harry sighed.
An hour and half later, Hermione had dotted the last 'i' and crossed the last 't' on her essay. Looking up, however, she saw both boys in what seemed like a state of distress. Ron's quill had taken quite a beating from his teeth and Harry's hair looked as if he'd been caught in a windstorm. She forced herself not to take pity on the both of them. They had to learn to do their own work sooner or later. But she was supposed to ask Harry about teaching again today. Maybe if she just helped him a little it would butter him up a bit...But no that wasn't the responsible thing to do. She mustn't meddle with their schoolwork.
"Oh for goodness sake, give them to me!"
Harry and Ron's heads shut up instantly, identical grins plastered on their faces.
"Wipe those smiles off, I'm only proofreading," Hermione ordered. But there was the slightest upturn to her mouth as she said this.
Both boys handed over their essays and watched Hermione patiently as she set to work, scoffing repeatedly to herself.
"Ron, when would it ever be okay to mix hellabore and honeywater?" Hermione asked, impatiently. "And Harry, moonstones, moonstones, for the love of Merlin, moonseeds are poisonous!"
Harry and Ron shifted uncomfortably in their seats as Hermione continued to throw insults their way. A quarter of an hour later, however, she finally returned both rolls of parchment to their rightful owners.
"There, " she sighed, "that's as good as it's going to get."
"Thank you, Hermione, you're a bloody life saver!" Ron exclaimed, with Harry nodding his head earnestly in agreement.
Hermione rolled her eyes.
Harry and Ron began piling their quills, parchment and books in their bags, ready to leave the stuffiness of the library at last.
Hermione sat there for a moment, watching their motions."Harry," she suddenly blurted out,"Um, have you…have you thought about, well, what I said before…about teaching?" The words had just spilled out of her mouth before she even realized she had begun speaking. She knew she had to ask him sometime, she just hoped it would have been with more confidence…and coherency.
"I have," Harry replied simply.
Hermione could see Ron in the corner of her eye looking as if he were ready to duck and cover at the first signs of danger. "And…?"
"Yeah sure…I'll do it. I mean it's only you and Ron, right."
"Well, actually Harry…I think a lot of people would be interested in learning proper defensive magic, and I think it's only fair to allow them the chance as well," Hermione said, looking slightly timid.
"Well I doubt anyone would want to learn from me," Harry retorted, "I'm a nutter remember."
Well that wasn't a 'no', Hermione thought.
"Okay well I think we should hold a meeting next Hogsmeade weekend for anyone who is interested. Does that sound okay?" Hermione asked.
Harry shrugged his shoulders. "Sure."
"Excellent," Hermione smiled.
As the three made their way through the corridors and back to Gryffindor tower, Hermione could once again feel a strange bubble of satisfaction erupt inside of her. It was a nice sensation she had to admit.
A/N: So the main thing I'm working on in these earlier chapters is character development, mainly Hermione. But as time goes on I'll also focus more on Harry and Ron, and probably Ginny as well, who actually has disappeared on me for these last two or so chapters. But after all that, yes this story will have a plot. A very big one actually if it goes according to the one in my head, which I'm really hoping it does. But anyways, please do review. I would sincerely appreciate any feedback you have. Feel free to criticize it completely or tell me that this isn't worth pursuing. I would honestly not mind that because then I would know that it isn't worth pursuing! Which is very helpful for any future time I will be wasting on this. But yeah...I hate long author's notes so I'm gonna end this. Okay bye! Review!