Submitted for Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
House: Thunderbird
Subject: Career planning - #Task 4 – Professor
Prompt: Write a teacher AU
Bonus prompts: 14. [Dialogue] "The secret of success is to do the common thing uncommonly well."
Word count: 1,383
Warnings: Muggle AU
Lessons from the neighbourhood
Hermione Granger loved being a kindergarten teacher, and she loved her little students even more. Every day, she learnt something different from one of them, and it made her heart burst with happiness, just wondering what new thing she would learn when she entered her classroom.
She didn't have favourites — or shouldn't have favourites — but she couldn't help but be captivated by Elizabeth Weasley; the little girl was so sweet, and she thought Hermione was the most dazzling thing in the whole world. It could be because they were neighbours, and sometimes, Hermione walked Lizzie — like she prefers to be called — home because her dad was away or was taking care of her baby sister, Cassandra.
Fred Weasley tried his best to provide his daughters with everything they deserved, even if sometimes he had to work overtime or go out of town to attend meetings. Ever since his wife had passed away, Fred had tried to be both mum and dad to his girls, but he hadn't always succeeded, so he was very grateful for the help his neighbour gave him.
"Daddy, do you think I can ask Miss Granger to Cassie's party? She's our neighbour… and she's the best teacher in the whole world!" Lizzie said one day, while Fred was finishing his breakfast.
"I don't know, Lizzie… she's your teacher, and besides, we aren't throwing a party for Cass; we're only having dinner with family, remember?" Fred said, placing some toast on Lizzie's plate. "I don't think your teacher would want to intrude on a family moment."
"Why not? She lives right beside us, why can't I ask her?" Lizzie said, pouting, looking at her dad with big pleading eyes.
"I'll think about it, okay, darling? Now finish your breakfast, I'll walk you to school and leave Cass with Auntie Katie," Fred said, going to the girl's room to get Cassandra ready.
"I'll convince Daddy, and I'll ask Miss Granger to the party," Lizzie said to herself as she finished her breakfast. She was a Weasley, and Weasleys were very determined when they wanted to be.
Hermione loved teaching new things to her students, but her favourite part of the day was when, right before the day ended, her students just sat, drawing and colouring pictures; she liked to see what they could come up with, and she had even put some of the drawings on the walls.
Hermione walked around her classroom, looking at what everyone was doing until she came near Lizzie's table and stopped to see what she was drawing.
"This is very interesting, Lizzie, what is it?" Hermione asked, crouching and looking at the drawing the little girl was doing.
"It's me and my daddy and Cassie at Cassie's birthday party next week," Lizzie said, showing her the drawing.
"How sweet, Lizzie, I bet your Dad's going to love this," Hermione said, smiling at her. "He's going to come and get you today? Or do you need me to walk you home?"
"Daddy's going to come because Cassie is with Auntie Katie today," Lizzie said, calling the headmistress 'Auntie Katie' casually. Hermione was still baffled at the fact that Lizzie was on a first-name basis with the headmistress. It's true that Katie was married to Lizzie's uncle, but still throws Hermione off-balance most of the time.
"Okay, darling, if you need anything just call me, okay?" Hermione said, smiling at her again, but before she could walk away, Lizzie called her. "Yes, sweetie?"
"This is an invite to Cassie's birthday, and I would be very happy if you come to the party," Lizzie said almost without breathlessly, giving Hermione a little envelope. Hermione didn't know how to act or how to answer her.
Yes, she and Lizzie's dad — Fred, he always asked her to call him by his name — got along fine, but she was still Lizzie's teacher, and she didn't feel too comfortable going to her sister's birthday — even if they were neighbours.
"I don't know, Lizzie… I don't think it's a good idea that I come to your sister's birthday, you know? What would your Dad say?"
"He would like that you came! Please, Miss Granger?" Lizzie said, giving her the puppy-dog eyes, which always broke Hermione's resolve.
"I… I'll talk to your Dad, and then I'll decide, alright?" Hermione sighed, seeing the way the little girl was grinning with delight. "I'm not promising anything, sweetie; now, finish your drawing, it's almost time for you to go home."
Lizzie went back to her drawing, smiling like the cat who got the canary, and Hermione smiled, looking at her little student with a burst of joy. She wasn't certain that she would go to the party, but Hermione was happy that Lizzie had invited her.
Fred was running late, but at least it was just a few minutes. He sent a text to Katie to say that he was going to be late. He ran as fast as he could, scaring everyone he passed by. When he finally reached the school's front gate, he couldn't help but breathe a little easier. Fred grew confused when he noticed Lizzie was standing with her teacher, growing even more confused when he saw that said teacher was holding Cassandra.
"Daddy!" Lizzie said, running straight towards Fred, who had already extended his arms to grab her. "Auntie Katie needed to go to the doctor, but Miss Granger was here to save the day!"
"I'm glad for Miss Granger then," Fred said, smiling at the teacher, who blushed under his stare. "Thank you, Hermione."
"You're welcome, Fred." Hermione smiled, and both of them missed the way Lizzie was smiling at them. "I hope you don't mind, but Katie needed to go for a consultation, and she asked me to take care of Lizzie and Cassie."
"No problem at all! I'm surprised Cass is already sleeping, usually, she fusses too much with people she isn't accustomed to." Fred marvelled at how easily Hermione was able to take care of his girls. "Do you want me to take Cass and you can be on your way?"
"Miss Granger is going home too, Daddy, she can walk with us," Lizzie said in a matter-of-fact tone, which made both the adults to look surprised. "Let's go!"
Fred and Hermione just shrugged and started walking back home, while Lizzie talked about all they had done at school that day, including the drawing she had done. It was nice to hear her talking — and almost calming — until she remembered the invitation she had done for her teacher.
"And I asked Miss Granger to come to Cassie's party, but she said she needed to talk to you first, so talk!"
"Elizabeth! Haven't we already had this talk before?" Fred said with a frown on his face, trying to be stern with his daughter. "I'm sorry, Hermione, I didn't think she would actually go through with this. We aren't throwing a party, it's just dinner with the family."
"It's okay, Fred, I understand. I think Lizzie was just trying to be nice," Hermione said with a smile, trying not to let the Weasleys see how upset she was.
"But, Daddy… Miss Granger is family! She's our neighbour and my teacher! And she's my friend!" Lizzie said, pouting, which melted Fred's heart.
"Don't look at me like that, young lady, you know I'm not immune to that look." Fred sighed, shaking his head. Smiling, he turned to Hermione. "Hermione, we would be honoured if you came to Cass' birthday dinner."
"Only if it's okay with you." Hermione gave him a small smile.
"We would be devastated if you didn't come to dinner." Fred pretended to swoon, causing Hermione to laugh. "I'll take that as a yes."
"You're a good actor, you know that?" Hermione said, sighing. "How do you do that?"
"The secret of success is to do the common thing uncommonly well," Fred said in a matter-of-fact tone.
"I think I'll need to ask you to teach me some things," Hermione said with a wink, liking the way Fred blushed.
Lizzie smiled like a loon, watching the interaction between her father and her teacher. She could only hope that Miss Granger could become an important part of her life soon.