All characters belong to J.K. Rowling, I just borrow them for fun. Enjoy!
A few moments later, she stumbled out of the grand fireplace at Hogwarts, not quite managing the graceful entrance she had envisioned. After her vision had stopped spinning, she registered the familiar large desk and the witch sitting behind it, as well as the countless portraits of the former Headmasters and Headmistresses in the background, most of them now eyeing her curiously.
With a pang of sadness and confusion in the pit of her stomach, she recognized Dumbledore's portrait twinkling down at her and gave him a tight smile before she slowly approached the desk. She still had some conflicting thoughts concerning her former Headmaster and, to be quite honest with herself, she had not yet managed to think rationally on his involvement in the war and the roles he had made them play. So for now, she decided to avoid him.
Looking up from the stack of papers she seemed to sign, McGonagall's gaze fixed on Hermione and softened as she stood to greet her.
"Hermione, nice to see you again, dear. I'm glad you managed to arrive early. Would you care for some tea?"
"Thank you, Professor. I would care for a cup, if you don't mind", Hermione replied. The Headmistress nodded and called for a house elf, who brought them a steaming pot of tea as well as various tea supplies mere seconds later. Her professor gestured for her to sit as she fixed their tea and placed a delicate looking cup in front of Hermione. Thanking her again, she took a careful sip and tried to let the hot liquid calm her nerves.
"I reckon the last few weeks of your summer were enjoyable?" the Headmistress inquired.
"Yes, Professor, they were quite calm or at least as calm as you imagine sharing a house with Harry and Ron would be", she answered with a small smile.
"Do call me Minerva when we speak in private, Hermione. You have more than earned that privilege over the last years, though I won't have to remind you to address me properly in the presence of your classmates."
"Thank you, Minerva", she tried out carefully, not used to addressing her Professor by her first name. "Of course I will be sure to do so only in private."
"Well, then. Let us turn to the more pressing issue of the responsibilities you will need to tend to this year", Minerva continued in her usual business-like manner. "Unlike with former Head Girls and Head Boys, I have decided to entrust the two of you with more tasks but also more freedom to execute them based on your own judgement. However, your decisions should obviously pertain to the school's rules and significant events or circumstances are to be discussed with at least one staff member."
"The first, quite obvious task, involves the extension of your rounds-schedule you will need to work out with the Head Boy as well as the prefects of all Houses. You may continue your rounds until midnight; however I find it necessary to emphasize that your rounds do not excuse you from curfew on your off-days nor do they include a long visit to the library", she said, giving the young witch a knowing look; the late night study sessions of a bushy-haired Gryffindor were the stuff of Hogwarts legends by now.
Hermione promptly flushed slightly red at the Headmistress' comment and opted for a sincere looking nod, which her Professor returned with a short smile and a twinkle in her eyes that put Dumbledore to shame. The next moment, her twinkling was gone. Instead, it was replaced by a stern expression as she continued:
"The past few years have taken a toll on this school, its teachers as well as its students. The war has divided us; destroying families, friendships, trust and hope. It is our responsibility to pick up the pieces those years of conflict have left us with, to restore the trust and the hopefulness of the students of this school. Many have lost relatives or dear friends and will need the support of their fellow classmates and trusting adults to cope with their losses. The staff and especially the Head Boy and Girl must provide guidance and comfort to those who seek you out, but also to those who are struggling without asking for help."
The familiar faces of Fred, Tonks and Remus flashed before Hermione's eyes and she felt a stabbing pain at the renewed knowledge that she would see none of them again. Balling her fists at her side, she felt her nails piercing the skin painfully as she tried to distract herself from more images flooding her mind. How am I supposed to help? I can barely keep myself together; how could I comfort anyone going through the same thing?
Interrupting her inner monologue, Minerva proceeded: "You are by nature closer to the students than any of the staff members, making you more likely to be approached by your classmates and you might spot issues earlier than we may. We will therefore count on you take this responsibility very seriously.
You may choose to keep conversations and other assistance to the students between you and the respective child if such confidentiality is requested or deemed necessary, though you are encouraged to discuss either specific or broad problems with me or any other teacher. For this reason both you as well as the Head Boy are given the privilege to enter and use the staff room at any time.
In addition, you are required to attend certain staff meetings to discuss these issues further and to actively influence the way we handle and even teach things in the future. This is not only a responsibility; it is also a chance to shape the subjects and workings of Hogwarts and I feel it is time to hear the input the students, represented by you, can contribute", the Headmistress stated firmly.
While Hermione felt extremely overwhelmed by the tasks loaded on her shoulders, she could not help but acknowledge the spark of excitement the opportunity to change the customs of the century-old school in such a way had caused. It was about time the students had some say in the necessary changes their situation required instead of being thrown into the middle of things they had neither fashioned nor controlled.
"One last thing I would like to discuss with you concerns a most urgent matter we cannot ignore any longer. The students of Slytherin House will need our guidance in the years to come and it is critical that you, as their Head Girl, will refrain from quick judgements and instead see them for who they are: young members of our school who have faced prejudice, hardship and loss as many other students have.
Not all of them have sided with Voldemort, though most of them will be accused of having done so. Even those who did might not always have had a choice in the matter; their upbringing and families have bestowed upon them a mind set and obligation to follow the paths of their relatives.
Do not think I am making excuses for crimes some of them have committed; there certainly were Slytherins sharing Voldemort's hatred and enjoying the gruesome actions they performed, but so did members of the other houses that joined Voldemort's cause. With many of his followers either dead or imprisoned, it is Slytherin House, however, that will be most affected. The students have lost all sense of direction; the path most of them had set out for them is shattered now, their future uncertain.
The beliefs they thought to be true all those years are looked down upon as we rebuild our society, but they will be hard to overcome, especially with the grief and bitterness many of them harbour. Ever since the first rise of Voldemort, Slytherins have been eyed suspiciously and, especially in recent years, I have to admit, we have put the needs of the other Houses before theirs."
Hermione listened intently to her former Head of House, slightly surprised Minerva had brought up this topic. Though the more she thought about the issue at hand, the more sense it made to her. She thought back to Harry pleading with the Sorting Hat to place him in Gryffindor instead of the House of the Snake, even though he had barely heard of them. Or to the few things she had found out about the conflicts of the Marauders and the way they always seemed to privilege the golden boys of Gryffindor.
"I do not ask you to blatantly favour Slytherin students; you should merely treat them with the equal respect you show the other Houses. Give them guidance where you can and try to shield them from the malevolence the other students will no doubt bestow upon them. Believe me; they will not make it easy for you. All I ask is that you try your best and ask for help, if you are in need of it. The Head of Slytherin as well as I will always be available should you need assistance or would like to discuss a pressing issue. Can I trust you with this, Hermione?"
"Yes, Minerva. I will try my best", she answered sincerely, for which she was rewarded with one of McGonagall's rare genuine smiles.
"I am glad to hear it, Hermione. I will let you finish your tea and then you may settle into your quarters properly."
After some light conversation, they both emptied their cups and Hermione found herself on the way up to Gryffindor Tower, where she planned to unpack her things before heading to the staff meeting Minerva had invited her to. While she walked up the familiar stairs, her mind was working furiously, trying to come to terms with her new unexpected duties she would need to work into the already full schedule of her NEWT year. After all, this was certainly not what she had expected when she received the letter containing her Head Girl badge.
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