The Dinner at First Week's End

The first week of teaching at Hogwarts ended for Hermione with a bang… literally. Despite the ban on any items from Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, which Hermione knew was not a deterrent to any being smuggled into the castle, one of her students let off a Gigantic Whizbang in class. The result, aside from the loud explosion that echoed between the classrooms next to each other and scared a few students nearly to death, was that the student received a whole week of extra work, two three feet long essays on the great wizard arthimatists and their contributions to the subject, and confiscation of the rest of his magical whizbangs.

It was at the end of the day, and the students had left her alone in her classroom, that Hermione looked at the small pile of whizbangs on her desk. She smiled knowing that Fred and George would be proud of the student carrying on their proud tradition here at Hogwarts. She could see them both in her mind laughing at her from the doorway and say things like, "Gotcha" or "It seems only proper that you'd be the recipient after being such a prim and proper witch when you went here," or words to that effect.

She gave one quick laugh and swept them in her drawer. She picked up her wand and with a flick of her wrist, locked the drawer so no one else could get at them. She tucked her wand in her arm holster, put her books into her bag and headed back to her room.

Her mind went back over the first week and she reviewed her teaching style, assignments given and which students showed promise. She was very surprised with the Head Girl, whose name she found out is Chandra Hartwell. Hermione was very wary of her abilities and attitude when she came into class, due to how the girl acted on the train, but then was surprise to discover the girl actually was intelligent and had some natural magical talent. Hermione wasn't sure if it was compensation mechanism for not being responsible on the train or to try and regain some good will with her, but regardless, the girl was a pleasant surprise.

She arrived at her room and entered. She immediately collapsed in her bed, face first, just after dropping her bag unceremoniously from her shoulder. She closed her eyes and for a few moments listened to the sounds around her, the ticking clock, the wind outside the window, and the occasional footsteps echoing in the hall. "Merlin she was tired," she thought as she rolled over. She was not as prepared for how draining this could have been. Rewarding for sure, she decided, but draining. She rubbed her tired eyes, stretched, and yawned so large her jaw cracked. She collapsed back onto the bed and was trying to decide if she had the energy to go down for dinner when a soft knock at her door brought her back to the present day, "Come in."

The door opened and Luna poked her head into the room and saw Hermione stretched out on the bed and smiled, "I'm sorry to disturb you, but I was wondering if you were coming down for dinner?"

Hermione sat up quickly. She would be asleep in minutes if she didn't get up, "Oh yes, I will. I'll just get freshened up real quick. Can you please wait for me?"

"Of course," Luna said cheerfully as she entered and closed the door behind her, "I hope you're hungry."

As if in response to Luna's question, Hermione's stomach growled loudly. Hermione quickly put a hand over her stomach and looked at Luna half embarrassed, half comically and they both laughed.

"I'll take that as a yes," Luna said simply.

Hermione still laughing, quickly went and freshened up in her bathroom. She quickly splashed some cool water on her face to help wake herself up and looked at herself in the mirror. What she saw shocked her a bit. She saw a tired version of herself staring back through dark smudged and blood-shot eyes. She honestly thought that the woman staring back at her was some altered version of the self she remembered. Blinking herself back into the present, she dried her face quickly and in a few moments was ready to go.

"All set," she said as she exited the bathroom headed for her door.

The two friends chatted about their first week until they reached the Great Hall. Luna asked about the loud bang and both friends laughed when Hermione told Luna she thought the Weasley Twins would have congratulated the young boy for his prankster ways. The Great Hall was full and loud as the two entered and made their way to the teacher's table. Hermione sat down and immediately began filling her plate full of food. When she was finished, she had a serving of Shepard's Pie, bangers and mash, and three types of vegetables. The plate could not be seen under the mound of food.

"Wow, that's a lot of food," she heard from her elbow as she took her second mouthful of sausages.

She turned and saw Valdore taking the seat next to her, "Are you okay?" he asked looking at her full plate and her full mouth with some amusement.

She smiled embarrassingly and tried to quickly chew and swallow her food so she could answer, "Yes, just hungry. I didn't eat too much at lunch."

Valdore nodded, "Ahhhhh," he replied in understanding. Then leaned close and mock whispered as if trying to be covert, "Can I share a secret?"

Hermione nodded and Valdore said, "I always eat like a pig after the first week is over. Not sure why."

Hermione smiled at his "secret" and chuckled as he filled his plate as full as Hermione's, "So how did your first week go?" he asked.

Hermione had to swallow another mouthful of food before she could reply, "I'm a bit tired, but I think it went well."

"Good," he replied and poured himself some juice, "A bit tired isn't bad for the first week. I'm always a bit knackered after the first week, even after teaching for the last five years," he offered to fill her goblet and she placed it so he could, "I keep forgetting to ask, but what ever happened with that train incident? I assume you had your chat with the Headmistress?"

"Thank you," she said when he was done and took a sip, "I did and the chat went well. McGonagall thanked me for stepping in. Jackson, his friend, and the Head Girl were all given a night's detention. To be served at some future date."

"Pretty light punishment then," Valdore said with no hint of surprise in his voice. Hermione thought she sensed he expected nothing more or less.

"You don't sound surprised by that?" Hermione asked, following her observation of his response.

"You're right, I'm not honestly," he replied with a casual shrug, "I've seen his punishments reduced for bigger incidents for sure and he always seems to not get too hurt by them," took a bite of food and quickly swallowed it before continuing in a matter-of-fact tone, "His family is well connected and helps this school out on occasion, which I'm sure was mentioned."

"Are you saying McGonagall was playing favorites?" Hermione asked with a slight edge in her voice.

He held one hand up to stop her, "No, that's not what I'm saying," he put his fork down and looked at her with a serious expression, "I'm just saying that his family probably bought his lesser punishment with outside forces, which then influenced McGonagall's objections. It's been like that since he showed up here."

Hermione took a sip of her drink and set it down a little harder than she has intended, still not convinced Professor McGonagall would ever give in to pressures like that.

As if sensing her thoughts, especially with the aid of the loud clunk of Hermione's goblet on the table top, Valdore added, "Things here are much different with the war over. And much different from when we were at school here. The Board of Governors and the Ministry have more of a say in the way things run here. More than what even Dumbledore dealt with at any point in his run as headmaster," he shrugged, "That's just the way it has been while I worked here. Not much we can do other than to try and work with the system and do our best to be good educators and guides."

"Well it's wrong," Hermione growled, stabbing a carrot with her fork.

"And you'll get no arguments from me about this imbalance," he said nodding his head vigorously as he cut into his potato, "Also, I'm willing to bet any amount of galleons that's probably why the Head Girl wasn't removed from her position. She's dating Jackson and I'm sure he had someone in his family exert their influence for that decision too. McGonagall's stuck between a rock and a hard place, Hermione. It's not her fault."

A tense silence came between them. Each ate and finished their dinners in silence. If it was not for Luna leaning over who knows how long the silence would have continued, "I'm heading into Hogsmeade tomorrow to pick up some new quills, would either of you like to come along?" she asked, looking at both of them.

"If I may, that would be lovely," Valdore said, immediately happy with the change of subject, "I hate going alone. My order for lionfish spines and fire seeds are in. I'll need them for Monday's class."

Hermione, who had no reason to go, said so, "No, thank you. I have papers to grade and I don't want to get behind on them."

Luna looked at Valdore, shrugging her shoulders and sat down in her seat. The rest of the dinner passed without much conversation between the three.

Valdore was the first to leave, "Well I should head to bed. I'll meet you by the east door after breakfast?" he asked looking at Luna.

She nodded, "Yes that would be fine."

"I'll see you then. Goodnight to you both," he nodded once quickly to Hermione and left.

"You know, you should come," Luna said after Valdore was out of earshot, "I think he likes you and trip into Hogsmeade would be good for you."

Hermione rolled her eyes immediately grasping Luna's thoughts, "Luna, I'm in love with Harry," she snapped at her friend, "I have no interest in Valdore beyond maybe a friendship. So please drop it."

If Luna had been taken aback or hurt by Hermione's tone, it never showed. She just quietly said, "Hermione, I'm hardly one to give up on people, especially when it comes to Harry. I love him too and want him to come back to us, but you must face reality at some point. I don't believe Harry would want you spend your whole life waiting for him..."

Hermione turned on Luna, her eyes bright in anger and hurt, "Don't you ever say that again," she interrupted her voice quivering with emotion, "I believe there's always a chance. I have to believe."

Luna sat back at her friend's outburst, shocked at the unexpected ferocity of the response. After a moment she spoke in a calm voice, "I'm sorry for what I said. I know what you're going through is beyond tough on a person and I know you are attached to Harry, but I was only suggesting..."

"I know what you were suggesting, Luna," Hermione snapped, cutting off Luna again, "And it's not an option and that's the end of it. Am I clear?"

Luna slumped back in her seat and nodded sadly at Hermione, "I'm sorry," she said, in a voice just above a whisper.

Hermione's face softened when she saw the pained expression on her friend's face. The flash of anger quickly faded from her and remorse quickly took its place. She didn't have many people like Luna in her life and she was one of the last links to her past that she had left.

Hermione shifted to face Luna and bit her lower lip for a second before speaking, "Luna, I'm sorry. I know what you were saying and trying to do and I thank you. I really do. I know you're just trying to help and I couldn't ask for a better friend who cares and looks out after me."

Luna simply nodded and they sat in silence for a few moments before Luna got up, "I'm headed back. Will you walk with me?"

Hermione nodded and they quickly left the nearly deserted hall. They walked in silence the whole way, with both contemplating their thoughts. Outside of Hermione's room, she put her hand out and lightly grabbed Luna's arm to stop the other woman, "Wait... I think I will go with you. You're right on one count," she said with a smile, "The trip might do me some good."

Luna smiled at the thought that her friend finally might be coming around, "Then we'll meet at the east door after breakfast. Goodnight Hermione."

"Goodnight Luna," Hermione said and went into her room, quietly closing the door behind her and leaned back against it.

Then a flood of emotions gave way, and collapsing to the floor, she hugged her legs to her chest and softly began to cry.

vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv

He jerked himself awake from his restless sleep and slowly opened his eyes. Looking up from his hard bunk, he regarded for the millionth time the damp ceiling above him. Taking a small breath, he sat up and swung his legs over the side of his bunk. He looked around at his dark, damp and musty smelling room. He heard the metallic and echo of what seemed like hundreds of drips of water as they fell from the ceiling. He heard moaning, cackling, and the occasional scream.

He knew it was almost time and smirked at the thought. Letting out a small, quiet laugh, he laid back down on his bunk… waiting.