Disclaimer: Anything you recognize doesn't belong to me.
Chapter 3
Shortly after I dropped the bombshell on Minerva, I returned to the Leaky Cauldron. I waved to Tom and slipped into the Alley. Last year, there had been an unfortunate incident in my classroom when a student managed to blow up the matchbox he was supposed to be transfiguring into an inkwell. As he was sitting in the first row, my desk did not escape unharmed. It barely lasted through the year without falling apart. The shop where Hogwarts buys all of its furniture was a couple of shops past Gringotts, and I still needed to see Griphook about the state of my financial affairs. I also had to owl the Muggleborn students.
I scrawled a quick letter to each of the families; Tiffany's was the last I visited. A quick charm duplicated the note and the postmaster helped me tie the parchments to the owls' legs.
I walked to Gringotts and asked for Griphook again. This time, there were no nasty surprises. After discussing with him for a while, a goblin took me down to my vault. I withdrew the amount of money that I knew would suffice to cover any purchases I wanted to make during the school year. As I was leaving the bank, I ran into Malfoy.
"Hello Hermione," he said cordially.
"Hello," I replied. He fell in stride with me.
"I was wondering if you wanted to eat dinner with me tonight. I'd like to know more about being a teacher at Hogwarts," he said. I acquiesced.
"Professor Malfoy," I started.
"Please call me Draco, we are colleagues now," he interrupted.
"Draco, the Muggleborn students are coming to the Alley tomorrow. Minerva asked you to help me escort them. Please be polite to both the students and the parents," I told him.
"It wouldn't be very professional of me if I was rude. My mother did teach me manners, Hermione. You can trust me to use them, even if I didn't at school," he paused. "I want to apologize for the intolerable way I treated you at Hogwarts."
"I've long since forgotten and forgiven, Draco," I lied. I knew he was only apologizing because of my father.
"You have no idea how happy that makes me. I have to get new robes, so I'll be leaving you here. I look forward to seeing you tonight," he said, before strolling into Madame Malkins. I crossed the alley to Fine Furniture.
"Hello, I'm Hermione Granger, Transfiguration Professor at Hogwarts, and I'm looking for a new desk," I told one of the uniformed women.
"Professor Granger! I didn't know you were shopping for a new desk, though your old one was in pretty bad state last year after that accident," said the girl, whom I recognized as one of my students.
"Hi Sally. I hope you aren't too disappointed in having to see your least favorite teacher before school starts," I said to her. She was a Gryffindor, and had been second year when I was head girl. She had been bullied by Slytherins for being poor and had turned to me for help.
"Here we have our desk selection. I'll let you look around in peace for a while. When you've found one you like, summon me over. I'll ring it up for you and then send it to Hogwarts." I thanked her, and she left.
I looked around for a while before finding a desk with a filing drawer with an undetectable extension charm on it already. I called Sally Prewett over. Before I could believe it, Minerva flooed the store to say that the purchase had arrived safely. I thanked Sally again, and left the store. I couldn't resist the temptation to stop at Flourish and Blots. I bought a couple of books, and headed back to the Leaky Cauldron, where I spent the rest of the afternoon reading.
….
I was shocked out of the latest discovery on the effects of the ancient runes carved unto ward stones by a knock on my bedroom door. I grabbed my wand and cast a window charm on the door. Malfoy was standing outside it, looking a little impatient. I glanced at my watch. I opened the door.
"Ready for dinner?" he asked.
"Food sounds great right now. I skipped lunch," I admitted. My stomach decided to back me and growled loudly.
As soon as we sat down, Malfoy started the interrogation. It seemed he really did want to be a good teacher. He was asking questions so quickly that I couldn't answer any.
"May I take your orders?" asked a waiter.
"Yes, I'll have my normal order," said Malfoy. I hadn't had time to look at the menu and started to apologize when Malfoy cut me off. "The lady will have the same."
As soon as the waiter left, I opened my mouth to argue.
"I'm sorry, but you obviously hadn't had time to look at your menu, which is probably my fault. It's the same thing we had last time we dined together."
"Then I forgive you. The food we ate that night was delicious," I said, meaning every word.
"Your father is a true connoisseur of food," he complimented.
"Back to your questions," I said, bracing myself. "I only ask that you ask them one at a time."
"Sorry, what is the view like from the Head Table?" he asked. I answered his questions, and asked a few of my own questions. Finally, his questions were exhausted, but I had one left.
"Draco, why are you courting me?" I asked.
"I always respected you at Hogwarts," he replied. Then, he looked away. I dropped the matter, but I was still curious.
….
I went up to my room to find it overrun with owls. I reached for the letter attached to the closest one's talons. I recognized Ginny's handwriting on the front of the envelope.
"Dear Hermione,
"You'll never believe what just happened! Colin Creevy just walked into my office with a bouquet of flowers. He said that he never thanked me for being a good friend to him during school and asked me to dinner. I couldn't help twirling my ring around and mentioning plans with Harry.
"Colin's a dear, but the look on his face when he realized that I'm engaged to Harry Potter, his hero, was priceless! I wish I had had a camera on hand.
"Yes, you read that right. Harry proposed a week ago at dinner. This morning, I woke up and realized it wasn't just a dream. Will you be my Maid of Honor?
"Love, Ginny"
I squealed loudly several times throughout the letter, startling the owls gathered in my room. One owl was so terrified that it dropped its letter and flew out the window. I retrieved the fallen letter and quickly wrote Ginny back.
"Gin, I'd love too. Owls have invaded my room. I'll meet you for lunch tomorrow, ok?-H.G."
I opened next letter. I couldn't recognize the swirly print on the front.
"Dear Ms. Granger,
"It has come to my attention that my son's treatment of you during school was not the best. Please accept my sincere apologies on his behalf,
"Your servant, Henry Nott"
Henry Nott was the father of Theodore Nott, a Slytherin in my Potions Class, and a death eater. I wondered how many of the other letters were apologies.
"Any other owls bearing apologies can leave. Thank you," I addressed the owls at large. After a flurry of feathers, only two were left.
I read and responded to them all, then sat down to write notes to the Muggleborn families who needed to purchase supplies in Diagon Alley. I also informed them that the letter would turn into a portkey promptly at ten a.m. Of course, I explained what portkeys are and that any strange sensations of dizziness are perfectly normal. I ran down to the post office and sent them off.
"Good night, Tom, Draco," I said to the two men who were sitting together, gossiping about mutual acquaintances as I went up the stairs. I casually dropped a new WWW prototype as I walked by. It worked the same way as an extendible ear, but it was wireless, a very neat bug.
As soon as I reached the safety of my room, I pulled out a dicta quill and set the volume level on the receptor ear.
….
Transcript of a Conversation in between Draco Malfoy, Death Eater, and Tom, Barkeeper of the Leaky Cauldron
"So, you're courting Professor Granger, then, eh?" asked Tom.
"Yea, I am," replied Draco.
"May I ask why, young one?"
"Well, there's something about her that makes me wonder. And her father being who he is, I'm not going to pretend that's not a factor."
"So, she really is his daughter?"
"Yes, Snape ran the blood tests himself."
"How'd he get his hands on her blood?"
"After he stunned her, he took some. Blood is a powerful substance, as you well know."
"Aye, my lad, as is saliva."
…
The conversation soon took a different turn and I was left to think. What side is old Tom really on? What about Madam Rosmerta? Most Hogwarts teachers go to the Three Broomsticks. How many secrets does she know?
I wonder if Voldemort knows Snape possesses some of his blood. After all, his blood does run in my veins. I wonder what a muggle blood transfusion would do to the results of such a potion.
An owl to my father may solve the Snape problem, perhaps he'd be kind enough to dispose of his most trusted lieutenant, saving the Order the worry of having to do ourselves. As for a conversation about the bartenders of the wizarding world, a visit with Minerva in her office would do quite nicely.
….
Dear Father,
I overheard a rather interesting conversation having to do with my blood, your blood. Apparently, our favorite Potions master took some of mine after he stunned. No wonder I felt so weak after waking up. I am not comfortable with the Professor having my blood, as he held a grudge against me in school and took pleasure in bringing me pain.
Your daughter, Hermione
...
I ate breakfast with Draco and outlined the schedule for the day. The Borillios arrived about half an hour after we finished eating. Mr. Borillio looked distinctly unwell. Draco, after introducing himself, pointed out the restroom. Tom gave him a grateful look. They were the last Muggleborn family to arrive.
A few minutes later, Mr. Borillio came back and we headed towards Diagon Alley. I let Draco do the honors and I watched the faces of all the people who didn't know magic existed until a few days ago.
….
How much trouble should our favorite Potions master be in?
