December came quicker then Hermione hoped. She had been working hard studying for her NEWTS with her professors. And within that time she got to know many of them and started to see them as colleges and friends.
Hermione took a deep breathe and made her way to the Headmaster's Office. He was going to be over seeing her testing along with Luicus Malfoy, one of the Student Board of Governors.
Hermione knocked on the Headmaster's office door. She heard him call enter, and she walked into the room. She found the Headmaster sitting behind his desk. Mr. Malfoy sat across from him. She saw a desk nearby with several quills and several bottles of ink.
"Miss Granger it's-I do apologize. Doctor Granger it's wonder to see you again." said Luicus. He rose from his chair and kissed the back of her hand. "I know you will do just fine. Shall we begin with Transfiguration."
Hermione nodded head. She removed her white coat and hung it up on coat rack near the door. She sat her black bag down near the door. She took her seat and began the long process of her written exam.
The only thing that could be heard throughout the room was the sound of Hermione's quill and the ticking of the clock on the fireplace mantle. Luicus called time. She sat down her test. She had read it over at lest five times fixing mistakes and adding in information. She handed the test over to Mr. Malfoy. He ran his wand over the test and it magically checked each answer. He raised a brow when it the score went above an "O." He didn't show the young woman the score. He showed it to the Headmaster. He nodded with a twinkle in his eye.
"Now for the magical part of the test. Transform into your animagus form." he told her.
Hermione stood up and stepped away from the desk. She took a deep breathe and transformed into beautiful honey brown wolf with two white front paws.
Luicus walked up to the animal and looked her up and down from her ears down to her legs checking to see any flaws in her transformation. He couldn't find not a single mishap of magic. He wrote down the animal and markings down the chart in his hand. He wrote another "O" on top of the paper. He handed it the headmaster. He told her to transform back. She did without a flaw.
Hermione sat back down and did her written portion on her charms and the oral part receiving both O's on the test. She followed that test with muggle studies. She passed that one also with a O on the test. She continued with history of magic and received a E on the subject. She did the same for the DADA passing with an E on the exam. She received a dash on the divinations since she did not take the course. She took a short one hour break she used to study. Hermione returned to finish her final exam which was potions.
Luicus smirked and sat the thick exam on her desk. He knew she would do wonderfully on the test. She had personal instructions from Severus Snape. He stepped back and she began the long process of the written exam.
After three hours of the written exam Hermione handed it to Luicus. He motioned her to the long lab table that had ingredients, and tools needed to brew an advance potion. She looked at it all. She picked up the sheet that had the potion she was brewing and that was all that was written. She picked up the quill nearby and wrote down the ingredients and the amounts and how many stirs and how long it need to simmer before completed. The potion was a rare potion to brew. The Basilisk Poison Reversal Potion. She had only brewed it once with Severus. Only a few short weeks ago. It had taken her many trails and errors before she got it just right.
Hermione took a deep breathe and carefully began the process of brewing one of hardest potions to create. She rubbed the back of neck to release some of tension that had built up from working for three hours. She lowered the flame and let it set for the next ten minutes before turning off the flame. She looked at her watch counting down the right time. She turned off the flame. She grabbed a vial and spoon and careful poured some into the tube for Luicus to examine.
He took the vial and looked at it carefully. He saw it was perfect shade of green. He grabbed a mouse that had been injected with the poison. He dropped several drops of the potion into his small mouth. He waited several minutes. Then he ran his wand over the mouse. He was stunned at how strong the potion was to react so quickly bringing the mouse back to perfect health.
"Well Doctor. I believe we will have to change to the Hogwarts records. You scored higher on the potions final then the holder. And that holder was Severus Snape. You beat him by three points."
"Oh Severus isn't going to like this." said Hermione with a laugh. "How did I do on the others Mr. Malfoy?"
Albus handed Hermione her scores. She read over them with wide eyes. She did better then she thought.
Transfiguration:
Written: O
Physical: O
Charms:
Written: O
Physical: O
Muggle:
Written: O
Astronomy:
Written: O
History of Magic:
Written: E
Defense Against the Dark Arts:
Written: O
Physical: E
Potions
Written: O
Physical: O
Over all Score: 99.7
Potion over all score: 202
"Very well done Hermione." said Professor Dumbledore. He rose for his chair hand held out a rolled up scroll. "Congratulations. You are now a graduate of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I'm pleased to fully welcome you on the staff at Hogwarts."
Hermione took the scroll from the headmaster with a bright smile. "Thank you sir." She turned to Mr. Malfoy. "Thank you." She ran over to the door. "I can't wait to show Harry my scores!" She quickly left the office with bag and coat.
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Hermione ran into the Gryffindor common room and showed her best friend her test scores. Harry's eyes widen at the potion score. He laughed when she told him that she beat Severus Snape's scores. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders.
"I believe you will have to break the sad news Professor Snape. That he is no longer the record holder of potions." said Harry as they left the Gryffindor common room.
"Oh is that so." said a slick voice behind them. "I'll take that thank you." said Professor Snape. He unrolled the scroll. He read down the list and his eyes widened at the over all potions score. "So you pride yourself Doctor at beating my score by three points." He said with a smirk. He leaned forward and whispered, "I'm very proud of you Hermione." He handed her the scroll and swept passed the couple.
Harry looked at Hermione with wide green eyes. "Did-did he just say what I think he said."
She laughed and nodded her head. "I have to get to the Hospital Wing. Poppy will need help getting her belongings together. Then I start work at the beginning of year." She kissed Harry one the cheek and walked down the stairs for the kitchens. He needed a snack.
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Hermione walked around her small office gathering her belongings. She was moving into Poppy's office. While Poppy packed up her personal belonging from the office; such as family pictures and books from the shelves. Poppy was beyond pleased with Hermione's scores. She hung her diploma next to her doctor's degree.
"Things are going to be so different with you gone." Hermione told Poppy.
"I know dear. I know I'm leaving the students in good medical hands. Now here are my medical logs." said Poppy handing her the years notes. "Keep good track of them. It tells which child is allergic to what potions."
Hermione nodded and sat it on the top shelf. She put her medical books on the shelf once Poppy had removed hers. She turned and helped her friend pack her other things out of the office shrinking them as they were placed in the box.
Hermione sighed and sat down behind her new desk. "I still have to unpack my stuff in my quarters next. I hope Harry can take care of himself in Gryffindor tower."
Poppy patted Hermione's hand. "Everything will be fine. If you need me I'm floo call away."
She nodded and threw her arms around her friend. She couldn't believe Poppy was leaving in the morning. But Hermione would be gone to her parents for the holidays. Harry was still going to the Weasely house. Even though he was no longer friends with Ron. He still loved the Weasely like family.
The next morning Hermione gave Poppy a tearful hug before she left. Poppy said her byes to the rest of staff. Dumbledore told her if she needed anything to let him know. She nodded and with one last hug to Hermione she left her home of 52 years.
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Hermione walked around the hospital wing locking up all the cabinets so no one could get into them. She made sure that herself and Severus could access the medical supplies. Hermione scratched her left hand ring finger. She looked down at it and saw a faint line of gold around it. The ring was slowly appearing since last month. And it was getting nearly visible. She had yet to tell Harry about her being soul bond to Severus Snape.
"Everything is locked up Severus." said Hermione turning around.
He nodded his head. He smirked slightly at what she was wearing. He found it rather interesting that she didn't wear robes. Hermione wore scrubs and pair of white shoes with her white coat over her scrubs. She told him she was able to work easier in them then in robes. Dumbledore didn't mind as long she did her job.
"I'll let you know if something drier is to happen." said Severus. He walked up to Hermione. "I'll see you Christmas eve."
She smiled. "Christmas eve. Dumbledore going to watch the wing that night?"
Severus snorted. "I doubt it. But I know the ghosts and the paintings will let him know if something happens to the students that are staying. He just can't believe I'm leaving the castle to have Christmas dinner."
Hermione tucked a curl behind her ear. "Well, you are going to be part of the Granger family."
He nodded his head. "You best go. I'll see you soon." He kissed her forehead.
She stepped into the fireplace and was gone in a swirl of green flames to her parents house. Severus sighed and left the wing back to his potions lab. He had potions to finish for the hospital wing. He needed to do something to keep his mind occupied. The connection was growing stronger and feel to be near her was getting stronger. He knew once the bands appeared they would have to share a bed.
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