Gemma Mayhew slipped her shoes on and grabbed her bag, and ran out the door for her first class of the day. As she adjusted the bag, the strap broke and books and papers flew everywhere.

"Drat!" she hissed as she stooped to pick up the loose papers.

She had told herself this year would be different. This was her last first day. This was her last year at this blasted school and she had been determined to make it the best year she had there. This was not boding well, at all. Here she was, late to her first class, and now she had to gather all those stupid papers. Oh, how she longed to be gone from that place.

"You're late." her friend, Maggie whispered as she closed the door.

"I woke up late." Gemma explained as she slid into the room.

She stopped and stared at the man at the front of the room. If anyone could be described as a Norse god, it would be this man. He was tall, with blonde wavy hair, and had the bluest eyes Gemma had ever seen.

"Isn't he lovely?" Maggie said as the girls took their seats.

"He's the new teacher?" Gemma asked as she mended her broken strap.

"Yes." Maggie nodded as she set her chin in her hands and watched as the man walked around the front of the room. "Professor Gross."

"Well, that isn't a very fitting name, is it?" Gemma said as she joined her friend, and all of the other girls in the class, as they watched their new teacher.

"No, no it isin't." Maggie agreed. "This year could prove to be quite fun." she added with a wink.

Gemma simply rolled her eyes. She was well aware of what her friend had in mind, she'd seen it enough the last few years. Be it a student, or one of the professors, Maggie could always get her way, no matter what it was she wanted.

It didn't surprise Gemma. Maggie was stunning. Lovely auburn hair always in perfect curls, beautiful emerald eyes, and the loveliest complexion. Snow White looked utterly blemished in comparison, Gemma thought bitterly. She was bitter, she couldn't deny it. Where Maggie was an unparalleled beauty, Gemma was short with dark, limp hair, and there was nothing remarkable about her. Oh, if only she could be Maggie for a short time. To know that everyone adored you, no matter what you said or how stupid or unfeeling it might be.

"Not again this year, Maggie." she replied. "Can't you be good, just one year?"

"We'll see." Maggie shrugged as she turned her attention to front of the room, where Richard Gross was talking.

"As most of you will have guessed, I'm a new professor here at Hogwarts." he said as he paced back and forth in front of the class. "This is, actually, my first teaching post and I hope to make the most of it."

"So do I." Maggie giggled.

"I am aware that many new teachers are eager to make a good first impression on their students." Richard went on. "They want to be liked by their pupils." he stopped and smiled at his own pupils. "I am not one of those teachers." he added. "You will do your work as I tell you to do it, you will turn it in when I tell you to do so, and I will not tolerate any foolishness on anyone's part."

The students stared in the man in front of them in silence. Most had assumed this year's Defence against the Dark Arts class would be simple. So much for that idea.

"He has such intense eyes." Maggie whispered to Gemma.

"Would you like to say that to the whole class, Miss..." Richard looked at his notes.

"Lovelace!" a boy called out. "Her name is Maggie Lovelace."

"Thank you." Richard said. "But, you should know that I tolerate students who attempt to become my pets as well as I do foolish ones." he added in warning.

"Miss Lovelace, would you like to share with the rest of us?" he asked.

"I was simply telling my friend, Gemma, that I believe I am going to greatly enjoy being in your class." Maggie said with a smile, and only a slight fluttering of her eyelashes.

"Oh dear..." Gemma groaned as she slid down in her chair, feeling the shame that Maggie never seemed to.

"Really?" Richard said as he came to stand in front of Maggie and Gemma's desk. "I should warn you, Miss Lovelace, your pretty face and flirtatious ways will get you absolutely no where in my class." he told her quietly. "Try this again, and you will regret it." he warned as he moved off.

"The nerve!" Maggie said as she sat down, crossing her arms over her chest, pouting.

Gemma simply smiled to herself. If she kept her mouth shut, showed up on time and did well on her work, she would get past Professor Gross without too much trouble, and from the looks of it, she might find it rather amusing.

--

"Where do you keep disappearing to?" Ron asked as Hermione took her seat at the table in the dining hall.

"None of your business." she answered as she helped herself to some fish that sat before her.

"You've been acting weird." he continued. "Ever since Hogsmeade."

"Ronald, nothing is wrong." Hermione sighed as she unfolded her napkin.

"Yes there is." he added relentlessly. "You had a tiff with Bren, then you were weird, you made up with her, now you're not talking to her again..."

"Ronald!" Hermione snapped. "Brenda and I had a little misunderstanding, it happens, and right now, where I go is none of your concern."

"Fine, I was just saying is all." he said as he stabbed at his own piece of fish.

"Well, please don't." she said as she took a drink.

"He won't." Harry said, jabbing the redhead in the ribs before he could open his mouth again. "You two coming out to watch practice?" he asked, changing the subject to his beloved quidditch.

"Of course." Ron said before shoveling in more food.

"Maybe." Hermione shrugged.

"Oh, only maybe?" Harry asked, a bit disappointed.

"I have tons of homework." she explained. "And, I need some help in a class or two..."

"You need help?" Ron asked, choking on his pumpkin juice.

"I do once in a while come across something that is beyond my expertiese." she sighed.

"Since when?" he asked as he wiped away the spilt juice.

"Who is your next match against, Harry?" she asked, ignoring Ron.

"Ravensclaw." Harry smiled. "Yesterday in practice..."

His voice drifted off as Hermione began to look around the crowded dining hall. Dare she glance up in his direction? What if he saw her? If he saw her, would he think she was weird? Well, really, he already thought that. Would he see through her ruse of needing help in his class? So many questions, and they only brought up even more questions, never really any answers.

She picked up her cup of juice and took a long drink, using the large cup as a way to cover most of her face while she quickly glanced up at the teacher's table. She brought her eyes back to her own table quickly, not wanting to be caught. When had this little crush started? She didn't know. All she knew was that it had, and it was driving her mad. She only had one person she could talk to, and that person wouldn't let anyone else ever see her, and lately she'd been getting rather snappy with her two best friends. She really must do something about this soon. It was like she was becoming another person.

"And then there was blood everywhere!" Harry's voice cut back in.

"Really, that's awful, Harry." Hermione said as she was brought back their conversation, although she hadn't a clue what she was commenting on.

"Not really." he shrugged. "It's not like Madam Pomfrey couldn't take care of it."

"True." she said absently as she began to disect her fish even further. "I'm not really too hungry." she said. "I think I'm going to go upstairs and get started on that homework."

"It's always homework with her." Ron sighed. "She needs a life outside of class."