-1 'Open you eyes' by Prongs 69
Authors note These events are past events , and we will be going back a while to see were and how and why our two heroes ended up like this

Chapter 2.…
(12Wks later)

"Morning Ben, ready for some pancakes?"

"I love it when your classes start later in the day, I get to eat!" her son enthused.

"Me too. I get to feed you. And clean up after you. And wash your clothes," Hermione replied playfully as she set a plate filled with pancakes in front of him.

"Mum, I'd be happy to help with the laundry but you didn't seem to like the way I did it the last time."

"Well, if the clothes had come out of the washer the same colour they had gone in, I might consider your offer, but for now, I think I'll man the household appliances," she said jokingly.

"You have no sense of adventure Mum."

// Oh Benedict, if you only knew.

Knew what Mum?

BEN!! How many times do I have to tell you not to connect in with me unless you "announce" yourself?

"Sorry." //

Their connection had started as soon as he had been born. The first time she held him she could feel his emotions and she knew he could feel hers. As he grew it deepened, until now they were almost like two parts of one mind. People always marveled at how close this mother and son were, and especially at how devoted Ben was to her. Hermione was clearly the most important person in the world to him and he would do anything for her. That devotion had revealed his developing powers to them more than once. When he was about seven years old, she had come down with a nasty flu and was wretchedly ill. Ben was despondent, not being able to bear anything unpleasant happening to his Mummy. On the third day, while he was applying a cold compress to her fevered head, his eyes found hers as his hands lay on her forehead. Suddenly they both felt the heat under his hands and they were drawn into it. When it ended they both stared at each other in amazement.

"Ben, I think you healed me."

"WHAT?"

"I feel fine now. It makes sense. Your father had the same gift. He never knew at first .

She had always been honest with him about his father and his destiny, why he had to leave, that he- they- didn't know she was pregnant when he left. That there was always the possibility he would return. That he was intelligent, gentle, kind, and the most wonderful man she had ever known. And that Ben looked exactly like him.

Earlier in his life Ben loved to hear about his Dad. It gave him comfort to know that he might return one day, and he would get to meet someone else like himself. Someone who was different. Special, his mother would correct him. . The person who gave him life and protected it with everything she had. She had devoted her life to him- she was at every practice and game he ever had, usually with Molly and Arthur in tow. Every school event- she was involved. She spent a great deal of time researching and planning a summer vacation for them every year, and they travelled extensively together. She never dated; By her choice.

Because she was waiting for him. And he hated him for that.

How could he leave her behind? Why didn't he ever return for her- or at least make some kind of contact with her? Didn't he know that she was spending her whole life waiting for something that was probably not going to happen? Didn't he care at all?

"So I, uh, know that yesterday was your yearly day of pain. Are you OK?" Ben asked.

"Yes, honey, I'm fine. Don't worry."

"OK. I have to run or I'll be late- see you later Mum. I love you." He couldn't say much more to her about it because his loathing of his father would be apparent, and it upset her too much. He didn't want to hurt her.

"I love you too. Have a great day."

"Thanks, you too."

A quick kiss goodbye & she was off to get ready for work.

''Professor Granger''!
Headmistress McGonagall was heading towards Hermione with great haste

"I have to tell you something. I'm helping the minister get the word out- the Wizengamot are calling a special meeting tomorrow afternoon regarding the latest school incident. Apparently they want to go over the schools response plan with us again. It's mandatory attendance."

"Oh, OK, no problem, i'll be there," she said.

"Good. Now I just have to find one more person- the new DADA professor, Prof. Linton. And I'm late for my next class…"

"Headmistress McGonagall, the DADA rooms are in my wing, I'd be happy to inform him," Hermione offered.

"Oh, . Hermione , that would be great. Thankyou so much- I'll see you both tomorrow afternoon."

Hermione walked down the hall to Prof. Lupin's old room. Seeing a man unpacking some things on the lecture table she assumed it must be the new professor.

"Hi, I'm looking for Prof. Daniel Linton?"

He turned to greet her. "Hi, I'm Dan Linton. Can I help you?"

Yes, she thought. Restart my heart. She stared at him, thinking this had to be the best looking guy that the school had ever hired. Dark hair swept back. Full, rosy lips. A killer body that couldn't be hidden by his clothes. And his eyes. Big, green soulful eyes that you could get lost in. She hadn't seen eyes like that in a very long time.

"Can I help you?"

He smiled at her, raising an eyebrow questioningly.

"Oh… sorry…" She was stammering now. She had been so surprised at her own reaction to him that she temporarily forgot why she was there in the first place.

"Hi, I'm Prof. Granger. Hermione Granger. I'm the Transfiguration professor here.

"Oh, hi."

"Hi."

OK, you idiot, she thought to herself. Speak! You do it all the time!

"Um, so, the reason I'm here, uh, why I came looking for you, is to tell you that there is a mandatory meeting for all staff tomorrow afternoon. About school violence. Here. At school."

Great, she thought. I have a wizarding degree. and I sound like I can't construct a sentence.

"Oh, thank you. I'll be there. Oh- where, exactly?" Prof Linton asked.

"At the Ministry of Magic. Do you know where that is?"

"No, I don't. I just arrived here two days ago. I'm still trying to find my way from the entrance hall."

"Well, if you'd like, you could come with me. Neville- Prof. Longbottom- he's the Herbology Professor - also my friend- you could come with us." Hermione could feel her face flushing as she tripped over her words.

"OK, great. Thank you very much."

"No problem. We'll come by here tomorrow around 4." No problem at all, she thought.

"OK, tomorrow, 4 o'clock. Got it. Thanks again," he said with a bright smile.

She left his room in a daze. What is this, she thought? I haven't noticed a guy in 9 years. Why did this one make me go all stupid? She suddenly couldn't wait for tomorrow afternoon.

He grabbed a chair and sat down quickly, drawing in gulps of air to try to slow his heart rate. He had been totally unprepared for that. He had tried desperately to keep it together while she had been standing in front of him, had she noticed? Thank God he had changed his appearance before he started at Hogwarts. All of his plans would've gone right out the window.

The next afternoon Hermione and Neville came by to get him. "Hi, Dan, this is Prof. Neville Longbottom. Neville, this is Prof. Daniel Linton."

"Hi Dan, welcome to Hogwarts. How are you finding things so far?"

Dan shook his hand. "OK so far, but I've only been here a few days; I haven't even seen all of my classes yet. But everyone seems really nice." He smiled unconsciously at Hermione as he added the last part. Neville caught it immediately.

"Yeah, we're a decent bunch. We do a lot of social things together, with our wives and families. Are you married Dan?"

Hermione groaned to herself. Oh God, she thought; he must have told Luna there was a new person on the scene. He must have received his instructions and she knew what was coming.

"No, never married, no kids."

"Where are you from?" Neville continued.

"Originally Wales, but I've spent a lot of time traveling. That's why I was available to take a job mid-Term. I just returned and had waited too long to apply for any teaching positions for the beginning of the year, so I guess you could say I was lucky when I received the call to come here."

"Wales, you say?
Yes but I have been away a long long time..I was, held up, if you will…

"OK, guys, we're here, we'd better go in," she said. Thank God, Hermione thought;

After the meeting was over the three of them walked towards the antrium together.

"Well, I'd better get a move on. Luna will be waiting anxiously." Neville smirked at Hermione as he said this, knowing full well that she understood what Luna was waiting to hear about.

"Luna?" Daniel queried.

"Oh, yes, my wife Luna. Hermione here introduced us back in school. So she has only herself to blame."

"Ha ha ha Neville. Just remember, what comes around goes around. You'll get yours."

"Instant kharma's going get me, eh? I'll take my chances. Hey- I have an idea, Luna and I are going to check out the new Wizarding inn on Langthorne Street on Saturday night. Why don't you both come?" Luna would be proud of me, Neville thought. Maybe after all of these years watching her trying to match-make for Hermione, maybe some of it had worn off on him. He couldn't help it though, he had watched them both steal glances at each other the entire meeting.

Hermione couldn't believe her ears. Did Luna somehow take possession of Neville for a minute? Was he actually trying to set her up with Mr. Gorgeous, ah, Dan?

"That sounds great, Neville, I look forward to meeting your wife," replied Dan.

"Great Dan; so Hermione, are you in?"

She glared at him as she said yes.

"Great, well I know I'm going to make someone very happy tonight, and if she's happy, I'm happy, you know what I mean?" He waved goodbye to them as he made his way to the apparrition point.

"This is my stop," she said to Dan as they came to the end of the row.

"Oh- mines right over there- OK, well, I'll guess I'll see you Saturday night. If I don't see you around here first."

"OK, see you then."

She was going to kill Neville.

Copyright Prongs 69 2007