"Good afternoon everyone." Tonks said, making her way to her desk, "My name is Nymphadora Tonks, but call me Tonks or Professor Tonks. If you don't...well, you'll find out later." She wrote her name on the blackboard and was now facing the class of eager onlookers.
"Now, this year is you're N.E.W.T. year, is it not?" Tonks asked the class. She received her answer with simultaneous nods and continued to speak, "Ah...well, you are in for a hell of a year with me."
Hermione inwardly smiled and took out a roll of parchment and quill, to prepare for notes. Harry and Ron both shook their heads and looked up to Tonks, waiting for her to speak up again.
"Now, I suppose it is accustom to tell you about myself, but I assure you I will most certainly not. I am not one of those rambling teachers who go on and on in their first lesson of the year, talking about themselves." Tonks explained with a smile, "Now, I will tell you that I am an Auror and do have the experience to teach this class."
Harry, Ron, and Hermione smiled at the remembrance of Gilderoy Lockhart, who fit Tonks description on what she would not be doing perfectly. Hermione, of course, raised her hand in question, earning a few rolling of the eyes from her fellow classmates.
"Yes, Miss Granger?" Tonks asked.
"I was just wondering what we are going to be learning this year." Hermione asked, putting her hand down and reaching for her quill.
"Well, you lot will be learning how to defend yourselves against the Dark Lord and a few other tricks I have up my sleeve." Tonks said with a grin.
Harry and Ron looked at each other and smiled, they both were extremely talented at defense spells. Well, Harry was, Ron just got extra lessons from Harry.
"Now, I would like you all to turn to page five-hundred and twenty-seven." Tonks said, retrieving her own book from a spot on her desk. When the class opened their books, they all came to find a very detailed chapter on Patronuses. "Now, who can tell me what a Patronus is?"
Hermione's hand raised immediately and Tonks had no choice but to pick her. Tonks motioned to Hermione and she began to speak, "A Patronus is a silvery phantom shape that erupts from the casters wand from the incantation Expecto Patronum. The silvery mist, if conjured correctly, will take the shape of an animal that best fits the casters personality. The Protronus is mostly used to drive away Dementors."'
"Excellent
description Miss Granger, twenty points to Gryffindor." Tonks
said, beaming.
"Now, who here knows how to conjure a proper
Patronus?"
Hermione, again, raised her hand. Tonks hesitated, but pointed to her nonetheless. She knew that Harry could conjure one as well, but he was too busy doodling to know what Tonks had asked of the class.
"Now, Miss Granger, would you please join me at the front of the class?" Hermione nodded, and got up out of her seat to accompany Tonks by her desk. "Please demonstrate how to conjure a proper Patronus," she ordered. Hermione nodded and stepped a few feet away from Tonks.
"Expecto Patronum." Hermione yelled. Soon enough, a silvery mist in the form of an otter appeared it the end of her wand. Tonks started to clap, as did the rest of the class.
"Well done, Miss Granger, well done!" Tonks complimented, "Twenty more points to Gryffindor." The Gryffindors beamed with pride at Hermione's accomplishment. Sometimes it paid off to have a know-it-all as a classmate.
"Now, would you please select one member of the class to perform the incantation?" Tonks asked with a smirk.
Hermione caught onto what Tonks was asking her to do, and smiled, "Harry."
Harry looked up from where he was doodling on his parchment and looked questionably up at Hermione and Tonks. Ron poked his side and also smirked. "What?" he asked, Ron motioned to Hermione and Tonks.
"Mr. Potter, would you care to join Miss Granger and I up front please?" Tonks asked.
Harry hesitantly got up and stood next to Hermione. "Now, would you demonstrate how to conjure a Patronus please?" Tonks asked.
Harry nodded and got into position. "Expecto Patronum!" Harry shouted, startling all of the students and causing a few to jump out of their seats. A clear white, slightly smoky stag erupted from Harry's wand and started to gallop around the classroom. Many of the students tried to pet the magnificent animal, but only found their hand going through smoke and temporarily disrupting the form of the stag.
"Well done Mr. Potter!" Tonks exclaimed, "Thirty points to Gryffindor!"
Hermione hugged Harry and held onto him, earning a few 'ooh's from the students. But before Hermione parted from Harry's arms she whispered, "See, was that so hard?" When she was out of his grip and looking at him, he shook his head.
"Now would you to return to your seats? And Harry would you get rid of your stag?" Tonks asked. Harry nodded and flicked his wand, taking his seat next to Ron and Hermione.
"Thanks to both of you for your brilliant displays of Patronuses." Tonks motioned to Hermione and Harry, "Now, for the rest of the lesson, I would like for you to practice Patronus casting with a partner. Hermione and Harry, you may work on today's homework, since it seems that you have already mastered this incantation."
Ron moaned at the sound of homework and reluctantly got up to find Neville. Tonks gave Harry and Hermione a slip of parchment that read:'Six inch essay on the history of the Patronus' Tonks motioned for the two of them to get up so she could conjure the desks aside. She flicked her wand and in an instant all of the desks were to the side and plush mats were on the floor, covering the stone surface. Hermione and Harry found two seats by the corner of the room and started on the homework, casually glancing at the other when no one was looking.
When the bell rung at the end of the lesson and Tonks announced the homework to the rest of the class, Hermione, Ron, and Harry stayed after to have a private chat with their new professor.
Tonks was expecting this and stayed behind, not retreating to her office like she intended to earlier. "'Ello lads." she greeted, glancing at the trio.
"Hey Tonks," Harry said.
"I had an inkling that you three would show up after class." she said while smirking.
"We were just wondering-" Hermione started,
"Why I was here." Tonks finished.
"And-" Ron tried to add.
"Why I didn't call you guys by your first names."
"Wow, you're good." Ron mused.
"I do try." Tonks stated, sounding like a dead on Ginny, "Now to answer your first question, I am here because McGonagle asked me too end of story, the end." Tonks said, doing another impression, this time of Moody. "Now as to your second question, I don't want people to think that we knew each other previously. And if the Order is correct, we have another spy among us, and the last thing we need is them to find out you three are buddy-buddy with the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."
"Another spy?" Hermione asked, "That would mean-"
"One of the occupants of this school is watching you and McGonagle very closely, thank Merlin they are not onto me. And that is why I am calling you by your first name, a small thing, but to the spy...it could be vital information." Tonks answered.
"Blimey." Ron and Harry chorused.
Tonks nodded, "And you three best be getting off to lunch so you don't...ya know."
"Right." Hermione said.
"Well, we'll see you later Tonks," Harry said.
"See you later you three." Tonks said, waving at their retreating forms.
"Who do you think the spy is?" Ron asked Harry and Hermione, once they were descending the stairs to the Great Hall.
"I dunno, could be anyone." Harry stated, looking at Hermione for support.
"Well...it is probably someone with a connection to Voldermort - oh Ron, honestly -" Hermione said, looking at Ron, who shuttered at the mention of the Dark lords name.
"I think it's Malfoy." Harry said.
"Malfoy?" Ron asked, "But he isn't even at this school anymore not after what happened-"
"Correction, he is here, me and Harry saw him on the train" Hermione interrupted.
"He's...but...why didn't you tell me?" Ron stuttered, getting momentarily pissed off.
"Slipped my mind actually..." Harry lied, he didn't want to worry Ron too much, Ron was sort of a worry-wart.
"Slipped your mind? How can something like that slip your mind? He murdered Dumbledore for Merlin's sake!" Ron yelled at Harry, ceasing to walk. When Hermione and Harry noticed that Ron was a few feet behind them, fuming, they walked back to him and tried to explain.
"He didn't technically murder Dumbledore." Hermione informed, "He was too much of a cowering ferret to actually do it."
"She has a point ya know." Harry added.
"Whatever." Ron said, storming off, leaving the two standing in the middle of an empty corridor.
"What was that about?" Harry asked.
"Beats me...I think he is just upset that we didn't tell him...he is a bit over-emotional at times." Hermione did her best to answer.
"Right...well...I'm starving, lets go and eat shall we?" Harry said.
"Boys and food...I swear..." Hermione trailed off, making her was to the Great Hall, hand-in-hand with Harry. When they reached the doors of the Great Hall, they let go of each others hands and made their way to their usual spots at the Gryffindor table. Their hands weren't alone for too long, as soon as they sat down next to each other, their hands linked under the table.
Ginny was staring at Harry and Hermione as soon as they entered the Great Hall. There was nothing unusual about them when they entered side-by-side, but when their hands mysteriously went under the table, not to come back up for the rest of the meal...that was a different story.
Hermione filling her in about what Tonks had told them earlier in a hushed tone interrupted Ginny from her thoughts. Ginny's eyes widened at this new information, "You mean...there is a spy...again...at Hogwarts?" she stuttered.
"Yes." Hermione simply answered, "And whoever they are, they are keeping a close watch of us...so we need to be careful."
Ginny nodded her head, "Right," she said.
The rest of lunch was uneventful, in Harry and Hermione's opinion. In Ginny's opinion it was a lunch of realization...there was something going on between Harry and Hermione...and after dinner, she was going to find out what it was.
"See you later guys!" Ginny called after them, retreating to Divination.
"Bye." Hermione said.
Harry, Hermione, and Ron all went to Care of Magical creatures side-by-side. When they seemed to be alone on the walk down the grounds, Harry spoke up, "You know we have this lesson with the Slytherin's right?"
"Yeah." Ron said.
"Well, you would have found out anyways...listen Ron, we're sorry we really are for not telling you...we seriously forgot about it-"
"Today has been so stressful for me personally, I'm so sorry Ron." Hermione added, purposefully batting her eyelashes.
"S'ok, I suppose...just promise you won't keep anything else from me?" Ron asked, looking expectantly at Hermione and Harry.
"Promise" they both lied.
When they got to Hagrid's small hut, they were the last ones to arrive just before the ball rang. Hagrid was there, looking at the three of them, "Nice of ya ta join us." he said. The classes attention was momentarily on the almost late trio, but was re-directed to Hagrid when he spoke up;
"Now, today we are going to be learning about Billywigs. Who here can tell me what a Billywig is - Hermione -"
Hagrid motioned to Hermione's raised hand and she spoke, "A Billywig is an insect that is native to Australia. It is around a half an inch long and is a vivid sapphire blue in color. The Billywig flies by means of the wings that are properly attached to the top of its head. At the bottom of a Billywig lies a stinger, which it used to sting opponents to cause them to become a bit giddy and levitate for a few moments. Generations of Australian wizards and witches have attempted to catch Billywigs and attempt to provoke them into stinging them so that they can enjoy the effects. Dried Billywig stings are used in several potions."
"A very nice an' detailed description 'Ermione. Twenty points ter Gryffindor." Hagrid said, while a smile found its way onto his face. "Now, we are going to be studyin' the Billywigs an' sketchin' 'em today...follow me." Hagrid led them further away from his house where their was an oak table filled with pieces of parchment, cut to accommodate haw bid the sketches needed to be, and a cage full of Billywigs.
"Now, make yer way towards the cage there, an' sketch what yer see. When yer are done with the sketch, refer to yer books and label the important parts of 'em." Hagrid explained, "Any questions?" he asked, earning a chorus of 'no's and shaking of the head, "Very well then, off yer go."
Hermione finished her sketch first out of the whole class, as usual, and needed to help Ron and Harry with theirs. With just a few minutes to spare, the trio had their sketches done and properly labeled, and handed them to Hagrid. "Well done yer three, no 'omework for yer t'day." Hagrid said, "As for the rest of yer lot, your 'omework is ta finish yer sketches and hand 'em inter me by next lesson."
The final bell rang a few minutes after Hagrid made the announcement of homework and the trio made their was to their final lesson of the day, Herbology.
"What do ya reckon Sprout'll teach us on our first day back?" Ron asked as they took their seat at the benches.
"I dunno." Harry and Hermione answered.
Ron's question was answered when Madame Sprout entered the greenhouse, "Welcome seventh years to N.E.W.T level Herbology. As you are well aware, this level is going to be very difficult, so I suggest you take plenty of notes and do your homework." she said.
"Now, today we will be learning about Gillyweed. Who here can tell me about gillyweed...Miss Granger?" Madame Sprout pointed to Hermione and she started her thorough explanation;
"Gillyweed is native to the Mediterranean, it has the appearance of a bundle of slimy grayish-green rat tails. When eaten, Gillyweed gives the person gills to allow them to breathe underwater and webbed hands and feet to maneuver in water more efficiently. The duration of Gillyweed is approximately one hour."
"Excellent, excellent, fifteen points to Gryffindor." Madame Sprout said, "Now, today we will be reading about Gillyweed and where it can be found and so forth. By the end of the hour I would like at least a foot of parchment on said subject. You may begin."
For the rest of the lesson every student had their heads buried in a book and were scratching their quill vigorously against their pieces of parchment, most stopping when they had reach a foot of writing and rubbing their hands. Hermione, on the contrary, had three feet by the time the bell rang to signal the end of the day.
"Turn in your parchment to me, and I'll see you next lesson!" Madame Sprout yelled over the commotion of students filing out of the greenhouse doors.
When the trio reached the Great Hall, they found Ginny already sitting at the table, starting on some homework and eating mashed potatoes. Harry and Hermione sat next to each other again, 'secretly' holding hands under the table again, and Ron sat next to Ginny.
The hour or so it took for dinner and dessert to be served passed quite quickly for the foursome, as they made their way to their dorms. Harry and Hermione started to make their way to their Heads dorm, until Hermione was pulled aside by Ginny.
"What is going on between you and Harry?"
"N-nothing." Hermione stuttered.
"Don't you nothing me missy, something is going on between you and Harry, and I won't stop until you tell be why." Ginny said, while dragging Hermione by the collar and pushing her into a deserted corridor.
"Nothing." Hermione firmly stated.
"Nothing 'eh? Then tell me why you had a hickie the size of Mount Fuji on the side of your neck yesterday?" Ginny questioned.
"I-"
"And enlighten me why both your and Harry's hand are interlocked beneath the table at every meal?"
"You see, I-"
"Don't even bother to answer, you and Harry are...um...what's the word?" Ginny rubbed her index finger across her chin in thought.
"Secretly dating." Hermione covered her mouth when she realized what she just confessed.
"A HA!" Ginny screamed, putting her fist up in triumph, "I KNEW IT!"
"Speak up, I think the inhabitants of China didn't hear you." Hermione sarcastically remarked.
"Hermione loves Harry, Harry loves Hermione." Ginny said in a singsong voice. She continued to do this until Hermione's hand covered her mouth, only to be licked by Ginny.
"Eww...Ginny, you are so immature." Hermione said, wiping Ginny's saliva off on her skirt.
"I take pride in that." Ginny said with a smirk. "So...since you and Harry are 'secretly dating', I guess that means no one was supposed to find out?"
"That was the initial plan, although I knew you'd figure it out sooner or later." Hermione said.
Ginny smiled, "I'm guessing you don't want Ron to find out, huh?" she asked.
"Well...its not that we don't want him to know...we just want to tell him when the time is right." Hermione explained.
"Well, you're gonna have to tell him sooner or later. " Ginny said.
"I know, just, not now." Hermione said.
"Well, you best be off. Harry is going to be wondering where you are by now." Ginny emphasized the word Harry, and before Hermione could retort, she was gone.
Harry was in the Head's common room, wondering where Hermione could have gone to. He wanted to go looking for her, but decided against it, Harry realized that she was a big girl and could handle herself. His worries were ceased when he heard the portrait door open.
Harry got up, full intent on taking advantage that they were alone at last, when Hermione spoke up, "Ginny knows."
