Right, here I am again ... late, very late, too very late ...

I'm so sorry about it guys! Anyway, here's the next chapter, and I really hope you're going to like it!

Please, read and review, you know how important it is for an author!!!!!

Back to the story now!

Later that day, just before the girls could get prepared for dinner at Luna's restaurant, there was a meeting in Headmistress McGonagall's office. She was not using Professor Dumbledore's office. To her, it would have been like a blaspheme.

The Headmaster's office had remained untouched since his departure, as if everybody in Hogwarts was looking for him to return after some vacations. The password was still the last one he used, it remained unchanged. No one had dared to change it actually. The Hogwarts house-elves were still taking a great care of his office and the apartment he had used over his years in the old school. Actually it really looked like a museum now.

Hermione arrived the last one and take a sit as soon as she entered the room. She looked at her fellow colleagues that were sat around the table. Some of them were her ex-teachers and it was awkward to be here with them, especially teachers as Professor Snape that had been so harsh to her. She was pretty sure he was expecting her to miserably fail her first year as a Hogwarts teacher. She wondered how Harry was reacting to Snape's presence. Of course he knew Snape was still in the Hogwart's staff, but it certainly had been a point to consider before agreeing on taking the DADA teacher position. As for her, she didn't even thought of Snape before taking her decision. But now, she was seriously considering it. What would be her working relations with her ex loathing teacher?

She quickly focused her attention back to the Headmistress who was now starting to talk about who was going to be Head of Gryffindor. 'Please not me, not me she thought, let it be Harry, please please please!!!'

"Hermione, I think you'll be a wonderful head to the Gryffindor's House." Headmistress McGonagall said smiling at her.

'Oh man I'm so gonna fail that,' Hermione thought while giving a weak and forced smile and answering "I'll try my best at it".

'I'm sure you'll be a great Head of House. You did a wonderful job as being Head Girl during your seventh year, we're all confident you'll do just as good now," said McGonagall.

Hermione then looked at Harry as if to apologize to him, thinking he would have been so much better than her, but she found him smiling broadly at her even giving her a thumb up.

"As for Harry, he'll take over the Hogwart's Quidditch team as we're having a Junior International Magical School Championship this year," continued the Headmistress.

"I'm sure Potter will be good at that at least," muttered Snape under his breath.

"Pardon me Severus, "started a mischievous Harry, "I did not get exactly what you said." He innocently said.

"I said I think you'll be great at that," repeated Snape omitting the last part of his previous sentence.

Hermione was looking at them, half amused, half worried. It looked like their mutual dislike was as deep as during their seventh year. But they were now working together and they will have to bear with each other. She then frowned as she remembered the position she was offered. Was she up to it? It was such an honour from the headmistress to give her such a responsibility on her first year of teaching. She really didn't want to disappoint her. She'll have to work extra hard about it. But right now, she only wanted to think about this diner she was going to have with Harry. With Ginny too, she quickly added in her thoughts, the dinner with Ginny and Harry. Maybe they'll meet other people they knew who knows? She definitely needed to get some distraction from her previous conversation with Harry and a dinner at Luna's was a very good way to get that. Then, she'll seriously start to prepare her lessons. That was a great schedule.

As soon as the meeting was over, she went back to her apartment to get ready for the dinner. She was supposed to head towards the infirmary to pick up Ginny and then they were to meet Harry in the Great Hall. As she entered her living room, she noticed that, again, that stupid door wasn't there. 'Whatever' she thought ...

She quickly took a warm shower and then put a towel around her and another one around her hair to dry them and pressed gestured towards her muggle stereo to start some music. She began to sing along and dance a little bit as she was going through her clothes to chose the right outfits to wear tonight. She wanted to dress as a muggle tonight. Not witch robes allowed tonight she decided. But suddenly she wondered what Ginny and Harry would be wearing. What if she was making a fool of herself arriving dressed in muggle clothes while the other were wearing robes? She sat on her bed and wondered for a few seconds. Then she went to her living room to open a floo chat with Ginny. She stopped right at the entrance. The stupid door was there. 'Damned stupid door' she thought angrily. She made a beeline towards the door to open it, wondering what she'll find behind. She found herself in a fancy muggle restaurant. She closed her eyes a few seconds as if trying to collect her thoughts before getting any clue on what this was meaning and then she just closed the door and went back to her bedroom to put on her muggle clothes. 'That might be a sign' she thought.

She decided to wear a little black dress that was not that short, but not that long either. It was not showing very much, but it was a very flattering dress anyway. She then put on her shoes and took a jacket with her. She considered her hair while passing by a mirror and just decided to let them have their way. She then made her way towards the infirmary and entered it to check if Ginny was ready to go.

"WOW Hermione, who are you trying to hit on dressed like that? "teased Ginny.

"Ah ah," said Hermione, "Ready to go?" she then asked.

"Yep, I'm all set, let's go get Harry now," she answered.

The two women headed then towards the Great Hall whishing they weren't going to meet Peeves. The little poltergeist would be delighted to ruin their outfits so it was better not to see him. They were lucky enough not to meet him and they sat on one of the Gryffindor's two benches waiting for Harry.

"It's like the old times, isn't it Hermione?" asked Ginny.

"Yeah that's weird, but it feels good." Hermione said smiling.

"So, Head of Gryffindor, uh?" continued Ginny smiling as well.

"Uhuh," answered Hermione, "I was not expecting it at all; I thought it would be Harry," She continued, "Actually, it should have been Harry, I mean, I've always thought he was the Heir of Gryffindor, I mean with what happened to you guys in third year ..."she then sighed a little bit, "I just hope I'll be worth of McGonagall's choice." She said.

"You'll do just great Mione," said Harry entering the Great Hall.

"Hey Harry," she girls greeted him, "Ready to go?" they asked.

"I'm all yours tonight ladies," teased Harry.

"Oh don't go with such a promise Harry, otherwise I know someone who might be disappointed,' Ginny teased.

That earned her a well placed elbow in the ribs from a very blushing Hermione. "Why you little ...evil!!!! "Started Hermione to Ginny. Ginny just show her tongue at Hermione and laughed. Harry was ahead of them so he was unaware of the exchange, or was he?

"What did you say that for?" asked Hermione.

"Let me think for a few sec, "started Ginny, "To state the obvious?" she said in a mocking tone.

"You're impossible!" said Hermione, "Please, don't do that again, I'm so embarrassed each time." She continued.

"I don't get you, really, he cares for you, that as obvious as your nose in the middle of your face, and I know you have been fancying him for years. Why don't you take a chance?" said Ginny, getting serious.

"I'm not as sure as you are that he reciprocate what I feel, it's that simple." Answered Hermione.

"Right, so finally you're no more in denial, that's a start. "smiled Ginny. "Now, just act as the adult you are should act, just talk to the man!" she continued. "And for Heaven's sake, the man's crazy about you! Open your eyes!"

As the girls arrived to the huge doors of Hogwarts where Harry was waiting for them, they just stop talking about it and decided just to enjoy the evening. It was a great dinner; Luna had set them in a calm area next to the window so they could enjoy the view over Hogsmeade. The dishes were absolutely delicious and Luna had hired a band for the evening so they were all able to dance. Very muggle like actually. The only difference being they weren't using microphones, they were using spells instead.

As she lied in her bed that night, Hermione was happy; she was even looking for the real start of the year and the arrival of her students. She quickly fell asleep.

"Here my Lord, I'm here to help you," shouted the woman, hurrying towards the center of the cemetery.

"I really don't think so," said a very young woman in a very calm voice. She stood in front of the other woman, stopping her race towards the two men that were currently duelling.

"Oh get out of my way mudblood, I have to help my Lord," said the older woman.

"You won't move a bit," continued the young girl.

"Get out of my way you stupid little girl, I have nothing to do with a mudblood, I'll take care of you as soon as we'll be done with the Potter boy," answered the woman in a very exasperated voice.

"Petrificus Totalus", said the young witch gesturing towards the other woman with her wand.

"Oh, aren't we cute, we went to petrify me with a tiny cutie little spell," mocked the woman. "Now, now, you really ask for it mudblood, "said the dark witch pointing her wand to the younger witch, "Crucio" she said with an evil smile.

"Protego," immediately said the girl, then she pointed her wand at the evil woman and said "Sanguinarium!"

The woman seemed taken aback by the spell as if wondering what could be the effects on her. She was hit by it squared in the face. In a matter of seconds, her nose, mouth and ears started to bleed furiously.

"You filthy little mudblood!" she said enraged. She then turned around to look one of the death eaters that were duelling two boys in the same time. He was mocking them but suddenly it was obvious that he was no more that confident. He finally fell down to the ground, dead.

"Lucius!" shouted Bellatrix Lestrange. She started to run towards him but then again, Hermione came in front of her, blocking her.

"I told you to get out of my way, "she shouted furiously.

"Hermione, you're alright?" asked one of the boys.

"Go help Harry, I'm fine!" she answered to the red-haired boy.

"Sure?" he asked.

"Positive, just go!" she answered.

"Oh little mudblood has a boyfriend, aren't we cute," mocked Bellatrix.

"Just go! I'm fine" Hermione repeated to Ron as if encouraging him to go to help Harry.

"Fine, are you?" Asked Bellatrix, "Not for long, I've told you mudblood to get out of my way, now Lucius is dead because of you, you're gonna pay!" she said with as much loath she could in her voice.

"Crucio!" she tried again.

"Protego!" said Hermione casting the spell back to Bellatrix.

"Crucio!! Crucio! Crucioooooo!" said Bellatrix over and over not understanding why she wasn't able to hit Hermione with the spell.

Hermione was quick enough each time to redirect the spell towards Bellatrix who was avoiding it as well. Hermione saw that Bellatrix was getting more and angrier at her. Not being able to make her suffer was enraging her even more. She looked at Hermione with insane eyes. She pointed her wand towards her with a sick smile.

"Smartest witch in Hogwarts right?" she said. "I knew another one smart mudblood," she continued, "And she could not resists this spell," She stopped to give an insane laugh. "Good bye cutie tiny mudblood," she mocked. She then pointed her wand a last time towards Hermione and said the fateful words accompanied with the green light, "Avada Kedavra."

Hermione quickly realized the 'Protego' spell was not going to work with the ultimate spell. There was only one way to escape from it.

"Spedimenturna!" she said with all of her strength.

"What?" said Bellatrix Lestrange while getting caught by the unforgivable spell.

"Oh my God, what have I done?" said Hermione as Bellatrix Lestrange's lifeless body touched the ground.

"What have YOU done?" asked Sirius's mother through her portrait?"

"You killer! You killed my daughter!!" said a woman Hermione had never seen in her life but she recognized her as Bellatrix's mother.

"Killer!" "You killer!" "You killed my daughter!" She voices seemed to never end. Hermione tried to go towards Harry to help him but the voices were still here. Sirius's mother was following her and her portrait was blocking her way any time Hermione was trying to get rid of it by taking another path towards Harry.

"Killer, killer, killer, killer, you killed my daughter!" was endlessly repeating the other woman.

"NOOOOOOO" screamed Hermione as she woke up in the middle of the night.

She took a couple of deep inspirations and sighed.

"I hate this nightmare!" she cried in her pillow.

She was very angry at herself; fed up about having this nightmare. After her conversation with Harry, she truly understood that her feeling of guilt was not justified and that she had done the right thing to do given the circumstances.

That's why she was so angry at herself. That was being weak and she really didn't need it right now since she'll soon have to face hundreds of students, some of them not that eager to study. She sighed in an angry way. She quickly got out of her room and walked to her living room with a very thick book. She stopped to look at the mysterious door that was there again.

"I wonder," she said out loud," is this another Room of Requirement?"

She made her way towards the door and stopped again.

"Let's see, if this is a room of requirement, it will open to a room provided with anything I asked or, right? So ... I need a comfortable room to read my book and to calm down." She then opened the door expecting to see a very cosy room. She was very mistaken and most surprised to be welcomed by a powerful wind and very dark clouds together with rain. She even had trouble to shut the door.

"I really don't get it!" she said while sitting on one of the very comfortable arm chair that was provided to the Hogwarts staff.

She was flipping through the pages not really interested by what she was reading. She was way too angry to calm down so quickly. She needed a warm cup of hot chocolate, now that would help. Once again, she looked at the door wondering what was behind it, maybe it could give her the hot chocolate she needed? She was really surprised when she realized that the door was no longer there. She really was wondering about it now. What on earth was this stupid door? She tried to rationalize things during a few moments and then smiled.

"Yeah right, as if magic could be rationalized..." she laughed.

How she needed that hot chocolate! She stood up and decided to go to the Hogwarts kitchen, refusing to wake up a house elf to do it for her.

Once again, she hoped she was not going to meet Peeves. He would just love to make a huge mayhem to wake up everybody! She took her wand and muttered a spell towards the lights so that it would be lightened only to give her enough light to find her way. The lights were automatically switching off when she had reached another one. When she arrived to the kitchen, she stopped and remembered the other times she had visited it with Harry and Ron. She remembered the S.P.E.W. as well. She was proud of her actions. Thanks to her, the Hogwarts house elves were free. They were given a wage and a day off each week. She had been able to have a meeting with someone at the Magical Creatures Minister. And even if she had not succeeded in freeing every single house elf in the whole English Magical World, she had succeeded in doing so in Hogwarts. Well truth being told, some of the current Hogwarts' house elves were not that happy about it. Most of them felt outraged at their new condition. Even if Dobby had tried at the time to explain the measure.

Hermione was going to enter the kitchen when she noticed a small movement on her right. She turned towards it and saw a house elf that was wearing a green sock on his left foot and a red one on the other one. He was also wearing a huge amount of little knitted hats. Hermione smiled as she recognized Dobby.

"Hi Dobby," she said.

"Friend of Harry Potter!" he said. "Can Dobby help Hermione Granger?" he enquired.

"Well you can show me around in the kitchen Dobby, I came to prepare a cup of hot chocolate." Answered Hermione.

"Dobby can do it!" said the house elf in a much exited way. "Dobby likes to help!"

"Thank you Dobby, that is very kind of you, but really, I can do it myself, you should be sleeping!" she said.

"Dobby was going to do a hot chocolate to Harry Potter, Dobby can do two." He said.

"I'll tell you what Dobby, you do the two hot chocolates, and I'll bring them to Harry, deal?" Hermione proposed him.

"Ok, Dobby will do it," answered the little creature.

Ok, this chapter is finished. Once again, I'm SO sorry I didn't update before! I tried to make a longer chapter than usual though.

Please, review it!!!!