Alright
guys, here's the next chapter. I'm sorry it took me so long to
post an update but in the meantime I started another Harry Potter
story centred on Lily and James, I'd be thrilled if you could read
and review it as well! The title is "And it all started". There's
only one chapter for now though.
Thanks to my awesome
reviewers! You guys just rock!
Pia O'Leary: More fluff uh?
Eh eh eh you'll see ;) Man you seem to have a 'delightful"
French teacher :p
HarryMione4evr: I'm sorry I could not
update quicker but right now I'm in my finals at college and I have
this huge end of studies report to write plus a huge marketing file
to compile and give to my marketing teacher. That does not leave much
time to write unfortunately. Thanks for being such a regular reviewer
though.
Rosey88: Thank you, I'm glad you like the story that
much.
Meaka: thank you for your review, see here's more
;)
AndKerock: thanks for your review! Glad you like the story
that much!!! Here's more!
Kaia: yep, I'm French. Thanks
for your review!!
Ashleigh: man you're making me blush here.
Your review is SO kind! I'm very proud of it actually! Especially
because I had not that kind reviews at the beginning! Thanks a bunch
you really made my day!
scorpio-1983: glad you're still
here, that means you like the story, thanks for your
review!
Anonymous: thanks for your review!
barenakedally:
toi toi toi hein prout d'abord :p Espèce de maîtresse
chanteuse va ! Merki pour la review !
lilsteph:
I'm trying to make it as « real » as I can
but it's kinda easy because it's in the future so you just need
to anticipate a little bit but I might be screwed when JKR is going
to issue books 6 and 7, who knows ;)
harrysgal8: here's
an update, I hope you'll like it as well!
I had the hardest
time to come up with a Sorting Hat song so I only put a few lines
here. I'm not that happy about it, I personally think it sucks big
time ... Oh, that chapter might be short, I'm sorry.
Right,
back to the story now!
--------------------------
Everyone
was looking at the first years that were entering the great hall. As
every single first year had once felt, they were scared but also very
impressed by the scenery. Lost of them were looking at the ceiling in
pure awe. Hermione smiled remembering how she had gotten on the
nerves of some of her fellow first years when she had explained that
is was bewitched as if she had been there all her life. Some of them
had looked at her impressed, some other weren't. That was the
beginning of her bossy-know-it-all carrier as a Hogwarts
student.
The first years were now gathered at the very end of
the houses tables, in front of the staff table. They were looking at
the teachers as if trying to decide if they were going to be nice or
not. They were all apprehensive, wondering what was going to happen.
The muggle-borns were curious and apprehensive because they did not
know a thing about what was going to take place. On the other end,
the half and pure blood were all the same apprehensive but it was a
different kind of apprehension. Where muggle-borns were curious, the
others were simply scared. Once again Hermione smiled as she
remembered how Ron was scared because of what his brothers had told
him. She looked at Ron that was lost in a surge of nostalgia as well
looking at the first years. She had been scared as well at the time.
She had read the whole "Hogwarts a History" and she new there was
a sorting ceremony however she couldn't find what the criteria were
and she was afraid she had not studied enough to be prepared for it.
She then looked at Harry and realized he was staring at her. He
smiled and no word was needed, she knew what he was thinking, the
exact same thing she had, he was remembering his arrival at Hogwarts
as well.
Professor Pakoti summoned the Sorting Hat with much
respect and put it on a chair positioned in the middle of the spare
space between the first years and the staff table. She then gently
tapped it with the edge of her wand and it started to move as if
being alive. Looking closer to it, it seemed it was indeed alive. The
first years were looking at it wondering what part it was going to
take in their arrival at Hogwarts. Was it going to hurt? Were they
going to be teased by older students? What if they did not pass this
kind of test? Were they going to be sent back home?
The
Sorting Hat then began to speak, welcoming the students in Hogwarts
and then it began to sing the traditional welcome song.
The first
years were listening at it with much attention. Maybe it was a part
of the test after all, some teachers were listening as well while the
other students, very well aware of what was going to take place had
resumed their chatting about their holidays. µ
Hermione
had learned how important the song was, especially after the warning
the Sorting Hat had gave them during her fifth year. She was talking
about the announcement Harry and Ron were going to make at the same
time. It felt so right! It was right like the old times if you put
aside the fact that they were sitting at the staff table. Once again,
nostalgia took over her. Suddenly Hermione was taken back to the
present time and quickly turned her full attention to the Sorting Hat
as did Harry and Ron seeing her very concentrated.
"As the
new year has already started"
"A new warning I must
unfortunately give"
"To a Hogwarts teacher newly
appointed'
"Beware of an old enemy that did not forgive"
"But
Gryffindor you were"
"So afraid you are not"
"For
Gryffindors are brave"
"And cowards you're certainly
not".
"Now that I gave my warning"
"Let the Sorting
begin!"
Hermione looked at Harry that was looking back at
her. Clearly the warning was given to one of them. To Hermione it
made no doubt it was given to Harry, after all she did not have any
particular enemy if you put aside Bellatrix Lestrange that was dead.
Voldemort was dead as well though. But the first time Harry had won
over him, he was supposed to be gone, right, and nothing had avoided
him to come back in full powers. But now what? The prophecy was clear
about it though, one had to kill the other one to survive. And Harry
had indeed killed Voldemort, his body was found, analysed and burned.
Hermione then realized that the whole school was looking at her and
Harry and it made her feel most uncomfortable. She gestured towards
professor Pakoti so that she could start the sorting.
Professor
Pakoti then made a very long parchment to appear in her hands and
started to call the students one by one. The first one looked
positively scared as he sat on the chair and even closed his eyes as
Professor Pakoti put the Sorting Hat on his head.
"Hufflepuff!"
shouted the Sorting Hat. The student looked relieved and he made his
way towards the Hufflepuff's table where he was greeted by his new
fellow Huffepuffs.
The Sorting Ceremony continued for a while
and as the last student was sorted in Gryffindor, all the students
turned to look at the Headmistress that was going to give her welcome
speech. She stood up and made a circular look at all the students
that were intently staring at her.
"A new year at Hogwarts
has begin," she started, "We welcome you all in our school hoping
you will feel here as in a family. I shall remind to all the students
that the Forest is strictly forbidden to any student unless you're
accompanied by a professor or a member of the staff. I would like now
to introduce you two new teachers that joined us this year." She
then turned to Hermione and gestured her to stand up.
"Miss
Hermione Granger, former Hogwarts Head Girl will be your new Charms
teacher." Hermione was slightly blushing as the students applauded.
She then sat back on her chair and it was Harry's turn.
"And
this is your new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, and I daresay
you couldn't find a best professor, Mister Harry Potter." The
cheer the students gave to Hermione was nothing compared to the one
they gave Harry. Hermione took no offence in it as she was cheering
as well, very proud of her friend.
Headmistress McGonagall
then continued. "I will now let Mister Ronald Weasley present you a
project that will in part take place in Hogwarts this year and I'm
pretty sure most of you are going to be very interested in it." She
finished as she sat back on her chair.
It was now Ron's
turn to speak. "My fellow Hogwarts students, I'm very proud to
announce that the Ministry of Magical Sports gave me this year the
leading position of the first ever International Magical Schools
Quidditch Championship," Rom could not continue because his
announcement was followed by a powerful scream of joy from most of
the students. They were all positively thrilled about the news as
McGonagall had announced previously. Ron waited for the students to
calm down before he could continue. "7 schools will be
participating in this championship, Hogwarts, obviously, Durmstrang
and BeauxBatons that you might already know, the Scuola dei Sortilegi
from Italy, the Schwartzer Drachen from Germany, the Bonito Buho from
Spain and The Spells Academy from the USA. Teams are now starting to
be formed and I will now let the Hogwarts coach introduce you to the
process." Then Ron stopped and Harry stood.
"I believe
most of you are interested in this project, and I'm very proud to
be the Hogwarts coach this year. I have been a proud Hogwarts
Quidditch player during my seven years in Hogwarts and I would have
been even prouder if such an opportunity had been offered to me. I
rally hope you realize how important this is. There will be a whole
tryout process to select the members of the Hogwarts team. The
tryouts are open to every single Hogwarts students. The only
requisite you have to take is first passing a tryout with your house
team, and then the house team's captains will give me a list of the
best performances. Obviously the team's members do not have to take
this requisite. I will go and talk to your Head of House during the
week to give them the instructions and plannings and I believe you'll
have all the information you need within a week." As Harry sat
down, he looked at Hermione who gave him the thumb up to tell him his
speech had been perfect. She even winced at him and that made him
laugh. Headmistress McGonagall then gave the signal the house elves
were waiting to let the meal to apparate in the student's empty
golden plates.
------------------
Later that evening,
Hermione was going back to the Gryffindor's common room to check if
everything was alright with her students. She had given the prefects
the list of passwords and she had told them that she will be meeting
them first thing the next morning. She just approached the Gryffindor
tower and then as she reached the Fat Lady's portrait, she suddenly
felt out of place. The Gryffindors were certainly having a welcome
back feast in here and she would feel as an intruder if she were
entering the tower. She then decided to go back to her apartment
trusting the Gryffindor prefects would do a good job.
As she
arrived towards her apartment, she noticed Ron was there waiting for
her.
"Ron? I'm sorry, if I had known you wanted to see me
I wouldn't have checked the Gryffindors." said Hermione.
"It's
alright Hermione, really." answered Ron.
"Password?"
asked Lady Fiona.
That's made Hermione turned a nice crimson
colour and Ron looked at her wondering what it was all about.
"Harry
Potter," murmured Hermione under her breath. She heard Ron chuckled
in her back and then opened the door. She was starting to feel she
could explain the situation when she heard Lady Fiona's comment:
"I've told you it wasn't a good idea dear." And that of
course made Ron laugh even more.
"Oh come on Ron, cut it
out!" snapped Hermione.
"Then stop blushing, it's what
is making me laugh." He answered still amused.
"Come on, I
know you, say what you have to say, come on now, spit it out!"
asked a very not amused Hermione.
"Ok, you asked for it"
started Ron getting more serious. He then looked at her, "So tell
me, how long have you been in denial?" he asked.
"Denial?"
she said trying to act as if she did not understand what he was
telling her, "what denial?"
"Come on Herms, it's me,
you know, you're best friend, you should know better, you know
perfectly well you can't lie to me, especially not about something
that obvious!" he said.
"What's that obvious?" she
asked.
Ron sighed. "Really, never in my life have I seen
someone that in denial. Don't you dare tell me you're not in love
with Harry!" he said. As Hermione was opening her mouth to
vigorously deny what he had just said, Ron continued, avoiding her to
answer. "Come on, have you seen the looks you were giving him all
through dinner? And while he was giving his speech!" he said before
being interrupted.
"I looked at you while you made your
speech as well and last time I checked I was not in love with you!"
she said happy to make a point.
"You did look at me, but not
in the same way you stared at Harry, come on Herms, I've known you
for what ... fourteen years? You know you can't hide something that
big from me. You know you can tell me right? I'm here for you if
you want to speak about it." He stopped.
Hermione looked at
him as if acknowledging she had lost this battle and then
sighed.
"Since fifth year." She simply said.
"What?"
asked a confused Ron.
She looked at him and repeated, "Since
fifth year, I've been in denial since fifth year."
"Bloody
hell." just stated Ron, "that's a bloody long time!"
"Go
figures." said Hermione.
"I'm so sorry I did not
confront you before, I should have, really." He said as if
apologizing.
"There's nothing to regret, anyway, he never
showed the slightest interest in me, in a romantic point of view. So
now, I've told you but there's not point in it, he does not love
me this way." firmly stated Hermione.
"How can you be so
sure about it?" Ron asked. "Did you ever confront him?"
"Are
you insane Ronald Weasley?" she told him outraged.
"Well
I'm being practical here; if you've never asked him, how can you
be so sure he does not love you?" pointed out Ron.
"Well
he's a guy, he should be the one to ask me out, that is if he's
interested, and that he is not, I mean, he never had any kind of
problems in asking girls out, he asked Cho Chang out, even Ginny!"
"Yeah thank you very much for reminding me Harry dated my
sister, I did not needed that!" said Ron.
"Oh come on, it
didn't take them a week to realize it was a mistake, get over it
Ron."
They stayed silent for a few minutes when Hermione
broke the silence.
"I really should change that password
though; it might be very uncomfortable if I happen to arrive in my
apartment with Harry. Her comment brought back a smile on Ron's
lips.
"Yep, you bet you should change that password, how
about I love you Harry?" he teased.
Ronald Weasley get out
of here this instant!" said Hermione in a mocking tone.
They
laughed at it and then Ron stood up to leave.
"You should
get your sleep, tomorrow if your real first day!" he said.
"Uh
uh" only answered Hermione.
She accompanied him to the door
and hugged him good bye, then she closed the door and prepared her
things for the day after before entering the bathroom to take a long
hot bath. She was wondering about her discussion with Ron. Should she
try it? That could mean ruining her friendship with Harry. Really she
did not need it right now. Tomorrow was her first day as a teacher
and she really was nervous about it. She was even wondering whether
she should go to Ginny and ask her a sleeping potion; that would
really help. The temptation was big but Hermione started to feel
tired as soon as she exited her bathroom to go to sleep.
Even
though she was tired, she couldn't fall asleep right away. She was
reliving her day over, thinking about the bad things she had done and
how she could have done better. That was a routine she was imposing
to herself every evening. It was her way of getting better, of being
a better person. Then she thought of Harry again. How could Ron be so
sure about Harry's feelings towards her? Maybe he had already talk
about it with him? Oh man now that Ron knew she loved Harry, he could
tell him anytime. Well, of course he knew that he would be so dead he
if were talking to Harry bout it, plus he was her friend so he should
trust him a little bit more.
Thinking back about it, the
sleeping potion was a good idea after all ... Now Hermione was
wondering what her first day would be. She really hoped her classes
would be good.
She finally fall asleep early in the morning
not before having triple checked that she had correctly casted the
waking-up spell she had created.
----------------------
Alright,
I promise, there's more to come about the Sorting Hat's warning
and more fluff between Harry and Hermione is about to happen!
Please
read and review, I'll be thrilled!
