Hermione glanced at the dresses that the house elf, Tippy, had left on the bed. After months of living on the run, not one of them looked appealing to her. While they were all very pretty, they weren't practical. Carefully hanging them up in the armoire in a corner of the room, the animagus looked for one that didn't look like she would trip over if she needed to run. What she didn't realize was that, one day, she wouldn't mind wearing those dresses.
Finally, at the bottom of the pile, were some dresses that Hermione wouldn't mind wearing. They wouldn't drag the ground without heals and they didn't have long, flowing sleeves. Hermione left out a long gown that reached her ankles. Its bodice covered with gold designs and two gold strips flowing down the front. Along the lower half, golden inlays were scatters. Unfortunately, it left her arms bare; but Hermione decided that it was best to get her parentage out of the way as quickly as possible.
As Hermione was lacing up her knee high leather boots, Tippy apparated into the room. "Milady, Lord Gryffindor, hath requested thy presence for dinner. I am too taketh thou to thee Great Hall when thou art dressed in proper attire."
"Well, I guess I'm 'dressed in proper attire'." Hermione sighed. "Tippy, you wouldn't happen to know if there are any pants and shirts that I could borrow."
"Master Gryffindor telleth me that thou were not to receiveth any breeches or shirt." Tippy sheepishly stated. "He sayeth that thou wouldst weareth them."
Hermione grinned conspiratorially. "Yeah, that's what you're supposed to do with clothes."
Tippy shook her head. "Milady, Master Gryffindor sayeth that thou wouldst only weareth breeches or shirt."
"The shirt's for me to sleep in." The animagus explained. "And I would feel a lot more comfortable wearing pants under these dresses." She accentuated her point by grasping hold of the shirt and shaking it.
"Tippy will attempted to findeth breeches and shorts for you. If it wouldst pleaseth thou to followesth me, I will escort thou to dinner." The house elf offered a smile to the witch.
"Lead the way." Hermione sighed, extending her right arm.
Tippy gasped when she saw that scar, but the house elf didn't say anything, it wasn't her place.
Hermione was silent through the duration of the walk to the Great Hall, she was taking in everything that was different from her time. There were no ghosts, which was very different. The few portraits that were scattered about, were faded in her time. Thankfully, the staircases still moved.
Glancing at the doors to the Great Hall, Hermione pushed them in and immediately looked to the ceiling. A smile stretched across her face, you could see the night sky.
"A truly wonderful piece of magic, is it not?" Godric asked. "Rowena charmed thee ceiling to appeareth as if it wast thee heavens."
"Hogwarts: A History never said who had charmed it." The animagus murmured.
Godric frowned in confusion. "It if pleases thou, cometh siteth at thee head table."
Hermione followed Godric as he strode toward the front of the Hall. Looking to the head table, she felt the Founders appraising her.
Salazar Slytherin's grey eyes narrowed when he saw her right arm, what was a mudblood doing sullying up a teaching position. It was bad enough that they even attended the school!
Helga Hufflepuff smiled, it was good to have such a young new face as the Transfiguration Professor. She would probably have to apologize for Salazar's behavior, if the look on his face was anything to go by.
Rowena Ravenclaw merely glanced at the new arrival, before turning back to the book she was writing. As long at this girl stayed out of her way, she was fine.
Baron Terence Bayler smirked. This new professor was fine indeed, he hoped to make her acquaintance.
Helena Ravenclaw peeked at Hermione from her spot beside her mother. She wondered if brown haired witch would take the older Transfiguration professor's seat. That would mean she would sit beside her and Helena might make a new friend!
"If it pleases thou, taketh thee seat between me and Helena." Godric pulled out the chair, indicating where Hermione should sit.
The animagus inclined her head and took the proffered seat. "Thank you."
"Pray tell, what doeth thou calleth yourself?" Helga asked, as she steepled her fingers under her chin.
"Hermione McGonagall." Hermione smiled. "It's nice to meet you…"
Helga chuckled. "If it pleases thou, pardon mine rudeness, I am called Helga Hufflepuff."
"Thou may calleth me Lady Rowena Ravenclaw." Rowena regally stated. "Mine daughter is called Helena. If it pleaseth thou, forgiveth her any rudeness to thy person."
"Mother." The young witch looked up at her mother.
"Helena, thou knoweth that thou are not to speaketh if thou are not spoken to!" Ravenclaw snapped.
Ignoring Rowena, Hermione smiled down at her daughter. "It's nice to meet you Helena."
Helena smiled at being addressed by the new witch.
"Pray tell." Salazar sneered. "Wherefore did thou receiveth that mark on thy arm?"
Unconsciously, Hermione rubbed her arm. "I was captured and tortured. My torturer caved this on my arm, she thought it would remind me of my 'place'."
"Thou art a mudblood indeed." Slytherin shook his head. "Pray tell me, Lord Godric, Whatever wast thou thinking, allowing a mudblood as a professor."
"Salazar, thou shalt not slander a fellow professor." Godric glared at his lifelong friend.
The Slytherin Head pursed his lips, but said nothing further.
"I shall not slander thy name, Lady Hermione." Bayler grinned at Hermione. "Thou mayest call me Baron Terence Bayler."
Hermione inclined her head, she could sense his intentions toward her and she didn't appreciate it.
"Baron, Lady Hermione is not is not a wench that thou findeth in a tavern." Helga chastised and smiled when said witch choked on her drink.