Hermione woke up and knew she'd slept in by the sun shining through Ginny's window. She jumped up and dressed before hurrying downstairs to the kitchen. She could hear the complaints before she'd even made it into the room.
"Aw, mum, do we have to?"
"Really, I don't think this is necessary."
"He's just going to throw them away without reading them!"
Hermione walked in and sat down at the table. Harry grinned up at her. Sulking on either side of him were Ron and Ginny, and George was in the seat beside Hermione's. Percy was leaning against the counter, watching them like their mother. "What's up?" Hermione asked.
Ginny had picked up a quill but dropped it dejectedly on the table. "Mum's making us write letters to Snape."
Ron nodded gravely at his sisters words. Then he turned to his mother. "C'mon, the old bat won't even read them! And even if he does they won't be appreciated!"
George looked worse than all of them. Hermione had only to glance at him and know that now, even a week after the battle at Hogwarts, he was still feeling the worst of it. The two youngest Weasleys and Harry and Hermione had gotten together and agreed to remember, but not to dwell, on what had happened that day. It was over. That was that. They had all experienced so many losses. All of the Weasleys were mourning Fred, as were Hermione and Harry. But George had it the worst. Fred was his twin, his identical twin. Losing him was like losing half of himself. George was struggling, and everyone else was making it as easy for him as they could, but only time would heal his wounds and even then, they would never truly close off and disappear. The loss of Fred was a scar that would mark the Weasley family for the rest of their lives.
But the Weasley twin just sighed and dipped his quill in ink before beginning to write. He didn't even look like he would try to stick one of the products of Weasley's Wizard Wheezes into the note when his mum's back was turned. Ron and Ginny sighed too, huffing irritably, but they too began to write. Molly Weasley leaned over their shoulders, moving from one to the other and muttering, "Nothing unkind," and shooting a glance at Ron, who seemed to be having a difficult time keeping a straight face about something. His shoulders slumped and he crossed out an entire three lines on his parchment.
"Gee, Ron," Hermione joked, trying to lift the mood, "I didn't know you could write more than three lines!"
He grinned up at her and nodded. "Never before, but insulting the old bat of the dungeons? What can I say? It brings out the best in me." He puffed his chest up with false pride but quickly deflated under his mother's icy glare.
Noticing Percy, Molly turned to him. "Did you write one?" She seemed undecided as to whether or not Percy would be obligated to write an apology for being so terrible to Professor Snape.
He nodded. "Course, Mum. I even added how sorry I was that I was a Gryffindor because he had to take so many points away from me." He winked at Ron for the last part and the latter grinned wolfishly.
Five minutes later Ron threw his quill down—the dramatic effect was ruined because it spiraled, floating on the air instead of crashing down—and announced, "Done!" His mother snatched the parchment from the table and read it once. Then she read it again. Her shoulders sagged as she looked at her youngest son.
"Ronald," she sighed, "I thought that school did you some good. Look at this," and she handed it to Hermione.
Hermione took it, read it through, and had to exercise all of her self control not to burst out laughing. She held up the parchment and looked at Ron. "This took you ten minutes to write?!" Then, noting the curious looks from everyone who had yet to read it, she cleared her throat and read, "Snape, I'm sorry I was such a bad student. I hope you get better soon. –Ronald Weasley."
Ginny giggled at her brother. George actually cracked a smile. Harry grinned and Hermione looked serious, while Mrs. Weasley looked sagely from one to the next. Percy burst out laughing. And then they were all laughing. "But that's not all," Hermione went on, barely suppressing more laughter. Above the words she'd just read were several smudges that had been sentences he'd crossed out. All but one sentence were so badly smudged that she couldn't read them. The one, barely-discernible group of words was as follows:
Snape. Sorry this happened. Believe me, I wish you hadn't survived just as much as you do. But I'm glad you're in pain. Serves you right, you old git! –Ron Weasley.
Hermione read it to the rest of them. This brought even more passionate laughter from Percy, and eventually they all joined in. Ginny and George handed their letters in as well, and Molly approved of them as soon as she read them. It seemed that George had even lost the heart to joke about his hate for the potions master.
Everyone else had eaten breakfast, but Mrs. Weasley had set aside some for Hermione, and she was served and ate while everyone else sat at the table and talked. She was beginning to actually like Percy now that he was back in the family and acting like a true Weasley with the rest of them. Once more, her thoughts drifted to Snape's love for Lily and she wondered whether Ron would ever love her that way. He caught her looking at him and grinned.
She had just finished breakfast and flicked her wand, causing her dishes to float to the sink and set themselves down, when one of the school owls flew in through the open window. Every head turned to watch as it landed on the table in front of Hermione. Frowning slightly, she untied the letter from its leg. Mrs. Weasley grabbed a scrap of bacon and gave it to the owl, which flew to the window but did not leave. "Looks to me like he's waiting to take your reply back with him," Molly observed, turning to Hermione.
Hermione unrolled the parchment. To her surprise, it was from Professor McGonagall.
Miss Granger,
It has occurred to me that a meeting with the Minister of Magic will be necessary for your friends, Mister Potter and Mister Weasley, to pursue their ambitions of becoming aurors. I also ask that you come along, as I must speak with you about urgent matters. I simply ask that your reply hold the time of your arrival and hope that you can travel here as soon as possible. You may floo into my office, as the fire is always open.
~Minerva McGonagall
Hermione read it through once more to be sure she understood and turned to Harry and Ron. "Professor McGonagall wants us at Hogwarts as soon as possible. She's going to arrange a meeting for you two—probably to discuss how you will continue your studies if you want to become aurors—and something urgent to talk to me about."
As she talked, she wrote a short answer for the professor and handed it to Mrs. Weasley, who tied it to the owl's leg. The bird took off. Hermione watched it until it was out of sight and said without taking her eyes from the window, "She's expecting us to floo to the fire in her office anytime now."
Ginny stood up. "But that's not fair," she said quietly. She turned her eyes to Harry. Hermione felt her heart aching for her best friends; Ginny and Harry had been together the year before, but Harry had ended it in fear of Voldemort's threat to anyone he cared about. Now, after the war was over and the threats were gone, Ginny and Harry had only had a week together again as a couple and already they were being pulled apart. To her surprise, Hermione didn't at all feel sad by the idea of Ron having to study while she stayed at the Burrow. She didn't think she'd even miss him that much. Pondering her own lack of emotion, she failed to notice Ginny throwing herself in Harry's waiting arms. She was so lost in thought that she didn't see their embrace, or their kiss. Ron sauntered over and had his arms around her before she came back to reality. She stood on her toes and kissed him. And while her lips were touching his she was sure she'd miss him once they were apart. But the moment he broke away the passion that had stirred within her disappeared. And really, it wasn't even like she and Ron were parting now; they were going to Hogwarts together and they would be there together for a bit before they split up, if they even did separate.
"We'd better be off," Harry said when he finally broke away from Ginny. She still had her arms around his neck but wasn't snogging him anymore. It wasn't unexpected when Mrs. Weasley hugged them all one at a time and in a very motherly way. George hugged Hermione, slapped Harry on the back, and tussled Ron's flaming hair. To Hermione's pleased surprise, Percy walked over and shook Harry's hand, and it wasn't in a business-like fashion; he shook it warmly and then clapped him on the back and pulled him into a half-hug. Then he moved on to Ron, pounding his back and pulling him into the same kind of hug he'd given Harry. When he reached Hermione he just pulled her into an actual hug. She found herself blushing afterward, even though she didn't feel for Percy in any way other than for an older brother; she was just caught off guard by his actions. She smiled and said, "I'll see you in just a bit," to Ginny, and they hugged.
"Give Dad our best," Ron said before tossing floo powder into the fire, which turned green. He stepped into it, saying clearly, "McGonagall's office," as he did.
Harry was next. "Thanks, for everything," he said, looking to Molly with sincere gratitude on his face. Hermione knew she was like a mother to him, as he'd never really known his own. He, too, stepped into the fire, stating his desired destination, and disappeared. Hermione looked at Ginny. It was obvious that she would burst into tears the moment her older friend had left. Hermione gave her a reassuring smile and flooed away just like her boyfriend and one of her two best friends had already done.
She was spinning, spinning, and then she stepped out into what had once been Dumbledore's office. McGonagall was now the headmaster of Hogwarts, though school wouldn't start until that September, if it had been fully repaired by then. Removing the ash from her clothing, Hermione looked around. The office was just as it had been when Dumbledore was headmaster, the only difference being the absence of his pet phoenix. At the thought of Fawkes, Hermione remembered the phial of his tears for the first time in days. Finding the two boys struggling to rid themselves of ash and soot and getting it all over the floor, she flicked her wand at them and it fell from their clothes and rose from the floor, returning to the fireplace where it belonged. Ron walked over. "Thanks, 'Mione," he said, and was about to pull her in for a kiss, but she ducked out of his arms and faced the door to greet Professor McGonagall, who was just walking in.
She looked pleased to see them. "Oh," she said, smiling, "I've only just returned from receiving your owl. I'm glad to see you."
The trio nodded and sat down in the three seats that were arranged before the grand desk, behind which the small witch with graying black hair placed herself. "Welcome back to Hogwarts," she said with a smile, though there was a hint of sadness in her eyes. She looked to the boys. "Kingsley is waiting in the Great Hall to talk to you. He is expecting you at any time."
The two nodded, understanding that they were dismissed, and left the room. Once the door had closed behind them Professor McGonagall cleared her throat. Hermione sat up a little straighter in her seat and waited. "Miss Granger, I am aware of the assistance you gave Potter in the quest that Dumbledore sent him on. I am also aware of how very hard you worked and the effort you put into your studies throughout your time here as a student. Now, we discussed some interesting ideas for your future a few years ago before you took your OWLs, but you were unable to study for, or take, your NEWTs, because of your accompanying Potter and then your participation in the war." She paused for a moment, readjusting her glasses on the bridge of her nose before continuing with a smile on her face and a twinkle in her eye. "I have also become aware of your superb skill with spells. It is, for your talent and your work ethic, that I would like to ask you to remain here at Hogwarts throughout the summer and assist several older witches and wizards, including myself, in the reconstruction of our school.
"Of course, you would be allowed several weeks of leave to visit your parents and reverse your wonderfully-thought-of enchantment that was placed upon them. I would accompany you if you wanted me along for assistance should you have trouble. However, I do not doubt your ability to restore your parents' memories in full. Should you decide to accept my offer, you will stay in the teachers' quarters in the dungeons, in a set of rooms neighboring my own. You would also be paid by the ministry, as your work will contribute to the futures of many young witches and wizards."
She fell silent and Hermione mulled over what she had said. Accepting sounded like a very good idea, though she knew it would be difficult for her, as it surely would for the others, to walk certain parts of the castle where tragedies that had personally hurt them had taken place. And there was something strange in McGonagall's voice, as if there was a bit more to the whole thing than she'd said so far. Hermione looked at her, waiting for the rest. Seeing that her favorite student had caught on, the professor smiled. "Also," she said, eyes twinkling once more, "At the end of the summer, should you have proved yourself capable—though I do believe that you already have—you would be offered the position of Transfiguration teacher, as I as headmistress will have other matters to attend to."
Hermione's mouth fell open slightly. She stared. Could it really be true? Could she be a teacher here, at Hogwarts, the place she loved so much? She smiled. "I accept."
Professor McGonagall smiled, but it faltered after a moment. "There is something else I must ask you to do, though you needn't feel forced or obligated to accept if you don't want to," she said slowly, watching Hermione's face carefully. "Professor Snape will hopefully be well enough and recovered by the end of summer to continue teaching. Until then, however, he is in need of someone to nurse him back to health. He will be in his own chambers, and as Madam Pomfrey has been called away on urgent business, he lacks the proper care."
Hermione's brow creased. "But Professor," she said quietly, quite shocked, "I hardly think I'm fitting for the job . . ."
"Nonsense, you are the most gentle, loving witch I know of and you are also firm and rule-abiding. A bit of care and love is exactly what poor Severus needs. He hasn't come around yet, but as soon as he has regained consciousness he will return here to the school. I can ask for him to remain at Saint Mungo's until you have returned from your parents."
Hermione nodded slowly. "I'll try my best, I suppose, if you think I would do well for him . . ." she trailed off.
Before she could pick up the conversation again, McGonagall said, "Oh it wasn't my idea, dear."
Hermione looked curiously up from her hands at the older witch. "What do you mean?" she asked.
McGonagall turned and glanced at the portrait of Albus Dumbledore hanging not far away on the wall. Hermione followed her gaze and found the old man within the frame gazing at her with a slight smile on his face. Turning her eyes back to the headmistress, Hermione said slowly, "I still don't understand."
McGonagall shook her head a bit and said, "It was all Albus' idea. I'm not sure why he's so adamant, but he asked specifically for you to be the one who helped Severus recover."
Hermione looked between the portrait and McGonagall, but the more she tried to understand why Dumbledore would have wanted her for the job, the more confused she got, so she stopped thinking about it. "I'll do it," she said to settle the matter and get it off her mind. Then, desperate to clear her mind of confusing thoughts, she looked up at McGonagall and asked quietly, "Will you come with me to my parents?"
"Of course, dear," said the older witch, and Hermione hadn't ever thought of her as a motherly figure before, but she found herself doing it now. "Thank you," she said meekly. They fell silent again.
The two sat in silence for a few moments before the headmistress rose and Hermione followed her out the door and down the halls and corridors until they reached the Great Hall. They had only just walked in when Ron and Harry saw them and ran over. McGonagall walked away to speak to the Minister of Magic while the trio talked. Both of the boys were grinning when they stopped at her side.
"How did it go? What's the plan?" Hermione asked, wanting to know whether she would be separated from them or not.
Ron looked like he might start jumping up and down like an excited child. "We're basically already aurors, 'Mione! We don't even have to go through all the years of training; we just show up and take the test! Isn't it great?"
Hermione stared at them. She turned to Harry and raised her eyebrows. He only nodded, seeming momentarily too happy to speak. "No training," Hermione repeated.
Harry found his voice. "Apparently questing and killing horcruxes and the greatest dark wizard ever to live qualifies as a few years of training, yeah."
"No training," she said again, smiling at them. "That's great! I'm happy for you two! When do you take the test?"
At this, both of them looked at the ground, almost as if ashamed of themselves. Hermione was abashed. "What's wrong?" she asked, suddenly a bit apprehensive.
She realized that she had yet to tell them of her plans for the summer and knew that Harry would probably be happier for her, while Ron might get angry that she was planning on leaving the Burrow so soon. She loved it there, but she needed to go restore her parents and bring them back to England before she did anything else. They would understand that much, she knew. But then there was the fact that she had just accepted the job of restoring Hogwarts, which would definitely take longer than her parents' memories. And the idea of caring for Snape was a whole other thing in itself. She wasn't quite comfortable with it herself, but decided that he needed her help and Professor McGonagall—at Dumbledore's request—had asked Hermione to do it instead of someone else, so she must have at least a bit of faith in her. And surely she would be able to back out if she didn't like the job of caring for Snape. Then again, who would?
He would have gained consciousness before they brought him back to the school, so he would be awake and aware part of the time, which meant that he would know it was her caring for him. What would he think? Did he remember anything from the shrieking shack when she had come back alone? Did he know it was her who had brought him back after he lost consciousness? Would he guess that phoenix tears had healed his wounds? Would he demand to know where they came from? How soon would he be able to care for himself?
"Her-mio-ne," Ron said slowly and loudly, waving a hand in front of her face. She realized he'd been talking all the while she was thinking.
"Sorry, what did you say?" she asked. He stared at her.
"Blimey, are you feeling alright? You usually memorize speeches and I don't think you even heard mine!" He put a hand on her forehead. "You look normal," he said slowly, but still had the air of a muggle doctor examining a patient from afar.
Ron started his speech again but Harry cut in with, "We're leaving to take the test at the Ministry in a few minutes. If we fail, then we get training. If we pass, we basically start right away and then we'll go wherever they need us. If they don't need us at the present then we go back to the burrow to wait. That's pretty much it."
Ron looked a bit annoyed that his presentation had been ruined, but Harry ignored him. "What'd she need to talk to you about that was so urgent? Or can you tell us?"
Hermione licked her lips. This was it. "I was offered a job."
They looked at her intently, waiting for the rest.
She smiled. "It would entail staying here for the summer and restoring Hogwarts to its previous—or an improved—state. I would be paid by the ministry."
The two boys grinned. "And . . .?"
"I accepted."
They hugged her and smiled and hollered congratulations, but Ron noticed the look on her face. "There's more," he said confidently. She nodded.
"If I've proven myself by the end of summer then I'll take over the position of Transfiguration teacher because McGonagall's headmistress and can't attend to it." She stopped, smiling with them at their further congratulations and wondering when to tell them about Snape. It would probably ruin it for them. Laughing on the inside as she imagined Ron's face when he heard, she could finally wait no longer. She burst, "And I've been asked to nurse Professor Snape back to health once he returns to the school."
The boys' jaws dropped. They gaped at her, trying to comprehend. "What?" Ron asked finally.
Hermione took a deep breath. "Snape's going to teach again in the fall. He's coming back here to the school to recover once he's regained consciousness and McGonagall's asked me to help him in his recovery."
The boys didn't say a word. Finally, after a long stretch of silence, Ron said, disbelievingly, "You accepted?"
Hermione actually felt indignant. "What was I supposed to do, Ronald? Madam Pomfrey's gone away on urgent business and can't take care of him, and they have more desperate patients at Saint Mungo's to deal with so he's coming back here. And in case you forgot, Severus Snape is the reason we're all alive and standing here today. He's the reason Harry's mom had a choice and the reason she protected him and because of him we were able to kill the horcruxes and Voldemort!"
She would have said more but Kingsley Shacklebolt walked up. He nodded to her, smiled, and turned to the boys. "Off we go," he said, and they started to walk away. Hermione guessed that McGonagall had restored the enchantments on the school, preventing them from apparating and disapparating on the grounds.
"Good luck," she called before they went out the door. Ron turned back to look at her but his expression was sour. He obviously hadn't appreciated her scolding. But she didn't care. All the things she'd said were true and she expected her boyfriend to accept her choice in any way other than grudgingly. Harry turned back as well, but he was grinning. It occurred to her that he respected her decision but was wondering how she and Snape would manage to get along. She managed to grin back before he turned away and they left. Hermione fell back into wondering why Dumbledore had wanted her to care for Snape upon his return.
She was brought back from her thoughts once again when Professor McGonagall walked up. "Miss Granger, we are all gathering in the Great Hall at five o'clock to discuss plans for the reconstruction, which will begin tomorrow. I will show to you your rooms in the meantime and you can do as you like until the meeting tonight. I'm sure you will want to return to the Weasley property to retrieve your belongings. We will-" she was interrupted and both women stopped short when, with a crack, Kreacher appeared, one hand on her trunk and the other on her large suitcase. Stacked on her trunk were another bag and several books.
"Kreacher?" asked Hermione, surprised. "How did you know to bring me my things?"
"Master sent Kreacher to the Burrow to retrieve the belongings of Miss Granger and asked him to bring them to Hogwarts." He said, bowing until his nose touched the floor.
"Thank you, Kreacher!" Hermione beamed at him.
Several of the Hogwarts house elves appeared and in the next moment they were gone, having taken her luggage to her room. Hermione expected Kreacher to leave, but he was still standing there a moment later. "Was there something else?" She asked, looking down at him curiously.
"Master has ordered Kreacher to stay at Hogwarts with Miss Granger and to obey Miss Granger. Miss Granger is Kreacher's master now, too." He bowed again and then looked up into her eyes.
Hermione straightened. She was going to write Harry a letter right away. He knew she hated elf enslavement! She had come to better understand it in the past few months but still despised the idea of their forced servitude. And now he had sent Kreacher here, to Hogwarts! She didn't mind having her luggage, but she would not have him serve her. "Kreacher," she said kindly, "You may go back to Grimmauld Place."
But the elf simply shook his head. "Thank you, Mistress, but Kreacher wishes to stay here with his Mistress. Master has told Kreacher that he will be busy and traveling now, and Kreacher needs to clean Master's house only so often. Kreacher will stay and serve his Mistress."
Hermione looked down at the elf, thinking. There seemed to be no way of getting around Kreacher's alacrity to serve her. So she sighed and said, "Alright. Thank you, for bringing my things. You may go to the kitchen or wherever you like, Kreacher." The elf bowed again and then disapparated from the hall with a loud crack.
The two witches continued walking towards the dungeons. Hermione was only troubled for a short while about Kreacher, though, because a new thought occurred to her; would Snape be tried because he was a death eater? He had originally become one of the dark lord's followers for his own purposes and not for the good of anyone else. He had turned away from the dark lord when Lily Evans' life was threatened and he had pleaded with Dumbledore for help protecting her. When she was killed he had actually returned to Hogwarts and become the potions master, but he claimed to the dark lord that he'd never lost his allegiance, though this was a lie. Snape had truly become good rather than bad, and upon Voldemort's return he had gone back to him as a spy for Dumbledore, though he pretended to be a spy for the dark lord. And on the night when Draco Malfoy succeeded in getting the death eaters and a werewolf into the school, Snape had killed Dumbledore. He had then fled with the other death eaters and gone on to openly declare his allegiance to Voldemort. Hermione remembered how she had hated Snape after he killed Dumbledore. She remembered how she had always defended him against Harry and Ron and was furious to find that he had deserved their spite all along. She had hated him anyway, for being so cruel to her all those years.
But then everything had changed when Harry had seen Snape's memories. Hermione hadn't known what to think when she saw Snape die, and when Harry had told her and Ron about his memories she was shocked. Then everything was turned upside down; she didn't hate Snape, how could she? He was the reason they had accomplished everything they had. And suddenly he was a hero. A hero who died at the fangs of Voldemort's snake Nagini . . . but he was alive. He would survive. Would the Ministry of Magic recognize that all of his actions had been carefully planned by Dumbledore? Would they accept the wild tale of how his allegiance had changed to Dumbledore before Lily's death and had never wavered since?
They must, Hermione concluded. They could use veritaserum and he would tell them the truth, and it would be alright because they would have to recognize him as a hero and not the enemy. Surely, they wouldn't give him an unfair trial and cart him away to Azkaban, would they? But he had Harry Potter, the boy who lived, the victor over the dark lord, on his side. Harry would stand up for Snape and help him find reconciliation with the Wizengamot. And though Ron might not be willing to help, Hermione was. Yes, she would fight for Snape and his freedom and the recognition of his heroism alongside Harry.
"Professor," she said after a while of walking in silence with the thoughts of Snape and Azkaban buzzing in her head.
The older witch turned and looked at her.
"Will they try Professor Snape in court? Will they accept that he's an innocent hero, not a guilty death eater?" Hermione waited for her answer.
"I'm not sure," she said at last. "The Ministry is still rebuilding itself and Kingsley is only temporarily the Minister of Magic. I hope for the best, and they can't try him until he has fully recovered, but they will try him and he will be declared guilty or innocent. I trust that there is no need for me to expand on what would happen if he was found guilty?"
Hermione shook her head. She knew well enough what happened to death eaters, or what had happened to them. "Do the Dementors still guard Azkaban?" she asked.
"Those that never joined Voldemort's ranks are still there," the professor said, "but the ones which left the ministry will have to be sorted out before they can return."
Hermione nodded. They stopped in front of a large, ceiling-to-floor frame hanging on the stone wall of the dungeon. It appeared to be empty, but the older witch said, "Floo Powder," and the frame swung forward, leaving an opening to walk through. They stepped into what Hermione could only assume was the teacher's lounge. It was nice, almost as large as the Gryffindor common room, and even more inviting with a larger hearth and more comfortable looking chairs. A large curving desk was in the corner, large enough so that more than one person could use it at a time, and magical orbs like the ones in Saint Mungo's floated near the ceiling and lit the room with a soft golden glow. The emblems of the four houses of Hogwarts adorned the room, one on each wall. There had to be around a dozen doors leading from the main room, all closed.
Professor McGonagall led Hermione to the door closest to the fireplace on its left. "This will lead you to your quarters," she said, smiling at Hermione. She motioned to the door on the opposite side of the fireplace and said, "This is mine. If you need me after hours, you may check my office or knock. Of course, we are all counted as equals and staff members here this summer as we will all work on Hogwarts' restoration, so there is no need to feel inferior in any way. The password to my office is Dumbledore if you ever need to get in. I do ask that you notify me if you want to floo to another location. You may, of course, visit Hogsmeade any time you like, as you are an adult and a member of the staff." She glanced at the large grandfather clock on the wall that Hermione had failed to notice before and added, "I'll see you in half an hour in the Great Hall." Then she nodded and turned, walking back through the large wooden doors which led to the corridor beyond and the rest of the school.
Hermione took a moment to look at the teacher's lounge again. The Grandfather clock was on the opposite wall as her door and directly across from it. On either side of the main entrance, twin bookshelves rose from floor to ceiling, lined with large, thick books. The couches and seats looked even more inviting than before, but she chose to look at the doors instead. She knew that they led to the teachers' own personal quarters. Upon closer inspection she found that while each was made of thick, dark wood and they all looked alike, each was different from the next. All of them were lacquered and polished so that they gleamed amiably in the golden light, deep reddish-brown. But each had been carved differently.
Hermione decided not to count the number of doors leading from the lounge besides the main one and left it to her own imagination to guess how many there were. There seemed to be around ten or eleven, but she didn't want to know for sure. It was wonderful not knowing but not worrying because it was a trifling matter. She went back to focusing on the doors themselves. Each was carved with an intricate design and in the center of it was an animal. Here on her left there was a horned owl, surrounded by leaf-like designs. On her right she found a doe, surrounded by swirling patterns. She looked at Professor McGonagall's door and found a cat surrounded by wavy lines and arches curving away from it. Could the animals on the doors be the teachers' patronuses? Looking closer, she noticed the strange markings around the cat's eyes. Excited by the idea, she returned to her own door, where square-ish shapes crossed themselves in a mesmerizing and beautiful design. In the center of the shapes an otter was carved twisted into the door, seeming to be in the midst of turning gracefully underwater. So they were patronuses. They must change shape whenever a new staff member was assigned a room, she thought.
She turned the doorknob and pushed it open, stepping inside. She had walked into an open room. The walls were plain white and there was a fireplace on the wall to her left. A study was in the right side of the open room and her bedroom appeared to be in the left. They were separated by a single step, so that the study floor was about a foot lower than that of the bedroom. There was a desk in the corner of the study and a single bookshelf on the wall. A couch was positioned in front of the fire, and between the two a large rug rested on the wooden floor.
In the bedroom there was a large four-poster bed like one from Gryffindor tower, only larger and more comfortable looking, if that was even possible. The floor was wood like in the study and there was a large wardrobe next to the bed. The house elves had left her luggage in front of the wardrobe and put the extra books on the bookshelf in the study. Her trunk was against the foot of her bed, waiting to be unpacked. The sheets were light cream-colored and the curtains around the bed were as well.
From the bedroom she went through a plain door and into her own personal bathroom, with a large sink, a bathtub that appeared to be a miniature version of the one in the prefect's bathroom, and a single toilet, separated from the rest by a plain wall of enchanted glass that wasn't transparent. One of the walls was sheeted with mirror from ceiling to floor and corner to corner. There were more orbs floating on the ceiling here, but they gave off a rather unnatural white light. She walked back into the bedroom and found more orbs there, which she had failed to notice before because they gave off a glow like a fire would. There was a large clock on the wall opposite the bed and it told her she had five minutes before the meeting in the Great Hall would commence.
Smiling to herself and looking around her rooms, she tucked her wand in her robes, glanced in the bathroom mirror to be sure she was presentable, and walked out the door, on her way to her first official meeting as not a student, but a staff member, at Hogwarts.
And so the story continues! Please review if you have a spare moment and tell me what you think! Thanks so much for reading! I love you all! ~Taelr