Disc-c-c-c-claimer. Neither are mine, I am exercising them in this metaphorical field so they don't feel forgotten, or get unhealthy. =D
Ten o'clock rolled around quickly, and Hermione, Chelsea and Aspasia collected the other Posh Totties on their way to one of the more secluded classrooms by the mechanic's garage. Hermione was quieter looking around her, having not yet explored this part of the school, and she followed the other girls until they reached their destination.
Among the students already inside were the first year twins - Tara and Tania - Taylor, Andrea and Celia. Some of the others were trailing in, and a couple were unknown to Hermione as they were several years younger.
What interested Hermione was the man standing at the front of the room behind the teacher's desk. He was currently staring at the door, as if waiting for someone to enter, and was garbed in a pair of very tight, black leather pants. In fact, he looked rather like a rock star with his big, scraggly black hair and eyeliner.
Hermione saw his eyes widen, and the hint of smile touched the corner of his lips, as Kelly finally walked in. She seemed nonplussed at his presence.
"Ladies." He called out, effectively silencing the chatter. "Class is started, and I believe we have a new student, yeah?"
His eyes roamed the room before settling on Hermione.
"Ah, here we go." He smiled, like the cat that got the cream, and wandered over to her seat on one of the desks.
"Hermione Granger." He stated, rather than asking her. It seemed that he and Kelly were rather alike that way. "This class is something vastly different from what you've ever done before. It's not about magic, and it's not about the average muggle curriculum."
"Oh?" Hermione challenged. "What makes you think I've never done it before?"
He grinned, and plucked her wand from her pocket.
"You've never done it without this." He rephrased. "That, I'll bet on."
He tossed the wand back to her, and she caught it before stowing it out of his reach.
"Welcome to your street-cred class." He finally explained, bouncing back to the front and writing the word 'crime' in enormous chalk letters across the blackboard.
"Alright, darlin's, give us some examples." He addressed the whole room, and the girls eagerly responded, creating a cacophony of sounds from which he chose the best suggestions.
Blackmail, extortion, theft; all sorts of criminal activities were written on the board now, and Hermione hand finally joined in, calling out 'fraud' which was dutifully written up as well.
The class went on to explain about how effective each was, and how to go about creating aliases, or gaining the upper hand against a rival or intended victim without using magic.
Hermione was actually enjoying herself by the end of it, although she was completely knackered as it was by then a quarter to twelve. When she returned to her room, she spotted Beowulf and decided that she might as well send the owl back to Harry with her reply (she was intending to bring Aspasia and Chelsea with her to the brunch).
Watching the owl soar away, she flopped into bed, transfigured her clothes and fell asleep almost instantly.
OoO
"So? What did you think?"
Hermione looked over to Aspasia, who was buttering her toast.
"Of last night? It was unusual." Hermione replied, choosing her adjective carefully. "Why are we learning about crime?"
"It's life, Hermione." Aspasia responded, taking a bite. "Sometimes the best way to do something isn't the right way."
Hermione sighed and rolled her eyes. It was certainly taking some getting used to, St Trinian's. But she was enjoying it, she conceded, smiling.
The students' breakfast was interrupted then, by a flock of owls that flew in through the windows, each carrying an official looking envelope. It appeared there was one for everybody.
Opening it to read the letter, Hermione was not the only one to gasp as she digested its contents.
Dear Student,
Unfortunately, it has come to the Board's attention that a number of undesirable teaching methods have been employed at your education centre. Thus, regretfully, an official will be sitting in on some of the classes until a decision can be made regarding closure or continuing running of St Trinian's School for Girls.
We hope that you will do what is right, and assist our official if needed.
Sincerely,
Leah MacDougall
Assistant to Fitzgerald Umbridge, Head of the Magical and Muggle Education Office.
Hermione groaned. Umbridge. Would that awful, toady family never leave her alone? First fifth year, and now this! They had to be related; Umbridge wasn't that common a name.
"You've got to be kidding me." Kelly said, angrily. "They can't close St Trinian's – it's the only education centre left in England for witches. It might have to establish a brother school just to keep magical children in the country!"
Chelsea looked stunned, and flipped the letter over as if looking at the seal would actually reveal that the whole thing was a hoax.
"Bloody Umbridges!" Hermione exclaimed, and her own letter burst into flame. She dropped it in her orange juice, avoiding the flame.
Aspasia raised an eyebrow.
"You know this Umbridge person then?" She queried as Hermione scowled. "What's the deal?"
"Fitzgerald has a relative who goes by the name Dolores. She was a right cow and she nearly closed down Hogwarts, used a Blood Quill on Harry (and others), and she was everything horrid rolled into one toady woman." Hermione growled, slumping a little in her seat. "This means trouble."
"Joy." Chelsea said, before she swallowed the rest of her pineapple juice.
"Oh!" Hermione started. "I almost forgot – Harry is having a brunch on the weekend. Do you two want to come?"
Both girls nodded excitedly, and the group moved out of the hall to their first class of the day.
OoO
Hermione used Side-Apparition to bring Aspasia and Chelsea to Harry's home, and she nearly stumbled when she released their hands, only to be caught around the waist by a strong, masculine arm.
Looking up, she gasped and let out a little squeal at the broad shouldered man before her.
"Marcus!" She exclaimed, wrapping him up in a short, but tight, hug.
"Hello, witchling." He smirked, before turning to greet his sister and Chelsea with polite air kisses beside their cheeks.
"What are you doing here?" Hermione asked; curiosity evident in her eyes.
Marcus led them to the front door, and threw a casual, "I suppose it's for the same reason as you three", over his shoulder as he knocked against the hardwood.
The host pulled the door open, and a large grin appeared as he realised who was there.
"Hermione, you're here." He said redundantly as he enveloped her in his arms, ruffling her hair slightly. "How have you been?"
"Good, wonderful." She beamed back, only then remembering that she had guests to introduce. "Harry, these are some of my new friends, Aspasia Flint – you've probably met one or two times before – and Chelsea Windsor. You know Marcus." She said dismissively, though she sent an impish smile at the large ex-Slytherin who in return tugged one of her curls gently.
"Charmed." Harry said, kissing both girls' hands, and shaking Marcus' firmly before he herded them all through the house to the back garden.
Hermione, walking behind Chelsea, realised that the girl was looking especially pretty, though she wore a somewhat conservative (compared to her other outfits) pink, lacy, sundress. Quite possibly the most covering ensemble Hermione had seen the other girl in so far.
She, herself, was wearing a pair of shiny red pumps with a high waisted, black skirt with a delicate frilly top tucked into it.
Arriving in the garden, Hermione was pleased to see that it was remarkably well kept and that several flowerbeds were bearing pretty coloured flowers. Clearly, someone had been working very hard outside.
Some other guests were already milling about, and Hermione saw Ron talking to Ginny and her new male-friend, Anthony. Ducking over to say hello, she was pleased to see everybody getting along fine. Harry came to stand beside her quietly.
"Hermione, do you mind coming inside? I'd like you to meet my girlfriend." He said softly into her ear. She nodded, and he reminded her to keep an open mind as he guided her to the kitchen.
Inside what had been Molly's domain for so many years stood the one witch Hermione hadn't expected. She stood, goggle-eyed, for a moment, before Harry took the initiative and actually brought the dark haired witch's attention away from the canapés she was preparing.
"Pansy, Hermione's here."
Pansy Parkinson turned around quickly, the tiniest hint of fear and worry in her eyes, though it was speedily covered by a neutral mask.
"Good morning, Gra- Hermione." Pansy offered, trying to hide the tentativeness in her voice.
Hermione swallowed, but managed to gather herself together.
"Pansy."
They stared at each other for several moments, and then Pansy seemed to relax slightly.
"I was so sure you were going to hex me as soon as you saw my face." She said quietly, with a small smile.
Hermione giggled, and then embarrassedly covered her traitorous mouth with her hand. Pansy smirked.
"Don't worry, Hermione. That was my first reaction, too."
Hermione smiled then. This wasn't the same Pansy from Hogwarts; this one was worldlier and more attuned to the people around her.
The once-Slytherin outstretched her hand, and Hermione didn't hesitate to grasp it in return.
"It's nice to actually be introduced to you." Hermione told her slyly, as a smile lit her face.
"You, too." Pansy responded, easing into a smile of her own.
Hermione almost felt the seven years of bad-blood wash away as they released each others' hands.
"I'm done with these, Harry." Pansy said suddenly, gesturing to the food. "You can take them out to the guests."
Harry sighed heavily, but winked at Hermione and did as Pansy bade. The two women followed behind to mingle and be sociable.
OoO
A girlish giggle caught Hermione's attention, and to her surprise it was another former Slytherin that had arrived – shockingly, with Neville Longbottom – and Chelsea seemed to be rather taken with him. Theodore Nott had never been very outgoing at Hogwarts, and he wasn't one for following others, hence he had rarely spent his time goading the Trio, and had never attached himself to Draco Malfoy's posse, leaving Hermione with almost no background information except the somewhat creepy fact that he could see Thestrals before the war had broken out.
Looking at Neville, Hermione's brow furrowed.
"Harry? Did Nott and Neville arrive together?" She asked bluntly. Harry glanced over at the pair, catching their eye, and nodded. The lanky man gave a half salute, half wave to Harry – another surprise – and came over to say hello, Neville trailing behind.
"Are they together?"
It came out rather squeaky, and she immediately cleared her throat. Harry looked bewildered.
"What?"
"You know, 'together'?" She repeated, blushing slightly. Harry restrained a guffaw and fixed his expression to one of bemusement.
"No. They flat together, but I believe that both are interested in women rather than men."
"Harry, mate. How are you?" Nott – Theodore – said with a grin, clapping him on the back as Neville hugged Hermione.
"Good, good. You fellows?"
"Excellent."
Hermione looked between the three men.
"I'm away for a couple of months, and I miss out on everything." She stated, sounding rather confused and overwhelmed at the complete sincerity and calmness that was hovering over the situation that, less than two years ago, would have resulted in a near-death experience. Or at least, a verbal spar between House rivals.
Theodore smirked.
"Good to see you too, Granger."
She couldn't wipe the faint smile from her lips so she shook her head dejectedly and went with the flow, allowing the next few hours to be a nice brunch between friends and acquaintances.
Theodore, as it turned out, was practically Pansy's brother, and had spent a great deal of time at her home in his younger years, since the death of his mother at the hands of his deranged, Death Eater father.
He looked out for her, and was equipped with a formidable armoire of painful spells that weren't illegal in England, or on the Continent.
Hermione quite liked him: sneaky and dangerous, with a thirst for knowledge and a clean record.
She was currently seated between him and Marcus, and the elfish wine that Pansy had insisted be opened was sitting deliciously in her stomach and giving her a heady sensation.
Of course, that may well have been the immense satisfaction she'd gained from viciously mouthing off about Umbridges and ranting about how she would ensure St Trinian's stayed open. Naturally, Chelsea and Aspasia agreed vehemently, while the boys, led by Harry and Marcus, became incensed of their own accord and vowed to do something about the unfairness of it all.
Theodore had smirked, Neville and gone to get himself some more wine, and Pansy had merely watched, slightly intrigued, but with a look that made her eyes glint as the cogs turned in her sly, Slytherin brain.
End of another chapter! Yay. So, um, I think I need to go see the second St Trinian's when it comes out here in Australia, because I've unfortunately lost a bit of inspiration, and having a tonne of assessments and exams and all that for uni really hasn't helped. =C
Please, Read and Review like a Responsible Reader.