Chapter twenty-eight.

Hermione was stressing. Majorly. The Christmas break was coming up, which meant she had to devise individual exams for each class, (because if there was one thing she knew, it was that kids told other kids what was on exams) she had to organise the huge showstopper prank on Malfoy (and convince Alice to go along with it, although she had an idea that Alice would have no problems) and convince Ron to go to Australia.

The latter was probably going to be the hardest. Harry was trying to sway him by convincing other Weasleys to come; Fred and George had already jumped at the chance of introducing their products to a whole new continent and their fiancées from Delhi, India and Wales were excited to go too. Molly and Arthur had agreed excitedly and Charlie and his American fiancée were eager as well; they couldn't wait to get a gander at the Australian Dragon, known to muggles as 'The Rainbow Serpent'.

(Alice had confided in Hermione that she doubted that that would happen within the short Christmas break; as the 'Rainbow Serpents' were known as great experts at disguise and were descendants from the dragons that had taught the Chinese people how to read and write. Hardly anyone ever saw them, but it was rumoured that they were great conversationalists.)

Hermione twirled her wand in her hands thoughtlessly as she waited for her first class. It had become a bad habit; before teaching she had only done it occasionally, but now, whenever she had spare time she couldn't sit still and would have to fiddle.

In front of her was a large book on Australia that she had found in a long forgotten part of the Hogwarts library. Unfortunately, it had been written when Australia was just being colonised, so it was full of accounts of the long suffering souls that had been sent to begin the Wizarding colony there. Tales of beasts deemed mythological to the sane British Wizarding community then were apparently reality down there. Days of insane heat, flies and danger at every corner leapt up at her from the pages and Hermione nervously vowed to get a more up-to-date book that hopefully didn't scare her.

The Head girl, Milly Hobon, came flouncing into the room with a huge smile. To Hermione, she seemed to be an exact contradiction to all things Slytherin, she was nice and kind and happy; not cruel, cunning and selfish. But when Hermione had heard the other side of the story (a.k.a NOT Gryffindor rumours) of how many of the Pureblood families were under threat of death if they didn't support Voldemort, she remembered that Slytherin's house was for those of pureblood, not necessarily those that were cunning and cruel, that was just a by-product of growing up in English aristocracy.

"Hey Professor Granger! What're we doin' today?"

Hermione smiled, "Wait till everyone gets here and I'll tell you.' At Milly's disappointed face she laughed, 'Okay, we're just revising and going over how to tackle this upcoming exam."

Milly's face soured, "Naw… Can't we think up cool transfiguring spells to use during duels?"

"…You just had D.A.D.A didn't you?"

Milly's face turned dreamy, "Harry Potter is so cool. He's so nice and understanding and gorgeous…"

Nicolas Fallows walked by, "Ugh, Milly, do you ever think of anything other than famous people?"

Little Tita De La Garza walked by and flicked the end of her braid at Nicolas, "People have their quirks, Fallows, Milly isn't as obsessed with famous people as you are with those Muggle racing cars."

Nicolas gazed at her appreciatively as she walked by, before masking it with a face of cold indifference as the small girl with large glasses turned back to him.

"And I'm not as obsessed with cars as you are with books!" The handsome Hufflepuff smirked, condescendingly.

Hermione interrupted softly, "Settle down. Liking something means that it's a personal mark of respect. Milly obviously respects people who have gained fame through their archievments, Nicolas obviously respects the speed and adrenalin of racing cars and Tita obviously respects the knowledge that comes from books. There is nothing wrong with that. Now, I've changed my mind, today open your 'Transfiguration through the Ages' textbook to pages 563 and 578. Read them and do the questions."

Today's class was a tutorial for the Seventh Years in all three houses for transfiguration, so houses were mixed as they got into their small groups to study. Hermione transformed into her powerful wolf form, so she could lazily watch the students and frighten them into obeying her at the same time. The rumours that she helps Filch trap students straying from their beds at night hadn't completely dispelled yet.

"You want me to do what?" Alice cried. It was late at night and the New Zealander was still in her uniform as she lay sprawled across the couch.

"Please?" Hermione pleaded and Alice sighed.

"You know that it's tricky magic, right?"

"I'll buy presents for everyone at Christmas!"

"You were gonna do that anyway!"

"Yeah, I know, but still Alice! Please!"

She sighed, "Tomorrow night you said?"

Hermione punched the air in silent victory from behind the sofa and out of sight, "Yes." She stated calmly, her voice not suiting her actions.

Alice just sighed again, "Okay, whatever Granger. You owe me."

"Yep, you got it! But thank you so much Alice!"

"Don't thank me just yet."

Hermione collapsed into the small armchair next to Alice, who was finally shedding her boots and peeling off her socks.

"Oh My Gosh!" Alice exclaimed in horror as she saw the bottom of her feet.

"What?" Hermione asked lazily.

"Look at that!" Alice shoved a slightly smelly foot in her direction. Luckily, Hermione was far away enough not to notice it.

She squinted at the small white foot thrusted in her direction and shrugged, it looked a bit more worn and calloused than the average foot, but that was it. "What's wrong?" She asked as Alice looked at the bottom of her other foot desperately, almost in tears (her first foot was still shoved in Hermione's face).

"They're so white and soft! It's unnatural! I'm used to them being nice and brown and hard! Bloody Pommie weather, making me wear shoes!" Alice looked depressed.

"Aren't you a kiwi? It's cold down in New Zealand, you should be used to it!" Hermione scolded.

"Not as cold as this! And sure I was raised in New Zealand, but my schooling was in Aus, so growing up I'm used to not wearing shoes! And now they're all soft and squidgy, it's gonna be ages before they get that good hardness back again!"

Hermione shook her head amusedly as Alice dejectedly poked the soles of her 'soft' feet again.