Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. I just wish I owned Professor Snape. He is so fine. If you all agree you'll read this next chapter. If not, still read the chapter. Please. :)
Chapter 3- Shocked
The first thing that Hermione noticed was nothing. Absolutely nothing at all. Everything was quiet, and not a thing moved. All of a sudden there was a commotion so loud that she had to back up a few steps. Everybody had jumped up from their hiding spots, let loose the balloons and confetti, and yelled, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" There were people everywhere, behind the sofas, tables and anything that would sufficiently hide them from view.
"Oh my goodness. Is all of this for me?" she asked into the air, just a little stunned.
"Yes, dear. It's not everyday that your little girl turns 18," said her father, walking over to Hermione and giving her a hug and a kiss on the cheek.
"But, I'm not a little girl anymore, Dad," replied Hermione with a smile.
"That I know, my buttercup." replied her father grinning.
"Oh, Dad, why must you call me that still?" she said, but before her father could answer her mother called for her.
"And there's more where this came from," said her mother. "Come to the kitchen, Sweetheart."
Hermione followed her mother to the kitchen, and stopped dead in her tracks when she caught sight of the people she had been missing since the summer began.
There in the middle of the floor stood Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley, her best friends in the whole world, except for Ginny Weasley, who was her very best friend. Ginny, however was not there at the moment because she was on a trip with her boyfriend. A boyfriend that nobody knew the name of, which made Hermione just a tad bit sad. She thought her and Ginny told each other everything. Oh well, she thought, all in good time. She must have had a reason for not telling me.She focused back on the two handsome boys standing in front of her.
"Oh my gosh!" she squealed. "Where have you guys been? I'm so excited. How is everybody? Are you guys okay?"
"Shh! 'Mione, we're all okay. We've all been at The Burrow this summer. Everybody else is fine as well," said Ron.
"Hermione," said Harry, "Guess who Ron's going out with?" He paused for dramatic explanation, "Lavendar Brown."
"Ewww!" Hermione cried, clapping her hands over her mouth, "Really, Ronald?" She promptly burst into giggles.
"Yeah... w-w-well, Harry's going out with Loony Lovegood," stammered Ron, at a loss for anything remotely as interesting.
"Good for you, Harry, but I thought you were going out with Ginny," said Hermione, even more confused than before as to who her best friend was dating.
"Nah," said Harry, with the maturity that he had gained from getting older. " We are good friends, but we just do not feel the chemistry. Besides, I'm just as stumped as you about who she is going out with."
"Hmmm. Well, do you know where she is, Ron?" asked Hermione, thinking she probably knew what he was going to say.
"Not a clue," he replied, making his usual befuddled expression. "I think she said something about a wizard hotel in Hawaii, or some such place."
"And your parents just let her go? While you guys don't even know her boyfriends name or who his family is? These are difficult and dangerous times right now." said Hermione, who was really shocked. She didn't think Molly Weasley was that trustworthy of her only daughter, especially as she was the youngest of her seven children.
"Yes, they did not seem to have a problem with the idea. Something about Ginny being more mature than I am, or some other nonsense, you know?" He pouted and crossed his arms over his chest, clearly showing the rightness of his parents judgment.
"Oh bother," said Hermione, knowing that she would just have to wait and find out who the mystery man was. She spaced out for a moment to wonder about that dream of hers from last night. Makes me wonder about my mystery guy as well. I cannot see myself with any of these school boys, they are all just so into Quidditch, and snogging. I won-.
"Yeah, well, Hermione, could you turn around for a moment? Your parents want to take a picture," said Harry grinning, and interrupting her train of thought.
"Oh, yeah, sure," said Hermione, still a little absentminded.
When Hermione turned around she saw the sign hanging on the kitchen door frame saying, "CONGRATULATIONS: Head Girl!"
"Oh," said Hermione, before she hit the floor in a dead faint.
When she came to almost a minute later, she was lying on the living room couch. Harry and Ron were sitting on the floor next to her.
"That was so girly and cool, Hermione, do it again," said Ron. He looked like a kid who had just gotten a really big box of chocolate frogs and was going to devour them before supper.
Harry punched Ron in the arm, "You insensitive brute. She just passed out."
"Well, it was cool!" said Ron, rubbing the spot that Harry punched. It was already turning colors.
"Hey, you guys!" yelled Hermione, "I am sitting right here."
"How do you feel, 'Mione? When you get better we have something that we think you will love," said Harry.
"I feel fine, Harry. Thank you for asking. Now, what was it you had to show me?" said Hermione, with anticipation.
"Well, we have a letter from Dumbledore for you about something to do with your Head Girl position," said Ron, holding out large envelope for her to see.
"Well, let's see it then," said Hermione, grabbing the envelope from Ron's hands.
She unfolded the letter and started to read aloud:
To Ms. Hermione Jane Granger:
I am pleased that you have accepted the Head Girl position. Therefore, I now have a request for you. What I propose is an apprenticeship for yourself and the Head Boy to learn whatever subject you want to teach when you get older. That is, if you want to teach at all. If you do not feel teaching is something you desire to do, then that will be just fine. However, if you want to accept this, please send a letter by owl or floo, no later than tomorrow at noon, with the answer, subject, and the professor.
Sincerely,
Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster
P.S. Pack all of your school stuff because as a Head student you will be at school two weeks before the start of term. You will go by Hogwarts Express as usual.
"I think that is such a lovely idea." said Hermione, after she had finished reading the letter. She looked to Harry and Ron for their thoughts. They both thought it was a good thing to do.
They spent another hour with her, chatting about what the new year might hold, and then they left. She immediately started writing her return letter. Although her friends would die if they knew what subject she chose.
To Headmaster Dumbledore:
I accept this apprenticeship with the best respected wishes. I do wish to learn how to be a Potions Mistress (and learn under the greasy bat, which is, Professor Snape). I'm sorry for calling him that, Sir, but that is what he is. Thank you so much Professor for this wonderful opportunity to learn, and make something of myself.
Most sincerely,
Hermione Jane Granger.
She finished writing, rolled it up, and put it into the fireplace with some floo powder and said, "Headmaster Albus Dumbledore's office."
"She is Hermione Granger," said Albus, eyes still twinkling.
"What do you mean that little know-it-all is Head Girl, Albus? Why would you do that?" asked Severus, with an incredulous expression pinned to his face.
"Well, my boy, all the other professors thought it was a good idea. And she is the smartest witch in 7th year. Maybe even the smartest witch since Minerva was in school. I, daresay, that she rivals yourself in intelligence, my boy." replied the Headmaster, knowing what to expect from his snarky professor.
"My point exactly, Albus. Know-it-all. And I refuse to except that that bushy haired, little girl is equal to my intellect," replied Severus with a smirk and a raised eyebrow.
"Sometimes you have to get over that, Severus. As I recall you were a know-it-all yourself," said Albus, putting on a more serious expression. "Now, Mr. Malfoy has chosen to apprentice, not under you as we expected, but under Minerva McGonagall. And Ms. Granger's answer should be here short—Oh! Here it is now." For at that moment the fire turned green and out popped Hermione's letter.
Dumbledore read the letter and then he laughed. "My dear boy, you really should see who Ms. Granger has chosen. It is truly ironic now that I think about it."
"Let me see that, Albus," said Severus, reaching towards the letter.
Albus handed him the letter and his eyes grew wide and he almost choked on the air he was breathing in. Almost. "Bloody hell, Albus. Why did she choose me? I've made her and her friends life hell here. She should be choosing some other professor to annoy with all her Gryffindor bravado. Why me?" said Severus, almost pouting out the last part.
"Oh, quit your whining, Severus. You have to get ready for her to move into your shared quarters. Oh, and you must be NICE. At least while there are no students here," said Dumbledore as an afterthought.
"Be nice my arse, Albus. Greasy bat! I'll show her a greasy bat. They'll be all over her room," said Severus, who was really being stubborn about the whole thing. Certainly not unusual for him.
"Severus," said Albus, in a tone that made Severus wince, "Be NICE! It is only for a year."
"This will most assuredly be the worst year of my life," said Severus. And without saying goodbye he walked out of the room and slammed the door. Acting much like a little kid who did not get his way, instead of the grown wizard he was. He was thinking the whole way to the dungeons, Why me? I hate all those Gryffindors and their misplaced loyalty and especially that I-know-everything-bookworm Granger. He sneered, knowing that this would be a terrible year.
Hermione told her parents goodnight, and she went upstairs to her room. It had been a long day for her, full of surprises galore, and all she felt like doing was going to bed. As she opened the door to her bedroom, all notions for sleep were gone as she took in the sight. She squealed and ran in.
A/N: Please review. I think this one was pretty long too. Sorry for the cliffie, but that's how it had to be. I hate cliffies. But if you need one then you need one. I'll be continuing to update everything.