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Chapter 16: Salvage
What the Know-it-all was ready to give up on her education and her own personal goals. Minerva was going to kill him thought Severus Snape. Shite!
"No I am not going to let you quit Miss Granger. You are going to get your NEWTs and I hope that you try and better my scores. Now you are always going to have to deal with the pettiness of imbeciles of people like Ginevra Weasley so don't use her as an excuse cause you are afraid of failing," snapped Severus Snape hoping to get her famous temper to come out rather than this tired apathetic thing she appeared to be at the moment.
"I am not afraid of failing," Hermione snapped back at him. "But I am sick of fighting for this and fighting for that. I just want to be left alone so I can get on with my life and achieve my own goals. What is so special about me that I am the centre of attention for petty feuds and bullying? My whole school career has been plagued by injustice. I was bullied in the Muggle world and I have been bullied in the wizarding world since day one. What is it? Do I have stamped on my forehead 2nd Class Citizen lets take the piss out of her?" lamented the frustrated young witch.
"Miss Granger calm down we are trying to find a solution that would let you achieve your goals and no I can not see any stamp on your forehead," advised the Headmaster. For his response he was rewarded with a chuckle from the witch.
"What about changing from returning to Hogwarts for your schooling but rather returning to Hogwarts for the start of your professional life? I have the perfect part time position for you as a Study Skills Advisor working in the Library in the afternoon after school and on a couple of evenings a week.
The rest of the time you would be your own so you could study and finish your NEWTs. You would be a member of staff so we could move you into the staff wing and you would not have to deal with Ginny or anyone else of her ilk. You would have the extra protection of staff round you as well as having access to our academic salons so your curious nature would be satisfied. So Miss Granger, are you up to the challenge of being a Study Skills Advisor?" inquired the Headmaster.
"Think about it Hermione but it is now time you returned to your guests", the dark haired man advised her.
oOoOo
Most of the guests had left when there was a blended family conference in the newly renovated central kitchen of 12 Grimmauld Place. Hermione had already escorted Pansy and Draco into one of her new guest rooms and said good night to the pair. The curly haired witch had then wheeled out to the main kitchen in the centre of the house where she found Remus, Tonks, Harry and the Twins all discussing the issue of her safety at Hogwarts. The young witch sighed when she observed the concern looks of her friends when did she, Hermione, become such a major problem for her friends.
"Do you want a hot cocoa Firecracker?" inquired Tonks trying to lift the mood of the young witch which had been dark and foreboding most of the night at the wine and cheese party.
"Yes if you make sure it has some Tia Maria in it," advised the young witch.
"Oi you know no alcohol with your meds. By the way have you had your last set of meds for the evening yet?" the concerned friend asked.
"Yes mother, No mother, three bags full mother. See I have my rattle box here to have the last dose of the night," Hermione cheekily responded to Tonks.
"So did Severus have any ideas on how to deal with Ginny?" asked Remus.
"Well he did have this one idea but I am thinking about it," advised Hermione, as she was not sure.
"Come on old girl don't make us tickle it out of you? What was the esteemed Headmaster's idea?" begged the two twins who were waiting with baited breath for the news.
"The Headmaster offered me a part time position as a Study Skills Advisor. I am not sure if I want to take it or just focus on my NEWTs alone" stated Hermione while tying to explain her hesitation.
"Right Harry get a pen and some paper out," advised Remus.
"Lets do a Pros and Cons list up!" said three male voices together before cracking up in laughter. It was such a Hermione thing to do that she was well known for her decision making process when she had time to think about the options.
There was a belligerent look from the witch concerned as yes she could see the funny side she was tired and frustrated about the situation she was in yet again. "I am tired so can we get on with this please" she advised the rest of room.
"Well what did he offer?" inquired Tonks
"Accommodation in the teachers wing", she advised them of the first item.
"Well that one is a plus in my column as it means you could have your own apartment set up and yet still be near Remus and I or the rest of the staff," advised Tonks.
"Next item" asked Harry.
"Access to the academic salons" listed Hermione.
"So you would be considered a member of staff and have all the protections as a member of staff including the expelling of students if attacked. So he has offered a position did he mention a wage?" asked Remus.
"Sorry did not mention numbers but said I would be working afternoons after school and a couple of evenings a week. The rest of my time will be my own. I would be based in the Library," advised Hermione.
"Nice throwing in the Library," said the twins together.
"He really knows how to sweeten the pot for you" advised Fred.
"Next time you need to ask about the cold hard cash," asserted George trying to remind his friend to be a little more business like in the future.
"He could have been very Slytherin by doing it that way," pointed out Fred after thinking of the potential angles.
"Oi that is devious, Promise her unlimited access to the library and she will go all gooey over the sickles, knuts and galleons. Oh very clever. Definitely know the weakness of your enemy or in this case your prey," stated George.
"Well she does not have to make the decision tonight so I am calling this family meeting over. Everyone to bed" advised Remus.
"Night Hermione and get some sleep on the matter" suggested Tonks as she kissed the young witch on the forehead before starting up the stairs to the Lupin's new apartment after shooing the rest of the household up the stairs.
oOoOo
Hermione was enjoying a quiet cup of tea on her patio when Pansy came out and joined her bringing her own cup from Hermione's Kitchen.
"So what are your so concerned about that your are gnawing your lip again?' inquired Pansy.
"The Headmaster offered a part time job last night. Study Skills Advisor. I am not sure about whether I should take it," advised the wheelchair bound witch.
"Humm.. What did he sweeten the pot with for you?" pondered Pansy out aloud.
Two ginger head males popped their heads round the patio with a mug of tea each and the list from last night. "Here is the pros and cons list we did last night with her," advised one of them before taking a large swig out of his mug.
"Ahhhghhh.. That hit the spot," he said before turning to look at Hermione.
"So Firecracker are you going to say yes and put us all out of our miseries or you just going to make us work for it," asked the second Twin. It could be George or was it Fred. Hermione was trying to pick which twin it was but she was not feeling too great due to pain.
It is a funny thing that people forget that pain and emotion is a closely tied in thing. The more emotive you are the more pain you are likely to feel if it is a negative emotion and the more positive the less pain you are likely to feel.
The whole anxiety the young woman had over the Ginny situation had caused Hermione to have a bit of a restless night. She had the late night scheduled medication but found that she still could not sleep. The restless legs had hit in the middle of the night, which was a good sign but it reflected that she had nerve stimuli over firing in her legs and this was disturbing for her. The constant firing then develops into over stimulation, which is very uncomfortable. The uncomfortable feeling then moves up the scale range to become pain and then into uncontrollable pain.
So not two hours after Hermione had retired to bed she was awake and looking for a way to make her legs stop moving or sending uncomfortable neural signals. She ended up getting out the oxynorm tablets and had the first of two that she needed to have during the night. It was something to say that she was alert and drinking tea at 6am in the morning and had hardly slept a wink during the night.
"What is your problem? Granger!" snapped Pansy hoping that she would get a response out of the apathetic looking witch.
"Wage, Freedom, Library, Teacher, Academic Salon – what more do you want?" asked the witch.
"Not to be a burden. Not to be a pitied symbol. To make my own way," advised the bushy haired witch.
The Slytherin Princess stood up and went back inside Hermione's apartment were from shortly they heard her screech "DRACO! Hermione won't take the job your Godfather offered her. Come and tell her she is being a fool".
Not very long after the screech a decidedly ruffled Slytherin Prince was standing on the patio demanding tea, matchsticks and more sleep.
"So Granger. I am loosing beauty sleep cause you are not sure about taking a part-time job at Hogwarts that would give you independence, freedom, protection, full access to a Library, part of an academic salon, the start of a professional career. And you are supposed to be the smartest witch of our generation Sheesh!" he snapped at her before turning around and returning to the guest room.
"Hermione take the job. You know you want to. Talk to Harry. Talk to Remus. They will thank you although if you give them about another two hours. Do you want another tea?" inquired Pansy as she took their cups and the tray back into Hermione's kitchen.