Chapter 07: Lessons begin

Friday, 2 September 1977

The next day Hermione and Lily woke up early in the morning and after showering, they put on their school robes, took their schoolbags and walked down the stairs to the common room. The rest of their roommates were only slowly waking up as they left. Remus was already in the common room, smirking triumphantly at Lily.

Lily rolled her eyes. "You know you always beat me," she said to Remus, who grinned as a reply.

"Well, I think you ought to wake up earlier then?" Remus asked as they walked through the portrait hole.

Lily grumbled. "It's not like you're doing your makeup and hair in the mornings…"

Remus merely shrugged at the redhead. Hermione eyed their banter with interest.

"Lily thinks she can be the first one up on our schooldays, but unfortunately, she hasn't yet succeeded," Remus explained to Hermione, smiling when Lily made a face at him.

"So how was your summer?" Lily asked from Remus as they walked down the staircase towards the Great Hall. "I'm sorry I didn't have the time to write that often…I was stuck with my mum's relatives for the most of the summer…" She muttered sullenly.

Remus waved his hand. "No worries. It was…okay I guess. Met with the guys a couple of times and pretty much stayed at home for the rest of the holidays. Although I had to come here a few days earlier, since my folks had some vacation planned and they didn't want me to stay behind…" He said awkwardly, glancing at Hermione.

When Lily didn't even acknowledge his early arrival, Hermione wondered if the redhead knew about Remus. She reckoned it was a bit unusual, coming to the school before the term started. And why wouldn't his parents leave him behind? He was of-age…Perhaps Lily did know about him…they seemed to be close friends so it would have made sense.

Lily was in the middle of explaining how boring it had been at her aunt's place. "I mean, I didn't even have Tuney there to piss me off, it was so exhausting…"

Hermione turned to look at Lily. "Tuney?" She asked subtly.

Lily blinked. "Oh. Yes. Petunia. My sister. She's a couple of years older than me," she said with a strained voice. "She's a…handful." She said discreetly, and Remus suppressed a grin next to her.

Hermione nodded. She had an inkling of what Lily was talking about.

As they reached the house tables in the Great Hall, Hermione sat down with Lily on the bench on one side of their house table, while Remus took a seat opposite to them. The Hall was a bit quiet, as it was only a few minutes past seven and the breakfast had just started. They were the only seventh year Gryffindors at breakfast and there were only a handful of younger housemates scattered along the long house table.

Hermione glanced at the table, which was filled with mouth-watering food; bacon, eggs, fried sausages, fried tomatoes, kippers, corn flakes, rolls, toast with marmalade and butter on the side, and a cauldron of porridge. As she was piling a fry-up on her plate, Remus poured tea to the girls.

"What NEWTs are you taking, Hermione?" Lily asked after a moment, taking a sip of tea.

Hermione swallowed her food and drank some water before she answered. "Um. I was thinking of taking Transfiguration, Herbology, Charms, Defence Against the Dark Arts, Potions, Arithmancy, Astronomy and Ancient Runes," she said and Lily nodded with a bright smile.

"Same here," she replied, seeming slightly impressed as Hermione was taking as many subjects as she did.

They continued their discussion as Remus recounted the NEWTs he was going to take and then wondered together what was going to be their first class of the day.

"Good morning, girls," James announced as he slid down to sit next to Remus some time after, while Sirius and Peter sat next to Hermione, and the rest of the seventh year girls took seats at the table as well. Remus rolled his eyes at his mate while everyone began loading their plates. Hermione too reached for a toast and saw Sirius eyeing at her.

"Sleep well, darlin'?" He asked conversationally, giving her a charming smile.

Hermione coughed loudly at his words. "Um. What's with the endearment?" She arched a brow.

Sirius grinned. "Just thought you needed one," he said and winked at her.

Hermione huffed. It was too early for Sirius Black's charm. "Well, I slept well, thank you for asking. And you?" She continued, not having the energy to argue him about anything.

He smirked knowingly, "I always sleep well, but even better when someone accompanies me," he said and lifted his brows at her knowingly.

Her brows lifted with annoyance. "I beg your pardon?"

Sirius barked a laugh and said, "I'm just taking the piss out of you, Dumbledore. No need to get your knickers in a twist."

Hermione flushed and narrowed her eyes at him. "As if I would let you anywhere near my knickers," she hissed.

Remus stifled a snort while James lifted his brows in surprise. Peter merely gaped at her and Sirius's expression was stuck between an amazed grin and a frown. Before he could answer her, the mail arrived. About a hundred owls streamed into the Great Hall, flying over the tables and dropping letters and packages to their owners and recipients.

As some of the seventh year Gryffindors received letters and small parcels, Sirius took the morning's Daily Prophet from a brown delivery owl and slipped five Knuts to a small pouch on the owl's leg. Hermione made a mental note to make her own subscription as soon as possible.

Sirius smiled as he saw her eyeing the paper subtly next to him and eventually he pushed it between them on the table, so that they could both read it.

After the breakfast Professor McGonagall approached them from the staff table and begun handing course schedules to the students, starting from the first years and moving up until the seventh years.

"Miss Dumbledore," Professor McGonagall said as she reached Hermione. "I have received your grades from your previous school and I can say without hesitation, that you do not have any hindrances when choosing the subjects you wish to take at Hogwarts," she said briskly, her mouth curving slightly. "So. Which NEWTs do you wish to take?"

Hermione smiled at her Head of House. "If it is possible, I would like to take Transfiguration, Herbology, Charms, Defence Against the Dark Arts, Potions, Arithmancy, Astronomy and Ancient Runes." She said, eyeing McGonagall hesitantly.

"Certainly," McGonagall said and handed Hermione the timetable with her courses on it. "I will meet you in Transfiguration this afternoon."

The professor then turned and addressed Lily and James. "Miss Evans and Mister Potter, as Head Students you are trusted to handle the patrol schedules for prefects. I will expect a copy brought to my office no later than tomorrow morning. Also, it has reached to my knowledge that there is going to be a party in the Gryffindor common room tonight. Is that information correct?" McGonagall asked with a stern look. "As Head Boy and Girl, I hope you both know to keep it under control."

"Of course, Professor," James declared before Lily could say anything. "I take my duties very seriously and will make sure the common room is cleared by midnight," he said promptly.

McGonagall fixed a scrutinising look at the Head Boy. "See that you do."

A smile tugged at James's lips. "Will do."

Sirius snorted quietly at their conversation and smirked at Hermione when he saw the astounded look on her face. As McGonagall moved along the table to hand out the rest of the seventh years their schedules, Sirius leaned in closer to Hermione and whispered to her ear. "I personally think that McGonagall has a thing for James, that's why she lets him off the hook sometimes."

Hermione lifted her brows in disbelief, but was still slightly stunned by her favourite teacher's behaviour. She also tried not to be affected when Sirius was so close to her that their bodies were touching, and tried not to think about the fact that his lips were hovering right next to her earlobe and how his hot breath was bringing shivers down her body. Delightful shivers.

Circe...She wanted to slap herself for even thinking about that.

"So…Our first class today is Ancient Runes," Lily said a bit tightly, eyeing Hermione and Sirius suspiciously.

Hermione was shaken from her reverie and as Sirius backed away, Hermione cleared her throat and gathered her things. "Shall we?" She asked from Lily, trying to will away the small flush that seemed to stay persistently on her cheeks.

Sirius looked at her with a cheeky smile before he spoke, "Have a great day, Dumbledore. I'll see you later," he winked and with that he and James stood up and left the table, exiting the Great Hall. She didn't have the time to reply anything, so she just took her schoolbag and left the Great Hall with Lily, her mind whirling with mixed-up feelings.

As they entered the class, Remus was sitting there with Peter. Hermione was quite startled seeing Peter in that particular class, since she had thought that he wasn't the brightest of students and Runes were thought to be a slightly difficult subject. Lily smiled and went to sit next to them, proceeding to take her books from her bag. Hermione too smiled at Peter and Remus, before sitting down next to Lily. Professor Babbling gave them their assignments, which were to be solved in small groups, so Lily, Hermione, Peter and Remus formed a group and started to translate the runes together.

As the girls, Remus and Peter were taking Runes, Sirius and James had a free period. They had decided to stay at the empty Gryffindor common room and engage into a wizard's chess game. They sat at the two squashy armchairs facing each other, with the small chess table between them.

"So Pads…laying the charm quite thickly, aren't you?" James said and gave Sirius a knowing grin.

Sirius shrugged. "I dunno…it's like I'm drawn to her or something…" Sirius replied thoughtfully as he ordered his pawn forward.

James let out a small laugh. "Yeah…So you don't want her just because she's new and exciting?" He asked as he moved one of his pieces.

"Well, probably that too. I mean, maybe I'll get over it after I shag her," Sirius replied, smirking at his best mate, even though he already had a feeling that he wouldn't.

James looked thoughtful. "I dunno…She seems like one who is hard to get…I mean, she's the first girl who calls you out on your shite. Along with Lily…" James said with a small grin.

"Sod off, Prongs. I haven't even tried yet..." Sirius said indifferently before he moved one of his rooks, crushing James's pawn.

James shook his head. "Honestly, don't mess with her. Lily will have your bollocks on a platter if you screw up her new friend…"

Sirius chewed the corner of his mouth before he replied, "Yeah, well, I'll think about it. What's it to you, anyway? Why do you care what Evans thinks about my actions?" He asked with a teasing smirk as he moved another piece on the chessboard. Sirius of course knew his mate was still pining after the redhead, even though he was with another girl. He also knew that Lily wouldn't just be angry with Sirius – she would give them both the silent treatment if she was pissed off enough, regardless which one of them had annoyed her.

James let out a small grunt. "You know why…" He muttered. "Even though she hasn't really shown any interest in me, I still haven't given up hope on her…" He said quietly and rubbed his face.

Sirius nodded at his friend.

"I mean, I like Madison. She's so easy to be around and we've had fun." James said easily. "But…To be honest, I don't really see a future for us, at least not after Hogwarts." He said thoughtfully.

Sirius nodded grimly. "Yeah, I know what you mean…"

James sighed and moved his piece. Sirius's king had no move and his queen was now forced to step away in a vain effort to safe its monarch.

"I dunno...Maybe relationships are overrated," Sirius muttered finally. He cringed as he thought of the unlikelihood of James getting Lily.

James huffed at his friend while bringing his bishop forward. "Mate," he said, holding two fingers in the air.

"Shit," Sirius muttered when he saw James could finish him off in two moves.

As Lily, Hermione, Remus and Peter walked towards their next class, Potions, Hermione went over the Ancient Runes class in her head, thinking how unexpectedly nice it had been working with Peter. She knew Remus was intelligent, kind and probably a good study partner, but she hadn't expected the same from Peter. He had surprised her with his intellect and his witticism, and Hermione reckoned that perhaps keeping an eye out for him wasn't as bad as she'd thought.

They reached the dungeons, chatting about the Runes essay Professor Babbling had asked them to write for the next week, until Professor Slughorn appeared and opened the door to their classroom. She took a seat at an empty table, when all her classmates paired with each other. Then someone stood in front of her. Hermione lifted her gaze to meet a pair of cold, black eyes that stared at her with a blank look. She took in his unkempt appearance, his black, a bit greasy, shoulder-length hair. It was Severus Snape. The man who had killed Dumbledore.

"You're in my seat." He said with a low voice, dropping his potions book in front of her on the table.

Hermione was taken aback and trying to find words. "Um…I didn't realise we had assigned seats," she said tightly before moving to the empty seat next to her. She didn't know how to feel about his sudden appearance. In her time, he had been a double agent and ultimately betrayed the Order. Although, every time she and Harry had gone through Dumbledore's death, they both had reached into the conclusion that there had to be more to it than that. But was there, really? She tried to pull herself together, to see him as a young man who was still in school. Who wasn't necessarily a Death Eater yet.

Snape didn't say anything, but merely sat on the seat where Hermione originally was situated and began to write on his parchment the instructions Slughorn had put on display, his hair falling like a curtain to hide his face from her.

Professor Slughorn began to introduce the potion project they were supposed to start, instructing them to pair up with the person next to them.

Brilliant. Hermione thought bitterly.

"So, I guess we're partners," Hermione said awkwardly, trying to at least act politely towards him.

Snape glanced up as she spoke and he studied her with his cold eyes and an unreadable expression.

"So it seems. Dumbledore." He said finally. "I hope you will actually show effort in this class and not assume your name has some merit when it comes to the grading." He said with a slight sneer on his face, giving her a once over. Hermione sighed inwardly. Although, what she knew of Slughorn, he was known to favour students with ability and name and for a food grade even one of those attributes was enough.

Hermione chose not to reply. "Do you want to go to the storage room to get the ingredients or shall I?" She asked him instead and aimed for a polite smile.

Snape gave her a sceptical look and said, "I think it's best that I'll go get the ingredients, so you cannot mess that up. You can start the cauldron."

Hermione heaved a sigh and muttered, "Okay then…" as Severus left for the supplies cupboard.

What an arse. She thought as she lit the fire.

When the class was nearly over, their potion was the perfect colour and texture, bottled up in small vials to be brought to Professor Slughorn. Snape was evidently surprised by her brewing skills.

"I find your skills rather…acceptable, Dumbledore. I might have underestimated you." Snape said quietly as they cleaned up their desk and packed their bags to leave.

Hermione smiled in mock sweetness to him and said. "Thank you, Snape. I trust you won't underestimate me again and assume I am only my name."

A flicker of a grin tugged his lips. "One should never just assume…" He grunted.

When everyone was drifting out of the class, Slughorn came to stand in front of Hermione and Snape.

"Well, well, well. I was hoping to see you in my class, Miss Dumbledore. You have some talent in you," Slughorn chuckled.

Hermione smiled politely. "Thank you, Professor."

"You know," Slughorn spoke, his voice lowering a bit, "I'm having a small get-together next week, and I was hoping you would attend," he said, watching Hermione closely.

"Oh…Well, sure," she stammered, not really knowing how to say no to him. She wasn't really that interested joining in the Slug Club, now that she knew what it was all about.

"Marvellous! And young Mr Snape is attending as well, aren't you?" He turned to Snape, who nodded curtly in reply.

Satisfied by their answers, Slughorn walked sluggishly back to his desk, slouching in a comfortable armchair and opening a bag of Crystallised Pineapple.

When Hermione turned to look at Snape, she saw him already pulling his tattered bag on his shoulder and leaving.

"What did old Sluggie want?" Sirius asked from Hermione as she exited the class. He was leaning against the wall in the empty hallway, while everyone else had probably gone to lunch already.

She lifted her brows in surprise as she hadn't expected him to wait for her. "Oh…He just wanted me to join in one of his 'get-togethers'." Hermione said with a shrug.

Sirius huffed a laughter. "Of course he did," he muttered, following her as she walked towards the Great Hall.

"What does that mean?" She asked, even though she knew fairly well that Slughorn wanted her there because of her last name.

"He invites this elite group of students to join in his dinner parties, calls it the 'Slug Club'." He said with a displeasing look.

Hermione smirked. "Oh? So you're in his club?" She asked teasingly.

He gave her an amused look and shook his head. "Nope. He asked me to join though, when I was younger. But something tells me I'm not a suitable candidate anymore," he said with a lopsided grin, threading a hand through his shaggy locks.

Hermione gave him a small smile in reply.

"But you know, you should go. See what it's like. Evans sure is boasting about it every chance she gets," he said, grinning slyly. "I've told Prongs loads of times that she must have a thing for the old fart…" He said and lifted his brows at her knowingly.

"Sirius!" She hissed at him. "That's not a proper way to speak about a teacher," she said with a stern voice.

Sirius merely laughed as they entered the Great Hall and took their seats at their house table.

After lunch, the seventh year Gryffindors had Transfiguration. The classroom was large, brightly lit space and everyone sat in silence as McGonagall spoke.

"Conjuration is an advanced form and branch of Transfiguration and it is considered to be some of the most complex magic taught in our school. Conjurations differ from the other branches of Transfiguration as it is the art to transfigure the desired object from 'thin air'." McGonagall explained, waving her wand and conjuring an Eagle to the corner of her desk.

She vanished it before she continued, "As you all know, there are limits as to what can be conjured. Today we will go through conjuring living beings. You will start with simple; birds and snakes which you have already conjured in your earlier years in magical education and then move on to cast more advanced spells, conjuring butterflies, rabbits and horses." She said, looking over the class.

After McGonagall had introduced their subject for the day, she gave the students a moment to write down notes before she vanished all the furniture from the classroom, except her own table and chair.

Hermione watched in awe as James and Sirius were effortlessly conjuring living beings of different sizes and species. She was fairly good in conjuration spells, but certainly not in their level.

"Don't worry," Lily muttered next to her as she flicked her wand, conjuring a flock of birds in the air and vanishing them after McGonagall had seen the spell. "This is their best subject." She said and gave James and Sirius a harsh look as she noticed that they'd conjured a small horse and were sniggering as they made Peter ride it in the back of the large classroom.

Hermione suppressed a grin as she eyed their performance. A moment after Peter fell from the horse, giving a small cry as he landed on his bum, causing Sirius and James burst in laughter while Remus shook his head in amusement.

Of course it was… James, Sirius and Peter were Animagi, after all… Hermione shook away her wandering thoughts and conjured her own flock of birds in the air. McGonagall eyed her work with a satisfied look before walking briskly to scold the boys.