AN: Thank you for all the support! It is very deeply appreciated!
As a student, Hermione could be secretive, a trait Severus never found to be positive. The more secrets she kept, the more likely she was to cause trouble, the kind of trouble which led to migraine relieving potions. As an adult, a secretive Hermione could cause just as many problems, even if they tended not to be as ill-conceived. Between his memories of her youth and his confusion of her present state of mind, he couldn't help but be taken aback when she had handed him a note at dinner asking him to meet her in the Muggle Studies classroom.
Upon reading it, he'd turned to her and raised an eyebrow. Did she expect him to behave as if he was a sixth year giddy at the chance of a secret rendezvous? Was he supposed to count the minutes until she exposed her latest scheme? How much time would he spend wondering why he was so willing to meet Hermione anywhere she needed him to be?
The only answer to his unspoken questions was a small smile before she returned to her roast beef.
So a half hour later, he stood in her classroom, tapping his foot on the ground. He glanced up at the note again, hoping being early didn't make him appear too eager. The last thing he needed was anyone questioning him on why standing in a Muggle Studies classroom was more pleasurable than going to The Leaky Cauldron.
"Sorry I'm a little late," she used her walker to enter. "With the rain coming, my leg has been acting up. I had to exchange the cane for a walker."
"Perhaps we should postpone this little tete a tete then," Severus stood between Hermione's desk and the students' desk. Contrary to his expectations, the students' desks were in a circle. Hermione had mentioned once wanting students to see each other during class discussions. Still, they were even more spaced out that usual.
Why would they need to be set up this way in order to talk about the various genres of television shows?
"No, this is too urgent to postpone," She stood in the middle of the circle and propped herself on the walker.
"Are you going to be injured if we do not meet now?"
"No, but I may not get the Defense Against Dark Arts position if we postpone this."
He shook his head. Even as a professor, she retained her optimistic, persistent Gryffindor traits.
"I know Minerva is about to send out the calls for those who have made it through…"
He opened his mouth.
"But please hear me out." She folded her hands as she leaned against the walker. "I know I can change her mind."
"How?" His eyebrow was raised once more. "Minerva seems confident in her decision."
"Yes, but she hasn't seen the fruits of my research."
"Research?" He folded his arms over his chest.
"Yes," She grinned. "I've taken what you said to me the other night into account. I realized she was correct. I cannot be a Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor in the traditional sense. If I try to perform the same maneuvers as everyone else the way everyone else performs them, I will fail."
"I sense there is a contradiction here somewhere."
"But if I can teach while taking my disability into account, I could be quite successful. If I work with, instead of against, my body, I can be successful in Defense Against the Dark Arts."
"How do you plan to do that?"
She pulled out her wand and tapped the walker. A shield arose around it. Then, she tapped the right hand grip. It fired a beam of light which hit a piece of chalk on the board, shattering it. Then, she tapped the left hand grip. Another beam shot from it, this one knocking an eraser from the board.
"Impressive," Severus' eyes grew.
"Yes, and my wheelchair can do the same thing," she answered. "I now how the ability to fire curses while maintaining my balance as well as create a shield around my assistive devices. It will be more difficult to disarm me by removing my wheelchair or walker."
"How? If they remove your assisted devices, they defeat you in more ways than by inhibiting your movement." He cocked his head.
"They won't be able to do that, not with my new spells."
"How certain are you of that?"
"As certain as I am that I can perform magic."
He hummed.
"Look, I can prove it," she stood up straighter. "Go ahead and try to remove my walker."
"I don't want to harm you…"
"I promise you won't."
He parted his lips, searching for his next words.
"Even if you do, it's my fault for being so overconfident," she answered. "Besides, it will be practice for when a student catches me off-guard. Go ahead and try to disarm me. Don't hold back either."
Severus stared at her before pulling out his wand. In a weak voice he began, "Accio walker."
It remained in its place as the shield around it glowed.
"Try it again," she ordered. "This time like you mean it."
"Accio walker."
It remained in place as the shield around it glowed blue.
He furrowed his eyebrows. "Accio walker."
The only change was the blue shield flickered.
He lowered his wand. "Even I must admit that is impressive."
"Thank you."
"That being said," he frowned. "Defense Against the Dark Arts is more than firing curses and casting shields. You will need to performs actions such as controlling dark creatures."
"I know, which is why I can make my walker fire different spells and perform different actions depending on my intention."
"Intention?"
"Indeed," she replied. "There are still a few spells I need to straighten out, but for the most part, all I need to do is tap my walker and it performs the spell I wish it to."
"Can you accio my wand with it?"
She tapped the walker. His wand flew out of his hand into hers.
He scratched his chin. "You have thoughts this through."
"Thank you." She leaned over her walker and held out her hand. He received his wand from her.
"That being said, there is quite a bit of physical exertion involved in Defense Against Dark Arts," he warned. "You'll need to be able to move to show the students their spells. You'll also need to avoid hexes. Then you may have to get between students to protect them from each other. That's going to take quick movements."
"Yes," her voice faltered. "I have considered that, which is why I called you."
"You mean you didn't just call me to watch you perform these spells and report back to Minerva?"
"No," she gulped. "I've thought about the quick maneuvering, and I've come up with a solution."
"What would that be?"
"I need to maneuver in a way that doesn't involved my legs. There has to be a way to move that no matter how much my leg hurts or is shaking, I can move quickly."
"Judging from your expression, you either haven't come up with a solution, or the one you've decided upon is distasteful to you."
"I wouldn't say my solution is distasteful, but it isn't my first choice."
"Then come out with it. How do you plan to move?"
"I want to fly."
Severus blinked.
Her voice was stronger. "I called you here because I want you to teach me how to fly."
"I thought you hated flying."
"I do. I'm terrified of heights, and by extension flying. The idea of falling has always scared me. Still, it's the one way I know my leg will no longer be an issue. If I don't have to put weight on my leg, I can move. The best way to move without putting weight on my leg is to fly."
"It can take months, if not years, to fly, time you may not have."
"I know, but if I'm practicing, that may encourage Minerva to give me another chance to apply. Then, I'll spend my time mastering flight, hopefully before the demonstration."
"While I have every confidence you are magically powerful enough to succeed, I do question whether you will have the confidence to do so."
"I know I can succeed."
"I know, but are you confident that you will not be hurt when you fly? Are you confident that you can control yourself without crashing?" He asked. "Are you confident enough to overcome your fears?"
"I know this isn't like flying on Buckbeak, or even using a broom, but I want, no I need, to do this." Her eyes were pleading with him for any crumb of hope he could throw her way. "I'm scared at the idea of leaving the ground, but I need to fly."
"I suppose there is no harm in teaching you," he replied. "You are an excellent student, and you will be a quick study."
"Thank you," her eyes lit up.
"Though I must warn you, in order to learn this skill properly, it will take time and practice. Flight does not come easily, and it does require quite a bit of exertion in the beginning. Your body will adjust to the energy expended as time goes on, but it will be exhausting in the beginning stages."
"I lived in a tent for months running from Death Eaters, foraging for food, and keeping guard. After that, nothing is too exhausting."
"That is fair enough," he answered. "That being said, the magic used may increase the pain in your leg. Due to the rarity of your condition, I cannot guarantee that it will not cause long term damage to your leg, or you will ever adjust to the effects of whatever magical exertion you do."
"The potential benefit is worth it."
"Are you certain of that?" He asked. "You may not get this job, and you may be in a worse shape than you are in right now. Do you want to take such a risk?"
"I will be in more pain if I watch someone else take the position, knowing I didn't try everything I could to obtain it," she answered. "Any form of magic carries its risks, and I've accepted that. I want to learn to fly even if it risks aggravating my leg issue."
"Very well," He approached her. "We can begin tonight."
"I was hoping you'd say that," Her eyes glistened.
"I suspected as much." He exhaled. "First, you must clear your mind."
She tilted her head.
He inhaled. "Let your thoughts be nothing."
"Flying relies on meditation?" She interrupted.
"In the beginning stages, yes. You will need to learn to clear your mind. That way, you can focus on your desire to fly."
"Okay," she exhaled and closed her eyes.
"Granted, this is easier when you can occlude, but you will learn to clear your mind in time. By the time you are flying, this will be second nature."
"Fine," she took a few deep breaths. "I think my mind is clear."
"If you're talking, then it is not."
She opened an eye.
"It must be completely cleared for this to work. Not a single thought can be in your mind. Only then will the desire to fly will take over."
"Okay," she exhaled. She squirmed and leaned harder onto her walker. From the way her mouth twitched, it was clear she was considering what to say to him next, not clearing her thoughts.
"If you would like, I can teach you how to occlude. That may make this easier," he suggested.
"I'd like you to do that someday, but I'd like to try and learn to fly without it."
"You are determined to make things more difficult, aren't you?"
"I want to focus on this," she opened her eye again. "Though I would appreciate you teaching me occlumency at some point."
"We can learn those in whichever order you'd like."
She nodded before inhaling and closing her eyes.
In silence, she stood. He watched her body continue to slump under the shaking of her leg. Within a few seconds, her body was halfway to the floor.
"Hermione."
She opened her eyes before wincing.
"I think we've had enough for today."
"Yes," she answered before sighing. "I did not realize clearing my mind would be so difficult."
"Like all worthwhile things, it takes practice," he answered. "It took me months to be able to completely clear my mind."
"I have some books on meditation and mindfulness techniques. I may try those when I practice clearing my mind."
"That may be advisable."
"In the meantime," She stood straighter. "Will you continue to help me?"
"We will meet twice a week, once on Wednesday and the other on Saturday, assuming one of us is not doing rounds."
"That is agreeable. If one of us must miss, we'll deal with it then."
"Agreed."
"In the meantime, thank you." She shook her head. "I only hope Minerva will reconsider if she hears about my ideas."
"If she does not schedule an interview for you, then I will threaten to aid you in your mission to help liberate the Hogwarts elves."
"You would help me with that?"
"I would leave her questioning whether or not I would do it."
"I see." She drawled
"In the meantime," he cleared his throat, "I will see you tomorrow."
"Indeed you will." The smile returned to her face
With one last look, Severus left the room, wondering why Hermione was the easiest woman to have faith in.