Severus expected to collect a home-sick mess when he entered Tokyo, but was instead met with a bright, beaming girl sitting on the ground with her friends giggling over something or other. He remembered her saying she was nervous about her Japanese, but to hear her respond to the siblings' jokes, or make comments, he never would have known it.

Hermione was horribly jet-lagged, but did seem the better for her month away. She hadn't spent a single night away since he brought her home swaddled in a little pink blanket. Yet she seemed to have legitimately enjoyed her month away. He listened intently as she told him about the month, happy to receive more than a couple of sentences followed by a "have to go!". He noted immediately that she mentioned a number of people not mentioned in her letters. In fact, it seemed she had more friends from Japan now than she did in Hogwarts. That he didn't expect. He had expected her to cling tenaciously to a select few, despite their treatment of her, and to be even more confused socially than she had been in September.

"So, you were quite happy, I take it?" he asked nursing his tea.

"Yeah," Hermione gave a weak smile and her tired eyes looked off into the distance. "I was."

He mused for a moment not really wanting to ask, but if she was happier..."Hermione?"

"Yes, Dad?"

"Would you say you were happier there than here?"

"Heavens no!" Hermione scoffed, her half open eyes now fully opening. "I did love it there, really, but I couldn't do it all year. I'd miss being able to speak English, understanding humour without asking for clarification, and I do have friends here...And I might miss you as well."

He smirked and set his hand on the top of her head. "Might? Thought you'd at least be thirteen before I became trivial."

This earned a giggle from Hermione before she stifled another yawn with her hand. "Is it really only three? I think it was actually easier to adjust going there than coming back."

"Probably because you arrived at night before you would sleep," he suggested. "It's what? Midnight Tokyo time?"

"Something like that," she sighed. "Though it's normal for me to be up this late doing homework. Seven subjects, four clubs, all while trying to keep up on the language. Sleep was optional."

And yet you look healthier... "I know we talked about that, love," he sighed. "But I'm not going to waste my breath lecturing you if you can't be bothered listening."

"It's not that I can't be bothered," Hermione shrugged. "I'm capable of prioritizing. If I thought it was harmful, I'd re-prioritize."

I doubt it, but I'm not going to antagonize you on your first full day back. "So, no reservations about going back next year?"

Hermione shook her head with a faint smile. "I'm looking forward to going back, actually."

"And yet you don't want to spend the year there?" Severus asked.

"I already told you I didn't and why," Hermione sighed but to his surprise leaned in close with a smirk. "So I don't care if there's a serial killer prowling the corridors and if I'm an exact match for their victimology, I want to do my school year here."

"That's not even remotely funny, Hermione Elizabeth!" he snapped. "Honestly, after last year, you of all people should know better!"

"Sorry!" Hermione shrank back into her chair. "You're right. I wasn't thinking..."

"Evidently," he said. "Though I'm not too worried. The only new addition, aside from first years, to the school this year is the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, and he can't seem to tear his eyes from a mirror long enough to plot anyone's downfall. Yes, I imagine you'll be quite safe this year."

"Maybe the gods will take pity on him and turn him into a flower?" Hermione suggested.

"A daffodil might make for a better teacher," he mused.

"Is he really that bad?" Hermione asked between giggles.

How he missed that laugh. Sure, Hermione wasn't the happiest child, but she had her moments, and when she did she had simply no idea how contagious it was. He would never tell her, but she was truly the only good thing in his life. A pressure not to put on an already nervous child. He remembered her clinging to his arm in Tokyo, she seemed so scared that he'd wanted to call the whole thing off. But it wasn't just that. He wished it was. But he knew he wanted to keep her around, and the proof that sending her away had been good for her...it was hard to swallow.

"Let's just say," he said. "That I seriously considered seeing to your education in the subject myself after reading his books. Meeting him only reinforced that the need for it."

Hermione bit her lip and her eyes drifted off to the side. She was so transparent he wondered how she ever got away with half the things she did in the previous year.

"However, despite my every instinct," he continued rising and venturing to a bookshelf. "I have decided not to. On the condition you supplement your readings with the standard book for the subject."

"Yessir," she nodded taking the book dropped in front of her. "Thank you."

"You should know," he set his hand on the top of her head again. "I'm relieved you actually want to be here."

A week passed and Hermione adjusted to the time-zone and summer alone, more or less, with her father. Though she had been given free reign before eight, which she once again used mostly in the library. What wasn't normal was the influx birds that came through the week. She expected letters from Hiro, Ron, and the twins, but she had also received letters from Saiyaka, Toshio, Kaori, Miyuki, Anya and Sam.

"Someone's popular," her father teased over one lunch. "Don't think I've ever seen so many birds in one week. To think I was ever worried you hid in the library all month."

"You're kind of right, that is where we spent most of our time."

"Why am I not surprised?" he smirked. "I can imagine you lot met stalking around the stacks?"

Hermione burst into laughter covering her mouth as she thought about the attempt to capture the library bandit. He was so close and so far, which she was fine with. She'd rather keep her misadventures in Japan to herself. They were hers, and the stack of letters on her bedside table told her that the ones she shared them with actually liked her. She only wished she played more of a roll in the whole case, though now Hiro could feel like something was his.

"Hermione?" her father looked perplexed.

"Sorry!" Hermione regained her composure and made herself sit straight. "I was just reminded of something that happened back in Japan. You, erm, kind of had to be there..."

"I see," he sighed, examining her.

Does he seem...sad? she thought looking into his face, neutral in expression, but something about his eyes communicated some level of, maybe disappointment? Maybe she should have been more forth-coming in her letters rather than simply giving him broad-strokes. Now that she mentioned it, she had not mentioned any of her friends by name until she had been brought back. She should have given him something about her life back there while she was away. Maybe then there'd be less "you had to be there's"...

"It's fine, love," he said as if reading her thoughts. "You were bound to have plenty of moments like that. If you're going to feel guilty about anything, perhaps it should be the vague two sentence reports you saw fit to send while you were away."

Ouch! But he was right. Hermione bowed her head "Sorry, Dad."

"Just agree to write more next year, eh?" he placed his hand on her head.

"I will," she promised.

Speaking of not writing enough...I see Harry ghosting me, but it's weird he's not written Ron all summer...

Ron,

I'm glad to hear you're enjoying your summer. No, I haven't heard from Harry either, and I'm starting to worry! I figured you two would have kept in touch, so you are right, it is odd. My fingers are crossed that things changed since last you wrote. I'm kind of stuck here, so my best advice would be to maybe see if Fred and George can cook something up? I'm not sure...anyway, I'll see if I can come up with anything from here.

I won't be able to meet up with you guys before school, I'm afraid. Dad's picked up everything I need while I was in Japan. But I can't wait to meet you guys in September! Hope all is well!

Cheers,

Hermione

Hiro,

You and your family must be excited for Obon! Glad to hear your August is going well! Yeah, I imagine no summer homework is a great advantage of being a transfer student. Sorry to hear you guys are swamped. One step at a time, I guess. It's wonderful to hear Kaori and Anya are still so happy even though Anya's back in Bremerhaven! You and Toshio hanging out must make this summer break much less lonely. I'm so jealous of the photography hikes you two are taking! Mount Fuiji is supposed to be gorgeous! I'm happy you two are hanging out again, I know how lonely you were last summer. It's fantastic you've gotten the old gang back together, even if it was awkward.

If you're feeling overwhelmed with your homework try spacing it out? Where Toshio's staying with you, study group? Just don't leave it till the last day. I promise you'll regret it if you do.

I can't wait to hear more from you!

Love,

Hermione.

Saiyaka,

You must be so excited to be visiting Kyoto for a week! I've read so much about it! I know it might but a dent to the rhythm you've set with your summer homework, but if anyone deserves a break, it's you! At least you've started your break homework, so that's something. Both you and your sister were top of your year thus far in your perspective schools? That's incredible! I remember how hard you worked, you've definitely earned it! Sorry to hear you both are fighting though...

My advice? I have no siblings, but have you tried asking her why she was mad at you? You only have thirty days together, so they shouldn't be wasted on stupid rows. At the very least, you deserve to know why she's mad at you. If that doesn't work, you tried. That's all you can do.

Keep me posted.

Love,

Hermione.

She decided to reply to everyone else later. Exhausted trying to come up with solutions to a multitude of problems from kilometres away, Hermione took to the first of ten books by Gilderoy Lockhart for DADA. She sighed reading through the preface of Voyages with Vampires. She decided that Lockhart had to be a great wizard to justify such narcissism. Surely, an adult couldn't be capable of such completely unwarranted confidence? After so many years one had to develop a sense of self-awareness, right?

There was nothing really worth taking notes on in the preface, which she could make an exception on her rule about having at least three points every paragraph. She could bare to do it with a preface. But once she got into the meat of the book...it was all wrong! The man detailed trivial matters like his favourite colour, the age he was, a childhood memory the trek reminded him of, etc. Sure, if it were better composed it might make for a good story, but Hermione and the others were supposed to learn DADA from it. What the hell was she supposed to take notes on? She had to have at least three per paragraph. She didn't know why, but she was certain she'd fail if she didn't.

She straightened out her quill, inkwell perpendicular to her note book before marking her page between the second and third chapters. If she could cross-reference with other books on Eastern European Vampires, she'd be able to come up with something. There just had to be usable content in the book. The professor surely wouldn't have chosen it if there wasn't...she hoped.

A daffodil might make for a better teacher... Hermione was used to her father forming harsh opinions on which ever DADA professor was appointed, but this was exceptionally harsh...maybe it wasn't completely unfounded this time around?

Hermione rounded the corner to find she wasn't alone in the library. A younger man, late twenties, early thirties, with curly gold hair and impeccably dressed in peacock blue robes scanned the shelf. Must be the new professor. She didn't know what he was looking for, and moved to leave the stacks when he turned to face her.

"Oh my," the man said. "I didn't know their were students around during the summer!"

He was exceptionally pretty, she gave him that. He had pale unblemished skin, smiling eyes that matched the blue of his robes and hat, and a slender but not too thin physique as well as eerily white perfect teeth. He looked like a...Shit! That's Gilderoy Lockhart!

"Erm," Hermione backed up. "Sorry to bother, I'll come back later!"

What the hell, Dumbledore hired the Gilderoy Lockhart?...if the synopses of those books are right then...he's done so many amazing things...something I hope to figure out soon.

"You must be Severus's little girl!" he asked but it sounded like a declaration. "You must forgive me, Harmony, you two don't look much alike! (Haven't heard that one before!) Back from China, I see!"

"Japan, actually," Hermione explained feeling an opinion on the man form independent of the meandering chapters she'd just read. How the hell did you mix those two up?! And Harmony? Not even remotely similar! No, give him a chance, maybe I misheard him.

"Ah, Japan," he mused still smiling. "A lovely country. If Professor Dumbledore hadn't reached out to me personally about the position here I would have gone myself. I would like to tackle a Cheonyeo Gwisin!"

"That's a Korean spirit, sir," Hermione mumbled. Is Asia all one country to you? That's like going to Egypt to fight a Tokoloshe! Though he might lump all Africa together too...Is he still smiling?

"Monsters know no borders, little Harmony," he beamed.

But most recognize a sea! "Erm, it's Hermione, sir."

"Of course, Hermione!" he chuckled. "Exactly what I said. You must have misheard me."

"Must have," Hermione said with a fake smile. "I'm actually passed my curfew, so I'll be off!"

Hermione gathered her things and left the library, in a way happy for the intolerable interaction. Had he not been such a bloody git, or they had met after Hermione read the books in full, she could see herself being quite taken by his supposed accomplishments.

Hermione,

Sorry, we got your letter the day after we got our school things! You will not believe what happened! Or you will if you read the prophet...so you probably do. Great Git Gilderoy Lockhart was signing books at Flourish and Bots and as soon as he found Harry in the crowd, he singled him out and brought him to take pictures. Made up some rubbish about Harry wanting his auto-biography and gave him all his books for free. Might have been nice if it wasn't a press stunt!

Which of course got Malfoy's attention, he said some awful things, and his father swooped in. Let me tell you, Hermione, his father is just as bad as he is! If not worse. Makes me so proud Dad decked him right outside the book store! Mum was furious, but it was the highlight of my summer!

Harry said he reckons now that you're back home Snape won't let any of his letters through to you, so he says he'll explain in person why he didn't write.

See you later,

Ron.

"I met Harmony the other day," Lockhart said. "An awkward child. I do hope she grows out of it."

"Oh, yes, she told me all about it," Severus said dismissively wishing Dumbledore would start the damn meeting. And I believe the words she used to describe you were 'egotistic, arrogant, ignorant prat' and that she 'would rather be taught by a potted plant'...that's my girl. "And if Hermione seemed awkward, I'm certain it was simply because you seemed out of place."

"Ah, yes," the man gave an arrogant smile. "I imagine she's wondering what someone like myself is doing teaching at a school."

"Oh, I'm sure many of us are thinking that," Severus replied.

McGonagall shushed the others as they began sniggering like children and she herself had been failing to fight a smirk. This was particularly odd, one week so far with the man and the whole staff body seemed as put out by Lockhart as he was. Hermione predicted he wouldn't last past December, something he wasn't surprised by, but the gleam in her eyes imagining him gone did. Perhaps he should have felt sorry for the man, he knew exactly what it was like to exist without a soul giving a damn whether you lived or died...but he was, to use his daughter's terms, 'an egotistic arrogant prat'. And here I thought she was a poor judge of character!

"Perhaps we should begin?" Dumbledore chuckled. "I think outside of last year's strange circumstances, we had a successful year, no one failed out, no one got expelled, and we are currently exceeding ministry's academic performance requirements. Which means our focus this year is the welfare of our students. I think we're on the right track there, our students are as safe, happy and healthy as any other group of boarding teenagers out there. Now, despite that some of our professors have brought forth issues. You have the floor, Minevra."

"Thank you, Albus..." McGonagall shifted her stack of papers and addressed the staff.

For someone as strict, hard to please and quick to discipline, McGonagall had quite a bit to say about the emotional welfare of the students and their duty not to harm it. There were veiled references to complaints the school received from parents of students in lower years, or rumoured incidents that he recognized were about him for the most part. Trelawney, Vector and Kettleburne all bowed their heads to avoid McGonagall's withering glare. Flitwick and Sprout were soon mentioned, not by name, but by role as she told them what the heads of houses should be doing to monitor their students' welfare. He wondered what brought on the sudden interest in taking on the role parents were supposed to, but remembered that Neville Longbottom was in her house. A talentless, lazy boy whose only gift was to be greatly pitied by a number of professors and a handful of students...including his daughter.

McGonagall's pleas for attention to students' emotional states were rich, considering her treatment of students in his house. Many students had been convinced by their parents that ending up in Slytherin meant one was evil. He didn't think she believed that, however, she was happy to antagonise students that were antagonised by everyone else at large. These were children who had to be convinced that the world outside their small circle cared for them, but were instead showed otherwise. Though you're not much better are you? And you can't say that your favouritism comes from that alone, now, can you? You stupid piece of shit.

"We can always hold events through out the year!" Lockhart suggested, despite McGonagall having moved to the next item on her agenda.

"There's a question and suggestion period between each speaker, Gilderoy," McGonagall cast a look that Severus had been familiar with since he was a boy.

"Right, my apologies, old girl!" he obliviously beamed.

"I have two names," McGonagall told him, nostrils flaring. "You may use either one of those."

"We're trusting that man to teach children!" Severus hissed as the meeting let out.

"I assure you, a number of people have said the same about you, Severus," McGonagall snapped. "But I do agree with him, Albus. Why him?"

"I imagine he'll have a great deal more to teach than DADA," Dumbledore smiled with a knowing twinkle in his eye.

"If it's too late to find a suitable candidate, headmaster," Severus said. "Hermione has made the exquisite suggestion of a potted plant."

The three of them turned their eyes to see the peacocking silhouette disappearing down the corridor talking the ear off of poor Flitwick and broke into subdued laughter.

"And she came to that conclusion entirely on her own, Severus," Dumbledore said.

"Hermione is perfectly capable of forming her own thoughts," he tried not to snap. "Her abysmal taste in friends is more than enough proof of that. I assure you, headmaster, all she needed was one interaction with the man to come to that conclusion on her own."

McGonagall sighed. "I was worried that every girl would be blinded to his, erm, areas of weakness."

"My little girl is far too smart for such nonsense," Severus turned to Dumbledore. "I think we are both very interested in what his areas of strength are, headmaster."

"Yes, I do believe it's high-time I fill you two in," Dumbledore nodded. "Come up to my office and I'll tell you my plan."

"Such a studious child," Lockhart beamed sitting on the table Hermione had been trying to work on. "Tell me, Hermione, do you spend every day couped up in the library?"

At least he got my name right.

Harassing Hermione became his new way of staving off loneliness while the other professors set about their actual work. This was the last day he would find Hermione here during the summer. She was determined not to listen to another lecture about how universally admired he was. She patiently nodded and smiled providing pensive hmms and haws at appropriate moments in his speech. He really did like the sound of his own voice.

"And that is why you should always pack an extra hair brush when you travel."

"Yes, simply fascinating, professor," Hermione said. "But as riveting as that is, I really must go."

Hermione sped down the corridor as quickly as she could without running, her eyes firmly planted in her copy of Standard Book of Spells Grade 2. If Lockhart called after her, she was simply absorbed in her book. She was on the chapter on movement charms when she bumped into something rather soft and solid.

"Oh! Professor," Hermione panicked picking up her book. "I am so so sorry!"

"I recommend reading in the library, not while walking about the corridors." McGonagall chastised. "Can you even read at the pace you were keeping?"

"Sorry!" she said again. "I'll keep better mind of my surroundings. Are you okay?"

McGonagall rolled her eyes at this. "I'm not so old and fragile that a girl half my size will break me."

"Sorry, Professor," she bit her lip. "I didn't mean, I, erm, I-I-did I mention I was sorry?"

"You did," McGonagall sighed. "Eyes up, girl. I can't have Gryffindor's top student afraid of her own shadow, can I?"

"Yes, professor," Hermione nodded. I'm not afraid of my own shadow. "Erm, professor?"

"Yes?"

"Do you have anything you need help with?" she asked too quickly. "Filing, sorting, inventory, anything? There was so much for me to help with last summer."

"So eager to please," McGonagall smiled placing a hand on her shoulder. "But I'm afraid not. You have one week of summer vacation left, go enjoy the sunshine while it lasts. If you don't you'll regret it when you're my age!"

"Erm, professor," she said. "If you're heading to the library, he's in there and looking for anything with two ears for company."

"Thank you, Hermione!" McGonagall whispered before turning on her heels.

"You're such a sweet little girl," Professor Sprout smiled pinching Hermione's cheeks. "But I really don't need any help. Go outside and play!"

Hermione left the greenhouse frustrated but with the understanding that Sprout wanted her work to keep her busy until students arrived to avoid Lockhart. She b-lined for Hagrid's hut.

"I'd love ter have yer help, Hermione," Hagrid smiled. "But I'm afraid I have some very dangerous beasts ter wrangle. Can't be bringin' an underage witch with me. No matter how clever."

"I can mind Fang!"

"Takin' Fang with me, Hermione. Enjoy yer summer while it lasts or you'll regret it when yer my age, I reckon!"

Every other teacher she could find gave her the same response. Where was the concern for enjoying her childhood when she was scrambling over herself to get a million things done? Couldn't her father have at least set her up with a million pointless things to do? He was good at that. Hermione couldn't even hide in the secret passage off the library with Pince floating around busying herself to keep from engaging Lockhart.

She decided to make her way back home and decided to ask her father again for busy work when he finished his meeting with Dumbledore. He'd be thrilled she still wanted to volunteer, even if he picked up on why. And it wasn't like she didn't want to help her father...till then she could study on her own there, safe from meandering stories.

"Inventory's done!" Hermione presented him with a complete and detailed list in very legible writing.

"Thank you, love," Severus said combing over her work. "Though given that you only had a few short weeks to get through your reading list, I must say I'm curious as to why you volunteered."

"Can I not want to help my poor father?" Hermione asked sitting opposite him and set to work stripping willow roots.

"I feel like we've had this conversation before," he mused storing his own roots into a jar. "Just tell me you've finished your class readings before you started trolling around for things to do."

"Yes, sir, I did," she nodded stripping the next root.

"I suppose I should have figured that," he said, his eyes drifted to the book . "So if I asked you how to immobilize an one large assailant or a group of small assailants...?"

"Immobilus," Hermione answered.

"How do you recognize if a person is confounded?"

"Flat or giggly affect, hard time forming sentences, and doesn't recognize inconsistencies in their own accounts when questioned."

Severus mused for a moment before setting his knife down and leaning in, she would never be tested on his next question, but she needed to know.. "How can you ensure the person you're dealing with is truthful?"

"Oh, erm," Hermione mused for a bit. She stared at her roots and bit her lip before muttering: "I mean, erm, I guess there's vereserum, but that has its own pitfalls...legillimancy, but I'd be hopeless there at my age...lie detecting artifacts...though they aren't entirely reliable...I, erm, I-I'm afraid I, erm, don't know, sir."

"That's because it was a trick question," he admitted placing his hand on her head. "All of the things you mentioned are decent tools, but there is no substitute for being observant. Keep your wits about you, love, and you might be safe. The instant you even think you notice something odd, I want you to find me. It very well might be nothing, but I'm not finding out you've put yourself in mortal danger after the fact again."

"You said it yourself, Dad," Hermione said. "This is going to be a normal year. I'll be perfectly safe...assuming Professor Lockhart doesn't cause me to beat my head against a wall so hard I sustain brain damage. Do you think he'll be more tolerable if I do that?"

"My dear, no amount of brain damage will make that man tolerable," he sighed. "Tell me that wasn't your strategy for dealing with Potter and Weasley?"

"You promised you'd give those two a chance, Dad," Hermione pleaded.

"And for you, I will," he brushed her hair from her eyes. "But you should know that those boys are on very thin ice."

"Then I guess it's a good thing absolutely nothing is going to happen," Hermione said.

Somehow I doubt it...