Eating in the Great Hall from the Professor's table was weird, Hermione mused. As the newest teacher, she was seated at the end of the long table, near Hagrid. The plates were fancier than the normal, white glass ones that the students had. There were a few alcoholic drinks at the table. There was also some exquisite cake that seemed to have been made with Butterbeer. However, Hermione was most surprised by what the teachers were discussing.
When she had sat at the Gryffindor table, she sometimes would look up at the Professor's table and wonder what they were talking about. She imagined what they might be saying about her and her friends. She wondered how much they shared with each other. If she got in trouble with Professor Snape, would he tell Sinistra? Since she was a pretty good student, she had never been overly worried about what the professors were saying unless she had recently gotten in trouble.
But Hermione was surprised to realize that the teachers did not constantly discuss syllabus, students, and schedules. No, they…gossiped. It should not have been a surprise, after all the teachers were humans too. And she knew that in a place like Hogwarts where there were only 40 students in every year, the students and teachers got to know each other really well and that was sufficient reason to gossip already. She might as well pay attention. After all, she only knew a few of the students in this Hogwarts. Oh she knew of plenty, but she did not know what kind of students they were, how well they worked with others, how annoying they were, and all those aspects that one learns through exposure.
"-on the Astronomy Tower! I don't know what it is about that place that attracts hormonal teenagers so easily. But as soon as Macdonald saw me she pulled away from Mulciber. You should have seen her face. I have never seen anyone so red! I swear I could have baked treacle tart on it…"
Macdonald and Mulciber? She knew Mulciber was probably Slytherin unless there was someone in that family who wasn't into to the Death Eater propaganda like the Mulciber she knew. She wasn't familiar with a Macdonald and soon lost interest in that conversation.
She saw McGonagall on Hagrid's other side. She was whispering to an unfamiliar woman.
"-some…don't know if…stress-relief…" Hermione couldn't make out what the two were tittering over. McGonagall was smiling as she talked and Hermione couldn't look away. She was surprised to see how pretty her stern professor had been. She had always thought McGonagall had the same mentality as herself but Hermione had never been the kind of girl to whisper with her girlfriends while she ate. It was jarring. Especially considering the fact that her teachers did not know anything about her anymore. As Hermione pondered what kind of reputation she wanted to build, she again wondered why no one in the future had seemed to recognize her or given anything away about meeting her before. Hermione Granger was far from a common name and she couldn't imagine someone knowing two brunette, curly-haired Hermione Grangers and dismissing it as a coincidence. Probably, her contribution to this time was so little that it was easily forgotten in the coming war. This was one of the reasons that Hermione felt comfortable interacting with the younger avatars of her future acquaintances.
Since she was looking in McGonagall's direction, Hermione saw Dumbledore turn to her and stopped her musings. She did not want Dumbledore to think she was some kind of airhead. She had castigated herself for giving him such a poor first impression. It was a miracle that he had even hired her. Then again, his standards were pretty low for professors.
"Miss. Granger, I would like to introduce you to all the professors at Hogwarts." As soon as he started talking, the others stopped their conversation and paid close attention.
"Usually this would be done at a teacher's meeting, but as the last one was two weeks ago, you were not a professor then. Anyways, this is Professor Slughorn," he said pointing to the familiar figure of her last potions teacher. He went around the table pointing out the rest of the Professors
"…Professor Bluepen, McGonagall, Flitwick, Sinistra, Matrisse, and our Gamekeeper Hagrid. There are a few more professors not available for the feast but you will see them tomorrow at the meeting." Then gesturing towards her, he explained, "Everyone this is Professor Granger. As you know, she is the new Muggle Studies professor." All the professors turned to look at her. Hermione smiled nervously. It was much easier to be composed when they were ignoring her. She wondered why they had been ignoring her in the first place. Did they not like newcomers?
"It's really nice to meet you all. It will be a pleasure to work with you." Hermione hoped so anyway.
"What do you plan to teach the kids?" asked McGonagall. She eyed Hermione with a wary look. Hermione felt uncomfortable. Why did McGonagall not like her? She had always liked her.
"I plan to show them how Muggles live and function. I hope to show them that Muggles are just as accomplished as Wizards and to instill in them a sense that Muggles are worthy."
The table was quiet. Hermione wondered what she had said wrong. She looked to Dumbledore. He had that half-smile on his face that she had come to understand meant that scheming was underway. Finally, Sinistra broke the silence. But she wasn't speaking to Hermione.
"Do you know how the Board is going to react to her? I knew that a Muggle Studies class was a bad idea. Those purebloods will just use this to prove that we are trying to brainwash their students. Hogwarts funding has already been cut enough, don't you think?"
There were a few murmurs of agreement around the table. Hermione just stared at her once Astronomy Professor in shock. She was trying to appease the Death Eaters? And what did she mean that Muggle Studies was a bad idea. She had thought that the class had already been established. She recalled Hogwarts, a History stating that Muggle Studies had been controversial during this time but it had never mentioned that it had started this year. But why would it be a bad idea? Hermione felt an uncomfortable drop in her stomach. She felt like she was missing something. Surely the professors opposed the Pureblood agenda?
"Do you not think that it is important to teach the children tolerance? Just because Wizards don't understand Wizarding culture doesn't mean they should dismiss it."
"They certainly need to learn tolerance. But what you are suggesting is preposterous. You will simply be fanning the flames until it builds into fiendfire. We need to stop the Board of Governors from gaining more control in this school and provoking them while we are trying to negotiate is not a good idea. Not that any of this is your fault." The gray-haired professor who had been talking to her turned to Dumbledore.
"I suspect you are behind this. As professors, we don't have any say over this new course but just know that the Board already has it out for Muggleborns. This will make their time here even more difficult."
With that he swigged down his glass of PheonixPhire and burped.
Hermione looked away, a dark blush staining her cheeks. She couldn't believe them. How could they just let the Death Eaters get away with brainwashing the students and not do anything to oppose it? No matter. They weren't teaching her class, she was. And she would make sure to fan the flames. Oh yes, she would fan them so hard that they would go out! And then she would laugh over the ashes of the Pureblood propaganda. If they thought Hermione Granger, proud Muggleborn, would allow some stuck-up, in-bred, idiots to control her class they had another thought coming! The professors would have to appease her!
A/N: So I thought of this plot when I was reading some Marauders-era Hermione Time Travel fics. I meant it to be a lighthearted, funny story about some crazy things Hermione does while she is a teacher. I have a few ideas but I would love to hear from you readers. Is there anything that your teacher has done that was hilarious or really interesting? Is there anything you would like to see Hermione do?