Chapter Five: Before Midnight Strikes
October arrived at Hogwarts with only a few minor adjustments. The air started to turn crisp and cold. The leaves had started to change color. The students had put on their scarves every time they went outside into the grounds. Hagrid was spraying his garden with slug repellent to protect his pumpkins.
Halloween at Hogwarts was very natural. It was the one night of the year where the unnatural is natural. Ginny was helping the other Gryffindors put up orange and black decorations. Hermione walked from the girls' dormitory to see how well done it was being placed. "I'm impressed. You actually know how to put something up done right."
"Well, I figured what's the use of having a wand if you're not gonna use it for fun every once in a while?" Ginny told her.
Jack-o-lanterns were floating in the Great Hall when the girls came downstairs for breakfast that morning. Peeves was cackling and the Baron was glaring. The house-elves were clearing up the dishes from who had finished eating. Ginny picked up the Quibbler and read it. "Hey, Hermione, look at this! Luna's tabloid is the current edition."
"Really? That soon?" Hermione asked. She picked up her own copy and skimmed through it. Xenophilius really handed it to Luna. She gave him a current event that was very current indeed. "Well, Luna," Ginny said, "it's good to know you're writer's block is unplugged." Luna looked confused, "I'm not familiar with that phrase." Ginny said, "I mean..." "I'm kidding, I know what you mean," Luna smiled. Hermione smirked and rolled her eyes.
A woman came over and walked to Luna. "Congratulations, Miss Lovegood," it was Professor Periwinkle. "I read your article your father wrote down in the Quibbler, amazing work." Luna said, "Thank you, Professor." "Anyway," the professor continued, "I hope you're looking forward to our next class. I have something special planned for all of you. Miss Granger." Hermione nodded. Periwinkle walked off. Hermione then raised an eyebrow. Now why would Professor Periwinkle only address her?
In the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, the students were all getting ready to take some practice courses before their first exams of the year. Hermione was getting into position with Luna while Ginny was standing right next to Hannah. Professor Periwinkle was standing at her desk. "Everyone ready?" Their wands were up.
The professor taps her wand and the projection screen dropped down. "I want you all to copy the symbols on this screen. Now when it flashes, I want you to disarm your opponent. When it blinks, I want you to tickle your opponent. If it just stands there, do not damage your opponent, just remember to shield yourself. It should be simple enough. Miss Weasley, why don't you start us off?"
Ginny stepped up to the plate. A hooded figure rolled toward her. A symbol on the screen flashed. At once, Ginny yelled, "Expelliarmus!" The figure's wand jumped out of its hand. "Well done, Miss Weasley. Abbott, you're up." Hannah walked up to the figure and the next symbol on the screen started blinking. Hannah shouted, "Rictusempra!" The figure toppled over backward. "Good work! Next! Uh, Miss Lovegood." The symbol glitched a little when Luna started walking to the figure. "Um," Luna started, "Levicorpus!" The figure jumped up. "Excellent work, Miss Lovegood, you really showed him! Miss Granger, of course," Periwinkle smiled. Hermione was ready. The symbol just stood there and amazingly the figure was about to attack her. It shot and she shouted, "Protego!" A shield appeared in front of her. "Good demonstration, Miss Granger."
After a few more practice runs, Professor Periwinkle announced, "Well done, all of you. You really know your combat skills. But combat alone will not win your battles. All right, why don't we stop for today? Next time, we'll pick up where we left off."
As the girls left the classroom, Hermione still had her suspicions about Professor Periwinkle. As of right now, she still seemed very decent, but how they know for sure if she was going to remain at this post for more than a year? Ginny walked to her and asked, "Hey, Hermione, are you all right?" "Yeah," Hermione replied, "why wouldn't I be?" "You seem kind of... distracted," Ginny informed.
"I guess I'm just not used to decent teaching lately." Ginny looked back in. "What? Periwinkle? She seems all right to me."
"You don't think she's at all...sketchy, do you?" Ginny chuckled, "Hermione, it's probably fine." "Maybe, but I just don't know."
Hermione got up from her bed and went out of the common room. This is normally something that Hermione would usually never do, sneaking about in the corridors in the dark after hours, but she was curious to know more about Professor Periwinkle, determined to discover the truth about her background. She was almost tempted to pull out her wand when she heard Mrs. Norris meow. She attempted to keep her distance from her, knowing full well that Filch would've been lurking nearby. She peeked around a corner, checking to see if he was there. When she saw that he wasn't she treaded carefully into the Grand Staircase. Portraits were snoring on the walls and Nick was flying about in his sleep. Hermione was walking down the stairs of the Grand Staircase and noticed that some of the torches inside the castle were still lit. This would give her the perfect opportunity to see where she was walking without having the need to cast the Lumos spell.
As soon as Hermione was walking in the third floor corridor, she noticed a bright light by the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom. She entered without making a sound, at least she was trying to. Periwinkle was going through some files at her desk. Hermione heard her talking to someone a second later. It was Professor McGonagall! "Working late tonight, aren't we?" she asked. "Yes, sorry, I was just rummaging." Periwinkle told her.
"I understand you've filled out the appropriate forms."
"Yes, I have." Periwinkle showed McGonagall her application forms. McGonagall reviewed them while she adjusted her glasses. "I understand whilst you were here at Hogwarts in your youth, you were a Hufflepuff student."
"That I was." "And you were a respectable Auror, as well. No criminal records." "I think that's kind of the point of being a Dark Wizard catcher, professor. Or do you prefer headmistress?" "Either is mandatory for me." Hermione heard a noise outside from where she was standing. She turned around to see what it was. To her relief, it was just one of the house-elves tidying up the luggage. She stepped away, trying not to let him see her. Midnight was drawing closer. She looked back to the two female instructors. McGonagall asked, "You realize, of course, that this class has had multiple teachers taking over the post."
"Yes, Professor McGonagall, I am very aware of that. I heard it had something to do with...him."
"Yes, but now that he is out of the way, permanently, we can safely assume that this post has been cleared."
"Well, let's just wait and see, then. I don't want to have to tempt fate." "That would be wise." "Professor, all the students around here are very complex, especially that Hermione Granger, she seems more than up to the task." "Yes, Miss Granger does have her moments." "Muggle-born, yet so put-together, I'm surprised she came back here to finish up her studies." "Well, she is the type of person to finish what she starts. Just keep your eye out for any special talents, you never know when she'll surprise you." "Don't worry, Miss Granger won't be a problem." Hermione looked like she heard something that she really didn't want to hear.
