Through the Looking Glass ~ COMPLETED

Chapter 36 ~ The Petition

After helping Hermione design the bare bones of the flyer and getting tossed out of her bedroom for trying to get a shag, Ron and Harry retired to their room. Harry stripped down to his briefs and climbed into bed. Ron stripped down as well, sitting in a small wooden chair and studying Snape’s checklist in greater detail. His brows rose and fell as he read all the options. There certainly were a lot of them.

”Hey, Harry, listen to this. On this list there are check boxes for voyeurism, and for additional partners. I think that means Snape just watches too. You don’t have to do anything with him. And here . . . mutual masturbation . . .”

Harry lay in his bed, looking up at the ceiling and listening to Ron exclaim over Snape’s list. Harry hated to admit it, but it sounded all right. He had no idea Snape treated his students so fairly. He always believed that he was little more than a laughingstock, when actually . . . he seemed to be the coolest teacher at Hogwarts, despite being the Gryffindor Head of House.

Ron climbed into bed with Harry, rather than his own bed, but it was just to be there, not for any sexual reasons. He slipped his arm under Harry’s shoulders and they lay there companionably.

”You know, Harry, I think maybe we’ve been wrong about Snape all this time. This is a good opportunity to get our marks up. My mum always complains about my Transfiguration marks,” the redhead said thoughtfully. “I mean, it’s not like we even have to do anything with him. Hell, we could go in there with a couple of witches and have a go while he just watches. That doesn’t sound too bad, does it? It wouldn’t even seem like we’re doing extra credit. Sounds right fun to me. What do you think?”

”Doesn’t sound too bad, Ron . . . but we’ve shunned him all this time. What will people say?” Harry replied quietly.

“I don’t think they’ll say much. Every other house already knows how fair he is. They’ll just think we’ve finally come around,” Ron answered him. Then his blue eyes narrowed.

”And imagine how much that’ll piss off the other teachers, that we’ll be going to Snape and not them. Especially if we boycott. That’ll be a kick in their knackers, won’t it?”

Harry chuckled at the thought of it.

”Yeah, it would be. Flitwick might explode, he’d be so put out,” Harry agreed.

”So, what do you say? Think we should sign up tomorrow?” Ron asked, warming up to the idea. Harry shook his head.

”No, not yet. Let’s see how the petition goes. Maybe the Headmaster will enact the rules without the boycott,” Harry replied. Ron was always jumping the wand.

”Oh. All right, then,” Ron said, sounding a bit reticent. “But, maybe we can go together the first time and wank off or something simple, just to see how he is. If he’s not bad, then we can bring the witches next time. What do you think?”

”Fine, Ron,” Harry said sleepily, rolling to his side. “Night.”

”Night, Harry,” Ron said, rolling the other way, his head full of the possibilities extra credit with Snape could hold. If this worked, he doubted he’d engage any other teachers with the exception of Professor Sinistra. With her green eyes, long black hair and shapely body, she was hot. And she was always up for a shag or a bit of oral sex. But Professor Sprout?

That old bird was history.

Ron shuddered involuntarily, then closed his eyes, waiting for sleep to come and the excitement tomorrow promised to bring.

Hermione was one brave witch.

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Hermione streamlined her approach, and the next morning she was out in front of the Great Hall with Ginny, handing out flyers to her fellow students from every house as they entered for breakfast. This was far better than doing it inside the Great Hall and she was able to get one to everyone, since all students had to attend breakfast. What was better was there were no staff members outside the Great Hall. They all entered through the staff entrance. So, although they might see students reading parchments, they wouldn’t know who gave them to them. Well, not immediately anyway.

The flyer itself was eye-catching. It was on parchment with printed text and a bold headline, which was followed by the image of a nude teacher on her knees covered by red circle with a slash through it. The image was drawn by Ron and looked very much like a certain teacher he couldn’t stand to engage.

The headline read:

TIRED OF DOING EXTRA CREDIT WITH TEACHERS THAT TURN YOU OFF?

Harry thought both the headline and the image were too inflammatory, but Hermione and Ron argued that it had to be that way to get people’s attention.

The flyer continued:

Tired of performing acts you don’t like?
Tired of receiving whatever points they feel like giving you?
Tired of not having any other options?
Tired of not having a choice of what happens to your body?

JOIN US! SIGN OUR STUDENT’S RIGHTS PETITION AND LET THE HEADMASTER AND STAFF KNOW HOW WE FEEL!

By standing together as a whole, we can change this unfair system!

What do we want?

1) An itemized checklist where we can choose what acts we are willing to do, with a strict across the board point system so we know how many points we’ll earn.

2) Our class work, homework and exams to account for our total marks in each subject.

3) For extra credit to be a real choice and not mandatory as it is now.

4) Alternatives to sexual extra credit work for those classes taught by teachers we don’t want to engage, such as written extra credit and special projects.

AS A UNITED FRONT, WE CAN MAKE A CHANGE! IF YOU ARE TIRED OF THE STATUS QUO, ADD YOUR SIGNATURE TO OUR PETITION AT LUNCH AND SUPPER.

WE MAY BE STUDENTS, BUT WE HAVE RIGHTS TOO!

Needless to say, the flyer caused quite a stir, although the students were hushed discussing it in the Great Hall itself. Still, the staff members couldn’t help but notice all their charges were reading something.

”What are the students reading?” Minerva said to Tom, who looked a million miles away.

The Headmaster started, scanning the Great Hall.

”I don’t know,” he replied, then leaned forward and called down the dais to professor Snape.

”Severus, go and collect one of those parchments for me,” he ordered.

The Transfiguration teacher did as he was asked, walking to the closest table and taking a flyer from a student, then walking back slowly as he read it, keeping his face carefully neutral as he mounted the dais and delivered it to the Headmaster. He returned to his seat without saying a word as Tom looked at it.

He smirked when he saw the image and held the parchment out so Professor Sprout could see it.

”Pomona, is that supposed to be you?” the Headmaster purred as she turned red as a salamander and started huffing indignantly.

”How dare they!” Pomona snapped as Tom chuckled and withdrew the parchment to study it more. The image alone was very entertaining.

The Headmaster coolly read the contents of the flyer, arching an eyebrow as Minerva and Flitwick, who was on the other side of Tom, read along, turning redder and redder as they did so. Tom finished reading and looked thoughtful before looking out toward the silent students.

”It seems your students are rebelling,” he said softly, his dark eyes scanning the Great Hall. All the students seemed to be holding their breaths.

”This is sheer madness!” Minerva exclaimed. “Headmaster, you need to put a stop to this at once!”

Tom narrowed his eyes at her as she took the flyer from him and passed it down the table, each teacher scowling blackly at it before passing it on and glowering at the students.

”What do you suggest I do, Minerva?” he asked her in a deceptively calm voice. He hated anyone to order him about, but he kept himself under control. His dark eyes rested on Minerva, glittering.

”Well . . . make an announcement here and now that no one is to sign any petition. How dare they try to curtail us, the little bastards. I want to get to the bottom of this immediately and punish whoever put this flyer out!”

Tom considered this for a moment, then slowly shook his head..

”No,” he said slowly. “I don’t think I will, Minerva. Let them sign their petition. I’m interested in finding out just how many of our students want this change. They aren’t asking for the extra credit to cease, after all. Just some alterations.”

Minerva turned purple as did the other staff members.

”Surely you aren’t thinking of putting such a thing in force, Tom?” she asked him. “You’re supposed to support us.”

Tom scowled at her, and the witch blanched, remembering her place.

”No, I’m not. But I can’t just arbitrarily put a movement down before it actually becomes a movement, Minerva. There has to be some sembelance of listening to their complaints and considering their requests. Then, I can shoot them down. Don’t worry. I’m not going to take your toys away.”

The teachers all sighed with relief. Good. But still, they wanted to know who had the nerve to put such a flyer out. Well, they’d find out when the petition was turned in.

Then, there’d be hell to pay.

Tom returned to his meal, as did the staff, although they continued to glare at the students.

Minerva looked down the dais at the Transfiguration teacher, who was eating his meal calmly and not glowering at anyone.

”This stinks of Snape,” she muttered to herself.

At the tables, the students were flabbergasted that the Headmaster didn’t order them all caned for even having the flyers.

”I don’t believe it,” Ron breathed. “The Headmaster didn’t say or do anything after reading the flyer. He just went back to eating.”

Hermione smiled.

”That means he’s going to let the petition be signed. Otherwise, he would have said something about it,” she said. “He’s going to give us a chance to plead our case.”

Around the Great Hall, the rest of the students were coming to the same conclusion. If the Headmaster didn’t say anything against the petition, maybe it was all right to sign it. Maybe . . . maybe they could change things for the better.

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”Look at all the names,” Hermione breathed after lunch let out. “I’m sure every student that’s the age of consent signed this.”

In her hands, she held the precious petition. Every page was filled with names. She had made sure that it stated only those students the age of consent were to sign, so no names could be determined worthless because of younger students not affected by extra credit.

”Yeah,” Harry said as they headed for class, ‘and every staff member saw you collect it at the end, Hermione. You’re going to be on their radar.”

”Bugger them. I’m already on their bloody radar,” Hermione replied, duplicating the petition and handing it to Harry.

”You keep this one,” she told him, watching as he rolled it up and put it in his pocket. “Just in case mine disappears.”

Harry was right. The next class was Advanced Charms and Flitwick was in a right temper, glaring at Hermione and giving her a failing mark on a perfectly good homework assignment because it was two inches over the requirement.

”Little troll,” Hermione breathed as it was handed back by the student seated in front of her. “He’s had his last lick of me, he can believe that.”

In almost every class, teachers were subtly defending themselves, not mentioning the petition but claiming that they were fair with their methods of point-giving, and not overly demanding in their sexual requirements, doing their best to try and convince the students. Good thing it wasn’t a broom they were tossing at their charges, because what they were saying just didn’t fly.

”None of you can say that I haven’t been fair with extra credit marks,” Professor Sprout claimed as Ron frowned at her. “I require very little of you and I feel I’m generous with the points I reward. I wouldn’t like that curtailed. You might end up earning less points with this . . . this checklist. None of you want that do you?”

Not one student murmured in agreement. Professor Sprout’s comments were met with stony silence.

”Very well. We’ll be working with Putrid Pines today! Get out your blasted masks and gloves!” professor Sprout snarled, going to retrieve the smelly seedlings. If the students insisted on pursuing this madness, they’d suffer for it.

The teachers who were Heads of Houses tried using house loyalty to make the students reconsider the petition.

”As the Hufflepuff Head of House, I expect you all to be supportive of me. I’m a very fair teacher, if I say so myself,” Flitwick told his students in a small meeting.

Hufflepuffs weren’t supposed to be very bright, but even they weren’t buying this. None of them responded favorably.

Tom had warned the teachers they couldn’t ask students directly if they signed the petition, or threaten them in any way if they had. The teachers didn’t like this, but at least they had someone they could harass and blame.

Snape.

Every one of them knew the checklist was his. Minerva, Flitwick and Pomona cornered him in the staff room when he popped in for a quick spot of tea before his last class.

”Severus! This petition the students have signed stinks of your influence,” Minerva hissed at the wizard, who wisely placed a strong repelling spell on his person the moment he left breakfast. He kept strengthening it throughout the day.

The Transfiguration teacher said nothing, but discreetly slipped his hand to the handle of his wand as he walked over to the teapot.

Minerva stalked over to him, watching with narrowed eyes as he calmly made a cup of tea.

”What do you have to say for yourself?” she demanded. “You’re the only one who could have given them the checklist idea!”

Snape turned to face her, blowing on his tea and taking a small sip of it before responding.

”Minerva, I’ve been using that checklist for years. It’s nothing new. Every student that comes to me for extra credit has been aware of my system,” he said softly. “Every year I’ve tried to make it mandatory for the rest of you. Every year I’ve been laughed at and voted down. Now, you’re acting as if I’ve just introduced it. Like I said, it’s nothing new.”

Minerva and the other staff members frowned at him. He was telling the truth. He had been using that blasted checklist for years while they did as they pleased with the students. What happened to make it become a school-wide issue?

Flitwick caught on immediately, and frowned at Minerva as Severus made short work of his tea and exited the staff room.

”Minerva, the only students who wouldn’t know about that checklist are your Slytherins. Miss Granger was the one who collected the petition. We all saw her. Your house is at the bottom of this. They’re the only ones who would think that checklist something new,” he squeaked at her, “because they are the only students who don’t engage Snape. You have to do something about this.”

Minerva stared back at him.

”But what can I do? Tom’s curtailed us for the most part. We can’t even question the students about it,” the witch responded sullenly.

”No, we can’t,” professor Sinistra interjected, gliding closer to Flitwick and Minerva, her green eyes narrowed. “But . . . in the case of new movements, what is the best way to end them before they start?”

Both professors looked back at the Astronomy teacher.

”Remove the leader,” she continued, her face taking on a wicked mien. “And we all know who the leader is . . . the one who collected the petition. Hermione Granger.”

Minerva looked very hesitant.

”Yes. Severus warned us that we were pressuring the witch. She’s lashing back at us now. We all know there are students who don’t like their extra credit, which makes it a little sweeter for me, but still it seems Miss Granger has managed to pull them together, despite what houses they occupy. We have to divide them. Professor Sinistra is right. We need to remove Hermione Granger. She’s their rallying point,” Flitwick said.

”I’m not about to kill a Muggle-Born in order to keep the status-quo,” Minerva said. “Especially one of my own house. You forget, Tom favors her.”

”I’m not saying kill her, Minerva. Simply hex her . . . send her to the infirmary,” Flitwick pressed as Minerva’s eyes widened with horror.

”I’d be murdering her by default if I sent her to Poppy,” she snapped at him. “I won’t be part of this! Besides, Tom isn’t going to grant the petition. We should wait.”

”Wait for what? Do you think it will stop at Tom saying no? I’m familiar with movements of this nature. This is grass roots. They have no respect for the establishment, Minerva. I wouldn’t be surprised if they had a sit-in, or worse . . . a boycott.”

”A boycott? Filius, don’t be stupid. They’d all face failing,” she replied.

”This isn’t one or two students, Minerva. This is most likely the entire graduating class, as well as others the age of consent. We can’t fail them all. If we do, we’ll look inept, and there will be cries for our replacement. They will blame us for their failure, saying our teaching abilities are below standard. If the students realize this, we’re finished unless we bow to their demands. I for one don’t want to be bested by a gaggle of sniveling students. We need to remove Miss Granger,” Flitwick said forcefully. “At least until the hubbub dies down.”

Minerva hedged.

”I won’t do it, Filius. Miss Granger is my charge and under my protection. As much as I disagree with what she’s attempting to do, I won’t be party to this,” Minerva said firmly.

Flitwick’s small face contorted furiously, and his devilish white curls seemed to become even more curled and devilish.

”Protection? Pah! That’s just lip service and you know it, Minerva. You’re just too cowardly to do what needs to be done. But don’t worry,” the diminutive wizard breathed, I will remove her myself.”

*************************************

Professor Snape was pleasantly surprised at his Advanced Transfiguration class. When he entered the classroom, he noticed there were no drawings on the board of him in tutus, tiaras or with fairy wings. Usually one or more Slytherins would make a sketch like that for him to erase before starting class each day. There was also a lack of note passing, or clumps of parchment whizzing past his head. In fact, it was the best behaved class he’d had in ages.

He guessed his checklist had made an impression on the Slytherins, as well as Hermione. Gods, she moved quickly. In one day the witch managed to accomplish what he’d been working toward for years. A unified student body.

He covertly looked at the witch. She was absorbed in her reading.

The wizard’s black eyes glittered as he studied her. He knew what he was thinking was wrong and went against protocol. He could be sacked for what stirred inside him.

Desire. He desired Hermione Granger . . . and it had nothing to do with business as usual. Who would have believed such a shallow, self-absorbed witch would have the ability to do what she did? Oh, no doubt she wanted revenge on the teachers.

Snape wasn’t under the delusion that hers was a selfless act. Not by a long shot. More than likely, the desire for payback played a large role in motivating Hermione, as well as her anger and the desire for control. There was no way she could have changed completely.

But she didn’t need to change. She only needed to reach inside herself and find the strength to work with others, to realize she was part of something larger. Possibly, the trip to the alternate universe had opened up her eyes and shown her the world or worlds didn’t revolve just for her.

Whatever the witch’s motivations, she had succeeded where he had failed. She was making a difference. Snape really didn’t care how change came about, or who received the credit for it. He just wanted to see it in action . . . to see results. Already, it seemed his fellow teachers were running scared. It was glorious.

Hermione looked up at him at that moment and met his eyes. He nodded at her slightly, and she gave him a small, crooked smile before returning to her reading.

As he scanned his quiet classroom and all the studious students, he wondered if any Slytherins would be signing up for extra credit soon. After all, he was the only teacher with a checklist. Wouldn’t that be a kick in the nads for the other teachers? That he would be the only one the students would engage. It would go down hard, especially after all the years of taunting him concerning Slytherin house.

It would finally be his turn to do a bit of psychological tormenting.

He looked forward to it.

At the end of class, Snape asked Hermione to stay for a moment. She did so, watching as several Gryffindors made appointments. She idly wondered how he handled so many of students. More than likely he didn’t engage each and every one the same way. He might not do much shagging at all, or see several students at once. He had to have some kind of system.

When the last Gryffindor left, Hermione walked up to the wizard’s desk. He looked up at her wryly.

”You work quickly, Miss Granger,” he said to her softly.

Hermione nodded.

”Well, I didn’t want to let another day pass without doing something,” she said. “It was surprisingly easy to pull it all together, considering I’ve never done anything like this before.”

Snape nodded.

”Perhaps it was in you all the time, Miss Granger. You only needed a reason to let it out. That was quite the flyer . . . very eye-catching. Particularly the banned teacher.”

Snape’s lip quirked a bit at the thought of the naked professor Sprout.

”Ron added that,” Hermione said, smiling.

Snape drank in her smile. It was also something new. Usually she scowled at him or just stared at him as if he were a troll.

”Very creative, as was the fist in the lower right corner,” the wizard stated.

”Dean Thomas added that. He said it represented ‘Power of the People,’“ Hermione replied. “We needed a symbol. An upraised fist was perfect. It says it all.”

”Yes, a very effective logo. How did the petition signing go?”

”It’s all filled up. Everyone signed it.”

Snape felt his heart catch at learning this. Excellent.

”And when do you intend to present it to the Headmaster?” Snape asked her.

”Tomorrow, right after breakfast,” Hermione answered.

Snape considered her.

”Do you have someone to support you?” he asked her. “Someone who will accompany you?”

Actually, he would like to be there when she presented the signed petition to the Headmaster.

“No, I’m going to do it by myself, in case there’s trouble,” she replied. “There’s no need for everyone to suffer.”

Hm. Was that a self-sacrificing nature coming to the fore? No. More than likely she wanted the glory of success for herself.

And Hermione did. If Tom accepted the petition, it would be like she’d done it single-handedly. She’d be a hero to the other students. She liked the idea of that.

”Don’t threaten him, Miss Granger,” Snape said suddenly. “The Headmaster doesn’t like to be threatened. If he denies the petition, simply listen to his reasons, thank him and leave. Say nothing about boycotting. Not a word.”

Hermione blinked at the wizard.

”You think he’ll turn it down, Professor? I mean, he didn’t try to keep it from being signed.”

Snape shrugged.

”You never know what Tom will do until he does it. But I’m inclined to believe he won’t accept it, not at first. He does have to support his staff. You’ll just have to see what he says, then act accordingly,” he told the witch. “But I must say, Miss Granger . . . and I mean this with every fiber of my being, you are the most extraordinary witch that has passed through Hogwarts in years. You are truly a brilliant young woman.”

Hermione flushed with pleasure at his words. She’d never been called brilliant before, and it felt . . . well . . . good. And he thought she was extraordinary? Well, she’d thought that about herself for years, but somehow, hearing it from Snape felt like a validation. The other teachers had said it now and again, but their words didn’t have the impact that Snape’s did.

Snape noticed the flush and smiled slightly. His compliment had pleased her. But he did mean it.

”Now, Miss Granger, I realize I’m not your Head of House, but I am probably the only teacher at Hogwarts that sides with you. In order to make this work, you are going to have to work with people you normally wouldn’t associate with, and that includes me. If you are having difficulties, want to strategize or just want to talk, I am available at any hour to assist you.”

Snape reached into his top drawer and took out a number of small, square parchments. He handed them to the witch. They were signed passes. The name, date, time and destination fields were all blank.

”These should help you and other students move freely around the castle at off hours. I will provide more as needed. Be sure to keep them well hidden. Your room will probably be searched in the days to come. A reason will be found for it,” he said to her softly.

Hermione looked down at the passes, then at Snape.

”I never thought you’d be so helpful, Professor,” she said to him.

”You never had a reason to really think until now, Miss Granger. I imagine you’ll find many more things that will surprise you in the months to come,” he responded.

Hermione stared at him, feeling she should say something to the wizard. He had been the one who helped her find a solution to her problem. Thank you just didn’t seem good enough. But she wasn’t used to expressing gratitude. She had always lived as if she deserved everything given to her.

”Fill out one of those passes to get you into supper,” Snape said, passing a quill to her.

Hermione filled out her name, date, time and destination, handing the quill back to him. Their hands touched for a moment, and she felt a little pulse at the contact. What was going on?

You may go, Miss Granger,” Snape told her. He had felt the pulse as well.

Definitely not business as usual.

”Thank you, Professor,” Hermione said in a near whisper, putting the rest of the passes into her pocket, hoisting her backpack over one shoulder, then turning and exiting the class. She still felt out of sorts, as if there was something she should say to the professor . . . but he’d let her off the hook.

Maybe later she’d figure out what she needed to say.

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Draco Malfoy stood Disillusioned in the entrance hall, watching for Hermione. He was hiding behind the rusted suit of armor near the front doors. He wanted to talk to the witch about the petition and saw Snape had held her back. He could have approached her at the end of class, but despite the petition, he wasn’t sure if she would even talk to him. She was always dismissive and rude.

And so hot.

Still, he’d rather approach her when no one else was around. It would be less embarrassing if she responded nastily.

Draco sighed, then stiffened as he saw Hermione appear on the first floor landing, making her way down the marble staircase. There were no students about. Everyone was in the Great Hall. He was going to get caned for not being there himself, but talking to Hermione would be worth a caning.

Hermione made it to the ground floor and began to walk toward the Great Hall. Suddenly, Draco saw a movement on the side of the marble stairwell. It was professor Flitwick, and he had his wand out. The little teacher looked murderous as he watched the retreating witch.

Draco got a bad feeling, and before he could stop himself, he ran from behind the suit of armor, screaming, “Granger! Get down!:

Startled, Hermione spun, whipping out her wand just as Flitwick cast a powerful spell at her. But she was a fraction too slow. She wouldn’t be able to block it.

”No!” Draco cried, slamming into Hermione and shoving her out of the way, catching the full blast himself and falling to the floor unconscious, the Disillusionment spell dissipating.

Hermione yelled, “Stupefy!” as Flitwick blinked at the limp body of Draco, stunned in more ways than one. He dropped to the floor rather heavily for such a small man.

Hermione ran over to Draco, who was unmoving, his lips rather blue. She leaned over him, pressing her ear to his chest. She could hear his heart beating, but it was slow, very slow. She lifted one of his eyelids to look at his eye. The pupil was fully dilated. She lit the tip of her wand and held it close. The pupil remained dilated. It didn’t react to light.

What did Flitwick hit him with? Clearly, the wizard had meant to attack her. She hadn’t thought to put on a Repelling spell. And Draco? What the hell did he do? Why did he take the hex for her? Was he mad?

What should she do? Go into the Great Hall and get help? No, Draco could end up being sent to Poppy, especially since he was a Gryffindor and Snape wasn’t the most popular staff member right now. If the Transfiguration teacher had been in the Great Hall, it would be all right, but he was still in his classroom.

Or so she thought.

Suddenly, she heard Snape yell, “Miss Granger! Did you attack Mr. Malfoy?”

The wizard had just appeared on the first floor landing, and when he saw Hermione leaning over his charge, he assumed the worst. Snape hurried down the stairs, severely disappointed. There couldn’t be any unity if the students continued attacking each other, particularly Hermione.

Hermione quickly explained what happened.

”No! I didn’t do this. He, he took a hex for me. Flitwick tried to blast me when my back was turned, and Draco just appeared out of nowhere and pushed me out of the way,” she said as Snape walked up quickly and knelt, examining Draco. After several moments, he looked very grave.

”Go to supper, Miss Granger,” he said, picking Draco up in his arms and rising. “I’ll attend to Mr. Malfoy.”

”But . . . what are you going to do, Professor? Take him to Poppy?” she asked him.

”No, I’m taking him to Gryffindor tower. I will attend to him myself,” the wizard replied, walking toward the stairs and glowering at the unconscious Flitwick. He stopped and turned toward Hermione.

”I suggest vigilance, Miss Granger. It appears that although house rivalries may have died down for the moment, the staff has targeted you. Keep a Repelling charm on you at all times.”

Hermione watched as Snape carried Draco up the stairs, his pale face concerned. What had Flitwick done to Draco?

Hermione looked over at the unconscious wizard, her face contorting. She looked up again. Snape was now riding the shifting stairwells up to the seventh floor. Hermione walked over to Flitwick, looking down at him . . . her wand drawn.

”You little bastard,” she breathed, hexing him, then turning and entering the Great Hall.

She walked up to the dais and handed Filch her pass. The wizard scowled and stuck it in his pocket. Hermione then walked to the Slytherin table, sat down between Ron and Harry and pulled food toward her.

She said nothing to anyone about Draco or the teacher outside.

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A/N: For those of you who would like to see the flyer Hermione, Ron and Dean designed, you can view it at: http://www.theburningpen.com/glass/flyer.htm

Thanks for reading.