Mending The Wounds

A/N at the end...



Chapter Three: Halloween


Hermione soon got into the routine of things in life at Hogwarts as a teacher. She spent many evenings with Remus in either of their quarters, just talking and they soon became quite close friends. Hermione soon realized how much she enjoyed teaching. She noticed that at first her students weren’t very receptive of the subject, but soon, without Binns’ dull lessons, they became more interested in the subject. She was quite surprised to find a young first year girl from Gryffindor, much like she once was, knocking on her office door on Halloween afternoon.

“Come in.” Hermione called.

The young girl tentatively opened the door and quietly closed it behind her.

“Hello Miss Rodsworth, what can I help you with?”

“Professor Granger, can you call me Carrie when we’re not in class?”

“If you would like me to. What do you need?”

“Well, I was just wondering if you could help me with my transfiguration. We’re learning how to turn our quills into little charms, but I can’t seem to get the hang of it.”

Hermione smiled gently at the first year.

“I would be delighted to help you, if you can tell me the properties of the charm it will turn in to.”

Carrie smiled openly and felt her tension leave her. “The charm will be of either an animal or an object that best reflects the persons personality. The color will not always be what it should, it instead reflects the persons mood.”“Ver“Very well said, what do you think your charm would be?”

“Umm, I think it would be,” Carrie sighed and thought for a moment, “a piano. I love music and I started learning to play the piano when I was only four years old. What was yours when you did it?”

Hermione chuckled, vividly remembering what her charm had turned into and the incessant teasing she received because of it.

“A book. I was much the bookworm in my years at Hogwarts, I still am to an extent. Now, shall we start on this spell?”

Hermione spent the next hour teaching Carrie how to properly perfore spe spell and smiled when the young girl said she was ready to perform it.

“Persaseous!” Carrie said, and with the correct movements of her wand, her quill disappeared and in its’ place was a beautiful, golden quarter music note.

“10 points to Gryffindor for achieving your goal. 5 more if you can tell me what mood gold reflects.”

“Gold reflects humble pride.”

“5 points to Gryffindor.”

“Professor Granger, can you perform the charm?”

“I suppose so.” Hermione got a quill fror drr drawer and put it on her desk in front of her. “Persaseous!”***

Her quill was gone and in its’ place was a beautiful sky blue dove charm.

“New beginnings for the blue and purity for the dove.” Carrie said in awe. “It’s beautiful Professor Granger.”

Hermione smiled at her and pocketed her new charm. “It’s time for dinner, would you like to walk down with me Carrie?”

“Sure Professor.” Professor and student went down to dinner, both in good spirits.

Reaching the Great Hall that was full of chattering students waiting for the feast to start, Carrie went to the Gryffindor table and Hermione went to the staff table, taking her usual seat between Remus and Ginny. Remus ed ted to her when she sat down, seeing her face brightly lit.

“Having a good day?”

“An excellent day,” Hermione corrected him. “Carrie Rodsworth, is is she doing in your class?”

“Wonderfully, she seems to soak up knowledge, almost like a Gryffindor I used to know.”

“Same in my class,” Hermione said, ignoring his comment about her. “She came to me this afternoon asking for help with her transfiguration. I don’t think she needed the help at all, she did the spell correctly on her first try, then she asked me to do it.”

“What spell are we talking about?”

“Persaseous.”

“Ooh. They’re already doing that one? I thought that was at the end of first year?”

“You know, now that I think about it, you’re right.”

“So what did your charm come out as?”

“Which time?”

Remus gave her a side-ways look. “You know very well I meant the charm from this afternoon.”

Hermione chuckled at him. “A sky blue dove.”

Remus smiled at her. “New pure beginnings.” He said simply.

“I know. Amazing really.”

“Well, it is true. This is a new beginning for you.”

The hall seemed to be filled with all the students when the doors opened. Hermione and Remus looked up to see an old friend standing in the doorway. He came up to the staff table, asked Dumbledore a question, then took the seat next to Ginny. The hall had gone silent at his entrance and were all watching his movements eagerly, all wondering what the Boy-Who-Lived-And-Defeated-He-Who-Still-Won’t-Be-Named was doing at Hogwarts. Harry turned to Ginny and smiled at her. Kneeling down beside her, he took her hands in his. The hall was waiting eagerly to hear what he would say to their assistant teacher.

“Ginny Weasley, I love you with all my heart. Would you do me the honor of becoming Mrs. Harry Potter?”

Ginny felt her face go red, not only with the embarrassment of being asked in front of 1000 people, but with the unexpected timing of his proposal. Nonetheless, she knew her answer even before he asked.

“I will!”

Harry pulled a sky blue velvet box from his robes and opeit. it. Inside was a sterling silver band with a princess cut diamond. He slid the ring on Ginny’s shaking hand and gathered her in his arms. He felt silent tears streaming down her face as they embraced each other. The hall erupted in applause and Harry gave Ginny and quick kiss on the lips before sitting down next to her.

Albus was the last to finish clapping as he stood up. “Yes, congratulations to Mr. Potter and Miss Weasley. Let the festivities begin.”

The tables were then filled with sweets of all sorts, along with ham, mashed potatoes, gravy, rolls, and all sorts of delicious foods. The celebrating group (consisting mainly of Harry, Ginny, Hermione, and Remus) ate their fill before bidding each other good night. Harry and Ginny were staying behind to talk to the other staff members, so Remus and Hermione made their way out of the hall.

“Hermione, would you like to come to my rooms to talk?”

“Sure.”

Remus and Hermione walked silently to Remus’ quarters and when they reached them Remus gave the password and held the portrait open for Hermione. Hermione went in past him and he closed the doors behind her. They went over to the chairs in front of the fireplace and Hermione sat down.

“Tea?”

“Yes please.”

Remus left the room and came back shortly with a tray of tea. Remus sat down and handed Hermione a glass of tea.

“It’s really great, Harry and Ginny I mean.”

“Yes, it is.” Hermione said, a sad smile on her face. “I’m surprised he waited so long.”

“I’m not. It’s Halloween.” Hermione gave him a questioning look. “His parents.”

“Oh. I wonder when their wedding will be.”

“James and Lily got married in May.”

“I’ve always wanted an April wedding.”

“Any reason?”

“Not really. August would be a good month too.”

“I think I’d fancy a summer wedding if I ever were to settle down.”

Hermione smiled at him and a peaceful silence settled between them.

“I still miss him.” Hermione broke the silence. “It’s weird being here when he’s not. I’ve never known Hogwarts without Severus Snape until now.”

“It is strange without him here.” Remus smiled gently at her. “How are you getting along?”

“I’m doing well.” Hermione’s smile reassured him. “So do you think Carrie Rodsworth is that much like me?”

“Well, she’s obviously read ahead in transfiguration and she knows her stuff in my class. I’d say so.”

Hermione rolled her eyes and Remus chuckled.

“I really wasn’t that bad, was I?”

“Your boggart was Professor McGonagall telling you you’d failed all your courses. Not something the average witch or wizard would fear most in the world.”

“I was thirteen years old.”

“And most kids that age are too busy looking at each other to worry so much about their work.”

“Ok, so I was that bad.” Remus chuckled at her again.

“First Hogsmead weekend is in two weeks. Would you like to go with me?”

Hermione studied him for a few minutes, then, “Yes, I think I would. As friends of course.”

“Of course,” Remus reassured her.





***Persaseous is a totally 100% made up spell... if it has some \"hidden\" meaning, it\'s totally coincidence!

A/N: Well, I\'ve gotten three reviews since my lapdatpdate, but that\'s ok. I\'m sure you are wondering what the whole fluffy bunnies was about... it\'s really just a way for me to tell if people actually read the A/N\'s... I saw someone of ff.net do it, but I don\'t remember her pen name.... anywho, if you\'ve read this put \"Monkeys!\" in your review! This was a fun chapter to write! It\'s simple anc *at least I think* cute! No, there isn\'t any smut yet... that\'ll be later... I\'ve got to work their way together! Thanks to those who did take the time to review!

Deb: I decided to forgo my reading homework to finish this chapter... yep, I\'m a bit busy... it\'s ok though, because I will find time to write! I\'m glad I\'m only posting two of my stories that I\'m working on right now... *I\'m working on four* but yeah...

SandraM: There is much more of Hermione smiling later.... hehe!

Flick


Thanks again to my reviewers! Don\'t forget to review this chapter! Reviews really do get metingting more and posting faster!
Tanya~