Seek and You Shall Find

Chapter 2: Blind Ignorance

In truth, Hermione was less worried about getting her apartment cleaned than facing the wizarding world. She grew up being the top student, prone to succeeding in whatever she attempted. Being a professor was different. True, she did have experience with teaching. After all, how did Harry and Ron graduate? Ron...After Dumbledore had paid her a visit, she had slowly become used to reality. She accepted the fact that Ron would never come back. But at times, she had stronger longings for him, to see his freckles, his lanky form, and once again hear his stupid comments. A dry sob racked her body, and she fell to the floor, arms wrapped around her thin frame.

"Granger, I never knew you as a crybaby. How are you to manage your students if you were to break down like this?" That voice. She looked up to meet a pair of startling gray eyes.

She then did something she hadn't done in a while: she snarled. "Malfoy. What are you doing here uninvited? How did you get in?"

"My, the Mudblood has a sharp tongue." The blond man held up his wand. "I do believe this wand gives me the power to unlock the weak locking spell you put on your front door, Granger. And to imagine you as the new Charms professor. Pfft!"

"I'm sick of you!" Hermione whipped out her wand and pointed it in his direction. "Malfoy, the war is over. Even if your Lord is dead, you have no more right to call me that. It's getting old, and I will not hesitate to curse you into oblivion."

"My, my. Are you, miss goody-two-shoes threatening me? With my life?" He threw his head back and laughed. Hermione, her cheeks temporarily glowing red, glared at him and sent a ray of red in his direction. He sidestepped it easily, and chuckled. Lifting an eyebrow into a smooth arch, he tsked at Hermione. "Surely, you can do better than that." Hermione muttered another curse, this time inflicting a large gash on Malfoy's cheek.

"Oh look at this, Malfoy. Your image of perfection isn't so perfect anymore."

"You thought me perfect? My, my, the Mudblood seems to have been taken with my appearance."

"You insufferable ferret!" Ha. She got him. At hearing the word ferret, Malfoy paled.

"You aren't worth my time...Mudblood." With emphasis on the last word, he gave a final smirk and apparated out of the apartment.

Hermione was about to scream when she saw a piece of paper float to the carpet. Curious, she bent over, grabbed it, and saw the Hogwarts seal. It was addressed to her. Anxious to find out what it said, she opened the scroll

Miss Granger:

Please excuse the form of delivery, but I assumed seeing a familiar face -Draco Malfoy - would be of some sort of pleasantry. The Headmaster has invited, like you, Mr. Malfoy to become a professor. I know of the disagreement between you two, but I hope that on behalf of the other professors' and the students', you two would be able to overcome your differences. Mr. Malfoy risked his life during the War, converting to the Order, and he deserves some type of respect. I trust that you will come to understand this and set an example for all others.

Now onto the formalities. The Hogwarts staff would like to welcome you to the new school year. There is a meeting next Wednesday, and Albus expects you moved in by then. If there is of any service I can provide you with, owl me; I will be at Hogwarts. I expect great things out of you, Hermione Granger.

Minerva McGonagall

One week? She had barely started her new life, and she had one week to get her lesson plans together? Waving her arms around franticly, she found another slip of paper in the envelope.

P.S. Knowing that you have never been in this situation before, I found the liberty to include a few examples of Professor Flitwick's lesson plans. Schedules will be passed out at the dinner meeting.

Forever grateful, Hermione set the papers on the desk and shuffled through the plans. It was a few days later, with little sleep and multiple cups of coffee, that she was able to stare contentedly at her finished plan. Quite satisfied, she left to take a shower and pack. Hogwarts was calling her.

Ginny was over for dinner and a chat, a sort of goodbye party and girls' night out combined. They had just set the bowls in the sink, when Ginny brought up the topic of Malfoy.

"I heard that Malfoy's a professor along side you, Hermione." Hermione, who was absentmindedly shuffling through her closet, nodded her head. "Well have you got anything to say to that?"

"What? Oh, sorry Ginny. But I keep feeling like I'm forgetting something." She tapped her chin with her wand, a pensive look on her gentle features. It wasn't a few seconds later that she realized Ginny was talking again. "What?" Ginny repeated her statement about Malfoy, and was replied with a heavy sigh. "I hope I won't have to see him very much. Actually, I hope I don't see him at all."

"Don't say that."

"What?"

"Draco's different." At this, Hermione choked on her spit and stared dumbfounded at Ginny.

"Oh, I see, so we're on first name terms now? Whatever happened to Harry? Does he know you're going around behind his back?"

"Hermione! You've got it all wrong." Ginny paused for a second, trying to pick the right words. "Well you know what he did for us during the war."

"That makes no difference. He still treats us as we're scum."

"Not me, Hermione."

Hermione glared back at Ginny. "What?"

"You never gave Draco a chance to prove where his loyalties lie."

"I don't need to. I already know where they lie."

"Do you Hermione? Because the last I heard he was fighting for the light."

"So what!" Hermione snapped. Rubbing her temples she turned away from Ginny. "So what?" she asked again, softer.

"So what? Give him the chance!"

"He'll take that chance to call me a Mudblood like he always does."

"Hermione, just...give him a chance. Have you every thought that he treats you the way he does because you treat him the same in return? Give him a chance."

"I already have."

"No you haven't!

Hermione turned around, rubbing her temples in a slightly annoyed way. Her lips were turned down in a frown and she breathed heavily. "Look, Ginny. I've given that prat all the chances in the world to prove his self." She whipped back to face Ginny, removing her hand from her face. "I don't know what you're up to, but I know Malfoy's not about to change and apologize for anything. Just a week ago he came by and started throwing curses at me."

"Well maybe, Hermione, that's because you were throwing curses at him too?" Ginny shot a coy look at Hermione.

"What's the difference!" Hermione huffed and sat dejectedly on a stool by the kitchen counter.

"It's all the difference. Just goes to show you're giving him the chance he needs."

"I don't bloody care, Ginny. Did I ask you to come over to lecture me about the bloody ferret or for us to spend some time together before I leave?" Hermione stood up, ready to throw Ginny out the door if Ginny responded with the wrong answer.

"Fine, fine, Hermione. But think about it?" Ginny dragged Hermione by the hand towards Hermione's bedroom. "How 'bout I help you pack? I bet you have forgotten some things."

Ginny entered Hermione's bedroom and her eyes immediately went to the distressed state Hermione's bed and closet was in. Red eyebrows disappeared among bangs. "You call this packed, Hermione? You've just thrown your clothes in."

"Well...I..."

"Forget it, Hermione. I'm doing the packing now. Go...Go put together your lessons."

"But I already have!"

"I don't care! Just leave me to this." Ginny shooed Hermione out of her own bedroom and turned back to the mess Hermione had called 'packed'. Picking up the nearest item, Ginny immediately frowned. "What the bloody hell did she have planned with ole granny panties?" Ginny shook her head and threw it over her shoulder. There would be no need for those ugly, disgusting panties.