Learning

Hermione and John walked along the corridor and into the Great Hall. They could hear chattering that echoed through the room. Hermione looked to the ceiling. She always enjoyed the ceiling. It was calm and blue, while all the brown mahogany tables were lined up and down the Great Hall. The yellow glow from the large fireplace in the Great Hall illuminated the Hall like the morning sun brightens the dark sky in the morning. At the front of the Great Hall were more tables set above the others. There sat Penelope Clearwater and other professors waiting to start the professor's dinner.

Penelope and Hermione had gone to school together. She was a Ravenclaw Prefect and Head Girl later in her years at Hogwarts. She was four years older than Hermione. Penelope had dated Hermione's ex-boyfriend's brother, Percy Weasley. Now they were married and had two children, most likely entering Hogwarts soon, Hermione thought.

Percy was Junior Minister of Magic and would probably soon be ascending to the position of Minister of Magic. Not always the nicest of the Weasley brothers, Hermione and Percy had always gotten along. Many questioned his loyalties, but he showed "his true colors". Penelope and Hermione had always been able to converse freely, but Penelope was somewhat bossy.

"Potions should be an interesting subject to teach," John commented trying to make conversation between them, while also observing the ceiling with astonishment. They sat down next to each other at the head table. "I dabbled in potions for a long time. My former boss required me to learn how to use potions."

"What was your former occupation?" Hermione questioned almost in an interviewing fashion. She was very interested in knowing.

He grinned mysteriously. She saw his hand go to his pocket and extract a lighter with yellow, red, orange flames emanating from the bottom as decoration. He opened the cap and a flame leaped from the silver device.

"I used to be an assassin."

"Oh," Hermione tried to suppress a gasp of shock, and inquired as smoothly as possible, "How does that work?"

"Strictly speaking, I'm not supposed to discuss this kind of information with other people outside of the business," John said, snapping the lid back onto the gadget. "My boss wouldn't be too happy. He wasn't a very nice guy...but he was murdered. I'm somewhat concerned that he's not truly dead. But I guess that he got what he deserved. I got into loads of trouble and now I'm trying to turn my life around. Penelope Clearwater had kindly given me the chance."

She wanted to blanche at the idea of a bad guy turning good, remembering what Snape had told her at graduation.

Don't be fooled, Granger, the bad can never turn totally good.

She sighed. It was the least she had expected from Snape, particularly since Dumbledore trusted him so much. Hermione's trust quotient for Snape diminished, but since he saved Harry's life a couple of times, she was willing to respect Snape.

"Well," Hermione said. "I am happy for you. I hope that it works out. You seem to have the potential to make a terrific professor."

There was an awkward pause. John looked straight at her with a grin and said, "I hope that this isn't being to forward, but Miss Granger, I find you extremely clever and attractive. You couldn't be a professor."

"Why is that?" Hermione raised her eyebrow in suspicion. Darn, he had so much charisma, Hermione thought. He probably was a lady's man. A charmer.

"Professors are supposed to be uptight hags with no life outside of teaching their students stuff that they really don't need to know."

"Is that right?"

He laughed. "Yes, 100 percent." He crossed his fingers behind his back, jokingly.

Hermione saw this and boldly grabbed at his arm and twisted it forward.

"I saw you cross your fingers!" she said playfully. "That's not fair!"

"Not everything in this world is fair," he grinned mischievously. Hermione wanted to kiss...slap him for provoking her. "And what are you going to do about it?"