Harry Potter Returns to Hogwarts

Chapter 4-Hermione's Big Announcement

Hermione walked quietly through the classroom that had been hers for fifteen years. Her fingers traced patterns in the dust on the tops of the chairs and desks as she made her way to the front of the room. When she reached the head of the class, Hermione turned and faced the gallery. Her brown eyes scanned the places where so many students had sat over the years. Bits of memory crept through her over-crowded mind and caused her to smile, despite the sadness she felt about not teaching any more. With a long, slow sigh, she turned and walked into the classroom office.

The room was furnished simply. A wooden desk, scarred and timeworn, sat in the middle of the room. A fireplace took up most of the wall behind the desk. Bookcases and arithmancy charts took up the rest of the wall space, save for a doorway to Hermione's left. This led to a very small sleeping quarters. Hermione reflected on the nights that she'd had to spend here at the castle. Those nights always meant being away from Ron and Arthur. That was the price she'd had to pay, she thought to herself. That was the price they'd all had to pay.

"Having a stroll down memory lane, are we?"

Hermione jumped slightly and turned to see the bent, wizened figure of Minerva McGonnagal in the doorway. "I thought I'd find you here," she croaked and advanced slowly and unsteadily into the room. The past few years had not been kind to the old witch. Her joints were twisted and swollen and she relied more and more on her cane every day, it seemed. One thing that had remained undimmed by the passage of time, however, was her piercing gaze. Many a Hogwarts student (and more than one professor) had wavered beneath McGonnagal's penetrating stare.

"Just having a last look around, Minerva," Hermione replied. "I...I just wanted to make sure I hadn't forgotten anything."

"Dragon dung," McGonnagal replied sharply. "You're a teacher, Hermione. You've been doing it most of your life. I don't know how Harry and Ron would have gotten through any of their classes if it hadn't been for you. It's quite understandable that you will miss it."

"Yes, well...moving on to bigger and better things, I suppose," Hermione replied, embarrassed by the compliment.

"Bigger, to be sure, though I'm not so convinced about better. Not with another Potter to contend with. Godric Gryffindor help us all."

Hermione chuckled. "Yes, she can be a bit precocious at times."

"She's her father's daughter, she is," said McGonagall.

Hermione now allowed herself a good laugh. "That she is, as he is often reminded."

The two women left the classroom together, marking a slow pace. They talked pleasantly along the way, McGonagall's rather stern manner softening a bit. They wound their way through corridors and up staircases until, at last they stood in front of the stone gargoyle guarding the entrance to the Head's office. After giving the password, ("Gillywater") the pair made their way up the steps and into the office.

Hermione glanced at her watch as she took a seat. The train carrying the students, not to mention her honored guests, would arrive within the hour. This bit of information made Hermione suddenly feel nervous. She sat quietly wringing her hands with worry. McGonagall sensed Hermione's tension almost immediately.

"Stop worrying, child! Everything will be fine."

"I know. I just...want to make a good impression."

"If I may say so, young lady, you have been making good impressions since the day you first came to us," came a new voice.

Hermione looked up at the portrait of Albus Dumbledore and whispered a quiet "thank you".

"You are quite welcome," Dumbledore replied, smiling behind his half-moon spectacles. "I must also add that I have been informed that Mrs. Potter is at the stone gargoyle, patiently waiting for you to come...collect her."

"Oh!" Hermione exclaimed, wiping a tear from her eye. She jumped from her chair and walked briskly out of the room, returning shortly with Ginny following.

Ginny greeted Professor McGonagall, taking care not to hug her too tightly. She was much more enthusiastic about seeing Dumbledore's portrait, chatting animatedly with it for several minutes before Hermione informed her that the students would be arriving any moment. All three women made their way down the stairs and into the hall. McGonagall insisted they keep their own pace and not slow themselves on her account. Hermione and Ginny both thanked her and walked away a bit faster.

"So, are you ready for tonight?" Ginny inquired

"I hope so. Nothing for it now if I'm not," Hermione replied.

"You're going to be great, you know," Ginny stated

Hermione smiled gratefully at the compliment. She secretly hoped, as the pair entered the Great Hall that she could live up to everyone's expectations. She felt a great responsibility to this school. It had been the first place in the wizarding world she'd really felt at home. And now, twenty-seven years to the day that she'd sat for her own sorting ceremony, Hermione would become the youngest headmistress in the history of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.