New Beginnings

DISCLAIMER::: Everything you recognize belongs to JKRowling and Warner Bros. I just love them so much I wanted to play with them a little.

Summary::: Upon returning to Hogwarts Hermione is offered the Transfiguration position. (Ultimately a SS/HG)

New Beginnings

Chapter Two

Sitting in his usual dark corner of the staff room, it was not surprising that Professor Snape was unnoticed when the cloaked figure entered and headed for a table on the other side of the room. He watched with intent eyes to see who this intruder on his free period was. It could be said that he was very shocked when the figure removed the cloak to reveal a mass of frizzy hair that he realized could only belong to Mrs. Hermione Weasley. It still felt odd calling her this, even after eight years. Turning to sit in her chosen chair, Hermione looked up to see the unmistakable black eyes of her former Potions professor. She smiled but did not speak. When she purposely looked away, Severus had to wonder if she was still as scared of him as she had been in school, or if she was just nervous to be back here after all these years.

"Hello, Mrs. Weasley," the most hated professor in the school said. "To what do we owe the honor of your presence after so long?"

Hermione looked up at him again, trying to decide if he was being sarcastic or if he really wanted an answer. "The Headmistress invited me," Hermione stated simply. When the professor raised an eyebrow in question, she added, "She said she had something very important she wanted to discuss with me."

Before Professor Snape could respond, the door opened again, and in swept a harried looking McGonagall. She was carrying several scrolls of parchment, and her usually tight bun was coming loose in the back. To anyone who knew her, she looked a right mess. The Potions professor was instantly forgotten.

"Oh, thank heavens you have arrived. I was starting to worry that you wouldn't make it to the train and you would have to floo into Hogsmeade and walk. I trust Hagrid met you at the station?" the Headmistress asked. Hermione had never seen her look so frantic.

"Yes, I arrived just fine. Hagrid told me to wait here until you arrived. He said it wouldn't be long until you joined me," Hermione said, standing to help McGonagall with her load. Taking several of the scrolls and setting them on the table, Hermione was then swept up into a hug that rivaled Hagrid's.

"It is so good to see you. We have so much catching up to do. But first...I have something very important to ask you," the Headmistress stated.

"Have you ever considered teaching?"

Confused at first Hermione just stared at her former Transfiguration professor a moment. "What do you mean?" she finally asked.

"I am in desperate need of someone competent enough to take over my classes. As Headmistress I should never have continued teaching, but as there was no one qualified to take over the position, I had to remain. Now that you have become available, and considering your NEWT scores in the subject, I don't see why I should look for anyone else," McGonagall stated matter-of-factly.

"Professor, I don't think that would be a good idea. How would the Board of Directors from the Ministry feel if you appointed a tarnished woman into such an important position? I am sorry, but I must refuse," Hermione said firmly and stood to leave.

She almost made it to the door before she remembered Professor Snape and glanced up to meet his eyes in goodbye. But what she saw there made her freeze mid step. 'What does that look mean?' She thought.

"Actually, Mrs. Weasley, you of all people should know that none of us care what the Ministry has to say about how this school is run. Albus didn't, and neither does Minerva," Snape stated coolly.

Only then did Professor McGonagall seem to notice that he was even in the room. "Thank you, Severus. You took the words right out of my mouth," she said, nodding her head. She then turned back to her, hopefully, new recruit and continued, "Hermione, you are no more a tarnished woman for having gone through what you did, than I am for having been in a relationship with a man for more than forty years and never marrying him. Even though we all know he asked me to on several occasions."

Hermione turned to face McGonagall and agreed.

"You are right... both of you. Harry would hex me to hell and back if he had heard me talking like that. I will take the job," she stated with finality. Then she went back to the table and sat down again.

Instantly the Headmistress launched into a detailed list of her duties, which would include her becoming the new Gryffindor Head of House. She would be given Minerva's old rooms and would start her classes as soon as the students settled back in after their Christmas holidays.

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The Great Hall was all abuzz as the students tried to quiet themselves for the feast after returning just that evening from their holidays. They were all talking about what they had done while away with their families; what they had received for Christmas; and who the new professor sitting at the staff table was. When the Headmistress rose from her seat, the hall fell silent. It amazed Hermione how that seemed to happen now just the same as when she was a student.

"Attention, everyone, attention," McGonagall said, "I would like to welcome you all back for another term. As I am sure you are all starving from your long journey back here and just want to get on with the feast, I will keep the announcements short. First, Mr. Filch would like me to remind you all that the newest products from Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes have been banned from the school, and you will receive a week's worth of detentions with him should you be caught with the contraband items. Second, I would like to introduce to you all a new member of our staff. Professor Weasley." Turning toward Hermione slightly before turning back to the students, the Headmistress continued. "Professor Weasley will be taking over the position of Transfiguration professor, and you are all to grant her the same respect that you have shown me over the years. Also, she has been appointed Head of Gryffindor House, as that was her house when she was a student here. And now... ," smiling broadly, McGonagall spread her arms wide, and instantly food covered every inch of every table as she stated, "Let the feast begin."

All the students and most of the professors glanced at Hermione in greeting and in welcome before digging into the mountain of food that had appeared in front of them. But as Hermione looked around she noticed that there was a pair of onyx colored eyes that never seemed to leave her. Smiling, she met Professor Snape's eyes. He nodded to her and then raised his glass of wine in a salute. Lifting her own glass, she accepted his small toast and sipped her wine, smiling slightly.

TBC

AN::: I would like to thank my betas Pixie and Allison. Without them you would never have gotten to see this. In the next chapter Hermione has her first day of classes.