Lessons

Harry couldn't leave Defence Against the Dark Arts quick enough. He hurried off to look for Ron and found him sulking in the Gryffindor common room.

"The Slytherins..." Harry blurted out of breath, "must have put a spell on her."

"No," said Ron, getting up and kicking the wall in frustration. "She was acting weird before she saw them-even on the train."

"Why didn't she tell us about Defence Against the Dark Arts? It doesn't make any sense."

"I don't know, but I'm going to find out," said Ron, heading for the door.

"Ron lets not go running into things."

Ron sat back down as dramatically as he could, throwing his arms up in the air.

"You'll probably find her in the Slytherin common room with her new mates," he replied sarcastically.

"Maybe she was just trying to make a good impression on them. It can't be easy having to teach anyone, let alone the Slytherins!"

Ron didn't reply and just stared straight ahead of him. His face was the same colour as his hair.

"And maybe she thought we would make fun of her."

"I would never make fun of Hermione," said Ron seriously. "She's our friend."

"I know." Harry smiled slightly at the thought of Ron never making fun of Hermione.

"Something is definitely going on. We just have to find out what." Ron looked as determined as he could.

"With a bit of luck," said Harry, "they will find a replacement teacher soon and we will get the old Hermione back."

"Any idea if Lockhart is free at the moment?" asked Ron hopefully.

"It's not that bad," laughed Harry. "Yet."

Ron looked a bit disappointed.

"Look," said Harry eventually, "I'll go and speak to her now, and see if I can find out anything. You wait here, just incase she's still a bit edgy about earlier."

Ron tutted his agreement and Harry made his way back to the DADA classroom.

***

"Hermione!" Harry called out to her back, which was walking off in the opposite direction to him. "Hermione, wait! Please."

She stopped walking, but didn't turn to face him.

"What is your problem Hermione? Ron is your friend and he was just defending you in class. You had no reason to send him out."

Hermione turned slowly to face him.

"Why are you making this difficult for me? I will not tolerate that behaviour in class just because you are my friends."

"Are you listening to a word I'm saying?" asked Harry exasperated. "Ron didn't do anything!"

"I have to go," said Hermione quietly, as she walked off.

Harry stared after her in disbelief, then subsequently returned to Ron.

"Any luck?" asked Ron as Harry slumped down into a chair next to him.

Harry shook his head.

"Do you think it's really Hermione?" said Ron enthusiastically. "Maybe it's an imposter!"

"No," said Harry quietly. "It's definitely Hermione, which is why it doesn't make sense. There's something she's not telling us."

"That job is cursed. It's sent her barmy," said Ron.

"It's not even her job. She's just helping out so it shouldn't curse her. I get the feeling we've done something to upset her."

"Well I'm upset at her. She's off her bloody trolley."

"We've got Defence again later," Harry reminded Ron.

"I'm not going. Not until she's back to normal."

"Maybe we should talk to one of the teachers. McGonagall?" suggested Harry.

"Don't be daft. She'll think we are just over reacting because Hermione's not giving us special treatment in class."

"Good point."

"Or," said Ron sitting up, "we could speak to Dumbledore?"

"Nah," said Harry. "He gave her the job, he's hardly going say, 'Oh dear, I seem to have made a mistake' and anyway, she's one of them now. Probably not such a good idea after all."

Harry and Ron decided to talk about anything and everything other than Hermione. They didn't have any more lessons until the afternoon, when they had another DADA class and then Potions. Hermione didn't go into the Gryffindor common room once. That suited Harry and Ron fine. Eventually Harry looked at his watch.

"Nearly time for you know what," said Harry wearily. "Have you changed your mind about going?"

"No," said Ron firmly.

"You sure?"

"Positive."

"OK, I'll see you in Potions then."

"Oh yeah," said Ron as he made a face. "I forgot about that. Snape and 'teacher' Hermione. What a combination."

Harry laughed. "See you later... if I survive."

"Rather you than me," smiled Ron as he opened another packet of chocolate frogs and relaxed back into the chair.

***

"Where's Weasley?" asked Hermione as she surveyed the class.

"He's not coming, and his name is Ron," replied Harry, trying to keep his cool.

"Is he ill?" she asked primly.

"No, but he is sick. Sick of your strange behaviour."

"I'll have to report his absence to the head of Gryffindor," said Hermione, matter of factly.

"Report your missing personality too," muttered Harry.

Hermione ignored him and wrote a memo to speak to Professor McGonagall later on. Then she took a huge pile of papers off her desk and started handing them out.

"Today we are going to have a small test on werewolves and giants, to see if you have learned just how very dangerous they can be." She smiled at the Slytherins apologetically. "Don't worry," she said to a groaning Draco. "I'm sure you will do fine."

Harry looked at her in disbelief. Evil werewolves and giants? She knew about Lupin and Hagrid, what was she talking about? He failed to see Hermione slip Draco a piece of paper with all the answers on as she walked back to her desk. The time ticked on and Harry drew some pictures on his test paper. There was no way that he was going to answer questions on 'evil' werewolves and giants. He was interrupted mid drawing as Snape entered the classroom, followed by Hermione. He didn't even realise she had left the class.

"What seems to be the problem, Miss Granger?" asked Snape smoothly, but Harry could tell he had to force himself to be polite.

"I didn't want to disturb the class in the middle of their test, but I noticed something on the floor and thought I should get a witness so that nobody thinks I'm being unfair and making false allegations."

Hermione pointed to a piece of paper on the floor next to Harry. Snape swept over and picked it up.

"So, Mr Potter," said Snape, hardly bothering to hide his glee. "Evil Werewolves and Giants is obviously not your best topic, otherwise you would not need this." He turned the paper slowly to face Harry.

Harry was confronted with a list of test answers.

"Come with me," said Snape, his voice cold, but strangely happy.

"But I..." he looked at Hermione for help, but her face remained blank.

"Now, Mr Potter."

Slowly Harry got up and followed Snape out of the door. He didn't look at Hermione-he couldn't.