Chaper 9: Hermione's Next Great Adventure

Author's Note: I am so excited to be working with my beta reader and XXX from staff of The Petulant Poetess. These two wonderful women have given me help and guidance, inspiration and support. My story has benefited immensely from their care and expertise. When I consider that this is nearly the end of the Challenge, and try to imagine the work load that XXX is facing, her patience and forbearance with me are even more appreciated. My original beta continues to encourage and inspire, and I am grateful for her support, also.

To my readers, it's all for you. Your generosity and kindness recognize no bounds, and I thank you.

Chapter Nine: Hermione's Next Great Adventure

Potter's Hollow, Hogsmeade, Scotland

When Hermione came downstairs into the kitchen at Potter's Hollow after showering and dressing, Draco and Harry were still eating, but Ginny was talking with her mother on the Floo network.

"Good morning, everyone." Hermione waved at Ginny, not wanting to interrupt her conversation. Harry and Draco both stood and hugged her, but she pushed them back into their seats when Harry would have filled her plate. "No, sit down, I'll serve myself. Finish your breakfast," she insisted. When she was seated at the table with scones and a cup of tea she told Harry about her conversation with their daughters, touched to see that he was as proud of his daughter and niece as she was.

"They're good kids," Harry commented softly. "I'm proud of them. "

As Ginny joined them at the table he added, "Ginny and I are really proud of you, too, 'Mione. Or should I say Headmistress?"

"Oh, Harry. I hate it that Minerva died and left the position open. I'd much rather she... retired to a beach in the Caribbean... or... an island in Greece... or even a cottage on Loch Ness. I am so honored to be asked to serve as Headmistress, though."

Harry got up and wrapped his arm around Hermione's shoulders, leaning down to drop an affectionate kiss on the crown of her head.

"We know you'd have been happy to serve as Minerva's deputy for the next 100 years, if it had worked out that way. We're just happy for you, in the middle of all this sadness."

"He's quite right, Granger. "

Draco smiled at her and added, "I shall be coming to Hogwarts today to make the announcement to the staff and students." An impish grin lighted his cool eyes. "And I know something you don't know." He spoke in a sing-song voice, and Hermione narrowed her eyes at him.

"Oh?"

Draco looked up at Harry and laughed.

"You missed a very interesting meeting yesterday, Granger."

She raised her eyebrows inquiringly. "The Board of Governors' meeting?"

"Yep."

"Well? Are you going to tell me what happened, or sit there and smirk?"

"I thought I would sit here and smirk, actually."

Hermione narrowed her eyes again and joked, "I'd appeal to your better nature, but I'm not sure you have one."

Ginny choked back a giggle.

"If you keep insulting me, I won't tell you. You'll have to wait till you get back in my good graces, which will take a while with all the insults you're heaping on my innocent head. You'll be sorry you were so mean to me. And your curiosity will torture you."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Draco Malfoy! Tell me what happened, this instant! "

"What do you think, Potty? Should I tell her?"

"Unless you WANT her to hex your bits off."

" Hem... Hem... " Draco coughed delicately. "Leave my bits out of it, please."

Harry chuckled.

"You might try talking TO me instead of ABOUT me," Hermione grumbled.

"Nah, this is more fun."

"Draco, please tell me whatever it is that has you smirking so smugly."

"Oh, nice alliteration, Granger, very nice, indeed."

Ginny got up and thwapped Draco on the back of the head as she walked by him on the way to the sink. "Ack, now the redhead is assaulting me, too!" He threw up his hands in a gesture of surrender, then looked up at Hermione, his lower lip dropping into a pout. His silver eyes were still gleaming with mischief.

"You have an unexpected champion, Granger."

"A what?" Her eyes widened in surprise. "I don't understand."

"An unexpected champion. Yesterday, when the board started discussing who should be the new Head of School, it was total chaos. I thought Salazar Slytherin was going to jump out of his picture and strangle somebody, the way he was going on and on about Pure-bloods. Dilys Derwent was really getting up his nose. Anyway... we were making no progress, and I was seriously wishing I could hex a couple of paintings, when my godfather speaks up."

"What did Professor Snape have to say? Do I really want to hear this?" Hermione frowned, remembering the tall, dark, but not conventionally handsome Professor of Potions, from whom she had learned so much. He was her inspiration for studying Potions, his introduction to the subject in their first year something she had never forgotten.

The words echoed in her mind even as she thought of that first day in Potions class... The hushed dungeon classroom, the unfamiliar odors, the sound of cauldrons bubbling, and Professor Snape's enthralling description of the subtle art and exact science of potion making. He had gone on to tell them of the things they could do with potions. I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory... even stopper death."

His deep, quiet voice had lingered over the words, a verbal caress, as if he were loath to let them go. Those few solemn words had made a profound impression on her. Not the only time he made a profound impression, she thought ruefully. Not even Ginny knew of the tremendous crush she'd developed on Professor Snape at the end of her fifth year of school.

She forced her mind back to the present and asked, anxiously, "What did he say, Draco? Was it something horrible?"

"Weren't you listening? I said you have a champion. You know... Knight in shining armor?"

"I was lis-what? You can't mean he said something nice?"

Harry glanced over at Draco. "Come on, stop torturing her and tell her what he said."

"Very well. You're an impatient lot. Everyone was arguing about who should be the new Head of School, and Snape speaks up. And what he said was, "Draco, it would be obvious to a Flobberworm that the Board of Governors should offer the position to Hermione Granger-Weasley."

Hermione nearly dropped her teacup, she was so surprised.

"He really said that?" she asked after a moment.

Draco nodded. "Believe me, I was as surprised as you are now. The whole board just stopped talking. You could have heard a pin drop on the floor. Then everyone decided they agreed with him. Well, except for Salazar Slytherin, but he doesn't have a vote on the board, anyway."

"Professor Snape said that about me?"

"Yes."

"Wow. I don't know what to say."

The Wizarding clock chimed from the hall, and Hermione suddenly got to her feet.

She pushed back her chair and neatly placed her plate and cup in the sink.

"Harry and Ginny, thank you for everything. I really need to get to the school."

She murmured a charm to summon her cloak and bag, tossed a pinch of Floo powder into the fireplace, called out her destination, and was gone in a flash of green light.

Office of the Deputy Headmistress, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Hogsmeade, Scotland,

She emerged from the fireplace in her own (soon to be someone else's) small office, stowed away her bag in the desk drawer and hung her cloak on the coat rack. She had a number of things to do today, and it would be best to make a list of them now while she had the peace and quiet to do it.

Draco would be coming to Hogwarts this morning to make the announcement of her appointment as Headmistress. That would take a good part of the morning, she was sure. She would invite Draco and Ginny to stay for lunch, as well as Ron, from whom she had still heard nothing. Ron probably left early and didn't bother to send a letter by post owl when he knew he would get here before the letter did, she told herself.

She looked around the small Deputy's office. She would have to take the time, soon, to clean out the Headmistress's office and find places for everything Minerva had left behind. Some of the hundreds of items in Minerva's office would be distributed according to her will, but that would not come close to emptying the office. She had a sinking feeling that even an expansion charm wouldn't help enough, once she added her own files, books and teaching materials to the items already in the Headmistress's office. What could be done?

A snarky little voice in her mind offered several suggestions, from holding a Wizarding Jumble Sale, to casting a well placed Incendio and shoveling out the ashes after they'd cooled. But she couldn't do that. Some of the items now stored in the Headmistress's office should really be under lock, key, and security charm. Truthfully, some of the items in the Headmistress's office should be in a buried vault at Gringotts.

Burning the place down to bare stone, tempting as the idea was, simply would not do.

She smiled at her own whimsical ideas and steeled herself to the fact that both offices would have to be cleaned out bit by bit. Harry and Ginny would help and possibly Draco, if only out of curiosity. She made a mental note to swear everyone to silence, as well. Merlin help her if George Weasley discovered she was clearing things out. He couldn't be told till everything had been disposed of.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the soft POP of an apparating house-elf, and she looked up to find Winky curtseying before her.

"Winky is sorry to be disturbing Madam Headmistress, but Mr. Draco Malfoy is asking Winky to find Madam and tell her she is wanted in the Great Hall."

Hermione looked up with a friendly smile for the little elf, now dressed in an immaculate white ruffled apron and frilled maid's cap. Winky had gotten over her grief at being freed by her old master and took great pride in her quarter century and more of service at Hogwarts.

"Thank you very much, Winky. When Mr. Malfoy has finished his presentation in the Great Hall, will you bring us tea in the Headmistress's office?"

'Winky will watch, yes, and be ready when Madam and Mr. Malfoy is ready to be drinking tea."

Hermione nodded her thanks again and hurried out of the office. It would never do to keep Draco Malfoy waiting, after all. As she made her way down the corridors and through the echoing hallways, she felt a surge of excitement. A new position with new responsibilities surely qualified as her own Next Great Adventure.

The Great Hall, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Hogsmeade, Scotland

Draco Malfoy looked around the Great Hall as he approached the lectern in front of the High Table. Behind him he could hear the whispers of the staff, and before him he could see the four House tables filled with students. At the far end of the Hall near the double doors, he could see several reporters and one photographer. He had, as a matter of course, arranged for the press to be notified that an important announcement would be made this morning, so the presence of the reporters was no surprise. As he prepared to speak, he noticed the big doors swinging open again and two familiar redheads appeared in the doorway; Ginevra Weasley, whom he had seen that morning at breakfast, and behind her and towering over her, her brother Ron. Good. It was entirely appropriate that Madam Granger-Weasley's husband be here for this auspicious occasion.

"Attention, please." Draco forgot to amplify his voice and quickly murmured Sonorus, placing his wand up to the side of his neck where the wand would pick up the sound of his voice and broadcast it through the Great Hall.

"The Hogwarts Board of Governors met here last night to discuss the appointment of a new Headmaster or Headmistress for the school. I have the very great honor of announcing the Board's decision to appoint Hermione Granger-Weasley as the new Headmistress of Hogwarts." He started the applause for the new Headmistress, looking over at his former classmate with genuine affection and pride.

She approached the lectern now, and Draco met her halfway, conducting her to the front of the dais with a deferential hand under her elbow. Then he stepped back and watched her as she looked around at the cheering students and applauding staff. Which of them, he wondered, could have imagined this moment, all those years ago when they had been frightened first years themselves?

Hermione murmured her own Sonorus incantation and smiled warmly at Chairman Malfoy before stepping up to the lectern. Her hands gripped the sides of the lectern in an almost painfully tight grip, the only outward betrayal of her sudden nervousness.

"I thank Chairman Malfoy and the Hogwarts Board of Governors for their faith in me and am entirely sensible of the honor of being chosen to serve as Headmistress of Hogwarts. In my own student years here, "Hogwarts: A History" was my favorite book. Reading it, I soon discovered that I was learning so much more than the history of this school. I was learning the rich traditions of Witch and Wizard kind as well. I hope that together we can build upon another rich tradition-the tradition of excellence in Magical Education. This tradition began with the Four Founders and has continued through ten centuries to the present day. I am excited to serve you," her glance swept the students at their tables, "and to serve with you." She cast a glance back over her shoulder to smile at the ranks of teachers seated behind her at the High Table. "I thank you all for your support and pledge to serve you to the very best of my ability."

Heart overflowing with happiness, she whispered a mental "Thank you" to Albus Dumbledore and Minerva McGonagall, then stepped a pace back from the lectern and murmured, Finite Incantatem, grateful that her voice had not cracked while she spoke. Then Draco was standing at her elbow announcing a free period for the students, who got to their feet and shuffled out of the hall.

Draco motioned the reporters to come forward, but before they could get to the platform, Ron and Ginny hurried up the main aisle with Harry and Neville right behind them. For several moments Hermione was hugged and passed from person to person, all of them telling her how proud they were of her, how happy for her.

"Come on, admit it, this is what you've always wanted," Ginny giggled while Harry chimed in, "Well, this or to be the librarian." It took several minutes before Hermione realized that, beyond a brief hug when he first reached the platform, Ron had said very little. This wasn't the time or the place to ask him what was wrong, but something definitely was. When the reporters reached the platform and began clamoring for pictures, Ron moved to the back of the group, shaking his head when Dennis Creevey motioned him forward. "I'm too tall. Best if I'm in the back row," he said lightly, but Hermione wasn't the only one who noticed how distant he seemed.

~OoO~

Finally it was over. Finally the reporters had asked their questions and taken their pictures, and all of her colleagues had been given the chance to offer their congratulations. Hermione was getting a headache. She wanted nothing more than to transfigure her sensible leather pumps into fluffy slippers and go up to her own quiet little office to curl up on the sofa before her own fireplace, with only a cup of tea for company.

She smiled when Draco pulled her to one side and said he had to be going.

"Thank you for everything, Draco. I mean that sincerely. And I do look forward to working with you."

Malfoy's cool silver eyes lit with warmth as he smiled back at Hermione. "Hogwarts is in good hands and you have my support."

"I'd planned to invite you for tea when all this was done. Come one day next week?"

"I'll fit you into my calendar."

Draco patted her hand and then made his way out of the Great Hall while Hermione turned to her husband and family.

"Come up to my new office for tea?"

Harry and Ginny looked at each other and then back at Ron, their expressions unreadable, and Harry shook his head. "I have papers to mark, and Gin has to get back to the house to meet visitors from London. I'll see you at lunch time though."

"Right, sure." She could feel tension building up in the air, but turned to Ron. "Have you time to have tea with me? Come see my new office?"

He nodded but did not smile, and a cold tendril of fear twined around her heart. She didn't say anything, but led Ron out of the Great Hall and down the hallways and up the stairs to the Office of the Headmistress.

~OoO~

Prompt Information

My modifications: The story is written about a portrait and not a ghost. I only borrowed Hermione being in love with Severus from prompt 8.