Chapter 7: The Chance
A/N: Hannah has a close relationship with Tonks and Professor Lupin. See Chapter 1.
Thanks to Lady Whitehart for betaing a newbie author like me! Thanks a lot for being nice to moi!
Hannah's eyes twinkled as she and her friends walked from the big oak tree then, back to their campsite. "Looks like we did a good job bringing them together." she laughed.
"Yeah, good thing Cho didn't stand in their way," Parvati said.
Ginny suddenly said, "I miss sch--." A loud CRACK cut her off.
"Professor Dumbledore? Dad! Mom!" Hannah shouted as Lupin and Tonks approached her.
"Oh my dear Hannah," Tonks said as she hugged Hannah tightly.
"We thought something bad happened to you," Lupin said.
"Mum, Dad, I'm all right. I'm so glad you're here." Hannah replied.
"Miss Fairlings, where's Mister Potter? I've heard that Miss Granger's missing. Is she here?" Dumbledore asked.
"Yes, Professor Dumbledore, she's here and she's safe," Ginny replied.
*~*
Hermione smirked at Harry as she leaned down on the oak tree behind her. She tucked a few strands of her hair behind her ear."You know that you're doing a good job making it up to me," she remarked which made Harry chuckle again.
Harry went closer to her and smiled, "Well, I'm glad that I am," Harry replied.
Hermione glared at him playfully and said, "You bet you--" She was cut off by Ron's shout.
"Harry, Hermione, Cho! Professor Dumbledore, Professor Lupin and Tonks are here!"
"We better go back or we'll miss the trip back to Hogwarts," Hermione suggested.
"Yes. I know how you're freaking out because you're missing lessons." Harry chuckled, which made Hermione jab his ribs using her elbow.
*~*
Parvati pointed out Harry and Hermione. "There they are."
"Harry, my boy," Lupin said as he shook Harry's hand.
"It's good to see you, Professor Lupin." Harry smiled.
"I'm not a Professor anymore you know," Lupin replied.
"Tonks? Is that you?" Hermione grinned.
"Hermione! You've changed a lot since I last saw you." Tonks smiled.
"You know each other?" Harry asked.
"Oh yes. She helped me with a lot of things in my fifth year," Hermione answered.
"And I never expected such fine curls instead of that bushy hair. You look absolutely gorgeous." Tonks said.
"Thanks to Hannah, Parvati, Ginny and Lavender. They spent their time making me look like this."
"They did a great job, by the way." Tonks remarked as the girls giggled.
"We tried." Lavender giggled.
"We better hurry, you missed a lot of lessons, and our Head Boy and Head Girl need to do rounds." Professor Dumbledore said.
"But how do we apparate away? We tried Apparating but it seems like we're not powerful enough," Draco said.
"Did you try the Power of Unity?" Lupin asked.
"The Power of Unity?" Hannah asked.
"I mean did you try to hold hands and focus your mind in apparating together?" Professor Dumbledore asked.
"Oh, actually we didn't do that," Hermione replied.
"Well, try now or you'll be stuck here." Lupin smiled.
The group held hands and focused their minds into apparating away from this meadow. After a few minutes, they disappeared into a loud CRACK and ended up in Hogsmeade.
"Hogsmeade at last!" Lavender said.
"I miss school already." Hermione smiled.
"Come on then, we need to come back to school as soon as possible or Hermione will freak out." Harry joked as Hermione glared playfully at him.
The group traveled to reach Hogwarts, together, and entered the Great Hall. The students were staring at Hermione the moment they set foot on the entrance which made Hermione nervous. Her hands were shaking and she liked to disappear right there and then. Murmurs, whispers and stares filled the Great Hall.
"Harry, I don't think I can do this," Hermione said, her voice shaking.
"What do you mean, Hermione?" Harry asked.
"The stares and the whispers. I can't take it," Hermione said as she was about to leave, but Harry stopped her.
"Hermione, look at me." Harry instructed as, but Hermione didn't. He cupped her chin, and her brown eyes were filled with tears. "We're here for you. We'll always be with you."
That made the murmurs grow louder. Hermione could overhear most of it.
"Oh my gosh, when did they go out?" someone murmured.
"What about Cho?"
"Is Hermione a popular?"
The group found a space in the Gryffindor table. The murmurs stopped when Professor Dumbledore appeared in front. He spoke up and they silenced right away.
"We are here to welcome some once missing students who were stuck in a meadow." Professor Dumbledore announced. "Please put your welcomes together for Mister Weasley, his sister Miss Weasley and his girlfriend, Miss Brown." Dumbledore introduced. "For Mister Malfoy and his girlfriend, Miss Patil." Dumbledore continued. "For Miss Chang." He said. "And for Miss Fairlings, Mister Potter and Miss Granger." Dumbledore finally introduced as the murmurs started again but they clapped.
"What were they murmuring about?" Hannah asked.
"Nothing. They just had nothing good to do." Harry said as Hermione sniffed back her tears. "Isn't that right, Hermione?" Harry asked as Hermione nodded.
"Children, I have one last announcement before I let you get befuddled by our excellent feast. I would like you to welcome a pair of teachers who will be teaching you." Dumbledore announced. "Professor Lupin will become your Defense against the Dark Arts teacher again." Dumbledore continued as Hannah smile grew wider. "And his wife, Nymphadora Tonks will teach Potions." Dumbledore continued as Hannah smile grew wider than ever. She flung her arms into Harry, who was shock when she hugged him. Hermione silently withdrew her smile and did her best to withdraw her tears from falling also. When Hannah realized that she was hugging Harry, she slowly released him and went back to her seat. "And because Gryffindor tryouts were postponed because their captain was nowhere to be found, tomorrow will be the start of the tryout, so Miss Fairlings, be ready to test your fellow Gryffindors. The only slots open are a chaser and a Keeper because Miss Weasley and Miss Fairlings will be chasers, Mister Malfoy and Mister Weasley will be beaters and Mister Potter will be the Seeker," Dumbledore said as Hannah sighed.
"Harry, help me with the try out," Hannah pleaded.
"Sure, Hannah. Hermione, why don't you try out?"
"Oh, I'm not very good at flying. I'm terribly uncoordinated when I'm on a broom," Hermione shyly replied.
"Cho, why aren't you in the list of players?" Draco asked.
"Before we apparated away, I asked Professor Dumbledore not to sign me up for Quidditch. I grew tired of it anyways."
"Hermione, why don't I teach you how to fly on a broom?" Harry suggested, which made both Hermione and Hannah smile.
"Perfect suggestion, Harry," Hannah whispered to herself.
"Harry, I'll be the worst student you'll ever have. I am a smart witch but I'm not into Quidditch. I only watch Quidditch because of --" Hermione said, but she quickly stopped when she recognized what she was saying.
Harry raised an eyebrow up and smirked. "Because of what, Hermione?"
"Nothing, Harry. Basically, I'm just curious on this sport that the male Gryffindors always talk about." Hermione replied logically.
"Uh huh. Yeah, right Hermione. So, Hannah what are your classes?" Harry asked.
Hannah pulled out a parchment from her pockets. She looked at it and smiled. "Transfiguration, Defense against the Dark Arts, Charms, Potions, Astronomy, History of Magic, Herbology, Arithmancy and Care of the Magical Creatures. You?"
"I have the same classes." Harry smiled. "Hermione?"
"Same." she replied.
"Looks like we all have the same classes," Draco replied. "I can't believe I took up Arithmancy. Am I out of my mind?"
"Come on, Draco. Arithmancy can't be that hard," Parvati assured him.
"You don't know what you're thinking, Parvati. Arithmancy is such a drag," Lavender moaned.
"Yeah. It wouldn't be a surprise to me if I flunked it." Ron chuckled.
Hannah laughed. "Don't worry, Ron. Hermione, Harry and I are always here to help you with your homework. Just don't take advantage of us okay?"
"I bet that you'll have loads of fun in Potions and Defense against the Dark Arts now, eh?" Hermione asked.
"Yeah. I'll be able to recover after Snape teaching Potions and Defense against the Dark Arts now," Hannah replied. "I bet that Harry will have fun now, too."
"You bet I will. I'll definitely pass all my classes now."
"I bet that it will be a drag tomorrow. Hermione, what if I reserved you a spot in Quidditch?" Hannah asked.
"Don't expect me to be great at Quidditch, Hannah. I can't even fly on a broom and Quidditch is extremely dangerous," Hermione replied.
"Just give it a shot, Hermione. I bet that you'll love it," Ginny urged.
"Fine, I'll give it a shot but don't blame me if you lose because of me," Hermione replied. "But I don't know how to fly on a broom."
"Hermione, I'll ask Professor McGonagall to postpone Quidditch try outs next week. The first Quidditch match of the season will be two weeks from now and I bet that I can train my members until then."
"I'll book the Pitch tomorrow so I can teach you how to fly on your broom. What is your broom model anyways?" Harry asked.
"A Cleansweeper. Dad urged me to buy it even though I don't know how to fly it. He seemed very interested in it even though he had no idea of how it flies," Hermione replied.
"A perfect model for Harry Potter's flying student," Ron remarked.
"Harry, I promise you that you'll easily give up," Hermione said sadly. "Or you'll go crazy because of teaching me."
"But I know that it'll be worth it." Harry smiled to himself.
Hermione moved closer to Hannah and whispered something like "Hannah, can I have a favor?" as Hannah smiled and nodded. "Just let Harry teach me how to fly a broom but don't sign me up for Quidditch."
Hannah shook her head but gave in when Hermione gave her, her puppy dog eyes. She reluctantly nodded and smiled at her.