Shades of Grey

Luna's Inquiry

Hermione woke from a restless night sleep. She had that nightmare again. The one that always ended with Bellatrix on top of her cackling while carving out the hideous slur on her arm. Hermione rubbed her arm to sooth any phantom pain associated with the scar.

"Oh Merlin." Hermione sighed as she stretched and got out of bed.

"At least I don't have Defense Against the Dark Arts until the end of the day. That's plenty of time to push the dread away." Hermione told Crookshanks as she scratched behind his ears.

Hermione put on her old school skirt, white button up, Gryffindor tie and vest. She went over to soothe her hair down in the mirror.

"It looks like no time has past since I've worn these." She put on her robes, grabbed a notebook, quill and her text books. "Best be off to breakfast before Ginny sends a search party after me." Hermione said to Crookshanks who meowed while eating from his dish.

Hermione made her way to the Great Hall and took a seat next to Ginny. The red headed girl threw her arms around Hermione's neck pulling her into a soul crushing hug.

"Hermione! I've missed you terribly." Ginny said into Hermione's hair.

"I can tell Gin," Hermione replied pulling Ginny into a less air restricting position. "I've missed you, too."

Ginny sat back and look at her friend. "Hey why aren't you sitting up there?" Ginny motioned to the professor's table. Hermione waved to Neville and smiled at Minerva. She immediately noticed the absence of Professor Black.

"Oh well. I'm a student today. I was told that I can sit here on days I'm not actively teaching."

"Makes sense. I'm so glad you came back. I can't imagine making it through this year without you," Ginny paused with a sly smile "or your study notes."

"That's what I told Neville. I'm looking forward to having him as our teacher. That will be an experience."

"What all are you taking for your NEWTS?" Ginny asked.

"I'm only going for five since I"ll be teaching. I'll automatically get a NEWT for Muggle Studies. I'm taking Potions, Herbology, Ancient Ruins, Arithmancy and". Hermione sighed, "Defense Against the Dark Arts."

"Three classes together. Plus you'll be teaching me in Muggle Studies. Dad insisted I get my NEWT in it." Ginny barked out a laugh.

"Oh great. That'll calm my nerves about teaching" Hermione rolled her eyes. "If I help you out then you can be my human shield in DADA. I don't want to end up with mudblood carved into my other arm." Hermione tried to joke.

"Oh yeah." Ginny looked uncomfortable. "I've heard Black has changed. I don't know first hand. I've heard it from Luna and Neville."

"Wait a minute Neville? She tortured his parents and he is okay with her?" Hermione asked bewildered.

"Yeah. Something about his parents, Black and memory magic. I honestly don't know any of the details."

"Why does everyone around here seem to have forgotten who she is and what she's done?" Hermione huffed crossing her arms over her chest.

"Well, I'm not saying she's changed. I guess I need to see it first hand. I believe it is possible though. I mean look at Snape. Turns out he wasn't all bad."

"Merlin. You sound like Dumbledore." Hermione rolled her eyes at Ginny's confused expression. "We best be off. Double Potions with Slughorn."

"Let the fun begin." Ginny and Hermione laugh as they left the Great Hall arm in arm.

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The day flew by and Hermione found herself sitting in the Gryffindor common room with Ginny working on their Potions assignment. The common room hadn't changed at all. Hermione found it just as comforting and relaxing as she did in her previous time as a student. She would definitely be back. At this point, it seemed more home to her than her living quarters. Hermione and Ginny gathered up their stuff to leave the room to head to their last class of the day. The class that left Hermione with a feeling of dread in the pit of her stomach. The day wasn't a total wash though as she and Ginny worked as partners in Potions and brewed a perfect batch of the Draught of the Living Death. It came with the same incentive Harry received in his sixth year.