poison ✞ dramione

part three

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"double dada with the slytherins?" ginny complained the next morning with a groan. "not what i need first thing."

hermione shrugged. "we have no choice but to go. come on, eat quick so we can get there and get the good seats."

"you mean the seats right at the front?" harry teased, stuffing his face with eggs, bacon and toast.

hermione smiled at him. "of course! why else would i want to be there early?"

ginny giggled a little before polishing off her helping of baked beans. she wiped her face with a tissue then picked up her bag, tapping on hermione's shoulder. "at least we're in the same classes for once."

hermione nodded, following the redheads lead. harry groaned before he quickly finished his toast while trying to sling his bag on his shoulder. he trailed behind the two of them as they made their way to the class, wondering who could be their new professor.

ginny pushed the door open but halted in her steps before she could even make a single move to go inside the classroom. hermione dropped a hand on her friends shoulder. "what's wrong, gin?"

"bill?" ginny whispered, flying into the room. Hermione shared a look with harry then stepped inside the room.

none other than bill weasley stood there, hugging his little sister like there was no tomorrow. harry turned to hermione. "is bill our new teacher?"

hermione smiled. "seems like it. i guess we got off lucky this year."

harry smiled too and they both strolled in, dropping down on the desks at the front. harry sat down on the desk to the right, leaving a space for ginny, so hermione took the desk one over right in the middle. when ginny had stopped hugging her brother, she sat next to harry.

"yes, i'm your new teacher," bill said before they could ask him. as he smiled it drew attention the the scar left by greyback but none of the man cared. "i thought it'd be a great surprise."

"but why?" hermione asked. "you're a curse breaker. that's a high profile job and you just gave it up to be a school teacher?"

bill glanced at the door then turned back to them. "if i tell you something, you must promise not to tell anyone else, okay?" all three nodded. "well, kings assigned me here to watch for that malfoy boy. someone had to and i offered."

"what about fleur?" hermione asked, thinking of the veela. "how does she feel about this?"

"she's okay with it," bill answered. "i'm allowed to floo back home once i'm finished up here for the day."

"did you even think this through?" ginny asked, frowning. "malfoy is smart and he will notice someone spying on him. especially when that someone is an ex-order member with red hair and a scar on his face."

"i'm just here to make sure he behaves," bill assured his sister. "kings knew that the other teachers could do so but if malfoy steps one toe out of line i'll be able to take him to the ministry far quicker."

"you sound like mrs weasley," harry joked.

bill chuckled. "and that sounds like students. now—i may be family but i won't be showing any favouritism in this class."

ginny poured but nodded all the same. the class started to fill in with gryffindors and slytherins who all took seats far from the opposite house. the slytherins didn't seem as petty as that but they had no choice either way as the gryffindors wouldn't stop glaring at them harshly.

hermione sighed. there'll be no inter-house unity like this. however, she had little hope when daphne greengrass plopped next to her.

"before you say anything," daphne started, fishing out her quill and parchment, "i'm only sitting here because i have no other choice."