I Am Serpent

Chapter 9

Hermione hadn't had fun like this in a very long time. She didn't have to watch her words, nobody criticised her, she could just sit back and relax.

She almost forgot that she had a mission too.

"So Greg", she said during dessert, "Has Tracey found a job yet?"

"No", he answered with his mouth full of raspberry panna cotta.

"Is she any good with children?", she asked.

"Sure", he answered, "She has a teaching degree."

"There's an opening coming at Hogwarts", she told, spooning up some more raspberry goodness.

"Really?", Theo butted in, "Which class? Not Defence Against the Dark Arts again I hope..."

"Not at all", she answered. "I had meetings with the Department Against Discrimination and professor McGonagall today and we agreed to reform Muggle Studies into Cultural Studies, a combination of Muggle and Wizarding Culture. The Wizarding part of the course will start after Christmas break."

"I think she would love that", Greg remarked, "She knows a great deal about culture, both common and ancient pureblood."

"Who would have thought", Blaise smiled, "Tracey Davis - Goyle, teaching at Hogwarts."

"She doesn't have the job yet", Hermione warned, "But I'm sure she's got a very good chance. Anyway, we also decided to a week project on life during the War. We're looking for four guest speakers. Someone who fought against Voldemort, someone sympathising with The Order Of The Phoenix, someone sympathising with Voldemort and an actual former Death Eater."

She saw them wince every time she said the name Voldemort, even though he had been dead for years.

"Where are you going to find those?", Blaise asked sipping from his espresso.

"Neville and his wife Hannah already agreed for the against Voldemort parts", she said. "The other two won't be as easy."

She smiled sweetly at Theo until he was squirming in his seat.

"I suppose I could...", he finally said.

"Oh would you?", she exclaimed happily. "Thank you so much Theo! I'll repay you somehow, I promise."

She kissed him soundly on the cheek. Now she turned her gaze to Draco, the only former Death Eater in the company. He caught her eyes and scoffed.

"Fuck! No!", he answered, emphasising each word.

"Please Draco", she begged.

"No", he answered, finality clear in his voice. "I won't make it more difficult for Scorpius than it already is. People do not have to be reminded of his Death Eater father."

"But...", she tried.

"Stop Hermione", he interrupted her sternly.

She huffed and decided to drop it... For now. He wasn't getting away so easily. She could do difficult, but could he?

"I think we should call it a night", Theo remarked tactfully.

She nodded and called over the waiter to pay their bill. This evoked some discussion, but Hermione didn't relent and payed for all. Blaise insisted that they take the Tube back instead of finding a quiet place to apparate from. At Diagon Alley's apparition point they said their goodbyes.

Draco automatically stretched his hand out to her and apparated them to the Manor.

When they appeared in the library she almost lost her balance and grabbed Draco's black shirt while he placed his hand on her hips to steady her.