Getting in the Groove
Present Day
“Students, please finish up your responses as class is nearly over,” I announce, standing from my desk and collecting their completed work.
Each pair turns their work in and stands from their table, either parting ways for their other friends or continuing on together.
Blaise and Ron seem to be having a harder time than most of the pairs. They’d taken to my first dueling exercise well though. Ron surprised me with his speed at casting. Blaise had tricked him, using an offensive spell defensively, so that Ron became euphoric and forgot he was dueling. It had been one of my favorite moments of teaching so far.
After placing the stack of papers on my table, I turn around to quite a surprise.
Draco and Hermione are still sitting, huddled over their paper, whispering.
“Come along, you two. Class time has ended.”
They look up and then glance at each other.
Hermione goes pink but nods.
“Sorry, Professor. We got caught up on the third part. Are you quite sure you meant to only ask about three dangers?”
I hum to myself, pleased at their inquiry.
“There are quite a few more than three dangers when dealing with merpeople. I’m only focused on the three that will be on your exams. I commend you both for your dedication to the material. Perhaps you could consider merpeople as an appropriate area of study for your final projects.”
“Professor,” Draco stands as well now. He’d been quiet so far this year. He seemed a bit lost to me. I hope Hermione is helping him. “I wondered- that is, we wondered if there was a way to use the classroom to work outside of class?”
I stare at them confused.
Hermione glances at Draco, nervous.
He continues, “People have been giving Granger a hard time.”
“What people?”
If he weren’t so pale, the blush would be impossible to see.
“His friends,” Hermione snaps.
He looks at his feet.
“I would encourage you, Mr. Malfoy, to speak up to your friends. However, I understand that this partnership was forced on both of you. If you both agree, I will assign you new partners at the start of the next lesson.”
They look at each other once more. I resist smiling. Neither one of them jumps on my offer. It’s only been three weeks since I made the first assignments.
“That won’t be necessary, Professor,” Draco says.
I nod, pleased with the result.
“Your work has been quite singular, so I am glad you think it is possible to stay partners. But Mr. Malfoy, I will not tolerate any mistreatment of Ms. Granger. Am I understood?”
He nods his head.
“Off you both go. Enjoy the weekend.”
They collect their books and whisper to one another but I resist eavesdropping, hopeful that Hermione will stop in for tea soon enough.
“Oh, and you may use the classroom whenever you like,” I add.
They thank me and scurry off. I suppose I must remember that they are very different people outside of my classroom. I doubt Pansy and Harry spend any time together even though they had become quite the pair during the class period.
He seems to be settling in alright. I know he wants to do more to help. With Voldemort back from the dead I can only imagine the runaway thoughts that plague him.
We have a standing flying session each week, but I haven’t gotten to see him as much as I had hoped. Teaching so many students, it is hard to find any free time.
Plus, more of my students had taken me up on my offer for tea than I thought would.
My favorite student is Luna Lovegood. She had brought me a lovely tea made with three things I had never heard of and more lemon than is logical. Plus she has a vast knowledge of magical lore and creatures rumored to exist in our vast world. Plus, she wasn’t allowing the girls of her year to affect her.
I have a couple of first years that only visit me in a group, but it makes for a splendid time. They all see the world as so black and white. Plus they seem to believe they are going to encounter dragons a lot more than is realistic. A bit like my childhood fear of quicksand.
Fred and George Weasley stopped by my office at least three times a week to badger me about Sirius, James, and Remus. They’d also started showing me some of the products that they sell to the other students. Of course, I hadn’t mentioned that tidbit to any of my fellow staff members. Minnie would not approve.
I glance at the mechanical watch I had taken to wearing and head towards my office to put the kettle on.
At exactly 4:00, Neville Longbottom knocks on my door, a small plant in his hand. He never comes empty-handed, as if he needs a reason to stop by.
“Come in, come in,” I say, waving my wand so the kettle pours the tea.
“Hello Professor,” he smiles timidly, setting the plant down on the edge of my desk.
“What have you brought today?”
“It’s a Screechsnap. Or at least it will be. I just cut it and repotted this bulb.”
“You don’t plan on leaving that noisy thing here do you? You’ve already left me three plants to take care of, and I don’t exactly have a green thumb.”
He shakes his head.
“I only wanted to show you because we were talking about deterrents to gnomes this week and Screechsnap can be very useful for garden walls.”
“Color me impressed, Neville. How are the rest of your classes going?”
“Alright, I suppose. Potions is a bit of a nightmare, but then again, it always is.”
Severus was moving farther and farther down my list.
Neville Longbottom had lost his parents in a way worse than death. He’d been raised by a nightmarish woman. He deserved our empathy.
“I was rather good at Potions, if you’d ever like any additional help. I understand Professor Snape prefers not to work with students outside of class time. I obviously don’t feel the same way.”
He smiles and nods like he is humoring me.
“You’re defense work is coming along well, Neville. I was wondering how you might feel about working with Harry?”
He reacts just as I expect. His face goes pale and he shakes his head like I am asking him to eat his left foot.
“It’s just, he’s having a hard time of things after Mr. Diggory’s death. I thought it might be nice to know he has more friends within these walls than just Ron and Hermione.”
He thinks about it and then nods, the paleness in his face not dissipating.
Asking for help is one of the hardest things to do in the world.
I think maybe I played too strong a hand.
He excuses himself with a shy smile.