By the time breakfast had started the whole school knew some version of what had taken place. They knew that Gryffindor house had three less members than it had previously. They also knew that they had not one but two, count them, first years on the house team. What they didn't know was that they had a new professorProfessor starting that morning. Hermione was nervous. She had walked through the doors as a student, returning with several people that she had been attending lessons with since she was eleven, now she was a . Today, she would start teaching the younger students and next week she would start teaching the older ones. McGonagall wanted to get her in a rhythm before she had the whole school.

Hermione wasn't going to give anything away. Everything had been discussed in the privacy of Hermione's common room Due to this, Hermionedue to this there wasn't any kind of information leak. Hermione acted like it was any other day, she sat at the Gryffindor table for breakfast for what would be her last time. She wanted to soak up the last little bit she could before she officially started teaching. She was excited to be a Professor but at the same time the last year and a bit had been so much of a whirl wind that it still was a bit to take in. First, they were quitting school to find horcruxes, they got Grimuald Place and then lost Grimuald Place's safety. Ron left, Ron came back. They broke into Gringotts and had to escape, all sorts of crazy things flashed through Hermione's mind before the Final Battle of Hogwarts. Then she got to go to the Burrow, she spent almost four full months there, she left temporarily to find her parents but other than that she stayed at the Burrow. Everything with Charlie rushed through her mind and then the last week. The last week was perfect, from her little vacation with Charlie, him giving her a promise ring, the beautiful shops, town, and hotel. Hermione couldn't believe that was now her real life. Then she was back at Hogwarts to be co-Headgirl only to find out she was not only able to take her N.E.W.T.'s but that she also got all O's and was now able to start teaching a year early. She was starting with Defense Against the Dark Arts because it needed someone immediately.

Ginny joined her not long after she had sat down, Hermione had already had her early morning run and shower. She had dressed in her uniform and was going to change after breakfast, no reason to tip anyone off, early. She would no doubt be the talk of the school by lunch time. They sat and chatted about the new team and Ginny's Classes, they talked about everything except Hermione teaching. This was what she needed. She needed the last bit of normalcy that she could suck out of her life before things got crazy, because knowing her life, all hell was just waiting to break loose. Hermione left ten minutes earlier than she normally would, with Ginny in tow. They walked quickly to Hermione's common room so she could change and get to class early. She had a full schedule for today. Both classes of First and Second years and one of the Third years in that order. She was not going to complain, it was a good order for her to get in the swing of things. She had written lesson plans that McGonagall had given her and told her to tweak however she wanted or needed. She pretty well remembered what was on the end of year exams and the O.W.L.S. so she knew what to really focus on and make sure the students understood. Obviously, she would work hard to make sure they learned everything, but she also wanted them to pass their tests. Ginny walked her to the door of her class, right around the corner from her common room, gave her a hug and wished her well.

The day sped by and Hermione felt herself relax more and more as the day went on. The first years had a perfectly clean slate with this being their fourth day of class, but their first full week was just now starting. Hermione tried to think back to her first full week and how she had felt. Nervous and excited. Hermione jumped right in with her expectations for the year and what she wanted her classes to learn. She put it on the board and had them take notes. Let them know what her office hours would be for the moment and told them if they needed her, they could come by or send a note to her. She talked about theory, wand movement, and pronunciation. Hermione pressed the importance of all of it combined. She assigned them to read chapter one and told them they would talk about it the next class. The second and third years she touched on her rules, expectations and how to get a hold of her before jumping right in. She touched on the first chapter for them and the theories that they would need to understand. By the end of the classes she felt as if there were lightbulbs going off. Again, she assigned the first chapter and told them they would buckle down in the next lesson to start the wand work.

Hermione had skipped lunch in the great hall for a quick lunch and more planning in her classroom, so she hadn't made an official appearance as a teacher, yet. It was Monday and she refused to give up her Vale Bellum group. She may now be a Professor, but she had grown up with her class, she was going to continue with them. She would have changed, in case no one knew about her teaching, yet, but she knew she was to sit with the professors for supper. She dropped her belongings off in her room before heading up to her class.

Hermione walked in and sat down, she was surprised to see she was one of the first, there. By the time everyone was in class, Hermione was receiving curious looks. Surely rumors had to already be going around. Amy walked in and got down to business. Class had been about lightening up by playing games on Friday, today class was about drawing a random name out of a hat and getting to know your partner. Hermione's name was pulled out by Tracy Davis. For the duration of the class they sat and talked about what they wanted out of life. Hermione talked about how excited she was to teach, and Tracy talked about how amazing it would be to help bring life into the world. They talked about the possibility of having Children one day. They both shared the experience of being only children and agreed that they wanted more than one if they did have kids. Hermione learned that Tracy had a depth to her that she would never have found if it wasn't for this class. She admitted that she never knew a lot about her and thought she might just be a stuck-up girl. Now, she was glad to see she was just a bit shy. Tracy admitted she usually kept to herself but was learning to come out of her bubble because of this class. Her own house had thought her standoffish and thought that she thought herself above the rest because her makeup was always done, and her clothes were always perfect. She admitted she just loved learning makeup spells and never really did anything other than study so her clothes never got out of place.

"Class dismissed, it's time for supper." Amy told them.

"So, how do you find and learn the spells for your makeup?" Hermione asked Tracy as they stood up.

"I actually get a lot of them from a magazine subscription that I have. I started with a couple books for beginners and now that I understand the process, I pick it up rather quickly." Tracy told her.

"I would love to learn someday if you wouldn't mind showing me." Hermione admitted.

"I could do that; I feel like you would probably usually go with the natural look so we could start with that and them move to night looks and such." Tracy pulled her wand out and stopped Hermione "naturalis rutrum," She glided her wand from the top of Hermione's face straight down. "nocturno visu cinerea." Tracy finish waving her wand slightly at both of Hermione's eyes.

"Natural makeup and grey night eye?" Hermione questioned to check herself.

"Exactly." Tracy pulled a small mirror out of her bag and showed Hermione.

She felt beautiful, she was always scared to wear makeup, but it was flawless. Not too dark but something to stand out a little.

"Thank you so much." Hermione handed the mirror back before she got lost staring. "I really appreciate that."

"I figured you have kind of a big night ahead of you so it might help you feel a bit more confident to feel put together. Tracy smiled as they neared the entrance hall. "I better go drop my things off, but I'll see you in there, you'll do great."

They waved at each other and Hermione walked to the great hall with her head held high.