"Now, you both understand what it is I am about to hand you, correct?"
"Yes, Professor," Hermione answered, a little more cheerfully, now that Madam Pomfrey was gone.
"Perfectly," Lucifer nodded, with her statement.
"Alright. Since you both are in the same House, and you have decided to take every class, there was no need to get more than one Time Turner," McGonagall said, producing the said magical thing.
"You are to only use this for educational purposes. Any mishandling or misuse of this object will result in immediate expulsion and being tried in the Ministry for attempting to alter time itself. Understood?" She asked and they both nodded.
"Good," she handed it to Hermione after Lucifer motioned for McGonagall to give it to her.
"I must say congratulations to you both, it took you long enough," Hermione's face turned red from embarrassment, she took a peek at her partner, only to see with his usual face, not being affected in the slightest.
But, she knew he was also being quite happy inside.
"Let's go retrieve Potter and head down to the feast, shall we?"
They both nodded and collected Harry outside, making their way to the Great Hall.
It was a sea of pointed black hats; each of the long house tables was lined with students.
Their faces glimmered by the light of thousands of candles, which were floating above the tables in mid-air.
Professor Flitwick, the shortest professor, and probably the shortest Wizard in Britain, was seen carrying a three-legged stool and an ancient looking hat from the hall.
"Oh," Hermione said softly, but disappointed, "We've missed the sorting!"
Professor McGonagall strode off towards her seat at the teacher's table and the three of them went to find Ron at the Gryffindor Table.
Several people looked and pointed at Harry, the boy who fainted.
Hermione wondered if the news had spread that fast?
It was Hogwarts; news and rumors spread like a nasty flu.
Harry sat down beside Ron, while the girl was across from two, only for Lucifer and her to suddenly realise, he had nowhere to sit, just like he doesn't belong here on Earth.
"I'm sorry, Lucifer, I tried to save you a seat, but no one seemed to care," Ron said, pretending to make his face look a bit regretful.
"...It's alright," he said meekly and wandered down the table, looking for an empty spot.
Lucifer doesn't want to make a loud commotion because of such a petty thing.
Hermione watched him walk away from her with a heavy heart.
"You should've tried harder, Ronald!" She said, in a more aggressive tone, directly spitting venom, her fists clenching under the table.
"I'm sorry, okay? I really tried, but I can't clear a room like he can..." Ron tried to defend himself.
Hermione was about to give a cold reply when Dumbledore began to speak loudly.
"Welcome!" He said in a booming voice, the candlelight shimmering on his beard, "Welcome to another year at Hogwarts! I have a few things I'd like to say to you all, and as one of them is very serious, I think it is best to get it out of the way before you become befuddled with our excellent feast..." he cleared his throat and then continued.
"As you will be aware after their search of the Hogwarts Express, our school is presently playing host to some of the Dementors of Azkaban Prison, who are here on the Ministry of Magic business," he paused a moment before continuing.
Dumbledore just likes to give a long speech at the start of a new year, people are used to it by now.
"They are stationed at every entrance to the grounds, and while they are here with us, I must make it plain that nobody is to leave school without permission. Dementors are not to be fooled by tricks or disguises - or even invisibility cloaks."
"It is not in the nature of a Dementor to understand pleading or excuses. I therefore warn each and every one of you to give them no reason to harm you. I look at the Prefects, and our new Head Boy and Head Girl, to make sure that no student runs foul of Dementors."
Hermione glanced over at Percy, who looked important with his chest puffed out as he glanced around at everyone.
Dumbledore had paused again, looking around the room seriously, and for a second, nobody made a move or a sound, "On a happier note, I am pleased to welcome two new teachers to our ranks this year. Firstly, Professor Lupin, who kindly consented to filling the Defense Against the Dark Arts position."
There was lots of unenthusiastic applause, but at least six Gryffindor's clapped loudly for him.
Hermione heard Ron tell Harry to look at Snape, so she did so herself and noticed he did not look happy.
He never looked happy, but particularly so; he was looking down the staff table at Professor Lupin with a snarl.
Really, people should be more grateful Snape didn't get it, Hermione thought.
"As to our second new appointment," Dumbledore continued, "Well, I am sorry to tell you that Professor Kettleburn, our Care of Magical Creatures teacher, retired at the end of last year in order to enjoy more time with his remaining limbs," Dumbledore said so casually. Hermione's eyes widened as he continued.
"However, I am delighted to say that his place will be filled by none other than Rubeus Hagrid, who has agreed to take on this teaching job in addition to his gamekeeping duties."
There was a tumultuous applause at the Gryffindor table, and they saw Hagrid wiping his tears that seemed never ending.
"Well, I think that's all of the important stuff," Dumbledore said with a smile, "Let the feast... begin!"
The golden plates and goblets filled before Hermione's very eyes, like they usually did, but she never got tired of seeing the magic happen.
Still, she couldn't enjoy the feast as much as she wanted to without being able to talk to Lucifer as well.
She saw Neville across from them, and he was quite obviously avoiding looking at them, or at least Harry.
She leaned over the table somewhat, holding her hair up off the table, to see if she could find Lucifer.
To her dismay, there were just too many Gryffindor's to find him.
She sighed and sat back down, eating and drinking at a slower than usual pace, her appetite just wasn't there for this kind of food.
When the feast was over, the three of them made their way to Hagrid to congratulate him.
They arrived up there to see Lucifer, and Hermione smiled widely, "Congratulations, Hagrid," they each told him.
"All down ter you four," Hagrid said, wiping his shining face with a napkin, and Professor McGonagall shooed the three of them away.
"Is Lucifer not coming with us?" Hermione asked her, noticing that he walked up to Dumbledore.
"Headmaster has something to discuss with Morningstar, he will be there to join you all soon, now hurry up!" She shooed them again and they walked away.
Hermione glanced back again to see him and Dumbledore talking for a moment.
They joined the stream of Gryffindors heading up the marble staircase and towards Gryffindor Tower.
After finally arriving, a large lady in a pink dress looked at them, "Password?"
"Coming through, coming through," Percy yelled over the crowd, pushing his way through, "The new password is Fortuna Major!"
"Oh no..." she heard Neville from somewhere behind them.
He was notoriously bad at remembering things.
Upon entering the Common Room, the boys and girls separated to go to their respective Dorm Rooms, but Hermione stayed up in the Common Room to await her boyfriend's return.
She went over to one of the bookshelves in the Common Room and grabbed a random book to pass the time.
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Author's Note
New Month
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Next Chapters are big, and it will explain some of Hermione's past which you all wanted to know! (Maybe Sensitive)
1 Extra Chapter - 125 Power Stone's! 😇