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A Matter of Honor Book 1: The Honors Project Chapter 5: A Letter of Intent Monday evening, with two of his finals safely behind him, Harry knocked again at Remus's office door. Looking up, Remus smiled. "Harry! Come in; I'm just finishing this set of exams. How were your finals today?" As he spoke, Harry took a seat while Remus went to the fireplace and returned with two mugs of hot chocolate. Harry gratefully accepted the drink, then replied, "I think they were all right. Transfiguration was ok, I know. I managed a perfect tabby cat--though Neville's badger looked more like a pig than a cat--somehow it lost all of its hair when he transfigured it." Remus chuckled. "And Divination was all right, although…" Remus raised an eyebrow. "I have to admit that I still fake it half the time in there. Professor Trelawny is happy if we just look interested, I think." Remus nodded, "it seems the biggest danger would be that you'd run out of horrible things to predict for yourself." "We did, last year," Harry grinned. "Now we're recycling things from our first year in her class--she hasn't noticed yet." "And how are Ron and Hermione?" Remus asked. "I can imagine that it's difficult taking exams when your two best friends have just broken up." Harry shrugged. "It's not so bad. They're actually being overly polite to one another just now. They both feel bad about what happened, but I think they also realize that it just wasn't working out, no matter how much we all wanted it to." He sipped his chocolate. "Hermione's not around much, anyway. She's always in the library, either studying for finals or researching her Potions project." Harry smiled. "Can you believe she's trying to talk Madam Pince into letting her take books home with her over the break?" Remus laughed. "I can believe it." Harry was quiet for a minute, and his smile turned into a look of concern. Remus asked, "Are you still worried that Snape won't approve her project?" Harry nodded, and Remus continued, "I think that, if he were predisposed to turn her down, he would have done it at their first meeting, Harry. The fact that he didn't tells me that Hermione's caught his attention. I think it's safe to say that Severus Snape could tell from the start whether or not he'd approve her project. So it seems that Hermione will indeed get her wish." Harry looked up at him. "I think you might be right," he said, smiling.
Hermione sat in the library behind a formidable stack of books. She had finished her finals for the day, and was working on research for her proposal, frantically taking notes out of the most important volumes. She didn't know what she was going to do without the library this summer. And on top of that, her next meeting with Snape was tomorrow--and she wanted to be ready. She'd read the articles he'd loaned her five times, and would go over them again before bed; she just knew he'd quiz her on them. Besides, she couldn't take them home with her, either. She was startled by the arrival of a small, honey-colored owl, who fluttered in through the window (much to Madam Pince's dismay) and settled atop a dusty volume entitled Curses: Causes and Effects, by Muriel Philpot. The handwriting on the letter the owl carried was familiar, the loopy but elegant script written in the signature purple ink. It was from Dumbledore. She opened it quickly, after patting the owl on the head. Delighted, it flew out the window as Madam Pince tutted under her breath. It read,
Hermione smiled. Of course Dumbledore would know immediately if she and Harry (and Ron, she added to herself) were up to something. And of course it would be convenient. She wondered what was really behind the invitation, though, and determined to stop by the Headmaster's office before dinner.
As she approached, she saw Dumbledore speaking with Professor McGonagall in the hallway outside his office. They turned when they heard her footsteps, and McGonagall came to meet her. Placing a hand on Hermione's shoulder, she said, "My dear, I couldn't be more proud. Congratulations--I know that you'll do well." "Thank you," said Hermione, not sure why her Head of House was congratulating her. "Professor Dumbledore will explain," McGonagall said. "I'll see you at supper." Hermione turned to the Headmaster, who was beaming down at her, a twinkle in his eye. "Well, Miss Granger, shall we?" he motioned towards his office. They rode the stairway in silence, and, once inside, he said, "Please, have a seat. May I offer you some tea? A lemon drop, perhaps?" "No Professor, I'm fine," she answered, expectantly. "Please yourself. You don't mind if I…?" he nodded at the candy dish near the corner of his desk. "Not at all, Sir," she said, smiling. He carefully chose a lemon drop, then leaned back in his chair, steepled his fingers, and gazed at her over the top of his glasses. Before Hermione could begin to worry, he smiled again. "Miss Granger, I can't say how thrilled I was to receive Professor Snape's letter of intent concerning your Potions proposal today. It's been so long since Severus has had such a highly qualified student interested in his field--why, I don't think I've seen him so pleased in years." Hermione's thoughts must have shown on her face, because Dumbledore continued, "Yes, Miss Granger, though it's hard to tell, I daresay even Professor Snape can manage to be pleased…every so often." Hermione tried not to smile. "Besides, you must realize that all of your professors were hoping to be the one to walk into the staff room and announce that they would be directing Miss Hermione Granger's honors project. I can well imagine that even Severus would get a lift out of making that entrance." Now Hermione could only blush. "I am proud of you, Miss Granger, as is Professor McGonagall--as are all of your professors. I know that this was a difficult decision for you, and one not without personal costs." "That cinches it," she thought, "Dumbledore does know everything that goes on around here." Then she remembered that he had to have witnessed Ron's recent exit from the Great Hall. "You are a determined, brave young woman--a credit to your house. And I look forward to reading your proposal. Your work, as Severus describes it, seems very promising." "Thank you, Sir," she replied, aware that she'd been pretty much dumbfounded for the past few minutes. Dumbledore paused, and Hermione wondered if he was going to say something more about Professor Snape, or…she didn't know, but congratulations on intending to do an honors project didn't seem to warrant a visit to the Headmaster's office. Dumbledore continued, "Miss Granger, I have asked you here not only because of Professor Snape's letter, but because I wish to speak to you about something a little more serious." Hermione nodded. "You turned down a position as Prefect because you did not want to detract from your studies--a decision reluctantly supported by your Head of House. I say 'reluctantly' only because she knew what a good Prefect you would make," he added, seeing Hermione's reaction. "Now that you have taken on an honors project, I am wondering if you would also turn down the position of Head Girl?" Hermione stared at him. He smiled at her, and, when she had collected herself, she replied, "Well, Sir, my proposal hasn't been accepted yet, of course--or written, for that matter…" "I think we may be certain that, by the start of next term, both will be the case," interjected Dumbledore, causing Hermione to lose her train of thought. She finally managed, "Whether it is or it isn't, Sir, I would be honored to be Hogwarts's Head Girl." "Splendid!" Dumbledore beamed. "I have had a letter of recommendation from Professor McGonagall, and I imagine that your work to choose a topic for your project will have reminded many of your other professors to write one as well. If not, I'm sure Minerva will remind them herself. I know that it's unusual; usually an existing Prefect is promoted to Head Girl. But our best candidate, Lisa Grey, is taking a leave of absence next semester. We will name another Hufflepuff Prefect in her place, of course. At any rate, your appointment won't be official until the beginning of the term, but I will say that you are one of the best people for the job I've ever had the pleasure of knowing, and I'm sure you'll be named with no objections." He leaned towards her conspiratorially. "And I would be in the position to know." At this, Hermione blushed and looked intently at her shoes. "Now, my dear," said Dumbledore, "you should head down to dinner, or you'll miss another meal." Hermione glanced at him, startled, but he was smiling. She rose to leave, stopping at the door to say, "Thank you, Professor Dumbledore. I won't disappoint you." The old man's eyes twinkled anew as he replied, "I'm certain that you won't, Miss Granger. Not on any count--including being on time to dinner." Hermione smiled and opened the door. "And Miss Granger?" he added. "Tell Madam Pince that she might allow you to take one or two books home with you for the summer." Hermione grinned, and left for the Great Hall. She wouldn't, on any account, want to be late for dinner.
A/N: I may be playing a bit fast and loose with the British school system by promoting Hermione to Head Girl without her having been a Prefect before. But I guess Dumbledore can do what he wants, eh? In general, I'm playing fast and loose with the British school system, following the lead of the American editions (which, for example, elide the fact that there are three terms).
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