13Disclaimer: So, I realized I haven't done one of these in a while...whoops. But Anyway I don't own Harry Potter or any noun owned by J.K. Rowling or Warner Bros. but Y'all already knew that.
Enjoy.
Hermione gaped at the house founders of Slytherin and Hufflepuff. Her mind in a boggle.
They were not quite as she expected. Not that she was expecting anything particular. They resembled their images she had seen in texts and portraits, but it was simply weird having them stand in front of her.
Professor Hufflepuff, stout women, short and curvy, in her mid-twenties with golden springs of curly hair, and kind hazel eyes. Greeting Hermione and Draco, the founder had smiled brightly at them, her cheeks rosier. Her face round and freckles, a thick bridge across her nose. Helga Hufflepuff carried an air of kindness.
Professor Slytherin, on the other hand, was all hard edges and defined angles. He stood tall and straight, lumbering with broad shoulders. He was a daunting figure, especially when in greeting he bowed deeply in a gentlemanly fashion. His deep baritone quiet but powerful. He possessed dark wavy locks, refined facial hair, and such striking features Hermione was constantly having to remind herself to breath. He was quick and witty, very intelligent. His smile was almost sinful, in the way a debonair man could; Her Grams would call him a knicker-dropper.
Headmistress McGonagall had summoned Draco and Hermione as damage control. The two of them were tasked with visiting each dormitory and explain what was going on and what was expected of them as students of Hogwarts. Hermione sat adjacent to Professor Hufflepuff as Draco stood next to her seat, Professor Slytherin mirroring Draco in the same fashion with the blond, while McGonagall sat behind her desk addressing all her office guests.
In complete honesty and slight humiliation, Hermione's breath all left her when the male professor flashed his refined smile at her, singing praises of her idea of a translation charm that would help translate their old English for the students and staff to understand, but Hermione altered the charm so not only could they understand the time-traveled professors, but that they in return could comprehend the new language too.
"Quite brilliant, I must say! You madam- are you in Rowena's house? or even my own maybe?" Smiling brilliantly, Hermione corrected the professor.
"My apologies Professor, but I am in neither. I'm of the Gryffindor House in fact." the look of depredation, as if Salazar Slytherin was actually offended that Hermione was in the Gryffindor house, and huffed arrogantly.
"How...nice" rolling her eyes, Professor Hufflepuff stepped around her towering companion, ignoring his sarcastic draw. Her long skirts skimming the stone of the ground in a way only a lady of old could possess with such grace.
"You will have to pardon my colleague, he can be rather...cranky at times." the shorter witch winked at Hermione as she grinned slyly.
"Cranky! I am not cranky! How dare you state such-such utter rubbish about me in my presence, Hufflepuff!"
"Well Salazar, would you prefer I talked about you behind your back instead?"
"That is not what I said, Helga!"
Professor Hufflepuff turned in her leather chair till she was looking up at Professor Slytherin with an unpleasant expression on her freckled face.
"No, but you insulted not only Godric, but myself, by insinuating that with her intellect Ms. Granger would not be sorted into either of our houses, and the reason you are yelling and in the company of women is ungentlemanly and extremely unbecoming. So please, Salazar collect what is left of your decency and keep your gob tightly sealed" the finite of her words and the finality in which she used them made the brooding professor stand at attention and cease any further crusade of words.
Hermione wanted to giggle at the way the looming man obeyed the stocky witch, He reminded her much of the first year Malfoy, arrogant, snobbish, and easily put in his place for how often he escaped it. Hermione could tell that as much as it may have seemed that the Professors had a dislike for one another; there was an underlying respect and impartiality when Slytherin addressed Hufflepuff, and she returned in kind. She used sharp-humored fondness. If Hermione looked close enough, tilting her head a bit, and squinted she might even go so far enough to say they were flirting.
"Now, I'm knackered. I will be off to bed." Standing, Helga turned and addressed the room. "Tomorrow, Salazar and I will officially present ourselves to the masses and aide in classes as you request, Headmistress. Therefore, would you be ever so kind as to escort a Lady to her chambers please." Without a word, Salazar Slytherin bowed deeply to McGonagall. "Headmistress."
Turning he then repeated the process more shallowly with Hermione while Draco received a friendly nod. "Madame; M'lord." before the pair could make it through the doorway Draco called out, "Excuse me, Professors? Where exactly are you planning on residing?" Hermione sat in awe as a witch and wizard of legends looked at each other, only conveying emotion with their eyes.
"There are many secrets of this castle that not even the most mischievous are privé to, Lord Malfoy" winking saucily at the blond, Helga tugged gently on Salazar's arm. "Sweet dreams to you all" and with that, they left the grand office.
Taking Professor Slytherin's offered elbow while her golden-toned skirt skimmed across the ancient stone, the two regally swept out of the office.
"Wow"
"My sentiments exactly, Mr. Malfoy" Headmistress McGonagall interjected. "Now with you too. Before you're rounds I'd like you two to address the students by dorm. Go as a pair and report back to me in the morning, before breakfast. Good Night."
Their footfalls echoed in the hall as they checked doors and broom cupboards making sure no mischief was being managed.
"Can you believe it, Granger? Two of the founders just popping up in the Great Hall. It's brilliant. Truly. How do you figure they got here?"
"You should write a book about this"
Hermione looked over to her co-head as he checked a door to his right, making sure it was locked. "Why do you say that?"
"You do find great enjoyment in writing and reading, don't you. I see you scribbling away in that journal of yours most of the time. With your brain and wits, I'd surmise you'd be quite a talented writer as well."
"How-? You watch me write?" chucking Draco looked over at Hermione, the first time she'd seen him smile post dream.
"Know thy enemy and all that, bookworm" Draco was joking but as he looked down to the hurt expression of his co-head he realized his error.
"We're enemies, right." Draco opened his mouth to tell her that he supposed they weren't exactly enemies. They had formed quite a rapport in regards to the other. But she turned to continue down another hall. Her trainers smacking down on the stone flooring. Hanging his head in defeat, Draco followed behind her.
The rest of their rounds was done in silence. Draco mentally berating himself. Hermione skillfully hiding her silent tears, behind her curls and well angling of her face.
Morgana smiled at her favorite head pair as they walked toward her. The portrait's eyes gleaming as she watched her Slytherin's discomfort and side glances, while her brave young Gryffindor held resolve and hurt.
"Good evening, children. I have a riddle for you today" both young adults looked at her with adolescent indignation.
In her soothing tone, the painting pushed on, "We hurt without moving. We poison without touching. We bear the truth and the lies, but we are not to be judged by our size." Her Headboy stopped furrowing his brows, thinking a moment. Moments ticked by, as the two concentrated.
"Books? I've got nothing. Granger" Hermione's eyes came alight, as she smiled brilliantly at one of her favorite portraits, "that's it! The answer is words"
"Yes, my child it is" swinging open the two entered
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