“Exactly what are you insinuating, young lady?” Mika tried to sound coy, but she was grinning from ear to ear.
“Oh, nothing. Only I saw how he was looking at you.”
“What do you mean? How was he looking at me? I didn’t notice anything.” Mika was surprised.
“Well, never mind. I was probably just imagining things,” she winked. They both laughed. “So, what are you doing today?”
“Actually, I am going to do some research in the library.”
Hermione became all excited. “Really? Can I help?”
“Have you done your paper for Ancient Runes?” the timelord folded her arms and gave her a stern look.
“Finished
it yesterday.”“And all your other homework?”
“Yep. Done.”
“Well, I don’t know…”
“Oh please, Mika! I’m sure I can help you. What sort of research is it?”
Mika smiled. “Yes, I do believe you could help me. I’ve heard you’re the most knowledgeable little bookworm in the castle!” she laughed.
“Oh don’t tease. I really would like to help.” Hermione thought for a moment. “Does it have anything to do with Professor Lupin?”
“Now whatever could you mean by that?” Mika frowned.
Hermione leaned closer and dropped her voice to a whisper. “I know about his ‘condition’.”
Mika looked truly astonished at this revelation.
“But how…”
“Professor Snape. He came in to cover for Professor Lupin who had taken ill. He insisted on giving us a two parchment paper to do on how to detect a werewolf even though we were nowhere near that part of the book yet. I think that was his way of getting back at him and letting the ‘secret’ slip. But don’t worry, I don’t think anyone else picked up on it.”
Mika was amazed. “You are entirely too smart for your own good, you know that Hermione Granger?”
“So can I help?” she pleaded.
“Well I don’t see how I could refuse!”
The two ladies made their way to the school library where they tried to do as much in depth research into werewolves and all possible known cures or relief spells or potions or charms as they could without attracting any undue attention to themselves. Hermione was particularly thrilled when Mika, because of her rank as ‘teacher’, no matter how unofficial she was, was allowed to go into the ‘restricted’ section. The young witch was like a kid in a candy shop.
At a nearby table sat a group of Second year students. They watched Hermione intently jealously as she worked with who seemed to be everyone’s favourite teacher; next to Professor Lupin that is.
“Look at her. She thinks she’s so smart,” said Mabel Lucia, a chubby blonde with loads of freckles covering her face.
“Teacher’s pet!” snorted her friend, Callum Jenkins. His father was a muggle from Wales. He had dark shaggy hair that was always in his face.
Sarah Ingersoll glared at both of her friends. “Shhhh will ya? They’ll hear you. Look at her though, acting as if she’s Miss Mika’s assistant. You know, they hang out together all the time.” She brushed back her long, strawberry blonde hair.
“Well Miss Mika did say that we were to consider her our friend. Maybe she really meant it?” said Mabel hopefully.
“Are you kidding? She’s a teacher. Teachers are teachers. They don’t mix with us students. Not socially,” Sarah sniffed. “Why should she be any different?”
“Cos she’s an alien?” Callum chimed in. Sarah popped him on the shoulder with the back of her hand. “Ow!”
“Shhhhh!” came a fifth year student from the next table buried hopelessly in a pile of numerology books.
“Idiots,” Sarah hissed. “She thinks she’s so smart, that Hermione Granger. She’s not the only witch here you know.”
“Well why don’t you do something to show her up?” Callum suggested.
“Like what?”
“Well, you could find a really hard spell that she doesn’t know and learn it and then perhaps get points for Ravensclaw for being so resourceful and clever like she always does?” Mabel suggested.
“Hmmm, that’s not a bad idea. But what sort of spell?”
“I know. You can score points with Miss Mika by finding a time travelling spell. That would be sure to get some attention.” Callum braced himself for another whack. He didn’t know why he spoke out sometimes.
“Yeah, good idea for a change,” Sarah smiled. “But time travel? That’s one of the most guarded secrets in wizardom. Very few people even know the spells let alone can even do them.”
They trio settled down to think out their plans, never taking their eyes off Mika and Hermione.
***
After several a few hours of research, Mika looked at the time. “Rassilon’s Rod!” she exclaimed. “It’s nearly time for my lecture. Wouldn’t do for the teacher to be late would it?” she smiled. “You coming?”
“Wouldn’t miss it,” Hermione beamed.
In their hurry Mika forgot to put away the last of the ‘restricted’ volumes. Sarah Ingersoll did not miss this fact. As soon as they had left, she hurried over to the table where the two ladies were sitting.
“Hey, there’s some really wild stuff in here,” she said, motioning the others over. “I’m sure we can find something to show Miss Granger that she’s not the only one in this school with a brain!”
***
On the way to the dining hall Mika and Hermione quietly discussed some of the things they had found out. It wasn’t encouraging.
“Everthing seems to be more superstition and how to ward them off… or kill them,” Mika shuddered.
“We don’t want to do that,” Hermione shook her head.
“No. I’ll just have to ask Remus some pointed questions that only he would know the answers to. Perhaps if I can get to the bottom of how it works, maybe I can figure out what will help to counteract the effects of whatever it is specifically that causes them.”
Hermione was trying to understand just exactly what her friend had said when they ran into Ron and Harry.
“Hey where have you guys been?” Ron interrogated.
“In the library,” Hermione replied casually. “Mika’s been, um, helping me with some of my homework.”
They shared a knowing grin.
“Since when do you need help?” Harry looked at her with amazement.
“I don’t know everything you know,” she sighed.
“Coulda fooled me,” Ron exchanged a look with Harry who grinned.
Hermione decided not to get into their childish bantering and let it go there. “Are you coming to the lecture?” she changed the subject.
“Duh,” said Ron.
When they came to the dining hall Mika was amazed to see it was already nearly filled.
“Has Dumbledore called a meeting or something?” she asked, puzzled.
“Your lectures are very popular with the students, my dear,” smiled Mrs. McGonagal from near Mika’s elbow.
“My word!” was all Mika could say. She left the others to find a seat and made her way to the podium from which the Headmaster usually made his school announcements. She had decided that today, since nearly the entire school were there, she would lecture on the most important thing of all about time travel: the dangers.
