ALBUS: "Hermione?"

He looks amazed. HERMIONE is standing at the front of the lesson.

ALBUS (amazed): "You're our Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher?"

HERMIONE: "Ah yes. Our train absconder. Finally joining us."

HERMIONE: "Been having those dreams again, have you, Potter? Today we're going to look at Patronus Charms."

ALBUS: "What are you doing here?"

HERMIONE: "And that's twenty points from Gryffindor to assure Albus Potter that I am this mean."

ALBUS: "But you're… you're… Minister for Magic."

HERMIONE: "Professor Granger I believe is my name, Potter."

HERMIONE: "Losing patience now. Ten points from Gryffindor for stupidity."

There are titters.

POLLY CHAPMAN (standing, full of affront): "No. No. He's doing it deliberately. He hates Gryffindor and everyone knows it."

HERMIONE: "Sit down, Polly Chapman, before this gets even worse." (POLLY sighs and then sits.) "And I suggest you join her, Albus. And end this charade."

ALBUS: "But you're not this mean."

HERMIONE: "Teaching. For my sins. What are you doing here? Learning, I hope."

ALBUS enters the classroom -- slightly unsure.

HERMIONE smiles a thin smile. She really is quite mean.

YANN FREDERICKS: "If you don't sit down right now, Albus…"

ALBUS: "Can I just say --"

She stares around the room. No one moves a muscle.

ALBUS sits.

HERMIONE: "How dare you! Fifty points from Gryffindor. And I assure you if anyone interrupts me again it'll be a hundred points…"

ALBUS: "Rose Granger-Weasley! Your daughter!" (He realizes.) "Of course -- because you and Ron aren't married Rose --"

There's giggling.

HERMIONE: "Who's Rose? Your invisible friend?"

ALBUS: "No. This is stupid. Where's Rose? She'll tell you that you're being ridiculous."

Good. A Patronus is a magical charm, a projection of all your most positive feelings, and takes the shape of the animal with whom you share the deepest affinity. It is a gift of light. If you can conjure a Patronus, you can protect yourself against the world. Which, in some of our cases, seems like a necessity sooner rather than later.

HERMIONE: "No, you can't. Just keep quiet, Potter, otherwise you'll lose what limited popularity you already have. Now who can tell me what a Patronus is? No? No one. You really are a most disappointing bunch."