Unspoken Words

Vivienne Hale's POV

The class begins, and I lead them through an exercise where they must convey different emotions using their bodies and faces. It's a basic exercise, but it always works wonders for breaking down their walls. There's a lot of laughter today—everyone seems lighthearted, even Draco, who is standing near the back of the room, arms crossed but still watching with a watchful eye.

You know, this man says he's observing but every class Thorne is in, he's observing.

Without fail.

I stop them for a moment to explain the next exercise. "Now, I want you to imagine carrying something heavy. Something that weighs you down, makes you feel as though you're carrying the weight of the world. And I want you to walk with that weight in your body, let it affect the way you move. Let me be clear, not grief, we've already done that. Something else. Deep and heavy."

The students immediately start trying to get into character. Some students carry their heavy emotions like it's in the palm of their hands, others like they're burdened with something much heavier. I'm watching them all, but I can't help but keep an eye on Scorpius Malfoy.

This exercise is for him, specifically. He's walking, but there's no visible weight to his walk—nothing that reflects the heavy loss I know he must feel. It's the same way he walked five months ago.

Suddenly, the door opens again, this time more confidently. Minister Hermione Granger enters, a wide smile on her face. The class quiets immediately, all of them staring in awe.

Her eyes immediately scan the room, and she takes a moment to drink it all in. I feel my pulse quicken at the unexpected visit. It's been a while since she I've seen her, and I can tell from the look on her face that she's genuinely excited.

"Minister Granger!" I greet her with a smile, trying to keep my composure. "It's a surprise to see you here today." Hermione looks almost starstruck as she takes in the students, the room, the atmosphere. She's a whirlwind of energy, but today, she seems quieter, more in awe than usual.

"I had to see this for myself," she says, her voice full of admiration. "I've heard such wonderful things, but watching it firsthand... it's just... incredible."

She smiles warmly before turning her attention back to the students. "Alright, carry on. I'm excited to see what you do next." And with that, she steps to the side, eyeing Draco's presence in the class, leaning against the wall as she watches quietly, her eyes shining with admiration.

I wait for a beat before addressing the class, trying to maintain my composure.

"Alright, everyone," I begin, my voice filling the space. "Today, we're going to do something a little different. I want you all to focus on the concept of illusion. We're going to combine movement and visual illusion, something you would traditionally see in a Muggle performance, but this time, I want you to use it to convey something magical."

I pause, letting the idea sink in before continuing. "In Muggle theater, there are performances that create illusions of things that don't exist—like flying, levitating objects, or making things appear and disappear. But I want to take it a step further today. You'll be using movement to create these illusions, but here's the twist: you'll be performing as though your magic isn't just for the audience. It's for yourself. You're not just putting on a show for others to see; you're manipulating reality to affect yourself."

The class looks intrigued, and I can sense their curiosity rising. I can feel Hermione's gaze on me, and I wonder if she's ever seen anything like this before.

"I want each of you to choose a piece of physical magic—something that doesn't exist in reality, but something you believe might exist in your world," I explain. "It could be anything—a magical object, an ability, or something entirely new. I want you to embody it and use your movements to bring it to life. Make it real for you."

The students exchange excited murmurs, some looking like they're already lost in their imaginations. I give them a few moments to consider the possibilities.

Before they begin, I look over to Hermione, her face still lit up with awe. "Minister," I say, my voice light. "Would you mind participating with the class? It's more fun when we all get involved."

Hermione blinks at me, startled at first. "Oh, no, I couldn't possibly—"

"I insist," I say, grinning. "I promise it'll be fun."

Hermione laughs nervously, but I can tell she's enjoying the idea of getting involved. After all, she's always been someone who always wants to be involved in the class.

As I guide the students through the exercise, I watch Hermione from the corner of my eye. She's trying to follow along, but I can tell she's not quite as comfortable with the physical movements as some of the others. Still, she's giving it her best shot, and that's what matters.

The students begin their performances, each of them embodying their magical illusions. Some levitate imaginary objects, while others create shimmering movements with their hands, mimicking spells and enchantments. It's a stunning display of creativity, and I can feel the magic in the air, even though it's not real magic.

The class is full of energy now, and it's clear that everyone is enjoying the activity. Hermione claps enthusiastically after each performance, her admiration for the students clear.

"Well done!" she calls out to the last group. "That was fantastic. You all have such great potential." I smile to myself, glad to see that Hermione's enthusiasm is infectious.

She claps her hands together, drawing their attention. "Class, let's take a moment to appreciate what an incredible teacher you have here. I know you're all lucky to have someone as talented as Professor Hale guiding you through the Muggle arts. You're learning something so unique, something that many witches and wizards don't fully understand. I'm proud to see how far this class has come."

The students exchange excited whispers, and I can't help but blush slightly at the praise. Hermione's words are more than just compliments—they carry weight. After all, she's the Minister of Magic.

"Thank you, Minister," I say, trying to hide the soft flutter of nerves in my stomach. "That means a lot." As she moves to the back of the room, I can see that the students are all visibly energized by her praise.

As the class draws to a close, Hermione steps up to me again, looking more relaxed than when she first arrived. "You really have a gift, Vivienne," she says sincerely. "I'm so glad we made the choice to bring you here. I knew it was the right one."

"I'm honored," I reply, feeling a genuine warmth fill me. "It's been a pleasure, truly."

She smiles, giving me a nod before turning back to the class. "You've created something amazing here. I think the students will be talking about this for a long time." Once the students filter out of the room, Hermione turns to me one last time.

"You know, sometimes I wish I could feel that way. The way you get them to connect to their emotions through something so... physical. It's incredible." I chuckle lightly. "It's a bit like magic in its own right, don't you think?"

Her eyes twinkle with amusement. "Maybe I should take one of your classes sometime." I feel my heart skip a beat. No one has ever been this publicly complimentary, especially not someone like Hermione Granger. The woman who practically redefined the world after the war.

As she leaves, I can't help but think back to the moment when I was hired.

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Flashback: Interview with McGonagall and Minister Granger

I walked into the room, slightly nervous, but I did my best to hide it. Headmistress McGonagall sat behind her desk, her stern gaze softened by a tiny smile. And there, standing beside her, was Hermione Granger, the Minister of Magic. She had this unshakeable confidence, but I could see the excitement in her eyes, like she was on the verge of something new, something exciting.

"I've heard a great deal about your work, Ms. Hale," McGonagall said, her voice measured. "But we need to know if you can teach here at Hogwarts."

Before I could answer, Hermione interjected, a little starstruck. "I've seen your plays and movies in Muggle theater. The way you... the way you brought Muggle arts to life... It's just brilliant. We need that here. We need someone who can make our students feel something."

It was a moment I'll never forget. I almost stumbled over my words.

"I—I'll do my best," I said, caught off guard by her enthusiasm.

Ron Weasley, standing behind Hermione, gave a quiet chuckle. "My wife tends to get a bit... eager," he said, winking at me. "But I think we all know the Ministry's decision now, don't we?"

That broke the tension. I laughed and felt myself relax.

"You're hired," McGonagall said, with her usual no-nonsense tone, though I could see the spark of approval in her eyes.

Back in the present, the memory is still fresh, and it brings a smile to my face. I'm grateful for the opportunity, and I know it was the right decision.

As I finish the class, I feel a deep sense of satisfaction. This job, this life at Hogwarts—it feels right. And though it hasn't been easy, days like today remind me why I'm here.