The halls of the grand school weren't as busy as they normally would be. There were a few off-duty teachers and students with no classes. But overall, nothing exciting had happened yet.

The crisp snow had fallen over they multi-colored leaves of autumn, claiming Hogwarts as its own. The sun was hidden behind the dark clouds, insisting to stay that way for awhile, at least. But down in Potions, the glaring Professor Snape stood in front of a large chalkboard, watching as it scratched the needed ingredients for the Fickle Fighter.

"Class," his snake like tongue spat." This is a very important potion that shouldn't fooled around with..."

He snared as the small, sixteen year old Ginny Weasley lazily poured the remains of her green liquid into the vial. She plugged the vial with a cork and placed a piece of tape around the neck, labeling it 'Fickle Fighter' and giving it her sloppiest signature. She placed her quill back in its ink and blew on it to make sure it dried in a perfect bloody name just for Snape.

Snape growled silently as she brought her potion up to his desk, smiling as if it were a Level One concoction. He snatched it from her hand, looking at the floating bubbles. Alas, Mr.Snape, being the demon he was, dropped it. He claimed it as an accident as Ginny gasped in fear. She stared at her feet, the vapor escaping the now lavender liquid. She felt her eyes going blurry and the feeling of water falling down her cheeks. She let her wails fill the small room.

"My potion! You evil man! You ruined my potion!" she cried, falling to the floor to pick up what was left of her only expensive vial. Her mother had picked it out just for her and bought her other children old and cracked ones. "How could you!"

Snape merely laughed. He pointed towards the door, stepping on the broken glass. "Weasley! Get off your knees and fetch the rest of the needed ingredients from the last dungeon. It should take you a few hours to find it all, but it serves you right! You clumsy girl."

Draco Malfoy, now aging on to seventeen, flirted with a Slytherin he'd never noticed before named Penny. He told her some of the lamest pick-up lines, told her how beautiful her eyes were, and tripped Ginny just for her. He laughed loudly as the class joined him in a fit of laughter. The girl, although happy that Draco had done all that for her, gave him a very unpleased look. She slipped from her seat. Sitting next to Draco, she whispered something in his ear. After their chat, she quickly slapped him and instructed his pathetic mind never to do anything so rude to Ginny again.

"You, too! Get off your hind-quarters and get me those ingredients, Malfoy!" Snape yelled across the stone room. He, too, was very pleased with Draco. But he didn't trust a Gryffindor any more than he trusted Dumbledore.

Draco, with out a moments thought, jumped up and ran after Ginny. "Stupid teacher..." he muttered on his way out.

Stepping beside Ginny, they engaged for the first time in a normal conversation that wouldn't last very long..