Disclaimer: I DO NOT own these characters, nor do I claim
to. They are the property of JKR. I'm just using them for
my own hysterical fantasy world.
Chapter 1 - First Day Back
She stalked down the familiar corridors and closed her eyes, memorizing the scent of the dusty velvet drapes that hung heavy over the massive cathedral style windows. It had only been a few short hours since she first boarded the train, but it seemed like everything was moving in slow motion. Hermione soaked in the soft clicks her flats made down the cold stone hallway, and tried to ignore the heavy weight on her heart reminding her that this was finally happening...her last year at Hogwarts. She slowly opened her eyes just in time to see Draco Malfoy sprinting around the corner, slamming right into her. The collision caused her to drop her schoolbag, sending all of its contents sailing across the stone floor. Hermione quickly dropped to her knees and scrambled to pick things up - tossing everything haphazardly back into her bag.
"Outta my way filthy mudblood," Malfoy sneered at her as he trudged passed the mess.
"Stupid prat," Hermione muttered under her breath and continued filling her bag. She reached for her charms book when a soft hand brushed the top of her own.
"Here. I believe this is yours." Hermione looked up to see a slight framed girl holding her book. She had green eyes and red hair, but not the same copper shade as Ron and Ginny's. Instead, it reminded her of deep red roses with flecks of gold.
"Oh, yes, thank you." She took the book from her and dropped it in her bag and tilted her head questioningly at the girl.
"I'm Fiona." The rosey headed girl extended her hand, smiling.
"Hermione," she replied, allowing Fiona to help her to her feet. Hermione did a quick survey of the area to make sure she had gathered all of her belongings and had them safely stowed away. She turned back to the girl. "Thank you for helping me. As Head Girl I am at liberty to award you house points. I think five points are in order for...Ravenclaw." Hermione smiled as she recognized the blue and bronze tie around Fiona's neck.
"Thank you," she shook her head. "It was nothing really. I saw how Draco Malfoy plowed right into you. I just thought you could use some help." She looked down the corridor over Hermione's shoulder. "I wonder where he's off to in such a hurry anyway?"
"With Malfoy it's hard telling." Hermione hefted her bag onto her shoulder and sighed. "I'm beginning to think that the only thing that will make me happy to leave Hogwarts is knowing that I won't have to see Malfoy anymore." She felt in her bag for her wand, making sure she hadn't lost it in the commotion. Satisfied that it was safely stowed, she started to walk away. "Sorry to shove off like this, but I really must get going, or I'll be late for Potions."
"Oh you certainly wouldn't want to be late on the first day of class. Snape's likely to pop a vein."
Hermione shrugged. "He's not so bad. If you stay on his good side. Which is why I really need to get moving."
"Do you mind if I walk with you? I don't have any classes for another hour." Fiona raised her eyebrows in a soft plea.
Hermione smiled. "As long as you can walk fast."
Fiona nodded assuredly and the two girls made their way down the long corridor toward the dungeons. As they walked, they talked about how strange it was to be on top of the food chain as seventh year students. When they finally reached the entrance to the dungeons, Hermione noticed she had a couple minutes to spare. She looked into the classroom, slowly filling with students and let out a sigh. She suddenly remembered with a pang that it was the first day of her last year here.
"I take it you're sad about leaving, too." Fiona looked down at her feet. "I've been struggling with the idea all day. My mum doesn't understand how I could be so depressed about the idea of actually approaching my last year at school. Of course, she never attended here, so I guess she wouldn't."
"Is your mother a muggle?" Hermione asked softly.
"Yes," she said with some resignation. "Mum's a muggle, Dad's a squib. Who knew they'd ever produce a witch?" She said throwing her hands in the air, mocking her idea of society's reaction.
"Well it's certainly nothing to be ashamed of," Hermione reprimanded. "I happen to be born from two muggle parents."
"No. No. Sorry. No, I'm not ashamed of it," Fiona stammered. "It's just that certain...people...well they look at me as a sort of abomination."
"If by people you mean the Malfoy family," Hermione said sternly, "then stop thinking about it. That vile family is loaded with abominations." Hermione shot a look at Draco, who was already seated in Potions class next to his two co-horts Crabbe and Goyle. "Besides, no one in this school could give two sickles about what any of that lot thinks."
Fiona put on a faint smile and shrugged. Hermione noticed the massive marble clock near the entrance of the dungeon.
"I had better get going. Snape will be here any second." She hurried toward her seat. Before she sat down she turned back and said, "thank you again for your help."
The green-eyed girl waved in response and turned, exiting the dungeons. Hermione took her seat next to Harry and pulled out her Potions text.
"Who was that?" Harry asked, reaching for his own Potions book.
"I think she said her name was Fiona. She's a seventh year Ravenclaw. I've never really talked to her before, but I know I've seen her around," she explained as she inked her quill. "She helped me pick up my things when Malfoy knocked me on the floor a little bit ago."
"Malfoy did what?" Harry said through gritted teeth. A flicker of fury glinted across his face. "I'll kill him."
"Relax, Harry," she chided. "I think he was in such a hurry to be 'star pupil' for Professor Snape, that he didn't see me standing right in front of him." She glared in Malfoy's direction. He saw her and sneered, she stuck her tongue out at him.
"What has Malfoy done now?" Harry and Hermione turned to hear a familiar voice. Ron Weasley had just slid into his seat.
"Nothing out of the usual," Hermione reassured him. "Cutting it a little close today? Snape should be here any..."
The door at the front of the classroom flew open and Snape stomped in, cloak billowing around him like a dark cloud. He paused and eyed the members of his class. His eyes flicked from side to side, all the while his face remained utterly motionless.
"I see my seventh year class is much smaller than I had anticipated. Pity, really," he drawled, "as I have saved all of the best potions for this year."
Malfoy's face lit up as he greedily nudged Crabbe and Goyle. Snape stalked toward the platinum headed boy's table. He glared down at the two giant oafs flanking another.
"I assume, Mr. Crabbe and Mr. Goyle, that you each have earned the proper O.W.L. scores to be in my class. However, I think it best that you not sit with Mr. Malfoy this year, as I expect my students to listen and learn during our hours together, and most assuredly that will not happen if you three continue to sit with one another."
Snape motioned toward two empty seats at the back of the room. Goyle and Crabbe reluctantly took their belongings and moved. Ron looked at Harry and gulped. He knew their cheeky threesome would be broken up next. Sure enough, Snape set his gaze upon their table and spoke.
"Mr. Potter, Miss Granger, and Mr. Weasley. The Golden Trio, as it were." He skulked toward them. "Not in my classroom." He conjured a third chair at the table where Crabbe and Goyle were now seated. "Mr. Potter, I believe there is a place for you at the back." He looked back over at Malfoy's table. "Mr. Weasley you may take your place next to Mr. Malfoy and you, Miss Granger, shall remain where you are. I imagine you will fair much better without your two sidekicks."
Satisfied with the new seating chart, Snape made his way back to the front of the classroom. He surveyed the layout one last time before quickly turning on his heel and striding to the blackboard. He tapped his wand on it twice, causing a small piece of chalk to start scrawling what seemed like a very complicated potion on the slate.
"This year I expect nothing more than perfection," he started. "Each of you has proven to the board at Hogwarts that you are competent enough to study advanced potion making. I, however, am not convinced. Each day, I will give you a potion assignment on the board and at the end of class I expect it to be completed."
He made individual eye contact with each and every student.
"I will not tolerate cheating of any kind and as such, anyone who dares to test my limits as they were tested last year, will pray for me to lay an unforgivable curse upon them, for my punishment," he said narrowing his eyes, "...will be far worse."
As he finished his yearly warning, the chalk that was scrawling on the board seated itself back into the tray.
"On the board you will find ingredients for the antrigalus potion. It's a vital medicinal treatment for anyone suffering from a blistering high fever. It is my hope that there will be enough acceptable specimens produced from this class to help Madame Pomfrey replenish her stores. The incantation is quite difficult, so those of you who have trouble speaking the English language," he glared at Crabbe and Goyle, "I advise you find someone near you to speak the incantation instead." Snape surveyed the room once more. "You have 50 minutes. Begin."
At once, all the students began crushing herbs with their pestles and measuring out small bits of powder into their cauldrons. Hermione tied her hair back and got down to business. It may have been her last year at school, but she certainly wasn't going to slack off now. She reached for a flat blade to skin the root from a gillyweed and accidentally knocked over a small jar of blue powder. She wasn't sure what the powder was, but it started a small fire on the table. Before she could grab something to put it out, the flame snuffed it self with a light 'poof'. Hermione cocked her head to one side and furrowed her brows. What on earth was that? Her thoughts were interrupted when she felt Snape looming over her.
"Are you trying to burn down my classroom, Miss Granger?" Snape waited for her response.
"N...n...no sir," she stammered. "I was just reaching for...and I...knocked over...and then, flames, and poof!" She looked up at him and bit her lip. "I'm sorry Professor, but what was that?"
"That, Miss Granger, is the essence of flame. If you have ever looked into a fire, you will notice a blue ring around the white-hot center. The blue flame in powdered form makes it much easier to transport, and ignites as soon as it is expelled from its container. It is also quite handy for lighting a fire under cauldrons." He shot a sideways glance at her. "Unless of course, you spill it before you can use it."
"I'm sorry, Professor."
"Lucky for you , Miss Granger, it's flame burns out quickly, much like a match. No harm done," and with that he walked away.
Hermione was shocked. Snape neither punished nor embarrassed her. Well, he hadn't embarrassed her in the way he normally would have. He hadn't even deducted precious house points. She thought on it no further, however, because there were only 30 minutes remaining and she had a long way to go.
Later that afternoon, Hermione agreed to meet with Ron and Harry in the Great Hall for their first lunch together of the school year. As usual, Ron piled a heaping amount of food onto his plate before anyone else could even survey the spread. Harry grabbed a sandwich and goblet of water.
"What is this? On a diet, mate?" Ron said incredulously. "Trying to watch the girlish figure, eh?"
"Sod off, Weasley. I happen to be eating healthier these days. It never hurts to be in shape with all the goings on in this place." Harry took a bite of his sandwich.
"Bloody hell, we haven't even been through our first lunch together, and Mr. Doom and Gloom over here is already talking about You Know Who," Ron said sulking.
"I'm just saying, it doesn't hurt to be prepared."
"Prepared? By eating a sandwich? Honestly, Harry, I think you are off your nut."
"Off my nut? Well at least I'm not an overgrown..."
"BOYS!" Hermione shouted. "Enough! I've got enough on my mind as it is, I certainly don't need to listen to you two bicker like an old married couple."
"What's got your knickers in such a twist, Herm?" Ron said through a mouthful of potato crisps.
"I'll bet she's still sore from Potions class this morning," Harry muttered to Ron.
"Yeah, that was pretty awful," Ron said. "What with the fire and then..."
Hermione glared at both boys.
"You know...I can hear you."
"Sorry Herm. But hey! You should be happy! Snape didn't even yell when you spilled your potion all over his robes," Ron offered cheerfully.
"Yeah," Hermione said morosely.
"Well, you have to admit, that is a little odd for Snape," Harry agreed. "If that had been me, he surely would have given me detention for the rest of the school year."
"I guess so. I just felt like such an idiot. I think I would have rather him punish me. Instead he just gave that 'disappointed' face. You know, like the one my Mum always gives me when I do something she doesn't approve of. Ugh, it's bloody awful!"
Hermione poked at her food with a fork and stared into her plate. What was wrong with her? She'd never been such a bumbler in class before. She needed to get some rest.
"I don't feel very hungry. I think I may go up to my room and lie down." Without waiting for a response from Ron or Harry, she gathered her things and headed off to the Head Girl's dormitory.
Before she head back to her dorm, she stopped in the library for a book to help her relax. When she finally rounded the corner to the Gryffindor common room, she saw a familiar figure standing before the portrait of the Fat Lady.
"Young Lady, if you do not know the password, I'm afraid I cannot let you inside. Now please! You are interrupting my afternoon nap." The portrait shut her eyes and began to snore rather obnoxiously.
Hermione approached the portrait hole and realized that it was Fiona standing there. Fiona turned to see Hermione and smiled brightly.
"Oh thank goodness! I've been looking for you. Your two friends, in the Great Hall, said that you came up here to lay down, but this lousy bird," she jerked her head toward the Fat Lady, "wouldn't let me pass."
"Yeah, she can be a bit stubborn. I've been in the library." Hermione eyed the portrait. "Besides, by now, you should have known you couldn't get passed her."
"Well anything is worth trying," Fiona said with an odd twinkle in her eye.
Hermione looked at her quizzically. "What did you need me for?"
"Well, I've heard from a lot of students, that you are very clever witch...and I need your help with something."
Hermione listened and couldn't believe her ears. No one had ever asked her to do anything like this before. Ever.