Hermione was reluctant to start her sixth year. She was shaking a bit and tried to fix her wavy light brown hair. She knew she was a good student but she was often picked on because of it. What if I say the wrong thing? What if I make a fool of myself? Her thoughts were interrupted by her best friend, Harry Potter.

"There you are, Hermione! I had a feeling you'd be in here."

He had a smile on his face. He had been her friend since first year. She remembered the first time he had talked to her. She couldn't believe that someone wanted to be her friend. Hermione actually had a crush on him back then, which he knew about. Over the years, Hermione saw him more as a brother than a boyfriend.

She nodded, she always picked a different spot to be on the train. Most of the people occupied the carriages so she had to pick a different one each year. "Harry, I'm really nervous about this year."

Harry furrowed his brow, he's known Hermione longer than anyone else. He was always used to her being excited about going back to school to hit the books and study. Hermione also knew that she was unusually nervous. "Why is that?" he asked.

Hermione sort of hid her face. She didn't like being embarassed. "I just don't want people calling me a know-it-all and a smartie."

Harry couldn't believe what he was hearing. He knew that people always called her those names but he hadn't really thought that the teasing would bother her. "Hermione, there isn't anything wrong with that," he said reassuringly.

She could only scoff, "Apparently it is! I don't want to be the smart girl! I want to be the really pretty girl that everyone likes." Hermione crossed her arms and looked at the ground.

"But you are Hermione." Harry smiled. He saw Hermione in a dress before, she looked so stunning. He's even seen her in lingerie by accident before too. She made it very clear to him that they would never speak of that moment again. Harry still thought she looked breathtaking.

Hermione blushed, Harry always had her back. "Thanks Harry. I just hope that this year will be different," she looked out the window to see the trees.

Soon after, they arrived at Hogwarts. Unfortunately for Hermione, Harry had Charms class while she had Potions. She couldn't help feeling her stomach doing flips. She groaned.

"Harry, I'm so nervous. I don't know what's gotten into me. I'm just really scared," she looked at him, waiting for his response.

"Don't worry 'Mione, nothing's going to happen. What are you so worried about?" Harry glanced behind Hermione and waved at Seamus and Dean who had passed by.

"Hey Harry!" said Seamus.

"What's up, Potter?" followed Dean.

Harry grinned, then turned back to Hermione. "You know Hermione, I heard they have a new Potions teacher. I mean, Snape is still here but they have another Potions teacher," he informed her.

Hermione grinned a little, it would be fun to see a new teacher. If that teacher was nice that is. Unlike Snape, he practically scared her. Just thinking about him made her anxious. Thank God she wouldn't be having him again.

She took a second to look at her schedule. "Hmm, it looks like I have him. Well, I'll see you later Harry!" Hermione waved at him as he left her sight. Okay, she thought. Here goes nothing.

Hermione's wavy hair bounced and flipped as she made her way through the halls. She could already hear students snicker around her. She shook it off. Maybe they weren't laughing at her, she thought. "Okay, where is this class?"

Oh boy, I'm going to get lost, she thought. As she looked around, she saw a figure and squealed. She put her heart to her chest. It was Luna Lovegood! "Hi Hermione, how are you?"

Hermione sighed in relief. She looked at her in disbelief, "Don't sneak up on me like that Luna!" Luna was one her other good friends. She had met her in third year, Harry actually introduced them. He thought that Hermione needed a friend who weren't all guys.

Luna's blonde hair was long and fluffy. Her blue eyes widened, "What?" she asked innocently, "I was just wandering the hallways."

Hermione couldn't help but smile. Luna was very eccentric, she has her own personality going on. "I'm trying to look for the new Potions class."

Luna giggled, "It's right in front of you silly!"

Hermione turned around to see the big, ancient door in front of her. It looked really peculiar to her. She felt stupid for not looking closely. "Thanks Luna. I'll see you later." Luna smiled and waved to her friend, then continued skipping around the halls.

When Hermione opened the door a crack, she felt her heart beating fast. What if I'm late? What if everyone stares at me? She slowly opened the door and found an empty room. Her anxiety quickly turned to wonder. She was confused. Did everyone disappear? Was she in the wrong class?

She glanced at her schedule again. Mr. Weasley? Now how come he has the same last name as Ginny? Maybe he isn't related to her. He couldn't be. Hermione will have to meet him to be sure.

"Hello?" she asked loudly. She heard her own voice echo slightly in the room. It was dark and scary. The desks were empty and slightly dusty. She slowly walked to the front of the class and investigated the book left on the teacher's desk. Potions: Year Six was the title. Hermione couldn't help but giggle, she felt like this teacher would be easy.

"Who's in here?" a voice asked. Hermione jumped, the voice was husky. She felt herself breathing heavily. Ugh, what if there's a psycho in the room? she thought. I'm totally dead! She gulped, "Hello?" she asked again. She slowly backed away from the front of the class and was thinking about leaving when-

"Yes?"

She turned to see a man with red hair and his striking blue eyes were hidden behind his glasses. He has a tall stature and was fairly skinny. Hermione would not have expected him to teach here.

"Um, I was just-I was checking to see if this was my class." Hermione said sweetly. She thought this man was very handsome. She felt his eyes staring at her.

He nodded, he didn't look very pleased, "Well, who are you supposed to have right now?"

She bit her lip and looked at her schedule. "I have a Mr. Weasley," she couldn't help but sneak a peek at him. Wow, he's really cute, she wondered. What? No Hermione! Stop thinking like that!

"Well you're in the right class!" he said chuckling. "And very early as well."

Hermione made a face, "Early? Isn't it 7:15?" she always made sure she was right on time.

He chuckled once again, "No, it's 6:15."

She gave a nervous smile. Hermione usually had this habit of thinking that time was earlier than it really was. It was another thing that she was afraid to admit to anybody. The other thing that made her nervous was having to stay here, alone with this man for another hour. She took a seat in the front and tried to read her book without having to strike up a conversation with him.

After reading a paragraph from her book, she caught herself smiling at him rather dreamily. He looked up from his glasses and shot her a smile that made her melt. She couldn't resist breaking into a big smile. The book in front of her suddenly had less interest to her.

Hermione decided to come out of her shell and try to have a conversation with someone. She cleared her throat, "So, how long have you been teaching?"

He stopped writing and turned to her. "This will be my second year actually. Why do you ask?"

She felt herself freeze. She hated it when people asked her why she does what she does. "I'm just curious," she said, "the teachers here have been teaching for a few decades and some for only a few years and-"

"So you're saying I'm old?" he accused.

"Absolutely not!" she answered. "In fact, you look like you could be a seventh year here."

He chuckled. Hermione thought he was really cocky. "That would be three years ago."

Whoa, she thought. This guy was a seventh year just three years ago? "Wow, so you're about twenty?"

"Twenty-one." he corrected her.

She raised her eyebrows, he seemed really smug for a teacher. Before Hermione said anything, he spoke first.

"You don't seem really old yourself."

She rolled her eyes, "Gee, thanks," she said sarcastically.

He grinned, "No, I didn't mean to say that."

She decided to change the subject. Why am I being so stupid? she thought. "So have you always liked Potions?"

Mr. Weasley looked around the room. "Well, I've always loved doing Charms. I'd be the only boy in class that practiced every charm in the book." He gave a rather dreary little laugh.

Hermione smiled, "I thought I was the only one."

He looked at her and gave her a genuine look. "You seem to be a really bright witch for your age. I'm confident that you will be great in this class."

She smiled at him, feeling really content. She now knew that this year wouldn't be so bad at all.