The next morning dawned bright and clear. Hermione got up particularly early and snuck down to the Room of Requirement. It opened up into a small room with a book on a table, next to a chair. Hermione sat down and flicked through the book. She wanted a certain spell that would wind Snape up today; she had potions with him that very morning. Smiling with glee she found the perfect charm and counter-charm, and cast them on herself using a handy mirror that popped up next to her. Glancing at the time she scurried off to the great Hall for breakfast. Harry and Ron were already there, listening to an angry Ginny give a blow-by-blow account of her detention with Filch. Hermione sat down next to her and patted her on the shoulder.

"Don't you worry Ginny my friend.

The time of injustice is at an end

The game has started, the trap is set,

On my success would you care to bet?"

They all stared at her puzzled. "Uh, Herms, you're talking in rhyme. Just so you know." Said Ron unhelpfully.

"I know it I know it I surely do,

I did it to myself, shall I do you too?"

Ron shook his head. "No thanks, we've potions first and I don't fancy having Snape hearing me talk in rhyme. Aren't you going to take it off?" He asked, seeing her evil grin.

"To annoy that git is my plan you see,

A bit of revenge for my friend Ginny."

Ginny smiled. "That's sweet Herms, but you don't need to. It'll only get you in trouble too."

"I'm sick and I'm tired of that old Slytherin,

I won't let his threats get under my skin."

Harry shrugged. "You are such a masochist. Coming?" They all stood and made their way to the potions dungeon. Hermione keeping her mouth firmly closed, she didn't want to ruin the surprise for anyone else. They trudged into the classroom and sat in their seats, waiting for Snape to arrive. When he did it was with his usual bad temper.

"Today we will be brewing a potion to stretch your fragile minds and see how they cope with a real challenge. No working in pairs, I want to see your individual efforts. The instructions are on the board, get started."

He sat behind his desk and watched them get prepared. He narrowed his eyes as he saw Neville set up next to Hermione, giving her a hopeful smile.

"Mr Longbottom, you will not be assisted by Miss Granger today, move to a different table."

Hermione glowered at Snape angrily. "Yes Miss Granger, have you something to say?"

"He'd improve if he learnt from someone who cared,

Your sarcastic comments just leave him scared.

Your style of teaching is unfair and crude,

You should hold your tongue, what you say is so rude."

The class held a collective breath as Snape drew himself up to his full height, and spoke in his softest, most threatening voice. "You dare to speak to me so disrespectfully?"

"I felt it was time for a few basic truths,

I do not think my response was uncouth."

Snape glowered at her. "Stop speaking in rhyme Miss Granger, it is you who is being rude." A snigger crossed the room. "Silence." Yelled Snape.

"A silent classroom is not much fun,

In oppressive quiet work is hard to get done,

Potions is fascinating, intriguing and cool

Such a shame the way it is taught at this school."

Snape glared at her. "Finite incantartum" He said, pointing his wand at Hermione who smirked at him. "Now that childish charm is inactive, come to the front and explain your behaviour." Hermione sauntered up to his table, drawing a few grins and gasps at her relaxed attitude. It only served to anger Snape more. "Well?" he snarled when she reached his desk. Hermione put her hands behind her back and began to recite.

"My talents are many, so I help who I can,

What can I say if you don't like my plan?

I simply feel if you acted more friendly,

Then less of your cauldrons would turn out all bendy."

The class laughed as they remembered an incident where Neville had somehow elongated his cauldron and then bent it in several places, leaving it flexing around like rubber. Who'd have expected her to manage rhymes even without a spell?

"40 points from Gryffindor." He spat, expecting her to back down. Instead she turned to face him and continued to rhyme.

"Those points you have taken I'll earn back in an hour,

You think I'm upset by your abuse of power?

You continue to sit there in your chair and glower,

I'll finish my potion now, as your face has gone sour."

She went to walk back to her seat, but he stood and grabbed her arm. No one in the class was laughing now. Hermione had pushed him further than anyone else they'd heard of. What would he do to her?

"You will not make that potion Granger." He said clearly, for the benefit of the whole class. "You will sit and write down how to make it, discussing what happens if you make it incorrectly, what the antidotes are if you ingest the potion in both its correct and incorrect forms." Hermione just smiled. He smiled back. "And you will write it all in rhyme."

Hermione frowned. "Ok fine very well, I'll finish it before the bell."

He raised an eyebrow. "A challenge is it? If you manage that I will refrain from taking any more points off you for your arrogance, though at the moment I warn you I am poised to take another 40."

He released her arm and she went back to her desk, pulling out some parchment and began scribbling away. Snape saw that the rest of the class was still watching them. "Get on it with it." He growled. Everyone did.

At the end of the lesson Snape dismissed everyone else and beckoned Hermione to him. She had been writing away right up to the bell, and he smirked at the thought of her losing 80 housepoints in one lesson. She handed her efforts over to him, and he motioned for her to stay put while he read it. With a sigh she sat on a desk opposite his. As he read his self-satisfied smirk gradually fell, and was replaced with an angry frown. He finished reading and threw it on his desk in disgust.

"You actually managed to write it all in rhyme." He said bluntly.

Hermione nodded happily. "Yup."

He thought for a moment. "I'm still taking off 20 points."

"What! Why? I wrote that whole essay in rhyming couplets, I deserve to be given points if anything."

"Some of the rhymes were half-hearted at best. It's poor as a poem."

He was more than annoyed when her angry face cleared and remained impassive. "Very well Sir, may I go now."

"A word of warning Miss Granger, I do not appreciate being criticised by a mere student on my teaching methods. They have worked on many I have taught, including yourself."

"Not really, I'm just a know-it-all. I'd have done well anyway."

Snape glowered at her. "You will answer me with a yes sir. Get out."

She turned her back on him and wandered slowly out of the classroom, leaving him fuming. Ron and Harry were waiting outside his room when she emerged, both looking concerned. "Hermione, what was with you in there? You could have lost us some serious points."

"Oh please, 60 points is nothing. Quit being spoil sports."

She took their arms in hers and dragged them up the corridor. "Well I guess it was bloody brilliant." Said Ron laughing as he remembered Snape's face.

Hermione grinned. "Oh you ain't seen nothing yet."