A/N: I will go back and forth between Severus' and Hermione's POV.

Please Read & Review...they make me want to post a lot more! Thank you to those of you who have reviewed, followed and favorited this story. It definitely motivates me to keep at it!

Hermione Granger woke the next morning and smiled when she realized where she was. It was her first day as a student of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry! She may have been muggleborn, but she had already read Hogwarts: A History, and knew quite a bit about the magical school. She was excited when she was sorted into Gryffindor the night before. Especially when her two new friends soon followed.

She still found it surreal that she had become quick friends with the famous Harry Potter. She had also found a friend in Ronald Weasley. They both seemed like nice boys, albeit with a penchant for not following the rules. She had to tell them to be quiet several times during the sorting ceremony, with no success.

While Professor McGonagall was calling students to the dais, she had taken the opportunity to study her professors. She thought Professor Flitwick was adorable and she had met Professor Hagrid when she got off the Hogwarts Express. She was shocked at his size at first and learned that he was a half giant. He seemed very kind. Then there was Professor Snape. She had heard he was very strict and intimidating. Upon seeing the professor for the first time, clad head-to-toe in black, billowing robes, she had to agree that he was indeed, very intimidating.

It was then that she noticed him looking at her, with a peculiar look on his face. She had suddenly felt a tingling in her chest. She shook herself from the odd memory of the night before and proceeded to ready herself for her first day of classes. She put on her uniform and robes, and scowled briefly at the hopeless rats nest that sat atop her head. She then walked down to the common room to find Harry and Ron waiting for her. Then they walked together to the Great Hall for their first breakfast at Hogwarts.

"Are you ready for our first day, Hermione?" Harry asked with an excited smile.

"Oh, yes! I can't wait to learn spells and brew potions!" Hermione answered happily.

"I wouldn't mind skipping potions" grumbled Ron. "My brothers are always complaining that Snape's a right git."

"That's Professor Snape, Ron" Hermione scolded lightly as they walked towards the doors of the Great Hall.

Ron shot her an annoyed look but his face changed once they walked into the Great Hall and he saw an abundance of food. He quickly took his seat at Gryffindor table and dug in. Hermione and Harry followed, with a substantially more dignified manner.

As Hermione sat eating her breakfast, her eyes wandered to the staff table. Once again, she found herself studying the mysterious looking potions master. She was so busy watching Professor Snape that she hadn't noticed him look in her direction. She was mortified when she realized he'd caught her staring. She quickly put her head down, once again tucking into her breakfast. Missing the puzzled look on his face.

This exchange did not go unnoticed by the headmaster. Dumbledore shook his head and chuckled to himself as he continued to eat his breakfast.

After breakfast, Hermione headed to her first class. Transfiguration. She enjoyed the class, and quite liked Professor McGonagall. After Transfiguration, she had Charms with Professor Flitwick. She realized that she had quite a knack for it and enjoyed the class immensely. Next was Potions. She found that she was rather nervous for some reason. As she walked into the potions classroom, she saw Harry and Ron sitting at a table, where they had saved her a seat.

As she sat, she briefly wondered where the professor was. She didn't have time to dwell on her thoughts as the door swung open and banged loudly on the wall. She startled, then turned to see the dark professor stalking to the front of the classroom, with his black robes billowing behind him.

"There will be no foolish wand-waving or silly incantations in this class. As such, I don't expect many of you to appreciate the subtle science and exact art that is potion-making. However, for those select few... Who possess, the predisposition... I can teach you how to bewitch the mind and ensnare the senses. I can tell you how to bottle fame, brew glory, and even put a stopper in death."

Hermione found herself completely mesmerised as Professor Snape gave an impressive speech on the power and importance of potions. She was very excited at the prospect of brewing. Once class was over, the trio left the dungeons and went on to their next class.

The first day flew by and Hermione found that she was completely knackered by dinner. She plopped down, rather ungracefully, next to Harry and Ron at the Gryffindor table and started filling her plate with food.

"Did you boys enjoy your first day?" she asked.

"Yea, it was really interesting! I never realized how much I'd needed to learn about magic. It's a lot more than just pointing your wand and chanting a few words." Harry answered.

She nodded earnestly and turned to her red haired friend.

"How about you, Ron?"

"It was alright. Would have been better if we didn't have to have classes with Slytherin" he grumbled.

Hermione raised an inquisitive eyebrow at Harry who then proceeded to tell her what happened.

Ron apparently had a rather unpleasant altercation with Draco Malfoy, who he bumped into on the way to Potions earlier, literally. Draco had sneered at Ron, then proceeded to tell him to watch where he was going. Then rudely asked if he was too poor to afford manners and told him he should have more respect for his superiors.

Hermione scoffed, "What a tosser!"

She had heard about the Malfoy's and their stance on blood purity. So, she knew Draco wouldn't take kindly to her, a muggleborn. Although, she'd heard the awful term people like him used for people like her, and it made her blood boil just thinking about it.

After dinner, Hermione started walking out of the Great Hall with her friends and headed back to the common room for the night. Missing the black eyes that followed her until she disappeared behind the double doors.