A/N:Hello everyone.
Sampdoria: Thank you so much for the review. I'm glad to be able to 'make' someone's day, as you say it. Hope you like this chap too.
gemini-rose16: Don't worry, it will be explained, but untill then, we'll have a thoroughly confused and frustrated potions master….*grin*
So, this is chapter 2...not counting the prologue…Enjoy.
Chapter 2. DADA..
It had been a week since Draco had scowled her in the corridor. No major change had been made, but it seemed that both Blaize and Pansy had followed Draco's example and wouldn't leave her alone. They were sitting with her in what classes they had together, inviting her to their table at meals, ignoring some of the Slytherins that were still thinking of her as a muddblood, anyway, there was always someone with her. It pained her to see that her friends were ignoring her, although she was still the same Hermione that they knew. But that was that. She couldn't change it.
It was bright and sunny that Thursday morning. Exiting the shower, Hermione looked in the mirror and smiled. It seemed so long ago that she had had a true smile on her lips. And this one was due to Slytherins. Slytherins that the Gryffindors had started hating without taking the proper time to know. Slytherins that the Gryffindors hated just because they were supposed to. She shook her head and got dressed. Having her own room was a big advantage for her. No one bothered her here. Actually, the Gryffindors, all of them, had started pretending that she didn't even exist.
She scowled as she thought of how the idiots seemed to ignore the fact that they had fought a war because this sort of discrimination. Blood difference, status difference, wealth difference. She shook her head again. It was always about something, never the same, but always on the same lines.
Entering the Great Hall, she didn't even bother with looking at her own house table, she just walked past them and straight to the Slytherin table. Taking a seat beside Pansy, Hermione placed her bag on the bench and grabbed an apple.
''Hermione you need to eat more.'' Pansy scowled.
Hermione rolled her eyes. Each and every meal, Pansy would scowl at her for her eating habits, although she had explained to them that her stomach had changed during the hunt. But Pansy would have none of it.
''I will Pansy. I will.''
''It seems we have DADA together first thing.'' Draco said and shoved a fork full of eggs in his mouth.
''You know, I can't understand why McGonagall didn't hire a new professor. I mean, isn't Potions enough of a headache for professor Snape? She should have thought it better before the year started again.'' Hermione commented.
''Dunno.'' Blaize said and shrugged, ''I don't even know if someone would take it even. Think about it, every year until now, each professor met an ugly end.''
''Besides professor Snape.'' Hermione pointed out. ''He taught in sixth year and he's still here.''
Draco snorted. ''Thanks to you he is.''
Hermione scowled at him. ''Draco, do you want to get hexed this early in the morning? You know I don't like talking about it.''
''Whatever you wish my lady.'' Draco said and jumped off the bench as Hermione drew her wand.
''Keep at it with that name and I swear I won't hesitate next time.'' Hermione growled.
''Settle down you two. Come on, you know how Snape gets if we are late.''
''Professor Snape, Blaize.''
''Whatever you say Granger.''
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The Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom was already half full when Hermione and the other three Slytherins stepped in. She looked longingly towards her own house mates, then sighed and followed Pansy to the other side of the room. There were quite a few disgusted looks from some of the Slytherins, but one glare from Draco had them turning their eyes towards the front again.
Hermione sighed. She hadn't expected the war to suddenly change everyone, but their reaction to herself as well as other muggle-borns was proof enough that many hadn't changed at all, nor were they willing to.
A wide grin spread on her face as the rest of the students entered the classroom and Severus Snape strode in. His confident walk, his usual scowl in place and his magnificent black robes billowing behind him. Hermione was actually glad that he was his usual snaky self. Pretty much everyone had changed after the battle, but not him, if he did, he wasn't showing it. Being in his class actually brought back fond memories of herself and the boys.
Her hand clamped over her mouth as a giggle threatened to escape her lips, remembering his horrified and panicked look as several cauldrons had started to explode in their second year. It was actually both the first and last time she had seen any emotion so clearly on his face. Even in the Shrieking Shack, so close to death, he hadn't lowered his cold mask.
Hermione wondered for a brief moment if he knew that she had stolen ingredients from his cupboard then. Shaking her head, she looked up at him, fighting very hard to keep the smile off her face.
''Defense Against the Dark Arts…'' he started, and Hermione could hear disappointed murmurs rush amongst her peers. She scowled. ''…has been part of your lives thus far, and will always be. Just because one or two Dark Wizards have been defeated, doesn't mean that there couldn't be another one coming…'' Hermione cringed a little at that, but kept her eyes upfront. ''I know that not all of you have fought in the Final Battle, and I also know you are dying to see some action. But…'' his eyes swept over the students, lingering on her a bit longer, ''…first, you have to see how a real duel looks like.''
Hermione could hear the enthusiastic whispers rise as soon as the words 'real duel' left his mouth and scowled again. They had had the chance to fight a real battle, to defend their rights and the ones they loved. They had had the chance to learn all of this, years ago, along with the others. But they had cowardly stepped away. And now that the biggest threat was out of the way, they suddenly wanted to learn? Pathetic.
''I'm going to ask those that were on the battle field, those that fought valiantly, to step forward. The rest of you step back, cast a shielding charm around yourselves and observe.''
As soon as they were out of their seats, the desks vanished and the students quickly lined themselves along the walls. In the middle of the classroom remained: herself, Pansy, Draco, Blaise, Theodore Nott, Harry, Ron, Neville, Dean, Seamus, and oddly enough, Crabbe and Goyle.
Snape counted heads and nodded. ''A duel, not only needs power and concentration, it also needs endurance.'' he said, looking at the lined students. ''Mr. Longbottom and Mr. Malfoy have both dueled two attackers at the same time, then moved to another duel, I've seen Mr. Tomas dueling three, and I've seen Miss Granger take on five then move to the Dark Lord himself…''
Hermione's eye started to twitch and she sent him a glare, then looked at a blushing Draco. That part should have only be witnessed by the Malfoys, and kept quiet afterwards. She wanted to hit Draco over the head, but refrained from actually doing so.
''I want to remind you that these students have fought fully trained Death Eaters. I suggest you never cross their path, unless you have friendly intentions.'' he ignored the awe in the students' eyes, drew his wand and conjured the needed duel stage. ''Each of you will take part in a duel, maybe more. If you win your round, you come and stand beside me. If you lose, you stand with the others. Parkinson, Goyle, you're first. You know the rules. Any curse is accepted, except for the Unforgivables.''
Hermione watched in fascination as Goyle tightened his grip on his wand and started hurling curses at Pansy as soon as the 'three' left Snape's mouth. Three minutes later, a smug looking Gregory Goyle stepped over to Snape. Hermione shook her head and watched Crabbe and Nott step up next. After Nott won his round, Harry and Blaise stepped up, and Hermione didn't even need to watch to know who would win. Sure enough, Harry stepped over to Snape and sent a glare her way.
Hermione and Ron were next after Draco's victory over Neville, and her duel was the shortest yet. 30 seconds. In thirty seconds, she had Ron wandless, petrified and bound with ropes, drawing a gasp from the watching students and a smirk from Draco.
As the group grew thinner, the duels became longer and more powerful. Each one of them trying to prove his/her worth, but Hermione wasn't surprised when she ascended the three steps and stood facing Harry for the last duel.
''I suggest you pay special attention here.'' Snape's voice boomed in the silent classroom. ''These two might as well be the best amongst the students of Hogwarts. Potter, Granger, don't hold back. I want them to see what you are capable of.'' Both Hermione and Harry nodded and bowed to each other.
Hermione's eyes darkened and lost their spark as the first curse cut through the air towards her. She felt her body grow numb as thoughts of what she'd done for Harry over the years plagued her mind. Everything she had sacrificed for his sake had been ignored in the end. She felt her emotions slip away, leaving behind n empty void as she entered her battle mode and flicked her wrist.
They fought almost viciously for about twenty minutes. Hermione could see Harry was frustrated because he couldn't win. A flash of something crossed his eyes and Hermione narrowed her eyes. She knew that look. Mirroring his exact movements, she drew her second wand and blocked his attack. Harry was good…very good…but she knew him too well.
Her vision started to blur, tears gathering in the corners of her eyes as Harry started taunting her. And it was actually something she had advised him to do while fighting Voldemort.
''What now, Hermione? How much do you hate us really?''
Hermione swallowed the lump in her throat and cast the counter curse for a Bone-Breaking curse. She threw her won string of curses at him…not to injure him, only to get him to shut up.
No such luck.
''I thought you were our friend, Hermione. My sister. How could you betray me like this?''
A sob escaped her throat as she threw an Expelliarmus his way. He kept going.
''I loved you the most, you know? But now, I'm starting to ask myself if you were actually our friend, or just pretending…''
''I didn't know…damn it Harry…I didn't know.'' she yelled and twisted away from a stunning spell.
''Didn't you really? How do you expect me to believe you? It wouldn't be the first secret you've kept from us.''
His words stung more than ever and her step faltered. It was a mistake and she knew it. But she didn't quite care at the moment. The Sectumsempra left his wand and hit her on the side of her torso, throwing her to her knees with a strangled cry.
Snape was at her side in a moment, already chanting the counter curse, and Draco had jumped in front of them, his wand trained on Harry.
''What the hell is wrong with you Potter?'' Draco yelled. ''If something happens to her, I'll have your head. I swear.''
Harry's eyes lingered on Hermione's unconscious form a few moments, then he jumped off the stage, grabbed his bag and exited the classroom. Draco sneered at his back and turned around in time to see Snape scoop her easily in his arms and quickly walk out the door with a barked 'dismissed' to the stunned students.
Jumping off the stage, he started running towards the Hospital Wing with Blaise and Pansy in tow, hoping that Hermione would be alright.
A/N: Liked it? Hated it? Leave me your thoughts.