A/N: Just so you know, I know that Slughorn is Potions master in the sixth book but I'm keeping Snape as Potions master instead.
"You know, Father's been saying for years that all the Mudbloods in the world should be taught a lesson. He'll be so happy to hear I gave the first lesson to the weak little Gryffindor angel," Malfoy whispered evilly in her ear.
Hermione couldn't stop the shiver running up her spine. She kept her eyes firmly shut so she had no idea what he was doing, though it didn't feel like he was moving yet. But then she heard a sound that nearly made her jump for joy.
"Oi, Malfoy, what the bloody hell do you think you're doing to her?!"
Hermione opened her eyes and was relieved to see Ron and Harry running toward her. Ron's wand was out and pointed at Malfoy while Harry looked like he was about to punch the shit out of the blonde boy. Malfoy just laughed and released her.
"What am I doing to her?" he repeated innocently. "She's the one who hit me. I was merely…teaching her a lesson," he said smugly.
Harry hurried to Hermione and ran into his arms. He wrapped an arm tightly around her shoulders and glared at Malfoy. Ron was already at his side, wand still raised to him. "Touch her again and see what happens," Ron threatened.
"This coming form the Weasel who made himself eat slugs? Oh, I'm quavering in my boots." He sniggered. "Good luck with that. Maybe this time it will be toads." He turned on his heel and headed back up the stairs, pausing at the landing. "By the way, Granger, I'll see you again in detention tomorrow. After we both ran out on tonight's, we're going to be stuck again tomorrow." Malfoy smirked and left them, Hermione shaking in Harry's arms.
Ron turned to her once the Slytherin boy was gone. "You hit him?" he asked.
"Again?" Harry put in, a smile creeping into his face.
"Well, he kept calling me names and joking my blood. I just kind of reacted," she said sheepishly.
"Bravo, Mione!" Ron clapped.
"Yeah, except he scared the crap out of me and tomorrow I'll be stuck with him again!" she cried and tears slid down her face. "Not only that, but Binns assigned us an exact scene to do and now I have to kiss him!"
"Kiss Binns?" Ron said thickly.
"Kiss Malfoy!" Hermione wailed, sobbing into Harry's shoulder.
He rubbed her back comfortingly. "Oh, Mione, I'm sorry. Do you want Ron and me to miss Quidditch practice tomorrow night and stay with you in detention? Under the Cloak, of course."
Hermione actually took a moment to consider this, but Harry was the captain and she knew he couldn't miss practice for her. Not only that, but both boys loved Quidditch. It wouldn't be fair for her to ask that of them. But just to know they were willing to was good enough for her.
"No," she said finally, shaking her head. "I think I'll be okay. And Binns should be there tomorrow," she added, doubting her words as she spoke them. She had no idea where Binns would be tomorrow. But she wanted to set their minds at ease just as they wanted to set her's.
"Are you sure?" Ron asked. "Maybe while his back is turned, I could—" They shot him a look. "—Harry could hit him right between the eyes and turn back into the ferret he is!"
Hermione laughed and her tears dried up a bit. "Great as that sounds, I don't want Harry or you to get in trouble. No, I'll be fine. But thanks, guys."
Ron walked toward her and wrapped his arms around her with Harry on her other side. She hugged them both back, glad to have her friends with her. After a minute, they all pulled apart.
"Come on," she said with a smile. "Why don't we go to the common room and I can "help" you with the Potions homework?"
The boys beamed. "Thank you, Mione," they chorused and the trio headed off back to the common room.
The next day at breakfast, Hermione got a not-so-shocking surprise. Binns came up to her and informed her of her next detention with him and Malfoy, tonight in his classroom, only this time, he would be there watching them rehearse the scene itself.
Hermione was thrilled that Binns would be there but not so thrilled that she would have to pretend to be in love with Malfoy—er, Romeo. She watched Binns float over to the Slytherin table and inform the boy as well and once he was gone, Malfoy shot her a look of loathing and she returned it. He smirked and pointed to the place she'd slapped him yesterday and she colored and looked away.
Hermione left the Great Hall ten minutes later with Harry, Ron and Seamus and they all headed to Potions…with the Slytherins. She saw Malfoy ahead of them with Pansy trying to get his arm around her but all he did was shove her away. Finally, she seemed to annoy him to the point where he snapped his fingers and Crabbe and Goyle came in and picked her up by her arms, carrying her far away from their Slytherin Prince.
Harry shook his head and Seamus held in a laugh. They were all able to walk right into class, Snape having left the door open for once, apparently eager to get them in and then out in two hours time. Harry sat with Hermione and Ron and Seamus went to a desk together. The instructions for the class appeared on the board with a wave of Snape's hand and he addressed the class in five words.
"You have two hours. Begin."
Hermione looked up at the board and saw they were making the Draught of the Living Dead. She set up her scales and cauldron and started with the valerian root. As she set to work, she kept feeling like she was being watched and she actually had to restrain herself from shaking as she cut the root. Harry apparently noticed and shot her a questioning look, but Hermione just shook her head and went back to work.
After the first hour and a half, her potion had turned the smooth, black color it was meant to be and she started stirring it counter clockwise. As she did, she glanced around the room at everyone else. They were all still deep in their potions; Neville's already turning the wrong color. Lavender let out a squeal as it began to bubble yellow and overflow right into her lap since she was next to him.
Snape looked up from where he sat and gave a frustrated sigh. He rose to go to Neville when Dean suddenly yelled, "Get down!"
As everyone hit the floor, Neville's potion exploded on the spot and yellow gunk flew everywhere in the classroom, a lot of it hitting Snape in the chest as he had been the only one to remain standing. Once Neville's cauldron had settled, the class slowly got back to their feet, the Slytherins glaring at him and the Gryffindors offering him comforting smiles.
"Mr. Longbottom," Snape said tensely. "Why is it that you can never keep your potion in cauldron?"
Neville grew even redder than Ron had ever been. "I-I'm sorry, Professor," he said quietly. "I-I must n-not have d—"
"Done it right?" Snape finished. "Yes, well that is clear. Detention, Mr. Longbottom. Be here tonight at eight. And bring your scales. You will do this potion until it is right."
Neville just nodded.
"What was that?" Snape said.
"Y-yes, sir."
"Good." Snape waved his wand and the potion vanished from his robes and the room. "Everyone else, back to work. There is still fifteen minutes of class left."
The class returned to their potions at once and Hermione went back to stirring. Harry's potion was the same color as her's by now and she figured he's just done everything she had after she'd done it, but she didn't mind. She was used to it by now. After a couple more minutes, her potion was clear and she ladled some into a vial. She corked it and then waiting until Snape called them all up for their potions.
Not five minutes later, he told them to bring him their Draughts. Hermione took Harry's and brought them both up to Snape. She set them down and he didn't even bother looking at her. She turned to go back to her seat and found herself face to face with Malfoy.
Her breath caught in her throat and he smirked. "Don't worry, Mudblood," he said in a low voice. "I won't do anything to you until detention." Then he brushed by her and she nearly lost her balance. Luckily, Dean was there to catch her.
"You alright, Mione?" he asked concerned.
"Wh-yeah. Sorry, Dean. Didn't mean to fall into you," she said with a forced smile.
He grinned. "No worries, Mione." He set her firmly on her feet and the two went back to their perspective tables.
"Did Malfoy do something to you?" Harry asked her quietly as they packed up their cauldrons.
She shook her head. "Malfoy's always saying something to someone," she said vaguely. "I'm fine." The bell rang. "Come on. Don't want to be late for Transfigurations."
He just nodded but didn't look convinced.