Hermione walked with Ron and Harry through the dungeons to Potion class.
As they entered the classroom, Hermione remembered what happened the previous evening. And the night before that. And she wondered what was going to happen this evening.
Because it was Friday, everyone was irritated by what was written on the chalkboard; "Essay Murtlap Essence. Three feet Parchment. Monday morning."
Another wasted weekend.
Though, everybody fell silent as professor Snape walked through de door at the backside of the classroom. The familiar billowing of his cloak made Hermione smile.
She decided to make this evening an evening without traumatic actions.
As Hermione was gathering her ingredients for the Murtlap Essence potion, she noticed Harry taking a Murtlap tentacle and just threw it in his cauldron.
'Harry you forgot to strain and prickle it first.' Hermione hissed.
'Helping Mr. Potter, are we Miss Granger?' Hermione shivered by the sound of his voice. She would never get used to that.
'His Murtlap Tentacles weren't ready for use, sir.' Hermione said as she looked up at her Potions Master, who was standing next to her.
'I think Mr. Potter is capable of thinking himself, although he has not much to think with.'
The Slytherins chuckled as Harry looked daggers at Draco and his friends, who were actually laughing.
'Something funny, Draco?' Professor Snape asked.
Draco stopped laughing and looked back at Harry, with the same expression on his face. Professor Snape turned on his heels and walked back to his desk.
Hermione bit her lip.
She didn't know why, but her Potions Master seemed to be in a good mood.
Harry and Ron looked surprised at each other.
Normally, her Potions Master would have took 15 points from Gryffindor and ignored Draco.
Sometimes, he would even give Slytherin five points for having a good sense of humour.
While Ron, Hermione and Harry walked from the dungeons to the Great Hall, Ron couldn't hide the suprised look on his face.
'You'd almost say he'd drunk Amorentia. What did you do to him last night Hermione?!'
'Nothing, Ron.' Hermione Smiled.
Ginny told them by dinner, that professor Snape took 20 points from Gryffindor that same day, because of a boy who accidently bumped in to him, and that she had detention because she had asked something about the potion she had to brew.
He was in a very bad mood all day.
As they went talking about Fred and George, who wanted to blow up the Slytherin common room, Hermione felt eyes on her. She looked at the staff table, and found her Potions Master looking at her. She returned his gaze until her Potions Master had to answer a question from professor McGonagall.
Hermione bit her lip and thought of tonight.
She hoped this time he would not harm her too much.
Hermione walked through the corridors to the potion classroom, a too well known route.
As Hermione thought about it, she became aware of how much she really liked those lessons.
She still hoped she could stop them soon, but it was the first time school made her actually learn something that wasn't all logical for her.
These lessons made her pay real attention, other than the normal lessons, because if she missed something in there, she could just look it up in her book, or ask it someone else.
These "Exceptional" lessons were much more exciting.
She entered the classroom, and the first thing she noticed was that there was no chair, and no Potion Master.
'Legilimente'
Before Hermione could turn around, the hex touched her mind and the classroom disappeared.
She walked through the empty, dark dungeons.
'Where are you going, Granger?'
The voice of Draco echoed through the corridors and chuckling followed from more than one person.
Hermione knew this was not a memory.
She turned around and faced whole Slytherin, Draco in front.
'You are a Mudblood, Granger. Accept that you don't deserve to live.'
'If there is a person who doesn't deserve to live, it would be you, Malfoy.' Hermione replied.
'It's even written on your arm Mudblood!' Draco said with disgust in his voice.
Hermione pulled her Slytherin green sleeve up and saw the red letters appear on her pale skin.
"Mudbloods don't deserve to live. Die, Mudblood."
Hermione searched for someone who was pointing his wand on her but she couldn't find anyone.
Hermione tried not to fall down on the pavement, and thought of all the stories she had read. She pushed Draco out of her mind, she focused on him, fading away. But not Draco was in her mind, her Potions Master was. He made her see this.
She remembered the last few days this happened and came to the conclusion she had to think about something that could push this vision away.
A huge teddy bear appeared behind the Slytherins.
Hermione thought of it, walking over the Slytherins and saving her.
The teddy bear walked in her direction, crushing the Slytherins, including Draco. They were gone.
Hermione thought of it, turning into her Potions Master and then sending him out of her mind.
The teddy bear went pale, got a cloak, and slowly turned into her Potions Master. He faded.
Hermione felt her legs turning into jelly and as the pavement neared, two arms closed around her middle.
'We will leave the legilimency, for now.'
Hermione shivered again by the voice of her Potions Master, who let her go and smirked.
'Cold, Miss Granger?'
'No, I'm fine.'
'Good. Imperio'
The dozing feeling caught Hermione by surprise.
She desperately looked for something she could be angry about, but her Potions Master didn't had done something immoral.
As for Draco or one of his friends.
Hermione slowly turned on her feet to the fireplace.
She walked past her Potions Masters desk, the light of the burning fire reflected in the knife that was on it, it draw her attention.
As in a brainwave Hermione decided to revisit the past. The knife that draw her attention, was the knife which her Potions Master made her do terrible things with.
The old, familiar anger started to boil in her veins.
The dazzling feeling disappeared, slowly this time, and Hermione stopped walking.
'I could be proud of you Miss Granger. Imagine what kind of terrible things I could have made you done with that fire. I am pleased you were so quick of mind so that I did not had to hurt you any worse.'
'You could also just made me walk outside, or label your potions, sir.'
'If so, there was no need for you to resist, was there.'
Her Potions Master actually smiled a little. Hermione bit her lip to not smile back too boldly.
She noticed, that this was his third compliment this week.
He was nicer to her, and Hermione liked this Potions Master more than the one from before the exceptional lessons.
Suddenly he turned on his heels and walked to the door, his familiar cloak billowing after him.
'Tomorrow at seven. Here.' He said flat.
'But tomorrow is Saturday. Ron, Harry and I wanted to go and see Hagrid.' Hermione replied surprised. Tomorrow was her day off. No stress or schoolwork.
'How unfortunate.'
The door shut with a bang.
