A/n: Sorry for the wait…. I've been feeling a little bit under the weather lately and I had to move back into my dorm so now that I am back in full force wanted to give u the next chappie

P.S. Don't own anything...

The Potions Lesson

Snape looked at the retreating back of the girl he most despised. He then bid Minerva goodnight and took his usual walk around the castle. He couldn't comprehend what had just happened. He had noticed something when he handed the head girl the piece of parchment. It unnerved him, no doubt, but he didn't know what it was.

He walked down the corridors thinking. The moonlight was reflecting off the stone walls lighting his path as his feet carried him down the familiar corridor. He didn't like to be unnerved; he felt very vulnerable as he tried to shake this feeling off. He ran a hand through his hair, just wondering.

His train of thought was interrupted by the sound of students who were out of bed. Welcome back to Hogwarts, he thought bitterly to himself.

Hermione walked up the small steps to her new quarters. The Common Room that she and Malfoy shared was just as big as her room back in Gryffindor tower, maybe a little bigger. She noted the small fireplace cracking merrily. She looked around the room, seeing the two couches sitting in front of the fireplace and the large windows that seemed to have walled the whole room. There were purple drapes with gold tassels lining the huge windows.

She looked over to her new room. There was a painting of a favorite scene from her favorite book. She looked down at her paper whispering the password lightly. As she crossed the threshold she first noticed the bookshelves that lined the back wall. She went over to it eagerly and looked at the spines.

To her surprise her room wasn't done in the famous Scarlet and Gold that Gryffindors were traditionally known for. She found that the wood that made her bed frame was a dark cherry color and the bedspread was a rich mulberry color. The bed was flushed against the wall containing all of her books. The desk that was in the far corner of the room was also done in the cherry wood. She looked at all the splendor, noting that she could get used to this very easily.

She went over to the bookcase and picked up one of the books. She then made her way out into the common room and sat on the plush couch and began reading.

The potions master flipped through his book knowing that it was useless to even consider reading. He was aggravated, annoyed, and disgusted at the same time. He glanced at his schedule once more knowing that he had double potions with his seventh year class the next day. What better way to start off the new term, he thought.

After completing his usual nightly rituals he still felt as if he was vulnerable. He felt as though all of the defensive walls he had built over the years had come tumbling down at just one look from the Gryffindor he so despised.

Malfoy had joined her shortly after on the couch. She looked into the fire, as the moonlight seemed to have poked its head through the clouds. They sat there in silence, he turned into his book and she did the same.

"Granger," He said looking up from his book.

"I'm reading," She said ignoring him, flipping a page.

"Have you thought more about my so called proposition?" He continued looking at the mane of bushy hair.

"There's nothing to think about," She said not moving her eyes off the book.

"Well, I do have my ways of getting what I want." He smirked.

"Yes, but you can't have me." She replied.

The room soon filled with silence. Malfoy kept glancing at his last conquest. 'I have my ways,' he thought.

It was the silence that she liked, but now it felt as though it was suffocating her in the presence of the boy she hated. Soon she couldn't take it anymore. She made her way to the door leaving the Head Boy to himself. She whispered the password silently and made her way through the new room.

She noticed the closet that had all of her belongings already tucked away. She grabbed her toothbrush and looked for the nearest bathroom. She found the door. It was the same cherry color of her furniture with a golden handle. She turned the handle relishing in the fact that she had her own private bathroom. She began doing her nightly rituals in the small bathroom. She brushed her teeth, swept her hair up into a bun, and got in the shower.

As she scrubbed the remnants of the day off her body, she thought about all the events that had taken place. She smiled fondly thinking of her train ride with Malfoy. She didn't like him, and she never would, he was just one of those people that she didn't want to encounter. She thought of Malfoy as an annoying fruit fly that always seemed to drift near her food when she ate outside during her holiday at the Burrow, annoying and unwanted.

The thing that was bothering her most was that Malfoy wanted, not her, but her alter ego, the one that Hermione totally despised. Ron also had wanted her alter ego, but after stumbling upon her self-realization, an epiphany you might call it, she thought better of it. She knew that if she truly gave her self to Ron she would have to be the Hermione that she didn't like, the know-it-all, the high estrogen, low testosterone reasonable one in the golden trio.

She then thought about the dreaded Potions Master, the one who was called Severus Snape. Harry and Ron made him out to be some greasy old git, and Hermione had the same reservations, though not as strong. Her theory was, if Dumbledore can trust him, why shouldn't she? Even though she felt this way he did have his moments in which Hermione utterly loathed him. She took out the bun and placed her head under the showerhead making every strand of her hair wet and heavy. The thought that was tugging at her the most was not Snape, but his eyes. The eyes that were usually cold and dark filled with ridicule was actual filled with… she couldn't explain it. All she knew was that maybe the Potions Master wasn't as bad as everyone thought he was.

She finished her nightly rituals, ending with her going over what must be done the next day. Once her head hit the pillow it seemed as though her brain was still buzzing with the realization that Snape wasn't as bad as he had seemed. With this thought and this thought alone, she fell into a comfortable sleep.

"So Hermione," Harry said from across the Gryffindor table. "How is your new room?"

"It's really brilliant." She replied, buttering some toast. "I'll show you guys, if you want to see it after class."

They continued eating. Harry was excited because of the upcoming quidditch match, and Ron was simply shoveling food into his mouth like usual.

"Don't look now but there's a certain Slytherin looking this way." Ginny said, smiling.

"How has Malfoy been?" Harry asked. He took a swig of pumpkin juice. "Nothing we should be alarmed about, I hope?"

"Oh no," Hermione replied. "He hasn't really done or said anything to me at all. He's just as if I pressed the mute button."

Harry chuckled at the joke. Ginny and Ron looked confused. Harry was about to explain the joke when Professor McGonagall interrupted them. She handed out their schedules for the day. Hermione looked to see that she had Charms with Flitwick, and Arithmancy with Vector, break, and then lunch. She then looked down at her afternoon classes, Harry cringed and then groaned.

"Double potions with Snape, great." He replied dejectedly. "I really think McGonagall have it in for us this term."

Hermione didn't voice her opinions. After her brain had worked overtime on the whole Snape situation, she had actually come to the conclusion that Double potions couldn't really be that bad.

The morning classes went by unusually fast. All of the teachers started out the same way. Telling each of the students about the N.E.W.T exams and how they would impact their future job choices, and to take them very seriously. Hermione paid close attention, writing down as much information as she could. Lunch soon rolled around.

"How were your classes?" Ginny asked tentatively, seeing the look on Hermione's face.

"I don't know how we're going to get it all done," Hermione replied, loading her plate full of potatoes and steak and kidney pie. "I mean I leafed through one of the books that I got from Flourish and Blotts, and I really don't know how we're going to get through everything."

"Hermione don't worry about it, you're going to do fine, and you always do." Harry reassured his anxiety-ridden friend.

Hermione turned to her plate; she never understood why she voiced her concern about grades and exams to her friends. It seemed as thought they weren't interested enough to actually pay attention. No one seemed to understand, no one had seen her inner turmoil that was pretty apparent in everything she did nowadays. It was pretty pathetic for her to delude herself, telling herself that her friends knew exactly what was wrong, but they didn't. She remained quiet for the rest of the lunch hour and decided that during her break she would go to one of her favorite places in Hogwarts, the library.

She entered the double doors and gave Madame Pince a curt nod. She made it back to her usual place in the library and sat at the large desk. She closed her eyes and just sat there in silence. She heard a chair scraping next to her but she thought it was just Ginny coming to ask what was wrong.

She opened her eyes to see Malfoy sitting there next to her.

"Malfoy, what are you doing here?" She asked, whispering loudly.

"A guy can sit, can't he?" He asked, fixing his steely gray eyes on her hazel ones.

"Well, find some other place to sit." She snapped.

"I think I'm in the right place," He said smirking with a slight smile. "And anyways I wanted to go over these request forms now instead of later."

Hermione just looked at him, he was irritating her.

"Well, can't those wait until the meeting at the end of the week?" She asked placing a hand on her temple rubbing it slightly. "This is my break."

"Oh and what do you want to do? Think?" He asked lightly. "Bad memories haunting your days, Granger?"

She looked at him in disbelief.

"Oh yes, I know what happened." He said smiling. "We Malfoy's have ways of getting our hands on information. Are you feeling dirty, inadequate, and used?"

"I don't know what you're talking about." She lied.

"It's all good and well, Granger," He said, still smirking. "What if this so-called 'information' just slips out one day?"

"You wouldn't," She said in disbelief, tears threatening to fall down her face.

"I'm a Malfoy, blackmail is common and necessary," He smirked once more.

Hermione couldn't believe it, but he was a Malfoy, and of course Malfoys get what they want, even if that's ruining someone else's reputation and life. The image of blood covered hands filled her eyes, she must forget. A tear fell down her face, she angrily wiped it away.

"What do you want?" She said softly, cursing herself for doing this.

"Let's just say that Blaise and I need to have a certain Gryffindor," He said smirking, he brought his lips close to her ear and he kissed it softly. "We made a bet to see how many times we can make you orgasm."

He placed his warm soft lips on her neck. She felt disgusted and dirty at the same time. She promised herself she would never have to feel like this again, not after…

"Oh, and I need the password to your room," He said smirking once more interrupting her thoughts. "Let's just say I want to have a few rounds for myself. You know, to… as I should say, 'test out the merchandise.'"

Tears fell once more while he kissed her neck softly. He got up swiftly and left her to her tears and her tormenting memories. Little did she know that Ginny Weasley had witnessed him kissing her neck before he got up and left. She wondered what that was all about, but was excited to see what Hermione would say. She almost went up to her fellow Gryffindor but she then saw the tears rolling down her face.

Severus Snape waited patiently outside his classroom door as his N.E.W.T class entered. He watched as Potter entered and took his usual seat in the back, slightly surprised that Granger wasn't next to him chattering animatedly. Soon he saw her bushy head come down the hallway. Oh what fun, he thought to himself as she reached the door. I have three hours to torture the little Gryffindor.

He glanced down at her momentarily, her eyes were wide and hollow but he didn't say a word. The stragglers soon came behind her, and the bell signaled for class to start. He entered the room and surveyed the whole class. They were all scattered across the classroom.

"I want you all line up at the front of the class." He said coldly. "I will put you in assigned seats."

There was a collective groan from the students as they collected their belongings and made their way to the front of the cold dark dungeon. Snape took a seat at his desk reveling in his students' discomfort. He looked down at his roster and began calling out partners.

"Hermione Granger, the Head Girl," He said, sneering at his roster. "Let's team you up with the Head Boy, shall we?"

She took her seat and kept her head down. Soon he finished assigning the seats and took his usual position in front of the class.

"Now as you may know, at the end of this year exams will be given to test you on all of your knowledge of potions. Now that you are in my N.E.W.T. class I shouldn't have to tell you how important this examination is. Let's just say that this class can either make or break you. This examination will open many opportunities for those who succeed, and for those who do poorly... let's just say you'll be picking up my trash if and when you fail."

He surveyed the room and his dark eyes landed on Potter.

"Now, open your books to page 41," He said icily. "We will be doing the bittersweet draught. Now can anyone tell me what that is?"

He looked around the classroom and was surprised when no hand shot through the air. He rested his eyes on Hermione who was gazing at a spot on the desk in front of her. Oh this is the perfect opportunity to piss the little Gryffindor off.

"No one knows?" He asked smirking. All of the students looked to Hermione in mild shock. Harry looked at his friend in concern. "Are you telling me no one knows, not even a single one?"

He walked up and down the rows of desks, as his students began looking at the book for the answer. Draco Malfoy was smirking slightly as he kept shifting his gaze on his companion. The potions master stood next to the head girl and looked down at her. She was either ignoring his presence or so deep thought that she didn't notice him. It was the latter, of course.

"Miss Granger," He said coldly. "Do you know what this potion is used for?"

She looked up at him with the same wide eyes. It shook him to the core, he couldn't read her expression, and it was as if she was feeling the same way he felt last night after their fleeting glance. She looked vulnerable, hopeless and utterly helpless.

"Yes," She said softly. She turned her gaze back on the same invisible spot.

"Well, then, why didn't you raise your hand when I asked if anyone knew the answer?" He asked coldly.

"Why should I?" She snapped.

The classroom went silent; you could cut the tension with a butter knife. She never moved her eyes off the spot. The potions master made his way swiftly to his desk.

"Ten points from Gryffindor," He said icily. "Learn to hold your tongue."

"There's no point in raising my hand when you don't call on me!" She snapped once more, raising her head. "I'm not even going to waste my breath or expend any energy on you or this class."

"Twenty more points from Gryffindor," Snape spat raising his voice. "Hold your tongue or I'll make it fifty Miss Granger."

"Go ahead and make it fifty!" She bellowed. "Why not make it a cool hundred. I don't care anymore."

"Fifty points from Gryffindor, and two days of detention," He spat once more. How dare this insignificant little know-it-all raise her voice at me? He thought angrily. He looked to the Gryffindor once more to see if she would say anything else but she didn't.

He flicked his wand and the blackboard filled with information and directions on the bittersweet potion. He looked at the blackboard to make sure everything was in order.

"Overgrown bat," Hermione mumbled loud enough for Snape to hear.

"Make it a week." He bellowed turning to her.

The rest of class Hermione was silent. She thought that he had changed, but he had openly mocked her in class. She couldn't take it anymore, so she retorted back. What was the point of raising her hand in a class where she knew she was not going to be called upon? She was beyond mad, not because she got a weeks worth detention, oh no, she was angry because she basically deluded herself to the point of thinking she was right. She hated to be wrong, especially something like this. For a long time she thought she couldn't feel happy again, but she did when she realized that she wasn't alone. And just like that, the last bit of happiness that she had seemed to muster out of her body became stagnant and unwanted, she thought they had had a silent understanding, how wrong she was.

He couldn't help but glance at the diminishing form of the Gryffindor he so despised. Great, now he had to deal with her for a week more than necessary. He wondered only vaguely as to why she was so upset, why she seemed so vulnerable.

"So Hermione," Malfoy whispered sneering. "Nice little display, I hope that you are just as feisty in bed."

Hermione shuddered with repulsion but continued to stir the glutinous potion. She looked back up at the potions master and continued to do her work. Harry kept shooting glances at her as if to ask what was wrong, and why had she just lost them over fifty house points. Soon class came to an end and they packed up their belongings. Everyone left as quickly as they could but Hermione hung back to hear her punishment.

"I want you to be back here tonight after dinner," He said curtly to her. "Be prepared for the worst."

She made her way out of the classroom heading back to her other hell on earth, he her quarters. Funny, she thought to herself, not even twenty – four hours ago did she believe her head quarters were brilliant. Now they had already become stained with her past.

He looked at the retreating back of the Head Girl, wondering what torture he should place on her tonight. Although it was entertaining to think of all the possibilities, something tugged harder at him. He mind flew to the memory of last night, her eyes were filled with something he never wanted to see, as well as today. He shook this thought from his head as he waved his wand to clean the blackboard once more.

A/n: Sorry it took so long guys but I have a lot of reading classes this semester so naturally I spend all of my time reading… I hope you like this chapter, I know I did…. Pls R&R

Dark Mermaid : Of course I missed you! I miss all of my reviewers… and I have to agree savvy is hoot so is Draco and Lucius, but no one understands our secret longing for evil… MWHAHAHAHA… sorry got a little carried away… as for lucius appearing in the story, right now I couldn't tell you but my characters seem to have a mind of their own, I just observe and record… LOL… thanx for reviewing.

Daughter-of-slytherin7: I am really glad that you liked my other story, a lot of work went into that and I was surprise the immense response I got from it. Thanx for complimenting my style of writing you're so wicked sweet. I mean with every story there is both sides, why each character feels as though what they are doing is right from every aspect. For example Percy in the real series, he believes that working for fudge/ the ministry is right to him, that rules and regulation is what is needed so I really wasn't surprised when he actually went over to ministry side during the 5th book. It's good to hear every side of the story, you can just judge how crazy a person is and how much they want something that is either within or without their reach. Thanx for reviewing your awesome too!

Fair Maiden: Thank you. I really like to develop to my character and to have them seeing sparks automatically isn't my kind of thing. I like to draw it out as much as possible, make them confused or questioning what they know and don't know, then I put them together. SO that scene at the end wasn't really a spark, just a realization that they are both fighting against their pasts and that they both are not alone as if they've been suddenly hit on the head w. a coconut and realize that somebody out there shares the same pain and torments… thanx for reviewing UR ROCK!

Madudewalking: I was delighted, as always to get your review. No but seriously, in my other story it was of course as you know a drm/hrm fic and people kept on sending me comments about her shagging sevy was disgusting and all of that jazz, I kept getting fed up and the last person that wrote to me said they weren't going to read my story if anymore of a sevy/ hrm interaction was written… well I told that person off saying how if your going to ignore my hard work just because of a couple scenes than your ignorant and not looking at the bigger picture of the whole plot/story line. That got me really mad, so when I first wrote the whole interaction between hrm/dra in the last chapter I don't want to hear anymore condescending reviews on the situations my character just so happen to fall into. That's why I put that warning… LOL… As for writing next to u 24/7 I wish I could too but college sux and so does reading the books I have to read for college, so what can I do… thanxx for reviewing and as always your totally awesome..

I want to thank all of those who have reviewed and keep doing so… I love all of you guys, you all totally ROCK! LOL. Sorry that it took so long to update but since I started the sequel to my other story I will alternate between this one and the other story so expect a post hopefully in the next 2 weeks, yea it's a long time but college beckons, but I might get lucky and procrastinate so no worries just pls keep R&R

I want to thank my beta for of course doing what she does best…beta-ing…

As Always… Cherbi161