A project of Severus Snape

The day of departure finally came. She woke up with a combination of Mr. Weasley's and that foul portrait's screamings. She checked her head like she would every morning. She could see a burnt shade of yellow if she looked closely. It was nothing that would draw attentions but it was noticable. It was as if she had dyed her blonde hair red.

«Maybe I should dye my hair.» She said to herself. « That would make things simpler.»

Lupin had asked her to keep the matter of her physical change secret for now. She had disagreed hotly.

«If I don't tell people the truth from early on they'll suspect me even more.» she had said.

Although Snape and Sirius had agreed with her, they had warned her that flaunting it would be equally wrong. Snape had told her that his Slytherins wouldn't ask but some would surely notify their families. Ravenclaws would be busy with their OWLs and Huffelpuffs wouldn't be so rude to ask. Gryffindor was a different case altogether as they knew her better than others and weren't shy to ask questions. She would be safe from anyone lower than 5th year but she had to expect some friendly and maybe some unfriendly questions as the political atmosphere was not in their favour.

Sturgis Podmore on of Harry's guards had failed to come. This worried her a bit but she kept it to herself. Snuffles had been quite a show off at the station. What if somebody had recognised him? This year was going to be so bad and knowing that she entered the prefect carriage.

It was beautiful. They had renovated the carriage so it looked like a big hall instead of an aisle surrounded by compartments squeezed together. There were nice comfortable benches and a table in the middle stacked with snacks.

They had met the heads and listened to them. They apparently met with each prefect pair separately. They had advised and warned them about certain issues they would be facing soon. They were almost finished with them, as Draco Malfoy and Pansy Parkinson entered.

«Look who's here Drakey?» Said Pansy. Malfoy was obviously annoyed at this nickname. He scowled and looked at them. The moment he saw her it was as if he was thunderstruck.

«Blasted bludger . What happened to your hair Granger?» He seemed alerted.

«Does it matter Draco? She probably hexed herself.» Pansy smirked. Hermione gave them a tight smile as she restrained Ron from attacking Slytherins. Malfoy wasn't convinced at all. At some point he found the opportunity to ask her privately as Ronald was having an amicable conversation with Ernie.

«I'm not buying 'I dyed my hair' excuse. Your natural hair isn't blonde. Your face is different too.» Malfoy said with suspicion.

She weighed her options. She settled on a half truth. «I don't know Malfoy. My hair colour started to change late June and I can't stop it.»

«Not curious why?» he asked. He raised his eyebrows.

«I am, and I asked. Professor Dumbledore thinks its just puberty.»She responded.

«Potter wanking on a magazine is puberty. This is not puberty.» Malfoy commented.

«Believe whatever you want to believe Malfoy. Just don't bother me with your stupid theories.» said Hermione.

«Oh I don't need to do that Granger. We're just going to wait. You see, this kind of change will become evident at some point and we'll know what's really going on.» Malfoy smirked at her. «See you later blood traitor.» with that they left.

Hermione was frozen. He knew or at least he suspected the nature of her change. Malfoy had the privilege of being a pure blood and a competent wizard. If he had guessed her secret even before they had reached Hogwarts, how many more would find out by Christmas?»

«What did the ferret want?» Ron asked.

«Oh nothing, he was being his old evil self.» Hermione answered distractedly. «We should go back to Harry before he goes crazy.»

The rest of the trip was rather uneventful. Luna Lovegood has stared at her the whole time but she had said nothing about her appearance. Nevil had brought a very strange plant. It was exotic and she learnt immediately that it shouldn't be poked carelessly.

They arrived a few hours later. She had been flabbergasted at the fact that Harry could see the non-existent horses that were pulling their carriages even more so when she realised that Luna could see them too.

The most unpleasant thing was Hagrid's absence. No announcement was made regarding him. Ron kept annoying Nearly Headless Nick during the feast, and then they met their new lovely DADA instructor. The moment she saw that woman she knew she was going to hate her. She was going to poke her nose into everything after all. The night did not go well for them.

She soon realised that Umbridge was even worse than she had judged her to be. Defense was not going to be the worst of their problems because at Potions class Snape explained his plan for the year.

«Now that you know what is expected from you, we can stat our first project.» A cauldron appeared in fron of the class. It was triple the size of a standard cauldron.

«In addition to our brewing each session you will have to deliver a personal brewing by the end of February.» he explained with his commanding voice. « This is an incomplete heritage tree potion. Each student will get a small cauldron of this potion to complete. Then we will test it outside. I will of course complete my own to be presented as an example of the potion since I'm afraid not many will manage to complete this delicate potion. You can find the instructions on the notebook in front of you where you will document the process of your portion making as well. Make sure not to omit even the most insignificant detail.»

«I usually take only the best for advanced classes.» Snape said looking at Harry and Ron with contempt. «However I am willing to make an exception for those who hand over an Acceptable project. They will be allowed to participate in our second N.E.W.T. Potions class.»

He waved his wand and the massive cauldron disappeared. «You'll find your cauldron secured in your dorm rooms. Now for today we will be brewing the Draught of Peace.»

Snape explained the usage of the potion and warned them that any clumsiness could have severe consequences. Hermione of course knew that many here would be more than heavy-handed as Snape had put it.

She was right in her a assumption. Ron's looked like a paste by the end, Goyle's was awful and Neville's looked like cement. Harry's potion was off and produced not silver but gray vapour. Snape came to him with a smirk. Hermione knew that he was about be unfair to him. He had used Evanesco on his portion. Hermione was fuming at this display of bigotry against Harry. He said nothing to Snape and that surprised her. He was clearly angry.

«Stay after the class Potter.» Snape said as he continued to instruct other students to bottle their potions.

When everyone left Harry and his two friends stayed.

«I assumed we have only one Potter in this class.» the Potions professor said. «This conversation is private. Leave.»

«Sorry mate, see you soon.» Ron said as he grabbed Hermione out with himself. Snape was intimidating at times.

Do you know why I said your potion we utterly useless.» Snape asked.

«Because you hate me, sir?» asked Harry.

«I dislike you Mr. Potter yes. Although that's true it's not the reason.» Snape said as he sat. «Take a look at these disasters. Would anyone with their right mind mistake them for the Draught of Peace?»

Harry looked at the batches. Some didn't even look like a potion.

«I wouldn't call some a potion ,sir.» Harry responded as he looked at the man suspiciously. What was he up to?

Snape smiled. This was a shock to him. «Yes, these are not potions. Yours was a potion at least and it was dangerous. If someone drank your potion they would never wake up. The purpose of adding hellebore is to prevent that.» He explained. «If you make that potion again you won't make that mistake again and that might save someone's life.»

«But it could be used for assassination, right?» Harry cringed at his stupidity for asking that. He would never stablish a good rapport with Snape.

«If your target is as stupid as Mister Goyle, then yes.» Snape smirked at Harry's shocked face.

«Make this potion again in your free time and bring me the sample. Then I will give you something other than zero.» He said and them had him to leave the classroom.

Harry had a lot to deal with. Hermione noticed that he wasn't being lucky with Cho Chang the Ravenclaw and Ronald being tactless as always didn't disappoint, so she a lot in her mind when she called Sirius on her mirror.

«Hey little bird.» Sirius was very happy to see her after a week.

«Hello Sirius. No calls from Harry yet?» She said.

«Oh that's okay. I know he's busy.» He answered casually. «So how's it going on?»

«Not bad. Well there's a thing. Do you know anything about Dolores Umbridge?» Hermione asked.

«I personally don't know her. You should ask Remus. She mede it impossible for him to find a suitable job. She's a nasty person but not a Death Eater, if that's what you're asking.» He responded. «How's the change going on?»

«Well my hair is going blonde real fast. I'm actually really happy with my skin. It's great. These days I can feel a bit of pain in my legs and ankles, my torso is starting to hurt as well. Is that normal?»

«Yeah it means that your bones are changing as well. I told you it would happen.» Sirius assured her. «Nothing dangerous will happen to your body so don't worry. Has anyone suspected anything yet?»

Hermione looked at him uncomfortably. «On the day we were in the train. Malfoy saw me» She paused a bit. «I'm pretty sure he suspects me. He called me a …» She paused again and took a deep breath as Sirius waited patiently. « …blood traitor.»

Sirius looked at her, his eyes all wide. «Oh crap.» He exclaimed. «I didn't think…»

«Yeah, I know. So much for Slytherins not asking questions.» Hermione smiled sadly.

«at least we know. It's good that we do. I'll let Snape know.» He finally said.

The conversation continued during which they talked about Harry and Ron. When she said goodbye she still had a lot on her mind.