Hermione decide to head straight to the potions classroom. She didn't mind coming early; perhaps Severus would give her some extra work before the rest of the students arrived.

Unfortunately, some of the Slytherins arrive before the dour potions master. Hermione decided it would be best to ignore them and, since Draco wasn't with them; perhaps they would leave her alone.

Thankfully they did, and the only thing that happened was Snape taking twenty points away from Gryffindor for Neville messing up his potion, again.

Hermione sighed. Intellectually she understood that Severus had to be hateful to the Gryffindors and let the Slytherins get away with murder but…

"I would not let them get away with murder, my Little Scholar." Severus smiled. "Just let them think I had."

Hermione had to hide her giggles with a coughing fit.

"Miss Granger, do not tell me you are going to die in my class?" Professor Snape drawled from behind her.

Hermione shook her head. "No sir. I do think you have to watch out for Harry dying in your class though; Professor Trelawney said he was going to die."

The class collectively held its breath, waiting to see what the potions professor would do.

"Is that so?" Snape raised his eyebrows. "I do not put much faith in prophecy spouted from a witch drunk on sherry."

Hermione snorted.

"Something funny, Miss Granger?"

"Sorry, professor, but it seems like Ron lost a bet to me." Hermione lied.

Severus had to hide a smile. "Is that so?"

"Yes, sir." Hermione steepled her fingers under her chin and rested her elbows on the potions' bench. "You see, he bet me that you and Professor McGonagall had nothing in common; I bet that you two did."

"Ah, yes. Our intense dislike of Sibyll." Severus nodded. "I imagine the Deputy Headmistress was diplomatic about her dislike though?"

"But of course." Hermione smirked.

"Humph, twenty points from Gryffindor for talking about non-potions related matters." Snape snapped.

Hermione rolled her eyes.

"And five points for rolling your eyes!"

As they exited the potions' classroom, Ron started complaining. "Can you believe that git?!"

"Next time, why don't you say that louder?" Hermione hissed. "That way Professor Snape can hear you!"

Ron turned purple; but before he could say anything, Hermione hurried past him and toward the DADA class room.

The two boys arrived at the classroom out of breath and panting.

"Hermione, do you have to run so fast?" Ron asked.

The young Gryffindor rolled her eyes and ignored the ginger.

"Are you ignoring me now?!" Ron reached out to grab Hermione's shoulder.

"Good afternoon class." Remus Lupin smiled as he exited his office. "I am Professor R. J. Lupin, your new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. And today we are going to be learning about boggarts. Can anyone tell me what a Boggart looks like?"

Hermione's hand shot up into the air.

"Ah, Miss Granger?" Lupin smiled at the girl.

Hermione grinned. "No one knows sir."

"And why is that." Lupin paced in front of the class.

"Because it takes on the shape of whatever the person fears the most." Hermione blanched, she really didn't want her peers seeing what she feared.

"Correct! Ten points to Gryffindor!" Lupin beamed, he liked giving out house points so he gave them out like candy. "Know who knows the spell to combat a Boggart?"

Once again Hermione raised her hand.

"Miss Granger."

"The spell is 'Riddikulus', but what really disarms a Boggart is laughter." Hermione grinned, she was always happy when she did the reading and knew what was going to happen in class.

"Very good, Miss Granger, ten more points! Now everyone from a line, we are going to face off against the Boggart." Lupin grinned, while some of the classes had given him a hard time, he really like teaching.

Hermione found the different students fears interesting. She felt bad for Neville, his greatest fear was Snape. Hermione laughed at Ron's fear, the Twins had really done a number on him when they transfigured his teddy bear into a spider.

"Hermione, you're up!" Lupin grinned.

The young Gryffindor took a deep breath, she could do this. She slowly approached the Boggart. She watched as it turned into her màthair. Hermione frowned; she was in no way afraid of Minerva.

Then the Boggart started to speak. "You have failed all your OWLs! Your…"

"Riddikulus!" Hermione shouted, there was no way she could let the Boggart continue speaking, she had a sinking feeling she knew what it was going to say. The Boggart turned into a grey tabby cat. The young witch let out a deep breath.

Lupin frowned; most students had an inclining of what their fear would be. Hermione seemed confused when Minerva had appeared. "Harry, you're next!'

Hermione quickly went to the side of the room and watched Harry approach the small cat. It stayed still for a few moments and Hermione watched it turned into a Dementor. She scrambled backwards as Lupin threw himself in front of Harry. Hermione frowned; Remus' Boggart was a full moon.

"Alright, that's enough for today." Remus smiled at his students. "Class dismissed, except for Miss Granger. May I talk for you for a minute?"

"Of course professor." Hermione turned to her boys. "I'll catch up to you guys later."

Lupin cast a silencing charm and leaned up against his desk. "Why were you so surprised when the Boggart turned into Minerva?"

"I'm not afraid of her." Hermione shrugged, "I have a feeling I know what the boggart was going to say."

"Do you want to go at it again and see if your hypothesis is correct?" Remus asked.

"If that is not too much trouble?" Hermione looked up at the new professor hopefully.

"Stand in front of the wardrobe." Lupin flicked his wand and the Boggart stepped out.

Hermione took a deep breath, Minerva stood in front of her and she looked disappointed.

"You have failed all your OWLs!" The Boggart/Minerva shrieked. "Your father and I are so disappointed in you!"

Hermione's breath came in rapid gasps. Lupin noticed and sent a quick Patronus to the Head of Gryffindor.

Boggart/Minerva got right in Hermione's face. "You are a failure! Why did I ever take you away from the Granges? At least there you weren't a disappointment! I should send you back! That way I never have to see your face again!"

Hermione collapsed to the floor sobbing.

Lupin quickly banished the Boggart. "Hermione."

"No!" The young witch shrieked. "Don't touch me!"

Remus could only watch as Hermione curled up into a ball and rocked herself.

As Minerva came rushing into the classroom in her animagus form ten minutes after Lupin had sent his Patronus, the new professor spread his hands. "I don't really know what happened. I asked her to stay after. I wanted to ask her about her Boggart…."

Minerva gasped. "What did she see?"

"You and you said some awful things." Remus frowned. "They were very confusing."

"Will you give us a minute?" Minerva laid a hand on his shoulder.

Remus nodded and quickly climbed the stairs to his office.

Minerva approached Hermione like one would a frightened animal. "Hermione, it's okay."

Hermione lifted her tear streaked face. "It s-s-seemed s-s-so r-real."

"Come here kitten." Minerva held her arms out. Hermione crawled into her lap and snuggled close. Minerva gently ran her fingers through the young witch's hair. "What did you see?"

Hermione hiccupped. "Y-you an-an-and you s-s-said th-that it w-w-w-w-w-w…."

"Shh, shh, Hermione, breath." Minerva cooed as she continued combing her fingers through Hermione's hair. "It was a Boggart, whatever it said, I would never.

This seemed to calm the younger witch, who took a deep breath. "It said that I had failed all my OWLs and that you were disappointed in me and that you wished I had stayed with the Grangers. And that you wanted to send me back."

"I can assure you, I am so glad that you are my daughter." Minerva reassured Hermione, even as her own heart was breaking. "And even if you failed your OWLs, which you won't, I will still love you."

"You wouldn't be disappointed?" Hermione asked in a small voice.

Minerva kissed her forehead. "No, I don't think you could ever disappoint me."

Hermione gave her màthair a small watery smile.

Minerva continued rocking and playing with Hermione's hair until the younger witch fell asleep. Minerva quickly apparated into the Gryffindor Third Year Girl's dormitory. Tucking in the sleeping witch, Minerva whispered, "My amazing daughter, I will always love you. No matter what." With one final kiss to Hermione's forehead, Minerva disappeared in a plume of white.

A/N: There is an Easter Egg!