The common room was as loud as she remembered, and though she was curled up in front of the fire with Ginny and Neville she found she longed to be back at home with a book and a cup of Dotty's delicious hot chocolate.

"So, I hear you've had a rather interesting summer, Hermione," Neville prodded.

Hermione frowned at him, not in the mood to discuss her change in status. She knew she was going to have to eventually, but found she rather wished it had not been brought up just now. "Something like that, Neville," she hedged. She hoped he took the hint.

"Ah, well. I'm just glad you seem to be doing alright. I know all the etiquette and rules can be tiresome," Neville replied kindly.

"They can be, but I've a good teacher and my Opa seldom stands on ceremony in our home if it's just he and I."

Ginny pitched in with, 'He's a good man to have in your corner it seems. I've never seen him so cross as he was when my Mum tried to sneak into the hospital ward to see you. He turned her out like a fox in a hen pen."

Hermione chuckled lightly. "I believe that. He has been lovely."

"I won't pry Hermione, but if you have something you want to ask about, I'd be happy to help. You seem to have a good handle on things, but its' sometimes nice to get another opinion," Neville offered.

"Thank you, Neville, I really appreciate that."

"Well, I'm off to bed. I suggest you two do the same thing. The first day of classes has always been a bit tiresome," Neville stated.

Hermione nodded in solidarity, rising with Neville. She held her hand out to Ginny and pulled her out of the couch with a lurch. They parted ways for the night. Hermione wasn't looking forward to hearing from Lavender or Parvati. Thankfully, both occupants were currently sleeping in their own beds. She set wards around her bed and fell promptly asleep after closing her eyes.

Hermione woke early the next morning, dreading the simpering from Lavender and the sniping comments from Parvati she was sure to get. She claimed the bathroom first, taking a quick shower and calling Dotty to fix her hair into something manageable. She dressed in her uniforms, lengthening the skirt to just below her knees. She thanked Dotty for maintaining her unruly mane of curls, before grudgingly going back into the dorm room. She had some business to attend to this morning.

Unfortunately, Parvati and Lavender were both awake and scrutinizing her every move. This, of course, irritated Hermione immensely but there was nothing to be done about it. She would simply ignore it until they said something, and she surely would not be breaking the silence first. Lavender would only be capable of staying quiet a few minutes, anyway, and Hermione could be patient if she needed to be. Also, if they never spoke another word to her, Hermione wouldn't feel put out.

"Good morning, Hermione," Lavender said, almost nicely. There was, however, an inflection on her name which was not at all kind and very suspicious.

"Lavender, Parvati, good morning." Hermione was simply polite. She had been raised to be polite, and it couldn't hurt. She could always hex them later. Hermione set about readying her bag for the day and grabbed one of her extra journals. Hermione had snagged about six of them for herself throughout her shopping trips. They would be perfect for what she had in mind.

"Your hair looks lovely. Not all like it used to. Who have you bribed to fix it?" Lavender, again. The cow.

"Oh, does it look different?" Hermione deflected. She was not about to fall to Lavender's infantile taunts.

"You know it does. How does it feel, to be an Ollivander now? Finally, rid of that "mudblood" moniker, right?" Parvati cut in, nastily. Hermione darted a glance to her from the corner of her eyes, peeved at her general usage of the slur as well as her general nosiness.

"Firstly, stuff it, Patil. We are not friends, and we never have been. I won't be starting now. Additionally, call me that again, even if only in reference to what others have said, and I'll ensure it's etched across your forehead in pustules which will never heal, and leak pus so pungent no one will want to be near you," Hermione commented with a smile. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I've actual important things to do."

Hermione turned on her heel and left, immediately. She didn't bother to hear the huffs of indignation or spluttering. She knew they would follow at her exit. Hermione had known there would be curiosity about the adoption, but truly, this was rather ridiculous. She had heard the uttered whispers last night about how she had "changed" and didn't "look like herself anymore." Obviously, none of the teenagers were thinking about the fact that her parents had died. Even though Hermione knew they were young and impetuous, she found she had to resist the urge to hex them.

Ginny and Neville had been waiting for Hermione in the common room. She set the blank journal on the table in front of the fireplace. She would need to send them off this morning for them to be useful. She cast a protean charm to link them all together, an impervious charm to keep them pristine. Hermione took her time casting another charm meant to obscure anything in the books. This was of Hermione's own making, as she had quickly tired of others stealing her work and using it to their own ends. The final spell she cast was to ensure that only the intended individuals would be able to open the journals, tying the items to their respective magical signatures. She wrote a brief description in the front of the journal to instruct the others on how to use it and created three copies for her snake friends.

Ginny and Neville had been quietly watching her work, knowing better than to interrupt her before she was done. "What are those for, Hermione?" asked Ginny.

"Just a little something I've been working on. I want to get them tested to see if they work like I thought. I'll meet you guys in the Great Hall. I want to send these off, first," Hermione hedged.

"Who are you sending them to?" Neville queried suspiciously.

"A few friends," Hermione replied, looking up at him with a smile.

Neville just hummed a response, and Hermione let it go at that. If Ginny and Neville saw them delivered to Draco, Theo, or Blaise they would figure it out anyway. Hermione didn't feel it was their business, but she knew it would be difficult to garner kindness for the snakes. House prejudice was firmly ingrained in Hogwarts, especially between Gryffindor and Slytherin.

"Alright, we'll see you at breakfast. Don't be late though, or you'll have to hunt McGonagall down to find your schedule," Ginny said pointedly.

Ginny was aware of Hermione's rescue during the World Cup and likely knew what Hermione was up to. Hermione had told Ginny in confidence about her sneaky friends, and how different they seemed when they weren't at Hogwarts. Ginny only warned her to be cautious, knowing Hermione was bound to do as she pleased.

Hermione nodded and hurried out of the common room and up to the owlery. She was certain they would receive the items this morning if she was fast enough. She sent the items with three different owls and hurried quickly down to breakfast. She was eager to see her class schedule for the term. She was taking several classes this year, all of them, excepting Divination and Muggle studies.

Hermione found her seat amongst Ginny and Neville. Harry sat across from Ginny next to Neville, and Hermione plopped down next to Ginny. She was still rather cross with Ron and his comments from the World Cup, so she was pleased to discover he was either not yet at breakfast or had sat at the other end of the table.

Hermione ignored the looks from other students and went about making her breakfast as he liked it. She had some fruit, porridge, toast, and of course, tea. Hermione sipped her tea, reveling in the taste. She couldn't help but compare it to Dotty's and found it lacking. She so missed Dotty's tea and quiet support. Hermione had grown used to being alone before she had moved in with her Grandfather, but also found she missed his jokes and quiet support as well. Her parents had supported her as well as they could, but they had not understood magic in the way her Grandfather had. Or at least, she didn't think they had. Hermione didn't know anymore.

Hogwarts had become a pit of glaring, whispering, judging faces. Harry, Ginny, Neville, and Luna had been treating her much the same, though the rest of her housemates had become distant. Hermione was used to being on her own but being ostracized by her own house was disconcerting. She had a feeling there was a certain redhead behind it, but she wasn't sure about that and had to let it stand for now.

"Hermione, did you threaten Parvati this morning?" asked Harry between bites.

"Not so much, more like promised," Hermione replied airily. Ginny snorted next to her, and Neville fought to keep from choking on his pumpkin juice. "Whatever for?"

"She was being rude and referred to me as a mudblood. I took offense," Hermione shrugged.

Ginny gaped at her, and her face suddenly turned hard. "Tell me she didn't."

"She did. I, on some level, understand that what has happened in my life is cause for curiosity and gossip. I am not, however, going to entertain it. I lost my parents. None of this has been easy or simple. It's not my fault I was discovered I'd actually been a Half-Blood the whole time. It's not my fault Rita Skeeter is a horrendous vacuous cow. They can either reign in their discontent or have it reflected at them. This goes for Ronald, too. Do not think I've missed his glares and comments. I give no quarter to these people. They are no longer children; I suggest they attempt to grow up and act like it. I would appreciate them acting as if they had at least a modicum of empathy, but if they cannot, I will treat them in kind."

Neville stared at her across the table and gave her one slow nod. She supposed out of everyone, Neville and Harry would understand best. They didn't have their parents either and were often subject to gossip or ridicule. Hermione was essentially declaring her firm intent not to put up with it.

"I've tried talking to Ron. He's just…it's like talking to an empty suit of armor. He can't see past your willingness to talk to Malfoy and the rest. Like it's offensive to him. He's been grumbling ever since you found a way out of the Burrow," Harry supplied. "I get that he hates Malfoy, but he was polite enough at the game. It's gotten annoying to be around him. He's all too quick to forget the way his Mum acted towards you at the Burrow, too."

"Yes, well, I've no intention to forgive that," Hermione bristled. "You shouldn't lose a friend over this, though."

"It's fine, Hermione. You're my friend, too, and he's wrong this time. I didn't like how Mrs. Weasely was acting toward you, and I don't like how she behaves towards Sirius or Remus, either."

Hermione looked over to see Ginny looking away from the both of them, aware they were discussing her family members. "Sorry, Gin. I'm just…miffed."

Ginny shook her head. "No, don't be. Mum is…well, she's Mum. She's always been overbearing so I've never known anything else. I can't fault either of you for being irritated by her actions. She's fierce in her love for her family, but she can also be equally suffocating. She's not been fair, and she's even been mean. I think Mum hoped to steal Hermione for Ron, but honestly, she's daft to have ever believed that would have ever worked."

Hermione loudly scoffed, "Please! We would have killed one another!"

Harry nodded. He knew all too well Ron and Hermione were not a good match, even though Ron carried a torch for her. He was immensely pleased that Sirius had promised to never try to arrange a marriage for him, believing that love matches to be far more fortuitous. He absently wondered if that would be the fate of his best friend, his pseudo-sister.

"You would have," commented Neville. He looked at Ginny then, "I didn't think your family still held the arranged marriages?"

"Not usually. Mum is convinced though that Hermione should be for Ron," Ginny grimaced. She shot an apologetic look at Hermione, who was a light shade of green.

"I've never been happier to know my Grandfather on board, allowing me to make my own choices. He's in agreement to not accept any betrothal contracts without my express permission," she replied, dismayed.

Hermione had put the question to her Opa plainly one morning at tea following a horrifying and instructional lesson with Dotty. Her Grandfather had seemed surprised and laughed so loudly it shocked Hermione in turn. He had told her, "Dear girl, no. We have not bothered with such things in many, many years." Hermione had let out a sigh of relief and they'd gone back to discussing wandlore.

"I'm happy too, Hermione. Mum can be persistent," Ginny replied.

Just then, Hermione looked up to see Ron watching them from down the table next to Dean and Seamus. She nodded politely at them and went about her breakfast, letting the conversation lull.

The owls came and dropped off the morning post and Hermione very carefully did not look at the Slytherin table. She decided then that mealtimes were likely going to be her least favorite, going forward. Whenever she looked up she could just catch the turning away of heads. She sighed, annoyed at the turn of events. Rita Skeeter and her meddlesome quill were going to have to be dealt with sooner rather than later.

Ignoring the people around her as best as she could, Hermione waited for her class schedule. Professor McGonagall seemed nearly done with breakfast, so she should be on her way to hand them out soon. Hermione caught a waving hand out of the corner of her eye to find Ginny gesticulating wildly, having been sucked into a Quidditch conversation with Harry and Neville. This suited Hermione just fine, as it left her free to observe others in the Hall. She looked up at the Heads' table again to see her head of house making her way towards their tables. Hermione squirmed in her seat, excited about getting her schedule and heading off to class for the day.

"Rather ambitious, Miss Granger-Ollivander," Professor McGonagall remarked. Hermione smiled at her, pleased to know where to head for her first class of the day…until she looked at her schedule and found double potions scheduled with the Slytherin house. Resolved to have a horrid Monday morning, Hermione bid her goodbyes and made her way down to the dungeons.

"I'd best get a head start, Harry. It wouldn't do to be cursed on the first day. I'm under no illusions that Slytherin house bears me ill-will. Don't worry, I'll check your seat for you, too," she smiled.

Harry scoffed and nodded his understanding. "I'll be down in just a few minutes, Hermione. I'll sit with you and try to keep Ron away from you in classes."

Hermione thanked him and wandered down to the classroom to check her normal desk for curses or hexes lying in wait. Surprised, but pleased, to find there weren't any, Hermione began to set her items out for class. She never knew what Professor Snape had planned, so she found it best to come prepared for anything. Sometimes the lessons were practical, and other times he would lecture throughout the entire time period.

Not ten minutes after Hermione had settled into her favorite seat, did she hear the tell-tale sound of feet headed her direction. Soon the classroom was filling up with students. Harry had found and sat next to her quickly, so Ron couldn't torment her throughout class. Draco Malfoy and Blaise Zabini were next to them at the left-handed table, Theodore Nott and Daphne Greengrass on the right-hand side, Gregory Goyle and Pansy Parkinson sat in front of them, while Neville and Lavender were directly behind them. Thankfully Ron was sitting at the furthest table in the back of the class with Seamus. While Hermione didn't like that she couldn't keep an eye on him, she knew Neville would watch her back. Thankfully, Patil did not take Potions.

The Slytherin house students were the last in the door, and they filtered in slowly. Hermione had to fight not to make eye contact or smile at Blaise, Draco, or Theo. She was not particularly clear on if they were willing to speak to her in front of their other classmates, so she would not initiate conversation. She could leave that up to them. After all, it was their house, and Hermione had enough work to do when it came to fixing her own house. She didn't expect anything to change overnight.

Draco and Blaise had their potions items out and each of them was studying the journal she had sent them. Draco was the first to test it out, of course. Hermione smirked to herself, pleased when she felt her journal heating up ever so slightly to indicate she'd gotten a message.

'Draco – How did you come up with this, Hermione?'

'Blaise- I didn't.'

'Theo – Obviously we all know it was Hermione.'

'Hermione – 'Just something I've been working on in my spare time. I thought it may become useful for us to talk to one another without being seen. How do you like it?'

'Blaise – I think it's brilliant.'

'Theo – I've worked out some of the enchantments on this. I can tell you, it is brilliant.'

'Draco – I like it. It keeps us all safe and looks innocuous in class.'

'Hermione – That's one of the reasons I did it. Plus, no one else can read it.'

Before Hermione could read any responses, she heard the derisive voice of Pansy Parkinson. "You'll always be a mudblood, you know. Even if your last name is Ollivander now, it will never change the mud in your veins."

Hermione, rather than responding immediately, wandlessly summoned a parchment from her book bag without breaking eye contact with Parkinson. She unrolled it, rather pointedly, directly in front of Pansy's face. The witch had attempted to recoil, but the parchment followed her until she stopped. Hermione waited a few minutes for the prejudiced witch to read what was spelled out plain as day in front of her face.

"Now you know Parkinson. I'm a Half-Blood by birth, and a Pureblood by adoption. Next time you slander me, remember this moment and how you escaped unharmed. This is your one. Next time it will be a duel, as is my right under the law," Hermione seethed, rolling the parchment up and stowing it back in her bag.

Pansy went pale and slunk back to her seat, a little unsteady on her feet. She didn't say another word. The whole class was studying her, though she noticed a grudging sense of approval from a lot of the Slytherins. I suppose that's a step in the correct direction.

No one was able to comment, however, because Professor Snape swept to the front of the classroom, demanding immediate attention. Hermione idly wondered if this was what being Harry felt like. All the surreptitious glances and whispered comments. She would have despised it, and she couldn't blame Harry for hating it either.

"Today, you will be trying your hand at brewing a Potion of Mimicry. It is not something I've ever allowed students to attempt to brew in class before, for obvious reasons. Can anyone tell me what the potion does?"

Hermione did not raise her hand much to everyone's surprise. Instead, she was looking in her book, presumably at the recipe, and ignoring everyone else.

Hermione glanced up at the open journal on her desk, before writing a quick, "Meet me tonight after dinner on the 7th floor, near the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy at eight." She then shut her notebook and stowed it away in her bag. She then looked back to her books to study the list of ingredients.

With a put upon sigh, Snape called on students in the classroom. "Longbottom, can you explain what the potion does?"

"Professor, I believe it allows the drinker of the potion to copy another person's voice for a finite amount of time."

"Partially correct. Take two points for Gryffindor. Can anyone tell me why this potion is considered difficult to brew?" Again, no one raised their hands. Harry elbowed Hermione gently in the ribs. She shot him a smirk and ignored him.

"Very well. Granger-Ollivander?"

"Sir?"

"Can you succinctly explain why this potion is difficult to brew?"

"Yes, Sir. The Potion of Mimicry must be brewed with the person you intend to impersonate in mind throughout the process, otherwise you will sound like yourself, rendering the potion useless," Hermione replied without looking up from her text.

"Five points to Gryffindor. That is correct," Snape replied. He smirked when he heard the collective intake of breath from the students. Snape didn't usually give points. He definitely did not give points to Gryffindor, and never twice in one class period. Hermione ignored it, surmising it would be best not to antagonize her Professor.

"I see your resident swot has decided to make you all study for yourselves this year. Unfortunately, for you. The instructions are on the board. Get to work," and Snape went to sit behind his desk to watch the mayhem unfold.

"I'll get the ingredients, Harry. Set up the cauldron, alright?" Harry just nodded, familiar with this set up from previous years. Hermione would have the instructions nearly memorized by the time they were cleared to start working on the potion. She usually did.

Hermione went to the front of the classroom to begin rifling through the ingredient stores. She would need dandelion root, dragon claw, fairy wing, flobberworm mucus, mint, fluxweed, knotgrass, honeywater, frog tongue, a lizard leg, and a loveage. She might also grab some octopus powder, just in case it was needed.

Being one of the first to go for the ingredients she got to pick the best of everything. She was going to substitute some items, though. These would work better together than the others. When she turned around she found herself face to face with Draco Malfoy. He gave her a small smile and curt nod of the head and moved to let her pass. Of course, Professor Snape did not miss this interaction. The man seldom missed anything.

Hermione could feel the eyes of her dour potions master track her progress back to the table she shared with Potter. Thankfully, Harry had learned not to light the fire until she instructed him to do so. He'd done that once last year and nearly had gotten himself blasted to smithereens.

Gingerly sitting down the ingredients on the table, Hermione eyes the instructions upon the board. Harry watched her purse her lips and shake her head. No, that would not do. The instructions said to add the fair wing before the knotgrass, but she knew it would be less potent that way. It also said to mince the lizard leg first, but Hermione believed it would fare better whole and to be put in at the beginning of brewing.

"We will not be following those," Hermione grumbled at Harry. Harry shrugged as if to say, as you will, and waited for her to tell him what to do. Hermione smiled back at him, pleased at his ease in breaking the rules and his willingness to follow her.

"Turn the flame on, very low, and add 30 milliliters of honeywater," she instructed easily. Harry was always good at following the directions and wasn't being distracted by Ron. He did as she asked, while she inspected the lizard leg. When she noticed the honeywater had begun to simmer, she dropped in the lizard leg. "Don't let it boil, and stir counterclockwise three times before adding the knotgrass in five minutes."

Hermione prepared the knotgrass, inspecting the blades carefully before mincing them. The class passed on this way. Hermione would painstakingly inspect and prepare the ingredients, while Harry followed her instructions to the letter. Neither of them had noticed their Professor scrutinizing their actions, or the precise way in which Hermione was treating the ingredients.

All Hermione had done, for nearly three months, was study magic and ingredients. She could see what ingredients gave off the most latent magical power, and which did not fit well in this potion. Her magic intuitively reached out to the ingredients now, as if she were working on wand creation. She had noticed her magic would sometimes make a leap in thought that would have taken her days before, and a month last year. Her magic was growing, and it grew because she fed her knowledge with the basic building blocks of magic. She realized, as they were bottling their potion for inspection, that he had been lacking a lot of basic knowledge about magic and wondered if it was like this for everyone who was a Muggle-Born. She also realized creating a wand from ingredients was not all that different from creating a potion, one was simply liquid.

She raised her hand for Professor Snape to come and inspect their work. He quirked an eyebrow and stalked over, robes billowing behind him and grim features. "This should have taken you the entire class period. Let's see how bungled up it is."

Hermione merely stood impassive while Harry glared at their professor. Harry was never going to get along with Severus Snape. "The color and scent seem to be correct, and the magical signature seems spot on. Why don't you try it and see if you've managed to correctly brew it?" Snape challenged.

The curly-haired witch rolled her eyes, and down a portion of the potion quickly. She was pleased it tasted more like mint, and less like Polyjuice. "Satisfied? I'm not one of the dunderheads you're always cursing, Professor Snape." At this Snape raised an eyebrow. Two in five minutes. Hermione must be shocking him. Hermione mimicked his raised eyebrow and continued, "Turn to page three hundred and ninety-four. Potter, Weasley, detention with me Friday!" She copied him expertly and started to laugh at her own antics.

Snape narrowed his eyes at the witch, nodded, and walked away without another word to prowl the classroom circuit. Meanwhile, Hermione was shocked she hadn't received detention for that. If she was meant to guess, the sound of himself laughing had put him off any further conversation.

"Blimey Hermione, I'm not sure I like Snape's voice coming out of your mouth," Harry teased with a smile.

"It only lasts for a while. I didn't even take a full dose so it will be less than an hour," Hermione replied with a shrug.

"How did you get the potion to do that? I wasn't focusing on a person at all," Harry asked.

Hermione raised an eyebrow at him before she answered. "I prepared all the ingredients. I knew you would be too focused on doing exactly what was needed, the stirring and the counting, so I focused for us both."

"I didn't even know you could do it that way," mumbled Draco, sat on her left side.

Hermione nodded, "You can but it doesn't work if both people are focusing on a person for the potion to mimic. The person brewing almost needs a singular focus on the potion brewing. Then the preparer can focus on the person they want to mimic as they're working. It's easier to be absorbed in counting sires and timing ingredient drops, so it worked. But, if I were to work with someone like Snape, or even Malfoy, we would have had to agree on the same person beforehand or you get conflicting results. Or It could result in a null potion altogether. Harry here, well he's very good at focusing on one thing at a time," she explained in her Snape voice.

"Should I be offended?" Harry asked.

Hermione laughed again, "No, we couldn't have done it this way otherwise."

"Huh. I guess that makes sense. You're right I'm usually too focused on the one thing to have been doing both and done it properly," Harry agreed.

"Miss Granger-Ollivander, Mr. Malfoy, Mr. Zabini, Mr. Nott, you four stay after class. The rest of you should clean up and bottle a sample. I want an eight-inch essay to be turned in the next class period about the uses of the Potion of Mimicry. You're free to go," Snape announced cooly.

Harry shot Hermione with a sympathetic look as he parked his items and left her alone in the snake den. Hermione shrugged at him, nearly positive it had nothing to do with the days' assignment, and shooed him out the door with her hands.

Once the classroom had emptied, Snape beckoned them forward to the desk at the front of the classroom. "You four are up to something, and you'll be telling me what that is, now," the Professor said sternly.

"I'm not sure what you could be referring to, Professor Snape. It's the first day of classes," remarked Blaise.

"Hermione fought to keep the smile off her face, knowing good and well that the first day of classes didn't necessarily preclude Hermione from being up to something. Snape narrowed his eyes at the students.

"Truly Professor, we just want a good potions grade," cut in Theo.

"Honestly, we haven't done anything aside from coming to class and go to breakfast, sir," Hermione said.

Draco flinched, "While it hurts to agree with Ollivander and her very disconcerting voice, we haven't done anything."

Snape's eyes narrowed into tiny slits. He wasn't buying any of what they were selling, but he couldn't very well administer Veritaserum to four underage students simply because he was suspicious of them. He was also suspicious of the fact that not once had he seen a fight between Potter and Malfoy, and they were always spitting at each other if they were close enough. No, something was awry here. Snape was aware that Hermione had been adopted, but it couldn't be that simple, could it?

"Fine, you may go, except for Miss Granger-Ollivander," Snape dismissed. "Honestly you should shorten your name. It's too much even for a swot."

"Was that a joke, sir? I only ask because Mr. Malfoy here has told me the same thing. Miss Ollivander will suffice. Have I done something wrong?"

Snape studied her and thought sincerely about taking points for rolling her eyes earlier in class. He had found her changed demeanor so much more likable, however, he refrained from doing so lest he invite the overeager swot back out of spite. "Not necessarily. I was curious as to how you had found that those ingredients would also work for this potion since most of the ones you used were not in the recipe on the board."

"Oh! Is that all? Er – well, sir, this is hard to explain out loud. You are aware of who my Grandfather is, yes?" When Snape affirmed, Hermione continued on, "I've spent the better part of the past three months doing nothing but studying magic and the creation of wands. Wands, like potions, have some ingredients which will work better than others. I've sort of developed an ability to…for the lack of a better description, "see" which ingredients would work best together. As long as you know their basic attributes you can make just about anything. It isn't exactly intuitive, but it's like I'm letting my magic lead."

Professor Snape steepled his fingers and placed them against his mouth, elbows resting on his desk, as he thought. That would explain it, after all. She had always been a dab hand at potions but she had lacked any intuition. Was it something as simple as her not knowing that some ingredients would not work well together? Most children brought up in a magical home would have been surrounded by this knowledge. They would have been able to ask their parents or other relatives about the "why" of things and had a magical explanation. Hermione had never lacked intelligence, but perhaps she had been missing some basic stepping stones that magical children simply took for granted.

"So you're saying that before this summer, you lacked the knowledge of ingredients at their most basic and could not determine which ones would work well together without express instruction?"

"Yes, that about sums it up. It's not something I knew to look for instruction in. It's not something that's taught in classes. Muggle-born students are at a severe disadvantage in ways like that. I wasn't raised with this knowledge; I wasn't raised to understand some plants like each other better than others. In hindsight, it makes a lot of sense, but if you're never told how are you to know? Coming into the Wizarding world is already extremely difficult, you don't know anyone and you don't know what to expect, and no one bothers to teach the most basic of things. Etiquette, for example? Or how certain herbs are happiest and more potent when paired with other specific herbs? I'm starting to get what Luna is always on about now. I think she can always see auras of power so she can follow her intuition to see solutions or problems the rest of us don't. I'm only able to do it with ingredients, or when I'm trying to make a wand for the most part. Though I have managed to pair witches and wizards with their wands, and I can sometimes get a better understanding of a spell after concentrating and trying it a few times now…" Hermione trailed off, finally realizing she had been rambling to her dour and snarking Potions Professor. Who amazingly had not interrupted? He hadn't even sneered. Hermione smiled sheepishly at him, knowing it annoyed him how much she talked most of the time.

Snape seemed surprised at her last statement. "You mean to tell me you've already been able to pair students with their wands?"

"Oh! Yes, sir. I matched Draco Malfoy with the wand he is using now. I've not yet heard any complaints, so I suppose I did alright. He wouldn't have hesitated over my feelings," Hermione chuckled.

"Miss Ollivander, it took Garrick, your Grandfather, years of study before he matched another person to their wand. Within months, you've managed to progress to that point. It would explain it, very well. It would make sense to me that you've been missing some of the most basic things. I will allow you to substitute ingredients and tweak some recipes for your potions. However, you must brew one to my instructions on the board, and another of your own making. I will grade both for you, and if you manage to improve upon the original, I will give you extra credit. If anything, and I mean anything, seems awry with your potion you are to bring it to my attention immediately. I don't think I need to tell you how dangerous unstable potions can be?"

"I.. No, sir. I understand, and thank you, sir," Hermione was definitely taken aback by the knowledge that her Grandfather had taken years before he could match a wizard to their wand. The fact that Snape would allow her to experiment, that was another beast, entirely. Hell may have frozen over. He told her he would give her extra credit! Snape! He did not give out extra credit, ever.

Professor Snape nodded, scrawled her a pass on a spare bit of parchment, and sent her on her way to her next class. Hermione had arrived late to Herbology, but Professor Sprout didn't bother once she'd seen the pass to dock points. Hermione sat next to Harry and Neville, absently repotting the baby tentanculas as requested. They weren't venomous yet, perfect for repotting.

Hermione managed to pull herself out of her reverie long enough to be social at lunch. She had the rest of the day free, so she went off to the library to get started on her homework for the first few weeks of classes. Most other students would be taking part in Quidditch tryouts now, or other electives. Hermione, thankfully, had free periods on days where she had double classes. She knew she would need it throughout the year.

Hermione felt her journal heat up next to her arm, so she pulled it across her parchment to see what was going on now.

'Theo – Are you in the library?'

'Hermione to Theo – Yes, aren't I always?'

'Theo-Care to study together before dinner?'

'Hermione to Theo – Sure, I'm working on my potions assignment now.'

'Theo- On our way.'

'Hermione – Wait, all three of you?'

'Draco – Obviously, witch.'

Hermione rolled her eyes and made some space for her Slytherin cohorts, who were apparently all on their way down to the library. Hermione wasn't sure it was wise, but it wouldn't hurt to further their friendships in the eyes of other people. Apparently, sticking it to Parkinson had been the right move. She had undoubtedly confirmed that Hermione had always been a Half-Blood, therefore causing the whole house to reevaluate her. It wasn't exactly what Hermione had in mind, she was mostly concerned with shutting Parkinson up forever, but it wouldn't hurt her plans to unite Hogwarts either. Blood supremacy was so stupid. Unfortunately, Hermione was all too aware of the fact that prejudice lived everywhere one might go.

Hermione wondered what the hell Dumbledore had been hoping to improve with allowing these house rivalries to continue, and to become so ingrained in the lives of their students that most would never even befriend another person from another house. It didn't foster inclusion. How was that for the "greater good" of the wizarding world? Why wasn't there an appropriate Muggle Studies course? Hermione had seen the current syllabus and it was all about the Salem Witch Trials, which was ridiculous. That was not what was happening out there right now. And why didn't Muggle-Born students have a class to help them ease into the Wizarding world a little bit easier? It was hard enough, but not knowing the social mores and taboos of the new world immediately started them off on the wrong foot. How was that a benefit to anyone other than Albus fucking Dumbledore?

"Why do you look so cross?"

Hermione looked to see Draco studying her from across the table. She must have been thoroughly lost in thought not to hear him or Blaise or Theo approach. She smiled, "Just pondering the wrongs of the world, and how to fix them."

"Ah, I see. Ever the Gryff, yeah?" Blaise smirked at her.

"Shut it, Zabini. I'm allowed to ponder hypotheticals in my spare time. I was waiting on all of you to show up, anyway," Hermione said blithely.

"Of course, Hermione. I'll just stow away all my opinions which might upset your Slytherin sensibilities," Blaise scoffed at her.

Theo just shook his head and took the seat across from her. Blaise sat next to him, and Draco plopped down next to her. "What did Snape want after we left class?"

"Oh, not much Draco. He was wondering how I had figured out how to use different ingredients, is all." Hermione shrugged at him, "He's going to let me experiment with them in class."

"That's…impressive. He doesn't do that for just anyone," Theo commented.

"I know, so if we're speaking in public, I'm going to be keeping one of you three as my partners from now on. I love Harry, but he's just not going to be able to handle my split attention," Hermione laughed.

"Fine, fine. Smooth moves with Parkinson, by the way. She's been blabbing to everyone who will listen," Draco smirked.

"Well, it wasn't really my intention but at least I don't have to tell anyone myself," Hermione huffed.

"That is true. Plus Patil has been blabbing, too. I don't think you'll have to do much other than answer the inevitable questions that come your way," Draco replied.

"You're probably right about that, but I'm already prepared for it. A demonstration is worth a thousand words," Hermione grinned. Seeing the blank looks of her tablemates, she pulled a spelled parchment out of her bag and duplicated it for each of them.

"Go ahead, test your own blood and see what happens," Hermione said.

"You cloned the Ministry test parchment?" asked Theo, in awe.

Hermione nodded, "I had a little bit of help."

Draco was the first to try it, pricking his finger with a muttered diffindo and smearing some blood on the parchment. After he had healed his finger his entire family line was clear and delineated. "Interesting. I didn't know we had Prewett blood…"

Hermione shrugged, "If anyone doubts me they can test their own blood and watch me test mine. I just feel like this will be faster."

"It's also got the added benefit of shutting people up who would malign your blood status, if they find out theirs isn't oh so pure, too," Blaise commented wryly.

"Got it in one," Hermione grinned at him.

They all laughed, and Blaise and Theo tested their blood as well. Turns out, they had family they weren't even aware of in their family trees. That boded well for Hermione, and the point she was trying to make. Blood was blood. Magic was magic. What was really lacking was a modicum of understanding between Pureblooded wizards and those who were born in the Muggle world, and that, Hermione could fix with time.

Hermione cast a silent muffliato around their table, "So, you guys are fine then? No one found out about the rescue?"

Draco's face went blank, which Hermione took as a bad sign. "We're all fine, Hermione. We weren't found out, as you put it, but we were definitely under suspicion," Theo said.

"Well, that's one of the reasons I want you guys to meet me tonight. Is eight okay? I think we can help each other in that regard."

"Sure, yeah. We can cast disillusionment charms," Draco said.

"Okay, then we'll meet tonight. Otherwise, let's get this assignment over with. I've got Advanced Charms tomorrow and I don't want to be thinking about this in class," Hermione replied, canceling the silenced bubble with a wave of her hand.

"How did you get so good at wandless magic?" Blaise asked with a quirked eyebrow.

Hermione laughed, "I didn't even notice. I worked a lot this summer. You can't use a wand when you're making a wand. It interferes with the magic. That's all I can tell you though," Hermione hedged.

"Of course, keep your secrets," Theo prodded.

"Get to work. We have dinner in an hour and I don't want to deal with the stares any longer than I have to," Hermione sulked.

"It'll work itself out, Hermione," Blaise consoled.

Hermione just smiled at him, hoping he was correct. She cracked her book open and took her own advice. She had already read through this years' assigned texts, so she knew which book to reference. She wasn't shocked to see the three boys at her table pull out the same book. It was nice to study with people who appreciated the knowledge, for a change. The four students were so absorbed in their work, they hadn't seen the telltale red hair of a Weasley slink back behind a bookcase, turn on his heel, and exit the library in a dither.