The Changing Destiny sequel, titled Discovering Death, has been posted. Thanks for reading!

October 4, 1991

When Sunday rolled around, Hermione set out to put her plan in motion. Her first stop was to Jade and Rhea, to convince them to lead her new idea.

"You want me to do what?" Jade stared at her incredulously.

"Run the new Potions Club I'm forming," Hermione explained patiently.

"And what exactly do I get out of wasting my precious time to yell at bratty kids?" Jade asked, an eyebrow raised.

"Well, when the Professors see the improved marks of the first years, as well as your time dedicated to teaching them, you'll be a shoo in for Head Girl," Hermione said triumphantly.

"I'm in," Rhea said suddenly. "I could use the extra points, I'm pretty sure McGonagall hates me."

The two older girls shared a smirk, before they turned back to Hermione. "Alright. Convince Snape and you have me as a teacher," Jade declared. "And anyone there better be prepared to learn."

"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Hermione beamed. Out of instinct, she lunged forwards and wrapped her arms around Jade in a hug.

Shocked, it took Jade a minute to shake her off. "We do not hug," she said in a disgusted voice. "Hugging is for Weasleys. Compose yourself, Hermione."

Hermione straightened up and cleared her throat, sure that a blush was staining her cheeks. "Right. Of course. I'm going to go talk to Professor Snape now." She darted out of the room as quickly as was humanly possible.

"Come in, Miss Granger," Professor Snape's drawling voice came as soon as Hermione knocked on his office door.

"Hello, professor," Hermione said, fidgeting nervously with her robes. "I have a question to ask you."

"And I do not read minds, Miss Granger," Professor Snape responded, marking an essay. "So either tell me your question or stand there all day, I do not care."

"Right. Um, I want to start a Potions club. How would I go about doing that?"

Professor Snape put down his papers and stared at her for a second. "You want to start a Potions club."

"Yes, I do," Hermione nodded. "The...recent partner switches have led me to realize that not everyone is quite...gifted at Potions, and I feel a small course would be better for class and for the Potions lab as a whole."

"And who will be leading this class?" Professor Snape asked. "You are a first year. No one will take you seriously."

"I understand," Hermione nodded. "Jade Greengrass and Rhea Rosier have agreed to help."

"Then I wonder why you are asking me," Professor Snape said dryly.

"Because we need a Potions lab to use," Hermione explained.

Professor Snape frowned for a moment. "You may use the lab on Saturday afternoon. I expect that I will find my lab in the same condition it was at the beginning of the day."

"Yes, Professor, thank you!" Hermione exclaimed.

"Just go," Professor Snape sighed, massaging his temple.

Hermione nodded and scurried out the door, heading to her next stop.

"You want to do what?" Professor McGongall asked.

"Start a Potions club," Hermione said patiently. "Professor Snape is letting us use the lab on certain days, and we have a prefect and another sixth year who are more than willing to help out."

"Yes, yes," Professor McGonagall murmured, flipping through the papers Hermione had handed her. "Very well, this all looks to be in order. Will you be opening up your club to other houses?"

"Yes," Hermione nodded. "Although we'll be keeping it to only first years for the beginning, and only those who actually want to learn."

"That seems fair," Professor McGonagall said. "As long as you don't...discriminate against certain people."

Hermione stared at her for a minute. "Professor, I'm a muggleborn. I have no hatred against anyone because of their blood status."

"Yes, but those around you aren't always the best influences," Professor McGonagall said gently. "Friends can be influenced in subtle ways."

Hermione fumed silently. "Thank you for approving the club," she said abruptly, before turning around and promptly exiting the room.

How dare McGonagall try and tell her that her friends were bad influences! Hermione knew all about Death Eaters, and who their families were, but Daphne and Tracey's parents had never been on the list! They were good friends to her, and she wasn't about to give them up due to a Gryffindor's prejudice.

Hermione marched to the seventh floor, where the portrait of the Fat Lady guarded the Gryffindor common room, and sharply rapped on the door.

An older student poked his head out of the portrait hole, eyes widening slightly as he set eyes on the young Slytherin. "Can I help you?"

"Can you get Lavender Brown, Neville Longbottom and Harry Potter, please?" Hermione asked.

"Um, sure. Hold on a second."

Hermione tapped her foot against the floor as the boy disappeared, reappearing a few moments later with the three Gryffindors.

"Granger?" Lavender asked, surprised to see her.

"Right," Hermione said, clapping her hands. "So Draco Malfoy is a whiny brat and hates when things don't go his way, and my Potions grades are not about to suffer for that. Brown, you're attending my Saturday Potions club so that you can actually be helpful in class. Potter, I've been told that you have no basic Potions knowledge whatsoever, and this is your formal invitation to my club because Snape hates you for some reason and you're not going to learn anything in his class. Don't expect another. And Longbottom," she paused and gave the sandy-haired boy a once over, "I think you know exactly why you need to join the club."

Neville nodded sadly. "I'll be there."

"Good, then you won't be able to ruin Tracey's grades either. Now, two sixth years will be teaching us. They'll be going over the basic skills and ingredient prep, and then either reviewing the week's potion or going over next weeks. We start Saturday, 3 in the afternoon in the Potions lab," Hermione said briskly, before turning to look at each of the Gryffindors. "Feel free to invite any of your friends who want to learn, emphasis on the learn part. Anyone who comes as a joke or isn't polite to everyone will be asked to leave, no exceptions. Any questions?"

"Will Malfoy be there?" Harry ventured.

"Can I invite students from other houses?" Lavender asked.

"He might, but he'll have to be polite," Hermione said firmly. "And yes, but first years only." With that, Hermione turned and left, intent on heading back to the Dungeons to speak to the other Slytherins about the club.