Something I'd like to clarify: When writing the general story, I use first names for the characters. But when it's Hermione thinking, I will address the characters as she does.

NOTE: This is the second chapter of a double update. If you have not read the previous chapter, go back and read it before you read this one. This chapter will not make sense without reading the previous one first.

October 10, 1991

Hermione's thoughts, she thinks of people by their last names.

Jade, Hermione decided, was a much harder teacher than Professor Snape. While Professor Snape just put instructions on the board and spent the lesson barking at his students, Jade refused to let them even go near a cauldron for the first half of a lesson, instead choosing to quiz them on various ingredients.

"Potter," Jade began, after instructing them to address her as 'Miss Jade', "Name me three ingredients in the Boil Cure Potion."

"Um, slugs, porcupine quills, and snake fangs?" Harry listed.

"Correct," Jade nodded. "Although technically we use horned slugs. Why, Davis?"

"The horns are where the most concentration of magic can be found," Tracey replied promptly.

"And does every potion ingredient contain magic, Greengrass?"

"Every living organism contains different amounts of magic," Daphne said. "There are some potions ingredients that are exceptions, but for the most part, yes."

Lavender leaned over and whispered something to the dark haired girl next to her, the two giggling behind their hands.

"Brown!" Jade exclaimed, a smirk twisting onto her face. "How much magic do muggles have?"

Lavender looked up, startled. "None?"

"Wrong," Jade said sharply. "Granger?"

"Very little," Hermione said. "Enough to keep them alive, but not enough for them to feel it like we do."

"Good. Patil, how are the snake fangs prepared in the potion we're currently talking about?" Jade asked. "Gryffindor Patil."

"Ground?" Parvati guessed.

"Ravenclaw Patil?"

"Crushed," Padma said.

"Excellent. And the difference between crushing and grinding?" Jade nodded at Padma again.

"Crushing is typically breaking one big thing down into smaller pieces. Grinding is a more controlled process and aims to reduce the ingredient into a fine powder," Padma said.

"Very good," Jade said approvingly. "Longbottom, when do you add the Porcupine quills?"

"W-when you t-take the caul-cauldron off the f-fire," Neville stuttered.

"Good, good," Jade said approvingly. "I believe you had some personal experience with that, am I right. No matter, let's call on Goldstein for the next question. What color should the potion be when you are finished?"

"Blue," Anthony Goldstein said.

"Light or dark?" Jade asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Light?"

"Good guess," Jade said, tossing her hair over her shoulder. "Alright, we're going to brew the boil cure potion today. Go stand by a cauldron, everyone."

"But we already did that, weeks ago," Ron Weasley protested loudly from his seat in the back next to Harry. "it's so easy!"

Hermione stifled a groan and turned to Daphne. "Why is he here?" she whispered.

Daphne shrugged. "Because Potter's here, and Weasley can't last five minutes without him."

Hermione giggled lightly as Jade made her way to the back. "Weasley, if I remember correctly, you were unable to brew the 'easy' potion," Jade said. "Now, please move to the front row. Next to Parkinson. Bulstrode, please go next to Potter." Ron and Millie switched seats, although rather unhappily. "Good, now, you'll all be working by yourself. Start by crushing the snake fangs."

~ Slytherin ~

Hermione was the last person to leave the Potions classroom, taking care that everything was cleaned up. All in all, for a first meeting, there had been a good turnout. Five Gryffindors, two Ravenclaws, and all of Slytherin besides for Draco Malfoy and his cronies had shown up, and nearly everyone had made a decent potion. Even Longbottom's had turned out good, and while Brown's was a dark blue, Hermione was confident that her Potions grade wouldn't be completely mangled. Weasley, for all his talk, had been the only person to mess up his potion, somehow managing to get a neon green liquid.

Everyone had behaved themselves, which was also good. Nobody had thrown insults or hexes, instead choosing to glare at each other from across the room. Hermione counted it a win. Jade had confided in her that she planned to create inter-house pairings for the next class, and Hermione was curious to see how that worked. With seven Slytherins, each Ravenclaw and Gryffindor would have to be paired with one of them, and she was betting that at least Weasley would throw a hissing fit when he found out.

"Ah, Miss Granger," Professor Snape's drawling voice interrupted her thoughts. "Might I spare a moment of your time?"

"Of course Professor," Hermione said. Professor Snape motioned her into his office, where she settled in a chair opposite his desk.

"I believe you had your first potions meeting today, is that right?"

"Yes, sir," Hermione replied.

"Has my classroom been destroyed?" Professor Snape asked dryly.

"No, professor," Hermione shook her head. "Everything's been cleaned up and all cauldrons are intact."

"Hmm," Professor Snape mused. "With Weasley and Longbottom in the lessons? And Potter?"

Hermione shrugged. "Potter's fine, but a bit quiet. I think you scare him, and Longbottom as well. He did fine without you looking over his shoulder." Hermione gasped when she realized what she said, and clapped her hands over her mouth.

Professor Snape raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "Is that so? Well then, I must be doing something right. It is better to have them fear me and be conscious of their every move than be negligent and blow something up."

"Oh," Hermione said quietly, her eyes trained on her hands. "That makes sense."

"Yes," Professor Snape agreed. "And Miss Greengrass taught well?"

"Very well," Hermione nodded. "She's in your N.E.W.T. class, right?"

"I see that I chose right for prefect," Professor Snape said, choosing not to answer her question. Hermione resisted the urge to grin. Jade would be pleased.

"She's been very helpful," Hermione offered. "Willing to help the first years if we need it."

"I would say you wouldn't need her help very often, Miss Granger. Your marks are some of the best in your year," Professor Snape said.

Hermione shrugged modestly. "I try. I like to learn."

"That is something rare these days," Professor Snape said. "Convey my appreciate to Miss Greengrass for leaving my class room in one piece."

Hermione nodded. "I'll tell her when I see her tonight."

"You first years do flock around her," Professor Snape said quietly. "Almost like, well, one would say, a court."

Hermione gasped lightly. "Professor, were you in Slytherin?"

"Have a good day, Miss Granger," Professor Snape said firmly, the door opening with a wave of his hand.

"Yes, professor. Thank you," Hermione said absently as her mind fought to contain the new information. If Professor Snape had been a Slytherin, did that mean he knew more about what happened in the common room than she had originally thought? Hermione resolved to find out.