Must learn to multi-task better. I am trying to watch the Oscars and write a decent chapter. J

What will happen to Hermione? I don't know. Or do I? Dun dun dun . . .

Proclamations and Potions

"As I am sure many of you may have noticed," Dumbledore began, "an article had appeared this morning in the Daily Prophet, that may affect many of you. You may not be directly influenced by this law, but I'm sure many of you have friends or family who will be making some difficult decisions in the near future."

As Dumbledore said this, he scanned his audience. He saw the Gryffindors, Hufflepuffs, and Ravenclaws discussing the law and trying to comfort those who it would effect. His eyes were especially drawn to a select few Gryffindors. Hermione had returned to her friends, who appeared to be questioning her about what happened when she stormed out. Ron looked like he was trying to tell Hermione something, but she was decidedly avoiding him. Harry appeared more content to send more than a few evil looks at the Slytherins.

As he turned to the Slytherins he was, not surprised really, but disappointed at their reactions. A few of the Slytherins were laughing, a few were yelling rude things at the other tables ["Take a number mudbloods, there's plenty of me to go around"], but the ones that truly worried Dumbledore, were those already drafting letters to their fathers, no doubt asking how soon they could receive a mudblood to "play" with. How soon would it be before the school would be losing its numbers to this new law.

"I assure you that I will do everything in my power to dissent this law and get it repealed." Dumbledore reassured the school. "If anybody has any concerns, feel free to talk to a teacher or myself. If there is a solution we will find one. Now please put this in the back of your mind and try to focus on your studies and other activities. Have a nice day." Dumbledore sat down and began on his eggs, which had unfortunately cooled by now.

~

"Have a nice day?!?" Seamus yelled, "How does he expect us to a have a bloody good day, when those sick Slytherins are already plotting?"

"Yeah," Harry agreed, his enmity filled eyes returning to the table, "But is there really anything we can do right now?"

"You know what?" Ron asked, "My brothers just owled me yesterday about some new products that are in. Perhaps that is just what we need to put those Slytherins in their place!" "A few canary crèmes, ferret fudge, toad tarts, not to mention the hair products, and the prank they designed to make your voice go this high." Ron said raising his voice to a shrill girly one, much like Umbridge's voice. The boys started laughing and even Hermione couldn't help but join in. Perhaps this wouldn't be as bad as she thought, after all, it was a good seven months until her birthday.

~

"You will find that I, unlike many of my peers, have little interest in this little law," Snape began in his cool, unfeeling voice, "While this law may affect you, that is no need for you to expect special treatment in here. You shall all be treated the same." Hermione huffed and continued to read her book, she doubted if she would ever be treated the same as a Slytherin.

Snape began to walk down the steps from where he usually stood. As he walked up and down the rows of students, he stopped suddenly at the table that Hermione and Neville shared, "And what is this?" Snape asked grabbing a book that Hermione had picked up in the library before heading down to potions.

"Hey," Hermione yelled, "Give that back, it's mine!"

"Miss Granger this is potions and I dare say Wizarding Marriages : The Laws and Traditions," he paused to laugh at Hermione's current reading choices, "is not on any reading list of mine. So, next time you decide to do some extracurricular reading, wait until after my class is over!" He turned so quickly that his robe flew back and hit Hermione's legs. He took no notice of this as he continued his walk up to the front of the class.

"But what about my book sir?" Hermione asked.

"You may pick it up after class. Though. . ." Snape added, a cruel smile forming on his face, "I doubt you even need to worry about getting married. No self-respecting pureblood would dare marry you." The Slytherin half of the class laughed , and Hermione was forced to grab Ron's robes to keep him from attacking Malfoy, who had just added an enthusiastic, "Good one sir!"

"Now if you don't mind," Snape said, ignoring the effect his words had on the "dream team" and the rest of the Gryffindors, "I will need your full attention today as we will be making a very dangerous potion, the Polyjuice potion. I have worked hard to secure all of the necessary ingredients and it would be nice to avoid any accidents today." He looked at Hermione and Neville's table as he said this. He noticed that the boy was slowly sinking in his seat, while the Granger girl was trying to whisper comfort him.

"Now does anybody know what this potion does?" Snape asked. He saw Hermione's hand shoot up into the air. No doubt she would know, after the disaster in second year. "Anybody?" Hermione looked furious that Snape was ignoring her once again. "Mr. Malfoy, care to enlighten us?"

"Why yes professor Snape," Malfoy began, throwing a smug look Hermione's way as she let her hand fall onto the table, "The polyjuice potion, if made correctly, should transform a person into another person, at least in appearance."

"And what are some possible side effects?"

"Well the potion is made for human transformations you see, so if a cat hair was used, for example," Malfoy said innocently [How did he find out? Hermione wondered.], "They would be transformed into some horrible half human, half cat creature."

"Very good Mr. Malfoy ten points to Slytherin." Snape said, happy to be able to add points to his house. "Now one of your group may copy down the ingredients and then collect them from up front, while the other can copy down the procedure."

Hermione copied down the ingredients, though she need not have, after all she had made it in second year. She went up to the store cupboards and got most of the ingredients, before heading to the Slytherin side of the dungeons to get the less common ingredients, that came from Snape's private store.

"Don't worry mudblood," a voice whispered into Hermione's ear, "I'm sure some desperate, old pureblood will marry you."

Hermione turned her head so fast that her hair slapped Malfoy in the face, "What did you say Malfoy?"

"You heard me," Draco said, pulling out a gold trimmed handkerchief to wipe off her "mudblood filth",

"That is assuming one of your little friends from the menage-a-trois doesn't scoop you up first."

Hermione tried to ignore Malfoy as he continued to insult her. She worked fast to get the remaining ingredients. As she turned to head back to her table, she stepped onto Malfoy's designer dragon hide shoes and turned, digging her heel painfully into his foot. She hurried back to her table, knowing full well that even if Malfoy was Snape's favorite, even he wouldn't be fool enough to try and hurt her in class.

----

"Miss Granger please come here," Snape said, starting to put up the potions they had made that day. "Miss Granger!"

"Don't worry guys," Hermione said upon seeing Harry and Ron's expressions, "I'm sure he won't bite."

"I wouldn't be so sure," Ron said, looking with apprehension at Snape, "Do you want us to wait for you?"

"Miss Granger, I am losing my patience!"

"Really guys leave now, before you lose us points," Hermione said, pushing the boys out of the door, "I'm sure I can find my way back to the common room without a personal escort."

Harry and Ron left Hermione who turned and walked up to the dreaded potions master. "Miss Granger, you left so quickly this morning that Albums was unable to catch you. He wishes to discuss a few things. Something about your head girl duties and," he said, picking up the book Hermione had been reading earlier, "Something about this." He gave the book back to a surprised Hermione. Why didn't he give me a detention or take away house points? she wondered.

Not one to stay any longer with Snape than necessary, Hermione returned to her seat where she gathered her belongings. She tried to stuff the book into an already over packed bag, but after a few unsuccessful tries, she thought better of it and slung the strap of her bag over her shoulder. Just as she reached the doorway a voice called her name. "Oh, and Miss Granger?" She turned around slowly, just in time to see a smirk on her professors face, "Ten points from Gryffindor, and expect a letter on when you may serve your detention. Good day."

Just when you think he can have a heart, Hermione thought. "Bastard." She said this out loud and was nearly scared to death when she felt a tap on her shoulder.

"Such harsh language Miss Granger," said a deep male voice, "I never expected that from you."

A/N Mwaa ha ha

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