DISCLAIMER: Last I checked I was still too poor to own any of the afterwards mentioned characters.

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Chapter One: Advanced N.E.W.T. Potions

"Professor Snape would like a word with you after the feast, Ms. Granger," Professor McGonagall had told me upon my arrival at Hogwarts.

What does he want with me? I asked myself as I made my way down to the dungeons after showing a group of first-years to Gryffindor tower. Term hasn't even started, how could I already by in trouble?

The corridor to the Potions classroom was musty and damp from being uninhabited all summer. I assumed all the Slytherins were in their Common Room because I couldn't hear anything other than my own footsteps walking quickly toward the classroom. When I reached the room I knocked confidently on the open door and stood waiting on the threshold. I heard Snape's cold, authoritative voice call me inside. I walked slowly up to his desk at the front of the room where he was seated reading a very thick and ancient textbook.

"Thank you, Ms. Granger for finding the time to meet with me. I understand that as Head Girl and a member of the insufferable Trio of Wonders you have a very strict schedule," Snape said sarcastically.

"It wasn't a problem at all, professor," I replied calmly.

"Maybe not, but we do have a serious problem we must deal with," he saed as he stood up and walked toward his office. He motioned for me to follow, which I did. Once inside he closed the door with a moderate slam and walked swiftly up to his large desk. I could feel the anger emanating from his face. "I noticed you have not signed up for Advanced N.E.W.T. Potions this year, Ms. Granger. Why is that?"

Because you're a mean, unfair git! My thoughts answered immediately. Thankfully, my words did not jump out of my mouth and I was able to speak calmly and vaguely in answering his question. "I didn't feel like Potions was the proper subject in which to focus my specialties."

"That's a lie, Ms. Granger, and you know it!" Snape spat. "You dropped out of my class because Potter and Weasley pressured you to. They did abysmally last year and convinced you to follow them in dropping out."

He paused for a moment, looking at me and waiting for a response. I gave in to his accusation and hung my head in shame. "I suppose you are right, professor."

"Ms. Granger, you cannot let those two rule your life! You are the most talented witch I have ever met. You have a future in Potions, I wish you could see that!" he exclaimed vehemently. "Just because arrogant Potter thinks he doesn't need Potions to become some overpaid Quidditch player doesn't mean you have to follow him." There was a momentary silence in which Snape thought deeply before conjuring a cauldron on his desk top. He ran to his private stores and threw a number of carefully, though quickly, measured ingredients into the cauldron. After a few clockwise stirrings, a faint green mist rose from the cauldron. "What do you see, Ms. Granger?"

For a moment I felt like I was in Trelawney's poor excuse for a Divination class, but then I heard the answer in my head screaming loud and clear. "Wormwood base…powdered root of asphodel…essence of belladonna…moonstone, I believe, but the green mist is ultimately the result of…powdered hellebore. Professor, is this the Draught of Invisible Death?" I ask in awe.

It must have been my imagination, but it seemed as if Snape had actually smiled at my deduction. "You see these potions for what they really are. You appreciate their beauty; I can see it in your eyes. If you walk away, it'll be the end. Hermione, Advanced N.E.W.T. Potions has had your name on the enrollment list since you arrived! You have what it takes to make the most powerful of potions; don't waste it on something below your level of intelligence." With a murmur of a spell the cauldron was cleaned. He picked up his ingredient and carried them back to his storage room. As he disappeared into the little room he called, "I'll see you in class first thing tomorrow morning, Ms. Granger. Have a pleasant night."

As I walked back toward Gryffindor tower, one question seemed to be haunting my mind: Did he call me Hermione? He had never before shown the slightest interest in me. Now, when I decided that I was going to leave the world of Potions, he came clambering after me. For some reason he saw it as his personal mission to bring me back into Potions class. It wasn't as though I didn't want to be in Potions, as a matter of fact, I thoroughly enjoyed the subject. It was Snape who I didn't like, and he had the tendency to strip Potions of everything remotely enjoyable. Tonight I had seen a different side of him. What was it all about? Why did he think it was so important that I was in his Advanced N.E.W.T. Potions class?

I shrugged off my questions, figuring that they would eventually be answered or they wouldn't, it was up to Snape himself and whether or not he felt the desire to enlighten my curiosity.

With my mind still raging in confusion, I entered Gryffindor tower for a greatly desired night's sleep.

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[a/n] Yes I noticed this is not too long, and I'm sorry. It's late and I had some stupid determination to knock out ch1 of this story-on-a-whim. Review or I'll lose the urge to write! Please! I NEED YOU! in the style of Romeo RE-VIEW-ER!! RE-VIEW-ER!!!