Hermione walked down the steps towards the dungeons. The temperature seemed to drop with every step she took.
How dare they?, she thought. I've known them for years and all of a sudden they take her side?! Calm down, she told herself, "just because you don't like her doesn't mean she played that prank on you. It was probably Peeves.
By the time she reached the Potions classroom, she was thoroughly calm and much more civil. She saw Harry, Ron, and Stella over at a table and made her way towards them.
"Sorry I was in such a bad mood," Hermione apologized, "I was just angry because of that terrible prank!"
"That's all right, Hermione. It was probably Peeves anyway," said Ron, consolingly. Snape entered the room and usual silence fell over the class.
"I must congratulate you all for making it this far in my class," Snape began, "you'll notice that several of your classmates are not here."
Hermione looked around and found that Snape was right. No Neville…No Lavender…quite a few people were missing. She scanned the classroom, hoping that one person in particular was no longer taking this class. Her face fell when she saw that familiar sneer.
"Only a select few of my students are good enough for my N.E.W.T. preparation class," Snape continued. "I guess you few aren't as much of a dunderhead as I thought."
"I wouldn't bet on it," whispered Harry.
Snape immediately turned on his heel and approached the table. "Mr. Potter," he said softly, "as surprised as I am to see you here, you should know by now that I do not tolerate any whispering when I am speaking. Ten points from Gryffindor."
"One of these days…" muttered Ron, after Snape's back was turned. Snape wheeled around again to face Ron.
"Twenty points from Gryffindor and a detention for your arrogance, Weasley." Snape growled.
Hermione heard a very distinct snigger from the direction where Draco Malfoy was sitting.
"Today we will begin to prepare one of the more difficult potions known to wizard kind: Veritaserum," Snape said. "Does anyone know the properties of the Veritaserum potion?"
Hermione's hand, as always, shot up. However, out of the corner of her eye, she saw another hand. Stella's. The entire class stared. Never, in the six years that they had been at Hogwarts, had anyone every matched Hermione Granger.
Snape looked to see what the class was gawking at, and his eyes fell on Stella. "Greetings, Miss Camero," he said, eyes glittering, "it's about time we had someone to compete with Know-It-All Granger."
Know-It-All Granger? That stupid girl will probably get it wrong anyway, thought Hermione, angrily.
"The answer please, Miss Camero," Snape said.
"Veritaserum–," Stella began.
"Actually," Snape interrupted, "on second thought, let's have Miss Granger answer. She obviously thinks she knows more than you."
Hermione blushed, but was determined not be upstaged by Stella. This should be easy, she thought. I've seen veritaserum used so many times; even Harry and Ron should know this by now.
"Veritaserum," Hermione said, "is a truth-telling potion. It is regulated strictly by the Ministry of Magic, as it causes the drinker to divulge any and all secrets when asked. It is brewed at the half-moon–,"
Hermione was interrupted by Stella's raised hand.
"Yes, Miss Camero?" Snape said, lazily.
"Actually, it's brewed at the full moon," Stella corrected.
Hermione's jaw dropped. Ron had a similar expression.
"The final step of preparing Veritaserum requires freshly cut werewolf hair, which of course is only present at the full moon," Stella continued.
Snape seemed to be enjoying himself very much. "Ten points to Gryffindor…" The entire class just stared. Snape had never awarded Gryffindor so much as a point. "…for shutting Miss Granger up."