Chapter 10

Stunning Developments

Harry, Ron and Hermione were less than thrilled to discover they had Potions with the Slytherins for two hours after breakfast.

As they made their way along the corridor to the dungeons their moods did anything but improve. Evidently Ron thought that Harry and Hermione were 'together' and tried exceptionally hard to hide his obvious upset.

Harry and Hermione found this quite amusing, but thought it only fair t otell him the truth. "Ron," Hemione started, "Harry and I..." but she was cut off rather quickly by Ron.

"Hermione, I don't want to talk about it, alright?!" Ron practically screamed.

"No, Ron, hear me out." she said. Ron sighed and rolled his eyes in a childish way, not wanting to hear about their 'relationship'.

"Contrary to popular belief," Harry started

"We," Hermione, picking up where Harry left off, gestured to Harry and herself, "are not together."

"Don't lie to me, Hemione. I saw you."

Herminoe huffed, "Why do you have to be so---so....so close-minded?!"

Her outburst attracted the attention of more than one passers-by, including one Draco Malfoy, who smirked and made a mental note to harass Granger later.

The trio rushed hurridely into the Potions classroom only moments before Snape strode in, looking as grim as ever.

"I see all my students have made it back to Hogwarts alive." Snape said, giving Harry a look that clearly said 'what a shame'.

As you would guess the rest of the lesson didn't go very well. Yes, Neville did avoid burning anything, but more than half the class, including its professor, kept shooting death glares at Harry. Someone even tried to set his robes on fire, their spell missed and hit Hermione who whimpered for ten minutes after the fire had been put out. Professor Snape, of course, did nothing about this incident, knowing full well that the spell had originated on the Slytherin side of the classroom, from one Blaise Zabini (A/N: if I haven't mentioned it already Blaise is a boy in my story), no less. Hermione left class in a less than cheerful mood.

Harry and Ron stayed back to clean up their cauldron. To their delight Snape had left in urgency the moment class had ended therefore the room was empty as they packed away their things. To them the empty potions classroom was daunting, for all they knew Snape had jinxed the room in every way possible.

The hurridely packed and entered the corridor only to hear to people having a conversation in hushed voices around the corner.

"What is it, Draco?" a female voice asked.

"You asked me here, Parkinson." Malfoy replied.

"Oh, right." she giggled, "Well, I know you've been upset lately."

"What are you on about?" Draco asked lazily, "I haven't been upset."

"Stressed then? I haven't been with you in a long time." Pansy said in a sickly sweet voice.

"Just busy, Parkinson." he paused, "Okay, a little stressed, alright?"

"Do you need any help with that?" she asked in the same voice.

"What're you getting at, Pansy?"

Her voice became stronger, commanding almost....almost, "You know damn well what I'm getting at." Her voice now dropped down into the sickly sweet range again, "Sooo.....help?"

"Maybe." Malfoy replied, voice monotonous.

"Great. See you later."

Harry and Ron looked at each other.

"Was that what I think it was? Are they...you know....?"

"Who knows. Let's just keep 'Mione out of her common room for a while tonight."

Ron just nodded.

Harry nad Ron made their way down to the DADA room quickly. They were curious to meet the new teacher, but at the same time were peeved that they'd given up a free period to take an advanced class. As they entered the classroom they saw Hermione was already there, not surprising. But what they found shocking was the fact that Malfoy was there as well, looking all high and mighty at a table all by his lonesome.

Harry had reasoned that being the son of a Death Eater, Malfoy would drop DADA the first chance he got and spend his free time practicing dark magic in his dormitory, or with Pansy. Harry sniggered at the thought of the two Slytherins' conversation.

Evidently Harry had been staring and had yet to take his seat because Hermione hissed at him to hurry up and sit. No sooner than he did so did the doors swing open and the professor strode in.

"Remus?!"

"Mr. Potter, please retake your seat." Harry did. "And I must ask that you refer to me as professor."

Harry nodded and looked at Ron and Hermione in disbelief.

"I don't believe it." Ron said in a whisper.

"Neither do I. Why didn't he tell us?" Hermione asked.

"Ms. Granger," Lupin started, "I must ask you to refrain from speaking while I am.And I'm sorry if this poses as an inconvienience."

"S-s-sorry, Professor."

Draco sniggered at this, but it didn't seem to go unnoticed. "Is there a problem, Mr. Malfoy?" Malfoy shook his head, "Are you positive of that?" This time Malfoy nodded, "Then please explain to me what you find so terribly funny."

Malfoy said nothing, staring at Lupin in disbelief, he'd never been this strict before.

"Since you can't explain, Mr. Malfoy, I'm forced to take ten points from Slytherin considering that your antics have wasted valuble class time."

"But...."

"Care to make it twenty, Mr. Malfoy?"

"Potter was acting like a git, too!" he screamed.

Most of the Slytherins began laughing only to realize that Draco was probably going to lose them a massive amount of points....on the first day of classes!

"In stating that, Mr. Malfoy, you have admitted to acting like a 'git' as well. But alas you will earn no points for lowering your self-esteem, yet I will take some away for insulting other students and for wasting even more of my time. So... thirty points from Slytherin."

With that Lupin turned his back to the class and began writing something on the board. (A/N: I love that scene, go Lupin! Woo!)

The rest of the class went by rather quickly for the Golden Trio as they tried to stifle laughs while replaying the scenario with Lupin and Malfoy over in their heads. When they were dismissed they ran straight to Lupin's desk, they had many questions.

"Remus, why didn't you tell us you were coming back?"

"Lupin, how's it going man?"

"It's wonderful to see you, Remus. You look well."

Remus laughed, for they'd all spoken at once. "It's Professor." He reminded, "And to answer you queries, number one, I didn't know I was coming back until a fortnight ago. Two, it's going well, Ron. Three, thank you, Hermione. Now I'd love to stay and catch up but this is my only hour off so I'd like to get something to eat."

"Okay then. We'll see you later." Harry said.

The rest of the day passed by quite slowly for the trio. After lunch Hermione went off to Arithmancy while Harry and Ron paid a visit to Trelawney, not willingly of course. And after that it was down to Care of Magical Creatures. They were happy to discover that Hagrid was doing well but they were relieved when the class was over, the first day of classes had dragged on.

"So, Hermione. What're you doing after dinner?" Harry ventured as he sat down next to her in the Great Hall.

"I was just planning on going to the library and then back to my rooms, I want to catch up on my homework."

"Hermione!" Hermione said in disbelief, "Only Snape gave us homework and you did that during lunch."

"Harry don't even bother. She's flipped." Ron said.

"Oh yes, Ron. I've 'flipped'." Hermione replied in mock anger, getting up, grabbing her books and leaving.

"Great. What about Malfoy and Pansy? She might....find them." Ron asked.

"Just hope she doesn't."

As Hermione entered her common room she was not happy to find that Malfoy had a 'guest'. She didn't she her but she knew who it was, her books were all over the table. Pansy. Ugh.

'Just what I need.' Hermione thought.

She climbed the stairs to her room and muttered her password. She opened the door and banished her books the the desk in the corner while she entered the bathroom for a shower. Locking the doors, she proceeded.

When she was finished she wrapped herself in a towel unlocked the doors and went into her room to change. Not much later she heard a door open. Assuming it was just Mafloy and the pug-faced Parkinson slut she continued about her business. Hermione made her way into the bathroom once more and grabbed her toothbrush. Several moments later the opposite door opened, and thinking it was Malfoy, readied herself with a smart-ass comment.

Hermione never did find out who it was. For, a split second later she was shot with a purple light, and barely had time to blink before she found herself on the bathroom flooring, hearing nothing and seeing nothing but black.