Chapter 18: Mix Up

After breakfast, the group trudged towards the dungeons. No one looked forward to their first day back to Potions, least of all Hermione. She was quite happy not having to look at the Slytherins more than she had too.

They each took their normal seats and talked amongst themselves. The Slytherins entered just a little while later. Each through a glare at the group of Gryffindors and they returned it happily. Soon after, Professor Brinx entered.

"Good morning. I see you all returned from the holidays. Good, good," he said, rubbing his hands nervously together. He reminded Hermione of Quirrell. "Well we will be moving on to harder potions this term. But why don't we have a little fun first."

Everybody looked apprehensively at one another. Professor Brinx's idea of fun didn't quite agree with theirs. He once poisoned everybody and told them they had one hour to fix the antidote before they died for "fun."

Professor Brinx laughed. "Don't look so scared. Now I noticed how you guys separate yourselves and they you sit with the same people. So I've decided to mix you guys up a little bit.

Everyone instantly started complaining loudly. Rude comments were made around the room. No one wanted to change their seats.

"Now, now. No complaining. This will be fun!" Another groan was earned from the students. "Pick up your stuff and I'll tell you were to go."

About fifteen minutes later, everyone was grumpy. James got seated by a Slytherin and a Gryffindor in front of the teacher's desk. Lily was beside a Slytherin in the far front corner. Lupin and Peter got seated beside each other and some other Slytherin in the far back corner on the same side as Lily. Sirius got seated beside two Slytherin girls, who looked quite pleased, in the middle of the room.

Hermione, however, got the worst seating of them all. She got seated between Lucius Malfoy and Severus Snape. Worst, she was seated no where near any of her Gryffindor friends. She was all alone on enemy ground.

Lucius and Snape both smirked at her. She wanted to die!

"Well, well looks like this is going to be a fun term," Lucius smiled.

"Don't count on it Malfoy," Hermione bit out between clenched teeth.

"My, my aren't we testy," Lucius said, running a finger up and down her arm.

Hermione slapped his hand away and glared at him. "Don't Malfoy. Remember how things turned out the last time you tried."

"Ah yes, well Black can't really do anything this time unless he wants detention."

"He might not be able to, but I can." Hermione smiled mischievously. "And I can poison you. Just remember that partner."

Hermione secretly enjoyed seeing the note of panic in Malfoy's eyes. He knew she was better than him at Potions.

"Maybe you should think twice before issuing threats. Remember, there are two of us and one of you," Snape growled in her ear.

"Oooh, I'm so scared," Hermione said sarcastically. Ignoring both of them, she sat up her stuff. She mixed her ingredients and paid no head to them. She would not give them the satisfaction of knowing that being near them upset her. No, she would pretend that nothing was wrong.

The bell finally rang and Hermione gathered her stuff quickly. She spotted the Marauders and Lily waiting for her by the dungeon door. She hurried over to them.

"I can not believe that Brinx reseated us!" James growled. "I have to put up with Blasem for the rest of the term."

"Excuse me," Lily cut if, "if anyone has the right to complain it's Hermione."

"Yeah, I feel sorry for you sweetheart," Sirius said truthfully while slipping an arm around her waist.

"So how was it?" Lupin asked curiously.

"Oh, it started off bad," Hermione paused. "Then after I threatened to poison Malfoy, they grew quiet." Everyone laughed.

A/N Oh, don't you just love Saturdays? I do. No school, no alarm clock, and best of all, no public displays of affection everywhere you go! Yeah! Thanks to all my reviewers, you guys are the best! Keep reading and please review!