The first potions class of the year was slightly less horrible than they could have imagined. Snape had predictably assigned an extremely difficult and finicky potion. Ron paired with Silinus and Harry with Hermione.

"So how good are you at potions?" Silinus asked Ron as he drug his chair over to sit by Sili's cauldron.

"Harry and I are right horrid." Silinus grinned and gave Ron a quick wink.

"Just follow my instructions and we'll do just fine."

And so they did. Silinus carefully instructed Ron and watched him like a hawk but in the end it was hard to tell who was the better potion maker, Sili or Hermione.

"Bloody 'ell Sili, why didn't you tell us you were a potion's genius" Silinus grinned and shrugged,

"s'always been my favorite subject I suppose" He said non-chalaent as they headed for the Great Hall for Lunch. Harry Glanced over to see Hermione staring at the floor. Her brown eyes darting around in thought and her brow wrinkled….this can't be good. Sitting there eating their midday meal Hermione's twitches got worst… shuffling her shoes on the floor, dragging her nails through the grooves in the wood of the table and staring at her sandwich like she's about to burst. Finally Silinus grew irritated and put his sandwich down carefully.

"Hermione?" he said carefully, "what's up"

Slowly Hermione dragged her eyes from her sandwich. Upon meeting Sili's eyes she started to twitch even worst….

"Well… Nothing…."

"Bullshit Hermione. What is it?" he snapped with a cool air, leaning his elbows on the table

"W-well," she stammered, "It's not in my nature to be nosey…."

"Okay….. and….."

Finally she burst.

"How does Professor Snape know you so well!"

Silinus released a loud barking laugh. "Are you serious? That's what this is about?" Silinus wiped a tear of laughter from his eye. "That's it?"

"Y-yes" said Hermione in her tiniest voice. Cheeks aflame.

Ron leaned forward.

"Yeah, mate! How is it he likes you? You're the first Gryffindor he hasn't hated!"

Silinus finished his laughing and picked his sandwich back up haphazardly, spilling half the contents.

"The Professor and my dad go waaaaaay back. We've known him all our life….."

"Really?" asked Harry…

"No I'm lying. Also I'm secretly a transvestite…." Silinus said rolling his grey eyes.

Silence followed….

"Jeez, tough crowd"

A/N: horrid chapter I know. I just had to finish this bit so the story can continue... it's such a dumb chapter! OMG I am ashamed...