AN: Here you are, the next update to my bonny tale! This one goes out to my
good buddy, Beth, who is making a guest appearance as-you guessed it!- The
Potions Mistress!! Bon Appetit!
Disclaimer: Nope, I don't own anyone you recognize....I don't own Prof. Tryon either, haha, don't worry Bethy dear.
**************************************************************************** ************************
The next day, Hermione Granger found herself blearily sitting in Potions, waiting for the teacher to arrive. She was sitting next to one Lily Evans, who kept glancing at Remus and grinning at her. Hermione was tired because she had sat up nearly half the night talking to Lily about her love life. It was a wonder that she had managed to stay awake for all of her classes. Now she just had to sit through potions, and then she could fall asleep in her nice warm bed...While Hermione was dead tired, Lily was awake and energetic. Hermione grumpily wondered how she did it, when suddenly, the doors burst open, and their potions master entered.
After a moment, Hermione realized that their potions master was, in fact, a Potions Mistress. She had very short brown hair, flowing black robes, and wore a scowl.
"That's Professor Tryon" Lily Whispered.
"She's head of Slytherin, and isn't afraid to take points away from Gryffindor, no matter how unfair the circumstances."
Hermione smiled sardonically: Some things NEVER changed. Her thoughts were interrupted by a loud 'hem hem' Hermione looked around the room frightfully, trying to see if Umbridge was in the dungeon, before she realized it had come from their teacher.
"Today, we shall be working on a very complicated potion. It is called Veritaserum. A truth potion."
The class looked at her with round eyes, and she continued.
"You shall be working with partners of my choosing."
She looked down at her role list.
"Hmm, it seems as though we have a new student- Hershey Groppet. Lovely name, really"
The Slytherins laughed, and Hermione turned red.
"Since you are new, I think I will pair you up with my most promising student-Severus Snape."
Hermione groaned inwardly. Professor Tryon continued to partner everyone else off. Once everyone had been paired, she continued with her instructions.
"Now, the instructions are on the board- and, since this is a practical lesson, each of you will be testing your potions. You partners will receive a list of questions to ask. If one of you asks a question not appearing on my list, they will receive a month of detentions and 50 points will be taken from the offending house. You may begin."
Hermione had turned quite white- She couldn't possibly take a truth potion, it could ruin EVERYTHING! Sure, she probably wouldn't be asked anything along the lines of 'Will Lily and James die within the next 6 years' but still, what if she was asked her name, or worse, her birth date?? She raised her hand tentatively.
"Um, Professor? I'm-erm-really allergic to Veritaserum, so could I just brew, and not partake?
The professor sneered at her.
"Ms. Groppet, I hope that you don't believe that this is the first time I have heard that silly excuse. No one wants to take the truth potion, but, as it is a required piece of curriculum, you will not be excused. Now, begin!"
The entire time she and Severus were brewing their potion, Hermione was tightlipped and silent, except for the occasional 'pass the newt eyes'. She had looked over the list of questions, and they didn't make her very happy.
1. What is your full name?
2. What is your birthday?
3. Where were you born?
4. Who are your best friends?
5. What do you want to be when you grow up? Why?
Numbers 3 and 5 she could deal with. It was 1, 2, and 4 that she was worried about- it would be nothing short of catastrophic! How would Snape react when she said she was Hermione Granger, born in the year 1980, and best friends with one Mr. Harry Potter? She doubted saying Ron Weasley would be a problem, since their seemed to be so many Weasleys floating around, but to announce her best friend was a Potter?
Her thoughts were interrupted by an annoyingly haughty voice.
"Hershey, the potion is done. Stop with your silly day dreaming."
She almost expected him to say '10 points from Gryffindor'. He offered her a dropper full of potion, with a pitiless grin.
"After you, Miss Groppet"
She went to take it with shaking hands. She would just pretend to take a drop, she decided, and lie her way through the questioning. She closed her eyes, opened her mouth, and raised the dropper. Unfortunately, she accidentally squeezed a single drop into her mouth. Her shaking hands had been her downfall.
She felt her eyes glaze over, felt herself fall into a dreamlike trance. She saw, in a detached sort of way, Snape pick up the list of questions.
"Alright, let's get on with this. What is your full name?"
Hermione struggled. She really, really did. But it was no use.
"Hermione Jane Granger" she said, dreamily.
Snape only stared.
"Alright, erm...What is your birthday?"
This time she REALLY struggled. She truly did. She lasted nearly a minute before she replied.
"September 19, 1980"
Snape's eyes nearly bugged out of his head. If Hermione hadn't felt like crying, and if she weren't under the potion's trance, she probably would have been cracking up. It was the first time she had ever seen Snape look truly alarmed.
"Um...erm...Where were you, um, born?"
"London, England."
Snape looked relieved. At least this answer had been rather ordinary. The first two questions were probably flukes- the stupid twit had probably added the bat wings early.
"Alright then- who are your best friends?"
If Hermione had had her free will, she would have gulped.
"Ron Weasley"
Snape didn't look surplussed.
"Lily Evans"
'Where did that come from?' Hermione wondered to herself, 'we've only known each other for a day!'
"Remus Lupin"
'WHAT?? Well, erm....maybe I won't say Harry...'
"And Harry Potter."
'DAMN!'
Snape narrowed his eyes. He didn't know what the silly witch was getting at, but he was going to find out.....but not today. Not under Professor Tryon's watch.
"What do you want to be when you grow up, and why?"
Hermione relaxed. This was a safe question. She wanted to be a teacher, of course.
"An Auror, so I can help Harry wipe out Voldemort, and his stupid little Death Eaters."
The potion wore off, and Hermione looked rather shocked. An Auror? Since when?? She looked at Snape. He was looking at her with the strangest look. It was a mixture of loathing and fear. He was subconsciously, nervously scratching his arm. Right where his Dark Mark would be. She just realized she had made a dangerous enemy. She also realized that she had a way to shut him up about her secrets....
"Your turn" she said crisply, and literally force fed him the potion. She was going to take no chances of him running to Tryon, and telling her all about her phony identity.
"What's your full name?" She asked quickly and matter of factly. She needed to have time to ask him the 5 questions, plus an extra one before the time ran up...
"Severus Snape"
"What's your birthday?"
"November 6th, 1963."
"Where were you born?"
"Manchester, England"
"Who are your best friends?"
"Lucius Malfoy, Bella Black."
"What do you want to be when you grow up?"
"A potions master, or a teacher of the Dark Arts."
Hermione glanced at her watch; she didn't have much time...
"Are you a Death Eater?"
"Yes."
Slowly, Snape blinked, then looked at Hermione in horror.
"How did you..."
"You keep my secrets, I keep yours. You tell my secrets, I go straight to Dumbledore."
Snape looked at her for several minutes, with complete and utter loathing, before nodding roughly. Suddenly, Professor Tryon was standing above them. She stirred their potion, looking at it critically.
"This is a fine potion, Mr. Snape, Miss Groppet. 10 points each."
Hermione, Snape, and the rest of the class gaped at her. Did she just award Gryffindor 10 points???
"On the other hand, Miss Groppet, you are not on the ground covered in boils, so I can assume that you were not completely honest about being allergic to Veritaserum. Therefore, I deduct 30 points from Gryffindor."
Hermione groaned. Leave it to her to manage to get 20 points taken away form her house the first day she went to class....
She packed up her cauldron, shoved her potions book and quills into her school bag, and walked to the exit, where Lily, Remus, James, and Sirius were waiting for her. They were talking quite animatedly, and didn't notice her walk up behind them...
"So, Remus old chum, are you going to ask her to the dance? You're the only one without a date!"
"I know, but what if she says no? What if she's completely offended by that kiss I gave her? And anyways, don't you think she has a right to know what I am before I involve myself with her?"
"You KISSED her??? Why am I never told these things??"
"Oh, come on Remus, Hershey and I were up all night giggling about that kiss, and she seemed anything but offended."
"Yeah, and its not like your proposing marriage, she doesn't need to know just yet!"
Hermione grinned, her cheeks flushed. If her ears didn't deceive her, there was a dance coming up, and Remus was too shy to ask her. She thought it was adorable, and flattering at the same time. She stood right behind Remus and cleared her throat loudly. Lily, Sirius, and James turned around quickly and grinned at her. Remus, on the other hand, went stiff.
"She's standing right behind me, isn't she?" he asked in a strangled voice. The back of his neck, she noticed, was bright red. No one said anything. Slowly, face as red as his neck, he turned around, to see Hermione grinning up at him.
"I'd love to."
This was obviously not what he was expecting.
"You what???"
"I would love to go to this dance thing with you....if that was actually an offer I dug out of the conversation..."
Remus grinned, as though someone had just offered him a lifetime supply of Drooble's Best Blowing Gum.
"It was definitely an offer!"
Hermione grinned, but the moment was ruined by Lily grabbing her arm and dragging her up the stairs.
"We'll see you boys later; I have to find something for this girl to wear!!!"
Hermione was dragged unceremoniously up to her and Lily's room, where she was dumped onto a bed. Lily looked at her critically, her hand on her chin.
"Hmm....brown hair, brown eyes, pale skin....."
She ran to the wardrobe and started throwing dress robes out onto the bed, next to a shocked Hermione. She didn't think even Madam M's Robes For All Occasions had as many dress robes as the young Lily Evans owned...
Once the pile was several feet high, Lily closed the Wardrobe, and grinned at Hermione.
"I chose a few that might just work for you!"
"Um, if you don't mind my asking, when is this grand ball?"
"Christmas Eve, 7 till midnight. Now, what do you think of this?"
She held out a midnight blue robe. Before Hermione could answer, Lily threw it to the side.
"Definitely not..."
An hour later, they had gone through nearly the entire pile. Some things Lily immediately threw to the side, some she made Hermione try on, but none were up to Lily's standards. Finally they were down to the last two dresses. One was a bottle green, and one was a Gryffindor crimson.
"Oh, Lily, you can't let me wear the green one, it was MADE for you! Let me try on the red..."
And so she did. She buttoned it up, pulled her hair back messily, looked in the mirror, and gaped. This was THE dress. It hugged her curves in just the right way, it hung just where it should, it was simply stunning. It had the look of a custom made dress.
"Oh, it's perfect!" Lily squealed. "I wore it last year, which was really a mistake, it clashed horribly with my hair, but now I am so glad I bought it! Here, take it off, and I'll be sure to ask a house elf to press it before the big night!
Hermione pulled the robes over her shoulders, put on her pajamas, and crawled into bed. She didn't care that she would miss dinner, she was TIRED. With that, she closed her eyes, and was asleep.
**************************************************************************** **********************
KatFay- Oh, no, I LOVE 70's clothes- I was a hippie for Halloween, you know- But Hermione just seems like the kind of straightforward girl who would prefer clothes of her own generation...seriously, can you see Hermione wearing Tie-Dye and platforms??
Dyrim123, someonelse, Chaucer, Fan-Of-HP: Thanks for the reviews!!!!!!!
Disclaimer: Nope, I don't own anyone you recognize....I don't own Prof. Tryon either, haha, don't worry Bethy dear.
**************************************************************************** ************************
The next day, Hermione Granger found herself blearily sitting in Potions, waiting for the teacher to arrive. She was sitting next to one Lily Evans, who kept glancing at Remus and grinning at her. Hermione was tired because she had sat up nearly half the night talking to Lily about her love life. It was a wonder that she had managed to stay awake for all of her classes. Now she just had to sit through potions, and then she could fall asleep in her nice warm bed...While Hermione was dead tired, Lily was awake and energetic. Hermione grumpily wondered how she did it, when suddenly, the doors burst open, and their potions master entered.
After a moment, Hermione realized that their potions master was, in fact, a Potions Mistress. She had very short brown hair, flowing black robes, and wore a scowl.
"That's Professor Tryon" Lily Whispered.
"She's head of Slytherin, and isn't afraid to take points away from Gryffindor, no matter how unfair the circumstances."
Hermione smiled sardonically: Some things NEVER changed. Her thoughts were interrupted by a loud 'hem hem' Hermione looked around the room frightfully, trying to see if Umbridge was in the dungeon, before she realized it had come from their teacher.
"Today, we shall be working on a very complicated potion. It is called Veritaserum. A truth potion."
The class looked at her with round eyes, and she continued.
"You shall be working with partners of my choosing."
She looked down at her role list.
"Hmm, it seems as though we have a new student- Hershey Groppet. Lovely name, really"
The Slytherins laughed, and Hermione turned red.
"Since you are new, I think I will pair you up with my most promising student-Severus Snape."
Hermione groaned inwardly. Professor Tryon continued to partner everyone else off. Once everyone had been paired, she continued with her instructions.
"Now, the instructions are on the board- and, since this is a practical lesson, each of you will be testing your potions. You partners will receive a list of questions to ask. If one of you asks a question not appearing on my list, they will receive a month of detentions and 50 points will be taken from the offending house. You may begin."
Hermione had turned quite white- She couldn't possibly take a truth potion, it could ruin EVERYTHING! Sure, she probably wouldn't be asked anything along the lines of 'Will Lily and James die within the next 6 years' but still, what if she was asked her name, or worse, her birth date?? She raised her hand tentatively.
"Um, Professor? I'm-erm-really allergic to Veritaserum, so could I just brew, and not partake?
The professor sneered at her.
"Ms. Groppet, I hope that you don't believe that this is the first time I have heard that silly excuse. No one wants to take the truth potion, but, as it is a required piece of curriculum, you will not be excused. Now, begin!"
The entire time she and Severus were brewing their potion, Hermione was tightlipped and silent, except for the occasional 'pass the newt eyes'. She had looked over the list of questions, and they didn't make her very happy.
1. What is your full name?
2. What is your birthday?
3. Where were you born?
4. Who are your best friends?
5. What do you want to be when you grow up? Why?
Numbers 3 and 5 she could deal with. It was 1, 2, and 4 that she was worried about- it would be nothing short of catastrophic! How would Snape react when she said she was Hermione Granger, born in the year 1980, and best friends with one Mr. Harry Potter? She doubted saying Ron Weasley would be a problem, since their seemed to be so many Weasleys floating around, but to announce her best friend was a Potter?
Her thoughts were interrupted by an annoyingly haughty voice.
"Hershey, the potion is done. Stop with your silly day dreaming."
She almost expected him to say '10 points from Gryffindor'. He offered her a dropper full of potion, with a pitiless grin.
"After you, Miss Groppet"
She went to take it with shaking hands. She would just pretend to take a drop, she decided, and lie her way through the questioning. She closed her eyes, opened her mouth, and raised the dropper. Unfortunately, she accidentally squeezed a single drop into her mouth. Her shaking hands had been her downfall.
She felt her eyes glaze over, felt herself fall into a dreamlike trance. She saw, in a detached sort of way, Snape pick up the list of questions.
"Alright, let's get on with this. What is your full name?"
Hermione struggled. She really, really did. But it was no use.
"Hermione Jane Granger" she said, dreamily.
Snape only stared.
"Alright, erm...What is your birthday?"
This time she REALLY struggled. She truly did. She lasted nearly a minute before she replied.
"September 19, 1980"
Snape's eyes nearly bugged out of his head. If Hermione hadn't felt like crying, and if she weren't under the potion's trance, she probably would have been cracking up. It was the first time she had ever seen Snape look truly alarmed.
"Um...erm...Where were you, um, born?"
"London, England."
Snape looked relieved. At least this answer had been rather ordinary. The first two questions were probably flukes- the stupid twit had probably added the bat wings early.
"Alright then- who are your best friends?"
If Hermione had had her free will, she would have gulped.
"Ron Weasley"
Snape didn't look surplussed.
"Lily Evans"
'Where did that come from?' Hermione wondered to herself, 'we've only known each other for a day!'
"Remus Lupin"
'WHAT?? Well, erm....maybe I won't say Harry...'
"And Harry Potter."
'DAMN!'
Snape narrowed his eyes. He didn't know what the silly witch was getting at, but he was going to find out.....but not today. Not under Professor Tryon's watch.
"What do you want to be when you grow up, and why?"
Hermione relaxed. This was a safe question. She wanted to be a teacher, of course.
"An Auror, so I can help Harry wipe out Voldemort, and his stupid little Death Eaters."
The potion wore off, and Hermione looked rather shocked. An Auror? Since when?? She looked at Snape. He was looking at her with the strangest look. It was a mixture of loathing and fear. He was subconsciously, nervously scratching his arm. Right where his Dark Mark would be. She just realized she had made a dangerous enemy. She also realized that she had a way to shut him up about her secrets....
"Your turn" she said crisply, and literally force fed him the potion. She was going to take no chances of him running to Tryon, and telling her all about her phony identity.
"What's your full name?" She asked quickly and matter of factly. She needed to have time to ask him the 5 questions, plus an extra one before the time ran up...
"Severus Snape"
"What's your birthday?"
"November 6th, 1963."
"Where were you born?"
"Manchester, England"
"Who are your best friends?"
"Lucius Malfoy, Bella Black."
"What do you want to be when you grow up?"
"A potions master, or a teacher of the Dark Arts."
Hermione glanced at her watch; she didn't have much time...
"Are you a Death Eater?"
"Yes."
Slowly, Snape blinked, then looked at Hermione in horror.
"How did you..."
"You keep my secrets, I keep yours. You tell my secrets, I go straight to Dumbledore."
Snape looked at her for several minutes, with complete and utter loathing, before nodding roughly. Suddenly, Professor Tryon was standing above them. She stirred their potion, looking at it critically.
"This is a fine potion, Mr. Snape, Miss Groppet. 10 points each."
Hermione, Snape, and the rest of the class gaped at her. Did she just award Gryffindor 10 points???
"On the other hand, Miss Groppet, you are not on the ground covered in boils, so I can assume that you were not completely honest about being allergic to Veritaserum. Therefore, I deduct 30 points from Gryffindor."
Hermione groaned. Leave it to her to manage to get 20 points taken away form her house the first day she went to class....
She packed up her cauldron, shoved her potions book and quills into her school bag, and walked to the exit, where Lily, Remus, James, and Sirius were waiting for her. They were talking quite animatedly, and didn't notice her walk up behind them...
"So, Remus old chum, are you going to ask her to the dance? You're the only one without a date!"
"I know, but what if she says no? What if she's completely offended by that kiss I gave her? And anyways, don't you think she has a right to know what I am before I involve myself with her?"
"You KISSED her??? Why am I never told these things??"
"Oh, come on Remus, Hershey and I were up all night giggling about that kiss, and she seemed anything but offended."
"Yeah, and its not like your proposing marriage, she doesn't need to know just yet!"
Hermione grinned, her cheeks flushed. If her ears didn't deceive her, there was a dance coming up, and Remus was too shy to ask her. She thought it was adorable, and flattering at the same time. She stood right behind Remus and cleared her throat loudly. Lily, Sirius, and James turned around quickly and grinned at her. Remus, on the other hand, went stiff.
"She's standing right behind me, isn't she?" he asked in a strangled voice. The back of his neck, she noticed, was bright red. No one said anything. Slowly, face as red as his neck, he turned around, to see Hermione grinning up at him.
"I'd love to."
This was obviously not what he was expecting.
"You what???"
"I would love to go to this dance thing with you....if that was actually an offer I dug out of the conversation..."
Remus grinned, as though someone had just offered him a lifetime supply of Drooble's Best Blowing Gum.
"It was definitely an offer!"
Hermione grinned, but the moment was ruined by Lily grabbing her arm and dragging her up the stairs.
"We'll see you boys later; I have to find something for this girl to wear!!!"
Hermione was dragged unceremoniously up to her and Lily's room, where she was dumped onto a bed. Lily looked at her critically, her hand on her chin.
"Hmm....brown hair, brown eyes, pale skin....."
She ran to the wardrobe and started throwing dress robes out onto the bed, next to a shocked Hermione. She didn't think even Madam M's Robes For All Occasions had as many dress robes as the young Lily Evans owned...
Once the pile was several feet high, Lily closed the Wardrobe, and grinned at Hermione.
"I chose a few that might just work for you!"
"Um, if you don't mind my asking, when is this grand ball?"
"Christmas Eve, 7 till midnight. Now, what do you think of this?"
She held out a midnight blue robe. Before Hermione could answer, Lily threw it to the side.
"Definitely not..."
An hour later, they had gone through nearly the entire pile. Some things Lily immediately threw to the side, some she made Hermione try on, but none were up to Lily's standards. Finally they were down to the last two dresses. One was a bottle green, and one was a Gryffindor crimson.
"Oh, Lily, you can't let me wear the green one, it was MADE for you! Let me try on the red..."
And so she did. She buttoned it up, pulled her hair back messily, looked in the mirror, and gaped. This was THE dress. It hugged her curves in just the right way, it hung just where it should, it was simply stunning. It had the look of a custom made dress.
"Oh, it's perfect!" Lily squealed. "I wore it last year, which was really a mistake, it clashed horribly with my hair, but now I am so glad I bought it! Here, take it off, and I'll be sure to ask a house elf to press it before the big night!
Hermione pulled the robes over her shoulders, put on her pajamas, and crawled into bed. She didn't care that she would miss dinner, she was TIRED. With that, she closed her eyes, and was asleep.
**************************************************************************** **********************
KatFay- Oh, no, I LOVE 70's clothes- I was a hippie for Halloween, you know- But Hermione just seems like the kind of straightforward girl who would prefer clothes of her own generation...seriously, can you see Hermione wearing Tie-Dye and platforms??
Dyrim123, someonelse, Chaucer, Fan-Of-HP: Thanks for the reviews!!!!!!!