Here is the next chapter. For future reference Tom Senior is Tom Riddle and Tom Junior is Harry Potter. For the purposes of ease in this story Tonks will be in her third year now not her last one. Please read and review thanks, love Angel x
In the morning Severus went into the staff room where everyone was waiting to hear how his detention had gone yesterday evening. He had decided to use a different tactic then he would have normally as he was interested to see what would happen. "Good morning everyone. I know you're all wondering about my detention with Miss Granger yesterday evening. As you know I am not obliged to tell you what I had her do but suffice it to say she got so cocky and sure of herself that she not only nearly seriously harmed me but herself as well. She didn't seem to even think of her own safety. She told me she knows more than anyone in this school but that's just silly arrogance. I'm not worried about that!" he said grabbing a cup of coffee from the table and taking a sip.
"I understand Severus and that would also explain the point loss. To be quite frank she's been so silly and sure of herself lately that I'm not even going to bother contesting the point loss as she obviously deserved it!" Minerva said shocking Severus as he'd not seen it coming at all but of course being the way he was the shock never showed on his face. He was still a Slytherin after all it wouldn't do to so openly show emotions.
"I am putting something new in place in my own class and I would strongly advise you all to do the same. Last night Hermione Granger told me she would do anything to sit beside Tom Potter in all of his lessons even cursing the teachers to get her way. In my lesson I am putting in place a seating arrangement which will be held for the whole of the term. I will be doing this for each of their lessons they have with me and would advise you to do the same!" he said carefully as Minerva blanched.
"Ok everyone we need to talk. I probably should have mentioned this before but I genuinely forgot with everything else going on. In a few weeks Hermione Granger turns twelve. Last year each evening Albus would go to her home and teach her the first year curriculum. According to him he was just preparing her so she wouldn't stick out like a sore thumb when she arrived here. He wasn't shy about letting me know either and did not forbid me from sharing it with you so I am. Severus is right we all need to adopt seating plans in our classes. Also I will be putting wards on all classroom doors so she cannot cast spells at the teacher in the room. I don't think her a real threat but I've never been one to take risks unnecessarily either" she said seriously as a lot of the staff members seemed shocked.
"I understand she couldn't come last year what with not being eleven at the time technically but why did she matter so much? I've known other people that this has happened to from time to time and Albus has never gone each evening to teach those students has he? I realise you've been super busy so probably didn't notice it but I'm not busy like you and I did notice it!" Filius said with a huge frown. They all agreed to the seating plan. Tom Potter would sit beside someone different in each of his lessons and none of them would be Hermione. Severus had already said he'd sit beside Daphne in his lesson and so on. They exited to the staff table in the great hall just as the students were arriving. Tom was very side tracked by Lucius' letter to Draco yesterday and not at all focused. It was for this reason that he didn't react when Hermione sat beside him. He pulled some sausages and toast onto his plate and took a cup of tea. When he touched the cup however one of his rings he didn't know which told him there was a potion in it which shouldn't be there.
He frowned knowing Hermione had been behind it as Ronald wouldn't have been smart enough to do this and no one else would even bother. Hermione turned to get a book out of her bag and he quickly switched his cup with whoever was sitting beside him. He didn't even look but when he did he chuckled internally. There sat beside him was Goyle. Daphne was in front of him and she smiled at him. He smiled back and she blushed. He was so very attentive to her needs and she loved him for it. He had massaged her feet yesterday night when she complained about them hurting her because he knew it was the nice thing to do and she had been so excited and amazed when he'd done it. He was so kind and caring with her.
Hermione stared at him intently her eyes glowing as he took a sip of his tea. She was making it far too obvious that something was up with his tea which others noticed at once. Those Gryffindors always wore their hearts and emotions on their sleeves it would seem. She was very obvious. Even Goyle was wary for him and Goyle appeared to be as thick as two planks. He told everyone with one look that he was handling it and everyone nodded back that they understood. Severus watched this in fascination as his whole house had obviously come to some sort of understanding he'd learn about later on. Goyle took his guzzling it down and promptly passed out as those around him shrieked. He was allergic to one of the ingredients and Tom took him to Madam Pomfrey. He used magic to make Madam Pomfrey give him a core unblocking potion after she'd healed him. There was a blast sound and he was full again. When Crabbe came to visit him he too got one whilst Poppy didn't remember it. He erased both of their memories too. At least now that he was sure they had full cores he could sleep better at night. He'd decided to shell out a couple of thousand galleons for a couple hundred goblin made rings imbibed with protections from most poisons and warnings built into them so others wouldn't be poisoned unnecessarily. He'd essentially damaged Goyle himself so saw unblocking his and Crabbes core as an accurate way to say he was sorry inadvertently. Magic herself didn't hold a life debt against him considering he'd reacted so quickly.
"Thank you so much Tom. If I'd not gotten here on time it could have been very bad indeed. Somehow I feel clearer inside and it's great. I can't explain it. I've always felt off somehow. Well either way whatever it was is gone now and I'm just relieved. Can I go now Madam Pomfrey?" he asked her as she smiled at him.
"Yes dear. Please come back here again before lunch for your last potion and it should be all out of your system. The majority of it is now gone but we cannot give too much allergy potion all in one go so we do so in stages. Thank you Mr Potter for bringing him here so quickly we need more proactive students like you in the school. Ten points to Slytherin for quick thinking in a potentially dangerous situation indeed. It was not the Weasley twins attempting to prank Slytherin either. I have discovered this was a potion of loyalty and not a prank potion. I have no idea as of yet who it was meant to make him loyal to but I will keep working on it!" she said patting his shoulder affectionately as he got out of bed and she returned to her office.
"I know it was Granger Potter and part of me thinks it might have been aimed at you but I could be wrong although I think we all know that's doubtful. I will get back at her too mark my words! But I would like your advice and input. You did save me after all!" said Goyle as they walked to their next lesson. Hermione had better watch her back.