Rodrick's gaze caught Malfoy about to duel someone in front of their potion's Classroom. He decided to call out towards the five idiots up front.

"Malfoy put your wand away, will you," Rodrick's voice cut through, surprising Blaise. The boy simply turned towards him with raised eyebrows, before a small smirk took over, Grindelwald was slowly getting used to his influence in the house.

Nott, on the other hand, snorted when he saw Malfoy begrudgingly put his wand back into his holster, the blonde glared in return.

Rodrick rolled his eyes before he moved closer towards Potter and Weasley.

Harry had a surprised expression on his face. 'Malfoy's actually listening?' He didn't think the git had the mental capacity for it.

"I don't need you morons spoiling my favourite lesson," He remarked absentmindedly, eyeing Weasley. The boy still had his wand in hand.

"That's his reason..." Tracey spoke, she'd been about to watch the duel unfold. Even Daphne had looked amused by the prospect.

"I don't know what you expected," Daphne remarked laughing.

Draco crossed his arms in a huff muttering something incoherent. 'Sure him starting a war and all is fine? I try to duel someone from said house and it's too much? honestly, where's the logic?' he thought. When he saw Nott still smirking he felt inclined to hex the boy to death.

"What's wrong Malfoy? Scared?"

Malfoy turned his glare from Nott towards Weasley. "What was that!?" He demanded through grit teeth.

The tension was quickly rising before to everyone's amusement, Granger had practically snuck up on Weasley, taking his wand from his hand.

"Honestly, the lessons in a few minutes," Hermione remarked.

Harry sighed before agreeing with her and heading into the classroom, hoping to take one of the seats in the back.

Ron was not amused, he tried and failed to get his wand back from the girl.

"Give it back," Ron made another attempt to grab his wand.

Hermione moved back before sighing, exasperated. "Snape will be here soon,"

The words seemed to stop Weasley for a second. "Oh, fine, whatever," he remarked raising his hands. It was a few seconds before Hermione gave him his wand back.

The Slytherins, particularly Malfoy and Nott were openly laughing at the small show. Rodrick was not amused.

"Now whose scared Weasley?" Malfoy just had to do it.

"Enough, Snape will actually be here soon, go in!" Rodrick spoke up before anyone else. An Irritated look on his face.

Daphne chuckled before she and Tracey made their way in. Rodrick turned towards Malfoy and Nott. "Well?" he remarked.

Nott had been about to make a joke before taking a look at Rodrick's face and deeming it unsafe. He shrugged before entering the classroom, Malfoy in tow. The blonde still openly smirking at the retreating Weasley.

The crowd of third years quickly filtered into the classroom following that.

"Didn't know you had it in you," Blaise remarked.

"Like I said favourite lesson" He watched as Blaise slowly made his way in, when he noticed Rodrick wasn't following he raised an eyebrow at the boy but was waved off.

The moment Blaise was in the class, Rodrick turned towards Hermione, the girl had been going through her bag to find something.

"So, what happened?" He questioned with crossed arms.

Hermione turned up to stare at the boy, "What?" she questioned warily.

"You used a time turner to get here. Why?"

If Hermione was surprised by the question, she didn't show it. "You could tell huh?" She remarked sheepishly.

"You literally popped up out of nowhere," Rodrick remarked amused.

"Disaster averted is all I am going to say," Granger replied automatically, before adding on. "Besides you do that as well,"

Rodrick blinked before a small smile took over. "I do don't I?" he remarked to himself, chuckling at the thought. "But still, that's thanks to invisibility charms."

Hermione narrowed her eyes slightly.

"Which I am certain you aren't capable of casting," He remarked a grin on his face. 'There's more than one way of playing this war,' He thought to himself as he waited for Granger's, potentially explosive reaction. She was a Gryffindor.

Hermione wanted to punch him. She didn't for Harry's sake. He'd warned them, although Ron certainly hadn't learnt it, the fact Rodrick had a habit of trying to, well, piss people off. She hadn't believed Harry. Then Rodrick practically exploded the Gryffindor's food, she hadn't forgiven that and if she was honest the punch was more for that then now. So instead of falling into the little trap, she closed her eyes, took a deep breath, opened them, a steely gaze in place as she stared at Rodrick and then simply went into the classroom. Ironically, Occulemency helped. She was astounded to how useful that skill was, she hadn't learnt it to the point where she could stop a mind attack, god had she been surprised people could do that, but it was enough to calm her emotions which frankly helped make her year go far more smoothly.

Rodrick stared at the retreating Granger before frowning. 'Granger's learning that charm by the end of this year...' He didn't think she'd react like that.

...

Snape had been about to begin the lesson, he'd just finished the roll call. The subject already writ on the board...

'Knock'

He heard the sound come from the door, he sighed as he turned towards the source. "Behave," he remarked dangerously, levelling a glare towards Potter's small group. Before he left through the door, intent on greeting whoever had deigned to interrupt his class.

His eyes narrowed when he found Farley, one of his prefects.

"It better be important," he remarked dangerously, crossing his arms.

The girl to her credit didn't flinch. She quickly told him the headmaster required him in his office.

Severus narrowed his eyes at the words. "Surely the headmaster can wait, I am about to begin a lesson," he pinched the bridge of his nose.

Farley merely shook her head, "He said I was to cover until you return." In other words, the headmaster wasn't taking no for an answer... Not that he ever did... Unless it involved Grindelwald who seemed oblivious to the Headmasters annoyance when he disregarded rules. Which he did quite a lot. Either that or he simply didn't care, and as long as he made sure to leave no evidence, the headmaster's hands were tied. He couldn't exactly tell him to stop being a Slytherin...

"He was rather insistent on the matter,"

The words made Snape's gaze snap towards the girl. He sneered but held himself. 'At least he sent a Slytherin.' Not that the thought made much difference.

He turned to enter the classroom before to his surprise he found Grindelwald, relaxed against the door, arms crossed...

Snape momentarily narrowed his eyes, "Eavesdropping is unbecoming."

Rodrick shrugged. "You didn't say we couldn't leave, just told us to behave." He remarked, an amused smile on his face.

Snape almost rolled his eyes, before a thought quickly popped to mind, a small smile in place. Who was he, if not a good head of year for helping encourage the boy's Slytherin qualities... The fact that it went against Potter and Gryffindor as a whole had nothing to do with it. Nothing at all.

"Come," he simply demanded.

Rodrick blinked before following the professor into the classroom. Farley raised an eyebrow at the boy, surprised the professor hadn't bothered to punish him. She chuckled when she realised even Snape seemed to like the boy.

The class's attention quickly shifted to the three entering the class. Harry Potter frowned when he saw Rodrick with an amused smile on his face.

"Told you he wouldn't get in trouble," Ron remarked, "Seriously unfair don't you think?"

Hermione rolled her eyes, "I am sure he must've had a good reason," she defended the professor.

"He was eavesdropping, he admitted to it before he left," Harry shook his head. It seemed whatever favour he could've gotten from Snape had been given to Grindelwald. They all watched as the Professor explained the situation, telling them how something had come up and he was leaving Farley in charge.

Harry merely stared at the seventh year. He didn't know much about the girl but she seemed pleasant.

Ron snorted, "Yea, like another Slytherin will make things better,"

"You never know, she might even give us points," they heard Neville mutter from behind. He looked relieved at the sudden change.

"Doubtful," Ron replied, disdainfully.

Hermione huffed, she certainly hoped Neville was right, it would certainly help if they could finally get some points out of potions. God knows they haven't had any of those. It seemed her thoughts had practically been heard.

"Oh, for that matter, all points go through Rodrick. To keep things fair, he should have an idea of how they work in this particular class." Snape remarked, an amused glint in his eye.

"Oh come on!" they heard Ron call out.

"10 points for calling out Mr Weasley,"

It wasn't Snape that said that.

Rodrick grinned when he saw Ron slowly turn red.

Snape snorted, he hadn't even left and the brat was already starting on the Gryffindors.

Daphne rolled her eyes. There was no point to taking points with the house cup guaranteed, she knew he was doing it because he could.

"We are screwed," Harry Potter remarked, openly gaping.

"5 Points for language Mr Potter," Snape heard Rodrick remark as he left through the door, a small smirk lining his face.

"This is going to be fun," Malfoy spoke with a glint in his eye. Nott merely nodded his head.

...

"Alright, that's enough!" Farley called out, her voice echoed through the room, causing most of the class to quickly realise why she'd been made a prefect. Harry realised the girl could be intimidating when she wanted to be.

Hermione felt a kinship with the girl.

Malfoy sneered at the girl.

Farley, it seemed, had a much better success rate getting Gryffindors to correctly make a potion, compared to Snape. While the potion hadn't been difficult to make, atleast in Rodrick's opinion... Even Neville looked like he was doing relatively well. The lesson would've been going well had it not been for the fact several Gryffindors started throwing things around. Losing points in doing so. The Slytherins did it too... But they didn't lose points for it.

"I thought you were supposed to keep things fair?" Farley couldn't help the words. The boy was currently sat on top of the table, wand in hand. Every time a student did something stupid he'd hex them and take away points.

"I am, this is quite similar to how any potions class usually goes,"

Malfoy scoffed. The Gryffindors had lost twice as many points than usual, Snape was downright merciful compared to him. He turned around bringing his wand up in an attempt to hex Potter...

"Expelliarmus!" Harry Potters voice rang out hitting Malfoy in the face.

"10 points for casting a spell in the classroom Mr Potter,"

"He had hi-" Harry started before he took in the words... For casting a spell... Malfoy had only just taken his wand out... He had to hand it to the guy he knew how to work around the rules. Begrudgingly he admitted that slip, he should've waited for Malfoy to cast first.

Malfoy looked pleased with himself.

"Imagine if you'd never decided to back him, you know tried to take over things yourself?" Nott whispered beside him. "If I remember correctly, you certainly tried to,"

"I don't know what you're talking about," Malfoy remarked, unwilling to look the boy in the face. He had originally wanted to do that... He wasn't sure when he'd realised how stupid it was to go against a Grindelwald but from Warrington's current place, who was 3 years ahead of them, he was glad he didn't bother. Grindelwald was cunning and powerful. A dangerous mix. While he could handle cunning... He knew if it came down to it, he'd lose. He wasn't as powerful. As much as it irked him, Grindelwald was powerful... The only year that could probably hold there own were the seventh years. If Warrington hadn't been in the sixth year, he might've considered them... Of course, other than killing a basilisk, Rodrick had actually not shown off much in terms of power. But he doubted there was anyone in their year capable of that... Even then he wasn't sure if there were seventh years capable of casting unforgiveables...

He turned his attention in time to watch Rodrick stun a Gryffindor about to throw something into a Slytherin cauldron.

"Do that again and I'll have you thrown in detention with Professor Snape,"

"You can't do that," Seamus replied, a frown on his face.

Rodrick turned to Farley, " Can I do that?"

Farley chuckled before nodding.

"You've got to be kidding," Dean remarked from his friends side.

"As if she'd say no." Nott remarked, he was amused to see the girl in question turn to him with a raised eyebrow. A challenging look in her eye.

"Behave," Rodrick remarked towards the third year.

Nott rolled his eyes before turning back to his cauldron.

"I wonder what he meant by that..." Farley remarked staring at the third year orphan.

"Not a clue, don't take the Hufflepuffs words too seriously," he deadpanned.

Nott twitched. His mood turning sour when he heard Farley start laughing.

"What did you think was going to happen?" Malfoy scoffed beside him.

Nott grumbled, his words too quiet to hear.

"If I see anymore wands out I'll be taking points for that alone." Rodrick remarked.

As the lesson went on Farley watched as everyone seemed to settle into their work, mostly for the fact that Rodrick was actually giving points out for each successful potion, he himself was currently going around helping most of his group.

"Shouldn't you be making this yourself?" Daphne remarked amused, the boy had settled between her and Tracey, keeping check of both their cauldrons.

"It's rather simple, bit boring really," he remarked absentmindedly, amused to see Daphne almost mess up a part of the recipe, clearly annoyed by the words.

"Of course it is..." he heard Blaise mutter incoherently.

Tracey just chuckled until she saw her cauldron start simmering. Getting an approval of a nod from Rodrick, she relaxed back into her seat.

"Think he'll help us," Neville remarked from his seat.

Hermione turned around to see the potion and found it stable. "You don't need it," she remarked surprised. She idly wondered how much of the boys failure stemmed from Snape, the man was likely to be surprised to see the number of successful potions. It was only halfway and already more Gryffindors had completed more working potions then the average per a lesson.

"He means in general," Harry spoke up, carefully putting knotgrass into the cauldron.

"Doubt it," Ron scoffed.

"You doubt a lot of things," Neville replied back.

"I do not,"

"I doubt that," Harry Potter quipped, earning chuckles out of his friends.

Ron rolled his eyes before turning back to his cauldron.

"5 points for messing up the potion Weasley," The small group of Gryffindors heard Rodrick remark from the front, he was idly sitting on the teacher's desk, grinning.

Farley shook her head, she had decided to simply take a chair. She'd practically handed the reigns over, the boy was amusing, very amusing.

Ron frowned before glaring back up at the grinning Slytherin. "I haven't even finished it!"

"And at the rate you're going you won't," Rodrick fired back.

Harry Potter quickly realised what Rodrick was trying to do. "Ron. Calm down!" He tried to warn him.

"No," Ron suddenly remarked getting up. "He's just taking the bloody piss now," he crossed his arms. And on cue. Ron's cauldron exploded.

"25 points for language and blowing up your cauldron," Rodrick remarked, smiling.

They heard Malfoy snort from the front.

Ron was still glaring at the Slytherin, his anger slowly growing.

Hermione was staring at the cauldron before she'd realised what had happened. Ron had mixed two volatile ingredients together, he was meant to add a third to prevent the two mixing badly... Rodrick had seen it and spoke up to delay the process. She was shocked at how accurate the boy was. She turned her head to see Ron take his wand out.

Farley was watching the exchange with a steel mask in place. Weasley had his wand out but he wasn't aiming at anyone.

"You want the charm to clear up the mess?" Rodrick questioned, his amusement increased the moment he heard Malfoy start laughing.

Ron had been about to remark before Farley had gotten up. "Please take a seat, Mr Weasley," she remarked carefully, her wand out as she cleared the mess up herself.

"I think he blames all Weasleys for that ghost event," Harry suddenly whispered to Hermione, the girl absently nodded in return. Her attention focused on the possible mayhem.

"It'll be a shame when he suddenly turns to you... Considering you put the black box there in the first place," Hermione decided to add, amused to see the look on Harry's face pale slightly.

"Right..."

Ron merely glared off at the seventh year, "Why don't you tell him first?" he remarked indicating Rodrick. The boy was still sat on top of the desk.

"I am already sitting," Rodrick deadpanned.

"Sit down Mr Weasley," The prefect remarked thinly.

Ron narrowed his eyes, ignoring Farley "On a chair, like the rest of us,"

"5 points for arguing with the professor," Rodrick couldn't help himself.

Ron twitched. Raising his wand, he made to cast off the first hex to come to mind, however, he watched in slight shock as Rodrick quickly disappeared from sight. He blinked a few times wondering where the boy had gone before he felt a wand point on the back of his head.

"Please keep all war-related activity outside the classrooms," he spoke holding in a chuckle. He raised an eyebrow at Potter, the boy calmly sitting in his chair avoiding his gaze.

Hermione couldn't help the surprised look on her face. "That was a wandless Disillusionment charm..."

"Non-verbal actually" Rodrick clarified, "I had my wand inside my sleeve. You know just in case," he added on, using his wand to indicate Weasley. Hermione nodded, somewhat relieved. Non-verbal wasn't as difficult as wandless, quickly she realised even then it wasn't exactly easy.

"Bloody hell," Ron remarked, surprised before he simply slacked into his chair with a sigh. Putting away his wand. He was surprised at how easy the boy made it look, he could see why Malfoy listened... He doubted the git could pull that off.

"5 More points for language," Rodrick idly remarked as he walked back.

Harry almost laughed when he saw the vein appear on Ron's face. He'd never admit it but fellow Gryffindors, to his misfortune, were surprisingly easy to rile up. The boy hadn't been joking about that. He was friends with both of them, he couldn't exactly choose sides. Sure Ron might've been one longer but Rodrick had freed Sirius. He'd be hardpressed to ever forget that fact.

The fact that between the two he was far more capable of taking an angry Ron over an angry Grindelwald had nothing to do with it whatsoever. Especially considering the fact that the Marauder's map didn't seem to pick up on him at all...

When the twins and he had realised that... Well, it was almost scary. He was glad he was on good terms with him. They had no idea how or why he didn't show and they couldn't exactly just find out... He had been tempted to ask his defence professor about it, but the twins had warned him against it.

The irony would hit them later on that same week. How they'd tried to keep the Marauders map from one of the makers themselves.

...

Severus Snape watched with amusement as Grindelwald tore more and more points out of the Gryffindors, his amusement, however, was short-lived when he'd remembered what he was doing in the headmaster's office in the first place. The man had wanted him to wait for someone, that particular someone unnerved Severus a great deal. Sirius Black.

Memories of his Hogwarts years flashed through his mind. He held back a sneer. To think he was likely to deal with all that nonsense once again, almost 2 decades later... He shook his head. Black was going to be teaching History. He couldn't wait to see how badly that turned out. The idea of that man teaching... And history for that matter... He had third years who could do a better job, which frankly didn't say much... At the same time, he also had third years who were utterly hopeless with the subject... Severus sighed, a frown marring his face. There were more Gryffindors comfortable with the subject then Slytherins... Black wasn't going to let that go.

His thoughts idly went onto the reason he was in the office. As always it seemed something that could rattle the headmaster simply had to involve Grindelwald. The student he'd left in charge... Judging by the points he doubted anyone would let it go. He remembered his own time, where the smallest of things would irritate someone to curse others. If anyone had attempted what Grindelwald was doing... He doubted they'd last the day. That wasnt even taking his own conflicts...

Snape breathed in calmly at the memories. However, before he could simply lock them away... A small thought occurred... It was the orphans behaviour... It reminded him of someone he'd known.

The fact he eerily resembled Black and Potter in his time didn't sink in, antics wise, he wouldn't let it. Besides those morons had been hated by Slytherin in any case, the Gryffindors surprisigly only considered him a mild annoyance...Although he knew Potters circle seemed to like him... That hadnt made any sense to the potions professor, it was McGonogal who had mentioned it. Unlike Black and Potters relationship with slytherin. so it wasn't exactly accurate. Both to his and the headmaster's surprise, the boy was quite popular amongst the houses. Killing a Basilisk certainly has some upsides, ingredients wise aside of course.

The headmaster, on the other hand, had suddenly found himself in pursuit of something relating to the boy's orphanage. He'd left today to speak with such a person about it, leaving him to wait in case Black decided to, god forbid, come on time.

...

To his fortune, the headmaster had returned first. However, the look on the man's face sent chills down Severus... What on earth could he have found out?

"I am guessing it didn't go well?" he questioned.

"For once Severus, I am not sure what to think,"

That was new. He had never seen the headmaster lost before, in fact, he wasn't sure he'd seen the headmaster this... Worried? Severus was about to ask further before Dumbledore spoke up again.

"I met the boy's caretaker," he remarked, "A squib if you wish to know," he added on.

Severus raised an eyebrow at the words, "And?" he pressed on.

Dumbledore locked eyes with the potion professor. "The woman was frightened, terrified of the boy,"

If the words surprised the potions professor, he didn't show it. "I am not surprised, a squib having to take care of a child with that much pow-"

Dumbledore shook his head. "Perhaps... However, this particular squib has dealt with what any other would consider far worse..."

Severus narrowed his eyes, "What do you mean? Who is this person exactly?"

"Her name is not important... Her childhood on the other hand..."

Severus waited, waited as he watched the headmaster's face process something.

Dumbledore stared up, meeting Severus's eyes and spoke.

"She had at some point lived in an orphanage herself..." The words slowly dropping the temperature in the room. "With none other than Voldemort himself... As a child of course, back then merely known as Tom Riddle."

Severus, however, stood with the same look of shock... "A coincidence?" The idea of such a person raising a Grindelwald... He wasn't sure what to make of it.

"Not the problem itself, the woman knew who Voldemort was... She'd known him as a child and yet in her mind, she believed Rodrick to be far darker... To be capable of far worse..."

Snape narrowed his eyes, he'd met the dark lord. If there was anyone who understood the possible danger it was him. And yet the look on the headmaster's face had simply stilled him.

"What does it mean?" Severus merely questioned.

"I do not know... What I do know is there will likely come a time where that woman's words may be shown to be true."

"And?" Snape questioned further.

"That is the problem in of its self Severus, there is nothing to prepare for..."

Snape quickly understood the man's point. He felt himself tense up when he realised the implications himself. Grindelwald's goals... Just what were they? At least with Voldemort, you had a good idea of what needed to be done but Grindelwald? where did he stand on all this? He wasn't evil, as far as any of the professors could tell but then again the same thing could be said about Tom Riddle's school years. While his age could be commented on... The fact was Severus as well as the headmaster knew the boy had some pull with Malfoy of all people, it wouldn't due to simply ignore him after that. That's not even taking his achievements into account. So far the boy had seemed to take an interest in irritating Gryffindors, something he had approved off... Quite openly for that matter... He had literally left the boy in charge of house points, if that wasn't approval...

"Did it ever occur to you, perhaps you're overthinking it?" Severed tried, he'd been the boy's head of house for the past years, he didn't get any dangerous vibe out of him.

"Have you attempted to read his mind?" Albus suddenly questioned.

Severus to his own surprise merely shook his head. He'd been tempted of course but that was the problem in of itself. He'd never been tempted before, pulled to a person's mind... That was the only reason he hadn't. Judging by the headmaster face, the man had certainly attempted it.

"What did you find?" He couldn't help the question.

"A shield... A very powerful shield"

Severus frowned, that was the first he'd ever heard of such a thing.

"His mother was quite over protective it seems..." the headmaster seemed to stop in his tracks, his attention pulled to something in the room.

It seemed as if by luck, the headmaster's face had quickly scrunched up in horror.

Severus didn't react. Dumbledore had just seen the current house standing. Thoughts about the boy's potential darkness quickly disappearing as he turned back to Severus with a frown. "This is hardly acceptable," The man remarked towards him, he might've sold the cup but even he wouldn't go so far as to give the boy the reign over the ranking system... Not that it really mattered, atleast in this year's case.

Severus eyed the points, before snorting. Grindelwald had removed over 50 points from Weasley alone. He made to leave after that. His thoughts once again returning to the future history Professor.

Albus sighed as he watched his potions master leave. Even the man seemed biased towards the boy. Which was hardly surprising. The boy was a Slytherin, frankly, he should be worried at how his Tranafiguration seemed to favor the boy. Before he could contemplate that fact further, he watched as Sirius Black floo'd into the office.