Hello there !

Thank you so much for following this story and putting it on your faves. Thanks too to the people who send reviews and pointed out to me that Malfoy doesn't takes an "e" in the English version. Don't worry, it'll be written properly from now on.

I love translating this story for you and I'm really happy to see that you're enjoying it as well !
With all that said, there's the chapter you were waiting for :

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Previously on Private Course : Hermione was abducted during Bill and Fleur's wedding and put in isolation until the start of the school year. She was welcomed into Snape's office, the new Headmaster, who told her that she was a Half-Blood and that she had to follow a private course with Malfoy.

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Chapter 2 : Hogwarts

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Totally disoriented, Hermione mechanically headed to the Great Hall. Snape's words jostled in her head... Half-Blood... Half-Blood my ass ! It was preposterous ! She was a Muggle-Born, that's all. But why did they bring her to Hogwarts then ? And where did the results of this pseudo-investigation come from ?

She didn't see Malfoy pass her without even a glance. At least, she had her wand back and could make up a plan in order to leave and find her best friends.

She stopped at the refectory's entrance, looking for friendly faces. With relief, she saw Luna sitting at the Raveclaw's table and Neville, seated at the Gryffindor's one. She dashed toward him.

- Neville ! Thank Merlin ! The witch exclaimed.

- Her... Hermione ?! Her friend stammered, a wild look on his face. What are you doing here ?!

- Not here... she whispered. I'll explain everything later, away from prying eyes.

Neville looked at her with a lack of understanding but didn't have time to say anything more before to unknown wizards gave them their schedules. Hermione studied hers and horror froze her face.

- What in Merlin's name ?! What the hell is this ?! The young woman shouted.

Apparently, she wasn't the only one to discover the "improvements" added by the New Regime for the first time. She had normal classes like Transfiguration, Charms, Herbology... And optional classes, like Arithmancy, Runes or Potion but two new classes had been added to her schedule : Muggle Studies and Mastery of the Dark Arts, this last one clearly replacing Defence against the Dark Arts.

Even worse, most of her classes were shared with Slytherin and a "private course" was scheduled on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Neville flashed a glance at her schedule, as disgusted as she was, and asked her:

- Ah ? You have prive courses too ? I'm supposed to help Nott in Herbology and he's supposed to help me in Potion even if this class wasn't even on my curriculum anymore... I'm sure that it's Snape's twisted idea in order to force me to keep studying his former subject... Who did you get ?

- Malfoy... Hermione grumbled.

Her friend immediately gave her a sympathetic look.

- I ran into Luna earlier, he explained. Apparently, she has to put up with Darius Harper, Slytherin's seeker. She has to teach him Care of Magical Creatures and he has to help her in Charms.

- Humpf ! Hermione spat with disdain. It seems that the D.A is under surveillance.

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The young woman had very little appetite after her interview with Snape, but then she lost it completely. She flashed a glance to Slytherin's table and saw Malfoy looking right at her with an amused and haughty look on his face. She studied her schedule again and grouched :

- Apparently, we're startng with Muggle Studies and Alecto Carrow. Hum... This name sounds familiar...

- Yeah, she was In the Astronomy tower in June when... You know... Neville muttered. Snape introduced her to us yesterday evening during the feast. Her brother is teaching "Mastery of the Dark Arts". Apparently, they'll both take care of their disciplines with Filch. They're the ones who gave us our schedules.

- Oh joy !

On that note, the two wizards rose and headed toward their classroom, quickly followed by their classmates.

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Hermione instinctively sat next to Neville, slightly dreading what would be taught by a Death Eater during Muggle Studies. Alecto Carrow entered the classroom without grace and curtly asked them to stand up.

- The Master wants his disciples to be united in their differences. No more cronyism, you'll sit were I tell you to. Longbottom, next to Nott. Thomas, next to Goyle. Brown, next to Parkinson. Granger, next to Malfoy...

Obviously, Granger next to Malfoy. Everything was arranged to ruin her life. The wizard sat heavily next to her with a sigh. At least, Malfoy's life too was ruined. Well that's something anyway. Hermione gave him a jeering look and got a piece of parchment and a feather out of her bag, ready to take notes.

- Very well, Professor Carrow continued. As you might have seen, the Dark Lord wanted this subject to be mandatory in order for you to comprehend why it's important that Pure-Blood maintain their superiority? During this year, we'll demonstrate, thanks to scientific studies, how much the Mudblood and Half-Blood are inferior to us... Yes, Miss...?

- Granger, Hermione Granger, the witch specified, lowering her hand. As a Half-Blood, will Ibe excused from this class ? Clearly I'm not concerned...

The Death Eater's face turned red and an icy silence fell on the room. Malfoy flashed her a sidelong glance.

- You'll come here at six o'clock on Saturday and we'll have a private talk about you blood status, Miss Granger. Now stop interrupting me and start taking notes.

The class resumed in a tense atmosphere. However, for the first time in her life, Hermione refused to take notes and spent her time glaring at the teacher with a look filled with hatred and challenge.

For her great misfortune, she had Transfiguration after this class, and was, once again, accompanied by Malfoy. Fortunately, Professor McGonagall didn't ordered a specific placement and Hermione couldn't help but giving her a thankful look.

During her lunch break, she sat beside Neville absent-mindedly and exchanged a few trivialities with him. She didn't want to risk being heard by prying ears.

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In the afternoon, she ended up in Potion, nearly alone among Slytherins. Neville had been forcefully reintegrated to this class even if he had abandoned this subject after the OWLs. And, without a surprise, Slughorn paired up students from different houses. Hermione caught a few sorry looks but he made no comments about the reason behind her presence in his classroom.

Apparently she was gonna hate Tuesdays.

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At the end of the class, Hermione looked at her friend and they wordlessly agreed to meet to speak about recent events.

The witch casually headed to the bathroom on the second floor, Moaning Myrthle's bathroom. She was quickly join by Neville and, surprisingly, by Luna as well.

- Hello, she greeted them distractedly. I'm happy to see you again. Bill and Fleur's wedding ended abruptly but it was truly a beautiful ceremony...

- Indeed... Hermione answered. Hello Luna.

- So, Hermione, Neville said. Where were you ? What are you doing here ? I thought that only Pure-Blood and Half-Blood were allowed in Hogwarts now...

- I'll explained, but first... Have you heard from Harry and Ron ? the young woman asked.

- They apparated with Dinny. Professor Lupin saw them, they were fine. I don't know anything else, sorry...

Hermione exhaled, relieved. She hadn't realised how much she was choked by anxiety since she had been abducted during the fall of the Ministry. Apparently, Neville informations were outdated, but at least she knew that they managed to leave and Ron had her purse then, so maybe all hope wasn't lost.

- And you ? the wizard insisted.

- I've been caught by a Death Eater and locked up for a month. No news, no visits, nothing, the young woman explained. Then, yesterday I was brought into Professor McGonagall's office, who explained nothing to me, and I saw Snape this morning. According to him, the investigated my blood and my grandfather was the last descendant of a long line of Pure-Blood and Vol.. You-Know-Who, she corrected herself, is "magnanimous" because I'm not responsible for having a squib as a mother.

She let out a scornful sound and continued :

- Which is absurd. I'm a Muggle-Born, there's no doubt about that.

- Why would he make this story up then ? Neville asked.

- I thought about that... I think I'm under surveillance. Almost all my classes are shared with Slytherin, I'm stuck with Malfoy every time and I have this bloody private course with him. I mean, Snape claims this is some kind of training in order to serve You-Know-Who.

- Personally, I think you're here as bait, Luna pointed out.

Hermione went silent, dumbstruck. She hadn't thought about that but still, it was obvious ! Between students and teachers, the news of her arrival was gonna leak and reach her friends, for sure. She really hoped that the wouldn't try to get her out of here.

- I think you're right, Luna, she said. It seems so obvious ! What an idiot I am !

- It's also possible that they really found those informations about your ancestry, she continued. To be honest, I think that Snape's version is also valid. The discovered that you are a Half-Blood and decided to recruit you... but they're keeping you under surveillance to lure Harry here. One doesn't cancel the other out.

- If they think they can force me to betray Harry, Hermione said angrily, they can shove their wands you-know-where !

- Luna is probably right though, Neville answered. You're the best witch I know. If they have the opportunity to add you to their ranks, they must think they have to take that chance. And if it doesn't work, well, you can still be a bait. Hogwarts is the safest place on Earth. It would be easier to keep you here under surveillance from the teachers and a bunch of Slytherin and Death Eaters that in a cell.

- And my blood status, where did that came from ? Hermione asked.

- I don't know, Neville stuttered.

- Maybe Dumbledore made that up before he died, to keep you safe ? Or maybe they invented it themselves, Luna offered with a distracted voice, her eye drawn to the sink. It'll be easier to plot with a Helf-Blood than with Muggle-Born.

Luna lived in her own world, so much so that Hermione sometimes forgot she was a Ravenclaw.

- That's possible, the witch agreed. Well, we should eat and go back to our common rooms before being caught. We also have to start thinking about a way to get out of here.

The three wizards parted and headed in different directions to avoid drawing attention.

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Hermione's night had been restless and she was rather confused when she headed to breakfast the next morning, before going to her first Arithmancy class. She was supposed to have a private course with Malfoy today, but it had been cancelled because they hadn't attended any Mastery of the Dark Arts or Arithmancy classes yet. She was now heading to the room where this last class was dispensed, dragging her feet. Without surprise, the Professor Vector made her sit next to Malfoy, who was as annoyed by the situation as she was.

After lunch, she went to her first Mastery of the Dark Arts class. This subject was taught by Amycus Carrow, who also paired them up with Slytherin. Once again, she had to sit beside Malfoy, but this time they were both unresponsive, like weighed down by the fatality of their situation.

It was a theoretical class, and a boring one at that. Amycus explained them, again and again, that the Dark Lord was powerful and that, despite what he was gonna teach them, they'll always be insignificant servants compared to his impressiveness.

Hermione took some notes in order to keep some kind of composure and as soon as the class ended, she dashed to her common room to avoid running into Death Eaters. She was already fed up. She had to make up a plan to leave and find her friends.

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Thursday wasn't better. Fortunately she had a Rune class with Ravenclaw, which allowed her some quiet time, but the rest of her day was spent with Slytherin and especially with Malfoy, who tried his best to ignore her instead of harassing her like she thought he would.

Hermione felt herself being overwhelmed. No matter where she was going, she always had the sensation of being followed, like someone was moving in her shadow to spy on her every move. However, when she turned around to see if she was really followed, no one was there. She didn't know who to trust, the lack of news about her friends filled her with worries and the inactivity was gonna drive her crazy. Her night was, once again, tormented and she was still tired and tensed when she got up the next morning and decided to go eat something before classes.

This morning passed by very slowly, as usual. Hermione never felt so bored during class. Professor Flitwick's class wasn't as it used to be, like the teacher tried not to show any enthusiasm and the Mastery of the Dark Arts class had been as useless as the last one. Amycus Carrow wouldn't be able to convince her that this kind of magic was beneficial, anyway.

During lunck, Neville sat next to her with a sigh :

- First private course this afternoon... I wonder how they could think it would be a good idea !

- At least you'rs with Nott, Hermione pointed out. I have to put up with Malfoy.

The wizard made a face, sympathetic. The young woman silently ate the food in her plate and headed heavily to the room assigned to them.

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Hermione entered the room and sighed before dropping her bag. She had no idea how those private courses were gonna go but she couldn't imagine it to be productive. Malfoy ignored her since their interview in Snape's office but she knew him well enough to know she had to stay vigilant. She was standing next to the black board when Malfoy arrived, 30 minutes later. Without any preamble, he attacked her right away :

- If you think I'm gonna let you do your little Know-It-All act with me filthy Mudblood, you're...

- Didn't you heard what Snape said ? Hermione interrupted him, tired of the constant state of tension she lived in for weeks. I am NOT a Mudblood, I'm a Half-Blood. You'll have to find new insults Malfoy !

- Yeah, right, he spat. All this, this is bullshit ! You're as much a Half-Blood as I am !

- Oh really ? the young woman feigned a surprise look. So, from what side are you Half-Blood ? Not from daddy's side I'm sure, I sax him at the Ministry, remember ? Death Eater, Pure-Blood and all that, no doubt.

Malfoy was railing, giving her dirty looks and coming dangerously close to her, wand in hand.

- Hum, Hermione said, acerbic. I'll put my money on mommy then, app...

Malfoy rushed toward her before she could finish her sentence and pined her to the wall, his forearm pressed against her throat. His eyes were filled with rage as he glared at her before whispering :

- Don't ever talk about my parents again, you filthy bitch... You are nothing, you're worthless and Snape can say all he want, but we both know you're just a filthy and impure Mudblood.

While Malfoy was insulting her, she was trying to get herself out of his grasp in order to catch her breath. Finally, she kicked him in the crouch with her knee and when her opponent bended over in pain, she pressed her wand against his throat. You leaned to meet his eyes :

- Don't underestimate me, Malfoy. I'm not scared of you.

Then, she took a step back, picked up her bag and leaved the room without looking back.

Only after a hundred meters, when she was sure to be far enough, did she leaned on a wall and slid to the ground, her body shaking uncontrollably.

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Sooo... What do you think about this new chapter ?

Things didn't go so well between Hermione and Draco for their first private course but then again, who thought it might be otherwise ? Furthermore, the question remains unanswered : Is Hermione a Half-Blood, a Mudblood, a bait ? Who knows !

I hope you still like the story and that my translation isn't too bad ! If you like this fanfiction, don't hesitate to join me on Facebook ( TheWritersLair), or on my Website (TheWritersLair . Net) and to follow Lyra Verin, the original author, on FFnet.

As for me, I'll see you on the next chapter !