Chapter 2: In the Potions Classroom

In the classroom, a very irate potions master glared at his 7th year NEWT class as they bustled around their bubbling cauldrons with as much enthusiasm as fly stuck on tape.

The-boy-who-lived-and-lived-and-lived-to-annoy-certain-black-clad professors glanced every so often towards the back of the classroom with his red-haired mook of a friend as if expecting the know-it-all to come flouncing in with some ridiculous excuse as to why she needed to take away his precious potions time doing Merlin knows what. In any case, that much needed distraction turned the Weasel and Potty's potion into a dribbling mass of brown goop instead of the vibrant blue color it was suppose to be.

Severus Snape smirked.

"20 points from Gryffindor for sheer lack of knowledge on the most basic of colors one would learn as a three year old child, Mr. Weasley and Potter." And with the flick of his wand and a muttered incantation, the potion disappeared from the cauldron to their dismay and anger. "And you both will receive 0 on today's lesson."

Snape could here Draco Malfoy's snicker at the back of the classroom.

Glancing over to the empty seat next to Longbottom's just-as-atrocious-attempt at brewing, in which the color of his potion was a rather vibrant pink, Professor Snape couldn't help but wonder what has kept that chit-of-a-girl away from his classroom. As annoying as she may be, she has an impeccable sense of timing. As far as he knows, in seven years, the Granger girl has never been late.

Just as his musings came to a halt, a sudden noise came from the classroom door. Aha, speaking of the girl.

"It appears that Miss Granger has decided to grace us with her presence after all. 40 points, Miss Granger, for all the time you have wasted of mine," Snape effortlessly spewed as he watched the girl struggle with her books to her seat, her face hidden behind the pile. "Oh, and Miss Granger, please use your so called 'intellect' and use a reduction charm on your books. Any idiot can see you struggling. Or is it that you have been sitting too long these past few years in the library and could use a good does of exercise. It certainly couldn't kill you to lose a few pounds," he sneered, sneaking a glance to the remainder two of the Golden trio.

'Red does not suit your face, Mr. Weasley, so please control that barbaric temper of yours."

Hearing the girl's panted breathing, Snape turned towards Granger's desk to see her struggle further to place the books on her desk. With a flourish of his wand, the books shrunk to 1/8th of its size and he was able to see the chi for the first time since she entered the classroom. "Well, you miserable girl, why are you so late for my class?" he sneered, again. Standing shakily with one hand gripping the desk so tightly that her hands turned an even whiter shade than her already paled complexion, Hermione Granger spoke so quietly with her head down that he could barely make out what she has said.

"What was that, Miss Granger, speak up and look at me when I am addressing you." Snape was becoming increasingly angry for every second it took for her to formulate her answer. "Shaking in fear, no doubt, some Gryffindor bravery, Merlin's arse, she can't even lift her head to look at me."

"Pro-pro-professor!" Neville Longbottom was attempting to spill out. "I don't think Hermione is well!" Just as he finished his sentence, Granger seemed to have lost all ability to stand and tumbled head first into the dungeon floors, wrenching.

She fell do quickly that even the former spy couldn't use his quick reflexes to catch her.

"Damn." He muttered as the class gasped (or cheered if one belonged to Slytherin). "Class dismissed!" and all of the potions disappeared from the cauldrons. Mostly everyone seemed hesitant to leave, including Potter and Weasley but with the most commanding voice he has ever used, Snape bellowed "GET OUT OF I SWEAR THE NEXT PERSON WILL BE THE ONE ON THE FLOOR LIKE GRANGER FROM MY TWO HANDS STRANGLING YOU FOR NOT LISTENING TO ME IN THE FIRST PLACE!" and with that, the class left so quickly, Snape could have sworn they all Apparated.