A/N

Chappie 5. Enjoy

Severus Snape was working on a list. A list of people who could teach the first years how to write with a quill and how to spell magical terms. He only had two candidates. Molly Weasley and Narcissa Malfoy. He had been debating over whether or not to add Andromeda Tonks to the list, but decided against it. She was looking after the Lupin's brat.

Both his candidates, he knew, would do a good job. And he also knew that both his candidates would bring their spouses with them. He didn't know if he could handle all the Weasleys, but he knew Molly would be fairer to the muggleborn students, unlike Narcissa who despite the war still felt a slight prejudice against muggleborns. Though, he thought smirking, Narcissa would also favour the Slytherins and it would be good to finally win back the House Cup. Still smirking, he put the list in the top drawer of his desk and set off for breakfast. He decided to contact both after his classes.

-0-

Hermione had Potions first. She was dreading it. She didn't want to confront Professor Snape again. For once, all 3 of the Golden Trio were reluctant to go to Potions. Hermione didn't know how Harry, Ginny and Ron had gotten into Potions. She didn't know about Ginny, but she knew that both Harry and Ron had only gotten an 'E' on their OWLS, and that Snape still demanded an 'O' for acceptance into his class. She guessed that someone had pulled a few strings for the two of them. They were, after all, Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Harry Potters girlfriend.

Having brought her books to breakfast, having forgotten to the day before, Hermione had no reason to go back up to Gryffindor Tower. She wished she had forgotten something, or that her friends had but no one had. They were, for once, totally prepared.

Sighing, she stood up and together with her also reluctant friends, started her descent to the dungeons. They were among the first to arrive, only being beaten by Draco Malfoy, who looked strangely absent without his cronies. Crony, Hermione corrected, remembering Crabbe's death in the Room of Requirement.

They all stood in silence, waiting for others to arrive. Only three more people arrived. All Slytherins. Blaise Zabini, Theodore Nott and Daphne Greengrass. Hermione was surprised so many Slytherins had got O's. Though, she admitted, Snape might be willing to let a Slytherin who didn't achieve an O into his class.

The door flew open and Snape, appearing from nowhere, billowed in and called for them to follow. Hermione followed by Harry, Ginny and Ron were nearly last to enter. They, as usual, went to sit at the back, where there was three seats; Harry, Hermione and Ron. Hermione frowned. There were only 3 seats and four of them, including Ginny.

They didn't seem to realise, sitting down. Hermione stood frowning, about to open her mouth when she was interrupted.

"Miss Granger, just because you are not sitting with your friends, does not mean you can stand there and do nothing. I have class to teach. 10 points from Gryffindor for standing and delaying my class. Now sit before I take more,"

Hermione sat down next to Daphne, who ignored her.

"Today you will be brewing a burn-healing paste. A rather simple potion, for NEWT students, and something you have already done. That is why you are expected to alter the potion from the original instructions, making it stronger. You will fail today's lesson if you simply brew the potion. You may begin." Snape drawled.

Hermione frowned and her hand shot up. Professor Snape hadn't put the instructions on the board.

"Miss Granger? Unless you have mastered Legilimency and are currently reading my mind, which I severely doubt, to have an answer, you require a question. And, unless my memory is going, I did not ask a question. So please lower your hand" he snapped.

"But sir! You haven't put the instructions of the board! How are we supposed to brew without the instructions! The paste isn't in Advanced Potion Making" she replied.

Snape looked up and glared at her "Miss Granger, a Burn Salve is a simple potion. I assumed that everyone here, had you all done proper research into Healing Potions and Salves as you were supposed to in your fourth year, would be able to brew the required potion without instructions. You are supposed to be NEWT year students. You all got an 'O' on your OWLS" he emphasised the point, glaring at Harry and Ron, who looked away. Ginny blushed.

"For the second and hopefully last time, you may begin" Snape hissed.

There was scuffling, as everyone moved to the cupboards, taking the required ingredients. Harry, Ron and Ginny looked positively lost. Hermione pitied them. She remembered fourth year like yesterday, and remembered 'helping' with all their essays. Hermione both regretted and revelled in it. She regretted that they'd have no idea what to do, but a small part of her was happy about it. Revenge for deserting her.

Hermione watched, smirking slightly, as Harry grabbed several pickled frog legs and lace wing flies. Yes, she thought, Harry's potion would definitely be altered. But not for the best. Lace-wing flies had the opposite effect, and Hermione remembered using them in Polyjuice Potion in her second year.

She chopped up her ingredients and added them to her potion. It was bright orange in colour. Now to alter it. She sat thinking for a few minutes, occasionally stirring her potion. She remembered reading something about strengthening healing potions in Moste Potente Potions. It had something to do with...she searched her memory, trying to remember.

"Aha!" she exclaimed loudly, going back to the cupboards and retrieving more ingredients. She returned to her table and added the ingredients, stirring once clockwise then 13 times anti-clockwise. The potion began bubbling and then turned bright red. Hermione frowned, wondering if there were any other ways of altering her potion. She racked her memory once again but came up blank. Sighing, she bottled her potion and evanseco'd the rest. She named her bottle and placed it on Snape's desk.

He didn't even bother to look up. She scowled. The rest of the class were working frantically on their potions. Harry and Ron were stirring theirs, occasionally adding fluxweed. Scowling, she realised they must have looked at her work and stolen her idea. Their potions, however, were a disgusting shade of green. Ginny's was a dull yellow.

She sat at her desk and watched as Daphne worked. The Slytherin girl was good at potions, Hermione admitted, and she along with the other Slytherins all had bright orange potions. Hermione picked up a quill and began on the homework she knew Snape would give. Suddenly there was a girlish scream and Malfoy erupted in laughter. The Slytherin's attention was diverted, as they too burst into laughter. Hermione looked to the only possible cause of the laughter, and began giggling softly. Ron's hair had caught on fire and Ginny and Harry were desperately trying to stop it. Ron was the one screaming like a girl. Snape looked up and scowled.

He muttered something Hermione thought sounded like 'Stupid idiotic Gryffindor dunderheads' and walked over to the back table. He snarled and launched into a lecture on safety and foolish Gryffindors. Hermione noticed with a small smirk that he still hadn't put out Ron's hair. Finally, after several more screams, Snape gave in and aguamenti'd Ron's hair. The Slytherin's roared with laughter. Ron's hair resembled Mr Weasley's, with a bold patch in the middle. Ron's eyes went wide and he felt his head and the bald patch. Ginny and Harry looked stricken.

"50 points from Gryffindor for setting yourself on fire, Mr Weasley. And 10 points from you, Miss Weasley, for foolish wand waving and detention for you, Mr Potter. Surelythe famous Harry Potter, defeater of the Dark Lord can cast a simple Aguamenti? Be thankful I helped Mr Weasley when I did. Any longer and he may have become bald. Now Mr Potter, please escort Mr Weasley to the hospital wing. Miss Weasley, bottle your potion and get rid of Potter and Weasley's mess. Class dismissed! And 10 rolls of parchment on the ingredients and proper method of the burn-healing paste as homework, due Friday." Snape dismissed. Hermione and the Slytherin's departed, the latter still giggling at and imitating Ron.

Hermione had an hour before Herbology so she decided to go check on Ron in the Hospital Wing. She almost collided with Harry,

"Harry! How's Ron?" she asked her friend.

"He's fine. Madam Pompfrey gave him a hair regrowth potion but she's keeping him in for the night, to make sure he didn't inhale any...err... toxic potion fumes." Harry said blushing. "Are we really that bad at potions, Mione? I mean, I passed my potions OWL but..." he trailed off.

"Harry, OWL year is easy compared to NEWT year. This is our last year. And the teachers are going to pile us up with even more homework. There won't be any time for Quidditch this year, Harry".

Harry looked stricken "No Quidditch? Mione! I can't go all year without Quidditch! I love Quidditch!" Hermione was sure he was leaving out "I love the look on Malfoy's face when we smash Slytherin". "And Mione! I'm the best seeker they've had for years! If it wasn't for me Gryffindor would've lost most of their matches! Do you want it to be like the time before we got to Hogwarts? Slytherin won the House Cup six times in a row!" he finished.

Hermione frowned. If Harry wanted to do well on his NEWT's he couldn't play Quidditch. She opened her mouth to reply.

The curtains flung open, revealing an angry Madam Pompfrey.

"This is a Hospital Wing! I have patients trying to rest! Go, Go! Away! Do not disturb my patients again! Mr Weasley must rest! I have several other patients who are trying to sleep!"

The Hospital door's flung open and Neville walked in, accompanied by Seamus and Dean. Hermione noticed Neville had a rather nasty bruise on his forehead.

"He fell down the stairs, Ma'am. Tripped on the top step then tumbled down and hit the wall!" Madam Pompfrey sighed, muttering something about "Only Mr Longbottom" and walked over to Neville, instructing the boys to put him in a bed while she got a potion for Neville.

Hermione and Harry stood awkwardly as Madam Pompfrey bustled around the Hospital Wing, getting Potions and checking on patients.

Hermione grabbed Harry's arm and led him out of the Hospital Wing. She then remembered that they both still had their Potions book.

"Come on, Harry. We need to get our things for Herbology."

Harry let him lead her down the hallway until he suddenly looked up. "Poor Neville. He's going to miss out on Herbology! And that's the only subject he does well at!"

They both suddenly burst into laughter, laughing at how even after 7 years Neville was still the most horrible student at Potions. The pair also commented on how he had become better in his other subjects, now doing his essays on his own, only requiring Hermione's help for Potions. At the mention of Potions the two began laughing once more.

-0-

Severus was both surprised and annoyed. Surprised that so many NEWT students could not successfully brew a burn healing paste without instructions, and annoyed that only 2 of his Slytherins had successfully brewed and altered the potion. He hoped that it was Weasley being on fire that had distracted them, and not that they were incompetent.

He stared at the bottle marked "Hermione Granger". The girl had a knack for Potions, he had to admit. He hadn't seen such brilliance since the days he went to Hogwarts. And it was not only his subject that she excelled in. He had seen her OWL results. 112% on her Charms OWL. 112%! He had only scored 98%. But, he thought smirking; he had beaten her in Potions. And Defence Against the Dark Arts. And Herbology.

He wondered how many classes the girl was taking this year. He knew the girl had taken 10 OWL's but he doubted she could be taking 10 NEWTS. It was simply too hard. Too much stress and studying.

He knew that Draco was taking 7 NEWTS. Potions, Charms, Ancient Runes, Transfiguration, Arithmacy, Herbology and Defence Against the Dark Arts. Thinking of Draco reminded him that he had to speak to Narcissa. He reached into the pile of first year essays and tucked it into his robes. Walking over to his fireplace he took a handful of Floo Powder.

Straightening his back, he said clearly "Malfoy Manor, Library".

-0-

Lucius looked up as his fireplace burst into life and a man stepped out, brushing ash off his cloak.

"Severus. What a pleasant surprise." He greeted, before summoning a house elf. "Soapy. Get two cups of tea for Master Snape and myself. See to it at once" The house elf nodded and popped away. Lucius gestured for his friend to sit in the chair next to him.

"What brings you here, Severus? McGonagall got her knickers in a twist? Draco? Gryffindors? Money?" he drawled.

His friend shook his head. "No, I wish to speak with Narcissa. I have a proposal for her."

Lucius raised an eyebrow. His house elf reappeared, carrying a tray with two glasses of tea and several biscuits. "Soapy. Fetch your Mistress" The house elf disappeared once more. Narcissa walked through the library doors moments later.

"Cissy. Severus has a proposal for you" Lucius said to his wife. Narcissa raised a perfect blonde eyebrow at his statement. She turned to Severus, eyebrow still raised.

He pulled out a piece of paper from his robes and held it out for Narcissa and Lucius to read. Lucius took the paper and held began to read it. He felt Cissy reading over his shoulder.

He frowned at 'coldrin', sneered at 'flubur worm' and spat at 'poestion'. He heard Cissy gasp several times.

When they had finished reading Lucius held it out for Severus to take, sneering. Severus took the offending essay and put it away.

"What was that?" Lucius asked.

Severus gave them a chilling smile "That is what you would call a first year essay".

Narcissa gasped again. "But...that's horrible! They can't even spell potion correctly"

Severus nodded. "I cannot handle another" he shuddered "p-o-s-h-i-n".

Lucius nodded sympathetically. He'd have hexed the little idiots. "I understand, Severus. What is your proposal for Cissy?"

"I would like for Narcissa to teach students spelling, grammar and how to use a quill." Severus answered.

Lucius nodded again "Are there any other candidates?" he asked.

Severus nodded, sneering "Molly Weasley"

Lucius scowled and looked to his wife. Cissy nodded and Lucius knew that she wanted this job. Traditionally, pureblood wives never worked but he knew she wouldn't stand for such horrible spelling skills. He wondered how the other teachers could stand it. Probably couldn't. But no one ever wanted the job of telling Dumbledore how he could improve his school. Or, it seemed, McGonagall.

Thinking of McGonagall reminded him of a question he had for Severus "Does McGonagall know about your...idea?"

Severus' lips twitched and Lucius knew she didn't. "How do you even know she will accept this idea?" he asked.

Severus smirked. "It won't be up to her. It is up to the Board of Governor's to decide on such matters, and I'm sure several members will vote for it" he drawled.

Lucius smirked, realising Severus's plan. "Ah. I still have good connections with many members. I'm sure that can be arranged. And if all else fails..." he flicked his wrist and tapped his cane "I have even better connections with certain others..."

Severus's smirk widened. The only thing about Lucius that had changed was his status as a Death Eater. There had been a few moments where, in his desperate search for his son, many people thought he had changed. Severus knew better. It was not some dramatic change, a new leaf or anything like that. It was simply a loss of control due to a crazed maniac and a war. It was unlikely to happen again.

The clock chimed and Severus knew he had to go patrol the corridors. Or, as he called it, Gryffindor-Point-Loss. His snakes were smart enough to stay out of the main corridors and into the more deserted parts of the dungeons. The Ravenclaws were smart enough to stay in after curfew and only a few stupid Hufflepuffs stayed out on occasion. They were easy to spot, only going for food or midnight strolls. The Gryffindors were the worst. They were always out, every night, for whatever reason. Usually to find 'secret' places and have 'adventures'. He had heard some of the stories. Battles with trolls in the dungeons and hidden doors to a magical garden on the fourth floor.

"I must bid you goodnight, old friend. Narcissa. Consider my offer. I will expect an owl from you in the next two weeks." He nodded to them and departed.