Disclaimer: Anything you recognise does not belong to me. A lot of the dialogue is taken directly from either the book or the movie Philosopher's Stone. I wanted to use the book, but unfortunately I have lost my copy :/ So, most of it is from the movie.
Apologies about the long wait between chapters. Exams are all over now, so hopefully I can update quicker. Anyway, here is the next chapter.
Severus flung the door open and swept into the classroom where the first years were waiting. He figured it was always best to leave a bit of an impression, show them that they couldn't get away with anything in his class.
He spun to face them, and began his customary 'Welcome to Potions' speech.
"There will be no foolish wand waving or silly incantations in this class. As such, I don't expect many of you to appreciate the subtle science or exact art that is potion making. However, for the select few," here he looked at Draco Malfoy, who smirked, "who possess the... predisposition: I can teach you how to bewitch the mind and ensnare the senses. I can tell you how to bottle fame, brew glory, and even put a stopper in death."
He surveyed the room after he'd finished speaking. His gaze fell upon Harry Potter, who, of course, wasn't paying attention. Typical. Surely Hermione could do something about it. Oh, no, she's watching me. Never mind.
"Then again, maybe some of you have come to Hogwarts in possession of abilities so formidable you feel confident enough to not pay attention!" he added, glaring at Potter. Hermione nudged him.
He decided to test the boy a bit. Surely he would think he didn't need to read over his books before coming here. Clearly he was as arrogant as his father.
"Potter! What would I get if I mixed powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?" Severus smirked as the boy shook his head. Hermione's hand shot up. "You don't know? Let's try again. Where would you look if I asked you to find me a bezoar?"
Potter said "I don't know, sir," as Hermione's hand stretched even higher. Of course you know, Hermione, but please, put your damn hand down! I'm not going to ask you!
"And what is the difference between monkshood and Wolfsbane?" The boy claimed he didn't know yet again, and Hermione actually stood up this time, stretching her hand toward the ceiling.
"Put your hand down, girl." He turned to Potter. "So, you thought you wouldn't open a book before coming, did you? I can tell you now, Potter, you won't get preferential treatment. Not from me."
He smirked again at the look on the boy's face, which was a mixture of fury and confusion.
Severus proceeded to give Potter the answers, and quite happily deducted points from him.
He then set them to making a very basic potion, which most first years should be able to handle. Of course, that didn't exactly go to plan. Ah. I forgot how clumsy Longbottom is. Hell, from a teacher's perspective it's even worse. Hang on, Potter's sitting next to Longbottom. Points...
Severus stormed over to the Gryffindor boys, where Longbottom was covered in his exploded potion, and Potter and Weasley were staring at him, not knowing what to do. Severus inspected the potion, and immediately knew the problem.
He goaded Harry a bit more, saying that it was the boy's fault that Longbottom had added the next ingredient at the wrong time. He took some more points, then sent Longbottom up to the hospital wing.
Why do I get the feeling that this is going to be happening a lot in this class?
Things over the year progressed smoothly, or rather, as smoothly as they ever could at Hogwarts. Cauldrons were still being melted (Longbottom), potions were still exploding (Longbottom and Finnegan), and Dumbledore was as annoying and twinkly as ever. The only bright side, for Severus, was that Hermione was now twelve, and had been for two and a half months. Three years, nine months, one week, and five days. Ugh, that's too long. I wonder if I can travel into the future and bind up my future self? Problem solved. No. No more time turner business. Ever.
It was October 31st, and the entire school was in the Great Hall for the Halloween Feast. Nothing seemed amiss, apart from the absence of one teacher. Severus noted that Quirrell was missing. Of course, that didn't help Quirrell's reputation in Severus' books. He knew Quirrell wanted the Philosopher's Stone. For Voldemort. Severus was glad he'd lived through all this, so he had a general idea of what was going to happen. He knew what he had to do: he had to try and stop him from stealing the Stone.
Severus scanned the hall, doing his daily check on the Gryffindor table, and, in particular, Hermione. Even though she was only twelve, he still liked to make sure she was okay. Hold on. Something's not right. Where is she? He scanned the table twice more before he was positive he wasn't there. Where the hell is she? This didn't happen last time.
Apparently he wasn't the only one who'd noticed. Albus had as well.
"Minerva, is anything amiss with Miss Granger?" That captured Severus' attention, and he listened closely.
"Not as far as I know. Why is that?"
"Oh, it just she appears to be absent. I've never known her to be late for anything, or absent, for that matter."
"Oh, you may have Mr. Weasley to thank for that, actually, Albus," cut in Flitwick.
"Ronald? What did he do?"
"Well, he commented on how... annoying he found Miss Granger, and she left in tears. Although, that was earlier this afternoon, so I don't know where she actually is."
Severus frowned. Before he could think about it anymore, Quirrell burst through the doors of the Great Hall, screaming, "Troll! In the dungeons! Troll! Thought you ought to know." He fainted.
The noise that followed was deafening. Dumbledore ordered the prefects to escort their houses back to their common rooms, and the teachers to go to the dungeons. However, Severus had other ideas. He was torn between going to the third floor, where Quirrell had surely gone, or to find Hermione, and warn her. Although the likelihood of her being anywhere near the dungeons voluntarily wasn't fantastic, the troll could be anywhere. He didn't put it past Quirrell to let it in somewhere else, as a diversion.
He decided on Hermione. Her safety was more important to him than some stupid rock, and someone else could deal with Quirrell. He left through the teacher's exit in the hall, rushing up and down stairs and through corridors. He was on the second floor when he spotted Potter and Weasley crouched behind a statue, muttering about finding Hermione.
He carried on around the corner, acting as though he didn't see them. He pondered for a moment if he should keep looking for her, then decided that Potter and Weasley and their Gryffindor-ish heroic tendencies could sort out Hermione. Severus continued up to the third floor to try and catch Quirrell.
He pushed open the door where Hagrid's three headed dog was 'hidden', and saw nothing amiss. Unfortunately, the dog did, and lunged at Severus before he could get out. One of the three sets of teeth made contact with his leg, wounding him, and he left, limping.
On his way down, he encountered Quirrell and McGonagall.
"We've located the troll," said McGonagall. "It's in a girls' bathroom on the second floor. Come."
The four of them ran down the stairs, onto the second floor and into the bathroom, where they were met with a sight they didn't expect.
The troll was lying, clearly unconscious, on the floor, with Potter and Weasley standing next to it, holding their wands. Of course. They hadn't thought to look for Hermione. They just wanted the glory of knocking out a troll.
McGonagall demanded that Potter and Weasley explain what happened, and Severus smirked. He couldn't wait to hear how they were going to worm their way out of this one.
"It's my fault, Professor McGonagall." Severus looked over to where the voice was coming from, and was shocked to see Hermione, robes drenched, and covered in dust.
"I went looking for the troll. I've read about them and thought I could handle it. But I was wrong. If Harry and Ron hadn't come and found me, I'd probably be dead," explained Hermione. Severus frowned. Even fifteen years later, he could still tell when she was lying, and now appeared to be one of those times. Covering up for Potter and Weasley, Hermione?
He turned and looked at the two boys, and saw Potter looking down at his legs in confusion. Severus looked down, and saw that his cloak had moved slightly, revealing the ripped pant leg, and with it, the injury. He moved his cloak back and glared at the boy, before focussing on what was happening.
McGonagall proceeded to take points off Hermione, and awarded some to the boys.
Severus took his leave. When he arrived back in the dungeons, his thoughts turned to Hermione and, in particular, what the Weasley boy said to her. Bloody imbecile. He could have gotten Hermione killed! Yes, she may be only twelve, but if anything happens to her...