The sunlight streamed through the window of the girls dormitory and onto the grumpy face of our dear Clara Claret. Her sleep had been clouded with thoughts of Draco and what his plans were for this year. She was feeling miserable about what this year would bring.

But besides the negatives, it was the beginning of classes, so she needed to wake up and get ready. This took no time at all, since Clara did not have to fuss too much to make her new self look presentable, and within minutes the first girls were moving in their sleep and releasing those first morning yawns. They get up much earlier than the Gryffindors. Clara couldn't help comparing. She noticed Pansy hadn't moved. She went downstairs before the spiteful girl could.

The common room, an indescribable combination of green and silver, was littered with a few wakeful students who sat alone and in groups of three at various tables around the room. No one looked up when she entered. Not even Blaise, who was reading a large volume in his quiet corner.

"You're up early." Clara said as she approached him. He jumped out of his book.

"Bloody hell! What are you trying to do?" Blaise hissed. Clara cracked a small smile.

"What are you reading?" She asked instead of answering his question. Blaise sighed.

"I dunno, it's about a bloke who travels the world in search of some rare equestrian breed or something another." He closed the book and turned to Clara, who was now occupying the seat to his left.

"How're things coming along?" He asked amiably. She knew what he meant.

"Nothing has happened yet. The last thing he threw at me was a complaint." She told him blithely, talking about Draco. Blaise flinched.

"Well, just try and keep an open mind about it." He advised. Clara 'hmphed' and the conversation ended. It was just in time that it did, too, because a large male came bounding down the stairs. John Brody, cocky seventh year extraordinare, scanned the common room. He spotted Blaise, a friendly acquaintance, and most importantly the pretty new sixth year next to him.

"Blaise, how are you?" John asked as he walked over to the two in the corner. He didn't give the younger student any time to answer. "Oh, hello, who are you and why haven't I ever met you before?" Brody took Clara's hand and made to kiss it.

"Erm, I'm Clara Claret." She answered, a little unsure of this new fellow. She wasn't sure how many arrogant people she could deal with, and this boy clearly was.

"What a lovely name." He said.

"What'd you come over here for, Brody?" Blaise interrupted, looking impatient.

"Why to say hello to a good friend and introduce myself to our new student." He spoke smoothly, his voice like melted chocolate, Hermione thought, though it had an opposite effect on her. "Unfortunately, I must get going, but I hope to be seeing you again, Ms. Claret." He smiled, a charm that was his trademark, and walked away.

"What a pity." Blaise said sarcastically from beside Clara. When she asked him why he didn't seem to like Brody, Blaise mumbled something about him always getting the "datable Slytherin girls."

Clara couldn't help but smile at the way it reminded her of someone she used to know.

Clara was completely prepared for Potions exactly one minute before class began. Students were chattering excitedly around her, informing each other on events of the summer and what not. Jemma was not taking this class and Blaise was sitting next to Draco at the next table, so there was no one, really, to talk to. Unless she ventured over to the Gryffindors at the table over, but she knew how those things ended. She rearranged a quill in front of her.

"Harry, don't be ridiculous." Clara's ears perked at the sound of that voice. She would recognize it anywhere.

"I know what I saw Ron. I'm telling you, it's happened." The conversation was cut off from Clara as Professor Slughorn walked into the room.

"Alright class; put your stuff away for now. For the first part of our class we will be discussing various potions. Gather 'round." The class got up to stand around the professor's desk, where three cauldrons were set up.

"Now, can anyone tell me what this potion is?" Slughorn asked the class, referring to the first black pot, which was overflowing with a blue mist. Clara's hand shot up in the air of its own accord.

"Ms. Claret." He spotted happily.

" Veritaserum, sir." From behind her, Harry and Ron looked at one another.

It was strange, to say the least, that Hermione Granger was not there to claim her title as know-it-all. But to have the new girl – and a Slytherin, too – retake that position so quickly, well, it was a little unnerving. Several others noticed this behavior and were suddenly struck with the realization that Granger was not there.

"Very good. Ten points to Slytherin." Two boys in the back clapped hands. "What about this one? Ms. Claret."

"That's Polyjuice Potion."

"Well done. Another Ten points to Slytherin." He rewarded again. "And finally, ah, Ms. Claret seems to already have the answer to this, also."

"Amortentia, professor. It's the most powerful love potion in existence." Clara approached the kettle as if drawn to its contents. "To every person, the smell of their true love is different." Clara now seemed in a distant place, fancying distant ideas, perhaps. "For instance, I smell old wood… spearmint toothpaste and new robes…" Clara's cheeks warmed as she came out of her reverie. She had been a little too caught up in the potion.

"Good, good. Now, everyone listen up, because I have a little contest for you all…" The class listened intently as Slughorn described the potion they had to make in exchange for the Liquid Luck given to the person who brewed it best. The prize would give the winner luck for an unmentioned amount of time.

"You have one hour. Get to it!" On his mark, the class raced to their stations.

For the next hour, Clara diligently followed the instructions in her text book. She hardly noticed the outside world – or the rest of the classroom's progress – while she performed each small task one after another. Cut the beetles… stir this way, stir that way… should turn "clear as water." Draught of the Living Dead really was a little complicated when you got right down to it, but Clara was just stirring counterclockwise for the last cycle when Slughorn called time.

"Instruments down!" The professor sidled up to Harry straight away. It was obvious he had been done for a while.

"A perfect brew!" Slughorn appraised after he had tested it. Harry beamed. "I think it's obvious who the winner is."

How did he do that? Hermione wondered. Potions had never been his forte. In fact, he had barely passed with an Exceeds Expectations last year, so how did he so quickly acquire this new talent for Potions? Hermione pondered this as Harry accepted his award. Still thinking, she slowly packed her belongings and exited the room last. An arm around her shoulder surprised Clara.

"Cheer up love." Blaise told her. Only she, him and Draco (who didn't look at her) were in the corridor. "You can't be good at everything." She glared daggers at him.

"I assure you, I am." She told him angrily. She broke away from him and stomped down the hall. Blaise turned to Draco.

"You reckon there's more Slytherin in her than we thought?"

By dinner that night Clara was feeling tired. She had wondered about Harry's performance the whole day. To say the least, it was bothering her. Yes, she still outperformed her classmates in every class when she wasn't delved in deep thought, but it could only distract her so much. Had her transformation something to do with why she had been beaten by Harry, of all people? Not that she thought him stupid; Harry was very smart, it was just unlikely that he ever best Hermione at something academic. But, of course, she wasn't Hermione anymore….

But that was utterly ridiculous! Clara still felt like Hermione, and thought like Hermione. No, it was something else. But what?

"Clara, what's bothering you?" Jem asked her cousin. They were among the first to arrive at the Great Hall which was progressively filling up with students. Clara had stayed very quiet on their way down to supper, and Jemma noticed.

"You've hardly said a word." Jem said.

"It's nothing. Really. I'm just… getting used to everything is all." Clara reassured. She decided it did no good to sulk over her misgivings, so turned her full attention to a conversation with Jem. Halfway through it, Blaise appeared with Draco.

"'Lo ladies. How are we this fine evening?" He asked with gentlemanly flourish. Draco left a space between him and Clara when he sat down. Clara ignored him. After a talk with her cousins and an apology to Blaise for her attitude earlier – which he accepted with ungentlemanly flourish – the mouth-watering meal began and everyone dug in.

In the middle of a yummy pot roast that was quelling Clara's low feelings (not that she ate her emotions), Draco discreetly stood up and headed toward the exit. Blaise, ever the acute best mate, narrowed his eyes at Draco's back suspiciously and turned his gaze to an oblivious, un-caring Clara.

"Clara." He called. She resurfaced. She followed his gaze to Draco's retreating figure in front of the Great Hall doors. Blaise looked at her imploringly. She pouted. His face took on a stern appearance. Clara huffed loudly.

"Save me something." She asked of him before throwing her napkin onto the table and getting out of her spot to follow her fickle fiancée. She made care to swipe her low heels against Blaise's arm for interrupting her meal as she swung them over the bench.

A few people took notice of both Draco and Clara's departure, but only one took any action. He rose out of his seat two tables away, not bothering to excuse himself, and quietly exited the dining room a few minutes after Ms. Claret.

Silence engulfed the room Clara was in as soon as she closed the door. On top of the stairs she could see Draco turning a corner and disappearing from sight. She hurried over to the stairs.

Clack. Clack. Clack.

Curse her heels! They were small, sure, but their sound echoed around the hall in the loudest way. She froze, but went on again when nothing happened.

Her venture up the marble stairs was quieter now, and continued without any problems. When she got to the top, the floor was dressed with carpet, so now she only had to worry about a heel getting caught in the plush expanse beneath her feet. Draco's back could be seen turning another corner. She crept further on.

She moved quite stealthily, ducking behind all the right pillars at all the right times. What could he be doing? Clara wondered. It probably has something to do with his mission. She realized. He looked around himself a lot – probably looking for followers like Clara – but never found any. She crept even closer to him, completely ahead of herself, and managed to trip when her stupid heel caught onto the stupid carpet.

Thud.

Clara grabbed herself just before she headed straight to the floor, but it was too late; Draco had heard her foot against the floor. He turned around wildly, looking for the culprit, and found her leaning against an ancient wooden desk. His eyes narrowed dangerously.

"I knew someone was following me." He said under his breath. "What are you doing?" He demanded quickly. Clara drew herself up.

"What am I doing? What are you doing, leaving in the middle of the feast!"

"That's none of your business."

"Actually, it is." Clara enunciated for him.

"Well, this isn't." He snapped. Clara was quiet.

"Draco," She tried softly this time. "What are you doing with Crabbe and Goyle?"

"That's none of your business either!" He argued. "Go back to the feast."

"Draco, you have to tell me what you're doing!"

"Actually, I don't." With that he turned his back. "And don't try following me again." He warned over his shoulder. Clara watched him until he turned another corner, this time at the far end of the long hallway. From here, it made no sense where he was going.

What are you planning, Draco Malfoy?

Gee, Draco is really determined to conduct his task on his own. Tsk, tsk.

Now, there are a few question answers I have decided to post here, just in case. I may start answering certain questions here now, if nobody minds.

To reina13, who I already answered but which I have decided to post here: Yes, Harry and Co. WILL eventually find out Hermione's "secret." Though, honestly, it won't be for a while. Obviously, Harry and Ron will notice strange correlations between Clara and Hermione, like in this chapter, but I can't tell you when or how it will happen otherwise, because it would ruin the story!

Now, to tinawinna: I'm not sure if I ever thoroughly answered some of your questions, but I'll do so here to clear up any confusion some people may have. Yes, Jemma is my own creation. I thought Clara was going to need someone to talk to, for obvious reasons, and a family member who knew her problems was the best way to go. She'll gain more of a presence in due time!

So, Hermione/Clara's birthday is coming up! (Both in the real world and in this one) I admit that I never actually planned a chapter for her birthday, which will probably the next one. That means it'll probably be a shorter one. However, that doesn't mean it won't be exciting.

Anyway, that's all I have for now. Be back soon!