"I know you have a lot o questions, Hermione, but this time is only appropriate for certain subjects. What I will say, on a personal note, is that you remind me so much of myself at your age." Lily smiled, and the young woman in her office blushed.
"I was muggleborn too, you know. But something I had the chance to do in Professor Slughorn's class that Severus would never allow, was experiment with potions."
Hermione gasped. "But magical experiments are extremely dangerous! MacGonagall said just-"
"Minerva says many things." Lily waved her hand dismissively. "Most are wise but few are truly original. Transfiguration is by far the most dangerous, but potions is surely second. This is why Horace found it best to let us attempt experiments under close supervision, rather than pursuing them decades later, on our own, guided only by cracked old parchment."
Hermione nodded slowly.
"So I have arranged for you to be given the opportunity to do so, along with a selection of other students Severus has selected as good candidates for N.E.W.T.s in potions."
Hermione froze, gaped momentarily, and straightened up before responding.
"You're putting me in a room with a dozen older Slytherins and that GIT of a professor? You don't expect me to actually learn anything about potions, do you?"
Lily cracked a smile.
"I'm glad you've learned to loosen your tongue a little bit. But Severus is an old friend, you'll be safe. You have, however, correctly identified that learning about POTIONS is not your primary objective..."