The next morning, Hermione made her way down to The Great Hall for breakfast. She felt like crap. She wasn't able to sleep much the night before as her thoughts were constantly going back to her own time. She was also nervous about starting classes today. Granted, she had been going to Hogwart's for seven years already, but now students she didn't know surrounded her and the first day jitters were hitting her full force.

She slowly walked into The Great Hall and made a beeline for the Gryffindor table. The first thing she noticed was the Gryffindor's seemed to close ranks, a silent way of telling her she wasn't welcome. She ignored the antics and found a vacant spot of the end of the table. She pulled a small amount of food onto her plate and ate with her eyes down cast. Normally, she wasn't a shy person, but the reaction she had been getting this morning was slightly disturbing.

The first thing was when she stepped out of her room wearing her Gryffindor robes. A girl with long black hair spotted her and frowned. At first, Hermione thought the girl to be Slytherin but upon closer inspection, the girl was Gryffindor.

"Ooooooooooookay" She muttered to herself, confused as to why the girl would look at her like that.

She shrugged her shoulders and continued to make her way down to breakfast.

Hermione had finished her meal and started for her first class of the day – she wanted to get there early so she would have a seat in the back.. She didn't want to bring attention her way.

The class slowly filled in and Hermione ignored the whispers from around the room. She stared at the cauldron in front of her and prayed for the day to end quickly so she could retreat to her room and hide out.

She took a quick peak around and noticed the tables were all full except hers... she was being black listed for some reason.

Five long minute later, The Potions Professor walked in and took a look around the room, spotting her instantly.

"A new student!" the man said in an overly happy voice, "What is your name dear?" he asked

"Hermione Granger, sir." she replied simply

"Ah yes, very good... Now Ms. Granger, are you up to level with seventh year potions?"

"Yes sir" she replied; once again not offering additional information.

The professor eyed her for a moment, seemingly in thought before he asked, "Tell me, How good is your brewing?"

Hermione looked around and noticed the lot of curious faces staring in her direction. She squared her shoulders and decided to put these people in their place a bit, she wasn't going to stay shy and reclusive... she was in class – her element – and they were not going to intimidate her.

"I successfully brewed Polyjuice Potion in second year and before I came here I had just mastered Wolfsbane Potion... I received high marks in Potions through out my education."

The professor looked dumbstruck, "That's quite an accomplishment for a witch of your age." He stated then gave her a smile.

"Thank you sir."

The professor gave a nod in her direction and proceeded to tell the class about the day's potion. Hermione smiled at the easiness of the potion having been taught that very potion in sixth year.

"Have you heard of this potion before Ms. Granger?" The Professor's voice suddenly boomed

Hermione startled for a split second, having a Potion Professor that didn't act like she had the plague was a change for her.

"I learned to brew this potion last year sir."

Whispers suddenly rose around the room, as did the eyebrows of her Professor, "I'm impressed" he stated simply.

This time Hermione nodded and waited for him to start the class, she was ready to brew – it would take her mind off everything.

He gave the instructions to observe the ingredients carefully before going to the supply cabinet but Hermione didn't need to... the potion was a simple one – for her at least. She made her way to the ingredient cabinet without opening her book and gathered the supplies she needed. She double checked, reading through the list in her mind once more before she made her way back to the table – and then froze.

She had picked the seat in the middle out of habit. She had sat between Harry and Ron for so long, she didn't thinks twice before selecting the middle seat at the new table. Unfortunately for her, the two boys that took the seats of where her best friends would normally sit, were the two she hoped to avoid at all cost... Malfoy and Snape.

"I see you two have finally decided to make an appearance." The professor stated while looking at Severus and Lucius.

"Sorry sir" both replied in unison.

"Just don't let it become a habit." He replied, "Now, This here is Hermione Granger and she will be at your table for the rest of the year... I suggest you get along." He finished in a warning voice.

"Yes sir" both replied in unison once more.

Hermione took her seat but didn't speak to either of them, nor did they speak to her. She concentrated on brewing her potion and ignoring the two that watched her as she made the potion without referring to her book once... The professor also noticed.

She noticed out of the corner of her eye that Snape was smirking at her, "You messed up the potion you know." he stated calmly.

Hermione quirked an eyebrow, "Did I now?" she asked in a knowing voice.

"Yes" Lucius added, "You see, it appears you may be better off opening your book as you skipped a step."

Were they insulting her work?

" I can assure you, that I did not muck up my potion." she replied while giving her potion a final clockwise stir.

She peered down into her cauldron and smiled at the perfectly brewed potion then raised her hand.

"Yes Ms. Granger? Do you need help?"

"Uh, no sir. I – uhh- I'm actually finished and wanted to know if you needed a sample."

The professor smiled, "I suggest you check your potion Ms. Granger... It is impossible for you to be finished already.. The potions takes a full hour and a half."

"Sir, would you just come check it? I'm positive it is of passing quality."

The professor sighed and moves from his desk to the back of the room, all eyes of the students were watching to see if she had in fact – screwed up.

The professor looked into the cauldron and frowned... it was the perfect color and consistency.

"How did you do this?" he asked

"She skipped a few steps sir." Malfoy replied, "We told her she messed it up."

The professor glared at Lucius, " Mr. Malfoy, if you would have taken the time to look at the potion, you would be able to see that it is indeed perfect."

"How?" Severus asked, "surely this... Gryffindor isn't above the rest of us."

"Ms. Granger, would you mind explaining?" The Professor asked.

"Well sir" she started, "You can add the snake scales at the same time as the bat saliva... it saves about twenty minutes and doesn't mess up the potion."

The professor seemed to run it through his head then smiled, "I'm surprised no one had thought of that... it does make sense."

"My old potions professor was a very smart man." she stated

The professor smiled, "It would appear so Ms. Granger... it would appear so."

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The class ended about half-hour later and Hermione was more then happy to be out of that room. She had apparently made the other students uncomfortable with the fact that she was slightly more advanced then the lot of them... but they didn't know about her strive to be ahead of the game either.

Hermione made a bee line once again back to her room. She had a free period and would rather spend it alone then have a ton of students staring at her like she had grown a third leg. As she rounded the last corner, a voice called out behind her.

"Hey.. Wait up"

Hermione groaned, she would know those voices's anywhere. She turned and came face to face with Severus and Lucius.

"Where did you learn that?" Severus asked

"From my old school." she said quickly

"Who was your professor?" Severus asked

Hermione groaned; she didn't need this. He would think she was a loon if she told him the truth.

"Professor Sanders" she replied quickly, "brilliant man really"

Lucius was about to reply when the same black haired Gryffindor from the morning approached, "Show off" she replied dryly, "And I would watch who you associate with" she added with a pointed glare in Severus and Lucius's direction, " Slytherins are an... Unseemly lot."

Hermione shook her head, " I will choose who I speak with and who I don't. I am perfectly capable of making my own decisions."

"Your call" and with that, the girl walked away.