Due to the hostility that most of the Slytherins would give off at seeing two Gryffindors their age leading them into the classroom, Severus had gone and gotten them, scaring the socks off of most of them probably as he slammed open the door, "Inside. Now."

The two houses split up, as they were prone to do, Slytherins on one side, Gryffindors on the other, a far shake from the last class where there had been a light mixing of the houses. Hermione and Alexander were sitting up the front, on Severus desk actually, and were pleased when Neville and Faye took the front bench.

Of course, the first thing that was heard from either student or professor once inside of the room was Weasley spouting off, "What are they doing up there? I thought they were put back into 1st after being caught cheating."

"That will be detention for you Mr Weasley, with Professor Snape on Saturday," Hermione said pleasantly.

"You can't do that, you aren't a professor"

"Shut up Weasley," Faye hissed, "If you hadn't been more worried about there not being any food last night then you would have heard Headmistress McGonagall state that they were Assistant Professors, which gives them complete rights to give you detentions until you flunk out of 3rd year for the 5th time."

"Thank you Miss Dunbar, 5 points to Gryffindor," Alexander awarded before turning the floor back to Severus, "Professor Snape will now explain what is going on so that there are no further questions."

The wizard glared down at the two houses, "This term you will be taught by Assistant Professors Granger and Potter; you will treat them with the respect they have earned by being the youngest people to receive their Masteries, and by being a member of the Hogwarts staff. They have all powers that any other professor has, and will use them, even if that means placing you in detention until you've been here as long as Filch has been. One iota of disrespect that I personal learn about will be met with fierce punishment, is that understood?"

There was a murmuring of, "Yes."

Severus sneered, turned and gave his wards a secret wink before sitting at his seat. Now that that was out of the way, the demigods got started with Hermione speaking and Alexander passing out numbers to the students, "In this classroom, we are in charge and we will attempt to teach every one of you about the subtle and sensual art of potion crafting. As such, we have no time for house rivalries or blood status, so there will be none. You are students, be you Gryffindor or Slytherin, pureblood or Muggleborne, it doesn't matter. AP Potter is handing out a number to you all, there is a corresponding number on your seats, find where you are meant to be sitting but don't attempt to swap numbers with someone. This feud between lions and snakes has been going on for far too long, your founders would be severely disappointed in all of you."

"How would you know that?" Tracy Davies, a Slytherin witch asked, not so pompously, as she found herself sitting beside Dean Thomas.

"Because we've read Salazar Slytherin's journals, they were the best of friends, brothers in arms. History tells us there was a huge fight, and there was one, only it wasn't over the Basilisk in the Chamber, or over blood purity; it was over Godric naming Salazar the godfather to his first born son," Lex stated, planting Seamus into his seat beside Millicent Bulstrode, "Slytherin didn't want Godric's son to be tainted by having him as his godfather, so they fought, and Salazar left. He returned the following week and took to his position as godfather to heart, taking the boy under his wing as a potions apprentice."

Hermione finished off, "So you see, there is no rivalry going back that far. I would think that it was started long after the founders were deceased, probably over this silly house cup, I mean, competition can get the blood and brain pumping but not to this extent where you have professors promoting the rivalries from the moment you step foot into Hogwarts. The first thing that we were told is that our house is our family, well that doesn't mean we can't have friends in other houses, right? Now, does anyone have any complaints as to their new seats?"

The trio of professors looked over at the new seating arrangements. Up front there was Neville/Pansy Parkinson, and Faye/Blaise Zabini. In the second row was Dean/Tracy and Goyle/Crabbe taking a seat to themselves, the couple not wanting them to actually kill someone they were partnered with. And in the third row was Seamus/Millicent. Behind them, in the back were Lavender/Theodore Nott, and Parvati/Daphne Greengrass.

There were two people without a seat, Weasley and Malfoy, who were glaring daggers at one another, "I'm not sitting with him, his father's a bloody Death Eater."

Draco paled at that, hard to see had he not been red in the face at the time. Lex slammed his hand down on the bench, quite softly but with his strength it was still hard enough to make a lot of noise, "That's it. Weasley, in that chair. 20 points from Gryffindor and another detention with Professor Snape."

Up the front a bench and chair appeared, the redhead was dragged to it by an invisible force, "You, you can't do that; you're a Gryffindor and his father…"

"What his father is does not constitute who he is. Mr Malfoy is 13 years old, he has many years to decide what in the hell sort of person he wishes to become, and when he does decide, it will have nothing to do with anyone but himself unless it drags others in. I hear one more syllable from anyone, be them in this class or not, accusing someone of things they are not, or bullying someone due to their parentage, and detentions will be far from my mind in ways of punishment," the wizard straightened and took a soothing breath, "And for me being a Gryffindor; I may be one while I am Harry but whilst I am Assistant Professor Potter, I have no house and my only loyalties lie with teaching all of you enough that you can function outside of Hogwarts."

The Slytherins, seeing and hearing Lex defend one of their own, were stunned and in awe; no one had done that for them except for Snape, and he was supposed to as their Head of House. It shone them in a different light now, one that they would not forget soon.

Hermione saw that Draco was still standing in shocked silence, "Mr Malfoy, take a seat at your bench. Should you, or anyone else, be in need of assistance at any stage, raise your hands and one of us shall come over to help. Now, this is the potion you will be brewing today; you have 90 minutes to have a sample vialed and waiting on your bench to be checked over. Do not fear though, we will not be testing them on yourselves or your familiars. Get started."

As the other students raced over, Goyle, Crabbe and Weasley lumbering over truly, the two demigods noticed that Draco was heading towards them. With his blonde hair over his face slightly, the grey eyes looked up at them, and he softly said, "Thank you."

"The sins of the father shouldn't be borne to the son, just remember that your life, your future, it is your own to do as you wish with. Think carefully before following in the footsteps of Lucius Malfoy, they probably aren't the right size for you anyway," Lex wisely told the wizard.

Those eyes lit up with understanding, and Draco moved off to collect his own supplies. From behind them, they felt Severus move closer, "I've been trying to get him to listen to me saying that since the moment I saw him as a 4 year old child."

"Sometimes a kid nears to hear it from someone his own age, I think it sinks in more that way," Hermione explained before sighing, "Don't think you're just going to sit there during this lesson Severus, you get Weasley. Make sure he doesn't blow anyone up, ok?"

The couple weren't sure if the growl was a happy one or furious one, but it was aimed at the redhead, so they deemed it not necessary to know for sure before walking into the students and assisting them. By the end, even the two lummoxes Crabbe and Goyle had pulled off halfway non-poisonous potions, though they were nowhere near good, they did earn themselves a point for Slytherin each and a seat each in their tutoring sessions. Weasley lost every single point the Gryffindors made with their perfect potions, Severus having great fun in that aspect, even more so when his protégés came over and took a further 20 points at the black potion in the cauldron. Weasley's face went even redder at the third Saturday detention that he was given for the remark that came from his mouth.

By the end of lunch, every Gryffindor knew that Ron had lost them over 150 points for his actions, and he was shunned to the end of the table; not even Percy wanted anything to do with him.