Harry noticed that the Potions N.E.W.T. class was much smaller than the DADA one. Since Ron and Hermione had received E's on their DADA OWL, perhaps Dumbledore had forced Snape to everyone in who had passed. That certainly would have explained his tirade about the inconsistency of their professors. Then again, he might be wondering what would happen to him before the end of the year, because no Hogwarts teacher had managed to teach a second year in a row since before Voldemort had first risen to power.

He wouldn't like to see Snape die, of course, but sacked from Hogwarts? That would be something else entirely.

Peering around the room, Harry could see four Slytherin students, four Ravenclaws, just one Hufflepuff, and, including himself, four Gryffindor. Had the other students not even passed the Potions OWL, or had they assumed that Snape would be teaching it, and five years with him was more than enough?

Neville, Harry noted, looked rather pale, as though expecting Snape to come jumping into view and announce that he would be the one teaching the class, after all.

"Harry!" Ernie, the lone Hufflepuff, greeted as he reached out to shake Harry's hand. "Didn't get a chance to speak in Defense Against the Dark Arts this morning. Good lesson, I thought, but Shield Charms are rather old hat, of course, for us D.A. lags. Brilliant job with Snape, really well done! And how are you, Ron-Hermione?"

Before they could say more than "fine," the door opened and Slughorn (enormous belly first) came inside. He greeted Harry and Zabini with enthusiasm, and gave Harry a wink.

So, he wasn't too upset that Harry had sent Luna in his place.

After requesting everyone to remove their scales and books, Slughorn turned their attention to a group of potions near the Slytherin table, and asked the students to identify them. Harry recognized all of them except the last, having prepared all (except the Polyjuice) with Sirius, but he let her answer instead, and earn the points. Slughorn immediately asked Hermione about her genealogy, and upon discovering that she was a muggle born, recognized her as the muggle born witch who was the best in their year.

"Did you really tell him I'm the best in the year? Oh, Harry!" she whispered, looking pink with pleasure.

"Well, what's so impressive about that?" whispered Ron, looking annoyed. "You are the best in the year-I'd've told him so if he'd asked me!"

Hermione smiled but made a "shiny" gesture, and they turned their attention back to Slughorn.

After explaining that Amortentia doesn't actually create love in the drinker, only infatuation-and Harry thought he could have mentioned it was wrong to use, but apparently most witches and wizards didn't think like that-he told them it was time to begin work. Ernie, of course, noted that Slughorn had neglected to identify the gold potion in the last cauldron, and Hermione earned an additional ten points for Gryffindor by identifying it.

As it turned out, Felix Felicis would be the prize for the student who brewed the best Draught of Living Death that day.

Harry couldn't wait to tell Sirius about this. His godfather had had him prepare this potion on the second to last day of holidays, explaining that Slughorn always gave this assignment for the first N.E.W.T. class of the year, and always awarded some sort of prize to the person who brewed it the best.

"You did a great job on your first one, pup," Sirius had told Harry. "There was nothing wrong with it. However, I want you to have the best chance of getting whatever prize Slughorn hands out, so I'd like you to try brewing it once more."

"What sort of prize does he usually give?" Harry had asked.

"It changes every year. My year, it was an automatic full marks on the first test. James and I and Lily all tied for it, so he gave it to the three of us," Sirius had grinned. "Snape almost managed it, but was off by a very small amount of the bean juice. He was irate. Let's see...once it was fifty points to your house, another time no homework for a week, once it was an invite to his club. He thinks of something new every year, I'd warrant."

Twelve hours of liquid luck sounded like a great prize to Harry.

He performed the charm Sirius had taught him to transfer his modified directions onto his desk, and offered to do the same for Ron and Hermione. Both nodded in appreciation, and they stopped talking to focus on their potions.

Harry had no trouble making the potion, and was even finished before the others. Hermione's end result was a darker version of his-probably used too much of the bean-and Ron's hadn't come close. Harry wondered if he'd missed a step in the instructions.

At any rate, he finished brewing at least five minutes before Slughorn called the time. Hermione looked over at Harry's and made a small sigh of envy. Ron looked jealous of Harry's result, but not entirely surprised.

Slughorn went around inspecting the potions, making comments that were more encouraging and sympathetic than Harry had ever heard from Snape. He also didn't distinguish between houses. Neville's potion, Harry noted, while it hadn't achieved the color his had, also wasn't smoldering, nor did his cauldron seem in danger of exploding. The look on his face was, if not pleased, at least not as miserable as he usually was in Potions. A definite improvement from Snape's classes.

When Slughorn approached Harry and Hermione's potions, his face lit up.

"Well, Miss Granger, this is very near perfect, and if it weren't for Mr. Potter's potion, I would give you the prize." He shook his head in sympathy. "As I only have one vial, though, I must give it to the clear winner, Harry Potter."

Hermione only looked a little disappointed. "I'll brew the better one next time!" she said, briskly, but with a smile.

Slughorn chuckled. "Ah, good old fashioned rivalry! Just what I like to see. Well, as long as there's good sportsmanship, of course," he added, quickly, as he handed Harry the container of liquid luck.

"Thank you, sir," he answered, softly.

Even having brewed the potion three times, it was still a bit shocking to learn that not only had he done so perfectly, he had outperformed Hermione!

Well, she was probably right about besting him the next time. He would share Sirius's notes with anyone who wanted them, after all, and Hermione wasn't the top student of their year for nothing.

All the same, Harry reckoned that he might end up as a bit of a (friendly) rival for her this year.

He tucked the potion safely in his robe pocket next to the mirror, determined to lock it in his trunk as soon as he returned to his room.

Right after that, Harry would tell Sirius all about it. His godfather, he knew, would be thrilled.

A/N: It's unclear from canon what Slughorn's standard for taking students into his N.E.W.T. classes. From what I recall from the fifth book, it's only McGonagall and Snape who have the minimum grade requirement. Even though Harry and Neville both enter Charms with an E, I think the grade requirement for most subjects is simply passing. Anyway, that's what I am using for Slughorn, which I established earlier.

Since Neville was already going to continue DADA even after he learned that Snape was teaching it, I saw no reason he wouldn't continue Potions with another professor and a passing grade (according to my fandom theory). That means that, in my universe, he makes the thirteenth student in Harry's class.

What does this mean for the future of this fic? At this point, I don't know. Perhaps, I will have ideas later. If you have any, feel free to include them in the comments!

I am on vacation for two weeks, but have internet, and enjoy writing. Updates might not be as regular, but I should publish at least once a week. With that being said, feedback would be especially welcome!