AN: Before y'all tell me that Hermione was out of character in this chapter. I know. That's the point.
By morning, Hermione had a plan of what she wanted to do. One: She wanted to shatter any notion that she was the same person they knew, and two: She wanted to start a Multicultural Club. Nobody would join S.A.M.B. and as much as she loved her camera, she didn't want to be tied down to the Journalism Club. So, Multicultural Club it was. Frankly, she might just have to start with food, art, and dancing. Perhaps if more people joined, they'd be able to bring in their own contributions and it would be a good way to mix and mingle. She'd pay Luna for a poster.
As she was used to doing, Hermione got up before anyone else and readied for her work out. She had gone through her clothes and decided that she would have a specific outfit assigned for each day. She had the sections in the student handbook easily marked so she could refer to them when asked why she was "out of uniform." She imagined a lot of the seventh years would follow her lead once they realized they didn't have to conform. Frankly, Hermione believed that uniforms were classist and if they were required then they should be free. They weren't equalizers if you could still pinpoint who had money and who didn't.
Either way, she wasn't going to wear the uniform anymore. It being Monday, she still went with the second version of the outfit that was most like robes. These were better for a more active day with trousers and a tunic. Fred and George made her bracers and greaves out of leather enchanted with the same charms as their hats so she'd be protected. Today, she would use them to hold back the loose fabric on this particular outfit. If she had Potions or Defense Against the Dark Arts today, she would need to keep her sleeves out of the way.
For her work out, she went to the lakeshore to do cardio, then put weights on her ankles for her run. She needed to get stronger. Magic wasn't directly correlated to physical strength, but if she needed to fight, then her endurance would give her the upper hand over the soft and lazy upper crusts.
The morning was colder than it should have been. The news had said it was an unusual and persisting cold snap, but Hermione was sure that the dementors were causing cold fronts.
Behind you.
Hermione whirled around and raised a fist, which crackled with magical energy.
Tonks held up her hands. "Wotcher."
"Oh, Tonks, it's you." Hermione pushed her headphones back.
Tonks looked good despite everything. She wore her hair in a bubblegum pixie cut, but looked to be made to wear standard issue Auror's robes along with the silly pink hat that Fred and George sold to protect against spells. Hermione was sure if she had asked they would have made her something cool, but Tonks was more the type to embrace the silliness.
"I saw someone running along the lake and thought I'd check it out," she said. "Didn't think I would catch up. How'd you know I was behind you?"
"Instinct?" Hermione shrugged. "I think maybe I could just sense your magical energy."
"Makes sense. Ceci said a few people in your family are sensitive to magic."
"Is she here?"
"Unfortunately, no. Yes, she has some Auror training as a result of her Curse-Breaking training, but she's staying close to your mum and dad."
"That's probably best." Hermione took off the weights and started her cool down stretches.
"You know, it's dangerous to go running around at this hour," said Tonks.
"You know, if a member of Hogwarts staff didn't have a Dark Mark, we'd be able to put those wards up," Hermione countered.
"Not all Death Eaters have the Mark though," Tonks reasoned. "Yes, when they're accepted they'll get it, but people wanting in will try and commit a big act so they'll be accepted."
"Mm… there can't be that many, can there?" a naïve comment on her part but one she hoped for all the same.
Tonks hesitated. "Word is, he's gathering followers from elsewhere. Especially since a bunch from his inner circle were killed by… the Cedric impostor."
Hermione sighed heavily. "Well… considering the power and influence his followers have, I wouldn't be surprised that they're reaching out to other countries. I hope it doesn't get to the point where this is an international issue, but it probably will."
"It probably will," Tonks agreed. They were quiet for a long moment and she spoke up again, "I'll tell the others that you're working out around here, but I'd keep within a specific area if I were you."
"Alright. I'll see if anyone makes a big deal about me working out at the Quidditch Pitch again. I usually move there anyway when the weather gets bad."
"Good idea. I'll leave you to it, then. If any newbies give me lip, I'll send them your way." She winked and left to return to her post.
Hermione used the showers at the Pitch and readied for the day. She let her hair hang loose and adorned it with Slytherin's locket and gold clasps. She was never going to let it out of her sight.
She ran into Daphne and Astoria outside the Great Hall and they entered together. Professor McGonagall approached them.
"Good morning," she said. "Miss Granger, is that your uniform?"
"I'm a foreign exchange student," she said. "I'm not obligated to wear a uniform whether I've been sorted or not. I have the student handbook if…"
"That won't be necessary," she said. "I have no doubt you know the student handbook better than anyone. As you will be seventeen in a few short weeks, I see no need to enforce the dress code. Most students just feel more comfortable dressing like everyone else. Now, you are dropping Herbology, History of Magic, Astronomy, and Care of Magical Creatures, yes?"
"Yes, señora. I know what the syllabus is and all of those had been covered in my first semester at Castelobruxo. I'd rather have the free period to hone my skills in other subjects than shoot for an easy O. History is a hobby and I don't really see myself needing Astronomy beyond 'the north star is there.'"
"Very good," said Professor McGonagall. "Judging by your scores, the Castelobruxo program was rigorous. Still, you qualify for N.E.W.T. Potions, Arithmancy, Ancient Runes, Transfiguration, and Charms. However, I don't see a score for Defense Against the Dark Arts."
"A comprehensive class was an elective," said Hermione. "We do cover defensive and offensive magic in our core classes. I brought my syllabi to show the units we covered. Plus, I took beginner's Curse-Breaking, which I'm sure has significant overlap."
"Professor McGonagall barely glanced at the papers.
"Given inconsistent teaching, all students regardless of past scores are eligible for Defense Against the Dark Arts N.E.W.T.s," she said. "So, you may take it if you wish."
"I do wish. If only so I have at least one class with all my friends."
She wanted to test Snape anyhow. See if he loved Slytherin more than he hated her.
"Very well. Six courses." Professor McGonagall turned to Daphne.
"Same courses, except I'm keeping Herbology," said Daphne. "Also, Nia and I would like to be the Quidditch commentators."
"You will take turns?"
"No, we announce together," said Hermione. "Daphne has the knowledge and I've got the soundboard."
"Very well. You'll have the announcer's booth for the first game."
"Thank you, Professor," said Daphne.
They took their schedules and went over to the Slytherin table.
"I get the sense that she's upset with me," said Hermione.
"Well, duh," Astoria piped up. "You were the prized Gryffindor. All the points you get them are going to go to Slytherin fair and square now. She can no longer brag that the smartest and most accomplished witch in the school is a Gryffindor."
"Mm. Insert false modest comment here."
Daphne and Astoria giggled and sat down.
"Hermione… Hermione!"
"Who's Hermione?" she said. "I don't know any Hermione."
"Ugh, Nia!"
"Yes, Ronald?"
"Aren't you going to sit with us at Gryffindor?" he asked.
She took her seat. "Maybe at lunch."
"Good morning everyone," Luna called, skipping over and taking her seat. Padma and Hannah arrived shortly after, though Hannah quickly got up when Susan walked into the Hall.
Parvati and Lavender ended up at the Slytherin table so they could sit with Padma, much to the dismay of Pansy and her crew. Hermione helped herself to breakfast and listened to the chatter of her friends. Harry and Ron ended up caving in and sitting there as well, though they didn't look happy about it.
"Professor McGonagall, will Firenze be teaching Divination?" asked Parvati.
"He and Professor Trelawney are dividing classes between them this year," said Professor McGonagall. "The sixth year is being taken by Professor Trelawney."
"I think that's a much better way of doing it," said Hermione, looking at her sparse schedule. "Two teachers per subject I mean. It would give the teachers a lot less stress than managing seven years and four Houses and then we could have an AB schedule, meaning we do half our classes every day and can therefore fit more into the subject per year."
"Sure, give the teachers less and the students more," Ron scoffed. "You'd love having homework every day, wouldn't you?"
"Actually, I've grown to hate it now that I have other hobbies," said Hermione. "Clearly the solution to more class time would be to do away with homework entirely. Studies are showing it's entirely useless anyway except to train students to give their downtime to future employers. Depending on the class, clearly part of the weekly class time would be dedicated to learning and the other half dedicated to in-class assignments. Any outside work should just be dedicated to studying for upcoming exams and, if you space it out right, you shouldn't have more than ten to fifteen minutes of studying per class per day. If a student has four classes a day, in an eight hour day, then they should only have forty to sixty minutes dedicated to study. The rest of our time would then be dedicated to socializing, sleeping or, for us overachievers, learning other things. I would also advocate for later start times. Ten o'clock for the first class. And three day weekends."
"Oh, that would be nice," Padma sighed. "I never can get to sleep before midnight."
"However, until I can lobby for educational reform, we're stuck as is," said Hermione. "We'll never experience it."
"Then why have a plan?" asked Harry.
"I've never needed government assistance, but I still think people should have it, no strings attached," she replied.
"Mm, fair point. What class have you got first?"
"Ancient Runes. Ron? Still taking it?"
"Yeah," he said. "Only 'Outstanding' I received, but it's the only class that really makes sense to me. I don't even know what I want to do after I graduate."
"Decipher ancient runes at curse sites?" Hermione suggested. "Quidditch journalist, you're good at strategy, you'd probably be good at picking up statistics as well. Um… professional chess player?"
"I'm sure whatever you choose you'll be brilliant at it," said Lavender.
"Er, thanks."
Hermione looked at Daphne and Padma. They heard that too, right? She'd better be sure she was correct before she started matchmaking.
"Better get to Ancient Runes," she said. "Who's up?"
Her, Daphne, Padma, Ron, and Susan headed to Ancient Runes. Blaise Zabini was behind them, but made no effort to walk with their group.
"Our schedules seem very different," said Padma. "Should we still have study group?"
"Yeah, I don't see why not," said Hermione. "If we open up to a couple more people, we could all take charge on one assignment and then reference everyone else's work to knock out our homework in record time."
"Isn't that cheating?" asked Daphne.
"No, it's collaboration."
"I'll join the group," said Susan. "I think Neville Longbottom should be our sixth. He really is excellent at Herbology."
"Alright, I'm not unreasonable."
"Well, could you give on your 'No Boys Allowed' rule?" asked Ron, looking thrilled at the prospect of not having to do all the work. "I could be in charge of Runes."
"I would be willing to give on the One Boy Allowed rule, but I refuse to have more than one Englishman and Neville's English."
Ron gave her a blank look. "Aren't you all English?"
"Welsh!" Daphne and Padma chorused crossly.
"Hannah and I are Irish," said Susan.
"And I'm Afro-Dominican-Hawaiian," said Hermione.
"I thought you were American," said Harry.
"Only by colonization."
They reached the classroom and settled into their seats before the clocktower tolled. Professor Babbling entered the room.
"Good morning class," she said cheerfully. "Miss Sanchez-Graner, welcome back. We've got a lot to cover this year, so let's get right into review."
Hermione already knew this stuff, so she let her mind wander. Maybe if she could remember the runic combination of her IMNs she could send a sort of broadcast that only he could receive. She scribbled what she sort of remembered onto a blank sheet of paper.
"Alright, I would like fifteen inches on the use of Ancient Runes in the process of spell-crafting, you will also each be given two phrases to translate, you'll perform the spell they cast next class, and I'd like you to have read up to chapter five in your textbooks by next week. This is a N.E.W.T. level so it's going to be very fast paced."
That didn't stop the wave of groans. Hermione supposed she was lucky Tuesdays were her light days with only Charms. She'd certainly be filling it up with reading and homework.
The bell tolled and everyone moved on to their next class, which was D.A.D.A. It was the only class that still had everyone. Rather than enter, they all had to line up in the corridor.
"How was class?" Harry asked cheerfully, having enjoyed his free period thoroughly.
"Oh, just you wait," said Ron resentfully. "Snape'll give us loads and you've still got Arithmancy!"
"Yeah, but Arithmancy is a problem for Thursday me," he said. "I'll be holding Quidditch Try-Outs this weekend."
"Mind if the girls and I lurk?" Hermione asked.
"No more than usual," he said.
Silence fell over the queue as the classroom door opened and Snape stepped out looking as somber as ever. He got his dream job and he still wasn't happy. Hermione supposed she should just be happy that he hadn't desperately wanted the job as the school nurse.
"Inside," he said and the line surged forward. He held out his arm. "Granger, what are you wearing?"
"Clothes," she said. "They're required, sir."
"That is not the school uniform. I will have to deduct points."
"I am breaking no school rules, sir," she said, batting her eyes innocently. "I am a foreign exchange student. I am of age in my country of origin, and my clothes are school and weather appropriate. Unless, you really feel you must deduct points from Slytherin."
She stared him dead in his eyes. She felt a prod in her brain and snapped the equivalent of a bear trap. He visibly flinched, then sent her a nasty scowl, but it was muted by the act that preceded it.
"Get inside, hurry up!"
Hermione entered the classroom, which he had tried his darndest to resemble the dungeons. He covered the windows with thick curtains that allowed no light to even peek through. Though it was still the lecture hall setting, there were candles jammed into the desks equidistant apart. She took her seat.
"Hey, Nia, is this seat taken?" Neville asked, pointing to the spot between her and Hannah.
"Go for it," she said, stowing her bag under her chair. "I'm gonna see how far I can get before Snape's forced to dock points."
"Five galleons says you can't do it in the first fifteen minutes of class," said Harry.
"Double it," Daphne whispered and others placed bets.
"Game on," said Hermione, bringing out her camera and setting it up where it wouldn't be noticed while whispering a quick direction to her girl friends. Snape stepped into the room and Hermione called, "Love the décor, sir. It really livens up the place."
"Quiet!" he hissed while the class snickered. "I wish to have your full attention while I speak to you."
"All right," Hermione, Daphne, Padma, Hannah, and Susan chorused, leaning forward against their desks.
He paused briefly, but knew if he called them out he'd lose the attention he already had. Hermione wasn't scared of him. She knew his position on werewolves and clearly he was under Dumbledore's thumb, and with the rules she'd instated, he was already on a tight leash.
"You have had five teachers in this subject so far, I believe. Naturally, these teachers have all had their own methods and priorities. Given this confusion, I am surprised so many of you scraped an O.W.L. in this subject. I shall be even more surprised if all of you managed to keep up with the N.E.W.T. work, which will be much more advanced."
Hermione raised her hand, but Snape ignored it, moving around the room.
"The Dark Arts," he said, "are many, varied, ever-changing, and eternal…"
"Can I ax you a question, sir?" said Hermione.
"…Fighting them is like fighting a many-headed monster, which, each time a neck is severed, sprouts a head…"
"Can I ax a question?"
"…even fiercer and cleverer than before."
"Sir?"
"You are—"
"Sir?"
"—fighting that—"
"Sir!" she made her tone sweeter and more sing-song.
"—which is unfixed—"
"Can I ax a question, sir?"
"Not now!"
"I just wanna ax you a question, sir. Can I ax you a question? I only want to ax you a question, can I ax you a question?"
His black eyes bore holes into her. "What is it?"
"Are you qualified to teach us?" she asked. "Cause you spent decades in the potions position, you've been cooped up in the school dungeon for centuries, sir."
"How old do you think I am?"
"I'm axing the questions here, sir. Are you qualified to teach us, sir, because you sound proud of the fact that you intend to fail most of us. Isn't the point of the teacher to teach and not fail or are you aiming to be a failure? Sir."
"Ten points from Gryff—"
"I'm not in Gryffindor, sir, and the amendments I had made a couple years back say that you cannot deduct points from one House for the actions of another."
His cheeks turned pink and the class started snickering.
"Well, do you find yourself prepared for the outside world, Miss Granger? For the mutating and indestructible Dark Arts?"
"Do you? I don't recall anyone ever talking about Professor Snape and the time he roughed up Professor Quirrell in a corridor."
"You are the most insolent child I've ever had to teach!"
"Thank you, sir."
Daphne raised a handkerchief to her mouth, disguising her giggle with a sneeze. Five minutes left, time to break out the big guns.
"You're pointless, repetitious, and extremely dull!" Snape snarled.
"Sort of like this class." She tipped her head. "You can quiz me, sir, might give everyone a bit of a refresher, especially considering who they've had as a teacher."
"Very well." He got a malicious gleam in his eyes. "I'll give you an easy one to start given your preference for them: what is the difference between an animagus and a werewolf?"
"A werewolf won't return your voicemails no matter how many you leave," she said.
"Wrong."
"Really? Does your werewolf boyfriend return your calls?"
"You may jest, you insufferable know-it-all, but when it comes time to face a dark entity, you will be vastly unprepared!"
She glanced at Harry, who tapped his watch and held up two fingers.
"You mean like throwing a shoe at the Dark Lord's face?" she said. "Or recognizing that the thing stalking Hogwarts was a Basilisk? Or punching Pettigrew in the face? Or surviving a cursed necklace? Or blackmailing Rita Skeeter into doing my bidding? Or destroying a cursed object? Or surviving being kidnapped by a dragon? Or successfully casting the patronus charm while my neck was cut open? I thought you wanted us to already know everything and this is just practice time. How can we be prepared yet unprepared? Which is it, sir? Did you procrastinate on your lesson plan, sir?"
"FIFTY POINTS FROM SLYTHERIN!"
The entire class groaned and Hermione pumped her fists in the air, stomping her feet. Snape flushed an unhealthy shade of scarlet.
"Detention, Miss Granger. One week."
"Yeah, that's fair. Do you want that with you? Because I do still have a million and one questions. You could use the silencing charm on me, but I'll just undo it again. I've been practicing my nonverbal magic, sir."
"No. They will be with the house-elves since you love them so much. Any other questions?"
"Yeah, will we get a syllabus so we can prepare for future classes?"
"No."
"Pity. That's all, sir."
"Any further interruptions will result in detention and the deduction of House points. For the rest of the class you will not speak unless I ax—" He inhaled sharply. "Ask a question."
Hermione rested her chin in her hand and felt immensely better. She wouldn't push her luck, she didn't want to fill up too much of her time and get all stressed out.
"Now…" he returned to the center of the room, his robes billowing behind him. "… you are, I believe, complete novices in the use of nonverbal spells. What is the advantage of a nonverbal spell?"
Daphne raised her hand.
"Miss Greengrass?"
"Nobody knows what spell you're using," she said.
"It usually gives you an advantage unless you can recognize the wand movement," Padma added.
"Five points to Slytherin. Two from Ravenclaw for not raising your hand."
"Tch," Padma hissed quietly. It sounded like one of the candles had spluttered and she was not called out.
"Yes, those who progress to using magic without shouting incantations gain an element of surprise in their spell-casting. Not all wizards can do this, of course; it is a question of concentration and mind power, which some—" he let his gaze linger over Hermione and even longer over Harry,"—lack."
Rude. Hermione grinned toothily anyway with the silent promise that she could make herself a greater nuisance.
"You will now divide," Snape went on through gritted teeth, "into pairs. One partner will attempt to jinx the other without speaking. The other will attempt to repel the jinx in equal silence. Carry on."
Hermione looked around for a partner. Neville had made to tap on Hannah's arm, but she had already snagged Susan. He wilted and turned to Hermione, raising an eyebrow. She nodded and the class spread out the best they could in the space they were given. She kept her hand raised while Neville strained to even get the spell to cast.
He sighed. "Just do it."
She flicked her hand and his wand flew out of his grasp into hers.
"Pathetic, Weasley," said Snape after a while. "Here—let me show you—"
He turned his wand on Harry so fast that Harry reacted instinctively and yelled, "Protego!"
His Shield Charm was so strong Snape was knocked off-balance and hit his desk. The whole class had looked around and now watched as Snape righted himself, scowling. Hermione refrained from laughing at him, not keen on getting more than a week's worth of detention. She picked up her camera and trained it on the pair.
"Do you remember me telling you we are practicing nonverbal spells, Potter?"
"Yes," said Harry stiffly.
"Yes, sir."
"There's no need to call me 'sir,' Professor."
A shrill giggle erupted from somewhere in the classroom. Hermione looked over at Daphne, who had flushed pink. She bit her lip and grinned. Nearly everyone was trying not to dissolve into fits of laughter.
"Detention, Saturday night, my office," said Snape.
Class ended with no other interruptions, and once they were safely away from Snape's bat-like hearing, Hermione collected the bet money.
"Thank you, thank you," she said. "I'll be here all week."
"What the hell was that?" Pansy snapped. "You lose Slytherin House fifty points?! Are you daft?"
"I'll be real with you," said Hermione. "Cedric was, like, 90% of my impulse control. Don't worry, it's out of my system, I'll earn it all back. Or, someone will."
"Maybe I'll just give you more detention."
"You can't. My detention has already been assigned by a teacher. Of course, we could take this up with Professor Slughorn, as he is our new Head of House, but as it is lunchtime, I'm not sure that's possible until after class." She looked down at her wrist to check the time. "I'm not wearing a watch."
Hermione's group of friends ended up sitting at Ravenclaw around Luna.
"Hello, Luna. How's your day so far?" she asked.
"Just fine. Yours?"
"Well, D.A.D.A was a bit eventful. See for yourself." She took out her camera and rewound the tape.
Luna watched through it. Her eyebrows slowly raised to her hairline. When Harry said his line, she shrieked with laughter and clutched her sides, kicking her feet wildly.
"Oh, that is funny!" she gasped.
"Excuse me."
Hermione looked up. "Oh, hey, Cho. Howzit?"
She didn't miss the cold look Harry gave his ex.
"Er… I'm to give you and Harry these," she said, holding out two small scrolls.
"Thanks. Have you eaten yet? There's always room for one more."
Cho shook her head. "Marietta and I are over there."
The redness to Marietta's face was already fading, proving the Dr. Bronner's was working. When she had gone, Harry turned to her. "You shouldn't talk to her, Nia."
"Why not?"
"Marietta ratted out the D.A.! She's the reason Cedric had to leave!"
"You know, I could just as easily blame Dobby for not being able to lie. Or you for roping him into it!"
"I didn't—"
"Marietta is sorry," Hermione continued. "I don't blame her for what happened and Umbridge is in jail, so I can let that little tidbit go. Okay? Okay." She opened the scroll from Dumbledore.
Dear Hermione,
Welcome back to Hogwarts. If I may, I would like to meet with you today. Please come to my office at 7 P.M. I hope you are enjoying your first day back at school.
Sincerely,
Albus Dumbledore
P.S. I enjoy acid pops.
Hermione looked over at Harry's slip. His meeting was for Saturday at 8.
"I wonder what he wants to see me for," she said. "Probably my insolence. Or was it insubordination?"
"I believe the words were pointless, repetitious, and extremely dull," said Daphne.
"Title of his sex tape. Hey-oh!"
Harry spat out his pumpkin juice. "HERMIONE!"
"Mm, too far?"
"Maybe just not in a public setting!" Hannah squeaked, hiding her scarlet face in her hands.
"This isn't like you," said Harry.
Cedric would have thought it hilarious.
Hermione decided not to test her wits for the rest of lunch, she instead opened up her Ancient Runes textbook and put in her headphones. She enjoyed the company of her friends and had a sense of peace.
After lunch, they had an hour-long free period before double potions.
"Study room?" Padma suggested.
"Yeah, we can get a start on Snape's homework," said Hermione. "It'll probably be a nasty piece of work. Okay, study group we've got me, Daphne, Hannah, Padma, Susan, and the wee English fella."
"Who?" asked Harry.
"Neville."
"Me?" Neville looked surprised that he had been selected for the exclusive study group that once had Viktor Krum as the sole boy.
"Yeah. You're good at Herbology. Hannah recommended you."
"She did?" he looked at Hannah. "You did?"
"Yes, well, you helped me a lot last year," she said.
"And your Charms work is really shaping up," Susan added.
"It's settled then," said Hermione.
"What about us?" Ron demanded.
"Mm… fine, you two can come too, but not during the evening study sessions. I believe that more than six people in a group is a party."
Snape's homework was a difficult piece covering absolutely nothing they went over in class. This really ticked Hermione off. Homework was meant to be a review and yet nothing in the essay prompt said anything about nonverbal magic. Perhaps he intended it to be a precursor to the next class, but frankly she doubted it. She stared down at the essay prompt and tapped her pen.
"I wrote this already."
She brought out her binder filled with all the essays she'd written at Castelobruxo and opened it.
"Oh, good," Ron sighed, noting that it was color-coded and properly labeled. "I thought you had changed completely."
"Here it is," she said. "Evolution of Dark Magic through the ages. It's not as comprehensive, it was just for beginner's curse breaking, but we can use it as a jumping off point for further research." She used her highlighters, breaking up all eight sections, then waved her wand to make copies so she could pass them all out. "I think if we can expand on these sections in our own words, we'd be able to write an essay satisfactory enough."
"Brilliant," said Padma, looking over it. "Oh! I know where some books in the library are that will help with this. I'll write them down before I forget and we can get to it later."
They had gotten a big chunk out of their work before they had to go on to Potions.
"Hannah? Susan?" said Hermione. "Neville?"
They shook their heads.
"Don't need it," said Hannah. "Good luck though."
"Thanks."
The Potions Classroom had changed locations. No longer was it in a dark and dreary dungeon, but in a classroom in a corner of the castle close to Professor Slughorn's new office. It was rounded with high windows that overlooked the lake. No longer did heady potion fumes suffocate the students, instead dissipating in the air. It was also much brighter and easier to see.
Draco Malfoy, Blaise Zabini, and Theodore Nott were the other Slytherins in class, the other Ravenclaws were Terry Boot, Amanda Brocklehurst, and Anthony Goldstein. Ernie Macmillan was the lone Hufflpeuff and he immediately approached Harry to shake his hand and talk about the Defense class.
"And how are you, Ron—Hermione?"
"Nia," she corrected.
"That's right, you changed your name."
"Hermione isn't my real name."
Before any more could be said on the subject, the door opened and Slughorn stepped out of the room to let them all in. He greeted Harry, Hermione, and Blaise with enthusiasm. In the center of the room were four large, bubbling cauldrons. Hermione, Daphne, Harry, and Ron sat at one table while Padma sat with the other Ravenclaws, and Ernie sat with the Slytherin boys.
"Why can't we sit next to the one that smells like fudge and home?" Ron asked, gazing longingly at the cauldron.
"It'll fill our brains with wrackspurts," said Hermione, noting that the Slytherin boys and Ernie were looking a little glazy-eyed. She brought out her textbook, Potions notebook, and a pen.
Harry dug around his bag and furrowed his brow.
"Everything alright, Harry?" asked Daphne.
"My textbook," he said. "I couldn't find it in my trunk, so I thought maybe I put it in my bag, but it's not there."
"Is there a problem over here?" asked Professor Slughorn.
"Er, my potions textbook is missing," he said. "I thought I packed it, but it seems like I didn't."
"Not to worry, my dear boy, not to worry at all." He strode over to a corner cupboard, rummaged around it, and brought over a very battered copy of Advanced Potion-Making by Libatius Borage. He gave it to Harry. "Here you are. Do you have everything else? Scales? Ingredients?"
"Yes, sir." He patted the case containing his potion supplies.
"Now then," Slughorn continued, returning to the front of his class. Hermione found it very odd that he wore a square graduation cap, though she supposed that with his tartan robe-suit hybrid and cap, he wanted to look scholarly rather than bullied out of retirement. He rocked on the balls of his feet and held himself highly. "I've prepared a few potions for you to have a look at, just out of interest, you know. These are the kind of things you ought to be able to make after completing your N.E.W.T.s. You ought to have heard of 'em, even if you haven't made 'em yet. Is anyone able to tell me what these are? Go on, take a guess."
Hermione raised her hand. Time to establish herself as the smartest in the room. Professor Slughorn pointed to her.
"The first one is Veritaserum," she said. "It's colorless, odorless, and its taste is easily hidden if slipped into a strongly flavored drink, but most noted for saltiness, not to be confused with a roofie. Different from the drug rohypnol, Vertisaerum does not impact cognitive functions, but only makes a person speak the truth. It is recommended to never give it to a rambler due to being unable to discern the truth from the babble."
"Very good, very good," he said and pointed to another one. "This one is fairly well-known and has been mentioned in Ministry issued leaflets, so who can—yes?"
Hermione lowered her raised hand.
"It's Polyjuice Potion, sir," she said. "While it can make you look like a person, it is entirely up to the drinker to know how to act like the person. However, there are rumors in some circles that Potioneers have been manufacturing a strain of polyjuice that grants the drinker the most recent memories of the person. In this case, it is important to ask obscure questions. Unless you can see magical signatures like I can, then I don't need the questions."
"Excellent, excellent." Professor Slughorn paused. "See magic? Would the internal signature not change as well?"
"Well, you know where magic comes from, yes sir?"
"Why, yes, it comes from in here," he said, patting his heart.
"Exactly. The gland adjacent to the heart, which pumps magic through a magic-users veins." She brought out the picture she had packed away. "See?"
Noises of disgust rose up at the drawing of the gland.
"Squibs have this gland," she said. "Which is how they can see things like dementors or not be affected by Anti-Muggle charms. However it doesn't produce enough of the essence for them to be able to harness it."
"Curious, very curious," said Professor Slughorn. "Might I keep that?"
"Sure, it's a copy." She handed it over to him.
"Now, Miss Sanchez-Granger, I assume you know what is in this one?"
"Amortentia, sir. You can tell by its mother of pearl sheen and the characteristic spirals in the steam. It always smells differently to each person. Sometimes, there's one smell and others it's a whole mixture. I can smell… fresh hay in the sunshine, old books, fried pork buns, ocean salt, and spearmint toothpaste." She sighed heavily. "It seems to change every time, but I love a lot of things." She clicked her tongue to her teeth. "Anyway, Amortentia is the most powerful infatuation potion."
"Well, it's commonly referred to as a love potion," said Professor Slughorn with a slight condescension that Hermione didn't care for.
"Yes, but it's impossible to manufacture true love," she said. "I guess infatuation is kinda understating it. It's more of an obsession. If entrancement enchantments are like kissing concoctions, then amortentia would be akin to the imperius curse." She rested her chin in her hand. "Kinda makes you think why people exploit love and good feelings to manipulate others. I guess because the absence makes people desperate to experience it again, even if the source is toxic." The class had gone dead silent and she looked to the teacher. "Sorry, did I derail the conversation?"
"Not at all, Miss Sanchez y Granger," he said. "It is difficult to lose love and happiness, but it has more meaning when the source is true. Go on and take… thirty points for Slytherin."
"Well done," said Daphne, patting her on the arm.
Harry and Ron looked disappointed that the points would not go to Gryffindor, but Hermione really didn't care about that.
"Now, this last potion is a curious little potion called Felix Felicis. Miss Sanchez y Granger, I'm sure you could tell me what this one does?"
"It's liquid luck," she said. "It does as its name implies. Though… that's not a real cauldron of it, is it? I can detect little magic at all."
"Quite right, take another ten points for Slytherin for answering it correctly and another ten for spotting the illusion. Yes, it's a funny little potion, Felix Felicis," said Professor Slughorn. "Desperately tricky to make, and disastrous to get wrong. Each batch only makes a very small portion. In fact, to create a batch this large would take more resources than Felix would allow us to get back." He waved his wand and the brew disappeared. He removed two vials filled with the gold concoction. "If brewed correctly, as this has been, you will find that all your endeavors tend to succeed… at least until the effects wear off."
"Why don't people drink it all the time, sir?" said Terry eagerly.
"Because if taken in excess, it causes giddiness, recklessness, and dangerous overconfidence," said Professor Slughorn. "Too much of a good thing, you know… highly toxic in large quantities. But taken sparingly, and very occasionally…"
"Have you ever taken it, sir?" Daphne asked.
"Twice in my life. Once when I was twenty-four, once when I was fifty-seven. Two tablespoonfuls taken with breakfast. Two perfect days."
He gazed dreamily into the distance.
"And that," said Slughorn, apparently coming back to earth, "is what I shall be offering as a prize in this lesson."
There was silence in which every bubble and gurgle of the surrounding potions seemed magnified tenfold. Hermione felt hope burble in her chest. If she won that… she could get Cedric back! She could waltz into the Ministry and convince them to call off the manhunt! He could come home.
"One tiny bottle of Felix Felicis," said Slughorn, waving one of the bottles he had brewed in the air. "Enough for twelve hours' luck. From dawn till dusk, you will be lucky in everything you attempt.
"Now, I must give you warning that Felix Felicis is a banned substance in organized competitions . . . sporting events, for instance, examinations, or elections. So the winner is to use it on an ordinary day only . . . and watch how that ordinary day becomes extraordinary!
"So," said Slughorn, suddenly brisk, "how are you to win my fabulous prize? Well, by turning to page ten of Advanced Potion-Making. We have a little over an hour left to us, which should be time for you to make a decent attempt at the Draught of Living Death. I know it is more complex than anything you have attempted before, and I do not expect a perfect potion from anybody. The person who does best, however, will win little Felix here. Off you go!"
Hermione tied her hair up, put on an apron and a medical mask, then opened her case. She brought out her copper cauldron and placed it on top of her burner.
"Copper?" said Daphne.
"It's naturally disinfecting and gives less of a chance of cross contamination when brewing potions back-to-back," she said. "Also gives a faster brew time because it doesn't take as long to heat up as pewter." She knocked it, making a loud clanging with her rings, and opened her potion textbook to the correct page.
She had already called her mom and they went through the whole thing, adjusting the recipes so they would be more potent and less likely to fail. She made note of all the ingredients and measured out exactly what she needed before mincing her valerian roots. She moved quickly, making smooth, even cuts. Almost as if her hands were being guided. Perhaps part of the magic of her splints.
Once the roots were stewing, she swiped her blade clean with a clean towel and placed her sopophorous bean in the middle of her cutting board. Everyone was having difficulties cutting it. Daphne's slipped from under her blade and smacked Harry in the middle of the forehead.
"Sorry, Harry," she said, taking it back from him.
Hermione placed the flat of her blade on top of the bean and slammed her palm down on it so it was crushed like a clove of garlic. The juice burbled up and she quickly poured it into her cauldron. Daphne took note and did the same, though she was more dignified, placing her weight onto it rather than smashing her hand down. Her potion lightened to a magenta, though, like Hermione's, Harry's had gone to lilac.
"How are you doing that?" she asked as she stirred her potion clockwise after every seventh counterclockwise stir.
"Just… following the directions," he said, doing the same thing she was.
Both of their potions turned pale pink.
Hm… maybe the older editions were more accurate. Hermione looked across the table at Ron's whose potion was black and sludgy. Daphne's was stubbornly magenta, but she didn't look too bothered. Hermione wished she could be as aloof. She had a million ideas of how she could use Felix Felicis. All of them involving Cedric. Her craziest one involved sending it along with Stephen Squawking until he was found and then letting him drink it, but there were too many holes in that plan for it to work.
"Time is up!"
Hermione picked up her potholders and took her cauldron off the heat, placing it on the mat. While Slughorn went around the room, checking everyone's potions, she tidied up and looked at Harry's.
"Huh. What's the publishing date on that book?" she asked.
"Er…" He flipped it open and paused, reading something written inside. "Uh… publication date, 1954. Who's the Half-Blood Prince?"
Hermione hummed. "I've heard that name before." She tapped her temple. "Where was it? Where was it?"
She was jolted out of her thoughts by Professor Slughorn. He gave Ron's cauldron a cursory look and barely spared him a glance. Ron huffed and dropped his ladle into the cauldron where it was promptly eaten by the sludge. Daphne's was given a polite nod.
"Not too shabby, not too shabby, now…" he looked at Hermione's and Harry's cauldrons and blinked in shock. He looked between the two of them. He wafted their fumes towards his nose, then tested them with feathers. Held their hue to a card and waved his wand over them.
"Well," he said. "Well, well, well, I've never been able to claim two perfect Draughts of Living Death! And yet, here before me are identical brews, practically perfect in every way! Oh, Severus should be proud!"
"Actually, my skills are from my stepmom," said Hermione. "She's a Potioneer."
"Ah!" He nodded. "Well, then I know exactly how Harry achieved this. Clearly, he's inherited his mother's talent. She was a dab hand at Potions, Lily was!" He studied each of them. "It doesn't quite seem fair to declare favoritism over one or the other, so… I think I can only dub both of you the winners!" He brought out both bottles and dangled them in front of Harry and Hermione. "And why don't you take thirty points to Gryffindor, Harry?"
Hermione took her bottle and took out her horcrux hunting box. She placed it next to the vial of Basilisk venom.
"What's that?" Daphne asked.
"Stuff and things." She closed it and spun the combination lock to randomize the numbers before walking out with her friends.
"Brilliant, Nia," said Padma. "I thought I got really close with mine."
"If you want, you're welcome to copy my amendments," she said. "Well, my mom's amendments. We went through my potions textbook and fixed it so that the recipes actually work. I think the problem is that the recipes they give are meant to be doubled and tripled for larger batches. They don't work as well for a single batch."
"That makes so much sense," said Daphne.
"Malfoy didn't look too pleased about me getting the lucky potion," said Harry.
"Since when has Draco ever been pleased with you?" Hermione responded. "Brah, stop worrying about people like him and focus on your own stuff."
"I just can't help but think he's up to something."
"What's this about?" asked Daphne.
"Harry is convinced Draco Malfoy is a death eater."
Daphne gave him a look. "Seriously Harry? He stuck by the D.A. He took the punishment same as the rest of us. He had the opportunity to take credit for catching you and he didn't."
"That's what I said!" said Ron. "Not like that, but I still said it."
"I guess you're right," he huffed. "But I still have a bad feeling."
"Scar?" Hermione asked.
"Mm… no. I've been practicing Occlumency and I have my ring." He spun it around his finger. "But it's just…"
"You feel it in your jellies?"
"Yeah."
"Could it be that because Draco is the more accessible rival you're projecting your bad feelings onto him so that it's easier to take action and you don't have to feel as helpless about not being able to do anything about Tom Riddle?"
Harry stopped dead, making Padma and Daphne collide into him.
"Really, Greengrass," said Draco. "I'd expect it from Patil, but I never took you for a Potter groupie."
"Really, Malfoy?" she said, raising an eyebrow. "You're going to accuse me of being the groupie when I know for a fact that you used to have a limited edition—"
Draco tackled her, slapping his hand over her mouth.
"Limited edition what?" asked Hermione. "Comic book? Collector's figurine?" She gasped. "A Harry Potter doll?"
"IT WASN'T POTTER!" he squawked and grabbed Theo's arm, dragging him along with Blaise not too far behind. He stopped and looked over his shoulder. "I was five, Greengrass!"
"Don't dish it if you can't take it!" she returned.
Hermione smiled half-heartedly and looked at Harry. "Yeah, he's an evil mastermind."
Harry huffed. "Fine. I'll drop it. For now."
Hermione felt drained. "I don't really feel like being around anyone right now. I might take dinner in Daphne's and my room and hang out there. At least until my meeting with Dumbledore."
"Go for it," said Daphne.
By seven o'clock, Hermione was approaching the gargoyle with copies of her research in a case. Before she could call out the password, it leapt aside and bowed to her.
"Well, thank you," she said, patting it on the shoulder before jumping onto the ascending staircase.
When she reached the top, she knocked on the office door, her splints clanking loudly against the glass. It swung open and she found Dumbledore stashing his wand away. His magical signature was still very weak and he looked older and more tired than ever.
"Hello, Hermione."
"Nia. If you call me by that other name, I won't respond."
"Very well, Nia. Have a seat."
Hermione crossed the room. The energy signatures of the objects surrounding them were bright. Except Dumbledore. She sat down in the chair in front of his desk.
"I hear you've created quite the stir for your first day," he said. "Severus could be heard raging for hours in the teacher's lounge. Something about Sirius and Remus being a bad influence on you."
"What, was I acting like James Potter or something?" Where had that conclusion come from?
"Precisely."
"Hm. Don't worry. I don't think I like that version of myself very much. I'll try a different one tomorrow. I don't think you wanted to meet me about my heckling, though."
"No, I wanted to talk to you about horcruxes," he said. "For starters, how much did you tell Harry?"
"Well, I was worried that Tom might still have an in to his head…"
"You can call him Voldemort."
"No, you can't. It has a Taboo tied to it," she said. "Or some sort of spell. I noticed magic tied to it when you say the name and I think it's too late to put the name in common lingo. What's the point of changing your name if you make people too scared to use it? It's stupid. He's stupid. Anyway, I haven't told Harry anything just yet, but I will soon."
She brought out her research, spreading it on the table. She let Kreacher keep the diary, she already copied what she needed from it. Only thing she didn't have was the video.
"This is very important, Nia," said Dumbledore. "Did you tell anyone else?"
Trap.
"Just Cedric," she said. "Of course, I tell him everything and… he's gone."
"And where is the one you had in your possession? I think it best if I hold onto it."
Right. She looked him in the eyes and saw the mint green magic of legilimency. So she thought very hard of a memory of her giving Cedric the locket for safekeeping.
"Are you sure?" Imaginary Cedric asked.
"Please. It will be safer far away from here."
"I don't have it," she said. "I was going to keep doing my research. I was hoping I could tag along to your special lessons with Harry until we can figure out where the next one is."
"I have already located it. I am still formulating on how to retrieve it."
"Really? Great! Where is it? I'll mark it down and we can return to it when we have a trusted coven put together. A coven is important, especially if we want to keep the vessel intact. I'm already working on a way to remove it from Harry."
"I don't think you should worry about such things," said Dumbledore. "I have exhausted every resource and there's only one outcome."
"See, you keep saying that, but I really don't think you have," said Hermione. "I can help. I can do what you do, just… better."
"I never mistook you for arrogant."
"I'm not arrogant, I just know what I'm doing."
Dumbledore lost the twinkle in his eye. "You're a child. You couldn't have any possible idea of what you're dealing with."
"You can't stop me."
"I'm afraid I must," he said and drew his wand. "For your safety. Obliviate!"