No matter how long Hermione and Erin had been dating, the Gryffindor always made the Slytherin go red as a tomato, even if she didn't mean to.

It could be a simple kiss on Erin's forehead — she felt the world turn when Hermione placed her lips on her forehead —, a stupid compliment or even holding hands, like it was now.

Erin gained a few strange looks from the other students from all houses as she sat at the Gryffindor table next to Hermione the next morning for breakfast, not that she cared about it.

Hermione held her hand, her thumb caressing the knuckle of Erin's thumb. It was a simple action that yet made blood rush into Erin's cheek. Ron chuckled at that and his girl best friend kicked his shin under the table.

“I love being a sixth year," said Ron. "And we’re going to be getting free time this year. Whole periods when we can just sit up here and relax.”

“We’re going to need that time for studying, Ron!” reminded Hermione, cutting her pancake.

“Yeah, but not today,” said Ron. “Today’s going to be a real doss, I reckon.”

“Hold it!” said Hermione. She stood up and threw out an arm and halted a passing fourth year. “Fanged Frisbees are banned, hand it over,” she told him sternly. The scowling boy handed over the snarling Frisbee, ducked under her arm, and took off after his friends. Ron waited for him to vanish, then tugged the Frisbee from Hermione’s grip.

“Excellent, I’ve always wanted one of these.”

Hermione’s remonstration was drowned by a loud giggle; Lavender Brown had apparently found Ron’s remark highly amusing. She continued to laugh as she passed them, glancing back at Ron over her shoulder. Ron looked rather pleased with himself.

Just then, the new Potions professor Horace Slughorn approached the Gryffindor table.

"Miss Mckinnon, correct?"

"Yes, Professor," Erin nodded and took the schedule the man was handing her.

"I am looking forward to see in you in my class. Oh, good morning, Mr. Potter." Slughorn smiled before leaving.

"I thought you got ‘Exceeds Expectations’ for Potions," said Harry once Slughorn was gone.

"I did! But I—"

“So, Potter, Potter …” interrupted Professor McGonagall, consulting her notes as she turned to Harry. “Charms, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Herbology, Transfiguration … all fine. I must say, I was pleased with your Transfiguration mark, Potter, very pleased. Now, why haven’t you applied to continue with Potions? I thought it was your ambition to become an Auror?”

“It was, but you told me I had to get an ‘Outstanding’ in my O.W.L., Professor.”

“And so you did when Professor Snape was teaching the subject. Professor Slughorn, however, is perfectly happy to accept N.E.W.T students with ‘Exceeds Expectations’ at O.W.L. Do you wish to proceed with Potions?”

“Yes,” said Harry, “but I didn’t buy the books or any ingredients or anything—"

“I’m sure Professor Slughorn will be able to lend you some,” said Professor McGonagall. “Very well, Potter, here is your schedule. Oh, by the way — twenty hopefuls have already put down their names for the Gryffindor Quidditch team. I shall pass the list to you in due course and you can fix up trials at your leisure.”

A few minutes later, Ron was cleared to do the same subjects as Harry, and the two of them left the table together.

“Look,” said Ron delightedly, gazing at his schedule, “we’ve got a free period now … and a free period after break … and after lunch … excellent!”

***

Erin would kill just for Herbology to not to be her first class on Monday because she was terrible at it.

It's not like she hated plants. It was quite the opposite; she was fascinated by them but when it came to exams, she just couldn't seem to remember everything, not even half.

The second was even worse; Defence Against the Dark Arts.

Erin loved this class, she even got an O in her O.W.L. but now that Snape was teaching the subject, she was sure he will ruin it for her.

Erin took a seat next to her girlfriend as Daphne was sitting next to Theodore but who would she be if she minded to sit next to the prettiest girl in the whole world.

The classroom door opened and Snape stepped inside, his sallow face framed as ever by two curtains of greasy black hair. Silence fell over the students immediately.

As the man passed Erin and Hermione, he rolled his eyes at them but decided to stay quiet.

“I have not asked you to take out your books,” said Snape, closing the door and moving to face the class from behind his desk; Hermione hastily dropped her copy of Confronting the Faceless back into her bag and stowed it under her chair. “I wish to speak to you, and I want your fullest attention.”

His black eyes roved over their upturned faces, lingering for a fraction of a second longer on Harry’s than anyone else's

“You have had five teachers in this subject so far, I believe. Naturally, these teachers will all have 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 manage to keep up with the N.E.W.T. work, which will be much more advanced.”

Snape set off around the edge of the room, speaking now in a lower voice; the class craned their necks to keep him in view.

“The Dark Arts,” said Snape, “are many, varied, ever-changing, and eternal. Fighting them is like fighting a many-headed monster, which, each time a neck is severed, sprouts a head even fiercer and cleverer than before. You are fighting that which is unfixed, mutating, indestructible. Your defenses must therefore be as flexible and inventive as the arts you seek to undo. These pictures” — he indicated a few of them as he swept past — “give a fair representation of what happens to those who suffer, for instance, the Cruciatus Curse” — he waved a hand toward a witch who was clearly shrieking in agony — “feel the Dementor’s Kiss” — a wizard lying huddled and blank-eyed, slumped against a wall — “or provoke the aggression of the Inferius” — a bloody mass upon the ground.

“Has an Inferius been seen, then?” said Parvati Patil in a high-pitched voice. “Is it definite, is he using them?”

“The Dark Lord has used Inferi in the past,” said Snape, “which means you would be well-advised to assume he might use them again. Now …” He set off again around the other side of the classroom toward his desk, and again, they watched him as he walked, his dark robes billowing behind him. “… you are, I believe, complete novices in the use of nonverbal spells. What is the advantage of a nonverbal spell?”

Hermione’s hand shot into the air. Snape took his time looking around at everybody else, making sure he had no choice, before saying curtly, “Very well — Miss Granger?”

“Your adversary has no warning about what kind of magic you’re about to perform,” said Hermione, “which gives you a split-second advantage.”

“An answer copied almost word for word from The Standard Bookof Spells, Grade Six,” said Snape dismissively (over in the corner, Malfoy sniggered), “but correct in essentials. 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. . . lack. You will now divide,” Snape went on, “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.”

Erin and Hermione stood opposite to each other, the Slytherin was supposed to be the one jinxing but there was no luck.

Erin didn't really mind it. She knew that it just happens for some people but others need a bit training and she was sure she'd be in the second group.

Erin watched her girlfriend in complete silence, making Hermione a bit uncomfortable.

The redhead pointed her wand at the brunette and motioned it. Unfortunately, nothing happened.

"That's okay, Erin," called Hermione. "It's really rare for it to happen on the first try!"

Snape chuckled as he passed Erin, saying, "It's not really that rare."

The girl knew that in other words, the greasy-haired man was calling her stupid, useless and things like that which made her incredibly angry. She was now more determined to be successful in it and show Snape that she was not as terrible as he thought.

Erin took a deep breath, attempting to calm herself down though it didn't work out.

From the corner of her eye, she could see Snape crossing his arms on his chest, watching her in amusement, probably waiting she will be unsuccessful again.

Erin watched Hermione, completely concentrating on the spell in her mind.

Just then as Snape turned around to check on other students and probably make fun of them, Erin pointed her wand at her girlfriend and sent Hermione backwards, making her hit the wall.

As much as Erin was happy she managed to do the nonverbal spell, she was worried for Hermione more.

The Gryffindor stood up from the ground, if she was hurt, she didn't show it. She clapped her hands as she walked closer to Erin, a smile decorating her face.

"You did it!" She said happily, wrapping her arms around Erin's neck. "I'm so proud of you."

“Pathetic, Weasley,” said Snape, obviously upset that Erin proved him wrong. "Here — let me show you —”

He turned his wand on Harry so fast that Harry reacted instinctively; all thought of nonverbal spells forgotten, he yelled, “Protego!”

His Shield Charm was so strong Snape was knocked off-balance and hit a desk. The whole class had looked around and now watched as Snape righted himself, scowling.

“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.”

Several people gasped, including Hermione. Behind Snape, however, Erin snorted and Ron, Dean, and Seamus grinned appreciatively.

“Detention, Saturday night, my office,” said Snape. “I do not take cheek from anyone, Potter … not even ‘the Chosen One.’ ”

“That was brilliant, Harry!” chortled Ron, once they were safely on their way to break a short while later.

"The look on Snape's face, Salazar," said Erin. "You totally made my day."

Hermione glared at her girlfriend.

“You really shouldn’t have said it,” she said to Harry. “What made you?”

“He tried to jinx me, in case you didn’t notice!” fumed Harry. “I had enough of that during those Occlumency lessons! Why doesn’t he use another guinea pig for a change? What’s Dumbledore playing at, anyway, letting him teach Defense? Did you hear him talking about the Dark Arts? He loves them! All that unfixed, indestructible stuff —”

“Well,” said Hermione, “I thought he sounded a bit like you.”

“Like me?”

“Yes, when you were telling us what it’s like to face Voldemort. You said it wasn’t just memorizing a bunch of spells, you said it was just you and your brains and your guts — well, wasn’t that what Snape was saying? That it really comes down to being brave and quick-thinking?”