This story occurs before Forget to Remember, but can be read as a stand alone. To everyone who read Forget to Remember, I hope you enjoy learning about the backstory.

The beige envelope crunched in her white-knuckled hands as Hermione Granger stormed up the stairs to the Gryffindor girl's dormitories. She threw the envelope down before plopping down on the bed, arms crossed.

"What's got your wand in a knot?" Ginny Weasley asked, leaning her head down from the top bunk. The tips of her hair red lightly graced Hermione's crimson comforter.

"Your insufferable brother," Hermione said. "Apparently I am making a huge mistake in returning to Hogwarts." Ginny laughed.

"He's a dimwit. I stopped listening to him when I learned to talk," she said. Hermione smiled weakly.

"It's just . . . I worked hard for this, you know? I'm going to graduate," she said.

"And you will," Ginny said, hoping down of her bed and landing barefoot on the hardwood floor. "But not if we're late to our first potions class," she said, slipping on her shoes. Hermione's eyes widened as she checked her watch. She shoved the envelope under her pillow, smoothed out her hair, and grabbed her wand from her bedside table. She then followed Ginny quickly down the stairs and into the hall.

"Who do you think the new professor is?" Ginny asked. Hermione shrugged.

"No idea, but I'm sure they're perfectly capable—especially since Professor McGonagall chose them."

"You don't think it's weird that it was never announced?"

"When did we ever know who our Defense Against the Dark Arts professor was going to be?"

"Good point," Ginny said, opening the door to the Potions Classroom. All but one desk—directly in front of the board—was occupied.

"Great," Ginny muttered as she grudgingly took the seat on the left. Smiling, Hermione took the seat on the right. She placed her wand in front of her so that it was perfectly parallel with the top of the desk.

"You do remember that you hate potions, right?" Ginny asked. Hermione laughed nervously.

"I'm just being prepared." Ginny rolled her eyes and stared at the blank chalkboard. Besides the desks and chairs, the room was entirely bare. It seemed odd to Hermione—the potions classroom was always filled with flasks, cauldrons, and disgusting smells. She looked down at her watch.

"They're late," she stated to Ginny, who shrugged and twirled her wand between her fingers. Suddenly, the doors flew open and a tall man entered. Hermione immediately spun around to take a glance at the new professor.

"You have got to be kidding me," Hermione muttered, elbowing Ginny in the ribs. Ginny flinched, but turned around.

"Ron will love this one," she said.

The man approached the board, pulled out a piece of chalk from his right pocket and scribbled Professor Malfoy on the board. He turned, glaring at the cowering students before him.

"I realize many of you know me as Draco, but under no circumstances are you to address me as anything but 'Professor,' understand?"

"Git," Ginny muttered as everyone but Hermione and her nodded their heads in agreement. Hermione snatched her wand from the table, pushed her chair back, stood up, and began walking toward the door.

"Ms. Granger," Draco drawled, "Just where do you think you're going?" Hermione spun around so fast her hair hit the side of her face. She narrowed her eyes.

"Away from you," she said before walking out the door, making sure to slam it behind her. She crossed her arms as she headed in the direction of the headmaster's office.

Was she being childish? Probably. Did she care? Not at the moment. Draco Malfoy was a Death Eater for Merlin's sake—he watched her being tortured! A man—not that she could really call him that—like that did not belong at Hogwarts. She was going to get to the bottom of this.

She arrived at the bronze statue of a cat guarding the entrance to McGonagall's office.

"Password?" it asked, licking its right paw.

"I need to speak to Professor McGonagall immediately!" Hermione said. The statue did nothing.

"Guinevere, let the girl up," Hermione heard Professor McGonagall's voice say, and the statue moved aside. Hermione entered the revealed passageway and found Professor McGonagall sitting at her desk.

"I apologize, Ms. Granger," she said. "Aren't you supposed to be in potions right now? What is the matter?"

"Why is Malfoy here?" she asked.

"Draco is a very capable potions master, as I know you are well informed," McGonagall replied.

"Well, yes, but—"

"He's a Death Eater?" McGonagall questioned. "I am well aware."

"Then why—"

"It was Dumbledore's wish for Draco to teach at Hogwarts. He felt it would . . . redeem him, if you wish." Hermione sighed and looked down at her feet. "Give him a chance, Ms. Granger. Albus saw something in him the rest of us did not—and I trusted Albus with my life." Hermione nodded.

"I guess I should get back to class," she said. McGonagall smiled.

"I think that would be a wise decision," she replied. Hermione returned through the entrance of the office and began walking back to the potion's classroom. She felt ashamed of her earlier actions, but was entirely too prideful to apologize to Draco. Instead, she decided she would try her best to be civil. Maybe the war had changed Draco—maybe he wasn't as spiteful as he'd once been. Sighing, she pushed open the door and returned to the classroom. The entire class watched as she walked to her desk and took her seat beside Ginny. Draco picked a book up off his desk and threw it in front of her. She jumped as it hit the table.

"Read chapter one for tomorrow—if you haven't already read the entire book," he drawled and Hermione heard someone behind her snicker. Remembering her promise, she simply smiled at him. He looked taken aback for a moment, but turned around before she could analyze his expression.

"Class dismissed," he said, and people nearly ran out. "Oh, and Ms. Granger?" he asked as Hermione was about to walk out of the door. "Detention. 8 o' clock."

"Can't wait," she muttered, imagining his smirking face staring at the back of her head.

Not very interesting, I know. Don't worry, it gets better. Review Please :)