Hermione bided her time brewing her potions and stocking up. The foul woman seemed to get more vicious as time passed. She had yet to encounter the Slytherin's again it had been two weeks since she made her first move. She felt eyes on her coming from the direction of the older Slytherins, it made her uneasy. But she had a split double of potions with the said Slytherins up next. As she got up from the table in the great hall she noticed Theo Nott get up the same time. She evened her pace out as she passed through the massive door.

Sure enough he had deliberately timed his departure from the Great Hall. He none too gently ran into her with his shoulder and she felt his hand brush her robe pocket.

"Watch it Granger." His voice was gruff and she suspected it had nothing to do with her and all to do with Umbridge.

She rolled her eyes at him and huffed a little in case anyone was watching. Best be safe than sorry. On her way she went, pulling out a book as she walked. And she carefully got out the scrap of paper that Theo had placed in her robe pocket. She was surprised that she instantly knew it wasn't his handwriting. Who's it was she wasn't sure of, all she knew was that Theo hadn't written the note himself.

G -

5 x vials of dittany

3 x vials of pain potion

There was nothing else said so she assumed they wanted it in the first half of their potions class. Luckily she had some in her bag, she most certainly did not have the time to go get them from the Gryffindor tower and make it to potions. Not without getting herself a detention. So she continued to make her way to the dungeons, with her nose in the book.

Harry and Ron weren't there when she got to the potions room. She made her way to her usual spot and flicked a glance over her shoulder to the group of Slytherins at the back of the room. Her eyes were met with the molten silver of Draco Malfoy's stormy eyes. She was about to nod at him slightly when Harry and Ron came in, out of breath. Snape was following them in.

"Next time Mr Potter try be more punctual, you too Weasley." as per usual Snape's robes swirled around his legs as he walked down the centre of the room to his desk.

"Today I will be matching you up in groups of five to brew two potions, two of you will work on one potion in the first half of the lesson and then swap with the other three after the break." Snape drawled out and then proceeded to wave his wand and the groups appeared on the board, the pieces of chalk working effortlessly.

Her name was up there with the Slytherin's she met with two weeks ago. She had to fight the urge to send a questioning glance to the group and pretended to huff at Snape's choice, she heard Pansy making a comment as well. Harry and Ron gave her sympathetic glances as she packed her things up to join the quadruple up the back of the room.

As soon as everyone was aware of their groups the instructions were up on the board. With the hustle and bustle of everyone sorting out who was doing what and who needed what she took the vials out of her bag and placed them on the table, with her jumper covering them up.

"Snape knows?" While this didn't shock her, she did like confirming her suspicions.

"He wants her gone but can't do anything. This and detentions are all he can do." Draco's voice was soft and quiet. Hermione nodded her head to acknowledge him and lit the cauldrons to the right temperatures.

"Alright you and Draco can work together Granger. I need to make sure this one passes Snape's inspection." Theo said and she had to bite back a smile when she saw the outraged expression on Zabini's face as they went to get the ingredients. Pansy went to the other side of the room for the chopping boards.

"Is she one of his?" Hermione didn't look at him as she asked. But the sudden stillness in the boy who controlled all of his actions with precision was enough to have her glance up at the tall boy.

His face was so controlled and blank that she wondered if she had pushed too far. But his eyes were another story. They were angry. But his face softened as he searched her face, what for she didn't know but he must've found it.

"You know how unofficial rumours spread around here Granger, after all you've got the gangly duo panting after you."

She nearly responded scathingly as their roles required, but Snape paused by their table.

"Mr Malfoy, if you ever feel the need to practice your potioneering skills there is a potions room reserved for my students that the other staff know to not enter without my explicit permission. It is opposite the painting of the poisoned toads on your way to the common room." Then he swept past them and the others returned to the table with everything required.

"Theo, I feel like this class isn't as challenging as it could be." Draco drawled out while keeping his eyes on the feisty Gryffindor.

"Well that's due the blubbering idiots in red mate." Theo kept his tone as it normally would be when insulting Gryffindor but he had picked up on there being something else said.

"Mmm. Snape just told me a good place to challenge ourselves. I say we meet up there tonight before curfew. Say 8.30?" Theo nodded his head and went on with telling Pansy what needed to be done.

Nothing else out of the ordinary happened that lesson. But she did learn that Snape was trying to help them in any way possible. And that Umbridge was unofficially a part of Voldemort's plan. Which would be an added cherry to the treat of bringing the bitch down.