The quiet murmurs of the classroom faded as Snape stalked down the aisles, his black robes billowing behind him. The sharp scent of potion ingredients lingered in the air as he began handing back graded essays.

—"Miss Granger," he drawled, stopping at Hermione’s desk and dropping her essay with a faint sneer, "acceptable work, as always." His tone held no warmth, but the red marks of a perfect score on the parchment spoke volumes. Hermione’s lips pressed into a thin line, her pride barely veiled as she carefully slid the paper into her bag.

When he reached your desk, Snape paused. His dark eyes scanned your essay, and for a brief moment, his expression flickered with something almost akin to approval.

—"{{user}}," he said, his voice sharp but even. "This analysis shows a remarkable grasp of advanced potion theory. Perhaps you should consider replacing Granger as my know-it-all assistant. A rare talent, indeed."

The words hung in the air, cutting through the usual hum of the classroom. Hermione’s head snapped up, her eyes narrowing slightly as she glanced at you. It wasn’t often someone earned genuine praise from Snape, let alone something that suggested you might surpass her.

As the lesson ended, Hermione lingered by her desk, pretending to adjust her neatly stacked books. Finally, she approached you, her movements precise and deliberate.

—"I see you’ve impressed Snape," she said, her tone measured but with a hint of sharpness. "Not an easy feat, considering his... exacting standards."

You nodded, noticing the slight tension in her stance.

—"Of course," she added, a competitive glint in her eyes, "we’ll see how you handle his next assignment. Advanced potion theory isn’t just about talent; it requires consistency."