The Elf, the Love and the Alibi Potion: Part One
by: Sanna
I walked down the hallway, my bodyguards also known as my friends,' walked on either side of me discouraging anyone who feared their muscles from ever coming near me.
My name is Draco Malfoy. The two goons who are shaped like boulders are named Crabbe and Goyle. The three of us are Slytherins, and we aim to strike fear into the rest of the students of Hogwarts. There were three though that constantly stood up to our threats, the thorns in my side. I called them Potty, Weasel and Gangly. Gryffindors.
We entered the Great Hall for breakfast, in my opinion, way too early to be intimidating. Although the grouchiness in my eyes was perfect to replace my usual trademark sneer.
"Hey look, there are the pathetic Gryffindors. Let's go torture them a bit." Crabbe suggested Goyle grinned evilly, pounding his fist into his hand. There was no way out of this. I was still very tired from our arrival the day before and also my strange dream I had last night which I couldn't remember. But I would never turn down an opportunity to taunt them. I always wanted the upper hand, show a smug face, and have a chance to look down on their embarrassed ones.
I said nothing but grinned back darkly and we made our way to the sissy red and yellow decorated table.
"Well, if it isn't the goofy Gryffindors," Goyle glared as the three of us stood directly behind Harry Potter and his two friends.
The whole table consisting of the Gryffindors glowered at us, but our three main rivals stood up and faced us. "Get lost you goons," Ron said angrily.
He had grown a few inches taller making him even more braver than before, but I had grown quite a bit as well and I smiled smugly when the three of them noticed it. I was almost as tall as my rock-solid boulders, two inches taller than Ron, the tallest of the three of them. "What if I don't want to Weasly?"
The three Gryffindors' eyebrows shot up in alarm. My voice had begun to grow deeper lately and I knew it made me even more intimidating.
But apparently not to her. She stood before me, almost a split-image of the girl I saw dancing with Viktor Krum that night of the Yule Ball. Hermione smiled at me sweetly before saying, "Why, Malfoy. You must be very tired. Look at those bags under your eyes. Has taunting us become such a burden? Such a tiresome job?"
She caught me completely off-guard. For a moment I hadn't thought of her as my enemy, rather just a pretty face. But now I was angry. And no one would ever get the better of me.
"Oh I'm quite fine, Granger. I'm well enough to see even your hair has become quite affected by our put-downs. It's beginning to go back to being all frizzy again. Tsk, tsk," I said in false innocence. My voice cracked somewhere in between, returning back to my old high voice and then back down.
I could see Potter and Weasly grinning as they stood behind her. I glared. This is why I preferred not to talk so much. But Hermione didn't seem to notice much. Her anger had grown. But then her eyes glinted, somewhat evilly like mine usually is. Now I was the one surprised.
This time she didn't even bother to be falsely sweet. She glared angrily. "Your voice cracks. Is that a spell you used? Surely someone like you with no heart cannot simply go through puberty."
My stony-gray eyes flashed. I had stopped thinking clearly now. All the insults were coming straight from my mouth. All I cared about now was getting the last word.
"At least I have more confidence than you! I don't slump or slouch unlike yourself. Granger, so unconfident, must be an awful feeling being in Gryffindor," I said as I turned half-way to Crabbe and Goyle, saying to in a stage whisper.
Harry and Ron stepped forward, angered to be insulted, and to have their friend constantly put down by me. Crabbe and Goyle stepped forward too in my defense. Neither Hermione nor I paid any attention to them. We were too busy glaring daggers at each other.
"Unlike some low-life Slytherin I know, I don't get my confidence by putting down others! Creating fabrications about them!"
"I don't need to create them, they're completely true! You and your Gryffindor friends are losers in every way! I just enjoy making the ignorant realize it!"
"You," she said bluntly, "are a jerk."
I have no idea why I grew angered even more with these few words, and I was baffled by my choice of action and words. I grinned arrogantly. "At least I'm handsome."
"A very ugly jerk," she added.
I scowled, wondering why something so small could set fire in my mind. "You are the most boring Hogwarts student I know!"
"At least I get better grades than you, you who consider pure-bloods better, humph!"
"A very boring Gryffindor who probably sucks up to the teacher," I continued, using her tactic in the last argument that had focused on myself.
It seemed to have the same effect on her as it did me. She and I were both boiling angry.
"Idiot!" she yelled.
"Moron!" I shouted back at her.
"You are an insipid boy who has the brain of a pea!"
"Do not!"
"Do too!"
"You are a stuck-up snob who prefers books to people!"
"Am not!"
"Are too!"
I felt foolish. I was acting like a six-year old. And even when I was that age I didn't engage in arguments as trivial and meaningless as this. But winning this dispute was vital to me. I wanted nothing more. From the look in her eyes she thought the same.
None of us, not even the spectators, noticed Dumbledore walk towards our rather large group. He surprised us when he said in an amused voice, "You'd better be getting to classes now. They started several minutes ago."
We all jumped and most of us scattered, all rushing to get to class. But Crabbe, Goyle and I, as well as the three troublesome Gryffindors stayed behind a bit. We barely noticed Dumbledore still standing there.
"Miss Granger, there is a fire extinguisher by the hallway near my office," he said with a hint of a smile on his face, just before he turned to me. "Mr. Malfoy, if you might just happen to pass by Nearly Headless Nick's dungeon you could stop by Moaning Myrtle's bathroom a bit. It's quite flooded at the moment."
None of us could quite comprehend the head master's humor at the moment, but what I found out later was that late that night Harry and Ron would be rolling over with laughter at Dumbledore's joke about us cooling off. The stupidly slow gits.
We all silently but grimly separated towards our own classes, vowing our fight was far from over. I would get my final word over her yet.
***
I sat in my room alone. All of my roommates were having classes, but I had a free period. I was breathing deeply, memories of what had just happened out in the Great Hall earlier rushed through my thoughts. I closed my eyes and lay on my bed wondering. I am Hermione Granger.
I felt foolish about the way I had been fighting with Malfoy, and I wondered how in the world he could be to get under my skin so. He pushed all the right buttons, like no one, not even my family and my best friends had ever been able to.
A thought crossed my mind. No, it couldn't be how in the world could it possibly be? I bit my lip hard and was faced with the reality of the situation. I like him. I like Draco Malfoy, for some weird, twisted, deranged reason.
All alone in my room, I cautiously looked around. I began to sing (in the tune of Something There from the movie Beauty and the Beast):
"There's something deep, in him I saw,
But he is mean and he is coarse and very unkind,
To my friends, he's very cruel,
I wonder why I thought I saw much more than I did before."
I looked around. No one was there, no one was laughing at me. I was alone, me and my private thoughts. And then I continued my singing.
"I shouted at him, he argued back,
And when we fought we fought until the very end,
But then I noticed, a different boy,
And then I saw him so much cuter than I did before."
"New and a bit alarming,
Who'd have ever thought that this could be?
True that he's no Harry Potter (instead of Prince Charming, I figure Harry is the closest there is in JKR stories),
But there's something in him that I simply didn't see."
"Well who'd have thought, well who'd have known,
And who'd have guessed I'd fall for Malfoy on my own?
Well we'll just see a few days more,
There may be something there that wasn't there before."
As I finished my song, I realized I really did truly like him. There was no denying it.
And then I head a scuffle. I gasped and then soon saw Dobby the house-elf picking himself off the floor, red with embarrassment. "Dobby, were you just listening to me?" I asked in a scandalized whisper.
"Dobby is sorry, friend of Harry Potter. Dobby did not mean to eavesdrop, he was just cleaning. He did not think anyone was here." Dobby started drawing invisible things on the floor with his foot, trying to avoid my gaze.
I got off her bed and kneeled down next to the house elf. "Please, Dobby. I beg you, do not mention a word to anyone about this, please!"
Dobby nodded his head. "Dobby promises, he'll be very quiet about this." I hoped so with all my heart.
***
Ohmygosh, I can't believe I am even thinking this about her, Granger, that Mudblood! How can I like her, I asked myself continuously, wishing that my aimless thoughts would lead me to an answer. My father would kill me for disgracing the Malfoy name!
I had skipped class and was hanging around in the Slytherin common room. No one was there and I was all alone. For an hour now, I had been wondering why I had gotten myself into such a mess, a really embarrassing argument with her. The more I thought about it, the more the answer became obvious-- I really liked her.
I grabbed his hair with my hands and tried pulling it out in desperation. I started singing (to the tune of Girl of My Dreams by the Moffatts):
"You are the girl of my dreams,
In my heart I wish I didn't believe, ('coz he doesn't want to believe he's falling for a Mudblood)
You are the girl of my dreams,
Granger, you're my dream."
I was now thumping out the beat with my foot.
"All alone in the Slytherin room,
Wishing you were here with me,
Without you to argue with,
I'm bored to tears.
Without you in my life, I'll never be satisfied."
I closed my eyes, picturing her in my mind. Oh how I loved her. And how I regretted all the things I've done to her.
"Sometimes, I wish,
I could have been better to you,
All I want is a chance,
To prove that I really do love you."
"Hermi, let's go back in time,
To when my heart could shine,
And I could be honest with you,
And I could tell you I loved you.
You are the girl of my dreams,
In my heart I wish I didn't believe,
You are the girl of my dreams,
Granger, you're my dream"
I stopped singing for awhile. I frowned when I saw a little house-elf staring up at me with a mixture of surprise, curiosity and hesitance. The little green elf looked vaguely familiar, but I couldn't quite place him.
"What do you want?" My voice cracked again but Dobby felt that it came from my anxiety over being caught rather than the usual cracking.
"Nothing, sir. Dobby did not mean to hear a thing. Not your song for the Gryffindor girl. Nope, nothing—"
"How did you know the song I was singing about was about her?!" I grabbed the short house-elf and shook him, fear filling within me.
Dobby's eyes seemed to rattle as he was shook. "Do-bby on-ly guessed, sir. Sir do-oesn't ne-eed to b-be wo-worried. Dobby, already hear her talking nice things about you, sir. Dobby sees her blushing like you—"
I who had been shaking him hard, suddenly stopped and put him down. "Wait a minute. Did you just imply that she sort of likes me too?"
The elf's eyes grew even wider and he buried his hands in his face. "No! Dobby do it again! Dobby must punish himself for telling kind Gryffindor's secret!"
Before I could say another word, I watched as the little green thing in tacky pieces of clothing started banging its head against the wall. As he moved against it, I could see he was heading towards the fireplace which was made of sharp stones.
"Stop that!" I ordered, turning him away from the wall and towards me. But Dobby didn't stop in time. Instead, he fell towards me, his head hitting my most sensitive part. "Ow" I mouthed, unable to make a sound. My eyes were now as wide as Dobby's.
Dobby trembled again. "Dobby is a bad elf! He must punish himself again!"
But before Dobby could do a thing, I, who managed to recover a bit, swiftly stopped him. "Don't," I said softly but harshly, still wincing in pain. I sat down. "Punish yourself later when you're not in my presence."
Dobby nodded fearfully.
"Tell me what she said," I finally asked, my thoughts getting the better of myself. I was excited to know, yet fearsome in most ways.
"Dobby must not tell," he told me, "'tis against the house-elves rule. Even though Dobby is a free elf, he must not tell what Dobby hears."
I frowned. I needed to know what Hermione thought of me. And then an idea struck me. It was a game' I usually used to play' with the house-elves at home. "I'll tell you what, you don't have to tell me a thing, just nod if your answer to my question is yes, and shake your head if no."
Dobby remembered the game' quite well, but obviously I didn't remember playing it with him. He didn't dare argue, he would still have to punish himself again later. He felt awful giving away Hermione's secret, but told himself that this Slytherin felt the same way about her, although from his memories he very much doubted it.
"This Gryffindor girl, you're talking about Hermione Granger, are you not?" I asked. Dobby nodded his head with an awful conviction, feeling more and more squeamish. My heart jumped a little, but I convinced himself it meant nothing. I had to ask more questions to get the answer I really wanted. "Did she specifically mention she liked me?"
Dobby thought for a moment. In her song she had mentioned Malfoy, it could be another Malfoy. Although Dobby very much doubted this, he didn't want to give his awful ex-master a clear picture. He shook his head hesitantly.
I felt my heart fall a bit. But I shook my head and resolved to be determined about this whole issue. "Was the person she was talking about at least similar to me?"
After thinking it out for awhile, Dobby nodded his head. He wondered what Hermione saw in me and why I liked her. It was indeed a forbidden love, yet possible. He was a free elf, wasn't he? If he could be, anything else was possible.
I had to bite his lip to keep from letting a barrage of inane questions spew out. "Does she really like me as in like-like or just like me?" I then realized when Dobby gave me a puzzled look that the elf did not understand his question. And then I remembered he couldn't answer it with a nod or a shake of the head in the first place. I looked at the house elf, who was still in confusion, his big eyes wide, making him look like a puppy. I sighed.
I pondered this for awhile. It all pointed in one direction. I liked Hermione Granger, and, I hoped, she did like me too. I thought hard on my next move. After taking a deep breath I took out a piece of parchment and my quill and began to write something down.
Dobby started at him in confusion wondering what I was doing. He didn't have to wonder long, for I soon turned to him. "Give this to Hermione. It contains my private thoughts and feelings and I'd rather you not open it, or pass it along to someone else. Please give this to her personally."
Dobby held it with great importance, but he did not leave the room just yet. "What is it?" I asked in irritation, as he ran his hand through the thick mess of his silver-blonde hair.
"Dobby is wondering if you are not going to remind Dobby to punish himself for being bad?" All at once, I immediately recognized the house-elf as one of my old ones. My mind was filled with guilt.
"No, feel free to skip your punishment as long as you get that letter to her now," I informed the house-elf, after much thought. Dobby nodded eagerly and raced out the door out of fear I would change my mind. What luck!
After the small elf had left I went back to his thoughts. I sighed. "I hope she really does like me too." I had finally accepted his feelings for her, and now her feelings were the ones that were killing me with anticipation. I shook my head at my situation.
***
I was in a much better mood than I had been earlier in the Gryffindor common room. I was just about to head down to the Great Hall for some lunch when I was stopped by Dobby. "Hi! What's this?" I asked, as he handed me a letter. I opened it. My hands began to tremble. It was from Draco.
"D-Dobby? Is this for real?" I whispered to him, unable to believe it.
Dobby bowed his head at my reaction. "Yes it is, kind Gryffindor. I watched Sir Malfoy write it himself."
"It says here he likes me" I trailed off. "He'd never do this unless he was sure I liked him too. Did you tell him?" I asked Dobby angrily. Dobby looked away from me and I realized it was true. "Dobby! You told him?"
"Dobby asks for your forgiveness! Dobby will punish himself later! But Dobby was so surprised when he hears from that Slytherin when he sings about love and you—"
"What?!" I turned even redder than Ron's hair. I'd probably have to dunk my head in a block of ice to cool it off. Heck, I'd probably do that. Death by freezing sounded better than this embarrassment. Draco Malfoy liked me back? It sounded so impossible.
I calmed myself and was finally able to collect my thoughts. "Dobby, go back to Malfoy and tell him that I'm going to be studying in the Astronomy tower tonight and he can meet me there if he wants provided that he is alone."
Dobby nodded. "Dobby is sorry, he will punish himself later."
I smiled at him sweetly, suddenly very happy and excited. "No need, just go and deliver my message." Dobby almost fell over. That was twice today he had skipped his punishments. As he ran down to the Slytherin House, he shook his head. Love sure did make people act weird.
***
I headed up the stairs to the Astronomy tower, wincing at my loud footsteps. I had only managed to get away from the other Slytherins, I didn't want them to hear me now. What I was doing was forbidden as it was strange and crazy to me. I was about to meet her, Hermione Granger. And I was already in love with her.
I opened the door slowly, my heart thumping loudly when I finally saw her. She looked beautiful, her figure illuminated in the moonlight. She turned when she heard me, but I was unable to read her expression. All I could think about was how pretty she looked with her mouth slightly parted.
Slowly making my way towards her, I tried to get the words out of my mouth, but nothing was coming out. She, however, did not seem to have the same problem. "I see even Draco Malfoy can find his own way to the Astronomy tower, you were so late I was starting to wonder."
In reality, Hermione had been anxiously awaiting my arrival, she hadn't gotten any studying done, when she finally realized that she had been the early one.
I opened my mouth to argue, angry, when I saw she had a slight smile on her face. I melted. I cautiously took another step closer to her, now only a foot apart from her. Trying to keep my hand from shaking, I took her hand in mine, interlacing our fingers.
She looked up at me with a confused look, but she did not argue. I was glad. I smiled at her. She smiled back. I pulled her closer to me and she wrapped her arms around my neck. "Oh, Draco, we both know this is love of ours is forbidden," she whispered into my ear.
"I know," I replied, shutting my eyes with bliss and at the same time, trying to ignore that little fact. I buried my head in her neck. "I wish it wasn't."
She sighed softly, leaning her head against my shoulder. "I don't see how we could possibly see each other around school. The whole school is dead set against a Gryffindor with a Slytherin."
"The Slytherins will kill me for seeing a loser Gryffindor," I teased. She looked up angrily, about to argue, when she saw my teasing smile. She punched my lightly in the arm.
"Draco" she whispered warningly. I placed a finger on her lips. She looked up at me in confusion before I brought her closer to me. I wasn't sure when I shut my eyes, but I felt myself squeeze them shut when our lips finally met.
I could hear fireworks. Hermione was clutching me closely, I have a feeling she felt as if she was going to fall from the kiss. I felt a smile form on my lips as I kissed her again.
We sat down after awhile, talking about our lives and our love for each other. I've never told a soul about my deepest feelings, but telling them all to her, the weight on my shoulders lightened considerably. When she told me her stories, I felt suddenly important. She was telling me a valuable part of herself and trusted me with that secret.
It was getting late, but we were both reluctant for the night to end. "How are we going to talk to each other? We can't keep meeting each other all the time like this," Hermione asked.
I pulled her closer again in my arms. Her sweet perfume gave me the inspiration I needed. "I've got it!" I declared to her. "We can use Dobby as a go-between. He already knows about us. We can use him to send messages back and forth."
Hermione smiled sweetly at me. "Perfect," she whispered. I smiled back at her as she pulled me closer to her for a last kiss. For the night anyway. There was no way I was going to deprive myself of this ever again.
***
I rested my weary feet in the kitchen in between tasks. I am Dobby the house elf. I sighed. Dobby might have been a free elf, but I was doing more now than I had ever done before. These seemed even more abusive than back at the Malfoy's.
It had only been a week since Draco and Hermione had hooked up and started using Dobby as a go-between. Dobby hadn't minded at first, seeing that they were kind enough to me to forget about my punishment. But then the requests had gotten more and more frequent, and it seemed to Dobby that every time I found a moment to rest, either of them would pop into the kitchen on their way to their next class in order to ask me to deliver another message.
I turned and saw Winky. She too looked tired, but for different reasons. Ever since her previous masters, Barty Crouch and Barty Crouch Junior had passed away due to unfortunate circumstances Winky had drove herself into her work, trying her best not to think of them, though everyone knew that was not what was happening.
Winky was having some rest, and although Dobby knew she wasn't listening to me, I just wanted to talk to her and tell her my problems. I started to tell her what was happening with me between Dobby, Hermione and Draco, and I did this in a song (to be sang in the tune of The Work Song from the movie Cinderella):
"Every time Dobby'd find a minute
That's the time that they begin it
Dobby here, Dobby, there,
Dobby, can you send this?"
"Dobby, Dobby, Dobby, Dobby
Night and day it's always Dobby
Send this message to my Draco',
Tell my Hermi that I love her',
To and fro, Gryffindor and Slytherin
They always keep Dobby hopping
Dobby goes around in circles
Till Dobby's very, very dizzy
Still they holler
Tell em I love em, Dobby, Dobby."
Dobby sighed. Winky wasn't listening to me, therefore she could not offer a solution. I didn't want to stop helping them, in fact, Dobby thought they were cute together. If only the others could see them, if only they could see past the fact that they were from Gryffindor and Slytherin. But how? And then Dobby got it! (continue the song from Cinderella)
"Hey! Dobby can do it!
Dobby can do it, Dobby can do it
Dobby can make them show their love
He'll make them realize
There's nothing big about it
Dobby'll become Professor Snape
Using his Polyjuice Potion
Dobby'll tell the class to make
A love potion (but with the 'enemy')
And people will believe they're really in love"
"Hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry
Gonna help the two love birds
Got no time to dilly-dally
Dobby's gotta get a-goin'
Dobby'll tell Professor Dumbledore
That the potion will be useful
And then they can perform it, and people will believe it
And people will believe that they're in love
And they will understand why they're in love
And Dobby will be free of all these messages! Whee!"
Winky blinked as Dobby finished his song. She hadn't seen me so excited in awhile, although Dobby usually was. That was all she did before going back to resting. Dobby sighed at her laziness and lack of response to his plan.
Dobby pushed those thoughts aside and decided to put my plan into action. I remembered seeing in the Potion dungeon Professor Snape working on a Polyjuice Potion. It was almost finished, surely he didn't really need it as I did. Dobby made up his mind and decided to take it.
***
Dobby had no information how to make a Polyjuice Potion, and therefore only could make use of the one Professor Snape was making. Dobby did know however that it only worked for an hour. And that gave me very little time to work on it.
The following morning, Dobby slyly took it from Snape's dungeon and hid it in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. It was unfinished, and Dobby had to work out how to finish it. The ghost, Myrtle, was very helpful, it seemed that she was slightly knowledged on how to make it, thought Dobby did not know how, nor did Dobby ask.
It only needed three more days work and in the meantime Dobby began to plan. Firstly, Dobby had to get Professor Dumbledore's permission to make a love potion, although this, Dobby did not know how to make either. This left Dobby a great deal of little time. Dobby finally decided to tell the students they were making a potion, but in truth they weren't. Only a juice drink so as not to be harmful.
Since it was a Gryffindor-Slytherin class, he would mix them in pairs, boy-girl of course. Dobby would tell them they had to mix not with their friends but their enemies to make sure that the potion actually did work. Hermione Granger would be put with Draco Malfoy, and the potion' would give them the opportunity to show the others their love, everyone would not be mad at them since they would think they were under the Love Potion.
Dobby divided the potion into two, once so that Dobby could get Dumbledore's permission to use and teach a Love Potion and the second for the actual lesson. Dobby then remembered he needed to get a part of Snape to put into the potion. The next day, when Dobby was cleaning up the Slytherin House, as well as delivering another message to Draco Malfoy, Dobby found Professor Snape cutting his toenails. When he leaves, Dobby picks them up but instead of throwing them, Dobby keeps it for the potion. He crinkled at the feel of the even slimy toenails. Was ever part of the nasty Potions teacher slimy?
Finally, the day came when Dobby's potion is ready. I drink it and hear Myrtle scream in surprise. Dobby looks differently at his surroundings. Dobby is thrice my old height. Dobby looks into the mirror and shrieks with joy. He looks like the oily professor, only with slightly bigger eyes.
Dobby grins at his reflection, and then jumps with surprise. He's not used to seeing Snape smile. Dobby heads off to the head masters office, forgetting that he is Snape. The house-elves and students stare at him in wonder, asking themselves if that's really Snape they're looking at.
"Come in," Dumbledore calls in from inside his office Dobby has knocked on his door. I enter the room, and Dumbledore looks at me in surprise, looking me up and down. This makes Dobby feel uncomfortable, until he smiles with a twinkle in his eye, "Hello, Severus, what brings you here?"
"Dob-Sna-I want to ask Dumb-you if it's possible, Do-I could teach my Potions class how to make love potion." Professor Dumbledore leaned back in his chair, thoughtfully. Dobby panicked and continued in a rush. "Dob-I know it is illegal, but this lesson would teach the students how it works and what to do should they ever be under it."
Dumbledore stared at Dobby for a long time. Dobby feels the sweat trickling down his cheek. Finally, just before Dobby gives up hope, the kind hearted man says, "Sure. Why not?"
Dobby wants to jump up and down but I know better than that, at least while I'm in this body. I smile feebly at him and say, "Thank you. Dobby will get back to work now."
Dobby is just about to leave when I hear Dumbledore tell Dobby, "Oh and Dobby?"
"Yes?"
"Do make sure the potion you are making is no way harmful to the students."
Dobby nods his head. "Yes, sir." I head out of the office and start to jump up and down when I realize what just happened. Oh no! Dobby is make a mistake! Dobby calls himself Dobby and so does Professor Dumbledore! And then I remember the smile on his face. He must have known all along. I smile with relief as I quickly head back to the bathroom, I could feel myself changing already.
***
I entered the Potions dungeon with my two best friends, Harry and Ron. I agreed with them that Potions was always a drag since besides having Snape, an awful teacher, we always had it with the Slytherins. But secretly I was glad. Another chance to see my love, Draco.
After sitting down, I turned and pretended to get something in my bag, when actually I turned to look at him. We exchanged a discreet smile before Snape came into the room and the lesson began. I sighed. I really did have to listen to him. Snape hated Gryffindors, and took any chance he could to take points off us.
But when I saw the professor I stopped short. He looked a bit different, I couldn't place it, but I knew there was something different about his physical exterior. Also, his usual sneer look sort of forced, like what he really wanted to do was smile. This was weird. I glanced around the room and noticed that the rest of the class seemed to agree. We were all looking at him strangely.
I glanced at my fellow Gryffindors and I noticed Neville was on the verge of laughter. I looked back in the direction he was looking in and realized that Snape was wearing awfully odd clothes. Besides his usual green robes, he wore different pairs of socks with laces and a mismatched turtleneck underneath, red, I might add, a strange color for him to be wearing. I realized why Neville was the one so close to laughter. Snape looked almost like the boggart-Snape we saw during our third year when it was dressed in the clothes of Neville's grandmother.
Snape did not take notice of this. He started the lesson right away. "Class, today, Do-I, I mean I am going to teach you how to make a love potion." There were murmurs around the whole class. Snape grinned funny before he put back his frown. "Yes I know I shouldn't be teaching you how to make this, but Dumbledore agreed with D-me, that it would be useful to learn and experience it and know how to use an antidote if ever you are under it."
None of us wanted to disagree. The thought of learning how to make a love potion intrigued us all, we were all thinking of people we wanted to use it on. I snuck a glance at Draco and saw him grinning at me. I grinned back before Snape's voice brought me back to attention. "You will group yourselves by partners. Boy-Girl of course."
My heart fell. It was impossible for me to get Draco as a partner, everyone would know why. I turned to Ron and Harry, all of us deciding who would be the odd man out. But then what Snape said next surprised me. "Wait. I think I'll do the pairing. You must not pair up with your friends. The whole point of this is to make unexpected people to fall in love. If you're already friends, you might not see the effects. I guess it's safe to say I'll pair you Gryffindor-Slytherin."
None of us noticed the cheerful sound in Snape's voice. The whole class was distracted, splitting into two groups as usual, staring at the other half in horror. Draco and I were doing the same, but the twinkle in our eyes gave us away to each other. My heart skipped a beat. What luck!
"Mr. Weasly, you're with Ms. Zabini." I fought the urge to laugh. The look on their faces, I don't see why Ron was so upset, Blaise Zabini was quite pretty if she didn't always have that frown on her face. "Longbottom, you'll do fine with Parkinson." Pansy let out a shriek and I really did let out a snort of laughter, although I felt awfully sorry for Neville. "Ms. Patil, would you please join Mr. Goyle? And yes, Ms. Brown, Mr. Crabbe."
I was biting my lip hard now. I didn't think the couples could get any worse when I heart Snape say, "Harry Potter, Ms. Bullstrode please?" I almost fell off my chair. Poor Harry. Now he'd have to use all the defense he learned fighting Voldemort on Millicent, that mistaken bull of a girl. The picture of them falling in love was completely ridiculous.
"And last but not least, Ms. Granger would you please join Mr. Malfoy?" My mouth dropped open in shock. Could it really be true? Snape was looking awfully smug all of a sudden, was this real? Or was I just dreaming it? My friends were looking at me sympathetically, they had no idea how thrilled I was. Draco was scowling but when we sat down and everyone had turned to the front he grinned at me and held my hand under the table where no one could see. I tried my best not to act anything but inside I was hopping like crazy.
We all began to start the potion, I wasn't quite sure that these were the ingredients to make the potion, but then again I had never made a love potion much less looked up the ingredients. It smelled sweet, I figured that what love really was, sweet. Snape was making his usual rounds, but when he came over to us I knew for certain there was something different about him. He was smiling widely, and that was a first. "Is everything alright here?"
"Everything's all right here, Professor." Draco said loudly, breaking me away from my thoughts. His voice was still deep, it hadn't been cracking in awhile and it sent goosebumps down my spine. I smiled.
"Good," Snape said, smiling again. "I hope you two will be happy. Do-I mean I've done this all for you. That way you won't have to order Dobby around so much. You can love each other in public," he whispered to us.
Draco and I looked at each other in shock before we turned to him. "D-Dobby?" I asked in shock. "Is that you?" That's when I realized what else was different about him. His eyes were much larger than Snape's much like Dobby's own.
Snape, rather Dobby, smiled even more widely. "You crazy little elf" Draco muttered under his breath, unable to believe it himself. "What made you do this?"
"Dobby did this for the two of you. So you can be together and not always be in the dark when you say you love each other." Dobby looked quite pleased with himself, and he continued. "Dobby needs not punish himself so much for this deed. He is a free elf and only has to punish himself when told to."
Draco and I wanted to ask Dobby more but the Neville and Pansy interrupted and a fight broke out between the two. Dobby gave us an apologetic look before rushing off to break it. We turned back to our potion. The only last ingredient needed was parts of each other. I carefully cut out a lock of his silver hair as he did my straight brown hair.
We watched as the potion began to swirl on its own, our hair mixing until finally there was no difference to be seen. The rest of the class was ready, everyone looking as nervous as we were. Dobby instructed us to drink it before informing us our grade would depend on how well it worked. He winked at us before we drank it.
I looked around the classroom, less sneers and frowns were seen in the room than before, some may actually be in love. I turned to Draco. "Do you feel any different?" he asked.
I thought for a moment then finally shrugged. "I'm still in love with you," I whispered to him. He grinned at me and then leaned closer for a kiss. I never felt so excited. I was sharing a kiss with my love in front of my friends. What could be better?
***
That afternoon was completely different. Gryffindors and Slytherins were hanging out together, much more acting all coupley-like. People from Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff had to look twice just to make sure they were seeing right.
Aside from Hermione and Draco, Blaise and Ron were having fun. She was smiling a lot now, Ron was cracking jokes non-stop like his brothers. Neville and Pansy, although they argued constantly, they would hook up immediately again. It was quite a love/hate relationship even under the love potion. Lavender was busy telling Crabbe about his future she had discovered through Divination, although whether he was listening or not, no one was quite sure.
Parvati was trying her best to avoid Goyle, it was fortunate that he was avoiding her as well. I couldn't say the same. I, Harry Potter was paired up with Millicent Bullstrode. I disliked Millicent as much as I always have, but she seemed to think the potion was working and was following me around everywhere. Everyone was laughing, I only wished I could too.
The couple that seemed to be most into each other was Hermione and Draco. I thought in horror of one of my best friends with my worst enemy, it seemed too horrible to be true. But everyone else was too distracted to agree with me. My friends from the other houses told me to leave them alone. As long as they were happy, and Malfoy wasn't causing any trouble, they were satisfied. I sighed. It seemed that they'd be the happiest couple, Hermione and Draco were the brains in potions, it figured they'd make the best potion.
I felt quite alone, something I haven't felt in awhile. I needed someone to talk to, someone to listen to my problems. Finally I resolved to do so to myself, as I had no one, in a song, that way I didn't expect an answer. I sang (to the tune of Can You Feel the Love Tonight from the movie The Lion King):
"I can see what's happening,
And they don't have a clue,
They'll fall in love and here's the bottom line,
Our trio's down to one."
"The sweet caress of twilight,
There's magic everywhere,
And with all this romantic atmosphere,
Disaster's in the air."
I watched as my best friends walk past me with their respective others' and ducked out of sight as Millicent Bullstrode came rushing past looking for me. In whispers I continued my song:
"Can you feel the love tonight?
Herm and Draco and Ron and Blaise,
The Slytherins and Gryffindors, for once, are in perfect harmony,
The world is in complete disarray."
"So many things to tell them,
But how to make them see,
They can't see past the potion,
That stupid potion!
They wouldn't believe me."
"Herm and Ron are with the enemy,
But why, I can't decide,
Why won't they see the evil ones they really are,
The enemies I see inside?"
"Can you feel the love tonight?
Herm and Draco and Ron and Blaise,
The Slytherins and Gryffindors, for once, are in perfect harmony,
The world is in complete disarray."
"Can you feel the love tonight?
They're never very far (from each other),
Stealing through my best friends sanities, (as in sane)
Deceitful love is where they are!"
I felt so betrayed. I missed talking to my friends. I felt so sure Snape had done this to punish me. But why would he do this with the Slytherins? Weren't they his favorites? I continued to sing bitterly:
"And if they fall in love tonight,
It can be assumed,
Their carefree days with me are history,
In short my pals are doomed."
I sighed. There wasn't much I could do. I headed off to my next class, hoping the potion would wear off soon. Then I remembered, my next class was Care for Magical Creatures. I cheered up considerably. Hagrid would listen to my problems. I looked carefully around to make sure Millicent wasn't around before I headed towards class.
***
I woke up groggily feeling as if the Whomping Willow had thrown me all the way to my bad. I frown as I glance at my magical clock. It was early in the morning, but date was all wrong. It was a day too early. I look around my green and silver room. Since I am the head of the Slytherin house I obviously prefer those colors above everything else.
I get out of bed despite my screaming muscles. After quickly talking a shower I head towards the Slytherin common room where there is the usual bust of activity. I frowned when I noticed there was something different about my students today.
"Good morning, Professor Snape," Blaise tells me, a wide smile on her face. Then I realize I've never seen her smile so happily before. As a matter of face, almost all of the fifth-year Slytherins were moving about with smiles on their faces, which was definitely suspicious.
Hesitantly she asks me, "Um, Professor? About the tutoring session you promised me?"
"I told you I'll see you tonight!" I snapped at her, still grouchy. The bags under my eyes were horrendous and I felt exactly the same way.
"Professor, that was yesterday. You didn't show up."
"Of course not! Today is Tuesday, I will be meeting you tonight!"
"No, Professor. Today is Wednesday, I waited last night but you didn't show up," Blaise informed me patiently, the smile on her face slowly becoming her usual frown.
"Do you dare question my knowledge?"
She was silent. She didn't dare argue with me, yet she didn't want to agree. I was fuming angry until my favorite student popped up behind me. I smiled icily about to ask him to inform Ms. Zabini that the day was Tuesday when he spoke, "Today is Wednesday, Professor."
I was so speechless. Did Draco Malfoy really disagree with me? I didn't have the chance to reply to him, for he smiled at me before he quickly exited the room. My mouth dropped wide open and I was once again left without words. Without my knowledge, Ms. Zabini silently walked away, not wanting to get into any further argument with me at this time.
Furious, I stormed off into the teachers office, running into Minerva at the doorway. She raised an eyebrow at my appearance. I knew I looked more disheveled than I usually did. But I didn't care. "Good morning, Severus. Looks like someone decided to come out of his room."
"What do you mean?" I asked in a snarl. "I woke and came out of my room the same time I usually do."
Minerva placed down her cup of coffee and looked at me in surprise and amusement. "You didn't show up for any of your classes yesterday except for the fifth-year Gryffindor-Slytherin class and heaven knows what you accomplished there!"
My eyebrows furrowed. "What do you mean? Today is Tuesday! My class with them is today!"
"Today is Wednesday. Severus, don't tell me you slept through yesterday? Who taught the class then? I must say, the result is quite interesting." She pursed her lips.
I was beyond flabbergasted. I had slept through yesterday? That explained my headache. But there were many mysteries surrounding it and I had to get to the bottom of it. And I knew exactly where to go. I left the teachers office, leaving Minerva without another word and headed for the head masters office.
"Ah, good morning, Severus," he greeted me. "I hear your class yesterday did quite splendidly."
I frowned, trying to remember to ask him about that later. "I wish to inform you that I suspect someone did something to my drink last Monday. My suspicions are it put me to sleep the entire of yesterday. Minerva informs me that I attended none of my classes. I have no recall of the day before."
"All classes except one," Dumbledore corrected me.
I was beginning to lose my patience. "Yes. But I also wish to find out who took my place yesterday during that class. It was most certainly not I. Many strange things are surrounding me today and I suspect that it had something to do with that class yesterday that everyone keeps mentioning."
Dumbledore leaned back into his chair and looked at me thoughtfully. "You have no recall of yesterday whatsoever?"
"Yes."
"Hmm" he sighed. He played thoughtfully with his glasses before he finally spoke again. "Yesterday, you' attended only one class which was the Slytherin-Gryffindor class. You taught them how to make a love potion, which they used on themselves, one Slytherin and one Gryffindor, each paired. Some fell in love, others did not."
My mouth fell open. Is that why they were so cheerful? A love potion? "But-but that's illegal. We are not permitted to teach them love potions." I finally spoke.
Dumbledore looked at me carefully. "Really? You yourself came in here a few days ago, requesting you I give you permission to teach them so that they may learn how it works and what to do if ever they are put under it."
My stomach curled in disgust. "That was not me! Whoever that impostor was, the very same person who took my place in class yesterday, and probably drugged my drink, and took my unfinished Polyjuice potion, they will be severely punished!"
The head master gave me an amused smile. "Now let's not blame all your troubles on one person. Well, I can see we have a problem. What's done is done. I suggest we not make a bigger deal about this. Let's wait until the potion wears off in the meantime."
I opened my mouth to protest but Dumbledore gave me a look that meant the subject was closed. I gave him a grudging nod of agreement before I left his room. I was sure I didn't want to be around while my favorite students were in love with my worst. Maybe I should just go back to bed.
***
It's been a week since our class took that love potion. Potions class has gone back to the same though. My best friends Harry and Hermione and I all agree. I wonder when the potion will wear off? None of us have a clue. Snape keeps denying that he made us take it, I wouldn't blame him. He was acting pretty ridiculous that day. But I'm not complaining. Quite the opposite actually.
Blaise Zabini is such a cool girl. She laughs at all of my jokes, making me feel better then I've ever felt. Yesterday during the Hogsmade weekend she bought me a few tricks at one of the stores. I tried to refuse but then who could say no to those deep icy-blue eyes? They're gorgeous. We shared a Butterbeer afterwards together with two straws.
Sigh. I wonder how she'll, rather we'll act after this. She's such great company. It's a shame. The potion has brought out the best in many, especially the Slytherins.
I saw Neville offering Pansy a box of chocolate frogs as a peace offering after one of their usual arguments. They were sharing it, first Pansy would take a bite and then pop the next in Neville's mouth. It was really gross. Sweet, but still gross. A Hufflepuff mentioned that to them and they started to argue again. Looks like the potion still had a few kinks in it.
The couple who seems most happiest is Hermione and Malfoy. That sounds weird. Hermione and Malfoy. My best friend and my worst enemy. Who would have thought? Well duh, their potion was perfect, who would have doubted after they were paired together. They're both the best in potions. It's weird seeing them act so sweet, especially Malfoy. I can't believe he's so nice! Hermione invited him over to the Gryffindor table a few times, like there's been a division lately, and he's been even decent to me and Harry and the rest of us Gryffindors. This potion seems to have brought out the best in him. A few weeks ago if you would have asked me, I would have said no way! Draco Malfoy has a good side? What planet are you from?' I hope he doesn't start acting really nasty after this.
Hermione seems really genuinely happy with him. I hope she doesn't end up with a broken heart at the end. A few days ago, Blaise and I doubled with them and we got up extra early. Malfoy and I, jeez, that sounds weird, planned something really sweet for the girls. We brought them to the lake and we watched the sunrise. Malfoy thought of the breakfast, all their favorite breakfast foods, complete with roses at the side. Looks like underneath that rich jerk of a snob is a real romantic.
Speaking of Hermione and Malfoy and doubling, I heard last night that they went with Lavender and Crabbe for a moonlight walk. Lavender, it seems, is determined to expose Crabbe to the wonderful' world of Divination and discovering one's future through the stars. Looks like the potion worked half-way, on Lavender, but not much on Crabbe.
Crabbe also informed me-- ew! We're becoming friends! He told me that he hadn't seen much of the two of them during the walk and slyly told me that they were probably making out in the dark. Ew! I do not want to think about that!
Come to think about it, they have been making out a lot lately. It's not like Hermione's been ditching me and Harry for Malfoy lately. In fact, we hang about the same amount of time we usually do. It just happens she spends the rest of her free time with Malfoy, in the library or not, making out. But it's not like I can complain. Harry is always bugging me, telling me that if I kiss Blaise anymore my lips are going to be permanently glued to hers. *grin* Hey, I'm not going to complain about that either.
Speaking of Harry, the poor guy. Aside from him, Parvati and Goyle and Crabbe are the only ones who aren't enjoying the new friendship' between the Slytherins and Gryffindors. Well, Crabbe doesn't count much because he claims he finds Lavender's attempts amusing, although I'm sure in a good way. The potion must have been a flop for Parvati and Goyle, I can't say I don't wish the guy luck. Parvati isn't that nice a girl, despite being in Gryffindor. Lavender and Crabbe's potion result is similar to Harry and Millicent Bullstrode. It worked on her but not on him.
Going back, poor Harry. He complains that we, Hermione and I, don't spend enough time with him. How can we when he's always hiding, spending all his time avoiding Bullstrode? We rarely see him, except for when we're all in the Gryffindor House.
It was really funny during the Gryffindor-Ravenclaw match. Harry was flying around, trying to catch the snitch. Cho had almost managed to beat him to the snitch before they, rather we were all distracted by Bullstrode who had managed to wrestle the device Lee Jordan used for commentating from him and declared, loudly for all to hear, her never-ending love for Harry.
Harry was red with embarrassment. I had never seen him so flustered. I rolled on the ground with laughter, and needed to be brought back to earth by Blaise who had just managed to recompose herself.
Afterwards, Harry had grumbled about it all night long about the incident. I don't see why he was so upset. Bullstrode's distraction had been just what he needed. Cho had gotten distracted as well and the Snitch had disappeared again, only to be caught by Harry a minute later. So I don't see why he's complaining so much. He won the game because of her distraction.
He's paranoid now. He keeps getting gifts, a flower, chocolates, and love notes. He claims Bullstrode is trying to do that secret admirer stuff and throws it all away. I just laugh. Hey, it's not my fault he got stuck with her. I'm just glad Snape was nice for one day and put me with Blaise. Yep, things are perfect at the moment.
Yep, I've decided to split this into two parts so that's its EASIER reading, note I don't say easy. I didn't bother with the change of background. So since it's smaller PLESE review this time, it's awful seeing 75 read, 2 review!