Heightened Awareness - Chapter 1
"Alright everyone, calm down!" said Professor Lupin in a slightly amused tone. "Who would've thought your end-of-term project could cause so much excitement?" The class quietened down a bit as they all looked towards their professor, waiting for him to elaborate on the subject. "It will be on either a Dark creature, a Dark place or a Dark wizard or witch from history. If you are running short on inspiration, I have a list of suitable subjects that you can choose from. I expect six feet of parchment on your chosen subject delivered to me by the last day of term. You will be working in pairs, and don't groan when I say this, but I will be choosing the pairings."
The class groaned.
"I should've known it would be too much to ask for," said Professor Lupin, smiling. The class was a Gryffindor/Slytherin mixed class, and they all knew that this meant that members of different houses were likely to be paired up. "I'm going to read out the list of pairings now; when you have heard who you're going to be working with, I'd like you to move so that you are sitting together, in order to start your research. You will be allowed access to the library in all your lessons from now until the project is finished, you may work there or take out the books you need and come and work in the classroom. If you work in the library I am trusting you to work conscientiously." He began to read out the list of pairings.
Great, Harry thought to himself. Lesson after lesson of trying to work with some Slytherin who will insult me every chance they get. Suddenly the sound of his name broke into his thought pattern.
"Harry Potter and...." Professor Lupin paused to look down at his list. "..Draco Malfoy."
Harry's eyes widened at the name. He couldn't believe he'd been put with Malfoy, of all people! After all, Remus had been a good friend to him over the last three years, even before he'd been reinstated as a Hogwart's professor in Harry's fifth year. Harry had thought maybe he'd be a little gentler on him than this.
Glancing up, he noticed that Malfoy was already making his way over to the space next to Harry. As he sat down, Harry regarded him carefully. He decided to try his luck at damage limitation.
"Just to make working on this project possible and bearable for both us, I'd like to suggest that we are at least civil to each other for the next couple of weeks." Harry said in what he hoped was a non-threatening tone of voice. He waited for a scornful remark from the Slytherin.
"Fine, I was just about to suggest the same thing," said Draco. "Any ideas on what you want to do this project on, coz I have a few if you don't." Harry tried to conceal his confusion at Draco's casual acceptance of his suggestion as he replied,
"No, not really, carry on."
*
That night, as he lay in his bed in the Gryffindor dormitory, Harry pondered the day's events. He was still puzzled as to Malfoy's calm acceptance of the situation. Malfoy had always made it abundantly clear how much he hated The Boy Who Lived and the rest of the Dream Team. Although, now Harry thought about it, he hadn't really been that bad since the beginning of sixth year. In fifth year he'd been worse than ever, but that had seemed to tail off towards the end of the year, and this year he'd barely insulted any of them.
Harry also had to wonder what had possessed Professor Lupin to put he and Malfoy together for this project. Harry was sure he wasn't being deliberately malicious or anything, surely Remus wouldn't do that to him? Slowly it dawned on Harry that maybe Remus had noticed the slight thaw in the relations between Harry and Draco, and had decided to try and take advantage of it. Though he would never have admitted it to anyone, after the lesson Harry was almost glad that he was working with Malfoy. It was odd, but the sharp, dry sense of humour Malfoy had always used to insult him over the years was very similar to his own, and several times during the lesson he had found himself laughing inwardly at Malfoy's quick observational one-liners. And it could have been so much worse. He especially pitied Seamus and Dean, who had been placed with Crabbe and Goyle respectively. At least he could get a coherent response out of Malfoy.
And with that happy realisation, Harry turned over and closed his eyes.
"Alright everyone, calm down!" said Professor Lupin in a slightly amused tone. "Who would've thought your end-of-term project could cause so much excitement?" The class quietened down a bit as they all looked towards their professor, waiting for him to elaborate on the subject. "It will be on either a Dark creature, a Dark place or a Dark wizard or witch from history. If you are running short on inspiration, I have a list of suitable subjects that you can choose from. I expect six feet of parchment on your chosen subject delivered to me by the last day of term. You will be working in pairs, and don't groan when I say this, but I will be choosing the pairings."
The class groaned.
"I should've known it would be too much to ask for," said Professor Lupin, smiling. The class was a Gryffindor/Slytherin mixed class, and they all knew that this meant that members of different houses were likely to be paired up. "I'm going to read out the list of pairings now; when you have heard who you're going to be working with, I'd like you to move so that you are sitting together, in order to start your research. You will be allowed access to the library in all your lessons from now until the project is finished, you may work there or take out the books you need and come and work in the classroom. If you work in the library I am trusting you to work conscientiously." He began to read out the list of pairings.
Great, Harry thought to himself. Lesson after lesson of trying to work with some Slytherin who will insult me every chance they get. Suddenly the sound of his name broke into his thought pattern.
"Harry Potter and...." Professor Lupin paused to look down at his list. "..Draco Malfoy."
Harry's eyes widened at the name. He couldn't believe he'd been put with Malfoy, of all people! After all, Remus had been a good friend to him over the last three years, even before he'd been reinstated as a Hogwart's professor in Harry's fifth year. Harry had thought maybe he'd be a little gentler on him than this.
Glancing up, he noticed that Malfoy was already making his way over to the space next to Harry. As he sat down, Harry regarded him carefully. He decided to try his luck at damage limitation.
"Just to make working on this project possible and bearable for both us, I'd like to suggest that we are at least civil to each other for the next couple of weeks." Harry said in what he hoped was a non-threatening tone of voice. He waited for a scornful remark from the Slytherin.
"Fine, I was just about to suggest the same thing," said Draco. "Any ideas on what you want to do this project on, coz I have a few if you don't." Harry tried to conceal his confusion at Draco's casual acceptance of his suggestion as he replied,
"No, not really, carry on."
*
That night, as he lay in his bed in the Gryffindor dormitory, Harry pondered the day's events. He was still puzzled as to Malfoy's calm acceptance of the situation. Malfoy had always made it abundantly clear how much he hated The Boy Who Lived and the rest of the Dream Team. Although, now Harry thought about it, he hadn't really been that bad since the beginning of sixth year. In fifth year he'd been worse than ever, but that had seemed to tail off towards the end of the year, and this year he'd barely insulted any of them.
Harry also had to wonder what had possessed Professor Lupin to put he and Malfoy together for this project. Harry was sure he wasn't being deliberately malicious or anything, surely Remus wouldn't do that to him? Slowly it dawned on Harry that maybe Remus had noticed the slight thaw in the relations between Harry and Draco, and had decided to try and take advantage of it. Though he would never have admitted it to anyone, after the lesson Harry was almost glad that he was working with Malfoy. It was odd, but the sharp, dry sense of humour Malfoy had always used to insult him over the years was very similar to his own, and several times during the lesson he had found himself laughing inwardly at Malfoy's quick observational one-liners. And it could have been so much worse. He especially pitied Seamus and Dean, who had been placed with Crabbe and Goyle respectively. At least he could get a coherent response out of Malfoy.
And with that happy realisation, Harry turned over and closed his eyes.