-1 Dumbledore glanced over Snape's list. "I understand your concern Severus but there's no way to avoid it, they'll have to work together. It will disrupt other good partnerships if we don't."
"But Potter and Malfoy as study partners is hardly an ideal situation Albus, they hate each other with a vengeance. If they don't end up killing each other it's still debateable whether or not they'll get any work done."
"I know, but there's no way around it that's worth doing, they'll just have to live with it." Snape nodded. He had no idea what was going to happen when he announced the study partners tomorrow, but to keep on the right side of the ministry they had to assign the potions students a partner, and Potter and Malfoy, were going to have to get used to it.
"I have an announcement to make." Snape had never seen a classroom become so alert before, he fought the urge to laugh, they couldn't have looked more shocked if he'd offered them free sweets. He glanced around to make sure everyone was paying attention then continued.
"In accordance with a new ministry recommendation, due to the appalling OWL results in potions last year, you have all been assigned study partners for this term." He waited to see the results of this arrangement, a ripple of whispers passed around the room. "I shall now read out the arrangements and then you may go." Snape slowly read out the partners. A couple of times there was a slight groan but nothing warranting any reaction. He left Malfoy and Potter second to last, just before Neville and Hermione. The reaction was spectacular.
"WHAT!" they\screamed at the same time. Hermione knocked over her cauldron, Pansy dropped a vial which shattered and Ron looked like he'd just swallowed a cactus.
"Is there a problem?" Snape asked in what he knew would be considered infuriatingly calm and bored to them.
"I'm with Malfoy?"
"I have to study with Potter?"
"Yes and yes." He smirked, the looks on their faces were priceless. "Just try not to kill each other, and it could be fine, you already have found something in common."
"What Professor?" It was clear Malfoy was finding it hard to keep the respect in his voice.
"Clearly Mr Malfoy, you and Potter think alike. The thing you have in common is obvious, neither of you like this one bit." Harry felt like exploding, it was damned infuriating, Snape was right.